Manufacturing Perspective Research Articles

The Use of Products with a Monitoring System for Remote Bee Detection in Beekeeping in Czechia

The use of modern technology is becoming part of both industry and agriculture. These technologies can also be used in beekeeping, where they can help to monitor the operation of the hive remotely. Beekeepers can remotely monitor the weight of their hives, their temperature, humidity, and other parameters. The aim of this paper is to map the beekeepers in the use of products with monitoring system for remote bee detection in beekeeping in Czechia. To map the issue, qualitative research using semi-structured interviews was conducted with beekeepers, manufacturers/providers of smart devices in beekeeping, and other entities involved in beekeeping. The findings showed that the interest of manufacturers and sellers to offer these smart devices is significant, but the interest of beekeepers is rather less, due to e.g., the purchase price, weaker IT knowledge, traditional beekeeping practices, higher age of beekeepers and the joy of being personally with bees. The novelty of the paper is not to look at the provision of ICT in beekeeping from a technical perspective, but from the perspective of users (beekeepers) and manufacturers of these technologies. Through interviews with beekeepers as well as others in the apiculture sphere, a comprehensive view of the issue is developed. Moreover, this is the first piece of research on this area in Czechia.

Detectability of use errors in summative usability tests of medical devices: Impact of the test environment

The regulations on summative usability evaluations of medical devices (MDs) emphasize that the test environment must have sufficient ecological validity for generalization to real-life use. Here, we examined the influence of environmental fidelity (a component of ecological validity) on the detectability of MD use errors. A total of 140 participants participated in a summative usability evaluation of an anaphylactic shock auto-injector device under either a high-fidelity condition or a condition acceptable from the manufacturer's perspective, lower-fidelity condition. The numbers of errors detected in each condition were compared by applying descriptive statistics and logistic and Poisson multivariate regressions. We found that the level of fidelity did not influence the overall number of use errors detected but did influence the detection of certain use errors. To optimize the test environment and increase the detection of use errors, each environmental feature's role in the test task should first be examined.

Identification of Barriers to Sustainable Manufacturing Implementation—The Perspective of Manufacturers of Parts and Components for Agricultural Transport

Sustainable manufacturing involves executing manufacturing processes in a way that follows the sustainable development principles, striving to combine economic, ecologic and social goals. The expected benefits of sustainable manufacturing are a lower cost and an improved environmental impact and well-being of employees. The main goal of the research was to identify barriers to the implementation of sustainable manufacturing principles. Achieving the main goal required the implementation of partial goals: (G1) designing the research tool based on the specific features of sustainable manufacturing identified based on the literature research; (G2) identifying of barriers that limit and/or prevent the implementation of sustainable manufacturing; and (G3) assessing the significance of individual factors limiting (preventing) implementation. The research was conducted in the agricultural transport sector and the subjects of the research were manufacturers of parts and subassemblies for agricultural transport. The ranking of limitations and barriers enables the definition of recommendations for companies willing to implement sustainable manufacturing concepts.

Microstructure, Phase Composition, and Mechanical Properties of Intermetallic Ni-Al-Cr Material Produced by Dual-Wire Electron-Beam Additive Manufacturing

Electron-beam additive manufacturing is one of the most promising methods for creating complex metal parts and structures. Additive manufacturing has already gained wide acceptance in the creation of various constructions from aluminum, copper, titanium, and their alloys as well as different classes of steels and other metallic materials. However, there are still many challenges associated with the additive manufacturing and post-production processing of intermetallic alloys. Thus, it is currently an urgent task for research. In this work, heat-resistant intermetallic alloys based on nickel, aluminum, and chromium were produced by dual-wire electron-beam additive manufacturing using commercial NiCr and Al wires. The microstructure, phase composition, and microhardness of the intermetallic billets are strongly dependent on the ratio of NiCr and Al wires, which have been fed during the additive growth of the material (NiCr:Al = 3:1 and NiCr:Al = 1:3). A metal-matrix composite material (Al3Ni-based intermetallide in Al-based matrix) was fabricated using the NiCr:Al = 1:3 ratio of the wires during the deposition. In tension, it fractures in a brittle manner before the plastic deformation starts, and it possesses a high microhardness of 6–10 GPa with a high dispersion of the value (the mean value is 8.7 GPa). This is associated with the complex phase composition of the material and the high fraction of a brittle Al3Ni intermetallic phase. In the material, obtained with the ratio NiCr:Al = 3:1, the ordered Ni3Al(Cr) and disordered Ni3Cr(Al) intermetallides are the dominating phases. Its microhardness turned out to be lower (4.1 GPa) than that in Al + Al3Ni-based composite, but intermetallic Ni3Al-based alloy demonstrates good mechanical properties in a high-temperature deformation regime (650 MPa, more than 10% elongation at 873 K). Microstructural studies, analysis of phase composition, and tensile mechanical properties of additively produced intermetallic materials show the perspective of dual-wire electron-beam additive manufacturing for producing intermetallic compounds for high-temperature applications.

Table-top numbering-up 3D-printed miniaturized hydrocyclone for high-efficiency and high-throughput separation of oil-in-water emulsions

Oily wastewater from home and industrial effluents, as well as marine oil spills, poses significant environmental problems, such as water and soil contamination and ecosystem devastation. We here developed a parallelized miniaturized hydrocyclone (mHC) system consisting of multiple mHCs and a flow distributor for high-efficiency and high-throughput separation of oil-in-water emulsions. From a manufacturing perspective, our system can be easily and rapidly created using 3D printing technology. It was also specifically designed to provide simple and durable connections between tubes and components, eliminating the need for a time-consuming bonding process. Direct visualization of primary and secondary vortex flows generated within the mHC device was achieved, allowing the variation of the vortex flows as a function of the feed flow rates to be analyzed. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a single mHC was capable of separating six types of oil-in-water emulsions with different oil phases and a separation efficiency greater than 90 %, with olive oil-based emulsions achieving a remarkable separation efficiency of 98.3 % at the optimal feed rate of 200 mL/min. By numbering-up a single mHC and incorporating a 3D-printed flow distributor to ensure a uniform flow distribution into each individual mHC, we can construct a parallelized mHC system. The separation system can process an estimated 3,168 L (837 US gallons) of mineral oil-based emulsion per day with a separation efficiency of approximately 97 %. The results of this study can be further enhanced by modifying the flow distributor, increasing the number of single mHCs, and introducing high-performance pumps.

Methodical assessment of the value of sensory captured data regarding the suitability for influencing manufacturing process goals

Pricing and assessing sensory captured data is an essential part of the data economy. In current approaches data are assessed based on individual data quality dimensions describing structured properties of data for downstream analyses. From the domain-specific perspective, an assessment regarding the suitability of data for manufacturing process goals is missing. For this reason, this paper presents a methodology for assessing datasets from the manufacturing perspective using an adapted balanced scorecard. This enables the mapping of manufacturing goals in a single score. The assessment is based on a process model that defines the measurable signals of specific manufacturing processes and represents their interactions. To evaluate the importance of process signals, the number of interactions with quality characteristics is examined. Alternatively, the change in affecting quality characteristics with variation of process signals is determined with a sensitivity analysis. On the application of the methodology, a fictitious dataset of a grinding process is analysed.

Multi-criteria optimization of sports compression socks using Taguchi-VIKOR statistical approach

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of some key manufacturing parameters of Sports Compression Socks (SCS), aiming to optimize their performance characteristics for athletic applications. We investigated the interplay of material selection (Polyamide and Polyester), knitting structures (Pique and Drop Needle), and processing methods (E-wash, Dip wash, and Direct Press) on the functional properties of SCS. Our experimental design employed a full factorial approach, utilizing the Taguchi method for robust data analysis and the VIKOR (VlseKriterijuska Optimizacija I Komoromisno Resenje) technique for multi-criteria optimization. Key performance indicators assessed included compression pressure, fabric thickness, breathability (air permeability and Overall Moisture Management Capacity), and serviceability (pilling resistance and dimensional stability). The collected data underwent rigorous scrutiny using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess their significance, validated by p-values ( p < 0.05). Further insight into the significance and contribution percentages of each factor was gained through ANOVA (α = 0.10) and visualized using a pie chart. Results demonstrated significant influences of knitting structures and processing methods on the physical and performance characteristics of SCS. Particularly, the Nylon E-wash Pique (NEWP) combination emerged as the most effective, providing a balanced profile of breathability, compression, and durability. Overall, the study contributes to the optimization of SCS performance characteristics for athletic applications, through a comprehensive analysis of key manufacturing parameters, with practical implications for manufacturers. These insights are pivotal for guiding manufacturers in producing high-quality, effective SCS that meet diverse consumer needs. The study advances the understanding of SCS design, proposing strategic approaches that consider important material and manufacturing perspectives. Future research directions include comparing pressure values in yarn-dyed and sock-dyed processes to further enhance the quality of compression garments.

Solid-state, liquid-free ion-conducting elastomers: rising-star platforms for flexible intelligent devices.

Soft ionic conductors have emerged as a powerful toolkit to engineer transparent flexible intelligent devices that go beyond their conventional counterparts. Particularly, due to their superior capacities of eliminating the evaporation, freezing and leakage issues of the liquid phase encountered with hydrogels, organohydrogels and ionogels, the emerging solid-state, liquid-free ion-conducting elastomers have been largely recognized as ideal candidates for intelligent flexible devices. However, despite their extensive development, a comprehensive and timely review in this emerging field is lacking, particularly from the perspective of design principles, advanced manufacturing, and distinctive applications. Herein, we present (1) the design principles and intriguing merits of solid-state, liquid-free ion-conducting elastomers; (2) the methods to manufacture solid-state, liquid-free ion-conducting elastomers with preferential architectures and functions using advanced technologies such as 3D printing; (3) how to leverage solid-state, liquid-free ion-conducting elastomers in exploiting advanced applications, especially in the fields of flexible wearable sensors, bioelectronics and energy harvesting; (4) what are the unsolved scientific and technical challenges and future opportunities in this multidisciplinary field. We envision that this review will provide a paradigm shift to trigger insightful thinking and innovation in the development of intelligent flexible devices and beyond.

INDUSTRIAL AND SERVICES MARKETING STRATEGIES: conceptual framework to analyze the impacts of B2B relationship in CNC machines segment

Purpose: The objective of this study is this propose a conceptual framework on the relationship between the strategic elements of services marketing and industrial marketing elements.
 Methodology/Approach: A multi-case study was conducted on four multinational manufacturer companies of machinery and equipment, leaders in the segment in which they operate, and 9 business customers, with full participation of 29 professionals. The research was developed analyzing the services’ marketing strategies and their impact on the relationship, commitment, trust, price, cooperation and brand value, from the perspective of manufacturers and client companies.
 Findings: The results showed that replacement items prices act directly on the relationship and the perception of the manufacturer's commitment to customers. Commitment and trust can be achieved through transparent and accurate communication, generating greater cooperation between the parties, which contributes to the long-lasting relationship.
 Research limitations: The limitations of this study are the reduced number of buyers, in addition to the difficulties of access to large factories.
 Practical implications: The study shows that the concepts of Marketing Strategies and Marketing B2B. This research proposes a framework on the relationship between the strategic elements of services marketing and industrial marketing elements.
 Originality/ Value: There are few academic studies that demonstrate the influence of marketing strategies services in industrial exchanges (B2B). This paper proposes a conceptual framework on the relationship between the strategic elements of marketing services and industrial marketing elements.

Comparison of financial results of companies with different production systems: a case study of lean manufacturing and industry 4.0

This research article aims to compare two companies, one in the commercial aviation segment (E) and the other in the cosmetic segment (N), considering the differences presented between them in relation to their production systems using lean manufacturing tools and perspective on the technologies of industry 4.0. The methodology to be used is the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), applying the method to the two companies and performing the analysis, discussion, and comparison of projections and enterprise value obtained for each one. In the end, company N obtained growth projections and enterprise value significantly higher than the results obtained by E, whose enterprise value presents a negative sign. The present research compared only two companies in one specific market segment. It is important to amplify the field of investigation for others and compare companies that belong to the same segment. As the implication, we have the fact that the figure of the COVID-19 pandemic period considered, and the answers from each company could be different to recover from the pandemic. This research work presents as originality the methodology of evaluating the financial impact of the companies which apply lean and Industry 4.0 tools in the open capital enterprise.

Consumer rebate strategy for a manufacturer selling price‐quality differentiated products

AbstractIn this study, we consider a scenario where a manufacturer offers two price‐quality differentiated products, which we label “regular” and “upgraded,” through a retailer and uses direct rebates to customers to stimulate sales. Therefore, the critical question posed is: If a customer rebate is provided, should it be on the regular, upgraded, or both products? Consequently, we compare the outcomes of eight options from a manufacturer's perspective. The analysis reveals that the manufacturer's choice is not straightforward. Rebates on both products can lead to higher profit for the manufacturer if the proportion of rebate‐sensitive consumers is moderate. However, product quality becomes critical as the proportion of rebate‐sensitive consumers increases. If the quality of the regular product is too high or too low, then the manufacturer may use a rebate only on the regular product; otherwise, it should be on only an upgraded product. The rebate value on an upgraded product continuously decreases with regular product quality if a rebate is introduced only on an upgraded product, but its nature changes in other contexts. Quality improvement investment is also a critical factor that affects the manufacturer's decision. Because an analytical assessment of the effectiveness of rebate promotion under the price‐quality consideration is still missing in the literature, the decision to initiate a rebate promotion might be considered on an ad hoc basis. Therefore, the explicit thresholds identified in this study can help managers to make rebate decisions comprehensively.

Process Modularity Impact on Manufacturing Lead Time and Throughput Rate in Terms of Mass Customization

As mass customization becomes more pervasive in many sectors, researchers need to update traditional approaches to the optimization of critical performance and design parameters in order to help companies in their effort to implement this strategy. In general, implementation of mass customization from a manufacturing perspective is frequently focused on shortening cycle times, reducing production cost, and increasing throughput rate of parts. In this paper, process structure modularity impact on manufacturing lead times and throughput rates is explored. An important precondition to explore these relationships is the awareness that process modularity is conceptualized and quantified in an appropriate way. For this purpose, three independent modularity measures were employed to provide more reliable assessment of this system property. The relationships were investigated on the basis of simulation experiments using deterministic models of alternative process structures. For the purpose of the relationships exploration, two case studies were conducted, theoretical and practical ones. The results from the experiments showed that there are moderate correlations between process modularity and manufacturing lead time (ρ = −0.45), as well as between process modularity and throughput rate (ρ = 0.45).

Seamlessly integrated textile electrodes and conductive routing in a garment for electrostimulation: design, manufacturing and evaluation

Electro-stimulation to alleviate spasticity, pain and to increase mobility has been used successfully for years. Usually, gelled electrodes are used for this. In a garment intended for repeated use such electrodes must be replaced. The Mollii-suit by the company Inerventions utilises dry conductive rubber electrodes. The electrodes work satisfactory, but the garment is cumbersome to fit on the body. In this paper we show that knitted dry electrodes can be used instead. The knitted electrodes present a lower friction against the skin and a garment is easily fitted to the body. The fabric is stretchable and provides a tight fit to the body ensuring electrical contact. We present three candidate textrodes and show how we choose the one with most favourable features for producing the garment. We validate the performance of the garment by measuring three electrical parameters: rise time (10–90%) of the applied voltage, net injected charge and the low frequency value of the skin–electrode impedance. It is concluded that the use of flat knitting intarsia technique can produce a garment with seamlessly integrated conductive leads and electrodes and that this garment delivers energy to the body as targeted and is beneficial from manufacturing and comfort perspectives.

Application of Artificial Intelligence for Surface Roughness Prediction of Additively Manufactured Components.

Additive manufacturing has gained significant popularity from a manufacturing perspective due to its potential for improving production efficiency. However, ensuring consistent product quality within predetermined equipment, cost, and time constraints remains a persistent challenge. Surface roughness, a crucial quality parameter, presents difficulties in meeting the required standards, posing significant challenges in industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, energy, optics, and electronics manufacturing, where surface quality directly impacts performance and functionality. As a result, researchers have given great attention to improving the quality of manufactured parts, particularly by predicting surface roughness using different parameters related to the manufactured parts. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the methods used by researchers to predict the surface quality of additively fabricated parts. Numerous research studies have developed models utilizing AI methods, including recent deep learning and machine learning approaches, which are effective in cost reduction and saving time, and are emerging as a promising technique. This paper presents the recent advancements in machine learning and AI deep learning techniques employed by researchers. Additionally, the paper discusses the limitations, challenges, and future directions for applying AI in surface roughness prediction for additively manufactured components. Through this review paper, it becomes evident that integrating AI methodologies holds great potential to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the additive manufacturing process. This integration minimizes the need for re-processing machined components and ensures compliance with technical specifications. By leveraging AI, the industry can enhance efficiency and overcome the challenges associated with achieving consistent product quality in additive manufacturing.

BIM—A new paradigm for building and maintaining a manufacturer‐architect relationship

AbstractThe adoption of BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology significantly impacts the ways, in which the building industry operates. This technology not only provides all industry participants with numerous advantages, but also brings new types of relationships and ways in which it can be utilized. Taking into account the fact that many companies have incorporated relationship marketing into their strategies, manufacturers of building materials should look to ways of digitalization to shape collaboration with architects most of all. It seems inevitable when considering that relationship marketing paves the way to competitive value creation. In addition, relationships equip marketers with data and knowledge, which could play a significant role in developing markets and new products, as well as supporting sales departments by providing solid leads. The aim of this paper was to indicate what kind of role BIM methodology could have in establishing long‐term relationships in the manufacturer‐architect line. In research, we focus on the manufacturer's perspective and show possibilities for long‐term cooperation with architects. In this research, a mixed methodology approach has been used, in which a systematic review of the literature, an own survey on a group of architects, and a case study based on a solution used by one of the clients of the BIM ALLY. The possibilities of using BIM as a marketing communication channel, sales channel, and channel for obtaining key data and information about the users of digital models were proven and indicated.

6G Perspective of Mobile Network Operators, Manufacturers, and Verticals

The first release of 5G technology is being rolled out worldwide. In parallel, 3GPP is constantly adding new features to upcoming releases covering well-known use cases. This raises the questions i.) when will 6G be introduced?, ii.) how can 6G be motivated for the stakeholders, and iii.) what are the 6G use cases? In this work, we present the perspective of these stakeholders, namely the network operators, manufacturers, and verticals, identifying potential 5G shortcomings and the remaining 6G solution space. We will highlight the Metaverse as the enabler for 6G addressing omnipresent daily challenges and the upcoming energy problem.

Manipulator Control System Based on Flexible Sensor Technology.

The research on the remote control of manipulators based on flexible sensor technology is gradually extensive. In order to achieve stable, accurate, and efficient control of the manipulator, it is necessary to reasonably design the structure of the sensor with excellent tensile strength and flexibility. The acquisition of manual information by high-performance sensors is the basis of manipulator control. This paper starts with the manufacturing of materials of the flexible sensor for the manipulator, introduces the substrate, sensor, and flexible electrode materials, respectively, and summarizes the performance of different flexible sensors. From the perspective of manufacturing, it introduces their basic principles and compares their advantages and disadvantages. Then, according to the different ways of wearing, the two control methods of data glove control and surface EMG control are respectively introduced, the principle, control process, and detection accuracy are summarized, and the problems of material microstructure, reducing the cost, optimizing the circuit design and so on are emphasized in this field. Finally, the commercial application in this field is explained and the future research direction is proposed from two aspects: how to ensure real-time control and better receive the feedback signal from the manipulator.

Towards region-based robotic machining system from perspective of intelligent manufacturing: A technology framework with case study

The region-based robotic machining system is mainly used for repair and remanufacturing of the complex components with local defects. Taking the automotive body manufacturing as an example, the resistance spot welding process is highly prone to randomly distributed and tiny-sized welding slag splashes, which poses a great challenge to the locally automated removal of the welding slag defects. In this paper, we construct a region-based robotic machining system that integrates the processes of defect detection, defect region division and positioning, and machining path decision-making, aiming to enhance the automation of locally grinding of automotive body welding slags. Both the framework of the system and the implementation process are proposed. In the framework, the improved YOLO v3 algorithm is put forward to accurately detect the automotive body welding slags by virtue of the machine vision and deep learning. Based on this, the K-means algorithm is used to divide the welding slags into the regions, so that the problem of positioning individual welding slag is transformed into the problem of positioning the boundary points of welding slag region. The binocular image-based region boundary points matching is then presented to accurately locate the welding slag regions accordingly. The Dijkstra algorithm is finally employed to make an autonomous decision on the pre-planned grinding path of automotive body welding slags based on the positioning results. The experiments on a case of locally robotic grinding of the welding slags on an automotive door frame are implemented to verify the effectiveness and practicality of the system. This study provides a valuable reference for the locally automated repair of automotive body welding slag defects, putty defects, paint defects, etc.

User perspectives of digital manufacturing for lower-limb prosthetic sockets.

There is growing interest to use digital technology (DT) for manufacturing lower-limb prosthetic sockets to improve efficiency and clinical outcomes. However, little is known about how lower-limb prosthesis users perceive DTs, such as 3D scanning and 3D printing. This study aimed to provide an understanding of perceptions and experiences with DT for prosthetic socket manufacturing from the perspective of prosthesis users. A qualitative descriptive research study. Nine lower-limb prosthesis users (mean age 56; 5 female; 4 male) participated in one-on-one semistructured telephone interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to identify a codebook and emerging themes from the interview transcripts. Two major themes were identified: (1) expectations and prioritization of 3D printed socket usability and (2) facilitators and barriers to uptake of DT among patients. DT methods were found to be acceptable and feasible from a patient perspective, although technological advancements are still required, and real-time communication about the process may be vital for ensuring patient engagement. Consideration of these findings may improve patient satisfaction to emerging prosthesis treatment plans and ultimately support widespread adoption of DT as an additional tool for fabricating prosthetic sockets.

Canadian manufacturer and technician perspectives on the design and use of augmentative and alternative communication technology

Purpose Device manufacturers and technicians (MaTs) of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems play key roles in the design and successful uptake of communication devices. This study aims to investigate MaT perspectives on AAC device design and effective use. Materials and Methods To investigate their perspectives, a focus group of MaTs within Canada was conducted. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Findings Three major themes resulted from analysis, which reflect MaT’s views: AAC hardware and software flexibility, AAC knowledge and implementation, and social good versus financial resources. Conclusions This study provides insights into the complexities faced by MaTs in balancing technical support of system end-users and the financial resources necessary for that support. These insights indicate a need for increased financial resources and the expansion of individuals who qualify for AAC system candidacy. MaTs suggest that an increase in resources and candidacy could lead to more successful AAC implementation and a greater understanding of AAC for all stakeholders.