A systems approach to procurement of automated technology
Name
921155715-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
10.26 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
3a6d3d9df447c439d5c6608e83e5b364
Author(s)
Ebner, Ellen E. (Ellen Elizabeth)
Advisor(s)
Daniel Whitney and Steven Spear.
Date Issued
2015
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Company A's Product Group B (PGB) is developing an automated system to complete final assembly of the Component, a structural member of the product that includes technology supporting two features of the product's competitive advantage. PGB contracted with an industry partner to supply the automated assembly system, which will be built and tested in 2015. Amid the wide spread perception that automation projects purchased from suppliers include schedule delays and performance deficiencies, PGB must specify the activities to verify automated assembly system performance prior to purchasing it from the Supplier. Interviews with project teams were completed to gather data about the procurement of existing automated systems at Company A. A range of success in completing project buyoff on time with no deficiencies was found with variation in buyoff results mainly associated with the presence or lack of fully-defined requirements and detailed procedures to verify and validate the system according to the requirements. The findings led to the hypothesis that automation system buyoff can be improved by applying an approach that includes development of good requirements, planning detailed procedures to verify and validate the system according to the requirements, and tracking progress towards meeting requirements to a schedule. To test the hypothesis, an approach to buyoff plan development and execution incorporating these factors was defined and then evaluated using a model. Buyoff of the automated assembly system will occur in 2015 according to the approach defined in this research. Results should be evaluated to validate the hypothesis and provide evidence for further buyoff plan improvement.
Description
Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2015. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT.
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 89).
Subjects
Sloan School of Management.
Engineering Systems Division.
Leaders for Global Operations Program.
MIT Department
Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
Sloan School of Management
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