1,720,992 research outputs found
Development and assessment of a methodology for the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives
No full textThe competitiveness and growth in the manufacturing sector is critical for the UK
economy. It is imperative that the design and improvement of manufacturing systems
is a constant and dynamic task in the British manufacturing environment.
Unfortunately, many companies are still facing major difficulties during the
implementation of strategic decisions derived from the formulation of manufacturing
strategies. Current project management methodologies and techniques provide
inadequate support for managers facing the implementation of strategic
manufacturing initiatives (SMI). Therefore, the intention of this research is to provide
a rigorous and successful SMI implementation methodology whose structure and
contents include the most critical aspects relevant to the strategic manufacturing
environment.
The research described in this thesis has set out to form a SMI implementation
methodology through a structured research programme. Initially existing literature
related to SMI implementation methods was reviewed and analysed. A pilot
methodology was then formed by contrasting literature against a list of key success
factors in the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives determined from a
worldwide survey. The pilot methodology was evaluated by a selection of
practitioners, and results were used to refine the methodology. Finally, a validation
test in a manufacturing organisation was conducted through a case study
demonstrating the feasibility, usability and usefulness of the methodology. The fully
tested and refined methodology is presented as a workbook in the appendix of this
thesis.
The outcome of this research is a structured step by step methodology which is an aid
to the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives. The work described in
this thesis has made a significant contribution to the knowledge on how to go about
the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives
Development of a methodology for evaluating product service system as a competitive strategy for the Singapore manufacturing industry
Full text linkProduct Service System (PSS) promotes the idea of selling value in use via
an integrated combination of products and services. It has been
regarded by many economic policy makers and researchers as a
potential competitive strategy for the manufacturing industry in the
developed country to gain competitiveness. Although currently there
are a few PSS methodologies developed for the design and
implementation of PSS, their approach is mainly biased towards using PSS
as a tool to gain sustainability and to reduce environmental impact from
selling more services instead of selling the physical product for example.
In view of this, this research sets out to present a PSS Evaluation (PSSE)
methodology, aiming at assisting manufacturer in assessing whether the
adoption of a PSS is a good strategy from the point of competitiveness.
The research programme begins with the identification of the
requirements set of the PSSE methodology by gaining relevant
knowledge from the literature and the Singapore‟s Manufacturing
Industry. Existing potential methodologies were then selected against the
requirements set to form the conceptual base of the new PSSE
methodology. The developed new PSSE methodology was tested using
two case studies during the primary evaluation and another four case
studies during the secondary evaluation.
The main contribution of this research is the development of a feasible,
usable and useful methodology that can assist the manufacturer in
assessing whether the adoption of a new PSS is a competitive strategy.
The new seven-stage PSSE methodology provides well-constructed
stages which are specially designed to be delivered via a facilitated
workshop. This research has therefore made a significant contribution to
the knowledge of the concept of PSS, and its application in the
manufacturing industry in the area of methodology development
Lead-time reduction and improving the operating efficiency
Full text linkFor a successful manufacturing company to consistently realise success
invariably requires the organisation to find new methods of achieving
competitive advantages. Today time is on the cutting edge and represents one
of the most determinants of leading companies. This project is a part of an ongoing effort to sustain a competitive position and thus maintain company
prosperity especially with new competitors entering the European Community
(EU). Additionally reduced lead-time at Hephaestus S.A., will lead to reduced
operating costs, which will enhance the profitability of this company.
The aim of this project is to develop a generic tool based on the knowledge
gained from a literature research into formal methodologies for reducing leadtime. This generic tool was tested by its application to the activities of
Hephaestus S.A., and investigated how problems areas can be addressed.
Finally recommendations have been made to Heaphaestus S.A. for reducing its
lead-time and improving its operating efficiencyMS
Development and assessment of a methodology for the business process improvement
Full text linkThere appears to be an ever insatiable demand from markets for organisations to
improve their products and services. In response, the concept of Business Process
Improvement (BPI) has been developed in recent years as a useful aid. Unfortunately,
there is no robust methodology that practitioners can use to apply this concept.
Therefore, the intention of this research is to provide a generic and practical
methodology to support the implementation of business process improvement within
organisations.
The research described in this thesis has set out to form a BPI methodology through a
structured research programme. A pilot methodology was formed on the basis of
existing contributions in the literature. This was initially refined through discussion with
experts in the field, and a primary field trial. After refinement, the methodology was
more thoroughly tested through case studies at three companies. The fully tested and
refined methodology is presented as a workbook in the appendix of this thesis.
The outcome of this research is a structured step by step methodology which is an aid to
BPI. This methodology takes the practitioner through such steps as; understanding
business needs, understanding the process, redesigning the process, implementing the
new process, and reviewing the new process. The outcome of executing the
methodology is a documented business process.
The work described in this thesis has made a significant contribution to the knowledge
on methodologies for BPI. It has also demonstrated that such methodologies can be
formed and tested rigorously in an industrial context
Strategic positioning within global supply chains
Full text linkThis thesis is concerned with the decision process of strategic positioning within
global supply chains. The research provides insights into how companies
currently form positioning decisions, and set out to develop a systematic
methodology to assist practitioners in forming their strategic positioning
decisions.
Manufacturing in the UK is increasingly exposed to the effects of global
competition. Many companies are facing difficulties to define the most
advantageous position in their global supply chains in order to maximise their
business competitiveness. The position of a company is concerned with
deciding a boundary and configuration of internal and external business
activities to the company and is directly related to initiatives such as
outsourcing, make or buy, and offshoring. Unfortunately, current methodologies
and tools do not provide adequate support to provide a holistic view for making
such decisions. Hence, the purpose of this thesis is to provide a generic and
practical methodology that is an integrated and holistic approach that assists
practitioners to deal with strategic positioning within global supply chains.
The research programme commenced by exploring the process and content of
positioning decision from four actual manufacturing companies. The results
from the exploratory case studies and existing contribution from literature have
then been synthesised to form a pilot methodology. This is captured in the form
of a paper-based workbook. This methodology has then been evaluated and
refined through a primary application in two case studies with the researcher
taking a role as a participant. Finally, wider applicability of the methodology has
been assessed through four more case studies covering different types of
manufacturing with the researcher not intervening but instead observing. The
final methodology referred to in this thesis as the “SPGC methodology” has
demonstrated that it provides practical support to industrial decision making.
The outcome of this research is the step-by-step SPGC methodology
supporting practitioners to deal with strategic positioning within global supply
chains. The overall approach has been demonstrated to be feasible, usable and
useful, and has been used in a range of manufacturing companies. This
research has filled an industrial need and literature gap and has made a
significant contribution to the knowledge on how manufacturing companies can
form a strategic positioning within global supply chains
An advanced decision process for capacity expansion in manufacturing networks
Full text linkManufacturing companies develop multiple production sites for various reasons from
cheaper labour to access to local markets. Expansion of capacity in such a
manufacturing network is a complex decision and requires consideration of multiple
factors. Traditionally, industrial decision makers attempt to minimise the cost of
expansion and, usually as an afterthought, consider soft factors like manpower
availability and logistics connectivity. This approach has gained acceptance as the
research community has focused on developing better mathematical representations of
the problem rather than investigate the larger decision process. A review of the
literature revealed that all existing processes for multi-site capacity expansion
decision fail in this way. Therefore, this research sets out to fulfil the needs of
practitioners by developing a more complete process for the capacity expansion
decision in multi-site manufacturing networks.
The research programme consists of five parts. In the first part an extensive literature
review is conducted to identify the state-of-the-art in capacity expansion decision
processes. Then, in the second part, a representative process is formed and industrially
tested. This generates the specifications for an advanced decision process which
addresses the shortcomings of the present body of knowledge and is developed in the
third part of the research. In the fourth part the advanced decision process is applied in
an industrial setting to validate its effectiveness. Finally, in the fifth part the advanced
decision process is refined and illustrated. The outcome of this research is an improved decision making capability. The
advanced decision process has been both validated and appreciated by industrial
practitioners. Specifically the contribution to knowledge is an advanced decision
process for capacity expansion in multi-site manufacturing network
Manufacturing systems simulation using the principles of system dynamics
Full text linkEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Investigating the effects of the physical working environment upon direct manufacturing workers
No full textEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
The impact of human performance variation on the accuracy of manufacturing system simulation models
No full textEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
- …
