A production control support system based on the concept of an artificial pseudo neural network

PURPOSE: The goal of the paper is to present the concept of a pseudo-neural network developed for production control in an industrial enterprise that produces complex products under discrete production conditions. This paper contains an attempt to use the theoretical basis of artificial neural networks to build a specialized tool. This tool is called a pseudo-network.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: It is based not on the whole of the theory of artificial neural networks but only on the targeted elements selected for it. The selection criterion is the use of an artificial neural pseudo-network to control production.FINDINGS: The concept of artificial pseudo neural network is fully presented in previous works by the authors.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The network is part of the production planning and control system. In this system, the network acts as a subsystem responsible for production control. It cooperates with the production planning subsystem from which it periodically downloads the data on production task covering the assortment of manufactured products, production programs of individual assortment items, production start and end dates as well as its updates. In turn, it reports to the production planning subsystem about the progress of the implementation of the launched production task.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The presented approach is original and can be developed to meet requirements of various production systems. It has both cognitive and utilitarian potential.peer-reviewe

Use planning analysis on agricultural holdings according to their physical size. Case studies

The processes of planning of the production activity of agricultural holdings are, in fact, a number of activities to study the alternatives and choose the optimal Variant. It is conducted on the basis of the theory of planning by the manager/administrator and seeks to provide for a high efficiency of work, to develop and refine the tools, techniques and levers for the conduct of competition on the market, to reduce the uncertainty, to ensure management and control instruments in crisis situations, etc

Use planning analysis on agricultural holdings according to their physical size. Case studies

The processes of planning of the production activity of agricultural holdings are, in fact, a number of activities to study the alternatives and choose the optimal Variant. It is conducted on the basis of the theory of planning by the manager/administrator and seeks to provide for a high efficiency of work, to develop and refine the tools, techniques and levers for the conduct of competition on the market, to reduce the uncertainty, to ensure management and control instruments in crisis situations, etc

Coupling order release methods with autonomous control methods – an assessment of potentials by literature review and discrete event simulation

[EN] Production planning and control faces increasing uncertainty, dynamics and complexity. Autonomous control methods proved themselves as a promising approach for coping with these challenges. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the interaction between autonomous control and precedent functions of production planning and control. In particular, up to now previous research has paid no attention to the influence of order release methods on the efficiency of autonomous control methods. Thereby, many researchers over the last decades provided evidence that the order release function has great influence on the logistic objective achievement in conventional production systems. Therefore, this paper examines the influence of order release methods on the efficiency of autonomous control methods by both theoretic evaluation and discrete event simulation. The simulation results indicate an overall high influence. Moreover, the logistic performance differs considerably depending on the implemented order release methods and the combinations of order release methods with autonomous control methods. The findings highlight demand for further research in this field.This research was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under the reference number SCHO 540/26-1 “Methods for the interlinking of central planning and autonomous control in production”.Grundstein, S.; Schukraft, S.; Scholz-Reiter, B.; Freitag, M. (2015). Coupling order release methods with autonomous control methods – an assessment of potentials by literature review and discrete event simulation. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 3(1):43-56. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2015.3199SWORD435631Park, H.-S., & Tran, N.-H. (2012). An autonomous manufacturing system based on swarm of cognitive agents. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 31(3), 337-348. doi:10.1016/j.jmsy.2012.05.002Pinedo, M. L. (2008). Scheduling. theory, algorithms and systems. New York, USA: Springer.Rekersbrink, H. (2012). Methoden zum selbststeuernden Routing autonomer logistischer Objekte. (doctoral disserta-tion). Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany.Scholz-Reiter, B., Böse, F., Jagalski, T., & Windt, K. (2007a). Selbststeuerung in der betrieblichen Praxis. Ein Framework zur Auswahl der passenden Selbststeuerungsstrategie. Industrie Management, 23(3), 7-10.Scholz-Reiter, B., Freitag, M., de Beer, C., & Jagalski, T. (2006). The influence of production network's complexity on the performance of autonomous control methods. Proceedings of the 5th CIRP International Seminar on Computation in Manufacturing engineering, 317-320.Scholz-Reiter, B., Freitag, M., de Beer, C., & Jagalski, T. (2005b). Modelling and Analysis of Autonomous Shop Floor Control. Proceedings of 38th CIRP International Seminar on Manufacturing Systems, 16-18.Scholz-Reiter, B., & Scharke, H. (2000). Reaktive Planung. Industrie Management, 16(2), 21-26.Weng, M. X., Wu, Z., Qi, G., & Zheng, L. (2008). Multi-agent-based workload control for make-to-order manufacturing. International Journal of Production Research, 46(8), 2197-2213. doi:10.1080/00207540600969758Westphal, J. R. (2001). Komplexitätsmanagement in der Produktionslogistik - ein Ansatz zur flussorientierten Gestal-tung und Lenkung heterogener Produktionssysteme. Wiesbaden, Germany: Deutscher Universitäts Verlag.Wiendahl, H.-P. (Ed.). (1991). Anwendung der belastungsorientierten Auftragsfreigabe. Munich, Germany: Carl Hanser.Wiendahl, H.-P. (1997). Fertigungsregelung. Logistische Beherrschung von Fertigungsabläufen auf Basis des Trich-termodells. Munich, Germany: Carl Hanser.Wiendahl, H.-P. (Ed.). (2005). Betriebsorganisation für Ingenieure. Munich: Hanser.Wyssusek, B. (1999). Grundlagen der Systemanalyse. In Krallmann, H., Frank, H., & Gronau, N. (Eds.), Sytemanalyse im Unternehmen (pp. 19-43). Munich, Germany: Oldenbourg

The Last Planner System Style of Planning: Its Basis in Learning Theory

The objective of this article is to contribute to creating a better understanding of the Last Planner System (LPS) – which is associated with Lean Construction – in the light of the learning processes at the basis of knowledge development, and of change and innovation. Founded on a theoretical discussion, three research questions are asked, namely: In what ways can the LPS be expected to alter the learning arenas compared to conventional project management in construction; according to learning theory, what are the main challenges associated with implementing the LPS; and, finally, what kind of learning can be linked to an implemented LPS that functions as intended? The implementation of the LPS is shown to require substantial changes to the technical-organisational learning arena. In order for the implementation to be successful, the work identity has to alter on the individual level so that an overlap occurs with the new work practices prescribed by the LPS. The LPS has an inbuilt experiential learning cycle, and provides a good starting point for single-loop learning, as well as for simple forms of double-loop learning (“routinized learning capability”). However, it is argued that the LPS understood as experiential learning has clear limitations with regard to “evolutionary learning capability”. This is amplified by the context project organisation provides. In terms of theoretical implications, this article promotes an understanding of the planning process informed by the theory describing it as an experiential learning cycle. The conceptualisation which separates the LPS from conventional production control theory is critiqued. Finally, it is argued that an understanding of the LPS grounded in learning theory will improve the possibilities for successful implementation and maximise the learning effects

The BUMP model of response planning: a neuroengineering account of speed-accuracy tradeoffs, velocity profiles, and physiological tremor in movement

Speed-accuracy tradeoffs, velocity profiles, and physiological tremor are fundamental characteristics of human movement. The principles underlying these phenomena have long attracted major interest and controversy. Each is well established experimentally but as yet they have no common theoretical basis. It is proposed that these three phenomena occur as the direct consequence of a movement response planning system that acts as an intermittent optimal controller operating at discrete intervals of ~100 ms. The BUMP model of response planning describes such a system. It forms the kernel of adaptive model theory which defines, in computational terms, a basic unit of motor production or BUMP. Each BUMP consists of three processes: (i) analysing sensory information, (ii) planning a desired optimal response, and (iii) executing that response. These processes operate in parallel across successive sequential BUMPs. The response planning process requires a discrete time interval in which to generate a minimum acceleration trajectory of variable duration, or horizon, to connect the actual response with the predicted future state of the target and compensate for executional error. BUMP model simulation studies show that intermittent adaptive optimal control employing two extremes of variable horizon predictive control reproduces almost exactly findings from several authoritative human experiments. On the one extreme, simulating spatially-constrained movements, a receding horizon strategy results in a logarithmic speed-accuracy tradeoff and accompanying asymmetrical velocity profiles. On the other extreme, simulating temporally-constrained movements, a fixed horizon strategy results in a linear speed-accuracy tradeoff and accompanying symmetrical velocity profiles. Furthermore, simulating ramp movements, a receding horizon strategy closely reproduces experimental observations of 10 Hz physiological tremor. A 100 ms planning interval yields waveforms and power spectra equivalent to those of joint-angle, angular velocity and electromyogram signals recorded for several speeds, directions, and skill levels of finger movement. While other models of response planning account for one or other set of experimentally observed features of speed-accuracy tradeoffs, velocity profiles, and physiological tremor, none accounts for all three. The BUMP model succeeds in explaining these disparate movement phenomena within a single framework, strengthening this approach as the foundation for a unified theory of motor control and planning

The Volta River project

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityThe thesis, The Volta River Project, is a study of the proposed Volta River power and aluminum project in Ghana with special reference to the problem of central economic planning in underdeveloped areas. The issue of central planning arises from the attempts of public or quasi-public agencies to allocate factors of production without recourse to the price mechanism of the competitive market. Because underdeveloped countries lack adequate capital resources to undertake large investments, they must seek funds in foreign capital markets; if foreign capital is made available in the form of loans, it follows that the profitability of the investment would be calculated by the only objective standard of measurement- the price system. The Volta River Project is an example of a planned undertaking by both public and private investors. On the one hand, the Ghana Government viewed the scheme as a means of diversifying the country's economy in order to reduce Ghana's dependence on one export commodity- cocoa, which is subject to wide price fluctuations; on the other hand, the aluminum companies and the United Kingdom Government, who participated in the planning of the scheme, were motivated by anticipated profits and a new source of aluminum supply, and were influenced by the market conditions for the metal. Two carefully considered aspects of the project have been selected for analysis: (1) the consequences of the dam and reservoir (which would be constructed as part of the power station) on the economy of the areas subject to flooding, and (2) the relationship of the project to the aluminum market. These two aspects are significant, because they permit a study of the relationship of the scheme to other sectors of Ghana's economy- which, in theory, could come under the control of a central planning body, and to the aluminum market- which lies beyond the control of any agency in Ghana. The planning agency of the project, the Preparatory Commission, recognized that the dam would cause many communities upstream to be displaced by the lake, and would alter fishing and agricultural patterns downstream because of a stabilized rate of flow of the Volta River. Investigations were undertaken in both regions with the object of minimizing any adverse effects of the dam. The Commission recommended resettlement for displaced communities in the area above the dam-site; as for the downstream sector, the Commission suggested measures to take advantage of the stable rate of river flow on the basis of a careful analysis of the region. The prior assumption of the construction of the scheme prevented an analysis of the economic potential of the upstream area. The planners did not therefore consider the fact that commercial activity appeared to be significant in sectors where roads and ferries were available; one indicator of the significance of this activity was the increasing population in many communities. Neither did the planners consider the effect upon other sectors which, although not exposed to inundation, were tied economically to the threatened region. Finally, the Commission's recommendations for resettlement were not based upon the availability of land of desireable quality. The relation of the Volta River Project to the aluminum market is important, because the scheme was conceived of and studied in the context of a rising demand for aluminum. From 1947 to 1956, demand exceeded supply, in large part as a result of United States government stockpiling; prices rose and the outlook for new investment appeared favorable. To meet the demand, capacity was expanded throughout the world. In addition, the Soviet Union entered the world market, thus contributing to the alleviation of the scarcity of the metal. That the expansion of output caused prices to fall in 1958 was an indication that demand had been met. One would therefore expect that, barring an increased demand for the metal, an increase in supply as a result of production in Ghana would tend to depress prices. The Volta River Project cannot be assured of the favorable market upon which depends for success, and nothing can be done by any of the participants to guarantee such a market, particularly since the demand for aluminum is derived from the demand for other products; being subject to accelerator effects, aluminum sales can be expected to fluctuate severely. How do these findings relate to the issue of central planning? Theory suggests that factors of production are allocated by the planning agency without regard to the pricing mechanism of the market; a necessary condition for successful planning is the complete control of all factors of supply and demand. The kind of planning engaged in by the Commission did not take into consideration all factors of production; neither of the two aspects of the scheme considered were fully investigated. For these reasons, the Preparatory Commission did not and could not engage in central planning. Similarly, that the planners ignored the influence of price fluctuations in the aluminum market indicates that the Volta River Project was not framed in accordance with sound economic principles. It is the Commission's disregard for the pricing mechanism in the aluminum market which exposes the scheme to possible failure