Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.C.I.T.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2006. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 25, 2006). Includes bibliographical references.

<p>The design work that precedes the automation of a process is not an easy job. Each one of the variables and possible risks involved in process must be carefully considered before implement the final design as well the requirements in performance and cost. However automate a dangerous, inefficient or just uncomfortable task entails many benefits that make up for the long period of design process. A well automated line will benefit the production with quality, productivity and capacity among other profits. In this project the immediate objective is to automate the “SANDFLEX Hacksaw blades” packaging process in the plant that SNAEurope owns in Lidköping. Actually the packing is completely manual. One operator packs the blades into the boxes meanwhile one more operator loads and unloads the packing station with empty and full boxes respectively. The task is both, tiring and uncomfortable for the operators as well inefficient for the company since the production rate is limited.</p><p>Analyzing and observing carefully product and process, different theories and strategies to achieve the goal were developed. Three are the possible solutions to solve the problem, with different levels of automation and technologies. The robotic solution uses an articulated robot to perform all the tasks; the hybrid solution uses pneumatic devices to pack the blades and an articulated robot to support the station loading and unloading the boxes. Finally the pneumatic solution uses only pneumatic devices, which hold, open and close, push box and blades using airpower; a few sensors detect positions and states, since a PLC coordinates and controls all process. By means of discussing these solutions with the company’s engineers and workers, after a deep literature study and two test of performance, was it possible to select the most suitable solution to accomplish the packaging task. The pneumatic solution is cheap and simple, but at the same time robust and reliable. This design performs the packaging task efficiently and fast. And more important, the operator passes from pack manually the blades to monitor the process.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-206). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-45). Also available in electronic version.

On June 7, 1994, an Ad Hoc team from LAI visited John Deere to conduct an informal benchmark of John Deere's successful change to Leaner Manufacturing. This report summarizes the results of that trip, as well as summarizing lessons for the aerospace industry. / Lean Aerospace Initiative

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-144).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:37:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05298.pdf: 2728793 bytes, checksum: bd666bab4f8ed34cf76b4702d3b8e1e0 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Escola Politecnica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - POLI/USP

The processes of estimating, planning and control within the building industry are seldom fully integrated. This study considers the integration of the processes based on production data collected from several projects. The aim of the research is to investigate the feasibility of the integrated approach as a means of improving the estimating, planning and control processes within the construction industry. Selected cost significant work sections are considered in the study and production data are formulated based on feedback information from several first sample projects. Comparisons are made between average production data and individual project data. A structured systems analysis of the collaborating body identifies existing processes and production orientated information requirements. A model and working system prototype are developed which illustrate integration of the processes and generation of management information. Application of the model as a basis for estimating and planning at various levels of detail is demonstrated. Forecast-observation diagrams provide the necessary control mechanism for monitoring production outputs. Forecasts on a second independent sample of projects are assessed based on tolerances of performances from first sample projects. Accuracy of average forecasts from the model are compared with other data sources, these being estimators' data used in the preparation of the estimate, and bonus surveyors' targets used during the production process. The research concludes that the production data and model give a worthwhile improvement over existing methods in forecasting average productivity performances when methods of placing can be clearly identified and related to work packages. The production data and model are insufficiently accurate to give a worthwhile improvement when measured items cover work packages of varying degrees of complexity, and when proportioning methods are used to obtain production data for different categories of items which collectively represent work packages. Assessment of the model together with refinements are also discussed.

Computer simulation is a well-established decision support tool in manufacturing industry. However, factors such as wrong conceptualisation, inefficient input data modelling, inadequate verification and validation, poorly planned experimentation and lengthy model documentation inhibit the rapid development and deployment of simulation models. A serious limitation among the above factors is inefficient data modelling. Typically, more than one third of project time is spent on identification, collection, validation and analysis of input data. This study investigated potential problems which influence inefficient data modelling. On the basis of a detailed analysis of data modelling problems, the study recommends a methodology to address many of these difficulties. The proposed methodology, discussed in this thesis, is called MMOD (Methodology for Modelling Of input Data). An activity module library and a reference data model, both developed using the IDEF family of constructs, are the core elements of the methodology. The methodology provides guidance on the best way of implementation and provide a tool kit to accelerate the data modelling exercise. It assists the modeller to generate a customised data model (entity model), according to the knowledge gained from the conceptualisation phase of the simulation project. The resulting customised data model can then be converted into a relational database which shows how the entities and relationships will be transformed into an actual database implementation. The application of the MMOD through simulation life cycle also enables the modeller to deal with important phases in the simulation project, such as system investigation, problems and objective definitions and the level of detail definitions. A sample production cell with different level of detail has been used to illustrate the use of the methodology. In addition, a number of useful methods of data collection and the benefits of using a MMOD approach to support these methods and data rationalisation which accelerates the data collection exercise are also covered. The aim of data rationalisation is to reduce the volume of input data needed by simulation models. This work develops two useful data rationalisation methods which accelerate the data collection exercise and reduce the model complexity. This work produced a novel approach to support input data modelling in simulation of manufacturing system. This method is particularly useful when the complex systems are modelled.