ib design and tech - topic 10

(10.1) - JIT AND JIC

CONCEPTS & PRINCIPLES

Just in Time (JIT) and Just in Case (JIC) are strategies for managing production.

  • They focus on managing the raw materials and parts needed for production and inventory

  • The goal is the reduction of storage costs, while ensuring there is enough inventory to meet customer demand

Manufacturers will select a strategy based on factors such as:

  • the type of product being manufactured

  • the state of the economy

  • the market

JUST IN CASE (Push to the market)

  • focuses on creating products in anticipation of market demand

  • Their goal is to reduce costs by taking advantage of economies of scale

The story of complements or products are stored as inventory.

  • For products that takes a long time to produce, having an inventory on hand reduces the waiting time for customers

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Timely distribution of parts is always reliable

Large inventory must be managed

Higher reliability as parts in inventory are ready to be sent

Higher capital costs for space to store inventory

Buffer of items in stock in case there is a production delay, quality control or sudden increase in demand

Higher wastage due to spoilage (products going bad or expiring such as food or some chemicals)

Ability to respond to market demand as the manufacturer can always meet need

Risk of changing market demand could mean the manufacturer is left with large quantities of unsalable goods

Lower capital cost as less dependency on complex ICT systems (compared to JIT)

JUST IN TIME (Market Pull)

  • manufacturers respond to market needs as the need arises

    • in this model, goods are made to order when requested

  • doesn’t carry a large inventory of goods or raw materials

  • relies on a network of suppliers and distributors to move raw materials in and product out of the factory

  • this approach depends on digital communication system and IT infrastructure to coordinate between all parties

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Highly flexible manufacturing ideal for short runs

Greater risk of manufacturing delays - production and quality control issues in one area can delay the whole system

Low waste as there is no over-production, little idle time and material uses is optimised

Delay between ordering and delivery - customers must wait longer (compared to JIC) to receive item

Lower costs as there is little to no inventory to manage - raw materials are used almost immediately and products are shipped very soon after manufacture

Manufacturers cannot benefit from economies of scale to the same degree because they purchase smaller quantities of raw materials

(10.2) - LEAN PRODUCTION

  • lean production - aims to eliminate waste and maximise the value of a product based on the perspective of the consumer

Advantages

  1. increased productivity - due to focus on kaizen and waste reduction

  2. increased quality - focus on improvement and reduction of defects

  3. cost reduction - cause the manufacturer is able to pass on cost savings to the customer

  4. increased profits - through cost reduction + increased customer satisfaction

  5. improved working conditions for employees

  6. competitive advantage - cause of focus on cost reduction + productivity

  7. reduced environment impact - due to reduction of waste of materials

Disadvantages

  1. high initial costs - need to invest in JIT + JIC systems and IT systems

  2. difficult to introduce to an existing workforce - as change can be scary for some people

  3. dependent on a highly integrated system - if there’s a breakdown in communication, deliveries or production, the whole manufacturing system can come to a halt

  4. no inventory can make it difficult to respond to sudden increases in demand

Characteristics of Lean Production

JIT Supplies/Systems

  • the correct amount of material and parts delivered at the right time to eliminate inventory

Highly trained, multi-skilled workforce

  • using experts in production engineering and to ensure no time and materials are wasted

Zero inventory

  • manufactured product are shipped immediately, avoiding the need for managing inventory

Zero defects

  • avoid defects by ensuring that no substandard materials and production practices are used

Quality control and continuous improvement

  • an active approach to improvement; Quality control and checks happen at all stages of the production

Principles of Lean Production

  1. Minimising inventory to reduce inventory management costs

  2. Elimination of all waste - time, material, reduction of errors and defects

  3. Designing for rapid production changeover to allow for efficient retooling and changes in production goals

  4. Pulling production from customers demand, a JIT systems is used to drive production rather than a JIC systems

  5. Partnering with suppliers to operate a successful and efficient JIT system

  6. Doing it right first time - empahises quality and reduces waste

  7. Maximising production flow to take advantage of economies of scale

  8. Empowering workers as they are the most valuable resource in the company

  9. Focus on Kaizen

  10. Meeting customer requirements - taking every single customer complaint and opinion of products or services seriously; the flexibility of the lean production system determines the degree to which a company can meet each individual customer’s needs

Value Stream Mapping

Concerned with the big picture of the production process.

  • the goal is to identify areas for improvement, optimising the overall process

Its a lean production management tool used to analyse current and future processes to produce a product through to delivery to the consumer

Workflow Analysis

Concerned with the details of the production line

  • it considers the sequence, tools and even worker movements to ensure the highest possible efficiency in the system

Kaizen

A philosophy of continual improvement

  • it’s played a significant role in the success of many Japanese companies - most notably Toyota

Emphasises the workforce as the most valuable component of a manufacturing system.

This is founded on the belief that no system is perfect, and those in the system (workers) are best placed to suggest improvements

Training a skilled workforce develops an intimate understanding of the production process and empowers workers to identify areas for improvement

  • such an approach empowers employees across all levels, such systems are more horizontal than hierarchical

The 5 S’s

A method for organising the workplace with the goal of improving efficiency of production

The 7 Wastes in Lean Manufacturing

  • ^identifies the areas of waste, negatively affecting a lean production system

(10.1) - JIT AND JIC

CONCEPTS & PRINCIPLES

Just in Time (JIT) and Just in Case (JIC) are strategies for managing production.

  • They focus on managing the raw materials and parts needed for production and inventory

  • The goal is the reduction of storage costs, while ensuring there is enough inventory to meet customer demand

Manufacturers will select a strategy based on factors such as:

  • the type of product being manufactured

  • the state of the economy

  • the market

JUST IN CASE (Push to the market)

  • focuses on creating products in anticipation of market demand

  • Their goal is to reduce costs by taking advantage of economies of scale

The story of complements or products are stored as inventory.

  • For products that takes a long time to produce, having an inventory on hand reduces the waiting time for customers

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Timely distribution of parts is always reliable

Large inventory must be managed

Higher reliability as parts in inventory are ready to be sent

Higher capital costs for space to store inventory

Buffer of items in stock in case there is a production delay, quality control or sudden increase in demand

Higher wastage due to spoilage (products going bad or expiring such as food or some chemicals)

Ability to respond to market demand as the manufacturer can always meet need

Risk of changing market demand could mean the manufacturer is left with large quantities of unsalable goods

Lower capital cost as less dependency on complex ICT systems (compared to JIT)

JUST IN TIME (Market Pull)

  • manufacturers respond to market needs as the need arises

    • in this model, goods are made to order when requested

  • doesn’t carry a large inventory of goods or raw materials

  • relies on a network of suppliers and distributors to move raw materials in and product out of the factory

  • this approach depends on digital communication system and IT infrastructure to coordinate between all parties

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Highly flexible manufacturing ideal for short runs

Greater risk of manufacturing delays - production and quality control issues in one area can delay the whole system

Low waste as there is no over-production, little idle time and material uses is optimised

Delay between ordering and delivery - customers must wait longer (compared to JIC) to receive item

Lower costs as there is little to no inventory to manage - raw materials are used almost immediately and products are shipped very soon after manufacture

Manufacturers cannot benefit from economies of scale to the same degree because they purchase smaller quantities of raw materials

(10.2) - LEAN PRODUCTION

  • lean production - aims to eliminate waste and maximise the value of a product based on the perspective of the consumer

Advantages

  1. increased productivity - due to focus on kaizen and waste reduction

  2. increased quality - focus on improvement and reduction of defects

  3. cost reduction - cause the manufacturer is able to pass on cost savings to the customer

  4. increased profits - through cost reduction + increased customer satisfaction

  5. improved working conditions for employees

  6. competitive advantage - cause of focus on cost reduction + productivity

  7. reduced environment impact - due to reduction of waste of materials

Disadvantages

  1. high initial costs - need to invest in JIT + JIC systems and IT systems

  2. difficult to introduce to an existing workforce - as change can be scary for some people

  3. dependent on a highly integrated system - if there’s a breakdown in communication, deliveries or production, the whole manufacturing system can come to a halt

  4. no inventory can make it difficult to respond to sudden increases in demand

Characteristics of Lean Production

JIT Supplies/Systems

  • the correct amount of material and parts delivered at the right time to eliminate inventory

Highly trained, multi-skilled workforce

  • using experts in production engineering and to ensure no time and materials are wasted

Zero inventory

  • manufactured product are shipped immediately, avoiding the need for managing inventory

Zero defects

  • avoid defects by ensuring that no substandard materials and production practices are used

Quality control and continuous improvement

  • an active approach to improvement; Quality control and checks happen at all stages of the production

Principles of Lean Production

  1. Minimising inventory to reduce inventory management costs

  2. Elimination of all waste - time, material, reduction of errors and defects

  3. Designing for rapid production changeover to allow for efficient retooling and changes in production goals

  4. Pulling production from customers demand, a JIT systems is used to drive production rather than a JIC systems

  5. Partnering with suppliers to operate a successful and efficient JIT system

  6. Doing it right first time - empahises quality and reduces waste

  7. Maximising production flow to take advantage of economies of scale

  8. Empowering workers as they are the most valuable resource in the company

  9. Focus on Kaizen

  10. Meeting customer requirements - taking every single customer complaint and opinion of products or services seriously; the flexibility of the lean production system determines the degree to which a company can meet each individual customer’s needs

Value Stream Mapping

Concerned with the big picture of the production process.

  • the goal is to identify areas for improvement, optimising the overall process

Its a lean production management tool used to analyse current and future processes to produce a product through to delivery to the consumer

Workflow Analysis

Concerned with the details of the production line

  • it considers the sequence, tools and even worker movements to ensure the highest possible efficiency in the system

Kaizen

A philosophy of continual improvement

  • it’s played a significant role in the success of many Japanese companies - most notably Toyota

Emphasises the workforce as the most valuable component of a manufacturing system.

This is founded on the belief that no system is perfect, and those in the system (workers) are best placed to suggest improvements

Training a skilled workforce develops an intimate understanding of the production process and empowers workers to identify areas for improvement

  • such an approach empowers employees across all levels, such systems are more horizontal than hierarchical

The 5 S’s

A method for organising the workplace with the goal of improving efficiency of production

The 7 Wastes in Lean Manufacturing

  • ^identifies the areas of waste, negatively affecting a lean production system

(10.3) - Computer Integrated Manufacturing

<aside> 🎀

^uses computers to automatically monitor and control the entire production of a product

</aside>

CIM integrates all aspects of production (not just manufacture) to optimise this process

ALL teams collaborate and share information with the goal of optimising production.

It’s a highly integrated computer networking system that combined JIT principles with a Lean Manufacturing approach.

Elements of CIM

Design

Use of CAD/CAM to deign, prototype and iterate a design.

CAD to stimulate parts or features and conduct FEA to generate performance data

Software can generate a Bill of Materials (BOM) and files or digital assets to manufacture parts.

Planning

Using the data provided by the Design team, the Planning team will generate a production plan that considers production costs, available processes, scheduling, etc.

Purchasing

The Purchasing team will co-ordinate buying of materials and parts to product the product.

Inventory is kept to a minimum (through JIT principles).

Inventory control software orders replacement parts and materials when they reach low levels.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is closely connected to Purchasing and Design.

Using the digital files and assets produced by the design team, products are manufactured using CAM and automated manufacturing systems.

Use of materials and parts is closely integrated with inventory control and purchasing systems.

Cost Accounting

The Finance team uses software to manage accounts and payments, integrated with Inventory Control and Purchasing.

Cost Accounting ensures production is uninterrupted.

Inventory Control

Inventory control ensures that materials and parts are reordered in a timely manner.

Locations of materials and parts within the production process can be tracked.

Inventory control co-ordinates with warehousing and shipping to ensure inventory levels stay at an appropriate level in keeping with JIT principles.

Distribution

Distribution uses computerised systems to manage and organise the storage of raw materials, finished products, and shipping to the next phase of the chain, consumer, client etc.

These types of systems make use of bar codes, RFID chips, and increasingly AI technologies to manage and track items in the system.

CIM Systems + Scales of Manufacturing

CIM systems allow companies to operate with a global scope, while achieving economies of scale. The integrated systems streamline the whole process, from design to manufacture to distribution. The integrated monitoring of all systems, particularly manufacturing, means that errors and problems can be quickly identified and resolved.

CIM Comparison

(10.4) - Quality Management

<aside> 🎀

Key Terms:

tolerance - the allowable amount of variation within a particular quality

inspection - the checking of qualities at different stages throughout the production process

destructive - testing a product or part that destroys or physically alters the part

  • heat resistance, compression, toughness

non-destructive testing - testing a product or part that measures physical properties

  • weighing, checking colour, confirming dimensions </aside>

Quality Control

The aim of quality control is to produce the same part repeatedly with minimum or so waste

QC starts with the identification of a tolerances

  • Tolerances are identified at the design stage

  • Its necessary to know the degree of tolerance the machine that will produce that part can operate at

Different machinery operate at different tolerances. Knowing the capability of the machine and designing for this can ensure that tolerances are at an acceptable level. Quality control at the source eliminates waste from defects.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

The goal of SPC is to reduce waste, increase productivity and discover abnormalities in a process to facilitate timely decision making

  • Its a statistical tool that ensures a process operates efficiently (this involves measuring aspects of a product or process to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement)

Examples

Car manufacturers collecting data on types and frequency of repairs, rate of wear and tear on parts such as brake pads, and data from car accidents and crashes to improve quality and safety of the automobile.

Quality Assurance

The goal of QA is to reduce or avoid errors or defective products being delivered to the customer, from design to documentation.

  • It includes the regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components, services related to production, and management and inspection processes.

QA is designed to set standards of quality for all stages, from raw materials to product delivery. QA focuses on processes and procedures that ensure quality, they are not checks to ensure a product is within tolerance.

(10.5) - Economic Viability

<aside> 🎀

key terms:

  • cost - the expense of developing and producing a product and bringing it to market

  • price - the amount a customer pays for a product

  • profit margin - is the amount of money earned after all costs, taxes etc have been paid </aside>

Cost Effective

An analysis of cost associated with the materials, scale of production, distribution and marketing of a product can determine whether a product is financially viable to bring to market.

Cost effectiveness focuses on strategies that minimise the cost of producing a product.

Value for Money

Value for money is the relationship of an object or service between the value it provides and the cost to purchase it.

Ultimately, the consumer decides if the value a product provides is worth the cost to purchase.

This is subjective, not all consumers see the same value in a product.

Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are costs that do not change, regardless of the level of production.

They are time-based and include rent, salaries, insurance, warehousing etc.

fixed costs make up one part of the total cost of a product

Variable Cost

Variable costs change with the level of production

They are related to volume

these could include raw materials, energy, wages and distribution

Variable costs make up second component of the total cost of a product

Total Costs

The total cost of a product is calculated by adding together the fixed and variable costs

Cost Analysis

Cost analysis is a tool used to determine the feasibility of producing a product.

Analytical tools can be used to measure the cost of producing the product and the expected profit it can generate

Break-even Point

The Break-Even is the point of balance between profit and loss

It is the number of sales required to cover the total costs (fixed and variable).

The BEP represents the point at which sales start to generate profit

Calculating Price and Pricing Strategies

Designers need to consider the economic viability of their product.

If it is not economically viable it is unlikely to be brought it to market.

Many strategies and tools are used to calculate the product price, and these are often used alongside price setting strategies to determine the price.

(10.1) - JIT AND JIC

CONCEPTS & PRINCIPLES

Just in Time (JIT) and Just in Case (JIC) are strategies for managing production.

  • They focus on managing the raw materials and parts needed for production and inventory

  • The goal is the reduction of storage costs, while ensuring there is enough inventory to meet customer demand

Manufacturers will select a strategy based on factors such as:

  • the type of product being manufactured

  • the state of the economy

  • the market

JUST IN CASE (Push to the market)

  • focuses on creating products in anticipation of market demand

  • Their goal is to reduce costs by taking advantage of economies of scale

The story of complements or products are stored as inventory.

  • For products that takes a long time to produce, having an inventory on hand reduces the waiting time for customers

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Timely distribution of parts is always reliable

Large inventory must be managed

Higher reliability as parts in inventory are ready to be sent

Higher capital costs for space to store inventory

Buffer of items in stock in case there is a production delay, quality control or sudden increase in demand

Higher wastage due to spoilage (products going bad or expiring such as food or some chemicals)

Ability to respond to market demand as the manufacturer can always meet need

Risk of changing market demand could mean the manufacturer is left with large quantities of unsalable goods

Lower capital cost as less dependency on complex ICT systems (compared to JIT)

JUST IN TIME (Market Pull)

  • manufacturers respond to market needs as the need arises

    • in this model, goods are made to order when requested

  • doesn’t carry a large inventory of goods or raw materials

  • relies on a network of suppliers and distributors to move raw materials in and product out of the factory

  • this approach depends on digital communication system and IT infrastructure to coordinate between all parties

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Highly flexible manufacturing ideal for short runs

Greater risk of manufacturing delays - production and quality control issues in one area can delay the whole system

Low waste as there is no over-production, little idle time and material uses is optimised

Delay between ordering and delivery - customers must wait longer (compared to JIC) to receive item

Lower costs as there is little to no inventory to manage - raw materials are used almost immediately and products are shipped very soon after manufacture

Manufacturers cannot benefit from economies of scale to the same degree because they purchase smaller quantities of raw materials

(10.2) - LEAN PRODUCTION

  • lean production - aims to eliminate waste and maximise the value of a product based on the perspective of the consumer

Advantages

  1. increased productivity - due to focus on kaizen and waste reduction

  2. increased quality - focus on improvement and reduction of defects

  3. cost reduction - cause the manufacturer is able to pass on cost savings to the customer

  4. increased profits - through cost reduction + increased customer satisfaction

  5. improved working conditions for employees

  6. competitive advantage - cause of focus on cost reduction + productivity

  7. reduced environment impact - due to reduction of waste of materials

Disadvantages

  1. high initial costs - need to invest in JIT + JIC systems and IT systems

  2. difficult to introduce to an existing workforce - as change can be scary for some people

  3. dependent on a highly integrated system - if there’s a breakdown in communication, deliveries or production, the whole manufacturing system can come to a halt

  4. no inventory can make it difficult to respond to sudden increases in demand

Characteristics of Lean Production

JIT Supplies/Systems

  • the correct amount of material and parts delivered at the right time to eliminate inventory

Highly trained, multi-skilled workforce

  • using experts in production engineering and to ensure no time and materials are wasted

Zero inventory

  • manufactured product are shipped immediately, avoiding the need for managing inventory

Zero defects

  • avoid defects by ensuring that no substandard materials and production practices are used

Quality control and continuous improvement

  • an active approach to improvement; Quality control and checks happen at all stages of the production

Principles of Lean Production

  1. Minimising inventory to reduce inventory management costs

  2. Elimination of all waste - time, material, reduction of errors and defects

  3. Designing for rapid production changeover to allow for efficient retooling and changes in production goals

  4. Pulling production from customers demand, a JIT systems is used to drive production rather than a JIC systems

  5. Partnering with suppliers to operate a successful and efficient JIT system

  6. Doing it right first time - empahises quality and reduces waste

  7. Maximising production flow to take advantage of economies of scale

  8. Empowering workers as they are the most valuable resource in the company

  9. Focus on Kaizen

  10. Meeting customer requirements - taking every single customer complaint and opinion of products or services seriously; the flexibility of the lean production system determines the degree to which a company can meet each individual customer’s needs

Value Stream Mapping

Concerned with the big picture of the production process.

  • the goal is to identify areas for improvement, optimising the overall process

Its a lean production management tool used to analyse current and future processes to produce a product through to delivery to the consumer

Workflow Analysis

Concerned with the details of the production line

  • it considers the sequence, tools and even worker movements to ensure the highest possible efficiency in the system

Kaizen

A philosophy of continual improvement

  • it’s played a significant role in the success of many Japanese companies - most notably Toyota

Emphasises the workforce as the most valuable component of a manufacturing system.

This is founded on the belief that no system is perfect, and those in the system (workers) are best placed to suggest improvements

Training a skilled workforce develops an intimate understanding of the production process and empowers workers to identify areas for improvement

  • such an approach empowers employees across all levels, such systems are more horizontal than hierarchical

The 5 S’s

A method for organising the workplace with the goal of improving efficiency of production

The 7 Wastes in Lean Manufacturing

  • ^identifies the areas of waste, negatively affecting a lean production system

(10.3) - Computer Integrated Manufacturing

<aside> 🎀

^uses computers to automatically monitor and control the entire production of a product

</aside>

CIM integrates all aspects of production (not just manufacture) to optimise this process

ALL teams collaborate and share information with the goal of optimising production.

It’s a highly integrated computer networking system that combined JIT principles with a Lean Manufacturing approach.

Elements of CIM

Design

Use of CAD/CAM to deign, prototype and iterate a design.

CAD to stimulate parts or features and conduct FEA to generate performance data

Software can generate a Bill of Materials (BOM) and files or digital assets to manufacture parts.

Planning

Using the data provided by the Design team, the Planning team will generate a production plan that considers production costs, available processes, scheduling, etc.

Purchasing

The Purchasing team will co-ordinate buying of materials and parts to product the product.

Inventory is kept to a minimum (through JIT principles).

Inventory control software orders replacement parts and materials when they reach low levels.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is closely connected to Purchasing and Design.

Using the digital files and assets produced by the design team, products are manufactured using CAM and automated manufacturing systems.

Use of materials and parts is closely integrated with inventory control and purchasing systems.

Cost Accounting

The Finance team uses software to manage accounts and payments, integrated with Inventory Control and Purchasing.

Cost Accounting ensures production is uninterrupted.

Inventory Control

Inventory control ensures that materials and parts are reordered in a timely manner.

Locations of materials and parts within the production process can be tracked.

Inventory control co-ordinates with warehousing and shipping to ensure inventory levels stay at an appropriate level in keeping with JIT principles.

Distribution

Distribution uses computerised systems to manage and organise the storage of raw materials, finished products, and shipping to the next phase of the chain, consumer, client etc.

These types of systems make use of bar codes, RFID chips, and increasingly AI technologies to manage and track items in the system.

CIM Systems + Scales of Manufacturing

CIM systems allow companies to operate with a global scope, while achieving economies of scale. The integrated systems streamline the whole process, from design to manufacture to distribution. The integrated monitoring of all systems, particularly manufacturing, means that errors and problems can be quickly identified and resolved.

CIM Comparison

(10.4) - Quality Management

<aside> 🎀

Key Terms:

tolerance - the allowable amount of variation within a particular quality

inspection - the checking of qualities at different stages throughout the production process

destructive - testing a product or part that destroys or physically alters the part

  • heat resistance, compression, toughness

non-destructive testing - testing a product or part that measures physical properties

  • weighing, checking colour, confirming dimensions </aside>

Quality Control

The aim of quality control is to produce the same part repeatedly with minimum or so waste

QC starts with the identification of a tolerances

  • Tolerances are identified at the design stage

  • Its necessary to know the degree of tolerance the machine that will produce that part can operate at

Different machinery operate at different tolerances. Knowing the capability of the machine and designing for this can ensure that tolerances are at an acceptable level. Quality control at the source eliminates waste from defects.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

The goal of SPC is to reduce waste, increase productivity and discover abnormalities in a process to facilitate timely decision making

  • Its a statistical tool that ensures a process operates efficiently (this involves measuring aspects of a product or process to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement)

Examples

Car manufacturers collecting data on types and frequency of repairs, rate of wear and tear on parts such as brake pads, and data from car accidents and crashes to improve quality and safety of the automobile.

Quality Assurance

The goal of QA is to reduce or avoid errors or defective products being delivered to the customer, from design to documentation.

  • It includes the regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components, services related to production, and management and inspection processes.

QA is designed to set standards of quality for all stages, from raw materials to product delivery. QA focuses on processes and procedures that ensure quality, they are not checks to ensure a product is within tolerance.

(10.5) - Economic Viability

<aside> 🎀

key terms:

  • cost - the expense of developing and producing a product and bringing it to market

  • price - the amount a customer pays for a product

  • profit margin - is the amount of money earned after all costs, taxes etc have been paid </aside>

Cost Effective

An analysis of cost associated with the materials, scale of production, distribution and marketing of a product can determine whether a product is financially viable to bring to market.

Cost effectiveness focuses on strategies that minimise the cost of producing a product.

Value for Money

Value for money is the relationship of an object or service between the value it provides and the cost to purchase it.

Ultimately, the consumer decides if the value a product provides is worth the cost to purchase.

This is subjective, not all consumers see the same value in a product.

Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are costs that do not change, regardless of the level of production.

They are time-based and include rent, salaries, insurance, warehousing etc.

fixed costs make up one part of the total cost of a product

Variable Cost

Variable costs change with the level of production

They are related to volume

these could include raw materials, energy, wages and distribution

Variable costs make up second component of the total cost of a product

Total Costs

The total cost of a product is calculated by adding together the fixed and variable costs

Cost Analysis

Cost analysis is a tool used to determine the feasibility of producing a product.

Analytical tools can be used to measure the cost of producing the product and the expected profit it can generate

Break-even Point

The Break-Even is the point of balance between profit and loss

It is the number of sales required to cover the total costs (fixed and variable).

The BEP represents the point at which sales start to generate profit

Calculating Price and Pricing Strategies

Designers need to consider the economic viability of their product.

If it is not economically viable it is unlikely to be brought it to market.

Many strategies and tools are used to calculate the product price, and these are often used alongside price setting strategies to determine the price.

(10.1) - JIT AND JIC

CONCEPTS & PRINCIPLES

Just in Time (JIT) and Just in Case (JIC) are strategies for managing production.

  • They focus on managing the raw materials and parts needed for production and inventory

  • The goal is the reduction of storage costs, while ensuring there is enough inventory to meet customer demand

Manufacturers will select a strategy based on factors such as:

  • the type of product being manufactured

  • the state of the economy

  • the market

JUST IN CASE (Push to the market)

  • focuses on creating products in anticipation of market demand

  • Their goal is to reduce costs by taking advantage of economies of scale

The story of complements or products are stored as inventory.

  • For products that takes a long time to produce, having an inventory on hand reduces the waiting time for customers

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Timely distribution of parts is always reliable

Large inventory must be managed

Higher reliability as parts in inventory are ready to be sent

Higher capital costs for space to store inventory

Buffer of items in stock in case there is a production delay, quality control or sudden increase in demand

Higher wastage due to spoilage (products going bad or expiring such as food or some chemicals)

Ability to respond to market demand as the manufacturer can always meet need

Risk of changing market demand could mean the manufacturer is left with large quantities of unsalable goods

Lower capital cost as less dependency on complex ICT systems (compared to JIT)

JUST IN TIME (Market Pull)

  • manufacturers respond to market needs as the need arises

    • in this model, goods are made to order when requested

  • doesn’t carry a large inventory of goods or raw materials

  • relies on a network of suppliers and distributors to move raw materials in and product out of the factory

  • this approach depends on digital communication system and IT infrastructure to coordinate between all parties

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Highly flexible manufacturing ideal for short runs

Greater risk of manufacturing delays - production and quality control issues in one area can delay the whole system

Low waste as there is no over-production, little idle time and material uses is optimised

Delay between ordering and delivery - customers must wait longer (compared to JIC) to receive item

Lower costs as there is little to no inventory to manage - raw materials are used almost immediately and products are shipped very soon after manufacture

Manufacturers cannot benefit from economies of scale to the same degree because they purchase smaller quantities of raw materials

(10.2) - LEAN PRODUCTION

  • lean production - aims to eliminate waste and maximise the value of a product based on the perspective of the consumer

Advantages

  1. increased productivity - due to focus on kaizen and waste reduction

  2. increased quality - focus on improvement and reduction of defects

  3. cost reduction - cause the manufacturer is able to pass on cost savings to the customer

  4. increased profits - through cost reduction + increased customer satisfaction

  5. improved working conditions for employees

  6. competitive advantage - cause of focus on cost reduction + productivity

  7. reduced environment impact - due to reduction of waste of materials

Disadvantages

  1. high initial costs - need to invest in JIT + JIC systems and IT systems

  2. difficult to introduce to an existing workforce - as change can be scary for some people

  3. dependent on a highly integrated system - if there’s a breakdown in communication, deliveries or production, the whole manufacturing system can come to a halt

  4. no inventory can make it difficult to respond to sudden increases in demand

Characteristics of Lean Production

JIT Supplies/Systems

  • the correct amount of material and parts delivered at the right time to eliminate inventory

Highly trained, multi-skilled workforce

  • using experts in production engineering and to ensure no time and materials are wasted

Zero inventory

  • manufactured product are shipped immediately, avoiding the need for managing inventory

Zero defects

  • avoid defects by ensuring that no substandard materials and production practices are used

Quality control and continuous improvement

  • an active approach to improvement; Quality control and checks happen at all stages of the production

Principles of Lean Production

  1. Minimising inventory to reduce inventory management costs

  2. Elimination of all waste - time, material, reduction of errors and defects

  3. Designing for rapid production changeover to allow for efficient retooling and changes in production goals

  4. Pulling production from customers demand, a JIT systems is used to drive production rather than a JIC systems

  5. Partnering with suppliers to operate a successful and efficient JIT system

  6. Doing it right first time - empahises quality and reduces waste

  7. Maximising production flow to take advantage of economies of scale

  8. Empowering workers as they are the most valuable resource in the company

  9. Focus on Kaizen

  10. Meeting customer requirements - taking every single customer complaint and opinion of products or services seriously; the flexibility of the lean production system determines the degree to which a company can meet each individual customer’s needs

Value Stream Mapping

Concerned with the big picture of the production process.

  • the goal is to identify areas for improvement, optimising the overall process

Its a lean production management tool used to analyse current and future processes to produce a product through to delivery to the consumer

Workflow Analysis

Concerned with the details of the production line

  • it considers the sequence, tools and even worker movements to ensure the highest possible efficiency in the system

Kaizen

A philosophy of continual improvement

  • it’s played a significant role in the success of many Japanese companies - most notably Toyota

Emphasises the workforce as the most valuable component of a manufacturing system.

This is founded on the belief that no system is perfect, and those in the system (workers) are best placed to suggest improvements

Training a skilled workforce develops an intimate understanding of the production process and empowers workers to identify areas for improvement

  • such an approach empowers employees across all levels, such systems are more horizontal than hierarchical

The 5 S’s

A method for organising the workplace with the goal of improving efficiency of production

The 7 Wastes in Lean Manufacturing

  • ^identifies the areas of waste, negatively affecting a lean production system

(10.3) - Computer Integrated Manufacturing

<aside> 🎀

^uses computers to automatically monitor and control the entire production of a product

</aside>

CIM integrates all aspects of production (not just manufacture) to optimise this process

ALL teams collaborate and share information with the goal of optimising production.

It’s a highly integrated computer networking system that combined JIT principles with a Lean Manufacturing approach.

Elements of CIM

Design

Use of CAD/CAM to deign, prototype and iterate a design.

CAD to stimulate parts or features and conduct FEA to generate performance data

Software can generate a Bill of Materials (BOM) and files or digital assets to manufacture parts.

Planning

Using the data provided by the Design team, the Planning team will generate a production plan that considers production costs, available processes, scheduling, etc.

Purchasing

The Purchasing team will co-ordinate buying of materials and parts to product the product.

Inventory is kept to a minimum (through JIT principles).

Inventory control software orders replacement parts and materials when they reach low levels.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is closely connected to Purchasing and Design.

Using the digital files and assets produced by the design team, products are manufactured using CAM and automated manufacturing systems.

Use of materials and parts is closely integrated with inventory control and purchasing systems.

Cost Accounting

The Finance team uses software to manage accounts and payments, integrated with Inventory Control and Purchasing.

Cost Accounting ensures production is uninterrupted.

Inventory Control

Inventory control ensures that materials and parts are reordered in a timely manner.

Locations of materials and parts within the production process can be tracked.

Inventory control co-ordinates with warehousing and shipping to ensure inventory levels stay at an appropriate level in keeping with JIT principles.

Distribution

Distribution uses computerised systems to manage and organise the storage of raw materials, finished products, and shipping to the next phase of the chain, consumer, client etc.

These types of systems make use of bar codes, RFID chips, and increasingly AI technologies to manage and track items in the system.

CIM Systems + Scales of Manufacturing

CIM systems allow companies to operate with a global scope, while achieving economies of scale. The integrated systems streamline the whole process, from design to manufacture to distribution. The integrated monitoring of all systems, particularly manufacturing, means that errors and problems can be quickly identified and resolved.

CIM Comparison

(10.4) - Quality Management

<aside> 🎀

Key Terms:

tolerance - the allowable amount of variation within a particular quality

inspection - the checking of qualities at different stages throughout the production process

destructive - testing a product or part that destroys or physically alters the part

  • heat resistance, compression, toughness

non-destructive testing - testing a product or part that measures physical properties

  • weighing, checking colour, confirming dimensions </aside>

Quality Control

The aim of quality control is to produce the same part repeatedly with minimum or so waste

QC starts with the identification of a tolerances

  • Tolerances are identified at the design stage

  • Its necessary to know the degree of tolerance the machine that will produce that part can operate at

Different machinery operate at different tolerances. Knowing the capability of the machine and designing for this can ensure that tolerances are at an acceptable level. Quality control at the source eliminates waste from defects.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

The goal of SPC is to reduce waste, increase productivity and discover abnormalities in a process to facilitate timely decision making

  • Its a statistical tool that ensures a process operates efficiently (this involves measuring aspects of a product or process to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement)

Examples

Car manufacturers collecting data on types and frequency of repairs, rate of wear and tear on parts such as brake pads, and data from car accidents and crashes to improve quality and safety of the automobile.

Quality Assurance

The goal of QA is to reduce or avoid errors or defective products being delivered to the customer, from design to documentation.

  • It includes the regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components, services related to production, and management and inspection processes.

QA is designed to set standards of quality for all stages, from raw materials to product delivery. QA focuses on processes and procedures that ensure quality, they are not checks to ensure a product is within tolerance.

(10.5) - Economic Viability

<aside> 🎀

key terms:

  • cost - the expense of developing and producing a product and bringing it to market

  • price - the amount a customer pays for a product

  • profit margin - is the amount of money earned after all costs, taxes etc have been paid </aside>

Cost Effective

An analysis of cost associated with the materials, scale of production, distribution and marketing of a product can determine whether a product is financially viable to bring to market.

Cost effectiveness focuses on strategies that minimise the cost of producing a product.

Value for Money

Value for money is the relationship of an object or service between the value it provides and the cost to purchase it.

Ultimately, the consumer decides if the value a product provides is worth the cost to purchase.

This is subjective, not all consumers see the same value in a product.

Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are costs that do not change, regardless of the level of production.

They are time-based and include rent, salaries, insurance, warehousing etc.

fixed costs make up one part of the total cost of a product

Variable Cost

Variable costs change with the level of production

They are related to volume

these could include raw materials, energy, wages and distribution

Variable costs make up second component of the total cost of a product

Total Costs

The total cost of a product is calculated by adding together the fixed and variable costs

Cost Analysis

Cost analysis is a tool used to determine the feasibility of producing a product.

Analytical tools can be used to measure the cost of producing the product and the expected profit it can generate

Break-even Point

The Break-Even is the point of balance between profit and loss

It is the number of sales required to cover the total costs (fixed and variable).

The BEP represents the point at which sales start to generate profit

Calculating Price and Pricing Strategies

Designers need to consider the economic viability of their product.

If it is not economically viable it is unlikely to be brought it to market.

Many strategies and tools are used to calculate the product price, and these are often used alongside price setting strategies to determine the price.

(10.3) - Computer Integrated Manufacturing

  • ^uses computers to automatically monitor and control the entire production of a product

CIM integrates all aspects of production (not just manufacture) to optimise this process

ALL teams collaborate and share information with the goal of optimising production.

It’s a highly integrated computer networking system that combined JIT principles with a Lean Manufacturing approach.

Elements of CIM

Design

Use of CAD/CAM to deign, prototype and iterate a design.

CAD to stimulate parts or features and conduct FEA to generate performance data

Software can generate a Bill of Materials (BOM) and files or digital assets to manufacture parts.

Planning

Using the data provided by the Design team, the Planning team will generate a production plan that considers production costs, available processes, scheduling, etc.

Purchasing

The Purchasing team will co-ordinate buying of materials and parts to product the product.

Inventory is kept to a minimum (through JIT principles).

Inventory control software orders replacement parts and materials when they reach low levels.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is closely connected to Purchasing and Design.

Using the digital files and assets produced by the design team, products are manufactured using CAM and automated manufacturing systems.

Use of materials and parts is closely integrated with inventory control and purchasing systems.

Cost Accounting

The Finance team uses software to manage accounts and payments, integrated with Inventory Control and Purchasing.

Cost Accounting ensures production is uninterrupted.

Inventory Control

Inventory control ensures that materials and parts are reordered in a timely manner.

Locations of materials and parts within the production process can be tracked.

Inventory control co-ordinates with warehousing and shipping to ensure inventory levels stay at an appropriate level in keeping with JIT principles.

Distribution

Distribution uses computerised systems to manage and organise the storage of raw materials, finished products, and shipping to the next phase of the chain, consumer, client etc.

These types of systems make use of bar codes, RFID chips, and increasingly AI technologies to manage and track items in the system.

CIM Systems + Scales of Manufacturing

CIM systems allow companies to operate with a global scope, while achieving economies of scale. The integrated systems streamline the whole process, from design to manufacture to distribution. The integrated monitoring of all systems, particularly manufacturing, means that errors and problems can be quickly identified and resolved.

CIM Comparison

(10.4) - Quality Management

<aside> 🎀

Key Terms:

tolerance - the allowable amount of variation within a particular quality

inspection - the checking of qualities at different stages throughout the production process

destructive - testing a product or part that destroys or physically alters the part

  • heat resistance, compression, toughness

non-destructive testing - testing a product or part that measures physical properties

  • weighing, checking colour, confirming dimensions </aside>

Quality Control

The aim of quality control is to produce the same part repeatedly with minimum or so waste

QC starts with the identification of a tolerances

  • Tolerances are identified at the design stage

  • Its necessary to know the degree of tolerance the machine that will produce that part can operate at

Different machinery operate at different tolerances. Knowing the capability of the machine and designing for this can ensure that tolerances are at an acceptable level. Quality control at the source eliminates waste from defects.

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

The goal of SPC is to reduce waste, increase productivity and discover abnormalities in a process to facilitate timely decision making

  • Its a statistical tool that ensures a process operates efficiently (this involves measuring aspects of a product or process to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement)

Examples

Car manufacturers collecting data on types and frequency of repairs, rate of wear and tear on parts such as brake pads, and data from car accidents and crashes to improve quality and safety of the automobile.

Quality Assurance

The goal of QA is to reduce or avoid errors or defective products being delivered to the customer, from design to documentation.

  • It includes the regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components, services related to production, and management and inspection processes.

QA is designed to set standards of quality for all stages, from raw materials to product delivery. QA focuses on processes and procedures that ensure quality, they are not checks to ensure a product is within tolerance.

(10.5) - Economic Viability

key terms:

  • cost - the expense of developing and producing a product and bringing it to market

  • price - the amount a customer pays for a product

  • profit margin - is the amount of money earned after all costs, taxes etc have been paid </aside>

Cost Effective

An analysis of cost associated with the materials, scale of production, distribution and marketing of a product can determine whether a product is financially viable to bring to market.

Cost effectiveness focuses on strategies that minimise the cost of producing a product.

Value for Money

Value for money is the relationship of an object or service between the value it provides and the cost to purchase it.

Ultimately, the consumer decides if the value a product provides is worth the cost to purchase.

This is subjective, not all consumers see the same value in a product.

Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are costs that do not change, regardless of the level of production.

They are time-based and include rent, salaries, insurance, warehousing etc.

fixed costs make up one part of the total cost of a product

Variable Cost

Variable costs change with the level of production

They are related to volume

these could include raw materials, energy, wages and distribution

Variable costs make up second component of the total cost of a product

Total Costs

The total cost of a product is calculated by adding together the fixed and variable costs

Cost Analysis

Cost analysis is a tool used to determine the feasibility of producing a product.

Analytical tools can be used to measure the cost of producing the product and the expected profit it can generate

Break-even Point

The Break-Even is the point of balance between profit and loss

It is the number of sales required to cover the total costs (fixed and variable).

The BEP represents the point at which sales start to generate profit

Calculating Price and Pricing Strategies

Designers need to consider the economic viability of their product.

If it is not economically viable it is unlikely to be brought it to market.

Many strategies and tools are used to calculate the product price, and these are often used alongside price setting strategies to determine the price.