基于产品族的定制产品生成过程研究

在概述产品族结构构成要素基础上,从营销和工程两个角度描述了共享数据库、差异使能器和配置机制,并针对顾客个性化产品需求,探讨基于产品族的定制产品生成过程,及定制产品的优化配置,最后运用实例说明整个配置过程.     

基于功能和零部件配置元的在线定制顾客需求研究

根据公理化设计理论,研究产品从功能域向物理域的映射,讨论功能与部件之间的关系,提出功能配置元和零部件配置元的概念,定义顾客基于功能配置元和零部件配置元的产品在线定制矩阵;通过对顾客在线调查结果的分析,得到顾客对功能配置元和零部件配置元及其特征项总体关注程度,定义在线定制服务提供商在线定制综合能力评价指标体系,构建反映在线定制服务提供商在线定制综合能力系数的计算方法,结合顾客对功能配置元和零部件配置元及其特征项总体关注程度的分析方法,确定在线定制服务提供商提供给顾客进行产品在线定制的各功能配置元和零部件配置元及其特征项,并对顾客在线定制产品的类型进行了划分.最后举例证明该方法的可行性.     

MC下基于多CODP的生产调度体系及其仿真研究

在大规模定制的背景下,传统的基于单客户订单分离点的生产调度存在一些不足,如只能实现某一程度的个性化定制、无法有区别地对待不同客户、目标客户范围有很大的局限性等.提出以多样化为目标,在最小的成本和时间花费的基础上优化生产调度,并根据此理念提出定制产品的优先权、基于多客户订单分离点生产调度体系和基于多客户订单分离点的多级库存策略等;提出产品族和产品平台,敏捷、完善的信息系统是多客户订单分离点生产调度的保证;以EXTEND为工具,对基于多客户订单分离点的大规模定制生产调度进行仿真,结果表明多客户订单分离点下的定制更能满足客户定制的多样化,按照产品的优先权决定生产加工的顺序,节省了定制产品的生产时间,优化了企业的生产调度,实现了动态的大规模定制.     

多平台下的参数化产品族多目标智能优化

针对大规模定制下基于多平台的参数化产品族优化方法中,需要事先指定平台变量的不足,本文提出了一种多平台产品族双层多目标并行协同优化算法,用于求解多平台下参数化产品族多目标优化问题.仿真实验结果表明,所提方法能够允许在平台变量未知的情况下,通过在运行过程中自动改变平台共性,并搜索共性与产品差异性之间的最佳平衡点,经过一次优化过程即可选择平台变量和差异性变量的最佳配置,以及平台变量和差异性变量取值的最佳设置;与文献中其他方法相比,本文方法所得产品族优化设计方案整体性能更佳.     

面向在线定制的配置BOM及约束下在线配置过程研究

分析了顾客在线定制产品时重视的因素;提出了面向在线定制的配置BOM的概念,并且详细介绍了其具体内容;定义了在线配置过程的原则和配置依据;应用配置矩阵对零部件和零件属性的配置过程进行了详细的分析,同时给出了配置后产品的价格计算方法.在文章结论中,将本文提出的概念和方法与文献中提到的方法进行了仔细的比较,总结出其主要优势.     

MC模式下基于顾客需求的产品配置优化分析

以大规模定制(MC)模式为背景,论述了基于单个顾客的定制需求,对"理想产品"进行配置优化的一个思路.本文论述MC模式的基本概念和思想、以及定制产品配置优化的含义及意义,介绍了一种基于QFD分析结果.运用TOPSIS法,提出了对顾客所需"理想产品"进行优化配置的思路,并给出一个示例,验证"思路"的合理性.     

面向大规模定制的产品族功能性评价与选择方法

针对大规模定制生产模式下产品多样性和低复杂性的矛盾,系统地研究了一种大规模定制产品族的功能性评价与选择方法。分别以功能域的类功能需求(GFR)和物理域的类设计参数(GDP)对大规模定制产品族进行了描述,并基于公理设计理论建立了GFR和GDP之间的映射关系。提出了产品族功能的定制度的概念和计算方法,建立了基于定制度的定制功能的评价和选择方法。     

MC 模式下基于顾客需求的产品配置优化分析

以大规模定制(MC) 模式为背景,论述了基于单个顾客的定制需求,对“理想产品”进行配 置优化的一个思路. 本文论述MC 模式的基本概念和思想、以及定制产品配置优化的含义及意 义,介绍了一种基于QFD 分析结果. 运用TOPSIS 法,提出了对顾客所需“理想产品”进行优化 配置的思路,并给出一个示例,验证“思路”的合理性.     

实施大批量定制的基本思路及其时空集成优化模型

大批量定制生产(MC)要求面向客户的个性化需求,把定制生产和大批量生产这两种看似矛盾的生产方式有机地结合起来.因此,它的本质特征就是以大批量的成本、速度和质量生产满足用户个性化需求的产品.本文首先提出了实施大批量定制的基本思路--减少定制量;然后分别给出了描述这一基本思路的时间和空间范围上优化的数学模型;最后,运用系统思想研究了它的时空集成优化模型.     

基于顾客需求分类重组的大规模定制服务族规划

针对当前大规模定制服务研究侧重企业视角的技术实现,忽视客户视角的需求满意之不足,从顾客需求分类重组视角,研究大规模定制服务族规划方法.构建分析型Kano模型,实现对顾客服务需求的客观化分类;设计用于服务族规划的顾客需求分类重组规则,提出大规模定制服务族规划过程,并通过在快递企业的实际应用验证其可行性.该研究对于企业有效实施大规模定制服务策略、提升服务竞争力具有创新意义.     

An Empirical Study of the Alignment Between Manufacturing and Marketing Strategies

It is widely recognised that manufacturing can be a formidable competitive weapon if equipped and managed properly, and that to achieve this success a company must have the correct alignment of manufacturing and marketing strategies. The authors considered there to be a need for empirical research into the effect of such methods within industry today. Their research was based on two questionnaires: the first was sent to 319 companies looking at levels of integration, the second to 20 of the responding companies concentrating on the development process and content of their individual strategies. Known models, internal integration and formal procedures were also investigated, none of which seem to be fully functional within any of the companies contacted. It became evident that the size of the company must be taken into consideration when formulating development plans, and that communication, cross-functional teams and formal product development techniques are essential to the success of any marketing strategy.     

Integrating the Content and Process of Strategic MIS Planning with Competitive Strategy*

This paper presents a framework that links strategic MIS planning and business strategy and relates it to competitive advantage and company performance. To achieve this objective, the paper first delineates the dimensions of strategic MIS planning, focusing on both content and process issues. The notion of fit within dimensions, between sets of dimensions (process and content), and between MIS planning and competitive strategy is also introduced. Next, employing the Miles-Snow typology of business strategy, the paper posits normative differences in the dimensions of strategic MIS planning along different business (or competitive) strategies. The implications of our study for both decision makers and scholars are discussed. Propositions that tie competitive strategy, strategic MIS planning, and company financial performance are then presented. The paper concludes by providing direction for future research.     

Group technology cell design: a case study

Rising production costs, combined with competitive pressures, have resulted in an increased focus on the need for effective manufacturing planning and control. To remain competitive, organizations are exploring new ways for increasing productivity while reducing work-in-progress inventories and product lead time. This article describes a case study of the successful introduction of production cells in a company engaged in small batch production. The company is described and its manufacturing problems presented. Following a detailed analysis of the utilization of machines in the company's machine shop, a new manufacturing technique, giving improved work flow, is proposed.     

Linking IT Applications with Manufacturing Strategy: An Intelligent Decision Support System Approach

Research has indicated the importance of matching Information Technology (IT) applications or manufacturing systems with the competitive strategy of a company. Selection of the right type of IT application is, however, a challenging task. When a company with a given dominant process structure emphasizes two or more competitive priorities, such as quality, product flexibility, etc., an unaided manager faces a complex decision problem in choosing from alternative IT applications available in the areas of product design through distribution. In this paper, we develop an Intelligent Decision Support System (IDSS) to assist managers with assessment of the relative importance of competitive priorities in their organization, evaluation of the fit between the competitive priorities and their dominant process structure, and identification of the IT applications that are consistent with both the competitive priorities and the process structure. The IDSS is comprised of an interactive user interface, a knowledge database, a decision model, and a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) that was developed using the 1st Class KBS shell. Validation of the system illustrates that its performance is as good as the human expert, and it has the potential to facilitate effective and swift decision making in the selection of appropriate IT applications that best match an organization's manufacturing strategy. The choice and use of the right type of IT application should provide a company with a competitive edge.     

To be or not to be corporate heritage oriented? A study of managers’ corporate heritage mindsets

Corporate heritage is a research topic in branding with managerial relevance to achieve competitive advantages. Research has mainly focussed on companies with a formal corporate heritage orientation, neglecting other companies. In this study, a novel framework has been developed for analysing managers' corporate heritage mindsets as a precondition for a corporate heritage orientation in a non-heritage-oriented company. Individual managers’ corporate image heritage depicts how managers perceive their company over time, hence revealing their corporate heritage mindset. This article proposes that two managerial mindset dimensions matter – corporate heritage recognition and stance. This abductive study combines theory and empirical findings from an industrial company with a long history, but no corporate heritage orientation. The proposed framework offers companies with a history a way to analyse whether corporate heritage could be recognised and employed. This article contributes to corporate heritage research by broadening the applicability of corporate heritage issues.     

Decision model for product rollover in manufacturing operations

The purpose of this study is to investigate critical decisions when planning for product rollover at a manufacturing company, and how to organise these decisions. A literature review and a case study are used to develop a decision model. The findings indicate that product rollover can be organised in a five-phase decision model. The research quality is strengthened by a structured literature review, but it can be argued that more empirical research is needed for validation. For researchers, this paper contributes with the identification of critical decisions and a model for product rollover. For practitioners, the study highlights the need to acknowledge the importance of product rollover and its role as a competitive weapon. In earlier studies, product rollover has mainly been investigated from a market perspective, so that this study contributes by investigating the issue from a manufacturing perspective.     

Selecting IT applications in manufacturing: a KBS approach

The use of the right type of Information Technology (IT) applications or manufacturing systems is expected to usher in a competitive advantage. Selection of the right type of IT application is, however, a challenging task. When a company, with a given dominant process structure, emphasizes two or more competitive priorities, such as quality, product flexibility, etc., an unaided manager faces a complex decision problem in choosing from alternative IT applications available in the areas of product design through distribution. In this paper, we present a Knowledge Based System (KBS) that would assist managers with the identification of IT applications that are consistent with both the competitive priorities and the process structure. Validation of the system illustrates that its performance is consistent with the human experts, and it has the potential to facilitate effective and swift decision-making in the selection of appropriate IT applications that best match an organization's manufacturing strategy.     

Integrating regional and functional plans at Henkel

The article describes the planning system of the Henkel KGaA. The company is completely family owned. It is the fourth largest chemical company in Germany with affiliated companies nearly all over the world. The product range consists of consumer good articles such as detergents, cosmetics, household cleaners and adhesives and a wide range of chemical specialities which are sold to industry. The turnover world-wide is nearly DM7bn. The planning system of the Henkel KGaA is constructed in such a way that despite the necessity of short-term control the longer-term perspective still remains the basis for decision making. The planning structure and process throughout the company are explained in detail. The authors show that this system is an investment in managerial information processing.     

Enhancing competitive advantage by constructing supply chains to achieve superior performance

This paper studies the impact of configuring supply chain design strategies on performance using real-world example of aligning different supply chain practices to supply chain strategies to achieve competitive advantage. The paper first carries out a synthesis of literature categorising the supply chain strategies, practices and linking them to contexts and competitive advantage. The paper then uses a case study methodology to explore the process of adjusting supply chain strategies and aligned practices to gain competitive advantage in different contexts. The paper reports two case examples of a leaf tobacco company and a mosquito coil manufacturer from India facing different demand characteristics and implementing different supply chain strategies for enhancing performance objectives. Both companies faced a change in their business environment and competitive priorities. In both the examples, companies used a combination of practices for implementing appropriate supply chain strategies to gain competitive advantage. This paper contributes to the academic discipline of supply chain management through developing theory showing the transition of supply chain strategies for achieving superior performance in different business environments. The paper has wide managerial implications by reporting real-life implementation of different supply chain strategies thus bridging the practice-theory gap.     

How does a component from a supplier with high reputation for product innovation improve the perception of a final offering? A process perspective

An excellent reputation for product innovation (RPI) is an intangible asset for any company and promises a sustainable competitive advantage. This study empirically analyzes the spillover effects of a high component supplier's RPI to the offering of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The results show that there are positive effects to be gained from the innovativeness of a component supplier, which increases the perceived performance of the final offering containing the supplier's product. In addition, the study demonstrates that such a strategic partnership between a component supplier and an OEM has the potential to influence the purchase intention of the final consumer in a positive manner, thereby creating value for both parties. Contributions are made to a better understanding of strategic options for such a partnership and to an on-going discussion on RPI and the importance of intangible attributes in innovation management.