This paper compares the performance of orthogonal array (OA), modified-Bees Algorithm (mBA) and conventional Bees Algorithm (BA) in significant feature selection scheme (optimization) of the Mahalanobis-Taguchi System (MTS) methodology. The main contribution of this work is to address both performances in terms of computing cost i.e. computing time as well as classification accuracy rate. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance of OA against other heuristic search techniques in MTS methodology however, discussions in terms of the computing speed performances were found to be lacking. Instead, the accuracy performances were given the emphasis by drawing criticisms towards the deployment of OA as ineffective as compared to other state-of-the-art heuristic algorithms. Bees Algorithm (BA) is one heuristic search technique that discovers optimal (or near optimal) solutions using search strategy mimics the social behaviour of a honeybee colony. In this comparison work, modified-BA (mBA) is introduced into the optimization scheme of MTS with a modification on its neighbourhood search mechanism from the original BA. Instead of searching in random mode, a backward selection method is proposed. MD is used as the result assessment metric while the larger-thebetter type of SNR is deployed as the algorithm's objective function. The historical heart liver disease data are used as the case study on which the comparisons between OA, mBA and BA performances specifically in terms of the computing speed are made and addressed. The outcomes showed a promising performance of the mBA as compared to OA with a comparable classification accuracy rate. Eventhough OA outperformed mBA in terms of computational speed, the MTS manage to classify at the expense of lower number of variables suggested by mBA. The mBA also converges faster than the conventional BA in finding the potential solution of the case problem.

A Shipyard is trying to change, but facing employee Resistance to Change (RTC).Resistance is attributed to the dysfunctional organisational context in the form oftechnical and political/structural issues giving rise to non-conformance behaviour.An action research was conducted with the author as a participant researcher tounderstand and identify the underlying behaviour of the employees. Lean productionwas used as an intervention to re-couple tasks to behavioural elements. Resistance isdue to incoherency of a person’s belief in established standards, giving rise to cognitivedissonance. Lean principles reduces dissonance, creating psychological flow in theworkforce and the momentum for change. As a result, the shipyard managed to recoveredthe delay of a ship and delivered it on-time, with cost avoidance of RM63 million inliquidated damage. The Shipyard also managed to reduce the average delay for shipsundergoing repair to 6 months, compared to previous average delay of 17 months. Thisresearch was a collaboration between the employees and the researcher to identify thesource of RTC. The outcome is both, insightful in creating change and contributionto knowledge. The significance of this study is the realisation of how individuals andgroups’ past behaviour can subconsciously challenge the existence of the organisationand better methods. The study provides an exploratory model on the workings of humanbehavioural elements in Lean production. The knowledge of how the researcher gainedutility from resistance and mediate through the application of these techniques wouldbe of considerable benefit to leaders of change management.

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass is a potential source of renewable energy. Catalytic fast-pyrolysis batch process was initially performed to convert oil palm EFB into bio-oil, followed by its refinement to jet bio-fuel. Crystalline zeolites A and Y; synthesised from rice husk ash (RHA), were applied as heterogeneous catalysts. The catalytic conversion of oil palm EFB to bio-oil was conducted at a temperature range of 320-400°C with zeolite A catalyst loadings of 0.6 - 3.0 wt%. The zeolite catalysts were characterised by XRD, FTIR and FESEM. The bio-oil and jet bio-fuel products were analysed using GC-MS and FTIR. The batch fast-pyrolysis reaction was optimised at 400°C with a catalyst loading of 1.0 wt%, produced 42.7 wt% yields of liquid bio-oil, 35.4 wt% char and 21.9 wt% gaseous products. Analysis by GCMS indicates the compound distribution of the liquid bio-oil are as follows: hydrocarbons (23%), phenols (61%), carboxylic acids (0.7%), ketones (2.7%), FAME (7.7%) and alcohols (0.8%). Further refinement of the liquid bio-oil by catalytic hydrocracking over zeolite Y produced jet bio-fuel, which contains 63% hydrocarbon compounds (C8-C18) and 16% of phenolic compounds.

Market demand on system-on-chip (SoC) using ball-attach technologies, it is time for ball-attach module to have an improvement on their capabilities within limited resources (man and machine). This paper identifies caused of factor which contributes more time to production time. Justification on improving ball-attach module cycle time during high volume activities is explained.