Manufacturing Processes

The aim of this study is to identify key management decisions that enable the sustainment of a continuous improvement (CI) initiative. To accomplish this aim, we examine the procedures and practices used by two manufacturing companies for the management of their CI initiatives; one that is successfully sustaining the effectiveness of its CI initiative and another failing to do the same. This research makes two contributions to the conceptual understanding of CI programme management. First, we identify five CI programme management factors that enable the sustainment of a CI initiative. Second, the five factors are incorporated into a new CI programme management model. The model details a ‘bottom-up’ procedure for the generation of manufacturing performance improvement ideas and the management of their implementation.

The standard definition of the key performance indicators for the manufacturing operations management level could not resist the incoming challenges and models of the 4th industrial revolution, which currently relies on the paradigms abiding by the cyber-physical system of systems vision. By means of a brief survey of the current trends, a set of recommendations are provided in order to open discussions for the foreseen evolutions of the ISO 22400 standard. A focus is made on the role of the humans in their increasingly closer collaboration with the pervasive autonomous intelligent entities in the
context of a human-centered manufacturing. It is contended that there is still some room for a review of the definitions of the performance indicators and their structure that should aim to reflect human and intelligent automation aspects in an integrated framework.

The present study was undertaken to study effect of dimensional, gravimetric, frictional, proximate, functional and chemical characteristics during transformation of paddy (Chhattisgarh Zinc Rice) to its process product flaked rice (Poha). The major change in Length from paddy to flaked rice were found to be 9.50 mm to 11.36 mm for thick and 9.50 mm to 16.67 mm for thin flaked rice. For change in Width from paddy to flaked rice were found to be 2.34 mm to 3.75 mm for thick and 2.34 mm to 8.37 mm for thin flaked rice. Similarly, change in Thickness from paddy to flaked rice were found to be 1.91 mm to 0.78 mm of thick and 1.91 mm to 0.24 mm for thin flaked rice. the change in True density from paddy were found to be 1114.55 to 1266.05 kg/m 3 for thick and 1057.89 kg/m 3 for thin flaked rice. And, change in Bulk density from paddy were found to be 578.99 to 435.80 kg/m 3 for thick and 226.70 kg/m 3 of thin sized flaked rice. In the proximate composition major change in Fat content form paddy were found to be 3.58 to 0.92 % for thick and 1.03 % for thin flaked rice. The change in Fiber content from paddy were found to be 3.73 to 2.47 % for thick and 2.00 % for thin flaked rice. In the chemical properties major change in Water Absorbing Index (WAI) from paddy were found to be 2.49 to 6.62 g/g for thick and 5.10 g/g for thin flaked rice and for Water solubility index (WSI) from paddy were found to be 4.02 to 6.29 % for thick and 6.66 % for thin flaked rice.

Resumo: Por muito tempo a Fibra de Carbono foi um material desprezado pelos cientistas, pois duvidava-se que teria uma utilização prática no cotidiano, já que esta era considerada um material restrito à ficção científica. Hoje, vemos aplicações de polímeros carbônicos na construção civil, na indústria automobilística, no processo de fabricação do aço e até mesmo na indústria esportiva. O objetivo deste artigo é discorrer sobre a relevância e desafios do uso de polímeros, especialmente a fibra de carbono, nas tecnologias do futuro, suas dificuldades e seus desafios em aplicações para o dia a dia, a fabricação em larga escala e para se consolidar como solução viável as exigências de sustentabilidade e eficiência que a ciência tem buscado para as novas máquinas e equipamentos. Fazemos um breve histórico do desenvolvimento da tecnologia associada a fibra de carbono, explanando o caminho percorrido no âmbito de pesquisas e descobertas até os dias atuais, depois temos uma contextualização de suas aplicações, custos e fomentos na comunidade científica. Foram feitos testes comparativos de tração, compressão e dureza entre alguns tipos de fibra de carbono e outros materiais como alumínio e fibra de vidro, para exemplificar e aplicar a teoria estudada. Palavras-chave: fibra de carbono, carbono, cristalografia, processos de fabricação 1. BREVE RESUMO HISTÓRICO A maioria das grandes invenções e descobertas não surgiram de grandes reflexões, ocorreram acidentalmente e despontaram na adversidade e/ou na busca por poder. A primeira aparição da fibra de carbono que se tem notícia foi através de um experimento realizado por Thomas Edson. Lebrão (1998) nos conta que Thomas Edson foi o primeiro a produzir intencionalmente filamentos de carbono pela pirólise de algodão para filamentos de lâmpadas incandescentes em 1878. Mais de 80 anos depois, o excelente desempenho de suas propriedades mecânicas foi demonstrado pelo crescimento de whiskers de grafite com resistência à tração de 2,0 GPa e módulo de rigidez de 800 GPa, tendo em vista o que é dito por Lebrão percebe-se como a curiosidade do ser humano e sua incessante busca por conhecimento, geram novas ideias e novos questionamentos. Sempre existiram na natureza fibras orgânicas, o homem passou a observa-las e percebeu suas propriedades relevantes, as quais podem variar de acordo com o material bruto. Assim, em meados do século XX começou a se pensar na utilização de um material resistente e leve, até então sem muitos avanços e com o advento das Guerras Mundiais viu-se a necessidade de um novo material para alcançar seus objetivos no conflito. Para isso foi necessária minuciosa investigação a nível microscópico (química). Estudou-se a aglutinação das moléculas e como isso interferia em suas propriedades mecânicas, além de quão resistente o material poderia ser dependendo de sua matéria-prima, e suas resistências a calor e outras situações adversas. O material utilizado foi a fibra de carbono. Pode-se observar alguns exemplos de configuração da fibra como chapas ou tubos, conforme a Fig. 1. Como visto em Lebrão (1998) as fibras de carbono, assim como as fibras de vidro, foram os primeiros reforços utilizados para aumentar a rigidez e resistência de materiais compósitos avançados leves, comumente utilizados em aeronaves, equipamentos de recreação e aplicações industriais. A expressão " fibra de carbono " geralmente se refere a uma variedade de produtos filamentares compostos por mais de 90% de carbono produzidos pela pirólise da poliacrilonitrila (PAN), piche ou rayon, uma característica relevante em relação a este elemento químico é que quanto maior o teor de carbono mais duro será a peça fabricada, e mais resistente, dependendo de sua aplicação.

Demand forecasts form the basis of all supply chain planning. This research is focused on the simulation of cement manufacturing process to find out the production loss of machines that will affect the production quantity, and analyzing different methods of forecasting to compare their errors so that appropriate forecasting method is identified to predict correct demand. Depending on the forecasting, the simulation process applied can aid to estimate amount of raw materials require producing particular amount of cement to fulfil the demand including the losses in various steps of manufacturing process. Moreover, seasonality of demand is considered where the same demand will repeat at a particular period. The longer horizon forecasts, using Holt-Winters method, are usually less precise than the shorter horizon forecast; that is, long horizon forecasts have larger standard deviations. This investigation on overall demand could facilitate the comparison between the futures forecasted demand and the overall customer demand. Abstract-Demand forecasts form the basis of all supply chain planning. This research is focused on the simulation of cement manufacturing process to find out the production loss of machines that will affect the production quantity, and analyzing different methods of forecasting to compare their errors so that appropriate forecasting method is identified to predict correct demand. Depending on the forecasting, the simulation process applied can aid to estimate amount of raw materials require producing particular amount of cement to fulfil the demand including the losses in various steps of manufacturing process. Moreover, seasonality of demand is considered where the same demand will repeat at a particular period. The longer horizon forecasts, using Holt-Winters method, are usually less precise than the shorter horizon forecast; that is, long horizon forecasts have larger standard deviations. This investigation on overall demand could facilitate the comparison between the futures forecasted demand and the overall customer demand.

The manufacturing industry has been facing the pressure of supply-demand and climate change around the globe. Many industry players are constantly seeking for alternative option to strike a good balance between operation and environmental performance. Despite many studies on lean and green that have been done, there is no definite definition for lean and green. This paper explores the evolution and contribution of lean manufacturing and green manufacturing. The paper’s main contribution is to focus on the application and impact of lean and green approach in the manufacturing industry. The common challenges and confusions faced by the manufacturing industry are studied. This paper identifies the similarities and benefit of both lean and green approaches, the synergy effect of lean and green, application tools, and misconception of lean and green. It allows the industries to have a better understanding on the application of tools and challenges prior to moving forward with actual implementation of the lean and green approach. This paper also identifies potential research gaps which address the need of effective lean and green implementation strategy in the industry. The need to reduce the implementation gap for lean and green approach will contribute significantly towards sustainable manufacturing.

Increasingly, stakeholders are asking or requiring organizations to be more environmentally responsible with respect to their products and processes; reasons include regulatory requirements, product stewardship, public image, and potential competitive advantages. This paper presents an exploratory study of the relationships between specific environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices. This paper addresses the present problems which are compelling industries to adopt green manufacturing processes and its contribution towards a sustainable environment. Findings suggest that environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices may be positively associated
with competitive outcomes. In particular, different types of  environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices (e.g., pollution prevention, product stewardship) are associated with different competitive outcomes (e.g., manufacturing cost, product quality). These specific findings can be helpful to engineering and operations managers as they respond to environmental and competitive demands.

Illustrated history of amber and its mining (under CC-BY-SA-4.0 license).  ISBN 978-5-7164-0721-3 / Янтарная книга: история янтаря и янтарной отрасли. 70 лет Янтарному комбинату / Wissenschaftlich-populaere Darstellung unsere Information ueber Weichseler Bernsteinweg

This pilot study addresses the analytical characterisation of 26 well‐known bronze objects of the Early and Middle Bronze Age of Central and Northern Europe. Besides swords and axes of the hoards from Apa, Téglás and Hajdúsámson, the investigation includes the famous Sky Disc and its accompanying finds from the Nebra hoard and several full‐hilted swords from Period I in Denmark. In contrast to former publications, the isotopic systematics of lead, tin and copper are the focus of the present investigation. With a combined approach, we try to relate the either typologically closely linked or otherwise related artefacts with chemical and isotopic proxies by identifying mixing scenarios. The results demonstrate that artefacts from different locations are most likely not directly linked, but mixing lines across isotope systems suggest a production of the items from common sources by mixing of bronze batches (e.g. bronze ingots), which were probably disseminated between 1600 and 1500 BC. This helps to correlate objects of different locations with each other and to draw conclusions upon typological and cultural connections. Isotopic and chemical correlations of objects within the individual hoards on the other hand allow reconstructions of metallurgical practices in single workshops, which for example implies recycling of metal scrap.

5-axis CNC wire EDM is the greatest innovation usually called as the revolutionary machining process affecting the modern machine tool and precision machining industries. WEDM has acquired improvements to the machining industry in product accuracy, quality and profitability. In the early stages, costly conventional processes were frequently used in the production, however, now with the aid of computer numerical controlled WEDM machines, intricate, complex shape and hard materials (Hardened D2, Tungsten Carbides, high carbon tool steel, composites etc.) can be machined automatically and precisely at low costs. Components having superior properties, higher surface finish, precise and close tolerances are the most important requirements in industries and to achieve these requirements, highly precise, non-conventional machining processes are preferred. This paper presents the review of 5-axis CNC WEDM, its developments, experimental analysis, literature survey for optimization of WEDM process parameters and its effect on the properties and performance parameters of the materials.