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The purpose of this paper is to find the most efficient assembly line balancing solution across many heuristic line balancing methods, in assistance with a developed computer program.

In this paper, assembly line balancing problem was analyzed using t-shirt and knitted pants data. A computer program using MATLAB software for the solution of assembly line balancing problems has been developed. In this study, following heuristic assembly line balancing methods were applied: Hoffman method; position weight method; COMSOAL method; and Kilbridge and Wester method. A MATLAB program has been developed by taking into account of theoretical solution of all these methods. Later the program is developed further by analyzing solutions made manually and is made to verify the developed program.

Pre-studies which were conducted in order to decide which programming language would be the best choice for line balancing methods’ application came out with the result that MATLAB, from between C, C++, C# and Java, would be the best software choice. The main reason for this choice is that MATLAB is a powerful matrix operation software with a powerful user interface designing tool and has the tools to make development program to be used universally in every computer.

When the researches were investigated, it is clearly seen that, this study is the first research on using computer program for solving assembly line balancing problem.

Existing calibration methods mainly focus on the camera laser-plane calibration of a single laser-line length, which is not convenient and cannot guarantee the consistency of the results when several three-dimensional (3D) scanners are involved. Thus, this study aims to provide a unified step for different laser-line length calibration requirements for laser profile measurement (LPM) systems.

3D LPM is the process of converting physical objects into 3D digital models, wherein camera laser-plane calibration is critical for ensuring system precision. However, conventional calibration methods for 3D LPM typically use a calibration target to calibrate the system for a single laser-line length, which needs multiple calibration patterns and makes the procedure complicated. In this paper, a unified calibration method was proposed to automatically calibrate the camera laser-plane parameters for the LPM systems with different laser-line lengths. The authors designed an elaborate planar calibration target with different-sized rings that mounted on a motorized linear platform to calculate the laser-plane parameters of the LPM systems. Then, the camera coordinates of the control points are obtained using the intersection line between the laser line and the planar target. With a new proposed error correction model, the errors caused by hardware assembly can be corrected. To validate the proposed method, three LPM devices with different laser-line lengths are used to verify the proposed system. Experimental results show that the proposed method can calibrate the LPM systems with different laser-line lengths conveniently with standard steps.

The repeatability and accuracy of the proposed calibration prototypes were evaluated with high-precision workpieces. The experiments have shown that the proposed method is highly adaptive and can automatically calibrate the LPM system with different laser-line lengths with high accuracy.

In the repeatability experiments, there were errors in the measured heights of the test workpieces, and this is because the laser emitter had the best working distance and laser-line length.

By using this proposed method and device, the calibration of the 3D scanning laser device can be done in an automatic way.

The calibration efficiency of a laser camera device is increased.

The authors proposed a unified calibration method for LPM systems with different laser-line lengths that consist of a motorized linear joint and a calibration target with elaborately designed ring patterns; the authors realized the automatic parameter calibration.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new transversal method of lines for one-dimensional reaction–diffusion equations that is conservative and provides piecewise–analytical solutions in space, analyze its truncation errors and linear stability, compare it with other finite-difference discretizations and assess the effects of the nonlinear diffusion coefficients, reaction rate terms and initial conditions on wave propagation and merging.

A conservative, transversal method of lines based on the discretization of time and piecewise analytical integration of the resulting two-point boundary-value problems subject to the continuity of the dependent variables and their fluxes at the control-volume boundaries, is presented. The method provides three-point finite difference expressions for the nodal values and continuous solutions in space, and its accuracy has been determined first analytically and then assessed in numerical experiments of reaction-diffusion problems, which exhibit interior and/or boundary layers.

The transversal method of lines presented here results in three-point finite difference equations for the nodal values, treats the diffusion terms implicitly and is unconditionally stable if the reaction terms are treated implicitly. The method is very accurate for problems with the interior and/or boundary layers. For a system of two nonlinearly-coupled, one-dimensional reaction–diffusion equations, the formation, propagation and merging of reactive fronts have been found to be strong function of the diffusion coefficients and reaction rates. For asymmetric ignition, it has been found that, after front merging, the temperature and concentration profiles are almost independent of the ignition conditions.

A new, conservative, transversal method of lines that treats the diffusion terms implicitly and provides piecewise exponential solutions in space without the need for interpolation is presented and applied to someone.

Outlines the specific characteristics of semiautomatic production lines which, in relative terms, are given less attention than other types of line. Suggests a methodology for balancing such lines, making comparison thereof with the traditional method of line balancing. Applies the method to a case which is a typical semiautomatic line.

Garment manufacturing is a traditional industry with global competition. The most critical part is streamline, as it generally involves a great number of operations. The purpose of this paper is to, based on the model of group technology (GT), sum up the methods of assembly line optimization to optimize the streamline, so that the machines of the workstation can perform the assigned tasks with a balanced loading.

In this paper, the methods of obtaining and optimizing data includes literature, research and optimization methods of basing on GT model. The main direction of literature has two aspects: Lean production theory and streamline assignment. Research mainly concludes three aspects: research place, research object and the research content. The method of time determination is averaging the testing values of repeated measurements. Optimization methods of basing on GT model mainly include combination of the same type of technologic processes in sequence, combination of independent branch process, the combination of mainstream and branch processes and offside combination of the same type of processes.

After optimization, in the utilization rate of equipment: hanging system ratio was increased from 22.95 to 62.12 percent, which greatly improved the utilization rate of enterprise equipment. In equipment layout: hanging equipment layout was turned linear type into “U” type, which realized the synchronization of production. GT model will be well applied in the garment production streamline. Compared with other enterprises, A company has large garment hanging system, which reflects the advanced, comprehensive, representative. Therefore, the paper applied optimization methods to trousers, production efficiency has been improved greatly, the utilization rate of equipment is promoted and reworking phenomenon is reduced greatly.

Through the optimization of the production process and equipment layout, the A company’s compiling efficiency has been greatly improved, but how can the system become computerized, accurately and intelligence, which has been an important direction of research now.

By optimizing, it is fully proved that applying GT to the streamline optimization is feasible. GT is an important branch of Lean production, summing up the optimization methods basing on the GT model to optimize the streamline not only enriches the relevant theory research, but also provides a theoretical basis for the practical production. GT model not only can be used in the shirt production process, as for other production processes, for example, trousers, skirts can also be widely applied, which realizes the theory application in the practical production.

The originality of this paper is that through the analysis of the model of GT, the paper sums up the methods of assembly line optimization to optimize the streamline. Although the model of GT is used widely in electronics, automobile and industry, it is relatively weak in the optimization of garment production line, there are not many literatures on practical application of group technology in the clothing. Besides, the paper is applied to practical production, which not only can improve production efficiency, but also make the theoretical research have basis and combine the theory and practical production.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new finite-volume method of lines for one-dimensional reaction-diffusion equations that provides piece-wise analytical solutions in space and is conservative, compare it with other finite-difference discretizations and assess the effects of the nonlinear diffusion coefficient on wave propagation.

A conservative, finite-volume method of lines based on piecewise integration of the diffusion operator that provides a globally continuous approximate solution and is second-order accurate is presented. Numerical experiments that assess the accuracy of the method and the time required to achieve steady state, and the effects of the nonlinear diffusion coefficients on wave propagation and boundary values are reported.

The finite-volume method of lines presented here involves the nodal values and their first-order time derivatives at three adjacent grid points, is linearly stable for a first-order accurate Euler’s backward discretization of the time derivative and has a smaller amplification factor than a second-order accurate three-point centered discretization of the second-order spatial derivative. For a system of two nonlinearly-coupled, one-dimensional reaction-diffusion equations, the amplitude, speed and separation of wave fronts are found to be strong functions of the dependence of the nonlinear diffusion coefficients on the concentration and temperature.

A new finite-volume method of lines for one-dimensional reaction-diffusion equations based on piecewise analytical integration of the diffusion operator and the continuity of the dependent variables and their fluxes at the cell boundaries is presented. The method may be used to study heat and mass transfer in layered media.

Stimulated by previous reference, which proposed making straight line of regression to test gear gravimetric wear loss sequence distribution, this paper aims to propose using straight line of regression to fit gear gravimetric wear loss sequence based on stationary random process suppose. Faced to that the stationary random sequence suppose had not been proved by previous reference, and that prediction did not present high precision, this paper proposes a method of fitting non-stationary random process probability distribution function.

Firstly, this paper proposes using weighted sum of Gauss items to fit zero-step approximate probability density. Secondly, for the beginning, this paper uses the method with few Gauss items under low precision. With the amount of points increasing, this paper uses more Gauss items under higher precision, and some Gauss items and some former points are deleted under precision condition. Thirdly, for particle swarm optimization with constraint problem, this paper proposed improved method, and the stop condition is under precision condition.

In experiment data analysis section, gear wear loss prediction is done by the method proposed by this paper. Compared with the method based on the stationary random sequence suppose by prediction relative error, the method proposed by this paper lowers the relative error whose absolute values are more than 5%, except when the current point sequence number is 2, and retains the relative error, whose absolute values are lower than 5%, still lower than 5%.

Finally, the method proposed by this paper based on non-stationary random sequence suppose is proved to be the better method in gear gravimetric wear loss prediction.

The purpose of this paper is to study and discuss the effects of the finite metallisation thickness and conductivity on the properties of microstrip lines.

Effective dielectric constant and attenuation constant of microstrip lines with finite metallization thickness and finite conductivity are analyzed by the method of lines. The experimental results are obtained by using Vector Network Analyzer and the 3680 V Universal Test Fixture of Anritsu.

The strip thickness has a great impact on the attenuation constant of the microstrip lines. The effects can be divided into three parts by the relationship between strip thickness (t) and skindepth (δ). When t<δ, the attenuation constant will decrease rapidly as the strip thickness increase. When δ < t<2δ, the attenuation constant still decrease rapidly as the strip thickness increase, but the slope of the curve will be smaller. When 2δ < t, the effects of the strip thickness will become insignificant and the attenuation constant still decrease slowly as the strip thickness increase.

This paper presents some useful principles about the effects of the finite metallization thickness and finite conductivity in microstrip lines. The reasons for these effects are discussed by analyzing the longitudinal electric field distribution in the strip. Finally, some experimental results are given to verify these principles.

The purpose of this paper is to derive a dynamic equation for modelling the behaviour of smectic‐C liquid crystals under the effect of an electric field.

The model equation is solved using a finite difference approximation, method of lines and pseudo‐spectral methods. The solutions are compared for accuracy and efficiency. Comparison is made of the efficiency of finite differences, method of lines and pseudo‐spectral methods.

The Fourier pseudo‐spectral method is shown to be the most efficient approach.

This work is original; a computational comparison of numerical schemes applied to liquid crystals has not been found in the literature.

The purpose of this study is to develop a new method of lines for one-dimensional (1D) advection-reaction-diffusion (ADR) equations that is conservative and provides piecewise analytical solutions in space, compare it with other finite-difference discretizations and assess the effects of advection and reaction on both 1D and two-dimensional (2D) problems.

A conservative method of lines based on the piecewise analytical integration of the two-point boundary value problems that result from the local solution of the advection-diffusion operator subject to the continuity of the dependent variables and their fluxes at the control volume boundaries is presented. The method results in nonlinear first-order, ordinary differential equations in time for the nodal values of the dependent variables at three adjacent grid points and triangular mass and source matrices, reduces to the well-known exponentially fitted techniques for constant coefficients and equally spaced grids and provides continuous solutions in space.

The conservative method of lines presented here results in three-point finite difference equations for the nodal values, implicitly treats the advection and diffusion terms and is unconditionally stable if the reaction terms are implicitly treated. The method is shown to be more accurate than other three-point, exponentially fitted methods for nonlinear problems with interior and/or boundary layers and/or source/reaction terms. The effects of linear advection in 1D reacting flow problems indicates that the wave front steepens as it approaches the downstream boundary, whereas its back corresponds to a translation of the initial conditions; for nonlinear advection, the wave front exhibits steepening but the wave back shows a linear dependence on space. For a system of two nonlinearly coupled, 2D ADR equations, it is shown that a counter-clockwise rotating vortical field stretches the spiral whose tip drifts about the center of the domain, whereas a clock-wise rotating one compresses the wave and thickens its arms.

A new, conservative method of lines that implicitly treats the advection and diffusion terms and provides piecewise-exponential solutions in space is presented and applied to some 1D and 2D advection reactions.