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1 – 10 of 579Fatemeh Afsharnia, Afshin Marzban, Mohammadamin Asoodar and Abas Abdeshahi
The purpose of this paper is to optimize the preventive maintenance based on fault tree (FT)–Bayesian network (BN) reliability for sugarcane harvester machine as a fundamental…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to optimize the preventive maintenance based on fault tree (FT)–Bayesian network (BN) reliability for sugarcane harvester machine as a fundamental machine in the sugar industry that must be operated failure-free during a given period of the harvesting process.
Design/methodology/approach
To determine machine reliability using the algorithm developed based on mapping FTs into BNs, the common failures of 168 machines were carefully investigated over 12 years (2007–2019). This algorithm was then used to predict the harvester reliability, estimate delays by machine downtimes and their consequences on white sugar production losses that can be reduced by optimizing the preventive maintenance scheduling.
Findings
The optimization of preventive maintenance scheduling based on estimated reliability of sugarcane harvester machines using FT–BNs can reduce white sugar production losses, the operation-stopping breakdowns and the downtime costs as a crisis that the sugar industry is facing.
Practical implications
Machine reliability gradually decreased by 31.08% approximately, which resulted in a working time loss of 26% in the 2018–19 harvesting season. In total, the white sugar losses were estimated as 204.17 tons for burnt canes and 114.53 tons for green canes. The losses of the 2018–19 harvesting season have been 11.85 times greater than the first harvesting season. The proposed maintenance interval for critical subsystems including the hydraulic, chopper and base cutter were obtained as 1.815, 1.12 and 1.05 h, respectively.
Originality/value
In this study, a new approach was used to optimize preventive maintenance to reduce delays and their implications upon costs in time, inconvenience and white sugar losses. The FT–BNs algorithm was found a useful tool that was over-fitting of failure occurrence probabilities data for sugarcane harvester machine.
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Thawani Mpatama Sanjika and Carel Nicolaas Bezuidenhout
The purpose of this paper is to develop and demonstrate a driving factors-based approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators in integrated sugarcane supply and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and demonstrate a driving factors-based approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators in integrated sugarcane supply and processing systems (ISSPSs) on an on-going basis.
Design/methodology/approach
The research included a literature review, development of an approach, testing of the approach in four ISSPSs and checking the tests’ results for consistency with Southern Africa sugar industry benchmarks and external knowledge of the four ISSPSs.
Findings
The research offers a systematic approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators based on existing driving factors in ISSPSs. Results obtained from the application of the approach in four ISSPSs are consistent with industry benchmarks and external knowledge of the ISSPSs.
Research limitations/implications
The approach was tested in only four ISSPSs. It is recommended that the approach should be tested in other complex systems to further validate its effectiveness. It is further recommended that the approach should be systematically compared with existing approaches that are used for identifying and ranking performance indicators.
Originality/value
This research is of academic value and of practical value to practitioners in ISSPSs. The research blends knowledge from network theory and cause-and-effect analysis to come up with a systematic approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators in ISSPSs on an on-going basis. Further, the approach identifies and ranks performance indicators as part of one data set. This approach has never, to the authors’ knowledge, been used in agro-industry before.
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Sandra Hildbrand and Shamim Bodhanya
This paper aims to explore the complexity that characterises sugarcane production and supply systems by applying soft systems methodology (SSM) and the viable system model (VSM…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the complexity that characterises sugarcane production and supply systems by applying soft systems methodology (SSM) and the viable system model (VSM) based on an interpretive systemic approach. It seeks to understand the extent to which these methodologies may assist in exploring such a complexity.
Design/methodology/approach
SSM and VSM were combined with qualitative research methods to explore two sugarcane production and supply systems’ potential improvement possibilities.
Findings
Trust, transparency and communication shortcomings, poor miller–grower relationships, deficient systemic commitment, insular view, milling inefficiencies, sugarcane quality, quantity and consistency shortcomings, the industry setup and the lack of a common driver are core issues. SSM and VSM facilitated a thorough understanding, yet could not address detected deficiencies.
Research limitations/implications
The research was restricted to two milling areas, and only SSM and VSM were applied.
Practical implications
Presented findings can be used as a basis to facilitate improvement in sugarcane production and supply systems and to advocate the continuity of holistic considerations.
Originality/value
Neither SSM nor VSM have been applied in the sugar industry context. The sugarcane production and supply systems have been holistically investigated, and soft issues have been considered.
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Sandra Hildbrand and Shamim Bodhanya
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the viable system model (VSM) as a valuable tool to the food industry. A sugarcane supply chain was used to evaluate VSM's applicability…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the viable system model (VSM) as a valuable tool to the food industry. A sugarcane supply chain was used to evaluate VSM's applicability to the food industry by exploring how VSM can help to understand its complexity.
Design/methodology/approach
VSM and qualitative research methods were combined in an interactive manner to produce a VSM diagnosis.
Findings
The VSM diagnosis highlighted that while continuity of the system is not at risk, many improvement opportunities exist. For example, the local mill management lacks autonomy, essential operational measurement cannot be realised, coordination is deficient and a vision or identity for the mill area and a joint effort to engage in strategic considerations is missing. Miller-grower fragmentation surfaced as one cause of these shortcomings.
Research limitations/implications
Although VSM revealed shortcomings, it was unable to facilitate interventions for improvement. VSM's capacity in dealing with shortcomings should be strengthened and the merit of VSM in other food-related supply systems should be investigated.
Practical implications
Millers and growers need to become genuine partners and work jointly on the issues that challenge the system to realise the full potential that is embedded in the system.
Originality/value
VSM has not been applied in the sugar industry context and the amount of researches that explore sugarcane supply chains holistically is limited.
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Cristiane Feltre and Luiz Fernando de Oriani e Paulillo
The purpose of this paper is to show the motivations for the existence of plural forms in the sugarcane agribusiness in the western region of São Paulo state, Brazil, particularly…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show the motivations for the existence of plural forms in the sugarcane agribusiness in the western region of São Paulo state, Brazil, particularly in the supply of sugarcane to sugar and/or alcohol plants.
Design/methodology/approach
This research was conducted by applying interviews with the individuals in charge of the supply from a group of ten plants in this region that compete both for land for planting and for sugarcane itself.
Findings
The findings show that plurality was observed in different levels of analysis (clusters): first, the plurality of transactions of sugarcane with different agents; second, plurality in hybrid arrangements or contracts; and finally, plurality in the same transaction. The reasons for the maintenance at Level 1 are various but, balancing the risks of the structures was an important motivator for this decision, while at Levels 2 and 3, the plural forms proved transitory, given the time of the contract and payment methods.
Originality/value
One of the contributions of this study is to determine that generalizations about the transience or stability of plural forms are not appropriate. Another contribution of the research is the observation that in São Paulo’s western region the singular forms of governance in sugarcane supply are not the most common for entrepreneurs who wish to work in sugar and/or alcohol production. Plural forms, as previously postulated in the literature, are more common.
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Amal A. Aly, Safia A. Mahmoud and Morsy Ahmed El-Apasery
This paper aims to decolorize the effluents of textile Reactive Orange 5 and Reactive Red 195 dyes by using cationized sugarcane bagasse.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to decolorize the effluents of textile Reactive Orange 5 and Reactive Red 195 dyes by using cationized sugarcane bagasse.
Design/methodology/approach
Cationized sugarcane bagasse was prepared and used as an adsorbent for both reactive and hydrolyzed reactive dyes. Characterization of the sugarcane bagasse structure resulted by cationization was monitored using Fourier transform–infrared, while morphologically was detected using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction.
Findings
The maximum adsorption capacities are 805, 1,664, 1,772 and 1,596 mg/g for Hydrolyzed Red 195, Hydrolyzed Orange 5, Reactive Red 195 and Reactive Orange 5 dyes, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
Factors affecting the percentage of dye removal were optimized on different parameters such as adsorbent dose and treatment time. The data were discussed using the Langmuir and Freundlich Models of adsorption.
Practical implications
The reuse of hydrolyzed reactive dyebaths gives reasonably good fastness properties on nylon fabrics.
Social implications
The study has enabled the production of an eco-friendly and less expensive method of reactive dye effluent decolorization.
Originality/value
The study provides a potentially simple approach to decolorize dye effluents of Reactive Orange 5, Red 195 dyes and also the reuse of hydrolyzed reactive dyebaths for dyeing nylon.
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Gagandeep Kaur, Vikas Kumar, Ankit Goyal, Beenu Tanwar and Jaspreet Kaur
Radish (Raphanus sativus) is valued for its nutritive and medicinal properties, but its juice is not palatable because of the pungent flavor. The purpose of this study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Radish (Raphanus sativus) is valued for its nutritive and medicinal properties, but its juice is not palatable because of the pungent flavor. The purpose of this study is to optimize the blending process of radish juice by using sugarcane juice, herbal extract and salt concentration.
Design/methodology/approach
The statistical design provided 20 formulations; where herbal extract concentration varied from 0.5 to 2.5 per cent, sugarcane juice concentration from 20 to 50 per cent and salt concentration from 0 to 1.5 per cent.
Findings
The p = 0.05 was used to designate the statistical significance of all the responses under study. Different product formulations had total soluble solids (TSS) that ranged from 9.7 to 15.0°Brix, titratable acidity from 0.6 to 1.3%, pH from 3.3 to 4.0, reducing sugars from 0.6 to 0.8%, total sugars from 9.4 to 3.1%, total protein from 172.9 to 304.8 mg/100 ml, total phenols from 25.5 to 29.8 mg/100 ml, ascorbic acid from 10.4 to 19.8 mg/100 ml, antioxidant activity from 77.3 to 83.6% and overall acceptability from 5.6 to 7.7. Sugarcane juice concentration of 30%, herbal extract mixture and salt concentrations of 1 and 1.5%, respectively, were the optimized process conditions for the preparation of nutritional radish juice achieved with the best fit of desirability, i.e. 0.88. Cluster analysis revealed that concentration of sugarcane juice had the maximum significant effect on the quality characteristics of nutritional radish beverage as compared to the other two variables under study.
Originality/value
The developed product can help to promote the use of radish as a substrate for the beverage industry.
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Sheetal and Rajiv Kumar
The purpose of this paper is to revisit the growth mechanism of Indian sugar industry by deploying quantitative and qualitative metaphors.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to revisit the growth mechanism of Indian sugar industry by deploying quantitative and qualitative metaphors.
Design/methodology/approach
The research paper has been composed through comprehensive primary research survey using a structured questionnaire, and qualitative discussion following semi- structured interviews with industry professionals on emerging issues across the whole value chain of sugar industry. Respondents regarding primary survey were selected using the purposive sampling, and this collected quantitative information has been verified on the lenses of multiple stream modelling (MSM).
Findings
To support the data analysis, MSM – a policy-making framework has been developed which found that government being a central construct exerts a profound presence across whole value chain; in suppliers’ mechanism, marketing of sugar and sugar mills’ infrastructural expansions. Nationwide uniformity in sugar policy instead of states’ monopolistic policies, rational and mutual benefits-based decisions collectively by the government, mills management and sugarcane growers, and diversification in production processes are enumerated as the proposed solutions against the chronical industry problems.
Practical implications
This study enriches extant Asian sugar industry literature. For policymakers, the proposed results should be of help in identifying specific policies to support the competitiveness of local systems and individual manufacturing companies in the Indian sugar industry suggesting that the development of growth mechanisms can contribute simultaneously to improve the financial, market and operational performance of both individual firms and supply chains.
Originality/value
Cyclicality in production, rising sugarcane farmers’ problems and resulting severe financial distress of mills are some of the topical issues of Indian sugar industry, and the study has explored these issues factually, quantitatively and qualitatively in proximity of industry professionals and described in this depository with the help of document analysis.
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Eduardo De Rossi, Cleber Antonio Lindino, Paulo André Cremonez, Kenia Gabriela Dos Santos, Reinaldo Aparecido Bariccatti, Jhonatas Antonelli and Joel Gustavo Teleken
The purpose of this paper is to investigate straw modification by chemical degradation generated by two forms of pretreatment, using citric acid in an autoclave and urea solution…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate straw modification by chemical degradation generated by two forms of pretreatment, using citric acid in an autoclave and urea solution with sodium hydroxide at low temperature.
Design/methodology/approach
The material was digested and compared in biodigester reactors lined with natural straw, straw pretreated with citric acid, straw pretreated with urea and NaOH, and straw subjected to both the pretreatments. The amount of straw has been delimited to 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 percent v/v, and used 20 percent v/v inoculum in all reactors, consisting of 30 percent v/v poultry litter and 70 percent swine wastewater (SW). The experiment was conducted in an incubator kept in mesophilic conditions (35°C).
Findings
The results indicate significant change in the studied material, with degradation of lignin as well as hemicellulose and cellulose exposed to further hydrolysis. Spectrophotometric methods were used for monitoring degradation. These methods were efficient in monitoring changes caused by the treatments. When the proposed pretreatments are applied to sugarcane straw, there is a significant gain in biogas production (L g VSR−1). The most appropriate rates for higher methane production in the pretreatments are 2.5 and 5 percent straw-SW. The best results for the anaerobic digestion of sugarcane straw were obtained by pretreating it with citric acid.
Originality/value
This paper shows a new use for the sugarcane straw waste after being pretreated with acid or base for the coproduction of biogas.
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Maria Cecília Evangelista Vasconcelos Schiassi, Vanessa Rios de Souza, Nathila Angela Alves, Amanda Maria Teixeira Lago, Sérgio Henrique Silva, Gabriel Ribeiro Carvalho, Jaime Vilela de Resende and Fabiana Queiroz
The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of botanical origin on the characteristics of single-flower honeys (assa-peixe, coffee, eucalyptus, laranjeira and vassourinha)…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of botanical origin on the characteristics of single-flower honeys (assa-peixe, coffee, eucalyptus, laranjeira and vassourinha), polyfloral (silvestre), extrafloral (sugarcane) and honeydew (bracatinga) during storage.
Design/methodology/approach
The honeys were stored at 14 °C, and the analysis of water activity, color, absorbance, rheological behavior and microscopic analysis were performed during 6 months (T0, T30, T60, T90, T120, T150 and T180 days); quantification of sugars (fructose (F) and glucose (G)), moisture (M), F/G and G/M ratio only at T0.
Findings
All honeys showed changes during storage, and sugarcane honey stood out for presenting greater crystallization, influenced by the high content of glucose and fructose. Coffee honey showed the least crystallization. The crystallization of honeys influenced the increase in water activity, Newtonian viscosity, color and absorbance. The composition of the honeys directly influenced the crystallization process during storage.
Originality/value
Crystallization is a natural process that occurs spontaneously in honey. Thus, the knowledge of the crystallization rate of honeys from different origins (botanical and geographical) during storage, is of great importance and interest for the industry, beekeepers and consumers, since each type of honey crystallizes in different ways and periods.
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