Sustainability challenges and how Industry 4.0 technologies can address them: a case study of a shipbuilding supply chain

The shipbuilding industry is under significant economic pressure and in need of more efficient solutions to secure economically sustainable operations. It is also challenged by social issues and the need for a greener maritime industry is critical. Accordingly, the shipbuilding industry is pressured across all three dimensions of sustainability. This paper aims to identify the sustainability challenges in shipbuilding supply chains and explore how Industry 4.0 technologies can impact the sustainability of shipbuilding. This is achieved through a case study of a shipbuilding supply chain, which results in the identification of its primary sustainability challenges. Further, this work proposes a set of nine digital solutions to support sustainable operations in shipbuilding as the paper’s primary contribution. This lays the foundation for further empirical research on sustainability and digitalization in shipbuilding, while for practice the paper provides enhanced insight into how Industry 4.0 technologies can be adopted in shipbuilding supply chains.acceptedVersio

Digitalized manufacturing logistics in engineer-to-order operations

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management for the Factory of the Future. APMS 2019. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 566. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30000-5_71. The high complexity in Engineer-To-Order (ETO) operations causes major challenges for manufacturing logistics, especially in complex ETO, i.e. one-of-a-kind production. Increased digitalization of manufacturing logistics processes and activities can facilitate more efficient coordination of the material and information flows for manufacturing operations in general. However, it is not clear how to do this in the ETO environment, where products are highly customized and production is non-repetitive. This paper aims to investigate the challenges related to manufacturing logistics in ETO and how digital technologies can be applied to address them. Through a case study of a Norwegian shipyard, four main challenges related to manufacturing logistics are identified. Further, by reviewing recent literature on ETO and digitalization, the paper identifies specific applications of digital technologies in ETO manufacturing. Finally, by linking manufacturing logistics challenges to digitalization, the paper suggests four main features of digitalized manufacturing logistics in ETO: (i) seamless, digitalized information flow, (ii) identification and interconnectivity, (iii) digitalized operator support, and (iv) automated and autonomous material flow. Thus, the paper provides valuable insights into how ETO companies can move towards digitalized manufacturing logistics

Internet-of-things (IOT) - technologies enabling efficient inbound and outbound logistics in engineer-to-order (ETO) manufacturing companies

Confidential until 23. May 202

Analysis of visibility dimensions in make-to-stock and engineer-to-order manufacturing strategies: a case study of pipelife AS and Kleven AS

Confidential until 19. May 202

Principles for the design and operation of engineer-to-order supply chains in the construction sector

By integrating the approaches of Forrester and Burbidge [Forrester, J. W. 1961. Industrial Dynamics. Pegasus Communications; Burbidge, J. L. 1961. "The "New Approach" to Production." Production Engineer 40: 769-784], a set of five design principles have emerged which provide a foundation for sound supply chain design. The 'FORRIDGE' principles have since been shown to be a powerful guide for effective design of make-to-stock supply chains. However, some have questioned the applicability of generic supply chain thinking, arguing for a tailored approach. Hence, the goal here is to investigate how these principles should be adapted for engineer-to-order (ETO) industries, such as construction, capital goods and shipbuilding. The empirical elements draw on an extensive study of 12 suppliers and two large contractors in the construction industry. Supply chain tactics are identified for this range of companies, which are matched with real world problems, and linked with the FORRIDGE principles. This results in an additional 'Design for X' principle being proposed. The contributions made are the adaptation of established principles for the ETO sector, and the framework behind these principles

Engineer-to-order (ETO) production planning and control: an empirical framework for machinery-building companies

5noThis paper illustrates the results of an empirical study involving 21 engineer-to-order (ETO) companies, operating in the machinery-building industry. The study investigates the needs and requirements of such ompanies in terms of software support for governing the businesses, with particular emphasis on production planning and control (PPC) processes. An empirical analysis investigated two main aspects: (i) the set of business activities performed by the companies in the analysed industry and (ii) the relevant, high-level software functionalities required for the execution of such activities. As an answer to the observed compelling need for reviewing the general approaches to PPC in machinery-building companies, we develop an empirical, high-level production planning and scheduling reference framework, encompassing all the activities involved in the order fulfilment process.restrictedopenAdrodegari, Federico; Bacchetti, Andrea; Pinto, Roberto; Pirola, Fabiana; Zanardini, MassimoAdrodegari, Federico; Bacchetti, Andrea; Pinto, Roberto; Pirola, Fabiana; Zanardini, Massim

IoT-enabled planning, control, and execution in ETO manufacturing: dynamics, requirements, and system architecture: a case study of Brunvoll AS

Confidential until 18. May 202

IoT-technological maturity model development and maturity assessment of Norwegian manufacturing companies

Confidential until 24. May 202

Improving coordination in an engineer-to-order supply chain using a soft systems approach

An empirical study in the ship-building sector has been undertaken to understand the problems associated with the coordination of engineer-to-order (ETO) supply chains and to reveal insights into opportunities for improvements based on the application of soft systems methodology. A number of alternatives to improve coordination of supply chain have been proposed based on the comparison between a soft systems model and actual practice. These alternatives were summarised into seven general principles that help define the role of individual companies in coordinating ETO supply chains, highlighting the company’s structures and interdependencies that lead to project tardiness. Due to the specific nature of a project which changes according to the context, it is difficult to generalise the soft systems model. Nevertheless, future research can further explore some of the principles proposed to deal with coordination problems experienced in other types of ETO project operations, such as construction and oil and gas