Manufacturing Production Line Research Articles

Introducing formal project management into a traditional, functionally structured organization

The traditional, functionally structured organization is well suited to a single process operation such as a manufacturing production line. However, this structure does not easily permit the crossfunctional coordination that is essential to successful project performance. The paper reviews two of the most common problems that are encountered when an attempt is made to introduce formal project management into a traditional, functionally structured organization. Possible actions for alleviating the problems are then described. These problems are (a) mistrust and conflict between functional groups and the project office, and (b) the selection and establishment of an appropriate project-team structure. These are primarily problems of resistance to change, and they are hence ‘people’ problems, rather than problems with the systems or practices themselves.

A comprehensive methodology for computer family selection

This article presents a selection methodology for a computer family. The proposed methodology incorporates the analytic hierarchy process into the evaluation procedure and helps organizations select a family of computers from a manufacturer's product line, rather than a specific computer model. The practice of computer selection and the existing solutions for a computer family selection procedure are briefly described. Then, Saaty's analytic hierarchy process is presented and incorporated into the selection methodology. The result is a structured and comprehensive methodology that allows decision makers to rank the alternatives more objectively and select a computer family that best fits the needs of the entire organization. Illustrative examples demonstrate the application of the various steps in the proposed methodology.

Competitive Interference and Consumer Memory for Advertising

This article reports the results of three experiments that examine memory interference in an advertising context. In Experiment 1, consumer memory for a brand's advertising was inhibited as a result of subsequent exposure to ads for other products in that manufacturer's product line and ads for competing brands in the product class. Experiment 2 demonstrates analogous proactive interference effects. The results of Experiment 3 indicate that the presence of advertising for competitive brands changes the relationship between ad repetition and consumer memory. Repetition had a positive effect on recall only when there was little or no advertising for similar products.

China 10-Point Patent Checklist: Integrating patents into an overall business strategy for a Western manufacturing entity in China

The protection of intellectual property (IP) involved with manufactured goods comprises many aspects: Without even touching upon patents, these aspects include trade secrets and trademark protection, both very important in the classic protection of a pioneer manufacturer's product line and reputation. Yet it is well known that in China, Western companies have had challenges using trade secrets to safeguard IP. Trademark protection also has weaknesses, particularly as competitors often use Chinese marks that are very similar to the trademark – a situation that is difficult to control with typical trademark remedies. The China 10-Point Patent Checklist (Checklist) provides only starting points or guidelines for technology-based outsourcing operations – including biotechnology companies – doing business in China. The Checklist does not address comprehensive enforcement strategies such as deciding where to bring an action: in the United States (or Japan, Germany or another applicable importing country) under Western laws and Western patents, in China itself or in both countries.

A Tachometer-Accelerometer-Vibrometer for Instrument-Gyroscope Testing

This paper gives an account of the development, operating principles, and use of a possibly unique instrument that has been and is of considerable value on instrument-gyroscope manufacturing and repair production lines. It is used to indicate gyroscope-rotor speed when the rotor is brought up to 1,000 rpm for bearing adjustment. Then, by the turn of a switch, the instrument indicates the rate of deceleration as the bearing is adjusted, thus permitting accurate adjustment of bearing pressures. A third position of the same selector switch gives tachometer operation up to 15,000 rpm for vibration tests. Excessive vibration is indicated visibly and audibly through another amplifier, independently of the selector-switch position.