I-Competere: Using applied intelligence in search of competency gaps in software project managers

People in software development teams are crucial in order to gain and retain strategic advantage inside a highly competitive market. As a result, human factors have gained attention in the software industry. Software Project Managers are decisive to achieve project success. A competent project manager is capable of solving any problem that an organization may encounter, regardless of its complexity. This paper presents I-Competere which is a tool developed to forecast competence gaps in key management personnel by predicting planning and scheduling competence levels. Based on applied intelligence techniques, I-Competere allows the forecast and anticipation of competence needs thus articulating personnel development tools and techniques. The results of the test, using several artificial neural networks, are more than promising and show prediction accuracy.     

Comparative Study of the Alumina-Scale Integrity on MA 956 and PM 2000 Alloys

The present work analyzes the oxidation kinetics of MA 956 and PM 2000 alloys at 900 and 1100°C for exposure times up to 1000 hr. Special emphasis was placed on a comparison of the alumina-scale integrity formed at 1100°C by means of electrochemical tests at room temperature, which have been shown to be very reliable methods to detect the presence of microdefects within oxide scales. To check whether a preoxidation treatment makes these materials corrosion resistant against aggressive fluids, an electrolyte containing chloride ions was chosen. The mass gain of MA 956 was found to be slightly lower than that of PM 2000 up to 200 hr exposure at 1100°C and for the whole exposure range at 900°C. A subparabolic time dependence (n=0.3) of the oxide growth rate was determined for both alloys at both temperatures. On the other hand, the electrochemical-impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and anodic-polarization tests performed on preoxidized alloys (1100°C/100 hr) revealed good room-temperature corrosion behavior for both alloys, the corrosion resistance and polarization values being somewhat higher for preoxidized PM 2000. Consideration of these results and those of both surface and cross-section examinations of the scale, the better room-temperature corrosion behavior of preoxidized PM 2000 denotes the formation of a denser and mechanically more stable alumina scale containing a lower number of microdefects. This could result from the higher aluminum content of this alloy and the lower density of chemical heterogeneities within the scale. The higher mass gain of PM 2000 could be related to the higher concentration of oxide nodules on top of the alumina scale, as deduced from SEM examination.     

Superficial severe plastic deformation of 316 LVM stainless steel through grit blasting: Effects on its microstructure and subsurface mechanical properties

The microstructure and mechanical properties of austenitic stainless steel 316 LVM (Low Vacuum Melting) blasted with either small and rounded ZrO₂ particles or larger and angular shaped Al₂O₃ particles are analysed through magnetic force microscopy, synchrotron radiation diffraction and ultramicroindentation techniques. It is shown that blasting causes a severe plastic deformation that roughens the surface and produces a significant subsurface grain refinement and work hardening. The gradient in the plastic deformation and the volume increase associated with the deformation induced α′-martensite account for the development of compressive residual stresses with a maximum value close to the surface. All these features yield a gradient in hardness with a maximum value beneath the surface. Compared with the Al₂O₃ particles, the ZrO₂ particles cause a higher value of compressive residual stress and a lower increase in hardness. Also, the Al₂O₃ particles lead to more α′-martensite formation at deeper regions from the surface than the ZrO₂ particles. The different results are related with the specific morphology of the particles and their specific role in the blasting process.     

Thermal Oxidation Treatments in the Development of New Coated Biomaterials: Application to the MA 956 Superalloy

Reducing metal ion release and minimizing friction of orthopaedic implant bearing surfaces is of prime concern for long-term performance. Inert ceramic bearing surfaces eliminate these issues, and thus, various surface coating methods are being investigated. In-situ thermal oxidation treatment (1100°C) of MA 956 which produces a fine but tightly adherent cc-alumina scale is characterized. This layer enhances the in vitro corrosion resistance up to three orders of magnitude with respect to Ti-Al-V alloys. Additionally, compressive residual stresses are approximately 5000 MPa. The existence of elevated compressive residual stresses in the coating, without compromising the coating-substrate adhesion, guarantees its integrity during tensile deformation and should contribute to better wear and fatigue resistance.     

A review of conventional and knowledge based systems for machining price quotation

Price estimation for the preparation of quotations is critical process for companies that have to struggle to get orders by offering competitive pricing. For machining companies, said process is complex because of the large amount of variation that can occur. In this case, a manufacturing expert is generally in charge of this task. However, manufacturing experts have several other important tasks to which they must attend. The use of software systems that automate the estimation of costs and prices is common, knowledge-based systems are one of the primary alternatives for two fundamental reasons: they behave the same way an expert would and they save and maintain all knowledge within the company regardless of who has worked on them. This paper covers the principal cost and price estimation methods and reviews the knowledge-based systems that have been implemented in the area of machined part manufacturing. Recommendations as to how future knowledge-based systems for the estimation of this type of pricing should develop are also included.     

Novel approaches to determining residual stresses by ultramicroindentation techniques: Application to sandblasted austenitic stainless steel

This research addresses the determination of residual stresses in sandblasted austenitic steel by ultramicroindentation techniques using a sharp indenter, of which the sensitivity to residual stress effects is said to be inferior to that of spherical ones. The introduction of an angular correction in the model of Wang et al. which relates variations in the maximum load to the presence of residual stresses is proposed. Similarly, the contribution to the hardness of grain size refinement and work hardening, developed as a consequence of the severe plastic deformation during blasting, is determined in order to avoid overestimation of the residual stresses. Measurements were performed on polished cross sections along a length of several microns, thus obtaining a profile of the residual stresses. Results show good agreement with those obtained by synchrotron radiation on the same specimens, which validates the method and demonstrates that microindentation using sharp indenters may be sensitive to the residual stress effect.     

Ni3AI intermetallic particles as wear-resistant reinforcement for Al-base composites processed by powder metallurgy

The suitability of Ni₃Al intermetallics as reinforcement for Al-base materials for tribological applications has been investigated. For this purpose, an Al/Ni₃Al (5 vol pct) composite was prepared by powder metallurgy and tested in air against steel counterfaces at the load range of 45 to 178 N. For comparison, unreinforced Al specimens were processed and tested under the same conditions. Tribological behavior was evaluated by microstructural examination of wear-affected zones and weightloss measurements of specimens and counterfaces. It was found that a significant amount of Fe-rich oxide particles become incorporated into the Al matrix during wear, forming a cracked tribolayer. The wear behavior of Al/Ni₃l composite as a function of the applied load was not accurately reflected by the weight loss of worn specimens. Results highlight the role of Ni3Al particles as loadbearing elements due to their excellent bonding to the Al matrix, their interfaces withstanding the wear stresses even at the highest applied load. Moreover, Ni3Al particles limited the incorporation of wear debris to the Al matrix and reduced wear damage occasioned to the steel counterfaces compared to that of pure aluminum specimens. Formerly with the Physical Metallurgy Department (CENIM-CSIC)     

Interrogations on the sub-surface strain hardening of grit blasted Ti-6Al-4V alloy

In this work we characterize the microstructural changes induced by grit blasting of the Ti6Al4V alloy and their effect on the sub-surface mechanical properties by means of micro- and ultramicro indentations techniques. It has been observed that the severe plastic deformation at the surface produces an increase in roughness. Such deformation, however, does not cause any evident hardening at the sub-surface zone, which contrast with the work hardening observed on blasted cp Ti and austenitic stainless steel 316 L. It is proposed that the different behaviour of the Ti-base alloy is related to its lower strain hardening exponent. The implications of the absence of subsurface hardening on the loss of fatigue strength observed by other authors are analysed.