Engineering Commons^™

A Role Delineation Study For The Sme, Hiral A. Shah

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to perform a role delineation study to validate and prioritize the competency areas included in the body of knowledge developed by SME/AME/Shingo for their three levels of certification examinations in lean manufacturing. A modified Delphi technique was used to gather data and describe what experts in the field consider important for candidates to know and become certified in the discipline of lean manufacturing. Seventy-six Delphi panel experts were selected to serve on the Delphi panel, based on their experience, expertise, and commitment. The study incorporated a Web-based pre-Delphi study followed by three rounds of …

Ultrasonic Seaming Of Pet, Pet/Cotton Blend, And Spectra Fabrics, Renuka Kadiri Reddy

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Ultrasonic seaming offers many advantages as an alternative for joining fabrics, such as efficiency, reduced cost, conservation of energy, and recyclability of the product.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic weld parameters – weld pressure, weld time, amplitude of vibration, seam design, and material properties – on seam efficiency and stiffness of a seam. This study also compares seam efficiency and stiffness of (a) ultrasonic seam to that of sewn seam and (b) ultrasonic seam from continuous mode of operation to that of plunge mode. Regression and analytical tests were used to analyze the …

High Performance Quality Management Systems And Work-Related Outcomes: Exploring The Role Of Audit Readiness And Documented Procedures Effectiveness, Sean P. Goffnett

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates a comprehensive quality management system (QMS) and its influence on multiple work-related outcomes. It examines certified quality systems used in the automotive industry to test whether QMS audit readiness mediates the relationship between quality factors and outcomes. A survey instrument, encompassing quality award criteria and system certification precepts, helped identify factors associated with high-performance. Regression results showed several factors, including leadership and process management, as being critically important in predicting work outcomes. Human resources emerged as being critical to most outcomes. Audit readiness did not emerge as a mediating variable, but rather as a significant process outcome. …