Dawei Lu

Rapid thermal non-destructive testing of aircraft components

This paper compares the use of different thermal non-destructive testing techniques to rapidly inspect carbon fibre composite aircraft components. Samples were prepared to simulate inclusions and barely visible impact damage in carbon fibre reinforced plastic laminate which represent faults in the manufacturing process and in-service environment respectively. The limits of material fault detection were then compared for transient and lock-in thermography and the results were verified with underwater ultrasonic c-scans. The paper concludes that lock-in thermography is a more powerful technique to detect impact damage and that transient thermography is more suitable for detecting inclusions. Thermal non-destructive testing is up to 30 times quicker than underwater ultrasonic c-scanning and may ultimately provide the solution to the problem of rapid quantitative in-service and manufacturing process inspection of commercial aircraft components.

Optimization of multiple responses using a fuzzy-rule based inference system

The optimization of multiple responses (or performance characteristics) has received increasing attention over the last few years in many manufacturing organizations. Many Taguchi practitioners have employed past experience and engineering knowledge or judgement when dealing with multiple responses. This approach brings an element of uncertainty to the decision-making process and therefore is not recommended for optimization of multiple responses. The approach presented in this paper takes advantage of both the Taguchi method and a fuzzy-rule based inference system, which forms a robust and practical methodology in tackling multiple response optimization problems. The paper also presents a case study to illustrate the potential of this powerful integrated approach for tackling multiple response optimization problems. The variance analysis is also an integral part of the study, which identifies the most critical and statistically significant parameters.

Design of an intelligent supplier relationship management system for new product development

Since the 1990s, the business environment has changed greatly because of global integration and the lifecycles of products are becoming shorter. The drive to continually cut costs and focus on core competencies has driven many to outsource some or all of their production. It is found that the integration of customer relationship management (CRM) and supplier relationship management (SRM), to facilitate supply chain management in the areas of supplier selection using an artificial intelligence approach, has become a promising solution for manufacturers to identify appropriate suppliers and trading partners to form a supply network on which they depend for products, services and distribution. In this paper, an intelligent supplier relationship management system (ISRMS) using hybrid case based reasoning (CBR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) techniques to select and benchmark potential suppliers is discussed. By using ISRMS in Honeywell Consumer Product (Hong Kong) Limited, the outsource cycle time from searching for potential suppliers to the allocation of order during new product development is greatly reduced.

Re-investigating business excellence: Values, measures and a framework

This paper revisits the nature of business excellence, explores the conceptual development and suggests a normative framework that better supports the measurement, management and delivery of competitive performance at the ‘world-class’ level. It stresses the importance of the firm-specific and situation-sensitive means of evaluation for excellence. The proposed model has four dimensions of operational excellence, strategic fit, capability to adapt and unique voice, which represent correspondingly the classical school, strategic school, dynamic school and individual school of business excellences. The major implication of the research is to understand business excellence from a balanced perspective. Empirical evidence from a mini-case is discussed to demonstrate the applicability and the potential business benefits.

An aircraft service scheduling model using genetic algorithms

Purpose – In this paper, the authors propose the application of an intelligent engine to develop a set of computational schedules for the maintenance of vehicles to cover all scheduled flights. The aim of the paper is to maximize the utilization of ground support vehicles and enhance the logistics of aircraft maintenance activities. Design/methodology/approach – A mathematical model is formulated and the solution is obtained using genetic algorithms (GA). Simulation is used to verify the method using an Excel GA generator. The model is illustrated with a numerical case study, and the experience of this project is summarized. Findings – The results indicate that this approach provides an effective and efficient schedule for deploying the maintenance equipment resources of the company, China Aircraft Service Limited. Originality/value – The proposed model using the GA generator provides an effective and efficient schedule for the aircraft maintenance services industry.

Implications of B2B marketplace to supply chain development

This paper illustrates recent development of the fast advancing B2B marketplace and its impact on changing the business environment as a whole. By recognising the need to adapt to a new form of inter-organisational relationships, the issues of supply chain development, in particular, have been specifically brought to a focal point of discussion. It then moves on to identify and evaluate the benefits and challenges that face the supply chain development process, emphasising primarily on the emerging B2B marketplace’s impact on supplier relationship, business competitiveness, responsiveness to the market needs and across tiers information sharing. Views on the formulation of new supply chain strategy and operational tactics have also been argued in an attempt to explore alternatives

Why process improvement training fails

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying reasons why providing process improvement training, by itself, may not be sufficient to achieve the desired outcome of improved processes; and to attempt a conceptual framework of management training for more effective improvement.Design/methodology/approach – Two similar units within the same financial service group are studied specifically through online surveys, follow up interviews and a subsequent comparative study focusing on the disparity of outcome following the same training activities.Findings – The research reveals three underlying reasons for the failure of the process improvement training: an un‐sound prerequisite knowledge basis, too short a time span for the feedback dynamics to take effect, and weak cultural commitment in the management population. A training provision framework that put those factors into a structure has been developed.Practical implications – The study clarifies the relations between many factors and puts e...

Rapid NDT of composite aircraft components using lock-in ultrasonic and halogen lamp thermography

The rapid NDT of composite aircraft components remains an important issue for the passenger aircraft industry. This paper presents the use of two thermal techniques for the rapid in-service inspection of impact damaged composite aircraft components. The apparatus required for the currently established lock-in halogen lamp technique and the newly developed lock-in ultrasonic transducer technique is described together with an appreciation of the relevant theory. Experimental samples were prepared to simulate Barely Visible Impact Damage (BVID) in composite laminates to represent material flaws in the in-service environment. The samples were then evaluated using the two thermal methods and verified using ultrasonic c-scans. The paper concludes that ultrasonic lock-in thermography is a more powerful technique to detect BVID than halogen lamp lock-in thermography. Although thermal NDT techniques do not provide a comprehensive solution to all of the rapid NDT requirements they may eventually find application for use in combination with hand held ultrasonic equipment. It is also demonstrated that thermal NDT is up to 10 times quicker than underwater ultrasonic c-scanning and may ultimately provide a solution to the problem of rapid quantitative in-service and manufacturing process inspection of composite aircraft components.

A demand classification scheme for spare part inventory model subject to stochastic demand and lead time

In this study, we aim to develop a demand classification methodology for classifying and controlling inventory spare parts subject to stochastic demand and lead time. Using real data, the developed models were tested and their performances were evaluated and compared. The results show that the Laplace model provided superior performance in terms of service level, fill rate (FR) and inventory cost. Compared with the current system based on normal distribution, the proposed Laplace model yielded significant savings and good results in terms of the service level and the FR. The Laplace and Gamma optimisation models resulted in savings of 82 and 81%, respectively.

Re-balancing the excellence frameworks with individualistic logic

The analysis and assessment of business excellence are often associated with the discussion on the design and justification of the excellence measures and their dimensions. This paper re-visits the critical issues in assessing business excellence, and aims to explore the conceptual development on re-balancing the performance dimensions in view of a framework. Based on the synthesising of published literatures and case studies it reveals that all the published excellence frameworks are based on the commonality logic; and it suggests re-balancing them with the individualistic logic. This concept has then been operationalised by constructing a new excellence framework named world-class diamond model. Based on the surveyed data and by using structural equation modelling the re-balanced diamond model is tested and analysed in order to secure its theoretical validity. With the re-balanced framework, it stresses the critical importance of the individualistic logic in achieving business excellence. It also argues that the managerial implication of the individualistic logic lies in the firm-specific and situation-sensitive practices of business excellence. The original contribution of the research is a conceptually re-balanced perspective of business excellence, suggesting a shift from commonality logic towards individualistic logic.