Application of analytical network process for analysis of product design characteristics of lean remanufacturing system: a case study

The modern manufacturing systems are adopting with lean practices to ensure value addition and waste elimination. Also, product recovery options are found to be vital. Appropriate product design characteristics are identified, and their prioritization is framed as decision-making problem with multiple criteria. Analytical network process is used as solution methodology. The objective of the study is to formulate multi-criteria decision making problem for assessment of lean remanufacturing product design characteristics. The priority order of lean remanufacturing operations is obtained. The study is exemplified with a case conducted with reference to remanufacture of an automotive component. The priority order of criteria is Disassembly > Cleaning > Inspection > Remanufacturing > Reassembly. The inferences desired from the study would facilitate cleaner manufacturing practices. Sensitivity analysis is conducted and practical validity of the method has been tested with an industrial case study.     

Application of fuzzy quality function deployment for sustainable design of consumer electronics products: a case study

With a steep increase in the demand for consumer electronics products, the contemporary manufacturers are committed toward sustainable development of such products. There exists a scope for developing a methodology for enabling sustainable development of consumer electronics products. In this context, fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) approach has been presented in this article in order to prioritize relevant customer requirements, sustainability parameters and sustainability initiatives. Key influential parameters for sustainable development of consumer electronics products have been identified from the literature. In the first phase of fuzzy QFD, parameters influencing sustainable development have been prioritized in accordance with customer requirements. In the second phase, environmental design initiatives have been prioritized based on critical sustainability parameters. From phase I of fuzzy QFD, ‘reduction in environmental release’ has been found as the most significant sustainability parameter with a crisp value of 22.83, and from phase II, environmental impact assessment is proved to be the significant design method with a crisp value of 20.40. The methodology would provide a comprehensive understanding to practitioners on the interrelationships among customer requirements, sustainability parameters and environmentally benign initiatives for development of consumer electronic products. The generic model developed can be applied to most of the consumer electronics product     

Application of fuzzy analytic network process for supplier selection in a manufacturing organisation

The contemporary manufacturing organisations are forced to adopt advanced manufacturing paradigms for sustaining in the global markets. Supply chain management is an essential ingredient of advanced manufacturing systems since outsourcing gains vital importance. Supplier selection is a vital issue concerned in the process of managing global supply chains. A conceptual model for supplier selection encompassing various criteria and sub-criteria has been developed. In this article, fuzzy analytic network process (fuzzy ANP) approach has been used for the supplier selection process. The case study has been carried out in an Indian electronics switches manufacturing company. Based on supplier selection weighted index, the best supplier has been determined. This is followed by the conduct of sensitivity analysis as well as questionnaire-based validation. The results of the validation study indicated that the application of fuzzy ANP is practically feasible and adaptable in the contemporary industrial scenario.     

Compromise ranking approach for sustainable concept selection in an Indian modular switches manufacturing organization

The modern manufacturing organizations are forced to adopt the principles of sustainability to sustain in the competitive market scenario. Sustainability paradigm stipulates that manufacturing organizations develop eco-friendly products coupled with economic and social dimensions. Sustainability concepts include life cycle impact assessment, environmental conscious quality function deployment, environmental impact assessment, life cycle assessment, and theory of inventive problem solving. The concept selection in the context of sustainability is the typical multicriteria decision-making problem (MCDM). MCDM method can be used to find out the best alternative among the given alternatives. In our study, we have utilized the compromise ranking method namely VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje. This method focuses on ranking and selecting from a set of conflicting criteria based on the measure of closeness to the ideal solution. The best concept has been selected for implementation in the organization as stated by Opricovic and Tzeng (Eur J Oper Res 156:445–455, 2004).     

Expression of Aspergillus nidulans phy Gene in Nicotiana benthamiana Produces Active Phytase with Broad Specificities

A full-length phytase gene (phy) of Aspergillus nidulans was amplified from the cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and it was introduced into a bacterial expression vector, pET-28a. The recombinant protein (rPhy-E, 56 kDa) was overexpressed in the insoluble fraction of Escherichia coli culture, purified by Ni-NTA resin under denaturing conditions and injected into rats as an immunogen. To express A. nidulans phytase in a plant, the full-length of phy was cloned into a plant expression binary vector, pPZP212. The resultant construct was tested for its transient expression by Agrobacterium-infiltration into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Compared with a control, the agro-infiltrated leaf tissues showed the presence of phy mRNA and its high expression level in N. benthamiana. The recombinant phytase (rPhy-P, 62 kDa) was strongly reacted with the polyclonal antibody against the nonglycosylated rPhy-E. The rPhy-P showed glycosylation, two pH optima (pH 4.5 and pH 5.5), an optimum temperature at 45~55 °C, thermostability and broad substrate specificities. After deglycosylation by peptide-N-glycosidase F (PNGase-F), the rPhy-P significantly lost the phytase activity and retained 1/9 of the original activity after 10 min of incubation at 45 °C. Therefore, the deglycosylation caused a significant reduction in enzyme thermostability. In animal experiments, oral administration of the rPhy-P at 1500 U/kg body weight/day for seven days caused a significant reduction of phosphorus excretion by 16% in rat feces. Besides, the rPhy-P did not result in any toxicological changes and clinical signs.     

Polyaniline–13X zeolite composite‐supported platinum electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cell applications

We successfully synthesized 13X zeolite using a hydrothermal method. Then, composites of polyaniline (PANI) with 13X zeolite and PANI–13X with platinum were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization and chemical reduction, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller techniques were used to characterize the PANI–Pt and PANI–Pt–13X composites. Further, the electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation of the synthesized catalysts was explored using cyclic voltammetry in 1 mol L^?1 CH₃OH + 0.5 mol L^?1 H₂SO₄ solution. From the obtained results, PANI–Pt–13X shows superior performance compared to PANI–Pt towards methanol oxidation and electrical conductivity. Hence, the 13X zeolite‐incorporated PANI–Pt composite could be an efficient catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell applications. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of leanness using fuzzy association rules mining

The modern manufacturing organizations are adopting lean manufacturing principles so as to eliminate wastes and streamline their processes. The evaluation of leanness gains vital importance. Multiple tools/techniques are available for ensuring leanness. Due to the impreciseness and vagueness associated with decision-making problems, fuzzy logic need to be used. Relational databases enable decision-making process. This article presents a study in which fuzzy association rules mining approach has been used for leanness evaluation of an Indian modular switches manufacturing organization. The experiences gained as a result of the conduct of the study indicated that leanness evaluation could be performed by the decision makers without any constraints.     

Fabrication, characterization and invitro bioactivity evaluation of QPSU/TiO2 composite membranes

Quaternized Polysulfone (QPSU) is a widely investigated material in the industry because of its unique properties such as resistance to corrosion and high mechanical properties. The ionic nature of the compound can be exploited for medical applications such as in haemodialysis, drug delivery and tissue engineering. In this study, composite membranes of QPSU with varying concentrations of Titanium oxide (TiO₂) were prepared and characterized using FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, XRD, TGA and SEM. The bioactivity of the membranes was studied by immersing them in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 days and subsequently observing under SEM for the formation of calcium-phosphate (Ca–PO₄) layer on the surface of the membranes. The formation of Ca–PO₄ on the samples was confirmed using FT-IR and EDAX. The results were compared with those obtained for QPSU membranes and the effect of TiO₂ concentration on the membrane properties was analyzed. It was observed that the percentage crystallinity of the composites increased upto a filler concentration of 5 wt% beyond which it decreased. TGA studies revealed an increase in the thermal stability of the composites with increasing filler concentrations. While optimum bioactivity was observed in the samples containing 5 wt% of TiO₂, higher filler content resulted in the formation of denser calcium—phosphate layer on the surface of the composites. The study shows that quaternized polysulphone/TiO₂ composites are promising bio composites having great potential for application in health care.     

Biomass production and small-scale testing of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria starter strains for cassava fermentations

Based on their predominance in Gari fermentations, as well as suitable technological properties, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Weissella paramesenteroides and Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains were investigated for their suitability for development as starter strains for this African traditional fermented cassava product. The strains were grown in optimized growth media in 2 L fermenters, harvested and freeze dried, and then tested in lab-scale cassava mash fermentation trials for their ability to ferment the cassava. The strains performed well and rapidly increased the titratable acidity from 1.1 to 1.3% at 24 h to 1.3–1.6% at 48 h. The benefit of including starter cultures was that it lowered the pH of the product much faster and to lower levels than in the uninoculated control fermentation. The results furthermore indicated that especially the L. plantarum-group strains could be produced as starter strains at low cost. Overall, the results of this study showed that starter strains could be easily and economically produced, and thus represent a feasible possibility for further development for application in the field.     

Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidaemic Effects of Withania somnifera Root and Leaf Extracts on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Withania somnifera is an important medicinal plant, which is used in traditional medicine to cure many diseases. Flavonoids were determined in the extracts of W. somnifera root (WSREt) and leaf (WSLEt). The amounts of total flavonoids found in WSREt and WSLEt were 530 and 520 mg/100 g dry weight (DW), respectively. Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of WSREt and WSLEt were also investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. WSREt and WSLEt and the standard drug glibenclamide were orally administered daily to diabetic rats for eight weeks. After the treatment period, urine sugar, blood glucose, haemoglobin (Hb), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C), liver glycogen, serum and tissues lipids, serum and tissues proteins, liver glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) and serum enzymes like aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were determined. The levels of urine sugar, blood glucose, HbA1C, G6P, AST, ALT, ACP, ALP, serum lipids except high density lipoprotein-bound cholesterol (HDL-c) and tissues like liver, kidney and heart lipids were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, however Hb, total protein, albumin, albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio, tissues protein and glycogen were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Treatment of the diabetic rats with WSREt, WSLEt and glibenclamide restored the changes of the above parameters to their normal level after eight weeks of treatment, indicating that WSREt and WSLEt possess hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities in alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) rats.