Artificial neural networks (ANN) have shown to be a powerful tool for system modeling in a wide range of applications. The focus of this study is on neural network applications to data analysis in egg production. An ANN model with two hidden layers, trained with a back propagation algorithm, successfully learned the relationship between the input (age of hen) and output (egg production) variabl...

Nonlinear equations were compared with categorical analysis to account for DIM effects on milk production. Five different models for lactation curves were evaluated. Derived from a multiphasic lactation curve, the selected lactation curve appeared to result in random residuals and performed more consistently than the multiphasic curve. Residuals from the fitting of lactation curves were then us...

In this paper, we re-examine Data Envelopment Analysis models from perspectives of preference order, production set and performance measure. we investigate the relationship between Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Multiple Criteria Decision Making Theory. There are three key building blocks in a DEA model: preference order, production possibility set and performance measure. It is shown in t...

The aim of this article was to investigate the impact of feed sources and feeding system on milk production and milk marketing in the Babille district of Eastern Hararghe zone. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire which was administered to 152 randomly selected sample dairy cow keepers in the district. Data was analyzed using descriptive methods and regression analysis. Data fro...

This paper presents a new robust two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for efficiency evaluation of the electricity power production and distribution companies. DEA has been widely used for benchmarking the electricity companies. Traditional studies in DEA consider systems as a whole when measuring the efficiency, ignoring the operation of individual processes within a system. To tackle thi...

In large organizations with a c entralized decision-making environment like supermarket chains, selling or producing products usually i nvolves participation of all individual units. Motivated by a production-planning problem regularly faced by the cen tral decision-making unit of such an organization, this paper attem pts to arrange new input-output plans for all units in the next tim e period...

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) measures relative efficiency among the decision making units (DMU) without considering noise in data. The least efficient DMU indicates that it is in the worst situation. In this paper, we measure efficiency of individual DMU whenever it losses the maximum output, and the efficiency of other DMUs is measured in the observed situation. This efficiency is the minim...

A quality analysis trial was undertaken at Ford Geelong Stamping Plant on a press line that was fitted with standard press sensors to measure press and binder force over the stamping cycle for each panel. The quality of randomly sampled panels was measured by obtaining the panel thicknesses at five points, for 135 panels in total. These points were chosen such that they exhibited different form...