“Faster and better results at a lower cost"

On 1 December, there was a results conference for the JTH research project IDEAL at Science Park Towers in Jönköping.

“With these research results, we get faster and better results at a lower cost,” says Joel Johansson, Digitization Specialist at Thule, one of the industrial partners within IDEAL.

The IDEAL project focuses on integrated product and production platforms in industrial product development. It is about the balance between developing new products that customers demand in a rapid, sustainable and cost-effective way.

The project is in the final phase after almost four years. The industrial partners in the project are Fagerhult, Husqvarna, Obos, Thule and YaPLM.

Guidance to increase product variety

Carl-Johan Sigfridsson, head of sustainability at OBOS, mentions that they have had difficulty achieving profitability in producing special products for customers. Through the IDEAL project, they have received guidance on how they can increase their product variety and at the same time be profitable.

“In addition to the important contacts we have made at JTH and the other companies in the project, it is good that someone comes and puts into words what we have had a gut feeling about, so that we can communicate our values ​​in a better way,” says Carl- Johan Sigfridsson.

New ways of thinking

Fredrik Cederholm, Head of PMO at Husqvarna, emphasizes that they have received a lot of input and new ways of thinking about what they need to improve through IDEAL. He appreciates their visits to the other companies in the project to see how they work and hear about their opportunities and challenges.

Kristin Björkman, project manager for special projects at Fagerhult, points out that through the IDEAL project they have improved their communication between the company's departments.

“In order for the knowledge of a product to live on and not be lost along the way, it is important that we have good communication and handovers between, for example, the design and production departments and that they familiarize themselves with each other's challenges,” says Kristin Björkman.

"We will learn even more”

Joel Johansson says that it currently requires a computational engineer to run their advanced simulations for manufacturing processes at Thule, but through IDEAL that job can now be done by a designer. In addition, they will be able to run product simulations, which they previously outsourced.

“With the research results and simulation templates from IDEAL, we will learn even more about this,” says Joel Johansson.

"An important trainer of our future workforce"

All of IDEAL's partner companies emphasize the benefit and value of the academic perspective they get by collaborating with JTH.

“JTH is an important educator of our future workforce and we have employed many students who have studied there. We gain valuable expertise and can then contribute new knowledge back to JTH, says Carl-Johan Sigfridsson.

“We have several collaborations with JTH, which is a very important exchange for us. We constantly receive input from JTH into our operations and the school's students contribute important skills,” says Fredrik Cederholm.

Questioned and inspired the companies

Fredrik Elgh, Professor Product Development at JTH and project manager for IDEAL, says that the project benefits the companies because the JTH researchers come in with a different angle where they have questioned, but also inspired the participants regarding questions about disciplines and boundaries within the companies.

“We have contributed to discussions and dialogues that can inspire the companies. Together we have developed specific methods and ways of working that have been tested and evaluated and, in the long run, these can be implemented to improve the companies’ operations. It has been rewarding to see the participants' commitment and interest in working with the methods that we have developed together in this project, says Fredrik Elgh.