Expert systems consultation problems

The major function of MES is to aid in solving defined problems under specified conditions. It is a temporary system as far as the main expert system is concerned. In other words, the MES unit is used to custom fit individual or particular projects as needed. Several basic MES units have been developed and are discussed in a separate report (7). A flow chart illustrates how GEOTOX or MES operates during a typical consultation session (Figure 9). 

Expert systems usually work by first establishing a dialogue with the user via consultation programs. The system requests Information about the problem. If the user does not fully understand the question, the system provides a comprehensible explanation. Once the problem has been solved, the system Indicates the reliability of the solution given. As such a solution is merely a hypothesis formulated to account for the experimental facts observed, the user will accept it only If it Is consistent —particularly if a different solution was expected. 

One of the most popular applications of expert systems is an intelligent job aid (Harmon, 1987 Tieman Markle, 1984). A job aid is any structured information device that an individual consults to help perform some task. Job aids are often used in place of instruction when the task performance is simple enough and non-recurrent. Job aids use linear, algorithmic logic to ensure that the performer is able to complete the task correctly. Expert systems can perform as job aids more effectively than traditional, print, linear job aids because they can represent more complex problems and because they do not use a linear procedure to solve the problem, like most job aids. The reasoning pattern of an expert system is more flexible. Welsh and Wilson (1987) have identified characteristics of expert systems as intelligent job aids ... 

A solution to the interface and schema-deficiency problems described above is to integrate a hypertext-based user interface and online help system with the expert system. The interface and help system facilitate access to the information and provide the declarative knowledge needed to make decisions and interpret the results of the consultation. 

These four cases help illustrate that vibration readings and PA analysis should solve most serious problems. Whether or not the other data back up these two systems, it is not essential to these diagnoses. Veiy often, marketers of expensive expert systems will try to insist these additional data are vital. While the data may be useful for specific problems, they may not be worth the extra initial capital outlay, as well as cost of operator/engineer training data and/or consultants fees to interpret the data. (As an example, the fee for consultants to interpret data turned... 

With oxygen eliminated from the effluent, the requirement on the condenser is set by methane we must operate the condenser below —164°C to condense methane. This is not much of an improvement over the requirement dictated by oxygen. Must methane be separated from hydrogen If we allow the methane (which will be only a small amount) to continue with the hydrogen, we can focus on removing the major by-product, carbon dioxide. We consult with our reactor experts who conduct some experiments and report that a small amount of methane in the ammonia reactor is not a problem. Fine. Our hydrogen production system, then, looks like this ... 

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