Crowing Hens Bindery is an independent business that I have founded to combine my passion for bookbinding, printmaking, and production. The purpose of this study is to provide an opportunity for me begin to make the transition from being a student in a graduate level book arts program to a self-employed bookbinder in a production and market driven environment. To gain a better understanding of production binding techniques I implemented a small production run. I designed three blank book prototypes that focus on the needs of the user, and I developed marketing descriptions to help put these products within a market context. To diversify my product line, I have created a variety of decorative papers including paste papers and linocut letterpress printed papers. These will serve as my proprietary covering material and offer alternative avenues to supplement my income. I have photographed the various stages of bookbinding and printing to illustrate the process of product development. This study has allowed me to begin to assume the various roles and responsibilities that a self-employed bookbinder must assume in order to cultivate a successful business.

The internal combustion engine requires clean air in order to operate without problems the entire service life. The air filter acts as a barrier between the ambient air ridden with particulate matter, and the sensitive interior of the engine. Several factors affect the air filter performance, such as pressure drop, efficiency, and dust holding capacity. Many external factors affect the air filter too, such as driving style, engine type, if the car is equipped with hybrid propulsion et cetera. The scope for this thesis work aims to extend the knowledge of air filtration for the customer, in this case, Volvo Cars. A comprehensive literature study along with benchmarking of competitors acts as a foundational approach. Regarding air filter service life, three parameters are identified as the most significant: dust holding capacity, efficiency and pressure drop over the filter element. Reverse engineering shows some competitor design decisions. A model of estimating air consumption is developed using a data-driven approach with real-world driving data as a basis. The model shows how much the actual air consumption varies between different markets and various engines. As a result, the service lifetime of air filters in certain cars with certain engines may be extended or allow for a smaller filter size for the same service lifetime.

<p>The world is a very competitive place, every day companies from all over the globe try to be on the edge of their fields in order to keep a good distance from competitors. They have found in the new product development process or NPD the leverage they needed to build up that differentiation required to get ahead over competitors. When looking inside the NPD we decided to focus on a very critical and interesting stage, the business analysis process. The purpose sought with our research is to provide a better understanding of how small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) carry out their business analysis stage in the process of new product development (NPD), this purpose was first obtained by stating a main problem and to facilitate the answer to this main problem we proposed two research questions that were later used to review all of the related literature, which resulted in a conceptual framework 2employed to guide this study’s data collection. We decided to use the inductive approach and the use of primary data collected with the help of interviews with companies representing SMEs using a qualitative case study approach through all interviews. It is important to mention that the interviews were also designed with the help of the research questions.</p><p>The results allowed us to develop a model that shows how the business analysis process looks like in the companies studied as well as to highlight the most relevant factors for the two companies studied when performing the business analysis. Finally the research let us establish some suggestions for future researches regarding the business analysis process such as the differences between small and medium enterprises and larger firms, and the cross-functional activities involved in a business analysis process in larger firms.</p>

<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>

<p>The high level of competition and the rapidly growing technology development has created new challenges for today's businesses where they are forced to deliver more customized products at a lower price and a shorter time period. This places high demands on the companies' ability to design and develop better products in a more efficient way. In addition to developing products, the design process focuses on securing long-term success for the company by developing nourishing skills. However, to achieve an effective design process the companies must improve their ability to plan as well as use their knowledge base in a more efficient manner. Toyota's product development system is a critical component for companies to address challenges that they’re facing and offers a great potential to create significant competitive advantages. Toyota's product development system is designed to streamline the design of processes and products, as they often create restrictions on business and describes the importance of making use of a coordinated effort by several functions, and strives to integrate processes, people, technology and tools in an effective manner.</p><p> </p><p>The concept of Concurrent Engineering includes parallel efforts rather than a time-consuming serial work and seeks to minimize delays in the product development process. Concurrent Engineering enables for quality products, to reach the market faster at a lower cost and allows the company to quickly and flexibly adapt to changing demands and conditions through parallel efforts. Like Toyota’s product development system, Concurrent Engineering promotes an integrated approach where multifunctional teams work towards a common goal striving to solve problems at an early stage.</p><p> </p><p>Propulsion and Control in Västerås, a division within Bombardier Transportation, is currently suffering from extensive engineering changes and struggles to uphold time plans and budgets. The thesis will therefore cover the complete product development process where focus has been directed towards the processes and conditions that could enable for an effective product development process. During the thesis work the underlying causes for the problems mentioned above, have been identified. Internal documents regarding the company's current process has been reviewed and interviews have been carried out in order to evaluate the company’s current situation. During the thesis work a comparative study has been conducted at a large company within the Mälardalen-region. This study has been used as a practical example to reinforce the theoretical reasoning and has additionally allowed for further examination of a company's product development process.</p><p> </p><p>The thesis has resulted in a number of suggestions for improvements, where the main action areas are covered by cross-functionality, routines, follow-up, supplier involvement and prototypes. Another action area that has been identified is front-loading which aims at examining several alternatives and solving problems as well as creating countermeasures at an early stage. These six areas were found to have a significant role in creating an effective product development process and are considered to be relevant for the company's current situation.</p>

<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)

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.