Factorial Technology Research Articles

Development of managerial and Information Technology skills in Learning Factories in the context of Industry 4.0: a case study

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze the most relevant and present technologies in Learning Factories, to analyze how these technologies can be integrated and how to analyze how this environment operates given the shortage of a specialist workforce.Theoretical framework - The new technological landscape, also known as Industry 4.0, requires trained personnel to operate, interpret, and make decisions given the new tools. This means that training the professionals who will work in the industries need to come into contact with all this existing Information Technology (IT) architecture and skills need to be encouraged to be developed to allow these professionals to work effectively. One way to act on these fronts is through Learning Factories, which are integrated environments for Industry 4.0 training and the development of technology, applications, and transfer them to industry. Despite recognizing this strategy, there is no explicit discussion on how IT architecture is built, how these technologies are integrated, and which teaching strategies are effective in Learning Factories.Design/methodology/approach - A case study was carried out at a Learning Factory in a Brazilian state university, called ‘Fábrica do Futuro’, describing the present IT systems, their relevance in student education and the teaching strategies adopted, compared with the theoretical sample presented.Findings – A need was identified to explore the integration between all technologies, involving tools, such as 3D printing, radio frequency identification (RFID), Computer Vision and systems such as ERP, MES and PLM. The development of communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills needs to be encouraged for effective learning and adequate operation of these technologies.Originality/Value - This study aims to contribute to universities and research institutions that wish to implant and/or operationalize a Learning Factory, presenting and discussing a possible IT structure and the skills developed with it.Keywords - Learning Factory. Industry 4.0. Information Technologies. ERP. 3D printing.

Improving the performance of small and medium Iranian businesses through strategic alignment and market response

Strategic alignment refers to the integration and coordination of applications of information technology and organizational goals. In this area, not only information technology programs should reflect goals, missions and business strategies, but business programs should also be referred to as an information technology program, applications and specific technologies It be. This research was conducted to evaluate the performance of small and medium Iranian businesses through strategic alignment and market response. In this research, the research variables were evaluated by a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed between 383 samples from the statistical population, which is all managers and experts of small and medium Iranian businesses. The research method was descriptive correlational. To answer the questions and examine the research hypotheses with SMART-PLS software, structural equation and path analysis was used by minor least squares method (PLS). The results of this study indicate that strategic alignment, factory technology capability, customization ability, delivery capabilities and cost control over company performance are positive and significant.

Predictive Maintenance and Intelligent Sensors in Smart Factory: Review.

With the arrival of new technologies in modern smart factories, automated predictive maintenance is also related to production robotisation. Intelligent sensors make it possible to obtain an ever-increasing amount of data, which must be analysed efficiently and effectively to support increasingly complex systems’ decision-making and management. The paper aims to review the current literature concerning predictive maintenance and intelligent sensors in smart factories. We focused on contemporary trends to provide an overview of future research challenges and classification. The paper used burst analysis, systematic review methodology, co-occurrence analysis of keywords, and cluster analysis. The results show the increasing number of papers related to key researched concepts. The importance of predictive maintenance is growing over time in relation to Industry 4.0 technologies. We proposed Smart and Intelligent Predictive Maintenance (SIPM) based on the full-text analysis of relevant papers. The paper’s main contribution is the summary and overview of current trends in intelligent sensors used for predictive maintenance in smart factories.

염색가공 스마트공장 사이버물리시스템을 위한 디지털트윈 가시화 방안 연구

Nowadays, manufacturing companies are focusing on the introduction of Smart Factory Technologies. Accordingly, The research related in Cyber Physical System (CPS) and Digital Twin (DT) has progressed from a lot of institutes, but research on visualizing it is insufficient. Especially in the case of a dyeing and finishing factory where many operations are decided from know-how of a field worker, it is very necessary to apply visualizing DT for CPS that enables workers to make decisions quickly and accurately based on big data of the shop floor. This paper proposes research on the visualization of CPS and DT for introduction of Smart Factories to dyeing and finishing industry. For this research, we progressed research on suitable visualization methods for decision-making of workers by conducting an AHP experiment. Also, the AHP method was applied to analyze DT visualization for CPS about various visualization techniques centered on visibility, usefulness, and convenience.

Multi-criteria optimization of beet juice obtaining process by press-diffusion method

Currently, the application of advanced technologies in sugar factories is relevant. These technologies are based on the use of a combination of physical and energy effects on the feedstock and provide a reduction in sucrose losses at the stage of diffusion juice obtaining. A method of press-diffusion production of juice from sugar beet which allows to increase the yield of sucrose from beet chips and to reduce losses at the stage of diffusion juice obtaining and production costs is suggested by us. The press-diffusion method of extracting juice from sugar beet with the methods of mathematical planning and statistical processing of the experimental results was studied in the work. Regression equations and suboptimal parameters providing the maximum yield of beet juice with minimum energy consumption for its implementation were received in experimental plants under the influence of technological parameters, which were the pressure applied to the beet mass at the pressing stage, the temperature at the diffusion stage, and the pretreatment temperature of beet chips before pressing and the frequency of ultrasonic vibrations of the emitter in the diffusion installation. These operating parameters were the following: pressing pressure 0.27–0.33 MPa, pretreatment temperature of beet chips 334.2–337.3 K, diffusion temperature 342.5–345.0 K and frequency of ultrasonic radiation 21.25–23.36 kHz. The engineering nomograms presented make it possible to determine the value of the specific energy consumption and the value of the liquid phase output from the technological parameters of the press-diffusion method for producing beet juice in a quick and qualitative way.

A show about nothing: No-signal processes in systems factorial technology.

Systems Factorial Technology (SFT) is a popular framework for that has been used to investigate processing capacity across many psychological domains over the past 25+ years. To date, it had been assumed that no processing resources are used for sources in which no signal has been presented (i.e., in a location that can contain a signal but does not on a given trial). Hence, response times are purely driven by the signal-containing location or locations. This assumption is critical to the underlying mathematics of the capacity coefficient measure of SFT. In this article, we show that stimulus locations influence response times even when they contain no signal, and that this influence has repercussions for the interpretation of processing capacity under the SFT framework, particularly in conjunctive (AND) tasks-where positive responses require detection of signals in multiple locations. We propose a modification to the AND task requiring participants to fully identify both target locations on all trials. This modification allows a new coefficient to be derived. We apply the new coefficient to novel experimental data and resolve a previously reported empirical paradox, where observed capacity was limited in an OR detection task but super capacity in an AND detection task. Hence, previously reported differences in processing capacity between OR and AND task designs are likely to have been spurious. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Design technique of highly efficient technological processes for preparation of polymeric composite parts for adhesive bonding

This paper presents the results of technological machining of polymer composite parts with the flexible flap wheels for further adhesive bonding. The peculiarities of polymer composite materials and their application field are revealed. Constructions that use polymer composite material parts are described.The article identifies the process of gluing parts made of polymer composites, as well as features of ensuring the strength of the adhesive joint after mechanical processing of bonded parts.Methodology of modes processing selection and structural-geometric tool parameters for the processing of surface parts under the adhesive bonding is elaborated. Theoretical studies of processing the polymer composite parts with the help of flap wheels are conducted. The surface roughness model is developed. A considerable amount of experimental research has been carried out. The tools for machining and cutting modes are selected. The strength of the glue connection of the details processed by the flap wheels is examined. To compare the durability of the received glue connections and the combinations executed according to the factory technology, the reference surfaces of the samples used at comparative control of quality sanding are investigated. The theoretical and experimental results are compared. Their high convergence is established. The adequacy of the theoretical dependence in compliance with the Fisher criterion is checked. Effective methodology for designing highly efficient technological processes tested in industrial conditions is presented. It allowed to reduce the processing time in more than 2 times, while providing the high strength adhesive bonds.

Using the roller threshing device for threshing fiber flax

The ways of increasing efficiency of the factory technology for harvesting fiber flax with threshing stem band from the rolls were studied. The experiment was carried out in stationary conditions with a moisture content of the source material of no more than 16%. A roller threshing device was proposed for separating the seed part of the crop from the stem before feeding stems into the fiber production line. The device ensures threshing of the fiber flax stem band over its entire width without using a separate clamping conveyor. The places where the seed heap descends from the roller threshing device while threshing flax stem band were identified. Quality indicators of the roller threshing device operation were obtained ensuring 100% threshing of the fiber flax band with a band compression force between the rollers of 16 kN. With this method of threshing, damage and crushing of seeds were not noted, the stems were evenly flattened along their entire length. Fractional composition of the threshed heap was determined during threshing of a fiber flax stem band between the rolls of the laboratory sample of a three-roll threshing device: loose seeds (50%), shells of capsules with fruitstalks (47), capsules with seeds (3), heap of leaves and stems (less than 1%). The results of the study in stationary conditions showed the expediency of using roller working bodies to separate the seed part of the crop from the stem part for the technical support of the factory technology for harvesting fiber flax. The use of roller working bodies in the design of threshing devices without a separate clamping conveyor allows to increase the quality and quantity of flax products obtained both in seeds and in fiber due to the improvement of the process of gentle flattening of the stem band between the rollers along its entire width. The concept of this roller threshing device is advisable to use when designing trailers and travelling flax harvesting machines for the implementation of a separate technology for harvesting fiber flax.

산삼 부정배양근의 진세노사이드 함량 증진과 성분 변환

Background: Culturing wild ginseng adventitious root using plant factory technology provides genetic safety and high productivity. This production technology is drawing attention in the fields of functional raw materials and product development. The cultivation method using elicitors is key technology for controlling biomass and increasing secondary metabolites.BRMethods and Results: Elicitor treatments using methyl jasmonate, pyruvic acid, squalene, β-sistosterol were performed to amplify total ginsenosides (Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd) of cultured wild ginseng adventitious root. Thereafter, fermentation and steaming processes were performed to convert total ginsenosides into minor molecular ginsenosides (Rg3, Rk1, and Rg5). The result indicated that methyl jasmonate minimizes the reduction in fresh weight of cultured wild ginseng adventitious root and maximizes total ginsenosides (sum of Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd). Ginsenoside conversion results showed a maximum degree of conversion of 131 ㎎/g.BRConclusions: In this study, we demonstrated that the optimal elicitor treatment method increased the content of total ginsenosides, while the steaming and fermentation processing method increased the content of minor ginsenosides.

Implementation of the new resource saving technology in manufacturing process

The authors of the article justify the expediency of applying resource saving in developing innovative technologies for hot rolling of boning knife blades from steel slabs. Such knives are widely used in meat processing industry. Metal consumption of the process was significantly reduced after changing the existing factory technology of making boning knives. The operation of cutting or grinding was replaced by hot rolling. The specific feature of the technology lies in minimizing the metal loss into shavings during the final processing of the steel slab by means of cutting. Reducing metal loss in making such steel parts and raising metal utilization rate are achieved by maximum possible approximation of forging configuration to the end product contour and preservation of the allowances regulated by the operational chart. The authors suggest optimal combinations of basic parameters of introduction of resource saving technology into production. To adduce an example the authors justify the possibility of shaping and simultaneous hardening of the knife blade during hot rolling between deforming rollers. Energy intensity of the technology suggested is lowered by means of reducing the time for further mechanic processing of the forging by cutting. Practical approbation of the introduced resource saving technology in repair production made it possible to raise the metal utilization rate to 95% and to reduce by 1.2 the production cost of a boning knife as the end product. When manufacturing the parts metal resources are saved due to the fact that irreversible loss of metal in the innovative technology of the boning knives’ production differs a lot from that in the traditional one. Technical and economic calculations adduced in the article show the effectiveness of the research and prove the profit of implementation of the new technology

The cognitive architecture of processes responsible to assess similarity and clarity in a comparison task

When asked to compare two stimuli, participants are on average faster to respond Same than Different, an effect coined the fast-same. The dual-process theory argues that information about similarity is processed in priority over any other type of information, causing the fast-same effect. We tested this serial architecture of cognitive processes using a double factorial paradigm, suitable for a Systems Factorial Technology (SFT) analysis. Twenty participants completed a task in which they compared two letters, which were varied on two dimensions: the similarity and the clarity of the letters. Their task was to indicate if the second letter was the Same as the second letter (ranging from identical and clear to similar and slightly blurry) or if it was Different (if the stimuli were either dissimilar or very blurry). The SFT results show that most participants processed the information in serial, but in a mixed order. In other words, for some trials, participants processed similarity first, and for some other trials, they processed clarity first. This implies that participant indeed processed information in serial in the comparison task, but that it does not cause the fast-same effect.

Neural correlates of cognitive processing capacity in elite soccer players

Although great progress has been made in our understanding of perceptual-cognitive expertise in team sports, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying such cognitive advantage in the face of multiple, sometimes conflicting, channels of information are not well understood. Two electroencephalographic indices associated with perceptual decisions, the P3 component of event-related potential and alpha inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC), were measured and compared across elite soccer players and non-athletic controls while performing a redundant-target task. Specifically, we adopted an effective diagnostic tool, Systems Factorial Technology, to assess participants’ workload capacity. Soccer players exhibited larger workload capacity while making faster decisions compared with controls. Moreover, this larger workload capacity was associated with modulations of P3 and alpha ITPC when processing two targets relative to one target and one distractor, an effect that was not observed in controls. Together, the present findings offer a possible mechanistic explanation of perceptual-cognitive expertise in the context of team sports.

Measurement Framework of Smart Factory Technology Capability in Small-Medium Manufacturing Industry

In the 4th industrial revolution, smart factory in manufacturing industry has carried forward as a critical industry policy in most countries. Manufacturing industry has established its smart technology environment appropriate for its manufacturing fields in order to increase its competitiveness. Especially, smart factory in small-medium manufacturing industry is very important for its innovative production and operation activity, and for the efficient betterment of its manufacturing performance. In order to reasonably manage and improve smart factory, we need a rational measurement framework to efficiently gauge a smart factory technology capability of small-medium manufacturing industry. This research develops a measurement scale for smart factory technology capability of small-medium manufacturing industry. The developed measurement framework for smart factory technology capability is verified by reliability analysis and factor analysis based on previous literature. Hence, this study presents a 12-item measurement instrument that can examine the smart factory technology capability of small-medium manufacturing industry in a smart technology perspective.

A new measure of group decision-making efficiency

It has widely been accepted that aggregating group-level decisions is superior to individual decisions. As compared to individuals, groups tend to show a decision advantage in their response accuracy. However, there has been a lack of research exploring whether group decisions are more efficient than individual decisions with a faster information-processing speed. To investigate the relationship between accuracy and response time (RT) in group decision-making, we applied systems’ factorial technology, developed by Townsend and Nozawa (Journal of Mathematical Psychology 39, 321–359, 1995) and regarded as a theory-driven methodology, to study the information-processing properties. More specifically, we measured the workload capacity CAND(t), which only considers the correct responses, and the assessment function of capacity AAND(t), which considers the speed-accuracy trade-off, to make a strong inference about the system-level processing efficiency. A two-interval, forced-choice oddball detection task, where participants had to detect which interval contains an odd target, was conducted in Experiment 1. Then, in Experiment 2, a yes/no Gabor detection task was adopted, where participants had to detect the presence of a Gabor patch. Our results replicated previous findings using the accuracy-based measure: Group detection sensitivity was better than the detection sensitivity of the best individual, especially when the two individuals had similar detection sensitivities. On the other hand, both workload capacity measures, CAND(t) and AAND(t), showed evidence of supercapacity processing, thus suggesting a collective benefit. The ordered relationship between accuracy-based and RT-based collective benefit was limited to the AAND(t) of the correct and fast responses, which may help uncover the processing mechanism behind collective benefits. Our results suggested that AAND(t), which combines both accuracy and RT into inferences, can be regarded as a novel and diagnostic tool for studying the group decision-making process.

Enabling smart manufacturing through a systematic planning framework for edge computing

In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, an increasing number of advances in manufacturing result from smart integration of information technology (IT) and data-driven solutions in factories. An essential limiting factor for improvements is the capability of the IT system. In addition to the IT hardware specifications, the choice of an appropriate IT architecture (Cloud, Fog, or Edge Computing driven) determines the overall investment, environmental impact, and resulting net benefit. This article presents a comprehensive systematic approach that seeks to support the choice of an appropriate IT infrastructure. It is deliberately aimed at supporting especially non-IT experts, guiding the practitioner through a multi-phase process. The approach is applied to an exemplary use case in the field of industrial technical building equipment, but can also be applied to any application case involving the planning of the IT infrastructure in a manufacturing context. The results illustrate the applicability and the potential of appropriately selecting a suitable IT infrastructure.

The Effects of Smart Factory Technologies on Quality and Innovation Performance in SMEs

The Effects of Smart Factory Technologies on Quality and Innovation Performance in SMEs

What do cows drink? A systems factorial technology account of processing architecture in memory intersection problems

It has long been known that cues can be used to improve performance on memory recall tasks. There is evidence to suggest additional cues provide further benefit, presumably by narrowing the search space. Problems that require integration of two or more cues, alternately referred to as memory intersections or multiply constrained memory problems, could be approached using several strategies, namely serial or parallel consideration of cues. The type of strategy implicated is essential information for the development of theories of memory, yet evidence to date has been inconclusive. Using a novel application of the powerful Systems Factorial Technology (Townsend & Nozawa, 1995) we find strong evidence that participants use two cues in parallel in free recall tasks - a finding that contradicts two recent publications in this area. We then provide evidence from a related recognition task showing that while most participants also use a parallel strategy in that paradigm, a reliable subset of participants used a serial strategy. Our findings suggest a theoretically meaningful distinction between participants strategies in recall and recognition based intersection memory tasks, and also highlight the importance of tightly controlled methodological and analytic frameworks to overcome issues of serial/parallel model mimicry.

Assessing cross-modal interference in the detection response task

The detection response task (DRT) is a measure of workload that can assess the cognitive demands of real-world multitasking. It can be configured to present simple stimuli of several modalities, including auditory and visual signals. However, the concurrent presentation of the DRT stimuli alongside another task could cause dual-task interference, and the extent of this interference could be different based on the DRT’s configuration. It is necessary to consider the characteristics of the DRT stimulus, such as modality, to identify a minimally intrusive stimulus. Fifty participants completed a computer-based one-dimensional tracking task alongside a DRT. The DRT’s stimuli varied in their modality (visual/auditory), while the tracking task varied in its workload demand (low/high). DRT performance was modelled using a shifted-Wald model, while the tracking task was assessed using systems factorial technology (SFT), a non-parametric methodology capable of capturing a cognitive system’s workload capacity. To allow the latter’s use, we developed a method of transforming continuous tracking data into a discrete form akin to response times. Analysis of DRT data found little evidence that the DRT’s modality affected processing efficiency, while SFT analysis found limited-capacity processing on the tracking task across both DRT modalities. These findings suggest DRT modality had little effect on the level of interference between the two tasks.

VREDI: virtual representation for a digital twin application in a work-center-level asset administration shell

The asset administration shell (AAS) has a virtual representation as an asset description and technical functionality as a smart manufacturing service. A digital twin (DT) is an advanced virtual factory technology that has simulation as its core technical functionality, which it performs in the type and instance stages of the physical asset. For providing an efficient information object to the DT application, this paper proposes Virtual REpresentation for a DIgital twin application (VREDI): an asset description for the operation procedures of a work-center-level DT application. For the successful application of DT as a smart factory technology, VREDI is designed to meet four core technical requirements—DT definition, AAS property inheritance, improving the existing asset description, and supporting DT-based technical functionalities. Based on the analysis of the technical requirements, the elements of VREDI are derived and the reference relationships between them are designed. It is then possible to provide the required technical functionality using the VREDI header, and a detailed P4R structure and elements of the body are defined. VREDI is applied to the concept to support the main properties of the DT. It is designed to inherit the AAS properties for efficient information management and interoperability. The application of advanced concepts such as “type and instance” and supporting vertical integration and horizontal coordination overcomes the limitations of the existing asset descriptions. Additionally, VREDI designates elements for supporting six DT-based technical functionalities in the type and instance stages of the physical work center.

An IoT-based Sharing Plant Factory System for Nature Connectedness Improvement in Built Environment

Under the influence of urbanization, the relationship between human and nature gradually separated, therefore it is difficult for people to obtain the benefits of nature connectedness. In this paper, an IoT-based sharing plant factory is described to improve nature connectedness of people in an indoor environment. The ecological service process of indoor environments is studied through user interviews and surveys, to understand the contact points of ecological services and the design points of sharing plant factories. Based on these points, a product prototype is realized. Finally, the nature connectedness is tested by 13 users comparing the sharing plant factory with traditional plant pots through the revised Inclusion of Nature in the Self and Connectedness to Nature Scale. The results prove that the designed sharing plant factory can effectively improve a user’s nature connectedness. In addition, the efficiency of plant maintenance is greatly improved with the help of a sharing plant factory. The introduction of nature connectedness into ecological design can guide design to pay more attention to the service effect of products. In addition, the introduction of plant factory technology indoors can help ecological service products to function better and provide new ideas for the research of indoor ecological service products.