Digital Transformation and the Evolution of the Platform Economy

This chapter provides an overview of the evolution of the platform economy through the lens of digital transformation and transit from Industry 3.0 (I3.0) to Industry 4.0 (I4.0). The platform economy belongs to both I3.0 and I4.0 and goes through two cycles of digital transformation within them. In I3.0, the starting point of the platform economy is the digitization of social and commercial interactions over user-generated content. The resulting issues of trust and regulation of user interactions find solutions in new business models based on online reputation systems and algorithmic regulation. The specificity of I4.0 is the tendency to platform products, homes, factories, and cities through broad digitization of interactions between humans and things, and things and things. For the platform economy, the new cycle of digital transformation in the context of I4.0 means creating business models based on the ultimate customization of both the production and consumption of product-as-platforms and the rental of digital product models.

Investigating the Health Effects of 3 Coexisting Tobacco-Related Products Using System Dynamics Population Modeling: An Italian Population Case Study

With the proliferation of tobacco products, there might be a need for more complex models than current two-product models. We have developed a three-product model able to represent interactions between three products in the marketplace. We also investigate if using several implementations of two-product models could provide sufficient information to assess 3 coexisting products. Italy is used as case-study with THPs and e-cigarettes as the products under investigation. We use transitions rates estimated for THPs in Japan and e-cigarettes in the USA to project what could happen if the Italian population were to behave as the Japanese for THP or USA for e-cigarettes. Results suggest that three-product models may be hindered by data availability while two product models could miss potential synergies between products. Both, THP and E-Cigarette scenarios, led to reduction in life-years lost although the Japanese THP scenario reductions were 3 times larger than the USA e-cigarette projections.

Quantitative Model for the Value of the 3D Product Model Use in Production Processes

Prior research has shown qualitatively that organizations can increase the value created in their production and assembly processes through the implementation of three-dimensional (3D) product models in those processes. This paper moves beyond qualitative value to develop and calibrate a quantitative model for the value of 3D product model use in production and assembly processes. The principal contributions of this research are development of the quantitative model and determination of the quantitative value of deploying the 3D product model in assembly and production processes; findings developed through interviews with industry experts in industrial and systems engineering to gather the model inputs, calculate the outputs, and then calibrate the model with those industry experts. These results are then compared against the qualitative value categories from prior research to determine the alignment in order and magnitude with the quantitative model results. This paper concludes with a recommendation of where both industry and academia focus future implementation efforts and research based upon the associated results demonstrated in both the qualitative and quantitative model on the value of 3D product model use in assembly and production processes.

THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING VIRTUAL METHODS TO OBTAIN THE GARMENT PROTOTYPE (2D/3D AND 3D/2D)

With the progress and development of science and technology, virtual reality technology is becoming more and more present, its application in digital creations is becoming more and more widespread. Everything the user does is calculated by the computer and has real-time feedback, making this virtual environment more realistic and giving the user an immersive experience. This technology integrates the latest developments in computer science, computer simulation, artificial intelligence, recognition, display and online parallel processing. Virtual prototyping offers a new way to explore the design and subsequent changes that need to be made to the product before it is manufactured in larger quantities or put into production. The development of new product models using virtual tools requires a certain level of training of the designer; he/she must have skills in understanding and using the specific tools for CAD systems (2D and 3D) and technical knowledge regarding the ways of conceptual product development. This paper presents the methodology of the virtual development process for an apparel product model, using the tools of the 2D and 3D digital environments. The first solution is to design the 2D patterns of the components of an apparel product, followed by a 3D simulation that verifies the aforementioned solution. The second solution is to design the 3D components using the tools of the 3D digital environment (the software used is Clo3D) and then extract the 2D parts required for the classical manufacturing process.

System of Marketing Models of Goods

The aim of the article. The purpose of the study, which is the subject of the article, was the formation of a system of product models, which covered the stage "production - distribution - exchange - consumption", which creates a basis for analysing the competitiveness of goods over time. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were set and solved: a) a comprehensive analysis of existing models in marketing; b) the formation of new models of goods that are not present today in the world scientific literature; c) formation of a system of product models in marketing as a basis for analysis of product competitiveness in the temporal aspect. Analyses results. Traditionally, in the process of analysing the competitiveness of the company in the centre of the analysis is the product as an object of market exchange. The issue of product competitiveness implies the need to determine the key aspects or components that will be subject to comparative analysis, as competitiveness is a relative concept. For a comprehensive analysis of competitiveness it is necessary to take into account the entire cycle of its production and market presence, its life cycle, in particular, within the classical scheme: production - distribution - exchange - consumption. At each of the stages of this scheme, the key are different aspects and characteristics of the product, according to the characteristics of interaction with it, which should be reflected in the marketing models of the product, developed separately for each stage. Within each stage, appropriate models are identified that reflect the specific requirements for the product related to the technical and economic characteristics of the enterprise. The first stage - production - aims to optimize production activities, so the model should reflect the characteristics of the production of goods. In the second stage - distribution - the product must meet the goal of optimizing logistics activities, therefore, the corresponding model reflects the characteristics of the product associated with logistics of sales. The third stage - exchange - is the point of intersection of supply and demand. Within the fourth stage of consumption, the product model should be focused on motivation and consumer behaviour. The presented models are connected into a system that is cross-cutting for the entire life cycle of the product and can serve as a basis for a comprehensive assessment of its competitiveness. Conclusions and directions for further research. The presented product models form an interconnected group, covering the entire economic cycle from the beginning of production to consumption. This approach helps to take into account the nuances of marketing management at each stage and to form a set of marketing measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the enterprise in terms of its product policy. A further area of research may be the development of an algorithm that will form a system of criteria for the competitiveness of goods in accordance with the specific market situation, taking into account the peculiarities of the implementation of stages within a certain market.

Design, Simulation and Optimization of an Electrical Drive-Train

Today, design engineers engaged in the development of a high-performance electrical drive-train are challenged by the multitude of possible topological choices and numerous mutually interconnected physical phenomena. Development teams around the globe struggle with this challenge; usually they employ several tools for simulation and topology optimization and transfer multiple versions of their product models in a mainly manual process. The research presented in this paper aims to explore a holistic possibility to realize a sensible analysis-synthesis cycle that takes into consideration current developments in design, simulation and optimization processes. This kind of process can enhance the transparency of design decisions, can reduce the risk of design and process flaws and can support the approach toward a holistic optimum. The investigation starts with the development of the topological concept of the drive-train and continues over the interconnected simulation of several decisive properties of the drive-train. Obviously, these properties concern several domains (mechanical, electrical, thermal and the control domain). The optimization of the drive-train takes into consideration the main requirement—in the investigated example, which is a formula student drive-train—the lap time. The result is a holistic concept for a design, simulation and optimization approach that considers topological variety, interconnected multi-domain simulation and a continuous connection to the decisive requirements.

A Knowledge-Based Digital Lifecycle-Oriented Asset Optimisation

The digitalisation of the value chain promotes sophisticated virtual product models known as digital twins (DT) in all asset-life-cycle (ALC) phases. These models. however, fail on representing the entire phases of asset-life-cycle (ALC), and do not allow continuous life-cycle-costing (LCC). Hence, energy efficiency and resource optimisation across the entire circular value chain is neglected. This paper demonstrates how ALC optimisation can be achieved by incorporating all product life-cycle phases through the use of a RAMS²-toolbox and the generation of a knowledge-based DT. The benefits of the developed model are demonstrated in a simulation, considering RAMS2 (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety and Sustainability) and the linking of heterogeneous data, with the help of a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN).

Investigating the health effects of 3 coexisting tobacco and nicotine products using system dynamics population modeling: An Italian population case study

With the proliferation of tobacco and nicotine products, there might be a need for more complex models than current two-product models. We have developed a three-product model able to represent interactions between 3 products in the marketplace. We also investigate if using several implementations of two-product models could provide sufficient information to assess 3 coexisting products. Italy is used as case-study with THPs and e-cigarettes as the products under investigation. We use transitions rates estimated for THPs in Japan and e-cigarettes in the USA to project what could happen if the Italian population were to behave as the Japanese for THP or USA for e-cigarettes. Results suggest that three-product models may be hindered by data availability while two product models could miss potential synergies between products. Both, THP and E-Cigarette scenarios, led to reduction in life-years lost although the Japanese THP scenario reductions were 3 times larger than the USA e-cigarette projections.

Additive Technology Methods for Manufacturing Permanent Magnets

The paper presents the results of studying the possibility of using the selective laser melting method for production of permanent magnets. This process allows to manufacture not only product models and prototypes, but also finished functional products by adding material layer by layer and bonding particles and layers to each other. We have considered the application areas of selective laser melting (SLM) based on powders obtained by different methods for the study. In addition, we have analyzed the traditional magnetic alloy casting technology, studied magnetic materials, and compared the powder magnet properties with standard data. We have found that the parameters of powders obtained by gas atomization are qualitatively superior to those of powders obtained using other methods, whereas the resulting magnets meet the requirements for magnets. Based on the 25Kh15KA alloy powder atomized by gas atomization, a SLM plant allows to manufacture permanent magnets with a material density of 7.59–7.55 g/cu.cm, which meets the requirements recommended by the State Standard GOST 24897-81, and to obtain the magnet properties that can be achieved using traditional metallurgical technologies.