Performance assessment of multi-input-single-output (MISO) production process using transfer function and fuzzy logic: A case study of soap production

In this research an improved and novel method of assessing the performance of multi input single output (MISO) processes, as typified by soap production process was studied. The method involves the combination of transfer function and fuzzy logic and was used in assessing the three years performance of a soap factory. A comparison of the years studied shows that the year 2011 with a performance rating λ of 0.761 which corresponds to the linguistic variable “Good” recorded the best performance, while the year 2012 with a performance rating λ of 0.250 which corresponds to the linguistic variable “Poor” recorded the worst performance. The result of this study will help to improve maintenance effectiveness, quality, utilization of raw materials and efficiency of MISO production processes

Application of game theory to software user interface evaluation

The choice of a software userinterface is very strategic. Usability testing alone often does not determine the best software user interface. Secondly, economic considerations and the fact that software performance is a stochastic dynamic process (Markov process), are often neglected in user interface evaluations. Hence, evaluation tools that better capture the overall user experience, in addition to user interface economics and dynamics, should evaluate software user interfaces more effectively. The psychological concept of flow has been proposed as better metric for measuring software user experience. Hence, a good software interface design should have flow characteristics, a virtual strategy. The strategic nature of software user interface necessitates the need for the best tool for modeling the strategic interaction among competing software firms/user interfaces. The decision problem therefore, is how to develop an approporiate game theoretic model to assist software userinterface designers. In the light of these shortcommings, game theoretic model using markov chains and the flow theory concept was used to model and obtain optimal/equilibrium software user interface among competing firms/userinterfaces. The results of the study show that game theoretic analysis would be a very useful tool for software user interface evaluation

Performance evaluation of multi-input–single-output (MISO) production process using transfer function and fuzzy logic: Case study of a brewery

This work reports an improved and novel new method of evaluating the performance of multi input single output (MISO) processes, as exemplified by a brewery. This new method involves the combination of transfer function modeling and fuzzy logic and was used in evaluating the six years performance of a brewery. Of the six years, the period 2010–2011 with a performance rating λ of 0.810 which corresponds to the linguistic variable ‘Good’ recorded the best performance while the period 2008–2009 with a performance rating λ of 0.381 which corresponds to the linguistic variable ‘Fair’ recorded the worst performance. The result of this study is expected to open new ways of improving maintenance effectiveness, utilization of raw materials and efficiency of multi input single output (MISO) production processes

Modelling the impact of intervention measures on total accident cases in Nigeria using Box-Jenkins methodology: A case study of federal road safety commission

Road traffic accidents (RTA) have been a very big problem in many developing countries including Nigeria, causing many deaths and disabilities. The aim of this research is to model the effects of intervention measures adopted by the Nigerian government in curbing RTA. In the research road traffic accident data from 1960 to 2014 were analyzed using Box-Jenkins intervention methodology. The result of the modeling and analysis showed that the establishment of Federal Road Safety Commission in 1987, a Nigerian Government intervention measure, had an abrupt temporary impact on RTA in Nigeria (ω0 = −2,423). The findings also showed that the total number of accident cases in Nigeria from 1961 to 1987 (26 years), the period before the intervention, was 657,280 while the total number of accident cases from 1988 to 2014 (26 years), the period after the intervention, was 430,721. This represents a 34.5% reduction in total accident cases after the intervention. In terms of accident density there was a 67.4% reduction in accident density during the post intervention period under consideration. It can be concluded that the establishment of the road safety agency has a positive impact on total cases of RTA in Nigeria by reducing it significantly, although RTA still continues to be a big problem in Nigeria. This model and analysis will assist road safety agencies to re-strategize in their policy implementation in order to further reduce RTA occurrence, the number of persons killed and injured in Nigeria

Artificial neural network model for cost optimization in a dual-source multi-destination outbound system

Cost optimization is one of the most important issues in distribution operations of any manufacturing system. Most real life problems are non-deterministic polynomial-time hard, and solving such problems are quite challenging. Managing Dual Source multi-destination Inventory system is extensively more difficult than managing a single source multi-destination inventory structure. Undesirably, most managers rely on traditional method while making allocation decision. There is need for efficient and robust computational algorithm. This study emphasizes the importance of creative algorithm, artificial neural network (ANN) in decision-making. ANN model was applied to a double-source multi-destination system in a paint manufacturing company. The accuracy of the model was evaluated using mean square error and correlation coefficient (®values for actual and predicted standards. ANN Feed-Forward Back-Propagation learning with sigmoid transfer function [3–10–1–1] was considered using 74% of available data for training and 26% for testing and validation. The result showed that the proposed method (ANN) outperforms the classical method in use. Approximately 17% of the current operational cost was saved using the soft computing technique