Search results

The manufacturing paradigm is shifting from being a central system to a distributed system and is increasingly becoming dependent on wide area networks for the management of information services. The information subsystem employed in a manufacturing setting is susceptible to getting congested when used in a wide area network setting during peak hours. The issue of information and control subsystem integration and the characterization of network congestion have been researched in this paper using faded information field architecture.

A wide area network was simulated with all its associated components like routers, switches, gateways, etc. by programming a simulation engine. The simulation engine mimicked a wide area network employed in a manufacturing enterprise.

The architecture holds the promise to address the integration and congestion issues in a manufacturing system by employing autonomous decentralized and autonomous information fading techniques. Results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique in addressing the issue of network congestion in a distributed wide area network.

The issue of information and control subsystems of a manufacturing system has been reported earlier. However, the network‐centric problems like congestion during peak hours of operation have not been addressed in these emerging paradigms. The research reported in this paper focuses on the congestion issue and could be useful to wide area networked manufacturing system designers and managers.

To introduce a Petri nets model that describes a networked manufacturing system and its dynamics.

A hybrid Petri nets model is constructed, the continuous part of which is to describe the dynamics of the production process within a manufacturing system and the discrete part of which is to describe the dynamics of the ordering and delivering process between every two manufacturing systems. In addition, the mathematical formulation of the dynamics of networked manufacturing systems is proposed to describe its behaviors in detail. Based on the model, the control system architecture of networked manufacturing systems is constructed to make and execute the production plan, solve the conflicts among manufacturing systems and realize the reconfiguration of the network.

There are two key aspects in the dynamics of this hybrid system: first, in the continuous part of this hybrid system, the production process, the variables are discrete. Accordingly, the change of the systems states is not always continuous. Second, in the discrete part of this hybrid system the control variables are actually the safety and objective inventory levels and the minimum quantity of cumulative orders to trigger deliveries which determine the time and quantities of ordering or delivery. However, the relations between them are non‐linear.

Based on the model, the control system architecture of networked manufacturing systems can be constructed to make and execute the production plan, solve the conflicts among manufacturing systems and realize the reconfiguration of the network.

The purpose of this paper is to study the information support technologies of integrated production planning control for OEM (original equipment manufacturer) driven networked manufacturing systems, and offer implications to firms for implementing networked manufacturing.

OEM driven networked manufacturing and its operations modes and support technologies are first discussed. Then, integration framework of production planning and control is proposed and relative technologies are discussed. Finally, a case of the application of information support technologies in networked manufacturing is illustrated.

Both theory analysis and case experience show that information integration and sharing are critical for effective operations of OEM driven networked manufacturing and an integrated production planning and control system can benefit firms for successfully operating a networked manufacturing system.

It is valuable to develop and apply integrated production planning and control systems in OEM driven networked manufacturing, Firms should pay more attention to information sharing and communication with partners and utilize advanced information technologies to synchronize the operations of partners.

Integration framework of production planning and control proposed in this paper has originality and the technology strategies are also practical. Managerial ideas, technology framework and application strategies of integrated production planning and control are helpful for firms to implement OEM driven networked manufacturing.

The topology of manufacturing systems is specified during the design phase and can afterwards only be adjusted at high expense. The purpose of this paper is to exploit the availability of large-scale data sets in manufacturing by applying measures from complex network theory and from classical performance evaluation to investigate the relation between structure and performance.

The paper develops a manufacturing system network model that is composed of measures from complex network theory. The analysis is based on six company data sets containing up to half a million operation records. The paper uses the network model as a straightforward approach to assess the manufacturing systems and to evaluate the impact of topological measures on fundamental performance figures, e.g., work in process or lateness.

The paper able to show that the manufacturing systems network model is a low-effort approach to quickly assess a manufacturing system. Additionally, the paper demonstrates that manufacturing networks display distinct, non-random network characteristics on a network-wide scale and that the relations between topological and performance key figures are non-linear.

The sample consists of six data sets from Germany-based manufacturing companies. As the model is universal, it can easily be applied to further data sets from any industry.

The model can be utilized to quickly analyze large data sets without employing classical methods (e.g. simulation studies) which require time-intensive modeling and execution.

This paper explores for the first time the application of network figures in manufacturing systems in relation to performance figures by using real data from manufacturing companies.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.

Based on both the observations of case studies during the last few years and on action research work on the global manufacturing strategy development, this paper introduces another type of evolutionary process that looks at the internationalisation of manufacturing systems. The paper seeks to explore the new driving forces and responses of manufacturing systems in terms of their static architectures, dynamic mechanisms, and strategic capabilities in the evolutionary process. Reviews those internationalization models developed during the last 25 years, as well as reviewing manufacturing globalisation over the last 15 years, to gain a comprehensive picture about the international manufacturing system (IMS). Based on the empirical observations of industrial issues and the difficulties faced, a new research framework is proposed that will tackle the wider issues in international manufacturing, covering the manufacturing value creation process, internationalisation process, and inter‐firm collaboration formation process. Argues that it is important for future research to develop the strategy process to synthesise the three dimensions of the IMS.

The coordination of a manufacturing network is a challenging task and may be contingent upon the manufacturing environment. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and manufacturing network coordination relate.

Based on a single case study, the paper at hand provides insights on IIoT enablers and the relationship to manufacturing coordination mechanism. The data sample is based on 15 group interviews with overall eight employees from headquarters and business units.

The derived results show that the IIoT enablers (digital technologies, connectivity, data, capabilities and management) are highly related to the manufacturing network coordination mechanism. The results indicate that IIoT initiatives and manufacturing network coordination should be designed to support each other.

The implementation if IIoT initiatives is often analysed in isolation without considering the manufacturing network and more specifically the manufacturing network coordination mechanism. The results highlight how the implementation of IIoT initiatives may act as trigger to adapt formal manufacturing network coordination mechanism.

Introduces a practical tool ‐ an international manufacturing configuration “map” ‐ for the identification of international manufacturing network patterns and assessment of related strategic capabilities. Describes the research work and its application‐oriented research method. Builds on the frameworks developed in different industries in the first stage of the project and explains how a “map” can represent typical international manufacturing network configurations and relationships. Introduces a practical process for using the map, involving the identification of current network configurations of main product lines and the strategic capabilities of the configurations. Presents an industrial example and describes its practical industrial application. Draws conclusions about the applicability of the technique and its potential as part of an understanding of international manufacturing system analysis and design.

The purpose of this paper is to review and explore the evolution, advances and future trends of cloud manufacturing, placing the focus on the quality of services. Moreover, moving toward the new trend of cyber-physical systems (CPS), a cloud-based cyber-physical system (CBCPS) is proposed combining the key enabling techniques of this decade, namely Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, Big Data analytics and CPS.

First, an extensive review is made on cloud computing and its applications in manufacturing sectors, namely product development, manufacturing processes and manufacturing systems management. Second, a conceptual CBCPS which combines key enabling techniques including cloud computing, CPS and IoT is proposed. Finally, a review on the quality of the services (QoS) presented in the second step, along with the main security issues of cloud manufacturing, is conducted.

The findings of this review indicate that the combination of the key enabling techniques presented in the CBCPS will lead to a new manufacturing paradigm capable of facing the new challenges and trends. The opportunities, as well as the challenges and barriers of the proposed framework are presented, concluding that the transition into this whole new era of networked computing and manufacturing has a valuable impact, but also generates several security and quality issues.

The paper is the first to specifically study the QoS as a factor in the proposed manufacturing paradigm.

To develop a conceptual framework for a new form of production system unique from many perspectives. The proposed system is based on the creation of a network of plants that are electronically linked so that the participating members focus on their specialized tasks yet also share their manufacturing and production resources to create a loosely structured and flexible enterprise.

To introduce dispersed network manufacturing (DNM) as a new business model, and to discuss dispersed manufacturing network (DMN) as a possible realization of DNM. To link DMN to complex adaptive systems and to provide a prototype as to how SMEs can form a dynamic and adaptive network to create competitive advantages on both collaborative and individual scales.

The notion of DNM advocates a reciprocal bonding among network members but calls for no obligatory egalitarian responsibility to one another. This research shows the feasibility of a network of plants that are electronically linked so that the participating members, spread geographically, focus on their specialized tasks yet also share their manufacturing and production resources to create a loosely structured and flexible enterprise.

In the DNM universe, because of the network's requirement to re‐form itself to the needs of each unique incoming project, SMEs have the ability to rapidly develop and enhance their internal production capabilities. Each new incoming project offers the chance to reaffirm those processes that are highly effective while discarding those that are deemed ill‐suited. The DNM world is still in its infancy and many interesting and challenging questions have yet to be investigated empirically or otherwise.

The new production system discussed in this paper argues for a completely different form of SME collaboration from those already discussed in the literature.

DNM and DMN are new concepts that are evolving into an innovative production paradigm. It is likely that many companies and many managers have some intuitive grasp of the DNM world and the opportunities provided by forming a DMN. Few, however, might understand them thoroughly. This research provides further knowledge on SMEs DNM.