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A measuring system for automatic process parameter acquisition in garment sewing operations has been presented. The measuring equipment is based upon the usage of a very powerful portable notebook IBM compatible personal computer, equipped with an AD converter, measuring instruments and adequate software packages for data storing and analysis. Characteristics of measuring instruments and sensors have also been given, together with measuring process description, all connected with two independent video‐camera systems, working in two planes, used for working operation analysis at workplaces in garment sewing operations.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the fundamentals of a performance measurement system (PMS) as discussed in the literature for the past 32 years in an attempt to provide a research agenda (RA) for future research.

The paper uses a systematic review of the business, public and non-profit sector literature in examining what constitutes the fundamentals of PMS, and how these fundamentals have influenced the use of data (especially on non-financial data), development of measuring methods, measuring attributes and measuring process.

The paper finds that there are a small number of articles providing that can be considered to have provided substantial discussion of the fundamentals of PMS. While there is no consensus on what constitute the fundamentals of PMS, using content analysis, citation analysis and on the strict criteria of necessary and/or sufficient for the existence of a PMS, this paper managed to characterize the fundamentals into six categories. This paper found that the field of PMS has not change much during the past 30 or more years, and there remains various pragmatic and research gaps that need to be addressed.

The results, outcomes, and analysis of this paper have both practical and academic implications. The gaps and recommendations for future research is consolidated into a RA that provides practitioners to evaluate existing PMS, avoid issues and seek ways to develop a conceptual (theoretical) PMS that is of greater practical significance.

The results of this study contribute toward providing an update of the current state of development and research into PMS; and managed to identify existing practical issues and research gaps of PMS, and provided a RA on which ongoing and future research efforts on this topic can be built upon.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of research and development in the measurement of maintenance performance. It considers the problems of various measuring parameters and comments on the lack of structure in and references for the measurement of maintenance performance. The main focus is to determine how value can be created for organizations by measuring maintenance performance, examining such maintenance strategies as condition‐based maintenance, reliability‐centred maintenance, e‐maintenance, etc. In other words, the objectives are to find frameworks or models that can be used to evaluate different maintenance strategies and determine the value of these frameworks for an organization.

A state‐of‐the‐art literature review has been carried out to answer the following two research questions. First, what approaches and techniques are used for maintenance performance measurement (MPM) and which MPM techniques are optimal for evaluating maintenance strategies? Second, in general, how can MPM create value for organizations and, more specifically, which system of measurement is best for which maintenance strategy?

The body of knowledge on maintenance performance is both quantitatively and qualitatively based. Quantitative approaches include economic and technical ratios, value‐based and balanced scorecards, system audits, composite formulations, and statistical and partial maintenance productivity indices. Qualitative approaches include human factors, amongst other aspects. Qualitatively based approaches are adopted because of the inherent limitations of effectively measuring a complex function such as maintenance through quantitative models. Maintenance decision makers often come to the best conclusion using heuristics, backed up by qualitative assessment, supported by quantitative measures. Both maintenance performance perspectives are included in this overview.

A comprehensive review of maintenance performance metrics is offered, aiming to give, in a condensed form, an extensive introduction to MPM and a presentation of the state of the art in this field.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the fundamentals of a performance measurement system (PMS), in order to ascertain if they satisfy the measurement requirements of business process management (BPM) by means of a systematic review of the literature.

The paper uses meta‐analysis to systematically review and examine existing BPM and PMS from the business, non‐business and public sectors. A specific methodology using categorization concept was used to select the appropriate articles. In total, 42 relevant articles are selected and later analyzed. A subsequent content analysis of the information obtained is applied to identify the gaps in the current literature.

The growing interest in PMS has produced an extraordinarily large numbers of papers on the topic. This paper found that, by and large, the PMS as advocated by various authors for over 20 years (since 1990) failed to fulfill the measurement requirements of BPM. This is alarming, considering that past critics of PMS have indicated that the weaknesses of PMS in relation to BPM applied only in isolated or specific situations such as information technology (IT). These findings dispel the notion that a PMS is a prerequisite to the introduction of an effective BP in organizations.

This paper has identified the gaps (weaknesses) of current PMS in meeting the measurement requirements of BPM. This paper proposes a theoretical integrated framework which encompasses a management system, that combines with a measurement system and business processes, and which can be implemented using the popular value‐chain methodology to measure and compare performance within BP organizations.

The results presented contribute towards providing an updated overview of the current state of research into PMS and its relevance to BPM, in order to identify existing research gaps, issues and concerns upon which ongoing and future research efforts on this topic can be built.

The paper aims to develop a system and measuring method for investigating the dynamic pressure behavior of compression garments.

The dynamic pressure behavior measurement, realized by use of the self‐designed system, is a direct measuring method, which is based on a rigid hemisphere with five pressure sensors distributed on its surface. The dynamic pressure is measured over time under the process of fabric 3D deformation. The pressure distributions at the basic five sites are accepted as the measuring results. The dynamic stiffness index can be calculated from dynamic pressure profile and 3D deformation of compression garments.

The measuring system records the pressure‐time curve and pressure‐deformation curve. The dynamic pressure stiffness index expresses the change in pressure owing to the change in elongation of compression fabrics. The pressure measuring system and the index provide much information in the field of compression garment assessment.

Another characteristic that was not mentioned but important is pressure hysteresis, which can give the information about pressure decay when fabrics undergoing repeated stretch and relaxation. The influence factors of hysteresis and its role in compression garments also requires further research.

To determine and characterize the dynamic pressure behavior of compression garment under 3D deformation, this study develops a measuring system and defines a new index. The measuring system can be used in scientific research institutes and factories, contribute to optimize process parameters and quality control of compression garment.

The aim of this paper is to describe how to make a co‐operative motion plan for a dual manipulator system to measure the radioactivity of wastes produced in decommissioning a nuclear power plant.

The system consists of two tasks: the main task generates the path of the measuring operation and the subtask maintains a good working position by co‐operative motion of the two manipulators.

A dual manipulator system requires an effective indicator of the current working position for the realisation of flexible co‐operative motion. Extended manipulability, which takes the motion limit of each joint angle into consideration, is shown to be an effective indicator.

Extended manipulability, which shows the motion possible from the current configuration, is offered as an improvement on conventional manipulability.

This paper aims to define key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring performance of production systems for residential building from a production strategy perspective.

A literature review is done to identify suitable competitive priorities and to provide grounds for developing KPIs to measure them. The KPIs are evaluated and validated through interviews with industry experts from five case companies producing multifamily residences. Furthermore, two of the case companies are used to illustrate how the KPIs can be employed for analysing different production systems from a manufacturing strategy perspective.

Defined, and empirically validated, KPIs for measuring the competitive priorities quality, cost (level and dependability), delivery (speed and dependability) and flexibility (volume and mix) of different production systems.

To further validate the KPIs, more empirical tests need to be done and further research also needs to address mix flexibility, which better needs to account for product range to provide a trustworthy KPI.

The defined KPIs can be used to evaluate and monitor the performance of different production systems’ ability to meet market demands, hence focusing on the link between the market and the firm’s production function. The KPIs can also be used to track a production systems’ ability to perform over time.

Most research that evaluate and compare production systems for residential building is based on qualitative estimations of manufacturing outputs. There is a lack of quantitative KPIs to measure performance at a strategic level. This research does this, identifying what to measure, but also how to measure four competitive priorities through 14 defined KPIs.

Sensors considerably increase the new applications of industrial robots. Assembly utilizations exist in the fields of part loading, the supervision of the gripping and part mating process, and tolerance compensation as well as the testing and checking of the assembly job. A couple of years ago sensor applications in assembly with industrial robots existed only in research laboratories and development institutions. Nowadays, industry cannot refuse to use them. Improvements on sensorics such as faster data processing and lower costs, as well as higher accuracies in measuring and a more favourable rate to price and efficiency, allow sensor guided robots in assembly with technical and economical significance. Assembly systems with industrial robots demand high flexibility, process supervision and control to increase output quality, and require manifold sensor utilizations.

To explore the usefulness of the cybernetic approach to support development programs by offering a theoretical framework that helps us to re‐understand development and measuring systems.

The paper presents a summary of Beer's theory for organisational development and measuring systems, shows examples of application in design and implementation of socio‐economic development programs in Colombia, and uses them to explore the usefulness of the approach in this field.

Analysis of the reported examples shows a clear indication of the usefulness of Beer's approach to design and measure development programs. It reveals an important field for applied research that could benefit from further applications of the approach.

The experiences analysed here showed the strength or alliances between government, universities and development agencies, for applied research. It makes clear that more long‐term oriented projects are required to fully implement innovative approaches like the one described.

Applying a cybernetic approach in this field implies changing from top‐down to bottom‐up design; wider involvement of stakeholders to agree on critical measurements; changes from emphasis in technological and managerial improvements, to improvements in learning and self‐control tools for the developing communities.

Even if there has been agreement on the convenience of experimenting with more holistic approaches to socio‐economic development, few researchers show the potential of the cybernetic approach, as this paper does.

A photogrammetric 3‐D machine vision system has been developed for industrial inspection and quality control applications. The system consists of several simultaneously operating solid‐state cameras and photogrammetric hardware and software. The same system has been adapted for robot guidance tasks, providing new possibilities and features. Two different applications have been chosen to demonstrate the accuracy, flexibility and speed of the photogrammetric systems in robotic applications. 3‐D object positioning is utilised in the measurement of car body positions for accurate seam‐sealing robot operation. A robotised propeller grinding cell uses profile and thickness measuring data to control the grinding process. Many other applications of photogrammetric systems are also possible, and their use in industrial manufacturing is predicted to increase in the future.