Production Subsystem Research Articles

Theoretical framework and formation mechanism of the green development system model in China

Green development (GD) is a complex adaptive system (CAS) closely related to the social, economic, and natural environment. Facing environmental degradation due to the rapid economic and social development, the Chinese government has made important strategic decisions about GD. This study thus proposes a theoretical framework to explain the GD system (GDS) in China and its formation mechanism. First, it identified the components of the Chinese GDS in the literature. Second, using a mathematical model, the theoretical framework of the GDS model in China was constructed based on CAS and knowledge element (KE) theory and tested using 1999–2017 panel survey data. Finally, based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs (MHN), the formation mechanism of the GDS was explained. The results are as follows. The presence of GDS in China has a significant positive correlation with mountains (M), water (W), forests (Fo), farmland (Fa), lakes (L), grassland (G), human (H), production subsystems (PS), living subsystems (LS), and legal institutions and policy subsystem (LIPS). The more important the GD concept, the higher the level of GDS in China. The proposed theoretical framework is congruent with China's contextual background and explains the approach to the environment based on China's development strategy. The study's conclusions are as follows. (1) The GDS model in China is a knowledge-complex massive dynamic system with the characteristics of people-oriented and harmonious coexistence of M-W-Fo-Fa-L-G. GD concepts are included in the model in terms of PS, LS, and LIPS. (2) Human beings drive, maintain, and operate GDS throughout China. (3) Chinese GDS began with the need for black development (BD) and progressed due to BD's negative consequences. Further, the need for GD emerged, promoting the formation of Chinese GDS through the growth of green behaviour.

Ein praxisorientiertes Modell für die Analyse der Treibhausgas- und Energiebilanz landwirtschaftlicher Biogasanlagen

In this article, we present an application for estimating and analyzing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cumulated energy demand of biogas production chains in agriculture, which was developed mainly for practitioners. The primary goal of this application is to illustrate: What are the important sources of GHGs along the biogas chain, and how can they be mitigated? In addition, figures for the individual specific CO2-equivalent(CO2e) emissions of electricity and heat supply from biogas are computed. In a reproducible manner, the application calculates the essential GHG sources within biogas systems, allowing for their comparison. In the underlying model, the process chain is separated into the sub-systems of energy crop production and biogas utilization. Using real-world data from ten biogas farms in Bavaria, we discuss the abilities and limitations of our application.

Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of Chinese Industry Systems by Using Non-Cooperative Two-Stage DEA Model

In evaluating the environmental efficiency analysis of Chinese industry systems, data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been a popular method. However, the production system is often treated as a black box in conventional DEA models. This study considers the internal structure of the production system to evaluate the environmental efficiency, which is characterized as a two-stage system, i.e., production subsystem and pollutant treatment subsystem. And, in reality, some subsystems in two-stage production systems are not equally important, and this kind of two-stage systems usually has the feature that one subsystem dominates the other. Thus, we consider the leader and follower relationship in the environmental efficiency analysis. A new non-cooperative two-stage DEA model considering undesirable intermediates and undesirable outputs is proposed to calculate the environmental efficiency. The proposed method is then applied to 30 regional industry systems of China in the year 2010. Thus, each DMU’s environmental efficiencies for the overall system as well as both subsystems could be analyzed by the proposed approach. More accurate information could be provided for environmental management.

Potret Sistem Agribisnis Pengolahan Hasil Perikanan Di Pesisir Pantai Selatan Kabupaten Garut

The purpose of this study was to determine the types of processed fisheries produced in the southern coast of Garut Regency and find out the fishery processing agribusiness system on the southern coast of Garut Regency. The method used in the study is descriptive method with qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sampling by purposive sampling. Sampling was conducted on 30 fish processing business people in six subdistricts (Pameungpeuk, Mekarsari, Cikelet, Caringin, Pakenjeng, Cibalong). Data collection techniques by means of interviews using questionnaire instruments containing a list of questions. In data processing, the determination of values (scores) for each question in each subsystem (subsystem of procurement and distribution of fisheries production facilities, production business subsystems, post production subsystems,marketing subsystems, supporting service subsystems). Research results obtained information on the types of processed that are produced include, salted fish, pindang fish, shredded fish, fish meatballs, crackers, nuget, agar-agar. Next in the review of the five business subsystems obtained values (Scores) Subsystems for procurement and distribution of facilities (7.7), production business subsystems, (10.2), post-production systems (7), marketing subsystems (9.3), sub supporting service system (9.6) from the results of the assessment obtained a portrait of fishery processing agribusiness in the South Coast of Garut Regency. The results of this study can be used as a reference to develop processing activities of fishery results on the southern coast of Garut Regency.

Legal issues of the formation and functioning of the national innovation system in Ukraine

Introduction - the purpose of the article is to determine the theoretical and legislative bases for the definition and construction of the national innovation system and its subsystems, to establish gaps in the regulatory legal regulation of the economic activity of individual elements - subjects of the NIS. Methods of research - structural and functional methods of analysis are used to determine the existing competence of the participants of the national innovation system of Ukraine and the ability to perform the necessary functions for the system. Methods of analysis and synthesis were used in the study of theoretical models of innovative systems and their structure. The normativist method (formal and legal) was used in the study of the actual state of legislative securing of the NIS. Results of the research - Based on the analyzed scientific sources and on the basis of regulatory acts of Ukraine, it is necessary to distinguish the following NIS subsystems, which require significant legislative regulation: subsystem of generation of knowledge and education, subsystem of production of products and services, subsystem of innovative infrastructure,subsystem «National network technology transfer», Territorial (regional) subsystems. Discussion with the otherscientists- most views on the essence of a NIS can be divided into the following groups: structural approach, subsystem approach, functional and structural. However, these models do not sufficiently address the role of the lowest level of the administrative system - the united territorial communities as the only one as close as possible to the governmental structure. In this direction, it is necessary to extend the limits of financial capacity of territorial communities on the principles of transparency, accessibility, sufficiency. Summary and conclusions - for the harmonious and timely development of the National Innovation System it is necessary to comprehensively approach the legislative regulation of relations in the innovation system and its subsystems, as well asto formulate guidelines for the formation of the system of regulation of innovative activity in the laws.

THE INTEGRATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM CASSAVA INDUSTRIALIZATION IN TRENGGALEK REGENCY, EAST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Agribusiness systems are the main driver of agricultural industrialization; thus, there must be coordination and integration between interrelated subsystems. The study aims to analyze the relationship between the agribusiness subsystems to encourage the success of cassava industrialization. Respondents were chosen using the simple random sampling technique and 200 people were involved in the study. The analytical method was the Tobit Regression Model. The results of the study show that the agribusiness subsystem must involve various agribusiness subsystems. Industrialization of agriculture is said to be successful with the linkages between the subsystems, including the input subsystem, production subsystem, processing subsystem, marketing subsystem, and supporting subsystem.

Ammonia-risk distribution by logistic subsystems and type of consequence

Detailed quantitative analysis of results, influence of position within logistic systems and consequence of dangerous goods ammonia has been done based on a sample of 1165 workers or third persons involved in 295 accidents. Results of accidents for those involved have been classified as unhospitalized, hospitalized survived, hospitalized deceased and killed. From the logistic point of view accidents with ammonia are located in production, storage, reloading, transport and use subsystems. ammonia’s consequences are systematized in the following manner: Respiratory–Toxic (RT), Cold Injury (CI), Fire and Burns (FB), and mechanical consequences after explosions (EX).Distribution laws for unhospitalized, hospitalized, deceased and killed have been determined. The highest average number of persons involved in an accident has been determined in the production subsystem. Cold Injury by ammonia in 47.5% of accidents includes 65.23% of persons involved in accident, but the most invasive consequence of ammonia is RT.Significantly critical fatal outcomes of accidents has been found for Respiratory–Toxic consequence of ammonia in the reloading subsystem, with extremely high average value of 0.4193 killed per accident. Based on obtained results of research certain procedures are proposed to reduce the risk of serious consequences of ammonia’s dangerous influence.

Analisis Peran Koperasi dalam Pengelolaan Hutan Rakyat di Kebumen

Community forests are a viable alternative for timber suppliers. Community forestry institutions are required to ensure its sustainability. Cooperatives become one of the appropriate alternatives in accordance with the institution at the site level in community forest development. One of the peasant organizations that manages the human resources in the form of cooperatives is a Taman Wijaya Rasa Cooperative (Kostajasa) located in Kebumen. This study aims to analyze the role of Kostajasa in community forest management. The descriptive analysis used in describing the role of Kostajasa in community forest management supporting three community forest subsystems, namely production, processing and marketing subsystem. Kostajasa has played a good role in all three subsystems. In the production subsystem, there are still less roles in the determination of timber products to be managed, and setting the felling regulation. In the processing subsystem Kostajasa have already play a good role to connect several industries to receive raw materials from farmers’ timber and maintain the demand continuity for raw materials so that farmers’ timber is absorbed. In the marketing subsystem, Kostajasa also play a good role among others, shorten the marketing chain of wood products from community forest and offering a better price outside Kostajasa.

Thermodynamic assessment of a novel multi-generation solid oxide fuel cell-based system for production of electrical power, cooling, fresh water, and hydrogen

The thermodynamic assessment of a novel multi-generation system producing electrical power, cooling load, potable and sanitary water, and hydrogen is conducted from the viewpoints of energy and exergy analyses. The proposed system consists of a solid oxide fuel cell as the prime mover, a gas turbine, a biomass combustion subsystem, an organic Rankin cycle integrated with an ejector refrigeration cycle, a desalination subsystem, and a proton exchange membrane electrolyser subsystem. The produced fresh water is utilized to produce potable and sanitary water, and hydrogen. Considering the fact that flat plate collectors are employed to raise the water temperature to the operating temperature of the electrolyser, 12 daylight hours of a day are dedicated to sanitary water and hydrogen production by means of the electrolyser and the rest night hours are devoted to potable water production. During the commissioning period of the hydrogen production subsystem, the effect of three crucial parameters including, current density, fuel utilization factor, and solid oxide fuel cell inlet temperature on several variables related to the system has been investigated. It is concluded that under the baseline design conditions, the net electrical power, the cooling load, and the overall energy and exergy efficiencies are correspondingly equal to 4392 kW, 164.2 kW, 77.58%, and 47.14%. Furthermore, the molar rate of the potable and sanitary water, and hydrogen production are 53.27, 52.50, and 0.7695 mol/s, respectively.

Process synthesis and economic analysis of cyanobacteria biorefineries: A superstructure-based approach

In this study, we develop, synthesize, and evaluate a cyanobacteria biorefinery incorporating all relevant subsystems including: (1) supply of CO2, water, and nutrients, (2) production at cultivation ponds, and (3) products separation and purification. A superstructure-based approach is proposed to evaluate technical and economic feasibility of cyanobacteria biorefineries to produce biochemicals. Supply subsystems include a wastewater treatment (WWT) facility and a power plant to provide water, nutrients, and CO2. In the production subsystem, an approach to model cultivation ponds is developed based on production requirements and cyanobacteria characteristics i.e. residence time and productivity. In the purification subsystem, optimal separation technologies are selected based on product attributes and concentration to recover products and recycle water and nutrients, while minimizing costs. Later, all subsystems are integrated and system-wide optimization is performed. Impacts of key parameters such as cyanobacteria productivity and performance for a cellular level analysis; and CO2 transportation phase, distances, and product titers for a systems level analysis are investigated. Results indicate that depending on product attributes, the production cost could vary between $2.74−$34/kg ($0.7−$2.65/kg) at product concentrations of 0.5 g/L (10 g/L), highlighting the importance of achieving higher product titers. Analyses for the base-case show that for a titer of 0.5 g/L, reducing productivity from 30 to 5 g m−2 day−1 while increasing residence time from 5 to 30 days increases the production cost by about 22% in the system with water and nutrients supply form WWT, respectively. Results show that providing water and nutrients from a WWT facility improves the economics. The present study provides critical insights for future research and development and successful commercialization of cyanobacteria biorefineries.

The Strategic Importance of the Regional Economic System Innovative Potential

The purpose of this article is to substantiate regional innovative potential as one of the main conditions for the competitiveness growth in the future of any economic system. The paper studies the essence of “innovation” and “potential” concepts, which together form the concept of “innovative potential”. The authors analyze the structure of innovative potential and present it by three components: resources, internal sphere, production. The interaction of these components with each other determines the common essence of innovative potential. In order to determine a more complete description of the object under analysis, the authors identify the criteria for the classification of its types. The paper proves that the innovative potential of any economic system needs analysis and evaluation since it allows determining strategic directions of the economic system development, which ensures the future growth of its competitiveness. In the framework of the proposed assessment model the authors identify the main indicators that can be used to assess the economic system innovative potential. The suggested methodology for assessing the innovative potential of enterprises is aimed at a fuller use of resource and managerial components of this potential, as well as at comparing available resources and actual results of innovative activities. In order to increase the innovative activity of enterprises in the region the paper substantiates the need for the timely adjustment of the regional economic policy in terms of encouraging and supporting business entities. The authors identify three main areas of monitoring which will allow assessing the general state of the regional innovative system and obtaining data on innovative processes in the region. They are the analysis of the knowledge generation subsystem, the analysis of the innovation production subsystem, the analysis of the innovation distribution subsystem.

Construcción de un sistema participativo de garantía con y para la ARAC (Asociación Red Agroecológica Campesina) en el municipio de Subachoque, Cundinamarca, en 2015.

Introducción. Una de las principales necesidades manifiestas de la ARAC en 2014, era el mejoramiento y ampliación de sus canales de comercialización, así como la falta de confianza y verificación de sus procesos productivos para ser coherentes con su misión en producción agroecológica. Objetivo. En este contexto, la presente investigación tuvo como objetivo la creación de un Sistema Participativo de Garantía (SPG) con y para la organización ARAC. Metodología. Se desarrolló una Investigación Acción Participativa (IAP) durante el año 2015. El proceso incluyó a todos los productores, aunque no contó con los consumidores por la dificultad de coordinar sus tiempos. Las cuatro fases de la investigación incluyeron: diagnóstico, estructuración del SPG de la ARAC, visitas de certificación y Escuelas Agroecológicas de Campo (EAC). Resultados. Como resultados se creó el SPG-ARAC con un comité vinculado a la estructura orgánica de la asociación y un reglamento que reúne normas y procedimientos a seguir en la implementación de los procesos productivos, así como mecanismos de control y verificación inspirados en los principios agroecológicos de la ARAC y en la Resolución 187 de 2006 del Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (MADR). Se realizaron visitas de certificación a 22 sistemas de producción agropecuaria o de procesamiento y cuatro EAC. Conclusión. La implementación del SPG-ARAC demuestra que fue posible desarrollar un SPG con y para la ARAC, y que la organización se encuentra cerca de completar la transición agroecológica en los subsistemas de producción agrícola, mientras en los sistemas de producción pecuaria y de transformación se encuentran varias dificultades. Las principales limitantes identificadas gracias al SPG, para lograr la transición agroecológica de la organización son: la consecución de semillas y pie de cría ecológicos, el abastecimiento continuo de agua, la producción de pastos y forrajes ecológicos para la alimentación animal, y el uso de medicina alopática.

System dynamics simulation for CO2 emission mitigation in green electric-coal supply chain

CO2 emissions from electric-coal combustion remain dominant in aggregate CO2 emissions of China. Few of existing studies explore the systemic interactions among the whole life cycle of green electric-coal supply chain. This study proposes a CO2 emission estimation model from the perspective of direct costing, and then develops a system dynamics (SD) model to simulate the scenarios on CO2 emission mitigation in the whole life cycle of green electric-coal supply chain. System dynamics model contains four sub-systems, including production subsystem, transportation subsystem, storage subsystem and consumption subsystem. Major sources and key impact factors of CO2 emissions changes as well as mitigation scenarios for electric-coal supply chain greening are discussed. Results show that 1) the developed SD model in electric-coal supply chain is tested to be robust; 2) the potential for CO2 emission mitigation in transportation system is larger than the other systems; 3) the effective scenario for emission mitigation is to increase the proportion of railway transportation during transportation, expand gas extraction during production and increase technological investment of gas extraction during transportation. The framework of scenario simulation using developed SD model could be a reference to the greening of other energy-intensive supply chains, such as iron and steel supply chain etc.

The rationale for structural and functional components of the logistic system of agrarian enterprises

Introduction. The logistics is one of the principal conditions of upgrading the efficiency and resultfulness of the functioning of agrarian enterprises. An efficient logistic system provides for rationalization of use of the resource basis of agrarian enterprises. The arrangement of an efficient management of the logistic system of agrarian enterprises requires explanation of its structural and functional components. Methods. The following methods of research have been used in the process of investigation: synthesis and analysis, scientific generalization, abstract and logics method, and method of systematization. Results. In the article the pre-requirements of efficient strategic management of the logistic system of agrarian enterprises are defined. Theoretical approaches concerning definition of the content of the notion “logistic system” are worked out. Structural and functional components of the logistic system of agrarian enterprises are clarified, among which there is the organization and management sub-system, the sub-system of supply, storing, production, transporting, distribution and sale, the apparatus of management of non-material flows, and the instruments of interaction with counteragents. The specific characteristics of the logistic system are identified, namely: openness, multi-functioning, emergency, adaptability structural and management organization. Discussion. The received results will serve as a basis for further research of the segment of improvement of theoretical and methodological principles of raising the efficiency of strategic management of the logistic system of agrarian enterprises Keywords: logistics, logistic system, management, efficiency, agrarian enterprises.

НОВІ ПРІОРИТЕТИ МІЖНАРОДНОЇ МАРКЕТИНГОВОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ В УМОВАХ ГЛОБАЛІЗАЦІЇ ТА ІНТЕГРАЦІЇ УКРАЇНИ У СВІТОВЕ ГОСПОДАРСТВО

The current stage of development of the world economic system is characterized by the intensifi cation of globalization processes, which is accompanied by periodic economic crisis phenomena. Therefore, the world economic space has two landmarks: ensuring maximum satisfaction of the needs of target customers and expanding the capabilities of production systems. Achievement of the set goals is possible by activating the mechanism of international marketing, the role of which is to adapt the industrial process of countries to the unstable external conditions of the world market. There is an intensifi cation of the competitive struggle between producers both in the domestic markets of individual countries and at the level of the world market as a whole. At the same time, the effectiveness of the subjects of international business, the main representatives of which is the TNC, depends on their ability to monitor and react responsibly to changes taking place in the global environment, and also to take them into account in determining the prospects for the development of production, commodity and commercial policy in international markets. At the same time, the role of international marketing of enterprises is gradually increasing, as one of the main systems of management of international business, and it is he who is able to provide interconnection with the external environment in close interaction with its production subsystem. The use of marketing tools and the internationalization of production and commercial activities take place in parallel. The marketing activity of national and international players in the globalized market depends on the level of internationalization of the economic interaction of its subjects. All this contributes to the internationalization of marketing principles and tools, the formation of a holistic system based on individual marketing management tools, and international competition contributes to the intensifi cation of marketing activities of enterprises. Because of this, national marketing is gradually subordinated to the procedural-content priorities of international marketing in the conditions of globalization. Thus, on the basis of the conducted research, taking into account the peculiarities of the current stage of development of the world economic system, the necessity of developing a mechanism that would allow to coordinate eff orts in the fi eld of international marketing in order to increase the productivity of each event separately and marketing strategy in general.

Life Cycle Assessment Applications To The Dry Steam Geothermal Power Generation (Case Study: Star Energy Geothermal Wayang Windu, Ltd, Indonesia)

Geothermal potential in Indonesia estimate can produced renewable energy 29 GW, and until 2016 it still used 5% or about 1643 MW in. From that result, about 227 MW produced by Wayang Windu geothermal power plant. The Input were raw material, energy and water. These input produced electricity as main product, by product, and also other output that related to environment i.e. emission, solid waste and waste water. All environmental impacts should be controlled to comply with environmental standard, and even go beyond compliance and perform continual improvement. This research will use Life Cycle Assessment method based on ISO 14040 and use cradle to gate concept with boundary from liquid steam production until electricity produced, and Megawatt Hours as the functional unit. Life Cycle Inventory has been done with direct input and output in the boundary and resulted that subsystem of Non Condensable Gas and condensate production have the largest environmental impact. LCI also show that every MWh electricity produced, it needed 6.87 Ton dry steam or 8.16 Ton liquid steam. Global Warming Potential (GWP) value is 0.155 Ton CO2eq./MWh, Acidification Potential (AP) 1.69 kg SO2eq./MWh, Eutrophication Potential (EP) 5.36 gPO4 eq./MWh and land use impacts 0.000024 PDF/m2. Life Cycle Impact Assessment resulted that AP contribute 78% of environmental impact and 98% resulted from H2S Non Condensable Gas. Comparison results with another dry steam geothermal power plant show that impact potential result of the company in good position and there’s a strong relation between gross production, GWP and AP value.Keywords: Life cycle assessment; Geothermal; Continual Improvement; Global Warming Potential; Acidification Potential

Diagnosis and Forecasting of the Levels of Electrical Consumption of Iron Ore Mines

The article presents the results of experimental studies on the estimation of electricity consumption levels by iron ore mines in Ukraine. Using the systematic research, and highlighting the strategic goal - the optimal distribution of electricity between subsystems of the production system, proposed decomposition of objectives. The proposed decomposition allows us to isolate the production subsystems and investigate each separately. According to each separate subsystem, a set of analytical procedures for diagnostic analysis is used in conjunction with regression models and forecast models. Integrative obtained characteristics were obtained general system evaluations. The approved thesis on the types of industrial enterprises under investigation is a system of energy-intensive enterprises. It is proved that the levels of electric energy consumption functionally depend on the line of influential technological factors of enterprises. It is determined that the level of influence of these factors varies among themselves, and observations show the character individually for each enterprise. The cost characteristics of electricity consumption are investigated. In the conditions of constant increase of tariffs for electricity consumed and existing variables in the time of daily tariffs for electricity (peak, semi-fire, and night), iron ore enterprises can maneuver in hours of the day by volume of electricity consumption. This will enable enterprises to reduce their «accounts» for consumed electricity. That is, the electricity tariff in the day time should serve as an input for the target function, in order to obtain a solution that would minimize the cost of payment for consumed electricity by maximizing the change in electrical loads in the hours of the day. Multi-factor models have been formed to determine the relationship between electricity consumption and the most influential factors. Between this «blind» formalization of this process will not give a positive. Comprehensive studies of this process have promising results in terms of highlighting the potential for reaching the level of electrical energy efficiency. The proposed methodology can be used to determine the optimal response in the direction of seeking ways to increase the energy efficiency of any industry, any enterprise, where variables are available in clock-hour tariffs. Thematic studies of iron ore enterprises show that the change in the levels of electricity consumption in the hours of the day with the transition of electricity consumption levels from the «peak» to «night» has a significant effect. In connection with the above, it is proposed, on the basis of regression models, a unique method of forecast estimation of electricity consumption levels, taking into account aspects of individual influence of each factor at the consumption level of any mining enterprise. It is believed that an innovative approach to the harmonization of diagnostic methods, forecasting on the basis of system analysis provides an opportunity to solve the problem of optimizing the distribution of electricity consumption for mining companies in order to ensure power efficiency. Ref. 16, fig. 8, tabl. 6.

Life cycle assessemnt (LCA) study of a milk powder product in aluminium foil packaging

Dairy processing industry is one of the industries that give positive contribution to the economic growth, however it also contributes in many impacts on the environment, as well as milk powder product manufactured by PT X. The main objective of this study was to determine the most significant environmental impact caused by production and transportation of milk powder in bag 250 gram (Product X) using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The boundary of the LCA study is “cradle to gate”, including: materials production, materials transportation from supplier to the PT X factory, manufacture of milk powder in PT X, and distribution of the products from factory to distributor. Four impact categories will be calculated on this study: global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), and photochemical oxidant creation potential (POCP). The impact assessment was calculated by software SimaPro v.8.3.2 faculty license, and the calculation result validated manually by Microsoft Excel. The result of environmental impact calculation showed the GWP, EP, AP, and POCP of 1 kg milk powder is 1.3245 kg CO2 eq/kg, 0.0033 kg PO43- eq/kg, 0.0066 kg SO2 eq/kg and 0.0020 kg C2H4 eq/kg. The material production subsystem has the highest environmental impact on GWP, POCP, AP and EP categories. In particular, production activity in PT X also contributes to GWP. An environmental impact reduction strategy can focus on reducing GWP with electricity usage efficiency and developing a material supplier selection plan with environmental impacts of material production as one of criteria.

A data-driven approach for constructing the component-failure mode matrix for FMEA

Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is one of the typical structured, systematic and proactive approaches for product or system failure analysis. A critical step in FMEA is identifying potential failure modes for product sub-systems, components, and processes, for which component-failure mode (CF) knowledge is necessarily needed as an important source of knowledge. However, this knowledge is usually acquired manually based on historical documents such as bills of material and failure analysis reports, which is a labor-intensive and time-consuming task, incurring inefficiency and plenty of mistakes. Nevertheless, few existing studies have developed an effective and intelligent approach to acquiring accurate CF knowledge automatically. To fill the gap, this paper proposes a method to construct the CF matrix automatically by mining unstructured and short quality problem texts and mapping as well as representing them as CF knowledge. Starting with mining the frequent itemsets of failure modes through Apriori algorithm, the method uses the semantic dictionary WordNet to find synonyms in the set of failure modes, based on which the standard set of failure modes is finally built. Subsequently, upon the previous work and components set, we design the component-failure mode matrix mining (CFMM) algorithm and apply it to establish the CF matrix from unstructured quality problem texts. Lastly, we examine the quality data of the seat module of an automobile company as a case study in order to validate the proposed method. The result shows that the failure mode extraction method with standardized features can extract failure modes more effectively than the FP-growth and K-means clustering methods. Meanwhile, the devised CFMM algorithm can extract more combinations of CF than the FP-growth method and build a richer CF matrix. Although different industries have distinct domain characteristics, our proposed method can be applicable not only to manufacturing but also to other fields needing FMEA to enhance product and system reliability.

Cyclic torque imbalance detection in gasoline engines using a uniform second-order sliding mode observer

Engine torque imbalance is a wide-ranging problem which is caused due to variance of the combustion mixture in the engine cylinder. In this research work, cyclic torque imbalance detection is carried out by formulating a uniform second-order sliding mode observer using the First Principle–based Engine Model. Oscillations in the crankshaft angular speed were modeled in the novel First Principle–based Engine Model, which were suppressed in the Mean Value Engine Models. Cyclic torque imbalance is simulated at multiple instances by varying the injected fuel mass. Estimation of the net piston force is carried out for cyclic torque imbalance detection using rotational dynamics of the engine model. This force is treated as unknown input to the torque production subsystem of the model. Cyclic torque imbalance detection is validated using the GT-Power engine model. Variations in the cyclic torque were detected proximate to actual values which demonstrated validity of the proposed technique.