Advanced Manufacturing – serie

Hierarchical and Supply Chain Planning describes the application of hierarchical planning techniques to all major functional areas of supply chain planning, including production, distribution, warehousing, transportation, inventory management, forecasting and performance management.The book reviews well-known, original hierarchical production planning techniques and implementations dating back several decades and numerous more current hierarchical planning methods and applications covering an array of supply chain activities. A number of novel hierarchical planning techniques and algorithms covering different components of supply chain planning are offered as is an original approach for integrating supply chain measurements into systems such as the balanced scorecard which evaluate total firm performance.The book covers the interests of private industry practitioners, academic researchers, and students of operations, logistics and supply chain management and planning.

Having edited "Journal of Materials Processing Technology" (previously entitled "Journal of Mechanical Working Technology") for close on 25 years, I have seen the many dramatic changes that have occurred in the materials processing field. Long gone are the days when the only "materials processing" carried out was virtually the forming of conventional metals and alloys, and when the development of a new product or process in a great number of cases called for several months of repetitive trial-and-error,' with many (mostly intuition- or experience-based) expensive and time-consuming modifications being made to the dies, until success was achieved. Even when a 'successful' product was formed, its mechanical properties, in terms of springback and dimensional accuracy, thickness variations, residual stresses, surface finish, etc. , remained to be determined. Bulk-forming operations usually required expensive machining to be carried out on the product to impart the required dimensional accuracy and surface fmish. Over the years, the experience-based craft of metal forming has given way to the science of materials processing. With the use of the computer, forming operations can be simulated with accuracy, to determine the best forming route and the associated forming loads and die stresses, and to predict the mechanical properties of the formed product, even down to its surface texture.

Managerial Decisions in hierarchy organizations, such as the various manufacturing and service companies, are difficult to formalize and even more difficult to optimize. By exploring the typical fuzziness, vagueness, or the "not-well-defined" nature of such organizations, this book presents the first comprehensive treatment of this difficult and practically important problem. The advantages of the proposed fuzzy interactive approach are that it significantly reduces computational requirements. Equally, the representation of the system is made more realistic through the recognition of the inherent fuzziness of such large organizations. Both the multi-ploy and the game-like decision making processes, also known as multi-level programming and the fuzzy interactive approach, are discussed in detail. The emphasis is on numerical algorithms and numerous examples are solved and compared. The concepts of fuzzy set and fuzzy linguistic representation, which form an integral part of any managerial decision, are also discussed.

This book is about automatic handling of non-rigid or deformable objects like cables, fabric, or foam rubber. The automation by robots in industrial environments, is especially examined. It discusses several important automation aspects, such as material modelling and simulation, planning and control strategies, collaborative systems, and industrial applications. This book collects contributions from various countries and international projects and, therefore, provides a representative overview of the state of the art in this field. It is of particular interest for scientists and practitioners in the area of robotics and automation

In order to compete in an increasingly demanding market, many manufacturing companies have to redesign or restructure their manufacturing systems so that a set of coherent manufacturing strategies can be supported. So this book aims to provide a comprehensive treatment of manufacturing strategy analysis (MSA) and manufacturing systems design (MSD). The strategic concerns of manufacturing are linked to subsequent manufacturing systems design activities through the use of an effective MSA/MSD interface.Topics include: A structured approach to formulating manufacturing strategies; A set of linking processes to translate MSA concerns into relevant MSD action plans; Case studies.This book is intended to help graduates and industry-based professionals to make more informed decisions when working on system-design or redesign projects.

Modern manufacturing systems involve many processes and operations at various hierarchical levels of decision, control and execution. New applications for systems are arising from the synergy of machines, tools, robots and computers with management and information technologies. Novel systems are designed and put into operation to manufacture old and new high-quality products with speed, accuracy and economy. This book contains over thirty papers that examine state-of-the-art and how-to-do issues, as well as new solutions. Topics covered include: Process planning/scheduling and machine-cell design Process monitoring, inspection, diagnosis and maintenance Forecasting, optimization and control Design and control of robotic automated crane systems Applications: including laser material processing, stereolithography systems, alimentary pasta processes and automated/robotic road construction and maintenance. The book explores key elements and critical factors, presents new results and tools that are applicable to real situations.

Parallel Kinematic Machines (PKMs) are one of the most radical innovations in production equipment. They attempt to combine the dexterity of robots with the accuracy of machine tools to respond to several industrial needs. This book contains the proceedings of the first European-American Forum on Parallel Kinematic Machines, held in Milan, Italy from 31 August - 1 September 1998. The Forum was established to provide institutions, technology suppliers and industrial end users with an improved understanding of the real advantages to be gained from using PKMs. This book contributes to a mid-term strategy oriented to reduce time to market and costs, improve production flexibility and minimize environmental impacts to increase worldwide competitiveness. In particular the authors focus on enabling technologies and emerging concepts for future manufacturing applications of PKMs. Topics include: Current status of PKM R&D in Europe, the USA and Asia. Industrial requirements, roadblocks and application opportunities. Research issues and possibilities. Industrial applications and requirements.

Modem manufacturing systems involve many processes and operations that can be monitored and controlled at several levels of intelligence. At the highest level there is a computer that supervises the various manufacturing functions, whereas at the lowest level there are stand alone computer controlled systems of manufacturing processes and robotic cells. Until recenty computer-aided manufacturing systems constituted isolated "islands" of automation, each oriented to a particular application, but present day systems offer integrated approaches to manufacturing and enterprise operations. These modem systems, known as computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems, can easily meet the current performance and manufacturing competitiveness requirements under strong environmental changes. CIM systems are much of a challenge, and imply a systemic approach to the design and operation of a manufacturing enterprise. Actualy, a CIM system must take into account in a unified way the following three views : the user view, the technology view, and the enterprise view. This means that CIM includes both the engineering and enterprise planning and control activities, as well as the information flow activities across all the stages of the system.

Although the tenn quality does not have a precise and universally accepted definition, its meaning is generally well understood: quality is what makes the difference between success and failure in a competitive world. Given the importance of quality, there is a need for effective quality systems to ensure that the highest quality is achieved within given constraints on human, material or financial resources. This book discusses Intelligent Quality Systems, that is quality systems employing techniques from the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The book focuses on two popular AI techniques, expert or knowledge-based systems and neural networks. Expert systems encapsulate human expertise for solving difficult problems. Neural networks have the ability to learn problem solving from examples. The aim of the book is to illustrate applications of these techniques to the design and operation of effective quality systems. The book comprises 8 chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to quality control and a general discussion of possible AI-based quality systems. Chapter 2 gives technical information on the key AI techniques of expert systems and neural networks. The use of these techniques, singly and in a combined hybrid fonn, to realise intelligent Statistical Process Control (SPC) systems for quality improvement is the subject of Chapters 3-5. Chapter 6 covers experimental design and the Taguchi method which is an effective technique for designing quality into a product or process. The application of expert systems and neural networks to facilitate experimental design is described in this chapter.

Human Intelligence-Based Manufacturing is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Series edited by Professor D.T. Pham of the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. The Flexibility Computerised-Integrated Manufacturing Structure (FCIMS) is a significant innovation in the field of the production science and technology which combines rapid manufacture with the requirements of human society. Due to greater market diversification a new approach is needed as a response to this new manufacturing environment. International expert contributions deal with aspects of this response and describe how to amalgamate higher levels of automation with human-oriented functions, maintaining a high level of productivity. The benefits are an improved international competitiveness and co-operation. Since Human Intelligent-Based Manufacturing deals with the integration of technology and sociology it is of interest to both the academia and industry. Collaboration in manufacturing between Japan, Europe and the United States is a topic of high current interest.

Intelligent Manufacturing is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Series edited by Professor D.T. Pham of the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. This publication exposes the major issues associated with programming environments for manufacturing and illustrates specific software systems developed for industrial application. Clear and concise statements are made on the state-of-the-art and recent trends in manufacturing languages and programming environments. The book discusses the diverse approaches that are currently under consideration in North America and Europe. It gives the reader an understanding of how manufacturing languages can be used to integrate computer controlled machines and intelligent sensors in automated manufacturing systems including machine tools, robots, inspection and material handling equipment.

Manufacturers worldwide are faced with unprecedented challenges from international competition, changing production processes and technologies, shorter production life-cycles, market globalization and environmental requirements. Fundamental to meeting these challenges is the understanding and control of information across all stages of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) process. Modern Manufacturing presents the state of the art in the information-oriented aspects of CIM and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of new software engineering technologies, the object-oriented approach, database design, hierarchical control and intelligent systems. The contributions are written by experts from Europe and the USA.

Fixtures are crucial to new manufacturing techniques and largely dictate the level of flexibility a manufacturing system can achieve. Advanced Fixture Design for FMS provides a systematic basis for the selection and design of fixturing systems. It gives a review of the current state of the art of flexible and reconfigurable fixturing systems. Recent developments in design methodology using CAD are analysed in depth. Fixture design is seen as an inseparable part of process planning. The primary objective of a fixture system is to ensure that the part being manufactured can be made consistently within the tolerance specified in the design. A new method of tolerance analysis is used to check the suitability of location surfaces and the sequence of operations and is explained in detail.

A Systems Approach to AMT Development is part of the Advanced Manufacturing Series edited by Professor Pham of the University of Wales, College of Cardiff. Its subject is the acquisition of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and its introduction into a production environment. The topic is approached from various aspects such as long-term future performance which is closely related to pay back periods. The authors point out the significance impact which the introduction of AMT has made to international competitiveness. There is also discussing of the importance of learning curve modelling. A Systems Approach to AMT Deployment is firmly based on the author's experience of working with a variety of industries.

Automation is a predominant objective in the development of modern and advanced manufacturing production. Automatic Supervision in Manufacturing (ASM) addresses unavoidable disturbances occurring during production. Its application results in the unmanned functioning of manufacturing systems through comprehensive and reliable supervision. Automatic Supervision in Manufacturing is a collection of contributions written by specialists in the field from Europe and the USA. It deals with the concept of automatic supervision, the classification of supervisory systems and their functions. This publication will be of great interest to researchers and engineers in the areas of production and manufacturing.

In todays industries, New Product Development (NPD) is often the focal point of competition. Companies that are able effectively to develop, produce and introduce new products are the key competitors in markets where variety and time-to-market play an increasingly important role. This examination into the organisation of Integrated Product Development aims to answer the question: Which integration mechanisms lead to effective co-ordination and overlap of New Product Development activities in which situations? The mechanisms, strat egies and goals, knowledge and skills, and organisational arrangements are presented, and their impact on the results of NPD projects and relationships is discussed. An in-depth understanding of the background and theory is provided, using detailed case s tudies to illustrate both the human and organisational issues in practice.

The process of producing components to final net-shapes is fast becoming a desirable goal for metal working industries. This is due to a combination of factors such as the development of new materials and escalating energy costs. Computer Applications in Near Net-Shape Operations addresses the design, analysis and simulation of near net-shape operations using some of the most advanced computer techniques and tools available. Topics covered include: Sheet metal forming operations: progressive stamping, fine blanking, nesting, flat pattering, bending and nibbling; Die design, construction and NC programming of wire EDM; Bulk metal forming processes such as cold upsetting and close-die forging; Injection mould design, analysis and simulation; Computer-aided design of CNC machines for near net-shape operations; Intelligent progressive die design system IPD. This collection of the latest developments from leading experts in the field will be of interest to practising engineers, graduate students and researchers of metal forming, stamping, mould and die design.