Anna Grincova

Applying the Heuristic to the Risk Assessment within the Automotive Industry Supply Chain

Abstract Risk management facilitates risk identification, evaluation, control, and by means of appropriate set of measures, risk reduction or complete elimination. Therefore, the risk management becomes a strategic factor for a company’s success. Properly implemented risk management system does not represent a tool to avoid the risk; it is used to understand the risk and provide the bases for strategic decision-making. Risk management represents a key factor for the supply chain operations. Managing the risks is crucial for achieving the customer satisfaction and thus also a company’s success. The subject-matter of the article is the assessment of the supply chain in the automobile industry, in terms of risks. The topicality of this problem is even higher, as after the economic crisis it is necessary to revaluate the readiness of the supply chain for prospective risk conditions. One advantage of this article is the use of the Saaty method as a tool for the risk management within the supply chain.

Risk Assessment Using the AHP Method in the Automotive Industry

Modern cars consist of approximately thirty thousand parts and components; their assembly in an assembly plant is preceded by the supply via an optimally functioning supply chain. Ramification of this chain depends on a car model and equipment; however, the number of direct and indirect suppliers often reaches approximately one hundred and more. That is why perfect mutual cooperation among these suppliers is required while applying the logistic, managerial, as well as information methods to increase the efficiency and eliminate the production down-time. Over the past years, number of events forced major car manufacturers to reassess the supply chain flexibility in high-risk situations.The main objective of this study is to identify weak, high-risk sides of the supply chain and assess them applying the AHP method which represents an efficient tool of multiple-criteria decision making.

Mathematical Model for Determining the Lifetime of Conveyor Belts Depending on some Selected Parameters

In the last years, belt conveyors belong to the most frequently used means of transport in various industries. The most important component of the belt conveyor is the conveyor belt. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention also to optimal lifetime of conveyor belts. Conveyor belt lifetime is a very complicated issue. It is affected by plenty of factors, including above all the quality structure of the belt conveyor, optimal construction, production, and properties of the conveyor belt as such, adequate solution of conveyance route shifting, reasonable maintenance, and quality repairs of conveyor belts. The paper deals with the exploring the lifetime of conveyor belts depending from on some selected parameters obtained from the operating records of practice (thickness of paint layer, width and length of the belt, conveyor speed and quantity of transported material) with using appropriate mathematical - statistical methods.

Application the Renewal Theory to Determining the Models of the Optimal Lifetime for Conveyor Belts

Belt conveyance belongs to the continual transport systems characteristic with high-level conveying performances. Belt conveyors are of significant importance in the transportation of various types of materials in the industries like engineering, metallurgy and construction. The fundamental and the most expensive component of belt conveyors is the conveyor belt which is, during the operation on the belt conveyor, exposed to number of various loads that evoke the process of conveyor belt wear and damage. Lifetime of conveyor belts, which is the determining parameter for the belt conveyance economy and efficiency, is very important for the practice.Issues regarding the conveyor belt lifetime should be solved applying also the methods of operation analysis, especially the linear programming and the renewal theory that uses the theory of probability and mathematic statistics. The objective of our research was to determine the optimal lifetime (optimal performance duration) of a belt conveyor, applying the renewal theory, whereas the research was based on the cost approach of the renewal process.