Production Process Modelling Architecture to Support Improved Cyber-Physical Production Systems

With the proliferation of intelligent networks in industrial environments, manufacturing SME’s have been in a continuous search for integrating and retrofitting existing assets with modern technologies that could provide low-cost solutions for optimizations in their production processes. Their willingness to support a technological evolution is firmly based on the perception that, in the future, better tools will guarantee process control, surveillance and maintenance. For this to happen, the digitalization of valuable and extractable information must be held in a cost-effective manner, through contemporary approaches such as IoT, creating the required fluidity between hardware and software, for implementing Cyber-Physical modules in the manufacturing process. The goal of this work is to develop an architecture that will support companies to digitize their machines and processes through an MDA approach, by modeling their production processes and physical resources, and transforming into an implementation model, using contemporary CPS and IoT concepts, to be continuously improved using forecasting/predictive algorithms and analytics.authorsversionpublishe

Digital Twin Requirements in the Context of Industry 4.0

Part 3: PLM for Digital Factories and Cyber Physical SystemsInternational audienceDigital Twin (DT) is being considered a significant enabler for Industry 4.0 initiatives. Within Industry 4.0, the amount of digital product information generated and collected over the entire lifecycle has been growing. Current information and communication technologies, including data storage, data processing, and wireless data transmission, may be leveraged to digitally mirror the lifecycle of a corresponding physical product with increasing level of detail. A DT creates a link between physical products and their virtual models with more comprehensive data and accumulation of knowledge. Therefore, a DT may be applied to enhance simulation, traceability and to support the offering of value-added services along the lifecycle. However, the definition of a DT and its requirements are not yet fully established. The characteristics a DT model should possess to be widely used in manufacturing remains an open question in the literature. The concept is still broad and dependent on the lifecycle stage and industry sector of application. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to propose an initial synthesis of DT requirements based on a literature review and industry interviews. The literature review focuses on the content analysis of papers published from 2010 to 2018 and indexed in the ISI Web of Science database. The interviews were conducted with industry representatives in Brazil. The results show that DT requirements are related to real-time data, integration, and fidelity. Besides, it shows that industry requirements are close to literature and the actual implementation of DT is the future of research in this field

Examination of the Mediating Effects of Physical Asset Management on the Relationship Between Sustainability and Operational Performance

This study examines the mediating effects of physical asset management on the relationship between sustainability and operational performance. Using empirical data based on survey data from six European countries (i.e. Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Turkey), this study utilized mediation analysis in order to address the research problem. A macro for SPSS was used to estimate the size of an indirect effect of sustainability on operational performance through a mediator (physical asset management). Results of this study show mediator effect of physical asset management on the relationship between sustainability and operational performance. The paper provides valuable insights into mechanism that have a potential to enhance operational performance. The results contribute to a better understanding on how organizations could achieve higher operational performance outcomes by implementing sustainability and physical asset management practices

Influence of Zn and Mg Alloying on the Corrosion Resistance Properties of Al Coating Applied by Arc Thermal Spray Process in Simulated Weather Solution

In this study, Al–Zn and Al–Mg coatings were deposited on steel substrates by an arc thermal spray process. X-ray diffraction and scanning electr on microscopy were used to characterize the deposited coatings and corrosion products. Open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic studies were used to assess the corrosion characteristics of these coatings after exposure according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2334 solution of varying durations. This solution simulates an industrial environment and contains chloride and carbonate ions that induce corrosion of the deposited coatings. However, the Al–Mg alloy coating maintained an OCP of approximately - 0.911 V versus Ag/AgCl in the SAE J2334 solution even after 792 h of exposure. This indicates that it protects the steel sacrificially, whereas the Al–Zn coating provides only barrier-type protection through the deposition of corrosion products. The Al–Mg coating acts as a self-healing coating and provides protection by forming Mg 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 CO 3 (Al–Mg layered double hydroxides). Mg 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 CO 3 has interlocking characteristics with a morphology of plate-like nanostructures and an ion-exchange ability that can improve the corrosion resistance properties of the coating. The presence of Zn in the corrosion products of the Al–Zn coating allows dissolution, but, at the same time, Zn 5 (OH) 6 (CO 3 ) 2 and Zn 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 CO 3 are formed and act to reduce the corrosion rate