Carys E. Siemieniuch

A framework for organisational readiness for knowledge management

This paper outlines the issues to be addressed in preparing organisations for the introduction of knowledge lifecycle management (KLM) processes. If one views organisations as “knowledge engines” providing value to customers, then processes for KLM are fundamental for the organisations survival. However, as with all capability, the organisation must be prepared for its introduction if it is to make profitable use of this new capability. The article starts with section 1 (introduction and outline of the project undertaken) and 2 (the importance of KLM) setting the scene for section 3 (preparing the organisation for KLM). This section outlines both strategic and tactical issues to be addressed – a devolved structure, IT‐based tools, an open communications infrastructure, “best practice” business processes, metrication, knowledge capture, and a culture of trust – and outlines some processes necessary to establish the organisational context for KLM. Sections 4 and 5 bring the paper to a close, with some general conclusions and acknowledgements.

Organizational aspects of knowledge lifecycle management in manufacturing

Abstract This paper takes as its starting point that knowledge is not a unitary thing, and that in a competitive environment it has a lifecycle. In other words, if a company is to remain competitive, it must address the issues of new knowledge generation, its propagation across the organization, and its subsequent retirement. Some examples from manufacturing industry are outlined. The paper then discusses some classifications of knowledge, points out some management issues and then discusses what appears to be emerging “best practice” in this field. Implications for organizational configurations are then outlined. Finally, a list of outstanding issues is given. This discussion is based on interviews and findings from a number of collaborative projects in the European automotive industry over the past decade.

On complexity, process ownership and organisational learning in manufacturing organisations, from an ergonomics perspective

The paper discusses some characteristics and implications of the complexity approach as applied to manufacturing organisations and their supply chains. It then discusses the acquisition of process capability within organisations, one of the essential processes for maintaining the organisations ability to compete in a complex environment. The paper then discusses the concept of the Process Owner, as a means of preserving and evolving the organisations knowledge under such circumstances, and discusses the consequences of this role. Finally, the knowledge lifecycle management implications are discussed, since these are among the resources that a Process Owner will require to maintain the effectiveness of the role. Throughout the paper the point is made that complexity demands more of an organisation than technical excellence; technology alone will not overcome the effects of complexity and the organisations people must be included in the response to its challenges.

Supply chain implications of concurrent engineering

One way in which the manufacturing and construction industries are moving is to adopt the philosophy of concurrent engineering (CE), better utilising the expertise of other companies in the supply chain. This paper draws on the results of several previous studies to discuss from a conceptual rather than an empiric point of view some ergonomics issues involved in CE from the perspective of supply chains. It outlines some generic attributes, and discusses some concepts of federated control systems within supply chains. The implications of these for information flows and the management of distributed knowledge within supply chains are then discussed. A key issue that arises from this is the need for trust in individuals external to the company if the CE philosophy is to work effectively. The paper then discusses the implications of this for the design of roles within the CE workgroup, concluding that the principles of socio‐technical design for roles are appropriate for the design of these roles, ensuring that they have the right attributes for trustworthiness. This provides a link between these principles and business needs that is not often present in discussions of role design. Examples are drawn mainly from manufacturing and the implications for construction supply chains highlighted, as appropriate.

Readiness Assessment of the construction supply chain for concurrent engineering

Abstract There is growing interest in the adoption of concurrent engineering (CE) in the construction industry. While concurrent engineering (CE) is gaining acceptance, some implementation efforts have not realised their full potential for reducing costs, reducing time, and increasing efficiency, effectiveness and performance for product development efforts. This is due in part to insufficient planning to support the implementation. One approach that has been used successfully to improve CE implementation planning is to conduct ‘readiness assessment’ of an organisation and its supply chain participants prior to the introduction of CE. This helps to investigate the extent to which they are ready to adopt concurrent engineering practices. CE readiness assessment tools and models have been developed and used in other industries such as the manufacturing and software engineering industries. This paper discusses CE and its application to the construction, reviews and compares the existing tools and methods for CE readiness assessment, discusses supply chains generally and construction supply chain specifically, and stresses the need to assess the readiness of the construction supply chain for the adoption of CE. The paper also presents a new readiness assessment model for the construction industry supply chain, and gives examples of its use to assess construction organisations.

The Role of ‘Partnership’ In Supply Chain Management for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: a Case Study

ABSTRACT This paper reports a case study investigation which set out to identify critical human and organisational issues that could enhance or constrain any move to closer supply chain relationships or ‘partnership sourcing’. The paper begins with a brief review of general supply chain characteristics and the ‘partnership’ approach. It goes on to describe the aims of the field study and the methods applied to study aspects of the current and evolving trading relationship between a major UK supermarket and a branded manufacturer of foodstuffs. This is fallowed by a summary of the findings of the case study and an overview of the recommendations that were provided to the companies as a result of this work.

Design and Build

This section of the NATO Advanced Study Institute showed the benefit of multi-disciplinary collaboration in solving a large under-specified problem. The results of a day’s work by three multi-disciplinary teams were both interesting and novel — the approaches differed as each group was free to set its own agenda; the problems they tackled also reflected the diverse interests and enthusiasms of the various groups. Observing the groups in action, it became clear that the facilitators were crucial in developing cohesion and direction in the groups even though as individuals they did not have any special expertise in the problem domain covered.

Implications of the supply chain for role definitions in concurrent engineering

To be competitive, manufacturing companies must make greater use of the expertise and knowledge that is available from outside the company, particularly in design. One way in which manufacturing industry is moving is to adopt the philosophy of concurrent engineering (CE), utilizing the expertise of other companies in the supply chain. This paper discusses some ergonomics issues involved in CE from the perspective of supply chains. It outlines some generic attributes and discusses some concepts of federated control systems as applied to supply chains. The implications of these for information flows and the management of distributed knowledge are then discussed. A key issue that arises from this is the need for trust in other people outside the company if the CE philosophy is to work effectively. The paper then discusses the implications of this for the design of roles within the CE workgroup, concluding that the principles of sociotechnical design for roles are appropriate for the design of these roles, ensuring that they have the right attributes for trustworthiness. This provides a link between these principles and business needs that is not often present in discussions of role design, and in future may offer a means by which benchmarking could be achieved in this difficult area.

CLEVER: a process framework for knowledge lifecycle management

The aim of this paper is to introduce the CLEVER process framework for knowledge lifecycle management (KLM), which was developed to help organisations in the manufacturing and construction domains tackle ill‐defined knowledge management problems. Focussing on organisational and cultural issues, rather than technological ones, the framework aids the user organisation to translate vague KLM problems into a set of specific knowledge management issues, to identify preferred solutions for these, and then to identify the appropriate KLM processes to achieve these solutions. In this respect, the paper is an extension of the work of Boisot, and Davenport and Prusak although the origins are different. The paper begins with the background and aims of the project on which this research is based and moves on to a discussion on the importance of knowledge management and its relevance to the CLEVER framework. An overview of the framework, describing its four‐stage structure is provided which details examples of how to apply each of the separate stages. The final section summarises the limits of the tool and proposes new areas where further research is required.

Decision‐making systems and the product‐to‐service shift

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is first, to provide input to the “through life knowledge and information management” grand challenge and second to provide industry with a tool for assessing the quality of the process(es) by which decisions are reached.Design/methodology/approach – An iterative approach is used with two student‐based case studies, followed by two research institution case studies, and then two industrial case studies. Validation of the tool by managers is undertaken in another case study.Findings – An analytic framework is created which allows managers to categorise and display the characteristics of their decision processes. By assessing the resulting voids and clusters within the framework, the efficacy of the process can be determined. The framework has an associated management process, first to enable managers to see and compare instances of other situations, especially those leading to “disaster”, and second to upgrade the tool itself as assessments are undertaken.Research limita...