PhD, EngD, MPhil and MSc by research theses (SAS)
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Browsing PhD, EngD, MPhil and MSc by research theses (SAS) by Supervisor "Baines, Tim"
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Item Open Access An advanced decision process for capacity expansion in manufacturing networks(Cranfield University, 2008-04) Julka, Nirupam; Baines, Tim; Tjahjono, BennyManufacturing companies develop multiple production sites for various reasons from cheaper labour to access to local markets. Expansion of capacity in such a manufacturing network is a complex decision and requires consideration of multiple factors. Traditionally, industrial decision makers attempt to minimise the cost of expansion and, usually as an afterthought, consider soft factors like manpower availability and logistics connectivity. This approach has gained acceptance as the research community has focused on developing better mathematical representations of the problem rather than investigate the larger decision process. A review of the literature revealed that all existing processes for multi-site capacity expansion decision fail in this way. Therefore, this research sets out to fulfil the needs of practitioners by developing a more complete process for the capacity expansion decision in multi-site manufacturing networks. The research programme consists of five parts. In the first part an extensive literature review is conducted to identify the state-of-the-art in capacity expansion decision processes. Then, in the second part, a representative process is formed and industrially tested. This generates the specifications for an advanced decision process which addresses the shortcomings of the present body of knowledge and is developed in the third part of the research. In the fourth part the advanced decision process is applied in an industrial setting to validate its effectiveness. Finally, in the fifth part the advanced decision process is refined and illustrated. The outcome of this research is an improved decision making capability. The advanced decision process has been both validated and appreciated by industrial practitioners. Specifically the contribution to knowledge is an advanced decision process for capacity expansion in multi-site manufacturing network.Item Open Access A decision model for manufacturing best practice adoption: Linking practices to competitive strategies(Cranfield University, 2007-10) Lee Gan Kai, William; Baines, Tim; Tjahjono, BennyThis thesis describes research that has developed a decision model for the analytical selection of manufacturing best practices. The competitiveness and growth in the manufacturing sector is critical for Singapore economy. Design and improvement of manufacturing systems is imperative to sustain the competitiveness of manufacturing organisations in the country. It is common for companies to adopt manufacturing best practices in this design process to emulate the success and performance of their counterparts. However, practices should be adapted to the competitive environment and strategy of the company to yield the desired results. Therefore, linkages between best practices and their associated competitive priorities will present useful guidelines for action to help manufacturing organisations achieve superior performance. The research programme has set out to define a decision model for best practice adoption. A broad taxonomy of manufacturing strategies and concepts has been used to identify and cluster a list of popular best practices commonly adopted. The decision framework for best practice adoption process is then formulated and a preliminary decision model constructed. This model is verified through semistructured interviews with industry and academic experts. Validation of model is conducted via case study research on eight manufacturing organisations. Linkages between practices and competitive strategies are then constructed to establish the final decision model. Finally, this decision model is illustrated in the form of a guidebook to help practitioner in the best practice selection process. This research has bridged the fields of manufacturing strategy and best practice research by establishing a comprehensive taxonomy of manufacturing strategies and concepts to classify the popular and commonly adopted best practices. A decision model that links best practices to competitive strategies has been developed to select the most appropriate practices for an environment. Thus, the work presented in this thesis has made a significant and original contribution to knowledge on the provision of analytical decision support for practitioners engaging in the manufacturing best practice adoption process.Item Open Access Development and assessment of a methodology for the business process improvement(Cranfield University, 2002-05) Adesola, Modupeola Olusola; Baines, TimThere appears to be an ever insatiable demand from markets for organisations to improve their products and services. In response, the concept of Business Process Improvement (BPI) has been developed in recent years as a useful aid. Unfortunately, there is no robust methodology that practitioners can use to apply this concept. Therefore, the intention of this research is to provide a generic and practical methodology to support the implementation of business process improvement within organisations. The research described in this thesis has set out to form a BPI methodology through a structured research programme. A pilot methodology was formed on the basis of existing contributions in the literature. This was initially refined through discussion with experts in the field, and a primary field trial. After refinement, the methodology was more thoroughly tested through case studies at three companies. The fully tested and refined methodology is presented as a workbook in the appendix of this thesis. The outcome of this research is a structured step by step methodology which is an aid to BPI. This methodology takes the practitioner through such steps as; understanding business needs, understanding the process, redesigning the process, implementing the new process, and reviewing the new process. The outcome of executing the methodology is a documented business process. The work described in this thesis has made a significant contribution to the knowledge on methodologies for BPI. It has also demonstrated that such methodologies can be formed and tested rigorously in an industrial context.Item Open Access Development and assessment of a methodology for the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives(Cranfield University, 2004-10) Minarro Viseras, Enrique; Baines, TimThe competitiveness and growth in the manufacturing sector is critical for the UK economy. It is imperative that the design and improvement of manufacturing systems is a constant and dynamic task in the British manufacturing environment. Unfortunately, many companies are still facing major difficulties during the implementation of strategic decisions derived from the formulation of manufacturing strategies. Current project management methodologies and techniques provide inadequate support for managers facing the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives (SMI). Therefore, the intention of this research is to provide a rigorous and successful SMI implementation methodology whose structure and contents include the most critical aspects relevant to the strategic manufacturing environment. The research described in this thesis has set out to form a SMI implementation methodology through a structured research programme. Initially existing literature related to SMI implementation methods was reviewed and analysed. A pilot methodology was then formed by contrasting literature against a list of key success factors in the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives determined from a worldwide survey. The pilot methodology was evaluated by a selection of practitioners, and results were used to refine the methodology. Finally, a validation test in a manufacturing organisation was conducted through a case study demonstrating the feasibility, usability and usefulness of the methodology. The fully tested and refined methodology is presented as a workbook in the appendix of this thesis. The outcome of this research is a structured step by step methodology which is an aid to the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives. The work described in this thesis has made a significant contribution to the knowledge on how to go about the implementation of strategic manufacturing initiatives.Item Open Access Development of a methodology for evaluating product service system as a competitive strategy for the Singapore manufacturing industry(Cranfield University, 2010-12) Ang, Gim Ching Jenny; Baines, TimProduct Service System (PSS) promotes the idea of selling value in use via an integrated combination of products and services. It has been regarded by many economic policy makers and researchers as a potential competitive strategy for the manufacturing industry in the developed country to gain competitiveness. Although currently there are a few PSS methodologies developed for the design and implementation of PSS, their approach is mainly biased towards using PSS as a tool to gain sustainability and to reduce environmental impact from selling more services instead of selling the physical product for example. In view of this, this research sets out to present a PSS Evaluation (PSSE) methodology, aiming at assisting manufacturer in assessing whether the adoption of a PSS is a good strategy from the point of competitiveness. The research programme begins with the identification of the requirements set of the PSSE methodology by gaining relevant knowledge from the literature and the Singapore‟s Manufacturing Industry. Existing potential methodologies were then selected against the requirements set to form the conceptual base of the new PSSE methodology. The developed new PSSE methodology was tested using two case studies during the primary evaluation and another four case studies during the secondary evaluation. The main contribution of this research is the development of a feasible, usable and useful methodology that can assist the manufacturer in assessing whether the adoption of a new PSS is a competitive strategy. The new seven-stage PSSE methodology provides well-constructed stages which are specially designed to be delivered via a facilitated workshop. This research has therefore made a significant contribution to the knowledge of the concept of PSS, and its application in the manufacturing industry in the area of methodology development.Item Open Access Development of a strategic supply chain positioning methodology for SMEs in Singapore(Cranfield University, 2007-10) Lim Yan Guan, Roland; Baines, Tim; Tjahjono, BennyThe Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore face particular challenges from increasing competition from manufacturers in China, India and other East Asian countries. For these SMEs, survival and growth depend critically on defining their own competitive space among other companies in the manufacturing supply chains. Unfortunately there is little previous research on Strategic Supply Chain Positioning (SSCP) with most current frameworks and methodologies being developed from the perspective of the larger multinational companies (MNCs). Therefore this research has set out to develop a practical and robust SSCP methodology to support strategic decision making in SMEs in Singapore. The research programme began with a review of the existing methodologies and selecting the most promising methodology for further evaluation. Testing of this methodology was then carried out through four industrial case studies. Based on the results of the evaluation, the methodology was refined and a pilot SSCP methodology for SMEs was developed. Further testing was then carried out with another four case studies to identify particular characteristics for further improvement. The final SSCP methodology was then developed as a computerised software tool and presented in Chapter 9 of this thesis. The research has created a strategic supply chain positioning methodology that provides practical and procedural aid for strategic supply chain positioning efforts for SMEs in Singapore. This methodology guides the practitioner through a series of well-defined steps necessary to define the desired strategic positioning of the company in the supply chain. Such a methodology has been lacking in previous research and, hence, is the main contribution to knowledge in this thesis.Item Open Access Strategic positioning within global supply chains(Cranfield University, 2008-10) Chandraprakaikul, Watcharavee; Baines, TimThis thesis is concerned with the decision process of strategic positioning within global supply chains. The research provides insights into how companies currently form positioning decisions, and set out to develop a systematic methodology to assist practitioners in forming their strategic positioning decisions. Manufacturing in the UK is increasingly exposed to the effects of global competition. Many companies are facing difficulties to define the most advantageous position in their global supply chains in order to maximise their business competitiveness. The position of a company is concerned with deciding a boundary and configuration of internal and external business activities to the company and is directly related to initiatives such as outsourcing, make or buy, and offshoring. Unfortunately, current methodologies and tools do not provide adequate support to provide a holistic view for making such decisions. Hence, the purpose of this thesis is to provide a generic and practical methodology that is an integrated and holistic approach that assists practitioners to deal with strategic positioning within global supply chains. The research programme commenced by exploring the process and content of positioning decision from four actual manufacturing companies. The results from the exploratory case studies and existing contribution from literature have then been synthesised to form a pilot methodology. This is captured in the form of a paper-based workbook. This methodology has then been evaluated and refined through a primary application in two case studies with the researcher taking a role as a participant. Finally, wider applicability of the methodology has been assessed through four more case studies covering different types of manufacturing with the researcher not intervening but instead observing. The final methodology referred to in this thesis as the “SPGC methodology” has demonstrated that it provides practical support to industrial decision making. The outcome of this research is the step-by-step SPGC methodology supporting practitioners to deal with strategic positioning within global supply chains. The overall approach has been demonstrated to be feasible, usable and useful, and has been used in a range of manufacturing companies. This research has filled an industrial need and literature gap and has made a significant contribution to the knowledge on how manufacturing companies can form a strategic positioning within global supply chains.Item Open Access A strategy formulation methodology for companies seeking to compete through IVHM enabled service delivery systems(Cranfield University, 2012-05) Redding, Louis E.; Baines, Tim; Ball, Peter D.This thesis makes a contribution to knowledge through the development of a strategy formulation methodology for manufacturing organisations who wish to compete through advanced technology enabled service delivery systems. The research introduces the reader to the concept of Product Service Systems (PSS) and the process of ‘servitization’. It identifies Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) as one of a set of enabling technological applications, which if adopted, can facilitate the supply of “intelligent” or “informated” products. Such products enable the manufacturer to monitor the condition and usage of these products ‘in the field’ thereby enabling aligned service solutions to be offered. A five phase research programme is undertaken which seeks to understand the principles of IVHM and gain knowledge of the level of practitioner awareness of the concept and related issues. The research then explores and defines the concept of the service delivery system, and identifies and reviews operations strategy formulation methodologies. A pre-pilot methodology is adopted which is then tested via case application to generate a list of requirements and specification. A pilot methodology is designed to suit the specification and tested via industrial case studies and expert practitioner evaluation. The pilot methodology is finally refined prior to verification and validation through industrial case application and further expert practitioner evaluation. This research delivers a sequential and iterative strategy formulation methodology which fills a gap that is identified through a state of the art literature review and practitioner survey. The documented methodology is the result of a structured development and test programme and is shown to be feasible, useable and useful by test and validation by numerous manufacturing organisations. It makes a significant contribution to knowledge. This is attained through seeking to understand the organisation’s actual competitive position, its alignment to the stakeholder’s service requirements, and organisational structure. It also offers alignment relative to the level of technology adoption when offering intelligent/informated products. The research provides a strategy formulation methodology to deliver an enhanced service delivery system.Item Open Access A system development methodology for embedded applications(2009-07) Goh, Kiah Mok; Tjahjono, Benny; Baines, TimIn recent years, Singapore’s manufacturing sector has contributed more than a quarter of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has established global leadership positions in several manufacturing areas such as electronics, Information Technology (IT) and industrial automation. The Singapore Economic Review Committee (ERC) recommendation states that “software and embedded systems that drive products are one of the most important technologies for the manufacturing sector. “ With the increasing adoption of automated and intelligent products, embedded systems have emerged as a crucial technology for Singapore. However, the development of embedded applications is not a trivial undertaking as it can usually involve multi-discipline parties and different application platforms. Most embedded application developments use either vendor specific or desktop based methodologies. Vendor specific methodologies constrain the company to rely on the specific vendor's solutions, whereas desktop-based methodologies are not well suited to embedded application development. Therefore, this research aims to develop a standard-based system development methodology for embedded applications. The research programme comprises 5 stages. The first stage reviews the existing system development methodologies for embedded applications. The next stage formulates the proposed conceptual methodology followed by the development of the proof-of-concept tool to demonstrate the merits of the proposed approach. The methodology is then tested and evaluated respectively by using industrial experiments and feedback from a workshop. The final stage refines the methodology based on the feedback and presents the final system development methodology. The research has provided a sound foundation which future research in methodology for embedded applications to develop further.