This book offers broad, detailed coverage of theoretical developments in induction and direct resistance heating and presents new material on the solution of problems in the application of such heating. The physical basis of induction and conduction heating processes is explained and electromagnetic phenomena in direct resistance and induction heating of flat workpieces and cylindrical bodies are examined in depth. The calculation of electrical and energetic characteristics of induction and conduction heating systems is then thoroughly reviewed. The final two chapters consider analytical solutions and numerical modeling of problems in the application of induction and direct resistance heating, providing industrial engineers with the knowledge needed in order to use numerical tools in the modern design of installations. Other engineers, scientists and technologists will find the book to be an invaluable reference that will assist in the efficient utilization of electrical energy.

This book surveys recent applications of inspection models, maintenance models and cumulative damage models, as well as discusses the policies involved with these models. It explains how a stochastic approach can be applied to systems using real-world examples. The book begins by introducing and summarizing standard inspection models. It dedicates chapters to random inspection models and general inspection models, before moving on to discuss inspection policies and checkpoint models. The book discusses inspection of reliability systems, such as missile maintenance systems, as well as Markov models of inspection. The book concludes with a summary of other inspection models, problems they face, and solutions to these problems. Each chapter utilizes examples to illustrate the various models, methods, and policies. This book is of interest to engineering students, researchers, and design and production engineers working in system manufacturing.

Stochastic Analysis of Offshore Steel Structures provides a clear and detailed guide to advanced analysis methods of fixed offshore steel structures using 3D beam finite elements under random wave and earthquake loadings. Advanced and up-to-date research results are coupled with modern analysis methods and essential theoretical information to consider optimal solutions to structural issues. As these methods require and use knowledge of different subject matters, a general introduction to the key areas is provided. This is followed by in-depth explanations supported by design examples, relevant calculations and supplementary material containing related computer programmers. By combining this theoretical and practical approach Stochastic Analysis of Offshore Steel Structures cover a range of key concepts in detail including: The basic principles of standard 3D beam finite elements and special connections, Wave loading - from hydrodynamics to the calculation of wave loading on structural members, Stochastic response calculations with corresponding solution algorithms including earthquakes, and Fatigue damage, reliability calculation and reliability based design optimization. The broad and detailed coverage makes this a solid reference for research oriented studies and practical sophisticated design methods. Students, researchers, insuring bodies and practical designer offices can turn to Stochastic Analysis of Offshore Steel Structures to broaden their theoretical understanding and develop their practical designs and applications of 3D finite analysis in fixed offshore steel structures.

To survive and thrive in the competition, firms have strived to achieve greater supply chain collaboration to leverage the resources and knowledge of suppliers and customers. Internet based technologies, particularly interorganizational systems, further extend the firms' opportunities to strengthen their supply chain partnerships and share real-time information to optimize their operations. "Supply Chain Collaboration: Roles of Interorganizational Systems, Trust, and Collaborative Culture" explores the nature and characteristics, antecedents, and consequences of supply chain collaboration from multiple theoretical perspectives.

"Supply Chain Collaboration: Roles of Interorganizational Systems, Trust, and Collaborative Culture" conceptualizes supply chain collaboration as seven interconnecting elements including information sharing, incentive alignment, goal congruence, decision synchronization, resource sharing, as well as communication and joint knowledge creation. These seven components define the occurrence of collaborative efforts and allow us to explain supply chain collaboration more precisely. Collaborative advantages are also divided into five components to capture the joint competitive advantages and benefits among supply chain partners.

The definitions and measures developed here examine some central issue surrounding supply chain development but this is also followed up with real-life managerial practicalities. This balance of theory and practical application makes "Supply Chain Collaboration: Roles of Interorganizational Systems, Trust, and Collaborative Culture" a strong resource for industry practitioners and researchers alike.

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1) Covers different types of cranes including bridge cranes, tower cranes, aerial cranes and dual cranes 2) Provides different industrial applications 3) Demonstrates how to reduce unwanted vibrations to ensure safe and effective operations 4) Discusses how to use advanced control methods in order to reduce vibration

Concurrent Engineering: Automation, Tools, and Techniques illustrates how to design products, components or systems, across a range of industries, while taking into account such constraints as the ability to manufacture, reliability requirements, quality, cost and customer needs. In long-awaited, much-needed contrast to other books, which focus on a single aspect, such as managing the design process or product reliability, Concurrent Engineering covers all the aspects of the field. This comprehensive analysis includes in-depth treatment of how the consequences of various technical solutions are assessed in all life-cycle phases of a product; automatic idealization control for analysis performed during concurrent engineering design; an intelligent interactive CAD system which has a mechanism for real-time constraint checking in the design process; conceptual design with physical features and an aspect model integration using a metamodel; automated assembly planning, an important integrative issue in concurrent engineering; the three stages of the design process: system design, parameter design and tolerance design and the methodology for simplification of the design process. In the final chapter, the preliminary design of a light utility helicopter is presented as a case study of how concurrent design can be accomplished by applying ten general characteristics of a concurrent engineering process. Figures, photographs, charts and tables are generously provided throughout to clarify the text and an extensive bibliography is provided for extended study.

This book statistically confirms that complexity and changing technologies that affect the way operators interact within the systems of the nuclear facili-ties exacerbate the severity of incidents caused by human error and details the application of the systems engineering process to reduce human error given industries' rapidly advancing technology. Technology, Human Performance, and Nuclear Facilities: A Systems Engineering Approach to Reduce Human Error provides a basic understand-ing of Human Error/ P erformance and its relation to industrial operations and advancing technologies incorporated into facilities. The book discusses the context surrounding the complexity of changing technologies at nuclear facili-ties and the potential worsening of problems caused by human error when technology advancements concerning operator interaction with control sys-tems are implemented. It presents how to reduce human error propensity given the incorporation of advanced technology and covers ways to reduce human error using the systems engineering process. Also offered are several concepts related to the operator's involvement in the systems engineering process and the human performance integration with system operational requirements and system testing, evaluation, and validation, and the procedures and training development in the systems engineering process. This book presents empirical evidence for the importance of human performance management in the con-text of nuclear facilities and offers practical recommendations for the improve-ment of this function. Systems engineers, plant/ design engineers, the nuclear industry, plant operations management, and those involved in industrial and nuclear safety will find something of interest in this book.

While simulation has a vast area of application, this textbook focuses on the use of simulation to analyse business processes. It provides an up-to-date coverage of all stages of the discrete-event simulation (DES) process, covering important areas such as conceptual modelling, modelling input data, verification and validation and simulation output analysis. The book is comprehensive yet uncomplicated, covering the theoretical aspects of the subject and the practical elements of a typical simulation project, demonstrated by cases, examples and exercises. It also shows how simulation relates to new developments in machine learning, big data analytics and conceptual modelling techniques. Guidance is provided on how to build DES models using the Arena, Simio and Simul8 simulation software, and tutorials for using the software are incorporated throughout. Simulation Modelling offers a uniquely practical and end-to-end overview of the subject, which makes it perfect required or recommended reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying business simulation and simulation modelling as part of operations research, business analytics, supply chain management and computer science courses.

While simulation has a vast area of application, this textbook focuses on the use of simulation to analyse business processes. It provides an up-to-date coverage of all stages of the discrete-event simulation (DES) process, covering important areas such as conceptual modelling, modelling input data, verification and validation and simulation output analysis. The book is comprehensive yet uncomplicated, covering the theoretical aspects of the subject and the practical elements of a typical simulation project, demonstrated by cases, examples and exercises. It also shows how simulation relates to new developments in machine learning, big data analytics and conceptual modelling techniques. Guidance is provided on how to build DES models using the Arena, Simio and Simul8 simulation software, and tutorials for using the software are incorporated throughout. Simulation Modelling offers a uniquely practical and end-to-end overview of the subject, which makes it perfect required or recommended reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying business simulation and simulation modelling as part of operations research, business analytics, supply chain management and computer science courses.

This book discusses the intelligent optimization and control of complex metallurgical processes, including intelligent optimization and control of raw-material proportioning processes, coking process, and reheating furnaces; intelligent control of thermal state parameters in sintering processes; and intelligent decoupling control of gas collection and mixing-and-pressurization processes. The intelligent control and optimization methods presented were originally applied to complex metallurgical processes by the authors, and their effectiveness and their advantages have been theoretically proven and demonstrated practically. This book offers an up-to-date overview of this active research area, and provides readers with state-of-the-art methods for the control of complex metallurgical processes.

The environmental burden caused by private transportation represents a significant challenge towards sustainability. Electric vehicles are considered a key technology to reduce the environmental impact caused by the mobility sector. However, the global adoption of electromobility implies shift and diversification of the environmental impacts caused by the transportation sector mainly driven by the production of the battery system. Modeling the life cycle environmental impacts of traction batteries is a time demanding and interdisciplinary task as it involves a high variability and requires an in-depth knowledge of the product system under analysis. To face these challenges, an Integrated Computational Life Cycle Engineering ICLCE framework for EVs has been developed. The ICLCE framework described aims at supporting fast and comprehensive modelling of complex foreground systems in the electromobility field and their interaction with diverse backgrounds and partial contexts.

Optimal Reliability Design, first published in 2000, provides a detailed introduction to systems reliability and reliability optimization. Techniques for maximizing system reliability are described, focusing on component reliability enhancement and redundancy arrangement. The authors present several case studies and show how optimization techniques are applied in practice. They also pay particular attention to finding methods that give the optimal trade-off between reliability and cost. The book begins with a review of key background material, and a discussion of a range of optimization models. The authors go on to cover optimization tools, such as heuristics, discrete optimization, nonlinear programming, mixed integer programming, optimal arrangement, and metaheuristic algorithms. They also describe the computational implementation of these tools. Many numerical examples are included, and the book contains over 180 homework exercises. It is suitable as a textbook for graduate-level courses in reliability engineering and operations research. It will also be a valuable reference for practising engineers.

Discrete stochastic models are tools that allow us to understand, control, and optimize engineering systems and processes. This book provides real-life examples and illustrations of models in reliability engineering and statistical quality control and establishes a connection between the theoretical framework and their engineering applications. The book describes discrete stochastic models along with real-life examples and explores not only well-known models, but also comparatively lesser known ones. It includes definitions, concepts, and methods with a clear understanding of their use in reliability engineering and statistical quality control fields. Also covered are the recent advances and established connections between the theoretical framework of discrete stochastic models and their engineering applications. An ideal reference for researchers in academia and graduate students working in the fields of operations research, reliability engineering, quality control, and probability and statistics.

The history of mankind is a story of ascent to unprecedented levels of comfort, productivity and consumption, enabled by the increased mastery of the basic reserves and flows of energy. This miraculous trajectory is confronted by the consensus that anthropogenic emissions are harmful and must decrease, requiring de-carbonization of the energy system. The mature field of indicator-based sustainability assessment provides a rigorous systematic framework to balance the pros and cons of the various existing energy technologies using lifecycle assessments and weighting criteria covering the environment, economy, and society, as the three pillars of sustainability. In such a framework, nuclear power is ranked favorably, but since emphasis is often placed on radioactive wastes and risk aversion, renewables are usually ranked top. However, quantifying the severity of the consequences of nuclear accidents on a rough integral cost basis and balancing severity with low core-damage accident probabilities indicates that the average external cost of such accidents is similar to that of modern renewables, and far less than carbon-based energy. This book formulates the overall goal and associated unprecedented demanding criteria of taming nuclear risks by excluding mechanisms that lead to serious accidents and avoiding extremely long stewardship times as far as possible, by design. It reviews the key design features of nuclear power generation, paving the way for the exploration of radically new combinations of technologies to come up with "revolutionary" or even "exotic" system designs. The book also provides scores for the selected designs and discusses the high potential for far-reaching improvements, with small modular lines of the best versions as being most attractive. Given the ambition and challenges, the authors call for an urgent increase in funding of at least two orders of magnitude for a broad international civilian "super-Apollo" program on nuclear energy systems. Experience indicates that such investments in fundamental technologies enable otherwise unattainable revolutionary innovations with massive beneficial spillovers to the private sector and the public for the next generations.

The inspection process is one of the most important steps in manufacturing industries because it safeguards high quality products and customer satisfaction. Manual inspection may not provide the desired accuracy. This book introduces and implements a new methodology and develops the supporting technologies for automated inspection planning based on Computer Aided Design (CAD) models. It also provides and implements an efficient link for automated operation based on Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). The link's output is a DMIS code programming file based on the inspection planning table that is executed on CMM.

Business Intelligence (BI) is a solution to modern business problems. This book discusses the relationship between BI and Human Resource Management (HRM). In addition, it discusses how BI can be used as a strategic decision-making tool for the sustainable growth of an organization or business. BI helps organizations generate interactive reports with clear and reliable data for making numerous business decisions. This book covers topics spanning the important areas of BI in the context of HRM. It gives an overview of the aspects, tools, and techniques of BI and how it can assist HRM in creating a successful future for organizations. Some of the tools and techniques discussed in the book are analysis, data preparation, BI-testing, implementation, and optimization on GR and management disciplines. It will include a chapter on text mining as well as a section of case studies for practical use. This book will be useful for business professionals, including but not limited to, HR professionals, and budding business students.

Features Includes insight questions to support class discussion Written in broadly non-mathematical terms, designed to be accessible to any level of student or practicing AP to read, understand, and implement the concepts Each section introduces the ideas through real-life case studies

This book is a hands-on single-source reference of tools, techniques, and processes integrating both Lean and Six Sigma. This comprehensive handbook provides up-to-date guidance on how to use these tools and processes in different settings, such as start-up companies and stalled projects, as well as establish enterprises where the ongoing drive is to improve processes, profitability, and long-term growth. It contains the "hard" Six Sigma approach as well as the flexible approach of FIT SIGMA, which is adaptable to manufacturing and service industries and also public sector organisations. You will also discover how climate change initiatives can be accelerated to sustainable outcomes by the holistic approach of Green Six Sigma.

The book is about what we can do now with leadership, training, and teamwork in every sphere of our businesses. Lean, originally developed by Toyota, is a set of processes and tools aimed at minimising wastes. Six Sigma provides a set of data-driven techniques to minimise defects and improve processes. Integrating these two approaches provides a comprehensive and proven approach that can transform an organisation. To make change happen, we need both digital tools and analog approaches. We know that there has been a continuous push to generate newer approaches to operational excellence, such as Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean Sigma, Lean Six Sigma, and FIT SIGMA.

It is vital that we harness all our tools and resources to regenerate the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic and make climate change initiatives successful for the survival of our planet. Six Sigma and its hybrids (e.g., Lean Six Sigma) should also play a significant part. Over the last three decades, operational performance levels of both public sector and private sector organisations improved significantly and Lean Six Sigma has also acted as a powerful change agent. We urgently need an updated version of these tools and approaches.

The Green Six Sigma Handbook not only applies appropriate Lean and Six Sigma tools and approaches, fitness for the purpose, but it aims at sustainable changes. This goal of sustainability is a stable bridge between Lean Six Sigma and climate change initiatives. Hence, when the tools and approaches of Lean Six Sigma are focused and adapted primarily to climate change demands, we get Green Six Sigma.

Electromigration is a mass transport effect in metals under high current densities, which causes the metal atoms to migrate away from a high current density point and leads to the failure of integrated circuits. It is therefore an important reliability issue. This study reviews the topic for both the silicon and GaAs technologies. It surveys the status of electromigration physics in microelectronics, and summarizes various rate controlling details, including an investigation of temperature dependence.

This book focuses on describing and applying risk analysis of vapour cloud explosions (VCEs) in various oil and gas facilities, such as petrol stations, processing plants, and offshore platforms. Discussing most of the complicated features of gas explosion accidents, the book studies in detail the gas explosion risk analysis approaches of different oil and gas facilities in order to develop more accurate, detailed, efficient and reliable risk analysis methods for VCEs under different conditions. Moreover, it introduces an advanced overpressure approach to predict VCEs using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, and details applications of CFD using a FLame ACceleration Simulator (FLACS). The book is intended for researchers and organisations engaged in risk and safety assessments of VCEs in the oil and gas industry.

The modern market economy is founded on economic growth and increasing consumption of manufactured products, leading to over use of resources and environmentally-damaging pollution. We can help protect the environment by focussing on the entire life-cycle of each manufactured product. A holistic view of every stage and process of a product's life-cycle is needed in order to find sound solutions to adverse environmental effects and help us develop a new generation of eco-designed products. Environmentally-friendly Product Development introduces methods to improve the environmental characteristics of products. Every manufactured product has environmental impacts during its life-cycle. These arise in the product's manufacture, use, recycling and disposal. In the past designers have focussed only on technical and economical aspects when developing new products, taking into account market-conditions and their company's resources. However, designing a product in accordance with environmental demands requires that designers consider potential influences from all part of its life-cycle. The book describes an integrated approach that assists designers to develop environmentally-friendly products, illustrating the methods and tools with case studies. Process and information modelling, life-cycle assessment and ecological product optimisation are surveyed in detail. Unique to Environmentally-friendly Product Development is the introduction of the Eco Design Workbench - a computer based design environment that supports the designer during the product development process. Environmentally-friendly Product Development is a comprehensive survey of environmental design. Readers will learn about thecomplexity of ecological product design and be introduced to methods and tools that can minimise environmental impacts. As well as a practical guide for product designers and design engineers, the book will provide managers in industry with an introduction to the environmental costs involved in a manufacturing economy and signposts to how these may be limited.

Tight gas reservoirs have very low permeability and porosity, which cannot be produced at economical flow rates unless the well is efficiently stimulated and completed using advanced and optimized technologies. Economical production on the basis of tight gas reservoirs is challenging in general, not only due to their very low permeability but also to several different forms of formation damage that can occur during drilling, completion, stimulation, and production operations.

This study demonstrates in detail the effects of different well and reservoir static and dynamic parameters that influence damage mechanisms and well productivity in tight gas reservoirs. Geomechanics, petrophysics, production and reservoir engineering expertise for reservoir characterization is combined with a reservoir simulation approach and core analysis experiments to understand the optimum strategy for tight gas development, delivering improved well productivity and gas recovery.

Proceedings of a Symposium on Heavy Gas, Frankfurt am Main, September 3-4, 1979

Robots and Manufacturing Automation Second Edition C. Ray Asfahl University of Arkansas 55391 3, 512 pp., cloth, 1992 A Complete Guide to Using Automation to Boost Productivity This applications-oriented book surveys the wide spectrum of automated systems available to increase manufacturing productivity. It covers all aspects of automation including robots, numerical control machines, programmable controllers, computer controllers, and microprocessor-based automated systems. Technical topics are explained in an easy-to-understand style and illustrated with vivid images. Every chapter includes quantitative exercises or problems and design case studies to help solidify understanding of the material. The new Second Edition is now completely current in coverage, and includes a number of enhancements: Text expansion (approximately 20 per cent) ensures complete coverage of the field. Careful changes have modernized the text and emphasize the most recent and widely-used automation equipment and techniques. Updated coverage now includes concepts which show how to design products to enhance automation and manual production. New chapters on Machine Vision and Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) bring topic coverage to the cutting edge. The Robot Programming chapter contains new material on the AML Language.

This book details how safety (i.e. the absence of unacceptable risks) is ensured in areas where potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX) can arise. The book also offers readers essential information on how to comply with the newest (April 2016) EU legislation when the presence of ATEX cannot be avoided. By presenting general guidance on issues arising out of the EU ATEX legislation - especially on zone classification, explosion risk assessment, equipment categorization, Ex-marking and related technical/chemical aspects - the book provides equipment manufacturers, responsible employers, and others with the essential knowledge they need to be able to understand the different - and often complicated - aspects of ATEX and to implement the necessary safety precautions. As such, it represents a valuable resource for all those concerned with maintaining high levels of safety in ATEX environments.