<p>Syftet med arbetet är att lösa problemet med det befintliga låset till spjälsängen Sesam, en säng anpassad för funktionshindrade småbarnsföräldrar som genom att ha grindar på fram-sidan gör det lätt även för en rullstolsburen eller muskelsvag person att komma åt. Problemet är dels att grindarna behöver lyftas upp för att öppnas, ett moment som kan vara svårt för en person med nedsatt muskelfunktion. Det andra problemet är att överliggaren är för lätt att öppna inifrån och har dålig hållfasthet.</p><p>Målet är att i samarbete med Mayday Aid AB ta fram ett lås som löser problemet.</p><p>Metod: </p><p>BAD, MAD, CAD, Benchmarking, Past- och real time studies.</p><p>Bakgrund: </p><p>Antalet föräldrar med funktionshinder ökar snabbt.2 Detta kan tyda på en attitydförändring med en ökad social integration och en naturlig förväntan att leva ett fullvärdigt liv. I deras syn på sig själva har de försökt avlägsna sig från rollen som vårdtagare och i stället ser de sig som självständiga individer med i stort sett samma behov, rättigheter och skyldigheter som alla andra. En vid sjukdomsbild har genomförts för att på bästa sätt tillmötesgå målgruppen vid utformningen av produkten.</p><p>Resultat:</p><p>Låset ”Sleepsafe” tillverkat av björkplywood som bevisligen minskar den kraft som behövs för att öppna grindarna. Mätningarna visade att det endast krävs 6.52 N med nya låsets konstruktion att jämföra med 19.99 N för den ursprungliga låskonstruktionen.</p><p>Diskussion:</p><p>Vi strävade efter att integrera hela låsningsmekanismen i en produkt för att slippa utföra flera moment vid öppnandet, men för att göra låset mer barnsäkert så monterades ett extra lås nedtill som då blir svårt för barnen att nå. Med nya gångjärn slipper man numera att lyfta hela grinden. Ett fantastiskt tillfälle gavs till att testa låset på de riktiga användarna på handikapp-mässan ”Leva och fungera” i Göteborg. Produkten justerades något efteråt. Med låsets nya konstruktion har problemen eliminerats och underlättar för användaren.</p>

The technologies and methodologies of assembly design and evaluation in the early design stage are highly significant to product development. This paper looks at a promising technology to mix real components (e.g. physical prototypes, assembly tools, machines, etc.) with virtual components to create an Augmented Reality (AR) interface for assembly process evaluation. The goal of this paper is to clarify the methodologies and enabling technologies of how to establish an AR assembly simulation and evaluation environment. The architecture of an AR assembly system is proposed and the important functional modules including AR environment set-up, design for assembly (DFA) analysis and AR assembly sequence planning in an AR environment are discussed in detail. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

This thesis describes how a cost reduction project was done on the Packsize ondemand packing machine EM7. The cost reduction was achieved by making minorredesigns of the EM7.The project began by studying the EM7´s structure and function by working on itsassembly line. A short literature study on the subject Design for Manufacturing wasalso done.By working on the assembly line and by speaking with staff from production anddevelopment departments, a number of ideas for reducing manufacturing costs arose.Estimations of the potential cost reduction size for each proposal were done incollaboration with vendors and the purchasing department. Based on the size of the cost reduction, technical risk, impact on the assembly lineand the development time the various proposals were ranked. The two highestranked proposals were selected for further development towards finished solutions.One of the ideas that were selected to develop in to a finished solution meant thatsome of the pneumatic valves were replaced with others. Most of the mechanicalfeatures on the EM7 are operated by pneumatic cylinders, and they are controlled bythe valves. The valves in use today have very fast switching times which makes themrelatively expensive. By replacing the valves with valves that have higher airflow butlonger switch times, costs are reduced through a lower purchase price of the valves.Thanks to the higher airflow this can be done without affecting the EM7´sperformance.The second proposal was selected because it reduces assembly time. By using rivetsfor the assembly of the EM7’s z-fold infeed system, assembly time can be reducedsignificantly.The total cost savings per machine is between 960SEK to 2620SEK depending on theequipment choices.

Syftet med arbetet är att lösa problemet med det befintliga låset till spjälsängen Sesam, en säng anpassad för funktionshindrade småbarnsföräldrar som genom att ha grindar på fram-sidan gör det lätt även för en rullstolsburen eller muskelsvag person att komma åt. Problemet är dels att grindarna behöver lyftas upp för att öppnas, ett moment som kan vara svårt för en person med nedsatt muskelfunktion. Det andra problemet är att överliggaren är för lätt att öppna inifrån och har dålig hållfasthet. Målet är att i samarbete med Mayday Aid AB ta fram ett lås som löser problemet. Metod: BAD, MAD, CAD, Benchmarking, Past- och real time studies. Bakgrund: Antalet föräldrar med funktionshinder ökar snabbt.2 Detta kan tyda på en attitydförändring med en ökad social integration och en naturlig förväntan att leva ett fullvärdigt liv. I deras syn på sig själva har de försökt avlägsna sig från rollen som vårdtagare och i stället ser de sig som självständiga individer med i stort sett samma behov, rättigheter och skyldigheter som alla andra. En vid sjukdomsbild har genomförts för att på bästa sätt tillmötesgå målgruppen vid utformningen av produkten. Resultat: Låset ”Sleepsafe” tillverkat av björkplywood som bevisligen minskar den kraft som behövs för att öppna grindarna. Mätningarna visade att det endast krävs 6.52 N med nya låsets konstruktion att jämföra med 19.99 N för den ursprungliga låskonstruktionen. Diskussion: Vi strävade efter att integrera hela låsningsmekanismen i en produkt för att slippa utföra flera moment vid öppnandet, men för att göra låset mer barnsäkert så monterades ett extra lås nedtill som då blir svårt för barnen att nå. Med nya gångjärn slipper man numera att lyfta hela grinden. Ett fantastiskt tillfälle gavs till att testa låset på de riktiga användarna på handikapp-mässan ”Leva och fungera” i Göteborg. Produkten justerades något efteråt. Med låsets nya konstruktion har problemen eliminerats och underlättar för användaren.

The primary objectives in this research are to develop computer-aided design (CAD) tools for Design for Manufacturability (DFM) solutions that enable designers to conduct more rapid and more accurate systematic variation analysis, with different design enhancement techniques. Four main CAD tools are developed throughout my thesis. The first CAD tool facilitates a quantitative study of the impact of systematic variations for different circuits' electrical and geometrical behavior. This is accomplished by automatically performing an extensive analysis of different process variations (lithography and stress) and their dependency on the design context. Such a tool helps to explore and evaluate the systematic variation impact on any type of design. Secondly, solutions in the industry focus on the "design and then fix philosophy", or "fix during design philosophy", whereas the next CAD tool involves the "fix before design philosophy". Here, the standard cell library is characterized in different design contexts, different resolution enhancement techniques, and different process conditions, generating a fully DFM-aware standard cell library using a newly developed methodology that dramatically reduce the required number of silicon simulations. Several experiments are conducted on 65nm and 45nm designs, and demonstrate more robust and manufacturable designs that can be implemented by using the DFM-aware standard cell library. Thirdly, a novel electrical-aware hotspot detection solution is developed by using a device parameter-based matching technique since the state-of-the-art hotspot detection solutions are all geometrical based. This CAD tool proposes a new philosophy by detecting yield limiters, also known as hotspots, through the model parameters of the device, presented in the SPICE netlist. This novel hotspot detection methodology is tested and delivers extraordinary fast and accurate results. Finally, the existing DFM solutions, mainly address the digital designs. Process variations play an increasingly important role in the success of analog circuits. Knowledge of the parameter variances and their contribution patterns is crucial for a successful design process. This information is valuable to find solutions for many problems in design, design automation, testing, and fault tolerance. The fourth CAD solution, proposed in this thesis, introduces a variability-aware DFM solution that detects, analyze, and automatically correct hotspots for analog circuits.

Trust is an intrinsic component of any loyal “consumer friendship” between customers and service providers, and is a by-product of shared understanding. Nowhere is the notion of trust more relevant than in technical service—such as professional legal practice, architecture, medical care and auto repair—where the primary commodities exchanged are specialized knowledge, equipment and skills. A common challenge in dialogue between expert providers and novice customers in this context is meaningful sharing of technical information. A successful exchange requires care in representation, language, attitude, delivery and timing. Furthermore, with communication breakdowns, trust falters, and business relationships run the risk of falling apart. Rather than relying on simple transactional exchanges of information in service, a customer’s journey could be enriched by framing service touchpoints as individual opportunities for learning. Learning activities occur in everyday life via interactions with society, artifacts or programs, and often involve the pursuit of knowledge or skills without the structure of a formal curriculum. This study explores how learning might function as a channel for strengthening multi-faceted trust relations in service through integration into programs and artifacts. In this project, an auto repair shop was investigated as a case study in technical service, given its long inglorious history of customer mistrust. Through exploration in the context of a local mechanic shop, prototypes for experiential and transformative service learning were implemented, tested, and re-shaped into a four-part framework designed to improve technical communications

The primary objectives in this research are to develop computer-aided design (CAD) tools for Design for Manufacturability (DFM) solutions that enable designers to conduct more rapid and more accurate systematic variation analysis, with different design enhancement techniques. Four main CAD tools are developed throughout my thesis. The first CAD tool facilitates a quantitative study of the impact of systematic variations for different circuits' electrical and geometrical behavior. This is accomplished by automatically performing an extensive analysis of different process variations (lithography and stress) and their dependency on the design context. Such a tool helps to explore and evaluate the systematic variation impact on any type of design. Secondly, solutions in the industry focus on the "design and then fix philosophy", or "fix during design philosophy", whereas the next CAD tool involves the "fix before design philosophy". Here, the standard cell library is characterized in different design contexts, different resolution enhancement techniques, and different process conditions, generating a fully DFM-aware standard cell library using a newly developed methodology that dramatically reduce the required number of silicon simulations. Several experiments are conducted on 65nm and 45nm designs, and demonstrate more robust and manufacturable designs that can be implemented by using the DFM-aware standard cell library. Thirdly, a novel electrical-aware hotspot detection solution is developed by using a device parameter-based matching technique since the state-of-the-art hotspot detection solutions are all geometrical based. This CAD tool proposes a new philosophy by detecting yield limiters, also known as hotspots, through the model parameters of the device, presented in the SPICE netlist. This novel hotspot detection methodology is tested and delivers extraordinary fast and accurate results. Finally, the existing DFM solutions, mainly address the digital designs. Process variations play an increasingly important role in the success of analog circuits. Knowledge of the parameter variances and their contribution patterns is crucial for a successful design process. This information is valuable to find solutions for many problems in design, design automation, testing, and fault tolerance. The fourth CAD solution, proposed in this thesis, introduces a variability-aware DFM solution that detects, analyze, and automatically correct hotspots for analog circuits.

The development of new infrastructure invariably requires massive capital investments, take many years to design and deliver, and are expected to operate for several decades. During delivery and operational lifetime, the functional requirements are likely to change. To make the assets economically adaptable to foreseeable changes, sizeable investments in design flexibility may be required upfront. Under uncertainty about the future and tight budgets, multi-stakeholder teams must trade-off additional investments in flexibility with more affordable investments in rigid designs at risk of costly adaptation. How to help project teams bridge their divergences and coalesce their views of the world into a project strategy is the core question at the heart of this research. After reviewing the limitations of current practice and theory in the management of capital projects, this study turns to real options reasoning. By definition, investments in design flexibility can be equated with buying options: if the future resolves favourably, the options can be exercised to adapt the design economically. To advance theory and practice on capital design for evolvability, this study combines case-based with experimental work. First, an exploratory study reveals that, despite using options thinking, project teams find real options mathematical models inadequate to support mundane design decisions. A subsequent study on design practices at Network Rail shows the difficulties of designing for evolvability become amplified with multiple stakeholders. With asymmetry in capabilities, knowledge, and power to influence decisions, multi-stakeholder teams systematically resort to a combination of informal options thinking and ‘money talks’ to resolve concept design. Tensions flare up whenever stakeholders demanding investments in design flexibility cannot fund them. These findings suggest that a formal procedure to design for evolvability can offer a superior approach at front-end strategizing. To test this proposition, this research develops an original proof-of-principle of a formal design for evolvability framing that cross-fertilizes literature on project risk management and real options theory with insights from the fieldwork. It also develops a two-group experiment – grounded on fine-grained empirical data from a real-world rail station project – to compare the performance of the experimental and control groups in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. The results show that a formal design for evolvability framing can improve front-end strategizing. As project teams become more efficient, they have more time to effectively resolve the design for evolvability strategy. Importantly, teams are unlikely to reject attempts to formalize the decision-making process. The study also shows that a formal design for evolvability strategy can improve the accountability of decision-makers for investments in design flexibility. Final considerations discuss the generalizability and limitations of these insights, and future directions.

In spite of advances in industrial automation, manual assembly tasks continue to be an important feature of many industrial operations. In heavy part assembly, some pieces of raw material or equipment are too heavy to be safely handled by an operator. Material handling devices such as Jib cranes or overhead cranes are employed to help operators work safer and, in some cases, faster. However, during full-load productions, these devices could become limited and insufficient resources and hence, delay or extend the cycle times. Not only may the companies not be able to ship the products on time, but the labor and overhead costs also increase from the workers' increased idle time as they wait for a turn to use the devices. Finding a way to utilize the material handling devices more effectively could significantly reduce the total cycle times and production costs. An assembly task could be separated into three steps: transferring, approaching or positioning, and joining or fixing. The transferring time is principally dependent on the distance. The joining time could be directly reduced by increasing the efficiency of the joining machines. However, the positioning time depends on task difficulties, handling methods, and operators' skills. Therefore, this research focuses on how to specify the task difficulties and improve the efficiency of the handling methods. In this research, metal plates were used to represent heavy parts. Four handling methods were studied including One-person, Two-person team, One person with an overhead crane, and One person with a spring-equipped overhead crane. This study applies Fitts' Index of Difficulty as a guideline to determine task difficulty. The results indicate that, for all methods mentioned above, the relationships between moment time and task difficulty are linear. The results also show that, for a part that weights up to 40 pounds, a two-person team gives the fastest assembly time for every task difficulty. In addition, the assembly performance of one person with an overhead crane could be increased approximately 250% by adding a spring between the hook and the gripper. / Master of Science

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