Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Statistical experimental design techniques are powerful tools that are often approached with suspicion and apprehension by experimenters. The trend is to avoid any statistically structured and designed experimentation program, and to rather use the traditional method of following ones "gut feel". This approach, more often than not, will supply a satisfactory solution, but there is so much more information availablefor the same amount of effort. This thesis strives to outline the method and application of the Taguchi methodology of experimental design. The Taguchi method is a practical, statistical experimental design technique that does not rely on the designer's knowledge of the complex statistics typicallyneeded to design experimental programs, a fact that tends to exclude design of experiments from the averageengineers' toolbox. The essence of the statistical design of experiments is this: The traditional method of varying one variable at a time and investigating its effect on an output is no longer sufficient. Instead all the input variables are varied at the same time in a structured manner. The output trends resulting from each input variable are then statisticallyextracted from the data in the midst of the variation. Taguchi method achieves this by designing experiments where every level of every input variable occurs an equal number of times with every level of every other input variable. The experimental designs are represented in orthogonal arrays that are chosen and populated by the experimenter by following a simple procedure. Four case studies are worked through in this text and, where possible, compared to the "traditional" approach to the same problem. The case studies show the additional information and time savings availablewith the Taguchi method, as well as clearlyindicating the importance of using a stable system on which to do the experiments. The Taguchi method generated more information in fewer experiments than the traditional approaches as well as allowing analysis of problems too complex to analysewithout a statisticaldesign of the experimentation procedure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Statistiese eksperimentele ontwerptegnieke is besonder kragtige instrumente wat baie keer met agterdog deur ekspermenteerders beheen word. Die neiging is om enige statistiese gestruktureerde and ontwerpte eksperimentele program te vermy, en om liewer die tradisionele metode, wat op 'n mens se intuïsie staatmaak, te gebruik. Hierdie benadering sal baie keer 'n bevredigende oplossing gee, maar daar is veel meer inligting vir dieselfde hoeveelheid inspanning verkrygbaar, wanneer die Taguchimetode gebruik word. Hierdie tesis strewe om die metode en toepassing van die Taguchimetodologie van eksperimentele ontwerp voor te lê. Die Taguchimetode is 'n praktiese statistiese eksperimentele ontwerptegniek .wat nie op die ontwerper se kennis van komplekse statistiek om eksperimentele programme te ontwerp berus nie. Hierdie komplekse statistiek neig ook om eksperimentele ontwerp van die gemiddelde ingenieursvaardigehede uit te sluit. Die kern van statistiese eksperimentele ontwerp is die volgende: Die tradisionele metode van een veranderlike op 'n slag te varieer om die effek op die uitset te ondersoek, is onvoldoende. In plaas daarvan, word al die insetveranderlikes gelyktydig gevarieer in 'n gestruktureered manier. Die neigings van elke veranderlike is dan statisties ontleed van die data ten midde van die variasie van al die ander veranderlikes. Die Taguchimetode bereik die ontwerpte eksperimente deur elke vlak van elke insetveranderlik in 'n gelyke aantal keer met elke vlak van elke ander insetveranderlike te varieer. Hierdie is verteenwoordig deur ortogenale reekse wat gekies en gevul is deur 'n eenvoudige wisselpatroon te volg. Vier gevallestudies is deurgewerk en, waar moontlik, vergelyk met die tradisonele siening van dieselfde probleem. Die gevallestudies wys hoe toereikbaar die additionele inligting in die Taguchimethode toepassings is. Hulle beklemtoon ook die belangrikheid van 'n stabiele sisteem waarop die eksperimente berus. Die Taguchimetode het meer inligting verskaf met minder eksperimente as die tradisionele toenaderings, en ook toegelaat dat die analise van probleme, te kompleks om te analiseer sonder om 'n statistiese ontwerp van eksperimentele prosedure te volg, opgelos kon word.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die effek van teenpolsing op die aanvuiling van 'n 2.5-duim spiraal kruisvloei ultrafiltrasie element is eksperimenteel ondersoek. Teenpolseksperimente met 'n organiese (dekstraan) oplossing en 'n anorganiese (kaolien) suspensie is uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van 'n polipropileenmembraan (100 000 molekulêre massa snypunt). Die konsentrasie van die dekstraanoplossing was tussen 250 en 750 mg/L en die konsentrasie van die kaolien oplossing was tussen 100 en 300 mg/L. Teenpolsing behels die aanwending van drukpolse van tussen 100 en 150 kPa aan die kant van die produk (permeaat). Die polstussenposes het gewissel tussen 1 en 15 s en die duur van die polse tussen 0.1 en 0.5 s. Die vloeitempo was tussen 500 en 1500 L/h, en die toegepaste druk was 100 kPa. Eksperimentele resultate het getoon dat terugpols effektief was vir die vermindering van membraanaanvuiling, en die verbetering van vloei deur die membraan. Met aanhoudende terugpolsing het die netto vloei toegeneem met toenemende terugpolsdruk. Daar was 'n effense toename met 'n toename in kruisvloeitempo en 'n sterk afname met toenemende voeroplossingkonsentrasie. Die beste terugpols parameters vir die twee verskillende aanvuilingsmateriale was soos volg: 0.2 s polsduur, 3 s polstussenpose en 150 kPa terugopolsdruk vir die dekstraanoplossing; en 0.2 s polsduur, 5 s polstussenpose en 150 kPa terugopolsdruk vir die kaoliensuspensie. Die beste resulate behaal vir vloei onder hierdie kondisies was 3-maal en 1.5-maal hoër as die vloei behaal sonder polsing, vir dekstraan en kaolien, onderskeidelik. Nadat die membraan aan aanvuiling, gevolg deur terugpolsing, blootgestel is, is dit skoongemaak deur skoon water met terugpolsing te gebruik. Die vloei van die skoon membrane wat voorheen met dekstraan en kaolien aangevuil is was 62% en 71% van die oorspronklike vloei, onderskeidelik. Die Taguchi metode met 'n L9 ortagonale reeks is gebruik om die belangrike terugpolsfaktore te bepaal wat 'n maksimum permeaatvloei tot gevolg gehad het. Die polsdruk het die grootste effek op die membraanvloei gehad. Polstussenpose en polsduur het 'n onbeduidende effek en die dwarsvloeitempo het 'n swak effek op membaanvloei gehad. Daar moet egter opgelet word dat hierdie waarnemings slegs van toepassing is binne die eksperimentele grense soos bepaal in die inleidende ondersoek van hierdie studie.

Orientadora: Paloma Maria Silva Rocha Rizol / Coorientadora: Marcela A. G. M. Freitas / Banca: Valério Antonio Pamplona Salomon / Banca: Fabrício Maciel Gomes / Resumo: Na busca pela competitividade, muitas empresas acabam adotando estratégias muito semelhantes baseadas nas práticas mais usuais e difundidas em seus respectivos negócios. Além dos recursos financeiros em si, as empresas também investem tempo e esforços para atingir desempenhos semelhantes às mais competitivas, as quais julgam ser o "benchmarking", ou seja, a referência em seus negócios. Entretanto, buscar somente se espelhar nas melhores práticas das empresas de referência não possibilita tornar-se líder no negócio, pois para tanto seriam necessários outros ingredientes, outras estratégias que façam a diferença. Quando direcionado o foco para o produto em si, no caso deste estudo em específico da indústria automobilística que é um segmento bastante competitivo no mundo, faz-se necessário estratégias muito mais sofisticadas ou muitas vezes ainda inexistentes. Mencionado por diversos líderes e executivos de grandes empresas multinacionais como uma metodologia eficaz, o Design for Six Sigma, ou simplesmente DFSS, possibilita aprofundamentos e desdobramentos muito importantes para o entendimento dos mercados, de seus clientes, das suas necessidades e anseios. Pela flexibilidade do uso da metodologia do DFSS, torna-se possível desenvolver propostas e soluções para um dos diferenciais mais importantes neste mercado competitivo, a inovação. Em função da subjetividade presente sob alguns aspectos do conceito deste diferencial, propôs-se adotar a lógica fuzzy para se trabalhar com as v... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: To pursue the competitiveness, many companies end up adopting similar strategies based on the most common and disseminated practices in their respective business. Beyond the financial resources, the companies also invest time and efforts in order to achieve similar performances of the most competitive ones which they deem to be "benchmarking", i.e. the reference in your business. However, simply adopting the best practices of those reference companies will not allow become a leader in their businesses, since it would require other ingredients, other strategies that make the difference. When it focuses on the product itself, specifically in the case of this study about the automotive industry, which is a very competitive segment in the world, it is necessary much more sophisticated strategies or even non-existent yet. Mentioned by several leaders and executives of multinational companies as an efficient methodology, the Design for Six Sigma, or simply DFSS, enables to understand their markets, their customers, respective necessities and yearnings, in a deep way and their deployments as well. By the flexibility of using DFSS methodology, it becomes possible to develop proposals and solutions to one of the most important differentials in this competitive market, the innovation. Due to the subjectivity around some aspects of the concept of that differential, it is proposed to adopt the fuzzy logic, to work on the most important linguistic variables and, combined with the Taguchi'... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Lean Six Sigma is a method used to improve the quality and efficiency of processes by reducing variation and eliminating wastes (non-value added activities) in an organisation. The concept of combining the principles and tools of Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma has been discussed in the literature. The majority of Lean Six Sigma applications in private industry have focused primarily on manufacturing applications. The literature has not provided a framework for implementing Lean Six Sigma programmes in non-manufacturing or transactional processes like those in the Entertainment Media industry. The Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), like many other industries in Saudi Arabia, has high occupational safety risks, such as electric, fire and fall hazards which often occur in the media workplace. These risks are considered very costly and affect productivity and employee morale in general. The main objective of this research is to provide a synergistic approach to integrating occupational health and safety programmes and Lean Six Sigma tools using the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control) problem-solving method to strengthen and assure the success of safety programmes in the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). This research identifies the roadmap (i.e. activities, principles, tools, and important component factors) for applying Lean Six Sigma tools in the media industry. A case study addressing the safety issues that affect employees’ performance within the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) TV studio is used to validate work outlined in this research. Furthermore, the Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN) method is used to understand the probability occurrence of safety hazards. The application of the Taguchi Experimental Design method and other Lean Six Sigma tools, such as Cause and Effect diagrams, Pareto principles, 5S, Value Stream map, and Poka-Yoke have been incorporated in to this research. The application of Lean Six Sigma DMAIC problem-solving tools resulted in significant improvement in safety within SBC. The average electrical hazard incident decreased from 2.08 to 0.33, the average fire hazard incident decreased from 1.25 to 0.08, and the average fall hazard incident decreased from 3.42 to 0.17. The research has important implications for the company and its employees, with positive outcomes and feedback reported by top management, the senior technicians, and experts. The research improved the safety by reducing electrical, fire and fall risks. The Safety training sessions are one of the most significant factors that improve their safety awareness. It is observed that Lean Six Sigma problem-solving tools and methods are effective in the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

Orientador: Maria Odila Hilário Cioffi / Coorientador: Tessie Gouvea da Cruz / Banca: Andressa Cecília Milanese / Banca: Mirabel Cerqueira Rezende / Banca: Carlos Yujiro Shigue / Banca: José Daniel Diniz Melo / Resumo: Devido às suas elevadas propriedades mecânicas específicas, os materiais compósitos estão enfrentando demandas novas, onde a capacidade de produção em massa a um custo mais acessível se tornou indispensável. O processo de Moldagem por Transferência de Resina ou RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) constitui um promissor processo de fabricação de materiais compósitos. Na produção de compósitos estruturais de alto desempenho, considerando os critérios aeronáuticos, a reprodutibilidade e o baixo custo, a indústria tem mostrado grande interesse no processo RTM. Neste trabalho de tese, foi realizado um estudo experimental para a fabricação de compósitos com propriedades adequadas às aplicações tecnológicas, tendo como principal objetivo a otimização dos parâmetros de processamento: tempo de degasagem da resina, temperatura de injeção e temperatura de cura, além de avaliar a influência desses parâmetros no volume de vazios gerados em compósitos carbono/epóxi. O mérito da pesquisa está no uso do planejamento de experimentos em apoio à otimização do processamento de compósitos, com a utilização da metodologia de Taguchi e da Superfície de Respostas, para o controle e a minimização da formação de vazios, contribuindo dessa maneira, na concepção e caracterização de compósitos laminados poliméricos para aplicações aeronáuticas. As frações volumétricas de vazios foram determinadas por três diferentes métodos: método de Arquimedes (ASTM C830), digestão ácida da matriz (ASTM D3171) e porosimetria de mercúrio. Dentre os três métodos estudados para a determinação de vazios, o de digestão ácida mostrou-se mais adequado para quantificação de vazios em compósitos carbono/epóxi, uma vez que considera os poros abertos e em contato com a superfície do laminado, além dos poros fechados. A partir dos ...( Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Due to their high specific mechanical properties, composite materials are facing new demands, in which the capacity of mass production at a more affordable cost became important. The Resin Transfer Molding process or RTM is a promising process for manufacturing composite materials. In the production of high performance structural composites, taking into account the aeronautical criteria, the reproducibility and the low cost, industries have shown great interest in RTM process. In this thesis, an experimental study for the manufacturing of composites with properties suitable for technological applications was performed with the main objective of optimizing the processing parameters: time of resin degassing, injection temperature and curing temperature, as well as the evaluation of the influence of these parameters on the volume of voids generated in carbon/epoxy composites. The merit of the research is the use of the design of experiments to support the optimization of composites processing, using Taguchi's Methodology and Response Surface Methodology, in order to control and to minimize the formation of voids, thus contributing in the design and characterization of polymeric laminate composites for aircraft applications. The volumetric fractions of voids were determined by three different methods: the Archimedes' method (ASTM C830), acid digestion of the matrix (ASTM D3171) and mercury porosimetry method. Among the three methods considered for the determination of voids, the acid digestion one was the most suitable for the quantification of voids in carbon/epoxy composites, since it considers the open pores and the ones in contact with the surface of the laminate, in addition to the closed pores. From the results of the volumetric fractions of voids obtained by the acid digestion method, taking into account the optimization parameters levels for the RTM ... (Complete abstract click eletronic access below) / Doutor

Les risques liés aux débris spatiaux sont à présent considérés comme critiques par les gouvernements et les agences spa-tiales internationales. Durant la dernière décennie les agences spatiales ont développé des logiciels pour simuler la rentrée atmosphérique des satellites et des stations orbitales afin de déterminer les risques et possibles dommages au sol. Néan-moins les outils actuels fournissent des résultats déterministes alors que les modèles employés utilisent des valeurs de paramètres qui sont mal connues. De plus les résultats obtenus dépendent fortement des hypothèses qui sont faites. Une solution pour obtenir des résultats pertinents et exploitables est de prendre en considération les incertitudes que l’on a sur les différents paramètres de la modélisation afin d’effectuer des analyses de type Monte-Carlo. Mais une telle étude est particulièrement gourmande en temps de calcul à cause du grand espace des paramètres à explorer (ce qui nécessite des centaines de milliers de simulations numériques). Dans le cadre de ces travaux de thèse nous proposons un nouveau logiciel de simulation numérique de rentrée atmosphérique de satellite, permettant de façon native de prendre en consi-dération les incertitudes sur les différents paramètres de modélisations pour effectuer des analyses statistiques. Afin de maitriser les temps de calculs cet outil tire avantage de la méthode de Taguchi pour réduire le nombre de paramètres à étudier et aussi des accélérateurs de calculs de type Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) et Intel Xeon Phi. / The risk of space debris is now perceived as primordial by government and international space agencies. Since the last decade, international space agencies have developed tools to simulate the re-entry of satellites and orbital stations in order to assess casualty risk on the ground. Nevertheless , all current tools provide deterministic solutions, though models include various parameters that are not well known. Therefore, the provided results are strongly dependent on the as-sumptions made. One solution to obtain relevant and exploitable results is to include uncertainties around those parame-ters in order to perform Monte-Carlo analysis. But such a study is very time consuming due to the large parameter space to explore (that necessitate hundreds of thousands simulations). As part of this thesis work we propose a new satellite atmospheric reentry simulation to perform statistical analysis. To master computing time this tool takes advantage of Taguchi method to restrain the amount of parameter to study and also takes advantage of computing accelerators like Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) and Intel Xeon Phi.

Orientador: Messias Borges Silva / Coorientador: Ronney Arismel Mancebo Boloy / Banca: José Roberto Dale Luche / Banca: José Miguel Angulo Ibáñez / Banca: Patricia Caroline Molgero de Rós / Banca: Daniela Helena Pelegrine Guimarães / Resumo: O interesse na diversificação da matriz energética por meio de fontes de energias renováveis tem promovido mudanças no âmbito nacional e internacional, em setores acadêmicos, industriais, sociais e governamentais com foco no desenvolvimento de processos biotecnológicos baseados nos três pilares da sustentabilidade: ambiental, social e econômico. Frente a esse contexto, as microalgas são consideradas uma fonte promissora alternativa para a produção de biocombustíveis por apresentarem alta taxa de crescimento e de concentração de lipídeos. O presente trabalho realizou um estudo do processo de cultivo da microalga marinha Chlorella minutíssima por meio da ferramenta DOE - Design of Experiments para maximização da sua concentração microalgal e do teor lipídico simultaneamente, além de sua caracterização termoquímica para aplicação no processo de gaseificação. O cultivo ocorreu em fotobiorreator tubular descontínuo do tipo coluna de bolhas seguindo o arranjo ortogonal L8 de Taguchi, e as variáveis de processo foram fluxo de CO2 na alimentação, concentração de nitrato, concentração de fosfato, suplementação, temperatura e salinidade. A investigação demonstrou que a concentração de nitrato e fosfato, o fluxo de gás carbônico, a suplementação do meio e a temperatura são fatores influentes na concentração microalgal e no teor lipídico, sendo a melhor configuração para maximização conjunta, utilizando-se a função desirability, com o nitrato operando em nível alto e os demais fatores em... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The interest in diversifying the energy matrix through renewable energy sources has promoted changes at the national and international levels in academic, industrial, social and governmental sectors, focused on the development of biotechnological processes based on the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. In this context, microalgae are considered a strong promising alternative source for the production of biofuels due to their high rate of growth and lipid concentration. The present work carried out a study of the cultivation process of the marine microalgae Chlorella minutíssima using DOE - Design of Experiments to maximize the cell growth and the lipid content simultaneously, besides its thermochemical characterization for application in the gasification process. Cultivation occurred in a discontinuous-tubular photobioreactor, bubble-column type, following Taguchi L8 Orthogonal Array design, and the process variables were: CO2 feed flow rate, nitrate concentration, phosphate concentration, supplementation (metals and vitamins), temperature and salinity. Results showed that the nitrate and phosphate concentration, CO2 feed flow, supplements and temperature are influential factors in the cell growth and lipid content, and the best configuration presenting good results for simultaneous maximization, using desirability, was nitrate operating at high level and the other factors at low level. Ultimate analysis provided levels consistent with some ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Since the micro-electro mechanical system microphone, MEMS microphone, has the advantages of superior sound quality, low power consumption, higher temperature resistance and anti-noise ability in used. The researchers therefore have studied the functions of MEMS microphone since 1980s. The MEMS microphones is applied as the part of 3G mobile phone in the market. Though the functions of microphone are improved by manufacturing process technique and new material designed, this study tends to provide a new, low-cost and rapid design idea to gain the performance in chamber of microphone. Taguchi method and BEASY software, which is boundary element method, are combined to evaluate the results of the design in sound field. Taguchi method is a famous method in industrial design to find out relations between system parameters and chamber size. BEASY is a tool for sound field analysis in the research. The result from Taguchi method appears the sound pressure level gain about 2.2 dB to 2.4 dB due to the change of microphone chamber size only. It is also interested in studying the optimization design for position of microphone. It is displayed that the location of port is closer to the boundary of chip will also increase about 0.3 dB to 0.6dB sound pressure level in sound field. The higher frequency of sound source will also create larger sound pressure level at two corners on the port.

This study is to analyze and test the extrusion process of a hollow spur gear and a solid helical product with magnesium alloy. In the hollow spur gear part, firstly, a design criterion to determine the forming parameters is proposed. Then, the Finite Element Analysis is used to simulate the flow pattern of the billet from separating channel, welding chamber to die bearing part. From a series of simulation results, the effect of separating channel length, mandrel entrance angle, welding chamber height, etc. on the radial filling ratio, welding pressure, extrusion load, etc. are found. By using the Taguchi Methods, we can find the most important parameters. Finally, a better die geometry is designed to obtain a sound product. In the helical product part, the Finite Element Analysis is used to get the understandings of radical filling ratio of magnesium alloy in the helical zone. Then, a better die geometry is designed from the results of analyses. Finally, hot extrusion experiments of a hollow spur gear and a solid helical product are conducted. The experimental values of the extrusion load and the product¡¦s dimension are compared with the analytic values to verify the validity of the analytic models.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of employing an electric field to enhance the dewatering performance of two types of biological sludge by a pilot-scale plate and frame filter press. In this work a biological industrial sludge and biological municipal sludge were collected and tested, respectively. Through the jar testing, it was found that a low molecular weight cationic polymer or medium molecular weight cationic polymer with a dose of 0.008 wt% would yield a satisfactory flocculation for the biological industrial sludge, whereas an iron-based coagulant with a dose of 0.08 wt% would meet the conditioning need of the biological municipal sludge. To find out the optimal dewatering conditions for the concerned sludges, experimental designs based on the Taguchi method were adopted. More specifically, L8(27) and L18(21¡Ñ37) orthogonal arrays were selected for the biological industrial sludge and biological municipal sludge, respectively. Among others, applied mechanical pressure and time, electrode array, and electrodewatering time were operating parameters of concern. Test results showed that a 10-15% increase of dewatering efficiency for both sludges was obtained for the parallel circuit and parallel series circuit. However, the filtrate quality deteriorated, particularly in pH, turbidity, and chemical oxygen demand. In addition, due to ohmic heating the temperature of filtrate might raise to 80 ¢Jor even higher depending on the operating conditions employed. Thus, the filtrate should be recirculated back to the wastewater treatment system for proper treatment. To find out the significant controlling factors and optimal operating conditions for electrodewatering in a more scientific manner, the final sludge cake moisture and energy consumption for each test was subjected to formal analysis and analysis of variance. For biological industrial sludge, the flocculant type and applied filtration pressure were found to be the most significant controlling factors for the final sludge cake moisture, whereas the applied electric field strength for the power consumption. In the case of biological municipal sludge, however, the electrode array was the most significant controlling factor for both final sludge cake moisture and power consumption. At last, the optimal operating conditions theoretically obtained for electrodewatering were subjected to the respective verification tests for both biological industrial sludge and biological municipal sludge. Test results showed that a final sludge cake moisture of 67.1¡Ó3.9% and energy consumption of 72.6 kWh/ton dry solids were obtained for the former sludge, whereas 68.1¡Ó3.4% and 18.6 kWh/ton dry solids for the latter sludge. These results validated the predictions made by the Taguchi method. Therefore, it may conclude that electrodewatering is technically and economically feasible for treating both biological industrial sludge and biological municipal through the electrokinetics-assisted filter press system employed in this work.