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Preparing digital mock-ups (DMUs) for finite element analyses (FEAs) is currently a long and tedious task requiring many interactive CAD model transformations. Functional information about components appears to be very useful to speed this preparation process. The purpose of this paper is to shows how DMU components can be automatically enriched with some functional information.

DMUs are widespread and stand as reference model for product description. However, DMUs produced by industrial CAD systems essentially contain geometric models, which lead to tedious preparation of finite element Models (FEMs). Analysis and reasoning approaches are developed to automatically enrich DMUs with functional and kinematic properties. Indeed, geometric interfaces between components form a key starting point to analyze their behaviors under reference states. This is a first stage in a reasoning process to progressively identify mechanical, kinematic as well as functional properties of components.

Inferred semantics adds up to the pure geometric representation provided by a DMU and produce also geometrically structured components. Functional information connected to a structured geometric model of a component significantly improves FEM preparation and increases its robustness because idealizations can take place using components’ functions and components’ structure helps defining sub-domains of FEMs.

Future research will carry on improving algorithms for geometric interfaces identification, processing a wider range of component functions, which will contribute to a formalization of the concept of functional consistency of a DMU.

Simulation engineers benefit from this automated enrichment of DMUs with functional information to speed up the preparation of FEAs of large assemblies.

Examines the product design and manufacturing literature to understand why consumer products of daily use often fail to provide the intended function to users’ satisfaction. The review shows that the bulk of published literature addressing functionality and functional representation deals with mechanical systems design, and there are issues that directly affect the consumer that are yet to be accommodated in current research in functional representation. The literature also reveals that very few of the product design support systems have been tested on real design cases, or have been developed and tested using real designers in manufacturing environments – this issue needs serious consideration if efficient designer aids are to be developed in the future. Also, there is relatively little that has been done to develop tools to evaluate alternative design solutions. It is also apparent from this review that the main research focus has been on providing function, rather than on ensuring function in a product that is eventually manufactured.

This article is the first in a two‐part discussion of the determinants and performance consequences of concurrent engineering (CE) team usage in organizations. The purpose of this first article is to develop a model of the organizational factors that influence the extent that CE teams are used when developing new products.

To test the model, 2,500 questionnaires were mailed to new product development (NPD) managers from the machinery, computer product, electrical equipment, and transportation equipment manufacturing industries, of which 189 usable questionnaires were returned, for a usable response rate of 7.5 percent. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least squares.

Results indicate that an innovative organizational climate and complex NPD activities both influence the extent that organizations support functional integration on NPD teams, and this support, in turn, influences the extent that organizations use CE teams. Analyzing the qualitative data using content analysis indicates additional factors influencing CE team usage.

To researchers, this study examines in detail the extent of CE team usage, thus addressing a major gap in the research literature. This study also addresses the concerns of researchers by examining organizational contextual factors.

To NPD managers, this study highlights organizational precursor conditions needed in order for CE teams to be supported in the organizations, specifically complex NPD activities and an innovative organizational climate. By examining these two variables, NPD managers can gauge the likelihood that CE teams will be supported even before they are actually implemented.

Partitioned analysis is an increasingly popular approach for modeling complex systems with behaviors governed by multiple, interdependent physical phenomena. Yielding accurate representations of reality from partitioned models depends on the availability of all necessary constituent models representing relevant physical phenomena. However, there are many engineering problems where one or more of the constituents may be unavailable because of lack of knowledge regarding the underlying principles governing the behavior or the inability to experimentally observe the constituent behavior in an isolated manner through separate-effect experiments. This study aims to enable partitioned analysis in such situations with an incomplete representation of the full system by inferring the behavior of the missing constituent.

This paper presents a statistical method for inverse analysis infer missing constituent physics. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated using a physics-based visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) model that represents the mechanics of slip and twinning behavior in 5182 aluminum alloy. However, a constituent model to carry out thermal analysis representing the dependence of hardening parameters on temperature is unavailable. Using integral-effect experimental data, the proposed approach is used to infer an empirical constituent model, which is then coupled with VPSC to obtain an experimentally augmented partitioned model representing the thermo-mechanical properties of 5182 aluminum alloy.

Results demonstrate the capability of the method to enable model predictions dependent upon relevant operational conditions. The VPSC model is coupled with the empirical constituent, and the newly enabled thermal-dependent predictions are compared with experimental data.

The method developed in this paper enables the empirical inference of a functional representation of input parameter values in lieu of a missing constituent model. Through this approach, development of partitioned models in the presence of uncertainty regarding a constituent model is made possible.

This is the second paper in a two‐part discussion of the determinants and performance consequences of concurrent engineering (CE) team usage. In this paper, a model is developed outlining the relationship between the extent of CE team usage and three measures of performance, specifically NPD financial performance, NPD development performance, and communication quality.

To test the model, 2,500 questionnaires were mailed to NPD managers from the machinery, computer product, electrical equipment, and transportation equipment manufacturing industries. Of the 2,500 questionnaires mailed, 189 usable questionnaires were retuned for a usable response rate of 7.5 percent.

Results of performing partial least squares analysis indicate that the frequency of use of CE teams and functional involvement on CE teams influences communication quality, which in turn, influences both NPD financial and development performance.

To researchers of NPD, the major implication of this study is that it highlights possible reasons (e.g. not considering the extent of usage or not including functional involvement or communication quality in their models) why they are obtaining such inconsistent results when examining the relationship between NPD practices and performance. The major limitation of this study is that only CE teams have been selected for investigation or risk the problems associated with developing a very long questionnaire.

To practicing NPD managers, the value of this research is that it highlights that CE teams which do little to improve communication quality will not lead to improvements in NPD performance.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) as a measure of attachment state of mind in adults with intellectual disabilities. The AAP is a free response picture system method of assessing patterns of adult attachment with established validity and reliability in community and clinical samples.

The paper reports on five cases of adults with intellectual disabilities who were administered the AAP as part of routine clinical work. The AAP administration procedure was modified to take account of the participants’ intellectual disabilities.

It was possible to code and classify each AAP using the established coding and classification system. The authors coded four cases blind to each other ' s classification; they agreed on classifications for three cases and reached consensus on the fourth. The AAP analysis showed strong correspondence with case history material.

The AAP demonstrates the potential to assess attachment state of mind in adults with intellectual disabilities and is the first developmental measure of attachment status that has shown potential in this population. The paper discusses clinical application of the AAP and directions for future research.

The purpose of the study is to gain insights into the post-acquisition integration practices of Indian multinational companies involved in cross-border acquisitions.

The study is based on the primary data from a sample of Indian companies engaged in cross-border acquisitions. A survey (based on a structured questionnaire) method has been used to collect the relevant data.

Majority of the sample companies have successfully managed the post-acquisition phase and realized the anticipated synergies. These companies recognize the importance of cultural integration, people/HR integration and formal communication channel during the post-acquisition phase. Despite the integration strategy being profoundly influenced by cultural differences between two companies, the emphasis on these cultural differences especially during the due-diligence stage is lacking. These aspects have not been examined adequately during the due-diligence phase.

Based on the findings, a model of cross-border acquisition and integration process (AIP) in the context of emerging economies has been proposed; the model is expected to be applicable across all industries and organizations, especially in emerging economies. The proposed model should essentially help senior and middle managers to develop successful integration strategies. Moreover, the study holds immense potential for practitioners and academicians by providing them with a new thought on executing successful acquisitions.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has examined the post-acquisition integration approach in emerging economies. Moreover, rarely has any AIP model applicable across several organizations of all sizes and types from emerging economies been suggested in the literature. The suggested AIP model is the unique proposition of the paper.

This article examines the structure and components of information storage and retrieval systems and information filtering systems. Analysis of the tasks performed in such selection systems leads to the identification of 13 components. Eight are necessarily present in all such systems, mechanized or not; the others may, but need not be, present. The authors argue that all selection systems can be represented in terms of combinations of these components. The components are of only two types: representations of data objects and functions that operate on them. Further, the functional components, or rules, reduce to two basic types: 1) transformation, making or modifying the members of a set of representations, and 2) sorting or partitioning. The representational transformations may be in the form of copies, excerpts, descriptions, abstractions, or mere identifying references. By partitioning, we mean dividing a set of objects by using matching, sorting, ranking, selecting, and other logically equivalent operations. The typical multiplicity of knowledge sources and of system vocabularies is noted. Some of the implications for the study, use, and design of information storage and retrieval systems are discussed.

This study assesses performance measurement (PM) system implementation efforts across various organizational contexts and investigates which factors are critical to achieving implementation success (IS).

An empirical field study was conducted to refine a framework of PM system IS that consists of 5 dimensions of success and 29 factors. A survey questionnaire was used to investigate actual organizational practice and exploratory factor analysis was conducted to refine constructs corresponding to potential factors and dimensions of IS. The resulting variables were then investigated using multiple regression analysis to identify critical success factors for implementing PM systems.

The survey was completed by representatives from 124 organizations and the exploratory factor analysis results indicated that there are three underlying dimensions of IS (i.e. Use of the System, PM System Performance, and Improved Results and Processes) and 12 factors. Of the factors, nine can be considered critical success factors having a significant relationship with at least one dimension of IS: Leader Support, Design and Implementation Approach, Reward System Alignment, Organizational Acceptance, Organizational Culture and Climate, Easy to Define Environment, IT Infrastructure Capabilities, PM System Design Quality, and PM Participation and Training.

The results show that there are distinct dimensions of IS and, although some factors are associated with all dimensions, most are more closely related to only one dimension. This suggests that different strategies should be utilized based on the types of challenges experienced during implementation.