Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

A Systematic Evaluation Technique For Assisting In The Identification And Prevention Of Wrist Stress In The Work Place, Karen Kleinfeld

Masters Theses

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a cumulative trauma disorder involving compression of the median nerve within the wrist. This disorder has become an industrial epidemic, striking workers whose daily activities involve repetitive motion, wrist deviation, awkward finger postures, and excessive forces to the hand. In an effort to identify and control existing trauma, as well as prevent the onset of further cases of CTS, a systematic evaluation technique has been developed to assist in the ergonomic analysis of the work place. This assessment technique identifies and quantifies occupational risk factors of a task that may predispose workers to CTS. With this …

Application Of Risk Analysis In Investment Decision Making For New Products, Chul Paik

Masters Theses

This study presents the development of a quantitative model to deal with the decision to invest or not invest in the development and production of a new product. It is most applicable to new products which present a high probability of economic failure. The model employs only simple mathematics and statistics, so the decision maker can easily understand the model.

The model uses as input data three variables. These include: (1) the risk of product failure, (2) the maximum loss a company can afford in an investment, and (3) the estimated project cost. These three variables combined furnish as output …

An Ergonomic Training Program For Manual Handling Tasks, Akhilesh Agrawal

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to test whether or not muscular endurance of individuals engaged in industrial manual handling tasks can be improved through a short and intensive training program. This investigation also involved the study of the effect of muscular endurance training program on muscular strength.

The study revealed that, over a six-week period, the muscular endurance can be improved significantly. After sixteen sessions of training, the endurance time increased over 500% for manual materials handling tasks and over 1200% for upper extremity manual handling tasks. The endurance training program, however, did not increase both static and dynamic …

The Evaluation Of Efficiency Determination Of Screening Device (Pressure Screen) By Image Analysis, Rajeev Kumar Goyal

Masters Theses

The Omnicon 3600 image analyzer was used in the study of the evaluation of screening efficiency determination methods. It is very difficult to get a good over all contaminant mass balance across a pressure screen because of the factors involved such as sampling around a screen, time spent in collecting the samples, and possible size reduction of the contaminants by the pump and screen. The image analyzer gives the contaminant analysis in terms of the total number of particles, total area of all the particles, the mean particle area and a histogram of the contaminant size distribution. The histogram data …

Removal Of Eucalyptus Vessel Segments Using Centrifugal Cleaners, Amnuay Ponpued

Masters Theses

Two commercial feedforward centrifugal cleaners were used in the study of vessel segment removal from bleached eucalyptus pulp. The reduction of vessel elements yielded a reduction of vessel pick tendency and other problems caused by vessel elements which limit the use of eucalyptus pulp in paper stock furnishes. The operating conditions of the centrifugal cleaners were evaluated for their effect on separation efficiency. Pulp loss with rejects was reduced by multiple stage separation. The Vandercook Proof Press was used to compare the picking of cleaned, original pulp and two higher-vessel-content pulps. Regression analysis and ANOVA showed significant effects of feed …

Improving Maintenance Effectiveness, Stephen J. Thierry

Masters Theses

A methodology is advanced for measuring the productivity of industrial maintenance operations. A work sampling study and a production to maintenance interface survey are conducted to identify the current level of maintenance effectiveness at a food processing plant. Variables affecting maintenance effectiveness are postulated from site observations of the plant maintenance operation. A total of nine changes are proposed; three are implemented as part of this study and six remaining changes are proposed for the future. All recommendations are targeted at increasing the overall effectiveness of the maintenance operation under study.

The Effects Of Selected Factors On Design Sensitivity, Leslie Horshal Cochran

Masters Theses

Chapter I.

Background of the Study

Introduction

Design is a comprehensive term involving a multitude of areas and activities. Its meaning has varied according to individual tastes and philosophies; however, regardless of the terminology involved, it has always been associated with the planning for an object or a product.

Throughout history the emphasis on design has varied, but its basic framework has been present in all cultures. From the crude but honest designs of primitive man, through the Golden Age of Greece, by means of the Roman Empire, via the Renaissance, and throughout the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, design served …