Rajesh Attri

An ISM approach for modelling the enablers in the implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

Total Productive maintenance (TPM) is increasingly implemented by many organizations to improve their equipment efficiency and to obtain the competitive advantage in the global market in terms of cost and quality. But, implementation of TPM is not an easy task. There are certain enablers, which help in the implementation of TPM. The utmost need is to analyse the behaviour of these enablers for their effective utilization in the implementation of TPM. The main objective of this paper is to understand the mutual interaction of these enablers and identify the ‘driving enablers’ (i.e. which influence the other enablers) and the ‘dependent enablers’ (i.e. which are influenced by others). In the present work, these enablers have been identified through the literature, their ranking is done by a questionnaire-based survey and interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been utilized in analysing their mutual interaction. An ISM model has been prepared to identify some key enablers and their managerial implications in the implementation of TPM.

Analysis of barriers of total productive maintenance (TPM)

In the highly competitive environment, to be successful and to achieve world-class-manufacturing, organizations must possess both efficient maintenance and effective manufacturing strategies. A strategic approach to improve the performance of maintenance activities is to effectively adapt and implement strategic TPM initiatives in the manufacturing organizations. Total productive maintenance (TPM) is not easy to adopt and implement, due to presence of many barriers. The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse these barriers. A questionnaire based survey was conducted to rank these barriers. The results of this survey and interpretive structural modelling approach have been used to model and analyse key barriers and drive managerial insights.

A graph theoretic approach to evaluate the intensity of barriers in the implementation of total productive maintenance (TPM)

Total productive maintenance (TPM) is an innovative approach to maintenance which holds the potential for enhancing effectiveness of production facilities. But, implementation of TPM is not an easy task. Innumerable barriers are encountered in real-life cases during TPM implementation. It is very essential to evaluate the nature and impact of these barriers so that production and maintenance managers can cultivate some strategies to overcome these barriers. In the present exertion, a graph theoretic approach has been applied to find the intensity of these barriers through an index which is computed through a permanent function obtained from the digraph of TPM barriers.

Decision making over the production system life cycle: MOORA method

Decisions in robust and flexible production systems are made in an environment often characterized by complexity, need for flexibility, and inclusion of a decision-maker’s subjectivity. Typically in production system life cycle, decisions on the product design, facility location, facility layout, supplier, material, technology, and so forth has to be made in an efficient and timely manner. These decisions are more complex as the decision makers have to assess a wide range of alternatives based on a set of conflicting criteria. In this paper, application of multi-objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis approach is explored to solve such type of decision making problems. Moreover performance of the reference point approach is also tested for the considered decision making problems.

Production system life cycle: an inside story

The life cycle of production system depicts the progress of production system from the inception to the termination of system. This paper explores the different stages of production system life cycle with the view to introspect the decisions made in each stage along with their key consideration. Besides this, quality enabled factors have been identified in each stage of the production system life cycle, which will help in making the accurate decision in different stages of the production system life cycle. In each sub-system of production system, identification of major activities/sub-activities along with role of concerned department would help to analyse and manage the stages of production system in a better way.

Development of reliability index for cogeneration cycle power plant using graph theoretic approach

A logical approach based on graph theory and matrix method (GTMM) is developed for assessment of reliability index for a co-generation cycle power plant (CGCPP). For a humongous and multipart system such as CGCPP, reliability of its components or subsystems is closely intertwined and insuperable without taking the effect of others. For the ease of analysis CGCPP system is divided into four sub-systems. Reliability of CGCPP is modeled in terms of a reliability attributes digraph which is developed from system reliability digraph. Nodes in the digraph represent sub-system reliability and reliability of interrelations is represented by the directed edges. The digraph is represented by one-to-one matrix called as variable system reliability permanent matrix (VSRPM). A step by step procedure is developed for calculating variable permanent function for reliability (VPF-r) from VSRPM. A higher value of index implies that the plant is available with better reliability. The developed methodology is illustrated step-by-step with the help of an example.

Graph Theoretic Analysis of Advance Combined Cycle Power Plants Alternatives With Latest Gas Turbines

In the present work, graph theory and matrix method is used to analyze some of the heat recovery possibilities with the newly available gas turbine engines. The schemes range from dual pressure heat recovery steam generation systems, to triple pressure systems with reheat in supercritical steam conditions. From the developed methodology, result comes out in the form of a number called as index. A real life operating Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) is a very large and complex system. Efficiency of its components and sub-systems are closely intertwined and insuperable without taking the effect of others. For the development of methodology, CCPP is divided into six sub-systems in such a way that no sub-system is independent. Digraph for the interdependencies of sub-system is organized and converted into matrix form for easy computer processing. The results obtained with present methodology are in line with the results available in literature. The methodology is developed with a view that power plant managers can take early decision for selection, improvements and comparison, amongst the various options available, without having in-depth knowledge of thermodynamics analysis.Copyright

Selection of cutting-fluids using a novel, decision-making method: preference selection index method

This paper presents a simple and systematic multi-criteria decision making methodology to select a cutting fluid for the given application using the preference selection index (PSI) method. In this methodology, cutting fluid is selected for a given machining application without considering relative importance between the selection attributes. Two real time examples are cited from the literature in order to demonstrate and validate the applicability and potentiality of PSI method in solving the cutting-fluid selection problem. It is observed that the relative rankings of the alternative cutting fluid as obtained using PSI method match quite well with those as derived by the past researchers.

Analysis of quality enabled factors in the product design stage of a production system life cycle: a relationship modelling approach

Abstract The product design stage is the most vital stage of a production system life cycle (PSLC) as it forms the foundation of the production system. The success of a production system relies on efficient decision-making in the product design stage of PSLC. So, it is vital to identify the quality enabled factors (QEFs) of the product design stage that can be deployed collectively to make effective and proficient decisions at this stage. The main purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse these QEFs to present a hierarchy-based model based on mutual relationships among the QEFs using a relationship modelling approach, i.e. the ‘interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach’. ISM methodology is proficient at addressing the intricacies and dynamics of an issue to streamline the decision-making process. This model is further strengthened using the impact matrix cross-reference multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) approach by defining the driving power and dependence power of these QEFs. Finally, the developed model has been validated using a questionnaire-based approach.

Modelling the quality enabled factors in initiation stage of production system life cycle

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ascertain and understand the relationship dynamics among the quality-enabled factors (QEFs) affecting the initiation stage of production system life cycle (PSLC). This study presents an approach for refining the decision making in the initiation stage of the production system. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, ten QEFs have been identified for the initiation stage of PSLC. An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been utilized to cultivate an organizational association among these identified QEFs. The results of ISM approach are used as an input to fuzzy Matriced’ Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement (MICMAC) analysis, to identify the driving and dependence power of QEFs. Findings The key consequences of this paper are to prioritize the strategic QEFs in reducing the risks linked with initiation stage of production system. The integrated model obtained by ISM-fuzzy MICMAC illustrates that there exists two clusters of QEFs, one is having high driving power and low dependency power which requires extreme consideration and of strategic importance (such as honesty and sincerity in collecting and analyzing field data) and other is having high dependence power and low driving power and are resultant effects (such as strategic decision-making ability). Research limitations/implications The integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC model developed is not statistically corroborated; consequently structural equation modelling (SEM) approach which is also known as linear structural relationship approach could be utilized to examine the validity of developed hypothetical model. Originality/value This is first study to identify ten QEFs in initiation stage of production system and further, to deploy integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC approach to recognize and categorize the QEFs influencing the initiation stage of production system.