This paper addresses the exchange of information between the design and manufacturing interface from both perspectives in order to ensure interdepartmental integration and improve the performance of new product development projects. Based on two in-depth case studies, this article illustrates that there are differences in the type of information transferred between design and manufacturing as well as how this information is shared. While design engineers ask for feedback to their work regarding both the product and the project, relies the production system designer heavily on feed-forward information concerning the product per se. For effective new product development, it seems however beneficial that design engineers also should give feedback to the production system concept. The implication is that project managers need to carefully consider how to improve the sharing of information upstream in new product development projects and what communication medium to apply to transfer the information between design and manufacturing.

This chapter has been triggered by the experience that the implementation of new information technology (IT) supporting planning, scheduling, and control – although being more sophisticated than earlier systems – does not necessarily result in better control. Also, the experience was made that the implementation of the same IT leads to different results in similar organisations. Against this background, we introduce a process model of control (Sect. 10.2). The model proposes a set of interrelated factors determining control. At its core it assumes that control results as a fit of control requirements and control behaviour. The former is determined by operational uncertainties the latter by control opportunities, control skills and control motivation. Since the implementation of a new IT can have an impact on all these factors it can lead to a misfit of control behaviour and control requirements and hence to low control – even if the new IT itself is more powerful than the old IT. Furthermore, we also discuss motivational influences these changes may have on human behaviour (Sect. 10.3). Finally we derive some practical dos and don’ts when implementing new IT (Sect. 10.4).

The footprint strategy of a manufacturing company is frequently highlighted as a key aspect to the company’s competitive advantage. However, research concerning international location decisions is limited. A comprehensive strategy has to function in a world with limited resources and continuous change of values.  The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model of the process for efficient production localisation decisions by integrating aspects influencing the design of the manufacturing footprint. Research on drivers for location of manufacturing emphasise input factors, market factors and technological knowhow as key factors. Looking at the entire industrial system, earlier research also illustrates the broad range of roles for the manufacturing plant within a company’s industrial system. Based upon this discussion of the motive for manufacturing location and the strategic role of the manufacturing plant, a conceptual model is introduced emphasising different levels that should be considered during the process of preparing a localisation decision. It serves as a base for more detailed studies on specific aspects, models and factors for manufacturing footprint analysis.

An effective management of information is vital for successful development of new products. However, knowledge is lacking about the management of information during production system design and its effects on innovation. This exploratory case study in the automotive industry furthers understanding of how management of information contributes to the design of robust and dynamic production systems that can handle changing production situations. The results from the case study indicate that the management of information should consider requirements of current and future production system generations facilitating a conscious planning of a production systems portfolio that corresponds to the product portfolio. This approach allows for new ways of designing production system concepts and production technology solutions, which also can accelerate the innovation capabilities of the manufacturing company.

The acquisition of production equipment is one step of the production system design process. When design and building of production equipment is handed over to an equipment supplier, higher requirements are placed on the design information exchange to secure that the equipment corresponds to technical and financial requirements of the buying company. The paper presents results on characteristics of design information exchanged and success factors for effective collaboration between equipment suppliers and manufacturing companies. Results are based on an in-depth case study at a Swedish manufacturing company and a survey of 25 equipment suppliers.  

Production companies of today face extreme challenge to meet the rapid changes and increased flexibility that mass customization require. More and more customers are requiring the product to suite specific needs such as design, function and sustainability. These requirements results in increasing demands for the developers of the product but also for the personnel who will assemble the products in the final assembling. This paper suggests the need for further development, primarily addressing time parameters in dynamically changing assembly systems. We propose proactivity as a vital characteristic of semi-automated assembly systems, to increase fulfilment of customer demands and decrease non value-adding tasks. In proactive assembly systems, the potential of human operators and technical systems is utilised. Criteria for proactivity are reviewed from automation, information, and competence perspectives. Empirical data have been collected from five production companies in Sweden.

Increasing customisation of products results in decreasing production batch sizes, especially in the final assembly. Industry must therefore increase their capability to handle smaller batches as well as radically decrease set up time between different product groups and new products. This paper suggests the need for further development, primarily addressing time parameters in dynamically changing assembly systems. We propose customer demands and decrease non value-adding tasks. In proactive assembly systems, the full and complementary potential of human operators and technical systems is utilised. Criteria for proactivity in assembly systems are reviewed from automation, information, and competence perspectives.

In today’s turbulent environment, manufacturing companies are forced to efficiently change or develop production systems that are robust and dynamic enough to handle changing production situations during its entire life-cycle. To achieve such a production system requires a structured development process that should be carried out simultaneously to the product development process and considers the company’s product portfolio. Within a structured development process, the requirements specification of the proposed system is vital since it will guide the design process and the evaluation of the system on a conceptual as well as a detailed level.  The aim of this paper is to address the requirement specification process that covers all aspects of the production system to be designed. This paper argues for the need of a holistic view in the requirement specification process of production systems. A holistic view of the overall process will facilitate to manage the various demands and categories important to deal with in the specification of requirements. Based on the holistic view it will be possible to identify the gates and stakeholders of the process itself, but also the substantial content of this process map.

Due to the increasingly competitive climate, the on-the-job behaviour of an operator becomes more and more essential for the success of a manufacturing company.  In working contexts, which are dominated by changes and uncertainty, knowledge-based behaviour and work role aspects that cannot be formalized, proactive behaviour of the operator can contribute to competitive advantages.

Without waiting to be asked or instructed, the proactive operator uses his/her own initiative to change the present situation in the light of anticipated future demands and needs. In order to obtain and support proactive behaviour among operators on the shop floor, access to correct and essential information at the right time and in the right way is one important requirement. Hence, the objective of this thesis is to analyse information requirements in order to provide a basis for information interface design that supports a proactive behaviour of assembly operators.

A system approach was adopted and the foundation for this thesis is an extensive literature review. Further, an empirical case study was performed at a Swedish manufacturing company. The case study was analysed using work domain analysis and the purpose of this case study was to investigate the information used in an assembly work setting to accomplish various activities related to proactive behaviour. The result of this thesis is a synthesis of the information requirements found in the literature study and the empirical findings.

The thesis argues that the ability of the assembly operator to anticipate and plan for changes is highly dependent on what information to provide and when to present this information to the assembly operator. Both operational information and information related to the development of the assembly work setting are required to enable proactive behaviour of the assembly operator. When analysing the empirical findings in relation to the information requirements stated in literature, it was found that proactive behaviour of operators is, above all, related to access to why and what information. How-related information, however, can also be relevant for the proactive assembly operator if it relates to knowledge-based behaviour. Additionally, the expertise of the assembly operator refers to the control behaviour performed by the operator and determines the amount of information needed by the assembly operator. Finally, for information to be experienced as useful by the operator, it has to fulfil various criteria determining information quality. The thesis concludes that by analysing the type and amount of information to be presented to the assembly operator, and how to orchestrate information in a systematic way, it is possible to change the assembly operator from a passive monitor to an active problem solver.

Proactive behaviour of an assembly operator can be essential in a complex and uncertain work context, where it is not longer possible to anticipate and predefine all possible work situations an operator has to handle. Access to correct and essential information is a critical means to support proactive behaviour. This paper clarifies information requirements of a proactive assembly work setting by analysing the information needed of an assembly operator to anticipate and prepare the work system for external and internal changes. The results show that proactive behaviour is above all related to the access to information answering why and what-questions. Additionally, the expertise of the assembly operator refers to the control behaviour performed by the operator and determines the amount of information needed by the assembly operator. Finally, for information to be experienced as useful by the operator, it has to fulfil various criteria determining information quality.