Material Requirements Planning for a Manufactured Housing Facility

To design an efficient and effective inventory control system for the manufactured housing (MH) industry, it is necessary to accelerate the flow of information and products across the supply chain. To achieve this goal, the system needs three ingredients: generators of quick information flow, generators of quick material flow, and facilitators of both information flow and material flow. This paper proposes a material requirements planning (MRP) system that uses a database approach to manage the large amount of information involved in the material-requirements estimation process for the MH industry. A prototype MRP database and a Visual Basic interface have been developed by using information collected through the research. The proposed MRP system was tested using data provided by a manufactured housing facility to demonstrate its functionality and application to any MH facility. This proposed MRP system can be used to develop better planning strategies and to respond quickly to unexpected changes in demand for the MH industry.     

Material Flow-Based Facility Layout Analysis of a Manufactured Housing Production Plant

The layout of an assembly line type production plant can be designed or evaluated based on multiple criteria including, qualitative and/or quantitative aspects according to Mehrotra et al. in 2005. This paper presents the process of quantitative modeling and evaluation of the facility layout alternatives of a manufactured housing plant based on the material flow aspect. Manufactured homes are built on an assembly line similar to other manufactured products. However, production process, facility layout, and material handling system of the manufactured housing industry in the United States are still primitive as compared to automobile or other technologically advanced manufacturing facilities. In many of the manufactured housing factories, the facility layouts are inefficient because the stations are arranged without any prior planning and evaluation. The facility layout technologies in industrial engineering are used to develop an efficient facility layout for a manufactured housing plant. A manufactured housing plant was used as a case study plant. A material-flow based quantitative model was developed and implemented in a facility layout evaluation software program, FACTORYFLOW by EDS in 2002. The software was used to analyze the impact of material-flow on the facility layout of the case study plant and to develop alternatives. These layout alternatives were evaluated based on the feasibility and the projected cost savings. The analysis results indicated that many alternatives will result in cost savings as compared to existing layout. Once the alternatives were generated and evaluated, the comprehensive process steps for evaluating the facility layout alternatives based on the material-flow were developed in the form of a process flow diagram.     

Material Control System for the Manufactured Housing Industry

A manufactured home is a factory-built house constructed in a controlled factory environment according to federal standards known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code. The manufactured home shares approximately 20% of the total housing units in the United States and plays an important role in providing affordable housing. However, in terms of material engineering, advanced techniques are scarcely used in the manufactured housing (MH) industry. The current material flow and control systems are characterized as independent demand systems that are based on the personal experience of the material managers. Although independent inventory control systems are widely used in many manufacturing industries, these systems lead to a large amount of inventory and have many drawbacks for the MH industry. On the other hand, dependent inventory systems can reduce unfavorable inventory levels using new techniques and present substantial benefits for the MH industry. This paper applies lean inventory control systems and supply chain management techniques to the current systems of the MH industry and proposes a new framework of material control systems as one of the system management tools.     

Manufactured Housing Production Layout Design

This paper presents exploratory research work in facility layout design of a manufactured housing production plant. Manufactured homes are built in a factory on an assembly line that consists of activity stations, subactivity stations, feeder stations, and storage areas. This research developed systematic process steps for the layout design of manufactured housing production plants with a qualitative approach. The qualitative approach takes into account space requirements and proximity parameters. For this purpose, the tools and techniques available in industrial and manufacturing engineering were investigated. Data related to the space and proximity requirements in the two case study production plants were collected, and alternative layouts were developed. These layouts were analyzed to suggest the best possible layout. Finally, layout design steps for the qualitative analysis of the facility design were presented in the form of a process flowchart.     

VD/VOD系统的工厂设计

为了使钢铁工程设计人员能够更好地了解并选择VD/VOD系统的工艺布置,通过多个项目现场的经验,介绍了VD/VOD系统的两种生产模式以及其不同的单、双工位工厂设计,有吊车式、真空罐车式以及真空罐车横移式的,不同的VD/VOD系统工厂设计将为客户带来不同的好处,解决不同的问题。并举实例对比VD/VOD系统单、双工位设计的不同点、投资成本及运营成本,表明对于两者的选择主要决定于客户的生产需求和投资成本。实践证明,单工位VD/VOD系统占地面积小,投资少,但冶炼周期长,适合VD真空脱气或VOD脱碳钢种生产比例小的炼钢厂;反之,VD真空脱气或VOD脱碳钢种生产比例大的炼钢厂,适合选用双工位VD/VOD系统,其冶炼周期较短,但占地面积大,投资大。     

Comparative Study of Manufactured Housing Production Systems

This paper illustrates the production process of a manufactured housing factory and potential bottlenecks that could affect the system efficiency. To investigate ways for improving the performance of the U-shaped flow pattern layouts, a comparative study between two case study factories was conducted to realize their relative efficiencies and drawbacks. Process maps were prepared to establish the subactivity relationship at every assembly and subassembly station. Time data were collected for the station process time and the subactivity process time at the two factories to realize a generic (streamlined) system. The efficient criteria of the two systems were joined to develop a streamlined generic system.     

八钢新建棒材高线生产线的工艺特点

介绍了八钢为实现合理产品分工,改造老系统,新建起点较高的全国产化的棒材高线生产线的设计布局、工艺流程、主要车间工艺参数、主要工艺和设备特点。新线建设为自行设计,投资低、工期短,且根据生产实践应用新技术对棒材生产线进行了优化设计,产能水平大幅提高,可为类似工程建设提供参考。     

小型厂破碎流程及设备布置方案探讨

针对小型矿山投资少,储矿量不多,见效要快等问题,提出了小型选厂厂址及其破碎工艺流程的选择及设备布置方案.采用了两段、闭路流程及其设备布置方案.结合实际地形确定机组位置,并通过图例比较三种交叉胶带运输方案,来实现闭路破碎的布置形式.给出了结合实际选厂设计、设备选型、设备布置及采用新型破碎设备代替圆锥破碎机等方面的例子.     

Review of Standard Practice for Wind‐Resistant Manufactured Housing

Manufactured homes are popular as single family dwellings because of their low cost per square foot (square meter) relative to conventional housing. Despite their popularity, there is concern for the significant wind losses reported each year, not to mention the accompanying injuries and deaths. Wind damage is primarily in the form of roof loss and tiedown∕foundation failures. Initiation of roof loss or tiedown∕foundation failure sometimes leads to sudden and total destruction of a manufactured home. Federally enforced wind‐load design criteria need to be reevaluated, but changes in construction practices to provide redundancy and ductility in the load‐resisting structural system will be more effective in improving the performance of housing in high winds. The use of ground anchors in the tiedown∕foundation system must be abandoned in favor of permanent foundations similar to those used in conventional housing construction. Permanent foundations are somewhat more expensive than the tiedown∕foundation system currently in use, but the effects of additional costs can be minimized with longterm financing.     

Decision Support System to Evaluate and Compare Concession Options

With the increased popularity of concession projects over the last three decades, there is a need for a decision support system (DSS) capable of evaluating and comparing several concession project investment (CPI) options in an effective and efficient manner. Hence, a novel DSS has been developed that takes into consideration both financial and nonfinancial aspects of the investment option, as well as the uncertainties commonly encountered during the feasibility stage of a project. The DSS is fully implemented as a standalone computer software package, ECCO (evaluate and compare concession options), in order to be of practical use. This paper outlines and validates ECCO’s design and structure through the demonstration of its capabilities in the evaluation and comparison of three real-life CPI case studies.     

济钢中板厂高强度薄规格板高效化轧制技术的创新与应用

由于生产波动和改判率的影响,济钢中板厂高强度薄规格板只能在特定的生产条件下小批量生产,难以满足客户的需求。通过坯料优化、轧制制度和温度制度控制、轧制控制、生产管理优化,实现高强度薄规格钢板的高效化生产,大大提高了经济效益。     

锰冶炼厂总图运输设计体会

通过对汇元锰业冶炼厂总图运输设计实例的分析,阐述了城市规划、生产工艺、外部运输条件、风向、建筑物朝向、近期建设、远期发展、厂区绿化等因素对厂区总体布置的影响,总结了锰冶炼厂总平面设计经验,可为类似企业设计提供借鉴。     

Research on Eliminate Micro-Shorted MH/Ni Batteries

There are two methods for selecting micro-shorted MH/Ni batteries out from all formationed.cells.One is to judge by the decrease of open circuit voltage which takes longer standing time to eliminate efficiently and does not work very well when the coverage of open circuit voltage is big.Another is to judge by discharge capacity of charged cells, this can not only meet the requirement of MH/Ni battery stored in charged state, but also has the advantages of being easier to read out, good accuracy and taking shorting standing time etc, is a proper way to be used on the production line.     

Web-Based Decision Support Systems: Case Study inProject Delivery

The decentralized nature of the construction industry contributes to difficulties in the implementation and dissemination of project management-based decision tools. The majority of decision support systems (DSS) are contained in-house with private developers and users, or on researchers stand-alone computers and academic journals. Current World Wide Web technologies provide the appropriate means for large-scale implementation and continued development of DSS for the architectural, engineering, and construction community. This paper documents a DSS developed specifically for design∕build project selection among United States public sector agencies. The system, the Design∕Build Selector (DBS), is Web enabled, allowing for easy access and large-scale dissemination. Design∕build project procurement is rapidly expanding throughout public sector agencies in the United States construction industry. As public agencies turn to design∕build, appropriate project selection is a primary consideration affecting successful delivery. Prior to the implementation of DBS, there was no systematic or formalized method for selecting projects appropriate for design∕build. Since 1997, the Web site that houses the DBS has been visited by over 4,000 people, and the DBS tool has been used on 102 projects representing over $4.8 billion in construction. This paper reports on the application and potential for Web-based DSS in civil engineering. The architecture of the program, data collection, model weighting, and output interface are explained.     

Construction of High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Clean Steel Production System in Shougang Jingtang

This paper analyzes the technology for clean steel production in modern iron and steel plant,a philosophy with production efficiency,manufacturing cost and product performance in its core.It also makes a review on functions of high-efficiency,low-cost and high-quality steel products manufactured by the new generation iron and steel plant,in combination with the study on design of steelmaking-continuous casting process of Shougang Jingtang iron and steel Plant.By applying precise and dynamic design system to optimize and allocate systems and working procedures of hot metal pretreatment,converter smelting,secondary refining,continuous casting process,etc,a platform of high-efficiency,low-cost and high-quality clean steel production is built.     

焦化厂设计方案及产品指标分析研究

总结了焦化厂设计包括的范围、内容以及各项技术指标控制,详细叙述了工艺流程的合理设计、各生产车间的合理布局及总平面布置.     

Provision of a legal framework for ecological animal husbandry

Since 1991 the Regulation (EEC) no. 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products is applied for plants and plant products. Because of the increasing consumer's demand this regulation has to be supplemented by the area of livestock production. At present an amended commission proposal is discussed which also includes the amendments of the European Parliament. Besides the general principles of livestock production in organic farming the conversion periods from conventional to organic farming, the origin of the animals, feed and supplements, veterinary treatments as well as housing conditions for livestock are described. The negotiations in Brussels will have to achieve a compromise which gives a clear distinction from conventional livestock production, and which allows as many farms as possible, that are producing according to the rules of organic farming under various conditions within the EU member states, to proceed with minor adaptations to the new regulation.     

Use of Safety and Lean Integrated Kaizen to Improve Performance in Modular Homebuilding

The two biggest challenges in the construction industry, low productivity and high injury rates, may be addressed simultaneously through the combination of lean production strategies and traditional safety-analysis tools. This case study used Safety and Lean Integrated Kaizen (SLIK) in a modular housing manufacturing facility by applying one lean production tool, kaizen, and a safety-analysis tool, job safety analysis (JSA). The research team used SLIK with the base-framing crew, and the method consisted of analyzing the current process, determining and implementing process improvements, and analyzing the improved process. The changes resulted in a 16% increase in value-added activities and increased the framing crew’s overall output by 55%. By making quick, low-cost changes that were intended to improve productivity to the station layout and work design, safety and ergonomic hazards, including reduced trip hazards, pinch points, and back strain, were also reduced or eliminated. These results support the hypothesis that productivity and safety can be improved simultaneously through combined lean and safety tools.     

多规格石高强度开采矿山开拓系统的三维规划设计与施工

为了保障多规格石高强度开采矿山的石料供需平衡和安全高效生产,利用三维数字矿山软件进行矿山开拓系统的规划设计与施工监管。以舟山绿色石化基地大、小鱼山岛多规格石高强度开采工程为背景,采用3Dmine软件建立了矿区的三维数字表面模型,并进行了运输道路优化设计、开拓工程量计算等,最后进行动画模拟,分析露天矿山开拓系统的车—路协同效果,确保满足工程施工强度要求。实践表明：生成的开拓系统设计可视性好,有助于采场合理布局和石料科学调配,为多规格石的高强度开采施工奠定了技术基础。利用3Dmine数字矿山软件,设计多规格石高强度开采矿山的三维开拓系统,并将其应用于现场施工,有助于保障多规格石的供需平衡调配和矿山持续高效的生产管理。     

Numerical Examination of a Method for Reducing the Temperature of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Liners

A method to control the increase in landfill liner temperature due to the heat generated by the waste is examined. The design involves installation of an array of cooling pipes beneath the waste. The feasibility of this system for cooling the liner was examined by performing a series of analyses for conditions based on the Tokyo Port Landfill. The results suggest that the introduction of a cooling system can substantially reduce liner temperature and consequently significantly increase the service life of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane liner in an engineered barrier system. The effects of pipe layout, pipe spacing, and coolant flow rate are examined. It is shown that a periodic pipe layout is the most efficient. Liner temperature decreases with increased coolant transfer flow rate