Shoestring in the press

Authors: Mukherjee, A., Moretti, N., Chan, Y.-C., Yilmaz, G., Plavinkoottathil Sasidharan, M., Merino Garcia, J., Rosun, Z., Carr, C., McFarlane, D., Parlikad, A.

Conference name: 2023 European Conference on Computing in Construction

Conference date: 2023-07

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.97072

Abstract

Hospitals are critical infrastructures where the assets and process performance are closely related to the service provided to the patients. The Digital Twin (DT) concept can significantly impact hospital management. This paper aims to identify the key variables informing opportunities for hospital digitalisation, providing a baseline for DT ideation.

Through evidence-based research and focusing on holistic digital transformation aspects, we identify eight processes/product/service parameters generating transformative insights and KPIs for a Hospital DT. The case study on the histopathology department provides insights on where digital transformation can inform operational decision-making. Finally, the challenges in Hospital DT development are identified.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Yilmaz, G., Salter, E., McFarlane, D., Schönfuß, B.

Publication date: 2023-09

Journal title: Computers in Industry

ISSN: 0166-3615

Publisher: Elsevier BV

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2023.103941

Abstract

The adoption of digital solutions accelerated in the construction industry to increase the efficiency of manufacturing and construction processes. However, most construction SMEs face barriers to the digital transformation of their processes due to budget constraints and the complexity of the existing commercial digital solutions.

In this study, we developed 58 digital solution areas for construction SMEs by adapting the Digital Shoestring Approach. These were generated through eight interactive digital requirement assessment workshops with 70 representative construction SMEs in the United Kingdom. The top fifteen priority digital solutions were identified based on the different operational requirements of Tier 1 (on-site construction SMEs) and Tier 2 (suppliers and off-site construction SMEs) SMEs in the construction supply chain. The

findings showed that digital solution areas could provide cost-effective and evidence-driven digitalisation pathways for construction SMEs by systematically identifying their digital needs and priorities to meet Construction 4.0.

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A review of reference architectures for digital manufacturing: classification, applicability and open issues

Authors: Kaiser, J., McFarlane, D., Hawkridge, G., Andre, P., Leitao, P.

Publication date: 2023-08

Journal title: Computers in Industry

ISSN: 0166-3615

Publisher: Elsevier BV

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2023.103923

Abstract

The industrial application of digital technologies in manufacturing can result in an increased efficiency of processes and an opportunity to integrate production, logistics and maintenance functions.

However, increasingly interconnected manufacturing information means progressively more complex systems. Therefore, there is an ever growing need to provide structure in the design and development of such information systems which is the role of a system architecture. So-called ‘reference architectures’ guide the design of system architectures used in particular applications. Reference architectures are models of information functions and their connections that provide a structured template with common terminology.

Over the last decades, various reference architectures relevant to digital systems in manufacturing have been proposed. However, industrial applications of these reference architectures are scarce and it is difficult to compare and analyse them due to their various levels of application and different uses.

In this study, we review and classify reference architectures used to support digital systems in manufacturing. Contributions of the paper include proposing criteria for a model to be referred to as a ‘reference architecture’, an overview and classification of the different perspectives on reference architectures in the literature, and a guideline to support practitioners, developers and academics in selecting a reference architecture.

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Authors: Macias-Aguayo, J., Yilmaz, G., Mukherjee, A., McFarlane, D.

Conference name: SOHOMA 2022: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-Agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future

Conference date: 2022-09-23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24291-5_27

Abstract

Financial resource limitations and lack of technological awareness are two of the most common barriers to digitalisation in Small-and-Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In response to these challenges, recent research has focused on digital solution areas that can be deployed at a low cost in companies.

In this article, we focus on how these solution areas benefit SME operations. In particular, we identify and categorise the value activities these solution areas enable and their potential benefits for the operations management function. Furthermore, this article proposes a conceptual model for the role of low-cost digital solutions in creating operational benefits and describes the opportunities that arise from it.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Mukherjee, A., Parlikad, A., McFarlane, D.

Publication date: 2022-11-16

Journal title: IEEE Internet of Things Journal

ISSN: 2327-4662

Publisher: IEEE

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2022.3222567

Abstract

This paper presents a Ubiquitous Domain Adaptation (UDA) and generalisability technique for vibration-based automated machine status monitoring at the edge. The method significantly reduces the effects of signal noise artifacts and device/usage-specific vibration signatures using basic time-frequency domain signal operations and a lightweight ensemble of data-driven classifiers, allowing the method to be used for reliable domain-invariant status monitoring of motorized equipment.

An experimental setup using vibration data from an air-cooled electric blender motor (source-domain) is used to train an automated machine state identification classifier that can identify the operating states of an eccentric rotating mass vibration motor (target-domain). Initial deployment of this method on target-domain motorized devices resulted in a machine status monitoring accuracy of at least 81.6% and a maximum training accuracy of almost 99% on known data of the source-domain and 91.49% for unseen data in the target-domain within an acceptable time frame.

The performance of the proposed method is also comparable across platforms ranging from resource-constrained edge to a resource-rich cloud. This approach facilitates the use of noisy or uncalibrated sensor data in data-driven machine status monitoring tasks, therefore allowing for the development of reusable, low-cost monitoring systems that require meagre developmental effort, resulting in accelerated deployment times.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Kaiser, J., Hawkridge, G., Yilmaz, G., McFarlane, D.

Conference name: 2022 IEEE 5th Advanced Information Management, Communicates, Electronic and Automation Control Conference (IMCEC)

Conference date: 2022-12-16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/IMCEC55388.2022.10019887

Abstract

As a stepping stone to Industry 4.0, integrating information systems leads to enhanced functionalities, since data can be accessed by another system, and time savings during the development because capabilities can be shared among systems. However, data is generally distributed over heterogeneous information systems and there is a lack of standardised interfaces to facilitate the interaction with resources.

This paper proposes a low-cost integration approach for multiple distributed manufacturing information systems, which are based on the same reference architecture. In particular, we identify, conceptually design and evaluate integration strategies proposed in the literature that have the potential to be low-cost. The evaluation results of this integration exercise seem to suggest that coordinators in combination with a common service bus are likely to be implemented at low cost for integrating distributed information systems.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Terrazas, G., Hawkridge, G., Mike, M., McFarlane, D., Ling, Z., Lau, J.

Publication date: 2022-10-17

Journal title: Journal of Computer Information Systems

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2022.2128935

Abstract

Digital developments undertaken as part of the academic research projects can be slow to be trialled and adopted industrially. These delays may be the result of lack of suitable early prototypes or insufficient industrial workforce engagement among other challenges. Here, these challenges are considered in the context of a research project that develops procedures for the deployment of simple, low-cost digital solutions by small manufacturers.

This paper proposes a methodology that comprises the use of hackathons, laboratory demonstrators, and industrial pilot activities as a means of accelerating the use of solutions developed. In particular, it introduces hackathons as a means to quickly create cost-efficient digital solutions for manufacturing and argues how, in addition to speeding adoption, these could be seen as additional option to help prepare the future workforce.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Kaiser, J., Ling, Z., Yilmaz, G., McFarlane, D., Hawkridge, G.

Conference name: IEEE 27th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA)

Conference date: 2022-09-06

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA52439.2022.9921538

Abstract

The creation of digital manufacturing solutions at low cost is characterised by a successive development and a combination of disparate hardware and software elements. Modular building blocks address these limitations. This paper proposes and evaluates an explicit two-stage approach to develop configurable digital manufacturing solutions from bespoke solution specifications by using modular hardware and software building blocks.

In the first stage, the solution specification is being made configurable through decomposition, while the second stage creates building blocks from resulting solution elements. For demonstration, the approach is applied to two tailor-made solutions. Resulting building blocks are then reused to create a new solution. We provide further insights by discussing challenges when applying our approach, and justifying its usage by qualitatively evaluating to what extent solution configurability can be achieved at low cost, which characterises the main objective of this study.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Yilmaz, G., Mukherjee, A., Macias Aguayo, J., McFarlane, D.

Conference name: CIB W78 Information Technology for Construction 39th Conference

Conference date: 2022-06-27

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.84049

Abstract

Adopting low-cost (shoestring) digital solutions in organisations should be followed by assessing the business and digitalisation impact. Evaluating the impact of low-cost (shoestring) digital solutions on improving business and digitisation benefits becomes essential for small organisations.

This paper introduces an impact assessment model for digital shoestring solutions developed through the digital shoestring program. The proposed model assesses the impact of the low-cost digital solutions on 1) the business and 2) the digitalisation benefits after their installation. The model’s suitability is tested through a single exploratory case study performed with a small construction supplier. The case study highlighted that some of the digital solutions in the digital shoestring solutions catalogue affect only a part of the business benefits.

The case study results also showed that the digitalisation benefits are not comprehensive enough to assess the digitalisation level achieved. Motivated from the case study results and inputs from literature, we propose an updated and novel impact assessment model that can be used uniformly across industries and adheres to multiple commonly accepted IoT reference architectures. This model will output the levels of digitalisation achieved and provides a comparative score of the achieved business impact for the digital solutions deployed at the small organisations.

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Authors: Macias-Aguayo, J., McFarlane, D., Schönfuß, B., Salter, L.

Conference name: 10th IFAC Conference on Manufacturing Modelling, Management and Control

Conference date: 2022-06-22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.09.664

Abstract

Digitalisation is transforming the way industries operate worldwide, and the logistics sector is no exception; however, multiple barriers prevent logistics companies, especially those that are small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), from taking advantage of digital technologies.

This article focuses on the barrier corresponding to the lack of technological awareness in logistics SMEs. In particular, we discuss an approach used in the context of manufacturing, with the potential to facilitate the identification of affordable digitalisation opportunities in logistics companies. This paper adapts that approach and uses it to identify a set of digital solution areas that could be deployed at low cost in logistics SMEs.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Hawkridge, G., McFarlane, D., Kaiser, J., de Silva, L., Terrazas, G.

Conference name: SOHOMA 2021: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future

Conference date: 2022-06-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_18

Abstract

This paper examines the design of low-cost digital solutions for manufacturing. A set of criteria are established that consider the limited designer experience and limited time budget that accompany a low-cost project. Alternatives are assessed and a design approach is proposed that addresses these criteria using a set of identified features. Development of the proposed approach is not yet complete; however, it already provides a simple, accessible, and streamlined method for implementing low-cost digital solutions.

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Authors: Martinez-Arellano, G., McNally, M., Chaplin, J., Ling, Z., McFarlane, D., Ratchev, S.

Conference name: SOHOMA 2021: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future

Conference date: 2022-06-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_20

Abstract

The rate of adoption of digital solutions in manufacturing environments remains low despite the benefits these can bring. This is particularly acute among industrial small-and-medium-enterprises (SMEs), who typically do not have the confidence to adopt new technologies and for which cost and a lack of skills remain key barriers.

Most digital solutions require some type of visualisation component, being a vital way to the interpret and use effectively the data. Data visualisation on its own provides an opportunity to bridge the gap of digitalisation in SMEs by providing them invaluable process insights in an efficient manner without requiring high levels of training or expertise. However, as with other digital technologies, software components such as data analytics and visualisation are commonly developed, deployed, and maintained by a third party, and SMEs lack the expertise to understand how to implement or change visualisations and how they can be applied in the manufacturing domain. T

he Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring approach proposes using off-the-shelf components, both hardware and software, to develop low-cost digital solutions with minimal expert knowledge. The underlying Shoestring architecture enables the incremental connectivity of different solution components using a service-oriented approach.

This paper introduces the implementation of visualisation-as-a-service, where the visual components of a digital solution is dynamically created by a set of reusable, configurable and modular elements. We also introduce the use of templates for the no-code creation of visual solutions, taking advantage of the re-usability of visual components across different digital solutions.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Ling, Z., de Silva, L., Hawkridge, G., McFarlane, D., Martinez-Arellano, G., Schönfuß, B., Thorne, A.

Conference name: SOHOMA 2021: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future

Conference date: 2022-06-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_19

Abstract

Digital solutions have the potential to drastically transform manufacturing operations, but smaller manufacturing businesses (SMEs) have been reluctant to adopt digital solutions due to perceived investment and upskilling costs. The Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring project was thus established to facilitate the process of digital solution adoption in manufacturing SMEs. To this end, a solution development approach was proposed including a graphical environment to support the design of affordable digital solutions.

This paper discusses the concepts and methods underlying this graphical design environment, including its early implementation. A preliminary evaluation is also presented involving industrial user studies with SMEs.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Kaiser, J., McFarlane, D., Hawkridge, G.

Conference name: SOHOMA 2021: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future

Conference date: 2022-06-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_17

Abstract

For the next generation of production systems, companies require new architectures for designing highly connected systems to increase the efficiency and capabilities of their value chains. Reference architectures help to effectively derive systems architectures. Over the last decades, numerous reference architectures for digital manufacturing have been proposed.

This paper presents a framework to classify reference architectures based on five main themes identified in the literature. It will identify gaps in existing reference architectures based on an analysis of the proposed framework and comparison to other classification approaches.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Kaiser, J., McFarlane, D., Hawkridge, G.

Conference name: SOHOMA 2021: Service Oriented, Holonic and Multi-agent Manufacturing Systems for Industry of the Future

Conference date: 2022-06-03

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99108-1_17

Abstract

For the next generation of production systems, companies require new architectures for designing highly connected systems to increase the efficiency and capabilities of their value chains. Reference architectures help to effectively derive systems architectures. Over the last decades, numerous reference architectures for digital manufacturing have been proposed.

This paper presents a framework to classify reference architectures based on five main themes identified in the literature. It will identify gaps in existing reference architectures based on an analysis of the proposed framework and comparison to other classification approaches.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Terrazas, G., Hawkridge, G., McFarlane, D., Mike, M.

Publication date: 2021-12-17

Conference title: International Conference on Computational Science and Computational Intelligence

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.78734

Abstract

Academic research projects often face challenges when trying to deliver innovation in a fast and creative way. In particular, projects of multidisciplinary nature that look at cross domain aspects applied in industry may take longer to expect.

This paper addresses such an issue in the area of low-cost digital solution development and proposes an approach using student hackathons as a mean to enable rapid prototypes of low-cost digital solutions for manufacturing SMEs. It highlights how these fast-paced activities could be seen as additional options to help students foster technical and soft skills ahead of working in industrial environments.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Kaiser, J., Terrazas Angulo, G., McFarlane, D., & De Silva, L.

Publication date: 2021-12-01

Journal title: AI & Society

ISSN: 0951-5666

Publisher: Springer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.78692

Abstract

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used to enhance production systems and meet the requirements of a rapidly evolving manufacturing environment. Compared to larger companies, however, small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack in terms of resources, available data and skills, which impedes the potential adoption of analytics solutions.

This paper proposes a preliminary yet general approach to identify low-cost analytics solutions for manufacturing SMEs, with particular emphasis on ML. The initial studies seem to suggest that, contrarily to what is usually thought at first glance, SMEs seldom need digital solutions that use advanced ML algorithms which require extensive data preparation, laborious parameter tuning and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying problem. If an analytics solution does require learning capabilities, a ‘simple solution’, which we will characterise in this paper, should be sufficient.

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Authors: Schönfuß, B., McFarlane, D., Hawkridge, G., Salter, L., Athanassopoulou, N., de Silva, L.

Publication date: 2021-12-01

Journal title: Computers in Industry

ISSN: 0166-3615

Publisher: Elsevier

Volume: 133

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2021.103532

Abstract

The digitalisation of the manufacturing industry is perceived to be critical for achieving future productivity gains. As a result, programmes such as Industry 4.0 (I4.0) have received a huge amount of attention. A series of authors have identified a gap in digitalisation research in the area of small-and-medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). The majority of studies and developments are focussed on larger companies, disregarding SME-specific digitalisation challenges such as knowledge, resource, and technology-awareness limitations.

Based on the literature, we believe that a major reason for the disconnect is the discussion of digitalisation from a technology-centric viewpoint. Instead, we propose a problem-centric view on digitalisation as a means of addressing operational challenges through digital technologies. The aim of this paper is to identify the solution areas associated with these challenges that are relevant to a majority of manufacturing SMEs.

In this study, we collate a catalogue of digitalisation priorities, conducting workshops with manufacturing SMEs (n=128). The final catalogue comprises 59 items with a clear hierarchy. Out of all participants in the study, 86% ranked one of the top 5 items as a key priority for their business. This contribution can help focus research, systems development, and standardisation to increase accessibility to digitalisation for manufacturing SMEs.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Hawkridge, G., Mukherjee, A., McFarlane, D., Tlegenov, Y., Parlikad, A. K., Reyner, N. J., Thorne, A.

Publication date: 2021-01-01

Journal title: Annual Reviews in Control

ISSN: 1367-5788

Publisher: Elsevier

Volume: 51

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcontrol.2021.04.007

Abstract

Digital transformation can provide a competitive edge for many manufacturers, however many smaller companies may not have the capabilities needed to embrace this opportunity and may be left behind. This paper reports on an approach which is attempting to alleviate this by creating a low-cost pathway to help manufacturing small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engage with digitalisation.

This paper focuses on industrial monitoring and explores the potential for developing simple monitoring systems that solve real operation challenges in SMEs using low-cost, off-the-shelf technologies. A blueprint for developing such systems is presented and then exemplified through a case study system. The paper concludes that low-cost monitoring can be feasible given the right application and operating environment.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: McNally M. J., Chaplin J. C., Martínez-Arellano G., Ratchev S.

Conference name: International Precision Assembly Seminar – Smart Technologies for Precision Assembly

Conference date: 2020-12-15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72632-4_14

Abstract

The adoption of digital manufacturing in small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector in the UK is low, yet these technologies offer significant promise to boost productivity. Two major causes of this lack of uptake is the high upfront cost of digital technologies, and the skill gap preventing understanding and implementation.

This paper describes a common approach to data capture and visualisation that is cheap and simple. Cheap through the utilisation of low-cost and readily available consumer technologies, and simple through the pre-defined flexible approaches that require a minimum of configuration. This approach was implemented on three demonstrators to showcase the flexibility of the approach. These were a tool condition monitoring system, a job and machine status monitor, and a robotic process monitor.

The development process resulted in a software architecture where processes were separated and communicated by message queues. We conclude that a service oriented architecture would be the best system for carrying forward the development process. This research was conducted as part of the wider EPSRC Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring project.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: McNally, M., Chaplin, J. C., Martinez-Arellano, G., Ratchev, S.

Conference name: 4th IFAC Workshop on Advanced Maintenance Engineering, Services and Technologies – AMEST 2020

Conference date: 2020-09-10

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2020.11.065

Abstract

The adoption of digital manufacturing in small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector in the UK is low, yet these technologies offer significant promise to boost productivity. Two major causes of this lack of uptake is the high upfront cost of digital technologies, and the skill gap preventing understanding and implementation.

This paper describes the development of software wrappers to facilitate the simple and robust use of a range of sensors and data sources. These form part of a common architecture for data acquisition in the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring project. We explain the existing Shoestring demonstrator architecture, and discuss how a ‘crash-only’ microservices architecture would improve fault tolerance and adaptability of the system.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Tlegenov, Y., Hawkridge, G., McFarlane, D., Parlikad, A. K., Reyner, N. J., Thorne, A.

Conference name: 21st IFAC World Congress

Conference date: 2020-07-11

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2020.12.2771

Abstract

Digital manufacturing is focussed on leveraging the availability of digital information to improve the effectiveness of manufacturing activities. One of the digitalisation pathways for manufacturing is monitoring, which can be challenging due to the high costs of industrial monitoring solutions and the difficulty in justifying their return on investment.

This study examines whether the introduction of low-cost technologies can address the monitoring needs of digital manufacturing. In particular, we consider the role non-industrial, “off-the-shelf” technologies can play. The main aim of this paper is to present blueprints for low-cost monitoring of industrial operations and identify candidate low-cost technologies which can contribute effectively to the implementation of these systems.

Related work on low-cost monitoring and commercially available technologies are analysed and evaluated. Low-cost monitoring blueprints and candidate technologies are proposed based on the results of the analysis. An example implementation of a presented blueprint indicates the potential of integrating non-industrial, off-the-shelf technologies into low-cost monitoring solutions.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Hawkridge, G., Schönfuß, B., McFarlane, D., de Silva, L., Terrazas, G., Salter, L., and Thorne, A.

Conference name: 2020 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)

Conference date: 2020-03-23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3371382.3378205

Abstract

In the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring project we focus on low-cost digital solution requirements for UK manufacturing SMEs. This paper shows that many of these fall in the HRI domain while presenting the use of low-cost and off-the-shelf technologies in two demonstrators based on voice assisted production.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: de Silva, L., Hawkridge, G., Terrazas, G., Perez-Hernandez, M., Thorne, A., McFarlane, D., and Tlegenov, Y.

Conference name: 2020 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)

Conference date: 2020-03-23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3371382.3378204

Abstract

Digital Manufacturing (DM) broadly refers to applying digital information to enhance manufacturing processes, supply chains, products and services. In past work we proposed a low-cost DM architecture, supporting flexible integration of legacy robots. Here we discuss a demo of our architecture using an HRI scenario.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Hawkridge, G., Perez Hernandez, M., De Silva, L., Terrazas, G., Tlegenov, Y., McFarlane, D., Thorne, A.

Conference name: IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation

Conference date: 2019-09-10

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.43036

Abstract

This paper concerns the development of low-cost solutions to address challenges in digital manufacturing (DM). Service Oriented Architectures (SOAs) are a promising approach for addressing the requirements of a low-cost DM architecture. Interaction between services in a SOA is facilitated by a connectivity technology, i.e., a framework for interoperable data exchange between heterogeneous participants.

We review a variety of connectivity technologies according to their suitability for use in an SME manufacturer’s production environment, and we assess how they have been integrated into past architectures. We then provide insights into an incremental and modular architecture for manufacturing SMEs.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: Schönfuß, B., McFarlane, D., Athanassopoulou, N., Salter, L., de Silva, L., Ratchev, S.

Publication date: 2019-08-03

Journal title: Studies in Computational Intelligence

ISSN: 1860-949X

Publisher: Springer Verlag

Volume: 853

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27477-1_22

Abstract

This paper establishes a reference set of those low-cost digital solutions needed by small-and-medium-sized manufacturers – SMEs – and proposes a method for determining development priorities using input from reference groups of SMEs. The paper describes the approach taken to identifying and classifying common digital solutions used in manufacturing and the results from a series of workshops in which company representatives prioritise different solution types to help guide developments.

Rights: All rights reserved

Authors: McFarlane, D., Ratchev, S., Thorne, A., Parlikad, A., de Silva, L., Schönfuß, B., Hawkridge, G., Terrazas, G., Tlegenov, Y.

Publication date: 2019-08-03

Journal title: Studies in Computational Intelligence

ISSN: 1860-949X

Publisher: Springer Verlag

Volume: 853

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27477-1_4

Abstract

One of the key findings in a number of recent studies has been that small-and-medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs) have been slow in adopting digital solutions within their organisations. Cost is understood to be one of the key barriers to adoption. Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring is an approach to increasing the digital capabilities of SMEs via a series of low-cost solutions. The programme proposes using off-the-shelf, (possibly non-industrial) components and software to address a company’s (digital) solution needs, adding capabilities one step at a time with minimal a priori infrastructure required.

This paper will introduce the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring programme as a whole and demonstrate the way in which it addresses the need for low-cost digital solutions for SME Manufacturers. It will discuss challenges associated with integrating low-cost technologies into industrial solutions and the style of IT architectures best suited for integrating such solutions into industrial environments.

Rights: All rights reserved