Thomas Lager

Bio: Thomas Lager is an academic researcher from Grenoble School of Management. The author has contributed to research in topics: Work in process & Process (engineering). The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 32 publications receiving 758 citations. Previous affiliations of Thomas Lager include Luleå University of Technology.

A Structural Analysis of Process Development in Process Industry: A New Classification System for Strategic Project Selection and Portfolio Balancing

Abstract: A research project on the development of process technology in process industry led to recognition of the importance of a better classification of different types of process development. A new classification system and matrix have consequently been developed, using the dimensions "newness to the world" and "newness to the company". The distribution of annual company expenditures for process development in the matrix and the estimated usability of the matrix have been tested as part of a larger survey conducted among R&D managers in European process industry. In view of the favourable response from industry, it is argued that the matrix could facilitate company portfolio balancing of process development projects, and that it is also necessary to distinguish between different types of process development in academic research.

The Industrial Usability of Quality Function Deployment: A Literature Review and Synthesis on a Meta-Level

Abstract: Quality function deployment (QFD) is a development methodology that has been in industrial use for about 30 years. For industry professionals, it is thus important to know what type of outcomes they can expect from using QFD, but also how to behave according to best practice. In this paper, the research results from nine studies of the industrial usability of the QFD methodology have been reviewed, analysed and synthesised on a meta-level. In this meta-analysis, a new framework for the assessment of methodologies has been developed, and the QFD methodology as such has also been used as a research instrument. The results show that the previously often-cited most important outcome, 'shorter time-to-market', has no scientific support at all. The good news is that the outcomes 'better products' and 'improved information dissemination and retrieval' have strong support.

Equipment supplier/user collaboration in the process industries: In search of enhanced operating performance

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical insight and practical guidance on how both process firms and equipment manufacturers can address the challenges posed by collaboration during the operational stage of the process technology/equipment life cycle.Design/methodology/approach – Motives and driving forces for entering collaborative projects far from always converge, and while some projects require deep and long‐lasting relationships, others call for pure transactions and arms‐length relationships. The questions of why, when and how collaboration should take place and be organised and managed are addressed and discussed in the light of the literature on technology diffusion and technology transfer, and supplemented by ideas from industry professionals.Findings – A tentative list of potential pros and cons has been compiled to serve as an embryo for further creation of a more complete set of expected outcomes with a view to developing a firm benchmarking instrument for establishing ne...

The industrial usability of quality function deployment: a literature review and synthesis on a meta‐level

Abstract: Quality function deployment (QFD) is a development methodology that has been in industrial use for about 30 years. For industry professionals, it is thus important to know what type of outcomes they can expect from using QFD, but also how to behave according to best practice. In this paper, the research results from nine studies of the industrial usability of the QFD methodology have been reviewed, analysed and synthesised on a meta-level. In this meta-analysis, a new framework for the assessment of methodologies has been developed, and the QFD methodology as such has also been used as a research instrument. The results show that the previously often-cited most important outcome, ‘shorter time-to-market’, has no scientific support at all. The good news is that the outcomes ‘better products’ and ‘improved information dissemination and retrieval’ have strong support.

Product and process development intensity in process industry: a conceptual and empirical analysis of the allocation of company resources for the development of process technology

Abstract: In Process Industry, process development traditionally takes a large part of the company's total development efforts, but has nevertheless not received much attention in academic studies. As a part of a larger research project concerning process development in Process Industry, the allocation of company resources to R&D, and to process development in particular, has been investigated in an exploratory survey to R&D managers in European Process Industry (Mining & Mineral Industry, Food & Beverage Industry, Pulp & Paper Industry, Chemical Industry, Basic Metal Industry, and Other Process Industry). The results show that of the total resources for R&D, 40% was allocated to process development, and over 60% of the companies expected this figure to increase in the future. This figure not only shows the future importance of process development, but also indicates that the importance of product development in this group of companies is at present still rated higher than process development. The results from the study do not fit the most widely used theoretical models, and it is concluded that there is a need for better models with more explanatory power. The new concepts of product and process development intensity are introduced. The product and process development intensities can be looked upon as aggregated measures of individual development efforts by a company, and it is thus argued that they are of overall company strategic importance.

Lessons from Innovation Empirical Studies in the Manufacturing Sector: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 1993-2003

Abstract: Provides a systematic review of empiricalarticles published in scholarly periodicals between 1993 and 2003 on the topicof technological innovations in the manufacturing sector. The goals of thisreview are to identify the variables that determine the innovative behavior andcapacity of firms and to explore how the authors of the articles approached andmeasure innovation. A careful study of 108 articles uncovers various internal variables (i.e.,specific to the firm) and contextual variables (i.e., related to the firm'senvironment) that shape a firm's innovative activities. The internal variablescan be grouped into such categories as general firm characteristics,strategies, structure, control, organizational culture, the management team andfunctional assets. Among the external variables are such types asindustry, region, networking, knowledge and technology acquisition and publicpolicies. Results show that the relationship linking several of these variableswith innovation is often moderated by an interaction with other variables. Firmmanagers and policy makers wishing to foster innovation more effectively canlearn from the results of this study. (SAA)