Development of a Global Decision Support System towards Virtual Manufacturing. The aim of this research project is to develop a global decision support system (GDSS) in order to assist SMEs to improve their competitiveness in the dynamic global market while providing an industry oriented research training for a high calibre PhD student, who would be a valuable asset to Australia. The GDSS will help SMEs leverage their operations in a global context and to adopt a realistic virtual manufacturing ....Development of a Global Decision Support System towards Virtual Manufacturing. The aim of this research project is to develop a global decision support system (GDSS) in order to assist SMEs to improve their competitiveness in the dynamic global market while providing an industry oriented research training for a high calibre PhD student, who would be a valuable asset to Australia. The GDSS will help SMEs leverage their operations in a global context and to adopt a realistic virtual manufacturing system in the future. The significance of the project includes developing a new methodology and a GDSS to assess virtual manufacturing issues for SMEs and assisting them making timely decisions.Read moreRead less
Designing Robust Reactive Scheduling System for Emergency Medical Services. The job shop approach to reactive scheduling system for Emergency Departments promises considerable benefits over existing approaches, and allows problems of large size and complexity to be solved with great accuracy. The application of research results in Australia has the potential to:
- provide benchmarks in ED scheduling;
- reduce patients waiting times and rejections by better planning of patient schedules of em ....Designing Robust Reactive Scheduling System for Emergency Medical Services. The job shop approach to reactive scheduling system for Emergency Departments promises considerable benefits over existing approaches, and allows problems of large size and complexity to be solved with great accuracy. The application of research results in Australia has the potential to:
- provide benchmarks in ED scheduling;
- reduce patients waiting times and rejections by better planning of patient schedules of emergency departments;
- leads to less costs for staff and resources;
- enhance the ability of managers to control operations in an efficient manner and minimise conflicts; and
- to increase efficiency of emergency departments, leading to lower operating and capital cost.
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Hybrid Job Shop Techniques for Dynamic Train Scheduling. The job shop approach to dynamic train scheduling promises considerable benefits over existing approaches, and allows problems of large size and complexity to be solved with great accuracy. The application of research results in Australia has the potential to:
- reduce train delays and costs by better planning of train schedules of railway systems;
- reduce transport costs to rail customers and increase rail's market share of freight ....Hybrid Job Shop Techniques for Dynamic Train Scheduling. The job shop approach to dynamic train scheduling promises considerable benefits over existing approaches, and allows problems of large size and complexity to be solved with great accuracy. The application of research results in Australia has the potential to:
- reduce train delays and costs by better planning of train schedules of railway systems;
- reduce transport costs to rail customers and increase rail's market share of freight movements;
- enhance the ability of operators to control operations in an efficient manner and minimise conflicts;
- to increase efficiency of Australian Railway System, leading to lower operating and capital costs;
- optimise the energy consumed.
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Surface Integrity Characterization of Sapphire Wafers for Wireless and Fibre Optic Semiconductor Industry. This project aims to uncover the mechanism of surface integrity in sapphire wafers and thus to establish its relationship with the quality processing of integrated circuits. The project will comprehensively consider surface damage, residual stresses, thermal shock and dislocation evolution as an organic whole to provide an effective solution to the problems in the current production practic ....Surface Integrity Characterization of Sapphire Wafers for Wireless and Fibre Optic Semiconductor Industry. This project aims to uncover the mechanism of surface integrity in sapphire wafers and thus to establish its relationship with the quality processing of integrated circuits. The project will comprehensively consider surface damage, residual stresses, thermal shock and dislocation evolution as an organic whole to provide an effective solution to the problems in the current production practice. Problems caused by unsatisfactory surface integrity represent a major outlay for the wireless and fibre optic semiconductor industry. The proposed research holds the very real possibility of reducing the capital cost and enhancing the quality of the integrated circuits of high capacity.Read moreRead less
Condition monitoring of large, horizontal low speed slew bearings. Remote sensing has often been used to collect vibration data .To date, no current analysis technique has produced results that appear consistent due to the low speed (less than 1 Hz), and the acyclic characteristic of the rolling element anti-friction bearing.
The contact vibration energy between rolling elements and races is low due to the low speed of the motion, and thus the vibration produced is masked by the general runnin ....Condition monitoring of large, horizontal low speed slew bearings. Remote sensing has often been used to collect vibration data .To date, no current analysis technique has produced results that appear consistent due to the low speed (less than 1 Hz), and the acyclic characteristic of the rolling element anti-friction bearing.
The contact vibration energy between rolling elements and races is low due to the low speed of the motion, and thus the vibration produced is masked by the general running vibration and is not readily distinguishable from the background vibration of the rotating structure. The aim of this project is to use remote sensors to collect information about the state of horizontal slew bearings and develop an analysis technique that will predict the short to medium term behaviour of horizontal slew bearings. The technique has the potential of saving $3.2 million in loss production per an unplanned breakdown of a slew bearing in a steel plant.
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Analysis of complex systems for the condition monitoring of a rolling mill. A knowledge of the relationships between input variables and measured output states of a rolling mill should enable significant improvements to dimensional stability of the product being produced and to an increase in availability of the rolling mill. The aim of this project is to develop a methodology for developing relationships between input variables that contribute to the measured output states of fully assembled r ....Analysis of complex systems for the condition monitoring of a rolling mill. A knowledge of the relationships between input variables and measured output states of a rolling mill should enable significant improvements to dimensional stability of the product being produced and to an increase in availability of the rolling mill. The aim of this project is to develop a methodology for developing relationships between input variables that contribute to the measured output states of fully assembled rolling mill stands and this enable the operator to identify and avoid undesirable mill states.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and Mitigation of Caustic Cracking: A Safety and Maintenance Concern in Alumina and Pulp-and-Paper Processing. Extraction of alumina from mineral bauxite (Bayer process) and pulp-and-paper processing (Kraft process) are major industries in Australia. Cracking of reaction vessels, digesters, cleaning tanks and pipework are major concern for plant integrity, occupational health, safety and environment. Caustic cracking is often the first suspect when a failure occurs. The propose ....Characterisation and Mitigation of Caustic Cracking: A Safety and Maintenance Concern in Alumina and Pulp-and-Paper Processing. Extraction of alumina from mineral bauxite (Bayer process) and pulp-and-paper processing (Kraft process) are major industries in Australia. Cracking of reaction vessels, digesters, cleaning tanks and pipework are major concern for plant integrity, occupational health, safety and environment. Caustic cracking is often the first suspect when a failure occurs. The proposed program will investigate the role of critical impurities and additives, temperature and stress fluctuations in caustic cracking of mild steel and their weldments (known to be most susceptible). This project will also develop an intellectual and infrastructural base that will also be a vital resource for several Australian industries where such cracking is a major concern.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of mixed lubrication in rolling. Advanced manufacturing is always a major wealth-creating sector in developed economies. To catch up the revolution in rolling industry, Australia must develop her own technologies, train her own professionals of high competence, and thus increase her share in the international market. The proposed research will enhance Australia's record in production-orientated fundamental research in the field of metal rolling, and stimulate the growth of the world-c ....Mechanisms of mixed lubrication in rolling. Advanced manufacturing is always a major wealth-creating sector in developed economies. To catch up the revolution in rolling industry, Australia must develop her own technologies, train her own professionals of high competence, and thus increase her share in the international market. The proposed research will enhance Australia's record in production-orientated fundamental research in the field of metal rolling, and stimulate the growth of the world-class Australian industry, BlueScope Steel, and train young engineers most needed by the country. The research outcome will bring about long-term benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less
Laser-based dynamic measurements, model identification and error compensation for multi-arm robotic pre-fabrication of structural components. The aim is to establish methodologies for laser-based dynamic measurements, accurate model identification and error correction in multi-arm cooperative robotic manipulation systems. The expected outcomes include development of enabling technologies and the world's first automated fabrication system for structural timber components. The novel methodologi ....Laser-based dynamic measurements, model identification and error compensation for multi-arm robotic pre-fabrication of structural components. The aim is to establish methodologies for laser-based dynamic measurements, accurate model identification and error correction in multi-arm cooperative robotic manipulation systems. The expected outcomes include development of enabling technologies and the world's first automated fabrication system for structural timber components. The novel methodologies established will increase safety, and improve and automate the fabrication of wall frames, roof trusses, and floor and ceiling panels for housing, industrial and commercial projects within Australia and overseas. Other application areas include multi-arm manufacturing and handling of large components, materials handling in hazardous environments, and robotic servicing tasks in remote places.Read moreRead less
Using Mathematics to Maximize the Efficiency of Shared Infrastructure in Australia's Coal Export Supply Chain. Port Waratah Coal Services operates the world's largest coal export terminal, servicing about 14 coal mining companies in the Hunter Valley, NSW. It is responsible for around $15 billion in annual export income for Australia. The coal supply chain is a complex operation, hampered by bottlenecks in critical shared infrastructure. Such limitations are estimated to cost Australia about $2 ....Using Mathematics to Maximize the Efficiency of Shared Infrastructure in Australia's Coal Export Supply Chain. Port Waratah Coal Services operates the world's largest coal export terminal, servicing about 14 coal mining companies in the Hunter Valley, NSW. It is responsible for around $15 billion in annual export income for Australia. The coal supply chain is a complex operation, hampered by bottlenecks in critical shared infrastructure. Such limitations are estimated to cost Australia about $2 billion pa in lost sales. This project will support the design of new infrastructure and processes to ensure an efficient supply chain. The new science resulting will benefit other coal operations in Australia, and potentially other bulk goods supply chains.Read moreRead less