A framework for designing supply chain disruptions management considering productive systems and carrier viewpoints

With the advent of the global and digital world, the number of geographically dispersed firms throughout the world has increased and the problem of Supply Chain (SC) disruption appeared as a main concern to many industries. In such context, designing disruptions management strategies for a robust SC has become a critical worldwide issue that is still under-explored. Since its design phase, this class of robust and global SC must integrate technologies and agents of production. However, the existing works only consider the Productive Systems (PSs) and the carrier viewpoint must also be considered since goods should be produced and distributed at the right quantity, at the right place and at the right time. In this complex task of designing disruptions management, a formal method must be used to integrate technologies ensuring the compliance of certain requirements, such as: developing collaborative and autonomous models, allowing reuse templates, considering analysis/simulation abilities and facilitating the interaction among engineering practitioners. Therefore, this paper presents a framework to model, analyse, control and monitor the robust and global SC, designing and integrating models with Petri Net, agent-based model techniques for disruptions management and considering both PSs and carrier viewpoints. A case study is investigated and the findings demonstrated the proposed solution supports decisions making for solving problems of design, analysis and control.     

Semantics for linking data from 4D BIM to digital collaborative support

Synchronous collaboration sessions within the context of 4D BIM position construction professionals into a complex socio–technical system. This system includes hardware, software, people, and broader community aspects. This article strictly focuses on the ontology representation of synchronous collaboration sessions with collocated collective decision-making. The model is designed by considering various 4D BIM model uses while a digital multiuser touch table facilitates the collaboration between actors. The outlined ontological model aims to improve interoperability and to move toward a knowledge-driven, smart-built environment paradigm. A knowledge engineering methodology is outlined, by virtue of which the semantics of the presented model are defined and discussed. Concepts from nearby knowledge fields, especially from the Industry Foundation Classes, are reused. Several examples on querying the knowledge base according to the project meeting requirements are outlined to demonstrate the benefits of using the model. Although 4D BIM model data can be imported by using standard formats, capturing data about the social context remains a challenge in the future. This is expected to change the ontology model structure by considering user ergonomics, data modeling requirements, as well as technical implementation constraints.     

Branch-and-price approach for prescribing profitable feature upgrades

High technology products such as notebook computers and digital cameras have short life cycles due to global competition and rapid technological advances. As newer products, replete with latest technologies, become available, the demand for older products erodes. To renew the competitiveness of a product, the manufacturer may upgrade its features over time. Since products comprise a set of features with several alternatives for each, design involves complicated decisions: which features to upgrade, what alternatives should be chosen, and when to upgrade. This paper proposes a model to prescribe profitable upgrades of individual features in a family of products. The model integrates decisions traditionally made by various organizations in the enterprise (marketing, product design engineering, process design engineering, production planning and supply chain management). The special structures embedded in the model are identified and decomposition principles are applied to solve large-scale instances of the size and scope encountered in industry. Tests establish computational benchmarks, showing that this decomposition approach outperforms a commercial solver, most dramatically on more challenging instances. The solution obtained by solving the model will aid managers in deciding the content and timing of upgrades to maximize life cycle profit.     

On the representation of automation using a work domain analysis

Work domain analysis (WDA) has been applied extensively within cognitive engineering as an analytic framework for the evaluation of complex sociotechnical systems in support of design. However, the WDAs described in the literature have not explored the representation of automated system components, despite the documented problems associated with operator-automation interaction and the requirements for operator support in complex automated systems. The current research examines the application of WDA to model an example automated system – a camera – by representing the camera along with its automated components as separate systems using the abstraction hierarchy (AH). Additionally, we contrasted this modelling approach with the more typical approach of modelling automation within a cognitive work analysis (CWA) by performing a control task analysis using the decision ladder. The results of these analyses suggest that, similar to non-automated systems, considering a separate representation of an automated system within the WDA may provide useful system design guidance in terms of user support and information requirements. The comparison of the AH and the decision ladder (DL) models indicates that the models provide different information about the requirements and support different user needs: the AH provides information about specific subsystems and components of the automation that are used for control and how they support functions and purposes of the automation while the DL shows how the control tasks are achieved interleaving automated actions with those of the user. The information obtained from modelling automation with the AH is different from what would normally be obtained by performing only a control task analysis, yet is necessary for operator support.     

System reliability and system resilience

1 Introduction With the development of new technology,engineering systems are becoming more complex in structure and possessing more advanced functions.Customers are setting higher quality requirements for new products.Reliability must be considered in all aspects of the product life cycle.Inadequate reliability considerations may cause civil aviation disasters,nuclear power plant accidents,spacecraft launch failures,power system shutdowns,and other major accidents.Since the emergence of the reliability discipline in the 1950s,reliability theory has been developing rapidly,which has played an irreplaceable role in promoting the progress of major industries such as aviation,aerospace,and nuclear energy.It has also greatly improved the quality of daily necessities such as computers,appliances,and automobiles.The capability of manufacturing high-end equipment with high reliability and long life has become an important strategic indicator of a country's global strength and competitiveness.     

Interval reliability of spare part stocks

Probability goals are commonly used in conjunction with Poisson-distributed variability to estimate initial pipeline spares requirements for aircraft organizations. An analysis of field data indicates that these deployment models may significantly underestimate spares acquisition quantities required in order to maintain probability goals throughout a system life cycle. This paper defines reliability of spare part stocks as the probability that these stocks will satisfy demands throughout a calendar time interval which begins at random points in the life cycle. Five models for spares planning were applied to field data from a small aircraft organization. The common goal in these analyses was based on military logistic standards: 0.99 probability for each part type over a replenishment interval of 360 h. Two initial interval (Poisson) models produced spares requirements averaging 273 units. The average for the three limiting (non-Poisson) models was 3630 units. The limiting models also made it evident that spares must be purchased to refill the pipeline several times in a 20 year life cycle. It is concluded that a limiting buffer stock model is most realistic for planning normal spares requirements and that a renewal model should be used if the pipeline could be severed during surge periods of activity.     

A review of sociotechnical systems theory: a classic concept for new command and control paradigms

Command and control is the management infrastructure for any large, complex, dynamic resource system (Harris, C.J. and White, I., 1987. Advances in command, control and communication systems. London: Peregrinus). Traditional military command and control is increasingly challenged by a host of modern problems, namely, environmental complexity, dynamism, new technology and competition that is able to exploit the weaknesses of an organisational paradigm that has been dominant since the industrial revolution. The conceptual response to these challenges is a new type of command and control organisation called Network Enabled Capability (NEC). Although developed independently, NEC exhibits a high degree of overlap with concepts derived from sociotechnical systems theory, a fact that this paper aims to explore more fully. Uniquely, what sociotechnical theory brings to NEC research is a successful 50 year legacy in the application of open systems principles to commercial organisations. This track record is something that NEC research currently lacks. The paper reviews the twin concepts of NEC and sociotechnical systems theory, the underlying motivation behind the adoption of open systems thinking, a review of classic sociotechnical studies and the current state of the art. It is argued that ‘classic’ sociotechnical systems theory has much to offer ‘new’ command and control paradigms. The principles of sociotechnical systems theory align it exceptionally well with the challenges of modern organisational design. It is also reflective of a wider paradigm shift in ergonomics theory away from ‘industrial age’ modes of thought to systems-based ‘information age’ thinking.     

Sociotechnical systems, risk management, and public health: comparing the North Battleford and Walkerton outbreaks

Accidents in different complex sociotechnical systems are rarely compared using the same theoretical framework for risk management. We conducted a comparative analysis of two Canadian public health disasters involving drinking water distribution systems, the North Battleford Cryptosporidium parvum outbreak in April 2001 and the Walkerton E. coli outbreak in May 2000. Both accidents resulted from a complex interaction between all levels of a complex sociotechnical system. However, the low-level physical and individual factors differed in the two cases, whereas, the high-level governmental and regulatory factors tended to be the same. These findings may have implications for the design of public policies to minimize risk in complex sociotechnical systems.     

基于三维轻模型的装配MES系统关键技术

针对现阶段产品设计已经实现三维数字化,但在航空等典型离散行业的制造现场仍以二维工程图为产品制造依据的现实,提出了基于三维轻模型的装配MES系统,将产品设计数据向制造过程延伸,并结合MBD( ModelBased Definition,基于模型的定义)技术实现基于三维轻模型的装配工艺定义,以三维轻模型为车间现场装配生产的...     

Engineering and Philosophy of Engineering

Philosophy of engineering lays the philosophical foundation of recognition, understanding and management of engineering. Being the kernel of philosophy of engineering, engineering ontology becomes the master key to understanding of engineering. The paper proposes and interprets the principal theses of engineering ontology, which differs from understanding of engineering in separate elements. Engineering ontology believes that engineering is the direct, realistic productivity that runs dynamically and feasibly and creates values. Engineering involves the relationship between human beings and the nature as well as the relationship between human beings and the society, and it has been a basic motive force and a basic way of promoting the social development, so that engineering gains the ontological status and fundamental value in social existence and social development. From the historical point of view, the engineering appears before the emergence of technology and science. Engineering has its own basis for existence, its own structure and its own laws for movement and evolution. Engineering should not be simply regarded as the ramification and derivative from science or technology. Engineering ontology is the theoretical basis of the triism of “science, technology, and engineering”. To understand and handle the mutual relationship among engineering, technology and science, by the evaluation criteria of engineering as the direct productivity, the process and effect of engineering-centered selection, integration and construction must be emphasized and the characteristic and mechanism of selection, integration and construction must be paid high attention. Under no circumstance may the engineering be deemed as an unchanged matter, which is constantly evolving and developing, so the studies on engineering ontology are closely and internally related with the theory of engineering evolution.     

A comparison of major petroleum life cycle models

Many organizations have attempted to develop an accurate well-to-pump life cycle model of petroleum products in order to inform decision makers of the consequences of its use. Our paper studies five of these models, demonstrating the differences in their predictions and attempting to evaluate their data quality. Carbon dioxide well-to-pump emissions for gasoline showed a variation of 35 %, and other pollutants such as ammonia and particulate matter varied up to 100 %. Differences in allocation do not appear to explain differences in predictions. Effects of these deviations on well-to-wheels passenger vehicle and truck transportation life cycle models may be minimal for effects such as global warming potential (6 % spread), but for respiratory effects of criteria pollutants (41 % spread) and other impact categories, they can be significant. A data quality assessment of the models’ documentation revealed real differences between models in temporal and geographic representativeness, completeness, as well as transparency. Stakeholders may need to consider carefully the tradeoffs inherent when selecting a model to conduct life cycle assessments for systems that make heavy use of petroleum products.     

基于知识工程驱动的导管智能工艺设计系统的开发与应用

目的 实现工业金属导管数字化快速制造,提高导管制造质量,缩短装备研制周期。方法 采用基于知识工程驱动的三维数字化设计技术、人工智能技术、计算机仿真技术,开发导管数字化制造集成系统,该系统主要包括导管数字化制造子系统、拼装夹具数字化设计子系统和系统管理子系统,进行导管三维建模、工艺设计与仿真、拼装夹具设计和导管数字化检测,实现金属导管数字化快速制造。结果 实现了多种装备上千种不同类型导管的数字化快速制造,提高了生产效率,导管数模的利用率达100%,导管试装合格率达78%,制造周期缩短了2个月,生产成本显著降低。     

Theory of constraints in a service application: The Swine Graphics case

Being affected from high technology, modern manufacturing systems have become more complex which means that performance factors of both individuals and manufacturing systems have become more critical due to the overloading of cognitive and decision-making tasks. In addition to this development, the classical performance measurement systems are insufficient to measure cognitive performance and the new measurement systems are needed. But converting the abstract factors of cognition to quantitative models is very difficult and complicated. In this paper, developing quantitative models for determination of cognitive performance factors is studied using the combination of cognitive mapping technique and the analytical hierarchy process in fuzzy theory to identify these factors, express and classify them quantitatively. The pairwise comparison matrices are constructed from cognitive maps, converted to fuzzy numbers using a scale, and the subjectiveness of decision-makers is prevented. Also, more accurate weights are obtained and the monitoring levels of performance factors are suggested. An example in Flexible Manufacturing Systems is provided throughout the paper in order to explain the concepts and discussion.     

数字设计视域下动态海报形式特征探究

数字技术的诞生和发展逐渐改变了人们的生活方式和思维模式。在设计领域,海报的展现形式也变得更加丰富。传统静态海报所承载的信息量和传递效果有限,而运用数字技术设计的动态海报则打破了传统静态海报的局限性,呈现出时间性、双重空间性和多维互动性的特点,使得信息的传递更加丰富,更加精准,使受众获得深刻、愉悦的体验,从而强化了信息传递的效果。     

Models for maintenance optimization: a study for repairable systems and finite time periods

The problem of selecting a suitable maintenance policy for repairable systems and for a finite time period is presented. Since the late seventies, examples of models assessing corrective and preventive maintenance policies over an equipment life cycle exist in the literature. However, there are not too many contributions regarding real implementation of these models in the industry, considering realistic timeframes and for repairable systems. Modeling this problem requires normally the representation of different corrective and/or preventive actions that could take place at different moments, driving the equipment to different states with different hazard rates.An approach to pattern the system under finite periods of time has been the utilization of semi-Markovian probabilistic models, allowing later a maintenance policy optimization using dynamic programming. These models are very flexible to represent a given system, but they are also complex and therefore very difficult to handle when the number of the system possible states increases.This paper explores the trade-off between flexibility and complexity of these models, and presents a comparison in terms of model data requirements versus potential benefits obtained with the model.     

面向产品的工艺数据BOM组织模型研究

根据产品全生命周期的特点,完成了对传统工艺BOM组织结构的扩展。并在分析了几种多BOM间映射方法的基础上,研究了工艺BOM与企业运作过程中其它BOM间的映射关系,其中重点研究了设计BOM和工艺数据BOM之间的映射。同时采用语义化建模技术构建了扩展工艺BOM的组织模型、EBOM的组织模型及工艺BOM与其它BOM之间的映射关系模型,有效实现了产品全生命周期中工艺数据的纽带作用,使产品数据资源达到集成和共享,以适应企业数字化管理的需要。     

Toward TechnoAccess: A narrative review of disabled and aging experiences of using technology to access the arts

This paper presents a narrative literature review that addresses the issue of how disabled and aging people access the arts through technology. Our review synthesized 56 studies about disabled and aging people's experiences of access through technology, with a focus on methods used and accounts of user experiences/stories to inform a Canadian research and development initiative called Accessing the Arts. We urge designers and developers to consider the complex, multimodal sociotechnical relationships surrounding technology and access—or TechnoAccess—as they develop technology with disability, aging and access in mind. Although existing evidence offers ways to improve everyone's access to the arts, recommendations are provided for research around access and technology as an inherently politicized topic that must be informed by disabled and aging people's intersectional cultural experiences, including how they wish to use technology to access the arts.     

Reliability analysis on systems with self-healing and self-repairing under different environments and shock models

Inspired by the process of self-healing of biological damage, high technology materials with self-healing and self-repairing mechanisms have been developed for high reliability and long lifetime. Therefore, the reliability modeling on intelligent systems with healing performance has become a research hotspot. Based on the diversity of healing mechanisms, this paper proposes a two-phase reliability model method on self-healing and self-repairing systems. Impacts of environments, shock loads, self-healing, and self-repairing mechanisms are taken into account in this novel model. Besides, system lifetime and some reliability indexes under two shock models are derived, respectively. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to verify the accuracy of reliability under two models. Finally, an engineering case of metallized film capacitor is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed models by comparing numerical results and simulation results.