ITR: Collaborative Research - Information Technology Issues for Complex Engineering Product: Mass Customization in Geographically Distributed Environments

这项研究提供了资金，用于调查在北方/南方制造系统中使用大规模定制制造复杂工程产品时与信息技术相关的问题。大规模定制是一个概念，它基于与生产和交付产品相关的流程，按照客户的要求，以非常短的交货期生产和交付具有不同配置的产品。人们认为，大规模定制可以为墨西哥的马奎拉制造商提供竞争优势，并减少海外业务的工作岗位和业务流失。这项研究将集中于IT主干的开发，这是成功实施大规模定制方法的关键，用于将应用程序组装到复杂的定制产品。这项研究有三个关键要素：确定适合于北/南制造环境的复杂、客户定义的产品的大规模定制的设计方法；确定支持大规模定制的制造方法；以及确定产品设计-部件制造-产品装配的关键信息技术问题，以从成本和速度方面优化大规模定制过程的有效性。如果成功，本研究的结果将提供一个总体框架，用于理解与大规模定制相关的信息技术问题。本研究要解决的长期目标预计将产生以下交付成果：确定和模拟产品变体及其对大规模定制的影响的方法；确定和模拟制造过程及其对大规模定制的影响的方法；大规模定制的适宜性衡量标准；大规模定制中的信息技术问题的概念框架；以及对概念框架的评价。这项研究将在密歇根州立大学和德克萨斯大学泛美分校联合进行，该大学位于德克萨斯州的下里奥格兰德山谷。这两个机构的地理位置反映了许多制造业务的地理配置--北方的工程职能和南方的制造。在密歇根州设有总部并在德克萨斯州设有工厂的工业合作伙伴参与这项研究，以及所开发的大规模定制框架的应用，应该会为在北/南计划下运营的制造业运营提供好处；特别是在德克萨斯州南部历史上经济不利的地区。

This study is grant provides funding for an investigation of the issues associated with information technology in the manufacturing of complex engineering products using mass customization in the north/south maquila manufacturing systems. Mass customization is a concept based on the processes associated with the production and delivery of products with diverse configurations, as prescribed by the customer, with a veryrelatively short lead time. It is believed thatthat mass customization can provide a competitive advantage for the Mexico based maquila manufacturers and reduce the loss of jobs and businesses to overseas operations. This research will focus on the development of the IT backbone which is critical for successful implementation of mass customization methodology for assembly of application to complex, customized products. There are three key elements of this research: the identification of an appropriate design methodology for mass customization of complex, customer-defined products for the North/South maquila manufacturing environment;, the identification of manufacturing methodology to support mass customization; and the identification of critical Information Technology issues for integration of product design-component manufacturing-product assembly to optimize the effectiveness in terms of cost and speed of the mass customization process.The If successful, the results of this research will provide a general framework with which to understand the information technology issues associated with mass customization. The long term goals to be addressed in this study areIt is anticipated that the following deliverables will be created: a methodology for the identification and modeling of product variants and their impact on mass customization;, a methodology for the identification and modeling of manufacturing processes and their impact upon mass customization;, a suitability metric for mass customization;, a conceptual framework for information technology issues in mass customization; and an evaluation of the conceptual framework. This research will be jointly conducted at Michigan State University and the University of Texas - Pan American, that is located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The location of the two institutions mirrors the geographic configuration of many maquila operations - engineering function in the north and manufacture in the south.. Participation in this research by industrial partners that have home offices in Michigan and maquila operations in Texas, and application of the mass customization framework developed should provide benefits for the manufacturing operations that operate under the north/south scheme; particularly the historically economically disadvantaged areas in South Texas.