Use of the dynamic simulation to reduce handling complexity in the manufacturing process

Many companies have started using dynamic simulation as full support for their own optimization team to optimize business processes. The 3D visualization can facilitate understanding of the links among processes and their connections. It can significantly contribute to its appropriate implementation. which aims at saving costs, simplifying processes, introducing new or innovated processes, etc. Application field is not significant for the 3D visualization. Predictive simulation can be applied in any process, from storage. logistics, handling, through production line optimization to distribution. The submitted paper deals with the optimization of the production process regarding the reduction of handling demands for the company in the automotive industry. Businesses are currently facing an issue of handling complexity, which has a relatively high cost, depending on the amount of unnecessary and chaotic trips within production processes. It is necessary to modify the charging method in any change of production. This is connected with an increase of non-productive rides. The article introduces the possibility of a variant solution with the possibility to use dynamic simulation as a powerful tool for the process optimization.Web of Science141888

Servohydraulic compaction simulators, an overview of the state-of-the-art

Servohydraulic compaction simulators have been available to the Pharmaceutical industry and Academia since the 1980s and have contributed extensively to the advance of compaction physics and tableting manufacturing research. Servohydraulic simulators support die compaction, roll compaction, and can also be adapted to support capsule compaction. The introduction of 3D-generation equipment and the drive toward rational formulation of simple and complex compacts (multilayers) in a material-sparing, multivariate environment are leading to a -resurgence in the use of experimental simulation technology. This study will provide the background of compaction simulators and will outline novel, state-of-the-art features, such as triaxial decompression, temperature impact, instrumented dies, and advanced press simulations (kinetics, temperature, elasticity).Although designed primarily for pharmaceutical tablets and ribbons, modern simulators can be easily adapted to support uniaxial die compaction in other industries, such as metallurgy, ceramics, and catalysts. The growing linkage between numerical simulation and physical/experimental simulation will also be discussed. Biosketch: Jean LeFloch holds the position of Business Development Manager, North America, at Huxley Bertram (Cambridge, UK) a supplier of servohydraulic compaction simulators to the pharmaceutical industry. Formerly with Thomas Engineering in Chicago, Jean has 25 years of experience in the design, instrumentation, commercialization, and support of pharmaceutical tabletting machinery. His study involved compression and coating processes and their automation. In the 1990s, Jean and his team designed one of the first fully-computerized tablet presses in collaboration with Manesty (Liverpool). Jean also worked for several years at Motorola, with a focus on -statistical process control, operational excellence, and quality systems. Jean holds a Master of Science in Electrical -Engineering from the University of Angers and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame

Grid simulation services for the medical community

The first part of this paper presents a selection of medical simulation applications, including image reconstruction, near real-time registration for neuro-surgery, enhanced dose distribution calculation for radio-therapy, inhaled drug delivery prediction, plastic surgery planning and cardio-vascular system simulation. The latter two topics are discussed in some detail. In the second part, we show how such services can be made available to the clinical practitioner using Grid technology. We discuss the developments and experience made during the EU project GEMSS, which provides reliable, efficient, secure and lawful medical Grid services

Impact of model fidelity in factory layout assessment using immersive discrete event simulation

Discrete Event Simulation (DES) can help speed up the layout design process. It offers further benefits when combined with Virtual Reality (VR). The latest technology, Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR), immerses users in virtual prototypes of their manufacturing plants to-be, potentially helping decision-making. This work seeks to evaluate the impact of visual fidelity, which refers to the degree to which objects in VR conforms to the real world, using an IVR visualisation of the DES model of an actual shop floor. User studies are performed using scenarios populated with low- and high-fidelity models. Study participant carried out four tasks representative of layout decision-making. Limitations of existing IVR technology was found to cause motion sickness. The results indicate with the particular group of naïve modellers used that there is no significant difference in benefits between low and high fidelity, suggesting that low fidelity VR models may be more cost-effective for this group

A Case Study for Business Integration as a Service

This paper presents Business Integration as a Service (BIaaS) to allow two services to work together in the Cloud to achieve a streamline process. We illustrate this integration using two services; Return on Investment (ROI) Measurement as a Service (RMaaS) and Risk Analysis as a Service (RAaaS) in the case study at the University of Southampton. The case study demonstrates the cost-savings and the risk analysis achieved, so two services can work as a single service. Advanced techniques are used to demonstrate statistical services and 3D Visualisation services under the remit of RMaaS and Monte Carlo Simulation as a Service behind the design of RAaaS. Computational results are presented with their implications discussed. Different types of risks associated with Cloud adoption can be calculated easily, rapidly and accurately with the use of BIaaS. This case study confirms the benefits of BIaaS adoption, including cost reduction and improvements in efficiency and risk analysis. Implementation of BIaaS in other organisations is also discussed. Important data arising from the integration of RMaaS and RAaaS are useful for management and stakeholders of University of Southampton

Virtual Reality Interactive Learning Environment

Open Building Manufacturing (ManuBuild) aims to promote the European construction industry beyond the state of the art. However, this requires the different stakeholders to be well informed of what ‘Open Building Manufacturing’ actually entails with respect to understanding the underlying concepts, benefits and risks. This is further challenged by the ‘traditional ways of learning’ which have been predominantly criticised for being entrenched in theories with little or no emphasis on practical issues. Experiential learning has long been suggested to overcome the problems associated with the traditional ways of learning. In this respect, it has the dual benefit of appealing to adult learner's experience base, as well as increasing the likelihood of performance change through training. On-the-job-training (OJT) is usually sought to enable ‘experiential’ learning; and it is argued to be particularly effective in complex tasks, where a great deal of independence is granted to the task performer. However, OJT has been criticised for being expensive, limited, and devoid of the actual training context. Consequently, in order to address the problems encountered with OJT, virtual reality (VR) solutions have been proposed to provide a risk free environment for learning without the ‘do-or-die’ consequences often faced on real construction projects. Since ManuBuild aims to promote the EU construction industry beyond the state of the art; training and education therefore needs also to go beyond the state of the art in order to meet future industry needs and expectations. Hence, a VR interactive learning environment was suggested for Open Building Manufacturing training to allow experiential learning to take place in a risk free environment, and consequently overcome the problems associated with OJT. This chapter discusses the development, testing, and validation of this prototype

Survey on Additive Manufacturing, Cloud 3D Printing and Services

Cloud Manufacturing (CM) is the concept of using manufacturing resources in a service oriented way over the Internet. Recent developments in Additive Manufacturing (AM) are making it possible to utilise resources ad-hoc as replacement for traditional manufacturing resources in case of spontaneous problems in the established manufacturing processes. In order to be of use in these scenarios the AM resources must adhere to a strict principle of transparency and service composition in adherence to the Cloud Computing (CC) paradigm. With this review we provide an overview over CM, AM and relevant domains as well as present the historical development of scientific research in these fields, starting from 2002. Part of this work is also a meta-review on the domain to further detail its development and structure

Virtual cities management and organisation

This paper presents a recent overview of the increasing use of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies for the simulation of urban environments. It builds on previous research conducted on the identification of three-dimensional (3D) city models and offers an analysis of the development, utilization and construction of VR city models. Issues pertaining to advantages, barriers and ownership are identified. The paper describes a case study of the development of a VR model for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK and outlines the role that academic institutions can play in both the creation and utilization of urban models. The study offers a new approach for the creation, management and update of urban models and reflects on issues which are emerging. Areas for future research are discussed