A Review on Application of Model Based Systems Engineering to Manufacturing and Production Engineering Systems

Increasing complexity in today’s manufacturing and production industry due to the need for higher flexibility and competitiveness is leading to inconsistencies in the iterative exchange loops of the system design process. To address these complexities and inconsistencies, an ongoing industry trend for organizations to make a transition from document-centric principles and applications to being model-centric is observed. In this paper, a literature review is presented highlighting the current need for an industry-wide transition from document-centric systems engineering to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Further, investigating the tools and languages used by the researchers for facilitating the transition to and the integration of MBSE approach, we identify the most commonly used tools and languages to highlight the applicability of MBSE in the manufacturing and production industry

A Machine Vision Based Automated Quality Control System for Product Dimensional Analysis

Quality control (QC) in manufacturing processes is critical to ensuring consumers receive products with proper functionality and reliability. Faulty products can lead to additional costs for the manufacturer and damage trust in a brand. A growing trend in QC is the use of machine vision (MV) systems because of their noncontact inspection, high repeatability, and relatively low cost. This paper presents a robust MV system developed to perform comparative dimensional inspection on diversely shaped samples, including additive manufacturing products. The algorithm used performs dimensional inspection on a base product considered to have acceptable dimensions. The perimeter, area, rectangularity, and circularity of the base product are determined using blob analysis on a calibrated camera. These parameters are then used as the standard with which to judge additional products. Each product following is similarly inspected and compared to the base product parameters. A likeness score is calculated for each product, which provides a single value tracking all parameter differences. Finally, the likeness score is considered on whether it is within a threshold, and the product is considered to be acceptable or defective. The proposed MV system has achieved satisfactory results, as discussed in the results section, that would allow it to serve as a dependable and accurate QC inspection system in industrial settings

Rapid Manufacturing of Critical Industrial Parts: A Method Based on Reverse Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, and Coordinate Metrology

This paper presents a method of rapidly manufacturing industrial parts that are critical to the production. In order to assist the Advanced Manufacturing industry, a senior project team at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) applied Rapid Manufacturing (RM) to manufacture or fabricate critical machine parts used to maintain production machines. Failures of parts and tools in industrial settings cost money and hurt output. Usually, the problem arises when the tooling being used is one of a kind and repair or replacements come with long leadtimes. Other problems are encountered when original part or tool engineering drawing is not available and costly redesign is needed. The RM process implemented through the senior design project successfully provide a method to address these issues. This method demonstrates the successful integration of 3D Scanning, Reverse Engineering, Additive Manufacturing (3D printing), and Subtractive Manufacturing (Computer Numerical Control) to address this critical problem in industries. A quality analysis is also carried out by the team using Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). Also, discussed in detail in the paper are the pedagogical aspects of senior design project that includes the industry accepted CMM training and the subsequent internship in the industry

Quantitative Characterization of Complex Systems—An Information Theoretic Approach

A significant increase in System-of-Systems (SoS) is currently observed in the social and technical domains. As a result of the increasing number of constituent system components, Systems of Systems are becoming larger and more complex. Recent research efforts have highlighted the importance of identifying innovative statistical and theoretical approaches for analyzing complex systems to better understand how they work. This paper portrays the use of an agnostic twostage examination structure for complex systems aimed towards developing an information theorybased approach to analyze complex technical and socio-technical systems. Towards the goal of characterizing system complexity with information entropy, work was carried out in exploring the potential application of entropy to a simulated case study to illustrate its applicability and to establish the use of information theory within the broad horizon of complex systems. Although previous efforts have been made to use entropy for understanding complexity, this paper provides a basic foundation for identifying a framework to characterize complexity, in order to analyze and assess complex systems in different operational domains

UML Profile and Extensions for Complex Approval Systems with Complementary Levels of Abstraction

AbstractExtending the Unified Modelling Language (UML) version 2.0 with a profile and stereotypes that allow the modelling of an approval system with multiple levels, each with inherently dualistic complementarity, allows the high-fidelity characterization of the stacked levels of a real world approval hierarchy. The objective was to extend UML to model the complex, emergent and multi-level decision making which occurs within modern multi- disciplinary projects. At any level of abstraction, the logical and concrete processes of that level allow a consideration of local factors and decisions, generating and establishing a qualitative conclusion as the result. The high degree of certainly in the result creates the absoluteness of the qualitative conclusion, which can then be fed up or down one level of abstraction in order to take part in the local decision making at that level. The profile was applied to ground-breaking and ongoing engineering investigation concerning the expansion of a student busing system as it is proposed to be integrated into a city-wide busing system, where the student busing system can be considered to be a sub-system to the city-wide busing system, but in reality it is a self-standing, independent and complete system in its own right

Augmented Reality Integrated Welder Training for Mechanical Engineering Technology

The shortage of welders is well documented and projected to become more severe for various industries such as shipbuilding in coming years. It is mainly because welding training is a critical and often costly endeavor. This study examines the training potential using augmented reality technology as a critical part of welder training for mechanical engineering technology students. This study assessed the performance of two groups of MET students trained with two different methods. One group received training with the traditional method in three sessions. The second group acquired training initially with an augmented reality welding system for three sessions. Then, they were exposed to actual welding training. The results demonstrated that students trained using augmented reality had training outcomes that surpassed those of traditionally trained students. Lastly, the material cost impact of the augmented reality group was significantly less than that of the group with traditional welding training

Augmented Reality Integrated Welder Training for Mechanical Engineering Technology

The shortage of welders is well documented and projected to become more severe for various industries such as shipbuilding in coming years. It is mainly because welding training is a critical and often costly endeavor. This study examines the training potential using augmented reality technology as a critical part of welder training for mechanical engineering technology students. This study assessed the performance of two groups of MET students trained with two different methods. One group received training with the traditional method in three sessions. The second group acquired training initially with an augmented reality welding system for three sessions. Then, they were exposed to actual welding training. The results demonstrated that students trained using augmented reality had training outcomes that surpassed those of traditionally trained students. Lastly, the material cost impact of the augmented reality group was significantly less than that of the group with traditional welding training

Enhancing Engagement and Qualitative Output of Technical Projects Through Competing Team Assignments

This paper discusses the benefits of engaging engineering student teams through competition in technical development projects. The University of XXX is a minority serving institution situated in the developing region of the XXX state, where recently, there has been a great expansion of advanced manufacturing industries, including innovative aerospace companies. These industries look for engineering and technology students who are creative thinkers and capable of addressing complex engineering problems. The best of student output often comes out with a friendly competition. Hence, two student teams were assigned with the same sponsored project to come out with innovative solutions. The project was sponsored by an aerospace-industry with a budget of $3000 per team for these two competing teams to come out with successful proof of concepts. The project consists of designing and building a semi-automatic weather balloon launching system with minimum human intervention. The competing teams did extensive research on the existing technology and constraints in arriving at feasible solutions. One of the design goals is to develop this automated system with flexibility in site selection and launch schedule. The intended design must include inflating balloon with helium that has a lifting capacity of around two pounds. The payload is a radiosonde- an electronic device that captures and transmits to the control base weather-related details such as humidity, temperature, pressure and wind speed at different altitudes of the atmosphere. This weather data is used to determine flight conditions of rockets that are launched. Hence, this data plays a paramount importance in launching of rockets with valuable payloads. Typically, it takes two persons several man-hours to assemble and launch these weather balloons. Automating this process will save these man-power and can be utilized for other creative and productive tasks in the company. The student teams have to conduct several scientific and technological experiments to understand design parameters for the project. Major activities that are to be automated include, inflating with helium, sealing, and release of balloon. Intended sequence is as follows: attachment of balloon, fill helium to set volume to lift two pounds of payload, power radiosonde and verify signal, attach radiosonde along with de-realer, seal balloon and launch. All these complex tasks have to be automated along with integration. The student teams followed the principles of product design in arriving at a solution to this complex automation problem. The outcomes of the projects were evaluated and assessed by a rubric-instrument developed to meet the ABET-TAC (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology- Technology Accreditation Commission) accreditation requirement. Student survey instrument was used to capture collaboration and engagement of students for the successful completion of their projects. Team dynamics and influence of competition in successfully completing a design project are thoroughly discussed in the paper. Also, discussed in detail in the paper are the pedagogical aspects of the Engineering Technology curriculum and seamless integration of industry sponsored projects that have the potential to enhance the marketability of its graduates

4-D Printing of Pressure Sensors and Energy Harvesting Devices for Engineering Education

This paper elaborates on the development of laboratory project modules in the Industrial manufacturing and systems engineering department at The University of Texas El Paso based on Four-Dimensional (4D) printing technology. These modules are aimed at introducing the students to interdisciplinary manufacturing and emerging dimensions in manufacturing technology. 4D printing is a new dimension in additive manufacturing wherein, the 3D printed structures react to the change of parameters within the environment such as temperature, and humidity, resulting in shape change or in functionality such as electricity output, and self-healing. Recently 4D printing of simple devices for pressure sensors application were identified and show high feasibility for commercialization due to low cost, freedom of design, and agile manufacturing process. This enables a high interdisciplinary platform for research and project modules suitable to be used in the academic environment for hands-on students training. Laboratory Modules based on 4D printing of pressure sensors is developed for student training that includes: 1) Design of piezoelectric nanocomposites; 2) 3-D model design of pressure sensor devices; 3) Using 3-D printers for 4-D printing, and involved post-processing techniques by which students can experience emerging manufacturing technologies, and; 4) Testing for piezoelectric properties

Trends of systems engineering job postings and their implications for curriculum development

Recent studies in systems engineering indicate that the design, development, and management of systems will continue increasing in complexity. The foreseen growth is expected as future capabilities require understanding the system and its operating environment, adapting to rapid-changing scenarios, integrating more independent hardware and software elements, coordinating with multiple stakeholders across the system’s lifecycle, among others. To develop the next generation of systems, alignment between industry needs and curricula from higher-education institutions should exist. Therefore, this research contributes to the human capital development of systems engineering in the United States by exploring current job opportunities and their relationship to existing academic offerings in Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The study analyzes job openings from INCOSE’s CAB Members to capture current needs in terms of role description lifecycle experience, tools and methodologies needed in the job market, and it explores the relationship of systems engineering methodologies covered in Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The outcome of this research provides a direction to support the development, adoption, and update of higher-education systems engineering curriculum that aligns with current industry needs