scholarly journals Increasing the Environmental Sustainability of an Over-Injection Line for the Automotive Component Industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12692
Author(s):  
Alexandre L. N. Vieira ◽  
Raul D. S. G. Campilho ◽  
Francisco J. G. Silva ◽  
Luís P. Ferreira

Thermoplastic injection is currently employed in different industrial fields. This process has significantly evolved over the years, and injection machine manufacturers are continuously forced to innovate, to improve the energetic efficiency, aiming to reduce costs, improve competitiveness, and promote environmental sustainability. This work focuses on the development of a novel, profitable, and environmentally friendly plastic over-injection equipment of small metallic parts for the automotive industry, to be applied in a bowden cable production line, to cover the zamak terminations with plastic, or produce terminations entirely made of plastic. The work is based on an over-sized existing solution. The operating parameters required for the work are quantified, and all machine parts are designed separately to achieve the required functionality. Known approaches are finally used to perform the cost analysis, calculate the return on investment (ROI), and energetic efficiency, to substantiate the replacement of the current solution. The new equipment was able to increase the energetic efficiency of the current assembly line while keeping the required injection rates. An efficient and sustainable solution was presented, with a ROI of 1.2 years over the current solution. The proposed design is also applicable to different automated production lines that require this technology. Nowadays, this concept can be extended to all fields of industry that employ injection molding in their processes, enabling to integrate new manufacturing systems, and increasing energetic efficiency while reducing production costs.

Author(s):  
Júlia Oliveira ◽  
Leonardo Panontim ◽  
Vitor Hugo Fonseca ◽  
Pedro Gonçalves ◽  
Diovana Napoleão ◽  
...  

One of the problems that concerns engineering courses in Brazil is the students low level of motivation in regarding the type of teaching and, as a consequence, low academic performance. This article encourages the introduction of active methods in Engineering teaching, emphasizing the methodologies of Project Based Learning. The approach used was proposing a project for students to analyze important aspects in the production of cylindrical cans. The students applied calculus concepts and developed a model for the optimal dimensions of the cylinder and the utilization of the plates used. Characteristics of two materials used in the manufacture of these cans (tinplate and aluminum) were also gotten. Such aspects are relevant for both environmental sustainability and production costs. Concepts of application of derivatives and Fermat's theorem were used, learned in the discipline of Differential and Integral Calculus, in order to obtain the maximum and minimum values of an established function which relates the dimensions of the can and the amount of material needed. The dimensions obtained theoretically proved to be close to the real values found in cans available on the market. After analyzing the resistance to corrosion, the cost, the decomposition time and the mechanical resistance, it was concluded that the most appropriate material for the production of cans was the tinplate. In this context, teaching with Project Based Learning methodologies may contribute to innovative teaching practices in the training of engineering professionals, overcoming the limitations of traditional teaching methods.


SIMULATION ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (11) ◽  
pp. 1027-1040
Author(s):  
Hamed Maleki ◽  
Aydin Aghazadeh Shabestari

Continuous improvement in quality is the most important mantra for success in today’s competitive market. Previous studies indicated that although quality is the most important factor in gaining competitive superiority, increasing the level of quality alone cannot meet customers’ needs. One complementary approach to improving the level of quality to meet customers’ expectations is to lower the production costs and price of finished products. The quality circle as a path to achieve greater customer satisfaction is formed to identify the cost of quality and thus reduce this cost, which is a significant cost portion of the entire life cycle of products. This paper presents a case study in an electromotor manufacturing company. First, we build a mathematical model to allocate inspection stations to manufacturing processes and propose a heuristic approach to optimize it. Next, we use Enterprise Dynamic software for simulation. Finally, we compare these methods.


Author(s):  
Nand K. Jha

This paper deals with multistage flow type manufacturing of crankshafts. The advanced methodologies in manufacturing systems, re-configurability and high speed manufacturing adopted in the paper will help reduce cost and improve productivity. The optimization of the multistage manufacturing is based on mathematical programming formulation and decomposition approach. The optimum process parameters such as speed, feed and depth of cut for individual operations are calculated using this technique. The effect of change in design data on manufacturing parameters and eventually the cost of the crankshaft at each operation are visualized. This is likely to help the manufacturing engineers to attempt to reduce cost at appropriate stage. The manufacturing automation of crankshaft is attempted on the methodology presented in the paper. The final configuration of the automated production system shows the specification of machine tools in the production system.


Author(s):  
Jacquelyn K. S. Nagel ◽  
Frank W. Liou

Reliable and economical fabrication of metallic parts with complicated geometries is of considerable interest for the aerospace, medical, automotive, tooling and consumer products industries. In an effort to shorten the time-to-market, decrease the manufacturing process chain, and cut production costs of products produced by these industries, research has focused on the integration of multiple unit manufacturing processes into one machine. The end goal is to reduce production space, time, and manpower requirements. Our research into hybrid manufacturing systems has lead to the integration of additive and subtractive processes within a single machine footprint such that both processes are leveraged during fabrication. The laser aided manufacturing process (LAMP) system provides a rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing infrastructure for research and education. The LAMP system creates fully dense, metallic parts and provides all the advantages of commercial laser metal deposition (LMD) systems. This hybrid system is a very competitive and economical approach to fabricating metallic structures. Hybrid manufacturing systems facilitate a sustainable and intelligent production model and offer flexibility of infrastructure to adapt with emergent technology, customization, and changing market needs. This paper summarizes the salient research activities and the findings of those activities related to the modeling and development of the hybrid manufacturing system. Our qualitative and quantitative modeling efforts, as well as the resultant system architecture are described. The approach and strategies utilized in this research coalesce to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to the development a hybrid manufacturing system to produce metal parts that are not only functional but also processed to the final desired surface-finished and tolerance. Furthermore, the approach to hybrid system modeling and development can assist in general with integrated manufacturing systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 4419
Author(s):  
Felipe Gordillo-Fuenzalida ◽  
Alex Echeverria-Vega ◽  
Sara Cuadros-Orellana ◽  
Claudia Faundez ◽  
Thilo Kähne ◽  
...  

The cost of cellulase enzymes is a main contributor to the operational cost of a biorefinery producing ethanol from lignocellulosic material. Therefore, onsite production of enzymes using low-value substrates might be an option to make a bio-based facility more economical, while improving environmental sustainability. Food manufacturing wastes (FMWs), such as olive mill solids, tomato pomace, and grape pomace, are some of the main wastes produced by the food industry in Chile. FMWs are mostly composed of lignocellulosic material, which is primarily made of cellulose. A fungal strain obtained from olive stones was identified as a Trichoderma sp. and characterized by molecular and morphological techniques. This strain was able to grow on three FMWs in both liquid and solid cultures. In liquid cultures, cellulase and β-glucosidase activities from the culture supernatants were quantified. Identification of extracellular proteins using mass spectrometry revealed the presence of endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases. Cellulase production from agroindustrial residues could be an excellent opportunity to utilize FMWs as well as decrease enzyme production costs in biorefinery processes.


Author(s):  
SAFITRI NURHIDAYATI ◽  
RIZKI AMELYA SYAM

This study aims to analyze whether the difference that occurs in the cost of raw materials, direct labor, and factory overhead costs between the standard costs and the actual costs in PLTU LATI is a difference that is favorable or unfavorable. Data collection techniques with field research and library research. The analytical tool used is the analysis of the difference in raw material costs, the difference in direct labor costs and the difference in factory overhead costs. The hypothesis in this study is that the difference allegedly occurs in the cost of raw materials, direct labor costs, and factory overhead costs at PT Indo Pusaka Berau Tanjung Redeb is a favorable difference. The results showed that the difference in the cost of producing MWh electricity at PT Indo Pusaka Berau Tanjung Redeb in 2018, namely the difference in the price of raw material costs Rp. 548,029.80, - is favorable, the difference in quantity of raw materials is Rp. 957,216,602, - is (favorable) , the difference in direct labor costs Rp 2,602,642,084, - is (unfavorable), and the difference in factory overhead costs Rp 8,807,051,422, - is (favorable) This shows that the difference in the overall production cost budget is favorable or profitable. This beneficial difference shows that the company is really able to reduce production costs optimally in 2018.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Radu Dan Paltan ◽  
Cristina Biriş ◽  
Loredana Anne-Marie Rădulescu

Of many techniques that are used to optimize production and costs, the studies conducted within a profile company lead to our choice for testing the 6Sigma method (the most used method in the automotive industry) in view of the economic efficiency applied in the wood Industry company. This method measures how many flaws exist in a process and determines in a systematic way how to improve it by technical overhauling and eliminating or minimizing the process for efficiency. This research article aims to study the state of research on the optimization of the production process through technical overhauling for panels reconstituted from solid wood and ways to make production more efficient by cutting costs through technical overhauling. From preliminary research, we estimate that all the items founded and others that will result from further research will result in a significant decrease in production costs that are reflected in the cost of the finished product and consequently in increasing the yield of the company by maximizing its profit. At the same time it may be the basis of future research studies in the field. The easier it is to maximize profits, the lower the operating costs are and the higher recovery rate of investments are, that will result a change in the operating mode: “working smarter not harder”.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Ejiro Nwaefuna ◽  
Karl Rumbold ◽  
Teun Boekhout ◽  
Nerve Zhou

AbstractBioethanol from abundant and inexpensive agricultural and industrial wastes possesses the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bioethanol as renewable fuel addresses elevated production costs, as well as food security concerns. Although technical advancements in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation have reduced the cost of production, one major drawback of this technology is that the pre-treatment process creates environmental stressors inhibitory to fermentative yeasts subsequently reducing bioethanol productivity. Robust fermentative yeasts with extreme stress tolerance remain limited. This review presents the potential of dung beetles from pristine and unexplored environments as an attractive source of extremophilic bioethanolic yeasts. Dung beetles survive on a recalcitrant lignocellulose-rich diet suggesting the presence of symbiotic yeasts with a cellulolytic potential. Dung beetles inhabiting extreme stress environments have the potential to harbour yeasts with the ability to withstand inhibitory environmental stresses typically associated with bioethanol production. The review further discusses established methods used to isolate bioethanolic yeasts, from dung beetles.


1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W Salant ◽  
Greg Shaffer

Oligopoly models where prior actions by firms affect subsequent marginal costs have been useful in illuminating policy debates in areas such as antitrust regulation, environmental protection, and international competition. We discuss properties of such models when a Cournot equilibrium occurs at the second stage. Aggregate production costs strictly decline with no change in gross revenue or gross consumer surplus if the prior actions strictly increase the variance of marginal costs without changing the marginal-cost sum. Therefore, unless the cost of inducing second-stage asymmetry more than offsets this reduction in production costs, the private and social optima are asymmetric. (JEL D43, L13, L40)


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-244
Author(s):  
Thomas P. West

This review examines the production of the microbial polysaccharide gellan, synthesized by Sphingomonas elodea, on dairy and plant-based processing coproducts. Gellan is a water-soluble gum that structurally exists as a tetrasaccharide comprised of 20% glucuronic acid, 60% glucose and 20% rhamnose, for which various food, non-food and biomedical applications have been reported. A number of carbon and nitrogen sources have been tested to determine whether they can support bacterial gellan production, with several studies attempting to optimize gellan production by varying the culture conditions. The genetics of the biosynthesis of gellan has been explored in a number of investigations and specific genes have been identified that encode the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of this polysaccharide. Genetic mutants exhibiting overproduction of gellan have also been identified and characterized. Several dairy and plant-based processing coproducts have been screened to learn whether they can support the production of gellan in an attempt to lower the cost of synthesizing the microbial polysaccharide. Of the processing coproducts explored, soluble starch as a carbon source supported the highest gellan production by S. elodea grown at 30 °C. The corn processing coproducts corn steep liquor or condensed distillers solubles appear to be effective nitrogen sources for gellan production. It was concluded that further research on producing gellan using a combination of processing coproducts could be an effective solution in lowering its overall production costs.


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