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Background Aims Methods Results Conclusions Connecting an infusion line to a closed stopcock results in pressurization of fluid within the syringe infusion pump assembly leading to flow irregularities when opening the stopcock and activating the pump.It was the purpose of this study to assess the extent of pressurization under different conditions and its impact on start‐up fluid delivery.Intraluminal pressures and start‐up fluid delivery at 1 mL/h flow rate were assessed with connection of the infusion line 1 min (delayed connection) or immediately after purging (immediate connection) using two different infusion lines made from polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE).Delayed connection resulted in an increase of intraluminal pressures from zero to 5.1 [4.5 to 5.7] mmHg with the PVC line and from zero to 47.1 [44.8 to 49.3] mmHg with the PE line (mean difference 42.0 [95% CI 39.3–44.7] mmHg; p < .0001). Immediate connection resulted in an increase of intraluminal pressures from zero to 44.3 [41.8–46.8] mmHg with the PVC line and from zero to 61.3 [57.2–65.4] mmHg with the PE line (mean difference 17.0 [95% CI 11.8–22.2] mmHg; p < .0001). The increase in intraluminal pressures was significantly higher with PE lines for both delayed and immediate connection when compared to the PVC lines (mean difference 29.5 [95% CI 19.3–39.7] mmHg; p < .0001). Related fluid volumes delivered at 10 s and 360 s after starting the pump ranged from −252% to 1321% (10 s) of expected infusion volumes and from 59% to 129% (360 s), respectively.Both, timing of infusion line connection after purging and infusion line characteristics considerably affect intraluminal pressures and start‐up fluid delivery when connecting a new syringe infusion pump assembly to a closed stopcock. Consecutive alterations in drug administration can have considerable hemodynamic consequences when dealing with catecholamine infusions in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the impact in terms of Fill Rate of production control policies in a two-product, two-echelon supply chain dynamic problem with production capacity. The factory node is subject to two different disruptive occurrences (i.e. failure events and changeovers) that can cause unforeseen problems in the supply chain. To control these adverse events, the factory can adopt different production control policies. We compare the well-known Hedging Corridor Policy with two variants, namely Modified Hedging Corridor Policy and Improved Modified Hedging Corridor Policy, and Demand-Driven Material Requirements Planning policy. Firstly, we use the Response Surface Methodology to calibrate the endogenous factors for each strategy. Then, through an extended full-factorial Design Of Experiments, we evaluate the effectiveness of the production control policies for several operational and market scenarios defined by varying exogenous factors. Interestingly, our study reveals that the Hedging Corridor Policy represents the best rule to increase the Fill Rate. The policies have been compared also in terms of indicators related to the factory inventory level. The results seem to point out that efficient production control policies (measured in terms of operational efficiency) do not necessarily yield the best results when measured in terms of supply chain efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the application of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs), food manufacturers can operate outside of traditional volume-variety diagonal positions without the predicted performance penalties. Although food manufacturers produce high-variety and high-volume products with low cost and high quality, it is unavoidable that their high-variety production processes experience a high changeover frequency. Changeovers are not only time-consuming but are also accompanied by production losses. While the literature has emphasized the technical and technological aspects of changeovers, e.g. the Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED), most of these studies focussed on flexibility, time, and product quality. As food manufacturers' production is capital-intensive with low-profit margins, it is essential for them to improve changeover efficiency and reduce changeover losses. This paper thus aims to understand changeover activities, identify the key factors influencing food losses during changeovers and develop a mechanism for improving overall production efficiency. To that end, an in-depth case study is conducted with a major European food manufacturer. This study identified nine key factors influencing changeover losses and developed an improvement framework with three key themes (working methods, knowledge management, and organizational design). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates the effectiveness, in terms of fill rate, of a new adaptive production control policy for a two-product, two-echelon (i.e. factory and retailer) supply chain subject to a non-stationary customer demand. To model the capacity constraints more realistically, the factory node consists of an unbuffered production line subject to failures, and non-negligible changeover times. To cope with the disruptive events, we propose a new production control strategy named Adaptive Hedging Corridor Policy. A simulation model based on discrete-time difference equations is developed, and a two-step experimental campaign is conducted to compare the proposed control policy with two well-known alternatives proposed in the literature. The analysis of the results demonstrates the effectiveness of the new adaptive strategy in maximising the fill rate of supply chains subject to a non-stationary demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The described data set contains features from the machine control of a five-axis milling machine. The features were recorded during thirteen series productions. Each series production includes a changeover process in which the machine was set up for the production of a different product. In addition to the timestamps and the twenty recorded features derived from Numerical Control (NC) variables, the data set also contains labels for the different production phases. For this purpose, up to 23 phases were assigned, which are based on a generalized milling process. The data set consists of thirteen.csv files, each representing a series production. The data set was recorded in a production company in the contract manufacturing sector for components with real series orders in ongoing industrial production. Dataset: 10.5281/zenodo.10853254 Dataset License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While new production areas (greenfields) have state-of-the-art technologies for implementing digitalization, existing production areas (brownfields) and devices must first be upgraded with technologies before digitalization can be implemented. The aim of this research work is to use a case study to identify the differences in the implementation of machine learning (ML) projects in brownfields and greenfields. For this purpose, an ML application for the detection of changeover times on milling machines is implemented and analyzed in the brownfield and greenfield scenarios as well as a combined scenario. Particular attention is paid to the selection of sensors and features. It was found that the abundant availability of features in the greenfield scenario poses pitfalls when creating ML projects if the underlying sensors cannot be checked for their suitability. For the changeover detector use case, the best model quality was achieved for the combined scenario, followed by the greenfield scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the dynamics of a two-product closed-loop supply chain with realistic assumptions on production capacity constraints. The closed-loop supply chain is also subject to unpredictable disruptions, which lead to the non-stationarity of customer demand. The factory employs a production control policy to decide the product type to be processed. We propose a novel production control policy, named the Adaptive Hedging Corridor Policy, which makes decisions on production capacity based on the demand evolution. The proposed strategy is compared with well-known production control policies widely used in literature, such as DDMRP. Simulation results demonstrate the benefits of implementing an adaptive production control as it enables the closed-loop supply chain to enhance customer service level and bullwhip effect. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is provided to assess the influence of experimental factors on the performance. The analysis highlights the significance of return flows and manufacturing operations for the closed-loop supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pre-fusion power operation (PFPO) phase of ITER, as described in the ITER research plan with Staged Approach,22 ITER Organization, “ITER Research Plan within the Staged Approach,” ITR-18–003, Aug. 2018. includes both hydrogen (H) and helium (He) plasma operations. In preparation for PFPO, both WEST and JET ran He plasma campaigns to study plasma-wall interactions in a tungsten environment. The campaigns included a back-and-forth transition between H or deuterium (D) and He plasma operation allowing the assessment of the achievable plasma content as well as the accessible wall reservoirs for respective species. The WEST changeovers included tokamak pulses with a fixed divertor configuration. The JET changeovers applied ion cyclotron wall conditioning (ICWC) and tokamak pulses including limiter phases and four different divertor configurations. Glow discharge conditioning (GDC) was applied to complete the changeovers. The results are characterized by subdivertor optical and mass spectrometric gas analyzers and spatially resolved optical emission spectroscopy. A He content of 96–97 % after H operations is achieved by tens of ICWC pulses (JET) and several dedicated diverted plasmas (WEST and JET), while a fivefold is estimated to be required for the back transition. Effective pumping of the wall released species is a key parameter for a fast changeover. Upon applying higher heating power, the relative content of the fueled plasma species decreases. The JET gas balance analysis indicates that He operation may increase H retention. WEST divertor spectroscopy indicates a larger He inventory near the inner divertor strike line. He GDC has a clear effect on the He recycling light at the WEST divertor while D GDC did not reduce the long lasting He content observed in D pulses after the JET He campaign.

Introduction: The process of cell product changeover poses a high risk of cross-contamination. Hence, it is essential to minimize cross-contamination while processing cell products. Following its use, the surface of a biosafety cabinet is commonly disinfected by ethanol spray and manual wiping methods. However, the effectiveness of this protocol and the optimal disinfectant have not yet been evaluated. Here, we assessed the effect of various disinfectants and manual wiping methods on bacterial removal during cell processing. Methods: The hard surface carrier test was performed to evaluate the disinfectant efficacy of benzalkonium chloride with a corrosion inhibitor (BKC + I), ethanol (ETH), peracetic acid (PAA), and wiping against Bacillus subtilis endospores. Distilled water (DW) was used as the control. A pressure sensor was employed to investigate the differences in loading under dry and wet conditions. The pre-spray for wiping was monitored by eight operators using a paper that turns black when wet. Chemical properties, including residual floating proteins, and mechanical properties, such as viscosity and coefficient of friction, were examined. Results: In total, 2.02 ± 0.21-Log and 3.00 ± 0.46-Log reductions from 6-Log CFU of B. subtilis endospores were observed for BKC + I and PAA, respectively, following treatment for 5 min. Meanwhile, wiping resulted in a 0.70 ± 0.12-Log reduction under dry conditions. Under wet conditions, DW and BKC + I showed 3.20 ± 0.17-Log and 3.92 ± 0.46-Log reductions, whereas ETH caused a 1.59 ± 0.26-Log reduction. Analysis of the pressure sensor suggested that the force was not transmitted under dry conditions. Evaluation of the amount of spray by eight operators showed differences and bias in the spraying area. While ETH had the lowest ratio in the protein floating and collection assays, it exhibited the highest viscosity. BKC + I had the highest friction coefficient under 4.0–6.3 mm/s; however, that of BKC + I decreased and became similar to the friction coefficient of ETH under 39.8–63.1 mm/s. Conclusions: DW and BKC + I are effective for inducing a 3-Log reduction in bacterial abundance. Moreover, the combination of optimal wet conditions and disinfectants is essential for effective wiping in specific environments containing high-protein human sera and tissues. Given that some raw materials processed in cell products contain high protein levels, our findings suggest that a complete changeover of biosafety cabinets is necessary in terms of both cleaning and disinfection.

Introduction: During changeover in cell-product processing, it is essential to minimize cross-contamination risks. These risks differ depending on the patient from whom the cells were derived. Human error during manual cell-product processing increases the contamination risk in biosafety cabinets. Here, we evaluate the risk of cross-contamination during manual cell-processing to develop an evidence-based changeover method for biosafety cabinets. Methods: Contaminant coverage was analyzed during simulated medium preparation, cell seeding, and waste liquid decanting by seven operators, classified by skill. Environmental bacteria were surveyed at four participating facilities. Finally, we assessed the effect of conventional UV irradiation in biosafety cabinets on bacteria and fungi that pose a cross-contamination risk. Results: Under simulated conditions, scattered contamination occurred via droplets falling onto the surface from heights of 30 cm, and from bubbles rupturing at this height. Visible traces of contaminants were distributed up to 50 cm from the point of droplet impact, or from the location of the pipette tip when the bubble ruptured. In several facilities, we detected Bacillus subtilis, of which the associated endospores are highly resistant to disinfection. Irradiation at 50 mJ/cm2 effectively eliminated Bacillus subtilis vegetative cells and Aspergillus brasiliensis, which is highly resistant to UV. Bacillus subtilis endospores were eliminated at 100 mJ/cm2. Conclusions: Under these simulated optimal conditions, UV irradiation successfully prevents cross-contamination. Therefore, following cell-product processing, monitoring the UV dose in the biosafety cabinet during cell changeover represents a promising method for reducing cross-contamination.

The described data set contains features from the machine control of a five-axis milling machine. The features were recorded during thirteen series productions. Each series production includes a changeover process in which the machine was set up for the production of a different product. In addition to the timestamps and the twenty recorded features derived from Numerical Control (NC) variables, the data set also contains labels for the different production phases. For this purpose, up to 23 phases were assigned, which are based on a generalized milling process. The data set consists of thirteen .csv files, each representing a series production. The data set was recorded in a production company in the contract manufacturing sector for components with real series orders in ongoing industrial production.

Due to the limited tool magazine capacities of CNC machines, time-consuming tool changeovers result in inefficient equipment utilization. This study provides a method to minimize the changeovers by optimizing the allocation of the tools to the machines. The proposed algorithm is efficient as it approaches the tool assignment task as a multi-objective hierarchical clustering problem where the products are grouped based on the similarity of the tool demands. The novelty of the goal-oriented agglomerative clustering algorithm is that it is based on the Pareto optimal selection of the merged clusters. The applicability of the method is demonstrated through an industrial case study. The tool assignment problem has also been formulated as a bin-packing optimization task, and the results of the related linear programming were used as a benchmark reference. The comparison highlighted that the proposed method provides a feasible solution for large real-life problems with low computation time. • Tool changeovers can be optimized based on the similarity of the products. • Tool assignment can be approached as a multi-objective optimization task. • Multi-objective hierarchical clustering is suitable in data-intensive manufacturing. • The method provides solutions similar to linear programming with a lower execution time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large majority of specialists on sport domain, after the undertaken studies, proposed varied solutions to improve this process and promoted modern methods and means. In this way, came into being some installations, equipments and computerized technologies that more contributed to the improvement of the training process development [9]. The literature shows that running is a natural skill with great accessibility among pupils, regardless age and training level. Running is a natural movement, being the basis for all activities with dynamic content. Speed is a genetic motor ability being less perfectible, manifesting itself in various forms: reaction speed, speed of execution, recurrence speed, movement speed and speed in other arrangements of motor abilitys [6]. The study of this article highlights the metrological argumentation of accuracy and handicap determination in the 4×100 m relay race. There were identified the tasks according to the aim of the research: Determination of the optimal distance from the beginning of the 20m zone to the place where the relay is changed over; Determining the “handicap” length for runners with different forms of physical training; Determining the level of psychomotor qualities of athletes with different levels of sports training; Calculation of technique “handicap” accuracy based on athletes’ reaction to a moving object. As a result of the analysis of the specialized literature, it was established that the problem of metrological argumentation of the accuracy and determination of the handicap in the 4×100 m relay running was treated quite differently by the vast majority of the studied authors.

While new production areas (greenfields) have state-of-the-art technologies for implementing digitalization, existing production areas (brownfields) and devices must first be upgraded with technologies before digitalization can be implemented. The aim of this research work is to use a case study to identify the differences in the implementation of machine learning (ML) projects in brownfields and greenfields. For this purpose, an ML application for the detection of changeover times on milling machines is implemented and analyzed in the brownfield and greenfield scenarios as well as a combined scenario. Particular attention is paid to the selection of sensors and features. It was found that the abundant availability of features in the greenfield scenario poses pitfalls when creating ML projects if the underlying sensors cannot be checked for their suitability. For the changeover detector use case, the best model quality was achieved for the combined scenario, followed by the greenfield scenario.

This paper presents the design and construction of a Hybrid Automatic Power Changeover Switch with Phase Selector. The system is capable of switching between three different sources of power supply, viz: public power supply, generator and inverter circuit system. This design and implementation were achieved with the use of contactors/relays to effect the switching and at mega 328 microcontroller that is programed to compare the voltage levels of the three-phase supply. The work was simulated using an Electrical Control Technique Simulator (EKTS), while the phase selector was simulated in Proteus environment to ensure it workability. The work was tested, and results shows that it automatically switches power supply from generator to public supply and put off the generator once there is public power supply, it also automatically switches to an inverter or any alternative means of power supply other than generator once there is public power supply outage; this ensures the reliability of power supply to our loads (equipment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infusion therapy is widely used in clinical settings, particularly in intensive care units., Aim: to explore the influence of simulated cardiac output on "bolus" or "backflow" events that can occur during syringe pump changeover, considering several factors that have been previously outlined in published research. Syringe infusion pumps are commonly used for precise continuous intravenous drug delivery. Syringe pump changeover can be a challenging procedure., Methods: Bench-top study in a laboratory setting. An extracorporeal circuit was used to simulate a cardiac output of 5 l/min. The following variables were used: three levels of vertical position of the syringe pump (-50 cm, 0, +50 cm), three levels of Central Venous Pressure (-5, 10, and 15 mmHg), presence/absence of carrier infusion (5 ml/h), and presence/absence of a needle-free connector between the syringe and extension line., Results: A total of 108 syringe pump changes were performed with different combinations of the investigated variables. The mean time for syringe pump changeover was equal to 9.48 ± 2.45 s and the overall fluid displacement was 8 ± 40 µL (microlitres) (range, -262-156 µL). The CVP level and vertical position of the pump always statistically affected the overall displacement during syringe pump changeover. When a second infusion with an equal velocity rate to that of a syringe pump infusion is present in the same lumen, the presence of a needle-free device reduces the overall volume of displacement., Conclusions: Syringe pump changeover can be a critical moment for patients when vasoactive drugs are administered., Implications for Clinical Practice: In a simulated environment with a cardiac output of 5 L/min, the CVP level and vertical position of the syringe pump generated bolus or backflow events during the syringe pump changeover. The application of carrier infusion appeared to intensify these phenomena. Employing a neutral, needle-free system can potentially aid in reducing the development of boluses or backflows., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper presents the development of a constant and wireless controlled DC/AC based boost differential converter with a sensor-less changeover system. The system was computationally designed, modeled, and simulated using MatLab/Simulink software prior to its practical implementation. The designed and simulated system was implemented using solar panels, two directional DC-DC converter current linked battery banks, and a single-staged H-bridge DC/AC converter. The unique properties of the developed system include: one stage input voltage conversion and magnification without the need of a power transformer, wireless turn-on/off scheme, weightless, sensor-less and relay-less automatic voltage changeover, and a simplified feedback system. The Matlab/Simulink simulation results show that the system achieves a pure sine output voltage and current waveform, total harmonic distortion (THD) of 1.22%, efficiency of 94.45%, moderately fast transient response of 1.5 kW. The simulated results were validated with practical experimentation of the system. The definite target areas of utilization of the developed system are: in hospital equipment and remote rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to analyse the cost and the benefit of extending the useful life of bandsaws by improving their wear resistance in a parawood saw mill. Changeover of worn bandsaw causes downtime 15 minutes. Saw blade change frequency is two to four times per shift, at a sawn rate of 90-120 cubic feet per day. Reduced wear bandsaws can be accomplished by flame hardening, which would reduce grinding cost and losses from changeover downtime. This article therefore analyses scenarios of rubber wood processing plants in Thailand with between nine and sixty sawmills per plant and 300 working days per year. The annual scenarios analysis, based on saw blade grinding and additional flame hardening cost, has an annual fixed cost and variables cost. Implementing the flame hardening increases the costs by THB 80 319.53 to 1 021 737.99 per year. The benefits in this study indicate that reduced wear on bandsaws by implementing a flame hardening process in rubber parawood factories is economical, with benefits in the range of THB 643 577.34 to 11 446 939.60 per year.

Introduction: Cell-processing facilities face the risk of environmental bacteria contaminating biosafety cabinets during processing, and manual handling of autologous cell products can result in contamination. We propose a risk- and evidence-based cleaning method for cross-contamination, emphasizing proteins and DNA., Methods: The transition and residual risks of the culture medium were assessed by measuring both wet and dried media using fluorescence intensity. Residual proteins and DNA in dried culture medium containing HT-1080 cells were analyzed following ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, wiping, and disinfectant treatment., Results: Wet conditions showed a higher transition to distilled water (DW), whereas dry conditions led to higher residual amounts on SUS304 plates. Various cleaning methods for residual culture medium were examined, including benzalkonium chloride with a corrosion inhibitor (BKC + I) and DW wiping, which demonstrated significantly lower residual protein and DNA compared to other methods. Furthermore, these cleaning methods were tested for residual medium containing cells, with BKC + I and DW wiping resulting in an undetectable number of cells. However, in some instances, proteins and DNA remained., Conclusions: The study compared cleaning methods for proteins and DNA in cell products, revealing their advantages and disadvantages. Peracetic acid (PAA) proved effective for nucleic acids but not proteins, while UV irradiation was ineffective against both proteins and DNA. Wiping emerged as the most effective method, even though traceability remained challenging. However, wiping with ETH was not effective as it caused protein immobilization. Understanding the characteristics of these cleaning methods is crucial for developing effective contamination control strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships that may be considered potential competing interests: Mitsuru Mizuno reports the financial support provided by Terumo Corporation., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Purpose: The research aims to design a performance improvement framework for a new model of sports shoes to increase the ramp-up process time. Methodology/Approach: The approach used the problem-solving system of 8 disciplines, Single Minute Exchange Dies, Visual Management, and the Just In Time principle. Findings: By using the methods described above, the research findings will have a positive impact on the company. Model changeover time was reduced from 600 minutes to 102 minutes, and ramp-up time was reduced from 20 days to 2 days. Research Limitation/Implication: The limitation of this study was that only the CK2946 model was still done as a case study. The cost and other inhibiting factors were also not included in the discussion of this rump-up process. Originality/Value of paper: By integrating SMED, Just In Time, visual management, and using 8-Dicipline, the researcher developed a framework for improved performance for ramping up a new model of sports shoes.

Purpose: We explored the integrated design of H2O2 decontamination processes and scheduling in sterile drug product manufacturing, considering productivity and product quality. Methods: Models were developed that (i) deal with the scheduling of filling and the changeover of multiple batches/products and (ii) configure the aqueous H2O2 injection rate into the isolator as a process parameter. The total production time for all planned batches and the sterility assurance level of the products were defined as the objective functions for productivity and product quality, respectively. Results: The models were applied to a multiobjective evaluation of the decontamination and scheduling options in the production of 15 batches (different products and batch sizes). Pareto-optimal solutions were obtained that indicated a trade-off between the two objectives. The inclination of the Pareto frontier increased when the product became more vulnerable to residual H2O2 after aeration and when the batch size became smaller. Conclusion: The quantitative results confirmed an increased impact of the configuration of the decontamination process on both productivity and product quality. The small batch-size production of H2O2-sensitive products is increasingly popular, especially for biopharmaceuticals, and the results of this study encourage the collaborative development of decontamination processes and production schedules in sterile drug product manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the increasing market of plastic packaging products resulting from the injection process and the rapid development of existing technology, we need a strategy to be able to continue to meet the customer’s needs and to be able to compete in the industry. One of the strategies that may be employed is Lean. Lean is a concept aimed at eliminating existing waste. One of the implementations of Lean’s concept is the SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies) concept. SMED is a concept aimed at reducing the changeover time, so the eliminated time can be used in the production process. P.T. BIL is one of the companies engaged in the production of plastic packaging with an injection process. Problems occurring at P.T. BIL was the absence of a measurement process for changeover time. The Operation Analysis Chart concept was used to analyze the carried-out activities. To optimize activities employing the SMED concept, Analytical Cards were used so that the change over time can be reduced. The 5S concept was applied to support the SMED concept, so the waste in the work area could be eliminated. By implementing the SMED concept, we reduced 18% of the change over time.

Purpose: This study was carried out in a cork company and its purpose was to observe and analyze the practices and methods used during the tools/series change moments and to propose improvements and alternatives to these same procedures so that the time needed to carry out the setup is reduced by 15% in both lines. Methodology/Approach:The methodology included the following phases: 1st - historical data collection and setup video recording, 2nd - footage analysis and conduction of informal interviews with employees, 3rd - flow, Gantt, and spaghetti charts creation and making of an action plan based on the waste and improvement opportunities identified in video analysis, 4th - validation with the line workers of the new operating mode created with the Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) tool and communication to the Maintenance department about their role in this project, 5th - making and placement of plasticized cards on the cutting lines to ensure that new operating mode is followed and carrying out the actions identified in the action plan. Findings: Throughout this project using observations, video recording and its subsequent analysis, as well as interviews to the workers operating in the line, it was found the existence of several actions carried out by them during the setups which did not add value to the product, lack of adequate tools for the work to be performed and lack of work tools in general Research Limitation/implication: The study was limited by the lines and products under study and by the duration of the curricular internship, which was about five months. Originality/Value of paper: The article demonstrates the added value in terms of product quality and production output rate that SMED methodology can bring to companies that adopt the lean philosophy and in particular this continuous improvement tool.

Purpose: The research aims to design a performance improvement framework for a new model of sports shoes to increase the ramp-up process time. Methodology/Approach: The approach used the problem-solving system of 8 disciplines, Single Minute Exchange Dies, Visual Management, and the Just In Time principle. Findings: By using the methods described above, the research findings will have a positive impact on the company. Model changeover time was reduced from 600 minutes to 102 minutes, and ramp-up time was reduced from 20 days to 2 days. Research Limitation/Implication: The limitation of this study was that only the CK2946 model was still done as a case study. The cost and other inhibiting factors were also not included in the discussion of this rump-up process. Originality/Value of paper: By integrating SMED, Just In Time, visual management, and using 8-Dicipline, the researcher developed a framework for improved performance for ramping up a new model of sports shoes. Category: Case study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was carried out in a cork company. Its purpose was to observe and analyse the practices and methods used during the tools/series change moments and to propose improvements to these same procedures so that the time needed to carry out the setup is reduced by 15% in both lines. Methodology/Approach: The methodology included the following phases: 1st - historical data collection, 2nd - footage analysis and conduction of informal interviews with employees, 3rd - flow, Gantt, and spaghetti charts creation and making of an action plan based on the waste and improvement opportunities, 4th - validation with the line workers of the new operating mode created with the SMED tool, 5th - placement of plasticized cards on the cutting lines to ensure that new operating mode is followed in the action plan. Findings: Throughout this project using observations, video recording and its subsequent analysis, as well as, interviews to the workers operating in the line, it was found the existence of several actions carried out by them during the setups which did not add value to the product and lack of work tools in general. Research Limitation/Implication: The study was limited by the lines and products under study and by the duration of the curricular internship, which was about five months. Originality/Value of paper: The article demonstrates the added value in terms of product quality and production output rate that SMED methodology can bring to companies that adopt the lean philosophy and in particular this continuous improvement tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents a mathematical programming model for dynamic cell formation to minimize changeover-related costs (i.e., machine relocation costs and machine setup cost) and inter-cell material handling cost to cope with the volatile production environments in apparel manufacturing industry. The model is formulated through findings of a comprehensive literature review. Developed model is validated based on data collected from three different factories in apparel industry, manufacturing fast fashion products. A program code is developed using Lingo 16.0 software package to generate optimal cells for developed model and to determine the possible cost-saving percentage when the existing layouts used in three factories are replaced by generated optimal cells. The optimal cells generated by developed mathematical model result in significant cost saving when compared with existing product layouts used in production/assembly department of selected factories in apparel industry. The developed model can be considered as effective in minimizing the considered cost terms in dynamic production environment of fast fashion apparel manufacturing industry. Findings of this paper can be used for further researches on minimizing the changeover-related costs in fast fashion apparel production stage.

Nowadays, companies are looking for newer and newer methods in order to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. Many of them decide to implement Lean Manufacturing philosophy because the benefits of the introduction of this philosophy apply not only to the industrial but also to the financial and commercial areas. These changes can increase the efficiency of production realized with small investments, improve product quality, reduce inventory as well as material consumption. This philosophy can shorten the delivery time and product quality what leads to the increased customer satisfaction and enhances the competitiveness of enterprises. One of the tools of Lean Manufacturing is the Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) method. The implementation of this method reduces machines changeover time, which is a waste. This method makes it possible to implement a continuous flow of the product without long waiting times and, most importantly, without any performance loss. The results of the implementation of the SMED method on several different production work stands are presented in this work. The selected stands differ in type (conventional, semi-automatic, automatic) and their role in a production process (bottlenecks, support process). The work, by means of indicative evaluation, assesses the ability to increase the efficiency of machines for the analysed production work stands. The work indicates the effects a company may expect having decided to implement the SMED method for the production areas that are a part of either the main or support processes.

Background: Arterial pressure lability is common during the process of replacing syringes used for norepinephrine infusions in critically ill patients. It is unclear if there is an optimal approach to minimise arterial pressure instability during this procedures. We investigated whether 'double pumping' changeover (DPC) or automated changeover (AC) reduced blood pressure lability in critically ill adults compared with quick syringe changeover (QC).Methods: Patients requiring a norepinephrine infusion syringe change were randomised in a non-blinded trial undertaken in six ICUs. Randomisation was minimised by norepinephrine flow rate at inclusion and centre. The primary outcome was the frequency of increased/decreased mean arterial pressure (defined by 15 mm Hg from baseline measurements) within 15 min of switching the syringe compared with QC.Results: Patients (mean age: 64 (range:18-88)) yr were randomly assigned to QC (n=95), DPC (n=95), or AC (n=96). Increased MAP was the commonest consequence of syringe changeovers. MAP variability was most frequent after DPC (89/224 changeovers; 39.7%) compared with 57/223 (25.6%) changeovers after quick syringe switch and 46/181 (25.4%) in patients randomised to receive automated changeover (P=0.001). Fewer events occurred with QC compared with DPC (P=0.002). Sensitivity analysis based on mixed models showed that performing several changeovers on a single patient had no impact. Both type of changeover and norepinephrine dose before syringe changeover were independently associated with MAP variations >15 mm Hg.Conclusions: Quick changeover of norepinephrine syringes was associated with less blood pressure lability compared with DPC. The prevalence of MAP variations was the same between AC and QC.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02304939. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical guidelines for management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism currently recommend direct oral anticoagulants as the preferred strategy for antithrombotic treatment. As a result, they are increasingly being used as an alternative to conventional therapy. However, they are unlikely to completely replace conventional approaches, due to a number of existing medical challenges. These challenges relate to the uncertainty of optimal dose regimens and the strategy of using them in specific patient populations with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism. The efficacy and safety profile of dabigatran among various regions may differ, depending on regional variations in dosing recommendations. Furthermore, optimal dose regimens may be different between Asian and non-Asian populations. It will be necessary to collect real-world clinical data on the use of edoxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation with high-creatinine clearances, to determine the optimal dose required for stroke protection. In addition, the efficacy of combination therapy utilizing direct oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents has not yet been established in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation with acute coronary syndrome and/or percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting. Low-molecular-weight heparin is, therefore, suggested to be used in preference to vitamin K antagonists or direct oral anticoagulants in current clinical practice guidelines, as indirect comparisons suggests that oral anticoagulants are less effective than low-molecular-weight heparin. Consequently, we need to focus on the outcomes of ongoing studies and review more real-world data in heterogeneous populations to complement clinical data obtained from controlled studies with highly selective populations. Therefore, direct oral anticoagulants should be used with caution based on individual assessments of thromboembolic and bleeding risks as well as other clinical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production waste reduction during production resettings is critical in the industry as it is the key point of flexibility increase. One way to improve production waste is to assign setup tasks efficiently to operators. This article describes a possible model of this problem adapted to a real-life application. This model is based on an unrelated parallel machines problem that takes into consideration the skills of the operators and the production line structure. The nature of the data and some industrial constraints help us simplifying this problem into an assignment problem. As often in the industry, the objective is to maximise production. Because most production lines are complex series parallel lines, it is often possible to maintain production even if not all machines are running. This particularity makes the criterion hard to express as it depends on the line structure. In this article we describe three heuristics to solve this problem: a hill climbing algorithm, a genetic algorithm and a memetic algorithm that combines the advantages of the two previous algorithms. The neighbourhood used for these algorithms is based on multiple exchanges of tasks between operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changeover times are an important element when evaluating the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of a production machine. The article presents a machine learning (ML) approach that is based on an external sensor setup to automatically detect changeovers in a shopfloor environment. The door statuses, coolant flow, power consumption, and operator indoor GPS data of a milling machine were used in the ML approach. As ML methods, Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines, (Balanced) Random Forest algorithms, and Neural Networks were chosen, and their performance was compared. The best results were achieved with the Random Forest ML model (97% F1 score, 99.72% AUC score). It was also carried out that model performance is optimal when only a binary classification of a changeover phase and a production phase is considered and less subphases of the changeover process are applied.

The relatively limited application of lean in the food process industries has been attributed to the unique characteristics of the food sector i.e. short shelf-life, heterogeneous raw materials, and seasonality. Moreover, barriers such as large and inflexible machinery, long setup time, and resource complexity, has limited the implementation and impact of lean practices in process industries in general. Contrary to the expectations in the literature, we bring in this paper a successful experience of lean implementation in a company of the food-processing sector. By focusing on two lean tools (VSM and SMED), the company reduced changeover time by 34%, and increased the production capacity of the main production line by 11%. This improvement enabled the company to avoid the use of temporary workers by extending the worktime of its workforce during peak months. Moreover, the reduction of setup time avoided the use of large lot size in production, which, in turn, reduced the total cycle time of production and the incidence of quality problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a mathematical programming model for dynamic cell formation to minimize changeover-related costs (i.e., machine relocation costs and machine setup cost) and inter-cell material handling cost to cope with the volatile production environments in apparel manufacturing industry. The model is formulated through findings of a comprehensive literature review. Developed model is validated based on data collected from three different factories in apparel industry, manufacturing fast fashion products. A program code is developed using Lingo 16.0 software package to generate optimal cells for developed model and to determine the possible cost-saving percentage when the existing layouts used in three factories are replaced by generated optimal cells. The optimal cells generated by developed mathematical model result in significant cost saving when compared with existing product layouts used in production/assembly department of selected factories in apparel industry. The developed model can be considered as effective in minimizing the considered cost terms in dynamic production environment of fast fashion apparel manufacturing industry. Findings of this paper can be used for further researches on minimizing the changeover-related costs in fast fashion apparel production stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Modern Telecom Sector is eventually facing exceptionally tough challenges because of continuous and unexpected increase in power density requirement for the communicating machinery and equipment. To fulfil the power requirements for the equipment, a significant architecture and an optimal technique must be introduced. In this paper, a microcontroller-based optimization use of power-density has been carried out. Meeting above requirements, various equipment and electronic devices are employed. We have designed a microcontroller-based system via PROTEUS Virtual System Modeling to acquire efficient and effective results. The main focus of our work is to supply the power to Telecom equipment in meantime. The power is feeding on batteries and DG (Diesel Generator) set, depending on the condition of the power requirements. The changeover operations are performed by different relays, which are dully programmed via a microcontroller in Keil software. The power capacity of Telecom ((Telecommunication) equipment is ranged from 39-48 Volts DC. The rectification process is done by switch mode rectifiers instead of linear rectifiers. Because the switch-mode rectifier technology has brought fabulous improvements in power density as compared to linear rectifiers. This is done via simulation of the smart switch in PROTEUS software. The outcomes of the proposed system are costeffective in terms of fuel consumption of DG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization has led to a significant effect on today’s manufacturing sector. Manufacturers need to find new and innovative ways to increase efficiency and reduce waste in the manufacturing supply chain. Lean/six sigma tools can help companies increase production efficiency and stay in competition. Manufacturing in smaller batches can keep the supply chain lean and customizable. This leads to frequent changeovers and downtime. A changeover is usually required when a single machine produces different products based on the requirement. A large-scale industry can either install multiple individual production lines to cater to the demand (usually expensive) or make frequent machinery changes. Single Minute Exchange Die (SMED) is a system designed for reducing the changeover time for machines. It reduces the time taken to complete the activities and eliminates non-essential activities throughout the changeover. Scheduling an operating procedure within SMED in such case is a challenge. Project scheduling model with workforce constraints can be used to create a set of heuristics to provide us with an optimized list of tasks. The paper proposes to design a scheduling heuristic model to allocate tasks to the operators to get the least amount of operator idle time and reduce changeover downtime costs. The paper further illustrates the benefit of the model in a case study and proposes its integration within the existing SMED methodology. This results in a benefit-to-cost ratio of 7.5% for production scheduling compared to that of stages 4 and 5 in SMED, which is 1.2%.

Because of turbulence in the economic environment, enterprises must react flexibly to the changing demands of their customers. Thus, a changeover process is required. If an enterprise has a large product portfolio, there are basically only two process options; to integrate production into large batches or to change the production programme frequently. Frequent changes associated with the changeover process of machinery are optimized by using the SMED method. The main goal of this paper is to apply SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) to a High-Mix processing line. The case study is undertaken in a flat glass processing company which manufactures hundreds of types of products. The results of the case study demonstrate that it is possible to save up to 30% annually of the time currently spent on changeovers.