Smart distribution board overload detector by using microcontroller

A statistic by Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on the electricity growth in Malaysia has shown an increment in line with economic growth [1]. In line with government policies, the energy supply industry has been molding itself to cater to the rapid development of the nation in hopes of creating a better and smarter nation [2]. There are many developments and implementation of smart energy consumption to save energy and cater to future energy challenges

An Integrated Computing System for Local Housing Management

Scottish Local Authority Housing Management Departments receive large numbers of requests for rehousing from both existing tenants and would-be tenants, claims for rent and rate rebates from both local authority tenants and private occupants, and requests for housing repairs from both tenants and maintenance inspectors. As a result they face substantial workloads both in their clerical and administrative procedures. An integrated housing management system, using a multi-access computer, can be a means of easing many of these difficulties

Current barriers and possible solutions to effective project team formation and deployment within a large construction organisation

The characteristics of the construction industry present an extremely challenging context for effective human resource management (HRM). The dynamic project-based nature of the industry results in extreme fluctuations in organisations’ workloads and requires teams to form, develop and disband relatively quickly. Thus, the importance of efficient management of employee resourcing activities cannot be understated. This paper reports on the findings of research which explored employee resourcing practices within large UK construction firms. The results suggest that managers currently attempt to carry out some strategic planning with regards to employee resourcing, but that this does not necessarily translate into effective operational practice which simultaneously takes account of organisational, project and individual employee needs. A new approach for more effective employee resourcing decision-making, based on encouraging the involvement of the employees in the deployment process, is put forward as a management tool which informs effective team formation and deployment. However, this will require the acceptance of both decision-support technology and of employee input into what is currently a tacit, management-oriented decision process

An investigation into the improvement of maintenance quality in a production plant through the use of reliability management

Abstract: Extensive research has been conducted on plant reliability maintenance. However, getting the maintenance system in place remains the core of maintenance improvement. The purpose of this research dissertation is to investigate the impact reliability management has within production industries and its role in improving the quality of maintenance. This study will assist management to reflect on the costeffectiveness and influence that the maintenance management system has within the organisation. The study will also contribute to existing knowledge in plant reliability maintenance. It is, therefore, significant for an organisation to establish good management practices and set maintenance as an integral part of their overall plant strategy. The approach that was followed by this research is a mixed method – a combination of quantitative and qualitative. Data collection was carried out through a literature review, observations, a questionnaire, a survey, interviews and from company documentation. An employee questionnaire was prepared and distributed to 25 participants to conduct gap analysis and evaluate the maintenance practices within the observed company. A benchmark study was also performed using an online survey, based on 85 responses from employees in other processing plant industries within South Africa. The empirical study conducted with Company A’s employees (mainly from the maintenance and operation departments) identified possible blunders, which transpired during the reliability management system implementation phase. Based on this sample the results obtained indicated that maintenance is done unnecessarily on the plant on average. The study also found issues regarding maintenance financial planning ineffectiveness, unavailability of spares and lack of skillsets to perform jobs. The online survey revealed that organisations do make use of Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to facilitate their maintenance. CMMS also has a positive impact on the overall maintenance processes and productivity. The study identified the importance of planning and scheduling shutdowns in advance, as a significant part of the maintenance annual budget and cost reduction. ..M.Phil. (Engineering Management

The Research and Implementation of Maintenance Excellence on Clean Utility Systems in the Pharmaceutical Indusry

Maintenance Excellence is the implementation of best maintenance practices within industry; it is the balance of performance, risk, and cost to achieve an optimal solution. This thesis has been structured around the 5 main areas of maintenance excellence; it has documented all the important functions of the maintenance department that contributes towards maintenance excellence. Demonstrating maintenance excellence is a big achievement however demonstrating it on pharmaceutical clean utility systems with strict regulatory controls is a major challenge. Pharmaceutical production is one of the most heavily regulated industries. With such an emphasis on product quality in the pharmaceutical industry, and with such economical and health consequences of machine failure, the maintenance team plays a critical role in the success of the product. It is the maintenance department‟s responsibility to ensure the equipment is kept to a maximum operating condition. It must predict and prevent failures and repair any problems, which may already have led to a failure, while adhering to the rules and procedures set out by their respective regulatory bodies This thesis has explored the regulatory aspects of the business in-dept and presented a number of practical approaches to building in a world-class maintenance program whilst still ensuring the utmost of safety and quality to the patient

GIS Application to Support Land Administration Services in Ghana: Institutional Factors and Software Developments

In June 1999, the Ghanaian Government launched a new land policy document that sought to address some fundamental problems associated with land administration and management in the country. The document identified the weak land administration system as a particular problem and recommended the introduction of computer-aided information systems in the ‘lands sector’. In 2001, the Government made further proposals to prepare and implement a Land Administration Programme (LAP) to provide a better platform for evolving an efficient land administration that would translate the ‘National Land Policy’ into action. Thus, an up-to-date land information system (LIS), supporting efficient management of land records, is to be constructed, which provides a context for the research reported in this paper. We document two aspects of our research on the adoption of GIS by the Lands Commission Secretariat (LCS) which form part of a pilot project in GIS diffusion. Part one of the paper mainly outlines the empirical results arising from fieldwork undertaken during 2001 to determine the information and GIS requirements of the LCS in relation to their routine administrative processes and to identify the critical factors that are required to ensure that any new GIS applications are successfully embraced. Part two explains the prototype software system developed using ArcView 3.2 and Access that provides the LCS with a means to automate some of the routine administrative tasks that they are required to fulfil. The software has been modified and upgraded following an initial evaluation by LCS employees also conducted as part of the fieldwork in Accra

The Design and Implementation of Manufacturing Infrastructures

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/822 on 12.04.2017 by CS (TIS)This work addresses the problem of difficulties in the implementation of Computer Aided Production Management systems, and presents a methodology for their implementation which significantly improves on current practice. The methodology provides a structured approach which leads the company through a series of strategic business decisions which establish the context within which the solution must operate. The work focusses attention upon the design of the whole system with respect to the relationship between computerised functions and the infrastructure of human elements which facilitate and govern the system's operation. A model of the tasks involved in production management is presented. The model is used to structure decisions relating to the design of the infrastructure. The research work described proceeded in two distinct stages. In the first stage the author participated with other researchers who jointly developed the framework of the process methodology for CAPM implementation. This stage provides the context for the development of the task model approach to the design of the system, which represents the author's individual contribution (see section 1.8). The task model can be used as a tool to identify the options available for the way each task within production management may be executed, giving the user a basis for the design of a particular system while not advocating any particular solution. By the use of this approach the user is encouraged to consider the options available and to adopt an integrated approach which looks at all areas of production management, not only those for which there is a pressing problem or a tempting solution. This work results in a contribution to the development of the process methodology, the development of a tool in the CAPM task model and a review of the factors involved in the design of a system including both human and computerised elements