Production Line Research Articles

Establishment of Betalain-Producing Cell Line and Optimization of Pigment Production in Cell Suspension Cultures of Celosia argentea var. plumosa

The prevalence of synthetic colorants in commercial products has raised concerns regarding potential risks, including allergic reactions and carcinogenesis, associated with their use or consumption. Natural plant extracts have gained attention as potential alternatives. This research focuses on callus induction and the establishment of cell suspension cultures from Celosia argentea var. plumosa. Friable callus was successfully induced using hypocotyl explants cultured on semi-solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The friable callus cell line was used to establish a suspension culture. The effects of sucrose, BAP, and tyrosine concentrations on betalain production were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). Optimal conditions (43.88 g/L sucrose, 0.15 mg/L tyrosine, and 0.77 mg/L BAP) yielded 43.87 mg/L total betalain content after 21 days, representing a threefold increase compared to the control. BAP had a significant positive impact on betalain production, and increasing BAP and sucrose concentrations generally led to higher betalain production. However, tyrosine was not a significant factor for betalain production in cell suspension cultures. Additionally, antioxidant assays showed that suspension-cultured cells (SCCs) under optimized conditions exhibited free radical scavenging activity comparable to that observed in C. argentea var. plumosa flower extract. This study indicates the potential for further research on betalain production using C. argentea var. plumosa cell cultures, which may have commercial applications.

Unsupervised fault detection using frequency-wise angular filtering in contaminated vibration signals

Manufacturing processes involve multiple machines within a production line. Unexpected faults in machines reduce productivity and increase maintenance costs. Engineers face difficulties in managing numerous machines individually and controlling them immediately. For automatic condition monitoring, several studies have focused on multivariate statistical process control and fault detection based on artificial intelligence. These methods require labeled data or assume that the training data contains only normal patterns. However, obtaining labeled data in the industry is challenging because engineers must manually label the data. Contaminated signals containing fault patterns in unlabeled training data significantly degrade the performance of fault detection in the model. This study proposes Unsupervised fault detection with Frequency-wise Angular Filtering (UFAF) to improve the performance of fault detection in contaminated vibration signals. The UFAF extracts angular features to estimate the normal samples for use only during model training. This filtering strategy is repeated at every epoch and is eventually optimised to use only high-quality normal samples during model training. An experiment using SpectraQuest gearbox datasets confirms the excellent performance for contaminated signals, as angular features are effective in identifying normal and fault signals. The UFAF is practical and applicable in industries wherein it is difficult to collect labeled data.

Fatigue Assessment of Copper‐Brazed Stainless‐Steel Joints for Plate Heat Exchangers

ABSTRACTCyclic pressures can cause fatigue failure in the brazed joints and plates of the plate heat exchangers (PHEs). This study examines the fatigue behavior of PHEs made from 316L and 304L steels brazed with copper foils employing strain‐controlled fatigue tests to explore if 304L could replace 316L in the existing production line for cost reduction. Fatigue tests were conducted at four different load levels with a stress ratio of zero and a frequency of 5 Hz. Finite Element Analysis was used to assess strain distribution and estimate PHE lifespan based on generated strain versus number of cycles to failure curves. The microstructural analysis revealed that copper diffuses more easily into 316L than 304L, and using 50 μm thick foil causes more defects compared with 100 μm foil. It was shown that 316L joints have a significantly increased fatigue life compared with 304L. Both 316L and 304L met the 15‐year lifetime requirement set by manufacturers.

Classification-Based Parameter Optimization Approach of the Turning Process

The turning process is a widely used machining process, and its productivity has a significant impact on the cost and profit in industrial enterprises. Currently, it is difficult to effectively determine the optimum process parameters under complex conditions. To address this issue, a classification-based parameter optimization approach of the turning process is proposed in this paper, which aims to provide feasible optimization suggestions of process parameters and consists of a classification model and several optimization strategies. Specifically, the classification model is used to separate the whole complex process into different substages to reduce difficulties of the further optimization, and it achieves high accuracy and strong anti-interference in the identification of substages by integrating the advantages of an encoder-decoder framework, attention mechanism, and major voting. Additionally, during the optimization process of each substage, Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) are utilized to eliminate the negative impact of cutting tool wear status on optimization results at first. Then, the envelope curve strategy and boxplot method succeed in the adaptive calculation of a parameter threshold and the detection of optimizable items. According to these optimization strategies, the proposed approach performs well in the provision of effective optimization suggestions. Ultimately, the proposed approach is verified by a bearing production line. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves a significant productivity improvement of 23.43% in the studied production line.

Validation of computer vision-based ergonomic risk assessment tools for real manufacturing environments.

This study contributes to understanding semi-automated ergonomic risk assessments in industrial manufacturing environments, proposing a practical tool for enhancing worker safety and operational efficiency. In the Industry 5.0 era, the human-centric approach in manufacturing is crucial, especially considering the aging workforce and the dynamic nature of the entire modern industrial sector, today integrating digital technology, automation, and sustainable practices to enhance productivity and environmental responsibility. This approach aims to adapt work conditions to individual capabilities, addressing the high incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The traditional, subjective methods of ergonomic assessment are inadequate for dynamic settings, highlighting the need for affordable, automatic tools for continuous monitoring of workers' postures to evaluate ergonomic risks effectively during tasks. To enable this perspective, 2D RGB Motion Capture (MoCap) systems based on computer vision currently seem the technologies of choice, given their low intrusiveness, cost, and implementation effort. However, the reliability and applicability of these systems in the dynamic and varied manufacturing environment remain uncertain. This research benchmarks various literature proposed MoCap tools and examines the viability of MoCap systems for ergonomic risk assessments in Industry 5.0 by exploiting one of the benchmarked semi-automated, low-cost and non-intrusive 2D RGB MoCap system, capable of continuously monitoring and analysing workers' postures. By conducting experiments across varied manufacturing environments, this research evaluates the system's effectiveness in assessing ergonomic risks and its adaptability to different production lines. Results reveal that the accuracy of risk assessments varies by specific environmental conditions and workstation setups. Although these systems are not yet optimized for expert-level risk certification, they offer significant potential for enhancing workplace safety and efficiency by providing continuous posture monitoring. Future improvements could explore advanced computational techniques like machine learning to refine ergonomic assessments further.

An Examination of Moderna

Understanding the COVID-19 response for Moderna, a biotechnology company based out of the United States, and compiling the current outlooks regarding vaccinations, development of a diversified product line, and garnering a competitive edge in the biotechnology space is a costly endeavor Moderna is attempting to transverse. Declining revenues, rising costs, and low sales of Moderna's current product have deteriorated the value base. The recent increase in share price is motivated by anticipation of a potential avian flu outbreak and response. This study attempts to shed light on the current financial condition of Moderna.

Hyperspectral imaging and deep learning for parasite detection in white fish under industrial conditions

Parasites in fish muscle present a significant problem for the seafood industry in terms of both quality and health and safety, but the low contrast between parasites and fish tissue makes them exceedingly difficult to detect. The traditional method to identify nematodes requires removing fillets from the production line for manual inspection on candling tables. This technique is slow, labor intensive and typically only finds about half the parasites present. The seafood industry has struggled for decades to develop a method that can improve the detection rate while being performed in a rapid, non-invasive manner. In this study, a newly developed solution uses deep neural networks to simultaneously analyze the spatial and spectral information of hyperspectral imaging data. The resulting technology can be directly integrated into existing industrial processing lines to rapidly identify nematodes at detection rates (73%) better than conventional manual inspection (50%).

Evaluation of Performance Improvement Rate of Plastic Production System Using ARENA: A Case Study of Phoenix Plastic Services

Production improvement has become essential to all industrial activity because of the fierce competition among today's production systems and organizations and the unquenchable customer demand. The shorter product life cycle has significantly increased the demand for prompt reactions to increase the productivity and efficiency of these industrial systems. This study examined the evaluation of performance improvement rate of plastic production system using ARENA. The report provided by the plastics industry was used in the study to analyze and assess the rate of performance improvement of the plastic manufacturing system. The location of the bottleneck was determined by the research following a thorough analysis of the plastic company's data, which included information on all manufacturing lines and procedures. The research employed Arena to assess and compute the rate of improvement in system performance while accounting for the material transporting process throughout the production line. The conveyor velocity maintains a lock at 75m/min, despite the company's report stating that the transports run at 30m/min. The optimized and unoptimized processes when obtained from a finished recycling process running for 1000 working hours, indicate that the conveyor process had 1045 and 1027 entity input and output, respectively, and the transporter process had 953 and 929 entities input and output respectively. The remaining number left when considering the number that enters the system with the number that leaves the system went to waste, resulting from the sorting and demagnetization process. The introduction of the conveyor brings 10.549% in the production rate and 50% decrease on expenses spent in labor. Through the conveyor system's speed control factor, which is an automated procedure, the system's percentage increment may be further raised. By raising the conveyor system's speed, more items will be produced. Conveyor system installation free up more space for additional production-related equipment, increasing products formed and the company's profit. The cost of purchasing and installing the conveyor will be covered by the excess profit.

Analysis and optimization of the efficient press shop operation

Abstract. In the last decade, stamping and forming manufacturing methods have been widely used in the manufacturing industry, and the stamping and forming industry has gradually shifted from the competition of scale and quantity to the competition of high quality, cost-effectiveness, and multi-category. Therefore, it is of far-reaching significance to study the efficient operation method of the press shop. In this paper, the efficient operation modeling method, digital simulation platform, and production line improvement of the press shop are reviewed. According to analysis, it can be concluded that the dynamic data-driven modeling method is perfect, but the theoretical basis involved in the practical application process is too complicated, therefore, press shop managers may be required to have a certain degree of theoretical basis so that the method can be effectively realized. Besides, the virtual-real combination of digital simulation platforms is easy to operate in the press shop, but the model assumptions analyzed in this paper are too idealized, and potential unresolved problems may arise in the practical application of the press shop with a larger scope and wider coverage. Finally, the production-based transformation of the shop floor production line is a more suitable management method for older factories that are ready for upgrading.

Competitive Landscape and Strategic Adjustments of CHAGEE's Market Share

In today's rapidly changing consumer market, the tea beverage industry has captivated a wide audience with its unique charm, becoming a focal point for numerous investors. Among these, CHAGEE has swiftly captured the market with its distinct brand positioning, extensive product line, and superior quality control, quickly becoming a favorite among consumers. Recently, CHAGEE has been particularly prominent. On April 26, 2024, Zheng Qinwen was signed as the "Health Ambassador," and shortly after, Zheng won a gold medal at the Olympics, bringing honor to the country. This remarkable synergy has thrust CHAGEE into the spotlight. As a dark horse in the new-style tea beverage track, CHAGEE has garnered significant attention from younger consumers. By September 2024, CHAGEE had expanded to over 5,500 stores. In 2024, CHAGEE aims to surpass Starbucks China in sales volume. Thus, maintaining a leading position in fierce market competition and further increasing market share are crucial challenges for CHAGEE.

Paper‐based sensors for real‐time cure monitoring in the production of glass fiber‐reinforced phenol‐formaldehyde composites for aerospace interiors

AbstractThe aerospace industries demand for advanced materials necessitates stringent quality control measures, particularly for composite structures to ensure optimal curing and structural integrity. Traditional methods like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis, while useful, are limited to laboratory settings. This study explores the use of a printed paper‐based sensor for real‐time cure monitoring of glass fiber‐reinforced phenol‐formaldehyde (PF/GF) prepregs. The sensor, composed of a cellulose paper substrate with screen‐printed electrodes, offers flexibility, ease of integration, and cost‐effectiveness compared to commercial polymer‐based dielectric sensors. Real‐time monitoring with the printed paper‐based sensor was conducted at temperatures ranging from 130 to 180°C, both with and without pressure, and validated against DSC and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed a strong correlation between real‐time monitoring and the DSC prediction model, as well as FTIR spectroscopy. Notably, the real‐time monitoring revealed a shorter curing cycle on the production line than the predicted cure kinetic model, which is crucial for large‐scale production, such as fabricating honeycomb panels for aircraft interiors. This research underscores the importance of innovative sensor technologies in improving quality control and manufacturing efficiency in aerospace composites.Highlights Cure Monitoring of PF‐based prepregs was carried out using paper‐based sensor. Sensor offered reproducibility and seamless integration in composites. Sensor data showed a strong correlation with DSC and FTIR spectroscopy results. Paper sensors enable online monitoring of composite in aerospace manufacturing.

Technological line for the production of sunflower cake

BACKGROUND: The results of the study conducted to increase the shelf life of sunflower cake by justifying the optimal operating parameters of the ozonizer in the line of the sunflower cake production are presented. Studies of the processing of sunflower cake with an ozone-air mixture at optimal operating parameters, such as its concentration, the duration of its processing and the intensity of the high-frequency field, have been conducted. AIM: Increasing of the long-term storage of protein feed by improving the basic design parameters of the device for its production. METHODS: Resulting from the conducted theoretical research, the technological line for the protein feed production was developed according to the patent for the invention of the Russian Federation No. 2706188. To determine the optimal operating parameters of the device in the sunflower cake production line, which affect its shelf life, the design of experiment theory was used. RESULTS: A regression equation in coded values, characterizing the effect of the concentration of the ozone-air mixture, the duration of the sunflower cake treatment and the intensity of the high-frequency field on the sunflower cake shelf life, is obtained. The analysis of the obtained mathematical model of the processing process is performed. CONCLUSION: Experimental studies of the developed line for the production of sunflower cake with quality control of its treatment with an ozone-air mixture have shown that the sunflower cake shelf life depends on the ozone-air mixture concentration and the duration of treatment of the sunflower cake, as well as on the intensity of the high-frequency field. At the same time, with a decrease in the ozone-air mixture concentration, the duration of treatment of the sunflower cake and the intensity of the high-frequency field during the treatment increase. In the area of low concentration, increased duration up to 120 s and intensity up to 15250 V/m, the shelf life of the cake increases. It is reasonable to process sunflower cake with the ozone-air mixture to increase its shelf life from 3 to 5.45 months according to the GOST 80-96 using the developed line (patent RF 2706188) at a concentration of 23.03 mg/m3, processing time of 134 s and a high-frequency field strength of 17374 V/m.

Influence of Finishing Process Parameters of HDF Boards on Selected Properties of Coatings in Modern UV Lines and Their Relation to Energy Consumption

This study analyzes the influence of energy generated by emitters on the adhesive properties of varnish coatings in multilayer UV systems. The experimental material, in the form of a cell board finished with UV varnish products, was prepared on a prototype line under the conditions of Borne Furniture in Gorzów Wielkopolski. The roughness and wettability were measured using a OneAttension tensiometer integrated with a topographic module, taking into account the Wenzel coefficient. The adhesion of the examined systems was verified using the PositiTest AT-A automatic pull-off device. Energy consumption by the prototype production line was compared to the standard line, utilizing mercury emitters and mercury emitters with added gallium. Energy consumption was calculated for selected variants. The influence of the Wenzel coefficient on the wettability angle was observed. Significant differences between contact angles (CA and CAc) were noted for coatings formed with sealers (stages I and II). The largest discrepancies, reaching up to 30 degrees, were recorded at the lowest UVA and UVV doses of 26 mJ/cm2. In adhesion tests, values below 1 MPa were obtained. Insufficient energy doses in the curing process of UV systems led to delamination between the coatings. Five variants were selected where delamination within the substrate predominated (˃90% A) and were characterized by the lowest energy consumption in the processes. Topographic images helped identify the presence of various surface microstructures at different stages of the production cycle. The greatest energy savings, up to 50%, were achieved in stages III and IV of the technological process.

A simulation-based digital twin for data-driven maintenance scheduling of risk-prone production lines via actor critics

A simulation-based digital twin for data-driven maintenance scheduling of risk-prone production lines via actor critics

ANÁLISE DE RISCOS NA PRODUÇÃO DE FRIGORÍFICOS: ESTRATÉGIAS PARA PREVENÇÃO E CONTROLE

This paper is a scientific article whose theme is the analysis of risks in the production of meatpacking plants: strategies for prevention and control. In this environment, workers face physical risks, biological risks and risks of accidents. This is because, in meatpacking plants, we find places where the temperature is extremely low (usually below 0º). Therefore, the function of the PPE provided is to provide safety to avoid humidity, low temperatures, noise, injuries caused by sharp instruments and biological contamination. What strategies should be adopted to prevent and control the occurrence of accidents and/or the spread of diseases in the production line of meatpacking plants, based on risk analysis? The general objective is: to describe what risk management is as well as the best way to apply it in a meatpacking plant to prevent accidents and control occupational diseases. The specific objectives are: to characterize what risk analysis and management are in a meatpacking plant; to present the main characteristics of the production environment as well as the main precautions that should be taken to ensure the physical integrity of the worker; describe the guidelines set out in NR-32 and its determinations for occupational health and safety, especially in companies that work with the slaughter and processing of meat and meat products. The methodology used will be a descriptive and exploratory literature review

Compact and simple antenna inspection testing range for 5G smartphones

Abstract Over-the-air antenna performance evaluation in the millimeter-wave band often relies on compact antenna test range systems, which require large reflectors and a substantial measurement range volume. Such setups are impractical for rapid testing in space-constrained environments such as antenna fault diagnosis in smartphone manufacturing facilities. This paper presents a novel design methodology for highly compact antenna inspection testing range utilizing offset parabolic reflectors specifically designed for 5G smartphones. The proposed design system employs three small offset parabolic reflectors configured to account for beam tilting caused by smartphone back covers, eliminating the need to physically reposition the smartphone during testing. By directing electromagnetic fields toward a fixed receiver antenna from multiple angles corresponding to different antenna module positions, the system streamlines the test procedure, significantly reducing measurement time and measurement range volume. The proposed antenna inspection testing range provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for 5G antenna fault diagnosis in manufacturing facilities, ensuring rapid and reliable inspection while minimizing space requirements on the production line.

From local to global: understanding shifts in production processes

ABSTRACT As the global economy continues to integrate, there are notable shifts in how and where products are manufactured. This study examines how increased outward foreign direct investment (FDI) influences shifts in domestic production processes, with a focus on the vertical dimensions of production lines. Using unique Korean firm-level data, we investigate the scope of a firm’s involvement within the production line and the specific stages that have undergone changes. Our findings show that firms with foreign affiliates generally have a narrower scope in their production lines, skewed towards downstream stages – closer to the final stages – compared to firms not engaged in FDI. These micro-level observations are in line with broader trends, such as the decrease in domestic value-added share in gross exports. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of FDI’s association with production line modifications, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of global production fragmentation.

Development and Design of an Online Quality Inspection System for Electric Car Seats.

As the market share of electric vehicles continues to rise, consumer demands for comfort within the vehicle interior have also increased. The noise generated by electric seats during operation has become one of the primary sources of in-cabin noise. However, the offline detection methods for electric seat noise severely limit production capacity. To address this issue, this paper presents an online quality inspection system for automotive electric seats, developed using LabVIEW. This system is capable of simultaneously detecting both the noise and electrical functions of electric seats, thereby resolving problems associated with multiple detection processes and low integration levels that affect production efficiency on the assembly line. The system employs NI boards (9250 + 9182) to collect noise data, while communication between LabVIEW and the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) allows for programmed control of the seat motor to gather motor current. Additionally, a supervisory computer was developed to process the collected data, which includes generating frequency and time-domain graphs, conducting data analysis and evaluation, and performing database queries. By being co-located with the production line, the system features a highly integrated hardware and software design that facilitates the online synchronous detection of noise performance and electrical functions in automotive electric seats, effectively streamlining the detection process and enhancing overall integration. Practical verification results indicate that the system improves the production line cycle time by 34.84%, enabling rapid and accurate identification of non-conforming items in the seat motor, with a detection time of less than 86 s, thereby meeting the quality inspection needs for automotive electric seats.

Examining Customer Loyalty in Using Gold Pawn Products at PT. Bank Sulselbar Syariah Palopo

This research aims to examine customer loyalty in using gold pawning products at PT Bank Sulselbar Syariah Palopo. This research uses qualitative research methods with close descriptive analysis. The research obtained data through questionnaires, interviews and direct observation with customers who used the Islamic gold pawn (rahn) product of Bank Sulselbar Syariah Palopo as the research location and conducted interviews with customers, and the Head of Bank Sulselbar Syariah Palopo who was considered to continue to provide the information needed by researchers. The research results reveal that customer loyalty in using gold pawn products (rahn) at Bank Sulselbar Syariah Palopo is very high because they make regular repeat purchases, buy between product and service lines, refer to others, show immunity to the pull of competitors, performance, price , and ease of obtaining. There are factors that influence customers in using Bank Sulselbar Syariah Palopo's gold pawn (rahn) products, namely service, promotional, economic and religious factors.

Developing PVDF hollow fiber membrane enhanced by braided tube and modified by bionic coating for treating aldehyde-containing wastewater

This study originates from the difficulties encountered in the wastewater treatment from a large-scale methionine production line. Despite the superior performance of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, significant issues still persist. The PTFE layer tend to peer off leading to substandard effluent quality, and membrane fouling rate is relatively rapid. To overcome the peeling issue, braided tubes were used to enhance the mechanical strength. To improve the interface bonding between the PVDF layer and braided tubes, two modifiers are introduced to modify the surfaces of braided tubes. Then, the embedded braided tube enhanced PVDF membrane is prepared. On this basis, the one-step bionic coating PVDF (OSBC-PVDF) membrane was prepared by utilizing the polydopamine coating, polyethylene glycol and Cu nanoparticles. It was found that the embedded structure resembling “teeth and gums” formed, significantly improving the mechanical properties to prevent the peeling off of the separation layer. The optimal reaction temperature, reaction time and modifier dosage for preparing the OSBC-PVDF membrane are separately 25 °C, 2 h and 20 g. More importantly, the OSBC-PVDF membrane has withstood the test of 300 days of continuous operation. The stable water quality of the effluent demonstrated that the above issues had been overcome.