Francesca Montagna

An empirical analysis of the PLM implementation effects in the aerospace industry

The provision of an effective IT support to product development processes still remains an open research question, because of the complexity that is inherent to this area of corporate activity. According to the current state of the art, product lifecycle management (PLM) systems can be considered as important enablers for achieving true coordination and effective management of product development processes. However, few contributions in literature investigate the central issue of understanding how company implementation approaches can mutually interact and can determine the actual effects of PLM introduction. The paper presents a framework for representing PLM implementation effects at three different levels (individual, organizational, and strategic) jointly to an empirical investigation in a major Italian aerospace company.

Heuristics for puzzle-based storage systems driven by a limited set of automated guided vehicles

Storage systems play a vital role in industrial operations, and containment of their cost can be an important managerial issue. One way to achieve this aim is to increase storage density, i.e. to increase the area dedicated to storage and to reduce the size of aisles used to access goods. Innovative “puzzle-based” storage systems, in which shelves are moveable and hence allow the flexible arrangement of aisles, can be a promising solution, as long as retrieval times are fast enough and the required investment is not too high. The paper proposes the study of an innovative management solution for puzzle-based storage systems based on AGV tractors instead of self-propelled shelves. These systems have been studied by analyzing density and retrieval time as focal design variables.

The SoS approach for Lean Manufacturing Systems

Most academic contributions to literature on lean manufacturing (LM) focus on specific aspects of LM, while there is little discussion on overall implementation issues. This is despite the fact that lean principles encompass all aspects of manufacturing operations and the need of a systemic approach is clearly shown in practitioner-oriented literature. This paper proposes the idea of an innovative methodology able to guide the information management in LM, based on the ‘system of systems’ (SoS) approach currently being used for complex military initiatives. It is an attempt to describe how the main aspects of manufacturing systems can be represented within the SoS framework and how SoS can support the rational definition of a path leading from corporate strategy to system redesign.

Beyond the design perspective of Gero's FBS framework

Among the various model based theories, the Gero’s FBS framework is acknowledged as a well-grounded, effective and tested reference for describing both analysis and synthesis design tasks. Despite its design-centric nature, the FBS model can provide a valid support also to represent processes and tasks beyond its original scope. The specific interest of the authors is to extend the FBS application to model also uses and misuses of objects, interpretations of the users, needs and requirements. In fact, as partially addressed also in literature, some issues arise when the classical FBS framework is adopted to model particular aspects such as the user’s role, values and needs, as well as to produce an explicit representation of failures and redundant functions. The full paper presents an extended classification of aspects, beyond the design perspective, which currently cannot be represented by the FBS model and some directions for its possible extension. Several examples clarify the scope and the characteristics of the proposed model.

Beyond Lean Manufacturing: Developing an Integrated Methodology to Design Effective Manufacturing Systems

Global competition forces manufacturing companies to operate deep changes in their production systems, involving physical resources, operating procedures and the organization. In this context, the Lean Manufacturing (LM) paradigm is quite popular and lean practice efforts have crossed from the automotive sector into other industries. Most academic contributions to literature concerning LM are on specific aspects of LM, while there is little discussion on the overall implementation of LM. This is despite the fact that lean principles encompass all aspects of manufacturing operations and the need of a systemic approach is clearly shown in practitioner-oriented literature. A number of factors (i.e. cultural, technological and industrial differences) may influence or inhibit the implementation of LM. This paper focuses on some of the critical aspects of LM and analyzes the reason why LM principles are difficult to implement. In particular it suggests that, by formulating a solid scientific basis, the application of LM in industry could become easier and more rigorous, and not only based on past experience. At the same time, the paper suggests that when theory-based tools are used in an isolated way, this carries the risk of not effectively coping with the systemic nature of manufacturing systems. This paper proposes the idea of an innovative methodology able to lead beyond the usual concept of LM, i.e. to adopt its basic principles and systemic perspective, but following a rational and deductive approach that explicitly considers company specific features. The methodology is based on the “Systems of Systems” approach currently being used in the context of complex military initiatives and on the integration of different tools, each focused on specific aspects of the manufacturing system. The paper makes a preliminary attempt to describe how the main aspects of manufacturing systems (resources, quality management systems, production planning and control procedures, etc.) can be represented within the SoS framework and how SoS can support the rational definition of the path leading from corporate strategy to system redesign.© 2008 ASME

A hybrid-approach to model design and development processes and the evaluation of innovation opportunities

Complexity and uncertainty are crucial when product/process innovation contexts are concerned. These contexts must be deeply analysed to produce knowledge elements useful to reduce complexity and uncertainty and to manage innovative and unstructured situations. Firms need tools to acquire and structure these knowledge elements, and to propose them in communication contexts, as shared and operational models. The paper presents a hybrid-approach, which integrates problem identification and structuring methods and decision-aiding procedures. The role of this approach, its results, potentialities and limits are analysed in different decision contexts and through a recent application in a firm of the automotive industry.

Consumer sensitivity to delivery lead time: a furniture retail case

Purpose Short delivery time is a feature that can influence consumers’ purchasing decisions and that retailers compete over fiercely. Accordingly, evaluating the effect of delivery time on demand and identifying marketing-mix variables that alter this relationship may influence retailers’ strategies and impact supply chain (SC) performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This study was performed in collaboration with the largest furniture retailer in Italy, which provided its sales and inventory data for 19,000 units sold over a six-month period in 32 stores throughout Italy. Data were analysed using logistic regression with fixed effects. Findings The value of delivery time for consumers, even in an industry generally characterised by long delivery lead times, is surprisingly high. The evidence reveals that when the delivery time changes from two days to seven days, demand is reduced by 37.5 per cent, although variables related to location and the marketing mix moderate this relationship. Practical implications Retailers can use the findings presented herein to drive their inventory and facility planning decisions and support investments in SC integration. Originality/value Supply chain management (SCM) studies consider the value of delivery time anecdotally and have neglected empirical estimations of the magnitude of the effects of delivery time on consumer demand. Further, SCM studies have not explored the factors moderating this relationship, although intertemporal choice and service management studies have demonstrated the existence of such factors.

Organizing Product Development Activities

With this chapter, we depart from the high-level and strategic perspective that has characterized the discussion up to the previous chapter, and start delving deeper into the operational aspects of managing innovation and product development activities. In doing so, we will consider the organization of applied research and product development projects together, not in the ignorance of the differences existing between these two fields, but because the managerial challenges that characterize them make them nonetheless quite close to one another. This chapter will deal with organizational aspects and focus on human resources, while the following Chap. 11 will view such activities as business processes.

The Many Types of Innovation

After having covered the main theoretical foundations, we can now fully delve into the topic of innovation. The first main issue, which will be covered in this chapter, is to understand the different types of technological innovation, their determinants and their implications for individual firms and industries.

Management of Innovation and Product Development: Integrating Business and Technological Perspectives

Presenting an integrated and holistic perspective on innovation management and product design and development, this monograph offers a unique and original understanding of how these two perspectives are interconnected. This book explores these themes in a scientifically rigorous manner, associating academic findings with examples from business. It provides readers with the conceptual and decision-making tools required to understand and manage the process of innovation at different levels, from the analysis of industry-wide phenomena to the formulation of a strategy and from the planning of operations to the management of technical choices. Chapters cover innovation as an economic and social phenomenon, the formulation of innovation strategy, the management of product development processes and projects and the technical design of products and services. Offering an invaluable resource to postgraduate students in economics, business and engineering, this book is also intended for managers and entrepreneurs