Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 761

Abstract: Flexural properties of hybrid glass/jute fibre reinforced epoxy composites were optimised by response surface methodology. The processing parameters of vacuum infusion technique such as supply pressure, soaking time and use of flow media were investigated. The flexural properties of the resulting composites were evaluated using three-point bending test in accordance with the ASTM D790-03 standard. The flexural strength of ~195 MPa and elastic modulus of ~13412 MPa were achieved at optimum parameter of 100 kPa pressure, 120 minutes soaking time with the utilization of flow media during vacuum infusion process.

Abstract: This study is to investigate the potential of ENR to be incorporated with chitosan for slow release urea fertilizer. In this research, mixture of chitosan and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was used as binder to take advantage of their biodegradable and polar characteristics, respectively. The effect of mixing formulation to the properties of fertilizer was studied. Firstly, the chitosan and ENR were diluted in toluene with the presence of bentonite as filler. Then, urea powder was mixed and stirred for 20 minutes before left to dry overnight in an oven at 60°C. Water absorption and water retention analysis were carried out on compressed pellets. The increase of ENR loading was observed to contribute to the increase of hydrophobic properties of the fertilizer. The findings were supported by compositional analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Abstract: As a continuation of the previous paper by the same authors, this article presents a critical analysis on how companies practicing world class manufacturing (WCM) have to modify their ways of measuring performance in their efforts to attain manufacturing excellence. In doing so, implications of implementing WCM methods in measuring company performance are elaborated. While business performance depicts a company's ability to satisfy customers' needs, hence customers mostly perceive their measurement; manufacturing performances can be used as yardsticks to assess the effectiveness of its resources to satisfy the customer. This paper proposes 15 manufacturing performance as key performance indicators for a company pursuing WCM.

Abstract: This paper proposes a conceptual framework in determining manufacturing complexity. Manufacturing complexity is divided into five main components which are product behaviour, infrastructure capability, production planning, information management and personnel perception. These five main components then divided into twelve sub components. Lastly all these components are classified in two categories which are internal complexity and external complexity. These components are interrelated, such that a bi-directional relationship exists between internal and external complexity. The conceptual framework initiated in this paper can be used by manufacturers to gain more understanding on manufacturing complexity. Thus manufacturers can take proper actions to align themselves with the issues brought forth by manufacturing complexity.

Abstract: This paper focus on the translation of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) measure into manufacturing sustainability based on literature study. It examines the three OEE contributing factors; availability, performance, and quality; and the sustainable manufacturing components including environmental conservation, social efficiency, and economic enhancement. The OEE measure is not only possible to improve productivity through the identification and elimination of manufacturing major losses but its implementation has its own merits towards sustainable manufacturing. The findings can be used as an initial reference for manufacturers to consider OEE measure to advance the goal of manufacturing sustainability.

Abstract: A diversity of techniques and practices in Lean Production (LP) as a tool for cultivating a culture of continuous improvement has successfully produced a holistic approach in achieving a high level of sustainability in manufacturing. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the current performance of manufacturing sustainability in manufacturing industry in Malaysia, and the contribution of Lean in manufacturing sustainability. The findings show that manufacturing industry in Malaysia has a high sustainability in social competency, followed by economic and environmental competency. Even though the environmental sustainability is ranked lowest, the result reveals that aiming to have better control in environment and labour safety is crucial in producing high quality products. In addition, the correlation analysis reveals that this situation has a high relation to the adoption of Lean in production operations. A high competency in adapting Lean does not just increase the manufacturing efficiency, but also has a substantial influence in producing a sustainable product. This indicates that Lean is not just suitable in fulfilling the manufacturing function, but has the potential to be adapted comprehensively, primarily in achieving high manufacturing sustainability.

Abstract: Lean behavior is an essential element to create a culture of continuous improvement culture in a service organization. Continuous improvement is defined as the never-ending efforts for improvement involving everyone in an organization. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of behavioral practices after the introduction of lean tools and discuss the effects of lean behavior in developing a culture of continuous improvement in an office environment. This study adopted a self-administered questionnaire method to obtain real time data for the analysis of behavioral practices. Ford Questionnaire was used and distributed to employees of different management levels in the Business Development and IT Department. The obtained results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The same questionnaire survey was distributed after the introduction of lean tools. The expected outcomes of this study were to determine the level of lean behavioral practices in the office department and to provide a clear understanding of some lean behavioral practices that need to be nurtured among the employees in order to produce a healthy work environment.

Abstract: New manufacturing system paradigms have been introduced in isolated discussions among academician in corresponds to the rapid changes of business environment towards manufacturing sustainability. However, the relationships among the introduced manufacturing systems have never been discussed. Motivated with the manufacturing system paradigms, it is possible to formulate a concept of manufacturing system that is able to fit in any changes of business environment. Thus, the objective of this paper is to analyse the compatibility of fitness components between human fitness system and manufacturing system. The analysis was done through an analogical study of human fitness components which was later compared to the concept of the existing manufacturing systems such as the Lean Manufacturing, Agile Manufacturing, and Reconfigurable Manufacturing, etc. In addition, relationships between the fitness components were clarified through a literature study. Result of the study indicates that the components of human fitness system were compatible with the concept of existing manufacturing systems. As a conclusion, the components of human fitness system can be adopted as fitness components in developing a concept of Fit Manufacturing system that enables manufacturing sustainability.

Abstract: The output response of the piezoelectric cantilever has excellent linearity over a very wide dynamic range. This paper demonstrates the potential of piezoelectric cantilever to be a self-powered accelerometer. Three different-sized piezoelectric cantilevers were tested under a vibration source at 50 Hz, 100 Hz, and 150 Hz. It is proven that the piezoelectric cantilevers can be used as an accelerometer since the output voltage generated by the cantilever is linear and proportional to the vibration acceleration level far before reaching its resonance. Three piezoelectric cantilevers with similar length of 28.6 mm, but different width of 3.2 mm, 6.3 mm and 12.7 mm were used in the experiment in order to observe the linearity of the output voltage from different-sized piezoelectric cantilevers with the same resonance frequency. The length of piezoelectric may affect the resonance frequency of the cantilever, while the width of the piezoelectric will not. Hence, cantilevers with different width are chosen as the subject of the experiment. The linearity of the experiment results show the maximum error percentage obtained is between 5 to 15% when excited at a vibration magnitude in the range of 1 to 5-g.

Abstract: This paper present the investigation of sandwich model in the view of its properties. The objective of this paper is to define the mechanical properties of LM6 model and sandwich model. In recent years, researchers have viewed polymer matrix composite (PMC) as a potential material to increase the overall performance of materials for various type of field. This paper focused on the sandwich design by using metal material as the skin. The simulation study by using SolidWorks software is the simulation process used in this research to determine the stress, displacement and factor of safety of the design base. The purpose of design analysis in this paper is to prove the distribution data of simulation by indicating the maximum and minimum value of the design. In this research, LM6 materials used as the skin to introduced the kenaf-fibre composite in the sandwich design. LM6 is aluminium casting alloy which has tensile strength until 190MPa and its ductility properties enable to modify the shape by using casting process. The natural fibre has been used in this paper is kenaf-fibre due to its high tensile strength at 930MPa with 53GPa for the young modulus value. Two models are design for simulation study which is LM6 model and kenaf-fibre-LM6 model. These are to found out the characteristic between these two models.