Transcript Development of Structural Integrity Through Engineering

Multidisciplinary Teams and
Knowledge Models
Professor M Neil James
Faculty of Technology
University of Plymouth
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Multidisciplinary Teams
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MDT's harness powerful knowledge benefits from members
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Advances in technology in different areas
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New ideas
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Cross-fertilisation of concepts from other disciplines
What knowledge do other people possess that the MDT is
unaware of ?
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Information retrieval/mining
Knowledge Pools
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Standard business model – Bonsai tree
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Fruit – saleable products
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Trunk – core skills
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Roots generic knowledge
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Small and perfect
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Not easily capable of growth
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Expansion into new areas difficult
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Knowledge Pools
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Need to 'dip' into other knowledge pools
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Innovative synergies
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Ready-made problem solutions
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New openings for growth and product range
Leads to the 'sequoia' model of business growth
Knowledge Pools
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Sequoia can be 80-100 m high
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Root system contained in top 1.5 m of soil
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Spreads out over 4 square acres
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Clone by suckers
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Young trees use ancient root system of adults
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Knowledge Pools
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Young trees use ancient root system of adults
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Share water resources
 'Dip' into each others pools
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Share root linkage
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Fast growth once water supply stabilised
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New roots for mutual support
Knowledge Pools
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Business analogy
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Dipping into different knowledge bases
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Mutative growth possible
Fundamental process 'keys' in nature
Knowledge Pools
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Business analogy
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Dipping into different knowledge bases
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Mutative growth possible
Fundamental process 'keys' in nature
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Mutation
Knowledge Pools
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Business analogy
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Dipping into different knowledge bases
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Mutative growth possible
Fundamental process 'keys' in nature
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Mutation
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Replication (cloning)
Knowledge Pools
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Equivalent 'keys' in business
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Design innovation
General Atomics Predator B unmanned
aircraft
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Knowledge Pools
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Equivalent 'keys' in business
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Design innovation
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Smart fabrication
Role of Team Leaders
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Manage problem constraints
Role of Team Leaders
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Manage problem constraints
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Coach and counsel team members
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Role of Team Leaders
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Manage problem constraints
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Coach and counsel team members
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Resolve conflicts
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Role of Team Leaders
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Manage problem constraints
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Coach and counsel team members
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Resolve conflicts
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Attributes:
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Forceful
Role of Team Leaders
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Manage problem constraints
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Coach and counsel team members
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Resolve conflicts
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Attributes:
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Forceful
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Goal orientated
Role of Team Leaders
In short, a caring Genghis Khan…..
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SAVE the WHALE
Application to Design
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MDT's drawn from several potential disciplines
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Different interests
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Different skills
Application to Design
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MDT's drawn from several potential disciplines
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Different interests
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Different skills
Gain experience in information retrieval from different 'pools'
Application to Design
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MDT's drawn from several potential disciplines
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Different interests
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Different skills
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Gain experience in information retrieval from different 'pools'
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Harness the internet as a data mining source
Image from Journal of Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Kluwer Academic Publishers
http://www.digimine.com/usama/datamine/
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Application to Design
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MDT's drawn from several potential disciplines
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Different interests
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Different skills
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Gain experience in information retrieval from different 'pools'
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Harness the internet as a data mining source
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Develop conceptual thought processes
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Application to Design
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MDT's drawn from several potential disciplines
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Different interests
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Different skills
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Gain experience in information retrieval from different 'pools'
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Harness the internet as a data mining source
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Develop conceptual thought processes
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Develop skills in identifying critical areas in problems
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Application to Design
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Visualise the web of linkages between:
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Modules
Application to Design
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Visualise the web of linkages between:
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Modules
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Skills
Application to Design
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Visualise the web of linkages between:
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Modules
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Skills
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Disciplines
Application to Design
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Visualise the web of linkages between:
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Modules
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Skills
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Disciplines
Individual disciplines are all part of the overall field of
engineering
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Interlinked
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Interdependent
What Might MDT's Achieve in
the Future ?
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Reduced product development times
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Classic example is Liberty ship design
 Riveted construction ~ 242 days
 Welded construction < 7 days
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What Might MDT's Achieve in
the Future ?
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Reduced product development times
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Classic example is Liberty ship design
 Riveted construction ~ 242 days
 Welded construction < 7 days
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Increased risk avoidance
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Greater reliability
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More holistic understanding of linkages/problems
What Might MDT's Achieve in
the Future ?
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Impact of network technologies
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Information access
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Real communication
What Might MDT's Achieve in
the Future ?
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Impact of network technologies
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Information access
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Real communication
Effective knowledge capture
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Higher recycling potential
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Lean and efficient materials usage
What Might MDT's Achieve in
the Future ?
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Impact of network technologies
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Information access
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Real communication
Effective knowledge capture
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Higher recycling potential
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Lean and efficient materials usage
'Virtual' design and manufacturing environments
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Game technology
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Process modelling
What Might MDT's Achieve in
the Future ?
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Potential limitations
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Shortage of multi-skilled MDT team leaders
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Loss of social dimension
 Cyber-nerds
There is hope however…….
http://romance.live.com.au/articles/index.jsp
http://romance.live.com.au/articles/snaggies.jsp
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