Recognition of Machined Features from Solid Database of Prismatic Components

The automation of process planning requires features to he recognized directly from a computer aided design (CAD) system. This paper presents a new technique for recognition of machined features using point classification technique with a logic-based approach. Boundary r~presentation of solid modelling is used to model a prismatic component. The system is developed entirely in the AutoCAD environment, and the AutoLISP language was used to build the recognition system as it has direct access to the database. Test results are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the feature recognition algorithm. This paper concentrates on depression and protrusion type machined features

Innovative cases of triz application in automotive industry

It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore that cost reduction in product system are not supporting the development of innovation. This contradiction become a great challange for any type of industry, to improve the competitive level. In this research, the focuses on the mechanism of cost reduction using Design To Cost strategy in achieving cost improvment and innovation. The contradiction is solved using Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) that is integrated into Design To Cost Innovation framework. There are two type of cases intorduce in this research that highlight the application and the outcome of TRIZ in Design To Cost framework. From the case studies, the results shows that the magnitude of cost improvement and innovation achieved is more than the application of conventional tools in Design To Cost strategy.This change the limitation of mindset in cost reduction without compromise or trade-off, and open up new possibility of research for cost reduction in processes and services for various application

Triz business improvement and innovation framework for Malaysian small and medium enterprise

MPC and MyTRIZ have focused on the initiative to expose the Malaysia TRIZ Practitioners with the latest TRIZ development to acquire a wider perspective of TRIZ practices around the world, encourage Malaysia TRIZ Community to share ideas and collaborate with TRIZ experts from other countries, and apply the knowledge acquired to develop various new products, processes, services or systems for international and local customers. Hence, in order to ignite the effort, a framework was developed to mobilize the initiative of adopting TRIZ for the Malaysian industries, focusing primarily on Small Medium Enterprise (SME). This research explored the framework to expand the knowledge of TRIZ for the targeted industries. Most of the inputs were extracted from the experienced academicians and industrial experts who have used TRIZ as part of their core subject. The proposed framework is expected to meet the needs of business owners, which focuses on the outcome of any improvement or innovation initiative. The proposed outcome-based improvement framework is intended to suit the Malaysian environment and be able to perform effectively in terms of increasing innovation in the industries

Sustaining Competitiveness Through product Development Activities Within Malaysian Automotive Suppliers

The local automotive suppliers are facing a number of important challenges such asglobalisation, new requirement in market specifications and the competition brought about by theAsean Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreements. In an effort to enhance the competitiveness of themanufacturing sector, the government has implemented the Second Industrial Master Plan, IMP2(1996-2005). The focus of the IMP2 is more on innovation and applications of new technologies, sothat industries can move up the value chain of their activities. Innovative capabilities achieved fromcompanies’ new product development activities have been recognized to be crucial for companies tosustain their competitiveness and organisational success. The importance of product development ismost obvious in the context of the discussion on the competitiveness of the Malaysian automotivesuppliers. The study will focus on the small medium enterprises (SMEs) that make up more than 60 %of these automotive suppliers. The study is to determine the extensiveness of the suppliers’ productdevelopment activities by examining the involvement of the suppliers in customer’s productdevelopment activities. Consequently, the impact of this involvement to the competitiveness of thesuppliers is examined. The results were established based from a survey to parts and componentssuppliers of Proton, the Malaysian car national assembler. The study has shown that the SMEs wereinvolved from the early stages of the product development process that is during the design stage. Theproduct development efforts have shown to contribute towards increasing firms’ market share andfirms were also able to gain a better understanding of future product demand. A significant number ofthe suppliers have managed to penetrate the export market. Unfortunately, among the respondents,there is only one system supplier. This indicates that, either the technological capabilities of theSMEs still needed upgrading for the requirement as a system suppliers or it may not be the onlydeciding factor for suppliers to be chosen as system suppliers. It is intended that this paper shouldserve to inform management in particular the suppliers on the present status of the SMEs in seekingto improve their competitiveness from product development effort.Keywords: Product development, SMEs, automotive suppliers, competitivenes

A case study: maturity assessment of product lifecycle management (PLM) implementation in Malaysia automotive components manufacturing company

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) adoption is very important for companies to sustain and stay competitive in market particularly to the organizations that involving from design to manufacturing. However many companies struggle with implementing PLM because PLM is rather a concept than a system, as its main purpose is to increase product collaboration for effective product innovation with integrated streamline business processes across all functional departments to achieve operational excellence. In order to improve these challenges, maturity assessment for PLM is carried out prior to the actual implementation permitted to define the effective PLM strategic roadmap in according to the current environment condition. In this paper, case study and maturity assessment for local automotive components manufacturing company was conducted. The results are discussed in the theoretical and empirical aspects. The finding showed the importance and practicality of the PLM readiness to the companies. The assessment required to be comprehensive to cover the readiness of (1) data readiness, (2) process readiness and (3) people, culture and IT infrastructure. In general, the PLM maturity assessment is a useful and beneficial tool in the implementation and development of PLM framework

Product lifecycle management technology assessment: a case study in the industrial equipment industry

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) adoption is very important for companies to sustain and stay competitive in market particularly to the organizations that involving from design to manufacturing. Many companies are struggling whether to adopt PLM because implementing PLM involves very extensive changes in intra and inter-organizational practices. PLM assessment is an important activity in the pre-implementation stage to determine the scope of implementation. However, the requirements and scope of implementation are always influenced by the users’ paradigm of “needs” instead of the company’s current PLM maturity level. This research covered the PLM assessment in using Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) focused in PLM technology components. The research was based on case study approach conducted in an Industrial Equipment company. The scope of assessment was to investigate the technology components in respect to data, process and methodology. The empirical results showed PLM technology components prioritization determined through the hierarchy analysis could provide more consistent output compared to user’s direct judgement. The authors argue that PLM assessment in technology components prioritization requires consideration of its maturity level because the outcomes provide a better guideline to define a strategic roadmap for PLM implementation

The adoption of lean principles to reduce resistance to change in transforming a shipyard.

A Shipyard is trying to change, but facing employee Resistance to Change (RTC). Resistance is attributed to the dysfunctional organizational context in the form of technical and political/structural issues giving rise to non-conformance behaviour. An action research was conducted with the author as a participant researcher to understand and identify the underlying behaviour of the employees. Lean production was used as an intervention to re-couple tasks to behavioural elements. Resistance is due to incoherency of a person’s belief in established standards, giving rise to cognitive dissonance. Lean principles reduces dissonance, creating psychological flow in the workforce and the momentum for change. As a result, the shipyard managed to recovered the delay of a ship and delivered it on-time, with cost avoidance of RM63 million in liquidated damage. The Shipyard also managed to reduce the average delay for ships undergoing repair to 6 months, compared to previous average delay of 17 months. This research was a collaboration between the employees and the researcher to identify the source of RTC. The outcome is both, insightful in creating change and contribution to knowledge. The significance of this study is the realization of how individuals and groups’ past behaviour can subconsciously challenge the existence of the organization and better methods. The study provides an exploratory model on the workings of human behavioural elements in Lean production. The knowledge of how the researcher gained utility from resistance and mediate through the application of these techniques would be of considerable benefit to leaders of change management

Education and training is a key success factor of knowledge management implementation: A case study

The transition from the industrial age to knowledge economy age has driven many organizations to recognize the importance of knowledge management (KM). In view of that many organizations attempt to adopt and implement KM to build up their competitive advantage. However, many empirical studies found that not all of the KM initiatives are successful implemented.The main reason is due to the lacking of education and training to the employees in an organization.The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the one of the key success factors of KM implementation, namely education and training with the benefit of KM. The case study was carried out in Spice I-Gate, a Malaysian Retail Chain where the education and training (key success factor) of KM was implemented. Structured interview was conducted in order to examine the education and training (key success factor)after the KM implementation.Finding has testified that education and training is a key success factor of KM that brings the benefits to the organization

Critical success factors of manufacturing solution adoption: a qualitative case study in metal-stamping industry

Manufacturing solution like Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system is designed for the manufacturing organization to link the fragmentation of the data and information because it integrates and streamlines internal processes by providing a suite of software modules that cover all functional areas of a business. However not all ERP system project implementation is successful especially the high-mix industry because the production process is rather complex and requires to involve a lot of resources and time. These have resulted a number of researches focusing on finding the critical success factors (CSFs) of the manufacturing solution implementation. This qualitative research built a case study in a sheet metal-stamping company that operated under Make-To-Order (MTO) and high-mix environment. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and data were coded and analyzed using Nvivo 10 software. Researchers identified 10 Critical Success Factors for high-mix sheet-metal industry. This research also identified 5 success measures on manufacturing solution adoption. Researchers argue that user paradigm on success relied on the system usability and user satisfaction. In conclusion, manufacturing users still have high believed in manufacturing solution implementation because it could bring real benefits to the company eventhough there are implementation challenges

Case studies in implementing dynamic production planning and scheduling system in make-to-order high-mix-low-volume small and medium-scaled industries for production efficiency

To manage a high-mix manufacturing environment efficiently is a big challenge for the small and medium-scaled industries (SMIs) because of the nature of its dynamic and ever changing production environment. This has added extra challenges for the SMIs to adopt the right and suitable computerized system for improvement. This paper reviews the implementation of computerized planning and scheduling system to the make-to-order (MTO) high-mix-low-volume (HMLV) SMIs to overcome their daily production challenges in managing the products, processes and resources. Investigation has been conducted in two local manufacturing companies to study the effectiveness of implementing the planning and scheduling system that has brought improvement to the MTO HMLV production environment. The research was conducted in mixed mode of qualitative and quantitative methods after the software being implemented for a year. The findings show the implementation of the system that can bring improvements overall. However, there are some other challenges not related to the software have been discovered such as human factors. The issues are listed in discussion section. The outcome of this research will accrue to manufacturers through an improved understanding of the operation and performance of implementing the system. The authors recommend further research works to be carried out to determine the other key success factors for MTO HMLV SMIs to implement computerize system to improve overall production efficiency