A Softcomputing Knowledge Areas Model

Recently, ten knowledge areas (KAs) of project management have been published by the PMBOK® Guide. They comprise specific skills and experiences to ensure accomplishing project goals, and include management of: integration, scope, cost, time, quality, communications, procurement, risk, human resources and stakeholders. This research paper focuses on the ten required KAs for a project manager or a project to be successful. It aims at applying the Softcomputing modeling techniques to describe the relations between the 47 processes and the KAs. Such a model will enable users to predict the overall competencies of the project management. Thus, it provides an assessment tool to envisage, visualize and indicate the overall performance and competency of a project. The proposed Softcomputing Knowledge Areas Model (SKAM) is a two-stage model. The first stage involves ten models. Each model describes relations between a specific KA and its related processes. The outputs of these ten models will feed into the second stage that will represent the relationship between all the ten KAs and the overall predicted competencies of a project. A combination of Subtractive Clustering and Neurofuzzy modeling techniques are used. Three measures are used to validate the adequacy of the models: the mean average percentage errors, the correlation coefficient and the maximum percentage errors. The highest achieved values for these measures are 0.5751, 0.9999 and 4.7283, respectively. However, although the preliminary findings of the proposed SKAM model are promising, more testing is still required before declaring the adequacy of applying the Softcomputing modeling approach in the project management field

Data-based sustainability performance assessment in product development with maturity model

Abstract. Including sustainability into product development process is one of the key challenges what manufacturing companies are facing today. The objective of this research is to understand what sustainability means in product development and how companies could improve their performance in it. This is constructive research by its nature, it combines a quantitative online survey and data analysis with a qualitative analysis based on semi-structured interviews and themed written answers. This research obtained the following main conclusions: (1) companies can increase their sustainability performance in product development by i) setting sustainability policy and targets which are clear and measurable, ii) increasing stakeholder collaboration during product development process and iii) ensuring strict and uniform data policy. (2) The most significant pain points were i) a company-specific understanding what sustainability means in product development, ii) ability to define and measure component level sustainability effects, iii) and finding balance with customer expectations and viable business. (3) Finnish manufacturing companies sustainability performance in product development is succeeding in more conceptual level but clear deficiencies are observed in practical level. (4) Key characteristics of sustainable product development are: i) it is internally driven and proactive, ii) it considers whole product and process life cycle, and iii) its performance is evaluated as combination of economic, environmental and social sustainability dimensions.Dataan perustuva kestävän kehityksen suorituskyvyn arviointi tuotekehityksessä kypsyysmallilla. Tiivistelmä. Vastuullisuuden sisällyttäminen tuotekehitysprosessiin on yksi keskeisistä haasteista, jonka valmistavan teollisuuden yritysten on kohdattava nykyään. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on ymmärtää, mitä vastuullisuus tarkoittaa tuotekehityksessä ja miten yritykset voivat parantaa siihen liittyvää suorituskykyään. Tämä on luonteeltaan rakentava tutkimus, joka yhdistää kvantitatiivisen verkkokyselyn ja data-analyysin, sekä kvalitatiiviseen analyysiin, joka perustuu puolistrukturoituihin haastatteluihin ja teemoitettuihin kirjallisiin vastauksiin. Tästä tutkimuksesta saadut keskeisimmät johtopäätökset olivat seuraavat: (1) yritykset voivat parantaa vastuullisuuden suorituskykyään tuotekehityksessä i) määrittelemällä vastuullisuuspolitiikan ja -tavoitteet, jotka ovat selkeitä ja mitattavia, ii) lisäämällä sidosryhmien välistä yhteistyötä tuotekehitysprosessin aikana ja iii) varmistamalla tiukan ja yhtenäisen datapolitiikan. (2) Merkittävimmät haasteet olivat i) yrityskohtainen ymmärrys siitä, mitä vastuullisuus tarkoittaa tuotekehityksessä, ii) kyky määritellä ja mitata komponenttitason vastuullisuusvaikutuksia, iii) sekä tasapainon löytäminen asiakkaiden odotusten ja kannattavan liiketoiminnan kanssa. (3) Suomalaisten valmistavan teollisuuden yritysten vastuullisuuden suorituskyky tuotekehityksessä onnistuu käsitteellisemmällä tasolla, mutta käytännön tasolla on havaittavissa selviä puutteita. (4) Vastuullisen tuotekehityksen keskeiset ominaisuudet ovat: i) se on sisäisesti ohjautuva ja ennakoiva, ii) se ottaa huomioon tuotteen ja prosessin koko elinkaaren ja iii) sen suorituskykyä arvioidaan taloudellisen, ympäristöllisen ja sosiaalisen vastuullisuusulottuvuuden yhdistelmänä

Set-based design: a review and new directions

ABSTRACT: Set-based design (SBD), sometimes referred to as set-based concurrent engineering (SBCE), has emerged as an important component of lean product development (LPD) with all researchers describing it as a core enabler of LPD. Research has explored the principles underlying LPD and SBCE, but methodologies for the practical implementation need to be better understood. A review of SBD is performed in this article in order to discover and analyse the key aspects to consider when developing a model and methodology to transition to SBCE. The publications are classified according to a new framework, which allows us to map the topology of the relevant SBD literature from two perspectives: the research paradigms and the coverage of the generic creative design process (Formulation–Synthesis–Analysis–Evaluation–Documentation–Reformulation). It is found that SBD has a relatively low theoretical development, but there is a steady increase in the diversity of contributions. The literature abounds with methods, guidelines and tools to implement SBCE, but they rarely rely on a model that is in the continuum of a design process model, product model or knowledge-based model with the aim of federating the three Ps (People–Product–Process) towards SBCE and LPD in traditional industrial contexts

Model and management indicators in industrial omnichannel (B2B)

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven increases in the provision of services through digital channels, even by more traditional companies. An Omnichannel model of service provision poses new management challenges for companies. This research reviews the literature on Omnichannel Management by companies whose clients are other companies (B2B) and classifies the different areas of research to date. The principal finding is that, despite considerable academic interest in Omnichannel management, there have been few studies of Omnichannel in the B2B field. This emphasizes a significant research gap to address. We have also outlined the Research Agenda to highlight future lines of research

Set-Based Prototyping in the Context of the Configurable Virtual Product: The Construction of the Learning Value Streams (LVS) Model

RÉSUMÉ La présente thèse de doctorat est le résultat de sept années de recherche intervention dans les domaines de la conception et du développement de produits suivant le paradigme lean en aérospatial. Cette recherche action est motivée par la nécessité de développer les connaissances ainsi que les outils appropriés pour le développement de produits suivant l’approche lean (LPD pour Lean Product Development) et en particulier celle de l’ « ingénierie concourante fondée sur les options de conception » (SBCE pour Set-Based Concurrent Engineering) en aérospatial. Une telle nécessité se justifie par les facteurs socioéconomiques du 21ème siècle qui imposent des approches de conception et développement toujours plus robustes, résilientes, réactives, flexibles, innovantes et adaptables face aux fluctuations du marché et à la demande des consommateurs qui évolue rapidement, ceci afin de permettre aux compagnies de demeurer compétitives. L’objectif principal de la recherche, au vue de tels impératifs, est d’identifier, pour ensuite développer et intégrer dans un modèle holistique, les aspects, les caractéristiques et les catalyseurs essentiels des approches LPD et SBCE appliquées à l’industrie aérospatiale de façon à supporter l’implémentation à grande échelle de telles approches, et ce, dans une optique sousjacente de gestion de cycle de vie du produit (PLM pour Product Lifecycle Management). La planification et l’exécution du projet de recherche sont réalisées en respectant une méthodologie éprouvée en conception (DRM pour Design Research Methodology) afin de focaliser les résultats sur l’avancement des connaissances et de la pratique du LPD et SBCE en tant qu’approches de conception. La recherche apporte en conséquence des contributions majeures à ces champs d’étude tout en prescrivant une méthodologie de transformation des processus et outils de développement de produits dans l’industrie par le biais de l’implémentation du modèle de « chaines de valeur apprenantes » (LVS pour Learning Value Streams). Plus en détails, les contributions aux avancées scientifiques et pratiques dans le domaine vont comme suit : (1) La proposition d’un nouveau cadre d’analyse de la littérature SBCE, ainsi qu’une méthodologie de revue systématique fondée sur des données probantes; (2) L’avancement des connaissances théoriques et pratiques du LPD et SBCE des aspects les plus généraux aux plus significatifs; (3) L’avancement des connaissances théoriques et pratiques sur la modélisation et les structures de produit requises dans une optique de gestion de cycle de vie du produit----------ABSTRACT The work reported in this thesis is the result of seven years of participatory action research in the field of Lean Product Development (LPD) in aerospace engineering. This research is motivated by the necessity to develop understanding and support for practical implementations of lean product development and especially Set-Based Concurrent Engineering (SBCE) in industry. Such necessity is justified by 21st century compelling socioeconomic factors that demand robust, resilient, responsive, flexible, innovative, adaptable and lean product development processes in order for companies to stay competitive in rapidly changing markets. The main purpose of the research is to identify and develop the essential SBCE and LPD aspects, characteristics, features and catalysts as they relate to aerospace large-scale industrial product development in order to form a holistic model that can support practical implementations of LPD in industry from a product lifecycle perspective. A design research methodology (DRM) is used for planning and executing the design research project while ensuring that focus is placed on achieving progress with regards to understanding and implementation of SBCE and LPD as Design practices. As a result, this thesis work provides substantial contribution to understanding of LPD and SBCE and furthermore, entails valuable proposal for the practice in industry through the CCS model and the construction of the Learning Value Streams (LVS) model. Major contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge and practice in the fields are as follows: (1) The proposal of a new SBCE dual analysis framework combined with an evidence-based systematic review methodology; (2) The advancement of theoretical and practical understanding of LPD and SBCE from the larger to the most significant aspects; (3) The advancement of theoretical and practical understanding of product models and product structure progression requirements for lean product lifecycle management; (4) the proposal of a new methodology, including new as-tested structure to support cross-collaboration during prototyping and testing in lifecycle management contexts; (5) The proposal of a new existential domain alongside the functional, technological and physical domains in order to address the lack of product modelling constructs and methodology when it comes to service or as-tested configurations, hardware testing transactions and prototype information tracking on the basis o

New product development system fit for innovative performance

Innovation is an imperative for long-term health and shareholder returns in firms dependent on product development. Yet, most companies struggle with the tension between creative ideation and implementation. Effectively finding new sources of revenue and improving and profiting from existing products and services reflects a product development ambidexterity challenge. Surveys were collected from 212 development team members representing 31 teams from the transportation, aerospace, and chemical sectors to understand if a new product development (NPD) system’s ambidexterity supported team level innovation performance. When NPD systems are perceived by development team users as ambidextrous structures, their combined ideation and implementation strength contributes directly to team innovation performance. This research supports past findings in contextual ambidexterity and provides a new measure for assessing the ideation and implementation characteristics of NPD systems

Configuration and Change Maturity Optimization - The Case of Complex Engineering Environments

Im derzeitigen globalen Wettbewerbsmarkt, in dem Unternehmen durch die Bereitstellung anspruchsvoller, aber kundenorientierter Lösungen einen höheren Marktanteil erreichen, ist das Management und der Schutz von Produktinformationen über verschiedene Phasen seines Lebenszyklus (von der Erfassung der Kundenanforderungen bis hin zum Prototyping und Start) von bedeutende Bedeutung. Die Disziplin, die Sicherheit für das Produktinformationsmanagement bietet, ist das Konfigurationsmanagement und erfordert je nach Umfang und Komplexität der Anwendungsumgebung mehrere Aktivitäten und Maßnahmen, die ordnungsgemäß implementiert werden müssen. Diese Arbeit zielt darauf ab, einen Optimierungsrahmen für die Industrie zur Verfügung zu stellen, um ihre Kompetenz in dieser Disziplin zu bewerten und ihre Prozesse zu stärken und somit einen Wettbewerbsvorteil unter ihren Konkurrenten zu erlangen. Dieses Ziel wurde erreicht, indem zuerst die kritischen Erfolgsfaktoren des Configuration Managements identifiziert und ein Reifegrad-Modell entwickelt wurde, das die Basisreife von Organisationen im Hinblick auf ihre Konfigurationsmanagementbemühungen bewertet und einen Fahrplan für weitere Verbesserungen liefert. Das entwickelte Reifegradmodell wurde dann durch eine branchenübergreifende Bewertung validiert und die Ergebnisse legten die Grundlage für die Identifizierung des aktuellen Reifegrads in verschiedenen Branchen, Möglichkeiten zur Verbesserung der Verwendbarkeit des Reifegradmodells für Evaluierungszwecke sowie die möglichen Forschungsmöglichkeiten für Lösungen die Verbesserungen in den Prozessfähigkeiten der Disziplin bieten. Das Hauptpotenzial für die weitere Entwicklung des Modells wurde Durch das Fehlen quantitativer Schlüsselleistungsindikatoren (KPIs) identifiziert, und es wurde durch Identifizierung relevanter KPIs, die eine quantitative Messung der Reife von Organisationen ermöglichen, adressiert. Gleichzeitig wurde eine Möglichkeit zur Konzeption eines Entscheidungshilfesystems für den Prozess des Änderungsprozesses identifiziert, das historische Kenntnisse früherer Konfigurationsänderungen nutzen kann, um die Entscheidungsträger bei der Analyse ihrer Auswirkungen durch die Einbeziehung mehrerer Variablen zu unterstützen

Tools and techniques for product design

For product designers, tools and techniques are essential in driving the design cycle. Nevertheless, their employment usually is implicit, while passing over e.g. the design and project environments empowering their adequate use. This publication presents an overview of approaches in structuring and using tools/techniques, based on the effectuation of creativity and decision-making in the design environment. In elaborating on characteristics of tools/techniques and ensuing ways of selecting them, the designer's portfolio of tools/techniques is characterised. Representative problems of tool/technique usage are depicted and contextualised by illustrating their industrial application. Prospects for future developments are also reviewe