Medical devices
Vistakon
Problem: Hydration process is the rate limiting step in the current production line of contact lenses manufacturing
MACSI Contribution:
Outcome: Increased efficiency and improved design of production lines
Boston Scientific
Problem: Hole formation during manufacturing renders stents unusable
MACSI Contribution:
Outcome: Both models suggested that an increase in curing temperature will accelerate the monomer polymerization, while only slightly accelerating solvent evaporation, thereby reducing the likelihood of hole formation.
Pharmaceutical
X company
Problem: Variability in dose delivered by new design of dry-powder inhaler
MACSI Contribution:
Minimising variability in drug delivery
Outcome: Improved understanding of process, now in compliance with device specifications
Multiple companies
Ongoing Problem: Uncertainty in the end point of primary drying in a freeze-drying process
MACSI and PMTC Contribution:
Expected Outcome: Quantitative criterion for the end of primary drying based on non-invasive measurements made in the freeze drier. Optimization of the lyophilisation process
Semi-conductor Industry
Analog Devices
Problem: Reduce the need for costly experiments on polysilicon fuse components
MACSI contribution:
Outcome: The model generated quantitatively accurate results, therebyreducing the amount of experiments required
Alumina Refinery
Rusal Aughinish
The Aughinish facility is Europe’s largest alumina refinery and the also the largest in the Rusal organisation. It is one of the most efficient alumina facilities globally.
Problem: Prediction of product quality 5 days in advance
MACSI contribution:
Outcome: 200% increase in the accuracy of prediction of product quality. Model now employed on a daily basis.
Problem: Optimisation of bulk carrier loading and discharge at the Aughinish jetty
MACSI contribution:
Outcome: Specific recommendations for the optimal ship size and loading rates were delivered, that will yield improved berth through-put and avoid demurrage costs. What-if analysis of scenarios was also conducted to inform the planning of possible future capital investment
Inkjet printing
Problem: The need to optimize the design of innovative inkjet printing technology
MACSI contribution:
Outcome: An efficient algorithm for accurately targeting the region of design space for innovative new products, at a fraction of the computational cost of previous approaches.
Service Parts & Logistics
Dell
Problem: Forecasting of demand for service parts to support the warranty base of products in Europe, Middle East and Africa
MACSI contribution:
Outcome: Improved method for forecasting demand for service parts saving Dell over a million dollars per anumn