Measurement of overall performances of decision-making units using ideal and anti-ideal decision-making units

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a method for evaluating relative efficiencies of decision-making units (DMUs) which perform similar functions in a production system, consuming multiple inputs to produce multiple outputs. The conventional form of DEA evaluates performances of DMUs only from the optimistic point of view. In other words, it chooses the most favorable weights for each DMU. There is another approach that measures efficiency of a DMU from the pessimistic point of view. This approach chooses the most unfavorable weights for evaluation of each DMU. In this paper, we propose to integrate both efficiencies in the form of an interval in order to measure the overall performance of a DMU. The proposed DEA models for evaluation of efficiencies are called bounded DEA models. The proposed approach will be compared using a numerical example. Another example regarding performance evaluation of 50 bank branches in Iranian cities will be presented to demonstrate the advantages, simplicity, and utility of this approach in real-life situations.     

Design of object-oriented database for the definition of machining operation sequences of 3D workpieces

This paper describes the activities of Object-Oriented (OO) analysis that were implemented in order to obtain a high part representation level and to give sets of structured and hierarchical data to the Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP) system. The OO modeling activities were carried out by using the Object-Oriented System Analysis (OOSA) method which allows careful specification of all the information contained inside the system. All the models used by this method have been described in detail to show how the OO database is defined and how it can be used by a generative CAPP system. The feature model proposed is defined by taking all the part information that can be recognized and extracted from the Computer Aided Design (CAD) model into account. The result is the design of an OO database which allows the CAPP system to use manufacturing features to define machining operation sequences of 3D workpieces. The approach proposed is generic enough to integrate any geometrical forms which can be recognized and identified from the CAD system. Hole geometry is taken as an example to show the link between the step of OO analysis and the step of knowledge representation in the Expert System which has been used to generate machining cycles. The OO database presented makes up a real solution of CAD/CAPP/CAM integration by using feature modeling.     

Projection-based identification algorithm for grey-box continuous-time models

In this paper, a new identification method for continuous-time models, which can handle various grey-box structures and has strong robustness, is presented. The proposed method is based on an incremental model update scheme and the projection onto the subspace which reflects the model structure. By utilising these schemes, robustness of other continuous-time system identification methods and versatility of generic optimisation algorithms can be integrated into the proposed method. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical examples related to a grey-box model in closed-loop system and systems with unknown time-delay.     

Integrating ERP using EAI: a model for <Emphasis Type="Italic">post hoc</Emphasis> evaluation

In recent years there has been an increased focus on improving the capability and flexibility of organisational information systems through improving, and where necessary, re-engineering inter- and intra-organisational information flows. In doing so, many firms have realised that the cornerstone of their information systems capability is dependent upon core systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). In realising this, it has forced businesses to acknowledge the need to integrate ERP systems with existing disparate legacy systems. Technology solutions such as Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) have been seen as a panacea to facilitate integration through the use of technologies that allow corporate IS subsystems to communicate with one another. In the context of using enterprise technologies to integrate ERP with other organisational business systems, this paper analyses and extends previously published work through presenting the failure of an industrial automation business to integrate its ERP system with legacy processes when using an EAI approach. In doing so, the authors present a post hoc evaluation model that can be used by others as a frame of reference; a tool for reflection. The presented model seeks to provide further insight to the failed approach to ERP integration, within the given case study organisation. This proposed model, is constructed in terms of Technical, Organisational and Tailorability components. It is anticipated that this will be a useful tool for both practitioners and academics, who wish to gain a deeper understanding of ERP/EAI implementation approaches, as well as providing insights into how the componentisation and extension of ERP functionalities can be achieved, towards so-called ERPII.     

Towards dynamic reference information models: Readiness for ICT mass customisation

Current dynamic demand-driven networks make great demands on, in particular, the interoperability and agility of information systems. This paper investigates how reference information models can be used to meet these demands by enhancing ICT mass customisation. It was found that reference models for Production and Supply Chain Management do not yet sufficiently meet the requirements of a mass customisation approach. They have developed from isolated models based on pure standardisation and tailored customisation strategies, towards static repository-based models founded on segmented standardisation strategies. Existing models provide valuable knowledge for developing towards more dynamic reference information models, including the progress made by ERP vendors to make their reference models configurable. Important remaining challenges are setting up reference information models as generic models that define classes of architectures, and incorporating user-friendly means that guide users through the process of configuring specific information models.     

Heuristic knowledge representation of production scheduling: An integrated modeling approach

In spite of the efforts to automate production scheduling systems, most manufacturing plants rely on human schedulers for their practical production scheduling due mainly to the complexity and unpredictability of the manufacturing systems. One of the reasons for the difficulties in automating the production scheduling process is the lack of an explicit representation scheme of heuristic scheduling knowledge.

In this paper, an integrated modeling approach is presented to represent the complicated heuristic knowledge in production scheduling systems. The integrated modeling approach is based on object-oriented and event-driven modeling. It provides the explicit, declarative and executable representation of heuristic scheduling knowledge which aids the communication between human schedulers and system analysts. The declarative and executable representation of scheduling knowledge will enhance the flexibility of production scheduling systems and aid the development of production scheduling information systems.

A heuristic production scheduling model of a tire manufacturing system is used throughout the paper to illustrate the concepts and applicability of the approach.     

An integrated decision making approach for ERP system selection

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have gained major prominence by enabling companies to streamline their operations, leverage and integrate business data process. In order to implement an ERP project successfully, it is necessary to select an ERP system which can be aligned with the needs of the company. Thus, a robust decision making approach for ERP software selection requires both company needs and characteristics of the ERP system and their interactions to be taken into account. This paper develops a novel decision framework for ERP software selection based on quality function deployment (QFD), fuzzy linear regression and zero–one goal programming. The proposed framework enables both company demands and ERP system characteristics to be considered, and provides the means for incorporating not only the relationships between company demands and ERP system characteristics but also the interactions between ERP system characteristics through adopting the QFD principles. The presented methodology appears as a sound investment decision making tool for ERP systems as well as other information systems. The potential use of the proposed decision framework is illustrated through an application.     

Design of expert systems for integrated production automation

An approach to the design of expert systems for integrated production automation is presented. The major components in an integrated manufacturing system consist of corporate planning, marketing planning, research and development, engineering design, production planning, manufacturing, warehousing, and product distribution. These components are linked by management information flow, technology information flow, as well as materials flow. An intelligent computer is used to integrate information flow and to control materials flow. This paper discusses characteristics of the future factory, elements of knowledge based systems, and the design of computer based expert systems for production planning, for engineering design, and for integrated manufacturing.     

基于XML的数据交换系统设计

不同应用和运行环境的系统之间往往存在数据交换困难的问题,这个问题解决不好将造成系统间无法进行信息交换.为了达到信息交换的目的,一种做法是为每一特定的系统单独开发接口,这样做不仅效率低、工作量大,而且难以根据统一标准对系统进行集成.由于XML的特点,使其具有成为数据交换文件的能力.结合某物流配送系统的数据交换过程,提出了以XML文件作为数据交换平台的方法,并对系统的功能设计进行了介绍,满足了数据交换要求.     

PDM system implementation based on UML

The paper deals with a Unified Modeling Language (UML)-based approach for implementing Product Data Management (PDM) system. Such kind of system enables the management of the entire product lifecycle and related information about its design, its manufacturing and its in-service.

The interest of using an UML-based approach for modeling, specifying and implementing PDM systems is detailed. Then an implementation method is proposed in order to clarify the instantiation of UML diagrams into database entities. Regarding a business case study based on the needs of a turboprop aircraft development project, the preliminary implementation of PDM system is presented. The used UML diagrams for the modeling and integration of product, process, and resource data is detailed in order to argue the interest of an object-oriented approach in such kind of PDM implementation.     

Identification of low-order parameter-varying models for large-scale systems

In this paper we propose a novel procedure for obtaining low-dimensional models of large-scale multi-phase, non-linear, reactive fluid flow systems. Our approach is based on the combination of methods of proper orthogonal decompositions, black-box system identification techniques and non-linear spline based blending of local linear black-box models to create a reduced order linear parameter-varying model. The proposed method, which is of empirical nature, gives computationally very efficient low-order process models for large-scale processes. The proposed method does not need Galerkin type of projections on equation residuals to obtain the reduced order models and the proposed method is of generic nature. The efficiency of the proposed approach is illustrated on a benchmark problem of an industrial glass manufacturing process where the process non-linearity and non-linearity arising due to the corrosion of refractory materials is approximated using a linear parameter varying model. The results show good performance of the proposed framework.     

An Active Disturbance Rejection Approach to Leader‐Follower Controlled Formation

This article describes the design of a linearizing, observer‐based, robust dynamic feedback control scheme for output reference trajectory tracking tasks in a leader‐follower non‐holonomic car formation problem. The approach is based on the cars' kinematic models. A radical simplification in the form of a global ultra‐model is proposed on the follower's exact open loop position tracking error dynamics obtained via flatness considerations. This results in a system described by an additively disturbed set of two, second order integrators with non‐linear velocity dependent control input gain matrix. The unknown additive disturbances are modeled as absolutely uniformly bounded time signals which may be locally approximated by arbitrary elements of a sufficiently high degree family of Taylor polynomials. Linear high‐gain Luenberger observers of the generalized proportional integral (GPI) type may be readily designed. These observers include the self updating internal model of the unknown disturbance input vector components in the form of generic, instantaneous, time‐polynomial models. The proposed (GPI) observers, which are the dual counterpart of GPI controllers [17], achieve a simultaneous disturbance estimation and tracking error phase variables estimation. This on‐line gathered information is used to advantage on the follower's feedback controller thus allowing for a simple, yet efficient, disturbance and control input gain cancelation effort. The results are applied to have the follower track a time‐delayed version of the actual leader's trajectory. Experimental results are presented which illustrate the robustness and viability of the proposed approach.     

基于SOA煤矿信息平台的作业规程管理系统的设计

针对传统的作业规程存在审批流程多、审批时间长、审批质量不易控制等问题,提出了一种基于SOA煤矿信息平台的作业规程管理系统的设计方案,详细介绍了该系统所采用的关键技术和功能模块的设计。该系统采用网络技术整合现有的各种安全生产信息系统,实现了信息共享,提高了作业规程审批的效率和质量。     

石化企业供应链采购管理系统模型

本文研究了石化企业供应链管理系统的需求和总体结构,采用多种视图模型综合描述供应链管理系统中各类管理和技术要素.然后,本文详细介绍了石化企业供应链中原油采购管理系统的组织、功能、信息和产品视图模型的建立过程.     

基于SQL Server的ATML测试信息集成方法

为了解决测试系统单机结构所造成的测试信息、历史数据无法共享的问题,提出了一种基于SQLServer集成、共享测试信息的方法.对比了3种集成ATML测试信息的方案,探讨了它们各自的优缺点,选择了SQL Server原生XML数据库这一最优方案,并以存储和检索测试结果为例,阐述了基于SQLServer集成、共享测试信息的方法.此方法使测试信息具备数据库管理系统的高效性和高安全性,且能够保持ATML原有的良好架构,具有重要的借鉴意义.     

Model decomposition and reduction tools for large-scale networks in systems biology

Biological system models are routinely developed in modern systems biology research following appropriate modelling/experiment design cycles. Frequently these take the form of high-dimensional nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations that integrate information from several sources; they usually contain multiple time-scales making them difficult even to simulate. These features make systems analysis (understanding of robust functionality) — or redesign (proposing modifications in order to improve or modify existing functionality) a particularly hard problem. In this paper we use concepts from systems theory to develop two complementary tools that can help us understand the complex behaviour of such system models: one based on model decomposition and one on model reduction. Our aim is to algorithmically produce biologically meaningful, simplified models, which can then be used for further analysis and design. The tools presented are applied on a model of the Epidermal Growth Factor signalling pathway.     

Auxiliary model multiinnovation stochastic gradient parameter estimation methods for nonlinear sandwich systems

This article studies the identification problem of the nonlinear sandwich systems. For the sandwich system, because there are inner variables which cannot be measured in the information vector of the identification models, it is difficult to identify the nonlinear sandwich systems. In order to overcome the difficulty, an auxiliary model is built to predict the estimates of inner variables by means of the output of the auxiliary model. For the purpose of employing the real‐time observed data, a cost function with dynamical data is constructed to capture on‐line information of the nonlinear sandwich system. On this basis, an auxiliary model stochastic gradient identification approach is proposed based on the gradient optimization. Moreover, an auxiliary model multiinnovation stochastic gradient estimation method is developed, which tends to enhance estimation accuracy by introducing more observed data dynamically. The numerical simulation is provided and the simulation results show that the proposed auxiliary model identification method is effective for the nonlinear sandwich systems.     

基于T-S模糊模型的复杂系统的灵敏度分析

针对输入具有互联的系统的灵敏度分析常常会产生不正确结果的问题,提出一种获取这种复杂系统灵敏度信息的方法．这种方法首先需要建立系统的基于自适应神经模糊推理系统的T-S模糊模型以及各个输入的T-S模糊模型;然后从这些模糊模型抽取出灵敏度信息．同时讨论了这种输入具有互联的系统的模糊建模方法,仿真实例验证了所提出的抽取灵敏度信患方法的正确性.     

Symbolic and numeric knowledge integration in multiple fault troubleshooting

Many expert system researchers have reported in recent years that situation-action symbolic production rules frequently fail to provide adequate knowledge representation schemes without resorting to numeric computation. However, despite the need to integrate symbolic and quantitative computation into one coherent framework of knowledge, surprisingly few architectures have been proposed for achieving this goal. This paper explores the integration of qualitative and numeric processing in expert systems. We address the topic with respect to the construction of expert systems that perform the tasks of design and multiple fault troubleshooting. This paper shows that these tasks can be handled effectively when an appropriate interface is established between the heuristic and the numeric knowledge-based components. Specifically, we demonstrate how to interface heuristic knowledge with non-linear optimization models in order to allow an expert system greater expressiveness. An actual example is presented from the machining domain.     

求解仿真优化问题的知识型启发式搜索方法

仿真优化研究基于仿真的目标优化问题,已经成为系统仿真和运筹学等领域共同关注的热点和前沿课题.针对离散事件动态系统仿真优化中的难点问题,提出了一种全新的知识型启发式搜索方法.采用知识模型和启发式搜索模型相结合的集成建模思路,以启发式搜索模型为基础,同时突出知识模型的作用,将启发式搜索模型和知识模型进行优化组合、优势互补,以提高启发式搜索技术的效率.基于期望值模型的数值仿真,验证了方法的可行性和有效性.仿真结果表明,无论是求解质量还是求解速度,都优于其它几种现有方法.研究结果表明,将知识模型合理地嵌入到现有启发式搜索方法中,可以有效地解决复杂的仿真优化问题.