An intelligent data mining technique for product quality improvement

Advances in data mining have provided techniques for automatically discovering underlying knowledge and extracting useful information from large volumes of data. Data mining offers tools for quick discovery of relationships, patterns and knowledge in large complex databases. Application of data mining to manufacturing is relatively limited mainly because of complexity of manufacturing data. Growing self organizing map (GSOM) algorithm has been proven to be an efficient algorithm to analyze unsupervised DNA data. However, it produced unsatisfactory clustering when used on some large manufacturing data. In this paper a data mining methodology has been proposed using a GSOM tool which was developed using a modified GSOM algorithm. The proposed method is used to generate clusters for good and faulty products from a manufacturing dataset. The clustering quality (CQ) measure proposed in the paper is used to evaluate the performance of the cluster maps. The paper also proposed an automatic identification of variables to find the most probable causative factor(s) that discriminate between good and faulty product by quickly examining the historical manufacturing data. The proposed method offers the manufacturers to smoothen the production flow and improve the quality of the products. Simulation results on small and large manufacturing data show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

An interview with Dr. Benjamin Isakhan : on the alternative histories of democracy

Dr. Isakahn is currently a research associate with the Centre for Dialogue at La Trobe University in Australia. His latest works include several forthcoming books: Democracy in Iraq is a monograph soon to be released; whilst The Edinburgh Companion to the History of Democracy and The Secret History of Democracy, both done in concert with Stephen Stockwell, are edited collections. His most recent articles include “Targeting the Symbolic Dimension of Baathist Iraq,” “Measuring Islam in Australia” and “Manufacturing Consent in Iraq.” For further information regarding Dr. Isakhan and his works, please visit his website, www.benjaminisakhan.com.

Detecting collusive fraud in enterprise resource planning systems

In today's technological age, fraud has become more complicated, and increasingly more difficult to detect, especially when it is collusive in nature. Different fraud surveys showed that the median loss from collusive fraud is much greater than fraud perpetrated by a single person. Despite its prevalence and potentially devastating effects, collusion is commonly overlooked as an organizational risk. Internal auditors often fail to proactively consider collusion in their fraud assessment and detection efforts. In this paper, we consider fraud scenarios with collusion. We present six potentially collusive fraudulent behaviors and show their detection process in an ERP system. We have enhanced our fraud detection framework to utilize aggregation of different sources of logs in order to detect communication and have further enhanced it to render it system-agnostic thus achieving portability and making it generally applicable to all ERP systems.

Adhesion and dispersion of salmeterol xinofoate from lactose interactive mixtures for inhalation - can surface roughness of carriers determine performance

The objective was to understand the influence of the surface roughness of lactose carriers on the adhesion and dispersion of salmeterol xinafoate (SX) from interactive mixtures. The surface roughness of lactose carriers was determined by confocal microscopy. Particle images and adhesion forces between SX and lactose particles were determined by Atomic Force Microscopy. The dispersion of SX (2.5%) from interactive mixtures with lactose was determined using a twin-stage impinger (TSI) with a Rotahaler® at an airflow rate of 60L/min. SX was analysed using a validated HPLC assay. The RMS Rq of lactose carriers ranged from 0.93-2.84μm, the Fine Particle Fraction (FPF) of SX ranged between 4 and 24 percent and average adhesion force between a SX and lactose particles ranged between 49 and 134 nN. No direct correlation was observed between the RMS Rq of lactose carriers and either the FPF of SX for the interactive mixtures or the adhesion force of a SX on the lactose particles; however, the presence of fine lactose associated with the carrier surface increased the FPF of SX. Dispersion through direct SX detachment from the carrier surface was not consistent with the poor correlations described and was more likely to occur through complex particulate interactions involving fine lactose.

Effects of magnesium stearate on the efficient dispersion of salbutamol sulphate from carrier-based dry powder inhaler formulations

Dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations is one of the most useful aerosol preparations in which drugs may be formulated as carrier-based interactive mixtures with micronised drug particles (<5 μm) adhered onto the surface of large inert carriers (lactose powders). The addition of magnesium stearate (MgSt) (1-3), was found to increase dispersion of various drugs from DPI formulations. Recently, some active compounds coated with 5% (wt/wt) MgSt using the mechanofusion method showed significant improvements in aerosolization behavior due to the reduction in intrinsic cohesion force (4). Application of MgSt in powder formulations is not new; however, no studies demonstrated the minimum threshold level for this excipient in efficient aerosolization of drug powders from the interactive mixtures. Therefore, this study investigated the role of MgSt concentration on the efficient dispersion of salbutamol sulphate (SS) from DPI formulations.

Hysteresis modeling of Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid damper by self tuning fuzzy control

Magneto-rheological (MR) fluid damper is a semi-active control device that has recently received more attention by the vibration control community. But inherent nonlinear hysteresis character of magneto-rheological fluid dampers is one of the challenging aspects for utilizing this device to achieve high system performance. So the development of accurate model is necessary to take the advantage their unique characteristics. Research by others [3] has shown that a system of nonlinear differential equations can successfully be used to describe the hysteresis behavior of the MR damper. The focus of this paper is to develop an alternative method for modeling a damper in the form of centre average fuzzy interference system, where back propagation learning rules are used to adjust the weight of network. The inputs for the model are used from the experimental data. The resulting fuzzy interference system is satisfactorily represents the behavior of the MR fluid damper with reduced computational requirements. Use of the neuro-fuzzy model increases the feasibility of real time simulation.

The concealed difficulties of aligning CRE decisions to corporate goals

Realisation of the importance of real estate asset strategic decision making has inspired a burgeoning corporate real estate management (CREM) literature. Much of this criticises the poor alignment between strategic business direction and the ‘enabling’ physical environment. This is based on the understanding that corporate real estate assets represent the physical resource base that supports business, and can either complement or impede that business. In the hope of resolving this problem, CRE authors advocate a deeper integration of strategic and corporate real estate decisions. However this recommendation appears to be based on a relatively simplistic theoretical approach to organization where decision-making tends to be viewed as a rationally managed event rather than a complex process. Defining decision making as an isolated event has led to an uncritical acceptance of two basic assumptions: ubiquitous, conflict-free rationality and profit maximisation. These assumptions have encouraged prescriptive solutions that clearly lack the sophistication necessary to come to grips with the complexity of the built and organizational environment. Alternatively, approaching CREM decision making from a more sophisticated perspective, such as that of the “Carnegie School”, leads to conceptualise it as a ‘process’, creating room for bounded rationality, multiple goals, intra-organizational conflict, environmental matching, uncertainty avoidance and problem searching. It is reasonable to expect that such an approach will result in a better understanding of the organizational context, which will facilitate the creation of organizational objectives, assist with the formation of strategies, and ultimately will aid decision.

CRE workshop part I : comprehending the context

CRE (Corporate Real Estate) decisions should not simply deal with the management of individual facilities, but should especially be concerned with the relationships that a facility has with the corporate business strategy and with the larger real estate markets. Both the practice and the research of CRE management have historically tended to emphasize real estate issues and ignore the corporation’s business issues, causing real estate strategies to be disconnected from the goal and priorities of the corporation’s senior management. With regard to office cycles, a large number of econometric models have been proposed during the last 20 years. However, evidence from historical data and previous research in the field of real estate forecasting seem to agree only on one thing: the existence of interconnected property cycles that are concentrated on vacancy rates (demand). Vacancy also represents the linkage between the inadequacy of existing CRE strategies and the inability of existing econometric models to correctly forecast office rent cycles. Business cycles, across different industry sectors, have decreased from 5-7 years to 1-3 years today, yet corporations are still entering into leases of 5-10 years, causing hidden vacancy levels to rise. Possibly, once CRE strategies are totally in tune with the overall business, hidden vacancy will fade away providing forecasters with better quality data. The aim of this paper is not to investigate whether and when the supply-side will eventually evolve to provide flexible occupancy arrangements to accommodate corporate agility requirements, but rather to propose a general framework for corporations to improve the decision making process of their CRE executives, while emphasizing the importance of understanding the context as a precondition to effective real estate involvements.

Manufacturing practices and performances: A Malaysian study

The purpose of this study is to identify the most common manufacturing practices adopted by the Malaysian manufacturers, company performance factors and relationship between practices and performances. To fulfil the study objectives, 400 manufacturers were surveyed by a standard 400 questionnaire. Three research methodologies such as descriptive analysis, ANOVA and regression analysis have been employed in this study. The analysis revealed that Malaysian manufacturers focus on optimizing three critical performance factors: product development, less customer return rate and on time delivery (OTD). The most important competitive factor was found to be company reputation and design and manufacturing capacity is the least important factor. The findings also proved that manufacturing practices significantly influence company performances

The adoption of advanced quality practices and its impact on manufacturers

Presently, the manufacturing sector faces unprecedented levels of competition in both the domestic and international markets. This competition is mainly as a result of rapidly expanding international trade, gradual removal of protection, substantial reforms in labour markets and industrial relations, rapid technological changes and discerning customers. Intense global competition requires manufacturers to deliver products with higher quality in a shorter time. Simultaneously, owing to new technological innovations, the complexity of the products is increasing. In Australia, the impact of this intense competition and structural changes appear to be having negative effects on the manufacturing sector. This paper discusses the quality and reliability (Q & R) practices and associated drawbacks of Australian manufacturers and presents the findings of an investigation of the challenges Australian manufacturers are currently facing. The results reported in the paper are based on the data collected from a survey using the standard questionnaire. The study was driven by a conceptual model, which relates advanced quality practices to manufacturing performance and manufacturing difficulties.Evidence indicates that Q & R is the main competitive factor for Australian manufacturers. Design capability and on time delivery (OTD) came second. Results show that Australian manufacturers in general are facing some manufacturing difficulties. The relationship between advanced quality practices and company performance and manufacturing difficulties are explored. It is found that the companies who have more emphasis on advanced quality practices have fewer problems in manufacturing practices. Moreover, companies who have actively implemented the advanced quality practices have managed to improve the quality of the product continuously. The results validate the proposed hypothesis and lend credence to current thinking that improvement in Q & R is a vital tool for competitive advantage.

Assessing population limits : a carrying capacity approach to planning

While purporting to enhance Australia’s sustainability, the federal government’s Population Strategy rejects the assessment of the limiting factors to future population growth, thus avoiding urgent threshold issues such as resource depletion and environmental destruction. A more forward-thinking and whole-system perspective would assess and incorporate critical biophysical limits into governance processes with suitable prioritisation. It would encourage communities to examine their individual and collective responsibilities in the context of these limits in order to most equitably optimise outcomes; and it would employ both a resource-based examination of minimum population requirements, and an impact-based assessment of maximum thresholds. This carrying capacity approach to planning could help guide society towards a more sustainable future.

Modeling of a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid damper using a self tuning fuzzy mechanism

A magneto-rheological (MR) fluid damper is a semi-active control device that has recently begun to receive more attention in the vibration control community. However, the inherent nonlinear nature of the MR fluid damper makes it challenging to use this device to achieve high damping control system performance. Therefore the development of an accurate modeling method for a MR fluid damper is necessary to take advantage of its unique characteristics. Our goal was to develop an alternative method for modeling a MR fluid damper by using a self tuning fuzzy (STF) method based on neural technique. The behavior of the researched damper is directly estimated through a fuzzy mapping system. In order to improve the accuracy of the STF model, a back propagation and a gradient descent method are used to train online the fuzzy parameters to minimize the model error function. A series of simulations had been done to validate the effectiveness of the suggested modeling method when compared with the data measured from experiments on a test rig with a researched MR fluid damper. Finally, modeling results show that the proposed STF interference system trained online by using neural technique could describe well the behavior of the MR fluid damper without need of calculation time for generating the model parameters.

Polycaprolactone microspheres as carriers for dry powder inhalers : effect of surface coating on aerosolization of salbutamol sulfate

This study reports the factors controlling aerosolization of salbutamol sulfate (SS) from mixtures with polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres fabricated using an emulsion technique with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as stabilizer. The fine particle fraction (FPF) of SS from PCL measured by a twin-stage impinger was unexpectedly found to be zero, although scanning electron microscopy showed that the drug coated the entire microsphere. Precoating the microspheres with magnesium stearate (MgSt) excipient solutions (1%–2%) significantly increased (p < 0.05, n = 5) the FPF of SS (11.4%–15.4%), whereas precoating with leucine had a similar effect (FPF = 11.3 ± 1.1%), but was independent of the solution concentration. The force of adhesion (by atomic force microscopy) between the PCL microspheres and SS was reduced from 301.4 ± 21.7 nN to 110.9 ± 30.5 nN and 121.8 ± 24.6 nN, (p < 0.05, n = 5) for 1% and 2% MgSt solutions, respectively, and to 148.1 ± 21.0 nN when coated with leucine. The presence of PVA on the PCL microspheres (detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) affected the detachment of SS due to strong adhesion between the two, presumably due to capillary forces acting between them. Precoating the microspheres with excipients increased the FPF significantly by reducing the drug–carrier adhesion. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:733–745, 2012