Implementing a design thinking approach to de-risk the digitalisation of manufacturing SMEs

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has proposed a significant shift in the way companies approach manufacturing. However, this new paradigm is not without faults. The integration of processes and equipment (‘digitalisation’) can be prohibitively expensive or too technically complex for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources and technical expertise. Another barrier to digitalisation lies in the ambiguity of not knowing what precise practices to adopt to improve productivity. Although these challenges have been identified in the literature, there is still little evidence on how to tackle them. Thus, we explore how design thinking can help overcome these challenges, given that it has been used in many organisations and disciplines to deal with complex and ambiguous problems. We do so by investigating the research question ‘How can designers and design thinking processes assist manufacturing SMEs’ digitalisation?’ We address this research question by presenting a case study of a university–industry collaboration where the authors utilised a design-thinking process to select and implement technologies to capture, process and analyse data for an Australian medical device manufacturer. By reflecting on the case study, we identified the user-centeredness of design thinking as crucial in selecting technologies for implementation that prioritised usability and brought value to all stakeholders. Furthermore, iterative prototyping was critical to scale up the required expertise and deliver a successful sustainable solution without investing vast resources. Our work suggests that designers and design thinking have the potential to help de-risk digitalisation. Finally, we suggest a framework that may assist in guiding other SMEs approaching digitalisation and provide a starting point for further design thinking research in this area

3D printing and the third mission : the university in the materialization of intellectual capital

The production, diffusion and preservation of knowledge are the main goals of universities, which are critical nodes for mediating intellectual capital. In recent years, 3D printing (additive manufacturing) technologies are emerging as a possible disruptive or transformative force in the knowledge economy and by extension the material economy as consumers are given the affordance of materializing information into real-world objects. To understand the role universities will play in this potential convergence of the material and knowledge economies, this paper surveys current levels of involvement of tertiary institutions in 3D printing. The paper projects how the materialization of data will affect a range of social dynamics for creators-cum-consumers at different scales: community, region and nation-state and applies case studies to the multilevel perspective (MLP) framework. Studies are considered in three empirical cases: Berlin in Germany, Lancashire in the United Kingdom, and the United States. The research indicates that the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) ‘America Makes’ Program is a top-down knowledge dissemination program for 3D printing. In contrast, the UK Lancaster University Product Development Unit (LPDU) is a 3D-printing value-network, which has developed organically over a decade of operation. Fablab Berlin is a local initiative loosely coupled with industry and tertiary education providers. The paper proposes a future-oriented conceptual framework to capture a variety of present-day university engagements with additive manufacturing in terms of intellectual capital

The integration of 3D carbon-electrode dielectrophoresis on a CD-like centrifugal microfluidic platform

We introduce the integration of a novel dielectrophoresis (DEP)-assisted filter with a compact disk (CD)-based centrifugal platform. Carbon-electrode dielectrophoresis (carbon-DEP) refers to the use of carbon electrodes to induce DEP. In this work, 3D carbon electrodes are fabricated using the C-MEMS technique and are used to implement a DEP-enabled active filter to trap particles of interest. Compared to traditional planar metal electrodes, 3D carbon electrodes allow for superior filtering efficiency. The system includes mounting modular 3D carbon-DEP chips on an electrically interfaced rotating disk. This allows simple centrifugal pumping to replace the large footprint syringe pump approaches commonly used in DEP systems. The advantages of the CD setup include not only a reduced footprint, but also complexity and cost reduction by eliminating expensive precision pumps and fluidic interconnects. To demonstrate the viability of this system we quantified the filter efficiency in the DEP trapping of yeast cells from a mix of latex and yeast cells. Results demonstrate selective filtering at flow rates up to 35 l min-1. The impact of electrode height, DEP chip misalignment and particle sedimentation on filter efficiency and the advantages this system represents are analyzed. The ultimate goal is to obtain an automated platform for bioparticle sorting with application in different fields such as point-of-care diagnostics and cell-based therapies

From benchtop to bedroom : how frugal innovation practices can drive innovation within the condom industry

This chapter discusses the urgent needs for innovation in the condom industry and highlights the role that frugal innovation (FI) theory can play in changing the legacies of condom materials and manufacturing. Condoms are unique, being the only medical device that can simultaneously prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The most successful FIs are not only low cost or “good-enough”, but outperform the alternative, and can be made available at large scale. Condom innovation like Geldom can shift the market to support the delicate interplay between commercial sales–of which there are large growth opportunities in developing world markets–and free or subsidised condoms in a total market approach. Condom use in resource-limited settings more likely happens when people can reach them at little-to-no cost, and the supply chain can be strengthened by applying a total market approach that combines public sector distribution, social marketing, and private sector sale

Validation of a centrifugal microfluidic sample lysis and homogenization platform for nucleic acid extraction with clinical samples

The applications of microfluidic technologies in medical diagnostics continue to increase, particularly in the field of nucleic acid diagnostics. While much attention has been focused on the development of nucleic acid amplification and detection platforms, sample preparation is often taken for granted or ignored all together. Specifically, little or no consideration is paid to the development of microfluidic systems that efficiently extract nucleic acids from biological samples. Here, a centrifugal microfluidic platform for mechanical sample lysis and homogenization is presented. The system performs sample lysis through a magnetically actuated bead-beating system followed by a centrifugal clarification step. The supernatant is then transferred for extraction using a unique siphon. Several other new microfluidic functions are implemented on this centrifugal platform as well, including sample distribution, a unique hydraulic capillary valve, and self-venting. Additionally, the improved system has features with a small footprint designed specifically for integration with further downstream processing steps. Biological validation of the platform is performed using Bacillus subtilis spores and clinical samples (nasopharyngeal aspirates) for respiratory virus detection. The platform was found to be as efficient as in-tube bead-beating lysis and homogenization for nucleic acid extraction, and capable of processing 4 samples in batch to near PCR-ready products in under 6 min

Centrifugal microfluidics for biomedical applications

The centrifugal microfluidic platform has been a focus of academic and industrial research efforts for almost 40 years. Primarily targeting biomedical applications, a range of assays have been adapted on the system; however, the platform has found limited commercial success as a research or clinical tool. Nonetheless, new developments in centrifugal microfluidic technologies have the potential to establish wide-spread utilization of the platform. This paper presents an in-depth review of the centrifugal microfluidic platform, while highlighting recent progress in the field and outlining the potential for future applications. An overview of centrifugal microfluidic technologies is presented, including descriptions of advantages of the platform as a microfluidic handling system and the principles behind centrifugal fluidic manipulation. The paper also discusses a history of significant centrifugal microfluidic platform developments with an explanation of the evolution of the platform as it pertains to academia and industry. Lastly, we review the few centrifugal microfluidic-based sample-to-answer analysis systems shown to date and examine the challenges to be tackled before the centrifugal platform can be more broadly accepted as a new diagnostic platform. In particular, fully integrated, easy to operate, inexpensive and accurate microfluidic tools in the area of in vitro nucleic acid diagnostics are discussed

Carbon microelectromechanical systems as a substratum for cell growth

The study of the biocompatible properties of carbon microelectromechanical systems (carbon-MEMS) shows that this new microfabrication technique is a promising approach to create novel platforms for the study of cell physiology. Four different types of substrates were tested, namely, carbon-MEMS on silicon and quartz wafers, indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass and oxygen-plasma-treated carbon thin films. Two cell lines, murine dermal fibroblasts and neuroblastoma spinal cord hybrid cells (NSC-34) were plated onto the substrates. Both cell lines showed preferential adhesion to the selectively plasma-treated regions in carbon films. Atomic force microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses demonstrated that the oxygen-plasma treatment modifies the physical and chemical properties of carbon, thereby enhancing the adsorption of extracellular matrix-forming proteins on its surface. This accounts for the differential adhesion of cells on the plasma-treated areas. As compared to the methods reported to date, this technique achieves alignment of the cells on the carbon electrodes without relying on direct patterning of surface molecules. The results will be used in the future design of novel biochemical sensors, drug screening systems and basic cell physiology research devices