Browsing by Author "Lakew, Mesfin"

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    A Petri net Approach to Bottling Line Modeling and Performance Analysis: A Case Study on Meta Abo Brewery Share Company
    (Addis Ababa University, 2004-10) Lakew, Mesfin; Alemu, Demiss (PhD)
    Increasing global competition has made many business leaders and policy makers turn their attention to such critical issues as productivity and quality. Businesses seek new approaches to production processes and manufacturing techniques and explore new boundaries of technology. One of the frequently prescribed remedies for the problem of decreased productivity and declining quality is the automation of factories. To achieve strategic benefits of automation in line with improved quality, greater flexibility, and cost reduction, firms must carefully manage the implementation of their techniques. In the light of the above, because of capital intensive and complex nature of automated manufacturing system (AMS), the design and operation of these systems require modeling and analysis in order to select the optimal design alternative and operational policy. Besides, errors in the modeling process can substantially contribute to the development time and cost. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the correctness of the models that are used at all planning levels. Petri nets as a graphical and mathematical tool provide a uniform environment for modeling, formal analysis and design of manufacturing systems. This study therefore, focuses on both traditional analysis of manufacturing system after setting key performance factors and the application of Petri nets in modeling and analysis of an AMS. It also includes a comprehensive review of xvi Petri nets and manufacturing system in view of Petri nets application domain. ith the view to give more emphasis in the practical and realistic industrial application of Petri nets, particularly in modeling and analysis of AMS, a case study on an existing manufacturing firm was carried. In this regard, Meta Abo Brewery S. Co (MABSCo) is believed to serve as a model. Above all, the success of Petri nets and related technologies can be greatly achieved only when more industrial engineers and designers use them together with other techniques in system development and operation. The author, being an industrial engineer, develop the sample model attributed to the bottling line of MABSCo through a careful study of relevant literatures, systematic data collection, and after systematic survey of the plant, particularly the bottling line. Further research in the future that includes other classes of Petri nets is also proposed to make the study more complete.
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    Technological Innovation and New Product Introduction: The Case of Ethiopian Metal Development Institute
    (Addis Ababa University, 2019-06) Lakew, Mesfin; Bogale, Mengistu(PhD)
    Organizations ability to continuously innovate its product is essential to its business success. Also, firms’ survival and improved performance hinge on introduction of innovative new products. This study is a product-oriented project which is focused in technological innovation and/or new product development and introduction process for Metal Industry Development Institute, an institute which offers innovative new products to the Metal and Engineering Industries. The objective of the study is to find and develop a framework which would clarify the entire product development and introduction process and increase the success rate on the new product launches. This study proposes elaborated guidelines which the institute could follow in its product development and introduction process. The product introduction plan was developed based on the Booz, Allen and Hamilton (1982) model, which is a reliable and successful method, used in different successful new product development cases. The Booz, Allen and Hamilton (1982) model was adopted according to the institute´s strategy. The researcher hopes that the final results could help the institute to have a clear understanding of each stage in the product introduction process and implement each of these stages in accordance with the type of the project or new product development strategy. The study also suggests that a research opportunity exists in implementing or testing of the proposed framework. It also be useful to open the door for academic research so as to determine the impact of this study on both practice and research