Browsing by Author "Sopelana, Amaia"
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Item The application of an assessment tool for lean product development: An exploratory study in Spanish Companies(2012) Sopelana, Amaia; Flores, Myrna; Martinez, Leire; Flores, Karina; Sorli, Mikel; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANA; Tecnalia Research & InnovationLean practices have been applied by a diverse number of companies in manufacturing during the last decade. Nevertheless, the satisfactory and ongoing trajectory towards an effective application of Lean principles in the New Product Development Process (NPD) is currently under study as it is rather new in industry and the companies still face different challenges to successfully implement them. As a consequence, a novel Maturity Model and assessment tool called SMART has been developed as part of a Lean Transformation Toolkit (Lean T2) within the LeanPPD project funded by the European Commission (NMP-2008-214090). This Maturity Model and assessment tool has three main goals: 1) to enable companies to understand which are the main lean practices that are required to achieve a lean product development process and the four perspectives into which these practices are grouped 2) assess which are the companies' current and desired maturity levels in order to develop an action plan for continuous improvement and 3) obtain in a simple and automatic way the results of the assessment highlighting the main opportunity areas. This tool is also meant to follow the company during the Lean Product and Process roadmap, providing the firm the maturity level in each milestone. Therefore, the objective of this paper is twofold, 1) to provide first insights of the successful validation of the SMART Assessment tool in five companies in Spain and 2) to summarize the results of an exploratory study which evidences difficulties and best practices in regards to the implementation of lean practices in product development.Item Applying lean thinking concepts to new product development(2010) Sorli, Mikel; Sopelana, Amaia; Taisch, Marco; Al-Shaab, Ahmed; Keast, John; Flores, Myrna; Skotic, Dragan; Martinez, Leire; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANALean Thinking can be introduced in the enterprise to ensure an optimal transformation to a lean environment. There is a need in European manufacturing companies of a new model that implies a further stage of lean manufacturing. This paper outlines the first results of a current European project (LeanPPD-Lean Product and Process Development) which aims to develop a new paradigm with its associate methodology and tools based on applying lean thinking concepts in Product Design and Development field. To tackle this objective, a new model will be developed which consider entire product life cycle, providing knowledge based user-centric design and development environment to support value creation to the customers in terms of innovation and customisation, quality as well as sustainable and affordable products. Several of the scientific and technical objectives settled have already met. This paper constitutes a whole explanation of the LeanPPD model proposed by the project consortium and outlines its four main building blocks providing better understanding on how the project addresses these objectives.Item Conceptual and Operational Integration of Governance, Financing, and Business Models for Urban Nature-Based Solutions(2021-10-28) Egusquiza, Aitziber; Arana-Bollar, Maider; Sopelana, Amaia; Babí Almenar, Javier; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANA; SGGovernance, financing, and business models are deeply interlinked and relevant for the successful implementation of urban nature-based solutions (NBS). However, during the definition of urban NBS projects the importance and interrelation of these models are usually neglected. To overcome this limitation, this paper presents an overarching framework (conceptual and operational) and a derived preselection web tool which interrelate governance, financing, and business models for NBS projects. First, based on recent literature, governance, financing, and business models that could be applied to NBS were mapped, and their integration proposed. Later, key contextual factors influencing NBS implementation were identified. They form the basis of a WHAT–WHO–HOW framework that structures the links between specific NBS projects, their implementation context, and the most suitable models. From that framework, and an analysis of 50 successful NBS case studies, a suitability matrix was developed with known models. The matrix allows pairing types of NBS and their initiating actors with suitable financing and governance models. Lastly, a tailored NBS business model canvas was designed to evaluate the business model components. From the overarching framework, the preselection web tool was created to guide decision-making on suitable governance, finance, and business models in the early phases of NBS projects.Item The conceptual LeanPPD model(Springer-Verlag London Ltd, 2010) Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; Shehab, Essam; Alam, Rahman; Sopelana, Amaia; Sorli, Mikel; Flores, Myrna; Taisch, Marco; Stokic, Dragan; James-Moore, Mike; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANA; Tecnalia Research & InnovationThis paper is presenting the conceptual Lean Product and Process Development (LeanPPD) model which is a project funded by the EU-PF7. The project is addressing the needs of European manufacturing companies of a new model that goes beyond lean manufacturing, to ensure the transformation of the enterprise into lean environment. This is a respond to the market demand of value creation, incorporating sustainability and customisation as well as ensuring business growth through the development of high quality products in a cost effective manner at the shortest time. The authors believe that significant change in enterprise performance can be achieved through the adoption of lean thinking throughout the product life cycle. The paper presents the LeanPPD enablers which represent the building block of the model.Item Development of KBE system to support LeanPPD application(2012) Sorli, Mikel; Maksimovic, Maksim; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; Sulowski, Robert; Shehab, Essam; Sopelana, Amaia; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANASome efforts to achieve of a Lean Product development must be addressed formalizing and structuring the knowledge in such a way that any engineering decisions taken are based on proven knowledge and experience. Applying Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) throughout the design process can significantly enable the designer to focus more on innovations and to shorten the overall design process. To address this challenge, LeanPPD project, funded by the European Commission (NMP-2008-214090) has developed a systematic approach for knowledge acquisition, re-use and creation to enhance value creation based on proven knowledge enabling the application of lean thinking in product design and development. This approach is a novel Lean Knowledge Life Cycle (LeanKLC) methodology. The main objective of this paper is to present a working Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) system which showcases one possible use in product development of the aforementioned methodology. The content of the knowledge has been captured following the LeanKLC methodology. The KBE system allows design departments to make decisions based on previous projects knowledge and on proven technological domain knowledge. Finally, as this research is strongly industry oriented, this paper summarizes the implementation and testing of KBE system.Item Do enterprises implement a process architecture towards Lean in product development? A comparative study among large and small firms(2011) Flores, Myrna; Cabello, Alan; Torredemer, Laura; Agrawal, Madhur; Keast, John; Terzi, Sergio; Sopelana, Amaia; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANAThe benefits of Lean Thinking have been applied and proven in manufacturing. However the potential of its application in New Product Development (NPD) has not been fully attained. Due to their iterative and evolving functions, NPD processes are generally unstructured and complex compared to other business processes. Within the scope of the LeanPPD European research project (partially funded by the European Commission-NMP-FP7-214090), which aims to propose a new model and tools to help companies implement Lean Thinking in the product development process, this research aims at understanding the opportunities in both large firms and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to deploy a Process Architecture (PA) towards a lean new product development process. As main results, the paper will highlight relevant trends based on twenty-one face to face interviews done in eleven large firms and ten SMEs located in Switzerland, Germany and Mexico. Thus, this research provides a new body of knowledge comparing the state of art implementation of a PA within several industries.Item Enhancing Circular Business Model Implementation in Pulp and Paper Industry (PPI): A Phase-Based Implementation Guide to Waste Valorisation Strategies(2023-12) Sopelana, Amaia; Oleaga, Asier; Cepriá, Juan José; Bizjak, Karmen Fifer; Paiva, Helena; Rios-Davila, Francisco Javier; Martinez, Adriana H.; Cañas, Antonio; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANA; TRAZABILIDAD CIRCULARInnovation in the circular economy (CE) and the deployment of effective circular business models (CBM) have attracted significant attention in times of growing natural resource scarcity. Despite this widespread interest, significant challenges remain between theoretical innovations and effective CBM implementation in any industrial sector where companies pursue cost-saving opportunities through waste valorisation strategies. Since current methods mislead in terms of the real limitations to designing feasible novel products and services under a circular economy, this study proposes exploring determinants underpinning the organisational resilience of CBMs under a resource efficiency strategy through three case studies. As a result of a co-creation process, the implementation of a CBM framework was built upon empirical data and, thence, a phase-based implementation guide was laid out to assist companies in designing and implementing innovative CBM dealing with the complexity of innovative waste valorisation strategies between the PPI and construction sectors. Relevant findings on managerial and policy recommendations encountered along the demo stage are provided in this paper favouring an effective implementation of CE strategies: the role of technological and non-technological aspects within the CBM, the perspective of the ecosystem and its value proposition, and specific guidelines for the different phases of CBM life cycle.Item Identifying Lean thinking measurement needs and trends in product development: Evidence from the Life Sciences sector in Switzerland(Springer-Verlag London Ltd, 2010) Flores, Myrna; Klinke, Sergio; Tucci, Christopher; Terzi, Sergio; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; Sopelana, Amaia; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANAMeasuring the implementation of Lean principles constitutes a major challenge for many organizations. Several frameworks and tools have been developed and proposed, but no one has shown full success to specifically focus on measuring lean in the product development process. In order to fulfill this opportunity, one of the results of the LeanPPD FP7 project funded by the European Commission, is to develop a self-assessment tool to enable companies to assess their maturity and readiness for Lean implementation and guide them through the implementation process with both qualitative and quantitative measures. In parallel to the tool development, an exploratory research was carried out to understand the current practices and tools firms use to measure their lean implementation and to identify their needs. Therefore, this paper aims to diffuse the findings of how companies are measuring the progress of Lean thinking implementation into their product development. The data was gathered from five highly innovative companies from the Life Sciences sector located in Switzerland.Item Innovative Circular Economy Models for the European Pulp and Paper Industry: A Reference Framework for a Resource Recovery Scenario: A reference framework for a resource recovery scenario(2021-09-15) Sopelana, Amaia; Auriault, Camille; Bansal, Anurag; Fifer, Karmen; Paiva, Helena; Maurice, Christian; Westin, Gunnar; Rios, Javier; Oleaga, Asier; Cañas, Antonio; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANA; TRAZABILIDAD CIRCULARAccording to recent literature in the field of sustainability, the circular economy (CE) appears to be a thriving opportunity for creating new businesses, although less attention has been paid to the form in which its principles fit into a comprehensive framework that enables companies to design it in a practical way. This paper presents the methodology that has been adopted to pave the way to a coherent reference framework for circular business model innovation and its outstanding design and implementation, taking into consideration the entire value and supply chain. A unique analysis of recent innovations in circular economy models is provided herein, together with an exhaustive analysis of those elements that enable or hinder their implementation. The main interactions among all those critical elements influencing how organisations innovate and operate cooperatively within a CE ecosystem are also evaluated. In addition, a study of five industrial cases in the pulp and paper industry allowed searching for industrial insights and empirical evidence of the relevance of those elements, including observation, document analysis, and interviews. Lastly, the main outcomes of this research are illustrated using the CE reference framework designed when applied to the aforementioned industrial cases, and relevant insights into future improvements are also provided.Item Master plan for the center of San JosÉ, Costa Rica: Challenges of the integrated approach and plan implementation(2020) Molina-Costa, Patricia; Matesanz, Angela; Sopelana, Amaia; von Breyman, Helga; Chavarría, Dania; García-Perez, Igone; Sasa, Zuhra; Castillo, Liza; Jimenez, Alejandro; Solano, Erick C.; Tecnalia Research & InnovationLa regeneración de las ciudades existentes se enfrenta a importantes desafíos, dada la complejidad de actuar en entornos consolidados y habitados. La necesidad de aplicar un enfoque integrado y multidimensional, así como la dificultad de llevar a la práctica los planes que se diseñan, son algunos de los retos más importantes identificados en este ámbito. Este artículo analiza dichos retos a través del estudio del proceso de desarrollo del Plan Maestro de Regeneración Urbana y Reconversión Productiva de los Cuatro Distritos Centrales de San José, Costa Rica, con el objetivo de aportar claves para superar dichos retos. El centro urbano de San José, que en las últimas décadas ha sufrido un acusado proceso de despoblamiento y degradación, presenta importantes problemas, como la escasez de demanda residencial, un deficiente sistema de movilidad, deficientes infraestructuras de gestión del agua, alta vulnerabilidad frente al cambio climático, falta de integración del tejido urbano y un modelo productivo obsoleto. Desde la década de 1990, la Municipalidad de San José, en colaboración con otras instituciones, ha tratado de abordar dichos retos desarrollando planes y poniendo en marcha proyectos de actuación específicos. A pesar de los esfuerzos, los avances han sido escasos, principalmente por la ausencia de una visión común y una hoja de ruta para la regeneración urbana integral del centro. Como respuesta a esta problemática, y con apoyo del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, entre 2018 y 2019 se ha desarrollado el citado Plan Maestro. Este artículo expone los principales retos detectados durante el proceso de desarrollo de dicho Plan: el abordaje desde una perspectiva integrada de los desafíos de la regeneración urbana, y las barreras para una implementación efectiva de las propuestas. Para ello se identifican, en el primer caso, las problemáticas complejas existentes y las posibles sinergias en las actuaciones en las diferentes dimensiones urbanas; y en el segundo, las barreras a la coordinación interinstitucional y la falta de instrumentos de gestión y financiación adecuados, aportándose claves para superar dichas barreras.Item Modelling the dynamics of organisational change in a Spanish industrial cooperative(2021) Sopelana, Amaia; Kunc, Martin; Rivera, Olga; Aranceta, Javier; Rodriguez Castellanos, Arturo; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANAThere is increasing attention on the need for dynamic approaches to manage organisational change in order to sustain competitive advantage in changing business environments. Current frameworks and methods are misleading in terms of the fact that flexibility is a temporal and dynamic condition for survival in environments with a high degree of variability in most real-world organisations. This study aims to examine determinants underpinning organisational change strategies throughout the enterprise lifecycle in order to develop a predictive method that will help managers in the design of effective change options dealing with the complexity of organisational flexibility. A system dynamics model was constructed based on theoretical and empirical data from a case study of a Spanish cooperative company. Then, the predictive method shows the impact of managers’ decisions on organisational flexibility through simulations. The effectiveness of change strategies is investigated through the dynamic behaviour of key variables. These factors cause relevant delays on the desired results and could force firms to choose an inappropriate path for change. This study offers significant implications for theory and practice.Item Plan maestro del centro urbano de San José, Costa Rica: Retos del enfoque integrado y la implementación de los planes(University of Cantabria - Building Technology R&D Group, 2020) Molina, Patricia; Matesanz, Ángela; Sopelana, Amaia; Von Breyman, Helga; Solano, Erick; Chavarría, Dania; García, Igone; Sasa, Zuhra; Castillo, Liza; Jiménez, Alejandro; Lombillo, Ignacio; Blanco, Haydee; Boffill, Yosbel; GENERAL; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANAItem Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Proposal for a Comparative Indicator-Based Framework in European Destinations(2024-03) Zubiaga, Mikel; Sopelana, Amaia; Gandini, Alessandra; Aliaga, Héctor M.; Kalvet, Tarmo; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANAEffective decision-making in tourism destinations relies significantly on employing suitable indicators for policy design and impact evaluation. However, the adoption of sustainability-focused indicators remains constrained in the field of cultural tourism. The purpose of this research is to provide decision-makers with an extensive array of criteria and indicators, enabling informed decision-making, policy formulation, and impact assessment tailored to the distinctive attributes encountered in European destinations. Based on the synthesis of existing approaches, and in co-creation with 21 European tourism destinations, an indicator-based framework is proposed, structured around the environmental, economic, social, cultural, resilience, and characterization domains. The results are particularly novel in the resilience and cultural domains, related to the recovery from crisis impacts, but also to the enhancement of digital approaches, as well as the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage towards a more hospitable destination. Moreover, the involvement of stakeholders incorporating real-case scenarios allows this research to bridge the gap between theoretical constructs and practical application. The indicator-based framework resulting from this research will provide stakeholders with assistance in assessing and comparing the impacts of cultural tourism on their destinations and, thence, help them acquire knowledge on cultural resource management, contributing to a more sustainable, responsible, and balanced impact.Item Towards lean product and process development(2013-12-01) Khan, Muhammad S.; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; Shehab, Essam; Haque, Badr; Ewers, Paul; Sorli, Mikel; Sopelana, Amaia; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANASuccesses in lean manufacture have led researchers and practitioners to consider extending lean to different parts of the engineering enterprise, including product and process development (PPD). Lean product development (PD) has been understood to mean lean manufacture applied to PD, while the roots of lean PD - just like lean manufacture - go back to Toyota. This article presents the methodology adopted in order to pave the way towards a coherent lean PD model that combines lessons from the Toyota product development system (TPDS) with other best practises. The article provides a unique review of the lean PD research area, and a reference framework for the enablers that Toyota has employed for lean PD. An investigation of five engineering enterprises undertaken to search for evidence of the implementation of lean PD enablers through observation, document analysis and interviews is also presented. Some enablers have been informally applied, while few have been formally implemented, and no model was found to formally combine lean PD enablers into a coherent whole. This is the first article to critique attempts to describe lean PD and provide a definition for Lean PD.Item The transformation of product development process into lean environment using set-based concurrent engineering: A case study from an aerospace industry(2013-12) Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; Golob, Matic; Attia, Usama M.; Khan, Muhammad; Parsons, Jon; Andino, Alberto; Perez, Alejandro; Guzman, Pablo; Onecha, Asier; Kesavamoorthy, Sivatharan; Martinez, Gabriel; Shehab, Essam; Berkes, Agota; Haque, Badr; Soril, Mikel; Sopelana, Amaia; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; LABORATORIO DE TRANSFORMACIÓN URBANAThis article presents a transformation process towards lean product development in an aerospace industry. This transformation was achieved in two main stages: the first was to integrate the principles of set-based concurrent engineering into an existing product development model of an aerospace company. This stage included defining activities and associated tools. The second stage was to implement the developed model in a research-based industrial case study, a helicopter engine in this case. Three main outcomes were realised from this work. First, it presented an industrial case of lean transformation in product development, where the leanness of an existing model was enhanced by embedding set-based concurrent engineering principles. Second, the developed model was structured into a set of well-defined activities and associated tools that were previously scattered or redundant. Finally, the developed model was trialled in an industrial project of a helicopter engine, tested to evaluate its value in enhancing the innovation level and reducing risk. The work presented in this article focused on early stage system level design, and future work will extend the implementation of set-based concurrent engineering to sub-system and component levels.