A review of computer-aided Simultaneous Engineering systems

World-wide markets are becoming increasingly competitive, and in order to sustain market share organisations are developing a customer-oriented approach for designing and producing high-quality, high-value products. The philosophy of simultaneous engineering has been proposed as a potential means of improving product development practice. This philosophy involves simultaneously satisfying the functionality, reliability, manufacturability, and marketability concerns of new products in order to reduce product development time and cost, and to achieve higher product quality and value. In this paper the concept, objectives and principles of simultaneous engineering are introduced. The past and present research into computer-aided systems for the support of simultaneous engineering is present, reviewed and classified. This will both allow the current state of the art to be assessed, and enable the identification of future research that will contribute to the realisation of computer aided support for Simultaneous Engineering.     

Developing a digital transformation process in the manufacturing sector: Egyptian case study

Digital transformation is of crucial importance in the manufacturing industry, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increasing need for remote working and socially distanced workplaces. However, there is a lack of a clear and well-defined process to implement digital transformation in manufacturing. This paper aims to identify the most critical stages to implementing digital transformation in the manufacturing sector. Twenty-one structured interviews with experienced specialists in digitalisation in the manufacturing sector in the Egyptian economy were held and used the Best–Worst Method to analyse the data as an analysis tool for a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) approach. The digital transformation process comprises eight stages covering technology, management, communications, and customer elements. The main contribution of this work stage is the balance between the different elements of digital transformation—digital technologies, leadership and strategy, people and business processes—to create an integrated 8-step process of digital transformation in the manufacturing sector of developing economies such as the Egyptian economy.

     

An analogy based estimation framework for design rework efforts

Analogy based estimation framework is developed aiming to estimate design rework efforts which are unnecessary repetition design efforts. Design rework factors were captured from literature reviews and then they were developed to be design rework drivers by mapping with results from semi structure interviews with three companies in automotive industries. There are six design rework drivers for probability occurrence, and there is only one driver for efforts required. Design structure matrix is used to identify interactions and addressed a key critical component or subsystem. The analogy based estimation framework is applied with the water pump development project from an engine manufacturer. The initial statistical validation method called mean magnitude of relative error is implemented and the results are in acceptable range, while experts from company C agreed on the validity of design rework drivers and opportunity to improve the framework. The ultimate goal of this development is to develop a framework to estimate design rework efforts in the product design and development projects at the early stage.     

An innovative cost modelling system to support lean product and process development

This paper presents a cost modelling system for lean product and process development to support proactive decision making and mistake elimination at the design stage. The foundations of the system are based upon three lean product and process development enablers, namely: Set-based concurrent engineering, knowledge-based engineering, and mistake proofing (Poka-yoke). The development commenced with an industrial field study of eleven leading European industries from the aerospace, automotive, telecommunication, medical and domestic appliance sectors. Based on the requirements of industrial collaborators, the developed system comprises six modules: value identification, manufacturing process/machines selection, material selection, geometric features specification, geometric features and manufacturability assessment, and manufacturing time and cost estimation. The work involved the development of a feature-based cost estimation method for the resistance spot welding process. The developed system was finally validated using an industrial case study. The developed system has the capability to provide estimates related to product cost and associated values concurrently, facilitate decision making, eliminate mistakes during the design stage, and incorporate ‘customer voice’ during a critical decision making stage.