Economic and environmental value stream map (E2VSM) simulation for multi-product manufacturing systems

Value stream mapping (VSM) is a well-accepted tool within lean manufacturing concept which is often used for analysing and designing the flow of materials and information required to manufacture a product. However, the analysis is static and single product oriented, which fails to cope with either the variation of production plan or a multi-product environment. In addition, the environmental impact of a manufacturing system is highly associated with the dynamic consumption of energy and resources. Despite the recent integration of VSM with simulation or environmental studies (in the domain of energy efficiency), still neglected is the dynamic assessment of all the resources involved in a multi-product production environment. This paper presents a methodology for modelling multi-product manufacturing systems with dynamic material, energy and information flows with the aim to generate economic and environmental value stream maps (E²VSM). The proposed methodology is validated with an industrial case.     

Determinants for cassava production expansion in the semi-arid zone of West Africa

The study focuses on evaluating factors that farmers consider relevant in adopting cassava production in five semi-arid zone of West African countries. The study is based on primary data randomly collected as part of collaborative study of cassava in semiarid zones of Africa (COSCASSA) village level survey from five West African countries namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso. This study models effects of farm, farmer and technology specific factors on the decision of semi arid farmers to adopt cassava into their farming system. By way of threshold decision models—Probit and Logit models, the estimation of each country and the pooled data adoption models reveal different adoption models for the countries considered. For each country, different variables appeared as major adoption shifters. Comparatively, the adoption models for Nigeria and whole region appear to have the highest significance variables, being seven in number. This is followed by Chad (6), Ghana (4), and Burkina Faso and Niger with three each. For the variables considered, distance to nearby urban market appears a major adoption shifter in all the country, except for Niger. This is closely followed by contact with extension, variety, pest/disease resistance and livestock feeds, which appear significant in four of the countries. Membership of cooperative societies appears as the least adoption predictor, which is only significant in Chad republic. The study therefore recognizes the importance of varietial characteristics and farmers’ characteristics in acceptance of cassava as a major root tuber crop in the semi arid region of West Africa. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

产朊假丝酵母处理马铃薯淀粉废水

研究了pH、接种量、无机盐(通过加入磷酸二氢钾进行无机盐补充)及DO等对产朊假丝酵母处理马铃薯淀粉废水的影响.结果表明.在pH为5.0、产朊假丝酵母接种量为10%(体积分数)、磷酸二氢钾(质量分散为0.1%)加入量为0.5 g/L、废水不灭菌的条件下,废水处理效果和产朊假丝酵母生长最佳.且当废水COD为5 074 mg/L时,COD去除率达到74.86%,同时可获得2.23g/L的单细胞蛋白.产朊假丝酵母处理马铃薯淀粉废水的最佳条件的实验研究对实现马铃薯淀粉废水资源化利用提供了理论参考.     

Global warming and environmental production efficiency ranking of the Kyoto Protocol nations

This paper analyzes the United Nations Organization's Kyoto Protocol nations to address two questions. First, what are the environmental production efficiency rankings of these nations? Second, is there a relationship between a nation's ratification status and its environmental production efficiency ranking? Our findings suggest that the nations that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol are more likely to be environmentally production efficient as compared to the nations that have not ratified the Protocol.     

Price and volatility transmission between primary and scrap metal markets

The relationship between primary and scrap prices has been hypothesized for the most part as unidirectional, characterized by spillovers from primary to scrap prices. The purpose of this study is to evaluate empirically the dynamic interactions between primary and scrap metal prices through multivariate time series methods. In addition, the study expands the investigation at the level of volatility transmission, which has not been previously examined. The metal prices utilized are for copper, lead, and zinc for the period 1984–2001. The paper demonstrates differing long run and short run links. Scrap prices do not improve the long run interpretation of primary prices, but information flows from the scrap to the primary markets exist in the short run. Additionally, the copper and lead markets exhibit bidirectional information flows in terms of volatility transmission. The analysis provides valuable insight into the interactions of the primary and scrap metal sectors which can be used to improve forecasting and planning.     

Seven thousand years in the service of humanity—the history of copper, the red metal

Measured by weight, copper is the third most important metal used by man. The annual value of its 2007 output was on a par with the GDP of e.g. Ukraine. Copper is also one of the oldest metals, its employment going back 7000 years. For millennia, it was predominantly employed for decorative purposes, coinage and in warfare. Technical breakthroughs in antiquity, like smelting and alloying, expanded its production and enhanced its utility. Copper's true heyday occurred after 1850, with the usage of electricity. In the period since then, volumes increased 300-fold, while costs and prices declined. With impressive progress in the technology of its production and consumption, the red metal has been able to hold its own, despite the emergence over history of formidable substitutes like iron, aluminum, plastics and optic fiber.     

曙光油田节能减排现状调查及对策研究

曙光采油厂随着超稠油的不断开发,生产能耗也随之增加,通过开展节能减排及节能挖潜工作,全厂能耗增长状态得到了良好的控制,能耗总量由2005年的58.21×10~4t标煤下降到2008年的47.75×10~4t标煤;原油(气)液生产单位综合能耗为52.02 kg标煤/t,同期对比减少0.38 kg标煤/t;生产系统运行效率不断提高。文章详细介绍了曙光油田从机采系统、热注系统、集输系统等方面推广应用节能新技术、新产品,达到其投资和运行费用最少,经济性较好,对油田减排挖潜进行了探讨。     

试论新疆工业发展与清洁生产水平及潜力分析

通过对新疆工业产业结构、规模、资源配置优化程度、工业发展区域等工业现状及其发展趋势分析,从宏观的角度以实例对新疆工业的清洁生产水平及新疆工业重点行业清洁生产潜力进行分析,提出新疆清洁生产总体发展思路,为新疆经济管理部门、环境管理部门贯彻《清洁生产促进法》,制定相应的清洁生产政策和法规提供参考。     

清洁生产在石油钻探行业中的应用

在介绍清洁生产理念的基础上,通过对石油钻探生产现状的分析,大量的引证了在钻探过程中应用清洁生产的可能性。对减轻钻井作业的末端处理负担,预防由于末端处理不完全造成的环境污染等方面作出了有益的探索。     

聚氨脂泡沫填缝剂生产工艺火灾危险性分析与对策

以聚氨脂泡沫填缝剂基本生产原理及其特点为基础,对生产原料进行火灾危险性分析,结果表明:该类生产场所的火灾危险等级应划分为甲类;提出聚氨酯泡沫填缝剂生产中存在的安全问题及原因;运用危险度评价法对聚氨脂泡沫填缝剂生产工艺的火灾危险性进行了定量的安全评价,得出聚氨脂泡沫填缝剂生产工艺的危险程度为高度危险;并从建筑设计、防火管理和生产工艺等方面提出了预防火灾事故发生的对策。