Preliminary results from a market analysis of the two-stroke combustion engine industry
Abstract Market research results from groups based in the university sector can often make a significant contribution to knowledge and perspectives related to complex international industrial sectors. This is particularly true when these groups have strong linkage to the industry in question and the market research forms part of a wider research programme which involves the science and engineering of the product base under investigation. Preliminary results are therefore presented from research focused on a market analysis of the two-stroke engine industry by members of a group which is concentrating its effort in this area of the combustion engine industry. The results are intended to introduce the work in progress and to highlight several aspects which form the core of the study including application areas, patent activity and industrial company identification.
A research investigation to identify the key players in the two-stroke engine industry
Abstract Engines which produce power by the two-stroke combustion principle are manufactured in considerable quantities in major industrial centres throughout the world. This paper describes part of a research investigation examining the two-stroke engine industry and the markets into which these products are sold. The publication brings together commercial and technical information which is intended to contribute towards a better understanding of a sector of manufacturing engineering which is part of the supply chain for the transportation and power generation industry. The paper focuses on the key players in the two-stroke combustion engine industry, from both the research and development and production points of view, and identifies the geographical location of individual sites. The overall aim of the research investigation is to be able to build a mix of expertise, including technical, commercial and marketing knowledge, related to two-stroke engines, which is valuable to those who are interested in powered transport methods. The results presented include some basic statistics of the number and spread of the key players and active sites whilst beginning to develop an understanding of the drawbacks and advantages and complementary specialisms which make up the two-stroke engine technology.
Complex Systems Architecture Framework: Extension to Multi-objective Optimization
This paper shows the utility to follow an architecture framework in order to design complex systems with a holistic approach. Multi-objective Optimization techniques extend and complete the architecture framework to support trade-off analysis and decision making in the Systems Engineering design process. The merging and combination of these two approaches, decision making and systems engineering, contribute to the efficient design of systems by helping to meet needs and constraints stemming mainly from the system analysis.