Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Other industrial, systems and processes engineering'
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Sukumara, Sumesh. "A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TECHNO-ECONOMIC DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR VALIDATING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF BIOREFINING PROCESSES." UKnowledge, 2014. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cme_etds/42.
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Increasing demand for energy and transportation fuel has motivated researchers all around the world to explore alternatives for a long-term sustainable source of energy. Biomass is one such renewable resource that can be converted into various marketable products by the process of biorefining. Currently, research is taking strides in developing conversion techniques for producing biofuels from multiple bio-based feedstocks. However, the greatest concern with emerging processes is the long-term viability as a sustainable source of energy. Hence, a framework is required that can incorporate novel and existing processes to validate their economic, environmental and social potential in satisfying present energy demands, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own energy needs.
This research focuses on developing a framework that can incorporate fundamental research to determine its long-term viability, simultaneously providing critical techno-economic and decision support information to various stakeholders. This contribution links various simulation and optimization models to create a decision support tool, to estimate the viability of biorefining options in any given region. Multiple disciplines from the Process Systems Engineering and Supply Chain Management are integrated to develop the comprehensive framework. Process simulation models for thermochemical and biochemical processes are developed and optimized using Aspen Engineering Suite. Finally, for validation, the framework is analyzed by combining the outcomes of the process simulation with the supply chain models. The developed techno-economic model takes into account detailed variable costs and capital investments for various conversion processes. Subsequently, case studies are performed to demonstrate the applicability of the decision support tool for the Jackson Purchase region of Western Kentucky. The multidisciplinary framework is a unique contribution in the field of Process Systems Engineering as it demonstrates simulation of process optimization models and illustrates its iterative linking with the supply chain optimization models to estimate the economics of biorefinery from multi-stakeholder perspective. This informative tool not only assists in comparing modes of operation but also forecasts the effect of future scenarios, such as, utilization of marginal land for planting dedicated energy crops and incorporation of emerging enzymatic processes. The resulting framework is novel and informative in assisting investors, policy makers and other stakeholders for evaluating the impacts of biorefining. The results obtained supports the generalizability of this tool to be applied in any given region and guide stakeholders in making financial and strategic decisions.
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Anandappa, Marienne A. "EVALUATING FOOD SAFETY SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION BY QUANTIFYING HACCP TRAINING DURABILITY." UKnowledge, 2013. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_etds/19.
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HACCP-based food safety programs have been widely acclaimed, accepted and implemented as an effective means of managing food safety risks. While HACCP training is a cornerstone of managing HACCP programs, there is little information about the effectiveness of HACCP training and the durability of HACCP knowledge. Findings reveal a link between involvement level in HACCP activities and the accuracy of HACCP knowledge over time. Opportunities for peer training in HACCP, irrespective of overall experience in the food industry provide favorable circumstances for maintaining accuracy of HACCP knowledge. The optimal window for engaging employees in HACCP is directly following the completion of training for achieving the minimal depletion level of content knowledge. This study further reveals that refresher training in HACCP is necessary within three years. Furthermore, training standardization organizations likely need a formal process of monitoring and maintaining HACCP trainer and trainee qualifications to ensure uniformity in HACCP programming.
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Leung, Wai-man Wanthy. "Evolutionary optimisation of industrial systems /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1999. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B2132668X.
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Kroener, Martina Ursula. "Multi-level Analytic Network Process Model to Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions in Disaster Recovery Planning." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2016. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1540.
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Over the past few decades, environmental changes have led to more frequent occurrences and greater intensities of natural disasters worldwide. In terms of globally connected supply chains, this has resulted in an enormous economical loss for corporations. Therefore, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) planning and management has become essential for businesses in order to protect their critical business flow. Yet there is a lack of systematic and transparent methodologies for companies to handle this problem.
Hence, this thesis introduces a novel approach to combine consecutive steps of the Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP) process within one application. The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool called the Analytic Network Process (ANP) is employed to identify critical products of a business and match them with optimal disruption mitigation strategies based on an evaluation of benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks (BOCR).
To validate the method developed in this thesis, a case study using historical data of a U.S. company (Company XYZ) is introduced. The results of the ANP mathematical modeling demonstrate that the developed methodology provides a valuable approach to analyze and confirm BC/DR planning decisions. Moreover, an expert of Company XYZ confirmed that the suggested solution established through this case study is in agreement with the preferable choice based on his expertise and professional decision-making.
Further research could extend the proposed methodology to other fields of BC/DR planning, such as IT Disaster Recovery Planning or Human Disaster Relief.
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Searle, Diane. "The industrial use of inorganic tin compounds in coal conversion processes and other systems." Thesis, City University London, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.292720.
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梁慧敏 and Wai-man Wanthy Leung. "Evolutionary optimisation of industrial systems." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1999. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B30252994.
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Brophy, Timothy. "APPLYING SUSTAINABILITY FROM A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE:." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2013. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1007.
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Becoming sustainable is no longer an option. Current industry methods will not be able to support the necessary changes our growing society demands. In order to keep up with ever increasing demands industry will be aimed toward making major system changes toward a fully sustainable model. As of right now only basic sustainability actions have been put in place. Industry needs to make a strategic change toward resilient systems with an end goal of evolving into fully biomimic systems. This thesis covers a brief history of production leading to the Industrial Revolution which created a need for increased sustainability efforts. The Environmental Movement was started in hopes of creating these changes and is extensively studied in this thesis logically leading up to industry’s current sustainable actions. A discussion of widely applied sustainability methods helps to describe a need for a framework that will help move industry toward increased resiliency. The culmination of this thesis is the creation of a three-piece framework for change, called RISE (Reshaping Industry Sustainably Efforts). This framework is the product of extensive research into current sustainability efforts, collected survey results, and the need to increase understanding of resilience and biomimicry from an applied system perspective.
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Ahirwal, Deepak. "Large deformation shear and elongation rheology of polymers for electrospinning and other Industrial Processes." Phd thesis, Université de Strasbourg, 2013. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01065971.
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The goals of this thesis are the characterization of polymer melts using mainly non-linear shear and extensional rheological techniques. The fabrication of scaffolds with excellent physical and mechanical properties using solution electrospinning technology for tissue engineering applications and the development of melt electrospinning equipment to facilitate the fabrication of solvent free scaffolds. To achieve the first goal, we focused on the characterization of entangled polymer melts in the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic regimes. The influence of molecular weight, Mw, molecular weight distribution (MWD), long-chain branching (LCB) and addition of particles to the polymer matrix on polymer melt properties were investigated using shear and extensional rheological techniques. The resulting structure-property relationships were established using newly introduced mechanical parameters under large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) flow.
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Iwaki, Takuya. "Wireless Sensor Network Scheduling and Event-based Control for Industrial Processes." Licentiate thesis, KTH, Reglerteknik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-237527.
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Control over wireless sensor and actuator networks is of growing interest in process industry since it enables flexible design, deployment, operation, and maintenance. An important problem in industrial wireless control is how to limit the amount of information that needs to be exchanged over the network. In this thesis, network scheduling and remote control co-design is considered to address this problem. In the first part, we propose a design of an optimal network schedule for state estimation over a multi-hop wireless sensor network. We formulate an optimization problem, minimizing a linear combination of the averaged estimation error and transmission energy. A periodic network schedule is obtained, which specifies when and through which routes each sensor in the network should transmit its measurement, so that an optimal remote estimate under sensor energy consideration is achieved. We also propose some suboptimal schedules to reduce the computational load. The effectiveness of the suboptimal schedules is evaluated in numerical examples. In the second part, we propose a co-design framework for sensor scheduling, routing, and control over a multi-hop wireless sensor and actuator network. For a decoupled plant and LQG control performance, we formulate an optimization problem and show that the optimal schedule, routing, and control can be obtained locally for each control loop. In this part, we also introduce algorithms to reconfigure the schedules and routes when a link in the network is disconnected. The results are illustrated in a numerical example. In the third part, we consider event-based feedforward control from a wireless disturbance sensor. We derive stability conditions when the closed-loop system is subject to actuator saturation. Feedforward control with anti-windup compensation is introduced to reduce the effect of actuator saturation. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated in some numerical examples.QC 20181029
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Bekker, James. "Applying the cross-entropy method in multi-objective optimisation of dynamic stochastic systems." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71717.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A difficult subclass of engineering optimisation problems is the class of optimisation problems which are dynamic and stochastic. These problems are often of a non-closed form and thus studied by means of computer simulation. Simulation production runs of these problems can be time-consuming due to the computational burden implied by statistical inference principles. In multi-objective optimisation of engineering problems, large decision spaces and large objective spaces prevail, since two or more objectives are simultaneously optimised and many problems are also of a combinatorial nature. The computational burden associated with solving such problems is even larger than for most single-objective optimisation problems, and hence an e cient algorithm that searches the vast decision space is required. Many such algorithms are currently available, with researchers constantly improving these or developing more e cient algorithms. In this context, the term \e cient" means to provide near-optimised results with minimal evaluations of objective function values. Thus far research has often focused on solving speci c benchmark problems, or on adapting algorithms to solve speci c engineering problems. In this research, a multi-objective optimisation algorithm, based on the cross-entropy method for single-objective optimisation, is developed and assessed. The aim with this algorithm is to reduce the number of objective function evaluations, particularly when time-dependent (dynamic), stochastic processes, as found in Industrial Engineering, are studied. A brief overview of scholarly work in the eld of multiobjective optimisation is presented, followed by a theoretical discussion of the cross-entropy method. The new algorithm is developed, based on this information, and assessed considering continuous, deterministic problems, as well as discrete, stochastic problems. The latter include a classical single-commodity inventory problem, the well-known buffer allocation problem, and a newly designed, laboratory-sized recon gurable manufacturing system. Near multi-objective optimisation of two practical problems were also performed using the proposed algorithm. In the rst case, some design parameters of a polymer extrusion unit are estimated using the algorithm. The management of carbon monoxide gas utilisation at an ilmenite smelter is complex with many decision variables, and the application of the algorithm in that environment is presented as a second case. Quality indicator values are estimated for thirty-four test problem instances of multi-objective optimisation problems in order to quantify the quality performance of the algorithm, and it is also compared to a commercial algorithm. The algorithm is intended to interface with dynamic, stochastic simulation models of real-world problems. It is typically implemented in a programming language while the simulation model is developed in a dedicated, commercial software package. The proposed algorithm is simple to implement and proved to be efficient on test problems.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Moeilike deelklas van optimeringsprobleme in die ingenieurswese is optimeringsprobleme van 'n dinamiese en stogastiese aard. Sulke probleme is dikwels nie-geslote en word gevolglik met behulp van rekenaarsimulasie bestudeer. Die beginsels van statistiese steekproefneming veroorsaak dat produksielopies van hierdie probleme tydrowend is weens die rekenlas wat genoodsaak word. Groot besluitnemingruimtes en doelwitruimtes bestaan in meerdoelige optimering van ingenieursprobleme, waar twee of meer doelwitte gelyktydig geoptimeer word, terwyl baie probleme ook 'n kombinatoriese aard het. Die rekenlas wat met die oplos van sulke probleme gepaard gaan, is selfs groter as vir die meeste enkeldoelwit optimeringsprobleme, en 'n doeltre ende algoritme wat die meesal uitgebreide besluitnemingsruimte verken, is gevolglik nodig. Daar bestaan tans verskeie sulke algoritmes, terwyl navorsers steeds poog om hierdie algoritmes te verbeter of meer doeltre ende algoritmes te ontwikkel. In hierdie konteks beteken \doeltre end" dat naby-optimale oplossings verskaf word deur die minimum evaluering van doelwitfunksiewaardes. Navorsing fokus dikwels op oplossing van standaard toetsprobleme, of aanpassing van algoritmes om 'n spesi eke ingenieursprobleem op te los. In hierdie navorsing word 'n meerdoelige optimeringsalgoritme gebaseer op die kruis-entropie-metode vir enkeldoelwit optimering ontwikkel en geassesseer. Die mikpunt met hierdie algoritme is om die aantal evaluerings van doelwitfunksiewaardes te verminder, spesi ek wanneer tydafhanklike (dinamiese), stogastiese prosesse soos wat dikwels in die Bedryfsingenieurswese te egekom word, bestudeer word. 'n Bondige oorsig van navorsing in die veld van meerdoelige optimering word gegee, gevolg deur 'n teoretiese bespreking van die kruis-entropiemetode. Die nuwe algoritme se ontwikkeling is hierop gebaseer, en dit word geassesseer deur kontinue, deterministiese probleme sowel as diskrete, stogastiese probleme benaderd daarmee op te los. Laasgenoemde sluit in 'n klassieke enkelitem voorraadprobleem, die bekende buffer-toedelingsprobleem, en 'n nuut-ontwerpte, laboratorium-skaal herkon gureerbare vervaardigingstelsel. Meerdoelige optimering van twee praktiese probleme is met die algoritme uitgevoer. In die eerste geval word sekere ontwerpparameters van 'n polimeer-uittrekeenheid met behulp van die algoritme beraam. Die bestuur van koolstofmonoksiedbenutting in 'n ilmeniet-smelter is kompleks met verskeie besluitnemingveranderlikes, en die toepassing van die algoritme in daardie omgewing word as 'n tweede geval aangebied. Verskeie gehalte-aanwyserwaardes word beraam vir vier-en-dertig toetsgevalle van meerdoelige optimeringsprobleme om die gehalte-prestasie van die algoritme te kwanti seer, en dit word ook vergelyk met 'n kommersi ele algoritme. Die algoritme is veronderstel om te skakel met dinamiese, stogastiese simulasiemodelle van regtew^ereldprobleme. Die algoritme sal tipies in 'n programmeertaal ge mplementeer word terwyl die simulasiemodel in doelmatige, kommersi ele programmatuur ontwikkel sal word. Die voorgestelde algoritme is maklik om te implementeer en dit het doeltre end gewerk op toetsprobleme.
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Fourie, Cornelius J. (Cornelius Jacobus). "On monitoring and intelligence in an integrated manufacturing system." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53540.
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Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Some concepts of manufacturing on their own playa decisive role in manufacturing like Integration, Intelligence and Remote Monitoring. They have been tried and tested with great success in various applications in manufacturing. However, very little has been written on the synergy that is created when all three is deployed in one system. It is the aim of this work to survey the attributes of each of these key concepts, to compare them on the grounds of applicability and to study the effects when combined into one system. Final conclusions are made after the hypotheses have been validated with the aid of an experimental model. The first objective of this work is to show how many techniques such as expert systems, fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic algorithms are used to enable systems to perform intelligently. It is accepted that the competitiveness, growth and profitability of a company in future may depend on the level of its system intelligence. This is so because an intelligent system is able to act appropriately under rapidly changing conditions of customer customisation and demands on quicker throughputs. A further objective of this work is to show how integration adds the element of synergy to a system. This is done by showing several ways of achieving integration by non-technological means like departmental consolidation, plant consolidation, product rationalisation, more flexible working practices, etc. There are as many options for integration by technical means as well, ranging from group technology to process or transfer lines, and from flexible automation such as robots through to hard automation using special-purpose machinery and transfer lines. The third objective is to show how remote monitoring enhances the capabilities of manufacturing systems by synergising with the other two key concepts. With the technology of intelligent manufacturing and integration, larger and more complex manufacturing systems are becoming a reality. However, the danger exists that the shop floor machine tools remain isolated islands of automation. Plant machinery needs to be networked into the enterprise-wide information system. The ability to monitor a variety of process parameters and alert plant staff to changing conditions can greatly reduce downtime. This lack of connectivity therefore represents a huge constraint as far as productivity is concerned. For this reason, there is a great interest to study remote monitoring, analysis and diagnostic systems for application in modem manufacturing. The major contribution of this work is to study the synergy that is created by combining the three key concepts into one system and to validate the findings with the aid of the experimental model. The meaning of validation is to make legally valid; to grant official sanction to; to confirm the validity of something or to declare something as true. To validate is to support or corroborate a theory on a sound or authoritative basis by experiments designed to show a hypothesis as being true. The components of the validation model are a neural network, a simulator, a decision evaluator or critic, and a teacher. The neural network is used to make the decisions. Its inputs are the system parameters and its outputs are a vector of values between 0 and 1, the highest value indicates the decision being made (winner takes all). The simulator executes the decision it obtains from the network and thus changes the state of the system. The evaluator looks at how the system changed due to the decision made by the network and decides whether it was a good or a bad decision. The teacher then adjusts the output of the network accordingly and trains the network with the adjusted outputs. The results of the validation experiments show that intelligence is used to train the model, integration is achieved by combining the elements of the model with the mobile robot and remote monitoring is done by the model to analyse the condition of the system and to react accordingly. The main objective of this work is clearly met in that synergy was shown to be created by the three key concepts.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aspekte soos Integrasie, Intelligensie en Afstandsmonitering speel 'n deurslaggewende rol in vervaardiging en is al op hulle eie met groot sukses in vele toepassings gebruik. Daar is egter nog nie veel aangeteken oor die sinergie wat ontstaan wanneer hulle tesame in een stelsel gebruik word nie. Dit is die doel van hierdie werk om die kenmerke van elk van hierdie sleutel aspekte na te vors, dit op grond van toepaslikheid met mekaar te vergelyk en die uitwerking te bestudeer wanneer hulle in een stelsel saamgevoeg word. Nadat die hipoteses met behulp van 'n eksperimentele model gevalideer is, word finale gevolgtrekkings gemaak. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie werk is om aan te toon dat verskeie tegnieke soos genetiese algoritmes en neurale netwerke gebruik word om stelsels meer kundig te laat optree. Dit word aanvaar dat die toekomstige mededingendheid en groei van ondernemings mag afhang van die stelsel intelligentheidsvlak. Dit is omdat intelligente stelsels gepas kan optree onder snel-veranderende omstandighede. 'n Verdere doelwit is om aan te toon hoe integrasie sinergie kan toevoeg tot 'n stelsel. Dit word gedoen deur verskeie metodes te bespreek van hoe om integrasie op 'n nie-tegniese vlak te bewerkstellig. Die tegniese metodes van integrasie word ook bespreek en sluit tegnieke soos groeptegnologie, aanpasbare outomatisasie en robotika in. Die derde doelwit is om aan te toon hoe afstandsmonitering as sleutel aspek die ander twee sleutel aspekte kan versterk. Die tegnologië van intelligente vervaardiging en integrasie maak die skepping van groter en meer kompleks vervaardigingstelsels nou moontlik. Die gevaar bestaan egter dat hierdie masjiene slegs eilande van outomatisasie sal bly indien hulle nie met behulp van netwerke in die onderneming se inligtingstelselopgeneem word nie. Die vermoë om prosesveranderinge te monitor kan lei tot verminderde staantyd van masjiene en kan dus produktiwiteit verhoog. Om hierdie redes is die toepassing van afstandsmonitering en -diagnosering belangrik vir toepassing in vervaardiging. Die belangrikste bydrae van hierdie werk is die studie van die sinergie wat ontstaan wanneer die drie sleutel aspekte in een stelsel gekombineer word en om die bevindinge te valideer met behulp van 'n eksperimentele model. Om te valideer beteken om iets geldig te verklaar of om die geldigheid van iets te bevestig. Dit beteken verder om 'n teorie te ondersteun of te staaf op 'n grondige en deskundige basis met behulp van eksperimente. Die validasie model bestaan uit 'n neurale netwerk, 'n simulator, 'n besluitevalueerder of beoordelaar, en 'n onderwyser (terugvoerder). Die neurale netwerk neem die besluite met die stelselparameters as inset en die uitset 'n vektor met waardes tussen 0 en 1. Die simulator voer die besluit uit en verander so die toestand van die stelsel. Die evalueerder bepaal hoe die stelsel verander het as gevolg van die besluit en bepaalook of dit 'n goeie of slegte besluit was. Die onderwyser verstel dan die uitset van die netwerk dienooreenkomstig en lei die netwerk op met die verstelde uitsette. Die resultate van die validasie eksperiment toon aan dat intelligensie gebruik word om die modelop te lei, integrasie behaal word deur die elemente van die model te kombineer met die mobiele robot en afstandsmonitering toegepas word deur die toestand van die stelsel te monitor en te analiseer. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie werk word dus duidelik behaal deur die beskrywing van die sinergie wat ontstaan deur die kombinasie van die drie sleutel aspekte.
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Olander, Måns, and Anton Lüning. "Design automation in industrial order-to-delivery processes : Enabling mass customization of made-to-order products." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Maskinkonstruktion, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-176396.
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Today's manufacturing industry is heading more and more towards a mass customization approach. This enables customers to individually specify product characteristics and unique design features to fulfill their exact needs. A common way to accomplish this is by means of design automation often used together with knowledge-based engineering. In this thesis, the order-to-delivery process for customized floor gratings at Weland AB is used as a case. This process is currently manual and dependent on several different departments. It results in a time consuming process which is prone to human errors. The purpose is to investigate how design automation can be used and implemented to automate and improve sections of the order-to-delivery process for customized products at an industrial manufacturing company. The objective is to develop a product configurator to automatically generate 3D models and documentation for production and sales support. The configurator succeeded in demonstrating the possible advantages of using design automation. It showed the possibility to reduce the construction department's workload and achieve faster time-to-offer for the sales department. Additionally it is concluded that using a product configurator reduces the risk of human errors and opens up possibilities for other improvements, such as reducing material waste in the production.
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Swanepoel, Leon D. "Framework for identifying systemic environmental factors causing underperformance in business processes." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85792.
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Thesis (MEng)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Performance management systems are integral to many organisations. On all levels of management such performance measurements are used to drive a desired behaviour and business units, departments, as well as individuals are rewarded for meeting or exceeding set targets. In large silo-structured organisations, divisions are particularly focused on their own targets and responsibilities. This may result in a diminished view of the effect their strategies and processes may have on overall stakeholder value. These divisions execute strategies to enhance the achievement of their own goal. The execution of these strategies sometimes hampers other divisions in meeting their goals. The net effect of this hampering may result in reduced stakeholder value. A mechanism is needed through which organisational divisions can evaluate the systemic environment, in order to identify hampering processes. The case may be that their processes are hampering other divisions, or that their processes as such are being hampered. The main objective of this research study was to develop such a mechanism. This mechanism emerged through a framework which can be used during investigations of hampering processes. Such investigation is conducted by following six predefined steps to guide the investigator in identifying the hampering factors. This framework was developed by combining primarily three disciplines: Systems thinking, Performance evaluation and Supplier perceived value. The evaluation framework was validated through three case studies. In all of the cases the framework delivered the expected result. It is thus concluded that organisations can apply the framework to help identify systemic environmental factors that may hamper business processes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Prestasiebestuurstelsels maak ʼn integrale deel uit van die meeste organisasies. Prestasiebeoordeling word op alle vlakke van bestuur ingespan om die verlangde gedrag aan te moedig. Sake-eenhede, departemente en individue word vergoed indien hulle die gestelde doelwitte haal of oorskry. In groot silo-gedrewe organisasies is afdelings grootliks gefokus op hulle eie verantwoordelikhede en om hulle eie doelwitte te bereik. Gevolglik verminder dit soms die uitwerking wat die uitkomste van hulle strategieë en prosesse het op die belanghebbendes van die organisasie. Hierdie afdelings voer dus strategieë uit om hulle eie doelwitte te behaal. Soms verhinder hierdie strategieë ander afdelings om hulle doelwitte te bereik. Die basiese effek hiervan kan wees dat minder waarde aan die belanghebbendes deurgegee word. ‘n Organisasie het dus ʼn meganisme nodig om die sistemiese omgewing mee te evalueer en sodoende prosesse te identifiseer wat belemmer is of wat belemmering kan veroorsaak. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om so ʼn meganisme te ontwikkel. Hierdie meganisme het na vore gekom in ʼn raamwerk wat tydens ondersoeke gebruik kan word om belemmering te identifiseer. Die raamwerk is ontwikkel deur hoofsaaklik drie dissiplines in gedagte te hou: Sistemiese Benadering, Prestasie-beoordeling en die Begrip van verskafferwaarde. Die raamwerk is aan die hand van drie gevallestudies getoets en in al drie gevalle het die raamwerk die verwagte resultate opgelewer. Die gevolgtrekking is dus gemaak dat organisasies wel die raamwerk kan toegepas kan om die sistemiese omgewing te evalueer en sodoende die belemmering van prosesse op mikrovlak uit te wys.
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McEwen, Timothy Ryan. "Creating Safety in the Diagnostic Testing Processes of Family Medical Practices." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1243428996.
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Husam, Shames. "Development of a selection program for additive manufacturing systems." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4336.
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Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Additive Manufacturing (AM) refers to the technologies that use Computer Aided Design (CAD) data to produce plastic, metal, ceramic, paper, wax or composite materials parts. Their ability to join thin layers of liquid, powder or sheet materials together permits the production of parts, which are difficult or even impossible to produce, using any other manufacturing method. Even though these technologies are still developing, they are considered a major breakthrough in industry. One of the main problems that is facing the improvement and the spread of AM technologies, and its benefits worldwide, is the lack of knowledge about them. Still a lot of countries, educational and industrial organizations do not even know about AM technologies. This lack of knowledge of such technologies is keeping their cost artificially high, which is limiting the access to more AM advanced technologies and materials. It also makes it difficult to market the technologies and those who do not use AM technologies yet become unable to compete against those who do. The numbers of AM systems are continually growing, their capabilities and applications are improving and their cost is decreasing. Today there are more than 40 companies that produce over 100 different systems in Canada, China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Sweden and the United States. These systems vary in their strengths, defects, applications, functions and limitations. This growth has led to an increase in current and potential users of AM from both the manufacturing and educational sectors. These users are however facing increasing complex problems when it comes to selecting the most appropriate commercial system(s) to suit their needs. The aim of this study is to develop an AM system selection program. The program will serve both as an educational tool and a decision making support tool to assist any potential purchasers in both the educational and industrial sectors. The AM system selection program is divided into two sections: the learning section and the selecting section. The learning section introduces the AM technologies by imparting knowledge to the new users; moreover, it inspires them to start using these technologies to get their benefits. Having a background in AM technologies enables the new users to make educated decisions and to discuss technical issues about the systems with the providers. The selecting section offers a decision making support tool to help the users to decide which system best suits their needs. This study can contribute to the promotion of AM technologies and their benefits worldwide, especially for the countries and organizations that have not yet used such technologies.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toevoegende vervaardiging verwys na al die tegnologie wat rekenaargesteunde ontwerp data gebruik om plastiek, metaal, keramiek, papier, saamgestelde materiale en waks parte te vervaardig. Die vermoë van die tegnologie om dun lae vloeistof, poeier of plaatmateriaal op mekaar te verbind laat die vervaardiging van parte wat moeilik of selfs onmoontlik is, deur die gebruik van ander vervaardigingsmetodes. Alhoewel hierdie tegnologieë nog in ‘n ontwikkelingsfase is, word dit as ‘n reuse deurbraak vir die bedryf beskou. Die verbetering, verspreiding en voordele van die tegnologie word hoofsaaklik belemmer deur ‘n tekort aan inligting daaroor. Baie lande, akademiese en industrieële organisasies is nog nie eens bewus dat sulke tegnologieë bestaan nie. Die tekort aan inligting veroorsaak dat kostes hoog bly en verhoed die vinnige uitbreiding van nog meer gevorderde tegnologieë en materiale. Verder bemoeilik dit ook die bemarking van die tegnologieë. Die aantal toevoegende vervaardigingsmasjiene groei jaarliks met beter vermoëns, laer kostes en ‘n groter verskeidenheid van toepassings. Tans is daar meer as 40 vervaardigers wat meer as 100 verskillende masjiene vervaardig in Kanada, China, Frankryk, Duitsland, Israel, Italië, Japan, Suid-Korea, Swede en Amerika. Al die masjiene verskil ten opsigte van hul funksies, beperkings en ook ten opsigte van sterkte, materiale en toepassings van parte. Die groei het gelei tot ‘n toename in gebruik van die tegnologie deur huidige en potensiële nuwe gebruikers van beide die vervaardigings en akademiese sektore. Die keuse van ‘n geskikte sisteem wat aan al ‘n gebruiker se vereistes voldoen, raak elke dag meer kompleks. Die doel van hierdie studie is die ontwikkeling van ‘n seleksie program vir toevoegende vervaardigingmasjiene. Die program sal dien as ‘n opleidingshulpmiddel en as ‘n basis vir masjienseleksie deur potensiële kopers. Die program bestaan uit twee dele: die opleidingsgedeelte en die selekteringsgedeelte. Die opleidingsgedeelte beskryf die verskeie toevoegende prosesse en motiveer gebruikers om die tegnologie aan te skaf weens die voordele. ‘n Agtergrond oor die verskeie tegnologieë stel die gebruiker in staat om ingeligte besluite te neem en tegniese vrae te kan stel aan verskaffers. Die selekteringsdeel het ‘n besluitnemingstruktuur wat help om die regte masjien te kies ten opsigte van verlangde vereistes. Hierdie studie kan help met die bevordering van toevoegende tegnologieë en hul voordele, veral vir lande en organisasies wat nog nooit voorheen sulke tegnologieë gebruik het nie.
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Agarwal, Kuldeep. "Physics Based Hierarchical Decomposition of Processes for Design of Complex Engineered Systems." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1322152146.
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Blomquist, Peter, and Franz Wygler. "Analysing and Reengineering the Order Process at Noblessa Sverige AB : A Pre-Study for an ERP System Implementation." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Science and Technology, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-6551.
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When implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, the system has to be adapted to the organisation. But just as important, the business processes of the organisation have to be reengineered in order to take full advantage of the ERP system. Noblessa Sverige AB, which is a sales company to the German kitchen producer Nobilia, has been growing remarkably since the start 2001 and has begun discussing an ERP system purchase. The order process of today has reached the limit of its capacity and something has to be done in order to meet the increasing sales volume.
The purpose of this master’s thesis is to analyse and reengineer the order process as a preparation for an ERP system implementation. The outcome of this thesis is a suggestion of a process model of the order process, which also can be used as a foundation for a requirements specification for the ERP system purchase. In order to take advantage of the benefits of the existing order process, the reengineering starts with mapping the current process.
Noblessa Sverige AB is a company that is growing and changing from one day to another. Changes have arisen during the writing of this thesis which has made the work even more interesting and challenging. The most important change is the opening of a central warehouse in Norrköping, which has been taken in consideration when we designed the new process model.
After mapping and achieving an understanding of the current order process, we found a few things that could be improved. Above all, there exist many manual tasks that can be automated with the ERP system. Furthermore, there are tasks that should be moved from one department or function to another because it is more suitable to perform them there. We also found that Noblessa Sverige AB should improve the integration and cooperation with its suppliers, especially Nobilia. Nobilia is the main owner and main supplier of Noblessa Sverige AB, the conditions for cooperation are therefore very good.
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Ashby, Dale M. "An Analysis into the Use of Various Systems Engineering Life Cycle Processes and Their Influence on the Economic Growth of the Diversified Industrial Sector." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10844901.
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Systems engineering rigor has been used successfully in the aerospace and defense industries where the development cycles tend to be rather long. However, the practice of using a traditional waterfall, spiral or V-model systems engineering life cycle framework, in other industries brings into question their appropriateness when considering the relative speed of new product development in industrial manufacturing. The purpose of this research is to investigate the applicability of incorporating systems engineering principles in the industrial sector to determine whether there is a statistical association with the overall growth of diversified industrial firms. This research focuses on investigating three systems engineering life cycle approaches: incremental & iterative methods, lean enablers for systems engineering and agile systems engineering; using a semi-structured interviewing approach with subject matter experts from the Fortune 500 diversified industrial sector. The research reveals that there are weak statistical associations between the use of the incremental & iterative and lean systems engineering life cycle approaches when considering the financial growth of the diversified industrial sector. However, the research reveals that there is a strong statistical association between the financial growth of companies in the diversified industrial sector and the use of the agile systems engineering life cycle approach as well as other unique life cycle tools.
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Malatesta, Scott D. "OPTIMIZATION OF RFID SYSTEM COVERAGE IN A MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENT." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2016. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1655.
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This paper compiles existing ideas, theories, and experiments across multiple disciplines to provide guidance for a company looking to implement an optimal RFID system in their production facility. The desire is to maximize the information received by the system while minimizing the cost. Four potential layouts of RFID antennas, two with overlapping antenna coverage and two with non-overlapping layouts, are first analyzed to understand the special coverage and the number of antennas required. The value of information is then quantified to determine whether higher coverage layouts are worth the additional costs associated with the higher number of antennas required. It was found that the non-overlapping network of antennas in a hexagonal lattice formation, which covers 90.7% of the production floor area, provides the highest amount of benefit when considering the system’s implementation costs. However, some companies prefer or even require a system that provides perfect information throughout the production process, so implementing an overlapping network may be considered optimal for some companies, even with the higher up front costs.
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Pradhan, Salil. "Capacity planning and allocation for a complex manufacturing system with product failures." Diss., Online access via UMI:, 2005.
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Elliott, Riley F. "Manufacturing Execution System (MES) An Examination of Implementation Strategy." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2013. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/997.
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The priorities of executing the manufacturing orders generated by an MRP system are often in operational conflicts with the dynamics of the manufacturing floor. It is not uncommon for a given manufacturing order to reach the shop floor several weeks or longer after being "opened" by an MRP system where it may face a chaotic case of large queues, machine down-time, parts shortage, scrap problems and other resource management constraints. Many companies have resorted to the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software solution to resolve these problems. This method first gained popularity in mid-90’s within the semiconductor industry. An MES approach is an on-line, real-time data gathering, analysis and storage to assist in short-interval scheduling (shift or day) manufacturing operations with an emphasis on revising scheduling priorities. It is essentially an information system tool for the shop floor and if designed properly, it may be used as an advisory system for effective decision-making. However, in implementation MES faces several challenges including the proper software platform/architecture, integration within ERP or a stand-alone best-of-breed, amount and type of data/information to be exchanged with the MRP engine, and a user-centered interface for various layers of decision making. This paper will provide a detailed background on various technical, software, and organizational factors that the use of an MES implementation may impose upon the practitioner. Furthermore, and as a case study, it will discuss a systematic implementation strategy for MES at a high-tech company in California. The discussion of the critical success factors in implementation planning will hopefully be of value to both practitioners and researchers in similar projects.
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Jansson, Anton. "Only a Shadow : Industrial computed tomography investigation, and method development, concerning complex material systems." Licentiate thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för naturvetenskap och teknik, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-54880.
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The complexity of components fabricated in today's industry is ever increasing. This increase is partly due to market pressure but it is also a result from progress in fabrication technologies that opens up new possibilities. The increased use of additive manufacturing and multi-material systems, especially, has driven the complexity of parts to new heights. The new complex material systems brings benefits in many areas such as; mechanical properties, weight optimisation, and sustainability. However, the increased complexity also makes material integrity investigations and dimensional control more difficult. In additive manufacturing, for example, internal features can be fabricated which cannot be seen or measured with conventional tools. There is thus a need for non-destructive inspection methods that can measure these geometries. Such a method is X-ray computed tomography. Computed tomography utilizes the X-rays ability to penetrate material to create 3D digital volumes of components. Measurements and material investigations can be performed in these volumes without any damage to the investigated component. However, computed tomography in material science is still not a fully mature method and there are many uncertainties associated with the investigation technique. In the work presented in this thesis geometries fabricated by various additive manufacturing processes have been investigated using computed tomography. Also in this work, a dual-energy computed tomography tool has been developed with the aim to increase the measurement consistency of computed tomography when investigating complex geometries and material combinations.MultiMatCT
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Pai, Vinod. "Simulation of two manufacturing systems for a car manufacturing company." Ohio : Ohio University, 1997. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1177087066.
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Alghwiri, Alaa Ali. "INTELLIGENT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PLATFORM IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1543919012077744.
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Kanumury, Rajesh. "Integrating business and engineering processes in manufacturing environment using AI concepts." Ohio : Ohio University, 1995. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1179423333.
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Ren, Qizheng. "The Application of Gage R&R Analysis in s Six Sigma Case of Improving and Optimizing an Automotive Die Casting Product’s Measurement System." TopSCHOLAR®, 2015. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1536.
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With the rapid development of automation technology in automotive manufacturing processes, massive and efficient production is a current trend. Therefore, measurement systems with accurate and automated measuring instruments are sought by automotive companies and suppliers. However, the problematic measuring instruments with unreliable accuracy and stability lead to erroneous measurements and wrong quality decisions that cause manufacturers huge profit losses. An effective method called “measurement system analysis” can be applied to define and eliminate erroneous measurements to ensure adequate reliability. An automotive transmission die casting parts supplier called company T was suffering a serious profit loss due to the erroneous measurements from one type of their product’s measurement system. These erroneous measurements caused the company to deliver nonconforming products to their customers. The researcher conducted a study applying Six Sigma methodology to find out the root cause of the erroneous measurements and eliminate the erroneous measurements to retain adequate reliability. The researcher used DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analysis, Improve, and Control) process as framework to conduct the study and the measurement system analysis, Gage R&R method, to process several experiments for data collection and analysis. Through processing the experiments and analyzing the results, the researcher was able to detect the source of variation and find the root cause that caused the erroneous measurements. Based on the findings, the researcher then corrected the erroneous measurements and improved the problematic measurement system’s performance.
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Brown, Adam J. "A STUDY OF QUEUING THEORY IN LOW TO HIGH REWORK ENVIRONMENTS WITH PROCESS AVAILABILITY." UKnowledge, 2012. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/ms_etds/2.
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In manufacturing systems subject to machine and operator resource constraints the effects of rework can be profound. High levels of rework burden the resources unnecessarily and as the utilization of these resources increases the expected queuing time of work in process increases exponentially. Queuing models can help managers to understand and control the effects of rework, but often this tool is overlooked in part because of concerns over accuracy in complex environments and/or the need for limiting assumptions. One aim of this work is to increase understanding of system variables on the accuracy of simple queuing models. A queuing model is proposed that combines G/G/1 modeling techniques for rework with effective processing time techniques for machine availability and the accuracy of this model is tested under varying levels of rework, external arrival variability, and machine availability. Results show that the model performs best under exponential arrival patterns and can perform well even under high rework conditions. Generalizations are made with regards to the use of this tool for allocation of jobs to specific workers and/or machines based on known rework rates with the ultimate aim of queue time minimization.
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Eriksson, Mikael. "Procurement of Complex Technical Systems : Strategies for Successful Projects." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Industriella informations- och styrsystem, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-593.
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When facing a procurement of a complex technical system, many questions are to be asked. The main question is how the best and most suitable systems are obtained, at the right cost. In order to answer that question numerous aspects must be considered and investigated. Even after having conducted careful analysis the question will most certainly never be entirely answered. In the early stages of procurement projects it is important that time is allocated for evaluation and decision-making concerning what truly is needed and most important on the management strategy to use. Procurement projects often misses someone that have a totality perspective, the projects are often extended in time, the experience and competence of the involved actors are often not properly used in the projects and it is impossible to write clear-cut contracts between the involved actors. These incongruities create need for focused and applicable procurement strategies. It is in the beginning of the procurement process that these decisions concerning which procurement strategies to be used in the project have to be made. The strategy decisions should primarily be based on the available competence of the already involved actors, and secondly on what competencies available at possible actors to involve. The competencies needed in the different phases of the procurement project can be predicted fairly accurately. The risks and responsibilities should be distributed among the involved actors depending on their accessible competence and resources. Focus should be on the capabilities of the involved actors instead of on the cost. Decisions made in the initial phases must also allow as much flexibility as possible for the later phases to come. In the research, case studies on procurement projects have been conducted. In the case studies data have been gathered and case study analyses have formed a comprehensive view of procurement projects. The research in this thesis offers insight on the impact of procurement strategy on allocation of responsibilities and risks in procurement projects and the importance of a well formulated procurement strategy is stressed. The procurement strategy is important when to efficiently utilize available competencies and resources. Also, the importance of how to formulate requirements that enable the best possible contribution to the project of all the available and involved actors has been examined. How the requirements are formulated and communicated determine to very large extend how the project should be organised, both by the client and the supplier. This thesis gives guidelines on the organisation of procurement projects for complex technical systems. It further discusses the formulation of procurement strategies depending on the involved actors’ competencies. A framework for procurement of complex technical systems is also presented.QC 20101011
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Albaiji, Naif Faleh S. "Repeatability Case Study of the 3D Printer in the School of Engineering and Applied Science Lab." TopSCHOLAR®, 2018. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/2359.
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3DP (three-dimensional printing) technologies have become more than just a tool to help companies with prototyping and designing in the pre-production stage. Some firms have already implemented 3DP technology to produce parts and end-use products. However, there are several challenges and barriers that this technology must overcome to replace traditional manufacturing methods. One of the most significant obstacles associated with 3D printing is its low level of accuracy in variable repeatability when it comes to making separate batches of the same product. There are several arguable reasons behind this variation. Some of the factors that can influence repeatability are the type of material, the design, the type of product produced, and the orientation, or the location of the build inside the building envelope. The goal of this study was to determine whether the location of the build inside the surface area of the working envelope can affect the properties (height, width, depth, and weight) of the product.
Western Kentucky University (WKU) provides students with a few 3D printers on campus. One of those printers, a Stratasys (model: BST 768/SST 768), is in the Senator Mitch McConnell Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Laboratory. The researcher used this printer for the study to determine if the location of the printer influenced the final product. The conclusion of the research did reveal that the printing location does affect the quality of the final product.
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Bellardo, Heather A. "PREFERENCE DRIVEN UNIVERSITY COURSE SCHEDULING SYSTEM." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2010. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/324.
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University course planning and scheduling is the process of determining what courses to offer, how many sections are needed, determining the best term to offer each section, assigning a faculty member to instruct each section, and scheduling each section to a timeslot to avoid conflicts. The result of this task has an impact on every student and faculty member in the department. The process is typically broken down into three major phases: course offering planning, faculty assignment to planned course sections, and course scheduling into timeslots.
This thesis looks at each of these phases for the Industrial and Manufacturing department and brings them together into a decision support and scheduling system. A decision support tool is created to facilitate planning of course offerings. Operations research is applied to assign sections to faculty members using a faculty preference driven integer linear programming model in order to minimize dissatisfaction in the department. Next, the faculty-section pairs are scheduled into university timeslots using a complex integer linear programming model. This scheduling model takes into consideration the faculty member time availability and preferences and general student time slot preferences as it minimizes dissatisfaction while avoiding conflicts among labs, faculty members and courses offered for each class level.
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Kilbert, Steven Michael. "A Microsimulation of Traffic, Parking, and Emissions at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2011. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/452.
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Traffic and parking congestion are significant issues at many universities nationwide. The delays experienced result in wasted time, money, and fuel for students, faculty and staff, not to mention the negative contributions to the environment. This paper quantifies the amount of vehicle emissions generated during an average morning peak hour in the university environment. Using VISSIM and CMEM microsimulation packages, a model is created for California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo to aggregate the collective transportation behaviors and practices of the campus and recognize the implications these behaviors pose on the transportation network as a whole. Reasonable estimates are generated for overall HC, CO, and NOx type emissions as well as fuel consumption. Scenarios are proposed which reflect the sensitivity of outputs to key input parameters. The findings of this research can be useful for future campus planning and the ideas can be extended to similar environments with traffic and parking problems such as business parks, corporate campuses, downtown districts, and special event venues.
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Saleck, Pay Babak. "Decomposition Algorithms in Stochastic Integer Programming: Applications and Computations." VCU Scholars Compass, 2017. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5027.
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In this dissertation we focus on two main topics. Under the first topic, we develop a new framework for stochastic network interdiction problem to address ambiguity in the defender risk preferences. The second topic is dedicated to computational studies of two-stage stochastic integer programs. More specifically, we consider two cases. First, we develop some solution methods for two-stage stochastic integer programs with continuous recourse; second, we study some computational strategies for two-stage stochastic integer programs with integer recourse. We study a class of stochastic network interdiction problems where the defender has incomplete (ambiguous) preferences. Specifically, we focus on the shortest path network interdiction modeled as a Stackelberg game, where the defender (leader) makes an interdiction decision first, then the attacker (follower) selects a shortest path after the observation of random arc costs and interdiction effects in the network. We take a decision-analytic perspective in addressing probabilistic risk over network parameters, assuming that the defender's risk preferences over exogenously given probabilities can be summarized by the expected utility theory. Although the exact form of the utility function is ambiguous to the defender, we assume that a set of historical data on some pairwise comparisons made by the defender is available, which can be used to restrict the shape of the utility function. We use two different approaches to tackle this problem. The first approach conducts utility estimation and optimization separately, by first finding the best fit for a piecewise linear concave utility function according to the available data, and then optimizing the expected utility. The second approach integrates utility estimation and optimization, by modeling the utility ambiguity under a robust optimization framework following \cite{armbruster2015decision} and \cite{Hu}. We conduct extensive computational experiments to evaluate the performances of these approaches on the stochastic shortest path network interdiction problem. In third chapter, we propose partition-based decomposition algorithms for solving two-stage stochastic integer program with continuous recourse. The partition-based decomposition method enhance the classical decomposition methods (such as Benders decomposition) by utilizing the inexact cuts (coarse cuts) induced by a scenario partition. Coarse cut generation can be much less expensive than the standard Benders cuts, when the partition size is relatively small compared to the total number of scenarios. We conduct an extensive computational study to illustrate the advantage of the proposed partition-based decomposition algorithms compared with the state-of-the-art approaches. In chapter four, we concentrate on computational methods for two-stage stochastic integer program with integer recourse. We consider the partition-based relaxation framework integrated with a scenario decomposition algorithm in order to develop strategies which provide a better lower bound on the optimal objective value, within a tight time limit.
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Maynard, Jason Edward. "The Effects of Anti-Price Gouging Legislation on Supply Chain Dynamics." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2011. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/450.
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The purpose of this thesis is to model the effects of anti-price gouging (APG) legislation on the costs to businesses during the recovery period of a disaster. A system dynamics model of a business’s replenishment procedures is used to simulate the effects of APG legislation on business performance. Economists have published expansive research on the effects of price ceilings on supply and demand, but there is little research evidence on the operational consequences of price ceiling legislation on business costs. APG legislation increases consumer’s forward buying and shortage gaming after a disaster by removing price incentives to be frugal. Forward buying and shortage gaming are two key drivers of the demand variation and the bullwhip effect, which leads to increased inventory costs, misguided capacity expansion and reduced service levels. These costs have a negative impact on local businesses that are critical to a community’s economic health and recovery from a disaster. The simulation results from this thesis show that APG legislation is not an effective regulatory response to decrease the impact of disasters on affected communities.
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Mohammed, Anwaruddin. "ACHIEVING ULTRAFINE GRAINS IN Mg AZ31B-O ALLOY BY CRYOGENIC FRICTION STIR PROCESSING AND MACHINING." UKnowledge, 2011. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/ms_etds/1.
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This thesis presents results from the application of cryogenic cooling on multiple-pass friction stir processing and the subsequent orthogonal machining on friction stir processed and as-received Mg AZ31B-O disks, and shows their combined effects on microstructure and microhardness values. A simple friction stir tool, a specially designed fixture and liquid nitrogen are used to perform multiple-pass friction stir processing experiments on Mg AZ31B-O alloy. The friction stir processed and as-received sheets are then made into disks for the orthogonal machining experiments. This study analyzes the microhardness, microstructure changes by cryogenic friction stir processing and the effect of machining conditions such as dry, MQL and cryogenic and cutting parameters on the Mg AZ31B-O alloy. Four different speeds and three different feed rates are used for the orthogonal machining experiments. The effects of stirring parameters such as the translational feed, rotational speed, cooling conditions and the machining parameters are studied. The resulting microstructure and microhardness from these processes hold a key to the mechanical properties of the alloy. This analysis would help to understand and evaluate the specific aspects of grain size and microhardness that influence the fatigue life of a component.
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Schlechter, E. J. (Emile Johan). "Manufacturing intelligence : a dissemination of intelligent manufacturing principles with specific application." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52927.
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Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Artificial intelligence has provided several techniques with applications in manufacturing. Knowledge based systems, neural networks, case based reasoning, genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic have been successfully employed in manufacturing. This thesis will provide the reader with an introduction and an understanding of each of these techniques (Chapter 2 & 3). The intelligent manufacturing process can be a complex one and can be decomposed into several components: intelligent design, intelligent process planning, intelligent quality management, intelligent maintenance and diagnosis, intelligent scheduling and intelligent control. This thesis will focus on how each of the artificial intelligence techniques can be applied to each of the manufacturing process fields. Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Knowledge based systems Neural networks Fuzzy logic Case based reasoning Genetic algorithms Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Manufacturing intelligence can be approached from two main directions: theoretical research and practical application. Most of the concepts, methods and techniques discussed in this thesis are approached from a theoretical research point of view. This thesis is also aimed at providing the reader with a broader picture of manufacturing intelligence and how to apply the intelligent techniques, in theory. Specific attention will be given to intelligent scheduling as an application (Chapter 11). The application will demonstrate how case based reasoning can be applied in intelligent scheduling within a small manufacturing plant.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kunsmatige intelligensie bied 'n verskeidenheid tegnieke en toepassings in die vervaardigingsomgewing. Kennis baseerde sisteme, neurale netwerke, gevalle basseerde redenasie, generiese algoritmes en wasige logika word suksesvol in die vervaardigingsopset toegepas. Dié tesis gee die leser 'n inleiding en basiese oorsig van metodes om elk van die tegnieke te gebruik (hoofstuk 2 & 3). Die intelligente vervaardigingproses is 'n komplekse proses en kan afgebreek word in verskeie komponente: intelligente ontwerp, intelligente prosesbeplanning, intelligente gehaltebestuur, intelligente onderhoud en diagnose, intelligente kontrole en intelligente skedulering. Hierdie tesis sal fokus op hoe elk van die kunsmatige intelligente tegnieke op elk van die vervaardigingprosesvelde toegepas kan word. Hoofstuk 5 Hoofstuk 6 Hoofstuk 7 Kennis gebaseerde sisteme Wasige logika Neurale netwerke Gevalle baseerde redenasie Generiese algoritmes Hoofstuk 8 Hoofstuk 9 Hoofstuk 10 Vervaardigingsintelligensie kan vanuit twee oogpunte benader word, naamlik 'n teoretiese ondersoek en 'n praktiese aanslag. Die meeste van hierdie konsepte, metodes en tegnieke word in hierdie tesis vanuit 'n teoretiese oogpunt benader. Die tesis is daarop gerig om die leser 'n wyer perspektief te gee van intelligente vervaardiging en hoe om die intelligente tegnieke, in teorie, toe te pas. Spesifieke aandag sal gegee word aan intelligente skedulering as 'n toepassing (Hookstuk 11). Die toepassing sal demonstreer hoe gevalle baseerde redenasie toegepas kan word in intelligente skedulering.
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Albar, Fatima Mohammed. "An Investigation of Fast and Frugal Heuristics for New Product Project Selection." PDXScholar, 2013. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/1057.
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In the early stages of new product development, project selection is dominantly based on managerial intuition, rather than on analytic approaches. As much as 90% of all product ideas are rejected before they are formally assessed. However, to date, little is known about the product screening heuristics and screening criteria managers use: it has been suggested that their decision process resembles the "fast and frugal" heuristics identified in recent psychological research, but no empirical research exists. A major part of the product innovation pipeline is thus poorly understood.
This research contributes to closing this gap. It uses cognitive task analysis for an in-depth analysis of the new product screening heuristics of twelve experienced decision makers in 66 decision cases. Based on the emerging data, an integrated model of their project screening heuristics is created. Results show that experts adapt their heuristics to the decision at hand. In doing so, they use a much smaller set of decision criteria than discussed in the product development literature. They also combine heuristics into decision approaches that are simple, but more complex than "fast and frugal" strategies. By opening the black box of project screening this research enables improved project selection practices.
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Mölleryd, Bengt A. "An anatomy of technological innovation in infrastructure and defence systems in Sweden after the Cold War." Licentiate thesis, KTH, Kraft- och värmeteknologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-31494.
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The dual interaction of science and technology with defence, security and infrastructures for service provision as energy is a major theme in modern times. The era after the Second World War and in the course of the Cold War was accompanied and spurred by an amazing number of great technological advances and changes. The study investigates and discusses dimensions of the interaction between technology changes and innovation and defence, security and infrastructure systems in a small country as Sweden after the Cold War. The main result of the study is a proposal for an anatomy of technology innovation which can be seen as a predecessor to a system (or enterprise) architecture for technology innovation in defence, security and infrastructure systems. The approach is developed from previous international research and theories of innovation systems. Infrastructure and defence systems are investigated on three levels, technologies, system integration and services provided. Establishing an anatomy is supported by case studies which apply a stake holder perspective on development and innovation in systems. Prominent elements of the proposed anatomy for technology innovation are framework conditions or context, economic organizational factors such as people, knowledge, business models and finance, and last but not least culture for development and innovation, and the customer and user in the processes. Contexts and environmental conditions in recent times are characterised by more complicated threats and disturbances which potentially imply larger disruptions. The study explores how contexts and emerging conditions translate into plausible scenarios and their effect on the anatomy and the various stages of the innovation processes. The vital role in the anatomical framework played by culture for innovation is illuminated in the case studies. Other basic elements of the anatomy are the people, inventors and developers as the knowledge underpinning. Risk taking and sharing and the rights and responsibilities of the stake holders play substantial roles in the anatomy as some main economic organizational factors and elements of innovation.QC 20110317
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Johansson, Joel. "Automated Computer Systems for Manufacturability Analyses and Tooling Design : Applied to the Rotary Draw Bending Process." Doctoral thesis, Tekniska Högskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, JTH, Maskinteknik, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-15011.
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Intensive competition on the global market puts great pressure on manufacturing companies to develop and produce products that meet requirements from customers and investors. One key factor in meeting these requirements is the efficiency of the product development and the production preparation processes. Design automation is a powerful tool to increase efficiency in these two processes. The benefits of automating the manufacturability analysis process, a part of the production preparation process, are shortened lead-time, improved product performance, quality assurance, and, ultimately, decreased costs. Further, automation is beneficial as it increases the ability to adapt products to new product specifications with production preparations done in a few or in a single step. During the automation process, knowledge about the manufacturability analysis process is collected and stored in central systems, thus allowing full control over the design of production equipments. Topics addressed in this thesis include the flexibility of design automation systems, knowledge-bases containing alternative design rules, the automation of the finite element analysis process, manufacturability analysis over several productions steps, and the determination of production limits by looping the automated manufacturability analysis process. These topics are discussed in connection with the rotary draw bending of aluminum profiles. It is concluded that the concept of design automation can be applied to the manufacturability analysis process at different levels of automation depending on the characteristics of the implemented knowledge. The concept of object orientation should be adapted when implementing a knowledge-base and when developing the geometrical representations of the products. This makes a design automation system flexible enough to edit underlying knowledge and to extend the targeted design space. It is possible to automate the process of setting up, running, and interpreting finite element analyses to a great extent, enabling the design automation system to evaluate its own design proposals. It is also possible to enable such systems to consider sequences of manufacturing steps and loop them to develop decision support guiding engineers early in the design process, saving time and money while still assuring high product quality.
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Cramér, Martin, and Anders Matsson. "Customization Through Standardization : a study on Atlas Copco Tools & Assembly Systems’ market offer of fixtured tools to the motor vehicle industry." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Management and Economics, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-6846.
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Atlas Copco Tools & Assembly Systems (ACTA) is world leader in industrial tools and assembly systems for safety-critical joints. One of the products the company sells is fixtured nutrunners, mainly to the motor vehicle industry. The margins on these highly customized products have been decreasing – much depending on changes in the purchasing behavior of the automotive industry.
Traditionally, the marketing of the fixtured nutrunners has been concentrated to the parts of the product instead of the final product. Today, there is a belief within the organization that many of the sold customized products could be replaced by more standardized applications. There is also a wish to turn the focus of the market offer from the parts towards the final application. These beliefs and wishes resulted in this thesis, with the purpose to propose a new market offer to increase profitability and give more customer benefits.
To reach this purpose we started out with theoretical studies of several different areas. Among those was mass customization, a strategy that combines the benefits of mass production with those of customization. We also performed a prestudy at the headquarters of ACTA in Sickla and visited major customers in Sweden. Using our collected knowledge from the theoretical studies and the prestudy, we conducted an in-depth case study by interviewing customers and people working at ACTA, both in Sweden and in the USA, in order to analyze today’s situation. In the analysis, we found several problems with today’s offer. For instance, we found that similar products are solved with unique solutions, which has lead to poor cost control and has made it difficult for ACTA to assure the quality of the ordered products. A further problem is the poor sales support and the lack of traceability of sold systems, which reduces sales and leads to unnecessary special solutions. A problem linked to that is the difficulties in getting accurate and sufficient information from the customer, which leads to extra errors and a lot of extra work.
To solve these problems, we recommend ACTA to implement a mass customization strategy. Of course, not all of ACTA’s products can be mass customized, but to a large extent it should be possible. To implement a mass customization strategy, we argue that ACTA should take three measures, namely design standard products, modularize the products, and implement a computerized configuration tool. We also suggest that the implementation of the new market offer should be done stepwise. With the proposed new market offer, we believe that ACTA can increase profitability in the area of fixtured nutrunners without losing the flexibility of the products.
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Tudero, Aitor, and Julen Azkue. "Emulation of a manufacturing process : Focusing on maintenance and operator training." Thesis, Högskolan i Skövde, Institutionen för ingenjörsvetenskap, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:his:diva-14032.
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Having well-trained operators is a crucial need for Volvo Group Truck Operations (GTO). Mistakes from the factory staff may cause the production line to stop, and lead to economic losses. For this reason, Volvo GTO has decided to investigate the possibility of creating an emulation model from the production line and using it to train operators and maintenance personnel. The aim of this thesis is to develop an Operator Training Station (OTS) for the OP035 of the Volvo GTO Production Line 6. In the first part, a literature research was conducted, from which the authors gained insight into related fields such as emulation, virtual environments, and operator training. After that, an emulation model of theOP035 was created using some hardware from the factory. The real PLC program was analyzed and then modified in order to implement it to the emulation model. Then, communications were established between the different parts; emulation model and PLC program. Finally, a research of the common failures and problems of the production line was carried out, with the aim of being able to reproduce them in the Operator Training Station. Once the OTS was implemented, several tests had undergone to validate its behavior. These experiments verified that the emulation model was an accurate representation of the real system and validated its appropriateness for the operator training application
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Johnsson, Daniel, and Lina Krohn. "Industrial Internet of Things : En analys av hot och sårbarheter i industriella verksamheter." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för informationsteknologi, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-40263.
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Today the digital evolution is progressing rapidly. This entails both pros and cons concerning the security of devices. Despite the evolution, security has been left in the dark. This results in threats and vulnerabilities in devices, which could potentially be used by a hacker with the purpose of exploiting information. Security has not been a priority in industrial enterprises, even though industrial devices and other networked devices reside on the same network. The evolution of the infrastructure of the Internet has resulted in an increase of cyberattacks. These attacks used to target random individuals. The attacks of today are more intelligent, and hackers have changed their targets to specific enterprises to further exploit sensitive information, damage devices or for financial benefits. Safety in today’s industrial workplaces, such as firewalls, encryption and intrusion detection systems are not specifically designed to work in this type of environment. This leads to new threats and vulnerabilities which further leads to more exploited vulnerabilities. This formulate the following questions: Which are the most occurring threats and vulnerabilities today? What current methods and tools are suited for controlling security in IIoT-networks and its internal industrial devices? The purpose of this thesis was to examine the most occurring threats and vulnerabilities in IIoT-networks and its internal devices and reason among the methods to evaluate security in industrial enterprises. Lastly, an experiment in a real industrial workplace was conducted to attain a nuanced picture of the implementation of finding threats and vulnerabilities in industrial systems. In summary, there are a lot of different threats and vulnerabilities divided into categories and many tools are available to ensure the vulnerability. To conduct a test to find threats and vulnerabilities in an industrial enterprise, it needs to be ethically correct and the consequences carefully considered. The result of this thesis is a mapping and a demonstration of how threats and vulnerabilities are detected in an industrial workplace.
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Eloseily, Ayman. "A comparison of three experimental designs for tolerance allocation." Ohio : Ohio University, 1998. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1176834241.
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Widerberg, Anton, and Erik Johansson. "Observability of Cloud Native Systems: : An industrial case study of system comprehension with Prometheus & knowledge transfer." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Institutionen för industriell ekonomi, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-22019.
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Background: Acquiring comprehension and observability of software systems is a vital and necessary activity for testing and maintenance; however, these tasks are time-consuming for engineers. Concurrently cloud computing requires microservices to enhance the utilization of cloudnative deployment, which simultaneously introduces a high degree of complexity. Further,codifying and distributing technical knowledge within the organization has been proven to be vital for both competitiveness and financial performance. However, doing it successfully has been proven to be difficult, and transitioning to working virtually and in DevOps brings new potential challenges for software firms. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore how system comprehension of a microservice architecture can be improved from performance metrics through an exploratory data analysis approach. To further enhance the practical business value, the thesis also aims to explore the effects transitioning to virtual work and DevOps have had on knowledge sharing for software firms. Method: A case study is conducted at Ericsson with performance data generated from testing of a system deployed in Kubernetes. Data is extracted with Prometheus, and the performance behavior of four interacting pods is explored with correlation analysis and visualization tools.Furthermore, to explore virtual work and DevOps effects on intra-organizational knowledge sharing of technical knowledge, semi-structured interviews were cross analyzed with literature. Results: An overall high correlation between performance metrics could be observed with deviations between test cases. Also, we were able to generate propositions regarding the performance behavior as well as bring forward possible candidates for predictive modeling. Four new potential decisive factors driving the choice of activities and transfer mechanisms for knowledge transfer are identified, namely, accessibility, dynamicity, established processes, and efficiency. The transition to virtual work showed five positive factors and three negatives. Effects from DevOps were mostly connected to the frequency of sharing and the potentials of automation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that correlation analysis, when used along with visualization tools, can improve system comprehension of cloud-native systems. And while it shows promise for analyzing individual services and hypothesis creation, the method utilized in the study showcased some drawbacks which are covered in the discussion. The findings also point towards the fact that performance metrics can be a rich information source for knowledge and thus deserves further investigation.Findings also suggest that knowledge sharing is not only considered an important element by academia but also deliberately practiced by industry agents. Looking at the transition to virtual work and DevOps, the results imply that they affect knowledge transfer, both in combination and isolation. However, the case study findings do point towards the fact that the transition to working virtually potentially exerts a larger influence. Interviewees expressed both positive and negative aspects of virtual knowledge sharing. Simultaneously, the positive influences of DevOps were followed by extensive challenges.Bakgrund: Att erhålla förståelse och observerbarhet av mjukvarusystem är en vital och nödvändig aktivitet, speciellt för testning och underhåll. Samtidigt så är dessa uppgifter både komplexa och tidskrävande för ingenjörer. Mikroservicearkitekturen som utnyttjas för att bygga molnintegrerade lösningar introducerar en hög grad av komplexitet. Fortsättningsvis, att kodifiera och distribuera teknisk kunskap har visats vara kritiskt för organisationers konkurrenskraft och finansiella resultat. Att göra det framgångsrik har dock flertal utmaningar och när flera mjukvarubolag under senare tid övergått till att arbeta virtuellt samt skiftat till DevOps har flertalet nya potentiella utmaningar uppdagats. Syfte: Målet med denna studie är att utforska hur systemförståelse av mjukvarusystem baserade på en mikroservicearkitektur kan förbättras utifrån prestandamätningar med hjälp av undersökande dataanalysmetoder. För att ytterligare utöka det praktiska affärsvärdet så avser avhandlingen även att undersöka effekterna som övergången till virtuellt arbete och DevOps har haft på denintern kunskapsspridning inom mjukvarubolag. Metod: En fallstudie utförs på Ericsson AB med prestandadata som genererats under testkörningar av ett system som kör på Kubernetes. Data extraherad med Prometheus och prestationsbeteendet utav fyra interagerande ”pods” utforskas genom korrelationsanalys och visualiseringsverktyg. För att undersöka effekterna från virtuellt arbete samt DevOps har på intraorganisatorisk kunskapsdelning av teknisk kunskap så utförs semi-strukturerade intervjuer som sedan korsanalyseras med litteratur. Resultat: Överlag så uppvisas hög korrelation mellan prestandamätvärden samtidigt som tydliga avvikelser observerades mellan testfall. Utöver detta så generades propositioner angående prestationsbeteendet samtidigt som potentiella kandidater för prediktiv modellering framhävs. Fyra nya potentiella determinanter identifieras för valet av aktiviteter samt överföringsmekanism, nämligen tillgänglighet, dynamik, etablerade processer, och effektivitet. Övergången till virtuellt arbete uppvisade främst fem positiva faktorer och tre negativa. Effekterna utav DevOps var särskilt kopplade till frekvensen av delning samt potential för automation. Slutsatser: Våra resultat tyder på att korrelationsanalys i kombination med visualiseringsverktyg kan användas för att skapa systemförståelse av molnbaserade system. Samtidigt som metoden visar potential för att analysera individuella tjänster och generera hypoteser så påvisar metoden i vår studie vissa nackdelar vilket tas upp i diskussionen. Resultatet tyder dessutom på att prestandadata kan vara en rik informationskälla för kunskapsskapande och bör vara av intresse för ytterligare studier.Resultaten av den kvalitativa undersökning indikerar att kunskapshantering inte bara är ett viktigt element ur akademins perspektiv men även något som omsorgsfullt praktiseras av industrin. Resultatet angående övergången till virtuellt arbete samt DevOps antyder på att båda har inflytande på hur kunskapsspridning bedrivs, både var för sig och i kombination. Samtidigt pekar våra undersökningsresultat på att övergången till att arbeta virtuellt potentiellt har påverkat kunskapshantering i betydligt större utsträckning än DevOps. Intervjuerna uppvisade både positiva och negativa aspekter utav den virtuella påverkan samtidigt som de positiva effekter som uppmättes av DevOps uppföljdes av omfattande utmaningar.
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Amenabar, Leire, and Leire Carreras. "Augmented Reality Framework for Supporting and Monitoring Operators during Maintenance Operations in Industrial Environments." Thesis, Högskolan i Skövde, Institutionen för ingenjörsvetenskap, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:his:diva-15717.
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In an ever-changing and demanding world where short assembly and innovation times are indispensable, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the machinery used throughout the whole process of a product are in their best possible condition. This guarantees that the performance of each machine will be optimal, and hence, the process times will be the shortest possible, while the best quality products are obtained. Moreover, having a machine in an impeccable status permits making the necessary changes to it, in order to fulfil the requirements that a more advanced or complex product may have. Maintenance operations and their corresponding trainings have historically been time-consuming, and a vast amount of information has been transmitted from an expert to a newer operator. This means that there has been the need of working with experienced operators to secure that a good service is provided. However, different technologies like augmented reality (AR) have been shown to have a positive impact in the support and monitoring of operators in industrial maintenance operations.The present project gathers information in regard to the framework of AR, with the aim of supporting and monitoring operators in industrial environments. The proposed method consists on the development of an artefact, which would lead to a possible improvement of the already existing solutions. It is believed that the development of an AR application could grant the necessary aid to any operator in maintenance operations. The result of this suggestion is an AR application which superimposes visual information on the physical equipment.
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Bäck, Daniel, and Peter Johansson. "A model for effective development of plant layouts and material handling systems : En modell för effektiv utformning av fabrikslayouter och materialhanteringssystem." Thesis, Växjö University, School of Technology and Design, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-1306.
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In this thesis was a model developed, in order to improve deficiencies in existing literature regarding the layout problem and to give companies a comprehensible user-friendly procedure on how to design competitive production processes, plant layouts and material handling systems. The model consists of six phases that can be used sequentially in order to design, evaluate, implement and maintain effective plant layouts and material handling systems. The model can also be used to examine and optimize processes. The first four phases of the model were tested successfully in a case study at Holtab AB, a medium sized manufacturing company in Tingsryd.
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Du, Jia. "Examination of the Feasibility of the Multichannel Strategy within a B2B Complex Product Context : A case study on ABB Control Systems within Industrial Automation Division." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Industriell teknik, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-397976.
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The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of the multichannel strategy in a B2B complex product context through an in-depth case study on ABB control systems. Firstly, the study focused on investigating the channel strategy for the current ABB control systems. The channel structure and sales cycle have been identified. Secondly, the study identified the challenges which have existed in the channels for ABB control systems. Channel conflicts and lack of channel integration have been recognized as the major challenges. Finally, the thesis proposed improvement suggestions on how to reduce channel conflicts and increase channel integrations for ABB control systems.
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Löfqvist, Lars. "Innovation and Design Processes in Small Established Companies." Licentiate thesis, University of Gävle, Ämnesavdelningen för industriell ekonomi, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-6156.
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This thesis examines innovation and design processes in small established companies. There is a great interest in this area yet paradoxically the area is under-researched, since most innovation research is done on large companies. The research questions are: How do small established companies carry out their innovation and design processes? and How does the context and novelty of the process and product affect the same processes?
The thesis is built on three research papers that used the research method of multiple case studies of different small established companies. The innovation and design processes found were highly context dependent and were facilitated by committed resources, a creative climate, vision, low family involvement, delegated power and authority, and linkages to external actors such as customers and users. Both experimental cyclical and linear structured design processes were found. The choice of structure is explained by the relative product and process novelty experienced by those developing the product innovation. Linear design processes worked within a low relative novelty situation and cyclical design processes worked no matter the relative novelty. The innovation and design processes found were informal, with a low usage of formal systematic design methods, except in the case of design processes for software. The use of formal systematic methods in small companies seems not always to be efficient, because many of the problems the methods are designed to solve are not present. Customers and users were found to play a large and important role in the innovation and design processes found and gave continuous feedback during the design processes. Innovation processes were found to be intertwined, yielding synergy effects, but it was common that resources were taken from the innovation processes for acute problems that threatened the cash flow. In sum, small established companies have the natural prerequisites to take advantage of lead-user inventions and cyclical design processes. Scarce resources were found to be the main factor hindering innovation, but the examined companies practiced several approaches to increase their resources or use existing scarce resources more efficiently in their innovation and design processes. Examples of these approaches include adopting lead-user inventions and reducing formality in the innovation and design processes.
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SHAHIN, AMINA. "PERCEPTIONS OF COMPETENCEIN EVALUATION AND PROMOTIONPROCESSES : ON THE REPRODUCTION AND CHANGE OFMALE DOMINANCE IN MANAGEMENT ININDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekonomi och organisation (Inst.), 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-236046.
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Today’s industrial markets are experiencing changes with the realization of new radical technologies, which are disrupting how organizations work. This new wave of technology and focus towards sustainability is shifting the competencies needed within organizations to maintain their competitive advantage. The adoption of such technological innovations without causing any delays requires a widespectrum of competencies among employees to be present in industrial organizations. One way to achieve this is to have a diverse top management team that reflects a wide spectrum of competenciesand skills. However, achieving this is a challenge due to the culture of gendering found inorganizations, especially with regard to evaluation and promotion processes. The purpose of this report is to investigate the way in which evaluation and promotion practices in industrial organizationscan contribute to the reproduction and change of male dominance in management. Through exploring the different perceptions of competencies, evaluation and promotion processes, and ways to how to drive gender balance within an industrial organization, the purpose of this report is achieved. The main approaches taken include using available theory on organizational change, gendered work ideals, homosociality, perceptions of competence, and ways to evaluate employees to analyze data gathered. This is then tied with a field study done on one of the Swedish companies operating in a male dominated industrial environment. The analysis addresses the common ways in which evaluation and promotion processes can contribute to the reproduction of male dominance andways to prevent that from happening. The proposed recommendations address the opportunities forchange at company A, based on theory work for gender balance.Dagens industriella marknader är i förändring med nya teknologier som omstörtar hur organisationer fungerar. Denna nya våg av teknik och fokusering mot hållbarhet medför ett skifte i kompetenser som behövs inom organisationer för att behålla sin konkurrensfördel. Antagandet av sådana tekniska innovationer utan att orsaka förseningar kräver ett brett spektrum av kompetenser bland anställda inomindustriella organisationer. Ett sätt att uppnå detta är att ha mångfald inom ledningsgrupper som speglar ett brett spektrum av kompetenser och färdigheter. Emellertid uppstår många utmaningar för att uppnå detta på grund av könsmärkta kulturer som finns i organisationer som påverkar utvärderings och befordringsprocesser. Syftet med denna rapport är därför att undersöka hur utvärderings- och befordringsprocesser i industriella organisationer kan bidra till återskapande och förändring av manlig dominans i organisationer, särskilt på ledningsnivåer. Syftet med denna rapport är att att utforska olika föreställningar om kompetens och utvärderings- ochbefordringsprocesser för att diskutera hur könsbalans inom organisationer kan uppnås. Rapportenutgår från forskning om organisationsförändring, könsmärkta ideal, homosocialitet, föreställningar om kompetens och metoder för utvärdera medarbetare och bygger på en fältstudie i ett mansdominerat svenskt industriföretag. Analysen fokuserar hur utvärderings- och befordringsprocesser kan bidra tillatt mansdominans återskapas och möjliga sätt att förhindra att det händer. De föreslagna rekommendationerna utgår från forskning om jämställdhetsarbete.
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Kamf, Tobias. "Automated Production Technologies and Measurement Systems for Ferrite Magnetized Linear Generators." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Elektricitetslära, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-330866.
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The interest in breaking the historical dependence on fossil energy and begin moving towards more renewable energy sources is rising worldwide. This is largely due to uncertainties in the future supply of fossil fuels and the rising concerns about humanity’s role in the currently ongoing climate changes. One renewable energy source is ocean waves and Uppsala University has since the early 2000s been performing active research in this area. The Uppsala wave energy concept is centered on developing linear generators coupled to point absorbing buoys, with the generator situated on the seabed and connected to the buoy on the sea surface via a steel wire. The motion of the buoy then transfers energy to the generator, where it is converted into electricity and sent to shore for delivery into the electrical grid. This thesis will mainly focus on the development and evaluation of technologies used to automate the manufacturing of the translator, a central part of the linear generator, using industrial robotics. The translator is a 3 m high and 0.8 m wide three sided structure with an aluminum pipe at its center. The structure consists of alternating layers of steel plates (pole-shoes) and ferrite magnets, with a total of 72 layers per side. To perform experiments on translator assembly and production, a robot cell (centered on an IRB6650S industrial robot) complimented with relevant tools, equipment and security measures, has been designed and constructed. The mounting of the pole-shoes on the central pipe, using the industrial robot, proved to be the most challenging task to solve. However, by implementing a precise work-piece orientation calibration system, combined with selective compliance robot tools, the task could be performed with mounting speeds of up to 50 mm/s. Although progress has been made, much work still remains before fully automated translator assembly is a reality. A secondary topic of this thesis is the development of stand-alone measurement systems to be used in the linear generator, once it has been deployed on the seabed. The main requirements of such a measurement system is robustness, resistance to electrical noise, and power efficiency. If possible the system should also be portable and easy to use. This was solved by developing a custom measurement circuit, based on industry standard 4–20 mA current signals, combined with a portable submersible logging unit. The latest iteration of the system is small enough to be deployed and retrieved by one person, and can collect data for 10 weeks before running out of batteries. Future work in this area should focus on increasing the usability of the system. The third and final topic of this thesis is a short discussion of an engineering approach to kinetic energy storage, in the form of high-speed composite flywheels, and the design of two different prototypes of such flywheels. Both designs gave important insights to the research group, but a few crucial design faults unfortunately made it impossible to evaluate the full potential of the two designs.
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Liu, Gang. "Spatiotemporal Sensing and Informatics for Complex Systems Monitoring, Fault Identification and Root Cause Diagnostics." Scholar Commons, 2015. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5727.
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In order to cope with system complexity and dynamic environments, modern industries are investing in a variety of sensor networks and data acquisition systems to increase information visibility. Multi-sensor systems bring the proliferation of high-dimensional functional Big Data that capture rich information on the evolving dynamics of natural and engineered processes. With spatially and temporally dense data readily available, there is an urgent need to develop advanced methodologies and associated tools that will enable and assist (i) the handling of the big data communicated by the contemporary complex systems, (ii) the extraction and identification of pertinent knowledge about the environmental and operational dynamics driving these systems, and (iii) the exploitation of the acquired knowledge for more enhanced design, analysis, monitoring, diagnostics and control.
My methodological and theoretical research as well as a considerable portion of my applied and collaborative work in this dissertation aims at addressing high-dimensional functional big data communicated by the systems. An innovative contribution of my work is the establishment of a series of systematic methodologies to investigate the complex system informatics including multi-dimensional modeling, feature extraction and selection, model-based monitoring and root cause diagnostics.
This study presents systematic methodologies to investigate spatiotemporal informatics of complex systems from multi-dimensional modeling and feature extraction to model-driven monitoring, fault identification and root cause diagnostics. In particular, we developed a multiscale adaptive basis function model to represent and characterize the high-dimensional nonlinear functional profiles, thereby reducing the large amount of data to a parsimonious set of variables (i.e., model parameters) while preserving the information. Furthermore, the complex interdependence structure among variables is identified by a novel self-organizing network algorithm, in which the homogeneous variables are clustered into sub-network communities. Then we minimize the redundancy of variables in each cluster and integrate the new set of clustered variables with predictive models to identify a sparse set of sensitive variables for process monitoring and fault diagnostics. We evaluated and validated our methodologies using real-world case studies that extract parameters from representation models of vectorcardiogram (VCG) signals for the diagnosis of myocardial infarctions. The proposed systematic methodologies are generally applicable for modeling, monitoring and diagnosis in many disciplines that involve a large number of highly-redundant variables extracted from the big data.
The self-organizing approach was also innovatively developed to derive the steady geometric structure of a network from the recurrence-based adjacency matrix. As such, novel network-theoretic measures can be achieved based on actual node-to-node distances in the self-organized network topology.