Home-grown Examples

The annual 5-day workshop Mathematics in Industry Study Group (MISG), run by the University of Melbourne, has the unique opportunity to bring mathematics into all industry sectors. Held earlier this month, MISG 1996 gives a flavour of the breadth, with eight projects tackled.

Modelling the cooking process of a single cereal grain. (Uncle Toby's)

The process of `cooking' involves hydrating and heating the grain so that all the starches may be released. Currently grain is cooked by applying the hydration and heating process simultaneously. Mathematical models gave true insight into the whole cooking process. Recommendations were formulated which will reduce the time taken by up to half. That will turn the process into a continuous one, which is much more desirable than the current batch-operation.

Wet-gum labelling of wine bottles. ( SouthCorp Wines)

Occasionally during adverse weather conditions, air-bubbles can appear, randomly-distributed beneath wet-gum labels. This is of serious concern to the wine-maker, since in the customer's mind it may reflect upon the perceived quality of the wine itself. As a result from the mathematical modelling, the wine-maker, label-maker and glue-manufacturer are instigating a thorough program to carry out recommendations relating to paper orientation and properties, machine operating-speeds, glue characteristics and methods of application.

Other projects tackled at MISG 1996 involved:

• a model for optimised store layout in the paper industry,
• optimal decision-making in selection and mating in tree-breeding programs,
• efficient cooling of jarred cheese spreads,
• modelling optical-fibre cables,
• homogenisation of photographic dispersions
• blending methodologies in talc-mining industry.

Such easily accessible industrial examples are the ideal way of illustrating the power of mathematics.