Production engineering

About: Production engineering is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2657 publications have been published within this topic receiving 37409 citations.

Importance of Production Environments When Applying Industry 4.0 to Production Logistics - A Multiple Case Study

Abstract: Manufacturing companies are now on the move towards the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0. It is driven by rapid technological developments and the need for industrial actors make oneself independent of high labor costs. Industry 4.0 concerns several aspects of industrial production, including production logistics. The purpose of this paper is to investigate what are the key elements of Industry 4.0 that are related to production logistics, and how the production environment influence the applicability of these elements. This is done through a multiple case study of four Norwegian manufacturing companies. The findings from the study indicate that the applicability of the elements of Industry 4.0 related to production logistics are dependent on the production environment. Keywords—Industry 4.0; Production Logistics; Production Environment

The future of risk management

Abstract: Risk-taking is a necessary part of any worthy pursuit. In business management, we strive to make the best decisions we can, incorporating our experiences, strategic discussions, anticipated costs, and the needs of our customers. Perhaps surprising to some, business management and risk management are both pursuing the same goals. The future of risk management depends upon the successful integration of those pursuits so that such a statement is no longer surprising to anyone.

Life Cycle Engineering Framework for Technology and Manufacturing Processes Evaluation

Abstract: Nowadays, the performance of products and processes along the life cycle is a competitive issue for the industrial development as well as a permanent challenge for researchers. This paper proposes a comprehensive life cycle framework to support the selection of sustainable technology and manufacturing processes. Considering both cost and environmental dimensions, process-based models are used to feed data and structure information to assess the life cycle cost and environmental performance of alternative technological processes. This approach is extremely useful when dealing with decision making processes inherent to products development and to the selection of materials and/or technologies in early design stages. In parallel, a technical evaluation of candidate alternatives is also proposed. Based on cost, environmental and technical dimensions, two integrating analyses are proposed to support informed decisions by mapping the best alternatives. This framework is applied to a case study regarding alternative mould designs to produce a part through injection moulding.

Simulators as a tool for rapid manufacturing simulation

Abstract: This paper discusses the use of two simulators for the design and analysis of manufacturing modules. Included in the paper is a brief discussion of the simulators, the application of the simulators in solving a real world problem, and the lessons learned in using simulators.

Assessment of engineering performance in industrial plant business: Challenges for economic considerations in engineering

Abstract: The plant manufacturing business is characterized by intensifying competition and increasing market requirements. Manufacturers try to increase their competitiveness through the improvement of engineering performance. In order to have a reliable basis for management decisions, engineering performance must be assessed comprehensively. The meaningfulness of such holistic considerations is undisputed, but in industrial practice such holistic considerations are rare. In search for causes for this phenomenon the authors identified 13 challenges which oppose the conduction of comprehensive assessments based on an empirical study and expert interviews. These challenges have their origin in structural conditions of the plant business as well as the complex role of engineering, which is connected in multiple ways to other trades, stages in the value chain and phases of the plant life cycle. In this regard, the prediction of cost developments, the quantification of engineering impact and a lack of common understanding of engineering performance turned out to be the main hurdles for performance assessments in an engineering environment. By considering these challenges in future assessments, engineering can be improved more effectively and its potential to increase the profitability along the complete value-add chain can be seized more efficiently.