Title: Theory and practice of CAD/CAM infused agile characteristics in the traditional products

Authors: S. Vinodh, S.R. Devadasan, S. Maheshkumar, M. Aravindakshan, M. Arumugam, K. Balakrishnan

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Heavy Engineering Division, Larsen and Toubro Limited, Powai, Mumbai 400 072, India. ' Tata Consultancy Services, Bangalore 560 066, India. ' Wipro Technologies, Bangalore 560100, India. 'Tata Consultancy Services, Bangalore 560066, India

Abstract: Due to the absence of agile characteristics, many traditional products have been struggling to face the onslaught of intensive competition. Agile characteristics would enable a product to be reconfigured quickly in response to the customers| dynamic demands. One of the theoretical propositions is that, computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology possesses the capabilities to infuse agile characteristics in the traditional products. To examine this theoretical proposition, the research work being reported in this paper was carried out. During this research, the pump was chosen as a candidate of traditional product. The impeller and casing of the pump were subsequently modelled using CAD technology and design equations. Subsequently, four impeller and casing models were evolved. To examine the manufacturing aspect of these models, CAM technology was used. This research outcome indicated the feasibility of converting a traditional product into an agile compatible product using CAD/CAM technology.

Keywords: agile manufacturing; CAD; computer-aided design; CAM; computer-aided manufacturing; pump design; product design; new product development; NPD; agile characteristics; traditional products; intensive competition; product reconfiguration; customer demands; dynamic demands; impellers; pump casings; casing models; compatible products; product conversion; Mayur Motor Industries; Coimbatore; Tamil Nadu; India; productivity; quality management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2011.041847

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2011 Vol.8 No.2, pp.225 - 246

Published online: 08 Aug 2011 *

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