Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Group Facilitation, Terry Bresnick

Operations Management Presentations

As a management consultant, over the course of more than 40 years, I have facilitated more than 1500 workshops, seminars, and decision conferences. But when I think back on the times I was a college professor at West Point in the 70s, I often found myself in a position where in addition to teaching, I had to bring together and integrate the needs of very diverse groups of people. Typically, there was time pressure, the stakes were high, and the objectives of the participants conflicted. As an assistant professor, I had no real decision-making authority, but I could help the …

Improving Production Flexibility, Christopher T. Patrick, Conrad R. Troutman, Adam Glassman, Kaitlin Payne

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Industrial & Information Engineering

Over the last year, Clayton has paired with the University of Tennessee in order to increase production rates at their Rutledge facility due to a high demand for their homes. Other concerns expressed by Clayton included high employee turnover, fluctuation in demand throughout the year, and lack of space within the facility. Several teams from the University were assigned to this location with the goal of observing and increasing throughput and flexibility within the facility while considering the previously stated issues.

Teen Driver System Modeling: A Tool For Policy Analysis, Celestin Missikpode, Corrine Peek-Asa, Daniel V. Mcgehee, James Torner, Wayne Wakeland, Robert Wallace

Systems Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of teen deaths in spite of preventive efforts. Prevention strategies could be advanced through new analytic approaches that allow us to better conceptualize the complex processes underlying teen crash risk. This may help policymakers design appropriate interventions and evaluate their impacts.

Methods: System Dynamics methodology was used as a new way of representing factors involved in the underlying process of teen crash risk. Systems dynamics modeling is relatively new to public health analytics and is a promising tool to examine relative influence of multiple interacting factors in predicting a health …

Introduction To Data Analytics And Emerging Real-World Use Cases, Art Chaovalitwongse

Operations Management Presentations

Data analytics is a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary research area that involves advances in engineering, computer science, statistics and operations research. This webinar is focused on introducing the foundation of data analytics and emerging real-world use cases of data analytics. This presentation will begin with a discussion of the mathematical and statistical modeling aspects of various levels of data analytics (i.e., descriptive, predictive and prescriptive). In this webinar, you will hear an overview of data analytics in real world problems ranging from healthcare analytics, retail analytics and financial analytics.

Stop “Droning” On About Unmanned Aircraft Systems And Do Something About It, Richard Ham

Operations Management Presentations

The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is quickly becoming an expectation for inventory management, supply chain, engineering/construction and architectural inspections, agriculture assessment and surveillance. This webinar will provide an overview of compliance requirements, startup costs, and new use cases changing the way operations managers function and improve efficiency. Supply chain management and delivery, construction management, quality management inspections and homeland security requirements are already heavily invested in UAS integration. Learn how to use your knowledge as an operations manager to stay ahead of your competitors and discover creative ways to drive up productivity and reduce costs by adding UAS …

Leading Through Change, Travis Mcneal

Operations Management Presentations

In this webinar, you will learn how to leverage periods of change to develop better leaders. We all hear that "the only constant is change" and that "change is hard." What if there was a different narrative? What if organizations going through change actually resulted in higher performance, engagement and better leadership? It is widely known that effective change management requires sponsorship — this means every leader, from the C-Suite to the front-line supervisor. This webinar will share practical and repeatable ways to help all leaders improve the way they lead change.

Presenting To Senior Decision Makers: Clear, Concise & Complete, Kirk Michealson

Operations Management Presentations

Your manager just assigned you to lead a new project for your Vice President. You have many questions! What are the details of the project? What does the VP want to see in briefings? Does the VP have an advocate for pre-briefs? What information is important to include in the presentation? How detailed should the information be? How should the information be presented? Are there any best practices in developing presentations? In this webinar, you will learn strategies for sharing important information with key stakeholders in your career – and how to actually get them to listen!

Evaluation Criteria For Selecting Nosql Databases In A Single Box Environment, Ryan D. Engle, Brent T. Langhals, Michael R. Grimaila, Douglas D. Hodson

Faculty Publications

In recent years, NoSQL database systems have become increasingly popular, especially for big data, commercial applications. These systems were designed to overcome the scaling and flexibility limitations plaguing traditional relational database management systems (RDBMSs). Given NoSQL database systems have been typically implemented in large-scale distributed environments serving large numbers of simultaneous users across potentially thousands of geographically separated devices, little consideration has been given to evaluating their value within single-box environments. It is postulated some of the inherent traits of each NoSQL database type may be useful, perhaps even preferable, regardless of scale. Thus, this paper proposes criteria conceived to …

Factors Influencing Household Solar Adoption In Santiago, Chile, Jeffrey P. Walters, Jessica Kaminsky, Claudio Huepe

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

In Santiago, Chile, the market conditions are seemingly excellent for the household adoption of photovoltaic (PV) technology, yet the uptake is negligible. To explore this paradox, the authors conducted a Delphi study to solicit the knowledge of a panel of Chilean PV experts. These efforts yielded 26 factors—both motivations and barriers—impacting the diffusion of PV in Santiago. Of the 26, experts were in consensus on the relative importance of 21. The literature suggests that diffusion of PV technologies is influenced by complex technical, economic, and social factors. Similarly, the experts saw influence from financial, environmental, and energy supply (e.g., electrical …

Applications Of Complex Network Analysis In Electric Power Systems, Mahmoud Saleh, Yusef Esa, Ahmed Mohamed

Publications and Research

This paper provides a review of the research conducted on complex network analysis (CNA) in electric power systems. Moreover, a new approach is presented to find optimal locations for microgrids (MGs) in electric distribution systems (EDS) utilizing complex network analysis. The optimal placement in this paper points to the location that will result in enhanced grid resilience, reduced power losses and line loading, better voltage stability, and a supply to critical loads during a blackout. The criteria used to point out the optimal placement of the MGs were predicated on the centrality analysis selected from the complex network theory, the …

Bridge Inspection: Human Performance, Unmanned Aerial Systems And Automation, Sattar Dorafshan, Marc Maguire

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have become of considerable private and commercial interest for a variety of jobs and entertainment in the past 10 years. This paper is a literature review of the state of practice for the United States bridge inspection programs and outlines how automated and unmanned bridge inspections can be made suitable for present and future needs. At its best, current technology limits UAS use to an assistive tool for the inspector to perform a bridge inspection faster, safer, and without traffic closure. The major challenges for UASs are satisfying restrictive Federal Aviation Administration regulations, control issues in …

Improving The Truck Driver Job, Kerry Melton

Operations Management Presentations

Freight transportation has increased dramatically over the last 35 years as freight and shipment demand have expanded resulting in truck driver and equipment capacity issues and infrastructure problems. Freight transport tonnage in the U.S. is predominately truck transportation consisting of more than 70% of all freight distribution with a 25% growth expectation over the next 5 years. Within the trucking industry, over-the-road (OTR) truckload transportation consists of 50% of all truck tonnage shipped. Due to high OTR truckload demand, OTR driver capacity issues have plagued the truckload industry for years. Additionally, high OTR driver turnover and poor driver job retention …

A Systems Analysis Of Factors Influencing Household Solar Pv Adoption In Santiago, Chile, Jeffrey P. Walters, Jessica Kaminsky, Lawrence Gottschamer

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

Societal uptake of household solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is the result of a complex and interdependent array of technical, social, political and economic factors. This novel study employs a systems lens to examine both technical and non-technical barriers to renewables, with a focus on interactions that are empirically influential on PV uptake. Using local solar expert stakeholder input into a participatory systems approach, this study provides a structural analysis of factors influencing household solar adoption. The approach is applied and assessed for household solar PV systems in Santiago, Chile, to gain insight into the interconnected factors driving technology adoption. Barriers …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of A Gaze-Based Training Intervention On Latent Hazard Anticipation Skills For Young Drivers: A Driving Simulator Study, Yusuke Yamani, Pinar Biçaksiz, Dakota B. Palmer, Nathan Hatfield, Siby Samuel

Psychology Faculty Publications

A PC-based training program (Road Awareness and Perception Training or RAPT; Pradhan et al., 2009), proven effective for improving young novice drivers' hazard anticipation skills, did not fully maximize the hazard anticipation performance of young drivers despite the use of similar anticipation scenarios in both, the training and the evaluation drives. The current driving simulator experiment examined the additive effects of expert eye movement videos following RAPT training on young drivers' hazard anticipation performance compared to video-only and RAPT-only conditions. The study employed a between-subject design in which 36 young participants (aged 18-21) were equally and randomly assigned to one …

Communication Based Control For Dc Microgrids, Mahmoud S. Saleh, Yusef Esa, Ahmed Mohamed

Publications and Research

Centralized communication-based control is one of the main methods that can be implemented to achieve autonomous advanced energy management capabilities in DC microgrids. However, its major limitation is the fact that communication bandwidth and computation resources are limited in practical applications. This can be often improved by avoiding redundant communications and complex computations. In this paper, an autonomous communication-based hybrid state/event driven control scheme is proposed. This control scheme is hierarchical and heuristic, such that on the primary control level, it encompasses state-driven local controllers, and on the secondary control level, an event-driven MG centralized controller (MGCC) is used. This …

Multivariate Analysis Of Students Perception On Teaching With Client Based And Non-Client Based Team Projects, Philip Appiah-Kubi

Engineering Management and Systems Faculty Publications

The classroom experience has evolved from traditional lecture, PowerPoint and whiteboards to a more active environment where students and instructors work together on hands-on activities to achieve the course objectives. Various names have been given to this pedagogy; experiential learning, project based learning (client based versus non-client based), active learning, and problem based learning are a handful of names used to describe this evolving pedagogy. The main challenge faced by educators in educating undergraduate students to be independent thinkers and problem solvers has been the driving force fueling the shift in pedagogy. This research looks into student’s perception on project …

Reflections On Teaching System Dynamics Modeling To Secondary School Students For Over 20 Years, Diana Fisher

Systems Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper contains the description of a successful system dynamics (SD) modeling approach used for almost a quarter-century in secondary schools, both in algebra classes and in a year-long SD modeling course. Secondary school students have demonstrated an ability to build original models from the news, write technical papers explaining their models, and present a newfound understanding of dynamic feedback behavior to an audience. The educational learning theory and instructional methods used for both the algebra and modeling courses are detailed, with examples. Successful student SD modeling experiences suggest the SD approach can expand the sophistication of topics that secondary …

An Attribute Agreement Method For Hfacs Inter-Rater Reliability Assessment, Teddy Steven Cotter, Veysel Yesilbas

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Inter-rater reliability can be regarded as the degree of agreement among raters on a given item or a circumstance. Multiple approaches have been taken to estimate and improve inter-rater reliability of the United States Department of Defense Human Factors Analysis and Classification System used by trained accident investigators. In this study, three trained instructor pilots used the DoD-HFACS to classify 347 U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board (AIB) Class-A reports between the years of 2000 and 2013. The overall method consisted of four steps: (1) train on HFACS definitions, (2) verify rating reliability, (3) rate HFACS reports, and (4) random …

A Proposed Taxonomy For The Systems Statistical Engineering Body Of Knowledge, Teddy Steven Cotter

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

In the ASEM-IAC 2012, Cotter (2012) identified the gaps in knowledge that statistical engineering needs to address, explored additional gaps in knowledge not addressed in the prior works, and set forth a working definition of and body of knowledge for statistical engineering. In the ASEM-IAC 2015, Cotter (2015) proposed a systemic causal Bayesian hierarchical model that addressed the knowledge gap needed to integrate deterministic mathematical engineering causal models within a stochastic framework. Missing, however, is the framework for specifying the hierarchical qualitative systems structures necessary and sufficient for specifying systemic causal Bayesian hierarchical models. In the ASEM-IAC 2016, Cotter (2016) …

Systems Statistical Engineering – Systems Hierarchical Constraint Propagation, Teddy Steven Cotter, Peggy A. Quigley

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Cotter (ASEM-IAC 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017): (1) identified the gaps in knowledge that statistical engineering needed to address and set forth a working definition of and body of knowledge for statistical engineering; (2) proposed a systemic causal Bayesian hierarchical model that addressed the knowledge gap needed to integrate deterministic mathematical engineering causal models within a stochastic framework; (3) specified the modeling methodology through which statistical engineering models could be developed, diagnosed, and applied to predict systemic mission performance; and (4) proposed revisions to and integration of IDEF0 as the framework for developing hierarchical qualitative systems models. In the last work, …

A Method For Identification, Representation, And Assessment Of Complex System Pathologies In Acquisition Programs, Charles B. Keating, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Keith F. Joiner, Joseph M. Bradley, Raed M. Jaradat

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Acquisition programs continue to struggle with increasing complexity. High degrees of emergence, interconnectedness, and uncertainty are the norm rather than exception. The purpose of this research is to explore extension of ongoing research in complex system pathologies for acquisition programs. Significant advances have been made in development of deeper understanding of the nature of pathologies (deviations from healthy system function) and their implications for performance of complex systems. Complex system pathologies represent violations of underlying system principles. These violations negatively affect system governance functions (control, oversight, accountability) resulting in degradation of system performance. Greater understanding of complex system pathologies offers …

A Systems Theory Based Examination Of Failure In Acquisition System Reform, Charles B. Keating, Joseph M. Bradley, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Craig Arndt

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The defense acquisition system has been the source of intense scrutiny and calls for reform for over four decades. This research is to examine the contributions of Systems Theory to enhance prospects related to acquisition reform. Systems Theory offers a set of principles, laws, and concepts that explain the behavior of complex systems. Although the acquisition system and constituent programs have been critiqued and examined from multiple perspectives, they have never been the subject of exploration from Systems Theory. Recent advances in Systems Theory have identified 83 different potential system pathologies that can result in degraded system performance or outright …

Chapter 7: Human View, Holly A.H. Handley

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.