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Full-Text Articles in Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

On The Selection Of Simulation Software For Manufacturing Application, Amr Arisha, Mohie El Baradie Aug 2002

On The Selection Of Simulation Software For Manufacturing Application, Amr Arisha, Mohie El Baradie

Conference papers

The growing complexity of manufacturing along with the need for higher efficiency, greater flexibility, better product quality and lower cost urged the use of simulation in manufacturing systems. The number and variety of simulation software packages on the market increased as well. Consequently, the varieties of these packages led to some bewilderment on the part of potential users when faced the selection process. The present article addresses an overview of material addressed in journals, conferences, and textbooks on the selection of appropriate simulation software. It also suggests a classification of main criteria to be considered in evaluating simulation software packages. …


Compare And Complexity - When Is Compare Not Enough?, Chris E. Greiman Mar 2002

Compare And Complexity - When Is Compare Not Enough?, Chris E. Greiman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study research is to determine the utility of COMPARE, the DoD approved software for conducting A-76 competitions, in the more complex world of public-private competition. COMPARE serves as the baseline for establishing cost factors, while two Air Force Depots are used as a basis of comparison. Research questions answered are: 1. What are the baseline cost comparison factors established in COMPARE? 2. What are the common cost factors found in the Air Force Depot public-private competitions? 3. What are the similarities and differences between the cost factors established in COMPARE and those used in the …


How Can The Air Force Maximize The Value Of Reverse Auctioning As A Pricing Technique?, Cynthia L. Marion-Mullins Mar 2002

How Can The Air Force Maximize The Value Of Reverse Auctioning As A Pricing Technique?, Cynthia L. Marion-Mullins

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the pricing tool reverse auctioning. In a reverse auction buyers state the item they wish to buy and the sellers compete with each other for the sale, driving the price steadily down until no seller is willing to go any lower. Darleen A. Druyun, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Management, Washington, D.C., launched the Air Force acquisition reform "Lightning Bolts" initiatives. These initiatives jump-start acquisition reform to find processes leading towards a better, faster, and cheaper way of conducting business. A reverse auction is one of these processes. A review of …


An Evaluation Of Public And Private Sector Housing Alternatives For Military Families, Lawrence P. Kokocha Jr. Mar 2002

An Evaluation Of Public And Private Sector Housing Alternatives For Military Families, Lawrence P. Kokocha Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the three primary housing alternatives along with their associated benefits and costs for military members at Robins Air Force Base. Using a case study methodology, qualitative and quantitative data were collected from contract documents, cost records, statements and testimonies to Congress, literature, census data, and interviews with civil engineering, contracting, financial management and legal professionals. This data was analyzed to determine which housing alternative seems to provide the best benefits at the lowest costs for military members and the government. The results of the study indicated that private sector alternatives are less expensive than government provided housing. …


Spectrum Management And The Global Positioning System: A Case Study In Interagency Coordination, John A. Enis Mar 2002

Spectrum Management And The Global Positioning System: A Case Study In Interagency Coordination, John A. Enis

Theses and Dissertations

At the 2000 World Radio Conference (WRC), a European initiative resulted in the approval of resolutions 605 and 606 (agenda item 1.15), which the United States opposed. These resolutions established provisional power flux density (PFD) limits on the L2 and L5 frequencies of the Global Positioning System. These limits will negatively affect the $1.2B GPS modernization. The United States will have to present its positions and rationale regarding the PFD limits to international meetings, including the 2003 World Radio Conference, to persuade the international community to adopt that U.S. view. Developing the U.S. view and conducting the supporting technical work …


A System Dynamics Approach To Modeling Aircraft System Production Break Costs, John J. Dubelko Mar 2002

A System Dynamics Approach To Modeling Aircraft System Production Break Costs, John J. Dubelko

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort employs a System Dynamics methodology to model Air Force aircraft production break costs. The Air Force currently used the Anderlohr, Modified Anderlohr, and Retrograde methods for the estimation of aircraft production breaks. These methods offer little insight into the dynamic behavior of an aircraft production break. System Dynamics offers a unique way of capturing expert opinions in this area and dynamically presenting behaviors of an Air Force aircraft production line during a production break. Development of this model followed a four-step process of conceptualization, formulation, testing, and implementation. Five Air Force aircraft production break experts in were …


The Management Of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (Espcs), Ericka M. Dailey Mar 2002

The Management Of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (Espcs), Ericka M. Dailey

Theses and Dissertations

Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) originated to accomplish several objectives: (1) to meet energy efficiency goals mandated by executive orders and energy policies; (2) to improve federal government facilities using funds allocated for utility bills; and (3) to receive repayment of expenditures through energy savings reflected in reduced utility bills. In ESPC's, the contractor guarantees savings to the federal government agency. 10 CFR 436 limits the time necessary for payback. However, this regulation and others were written prior to the deregulation of utility companies. This theory is based on the underlying premise that the contractor payback is a direct result …


An Analysis Of The Knowledge And Skill Levels Required To Effectively Support Analytical Cost Decisions In Source Selections, Anthony L. Smith Mar 2002

An Analysis Of The Knowledge And Skill Levels Required To Effectively Support Analytical Cost Decisions In Source Selections, Anthony L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

We analyze these three factors (education, experience, and training) in an effort to identify the knowledge and skills necessary for cost analysts to possess to be effective members of cost panel evaluation teams during source selections. This research effort assesses whether the cost panel members and senior Air Force acquisition military and civilian personnel associate the levels of education, experience, and training as being key factors in fulfilling cost analysts duties while supporting the selection of a source in the government procurement process. To accomplish this objective, a literature review, personal interviews, and questionnaires were utilized. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis …


Beyond A-76: How To Achieve The Goals Without The Pain, Kurt A. Chelf Mar 2002

Beyond A-76: How To Achieve The Goals Without The Pain, Kurt A. Chelf

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense has determined that Outsourcing and Privatization is key to reducing operating costs and subsequently providing the fiscal dollars necessary to modernize the U.S. Armed Forces. In an effort to achieve this goal, the DoD has mandated that the Air Force study at least 5% of its manning positions for possible conversion to contract. This mandate effects over 200,000 positions throughout the department. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular, Number A-76, Performance Of Commercial Activities dictates the process used to study the appropriateness of these conversions. This thesis explores the usefulness and applicability of this process, …


Task Load And Automation Use In An Uncertain Environment, Mark A. Daly Mar 2002

Task Load And Automation Use In An Uncertain Environment, Mark A. Daly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects that user task load level has on the relationship between an individual's trust in and subsequent use of a system's automation. Automation research has demonstrated a positive correlation between an individual's trust in and subsequent use of the automation. Military decision-makers trust and use information system automation to make many tactical judgments and decisions. In situations of information uncertainty (information warfare environments), decision-makers must remain aware of information reliability issues and temperate their use of system automation if necessary. An individual's task load may have an effect on his use …


An Empirical Investigation Of Critical Factors Affecting The Ability Of Public Entities To Compete In Public Private Competitions, Timothy J. Gilbride Mar 2002

An Empirical Investigation Of Critical Factors Affecting The Ability Of Public Entities To Compete In Public Private Competitions, Timothy J. Gilbride

Theses and Dissertations

In 1996, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard initiated the largest ever service acquisition program to re-capitalize Coast Guard assets. Called the Integrated Deepwater System or IDS, this acquisition effort seeks to renovate, modernize, and or replace the Coast Guard s entire portfolio of ships, aircraft, and support facilities. The IDS contractor will be responsible for designing and constructing the system, as well as, sharing responsibility for supporting and disposing of it. This poses a significant threat to the USCG Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (AR&SC), the Coast Guard s aircraft depot located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The …


Analysis Of Air Force Contingency Contracting Training Needs, Peter S. Lasch Mar 2002

Analysis Of Air Force Contingency Contracting Training Needs, Peter S. Lasch

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the Air Force training needs of contingency contracting officers (CCOs). The study utilized the deductive approach to research. A survey instrument captured the data for the study. The survey captured input from CCOs with deployment experience and each of the Air Force components and MAJCOMs. Series 1 of the survey polls CCOs with deployment experience to determine the training CCOs require based on their personal experiences. Series 2 surveys the component and MAJCOM level supervisors to determine their perception of the training that should be required for CCOs. Comparing the two series will identify any differences in …


Decision Analysis With Value Focused Thinking As A Methodology To Select Force Protection Initiatives For Evaluation, David M. Jurk Mar 2002

Decision Analysis With Value Focused Thinking As A Methodology To Select Force Protection Initiatives For Evaluation, David M. Jurk

Theses and Dissertations

Current emphasis on homeland security/defense is high. Decision makers responsible for enhancing the protection of both military and civilian personnel require additional insight when selecting ideas, concepts, or technologies to pursue with constrained resources. They are faced with multiple criteria and multiple objectives; yet they have no defensible, objective, and repeatable selection process to assist them in making their decisions. This thesis explores whether the value-focused thinking (VFT) process is appropriate for providing the necessary insight to those decision makers. To prove the VFT process is appropriate and viable; this thesis focuses on constructing a value model, scoring alternatives, and …


A Simulation Based Experiment For Comparing Amhs Performance In A Semiconductor Fabrication Facility, Gerald Mackulak, Paul Savory Jan 2002

A Simulation Based Experiment For Comparing Amhs Performance In A Semiconductor Fabrication Facility, Gerald Mackulak, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

As the cost and complexity of constructing a semiconductor fabrication facility increases, responsive tools are needed for designing and planning its operations. Discrete-event simulation paired with design of experiments is an effective combination. This article demonstrates how simulation in combination with design of experiments is used to compare the intrabay layout of two automated material handling systems. The difference in stocker robot utilization, number of vehicle moves per hour, and average delivery time for the two intrabay layouts will be compared using a fractional factorial experimental design. The study demonstrates that the distributed storage option is preferable for maximizing manufacturing …


Flow Shop Scheduling Problem: A Computational Study, Amr Arisha, Paul Young, Mohie El Baradie Jan 2002

Flow Shop Scheduling Problem: A Computational Study, Amr Arisha, Paul Young, Mohie El Baradie

Conference papers

A computational study has been developed to obtain optimal / near optimal solution for the flow shop scheduling problem with make-span minimization as the primary criterion and the minimization of either the mean completion time, total waiting time or total idle time as the secondary criterion. The objective is to determine a sequence of operations in which to process ‘n’ jobs on ‘m’ machines in same order (flow shop environment) where skipping is allowed. The Simulation approach for deterministic and stochastic flow shop scheduling has been developed. It reads and manipulates data for 500 jobs on 500 machines. Different factorial …