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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M23649/01
Title: IMI: THE COMPLEXITIES OF PRODUCT DEFINITION - IDENTIFYING THE CUSTOMER REQUIREMENT (COPDICRE)
Principal Investigator: Allen, Professor PM
Other Investigators:
Seaton, Dr R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
BAE Systems DSTL Air Systems Bedford GE Aviation
I M I Marston Ltd Lucas Aerospace Ltd Pre Nexus Migration
Rolls-Royce Plc (UK)
Department: Sch of Industrial and Manufacturing Scie
Organisation: Cranfield University
Scheme: LINK
Starts: 01 September 1998 Ends: 31 August 2000 Value (£): 47,865
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufact. Enterprise Ops& Mgmt
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The process of the early development of product concepts and definition, the fuzzy front end , was identified as a key to competitiveness for UK aerospace. These processes are highly complex due to the myriad of activities and players involved at these early stages. New ways are being developed to understand complex and unpredictable phenomena through the study of complex adaptive systems known as complexity. In this proposal the aim is firstly to understand the complexities and constraints of the current product definition processes across a typical group of companies, representing an aerospace supply chain. Then to explore and develop models based on the science of complexity to help in determining the optimum level of connectivity between a customer and its suppliers during product definition, which can be seen as an adaptive evolution within the industry ecosystem.Concurrently the project will use the principles developed in the study of organisational complexity to develop tools and approaches arising from the science of complexity to assess how these might reduce the existing problems associated with the inter relationships between customers and suppliers.Based on this research small trials will be tested in companies to assess the potential benefits from this approach.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk