Mats Jackson

Mälardalen University | MDH · School of Innovation, Design and Engineering

This study investigates the achievement of information consensus and the reduction of equivocality in process innovations. Drawing on the operations management literature, a new framework to guide information consensus in the reduction of equivocality in process innovations is proposed. The analysis is based on a real-time case study in the heavy v...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the selection of decision-making approaches at manufacturing companies when implementing process innovations. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews the current understanding of decision structuredness for determining a decision-making approach and conducts a case study based on an interactiv...

To enable the production of high product variety, mix flexibility in assembly systems is of paramount importance for manufacturing companies. Mixed-product assembly lines (MPALs) are growing as the key means of realizing mix flexibility in many manufacturing sectors, as they absorb volume fluctuations and offer high product variety. With the increa...

Increased competition and globalization motivate us to join forces to enhance the impact of the research conducted. Collaboration between organizations with different views can, however, be difficult to manage and needs awareness and skills to meet different expecta-tions. This article will consider both a mutual industrial and academic perspective...

This paper presents challenges of using discrete event simulation when supporting decision in early stages of production system design, when significant changes are introduced. It was based on three real-time case studies performed at one manufacturing company during 2014–2016. Challenges in the cases were mapped to previous literature, pointing ou...

The aim of this handbook is to raise awareness of the differently organised systems when collaborations are to be set up between companies and universities. By presenting experiences from industrial researchers this handbook will be useful for persons that are going to work in a collaborative setting, regardless of whether they come from a company...

The purpose of this study is to explore the current available practices of feedback loops at different phases in the industrialization process. Although literature highlights the impact of feedback loops for both product and production systems development, there is limited research about how firms utilize the concept of feedback loops in the indust...

Purpose The overall purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse knowledge integration in manufacturing technology development projects required to build competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal case study has been conducted at a Swedish manufacturing company by following a manufacturing technology development proje...

Purpose The recent shift towards accommodating flexibility in manufacturing companies and the complexity resulting from product variety highlight the significance of flexible assembly systems and designing products for them. This paper aims to provide insight into the requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design from the assembly...

Developing a mixed-product assembly line (MPAL) is an elaborate task due to the complexity raised by product variety. This paper proposes that securing similar assembly interfaces across distinct product families is an essential requirement of MPALs which facilitates flexibility and reduces complexity. The concept of similar assembly interfaces has...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the development of a strategically integrated product and production system portfolio could be enabled by the concept of reconfigurable manufacturing. In previous research, several critical challenges related to developing production system portfolios have been identified, but it has not been investig...

A tenet of production system design is to increase a manufacturing company's competitiveness by introducing novel processes, technologies, and products. However, uncertainties exist regarding the actual benefits that can be attained when novelty and change are introduced into a production system. Addressing this issue, this paper explores how manuf...

Industry is a key player in the transition to a sustainable society and academia can support this transition by conducting relevant research and transferring knowledge to practice. This paper complements operations management methods by presenting a cocreative approach on two levels; a model on a conceptual level and the operationalisation of this...

Many companies have adopted stage-gate models to manage different types of development projects, which can vary in degree of newness. Currently, there is limited research on how the development projects, stage-gate models and degree of newness are correlated in practice from a production perspective. Based on a case study at a manufacturing company...

The need for new products to suit differentiated customer needs and shorter product life-cycles, forces manufacturers to change or modify products and production systems at more frequent intervals. The objective of this paper is to discuss management of newness within assembly system design in the vehicle industry. Based on a case study covering fo...

Effective production systems are necessary for companies to achieve competitiveness in manufacturing, and the production system design process is fundamental to meet this goal. Discrete event simulation is a tool that can support the production system design process. However, few empirical studies have shown the use of this tool prior to the verifi...

Mälardalen Univerity is characterised by its close collaboration with companies and with the public sector in the region. A main strategic directions of the university is to develop co-production with partner companies, expressed in the university vision “A Strong MDH – the Coproducing University”. The concept ’co-production’ is in this paper used...

Exploration and exploitation capabilities are both important within Operations as means for improvement when managed separately, and for establishing dynamic improvement capabilities when combined in balance. However, it is unclear what exploration and exploitation capabilities imply in improvement and development work within an Operations context....

In today’s fast-changing global market, using mixed-product assembly lines (MPALs) and mixed-model assembly lines (MMALs) allows manufacturing companies to be flexible and to maintain their competitive edge through product variety. Balancing and sequencing issues have been recognized as the main challenges of MPALs and MMALs, but other practical ne...

The increasing demands for product variety have directed manufacturing companies towards accommodating flexibility by establishing mixed-product and mixed-model assembly lines. However, since greater variety leads to increased complexity, establishing these assembly lines becomes complicated. By conducting a case study, this paper investigates the...

Various ever-changing market demands have propelled manufacturing companies to offer product variety in an efficient and timely manner. Assembly as a key stage of manufacturing process is used to realise product variety through establishing mixed-product assembly systems. Although establishing a flexible mixed-product assembly system which both off...

The major challenge of today’s manufacturing industry in tackling demands for a wider range of products with short life-cycle times and meeting customisation requirements has drawn considerable attention towards flexibility in manufacturing systems. As a prominent part of a manufacturing system, an assembly system provides a platform for increasing...

The purpose of the research presented in this paper has been to characterize flexibility in lean mixed model assembly lines through exploring mechanisms used to achieve flexibility. The study combines a literature review and a multiple case study in two manufacturing companies. Scenarios of volume, mix and operation flexibility, as well as flexibil...

Growing operational complexity and higher variety of products require flexibility in assembly. Despite its many benefits flexibility is a complex concept that requires evaluation to harness its full potential. This study uses virtual verification tools as enablers of the decision making process for production system design of a flexible multi-produ...

Due to the major advantages such as reduced time to market and improved quality at lowered cost, the principles of design for assembly capabilities and concurrent engineering are of great significance when developing new products. However, identifying assembly requirement specifications and considering them in New Product Development (NPD) in a tim...

As a prominent part of manufacturing system, assembly system provides a platform for increasing efficiency while delivering various market demands. However, due to the lack of a unified and clear definition of flexibility in assembly systems, the recognition of optimal flexibility in assembly system without clashing with efficiency still remains el...

The use of automation can increase competitiveness but does not guarantee advantageous results. The right choice of technology and correct implementation and use is the key to a successful outcome. This in turn puts great demands on how automation development projects are managed. The aim of this paper is to make a comparison between industrial nee...

The current fierce competition within the manufacturing industry throughout the world is a result of globalization and dynamic changes in the market. This new era within the production world requires shorter lead times, integrated logistics, capabilities regarding handling changes in product volumes and variety, as well as conformity to environment...

It is important for the manufacturing industry to become more innovative. Doing what we always have done is not enough. External pressure and the required speed of change, requires industry to improve the management of incremental and radical improvement work. There is thus a need for new methods, tools, and processes to improve the innovative capa...

The purpose of the research presented in this paper has been to analyze flexibility needs and enablers in assembly systems. The methodology used for the research has been a literature review and a case study at a Swedish manufacturing company. Flexibility as a competitive factor has been shown to be needed in order to satisfy the changing demands,...

Manufacturing Industry as an important part of European and Swedish economy faces new challenges with the daily growing global competition. An enabler of overcoming these challenges is a rapid transforming to a value-based focus. Investment in innovation tools for production system development is a crucial part of that focus which helps the compani...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify how industrial robotics fits into lean manufacturing systems. This paper presents results from case studies where Swedish and Japanese manufacturing industries have been compared in order to identify differences on how advanced manufacturing technologies and industrial robotics are utilized. Desig...

Globalization and the increasing challenge from low-wage competitors highlight the need for European industries to enhance their ability to develop and manufacture products competitively. As a consequence, many manufacturing industries are trying to implement the unique management principles and practices of the Toyota Motor Corporation’s with many...

On the background of a changing industrial landscape and key elements of the realization of complex integrated products, this paper discuss and explore an “innovative” approach towards product concept development methodologies by focusing on creativity, multidisciplinary teams, and decision-making. Throughout 2006-2009 a product realization methodo...

Long term growth and future jobs in society rely on that industry is able to realize new sustainable product ideas and develop these to profitable products in the market. This encompasses both short time-to-market and continuous development and adaption of existing products and processes to improve productivity. Innovative skills are required in bo...

Today’s business environment is dominated by change and uncertainty, and success within manufacturing is becoming more and more difficult to sustain. Also, many European manufacturing companies experience low availability of human resources and recruitment problems. One way to handle this challenge and improve a company’s efficiency could be to inv...

The globalization and the increasing challenge from low-wage competitors highlight the need for European industries to enhance their ability to develop and manufacture products competitively. Meeting customer demands requires a high degree of flexibility, low-cost/low-volume manufacturing skills and an ability to offer short delivery times. In orde...

The need for environmental sustainability and a globally increasing manufacturing, drive a gigantic need for technology and strategies that will reduce CO2 emissions globally. The paper reflects on the situation for Swedish research and industry, with a focus on technology for environmentally sustainable manufacturing. Sweden has competitive equipm...

Meeting customer demands require manufacturing systems with a high degree of flexibility, low-cost/low-volume manufacturing skills, as well as short delivery times. On top of these challenges, there is a gigantic need within industry for technologies and strategies that will reduce CO2 emissions globally. In this challenging environment there is a...

The need for environmental sustainability and a globally increasing manufacturing, drive a gigantic need for technology and strategies that will reduce CO2 emissions globally. The paper reflects on the situation for Swedish research and industry, with a focus on technology for environmentally sustainable manufacturing. Sweden has competitive equipm...

It is increasingly important to locate manufacturing activities close to the most relevant competence or the most interesting market. The possibility to easily and quickly move manufacturing capacity is thus becoming more important. Hence, the demand for mobile manufacturing has increased and requires solutions for a quick, rational, and economical...

Change and uncertainty dominate today’s business environment. The competition is growing harder as the markets are becoming truly global. Costumers are becoming more and more demanding, expecting to get product at the best price with immediate availability. Flexibility and low-cost manufacturing skills together with short delivering times are a nec...

The objective of this paper is to present examples of how to realize a flexible and reconfigurable production system. An ongoing research project in Sweden called Factory-in-a-Box will be presented which is one research initiative within this area. The purpose of the Factory-in-a-Box project is to develop solutions for mobile production capacity on...

The “Factory-in-a-Box” concept is currently being developed in a Swedish research project and consists of standardized production modules that are installed in a container and transported by e.g. a truck or by train. The modules may rapidly be combined into production systems that can be reconfigured for a new product and/or scaled to handle new vo...

Production efficiency within the manufacturing industry averages on 60% and there is large consensus that 80% is a realistic goal. This makes loss of production capacity the single largest loss in a products life cycle costs [1]. Reducing down time within production systems is therefore essential for increased profit. Hence, experience and knowledg...

As more companies have started seeing the maintenance department as a profit generating function more focus has been directed on different maintenance strategies. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) are two of the most well known maintenance strategies that in the last 20 years have been used frequently in...

Productivity is a key weapon for manufacturing companies to stay competitive in a continuous growing global market. Increased productivity can be achieved through increased availability. This has directed focus on different maintenance types and maintenance strategies. Increased availability through efficient maintenance can be achieved through les...

Many sub-suppliers are interested in closer integration with main suppliers for product development. However, main suppliers have much work that needs to be coordinated, and close integration with suppliers is used only when it is required, and when additional value is created through integration. The main objective of this paper, is therefore, to...

The competition of today is truly global with fragmented markets and customers expecting to get the best product at the best price with immediate availability. One possibility to increase competition is by establishing an effective cooperation to suppliers and other manufacturing companies. By networking horizontally and vertically, thereby establi...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how discrete event simulation can support the growing need of information in the production system. Agility, one key to future competition, is the ability to quickly manage and compensate for disturbances and uncertainty. It is achieved by combining flexible production technologies with a flexible and mot...

Today's business environment is dominated by change and global competition is diminishing defined markets. Manufacturing success and survival are becoming more difficult to sustain and it is recognized that low cost and high quality alone are not enough to sustain firm's competitive position in market place. Market uncertainty and frequent introduc...

Change and uncertainty dominate today's business environment. Meeting customer demands require a high degree of flexibility, low-cost/low volume-manufacturing skills, and short delivery times. In this highly competitive environment there is a great need to identify and develop unique manufacturing capabilities within industry. This paper will prese...