Autor: Christian Fuchs

Companies continuously take a chance in establishing international production facilities. However, the process of selecting a new site is yet far from being part of the daily business. Even international operating companies still have to face a considerable set of challenges regarding appropriate methods. The following article presents an approach that supports an efficient selection of suitable suites.

The design of cross-enterprise production processes can be significantly supported by the systematic usage of process modeling methodologies. The following paper shows current and future research work concerning the Integrated Production Process Model (IPPM). Major improvements are related to the integration both of physical and non-physical products and the closed description of cross enterprise production processes. An integrated modeling methodology based on a predefined process module library supports the design process.

In today’s competitive environment, product enhancing technical services (service products) are increasingly perceived as success factors in the production industry. Consequentially, there is a need for practically oriented models for systematic service product design. This paper defines service products and describes their functions and corresponding design dimensions. Furthermore, a recently developed phase model for systematic service product design is introduced, based on which an approach for the design of technical product service systems is presented. The approach aims at exploiting the largely unused potentials of the distribution and service network partners with which many production companies work together.

Due to the dynamic production environment with its multiple fast changing influences, planning and reconfiguration cycles in production have become shorter. In this context, changeability and flexibility of production systems are major factors for success. The paper defines changeability and describes flexibility as major base for changeability. With the concept of Production Projects an innovative and promising concept is introduced that supports the systematic optimization of flexibility and that links the lifecycles of products and production. Furthermore, the Flexibility Mode and Effect Analysis (FlexMEA), on which the systematic analysis and optimisation of flexibility is based, is presented.