Linear Programming (LP) is perhaps the most frequently used optimization technique. One of the reasons for its wide use is that very powerful solution algorithms exist for linear optimization. Computer programs based on either the simplex or interior point methods are capable of solving very large-scale problems with high reliability and within reasonable time. Model builders are aware of this and often try to formulate real-life problems within this framework to ensure they can be solved efficiently. It is also true that many real-life optimization problems can be formulated as truly linear models and also many others can well be approximated by linearization. The two main methods for solving LP problems are the variants of the simplex method and the interior point methods (IPMs). It turns out that both variants have their role in solving different problems. It has been recognized that, since the introduction of the IPMs, the efficiency of simplex based solvers has increased by two orders of magnitude. This increased efficiency can be attributed to the following: (1) theoretical developments in the underlying algorithms, (2) inclusion of results of computer science, (3) using the principles of software engineering, and (4) taking into account the state-of-the-art in computer technology.
Theoretically correct algorithms can be implemented in many different ways, but the performance is dependent on how the implementation is done. The success is based on the proper synthesis of the above mentioned (1-4) components. Computational Techniques of the Simplex Method is a systematic treatment focused on the computational issues of the simplex method. It provides a comprehensive coverage of the most important and successful algorithmic and implementation techniques of the simplex method. It is a unique source of essential, never discussed details of algorithmic elements and their implementation. On the basis of the book the reader will be able to create a highly advanced implementation of the simplex method which, in turn, can be used directly or as a building block in other solution algorithms.

Composite insulators have been in service in electric power networks successfully for more than 40 years, and now up to the highest operating voltages. The present book extensively covers such insulators with a special focus on today's prevalent material, which is silicone rubber. It includes a detailed description of the electrical and mechanical characteristics of composite insulators, their material properties, their design as well as typical applications and service experience. Particular attention is given to the mechanical behavior of long rod and post insulators, insulated cross-arms, interphase spacers and hollow core apparatus insulators. The state of the art on manufacturing procedures and the selection and dimensioning of the necessary power arc and corona fittings is presented as well as evaluation tests of "old" insulators, i.e. insulators after many years in service. The closing chapter deals with an up to date overview of test procedures and IEC standards. The selection and the contents of the various subjects covered in this book are based on the authors' more than thirty years of experience with a renowned European manufacturer of composite insulators and string hardware. Their long and active participation in the relevant CIGRE and IEC working bodies adding to this experience. This book is therefore addressed to practicing engineers from electric utilities and the industry, as well as to academic professionals.

Bilevel programming problems are hierarchical optimization problems where the constraints of one problem (the so-called upper level problem) are defined in part by a second parametric optimization problem (the lower level problem). If the lower level problem has a unique optimal solution for all parameter values, this problem is equivalent to a one-level optimization problem having an implicitly defined objective function. Special emphasize in the book is on problems having non-unique lower level optimal solutions, the optimistic (or weak) and the pessimistic (or strong) approaches are discussed. The book starts with the required results in parametric nonlinear optimization. This is followed by the main theoretical results including necessary and sufficient optimality conditions and solution algorithms for bilevel problems. Stationarity conditions can be applied to the lower level problem to transform the optimistic bilevel programming problem into a one-level problem. Properties of the resulting problem are highlighted and its relation to the bilevel problem is investigated. Stability properties, numerical complexity, and problems having additional integrality conditions on the variables are also discussed. Audience: Applied mathematicians and economists working in optimization, operations research, and economic modelling. Students interested in optimization will also find this book useful.

The object of this book is to provide balanced coverage of the theory and practice of plating semiconductor devices. The principal concepts of plating are introduced and best practice discussed. The book is designed to help electroplaters achieve zero-defect' plating by providing an understanding of the plating chemistry and the handling of the plated parts.

This reference outlines the fundamental concepts and strategies for economic assessments for informed management decisions in industry. The book illustrates how to prepare capital cost and operating expense estimates, profitability analyses, and feasibility studies, and how to execute sensitivity and uncertainty assessments. From financial reports to opportunity costs and engineering trade-offs, Process Engineering Economics considers a wide range of alternatives for profitable investing and for projecting outcomes in various chemical and engineering fields. It also explains how to monitor costs, finances, and economic limitations at every stage of chemical project design, preparation, and evaluation.

This monograph provides a field-proven approach to analyze industrial production with a cross-company scope as well as regarding all hierarchical system levels of manufacturing enterprises. The book exemplifies this approach in the context of aluminum die casting, and presents a set of measures which allow a 30 percent energy reduction along the value chain. The target audience primarily comprises researchers and experts in the field but the book may also be beneficial for graduate students.

Covering the complete design cycle of nanopositioning systems, this is the first comprehensive text on the topic. The book first introduces concepts associated with nanopositioning stages and outlines their application in such tasks as scanning probe microscopy, nanofabrication, data storage, cell surgery and precision optics. Piezoelectric transducers, employed ubiquitously in nanopositioning applications are then discussed in detail including practical considerations and constraints on transducer response. The reader is then given an overview of the types of nanopositioner before the text turns to the in-depth coverage of mechanical design including flexures, materials, manufacturing techniques, and electronics. This process is illustrated by the example of a high-speed serial-kinematic nanopositioner. Position sensors are then catalogued and described and the text then focuses on control.

Several forms of control are treated: shunt control, feedback control, force feedback control and feedforward control (including an appreciation of iterative learning control). Performance issues are given importance as are problems limiting that performance such as hysteresis and noise which arise in the treatment of control and are then given chapter-length attention in their own right. The reader also learns about cost functions and other issues involved in command shaping, charge drives and electrical considerations. All concepts are demonstrated experimentally including by direct application to atomic force microscope imaging.

Design, Modeling and Control of Nanopositioning Systems will be of interest to researchers in mechatronics generally and in control applied to atomic force microscopy and other nanopositioning applications. Microscope developers and mechanical designers of nanopositioning devices will find the text essential reading.

Within a scenario of globalised markets, where the capacity to efficiently cooperate with other firms starts to become essential in order to remain in the market in an economically, socially and environmentally cost-effective manner, it can be seen how the most innovative enterprises are beginning to redesign their business model to become interoperable. This goal of interoperability is essential, not only from the perspective of the individual enterprise but also in the new business structures that are now emerging, such as supply chains, virtual enterprises, interconnected organisations or extended enterprises, as well as in mergers and acquisitions. Composed of over 40 papers, Enterprise Interoperability V ranges from academic research through case studies to industrial and administrative experience of interoperability. The international nature of the authorship contnues to broaden. Many of the papers have examples and illustrations calculated to deepen understanding and generate new ideas. The I-ESA'12 Conference from which this book is drawn was organized by Polytechnic University of Valencia, on behalf INTERVAL, and the European Virtual Laboratory for Enterprise Interoperability (INTEROP-VLab) and sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). A concise reference to the state of the art in systems interoperability, Enterprise Interoperability V will be of great value to engineers and computer scientists working in manufacturing and other process industries and to software engineers and electronic and manufacturing engineers working in the academic environment.

This work describes the methods of dynamic system simulation from the ground up. It presents important techniques, the fundamentals of mathematical models, how to produce useful results, how to analyze and visualize data, and how to verify and validate models. There are step-by-step instructions for developing working simulations, and the author discuss determining when simulation is appropriate, managing the cost of simulation and communicating results.

This book addresses a wide range of issues relating to the theoretical substantiation of the necessity of Industry 4.0, the development of the methodological tools for its analysis and evaluation, and practical solutions for effectively managing this process. It particularly focuses on solving the problem of optimizing the development of Industry 4.0 in the context of knowledge economy formation. The book presents the authors' approach to studying the process of Industry 4.0 formation in connection with knowledge economy, and approach that allows the process to be studied in connection with the existing socio-economic and technological conditions. As a result, the conclusions and recommendations could be applied to modern economic systems and do not require any further elaboration. The presented research is based on modern economic theory scientific and methodological tools, including the tools of the theory of economic cycles, the theory of games, and the institutional economic theory. Raising awareness of the problem of Industry 4.0 formation, the book is of interest to a wide audience, including not only specialists and experts with a detailed knowledge of the topic, but also scholars, lecturers, and undergraduates of various fields of economics.

The scientific theme of the book is "Virtualisation - a multifaceted key enabler of Industry 4.0 from holonic to cloud manufacturing" which is addressed in the framework of cyber-physical system development. The book approaches cyber-physical systems for manufacturing with emergent digital technologies: Internet of Things, digital twins (based on the virtualization of production models embedded in the design, virtual commissioning, optimization and resilience of processes and fault tolerance of resources), big data, cloud control and computing, machine learning and cobots, that are applied in the book's chapters to industry and service sectors such as manufacturing, energy, logistics, construction and health care. The novelty of this approach consists in interpreting and applying the characteristics of RAMI4.0-the reference architecture model of the Industry 4.0 framework-as combinations of virtualized cyber-physical system elements and IT components in life cycle value stream models. The general scope of the book is to foster innovation in smart and sustainable manufacturing and logistics systems and in this context to promote concepts, methods and solutions for the digital transformation of manufacturing through service orientation in holonic and agent-based control with distributed intelligence. The book's readership is comprised by researchers and engineers working in the manufacturing value chain area who develop and use digital control solutions in the "Industry of the Future" vision. The book also addresses to master's and Ph.D. students enrolled in Engineering Sciences programs.

This book focusses on Industry 4.0 which is one of the most challenging trends for all categories of manufacturing enterprises. In this book, variety of mechatronic solutions are discussed to develop a manufacturing control system for small and medium-sized enterprises as they impose to improve their capabilities by integration into Industry 4.0 standards.

Written in a lecture format with solved problems at the end of each chapter, this book surveys quantitative modeling and decision analysis techniques. It serves to familiarize the reader with quantitative techniques utilized in planning and optimizing complex systems, as well as students experiencing the subject for the first time. It can be used by students of business and public administration without a background in calculus as well as engineers with significant scientific training. It allows the reader to comprehend the material through examples and problems and also demonstrates the value and shortcomings of many methods.
Quantitative Analysis: An introduction developed out of the author's experience teaching the material to students at the University of California Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Micro Metal Forming, i. e. forming of parts and features with dimensions below 1 mm, is a young area of research in the wide field of metal forming technologies, expanding the limits for applying metal forming towards micro technology. The essential challenges arise from the reduced geometrical size and the increased lot size. In order to enable potential users to apply micro metal forming in production, information about the following topics are given: tribological behavior: friction between tool and work piece as well as tool wearmechanical behavior: strength and formability of the work piece material, durability of the work pieces size effects: basic description of effects occurring due to the fact, that the quantitative relation between different features changes with decreasing size process windows and limits for forming processestool making methodsnumerical modeling of processes and process chainsquality assurance and metrology

All topics are discussed with respect to the questions relevant to micro metal forming. The description comprises information from actual research and the young history of this technology branch to be used by students, scientists and engineers in industry who already have a background in metal forming and like to expand their knowledge towards miniaturization. tribological behavior: friction between tool and work piece as well as tool wearmechanical behavior: strength and formability of the work piece material, durability of the work pieces size effects: basic description of effects occurring due to the fact, that the quantitative relation between different features changes with decreasing size process windows and limits for forming processestool making methodsnumerical modeling of processes and process chainsquality assurance and metrology

All topics are discussed with respect to the questions relevant to micro metal forming. The description comprises information from actual research and the young history of this technology branch to be used by students, scientists and engineers in industry who already have a background in metal forming and like to expand their knowledge towards miniaturization.

Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Networked Manufacturing Enterprises Management addresses prominent concepts and applications of AI technologies in the management of networked manufacturing enterprises.

The aim of this book is to align latest practices, innovation and case studies with academic frameworks and theories, where AI techniques are used efficiently for networked manufacturing enterprises. More specifically, it includes the latest research results and projects at different levels addressing quick-response system, theoretical performance analysis, performance and capability demonstration. The role of emerging AI technologies in the modelling, evaluation and optimisation of networked enterprises' activities at different decision levels is also covered.

Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Networked Manufacturing Enterprises Management is a valuable guide for postgraduates and researchers in industrial engineering, computer science, automation and operations research.

This book demonstrates that emotion is a highly influential component in creating a new society and new engineering, revealing the importance of emotion in various aspects of the Connected World. It addresses a wide variety of topics, but with this one underlying aim throughout. Further, it stands out for the approach it takes to the Internet of Things and the Connected Society. The contributing authors illustrate that humans are essentially either playmakers or playing managers, with teamwork and play being crucial aspects of our lives. They argue that strategy is becoming increasingly important, and consider the most adaptable strategy, one that will allow us to respond to today's quickly and radically changing situations. The book is particularly focused on the Connected Society as the point of departure, and explores what motivates humans, what decisions they should make, and what actions they should take. With engineering quickly moving from product development to experience development, and the role of emotion in engineering becoming increasingly apparent, this book offers a timely and valuable resource for engineers and researchers alike.

The author of this book made an attempt to create the general theory of optimization of linear systems (both distributed and lumped) with a singular control. The book touches upon a wide range of issues such as solvability of boundary values problems for partial differential equations with generalized right-hand sides, the existence of optimal controls, the necessary conditions of optimality, the controllability of systems, numerical methods of approximation of generalized solutions of initial boundary value problems with generalized data, and numerical methods for approximation of optimal controls. In particular, the problems of optimization of linear systems with lumped controls (pulse, point, pointwise, mobile and so on) are investigated in detail.

This book explains global trends and strategies in the shipping business, looking at the role of logistics service providers and at how information technology can help shipping operations. It also introduces best practices and advice that will allow professionals to improve the management of shipping and logistics activities.  The book consists of sections examining shipping and trade, business strategies for shipping, intermodal container transport operations, and ports.  This new edition adds a new fifth section with four new chapters that discusses contemporary issues in shipping. The new chapters are related to risk management in shipping, shipping security and safety, environmental and social sustainability, and a review of new technologies in the shipping industry and their future potential.   An invaluable source of information for researchers and advanced, or graduate, students, Shipping and Logistics Management is also a useful reference for shipping practitioners and consultants.

Undoubtedly, the most urgent task for companies today is to take a hard look at the future. To remain competitive, management must nurture a strong capability for self development and a strong corporate culture, both of which form part of the foundation for improvement. But simply understanding management techniques doesn't mean you know how to use them. You need the tools and technologies for implementation.

"In Building Organizational Fitness, "Ryuji Fukuda extends the power of his managerial engineering methodology into the context of the top management strategic planning role. Published here for the first time, the author provides information on the evolution of his CEDAC methods for use in strategic planning and implementation. The book introduces several key management technologies and describes their successful application in many Japanese, American and European companies, including: P/O (Policy Objective) Matrix, SEDAC (Structure for Enhancing Daily Activities through Creativity), Window Analysis ( a method for classifying and analyzing problem for a view point of management actions required), and Stockless Production (an approach to reduce work-in-process and lead time in an effective and easy-to-understand manner).

Aiming to change the paradigms of traditional management strategies, this work attempts to create an improved platform within the total quality management umbrella for supporting the profit motive by offering hands-on instructions for applying the theory of constraints in the manufacturing system. The book provides updated information in each area discussed.

The requirements for production systems are constantly changing as a result of changing competitive conditions. This poses a challenge for manufacturers in the various branches of industry and creates an ever-increasing need for flexibility.

With this as a background, this book explores the current developments and trends as well as their impact on today's production systems. It also compares known strategies, concepts and methods used to achieve production flexibility. Similarly, the practical knowledge and current research will be drawn upon and subjected to a sound scientific analysis, through which the technical and organizational flexibility ranges can be measured in their application in a production system. The convenience and usefulness of this concept for manufacturers is substantiated by its implementation in a software tool called ecoFLEX and its practical application, based on extensive examples. This illustrates how flexibility flaws can be quickly identified, classified and properly disposed of using ecoFLEX. This tool helps to close the gap between ERP / PPS systems and digital factory planning tools.

This book provides an overview of advanced manufacturing technology in Japan. It describes the prevalent manufacturing engineering concepts and highlights the current applications, technologies and systems in Japanese manufacturing industry.

The kinds of management systems typically used in large companies throw up many roadblocks to innovation. This book compares the management systems of highly innovative companies with those of more typical companies and shows how they are different. Twenty different aspects of management are compared, from organization structure to communications systems to incentives to project funding systems.

This book is tailored designed for both researchers as well as academics teaching or introducing Advanced Manufacturing course to their classrooms. It presents the current state of research in this field of research and major challenges identified so far, for the integration of additive manufacturing into chemical processes. Unique capability of transforming materials into functional devices with specific geometry using the emerging additive manufacturing technologies has stimulated significant interest in biology, engineering and materials science, to provide custom-made designs for tailored applications. However, the applications of this emerging technology in the field of chemical sciences and engineering have started very recently. Therefore, the major focus of this book is to introduce the basic principles of additive manufacturing practices as well as advent into conventional chemical processes and various unit operations. The potential advantage of introducing these additive manufacturing technologies has the potential to scale down large scale chemical processes into small scale, which offers several advantages including lower foot print, waste reduction and efficient heat integration as well as distributed chemical manufacturing.