Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 657

Abstract: Achieving quality depends on how the company works, planning and control processes are essential for satisfying customers and other stakeholders. In this respect, more companies are turning to systems of excellence that allow the organization to identify problems and help them implementing improvement measures needed for development. The analysis developed in this paper aims is to examine the main processes carried out at a sugar factory by the way they are planned, managed and controlled, through the criterion – Processes- of the EFQM excellence model. The study is focused on an economic analysis of the main financial indicators of the company, in order to highlight its current situation. Applying the criteria -Processes - of the EFQM model the company can analyze its processes and it can establish improvement measures that may be applied.

Abstract: The decision is the focus of management activity since it was in all its functions, and more integration within the company environment depends on the quality of the decision. At the same time, the quality of decision has an important influence on cost reduction, efficient use of funds, profit growth, etc. Through this paper a short presentation of a sugar factory was prepared, also a SWOT analysis which revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the company, as well as possible strategies that may apply. Analysis outcomes revealed the problems of the enterprise, so we could present a possible measure to improve the activity by applying a multi-criteria analysis procedures. The case study of multi criteria analysis is focused on a management decision for improving production activity of the sugar factory.

Abstract: The paper presents a validation method of the information systems conceived for the business environment. Unlike the audit of the accounting information systems or of the established testing methods of the software, we suggest that for testing and validation of the information systems, they should be implemented and used through enterprise exercise. Through this, besides the actual check of the software we also evaluate the way in which the software applications adapt to the full running of a processing flow of the information, corresponding to some basic functions of the enterprise. In such way we obtain complete and good quality results, at low costs of the evaluation process.

Abstract: In the paper the analysis of the dimensional structure of different manufacturing process is made. There are shown that the different schemes of the designer sizes result in a different level of an optimality of a dimensional structure. At definition of number of the technological sizes as criterium of a optimality it is necessary to allow both formation of the intermediate sizes and the effect of errors compensation. The effect of errors compensation is the reason for the change of the sizes nominals and its limit deviations. The detail subjected to machining, is characterized by constructive dimensional links which reflect, eventually, its functionality. The character of the constructive dimensional links is defined by the designer who takes into account the technological features of machine tools, but not in detriment of functionality. Therefore, carrying out of the dimensional analysis on a joint of these two phases is very important with the purpose of improvement of dimensional adaptability to manufacture of made details. One of criterions of this optimality has the structural nature. The manufacturing process is considered optimum, if in the structure of all technological dimensional chaines number of the technological sizes is minimum. This condition executes if to each designer size there corresponds in a technological dimensional chain the unique technological size, and in dimensional circuits for machining allowances, each machining allowance is determined by two technological sizes or one technological size and one size on blank. For different variants of the linear dimensions are shown the way in which are changing the limit deviations of technological sizes and respectively of the constructive sizes of the equivalent details.

Abstract: The paper analyzes the pollution impact of vibration on the whole human body produced by sorting and washing stations of mineral aggregates, located near inhabited areas, in accordance with national legislation. The imposed limits are correlations between the frequency of vibration with the vibration intensity, measured in vibrars. In the same time, in the EU legislation the imposed limits are given by the daily exposure limit value (acceleration of vibration movement) standardized to an eight-hour reference, measured in m/s². The authors present a geometrical rim optimization of a mineral aggregates station to diminish the pollution produced by vibrations, that should be taken, in order to align at European legislation. Results are presented in both ways: as maximum vibration intensity and maximum vibration acceleration. Measurements were performed at normal operating capacity of the analyzed plant, based on: direct observations in the field, the existing documentation and information supplied by the business owner.

Abstract: The surface quality obtained by the manufacturing process depends on several factors determined by the particular cutting process. The task of optimization of design and making the process machining by one or more performance functions is very important. In this direction, between the simplest ways to make this optimization are: adapting the process parameters, optimization of constructive parameters of cutting tools, selection of working domain of cutting tools in accordance with the importance of performance criterions adopted to optimization. In this paper we are evaluate the risks using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for a drilling process considering the equipment and measuring devices. The Process FMEA is used to identify the potential consequences of errors and omissions in the production process and develop the production control plan. In this respect, there are identified the factors that influence the manufactured products quality with emphasis on the interaction between failure modes and effects. Pareto charts are developed for specific potential causes of failure in order to determine and implement the methods of improvement, and the risks that have a significant impact on the manufacturing process, and every corrective action must be evaluated taking into account the expected risk priority value.

Abstract: Increased level of competitivity, continued growth of customers and society demands, and the increasing complexity of products have increased the importance of quality. If the competition could be defined only in few keywords, one of them would surely include the following: quality, innovation and demanding customers. Considering customers who demand quality and competition that responds to such requests, the organization tend to focus increasingly on total quality management - TQM. Although the evolution of the "quality" concept lasts a century, it remains a challenge for all organizations. According to these statements, this paper aims to highlight some aspects of the state of implementation and application of TPM, as a defining component of TQM. The questionnaire method was applied as statistical research method used to a sample of 31 companies in the automotive industry in Romania. The objective behind the survey was to obtain as much information as possible about TPM. The data obtained were statistically processed to more accurately portray the current image of the degree of concern for TPM and how the TPM is approached by companies who responded to the questionnaire.

Abstract: Changing the design with each car line launched, the automotive industry must always adapt as quickly as possible to the needs of the customer and find new and efficient methods to verify the quality in time and in costs. In the case of the interior body parts the quality control is always a quest, because the parts must be verified with a control system that is simulating the exact position in the car. This paper presents a normalization of how this control system should be designed and build in order to verify the quality of the interior body parts.

Abstract: The method for determining dispatching rules for transient phases, based on designation of a local dispatching rule for steady state, which determines the rest of its components has been presented in the paper. The algorithm for determining the transient rules has been presented and dependencies resulting from the presented sufficient conditions have been formulated. For the proposed transitional-rules generation algorithm the simulation model has been prepared. Simulation experiments to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the presented method have been conducted. The experiments have been prepared for input data describing the production system and the production order. In the verification process Enterprise Dynamics computer simulation system has been used. The results were compared with the results obtained for transitional phases realized through the S0 state of the production system.

Abstract: The present paper is part of a larger study of the authors, which consists in the analysis of performances of several production systems. The researches presented in this paper analyze the influence of the method of production flow management, the method of launching in production and the size of demand from the client on several performance indicators of a multiproduct assembly line supplied on stock. The assembly line is multiproduct type (are assembled 2 types of products that resemble as configuration and technology) and it has 5 workstations with mainly manual activities, that are supplied with parts using a synchronous method. The performance indicators considered were: average work in process, cost per unit, systems reactivity to client demand and throughput, their values being obtained by simulating the functioning of the assembly line in different experimental conditions, determined by the variation of the above mentioned parameters, using ARENA software. The synthesis of the results and their interpretation allow the process managers to take adequate decisions depending on targeted objectives.