Ramp-up Management Methods for Job Production
Analysis of the Application of Ramp-up Management Methods to Job Production Using a Mixed-Methods Research Approach
Published on 8. December 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
377 pages
978-3-930385-86-7 (ISBN)
Description
High competition and cost pressure, an increasing range of product variants, and the
shortening of product life cycles change markets and increase the pressure to innovate.
The shortening of product life cycles leads to an increasing number of product ramp-ups,
which has moved ramp-up management, with its goal of shortening time-to-market and
time-to-volume, into the spotlight of scientific discussions in the recent years.
So far, this discussion is highly focused on series production. This research, however,
addresses ramp-up management methods for job production, where every customer order
can be seen as starting a new ramp-up process. Considering the resulting high number of
ramp-ups, the possibilities and potential of ramp-up management methods for job production
become obvious. To allow job producers to utilize these potentials, this research
identifies the ramp-up management methods most useful for job production.
In the course of this research an overview of the variety of methods associated with rampup
management is generated for the first time. To assess the benefits these methods can
generate for job production, a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative
research approaches, is used. Literature analysis and expert interviews are conducted
to generate a comprehensive understanding of job production, gain insight into its
processes, and derive current challenges to and objectives of job production. The findings
of this approach form the basis for the assessment of the ramp-up management methods
regarding their benefits for job production with the help of a utility analysis. The results of
the utility analysis are validated and generalized using a questionnaire study. Then the findings
of both approaches are compared and a ranking of ramp-up management methods
for job production is established.
To support decision makers in job production companies, this research thesis concludes
with providing general information on method selection and implementation and presents
two approaches to support the selection of appropriate methods for job production.
shortening of product life cycles change markets and increase the pressure to innovate.
The shortening of product life cycles leads to an increasing number of product ramp-ups,
which has moved ramp-up management, with its goal of shortening time-to-market and
time-to-volume, into the spotlight of scientific discussions in the recent years.
So far, this discussion is highly focused on series production. This research, however,
addresses ramp-up management methods for job production, where every customer order
can be seen as starting a new ramp-up process. Considering the resulting high number of
ramp-ups, the possibilities and potential of ramp-up management methods for job production
become obvious. To allow job producers to utilize these potentials, this research
identifies the ramp-up management methods most useful for job production.
In the course of this research an overview of the variety of methods associated with rampup
management is generated for the first time. To assess the benefits these methods can
generate for job production, a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative
research approaches, is used. Literature analysis and expert interviews are conducted
to generate a comprehensive understanding of job production, gain insight into its
processes, and derive current challenges to and objectives of job production. The findings
of this approach form the basis for the assessment of the ramp-up management methods
regarding their benefits for job production with the help of a utility analysis. The results of
the utility analysis are validated and generalized using a questionnaire study. Then the findings
of both approaches are compared and a ranking of ramp-up management methods
for job production is established.
To support decision makers in job production companies, this research thesis concludes
with providing general information on method selection and implementation and presents
two approaches to support the selection of appropriate methods for job production.