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Articles 1 - 7 of 7
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Evaluating Process Improvement Courses Of Action Through Modeling And Simulation, Joseph R. Owens
Evaluating Process Improvement Courses Of Action Through Modeling And Simulation, Joseph R. Owens
Theses and Dissertations
Quantifying an expected improvement when considering moderate-complexity changes to a process is time consuming and has potential to overlook stochastic effects. By modeling a process as a Numerical Design Structure Matrix (NDSM), simulating the proposed changes, and evaluating performance, quantification can be rapidly accomplished to understand stochastic effects. This thesis explores a method to evaluate complex process changes within Six Sigma DMAIC process improvement to identify the most desirable outcome amongst several improvement options. A tool to perform the modeling and evaluation is developed. This process evaluation tool is verified for functionality, then is demonstrated against generic processes, a case …
Improving Resource Management In The Afghan Air Force, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Tamiko L. Ritschel
Improving Resource Management In The Afghan Air Force, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Tamiko L. Ritschel
Faculty Publications
The nascent Afghan Air Force (AAF) is rapidly changing with new platforms programmed and existing platforms expanding. As US and coalition forces draw down, the transition of financial responsibility from American to Afghan processes is on the horizon.
A Portfolio Decision Analysis Study For Improving Consequence Of Facility Failure Indices, Michael J. Blaess
A Portfolio Decision Analysis Study For Improving Consequence Of Facility Failure Indices, Michael J. Blaess
Theses and Dissertations
The United States Air Force partially integrated the Mission Dependency Index (MDI) into its portfolio project selection model by assigning an MDI value to a facility type or real property category code (CATCODE) in lieu of assigning a unique MDI value to each facility through a structured interview process. This took an initial step to improve the Air Forces asset management practices; however, it failed to accurately capture the consequence of facility failure in some cases. Although a process to adjudicate the MDI value of individual facilities was created, it is still unknown how much the surveyed MDI value deviates …
Alternate Stimuli For The Elicitation Of Event-Related Potentials, Bryan V. Jackson
Alternate Stimuli For The Elicitation Of Event-Related Potentials, Bryan V. Jackson
Theses and Dissertations
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are systems that leverage user-brain activity to identify and perform specific functions. In applications requiring overt visual attention, focusing on visual stimuli with known temporal variation can elicit measurable changes in brain activity. However, elements of BCI applications can be intrusive. This research was designed to determine if Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), to include Steady-State Visually-Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs), could be elicited and interpreted from less obtrusive stimuli. Specifically, this research explores the use of variable frequency and long-wavelength (infrared) stimuli for SSVEP interpretation to explore the application of less obtrusive stimuli for application in BCIs. It was determined …
Identifying Partnership Opportunities At Air Force Installations: A Geographic Information Systems Approach, Corey R. Degroot
Identifying Partnership Opportunities At Air Force Installations: A Geographic Information Systems Approach, Corey R. Degroot
Theses and Dissertations
The excess capacity found in the Department of Defense real property portfolio creates challenges for leaders to provide resilient installations. Combining this fact with current funding trends makes decisions on how to properly maintain infrastructure even more challenging. The Air Force Partnership Initiative provides tools for installations to leverage community capabilities and resources to achieve savings and improve quality on Air Force installations and can reduce the real property footprint. This research proposes a method for assessing the viability of a partnership between Air Force installations and their nearby communities.
This research effort created a tool capable of investigating off-base …
Reliability And Cost Impacts For Attritable Systems, Bryan R. Bentz
Reliability And Cost Impacts For Attritable Systems, Bryan R. Bentz
Theses and Dissertations
Attritable systems trade system attributes like reliability and reparability to achieve lower acquisition cost and decrease cost risk. Ultimately, it is hoped that by trading these attributes the amount of systems able to be acquired will be increased. However, the effect of trading these attributes on system-level reliability and cost risk is difficult to express complicated reparable systems like an air vehicle. Failure-time and cost data from a baseline limited-life air vehicle is analyzed for this reliability and reparability trade study. The appropriateness of various reliability and cost estimation techniques are examined for these data. This research employs the cumulative …
Enhancing The Thermal Performance Of Temporary Fabric Shelters For The Advanced Energy Efficient Shelter System, Justin E. Eshleman
Enhancing The Thermal Performance Of Temporary Fabric Shelters For The Advanced Energy Efficient Shelter System, Justin E. Eshleman
Theses and Dissertations
Investment in the commercial space industry has grown significantly over the past decade. This investment has led to a tremendous leap in capability for small satellite systems and a greater demand for small launch vehicles. At the same time, space system affordability is a point of emphasis within the Department of Defense (DoD) which raises the question: Can the DoD lower space access costs through the exploitation of the growing small satellite and small launch marketplace? We perform a financial analysis of newly developed small launch vehicles delivering a small satellite constellation to low earth orbit (LEO) to perform wideband …