A simulation approach to innovation deployment readiness assessment in manufacturing

Alireza Javahernia,Funlade Sunmola

doi:10.1080/21693277.2017.1322542

Alireza Javahernia, Funlade Sunmola

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/21693277.2017.1322542

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Abstract

Manufacturing companies need to continuously innovate in order to remain competitive. Fostering a successful innovative environment should reflect positively on manufacturing performance, with a premise that companies seek to attain appropriate level of readiness when deploying their innovation. This paper presents an approach to assessing innovation deployment readiness in manufacturing. Deployment is conceptualised as a sequential decision process that involves a deployment plan to be executed sequentially in an uncertain environment. The deployment plan is assessed using simulation to account for risks and uncertainties that may characterise the deployment activities in the target environment and the capabilities put forward in the plan for handling the risks and uncertainties. The approach is illustrated using a simulated manufacturing job shop scenario and the results show that deployment readiness can vary over time. Deployment readiness can be improved by identifying the states in which readiness is weak and taking appropriate actions.

Highlights

Introduction2013) and this is premised on the companies attaining the appropriate level of readiness to deploy their innovation initiatives
Intensive competition in global markets has made innovation a condition for survival of companies
Via simulation, the number of jobs that are within this target is divided by the total number of jobs, for each of the deployment states

Summary

Introduction

2013) and this is premised on the companies attaining the appropriate level of readiness to deploy their innovation initiatives. Companies are handicapped by low levels of ‘innovation readiness’ (Dutta et al, 2009). This means that they are lacking in many of the key elements required to create a successful platform for innovation. It is necessary to perform an assessment at the initial stage of implementing an innovation initiative with the purpose of identifying weaknesses or problems which may lead to failure. Questions such as how to deploy and when to deploy should be formally asked and answered prior to management committing to deploying an innovation initiative. The paper ends with conclusion and suggestions for future work

Deployment readiness concept in manufacturing

Assessing deployment readiness

Set up of the simulation experiment

Results and discussion

Conclusions and future work