<p>“Industrial cluster” is one type of agglomeration and the concept has been increasingly used and recognized as an essential part of regional development strategies and thinking in recent years. However, there has <em>not</em> been an explicit collection-work devoted to exploring the <strong>Critical Success Factors</strong> (CSFs). So, this thesis aims to explore such CSFs based on literature review as well as illustrative case study.</p><p>The major finding of this thesis is exploration of 18 (possible) CSFs based on extensive literature review and grouping them into 5 success categories (see Table 3 for the full list of them). The contribution of each explored CSFs to the success of a typical cluster has been checked, in order to assure that each explored CSF is really functioning as a CSF. Then, SMIL as a real-life cluster with 25 years old in Linköping region of Sweden is used as an illustrative case study, in order to observe the literature-based explored CSFs in reality.</p><p>In addition, based on both literature review and illustrative case, a number of relations between CSFs have been identified. In particular, such relations can be described as; some CSFs may lead to creation of some other CSFs.</p><p>Illustrative case study shows that some of the literature-based explored CSFs are not observable in a real-life cluster, i.e. SMIL. The main reasons for such lack of the validity of some CSFs in SMIL cluster are mostly deal with the SMIL (association) as the node organizer of SMIL cluster. Such main reasons are; weak linkage between SMIL association and some of its actors, and/or being out of the scope of SMIL’s agenda and focus.</p><p>The other finding of this thesis is that; in terms of resource, network-based clusters with network activities (such as SMIL cluster) are richer in soft resources (such as pre and post existence of knowledge in the region) than hard ones (like infrastructural resources).</p><p>At the end, there are some recommendations for SMIL in order to improve its overall performance, by considering some possible CSFs.</p>

<p>This degree project was performed by Marina Hultin and Lina Larsson and it is our final project in the Innovation- and design engineer programme at Karlstad University. The project was carried out during the spring semester 2007. The project comprises 20 weeks of work and 5 of these were reserved for a study of literature. Our project was assigned by Designstudio Värmland and our instructor and examiner was Lennart Wihk.</p><p>Each year 50 kg of food is thrown away per person. One of the reasons for this is that a lot of the food remains in the container. We produce more food than there is a need for because of all the food that goes to waste. This also contributes to an emission of carbon dioxide of a half million tons. As assigned by Designstudio Värmland we took a closer look at the food packaging of today. The base for this project is a research project, which has been carried out at Karlstad University. The purpose was to show that if it is possible to get the most out of the food container, it is justified to use more packaging material. The packaging shall be optimized, not minimized!</p><p>The purpose of the project is to examine some packings on the market that contributes to the food waste. If the food packaging is optimized, the waste of food can be reduced and at the same time the consumers will be more satisfied and also get more value for their money.</p><p>Our aim was to develop three concepts of optimized packings that will reduce the food wastage. Graphic design for each and every packing is included. The work method that was used is called the design procedure.</p><p>When the brainstorming was completed we decided to only include packaging for yoghurt. This decision was made because today’s yoghurt containers are difficult to empty.</p><p>The project resulted in three concepts of new yoghurt containers. Prototypes were made both in CAD and as visuals. Graphic design was also made for each concept.</p> / <p>Detta examensarbete har utförts av Marina Hultin och Lina Larsson under vårterminen 2007 och är en avslutning på Innovations- och designingenjörsprogrammet på Karlstads universitet. Arbetet omfattar 20 poäng, varav 5 poäng består av en fördjupad litteraturstudie. Uppdragsgivare var Designstudio Värmland och handledare för examensarbetet var Lennart Wihk.</p><p>Varje år slänger vi 50 kg livsmedel per person. Detta beror till stor del på att det finns livsmedel kvar i förpackningen. Eftersom vi slänger livsmedel så innebär det att mer mat produceras än det finns behov för. Den mat vi slänger bidrar till ett koldioxidutsläpp på en halv miljon ton per år. På uppdrag av Designstudio Värmland tittade vi närmare på dagens förpackningar för livsmedel. Detta arbete grundar sig i en forskningsstudie som bedrivits på Karlstads universitet. Studien visar att om det går att få ut lite mer av livsmedlet ur dess förpackning så är det befogat att använda mer förpackningsmaterial. Förpackningen ska optimeras, inte nödvändigtvis minimeras.</p><p>Syftet med projektet är att undersöka några olika förpackningar på marknaden som bidrar till slöseriet av livsmedel. Genom att optimera förpackningen kan livsmedelspillet minskas och konsumenterna blir nöjdare och får även mer valuta för pengarna.</p><p>Målet som sattes upp var att ta fram tre koncept på optimerade förpackningar, med tillhörande grafisk design, som minskar livsmedelspillet. Arbetet utfördes enligt designprocessen.</p><p>Efter idégenereringen beslutade vi att avgränsa oss till yoghurtförpackningar, då dagens förpackningar för yoghurt är svåra att tömma.</p><p>Resultatet blev tre koncept på nya yoghurtförpackningar. CAD-modeller och prototyper togs fram på alla olika koncept. Till varje koncept gjordes även en grafisk utformning.</p>

To satisfy new market requirements, manufacturing industry has shifted from mass production that takes advantage of the scale of production, to quality management that optimizes the internal enterprise functions, to e-manufacturing era that leverage intellectual capital via collaborative innovation. In the same time, the product itself is becoming the most important asset for sustainable business success. Consequently, the effectiveness, efficiency and innovation for the development of the product across the whole product lifecycle are becoming key business factors for manufacturing enterprise to obtain competitive advantages for survival. To tackle such challenges, a new business model called collaborative product services in virtual enterprise is proposed in this paper. The architecture of this new model is developed based on the framework and the application of web service and process management for collaboration product service in virtual enterprise. Indeed, it is hoped that this architecture will lay the foundation for further research and development of effective product lifecycle management in virtually collaborative enterprise environment. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

In the prevailing world economy, competition is keen and firms need to have an edge over their competitors for profitability and sometimes, even for the survival of the business itself. One way to help achieve this is the capability for rapid product development on a continual basis. However, this rapidity must be accomplished without compromising vital information and feedback that are necessary. The compromise in such information and feedback at the expense of speed may result in counter-productive outcomes, thereby offsetting or even negating whatever profits that could have been derived. New ways, tools and techniques must be found to deliver such information. The widespread availability of databases within the Product Development Process (PDP) facilitates the use of data mining as one of the tools. Thus far, most of the studies on data mining within PDP have emphasised on numerical databases. Studies focusing on textual databases in this context have been relatively few. The research direction is to study real-life cases where textual databases can be mined to obtain valuable information for PDP. One suitable candidate identified for this is “voice of the customer” databases. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Avhandlingen adresserar en väsentlig aspekt på ledning och organisering av företag - att utnyttja kunskap effektivt. Mer specifikt fokuseras faktorer som påverkar överföring av kunskap mellan projekt i produktutvecklingsmiljöer. Medarbetarnas motivation, inställning och arbetssituation; utformningen av organisationen; ansvarsfördelning; planering, uppföljning och efterfrågan av aktiviteter; organisationskulturen; målsättningar; samt språkliga och kulturella skillnader är några av de områden som behandlas i avhandlingen eftersom de påverkar huruvida kunskap överförs mellan produktutvecklingsprojekt. Studien visar att kunskapsöverföring mellan produktutvecklingsprojekt är en komplex och flerdimensionell problematik. Problematiken är komplex eftersom den består av ett stort antal olikartade hindrande faktorer samt flerdimensionell eftersom dessa faktorer breder ut sig över ett flertal samt dessutom vitt skilda områden. Vetskapen om vilka faktorer som påverkar kunskapsöverföringsprocessen är en förutsättning för att framgångsrikt initiera och genomföra aktiviteter för effektivt kunskapsutnyttjande. I en strävan att skapa förutsättningar för såväl utveckling som exploatering av kunskap kan de resultat som presenteras i avhandlingen användas för att bygga, underhålla samt stimulera användandet av kunskapsbroar. Arbetar Ni med ledning och organisering av företag skulle jag särskilt vilja rekommendera läsning av avhandlingen eftersom kunskap är och kommer att vara en av Era allra mest kritiska resurser för framgång. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2001

In the competitive environment of today’s global markets, the demands of customers are increasing. They expect to get the best product at the lowest price with immediate availability. Logistics, including transportation, inventory maintenance, order processing, purchasing, warehousing, materials handling, packaging, customer service standards, and product scheduling must continuously be developed to meet the challenges of the market. The globalization, with longer distances to customers and suppliers, and the progressing trend of outsourcing are examples of why the importance of logistics has increased over the last few years. A considerable part of the final product cost is frozen during the early product development phases. In the early phases of the product development process, the cost of making design changes is low compared to making changes later in the product development process. The product development decisions made in the early phases of the product development process have considerable impact on future manufacturing and logistics activities as well. The objective of this research project is to develop a framework supporting the collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process. To do this, it has been essential to analyze which parameters influence the efficiency of the logistics process and the interface between the logistics- and the product development process. Also, to investigate how the logistics department can be integrated earlier in the product development process has been of interest. This has been done through both a theoretical review and also through a number of case studies. The result and conclusion of this project is a framework that gives support for what to focus on, how to collaborate, in which phases collaboration is meaningful, and which persons need to be involved in the different product development phases. Working as the framework suggests will, hopefully, give closer collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process than without this supportive framework. The expectation of the collaboration is an earlier integration of the logistics department in the product development process and through this influence and increase the efficiency of the logistics process.

The main objective of the thesis &#8220;Conceptual Product Development in Small Corporations&#8221; is by the use of a case study test the MFD&#8482;-method (Erixon G. , 1998) combined with PMM in a product development project. (Henceforth called MFD&#8482;/PMM-method). The MFD&#8482;/PMM-method used for documenting and controlling a product development project has since it was introduced been used in several industries and projects. The method has been proved to be a good way of working with the early stages of product development, however, there are almost only projects carried out on large industries which means that there are very few references to how the MFD&#8482;/PMM-method works in a small corporation. Therefore, was the case study in the thesis &#8220;Conceptual Product Development in Small Corporations&#8221; carried out in a small corporation to find out whether the MFD&#8482;/PMM-method also can be applied and used in such a corporation.The PMM was proposed in a paper presented at Delft University of Technology in Holland 1998 by the author and Gunnar Erixon. (See appended paper C: The chart of modular function deployment.) The title &#8220;The chart of modular function deployment&#8221; was later renamed as PMM, Product Management Map. (Sweden PreCAD AB, 2000). The PMM consists of a QFD-matrix linked to MIM (Module Indication Matrix) via a coupling matrix which makes it possible to make an unbroken chain from the customer domain to the designed product/modules. The PMM makes it easy to correct omissions made in creating new products and modules.In the thesis &#8220;Conceptual Product Development in Small Corporations&#8221; the universal MFD&#8482;/PMM-method has been adapted by the author to three models of product development; original-, evolutionary- and incremental development.The evolutionary adapted MFD&#8482;/PMM-method was tested as a case study at Atlings AB in the community Ockelbo. Atlings AB is a small corporation with a total number of 50 employees and an annual turnover of 9 million &#8364;. The product studied at the corporation was a steady rest for supporting long shafts in turning. The project team consisted of management director, a sales promoter, a production engineer, a design engineer and a workshop technician, the author as team leader and a colleague from Dalarna University as discussion partner. The project team has had six meetings.The project team managed to use MFD&#8482; and to make a complete PMM of the studied product. There were no real problems occurring in the project work, on the contrary the team members worked very well in the group, having ideas how to improve the product. Instead, the challenge for a small company is how to work with the MFD&#8482;/PMM-method in the long run! If the MFD&#8482;/PMM-method is to be a useful tool for the company it needs to be used continuously and that requires financial and personnel resources. One way for the company to overcome the probable lack of recourses regarding capital and personnel is to establish a good cooperation with a regional university or a development centre.

The thesis is conducted to investigate how packaging is taken into consideration within the new product development process and in which stages of the new product development process packaging actually is taken into consideration. Further we want to investigate if packaging has increased in importance within the activities of the new product development process, and how organizations deal with standardization of packaging for international markets in the new product development process. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how packaging of convenience goods is an integrated part of the international new product development process. We have chosen a qualitative approach. The study was conducted through in-depth interviews, face-to-face and by phone. The interviewees were selected through judgemental sampling. The sample included eight organi-zations producing convenience goods that are active on several markets. It was found that packaging always has been of importance; however, it was found that packaging has increased in importance within concept development implying that packaging indirectly has increased in importance within the new product development process. Further, packaging is included in all stages in the process, but has its ma-jor significance in the concept development phase. International organizations need to consider the level of standardization throughout the process.

This goal of this thesis is to present an overview of thedesigner’s situation in Swedish companies in relation toenvironmental work in the product development process. Theoverall aim is to describe the designer’s situation andhis/her potential to minimize the environmental impact ofproducts. Awareness of the environmental problems has led to a newapproach to product development, and today EcoDesign is beingintegrated in many Swedish companies. However, if products areto be improved from an environmental aspect, it is not onlynecessary to integrate the issue in the product developmentprocess, but designers themselves must also be given thepossibility of actually designing environmentally friendlyproducts. This makes the designer a key actor in EcoDesign. There are different levels of support for designers duringthe various stages of product development. The most commonenvironmental work within Swedish companies is to perform LifeCycle Assessment (LCA) or to introduce an environmentalmanagement system (EMS), most commonly ISO 14000. In order tooptimize a product from an environmental view, it is necessarynot only to know how the product affects the environment butalso how to evaluate different solutions and concepts. In orderto do this, LCA can be a support but it does not lead to thefinding of new solutions or concepts. There is control of theproduct’s content and restrictions on substances thatcannot be used. The focus of the product’s environmentalimpact is not only in the manufacturing and use phase but alsoin the end-of-life phase. This focus is due to a new type oflegislation, the producer responsibility law. The overall aimof this regulation is to increase reuse and recycling. To makethis economically possible, the present efforts to adaptproducts to recycling must be vastly increased. Finally, in order to integrate the environmental issue inthe everyday work of designers it is necessary to have thefollowing conditions:     Environmental expertise available     An evaluation tool in order to confirm and choosealternatives     Education and information for designers to spreadknowledge and to motivate them     Constant stress on the importance of environmentaladaptation     Documentation routines and guidelines connected to theproduct development process to ensure that the issue isconsidered at every step Integrating the issue in the product development process canclearly make significant environmental product improvements.For all companies, however, the overall aim is to make as muchmoney as possible, and it is evident that any major productchanges also have to lead to an increased customer benefit. Ifsignificant product changes are necessary for environmentalimprovements, further driving forces, such as governmentalregulations, may be needed in order to develop suchproducts. <b>Keywords:</b>EcoDesign, designers, environmental productdevelopment, design for environment.

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