Management optimisation based on dynamic SKU for RFID-enabled warehouse management in the steel supply chain

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is one of the encouraging technologies to improve the productivity in warehouse management. However, the problem of how to explore the potential benefits of a RFID system and reduce the expenditure of RFID application are troubling many managers who are planning to, or have engaged in, the implementation. This paper enriches existing theory by introducing the useful and comprehensive warehouse management optimisation methods based on dynamic SKU (storage keeping unit) management in the design and development of a RFID-enabled warehouse. Based on the dynamic SKU management method proposed, cost optimisation methods are employed in the development of RFID-enabled warehouse. Furthermore, a storage area management optimisation for multi-size coils and a crane scheduling optimisation method is established for the purpose of enhancing the productivity of the warehouse. The optimisation methods are applied and verified in a coil warehouse and the result shows that the hardware investment is cut down by reducing the number of RFID cards used without any decrease in location accuracy and the warehouse productivity is improved significantly.     

A literature review on MHE selection problem: levels,contexts, and approaches

This paper presents a review on selection problem of material handling equipment (MHE) and general equipment used in industry area. The issue on MHE is widely paid attention since MHE has contribution on material, good and product accomplishment. Few methods and softwares have been proposed and developed to select the most appropriate MHE for a complex selection problem. Today’s high diverisity of MHE categories and types influence the generation of many possible choices which leads to the complexity. In this paper, a further discussion in terms of MHE and equipment including three major points namely level of selection, the context of selection problem and the approaches are served to highlight the complex MHE selection according to the number of possible choices provided, to analyse the consideration for the problem context, and to reveal the superior method for complex MHE selection. Forty-two papers collected from the past study are presented asscociating each point of the discussion.     

Integrating optimisation and simulation approaches for daily scheduling of assembly and test operations

The purpose of this paper is to show how the results of an optimisation model that can be integrated with the decisions made within a simulation model to schedule back-end operations in a semiconductor assembly and test facility. The problem is defined by a set of resources that includes machines and tooling, process plans for each product and the following four hierarchical objectives: minimise the weighted sum of key device shortages, maximise weighted throughput, minimise the number of machines used and minimise the makespan for a given set of lots in queue. A mixed integer programming model is purposed and first solved with a greedy randomised adaptive search procedure (GRASP). The results associated with the prescribed facility configuration are then fed to the simulation model written in AutoSched AP. However, due to the inadequacy of the options built into AutoSched, three new rules were created: the first two are designed to capture the machine set-up profiles provided by the GRASP and the third to prioritise the processing of hot lots containing key devices. The computational analysis showed that incorporating the set-up from the GRASP in dynamic operations of the simulation greatly improved its performance with respect to the four objectives.     

Planning of capacity,production and inventory decisions in a generic reverse supply chain under uncertain demand and returns

There is a growing interest for the design and operation of reverse supply chain systems due to the cost and the legislation issues. In this paper, we address the disassembly, refurbishing and production operations in a reverse supply chain setting for modular products such as computers and mobile phones considering the uncertainties in this system, which are the return amounts of the used products and demand for final products. We develop a large-scale mixed integer programming model in order to capture all characteristics of this system, and use two-stage stochastic optimisation and robust optimisation approaches to analyse the system behaviour. In the first stage, we focus on the strategic decisions about the capacities at disassembly and refurbishing sites considering different scenarios regarding the uncertainties in the system. In the second stage, we analyse the operational decisions such as production, inventory and disposal rates. We observe through our extensive numerical analysis that the randomness of demand and return values effect the performance of the system substantially and the uncertainty of the return amounts of used products is much more important than the uncertainty of demand in this system.     

煤层气压裂井裂缝参数优化及效果评价

因煤层复杂渗流机理及低孔低渗特征,煤层气均需采取压裂改造措施进行开采。为了正确认识压裂参数对煤层气井产能、采出程度及井网部署的影响规律,从储层应力形变及煤层气解吸、扩散、渗流流固耦合分析出发,建立压裂井气水两相非线性渗流模型,研究裂缝参数、储层非均质性对井距及井网类型优化的影响,并且采用注入压降试井解释对压裂工艺参数进行评价。研究结果表明：煤层流体以非线性渗流为主,物性呈现先下降后上升的特征,存在启动压力梯度的影响;井距优化应考虑裂缝方向、裂缝穿透比、裂缝导流能力等因素的影响;矩形与菱形井网选择要参考储层各向异性系数的临界值;避免注入压降测试中井筒液面的变化及测试段的选择对试井解释结果的影响,提高压裂效果解释评价准确性。研究对煤层气压裂井裂缝、井网参数优化及提高压裂效果评价准确性具有较好的指导意义。     

Robotic disassembly sequence planning using enhanced discrete bees algorithm in remanufacturing

Increasing attention is being paid to remanufacturing due to environmental protection and resource saving. Disassembly, as an essential step of remanufacturing, is always manually finished which is time-consuming while robotic disassembly can improve disassembly efficiency. Before the execution of disassembly, generating optimal disassembly sequence plays a vital role in improving disassembly efficiency. In this paper, to minimise the total disassembly time, an enhanced discrete Bees algorithm (EDBA) is proposed to solve robotic disassembly sequence planning (RDSP) problem. Firstly, the modified feasible solution generation (MFSG) method is used to build the disassembly model. After that, the evaluation criterions for RDSP are proposed to describe the total disassembly time of a disassembly sequence. Then, with the help of mutation operator, EDBA is proposed to determine the optimal disassembly sequence of RDSP. Finally, case studies based on two gear pumps are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The performance of EDBA is analysed under different parameters and compared with existing optimisation algorithms used in disassembly sequence planning (DSP). The result shows the proposed method is more suitable for robotic disassembly than the traditional method and EDBA generates better quality of solutions compared with the other optimisation algorithms.     

Thermo-economics analysis of a cane bio-refinery

A cane bio-refinery consists of the following components: sugar mill, distillery, refinery and cogeneration power plant. The latter supplies electricity and process heat needed by the other components of the bio-refinery. Although process heat and electricity have the same units of energy, they are of different quality levels. Appropriate attention can be directed to those components causing major exergy loss. Furthermore, a device/system can be exergy efficient but may not be cost-effective. Thus, the financial implications need also to be assessed. The performance of an existing cane bio-refinery was assessed on the basis of thermo-economics analysis. It was found that the addition of an evaporator of the falling film thin type in the sugar mill would not only reduce the exergy loss but would also generate more revenues. A better-informed decision could be made for the optimisation of a bio-refinery.     

Airfoil optimisation for vertical‐axis wind turbines with variable pitch

To advance the design of a multimegawatt vertical‐axis wind turbine (VAWT), application‐specific airfoils need to be developed. In this research, airfoils are tailored for a VAWT with variable pitch. A genetic algorithm is used to optimise the airfoil shape considering a balance between the aerodynamic and structural performance of airfoils. At rotor scale, the aerodynamic objective aims to create the required optimal loading while minimising losses. The structural objective focusses on maximising the bending stiffness. Three airfoils from the Pareto front are selected and analysed using the actuator cylinder model and a prescribed‐wake vortex code. The optimal pitch schedule is determined, and the loadings and power performance are studied for different tip‐speed ratios and solidities. The comparison of the optimised airfoils with similar airfoils from the first generation shows a significant improvement in performance, and this proves the necessity to properly select the airfoil shape.     

AOT及其复配体系的中相微乳液研究

在表面活性剂－醇－正辛烷－盐水体系中，研究了以双－２－乙基己基磺琥珀酸钠，十六烷基三甲溴化铵及ＡＯＴ与ＣＴＡＢ的复配物为表面活性剂时形成的微乳液性质，考察了ＮａＣｌ浓度、醇的种类与浓度对体系相行为与中相微乳液特性的影响。研究结果表明，ＡＯＴ与ＣＴＡＢ按１：７按摩尔比复配时有显著的协同效应，最佳中相微乳液体积大幅度增加；该体系的最佳含盐量对醇分子碳链长度的变化特别敏感。     

Process Development and Product Quality of Micro-Metal Powder Injection Molding

Injection molding has been found to be an efficient and cost-effective manufacturing technique for the production of a wide variety of parts and components at both macro- and microscale. This is attributed to the application of robust design and process development. However, every manufacturing technique is challenged by quality issues and part defects, but tackled by continuous improvement framework(s). This systematic monitoring and control approach of dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, and surface quality of the finished part strongly depend on process conditions at different production stage. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review process development of micro-metal injection molding; focusing on critical factors influencing part quality and optimization of process parameters. The critical factors that influenced the finished part quality are part design, mold design, material selection, machine, and process conditions. Optimizing mold temperature, melt temperature, injection speed, injection pressure, cooling time, packing, and holding parameters improve the quality of the molded part. This trend of process development of injection molding gave rise to a broad scope of applications with brighter future potentials for the next decades, particularly for medical and electronics applications.