Abstract: One of the most important problems in production planning of flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is machine tool selection and operation allocation problem that directly influences the production costs and times .In this paper minimizing machining cost, set-up cost and material handling cost as a multi-objective problem in flexible manufacturing systems environment are considered. We present a 0-1 integer linear programming model for the multiobjective machine tool selection and operation allocation problem and due to the large scale nature of the problem, solving the problem to obtain optimal solution in a reasonable time is infeasible, Paretoant colony optimization (P-ACO) approach for solving the multiobjective problem in reasonable time is developed. Experimental results indicate effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for solving the problem.
Abstract: EPC Class-1 Generation-2 UHF tags, one of Radio
frequency identification or RFID tag types, is expected that most
companies are planning to use it in the supply chain in the short term
and in consumer packaging in the long term due to its inexpensive
cost. Because of the very cost, however, its resources are extremely
scarce and it is hard to have any valuable security algorithms in it. It
causes security vulnerabilities, in particular cloning the tags for
counterfeits. In this paper, we propose a product authentication
solution for anti-counterfeiting at application level in the supply chain
and mobile RFID environment. It aims to become aware of
distribution of spurious products with fake RFID tags and to provide a
product authentication service to general consumers with mobile
RFID devices like mobile phone or PDA which has a mobile RFID
reader. We will discuss anti-counterfeiting mechanisms which are
required to our proposed solution and address requirements that the
mechanisms should have.
Abstract: Advances in information technology, recent changes in business environment, globalization, deregulation, privatization have made running a successful business more difficult than ever before. To remain successful and to be competitive have forced companies to react to the new changes in order to survive and succeed. The implementation of an Enterprise Resource planning (ERP) system improves information flow, reduce costs, establish linkage with suppliers and reduce response time to customer needs. This paper focuses on a sample of Greek companies, investigates the ERP market in Greece, the reasons why the Greek companies are investing in ERP systems, the benefits that users have achieved and the influence of ERP systems on the use of new accounting practices. The results indicate a greater level on information integration, flexibility in information access and greater functionality provided by ERP systems but little influence on the use of new accounting practices.
Abstract: Kazakhstan attaches the great importance to
cooperation with European countries within the framework of
multilateral security organizations such as NATO. Cooperation of
Kazakhstan with the NATO is a prominent aspect of strengthening of
regional security of republic. It covers a wide spectrum of areas, such
as reform of sector of defense and security, military operative
compatibility of armed forces of NATO member-countries and
Kazakhstan, civil emergency planning and scientific cooperation. The
cooperation between Kazakhstan and NATO is based on the mutual
interests of neighboring republics in the region so that the existing
forms of cooperation between Kazakhstan and NATO will not be
negatively perceived both in Asia as well as among CIS countries.
Kazakhstan tailors its participation in the PfP programme through an
annual Individual Partnership Programme, selecting those activities
that will help achieve the goals it has set in the IPAP. Level of
cooperation within the limits of PfP essentially differs on each
republic. Cooperation with Kazakhstan progressed most of all since
has been signed IPAP from the NATO
Abstract: Earthmoving operations are a major part of many
construction projects. Because of the complexity and fast-changing
environment of such operations, the planning and estimating are
crucial on both planning and operational levels. This paper presents
the framework ofa microscopic discrete-event simulation system for
modeling earthmoving operations and conducting productivity
estimations on an operational level.A prototype has been developed
to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework, and this
simulation system is presented via a case study based on an actual
earthmoving project. The case study shows that the proposed
simulation model is capable of evaluating alternative operating
strategies and resource utilization at a very detailed level.
Abstract: This paper and its companion (Part 2) deal with
modeling and optimization of two NP-hard problems in production
planning of flexible manufacturing system (FMS), part type selection
problem and loading problem. The part type selection problem and
the loading problem are strongly related and heavily influence the
system-s efficiency and productivity. The complexity of the problems
is harder when flexibilities of operations such as the possibility of
operation processed on alternative machines with alternative tools are
considered. These problems have been modeled and solved
simultaneously by using real coded genetic algorithms (RCGA)
which uses an array of real numbers as chromosome representation.
These real numbers can be converted into part type sequence and
machines that are used to process the part types. This first part of the
papers focuses on the modeling of the problems and discussing how
the novel chromosome representation can be applied to solve the
problems. The second part will discuss the effectiveness of the
RCGA to solve various test bed problems.
Abstract: Producing companies aspire to high delivery
availability despite appearing disruptions. To ensure high delivery
availability safety stocksare required. Howeversafety stock leads to
additional capital commitment and compensates disruptions instead
of solving the reasons.The intention is to increase the stability in
production by configuring the production planning and control
systematically. Thus the safety stock can be reduced. The largest
proportion of inventory in producing companies is caused by batch
inventory, schedule deviations and variability of demand rates.These
reasons for high inventory levels can be reduced by configuring the
production planning and control specifically. Hence the inventory
level can be reduced. This is enabled by synchronizing the lot size
straightening the demand as well as optimizing the releasing order,
sequencing and capacity control.
Abstract: This paper examines the problem of strategic
management in highly turbulent dynamic business environmental
conditions. As shown the high complexity of the problem can be
managed with the use of System Dynamics Models and Computer
Simulation in obtaining insights, and thorough understanding of the
interdependencies between the organizational structure and the
business environmental elements, so that effective product –market
strategies can be designed. Simulation reveals the underlying forces
that hold together the structure of an organizational system in relation
to its environment. Such knowledge will contribute to the avoidance
of fundamental planning errors and enable appropriate proactive well
focused action.
Abstract: With the prevalence of computer and development of information technology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have long used for a variety of applications in electrical engineering. GIS are designed to support the analysis, management, manipulation and mapping of spatial data. This paper presents several usages of GIS in power utilities such as automated route selection for the construction of new power lines which uses a dynamic programming model for route optimization, load forecasting and optimizing planning of substation-s location and capacity with comprehensive algorithm which involves an accurate small-area electric load forecasting procedure and simulates the different cost functions of substations.
Abstract: Environmental decision making, particularly about
hazardous waste management, is inherently exposed to a high
potential conflict, principally because of the trade-off between sociopolitical,
environmental, health and economic factors. The need to
plan complex contexts has led to an increasing request for decision
analytic techniques as support for the decision process. In this work,
alternative systems of asbestos-containing waste management
(ACW) in Puglia (Southern Italy) were explored by a multi-criteria
decision analysis. In particular, through Analytic Hierarchy Process
five alternatives management have been compared and ranked
according to their performance and efficiency, taking into account
environmental, health and socio-economic aspects. A separated
valuation has been performed for different temporal scale. For short
period results showed a narrow deviation between the disposal
alternatives “mono-material landfill in public quarry" and “dedicate
cells in existing landfill", with the best performance of the first one.
While for long period “treatment plant to eliminate hazard from
asbestos-containing waste" was prevalent, although high energy
demand required to achieve the change of crystalline structure. A
comparison with results from a participative approach in valuation
process might be considered as future development of method
application to ACW management.
Abstract: Geosynthetics have proved to be suitable for
reinforced soil retaining walls. Based on the increasing uses of
geosynthetic reinforced soil systems in the regions, which bear
frequent earthquakes, the study of dynamic behavior of structures
seems necessary. Determining the reinforcement forces is; therefore,
one of the most important and main points of discussions in
designing retaining walls, by which we prevent from conservative
planning. Thus, this paper intended to investigate the effects of such
parameters as wall height, acceleration type, vertical spacing of
reinforcement, type of reinforcement and soil type on forces and
deformation through numerical modeling of the geosynthetic
reinforced soil retaining walls (GRSRW) under dynamic loading with
finite difference method by using FLAC. The findings indicate rather
positive results with each parameter.
Abstract: Massive use of places with strong tourist attraction
with the consequent possibility of losing place-identity produces
harmful effects on cities and their users. In order to mitigate this risk,
areas close to such places can be identified so as to widen the
visitor-s range of action and offer alternative activities integrated
with the main site. The cultural places and appropriate activities can
be identified using a method of analysis and design able to trace the
identity of the places, their characteristics and potential, and to
provide a sustainable improvement. The aim of this work is to
propose PlaceMaker as a method of urban analysis and design which
both detects elements that do not feature in traditional mapping and
which constitute the contemporary identity of the places, and
identifies appropriate project interventions. Two final complex maps
– the first of analysis and the second of design – respectively
represent the identity of places and project interventions. In order to
illustrate the method-s potential; the results of the experimentation
carried out in the Trevi-Pantheon route in Rome and the appropriate
interventions to decongest the area are illustrated.
Abstract: Nowadays, precipitation prediction is required for proper planning and management of water resources. Prediction with neural network models has received increasing interest in various research and application domains. However, it is difficult to determine the best neural network architecture for prediction since it is not immediately obvious how many input or hidden nodes are used in the model. In this paper, neural network model is used as a forecasting tool. The major aim is to evaluate a suitable neural network model for monthly precipitation mapping of Myanmar. Using 3-layerd neural network models, 100 cases are tested by changing the number of input and hidden nodes from 1 to 10 nodes, respectively, and only one outputnode used. The optimum model with the suitable number of nodes is selected in accordance with the minimum forecast error. In measuring network performance using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), experimental results significantly show that 3 inputs-10 hiddens-1 output architecture model gives the best prediction result for monthly precipitation in Myanmar.
Abstract: A local municipality has decided to build a sewage pit
to receive residential sewage waste arriving by tank trucks. Daily
accumulated waste are to be pumped to a nearby waste water
treatment facility to be re-consumed for agricultural and construction
projects. A discrete-event simulation model using Arena Software
was constructed to assist in defining the capacity of the system in
cubic meters, number of tank trucks to use the system, number of
unload docks required, number of standby areas needed and
manpower required for data collection at entrance checkpoint and
truck tank load toxicity testing. The results of the model are
statistically validated. Simulation turned out to be an excellent tool
in the facility planning effort for the pit project, as it insured smooth
flow lines of tank trucks load discharge and best utilization of
facilities on site.
Abstract: Route bus system is the fundamental public transportation
system and has an important role in every province. To improve
the usability of it greatly, we develop an AR application for "Bus-
Net". The Bus-Net system is the shortest path planning system.
Bus-Net supports bus users to make a plan to change buses by
providing them with information about the direction. However, with
Bus-Net, these information are provided in text-base. It is difficult
to understand them for the person who does not know the place. We
developed the AR application for Bus-Net. It supports the action of
a bus user in an innovative way by putting information on a camera
picture and leading the way to a bus stop. The application also inform
the user the correct bus to get, the direction the bus takes and the
fare, which ease many anxieties and worries people tend to feel when
they take buses.
Abstract: Scarcity of resources for biodiversity conservation gives rise to the need of strategic investment with priorities given to the cost of conservation. While the literature provides abundant methodological options for biodiversity conservation; estimating true cost of conservation remains abstract and simplistic, without recognising dynamic nature of the cost. Some recent works demonstrate the prominence of economic theory to inform biodiversity decisions, particularly on the costs and benefits of biodiversity however, the integration of the concept of true cost into biodiversity actions and planning are very slow to come by, and specially on a farm level. Conservation planning studies often use area as a proxy for costs neglecting different land values as well as protected areas. These literature consider only heterogeneous benefits while land costs are considered homogenous. Analysis with the assumption of cost homogeneity results in biased estimation; since not only it doesn’t address the true total cost of biodiversity actions and plans, but also it fails to screen out lands that are more (or less) expensive and/or difficult (or more suitable) for biodiversity conservation purposes, hindering validity and comparability of the results. Economies of scope” is one of the other most neglected aspects in conservation literature. The concept of economies of scope introduces the existence of cost complementarities within a multiple output production system and it suggests a lower cost during the concurrent production of multiple outputs by a given farm. If there are, indeed, economies of scope then simplistic representation of costs will tend to overestimate the true cost of conservation leading to suboptimal outcomes. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to provide first road review of the various theoretical ways in which economies of scope are likely to occur of how they might occur in conservation. Consequently, the paper addresses gaps that have to be filled in future analysis.
Abstract: Many companies have excel, it is economy and well perform to use in material requirement planning (MRP) on excel. For several products, it, however, is complex problem to link the relationship between the tables of products because the relationship depends on bill of material (BOM). This paper presents algorithm to create MRP on excel, and links relationship between tables. The study reveals MRP that is created by the algorithm which is easier and faster than MRP that created by human. By this technique, MRP on excel might be good ways to improve a productivity of companies.
Abstract: This paper proposes a solution to the motion planning
and control problem of a point-mass robot which is required to move
safely to a designated target in a priori known workspace cluttered
with fixed elliptical obstacles of arbitrary position and sizes. A
tailored and unique algorithm for target convergence and obstacle
avoidance is proposed that will work for any number of fixed
obstacles. The control laws proposed in this paper also ensures that
the equilibrium point of the given system is asymptotically stable.
Computer simulations with the proposed technique and applications
to a planar (RP) manipulator will be presented.
Abstract: The utilisation of Industrial Building System (IBS) in construction industry will lead to a safe site condition since minimum numbers of workers are required to be on-site, timely material delivery, systematic component storage, reduction of construction material and waste. These matters are being promoted in the Construction Industry Master Plan (CIMP 2006-2015). However, the enabling factors of IBS that will foster a safer working environment are indefinite; on that basis a research has been conducted. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and identify the relevant factors towards safety improvement for IBS. A quantitative research by way of questionnaire surveys have been conducted to 314 construction companies. The target group was Grade 5 to Grade 7 contractors registered with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) which specialise in IBS. The findings disclosed seven factors linked to the safety improvement of IBS construction site in Malaysia. The factors were historical, economic, psychological, technical, procedural, organisational and the environmental factors. From the findings, a psychological factor ranked as the highest and most crucial factor contributing to safer IBS construction site. The psychological factor included the self-awareness and influences from workmates behaviour. Followed by organisational factors, where project management style will encourage the safety efforts. From the procedural factors, it was also found that training was one of the significant factors to improve safety culture of IBS construction site. Another important finding that formed as a part of the environmental factor was storage of IBS components, in which proper planning of the layout would able to contribute to a safer site condition. To conclude, in order to improve safety of IBS construction site, a welltrained and skilled workers are required for IBS projects, thus proper training is permissible and should be emphasised.
Abstract: It has often been said that the strength of any country
resides in the strength of its industrial sector, and Progress in
industrial society has been accomplished by the creation of new
technologies. Developments have been facilitated by the increasing
availability of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT), in
addition the implementation of advanced manufacturing technology
(AMT) requires careful planning at all levels of the organization to
ensure that the implementation will achieve the intended goals.
Justification and implementation of advanced manufacturing
technology (AMT) involves decisions that are crucial for the
practitioners regarding the survival of business in the present days of
uncertain manufacturing world. This paper assists the industrial
managers to consider all the important criteria for success AMT
implementation, when purchasing new technology. Concurrently,
this paper classifies the tangible benefits of a technology that are
evaluated by addressing both cost and time dimensions, and the
intangible benefits are evaluated by addressing technological,
strategic, social and human issues to identify and create awareness of
the essential elements in the AMT implementation process and
identify the necessary actions before implementing AMT.