IDENTIFYING AND MODELING BARRIERS TO COLLABORATION AMONG AUTO-PARTS MANUFACTURING SMEs

This research aims to identify major barriers impactingcollaboration and enhancing the understanding of these barriersamong small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in theauto parts manufacturing sector of Pakistan. A mathematical basedqualitative methodology known as interpretive structural modeling(ISM) approach is applied to diagnose foremost barriers and todevelop a hierarchical model showing mutual relationships amongthem. Seven barriers have been identified with the help of literatureand experts’ opinion. Classification of barriers has also been carriedout according to their driving and dependence powers

Impact of worker demographics and shift rotation on work stress factors in manufacturing

Work Stress is a barrier towards productivity and efficiency in manufacturing sector. Various factors of stress interact with the demographics such as age, education, experience, marital status and smoking habits of workers. Different workers exhibit different reactions towards work stress. To enhance productivity, manufacturing industry is utilizing night shift. However, night shift work is against the natural tendency of humans. The impact of rotating shift in context of work-stress of the workers is an area of concern. To understand the impact of demographics and shift rotation on work-stress of the workers, a quantitative study was undertaken in a medium sized automotive organization. The case organization was explored through a survey questionnaire administered to both day and night shift workers and analysed through Non parametric Spearman correlation and Mann Whitney U Test. The study highlights the need for effective reward and gratification scheme (Young Worker Avg 3.12 – Old Worker Avg 3.82), taking care of old age workers (Muscle Pain Old Avg 4.47 – Young Avg 3.84), reducing the smoking habit (Depression Smoking Avg 3.79 – Non Smoking Avg 3.12) (Fatigue Smoking Avg 3.92 – Non Smoking Avg 3.06), fostering social community and teamwork. Night shift may enhance production but should not be accepted as an ideal solution. The downsides and ill effects of the unnatural night shift work in the form of work stress are identified and should be reduced by management

Evaluating the effects of nano fluids based MQL milling of IN718 associated to sustainable productions

The aeronautical industry is constantly striving for goals related to lesser production/maintenance time and cost. In this regard, aero-engines made up of Nickel-based alloy are preferred for high performance to improve the burning efficiency. However, the processing of the Nickel-based alloys remain challenging in manufacturing industry with the aim of sustainable production. This research investigated the manufacturing progress of face milling of Inconel 718 by using two different lubrication conditions; minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) and nanofluids based minimum quantity lubrication (NF-MQL). A high degree of sustainability was achieved through increasing productivity (material removal rate) and quality (surface roughness) enhancement while minimizing the power and temperature. The impacts of four most influencing parameters including feed rate, speed, flow rate and depth of cut were investigated on sustainable production performance measures. Empirical models of surface roughness, temperature, material removal rate and power were developed using response surface methodology. Analysis of the developed empirical models and validation were executed through analysis of variance and confirmatory experiments results. Finally, a multi objective optimization was implemented to attain maximum sustainability effect by generating a compromise between lowest surface roughness and cost, and highest material removal rate. The results revealed that the depth of cut is the most significant process parameter for both lubrication environments. The results show the NF-MQL as the better alternative which resulted in 20.1%, 14.7% and 13.3% percentage reduction for surface roughness, temperature and power, respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed that NF-MQL resulted in better desirability achievement (71.3%) as compared to MQL (70.1%)

Revealing the microstructure and mechanical attributes of pre-heated conditions for Gas Tungsten Arc Welded AISI 1045 steel joints

Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is considered a well-established process in the manufacturing industry. Despite, certain challenges associated with high hardness of heat affected zone and cold cracking susceptibility of joints, are the main barriers for this process to be implemented successfully within high integrity structure. By using a combined procedure of experiments and modelling (response surface methodology (RSM) and multi-objective optimization: multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA)) allows obtaining good enhancement over uniform heating, cooling and the heat-affected zone which enable major progress in obtaining high quality welded parts. Therefore, this research study combines the experiments and modelling in a systematic manner considering for the first type the pre-heated treatment and without- pre-heating conditions of GTAW manufacturing. It leads to optimizing the process parameters of GTAW when manufacturing AISI 1045 medium carbon steel. The effects of critical parameters i.e. welding current: WC, welding speed: WS, and gas flow rate: GFR on the mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and hardness) were investigated and evaluated against the microstructure of weld fracture. The multi-objective genetic algorithm corroborated with experimental observation enables to obtain a maximum UTS of approx. 625 MPa and hardness of 80.19 HRB for preheat condition. The results highlight an improvement in UTS of 0.2% to 6.7% and a decrease in hardness of 0.1% to 21.5% by implementing the preheating conditio

Improving the Performance of EDM through Relief-Angled Tool Designs

Among the family of carbides, tungsten carbide (WC) and its variants have extensive use in numerous applications including cutting tools, dies, and many wear resistant parts. Such applications need machining of WC, which is famously considered as challenging due to high tool wear mainly in traditional machining. Sinking electric discharge machining (EDM) can be considered as a suitable alternate but the low machining rate of EDM, with conventional tool design, poses limitations. In this research, the conventional tool design is modified by providing relief angles to the tool electrodes. The relief-angled tool electrodes are first time introduced in this research to machine through holes. The role of the relief angle during EDM has been investigated in terms of six response characteristics, i.e., machining time, hole taper angle, radial overcut at the hole entrance, radial undercut at the hole exit, longitudinal tool wear, and roughness of inside hole surfaces. The performance of the relief-angled electrodes is found to be significantly better than the performance of conventional cylindrical tool. In addition to improvements in other responses, a 49% reduction in the machining time has been realized by the use of relief-angled electrode indicating a worthwhile contribution in the field of electric discharge machining

Identification and Assessment of Supply Chain Risks Associated with Dairy Products Sector

Abstract: Risks cannot be entirely removed or eliminated from Human’s life and from lives of Organizations but may be mitigated and their effects may be reduced. The principal objective of this research is to identify and assess supply chain risks in dairy products sector. A set of supply chain risks is identified through extensive literature survey and is divided into five major categories and 28 components through Risk Breakdown Structure approach. A questionnaire is developed based upon these 28 components and data collected from 170 respondents. Risks are assessed through Probability and Impact scores obtained from responses and then slotted into 2x2 Risk Matrix. A risk matrix comprising of 04 quadrants is formulated through low and high scores of probability and impact of all 28 risks. It is found that 16 risks fall in high risk quadrant, 08 in moderate and 04 in low risk quadrant. Risks of competition, deceases, terrorism, quality of raw materials, natural disasters along with those falling high risk quadrants are required to be promptly responded by dairy sector operators for effective risk mitigation. Similarly risk responses have been suggested for moderate and low gravity risks as well

Identification and Assessment of Supply Chain Risks Associated with Dairy Products Sector

Risks cannot be entirely removed or eliminated from Human’s life and from lives of Organizations but may be mitigated and their effects may be reduced. The principal objective of this research is to identify and assess supply chain risks in dairy products sector. A set of supply chain risks is identified through extensive literature survey and is divided into five major categories and 28 components through Risk Breakdown Structure approach. A questionnaire is developed based upon these 28 components and data collected from 170 respondents. Risks are assessed through Probability and Impact scores obtained from responses and then slotted into 2x2 Risk Matrix. A risk matrix comprising of 04 quadrants is formulated through low and high scores of probability and impact of all 28 risks. It is found that 16 risks fall in high risk quadrant, 08 in moderate and 04 in low risk quadrant. Risks of competition, deceases, terrorism, quality of raw materials, natural disasters along with those falling high risk quadrants are required to be promptly responded by dairy sector operators for effective risk mitigation. Similarly risk responses have been suggested for moderate and low gravity risks as well

Analysis of the Effect of Wire Electric Dischage Machining Process Parameters for the Formation of High Speed Steel Form Tool

The use of form tools are growing in industry owing to their inherent advantage of improving productivity. However, the accurate formation of form tool profile is really a tedious task. In this research work, wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) process has been used for the generation of form tool. Pulse on-time, pulse off-time, servo voltage, wire tension, flushing pressure have been considered as input parameters whereas tool geometry (clearance angle, included angle), surface roughness and material removal rate are the selected responses. Response surface methodology (RSM) (Box Bhenken experimental design) technique has been used for design of experiments. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) has shown that pulse on-time and pulse off-time are the two influential control factors for material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), clearance angle and included angle. Contour plot analysis has been performed to find out the optimal ranges of the most influential control factors for each response characteristic

Performance Optimization of Electrical Discharge Machining (Die Sinker) for Al-6061 via Taguchi Approach

This paper parametrically optimizes the EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) process in die sinking mode for material removal rate, surface roughness and edge quality of aluminum alloy Al-6061. The effect of eight parameters namely discharge current, pulse on-time, pulse off-time, auxiliary current, working time, jump time distance, servo speed and work piece hardness are investigated. Taguchi's orthogonal array L18 is employed herein for experimentation. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with F-ratio criterion at 95% confidence level is used for identification of significant parameters whereas SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) is used for determination of optimum levels. Optimization obtained for Al-6061 with parametric combination investigated herein is validated by the confirmation run

Topological study of the para-line graphs of certain pentacene via topological indices

A topological index is a map from molecular structure to a real number. It is a graph invariant and also used to describe the physio-chemical properties of the molecular structures of certain compounds. In this paper, we have investigated a chemical structure of pentacene. Our paper reflects the work on the following indices:Rα, Mα, χα, ABC, GA, ABC4, GA5, PM1, PM2, M1(G, p)and M1(G, p) of the para-line graph of linear [n]-pentacene and multiple pentacene