Closing the Gap is an accessible overview of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and the impact it is set to have on various sectors in South Africa and Africa. It explores the previous industrial revolutions that have led up to this point and outlines South Africa’s position been through each one.

With a focus on artificial intelligence as a core concept in understanding the 4IR, this book uses familiar concepts to explain artificial intelligence, how it works and how it can be used in banking, mining, medicine and many other fields.

Written from an African perspective, Closing the Gap addresses the challenges and fears around the 4IR by pointing to the opportunities presented by new technologies and outlining some of the challenges and successes to date

Knowledge of computer programming and electronics is a presumption. Primary focus is laid on CNC machine tools. Training requirements of technicians and engineers in tools manufacturing are highlighted. Use of robots in computer aided manufacture are illustrated. The book attempts a detailed coverage of CNC machine tools. CNC systems, constructional features, process planning and programming have been dealt with in detail. Knowledge of CNC programming using software packages, programmable machine control and computer aided inspection are essential for the effective operation of CNC machines. Chapters on economics of manufacturing effective utilization and maintenance will be useful for shop floor personnel. The chapter on manufacturing automation is included to introduce concepts of increasing productivity with CNC machines. A few chapters on robotics have been included in the book to introduce the reader to the use of robotics in computer aided manufacture.

This volume comprises select proceedings of the International Conference on Humanizing Work and Work Environment organized by the Indian Society of Ergonomics (HWWE2019). The book presents research findings on different areas of ergonomics for developing appropriate tools and work environment considering capabilities and limitations of working people for maximum effectiveness on their performance. This volume will be of interest to academics, professionals and practitioners in the field of ergonomics.

Manufacturing Technology, Volume 1 provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practice of engineering manufacturing processes. This third edition has been written, updated and expanded to reflect the current requirements of the Advanced GNVQ Engineering syllabus as well as BTEC NC/D engineering specifications. As such it also forms an ideal introduction to the subject for first-year degree courses in engineering. Topics covered include: alteration of shape, tooling, toolholding and workholding, kinematics of manufacturing equipment, computer numerical control (CNC), assembly, fabrication (including plastics), heat treatment, finishing, quality control, manufacturing relationships, and health and safety at work. This book leads the reader naturally onto the companion volume Manufacturing Technology, Volume 2, intended for those studying engineering manufacture at a more advanced level such as HNC/D and first/second-year engineering degree courses. The broad and in-depth coverage of this two-volume approach ensures that these texts not only satisfy the requirements of technician students up to the highest level but also provide an excellent technical background for undergraduates studying for a degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering and combined engineering.

Understand microgrids and networked microgrid systems Microgrids are interconnected groups of energy sources that operate together, capable of connecting with a larger grid or operating independently as needed and network conditions require. They can be valuable sources of energy for geographically circumscribed areas with highly targeted energy needs, and for remote or rural areas where continuous connection with a larger grid is difficult. Microgrids' controllability makes them especially effective at incorporating renewable energy sources. Microgrids: Theory and Practice introduces readers to the analysis, design, and operation of microgrids and larger networked systems that integrate them. It brings to bear both cutting-edge research into microgrid technology and years of industry experience in designing and operating microgrids. Its discussions of core subjects such as microgrid modeling, control, and optimization make it an essential short treatment, valuable for both academic and industrial study. Readers will acquire the skills needed to address existing problems and meet new ones as this crucial area of power engineering develops. Microgrids: Theory and Practice also features: Incorporation of new cyber-physical system technologies for enabling microgrids as resiliency resources Theoretical treatment of a wide range of subjects including smart programmable microgrids, distributed and asynchronous optimization for microgrid dispatch, and AI-assisted microgrid protection Practical discussion of real-time microgrids simulations, hybrid microgrid design, transition to renewable microgrid networks, and more Microgrids: Theory and Practice is ideal as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in power engineering programs, and a valuable reference for power industry professionals looking to address the challenges posed by microgrids in their work.

Formerly titled Quality Control, the field's most accessible introduction to quality has been renamed and revamped to focus on quantitative aspects of quality improvement. New chapters on Lean Enterprise, Six Sigma, Experimental Design, and Taguchi's Quality Engineering have been added, and this new Ninth Edition adds comprehensive coverage of fundamental statistical quality improvement concepts. A practical state-of-the-art approach is stressed throughout, and sufficient theory is presented to ensure that students develop a solid understanding of basic quality principles. To improve accessibility, probability and statistical techniques are presented through simpler math or developed via tables and charts. As with previous editions, this text is written to serve a widely diverse audience of students, including the growing number of "math shy" individuals who must play key roles in quality improvement.

Every parent is concerned when a child is slow to become a mature adult. This is also true for any product designer, regardless of their industry sector. For a product to be mature, it must have an expected level of reliability from the moment it is put into service, and must maintain this level throughout its industrial use. While there have been theoretical and practical advances in reliability from the 1960s to the end of the 1990s, to take into account the effect of maintenance, the maturity of a product is often only partially addressed. Product Maturity 2 fills this gap as much as possible; a difficult exercise given that maturity is a transverse activity in the engineering sciences; it must be present throughout the lifecycle of a product.

Optimization is the act of obtaining the "best" result under given circumstances. In design, construction, and maintenance of any engineering system, engineers must make technological and managerial decisions to minimize either the effort or cost required or to maximize benefits. There is no single method available for solving all optimization problems efficiently. Several optimization methods have been developed for different types of problems. The optimum-seeking methods are mathematical programming techniques (specifically, nonlinear programming techniques). Nonlinear Optimization: Models and Applications presents the concepts in several ways to foster understanding. Geometric interpretation: is used to re-enforce the concepts and to foster understanding of the mathematical procedures. The student sees that many problems can be analyzed, and approximate solutions found before analytical solutions techniques are applied. Numerical approximations: early on, the student is exposed to numerical techniques. These numerical procedures are algorithmic and iterative. Worksheets are provided in Excel, MATLAB(R), and Maple(TM) to facilitate the procedure. Algorithms: all algorithms are provided with a step-by-step format. Examples follow the summary to illustrate its use and application. Nonlinear Optimization: Models and Applications: Emphasizes process and interpretation throughout Presents a general classification of optimization problems Addresses situations that lead to models illustrating many types of optimization problems Emphasizes model formulations Addresses a special class of problems that can be solved using only elementary calculus Emphasizes model solution and model sensitivity analysis About the author: William P. Fox is an emeritus professor in the Department of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. He received his Ph.D. at Clemson University and has taught at the United States Military Academy and at Francis Marion University where he was the chair of mathematics. He has written many publications, including over 20 books and over 150 journal articles. Currently, he is an adjunct professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of William and Mary. He is the emeritus director of both the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling and the Mathematical Contest in Modeling.

Understand and utilize the latest developments in Weibull inferential methods

While the Weibull distribution is widely used in science and engineering, most engineers do not have the necessary statistical training to implement the methodology effectively. "Using the Weibull Distribution: Reliability, Modeling, " "and Inference "fills a gap in the current literature on the topic, introducing a self-contained presentation of the probabilistic basis for the methodology while providing powerful techniques for extracting information from data.

The author explains the use of the Weibull distribution and its statistical and probabilistic basis, providing a wealth of material that is not available in the current literature. The book begins by outlining the fundamental probability and statistical concepts that serve as a foundation for subsequent topics of coverage, including:

- Optimum burn-in, age and block replacement, warranties

and renewal theory

- Exact inference in Weibull regression

- Goodness of fit testing and distinguishing the Weibull

from the lognormal

- Inference for the Three Parameter Weibull

Throughout the book, a wealth of real-world examples showcases the discussed topics and each chapter concludes with a set of exercises, allowing readers to test their understanding of the presented material. In addition, a related website features the author's own software for implementing the discussed analyses along with a set of modules written in Mathcad(R), and additional graphical interface software for performing simulations.

With its numerous hands-on examples, exercises, and software applications, "Using the Weibull Distribution "is an excellent book for courses on quality control and reliability" "engineering at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. The book also serves as a" "valuable reference for engineers, scientists, and business analysts who gather and interpret" "data that follows the Weibull distribution