1. |
Forward and Reverse Mapping for WEDM Process using Artificial Neural Networks
, Pages: 277-288 Somen Dey and Shankar Chakraborty PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Suitable selection of various machining parameters for wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process heavily relies on the operator’s experience and manufacturer’s technologies because of their numerous and diverse operating ranges. Artificial neural networks have been introduced as an effective tool to predict values of responses and input parameters of different machining processes through forward and reverse modeling approaches respectively. This paper mainly focuses on predicting values of some machining responses, like machining rate, surface roughness, dimensional deviation and wire wear ratio using feed forward back propagation artificial neural network based on six WEDM process parameters, such as pulse on time, pulse off time, peak current, spark gap voltage, wire feed and wire tension. The corresponding reverse model is also developed to recommend the optimal settings of WEDM process parameters for achieving the desired responses according to the requirements of the end users. These modeling approaches are quite efficient to predict the values of machining responses as well as process parameter settings with reduced time and effort which otherwise have to be determined experimentally based on trial and error method. The predicted results are found to be in well congruence with the previously obtained experimental observations. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.008 Keywords: WEDM, Artificial neural network, Feed forward, Back propagation, Reverse model |
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2. |
Multi-objective availability-redundancy allocation problem for a system with repairable and non-repairable components
, Pages: 289-302 Hossein Zoulfaghari, Ali Zeinal Hamadani and Mostafa Abouei Ardakan PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Reliability is one of the most important characteristics of the electrical and mechanical systems with applications in the space communication industries, internet networks, telecommunication systems, power generation systems, and productive facilities. What adds to the importance of reliability in these systems are system complications, nature of competitive markets, and increasing production costs due to failures. This paper investigates availability optimization of a system using both repairable and non-repairable components, simultaneously. The availability-redundancy allocation problems involve the determination of component availability (i.e., life time and repair time of the components) and the redundancy levels that produce maximum system availability. These problems are often subject to some constraints on their components such as cost, weight, and volume. To maximize the availability and to minimize the total cost of the system, a new Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model is presented. To solve the proposed model, an improved version of the genetic algorithm is designed as an efficient meta-heuristic algorithm. Finally, in order to verify the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, a numerical example of a system is presented that consists of both repairable and non-repairable components. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.007 Keywords: System availability and reliability, Multi-objective optimization, Redundancy allocation, Repairable and non-repairable components, Genetic algorithm |
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3. |
Investigating the relationships among the knowledge sharing system indices in the educational organizations
, Pages: 303-314 Houshang Taghizadeh and Mostafa Ziyaei Hajipirlu PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the inter-relationship among the indices that influence on knowledge sharing systems in lessons learned systems. To do this, while reviewing the literature, the researchers first identified the indices affecting KSS; then, they collected the related data through the use of a researcher-devised questionnaire. The results of surveying the indices of knowledge sharing system based on DEMATEL system analysis indicated that there were systemic relationships with the predominant characteristic of impressibility among the indices of the system. Investigating the internal relationship among the indices of knowledge sharing in learned lessons systems showed that in order to create a positive as well as optimum effect on knowledge sharing processes, the first priority should be updating and reinforcing “communication channels”; also, “reward systems and processes” should be reinforced as the second priority in line with the strengthening of the purposeful process of knowledge sharing system. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.006 Keywords: Knowledge sharing, Systemic approach, Knowledge management, Lessons learned systems, Educational organizations |
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4. |
Optimization of warehouse location through fuzzy multi-criteria decision making methods
, Pages: 315-334 C. L. Karmaker and M. Saha PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Strategic warehouse location-allocation problem is a multi-staged decision-making problem having both numerical and qualitative criteria. In order to survive in the global business scenario by improving supply chain performance, companies must examine the cross-functional drivers in the optimization of logistic systems. A meticulous observation makes evident that strategy warehouse location selection has become challenging as the number of alternatives and conflicting criteria increases. The issue becomes particularly problematic when the conventional concept has been applied in dealing with the imprecise nature of the linguistic assessment. The qualitative decisions for selection process are often complicated by the fact that often it is imprecise for the decision makers. Such problem must be overcome with defined efforts. Fuzzy multi-criteria decision making methods have been used in this research as aids in making location-allocation decisions. The anticipated methods in this research consist of two steps at its core. In the first step, the criteria of the existing problem are inspected and identified and then the weights of the sector and subsector are determined that have come to light by using Fuzzy AHP. In the second step, eligible alternatives are ranked by using TOPSIS and Fuzzy TOPSIS comparatively. A demonstration of the application of these methodologies in a real life problem is presented. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.005 Keywords: Multi criteria decision making, Supply chain performance, Fuzzy AHP, TOPSIS, Fuzzy TOPSIS, Warehouse location selection |
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5. |
An ISM approach for analyzing the factors in technology transfer
, Pages: 335-348 Mohammad Mahdavi Mazdeh, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Reza Bandarian and Abdolmajid Kahrizi PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Technology transfer, from research and technology organizations (RTOs) toward local industries, is considered as one of important and significant strategies for countries' industrial development. In addition to recover the enormous costs of research and development for RTOs, successful technology transfer from RTOs toward local firms forms technological foundations and develops the ability to enhance the competitiveness of firms. Better understanding of factors influencing process of technology transfer helps RTOs and local firms prioritize and manage their resources in an effective and efficient way to maximize the success of technology transfer. This paper aims to identify important effective factors in technology transfer from Iranian RTOs and provides a comprehensive model, which indicate the interactions of these factors. In this regard, first, research background is reviewed and Cummings and Teng’s model (2003) [Cummings, J. L., & Teng, B.-S. (2003). Transferring R&D knowledge: The key factors affecting knowledge transfer success. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 20(1-2), 39-68.] was selected as the basic model in this study and it was modified through suggesting new factors identified from literature of inter-organizational knowledge and technology transfer and finally a Delphi method was applied for validation of modified model. Then, research conducted used Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to evaluate the relationship between the factors of final proposed model. Results indicate that there were twelve factors influencing on technology transfer process from Iranian RTOs to local firms and also the intensity of absorption capability in transferee could influence on the intensity of desorption capability in transferor. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.004 Keywords: Inter-Organizational Knowledge Transfer, Technology Transfer, Research and Technology Organizations, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) |
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6. |
A hybrid approach based on SERVQUAL and fuzzy TOPSIS for evaluating banking service quality
, Pages: 349-362 Mahdi Karimi, Milad Azizi, Hassan Javanshir and Seyed Mohammad Taghi Fatemi Ghomi PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Quality of services in banking industry plays essential role to make key decisions in banking industry. As customer awareness increases on the services offered by banks, expectations from service quality increases too. Presently, managers of banks use different financial factors such as deposits, credits, etc. to rank their banks. This paper uses SERVQUAL technique to measure customer satisfaction for 14 branches of a bank in city of Kermanshah, Iran. The study first statistically show that customer satisfaction is not the same for all these banks and then using analytical hierarchy process and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) ranks these branches using five components of SERVQUAL method; namely tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsiveness and empathy. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.003 Keywords: Ranking bank, SERVQUAL, TOPSIS, AHP |
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7. |
Decision-making for flexible manufacturing systems using DEMATEL and SAW
, Pages: 363-372 Reza Talebanpour and Mehrdad Javadi PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is an important component of competitive strategy, which could be used for improving organizational performance, productivity, and profitability. The goal of this research is to use DEMATEL approach for finding the intensity of influence of selected criteria. Then, in order to evaluate flexible manufacturing systems, the results of DEMATEL are used in SAW method. A questionnaire was developed and ten professional experts working in various departments of Aluminum Composite Panel Industry are asked to answer its questions. The obtained results reveal that in this case, it is a better choice not to implement and develop FMS. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.002 Keywords: Decision making, DEMATEL, Flexible manufacturing system, Simple Additive Weighting |
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8. |
Optimization of continuous ranked probability score using PSO
, Pages: 373-378 Seyedeh Atefeh Mohammadi, Morteza Rahmani and Majid Azadi PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Weather forecast has been a major concern in various industries such as agriculture, aviation, maritime, tourism, transportation, etc. A good weather prediction may reduce natural disasters and unexpected events. This paper presents an empirical investigation to predict weather temperature using continuous ranked probability score (CRPS). The mean and standard deviation of normal density function are linear combination of the components of ensemble system. The resulted optimization model has been solved using particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the results are compared with Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) method. The preliminary results indicate that the proposed PSO provides better results in terms of root-mean-square deviation criteria than the alternative BFGS method. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.4.001 Keywords: CRPS, PSO, BFGS, Weather prediction |
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9. |
A combined technique using SEM and TOPSIS for the commercialization capability of R&D project evaluation
, Pages: 379-396 Charttirot Karaveg, Natcha Thawesaengskulthai and Achara Chandrachai PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: There is a high risk of R&D based innovation being commercialized, especially in the innovation transfer process which is a concern to many entrepreneurs and researchers. The purpose of this research is to develop the criteria of R&D commercialization capability and to propose a combined technique of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for R&D project evaluation. The research utilized a mixed-method approach. The first phase comprised a qualitative study on commercialization criteria development though the survey research of 272 successful entrepreneurs and researchers in all industrial sectors in Thailand. The data was collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed by SEM. The second phase was involved with SEM-TOPSIS technique development and a case study of 45 R&D projects in research institutes and incubators for technique validation. The research results reveal that there were six criteria for R&D project commercialization capability, these are arranged according to the significance; marketing, technology, finance, non-financial impact, intellectual property, and human resource. The holistic criteria is presented in decreasing order on the ambiguous subjectivity of the fuzzy-expert system, to help with effectively funding R&D and to prevent a resource meltdown. This study applies SEM to the relative weighting of hierarchical criteria. The TOPSIS approach is employed to rank the alternative performance. An integrated SEM-TOPSIS is proposed for the first time and applied to present R&D projects shown to be effective and feasible in evaluating R&D commercialization capacity. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.3.004 Keywords: Commercialization capability, R&D evaluation criteria, Project selection, SEM, MCDM, AHP, TOPSIS |
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10. |
Purchasing power parity: Evidence of long memory processes and fractional integration
, Pages: 397-406 Nadhem Selmi and Nejib Hachicha PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: The Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) theory, which serves as a key to the determination of several models of exchange rates, suggests a long-term relationship between exchange rates and relative prices. It states that the price levels in all the countries are the same when measured in terms of a single currency. The purpose of this study is to model the behavior of the exchange rates of five partner countries of Tunisia, namely, (Germany, the United States, France, Italy, the UK, Morocco and Libya) relative to its fundamentals over the period 1990-1999. Beyond the traditional linear cointegration, we use the approaches based on fractional cointegration. We are trying to discriminate between the adjustment dynamics with long memory (but linear) and a dynamics of a short memory (nonlinear). Given the important role of the exchange rates in the successful experience of open economies, we are interested, in this work, in analyzing the dynamics of the exchange rates in the long run. The econometric results obtained through the GPH tests, make us consider the PPP as an event in the long run if significant short-term deviations from the PPP cannot exist. Therefore, the analysis of the fractional cointegration makes the deviations, regarding equilibrium, follow a slightly integrated process and therefore capture a much wider group of research parity or mean-reverting behavior. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.3.003 Keywords: Exchange rate, Linear cointegration, Fractional cointegration |
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11. |
Optimum shape design of structural model with imprecise coefficient by parametric geometric programming
, Pages: 407-418 Samir Dey and Tapan Kumar Roy PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: The article presents solution procedure of geometric programming to solve the structural model with imprecise coefficients. We have considered a single objective structural optimization model with weight as an objective function. Geometric programming provides a powerful tool for solving a variety of imprecise optimization problems. Here we use nearest interval approximation method to convert a triangular fuzzy number to an interval number. In this paper, we transform this interval number to a parametric interval-valued functional form and then solve the parametric problem by geometric programming technique. The advantage of this technique is that we can find directly optimal solution of the objective function without solving two-level mathematical programs. Numerical example is given to illustrate the model through this approximation method. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.3.002 Keywords: Nonlinear Programming, Geometric Programming Structural Optimization, Fuzzy number, Interval-valued function |
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12. |
Surface roughness prediction of particulate composites using artificial neural networks in turning operation
, Pages: 419-424 Mohammad Ramezani PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: A number of factors, e.g. cutting speed and feed rate, affect the surface roughness in machining process. In this paper, an Artificial Neural Network model was used to forecast surface roughness with related inputs, including cutting speed and feed rate. The output of the ANN model input parameters related to the machined surface roughness parameters. In this research, twelve samples of experimental data were used to train the network. Moreover, four other experimental tests were implemented to test the network. The study concludes that ANN was a reliable and accurate method for predicting machining parameters in CNC turning operation of Particulate Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites (PAMCs) specimens with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% filler. The aim of this work is to decrease the production cost and consequently increase the production rate of these materials for industry without any trial and error method procedure. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.3.001 Keywords: Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Turning Surface Roughness, Particulate Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites (PAMCs) |
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13. |
A Rough Sets based modified Scatter Search algorithm for solving 0-1 Knapsack problem
, Pages: 425-440 Hassan Rezazadeh PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: This paper presents a new search methodology for different sizes of 0-1 Knapsack Problem (KP). The proposed methodology uses a modified scatter search as a meta-heuristic algorithm. Moreover, rough set theory is implemented to improve the initial features of scatter search. Thereby, the preliminary results of applying the proposed approach on some benchmark dataset appear that the proposed method was capable of providing better results in terms of time and quality of solutions. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.2.001 Keywords: Discrete optimization, 0-1 Knapsack problem, Rough sets theory, Scatter search algorithm |
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14. |
Synergy of fuzzy AHP and Six Sigma for capacity waste management in Indian automotive industry
, Pages: 441-452 Rajeev Rathi, Dinesh Khanduja and S.K. Sharma PDF (517 K) |
Abstract: Capacity waste management is highly essential because under utilization of capacity is often referred to as a major reason for lower productivity among industries around the world. For better estimation of capacity and its utilization and then for its improved management; newer techniques are being devised in industrial sector. The current case of capacity waste problem has been taken up as a Six Sigma project, where we try to analyze critical factors responsible for the capacity waste. Decisions on critical factor selection in analysis phase of Six Sigma are always very crucial. The paper discusses an approach for selection of capacity waste factors at an automotive industry using fuzzy logic based AHP method. The fuzzy AHP is a well recognized tool to undertake the fuzziness of the data involved in choosing the preferences of the different decision variables engaged in the process of capacity waste factors selection. In this context, we have explored six crucial parameters for selection of capacity waste factors. Final ranking is calculated through priority vector thus obtained and it is seen that conveyor malfunction is found to be the key factor for capacity waste among all alternatives at the selected site. DOI: 10.5267/j.dsl.2015.1.005 Keywords: Capacity waste, Six Sigma, Analytical hierarchy process Fuzzy logic, Centre less grinding, MADM |
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