Suchergebnisse

New business models in complex engineering products have favoured the integration of acquisition and sustainment phases in capability development. The product service system (PSS) concept enables manufacturers of complex engineering products to incorporate support services into the product's manufacturing and sustainment lifecycle. However, the PSS design has imposed significant risks to the manufacturer not only in the manufacture of the product itself, but also in the provision of support services over long period of time at a predetermined price. This paper analysed three case studies using case study research design approach and mapped the service elements of the case studies to the generic complex engineering product service system (CEPSS) model. By establishing the concept of capability distribution for a PSS enterprise, the capability of the CEPSS can be overlaid on the performance-based reward scheme so that decision makers evaluate options related to the business opportunities presented to them.

Purpose
The research indicates there is a positive link between the improvement capability of an organisation and the intensity of effort applied to a business process improvement (BPI) project or initiative. While a degree of stochastic variation in applied effort to any particular improvement project may be expected there is a clear need to quantify the causal relationship, to assist management decision, and to enhance the chance of achieving and sustaining the expected improvement targets. The paper aims to discuss these issues.


Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents a method to obtain the function that estimates the range of applicable effort an organisation can expect to be able to apply based on their current improvement capability. The method used analysed published data as well as regression analysis of new data points obtained from completed process improvement projects.


Findings
The level of effort available to be applied to a process improvement project can be expressed as a regression function expressing the possible range of achievable BPI performance within 90 per cent confidence limits.


Research limitations/implications
The data set applied by this research is limited due to constraints during the research project. A more accurate function can be obtained with more industry data.


Practical implications
When the described function is combined with a separate non-linear function of performance gain vs effort a model of performance gain for a process improvement project as a function of organisational improvement capability is obtained. The probability of success in achieving performance targets may be estimated for a process improvement project.


Originality/value
The method developed in this research is novel and unique and has the potential to be applied to assessing an organisation's capability to manage change.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a virtualisation model of RFID enabled infrastructure incorporating non‐standard radio frequency identification (RFID) components. The model is implemented as a software service that draws upon other sources of internet services.Design/methodology/approachIn a global supply chain environment, circumstances at different locations may not allow RFID system to be used. Some supply chain members do not have compatible network infrastructure in place. These include RFID frameworks such as China's National Product Codes and Japan's ubiquitous identification which are utilised around the world. There is also a reachability problem for consignments going offsite. The paper introduces a service abstraction layer (SAL) in the RFID architecture to remove dependency on specific RFID framework. From this principle, the paper introduces a new virtual infrastructure that interfaces with emerging identification technologies.FindingsThe model bridges the gaps that exist between various RFID standards, as well as utilising various technologies to emulate data capture devices so that the information chain remains intact across the global network. The resulting system significantly reduces the costs of commissioning and operating costs of existing RFID infrastructures.Research limitations/implicationsThe new system has been tested in real industry environment with defined scope and coverage. The implication due to full roll out of the technologies in global supply chains still requires further investigation.Practical implicationsUsability of the virtualised RFID infrastructures depends on the cooperation among partners in the supply chain rather than the technology level. New business rules are required when special stakeholders such as customs are included in this virtualised infrastructure.Originality/valueThe concept of virtualisation has been used in operating systems, but its application to supply chain has not been explored before. Introduction of the SAL allows interoperability of systems handling goods tracking events through the supply chain.