ABSTRACT The analysis of production system reliability and level of risk often requires the use o... more ABSTRACT The analysis of production system reliability and level of risk often requires the use of subjective judgements and/or uncertain data. This paper presents a decision-making support system for failure mode and effect and criticality analysis. To help the maintenance staff to formulate effective criticality assessments of the possible modes of failure, the fuzzy logic technique is adopted. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used for obtaining the rules for the fuzzy model. Another characteristic of the model is the use of a triangular approach as crisp inputs in fuzzy models to evaluate the different opinions of the maintenance staff. To test the proposed methodology, an application is described at an Italian refrigerator manufacturing company.
International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2006
This paper presents a new methodological approach named 'Dysfunction Mode and Effects Critica... more This paper presents a new methodological approach named 'Dysfunction Mode and Effects Critical Analysis' (DMECA) to determine and analyse possible dysfunctions in complex management processes. The proposed approach is conceptually derived from the Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) technique. The method represents an analytical tool to work according to the new ISO 9000:2000 standard and the Total Quality Management (TQM) principle concerning the 'process approach'. DMECA enables users to: build a systematic structure (map) of a management process; evaluate potential dysfunctions of the elementary activities comprising the process; evaluate a Risk Priority Number (RPN) for each cause of dysfunction; support the definition and evaluation of the possible improvement actions in a structured way. In order to illustrate the performance and characteristics of the technique, an industrial application concerning an analysis of the order process in an Engineering-to-Order (ETO) company is reported.
This paper present the results of a study of material requirements planning (MRP) implementation ... more This paper present the results of a study of material requirements planning (MRP) implementation in the packaging machinery‐building industry. The research, in particular, has addressed such issues as management and employee responses and the actual versus expected financial and production/logistics benefits. Some of the findings are that, generally, benefits of MRP packages include higher productivity and product quality, that attitudes towards the installations before installation were positive, that the majority of larger companies would purchase more advanced and integrated systems (MRP II and ERPs) in the future and that supplier involvement and project planning (this latter for larger firms) were important components of the effective management of MRP packages introduction.
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 2000
In an era of global sourcing, the firm’s success often hinges on the most appropriate selection o... more In an era of global sourcing, the firm’s success often hinges on the most appropriate selection of its suppliers. Supplier selection is sometimes very complicated, owing to a variety of uncontrollable and unpredictable factors which affect the decision. Describes a multiple attribute utility theory based on the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA), aimed at helping purchasing managers to formulate viable sourcing strategies in the changing market place. An application of the methodology using actual data retrieved from a firm operating in the bottling industry is illustrated. DEA has proved to be capable of handling multiple conflicting attributes inherent in supplier selection while simultaneously trading‐off key supplier selection criteria.
In this article, a technique based on rule induction is suggested as non-parametric alternative t... more In this article, a technique based on rule induction is suggested as non-parametric alternative to determine the expected failure rates of 143 centrifugal pumps included in a oil refinery plant and subjected to different operating conditions. At the same time, the procedure makes it possible to determine the critical operating factors influencing the reliability of the pumps. In particular, the classification and regression tree approach is used to automatically generate rules from an extended data base of the plant concerning information about failures and operating conditions of the different facilities.
Dr. Marcello Braglia graduated in 1988 in electronic engineering at the Politecnico di Milano. In... more Dr. Marcello Braglia graduated in 1988 in electronic engineering at the Politecnico di Milano. In 1990 he obtained a grant to study numerical analysis at the Università degli Studi di Brescia. Since 1995 he has been researcher in mechanical technology and production systems at the same university. Since 1998, he has been a researcher in industrial plants at the Università degli Studi di Pisa. His re- search activities mainly concern manufacturing systems, production planning, statistical quality control, and equipment maintenance. chased, the high number of both qualitative and quantitative attributes that have to be considered in the selection process and the number and variety of the alternative technologies available on the market. This paper proposes a methodology that is based on Analytic Hierarchy Process. Data have been drawn from a survey of twenty-one end-users (consisting of both firms and service bureaus) of twenty different types of RP apparatus. The methodol- ogy has pr...
Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 2003
Abstract In this paper, an alternative multi-attribute decision-making approach for prioritizing ... more Abstract In this paper, an alternative multi-attribute decision-making approach for prioritizing failures in failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) is presented. The technique is specifically intended to overcome some of the limitations concerning the use of the ...
ABSTRACT This paper deals with the problem of dimensioning the number of material handling device... more ABSTRACT This paper deals with the problem of dimensioning the number of material handling devices (MHDs) needed to supply a given (single-product) multi-stage assembly line, in order to obtain a pre-determinate risk level of incomplete items produced. The assembly line is managed in accordance with the criteria imposed by the just-in-time philosophy. An iterative analytical model based on the queuing theory is developed. This model permits not only the dimensioning of the number of MHDs but also the resizing of the component containers capacities, in order to reduce the variance of the interarrival time of supply requests from the assembly stations. A simulation study confirms the precision of the results obtained. A brief discussion about the mixed-model assembly lines is also presented.
This paper discusses the problem of the layout flexibility problem. In an environment affected by... more This paper discusses the problem of the layout flexibility problem. In an environment affected by stochastic product flows, identifying the optimal layout acquires particular relevance, as the layout itself must behave efficiently under varying conditions and levels of item production. This work advocates the need for modifying the parameters usually proposed in literature to optimize the physical location of the
... A Supplier-Selecting System Using a Neural Network, 1997 IEEE International Conference on I... more ... A Supplier-Selecting System Using a Neural Network, 1997 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Processing Systems, IEEE, New York, NY ... Supplier Selection Using Multi-Objective Programming: A Decision Support System Approach, International Journal ...
Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 2004
Inventory constraints, costs of lost production, safety and environmental objectives, strategies ... more Inventory constraints, costs of lost production, safety and environmental objectives, strategies of maintenance adopted, logistics aspects of spare parts are some of the criteria taken into account, and spare parts classification is thus defined with respect to multiple attributes. In virtue of the large number of the potential operational characteristics to be considered, the decision diagram is integrated with a set of analytic hierarchy process models used to solve the various multi‐attribute decision sub‐problems at the different levels/nodes of the decision tree. An inventory policy matrix is defined to link the different classes of spare parts with the possible inventory management policies so as to identify the “best” control strategy for the spare stocks. The principles of the theory and an actual application in a company operating in the paper industry are reported in the paper.
Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 2005
PurposeTo suggest that a multi layer perception based artificial neural network (MLP‐ANN) is a pr... more PurposeTo suggest that a multi layer perception based artificial neural network (MLP‐ANN) is a practical instrument to evaluate the expected failure rates of 143 centrifugal pumps used in an oil refinery plant.Design/methodology/approachA MLP is adopted to weigh up the correlation existing among the failure rates and the several different operating conditions which have some influence in the occurrence.FindingsDuring the training phase, it is possible to discriminate among those variables closely significant for the final outcome and those which can be kept off from the analysis. In particular, the neural network automatically calculates and classifies the centrifugal pumps in terms of both the failure probability and its variability degree, giving a better analysis instrument to take decisions and to justify them, in order to optimise and fully support an eventual preventive maintenance (PM) program.Originality/valueAids in decision‐making to reduce the necessity of reactive mainte...
... In Shang and Sueyoshi (1995), the most appropriate FMS is selected using a framework comprisi... more ... In Shang and Sueyoshi (1995), the most appropriate FMS is selected using a framework comprising three modules (an AHP, a simulation module, and an accounting procedure) which generate the ... Size and weight attributes are considered as sub-criteria of the item ...
ABSTRACT The analysis of production system reliability and level of risk often requires the use o... more ABSTRACT The analysis of production system reliability and level of risk often requires the use of subjective judgements and/or uncertain data. This paper presents a decision-making support system for failure mode and effect and criticality analysis. To help the maintenance staff to formulate effective criticality assessments of the possible modes of failure, the fuzzy logic technique is adopted. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used for obtaining the rules for the fuzzy model. Another characteristic of the model is the use of a triangular approach as crisp inputs in fuzzy models to evaluate the different opinions of the maintenance staff. To test the proposed methodology, an application is described at an Italian refrigerator manufacturing company.
International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2006
This paper presents a new methodological approach named 'Dysfunction Mode and Effects Critica... more This paper presents a new methodological approach named 'Dysfunction Mode and Effects Critical Analysis' (DMECA) to determine and analyse possible dysfunctions in complex management processes. The proposed approach is conceptually derived from the Failure Mode Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) technique. The method represents an analytical tool to work according to the new ISO 9000:2000 standard and the Total Quality Management (TQM) principle concerning the 'process approach'. DMECA enables users to: build a systematic structure (map) of a management process; evaluate potential dysfunctions of the elementary activities comprising the process; evaluate a Risk Priority Number (RPN) for each cause of dysfunction; support the definition and evaluation of the possible improvement actions in a structured way. In order to illustrate the performance and characteristics of the technique, an industrial application concerning an analysis of the order process in an Engineering-to-Order (ETO) company is reported.
This paper present the results of a study of material requirements planning (MRP) implementation ... more This paper present the results of a study of material requirements planning (MRP) implementation in the packaging machinery‐building industry. The research, in particular, has addressed such issues as management and employee responses and the actual versus expected financial and production/logistics benefits. Some of the findings are that, generally, benefits of MRP packages include higher productivity and product quality, that attitudes towards the installations before installation were positive, that the majority of larger companies would purchase more advanced and integrated systems (MRP II and ERPs) in the future and that supplier involvement and project planning (this latter for larger firms) were important components of the effective management of MRP packages introduction.
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 2000
In an era of global sourcing, the firm’s success often hinges on the most appropriate selection o... more In an era of global sourcing, the firm’s success often hinges on the most appropriate selection of its suppliers. Supplier selection is sometimes very complicated, owing to a variety of uncontrollable and unpredictable factors which affect the decision. Describes a multiple attribute utility theory based on the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA), aimed at helping purchasing managers to formulate viable sourcing strategies in the changing market place. An application of the methodology using actual data retrieved from a firm operating in the bottling industry is illustrated. DEA has proved to be capable of handling multiple conflicting attributes inherent in supplier selection while simultaneously trading‐off key supplier selection criteria.
In this article, a technique based on rule induction is suggested as non-parametric alternative t... more In this article, a technique based on rule induction is suggested as non-parametric alternative to determine the expected failure rates of 143 centrifugal pumps included in a oil refinery plant and subjected to different operating conditions. At the same time, the procedure makes it possible to determine the critical operating factors influencing the reliability of the pumps. In particular, the classification and regression tree approach is used to automatically generate rules from an extended data base of the plant concerning information about failures and operating conditions of the different facilities.
Dr. Marcello Braglia graduated in 1988 in electronic engineering at the Politecnico di Milano. In... more Dr. Marcello Braglia graduated in 1988 in electronic engineering at the Politecnico di Milano. In 1990 he obtained a grant to study numerical analysis at the Università degli Studi di Brescia. Since 1995 he has been researcher in mechanical technology and production systems at the same university. Since 1998, he has been a researcher in industrial plants at the Università degli Studi di Pisa. His re- search activities mainly concern manufacturing systems, production planning, statistical quality control, and equipment maintenance. chased, the high number of both qualitative and quantitative attributes that have to be considered in the selection process and the number and variety of the alternative technologies available on the market. This paper proposes a methodology that is based on Analytic Hierarchy Process. Data have been drawn from a survey of twenty-one end-users (consisting of both firms and service bureaus) of twenty different types of RP apparatus. The methodol- ogy has pr...
Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 2003
Abstract In this paper, an alternative multi-attribute decision-making approach for prioritizing ... more Abstract In this paper, an alternative multi-attribute decision-making approach for prioritizing failures in failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) is presented. The technique is specifically intended to overcome some of the limitations concerning the use of the ...
ABSTRACT This paper deals with the problem of dimensioning the number of material handling device... more ABSTRACT This paper deals with the problem of dimensioning the number of material handling devices (MHDs) needed to supply a given (single-product) multi-stage assembly line, in order to obtain a pre-determinate risk level of incomplete items produced. The assembly line is managed in accordance with the criteria imposed by the just-in-time philosophy. An iterative analytical model based on the queuing theory is developed. This model permits not only the dimensioning of the number of MHDs but also the resizing of the component containers capacities, in order to reduce the variance of the interarrival time of supply requests from the assembly stations. A simulation study confirms the precision of the results obtained. A brief discussion about the mixed-model assembly lines is also presented.
This paper discusses the problem of the layout flexibility problem. In an environment affected by... more This paper discusses the problem of the layout flexibility problem. In an environment affected by stochastic product flows, identifying the optimal layout acquires particular relevance, as the layout itself must behave efficiently under varying conditions and levels of item production. This work advocates the need for modifying the parameters usually proposed in literature to optimize the physical location of the
... A Supplier-Selecting System Using a Neural Network, 1997 IEEE International Conference on I... more ... A Supplier-Selecting System Using a Neural Network, 1997 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Processing Systems, IEEE, New York, NY ... Supplier Selection Using Multi-Objective Programming: A Decision Support System Approach, International Journal ...
Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 2004
Inventory constraints, costs of lost production, safety and environmental objectives, strategies ... more Inventory constraints, costs of lost production, safety and environmental objectives, strategies of maintenance adopted, logistics aspects of spare parts are some of the criteria taken into account, and spare parts classification is thus defined with respect to multiple attributes. In virtue of the large number of the potential operational characteristics to be considered, the decision diagram is integrated with a set of analytic hierarchy process models used to solve the various multi‐attribute decision sub‐problems at the different levels/nodes of the decision tree. An inventory policy matrix is defined to link the different classes of spare parts with the possible inventory management policies so as to identify the “best” control strategy for the spare stocks. The principles of the theory and an actual application in a company operating in the paper industry are reported in the paper.
Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 2005
PurposeTo suggest that a multi layer perception based artificial neural network (MLP‐ANN) is a pr... more PurposeTo suggest that a multi layer perception based artificial neural network (MLP‐ANN) is a practical instrument to evaluate the expected failure rates of 143 centrifugal pumps used in an oil refinery plant.Design/methodology/approachA MLP is adopted to weigh up the correlation existing among the failure rates and the several different operating conditions which have some influence in the occurrence.FindingsDuring the training phase, it is possible to discriminate among those variables closely significant for the final outcome and those which can be kept off from the analysis. In particular, the neural network automatically calculates and classifies the centrifugal pumps in terms of both the failure probability and its variability degree, giving a better analysis instrument to take decisions and to justify them, in order to optimise and fully support an eventual preventive maintenance (PM) program.Originality/valueAids in decision‐making to reduce the necessity of reactive mainte...
... In Shang and Sueyoshi (1995), the most appropriate FMS is selected using a framework comprisi... more ... In Shang and Sueyoshi (1995), the most appropriate FMS is selected using a framework comprising three modules (an AHP, a simulation module, and an accounting procedure) which generate the ... Size and weight attributes are considered as sub-criteria of the item ...
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