Data mining
Ramez Kian; Hadeel S Obaid
Abstract
Human life today is intertwined with abundant trade and economic exchanges, and life would not be possible without trade and commerce. One of the main pillars of financial exchanges are banks and financial and credit institutions, which, as the vital arteries of the economy, are responsible for transferring ...
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Human life today is intertwined with abundant trade and economic exchanges, and life would not be possible without trade and commerce. One of the main pillars of financial exchanges are banks and financial and credit institutions, which, as the vital arteries of the economy, are responsible for transferring funds and keeping the economy alive. In the world of economic competition between organizations, profitability and proper performance for stakeholders are the basic principles of the organization's survival. To increase profitability, banks must take measures that, in addition to reducing costs, increase the level of service and customer satisfaction. The best way to do this is to use new technologies and orient the bank's policies to provide services in person and independent of time and place. The use of new technologies in the banking system sometimes leads to customers' distrust and distrust of the bank. Therefore, solutions to detect fraud in banking transactions should be provided. This article aims to discover a model for face-to-face transactions and to establish a system to block fraudulently issued transactions. Therefore, a big data clustering method is designed to timely identify bribery in banking transactions. The results show that using the big data clustering method in the fastest time can detect and stop possible fraud in customers' banking transactions.
Manufacturing and Logistics
Robert S. Keyser; Renee S. Severin; Matthew J. Geiger
Abstract
The Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) methodology proved to be an effective approach for reducing setup times on a bottleneck 66” Koppers rotary die-cutter machine center in a corrugated box plant. Root cause analysis techniques, such as a check sheet and control charts, aided the analysis. ...
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The Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) methodology proved to be an effective approach for reducing setup times on a bottleneck 66” Koppers rotary die-cutter machine center in a corrugated box plant. Root cause analysis techniques, such as a check sheet and control charts, aided the analysis. The supervisor and work crew, consisting of both the operator and setup person, played an integral role in reducing setup times by consenting to being videotaped during a typical setup and then breaking down the video to distinguish internal versus external steps. By converting many internal steps to external steps, average setup times were reduced from 55 minutes to 32 minutes, a 42% improvement.
Data mining
Fatemeh Mirsaeedi; Iman Sadeghi; Mohammad Ghodoosi
Abstract
This study aims to identify and employ qualified individuals and assign different organizational positions. Accordingly, a data mining approach is proposed. This paper presents an empirical study which has important practical application in modern human resource management. Therefore, effective features ...
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This study aims to identify and employ qualified individuals and assign different organizational positions. Accordingly, a data mining approach is proposed. This paper presents an empirical study which has important practical application in modern human resource management. Therefore, effective features on staff selection are extracted from literature and entered into the database after expert approval respectively. Further, the impact of each feature on staff selection is determined and the ability of applied classification algorithms is compared. The results represent that the organizational position feature has a great impact on forecasting of selection or rejection. Data mining algorithms used in this study have acceptable performance based on accuracy rate, and J48 algorithm performs better comparing to other algorithms based on accuracy rate, recall, F-measure and area under Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Three features of background, level of education, and major are identified as effective features in association rules. Finally, an approach is presented for applying data mining algorithms in employees hiring and organizational positions assignment procedure
Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA
Seyede Nasrin Hosseini Monfared; Farhad Hosseinzadeh Lotfi; Mohammad Reza Mozaffari; Mohsen Rostamy Malkhalifeh
Abstract
In conventional DEA models, it is supposed real-valued inputs and outputs while every measure must be determined as an input or output. However, in some cases, there are flexible measures which can only take integer values in two-stage network DEA. In all previous researches has not been mentioned the ...
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In conventional DEA models, it is supposed real-valued inputs and outputs while every measure must be determined as an input or output. However, in some cases, there are flexible measures which can only take integer values in two-stage network DEA. In all previous researches has not been mentioned the classification flexible measures while some inputs, outputs, and flexible measures can only take integer values in two-stage network DEA. So in this paper, we propose integer-valued FNDEA approach is based on envelopment form of CCR that evaluates the relative efficiency of DMUs and determines the status of flexible measures in the presence of integer data in basic and general two-stage network structures. Our model can determine projection points of inputs, outputs, and flexible measures in the presence of integer data in two-stage network DEA. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the procedure.
Operations Research
Vahid Razmjooei; Iraj Mahdavi; Selma Gutmen
Abstract
A Cellular Manufacturing System (CMS) is a suitable system for the economic manufacture of part families. Scheduling the manufacturing cells plays an effective role in successful implementation of the manufacturing system. Due to the fact that in the CMS, bottleneck machine and human resources are two ...
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A Cellular Manufacturing System (CMS) is a suitable system for the economic manufacture of part families. Scheduling the manufacturing cells plays an effective role in successful implementation of the manufacturing system. Due to the fact that in the CMS, bottleneck machine and human resources are two important factors, which so far have not been studied simultaneously in a mathematical model, there should be a model to consider them. Therefore, this research develops a bi-objective model for CMS in a three-dimensional space of machine-part and human resources. The main objective is to minimize the maximum completion time of all tasks in the system and reduce the number of intercellular translocation based on bottleneck machines’ motion and human resources. Due to the NP-hardness of the studied problem, applying the conventional solution methods is very time-consuming, and is impossible in large dimensions. Therefore, the use of metaheuristic methods will be useful. The accuracy of the proposed model is investigated using LINGO by solving a small example. Then, to solve the problem in larger dimensions, a hybrid Multi-Objective Tabu Search-Genetic Algorithm (MO-TS-GA) is designed and numerical results are reported for several examples.
Data mining
Mohammad Amin Rahbar
Abstract
One of the most important issues in financial, economic, and accounting matters is the phenomenon of bankruptcy and its prediction. There is presented a hybrid method of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Adaptive Neural-Fuzzy Network (ANFIS) model to evaluate predicting the bankruptcy of companies listed on ...
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One of the most important issues in financial, economic, and accounting matters is the phenomenon of bankruptcy and its prediction. There is presented a hybrid method of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Adaptive Neural-Fuzzy Network (ANFIS) model to evaluate predicting the bankruptcy of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The statistical population of this research is the successful and bankrupt manufacturing companies in Tehran Stock Exchange and in this research, there is a different way as opposed to previous and purposeful research and all companies can prevent their possible bankruptcy with accurate forecasting. In this way, the statistical population includes 136 companies consisting of bankrupt and non-bankrupt companies. In order to construct prediction models, four variables were first selected: 1) independent sample t-test, 2) Correlation Matrix (CM), 3) Step-by-step Diagnostic Analysis (SDA), and 4) Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The final financial ratios were selected from 19 financial ratios that using selected financial ratios and a hybrid model of ANFIS and GA and the results of the proposed model and its comparison with the hybrid model of GA and Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) shows the high capability of the proposed GA-ANFIS model in bankruptcy prediction modeling and its superiority over Group Method of Data Handling with GA-GMDH method. The results also show that the CM-GA-ANFIS model is known as the best model for predicting bankruptcy of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The main reason for choosing the model (GA-ANFIS) is that in addition to the fact that for the first time a combination of two methods ANFIS and GA is used to predict the bankruptcy of companies, and also in none of the studies conducted in both areas which further highlights the need for the present study.
Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA
Mohammad Fallah
Abstract
This paper examines the petrochemical companies listed on the stock from the perspective of health indicators. Petrochemical companies are working to create health platforms to prevent accidents and reduce health costs. In this study, using two-stage data envelopment analysis technique, the efficiency ...
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This paper examines the petrochemical companies listed on the stock from the perspective of health indicators. Petrochemical companies are working to create health platforms to prevent accidents and reduce health costs. In this study, using two-stage data envelopment analysis technique, the efficiency and effectiveness of petrochemical companies, were investigated from a health point of view and was done by using health indicators. In this research, five inputs are used for two intermediate production and finally for the last three outputs of petrochemical companies from the aspect of human health.The results show that Maroon and Jam petrochemical companies have been more efficient than other well-known companies and the Shazand Petrochemical Company in the second part of achieving the final result.Of the seven petrochemical companies in total, none have had full productivity, but Maroon and Jam Petrochemicals have been targeted first and second in productivity, respectively.
Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA
Hilda Saleh; Morteza Shafiee; Mohammad Sanji
Abstract
A new approach to the dynamic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) referred to as the adjusted dynamic DEA, is proposed in this study. Adjusted dynamic DEA optimizes the production activity of DMUs by introducing adjustment variables to modify the interconnecting activities between consecutive terms, solving ...
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A new approach to the dynamic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) referred to as the adjusted dynamic DEA, is proposed in this study. Adjusted dynamic DEA optimizes the production activity of DMUs by introducing adjustment variables to modify the interconnecting activities between consecutive terms, solving conflicts that arise between terms and between management and shareholders. The non-oriented Slack Based Model (SBM) is used as a base model and is extended to the adjusted dynamic framework, where adjustment variables are introduced. And also, in this paper, an attempt has been made to consider ratio data and extend traditional ratio DEA models to dynamic DEA-R model. In order to examine the applicability of the proposed method, the model is applied to evaluate the efficiency of ten branches of an Iranian bank during three consecutive terms. The adjusted dynamic SBM model under Variable Return to Scale (VRS) is solved and reference units for each inefficient DMU are identified. In addition, the slacks and adjustment variables are analyzed and further suggestions about the efficient conditions to the management are provided.
Mathematical modelling
Seyyed Mohamad Hamidzadeh; Mohsen Rezaei; Mehdi Ranjbar-Bourani
Abstract
This paper, presents a mathematical model of a four-level supply chain under hyperchaos circumstances. The analysis of this model shows that the hyper-chaotic supply chain has an unstable equilibrium point. Using Lyapunov's theory of stability, the problem of designing a hyperchaotic supply chain control ...
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This paper, presents a mathematical model of a four-level supply chain under hyperchaos circumstances. The analysis of this model shows that the hyper-chaotic supply chain has an unstable equilibrium point. Using Lyapunov's theory of stability, the problem of designing a hyperchaotic supply chain control is investigated. The design of the nonlinear controller is performed first to synchronize two identical hyper-chaotic systems with different initial conditions and then to eliminate the chaotic behavior in the supply chain and move to one of unstable equilibrium points, as well as different desired values at different times. A different supply chain is predicted to demonstrate the performance of the controller. In the next part of numerical simulation, with the control of the distributor as the center of gravity of the model, the stability of the entire chaotic supply chain can be achieved. The most important point in designing a control strategy is the ability to implement it in the real world. Numerical simulation results in all stages show that the applied nonlinear control policy can provide supply chain stability in a short period of time, also, the behavior of control signals has low amplitude and oscillations. In other words, it represents a low cost to control the hyperchaotic supply chain network.
Operations Research
Walid Meslameni; Chokri Ben Salem
Abstract
Bending is one of the most frequently used processes in the sheet metal products industry. The major users are mainly the automotive, aeronautics and electrical engineering industries. It is necessarily a cold forming operation of a flat material, with or without lubricant, obtained notably by exceeding ...
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Bending is one of the most frequently used processes in the sheet metal products industry. The major users are mainly the automotive, aeronautics and electrical engineering industries. It is necessarily a cold forming operation of a flat material, with or without lubricant, obtained notably by exceeding its elastic limit. After retraction of the tools and relaxation of the stresses, a springback consequently occurs and a permanent deformation persists causing certain geometric modifications of the product. As a matter of fact, this phenomenon, will absolutely affect the angle and curvature of the bend, for such reason it must be taken into consideration in order to manufacture sheet metal parts bent within acceptable tolerance limits. However, the value of this springback is influenced by a multiplicity of process parameters, such as the thickness of the sheet, the hold time of the bending operation, the material properties and last but not least the depth of strike of the tool. In this paper, we have developed a model for predicting springback in the air V-bending process using the design of experiments method. Four three-level factors were considered in order to model springback in using the response surface method (RSM). The experimental tests were carefully carried out on a HACO press brake and on aluminum, ordinary steel and stainless steel specimens with different thicknesses. The in-depth study of the response surfaces to the different tests with the method of analysis of variance (ANOVA), allowed us to determine a robust empirical model linking the springback to the variables of the study. In addition, several relevant numerical simulations using the finite element method (FEM) with software (Abaqus) were performed to predict the evolution of springback when varying the parameters in the field of design of experiments. In fact, the comparison of the values predicted by the two approaches shows a satisfactory agreement.
Management and Entrepreneurship
Younos Vakil Alroaia; Samira Nazari Ghazvini
Abstract
The present research aims to design a model for the creation and development of knowledge-based cooperative companies in Semnan province by a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach. The qualitative approach was based on grounded theory and the quantitative approach was based on structural equation analysis. ...
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The present research aims to design a model for the creation and development of knowledge-based cooperative companies in Semnan province by a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach. The qualitative approach was based on grounded theory and the quantitative approach was based on structural equation analysis. In terms of purpose, this research is an applied study, and in terms of method, it is a descriptive survey study. The population includes the knowledge-based companies of Semnan province. Out of the mentioned data collection was done by library studies and semi-structured interviews in the qualitative phase and questionnaire in the quantitative phase. In the qualitative phase, the factors and the data obtained from the interviews were analyzed by Atlas. ti8 and grounded theory coding proposed by Strass and Corbin. The components and indicators of the creation and development of knowledge-based cooperative companies were identified on this basis. In the quantitative phase, Lisrel software and IBM SPSS statistics. The 26 software were used to apply the interpretive structural equation for developing the final research model. The findings include the indicators of components of creation, and development of knowledge-based cooperative companies in Semnan province and the model proposed for this purpose. The most important of these components: education and research, technology, management strategies and policy-making, new platforms and infrastructures, expansion of knowledge application, knowledge-based innovation and creativity.
Mathematical modelling
Abdolrahman Yaghoobi; Hashem Saberi Najafi
Abstract
In this paper we have studied a numerical approximation to the solution of the nonlinear Burgers' equation. The presented scheme is obtained by using the Non-Standard Finite Difference Method (NSFD). The use of NSFD method and its approximations play an important role for the formation of stable numerical ...
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In this paper we have studied a numerical approximation to the solution of the nonlinear Burgers' equation. The presented scheme is obtained by using the Non-Standard Finite Difference Method (NSFD). The use of NSFD method and its approximations play an important role for the formation of stable numerical methods. The main advantage of the scheme is that the algorithm is very simple and very easy to implement.
Manufacturing and Logistics
Sania Heidari; Sajjad Shoukohyar; Davoud Mohammaditabar; Vahidreza Ghezavati
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the main factors implementing the Cloud Manufacturing Systems (CMS) in the internet service providers company by Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) methodology. Through expert opinions, 20 main factors were identified and classified based on the importance ...
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The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the main factors implementing the Cloud Manufacturing Systems (CMS) in the internet service providers company by Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) methodology. Through expert opinions, 20 main factors were identified and classified based on the importance and then a FCM approach was applied for obtaining the relationship between the factors, and all of the impact factors are outputs of expert opinion. The outcomes of the study highlighted those three factors, including customer scoring, R&D, and method development were the most important factors impressing the implementation CMSs. Present practices for implementation CMS are and the relationship between the main factors also impressing CMS by employing the FCM approach in the Iranian internet service provider company. The model obtained in this study guides the managers to identify and classify the important factors of the cloud manufacturing and finally implement it successfully.
Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA
Mohammad Khodabakhshi; Zahra Cheraghali
Abstract
One of the critical concerns in the audit court is to study budgetary deviations of the executive organizations. Audit court seeks methods to evaluations the executive organizations based on their budget deviations. The aim of this study is to rank executive agencies aimed at the improvement of their ...
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One of the critical concerns in the audit court is to study budgetary deviations of the executive organizations. Audit court seeks methods to evaluations the executive organizations based on their budget deviations. The aim of this study is to rank executive agencies aimed at the improvement of their performance. We use a ranking method based on data envelopment analysis that can simultaneously use multi-indexes for ranking and we use budget split indexes of the audit court for ranking of executive organizations. The results enable managers to identify the best and worst executive agencies based on the considered indexes of the budget split of the audit court. The objectives of this paper are to investigate which executive organizations have more budget deviations. Any organization that had a lower rank shows that it has based on the indexes under evaluation more deviation. To study the performance process of each of the executive agencies, we collected data for two years and analyzed the performance of the executive agencies during these two years.
Economics
Mohammad Hadi Zohdi; Morteza Shafiee; Fariborz Evazzadeh Fath
Abstract
Despite its known importance, relatively few studies have focused on studying the effects of Intellectual Capital Components (ICC) on the economic competitiveness, determining related elements and relationships exists between them to assess its consequences. This study was designed to provide a comprehensive ...
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Despite its known importance, relatively few studies have focused on studying the effects of Intellectual Capital Components (ICC) on the economic competitiveness, determining related elements and relationships exists between them to assess its consequences. This study was designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the problem. After a literature review, fifteen related elements, obtained from the previous studies, were collected. A Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) was used to determine the relations exists between the elements, where the opinions of fifteen experts were applied when making related decisions. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis. The results showed relations exist between all fifteen elements, where all of them were confirmed using FCM representation.
Management and Entrepreneurship
Kapil Gupta
Abstract
5S is an important industrial engineering technique which is used worldwide in a wide range of industrial and service type organizations for workplace management. Improvement in efficiency and productivity, and reduction in waste and idle time etc. are some of its benefits. This paper presents a fundamental ...
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5S is an important industrial engineering technique which is used worldwide in a wide range of industrial and service type organizations for workplace management. Improvement in efficiency and productivity, and reduction in waste and idle time etc. are some of its benefits. This paper presents a fundamental understanding of 5S technique and review of some important past work on implementation of 5S in various organizational setups. It is worth mentioning that safety has been identified as to be included as the 6thS under this technique. The main aim of this paper is to facilitate scholars, researchers, and engineers of industrial engineering field by providing knowledge and develop understanding of 5S technique so that they may further implement it in various scenarios of the workplace organization.
Industrial Mathematics
Laith O Mazahreh; Ibrahim M. Abu-Alshaikh
Abstract
In this paper, layerwise finite element analysis for the free vibration behavior of two-dimensional functionally graded sandwich plates with different boundary conditions is presented. The plates consist of three layers; a functionally graded layer embedded between ceramic and metal isotropic layers. ...
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In this paper, layerwise finite element analysis for the free vibration behavior of two-dimensional functionally graded sandwich plates with different boundary conditions is presented. The plates consist of three layers; a functionally graded layer embedded between ceramic and metal isotropic layers. The layerwise approach is based on the third order shear deformation theory for the middle layer, while the first order shear deformation theory is used to model both the upper and lower isotropic layers. Quadrilateral 8-noded element with 13-degrees of freedom per node is used for this purpose. The present results show very good agreements with the published analytical results of plates consist of a single functionally graded layer. Furthermore, for sandwich plates good agreements were obtained when the present results are compared with similar problems solved by other methods in literature. Parametric studies were investigated for various plate parameters including applied boundary conditions, volume fraction exponents and plate side to thickness ratio.
Other
Muhammad Ali Rehman; Turab Jafri
Abstract
In geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization provides practical and cost-effective solutions related to problematic soils. With the growing necessity for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, researchers have been exploring alternative methods such as biological approaches for soil stabilization. ...
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In geotechnical engineering, soil stabilization provides practical and cost-effective solutions related to problematic soils. With the growing necessity for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, researchers have been exploring alternative methods such as biological approaches for soil stabilization. Biopolymers are produced from living organisms and are considered to be environmentally friendly soil stabilizers. A detailed study on stabilization of soil using Guar Gum biopolymer was carried out through intensive laboratory testing. For this purpose, low plastic (CL) and high plastic (CH) clays were treated with varying contents of Guar Gum biopolymer (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) by the weight of dry soil. The experimental program mainly focused on compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and swell potential tests. All the samples were prepared on dry mix basis. The UCS of cured and soaked samples was tested after 2, 7, 14 and 28 days of curing and soaking. Strengthening effect of Guar Gum biopolymer was observed with the increasing biopolymer content and curing period. An increase of 182.64% and 243.30% was observed in the UCS of CL and CH respectively at the end of curing period using 2% biopolymer content. The results indicated a significant increase in the CBR of both CL and CH under soaked and unsoaked conditions. The incorporation of Guar Gum biopolymer has shown significant improvement in geotechnical properties of low plastic and high plastic clays and can be adopted as a potentially sustainable soil stabilizer.
Forecasting, production planning, and control
Akbar Abbaspour Ghadim Bonab
Abstract
Demand forecasting can have a significant impact on reducing and controlling companies' costs, as well as increasing their productivity and competitiveness. But to achieve this, accuracy in demand forecasting is very important. On this point, in the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze ...
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Demand forecasting can have a significant impact on reducing and controlling companies' costs, as well as increasing their productivity and competitiveness. But to achieve this, accuracy in demand forecasting is very important. On this point, in the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the time series related to the demand for a type of women's luxury handbag based on a framework and using machine learning methods. For this purpose, five machine learning models including Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network (MLPNN), Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN), Discrete Wavelet Transform-Neural Networks (DWTNN), and Group Model of Data Handling (GMDH) were used. The comparison of the models was also based on the accuracy of the forecasting according to the values of forecasting errors. The RMSE, MAE error measures as well as the R, correlation coefficient were used to assess the forecasting accuracy of the models. The RBFNN model had the best performance among the studied models with the minimum error values and the highest correlation value between the observed values and the outputs of the model. But in general, by comparing the error values with the data range, it is concluded that the models performed reasonably well.
Transportation
Mohamad Ebrahim Tayebi Araghi; Fariborz Jolai; Reza Tavakkoli-Moghaddam; Mohammad Molana
Abstract
The Location Routing Problem (LRP), Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV), and Uncertainty Planner Facility (UPF) in Facility Location Problems (FLP) have been critical. This research proposed the role of LRP in Intelligence AGV Location–Routing Problem (IALRP) and energy-consuming impact in CMS. The ...
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The Location Routing Problem (LRP), Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV), and Uncertainty Planner Facility (UPF) in Facility Location Problems (FLP) have been critical. This research proposed the role of LRP in Intelligence AGV Location–Routing Problem (IALRP) and energy-consuming impact in CMS. The goal of problem minimization dispatching opening cost and the cost of AGV trucking. We set up multi-objective programming. To solve the model, we utilized and investigate the Imperialist Competitor Algorithm (ICA) with Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS). It is shown that the ICAVNS algorithm is high quality effects for the integrated LRP in AGVs and comparison, with the last researches, the sensitivity analysis, and numerical examples imply the validity and good convexity of the purposed model according to the cost minimization.
Engineering Optimization
Okwuchi Smith Onyekwere; Mobolaji Humphrey Oladeinde; Kindness Alfred Uyanga
Abstract
There is great interest in application of natural fibres, such as bamboo fibre, as reinforcement in composite production. Herein, to achieve high performance under optimum process conditions, experimental design and optimization techniques are used to investigate the best parameter settings for processing ...
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There is great interest in application of natural fibres, such as bamboo fibre, as reinforcement in composite production. Herein, to achieve high performance under optimum process conditions, experimental design and optimization techniques are used to investigate the best parameter settings for processing bamboo fibre polyester composites. Single response optimization of the properties of bamboo fibre polyester composites using Taguchi orthogonal array, analysis of variance and Post hoc test was carried out. The test samples comprised of untreated, mercerized, acetylated and mercerized-acetylated bamboo fibre composites at fibre contents of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt %. All composite samples were fabricated using conventional hand lay-up process on randomly oriented long bamboo fibres. It was found that optimum parameter setting for impact strength was achieved at mercerization treatment and 30wt% fibre content with impact strength of 158.23 J/cm. For flexural strength, optimum parameter setting was found to be mercerization treatment at 50 wt % level of fibre content which resulted to flexural strength of 62.7 MPa. The optimum parameter setting for tensile strength is observed at mercerized-acetylation treatment at 50 wt% fibre content with tensile strength of 72.96 MPa. However, no significant difference, (P <.005) was observed in flexural strength, tensile strength and impact strength of mercerized and mercerized-acetylated fibre composites. This study established a research approach to improve bamboo fibre composite properties for more extended applications and to obtain optimal operating conditions by using optimization techniques. It will also serve as a guide for composite manufacturers on parameter settings selection.
Inventory, logistics, and transportation
Adel Pourghader Chobar; Majid Sabk Ara; Samaneh Moradi Pirbalouti; Mehdi Khadem; Saeed Bahrami
Abstract
During natural and abnormal accidents, many people are injured, and a large number of wastes and rubbish are produced, so it is necessary to collect the injured and take them to treatment centers, which must be done in the reaction phase. Also, in the recovery and reconstruction phase, since a large ...
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During natural and abnormal accidents, many people are injured, and a large number of wastes and rubbish are produced, so it is necessary to collect the injured and take them to treatment centers, which must be done in the reaction phase. Also, in the recovery and reconstruction phase, since a large amount of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is produced during accidents, effective measures should be taken to collect and recycle them if necessary. Both of these cases can be considered as a reverse logistics problem. This paper investigates reverse logistics planning in the response, improvement, and reconstruction phases in earthquake conditions. Due to the nature of the problem, it is expected that we will face a multi-objective problem, and the problem condition causes the issue of uncertainty. By increasing the dimensions of the problem, the NSGA-II meta-heuristic algorithm has been used to solve the two-objective model of the problem and the result indicates that the proposed solution algorithm works well and the quality of the answer and its solution time are appropriate. The results indicate that as capacity increases, the number of distribution centers built to meet demand decreases and the distribution center constructed may be far from some shelters, leading to increased transportation costs. According to the mentioned issues, this research uses reverse logistics in the response and recovery phases. Also, information about Tehran city will be used as data for the case study.
Eshetu Dadi Gurmu; Boka Kumsa Bole; Purnachandra Rao Koya
Abstract
The aim of study is to formulate and analyze a mathematical model for coinfection of sexually transmitted diseases HPV, HIV, and HSV-II. The well possedness of the developed model equations was proved and the equilibrium points of the model have been identified. Qualitative analysis of the formulated ...
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The aim of study is to formulate and analyze a mathematical model for coinfection of sexually transmitted diseases HPV, HIV, and HSV-II. The well possedness of the developed model equations was proved and the equilibrium points of the model have been identified. Qualitative analysis of the formulated model equations was proved and the equilibrium points of the model have been identified. Qualitative analysis of the formulated model was established using basic reproduction number. The results show that the disease free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction is less than one. The endemic states are considered to exist when the basic reproduction number for each disease is greater than one. Finally, numerical simulations of the model equations are carried out using the software MATLAB R2015b with ODE45 solver. Numerical simulations illustrated that all infection solutions converge to zero when the basic reproduction number is less than unity.
Case studies in industry and services
Eman Nasser; Amal Nasser; Mona Younis
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the quality of private hospitals in Egypt. The health care field, especially in the private hospital in Egypt has acquired huge importance lately because of its great contribution to the fast handling of patients. Today, customers of the private hospitals complain ...
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The purpose of this paper is to enhance the quality of private hospitals in Egypt. The health care field, especially in the private hospital in Egypt has acquired huge importance lately because of its great contribution to the fast handling of patients. Today, customers of the private hospitals complain from slow handling during registration process, which may lead to making the patient condition worse and may refers to bad performance of the hospital at all. In view of the importance of these complains, the researcher selected the (PATH) as a tool to improve the quality in emergency department at hospital. Using that tool structural and organizational changes such as: quality committees; multidisciplinary teams and technology investments. The study found that applying the (PATH) in the emergency department leads to decrease the patient waiting time and leads to improve the overall performance of the ( Sina hospital).
Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Reza Yazdani; Mohammad Javad Taghipourian; Mohammad Mahdi Pourpasha; Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini
Abstract
In the last decade, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was used as the most effective tool to help businesses gain a competitive advantage by attracting customers. Thus, ICT has significantly contributed to the growth of e-commerce. Internet access allows e-commerce to spread globally and ...
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In the last decade, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was used as the most effective tool to help businesses gain a competitive advantage by attracting customers. Thus, ICT has significantly contributed to the growth of e-commerce. Internet access allows e-commerce to spread globally and cheaply. However, many organizations did not realize the potential value created by e-commerce. Since the provision of information and branding at the destination necessarily involves the focused attention of all tourism companies in the destination, e-commerce can lead to the development of a new distribution channel in a virtual network and connects the producer with the customer. To this end, the present study analyzed the factors affecting brand strengthening drivers in e-commerce in the Iranian tourism industry. Brand strengthening drivers were ranked using Shannon’s entropy method. The results indicated that advertising and brand communication are the most effective brand strengthening drivers.
