Study Tour 2016 - The Netherlands MSc Global Product Development and Management Date: Sunday 19 June – Saturday 25 June 2016

Study Tour 2016 In June 2016, a group of four students from the MSc Global Product Development and Management (GPDM) were given the opportunity to undertake a one-week Study Tour in the Netherlands. The tour was led by Course Director Professor Tetsuo Tomiyama and incorporated visits to leading Dutch manufacturing companies, research institutions and museums. It represented an important part of the GPDM MSc as a new cultural experience, as the Study Tour was to take place in a country where none of the students originates from. However, the main purpose of the tour was to enrich the future graduates with unique insights to companies’ organisation of product development departments and the opportunity to broaden their network with senior contacts in leading manufacturing companies. In addition, a variety of museums was visited supplementing the tour. On Sunday afternoon, the study tour group took a pleasant train ride from Amsterdam to Enschede where they settled for two nights.

Monday 20 June The group started the tour with a visit at Twente University, not far from the city of Enschede. Product development is a vibrant and innovative business that is always in the search of best equipment to facilitate the work. A few years ago, Twente University decided to start researching how state-of-the-art virtual reality technologies, infotainment, touchscreens, holograms and special effects equipment from the movie industry can be used for purposes of the manufacturing industry. The group was introduced to astonishing technologies such as the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift, which are head-mounted displays initially developed for the gaming industry. The amazing lab presentation was accompanied by short lectures about systems engineering and lean design by Dr Mohammad Rajabali Nejad and Dr Juan Becker. The hosts, Dr Maarten Bonnema and Roy Damgrave gave the students an interesting introduction into multidisciplinary engineering. At the end of the visit, the students were given a chance to present their Cranfield group project work to their hosts and received some very useful feedback.

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After lunch, the group moved to the nearby Technology Park. Dr Krijn Woestenenk and Mr. Frank Vlaardinbroek warmly received them at Demcon. This company is one of the leading developers and manufacturers of specialised medical equipment. After an insightful presentation of their research and development programme the group had a small factory tour. Most of the time was spent in the research and development lab where Demcon develops and tests prototypes. A short demonstration about a device pumping eye liquid into patient eyes during eye operations in order to keep the pressure was given. Developed in close in cooperation with medical professionals, the group had a chance to discover a late stage prototype. A valuable insight was given on the device design hence the group learned how exciting it can be to work in such laboratories. The visit ended with a demonstration of a device measuring the blood pressure from the finger.

Photo 1: Blood pressure measurement demonstration

In the afternoon of the second day, the group visited PANalytical a global manufacturer for highly reliable chemical and structural analysis equipment (such as X-ray diffractometers and spectrometers) based in Almelo. Research and technology manager Dr Eugène Reuvekamp introduced the group to the work PANalytical is doing including structural and chemical analysis in mining for example by monitoring the quality of the mined rocks. This could be done constantly by a stationary device or separately for small-scale use in a portable device. On top of that, the decision making process was discussed in order to give the students some insights in the product development process. Afterwards Dr Reuvekamp gave the group a small factory tour visiting an exhibition room with a whole variety of high-tech equipment including different Xray diffractometers and XRF spectrometers, research and development offices with prototyping workshops and the assembly and testing facilities. In the testing workshop it was possible to 3

see some of the high-tech machines partly assembled and it was very impressive to see the high fidelity and the mechanical details such kind of instrumentation incorporates rather than only the smooth surfaces and covers on the finished apparatus. The visit at PANalytical was followed by a train journey to Eindhoven where the group settled for the following two days.

Wednesday 22 June The day started with a visit at the DAF museum in Eindhoven. DAF is a Dutch car manufacturer founded in 1928, historically building commercial vehicles. The museum had a huge variety of exhibits to offer; a nostalgic fire engine, a vintage police car and even a Formula 1 prototype utilising a transmission developed by DAF were probably the most impressive ones. On top of that, the students were fascinated by the explanations and exhibits about the continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Photo 2: DAF Museum

Afterwards, the group headed to Venlo in order to visit Océ, a Canon company, a Dutch printing solutions company. Océ develops, manufactures and sells printing and copying hardware as well as the related software. The group from Cranfield University was welcomed by Dr Roelof Hamberg (systems architect), and Mario Lange (workflow architect), who introduced them to Océ’s current work. The students were astonished in the first place when realising how close the company works with customers in order to produce a perfectly fitting solution. Later during 4

the factory visit when they saw the huge prototype in the research and development facilities, it became obvious why a close collaboration with the customer is necessary. After receiving an overview on one of the currently running projects, Professor Tomiyama gave a talk on the sweet spot of innovation and the students had a discussion with engineers with different responsibilities about interdisciplinary communication and tools to use for guiding and tracking of the innovation and product development process. Océ operates with a stage-gate approach and it was interesting for the students to compare it to tools and methods learned throughout their studies.

Photo 3: Visit at Océ - A Canon Company

Thursday 23 June This was the last day in Eindhoven, where the group visited the factory Vanderlande in Veghel, where the Managing Director Tjarko Bouman gave the team an inspiring tour of the innovation centre, presenting multiple baggage sorting and handling systems as well as warehouse automation solutions. All of them were complete working set-ups undergoing final testing, which enabled the group to see the systems work. Mr Bouman presented the company, highlighting the impressive key figures that define Vanderlande development. This company represents by itself 60% of airport baggage handling machinery, and is one of the leaders in the parcel handling solution, working along with key partners (DHL, UPS, Tesco, etc.). The growth of Vanderlande is expected to continue as the trends are toward an expansion of online shopping, which implies the installation of large-scale warehouses across the world, and the development of many international airports. The visit ended with a discussion with Mr Bouman about the cultural aspects experienced by employees in such an international company, and the job opportunities for young graduates. 5

Photo 4: Visit at Vanderlande

The afternoon was spent at the Philips Museum in Eindhoven city centre, where the group had a very complete and enjoyable overview of the company innovations since its foundation.

Friday, 24 June On Friday the group left Eindhoven for Amsterdam. On the way back, the group stopped in Haarlem and made to visit the world’s biggest steam engine De Cruquius. It was used to help pump water out of the area where Schiphol stands today. Haarlem Lake and how to pump it was one of the main problems during Nicolaas Kruik’s lifetime, who therefore promoted the construction of this pump that bears his name in the XVIIIth Century. The group was very impressed by the fact that the pump is still operable, which was demonstrated at the end of the tour. Other operable steam engines were displayed in the museum, in order to give the visitors a way to compare differences both in the mechanisms themselves, and in the scale.

Photo 5: De Cruquius Museum

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The students concluded the day at the shores of the North Sea, taking a refreshing swim, before having an enjoyable dinner in Amsterdam with their Course Director and his wife. To recap, the Study Tour was an outstanding experience, which the students were very glad to have taken part. All the exciting encounters with senior employees who possess much experience in industry could only happen thanks to Professor Tomiyama’s remarkable professional network and his commitment to organising visits with his contacts. The students were also grateful to Cranfield University for facilitating and funding the trip as well as including it as part of the MSc in Global Product Development and Management. Personal statements Romain Fayolle “This tour was a unique opportunity to understand the innovation process in industry and to meet professionals from a great diversity of fields. I was very impressed by the Dutch companies and thankful for the warm welcomes. I believe this experience was truly valuable for my future as a Cranfield graduate.”

Prashant Jog “Looking back at the week we spent in Netherlands, I am delighted I decided to take the trip with Cranfield University. While interacting with the companies, what fascinated me the most was the focus the leaders laid on strategy and on growth achieved through sustainable innovation.”

Andraž Kršlin “Most valuable I find that I was introduced into details of organisation and management of product development in world leading companies. The debates reassured me that the course I have finished here in Cranfield equips you with the right set of knowledge for the challenges of the industry.”

Sören Dominik Sonntag “The study tour provided me with some exceptional impressions and insights to the Dutch industry. Talking with the employees and leading managers was an

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interesting experience none of us would have been able to gain without Professor Tomiyama’s outstanding engagement organising the visits.”

Professor Tetsuo Tomiyama “This study tour was a great success thanks to those people who showed great insights of Dutch industry. Our students could learn enormously not only these technical aspects but also cultural aspects of the Dutch life.”

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