Modeling of Traceability Information System for Material Flow Control Data.

This paper focuses on data modeling for traceability of material/work flow in information layer of manufacturing control system. The model is able to trace all associated data throughout the product manufacturing from order to final product. Dynamic data processing of Quality and Purchase activities are considered in data modeling as well as Order and Operation base on lots particulars. The modeling consisted of four steps and integrated as one final model. Entity-Relationships Modeling as data modeling methodology is proposed. The model is reengineered with Toad Data Modeler software in physical modeling step. The developed model promises to handle fundamental issues of a traceability system effectively. It supports for customization and real-time control of material in flow in all levels of manufacturing processes. Through enhanced visibility and dynamic store/retrieval of data, all traceability usages and applications is responded. Designed solution is initially applicable as reference data model in identical lot-base traceability system

Recognition of Machined Features from Solid Database of Prismatic Components

The automation of process planning requires features to he recognized directly from a computer aided design (CAD) system. This paper presents a new technique for recognition of machined features using point classification technique with a logic-based approach. Boundary r~presentation of solid modelling is used to model a prismatic component. The system is developed entirely in the AutoCAD environment, and the AutoLISP language was used to build the recognition system as it has direct access to the database. Test results are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the feature recognition algorithm. This paper concentrates on depression and protrusion type machined features

Reconstruction of the 3D Object Model: A review

The three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction model of a real object is useful in many applications ranging from medical imaging, product design, parts inspection, reverse engineering to rapid prototyping. In the medical field, imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single positron emission tomography (SPECT) are applied to create 3D images from emanation measurements for disease diagnoses and organ study. On the other hand, reconstruction is widely utilized to redesign manufacturing parts in order to save production cost and time. A typical reconstruction application consists of three major steps, which are data acquisition, registration and integration as well as surface fitting. Based on the nature of data captured, the 3D reconstruction model can be categorized into two groups: methods working on (i) two-dimensional (2D) images and (ii) sets of 3D points. This paper reviews different methods of 3D object model reconstruction and techniques subjected to each method

Recognition of nonrandom patterns on supply performance by employing statistical monitoring

This paper introduces a practical methodology of assign able signals and Run chart tests for identification of nonrandom patterns of supplier performance by statistical monitoring. The assumption of normal distribution is one of the important factors to implement a control chart in industry and service. It is supposed that natural data shows lack of any nonrandom pattern signals or out of control points on control chart. The data of supplier’s on-time delivery for automotive industry has been gathered and illustrated on control chart by employing appropriate transformation and assignable signals and run chart were tested on the control chart accordingly. The results show that tests were able to identify nonrandom patterns of supplier performance data. Out of control signals were removed from the control chart and show that on-time delivery performance was increased accordingly. The control chart with natural pattern can be used as pilot for monitoring supplier delivery over time and improve supplier delivery performance

Development of employability skills assessment tool for manufacturing industry

Mastering employability skills is one of the global problems which employers are facing with graduates or their future employees. Various research on employability skills have been conducted nationally and internationally and it was found that many technical graduates nowadays are lack of employability skills rather than technical skills. The main goal of this research is to develop an employability skill assessment tool using the Kepner-Tregoe (K-T) method in which weight factor is set. Samples for this research consisted of 107 employers from five types of Malaysian manufacturing industry. The results showed that employers in all five categories of manufacturing industry are in consensus on the importance for all seven of the employability skills. These skills were ranked as follows; interpersonal skills, thinking skills, personal qualities/values, resource skills, system and technology skills, basic skills and informational skills. From these means, an employability skills assessment tool was developed using the K-T Method and an Employability Skills Assessment Tool Development Model was produce

Virtual reality adoption capability in Malaysian automotive manufacturing industry

Virtual reality and three-dimensional modelling technologies are mainly used in industry in many aspects. The automotive industry is considered as the initial group that uses virtual reality technologies. However, without adopting advanced technology, the automotive industry cannot compete with its global competition. In this study, six automotive companies in Malaysia were selected as case study to verify the virtual reality adoption capability. A total number of 240 questionnaires were distributed among the six car companies in Malaysia and 153 people responded to the questionnaires. For analysing, Pearson chi-square test was conducted followed by frequency analysis on the respondents’ answers. The analysis showed that 54% of industry respondents have stated that existing technology is not enough while 83.7% of them showed tendency towards adoption and improvement with new technology in which virtual reality was found as the best option that can be adopted to different sections of automotive manufacturing industry. The results also revealed that manufacturing, designing, ‘planning and research’ and engineering departments are the appropriate areas for implementing virtual reality technology

Characterization of fusion welded joint: a review

Welding process is most widely used in joining components or structures in industry. Although welding is part of a larger category called metals joining, the weld itself still gives significant problems to engineers, researchers and manufacturers until today. Several widely used welding processes, such as the Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), and Manual Metal Arc (MMA), were studied. In the present paper, the characterization of the macrostructure, microstructure, hardness and residual stress distribution are highlighted and discussed to achieve a better understanding of the welded quality which is crucial in determining the welded products

Fuzziness in analytic network process under interval numbers for criteria and alternatives

Because of the lack of data or knowledge or limited time, decision makers could not express their experiences exactly, perhaps they prefer interval numbers for such situations. Whenever uncertainty is involved in the decision making process, fuzzy and stochastic models would be arisen. Recently, fuzzy theory for Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) under interval numbers has attracted a lot of researchers. This paper deals with a fuzzy MADM approach under interval numbers. We propose to apply the approach for Analytic Network Process (ANP) as a new class of decision making methods. The interval numbers are formed for criteria weights and values that have effect on alternatives’ values. The process of this method is clarified by an example

Quantifying suppliers' product quality: an exploratory product audit method

The quality of the raw material and supplied product from suppliers plays a critical role in the quality of the final product. It has become the norm that vehicle manufacturers require their suppliers to measure product quality and service with a product audit method. Measuring quality of product is emphasised by QS9000 VDA6.5 and ISO/TS16949. From a competitive standpoint, and also to see continuous improvement in business, companies need to monitor their suppliers performance. Quality and delivery are two very important indicators of supplier performance. This paper presents a statistical method for measuring the quality of supplied product. This method allocates different weights to variables and attributes characteristics. Moreover, following normal distribution, the tolerance zone is divided to three regions with different scores. Therefore, the quality of suppliers products can be monitored based on the Product Quality Audit Score (PQAS). However, this method may be employed for organisations to monitor their raw material, work-in-process parts, and final product. It can be an indicator to monitor supplier quality behaviour

Supplier selection in a sustainable supply chain

Supplier selection is a process by which the firms identify, evaluate, and select the suppliers of their required raw materials. Although this process deploys an overwhelming amount of any firm’s financial resources, it would give substantial advantages if suppliers with high value are selected. Moreover, with paying more attention to the exhaustible natural resources and industrial pollution, sustainable supply chain management and sustainable supplier selection have significantly attracted the academic and corporate attention in recent years. Besides conventional criteria such as price and quality, sustainability cares about environmental and ecological respects of industrial activities. Reviewing the literature and considering the previous proposed frameworks for sustainable supply chain, this paper firstly aims at presenting a new structure which considers all of the influential relations between the members of the supply chain. Secondly, based on the new framework, the essential supplier selection measures and criteria are discussed. As the result, the offered scheme can be used by the manufacturers to select the most appropriate suppliers who contribute to the movement of the supply chain toward sustainability