Editorial for the Special Issue of RCIM for ICMR2005: Third International Conference on Manufacturing Research, Cranfield University, September 6th-9th 2005, Cranfield, UK

摘要

Competitive pressures in manufacturing are increasing. Rarely does a manufacturing research paper begin without mentioning increasing competition, reduction of cycle times, the importance of globalisation, and an increased need for collaboration across geographical boundaries. It is these same factors that led the committee of the National Conference on Manufacturing Research (NCMR) to extend beyond national boundaries. Research in manufacturing is also subject to competitive pressures and effects of globalisation, resulting in an increasing need to collaborate and share knowledge across international boundaries. The papers presented in this special issue are from an international group, mainly from Europe and Asia. They address a range of current research issues in the global competitive manufacturing environment. The main issues addressed by the papers of this special issue are information and knowledge management, a prominent and crucial research topic, and methodologies and modelling tools for product development, manufacturing, supply chain, and business processes. This demonstrates that international researchers are devoting their effort to the emerging requirements and problems of the new manufacturing paradigm, i.e., globalised and collaborative, real and virtual enterprises, with business partners and suppliers of different cultures and management styles, highly relying on advanced information and communication technologies.