AI and OR in management of operations: history and trends

The last decade has seen a considerable growth in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for operations management with the aim of finding solutions to problems that are increasing in complexity and scale. This paper begins by setting the context for the survey through a historical perspective of OR and AI. An extensive survey of applications of AI techniques for operations management, covering a total of over 1200 papers published from 1995 to 2004 is then presented. The survey utilizes Elsevier's ScienceDirect database as a source. Hence, the survey may not cover all the relevant journals but includes a sufficiently wide range of publications to make it representative of the research in the field. The papers are categorized into four areas of operations management: (a) design, (b) scheduling, (c) process planning and control and (d) quality, maintenance and fault diagnosis. Each of the four areas is categorized in terms of the AI techniques used: genetic algorithms, case-based reasoning, knowledge-based systems, fuzzy logic and hybrid techniques. The trends over the last decade are identified, discussed with respect to expected trends and directions for future work suggested

Hybrid Evolutionary Shape Manipulation for Efficient Hull Form Design Optimisation

‘Eco-friendly shipping’ and fuel efficiency are gaining much attention in the maritime industry due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations and volatile fuel prices. The shape of hull affects the overall performance in efficiency and stability of ships. Despite the advantages of simulation-based design, the application of a formal optimisation process in actual ship design work is limited. A hybrid approach which integrates a morphing technique into a multi-objective genetic algorithm to automate and optimise the hull form design is developed. It is envisioned that the proposed hybrid approach will improve the hydrodynamic performance as well as overall efficiency of the design process

The Potential of Freeform Construction Processes

The level of automation technology and processes control found in modern day construction lags significantly behind other industries such as automotive and aerospace. The construction industry has health and safety issues and still uses traditional methods of procurement. These problems are compounded by diminishing skills in the labour force. Methods of production must change if these issues are to be resolved and Freeform Construction is a collection of processes that could have potential impact. This paper outlines some of the major issues facing construction and sets a context with examples of digital fabrication in construction. Freeform Construction is defined and potential applications are presented and related to application scale. The viability of two potential applications are investigated in terms of cost.Mechanical Engineerin

SPIDA: Abstracting and generalizing layout design cases

Abstraction and generalization of layout design cases generate new knowledge that is more widely applicable to use than specific design cases. The abstraction and generalization of design cases into hierarchical levels of abstractions provide the designer with the flexibility to apply any level of abstract and generalized knowledge for a new layout design problem. Existing case-based layout learning (CBLL) systems abstract and generalize cases into single levels of abstractions, but not into a hierarchy. In this paper, we propose a new approach, termed customized viewpoint - spatial (CV-S), which supports the generalization and abstraction of spatial layouts into hierarchies along with a supporting system, SPIDA (SPatial Intelligent Design Assistant)

Virtual reality urban modelling - an overview

This paper offers an overview of the increasing use of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies for the simulation of urban environments. It provides a summary of cities worldwide where three-dimensional computer modelling is being utilised to aid urban planning. The study considers the need for a digital representation of cities and raises issues pertaining to advantages, barriers and ownership. A case study of a pilot project on the visualisation of Newcastle upon Tyne is examined to show an approach adopted for the representation of this city in North East England. The process of this visualisation is summarised and future research is outlined in relation to this city model

The safety case and the lessons learned for the reliability and maintainability case

This paper examine the safety case and the lessons learned for the reliability and maintainability case

Applications of AM

In this chapter, three strategic domains of Additive Manufacturing application are presented: tool making, medicine and transportation, with main benefits and results obtained by application of AM. Chapter presents some of on-going or already finished project from mentioned AM application fields

Preliminary design of conventional and unconventional surface ships using a building block approach

Current naval ship design programmes are considered to be inadequately served by the preliminary ship design methodologies used to develop initial design features. This is due to a reliance on numerical design approaches that do not fully reflect the complex nature of the naval ship design problem. A new ''Building Block" design methodology is demonstrated. This methodology uses design descriptions integrating functional, and architectural issues with numerical design descriptions as functional Building Blocks. The Building Block methodology allows designers to undertake decision making during preliminary design with knowledge of all important design issues. The thesis scope includes all commonly encountered naval surface ship requirements for monohulls and also for unconventional hullform types, such as Trimaran. Justification for a new design methodology is presented in Part one of the thesis. General engineering design and specific naval design issues are detailed, leading to a discussion of current design methodologies. Comparison of alternative ship design methodologies highlights the need for an integrated approach based on architecture. The requirement for an architecturally centred design methodology leads to the Building Block design methodology, detailed in Part two. Major surface ship methodology issues are detailed. The concept of the design generator is developed as being that requirement which defines the section of the overall ship design space in which a final design will reside. The discussion considers the application of the new methodology to monohull ships, focusing on an Escort Frigate requirement. The methodology is also applied to amphibious landing ships and small naval vessels, demonstrating the effects of size and operational requirements on applicability. The discussion also demonstrates the application to unconventional craft by development of Trimaran and SWATH designs, noting that the more complex unconventional design problems encountered, benefited from the Building Block methodologies' strengths