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From 2012 - 2015 a foundation for future research in Goodwin Hall was designed, tested,developed, and implemented through an instrumentation project supported by the College of Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. This required the design and implementation of a distributed, networked, and synchronized data acquisition system along with supporting hardware and software capable of measuring 227 accelerometers placed in 129 locations throughout the building. This system will provide a platform for research into a variety of topics, including structural health monitoring, building dynamics, human motion, and energy harvesting. Additionally, the system will be incorporated into the education curriculum by providing real-world data and hardware for students to interact with. This thesis covers the contributions of the author to the project. / Master of Science

Yes / Purpose – The purpose of this article is to identify how the organisations are able to improve their business value through acquisition of business analytics capabilities and by improving their performance. Design/Methodology/Approach – With the help of literature survey, along with standard resource-based view framework, a conceptual model has been developed. These have been statistically tested by collecting the data using the survey questionnaire from 306 selected respondents from various service sector and product based organisations in India. To analyse the data we have used partial least square based structural equation modelling. Findings – The study highlights that by the help of data acquisition and tool acquisition as two vital components, the acquisition of business analytics capabilities could improve the business value of the organisation by strengthening its organisational performance. The findings of this research also indicated that acquisition of business analytics capabilities has a significant influence on organisation’s business process performance and business decision, which in turn significantly influence organisational performance. And, organisational performance eventually positively influences its business value. The model was found to provide an explanative power of 71%. Research Implication – The proposed research model can provide effective recommendations to the management of the organisations to realise the importance of acquisition of effective business analytics capabilities to eventually improve the business value of the organisation. Originality/Value – No specific studies, as yet, have analysed the effects of acquisition of business analytics capabilities for improving organisational performance mediated through business process performance and business decision. Therefore, this research has explored the distinctive effort to empirically validate this understanding.

Yes / Industry-standard quality management systems such as Six Sigma and emerging Industry 4.0 compliant production processes demonstrate the importance of in-line condition monitoring of manufacturing methods for achieving the highest levels of product quality. Measurement data collected as the process is running can inform the operator about unexpected changes in machine operation or raw materials that could negatively impact production; and offer an opportunity for a process control intervention to stabilise production. However, micro-manufacturing production lines can pose a challenging environment for deploying such systems, since processing events can occur extremely rapidly and in harsh environments. Moreover, the small scale of micro-nano featured components can make sensor installation even more problematic. Recently, ultrasonic micromoulding has drawn attention in niche markets due to its unique advantages for processing thermoplastics as a new micro-manufacturing technology. The process differs from conventional moulding significantly by eliminating the need for a plasticising screw and using direct application of ultrasonic energy to melt the polymer. This offers numerous benefits such as decrease in energy usage, moulding at lower pressures, easier cleaning, and reduced material residence times, the latter which could be beneficial for pharma-grade polymers or polymers with active ingredients. However, very little work has been reported attempting to monitor the process using in-line measurements. This work aims to evaluate the characteristics of the ultrasonic micromoulding process for microinjection moulding of a microneedle array using a range of sensor technologies including: data recorded by the machine controller; a high-speed thermal camera and a cavity pressure transducer. The data has captured the highly dynamic process environment with a high degree of accuracy. The relationship between the process data and dimensional quality of the ultrasonically micromoulded products has been quantified and subsequently implemented as a cost-effective in-line quality assurance method. / Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Project ID: 674801). This research has also received funding and support from two other Horizon 2020 projects: HIMALAIA (Grant agreement No. 766871) and Laser4Fun (GA no. 675063)

Yes / High-throughput manufacturing of transdermal microneedle arrays poses a significant challenge due to the high precision and number of features that need to be produced and the requirement of multi-step processing methods for achieving challenging micro-features. To address this challenge, we report a flexible and cost-effective process chain for transdermal microneedle array manufacture that includes mould production using laser machining and replication of thermoplastic microneedles via micro-injection moulding (micromoulding). The process chain also incorporates an in-line manufacturing data monitoring capability where the variability in the quality of microneedle arrays can be determined in a production run using captured data. Optical imaging and machine vision technologies are also implemented to create a quality inspection system that allows rapid evaluation of key quality indicators. The work presents the capability of laser machining as a cost-effective method for making microneedle moulds and micro-injection moulding of thermoplastic microneedle arrays as a highly-suitable manufacturing technique for large-scale production with low marginal cost. / This research work was undertaken in the context of MICRO-MAN project (“Process Fingerprint for Zero-defect Net-shapeMICROMANufacturing”, http://www.microman.mek.dtu.dk/).MICROMAN is a European Training Network supported byHorizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research andInnovation (Project ID: 674801). This research has also receivedfunding and support from two other Horizon 2020 projects:HIMALAIA (Grant agreement No. 766871) and Laser4Fun (GA no.675063).

The usage of information technology (IT) systems has become an integral part of assembly manufacturing. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are widely used in order to control production cycles and monitor equipment such as conveyor belts. Other common IT systems are related to logistics, data analysis, or organizing of incoming and outgoing orders. In this thesis we create a model for the IT systems at the fuel pump and fuel injector manufacturer Scania XPI. One model is developed for the current state of the IT systems at Scania XPI, and one model is developed detailing the future state. The current state model consists of charts showing where in the production process that data is transmitted between which IT systems. This thesis utilizes the current state model in order to suggest improvements to the IT systems. These improvements are detailed in the model for the future state of IT systems at Scania XPI. Overall equipment efficiency (OEE) is a measurement of the performance of an industrial operation based on the percentage of up time running at full capacity compared to the available run time. Measurement of OEE requires that only downtimeduetointernal circumstances within the operation is taken into account, and that any potential quality deviations due to the operation are accounted for. Taking into account the variability of manufacturing processes, this thesis proposes solutions to issues in data processing required to measure the efficiency of operations in assembly manufacturing, such as identifying if process breakdowns are caused by external factors. The proposed solution is a system called "Process data analysis system" (PDAS), which uses the recorded machine statuses throughout operation in order to calculate process downtime and OEE. PDAS was implemented using the incremental waterfall model as a software development methodology. PDAS was evaluated by conducting four groups of experiments and a comparison to the PUS (processuppföljnings system) at Scania XPI. Automatically classifying downtime events as planned or unplanned allows PDAS to give an accurate view on the efficiency of the assembly production. The software can be used at Scania XPI and it’s functionality has been verified on assembly production running in ordinary conditions. We show that software can be developed to process industrial data in order to measure assembly line efficiency. Eventually, design and implementation of a downtime management system for assembly production is achieved as a final product of this thesis. / Användningen av informationsteknik (IT) system har blivit en viktig del av monteringstillverknings industrin. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system är ofta implementerade i syfte att kontrollera produktionens takt och för att övervaka eller styra produktionens utrustning. Andra vanliga IT-system är relaterade till logistik, data analys, eller hantering av ingående och utgående beställningar. I detta examensarbete skapar vi en modell för IT-systemen på dieselpump och dieselinjektor tillverkaren Scania XPI. Denna modell visar både hur IT-systemen fungerar idag och hur de kan förbättras. Current state modellen består av diagram som visar var i produktionsprocessen som data skickas mellan IT-systemen. Vi använder oss av current state modellen i syfte att föreslå förbättringar till IT-systemen. Dessa förbättringar beskrivs i en modell för future stateäv IT-systemen hos Scania XPI. Overall equipment efficiency (OEE) är ett mått på prestandan på effektiviteten av industriell verksamhet baserat på procentandelen av drifttiden utan kvalitets avvikelser utan stopp jämfört med den totala drifttiden. Mätning av OEE kräver att driftstopp på grund av externa omständigheter ej tillräknas stopp tiden, och att kvalitets avvikelser kan mätas. Detta examensarbete föreslår lösningar på problem inom databehandling som krävs för att mäta produktionens effektivitet vid monteringstillverkning, exempelvis att identifiera om driftstopp som orsakas av externa omständigheter. Lösningen som presenteras är utveckling av Process Data Analysis System"(PDAS), som använder sig av automatiskt rapporterad maskinstatusdata för att beräkna stopp tid och OEE. PDAS implementerades med "incremental waterfall modelsom metodologi för mjukvaruutveckling. PDAS utvärderades genom att genomföra fyra grupper av experiment och med hjälp av en jämförelse med PUS (processuppföljnings system) hos Scania XPI. Genom att automatiskt klassificera planerad och oplanerad stopp tid ger PDAS en mer ackurat bild av effektiviteten för monterings produktionen. Mjukvaran kan användas av Scania XPI och funktionen av PDAS har verifierats för monteringstillverkningen under vanliga produktionsomständigheter. Vi visar att mjukvaran kan användas för att bearbeta industriell data i syfte att mäta effektiviteten av monterings tillverkningen. Slutligen uppnås design och implementation av ett system för stopptids hantering för monterings produktion som en produkt av denna uppsats.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 27-30, 1997 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The accurate determination of test aircraft position and velocity is a very strong requirement in several certification and development flight test applications. This requirement often requires availability of test ranges properly instrumented with optical or radar tracking systems, precision time for data reduction and dependency on environmental and meteorological conditions. The capabilities of GPS (Global Positioning System) technology, in terms of data accuracy, speed of data availability and reduction of test operating cost, moved Bombardier Flight Test Center to make an investment and integrate a system utilizing GPS for extensive use in flight and ground test activity. Through the use of differential GPS (DGPS) procedures, Bombardier Flight Test Center was able to implement a complete system which could provide real-time data results to a very acceptable output rate and accuracy. Furthermore, the system was capable of providing post-processed data results which greatly exceeded required output rate and accuracy. Regardless of the type of aircraft testing conducted, the real-time or post-processed data could be generated for the same test. After conducting various types of testing, Bombardier Flight Test Center has accepted the DGPS as an acceptable and proper flight and ground test measurement tool for its various aircraft test platforms.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Today’s large-scale signal processing systems impose massive bandwidth requirements on both internal and external communication systems. Most often, these bandwidth requirements are met by scalable input/output architectures built around high-performance, standards-based technology. Several such technologies are available and are in common use as internal and/or external communication mechanisms. This paper provides an overview of some of the more common scalable technologies used for internal and external communications in real-time data acquisition systems. With respect to internal communications mechanisms this paper focuses on three ANSI-standard switched fabric technologies: RACEway (ANSI/VITA 5-1994), SKYchannel (ANSI/VITA 10-1995) and Myrinet (ANSI/VITA 26-1998). The discussion then turns to how Fibre Channel, HiPPI, and ATM are used to provide scalable external communications in real-time systems. Finally, glimpse of how these technologies are evolving to meet tomorrow’s requirements is provided.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 27-30, 1997 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / During engine and airfield performance testing it is often necessary to acquire weather data at the airfield where the test is being conducted. The airborne data acquisition system (DAS) acquires data associated with flight parameters. A separate system records airport weather conditions. Many times the separate system is an Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) or the ground crew relaying wind speed, wind direction and temperature from a weather station. To improve this system, the weather station is designed to acquire and store the data in memory. Utilizing a second DAS that is remote to the airborne DAS poses several problems. First, it is undesirable to have many different data acquisition systems from which to process data. The problem then develops into one of integrating the ground weather DAS with the existing airborne DAS. Other problems of system integrity, compatibility and FCC licensing exist. Complete system integration while maintaining integrity and compatibility is overcome by controlling signal format, flow and timing and is discussed in detail. Further discussion of the issue of transmission is overcome by a technique called spread-spectrum and is used in accordance with FCC rules and regulations.

Digital transformation is rising rapidly, where absolutely any kind of data is readily available. With the rise in digital information and technologies, businesses are aiming at measuring their processes and thereby getting better control over their operations. Industries are striving to increase efficiency and productivity to survive in the high global competitive market by adopting a digital tool. Simulation has been one of the most common tools of Industry 4.0 that allows a virtual representation of the real system. The use of simulation has tremendously increased in manufacturing industries due to its advantages where changes can be made and checked virtually before implementing them to the physical system. Data acquisition has been an important aspect that remains unfocussed especially in Engineer to Order (ETO) and Make to Order (MTO) environments where the production processes are complex, nonstandardised and depend heavily on manual work leading to a prolonged barrier towards digitalisation. So, can data create new values for companies? Are firms realising the importance of data? As the economy is moving towards a more data-driven state, it is essential for companies to realise the importance of data and find efficient ways of data collection. The thesis is based on a case study at an electrical transformer manufacturing firm taking its first step towards digital technology to have better control over its manufacturing processes. However, this transformation is primarily hindered by the limited availability of data and poor data quality due to manual data acquisition methods. Analysis of organisational documents and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) have been used to analyse missing primary and secondary production data. The results of this study conclude that modelling of the system can give additional data gaps, and the simulation model can be served as a powerful decision support tool for the firm. This switch in approach from intuition-based decision making to more fact-based decision making can result in better planning and control over the production. This thesis will lay the foundation for studies related to data acquisition and simulation in an ETO environment as it is not widely discussed in the existing literature