Intermittent demand forecasting in the Enterprise: Empirical verification

Forecasting methods are often valued by means of simulation studies. For intermittent demand items there are often very few non–zero observations, so it is hard to check any assumptions, because statistical information is often too weak to determine, for example, distribution of a variable. Therefore, it seems important to verify the forecasting methods on the basis of real data. The main aim of the article is an empirical verification of several forecasting methods applicable in case of intermittent demand. Some items are sold only in specific subperiods (in given month in each year, for example), but most forecasting methods (such as Croston's method) give non–zero forecasts for all periods. For example, summer work clothes should have non–zero forecasts only for summer months and many methods will usually provide non–zero forecasts for all months under consideration. This was the motivation for proposing and testing a new forecasting technique which can be applicable to seasonal items. In the article six methods were applied to construct separate forecasting systems: Croston's, SBA (Syntetos–Boylan Approximation), TSB (Teunter, Syntetos, Babai), MA (Moving Average), SES (Simple Exponential Smoothing) and SESAP (Simple Exponential Smoothing for Analogous subPeriods). The latter method (SESAP) is an author's proposal dedicated for companies facing the problem of seasonal items. By analogous subperiods the same subperiods in each year are understood, for example, the same months in each year. A data set from the real company was used to apply all the above forecasting procedures. That data set contained monthly time series for about nine thousand products. The forecasts accuracy was tested by means of both parametric and non–parametric measures. The scaled mean and the scaled root mean squared error were used to check biasedness and efficiency. Also, the mean absolute scaled error and the shares of best forecasts were estimated. The general conclusion is that in the analyzed company a forecasting system should be based on two forecasting methods: TSB and SESAP, but the latter method should be applied only to seasonal items (products sold only in specific subperiods). It also turned out that Croston's and SBA methods work worse than much simpler methods, such as SES or MA. The presented analysis might be helpful for enterprises facing the problem of forecasting intermittent items (and seasonal intermittent items as well).     

扰动累积下基于数字孪生的车间重调度

针对隐性扰动累积下车间重调度问题,搭建车间重调度决策服务,实现数字孪生驱动的扰动累积下的车间重调度。提出一种调度参数更新的方式,采用随机概率分布来描述调度参数的分布,提升调度参数的准确性;利用孪生网络搭建隐性扰动检测模型,以实时数据为输入,实现重调度的启动时刻的判定;从历史调度数据中提取用于调度知识挖掘的样本数据,利用伪孪生网络获取工序和机器的状态数据的映射关系作为调度规则,用于车间的重调度。仿真实验证明了所提数字孪生驱动的重调度模式的可行性。     

关于《区间上三段单调扩张自映射的周期轨道》的注记

设m≥0是任一整数.对每一正奇数n≥3,设λn,sn,rn分别是方程xn-2xn-2-1=0,xn-2xn-1-1=0和xn 2-3xn-x2-1=0的唯一正根.记tn0=rn,tni=sn,i≥1,iN,λ=nl→i∞mλn,s=nli→∞msn,t=nli→∞mtn.设λ为f C0(I,I)的扩张常数.利用实分析学中的极限理论,得到了:(1)若f F2(I)∪G2(I),且λ>λ1/2m,则存在最小的奇数n0≥3,使得f有2m.n0-周期点.(2)若f F3(I),且λ>s1/2m,则存在最小的奇数n0≥3,使得f有2m.n0-周期点.(3)若f G3(I),且λ>t1/2m,则存在最小的奇数k0≥3,使得f有2m.k0-周期点.     

Rediscovery of Disepyris semiruber (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in Southern Africa,with first description of the male

Holepyris semiruber Kieffer is redescribed and illustrated based on freshly collected specimens. Holepyris semiruber var. striatipleura Kieffer is considered a colour variant of this species and therefore a junior synonym of H. semiruber syn. nov. This species is transferred to Disepyris, D. semiruber (Kieffer) comb. nov., based on the possession of a short 2r-rs&Rs vein in the fore wing and presence of long flat spine-shaped setae on the outer (posterior) surface of the protarsi. The male is described for the first time from new specimens collected in South Africa. This species is recorded for the first time from Namibia and Zimbabwe. All photographs are available on www.waspweb.org.     

Taming theory with thought experiments: Understanding and scientific progress

I claim that one way thought experiments contribute to scientific progress is by increasing scientific understanding. Understanding does not have a currently accepted characterization in the philosophical literature, but I argue that we already have ways to test for it. For instance, current pedagogical practice often requires that students demonstrate being in either or both of the following two states: 1) Having grasped the meaning of some relevant theory, concept, law or model, 2) Being able to apply that theory, concept, law or model fruitfully to new instances. Three thought experiments are presented which have been important historically in helping us pass these tests, and two others that cause us to fail. Then I use this operationalization of understanding to clarify the relationships between scientific thought experiments, the understanding they produce, and the progress they enable. I conclude that while no specific instance of understanding (thus conceived) is necessary for scientific progress, understanding in general is.     

阿罗不可能性定理和社会选择的无矛盾性问题

2017年2月21日,国际著名数理经济学家、1972年度诺贝尔(Nobel)经济学奖获得者阿罗(K.J.Arrow)于美国辞世。谨作此文,以纪念他在社会选择理论,特别是其中将有关数学应用于研究经济学领域发现的"阿罗不可能性定理"作出的重大贡献。     

基于SHPB试验的高速铁路CRTSⅡ型CA砂浆动态性能

采用分离式霍普金森压杆(Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar,SHPB)试验研究了高速铁路CRTS II型水泥乳化沥青砂浆(CA砂浆)的动态力学性能,并建立了CRTS II型CA砂浆的动态本构关系模型.结果表明:随着应变率的增大,CRTS II型CA砂浆峰值强度逐渐增加,但增加速率随应变率的增大而减小,当应变率从44.17增加至54.79 s-1和从54.79增加至108.47 s-1时,峰值强度分别增加了初始峰值强度的52.28%和7.5%,弹性模量随应变率的变化规律性较差;应变率越大,破坏时的贯通裂纹越多,碎裂程度越大;CRTS II型CA砂浆的比能量吸收随着应变率的增大而增大.所建立的动态本构模型拟合曲线与试验曲线具有较好的一致性.     

《天工开物》中信息型科技术语英译策略对比分析

《天工开物》中以传递科学信息为主的术语是中国古代科技文明的重要载体。文章量化描写和定性分析了85条此类信息型科技术语在其三个英译本中的翻译策略,发现李乔苹译本偏好异化,王义静、王海燕和刘迎春译本倾向于译文流畅的归化,任以都、孙守全译本的策略运用情况则介于二者之间,而这很大程度上取决于不同译者对目标受众的定位差异。文章也借此呼吁中国古代科技术语翻译批评遵循客观描写加解释分析的路径。     

基于零件传输速度的CNC机床SCOP伺服法则

提出并建立了基于CNC数控机床组成FMS的第三种比机床伺服法则,该伺服法则SCOP,考虑了每一决策步传输装置的位置、移动速度及达到不同位置需移动的距离,还考虑了下一步加工零件的利用率及机床缓冲区的空间利用率,并给出了伺服法则的实例,以用于最佳、最大的机床利用率的批量生产工艺流程。     

基于粗糙集和证据理论的决策规则提取

提出一种基于粗糙集和证据理论的两阶段决策规则提取算法, 该算法首先利用粗糙集中属性缩减的思想, 找出每条规则中的重要条件属性集合, 然后再基于证据理论中证据结合的思想进一步去掉重要条件属性集中的冗余条件属性, 从而得到最终的决策规则. 所给算法简化了属性集的约简, 对高维数据也是可行的. 实验结果表明, 利用该算法能够挖掘出高质量的决策规则.