Knowledge creation and visualisation by using trade-off curves to enable set-based concurrent engineering

The increased international competition forces companies to sustain and improve market share through the production of a high quality product in a cost effective manner and in a shorter time. Set‑based concurrent engineering (SBCE), which is a core element of lean product development approach, has got the potential to decrease time‑to‑market as well as enhance product innovation to be produced in good quality and cost effective manner. A knowledge‑based environment is one of the important requ irements for a successful SBCE implementation. One way to provide this environment is the use of trade‑off curves (ToC). ToC is a tool to create and visualise knowledge in the way to understand the relationships between various conflicting design parame ters to each other. This paper presents an overview of different types of ToCs and the role of knowledge‑based ToCs in SBCE by employing an extensive literature review and industrial field study. It then proposes a process of generating and using knowledg e‑based ToCs in order to create and visualise knowledge to enable the following key SBCE activities: (1) Identify the feasible design space, (2) Generate set of conceptual design solutions, (3) Compare design solutions, (4) Narrow down the design sets, (5) Achieve final optimal design solution. Finally a hypothetical example of a car seat structure is presented in order to provide a better understanding of using ToCs. This example shows that ToCs are effective tools to be used as a knowledge sou rce at the early stages of product development process

A Framework to support aerospace knowledge transfer to developing countries via collaborative projects

There are economic, strategic and technological needs for establishing a national aerospace sector in many developing countries. This is to support the growing demands for aerospace related products and to encourage international collaborations. International collaboration projects can cost billions of US dollars, but provide opportunities to access and gain aerospace knowledge in terms of skills, technologies and infrastructure related to the purchased aerospace systems. While there are several options for international technology transfer, there are currently no effective approaches, specifically in aerospace knowledge transfer, for international collaboration projects between developed and developing countries. There is a need for a specific framework to guide developing countries in this task and to overcome different transfer challenges. This paper presents an aerospace knowledge transfer framework (Aero-KT) to effectively manage knowledge transfer into developing countries during international aerospace collaboration projects

A framework of industrial sustainability good practices

Global environmental problems, energy and raw material prices as well as their availability, increasingly demanding legislation and environmental taxes are some of the reasons that drive the consideration of sustainability concepts and practices into company operations. This paper presents the research carried out in order to capture industrial sustainability good practices and represent them into a framework to help companies increase their awareness and adopt practices to embed them within their operational processes

Challenges of model-based definition for high-value manufacturing

Manufacturing Industry is moving towards adoption of 3D models as the ultimate authoritative source for complete product definition replacing 2D drawings, which is called “Model-Based Definition”. Starting its journey from geometric information on design, manufacturing, and inspection, the targets are to achieve the ultimate goal of lifecycle model based enterprise, requiring MBD to be more comprehensive and challenging structure of information instead of just a geometric model. The industry has not yet fully achieved implementation of MBD to whole product lifecycle. This journey is long and tough, and we are still at an early stage, but it will be a decisive factor in gaining competitive advantage by the early adopters, especially in high-value manufacturing. Complete adoption of MBD has several issues and challenges that need to be addressed. This paper presents a review of current literature, intending to cover present state of knowledge, issues, challenges, and future research directions, in the development and adoption of MBD

The impact of organizational culture on employee engagement in Saudi Banks

The Saudi Banking industry is an important component of Saudi Arabia Economy. In the view of the high volume of business activities, Saudi Banks are keen to encourage employee participation and employee engagement. These behaviours will help banks in managing their business activities and business development. This paper provides a stimulating opportunity to advance the knowledge of the link between organizational culture, and employee engagement, at Saudi banks. This research paper will investigate the organizational culture enablers and inhibitors of employee engagement in Saudi Arabia Banks. This research is a qualitative approach; the method used is a grounded theory. Data collection adopted an issue focus approach. Interviews were conducted with Bank line managers, and subordinates. The results revealed that the enabler factors that contribute most to employee engagement enablers were training and development, organizational communication, reward, and recognition. Results revealed that Islamic culture has an influence on employee engagement in Saudi banks. This influence shown was in Non- interest bearing transactions, and the female segregation rule

Developing a framework to facilitate an improvement culture: the case of Saudi Arabia

This research explores aspects of organizational culture to facilitate continuous improvement within nonprofit organizations. Research shows that organizational culture plays a significant role in driving organizations and that they benefit from continuous improvement. The nonprofit sector contributes much to the economy and well-being, but is still often neglected; hence, Saudi nonprofit organizations are here the location for building a framework that promotes a culture of continuous improvement. In this qualitative research, grounded theory is the chosen approach. Eighteen interviews in nine organizations yielded data which, when analysed revealed forty emergent factors, classifiable into six initial themes developed by focus group participants. However, synthesising the framework is still in progress

Knowledge management to support learning analytics in Higher Education

This paper argues based on evidence from the literature that learning analytics, when undertaken by higher education institutions, is not considered within a holistic knowledge management strategy, which could provide significant improvement to the outcomes of learning analytics. Particularly, a synthesis of knowledge extraction via learning analytics and appropriate handling of such knowledge via knowledge management is not typically implemented in higher education practices, but it constitutes a promising path to improving it, and eventually contributes to improving learning services. Essentially, knowledge management can support improvements and innovation in analytics tools, translate an organisation's strategic vision into action, and enable sharing of information among different actors. These are all necessary requirements for effective learning analytics

Organizational cultural factors influencing continuous improvement in Saudi universities

Continuous Improvement (CI) is described as a culture of sustainable improvements aimed at making organizational processes and systems increasingly efficient. The importance of CI, especially in higher education institutions (HEIs), relies heavily on those institutions’ importance in the success of individuals, organizations and countries as a whole. Despite its importance, there is a lack of sufficient studies on the role of CI in the success of universities in Saudi Arabia. This paper aims to identify the organizational cultural factors (OC) that influence CI efforts within the Saudi HEIs, in order to provide an understanding of the enabling and inhibiting factors of such efforts. This study has adopted a qualitative grounded theory approach, which aims to identify the OC aspects that have an impact on the CI of Saudi HEIs. It identifies eight themes that influence CI implementation in Saudi HEIs, which are: External Engagement, Institutional management, Skills Enhancement, Institutional Strategies, Development & Growth, Obstacles To Success, Ethical Issues and University Infrastructure

Set-Based Concurrent Engineering Model for Automotive Electronic/Software Systems Development

Organised by: Cranfield UniversityThis paper is presenting a proposal of a novel approach to automotive electronic/software systems development. It is based on the combination of Set-Based Concurrent Engineering, a Toyota approach to product development, with the standard V-Model of software development. Automotive industry currently faces the problem of growing complexity of electronic/software systems. This issue is especially visible at the level of integration of these systems which is difficult and error-prone. The presented conceptual proposal is to establish better processes that could handle the electronic/software systems design and development in a more integrated and consistent manner.Mori Seiki – The Machine Tool Compan

A framework for implementing lean principles in the supply chain management at healthcare organizations: Saudi's perspective

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to present lean implementation in hospital supply chain management (HSCM) and propose a new conceptual framework tailored specifically to the needs of Saudi health-care organizations. Design/methodology/approach This paper starts with an in-depth review of existing frameworks or models for lean implementation in health care in general and in HSCM specifically. Based on the literature studies and taking experts’ opinions into account, a new framework for lean implementation in the Saudi HSCM is presented. Findings A new lean implementation framework is offered to decision-makers in the health-care organization for implementing a lean approach in HSCM practices. Research limitations/implications This study focused on health-care organizations, which were selected from hospitals operated by the Ministry of Health and only those hospitals that are accredited by both the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions and the Joint Commission International. The framework is limited to Saudi health care. Practical implications The lean supply chain management (LSCM) framework is easy to understand and use without much complexity. This simplicity makes the LSCM applicable in health-care settings. Further, LSCM was validated in three different hospitals, and it helped them to identify and improve their non-added activities, thereby readying them for lean deployment in HSCM. Originality/value Little attention has been paid to implementing a lean approach by health-care providers in developing countries. This study presents a new framework that is considered the first of its kind for implementing lean in HSCM in Saudi. This framework could help HSCMs’ decision-makers to implement lean successfully in HSCM practices