Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 575

Abstract: This paper aims to examine the opportunities for possible improvement of the systems of pattern design and manufacturing, as well as the processes of casting design and technology in steel foundries. Solving these problems will improve the casting quality, and it will also standardize the work in one of the major bottlenecks in the production of steel casting. One big Jordanian foundry is selected as a case study. The foundry is referred to as GAZAL throughout this paper. A detailed flow process chart for the pattern making process with standardized times is developed, then possible improvements to the process are proposed. Several important milestones were developed and documented, among that; the development of a complexity classification and coding scheme of 6 levels to classify the products that GAZAL produced based on several criteria’s; the development of a mathematical model that relate the production time of the pattern with the complexity level. Finally conclusions are presented at the end of the paper.

Abstract: This paper presents the application of the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) as improvements tools at selected case study industry. A VSM process is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods and considered interaction of information, operators, machines and materials. The objectives of this project are to study critical wastes in production line and to recommended new design layout based on Lean Manufacturing techniques. Lean is about performance more with minimized the time, inventory, space, labor, and money. The tool of VSM used in this project successfully achieved its objectives to identify waste and proposing the solution for regarding problems. The lead time was reduced by half, the value added ratio was increased drastically and the cycle time was improved by minimize the handling time. VSM was a magical tool that cans reveals of all the data, problem, process, operation and overall flow of processes to make a certain product.

Abstract: This paper reports on the impact of Value Analysis Value Engineering (VAVE) applied to an industrial product where manufacturability and choice of manufacturing methods can be of great benefit in reducing cost and sometimes manufacturing time in a mass production line. The purpose of this requested task is to reduce the cost of a specific product using VAVE analysis through better value estimation related to suitable manufacturing process while maintaining similar or better technical performance. A couple of technical design solutions are proposed and discussed with study cases. The work is progressing towards the final stage.

Abstract: Based on existing literature, this paper makes further studies on international standards model method and pointes out the shortcomings of this method. Firstly, the standards of this method is so obsolete that there may be have agriculture surplus labor, and this method itself may bring about some errors in the conversion process. Secondly, this method does not consider the planting area, planting structure, regional differences and other important factors. Thirdly, this method lacks of theoretical basis, the results are sometimes incompatible with the actual production. In the end of this paper, the problems existing in this method is proved by examples calculation.

Abstract: This paper presents a novel hybrid discrete firefly algorithm (HDFA) for solving the multi-objective flexible job shop scheduling problem with non fixed availability constraints (FJSP-nfa) due to maintenance activity. Three minimization objectives-the maximum completion time, the workload of the critical machine and the total workload of all machines are considered simultaneously. In this study, the discrete firefly algorithm is adopted to solve the problem, in which the machine assignment and operation sequence are processed by constructing a suitable conversion of the continuous functions as attractiveness, distance and movement, into new discrete functions. In addition the decoding mechanism considering the maintenance activity is presented. A neighbourhood based local search is hybridized to enhance the exploitation capability. Representative benchmark problems are solved in order to evaluate and study the performance of the proposed algorithm.

Abstract: In this paper, we address the scheduling model with discretely compressible processing times, where processing any job with a compressed processing time incurs a corresponding compression cost. We consider the following problem: scheduling with discretely compressible processing times to minimize makespan with the constraint of total compression cost on identical parallel machines. Jobs may have simultaneous release times. We design a pseudo-polynomial time algorithm by approach of dynamic programming and an FPTAS.

Abstract: To investigate the periodontal ligament contains the real root of the three model cases, a combination of different implant and tooth variation of the stress distribution for the subsequent three root implant biomechanics analysis provides digital models. Methods: Mimics and Geomagic reverse engineering software for digital imaging method to obtain CT data processing. And the use of UG assembled in ANSYS workbench in finite element analysis. Results: A consistent with the real situation of three tooth root finite element model which contains periodontal ligament, and found that with the dental implant junction with the cross-sectional area decreases, where the stress amplitude fluctuations increases.

Abstract: It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the importance of equipment aging in critical industries such as power generation plants, oil and gas plants, etc. since many system components are approaching the end of their designed operational lifetime. New installations of system components in these critical industries will be extremely costly whilst any increase in demand will be too small to warrant totally new facilities. Aging management can be an alternative for this aging equipment to ensure its safety and reliability. This review aims to provide a brief understanding of equipment aging, aging detection and recent research into aging management.

Abstract: This device is mainly designed for fertilization works for different kinds of fruit trees. It could simplify the traditional fertilizing methods, which are separately digging, fertilizing, and filling to one combined step. The simplified step is riding the device around the tree with three different operations easily done by one person. This advanced device is composed by rack, screwing handle, opener, wheel, filling devices and controlling sets. When operating, people just need to get the arc slot of the device rack stuck upon the root of the tree, then push screwing handle in order to ride the device around the tree. In this way, the digging, fertilizing combined with filling can be easily done together. By the help of controlling sets, we can change the amount, depth, height, and distance of the fertilization for different operators according to the size, growing condition and other condition of the tree. This device is capable saving efforts, labor and time, reducing the damage to the roots, fertilizing in a well-distributed way. Especially, it is suitable for hilly terrain and orchard where large-size machinery could not work.

Abstract: In order to meet the requirements of the market economy, the power company needs to make power market analysis and forecast, it is the basic work of guarantee of the investment returns and improves operational efficiency, and it also is the basic work of network operations, planning, marketing, and the financial budget for the foundation. The accuracy of electricity demand forecast will not only affect the safe and reliable of power network, but also to network operators on the production and operational decision making and operational efficiency. To meet the power network’s commercial operation, and for the requirements of network’s modernization and scientific management; In order to predict the market’s electricity demand accurately, reduce the load forecast engineers’ frequently and complicated data processing work, also to ensure that the derive of historical data and ensure information sharing. Development of the electricity market-oriented environment for the network's power market analysis and forecast system is very necessary.