Eco-car : a perfect vehicle for technical design teaching?

Design methods and tools are generally best learned and developed experientially [1]. Finding appropriate vehicles for delivering these to students is becoming increasingly challenging, especially when considering only those that will enthuse, intrigue and inspire. This paper traces the development of different eco-car design and build projects which competed in the Shell Eco-Marathon. The cars provided opportunities for experiential learning through a formal learning cycle of CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) or the more traditional understand, explore, create, validate, with both teams developing a functional finished prototype. Lessons learned were applied through the design of a third and fourth eco-car using experimental techniques with bio-composites, combining the knowledge of fibre reinforced composite materials and adhesives with the plywood construction techniques of the two teams. The paper discusses the importance of applying materials and techniques to a real world problem. It will also explore how eco-car and comparing traditional materials and construction techniques with high tech composite materials is an ideal teaching, learning and assessment vehicle for technical design techniques.

Measures of process harmonization

Context Many large organizations juggle an application portfolio that contains different applications that fulfill similar tasks in the organization. In an effort to reduce operating costs, they are attempting to consolidate such applications. Before consolidating applications, the work that is done with these applications must be harmonized. This is also known as process harmonization. Objective The increased interest in process harmonization calls for measures to quantify the extent to which processes have been harmonized. These measures should also uncover the factors that are of interest when harmonizing processes. Currently, such measures do not exist. Therefore, this study develops and validates a measurement model to quantify the level of process harmonization in an organization. Method The measurement model was developed by means of a literature study and structured interviews. Subsequently, it was validated through a survey, using factor analysis and correlations with known related constructs. Results As a result, a valid and reliable measurement model was developed. The factors that are found to constitute process harmonization are: the technical design of the business process and its data, the resources that execute the process, and the information systems that are used in the process. In addition, strong correlations were found between process harmonization and process standardization and between process complexity and process harmonization. Conclusion The measurement model can be used by practitioners, because it shows them the factors that must be taken into account when harmonizing processes, and because it provides them with a means to quantify the extent to which they succeeded in harmonizing their processes. At the same time, it can be used by researchers to conduct further empirical research in the area of process harmonization.

Approximately optimal experimental design for heteroscedastic Gaussian process models

This paper presents a greedy Bayesian experimental design criterion for heteroscedastic Gaussian process models. The criterion is based on the Fisher information and is optimal in the sense of minimizing parameter uncertainty for likelihood based estimators. We demonstrate the validity of the criterion under different noise regimes and present experimental results from a rabies simulator to demonstrate the effectiveness of the resulting approximately optimal designs.

Design and development of a time of flight fast scattering spectrometer : a quantitative surface analysis technique and a new approach towards the experimental investigation of the surface particle interactions

A new surface analysis technique has been developed which has a number of benefits compared to conventional Low Energy Ion Scattering Spectrometry (LEISS). A major potential advantage arising from the absence of charge exchange complications is the possibility of quantification. The instrumentation that has been developed also offers the possibility of unique studies concerning the interaction between low energy ions and atoms and solid surfaces. From these studies it may also be possible, in principle, to generate sensitivity factors to quantify LEISS data. The instrumentation, which is referred to as a Time-of-Flight Fast Atom Scattering Spectrometer has been developed to investigate these conjecture in practice. The development, involved a number of modifications to an existing instrument, and allowed samples to be bombarded with a monoenergetic pulsed beam of either atoms or ions, and provided the capability to analyse the spectra of scattered atoms and ions separately. Further to this a system was designed and constructed to allow incident, exit and azimuthal angles of the particle beam to be varied independently. The key development was that of a pulsed, and mass filtered atom source; which was developed by a cyclic process of design, modelling and experimentation. Although it was possible to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the instrument, problems relating to surface contamination prevented the measurement of the neutralisation probabilities. However, these problems appear to be technical rather than scientific in nature, and could be readily resolved given the appropriate resources. Experimental spectra obtained from a number of samples demonstrate some fundamental differences between the scattered ion and neutral spectra. For practical non-ordered surfaces the ToF spectra are more complex than their LEISS counterparts. This is particularly true for helium scattering where it appears, in the absence of detailed computer simulation, that quantitative analysis is limited to ordered surfaces. Despite this limitation the ToFFASS instrument opens the way for quantitative analysis of the 'true' surface region to a wider range of surface materials.

A detailed design study of leaching and ancillary processes in the hydrometallurgical extraction of iron from iron bearing feedstocks

A systematic survey of the possible methods of chemical extraction of iron by chloride formation has been presented and supported by a comparable study of :feedstocks, products and markets. The generation and evaluation of alternative processes was carried out by the technique of morphological analysis vihich was exploited by way of a computer program. The final choice was related to technical feasibility and economic viability, particularly capital cost requirements and developments were made in an estimating procedure for hydrometallurgjcal processes which have general applications. The systematic exploration included the compilation of relevant data, and this indicated a need.to investigate precipitative hydrolysis or aqueous ferric chloride. Arising from this study, two novel hydrometallurgical processes for manufacturing iron powder are proposed and experimental work was undertaken in the following .areas to demonstrate feasibility and obtain basic data for design purposes: (1) Precipitative hydrolysis of aqueous ferric chloride. (2) Gaseous chloridation of metallic iron, and oxidation of resultant ferrous chloride. (3) Reduction of gaseous ferric chloride with hydrogen. (4) Aqueous acid leaching of low grade iron ore. (5) Aqueous acid leaching of metallic iron. The experimentation was supported by theoretical analyses dealing with: (1) Thermodynamics of hydrolysis. (2) Kinetics of ore leaching. (3) Kinetics of metallic iron leaching. (4) Crystallisation of ferrous chloride. (5) Oxidation of anhydrous ferrous chloride. (6) Reduction of ferric chloride. Conceptual designs are suggested fbr both the processes mentioned. These draw attention to areas where further work is necessary, which are listed. Economic analyses have been performed which isolate significant cost areas, und indicate total production costs. Comparisons are mode with previous and analogous proposals for the production of iron powder.

Product design in the context of the social needs in less industrialised economies

This thesis is related to the subject of technical innovation, specifically to the activity of design in microenterprises operating in less industrialised economies. Design here is understood as a process, which is not the sole domain of formally trained categories such as engineers, architects or industrial designers. The 'professional boundary' discussion in this investigation is perceived as secondary as, in this context, products are designed, copied or adapted by workers, entrepreneurs themselves, or directly by the poor community. Design capacity at this level is considered to be important both in relation to the conception of capital and consumer goods and to the building up of technical knowledge. Although professional design emerged in Latin America little over three decades ago, this activity has remained marginalised throughout industry. Design activity tends to be concentrated in some product categories in the formalised industrial sector. For microenterprises operating informally, industrial design appears to be unknown. The existing literature pays little attention to 'informal design' capacity. Other areas of knowledge, such as development economies, recognise the importance of microenterprises and technological capability but neglect the potential role of industrial design in small manufacturing units. The management literature, though it focuses on technical innovation and design, has also paid little attention to 'informal design'. In less industrialised economies this neglect is felt by the lack of programmes specifically tailored to create or stimulate 'informal design'. There is a need for recognition of 'informal design' capacity and for the implementation of programmes which specifically target design as a central activity in the manufacturing firm, independent of their size and technological capability. Addressing 'design by the poor for the poor', requires a down-to-earth approach.

Integrated manufacturing systems design in a multi-product company

Using a hydraulic equipment manufacturing plant as the case study, this work explores the problems of systems integration in manufacturing systems design, stressing the behavioural aspects of motivation and participation, and the constraints involved in the proper consideration of the human sub-system. The need for a simple manageable modular organisation structure is illustrated, where it is shown, by reference to systems theory, how a business can be split into semi-autonomous operating units. The theme is the development of a manufacturing system based on an analysis of the business, its market, product, technology and constraints, coupled with a critical survey of modern management literature to develop an integrated systems design to suit a specific company in the current social environment. Society currently moves through a socio-technical revolution with man seeking higher levels of motivation. The transitory environment from an autocratic/paternalistic to a participative operating mode demands systems parameters only found to a limited extent in manufacturing systems today. It is claimed, that modern manufacturing systems design needs to be based on group working, job enrichment, delegation of decision making and reduced job monotony. The analysis shows how negative aspects of cellular manufacture such as lack of flexibility and poor fixed asset utilisation are relatively irrelevant and misleading in the broader context of the need to come to terms with the social stresses imposed on a company operating in the industrial environment of the present and the immediate future.

A need to consider human factors during manufacturing system design

Manufacturing systems that are heavily dependent upon direct workers have an inherent complexity that the system designer is often ill-equipped to understand. This complexity is due to the interactions that cause variations in performance of the workers. Variation in human performance can be explained by many factors, however one important factor that is not currently considered in any detail during the design stage is the physical working environment. This paper presents the findings of ongoing research investigating human performance within manufacturing systems. It sets out to identify the form of the relationships that exist between changes in physical working environmental variables and operator performance. These relationships can provide managers with a decision basis when designing and managing manufacturing systems and their environments.

Design of a novel solar thermal collector using a multi-criteria decision-making methodology

Three novel solar thermal collector concepts derived from the Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) are developed and evaluated through a multi-criteria decision-making methodology, comprising the following techniques: Quality Function Deployment (QFD), the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Pugh selection matrix. Criteria are specified by technical and customer requirements gathered from Gujarat, India. The concepts are compared to a standard LFR for reference, and as a result, a novel 'Elevation Linear Fresnel Reflector' (ELFR) concept using elevating mirrors is selected. A detailed version of this concept is proposed and compared against two standard LFR configurations, one using constant and the other using variable horizontal mirror spacing. Annual performance is analysed for a typical meteorological year. Financial assessment is made through the construction of a prototype. The novel LFR has an annual optical efficiency of 49% and increases exergy by 13-23%. Operational hours above a target temperature of 300 C are increased by 9-24%. A 17% reduction in land usage is also achievable. However, the ELFR suffers from additional complexity and a 16-28% increase in capital cost. It is concluded that this novel design is particularly promising for industrial applications and locations with restricted land availability or high land costs. The decision analysis methodology adopted is considered to have a wider potential for applications in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable design. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Market-driven strategies and the design of flexible production systems: evidence from the electronics industry

Links the concept of market-driven business strategies with the design of production systems. It draws upon the case of a firm which, during the last decade, changed its strategy from being “technology led” to “market driven”. The research, based on interdisciplinary fieldwork involving long-term participant observation, investigated the factors which contribute to the successful design and implementation of flexible production systems in electronics assembly. These investigations were conducted in collaboration with a major computer manufacturer, with other electronics firms being studied for comparison. The research identified a number of strategies and actions seen as crucial to the development of efficient flexible production systems, namely: effective integration of subsystems, development of appropriate controls and performance measures, compatibility between production system design and organization structure, and the development of a climate conducive to organizational change. Overall, the analysis suggests that in the electronics industry there exists an extremely high degree of environmental complexity and turbulence. This serves to shape the strategic, technical and social structures that are developed to match this complexity, examples of which are niche marketing, flexible manufacturing and employee harmonization.

A design and implementation methodology for high variety electronics assembly systems

Small indigenous manufacturers of electronic equipment are coming under increasingly severe pressure to adopt a strong defensive position against large multinational and Far Eastern companies. A common response to this threat has been for these firms to adopt a 'market driven' business strategy based on quality and customer service, rather than a 'technology led' strategy which uses technical specification and price to compete. To successfully implement this type of strategy there is a need for production systems to be redesigned to suit the new demands of marketing. Increased range and fast response require economy of scope rather t ban economy or scale while the organisation's culture must promote quality and process consciousness. This paper describes the 'Modular Assembly Cascade' concept which addresses these needs by applying the principles of flexible manufacturing (FMS) and just in time (,JlT) to electronics assembly. A methodology for executing the concept is also outlined. This is called DRAMA (Design Houtirw !'or· Adopting Modular Assembly).

Design and implementation of production systems for high variety electronics assembly

Information technology companies are having to broaden their overall strategic view in deference to the premise that it is better to be market-driven than technology-led. Cost and technical performance are no longer the only considerations, as quality and service now demand equal recognition. The production of a high volume single item has given way to that of low volume multiple items, which in turn requires some modification of production systems and brings flexible manufacturing, Just-in-Time production and total quality control into sharper focus for the achievement of corporate objectives.

Basic principles of design and functioning of multifunctional laser diagnostic system for non-invasive medical spectrophotometry

The devising of a general engineering theory of multifunctional diagnostic systems for non-invasive medical spectrophotometry is an important and promising direction of modern biomedical engineering. We aim in this study to formalize in scientific engineering terms objectives for multifunctional laser non-invasive diagnostic system (MLNDS). The structure-functional model as well as a task-function of generalized MLNDS was formulated and developed. The key role of the system software for MLNDS general architecture at steps of ideological-technical designing has been proved. The basic principles of block-modules composition of MLNDS hardware are suggested as well. © 2011 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Design of a fiber scheme for nonlinear Raman pump broadening through modulation instability

In this work we explore numerically an experimentally the dependence of the broadened spectra on the choice of fibers and we analyze a series of basic rules to be taken into account when using nonlinear broadening to reduce the gain ripple of broadband Raman amplifiers

Design of ultra-narrow WDM filters using the transmission response function of fibre Bragg gratings

We have demonstrated the feasibility of error-free DWDM 8×40 Gb/s transmission over an 800 km SMF/DCF link with 0.8 bit/s/Hz spectral efficiency without polarization multiplexing.