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Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) challenges architects in managing diverse knowledge across different professional domains. Little research, if any, has documented DfMA as a knowledge-intensive activity happening in real-life cases. This research aims to investigate DfMA knowledge acquisition, sharing and implementation in real-life practice and develop DfMA knowledge-to-action framework for architects.

It does so by (1) conducting observations in design meetings, documentary analysis and interviews, (2) thematic analysis through knowledge management (KM) perspectives and (3) based on this profound understanding, enriching the prior understanding of design as a double diamond process.

Through the lens of KM, DfMA is not merely a double but multiple diamond process, involving the iteration of making absenting interdisciplinary knowledge available, deciphering tacit knowledge explicit and embedding the knowledge in a design that well considers various criteria, the downstream manufacturing, logistics and assembly in particular. To execute multi-faceted knowledge acquisitions and implementations in DfMA, architects should balance their roles as humble learners, team coordinators, creative leaders and democratic negotiators.

This research reveals the DfMA implementation process, activities and dilemmas from real-world design meetings. The DfMA knowledge-to-action framework developed in this study, along with practice examples and lessons learned, can facilitate architects to play new roles. Future research is recommended to fine-tune the framework by having other stakeholders’ perspectives, refining it with additional cases and developing assistive tools for designers based on the framework.

In 1967 Mr Geoffrey Boothroyd, a lecturer at the University of Salford, left the UK to join the University of Massachusetts in the USA. On 1 July 1991 Professor Boothroyd, of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in the University of Rhode Island and President of Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc., returned to the University of Salford to talk briefly about his career in the intervening period and to give an account of the development of the Boothroyd Dewhurst methodology and software tool Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) with which his name is now closely associated in the USA and in Europe. The title for the evening was “Radical Redesign”.

Construction productivity issues have constantly surfaced in Singapore's construction industry. To push for productivity, the Government has implemented various initiatives to encourage industry players, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and to adopt more productive construction technologies. One of these technologies is prefabrication prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC), a concept of the design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) approach. This exploratory study sheds lights on PPVC adoption and its issues in Singapore in the context of the launch of the Construction Industry Transformation Map (ITM).

The methodology used here is mainly a quantitative approach in the form of a survey. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a pool of about 100 contractors, randomly chosen as part of a stratified sample. The questionnaire survey helps gain further insights into the industry's perceptions of PPVC and its adoption.

The study succeeded in identifying and analysing a list of drivers of and barriers to the adoption of PPVC. The top three most important potential drivers were “increase efficiency,” “technological change” and “changing nature of composition of workforce”. The three most important barriers were “ineffective on-site storage,” “high up-front payment” and “transportation issues”.

This study also looked into the organizational change management theory. Various theories were considered to help understand and implement change. It is understood that it is not only important for an organization to focus on the steps of these frameworks and models when the change is initiated but also for the organization to acknowledge and be mindful of the emotions of employees and take measures to overcome their emotions as part of organizational change management.

The purpose of this paper is to show that with the pressure constantly on companies to be more innovative and deliver new products more efficiently, it is vital that established best practices and knowledge are not forgotten and neglected.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments. While most companies and their engineers will claim that they do design for assembly and manufacture, it is far from as widely practiced as claimed by manufacturers. This is surprising because the benefits to be gained from effectively undertaking DFMA as part of any development project can be massive – for some products running into $ millions in reduced part counts and assembly time. Moreover, as was highlighted at the 2008 DFMA Forum, the benefits to companies of early DFMA adoption can be greater; stretching from significantly reduced time to market to huge savings in production overheads.

With the pressure constantly on companies to be more innovative and deliver new products more efficiently, it is vital that in the rush to adopt newer product development tools and techniques – such as Lean New Product Development – that longer established best practices and knowledge are not forgotten and neglected.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

Describes recent innovations at a leading toy manufacturer which introduced DFMA to cut assembly times and costs. States that DFMA Design for Assembly and Design for Manufacture – can be used as a brainstorming tool to help designers and engineers make informed decisions. Suggests that DFMA can be very profitable and a valuable technique to streamline production.

One of the key strategies applied by most manufacturers over the past few decades has been the aim of decreasing production costs, improving quality and shortening time to market. In this respect, the technique of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) has proved essential for improving the design of products and gaining competitive advantage. However, in recent years, the basis of competition has shifted towards the quick delivery of more innovative products. As a result companies are now looking for ways to enhance their technical innovation and creative problem solving, but at the same time retain control over product cost and quality.

Illustrates the advantages of goal definitions at the earliest stages of product design, both for project engineering teams and for the general management of the design process. Details the progress of a Respironics team which was given the task of redesigning a manual resuscitator to meet demanding quality, standards and short time‐to‐market deadlines. Offers an explanation of their success in meeting these and other requirements, including reduced cost, improved ease‐of‐assembly and added features.

Fluorine materials have received the keen attention of many researchers because of their water repellency and low surface free energy. The purpose of this paper is to prepare fluorine-containing soap-free acrylic emulsion, which sodium allyoxypropyl hydroxypropyl sulfonate (COPS-1) and anionic emulsifier sodium a-alkenyl sulfonate (a-AOS) were combined as polymerizable emulsifier, and undecylenic acid (UA) and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate(DFMA) were introduced as functional monomer.

The fluorinated polyacrylate emulsion was successfully prepared by semi-continuous seed emulsion polymerization, wherein the main monomers were methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl methacrylate (BA), and the initiator was potassium persulfate (KPS). Sodium alloxypropyl sulfonate (COPS-1) and an anionic emulsifier sodium a-alkenyl sulfonate (a-AOS) were compounded as a polymerizable emulsifier. Besides, undecylenic acid (UA) and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) were introduced as the functional monomers.

The optimum recipe of preparing the modified latex is as follows: the amount of emulsifier was 4%, the ratio of emulsifier (COPS-1: AOS) was 3: 1, and the content of initiator was 0.6%. In this case, the conversion rate of acrylic polymer emulsion was high and the polymerization stability was good. When the amount of monomer UA was 2% and the amount of DFMA was 4%, the overall performance of the emulsion was the best.

The fluorine-containing soap-free acrylic emulsion is prepared via semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerisation, which sodium allyoxypropyl hydroxypropyl sulfonate (COPS-1) and anionic emulsifier sodium a-alkenyl sulfonate (a-AOS) were combined as polymerizable emulsifier, and undecylenic acid (UA) and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) were introduced as functional monomer. There are two main innovations. One is that the fluorine-containing soap-free acrylic emulsion is prepared successfully. The other is that the undecylenic acid is introduced as functional monomer.

Fluorine materials have received the keen attention of many researchers because of their water repellency and low surface free energy. The purpose of this paper is to prepare self-crosslinking fluorocarbon polyacrylate latexes containing different fluorocarbon chain lengths by semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization technology.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) and fluorine-containing monomers were used as main monomers. The fluorine-containing monomers included hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFMA), dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) and trifluorooctyl methacrylate (TFMA). Potassium persulfate (KPS) was used as thermal decomposition initiator, non-ionic surfactant alkyl alcohol polyoxyethylene (25) ether (DNS-2500) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) as mixed emulsifier.

Through optimizing the reaction conditions, the uniform and stable latex is gained. The polymer of structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and contact angle (CA) were tested on latex films. The particle size and distribution range of emulsion were tested with nano particle size analyzer. After comprehensively comparing the latexes and films prepared by HFMA, DFMA and TFMA, the performance of DFMA monomer modified is better.

The self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion is prepared via semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization, which methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) and fluorine-containing monomers were used as main monomers. The fluorine-containing monomers were composed of hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFMA), dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) and trifluorooctyl methacrylate (TFMA). Potassium persulfate (KPS) was used as thermal decomposition initiator, non-ionic surfactant alkyl alcohol polyoxyethylene (25) ether (DNS-2500) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) as mixed emulsifier. There are two main innovations. One is that the self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion is prepared successfully. The other is that the effects of monomers containing different fluorocarbon chain lengths on polyacrylate, such as monomer conversion rate, coagulation rate, mechanical stability, chemical stability, emulsion particle size and storage stability, are studied in detail.

The purpose of this research was to synthesize a novel cross-linked latex copolymerised by butyl acrylate (BA), isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA), hydroxy propyl methacrylate (HPMA) and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA). IBOMA is a very useful functional monomer. Its molecular structure not only contains bornyl acetate alkoxy but also includes a double bond, which can be copolymerised with other unsaturated monomers via free radical polymerization. The large nonpolar bicyclic alkyl in bornyl acetate alkoxy offers the polymer chain strong space steric protection, which endows the polymer with some special properties.

The semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerisation technology was adopted to copolymerise BA, IBOMA, HPMA and DFMA in the water phase, which was initiated with potassium persulfate (KPS) and emulsified with the mixed surfactants of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and OP-10.

The particle size of the latex decreases with an increase in the amount of IBOMA. All the latexes have good mechanical stability and calcium ion stability. The latex has good film-forming property when the IBOMA amount is controlled moderately. The optimal IBOMA amount is 10.00 g. The thermal stability and water resistance of the film are improved.

The latexes can be applied as a binder of coatings and adhesions.

The effect of the amount of IBOMA and BA on the properties of the resultant latex and its film were investigated in detail. In comparison with the latexes copolymerised without IBOMA, the novel latex has better thermal stability and water resistance.