A Biased-Randomized Discrete Event Algorithm to Improve the Productivity of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems in the Steel Industry

[EN] In automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RSs), the utilization of intelligent algorithms can reduce the makespan required to complete a series of input/output operations. This paper introduces a simulation optimization algorithm designed to minimize the makespan in a realistic AS/RS commonly found in the steel sector. This system includes weight and quality constraints for the selected items. Our hybrid approach combines discrete event simulation with biased-randomized heuristics. This combination enables us to efficiently address the complex time dependencies inherent in such dynamic scenarios. Simultaneously, it allows for intelligent decision making, resulting in feasible and high-quality solutions within seconds. A series of computational experiments illustrates the potential of our approach, which surpasses an alternative method based on traditional simulated annealing.This work was partially funded by the Horizon Europe program (HORIZON-CL4-2022-HUMAN-01-14-101092612 SUN and HORIZON-CL4-2021-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-07-101057294 AIDEAS), as well as by the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2021/065)Neroni, M.; Bertolini, M.; Juan, AA. (2024). A Biased-Randomized Discrete Event Algorithm to Improve the Productivity of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems in the Steel Industry. Algorithms. 17(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/a1701004617

Simulation-based Optimized Production Policy for Hybrid MTS/MTO Glass Tube Manufacturing Systems

Glass Tube is one of the main components for fluorescent lamps as it contains all the other components to generate light. Glass tube industry faces a decline in demand in Egypt. This is attributed to two factors: currency floating and new lighting technologies. In response, glass tube manufacturers decided to diversify their products. This required the integration of Make-to-Stock (MTS), which is used usually for glass tube manufacturing, and Make-to-Order (MTO) which is used to fulfill demands for diversified products. In this thesis, Production policy is proposed to plan for MTS & MTO production. This policy determines when to produce broken glass (cullet), MTS product or MTO product. Priority is given to Cullet which is used as raw material in glass making. The second choice is to produce MTS product, and excess capacity is used to produce MTO products. Once MTO order is fulfilled, the choice is made to either produce cullet or MTS product. The policy defines two levels for cullet inventory and MTS product inventory. If cullet inventory reaches the lower level, cullet will be produced until the inventory level reaches higher level. If the cullet reaches the higher level or the level is decreasing towards lower level, products will be produced. The type of product is determined according to the inventory level of MTS product. If the MTS inventory level is lower than high inventory level, MTS product will be produced. Once it reaches high inventory level, MTO product will be produced. A simulation model is developed to simulate glass tube production. The model is divided into three interconnected modules: production, order fulfillment and decision. The model was verified and validated through different cases. Based on the simulation model, an optimization algorithm is applied to select optimum parameters for proposed policy with the objective of minimizing total costs. The proposed production policy proved its effectiveness in reducing total cost in glass tube manufacturing. Sensitivity analysis was performed to show the effect of raw material prices and energy price on the solutions obtained by optimization algorithm. Increase in raw material prices has effect on production parameters; however, it has no effect policy parameters. Increase in energy prices has effect on production parameters and policy parameters

Reuse of Steel in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

The construction industry plays a critical role in tackling the challenges of climate change, carbon emissions, and resource consumption. To achieve a low-emission built environment, urgent action is required to reduce the carbon emissions associated with steel production and construction processes. Reusing structural steel elements could make a significant impact in this direction, but there are five key challenges to overcome: limited material availability, maximizing different reusable materials from demolition, lack of adequate design rules and standards, high upfront costs and overlooked carbon impact of the demolition prior to construction, and the need to engage and coordinate the complete construction ecosystem. This article described these barriers and proposed solutions to them by leveraging the digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The proposed solutions aim to promote reuse practices, facilitate the development of certification and regulation for reuse, and minimize the environmental impact of steel construction. The solutions explored here can also be extended to other construction materials

Desenvolvimento de um veículo inovador para armazéns automáticos

Intralogistics is increasingly a matter of research and development as a form of optimization, automation, integration and management of the flow of materials and information that circulate within a business unit. With a strong connection to material handling equipment and automation solutions, intralogistics has proved to be one of the main factors responsible for something that is already happening: a fourth industrial revolution where it is possible to convert warehouses and manufacturing units into intelligent environments where the entire process can be controlled and supervised through a single system. It became necessary to develop more and more innovative and efficient solutions to the constant diversity of challenges proposed by the market. In this sense, it was proposed to develop something innovative within the area of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), a technology increasingly sought after by today's manufacturing plants. As such, the goal was to improve the most emergent AS/RS in recent years: the Pallet/Box Shuttle AS/RS. In order to achieve the proposed objective, it was necessary to analyze all the existing solutions in the market and, principally, to find the main points to be improved and the direction to follow in order to innovate an already advanced solution. The results show a robotized solution where it was possible to increase the automation of the operations in the storage systems and improve the responsiveness of the system, taking this solution to a new level.A intralogística é cada vez mais uma área de investigação e desenvolvimento como uma forma de otimização, automação, integração e gestão do fluxo de materiais e informações que circulam dentro de uma unidade de negócios. Com uma forte ligação com equipamentos de manipulação de materiais e soluções de automação, a intralogística provou ser um dos principais fatores responsáveis por algo que já está a acontecer: uma quarta revolução industrial, onde é possível converter armazéns e unidades fabris em ambientes inteligentes, onde todo o processo pode ser controlado e supervisionado através de um único sistema. Tornou-se necessário desenvolver soluções cada vez mais inovadoras e eficientes para a constante diversidade de desafios propostos pelo mercado. Nesse sentido, propôs-se desenvolver algo inovador dentro da área dos Armazéns Automáticos, uma solução cada vez mais procurada pelas unidades fabris de hoje. Como tal, estabeleceu-se o objetivo de melhorar o tipo de Armazém Automático mais emergente dos últimos anos: o Armazém Automático com Veículos Satélite para Caixas ou Paletes. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto, foi necessário analisar todas as soluções existentes no mercado e, principalmente, encontrar os principais pontos a serem aprimorados e definir a direção a seguir para se inovar uma solução já avançada. Os resultados obtidos apresentam uma solução robotizada onde foi possível aumentar a automatização das operações dos sistemas de armazenamento e melhorar a capacidade de resposta do sistema, levando esta solução para um novo patamar

Index to 1981 NASA Tech Briefs, volume 6, numbers 1-4

Short announcements of new technology derived from the R&D activities of NASA are presented. These briefs emphasize information considered likely to be transferrable across industrial, regional, or disciplinary lines and are issued to encourage commercial application. This index for 1981 Tech Briefs contains abstracts and four indexes: subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief Number. The following areas are covered: electronic components and circuits, electronic systems, physical sciences, materials, life sciences, mechanics, machinery, fabrication technology, and mathematics and information sciences

Supply chain analysis of Gabilan Manufacturing Inc.

MBA Professional ReportThe purpose of this MBA Project was to investigate and provide alternative supply chain management strategies to assist Gabilan Manufacturing Inc. in reducing supply chain costs. This project was conducted with the sponsorship and assistance of Gabilan Manufacturing Inc. There were two primary goals of this project. The first was to identify and document the impact of forecasting errors in an environment where customer forecasts are available to the vendor. The second was to investigate the costs associated with relocating cutting operations as well as the procurement impact of a new cutting machine. Both of these goals relate directly to the overall effort to reduce supply chain costs without a loss of service level to Gabilan's customer.http://archive.org/details/supplychainnalys109459821Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) conceptual design option study

Results are given of a study to explore options for the development of a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) for a future Space Station. In addition, study results will benefit the design of other facilities such as the Life Sciences Research Facility, a ground-based CELSS demonstrator, and will be useful in planning longer range missions such as a lunar base or manned Mars mission. The objectives were to develop weight and cost estimates for one CELSS module selected from a set of preliminary plant growth unit (PGU) design options. Eleven Space Station CELSS module conceptual PGU designs were reviewed, components and subsystems identified and a sensitivity analysis performed. Areas where insufficient data is available were identified and divided into the categories of biological research, engineering research, and technology development. Topics which receive significant attention are lighting systems for the PGU, the use of automation within the CELSS system, and electric power requirements. Other areas examined include plant harvesting and processing, crop mix analysis, air circulation and atmosphere contaminant flow subsystems, thermal control considerations, utility routing including accessibility and maintenance, and nutrient subsystem design

Analysis of visibility dimensions in make-to-stock and engineer-to-order manufacturing strategies: a case study of pipelife AS and Kleven AS

Confidential until 19. May 202