Multi-criteria decision making in workforce choice using AHP,WSM and WPM

This paper focuses on the implementation of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods to evaluate the workforce competence in apparel industry. In this study, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the Weighted Sum Model (WSM) and the Weighted Product Model (WPM) are suggested to solve workforce selection problem. The use of these methods is expected to help choose the best operator among several alternatives. Based on three criteria, each worker is evaluated in each executed operation. The criteria are a Quality Index ‘QI’, an Activity ‘A’ and an Attendance Rate ‘AR’. Thanks to the MCDM methods, scores allowing an objective classification of operators are obtained. Experimental results on AHP, WSM and WPM methods show the same decisions with the same workers’ classification from the best to the worst alternative. The resulting database contributes to the line balancing optimization by choosing for each operation, and as far as possible, the most competent operator.     

Optimal maintenance plan for two-level assembly system and risk study of machine failure

This paper deals with the optimisation of two-levels assembly system planning. This system is composed of a single machine, inventories at levels 1 and 2 for stock keeping components to assembly and final assembled product. It assumed that the machine processes all assembly operations and is subject to random failure. A mathematical model is developed to incorporate a supply planning for two-level assembly systems under stochastic lead times and breakdowns machine. A preventive maintenance plan is carried out to reduce the frequency of the corrective maintenance actions. This work has double goals. The first one is to find the optimal order release dates for the different components at level 2 and the optimal preventive maintenance plan. The second one is to quantify the risk due to machine failures which have an impact on the lead-time of the finished product. To consider the maintenance actions, preventive maintenance actions are perfectly performed to restore the machine to state “as good as new”, minimal repair is considered at failure. The model minimises the total cost, which is the sum of inventory holding cost for components at levels 1 and 2, backlogging and inventory holding cost for the finished products and maintenance costs. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model, different meta-heuristics are applied; the genetic algorithm shows the most suited to our analytical model, the optimal release date founded by this algorithm allows finding the optimal preventive maintenance plan. The obtained optimal maintenance planning is used in the risk assessment in order to find the threshold repair period that avoids lost profit.     

Tensor-based methods for high-power amplifier identification and predistortion linearization

Aligned with the recent revolution of smart cities concept, a lot of work has been done to support the education process in direct or indirect way. In countries like Lebanon, in which the choice of school does not depend on the residence location, parents are becoming more and more selective in the quality of schools they are choosing for their children. This fact may lead parents to choose a modern and good school even if it is far from their residence. On the other hand, and even if the school was close enough, the traffic congestion would make the on-feet journey of the kid to the school very risky. Driving children to school is a solution. However, it consumes a lot of time and effort each day in the morning and the afternoon. Hence, school buses are commonly used by all schools to take the student from and to his home. Nevertheless, waiting the bus each day to arrive is an exhausting and a time-wasting mission. In this paper we present a smart transportation system for school buses that helps in saving parents’ time, by avoiding waiting school buses in the morning and then in the afternoon to return kids back, especially with the increasing traffic jams at these hours. The proposed mobile and web application is designed to help parents, school and the bus to communicate automatically and easily via the application in order to detect kids’ arrival time. The bus application side will notify parents few minutes before its approaching to their homes. Furthermore, the system will allow parents to inform the school and hence the bus application side about the absence of their kid. The system has been efficiently and dynamically designed and implemented so it can be hosted and used by any school administration without the need to any major modifications. It has been tested on a summer school to prove its efficiency and marked an important positive feedback from the school and the parents’ sides.     

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Shrimp Head Waste: Functional and Biochemical Properties

Shrimp head of Penaeus kerathurus obtained from industrial processing, were hydrolyzed by commercial trypsin (0.1%). Hydrolysis reaction was terminated by heat inactivation of the enzyme (95°C) followed by centrifugation. The produced protein hydrolysates were characterized by biochemical analysis for protein content, total free amino acids (FAA), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and electrophoresis SDS-PAGE profile. Functional properties such as emulsifying capacity, fat adsorption and foaming property were assessed. Compared to the raw shrimp head protein, results from enzymatic hydrolysis showed a significant increase (p?<?0.05) in protein content and FAA (17.22%). The low level of trypsin used in this study was sufficient to solubilize the substrate, resulting in substantial protein contents and TVB-N levels (< 6mg/100g), which was significantly lower than the acceptable limits established for marine products.     

Effects of storage temperature and α-tocopherol on oil recovered from sardine mince

Sardine oil released during sardine mince preparation showed good quality with a low hydroperoxide content, excellent color and high content (19.23%) of eicosapentaenoic acid. Recovered sardine oil was stored at two different temperatures (+4 °C and +35 °C) for 28 days with or without the addition of α-tocopherol (50 and 100 ppm). Peroxide values and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of control sardine oil significantly increased to reach 29.9 meq O₂/kg oil and 46.48 mg MA/kg during storage at +35 °C, but the increase was considerably less (4.36 meq O₂/kg oil and 13.21 mg MA/kg oil respectively) in oil stored at +4 °C. A slight increase (1.5%) in the free fatty acid content was recorded in oil stored at 35 °C. A significant decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids was recorded after storage, particularly in oil stored at 35 °C, while higher percentages of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were observed. Storage at +4 °C combined with addition of α-tocopherol (100 ppm) had a beneficial effect on sardine oil stability.     

Single and multi-objective shape optimization of streamlined bridge decks

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - Civil engineers focus on developing an optimum design that is cost-effective without compromising the performance. Experiences from optimizing...