Mass Customization Capabilities in Practice – Introducing the Mass into Customized Tech-Textiles in an SME Network

The German textile industry is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources and specialized skills producing customized technical textiles following an engineer-to-order approach. To expand their skills, SMEs form business networks. The development and production of customized technical textiles in networks are highly complex. The coordination requires high effort and results in inefficient and ineffective information flow, weakening the networks’ competitive advantage. Following a case study approach, we accompany an SME network over three years as they develop and implement a digital col-laboration platform. We derived a framework of micro-foundations of Mass Customization capabilities supporting high-order Mass Customization capabilities for customer integration, solution space development, and robust processes. Thus, we present results on how an SME network in the textile industry leverages Mass Customization capabilities to increase efficien-cy via a digital collaboration platform

Challenges and success factors for implementation of lean manufacturing in European SMES

Small and medium-sized enterprises are crucial to value creation in the European economy. The SMEs need continuous improvement initiatives to stay competitive. However, SMEs are less likely to implement lean practices compared to larger companies. Limited research exists on the factors that are vital for succeeding with Lean implementations in SMEs. A case study of Norwegian and Belgium SMEs has been conducted in the European research project ERIP (European Regions for Innovative Productivity). Six critical success factors are suggested, which correspond well with previous research: 1) Ensure strong management involvement. 2) Develop thorough employee participation. 3) Allocate sufficient time for preparing the organisation. 4) Focus on creating motivation to complete initiatives. 5) Build competence internally in the organisation. 6) Establish a performance evaluation system

Impact of mechanical and microstructural properties of potato puree-food additive complexes on extrusion-based 3D printing

This paper studies the applicability of extrusion-based 3D printing for constructing novel shapes from potato puree and the effects of four additives (agar, alginate, lecithin, and glycerol) added separately at three concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5%) on the internal strength, mechanical properties, microstructure, and color of potato puree.Postprint (updated version

Living Labs for SMEs

Interactive, co-creative relation of consumers, users and producers is quickly developing recently. Living Labs (LL) have a bridging role between market pull and technology push. They realise concurrent innovation. LLs are approaches to realise an interactive search for new products/services in real life milieus together with users/consumers, without mediation of marketing experts. Our presentation highlights LLs first as providers of a collaborative working environment for users. It emphasises that LLs have a strong methodology and describes and assesses the „LL Harmonization cubes”. It outlines then what LLs can bring advantages for SMEs. Main added value of LLs for SMEs is that they provide for innovation services by integrating SMEs in a collaborative working environment that would otherwise not available for them.

Web 2.0 and micro-businesses: An exploratory investigation

This is the author's final version of the article. This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.This article was chosen as a Highly Commended Award Winner at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2013.Purpose – The paper aims to report on an exploratory study into how small businesses use Web 2.0 information and communication technologies (ICT) to work collaboratively with other small businesses. The study had two aims: to investigate the benefits available from the use of Web 2.0 in small business collaborations, and to characterize the different types of such online collaborations. Design/methodology/approach – The research uses a qualitative case study methodology based on semi-structured interviews with the owner-managers of 12 UK-based small companies in the business services sector who are early adopters of Web 2.0 technologies. Findings – Benefits from the use of Web 2.0 are categorized as lifestyle benefits, internal operational efficiency, enhanced capability, external communications and enhanced service offerings. A 2×2 framework is developed to categorize small business collaborations using the dimensions of the basis for inter-organizational collaboration (control vs cooperation) and the level of Web 2.0 ICT use (simple vs sophisticated). Research limitations/implications – A small number of firms of similar size, sector and location were studied, which limits generalizability. Nonetheless, the results offer a pointer to the likely future use of Web 2.0 tools by other small businesses. Practical implications – The research provides evidence of the attraction and potential of Web 2.0 for collaborations between small businesses. Originality/value – The paper is one of the first to report on use of Web 2.0 ICT in collaborative working between small businesses. It will be of interest to those seeking a better understanding of the potential of Web 2.0 in the small business community.WestFocu

Numerical study of circle fractal grid perforated plate as a turbulent generator in combustion chamber

Fractal grids can be used to design turbulent flows with low power losses and high turbulence intensities for intense yet economic mixing over a region of designed length and location. The introducing circle grid perforated plate is the main aim of this present paper. In this numerical work, we want to ascertain a new approach in turbulence generators on the structure of premixes flames using perforated plate fractal-grids pattern. In this paper, we compared circle grid perforated plate by varies using its diameters, spacing and number of holes on the plate. The result showed good perceptivity of the fractal generated turbulence and the fractal flow physics. The turbulent intensity can be increased by a grid with higher blockage ratio

Spatial organization of production in India: contesting themes and conflicting evidence

The emergence of space as a determinant in the functional relations linked to production and growth is a recent development in theories of industrial organization. This paper primarily reviews the contesting themes in explaining changes in relative importance of space. In reference to industrial clusters in India, the paper argues that it is the heterogeneity of the industrial organizations that captures ‘space’ as an analytical category and broad generalizations often do not address the spatial dimensions. Neither also is it true, at least for developing countries such as India, that small enterprise clusters always reflect the post-Fordist dimension of change in the production organization. In the context of global production chain, this paper further argues that participation in such value chains might lead to contradictory outcomes in production organization giving rise to increased rift between the ‘global’ and the ‘local’.endogenous growth, region, technology, fragmentation, footloose industry