Both, globalization and technological advancements do motivate manufacturing organizations to adopt Industry 4.0 practices. It implies an evolutional transformation, which aggregates advanced technologies and cyber-physical interactions. Some of required capabilities are already existing in companies, but some have to be developed/ adopted. The purpose of this paper is to isolate these enables required for Industry 4.0. Consequently, extensive literature review was carried out to synthesize the enablers for Industry 4.0, which are further grouped in an associated Mind Map. The main enablers were isolated as human, organization and technology in the higher level with associated subordinated enablers in an organized manner. The scientific implication is that this Mind Map can be used in analysis, when introducing weighs and importance factors. Practically, the mind map embodies a body of knowledge, i.e. the enablers, that have to be internalized by managers to achieve Industry 4.0 practices. Existing Industry 4.0 research is either focusing on partial topics in depth, or it gives a general overview of readiness for Industry 4.0, which is a wide collection of factors. To our best knowledge there is no similar work guiding throughout enablers visually, easing the adaptation process.

Most of commercial civil aircraft are derivatives of each other. They start with an aero-structural design based on the mission profile, and what remains is the integration of existing subsystems. This only leaves room for incremental innovation. When a totally new concept has to be worked out, an innovative brainstorming procedure has to be facilitated, leading to a new product definition. This collaborative creative thinking is not an easy task, and analytical design management tools are required. Therefore, an iterative AHP-QFD-AHP approach for brainstorming is implemented into a concurrent engineering environment in the early phases of layout conception. In the case study, the proposed model delivered the product definition of the cryoplane concept successfully, which promises clean operation.

Purpose: Small organizations within profit maximization supply chains form industrial clusters to share resources. They mainly deliver products and services in a reactive manner, where the cluster is only facilitating. However, the cluster management can lead business development and assign work packages intelligently to appropriate cluster members by respecting collaboration and innovation. This upgrade of the cluster management requires a systematic approach. Therefore, the intelligent Cluster Assignment Tool concept is developed and an illustrative example is given. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach: Interviews and workshops were used to isolate the hierarchy of the assignment model, supported by a literature research. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method was applied to determine weights, consolidating data delivered by members of a Turkish aviation and defence cluster. The approach was discussed at the IEEE 2016 ICE Conference in Norway with experts to assess regional restrictions.Findings: Cluster members are actively looking for possibilities to enhance innovation potential that they are ready to participate in systematic approaches. Cluster organizations can differ by leading their members actively, when respecting all isolated dimensions of assignment. This can lead towards a cooperation base enhancing the potential for innovation and new product development (NPD).Research limitations/implications: The illustrative example indicates a good fit to clusters without a dominant anchor firm. The generic framework was deliberated on cross-sectional perspective as satisfactory to be applied to different sectors in developing economies.Practical implications: This paper helps clusters and small organizations to upgrade for innovation. Furthermore, it delivers a strategic tool supporting organizational transformation, preventing the price trap as well.Originality/value: This approach is focussing on multi-criteria assignment across cluster members, upgrading it to a united organization. It delivers a strategic framework for cluster management, building a collaboration environment leading to innovation and NPD.

Aviation is rapidly expanding and recovering from the pandemic impact driven by the experience economy. This is particularly subject to interfaces such as the aircraft seats, which are getting intense attention as a differentiator in the cabin. The focal point of this paper is to assess and convert customer requirements into what must be done for an optimum aircraft seat. To achieve this, a 2-step analytic hierarchy process and quality function deployment (AHP-QFD) methodology was successfully applied, consolidating product quality characteristics. Then, it leverages a novel scoring method of interdependencies to isolate dependable design variables. Consequently, safety, weight, and durability scored maximum, emphasizing backrest design and alternative composite materials, while test infrastructure was determined as a critical investment component. Furthermore, it is shown how AHP-QFD can be used for product strategy and strategic portfolio management of R&D projects.