Chengbo Wang

An application of Taguchi method of experimental design for new product design and development process

Purpose – This paper aims to illustrate an application of Taguchi method of experimental design (TMED) for the development of a new ignition coil for an automotive vehicle. Design/methodology/approach – The application of TMED for optimisation of manufacturing processes has been widely published in the existing literature. However, the applications of TMED in the design and development of new products are not yet widely reported. This case study presents the results of a designed experiment which utilises a 16-trial experiment to study 14 design parameters and one interaction. The case study strictly follows a systematic and disciplined methodology outlined in the paper. Findings – The optimal settings of the critical design parameters are determined. The optimal settings have resulted in increased customer satisfaction, improved market share and low defect rate in the hands of customers. Research limitations/implications – Although the optimal levels are determined from one large experiment, it was unable to determine the true optimal values of each design parameter. Practical implications – Manufacturers may use TMED to optimise processes (either design or manufacturing) without expensive and time-consuming experimentation. This case study demonstrates the true power of a well planned and designed experiment over the traditional varying one-factor-at-a-time approach to experimentation which is rather unreliable, not cost-effective and may lead to false optimal conditions. Originality/value – The paper provides an excellent resource for those people who are involved in the design optimisation of a new product.

Applying a knowledge management modeling tool for manufacturing vision (MV) development

This paper introduces an empirical application of an experimental model for knowledge management within an organization, namely a case‐based reasoning model for manufacturing vision development (CBRM). The model integrates the development process of manufacturing vision with the methodology of case‐based reasoning. This paper briefly describes the models theoretical fundamentals and its conceptual structure; conducts a detailed introduction of the critical elements within the model; exhibits a real world application of the model; and summarizes the review of the model through academia and practice. Finds that the CBRM is supportive to the decision‐making process of applying and augmenting organizational knowledge. It provides a new angle to tackle strategic management issues within the manufacturing system of a business operation. Explores a new proposition within strategic manufacturing management by enriching and extending the concept of MV while trying to lead the CBR methodology into a new domain by applying it in strategic management.

An exploration on e-retailers’ home delivery – strategic elements and their prioritisation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce a research exploring the important strategic elements and their prioritisation for e-retailers’ home delivery logistics process efficacy improvement. Design/methodology/approach – The research was completed through focus group, survey and importance-performance analysis. Findings – The research identified, confirmed and prioritised a set of explicitly important strategic elements currently deemed important by e-retailers for ensuring the efficacy of their home delivery logistics process in Chinese marketplace, and also referential to the other similar emerging marketplaces. Research limitations/implications – The research contributes positively to the enrichment of the theoretical knowledge pool of e-retailers’ logistics performance improvement. Practical implications – The research findings guide/inform the strategy development and implementation for e-retailers entering and/or operating in Chinese marketplace. And the findings can also be referential t...

Applying a manufacturing vision development prototype in practice

The primary objective of this paper is to summarise the empirical application of a designed case-based manufacturing vision (MV) development prototype (CBRM). This empirical application is undertaken using case study strategy, due to its ability to answer the research questions regarding the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the CBRM. Within each case, the CBRM processes are followed through the analysis on the situational information and application of the cases as well as general domain knowledge, towards generation of a competitive set of strategic approaches for a certain enterprise. The three real world cases (companies) were selected in the USA within different industrial segments. The application results suggest that the CBRM is supportive of the decision-making process for tackling strategic manufacturing issues.

Green retailing practices: An exploratory comparison between Chinese and British retailers

Constituting the link between supply and demand, retailers can play an important role in a supply chains green operations and logistics activities, which are one of the key contemporary concerns of governments and the general public. China, as a huge, fast-developing and opening marketplace has been attractive to British and other international retailers. However, the competition facing these retailers in the Chinese marketplace is intensifying. Research shows that British retailers began greening their business operations earlier than Chinese businesses that are still at an early stage. British retailers thus have an early-mover advantage with green operations as a characteristic competitive strength. The comparative study presented in this paper on the current green status/approaches of both Chinese and British retailers will be valuable to managers who are developing green strategies to enhance their competitiveness in the Chinese retail sector; the paper also enriches green theories in relation to this particular marketplace.

An Indexing Scheme for Case-Based Manufacturing Vision Development

This paper focuses on one critical element, indexing – retaining and representing knowledge in an applied case-based reasoning (CBR) model for supporting strategic manufacturing vision development (CBRM). Manufacturing vision (MV) is a kind of knowledge management concept and process concerned with the competence improvement of an enterprise’s manufacturing system. There are two types of cases within the CBRM – an event case (EC) and a general supportive case (GSC). We designed one set of indexing vocabulary for the two types of cases, but a different indexing representation structure for each of them. In this paper, after the background introduction of the MV, the CBRM and the indexing challenges of the MV cases, we present the structure and content of the index vocabulary and the two indexing representation structures, then illustrate briefly the indexing of cases with two examples. We also summarize the methods, primary conclusions of test runs with the indexing scheme. Further research work to refine the index vocabulary is discussed as well.

An exploration on the readiness, challenges and expected support of Chinese business and management programme students for their overseas study

Chinese students are the largest international student cohort in the higher education institutions of English-speaking developed countries. The paper explores strategies to enhance the Chinese students’ learning efficacy in overseas institutions. This research differs from other research focusing on international students already in English-speaking institutions; it explores the readiness of potential Chinese international students before departure from China, their anticipated challenges for study abroad and expected support from host institutions and staff. Besides the insights of anticipated challenges and expected support, the key findings include: the majority of the sample students are financially ready for overseas study, however they are not fully ready on English language; students from the public institute in the study have a higher level of readiness for subject knowledge than their private institute’s peers. The findings offer a guide, to both the English-speaking institutions and their Chinese partners, on facilitating, teaching and preparing the Chinese students for a fruitful learning experience abroad and enhanced academic performance.

An Exploration of the Readiness, Challenges and Expected Support for Their Overseas Study of Chinese Business and Management Programme Students

Chinese students are the largest international student cohort in the higher education institutions of English-speaking developed countries. The paper explores strategies to enhance the Chinese students’ learning efficacy in overseas institutions. This research differs from other research focusing on international students already in English-speaking institutions; it explores the readiness of potential Chinese international students before departure from China, their anticipated challenges for study abroad and expected support from host institutions and staff. Besides the insights of anticipated challenges and expected support, the key findings include: the majority of the sample students are financially ready for overseas study, however they are not fully ready on English language; students from the public institute in the study have a higher level of readiness for subject knowledge than their private institute’s peers. The findings offer a guide, to both the English-speaking institutions and their Chinese partners, on facilitating, teaching and preparing the Chinese students for a fruitful learning experience abroad and enhanced academic performance.

Case-based approaches for knowledge application and organisational learning

In dealing with the strategic issues within a manufacturing system, it is necessary to facilitate formulating the composing elements of a set of strategic manufacturing practices and activity patterns that will support an enterprise to reinforce and increase its competitive advantage. These practices and activity patterns are based on learning and applying the knowledge internal and external to an organisation. To ensure their smooth formulation process, there are two important techniques designed – an expert adaptation approach and an expert evaluation approach. These two approaches provide structured processes to execute the organisational learning and knowledge application, which intend to guide the practitioners during the process of manufacturing competence development and improvement. They are based on Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) methodology and rely on cases as the primary knowledge supply. This paper aims to present the two approaches; introduce two types of tests on these approaches to verify their functionality: role-play testing and real world application testing; and summarises the applicability of the two approaches.