Journal of Applied Research in Technology & Engineering

Evaluating the thermal properties of knit fabric made of 100% conventional cotton and BCI cotton

Sumaiya Tabassum — 2025-06-11

The study discusses research findings on the thermal characteristics of BCI cotton, 100% conventional cotton, and blends with polyester and elastane. The investigation emphasises single-jersey, rib jersey, and single-jersey blend arrangements. The thermal properties of the recommended knitted material configuration were assessed. The results indicate that each fabric composition with a varied structure exhibits distinct thermal characteristics. BCI cotton fabrics have good uniformity and structure due to cultivation compliance, better thermal conductivity, air permeability, and thermal transmittance. They are eventually better for sportswear and summer apparel products. However, it is essential to consider that the other side of both rib and single jersey fabrics made of conventional cotton with less uniformity includes a more significant CLO and thermal resistance value than BCI cotton fabrics, giving a warmer feeling and being more fruitful for winter clothing with better-trapped air and heat. Thermo-physiological comfort is influenced by various factors such as fiber content, yarn quality, fabric finish, structure, and heat and water vapor resistance, which increase with material thickness and air entrapment in the fabric.

Implementation of condition-based maintenance (CBM) with FMEA approach to improve productivity of the auto insert machine in electronic component manufacturing

Irkham Syifaul Qulub — 2025-06-11

This study explores the implementation of Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) integrated with Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) on the Auto Insert Connectors FFC machine, a critical asset in the assembly process of Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) connectors within the electronic components manufacturing industry. The machine plays an essential role in ensuring precision and consistency during the insertion of connector materials, making its reliability a key factor in overall production efficiency. The primary objective of this research is to optimize the maintenance process by transitioning from a preventive maintenance approach to a condition-based strategy utilizing real-time sensors and monitoring systems. FMEA was employed to identify critical failure modes and calculate Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs) for key machine components, which guided the strategic installation of sensors for continuous performance monitoring. Compared to conventional preventive maintenance methods, the implementation of CBM resulted in a 69.75% reduction in inspection time, indicating a substantial improvement in maintenance efficiency. The findings conclude that integrating CBM with real-time data and FMEA significantly enhances operational productivity and minimizes machine downtime. This approach demonstrates strong potential for broader application across various high-precision industries, particularly electronics, automotive, and mining, where equipment reliability is essential to maintaining competitiveness.

Shared manufacturing: opportunities and prospects

Elkanah Olaosebikan Oyetunji — 2025-06-11

Shared manufacturing (SharedMfg) is a new mode of social manufacturing that is gaining massive attention globally as it incorporates the concept of sharing economy into smart manufacturing systems and is centered on maximizing the utility of things and services. It extends the scope and depth of resource sharing and enables society-based manufacturing integration. It not only helps to achieve full sharing of large-scale manufacturing resources and capabilities but also benefits economic income and reduces the manufacturing costs in small and medium-sized enterprises. Being a friendly-sharing concept, the SharedMfg concept spans across all stages of manufacturing and thus increases the sociality of manufacturing, thereby benefiting both the resource providers and consumers with improved capabilities and competitiveness. However, with the concept in its infancy stage, there is little clarification on its benefits. While few companies in most developed countries have started reaping these benefits through collaboration with their peers, most of the firms worldwide are still hesitant and resistant to adopting the concept. Therefore, this paper aims to elucidate the potential benefits of the innovative concept. These opportunities were classified into six major categories, and each category was analyzed meticulously. It was then concluded that manufacturing companies around the world need to be encouraged to embrace the SharedMfg concept. The ubiquitous implementation of this manufacturing mode will not only benefit the participating firms but also serve the economy and foster sustainable manufacturing and development.