![[Univ of Cambridge]](http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/images/house_style/uniban-s.gif){kind=small}
![[Dept of Engineering]](http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/images/house_style/engban-s.gif){kind=small}
The Centre for Technology Management
Manufacturing Strategy and Performance
Strategy and Performance Networks
The Evolution of Business Performance Measurement Systems
The Evaluation of IT Investments
European Innovation: Comparative Industrial Practices
Assessing the Impact of Product Introduction on Manufacturing Systems
Vertical Integration/Make-or-Buy
Industrial Make vs Buy Decisions
Management of Technology
Strategic Technology Management: Linking Technology Resources to Company Objectives
New Product Introduction
International Manufacturing
Engineering Re-use
Optimum Fibre Orientation in Composites
Ownership and Leadership in Manufacturing
Improving the Responsiveness of Manufacturing Production Systems
Manufacturing Control System based on Multi-Agent Techniques
Development of Monitoring and Self-Diagnostic Capabilities for Autonomous Manufacturing Operations
Non-standard Industrial Applications of Statistical Process Control
Identification of Requirements and their Influence on the Design/Manufacturing Process
Computer Support for the Exploration and Evaluation of Design Ideas at the Conceptual Phase
Design of Vision-assisted Robots
A Support System to Increase the Independence of those with Reduced Arm Muscle Function due to Muscular Dystrophy or Motor Neurone Disease
Solar Furnace for Hydrogen Production and Glass Melting
A Concurrent Integrated CAD Method for Ship and Sailing Yacht Design
Effective Models for Postgraduate Education in Engineering
References
The Centre for Technology Management was launched by the Vice-Chancellor in July 1997 to provide a focus for research teaching and practice in this area. Themes include the development of technology strategies, technology management processes, rapid product introduction and the growth of small high technology companies. The Centre has established a regular programme of industry events and a significant annual symposium. Work at the Centre is guided by its industry members, who include - GEC-Marconi; BG; GPT; Post Office; Rolls Royce; Unilever; Anglian Water; Domino; Defence Systems Division, Avionics Group, GEC-Marconi; T&N Technology; BAe Military Aircraft and Aerostructures.
Dr K.W. Platts
Professor M.J. Gregory
Dr A.D. Neely
The funding for the EPSRC project on Manufacturing Strategy and Performance Measurement has been extended up to the year 2000. The workbooks to assist companies in the design of manufacturing strategies and appropriate performance measurement systems have been enthusiastically received by industry. The ideas of competence and capabilities have been incorporated into the process. Current work involving testing these innovations is underway in several manufacturing plants(L2,L3,L21,L26,L28,L32,L38).
Dr K.W. Platts
Mr J.F. Mills
Mr M.C.S. Bourne
This research is funded by six EPSRC Visiting Fellowships. The Visiting Fellows have been investigating the application of the Manufacturing Strategy and Performance Measurement methodologies in a series of companies around the country. The network has produced valuable findings on the facilitation of the processes and this is already being disseminated by courses to both industry and academe. Currently, the case histories of the network partners are being analysed to inform the tailoring and ongoing management of the strategy and performance measurement processes(L1,L4).
Dr A.D. Neely
This EPSRC project, also sponsored by industry has two main objectives: (i) to research what factors influence the "evolution" of the portfolio of performance measures used by an organisation; and (ii) to establish a "catalogue" of performance measures which details the main measures of performance described in the literature and used in industry. Satisfying the first of these objectives will enable organisations to better manage the evolution of their measurement systems. Achieving the second will provide a reference guide which can be used by people seeking information on how they might measure specific dimensions of performance(L41).
Dr A.D. Neely
Numerous organisations are making substantial investments in information technology, but how can these investments be evaluated? The aim of this project is to develop and test a framework for evaluating IT investments. This framework will help organisations assess the business impact of implementing information systems. The project, sponsored by the EU and industrial collaborators, will be extended to include the evaluation of an EDI implementation and the development of transnational information systems in a manufacturing firm. The main output will be the evaluation framework and methodology. Partners in the project will be provided with feedback on the effect of the system implementation and an indication of areas for improvement.
Dr J.P. Allen
Dr A.D. Neely
In 1996 a team from the Judge Institute of Management Studies and the Manufacturing Engineering Group undertook a study, sponsored by the Government Office for the Eastern Region, which compared the performance of manufacturing firms in the East of England with those in Baden Württemberg. The findings of this study emphasized the importance of innovation in ensuring business performance. The second phase of this project has now been launched. In this phase the focus will be innovation. Further comparative studies are planned - specifically one involving the Veneto Region of Italy(L23,L24,L27).
Mr G.D.M. Frizelle
Professor M.J. Gregory
The research builds on the earlier work on measuring the complexity of manufacturing systems. It is designed to assess the impact of product introduction on the operational effectiveness of companies. To date work has been carried out in four companies. First results suggest the technique is helpful in identifying major potential problem areas(L11,L12).
Mr D.R. Probert
Professor M.J. Gregory
Work in vertical integration, developed under the senior Industrial Fellowship, sponsored by Lucas Industries and the Royal Academy of Engineering, has resulted in a methodology for strategic make-or-buy decision making, which has been applied in many manufacturing companies in the U.K. and overseas. Accumulated experience has resulted in a revision and extension of the documented methodology, and this has been published by the IEE at the end of 1996. A management guide has been published by the DTI, and dissemination continues via the Engineering Institutions, industry sector groups (e.g. SMMT), and the Cambridge Programme for Industry(L36).
Dr K.W. Platts
Mr D.R. Probert
Building on the work funded by Lucas Industries and the Royal Academy of Engineering, an EPSRC grant has been awarded to further develop managerial decision support in this area. Work is due to commence in January 1998.
Professor M.J. Gregory
Mr D.R. Probert
Work in Management of Technology has developed strongly under a major EPSRC grant. A growing community of industrial companies (in addition to the core collaborators BAe, GEC-Marconi and T & N) has now been established with regular forum meetings, held quarterly. An annual two-day summer school is held each July. A methodology for auditing technology management processes has been developed and is currently being piloted in collaborating businesses. This audit provides a structured approach to assessing a company's technology management activities by addressing the key processes of identification, selection, acquisition, exploitation and protection(L5,L17,L29,L31,L37,L40).
Mr D.R. Probert
Professor M.J. Gregory
Dr E.W. Garnsey
Work in technology management has been further extended by this new EPSRC grant to develop practical tools for use in manufacturing industry, starting April 1998.
Mr G.S. Gardiner
Professor M.J. Gregory
A draft workbook has been developed to enable SMEs to assess their own New Product Introduction activities. It provides tools for investigating process performance and the perceptions of all the people involved in the process to indicate areas for improvement. One of the tools is software-assisted to enable management to gather and process survey data from across the company with little cost(L13,L15). The NPI Audit project is funded by the EPSRC and is being tested by high-technology SMEs.
Phase 2 of the Design and Development Benchmarking Project, led by members of the Judge Institute, started with the development and trial of the full benchmarking methodology. The project is supported by the Design Council and the EPSRC.
The Teaching Company Programme on World Class Software Delivery, with GPT and the University Computer Laboratory, completed with the testing of processes for software Make-or-Buy(L14) and Performance Measurement System Design in a software organisation. The project has shown the applicability to a software engineering environment of processes developed for manufacturing systems.
The New Product Introduction Club continues to meet, providing a forum for different managers from the member companies to discuss common areas of interest. The Industrial Workshop Series focused on a number of Product Development and Introduction areas, including resourcing and benchmarking. The series attracts managers from companies across the region for early-evening presentations and discussion on manufacturing-related topics.
Mr T.C. Hanby
Professor M.J. Gregory
The work on International Manufacturing Mobility has now been extended by a further core EPSRC grant to support an extensive programme of research into the development of International Manufacturing Capabilities(L16,L39). An extended industrial community has developed around a regular industrial manufacturing workshop series and research projects are now addressing issues of international collaboration, knowledge management, and country characteristics.
Professor M.J. Gregory
A new project has been awarded under the EPSRC Innovative Manufacturing Initiative to study reuse issues in manufacturing and to develop approaches to the systematic reuse of products and processes.
Mr M.J. Platts
Within small three-dimensional components using composite materials, layers of unidirectional fibres cannot match the desired stress trajectories efficiently. A new design approach which yields optimised three-dimensional fibre layouts at a detailed level, and a matching fibre placement method to manufacture the designed shapes, are now being tested on aircraft landing gear components, in collaboration with Messier Dowty Limited(L18).
Mr M.J. Platts
Understanding the different views of the nature and purpose of manufacturing industry held in different parts of the world, and during different periods in Britain's history, is an important aspect of manufacturing leadership(L33,L34,L35).
Dr D.C. McFarlane
As part of an EPSRC funded project, a tool for auditing the ability of a production facility to respond to unpredictable disturbances and variations has been developed and is currently being refined with two industrial partners. The second phase of the project will see improvements made to existing control and decision support systems based on a more modular and distributed ("holonic") approach(L19).
Dr D.C. McFarlane
Mr G.D.M. Frizelle
The appropriateness of the emerging area of software agents is being investigated as a means of providing more robust and adaptable manufacturing scheduling and control solutions. This work is being pursued both through an EU funded grant involving Daimler-Benz as the main industrial partner and through ongoing PhD projects.
Dr D.C. McFarlane
Means for providing more autonomous abilities for interpreting and responding to operational faults are being investigated. The ultimate aim of this work is to achieve "plug and play" capabilities for production equipment(L10).
Dr D.C. McFarlane
Focusing on the process industries, this work has identified a range of situations where existing Statistical Process Control (SPC) tools cannot be directly applied to quality monitoring. A number of novel approaches are being developed based on information filtering and related methods(L20,L30).
Dr T.P. Bligh
Dr A. Chakrabarti
The `requirements' of a design have an enormous influence on the prcess and outcome of the design. Being able to identify these and rank the appropriateness of each is of vital importance for a successful design. Using a number of protocol studies of real design processes, the project aims to identify useful, as well as harmful mechanisms whereby requirements are rightly or wrongly identified and used in the design process, and to develop guidelines and means for supporting designers in this difficult yet crucial phase(C43,L6,L9).
Dr T.P. Bligh
Dr A. Chakrabarti
Having conceived a number of ideas, designers all too often do not adequately evaluate them before selecting one for further development. FUNCSION, a software package developed in the EDC, was developed to support designers by exposing them to a wide variety of ideas synthesised by the programme. However, while these ideas are useful, and often not conceived by the designers, there are far too many and they are too abstract in representation to be explored and evaluated easily by the designer. This project aims to rectify this problem(C43,L6,L7,L8,L9).
Dr T.P. Bligh
In molecular biology, one of the most tedious laboratory tasks is manual colony picking. This involves transferring tiny colonies (0.3mm in diameter) of yeasts, E-coli and phages from agar to small test tubes, in the form of microtitre plates. For example, in the Human Genome programme, a typical library would require 100,000 colony picks. In a joint programme between the Departments of Engineering and Pathology, an instrument consisting of a specially designed robotic arm and a leading edge vision system has been designed to accomplish this task. Laboratory tests are complete and many machines have been delivered by BioRobotics Limited to leading laboratories in the UK, USA, New Zealand, Japan and France. A gridding and a filling robot are now available. This project aims to continue the development of appropriate instruments using the above technology, such as a microgridder for the life sciences.
Dr T.P. Bligh
Dr R. Farmer
A support system is being developed for field trials with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It is being designed for economic manufacture and a business plan is being developed. The aim of the project is to enable a small business to manufacture and sell these units.
Dr T.P. Bligh
We have produced a new concept for the design of heliostats, for a solar furnace, which overcomes most of the existing problems. The aim of this project is to design a prototype, which will be built by the University Teknology, Malaysia, to test the feasibility of a large solar furnace for the production of hydrogen or the large scale melting of glass.
Dr T.P. Bligh
The aim of this programme, in collaboration with Andrew Simpson & Associates and C & S Yacht Design, is to develop a new approach to the ship design process which eliminates the long sequential nature of the present process. The programme will establish a concurrent computer-aided design procedure, instead of following the traditional Ship Design Spiral concept.
Dr T.P. Bligh
Dr.D.M. Holburn
This project seeks to explore some of the factors that contribute to an effective programme for postgraduate education and research in engineering and technology. Issues such as benefits that accrue to the individuals, institutions, and the nation are explored. Two models for postgraduate education which have stood the test of time, that of North America and the UK, are discussed in detail. The aim of the project is to reach recommendations for a successful postgraduate programme in a rapidly changing world(I66).
L1. Bourne, M.C.S., Bicheno, J., Hamblin, D., Wilcox, M., Neely, A.D. Getting the measure of your business: developing and testing performance measurement systems in manufacturing companies. Management Accounting Research Group Conference, Aston, Birmingham (October 1996).
L2. Bourne, M.C.S., Mills, J.F., Richards, A.H., Neely, A.D., Platts, K.W. The design of an action science case study research methodology for testing processes in manufacturing companies. Proceedings, PICMET97, Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Portland, OR, USA (July1997); Edited by D.F. Kocaoglu, T.R. Anderson, 703 (IEEE, 1997).
L3. Bourne, M.C.S., Neely, A.D. Developing a performance measurement system in a professional service organisation. Proceedings, 4th European Operations Management Association Conference, Barcelona, Spain (June 1997).
L4. BourNe, M.C.S., Wilcox, M., Hamblin, D., Bicheno, J., Neely, A.D. Experiences from facilitating the design and implementation of performance measures - the influence of the team and its leader. Proceedings, PICMET97, Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Portland, OR, USA (July 1997); Edited by D.F. Kocaoglu, T.R. Anderson, 798 (IEEE, 1997).
L5. Brady, T., Rush, H., Hobday, M., Davies, A., Probert, D.R., Banerjee, S. Tools for technology management: an academic perspective. Technovation, 17, (8), 417-426 (1997).
L6. Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P. An approach to functional synthesis of mechanical design concepts: theory, application, and emerging research issues. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, 10, (4), 313-331 (1996).
L7. Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P. Approach to functional synthesis of solutions in mechanical conceptual design. Part II: kind synthesis. Research in Engineering Design, 8, (1), 52 -62 (1996).
L8. Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P. Approach to functional synthesis of solutions in mechanical conceptual design. Part III: spatial configuration. Research in Engineering Design, 8, (2), 116-124 (1996).
L9. Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P. Generation and exploration of conceptual design solutions on computers. Proceedings, International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, Bangalore, India (December 1996).
L10. Dunlop, S., Jones, B., McFarlane, D.C. Petri net based system design and diagnosis for a gear box assembly cell. Proceedings, Safe Process 97, IFAC Symposium on Fault Detection, Supervision and Safety for Technical Processes, Hull (August 1997).
L11. Frizelle, G.D.M. Assessing the impact of new products in the factory. Proceedings, 5th International Conference on Factory 2000, the Technology Exploitation Process, Cambridge, 45-48. IEE Conference Publication 435 (April 1997).
L12. Frizelle, G.D.M. Getting the measure of complexity. Manufacturing Engineer, 75, (6), 268-270 (1996).
L13. Gardiner, G.S. Self-administered audit and continuous assessment of the new product introduction process. Proceedings, PICMET97, Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Portland, OR, USA (July 1997); Edited by D.F. Kocaoglu, T.R. Anderson, 145-148 (IEEE, 1997).
L14. Gardiner, G.S., Rushton, P.J. A develop, subcontract or buy process for sourcing software. Proceedings, PICMET97, Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Portland, OR, USA (July 1997); Edited by D.F. Kocaoglu, T.R. Anderson, 158-161 (IEEE, 1997).
L15. Gilmour, G., Gardiner, G. S. Speeding companies' design process: computerised and graphical tools to improve time to market. Proceedings, Information Design Network Conference, Cambridge (July 1997).
L16. Grant, E.B., Minshall, T.H.W., Gregory, M.J., Probert, D.R., Steele, A.P. Development of a manufacturing transfer process. Proceedings, 14th International Conference on Production Research, Osaka, Japan (August 1997).
L17. Gregory, M.J., Probert, D.R., Cowell, D.R. Auditing technology management processes. International Journal of Technology Management, 12, (3), 306-319 (1996).
L18. Jones, S.E., Platts, M.J. Practical optimum internal fibre distribution in composite components. Proceedings, 5th International Conference on Automated Composites, Glasgow, 295-302 (September 1997) (Institute of Materials, 1997).
L19. Matson, J., McFarlane, D.C., Frizelle, G. Responsiveness as a criterion in control system design. ESPRIT Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) Workshop, Porto, Portugal (September 1997).
L20. McFarlane, D.C., Petersen, I.R. A robust approach to dynamic statistical process control. Proceedings, 35th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Kobe, Japan, 3113-3114 (December 1996).
L21. Mills, J.F., Platts, K.W. Manufacturing strategy. In: International Encyclopedia of Business and Management; Edited by M. Warner, 4, 3126-3141 (Routledge, 1996).
L22. Neely, A.D. Chairman's welcome. Business Intelligence Conference, London (October 1996).
L23. Neely, A.D. Competitiveness in the Eastern region - drivers of high and low performance. Eastern Region Competitiveness Forum, Duxford, Cambs. (November 1996).
L24. Neely, A.D. Competitiveness in the Eastern region - drivers of high and low performance. Government Office for the Eastern Region Conference, Chilford Hall, Linton, Cambs. (November 1996).
L25. Neely, A.D. Getting the measure of your business: a practical approach. Business Intelligence Conference, London (February 1997).
L26. Neely, A.D. A practical approach to defining key indicators. Measuring Business Excellence, 1, (1), 42-46 (1997).
L27. Neely, A.D., Allen, J., Grant, E., Kennerley, M., Lamb, M. Competing to win: a comparison of manufacturing companies in the Eastern region and Baden-Württemberg. Report for the Government Office for the Eastern Region (1997).
L28. Neely, A.D., Mills, J.F., Platts, K.W., Gregory, M.J., Richards, A.H. Performance measurement system design: should process based approaches be adopted? International Journal of Production Economics, 46-47, 423431 (1996).
L29. Paterson, C.J., Skilbeck, J.N., Cruickshank, C.M., Probert, D.R., Gregory, M.J. Assessment of technology management processes - development of a practical approach within an industrial context. Proceedings, IAMOT MOT 97, International Association for Management of Technology Conference, Gothenburg, Sweden (June 1997).
L30. Petersen, I.R., McFarlane, D.C. Optimal guaranteed cost filtering for uncertain discrete-time linear systems. International Journal of Robust and Non Linear Control, 6, (4), 267-280 (1996).
L31. Phaal, R., Paterson, C.J., Probert, D.R., Gregory, M.J. Management of technology - process assessment: a case study. Proceedings, Conference of the British Academy of Management (BAM), London (September 1997).
L32. Platts, K.W., Mills, J.F., Neely, A.D., Gregory, M.J., Richards, A.H. Evaluating manufacturing strategy formulation processes. International Journal of Production Economics, 46-47, 233-240 (1996).
L33. Platts, M.J. Competence: the virtue of maturity. Proceedings, 6th IFAC Symposium on Automated Systems Based on Human Skill, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia; Edited by D. Brandt, 231-234 (September 1997).
L34. Platts, M.J. Greed's OK actually. Proceedings, 2nd International Symposium on Catholic Social Thought and Management Education, Antwerp, Belgium (July 1997).
L35. Platts, M.J. In praise of Skunkworks! Aeronautical Journal, 101, (1005), 213-216 (1997).
L36. Probert, D.R. Developing A Make Or Buy Strategy For Manufacturing Business (IEE Publishing, 1997).
L37. Probert, D.R. International technology management: what relevance to the choice of manufacturing process technology? Proceedings, APMS96, International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems, Kyoto, Japan (November 1996).
L38. Richards, A.H., Bourne, M.C.S., Mills, J.F., Platts, K.W., Neely, A.D. A collaborative network for case study research in manufacturing companies. Proceedings, PICMET97, Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Portland, OR, USA (July 1997); Edited by D.F. Kocaoglu, T.R. Anderson, 689-692 (IEEE, 1997).
L39. Shi, Y., Gregory, M.J., Naylor, M. International manufacturing configuration map: a self-assessment tool of international manufacturing capabilities. Integrated Manufacturing Systems, 8, (5/6), 273-282 (1997).
L40. Skilbeck, J.N., Cruickshank, C.M, Probert, D.R. A framework for evaluating technology management process in technology based businesses. Proceedings, PICMET97, Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, Portland, OR, USA (July 1997).
L41. Waggoner, D., Neely, A.D., Kennerley, M. An interdisciplinary review of performance measurement system evolution and change: themes, issues and experiences. Proceedings, 14th International Conference on Production Research, Osaka, Japan (August 1997).