Iterative Minimum Viable Product Approach to Implementing AI, RPA, and BI Solutions

Breakthrough technologies can be considered as exponentially disruptive to organizations across industries within the last few decades of the 21st century, as they have significantly altered the way their business units or customers operate. Artificial Intelligence related cognitive technologies are some of the latest disruptive solutions currently being adopted by organizations. Organizational leaders may feel both the pressure and excitement of adopting such nascent technology quickly and at scale. However, due to organizational knowledge gaps of nascent solutions, transformative large-scale initiatives have a higher risk of negative impact on failure to implement. On the other hand, an iterative approach allows for the implementation to occur in smaller amounts and leaves room for incorporating feedback and lessons learned in future iterations, thus mitigating the risks involved with the undertaking. This article breaks down the nascent field of advanced cognitive technologies into three main categories based on their business use cases: process automation, cognitive insights, and cognitive engagement. It then explores implementing this technology in each of its three categories through the lens of a popular iterative product lifecycle management approach (i.e., the Minimum Viable Product) to reduce the risk of failure or other negative impacts on an organization adopting cognitive solutions.

Teaching CAD/CAM/CAE tools with project-based learning in virtual distance education

Computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering technologies (CAD/CAM/CAE) are a mainstay in today’s industry and therefore they should be an important part in the current training plan of the graduate engineers. However, their implementation in the university environment presents certain barriers that make it difficult. In this work, we study the feasibility of the teaching proposal of the management of this type of tools through a Project-Based Learning method in a distance learning environment. The methodology has been implemented transversally in two Master’s degree subjects related to advanced design and manufacturing and has been carried out thanks to the operation of the product lifecycle management platform software by virtual machines. The practice has given very good pedagogical results in the work of skills related to the field of industrial design and manufacturing. The virtual system has demonstrated high efficiency and students have shown a satisfactory evolution in their professional training.

Green Economy and Meat Processing–Future Prospects

This paper provides a brief overview of the possible strategies for reducing hydrocarbon emissions from the meat industry according to the Green Deal program of the EU in the next decades. An overview of emerging technologies (high-pressure processing (HPP), shock wave technology (SW), ohmic heating (OH) and pulsed electric field (PEF), cultured meat) that should reduce gas emissions is given, as well as methodologies that can be applied (labelling, sustainable cooking, product lifecycle management (PLM) and product data management (PDM) applications). Noticeably, most novel strategies draw the conclusion that we should go for lower consumption of meat, especially beef, and change habits to eat and prepare foods in energy and environmentally friendly ways, as well as apply the so-called “green” food declaration in the future. Transforming into a climate-friendly economy, protecting biodiversity, and reorienting the agri-food industry growth can contribute to creating greater resilience of society.

PLM Solutions in the Process of Supporting the Implementation and Maintenance of the Circular Economy Concept in Manufacturing Companies

The Circular Economy (CE) is a priority topic for various stakeholders such as politicians, scientists, and industry. However, despite the significant interest in CE, there is still a lack of a framework explaining how manufacturing companies willing to become circular adapt their existing business model. The concept of this work is based on the use of Information Technologies such as the well-known and long-proven Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions in the implementation and maintenance of the CE concept to reduce the consumption of primary raw materials, increase employment rates, and reduce environmental damage. This paper aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using the PLM approach to implement the CE concept. The authors selected the most common and effective PLM functionalities and then assessed them to support selected components of the CE concept using qualitative and quantitative methods. The performed assessment and the inter-relation matrix of benefits developed on its basis allowed for pointing out the feature combinations that would bring the best outcome. The conducted study proved that the implemented and properly working PLM solution could simultaneously support CE concepts. PLM functionalities such as (1) product development, (2) transparency, and (3) value-maximizing with the combination of CE functional areas of (1) personalization, (2) made to order, and support turned out to be particularly effective. This study contributes to ensuring an effective and quick process of implementing CE concept in manufacturing companies and moreover opens further research ideas in bringing the Circular Economy to life.

The Road to Accountable and Dependable Manufacturing

The Internet of Things provides manufacturing with rich data for increased automation. Beyond company-internal data exploitation, the sharing of product and manufacturing process data along and across supply chains enables more efficient production flows and product lifecycle management. Even more, data-based automation facilitates short-lived ad hoc collaborations, realizing highly dynamic business relationships for sustainable exploitation of production resources and capacities. However, the sharing and use of business data across manufacturers and with end customers add requirements on data accountability, verifiability, and reliability and needs to consider security and privacy demands. While research has already identified blockchain technology as a key technology to address these challenges, current solutions mainly evolve around logistics or focus on established business relationships instead of automated but highly dynamic collaborations that cannot draw upon long-term trust relationships. We identify three open research areas on the road to such a truly accountable and dependable manufacturing enabled by blockchain technology: blockchain-inherent challenges, scenario-driven challenges, and socio-economic challenges. Especially tackling the scenario-driven challenges, we discuss requirements and options for realizing a blockchain-based trustworthy information store and outline its use for automation to achieve a reliable sharing of product information, efficient and dependable collaboration, and dynamic distributed markets without requiring established long-term trust.

PLM support for design platforms in industrialized house-building

Purpose The purpose of this research is to support the customization ability for industrial house building companies striving to offer individualized products but with a strategy which includes a production facility. This is accomplished by analyzing the as-is state in terms of existing engineering assets and by proposing a to-be state using the design platform and product lifecycle management (PLM) support. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on design research methodology and collected data are in-depth interviews, document reviews and workshops and method development. The theoretical baseline is product platforms and the design platform. Findings The analysis showed that despite use of a platform, inherent assets are disorganized. Still, the identified object-based engineering assets were possible to include in a conceptual proposal for better management, both in the process and product view, using an asset relationship matrix and a PLM system. Practical implications The results should be applicable for industrial house building and off-site construction companies and offers an approach to identify and manage their assets and platforms which are crucial to stay competitive. Originality/value Previous research on design platforms has focused on engineer-to-order companies within the mechanical industry. The contribution of this paper lies in the application and support of the design platform for industrial house building and the introduction of PLM system support.

Requirements for a Product Lifecycle Management System Using Internet of Things and Big Data Analytics for Product-as-a-Service

Product-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings have advantages and potential for transforming societies to a circular economy and for improving environmental performance. Original equipment manufacturers providing PaaS offerings take higher responsibility for product performances in the use phase than those selling products. This responsibility can be supported by digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data analytics (BDA). However, insights on how data of product designs and in-use services are managed for PaaS offerings in product lifecycle management (PLM) software are scarce. This mini-review first gives an account of extant major research works that successfully applied BDA, a specific technique of artificial intelligence (AI), to cases in industry through a systematic literature review. Then, these works are analyzed to capture requirements for a PLM system that will exploit the IoT and BDA for PaaS offerings. The captured requirements are summarized as (1) facilitate product and service integration, (2) address multiple lifecycles, (3) adopt an ontology approach encompassing several product standards, and (4) include reading data to process in an interoperation layer.

Adoption of product lifecycle management in new product development: a case study of automotive organisation

PurposeThe Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system has found varieties of deployments in various domains of product-based industries. Current study aims to provide a framework for the adoption of PLM systems in manufacturing organizations to meet the actual requirements of industries.Design/methodology/approachFirst, a systematic review of extant literature was performed, and further, the case study approach is opted to study the process of New Product Development (NPD) in a manufacturing organization. Triangulation methodology was adopted wherein the interview results, actual observations, and authorized documentations were used to validate the result and provide conclusions.FindingsA conceptual framework and implementation architecture for PLM is derived. The complete ecosystem for digital footprint is mapped for New Product Development (NPD) activities.Practical implicationsThe study could be helpful for Techno-Functional Managers. For individuals with only functional/technical knowledge, additional training might be required to adopt the framework in actual practices.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the existing literature by providing a framework and demonstrating the feasibility of implementation through the case study.