Impact Of Engineering Changes Research Articles

Impact of Engineering Changes on Value Movement in Fund Flow: Monte Carlo-System Dynamics Modeling Approach

A healthy fund flow system is crucial for the successful construction of any project. Project fund flow management has made significant progress, increasingly aligning with real-world applications. However, due to the uncertainties associated with Engineering Changes (ECs) in projects, the actual fund flow may still deviate from expectations. These systems still require improvements and corrections of flaws to enhance the efficiency of construction projects and reduce exposure to risks associated with ECs. Construction projects are complex and involve many processes. Each process represents a specific part of the project; therefore, an EC in one area can impact resource scheduling and fund balance. In our analysis, we found that ECs are directly related to fund demands and may result in the need for more materials, labor, and duration. Furthermore, ECs can alter construction progress and payment schedules, exacerbating project risks. As a result, effective management of fund flexibility becomes highly necessary. To explore the impact of ECs on the value dynamics of fund flow, it is important to understand and describe the stochastic paths of fund flow and discern the dynamic changes at each stage. Given this, we introduced a system dynamics model based on the Monte Carlo simulation. This model adeptly characterizes project risks and quantifies uncertainty variables, thereby making the simulation more aligned with reality. Moreover, the model illuminates the intricate relationship between project risk and project productivity, highlighting the origins of fund flow fluctuations. It is imperative to identify project risks early and address ECs promptly and effectively. Through sensitivity analysis and strategies, we ensure the stability of fund flow. This study offers a pivotal framework for understanding and managing fund flow in projects, emphasizing the central role of system dynamics in this process.

Using SysML to Support Impact Analysis on Structural Dynamics Simulation Models

Changes during the product development process pose a high risk of unexpected high implementation effort. To reduce this risk, the impact of engineering changes have to be estimated in advance before their implementation. However, in large systems, the numerous interdependencies often create challenges to the approximation of the implementation effort by inducing complex interdependencies which are often not easy to identify from the start.This paper therefore proposes a method to quickly determine change efforts of complex systems. To be able to estimate change efforts, the dependencies between system components have to be mapped together with their corresponding modeling effort (e.g. modeling time). The SysML (System Modeling Language) system model is a powerful tool to support this process as it offers the possibility of a very individual and versatile data storage. Furthermore, specific data (e.g. calculation time) can quickly be identified with algorithm such as “metachain navigation”. We propose in this paper to use a SysML system model for an advanced documentation of the product and construction structure to be carried out in parallel to the modeling process of a system simulation model (in this case finite-element- and multi-body-simulation). Assemblies and associated components are represented by the product structure, while the construction structure represents the force flow between two components. Furthermore, in SysML individual data, e.g. modeling time and calculation time, is stored in an instance that is connected to a specific component or assembly.As a demonstration example, the approach is shown on a structural dynamic analysis of a powertrain with seven subassemblies and over 100 components. Following the proposed method, the effort of a specific component change of the powertrain can be estimated quickly due to the stored data in the system model.

The impact of engineering changes on materials planning

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of the impact of engineering changes on the materials planning process.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a conceptual discussion and empirical data from a case study of a supply chain in the automotive industry, including end producers (two OEM companies) and first, second and third tier suppliers.FindingsA framework comprising the situational dimensions of the engineering change was derived from the conceptual discussion and described in terms of product, supply, manufacturing, demand and materials planning characteristics. The empirical study shows the characteristics of the engineering change in the case company and how these have both positive and negative, as well as direct and indirect, influences on the materials scrap, administrative and transport/handling costs. The impact of the actual materials planning strategies is also shown. Another finding was that different engineering change situations exist within the same company. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish between them and to use different planning strategies for each situation. The paper discusses how such differentiated strategies could be developed in the case companies and in general.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study focused on a specific product and materials planning situation in the automotive supply chain. Other products and materials planning situations resulting from the same engineering change would have different characteristics and should, therefore, be planned and controlled accordingly. However, the developed framework is a general one.Practical implicationsThe appropriateness of a materials planning strategy differs between different engineering change situations. This calls for differentiated materials planning strategies based on the engineering change situation and materials planning characteristics. The framework developed in this paper describes the entire materials planning environment in engineering change situations in order to understand when and how to differentiate materials planning strategies.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils a need for a framework that describes the impact on materials planning from an engineering change perspective. This framework is the first step in the designing of a normative guideline for differentiated materials planning strategies in an engineering change situation.