Collecting manufacturing information in a global distributed manufacturing environment

Turbochargers Finland carried out a national development project for technology in the years 2005-2007. The aim of the project was to improve efficiency and speed during the early conceptual phases of the design process. An understanding of the capabilities and methods used by the available manufacturers is important when developing product designs. To optimize product function, appearance, and cost; designers must be aware of the available manufacturing technologies and incorporate them from the start into their concepts. To ensure reliable and sustainable product delivery, concepts must be compatible with available fabrication and production methods. For this study, a client ordered a complex sheet metal assembly from two of its contract manufacturers and requested they complete and return a comprehensive set of survey forms related to its manufacturing. The effectiveness and value of this survey approach to increasing knowledge of the contractors' capabilities and methods is the subject of this paper.