InfoFrax: CBR in Fused Cast Refractory Manufacture

Deepak Khemani1, Radhika B. Selvamani1, Ananda Rabi Dhar1, and S.M. Michael2

1 A.I. & D.B. Lab, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering I.I.T.Madras, India
khemani@iitm.ac.in
{bradhika, anandat}@peacock.iitm.ernet.in
2Carborundum Universal Limited, Madras, India (CUMI)
mikesm@ho.cumi.co.in



Abstract. This paper describes a CBR application in manufacturing industry, a
domain where CBR has by and large proved its applicability and success. The
paper details a thorough understanding of the field of fused cast manufacturing
basically seen from the perspective of glass furnace, where quality of glass
produced is straightaway related to the refractory blocks used in furnace linings.
The applicability of CBR paradigm is revisited in the present context. The CBR
process needed is conceptualized and designed. The paper describes the
evolution of the system beginning with tackling hurdles of knowledge
acquisition, a number of pitfalls in the prototype phase, to final implementation
of InfoFrax, the CBR system specially devised for the project. It gives an
overall description of the architecture and usage. The paper also reports the
immediate response to the software in form of direct user feedback,
expectations from the existing system, and some future work already underway
in the project.
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