MALTA, 23rd Nov 2011

Research Services in Manufacturing

Prof Ing. Jonathan C. Borg

Key Experts: Prof Ing. Jonathan C. Borg

Dr Ing. Philip Farrugia

Researchers: Ms. Amanda Galea

Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza

Amplifying Innovation Amplifying Innovation for for Manufacturing Manufacturing CompetitivenessCompetitiveness

OutlinOutlinee Innovation Challenges in Industry

Research Project & Objectives

Solution: The AIM Portal

Case-Studies

Conclusions

Why Why Innovation ? Innovation ?

EC’s vision for manufacturing in 2020:

European industry needs to “increasingly concentrate its

capabilities on high-added value products and technologies offering a

broadened service range that fulfils worldwide customer requirements”

(Manufuture 2020)

Why Why Innovation ? Innovation ?

MANUFACTURING COMPANIES MUST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES MUST CONTINUOUSLY INNOVATE CONTINUOUSLY INNOVATE IN IN

ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGESTHESE CHALLENGES

How toHow toinnovatinnovate?e?• Products

• Processes

OutlinOutlinee Innovation Challenges in Industry

Research Project & Objectives

Solution: The AIM Portal

Case-Studies

Conclusions

Project Project PartnersPartnersAcademia - Industry Collaboration

Project Project ObjectivesObjectives

• Understand bottlenecks to Innovation in Industry• Increase Awareness of:

oTools supporting innovationoBenefits of these tools

• Facilitate the innovation capability of individuals by providing access to relevant tools & methods

Collaboration ToolsCollaboration Tools

IMTsIMTs

Simulation ToolsSimulation Tools

Challenges Challenges IdentifiedIdentified

Bottlenecks identified in local scenario:oPerception: Depends on

creative people;oPerception: Substantial funds

required to employ new tools and solutions;

oTime to think is not given priority;

oLack of Awareness of Tools.

Research Focus?Research Focus?

DesignDesign ProductionProduction AssemblyAssembly InspectionInspection Distribution Use DisposalDesignDesign ProductionProduction AssemblyAssembly InspectionInspection

Focus on these processes

Manufacturing Industry

Typical activitiesTypical activities

DesignDesign ProductionProduction AssemblyAssembly InspectionInspectionDesignDesign ProductionProduction AssemblyAssembly InspectionInspection

• Search for product solutions• Search for production/assembly solutions• Solving problems encountered• Internal communications• External communications eg suppliers & customers• Sketching activities• Selection of reusable elements: materials, fasteners, devices • Detail design drawings...and their exchange• Generation of simulation models....and their exchange• Building of virtual prototypes• etc.

Generic Tools Generic Tools IdentifiedIdentified

Facilitate Sharing of Facilitate Sharing of ExpertiseExpertise

Collaboration Collaboration ToolsTools

Facilitate CreativityFacilitate Creativity

Innovation Innovation Management Management TechniquesTechniques

Facilitate Modeling & Facilitate Modeling & Analysis of SolutionsAnalysis of Solutions

Simulation Simulation ToolsTools

OutlinOutlinee Innovation Challenges in Industry

Research Project & Objectives

Solution: The AIM Portal

Case-Studies

Conclusions

Solution Concept

PROCESS 1PROCESS 1

Collaboration Collaboration ToolsTools

PROCESS 2PROCESS 2

Simulation Simulation ToolsTools

Candidate Innovative Product Solution &

Manufacturing System Design

Amplify Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM)

IMTsIMTs

TheThe AIMAIM Portal Portal ConceptConcept

1

24

3

AIM - IMTs

“Techniques that help companies adapt to different circumstances and different market

needs in a systematic way”

Product Design Product Design ToolTool

Manuf. System Manuf. System Design ToolDesign Tool

AIM - IMT AIM - IMT ToolboxToolbox

Typical Collaboration Typical Collaboration ToolsTools

• Products• Processes

Augmemted Augmemted RealityReality

Facility Plant SimulationFacility Plant Simulation

Typical Simulation Typical Simulation ToolsTools

OutlinOutlinee

Innovation Challenges in

Industry

Research Project & Objectives

Solution: The AIM Portal

Case-Studies

Conclusions

Case-Studies… Case-Studies… on-going

Case #1: Plastics Case #1: Plastics IndustryIndustry

Case #1: Plastics Case #1: Plastics IndustryIndustry

Case #1: Plastics Case #1: Plastics IndustryIndustry

Case #2: Furniture Case #2: Furniture IndustryIndustry

ScenarScenarioio

The Manager of Parc Beaumont Hotel Mr. Lefevre, in Pau - South of France, issued a tender for the design and manufacture of 200 cabinets to fill the space beneath the TVs in each of the hotel rooms

Bids for Bids for tendertender

Mr. Micallef, the General Manager of FXB in Gozo decides to bid for this tender. FXB staff prepare alternative design solutions. With the AIM portal they are even able to plan changes that may be necessary to their manufacturing layout...

Manufacturing System Manufacturing System DesignDesign

AR AR menu menu Mr Lefevre opens the AIM website with the information sent by FXB and reviews the different furniture options…

What the Client What the Client Sees…Sees…

Marker

OutlinOutlinee Innovation Challenges in Industry

Research Project & Objectives

Solution: The AIM Portal

Case-Studies

Conclusions

Pros of AIM

Portal

Does AIM help Does AIM help Innovation?Innovation?

Preliminary evaluation at local partners & foreign entities :

o Techniplast Ltd.o Toly Products Ltd.

o 4C Design Ltd.o Albion Automotive Ltd.o Advanced Forming Research

Centre

Preliminary Results

Sample

Results

To what extent do you think the AIM Portal tools help in amplifying

innovation in product development? Innovation ToolsInnovation Tools

Collaboration ToolsCollaboration Tools

Simulation ToolsSimulation Tools

Conclusions

Strengt

hs

WeaknesWeaknes

sesses

o “Constrains you to be in front of a computer - best ideas come up in the workshop”

o “Portal is restrictive to the experienced person”

o “Portal needs to be tailored for the needs of the company using it”

o “Simple is good – the portal is easy to understand”

o “Makes it easy to use the innovation tools”o “The portal interface helps structure your

thought processes”o “It has a lot of potential and is applicable in

the current state”

Conclusions..by Testimonials

MALTA

Thank you for your kind attention