Assessing supply chain robustness to links failure

Supply chain networks need to respond efficiently to operation disruptions, as one of their aims is to guarantee the on time delivery of products. Hence, robustness has become one of the important issues to consider when designing supply networks. There are alternative ways to measure what robustness means in this context. In this paper, we propose a new metric based on the effect on service level of the collapse of active transportation links. Numerical experiments are carried out to understand how different design factors affect robustness. Robustness under a targeted attack is compared with robustness to random failures. Results show that flow complexity (i.e. the number of potential transportation links between supply network nodes) is the most influential factor affecting supply network and its robustness, as well as the service level that can be maintained after disruptions. Thus, diversification both in supply sources and transportation routes seems to be key to robustness.     

A rolling horizon simulation approach for managing demand with lead time variability

This paper proposes a rolling horizon (RH) approach to deal with management problems under dynamic demand in planning horizons with variable lead times using system dynamics (SD) simulation. Thus, the nature of dynamic RH solutions entails no inconveniences to contemplate planning horizons with unpredictable demands. This is mainly because information is periodically updated and replanning is done in time. Therefore, inventory and logistic costs may be lower. For the first time, an RH is applied for demand management with variable lead times along with SD simulation models, which allowed the use of lot-sizing techniques to be evaluated (Wagner-Whitin and Silver-Meal). The basic scenario is based on a real-world example from an automotive single-level SC composed of a first-tier supplier and a car assembler that contemplates uncertain demands while planning the RH and 216 subscenarios by modifying constant and variable lead times, holding costs and order costs, combined with lot-sizing techniques. Twenty-eight more replications comprising 504 new subscenarios with variable lead times are generated to represent a relative variation coefficient of the initial demand. We conclude that our RH simulation approach, along with lot-sizing techniques, can generate more sustainable planning results in total costs, fill rates and bullwhip effect terms.     

煤矿井下风水管路压力在线监测系统的研究与应用

为提高井下管路供风、供水的安全性、可靠性，以工业环网作为网络通信平台，通过分站采集数据上传至地面，实现对煤矿井下供风、供水管道的远程实时监控及远程控制，及时发现管网故障，提高维护效率、降低损失，保障供风、供水质量，达到科学预警、降低成本、提高效率的目的。     

On monitoring the process mean of autocorrelated observations with measurement errors using the w-of-w runs-rules scheme

Runs-rules have been widely used since the 1950s in industrial and nonindustrial process monitoring applications to improve the performance of basic and other traditional monitoring schemes. However, none of the studies on runs-rules have accounted for a process with a combined effect of measurement errors and autocorrelation. Hence, in this paper, the use of the w-of-w runs-rules to improve the performance of the Shewhart $\overline{X}$ scheme using an additive model with a constant variance and a first-order autoregressive model is proposed. To reduce the combined negative effect of measurement errors and autocorrelation, we implement a sampling strategy based on rational subgroups in which (a) multiple measurements per item are taken (instead of a standard single measurement) and (b) non-neighboring observations are gathered. Moreover, the latter sampling strategy is incorporated into the values of probability elements of a Markov chain matrix which is used to derive some closed-form expressions for the zero- and steady-state run-length distribution. The main finding of this study is that, with respect to some overall performance measures, the proposed scheme outperforms the existing Shewhart $\overline{X}$ scheme by a significant margin. A real-life example is used to illustrate the practical implementation of the proposed scheme.     

Blockchain-oriented dynamic modelling of smart contract design and execution in the supply chain

Recently, the applications of Blockchain technology have begun to revolutionise different aspects of supply chain (SC) management. Among others, Blockchain is a platform to execute the smart contracts in the SC as transactions. We develop and test a new model for smart contract design in the SC with multiple logistics service providers and show that this problem can be presented as a multi-processor flexible flow shop scheduling. A distinctive feature of our approach is that the execution of physical operations is modelled inside the start and completion of cyber information services. We name this modelling concept ‘virtual operation’. The constructed model and the developed experimental environment constitute an event-driven dynamic approach to task and service composition when designing the smart contract. Our approach is also of value when considering the contract execution stage. The use of state control variables in our model allows for operations status updates in the Blockchain that in turn, feeds automated information feedbacks, disruption detection and control of contract execution. The latter launches the re-scheduling procedure, comprehensively combining planning and adaptation decisions within a unified methodological framework of dynamic control theory. The modelling complex developed can be used to design and control smart contracts in the SC.     

A novel methodology for forecasting gas supply reliability of natural gas pipeline systems

In this paper, a novel systematic and integrated methodology to assess gas supply reliability is proposed based on the Monte Carlo method, statistical analysis, mathematical-probabilistic analysis, and hydraulic simulation. The method proposed has two stages. In the first stage, typical scenarios are determined. In the second stage, hydraulic simulation is conducted to calculate the flow rate in each typical scenario. The result of the gas pipeline system calculated is the average gas supply reliability in each typical scenario. To verify the feasibility, the method proposed is applied for a real natural gas pipelines network system. The comparison of the results calculated and the actual gas supply reliability based on the filed data in the evaluation period suggests the assessment results of the method proposed agree well with the filed data. Besides, the effect of different components on gas supply reliability is investigated, and the most critical component is identified. For example, the 48th unit is the most critical component for the SH terminal station, while the 119th typical scenario results in the most severe consequence which causes the loss of 175.61×10⁴ m³ gas when the 119th scenario happens. This paper provides a set of scientific and reasonable gas supply reliability indexes which can evaluate the gas supply reliability from two dimensions of quantity and time.     

链条炉运行参数对燃烧及NOx排放的影响

通过数值模拟的方法研究了过量空气系数、配风方式、空气预热温度和炉排转速等运行参数对床层燃烧和氮氧化物排放特性的影响。研究结果表明:过量空气系数增大可加快床层整体反应速率,缩短反应区长度,增大床层表面氮氧化物质量浓度;合理推迟配风有利于扩展反应区整体长度,充分利用整个炉排;适当降低炉排转速有利于提高煤着火及前期反应速率,稍缩短总体反应区间;提高空气预热温度有利于煤着火和前期反应速率的提高,且有利于煤的燃尽。     

利用KH560和纳米SiO2采用“一步法”反应挤出增黏PET

以KH560（3-缩水甘油基氧基丙基三甲氧基硅烷）和纳米SiO₂颗粒复配作为扩链剂，采用“一步法”反应挤出增黏聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）。KH560和SiO₂的添加量均为PET质量分数的2.5%时，增黏效果最好。并且在PET不干燥的情况下，KH560和SiO₂复配也可增加PET的黏度，可用作PET的扩链剂和防水解剂。经透射电镜观察，发现SiO₂在PET中的分散状况良好。用FTIR研究了KH560、SiO₂、PET三者之间的反应机理。用TGA分析了SiO₂的接枝率，发现接枝率高达72.0%。用DSC对PET/纳米SiO₂复合材料的结晶行为进行了研究，并讨论了结晶行为对力学性能的影响。当KH560和SiO₂的添加量均为PET质量分数的2.5%时，结晶度最低，综合力学性能最好。     

Thermo-rheological analysis of various chain extended recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Three chain extenders, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), ethylene carbonate (EC), and a polymeric-epoxide, were investigated for improving recycled p(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) properties with melt extrusion. The amount of additives and processing temperatures were also varied to check for melt degradation. Small amplitude oscillatory shear experiments were performed to probe rheological changes with different chain extenders. Capillary rheometry with haul-off was also performed to measure extensional viscosity and melt strength. Higher loadings of the chain extenders were found to improve properties of r-PET. These chain extenders definitely increased melt viscosities when incorporated at the higher level of the ranges examined, matching that of virgin PET. EC addition resulted in high shear thinning of the polymer. Epoxy and PMDA added to r-PET produced products with the same extensional viscosity as v-PET. Haul-off experiments demonstrate superior performance by epoxy-modified r-PET compared to v-PET.