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Automotive Industry (automotive + industry)
Selected AbstractsOEM New Product Development Practices: The Case of the Automotive IndustryJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2006Gioconda Quesada SUMMARY In industries where value added by suppliers contributes significantly to the final product, the competitiveness of the value chain depends upon supplier performance (cost, quality and on-time delivery). Despite the importance of supplier performance in new product development (NPD), most research has focused on supplier performance in operations. Few studies have focused on how product development practices of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) influence OEM evaluations of supplier performance. This paper posits a model of the relationships among three factions: OEM practices that involve suppliers in design, concurrent engineering practices of the OEM and OEM assessments of supplier performance. This model is tested and cross-validated using a sample of 406 NPD projects in Germany and the United States. The findings suggest that NPD practices of OEMs influence their perceptions of suppliers' performance. [source] Collaborative Value Analysis: Experiences from the Automotive IndustryJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2000Janet L. Hartley SUMMARY As the nature of competition shifts to a supply chain focus, effectively leveraging suppliers' technical expertise is becoming essential to market success in many industries. Some organizations are using a time-proven technique, value analysis (VA), to leverage their suppliers' technical expertise. This study reports the benefits and challenges of supplier involvement in VA based on the experiences of four first-tier automotive suppliers. When suppliers are involved in VA, many ideas can be developed and trust can increase, both of which strengthen buyer-supplier partnerships. Unfortunately, reluctance to share cost data, lack of engineering resources, and failure to obtain customer approval are barriers to VA implementation. Several practices can be used to overcome these barriers. [source] Mass Customization in the Automotive Industry: Comparing Interdealer Trading and Reconfiguration Flexibilities in Order FulfillmentPRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2010Philip G. Brabazon Mass customization has been viewed as desirable but difficult to achieve in the volume automotive sector. Here we consider flexibility in automotive order fulfillment systems to enhance the ability to satisfy customers with their desired vehicle variants within acceptable delivery lead times. Two types of flexibility are compared in a Virtual-Build-to-Order system,reconfiguration in the planning pipeline and interdealer trading. A representative simulation model is used to investigate the impact of the two types of flexibility across a wide spectrum of product variety levels. The impacts on major stakeholders in the system,the producer, dealers, and customers,are considered. The study shows that both types of flexibilities can bring significant benefits in terms of reductions in lead time and inventory holding. The level of product variety strongly influences the observed effects,an important finding in the mass customization context. Upstream reconfiguration flexibility brings greater benefits than downstream trading flexibility. Reconfiguration tends to dominate trading as a fulfillment mechanism when both are in operation. The findings have implications for the design and management of automotive order fulfillment systems in improving their ability to offer mass customization. The study has relevance for companies in other sectors with high levels of variety that seek to combine efficiency, speed, and flexibility in order fulfillment. [source] Comments on the Productivity Commission's Modelling of the Economy-Wide Effects of Future Automotive Assistance,ECONOMIC PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMICS AND POLICY, Issue 1 2009Peter B. Dixon C68; F13 The Productivity Commission claims on the basis of computable general equilibrium modelling that a seemingly small reduction in assistance to the Australian Automotive industry (a cut in tariffs from 10 per cent to 5 per cent and elimination of the ACIS scheme) would generate an annual welfare benefit of about $500 million. I explain that this implausible result rests on an implicit manna-from-heaven assumption. Using results published by the Commission, I rework their welfare calculations. With parameter values favoured by them, the corrected annual welfare gain is $66 million. With what I consider more realistic parameter values, the welfare effect is negative. [source] Strategic corporate environmental management within the South African automotive industry: motivations, benefits, hurdlesCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 6 2009Anderson Gwanyebit Kehbila Abstract This paper conveys the experiences of the South African automotive industry as it attempted to implement the ISO 14001 standard. Through a questionnaire-based survey, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger companies were asked about the key motivations for engaging in environmental change, the benefits accrued and the barriers that prevented them from doing so. This paper analyzes the variation in adoption rates in order to establish different relationships between them. The results reveal substantial differences and some similarities with regard to the hurdles, benefits and motivations behind the implementation of environmental management systems (EMSs) that are hidden behind corporate rhetoric and commitment to sustainability. This paper concludes by prescribing robust recommendations that would set off the pace for government officials to incorporate effective and realistic incentives into future policy to better encourage environmental compliance and improved performance while minimizing costs both to businesses and to the Government. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Integrated environmental product innovation and impacts on company competitiveness: a case study of the automotive industry in the region of MunichENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2008Ursula Triebswetter Abstract This paper examines the impact of integrated environmental product innovations on company competitiveness. In a regional case study about automotive, rail and commercial vehicle firms in Southern Germany it is found that integrated environmental product innovation is driven by factors such as regulatory pressure, the search for competitive advantages and technological lead as well as customer pressure. Regulatory pressure includes sector policies, such as emission standards, and wider non-sector energy conservation issues, at both national and international levels. For instance, EU directives on future use of renewable energy as well as national goals for reaching the Kyoto protocol play an important role in driving innovation. The study finds that integrated environmental product innovations driven by regulatory pressure produce similar competitiveness impacts as innovations undertaken voluntarily by companies. Such results yield supporting evidence for the so-called ,Porter hypothesis', which assumes that environmental legislation stimulates innovation and leads to ,win,win' situations , the simultaneous reduction of pollution and increase in productivity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Quantifying the financial risks and opportunities of climate change on the automotive industryENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2005Duncan Austin First page of article [source] Influence of Filler Composition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Steel,Aluminum Joints Produced by Metal Arc Joining,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2009Leonardo Agudo Jácome Chemical joining of aluminum to steel parts is one of the main challenges in the automotive industry to achieve sound economical solutions for required automobile weight reduction. The cold metal transfer (CMT) is a fusion welding process developed to meet that challenge. It is shown in this paper how the choice of proper filler materials can yield appropriate mechanical performance of specially designed dissimilar CMT butt joints by improving the seam characteristics and weld bead properties. [source] Numerical Determination of Heat Distribution and Castability Simulations of as Cast Mg,Al Alloys,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 3 2009Shehzad Saleem Khan Magnesium alloys offer a large potential as lightweight structures especially in the automotive industry. Research and development of magnesium alloys depend largely on the metallurgist's understanding and ability to control the microstructure of the as cast part. This research work comprises the determination of experimental parameters to simulate fluidity and microstructure of magnesium/aluminum binary alloys. [source] On the attempts to optimize the performance and cost-effectiveness of TFPM drives: a crucial challenge for the automotive industryEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL POWER, Issue 6 2005Ahmed Masmoudi Much attention is currently focused upon transverse flux permanent magnet machines (TFPMs), especially in automotive applications, in so far as, to date, they exhibit the highest power production capability. Different automotive manufacturers are currently involved in R&D programs dealing with TFPM concepts and the possibilities of their integration in electric and hybrid propulsion systems. This paper is devoted to the analysis of two R&D projects developed within the design of TFPMs intended for hybrid propulsion systems of heavy-duty vehicles. In spite of the increasing interest in TFPMs and the significant improvements brought to their earlier topologies, we can firmly state that further investigations remain to be carried out before the TFPM concepts could be regarded as a mature technology for the automotive industry. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Layer-by-Layer All-Inorganic Quantum-Dot-Based LEDs: A Simple Procedure with Robust PerformanceADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2010James S. Bendall Abstract A novel all-inorganic electroluminescent device is demonstrated based on highly luminescent CdTe nanocrystals intercalated within a laminar hydrotalcite-like structure. The laminar scaffold acts to both support and distribute the CdTe nanocrystals. The device is synthesized using simple wet chemical processes at room temperature in ambient conditions. It has high thermal stability, operating continuously up to 90 °C, and a maximum efficiency at J = 0.12 A cm,2. The device is targeted at the automotive industry. [source] Toward the measure of virtual teams effectivenessHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 5 2008Stefan Trzcieli Virtual teams can be an alternative to colocated teams and they are inevitable when the members of team are significantly dispersed. Quite often when team members are dispersed there is a necessity to arrange either face-to-face (FTF) meetings or their substitute,videoconferencing sessions. Such cases take place in multinational corporations. In one of them from the automotive industry, we examined the cost-effectiveness of arranging meetings of team members in the form of FTF or videoconferencing sessions. For this purpose, a mathematical model has been elaborated. This model can be a useful tool for choosing between creating a colocated or virtual team as well as about the form of meeting of virtual team members. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Work models in the Central Eastern European car industry: towards the high road?INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Ulrich Jürgens ABSTRACT The integration of the Central Eastern European (CEE) countries into the European Union (EU) has provoked debates about the danger of a ,race to the bottom' in Europe caused by the low wages and weak labour regulation and labour standards in CEE. This article examines the evolution of work models in the CEE automotive industry. It argues that the work models in CEE did not take the low-road trajectory. Rather, a limited high-road model emerged in the 1990s, which combined skilled labour and secure employment for the core workforce with a broad margin of precarious employment, low wages and limited employee voice. In the context of labour shortages after the accession to the EU of the CEEs, companies faced recruitment problems and labour conflicts, which threatened to destabilise this model. The first reactions of firms pointed towards the strengthening of the high-road orientation, but the development remains unstable, not least of all because of the economic crisis beginning in 2009. [source] Adaptive through-thickness integration for accurate springback predictionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2008I. A. Burchitz Abstract Accurate numerical prediction of springback in sheet metal forming is essential for the automotive industry. Numerous factors influence the accuracy of prediction of this complex phenomenon by using the finite element method. One of them is the numerical integration through the thickness of shell elements. It is known that the traditional numerical schemes are very inefficient in elastic,plastic analysis and even for simple problems they require up to 50 integration points for an accurate springback prediction. An adaptive through-thickness integration strategy can be a good alternative. The main characteristic feature of the strategy is that it defines abscissas and weights depending on the integrand's properties and, thus, can adapt itself to improve the accuracy of integration. A concept of an adaptive through-thickness integration strategy for shell elements is presented in this paper. Its potential is demonstrated using two examples. Calculations of a simple test,bending a beam under tension,show that for a similar set of material and process parameters the adaptive rule with seven integration points performs significantly better than the traditional trapezoidal rule with 50 points. Simulations of an unconstrained cylindrical bending problem demonstrate that the adaptive through-thickness integration strategy for shell elements can guarantee an accurate springback prediction at minimal costs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Novel Thermoplastic Composites from Commodity Polymers and Man-Made Cellulose FibersMACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 1 2006Hans-Peter Fink Abstract Summary: A new class of fibre reinforced commodity thermoplastics suited for injection moulding and direct processing applications has been developed using man-made cellulosic fibres (Rayon tire yarn, Tencel, Viscose, Carbacell) and thermoplastic commodity polymers, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) as the matrix polymer. For compounding, a specially adapted double pultrusion technique has been employed which provides composites with homogeneously distributed fibres. Extensive investigations were performed with Rayon reinforced PP in view of applications in the automotive industry. The Rayon-PP composite is characterized by high strength and an excellent impact behaviour as compared with glass fibre reinforced PP, thus permitting applications in the field of engineering thermoplastics such as polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blends (PC/ABS). With the PP based composites the influence of material parameters (e.g. fibre type and load, coupling agent) were studied and it has been demonstrated how to tailor the desired composite properties as modulus and heat distortion temperature (HDT) by varying the fibre type or adding inorganic fillers. Man-made cellulose fibers are also suitable for the reinforcement of further thermoplastic commodity polymers with appropriate processing temperatures. In case of PE modulus and strength are tripled compared to the neat resin while Charpy impact strength is increased five-fold. For HIPS mainly strength and stiffness are increased, while for TPE the property profile is changed completely. With Rayon reinforced PLA, a fully biogenic and biodegradable composite with excellent mechanical properties including highly improved impact strength is presented. [source] Corrosion of magnesium alloys in commercial engine coolantsMATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 1 2005G. Song Abstract A number of magnesium alloys show promise as engine block materials. However, a critical issue for the automotive industry is corrosion of the engine block by the coolant and this could limit the use of magnesium engine blocks. This work assesses the corrosion performance of conventional magnesium alloy AZ91D and a recently developed engine block magnesium alloy AM-SC1 in several commercial coolants. Immersion testing, hydrogen evolution measurement, galvanic current monitoring and the standard ASTM D1384 test were employed to reveal the corrosion performance of the magnesium alloys subjected to the coolants. The results show that the tested commercial coolants are corrosive to the magnesium alloys in terms of general and galvanic corrosion. The two magnesium alloys exhibited slightly different corrosion resistance to the coolants with AZ91D being more corrosion resistant than AM-SC1. The corrosivity varied from coolant to coolant. Generally speaking, an organic-acid based long life coolant was less corrosive to the magnesium alloys than a traditional coolant. Among the studied commercial coolants, Toyota long life coolant appeared to be the most promising one. In addition, it was found that potassium fluoride effectively inhibited corrosion of the magnesium alloys in the studied commercial coolants. Both general and galvanic corrosion rates were significantly decreased by addition of KF, and there were no evident side effects on the other engine block materials, such as copper, solder, brass, steel and aluminium alloys, in terms of their corrosion performance. The ASTM D 1384 test further confirmed these results and suggested that Toyota long life coolant with 1%wt KF addition is a promising coolant for magnesium engine blocks. [source] Engineering and Design of Wear and Corrosion Resistant PVD Coatings Regarding the Exceptional Properties of Magnesium SubstratesPLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue S1 2007Holger Hoche Abstract Although magnesium alloys were popular in the first half of the 20th century, the bad corrosion properties prevented their breakthrough in industrial mass production. Since the technology for the production of high purity alloys was introduced in the 1970s, magnesium alloys became more and more in the focus of industrial attention. Today magnesium alloys are state-of-the-art in construction parts in automotive industry. Despite its outstanding properties like good castability, low density and nearly unlimited availability the negative aspects like weak corrosion and wear behaviour still limit the application of magnesiums in industry, due to the need of sufficient surface protection (E. Aghion, B. Bronfin, Mater. Sci. Forum2000, 350,351, 19). Today, plasma electrolytic anodisations are state-of-the-art (H. Haferkamp, "Magnesiumkorrosion,Prozesse, Schutz von Anode und Kathode", in: Moderne Beschichtungsverfahren, F.-W. Bach, T. Duda, Eds., Wiley-VCH, Weinheim 2000, ISBN 3-527-30117-8, 242; M. Thoma, Metalloberfläche1984, 38, 393; T. W. Jelinek, Galvanotechnik2003, 94, 46; A. Kuhn, Galvanotechnik2003, 94, 1114). They provide acceptable corrosion resistance and protect the magnesium from mechanical damage due to their high hardness. On the other hand, their high porosity limits their use in combination with electrochemically noble materials, leading to galvanic corrosion (J. Senf, "Untersuchung und Beschreibung von Magnesiumdruckgusslegierungen unter tribologischer, korrosiver und mechanisch-korrosiver Beanspruchung, Berichte aus der Werkstofftechnik", Shaker Verlag, Germany 2001, ISBN 3-8265-8428-7). In addition, the high surface roughness of the plasma electrolytic anodisations restricts their use in tribological applications, particularly under sliding conditions (H. Hoche, "Grundlegende Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von PVD-Beschichtungen auf Magnesiumlegierungen im Hinblick auf die Erhöhung der Verschleißbeständigkeit und unter Berücksichtigung des Korrosionsverhaltens", Dissertation, TU-Darmstadt D17, Shaker Verlag, Germany 2004). In order to achieve smooth surfaces with high quality, the PVD technology moves into the centre of interest. Since the 1980s PVD coatings are well established and widely used for different industrial applications, mainly for steel and tool coatings. The authors were the first who carried out serious studies on the development of PVD coatings for magnesium alloys in 1999 (J. Senf, "Untersuchung und Beschreibung von Magnesiumdruckgusslegierungen unter tribologischer, korrosiver und mechanisch-korrosiver Beanspruchung, Berichte aus der Werkstofftechnik", Shaker Verlag, Germany 2001, ISBN 3-8265-8428-7; H. Hoche, "Grundlegende Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von PVD-Beschichtungen auf Magnesiumlegierungen im Hinblick auf die Erhöhung der Verschleißbeständigkeit und unter Berücksichtigung des Korrosionsverhaltens", Dissertation, TU-Darmstadt D17, Shaker Verlag, Germany 2004). The extensive research activities lead to the recent development of a coating system, which provides both, good wear properties as well as good corrosion behaviour. [source] A systematic investigation on the influence of the chemical treatment of natural fibers on the properties of their polymer matrix compositesPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 5 2004Jerico Biagiotti This paper reports a systematic study of the effects on composite properties of different chemical treatments on natural fibers. Both short flax fibers and flax cellulose pulp in a polypropylene matrix have been investigated. The influence of treatments on fiber properties was investigated by means of spectroscopic, thermal and mechanical tests. Moreover, the effects of fiber treatment on the crystallinity of the matrix were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The mechanical properties of the composites obtained were studied using tensile and bending tests. It is shown that most of the main properties of the composites can be improved by adequately treating the fibers. The results of this study provide a database mainly devoted to material selection for the automotive industry. This research has been performed as a part of the ECOFINA project in the framework of the 5th European Research Program of the European Community. Polym. Compos. 25:470,479, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Respiratory diseases caused by occupational exposure to 1,5-naphthalene-diisocyanate (NDI): Results of workplace-related challenge tests and antibody analysesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2001X. Baur Abstract Background 1,5-naphthalene-diisocyanate (NDI) is an aromatic diisocyanate with a very low vapor pressure which is mainly used in the automotive industry. Methods In the present study we described five cases with workplace-related asthma and one case with extrinsic allergic alveolitis associated with pulmonary hemorrhage after NDI exposure. Results Corresponding to case histories, extrinsic alveolitis on asthmatic reactions in three subjects and a rhinitis reaction in one patient could be reproduced by inhalative challenge tests to NDI at a concentration of 10 ppb. Preliminary IgE and IgG antibody analyses in patients' sera did not produce significantly positive results. Conclusions According to the outcome of our tests and in comparison with several other studies, we conclude that NDI should be classified as potent airway-sensitizing substance. Improved workplace conditions and decrease in threshold limit values should therefore be recommended. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:369,372, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Sound Insulation by Laminated Viscoelastic PlatesPROCEEDINGS IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS & MECHANICS, Issue 1 2003S. Langer Dr.-Ing. Plates are basic components in industrial structural design whose acoustical properties are often very important to reduce noise, e.g., in a car or a building. The sound insulation by plates is influenced by various effects, e.g., by the plate's mass but also by their damping capability. Hence, for a realistic analysis, damping should be taken into account which can approximatively be modelled by the use of a viscoelastic material law. Moreover, in automotive industry and structural engineering, laminated plates are very common to improve stiffness and stability, where plates with a viscoelastic core and rigid faces show additionally an excellent acoustical behaviour. Those laminated panes with a viscoelastic core are used in the design of windscreens, and, to improve sound insulation, in the design of building windows. Here, the mechanical behaviour of such a laminated plate is described by using a homogenisation procedure. The damping property of the plate is influenced by the stiffness of the viscoelastic core, it's dissipation factor, and by the thickness of the dissipating layer. These properties of a three-layer-plate are mapped on homogenised material parameters of a simple plate via the Ansatz of Ross, Kerwin and Ungar (RKU-Ansatz). Finally, the sound insulation effectiveness of plates is analysed numerically. [source] DoE in engine developmentQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2008Karsten Röpke Abstract Stricter legal emission limits and increasing customer expectations lead to a growing number of controllable engine components and thus to a higher engine control complexity. For engine development, however, this means much greater time and effort is required to find the optimal combination of all selectable parameters. This trend can be observed in the field of Gasoline as well as for Diesel engines. At the same time, the development time from the first idea up to the introduction of a new production engine has become even shorter, and the costs have to be reduced. Since the number of measuring points required for complete operational-test measurements rises exponentially with the number of input variables, it is quite obvious that full factorial measurements are no longer possible. Therefore the method ,Design of Experiments' (DoE) is widely accepted as a suitable tool in the automotive sector and among its suppliers. In the meantime the term ,DoE'/,DoE-Process' covers often also the measurement procedure and the modeling. Likewise, this method is broadly applied in the IAV (author's note: IAV is a German provider of engineering services to the automotive industry) during the advanced development stage up to the production engine applications. Whereas DoE is used mainly in the area of steady-state applications recent research work shows a great potential also to optimize transient engine behavior. This paper will give an overview about the usage of statistical methods (mainly Design of Experiments) in the production engine calibration. ,Engine calibration' is the term for finding the optimal settings of the engine controller unit; optimal in terms of minimal emissions, minimal fuel consumption, good drivability and other brand specific goals. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Statistics-driven Development of OBD Systems: An OverviewQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2006Stefano Barone Abstract Automotive on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems are designed to keep critical components under control during vehicle functioning, and to alert the driver in case of severe malfunctions. OBD systems aimed at reducing polluting emissions are mandatory on new motor vehicles. Some research projects conducted in cooperation between universities and the automotive industry have been quite successful in terms of knowledge advancement and industrial gain. An updated overview of the adopted methodologies and results obtained are given in this article. Such results can be valuable for both theorists and practitioners, since they witness the use of statistics as a powerful catalyst of technical progress, and give a possible line of action for further application in several scientific fields. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Open innovation in the automotive industryR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2010Serhan Ili Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) have historically invested in their own research and development (R&D) to boost their innovativeness. Because of an increasing innovation and cost pressure, the automotive industry needs to look outside their own boundaries to escape from this productivity dilemma. While there is a tendency to look outside for external sources to increase the innovativeness, there are hardly any external paths to market outside the current business yet. Our study shows that Open Innovation proves to be more adequate in the attempt to achieve a better R&D productivity for companies in the automotive industry than a closed innovation model. [source] Innovation as response to emissions legislation: revisiting the automotive catalytic converter at Johnson MattheyR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2010Lan Tao Can environmental legislation spur innovative response? This case describes the development of the automotive catalytic converter (ACC) at Johnson Matthey (JM), a precious metals company that entered the automotive industry as a component provider. The market was unfamiliar to JM and highly competitive, but in the 1970s the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced standards for emissions control by automotive companies well ahead of current practice. JM responded to the prospect of market demand for a technology that could meet the regulations. The EPA policy of technology ,forcing' stimulated collaboration for innovation among companies from a variety of industries. Our case evidence shows that the key innovator, JM, achieved its breakthrough as a result of proactive R&D management by the product champion together with sustained corporate support at a high level and partnership strategies. [source] Empowering project scope decisions: introducing R&D content graphsR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2001Dennis Nobelius There have been several studies confirming the strategic and operational importance of choosing a proper project scope. There is a lack of empirically tested managerial tools to assist in this matter, and studies with longitudinally analysed R&D projects with respect to content are scarce. This article discusses the management of advanced engineering in the automotive industry. The study presents a structured approach where individual project leaders together with top management could prepare project material, discuss, visualize, and evaluate the content around a common tool. This tool, i.e. the R&D content graphs, facilitates project content selection, both during the start-up and during the execution phase of the project. The studied project has been studied for nearly two years using an abductive case-based research design. Since the project has been longitudinally studied, it has also been possible to test the graphs' predicting capabilities. The graphs are based on a visualization of the project content along five identified dimensions. The results reveal that the tools bring structure to project scope discussions, have some predictive value, and can also function as a vertical as well as a horizontal communication tool. [source] Biochemical, mechanical, and spectroscopic analyses of genetically engineered flax fibers producing bioplastic (poly-,-hydroxybutyrate)BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2009Magdalena Wróbel-Kwiatkowska Abstract The interest in biofibers has grown in recent years due to their expanding range of applications in fields as diverse as biomedical science and the automotive industry. Their low production costs, biodegradability, physical properties, and perceived eco-friendliness allow for their extensive use as composite components, a role in which they could replace petroleum-based synthetic polymers. We performed biochemical, mechanical, and structural analyses of flax stems and fibers derived from field-grown transgenic flax enriched with PHB (poly-,-hydroxybutyrate). The analyses of the plant stems revealed an increase in the cellulose content and a decrease in the lignin and pectin contents relative to the control plants. However, the contents of the fibers' major components (cellulose, lignin, pectin) remain unchanged. An FT-IR study confirmed the results of the biochemical analyses of the flax fibers. However, the arrangement of the cellulose polymer in the transgenic fibers differed from that in the control, and a significant increase in the number of hydrogen bonds was detected. The mechanical properties of the transgenic flax stems were significantly improved, reflecting the cellulose content increase. However, the mechanical properties of the fibers did not change in comparison with the control, with the exception of the fibers from transgenic line M13. The generated transgenic flax plants, which produce both components of the flax/PHB composites (i.e., fibers and thermoplastic matrix in the same plant organ) are a source of an attractive and ecologically safe material for industry and medicine. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source] An empirical analysis of green supply chain management in the German automotive industryBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 2 2010Jörn-Henrik Thun Abstract The purpose of this paper is the empirical investigation of the status quo of green supply chain management in the German automotive industry from a practitioner's point of view. Several aspects of green supply chain management, such as the point of time of implementation, the driving forces, the relevance of intended goals and their particular realization and the adoption of eco-programs with suppliers and customers as well as internal and external barriers are analyzed. Furthermore, the link to different performance criteria is tested by inductive statistics in order to show the potential of green supply chain management for competitiveness. For this study, managers from the automotive supply industry in Germany were asked about their estimations in this regard. The main conclusion is that managers express the need for green supply chain management on the one hand but also see corresponding problems in terms of required resources on the other hand. Furthermore, the analyses show that green supply chain management leads to higher performance in terms of several performance criteria. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||