Design, Ecology, Politics links social and ecological theory to design theory and practice, critiquing the ways in which the design industry perpetuates unsustainable development. Boehnert argues that when design does engage with issues of sustainability, this engagement remains shallow, due to the narrow basis of analysis in design education and theory. The situation is made more severe by design cultures which claim to be apolitical. Where design education fails to recognise the historical roots of unsustainable practice, it reproduces old errors. New ecologically informed design methods and tools hold promise only when incorporated into a larger project of political change. Design, Ecology, Politics describes how ecological literacy challenges many central assumptions in design theory and practice. By bringing design, ecology and socio-political theory together, Boehnert describes how power is constructed, reproduced and obfuscated by design in ways which often cause environmental harms. She uses case studies to illustrate how communication design functions to either conceal or reveal the ecological and social impacts of current modes of production. The transformative potential of design is dependent on deep-reaching analysis of the problems design attempts to address. Ecologically literate and critically engaged design is a practice primed to facilitate the creation of viable, sustainable and just futures. With this approach, designers can make sustainability not only possible, but attractive.

Availability of a system is a crucial factor for planning and optimization. The concept is more challenging for modern systems such as robots and autonomous systems consisting of a complex configuration of components. As complex systems have become global and essential in today's society, their reliable design and the determination of their availability have turned into a very important task for managers and engineers. Reliability Models of Complex Systems for Robots and Automation offers different models and approaches for reliability evaluation and optimization of a complex autonomous system. Comprehensive fault tree analysis on the critical components of industrial robots and its integration with the reliability block diagram approach is designed in order to investigate the robot system reliability. The cost and hazard decision tree are integrated for the first time in an approach to evaluate the reliability of a complex system. Considers a complex production system composing of several autonomous robots Develops binary state reliability evaluation model for a complex system Introduces new concepts of hazard decision tree Proposes fault tree and reliability block diagram for complex robotic systems Develops stochastic process based reliability evaluation and optimization models Today's competitive world with increasing customer demands for highly reliable products makes reliability engineering a more challenging task. Reliability analysis is one of the main tools to ensure agreed delivery deadlines which in turn maintains certainty in real tangible factors such as customer goodwill and company reputation.

When presenting projects in competitive design environments, how you say something is as important as what you're actually saying. Projects are increasingly complex and designers are working from more sources, and many designers are familiar with the struggle to harness this information and craft a meaningful and engaging story from it. Telling the Design Story: Effective and Engaging Communication teaches designers to craft cohesive and innovative presentations through storytelling. From the various stages of the creative process to the nuts and bolts of writing for impact, speaking skills, and creating visuals, Amy Huber provides a comprehensive approach for designers creating presentations for clients. Including chapter by chapter exercises, project briefs, and forms, this is an essential resource for students and practicing designers alike.

The discovery of market needs and the manufacture of a product to meet those needs are integral parts of the same process. Since most textbooks on new product development are written from either a marketing or an engineering perspective, it is important for students to encounter these two aspects of product development together in a single text. Product Design: Practical Methods for the Systematic Development of New Products covers the entire new product development process, from market research through concept design, embodiment design, design for manufacture, and product launch. Systematic and practical in its approach, the text offers both a structured management framework for product development and an extensive range of specific design methods. Chapters feature "Design Toolkits" that provide detailed guidance on systematic design methods, present examples with familiar products, and conclude with reviews of key concepts. This major text aims to turn the often haphazard and unstructured product design process into a quality-controlled, streamlined, and manageable procedure. It is ideal for students of engineering, design, and technology on their path to designing new products.

This book covers the problem of fidelity in the design of virtual environments with specific reference to the design of vehicle simulators. The default design goal has been on the physical replication of a given real-world environment and, in the case of vehicles, the specific appearance and function of vehicle components. This book discusses that perceptual, rather than physical, fidelity of a virtual environment, should be the design goal and the principal purpose is to produce human behavior. This book provides the rationale and design guidance to maximize perceptual fidelity in the development of virtual environments, and therefore maximize the costeffectiveness as well.

This is a primary text project that combines sustainability development with engineering entrepreneurship and design to present a transdisciplinary approach to modern engineering education. The book is distinguished by extensive descriptions of concepts in sustainability, its principles, and its relevance to environment, economy, and society. It can be read by all engineers regardless of their disciplines as well as by engineering students as they would be future designers of products and systems. This book presents a flexible organization of knowledge in various fields, which allows to be used as a text in a number of courses including for example, engineering entrepreneurship and design, engineering innovation and leadership, and sustainability in engineering design

The arts and crafts of the second half of China's Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) are represented, with a brief nod to the early 20th century and the Art Deco influence in Chinese design. Included are the tools of the scholar, ancestor paintings, and other new categories, in addition to Chinese furniture, basketry, and cabinetry. Newly fashionable Chinese furnishings and accessories from the 18th and 19th centuries are presented in nearly 600 full color photographs. Each piece is clearly described and set in its historical context. \nWhile appreciating the beauty of furniture designs of the late Qing dynasty, readers will be enriched by photographs of their places in ancient settings as well as in contemporary household interiors. Designers and decorators will be surprised to see how well these antique forms blend with and enhance contemporary decor. Values are also included.

Enhancing awareness of the interdependence of systems engineering and safety, Systems Engineering and Safety: Building the Bridge covers systems engineering methodology, safety tools, and the management needed to build the bridge between these two disciplines. It underscores the relationship between the disciplines and how understanding the relationship can benefit your organization and industry. The book lays out the purpose of the methodology of systems engineering and the tools of safety. It identifies the importance of management and the culture, commitment, communication, and coordination that management must provide. The author describes the systems engineering methodology: the lifecycle, processes, and management and the technical processes that systems engineers and safety professionals must be familiar with. He merges management, systems engineering, and safety into the lifecycle through project processes. Using real-world examples, he also examines the roles and responsibilities of management, and a breakdown theory of safety in the management processes: The Glismann Effect. The strength of this book is that it can be read, understood, and hopefully acted upon by the chief executive officer of a corporation, right down to the line manager of systems engineering or the subject matter expert in the safety department. This value can be measured in cost savings, be it in the form of human, social, or financial capital.

A handbook in the truest sense of the word, the first edition of the Operations Research Calculations Handbook quickly became an indispensible resource. While other books available tend to give detailed information about specific topics, this one contains comprehensive information and results useful for real-world problem solving. Reflecting the breadth and depth of growth in the field, the scope of the second edition has been expanded to cover several additional topics. And as with the first edition, it focuses on presenting analytical results and formulas that allow quick calculations and provide understanding of system models. See what's in the Second Edition: New chapters include Order Statistics, Traffic Flow and Delay, and Heuristic Search Methods New sections include Distance Norms, Hyper-Exponential and Hypo-Exponential Distributions Newly derived formulas and an expanded reference list Like its predecessor, the new edition of this handbook presents the analytical results and formulas needed in the scientific applications of operations research and management. It continues to provide quick calculations and insight into system performance. Presenting practical results and formulas without derivations, the material is organized by topic and offered in a concise format that allows ready-access to a wide range of results in a single volume. The field of operations research encompasses a growing number of technical areas, and uses analyses and techniques from a variety of branches of mathematics, statistics, and other scientific disciplines. And as the field continues to grow, there is an even greater need for key results to be summarized and easily accessible in one reference volume. Yet many of the important results and formulas are widely scattered among different textbooks and journals and are often hard to find in t

As RFID technology is becoming increasingly popular, the need has arisen to address the challenges and approaches to successful implementation. RFID and Auto-ID in Planning and Logistics: A Practical Guide for Military UID Applications presents the concepts for students, military personnel and contractors, and corporate managers to learn about RFID and other automatic information capture technologies, and their integration into planning and logistics functions. The text includes comparisons of RFID with technologies such as bar codes, satellite tags, and global positioning systems and provides a decision model for choosing the appropriate technology for a given application. By providing the histories, current use, and future applications of RFID and automatic identification technologies (AIT), the book discusses supply chain planning and logistics uses for these technologies. It addresses the fundamental relationships in RFID, including how antennae, integrated circuitry, and substrate work together. The text provides detailed information for troubleshooting design issues and an understanding of passive, semi-passive, and active tags, so an informed choice of technology type can be made. It describes the unique identification (UID) standards necessary for military contractors and how to use RFID and AIT to meet those requirements. This book is unique in the depth of material presented, making it appropriate for engineers, students, and operational personnel as a resource for foundational concepts for integrating logistics and RFID. A comprehensive reference, this volume can is an academic text, a practitioner's handbook, and a military contractor's UID guide for using RFID and AIT technologies.

In a market place flooded with consumer goods, the modern consumer has become incredibly savvy. They have developed to a point where they consider such things as what makes them look beautiful, what improves their character, and how a product enhances the value of life. If future product developers do not strategize the market-in concept, consumers will very likely turn their backs on those products. Written by Mitsuo Nagamachi, the founder of the technology, Innovations of Kansei Engineering elucidates Kansei Engineering, a unique product development technology based on the customer's feelings, wants, and needs. It defines the technology, its methods, and the developmental process related to designing a product. The book discusses how to: Break down the design into separate elements Interpret the Kansei of each element Design the overall product The text details how to construct the intelligent computer system to support new product development using the neural network model and fuzzy logic. It also addresses product quality control management and presents statistical methods of design. Using this innovative technique, you can turn your vision into a shape that can then be transformed into consumer goods that stand out.

In today's competitive world, customer demands for highly reliable products, makes reliability engineering a more challenging task. Reliability analysis is one of the main tools to ensure agreed upon delivery deadlines, which in turn maintains certainty in tangible factors such as goodwill and company reputation. This unique book considers a complex production system composing of several autonomous robots performing manufacturing jobs. The reliability of the complex system is analyzed under different conditions, with different objectives. Various reliability models are developed with each focusing on the specifications of a unique problem, and provides the evaluation of a complex system.

It's a widely recognised trend that powered-two-wheelers' (PTWs) use has been steadily increasing and is projected to increase further. While providing benefits to the community in the form of reduced traffic congestion and environmental benefits, the risks to PTW riders remain and visibility will always be a key issue. Increasing Motorcycle Conspicuity aims to illustrate how driving simulation, field studies and laboratory experiments can be used to improve rider safety through the design and evaluation of a range of safety measures. The book outlines the factors that contribute to PTW visibility and detection by car drivers, and presents case studies to illustrate how the various methods can be used to explore the contribution of these factors. The final chapter of the book highlights the utility of a simulation-based approach to improving PTW safety and discusses this method's future applications. The case studies collected within the volume cover phases of the design of conspicuity treatments and provide a broad spectrum of empirical strategies for assessing the interventions. The book is most directly relevant to researchers and applied scientists from the fields of traffic/transportation psychology and human factors, as well as to practitioners from the traffic safety sector.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a wide field in which several specialties are included. In general, operations and production management players use SCM to organize the problems and analyze the solution approaches. Due to these points, a reference which can encompass a range of problems and their modelling approaches is required. This book will contain three general sections of forward, reverse, intelligent, and uncertain problems. While the book provides different problems in the three commonly used categories in SCM, it is very helpful for the readers to find out, or adapt their own application studies to the ones given in the book and employ the corresponding modeliing approach.

This book is the first in the literature to present the state of the art and some interesting and relevant applications of the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). The AHP is a conceptually and mathematically simple, easily implementable, yet extremely powerful tool for group decision making and is used around the world in a wide variety of decision situations, in fields such as government, business, industry, healthcare, and education. The aim of this book is to study various fuzzy methods for dealing with the imprecise and ambiguous data in AHP. Features: First book available on FAHP. Showcases state-of-the-art developments. Contains several novel real-life applications. Provides useful insights to both academics and practitioners in making group decisions under uncertainty This book provides the necessary background to work with existing fuzzy AHP models. Once the material in this book has been mastered, the reader will be able to apply fuzzy AHP models to his or her problems for making decisions with imprecise data.

This newly revised book presents a factual discussion of the wide variety of colorful and popular plastics housewares made between 1945 and 1960. Wonderful advertisements that announced to the world what new designs were possible with this experimental material are shown. Many color photographs of today's highly collectible plastics objects demonstrate the variety of colors and useful forms that were manufactured. Vinyl, Lucite, Melamine and Formica, to name but a few, have become common household names since their introduction in this era. Here are chairs, tables, dishes, cups, radios, lampshades, draperies, cooking containers, car interiors, floors and more-all made of plastics. A very useful Collectors' Guide, providing information about all the major manufacturers and trade names, is organized by product types for easy reference. For 1950s families with small budgets and small homes, the "magic" of plastics chemistry promised unprecedented practical benefits mingled with the glamour and drama of sleek modern forms. At last, plastics had stepped out of the kitchen and bath to enter almost every area of home design. In a single decade, plastics had won favor among an astonishingly diverse group-from dimestore shoppers and young marrieds to gifted designers and prestigious proponents of affordable good design. In tracing plastic's whirlwind rise from wartime sham to postwar miracle, this book explores not only the history of an important segment of 1950s collectibles but also the history of a culture redefining its way of life.

The struggle with balancing creative products that are innovative, technically feasible, and financially sound is one designers and web professionals go through every day. The Design Studio Method is a creative problem solving process that allows you to quickly generate ideas, evaluate them, and reach consensus, achieving that balancing act. Brian Sullivan's The Design Studio Method gives answers that you have been looking for, showing you how to be innovative and efficient without sacrificing quality and collaboration. This book simplifies the complicated method, explaining each step, each participant's involvement, and how to adapt the method to your needs. The Design Studio Method provides step-by-step procedures to ensure your success. From illumination, to generation, to presentation, all the way to iteration, this book provides the road map you'll need to start generating innovate products. Shows you how to involve all members of the creative process-from clients to directors-so that everyone participates, critiques, and innovates. Features real-world examples of Design Studio projects that highlight the successes of this method and ways to adapt it to your needs. Includes a website that showcases videos covering each step of the method and other procedures that crop up along the way.

Energy management training and solutions are not one size fits all. While some general methods apply, the metals industry has its own unique processes and environments for which a more tailored approach is necessary. Aimed at managers, engineers, and supervisors working in the metals industry, Energy Management for the Metals Industry offers specifics that can help readers in the metals field achieve energy savings for their companies. The book explains general energy management methods and offers approaches germane to the metals industry. It discusses the benefits and reasons for implementing an energy management program and the requirements necessary to begin one. The book covers defining and measuring performance, setting baselines, and benchmarking a plant and its processes. It also discusses analyzing data, identifying projects, improving processes, setting goals, and creating an action plan, while controlling and evaluating progress. Real-world examples highlight concepts and illustrate potential pitfalls.

Advances in Metaheuristics: Applications in Engineering Systems provides details on current approaches utilized in engineering optimization. It gives a comprehensive background on metaheuristic applications, focusing on main engineering sectors such as energy, process, and materials. It discusses topics such as algorithmic enhancements and performance measurement approaches, and provides insights into the implementation of metaheuristic strategies to multi-objective optimization problems. With this book, readers can learn to solve real-world engineering optimization problems effectively using the appropriate techniques from emerging fields including evolutionary and swarm intelligence, mathematical programming, and multi-objective optimization. The ten chapters of this book are divided into three parts. The first part discusses three industrial applications in the energy sector. The second focusses on process optimization and considers three engineering applications: optimization of a three-phase separator, process plant, and a pre-treatment process. The third and final part of this book covers industrial applications in material engineering, with a particular focus on sand mould-systems. It also includes discussions on the potential improvement of algorithmic characteristics via strategic algorithmic enhancements. This book helps fill the existing gap in literature on the implementation of metaheuristics in engineering applications and real-world engineering systems. It will be an important resource for engineers and decision-makers selecting and implementing metaheuristics to solve specific engineering problems.

This book shows how to identify potential design errors and modify procedures in the design process to mitigate design-induced error. Real life examples are used to demonstrate the points being made. Many of the concerns raised in the book have come from a worldwide study conducted with designers, managers, and end-users.

What should every airline and manufacturer know about comfort?What can we learn from studies in the scientific literature?What do most passengers know about comfort and how can we translate that into interior design?Where can I find the latest knowledge and research useful for designing aircraft seats? Although the answers to these questions are available, they have often been hard to find. Until now. Based on studies conducted by the author and the latest knowledge on comfort, Aircraft Interior Comfort and Design links scientific research on customer likes and dislikes with technical know-how of aircraft interior design. It contains theoretical information on comfort gathered directly from the voice of the passenger, specific tips and photographs on passenger likes and dislikes, and an overview of the latest scientific demands for passenger seats. Presenting the results of current research and development in the aircraft interior industry, this book provides insight that, when applied to the daily work of managing the passenger experience, can lead to further improvements. The author makes the case for using improved comfort as a selling tool and identifies new opportunities for comfort improvement in the different phases of the passenger experience. He demonstrates how by optimizing the passengers senses at each phase, you can design comfort back into flying.

This book gives readers the tools they need to achieve work design that is ergonomically effective while remaining economically feasible. Whether studying work design/ergonomics in a college classroom, preparing for the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE) exam, or working as a professional in the field, readers can depend on this book to provide them with the information they need. Work Design is a single source for ergonomics, work design, and work measurement. Its engineering orientation equips readers with practical design information and procedures; its explicit organization, conversational style, and clear explanations make it easy to read and understand. The book's many charts and graphics dynamically illustrate important concepts and principles, and its extensive references give readers confidence in the material.

The capability modeling and simulation (M&S) supplies for managing systems complexity and investigating systems behaviors has made it a central activity in the development of new and existing systems. However, a handbook that provides established M&S practices has not been available. Until now. Modeling and Simulation-Based Systems Engineering Handbook details the M&S practices for supporting systems engineering in diverse domains. It discusses how you can identify systems engineering needs and adapt these practices to suit specific application domains, thus avoiding redefining practices from scratch. Although M&S practices are used and embedded within individual disciplines, they are often developed in isolation. However, they address recurring problems common to all disciplines. The editors of this book tackled the challenge by recruiting key representatives from several communities, harmonizing the different perspectives derived from individual backgrounds, and lining them up with the book's vision. The result is a collection of M&S systems engineering examples that offer an initial means for cross-domain capitalization of the knowledge, methodologies, and technologies developed in several communities. These examples provide the pros and cons of the methods and techniques available, lessons learned, and pitfalls to avoid. As our society moves further in the information era, knowledge and M&S capabilities become key enablers for the engineering of complex systems and systems of systems. Therefore, knowledge and M&S methodologies and technologies become valuable output in an engineering activity, and their cross-domain capitalization is key to further advance the future practices in systems engineering. This book collates information across disciplines to provide you with the tools to more efficiently design and manage complex systems that achieve their goals.

W. Edwards Deming's central premise was that improvements in product quality would increase productivity, improve competitive position, and help ensure long-term survival. Point 12 of his landmark 14 Points for Management says that management's job is to remove the barriers that keep people from taking pride in their work. That's exactly what this book is about.Shedding new light on Deming's 14 Points, Removing the Barriers to Efficient Manufacturing: Real-World Applications of Lean Productivity outlines time-tested organizational structures and methods to help you reduce variability and deliver high-quality products consistently. It describes the financial losses that can occur as a result of variability and details the specific activities management must engage in to avoid these losses and ensure long-term success.Instead of taking you on a "random walk," the book supplies each manufacturing group in your organization with straightforward directions for creating a smooth-running facility with reduced variability. It includes "work assignments" in each chapter that, if completed in the order presented, will guide you through the creation of the Model Vision for your manufacturing facility. It also: Covers key topics on working with people, including training and retraining Supplies pointers for working with unions Considers Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) Describes how to put it all together with action plans The book includes a write up on Deming's famous Red Bead Experiment as well as an introduction to statistical process control techniques in the appendices. Filled with real-world examples and a case study to illustrate essential concepts, the book arms you with the insight and common-sense approaches required to build on Deming's fundamental principles and consistently deliver high-quality products that instill a sense of pride in your workforce.