Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 657

Abstract: Design for X (DfX) is a methodology for the definition and implementation of a range of goals which allow the development of an optimal product based on a series of aspects i.e. manufacturing, assembly, reliability, usability, ergonomics. A great amount of research work has been implemented towards improving a product that is designed using different aspects of the design process as a criterion for optimization. The proposed Design for Skin & Shape methodology (DfS&S) is focusing towards the design of creative products and packages, based on a shape and graphic texture that clarifies directly in the customer mind what is the product on the selves. At the same time, it creates a clear optical identity to its mind for the product which is directly associated with the design. An additional advantage of the DfS&S is that it can reduce the product development time since the concept is defined from the beginning of the design cycle. A number of case studies are presented.

Abstract: Nature offers a great deal of opportunities for mimicking and inspirations which are already there for long periods and evolve by themselves. A number of scientists from different backgrounds are using it as an inspiration for their designs i.e. material science, algorithms, robotic arms and manufacturing systems. From the conceptual point of view, when designing a product, different approaches can be used, for example similarities in the geometrical form and the functionality. The fact that the inspirations from nature have a number of restrictions due to the lack of common terminology and frameworks platforms for all sciences, can form the main advantage in the area of conceptual product design (CPD). This is true because CPD is more of an art than an actual science and for this reason can transform the main disadvantages of mimicking to a great extent as a serious advantage. Those inspirations in the conceptual level can lead to further opportunities for research and economic success. A number of illustrative case studies are presented in the paper.

Abstract: The article is focused on new application of eco-design in the field of electronics. The concept of circular economy is a new trend in manufacturing technologies. It is not clear when an electronic product, being the last phase of lifecycle, will be defined as a waste. According with principles of circular economy there is no waste, only resources. The designer needs to design the electronic products taking in consideration the amount of resources which is the outcome of PLM. The Waste of Electronic and Electric Equipments (WEEE) is used as an input for another industrial process. Thus, the cycle is completed, nothing is lost and there is no pollution.

Abstract: The innovation process is a sequence of activities that carry out a company's management to produce new products and services for sale. At the same time, the category of innovation processes includes, market expansion activities, and improvement of: supply functionality, production processes, equipment maintenance, distribution channels, service and, last but not least, the perfectioning of the company's administrative and management activities. In this study we aimed to analyze the innovation strategy of firms in the industry in the county of Alba. As a research method we used a questionnaire-based survey. The data collected were subjected to a quantitative analysis. In specialized literature four types of innovation are conventionally defined : product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation and organizational innovation. Product and process innovation are closely related to the concept of technological innovation and are the categories covered in this step. From the study's result we can see that innovation is a strategic priority for managers of industry in Alba County. They believe that the most important skills for innovation is the ability to anticipate the market's development, to attact innovative people and to develope new innovative technologies.

Abstract: Process modelling is the concise description of the total variation in one quantity, y, by partitioning it into a deterministic component given by a mathematical function of one or more other quantities, x1, x2... plus a random component that follows a particular probability distribution. The models are material or immaterial systems, which represent other systems, so that it may be possible to manipulate the built structures and their states. The main elements of a simulation are: attributes (describe and differentiate entities), variables (system characteristics), resources (whose capacity can be variable), tails (seen in case of unavailability of resources) and statistical accumulators (measure needed indicators). The new cluster model used in the present paper is a "Five for all" type, which is based on the American concept of "Smart community". Following the regional SWOT analysis, we choose an enterprise (SME), a member of the regional innovation cluster, whose activities will be modelled using the Arena software: distribution and processing of steel products (sheet, profile, pipe, concrete, steel, stainless steel, alloy with special purpose). Welded pipe production, cutting heavy plate with gas and plasma, cutting and slitting foil, shaping and reinforcing steel in coils bars, components from. Trade in petroleum products and fertilizers. Foreign trade and transport. Modelling and simulation of industrial activities profile are based on statistics regarding the lifecycle of various products and equipment involved in their manufacture.

Abstract: The topic about innovations and success factors in innovations has frequently been discussed by researchers and other writers. ‘Innovation’ is different in science for a researcher and in business for an engineer. In science an innovation is something which is ‘interesting’ and it does not have to be useful, but for engineer an innovation must be something ‘new’ and ‘useful’ and does not have to be interesting. Innovation is as a key factor for entrepreneurial activity which has an influence on the competitiveness of enterprises. In today's increasingly competitive environment, managers are having to update themselves on the range of factors that determine innovation success. The aim of the study was to presents success factors in high-tech companies at start-up stage based on individual surveys and compare them with success factors present by other researches.

Abstract: The ergonomic design of a keyboard layout needs expertise in design and ergonomic standards. The existence of different categories of users with slow typing skills, visually searching the apparently random keyboard, including novice users, elder persons and disabled persons conducts to the need of new keyboard layouts. Paper analyses some papers approaching the QWERTY keyboard layouts, the typing abilities of slow typing skills persons and discusses the existing standards in computer devices design and makes observations about design standards and ergonomic design features. There are presented some considerations about the necessity to implement the principles of Transgenerational Design, Inclusive Design, Design for All and Universal design to the design of new keyboard layouts.

Abstract: Various research on aptitude testing has been accomplished yet [1,2,. Experiences from many years of HR consulting and knowledge of the industrys needs regarding to and lack of specific scientific research in aptitude testing for engineers emerged into research acivities in this field. The paper presents the data and main results of the field of aptitude testing for engineers. Its present situation as well as the reasons for that are considered and its necessity is shown. The gotten insights are presented: the existence of personality traits typical for engineers, the existence of key criteria and deduction of HR development measures necessary for a career. A newly developed personality test was applied to the occupational area of engineers. With more than 1400 tests conducted, many deductions were possible.Through the innovative approach of standard profiles of corresponding average groups rather than with demografic equivalent results could be derived. These are typical traits on the one side and development areas on the other.

Abstract: Ergonomic design for elderly people requires consideration of factors relating to both the dwindling reserves of resources as well as the specific needs of the elderly. This requires the use of special techniques both in terms of data collection, for which methods of ethnography design can be used, as well as transferring the identified needs into product characteristics for which, in addition to traditional decision-making tools such as QFD, virtual modeling can be used successfully. The article presents the sequence of actions recommended in ergonomic design for the elderly in which the most important element is the observation of elderly people and the determination of the causes of their specified behavior. The article identifies a list of the most important ergonomic criteria for the design of everyday objects for the elderly which include: anthropometric characteristics, abilities of effectors and receptors, capacity, ability to process information, resistance to physical and organizational environmental factors, as well as tastes and personality patterns. Expanding on these criteria a design method is developed, and finally a practical example is described in which the method is used to develop solutions aiding the ergonomic accessibility of objects for the elderly.

Abstract: Within the development of products under PLM applications, ontology holds an important role. Ontology with its instances constitutes a knowledge base. In the development applications of the product, the ontology-based approaches for machine and equipment manufacturing are very few, predominant being the approaches in the field of IT. The experience of a designer in machine manufacturing can be structured in an ontology and its instances, becoming a knowledge base, which can be reused by another designer, who has never designed such a product. On the other hand, the design duration are part of the manufacturing cycle of the product. We propose that through ontology we should be able to specify the sub-assemblies in such a way that the duration of acquisition (contracting-manufacturing-delivery) overlaps the cycle of designing and manufacturing of the product which uses them. We’re trying to demonstrate that that the manufacturing cycle can be shortened and that a family of products can be developed based on this, by developing an ontological application, which combines ontologies in the field of engineering, all these by using Protégé.