This book provides a new approach to the control of food transformation processes, emphasizing the advantage of considering the system as a multivariable one, and taking a holistic approach to the decision-making process in the plant, considering not only the technical but also the economic implications of these decisions. In addition, it presents a hierarchical structure for the global control of the plant, and includes appropriate techniques for each of the control layers. The book addresses the challenges of modeling food transformation processes, using both traditional system-identification techniques and, where these prove impractical, models based on expert knowledge and using fuzzy systems. The construction of optimal controllers for each of these types of models is also discussed, as a means to close a feedback loop on the higher-level outputs of the process. Finally, the problem of production planning is covered from two standpoints: the traditional batch-sizing problem, and the planning of production throughout the season. Systematic season-wide production planning is built upon the models constructed for the control of the plant, and incorporates market- and business-specific information. Examples based on the processing of various foodstuffs help to illustrate the text throughout, while the book’s closing chapter presents a case study on advances in the processing of olive oil. Given its scope, the book will primarily be of interest to two groups of readers: food engineering practitioners and students, who are familiar with the characteristics of food processes but have little or no background in control engineering; and control engineering researchers, students and practitioners, whose situation is just the opposite, and who wish to learn more about food engineering and its specific challenges for control. Advances in Industrial Control reports and encourages the transfer of technology in control engineering. The rapid development of control technology has an impact on all areas of the control discipline. The series offers an opportunity for researchers to present an extended exposition of new work in all aspects of industrial control.

"Modeling and planning of manufacturing processes" provides the reader with detailed information about the different kinds of numerical modeling methods for the manufacturing processes forming, cutting and grinding, integrated in technology planning and design of process chains. Basic approaches in modeling are presented. The orientation towards industrial applications for many kinds of modeling methods was evaluated. Empirical, analytical and numerical models are introduced. Finite Element Methods (FEM) are widely applied in the design of new manufacturing tools, their application is described and numerous application examples of FEM are presented. The method is a valuable device for the process planner for the design and the analysis of the metal forming process. Even complex forming processes can be analysed by means of the FEM. The interested reader receives profound information for the modeling approaches in forming, cutting, grinding, and the integration of these tools into complex technology planning systems.

This book presents a framework and specific methods and tools for the selection and configuration of the capacity of Advanced Manufacturing Systems (AMS). AMS include Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Dedicated Manufacturing Systems, and Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems. Starting from the characteristic of the competitive environment, the directions given by the company strategy, data regarding the products, and information regarding the different system architectures, the decision support system described here aids the decision maker by means of a formalized methodology that follows the various steps required to define the type and timing of 'capacity' acquisition and to define the detailed configuration of AMS along its life cycle. The decision making framework and tools illustrated in this volume combine decision-making theory, optimization theory, discrete event simulation and queuing networks. It will be of interest to graduate students and researchers involved in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering and operations research.

Some 70 percent of U.S. manufacturing output currently faces direct foreign competition. While American firms understand the individual components of their manufacturing processes, they must begin to work with manufacturing systems to develop world-class capabilities. This new book identifies principles-termed foundations-that have proved effective in improving manufacturing systems. Authored by an expert panel, including manufacturing executives, the book provides recommendations for manufacturers, leading to specific action in three areas: Management philosophy and practice. Methods used to measure and predict the performance of systems. Organizational learning and improving system performance through technology. The volume includes in-depth studies of several key issues in manufacturing, including employee involvement and empowerment, using learning curves to improve quality, measuring performance against that of the competition, focusing on customer satisfaction, and factory modernization. It includes a unique paper on jazz music as a metaphor for participative manufacturing management. Executives, managers, engineers, researchers, faculty, and students will find this book an essential tool for guiding this nation's businesses toward developing more competitive manufacturing systems.

NIST's Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) is developing standards that promote interoperability among members of the U.S. automotive supply chain. This study assesses the costs of imperfect interoperability to the U.S. automotive supply chain and describes the sources of these costs. This study estimates that imperfect interoperability imposes at least $1 billion per year on the members of the U.S. automotive supply chain. By far, the greatest component of these costs is the resources devoted to repairing or reentering data files that are not usable for downstream applications.

Manufacturing, reduced to its simplest form, involves the sequencing of product forms through a number of different processes. Each individual step, known as an unit manufacturing process, can be viewed as the fundamental building block of a nation's manufacturing capability. A committee of the National Research Council has prepared a report to help define national priorities for research in unit processes. It contains an organizing framework for unit process families, criteria for determining the criticality of a process or manufacturing technology, examples of research opportunities, and a prioritized list of enabling technologies that can lead to the manufacture of products of superior quality at competitive costs. The study was performed under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and the Defense Department's Manufacturing Technology Program.

One critical barrier leading to successful implementation of flexible manufacturing and related automated systems is the ever-increasing complexity of their modeling, analysis, simulation, and control. Research and development over the last three decades has provided new theory and graphical tools based on Petri nets and related concepts for the design of such systems. The purpose of this book is to introduce a set of Petri-net-based tools and methods to address a variety of problems associated with the design and implementation of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs), with several implementation examples.There are three ways this book will directly benefit readers. First, the book will allow engineers and managers who are responsible for the design and implementation of modern manufacturing systems to evaluate Petri nets for applications in their work. Second, it will provide sufficient breadth and depth to allow development of Petri-net-based industrial applications. Third, it will allow the basic Petri net material to be taught to industrial practitioners, students, and academic researchers much more efficiently. This will foster further research and applications of Petri nets in aiding the successful implementation of advanced manufacturing systems.