Showing papers on "Production engineering published in 1995"

Inter-project learning in new product development.

Abstract: It is important for manufacturers to learn technical knowledge in a product development project and to transfer and utilize it in other subsequent projects. This study, using survey results of 58 n...

Concurrent Engineering: An Overview from Manufacturing Engineering Perspectives:

Abstract: In the last few years, Concurrent Engineering (CE) has become a very prevalent topic in the area of manufacturing engineering. It has been viewed as one of the most effective, potential, and miracu...

Managing engineering and technology : an introduction to management for engineers.

Abstract: I. INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT 1. Engineering and Management 2. Historical Development of Engineering Management II. FUNCTIONS OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT 3. Planning and Forecasting 4. Decision Making 5. Organizing 6. Some Human Aspects of Organization 7. Motivating and Leading Technical People 8. Controlling III. MANAGING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE 9. Managing the Research Function 10. Managing Engineering Design 11. Planning Production Activity 12. Managing Production Operations 13. Engineers in Marketing and Service Activities IV. MANAGING PROJECTS 14. Project Planning and Acquisition 15. Project Organization, Leadership, and Control V. MANAGING YOUR ENGINEERING CAREER 16. Achieving Effectiveness as an Engineer 17. Managerial and International Opportunities for Engineers 18. Special Topics in Engineering Management Index

Managing Production: Engineering Change and Stability

Abstract: The management of production is faced with ever greater challenges as global competion mounts. The problems revolve around the paradox of flexibility and productivity in the organization of production: how to compete on price while retaining the capability to respond quickly to market changes; how to develop new products faster without jeopardizing product integrity; how to increase quality while reducing costs. The recent research on lean production has explored some of these questions in the context of the motor industry. This book takes a broader audit of these issues across the full range of the metalworking sector in the United Kingdom. Focusing on the engineering/manufacturing interface, the research presented here explores how 15 leading British firms are facing up to the challenges of the 90s.

Systems engineering for better engineering

Abstract: The complexities and competitiveness of world markets, the sophistication of modern technologies and the demands placed on manufacturing systems to meet requirements for the quality, perceived value and low cost of products have made the use of systems engineering methods essential. The author describes these methods via examples of their application.

Interactive surface modelling, an implementation of an expert system for specification of surface roughness and topography

Abstract: Making roughness a useful tool for obtaining optimally functional surfaces demands a high quality foundation for surface specifications. Erroneous specifications in many cases lead to costly production and perhaps nonfunctional surfaces. The Interactive Surface Modelling system, ISM, presented in this paper, addresses those problems with an approach where functional demands control the route from specification of parameters through manufacturing preparation to measurement of the machined surface. Here, the operator, be it the designer, the production engineer, or the quality control engineer, can interactively reason with the system to reach a suitable specification with the aid of integrated software in a PC-Windows environment controlled by an expert system software. The representation of the surface's 3D geometry then is a natural component. The access to depiction and literature references and standards is implemented together with the ability to serve the user with graphic feedback by generating synthetic surfaces from the specification made. The described features have been implemented in a prototype developed in cooperation between Volvo and Chalmers on two functional surfaces: cylinder liners and synthetic leather for the automotive industry. Problems with specifying correct roughness and topography actually have emerged when changes have been made of material or manufacturing process for an old and proven product. This has shown that knowledge is missing or incomplete about proper intervals for roughness parameter values for definition of the relationship between a surface's function and its parameters . The result is misunderstandings and errors. By letting ISM be a base for continuous updating and modification of knowledge, opportunities will be created for increased quality of surface roughness specifications through this systematic approach to the complex, expanding field of Surface Roughness and Surface Topography.

Back to production management

Abstract: The author submits that there can be no future for the discipline of manufacturing management, and argues the case for a return to the traditional concept of production management.

The system engineering process

Abstract: System engineering is part of the whole engineering process; a managed process, laying down concepts, processes, organisations and management structures which other parts of engineering support. System engineering is distinguished from systems engineering so that engineering management is clear over what system engineering is for (why system engineering?), what it does, how it does it and what it uses. In addressing these issues, a framework is established aiding both system engineering and engineering management. Overall, system engineering is shown to be a goal directed process set in a business opportunity environment, driven by market requirements and addressing issues of customer and end-user need. This process has implications for educating system engineers and engineering managers. System engineering is particularly relevant to the Asia-Pacific region as an emerging trend influencing global engineering management.

The New Management Paradigm: A Review of Principles and Practices

Abstract: : Over the past 20 years, a new management paradigm has emerged that is the antithesis of mass production. Firms employing this new paradigm rely on an integrated set of principles and implementing practices. First, to get new products to market quickly, they integrate marketing, research and development, engineering, design, production, and distribution. Second, to respond quickly to shifting demand, they aim at producing small lot sizes, with minimal setup times-a practice known as lean production. Third, to make every aspect of production more visible, they work with fewer, more qualified suppliers and involve them in every phase of production, from product development on. Finally, they delegate much greater operational responsibility to those who design and manufacture the product. The purpose of this report is to use an intensive survey of the literature to describe and analyze this new management paradigm. By providing a framework for understanding a very complicated subject, the report will serve as a resource for government managers and anyone else interested in those practices that are shaping manufacturing and service industries throughout the world. (jg)

Industrial and Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems - Invited and Additional Papers.

Abstract: : CONTENTS: Adaptive architectures; Case-based reasonong; Computer aided manufacturing; Diagnosis; Fuzzy logic and control; Image; Knowledge acquisition; Knowledge based systems; Model based- reasoning; Modelling; Software engineering; Invited presentation. (KAR) p. 3

Manufacturing cells : a systems engineering view

Abstract: 1. Introduction and Background to Cellular Manufacturing 2. The Cell Formation Algorithms 3. Cell Layout Procedures 4. Production Control and Scheduling of Cellular Manufacturing Systems 5. Other Issues in Cellular Manufacturing

Systems engineering as a process

Abstract: Systems engineering has been developed as a convolution of organisation and individual engineering activity. Making a formal separation of concerns, it is argued that while systems engineering provides formal support and management of a platform, a position, a resource base for system engineering, system engineering is a composition of monitoring and modelling, defining and organising activities practised by individual engineers but with collective effect. These activities lead to the elaboration of systems and their support platforms with emergent properties meeting the requirements of customers which as projects become integrated into end-user environments. In the presentation, it is shown that system engineering is a response to business opportunity presented by differences in market demand and supply with the intention of reducing the so called quality-gap. The conclusion is that while system engineering is a profitless activity, profit can be associated, as an emergent property, with the systems engineering organisation. Such profit does not appear in financial terms, ostensibly, but as a reduction of outlay in the achievement of a given return, the delivery of the system to customers' satisfaction. Profit or loss making as a result of project management or engineering activity is argued to be a sign of poor system engineering. (4 pages)

Laser processing integrated into machine tools : design, applications, economy

Abstract: In the last few years, lasers have found new applications in production engineering as tools for surface treatment, cutting, welding, drilling and marking. So far, the laser has mainly been used in special laser processing machines (‘laser-only’) directly integrated into a production line or serving as stand-alone stations in the workshop. By combining conventional metal cutting technologies with laser processes in one machine, complete processing of a workpiece with different technologies in one setting can be realized. The main advantages are a reduction of the material flow between the production machines, which leads to a reduction in processing time and logistics, and an enhancement of manufacturing quality due to the processing in one setting. In addition to this approach, new processing technologies such as laser-assisted machining are possible.

Overview of the Manufacturing Engineering Toolkit prototype

Abstract: Many different types of manufacturing software applications have become available in recent years. These applications focus on specific engineering functions of the overall product life cycle. A problem facing industry is that these applications are not designed to work together and are difficult to integrate. A computer-aided Manufacturing Engineering Toolkit (METK) prototype is currently under development at the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The toolkit is being used to identify the integration standards and issues which must be addressed to implement plug-compatible environments in the future. The METK is a part of the Computer-Aided Manufacturing Engineering (CAME) program which is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Navy Manufacturing Technology program and NIST. The toolkit consists of commercial-offthe-shelf (COTS) manufacturing software applications housed together on a high speed computer workstation. The METK is envisioned to be an integration of these applications to support sharing of data between the applications. The purpose of the CAME project at NIST is to provide an integrated framework, operating environment, common databases, and interface standards for manufacturing engineering software applications. The current system includes a product data management application, a CAD application, a generative process planning application, and a suite of manufacturing simulation applications. This tool kit will be used in manufacturing data validation as a part of the overall product planning process required to manufacture a part. A demonstration of the toolkit applications has been prepared to illustrate the functionality of a prototype METK. The demonstration is comprised of two scenarios in which information in an engineering data package is generated and validated. This paper describes an initial METK prototype. Overall objectives of this effort include specification of integration interfaces and a methodology for manufacturing validation.

A production management information model for discrete manufacturing

Abstract: The Manufacturing Systems Integration (MSI) project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology is developing a system architecture that incorporates an integrated production planning and control environment. The development of this architecture includes the definition of information models describing the information which needs to be shared among production management systems (production planning, scheduling and control systems) in order to achieve the integration of manufacturing systems. This paper presents the production management information model within the MSI project. The main focus of the model is to identify and characterize the relationships between orders and workpieces, to identify the information necessary to achieve workpiece tracking and to identify the information necessary to achieve resource requirements specifications for process plans.

A Tailorable Process for Systems Engineering. Version 01.00.05.

Abstract: : This report describes the Generic Systems Engineering Process (GSEP). The GSEP purpose is to provide systems engineers with the guidance and structure needed to efficiently develop high-quality, large, complex systems. To accomplish this, the GSEP defines an approach for communicating and coordinating an engineering effort, integrates the management and technical activities incorporates risk management activities, and provides engineering guidance that is detailed enough to be helpful, yet sufficiently flexible to allow for creativity. The GSEP is a generic development process and, as such, it can be applied to a wide variety of systems engineering efforts. The GSEP approach of defining a generic process and explaining how to create a specific process from the generic one, provides all the benefits of more traditional processes that are very specific in nature, but additionally provides the ability to customize the GSEP for specific applications. (AN)

Computer Applications in Production Engineering

Abstract: The current status of CAD applications and industrialization in China is concisely described in the paper Then, the potentiality of an extensive market of CAD applications is analyzed. Finally, models of developing CAD applications and industrialization in China are related. THE CURRENT STATUS OF CAD APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRIALIZATION IN CHINA 1.1 Chinese government supports the development of CAD applications and industrialization Computer aided design is a critical high technology to accomplish design automation, expedite the transformation from scientific and technological achievements to production forces, and to accelerate national economy development and four modernizations. The application of CAD technology is not only the main aspect of reformation of traditional industrial technologies but also an important leverage to raise product and engineering design to a higher level, reduce cost, shorten design cycle, and to improve the labor productivity, as well a significant requirement for enterprises to enhance their competitive power and adaptive faculty in market. The level of applying CAD technology is also one of the major marks indicating the level of national industrial technologies. Pan One Keynote Papers In order to impel the development of CAD applications and industrialization, Chinese government has been including the development of CAD in the National Science and Technology Key Projects and Torch Program for a long time, encouraging enterprises to adopt CAD technology and carrying out preferential policies for them. The national developing plan of CAD applications has been formulated, in addition, a coordinating and directing group of CAD application engineering, which was sponsored by the National Science Committee and participated by eight state ministries and committees, has been established. 1.2 The current status of CAD applications and industrialization in China Starting in 1960s and passing through its developing period mainly in 1970s and 1980s, CAD in China is now beginning its preliminary applications in engineering designs and product designs in diverse fields such as machinery, electron, aviation, aerospace, architecture, shipbuilding, light industry, textile industry, and so on, and has obtained remarkable technical and economic benefits. For example, in National Designing Institutes, more than 90 percent of calculation, 50 percent of project design and 30 percent of drawings were finished by using CAD technology. It raised working efficiency as 3 to 10 times as before, and saved as much as 2 percent of capital construction investment. As a result, 2 billion yuan of engineering investment has been cut down on only during the 7th. five-year plan period. According to the results of our sample survey, the installation situation of computers and CAD systems in 1992 is listed as follows. Al'ldfwn Slllppmg Weapon 011 Industry& eapJtal Rmlway Machmery Electron ConstructiOn Jnduo~lr}' JnduMry Jndu.~try ConstructiOn Bureau MllllSlry__ ln.'>t.alled ( 'nmputers 528U 2000 6464 571 2352 2150

The dimensions of Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Abstract: Modern, integrated manufacturing systems need to be engineered in a systematic way like any other complex dynamic systems. Due to the extreme complexity and interdisciplinarity nature of manufacturing system design, analysis, reengineering and continuous improvement, and due to the trend for internetworking of enterprises, a new discipline called Enterprise Engineering is emerging. Different aspects or dimensions of Enterprise Engineering in the context of integrated manufacturing systems engineering are reviewed in the paper.

Multimedia and Production Management Systems

Abstract: The future production control environment is a network of possibilities Some of the production management will be automated with bar-codes, automatic data collection devices and direct communication links between the control system and production machines Simultaneously, a growing part of production management systems turns towards human-oriented multimedia information processing, where a professional user is the key controller and decision maker The communication environment plays a crucial role in this area The two ends of production management systems will continue their polarization: there will be real decision-making with lots of possible solutions and ‘just-do-it’-type tasks to get things done Multimedia workstations will not be everybody's tools No actual benefits can be seen in inventory management or direct order handling These tasks will continue their evolution towards automated routines So far in production management, computers have primarily been used for computing

The National Shipbuilding Research Program. 1995 Ship Production Symposium. Paper No. 20: The Product Model as a Central Information Source in a Shipbuilding Environment

Abstract: : In a shipbuilding CAD/CAM system a product model is successively built up during the design process, with geometric as well as non-geometric information. In parallel with the design process, the model is further extended with work preparation (in some countries called production engineering) information e.g. definition of building strategy and definition of the assembly structure. Information needed for part fabrication can be derived from the model, such as drawings, parts lists and information for numerically controlled (NC) equipment. When work preparation definitions are combined with a product model, the information needed for assembly parts lists, assembly drawings, etc. can be derived from the product model instead of being created manually. Use of the product model concept, systems based upon it and procedures implementing it in an organization will allow a reduction of costs and an increase in productivity and competitiveness.