Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

The Paperless Factory: A Review Of Issues And Technologies, Manocher Djassemi, James A. Sena

Industrial Technology and Packaging

paper-based data management can be a bottleneck, slowing factory-wide information transfer. This study explores the evolution of paperless communication in a factory environment and reviews some of the key technologies that contribute to the implementation of a paperless system including digital communication, the virtual factory, computer-integrated manufacturing, and web-centric information flow. The challenges facing users of a paperless information system are also discussed.

A Lean Approach To Manage A Capstone Senior Project Course, Manocher Djassemi

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The senior project course (IT461) in the Industrial Technology program at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is a quarter long capstone course that complements the "learn-by-doing" educational approach at Cal Poly. Our short time frame, an 11-week academic quarter, poses a challenge for both students and faculty. This paper provides details of a new design for the IT461 course. A lean, paperless approach to course management is presented. Using this approach, little or no paper is exchanged between students and faculty. The reduction in waste can be significant in engineering or technology senior project courses. Evaluation of the results …

Mass Customization And Its Curricular Implications For Four-Year Degree Programs In Manufacturing Technologies, R. Balamuralikrishma, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Mark Rajai

Kurt A. Rosentrater

Mass customization is fast emerging as a popular business strategy which aims to also cater to individual expressed needs of end users at prices closely comparable to mass produced items. Companies are able to switch to this mode of operation by primarily making their own operations demand-driven, flexible systems and asking their suppliers to do the same. Customers by and large are delighted to be part of this new kind of supply chain and are willing to invest time to specify what exactly they want provided businesses are willing to keep their end of the bargain in terms of high …

Technology Transition: Guidance Versus Practice, Walter E. Espy

Theses and Dissertations

The transition of technologies ensures that U.S. warfighters have the necessary capabilities to fight ever increasing and changing global threats. The purpose of this study is to discover to what extent the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is implementing known technology transition best practices. The research will look at the current guidance on technology transition and determine if it is being used by program managers within AFRL. The study will consider the technology transition process or processes expressly exercised within AFRL by surveying the perspectives and knowledge of program managers. An understanding of this process from the science and technology …

Roadblocks To Software Modernization, Dyan E. Mcclamma

Theses and Dissertations

Failed or troubled modernization efforts, such as the multi-million dollar 1997-2000 ROCC/SOCC failure, are a serious acquisition problem for the Air Force. Using both historical data and a survey of current Air Force software acquisition program key staff, this research examined the Air Forces ability to modernize legacy software systems. The search of historical program data, to identify trends or similarities between known failed software modernization efforts, failed to uncover sufficient data for analysis. This lack of project data indicates a knowledge management issue (i.e. lessons learned are not recorded and stored so that they can be accessed by other …

Understanding Innovation Adoption In The Air Force, Morgan J. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Innovation adoption has become a critical issue for organizations in both the public and private sectors. The search for competitive advantage has led to the recognition that innovation is a vital ingredient for an organization's survival and profitability in this information age. The United States Air Force is seeking to adapt to this new information age by transforming its business processes in order to sustain its competitive advantage as the world's most respected air force. Adopting innovations and integrating new or improved technologies, capabilities, concepts, and processes into Air Force planning and acquisition activities, organizations, and operations are goals of …

A Control Approach To Explore The Dynamics Of Capacity Scalability In Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems, Ahmed M. Deif, Waguih H. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

This paper presents a dynamic model and analysis for one of the major characteristics of reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) capacity scalability. The dynamic model is analyzed using its transfer function. Dynamic characteristics associated with the delay in capacity scalability and how to minimize this delay are discussed using control approaches. The problem of how to supply exact capacity in response to market changes is also examined by solving the dynamic problem of the production offset phenomenon in RMSs. The effect of work in process as a damping factor for production disturbances during capacity scalability is addressed. Finally, a general capacity …

Effect Of Time-Based Parameters On The Agility Of A Dynamic Mpc System, A. M. Deif, W. H. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

This paper presents a dynamic manufacturing planning and control (MPC) system that can maintain agility through the ability to dynamically switch between different policies due to varying market strategies. The dynamic behavior of the developed system is investigated by studying the effect of the time based parameters on responsiveness and cost effectiveness of the system reflected in the natural frequency and the damping of its different configurations. Results showed that the agility requirements are directly affected by the time based parameters of the MPC system: production lead time, capacity scalability delay, and shipment time. This resulted in a better understanding …

Neuro-Physiologically-Driven Adaptive Automation To Improve Decision Making Under Stress, Michael C. Dorneich, Patricia May Ververs, Stephen D. Whitlow, Santosh Mathan, James Carciofini, Trent Reusser

Michael C. Dorneich

The advent of netted communications and a wide array of battlefield sensors is enabling real-time information streaming and asset management. However, the burden of information management is placed solely on the receiver of the information. Honeywell Laboratories developed a Communications Scheduler (CoS), an adaptive information management system for the dismounted Soldier, driven by an assessment of the individual's current cognitive capacity to process incoming information, in order to improve decision making under high task load conditions. An evaluation was conducted to demonstrate whether cognitive capacity to perform under differing task loads could be detected using neuro-physiological sensors and then if …

Developing A New Program In Marine Engineering Technology, Anthony Dean, Gary Crossman, Alok Verma

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The Department of Engineering Technology, in the Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University, in conjunction with members of its advisory board and other industry representatives have begun a sustained effort to promote and develop a strong course of study in Marine Engineering Technology. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Old Dominion University, and particularly the Department of Engineering Technology, is uniquely positioned to develop such a program. With strong ties to the world's largest Naval Base and superlative shipbuilding, maintenance and repair facilities, early qualitative research indicated high interest for development of such a program in support of …

Effects Of The Use Of Soybean Oil As Cutting Fluid On The Surface Finish For Turning Operations, Carlos Alberto TeráN Yengle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Concerns about the long term supply of petroleum, the instability of its prices, and growing environmental issues have led to a variety of legislative and public support for the use of agricultural commodities in industrial applications. This study is of importance because of environmental and health hazards concerns, and the possibility of reducing operating costs with the elimination of disposal of used cutting oil that the use of biodegradable oil offers to the metal-cutting operations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the use of an experimental soybean-based oil as a cutting fluid on surface finish …

An Investigation Into Microwave Energy To Soften Scrap Tire Rubber Aiding Existing Mechanical Separation Processes, Russell Jon Lucas

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research was performed to soften scrap tires to aid in their transformation from whole tires to valuable streams of rubber and steel for reuse in industry. Actual shredded scrap rubber was used in this experiment to determine if this highly variable material could yield consistent results if subjected to volumetric heating from a magnetron emitting microwave energy.

A consumer microwave oven was used to heat this material. This oven had its control circuitry modified by using a programmable logic controller to operate the energy exposure time. The sample's surface temperature was measured utilizing a non contact infrared thermometer. All …