Showing papers on "Production engineering published in 2018"

The future of manufacturing systems engineering

Abstract: Manufacturing systems engineering will be greatly affected by advances in technology, including cheaper, ubiquitous sensors, increasing computational speeds, the ability to hold more data and move it faster, and artificial intelligence. This paper discusses the importance of human involvement in the field, especially the role of intuition. The issues examined are the purposes of manufacturing systems engineering; the importance of intuition, and more generally, the role that humans play in the design and operations of manufacturing systems; the effects of new systems-related technologies; how analytical models help the development of intuition; how the use of generic software without intuition can lead to trouble; how intuition is needed to determined what data, and how much of it, is needed for a given purpose. It also describes some successful applications of manufacturing systems research and proposes an organisational structure for manufacturing systems groups.

Planning and Scheduling in Additive Manufacturing

Abstract: Recent advances in additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing technologies have led to significant growth in the use of additive manufacturing in industry, which allows for the physical realization of previously difficult to manufacture designs. However, in certain cases AM can also involve higher production costs and unique in-process physical complications, motivating the need to solve new optimization challenges. Optimization for additive manufacturing is relevant for and involves multiple fields including mechanical engineering, materials science, operations research, and production engineering, and interdisciplinary interactions must be accounted for in the optimization framework. In this paper we investigate a problem in which a set of parts with unique configurations and deadlines must be printed by a set of machines while minimizing time and satisfying deadlines, bringing together bin packing, nesting (two-dimensional bin packing), job shop scheduling, and constraints satisfaction. We first describe the real-world industrial motivation for solving the problem. Subsequently, we encapsulate the problem within constraints and graph theory, create a formal model of the problem, discuss nesting as a subproblem, and describe the search algorithm. Finally, we present the datasets, the experimental approach, and the preliminary results.

Linear programming applications in construction sites

Abstract: More issues in construction management were found especially for decision making that related to the Arabian construction management office requirements. Operation research especially linear programming models considered one of the most important tool used in optimization applications at many fields of production engineering and mass production, also linear programming applications was developed to construction engineering field. This paper presents a linear programming technique to spotlight decision making application for optimizing competitive bidding strategy to select best tender as shown in real case study. Therefore, project manager or decision maker can use this concept for getting the best project cost. This paper give linear programming concepts that are reviewed to describe recent linear programming component which had large focus on related time-cost and time problems for studied project. Linear programming models are formulated to solve various cost and time problems by using LINDO software. The developed models had many limitations and restrictions for studied project. Construction managers can use it to explore more possible opportunities to predict influence of decision for construction to facilitate preferred different management objectives. Linear programming implementation shows the practice of wide variety for construction problems especially cost with time issues and it is more applicable to generate a shortest computational effort and time with low cost.

Sustainable value stream mapping and technologies of Industry 4.0 in manufacturing process reconfiguration: A case study in an apparel company

Abstract: To optimize resource use in production, Lean manufacturing is the most widely implemented method in the world. One of the most useful tools in Lean production is Value Stream Mapping (VSM). With focus on visualizing key data of a production process in a single picture, VSM attempts to reveal bottleneck steps in a process. As a consequence, industrial engineers can determine which stages of the process should be put emphasis on improving. However, VSM sole consideration is economics and other aspects of sustainability such as societal and environmental are neglected. With Sustainable Value Stream Mapping (SVSM), all necessary illustrations for a sustainable manufacturing process can be visualized, which leads to higher chances to identify potential problems in the efficiency of production processes beyond the ones identified using lean manufacturing. This research provides a case study where SVSM is applied in an apparel company in order to identify potential issues in the sustainability of their production process. Furthermore, this paper highlights several potential solutions such as Radio-frequency identification (RFID), big data and ergonomics improvement by discussing the impact of their implementation on the process sustainability. Finally, the conclusion section discusses limits in the solutions implementation and suggest future research.

Encyclopedia of Aluminum and Its Alloys

Abstract: This encyclopedia, written by authoritative experts under the guidance of an international panel of key researchers from academia, national laboratories, and industry, is a comprehensive reference covering all major aspects of metallurgical science and engineering of aluminum and its alloys. Topics covered include extractive metallurgy, powder metallurgy (including processing), physical metallurgy, production engineering, corrosion engineering, thermal processing (processes such as metalworking and welding, heat treatment, rolling, casting, hot and cold forming), surface engineering and structure such as crystallography and metallography.

Pushing and pulling: an assessment tool for occupational health and safety practitioners

Abstract: A tool has been developed for supporting practitioners when assessing manual pushing and pulling operations based onan initiative by two global companies in the manufacturing industry. The aim of t ...

Electricity Consumption Estimation of the Polymer Material Injection-Molding Manufacturing Process: Empirical Model and Application.

Abstract: Polymer injection-molding is one of the most used manufacturing processes for the production of plastic products. Its electricity consumption highly influences its cost as well as its environmental impact. Reducing these factors is one of the challenges that material science and production engineering face today. However, there is currently a lack of data regarding electricity consumption values for injection-molding, which leads to significant errors due to the inherent high variability of injection-molding and its configurations. In this paper, an empirical model is proposed to better estimate the electricity consumption and the environmental impact of the injection-molding process. This empirical model was created after measuring the electricity consumption of a wide range of parts. It provides a method to estimate both electricity consumption and environmental impact, taking into account characteristics of both the molded parts and the molding machine. A case study of an induction cooktop housing is presented, showing adequate accuracy of the empirical model and the importance of proper machine selection to reduce cost, electricity consumption, and environmental impact.

Teaching design for additive manufacturing through problem-based learning

Abstract: Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a technology that, while removing many of the constraints of traditional manufacturing, imposes some new constraints of its own. Because of this, engineers and designers need to be taught a new set of skills in design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) in order to become competent in designing parts that maximize the benefits offered by AM. Around the world, universities and organizations are beginning to offer courses in DfAM to improve the skills of modern engineers and designers. Staff at Lund University, in Sweden, have begun to offer such DfAM courses to industry that use problem-based learning (PBL) as the pedagogical approach to teaching DfAM in a more effective way. This chapter describes how these courses have been implemented, and how they have benefitted from the PBL teaching approach.

KEY-PROBLEM AND GOAL DRIVEN REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING - Which Complementarities for Manufacturing Information Systems?

Abstract: Business process modeling has emerged as an immensely popular purpose of conceptual modeling in practice. Research on business process modeling is based on diverse topics of research methods and covers a wide area including modeling techniques, methodologies, methods and tools, but increasingly also empirical studies related to success factors, complexity drivers, experience reports and success measures. This paper contributes to the related body of knowledge by providing a first consolidated annotated bibliography of process modeling with a focus on Information Systems-related research. The paper discusses the overall article extraction method and gives a snap shot of the current research trends, reporting on different publication outlets and of the rigor of the published work. Moreover, it provides a detailed analysis of the specific content of the papers. As such, it provides not only important references for researchers in this field, but also contributes to the design of a research agenda.

Machine learning for engineering

Abstract: Applying machine learning techniques to solve production problems within electronic design automation is complex. This is because production engineering applications have accuracy, scalability, complexity, verifiability, and usability requirements that are not met by traditional machine learning approaches. These additional challenges are often not well understood or adequately solved in practice, which causes production machine learning approaches to fail. This invited paper examines these engineering-specific challenges and presents some effective solutions based on Solido's experience developing a suite of successful applied machine learning solutions for EDA over the past twelve years.

Additive Manufacturing Technologies Cost Calculation as a Crucial Factor in Industry 4.0

Abstract: The article analyzes the newest trends in the industry and production research. Making insight in the most popular research domains and changes in the industry enabled the authors to formulate a thesis that the manufacturing world strode in the new revolution based on the Additive Manufacturing technologies. It can be stated that a particular gap exists in the field of production engineering that needs to be fulfilled by developing appropriate solutions for the factories integrating AM technologies in their workflow. The paper proves this statement by showing numbers of publications within sub-domains in scope of “individualization of production”. As a basic discouragement on the way to the new production paradigm, it was recognized a deficiency of accurate and versatile cost calculating models. The existing approaches were assessed and assigned to their best application which enabled to indicate a direction of the future research.

Machine intelligence for adaptable closed loop and open loop production engineering systems

Abstract: This thesis investigates the application of machine learning algorithms for industrial production processes. First, the PID controller as an already existing closed loop control approach is improved. For this purpose, a neural network tunes the PID parameters, while the process is running. Second, a new architecture, consisting of several machine learning algorithms, is introduced for industrial laser welding. Following this approach, the control can be changed from open to closed loop.

A Robust Production Engineering Strategy for Extended Reach Well for Sustained Performance

Abstract: One of the most giant offshore multi-reservoir oil fields in the world has been developed using vertical, deviated and short horizontal wells drilled off-shore from wellhead platform towers. Towards the concept of cost optimization, further redevelopment of the oil field was planned using extended-reach long horizontal wells with throws greater than 18,000 ft and measured depths greater than 25,000 ft with some wells exceeding 35,000 ft, from artificial built islands by reducing the number of wells required to drain the reservoir with improving recovery. In order to enable transition to such concept, new well design strategic concepts were required to come up with the robust well completion design (both upper and lower completions) that is expected to be fit-for-purpose for 30+ years – well life time. Lots of uncertainties and challenges are faced in order to get to the goal of understanding different reservoirs behaviors such as, for better reservoirs development relying on dynamic reservoir models combined with actual geological, petrophysical, seismic and production data. Each piece of information yielded a certain potential that led to a certain completion design based on available data and expectations. This paper will discuss the upper and lower completion designs, execution and performance from production engineering perspective to maximize productivity for the whole life cycle of this long horizontal wells. The extended lateral length in these wells warrants innovative designs in upper and lower completions as traditional completion designs no longer valid in addressing the challenges in these wells. The key well design and planning process involves designing the upper completion – tubing, gas lift system, downhole gauge and lower completion liner – Pre-perforated liner (PPL), Limited-entry Liner (LEL) or Inflow Control Devices (ICD) with annular isolation with packers, efficient initial start-up and clean up strategy, regular monitoring well performance and surveillance (e.g. downhole pressure monitoring, PLTs, fluid sample analysis etc.). The paper will also address the challenges in long horizontal wells such as accessibility, production/injection conformance and effective stimulation of the laterals.

Early phase evaluation of additive manufacturing technologies within an integrated product and production engineering approach

Abstract: Today, an essential challenge lies in a holistic as well as integrated assessment and selection of an adequate manufacturing technology bearing in mind a tailored product design along with a further optimized material selection, particularly with respect to the emerging potentials of the increasingly industrialized application of additive manufacturing (AM). Therefore, this contribution presents a scientifically detailed view on a methodological set-based product and production engineering approach dealing with technical, economic and ecological aspects in an aggregated, tool-based manner.

Virtual Reality Technology for Factory Layout Planning

Abstract: Factory layout planning (FLP) has been a long-standing area that largely influences the overall productivity of the manufacturing practice. Today’s manufacturing industry faces great challenges owing to an increasing awareness of environmental concerns and the trend-shift from mass production to mass customization. Companies are striving to continuously and effectively improve their existing production systems, adapt to demand and remain competitive in the global market. Such an adaption process usually involves a redesign of the production layout. Factory layout change are becoming more frequent and have much higher requirements for quality and efficiency. Traditional ways of planning the layout change based on expert knowledge and onsite workshops cannot promise optimal solutions and bring unwanted stoppages to production, and computer aided design (CAD) and simulation have become widely used to support the process. The simulation approach focuses mostly on the quantitative measures (such as travel distance, time, frequency and throughput). It has shown to be efficient for general layout planning, but less satisfactory for detailed layout planning when qualitative factors such as safety, ergonomics and operator preference are becoming more and more important. Virtual reality (VR) technologies have become ever mature in recent years and are known for their ability to provide users with experience closely akin to the physical world through computer-generated representation. The richness and flexibility of the computer-generated environment can be of overall benefit to the future layout planning process. This thesis set out to investigate how different stakeholders, such as operator, maintenance engineer, production engineer, actively can support the decision-making in factory layout planning that utilizes virtual reality technologies, and it aims to improve current FLP practice through a systematic procedure that enables the active involvement of different stakeholders during the layout redesign and evaluation process. Therefore, a literature review about previous virtual reality applications was conducted to understand the benefit and limitation and based on which, three empirical studies were followed iteratively to explore and evaluate different VR integration approaches. A general guidelines on how to integrate and use virtual reality technology for factory layout planning was developed and discussed.

Introduction to Food Manufacturing Engineering

Abstract: The food and food ingredients we consume in our daily meals are mostly produced in great quantities in factories. Although the operations involved in the industrial manufacturing of food share many similarities with normal cooking operations, they also vary in many other aspects. Food processing and food engineering are two disciplines which are concerned with the industrial manufacturing of food. The former studies the respective unit processes along food production flows, while the latter studies principles and analysis approaches common for operations in food-manufacturing processes (unit operations) and thus covers a broad range of applications. In this chapter, we will present a brief overview of unit operations in food engineering. In addition, we will also touch on the points of attention in studying engineering subjects related to food.