Enhancing Production Line Station Efficiency and Performance via Dynamic Modelling Techniques

Using data from a large cross-section of British establishments, we ask how different firm characteristics are associated with the predicted benefits to organizational performance from using team production. To compute the predicted benefits from using team production, we estimate structural models for financial performance, labor productivity, and product quality, treating the firm’s choices of whether or not to use teams and whether or not to grant teams autonomy as endogenous. One of the main results is that many firm characteristics are associated with larger predicted benefits from teams to labor productivity and product quality but smaller predicted benefits to financial performance. For example, this is true for union recognition as measured by the number of recognized unions in an establishment. Similarly, when a particular firm characteristic is associated with lower benefits from teams to labor productivity or product quality, the same characteristic is frequently associated with higher predicted benefits to financial performance. This is true for the degree of financial participation and employee ownership and also for establishment size and a number of industries. These results highlight the advantages of analyzing broader measures of organizational performance that are more inclusive of the wide spectrum of benefits and costs associated with teams than the labor productivity measures frequently studied in the teams literature. JEL Categories:

PurposeThis study aims to develop analytical models that consider product quality and production volume as essential drivers for profitability in the marketplace. It also considers product demand and price dynamics to understand related nuances backed by empirical validation.Design/methodology/approachThe pricing mechanism is influenced by production quality, while product demand is influenced by both price and quality. The study considers cost elements, including production cost and quality loss cost which in turn are influenced by production volume and product quality. It establishes analytical conditions for optimal product quality and applies them to numerical analyses considering four distinct industry settings.FindingsThe study reveals that unique solutions exist for optimal product quality at each production level in four industry scenarios. The optimal production volume depends on product quality, and empirical research validates these findings from analytical models and numerical analysis.Originality/valueThis study represents a pioneering effort to investigate operational strategies in both analytical and empirical contexts, thus contributing to the existing body of knowledge in this area.

There have been presented the study results on the effect of pre-sowing seed ozonation of narrowleaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) and common oat on their germination energy, germination capacity, productivity and product quality. The study was carried out in the period from 2018 to 2020 in laboratory and field conditions of the Kostroma RIA, the branch of the FSBSI “Russian Potato Research Center named after A.G. Lorkh”. The purpose of the current study was to find out the efficiency of pre-sowing seed treatment with an ozone-air flow and treatment with a biological product for their germination energy, germination capacity, productivity and product quality. The objects of the study were the common oats variety ‘Yakov’ and the narrowleaf lupin variety ‘Belozerny 110’. The seeds of the lupin-oat mixture were ozonized at a dose of 5.0 mg/m3 for 15 minutes and 30 minutes using an RIOS-10(20)-0.5 ozonizer. For comparison, the seeds were treated with the biological product ‘Fitosporin-M’. Ultimately, there were identified the best parameters of the pre-sowing seed treatment of the lupin-oat mixture. On average, over the years of study, pre-sowing seed ozonation greatly improves the germination energy of agricultural crops on 4.8–8.3%, laboratory germination was improved on 3.0–5.0%. The largest green mass productivity of lupin-oat mixture during pre-sowing seed treatment for three years was 26.1 t/ha in the variant with an ozone dose of 5.0 mg/m3 for 15 minutes, which was more than control on 29.2%. In the variant with ozonation time increase to 30 minutes, the average productivity was 23.2 t/ha, which was 14.8% more than in the control. Pre-sowing seed ozonation contributed to dry matter increase on 14.2–19.0%; crude protein yield increased on 32.8–53.2%; crude protein percentage in grain increased on 14.1–16.8%; metabolizable energy increased on 3.7–5,1%; fodder units increased on 4.3–6.5% compared to control. When treating seeds with a biological product ‘Fitosporin-M’, the average productivity was 22.8 t/ha, which was on 12.9% more than control, an increase in dry matter was on 16.6%, an increase in crude protein yield was on 19.6%, an increase in crude protein percentage in grain was on 0.8%, an increase in metabolizable energy was on 1.9%, an increase in fodder units was on 1.0%.

In an attempt to develop a high producing mammalian cell line expressing CNTO736, a Glucagon like peptide-1-antibody fusion protein (also known as a Glucagon like peptide-1 MIMETIBODY), we have noted that the N-terminal GLP-1 portion of the MIMETIBODY was susceptible to proteolytic degradation during cell culture, which resulted in an inactive product. Therefore, a number of parameters that had an effect on productivity as well as product quality were examined. Results suggest that the choice of the host cell line had a significant effect on the overall product quality. Product expressed in mouse myeloma host cell lines had a lesser degree of proteolytic degradation and variability in O-linked glycosylation as compared to that expressed in CHO host cell lines. The choice of a specific CHOK1SV derived clone also had an effect on the product quality. In general, molecules that exhibited minimal N-terminal clipping had increased level of O-linked glycosylation in the linker region, giving credence to the hypothesis that O-linked glycosylation acts to protect against proteolytic degradation. Moreover, products with reduced potential for N-terminal clipping had longer in vivo serum half-life. These findings suggest that early monitoring of product quality should be an essential part of production cell line development and therefore, has been incorporated in our process of cell line development for this class of molecules.

This research aimed to determine the change of cutting knives decision depending on knife wear phenomena, anditseffect on hammer mill productivity and product quality. It can be done by tracing the knives wear stages and determine its safe time range to replace the knives. The experiments were done in El-Serw village Damietta Governorate from 2014 to 2016, by grinding both of corn ear and dough as popular agricultural productive using the traditional hammer mill. The studied variables also are four concaves hole diameters (2.5, 4.0, 8.0 and 12.0 mm), five operating hours of new knife, 150, 200, 250 and 300 h for corn ear. While, for dough, are used two concaves hole diameters (2.5 and 4.0 mm) and operating hours of new knife, 200, 400, 600 and 800 h. The measurement includes specifications of knives, product quality and hammer mill performance. The research recommended that the hammer mill knives must replacement after 220 operating hours to grind corn ear and 600 operating hours to grind dough which represents the safe limit time to keep product quantity and quality in accepted state.

Media preparation parameters contribute significantly to media quality, cell culture performance, productivity, and product quality. Establishing proper media preparation procedures is critical for ensuring a robust CHO cell culture process. Process analytical technology (PAT) enables unique ways to quantify assessments and improve media quality. Here, cell culture media were prepared under a wide range of temperatures (40-80°C) and pH (7.6-10.0). Media quality profiles were compared using three real-time PATs: Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy. FTIR and Raman spectroscopies identified shifts in media quality under high preparation temperature (80°C) and at differing preparation pH which negatively impacted monoclonal antibody (mAb) production. In fed-batch processes for production of three different mAbs, viable cell density (VCD) and cell viability were mostly unaffected under all media preparation temperatures, while titer and cell specific productivity of mAb decreased when cultured in basal and feed media prepared at 80°C. High feed preparation pH alone was tolerated but cell growth and productivity profiles deviated from the control condition. Further, charge variants (main, acidic, basic species) and glycosylation (G0F, afucosylation, and high mannose) were examined. Statistically significant differences were observed for one or more of these quality attributes with any shifts in media preparation. In this study, we demonstrated strong associations between media preparation conditions and cell growth, productivity, and product quality. The rapid evaluation of media by PAT implementation enabled more comprehensive understanding of different parameters on media quality and consequential effects on CHO cell culture.

Enhancing the efficiency and stability of industrial dough production is achievable through the implementation of innovative technologies that optimise quality and reduce costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the OptiMix-360 system for industrial dough production by integrating technologies such as gravimetric dosing, premixers, and dough mixers and to determine its impact on improving productivity and final product quality. The research methodology was based on an experimental approach that assessed the efficiency of the OptiMix-360 system compared to traditional methods by measuring product quality parameters and process performance under different operating conditions. The study analysed the effectiveness of the GraviFlow Master, TORNADO-2, and ProMix D-Helix equipment based on performance indicators, energy consumption, dosing accuracy, and final product quality when these technologies were integrated into the production process. The implementation of the OptiMix-360 system resulted in a significant productivity increase to 1500 kg/h, a 30% reduction in energy consumption, and consistent dough batch quality. The gravimetric dosing system ensured an accuracy of <0.1%, enhancing composition stability, while the TORNADO-2 premixer improved flour hydration and gluten formation, positively affecting the texture and strength of the final product. The production process was stabilised, and product quality fluctuations were minimised due to automation and adaptive settings. The obtained results confirmed the effectiveness of the OptiMix-360 system in industrial practice. This technology not only improved dough quality but also reduced energy consumption costs and increased productivity. The application of the OptiMix-360 system in the food industry holds high potential for improving production efficiency, reducing energy costs, and ensuring consistent product quality

This article describes the optimization of cultivation factor settings, that is the shaking rate and working volume in 50 mL spin tubes for a Chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing recombinant human alpha-erythropoietin, using a response D-optimal surface method. The main objectives of the research were, firstly, to determine a setting in which the product titer and product quality attributes in spin tubes are equivalent to those in 250 mL shake flasks in a seven day batch and, secondly, to find a setting in which the product titer is maximal. The model for product titer prediction as a function of shaking rate and working volume in the defined design space was successfully applied to the optimization of cultivation conditions in spin tubes for the tested cell line. Subsequently, validation experiments were carried out simultaneously in spin tubes, shake flasks and bench scale bioreactors to compare cell culture performance parameters such as growth, productivity and product quality attributes in the form of isoform profiles and glycan antennarity structures. The results of the experiments showed that similar cell culture performance and product quality could be achieved in spin tubes when compared to shake flasks. Additionally, bioreactor titers could be reproduced in spin tubes at high shaking rates and low working volumes, but with differing product quality. Cultivation at lower shaking rates in spin tubes and shake flasks produced a glycoprotein with a product quality slightly comparable to that from bioreactors, but with titers being only two thirds.

Volumetric productivity and product quality are two key performance indicators for any biopharmaceutical cell culture process. In this work, we showed proof-of-concept for improving both through the use of alternating tangential flow perfusion seed cultures coupled with high-seed fed-batch production cultures. First, we optimized the perfusion N-1 stage, the seed train bioreactor stage immediately prior to the production bioreactor stage, to minimize the consumption of perfusion media for one CHO cell line and then successfully applied the optimized perfusion process to a different CHO cell line. Exponential growth was observed throughout the N-1 duration, reaching >40 × 10(6) vc/mL at the end of the perfusion N-1 stage. The cultures were subsequently split into high-seed (10 × 10(6) vc/mL) fed-batch production cultures. This strategy significantly shortened the culture duration. The high-seed fed-batch production processes for cell lines A and B reached 5 g/L titer in 12 days, while their respective low-seed processes reached the same titer in 17 days. The shortened production culture duration potentially generates a 30% increase in manufacturing capacity while yielding comparable product quality. When perfusion N-1 and high-seed fed-batch production were applied to cell line C, higher levels of the active protein were obtained, compared to the low-seed process. This, combined with correspondingly lower levels of the inactive species, can enhance the overall process yield for the active species. Using three different CHO cell lines, we showed that perfusion seed cultures can optimize capacity utilization and improve process efficiency by increasing volumetric productivity while maintaining or improving product quality.

Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 15205 was cultivated in continuous culture (48 l reactor volume) for scleroglucan production. The maximum volumetric productivity (QP max) amounted to 7.2 g/ld and was more than twice as high as in comparable batchwise cultivations. In addition, the relation between (a) volumetric productivity (QP [g/ld]) and product yield (YGlucan/Glucose [1]), (b) volumetric productivity and product quality (MW [g/mol]), and (c) product quality and impeller tip speed (Nd [m/s]) was studied in continuous culture. It was found, that an increase in volumetric productivity led to a decline in product yield and product quality. Furthermore, an impeller tip speed of >0.7 m/s decreased the attainable product quality considerably. Based on these results, the impact of the operational setpoint of the process in terms of oxygen supply and reactor scale on the economics of scleroglucan production was discussed. In contrast to batchwise cultivation, scleroglucan production in continuous culture proved to be not feasible under non-aseptic conditions.

Drying has a major impact on the viability of sawn timber production, particularly through its influence on productivity, energy usage, and product quality. Traditionally, plantation-grown southern pine structural grade timber from Australia has been dried using high temperature (≥ 180 °C) conventional batch kilns. However, the Australian industry is showing increasing interest in continuous drying kilns because of reported cost savings and potential improvements in product quality. This study investigated the differences between continuous drying and conventional drying schedules on the radial permeability, wettability, gluability, and treatability of southern pine timber from Queensland plantations. The high temperature drying resulted in significantly lower liquid permeability compared to low temperature drying; however, there were no significant differences between drying schedules for gas permeability. For combined wood surface and core data, there were no significant differences in liquid permeability between low temperature drying and continuous drying or between continuous drying and high temperature drying schedules. For earlywood after surface machining, continuous drying resulted in the greatest wettability (based on K-values), whereas for latewood after surface machining, low temperature drying produced the greatest wettability. Earlywood had greater wettability compared to latewood. Continuous drying resulted in better gluability and treatability compared to conventional drying schedules.

Stirred tank bioreactors using suspension adapted mammalian cells are typically used for the production of complex therapeutic proteins. The hydrodynamic conditions experienced by cells within this environment have been shown to directly impact growth, productivity, and product quality and therefore an improved understanding of the cellular response is critical. Here we investigate the sub-lethal effects of different aeration strategies on Chinese hamster ovary cells during monoclonal antibody production. Two gas delivery systems were employed to study the presence and absence of the air-liquid interface: bubbled direct gas sparging and a non-bubbled diffusive silicone membrane system. Additionally, the effect of higher gas flow rate in the sparged bioreactor was examined. Both aeration systems were run using chemically defined media with and without the shear protectant Pluronic F-68 (PF-68). Cells were unable to grow with direct gas sparging without PF-68; however, when a silicone membrane aeration system was implemented growth was comparable to the sparged bioreactor with PF-68, indicating the necessity of shear protectants in the presence of bubbles. The cultures exposed to increased hydrodynamic stress were shown by flow cytometry to have decreased F-actin intensity within the cytoskeleton and enter apoptosis earlier. This indicates that these conditions elicit a sub-lethal physiological change in cells that would not be detected by the at-line assays which are normally implemented during cell culture. These physiological changes only result in a difference in continuous centrifugation performance under high flow rate conditions. Product quality was more strongly affected by culture age than the hydrodynamic conditions tested.

As competitive pressures demand higher levels of productivity and product quality, the accuracy and reliability of products remains important but becomes increasingly more difficult to achieve. The dimensional inaccuracy of any manufactured part is a combined effect of several degradation factors including process related errors, machine related errors, fixturing related errors, material property variation, and dimensional variation of the incoming parts or raw material. The inspection processes have become an integral part of the manufacturing processes and form the metrology anchor to determine the quality of manufactured products and to certify the performance of manufacturing processes. However, there still remains a lack of a comprehensive methodology, to identify and assess the contribution of those factors that cause variation in product quality, based solely on inspection data.

Neural network based yield prediction models are developed to optimize high-speed microprocessor manufacturing processes. Based on sixty measured ET (electrical test) data, wafer level parametric yield prediction models are developed. In this work, manufacturing yield was considered as a manufacturing performance index because it is critical to overall manufacturing cost and product quality. The prediction results show 41.09% improvement as compared to a statistical prediction model using multiple regression. These modeling approaches are applied to predict final chip yield and speed, and ultimately, this neural prediction model is used to find optimal process conditions. With the successful implementation of this work, it can serve as a catalyst to improve productivity and product quality.

ABSTRACTThe effect of raw material quality on final product quality was assessed. Initial physical, biological, chemical and sensory quality characteristics (total volatile bases, raw organoleptic assessment, freshness flavor, pH, viscosity, solubility, enzymatic activity, Ca2+sensitivity) were analyzed from actual experience in fish processing plants as well as from data obtained in the literature. These characteristics were studied together on a dimensionless scale, when white fish species, such as hake (Merluccius hubbsi) and cod (Gadus morhua), are processed to obtain iced and frozen products.A linear correlation between raw material and product quality was found. This correlation can be used by the industry in production planning and quality management. It is useful to settle the quality of the raw material to be purchased in order to achieve a certain product quality. Additionally, it can be used to test and check the overall process efficiency.