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Article
Publication date: 7 September 2010

S.P. Sharma, Dinesh Kumar and Komal

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybridized technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of an industrial system. The feeding system of a paper mill situated in North…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybridized technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of an industrial system. The feeding system of a paper mill situated in North India producing 200 tons of paper per day has been considered for analysis and efforts have been made to incorporate vague, ambiguous, imprecise and conflicting information quantified by fuzzy numbers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, three important tools namely, fuzzy analysis, neural network and genetic algorithms (GAs), are used to built a hybridized and more realistic technique herein named as, neural network and GAs‐based Lambda‐Tau (NGABLT). The technique will facilitate the maintenance personnel in making a better decision. This technique has been demonstrated by computing some of the reliability indices of the considered system.

Findings

The results indicate that NGABLT technique reduces the gap between crisp and existing Lambda‐Tau results, i.e. it may be a more useful tool to assess the current system condition and suggests to improve the system reliability and availability.

Originality/value

The authors have suggested a hybridized technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of the feeding system in a paper mill by computing fuzzy reliability indices.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 27 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 April 2024

Komal Sharma and Sarita Sood

Despite a variety of theoretical and empirical studies on work engagement (WE), few have explored the role of individual-level factors. Underpinned by person-environment fit (PEF…

Abstract

Purpose

Despite a variety of theoretical and empirical studies on work engagement (WE), few have explored the role of individual-level factors. Underpinned by person-environment fit (PEF) and self-determination theory (SDT), the present study aims to pinpoint the fundamental process driving the relationship between WE and perceived fit (PF).

Design/methodology/approach

Using the survey method, data were collected from 263 college teachers. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling were applied to test the serial mediation paradigm.

Findings

The results of the study accentuate crafting as an important mediator between PF and WE. The current study does not support the mediating role of authentic living between PF and WE. Both authentic living and job crafting (JC) mediate the PF and WE relationship. Employees’ sense of congruence promotes living authentically and JC, resulting in WE.

Practical implications

The WE of employees is harnessed if they get an opportunity to practice authenticity. Authentic employees feel compelled to bring change to the job so that it is in alignment with their core values, thus resulting in WE. The organizations that create a culture in which the administrators allow the practice of individual-factors, namely authentic living, and JC successfully fosters WE.

Originality/value

The variables presented in the serial mediation model explain the underlying mechanisms between PF and WE. This is among the very few studies that explore the individual-level factors that boost individual levels of WE among teachers. Therefore, it adds to the literature on WE.

Details

Evidence-based HRM: a Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2049-3983

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 February 2019

Komal

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the fuzzy reliability of the compressor house unit (CHU) system in a coal fired thermal power plant under vague environment by reducing the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the fuzzy reliability of the compressor house unit (CHU) system in a coal fired thermal power plant under vague environment by reducing the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness and accelerating the computation process. This paper uses different fuzzy membership functions to quantify uncertainty and access the system reliability in terms of different fuzzy reliability indices having symmetric shapes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyses the fuzzy reliability of the CHU system in a coal fired thermal power plant using Tω-based generalized fuzzy Lambda-Tau (TBGFLT) technique. This approach applies fault tree, Lambda-Tau method, different fuzzy membership functions and α-cut coupled Tω-based approximate arithmetic operations to compute various reliability parameters (such as failure rate, repair time, mean time between failures, expected number of failures, availability and reliability) of the system. The effectiveness of TBGFLT technique has been demonstrated by comparing the results with results obtained from four different existing techniques. Moreover, this paper applies the extended Tanaka et al. (1983) approach to rank the critical components of the system when different membership functions are used.

Findings

The adopted TBGFLT technique in the present study improves the shortcomings of the existing approaches by reducing the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness, accelerating the computation process and getting symmetric shapes for computed reliability parameters when different membership functions are used to quantify data uncertainty.

Originality/value

In existing fuzzy reliability techniques which are developed for repairable systems either triangular fuzzy numbers, triangle vague sets or triangle intuitionistic fuzzy sets have been used for quantifying uncertainty. These approaches do not examine the systems for components with different membership functions. The present study is an effort in this direction and evaluates the fuzzy reliability of the CHU system in a coal fired thermal power plant for components with different membership functions. This is the main contribution of the paper.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 36 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2017

Komal Komal

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the reliability of the washing system in a paper plant in a more promising way under vague environment by reducing the accumulating…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the reliability of the washing system in a paper plant in a more promising way under vague environment by reducing the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness and accelerating the computation process using the Tω (weakest t-norm) based fuzzy lambda-tau (TBFLT) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a unified approach for analyzing the fuzzy reliability of the washing system under vague environment. This approach applies the TBFLT technique which uses triangular fuzzy numbers for incorporating data uncertainty, fault tree and lambda-tau method for finding system failure rate and repair time mathematical expressions while simplified Tω-based arithmetic operations are applied for computing various reliability parameters of the system. The effectiveness of the TBFLT technique has been demonstrated by analyzing fuzzy reliability of the system using five different techniques including TBFLT. Moreover, this paper applies extended Tanaka’s (1983) approach to rank the critical components of the system.

Findings

The TBFLT technique has the advantage of low computation complexity in comparison to other techniques and effectively reduces the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness. This main finding verifies the conclusion made by Chen (1994).

Originality/value

The author has suggested a simple and more applicable technique for analyzing the fuzzy reliability of any complex process industrial system under vague environment. The effectiveness of the technique has been demonstrated by computing various reliability parameters of the washing system of a paper plant.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 34 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2009

Komal, S.P. Sharma and Dinesh Kumar

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybridized technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system stochastically utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybridized technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system stochastically utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data. The press unit of a paper mill situated in a northern part of India, producing 200 tons of paper per day, has been considered to demonstrate the proposed approach. Sensitivity analysis of system's behavior has also been done.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed approach, two important tools namely traditional Lambda‐Tau technique and genetic algorithm have been hybridized to build genetic algorithms‐based Lambda‐Tau (GABLT) technique to analyze the behavior of complex repairable industrial systems stochastically up to a desired degree of accuracy. This technique has been demonstrated by computing six well‐known reliability indices used for behavior analysis of the considered system in more promising way.

Findings

The behavior analysis results computed by GABLT technique have reduced region of prediction in comparison of existing Lambda‐Tau technique region, i.e. uncertainties involved in the analysis are reduced. Thus, it may be a more useful analysis tool to assess the current system conditions and involved uncertainties. The paper suggested an approach to improve the system's performance.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a hybridized technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of an industrial subsystem by computing six well‐known reliability indices in the form of fuzzy membership function.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 March 2010

Komal, S.P. Sharma and Dinesh Kumar

The puprose of this paper is to analyse the stochastic behavior of an industrial system using a novel hybridized technique NGABLT. The forming unit of a paper mill situated in…

Abstract

Purpose

The puprose of this paper is to analyse the stochastic behavior of an industrial system using a novel hybridized technique NGABLT. The forming unit of a paper mill situated in north India producing approximately 200 tons of paper per day has been considered for analysis. The authors have made efforts to incorporate vague, ambiguous, imprecise and conflicting information quantified by fuzzy numbers.

Design/methodology/approach

Field data for repairable industrial systems are in the form of failures and repair rates are vague, ambiguous, qualitative and imprecise in nature. Using the data, system stochastic behavior in terms of six well‐known reliability indices is analysed considering some desired degree of accuracy. A practical case of forming unit in a paper mill is considered to compute the reliability indices by using NGABLT technique. Sensitive of system behavior is analysed through surface plots by taking different combinations of reliability indices. The findings have been supplied to the nearby industry for future course of action in maintenance.

Findings

The behavior analysis results computed by NGABLT technique have reduced region of prediction in comparison of existing Lambda‐Tau technique region i.e. uncertainties involved in the analysis are reduced. It may be a more useful tool to assess the current system condition and to improve the system performance.

Originality/value

The authors have suggested a hybridized technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of the repairable industrial system by computing its reliability indices.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2022

Nand Gopal and Dilbagh Panchal

The proposed hybridized framework provides a new performance optimization-based paradigm for analysing the failure behaviour of paneer unit (PU) in the dairy industry.

Abstract

Purpose

The proposed hybridized framework provides a new performance optimization-based paradigm for analysing the failure behaviour of paneer unit (PU) in the dairy industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel fuzzy Jaya-based Lambda–Tau Optimization (JBLTO) approach-based mathematical modelling was developed for calculating various reliability indices of the considered unit. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) was carried using qualitative information gathered from system's expert opinions. Fuzzy-complex proportional assessment (FCOPRAS) approach was integrated within FMEA to recognize the most critical failure causes associated with various subsystem/components.

Findings

The availability of the unit falls by 0.053% as the uncertainty level increases from ±15 to ±25% and further decreases to 0.323% as the uncertainty level increases from ±25 to ±60%. Failure causes, namely wearing in gears of gearbox (MST4), an impeller's cavitation and/or corrosion (CFP4), winding failure of electric motor (WS9), were recognized as the most critical failure causes with FCOPRAS final performance scores of 100, 100 and 100 and fuzzy combinative distance-based assessment (FCODAS) resultant assessment score of 0.5997, 1.1898 and 1.6135.

Originality/value

JBLTO approach-based reliability results were compared with traditional particle swarm optimization-based Lambda–Tau (PSOBLT) and traditional fuzzy Lambda–Tau (FLT) approaches for confirming the downward trend in the system's availability. The ranking results of qualitative analysis are compared with the implementation of FCODAS technique. Sensitivity analysis was executed to evaluate the robustness of the proposed hybridized framework.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 September 2021

Pooja Dhiman and Amit Kumar

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of a turbine structure of the oil and gas Egyptian company in terms of reliability, mean time to failure (MTTF), mean…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of a turbine structure of the oil and gas Egyptian company in terms of reliability, mean time to failure (MTTF), mean time to repair (MTTR) and mean time between failures (MTBF) under fuzzy environment and working criteria. This paper examines the impact of the failure of various components on the complete turbine structure of the oil and gas system.

Design/methodology/approach

To overcome the problem of uncertain behavior of available data for various components, the right triangular generalized fuzzy number (RTrGFN) is proposed to be taken into the account to express the uncertainty which attains some tolerance in data. Furthermore, reliability indices are calculated with the help of the Lambda Tau method and the arithmetic operations on right generalized triangular fuzzy numbers (RTrGFN).

Findings

This paper explores the reliability of a repairable 3 out of 4 structure of turbines and along with the other parameters namely MTTF, MTTR and MTBF; under a fuzzy environment. Failure rates and repair times are expected to be exponential. The ranking of components of the structure is being found to decide the priority for maintenance.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the performance of the system with different spread/tolerance like 15%, 25% and 50% of crisp data. It helps to predict realistic results in the range value. To enhance the system's performance, the most important item of the system requires greater attention. For this, the authors find the sensitive part by ranking. For ranking, an extended approach has been developed to find the sensitive unit of the system by using the right triangular generalized fuzzy number. This paper explores the most and least sensitive component of the system, which helps the maintenance department to plan the maintenance action.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 January 2012

Harish Garg and S.P. Sharma

The purpose of this paper is to present a technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data. The synthesis unit of a urea…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data. The synthesis unit of a urea plant situated in northern part of India has been considered to demonstrate the proposed approach. Sensitivity analysis of system's behaviour has also been done in it.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed approach, traditional Lambda‐Tau technique is used to analyze the behavior of a complex repairable synthesis unit of a fertilizer industry up to a desired degree of accuracy. This technique has been demonstrated by computing eight well‐known reliability indices which are used for behaviour analysis of the considered system in a more promising way.

Findings

The study of analysis of reliability, availability, maintainability etc can help in increasing the production and quality of synthesis. To ensure the system performance throughout its service life, it is necessary to set up proper maintenance, planning and control which can be done after studying the variation of reliability, availability with respect to time. Thus, it may be a more useful analysis tool to access the current system condition and involved uncertainties. The present paper suggested an approach to improve the system's performance.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of an industrial subsystem by computing eight well‐known reliability indices in the form of fuzzy membership function. The benefits for the methodology include the ability to model and deal with highly complex system as fuzzy sets can deal easily with approximations and it helps in improving and handling the uncertainties and possibilities.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 29 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 February 2024

Dinesh Kumar Kushwaha, Dilbagh Panchal and Anish Kumar Sachdeva

An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) modelling-based framework for examining the performance analysis of a packaging unit (PU) in three different stages has been proposed.

53

Abstract

Purpose

An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) modelling-based framework for examining the performance analysis of a packaging unit (PU) in three different stages has been proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

For the series and parallel configuration of PU, a mathematical model based on the intuitionistic fuzzy Lambda–Tau (IFLT) approach was developed in order to calculate various reliability parameters at various spreads. For determining membership and non-membership function-based reliability parameters for the top event, AND/OR gate transitions expression was employed.

Findings

For 15%–30% spread, unit’s availability for the membership function falls by 0.006442%, and it falls even more by 0.014907% with an increase in spread from 30% to 45%. In contrast, for 15%–30% spread, the availability of non-membership function-based systems reduces by 0.007491% and further diminishes. Risk analysis has presented applying an emerging approach called intuitionistic fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis (IFFMEA). For each of the stated failure causes, the output values of the intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid weighted Euclidean distance (IFHWED)-based IFFMEA have been tabulated. Failure causes like HP1, MT6, FB9, EL16, DR23, GR27, categorized under subsystems, namely hopper, motor, fluidized bed dryer, distributor, grader and bin, respectively, with corresponding IFFMEA output scores 1.0975, 1.0190, 0.8543, 1.0228, 0.9026, 1.0021, were the most critical one to contribute in the system’s failure.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the proposed framework lies in the fact that the results obtained for both reliability and risk aspects mainly depend on the correctness of raw data provided by the experts. Also, an approximate model of PU is obtained from plant experts to carry performance analysis, and hence more attention is required in constructing the model. Under IFLT, reliability parameters of PU have been calculated at various spreads to study and analyse the failure behaviour of the unit for both membership and non-membership function in the IFS of [0.6,0.8]. For both membership- and non-membership-based results, availability of the considered system shows decreasing trend. To improve the performance of the considered system, risk assessment was carried using IFFMEA technique, ranking all the critical failure causes against IFHWED score value, on which more attention should be paid so as to avoid sudden failure of unit.

Social implications

The livelihood of millions of farmers and workers depends on sugar industries. So perpetual running of these industries is very important from this viewpoint. On the basis of findings of reliability parameters, the maintenance manager could frame a correct maintenance policy for long-run availability of the sugar mills. This long-run availability will generate revenue, which, in turn, will ensure the livelihood of the farmers.

Originality/value

Mathematical modelling of the considered unit has been done applying basic expressions of AND/OR gate. IFTOPSIS approach has been implemented for ranking result comparison obtained under IFFMEA approach. Eventually, sensitivity analysis was also presented to demonstrate the stability of ranking of failure causes of PU.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

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