Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons^™

Miscellaneous Publication 009/2001 - Pistachios Western Australia An Income Producing Reforestation Opportunity For The Wheatbelt, Andrew Quinn

Horticulture published reports

Faced with a rising water-table, salt and acid land impacts, the Western Australian Wheatbelt requires significant changes to traditional farming system models.

Part of this drive towards improved sustainability is the need to re-plant substantial areas to tree belts or blocks. One of the limiting factors in the widescale adoption of on-farm tree planting is the narrow range of opportunities to generate income from these sites.

This report presents a model for the development of a Pistachio nut industry with production integrated into existing Wheatbelt farming systems. In addition to offering significant environmental benefits, the Pistachio tree offers the opportunity …

Identification Of Preferred Operational Plan Force Mixes Using A Multiobjective Methodology To Optimize Resource Suitability And Lift Cost, David J. Wakefield Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

AFIT research in support of the Advanced Logistics Project is directed at developing a Mission-Resource Value Assessment Tool for rationally assigning relative value to resources and identifying alternative force mixes to logistics and operational planners. Research of factors that affect force mix composition has been strictly limited to how the operating environment of USAF combat aircraft influences their performance in specified aerospace missions. In contrast, this research makes use of an aircraft's designed suitability to perform specified aerospace missions in order to examine the tradeoff between mission suitability and the amount of lift needed to deploy and operate the asset. …

Jp-8+100lt: A Low Cost Replacement Of Jpts As The Primary Fuel For The U-2 Aircraft, Christian G. Simms

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force currently spends approximately $ 10 million dollars annually on fuel support for the U-2 aircraft. The U-2 has used a jet fuel known as JPTS since the aircraft's development in the 1950's. JPTS is a specialty fuel used only by the U-2 and is produced by two oil refineries in the United States. As such, it has limited worldwide availability and costs over three times the per-gallon price of the Air Force's primary jet fuel, JP-8. Recent research performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory Propulsion Directorate suggests that additives could be added to JP-8, which would …

Market Prospects Organic Carrots & Other Vegetables, Steven Mccoy

Horticulture published reports

This report provides a brief overview of the market opportunity for West Australian organically grown carrots and other vegetables grown in rotation with carrots. The report outlines market opportunities and important aspects of the local WA, interstate and export markets for consideration by conventional carrot growers with an interest in investing in the production of carrots grown organically, certified in compliance with the Australian "National Standards for Organic and Biodynamic Production".

Estimating Deployed Airlift And Equipment Requirements For F-16 Aircraft In Support Of The Advanced Logistics Project, Matthew W. Goddard

Theses and Dissertations

The Advanced Logistics Project (ALP) is a 5-year DARPA effort to investigate automated architectures to increase the efficiency of logistics support for deploying combat forces. The Mission-Resource Value Assessment Tool (M-R VAT) is a joint AFIT/AFRL adjunct processor to the ALP. The purpose of the M-R VAT is to select optimal force packages to meet the needs of theater commanders. This research supports the development of the M-R VAT's capability through the development of an airlift estimation function and validating equipment requirement rule-sets. This airlift estimation function will allow the M-R VAT optimization algorithms to constrain the selection of the …

Aircraft Maintenance Performance: The Effects Of The Functional Decentralization Of On-Equipment Maintenance, Mark A. Commenator

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has implemented various aircraft maintenance organizational structures. The implementation of the Objective Wing in the early 1990s was the latest occurrence of reorganization. This research looks at the effect of the type of aircraft maintenance organizational structure on aircraft maintenance performance. The type of organizational structure was defined by the functional centralization of the on-equipment maintenance. Aircraft maintenance performance was measured using TNMCM rates, fix rates, repeat/recur rates, man-hours per flying hour, and scheduling effectiveness rates. Three F-15 wings and three F-16 wings were selected to compare the changes in aircraft maintenance performance and to determine if …

A Quantitative Decision Support Model To Aid Selection Of Combat Aircraft Force Mixes For Contingency Deployment, Paul G. Filcek

Theses and Dissertations

Selection of combat aircraft during crisis action planning can be of critical importance. In determining the value of force mixes, it is proposed that one can evaluate extrinsic and intrinsic value separately. Intrinsic value is the designed capability of a weapons platform to accomplish a specified aerospace mission. Extrinsic value is the expected appropriateness of such platforms, given the environmental characteristics in which they must operate. This research develops a decision support tool for planners in determining the extrinsic value of force mixes, which then expedites the selection of best overall force mixes. The research included: content analysis of official …

Pitfalls Of The A-76 Process, Justin W. Lavadour

Theses and Dissertations

The DoD and the Air Force have turned to outsourcing support functions as a way to reduce both costs and the number of soldiers required to provide Support for combat forces. The process used to determine whether it is economically feasible to outsource a function is called A-76, after the circular that describes the process. Outsourcing, like any other tool, must be used in the right way, in the correct environment if the desired goal to be reached. To understand what these goals are, it is necessary to examine past case studies where outsourcing has worked, to determine why outsourcing …

The Effect Of Improving The Logistics Pipeline On Supply Support Of Aerospace Expeditionary Forces, Steven L. Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

One of the biggest considerations for an Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF), in terms of cost and airlift requirement, is the use of aircraft spares kits to support combat operations. To date, these kits are built on the assumption that there would be no resupply for the first 30 days of a contingency. However, with more efficient transportation and information resources available today, it seems logical that resupply would occur much more quickly. If so, the Air Force should be able to trim its wartime stocks of aircraft spares. This thesis investigated the effect of improving the logistics pipeline on the …

Requirements-Based Methodology For Determining Age Inventory Levels, James A. Mackenna

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to illuminate crucial areas in analyzing AGE needs on an operational flightllne and assist in determination of AGE inventory levels. Further refinements could result in more objective and accurate assessments of actual flightline AGE needs and associated risks involved with reduction of AGE inventory levels. The research in this thesis consists of a discrete event simulation to determine desired AGE inventory level through an analysis of aircraft launches and wait time for AGE support by varying AGE (mean time between failure) MTBF and AGE inventory. Stochastic inputs for aircraft failures, AGE delivery times, and …

Air Mobility Command Passenger Reservation System Analysis, Robert E. Tuttle

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) has undergone a massive downsizing in an effort to comply with President Clinton's directive to 'reinvent' government making it more efficient. Therefore, the DoD revamped its $3.5 billion annual official business travel program. The core of this project is the Defense Travel System (DTS), an Internet based solution providing personally arranged travel, largely circumventing the base transportation offices. This thesis looks at DTS's Air Mobility Command passenger reservation management. This program is comprised of four geographically separated Passenger Reservation Centers located in Scott AFB IL, Japan, Germany and Hawaii. The objective of this study was …

The Assessment Of Program Managers' Preceptions Of Importance Of Stability To Overall Project Outcomes, Yigit Sen

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the manager's perceptions of the importance of stability to overall project outcomes. The assessment is based on the importance and usefulness of both the general attributes of management for the activities in a specific program, and the specific measures being employed by the managers. The classical measures of Cost, Schedule, Performance were assessed as well as Earned Value and proposed measures of Stability. In this research, the scope is limited to the management of relatively complex, large-scale projects involving the design, development and delivery of military aircraft and support systems. In order to obtain data for the …

A Method For Fms Countries To Maximize Clssa Service Levels While Minimizing Costs Through Optimal Requisitioning Patterns, Robert A. Wasik

Theses and Dissertations

The Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA) is a program designed to provide follow-on supply support for weapon systems procured by foreign military sales (FMS) countries from the United States. CLSSA calculates a Stock Level Quantity (SLQ) for each item based on demand history, item lead-time, and requisitioning patterns. Item SLQs affects program cost and service levels to FMS customers; a high SLQ level improves service levels, but also creates higher costs. The author created a model to replicate the CLSSA formulation used to calculate SLQs, using different Combinations of demand levels and item lead-times to determine the impact that …

A Force Structuring Model For A Moderately-Sized Nato Country, Hakan Bal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to develop a mathematical model which will aid the decision-makers of a moderately-sized NATO country to develop their future force structure composition. As the number of alternatives grows, and as the consequences become more important and more uncertain, the force structuring decision becomes increasingly difficult. The valuable lessons of past experience cannot be ignored. However, when one considers the high rotation rates of most countries' air forces, the rapid change in technology and the vast array of options available, even the most experienced leaders need some assistance. Hence, decision support tools are needed to …

The Distributer's Three-Dimensional Pallet-Packing Problem: A Human Intelligence-Based Heuristic Approach, Erhan Baltacioglu

Theses and Dissertations

The Distributor's Pallet Packing Problem is to load a set of distinct boxes with given dimensions on pallets or in containers to maximize volume utilization. This problem is still in its early stages of research, but there is a high level of interest in developing effective models to solve this NP-hard problem to reduce the time, energy and other resources spent in packing pallets. In its search to improve operations, the Air Force is also making an effort to solve this problem. Building an analytical model and developing a genetic algorithm approach have been tried, but the problem needs more …

Development Of An Instrument To Identify Unique Supply Officer Knowledge, Christopher A. Boone

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force supply officers possess a unique body of knowledge. This unique body of supply officer knowledge is an Air Force intellectual asset. The value of these intellectual assets depends on the value created by the application of the organization's knowledge and the value his knowledge creates. This thesis establishes a process for measuring the value created by unique supply officer knowledge. The first step in the methodology is to identify mandatory supply knowledge. This was accomplished through review of Air Force guidance and se of a knowledge audit questionnaire. The knowledge audit provides a means for assessing what knowledge …

Logistics Transformation: Centralizing Air Force Logistics Information Command And Control, Darrell O. Burghard

Theses and Dissertations

Current Air Force logistics information systems do not provide Air Force leaders and single managers a real-time sole-source logistics information system able to assess current capabilities and identify potential future problem items prior to becoming systemic problem parts. Centralizing information may provide improved command and control and support of the warfighter by reducing the time it takes to track down and identify information. Using a Value Focused Thinking approach, this thesis explored how the Air Force can improve the accessibility of Air Force logistics information. This study began at the behest of the AFMC LG/CD in an effort to determine …

Effects Of Alternative Performance Criteria Upon Composition Of Air Transportable Spare Parts Kits, Murat V. Buyukacar

Theses and Dissertations

Airlift capacity is a definitive factor in the success of large-scale military operations. History proves that the demand for airlift soon exceeds its capacity during simultaneous deployment of forces. Therefore good solutions to the airlift capacity problem are important. This thesis contributes to the resolution of this problem by seeking ways to reduce readiness spare parts packages (RSPs) deployed for Air Force squadrons through addition of airlift criteria into the RSP selection process. We find that item cost, weight, and volume are three important criteria for RSP computations. We then offer a method for implementing these three criteria in the …

An Analysis Of The Interaction Between The J3 And J4 War Planning Staffs During The Phases Of Crisis Action Planning, Michael J. Colvard

Theses and Dissertations

A principal operational concept of Joint Vision 2020 is that of Focused Logistics, which promotes a merger of information and logistics technologies. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Advanced Logistics Project (ALP) supports this concept of Focused Logistics and seeks to leverage information technologies to obtain control over the logistics pipeline. The current campaign planning process is limited by the information made available to the decision-makers. In order for ALP to assist the decision-maker in selecting a single optimal deployment plan, the founding assumptions of alternatives considered must be valid. Logistical issues are major constraints in the war planning process. …

United States Air Force Graduate Degrees From 1990 To 2000: A Comparison, Jonathan G. Downing

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout its history, the United States Air Force has been concerned with technical graduate education. In 1947, the Ridenour Report stated the importance and need of Air Force officers with technical graduate degrees. This emphasis has served the Air Force well, but there is concern among senior Air Force leaders that there has been an erosion of these technical skills and graduate education. This research will examine the issues surrounding technical graduate education in the Air Force and will address the possible loss of such technical education. The results of this research provide specific statistical data and analysis on the …

Analysis Of The Effect Of Centralizing Management Of Mobility Readiness Spares Package Assets, Ian R. Hester

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force supply doctrine requires the management of large numbers of spare parts in Mobility Readiness Spares Packages (MRSPs). The MRSPs are designed to support deployed aircraft for the first 30 days of a conflict, and can be quite large. When units from several bases deploy to the same operating location, they each bring their full MRSP. This results in a large logistics footprint that may be reduced by taking a system-level approach. This thesis examined the impact of centralized MRSP management on kit size and cost. The Aircraft Sustainability Model (ASM) computer program was used to evaluate MRSPs for …

Factors Influencing The Air Force Cycle Ergometry Fitness Assessment, Heather M. Hunn

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the influence of exercise activities, situational factors, and personality on the Air Force submaximal cycle ergometry test (SCET). Data were collected via a questionnaire administered to 209 active duty students and faculty assigned to the Air Force Institute of Technology during their required annual SCET. Stepwise multiple regression and ANOVA were used to find the proportion of variance explained by the significant predictors of SCET results for various subsets of the sampled population. For the group as a whole, self-reported test anxiety explained 24% of the variance in SCET results, while reported aerobic caloric expenditure during exercise …

Evaluation Of The Air Force's Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program In Complying With Executive Order 13149, Janette D. Ketchum

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force must comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 13149, which includes cutting its vehicle fleet's petroleum fuel usage 20 percent by 2005. This thesis examines the Air Force's current alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) program, which is centered around the acquisition and use of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, to determine whether it has been effective, and how the AFV program should be tailored to contribute to the Air Force's efforts to comply with E.O. 13149. The results of the study discussed here suggest ways in which the Air Force's AFV program can be modified to increase the program's impact …

A Cost Comparison Between Modes In The Shipment Of Mission Capable Parts Within The Continental United States, Jason L. Masciulli

Theses and Dissertations

A numerous amount of Mission Capable Parts (MICAPs) are shipped throughout the world by the Air Force. These parts are required in order to meet mission requirements. MICAPs are often shipped via an express, small parcel air carrier, like Federal Express (FedEx). However, there is a lower cost alternative: Less-Than-Truckload express carriers. In using actual Air Force MICAP shipping data, an 11 percent savings was shown if the lowest cost carrier, either FedEx or Roadway Express, an LTL express carrier, was used in shipping these MICAPs. Also, in using simulated shipping data, over 50 percent of all types of shipments, …

A Strategic Marketing Analysis Of The Western Australian Olive Industry, Francis D'Emden

Horticulture published reports

A recent survey of Western Australian olive growers has revealed the rapid expansion of the State's Olive Industry, with at least 1.7 million olive trees to be planted in the next two to four years in Western Australia. NSW and SA are currently the dominant producers with around 64% of olive trees planted in those States.

This analysis concentrates on the olive oil market, as most groves have been planted to varieties suited to olive oil production. Approximately 4% of trees are table varieties, most of which have been planted amongst groves of predominantly oil or dual-purpose varieties.

Western Australia …

Agent Technology In Web Based Time Scheduling, Shaik Ismail Sharifah Fazlinda

Student Works (2000-2009)

The technology age has, in many ways, makes life easier for human beings. Gone are the days when it takes few days up to few weeks to get letters from one place to another. The emergence of Internet, with its e-business, e-commerce and the like, has left the running of the human life to a click of the mouse with a tool that fits into our palm Similarly, student's enrolment and registration at the university can be done easily and effectively via the Net. The idea of Virtual University, which was once seen as an impossible venture, a foolish dream …

Developing An Environmental Management System A Practical Guidebook For Agricultural Businesses, Lucy Taylor

Natural resources published reports

An environmental management system is a tool that many businesses use to improve their environmental performance. Having an environmental management system enables a business to identify and improve management of their significant environmental impacts.

Environmental management systems work to minimise environmental impacts by following a standard 'plan-do-check-improve' management framework. This framework focuses on identifying significant environmental impacts, setting performance targets, establishing means of achieving targets and maintaining sufficient records to show that targets have been reached. Environmental management systems can assist agricultural businesses in:

* improving resource management

* building public confidence in the environmental management of agriculture

* increasing …

Progress In Livestock Handling And Slaughter Techniques In The United States, 1970–2000, Temple Grandin

State of the Animals 2001

Promoting better stockmanship is essential to improving animal welfare. Large meat-buying customers such as fast-food restaurants in the United States and supermarket chains in the United Kingdom can motivate great change by insisting that suppliers uphold better animal welfare standards. The greatest advances of the last thirty years have been the result of company audits. To maintain such progress, handling and stunning must be continually audited, measured, and managed. Handlers tend to revert to rough handling unless they are monitored and managed. An objective scoring system provides a standard that can be upheld. An overworked employee cannot do a good …

Tail Docking Dairy Cattle: Effects On Cow Cleanliness And Udder Health, Cassandra B. Tucker, David Fraser, Daniel M. Weary

Farm Animal Husbandry Collection

To determine whether tail docking would influence cow cleanliness and udder health in a free-stall system, we monitored milking cows after half the animals in a herd were docked. A sample of 223 docked and 190 undocked cows (reducing to 169 and 105 over the study as cows were dried off) were monitored for 8 wk. Cow cleanliness was scored in two areas: along the spine, and the rump adjacent to the tail at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 wk after docking. Cleanliness was evaluated by counting squares that were soiled (0 to 14 on a 5- × 17.5-cm …

Inventory Management System For Fcsit, Poh Ling Ong

Student Works (2000-2009)

The inventory management system is a client server system with the objective to computerize and enhance the inventory management system for Faculty Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT). The server side contains all related basic inventory management rules, documents, and database. Meanwhile the client consists two sections, which are User and Administrator. The User section allows user to browse through the faculty information and search available items. The Administrator section is for the system administrator to perform all administrative tasks namely maintaining the inventory database. The inventory management system for faculty was developed using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 to create …