Product Development Cycle Research Articles

Innovative design of a helmet based on reverse engineering and 3D printing

Based on reverse engineering, product innovation design and 3D-printing technology, a technical route for the rapid design and development of helmet products has been constructed, and optimize the product production process, reduce the product development cycle, improve production efficiency, and complete the personalized design of helmets to improve the comfort of personnel wearing. The point cloud data of the physical model were collected by the 3D scanner, and imported to the reverse processing software (Geomagic Studio) for data processing, surface reconstruction and surface fitting. In this way, the section curve of the repaired head surface was extracted. Then, the extracted information was sent to the forward design software (SolidWorks) through the parameter exchange command for the forward design of the helmet, and the 3D model was subsequently printed. Effectively solve the traditional design method for complex surface modelling design and manufacturing, forward software measurement deviation, modelling design process is complex and tedious, time-consuming and labor-intensive, cannot well meet the product design, processing and manufacturing process is relatively cumbersome, long production cycle and other design defects, speed up enterprise product development, shorten the cycle and reduce costs. Furthermore, the adoption of 3D printing technology to output the designed 3D digital model effectively shortens the product development cycle.

Re-analysis method for inversion of block matrix based on change threshold

In the mechanical design industry, it is very time-consuming to convert actual engineering design problems into finite element models, and it is repeatedly modified during the product design process. Each time the structure is modified, computer simulation analysis is repeated, and the product development cycle becomes longer. Therefore, in this paper, a re-analysis theoretical method based on the inversion of the block matrix based on the change threshold is proposed to quickly obtain responses with different accuracy after the structure is modified according to the initial analysis. By modifying the size of the change threshold, the accuracy and calculation time of the reanalysis results are controlled. This reanalysis method shortens a lot of calculation time under the premise of controllable response accuracy. In this paper, numerical calculations are given to show the accuracy of the response under different thresholds, and the efficiency of this method is proved by the finite element model under the same accuracy.

Coevolution of digitalisation, organisations and Product Development Cycle

Over the past 70 years, product design has undergone many important changes due to the impact of contemporary digital technologies (i.e. digital design).To support digital design and information flow throughout the product lifecycle, the digital-driven technologies currently in use rely on the evolution of CAD and PLM systems to address new design and manufacturing challenges generated by the new era of 4.0 digital transformation.This paper will discuss the past and present coevolution and shortcomings within industrial organisations, the digital technologies employed in the product development cycle and will illustrate the current challenges and future prospects of the digital thread for design.

FPGA Prototyping Using the STEMlab Board With Application on Frequency Response Analysis of Electric Machinery

This paper presents a complete procedure on prototyping using the FPGA of the STEMlab board and is intended to serve as a guide for developers, students and researchers interested in speeding up their projects and experiments. Due to the reconfigurability of its internal circuitry, being as simple as a code modification (using hardware description language), FPGA technology allows testing of several controller topologies and/or parameters without the need of any physical change at hardware. This feature allows a much faster development cycle of either commercial products or academic experiments. Besides the reconfigurability of the FPGA, the STEMlab board also offers the advantage of several peripheral already available, which includes, among others, high speed analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, Ethernet communication and a dual-core ARM processor capable of running a Linux operating system. In this paper, a didactic method of use of this board is presented, from getting started to a complete academic and industrial application: detection of early damage on an induction motor using frequency response analysis.

Knowledge mapping omni channel system for the diagnosis and the treatment of traditional Chinese medicines based on an identification analysis

In this study, centring on the bases of TCM diagnosis and treatment (e.g., Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan and Zhongshan), the digital control level of the whole life cycle of TCM diagnosis and treatment was significantly elevated. In addition, the online monitoring of diagnosis and treatment status and the tracing of the whole diagnosis and treatment process were optimized, as an attempt to achieve the safety and control of diagnosis and treatment, as well as to rapidly and efficiently research and develop TCM products. The research and development cycle of TCM products was shortened by employing the technology of identification analysis and the non-structured database of Neo 4. Moreover, the platform for R & D and health management of Chinese medicine was established and improved, feedback of the diagnosis and treatment effect data was given timely, and the R & D optimization of new Chinese medicine products was supported.

Analysis of Strength Stiffness and Modes for Bus Body Frame

In this paper, the bus body frame is made as a research object. The finite element model of bus body frame is built in Hypermesh software. The static strength and stiffness of bus body frame under four typical working conditions are calculated by Nastran solver. Modal analysis is carried out by Lanczos method, low natural frequency and vibration mode are obtained. The analysis of results show that the strength and stiffness of bus body frame must meet design requirement, and the modal frequency is also within the design range. According to finite element analysis, the development cycle of new product is reduced, and theoretical basis for later model improvement and optimal design is provided.

Usability in the Product Design Process Based on the Intelligent Microprocessor

The sharing and reuse of product design experience knowledge is beneficial to shorten the product development cycle and improve product quality. The intelligent microprocessor has greatly changed the way of interaction between people and computers. This article mainly studies the usability analysis in the product design process based on the intelligent microprocessor. The experiment must first perform initial finite element calculations, and the purpose is to complete the data collection. The collection of evaluation indicators is carried out with the help of perceptual vocabulary classification, and the hierarchical inference method is used to build a tree‐like analysis chart. After the indicator collection is completed, the Likert scale method is used to screen the indicators, and the evaluators will rate the selected indicators according to their importance. The Petri net modeling method is used to model the product design process, which mainly includes task element definition, task module division, task planning, and task allocation. Finally, the usability test of the product is carried out. Experimental data shows that the probability of completing the design task within 30 days is 27.74%. The results show that the intelligent microprocessor shortens the time‐consuming process of product design and at the same time enhances product usability.

Designing supplier selection strategies under COVID-19 constraints for industrial environments

COVID-19 has been impacting worldwide supply chains causing interruption, closure of production and distribution. This impact has been drastic on the supplier side and, as a consequence of disruptions, strong reductions of production have been estimated. Such a circumstance forces companies to propose innovative best practices of supply chain risk management aimed at facing vulnerability generated by COVID-19 and pursuing industrial improvements in manufacturing and production environments. As a part of supply chain strategy, supplier selection criteria should be revised to include pandemic-related risks. This article aims to propose an answer to such a problem. In detail, a comprehensive tool designed as a hybrid combination of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods is suggested to manage important stages connected to the production development cycle and to provide companies with a structured way to rank risks and easily select their suppliers. The main criteria of analysis will be first identified from the existent literature. Risks related to COVID-19 will be then analysed in order to elaborate a comprehensive list of potential risks in the field of interest. The Best Worst Method (BWM) will be first used to calculate criteria weights. The Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) will be then applied to rank and prioritize risks affecting suppliers. The effectiveness of the approach will be tested through a case study in the sector of automotive industry. The applicability of the designed MCDM framework can be extended also to other industrial sectors of interest.

Construction of Enterprise Management Business Model Based on Internet of Things RFID Technology

This paper proposes a new tag anticollision algorithm. On the basis of the common query tree algorithm, this algorithm increases the number of query bits, so that the algorithm has a faster tag identification amount in the state of full time slots. Collision bit and total response bit are used to estimate the number of tags, and combined with the highest collision bit to determine whether it is continuous, the number of query crosses is adaptively adjusted, and a variable bit dynamic query tree tag anticollision algorithm is designed. In conjunction with the settlement environment, improvements have also been made in the status of the identified tags. The new algorithm has improved progress in reducing idle time slots and reducing search depth. Under the premise of ensuring stability, the recognition efficiency of the algorithm is improved. From the perspective of different dimensions of corporate network and marketing dynamic capabilities, based on the strength of network relationships and product development processes, it can promote value creation model innovation in business model innovation. That is, when the network partners communicate very frequently, they can provide new ideas and resources for enterprise product development and creation and then can better integrate innovation through product innovation, quality improvement, product development cycle shortening, and development advance management. Typed products and resources are put into the operation process of the industrial chain of product output to better create new products for customers and lay the foundation for realizing the innovation of corporate value creation models. Based on the network density and customer relationship process, it can promote the value proposition model innovation in the business model innovation. Enterprise business model innovation should not only pay attention to the collaborative innovation between different elements within the enterprise but also pay attention to the overall coordination mechanism of the company’s external interest network, pay attention to the different value propositions of stakeholders through the enterprise network, and cultivate the enterprise’s rapid response to market changes. Network centrality has the greatest positive impact on the supply chain process. The company develops new products, manages customer relationships across departments, and implements supply chain management across departments.

玉米收获机分禾与摘穗装置性能仿真分析

In the design of corn combine harvester, there is a high demand for customization and diversification in China. Aiming at the problems of backward design method, lack of design knowledge and long product development cycle, the discrete beam method is used to establish the corn plant model. The model of sub-device and the vertical and horizontal roller picking device is established by using UG, and the virtual prototype model is established by using ADAMS software. Meanwhile, the simulation experiments on the kinematics and dynamics performance of the separating device, the corn plant and the picking roller are carried out, and the simulation results are verified by field experiments. Through this method, the design parameters of the separating device and the picking roller are serialized, the method of evaluating the separating performance and the picking performance is provided, and the development and design cycle is shortened, which provides certain reference and theoretical basis for the development and design of the corn harvester header.

Segmenting consumers based on sensory acceptance tests in sensory labs, immersive environments, and natural consumption settings

Every year, food manufacturers spend billions of dollars on sensory acceptance tests in new food product development processes. These tests are either carried out in sensory labs or in natural consumption environments (field tests). Both types have merits, but also limitations. Research has started investigating whether tests in immersive consumption environments can combine both settings’ advantages by achieving high levels of generalizability, while also accelerating the product development cycles and reducing their costs. Prior research is of limited help in this regard, since it only considered consumers’ mean acceptance ratings rather than comparing consumer segments as commonly done in industry practice. This disregard of segmentation results is problematic, because consumer segments’ sharp differences in terms of product acceptances are not necessarily manifested in different aggregated mean acceptance scores. We address this concern by presenting the results of six acceptance tests of two product categories, which show that consumer segments derived from an immersive environment overlap more strongly with those derived from a natural consumption environment than those from a sensory lab. We also identify specific sample size thresholds at which immersive consumption environments outperform sensory lab settings for rather context-sensitive and rather context-insensitive products. Our results emphasize the importance of considering an appropriate environment when testing products for sensory acceptance during new food product development. Companies introducing highly context-sensitive products could specifically benefit from immersive test environments.

Optimization of transport processes in supply chains of epicenter hypermarket network

Negative changes in the environment, leading to public pressure and environmental legislation require fundamental changes in the industrial practice of business. Survey of the environment in 22 countries found that: in half of the countries surveyed, the environment is considered to be one of the three most serious problems of concern to society. In most countries, the overwhelming number of citizens surveyed indicated that the state of the environment had an impact on their health, and an even larger proportion stated that the environment had an impact on the health of their children. The article deals with the problem of increasing the level of environmental friendliness of transportation in supply chains. With the modern requirements in the integrated green supply chain, the reduction of the harmful impact of production and logistics activities on nature should be considered at all stages of the technological cycle of product development and its promotion through the supply chain. It is determined that the key technologies for reducing the anthropogenic impact on the environment are the optimization of transport processes due to the reduction of distance during transportation at all stages of the supply chain; the increase in the use of local resources (reducing fuel costs and harmful emissions); the use of modern environmentally friendly energy-efficient vehicles. The basic principles and approaches of the consolidated cargo transportation model have been substantiated, which balances environmental and economic problems and their testing has been carried out in the supply chain of the Epicenter hypermarket chain

Lifetime Prediction of Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes Using a Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Network

Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) play an important role in inactivating novel coronavirus pneumonia, but the lack of rapid lifetime prediction can easily cause untimely failure detection, long product development cycles, and high costs. This study predicts the lifetime of UV LEDs based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN). First, the equipment setup was designed to conduct an aging test to obtain a predicted length of life for the UV LED samples using a Weibull distribution. Next, LSTM RNN was employed to predict the lifetime of the UV LEDs based on the radiation power degradation. The results were then compared with those from nonlinear least squares (NLS) regression recommended by the IESNA TM-21 industry standard. Finally, the robustness of the two methods was analyzed by changing the starting times of the predictions. The results showed that the LSTM RNN proposed in this letter reveals not only a 29.7% lower lifetime prediction error compared with the NLS regression, but also a more stable robustness. Thus, the LSTM RNN method is found to be more accurate and more robust in predicting the lifetime of UV LEDs.

Failure criterion for PA 12 multi-jet fusion additive manufactured parts

Abstract Offering the possibility of producing complex geometries in a compressed product development cycle, it comes as no surprise that additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have become attractive to multiple industries, including the automotive and aerospace segments. Unfortunately, the ubiquitous stratified build approach used by these technologies is responsible for the pain point that hinders their adoption in production of parts that will be subjected to complex loads: the junction of adjacent layers tends to have subpar mechanical properties when compared to those of the bulk material, and thus, assessing the structural integrity of an AM part becomes difficult. In the advent of the industrialization of series production of AM parts for the automotive industry, the necessity to understand and predict how and why AM parts fail under complex stress states becomes of paramount importance. This paper applies a failure criterion for materials with anisotropic properties with stress interactions, to predict failure of multi-jet fusion (MJF) parts manufactured using polyamide 12 powder. The results are compared to the failure surfaces of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) components. Special test specimens were designed, produced, and tested to measure failure under tensile, compressive, shear, and combined loading scenarios. The results show that much like SLS, MJF parts have a notable difference in tensile and compressive strengths. Unlike SLS however, MJF parts do not exhibit a strong interaction between stresses when under combined loading. The experimental data shows an excellent fit with the failure criterion, precisely capturing the strength behavior of MJF printed parts under complex loading conditions. Of great interest in this study is that the stress interactions with MJF parts were determined to be negligible when compared to SLS specimens, which emphasizes the fact that when performing stress analyses, each one of these powder-based additive manufacturing techniques must be treated differently.

An efficient macro model for CMOS-MEMS thermal wind speed sensor

In this paper, we propose a thermal wind speed sensor Verilog-A model with thermal-fluid-electric hybrid characteristics. Because the structure of the thermal wind sensor and the interface circuit chip are designed separately, which cannot effectively carry out MEMS-IC (integrated circuit) co-simulation, the overall performance of the sensor and interface circuit chip is prone to large deviation. At the same time, the separation of MEMS structure and IC design process leads to long product development cycle and high cost. This paper proposes an improved simulation model by analyzing the behavior characteristics of the thermal wind speed sensor. The simulation model consists of 11 thermistors, 3 capacitors, a voltage-controlled voltage source, and a voltage-controlled current source. The Taylor series expansion of the differential equation of heat conduction is carried out, and then the thermistor and capacitor networks are established according to the corresponding relationship between the thermal parameters and the electrical parameters, including the thermal conduction unit, the convection unit and the heat capacity in the chip. The model fully considers the effects of various physical effects and parasitic effects, and is implemented using the hardware description language Verilog-A. The sensor and interface circuit can be simulated simultaneously to optimize the circuit design. It is beneficial to the integration of sensors and interface circuit, reducing the number of tape-outs, increasing the success rate, and reducing costs. The consistency between the simulation results and the experimental curves verified the correctness of the macro model. The behavior characteristics of constant power (CP) and constant temperature heating were described. In CP mode, the output voltage error is less than ± 6.5%, the chip temperature error is less than 4.0%. The presented modeling approach can be the basis for the development of complete MEMS-IC design technology library of thermal wind speed sensor, aiming at optimum designs of integrated thermal wind speed sensor.

Approximations for dynamic multi-class manufacturing systems with priorities and finite buffers

Capacity planning models for tactical to operational decisions in manufacturing systems require a performance evaluation component that relates demand processes with production resources and system state. Steady-state queueing models are widely used for such performance evaluations. However, these models typically assume stationary demand processes. With shorter new product development and life cycles, increasing customization, and constantly evolving customer preferences the assumption of stationary demand processes is not always reasonable. Nonstationary demand processes can capture the dynamic nature of modern manufacturing systems. The ability to analyze dynamic manufacturing systems with multiple products and finite buffers is essential for estimating throughput rates, throughput times, and work-in-process levels as well as evaluating the impact of proposed capacity plans and resource allocations. In this article, we present computationally efficient numerical approximations for the performance evaluation of dynamic multi-product manufacturing systems with priorities and finite buffers. The approximation breaks time into short periods, estimates throughput and arrival rates based on system status and current arrival processes, and then pieces the periods together through flow balance equations. The dynamic nature of product demands is modeled through non-homogeneous Poisson processes. The performance of these approximations is presented for practically sized flowshops and jobshops.

The Effect of Electronic Health Record Usability Redesign on Annual Screening Rates in an Ambulatory Setting.

Improving the usability of electronic health records (EHR) continues to be a focus of clinicians, vendors, researchers, and regulatory bodies. To understand the impact of usability redesign of an existing, site-configurable feature, we evaluated the user interface (UI) used to screen for depression, alcohol and drug misuse, fall risk, and the existence of advance directive information in ambulatory settings. As part of a quality improvement project, based on heuristic analysis, the existing UI was redesigned. Using an iterative, user-centered design process, several usability defects were corrected. Summative usability testing was performed as part of the product development and implementation cycle. Clinical quality measures reflecting rolling 12-month rates of screening were examined over 8 months prior to the implementation of the redesigned UI and 9 months after implementation. Summative usability testing demonstrated improvements in task time, error rates, and System Usability Scale scores. Interrupted time series analysis demonstrated significant improvements in all screening rates after implementation of the redesigned UI compared with the original implementation. User-centered redesign of an existing site-specific UI may lead to significant improvements in measures of usability and quality of patient care.

Presentation and Evaluation of a New Graduate Unit of Study in Engineering Product Development

Engineering education has a key role to play in equipping engineers with the design skills that they need to contribute to national competitiveness. Product design has been described as “the convergence point for engineering and design thinking and practices”, and courses in which students design, build, and test a product are becoming increasingly popular. A sound understanding of product development and the implications associated with developing a product have been strongly linked to sustainability outcomes. This paper presents an evaluation of a new Master level engineering unit offered at Deakin University in product development technology. The unit allowed the students an opportunity to engage with the entire product development cycle from the initial idea to prototyping and testing through strategic assessment, which drove the unit content and student learning. Within this, students were also afforded an opportunity to explore resource usage and subsequent minimisation. Student evaluation surveys over two successive years found that students were responsive to this type of learning and appreciated the opportunity to do hands-on work. Improved student effort and engagement indicate that the students likely had better learning outcomes, as compared to traditionally taught units.

Abstract IA16: Accelerating innovation for children with cancer in the new regulatory environment

Abstract Over the last 20 years, several pieces of regulation have been launched, in the US and in Europe, to mandate and incentivize the development of safe and effective medicines for children. It has been a success in several pediatric specialties such as rheumatology, infection diseases, cardiovascular diseases, allergy, and several rare pediatric diseases. In oncology, the landscape of pediatric drug development has significantly changed, but very few new anticancer medicines have been approved for the treatment of pediatric malignancies over the last 10 years as compared to the high number of anticancer drugs approved for the treatment of cancer in adults: dinutuximab for neuroblastoma, blinatumomab and tisagenlecleucel for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and larotrectinib for NTRK positive malignancies. So far, the regulations mandated the pediatric development of any drug if the indicated disease in adults occurred in children. If not, a waiver was issued and the company did not have to study the drug in children. In oncology, malignancies in children and in adults are different, but the same drugs are used to treat both, and often the same biologic alterations (targets) are found in both adult and pediatric malignancies. Too many oncology drugs have been waived. In addition, the pediatric trials of oncology products as part of Pediatric Investigation Plans and Pediatric Study Plans started late in the life cycle of product development and often close to or after the marketing authorization. There is a crucial need to improve and accelerate new drug development for children and adolescents with cancer. The goal is to drive pediatric oncology drug developments through science (using biology, preclinical evaluation, and precision medicine), to better meet patients’ unmet medical needs and to facilitate prioritization among all compounds in development. The FDA Race for Children Act is setting a new regulatory environment that will improve the situation by asking pediatric development of oncology products if their target is “directed at a molecular target that the Secretary determines to be substantially relevant to the growth or progression of a pediatric cancer.” In addition, over the last 5 years, the value of having all stakeholders, i.e. academia, parents, industry and regulators, working together has been demonstrated by ACCELERATE, the international multistakeholder platform (www.accelerate-platform.org). Accelerating innovation for pediatric cancers is urgently needed and feasible in the new regulatory environment and requires international cooperation of all stakeholders. Citation Format: Gilles Vassal. Accelerating innovation for children with cancer in the new regulatory environment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr IA16.

Rapid design and algorithm implementation for knitted sweater pattern

Sweater pattern design plays a crucial role in practical production, determining whether the finished products can meet the requirements of customers. In addition, pattern-designing is also a vital link in the production of sweaters, affecting the development cycle and final quality of products. For this reason, this work proposed two different kinds of algorithms for sweater pattern design: synchronous filling algorithm and asynchronous filling algorithm, so as to realise the rapid design of sweater pattern in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system by reducing the complex technique calculation. Firstly, the data structures of specifications and styles were established respectively based on the technological characteristics of sweaters, and then the algorithms for sweater pattern-generating were implemented by using C+ + programming technology. At last, the running time of each algorithm was tested to analyse the performances of the algorithms under the same filling scales and different filling scales, respectively. The results showed that the execution efficiency and stability of synchronous filling algorithm are better than that of asynchronous filling algorithm.