168 research outputs found

    Manufacturing

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    The manufacturing industry is responsible for a large share of global environmental impacts (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions) that can mainly be tracked back to energy demand. This energy demand is determined by a diversity of processes and machines, which dynamically interact in process chains and with other factory elements such as technical building services (TBS). Given that, system-oriented material flow simulation with inclusion of energy aspects bears the potential to support the energy transition of industry through fostering both energy efficiency and substitution towards renewable resources. The chapter addresses the necessary background as well as common aspects in the context of energy-oriented manufacturing system simulation. Four manufacturing case studies underline the feasibility and potential of available simulation approaches for improving energy-related environmental impacts and also costs. Additionally, an outlook towards potential future research steps is given.</p

    Clinical Challenges and Consequences of Measurable Residual Disease in Non-APL Acute Myeloid Leukemia

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    The ability to detect residual levels of leukemic blasts (measurable residual disease, MRD) has already been integrated in the daily routine for treatment of patients with chronic myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a variety of mostly retrospective studies have shown that individuals in AML remission who tested positive for MRD at specific time-points or had increasing MRD levels are at significantly higher risk of relapse and death compared to MRD-negative patients. However, these studies differ with respect to the “MRD-target”, time-point of MRD determination, material analyzed, and method applied. How this probably very valuable MRD information in individual patients may be adapted in the daily clinical routine, e.g., to separate patients who need more aggressive therapies from those who may be spared additional—potentially toxic—therapies is still a work-in-progress. With the exception of MRD assessment in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the lack of randomized, prospective trials renders MRD-based decisions and clinical implications in AML a difficult task. As of today, we still do not have proof that early intervention in MRD-positive AML patients would improve outcomes, although this is very likely. In this article, we review the current knowledge on non-APL AML MRD assessment and possible clinical consequences

    Total Cost of Ownership of Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) Technologies in Factories

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    Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS) have become an important supporting technology in manufacturing due to safety, logistical and managerial concerns. RTLS is a very wide term covering many different specific technologies. To increase the potential for implementation and better anticipate the costs associated, four different RTLS technologies have been evaluated according use case characteristics, maintenance costs, communication requirements. Data server capabilities, scalability, and integrability. The ability to analyze and determine such criteria are vital to support the selection of a specific technology (or mix of technologies) within manufacturing. The paper offers researchers and managers a reference comparison of the total costs surrounding the ownership of Ultra-wide band (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy, Ultrasonic, and Optical RTLS technologies.</p

    Methodology for systematic design of cleanroom assembly workstations

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    Given the growth of cleanroom manufacturing for high-tech products and the high costs of operating within a cleanroom environment, an accompanying efficient manufacturing system is important. While abundant examples of efficient assembly manufacturing systems exist today, implementation of these into a sensitive cleanroom manufacturing environment has proven to be difficult. Against this background, this paper presents a transferable methodology to support the design of cleanroom assembly workstations which brings together aspects like cleanliness, ergonomics, modularity/flexibility and flow in an integrated manner. A set of guidelines was developed and embedded into a systematic procedure. The methodology was implemented and validated in a case at a high-tech precision manufacturing company, with high-mix-low-volume characteristics. The case study underlines the feasibility of the approach and the multicriterial improvement of workstation design towards the current state of the art. It also lead to a transferable cleanroom workstation design.</p

    Integrated Analysis of Energy, Material and Time Flows in Manufacturing Systems

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    AbstractEnvironmental objectives (e.g. energy and resource demand, emissions, waste) become increasingly relevant for manufacturing companies in addition to traditional economic objectives (e.g. throughput time, output). Currently, different methods and tools are available to address those objectives individually, such as value stream mapping (economic), material and energy flow analysis/MEFA as well as Life Cycle Assessment/LCA (environmental). However, there is a lack on approaches that bring together benefits of those tools and allow simultaneous consideration of all objectives. Against this background, a methodology is developed to analyses the energy, material and time flows of manufacturing systems in an integrated manner. The proposed method is exemplary applied to the case of an Australian manufacturing company
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