Maintenance technology tools to improve plant availability for dairy industry : case study

This research study investigates some industrial maintenance, and respective technologies that can be employed at a dairy products processing plant. Qualitative as well as quantitative techniques are considered. Plant availability has been identified as a major contributor in benchmarking areas at the company to avoid possible huge costs associated with loss of production and efficiency resulting from poor utilization of resources. The use of tools that aid maintenance is emphasized in particular to identify critical plant equipment that requires greater attention

An evaluation of the ethical concerns of Zimbabwean Research Ethics Committees (RECs), using the Emanuel et al. (2004) principles and benchmarks.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The nature of concerns and issues raised by research ethics committees (RECs) during protocol review meetings can be informative about the principles which they apply in protocol review, yet little is known about the actual concerns they raise. This study sought to examine these local concerns in light of the internationally acclaimed Emanuel et al. (2004) framework and also describe the pattern of the ethical issues raised. Protocol review meetings’ minutes can provide a rich source of information and insight into the concerns that RECs raise during protocol review meetings. These concerns are central to the practice of research ethics: they shape the nature of research and sometimes even alter the knowledge it produces, and by doing so, contour what comprises ethical research and how this can be pursued. Nevertheless, these concerns have seldom been subject to scrutiny. Accordingly, this study carried out a qualitative analysis of minutes written during the review of protocols by a Zimbabwean REC overseeing biomedical, health and behavioural research. It sought to offer a description and analysis of the REC’s concerns, using the Emanuel et al. framework. It is hoped that this study will provide a useful window into the REC’s concerns. Key findings were that 65% of concerns raised during REC review fitted into the Emanuel et al. (2004) framework. Of these, the most frequently raised concerns revolved around the principle of informed consent. The principle with the least number of concerns was social value. The study also noted a significant number of concerns which did not necessarily fit into the Emanuel et al. (2004) framework which seems to suggest the REC’s preoccupation with routine, procedural concerns

Cleaner production to optimize resource consumption and reduce effluent waste in a beverage plant

Abstract: The study investigated the Cleaner Production (CP) concept in reducing waste generation, operating costs as well as resource consumption in a beverage manufacturing plant. CP assessments were done on respective key processes in the plant to optimize input resource and minimize waste at source. A number of implementable options were recommended for them to be effected in the beverage plant to improve on the cost effectiveness of the plan, and for environmental friendly complying operations

Application of total quality management (TQM) and statistical process control (SPC) in improving business competitiveness for manufacturing organizations

The success of TQM and SPC as a boost to business competitiveness has had its own share of controversies. Many organizations all over the world have embarked on the TQM journey, with their process under statistical control, to achieve increased competitiveness, some recorded success while others regretted ever embarking on such a journey. The purpose of this research study is to determine if the myth of TQM and SPC in enhancing business competitiveness is true for Zimbabwean manufacturing organizations

Synthesis and characterisation of lanthanide complexes with nitrogen- and oxygen-donor ligands

The reactions of Ln(NO3)3∙6H2O (Ln = Pr, Nd or Er) with the potentially tridentate O,N,O chelating ligand 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (H2pydm) were investigated, and complexes with the formula, [Ln(H2pydm)2(NO3)2](NO3) (Ln = Pr or Nd) and [Er(H2pydm)3](NO3)3 were isolated. The ten-coordinate Pr(III) and Nd(III) compounds crystallise in the triclinic space group P-1 while the nine-coordinate Er(III) complex crystallises in the monoclinic system (P21/n). The reaction of PrCl3∙6H2O with H2pydm yielded the compound, [Pr(H2pydm)3](Cl)3, that crystallises in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with α = 90, β = 98.680(1) and γ = 90°. The nine-coordinate Pr(III) ion is bound to three H2pydm ligands, with bond distances Pr-O 2.455(2)-2.478(2) Å and Pr-N 2.6355(19)-2.64(2) Å. X-ray crystal structures of all the H2pydm complexes reveal that the ligand coordinates tridentately, via the pyridyl nitrogen atom and the two hydroxyl oxygen atoms. The electronic absorption spectra of complexes show 4f-4f transitions. Rare-earth complexes, [Ln(H2L1)2(NO3)3] [Ln = Gd, Ho or Nd], were also prepared from a Schiff base. The X-ray single-crystal diffraction studies and SHAPE analyses of the Gd(III) and Ho(III) complexes shows that the complexes are ten-coordinate and exhibit distorted tetradecahedron geometries. With proton migration occurring from the phenol group to the imine function, complexation of the lanthanides to the ligand gives the ligand a zwitterionic phenoxo-iminium form. A phenolate oxygen-bridged dinuclear complex, [Ce2(H2L1)(ovan)3(NO3)3], has been obtained by reacting Ce(NO3)3∙6H2O with an o-vanillin derived Schiff base ligand, 2-((E)-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol (H2L1). Hydrolysis of the Schiff base occurred to yield o-vanillin, which bridged two cerium atoms with the Ce∙∙∙Ce distance equal to 3.823 Å. The Ce(III) ions are both tencoordinate, but have different coordination environments, showing tetradecahedron and staggered dodecahedron geometries, respectively. The reaction of salicylaldehyde-N(4)-diethylthiosemicarbazone (H2L2) in the presence of hydrated Ln(III) nitrates led to the isolation of two novel compounds: (E)-2[(ortho-hydroxy)benzylidene]-2-(thiomethyl)-thionohydrazide (1) and bis[2,3-diaza4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1-thiomethyl-buta-1,3-diene]disulfide. The latter is a dimer of the former. For this asymmetric Schiff base, 1 and the symmetric disulfide, classical hydrogen bonds of the O–H∙∙∙N as well as N–H∙∙∙S (for 1) type are apparent next to C–H∙∙∙O contacts. 4-(4-Bromophenyl)-1-(propan-2-ylidene)thiosemicarbazide was also prepared upon reacting 4-(4-bromophenyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide with acetone in the presence of ethanol and La(NO3)3∙6H2O. The C=S bond length was found to be 1.6686(16) Å which is in good agreement with other thioketones whose metrical parameters have been deposited with the Cambridge Structural Database. Classical hydrogen bonds of the N–H∙∙∙N and the N–H∙∙∙Br type are observed next to C–H∙∙∙S contacts. All synthesised compounds were characterised by microanalyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (except for [Nd(H2L1)2(NO3)3]), 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy

Cleaner production framework for an beverage manufacturing company

This study explores to improve the resource efficiency, waste water reduction and to reduce losses of raw materials in a beverage making industry. A number of cleaner production technologies were put across in this work. It was also noted that cleaner production technology practices are not only desirable from the environmental point of view, but they also make good economic sense, in their contribution to the bottom line by conserving resources like energy, raw materials and manpower, improving yield as well as reducing treatment/disposal costs. This work is a resource in promoting adoption and implementation of CP in other industries for sustainable development

Implementing successful total productive maintenance (TPM) in a manufacturing plant

This study examines the impact of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) implementation on an organization in terms of productivity and quality levels. The human resource aspect was investigated to assess motivation of operators through training to reduce set up times, change over stoppages, defects rate and resource wastage on the shop floor. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) implementation case study was evaluated in addressing these short comings in a confectionary manufacturing plant

Use of six-sigma concept in discrete manufacturing industry

Efficiency in manufacturing is critical in raising the value of exports so as to gainfully trade on the regional and international markets. There seems to be increasing popularity of continuous improvement strategies availed to manufacturing entities, but this research study established that there has not been a similar popularity accorded to the Six Sigma methodology. Thus this work was conducted to investigate the applicability, effectiveness, usefulness, application and suitability of the Six Sigma methodology as a competitiveness option for discrete manufacturing entity. Development of Six-sigma center in the country with continuous improvement information would go a long way in benefiting the entire industry

Enhancing cleaner production practices in downstream petroleum lubricants industry

This work highlights Cleaner Production (CP) opportunities available in Downstream Petroleum Lubricants Industry with view to reduce negative environmental impacts of lubricants throughout the value chain. Effort was made to investigate existing cleaner production practices by manufacturers and users. Options were generated to improve on the current practices. Base oil substitution, minimizing oil losses during and after manufacturing, raw material and energy consumption reduction, and environmentally friendly used oil disposal were considered for effectiveness

Aggregate production planning framework in a multi-product factory

The study investigates the best model of aggregate planning activity in a manufacturing operation. Trial and error method spread sheets were used to solve aggregate production planning problems. Linear programming model was introduced to optimize the aggregate production planning decisions. Case study application of the models in a furniture production firm was evaluated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the models