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Explains that a tandem automated guided vehicle (AGV) system is composed of several non‐overlapping closed loops. Stations or machines within each loop are served by a single dedicated vehicle. The transit area located between two adjacent loops serves as an interface and allows loads to be transferred from one loop to another. If a load needs to be delivered to a machine not located within the same loop, the load will need more than one vehicle to carry it to its destination. Develops a model to solve the machine partition and layout problems concurrently in tandem AGV systems. During the design process, the objective is to minimize the number of loops to reduce the setup costs of AGVs in the system. Naturally, the desirability of a prospective loop must be evaluated in terms of the number of machines it covers, the workload of each AGV, and the ratio of the flow within the loop to the total flow associated with that loop.Quality indicators Research implications** Practice implications** Originality** Readability**

Computer simulation techniques are used to evaluate the performance of a welding assembly line which requires modification to achieve some of the philosophies of a just‐in‐time manufacturing environment. The simulation of the existing line using GPSS/H confirmed the operational problems which had been previously identified, and allowed the validation of the computer model. The computer model was then altered to evaluate the performance of several alternative modified assembly lines which would avoid the present operational problems. Discusses some of the techniques used to develop these models, their simulation using the GPSS/H simulation language, and the benefits of using simulation in analysing manufacturing processes.

Looks at studies into the definition of design and management criteria for assembly cells with co‐operating robots. Examines task typologies into which the assembly process can be divided and discusses co‐ordination levels and control‐communication architectures. Also looks at the various phases of application development and how it covers many of the same areas of the manual assembly process. Concludes with a consideration of the three main classes of constraints between the actions which different robots have to carry out and states the co‐ordination level that robots have to maintain during constraint‐affected operations depends on these classes.

The paper seeks to work out methodologies, procedures and tools to evaluate the fitness for purpose of university buildings, to be used for the brief.

The evaluation methodology is based on an approach comparing people needs with building performances and on an integration of analytical methods with empirical ones. It has been tested on a case study.

The test revealed that building occupants suffered some inconveniences with their activities that conditioned their well‐being and their work. It also attested the importance of an exact identification of the needs of the different user groups and the utility of accomplishing parametric controls and dimensional verifications together with user surveys and observation of behaviour in order to verify the fitness for purpose of the buildings.

The research theme is part of the more general issue of the evaluation of the quality of public services. Other criteria and parameters would have to be elaborated and applied to buildings with different uses.

The paper presents a very useful evaluation model that allows very precise reflection on how buildings are used to determine the real needs and the problems that cause bad service quality and to prompt rehabilitation solutions.

This paper fulfils an identified information/resources need and offers practical help to undertake a performance evaluation in the public sector. Moreover, it presents a case of building quality evaluation with user participation, which is quite unusual in Italy.

The paper which I have prepared on the subject of ‘Prototype to Production’ will deal with the forward planning and control necessary to guide a new aircraft through its various phases right up to the completion of the first aircraft.

Describes the reengineering of a production line for household heating tubular radiators, assuming as a reference scenario the facility of one of the leading Italian manufacturers. After a preliminary characterization of products and manufacturing process, a thorough analysis of the production system has been carried out in order to highlight current problems and improvement strategies in the light of lean manufacturing concepts. Subsequently, suggests some corrective actions and also assesses their expected effectiveness in economic terms. In particular, improvement possibilities have been found in the areas of internal logistics through streamlining of materials flow and layout modifications, as well as process quality increase. Reengineering activities are especially aimed towards layout optimization mainly by resorting to a U‐shaped cell‐based architecture. Further, the reduction of rework percentage during the assembly phase has been pursued by properly modifying the operations sequence and through integration of a new automated testing station in the production line.

Conceptual design is important in that it determines the creativity of products, which is key to the competition of the product market and the function and cost of product are mainly determined in this phase. At the same time it is complex in that it involves the consideration of many different fields in the whole design process. Studying some computer supported cooperative techniques to support effective conceptual design activity is absolutely necessary. This paper presents the models and tools of computer supported cooperative conceptual design (CSCCD) which includes an auto‐resolving model, a human‐human interaction model, automatic cooperation tools and interactive cooperation tools. Experiments have been carried out in the conceptual design of a motorcycle to put the above theories into application.

Overview All organisations are, in one sense or another, involved in operations; an activity implying transformation or transfer. The major portion of the body of knowledge concerning operations relates to production in manufacturing industry but, increasingly, similar problems are to be found confronting managers in service industry. It is only in the last decade or so that new technology, involving, in particular, the computer, has encouraged an integrated view to be taken of the total business. This has led to greater recognition being given to the strategic potential of the operations function. In order to provide greater insight into operations a number of classifications have been proposed. One of these, which places operations into categories termed factory, job shop, mass service and professional service, is examined. The elements of operations management are introduced under the headings of product, plant, process, procedures and people.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current level of reconfigurability implementation and its impact on manufacturing systems’ operational performance empirically.

This study is based on a questionnaire survey. Statistical analysis procedures were adopted to accomplish its objectives, namely, clustering methods based on cluster centroids. An ANOVA analysis was used to test for cluster differences among the variables.

The results show that the manufacturing companies surveyed can be divided into three clusters, with different levels of reconfigurability implemented. The implementation of the core characteristics of reconfigurability depends on the product’s complexity and demand variability, in terms of volume and product mix, as these have an impact on the operational performance, in terms of quality, delivery and flexibility.

The data for this survey were collected from manufacturing companies based in Portugal. Therefore, the replication of this questionnaire in other countries is recommended for future research to confirm its findings.

The questionnaire developed could be used by managers to assess the level of reconfigurability of their production systems and for internal/external benchmarking. The findings may help managers to decide which core characteristics should be implemented in their manufacturing systems.

The majority of the research addressing performance issues in reconfigurable manufacturing systems has been applied to case studies. This research reports an empirical investigation using a questionnaire-based methodology to provide generalisable empirical evidence.

The paper aims to describe the design and development of an automated guided vehicle (AGV) that incorporates artificial intelligence techniques to increase its autonomy and flexibility. The aim is developing a flexible AGV that operates as a flexible material handling system (MHS) in dynamic industrial environments.

Introduces the entire on‐board control system including hardware and software designs. The sensory system consists of a laser navigation system for localisation and a security laser scanner for sensing the environment. The software architecture is instantiated in a CPU that is connected to low level controllers through a CAN bus. Simplicity, flexibility, robustness and safety were concerned in the design process.

The developed prototype is able to operate in partially structured and dynamic environments, is easily configured using an approximated description of the workplace and is able to adapt when slight floor layout modifications. This development shows that current technology permits introducing intelligent vehicles in complex manufacturing systems.

The prototype is successfully tested in a real factory, operating as a flexible MHS, transporting pallets between production and storage lines.

A novel flexible AGV is designed and developed to operate as a flexible MHS in dynamic industrial environments. The system satisfies the safety and robustness requirements of industrial applications. The flexible MHS results especially suitable for manufacturing systems that suffers from cyclic and seasonal variations and for flexible manufacturing systems where the possibility of choosing alternative routes is a must.