Uncertainty Management in Advanced Manufacturing Implementation: The Case for Learning Factories

Abstract Novel manufacturing concepts and technologies emerge in the environment of the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, thus requiring new skills and abilities. However, technologies are associated with uncertainties related to technical specifications of products and production processes. Being able to identify and create strategies to overcome uncertainties is still a challenge to Industry 4.0. In this paper, we argue that Learning Factories are an effective solution to deal with new technologies and learning how to mitigate uncertainties. Learning Factories are testbeds and educational spaces that operate as a prototype for new concepts and technologies. Therefore, the questions that guide this paper are: What are the main uncertainties in Advanced Manufacturing? How can Learning Factories mitigate them? By describing a case, we will discuss concepts to mitigate uncertainties in a Learning Factory implementation.

[1]  Reiner Anderl,et al.  Additive manufacturing scenarios for distributed production of spare parts , 2017 .

[2]  Xiaohang Yue,et al.  Emerging production optimization issues in supply chain systems , 2016, Ann. Oper. Res..

[3]  Fernando Tobal Berssaneti,et al.  A review of the soft side in project management: concept, trends and challenges , 2017 .

[4]  Robert Phaal,et al.  How entrepreneurs manage collective uncertainties in innovation ecosystems , 2017 .

[5]  André Leme Fleury,et al.  An overview of the literature on technology roadmapping (TRM): Contributions and trends , 2013 .

[6]  Grzegorz J. Nalepa,et al.  Uncertain context data management in dynamic mobile environments , 2017, Future Gener. Comput. Syst..

[7]  Zhen Hu,et al.  Uncertainty quantification and management in additive manufacturing: current status, needs, and opportunities , 2017, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

[8]  Malte Brettel,et al.  How Virtualization, Decentralization and Network Building Change the Manufacturing Landscape: An Industry 4.0 Perspective , 2014 .

[9]  Mark Rice,et al.  Implementing a Learning Plan to Counter Project Uncertainty , 2008, IEEE Engineering Management Review.

[10]  Rhonda K. Reger,et al.  A Content Analysis of the Content Analysis Literature in Organization Studies: Research Themes, Data Sources, and Methodological Refinements , 2007 .

[11]  Farrokh Mistree,et al.  Reliable product-service supply chains for repairable products , 2016 .

[12]  Eberhard Abele,et al.  Forty Sixth CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems 2013 A systematic approach on developing action-oriented , competency-based Learning Factories , 2013 .

[13]  Paul Witherell,et al.  Identifying uncertainty in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing models. , 2016, Journal of mechanical design.

[14]  Elaine M. Bailey,et al.  Diagnosing Unforeseeable Uncertainty in a New Venture , 2007 .

[15]  Hoda A. ElMaraghy,et al.  Product Family Design for Changeable Learning Factories , 2014 .

[16]  Tomoatsu Shibata,et al.  Research into ambidextrous R&D in product development – new product development at a precision device maker: a case study , 2013, Technol. Anal. Strateg. Manag..

[17]  Sandro Wartzack,et al.  Shaping the digital twin for design and production engineering , 2017 .

[18]  Penny M. Beile,et al.  Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation , 2005 .

[19]  Eberhard Abele,et al.  Learning Factories for Research, Education, and Training☆ , 2015 .

[20]  Kurt Matyas,et al.  Total immersion: hands and heads-on training in a learning factory for comprehensive industrial engineering education , 2013 .

[21]  Michael T. Pich,et al.  Managing project uncertainty: from variation to chaos , 2002, IEEE Engineering Management Review.

[22]  Behzad Esmaeilian,et al.  Uncertainty Management in Remanufacturing Decisions: A Consideration of Uncertainties in Market Demand, Quantity, and Quality of Returns , 2015 .

[23]  Christoph H. Loch,et al.  Selectionism and Learning in Projects with Complexity and Unforeseeable Uncertainty , 2004, Manag. Sci..

[24]  Luiz Fernando C. S. Durão,et al.  Internet of Things process selection: AHP selection method , 2018, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.