Manufacturing Institute Research Articles

THE WORKLOAD ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYEE BY USING NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION-TASK LOAD INDEX METHOD (NASA-TLX)

Development of manufacturing and service institutions can not be separated from the role of human resources. Human resources have an important role in fulfilling vision and mission. University of A is one of the private educational institutions in East Java to achieve the goal must be managed properly that can be utilized optimally, this can be done by analyzing workload and performance or optimizing the number of employees. The purpose this research is measure workload and effect the employee’s performance. Measurement of workload is using National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) method, NASA-TLX method is rating multidimentional subjective mental workload that divides<em> </em>the workload based on the average load of 6 dimensions, and the measurement of performance is using questionnaire with 5 scales by likert scale. The results showed that employees who have Medium workload is 8%, High workload is 84% and Very high workload is 8%. The result of the questionnaire showed the category of employee’s performance, simply performance is 24% and satisfactory performance is 76%. From the statistical test by using <em>Chi Square</em> method, it is known that the value = 5,9915 and = 2,2225, the result shows <strong> < </strong> , then is accepted and is rejected. Thus, there is influence between the workload of employees and the employees’s performance.

Paediatric neurorehabilitation: finding and filling the gaps through the use of the Institute for Manufacturing strategic roadmapping method

IntroductionAcquired brain injury (ABI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood. Specialist rehabilitation services are often situated far from families and local services may be non-standardised and...

Cambridge Service Alliance, Distributed Information and Automation Laboratory, Research Capability Development Programme

Professor Andy Neely is Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Enterprise and Business Relations at the University of Cambridge, Head of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) and Head of the Manufacturing and Management Division of Cambridge University Engineering Department. He is a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College and Founding Director of the Cambridge Service Alliance.

The State of American Manufacturing 2017

This article provides an insight into the state of American manufacturing through five snapshots based on research data. Two recent trends—outsourcing and digital services—have enabled manufacturers to stretch that old definition to the breaking point and made it difficult for statistics to capture the entirety of the manufacturing sector. Research and development supports better design and engineering, which add the majority of value to high-value products and the industrial processes needed to make them. Experts suggest that manufacturers are hiring people with the right skill sets. In a 2015 Deloitte Consulting and Manufacturing Institute survey, 80% of manufacturers reported a moderate or serious shortage of qualified applicants. Chinese exports have depressed entire manufacturing-oriented communities, leading to widespread unemployment and lower wages as local markets failed to adjust to this onslaught. However, it is believed that cheaper, more capable robots working with people might improve the economics of domestic production.

INFLUENCE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ON EMPLOYER BRANDING IN THE MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SECTOR IN KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of organizational culture on employer branding in the mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya.Methodology: The study used descriptive design. The data collection instrument used was questionnaire. Census study method was used. The target population was only the top, middle and lower level managers in the mobile telecommunication sector totaling to three hundred and ninety (390). A pre-test and pilot survey was conducted. Data analysis involved statistical computations for averages, percentages, and correlation and regression analysis. Statistical computer software (SPSS) was used in data analysis. Analyzed data was presented using tables, charts and graphs.Results: Results revealed that in most telecommunication companies in Kenya employee’s work as a team, rather than hierarchy. The results also revealed that in most Mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya people are viewed as an important source of competitive advantage. The results also revealed that most telecommunication companies in Kenya have consistent core values. The results also showed that majority agreed with the statement that Work is organized so that each person can see the relationship between his or her job and the goals of the organizationUnique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Mobile telecommunication sector in Kenya should have clear well communicated long term vision as well as formal and structured induction, orientation and familiarization process. The study also recommends that the mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya should enhance strategy fit culture, involve the employees in decision making and in addition, strive to maintain good working environment, flexible work schedule, and refreshing atmosphere which will boost employee’s morale and encourage team work. Finally, the findings should also be used in comparison with the performance of other companies like the manufacturing and academic institutions in kenya in relation to Human resource practices, organizational culture and employer branding.

Calibration of an Indexing Table Using a High Precision Angle Comparator

The calibration of indexing table is important to ensure high accuracy and reliability in angle metrology. In this paper, we present calibrations of an indexing table and uncertainty analysis to evaluate the performance of the high precision angle comparator. The configuration of the angle comparator is explained. In the calibration, a complete closure method is applied to obtain the angle comparator’s position error and the indexing table’s angular deviation simultaneously based on the least square method. The position error of the angle comparator is evaluated to be about 0.08. The calibration result of an indexing table is compatible with that of the manufacturer and National Institute of Metrology of China within the expanded uncertainty of calibration, 0.04.

Exploring the potential of fungal-bacterial consortium for low-cost biodegradation and detoxification of textile effluent

AbstractIn the present study, the enrichment and isolation of textile effluent decolorizing bacteria were carried out in wheat bran (WB) medium. The isolated bacterium Providencia rettgeri strain HSL1 was then tested for decolorization of textile effluent in consortium with a dyestuff degrading fungus Aspergillus ochraceus NCIM 1146. Decolorization study suggests that A. ochraceus NCIM 1146 and P. rettgeri strain HSL1 alone re moves only 6 and 32% of textile effluent American Dye Manufacturing Institute respectively in 30 h at 30 ±0.2°C of microaerophilic incubation, while the fungal-bacterial consortium does 92% ADMI removal within the same time period. The fungal-bacterial consortium exhibited enhanced decolorization rate due to the induction in activities of catalytic enzymes laccase (196%), lignin peroxidase (77%), azoreductase (80%) and NADH-DCIP reductase (84%). The HPLC analysis confirmed the biodegradation of textile effluent into various metabolites. Detoxification studies of textile effluent before and after treatment with fungal-bacterial consortium revealed reduced toxicity of degradation metabolites. The efficient degradation and detoxification by fungal-bacterial consortium pre-grown in agricultural based medium thus suggest a promising approach in designing low-cost treatment technologies for textile effluent.

Moringa oleifera-mediated coagulation of textile wastewater and its biodegradation using novel consortium-BBA grown on agricultural waste substratum.

Generation of secondary sludge is a major concern of textile dye removal by coagulation process. Combinatorial coagulation-biodegradation treatment system has been found efficient in degradation of coagulated textile dye sludge. Moringa oleifera seed powder (700mgL-1) was able to coagulate textile dyestuff from real textile wastewater with 98% color removal. Novel consortium-BBA was found to decolorize coagulated dye sludge. Parameters that significantly affect coagulation process were optimized using response surface methodology. The bench-scale stirred tank reactor (50-L capacity) designed with optimized parameters for coagulation process could efficiently remove 98, 89, 78, and 67% of American Dye Manufacturer's Institute (ADMI) in four repetitive cycles, respectively. Solid-state fermentation composting reactor designed to treat coagulated dye sludge showed 96% removal of dye within 10days. Coagulation of dyes from textile wastewater and degradation of coagulated dye sludge were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Cell morphology assay, comet assay, and phytotoxicity confirmed the formation of less toxic products after coagulation and degradation mechanism.

Finite Element Modeling of Bolted Cold-Formed Steel Storage Rack Upright Frames

Steel storage racks, commonly assembled from cold-formed steel profiles, are braced in the cross-aisle direction, where bracing members are typically bolted between two uprights forming an “upright frame”. Especially for high-bay racks and racks supporting the building enclosure, accurately determining the transverse shear stiffness of upright frames is essential in calculating the elastic buckling load, performing earthquake design and serviceability checks. International racking specifications recommend different approaches to evaluate the said transverse shear stiffness. The Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) Specification conservatively uses an analytical solution based on Timoshenko and Gere's theory while the European (EN15512) and Australian (AS4084) Specifications recommend testing to be conducted. Previous studies have shown that Finite Element Analyses (FEA), solely using beam elements, fail to reproduce experimental test results and may overestimate the transverse shear stiffness by a factor up to 25. This discrepancy is likely attributed to the local deformations occurring at the bolted joints. In this paper, a commercially used upright frame configuration has been modeled using shell elements in FEA and the response is verified against published experimental test results. A good correlation is found between the FEA and test results, concluding that shell elements are able to fully capture the behaviour of the upright frame. Future studies on the use of the FE model are also presented.

Design and Development of Driving Simulator Scenarios for Road Validation Studies

In recent years, the number of road-based studies using driving simulators is growing significantly. This allows evaluating controlled situations that otherwise would require disproportionate observations in time and/or cost. The Institute of Design and Manufacturing (IDF) of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) has developed, in collaboration with the Engineering Research Group Highway (GIIC) of the UPV, a low cost simulator that allows rapid implementation and effectively a new methodology for validation studies of different roads through the implementation in the simulator scenarios of existing roads. This methodology allows the development of new scenarios based on the analysis of a layers-file system. Each layer includes different information from the road, such as mapping, geometry, signaling, aerial photos, etc. The creation of the simulated scenario is very fast based on the geometric design software, making it easier to consulting firms using the system that can evaluate and audit a particular route, obtaining reliable conclusions at minimal cost, even if the road is not actually built. This paper describes the basic structure of the layers generated for developing scenarios and guidelines for the implementation thereof. Finally the application of this methodology to a case of success will be described.

Developing the Digital Manufacturing Commons: A National Initiative for US Manufacturing Innovation

The manufacturing sector is at the core of the American economy. With American leadership in advanced manufacturing at risk due to changes in the global economy and new competitors rising across the globe, the U.S. President announced an investment of $1 billion in a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The key focus is on new technology paradigms that can improve the competitiveness of American manufacturing – with a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – through digitization of design and manufacturing, democratization of technology, and collaborative design and analytics to sustain leadership across the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem.Funded through the newly established Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute and supported through a Cooperative Agreement with the Department of Defense, the Digital Manufacturing Commons (DMC) is an open-source platform based on previous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and General Electric (GE) projects and built to democratize development and access to the tools for manufacturing innovation across small and large companies, universities, institutes, and entrepreneurs. The DMC will bring together one hundred thousand or more users, thousands of SMEs, large manufacturing companies, and universities to collaborate on manufacturing and to accelerate technologies that integrate the digital thread from design to manufacture and service.The initiative to build the DMC is led by GE Global Research Center. The DMC will be transitioned to the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute and made available to the U.S. manufacturing base to enable a digital revolution in manufacturing innovation.

Biotransformation of mixture of dyes by enriched bacterial consortium ASD

Dye effluents released from textile industries has gradually entrenched the roots of peril to majority of the water bodies. Considering the alarming need of innovative bioremediation technologies, the present study aims to evaluate the biodegradation potential of a bacterial consortium ASD for mineralization of a mixture of structurally different dyes. Consortium ASD, developed from dye contaminated soil from Vatva industrial estate, constitutes of four bacterial strains viz. Pseudomonas sp., Brevibacillus sp. and two strains of Stenotrophomonas sp. The intense metabolic activity of these strains together, led to 94% ADMI removal (American dye Manufacturers Institute) of 100 mg l−1 of a mixture of dyes in the presence of starch (0.1%, w/v) and proteose peptone (0.4%, w/v) within 24 h at 37°C under static (microaerophilic) condition and could tolerate up to 400 mg l−1 of dye mixture. Consortium was also able to reduce total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand by 85 and 78% within 24 h. Significant level of various oxido-reductive enzymes observed during decolourization by the consortium, confirms their involvement in the degradation process. Biotransformation of the mixture of dyes to less toxic byproducts was confirmed using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, NMR, GC–MS analysis, and phytotoxicity test. Results showed a suitable application of consortium ASD for the biological processing of dye containing wastewaters.

The development of a generic servitization systems framework

Manufacturing institutions are increasingly adopting and implementing a servitization strategy directed at enhancing their revenue streams and gaining a competitive advantage in a highly competitive and extremely turbulent marketplace. The focus of this paper is directed at gaining an understanding of (1) the various interactive systems that assume relevance in the creation and execution of the servitization strategy and (2) the development of a generic servitization systems framework. A multidisciplinary literature review was undertaken in order to identify the systems concerned and develop a generic servitization framework that could serve as a source of reference and information in strategy development and operational execution. Supporting evidence as to the relevancy of the model was obtained from a case study analysis conducted at a South African manufacturing institution that had implemented a servitization strategy. An important finding that emerged from the research study was that the institution's business model needed to be adapted, a process that necessitated an understanding of the respective systems involved, their interaction, and the change management difficulties encountered therein. The generic servitization framework was found to assume relevance in this regard. It is contended that the servitisation systems framework could serve as a source of reference and information for executives, management practitioners and technologists involved in similar projects.

Modified synthesis of nanoscale zero-valent iron and its ultrasound-assisted reactivity study on a reactive dye and textile industry effluents

Synthesized nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles were applied for the degradation of a reactive dye Remazol Black B 133 and textile effluent. XRD and HR-TEM analysis of the synthesized particles showed body centered cubic crystal packing. The aggregates were spherical in shape and the size of the particles ranged from 5 to 15 nm. The reactive dye solution was substantially degraded by NZVI particles using ultrasonic irradiation under various experimental conditions created by varying NZVI dosages (0.15–0.30 g/L), initial dye concentration (25–200 mg/L), and pH (2–13). Experimental results suggest that NZVI particles work best within the pH range of 4–10. A unit gram of NZVI was found to degrade a maximum of 749.2 mg of RB B 133 dye and more than 80% of the dye was removed within 15 min of reaction time. During the degradation process, an oxidation–reduction potential change from 196 to −577 mV was detected, indicating reductive condition is necessary for effective dye removal. FT-IR analysis of the end products of the degradation process indicated the presence of an amino (–NH2) group resulting from the breakdown of the azo (–N=N–) group. Results suggest that the degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to dye concentration. The effluents of two textile industries were collected, characterized, and treated with NZVI particles, which led to the significant fall below the standard scale of American Dye Manufacturing Institute (ADMI). This lowering of ADMI value indicates that the overall color removal efficiency is irrespective of any specific dye present in the effluent.

Glutaraldehyde cross-linked magnetic chitosan nanocomposites: Reduction precipitation synthesis, characterization, and application for removal of hazardous textile dyes

Magnetic chitosan nanocomposites (MCNCs) were synthesized by an inexpensive reduction precipitation technique using a glutaraldehyde cross-linking agent at room temperature. Successful chitosan coating of iron oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction data revealed crystalline particle sizes for the iron oxide and MCNCs to be around 6–7 and 8–9nm, respectively. In addition, the MCNCs exhibited supermagnetic properties having magnetic saturation of 17.5emu/g. The synthesized MCNCs showed 91.60% absorption of Acid Red 2, while iron oxide 16.40% absorption; enhanced performance in MCNCs was resulted from presence of free amino and hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, the optimum pH and adsorbent concentration were 3 and 1.0g/L, respectively. The Redlich–Peterson isotherm fit experimental data better than Langmuir and Freundlich models, based on non-linear regression. Finally, MCNCs showed 96% American Dye Manufacturing Institute (ADMI) value removal and gave recovery efficiency of 100%, making them attractive for further practical applications.

Acknowledging JMD's Associate and Guest Editors

Acknowledging JMD's Associate and Guest Editors

Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute

Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute

Zinc chloride as a coagulant for textile dyes and treatment of generated dye sludge under the solid state fermentation: Hybrid treatment strategy

Dye sludge generation is major drawback of coagulation process. Efficient hybrid technology by combining coagulation and solid state fermentation (SSF) has capacity to solve generated dye sludge problem. Coagulation of 100mg/L Reactive Red 120 (RR120) using ZnCl2 showed 99% color removal. Mixture of textile dyes (MTD) and textile wastewater (TW) showed 96% and 98% ADMI (American Dye Manufacturing Institute) removal after coagulation by ZnCl2. 92% and 94% ADMI removal from MTD and TW dye sludge and 96% decolorization of RR120 sludge was observed respectively by developed microbial consortium (DCM) in 72h under SSF. Scale up of coagulation process by coagulation reactor (CR) having 50L capacity operated for 30min/cycle. CR showed average 94% ADMI removal from TW in 10 successive cycles. Scale up of SSF composting bioreactor (CB) showed complete dye removal from dye sludge obtained from CR (500L of TW) in 30days.

Application of response surface methodology for the optimization of textile effluent biodecolorization and its toxicity perspectives using plant toxicity, plasmid nicking assays

Textile effluents are hugely hazardous, and comparatively less research have been focused on their biodecolorization process optimization by single bacterium. Hence, present study was intended toward statistical optimization of textile wastewater biodecolorization by Pseudomonas sp. SUK1 employing response surface methodology. Effects of pH, temperature, and effluent concentrations were analyzed, and an optimal response of 92.20 % American Dye Manufacturing Institute (ADMI) value removal was recorded at 7.0 pH, 40 °C, and 40 % of effluent concentration. This response was maximized to 94.08 % ADMI removal from predicted solutions. Actual and predicted values were matching and the process was found suitable for quadratic model. Success of response surface methodology was validated from R 2. Significant interactions of each variable were demonstrated by response surface plots. Bacterium reduced the heavy metals concentration, Biological Oxygen Demand, and Chemical Oxygen Demand values significantly. Degradation of dyes was checked by high performance thin layer chromatography. Effluent treatment caused the nicking of pBR322. Up- /down- regulation of antioxidant enzymes in Allium cepa L. confirmed the severe toxicity of effluent and also suggested that the toxicity was significantly reduced by the bacterial treatment.

Microbial Degradation and Detoxification of Synthetic Dye Mixture by Pseudomonas sp. SUK 1

Textile industry is the major source of colored effluents constituting a number of complex dyes affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems which necessitates their removal from environment. Bioremediation offers an inexpensive and eco-friendly approach hence, Pseudomonas sp. SUK 1, which is already known for its potential in degradation of individual dyes is used to degrade synthetic dye mixture of eight structurally different dyes. The bacterium was capable to remove 94.3 % American Dye Manufacturing Institute value of dyes mixture, within 24 h under static condition at pH 7 and 30 °C temperature. The results from the batch experiments revealed the ability of the tested bacterium to remove the synthetic dye mixture after repeated exposure. Induction in the activities of various biotransformation enzymes like laccase, veratryl alcohol oxidase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-2, 6-dichlorophenol-indophenol reductase and tyrosinase was observed, indicating the significant role of these enzymes in biodegradation. After treatment significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand was observed. The biotransformation of synthetic dye mixture was confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses of samples before and after decolorization. The toxicity analysis of degraded metabolites formed after biotransformation was carried out on Triticum aestivum, Phaseolus mungo and Sorghum vulgare crop plants with respect to germination ability, shoot and root length analysis. However oxidative stress study was carried out on Allium cepa L. proved that degraded metabolites were less toxic. Thus biodegradation of complex synthetic dye mixture to non-toxic metabolites using Pseudomonas sp. SUK 1 would be a better option for biological treatment of textile effluents.