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PurposeTo study the influence of process and product parameters on the properties of products in incremental sheet metal‐forming; to create models for process optimisation and to introduce an approach to incremental forming process optimisation.Design/methodology/approachA new flexible sheet metal‐forming technique, incremental forming, has been studied. The technique can be viewed as a rapid prototyping/manufacturing technique for sheet metal parts. To analyse the process, an experimental study and finite element analysis were performed. For the optimal design of incremental forming process non‐linear mathematical programming was used. To estimate the limitations and main parameters of the process, a complex model was developed.FindingsIntroducing optimisation procedures for the incremental forming process allows users to increase productivity and to assure quality.Research limitations/implicationsAs finite element analysis of the process is time‐consuming in real life situations, a future study should include creating analytical models for process modelling.Practical implicationsThe described approach can be used in practice to improve competitiveness of companies producing sheet metal prototypes.Originality/valueThis paper offers guidelines for shortening processing time of sheet metal prototypes for engineers and researchers. The optimisation that is based on experimental/theoretical/numerical models of incremental forming process has not been covered before in the scientific literature.

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Under the pressure of global competition, manufacturing firms are forced to continually improve production efficiency, product quality and delivery responsiveness. This study aims to develop a better understanding of the production planning problems for a supply chain for lowvolume production in make-to-order environment. The objectives of this paper are to develop a generic framework for describing the strategic planning process for a supply chain and to model the propagation of uncertainty and variability in it. Focus is on the benchmarking of the performance of a supply chain, understanding the impact of different characteristics (including the sources of uncertainty and variability) to the planning of it and on possibilities of improving the performance of a supply chain.

The objective of this paper is investigation of the optimization of manufacturing technology processes of large composite plastic products. One of the key problems is how to integrate computer-based product design and planning of the technological process. An optimization model is proposed to control and analyse the calculated technology planning route, optimal vacuum forming processes, the technology of post-forming operations (like trimming and drilling of slots and cut-outs) and strengthening and assembling operations. Finite element analysis and artificial neural networks are included in the model used in the study. A family of large composite plastic products together with the derivate products and their production technologies is designed using the proposed methodology.