The AMF Development Process

AMF Bowling is a market-pull enterprise. AMF generally drives its development process with a market need and seeks out whatever technology is required to meet that need. Its competitive advantage arises from strong marketing channels, strong brand recognition, and a large installed base of equipment, not from any single proprietary technology. For this reason, the technology-push approach would not be appropriate. AMF products are assembled from components fabricated with relatively conventional processes such as molding, casting, and machining. So the AMF product is clearly not process intensive in the way a food product or a chemical is. Bowling equipment is rarely customized for a particular customer; most of the product development at AMF is aimed at new models of products, rather than at the customization of existing models. For this reason, the customization approach is also inappropriate. AMF chose to establish a development process similar to the generic process. The process proposed by the AMF engineering manager is illustrated in Exhibit 2-6. The representation of the development process used by AMF is a hybrid of those used in Exhibits 2-2 and 2-5, in that it shows the individual activities in the development process as well as the roles of the different development functions in those activities. Note that AMF defines the key functions in product development as marketing, engineering!design, manufacturing, quality assurance, purchasing, and customer service. Also note that there are three major milestones in the process: the project approval, the beginning of tooling fabrication, and the production release. Each of these milestones follows a major review. Although AMF established a standard process, its managers realized that this process would not necessarily be suitable in its entirety for all AMF products. For example, a few of AMF's new products are based on technology platforms. When platform products are developed, the team assumes the use of an existing technology platform during concept development. Nevertheless, the standard development process is the baseline from which a particular project plan begins.
References and Bibliography
Many current resources are available on the Internet via www.ulrich-eppinger.net Stage-gate product development processes have been dominant in manufacturing firms for the past 30 years. Cooper describes the modem stage-gate process and many of its enabling practices. Cooper, Robert G., Winning at New Products: Accelerating the Process from Idea to Launch, third edition, Perseus Books, Cambridge, MA, 2001.

additives

To improve one of the properties of a polymer, usually a polymer will be mixed with a material called additives. The function of these additives is to modify or improve certain properties in accordance with the wishes of the users, such as strength, color, water resistance, heat resistance, electrical resistance and others. Fillers are one of the additive to improve strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability. Plastisizers is additive to menambahn flexibility and lowers the level of soft polymers with glass transition temperaturenya. Molukuler Weight Additive has a low-power high interference. Secondary bond strength is reduced so as to make soft and flexible polymer. Commonly used in PVC, thin sheets, films, cylinders. Most polymers are affected by ultraviolet light (sunlight) and oxygen where it will weaken the influence of the main bonding polymers. Additive used is Carbon Black (soot). These additives absorb a high percentage of ultraviolet radiation. The trick is to add antioxidant polymers. The amount of color variation is needed in the plastic additives required Colorant (dye). This material is organic (Dyes) and inorganic (pigments). Selection of colorant depends on temperature and light in which the pigments dispersed in the polymer. Another additive is heat resistant to the flame retardants. These additives reduce the Flammability of these polymers. When the high temperature most polymers start to burn, burning Traffic depends on the composition of each polymer. Examples of these additives is Compound Chlorine, bromine and Phosphorus. Lubricants can be added to polymers to reduce friction during the manufacturing process. Other uses is to avoid the product sticking to the mold. Can also be a deterrent to the mutual attachment of polymers such as polymer-polymer thin film layer. (bid / multiple sources)

Product Development Process Flows

The product development process generally follows a structured flow of activity and information flow. This allows us to draw process flow diagrams illustrating the process, as shown in Exhibit 2-5. The generic process flow diagram depicts the process used to develop market-pull, technology-push, platform, process-intensive, customized, and high-risk products. Each product development phase (or stage) is followed by a review (or gate) to confirm that the phase is completed and to determine whether the project proceeds. Quick-build products enable a spiral product development process whereby detail design, prototyping, and test activities are repeated a number of times. The process flow diagram for development of complex systems shows the decomposition into parallel stages of work on the many subsystems and components. Once the product development process has been established within an organization, a process flow diagram is used to explain the process to everyone on the team. References and Bibliography Many current resources are available on the Internet via www.ulrich-eppinger.net Stage-gate product development processes have been dominant in manufacturing firms for the past 30 years. Cooper describes the modem stage-gate process and many of its enabling practices. Cooper, Robert G., Winning at New Products: Accelerating the Process from Idea to Launch, third edition, Perseus Books, Cambridge, MA, 2001.

Thermosetting

When the long chain molecules in the polymer related to the opposite (cross-linked) in rule 3 dimensions, the structure becomes one big mclekul with strong covalent bonds. Because during the polymerization and the formation of a network equipped with a permanent structure and could not return to its origin (irreversible), it is called Thermosetting. Thermosetting polymer has a glass transition temperature is not specific. Thermosett polymerization process is generally divided into two phases. The first stage is to separate polymer molecules into linear chains. The second stage is the cross-linking occurs with heat and pressure in the molding process. Due to the nature of the bond, the strength and hardness of thermosett not like thermoplastic, which is not affected by temperature and deformation. One type is termosett Phenolic, which is the result of reactions between Phenol and formaldehyde. A common characteristic of thermosets is a better mechanical properties, heat resistance, chemical resistance, electrical resistance and better dimensional stability. But if the temperature rises high, thermosetting polymers will burn, and burn. Some examples of polymers termosett are as follows: a. Alkyds Is a mixture of alcohol and acid, has the advantage of an excellent electrical insulator, resistant crushed and dimensional stability and low water absorption. b. Aminos Is the urea and melamine has the advantage depends on its composition. Generally amino hard and dense, resistant to abrasion and scratch resistance. Used commonly in furniture, toilet seat, handle and box-box meals. c. Epoxy Mechanical and electrical properties have excellent dimensional stability, a strong adhesive and heat and chemical resistant. Its application is for electronic components that require mechanical strength and good insulation .. d. Phenolics Although fragile and brittle Another advantage is the dimension of a stable, high resistance to heat, water, electrical and chemical. Usually used for handles, panels, telephone, glue material to stone grinding, electronic components, connectors. e. Polyester Have good mechanical properties, heat resistance and chemical resistance. Usually used for a boat, chairs, automotive body. f. Polyamides Good mechanical properties, scratch resistance, low friction, excellent electrical properties. Usually used for seals, valves, piston rings, part-part aerospace, high voltage connectors and safety equipment. g. Silicones Properties are generally good electrical properties, heat resistance and chemical materials. Commonly used for gaskets, seals, waterproof materials. (Bid / multiple sources)