The estimation of experience curves in the auto parts industry in Japan

This article examines the effects of cumulating experience on cost behavior in the auto parts industry in Japan.Based on the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) database, experience curves are estimated foreach of 46 items of auto parts during 1960-97. The results of the analysis are as follows: the prices of 28 items fallby 4-1.990891e+00ach time cumulative volume doubles; the ones of 2 items rise by 5-0x1.fc06cb6a47bp+0s cumulative volume dou-bles; and the rest of items are either indifferent to production volume or statistically insignificant. The evidencesupports the existence of experience curve effects in the auto parts industry in Japan. This article also discussesstrategic implications of experience curve effects in the auto parts industry. The findings suggest that expandingstrategy should be employed in conjunction with complementary capabilities such as product development skills,sophisticated logistics functions, and capacities to manage inter-firm relationship in order to expand a market shareand to increase production volume

Fungicidal Action of Hydroxyl Radicals Generated by Ultrasound in Water

It is well known that hydroxyl radicals are generated by ultrasound in water. This study with an electron spin resonance spin-trapping technique showed that hydroxyl radical generation was positively correlated with ultrasound duration and water temperature. The clear fungicidal action against Trichophyton spp. evident by studying cultured cells and the degradation of cytoplasmic and surface structures observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy suggest that ultrasound in hot water is effective for sterilization of dermatophyte contamination and could be effective for the treatment of tinea infection

Continuous release of O2−/ONOO− in plasma-exposed HEPES-buffered saline promotes TRP channel-mediated uptake of a large cation

Although the externally controllable extracellular supply of the short-lived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, such as O2•−, •NO, and ONOO−, could potentially manipulate cellular functions, their simple administration to cells is likely to be ineffective due to their rapid deactivation. In this study, we found a method of a continuous supply of O2•−/ONOO− over a few minutes, which is triggered by irradiation of a nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma to commonly used organic buffers (e.g., 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid, HEPES). In addition, a continuous low-dose O2•−/ONOO− supply was shown to induce a physiologically relevant Ca2+ response and subsequently the uptake of a large cation mediated by transient receptor potential channel family member(s). Our results provide a novel approach to the continuous O2•−/ONOO− supply, requiring controllable and mass-volume treatments

Localization of Parts Suply toward Strengthening Competitiveness of Automotive Industry in Kyushu

本稿では、九州自動車産業における部品の地元調達化の課題を生産システム全体の競争力強化の観点から検討した。生産システムの全体像を車両(部品)設計-工程設計-生産活動の重層関係として捉え、部品の地元調達化に影響を与える特性として以下の4点を指摘した。すなわち、車両(部品)設計の完結性、車両設計と工程設計の分離可能性、工程のコスト構造、工程間の相互依存性である。これらの特性と九州が開発機能なき生産拠点であるという事実を踏まえ、地元調達化の課題として、QCDの強化、工程連鎖の最適化、部品統合、研究開発機能強化の考え方について考察を行った。This article discusses challenges for localization of parts supply in automotive industry in Kyushu from the perspective of production system. By viewing production system as multiple layers of vehicle design, production design and production operations, four attributes, which will affect localization of parts supply, are indicated: independency of vehicle and/or parts design, separability of vehicle/parts design and process design, cost structure of production process, and interdependency among production processes. Taking into account of these attributes and the fact that Kyushu is production site without R&D functions, the article suggests implications about improvement of production competitiveness of local suppliers, optimization of chain of production processes, integration of parts, and enhancement of R&D functions in automotive industry in Kyushu

A Review on the Design Structure Matrix as an Analytical Tool for Product Development Management

本稿の目的は、複雑な製品開発を分析するためのツールである設計構造マトリックス(DSM: DesignStructure Matrix)について、その基本概念と最近の研究動向を整理するとともに、DSMの分析ツールとしての利点と限界点を明らかにすることである。DSMは、開発製品や開発組織などをシステムの観点から捉え、システムを構成する要素間の依存関係を簡潔に示す行列である。分析対象に応じて、コンポーネントDSM、チームDSM、タスクDSM、パラメータDSMなどがある。 近年の研究動向を見ると、(1)開発製品や開発組織の構造を最適化する流れと(2)開発プロセスを最適化する流れがある。構造の最適化には主にクラスタリング、プロセスの最適化にはパーティショニングといった分析手法が用いられる。 他の製品開発手法と比較したDSMの利点は、記述する情報の簡潔性、網羅性、一覧性、操作性の良さにある。ただし、DSMは分析手法の一つに過ぎず、製品開発のすべてを分析できるわけではない。DSMには、要素間の未知の依存関係に対する脆弱性、スタティックな分析アプローチ、組織の知識蓄積に関する分析の弱さといった限界点があることに留意する必要がある。This article reviews fundamental concepts and analytical techniques of design structure matrix (DSM) as well as recent development of DSM studies. The DSM is a matrix representation of relationships between components of a complex system, such as products, development organizations and processes. Depending on targets of analysis, there are four basic types of DSM: Component-based DSM, Team-based DSM, Task-based DSM, and Parameter-based DSM. There are two streams of recent DSM studies: 1) optimization of product design and organizational structure and 2) optimization of development process. The former employs clustering, whereas the latter does partitioning. The advantages of the DSMs, compared with other analysis tools, are its conciseness, completeness, and operationality. However, DSMs are not a panacea. The article also discusses some constraints of the DSMs, such as its vulnerability to unknown dependency between components, a static nature of the analytical approach, and relatively weak implications for organizational learning