1,720,964 research outputs found
A quantitative risk-based approach for assessing optimal inspection intervals of a caustic soda recovery plant: a case study
No full textInspection and maintenance activities are necessary to ensure mechanical integrity and the efficient and safe operation of systems and equipment. The management of critical assets is crucial, and it should take into consideration the inspection and testing of the equipment using proper approaches and procedures. The Risk Based Inspection (RBI), proposed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), is currently the major practical standard for the management and scheduling of in-service/on-site inspection activities in the chemical industry. In this paper, the risk-based inspection (RBI) technique, based on API 581 standard, is introduced for determining optimal inspection intervals of a caustic soda recovery plant. Using inspection data based on active major damage such as corrosion and thinning both the probability and consequence of accident have been investigated as well as the annual cost of the inspection program. The novelties lie in performing this analysis on a caustic soda recovery plant due to limited literature on this specific application and the inclusion in the proposed approach of several damage mechanisms aiming at providing a more accurate analysis. Therewith, the corresponding scenarios and outcomes of potential failures are determined, and accordingly, appropriate inspection dates and maintenance routines are proposed by considering the assumption that risk remains acceptable between two planned intervals. This paper summarizes that, as a fundamental step in the risk analysis, the RBI can be considered as suitable maintenance guidance for assessing critical equipment affected by multiple damage mechanisms providing an effective approach for inspection programs that increases plant availability and reduces unplanned shutdowns
Optimization of brewing and beverage packaging process using V-graph analysis
No full textOne of the features that should be considered when focusing on increasing company profits is the dynamic process that regulates a production line. Indeed, poor packaging line efficiency causes limited production capacity generating high levels of rework. This work presents the implementation of a line balancing optimization using V-graph method on a production line of an important Italian beverage company. In particular, the analysis of throughput changes and throughput levels on different machines of the bottle packaging line is carried out. The concept of V-graph method is to ensure that the bottleneck asset is fed with material at a rate greater than it can cope with in order to enhance the continuous flow of goods within the production line. To fulfill this task, two different studies are carried out: the first is a zero-cost solution only based on asset throughput optimization without modifying the production line layout. Instead, the second study involves structural modification to the packaging line which consists of generating buffers within the line by increasing the capacity of conveyors located between two successive machines. Finally, a feasibility analysis is performed to determine the best of the two proposed solutions by evaluating parameters such as payback period and return of investment (ROI)
Optimization of drugs delivery routes through location routing problem (Lrp): A case study
No full textThe location-routing problem (LRP) plays a critical role in logistics system optimization where companies need to set up a proper design of operation strategies to fulfil the demand for product delivery. This paper analysed an efficient products distribution of a delivery drugs Italian company through the development of LRP analysis. Thus, due to a reduction of company sales volume, a delivery routes re-planning was investigated moving from a logistics plan that involved the use of the main warehouse with replenishment at intermediate one to a new configuration with only the main warehouse. The analysis is based on the identification of the ideal location of the main warehouse by optimizing the delivery routes of goods to meet customers’ demands. Optimal solutions are found according to the integration of the facility location and the vehicle-routing problems (VRP) aimed at minimizing the total logistic system cost
Ageing management and monitoring of critical equipment in petrochemical applications: an Italian case study
No full textOver the years, environmental health and safety issues have seen an ever-growing interest developed becoming a crucial and strategic aspect of today’s business operations. Companies have focused efforts and resources on tasks, techniques, and rules to guarantee high protection level of health and safety at work according to national and international laws. In 2015, Legislative Decree No. 105, was issued in Italy, implementing the Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances. This Directive made clear the obligation to adopt a risk monitoring and control plan associated with the aging and corrosion of plants and equipment by operators of industrial plants. In this context, this work proposes a methodology, consisting of a structured approach, aimed at identifying the factors that have an impact on ageing process of industrial devices. In the first step, the root causes that can accelerate or retard the deterioration and damage process associated with time in service have been defined through an ageing fishbone (AFB) approach. In the second step, the effects of these factors have been assessed through a specific tool index-based by considering a rewards and penalties model. This methodology is applied to the critical equipment operating in the Mild Hydrocracking unit of a refinery located in southern Sardinia (Italy). The results show the practical applicability of an effective and easy to implement aging management tool aimed at ensuring safety and reliability of the equipment in a real use-case. Simplicity and relatively easy physical interpretation of the criticalities allow managing all potential aging effects resulting in key aspects to support the risk-based analysis
Assessment of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) for marble manufacturing process: a case study
No full textTypical problems arising in the manufacturing industry, e.g. equipment breakdown, repair, and quality defects, have a great effect on the quality, cost and delivery time of goods. In this framework, the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) represents an important measure tool which involves the process of monitoring the availability, performance, and quality of manufacturing equipment and facilities. The performance evaluation measures of the three OEE factors give information about decisions and tasks which should be implemented to improve productivity and profitability. This paper investigates the efficiency loss of a marble manufacturing process aiming at identifying the root causes of bottlenecks operations to improve its system performance in terms of OEE and productivity. The OEE values are assessed over ten weeks, by considering four different processing cycles of the marble production: the block sawing process which consists in two sub-processes (slabs and tiles production), the polishing process and the resin treatment process. The types of potential equipment losses in OEE, as well as the factors availability, utilization, speed, quality, and planned stop time are identified for each processing cycle considered, to analyze how each OEE section impacts the overall OEE. From the empirical findings, operational performance efficiency losses are found to have the largest influence on OEE. Based on the results, improvement potentials and future tasks are identified to provide useful pieces of information for the decision-making when looking for the improvement of such a productivity indicator, including a preliminary economic assessment
Proposta di un modello fuzzy logic per un processo multicriterio di localizzazione di un impianto industriale
No full textIndustry 4.0 assessment in agri-food and dairy sector: a literature review of Maturity Models
No full textThe agri-food industry and the dairy industry are undergoing a profound transformation due to the spread of new digital technologies. This digital transition is pushing for the use of enabling technologies indicated by the new Industry 4.0 paradigms, impacting on how companies typically provide their goods and services. Although companies are aware of the potential benefits of this transition, they have tackled the required task of adapting or reshaping their existing processes to the new era of digitalization. To do that, proper and accurate digital maturity models (MM) should be developed aiming at defining roadmaps to assist organizations in Industry 4.0 adoption. These models are necessary to both verify the technological level and to define the starting point of a path that can lead to an effective digital transition of manufacturing. The concept of MM has been widely investigated in literature, especially for medium and large companies while limited studies have been focused on its implementation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) context. Indeed, SMEs exhibit substantial constraints in terms of limited financial and human resources which may hinder the roadmaps adoption developed for large organizations making the definition of the Design Principles a complex and tailored task. This work proposes a critical review of the extant literature on MMs for the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies in the SMEs context with emphasis on the food processing sector. Having realised the absence of specific MMs for the dairy industry, the main purpose is to identify, among the MMs currently available in the literature, the ones that can more effectively be adapted for the digital level assessment of companies operating in that sector. Results highlight how employing the MMs typically applied for manufacturing organizations may be a valuable tool for addressing the specific needs of the dairy industry
A bibliometric analysis of energy efficiency assessment and management practices in ports
No full textEnergy management and efficiency in port terminals play a fundamental role in facing the environmental challenges of the maritime industry. The search for novel and efficient solutions to change energy consumption patterns is increasingly becoming one of the main concerns of researchers and practitioners to ensure sustainable operation and reduce CO2 emissions. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the extant literature aiming at providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on energy efficiency assessment and management practices in ports and harbors. The main objective is to determine the most influential research streams that have been conducted in this field and identify the emerging trends and areas of interest. The findings show that energy optimization techniques and sustainable practices are receiving more and more attention in the port and maritime sectors, highlighting a consistent body of research focused on energy efficiency measures, renewable energy integration, and advanced technologies adoption. The study's achieved findings can be used to clarify the potential and challenges related to energy efficiency assessment and management practices in port terminals by providing both research and practice perspectives
A bibliometric analysis of energy efficiency assessment and management practices in ports
No full textEnergy management and efficiency in port terminals play a fundamental role in facing the environmental challenges of the maritime industry. The search for novel and efficient solutions to change energy consumption patterns is increasingly becoming one of the main concerns of researchers and practitioners to ensure sustainable operation and reduce CO2 emissions. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the extant literature aiming at providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on energy efficiency assessment and management practices in ports and harbors. The main objective is to determine the most influential research streams that have been conducted in this field and identify the emerging trends and areas of interest. The findings show that energy optimization techniques and sustainable practices are receiving more and more attention in the port and maritime sectors, highlighting a consistent body of research focused on energy efficiency measures, renewable energy integration, and advanced technologies adoption. The study's achieved findings can be used to clarify the potential and challenges related to energy efficiency assessment and management practices in port terminals by providing both research and practice perspectives
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