Advanced Animal Track-&-Trace Supply-Chain Conceptual Framework: An Internet of Things Approach

Information and data transmission, as well as total visibility in terms of supply chain track-&-trace, is seriously lacking in current industrial logistics-&-supply-chain management activities. This paper proposes the application of RFIDs and the Internet of things’ enterprise systems architecture to, propose a low-cost feasible cloud solution. This solution would keep track of health history, birth records, ownership history and track location of each animal by using an electronic solar-powered tag instead of the current passive ear tags. This paper employs GPRS, GSM and the Google Earth function along with RFIDs to design an enhanced proposed enterprise system-architecture framework in the form of a business process model. Various areas such as e-health, e-commerce, and cloud-based manufacturing have been revolutionized by discoveries in digitized practices. Advancements in the Internet of things led to the advent of asset tracking systems, condition monitoring and various intelligent systems that exchange data over the cloud. Farmers are very vulnerable to stock theft, straying animals and high business risks due to poor animal health management practices. Existing tracking systems have high ownership costs since some of them rely on GSM network providers whose services are costly for farmers. Innovations in digitized systems continue to add more value to businesses and individuals across broad range sectors. Authors of this paper propose a low-cost intelligent animal tracking system for an African free-ranging environment. Economies worldwide are ever becoming digital and animal husbandry practices stand to benefit from this digitisation approach

Mechanical Properties of Heat-treated Medium Carbon Steel in Renewable and Biodegradable Oil

The heat treatment of steels under controlled conditions alters their physical and mechanical properties, enabling them to meet the desired engineering applications. In this study, the suitability of a Namibian local oil (marula oil) as an alternative quenchant to SAE40 engine oil (Standard quenchant – a synthetic oil derived from natural or crude oil) for industrial heat treatment of medium carbon steels was investigated. SAE40 engine oil served as the control. The mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation and hardness) of the treated and untreated samples were investigated at the temperatures of 850oC, 900oC, 950oC and 1000oC. The untreated sample had the highest amount of elongation (40%), while the sample quenched in marula oil had the highest hardness (24.33HRD) and tensile strength (530.32 N/mm²) values compared with both the untreated and the SAE40 engine oil quenched samples. Hence, marula oil showed high potential as an alternative quenchant to petroleum based SAE40 engine oil for quenching medium carbon steels, without cracking or distortion

Independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, and improved complementary feeding, on child stunting and anaemia in rural Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Child stunting reduces survival and impairs neurodevelopment. We tested the independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) on stunting and anaemia in in Zimbabwe. METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised, community-based, 2 × 2 factorial trial in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Clusters were defined as the catchment area of between one and four village health workers employed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. Women were eligible for inclusion if they permanently lived in clusters and were confirmed pregnant. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to standard of care (52 clusters), IYCF (20 g of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement per day from age 6 to 18 months plus complementary feeding counselling; 53 clusters), WASH (construction of a ventilated improved pit latrine, provision of two handwashing stations, liquid soap, chlorine, and play space plus hygiene counselling; 53 clusters), or IYCF plus WASH (53 clusters). A constrained randomisation technique was used to achieve balance across the groups for 14 variables related to geography, demography, water access, and community-level sanitation coverage. Masking of participants and fieldworkers was not possible. The primary outcomes were infant length-for-age Z score and haemoglobin concentrations at 18 months of age among children born to mothers who were HIV negative during pregnancy. These outcomes were analysed in the intention-to-treat population. We estimated the effects of the interventions by comparing the two IYCF groups with the two non-IYCF groups and the two WASH groups with the two non-WASH groups, except for outcomes that had an important statistical interaction between the interventions. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01824940. FINDINGS: Between Nov 22, 2012, and March 27, 2015, 5280 pregnant women were enrolled from 211 clusters. 3686 children born to HIV-negative mothers were assessed at age 18 months (884 in the standard of care group from 52 clusters, 893 in the IYCF group from 53 clusters, 918 in the WASH group from 53 clusters, and 991 in the IYCF plus WASH group from 51 clusters). In the IYCF intervention groups, the mean length-for-age Z score was 0·16 (95% CI 0·08-0·23) higher and the mean haemoglobin concentration was 2·03 g/L (1·28-2·79) higher than those in the non-IYCF intervention groups. The IYCF intervention reduced the number of stunted children from 620 (35%) of 1792 to 514 (27%) of 1879, and the number of children with anaemia from 245 (13·9%) of 1759 to 193 (10·5%) of 1845. The WASH intervention had no effect on either primary outcome. Neither intervention reduced the prevalence of diarrhoea at 12 or 18 months. No trial-related serious adverse events, and only three trial-related adverse events, were reported. INTERPRETATION: Household-level elementary WASH interventions implemented in rural areas in low-income countries are unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia and might not reduce diarrhoea. Implementation of these WASH interventions in combination with IYCF interventions is unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia more than implementation of IYCF alone. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Swiss Development Cooperation, UNICEF, and US National Institutes of Health.The SHINE trial is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1021542 and OPP113707); UK Department for International Development; Wellcome Trust, UK (093768/Z/10/Z, 108065/Z/15/Z and 203905/Z/16/Z); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; US National Institutes of Health (2R01HD060338-06); and UNICEF (PCA-2017-0002)

Strategic and Sustainable Implementation of 5S in a Beef Abattoir

In recent time workplace organization and easy information retrieval help in achieving optimum productivity through maximum utilization of the resources available, significantly reducing industrial lead-time and waste thus resulting in low production cost and increase return-on-investment (ROI). This paper is a study of the effective and efficient implementation of 5S processes in a beef abattoir. Thus, the paper employs both qualitative (case study) and quantitative (statistical analysis like 5S scorecard and 5S audit performance) methods. This research identifies and outlines 5S “best practice” issues overlooked such as unneeded items lying around, torn sign displays, labels and shelves not partitioned, bins not clearly stored in demarcated areas and storage tools not clearly shown with sign panels and labels. Furthermore, budget constraints and the abattoir unreadiness to adopt the 5S system inhibits the smooth implementation of the 5S phases required. Therefore, this research managed to map out a 5S lean-system implementation framework for the case company X beef abattoirs. Finally, the research recommended effective process on how 5S can efficiently save the industry on planning to reduce waste in processes such as lead-time in effective information retrieval system, safety issues to mitigate non-value adding activities and space utilization, for improved productivity

Cloud Based 3D Printing Business Modeling in the Digital Economy

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is becoming the industry standard for manufacturing and prototyping. Although the technology is very old, it gained a huge traction in the past two decades. 3D printing favors unique once-off orders (mass customization) in contrast to mass production. This calls for innovative business models in order to realize economic gains from the technology. Increased product innovations in the global economy also contribute to wide adoption of 3D printing unlike in the old days. A transition in the manufacturing field has brought e-manufacturing and now cloud-based manufacturing. Machines, including 3D printers, in the past were not Internet-enabled but modern designs have the capability of Internet connectivity. Cloud-based 3D printing is a new model of design that has a significant impact on today's entrepreneurs. This article focuses on a business case for a cloud-based approach in consumer product niches. A cloud-based 3D printing business model (3D-Cloud) is developed based on the business model canvas, which promises major breakthroughs in e-entrepreneurship innovation. The model uses a virtual community approach to bring together technocrats, enthusiasts, and shared 3D printer facilities of common interests, whilst promoting an enterprising spirit

The Complexity of Data-Driven in Engineer-To-Order Enterprise Supply-Chains

The complexity of data-driven engineer-to-order manufacturing enterprise supply-chains for effective and efficient decision making has received a lot of attention both within the original equipment manufacturing industrial research and development circle and supply-chains operations research and management circles. However, despite these complexities, most of the published supply-chains research in operations research and management have neglected the ‘engineer-to-order perspective within the original equipment manufacturing supply-chains sector. This research employs a comprehensive study of complex supply-chains management activities to attempt to propose feasible and measurable essential propositions and/or framework for “best practices” in data-driven engineer-to-order supply-chains. There seems to be no specific comprehensive study on the complexity of data-driven engineer-to-order supply-chains within the original equipment manufacturing sectors for complex products such as the aerospace, marine, and/or power plant industries, etc. However, because this area of complexity of data-driven engineer-to-order within enterprise supply-chains have not been much researched or explored; there is an expected challenge of finding enough available literature to draw-on or makes an inference to. Hence, this study will take solace from mostly real-life industrial case(s) and/or activities, etc. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive study of the complexity of data-driven engineer-to-order enterprise supply-chains as well as outlining essential propositions and/or framework to enhance effective and efficient resilient complex engineer-to-order supply-chains. This paper will thus, contribute to the development of a more robust and resilient framework when dealing with the complexity of data-driven engineer-to-order enterprise supply-chains

Social Communities of Design and Makers and their Impact on Learning

The past two decades have seen a rapid growth in the Maker communities and Communities of Enquiry. Unlike social media, these communities have a unique goal of sharing special skills as well as enquiring about special knowledge areas. Advancements in web technologies and models of delivery, in particular, cloud computing (CC), enables the communities to thrive virtually. The authors focus on the technocratic communities interested in designing and making things. These are also known as hobbyists or hackers, in their respective scientific or engineering disciplines. Various online platforms continue to surface, modelled around the Maker concept. The article scrutinizes the value and impact of these communities in learning. A new model for inspiring innovation in knowledge-based economies and building communities of industry and end-user ready product maker is presented and discussed

Implementation of Lean manufacturing tools in an abattoir: A case study of a Botswana Private Beef Abattoir

Application of lean manufacturing tools in abattoirs promise great process improvements, despite limited sources and literature specific to abattoirs. Due to the inadequacy of research papers in application of lean manufacturing tools in abattoir; audits, process efficiency measurements, document analyzing, identification of value adding and non-value adding activities, site visits, plant tours, conducting trainings and awareness, motion study, work and method study, plant tour and observation were used. Data collection, recommendations and improvements were made on the basis of authors’ knowledge, observations, audits results, change management responses, feedbacks, process measurements, and abattoir staff advice. Lean manufacturing tools, practices and philosophies that succeeded in carrying out the research in abattoirs are takt, standardization, 5S and waste elimination, value stream mapping. These lean manufacturing tools improved business processes, work methods and productivity. This paper reports on the introduction of lean manufacturing tools in one of Botswana Private Beef Abattoir. The contribution highlights before and after lean implementation in terms cost saving improvements, work method improvements, workplace safety awareness, 21-23 % cycle time improvements, 20-22% process efficiency improvement and recommendation to waste management practices that the company can absorb

Root Cause Analysis for Fuel Losses in Bulk Oil Storage Tanks

Petroleum and its products are a major source of energy that plays a vital role in society, powering many essential tools that human life depends on. Supply-chain management is very important in the petroleum industry. Few continents have petroleum reserves, hence there is a need for efficient methods of managing the sourcing, storage and distribution processes across the globe. There have been major improvements in safety management practices, during extraction and processing, in transit, and in situ distribution. Bulk storage of petroleum plays a crucial role across the world as it eases distribution hassles and can act as emergency reserves in the event of disruptions in the supply chain. However, lighter fractions of petroleum have a tendency to evaporate during storage as they are highly volatile. Although there are mechanisms such as floating roofs that have been invented to effectively reduce evaporative losses of light petroleum fractions, the percentage of losses are still high, particularly in some climatic conditions. On average, floating roofs allow leeway for loss tolerances of +/- 0.2% of throughput. Unleaded petrol tanks record significant losses beyond the acceptable tolerances. The Botswana climate is semi-arid, which makes bulk oil storage facility manager cautious about prevailing conditions at their storage reserves. Trends analysed show losses well above the stated tolerance range. This article illustrates the analysis conducted to comprehend the root cause for losses experienced by bulk oil storage tanks (BOSTs) and decision making solution to tackle the problem of excessive evaporative losses in similar climatic conditions