This paper presents a method for reliability analysis of the air-conditioner with service data. We explain how to acquire and analyze the service data and some problems in data analysis. We propose two procedures to analyze reliability of air-conditioner using operating time concept and predict the operating times by temperature and failure frequency. Finally, the prediction method for future service is studied by numerical example.

Job shop manufacturing environments are using the concept of cellular manufacturing systems(CMS) which has several advantages in reducing production lead times, setup times, work-in-process, etc. Utilizing the similarities between cell-machine, part-machine, and the shape/size of parts, CMS can group machines and parts resulting in improved efficiency of this system. However, when grouping machines and parts in machine cells, there inevitably occurs exceptional elements(EEs), which can not operate in the same machine cell. Minimizing these EEs in CMS is a critical point that improving production efficiency. Constraints in machine duplication cost, machining process technology, machining capability, and factory space limitations are main problems that prevent achiving the goal of maintaining an ideal CMS environment. This paper presents an algorithm that minimizes EEs under the constraints of machine duplication cost and factory space limitation. Developing exceptional operation similarity(EOS) by cell-machine incidence matrix and part-machine incidence matrix, it brings the machine cells that operate the parts or not. A mathematical model to minimize machine duplication is developed by EOS, followed by a heuristic algorithm in order to reflect dynamic situation resulting from minimizing exceptional elements process and the mathematical model. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the algorithm.

The time slot scheduling problem for a satellite cluster with an arbitrary number of satellite is considered, which is one of the most interesting problems in the satellite communication scheduling area. This problem is known to be NP-complete, and several heuristic algorithms have been proposed. In this paper, a new efficient algorithm is suggested, which has lower computational complexity and provides much better solution than other existing algorithms.

Evolutionary Operation(EVOP) is a method for continuously monitoring and improving a full-scale process to get an optimal operating condition while production is under way. To avoid appreciable changes in the product quality characteristics only small changes are made in the levels of the process variables. One of the reasons why EVOP is not so popular is that people in charge of the EVOP is blamed when the EVOP does not produce good results. We present an EVOP procedure when prior information of the relationship between defect types and process variables is known. The procedure is illustrated with an injection molding case study.

This paper proposes and implementation procedure for an automatic assembly system from a manual assembly and an evaluation method of implemented several automatic system alternatives using an AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) in a small-sized motor. First, the current product is redesigned for DFA (Design For Assembly) and assembly automation of motor, and then it is decided mechanisms of moving, magazining, feeding, composing of each part using main joining equipment and auxiliary equipment. Following the decided mechanism, the necessary assembly machines are selected or designed considering objectives and assembly conditions. Finally, the layout alternatives are completed for the automatic assembly system. According to the evaluation criteria which are established in advance, the automatic system alternatives are analyzed using AHP.

This paper indicates deficiencies of existing weighting methods for decision problems that require trading off a selection of one alternative against others. Deficiencies originate from the definition of weight, $W_i$, satisfying that $W_i{\geq}0$ for all i and sums up to one and an assumption of independence between attributes. Thus, existing weighting methods can not handle a situation where all attributes are interrelated, resulting in that attributes can give either positive, or negative, contributions to the value of an alternative. In order to cope with deficiencies, this paper redefines weight and proposes a new causally related weighting method. The proposed method was applied in the study of developing a comprehensive organizational performance measurement system and showed a good performance.

There are many types of holes to be machined on dies manufactured in the car industry. In this paper we introduce a CAM software developed for hole machining of press dies. The CAM software automatically generates NC files for machining holes from CAD data modeled in the CATIA system. A procedure generating NC files consists of three steps. First, the geometric information such as types of holes, hole positions, hole diameters, and hole depths is extracted from CATIA models. And then tools to be used and operation orders are standardized to establish a data base. Finally, NC files are generated by considering the machining conditions such as feedrate and rpm. It is efficient that holes with the same type and the same size should be grouped and machined by a tool to reduce the tool change time. The optimal tool path for machining the holes in a group can be determined by applying an algorithm solving the traveling salesman problem.

This paper is about implementation issues for use of the Internet technology in education. An examination of the current status of virtual university provides guidance for subsequent prototype development. A virtual university is the Internet based process by which students increase their specific knowledge and skills via electronic interaction with content and people. Virtual university enables colleges and universities to provide students and faculty with network access to courseware and educational materials on multimedia servers free from time and geography constraints. In this paper, we present a prototype instruction support system (ISS). The ISS consists of the following components in architecture: Internet, software, hardware, database systems, users, and workflow. The ISS also assists several functions as follows: lecture notes, register processes, attendance checks, built-in boards, grading systems, questions and answers, electronic libraries, chats, and search engines. Our work will provide a guideline for the development of a virtual classroom for distance education and learning.

A noncircular cutting such as a piston cutting has depended on the copy-machining because of its complex shape. But the copy-machining needs a master model and brings about a low quality of the piston caused by being worn out of the master model. And the lower cutting speed reduces the productivity. In this paper, for solving these problems, a specialized software system and its subsequent procedure are presented. The shape of a piston consists of an oval, an offset, recesses, and eccentricities. The paper describes these shapes as a consistent equation that is a function of the rotational angle and the position of longitudinal direction(Z-axis). It is simple to define the characteristic geometry of a piston and to generate a tool path for CNC machining. This paper proposes the a proper structure of a 4-axes CNC(Computerized Numerical Control) lathe for machining the piston. As well as X-axis and Z-axis, are attached to the machine a C-axis for rotation and a Y-axis for higher speedy prismatic motion parallel to X-axis.

As most of information systems developed are data-centric rather than process-centric, it is difficult for users to understand and manage the system from the viewpoint of work processes. To resolve the problem of the data-centric design, we propose a new method to design WFMSs(Workflow Management Systems), which are focused on processes and modified from current information engineering methods. In this research, the drawing approval and engineering change approval process of a K manufacturing company has been analyzed as a sample process. This method takes two steps, i.e., process analysis and system design. In the prosess analysis, data and processes are analyzed, and functions and tasks are derived from the processes. In the system design, a data model for the operation of WFMS is designed, and based on this data model, build-time and run-time functions of WFMS are designed.

The set covering(SC) problem is the problem of covering all the rows of an $m{\times}n$ matrix of ones and zeros by a subset of columns with a minimal cost. It has many practical applications of modeling of real world problems. The SC problem has been proven to be NP-complete and many algorithms have been presented to solve the SC problem. In this paper we present hybrid simulated annealing(HSA) algorithm based on the Simulated Annealing(SA) for the SC problem. The HSA is an algorithm which combines SA with a crossover operation in a genetic algorithm and a local search method. Our experimental results show that the HSA obtains better results than SA does.

BOM(Bill of Material) is a description of parts, assemblies and raw materials that comprise a product structure. In manufacturing companies that produce various products with short life cycles, it is very important to manage to BOM of products with various options and versions efficiently. This paper describes an effective modeling and implementing technique of Generic BOM Management System(GBMS) for management of number of variant products. In this paper, OMT(Object Modeling Technique) was used to model a generic BOM and Object-Relational Database Management System(ORDBMS) was used to implement the GBMS database. In order to prove the effectiveness of proposed methodology, a case that assembles computer with various options was studied.

A system consisting of two continuously and independently operating equipment subject to breakdown and repair, is considered. It is assumed that both equipment age only when in operation, and a group replacement policy is in effect, that is, both equipment are replaced simultaneously by new identical ones as soon as either of them reaches a specified replacement age. First, a system of partial differential equations based on enumerating the various probabilistic events, is derived. Then, solutions of such system of equations for a model considered in the steady-state are obtained. Finally, an economic analysis is performed to determine the optimal replacement ages of both equipment.

In this article, a simulation model of a microwave oven assembly line is developed to identify system parameters to improve the system performances such as work-in-process inventories, production lead time, mean earliness, mean tardiness and in-time completion rate. System parameters investigated include dispatching rules, lot sizing, setup time reduction, demand increase, productivity improvement, production scheduling, hardware characteristics, etc. The model has been developed using SIMAN simulation language which has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool to simulate complex manufacturing systems. We have suggested the results obtained to improve the system performances of an existing production line.

Two-sided (left- and right-sided) assembly lines in practice can provide several advantages over one-sided lines in terms of the required line length, throughput time, cost of tools and fixtures, and so on. This paper considers two-sided assembly line balancing with the objective of minimizing line length. The balancing problem is more complicated than that of one-sided lines due to sequence-dependency of tasks assigned to a pair of directly facing workstations. This paper shows how genetic algorithm can be used to solve two-sided assembly line balancing. For this, an encoding and a decoding method suitable to the problem are presented. Proper genetic operators and an evalutation function are also employed. Extensive computational experiments are carried out to show the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the algorithm is viable and promising in solution quality and computation time.

In this paper, we propose a workflow framework for the integrated logistics systems. We modelled the logistics activities into workflows, which allow clear specification and flexible modification of business processes. To specify workflows, we used petri-net that is extended to handle with information flows. A framework to implement the integrated logistics system using workflow management technology is proposed. Since logistics is closely related with other parts of enterprise such as manufacturing and accounting, the framework could capture a rich features required for enterprise-wide systems.

Mini-Mill process has been recently in operation at Pohang steel company, which enables more flexible steel coil production on customer demands. The effects of process parameters in Mini-Mill process need to be analyzed not only to make the process stable but also to improve product quality. This work aims to develop a regression model of Mini-Mill process using accumulated product data such that the process parameter effects on product tensile strength may be analyzed. The analysis shows that tensile strength is influenced mainly by the amount of components such as carbon, manganese, silicon, and sulfur. The effect of temperature is shown to be small. It is concluded that control of the components is much more responsible for both meeting the target and reducing the variation of the product tensile strength. Heat treatment is more useful in compensating tensile strength variations due to thickness differences and improving workability and other quality characteristics. More work is necessary for establishing regression expressions of the process that is reliable and accurate enough to dispense with the off-line inspection of the product tensile strength.

One solution to the estimation of product reliability during the development phase is to measure reliability improvement over time and compare this improvement to previous product development progress. This paper presents the reliability growth theory and applies it to some subsystems of vehicles during their design, development and prototype testing. The data presented illustrates explicitly the prediction of the reliability growth in the product development cycle. The application of these techniques is a part of the product assurance function that plays an important role in product reliability improvement.