Proceedings on Engineering Sciences

8

Authors: Hoang Thi Thanh Hang, Tran Trong Huy, Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, Nguyen Thi Huynh Uyen

The article assesses the impact of capital structure on the performance of energy enterprises listed on the Vietnamese stock market, with data of 35 energy enterprises from 2012 to 2020 through using the XGB (Extreme Gradient Boosting) algorithm in python-based machine learning along with techniques to extract general insights from a machine learning models such as Xgboost feature importance and Shap (Shapley additive explanation). Research results show that enterprises with large capital size (SIZE) operate less efficiently, while enterprises with large net fixed assets over total assets (GROW) operate more efficiently. It is important for energy enterprises to reduce long-term debt (LDR), increase short-term debt (LDR) and reduce total debt to total assets (TDR) to maintain optimal capital structure while ensuring liquidity (LIQ) to improve business performance.

8

Authors: Marcelo Oliveira, Wagner Andrade, Isabella dos Santos, Menfecy Amaral, Gisele Cintra

The present work focuses on a case study applying a maintenance management system model based on the degree of maturity in a thermoplastic industry. The system must support the decisions of the organization and promote progress in the company's continuous improvement system. The study was based on the answers to a questionnaire submitted to the maintenance, production, and process engineering sectors. The internal perception was compared with external perception in order to perform an analysis of the field of view of the three sectors on the current position of the maintenance sector in relation to the maintenance maturity model used for this analysis. From the application of the model, it was possible to develop a strategic action plan based on lean practices, so that the maintenance areas advance towards the higher levels of the maturity scale, aiming to reach and maintain performance levels recognized as excellence.

10

Authors: Marcelo Oliveira, Amanda Tavares, Isabella dos Santos, Gabriela Veroneze

Continuous improvement is seen as a great alternative to maintain an organization's level of competitiveness, as the globalized world increasingly requires more capacity and flexibility. This study addresses the implementation of part of a production system, based on lean manufacturing concepts, in the productive sector of a tire manufacturing company. The objective is to improve the performance of safety, quality, costs, and standards and generate impacts in the creation of organizational culture through the use of tools and visual management. Thus, through the results obtained, it was observed that there was a significant reduction in expired products (quality) and in the consumption of knives (cost), resulting in an improvement of 94.50% and 25.30%, respectively.

10

Authors: Ateeq Ahmad, Siti Falindah Padlee, Mohd Saiful Izwaan Saadon

Electronic learning commonly known as e-learning is an interactive learning method that involves the use of information and communication technology to create a learning experience with sufficient freedom. E-learning has gained significant attention in education sectors around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic since it provides several benefits to learners including flexible learning facilities, distance learning opportunities, consistency in learning, time-saving, tracking capabilities, minimal cost facilities, quick response, interactive learning facilities, etc. From this point of view, this study assessed the e-learners' satisfaction amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabian higher education institutions. The study was conducted using mixed methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. The findings of the study demonstrated that higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia were well-prepared to ensure quality education for e-learners during the pandemic. In particular, it was found that the majority of students in higher education in Saudi Arabia were very pleased with the e-learning classroom facilities, teacher contact, accessibility, assessment, course content, course design, and course activities. Conversely, the findings of the study reveal several existing challenges of e-learning in higher education institutions, including high internet costs, technological issues, time management issues, less motivation to access e-classrooms, the quality of online classes, etc. Therefore, this paper recommends that to address the issues that might influence to e-learners' satisfaction of e-learning in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia, concerned authorities should provide special attention to ensure technological development, professional development, communication development, and updated policies and standards.

12

Authors: Vladimir N Khmelev, Andrey V Shalunov, Roman N Golykh, Sergey A Terentyev, Viktor A Nesterov

The paper theoretically investigates the possibility of ultrasonic oscillations to remove moisture from capillary-porous materials by dispersing it under the action of shock waves formed during cavitation phenomena in the liquid phase. A physical and mathematical model based on analysis of slow growth of cavitation bubble of distorted cylindrical shape taking into account influence of cylindrical capillary walls limiting its oscillations was developed and presented. The optimum range (150-170 dB) of sound pressure levels (at the oscillation frequency of 22 kHz) at which dispersion of moisture is realized, was found. It was found that the optimal conditions of exposure to ultrasonic oscillations (according to the geometry of the sample) on the dried material are realized when the size or thickness of the layer of the dried material corresponds to the length of the ultrasonic oscillations in the air.

14

Authors: Liudmyla Sas, Iryna Boryshkevych, Valentyna Yakubiv, Yuliia Maksymiv, Aleksander Iwaszczuk

The purpose of the article is to develop a methodology for comprehensive assessment of technological support of production in agricultural enterprises by determining the system of indicators of production and economic activity of these enterprises, the efficiency and intensity of the use of main types of resources. In the process of research the following methods were used: statistical and economic, comparison, tabular, grouping, formalization, sociological and monographic. The article studies the problems of assessing technological support of production of enterprises as one of the aspects of their innovation activities. The content, purpose and algorithm for the use of a comprehensive assessment of technological support of production in agricultural enterprises in the context of innovativeness are substantiated. The developed method allows the management of agricultural enterprises by the results of the assessment to determine the level of technological support of production at each individual enterprise and take effective management decisions concerning the further policy of innovation development.

14

Authors: Olha Mulska, Taras Vasyltsiv, Iryna Biletska, Rostyslav Baran

The paper evaluates the quality of life and living standards of the population using the basic determinants of socio-economic, ecological, and socio-political environments (on the example of the Carpathian region of Ukraine). It expands a set of methodological tools for the analysis of ecological and social determinants' impact on the quality of life based on the complex analysis of the sensitivity of the quality of life (in the form of empirical parameter calculated based on the cost, resources, and innovative development approaches) to the change of the socio-ecological determinants as an integral quality-quantity characteristic of the environment. The results of the research allowed detecting the relationship and nature of joint variability of the quality of life and ecological and social indicators.

18

Authors: Tugkan Arici, Aydin Ozdemir, Ersan Cigerim, Mehmet Sahin Gok

This study evaluates the efficiency and productivity of technology companies included in the BIST 100 Index and Fortune 500 list using the DEA-Malmquist model. Firstly, technology-oriented efficiency analyses were conducted. In the second stage, we aim to analyze the efficiency trend of longitudinal (panel) data using the Malmquist approach to understand the frontier shift and efficiency changes from 2005 to 2019. R&D expenditure, R&D personnel cost, total personal number, and marketing expenditure were considered as inputs, while total income, export income, and the patent number were considered as outputs. According to the findings, fifteen of twenty-seven firms were on the frontier once, but only three were on the frontier more than three times. Eighteen firms improved in the Malmquist Index (TFPCH) from 2015 to 2019, with the most improvement in 2015-2016. Besides that, in 2019, a performance improvement of seven percent compared to 2015. Furthermore, it is determined that Scale Efficiency scores increase by 0.163 for extra Net Sales of firms.

6

Authors: Branislav Milenković

In this paper, the complete kinematic and dynamic analysis of cam and follower is done and critical angular speed is determined for each design to predict when the follower jumps off the cam. Analytical method is used, as it is more accurate and less time consuming and if programmed for the complete solution. The dynamic force analysis determines the cam contact forces and values of kinematic parameters at which the design fails. The analytical calculation is done in excel sheet for both kinematic and dynamic analysis of cam follower system for any rotational speed and angle of rise.

8

Authors: Shankar Moguthala, R Senthil Kumar

Power quality is a set of electrical boundaries that allows a piece of equipment to function in its intended manner without significant loss of performance or life expectancy. All electrical devices are prone to failure when exposed to one or more power quality problems. It is necessary for engineers, technicians, and system operators to become familiar with power quality. In this paper the solution is given by Static Compensator (STATCOM) with the desired reference current for Multilevel inverter based STATCOM for distribution system is employed. An investigation of multilevel inverter-based Distribution static compensator (D-STATCOM) with FLC in Power distribution System (PDS) for compensation of reactive power and harmonics mitigation. Cascaded H-bridge inverters having several advantages over conventional swathing devices are low harmonic distortion, reduced number of switches there by suppression of switching losses. The advantage of CHB Inverter is reducing the number of switches and thus switching losses. Hence in our paper we have proposed a DSTATCOM based Cascaded multilevel inverter by sing fuzzy logic controller to mitigate the switching losses, harmonics, and to compensate reactive power.

10

Authors: Dragisa Micic, Zorica Lazic

In this paper, the kinematics of the motion of an inner moving circle along a twice as large fixed outer circle will be considered. Such circles are known in science as Cardan circles. Specifically, within this topic of the paper, cases will be presented where when rolling a small cardan circle within a large cardan circle, all points along the circumference of the small cardan circle will describe straight lines, which correspond to the diameter of the large cardan circle in length and position. Particular attention is paid to the determination of the turning circle as well as all other kinematic parameters in four-member transmissions.

10

Authors: Naw Phyu Zar Thwin, Yan Naing Soe, Amiya Bhaumik, Midhunchakkarayarthy

In the fiercely, overcrowded competitive business environment, the most valuable assets for the organization to adapt and survive are well-trained and developed employees who have skill, knowledge, and a positive attitude. Talent Training and development is vital to achieving a long-term competitive advantage and organizations are trying to improve employee performance by investing in employee training and development. This study aims to analyze the impact of training and development on employee performance in the Myanmar internet service provider industry. A descriptive research method was used, and a sample size of 250 employees was taken for the study representing 25% of the entire population. Disproportionate stratified random sampling is used to divide and examine the groups within the population. A structured questionnaire was delivered to employees of Stream Best Net ISP Co., Ltd. and Global Welink ISP Co., Ltd. to collect the data. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches are used to gather the primary data and to design the questionnaire. For data analysis, SPSS version 25 was used. Percentages, means, frequency, and standard deviations were computed. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to define the relationship between independent and independent variables. The result showed that there is a positive correlation between training and development and employee performance.

10

Authors: Serap Kalfaoğlu, Eda Ayçeken

EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) was established in 1988, by 14 leading European organizations with the mission of being the driving force of Sustainable Excellence in Europe and the vision of a world in which European institutions achieve excellence and is a non-profit organization based on the membership system. In this study, the satisfaction of the employees, one of the criteria of the EFQM excellence model, is tried to be measured. For this purpose, the evaluation of the situation according to the EFQM criteria at the Private Hospitals in Konya/Turkey, which conducts quality studies in line with EFQM model, is aimed to determine the level of satisfaction of the hospital department managers. As a result of the study, the satisfaction of the staff of the hospitals is at a moderate level. Also, managers' satisfaction levels do not change according to the department they work in. It is observed that the people in the management level benefit the employees to raise the working standards.

12

Authors: Duriseti V. Srikanth, K. K. Chaturvedi, A. C. Reddy

In this paper the modified Reynold's and energy equations of a hydroelectric thrust bearing were solved simultaneously using a scheme of finite differences. Variations in viscosity across the pad film, as well as the hot oil carryover effect, were taken into account. The pad deformation was computed using ANSYS and a linked finite-element technique. A mesh convergence test verified the convergence of the numerical results. The analyzed lubricants were DTE heavy medium oil and a variety of next generation low tox turbine oils. An additional theoretical and established experimental analysis was used to estimate and compare lubricant toxicity. Unlike in previous studies, this study defines the independent factors which control the selection of a lubricant viz. its hydrodynamic efficiency and toxic content.

12

Authors: Anis M'halla

Developments presented in this paper are devoted to the monitoring of railway transport systems. Stochastic P-time Petri Nets (SP-TPN) are used for modelling. With the aim of improving the railway transport quality, we propose a new monitoring structure able to react to different situations without prior knowledge of the system's failure modes. The failure detection is based on taking into account the temporal aspect of the system to be monitored. In this context, the developed supervision approach, based on timed automaton, aims to detect, locate failures that affect system performance and reliability. Finally, to illustrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the dynamic monitoring approach, an application to realistic railway networks is outlined.

14

Authors: Nabil Ouriniche, Zahra Benabbou, Hassan Abbar

Managing Corporate Social Responsibility “CSR” performance presents a great difficulty for the company since it involves managing the three main dimensions of sustainability simultaneously. This is why we focus on decision-making and control systems to achieve the main objective of the research; which serves to manage global performance. A qualitative study was carried out through a case study carried out within a Moroccan company labeled "CSR". Analysis of the results showed that the sustainability balanced scorecard can be an effective instrument for managing global performance. The latter is a complicated and systematic process that necessitates a high level of coordination among the company's stakeholders. Again, the use of Business Intelligence helps the company to control its strategic information through its ability to process a large volume of data with better quality, its decision-making capabilities, and better support for strategic objectives through improved performance and the integration of data from different sources.

4

Authors: Rodrigo F S Gomes

This paper explores critical factors related to the application of data science in the field of safety and discusses plausive causes to explain why the herewith called safety data science (SDS) is still a distant reality in most organizations. To do that, existing literature was screened and inductive reasoning was used to identify potential barriers for the massive use of SDS. As a result, basic foundations are introduced and three critical factors are discussed: (1) the lack of theoretical foundations in SDS to guide empirical applications; (2) unavailability or poor safety data at the organizational level, and (3) the lack of expertise related to data science from the perspective of safety professionals. The study has important implications. From the theoretical perspective, it offers an initial conceptual baseline for SDS and presents its critical factors. Also, directions are given for safety practitioners to explore SDS at the organizational level.

8

Authors: Badri Narayan Mohapatra

The Internal quality environment in a room/office purely depends on the daylighting. Light pipe offers to bring sunlight through passive way to the core of the building. Reduce the use of electric lighting and utilization of light pipes can create suitable visual activity and contribute more comfort than electric light. This paper aims building light pipe design optimization on lighting level by using cloud based simulation.

10

Authors: Brikena Xhaferi, Gezim Xhaferri

This study aims to examine the type of learner motivation of the students studying foreign languages at South East European University (SEEU) in North Macedonia during their online classes caused by the global Pandemic COVID-19. Both teachers and students of this Institution faced several challenges. In order to be able to reach learning outcomes, the students must be motivated and engaged while attending online lessons. The present study uses two instruments to address the research questions designed; a student questionnaire, Motivation to Learn Online Questionnaire (MLOQ), and a teacher semi-structured interview. Overall, the study results revealed that the participants of the study are more intrinsically motivated than extrinsically. The instructor support was reported to be in a very high level in terms of teacher-students communication, responded to students in a timely manner and providing guidance for the students during online classes. Nevertheless, teachers changed their assessment methods which respond to the students’ needs and tried different instructional techniques to enhance student motivation for learning among which the online quizzes, class discussion and online presentations. The findings of the present study will provide EFL teachers with some new insights and practical ideas for increasing student motivation during online classes.

12

Authors: Bismark Budu, Justice Ekow Abban, Bhagwan Shree Ram

The distribution system is the power grid component that forms the network pathways of distributing the power generated to their various feeders connected across it to meet the required load demand. As of recent, its operation of distributing quality power to its cherished feeders and consumers has become a major challenge due to the complicated nature of applying smart systems to meet the high and sophisticated load demands in this dispensation where advancement in engineering, science and technology is becoming predominant. Currently, high concerns have been raised on soliciting effective management techniques to curb these problems bedeviling the power distribution network. Hence this research article sort to present an overview of some of the pertinent strategic management techniques of smart systems for power distribution operations to bring security, stability, reliability, power quality to the distribution network and also enhance the system performance of the power grid as a whole.

12

Authors: Leonard M. Akuwueke, Chinwuba V. Ossia, Harold U. Nwosu

This study presents the development and physicomechanical optimization of friction lining composites from organic chemically activated carbon. Three types of chemically activated carbon from palm kernel shells (PKS) and coconut shell (CS) giving 3 volumetric ratios of CS (XCS) with 3 particle sizes (XPS) and 3 reinforcement weight concentrations (XWT). The composites were experimentally evaluated for mechanical properties (flexural strength FS, tensile strength TS, hardness H and density D) performance using box-behnken design. ANOVA was used to determine the effects of XPS, XCS and XWT. Results showed that all properties exhibited positive main effects from XPS of order FS>TS>H>D, and a positive XPS and XCS interaction. All properties except hardness exhibited negative XPS and XWT , negative XWT and XCS, and positive XPS and XCS interactions. All, except hardness, showed all positive quadratic effect from XPS, XWT and XCS. The experimental and predicted values showed little or no difference. The friction lining composites optimal properties obtained include: hardness Hmax=87.375?? at XWT=8%wt, XCS=100%CSAC, XPS=60nm; density Dmin=0.97g/cm3 at XCS=100%CSAC, XPS=60nm and XWT=4%wt FSmax=39.97696MPa; at XCS=93.33%CSAC, XPS=150nm, XWT=4%wt and TSmax=28.65MPa at XCS=100%CSAC, XPS=150nm, XWT=4%wt. Hence, all the process variables were relevant for the development of friction-linings using agro-wastes chemically activated carbon.

14

Authors: H. C. O. Unegbu, D.S. Yawas, B. Dan-asabe

A typical construction project has associated key players whose inputs are needed to improve project management effectiveness. The project performance of these key players is impacted by a number of dynamic factors which may be tangibles or intangibles. This research study assessed the impact of the project management knowledge areas on the project performance of construction industry’s key players. A questionnaire was administered to 250 selected project management personnel from 10 randomly selected companies in the construction sector in the North Central Zone of Nigeria operating over the last decade. The valid responses obtained from the respondents were 213. Altogether, 12 latent variables and 52 manifest or observed variables were used for the data analysis after the preliminary data analysis to check the validity, reliability and reduce the number of variables using the average variance extracted (AVE), the Cronbach’s alpha test, the composite reliability test and exploratory factor analysis in Microsoft Excel and the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) respectively. The result of the structural equation model (SEM) in linear structural relationship (LISREL) software used to test 29 hypotheses indicates that skillfulness in the utilization of the project management knowledge areas by the key players in construction projects improves their project performance. This is because 23 of these hypotheses were validated and only 6 were rejected because of unacceptable path coefficients. It was identified that the strongest relationships exist in the interaction of the client and quality management, the client and cost management, the client and communication management, the consultant and communication management and the project manager and quality management in the order of their path coefficients.

4

Authors: R Rohith, G Ruthvik, Punithkanthraj, K P Raju, T S Nanjundeshwaraswamy

Chemical Machining (CHM) is a non-conventional machining process, which is used to machine hard brittle materials. The objective of this paper is a literature survey related to the chemical machining process. In this machining process, the chemical energy of the etchant is used to remove the excess materials from the workpiece; materials will be removed through the chemical dissolution process. In the literature, it is identified that so many factors influence the process of chemical machining such as concentrate of etchant, the temperature of the etchant, masking methods, types of the masking and etchants. It is also identified that these process parameters influence the material removal rate (MRR) and surface finish.

6

Authors: Zeynab Abdullayeva

If the amount of high-molecular components in oil transportation, group, structure and fraction composition, mixed in the analysis of other oils in laboratory analysis are correctly determined in the oil, it will be very effective in solving technological problems during transportation. On the basis of numerous studies the anomalous changes of rheophysical features of different crude oil mixes were investigated. It was defined that one of the main reasons for the anomaly is the variety of chemical composition and structure of miscible crude oils. We have established the mechanism of the effect of structural-group and fractional oil content on its physicochemical properties and theological characteristics resulting from a high content of high molecular components due to different solubility of liquid hydrocarbons relative to the latter ones.

6

Authors: Branislav Milenkovic, Mladen Krstic, Djordje Jovanovic

In this paper, we present the ant colony optimization algorithm (ACO for short), which was used to solve gear box problem design. Biological fundamentals of ACO algorithm, as well as method explanation are presented. The pseudo code for this algorithm was written using Matlab R2018a software suite. At the end, the results obtained by ACO algorithm are compared to the results previously obtained by other algorithms.

10

Authors: Anant Kumar, Joginder Singh

Corrosion implies to the irreparable damage or demolition of living tissues or materials due to electrochemical reactions. The automotive sector is rather bellicose and gives rise to metal corrosion in automotive parts due to high amount of pollution generated and due to de-icing salts. In power plants, corrosion is the principal agent leading to costly and critical downtimes. The water-steam circuits in fossil and nuclear power plants are inherently prone to corrosion, as metal components are constantly in contact with water. This review paper provides the overview of distinct types of corrosion in automotive and thermal power plant, their causes and measures to prevent them.

10

Authors: Bongumusa Cebekhulu, Paul Ozor

Whereas quality management practices are important enterprise-level instruments for strategic management, enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) play a pivotal role in business process integration. The later presents potentialities for better information flows and improved control over company resources. The successful integration of QM practices and ERP system can offer a head-start in decision-making, planning, and execution to the organizations’ performance. This research scrutinises the elements of QM practices and ERP systems and assesses the relationship between organizational culture and organizational performance. The research uses the case of twenty-one public sector organizations in South Africa. Structural Equation Modelling was utilized to examine the research hypotheses. The research revealed that the QMS practices have an indirect influence on organizational performance while ERP systems possesses both positive and direct effect on organizational performance.

10

Authors: Kashif HassanManoj Kumar, Sajad Hussain Din

The augmentation of heat transfer through different ways has been developing as an intense area of research since many years. The recent increase in the use of heat exchangers for industrial applications has called for improvement in their design, efficiency & compactness. In general, the thermal resistance offered by the gases (air in particular is pretty large; therefore, performance of heat exchangers with gas as the working fluids becomes practically important. One of the most common techniques for compensating the poor heat transfer properties of gases is that the surface area density of plate heat exchangers be increased by using the secondary fins such as offset fins, triangular fins, wavy fins, louvered fins etc. In addition to this a promising technique for enhancement of heat transfer is use of longitudinal vortex generators. The longitudinal vortices are produced due to the pressure difference generated between the front and back of the vortex generator. The longitudinal vortices facilitate the exchange of fluid near the walls with the fluid in the core and hence, the thermal boundary layer is disturbed. It causes an increase in temperature gradient at surface which leads to heat transfer augmentation. An innovative design of triangular shaped secondary fins with rectangular wing or winglet vortex generator mounted on the bottom of the channel for enhancing heat transfer is proposed. The computational details have been given for analysis of problem in the ANSYS FLUENT 18 which mainly describes about the solution algorithm and solution schemes as well as under relaxed factors required for the recent problems. As the solution is converged after certain number of iterations, the value of pressure-drop and Nusselt number, average temperature, friction factor is calculated for different attack angles and at different locations and compared with plain channel for same parameter.