Process dynamics is an important consideration during the planning phase of designed experiments in dynamic processes. After changes of experimental factors, dynamic processes undergo a transition time before reaching a new steady state. To minimize experimental time and reduce costs and for experimental design and analysis, knowledge about this transition time is important. In this article, we propose a method to analyze process dynamics and estimate the transition time by combining principal component analysis and transfer function-noise modeling or intervention analysis. We illustrate the method by estimating transition times for a planned experiment in an experimental blast furnace.
Traceability is important for identifying the root causes of production-related quality problems. Traceability can often be reached by adding identification markers on products, but this is not a solution when the value of the individual product is much lower than the incurred cost of a marking system. This is the case for continuous production of granular media. The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) techniques to achieve traceability in continuous granular flows has been proposed in the literature. We study through experiments different methods to improve the performance of such an RFID system. For example, larger transponders and multiple readers are shown to improve the RFID system performance.
PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to explore the application of radio frequency identification (RFID) to improve traceability in a flow of granular products and to illustrate examples of special issues that need to be considered when using the RFID technique in a process industry setting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines a case study at a Swedish mining company, including experiments to test the suitability of RFID to trace iron ore pellets (a granular product) in parts of the distribution chain.FindingsThe results show that the RFID technique can be used to improve traceability in granular product flows. A number of special issues concerning the use of RFID in process industries are also highlighted, for example, the problems to control the orientation of the transponder in the read area and the risk of product contamination in the supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsEven though only a single case has been studied, the results are of a general interest for industries that have granular product flows. However, future research in other industries should be performed to validate the results.Practical implicationsThe application of RFID described in this paper makes it possible to increase productivity and product quality by improving traceability in product flows where traceability normally is problematic.Originality/valuePrior research has mainly focused on RFID applications in discontinuous processes. By contrast, this paper presents a novel application of the RFID technique in a continuous process together with specific issues connected to the use of RFID.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.