Industrial Engineering Research Articles

Validation of the use of concept maps as an evaluation tool for the teaching and learning of mechanical and industrial engineering

Abstract This paper presents the experimental work developed to measure the learning process through concept map analysis. The development of a concept map is requested by the students for each chapter or theme of the subject. As a result, maps from engineering courses have been analyzed. The measurements carried out consider several parameters, such as individual and team map building, student progressive knowledge level, and map complexity. Concerning the complexity analysis, the focus is qualitative, and it is based on the data extracted from the concept maps elaborated by the students. The study, conducted during the 2018–2019 academic year, included students from various academic levels and institutions, such as the Public University of Navarra UPNA and the University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, covering first-degree students of Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and first-degree students of Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering at UPNA, third-degree students of Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at UPV-EHU. The data collected from 37 individual maps in Industrial Drawing, 31 group maps in Industrial Drawing, 12 individual maps in Design of Machinery, and 12 group maps in Design of Machinery, along with a control group of 79 students who did not participate in any activity, provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of concept maps for evaluating understanding levels and learning outcomes across various engineering subjects and academic levels. The learning outcome of the students is treated to obtain the level of understanding of complex systems shown by the students through the concept maps previously drawn and the questionnaire answered by each student about the achievement of learning results through the use of concept maps. This work shows the research methodology established and the learning results achieved qualitatively: measuring the maps by means of a rubric, self-assessment based on a survey, and through the questionnaires. Also, the results obtained in the final exams have been compared. From the observed results, this methodology is presented as a suitable alternative for evaluating the correct acquisition of concepts in online teaching situations.

Exploring the Practice of Cultivating Engineering Talents in the Direction of Unmanned Aircraft under the Background of New Engineering Discipline

In order to adapt to the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial change, and to support the innovationdriven development of the service industry, the Ministry of Education has vigorously promoted the construction of new engineering disciplines since 2017. At present, new engineering disciplines are gradually penetrating into various industries to meet the new needs of social and economic development. Under the new situation, the development of new engineering industries to adapt to new industries and technologies is an inevitable requirement for development in the new era. UAV is a new type of specialty emerging in recent years, and there are still many uncertainties in its development and construction. At present, there are still many problems in the curriculum, school-enterprise cooperation, etc., and it needs to accumulate experience in its own development, therefore, the school should constantly optimize the talent training program, improve the quality of teaching, and cultivate new talents for the development of China s UAV industry.

Pied kingfisher optimizer: a new bio-inspired algorithm for solving numerical optimization and industrial engineering problems

Pied kingfisher optimizer: a new bio-inspired algorithm for solving numerical optimization and industrial engineering problems

Including gender dimension in operations management teaching

Purpose: This paper aims at introducing the importance and the relevant concepts and tools for including gender dimension in teaching, with a special focus in the Operations Management knowledge field.Design/methodology/approach: The methodology is based on a literature review and on the knowledge and experience of the authors in teaching in the field of Operations Management and designing and implementing trainings and pilot programs for including gender dimension in teaching and.Findings: Even if there already exist some general guidelines for including gender dimension in teaching and in some countries the law requires the inclusion of gender dimension in high education, the effective inclusion of gender dimension in teaching is still in a very preliminary stage. Moreover, there are not specific studies focused on the Operations Management field.Research limitations/implications: Even if the authors have wide experience in the field, the proposals have not been applied to many courses so there is no empirical evidence of the achieved results.Practical implications: The paper can be useful for people teaching in Industrial Engineering and Operations Management courses’, as it gives not only some general guidelines and concepts but also specific examples that can be directly applied to their courses.Social implications: Including gender dimension in Industrial Engineering and Operations Management courses, which are still male dominated, can help achieving the SDG 5, which is focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Specifically, including gender dimension in teaching allow breaking stereotypes, changing the image of the knowledge field, empowering female students and giving both men and women tools for including the gender dimension in their professional careers.Originality/value: There exist some general guidelines for including gender dimension in teaching but, to the best of our knowledge, there is no any specific work that is focused on the Operations Management knowledge field.

Geometric Investigation of Three Thin Shells with Ruled Middle Surfaces with the Same Main Frame

It is proved and illustrated that by taking the main frame of the surface, consisting of three plane curves placed in three coordinate planes, three different algebraic surfaces with the same rigid frame can be designed. For the first time, one three of new ruled surfaces in a family of five threes of ruled surfaces, formed on the basis of some shapes of hulls of river and see ships, which, in turn, are projected in the form of algebraic surfaces with a main frame of three superellipses or of three other plane curves, is under consideration in detail with a standpoint of differential geometry. The geometrical properties of the ruled surfaces taken as the middle surfaces of thin shells for industrial and civil engineering are presented. Analytical formulas for determination of force resultants with using the approximate momentless theory of shells of zero Gaussian curvature given by non-orthogonal conjugate curvilinear coordinates are offered for the first time. The results derived using these formulae will help to correct the results obtained by numerical methods.

Embedding numerical methods and MATLAB programming in a fluid mechanics course for undergraduates in engineering technology

Undergraduate students in engineering technology are typically not required to take any courses on numerical methods or computational techniques and thus have little or no knowledge of many basic numerical approaches commonly used in engineering disciplines, such as root finding, curve fitting, numerical integration, and numerical differentiation. In addition, they are only required to take one introductory level programming course and thus usually experience difficulty when working on course projects involving extensive programming. However, the industry is demanding different skillsets than the ones that were expected just a decade ago. Numerical and programming skills are becoming increasingly important. In this case study, the effectiveness of embedding numerical methods and MATLAB programming in MMET 303 Fluid Mechanics and Power, a four-credit junior-level required course offered every semester for undergraduates at the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University, was assessed. A series of learning modules were purposefully designed and implemented as a trial test in the classes offered in the semester of Fall 2023. Instructor's observation, submitted assignments, and survey results were analyzed. The results suggested that embedding numerical methods and associated MATLAB programming into a required course enhanced students’ analytical skills of tackling practical problems, helping them become better prepared as they move on into the industrial companies or the graduate schools.

Optimization of Blasting Parameters Considering Both Vibration Reduction and Profile Control: A Case Study in a Mountain Hard Rock Tunnel

The number of excavated tunnels is increasing day by day, and the corresponding engineering scale is also getting increasing. Safe, efficient, and economically beneficial tunnel construction methods are indispensable in the process of crossing mountains and steep ridges in the southwest region. However, behind the improvement of transportation infrastructure in Southwest China is the support provided by the rapid development of blasting industry engineering technology in China. In the process of tunnel construction using the drilling and blasting method, in addition to blasting vibration disasters the phenomenon of overbreak and underbreak caused by blasting construction is a prominent problem. This phenomenon not only affects the safety and stability of the tunnel excavation but also seriously increases the construction cost. Based on a short mountain hard rock tunnel project in southwest China, this paper studies the effect of blasting construction on the blasting vibration of adjacent structures and the influence of tunnel contour forming quality. Through the monitoring and analysis of in situ blasting vibration, the Sadowski formula is used to study the attenuation law of blasting vibration velocity in different tunnel sites, which provides a theoretical basis for tunnel blasting vibration control. This article compares the use of overbreak and underbreak value with the traditional method to determine the degree of overbreak and underbreak. It introduces the analysis of contour section fractal dimension value and uses fractal theory in the Python image processing module to accurately and quantitatively describe the problems of tunnel overbreak and underbreak. The feasibility and accuracy of this method have been verified, by combining the total station and 3D laser scanner results of overbreak and underbreak measurements of the Brenner Base Tunnel and a short hard rock tunnel in a mountainous area of southwestern China. The blasting scheme was optimized from the aspects of cut hole form, detonator interval time, and peripheral hole charge structure, and the rationality of the optimized scheme was verified according to the on-site blasting experiments. It has a profound influence on strengthening the protection of adjacent tunnel structures and improving the economic benefit of mountain highway projects.

Nonlinear Slippage of Tensile Armor Layers of Unbonded Flexible Riser Subjected to Irregular Loads

The unbonded flexible riser has been increasingly applied in the ocean engineering industry to transport oil and gas resources from the seabed to offshore platforms. The slippage of helical layers, especially the tensile armor layers of unbonded flexible risers, contribute to the nonlinear hysteresis phenomenon, which is a research hotspot and difficulty. In this paper, on the basis of a typical eight-layer unbonded flexible riser model, the nonlinear slippage of a tensile armor layer and the corresponding nonlinear behavior of an unbonded flexible riser subjected to irregular external loads are studied by numerical modeling with detailed cross-sectional properties of the helical layers, and are verified through a theoretical method considering the coupled effect of the external loads on the unbonded flexible riser. Firstly, the balance equation of each layer considering the effect of external loads is established based on functional principles, and the overall theoretical model of the unbonded flexible riser is set up in consideration of the contact between adjacent layers. Secondly, the numerical modeling of each separate layer within the unbonded flexible riser, including the actual geometry of the carcass and pressure armor layer, is established, and solid elements are applied to all the interlayers, thus simulating the nonlinear contact and friction between and within interlayers. Finally, after verification through test data, the behavior of the unbonded flexible riser under the cyclic axial force, torsion, bending moment, and irregular external and internal pressure is studied. The results show that the tensile armor layer can slip under irregular loads. Additionally, some suggestions related to the analysis of unbonded flexible risers under irregular loads are drawn in the end.

Election Optimizer Algorithm: A New Meta-Heuristic Optimization Algorithm for Solving Industrial Engineering Design Problems

This paper introduces the election optimization algorithm (EOA), a meta-heuristic approach for engineering optimization problems. Inspired by the democratic electoral system, focusing on the presidential election, EOA emulates the complete election process to optimize solutions. By simulating the presidential election, EOA introduces a novel position-tracking strategy that expands the scope of effectively solvable problems, surpassing conventional human-based algorithms, specifically, the political optimizer. EOA incorporates explicit behaviors observed during elections, including the party nomination and presidential election. During the party nomination, the search space is broadened to avoid local optima by integrating diverse strategies and suggestions from within the party. In the presidential election, adequate population diversity is maintained in later stages through further campaigning between elite candidates elected within the party. To establish a benchmark for comparison, EOA is rigorously assessed against several renowned and widely recognized algorithms in the field of optimization. EOA demonstrates superior performance in terms of average values and standard deviations across the twenty-three standard test functions and CEC2019. Through rigorous statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test at a significance level of 0.05, experimental results indicate that EOA consistently delivers high-quality solutions compared to the other benchmark algorithms. Moreover, the practical applicability of EOA is assessed by solving six complex engineering design problems, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

Evaluation of Student Mental Workload in Multicampus Lectures of Cirebon Industrial Engineering Block System

The object of this research is the Industrial Engineering (IE) study program at Bandung Institute of Technology Cirebon Campus which runs block and non-block system lecture. The block system is a lecture by combining two to three class meeting of a course in one day while non-block system is a one time meeting in a week. Block system faced a lot of complained from students because the class were too hectic, the inability of students to receive a lot of quantitative material, and the monotony of the class. This study evaluates student’s mental workload by comparing the results of experimental measurements while attending block and non-block classes. Mental workload was measured with three measuring instruments, named NASA-TLX, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and Stroop test. Experimental results with 38 students concluded that there is actually no significant difference in mental workload between the two systems. Factors that could cause this results to happen include previous experience in block classes, non-optimal block system instructional learning time, mental fatigue in students, and decreased attention.

Stabilization of polytopic discrete-time varying systems with rate and magnitude saturating actuators and bounded disturbances

This study tackles the critical challenge of designing parameter-dependent controllers for the wide class of discrete-time polytopic systems under rate and magnitude saturating actuators. Such a class finds widespread use in diverse applications spanning from medicine to industrial engineering. Our central contribution lies in developing novel convex parameter-dependent state feedback controller synthesis conditions that ensure regional and input-to-state stability, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of rate and magnitude-saturating actuators. Our approach considers the ℓ2/ℓ∞ gain between disturbance input and controlled output, offering performance specifications and retaining validity for specific initial conditions and amplitude-limited input disturbances. Moreover, our methodology is highly adaptable and suitable for a broad spectrum of systems, including LPV/quasi-LPV and T–S fuzzy systems. We leverage the position-type feedback model with speed limitation (PMSL) and the generalized sector condition to derive our controller synthesis method, resulting in a parallel-distributed-compensation strategy under standard assumptions, ensuring practicality and applicability to diverse system requirements. To highlight the effectiveness of our approach, we present numerical examples for comparative evaluation concerning the existing literature. Furthermore, we validate our methodology through real-time experiments conducted on a nonlinear coupled tank system, providing concrete evidence of its efficacy and feasibility for real-world implementation.

Using Dynamo for Automatic Reconstruction of BIM Elements from Point Clouds

Using Dynamo for Automatic Reconstruction of BIM Elements from Point Clouds

DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL ENGINEERING IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITALIZATION OF THE UKRAINIAN ECONOMY

Purpose. Construction and civil engineering, traditionally perceived as conservative industries, also feel the need to adapt to the demands of the time and introduce innovative technologies. Ukraine, entering the era of digital transformation, is actively developing and implementing new technologies in the construction industry. Therefore, systematization and coverage of key aspects of the impact of digital Transformation into the construction industry and civil engineering in Ukraine is the main task today. Methodology. The introduction of Internet of Things technologies in the construction industry expands the possibilities of building control and management. Findings. Sensors located in different parts of the structures allow you to monitor the condition of the building in real time, identify possible problems and ensure the safety of objects. Artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of the digital transformation of construction. Machine learning algorithms help predict and optimize construction processes, which increases Efficiency of planning and resource management. The 3D printing system in construction is one of the promising and revolutionary innovations that is already influencing traditional approaches to construction processes. This digital technique will bring significant changes to the field of construction, accelerating and optimizing a number of stages from design to execution Originality. Analysis of current problems, especially now, in the difficult times of war, industrial construction in Ukraine, as well as around the world, is a promising direction for the development of other industries in general. Industrial construction is an important branch of the construction industry that specializes in the creation and operation of buildings and infrastructure facilities for industrial needs. Practical value. The introduction of innovative technologies in construction and civil engineering in the context of digitalization of the Ukrainian economy has a significant practical impact on various aspects of the industry: Improving Construction Productivity and Quality: Use of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), allows you to increase the efficiency of construction processes, reduce the time of work and avoid errors; Cost optimization: Using machine learning algorithms to predict resource needs, such as materials and labor, allows you to rationalize costs and reduce construction costs.

Project-based learning: Student performance and perceptions in a food industry engineering degree course

The project-based learning (PBL) methodology was applied in a Food Technology course during the third year of a Food Industry Engineering degree at the University of Extremadura. The purpose of the research was to assess the effectiveness of PBL in this specific teaching field, evaluate the utility of rubrics, and determine the level of student satisfaction. A total of 22 students were tasked with participating in a group activity where they had to formulate, design, prepare, and present a food product to their peers and teacher. The students produced multiple deliverables and received feedback from the teachers. They also completed a final report and an oral presentation. The project was evaluated by teachers, peers (peer evaluation), and through self-evaluation using rubrics. A satisfaction survey and an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were conducted after the completion of the PBL activity. The main findings indicated that PBL and rubrics were effective teaching and evaluation methodologies, respectively, enabling students to achieve scores above 8. Teacher evaluations were higher than the self-assessments, which were close to peer evaluations, indicating a high level of commitment on the part of students. Effective communication skills need improvement. Students viewed the activity positively, as it helped them comprehend the subject matter and proved valuable for improving teamwork, autonomy, and overall learning. In conclusion, PBL resulted in an engaging and effective learning experience that enhanced the understanding of food processing content and fostered the development of the skills and competencies necessary for a professional food engineer.

Mechanics 4.0 and Mechanical Engineering Education

Industry 4.0 is an industrial paradigm that is causing changes in form and substance in factories, companies and businesses around the world and is impacting work and education in general. In fact, the disruptive technologies that frame the Fourth Industrial Revolution have the potential to improve and optimize manufacturing processes and the entire value chain, which could lead to an exponential evolution in the production and distribution of goods and services. All these changes imply that the fields of engineering knowledge must be oriented towards the concept of Industry 4.0, for example, Mechanical Engineering. The development of various physical assets that are used by cyber-physical systems and digital twins is based on mechanics. However, the specialized literature on Industry 4.0 says little about the importance of mechanics in the new industrial era, and more importance is placed on the evolution of Information and Communication Technologies and artificial intelligence. This article presents a frame of reference for the importance of Mechanical Engineering in Industry 4.0 and proposes an extension to the concept of Mechanics 4.0, recently defined as the relationship between mechanics and artificial intelligence. To analyze Mechanical Engineering in Industry 4.0, the criteria of the four driving forces that defined mechanics in the Third Industrial Revolution were used. An analysis of Mechanical Engineering Education in Industry 4.0 is presented, and the concept of Mechanical Engineering 4.0 Education is improved. Finally, the importance of making changes to the educational models of engineering education is described.

The influence of internship on student’s academic performance in industrial and management engineering program in Italy

PurposeThe positive correlation between students’ internship and employability is well documented. However, there is no consensus on its relationship with academic performance. Previous studies investigated the Bachelor level: in the UK, the so-called sandwich placement is positively correlated; in the US, the results are mixed. This study aims to expand the scientific literature and focuses on Politecnico di Torino, Italy: the cases of the Industrial and Management Engineering Bachelor (BA) and Master of Science (MS) degree programs are examined.Design/methodology/approachThe academic performance of 2,279 BA students and 2,560 MS students graduated between 2016 and 2021 is examined. Ordinary least square models are employed to test the relationship between grades and internship, controlling for ex ante academic scores, gender, age and geographical origin.FindingsThe results show a small robust negative correlation between internship and grades, especially at the bachelor level, where potentially a self-selection occurs. At the master level, the negative relationship is significant but very small and might be partially determined by the marks of the exams substituting the internship.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the empirical research on the relationship between students’ grade and internship and suggests the presence of complementarities in several ways: the Italian context, characterized by an optional internship is examined, both at the BA and MS level. Universities that intend to organize internship as overlapping with lectures and exams should be cautious, especially when considering the BA level students, whose maturity and skills are less developed than MS ones.

Effect of Impact Force on the Impact-Sliding Wear of Titanium Alloy Drill Pipes against Steel Casings

Titanium alloys have been widely used for drill pipes in complex structural wells and ultra-deep wells because they can provide great benefits in cost and operation in drilling systems due to their excellent properties such as high strength, low density, exceptional corrosion resistance and inherent flexibility. However, their wear behaviors during drilling have not been well understood by the communities. In this work, the effect of the impact force on the wear performance of titanium alloy drill pipes against steel casings was investigated through using a modified wet impact-sliding pin-on-disk test system, in which ZSA-3 titanium alloy was used for the pins and J55 steel was for the disks. The tests were conducted under simulated drilling mud conditions. As the impact force increases, the coefficient of friction tends to become stable and fluctuates slightly, and thus the wear rate of the tribo-pairs decreases gradually. The wear mechanism of J55 steel disks presents a transition from plastic deformation to plastic deformation accompanied by adhesive wear, while that of the titanium alloy pins changes from the plowing effect with adhesive wear to plastic deformation and adhesive wear. In addition, complex oxides will be formed on the surfaces of the tribo-pairs due to the oxidation of Ti and Fe during the wear process. The present results could provide as a fundamental guide for the drilling engineers in related industries for reducing casing wear in the drilling environment.

Digital Twin-based bottleneck prediction for improved production control

Bottlenecks in manufacturing systems may significantly reduce their efficiency and productivity. Therefore, bottleneck analysis is a consolidated topic in Industrial Engineering, both in research and practice. Recently, traditional methods for bottleneck analysis have been enhanced with data-driven approaches, such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics. Nevertheless, their exploitation built on the full scope of technologies from digitalization is still not fulfilled. Indeed, the integration with simulation-based methods remains under-explored. This work aims to address bottleneck prediction leveraging on Digital Twin simulation capabilities to predict manufacturing system behavior. For this purpose, the work first offers an extensive review of bottleneck identification methods, inclusive of the ones based on Digital Twin. The main contribution of the work lies in the proposal of a novel Digital Twin-based bottleneck prediction framework with the end purpose to achieve performance improvements actuated through production control. The framework utilizes the Digital Twin for predicting and mitigating bottlenecks in manufacturing systems. The Digital Twin enables the simulation of the future system behavior, while accounting for the current conditions. This insight can then be used by a bottleneck identification method to infer future system bottleneck. The information on the predicted bottleneck is eventually used to support production control decisions, by adapting the order release and sequencing according to the predicted bottleneck. The benefits of adapting production control to the predicted bottleneck are evaluated quantitatively, highlighting how system performance is enhanced. By doing so, this research contributes to bridging the gap between Digital Twin-based performance analysis and production control, providing knowledge and a practical framework transferable to researchers and industrial practitioners.

CHALLENGES AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN TRANSLATING LEGAL AND TECHNICAL TEXTS IN THE FOOD PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

Translating scientific and technical literature in the field of engineering and technology for the food industry is both challenging and intriguing, much like any translation work in scientific and technical domains. This area has distinct characteristics that set it apart. Practical experience with food product features and their verbal representation through taster's perception of a property involves individual professional experience and knowledge of analysis methodology, alongside unique complex compromise. This compromise stems from terms used in sensory analysis suggests that each combination of mental attitudes shaped by characteristics of the tasters, such as theanatomical structure and condition of each individual's oral cavity. Consequently, a single term may vary in its connotation each time it is used, reflecting different understandings. The practical outcomes of translation work focusing on profile structure analysis are documented in a multilingual glossary of pertinent terms. Examples of translation activities are provided, illustrating the application of professional terms from the meat industry, covering both products and specialized technological equipment. To ensure effective information retrieval from scientific and technical sources in countries with established beet-sugar production, a glossary of terms related to beet-sugar production was compiled. This glossary encompasses 444 terminological phonemes in Ukrainian, with corresponding terms in English, German, French, and three Slavic languages. The glossary includes fundamental terminology and groups terminological phonemes by stages in the beet-sugar production process, with each group covering related processes, equipment, materials, and products. Additionally, the article discusses the organizational and practical aspects of translating regulatory texts as part of harmonizing with European Union standards (EN), specifically those governing safety and hygiene rules for food industry equipment. This section underscores the significance of precise translation to ensure compliance with these standards and maintain industry safety.

Research on the Training Path of Automotive Maintenance Field Engineers under the Background of Industry Education Integration

With the rapid development of technology, the demand for on-site engineers in the automotive maintenance industry is constantly upgrading. This article is based on the background of industry education integration and explores the training path for automotive maintenance on-site engineers. Firstly, the article analyzes the current development status of the automotive maintenance industry and the demand for talents. Then, it elaborates on the importance of industry education integration in the training of automotive maintenance on-site engineers. Through research and practice, this article proposes several training strategies and suggestions aimed at providing strong talent support for the sustainable development of the automotive maintenance industry.