Implementation of a lean six sigma project in a production line

Companies from the motorcycles components branch are dealing with a dynamic environment, resulting from the introduction of new products and the increase of market demand. This dynamic environment requires frequent changes in production lines and requires flexibility in the processes, which can cause reductions in the level of quality and productivity. This paper presents a Lean Six Sigma improvement project performed in a production line of the company's machining sector, in order to eliminate losses that cause low productivity, affecting the fulfillment of the production plan and customer satisfaction. The use of Lean methodology following the DMAIC stages allowed analyzing the factors that influence the line productivity loss. The major problems and causes that contribute to a reduction on productivity and that were identified in this study are the lack of standardization in the setup activities and the excessive stoppages for adjustment of the processes that caused an increase of defects. Control charts, Pareto analysis and cause-and-effect diagrams were used to analyze the problem. On the improvement stage, the changes were based on the reconfiguration of the line layout as well as the modernization of the process. Overall, the project justified an investment in new equipment, the defective product units were reduced by 84% and an increase of 29% of line capacity was noticed.

Observation and measurements of the production of prompt and non-prompt J/ψ mesons in association with a Z boson in pp collisions at s√ = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The production of a Z boson in association with a J/ψ meson in proton--proton collisions probes the production mechanisms of quarkonium and heavy flavour in association with vector bosons, and allows studies of multiple parton scattering. Using 20.3fb−1 of data collected with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, in pp collisions at s√=8 TeV, the first measurement of associated Z+J/ψ production is presented for both prompt and non-prompt J/ψ production, with both signatures having a significance in excess of 5σ. The inclusive production cross-sections for Z boson production (in μ+μ− or e+e− decay modes) in association with prompt and non-prompt J/ψ(→μ+μ−) are measured relative to the inclusive production rate of Z bosons in the same fiducial volume to be (88±16±6)×10−8 and (157±22±10)×10−8 respectively. Normalised differential production cross-sections are also determined as a function of the J/ψ transverse momentum. The fraction of signal events arising from single and double parton scattering is estimated, and a lower limit of 5.3 (3.7)mb at 68 (95) confidence level is placed on the effective cross-section regulating double parton interactions.

Improvement of in silico strain engineering methods in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PhD thesis in Bioengineering

Optimization of low-cost nutritional supplementation for lignocellulosic ethanol fermentation

[Excerpt] Bioethanol from lignocellulosic materials (LCM), also called second generation bioethanol, is considered a promising alternative to first generation bioethanol. An efficient production process of lignocellulosic bioethanol involves an effective pretreatment of LCM to improve the accessibility of cellulose and thus enhance the enzymatic saccharification. One interesting approach is to use the whole slurry from treatment, since allows economical and industrial benefits: washing steps are avoided, water consumption is lower and the sugars from liquid phase can be used, increasing ethanol concentration [1]. However, during the pretreatment step some compounds (such as furans, phenolic compounds and weak acids) are produced. These compounds have an inhibitory effect on the microorganisms used for hydrolysate fermentation [2]. To overcome this, the use of a robust industrial strain together with agro-industrial by-products as nutritional supplementation was proposed to increase the ethanol productivities and yields. (...)

Análise do impacto do controlo de custos na competitividade de uma empresa de mobiliário

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Aplicação de metodologias Lean na secção de tecelagem de uma empresa têxtil

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Implementação de ferramentas Lean numa empresa de componentes para calçado

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Industrial

Melhoria de desempenho da área de pintura numa empresa de mobiliário

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Implementação de um sistema de abastecimento logístico numa empresa de cilindros de aço

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Estudo, projeto e desenvolvimento de uma máquina para montar e vincar sacos de papel

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Mecânica

Sistema de aquisição e comunicação para sensores magnetoelétricos

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Eletrónica Industrial e Computadores

A cadeia produtiva de alimentos orgânicos no vale do rio Cuiabá

Dissertação de mestrado em Estudos de Gestão

Estudo e melhoramento de técnica de aparafusamento de um autorrádio

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Mecânica

Projeto de produção de tubo elíptico em aço avançado de elevada resistência para uma serra de arco

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Mecânica

Análise e simulação da produção de moldes para injeção de plásticos

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Industrial