Tape/Vol. 19: Concurrent Engineering and Total Quality Management: the IBM Case Study

Tape/Vol. 20: Concurrent Engineering and Quality Management Experiences ... A Brutally Honest Overview with Examples by IBM Guru Gerry Edgar and Robin Truman, GPT

Custom CD: Unique in Each Video CD Pack, Containing Multimedia Web-objects for Further Analysis.

Additional reading on Object Oriented Concurrent (hardware and software) Engineering: as a new development, view the free, electronically published R&D journal, ADAM with IT (Advanced Design And Manufacturing with Information Technology) at this web site, as well as enjoy the hotlinks to other web sites via ADAM's WebCorner; both just a click away...

Concurrent Engineering and Total Quality Management: the IBM Case Study is discussed by Mr. Gerry Edgar, Manager, IBM UK. Topics in this industrial case study include the following:

• CE and TQM: the IBM case study on product business review and Manufacturing Early Involvement (MEI)
• Planning, process fine tuning and process comission
• Focus team activities
• MCA-Manufacturing Competitive Analysis
• Methods, tools and case studies
• Performance, cost quality and reliability
• Justification of TQM and CE
• Process and performance charts
• New product introduction cycle charts and the transfer point
• Competitive analysis, business and technology skills
• The importance of education
• Interactive team and/or individual exercises.

When wieving this program, try to imagine that you are a member of this collaborative concurrent engineering team. As you can see, there are several different engineering, manufacturing, total quality, information technology/ computing science, marketing, management and other expertise represented in such teams.

• What are the information system components?
• What are the components (objects and classes of objects) of process charts and how are they used? Could you apply this excellent and very simple method in your own organization? How?
• What are the components (objects and classes of objects) of performance charts and how are they used? Could you apply this excellent and very simple method in your own organization? How?
• List some strategically important issues discussed, as well as how they might relate to your business?

Jump To Top

• Product and process development
• Point of transfer to GA
• Product quality and the related cost
• The long term financial benefits

Jump To Top

• Inventory turns...
• Direct Line Feed (DLF)...
• Vendors...
• Consined parts...

Jump To Top

• List your existing as well as the desired critical skills you should have. Make sure, that precedence rules are followed at least in broad terms
• Reason over your own education issue yourself. Try to answer the question: "Where do I want to be in 3 or 5 or 10 years time?
• Besides the above, seek advice from somebody you trust at home, and/or at work, and/or at the university on your next 3 to 5 year plan, as well as the next 5 to 10 year plans... Do you know the way you are heading?... or just drifting with the current... THEN, and only then create a plan that you frequently (e.g. monthly, yearly) review. Is there a need to adjust your plan? If yes, how? What is realistic and why?
• Keep in mind: nobody else but you can take the final decision!

Jump To Top

Concurrent Engineering and Total Quality Management: the IBM Case Study is discussed by Mr. Gerry Edgar, Manager, IBM UK. Topics in this industrial case study include the following:

• Concurrent engineering management experiences... a brutally honest overview with examples by IBM guru: Gerry Edgar
• A summary of the most important methods, tools, technologies and strategic focus items
• Delegation, faith and trust
• How can one delight the customers
• The "total and systematic" picture
• Team creation and management; Leadership and vision
• Team problem solving methods and examples
• Team pressures and responsibility sharing
• Concurrent engineering investments and benefits for small and large cooperations
• Tactical versus strategical decisions
• Japanese and Western techniques
• Interactive team and/or individual exercises.

When wieving this program, try to imagine that you are a member of the concurrent engineering team. As you can see, there are several different engineering, manufacturing, total quality, information technology, marketing and other expertise represented in such teams.

Note, that the latest statistical data is not included here due to confidentiality...This, however does not reduce the education value of our discussion.

Think about it: How would your manager react to seeing all this? Maybe you want to risk it and show him, or her this part of the program... it might change your, and others' life at work for good...on the other hand don't blame us if you get rejected...

Jump To Top

When wieving this program, try to imagine that you are a member of the concurrent engineering team. As you can see, there are several different engineering, manufacturing, total quality, information technology/ computing science, marketing, management and other expertise represented in such teams.

• What are the key success factors of "good quality" hi-tech management for the engineering and software industry?
• How did this entire CE video package change your views about the need of stronger teamwork and better integrated systems?
• How would you start to implement some of the learned concepts and methods in your environment?
• How would you achieve waste reduction?
• How can you make your teams interested in integrated, collaborative engineering, amanegement and computing?
• What are the benefits? What happens to the savings?

Jump To Top

The goal of this Custom CD is to provide you a unique resource for analyzing the following:

If you are an Engineering Student/ Professional Analyze the following:

There are several objects in this Custom CD that illustrate various engineering solutions. (These objects might be video clips, 3D VR objects, images, or animations, or others). As an exercise, analyze each object/ solution carefully as follows:

• Analyze the needs and the requirements, the demonstrated processes, methods and systems they try to, or have to satisfy.
• Analyze the actual methods presented. Find the core methodologies, the mathematical models, the underlying engineering (and/or other) science foundation (i.e. How does it work?).
• Analyze the technologies involved. (How is science turned into a practical solution/ engineering and/or computing technology?)
• Analyze potential alternative solutions.
• Analyze the benefits and the disadvantages.
• Design alternative methods, processes based on what you have experienced/ seen, and learned.
• Work in a multi-disciplinary team and exchange ideas, if you can.
• Understand the boundaries as well as the tremendous potential of new ideas and developments by working on the selected object/ component/ solution. (Realize that in order to survive and win, you must add value).

At various levels of this virtual product/ process analysis focus on one or more of a variety of different issues, we call them 'views', including the following:

• Requirements/ needs analysis view
• Product/ process design view
• Manufacturing / assembly view
• System integration view
• Networking/ Internet view
• Software engineering view
• Total quality view
• Engineering management view
• Maintenance view
• Environmental view
• Sustainability view
• Operator training and customer support view
• Ergonomics/ Human factors view
• Marketing view, and others.

Document your findings.

If you are an IT/ Computing Science student or professional, analyze the following:

There are several objects in this Custom CD that illustrate various software engineering solutions. (These objects might be video clips, 3D VR objects, images, or animations, or others). As an exercise, analyze/ describe each object/ solution carefully as follows:

• Describe each object/ component as if you were creating an object-oriented database. (As an example, create a group of attributes, that can become fields, such as an identifier, name, size, etc., then consider other attributes and behavior related information, e.g. disk drive (capacity), CPU (speed), motor (RPM, Revolutions Per Minute), and others).
• Analyze the needs and the requirements, the demonstrated processes, methods and systems they try to, or have to satisfy.
• Analyze the actual methods presented. Find the core methodologies, the mathematical models, the underlying IT, computer science foundation (i.e. How does it work?).
• Analyze the technologies involved. (How is science turned into a practical solution/ computing technology?)
• Analyze potential alternative solutions.
• Analyze the benefits and the disadvantages.
• Design alternative methods, processes based on what you have experienced/ seen, and learned.
• Work in a multi-disciplinary team and exchange ideas, if you can.
• Understand the boundaries as well as the tremendous potential of new ideas and developments by working on the selected object/ component/ solution. (Realize that in order to survive and win, you must add value).

Document your findings.

If you are a Management student or professional, analyze the following:

There are several objects in this Custom CD that illustrate various engineering solutions. (These objects might be video clips, 3D VR objects, images, or animations, or others). As an exercise, analyze each object/ solution carefully as follows:

• Analyze the needs and the requirements, the demonstrated processes, methods and systems they try to, or have to satisfy (from a management perspective, e.g. the selected object is trying to virtually demonstrate a product, or process).
• Analyze the technologies involved. (How is science turned into a practical solution/ engineering and/or computing technology?)
• Analyze potential alternative solutions.
• Analyze the benefits and the disadvantages.
• Design alternative methods, processes based on what you have experienced/ seen, and learned.
• Work in a multi-disciplinary team and exchange ideas, if you can.
• Understand the boundaries as well as the tremendous potential of new ideas and developments by working on the selected object/ component/ solution. (Realize that in order to survive and win, you must add value).

Document your findings.

Jump To Top