CERES :: Browsing by Author "Evans, Stephen"

Browsing by Author "Evans, Stephen"

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Open Access
Challenges in transforming manufacturing organisations into product-service providers
(MCB University Press, 2010-04-01T00:00:00Z) Martinez, Veronica; Bastl, Marko; Kingston, Jennifer; Evans, Stephen
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present challenges experienced by UK manufacturing companies undergoing a servitization journey to becoming product- service providers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses an exploratory single-case study approach based on semi-structured interviews, and archival data. A total of 22 senior managers were interviewed from the product-service provider and its two suppliers, resulting in more than 400 pages of interview data. Data were analysed through an inductive research analysis by an emergent identification of patterns. Findings – This research identifies critical and frequent challenges experienced by UK manufacturing companies undergoing a servitization journey to becoming product-service system (PSS) providers. They are condensed into five pillars, which constitute the architecture of challenges in servitization. The architecture of challenges in servitization provides a full description of the strategy and operations of PSSs. Research limitations/implications – This is qualitative research based on a single case study. Given the nature of research design, the identified patterns cannot be used as a predictive tool. Practical implications – This research provides a framework to understand, analyse and plan the strategic transformations to more highly servitized organisational forms. Originality/value – This paper contributes to knowledge with a new model called “the architecture of challenges in servitization”. This is the only model that explains the importance of the strategic, operational and social tests that organisations confront when adopting servitization strategies. If companies understand these challenges, they have the potential to create unique sets of values for a variety of s
Open Access
A collection of tools for factory eco-efficiency
(Elsevier, 2016-02-19) Despeisse, Melanie; Davé, Aanand; Litos, Lampros; Roberts, Simon; Ball, Peter D.; Evans, Stephen
co-efficiency is generally defined as doing more with less, aiming to decouple environmental impact from economic and social value creation. This paper presents three tools to guide the implementation of eco-efficiency in factories: (1) definition and patterns of good practices for sustainable manufacturing, (2) a self-assessment tool and maturity grid, and (3) a factory modelling framework.
Open Access
Concept of right first time (RFT) design
(Cranfield University, 2004-03) Palmer, A.; Evans, Stephen
Customer demands and intense competition have resulted in the need for shorter development lead times. The problems with shorter lead times have been well documented. Nfistakes are costly and the need for a sustainable and efficient new product development process has become paramount to a successful product. Vehicle Manufacturers (VM's) have had their choice of a variety of tools and philosophies to assist in reducing lead times. Amongst others, the use of Quality Functional Deployment (QFD), CAD/CAE, cross-functional teams and simultaneous engineering have each been mooted as being the panacea for efficient design and development. The author argues the need for a Right First Time (RFT) design policy and states that this can be delivered through the "Hoshin Kanri" method of policy deployment. The resultant strategies are achieved through the tactical use of the most appropriate tools, integrated into the new development process. Performance is measured against agreed target in a Case Company (Nissan) and the strategy is tested for Strengths and Weaknesses. The result is achievement of an 80% reduction in Design Change compared with previous programs. The approach is explained in the Thesis, as are the Quantitative and Qualitative results, which are finally analysed using an adapted T-Matiix. In conclusion, the author uses the experience to draw 14 Rules for undertaking Right First Time Design and "proves" them in two alternative companies to ensure that the principles arc robust.
Open Access
Cost-reduction of waste processing through manufacturing knowledge
(Cranfield University, 2006-09) Beautru-Frain, Valerie; Evans, Stephen
The rapid transformation of the Waste Management sector has significantly altered the nature of the traditional waste processing business and the nature of competencies required to manage it. With the increase in volume of waste being processed, one element of the transformation of the waste sector, is the move from a craft-industry often with agricultural methods to a post-industrial sector processing high volumes of materials efficiently and effectively. Over the last two centuries the manufacturing sector has also moved from a craft industry to one that learnt how to use technology for material processing, and then learnt how to organise for efficient high-volume production. The application of the coherent techniques developed by various manufacturers (notably Toyota) has resulted in systematic removal of waste (overproduction, waiting, transport etc) and cost in manufacturing. These methods are termed ‘lean manufacturing’. This report describes a project which seeks to test the relevance and value of manufacturing knowledge to waste site operators, by bringing together the expertise and the manufacturing knowledge to waste operators. The industrial aim is to significantly reduce operating costs. It is important to define manufacturing knowledge as that knowledge that specifically relates to lean manufacturing and its implementation. Firstly, the researcher presents an exhaustive and critical literature review of lean manufacturing. Then waste operators’ current practices in operations management are characterised and their existing access to manufacturing knowledge is described, based on interviews with several waste companies. The utility of manufacturing knowledge, and any adjustments needed to suit waste operations will be described, focussing on prioritised areas for improvement and specific proposals for changing operations. The potential scale of these changes can be very important and advantageous when we consider that the Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota, used lean manufacturing to show the then world leading Ford how to reduce production costs by 30%.
Open Access
Customer driven ideation : an exploratory study of empathic designs' impact on industrial design practice.
(Cranfield University, 2004-03) Barrett, R. L.; Evans, Stephen
This research provides a study of practices of innovative ideation. The literature highlights the need for more radical innovation as drivers for customer delight, and more innovative approaches to understanding customers. However, both the theory and application, including the resultant practise describe and present a product-centred approach to innovation as best practise. Using an Action Research methodology within the Advanced Product Group of a well known automotive manufacturer; the technical centre of another well known automotive manufacturer and the industrial design department of a university, this exploratory and descriptive study contributes to the understanding and practise of more innovative approaches to customer driven ideation. Literature suggests that integrating customer understanding into the earliest stages of new product development was critical both to its effectiveness and its ability to innovate. This study, therefore aimed to investigate innovative ideation by considering two key factors: 1. Its integration into the early stages of the product design and development process 2. Industrial design practises of customer understanding The research concluded on Industrial Design practise as well as the evolving practise of Innovative Ideation. Industrial designers' participate in ideation processes and practices in a unique way, not fully represented or accounted for in existing prescriptions for integrating customer understanding. They require specific types of information, usually general in nature and presented visually. Information integrated into these practises is often substantiated with case study and example-based evidence or data. The potential to innovate is regarded as the single most significant motivator for designers to participate in customer understanding. Paradoxically, designers' processes use and rely upon 'product' as a focus for innovation and communication of design integrity. A designer's key role and most significant contribution, is in creative and strategic thinking: (new ideas: IDEATION): that is the integration of the actions of idea generation and the formulation of creative design responses; and the proposal of new concepts, which place a strong emphasis on increasing the desirability of 'product experiences' or new behaviours. This orientation of design considerations and the questions associated with them are particularly unique to industrial design disciplines. They are systems based and holistic in their approach in order to prioritise customer needs within the design brief. An important early aspect is the identification of customer attitudes and activities, which broadens the design considerations. This study relates these findings to an existing Empathic Design methodology and Kano's model of delight (1995), as identified best practice drivers for ideation. This study also concludes that 'Empathic Design' (it's theory, descriptions, definitions and practise) and product design as a discipline (its profile, uses and practise) need to evolve in order to embrace customer understanding as a pathway to innovation.
Open Access
Environmental management practices within the supply chain: a case study of textile industry
(TU Berlin, 2013) Pimenta, H. C. D.; Ball, Peter D.; Aguiar, J. A.; Evans, Stephen
This study analysed the environmental management practices of a textile supply chain responsible for yarn manufacturing, located in Brazil. Using literature as the start point, a questionnaire was developed and applied with key individuals of the company. The results indicated the implementation of environmental tools, such as an environmental management system and the control of environmental aspects of the company, capable of contributing to the improvement of the company's environmental performance. It was also apparent that the environmental practices in the company studied were required for its suppliers, indicating a continuation of the environmental dimension along the supply chain. The relationship between the company and its partners indicates the existence of collaboration based on the joint development of technical and technological innovations and contribution to the improvement of training of employees.
Open Access
Environmentally conscious design : an economic life cycle approach
(Cranfield University, 1997-04) Rose, Elliot P.; Evans, Stephen
Companies are under increasing pressure to deal with environmental concerns during product design, for it is the design process which primarily decides the environmental impact of a manufactured product over its life. Tools which assist in taking a life cycle view of the product are a necessary support to designers. Prime amongst these tools is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, a major criticism of LCA methodologies is that while they provide advice on environmentally superior product designs, they do not provide guidance on the economic impact. With product take back increasingly likely to become the responsibility of producer companies attention is now being paid to the later phases of a products life, such as maintenance and disposal costs. A new methodology is shown to be required to complement LCA, one which considers the economic implications of environmentally superior designs over the whole product life. It is argued that a major challenge of such a methodology will be how it deals with the uncertainty associated with the future. The research provides a review of product life cycle design methodologies and a critique of existing approaches to uncertainty. A design teams requirements for decision support that deals with product economic life cycle uncertainty is presented and a decision support methodology which meets these requirements is described. The methodology builds upon the theory of life cycle costing. In practice, the methodology integrates a computer based life cycle model with statistical techniques to quantify the contribution of life cycle variables. In bringing these proven but previously separate tools together the method resolves the issue of uncertainty in a novel and acceptable way. Through the use of an in-depth industrial case study, it is shown that the methodology provides practical support to the design team to produce economically superior product life cycle designs.
Open Access
An exploration of co-development within the Malaysian automotive industry
(Cranfield University, 2010-06) Bin Yahaya, Nordin; Evans, Stephen
This is a study of Malaysian vehicle manufacturer-supplier relationships in the product development process. The collaboration, referred to as co- development, is highly important in order for vehicle manufacturers to remain competitive within this area of globalisation. So far, there have been no studies on the above subject area within Malaysia, which therefore makes this study both valuable and immensely important. The motivation comes from the uniqueness of the Malaysian automotive industry, which is newly established compared to other countries, and which has also been protected by the Government since the establishment of first National Car company in the 1980s. The study has adopted a qualitative approach through exploratory study, and aims to explore in-depth the co-development practices within Malaysia. With the adoption of a case study research strategy, data is collected by means of interviews with consideration to both sides, i.e., local vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. It was found that, within Malaysia, two different approaches of co-development exist. First, the local suppliers mostly have low design capabilities, and the local vehicle manufacturer-supplier relationship exists only in terms of manufacturing components. Moreover, local suppliers have not become involved in the design process, but have received detailed drawings from vehicle manufacturers. However, they nevertheless have a freedom to manufacture the product without significant interference from the vehicle manufacturer. In this study, this type of supplier is labelled as a ‗freedom to manufacture‘supplier. In contrast, ‗freedom to design, develop and manufacture‘suppliers—which are mostly overseas suppliers—are involved in the design process at a very early stage. They are invited to participate at this point of the product development process in order to cater to the vehicle manufacturer‘s limited knowledge regarding the product. The study provides insight into what has happened with regards to the Malaysian vehicle manufacturer-supplier relationship in the product development process. It gives an indication of and new knowledge regarding the co-development of the newly established automotive industry in Malaysia.
Open Access
Exploration of the integration of Lean and environmental improvement
(Cranfield University, 2009-09) Biggs, Claire; Evans, Stephen
With increasing awareness of the environmental damage that is occurring as a result of human activities, there are also increasing pressures on manufacturing companies to reduce environmental impacts. Many environmental impact reduction methods contain some element of waste reduction, which is also the focus of Lean manufacturing, although their definitions of waste differ somewhat. The aim of this research was to investigate the synergies and similarities between Lean manufacturing and environmental impact reduction in manufacturing, with a strong focus on practical implications. The research was carried out in three stages: a review of the relevant literature, an exploration stage which consisted of semi-structured interviews with ten companies, and action research studies with two companies, investigating company reactions to the introduction of environmental impact reduction measures into their Lean implementation, via adapted tools designed using data from the literature review and exploration stage. Findings from all the research stages were analysed and synthesised, producing a total of 54 findings (including answers to research questions, notes for practitioners, and suggestions for future work) across 12 themes. The research confirmed that some environmental improvement occurs as a side effect of Lean implementations; compared Lean and environmental wastes; looked at potential benefits of mapping for environmental improvement within Lean implementations; found that Lean can be used as a framework for other changes, including environmental improvement; identified opportunities for adoption or adaptation of particular Lean tools for environmental impact reduction; identified new ways in which Lean acts as a foundation for change; showed common uses for goals and measures; found that workforce involvement was an important factor, as was education and training; identified some factors for acceptance and adoption; discussed the effectiveness of integrated implementation; and discussed the benefits of holistic integration of Lean and environmental improvement.
Open Access
Exploring Whole System Design
(Cranfield University, 2008-12) Coley, F. J. S.; Evans, Stephen; Lemon, Mark
The emergence of increasingly complex problems, combined with growing concerns for the environment, is fuelling the demand for more innovative and sustainable products, services and systems. Whole system design is one approach that aims to integrate social, economic and environmental phenomena into a comprehensive design solution. The approach encourages the development of partnerships between actors from a variety of different backgrounds, disciplines and sectors to develop an innovative, sustainable and optimised solution at a whole system level. However, there is limited research concerning the integrative process that actors are required to follow in order to reach such a solution. The aim of this study was to gain improved knowledge and understanding surrounding the process of whole system design and to identify those factors that influence its success. This was achieved in two phases; firstly a longitudinal case study was undertaken which followed the process of whole system design from beginning to end. 22 design and progress meetings were observed, 18 interviews were carried out and a multitude of relevant documentation was analysed. This resulted in the identification of 10 themes. The second phase of the research aimed to validate initial findings by conducting 5 smaller cases and interviewing 11 individually selected experts. The study ultimately produced 8 confirmed themes, 68 individual findings and 37 factors that enable and inhibit the process of whole system design. As a result of this study, an improved knowledge and understanding surrounding the process of whole system design has been presented. In particular, findings have been provided concerning: the development of partnerships, the pertinence of human and non-human interaction, the requirement of individual characteristics, enhanced understanding of purpose and process, the necessary alignment of individual and organisational motivation, the necessity of sense making activities, the role of a facilitator and the need for integration, each of these within the context of whole system design. The framework of these findings provides a novel contribution to knowledge within the context of whole system design.
Open Access
Factors in the implementation of a sustainable knowledge management programme
(Cranfield University, 2006-02) Dayan, Rony; Evans, Stephen
Purpose Knowledge Management (KM) is by now a recognized term, increasingly accepted in the corporate community. This research contributes a better understanding of its implementation by providing a list a factors, which though each seems self-evident, their combination, and the experience acquired in applying them would support practitioners applying KM, and constitute a stepping stone for researchers for deepening the knowledge about it. Research context Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), where this research has been conducted, is a large aerospace and defence company that has gone through a change process inclusive of KM implementation. Research approach A qualitative research strategy with a constructivist paradigm using action research (the author also being the director of knowledge of the company), was used. A case study methodology has been utilized over five divisions representing the average KM performance in the company. Sources of information have included questionnaires, interviews, data from the various management tools employed by the programme, and author's observations. Success factors for KM implementation The factors relevant to the General Manager of an organization and to the Knowledge Manager were found to be: The profile of the knowledge manager. The perception of relevance of KM to the business. A structured framework for the organization to follow. The acceptance of long term values. Management support. The openness of the General Manager to external knowledge. The knowledge manager's initiative. Originality is found in: Application of a comprehensive KM framework, its procedures and measures. A multi-level measurement of KM goals as a link to the organization's business goals. Application of the Hoshin Kanri method for the management of KM. Application of a staged assessment of maturity for a KM implementation. The factors mentioned above, their peculiar combination and further understanding of the GM and the knowledge manager roles.
Open Access
Factory modelling: combining energy modelling for buildings and production systems
(Springer, 2013-12-31) Ball, Peter D.; Despeisse, Melanie; Evans, Stephen; Greenough, Richard M.; Hope, Steve B.; Kerrigan, Ruth; Levers, A.; Lunt, Peter A. V.; Murray, Vincent; Oates, Michael R.; Shao, Li; Waltniel, Timothy; Wright, A.
Traditionally, manufacturing facilities and building services are analysed separately to manufacturing operations. This is despite manufacturing operations using and discarding energy with the support of facilities. Therefore improvements in energy and other resource use to work towards sustainable manufacturing have been sub-optimal. This paper presents research in which buildings, facilities and manufacturing operations are viewed as inter-related systems. The objectives are to improve overall resource efficiency and to exploit opportunities to use energy and / or waste from one process as potential inputs to other processes. The novelty here is the combined simulation of production and building energy use and waste in order to reduce overall resource consumption. The paper presents a literature review, develops the conceptual modelling approach and introduces the prototype IES Ltd THERM software. The work has been applied to industrial cases to demonstrate the ability of the prototype to support activities towards sustainable manufacturing.
Open Access
Industrial ecology at factory level: a conceptual model
(Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2012-08-31T00:00:00Z) Despeisse, Melanie; Ball, Peter D.; Evans, Stephen; Levers, A.
Growing environmental concerns caused by natural resource depletion and pollution need to be addressed. One approach to these problems is Sustainable Development, a key concept for our society to meet present as well as future needs worldwide. Manufacturing clearly has a major role to play in the move towards a more sustainable society. However it appears that basic principles of environmental sustainability are not systematically applied, with practice tending to focus on local improvements. The aim of the work presented in this paper is to adopt a more holistic view of the factory unit to enable opportunities for wider improvement. This research analyses environmental principles and industrial practice to develop a conceptual manufacturing ecosystem model as a foundation to improve environmental performance. The model developed focuses on material, energy and waste understand the interactions between manufacturing operations, supporting facilities and surrounding buildings. The research was conducted in three steps: (1) existing concepts and models for industrial sustainability were reviewed and environmental practices in manufacturing were collected and analysed; (2) gaps in knowledge and practice were identi model based on industrial ecology (IE). This conceptual model has novelty in detailing IE application at factory level and integrating all resource modelling tools to seek integrated solutions for lower resource input, higher resource productivity, fewer wastes and emissions, and lower operating cost within the boundary of a factory unit.flows to betterfied; (3) the outcome is a manufacturing ecosystemflows. The work is a base on which to build quantitative 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights
Open Access
Industrial ecology at factory level: a prototype methodology
(Professional Engineering Publishing, 2012-10-31T00:00:00Z) Despeisse, Melanie; Ball, Peter D.; Evans, Stephen; Levers, A.
The concept of sustainable manufacturing is a form of pollution prevention that integrates environmental considerations in the production of goods while focusing on efficient resource use. Taking the industrial ecology perspective, this efficiency comes from improved resource flow management. The assessment of material, energy and waste resource flows, therefore, offers a route to viewing and analysing a manufacturing system as an ecosystem using industrial ecology biological analogy and can, in turn, support the identification of improvement opportunities in the material, energy and waste flows. This application of industrial ecology at factory level is absent from the literature. This article provides a prototype methodology to apply the concepts of industrial ecology using material, energy and waste process flows to address this gap in the literature. Various modelling techniques were reviewed and candidates selected to test the prototype methodology in an industrial case. The application of the prototype methodology showed the possibility of using the material, energy and waste resource flows through the factory to link manufacturing operations and supporting facilities, and to identify potential improvements in resource use. The outcomes of the work provide a basis to build the specifications for a modelling tool that can support those analysing their manufacturing system to improve their environmental performance and move towards sustainable manufacturing
Open Access
Industry experiences of environmentally conscious design integration : an exploratory study
(Cranfield University, 1998) McAloone, Timothy Charles; Evans, Stephen
This research has explored environmentally conscious design in the electrical/electronics industry sector. In this new and rapidly evolving field, existing research has not yet sought to understand the causes of success and the problems experienced when companies have integrated environmental considerations into the design process. In the context of advanced practitioners of environmentally conscious design in the Western European and North American electrical/electronics industry sector, it is shown that: - the timing of environmental decisions in the design process is key to environmentally conscious design; - the environmental profile of a product is affected the most in the very early stages of the design process, particularly in the pre-specification stage, where tools for environmentally conscious design decision-making are lacking; - an enthusiastic approach, driven by an environmental champion, is key to environmentally conscious design; - top management commitment is important for successful environmentally conscious design; - there is a common sequence of events that many companies go through when integrating environmentally conscious design into their product development processes. This starts with motivation, leading to widening communication and information flows and finally to whole-life thinking. These findings emerged from one in-depth study and a transatlantic industry survey, interviewing twenty four practitioners. A framework of factors affecting environmentally conscious design was derived from this research and a model of environmentally conscious design integration developed which describes the industry's experience of integrating environmental considerations into the design processes.
Open Access
The introduction of sustainability into competitive design network (CDN)
(2002-09) Lambert, Joanna Louise; Evans, Stephen
Competitive Design Network International (CDN) a design consultancy based in Barcelona, Spain is considering the move towards making their business processes more sustainable. This concept was initiated with the encouragement of Cranfield University, by the realisation of Antoni Flores the CEO, and Menno Marien the head of the Innovation department. This study was conducted to discover firstly if and why CDN would want to introduce sustainability, how it could be effectively brought into their practices and what action CDN would need to take. At the close of the project CDN had decided that sustainability would be an important aspect for their business particularly for competitively and market differentiation. CDN being an innovative, adaptable and influential business, it was identified that they are in an advantageous position to do this. Through continuous researcher involvement in the company, a process of education and discussion was initiated. The observations from involvement in the Flores Valles furniture project will be presented, among other implementation issues. The reactions from CDN to the internal seminars carried out will be described and conclusions will be drawn out for other design consultancies.
Open Access
An investigation into the material efficiency practices of UK manufacturers
(Cranfield University, 2009-10) Abdul Rashid, Salwa Hanim; Evans, Stephen
This thesis examines the Material Efficiency practices of manufacturing companies in the UK. The study was motivated by the increasing attention given by literature to sustainable strategies in general, with less attention being given to material resources which in turn contributes to the reduced supply of natural resources, persistent solid waste and toxicity. There is also a lack of insight about how the manufacturing industry is coping with pressures to reduce solid waste and better utilise materials as resources. A critical literature review identifies Material Efficiency and related strategies and any issues of implementation. This academic perspective is supported by an exploratory study of Material Efficiency practices using multiple case studies and qualitative data collection and analysis. The participating companies selected were manufacturing companies that practice Material Efficiency and any related strategies. It was found that manufacturers do practice Material Efficiency and related strategies although few of them use the names and constructs found in the literature. Most of the companies do practice the lowest strategy (e.g. Waste Minimisation) in the sustainable manufacturing hierarchy, while most companies struggle with developing the higher strategies such as Resource Efficiency and Eco-efficiency, in part due to measurement complexity. The investigation found a set of attributes in the difficulties, benefits and accelerators that affect manufacturers when implementing Material Efficiency strategies and also studied the factors that motivated the manufacturers to implement and to choose the strategies. It is found from this research that these attributes are interrelated and dependent on each company’s context such as company’s size, type of product, and type of materials used etc. The findings describe real Material Efficiency practices as used inside the UK manufacturing industry, while comparing actual practice to what has been suggested in the literature. The study provides insight into how companies experience and practice Material Efficiency and other related sustainable manufacturing strategies.
Open Access
KM your way to CMMI
(Emerald, 2006) Dayan, Rony; Evans, Stephen
The purpose of this paper is to describe two related fields – knowledge management (KM) and capability maturity model integrated (CMMISM) – and highlight their similarities.
Open Access
Manufacturers response to climate change
(Cranfield University, 2007-09) Rattanakit, Rattanachai; Evans, Stephen
There is now clear scientific proof which indicates that emissions from economic activity, particularly the industrial sector, are the main cause of the change in global climatic conditions. The Stern Review describes climate change as the greatest market failure the world has ever seen. UK alone contributes more than 6.5 billion tonnes of the global carbon dioxide emissions every year. This, along with other scientific evidence, has led the UK government to publish Climate Change Bill that aims to reduce the UK overall emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, by 60% as early as 2060. The government understands the importance of the set targets and recognises that it will require collaboration from both business and individuals. Credible strategies together with determined implementation will be needed if the set targets are to be met within the timescale. This study analysed manufacturing and related companies and found that many companies have already acknowledged the climate change issue and, seemingly, have begun to tackle it by reducing energy demand through various initiatives. However, evidence of true low-carbon manufacturing companies is not seen and, therefore, this led the research to further investigate and seek for good practices. This study is intended to provide an analysis of compiled strategies learned from different manufacturing sectors in the UK. In addition, the project used a steps-to-change model to provide a wider view of how far the participating manufacturers have gone in responding to climate change. Furthermore, it provides recommendations of how the government can act to help accelerate and encourage UK companies to do much more to help tackle climate change.
Open Access
Network master planning for a global manufacturing company
(Cranfield University, 2006-02) Heinz, Michael Pierre; Evans, Stephen
Production in global, intra-organisational networks is becoming more common. In this context, the allocation of production quantities to constrained manufacturing capacity is a challenging process. Due to a volatile environment it is argued to be impossible to achieve a ‘clean’ system design with dedicated resources which exactly meets future demand. Thus, recursive ‘Network Master Planning’ (NMP) becomes necessary. The aim of this research is to generate an understanding of the unusual situation of Network Master Planning and enable improvement of NMP practice. The author introduces a specification of requirements that was derived from observation of the real-life NMP planning activity. The relevant literature is presented to focus and position NMP in the field of tactical production planning in the literature and business context. Solution principles, design rules, and an architecture are proposed and combined to a planning methodology. The research is problem-solving in nature and based in management research. The author seeks to develop new understanding by testing hypotheses in practice. Thus, knowledge originates in real world situations. The thesis describes how NMP concepts have been derived in a single-case-study and validated by implementing and testing tool modules incorporating these concepts. The understanding of fundamentals and requirements for NMP, proposed concepts to tackle NMP, and generic findings represent the major contribution to knowledge of this thesis. The core findings of this work are that: • NMP is a series of steps not an isolated task. • Aggregation does not solve the problems of NMP. • Dynamic, multi-objective planning needs human decision makers. • Tool support in NMP means complementing human actions; not replacing them by ‘automatic optimisation’. • It is possible to implement the proposed NMP concepts in a practical procedure. Additionally to building the basis for further work, the findings of this research work are transformed into recommendations particularly for practitioners who are in a similar situation to the case company. The individual points may serve as guidelines to support practitioners working in the field of NMP or restructuring an existing planning system.