Implementing lean practices in manufacturing SMEs: testing ‘critical success factors’ using Necessary Condition Analysis

Lean practices are known to increase operational performance. Previous research has identified critical success factors for implementing lean practices. This research aims to examine the extent to which success factors are critical for various degrees of lean practice implementation. Using multiple-respondent self-assessments from 33 Dutch manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we conducted a Necessary Condition Analysis. Our findings indicated that the criticality of success factors is progression dependent. In the initial stages of the lean journey, SMEs could improve their lean practices in a bottom-up manner through local factors such as a learning focus, improvement training and support congruence. When lean practices are more advanced, some company-wide factors must be present: top management support, a shared improvement vision and a supplier link. Our findings question the universality of success factors such as strategic involvement and indicate the need for a more dynamic model of lean implementation.     

Artificial neural networks as alternative tool for minimizing error predictions in manufacturing ultradeformable nanoliposome formulations

This work was aimed at determining the feasibility of artificial neural networks (ANN) by implementing backpropagation algorithms with default settings to generate better predictive models than multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis. The study was hypothesized on timolol-loaded liposomes. As tutorial data for ANN, causal factors were used, which were fed into the computer program. The number of training cycles has been identified in order to optimize the performance of the ANN. The optimization was performed by minimizing the error between the predicted and real response values in the training step. The results showed that training was stopped at 10?000 training cycles with 80% of the pattern values, because at this point the ANN generalizes better. Minimum validation error was achieved at 12 hidden neurons in a single layer. MLR has great prediction ability, with errors between predicted and real values lower than 1% in some of the parameters evaluated. Thus, the performance of this model was compared to that of the MLR using a factorial design. Optimal formulations were identified by minimizing the distance among measured and theoretical parameters, by estimating the prediction errors. Results indicate that the ANN shows much better predictive ability than the MLR model. These findings demonstrate the increased efficiency of the combination of ANN and design of experiments, compared to the conventional MLR modeling techniques.     

含磷极压抗磨剂抗微点蚀性能评价和机理分析

目的 评价三种含磷极压抗磨剂的抗微点性能并分析其作用机理。方法 使用MPR模拟微点蚀试验机考察三种含磷极压抗磨剂（磷型P-1、硫磷型P-2、分散型P-3）的抗微点蚀性能。使用四球试验机、铜片腐蚀试验仪、烘箱、油膜厚度测试仪等，评价添加剂的摩擦、抗腐蚀、抗氧化性能及油膜形成能力，分析添加剂抗微点蚀性能与上述性能之间的关系。借助SEM测试分析不同添加剂的抗微点蚀机理。结果 添加P-3的润滑油GO-3的综合性能最好，GO-3具有良好的抗微点蚀性能，9 h MPR试验的辊子轨道宽度变化率为35.87%。GO-3具有良好的极压抗磨减摩性能，四球机试验测得其最大无卡咬负荷为1441.6 N，磨斑直径为0.38 mm，在试验载荷大于294 N时，其摩擦系数最低。GO-3的抗腐蚀性能良好，铜片腐蚀试验级别为1b。GO-3的氧化腐蚀性低，烘箱氧化试验中钢片评分为1分，且无油泥产生。GO-3的油膜形成能力强，60~120 ℃时弹性流体润滑油膜的厚度为371.2~153.6 nm。结论 分散型磷氮极压抗磨剂P-3化学活性适中，可以避免在摩擦表面发生严重腐蚀或剧烈摩擦化学反应，具有良好的承载、减摩、抗磨和抗微点蚀性能。     

薄板坯连铸连轧过程控制技术的发展、应用及展望

薄板坯连铸连轧面临品种和规格拓展、产品质量提升、生产成本降低及智能化生产等方面的改进以提升产线竞争力。从辊底式隧道加热炉智能燃烧系统、高精度轧制过程控制模型、兼顾全幅宽和多目标的板形综合控制技术3个方面，介绍了薄板坯连铸连轧过程控制关键共性技术的研发进展，并通过数据网关+双系统并行的在线替换模式，实现了新的过程控制技术零停机时间的工业应用。新技术应用后，加热炉实现了全自动烧钢，吨钢煤气消耗下降了19.4%，氧化烧损下降了3.8%，钢坯加热质量大幅度提升；在设备及其他系统不变的情况下，轧线产品质量及轧制稳定性显著提高，薄规格生产能力由2.0 mm扩展至1.2 mm，实现了双流异钢种交叉混合轧制和铁素体轧制，非计划过渡材显著减少，重点计划执行率由20%提高到95%以上，整体提升了薄板坯连铸连轧流程的效益和竞争力。最后，对薄板坯连铸连轧过程控制技术的发展方向进行了展望。     

Compressive behavior and energy absorption of polymeric lattice structures made by additive manufacturing

Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering - Lattice structures have numerous outstanding characteristics, such as light weight, high strength, excellent shock resistance, and highly efficient heat...     

PDMS microfluidics: A mini review

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is hailed as one of the foundational materials for microfluidics. Though a silicone-based elastomer of many desirable properties, the emergence of microfluidic fabrication techniques, especially soft lithography, has elevated its status to an exceptional one. In this mini review, we look at the salient aspects that make PDMS so special in achieving such a coveted status in the microfluidics community. A methodical approach is followed to touch upon the application of PDMS in various aspects of microfluidics with the advantages, limitations, and some future directions. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48958.     

云制造平台资源需求的高效匹配策略研究

为快速、精确地从云制造平台资源池中搜索到满足用户需求的资源,实现资源与需求的高效匹配,提出了一种资源需求高效匹配策略。首先,建立了资源与需求的形式化描述模型,在此基础上,采用改进的K-means聚类算法按基本信息进行聚类,对云服务池中的资源进行预处理,形成多个资源簇;其次,计算用户需求与各资源簇聚类中心基本信息的相似度,确立备选资源簇;最后,再分别从资源的状态信息、功能信息和服务信息3个方面对备选资源簇中的备选资源进行筛选匹配。实例分析和研究结果表明:与已有的匹配方法相比,该方法在保持较高匹配精度的同时具有更高的匹配效率。     

Photocurable ceramic/monomer feedstocks containing terpene crystals as sublimable porogen for UV curing-assisted 3D plotting

This study presents a novel strategy to construct ceramic structures comprised of microporous filaments using photocurable ceramic/monomer feedstocks containing terpene crystals as sublimable porogens for UV curing-assisted 3D plotting technique. The biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) feedstock, composed of frozen terpene crystals surrounded by BCP/UDMA walls, could be favorably extruded through a fine nozzle and then effectively photopolymerized by UV light. Thus, green filaments with high shape retention could be obtained. In addition, a number of pores could be created in BCP filaments after removing terpene crystals via freeze-drying and the porosity could be tailored by adjusting terpene content in BCP feedstocks. This approach allowed for the construction of dual-scale porous structures comprising microporous filaments in a periodic pattern, with tailored overall porosities and compressive strengths. Several types of self-supporting structures were also successfully constructed using our approach.     

基于离散元方法的金属粉末铺粉动力学研究

增材制造技术在航空航天、医疗技术及运输和能源中的应用得到快速增长，其常用方式之一是基于粉末加工。该技术主要瓶颈之一往往与铺粉过程形成的粉层质量有关，颗粒动力学机制尚不清楚，且受铺粉装置的类型和颗粒的黏附性影响很大。本工作基于实验测量和表征的单个颗粒的真实物理和力学参数，采用离散元方法对增材制造常用气雾化金属粉末的铺粉过程进行了数值模拟分析，比较了刮刀和辊子两种铺粉装置中粉堆内颗粒速度和轨迹及最终铺粉层的质量，并分析了这些参数对颗粒黏附表面能的敏感程度。结果表明，相比于刮刀铺粉，在辊子铺粉过程中，由于辊子旋转运动的作用，粉堆内部存在多条拱形速度带和颗粒对流，且在形成铺粉层之前，颗粒需要经历爬坡上升和下坡滑落两个过程，运动轨迹更长。另外，两种铺粉装置中铺粉层颗粒总体积均随颗粒表面能的增加而降低，但与刮刀铺粉相比，辊子铺粉中铺粉层颗粒总体积小，且对颗粒表面能更加敏感。铺粉装置类型和颗粒黏附性对铺粉层质量的影响可以归因为铺粉层的形成机制，即颗粒从粉堆中进入铺粉间隙的难易程度及铺粉间隙中刮刀或辊子对颗粒的拖曳作用。     

25Cr2Ni4MoV锻轴制造工艺研究

对25Cr2Ni4MoV钢锻轴的冶炼、锻造、热处理工艺进行研究,并通过超声检测和力学性能检验,充分证明了其冶炼、锻造、热处理工艺的可行性。在生产实践中,成功地制造出了4支该材质的60 MW空冷发电机转子。