Title: Building material capabilities: a socio-technical analysis of composite product development and manufacturing strategy

Authors: Anna P. Chatzimichali; Kevin D. Potter

Addresses: Aerospace Engineering Department, Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science, University of Bristol, Queen's Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK ' Aerospace Engineering Department, Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science, University of Bristol, Queen's Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK

Abstract: The development of advanced material requires much more than purely technical knowledge. This paper presents a socio-technical analysis of industrial capability issues for composites material product. The central idea behind this work is to provide a framework to identify and examine important growth drivers in composites. Composites are engineered materials, made from a combination of constituent materials with different properties, and find applications in a variety of business sectors and contribute towards a sustainable economy. The main goal of this paper is to shed some light on how the composites industry could accelerate production rates, meet demands for sophisticated products in high volumes and reach advanced levels of industrialisation.

Keywords: composite materials; composites; composite product development; manufacturing strategy; material industrialisation; material capabilities; socio-technical analysis; composite products.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMABS.2015.073527

International Journal of Markets and Business Systems, 2015 Vol.1 No.3, pp.196 - 216

Accepted: 19 May 2015
Published online: 11 Dec 2015 *

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