Concurrent Engineering With respect to Sustainability

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 2 Concurrent Engineering Defined How would you define concurrent engineering (CE)? Definition: “Integrated approach to product- design that takes into account all stages of a product’s life cycle from design to disposal – including costs, quality, testing, user needs, customer support, and logistics” What is an example of this? - BusinessDictionary.com

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 3 CE Illustration

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 4 Sustainability Defined What is sustainability? What makes something sustainable? Definition: “Ability to maintain or support an activity or process over the long term” Give an example of something sustainable - BusinessDictionary.com

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 5 Questions to Consider How can they be related? What makes them related? Why is there a need for either concept? Is the relationship mutually beneficial or mutually exclusive? – Why or why not?

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 6 CE vs. Sustainability Concurrent Engineering Product & Process Long-term Goals Resources Others? Sustainability Social & Economic Constraints Long-term Success Manage Limited Resources Others?

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 7 Why Engineers Care We are working in an expanding world with finite resources One approach = Innovation + Conservation (Simultaneously, in parallel) Engineers are the ones who influence the utilization of resources with process design, therefore we are also the professionals others turn to for solutions – CE helps to accomplish these goals

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 8 The Need for CE & Sustainability Environments are constantly changing Actions must be quick, effective, and responsible Things must be done correctly the first time Reduce reaction time and act “To be competitive, corporations must alter their product and process development cycle to be able to complete diverse tasks concurrently” Continuous improvement is always needed

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 9 The CE Approach Focuses on optimizing and distributing resources within a company or unit during design and development Collaboration is required Involves implementation, appraisal, and continuous improvement initiatives Must be applied throughout a system to be successful (requires strong leadership)

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 10 How to Apply the CE Approach Commitment, Planning, and Leadership – Requires strong _________________________ to mandate organizational changes successfully Continuous Improvement – CE is a process of ________________________ with a variety of implementation strategies, so continuous improvement is needed Communication & Collaboration

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 11 Why Use CE Principles Competitive Advantage – Helps any size company (small or large) Increased Performance – Improves quality, development cycle, delivery time…etc Reduced design and production (development) costs – Respond better to customer’s expectations at lower costs

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 12 Examples of Sustainability & CE Minimizing environmental damage to provide sufficient food, water, shelter, and mobility for an increasing world population “Designing products and processes so that wastes from one are used as inputs to another” Including environmental and social constraints with economic considerations to make decisions - Source 4

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 13 Review of Article Assigned Need for sustainability as population growth and economic programs put stress on ecosystem balances Concurrency is the “leading design paradigm in achieving balance and sustainability in the human/environmental system” (Dawson, 63) Concurrency consists of: ______________ & ______________ Concurrency is determined by comparing the current capacity and environmental systems _____________ to meet to current needs with the uncommitted system _____________________ ________________ (Dawson, 64)

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 14 Review of Article Concurrency as a management tool should be considered from the center of authority and not the local units; however the local unit decisions must be considered in the overall concurrency management plan (Dawson, 65) “Concurrency provides assurance to developers, builders, and investors (owners)” (Dawson, 65) Serious problems can arise when concurrency is applied to ___________________ and ___________________. (Dawson, 66) “Concurrency depends on achieving and maintaining standards…” (Dawson, 67) “Sustainable economic development and environmental quality and not mutually _______________” (Dawson, 68)

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 15 Review of CE Principles Get a strong commitment from senior management. Establish unified project goals and a clear business mission. Develop a detailed plan early in the process. Continually review your progress and revise your plan. Develop project leaders that have an overall vision of the project and goals. Analyze your market and know your customers. Suppress individualism and foster a team concept. Establish and cultivate cross-functional integration and collaboration. Transfer technology between individuals and departments. Break project into its natural phases. Develop metrics. Set milestones throughout the development process. Collectively work on all parts of project. Reduce costs and time to market. Complete tasks in parallel. (List from Source 3)

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 16 Homework – due 2/10 Complete both assigned problems to hand in next class period

ISE Spring 2009Presentation by Matt Monsted 17 References Dawson, R., & Tao, S. (2002, January). Concurrency: a system design approach to environmental management and sustainability. Journal of Environmental Sciences (IOS Press), 14(1), 63. Retrieved January 28, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database. Concurrent engineering / Manufacturing lifecycle illustration: – Used for structure and info on several slides NASA definition: