Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Product development of functional workwear'

Interest in environmental issues has increased enormouslyover the last few decades and environmental problems areperceived to be on the increase. Due to the fact that thenumber of products on the market increases enormously, it isevident that we face a great challenge to overcome the problemconcerning our consumer society. An increasing barrage oflegislation accompanied by the public’s awareness of, andconcern for, the environment forcing the industry to respond.Products and their environmental impact have moved to thecentre stage and it is widely believed that designers have akey role in adapting products to a sustainable society. Threekey issues are identified in this development scenario: (a) theimportance of adapting products to a more sustainable society,(b) the specific situation facing the designer, especially inearly design phases, and (c) balancing environmental impactswith functional preferences.

Research in this thesis presents a theoretical framework fordescribing environmental issues and the role of the designer inproduct development, as well as functional characteristics ofproducts in the early phases of design. Based on anengineering-design science foundation, theoretical models andconcepts have been developed describing how both functional andenvironmental preferences can be visualised in design forenvironment and product development. Case studies andinterviews have been performed and integrated into a coherenttheoretical model for identifying and evaluating functional andenvironmental preferences within ecodesign approach andreasoning.

The overall concept proposed in this thesis is called theeco functional matrix, based on two parts: functional profileand environmental profile. The functional profile represent thefunctional characteristics and environmental profile theenvironmental characteristics respectively of a product in theearly phases of design. One of the objectives behind theconcept is to highlight the importance of balancing functionalrequirements and environmental impacts, presenting both theadvantages and disadvantages of the product. The basic idea isto account for user and societal preferences as well asenvironmental impact when assessing alternative productconcepts at early design stages. Balancing both the functionalrequirements and the negative environmental impacts of productsis the road to sustainable development.

KEYWORDSDesign for environment, life-cycle design,eco-design, eco-design methods, product environmentalcharacteristics, product functional characteristics, customerbenefit, value analysis, functional profile, environmentalprofile, eco functional matrix, product properties.

The purpose of this thesis is to identify and analyze relevant dimensions of cooperation between design and production related to product development. The study also focuses on suggesting improvements of the co-operation dimensions between production departments and the product development departments in the Product Development Process (PDP) at Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery AB (SIT AB). SIT AB produces gas and steam turbines. Their increasing production pace and increasing number of product development projects have highlighted the importance of improved co-operations between departments within the company.

We have developed an analysis model including the dimensions of co-operation we found relevant for the study. These are Timing of Upstream – Downstream Activities; Richness & Quality of Information; Frequency of Information Transmission; Direction of Communication; Formalization of Communication; Organizational Support; Goal Optimization; Attitudes in Cross-functional Teams; and Understanding of Tasks.

For product development SIT AB follows an extensive process; the PDP. This is a sequential process where all activities are performed in sequence and therefore it obstructs the implementation of Concurrent Engineering. Concurrent Engineering aims to shorten development time and to consider the total job as a whole by performing independent activities in parallel. Hence, we argue that SIT AB should work toward a more integrated process with more parallel activities.

The performance in all the dimensions of co-operation differ between large and small projects since the co-operation in large projects work much better than in small projects due to better followed process description; more face-to-face discussions; a better balance between informal and formal communication; and more focus on project goals and team building.

The improvement proposals are presented in a separate chapter as actions classified according to the potential impact on the organization and the estimated difficulty to implement them. The proposals include for example: training more project managers; initiate work shop practice for design engineers; and give more and better explanations of decisions and actions.

Syftet med det här examensarbetet är att identifiera och analysera relevanta dimensioner av samarbete mellan produktion och konstruktion i samband med produktutveckling. Syftet är också att föreslå förbättringar i samarbetet mellan produktions- och konstruktionsavdelningarna i produktutvecklingsprocessen (PDP) på Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery AB (SIT AB). SIT AB producerar ång- och gasturbiner. Betydelsen av ett gott samarbete mellan avdelningar i organisationen har belysts i samband med att produktionstaken de senaste åren har ökat och fler produktutvecklingsprojekt har initierat.

Vi har utvecklat en analysmodell som innehåller de dimensioner av samarbete som vi anser är relevanta för området. Dessa är: timing av uppströms – nedströms aktiviteter, rikhet & kvalitet på information, frekvens av informationsöverföring, riktning på kommunikation, formalisering av kommunikation, organisatoriskt support, måloptimering, attityder i tvärfunktionella team samt förståelse för uppgifter.

Vid produktutveckling följer SIT AB den omfattande processen PDP. PDP är en sekventiell process där alla aktiviteter utförs i en sekvens vilket motverkar implementeringen av Concurrent Engineering. Concurrent Engineering syftar till att korta utvecklingstiden för produkter och beakta arbetet ur ett helhetsperspektiv bland annat genom utförande av oberoende aktiviteter parallellt. Därför anser vi att SIT AB ska arbeta mot en mer integrerad process med fler parallella aktiviteter.

Det är stor skillnad på prestationen i samarbetsdimensionerna mellan stora och små projekt. Stora projekt fungerar mycket bättre än små vilket kan relateras till att stora projekt följer processbeskrivningarna bättre, har en bättre balans mellan informell och formell kommunikation, och fokuserar mer på projektmål och sammansvetsade projektgrupper. Förbättringsförslagen är presenterade som konkreta åtgärder i ett separat kapitel och är klassificerade med hänsyn till varje förslags potentiella effekt på organisationen och dess uppskattade svårighetsgrad att implementera. Förslagen är bland annat att utbilda fler projektledare, inrätta verkstadspraktik för konstruktörer och ge fler och bättre förklaringar till beslut och handlingar.

The main process of this dissertation involves thedevelopment and refinement of a conceptual framework fordescribing and discussing cross-functional co-operation andnetworking within product realisation processes. The conceptualframework, the analysis of the case study and a discussion ofthe implications and challenges for research and industrialsector are the main results of the dissertation.

Industrial firms face different demands, which create anumber of potential sources of conflicts(‘faster–better–cheaper’), for examplebetween market, product development and manufacturingfunctions. The transformation of industrial firms from beingtraditionally hierarchically organised to becoming team-,project- and process-based has delegated a number ofresponsibilities to employees–for example, to interactwith others in planning and decision-making, and to act onissues or problems that may arise during daily work. Thissituation requires that new workand co-operation patterns aredeveloped between employees and between work units. Theestablishment of new co-operative behaviour seldom developswithout active support. Several studies confirm that there is aneed for organisational/managerial support for cross-functionalco-operation to develop, but that this type of support is oftenneglected (Blackler et al, 1997; Gabrielsson, 1998; Majchrzakand Wang, 1996).

The case study, reported in this dissertation, waslongitudinal and context-oriented. The study pointed out thatan integrative view of management on the entire ProductRealisation Process (PRP) was lacking during the first vitalphases of the organisational restructuring. However, itdeveloped continuously over time, which indicates a change inorganisational paradigm. Support for cross-functionalco-operation was considered and implemented only after thatco-operation had collapsed in a pilot group. The support was,for example, based on‘Work Reflection Seminars’,which served as forums for discussing the new ways of working.In addition, two different parallel networks, originating fromthe previous organisational structure, had considerable impacton the development of cross-functional co-operation, whichdemonstrates the importance and power of practised rather thanformally ordered activities.

Keywords:Cross-functional Co-operation, Networking,Product Realisation Process, Concurrent Engineering, Productdevelopment, Production, Organisational Change, OrganisationalRestructuring.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of morbidity and second leading cause for mortality by cancer in the United States. Phytochemicals within fruits and vegetables have demonstrated chemopreventive potential by regulating certain defense mechanisms within the body. This study evaluated consumer acceptability of a sweet potato ginger crisp prototype. Thirty-two male and female subjects (mean age: 22.8 years) were recruited at California State University, Long Beach. Consumer acceptability was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for the commercial product compared to prototype on several sensory attributes. Frequency of consumption was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for the commercial product. The commercial product was preferred overall (91%). Antioxidant capacity measures indicated high radical scavenging (95%) and reducing power (26%) of the prototype. Further research to assess overall quality and marketing the synergistic benefits from the chemopreventive compounds in sweet potatoes and presence of natural sugars may improve its overall acceptability.

I denna rapport kommer du som läsare kunna ta del av en redogörelse över det arbete som den undertecknade gruppen har utfört i kursen KPP305, Examensarbete produktutveckling, 30hp. Detta arbete har sin grund från en tidigare läst kurs, på Mälardalens Högskola, som gick under namnet Industridesign 2. Under denna kurs utdelades en uppgift som bestod i att ”möjliggöra musicerande för funktionshindrade”, och gruppen tog därmed fram ett visuellt koncept över ett fotanpassat instrument för människor med rörelsehinder i överkroppen. Detta examensarbete kan ses som en fortsättning på den just nämnda uppgiften.

Under hela projektet har gruppen haft en nära dialog tillsammans med människor som befinner sig inom berörande branscher såsom instrumentbyggare, reumatiker, funktionshindrade med flera. En annan person som även varit till stor hjälp under projektet är gruppens handledare, Jan Frohm, som funnits där med tips och fungerat som ett bollplank vad gäller idéer och tankar gruppen haft angående projektet.

Målet med examensarbetet var att fortsätta det arbete gruppen åstadkommit i tidigare kurs och på så vis komma fram till en slutgiltig lösning till detta. Anledningen till att gruppen valde att fortsätta arbeta med detta projekt var att de fann det viktigt att alla människor, oavsett funktions‐ eller rörelsehinder skall ha möjligheten att musicera.

Gruppen har med en omfattande research, kontakter, ett antal avgörande intervjuer och ett flertal olika produktutvecklingsverktyg kommit fram till en lösning som svarar upp till det problem gruppen från början ställt upp. Projektet resulterade i en framtagen prototyp över ett instrument, som gruppen valt att kalla för Funkinstrument (instrument för funktionshindrade), som är ämnat för människor som lider av någon form av rörelsehinder i armar/händer, eller lider av reumatism. Gruppen själva är väldigt nöjda över hur resultatet utmynnade, samt över sin insats i detta examensarbete.

In this report, you as a reader will be able to take note of a statement of the work the group has performed in the course KPP305, Examensarbete i Produktutveckling (Master Thesis Work in Product development), 30hp. This work is based on an assignment from an earlier course, at Mälardalen University, known as Industridesign 2 (Industrial design 2nd). During this course the group was awarded a task which was to "give disabled people the opportunity to make music”, and the group thus developed a visual concept over an instrument which was custom made for people with disabilities in their upper body. This thesis can be seen as a continuation of the justmentioned task.

The group has through the whole project had close dialogue to people in different industries, such as people from disability associations, instrument makers, rheumatics and disabled people with several. Someone else who also been very helpful during the project is the group's supervisor, Jan Frohm, ho been there with advice and acted as a sounding board to the ideas and thoughts the group had about the project.

 The objective of the project was to continue the work which the group achieved in previous course, and thus arrive at a definitive solution to it. The reason why the group chose to continue working on this project was that they found it important that all people, regardless of functional or physical disabilities must have the ability to make music.

The group has through an extensive research, contacts, a number of key interviews and a variety of tools for product development been able to come up with a solution that meets up to the problems which was set in the beginning of the project. The project resulted in a prototype of an instrument, which the group decided to call for Funkinstrument, which is intended for people who suffer from some form of disability in the arms and/or hands, or suffer from rheumatism. The group itself is very pleased with the outcome of the project, and of its efforts in this thesis.