Smart manufacturing is defined by high degrees of automation. Automation, in turn, is defined by clearly defined processes. The use of standards in this environment is not just commonplace, but essential to creating repeatable processes and reliable systems. As with the rest of society, manufacturing systems are becoming more tightly connected through advances in information and communication t...

Most products require some form of assembly. Hence assembly operations are a very important part of the manufacturing process. Performing assembly operations requires time and effort and hence it contributes to manufacturing cost. In many applications, it is desirable to reduce the number of assembly operations by consolidating multiple parts into a single part. Processes such as multi-material...

Scheduling is one of the most important issues in the planning of manufacturing systems. This research focuses on solving the test scheduling problem which arises in semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductor wafer devices undergo a series of test processes conducted on computer-controlled test stations at various temperatures. A test process consists of both setup operations and processing ope...

Process tolerancing based on the process capability studies is the optimistic and pragmatic approach of determining the manufacturing process tolerances. On adopting the define–measure–analyze–improve–control approach, the process potential capability index (C p) and the process performance capability index (C pk) values of identified process characteristics of connecting rod ...

The manufacturing technologies have been evolving according to development of evaluation methods for quality, productivity and cost. In spite of the need for ecomanufacturing, the relationship between manufacturing technologies and environmental burdens has not been yet revealed. Machining is a major manufacturing activity, hence an analyzer developed evables to estimate the environmental burde...

Improving manufacturing operations is an initiative that all manufacturing firms need to engage in to stay competitive. The needs and ways to improve differ between companies. A thorough understanding of the operating characteristics is required for successful improvement of manufacturing operations. By modeling the plant or manufacturing system in a simulation model and create operating charac...

Much management accounting research has focused on the provision of periodic, aggregated financiai information to managers for planning and control. Recently, many firms have adopted just-in-time production, total quaiity management, and teamwork practices for their manufacturing operations. These new manufacturing practices rely on increased worker involvement in the control of ail phases of m...

The total sales of biopharmaceuticals have been steadily increasing for decades with growing approval of new drug products, especially for monoclonal antibodies. This trend motivates the development of deeper understanding and advancement of biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations. This article describes opportunities, needs, and challenges in process control and operations for biopharmaceut...

IT solutions in manufacturing support the execution as well as the monitoring of production operations. Fast reaction to exceptions, detailed documentation of operations, and the detection of inefficiencies in the production are among the benefits of a tight IT integration of shop-floor processes. Several dedicated software solutions and standards exist for the manufacturing domain. However, ea...

This paper presents the results of a study exploring the relationship between strategic policy options and broad-based manufacturing competitive capabilities. The results represent the views of 213 managers on the manufacturing capabilities and strategic directions of their own business units. The findings indicate several relationships between the two conceptual domains. Among the various type...