Análise do processo de preparação da produção no desenvolvimento de novos produtos por meio de um estudo de caso em uma empresa do setor siderúrgico

A demanda por novos produtos tem aumentado em algumas empresas do setor siderúrgico, indicando uma crescente preocupação com o desempenho do processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP), que depende de vários elementos conceituais importantes apontados na literatura. Em uma empresa siderúrgica, um fator relevante é o projeto do processo de produção, devido à característica de ser um processo de fabricação contínuo e por, geralmente, envolver investimentos significativos na fase de preparação da produção. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho busca realizar uma análise desta fase em uma empresa siderúrgica. Pretende-se, por meio da abordagem metodológica de estudo de caso, identificar práticas organizacionais, focando nos aspectos operacionais e suas interfaces, envolvendo as áreas funcionais de marketing, engenharia do produto e manufatura. Também é tratada no trabalho a integração dos times multidisciplinares, a tomada de decisão e os critérios para avaliação dos resultados do PDP. O trabalho conclui que a empresa analisada utiliza-se de práticas que estruturam a preparação da produção e que a integração interfuncional das áreas é o que se destaca para o sucesso do PDP.

Uma investigação sobre a relação entre o projeto do produto e produção em uma montadora automotiva e fornecedores de motores que adotam a modularidade

A modularidade pode ser entendida como um conjunto de conceitos que leva a novas possibilidades de arquitetura de produto, bem como novas maneiras de organização da produção, possibilitando a transferência de atividades ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos automotiva. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é investigar o emprego da modularidade no projeto de produto e na produção, considerando uma situação de relação específica entre uma montadora de veículos comerciais e fornecedores de motores, no âmbito do consórcio modular. É também analisada a relação entre a modularidade no projeto de produto e na produção. Para a consecução desses objetivos é adotada a abordagem metodológica de estudo de caso. Os resultados apresentam algumas influências que ocorrem entre o projeto do produto e a produção e vice-versa, uma parte delas esperadas, reforçando o caráter confirmatório dos dados coletados. Constata-se que o conceito de modularidade pode ser aplicado ao processo produtivo sem necessariamente que o produto tenha sido concebido em módulos, ou seja, a partir de um produto existente é possível montar seus componentes formando subconjuntos em uma lógica modular. Os dados confirmam ainda que a estrutura do produto de um veículo comercial favorece a sua divisão em módulos. Adicionalmente, a gestão da cadeia de suprimentos na montadora é simplificada em comparação ao sistema de produção convencional, pois parte das responsabilidades da montadora é transferida para os fornecedores.

An initial proposal for PDP of smes developing hospital furniture

A large percentage of the industrial SMEs has an organizational structure for product development too far from the adequate practices and models, elaborated by renowned authors with expertise in the theme of product development. On the other hand, the authors state that SMEs obtain considerable advantages by adopting a model of product development process (PDP) management. Healt is one of the most innovative sectors in the world, and countries like Brazil and Colombia are transitioning from a system that cares for contagious infecttions diseases where the drug product is the main form of treatment - to a system that cares for chronic degenerative conditions - where the equipment, including hospital furniture, has more relevance to the treatment. This change is offering better opportunities of specialized markets to hospital furniture SMEs that adopt an adquate PDF model. The present study proposes a first outline of a model of PDP management for industrial metal-mechanical SMEs that develop and manufacture hospital furniture, from a review of models proposed for great mechanical area.

Strumenti e metodi per lo sviluppo prodotto di lenti oftalmiche

The recent introduction of free form NC machining in the ophthalmic field involved a full review of the former product development process both from the design and the manufacturing viewpoint. Aim of the present work is to investigate and to set up innovative methods and tools supporting the product development, particularly for lenses characterized by free form geometry, as e.g. progressive lenses. In the design stage, the research addressed geometric modeling of complex lens shapes and relevant analysis tools for the optical-geometrical characterization of the produced models. In the manufacturing stage, the main interest was focused on the set-up of the fabrication process, particularly on the NC machining process for which an integration CADCAM software was developed for the generation and the simulation of the machining cycle. The methodologies and tools made available by the present work are currently used in the development of new complex geometry product typologies as, e.g. progressive lenses.

Deposition, imaging, and clearance: what remains to be done?

Deposition and clearance studies are used during product development and in fundamental research. These studies mostly involve radionuclide imaging, but pharmacokinetic methods are also used to assess the amount of drug absorbed through the lungs, which is closely related to lung deposition. Radionuclide imaging may be two-dimensional (gamma scintigraphy or planar imaging), or three-dimensional (single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography). In October 2009, a group of scientists met at the "Thousand Years of Pharmaceutical Aerosols" conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, to discuss future research in key areas of pulmonary drug delivery. This article reports the session on "Deposition, imaging and clearance." The objective was partly to review our current understanding, but more importantly to assess "what remains to be done?" A need to standardize methodology and provide a regulatory framework by which data from radionuclide imaging methods could be compared between centers and used in the drug approval process was recognized. There is also a requirement for novel radiolabeling methods that are more representative of production processes for dry powder inhalers and pressurized metered dose inhalers. A need was identified for studies to aid our understanding of the relationship between clinical effects and regional deposition patterns of inhaled drugs. A robust methodology to assess clearance from small conducting airways should be developed, as a potential biomarker for therapies in cystic fibrosis and other diseases. The mechanisms by which inhaled nanoparticles are removed from the lungs, and the factors on which their removal depends, require further investigation. Last, and by no means least, we need a better understanding of patient-related factors, including how to reduce the variability in pulmonary drug delivery, in order to improve the precision of deposition and clearance measurements.

Generative Serienproduktion von Mikrokomponenten

Stetig steigende Funktionalitäten, intelligente Materialien, eine möglichst geringe Leistungsaufnahme verbunden mit kleinem Volumen und geringem Gewicht sind die zentralen Anforderungen u.a. der Medizintechnik und der Telekommunikation. Um diesen Bedarf mit industriellen Fertigungsverfahren abzudecken, startete das Unternehmen nach seiner Gründung in Rumeln bereits 1996 mit dem Aufbau der RMPD® Technologiefamilie. Heute sichern diese Technologien, mit denen die direkte Serienproduktion auf Basis der CAD Kontruktionsdaten für Mikrosysteme und –komponenten werkzeuglos erfolgt, einem internationalen Kundenkreis Markterfolge mit dem Einsatz patentierter Fertigungssysteme. microTEC ist an zwei Standorten als Auftragsproduzent für Unternehmen u.a. aus den Bereichen Sensorik, Telekommunikation, Medizintechnik und Biotechnologie tätig. Mit den RMPD® Technologien profitieren die Kunden auch durch die schnelle Anpassungsfähigkeit an sich ändernde Marktbedingungen und Verbraucherwünsche. Über 300 Kunststoffe mit den unterschiedlichsten Eigenschaften stehen für mikroelektronische Packaging-Dienstleistungen und Auftragsfertigung von Mikrosystemen zur Verfügung, zu den Produkten gehören z.B. Mikrogetriebe mit selbstschmierenden Zahnrädern und Lab-on-a-Chipsysteme, die mit dem Einsatz hydrophiler Kunststoffe die Kapillarwirkung auch in 3D nutzen. Die beiden Geschäftsführer Dipl. Ing. Reiner Götzen und Andrea Reinhardt, sowie der Prokurist Dr. Ing. Helge Bohlmann stehen für eine konzernunabhängige, kundenorientierte Strategie und verfügen über langjährige Erfahrung als mittelständische Unternehmer. Dies bildet zusammen mit der internationalen Marktorientierung, dem branchenübergreifenden Technologie Know-how und den inhouse verfügbaren Produktionsanlagen die Basis für den weiteren Standortausbau im 8. Jahr des Unternehmens.

Properties comparison of Injected and SLS material

Most of the plastic injection companies are focused in the production of some products with a high exigency standard levels. That is why, to compete and gain some market share in front of the concurrency of companies from other countries, they need to be able to introduce new rapid prototyping techniques and product development.

Produktentwicklung von Druckgussteilen

Die Produktentwicklung von Druckgussteilen kann flexibel, wirtschaftlich und schnell durch die Herstellung von RP-Unikaten und Metallabgüssen aus Keramikschalen realisiert werden. Dieser Weg eignet sich vor allem für komplexe Bauteile und macht eine Produkterprobung mit qualitativ deutlich verbesserter Aussagekraft trotz reduzierter Entwicklungskosten möglich. In Abgrenzung zum Sandguss, muss die Konstruktion der Bauteile nicht verändert werden. 
Durch eine gezielte Wärmebehandlung wird die Vergleichbarkeit der mechanischen Eigenschaften von Prototypen zu späteren Serienteilen möglich. Technisch sinnvolle Änderungen sind leicht und flexibel realisierbar, da werkzeuglos gefertigt wird. Für unerreichbare Hohlräume und Hinterschnitte kann in diesem Verfahren mit Keramikkernen als Einleger gearbeitet werden. Auch diese Kerne können werkzeuglos hergestellt werden. Ein Verzicht auf technisch Sinnvolles aus Kostengründen ist damit hinfällig.
In der Konstruktion ergeben sich neue Freiheitsgrade, so dass Ziele im Leichtbau, die Einsparung von Verbindungstechnik oder die erhöhte Materialeffizienz realisierbar werden. Die so entwickelten Bauteile sind insgesamt qualitativ hochwertiger und bilden die technischen Anforderungen bestmöglich ab. Damit kann die für die Erprobung benötigte Zahl der Prototypen verringert werden. 
Je komplexer die Geometrie der Bauteile, je stärker kommen die beschriebenen Effekte zum Tragen. Diese Aussage gilt für die Produktentwicklung und für Kleinserien, die herkömmlich zu teuer und zu schwer im Druckguss oder Schmiedeverfahren produziert werden

Semantic Methods for Intelligent Distributed Design Environments

Continuous advancements in technology have led to increasingly comprehensive and distributed product development processes while in pursuit of improved products at reduced costs. Information associated with these products is ever changing, and structured frameworks have become integral to managing such fluid information. Ontologies and the Semantic Web have emerged as key alternatives for capturing product knowledge in both a human-readable and computable manner. The primary and conclusive focus of this research is to characterize relationships formed within methodically developed distributed design knowledge frameworks to ultimately provide a pervasive real-time awareness in distributed design processes. Utilizing formal logics in the form of the Semantic Web’s OWL and SWRL, causal relationships are expressed to guide and facilitate knowledge acquisition as well as identify contradictions between knowledge in a knowledge base. To improve the efficiency during both the development and operational phases of these “intelligent” frameworks, a semantic relatedness algorithm is designed specifically to identify and rank underlying relationships within product development processes. After reviewing several semantic relatedness measures, three techniques, including a novel meronomic technique, are combined to create AIERO, the Algorithm for Identifying Engineering Relationships in Ontologies. In determining its applicability and accuracy, AIERO was applied to three separate, independently developed ontologies. The results indicate AIERO is capable of consistently returning relatedness values one would intuitively expect. To assess the effectiveness of AIERO in exposing underlying causal relationships across product development platforms, a case study involving the development of an industry-inspired printed circuit board (PCB) is presented. After instantiating the PCB knowledge base and developing an initial set of rules, FIDOE, the Framework for Intelligent Distributed Ontologies in Engineering, was employed to identify additional causal relationships through extensional relatedness measurements. In a conclusive PCB redesign, the resulting “intelligent” framework demonstrates its ability to pass values between instances, identify inconsistencies amongst instantiated knowledge, and identify conflicting values within product development frameworks. The results highlight how the introduced semantic methods can enhance the current knowledge acquisition, knowledge management, and knowledge validation capabilities of traditional knowledge bases.