Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) are software applications that help managers track projects from their conception to their execution. They provide them with pertinent information and ...collaborative tools. Currently, most businesses use disconnected instruments which are not designed for managing complex projects. Increases in complexity, both due to the extent of scope and the fact that the users who contribute to the decision making process are physically separated, have led to initiatives that deal with cooperation, teamwork and continuous improvement. This work presents an integrated approach to improve PMIS applicability within the Extended Enterprise. The study regards the definition and the building of a management framework where planning, scheduling, and communicating are made immediate and effective by the adoption of common standards, shared communication and appropriate software tools for the management of whole Supply Chains. The proposed approach has been successfully applied within the shipbuilding industry.
► PMIS are described and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed. ► The Extended Enterprise and the SCEM tools that help optimizing it are discussed. ► A new approach that uses web-based collaborative technologies is proposed. ► The approach enhances the understanding of processes and helps detecting issues. ► An event driven Control Tower manages the alerts ensuring they are not ignored.
We study the energy-momentum tensor and helicity of gauge fields coupled through g ϕ F ˜ F / 4 to a pseudoscalar field ϕ driving inflation. Under the assumption of a constant time derivative of the ...background inflaton, we compute analytically divergent and finite terms of the energy density and helicity of gauge fields for any value of the coupling g . We introduce a suitable adiabatic expansion for mode functions of physical states of the gauge fields which correctly reproduces ultraviolet divergences in average quantities and identifies corresponding counterterms. Our calculations shed light on the accuracy and the range of validity of approximated analytic estimates of the energy density and helicity terms previously existed in the literature in the strongly coupled regime only, i.e., for g ˙ ϕ / ( 2 H ) ≫ 1 . We discuss the implications of our analytic calculations for the backreaction of quantum fluctuations onto the inflaton evolution.
This paper describes an application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for selecting the best maintenance strategy for an important Italian oil refinery (an Integrated Gasification and Combined ...Cycle plant). Five possible alternatives are considered: preventive, predictive, condition-based, corrective and opportunistic maintenance. The best maintenance policy must be selected for each facility of the plant (about 200 in total). The machines are clustered in three homogeneous groups after a criticality analysis based on internal procedures of the oil refinery. With AHP technique, several aspects, which characterise each of the above-mentioned maintenance strategies, are arranged in a hierarchic structure and evaluated using only a series of pairwise judgements. To improve the effectiveness of the methodology AHP is coupled with a sensitivity analysis.
In this paper, an innovative framework to apply Value Stream Mapping to products with complex Bill of Materials is presented. Value Stream Mapping is one of the best tools to map a process and to ...identify its main criticalities. Unfortunately, it can be effectively applied to linear systems only. When the manufacturing process is complex with flows merging together, Value Stream Mapping cannot be used straightforwardly. Thus, the main objective of this work is to solve this limitation so that lean production can be enhanced in complex systems too. The proposed approach is based on seven iterative steps and integrates Value Stream Mapping with other tools typical of industrial engineering. The basic idea is to execute a preliminary analysis to identify the 'critical production path' using the Temporized Bill of Material. Then, improvements are made considering all possible sharing with other secondary paths as possible constraints. Once the critical path has been optimized, a new path may become critical. Thus, the analysis proceeds iteratively until the optimum is reached and the Work In Process level has decreased under a desired value. A case study taken from a real setting environment is finally presented to assess the validity of the methodology proposed here.
A rational use of production resources has been catalysing the attention of researchers and practitioners for several years. A number of indicators have been proposed to assess the effective and ...efficient use of the various production factors. A widely known example of these metrics is the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), which applies to machines and equipment. This paper proposes a novel methodology that seizes upon OEE's straight forward and easy-to-use structure to address the problem of measuring the effective use of materials within a factory. An inclusive structure of material loss and a methodology to calculate a novel performance indicator called overall material usage effectiveness (OME) is given. The proposed set of KPIs not only permits the comprehension of material-related issues but also the identification of viable countermeasures. A real-life application to demonstrate the practical usefulness of the methodology and illustrate the capability of its KPIs is described.
Single Li-ion conducting p-sulfonated poly(allyl phenyl ether) (SPAPE) is electrochemically synthesized directly on TiO2 nanotubes in the range of −1.5 to −1.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The electrochemical ...deposition conditions are studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry; the polymer formation can be followed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The polymer structure is analyzed by NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, showing the formation of linear aliphatic chains with methyl-oxy-benzene sulfonate side groups. SEM observations of the polymer morphology show that a thin (∼300 nm) and continuous layer is obtained depending on the electrochemical synthesis conditions. The combination of a mobile aliphatic backbone, ether groups with reduced cation affinity and immobile anions grafted on the side chains allows obtaining a single lithium-ion conducting polymer. Half-cell battery tests against Li metal show an excellent cycling performance with high areal capacity (up to 110 μAh cm−2) and very good retention especially at large C-rates, studied up to 12 C.
•Electrodeposition of single Li+ conducting sulfonated poly(allyl phenyl ether) on TiO2 nanotubes.•Combination of aliphatic backbone, ether groups with low cation affinity and immobile anions.•Excellent cycling performance with high capacity and very good retention especially at large C-rates.
The present paper introduces an integrated approach to support the process engineers during the implementation of the conventional Single Minute Exchange of Dies. In particular, the proposed approach ...grounds on the new concept of 'duplication strategy', and takes advantage of an implementation tool here presented. It follows a top-down functional decomposition of machines, which helps practitioners identifying all those items impacting on the changeover process, and to propose appropriate intervention strategies. It aims at verifying the possibility of replicating entire parts of machines, fixtures and/or equipment, in order to externalise as many tasks as possible, yet carefully evaluating the cost-benefit ratio and any operational issue of the intervention. To show this novel approach, an actual implementation is hereby fully described. Finally, the results of the study are commented and proposals for future possible developments are suggested.
A nanocomposite solid ion conductor was prepared by infiltrating zirconia or titania nanotube arrays, made by electrochemical anodization of Zr or Ti metal, with proton-conducting sulfonated ...poly(ether-ether-ketone) (SPEEK) ionomer. The resulting material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy showing the successful filling of the nanotubular matrix with the ionomer. Impedance spectroscopy revealed a conductivity increase by several orders of magnitude after infiltration; furthermore, the impedance of the TiO
2
nt-SPEEK nanocomposite is very sensitive to the relative humidity. Possible applications of these ionic conducting nanocomposites include solid-state humidity sensors or heterogeneous catalytic materials.
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Inventory pooling occurs when different actors share their inventories with the aim of reducing costs while improving performances. The paper-making industry requires large amounts of ready to ...install spares aimed at assuring high availability, but presents the drawback of excessive inventory costs. Pooling inventories, with the support of appropriate IT solutions, can be considered an effective strategy to improve availability while reducing the total costs. In the present work a real-life implementation within an important Italian paper-making district has been successfully carried out. Throughout the study the most recent theoretical models have been adapted after a methodical analysis that has been devoted to allow the identification and of the most significant issues and the building of a wide and solid agreement among the participants. Indeed, this required a thorough investigation, since the involved actors are generally competitors and only agree to pool inventories if this leads to increasing profits for themselves.
► The theoretical models for virtual inventory pooling have been thoroughly investigated. ► A technical inquiry allowed the evaluation of the parameters needed for the VPI to work correctly. ► The study determined the optimal stock level for each company to grant the required service level. ► The approach increased the strength of the pooling system with respect to the suppliers of spares and equipments. ► Significant outcomes are the shared purchasing of costly equipments and the increased standardization of components.
In this paper the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach is proposed as a tool to select the best discount in defining a proposal for a public work contract. In the tender for public work ...contracts the quality characteristics of the work and time schedule are strictly defined. Consequently, the only important parameter in order to win the contract is the discount offered compared to the price of the tender. However, the definition of ‘suitable’ discount is a critical process involving the evaluation of many variables and aspects. For this reason, a Decision Support System (DSS) tool is desirable for the proposal management. A hierarchical structure comprising 31 criteria is reported here to illustrate the performance and characteristics of the technique proposed. This structure concerns an analysis of the proposal management process in a company which decorates public garden and park structures.
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