Product Modeling for Computer Integrated Design and Manufacture, 1997
This paper describes the results from a research project into Feature Recognition, carried out at... more This paper describes the results from a research project into Feature Recognition, carried out at the University of Liverpool, Department of Industrial Studies between April 1994 and July 1996, which was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom under grant GR/J/97458. After a brief exposition of the ongoing need for feature recognition, even within a designby-features context, the paper identifies previous work most influential in this project, and then presents the project objective of building a programmable feature recogniser in which the input feature descriptions do not need either to pander to the specific data structures of the solid {or other) modeller holding the domain, or to express a recognition algorithm. The characterisation of features is then discussed and the range of domains in which recognition might need to take place. This leads on to the presentation of a basic, correct but inefficient algorithm for generic recognition, and a substantial section on how the inefficiency can be rectified while retaining correctness. 1 WHY FEATURE RECOGNITION ? When feature recognition research started, solid models were solid models, representing geometry, but nothing else. Any application which needed to access that geometry intelligently had problems, because the structures giving explicit meaning to the shape were absent. Now, however, we have feature-based modellers and they are used in design-by-features CAD systems. The argument is therefore that it should be unnecessary to recognise features; they should already be explicit in the CAD-system's database. This is largely true. Although various kinds of hole are excellent examples for feature recognisers to use in demonstrations, they are totally unrealistic as examples of typical usage, because they will almost certainly have been designed as such.
International Journal of Production Research, 2018
This paper presents the dynamics of engineer-to-order (ETO) practice through Integration Definiti... more This paper presents the dynamics of engineer-to-order (ETO) practice through Integration Definition for Function Modelling (IDEF) practice. The paper describes and defines how an ETO manufacturer utilised IDEF-QA in order to manage project uncertainties within the tendering process. The research is conceptualised through an empirical action research approach, involving an active role in the assessment of the ETO process. The paper revisits the use of IDEF, showcasing an assessment of output quality. It also suggests a road map for resource uncertainty within ETO, specifically when scoping the supply chain for ETO projects. The paper then presents an IDEF Quality Assessment model for improving the tendering process of ETO, and it examines the importance of evaluating project behaviour for supporting new future projects. The principal contribution is in how a structured approach provides IDEF with a quality assessment of resources, thereby consolidating and establishing a relationship for highlighting the uncertainties experienced by ETO manufacturers within the decision-making process.
International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 2014
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to employ agility concept to develop a contingency perspecti... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to employ agility concept to develop a contingency perspective of relationship between suppliers' involvement, absorptive capacity (AC) and product innovation (PI). While the moderating effect of AC on the relationship between supplier involvement and PI performance is investigated, a firm's agility in PI is entered as one dimension of the firm's performance to accommodate a multidimensional perspective. Design/methodology/approach-The paper formulates six hypotheses extracted from the relevant literature. The survey was conducted over the internet by using web-based questionnaire. A sampling frame of 1,200 manufacturing UK-based companies provided 233 usable responses. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to test a validity and reliability of constructs and further the paper employed hierarchical multiple regression to test the research hypotheses. Findings-The results while reaffirm some of the existing theories of the subject provide some differing view of the issues allowing projection of new insight on the approach to PI and involvement of suppliers. The results support the proposition of PI performance multidimensionality where achievements beyond financial and market-related factors play a critical role. Furthermore, research findings suggest AC as a competitive factor that can provide the grounds for proactively winning in the PI game through increasing agility capabilities. Research limitations/implications-This study uses a random sample of UK manufacturing companies, which could be extended to firms from outside the UK too. Originality/value-The paper provides a new insight into the existing literature on "new product innovation" and its relationship with suppliers' involvement as well as the firm's AC by employing agility perspective, as a leading theory to explain dynamics and uncertainties in the business environment.
Product Modeling for Computer Integrated Design and Manufacture, 1997
This paper describes the results from a research project into Feature Recognition, carried out at... more This paper describes the results from a research project into Feature Recognition, carried out at the University of Liverpool, Department of Industrial Studies between April 1994 and July 1996, which was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom under grant GR/J/97458. After a brief exposition of the ongoing need for feature recognition, even within a designby-features context, the paper identifies previous work most influential in this project, and then presents the project objective of building a programmable feature recogniser in which the input feature descriptions do not need either to pander to the specific data structures of the solid {or other) modeller holding the domain, or to express a recognition algorithm. The characterisation of features is then discussed and the range of domains in which recognition might need to take place. This leads on to the presentation of a basic, correct but inefficient algorithm for generic recognition, and a substantial section on how the inefficiency can be rectified while retaining correctness. 1 WHY FEATURE RECOGNITION ? When feature recognition research started, solid models were solid models, representing geometry, but nothing else. Any application which needed to access that geometry intelligently had problems, because the structures giving explicit meaning to the shape were absent. Now, however, we have feature-based modellers and they are used in design-by-features CAD systems. The argument is therefore that it should be unnecessary to recognise features; they should already be explicit in the CAD-system's database. This is largely true. Although various kinds of hole are excellent examples for feature recognisers to use in demonstrations, they are totally unrealistic as examples of typical usage, because they will almost certainly have been designed as such.
International Journal of Production Research, 2018
This paper presents the dynamics of engineer-to-order (ETO) practice through Integration Definiti... more This paper presents the dynamics of engineer-to-order (ETO) practice through Integration Definition for Function Modelling (IDEF) practice. The paper describes and defines how an ETO manufacturer utilised IDEF-QA in order to manage project uncertainties within the tendering process. The research is conceptualised through an empirical action research approach, involving an active role in the assessment of the ETO process. The paper revisits the use of IDEF, showcasing an assessment of output quality. It also suggests a road map for resource uncertainty within ETO, specifically when scoping the supply chain for ETO projects. The paper then presents an IDEF Quality Assessment model for improving the tendering process of ETO, and it examines the importance of evaluating project behaviour for supporting new future projects. The principal contribution is in how a structured approach provides IDEF with a quality assessment of resources, thereby consolidating and establishing a relationship for highlighting the uncertainties experienced by ETO manufacturers within the decision-making process.
International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 2014
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to employ agility concept to develop a contingency perspecti... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to employ agility concept to develop a contingency perspective of relationship between suppliers' involvement, absorptive capacity (AC) and product innovation (PI). While the moderating effect of AC on the relationship between supplier involvement and PI performance is investigated, a firm's agility in PI is entered as one dimension of the firm's performance to accommodate a multidimensional perspective. Design/methodology/approach-The paper formulates six hypotheses extracted from the relevant literature. The survey was conducted over the internet by using web-based questionnaire. A sampling frame of 1,200 manufacturing UK-based companies provided 233 usable responses. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to test a validity and reliability of constructs and further the paper employed hierarchical multiple regression to test the research hypotheses. Findings-The results while reaffirm some of the existing theories of the subject provide some differing view of the issues allowing projection of new insight on the approach to PI and involvement of suppliers. The results support the proposition of PI performance multidimensionality where achievements beyond financial and market-related factors play a critical role. Furthermore, research findings suggest AC as a competitive factor that can provide the grounds for proactively winning in the PI game through increasing agility capabilities. Research limitations/implications-This study uses a random sample of UK manufacturing companies, which could be extended to firms from outside the UK too. Originality/value-The paper provides a new insight into the existing literature on "new product innovation" and its relationship with suppliers' involvement as well as the firm's AC by employing agility perspective, as a leading theory to explain dynamics and uncertainties in the business environment.
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