The reliable operation of a process plant is critical to the safety, performance, and profitability of a business. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a process of reviewing systems, subsystems, and equipment that identify potential failure modes, their root causes, and consequences. FMEA is also a risk assessment tool that has been used successfully in a wide range of process industries as an integral part of reliability-centered maintenance, safety management, and continuous improvement. The method has indeed been criticized, especially in the area of system assessment, but engineers still predominantly use traditional, unmodified FMEA best practices. In this study, a new conceptual model is proposed to improve the traditional technique and make FMEA a more autonomous, data-driven, and accurate method. The conceptual model of improved FMEA uses ANFIS and FIS models in one automated process that aims to solve the defect handling process from failure detection to quantification of risk level and prioritization of dedicated mitigation action.

Surface cracks in butt-welded joints usually occur in places with increased stress concentrations. The stress concentration factor (SCF) can be calculated using an empirical equation, with five geometric parameters of a butt-welded joint (thickness of the base material, toe radius, weld toe angle, weld width, and reinforcement height). However, in an industrial environment, it is impractical and sometimes even impossible to measure all five geometric parameters with sufficient accuracy. In this study, eight experiments on butt-welded joints were performed. All samples were scanned with a 3D scanner, and the geometric sizes of the welded joints were measured using computer software. A modified empirical expression proposed by Ushirokawa and Nakayama was used to calculate the SCF; the expression was adjusted in such a way that the SCF was calculated by knowing only the toe radius. In addition, four new expressions were proposed for the calculation of the SCF by knowing the toe radius in relation to the weld toe angle; the expressions were then compared and analyzed. Additionally, the values of the stress concentrations in the butt-welded joints were obtained using a finite element method (FEM). The SCFs calculated using the four methods were compared and further discussed. Our data suggested a new accurate and straightforward approach for calculating the SCF by knowing only the weld toe radius.

Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport covers recent developments in marine technology and transport. The book brings together a selection of papers reflecting fundamental areas of recent research and development in the fields of ship hydrodynamics, marine structures, ship design, shipyard technology, ship machinery, maritime transportation, and safety and reliability. Issues such as the environment, renewable energy, wave and wind modeling, coastal engineering, fisheries and legal maritime aspects are also addressed. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport is intended for academics and professionals involved in the development of marine technology and transport. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport covers recent developments in marine technology and transport. The book brings together a selection of papers reflecting fundamental areas of recent research and development in the fields of ship hydrodynamics, marine structures, ship design, shipyard technology, ship machinery, maritime transportation, and safety and reliability. Issues such as the environment, renewable energy, wave and wind modeling, coastal engineering, fisheries and legal maritime aspects are also addressed. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport is intended for academics and professionals involved in the development of marine technology and transport. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport covers recent developments in marine technology and transport. The book brings together a selection of papers reflecting fundamental areas of recent research and development in the fields of ship hydrodynamics, marine structures, ship design, shipyard technology, ship machinery, maritime transportation, and safety and reliability. Issues such as the environment, renewable energy, wave and wind modeling, coastal engineering, fisheries and legal maritime aspects are also addressed. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport is intended for academics and professionals involved in the development of marine technology and transport. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport covers recent developments in marine technology and transport. The book brings together a selection of papers reflecting fundamental areas of recent research and development in the fields of ship hydrodynamics, marine structures, ship design, shipyard technology, ship machinery, maritime transportation, and safety and reliability. Issues such as the environment, renewable energy, wave and wind modeling, coastal engineering, fisheries and legal maritime aspects are also addressed. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport is intended for academics and professionals involved in the development of marine technology and transport. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport covers recent developments in marine technology and transport. The book brings together a selection of papers reflecting fundamental areas of recent research and development in the fields of ship hydrodynamics, marine structures, ship design, shipyard technology, ship machinery, maritime transportation, and safety and reliability. Issues such as the environment, renewable energy, wave and wind modeling, coastal engineering, fisheries and legal maritime aspects are also addressed. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport is intended for academics and professionals involved in the development of marine technology and transport. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport covers recent developments in marine technology and transport. The book brings together a selection of papers reflecting fundamental areas of recent research and development in the fields of ship hydrodynamics, marine structures, ship design, shipyard technology, ship machinery, maritime transportation, and safety and reliability. Issues such as the environment, renewable energy, wave and wind modeling, coastal engineering, fisheries and legal maritime aspects are also addressed. Towards Green Marine Technology and Transport is intended for academics and professionals involved in the development of marine technology and transport.

The ongoing digitalization of industrial companies requires a structured, strategic integration of digital concepts into business processes. Digital transformation (DT) requires clearly defined roadmaps that align digital technologies with business objectives. Although there are many digital maturity models (DMMs), most are industry-specific and do not address the unique characteristics of individual companies. Even SME-focused models often struggle to close the gap between current and target maturity levels, hindering effective DT implementation. This study examines the existing academic and professional literature on DMMs for SMEs and assesses digital readiness in an industrial context. From these findings, the Dynamic Adaptive Maturity Assessment Model (DAMA-AHP) was developed. It comprises 66 DT elements in six dimensions: People and Expertise, Operability, Organization, Products and Production Processes, Strategy, and Technology. DAMA-AHP incorporates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which has been enhanced with customizable weighting at both the dimension and element levels. This enables precise alignment with the company’s priorities and the definition of customized target maturity levels that form the basis for a tailored transformation roadmap. Validation through a case study confirmed the practical value of DAMA-AHP in measuring digital maturity and defining strategic DT priorities. It provides a comprehensive, adaptable, and dynamic framework that promotes continuous improvement and sustainable competitiveness of SMEs in the evolving digital economy.

The transition to digital manufacturing has become more important as the quantity and quality of the use of computer systems in manufacturing companies has increased. It has become necessary to model, simulate and analyse all machines, tools, and raw materials to optimise the manufacturing process. It is even better to determine the best possible solution at the stage of defining the manufacturing process by using technologies that analyse data from simulations to calculate an optimal design before it is even built. In this paper, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) principles are applied to analyse different scenarios using digital twin models for simulation to determine the best configuration for the manufacturing system. The simulation results were combined with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to define a model with the best possible overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The OEE parameter reliability was identified as the most influential factor in the final determination of the most effective and economical manufacturing process configuration.