Kerstin Johansen

From mass production to mass customization: enabling perspectives from the Swedish mobile telephone industry

Much has been written about the conceptual nature of mass customization, and the success of several best business practitioners in the area have been well documented. Most companies, however, are not textbook examples of best practice, but rather are making incremental progress towards mass customization based on a mass-production heritage. This paper presents the findings of a case study that investigated a mass customization initiative at a leading mobile telephone manufacturer in Sweden. The primary objective of the study was to determine the implications of a radically new manufacturing initiative for the company – the production of a customized, entry-level mobile telephone. The differences between the traditional scenario of the mass production of standardized products at the company and that of the new customized production were also sought. The findings of the study, which are presented using the product, process and system perspectives, are aided by a number of customization-related frameworks from the literature. The discussion includes the impact of moving the customization order point downstream in the value chain in terms of increased efficiency and reduced lead times, the reduced requirement for manufacturing flexibility with shifting production system boundaries, and the companys status as a mass customizer.

Automated Removal of Prepreg Backing Paper - A Sticky Problem

Automated solutions for manufacturing composite products based on prepreg often imply Automatic Fiber Placement or Automatic Tape Laying. These systems are generally associated with huge investment ...

Bridging capability gaps in technology transfers within related offsets

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how capability gaps can be identified and how they can be dealt with in aircraft technology transfers in future offset deals.Methodology – The stud ...

An outlook on multi material body solutions in the automotive industry – possibilities and manufacturing challenges

In the automotive industry, mass reduction and lightweight design is a continuing trend that does not show signs of declining. When looking at where to reduce weight in a vehicle, the body is a pre ...

Cross-cultural communication challenges within international transfer of aircraft production

The research within this paper identifies three main categories of cross-cultural communication challenges within international transfer of aircraft production. The first category is organizational structure, hierarchy and delegation of responsibility the second category is consensus behavior and avoidance of conflicts and the third category is individual motivation factors. Furthermore, the paper discusses the need for specific types of cross-cultural training that can be one solution for reducing the problems and difficulties that cultural challenges may induce. The case study indicates that it is important for Aeronautics, a Swedish enterprise, to apply organized cross-cultural training in combination with technical training. To secure the presence of cross-cultural training, suitable types of cultural training could be included in the working process/routine for how to conduct a production transfer.

On Safety Solutions in an Assembly HMI-Cell

The increased diffusion of cooperation between humans and robotics in manufacturing systems is one of the next things to implement within robotics. Since the computer power gets more and more power ...

Risk Assessment for Collaborative Operation: A Case Study on Hand-Guided Industrial Robots

Risk assessment is a systematic and iterative process, which involves risk analysis, where probable hazards are identified, and then corresponding risks are evaluated along with solutions to mitigate the effect of these risks. In this article, the outcome of a risk assessment process will be detailed, where a large industrial robot is used as an intelligent and flexible lifting tool that can aid operators in assembly tasks. The realization of a collaborative assembly station has several benefits, such as increased productivity and improved ergonomic work environment. The article will detail the design of the layout of a collaborative assembly workstation, which takes into account the safety and productivity concerns of automotive assembly plants. The hazards associated with hand-guided collaborative operations will also be presented.

What are the differences between related offset and outsourcing? A case study of a related offset business at Saab

The purpose is to study the differences between outsourcing and related offset. The identified differences should serve as a starting point to develop a more general related offset framework. The paper is based on an indepth case study of a related offset business at Saab, a Swedish military aircraft producer. The analysis compared the studied case with an existing outsourcing process identified in literature. The paper identifies five main differences between outsourcing and related offset, which are translated into activities to be included in a suggested related offset framework. This paper is based on a single case study, and the suggested differences should be verified through further case studies. This paper reveals differences between related offset and outsourcing and highlights the need to develop a framework for related offset from negotiation to fulfilment. This paper contributes to offset research by providing an overview of the activities taking place during a related offset process.