Browsing by Author "Fan, Ip-Shing"

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    A framework to leverage human resources information system for business performance
    (Cranfield University, 2023-04) Sofi, Fadi; Fan, Ip-Shing; McLaughlin, Patrick
    Payroll is one of the earliest applications in the history of business information system. Despite the early start, Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is primarily perceived as an administration tool. Most business managers do not recognise the business potential of HRIS. This research is motivated to address this phenomenon by identifying key Information System (IS) factors and organisation characteristics and initiatives to enhance HRIS business potential. The study proposes that, with the appropriate skills and knowledge, Human Resource (HR) practitioners can effectively use HRIS data to contribute to greater business success. Similarly, through effective initiatives implemented by business line managers, HR practitioners would be more capable of unlocking the potential of HRIS. A qualitative approach is adopted in exploring the key IS success factors, assessing HR practitioners’ skills, and understanding the initiatives that line managers could implement. The field data of this study were collected from HR practitioners and business line managers who worked for large companies in the UK. The field study confirmed that HRIS has been mainly used in an administrative context, with limited business impact. The two reasons suggested are: 1) there are shortfalls in HR practitioners’ strategic, analytic, and business skills and knowledge; 2) deficiencies in the line managers’ initiatives to maintain a productive HR-line relationship, empower HR practitioners, and adopt business expectations regarding the HR role. The research proposes a HRIS implementation framework that includes key IS success factors, required characteristics and initiatives that help HR practitioners to use HRIS effectively and unlock their potential to contribute to business success. The framework was developed into a Readiness Assessment Checklist (RAC) tool and used successfully in the implementation planning of a HRIS project. The research successfully applied information systems adoption research theories to develop a new model that captures the characteristics of Human Resource Management business practice.
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    A review of simulation modelling approaches in aviation spare parts inventory optimisation
    (Cranfield University, 2024-06-07) bin Mohammud, Zaki; Fan, Ip-Shing; Avdelidis, Nicolas P.
    Aviation spare parts are expensive and are being kept as a buffer for unscheduled and scheduled maintenance activities. Apart from cash flow being locked in the inventory, spare parts for aircraft or helicopters are also critical in the continuous operations of air assets. In addition, the holding cost is roughly 20 per cent of the total inventory value. Holding costs are costs such as insurance, utilities and manpower. Minimising the total inventory value could be done by adopting a lower inventory count through various methods, such as the provision of spare parts, which can be done either by forecasting the failure of components or by using new maintenance methodologies, such as predictive maintenance. The methods have been used widely in the aviation industry for a long time. The upward trend of papers published from 1963 to 2023 shows that aviation spare parts optimisation is still being discussed. This paper reviews the simulation modelling approaches to optimise aviation spare inventory. 221 papers were reviewed from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) literature databases, and 17 papers from 1982 to 2023 were chosen based on the simulation modelling approach, such as System Dynamics and Discrete-Event Simulation. The papers were classified according to simulation modelling techniques, spare parts and operations classification, and challenges and opportunities.
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    Aircraft skin inspections: towards a new model for dent evaluation
    (British Institute of Non-destructive Testing, 2023-07-01) Lafiosca, Pasquale; Fan, Ip-Shing; Avdelidis, Nicolas Peter
    The aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry is gradually switching to 3D scanning for dent inspection. High-accuracy devices allow for quick and repeatable measurements, which translate into efficient reporting and more objective damage evaluations. However, the potential of 3D scanners is far from being exploited. This is due to the traditional way in which the structural repair manual (SRM) deals with dents, that is, considering length, width and depth as the only relevant measures. Being equivalent to describing a dent similarly to a 'box', the current approach discards any information about the actual shape. This leads to a high degree of ambiguity, with very different shapes (and corresponding fatigue life) being classified as the same, and nullifies the effort of acquiring such a great amount of information from high-accuracy 3D scanners. In this paper, a seven-parameter model is proposed to describe the actual dent shape, thus enabling the exploitation of the high-fidelity data produced by 3D scanners. The compact set of values can then be compared against historical data and structural evaluations based on the same model. The proposed approach has been evaluated in both simulations and point cloud data generated by 8tree's dentCHECK tool, suggesting an increased capability in the evaluation of damage, enabling more targeted interventions and, ultimately, saving costs.
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    Application of an AIS to the problem of through life health management of remotely piloted aircraft
    (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2015-12-31) Pelham, Jonathan G.; Fan, Ip-Shing; Jennions, Ian K.; McFeat, Jim
    The operation of RPAS includes a cognitive problem for the operators(Pilots, maintainers, ,managers, and the wider organization) to effectively maintain their situational awareness of the aircraft and predict its health state. This has a large impact on their ability to successfully identify faults and manage systems during operations. To overcome these system deficiencies an asset health management system that integrates more cognitive abilities to aid situational awareness could prove beneficial. This paper outlines an artificial immune system (AIS) approach that could meet these challenges and an experimental method within which to evaluate it.
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    Application of MOKA informal knowledge models for building knowledge based engineering systems in aircraft wind tunnel test models
    (2004-09) Lam, Diem Huynh; Fan, Ip-Shing
    Knowledge based engineering (KBE) applications are softwares that rely on some well defined engineering rules, relationships and logics for performing generative engineering tasks. A generative function is a function that is responsible for performing and obtaining generative tasks and solutions based on the given rules, relationships and logics. Presently, it is considered that there is a lack of visibility, transparency, traceability and accountability when KBE applications are used. The present research programme aims to overcome this problem by developing and integrating the knowledge model with the design automation model of KBE applications. Thus, the inner working and design of the generative function with its engineering rules and relationships defined for the KBE application may be readily seen and understood by viewing the knowledge models. Consequently, this means a degree of visibility, traceability and accountability is achieved when KBE applications are used to perform generative engineering designs. The knowledge model has been developed in accordance with the European MOKA’s methodology and takes the form of an informal knowledge model (ICARE forms). The knowledge model (ICARE forms) serves the purpose of defining how products/assemblies/parts should be designed, processed and manufactured within a set of prescribed illustrations, constraints, activities, rules and entities. The CATIA (Knowledgeware) KBE application is used by the present study and the design automation model residing on the KBE application has been developed using the Knowledgeware programming language, VBScript, macros and CAA IDL API, which allow a series of modelling and design tasks to be automated. The research programme is validated by means of a case study involving an aircraft wing model supplied by industrial collaboration partners. The present study shows that KBE technology may be used to produce substantial commercial benefits in terms of time, cost and speed. The study believes that the MOKA’s methodology and ICARE forms may be used to capture knowledge for KBE applications but there is a limit on how well, easy and complete the ICARE forms can be used to depict the engineering rules and relationships that have been defined for the generative design function of KBE applications. Parts of the work presented in this study have been demonstrated to the industrial collaborators and included in a consortium confidential DTI’s research project grant report (DTI’s ref. no. CHAD/002/00008) [1] on the use of KBE systems.
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    Artificial immune systems for case based reasoning of unmanned aircraft flight data
    (2017-09) Pelham, Jonathan Gerald; Fan, Ip-Shing; McFeat, Jim; Jennions, Ian K.
    UAS(Unmanned Aerial Systems) mishaps are high, and their pilots face many control challenges. The reliability of UAS has been seen as a dominant mishap cause but in several instances the aircraft could have been saved if the health state of the aircraft had been understood at an earlier point by the pilot. Manned and unmanned aircraft pilots both benefit from the use of their own experience in the detection and mitigation of faults during flight. However it has been suggested that pilots within a GCS(Ground Control Station) face difficulties in maintaining their situational awareness due to the nature of remote control. The use of a cognitive framework as a basis for case based reasoning is suggested as a way to integrate through life learning into the Safety Management System. The population of the case base for such a system would require a large investment of time to create. The use of machine learning is suggested and evaluated to address this issue by generating cases for CBR. This has seen some success and even the use of an AIS(Artificial Immune System) in this thesis. An AIS was used in order to try to address the problem of cost and time caused by high pre-processing required by common machine learning methods. A simulation of the Aerosonde UAS was created and multiple flights simulated to build up a set of representative set flight data. Several fault cases were included in the simulated flights of varying severities. Different machine learning schemes were evaluated using the data set and their effectiveness compared in order to evaluate the ability of the algorithm to learn from flight data without extensive pre-processing. The complex dataset made the problem difficult but in analysis the AIS performed slightly better than the neural network with which it was compared. In due time and with development it's computational cost could be reduced and its effectiveness increased. The benefit of an automated method to learn from aircraft incidents and mishaps can readily be seen in a fleet scenario where it would be uneconomical to analyse flight data of unmanned aircraft in the same way that it would be done for manned aircraft. This semi-supervised approach reduces personnel requirements and enhances the ability of operators to learn from mishaps by relating mishap cases to the current situation and being transparent in their alerting criteria.
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    Automated aircraft dent inspection via a modified Fourier transform profilometry algorithm
    (MDPI, 2022-01-07) Lafiosca, Pasquale; Fan, Ip-Shing; Avdelidis, Nicolas Peter
    The search for dents is a consistent part of the aircraft inspection workload. The engineer is required to find, measure, and report each dent over the aircraft skin. This process is not only hazardous, but also extremely subject to human factors and environmental conditions. This study discusses the feasibility of automated dent scanning via a single-shot triangular stereo Fourier transform algorithm, designed to be compatible with the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The original algorithm is modified introducing two main contributions. First, the automatic estimation of the pass-band filter removes the user interaction in the phase filtering process. Secondly, the employment of a virtual reference plane reduces unwrapping errors, leading to improved accuracy independently of the chosen unwrapping algorithm. Static experiments reached a mean absolute error of ∼0.1 mm at a distance of 60 cm, while dynamic experiments showed ∼0.3 mm at a distance of 120 cm. On average, the mean absolute error decreased by ∼34%, proving the validity of the proposed single-shot 3D reconstruction algorithm and suggesting its applicability for future automated dent inspections.
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    Cloud computing adoption barriers faced by Saudi manufacturing SMEs
    (IEEE, 2020-07-15) Alsafi, Tariq; Fan, Ip-Shing
    Cloud Computing is arguably the most significant technological development after the Internet. It accelerated technology adoption and gave birth to new business models. More importantly, it is acting as a foundation for new technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Cloud Computing paradigm provides a level playing field for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as they are able to adopt technologies that were not affordable before. Governments, vendors and business support organisations across the world have a plethora of initiatives to encourage SME adoption of Cloud Computing technologies. Despite these initiatives, many SME decision makers are still hesitant to adopt the cloud. This research reports an engagement with 16 information technology (IT) managers working for Saudi manufacturing SMEs. This paper presents their perceived barriers to migrating their applications to cloud services.
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    Cost estimating and information management for engineering modification business
    (Cranfield University, 2002-08) Garcia Fornieles, J.; Fan, Ip-Shing
    Complex Engineering Product (CEP) modification businesses cover a wide range of project types. The diversity of the projects and the interaction of different stakeholders introduce difficulties in cost estimating. Also, the uncertainties and unknowns typical of these projects induce significant changes of scope as the project develops. A new approach for historical cost data re-use has been applied in this study that addresses the disjoints in business processes and data typical of complex engineering organisations. A model has been developed to make explicit and integrate the scope and cost in CEP modification projects. To integrate the different project stakeholders views while maintaining a common project vision the concept of the integrated Work Breakdown Structure (iWBS) has been developed. The concept is based on the combination of a project template, a rigid and a f1exiDle part for a project WBS. The iWBS allows for the flexibility required by the different people when carrying out their job and enhances the communication by allowing rapid response to changes. The data structure supports cost data re-use at two levels,' from project to project and between different phases of a project. A bid process has been defined to structure the business decision activities and participants, identifying explicit decision points where changes can affect the data structure. Thus, dealing with the changes typical of CEP modification projects. The study has used a case study approach based on the aircraft modification industry where detailed learning has been presented. The study contributes to a better understanding of CEP modifications and cost estimating for this type of businesses.
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    Design and development of a mobile robotic system for aircraft wing fuel tank inspection
    (Society of Automotive Engineers, 2022-03-08) Dhoot, Manpreet kaur; Fan, Ip-Shing
    This paper presents the design concept behind a novel remote visual inspection robotic system for fighter jet aircraft wing fuel tank inspection. This work is part of a larger research project which focuses on design, simulation, physical prototyping and experimental validation of a robotic system. Whereas this paper specifically focuses on the development concept of locomotion design choice for the robot. Therefore without an effective mobility method the robot will not be able to fulfill its purpose to access the hazardous confined spaces of the fuel tank. Aircraft wing fuel tank inspection is a challenging area of maintenance which requires a considerable amount of preparation and involvement of several tasks in order to conduct effective Visual and Non Destructive Inspection. The environment of an aircraft wing fuel tank poses several challenges due to both physical and atmospheric constraints which can be detrimental to human personal. This paper introduces an effective locomotion design which should allow the robot to enter and maneuver within confined spaces. The robot is relatively small, approximately 70mm in height and width yet, flexible enough to move within the restricted spaces of the wing. The mobile robot platform is a combination of small track systems that articulate like a snake. An additional mobile platform deploys an inspection sensor to reach the spaces that are unreachable by the robot body. Like other proposed robotic systems this particular proposal differs as it allows the robot to enter from the root of the wing and reach the narrower spaces towards with the wing tip. This paper highlights the stakeholder requirements to illustrate the foundation of the robotic system design. An overview of current complications of wing fuel tank inspection is presented and the analysis of current proposed robotic systems for wing fuel tank inspection. An engineering design methodology approach is followed for this project. Several locomotion methods are evaluated and an innovative locomotion method is illustrated with the use of CAD models. The desired outcome of this research is to eliminate the entry or close contact with the fuel tank by human personal.
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    Developing a framework of leadership behaviours to facilitate the effective use of lean six sigma in manufacturing: the case of Jordan.
    (Cranfield University, 2022-03) Alnadi, Mohammad; McLaughlin, Patrick; Fan, Ip-Shing
    This study aims to explore the leadership behaviours that facilitate the effective use of Lean Six Sigma, whereby organisations and leaders can realise the required behaviours to use the Lean Six Sigma successfully. Leadership is identified as one of the vital factors for the successful implementation of Lean Six Sigma. Thus, this research studies leadership from a behavioural lens. It would be helpful for organisations to get the expected benefits of Lean Six Sigma. An interpretive research philosophy is adopted; reality is constructed through social interaction in which people construct shared meanings and reality. A grounded theory methodology was used to collect and analyse the qualitative data. From that, identifying the required leadership behaviours was based and grounded on the themes that emerged from the data analysis. Twenty-seven interviews were conducted and, through analysing these interviews, thirty-six aspects of leadership behaviours emerged. The researcher made a constant comparison to let the aspects emerge during data analysis. These aspects were given to the participants in the focus group workshop to group them into core categories (themes). Then, ideal position descriptions for each theme were developed to describe what each theme looked like in the most effective and established organisations. The researcher adopted and relied on three sources to identify the possible leadership behaviours to develop the proposed framework. These sources are a focus group workshop, interviews analysis, and the literature. The framework is a series of leadership behaviours that target specific themes. The framework was validated through experts’ judgment from industry. The experts’ feedback was this framework is comprehensive and covers all topics. They believe that adopting these behaviours can lead to achieving the desired goal, which enhances operations efficiency. This research has contributed to facilitating the effective use of Lean Six Sigma by identifying the leadership behaviours required for the successful use of the Lean Six Sigma. Furthermore, it is novel in explaining how the leadership behaviours can support Lean Six Sigma; the themes’ descriptions explain how influence the use of Lean Six Sigma.
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    Digital twin-driven framework for EV batteries in automobile manufacturing
    (IOS Press, 2021-10-20) Valdez Parra, Rodrigo; Pothureddy, Gaurav; Sanitas, Tom; Krishnamoorthy, Vishnuvardan; Oluwafemi, Oluwatobi; Singh, Sumit; Fan, Ip-Shing; Shehab, Essam
    The successful operation of Electric-Vehicle Batteries (EVB) is paramount for the ever-continuing goal of approaching a low carbon emission future. The Lithium-ion battery (LIB) is currently the best wager to implement on Electric Vehicles (EV). Nonetheless, it comes with its fair trade of challenges. The complexity involved in the design, manufacturing and operating conditions for these batteries has made their control and monitoring paramount. Digital Twin (DT) is concretely defined as a virtual replica of a physical object, process or system. The DT can be implemented in conjunction with the EVB physical embodiment to analyse and enhance its performance. ERP is a system designed to control production and planning amongst others. This paper presents the state-of-the-art battery design, production with the combination of DT and Enterprise system. A five-dimensional DT framework has been proposed linking the physical data and virtual data with ERP. The proposed method was used to model the digital twin of EVB at the concept level and solve its challenges faced in the industry Also the potential application & benefits of the framework have been formalised with the help of a case study from Tesla EVBs.
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    An e-government adoption framework for developing countries: a case study from Sudan
    (Cranfield University, 2012-02) Abdalla, Sara; Fan, Ip-Shing
    Over the past decade, rapid progress in ICT has encouraged many governments to incorporate new technology into their national economic development strategies. Egovernment is an important application within ICT and has become more significant in the agenda of policy and decision makers the world over. E-government created a new medium that changed the nature of the whole public sector and its relationship with its constituencies. It has had a profound effect on various socioeconomic and political aspects of society. E-government provides delivery of public services in a much more convenient and cost-effective way, offering huge opportunities to improve public sector efficiency. However, the process of change also gives rise to new challenges and difficulties, especially in developing countries, where many initiatives have not been successful. This is as a result of the massive deficiencies in basic infrastructure, human capacity and financial resources, along with the attendant political and cultural constraints. These factors are crucial and impede the adoption of egovernment and the building of an information based society and economy. Egovernment initiatives must therefore account for the specific government systems, technological infrastructure and environmental conditions of the host country. Many of the models and frameworks built to assist in the adoption process in developing countries have been adapted from e-government implementation experiences in Western developed countries. While there are important lessons to be learnt, these frameworks have limited application in Africa and developing countries in other regions. Previously it was difficult to investigate e-government in developing countries due to their low levels of development. Recent advances in e-government in these countries have made it possible to conduct studies and analyse their experiences and practices. This research empirically examined the adoption of e-government at a national and organisational level, taking the public sector in Sudan as a case study. A qualitative approach was followed and data was collected from Sudan using interviews with key officials and top managers; supported by published documents in the public domain.The data was analysed using content analysis and the results verified with experts from a Sudanese public organisation. The findings of the research contributed to the identification of the critical factors in Sudan, and to the development of an e-government adoption framework. The framework combines elements from the Technological, Organisational and Environmental (TOE) model; guiding decision makers to better manage issues related to the adoption process regarding the development of the technical infrastructure, management systems, values and strategies. The use of the proposed framework can help integrate e-government into the public sector in order to accelerate social and economic progress in developing countries.
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    E-learning stakeholders information security vulnerability model
    (Cranfield University, 2012-03) Mohd Alwi, Najwa Hayaati; Fan, Ip-Shing
    The motivation to conduct this research has come from awareness that the Internet exposes the e-learning environment to information security threats and vulnerabilities. Information security management as practised as a top down approach in many organisations tend to detach of people’s responsibility in ensuring the security of e-learning. Literature has pointed out that people’s behaviour required to be addressed to control the information security threats. This research proposes an ISM human behaviour model for e-learning provider in public universities in Malaysia. With socio technical reflection, this model aims to improve the implementation and management of information security in e-learning taking consideration of the user perspective. This research consists of four phases, the Planning phase, Data Collection and Analysis Phase, Model development Phase and Discussion and Conclusion Phase. A pilot study highlighted data confidentiality difficulties and pointed to data collection by using existing public from multiple sources. Six multi-method studies were conducted to generate the dimensions for the model development. Review from expert confirmed the research findings and validated the practicality of addressing people behaviours in information security management. This research contributes to better understanding of the people complexity in information security. The research suggests that the culture view of individual is significant in preparing information security management. This model makes clear the influence of people towards security threats and vulnerabilities. This approach can guide on what can be done to improve the stakeholder’s participation and responsibilities on securing e-learning. This research is also extending the existing knowledge of information security and e-learning fields by analytically focussing on the intersection of both fields. New knowledge about the security in e-learning environment from the users’ perspective is derived.
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    Environmental modelling of the Chief Information Officer
    (UK Academy for Information Systems, 2017-04-30) Harding, David J.; Fan, Ip-Shing
    Since the introduction of the term in the 1980’s, the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has been widely researched. Various perceptions and dimensions of the role have been explored and debated. However, the explosion in data proliferation (and the inevitable resulting information fuelled change) further complicates organisational expectations of the CIOs role. If organisations are to competitively exploit the digital trend, then those charged with recruiting and developing CIOs now need to be more effective in determining (and shaping) CIO traits and attributes, within the context of their own organisational circumstances and in line with stakeholder expectations. CIOs also need to determine their own suitability and progression within their chosen organisation if they are to remain motivated and effective. Before modelling the role of the future CIO, it is necessary to synthesise our current knowledge (and the lessons learnt) about the CIO. This paper, therefore, aims to identify and summate the spectrum of key researched ‘themes’ pertaining to the role of the CIO. Summating previous research, themes are modelled around four key CIO ‘dimensions’, namely (1) Impacting factors, (2) Controlling factors (3) Responses and (4) CIO ‘attributes’. Having modelled the CIOs current environment, and recognising the evolving IT enabled information landscape, the authors call for further research to inform the recruitment and development of the future CIO in terms of personal attributes and the measurable impact such attributes will have on their respective organisation.
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    Exploring the transition from preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance within ERP systems by utilising digital twins
    (IOS Press, 2021-10-20) Damant, Liam; Forsyth, Amy; Farcas, Ramona; Voigtländer, Melvin; Singh, Sumit; Fan, Ip-Shing; Shehab, Essam
    Over the years, there has been an advancement in how manufacturing companies conduct maintenance. They have begun transitioning from Preventive Maintenance (PM) to Predictive Maintenance (PdM). With the introduction of technologies such as Digital Twin (DT), Internet of Things (IoT), and Intelligent Manufacturing (IM), the world is rapidly changing, thus allowing companies to optimise existing processes, products and reduce costs. The existing literature offers limited investigations and best practices in the end-to-end optimisation for maintenance transformation. The current paper intends to explore (a) the transition from PM to PdM and (b) the utilisation of DTs and IM for maintenance optimisation. The paper articulates the scope and features of end-to-end maintenance optimisation for asset uptime and cost benefits. The findings can help industries understand the introductions and advancements of technologies for predictive maintenance and end-to-end optimisation with the benefit of investigating and illustrating how companies can move forward.
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    Failures mapping for aircraft electrical actuation system health management
    (PHM Society, 2022-06-29) Wang, Chengwei; Fan, Ip-Shing; King, Stephen
    This paper presents the different types of failure that may occur in flight control electrical actuation systems. Within an aircraft, actuation systems are essential to deliver physical actions. Large actuators operate the landing gears and small actuators adjust passenger seats. As developing, aircraft systems have become more electrical to reduce the weight and complexity of hydraulic circuits, which could improve fuel efficiency and lower NOx emissions. Electrical Actuation (EA) are one of those newly electrified systems. It can be categorized into two types, Electro-Hydraulic Actuation (EHA) and Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) systems. Emerging electric and hydrogen fuel aircraft will rely on all-electric actuation. While electrical actuation seems simpler than hydraulic at the systems level, the subsystems and components are more varied and complex. The aim of the overall project is to develop a highly representative Digital Twin (DT) for predictive maintenance of electrical flight control systems. A comprehensive understanding of actuation system failure characteristics is fundamental for effective design and maintenance. This research focuses on the flight control systems including the ailerons, rudders, flaps, spoilers, and related systems. The study uses the Cranfield University Boeing 737 as the basis to elaborate the different types of actuators in the flight control system. The Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) provides a baseline for current maintenance practices, effort, and costs. Equivalent EHA and EMA to replace the 737 systems are evaluated. In this paper, the components and their failure characteristics are elaborated in a matrix. The approach to model these characteristics in DT for aircraft flight control system health management is discussed. This paper contributes to the design, operation and support of aircraft systems.
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    A Framework Relating Producibility Problems to the use of Manufacturing Information in Design
    (Cranfield University, 2001-10) Gregory, Michael John; Fan, Ip-Shing
    This thesis presents the development of a framework for relating the reasons for problems of producibility that occur in manufacturing to the sources of information available to designers. Advice and guidance on Design for Manufacture was obtained from textbooks, journal articles and conference papers that sought to improve the process or report on design-related difficulties in manufacturing. Industrial experience was gained from a two-year project in defence aerospace, researching concurrent engineering in the extended enterprise. Examples of good practice across a range of industries were gained from interviews with practitioners, with advice both from customers engaged in design and from manufacturing suppliers. Further industrial experience was provided by two studies of civil aerospace, covering in-house and outsourced manufacture. Potential problems were classified and then related to the sources of knowledge available to prevent these problems reaching the shop floor. The detailed analysis of findings is presented and provides a structured approach that could assist in planning concurrent engineering processes, especially communications and teamworking. This would enable potential producibility problems to be addressed in a comprehensive manner so as to minimise the costs, effort and delay associated with them. It would also encourage opportunities for improvement to be promoted at the earliest stage in product development, where they are the most effective.
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    Framework to assess the level of readiness for TQM implementation in girls' secondary schools in Saudi Arabia
    (Cranfield University, 2016-12) Hassan, Asma Abdullah; Fan, Ip-Shing
    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SA) set out its Vision 2030 of itself as a significant Knowledge Economy to position itself competitively in the world and in the Gulf region. The Government charged the education sector to prepare young people and build the creativity, innovation and technical skills for the country’s future. The Ministry of Education (MOE) selected TQM and has made strategic investments to achieve this strategic transformation in education. Despite this substantial investment in the infrastructure, teaching skills, information technology and advancement programmes for women to enter the workplace, the implementation of TQM has not so far delivered the outcomes expected in secondary schools (Bank, 2008; Chapman and Miric, 2009; TIMSS, 2011). This research proposes that a programme that primarily focuses on the hard aspects of change, without participatory leadership and without integrating the people concerned (as a soft programme would), cannot achieve sustainable transformation. An empirical study was designed to investigate staff perception of TQM implementation in girls’ secondary schools in the Kingdom. The 525 respondents from 61 schools in five districts of Riyadh suggest that the most pivotal critical success factors (CSFs) limiting the development of TQM culture were Top Management Commitment; Training; Tools and Techniques; and Reward and Recognition. The perception results were then used as the baseline to design a model that integrates the hard and soft CSFs of TQM in five stages of maturity. This assessment model could be used to support the schools and the MOE in objectively assessing the readiness of schools to implement TQM and identify the next major obstacles to reaching the next stage. The design approach of a maturity model is innovative in using context perception data as the baseline for designing the stages of maturity and the success factors the progress of change, making its use appropriate for the girls’ schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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    A framework to design reverse logistics operations based on circular economy values
    (Cranfield University, 2016-12) Ripanti, Eva Faja; Tjahjono, Benny; Fan, Ip-Shing
    Reverse Logistics (RL) is complex to be managed due to the uncertainty involved e.g. the quality range of products, timing of product returns, and volume of returns. A robust RL design can contribute to increase the effectiveness of RL operations. Therefore, an RL design framework needs to be formalised. Circular economy (CE) focuses on supporting the separation of treatments between technical and biological materials in maximising the design for reuse to return to the biosphere and retain value through innovations across fields. The aim of the research is to develop a new framework to design RL operations based on CE values that can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of RL operations. This research has been conducted through the qualitative research involving cases in product recovery (PR) options that are analysed in-depth. Literature review and interview are the main methods of this research. A test was conducted by interviewing expert and respondents to obtain the expert view and test the research result which is a developed framework to design RL based on CE values. The testing engaged five criteria (usability, feasibility, consistency, effectiveness, and utility). The formal RL design framework, 15 CE values, framework to design RL based on CE values specifically PR options (repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and cannibalisation) are main research findings. The research contributes academically to the development of a formal RL design framework and to the identification, reformulation, redefinition, and implementation of CE values. The research can be used as a basis for an effective design of RL that takes into account the economic, environmental, and social impacts. The research can be used as a guideline or an appraisal tool in designing/modifying RL based on CE values that can support the implementation of a single RL operation and also RL based on CE.