Industrial Engineering Problems Research Articles

Generic metaheuristics application to industrial engineering problems

Metaheuristics subsume heuristic methods that are defined in a generic way with the key ideas independent from problem specific aspects. Accordingly, a nice way for problem solving would be to select and apply some appropriate method from a heuristics stockroom that provides ready-to-use software components incorporating respective methods. Thus, we are faced with the task to build reusable software components. In this paper we describe an object-oriented framework for heuristic search and discuss some experiences concerning the application of this framework.

Evolutionary algorithms for constrained engineering problems

Evolutionary computation techniques have been receiving increasing attention regarding their potential as optimization techniques for complex problems. Recently these techniques were applied in the area of industrial engineering; the most-known applications include scheduling and sequencing in manufacturing systems, computer-aided design, facility layout and location problems, distribution and transportation problems, and many others. Industrial engineering problems usually are quite hard to solve due to a high complexity of the objective functions and a significant number of problem-specific constraints; often an algorithm to solve such problems requires incorporation of some heuristic methods. In this paper we concentrate on constraint handling heuristics for evolutionary computation techniques. This general discussion is followed by three test case studies: truss structure optimization problem, design of a composite laminated plate, and the unit commitment problem. These are typical highly constrained engineering problems and the methods discussed here are directly transferrable to industrial engineering problems.

Calculation of phase diagrams: Calphad

The Calphad area is now maturing and recent advances relate to Calphad as applied to engineering problems in the materials industry. Such applications involve design of new alloys, process development and environmental interactions.

QSOLVE: A software system for analytically solving a wide variety of waiting line analysis problems

Various mathematical formulae, tables, charts, and graphs are available in texts and/or research articles dealing with queueing theory, and although a number of software packages for solving waiting line analysis problems exist they seldom go beyond elementary Poisson models, and are generally not readily available. This paper describes a software capable of solving a wide variety of queueing models such as Poisson queues with state dependent or non state dependent parameters, some Non Poisson queues, Priority queues, Bulk/Batch Arrival queues, and a number of other types of queueing models. QSOLVE is entirely menu driven, is written in FORTRAN 77, and requires no knowledge of programming to use. QSOLVE may be used to solve various types of Industrial Engineering problems, it is not a commercial package and will be made available to researchers and practitioners.

Paradigms for knowledge-based systems in industrial engineering

When developing expert systems, expertise lies not only in formulating the knowledge to be put into the knowledge base, but also in deciding upon the knowledge representation and inference mechanism most suited to the application. Six detailed knowledge bases demonstrate the application of various AI-based systems to industrial engineering problems. They illustrate a number of approaches: expert systems, which are based upon practical experience; decision systems, which derive from modelling skills; and situation-action systems, which rely on production process design skills. The six paradigms presented describe a logical expert system for selecting material handling equipment; a multi-valued expert system for selecting a dispatching rule for automatic guided vehicles; a profile matching expert system for selecting project management software; a confidence building expert system for selecting a machine feeder; a tandem decision system for developing a production schedule; and a situation-action system for controlling job allocation in a flexible manufacturing cell. The relationships between these various paradigms and the characteristics of problems to which they can be applied are categorized by the nature of the expert and his expertise; the features of the environment; the decision or decisions to be taken; and the manner in which AI-system performance can be evaluated. A knowledge base is proposed for determining which architecture is most appropriate for a given application.

Solutions to Industrial Engineering problems using integrated software environments

The development of word processing systems and the spreadsheet environment marked the beginning of the professional computing movement. For the first time, programs were available that were both highly functional and highly usable, even by non-computer people. The next group of “hot” programs in the business market were “integrated” packages providing a combination of word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics, and telecommunications. Unfortunately, these integrated packages have not displaced such single purpose programs as Lotus 1-2-3, dBase and WordPerfect as the dominant forces in desktop computing. Integrated packages are generally perceived as complex, cumbersome, and difficult to master. An important point to note, however, is that high proficiency is not necessary; successful users of commercial software seldom know or use more that 40% of a programs functionality. This paper addresses the use of integrated software packages to solve Industrial Engineering problems. More specifically, examples are presented demonstrating the use of Ashton Tate's Framework II to solve production and operations management problems. Sample applications include forecasting, after tax economic analysis, and data storage and retrieval, demonstrating the advantages of linking word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Library Resource Sharing

I’m an industrial engineer—at least by academic background. Since you’re going to be spending a day and a half talking about library matters, I thought I’d talk a few minutes about industrial engineering, specifically about a classical industrial engineering problem—the inventory problem.

Managing the microcomputer memory to solve larger scale I.E. problems

Insight into the hardware organization of microcomputers, the operation of high level language interpreters, and assembly language programming provides for more efficient utilization of the limited memory of microcomputers. This makes the solution of larger scale industrial engineering problems on microcomputers possible. A sample procedure and the efficiency obtained are presented using the optimal assignment problem as a demonstration model.

Dimensional Analysis in an Industrial Engineering Setting

Abstract Dimensional analysis is seldom made use of in the solution of industrial engineering problems. In order to correct this, attention is focused on a literature article in the field of warehouse layout. The methods of dimensional analysis are applied to the problem addressed in the foregoing article. After performing dimensional analysis, known results are obtained readily, and an extension of these results is facilitated.

Production Flow System Evaluation of Within-tree Populations of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Production flow system methodologies, originally developed for use in industrial quality control and electrical engineering problem solving, were adopted for use in describing the partial within-tree population system of Dendroctonus frontalis . The spatial and statistical distribution of D. frontalis life stages were defined by 2 and 3 parameter non-linear mathematical models. By integrating under the curves generated by the models for the various life stages it was possible to quantitatively define within-tree populations of the various life stages. For each year of study, transition probabilities between life stages were calculated using standard production flow system techniques. These transition probabilities were cast into a production flowgraph format. Each of the production flow models was evaluated using an algebraic solution technique and the similarities and differences between populations occuring in the 3 yr of study were contrasted. The production flow system technique was suggested as an alternative to the traditional life table format. Several advantages of the production flow system format over the life table were suggested. The most important advantage was that the variables are tied together mathematically and cast into a formalized engineering methodology.

Some Economic Problems in Industrial Engineering

importance of industrial engineering has repeatedly been stressed in many Party documents dealing with the problems involved in the creation of the material-technical foundation of communism. In the report concerning the target figures for the USSR's economic development for 1959-1965, the steady improvement of industrial engineering was cited as one of the conditions for the creation of the material technical base for communism. The industrial engineering problem represents a major part of all our ideological work at the present stage, said N. S. Khrushchev in his speech at the June 1959 Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

Some Engineering Problems in the Rubber Industry

Abstract It can be safely said that an industry such as the rubber industry produces by its horse power and its man power. Man power easily attracts most attention because its units are so easily seen, checked, and classed, and everybody considers themselves capable of directly controlling and eliminating such units. But thousands of horse power units rove all over our factories, idle and unemployed, except on work of distribution. The man power is recorded even to habit units such as a boy or a girl, each has its own individuality; but the horse power units are considered only in droves, and whole groups are judged lost, whereas they are tearing out bearings, destroying gear teeth by wear, heating up cooling water, spoiling stock, and taking up man units to repair the damage. It is interesting to note the rates of man power to H. P. in various industries: