Simultaneous solving of balancing and sequencing problems with station-dependent assembly times for mixed-model assembly lines

In spite of many studies, investigating balancing and sequencing problems in Mixed-Model Assembly Line (MMAL) individually, this paper solves them simultaneously aiming to minimize total utility work. A new Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is developed to provide the exact solution of the problem with station-dependent assembly times. Because of NP-hardness, a Simulated Annealing (SA) is applied and compared to the Co-evolutionary Genetic Algorithm (Co-GA) from the literature. To strengthen the search process, two main hypotheses, namely simultaneous search and feasible search, are developed contrasting Co-GA. Various parameters of SA are reviewed to calibrate the algorithm by means of Taguchi design of experiments. Numerical results statistically show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed SA in terms of both the quality of solution and the time of achieving the best solution. Finally, the contribution of each hypothesis in this superiority is analyzed.     

A hybrid vendor managed inventory and redundancy allocation optimization problem in supply chain management: An NSGA-II with tuned parameters

In this research, a bi-objective vendor managed inventory model in a supply chain with one vendor (producer) and several retailers is developed, in which determination of the optimal numbers of different machines that work in series to produce a single item is considered. While the demand rates of the retailers are deterministic and known, the constraints are the total budget, required storage space, vendor's total replenishment frequencies, and average inventory. In addition to production and holding costs of the vendor along with the ordering and holding costs of the retailers, the transportation cost of delivering the item to the retailers is also considered in the total chain cost. The aim is to find the order size, the replenishment frequency of the retailers, the optimal traveling tour from the vendor to retailers, and the number of machines so as the total chain cost is minimized while the system reliability of producing the item is maximized. Since the developed model of the problem is NP-hard, the multi-objective meta-heuristic optimization algorithm of non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is proposed to solve the problem. Besides, since no benchmark is available in the literature to verify and validate the results obtained, a non-dominated ranking genetic algorithm (NRGA) is suggested to solve the problem as well. The parameters of both algorithms are first calibrated using the Taguchi approach. Then, the performances of the two algorithms are compared in terms of some multi-objective performance measures. Moreover, a local searcher, named simulated annealing (SA), is used to improve NSGA-II. For further validation, the Pareto fronts are compared to lower and upper bounds obtained using a genetic algorithm employed to solve two single-objective problems separately.     

Maximization of total surface area of Pt-SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst by the Taguchi method

The maximization of the total surface area of Pt-SnO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst was studied by using the Taguchi method of experimental design. The catalysts were prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of HNO₃, H₂O and aluminum nitrate concentrations and the stirring rate on the total surface area were studied at three levels of each. L₉ orthogonal array leading nine experiments was used in the experimental design. The parameter levels that give maximum total surface area were determined and experimentally verified. In the range of conditions studied it was found that, medium levels of HNO₃ and H₂O concentration and lower levels of aluminum nitrate concentration and stirring rate maximize the total surface area.     

PROCESS CONTROL PERSPECTIVE FOR PROCESS ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGY: INTEGRATION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PRACTICE INTO SEMICONDUCTOR AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES

FDA's Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative provides an unprecedented opportunity for chemical engineers to play significant roles in the pharmaceutical industry. In this article, the authors provide their perspectives on (1) the need for chemical engineering principles in pharmaceutical development for a thorough process understanding; (2) applications of chemical engineering principles to meet the challenges from the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries; and (3) the integration of chemical engineering practice into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries to achieve process understanding and the desired state of quality-by-design. A real-world case study from the semiconductor industry is presented to demonstrate how a classic chemical engineering concept, mixing homogeneity, can be implemented by inducing forced flow to ensure an excellent copper electrochemical plating process performance and to improve product quality substantially. Further, a case study of brake system design is discussed with the concept of Dr. Taguchi's robust engineering design to illustrate how quality-by-design can be achieved through appropriate experimental design, in conjunction with the discussion on the concept of quality-by-design in pharmaceuticals. Third, a case study of freeze-dried sodium ethacrynate is presented to demonstrate the vital importance of controlling the processing factors to achieve the desired product stability. Finally, the problems of the current pharmaceutical manufacturing mode, the opportunities and engineering challenges during implementation of PAT in the pharmaceutical industry, and the role of chemical engineering in implementation of PAT is discussed in detail.     

考虑检验误差的Kapur & Wang质量损失改进模型

为了使产品质量特性的量测值与企业生产的实际情况相符合,Kapur&Wang提出了基于质量损失函数的短期内改善产品变异数量的质量模型,但是他们假设没有检验误差是与实际生产制造不相符的.为此,在确定经济规格限的检验错误方面对Kapur＆Wang模型进行改进,提出了求解方法并进行了案例计算.     

Application of Taguchi method in determining optimum level of curing system of NBR/PVC blend

Taguchi method is applied in this study to determine the optimum level of curing system (sulfur, MBTS, and CBS) in a NBR/PVC blend. By considering physicomechanical properties of cured NBR/PVC blend, optimum level of curing system is determined. A fixed master batch formulation of NBR/PVC is used, and the effect of curing system is studied on the physicomechanical properties of NBR/PVC blend, such as tensile strength (TS) and elongation‐at‐break (EB) before and after aging and also hardness and abrasion. The L9 orthogonal array that includes nine rows and four columns is applied. In this matrix, rows show the experiments and three columns show the amount of three factors (sulfur, MBTS, and CBS) and one column is left arbitrarily as an empty column. In this array, the columns are mutually orthogonal. The optimum physicomechanical properties of cured NBR/PVC blend are at 2 phr sulfur, 2 phr MBTS, and 0.5 phr CBS of curing system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5358–5362, 2006     

Specific energy optimization in sawing of rocks using Taguchi approah简

This work aims at selecting optimal operating variables to obtain the minimum specific energy （SE） in sawing of rocks. A particular granite was sampled and sawn by a fully automated circular diamond sawblades. The peripheral speed, the traverse speed, the cut depth and the flow rate of cooling fluid were selected as the operating variables. Taguchi approach was adopted as a statistical design of experimental technique for optimization studies. The results were evaluated based on the analysis of variance and signal-to-noise ratio （S/N ratio）. Statistically significant operating variables and their percentage contribution to the process were also determined. Additionally, a statistical model was developed to demonstrate the relationship between SE and operating variables using regression analysis and the model was then verified. It was found that the optimal combination of operating variables for minimum SE is the peripheral speed of 25 m/s, the traverse speed of 70 cm/min, the cut depth of 2 cm and the flow rate of cooling fluid of 100 mL/s. The cut depth and traverse speed were statistically determined as the significant operating variables affecting the SE, respectively. Furthermore, the regression model results reveal that the predictive model has a high applicability for practical applications.     

基于响应面法的双边长初级永磁直线同步电机多目标优化设计

永磁直线同步电机由于存在边端效应以及齿槽效应,在运行中不可避免地产生推力波动。针对高速大推力密度应用场景,对一种双边长初级PMLSM开展了优化设计。将有限元法与解析法结合,首先独立分析了轴向长度、极弧系数和初级轭部高度等单个参数对电机水平推力和推力波动的影响,并进一步采用Taguchi法筛选显著性较高的结构参数。在此基础上,以提高电磁推力、减小推力波动为优化目标对电机进行响应面分析,得到最终的电机尺寸优化参数。最后制作样机并搭建实验平台,验证了所提优化方法的有效性。     

An analysis and optimisation of the geometrical inaccuracy due to wire lag phenomenon in WEDM

An extensive study of the wire lag phenomenon in Wire-cut Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) has been carried out and the trend of variation of the geometrical inaccuracy caused due to wire lag with various machine control parameters has been established in this paper. In an extremely complicated machining process like Wire-cut EDM, which is governed by as many as ten control factors, it is very difficult to select the best parametric combination for a particular situation arising out of customer requirements. In the present research study, all the machine control parameters are considered simultaneously for the machining operation which comprised a rough cut followed by a trim cut. The objective of the study has been to carry out an experimental investigation based on the Taguchi method involving thirteen control factors with three levels for an orthogonal array L₂₇ (3¹³). The main influencing factors are determined for given machining criteria, such as: average cutting speed, surface finish characteristic and geometrical inaccuracy caused due to wire lag. Also, the optimum parametric settings for different machining situations have been found out and reported in the paper.