Contemporary Industry Research Articles

Reorienting Design Towards a Decolonial Ethos: Exploring Directions for Decolonial Design

ABSTRACT: Contemporary Industrial Design, as professional and academic practice, exists intertwined with the global hegemonic power structures of coloniality (Buckley 1986; Escobar 2018a; Mareis and Paim 2020). Problematizing this situatedness, the effort of Decolonizing Design emerges as a twofold effort: first to unlink it from this structure, opening up for diverse understandings of Design and, second, to remove oppressive behaviors from Design. In this paper we present a decolonial intervention in an Industrial Design education in the Global North as an exploration of how to shift Design towards decolonial emancipation. From this project, we suggest the categories of listening, learning, and loving as guidelines for decolonizing Design. We conclude arguing that the work necessary to dismantle Design as we know it and explore decolonial directions demands that we continually work to break and counterbalance the allegiance to its Eurocentrism and oppressive ways of working.

Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 implementation framework for operational excellence: a case study

The adoption of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) 4.0 has been recommended by researchers and practitioners as an effective strategy to enhance the operational excellence of companies, especially in highly competitive environments given the complementarity of LSS with Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Moreover, evidence suggests that companies commonly face difficulties and perceive the implementation process as challenging. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no comprehensive global model available that offers a step-by-step approach for implementing LSS4.0. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to develop a structured framework that directs organizations to successfully implement LSS4.0. This study follows a combined approach including a systematic literature review to identify existing gaps in recent research and an expert panel to provide valuable insights and validation during the development of the framework. Additionally, a case study was conducted in an automotive manufacturing company to validate the findings. The proposed LSS4.0 framework is based on the DMAIC approach subdivided into fifteen steps. It permits managers to seamlessly integrate LSS4.0 into their processes and selectively choose the relevant tools as required, avoiding digitalization without a clear purpose. Also, it offers a comprehensive solution for managers addressing contemporary industry challenges and enhancing operational processes.

Inference by Pretexts in Contemporary Industries: 1) Inference in Blocking the Excuses

This study reveals the relationship between stopping the pretexts with rules to contemporary industrial systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After introducing the rule of blocking pretexts and the term contemporary industries, the study showed the Saudi regulator’s care to consider blocking pretexts in contemporary industry systems. To achieve the goal of preventing and reducing evils and to prevent the resulting damage that threatens the security and stability of societies, causes harm to people, destroys their social and health interests, and other matters of religion and worldly life. The study arrived at results, the most prominent of which is the comprehensiveness of Sharia rules to control all areas of life in a way that achieves the interests of all people and prevents harm from them. This study followed the descriptive, analytical, and inductive approaches, and the researchers sought to describe the idea of reasoning using pretexts. It also expands the vocabulary of industries that represent a positive contributor to society, and through this, it clarifies the controls that control industries from a legal standpoint.

Characterization of curing status of commercial tire compounds with vein graphite powder and its particle sizes—Experimental and computational study

AbstractThe use of solid tires in demanding industrial applications, subjected to substantial mechanical loads, poses significant challenges due to heat generation from hysteresis and tread friction. Managing this heat is crucial to mitigate the risk of tire blowouts and layer separation. This research investigates the impact of introducing vein graphite powder, varying in particle size, into a commercially used solid tire compound, both experimentally and computationally. The research findings presented in this paper reveal substantial changes in thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, rate constant, induction time, and the order of reaction in solid tires. Contemporary industry trends involve predictive methods for monitoring the curing process in tire manufacturing. A tire curing simulation model based on finite (FE) element analysis is developed. FE modeling is favored due to its accuracy and adaptability, especially when dealing with the intricate geometry and multi‐layered, multi‐compound structure of tires. The complex interplay between heat transfer and curing processes is effectively addressed using user subroutines (UMATHT) in commercial FE software like ABAQUS. In this analysis, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, order of reaction, rate constant, and induction time of the commercial tire compound are considered as temperature‐dependent variables. The computational model not only demonstrates its potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and quality of tire manufacturing processes but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the curing behavior of graphite powder‐based solid tire compounds. Consequently, it provides a valuable tool for optimizing tire manufacturing procedures and ensuring the safe and reliable performance of solid tires under demanding operational conditions. This research bridges the gap between the traditional commercial tire compound and the use of vein graphite powder in tire manufacturing and advanced computational methods, facilitating improvements in tire quality and safety.

Inference By Pretexts in Contemporary Industries: 2) Inference in Opening the Excuses

It is commonly recognized that a variety of sectors benefit people and successfully advance their interests, which ultimately leads to the welfare of mankind as a whole. This study shows how modern industrial regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relate to putting an end to pretexts as well as opening solutions with laws. The study demonstrated the Saudi regulator's consideration of opening the methods in current industry regulations after proposing the rule of opening the methods and the term contemporary industries. The study produced results, the most notable of which is the broad coverage of Sharia regulations to control every aspect of life in a way that accomplishes the interests of all people and prevents damage from them. This is done to achieve the goal of stopping evils and preventing damage through opening interests that result in reducing harm to people, endangering the security and stability of societies, harming people, destroying their social and welfare interests, and other matters of beliefs and worldly life. The goal of this study, which employed analytical, inductive, and descriptive methodologies, was to characterize the concept of pretext-based reasoning. Additionally, broadening the definition of sectors that benefit society makes the legislative restrictions on such industries more understandable.

Rare earth elements reveal the human health and environmental concerns in the largest tributary of the Mekong river, Northeastern Thailand

The widespread application of rare earth elements (REEs) in contemporary industries and agriculture, has caused emerging contaminant accumulation in aquatic environments. However, there is a limited scope of risk assessments, particularly in relation to human health associated with REEs. This study investigated the provenance, and contamination levels of REEs, further evaluating their environmental and human health risks in river sediments from an agricultural basin. The concentrations of REEs ranged from 30.5 to 347.7 mg/kg, with showing an upward trend from headwater to downstream. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified natural and anthropogenic input, especially from agricultural activities, as the primary source of REEs in Mun River sediments. The contamination assessment by the geoaccumulation index (I-geo) and pollution load index (PLI) confirmed that almost individual REEs in the samples were slightly to moderately polluted. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) showed mild to moderate risks in Mun River sediment. Regular fertilization poses pollution and ecological risks to agricultural areas, manifesting as an enrichment of light REEs in river sediments. Nevertheless, Monte Carlo simulations estimated the average daily doses of total REEs from sediments to be 0.24 μg/kg/day for adults and 0.95 μg/kg/day for children, comfortably below established human health thresholds. However, the risk of REE exposure appears to be higher in children, and sensitivity analyses suggested that REE concentration contributed more to health risks, whether the adults or children. Thus, concerns regarding REE contamination and risks should be raised considering the wide distribution of agricultural regions, and further attention is warranted to assess the health risks associated with other routes of REE exposure.

СУЧАСНИЙ СТАН РОЗВИТКУ РОЗВИТКУ ПРОГРЕСИВНИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ КОВКИ

With the vigorous development of high-tech industries such as aviation and aerospace, new challenges have been brought to the traditional forging process. Forgings with a single structural feature and conventional forging processes in the past can no longer fully meet the development of contemporary industry. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new forging processes to meet the higher requirements for forgings. First of all, this article classifies the traditional forging processes, which helps to better understand the different types of forging processes. Then, the analysis of different types of forgings and their forming processes will help to better understand the forming characteristics of different methods of improvement. Comparative analysis found that the selection of forging process and route should fully consider the shape and size of the forgings. In actual production, often one type of forging may have multiple types of shape features. The complexity of the structure makes it impossible to obtain such forgings through only one type forging process or one-step forging. Greatly increased the difficulty of forging, limiting its development and application. Therefore, It is necessary to develop multi-types and multi-steps forging processes. And it is urgent to do further research on the metal forming mechanism and defect generation mechanism of complex forgings in the forging process.

A non-contact method for weighting of aggregate pile based on binocular vision

Concrete is indispensable in contemporary industry, and the weighing of aggregates directly determines the quality of concrete preparation. In response to the difficulty of traditional methods in meeting the industrial requirements for accuracy, efficiency, and cost of measurement, this paper proposes a non-contact bone pile weight measurement method based on binocular vision. Firstly, the on-site image is obtained through a binocular camera, and the camera parameters are used to improve the image edge information and preprocess the image. Then, the improved semi global matching (SGM) algorithm is used to improve computational efficiency, obtaining three-dimensional information of the aggregate pile for volume calculation. Based on the watershed algorithm and T-S inference, the aggregate clearance rate is calculated, and the initial volume is corrected. Finally, a linear relationship is established between the density of the aggregate pile and the clearance rate, and the weight of the aggregate pile can be obtained by the density formula. The experimental results on different sizes of aggregate piles shows that the average error of the experiment is less than 4%. Efficiency of improved SGM matching algorithm has increased several times compared to the original algorithm, providing a low-cost and efficient measurement method for industrial aggregate weighing.

A Corrosion- and Repair-Based Reliability Framework for Offshore Platforms

Offshore platforms are important infrastructures that often face severe environmental conditions, such as corrosion, throughout their lifetime. This can continuously decrease their structural robustness. Despite the availability of many anti-corrosion strategies, there is still a need for a sound management scheme that can systematically address the lifetime operation of offshore platforms under corrosion. To address this, the work here proposes a corrosion- and repair-based reliability framework for the lifetime operation of offshore platforms. A fixed offshore platform is designed based on current design codes for severe environmental conditions in a given return period, and the effect of corrosion on the structure’s serviceability is modeled. The results show that the extent of the corrosion depth and damage in different years highly affects the ability of a repair to restore a damaged element to its original design strength. The results also show that the residual reliability of the structural members under the splash zone becomes almost zero after the first 10 years of the operation period, implying that these members require quick repair strategies. This study establishes a management program for fixed offshore platforms subjected to long-term corrosion by performing reliability analyses on the components of the platforms and evaluating the maintenance of the components in the splash zone. In the absence of commonly accepted contemporary industry practice standards, this study proposes a corrosion growth model based on API-RP-2A, DNV, and NORSOK standards that can effectively evaluate code-based structural designs. The framework developed here can help offshore platform owners in their decision-making process for corrosion-based safety analysis.

Optical Temperature Sensor Evaluation in a Working Gear Motor: Application of Luminescence Thermometry in Industrial Technology

Abstract3D printing constitutes a technological advancement, revolutionizing contemporary industry by enabling manufacturers to fabricate intricate, customized components efficiently and precisely from digital blueprints. Moreover, the fusion of 3D printing with cutting‐edge materials has given rise to compelling elements boasting a diverse range of applications. For this reason, this work describes the incorporation of a luminescent material, NaYF4, doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, embedded in resin for 3D printing to create motorized luminescent gears. The fabricated luminescent gears take advantage of the intensity ratio between the Er3+ emissions at 525 nm (2H11/2 → 4I15/2) and 550 nm (4S3/2 → 4I15/2), which are thermally coupled, to detect the slight temperature variations that gears undergo through friction. This technique can be complementary to thermovision, proving especially valuable for monitoring temperature in elements where measurement with thermographic cameras or direct contact thermometers is hampered. The findings demonstrate that optical measurements provide enhanced (statistical) precision in temperature readings compared to thermovision, with δT = 0.07 K for luminescence thermometry as opposed to δT = 0.3 K for the thermal camera. This work can inspire new research directions using 3D printing and materials with exciting properties, fostering innovative solutions in contemporary industrial technologies.

Evaluating the impact of precision engineering education on industry standards and practices

Precision engineering plays a critical role in various industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare. The evolution of precision engineering education is essential to meet the dynamic demands of these industries. This review outlines a comprehensive evaluation of how precision engineering education influences industry standards and practices. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with industry professionals, educators, and students. Through a structured questionnaire, data is collected on the perceived effectiveness of precision engineering education in preparing graduates for the industry. Additionally, in-depth interviews provide nuanced insights into specific skills, knowledge areas, and competencies deemed essential by practitioners. Initial findings indicate a positive correlation between precision engineering education and industry standards. Graduates equipped with a strong foundation in precision engineering principles demonstrate a higher level of proficiency in meeting industry requirements. Notably, the integration of hands-on training, simulation exercises, and real-world projects within the curriculum significantly enhances students' readiness for practical applications. Moreover, the study delves into the adaptability of precision engineering programs in addressing emerging technological trends and advancements. As industries evolve with the adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, and additive manufacturing, the curriculum's responsiveness to these changes becomes paramount. Evaluating the alignment between educational content and contemporary industry practices sheds light on areas necessitating refinement or enhancement. Furthermore, the research explores the role of industry-academic partnerships in shaping precision engineering education. Collaborative initiatives such as internships, co-op programs, and joint research projects facilitate knowledge exchange and bridge the gap between academia and industry. By fostering mutually beneficial relationships, these partnerships contribute to curriculum development that remains abreast of evolving industry needs. This study underscores the pivotal influence of precision engineering education on industry standards and practices. By continually evaluating and refining educational approaches, stakeholders can ensure that graduates possess the requisite skills and knowledge to thrive in an ever-changing industrial landscape.

Research on Properties and Applications of New Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Materials

The burgeoning demands of contemporary industry have necessitated a huge shift in the selection and utilization of materials, steering focus towards those that embody enhanced properties and environmental sustainability. Lightweight aluminum alloys have emerged as frontrunners in this transition owing to their low density, high strength, ease of processing, and environmental compatibility. These attributes have propelled aluminum alloys to a position of prominence, often superseding steel as the preferred choice in various industrial domains. In the transportation sector, the merits of these alloys are particularly conspicuous. They have become instrumental in automobile manufacturing, facilitating a reduction in vehicle weight, which in turn augments fuel efficiency and bolsters endurance. This trajectory is anticipated to persist, with high-strength aluminum alloys poised to become quintessential structural materials in future automotive manufacturing endeavors. These new materials, characterized by superior strength and enhanced corrosion resistance, are expected to be crafted utilizing emergent technologies such as 3D printing, heralding a transformative era in the automotive industry. This study delineates the escalating significance of lightweight aluminum alloys in modern industry, with a special emphasis on their transformative potential in revolutionizing automotive manufacturing through advancements in material science and technology. It underscores the pivotal role these alloys are set to play in shaping a sustainable and efficient future for the automotive industry.

Optimizing Biomass Pre-Treatment Technologies for BBJP Plants in Indonesia: A Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach

The challenges of energy consumption and environmental sustainability are pronounced in the dynamic landscape of contemporary industries driven by Industry 4.0 technologies. Indonesia, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, charts a course toward a clean energy future with a National Energy Transition Roadmap for Net Zero Emission by 2060. This transition involves innovative strategies such as biomass co-firing and waste utilization in Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) plants, known as Bahan Bakar Jumputan Padat (BBJP) plants. To optimize these BBJP plants, this study employs Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies, specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), to evaluate and select pre-treatment technologies. Criteria include capacity, conversion process, waste type, electricity consumption, operational ease, land requirement, and investment cost. Comparing bio-drying, thermal drying, and mechanical drying, AHP ensures consistent criterion weights, with TOPSIS ranking bio-drying as the most favorable, followed by thermal and mechanical drying. The study acknowledges global waste management challenges and introduces a mobile-modular containerized BBJP/SRF plant model, addressing installation, maintenance, scalability, and adaptability issues. While recognizing challenges, especially in pre-treatment processes, the research emphasizes the need for efficient and cost-effective solutions. Practical implications include enhanced decision-making in biomass drying, identification of technology advantages and disadvantages, and a commitment to address challenges for sustainable implementation. The study contributes to Indonesia's energy transition discourse, advocating the pivotal role of BBJP plants in balancing Industry 4.0 demands and environmental protection, providing insights for stakeholders and decision-makers in advancing sustainable waste-to-energy initiatives.

A new integrated remanufacturing process planning and scheduling model under uncertainties using extended non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II

Remanufacturing, with its environmental and economic implications, is gaining significant traction in the contemporary industry. Owing to the complementarity between remanufacturing process planning and scheduling in actual remanufacturing systems, the integrated remanufacturing process planning and scheduling (IRPPS) model provides researchers and practitioners with a favorable direction to improve the performance of remanufacturing systems. However, a comprehensive exploration of the IRPPS model under uncertainties has remained scant, largely attributable to the high complexity stemming from the intrinsic uncertainties of the remanufacturing environment. To address the above challenge, this study proposes a new IRPPS model that operates under such uncertainties. Specifically, the proposed model utilizes interval numbers to represent the uncertainty of processing time and develops a process planning approach that integrates various failure modes to effectively address the uncertain quality of defective parts during the remanufacturing process. To facilitate the resolution of the proposed model, this study proposes an extended non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II with a new multi-dimensional representation scheme, in which, a new self-adaptive strategy, multiple genetic operators, and a new local search strategy are integrated to improve the algorithmic performance. The simulation experiments results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm over three other baseline multi-objective evolutionary algorithms.

The Long-term Impact of the Historical Slave Trade in Africa on Contemporary Industrialization

The Long-term Impact of the Historical Slave Trade in Africa on Contemporary Industrialization

A STUDY OF INDUSTRY 4.0 FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF VUCA

Sustainability is not only a buzz word but it is the need and being sustainable is the responsibility of mankind for the sake of its future generations. In the present industrial and social environment where mankind cannot ignore its development goals. The contemporary Industry has to excel on both fronts namely sustainability and development goals in the environment of VUCA- Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Technologies of 4th industrial revolution (4IR) have the potential and ability of meeting the requirements. The brief paper attempts to capture the need and role of circular Economy for achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the environment of VUCA with the role and features of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) important for sustainable growth in the environment of VUCA under Circular Economy.

A novel porphyrin MOF catalyst for efficient conversion of CO2 with propargyl amines.

The capture and conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemical products under mild conditions is an important and challenging approach for contemporary industry. Carboxylic acid ligands are widely used in the development of functionalized metal organic framework materials due to their excellent stability. Herein, a novel mixed-metal organic framework Cu-TCPP(Fe) was assembled from iron-(Fe)-porphyrin ligands, which can efficiently catalyze the reaction of propargylic amines and CO2 to synthesize 2-oxazolidinones.

Active vision: A promising technology for achieving zero-defect manufacturing

Quality constitutes the cutting-edge of contemporary industry, much more sharpened with the emergence of Industry 4.0. Yet, the assurance of delivering high-quality products remains a challenging problem that requires cautious controls and timely actions through the entire phases of the production cycle. To that end, zero-defect manufacturing (ZDM) has given prominence to a comprehensive methodology that ensures quality control and defects eradication at every phase of the procedure, prioritizing the continuous supervision of each distinctive component to satisfy the corresponding quality assurance standards. Continuous supervision and detection of possible flaws are subjective to exploiting high-tech sensors for high-precision monitoring and assessment. Considering the above, adopting active vision technology can further enhance the promising capabilities of ZDM. The paper highlights the active vision's benefits to the ZDM strategy and introduces a practical framework for applying such technology through the different stages. Innovations and challenges that have to be taken into consideration are also discussed.

Stirling engines: Advancements, applications, and environmental benefits

The increasing adoption of Stirling engines in contemporary industries is driven by their potential to address critical issues of energy efficiency and emissions reduction. Stirling engines offer higher energy efficiency, lower noise and emissions, and versatility in utilizing various heat sources, making them a promising solution for enhancing environmental preservation and energy diversity. This paper examines the growing adoption of Stirling engines in diverse industries, driven by the urgent need to address energy efficiency and emissions challenges. The paper outlines the core principles and advantages of Stirling engines, highlighting their potential to enhance energy efficiency, preserve the environment, and diversify energy sources. Furthermore, the paper underscores significant industrial and aviation applications of Stirling engines, particularly in vehicle propulsion, heat pumps, and electricity generation. Notably, the automotive Stirling engine excels in fuel efficiency and emissions reduction, offering a viable alternative to traditional internal combustion engines. Stirling engines also prove effective in heat pump systems, contributing to efficient building heating and cooling. In conclusion, despite challenges such as material requirements and heat loss, Stirling engines hold great promise as sustainable and eco-friendly thermal engines. As global concerns regarding energy and the environment intensify, Stirling engines offer a compelling pathway to improved energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and a more diversified energy landscape, driving innovation across sectors.

An audience studies’ contribution to the discoverability and prominence debate: Seeking UK TV audiences’ ‘routes to content’

Despite discoverability and prominence emerging as crucial to contemporary industry and policy debates in relation to online and internet-distributed television, there remains relatively little rich, qualitative data about how contemporary audiences discover content. This article addresses this gap through empirical audience research focused on the ‘routes to content’ through which UK audiences find and decide what television to watch. Defining television broadly to include all forms of video content accessed in the home, we argue for the importance of thinking about discoverability as an audience activity, not just an industrial strategy. Building on TV audience studies’ longer history and more recent literature on engagement, media literacy, algorithms and technological affordances in contemporary media platforms, we argue for new understanding of the imaginaries shaping people’s habitual viewing activities. The article proposes four new concepts for thinking about discoverability as an audience activity. First, we explore technological affordances and default behaviour, developing the concept of the negotiated-null affordance to explain how technological affordances can be rendered invisible by habitual behaviours. Second, we focus on algorithmic literacies and propose a new dissonant algorithmic imaginary to explain our participants’ ambivalences towards algorithmic personalisation. Third, we unpack the dynamics of access that emerge in our participants’ negotiations of television technologies, services and content. Fourth, we examine the role of word of mouth and promotional paratexts, theorising a second-order algorithmic imaginary to help us understand how these forms of communication can often, themselves, be subject to algorithmic processes. In doing so, we argue for the need for further qualitative research that looks beyond the ‘savvy’ consumers that dominate audience research in order to unpack the technological, industrial, cultural and social processes that shape people’s routes to content in a platform-dominated media landscape.