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Measuring User Satisfaction Of The Electronic Mail System At Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters As An Indicator Of The System's Effectiveness, Randall R. Bradford Dec 1993

Measuring User Satisfaction Of The Electronic Mail System At Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters As An Indicator Of The System's Effectiveness, Randall R. Bradford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the electronic mail system at the Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters. User satisfaction was measured as an indicator of the systems effectiveness. In order to provide an objective measurement of system effectiveness, the following research questions were addressed: (1) What is system effectiveness in relation to this particular electronic mail system, and how should it be measured? (2) What measurement instruments can be adapted, modified, or created to measure effectiveness as it is defined for problem? (3) If a measurement instrument is administered what do the results of the …


Scheduling A Medium-Sized Manufacturing Shop: A Simulation Study, Daniel J. Mcfeely Sep 1993

Scheduling A Medium-Sized Manufacturing Shop: A Simulation Study, Daniel J. Mcfeely

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the application of simple-to-use, low cost scheduling methods to the operating environment of a medium-sized manufacturing shop. Computer simulation was used to evaluate eighteen different scheduling algorithms, each the result of the combination of a loading and a sequencing rule; due date setting was not considered since due dates are exogenously set. The loading rules investigated were Minimum Machine Required, Lowest Average WIP, and Lowest Average Aggregate Priority Level. The sequencing rules investigated were Priority, EDD, FIS, SPT, Slack, and Slack Ratio. The scheduling algorithms were evaluated against performance measures of mean tardiness, mean flowtime, mean percentage …


Repair Process Improvement At The Ogden Air Logistics Center, Landing Gear Division: A Case Study In The Application Of The Theory Of Constraints, David A. Maddox, Susan L. Martz Sep 1993

Repair Process Improvement At The Ogden Air Logistics Center, Landing Gear Division: A Case Study In The Application Of The Theory Of Constraints, David A. Maddox, Susan L. Martz

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the nature and extent of success that resulted from the implementation of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) in a depot repair environment. The actions taken to implement TOC were determined. Performance measures which defined success were identified and data were collected and summarized to demonstrate performance before and after implementation of TOC concepts. Improvements in flowdays and work-in-process (WIP) were determined to be attributable to the TOC effort. In addition, the unique characteristics of probabalistic repair and supply system variability were noted as those characteristics that posed the greatest challenges to implementing TOC in a remanufacturing environment. …


A Comparison Of The Disaster™ Scheduling Software With A Simultaneous Scheduling Algorithm For Minimizing Maximum Tardiness In Job Shops, Barak J. Carlson, Christopher A. Lettiere Sep 1993

A Comparison Of The Disaster™ Scheduling Software With A Simultaneous Scheduling Algorithm For Minimizing Maximum Tardiness In Job Shops, Barak J. Carlson, Christopher A. Lettiere

Theses and Dissertations

The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is the foundation for a computerized scheduling system called DISASTER. Although this system has proven successful in many manufacturing settings, it has potential limitations due to the sequential heuristic process by which it schedules constraints. The objective of this thesis was to determine the extent to which these limitations impact the due date performance of schedules created by DISASTER. This objective was addressed by developing an algorithm to simultaneously schedule multiple constraints in a job shop environment and provide the optimal schedule for minimized maximum tardiness. This algorithm was used to obtain solutions for a …


An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of The Air Force Drug Testing Program And Four Potential Modifications, Thomas R. Doster, Hubert A. Ross Sep 1993

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of The Air Force Drug Testing Program And Four Potential Modifications, Thomas R. Doster, Hubert A. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the 1992 USAF Drug Testing Program and potential improvements, based on the number of drug users detected, cost, and legal issues. Four potential improvements were examined: (1) increasing the annual amount of random urinalysis; (2) increasing the proportion of commander-directed testing; (3) using a weighted selection technique, and (4) replacing urinalysis with hair testing. For each improvement, the researchers used test and survey results to estimate the number of drug users detected, a cost formula to estimate any changes in cost, and interviews with legal experts to identify any legal issues associated with implementing the modification. Researchers …


Benchmark Production Scheduling Problems For Job Shops With Interactive Constraints, Stewart W. James, Bruno A. Mediate Jr. Sep 1993

Benchmark Production Scheduling Problems For Job Shops With Interactive Constraints, Stewart W. James, Bruno A. Mediate Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

United States Air Force (USAF) depots have expressed interest in utilizing DISASTER production scheduling software to schedule their maintenance operations. DISASTER attempts to increase system throughput by building effective schedules for system, constraint resources. However, when a system contains multiple, interactive constraints, DISASTER builds the constraint schedules one at a time. Since each successive schedule must adhere to timing restrictions imposed by previous constraint schedules, the quality of the schedules produced by DISASTER is dependent upon the sequence in which the constraints are scheduled. This thesis first developed a set of benchmark problems which provide a diversity of scheduling scenarios. …


Software Cost Estimating Models: A Comparative Study Of What The Models Estimate, George A. Coggins, Roy C. Russell Sep 1993

Software Cost Estimating Models: A Comparative Study Of What The Models Estimate, George A. Coggins, Roy C. Russell

Theses and Dissertations

This effort developed a consolidated document which highlights and examines differences in definitions, assumptions, and methodologies used by the REVIC, SASET, PRICES, and SEER-SEM cost models. The following research questions were investigated: (1) What differences exist between the cost models? (2) How do these differences impact the resulting estimates? (3) To what degree can we explain and adjust for known differences between the cost models? Seven specific areas were addressed: (1) software development phases, (2) development activities and cost elements, (3) source lines of code and language differences, (4) key model attributes and key cost drivers, (5) implications of Project …


Predicting The Productive Capacity Of Air Force Aerospace Ground Equipment Personnel Using Aptitude And Experience Measures, Robert S. Faneuff Mar 1993

Predicting The Productive Capacity Of Air Force Aerospace Ground Equipment Personnel Using Aptitude And Experience Measures, Robert S. Faneuff

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of mechanical aptitude and job experience on the job performance of 204 Air Force Aerospace Group Equipment (AGE) mechanics. Job performance was expressed as productive capacity (PC), which is derived from estimated performance times on job tasks. PC measures were derived for 50 tasks typically performed by airmen in the specialty. Aptitude measures took the form of Mechanical percentile composite scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). A second-order logistic model was used to regress PC on aptitude and experience at the task level and at the overall job, or aggregate, level. Model …


An Analysis Of Tactical Airlifter Characteristics And Their Impact On Theater Airlift System Performance, John J. Koger Mar 1993

An Analysis Of Tactical Airlifter Characteristics And Their Impact On Theater Airlift System Performance, John J. Koger

Theses and Dissertations

This study used computer simulation and Response Surface Technology to determine what tactical airlifter characteristics most impact theater airlift system performance in a Southwest Asia (SWA) scenario. Some Aircraft characteristics were grouped into functional sets, while others were considered individually. After screening one characteristic, reliability, with a two-level factorial experiment, a Box-Behnken design was used to estimate second-order metamodels. A stepwise regression procedure indicated that, if attrition rates are ignored, airlift system performance is most impacted by the aircraft's size, survivability, cruise speed, and ability to operate on short fields. The SWA scenario used in this study covers a large …


Cost Constrained Improvements To The Military Retirement System, Cynthia A. Brown Mar 1993

Cost Constrained Improvements To The Military Retirement System, Cynthia A. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This research studies possible changes to the current military retirement system. The current military retirement system refers to the system provided under the Military Reform Act of 1986, A new system is proposed which would provide the retiree with four options. Option 1 would provide a pay annuity and medical benefits to the retiree (this is the current system). Option 2 would provide a pay lump sum in place of the, annuity and would offer medical benefits. Option 3 would offer the pay annuity but give a medical lump sum amount in place of the medical benefit. Finally, option 4 …