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This paper provides a systematic review of the Genetic Algorithm (GA)s proposed to solve planning and scheduling problems in Engineer-To-Order (ETO) contexts. Our review focuses on how the key characteristics of ETO projects affect both the problem studied and the GA algorithmic features. Typical ETO projects consist of one-of-a-kind products with complex structures and uncertain designs. A deep analysis of the papers published between 2000 and 2022 enables identifying 10 main characteristics of ETO projects, six activity types, 10 decision types, eight groups of constraints, and 10 optimisation objectives. Our study shows that none of the reported papers integrates all 10 ETO characteristics. The less studied ETO characteristics are incorporating design and engineering information in the problem definition and the design uncertainty. Our review also identifies 10 recurrent encoding formats and emphasises the most frequently used genetic operators. We observed that most planning and scheduling problems consider objectives and decisions related to product customisation or supply chain configuration yielding multi-objective problems. Most multi-objective GAs use a weighted sum or are based on NSGAII. Diversity maintenance methods, adaptive and parameter tunning mechanisms, or hybridisation with machine learning models are still not used in this context. A systematic review of genetic algorithms dedicated to industrial planning and scheduling Analysis on how the characteristics of ETO projects impact the design of genetic representation and operators Recommendation on approaches employed to reach high-quality solutions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sales and operations planning (S&OP) has emerged as a planning approach that integrates tactical level decisions across functions and supply chains while aligning day-to-day operations with long-term strategy through these decisions. The extant knowledge on S&OP has evolved primarily based on the needs of mass production contexts, and applications of S&OP in engineer-to-order (ETO) contexts have not been explored by previous research. Arguing that the cross-functionally coordinated planning enabled by S&OP can improve the effectiveness of the challenging and competitively critical tendering process, this paper develops an S&OP framework for the tactical planning process design to support delivery date setting in ETO contexts. The paper adopts a systematic literature review approach for identifying the main tactical planning activities managers in ETO companies should consider while designing the S&OP process and the information inputs required for performing and coordinating these planning activities. The identified planning activities and planning inputs are synthesised to develop the proposed S&OP framework for delivery date setting in ETO contexts. The proposed framework can support managers in assessing which tactical planning activities are strategically essential in their respective companies and redesigning or reconfiguring existing planning processes to address the planning needs of their environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research interest in topics related to production and supply chain planning and control in engineer-to-order (ETO) environments has grown significantly over the last three decades. One of the strategically important and challenging decision areas for planning and control in ETO environments is estimating and quoting feasible delivery dates and assessing the feasibility of customer-imposed delivery dates, collectively referred to as delivery date setting (DDS). While DDS has received substantial attention in literature, research supporting the process in ETO companies is fragmented – lacking clear guidelines for industrial practice and gaps to guide future research on the topic. To address these issues, this study systematically reviews literature supporting DDS in ETO environments, identifying tools and practices proposed in the extant literature, and proposing an agenda for future research. Findings suggest that most of the research has focused on developing planning and decision-support tools for tactical capacity planning to support reliable DDS, however, with a noticeable lack of alignment with industrial decision-support needs of ETO environments. Furthermore, despite previous research emphasising the importance of high levels of coordination and formalisation in the DDS process, there is a lack of research to guide practitioners in achieving high levels of coordination and formalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThe paper presents a new Lean Logistics tool specifically designed for Engineer and Design-To-Order (ETO and DTO) industrial environments. The new tool, namely Plan For Every Order (PFEO), conceptually derives from the well-known Plan For Every Part used in the automotive serial production context. PFEO is proposed as a tool for industrialization, focusing on the design and logistics optimization of internal material flows at ETO and DTO plants. In the paper, the principles, and concepts behind PFEO are presented and developed. The tool collects information on both suppliers and materials, improving both the management of materials and spaces and communication between the company and suppliers. The operability of the tool is proven in a real business case involving an shipyard. The PFEO has provided a solid database for the development of auxiliary monitoring and visualization tools, the application of which increases order in the warehouse and assembly areas and reduces costs and errors.

This paper presents a novel lean tool called Project Time Deployment (PTD) whose objectives are to classify, analyse, and eliminate losses in order to reduce production lead time in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environments. By combining two already known approaches, i.e. the Manufacturing Critical-path Time and the Manufacturing Cost Deployment, PTD identifies the critical losses affecting the project, focusing on the business processes where causal losses occur, and providing opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness by reducing or even eliminating them. In ETO projects, the lead time and respecting deadlines are of paramount importance and they are often threatened by several different losses that are difficult to compare. Companies thus need a tool to identify the losses and the tasks where they occur, quantifying them in terms of a single dimension: the time. PTD was designed using a methodology based on four steps: analysis of current solutions, concept design and prototype, proof of concept and validation, and definition of future researches. It was also validated in an industrial implementation concerning an Engineering, Procurement & Construction company operating in the steel industry, and led to an approximate 24% reduction in lead time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

he literature on Lean Manufacturing has predominantly emphasized mass production and batch systems, leaving a considerable knowledge gap regarding the challenges and considerations specific to implementing Lean principles in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing contexts. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the interaction between Project Cost Deployment (PCD), a tailored method for ETO environments, and the digital technologies of Industry 4.0. The research aims to identify the synergies between Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, investigating how their integration can enhance productivity, quality, and competitiveness in the manufacturing industry. While Lean Manufacturing is adept at addressing loss reduction and elimination across various industrial contexts, Industry 4.0 leverages digital technologies to revolutionize manufacturing operations and enable more efficient and intelligent production systems. The paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the PCD method through an industrial application involving an international company specializing in customized paper converting machinery and lines. By utilizing PCD in conjunction with Industry 4.0 technologies, analysts were able to uncover hidden losses and quantify them from an economic perspective, while also evaluating the potential impacts of improvement activities. The results highlight the significance of synergizing Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 for ETO environments, offering valuable insights into how digital technologies can be effectively integrated into Lean principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper presents Quick Changeover Design (QCD), which is a structured methodological approach for Original Equipment Manufacturers to drive and support the design of machines in terms of rapid changeover capability. Design/methodology/approach: To improve the performance in terms of set up time, QCD addresses machine design from a single-minute digit exchange of die (SMED). Although conceived to aid the design of completely new machines, QCD can be adapted to support for simple design upgrades on pre-existing machines. The QCD is structured in three consecutive steps, each supported by specific tools and analysis forms to facilitate and better structure the designers' activities. Findings: QCD helps equipment manufacturers to understand the current and future needs of the manufacturers' customers to: (1) anticipate the requirements for new and different set-up process; (2) prioritize the possible technical solutions; (3) build machines and equipment that are easy and fast to set-up under variable contexts. When applied to a production system consisting of machines subject to frequent or time-consuming set-up processes, QCD enhances both responsiveness to external market demands and internal control of factory operations. Originality/value: The QCD approach is a support system for the development of completely new machines and is also particularly effective in upgrading existing ones. QCD's practical application is demonstrated using a case study concerning a vertical spindle machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful bidding involves defining relevant technical bid solutions that conform to the customers' requirements, then selecting the most interesting one for the commercial offer. However, in Engineer-To-Order (ETO) industrial contexts, this selection process is complicated by issues of imprecision, uncertainty and confidence regarding the values of the decision criteria. To address this complexity, a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) support approach is proposed in this study. This approach is based on possibility theory and the Pareto-dominance principle. It involves three main stages. First, a method is proposed to automatically model the values of the decision criteria by possibility distributions. Second, four possibilistic mono-criterion dominance relations are developed to compare two solutions with respect to a single decision criterion. Finally, an interactive method is devised to determine the most interesting technical bid solutions with respect to all the decision criteria. The method is applied to the design of a technical bid solution of a crane. The results show that this approach enables bidders to select the most interesting solution during a bidding process, while taking into account imprecision, uncertainty and their own confidence regarding the values of the decision criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building envelopes are not only the prime element of the exterior aesthetic quality of buildings; they have also become a major driver both for building construction cost and operational performance. The importance of prefabrication is growing in the building industry as it allows faster, high-quality, and cost-effective construction while reducing risks associated with onsite labour. Although prefabrication for structural components is a relatively recent development, it has been widely used in the manufacturing of building envelopes for many years, particularly in the case of unitized curtain wall systems. However, whether using prefabricated components or not, façade design development remains a challenge due to the need for façade engineers to rapidly develop technically viable and financially feasible solutions that achieve the desired architectural design intent. Particularly at the early stages of the design process, the turnaround for multiple iterations is often fast-paced, and abortive work is, therefore, not uncommon. This paper outlines an approach to addressing this challenge, attempting to bridge the gap between façade design, fabrication, and installation. A new design approach and tools are presented that allow designers to iteratively validate concepts based on a pre-engineered system that is optimized for performance and take fabrication, transport, installation costs, maintenance, and circularity into account. As a result, the tool/design workflow will ensure consistent quality, meeting budgets and timelines while enhancing material efficiency and fostering energy-conscious and circular envelope design approaches.

Small companies that prefabricate parts for the construction industry in the context of engineer-to-order (ETO) systems, often encounter production issues as they usually do not systematically optimise their planning. In this paper, a production planning method for a multi-project ETO system is proposed. Four optimisation models testing combinations of three objectives are proposed. The main objective present in all models is cost reduction. The other objectives considered are minimising project finish time and minimising set-up time of a bottleneck station. The models are applied in a case study with an engineered wood production firm considering fifteen construction projects over a period of forty weeks. Two scenarios for adding long and complex projects and projects with medium length and complexity are also tested to provide a decision support tool in the project acceptance phase. This article contributes to the scientific literature by providing four production scheduling models which integrate a multi-objective production scheduling approach in a multi-project context for the prefabrication of ETO parts in construction. Furthermore, the research applies the models to a real case which highlights empirical issues that had not been entirely explored in current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering Changes (ECs) are a fact of life for companies in the Engineer-To-Order (ETO) production environment. Various Engineering Change Management (ECM) strategies, practices and tools exist, but no explicit distinction has been made regarding ECM in different production environments. Using a multiple case study method, this article investigates how ETO companies manage ECs and how ETO characteristics influence ECM. A generic ECM framework was developed and used to map ECM in the cases. The study showed that ETO companies use similar practices for handling ECs, while ECM tools are either not used by the companies or used to a very limited extent. It was found that the use of some ECM practices and tools is complicated by specific ETO company characteristics. However, no reasons were found for the lack of computer-based tools, change propagation and impact assessment tools, change reduction and front-loading tools, and design tools. This suggests, firstly, that there is vast room for improvement in ETO companies when it comes to ECM; and secondly, that the applicability of such tools should be further tested in the ETO environment. Based on the findings, some suggestions as to how ECM can be improved in ETO companies are given to practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing companies involve customised production products based on specific customer requirements, and face a significant challenge. Some of those challenges are related with this type of company's activities in production scheduling, planning and control, efficiency improvement and lead time reduction. The present study was conducted with a systematic literature review and a survey from ETO firms to identify the most frequent and critical problems. Among the most critical issues identified is the difficulty in optimising production performance (P3), with a GCI value of 16, implying that both time and cost share the same critical level. An analysis using a proposed Criticality Matrix was then performed enabling companies to prioritise decision-making and resource allocation. The results highlight the importance of adopting mass customisation strategies, innovative approaches and workflow optimisation. Continuous monitoring and analysis of criticality levels can also help ETO companies identify emerging issues and improve informed decisions. Effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders were also identified as vital. Future research could be done expanding further the study sample and developing decision-support tools for ETO manufacturing companies. This study contributes to the field by providing a new criticality matrix for ETO companies to understand better and address their production challenges, aiding in decision-making and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines a mathematical model to solve a scheduling problem for a company engineering and producing propellers to order. Nonås and Olsen (Comput Oper Res 32(9):2351–2382, 2005) have previously introduced a Mixed Integer Programming model for this production setting with the objective of minimizing the total tardiness. The mathematical model could however not be used to solve realistic sized problem instances, because of the very large solution time. We propose a new time indexed formulation that can solve most industrial problem instances in less than 10 min. This work is further extended by taking into account limited storage capacity and by proposing different methods to balance between total tardiness and maximum tardiness. We illustrate how the solution time and the criteria change for different setups of the mathematical model and suggest which setup to use for different scenarios. The paper also discusses how the new model can be extended to include unexpected events such as emergency orders and unavailable production equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineer-to-order (ETO) supply chains are configured to deliver unique and complex products to serve specific market demands. If market requirements change, ETO supply chains must adapt to survive and thrive. This paper examines the measures ETO companies should consider to ensure that their supply chains meet the demands of changing business environments. In particular, the paper focuses on how the yard-intralogistics processes of a large supplier are affected by the current transition toward sustainable energy solutions within the oil and gas industry. A comparison between current intralogistics processes and the requirements of emerging product portfolios and project setups reveals the need for process redesign and supply-chain realignment. Current yard-intralogistics processes, which are designed for large-scale projects, lack the efficiency required by the smaller-scale, renewable projects that will be necessary in the future. Our investigation shows that intralogistics processes must be significantly changed and that such a shift will not be possible without addressing operational and organizational structures concurrently. We argue that there are critical interdependencies between operational and organizational measures. The ability of companies to manage this interdependency is crucial for ETO-based industry transitions. A framework for the transformation of ETO companies in the context of industry transitions is presented, highlighting the operational and organizational challenges involved. This framework serves as a guideline for practice and as a reference model for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the dynamics of engineer-to-order (ETO) practice through Integration Definition for Function Modelling (IDEF) practice. The paper describes and defines how an ETO manufacturer utilised IDEF-QA in order to manage project uncertainties within the tendering process. The research is conceptualised through an empirical action research approach, involving an active role in the assessment of the ETO process. The paper revisits the use of IDEF, showcasing an assessment of output quality. It also suggests a road map for resource uncertainty within ETO, specifically when scoping the supply chain for ETO projects. The paper then presents an IDEF Quality Assessment model for improving the tendering process of ETO, and it examines the importance of evaluating project behaviour for supporting new future projects. The principal contribution is in how a structured approach provides IDEF with a quality assessment of resources, thereby consolidating and establishing a relationship for highlighting the uncertainties experienced by ETO manufacturers within the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper proposes a modified version of the Manufacturing cost deployment (MCD) method to analyse engineer-to-order (ETO) production systems. The novel approach, named Project cost deployment (PCD), introduces two substantial and innovative modifications. To begin with, the concept of manual assembly macro-activity replaces the traditional concept of station. Then, a brand-new structure for classifying and analysing losses is introduced, that is specifically defined to deal with the inefficiencies of the manual assembly tasks. The validity of the approach is proved by a real-world industrial application. The obtained results demonstrate that the PCD method allows the analyst to identify the hidden losses and to quantify the wastes from an economical point of view. In addition, PCD permits to estimate the impacts of potential (lean) improvement activities and projects in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to describe the state-of-art of the literature on engineer-to-order (ETO) supply chain in shipbuilding industry and identify related research gaps and directions for future research. Shipbuilding is a representative ETO industry: once a customer order is received, production involves designing and manufacturing, and requires complex engineering work. Research in ETO industries, such as construction, machinery, and capital goods- received significant attention from researchers during the last decade. However, there was a scarcity in research addressing ETO in shipbuilding industry; therefore, this study consists of a systematic literature review to contribute to ETO body of knowledge by highlighting recent research orientations, methodologies, and technological trends, and guide stakeholders in the shipbuilding industry and ETO researchers through reporting systematic literature review results and recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By estimating manufacturing costs and times at an early design stage, design of a part and production planning can be improved to significantly reduce product costs. Therefore, a concept for automated estimation of costs and times based on similarity analysis is introduced. This concept is based on a semantic and machine-interpretable representation of part geometries, manufacturing processes and machine capabilities stored in a knowledge graph and uses a semantic distance combined with a numerical distance to compare a new part design with already produced parts. With combined similarity measures and information on manufacturing process steps stored in the knowledge graph, it is possible to estimate the expected manufacturing costs and times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how waste reduction approaches as found in lean thinking can be applied to engineering design in Engineer-To-Order (ETO) projects based on a multiple case study of ten companies over a 2-year period. ETO projects deliver capital goods that are customised to individual customer requirements. Customisation and ultimately value generation are achieved through an iterative engineering design process. Although inevitable, iterative engineering design allows much leeway for waste generation, expressed in higher costs and longer lead times. Accordingly, this paper investigates the iterative nature of engineering design in current practice and discusses how these iterations create wastes. It applies the concept of lean engineering design and elaborates on how this concept can eliminate wastes. The findings extend the literature on lean thinking by demonstrating its applicability to engineering design and provide a unique description of the most common wastes found in ETO projects. Furthermore, this article provides managerial implications on how lean engineering design can eliminate wastes and ultimately improve ETO project performance based on lessons learned from the case companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction projects have a high degree of complexity due to both the high degree of uncertainty in process and goals, and the large number of components and stakeholders' interdependences. In the case of Engineer-to-order (ETO) building systems, there are other sources of complexity, including short lead time, uncertainty related to design, and interdependences between production units. Previous research efforts on the management of ETO industrialized building systems have been limited to managerial improvements from the perspective of companies in charge of manufacturing and assembling components. However, the literature is still scarce on the management of several industrialized building systems that need to be integrated during site installation, considering the perspective of a construction company in charge of the construction stage. The aim of this paper is to propose a set of design principles and prescriptions for production planning and controlling projects that combine different industrialized building systems, considering the key role played by ETO systems in that context. Design Science Research was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation. The development of this set of design principles and prescriptions was based on a literature review and also on an empirical study carried out in a construction project. The outcomes of this investigation are summarized in a framework that establishes interconnections between design prescriptions. The main contribution of this investigation is the development of prescriptive knowledge that can be used to support the design or assessment of planning and control systems that address the requirements of ETO industrialized building systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance assessment is critical in today's competitive environments, where companies need to establish trade-offs between key competitive dimensions. The complexity of these environments calls for new approaches to performance assessment. Thus, in this work, we propose a novel conceptual framework for performance assessment in manufacturing environments combining different production strategies. Focus is laid on MTO/ETO combined environments and a threestage problem analysis is considered. Firstly, a hybrid SD-DES-ABS model approach addresses the needs of a system that handles different types of orders, processes and workforce allocation requirements; secondly, the model results for different demand scenarios are assessed using a one-way ANOVA analysis followed by a Tukey ' Kramer's test, with pairwise comparisons for assessment of significant performance variations under different system operating policies. A full factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) analysis follows, for determining the relevant process parameters influencing the system performance. As an example of application of the proposed framework, we consider the case of an advanced manufacturing company, whose manufacturing environment encompasses combined MTO/ETO production strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between volume, variety, and process choice is a fundamental tenet of manufacturing research and practice, and through the product-process matrix managers balance trade-offs between the traditionally dichotomous objectives of flexibility and cost in process selection. In this paper, we examine the adherence of Additive Manufacturing systems to traditional trade-offs, and identify circumstances where they deviate from these established norms. Using engineering philosophy we develop an extension of the product-process matrix to accommodate both variety and customisation measures, which is used to evaluate case study research conducted with five major Additive Manufacturing companies. Fifteen case studies inform the research, drawn from a broad range of industry sectors. A qualitative approach was taken, using semi-structured interviews and process observation. The study demonstrates that Additive Manufacturing systems can support both alignment and disjunction to established theory. For many cases, a general conformance to the traditional product-process matrix 'diagonal' is evidenced. However, several cases show significant deviation, demonstrating the achievement of both variety and volume for both batch and line production. Through a detailed exploration of the focal cases, we highlight the characteristics of both products and Additive Manufacturing systems that can help overcome traditional trade-off constraints. Extends the strategically important concept of the product-process matrix to accommodate both variety and customisation measures. Uses empirical data gained from five commercial Additive Manufacturing companies to examine the implications for the Product Process Matrix. Examines characteristics of Additive Manufacturing and its products that support alignment and divergence from established theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine tool selection and quotation costing have a low level of automation in today's engineer-to-order environments. The decision-making process is based on imprecise human judgment even if all final product characteristics are known. To improve precision and save time, we propose to apply artificial neural networks that are trained on data of already produced products. In particular, we address the selection of several grinding wheels to produce a milling cutter, which is a multiple-criteria decision, using multi-label classification. The quotation costing is a single output regression problem. In both tasks, our results on real-world data show high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineer-to-Order (ETO) companies are embracing the mass customisation strategy to face the challenges posed by global competition. Product configurators are key enablers of such strategy. Despite the benefits, the actions to perform to manage the challenges of implementing product configurators are still understudied. This paper aims to fill this gap by empirically exploring seven case studies of ETO companies that are embracing a mass customisation strategy and have implemented a product configurator. The results provide a classification of the challenges that ETO companies have to manage in each phase of the implementation of product configurators, and a framework that supports managers in defining the actions necessary for the development and implementation of product configurators. This study, thereby, contributes to the debate on how ETO companies can move towards a mass customisation paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering changes (ECs) are unavoidable in the engineer-to-order (ETO) environment. ECs improve products and bring additional profit to ETO companies if effectively negotiated and implemented. Despite the abundant relevant literature on EC management, ETO companies still report cost overruns owing to ECs. Here, a multiple case study conducted in a Norwegian shipbuilding group was used to investigate the factors affecting EC implementation performance in complex ETO environments. The factors were examined by a cross-case analysis of six ECs occurring in the shipbuilding projects. Eleven factors were identified and analyzed; their impact on EC cost was assessed by experts. The factors were ranked; the ranking shows three factors having the highest impact: time of EC occurrence, competence and experience of engineering and production staff, and degree of vertical integration in a supply chain. Finally, the study recommends EC management practices and tools to reduce the negative impacts of the identified factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fulfilling customer orders in engineer-to-order (ETO) settings entails customization and, thus, greater complexity: detail and uncertainty. Tactical planning aims at demand–supply (DS) balancing by ensuring cross-functional integration (CFI), which incorporates coordination as one dimension. This study uses a case study approach to identify the key coordination mechanisms applied in the customer order fulfilment processes (COFPs) to mitigate the negative impact of complexity on DS balancing in four ETO-oriented settings. Within-case analyses identify the applied mechanisms, and a cross-case analysis elaborates on how they influence the detail and uncertainty in decision-making and problem-solving activities. Findings suggest a positive effect of formalized activity sequences, balanced team compositions, effective task designs and supportive information systems (ISs); and a positive (but contingent) effect of the other mechanisms. Future research may address other CFI dimensions (collaboration), statistically test the findings, or qualitatively deepen the understanding of the forms and impacts of individual mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several efforts for industrializing construction have been made in different countries, and there has been a growing demand for engineer-to-order (ETO) industrialized building systems. In this context, products are unique for specific clients, as customer orders are placed at the design stage. There are many challenges for planning and controlling those building systems, due to the high level of complexity involved. The aim of this research is to propose a set of core requirements for production planning and control systems in ETO industrialized building systems. The methodological approach adopted in this investigation was design science research. It was based on a literature review on different planning and control models, and also on an empirical study carried out in a steel fabricator company. The proposed set of requirements is aligned with the management-as-organizing approach, challenging some traditional project management assumptions, including the use of metrics and practices that are not suitable for the high degree of complexity that exists in ETO environments. As a practical contribution, the requirements can be used by ETO construction supplier companies to support the conception and development of planning and control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to address a gap of missing modularization methods for engineer-to-order (ETO) companies. The research project was initiated by clarifying the challenges facing ETO companies, based on these challenges synthesis of existing methods was done to conceptualize a method. This article presents the modular candidate identification (MCI) method aimed at identifying modular candidates in ETO companies. The method analyzes five dimensions, namely, market segments, customer requirements, product architectures, cost and lead time to find modular candidates. The method was applied in a Danish ETO company and shown to be successful in identifying two modular candidates. Both were recognized by management and redesigned in modular product development projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German textile industry is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources and specialized skills producing customized technical textiles following an engineer-to-order approach. To expand their skills, SMEs form business networks. The development and production of customized technical textiles in networks are highly complex. The coordination requires high effort and results in inefficient and ineffective information flow, weakening the networks’ competitive advantage. Following a case study approach, we accompany an SME network over three years as they develop and implement a digital col-laboration platform. We derived a framework of micro-foundations of Mass Customization capabilities supporting high-order Mass Customization capabilities for customer integration, solution space development, and robust processes. Thus, we present results on how an SME network in the textile industry leverages Mass Customization capabilities to increase efficien-cy via a digital collaboration platform.

To save costs and build competitiveness, Norwegian shipyards usually offshore some of the processes required to produce a ship, especially steel-related tasks, i.e., they have them carried out in a country with lower factor costs. This study aims to provide some quantitative evidence of the relationship between the degree of offshoring and the production time of offshore support vessels (OSVs) delivered from Norwegian shipyards. It builds upon a recent article that introduced a typology of offshoring in ship production (Semini et al. 2018, Journal of Ship Production and Design, 34(1), 59-71). We take into account contextual factors that are also expected to affect the production time of OSVs, in particular ship size and complexity, repeat production, and the global market situation. We apply multiple regression analysis on a sample of 156 OSVs delivered from nine Norwegian shipyards between 2010 and 2018. Each of these ships was, by plan and strategy, partly produced at a foreign yard, before one of the Norwegian yards took over, completed production, commissioned, tested, and finally delivered the ship. Results suggest that the higher the degree of offshoring is, the longer is the total ship production time. Only ship size explains even more of the production time variability in the sample than offshoring strategy. In addition to these two factors, evidence suggests that also repeat production and the global market situation have a significant impact on the production time. Our study contributes to the literature on the relationship between strategy and performance in shipbuilding. It provides new insights into how offshoring strategy and contextual, product- and market-related factors relate to ship production time based on quantitative, empirical evidence. From a methodological perspective, it illustrates how multiple regression analysis can be applied to ship-specific data as a benchmarking tool to measure and compare shipbuilding performance. Findings are first and foremost valid for the ships included in the study, which opens numerous opportunities for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caused by the growing complexity in production, more and more companies started implementing reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) to quickly reconfigure production capacities and functionalities. Similarly, product, process, and service configuration systems (CSs) are promising tools to help companies achieve improved business performance. However, the literature has not addressed the impact of the integration of CSs and RMSs on a company's benefits. We, thus, carried out a case study in an engineer-to-order (ETO) manufacturing company to analyze the benefits of a configurable product before and after integrating the relevant CS with RMS. The results revealed a decrease in the costs in the costs for producing personalized products after integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]