Search Results (5)

The Tiga Dam, a primary hydraulic structure in northern Nigeria, is subjected to intense hydrological stress during the rainy season, posing potential risks to its structural integrity. This study investigates the geotechnical properties and stability of the Tiga Dam in Kano State, Nigeria. Twelve soil samples from the downstream area were analyzed for specific gravity, grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, compaction parameters, permeability, and shear strength. The dam’s stability was assessed using Plaxis 2D under various reservoir conditions. Soil erodibility was evaluated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and a linear regression model with noise was developed to predict soil expansion rates. The results showed heterogeneous soil properties, with specific gravity ranging from 2.11 to 2.63 and permeability from 3.40 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.49 × 10⁻⁷ m/s. Stability analysis revealed factors of safety of 1.322, 1.006, 1.002, and 1.147 for high reservoir, rapid drawdown, slow drawdown, and low reservoir conditions, respectively. The RUSLE K factor ranged from 0.055 to 0.145, indicating low to moderate soil erodibility. The expansion rate model demonstrated high accuracy (R² = 0.989) in predicting seasonal and long-term soil expansion trends, with peak rates increasing from 16.94 mm/month in 2010–2013 to 19.45 mm/month in 2017–2020. This comprehensive analysis provides crucial insights into the Tiga Dam’s geotechnical behavior, highlighting potential vulnerabilities and the need for targeted management strategies to ensure long-term stability and safety. Full article

The investigation examines English proficiency levels across Taiwanese primary education, revealing a significant divergence in skills characterized by an M-shaped distribution among students in the fifth and sixth grades. To address this disparity, the study employs a performance evaluation method that combines importance–performance analysis (IPA) and the refined Kano model, aiming to identify and improve upon the current deficiencies in English language teaching. Further analytical depth is provided by applying a three-factor theory, which re-evaluates the traditional five-factor framework of the Kano model, informed by a survey of 443 respondents. The analysis identified that, out of twenty evaluative items, four are critical and demand targeted enhancement efforts. The paper has identified four items for enhancement to improve English language instruction quality. Specifically, it suggests that two items from the importance–performance analysis are critically under resourced and require immediate intervention. Additionally, the paper recognizes two items from the Kano model that also need focused improvement. The study recommends swift and targeted actions to address these areas, with the goal of raising the overall standard of teaching. Based on these findings, the study proposes a set of practical recommendations aimed at increasing the overall effectiveness of teaching and fostering an environment that enhances student motivation. The ultimate goal of this study is to support English teachers in primary schools by providing strategic insights that can lead to the enhancement of teaching practices and the amelioration of English language education deficiencies. Full article

Shipping by sea is the most cost-effective way of shipping globally; yet, ship emissions make up 10% of global emissions. That means ocean freight is key to maintaining the global economy that we are accustomed to and if we do not deal with the emission problems of ships, the global industrial economy of the shipping industry will not be sustainable. In view of the importance of marine environmental conservation, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a comprehensive set of regulations to support the implementation of emission standards for marine fuel oil, limiting sulfur to 0.5% or less. For this paper, a survey was conducted by Taiwanese carriers based on quality management system architectures, to explore the following factors using the Kano two-dimensional quality model, the importance performance analysis (IPA), and the revised decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (RDEMATEL) to define the attributes, importance, satisfaction, and correlation that influence carriers’ choice of installing scrubber. The China Ship Building Corporation, Taiwan (CSBC) is the largest ship builder in Taiwan. Finally, the complete infrastructure is the primary area of service quality improvement for CSBC scrubber installation; the operators’ technical skill is the most influential factor, and shipyard operational efficiency is the main affected factor. Full article

The purpose of this study was to apply the Kano model and revised importance–performance analysis (RIPA) to explore the teaching quality of physical education programs at Taiwanese universities. Random sampling was used to select universities from the north, south, central, and east areas of Taiwan. The questionnaire developed by the researcher included 20 items within four subscales. A total of 970 students participated in this study. A combination of the Kano model and RIPA was used for analysis. The results indicate that the item “physical education teachers have cordial attitudes toward instructions” fell into the “keep up the good work” designation of RIPA and the fourth quadrant of the Kano model. A patient and cordial attitude towards students can, therefore, be considered an important quality factor for physical education programs. Teacher–student relationships should, therefore, form a priority for physical education teachers looking to increase student satisfaction and optimize their programs. Full article

In the Industry 4.0 environment, the new manufacturing transformation of mass customization for high-complexity and low-volume production is moving forward. Based on cyber-physical system (CPS) and Internet of things (IoT) technology, the flexible transformation of the manufacturing process to suit diverse customer manufacturing requirements is very possible, with the potential to provide digital “make-to-order” (MTO) services with a quick response time. To achieve this potential, a product configuration system, which translates the voice of customers to technical specifications, is needed. The purpose of this study is to propose a methodology for developing a quick-response product configuration system to enhance the communication between the customer and the manufacturer. The aim is to find an approach to receive requests from customers as inputs and generate a product configuration as outputs that maximizes customer satisfaction. In this approach, engineering characteristics (ECs) are defined, and selection pools are initially constructed. Then, quality function deployment (QFD) is modified and integrated with the Kano model to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the relationship between customer requirements (CRs) and customer satisfaction (CS). Next, a mathematical programming model is applied to maximize the overall customer satisfaction level and recommend an optimal product configuration. Finally, sensitivity analysis is conducted to suggest revisions for customers and determine the final customized product specification. A case study and an OrderAssistant system are implemented to demonstrate the procedure and effectiveness of the proposed quick response product configuration system. Full article