Showing papers on "Production engineering published in 2006"

Digital factory: simulation enhancing the product and production engineering process

Abstract: The digital factory concept offers an integrated approach to enhance the product and production engineering processes and simulation is a key technology within this concept Different types of simulation, such as discrete event or 3D-motion simulation can be applied in virtual models on various planning levels and stages to improve the product and process planning on all levels The focus and key factor is the integration of the various planning and simulation processes In an advanced stage simulation technology can be applied in the digital factory concept to enhance the operative production planning and control as an integrated process from the top level to the factory floor control

Capturing and reusing knowledge in engineering change management: A case of automobile development

Abstract: The development of complex products, such as automobiles, involves engineering changes that frequently require redesigning or altering the products. Although it has been found that efficient management of knowledge and collaboration in engineering changes is crucial for the success of new product development, extant systems for engineering changes focus mainly on storing documents related to the engineering changes or simply automating the approval processes, while the knowledge that is generated from collaboration and decision-making processes may not be captured and managed easily. This consequently limits the use of the systems by the participants in engineering change processes. This paper describes a model for knowledge management and collaboration in engineering change processes, and based on the model, builds a prototype system that demonstrates the model's strengths. We studied a major Korean automobile company to analyze the automobile industry's unique requirements regarding engineering changes. We also developed domain ontologies from the case to facilitate knowledge sharing in the design process. For achieving efficient retrieval and reuse of past engineering changes, we used a case-based reasoning (CBR) with a concept-based similarity measure.

Engineering management and the Order Entry Point

Abstract: Traditionally, most literature has focused on the impact of Order Entry Points on manufacturing and logistics. Current literature about these entry points undervalues the effects on the engineering process, and the writings on modular design hardly discuss the relationship with operations management. To assess and review the consequences for engineering management, a framework has been developed, based on earlier research, covering the standard working methods for the conversion of customer requirements into components of a modular product architecture, the management of customer-order activities and the separate development of new product architectures for future demands. Five case studies served as a base for the investigation of engineering management. Although it might be expected that operations management for the engineering process should not differ from that of manufacturing, the case studies prove otherwise. The characteristics of engineering activities allow a more limited range of interventions...

Auction-based approach to resolve the scheduling problem in the steel making process

Abstract: Steel production is an extremely complex process and determining coherent schedules for the wide variety of production steps in a dynamic environment, where disturbances frequently occur, is a challenging task. In the steel production process, the blast furnace continuously produces liquid iron, which is transformed into liquid steel in the melt shop. The majority of the molten steel passes through a continuous caster to form large steel slabs, which are rolled into coils in the hot strip mill. The scheduling system of these processes has very different objectives and constraints, and operates in an environment where there is a substantial quantity of real-time information concerning production failures and customer requests. The steel making process, which includes steel making followed by continuous casting, is generally the main bottleneck in steel production. Therefore, comprehensive scheduling of this process is critical to improve the quality and productivity of the entire production system. This paper addresses the scheduling problem in the steel making process. The methodology of winner determination using the combinatorial auction process is employed to solve the aforementioned problem. In the combinatorial auction, allowing bidding on a combination of assets offers a way of enhancing the efficiency of allocating the assets. In this paper, the scheduling problem in steel making has been formulated as a linear integer program to determine the scheduling sequence for different charges. Bids are then obtained for sequencing the charges. Next, a heuristic approach is used to evaluate the bids. The computational results show that our algorithm can obtain optimal or near-optimal solutions for combinatorial problems in a reasonable computation time. The proposed algorithm has been verified by a case study.

RapidOWL: an agile knowledge engineering methodology

Abstract: The analysis of the application of the existing knowledge engineering methodologies and tools shows that they are up to now virtually not used in practice (see [13, page 16]). This stands in contrast to the often proclaimed necessity for knowledge engineering. What can be the reason for this discrepancy? Most of the existing knowledge engineering methodologies adopt techniques and apply process models from software engineering. However, in many scenarios required knowledge engineering tasks reveal specific characteristics, which an knowledge engineering methodology should be aware of. In the following, we describe briefly some specific characteristics of Knowledge Engineering important for Rapid- OWL.

The impact of engineering changes on materials planning

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of the impact of engineering changes on the materials planning process.Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on a conceptual discussion and empirical data from a case study of a supply chain in the automotive industry, including end producers (two OEM companies) and first, second and third tier suppliers.Findings – A framework comprising the situational dimensions of the engineering change was derived from the conceptual discussion and described in terms of product, supply, manufacturing, demand and materials planning characteristics. The empirical study shows the characteristics of the engineering change in the case company and how these have both positive and negative, as well as direct and indirect, influences on the materials scrap, administrative and transport/handling costs. The impact of the actual materials planning strategies is also shown. Another finding was that different engineering change situations exist within...

A Methodology for Production Development – The Body of Knowledge Approach

Abstract: The development of production line and facilities is without doubt a crucial task for the discrete goods producing industry in order to gain the competitive edge and the attention of the customer. This trend started already in 1969 when Skinner emphasised the strategic importance of manufacturing and that neglecting it could result in production which is time consuming and expensive. As well as this, the evolution in the manufacturing environment over recent years has resulted in the need to consider the whole product life cycle and hence the continuously shortening of the “Time to Market” period for new production facilities with ever higher quality requirements at lower costs. [Womack 1990, Pawar 1994, Case 1998, Wu 2000, Maffin 2001, Reid, 2002, Vonderembse 2003, Swift 2003]The objective of this paper is to determine a Body of Knowledge for production development to enable small and medium sized enterprises (SME) to shorten their “Time to market” and thereby increase their profit margin. In this thesis it will be investigated how in particular each category of this Body of Knowledge will contribute to production development and how they can be merged into a generic methodology for production development. Literature revealed that there exist three different perspectives to production development which developed historically, namely the traditional and the down and upstream perspective. It could be concluded that the Body of Knowledge for the sequential traditional approaches was formed out of three categories, Production Development Process, Tools and Technology. The upstream and downstream perspectives are concurrent approaches and to date the Body of Knowledge has evolved over the years into five categories: Integrated Product Development, Multidisciplinary Teams, Project Management, Tools and Technology.Since these categories cover more than just production development it was necessary to screen these adjoining fields for the particular contribution to production development. Finally, all the contribution could be merged into one overall production development methodology. This methodology describes the process for a systematic approach to production development which is based on the fact that it includes the complete Body of Knowledge. To adjust this methodology for the different production development projects in industry, a production development process template was integrated which enables small and medium enterprises to adapt the development process to their individual needs. The determination of such a generic methodology for production development based on its Body of Knowledge now enables now small and medium sized enterprises to approach production development generically and by that handle the development of production facilities more effective with regards to time and quality for ever more complex products.

Data mining applications in engineering design, manufacturing and logistics

Abstract: The volume of data grows at an unprecedented rate, in particular in the fields of scientific data, design and manufacturing, logistics engineering, medical, marketing, and financial data. Data mini...

Industrial and manufacturing engineering

Abstract: Industrial/manufacturing engineers are needed in industries ranging from medical products and equipment manufacturing to automotive and electronic components manufacturing. Their skills benefit organizations such as hospitals, banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, and more. Some activities of an industrial/manufacturing engineer include: methods improvement; plant layout; integration of automation components (CAD and CAM); logistics; supply chain management; economic analysis; optimization of resources; quality control; reliability analysis; and ergonomics, i.e., design of workplaces, equipment, and tools for maximum productivity and employee comfort and safety. In manufacturing companies, industrial/manufacturing engineers may be responsible for production and inventory control, quality control, plant layout, and work station design, and may lead the effort for the introduction of new technologies and other advancements. In service organizations these engineers may develop methods for optimal utilization of resources, such as doctors, nurses, and medical equipment in a hospital; determine the optimal number of communication lines and service level for a telephone company; participate in the development of a total quality management system for a bank, etc.

Production engineering-oriented virtual factory: a planning cell-based approach to manufacturing systems design

Abstract: In the traditional process of designing a manufacturing system, a sequential approach treats each of the design steps individually, without considering the requirements of concurrent design activities. The lack of systematic and concurrent consideration of the interactive impact of design decisions leads to repeated and excessive changes in the design and process. To resolve this problem, this research develops a production engineering-oriented virtual factory — a planning cell-based manufacturing systems design approach. The manufacturing systems design process based on a planning cell is reengineered according to the concept of concurrent engineering. The process modeling of a production engineering-oriented virtual factory is proposed at generic and particular levels. An illustrative example of an engine assembly plant demonstrates the effectiveness of the new approach.

A Production-oriented Approach in Electromagnetic Forming of Metal Sheets

Abstract: In recent years, sheet metal forming shows tendencies to process a smaller number of parts per unit. Especially demands of modern lightweight design seem to be hard to satisfy by stretching conventional production methods. Thus, it is necessary to find new approaches. Adapting electromagnetic forming technology for the automotive industry would gain additional benefits like less surface damaging owing to contact-less forming, the possibility of achieving smaller radii, focusing on low volume production through minimizing investment costs, and more manufacturing flexibility. An approach to start qualifying this technology under the aspect of production engineering has been attempted by establishing a high speed forming project. The Volkswagen AG, Siemens AG, H&T ProduktionsTechnologie GmbH together with Fraunhofer Institute of Machine Tools and Forming Technology started activities focusing on clarifying the fields of research and development which are not resolved to date, developing necessary equipment, and a systematic research on the according technology. The analysis of available equipments brought up a number of questions with respect to production engineering requirements. It resulted in a 100 kJ pulse power generator. One of the core components to define the quality of the forming process of flat parts is the flat coil. A coil design is selected to transfer a maximum of stored energy into the sheet metal. A selection of basic and applied experiments had the aim to know the limits of the technique. The paper introduces some representative results of the project. It touches the challenges related to the process of bringing this technology to production

Synergic effects of the scientific cooperation in the field of materials and manufacturing engineering

Abstract: Purpose: The paper emphasises the very significant role of materials selection for design and manufacturing processes of new needed products, having the highest attainable quality and performance at the optimum and possibly the lowest cost level. Design/methodology/approach: The engineering design processes cannot be set apart either from the material design, being more and more often computer-aided, or the technological design of the most suitable manufacturing processes. Findings: The attention was paid to synergic effects of the cooperation with the specialists of various branches what was a basis of the successful series of the International Scientific Conference AMME and the foundation of the World Academy of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. Practical implications: The paper includes also the description of the world developmental trends in that area in the first decades of the 21st century. The tasks of that field of science in priority spheres of the world development are determined. Originality/value: Directions of activities of materials science and engineering ensuring the achievements of strategic aims of the developments of societies include materials design, computational materials science, advanced analytical methods, manufacturing and processing, nano-, smart and biomimetic materials are included. It is concluded that there is a humanistic mission which stands at the engineering circle, especially associated with materials and manufacturing engineering and its aim is to make products and consumer goods, deciding directly about the level and quality of human life.

Analysis of the Automation and the Human Worker, Connection between the Levels of Automation and Different Automation Concepts

Abstract: Manufacturing is becoming a crucial part of now-a-days fast growing economies and increase of earth’s population. Recently manufacturing is changing rapidly, different manufacturing strategies are being implemented, the conceptual understanding for manufacturing is changed, and new ways of producing products are showing up. Automation has been the essential term regarding the modern manufacturing processes. The humanmachine sharing is playing a major role in the production systems, and the most elegant thing is to create and design the appropriate level for interaction between them depending on the desired outcome in the production area. Technological innovation is the implementation of new more efficient production method by achieving qualitative improvements of the goods and services in a specific area in this paper’s case is a production system. This paper is regarding the importance of the correct production system being chosen for an organization regarding the right level of automation (LoA) being used, which is a way of controlling the overall effectiveness of the system. Different approaches and methods are going to be used for demonstrating the choice of the exact and right level of automation and the possibility of changing it by introducing and implementing the ongoing DYNAMO research on a different conceptual solutions for a foundry application in Factory-in-a-Box. The main objective of the research is to develop a method and system for supporting sustainable flexible and reconfigurable production system providing competitive industrial characteristics in the fast developing world.

Linking production paradigms and organizational approaches to production systems

Abstract: Publisher Summary Manufacturing system design and operation is critical to achieve strategic company objectives. This must aim fitting manufacturing systems capabilities to the different demand market environments, taking into consideration, the different approaches and strategies that should be used. This chapter illustrates a framework for characterizing production system conceptual models and linking them to both production paradigms and organizational approaches to production, such as lean and agile manufacturing. The conceptual models identified are useful for aiding to implement organizational approaches and fit manufacturing systems to manufacturing requirements determined by different product demand patterns. An interrelation between production conceptual models, organizational approaches to production, and production paradigms is illustrated.

Optical design compensation from engineering to production manufacturing

Abstract: This paper will discuss transitioning a precision optical system from engineering to a manufacturing process stream.

Process Platform and Production Configuration for Integrated Manufacturing and Service

Abstract: In regard to global competition, integrated manufacturing and service systems has emerged as a new manufacturing paradigm to assist manufacturers in achieving faster design, manufacturing and delivery of customer-specified products at low costs. The linchpin of realizing an economy of scale in production in such systems lies in routings to be adopted to produce product variety. This paper thus proposes a concept of production configuration as a means for manufacturers to obtain the set of optimal and similar routings for families of customized products. In turn the economy of scale in production can be achieved through production activity repetition and manufacturing resources reuse. Production configuration has been applied to the high variety production of vibration motors in a local electronics company. The preliminary results show the potential of production configuration for the quick and low cost product fulfillment for integrated manufacturing and service.

Modelling manufacturing systems capability

Abstract: Any way of making the manufacturing industry more efficient is always of great interest due to the contribution of manufacturing to the society. A major asset within manufacturing is information ab ...

Joint Student Projects of Higher Education Institutes and Industrial Companies Using Virtual Engineering Portal

Abstract: Application of information technology has changed the work of engineers. Products, processes, and knowledge are handled in comprehensive and sophisticated computer systems. In these systems, engineering objects are described, related, and communicated using wide range of latest advancements in computer and information technology including intelligent computing. Recently, Internet portals organize work of communities of engineers. Because computer methods and tools change frequently, lifetime education of engineers is essential. For this purpose, engineering systems have means for continuous education and training. An experimental engineering portal has been established in the Laboratory of Intelligent Engineering Systems (LIES). It represents integrated product related engineering including modeling, simulation, manufacturing, product data management, knowledge management, communication, and multi site management of project work. As an integrated functionality, and using facilities provided by powerful engineering system, a higher education functionality is being conceptualized in the LIES. As the methodological background for education, an approach and method for virtual classroom by the authors is being implemented. Competences in BSc and MSc courses as they are collected from recent industrial engineering technology represent the primary expected advantage of this solution. In this paper, the problem of bridging the gap between higher education and engineering functionality is discussed. Previous works in the area of computer system based higher education and by the authors are introduced. Following this, functionality of engineering system and virtual classroom are compared and concept of Integrated Engineering and Higher Education (IEHE) is proposed. Classroom model by the authors as associative set of structure, content, teaching process, and assessment entities is explained. Next, competence extraction as taxonomy controlled modification of topics in courses, construction of classroom model as object related actions together with relating and constraining of objects, and handling of capability and human intent originated conflicts are discussed. Finally, an experimental laboratory system for product lifecycle management (PLM) system and integrable functionality of the engineering system are concluded as implementation issues.

Dynamics of conflict between production and manufacturing engineering

Abstract: Based on a two-year in-depth case study in an electronics plant in Singapore, this paper examines the interaction between Production (P) and Manufacturing Engineering (ME). This interaction is rather hidden because the roles of P and ME are often consigned or executed within the manufacturing operation. P and ME are responsible for process execution and process development respectively, and for process smoothness jointly; their relationship is asymmetrical from various aspects. These factors, together with the complex market demand and associated multi-prong operational requirements, became the potential sources of short-sighted behaviors and resulting conflicts at the P-ME interface which are illustrated via a system dynamics model. Conflict management would be easier if long-term solutions (operational capability-building and technological innovation) were considered along with short-term solutions (management intervention). A key implication for management is that giving ME an equal bargaining voice an...

The Engineering Process

Abstract: Engineering highly flexible software systems for real-world applications on the basis of intelligent agents and multiagent systems is a challenging task. Conventional software engineering provides established methodologies and tool support. Additionally, knowledge engineering captures the necessary aspects of integrating knowledge in intelligent agents. However there is still a gap between software and knowledge engineering methodologies. State-of-the-art approaches of agent-oriented software engineering partially integrate these approaches. Nevertheless, challenges for the engineering process of agent technology remain open and therefore are addressed in this section on agent engineering.

Creating a tool independent system engineering environment

Abstract: Specialized system engineering tools, although capable at supporting specific tasks or functions, have limited use in most organizations and don't clearly fit into a broader project data architecture. Attempts by either the tool users or developers to integrate applications outside of a bundled tool set have generally been limited to various forms of data import which creates recurring manual administrative effort and related configuration management problems by having data in multiple places. Commonly, a small group of dedicated personnel end up acting as an interface with the system engineering tool set while others continue to do their work in common desktop applications. This paper addresses issues and challenges associated with current methods of integrating systems engineering tools and data. It considers deploying specialized systems engineering tools across a broader engineering audience and proposes an alternative approach using common technologies in an uncommon manner.

The Development of Higher Engineering Education and the Functional Positioning of Engineering Training Center in Universities and Colleges

Abstract: Modern Engineering has formed a chain mainly consisting of research,development,design,manufacture,operation,marketing,management,and consulting,which appeals to the relative quality of engineers.The engineering training centers of universities and colleges,in order to cultivate the quality needed by actual engineering,should determine its development orientation and construction model based on the development of modern higher engineering education,the school's development goal,its resources,and development strategy.