Jacek Diakun

Application of agent technology for recycling‐oriented product assessment

Purpose – The paper aims to describe ideas and implementation of the computer tool for computer‐aided and recycling‐oriented design. Currently, there is a strong tendency to take into account the impact of a product on the natural environment. The authors concentrated on the issue of the recycling process of the product, taking into account the phase of its design. The purpose, structure, technology and example results are presented in this paper.Design/methodology/approach – It was assumed that analysis will be performed based on a set of measures of a product. These measures (developed by the authors), describing the product from the recycling point of view, are calculated automatically, according to the changes (variants) in the products model. The presented tool is based on agent technology. The structure of the system – the agents, its roles and communication between them – has been described.Findings – The main achievement of the work presented in this paper is the method supporting eco‐design base...

Multi-agent System to Support Decision-Making Process in Ecodesign

In the paper the application of multi-agent system to support decision-making process in ecodesign is presented. The ecodesign term is highlited either as the design problem or from the point of view of regulations. The structure of agent-system supporting the designer during the design process is showed. The basis of special kind of product model, that is the extension of standard 3D product model, called recycling-oriented product model (RmW), are described. The example results of analysis, based on real household appliance model, are presented.

Multi-agent system to support decision-making process in design for recycling

In this paper, the application of multi-agent system to support decision-making process in design for recycling is presented. The design for recycling term is highlighted either as the design problem or from the point of view of regulations. The structure of agent system supporting the designer during the design process is showed. The basis of special kind of product model, that is the extension of standard 3D product model, called recycling-oriented product model, is described. The example results of analysis, based on real household appliance model, are presented.

A Study of Priority Rules for a Levelled Production Plan

This paper looks as initial results of research into the validity of application of selected priority rules in the development of a levelled production plan. The development of a levelled production plan is the key stage of the authors’ own methodology of levelling production to mitigate the adverse impact of variable demand. A levelled production plan permits to maximize effects, defined as being able to deliver diverse products in a timely manner and at the same time reduce stocks and optimize efficient use of manufacturing resources. Application of an appropriate priority rule in the development of a levelled production plan is the key factor determining the effectiveness of the developed methodology. Initial research has been conducted for twenty automatically generated task sets. One hundred manufacturing schedules have been developed in total—five schedules for each set, according to the selected priority rules (shortest task time, longest task time, shortest processing time, longest processing time, first in first out). The schedules have been assessed in terms of meeting the selected key criteria for the objectives of levelled production.

Decision Support on Product Using Environmental Attributes Implemented in PLM System

In the paper the problem of environmental product characteristics in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems is undertaken. The general characteristics of PLM systems is presented. The issue of existence in PLM systems data concerning environmental product description is discussed. Because of lack of such data in typical PLM system, the set of environmental product attributes and their implementation in PLM system is presented. Potential ways of usage of these attributes in decision support concerning product are described.

Automation of the Ecodesign Process for Industry 4.0

One of the key aspects of Industry 4.0 is high automation of various processes conducted through product lifecycle. In the article the authors consider the issue of final stages of product lifecycle and the automation of product assessment from ecological point-of-view in the context of Industry 4.0. The automation of product assessment is conducted by set of measures, calculated from special type of product model called Recycling Model of Product, that is also showed in the paper. The Recycling Model of Product and the assessment are conducted using dedicated module, operating in CAD 3D system environment. The assessment of example product is presented in the paper as well.

Automatization of the Ecodesign Process of Small Household Appliances based on CAD 3D System

A new approach to product quality assessment taken by manufacturers integrates environmental aspects. Design for the environment, also referred to as ecodesign or sustainable design, is an innovative approach to the traditional design process. It focuses on compliance with ecological standards at an early stage of design in CAD 3D environment. In this paper, main objectives of the ecodesign process automation method based on a CAD 3D system are presented. The ecodesign process of a small household appliance is analyzed. The main features of a dedicated software application with a graphical interface, which runs independently of the CAD 3D system, are presented.

Product Variants Recycling Cost Estimation with the Use of Multi-agent Support System

The article describes research on recycling-oriented analysis during product ecodesign. The study was conducted using a proprietary agent system operating based on the recycling-oriented product model. The analysis focused on a household appliance: an electric kettle. The authors developed a project of a new appliance and then created its geometric model in a CAD 3D system. Next, analyses were conducted to compare the recyclability of the appliance with different material and joint combinations. A total of 16 different variants of the appliance were designed within the project. Each of them was evaluated for its recycling parameters and cost of recycling.

Production Process Analysis in Conditions of Short-Term Raw Materials Expiration Dates and Long Setup Times Using Simulation Method

In the paper, the production process of liquid soap is analyzed using simulation method. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of production system modernization. First, the liquid soap production process is modeled after studying the characteristics of the processes. Then, two simulation experiments are conducted based on the developed simulation models of the production line. The results of the experiments are presented and discussed.

Modelling and Recycling-Oriented Assessment of Household Appliances

The paper looks at the recycling-oriented analysis of selected household appliances in the CAD 3D environment, carried out on the basis of recycling-oriented product models, as a form of briefly-discussed eco-design. The recycling-oriented product model (RmW) and measures of recycling-oriented product assessment are explained. A software tool facilitating the creation of recycling-oriented models for selected products and calculation of assessment measures for the analysis are presented. Two examples of recycling-oriented product assessment with the use of the developed method and tools are shown.