Mathias Krömker

Surface reconstruction and extrapolation from multiple range images for automatic turbine blades repair

This paper reports on the results of an ongoing European research project aiming to develop an integrated mechatronics system for turbine blades repair using advanced 3D sensing and multi-axis NC milling technology. The essence of the system is its capability of generating NC milling paths adaptively for turbine blades which can significantly vary from their nominative dimensions and shapes. The path generation is based on an reconstruction and extrapolation algorithm that automatically reconstructs the ideal geometric model of blades from multiple range images and is described in details.

An integrated system for simultaneous bid preparation

Describes the development of an integrated system for simultaneous bid preparation for products tailor-made to customer specifications. The system has been implemented directly in the later user environment following prototyping approaches. Results of ESPRIT project no. 7131, BIDPREP, have been applied as a baseline. The paper outlines the work performed, describes the main results, reports experienced gained within two years of industrial use and evaluates the development approach as well as its use as a baseline for further projects such as the ESPRIT projects DECIDE and CSCCM.

Decision support for effective bidding in a competitive business environment

For enterprises with products that are tailor-made to order, both the efficiency and the effectiveness of bid preparation are essential prerequisites to sustain competitiveness. Preparing bids efficiently means reducing effort and resources to a minimum, while effectiveness implies high average success rates at good profit rates. Various approaches and systems exist that focus on increasing efficiency in bid preparation, but support allowing one to improve the effectiveness of the process is lacking. In the face of this situation, an advanced decision support system allowing a sales executive to determine the optimum sales price has been developed within the DECIDE (DECIsion support for optimal biDding in a competitive business Environment) project (ESPRIT Project No. 22298). To ensure a sound scientific and technological base as well as the optimal practical use of the system, three research institutes and universities, two industrial companies with complex engineered-to-order products and a software vendor are co-operating in the project. This paper describes the approach and presents intermediate results.

Experiences with a company—specific DECIDE adaptation

ABSTRACT Within the ESPRIT project 22298, DECIDE, an advanced decision support system for bid preparation of one-of-a-kind and small batch production was developed. To ensure its optimal practical use, two industrial companies with complex, engineered-to-order products were actively involved in the development process. The practitioners provided the system developers with insights into their daily business processes, with requirements as well as expectations. In addition, they tested the system and gave feedback to the developers. In this paper, the specific DECIDE adaptation for the Bremer Werk fur Montagetechnik GmbH (BWM) is described. Beginning with a company profile, the bidding process is shown and the requirements of a system supporting this process are outlined. The implementation of DECIDE for BWM is then outlined. Finally, the paper reports on the testing of the system in the companys environment and tries to quantify the benefits arising from its use at BWM.

An Application Platform for the Development and Experimental Validation of Mobile Robots for Health Care Purposes

This paper describes an Application Platform for the development and testing of mobile robot units. Within this platform, various applications addressing different aspects of robot development are composed into an experimental environment. The Application Platform comprises modules such as a Neural Networks Simulator, a simulation and off-line programming system, optical sensor components, a rapid prototyping system, and an experimental workcell. Each of these modules is described in detail including its integration with the other modules. In conclusion, the potential use of this platform for health care tasks is indicated.

Experiences and recommendations from redesigning the bid preparation process in supply chains in the construction industry

This position paper intends to share the experiences made in a European RTD project where the bid preparation process in the supply in three construction companies has been improved by means of information and communication technology [1]. The positive experiences demonstrate that significant improvements can be reached when systematic approaches are taken, high quality solutions are developed, and companies are committed. The paper summarises these experiences by formulating recommendations and some proposals for future research:

EPPMR/PCMSS module description

ABSTRACT Within the ESPRIT project 22298 DECIDE: Decision support for optimal bidding in a competitive business Environment a decision support system has been developed. This paper presents the integrated module Enterprise Product Process Models Enterprise Repository/Product Cost Modelling Support Systems EPPMR/PCMSS, whose objective is to assist the user in his task to build a technical solution, in the bidding framework, giving him support in the costing evaluation of each technical solution. This module is a part of the Decide toolkit which is a complement to the other modules Value Analysis Support System (VASSJ), Product Pricing Support System (PPSS), and dashboard. The paper is composed as follows: in the introduction the objective of the integrated module; secondly, the database model of the integrated module is presented; thirdly, the costing algorithm and its principle is developed. We then show the implemented prototype and its user-friendliness. Finally, some conclusions and perspectives are drawn.