Virtual ergonomics and time optimization of a railway coach assembly line

The recent drive towards timely multiple product realizations has caused most Manufacturing Enterprises (MEs) to develop more flexible assembly lines supported by better manufacturing design and planning. The aim of this work is to develop a methodology which will support feasibility analyses of assembly tasks, in order to simulate either a manufacturing process or a single work-cell in which digital human models act. The methodology has been applied in a case study relating to a railway industry. Simulations were applied to help standardize the methodology and suggest new solutions for realizing ergonomic and efficient assembly processes in the railway industry

The integrated use of enterprise and system dynamics modelling techniques in manufacturing enterprises

Enterprise modelling (EM) techniques support manufacturing process (re) engineering by capturing ‘as-is’ processes and based on perceived outputs, support the design of ‘to-be’ process models capable of meeting manufacturing systems requirements. On the other hand, system dynamics (SD) modelling tools are used extensively for policy analysis and modelling aspects of dynamics which impact on businesses. In this paper, the use of EM and SD modelling techniques has been integrated to facilitate qualitative and quantitative reasoning about the structures and behaviours of processes and resource systems used by a Manufacturing Enterprise (ME) during the production of composite bearings

A Methodology for Assessing the Cost Effectiveness of Assembly Processes

Part 6: Process Selecting and Modelling TechniquesInternational audienceAssembly processes are undergoing frequent changes as a result of the current drive for agility and rapid product solutions. These changes induce complexities and dynamics in the survival of most Manufacturing Enterprises (MEs). To remain competitive, MEs have to continuously and flexibly adjust through the redesign and organisation of their manufacturing and assembly processes as well as resource elements, with the aim to improve ‘cost’ and ‘values’ generated. Cost and values are part of key performance indicators necessary for determining the economic viability of assembly processes. The paper therefore presents a methodology capable of capturing, modelling and using information related to cost and value generation for in-depth assembly process analysis. This form of analysis can help determine assembly process efficiency and therefore support the selection or redesign of assembly processes for maximum value realisation at minimal cost

Knowledge Transfer Practices: A Means of Sustainable Career Development Among Non-Academic Senior Members in Ghana

The goal of this article is to look into how knowledge transfer practices might help non-academic senior members in Ghana maintain their career progress. The research was founded on interpretive philosophical assumptions, and a multiple case study design was employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of knowledge transfer methods among non-academic senior members of Ghanaian universities. Non-academic senior members of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Cape Coast (UCC) and University of Ghana (UG) make up the study's population. The non-academic senior members of the study were chosen from fifteen (15) colleges within the institutions, and data was acquired through semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The results show that face-to-face interaction, after-action reviews, discussion forums, documentation, workshops, brainstorming and seminars were the most common methods for knowledge transfer. Non-academic senior members benefit from this type of information transfer in their career paths and development. Institutions should build up a knowledge portal where personnel may readily access material from other units or sections within their context, according to the recommendations

Modelling dynamic value streams in support of process design and evaluation

To remain competitive, most manufacturing enterprises (MEs) need cost-effective and responsive business processes with capability to realise multiple value streams specified by changes in customer needs. Models of MEs can play a critical role in enabling enhanced enterprise process and systems design and change based on analysis of their performance, and ongoing management and control of their operation. Typical models of MEs can provide reusable computational representations of organisational structures, processes, information, resources and related value flows in an enterprise. This paper presents a dynamic modelling approach to value stream mapping which enhances current best practice when reasoning about changing process and resource systems requirements. Here, coherent use of enterprise and simulation modelling techniques were deployed to develop value streams of a case study enterprise which is a make-to-order furniture manufacturing SME. The paper explains how models created during the modelling stages were validated and reused as a basis for informed SME decision making in relation to product realisation strategies and related organisation design and change decisions and actions