Redesigning work organizations and technologies: experiences from European projects

Currently distributed business process (re) design (resulting in components of business networks) basically relies on technical criteria. And that are the main purposes of most research projects supported by EC. Through the process of building a European Research Area, this means a strong influence in the national research programmes. However it is generally accepted that it should also take into account social criteria and aspects such as the quality of working life, or participation in decision processes. Those were some of the objectives of projects in de 80s decade, and framed some of the main concepts and scientific approaches to work organisation. The democratic participation of network and organisations members in the design process is a critical success factor. This is not accepted by everyone, but is based in sufficient case studies. Nevertheless, in order to achieve an optimization that can satisfying the requirements of agility of a network of enterprises, more complex design methods must be developed. Thus, the support to the collaborative design of distributed work in a network of enterprises, through a concurrent approaching business processes, work organisation and task content is a key factor to achieve such purposes. Increasing needs in terms of amounts of information, agility, and support for collaboration without time and space constrains, imposes the use of a computer-based model.business process; networks; decision processes; collaborative design;

Regional networking as success factor in the transformation processes of maritime industry: Experiences and perspectives from Baltic Sea countries

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Hacia una plataforma tecnológica y de aglomeración del sector astillero del caribe colombiano

The need to create the conditions to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the shipyard sector in the Caribbean Region, is framed in the greatest challenges and technological advances, especially in the adoption of technologies in the naval industry, which implies the making of investment decisions Based on the development of research and development activities. Agglomeration (clusterization) tend to define articulating and animating agents that allow the establishment of a technological and competitiveness agenda (technological platform) for the adoption of a new model based on innovation and technological development. The world-wide experiences of the role of the generation of technologies are varied, not only from the private but also public scope for the competitive improvement in the shipyard sector. In the Caribbean region, thanks to COTECMAR's trajectory, some of its capabilities could be oriented to define, on the one hand, the medium- and long-term strategy for the shipyard sector, on the other, to establish a market and technology intelligence center and finally to define itself as An animator between the different public and private actors that lead to the development of important technology projects based on innovative processes of transfer and commercialization, without losing its mission of being a guarantor of National Security and Defense.La necesidad de crear las condiciones para mejorar la productividad y competitividad del sector astillero en Colombia, se enmarca en los mayores desafíos y avances tecnológicos, especialmente en la adopción de tecnologías en la industria naval, lo que implica la toma de decisiones de inversión fundamentadas en el desarrollo de las actividades de investigación y desarrollo. Las tendencias de aglomeración (clusterización) pasan por definir agentes articuladores y animadores que permitan establecer una agenda tecnológica y de competitividad (plataforma tecnológica) para la adopción de un nuevo modelo sustentado en la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico. Son variadas las experiencias a nivel mundial del papel que juega la generación de tecnologías, no solamente desde el ámbito privado sino público para la mejora competitiva en el sector astillero. En la región Caribe, gracias a la trayectoria de COTECMAR, podrían orientarse algunas de sus capacidades para definir de un lado la estrategia de mediano y largo plazo para el sector astillero, de otro establecer un centro de inteligencia de mercados y tecnologías y finalmente definirse como un animador entre los diferentes actores públicos y privados que conlleven al desarrollo de importantes proyectos de tecnologías sustentado en novedosos procesos de transferencia y comercialización, sin perder su misión de ser garante de la Seguridad y Defensa Nacional.

A Paradigm Shift: Supply Chain Collaboration and Competition in and between Europe’s Chemical Clusters

With the attention of the chemical industry focused on exploiting the low cost feedstocks in the Middle East and the growth markets of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South East Asia, this report provides a timely reminder to policy makers, chemical companies and logistics service providers of the significant opportunities for improving business potential in Europe’s chemical clusters. Europe is still the largest, most sophisticated global market for chemical products, with a well developed, efficient, highly productive asset base, sound infrastructure, leading edge research and development and significant purchasing power. Provided these advantages are sustained, including continued attention to asset maintenance and operational and supply chain improvements, Europe can remain a competitive force in the global market place, despite what the doom-mongers may say to the contrary. ..

Synergistic collaborations and efficiencies for offshore wind clusters in the Northeast

There are nine offshore wind projects currently being developed off the Northeast coast of the United States. These projects will supply Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York with multiple gigawatts of renewable energy over the next few years. Each is treated as a standalone project with specific permitting requirements and different ownership structures. There is a strong competition among offshore wind developers to secure state offtake agreements and find optimal locations for port facilities and onshore grid interconnections. Due to this competition, finding synergies between nearby projects has been limited. This research looks into potential synergies between the cluster of offshore wind projects being developed in terms of logistics, operations, as well as environmental and performance monitoring. Synergies among the proposed projects can lower costs for developers by sharing resources while creating local offshore wind hubs of expertise. Interviews were conducted with industry experts in Europe and the United States to discuss the efficacy of collaboration between clusters of offshore wind projects. The research has found the strongest synergy potential between individual developer portfolios in terms in installation and operational logistics. Policy recommendations such as creating larger port facilities to accommodate multiple projects are considered to allow for lower costs and improved integration. Inter-developer synergies are more difficult to be realized but are possible for non-competitive activities and helping to secure the necessary resources and workforce needed for this industry. Over the next few years there will be additional state offtake agreements which may provide a better view of potential synergies in the Northeast

The governance of Singapore’s knowledge clusters: off shore marine business and waterhub

Based on two case studies of knowledge clusters (off shore marine/rig business and water hub) in Singapore, the paper illustrates the importance of good knowledge governance in creating robust and value-creating knowledge clusters. We begin by defining key terms used such as knowledge clusters, hubs and governance, followed by a short historical account of good knowledge governance for Singapore’s development. The two cases studies of knowledge clusters presented here include (i) the offshore oil rig business (Keppel) which we posit as an example of innovative value creation based on sophisticated fabrication methods and R&D as well as (ii) the island republic’s dynamic and rapidly emerging, global hydrohub called ‘WaterHub’. We examine the structural characteristics of both clusters, assess their progress based on the cluster lifecycle literature, highlight key governance enablers required to create and sustain such competitive hubs and draw conclusions for K4D latecomers

BESTFACT Best Practice Handbook 3

The Best Practice Handbook (BPH) gives an overview about current concepts, strategies and actions in freight transport all over Europe. It is disseminating information on successful projects and practices to increase awareness and share experiences. It is enabling knowledge transfer and supporting transferability for best practices. The third and last Best Practice Handbook focuses on the work done over the entire project, with 157 inventory cases and 60 in-depth analyses. After four years of case collection a wide field of solutions is available. The main findings of the BESTFACT cases are cross-checked and summarised for each of the cluster topics. The consistent form of collection and information provision broadens the structural understanding of best practice cases. The synthesis of cases per topic shows that under consideration of barriers and framework conditions replicable impacts are achievable. Main editors are Martin Ruesch & Simon Bohne (Rapptrans) and Jacques Leonardi (UoW). Project leader is Marcel Huschebeck (PTV)

Internal report cluster 1: Urban freight innovations and solutions for sustainable deliveries (1/4)

Technical report about sustainable urban freight solutions, part 1 of