Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

An Empirical Investigation Of Supply Chain Excellence In Healthcare, Brian Keith Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research is motivated by opportunities to improve the cost and quality of healthcare delivery through improved supply chain processes. This research assesses the quality of the healthcare supply chain and identifies factors that are driving supply chain excellence among organizations in the healthcare industry. The first objective of this research is to assess the state of quality measurement in the healthcare supply chain. The achievement of this first objective is presented in Chapter 3 of this dissertation in the form of a manuscript accepted for publication in The Quality Management Journal. The second research objective is to develop …

Evaluating The Capacity Of A Proton Therapy Facility, Ridvan Gedik

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A relatively new consideration in proton therapy planning is the requirement that the mix of patients treated satisfy desired percentages. Since it is very dicult to satisfy an integer number of patients in light of these requirements, deviations from patient mix preferences and their impacts on operational capabilities are of particular interest to healthcare planners. Therefore, we propose a bicriteria mathematical programming model that determines an outpatient schedule maximizing the number of fractions and minimizing the deviations from the patient mix ratios over the planning horizon. The tradeos between the two objectives are identied through analysis of ecient frontiers. Our …

The Effects Of Weather Recognition Training On General Aviation Pilot Situation Assessment And Tactical Decision Making When Confronted With Adverse Weather Conditions, Chansik Kim

All Dissertations

Previous general aviation (GA) accident studies showed that decision errors were more associated with fatal GA accidents than other kinds of human errors, and weather related accidents, especially continued visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), remained the major cause of fatal GA accidents. Thus, finding the underlying causes of GA pilots' decision errors and continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions are needed to reduce weather related GA accidents as well as fatal GA accidents.
Causal factors and hypotheses of weather related GA accidents show that knowledge, experience, motivation, and weather information frequently have been referred …

Improving Quality Of Service In Ems Systems By Reducing Disparities Between Service Zones, Sunarin Chanta

All Dissertations

Emergency medical service (EMS) systems respond to emergency or urgent calls so as to provide immediate care, such as pre-hospital care and/or transportation, to hospitals. Care must be provided in a timely manner; in fact quality of service is usually directly associated with response time. To reduce the response time, the number and location of vehicles within the service area are important variables. However with limited capacity, increasing the number of vehicles is often an infeasible alternative. Therefore, a critical design goal is to decide at which facilities stations should be located in order to serve as much demand as …

Applying Inventory Control Practices Within The Sisters Of Mercy Health Care Supply Chain, Server Apras

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research lays a foundation for the better understanding of the application and acceptance of more advanced inventory control practices within the health care supply chain. The demand characteristics and optimal control policies for pharmaceutical items within a multi-echelon provider network are examined within the framework of a case study. Demand forecasting algorithms were applied to forecast demand for inventory control procedures. A spreadsheet-based inventory planning tool was used to minimize the inventory holding and ordering costs subject to fill rate constraints. The costs of inventory control models are compared to the current ordering and inventory control strategies to document …

Anticipating U.S. Population-Level Health And Economic Impacts Using Discrete-Event Simulation To Guide Health Policy Decisions, Odette Reifsnider

All Dissertations

This dissertation presents two applications of discrete-event simulation (DES) to represent clinical processes: (1) a model to quantify the risk of the maternal obese and diabetic intrauterine environment influence on progression to adult obesity and diabetes, and (2) a model to evaluate health and economic outcomes of different smoking cessation strategies. The first application considers the public health impact of the diabetic and obese intrauterine environment's effect on the prevalence of diabetes and obesity across subsequent generations. We first develop a preliminary DES model to investigate and characterize the epidemiology of diabetes during pregnancy and birth outcomes related to maternal …

Influence Of Process Parameters On Health Outcome, Vijaya K. Musunuru

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In the recent years, healthcare organizations have realized that quality in providing service is critical for their survival in this competitive world. This increased attention to service quality has forced many health care providers to reevaluate their systems to stay in business. The main purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis “Process Quality predicts the Product quality (patient satisfaction) in the healthcare domain”. The objective of this study was three- fold. The first objective is to analyze historical data both on patient satisfaction and on provider attributes to yield process parameters for a particular area in a hospital. …

An Experimental Approach For Developing Rfid Ready Receiving And Shipping, Amoldeep Singh Jaggi

Masters Theses

Abstract:

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and related technologies have been touted to allow exponential improvements in supply chain logistics and management. However, many industrial users have indicated that these technologies have not provided the anticipated benefits. The two complimentary strategies required to address the RFID reliability are: to improve the reliability of RFID technology and to design the supply chain infrastructure that enables RFID. The focus of this paper is on designing the supply chain infrastructure to enable RFID by developing guidelines for “RFID Ready Facilities”. These guidelines were developed based on a set of experiments conducted in the RFID …

Dynamic Human Resource Predictive Model For Complex Organizations, Tachapon Saengsureepornchai

Masters Theses

Every organization has to deal with planning of the appropriate level of human resources over time. The workforce is not always aligned with the requirements of the organization and it increases an organization’s budget. A literature review reveals that there is no model that can systematically predict accurate human resource required within a complex organization. To address this gap, a human resource predictive model was developed based on material requirements planning (MRP). This approach accounts for complexity in workforce planning and generalized it with a logistic regression model. The model estimates the employee turnover number and forecasts the expected remaining …

Optimization Of Supply Chain Planning With Considering Defective Rates Of Products In Each Echelon, Behin Elahi

Behin Elahi

Supply Chain Planning has recently received considerable attention in both academia and industry. The major targets of supply chain planning are to reduce production costs, risks, delays and maximize or improve profit, quality of product, customer service which result in increased competitiveness, more customer satisfaction and portability. In this study, a new bi-objective mathematical modeling for a four-echelon supply chain, consisting multi-supplier, assembler, distribution center and retailer, with considering the defective rates of products is proposed. Then, fuzzy compromise programming method is applied to solve the non-linear mixed-integer bi-objective model. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate application of …

A Conceptual Model For Creating A Favorable Environment To Reduce The Production Time And Cost Of Production By E_Collaboration, Marjan Mohammadjafari, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Siti Zawiah Md Dawal, Hadi Zayandehroodi

Dr. Marjan Mohammadjafari

The companies need to the implementation the projects on time within budget for achievement the success and competitive in the market. The prior researcher illustrated many method and model for development time in new product. For this purpose, in this research the author created a new model and allegation the electronic collaboration (E_collaboration) by a project manager can create a favorable environment to reduce the production time and cost of production of new product. This model is composed of four construct: design, planning, procurement and production. For initially evaluated the model the author has done interview with 20 project managers …

Reducing Time And Cost Of New Product Development In Smes By E-Collaboration Through Project Management Approach, Marjan Mohammadjafari, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Siti Zawiah Md Dawal, Hadi Zayandehroodi

Dr. Marjan Mohammadjafari

One of the most serious bottlenecks in many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is the long time required for new product development. Most SME manufacturing companies have realized that they cannot compete, unless they their shorten product development cycle times. At the same time, the rapid evolution of Web-based technologies and knowledge of project management has revolutionized the product development process. Through the literature review and real world insights, this paper proposes a conceptual model and a series of hypotheses. The model integrates departments of design, planning, production and procurement in the company via project management with electronic collaboration (E-collaboration) …

Managing Communication In New Product Development Process: Virtual R&D Teams And Information Technology, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Literature proves the importance of the role of information technology in increasing the effectiveness of virtual R&D teams’ communication for new product development. However, the factors that make information technology construct in a virtual R&D team are still ambiguous. Managers of virtual R&D teams for new product development do not know “which type of technology should be used”. To address the gap and answer the question, the paper presents a set of factors that make a construct that contribute to effective communication strategy for virtual R&D teams. The proposed construct has been modified based on the findings of a field …

Magnetic And Microwave Properties Of Ion-Beam-Sputtered Amorphous Feₓco₈₀₋ₓb₁₅Si₅ Films, V. G. Harris, S. A. Oliver, W. B. Nowak, C. Vittoria

Carmine Vittoria

Magnetically soft amorphous films of FeₓCo₈₀₋ₓB₁₅Si₅ (x = 0, 6, 23, 40, 70, 80) were ion beam sputter deposited onto fused quartz for static and microwave magnetic characterization. Films ranged in thickness from 220 to 260 nm and were deposited at rates of 0.1-0.2 nm/s. Saturation magnetization, coercivity, and loop squareness values were extracted from hysteresis loops generated by a vibrating sample magnetometer. Ferromagnetic resonance measurements were taken using a 9.5-GHz cavity with the applied magnetic field both parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the film, yielding values for the g factor, anisotropy field, effective magnetization, and linewidth. Well …

Structural And Magnetic Characterization Of Amorphous Gd₂Fe₁₄B Thin Films, S. E. Bushnell, P. C. Dorsey, W. B. Nowak, C. Vittoria

Carmine Vittoria

Thin amorphous films of nominal composition Gd₂Fe₁₄B were fabricated on Si (100) substrates using ion‐beam sputtering for the purpose of establishing their structural and magnetic properties at room temperature. X‐ray‐diffraction scans performed on as‐deposited and annealed films revealed an amorphous structure. The as‐deposited saturation magnetization was found to be 8101 G at room temperature suggesting ferrimagnetic ordering with anti‐parallel coupling similar to other heavy rare earth‐transition metal systems. Results from in‐plane and perpendicular ferromagnetic resonance experiments conducted at 9.108 GHz showed the films to be inhomogeneous. This was evident from the presence of two in‐plane resonance lines and spin‐wave spectra …

The Measurement Of Magnetostriction Constants Of Thin Films Using Planar Microwave Devices And Ferromagnetic Resonance, S. E. Bushnell, W. B. Nowak, S. A. Oliver, C. Vittoria

Carmine Vittoria

In this paper we introduce a new technique for measuring the saturation magnetostriction constant (λs) for isotropic polycrystalline thin films. The technique makes use of nonresonant planar microwave structures together with a novel stressing mechanism to induce a shift in the resonant field of a magnetic thin film as measured by a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiment. Measurement of the shift induced by a uniaxial stress allows for determination of λs via a magnetic resonance analysis. Either a slotline device or coplanar waveguide (CPW) was used as the source of the microwave excitation field depending upon the orientation of the dc …

Effects Of Boron Implantation In Films Of Iron-Nickel, J. Ryu, K. Castell, W. Nowak, C. Vittoria

Carmine Vittoria

We have implanted boron ions into films of Fe-Ni alloy composition. A homogeneous distribution of boron was determined from the sputter Auger analysis with a concentration of 18% and 34% for low- and high-dose implantation, respectively. The resistivity of film was increased by a factor of 2 and 4 as a result of low- and high-dose implantation, respectively. The magnetic properties of these films are studied as a function of annealing temperature by using FMR measurements. Both the uniaxial anisotropy field and FMR linewidth are dramatically decreased as a result of annealing at elevated temperatures. The changes of effective magnetization …

Magnetic And Structural Investigation Of Heat Treated Ion Beam Sputtered Amorphous Co₇₄Fe₆B₁₅Si₅ Films, V. G. Harris, S. A. Oliver, W. B. Nowak, C. Vittoria, R. J. Culbertson, W. T. Elam, K. H. Kim

Carmine Vittoria

As-deposited and annealed specimens of ion beam sputtered amorphous Co₇₄Fe₆B₁₅Si₅ thin films were examined to explore the correlation between changes in magnetic properties and atomic structure. Specimens were characterized magnetically, by traditional ac and dc techniques and structurally, via conversion-electron extended x-ray absorption fine structure analysis. Results show significant ordering of the higher order atomic shells around the transition metal ions well below the crystallization temperature. This ordering evolves into a body- centered-cubic configuration around both the Co and Fe ions. Increases in nearest neighbor peak positions in the EXAFS Fourier transforms were observed to correlate with increasing annealing temperatures. …

Evolving A Summer Engineering Camp Through Assessment, Katherine Chen, Lizabeth Schlemer, Heather Scott Smith, Teana Fredeen

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

EPIC (Engineering Possibilities in College) is a one-week summer program for high school students (entering 9th-12th grades) to learn about engineering and experience hands-on labs in a university atmosphere. It's an opportunity for students to explore the different types of engineering available at many universities. The aim of EPIC is to expand the College of Engineering mission to K-12 students: "To educate students for careers of service, leadership and distinction in engineering or other fields by using a participatory, learn by doing, ‘hands-on’ approach".

The Inside-Out Classroom: A Win-Win Strategy For Teaching With Technology, Daniel J. Waldorf, Lizabeth Schlemer

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

As costs of higher education soar and many universities face uncertain funding models, institutional pressures have increased to improve instructor efficiency. At the same time, U.S. industry leaders and leading educators have called for improvements in engineering education based on more interactive, hands-on student learning experiences. Although many efforts have been made to take advantage of technology to either improve student learning or to maintain student learning while increasing instructor efficiency, few approaches have been shown to improve both learning and efficiency. A teaching method is proposed to improve student learning and increase student satisfaction while also addressing the instructors’ …

Design Projects With Out-Of-Town Companies, Lizabeth Schlemer

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The capstone design class in the industrial engineering department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) includes projects with companies. The projects are large ambiguous facilities design problems that allow students to incorporate many aspects of the IE curriculum. For the past 15 years students have been participating in these projects with local companies. Over the past several years, companies from out of town (200 miles to the north in Mountain View or 200 miles to the south in Oxnard) have participated. These out of town companies have presented certain logistical issues, but they have proven to …

Designing Fuzzy Multi Criteria Decision Making Model For Best Selection Of Areas For Improvement In Efqm, J Dodangeh

Javad Dodangeh

In a growingly competitive business environment, numerous organizations adopt the total quality management (TQM) approach, to struggle for business excellence. To monitor the progress towards business excellence, thousands of organizations across the world use self-assessment on a regular basis. There are a few popular business excellence models, that provide standard criteria against which an organization can measure its performances. European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) is the most popular ones. The EFQM Excellence Model was introduced at the beginning of 1992, as the framework for assessing organizations for the European Quality Award. It is now the most widely used organizational …

Quality Of Life Plus (Ql+) 2011 Rideable Tour, Daniel J. Pelisek

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Quality of Life Plus (QL+) does important work supporting members of the United States armed forces. Without significant funding, it is unlikely they could continue doing that work. Our goal was to hold a charity bike ride, the 2011 QL+ RideABLE Tour, to help them raise the funds they need. We approached the ride from two different perspectives, event planning and project management, with the hope that the two approaches could work in synergy towards a successful event. The project management approach focused on industrial engineering tools like work breakdown structures (WBS), cost analysis, and risk assessment. The goal was …

Radio Frequency Identification Classroom Management System, Andrew W. Wright

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Professors who manage large classes are unrealistically expected to grade each student fairly and accurately. Even with all of the technological advancements that have occurred in the past thirty years, very little progress has been made in classroom management, and as a result, professors are not equipped with enough tools to successfully manage large class sizes. Because radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is making its way into student issued identification cards, there is an opportunity to use it as a tool to aid professors in the classroom. The focus of this paper is to discover an effective system that can …

Parker Aerospace Fluid Systems Division Product Support Facility Redesign, Sean Walker

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

With growing popularity for commercial air travel and aerial military operations comes an increase in demand for innovative, technological solutions of aircraft system components. As OEM sales of these components rise, this creates a burden on the aftermarket side of the business when these parts and systems require service in order to continue functioning properly. Parker Aerospace, Fluid Systems Division, and its Product Support Team are experiencing this growth burden and want to reconfigure necessary means within the layout to succeed in accommodating new program areas on the aftermarket side. During this process, cost reduction opportunities will be explored and …

Human Factor And Ergonomic Considerations And Improvements For A Table-Free Card Game Product, Enrique Daniel Aguirre

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The purpose of this project is to design a table-free Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game product that will make the transition of said game from table to user more fluid and intuitive, improving on past designs in the process. Despite there currently being many similar products in the market, there has not yet been one that adequately fulfills game requirements and comfortably adapts to the range of players associated with the game. Taking ergonomic and human factor considerations into account during the development of the design, a prototype was created as part of this project that was subsequently tested against a past …

Technological Advancement For Vehicles Operable By The Visually Impaired, Heather L. Brown

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This senior project aims to provide blind persons with the ability to effectively experience driving. This report includes the project background, literature review, designs, methodologies, results, and conclusions with project management, human factors engineering, and electronic manufacturing focuses. Other universities and professionals have accepted the Blind Driver Challenge presented by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) or studied systems to improve vehicle feedback. The Virginia Tech vehicle, named "Odin", includes tactile and audio interfaces in order to relay information to a blind driver about vehicle heading and speed. The QFD results reveal that the amount of available information from …

Continuous Improvement Efforts In J. Carrol's Screen Printing Process, Millan Arellano

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The following report details the analysis and procedure taken not only to determine the issues limiting J. Carroll’s screen printing capacity, but also provides the solutions necessary to address these issues. The report addresses one crucial operation in the screen printing process, changeovers, which contribute to roughly 24% of the screen printing process time and more than any other operation in the screen printing process. Within the changeover operation two specific tasks appear to be plaguing long changeover times: they are test print and design approval. The report elaborates on the Fishbone Diagrams utilized to bring up the potential causes …

Improving Cal Poly Space Systems Infrastructure, Tyler Richier

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The goal of this project was to increase the usable space for the club Cal Poly Space Systems to work on its projects, improve the safety for its members, and reduce the time it takes to manufacture its products. The project demonstrated the effectiveness of 5S in improving a workspace. Club members were measurably more comfortable in the work environment and spent less time looking for tools. Current rooms were made more professional by ridding the workplace of non-valued items and finding sensible locations for high-traffic items. Additional rooms were added and they should indisputably support club projects the upcoming …

Use Of Electroluminescent Wire For Monitoring Fatigue In Manual Materials Handling, Spencer Martinez, Chester Matkey

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

In the field of manual materials handling, millions of dollars are lost each year in accidents caused by physical fatigue. The purpose of this project is to design a device for monitoring fatigue in manual material handling operations. Combining our knowledge of electronics, new product design, ergonomics, and human factors, we were able to design and test a product to meet these specifications in hopes of developing a prototype for marketability. While we have only developed a prototype, the economic justification is performed for mass production of the product. Using statistics gathered on the percentage of injuries caused each year …