Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Suitability Of The Present Strategic Information Technology Planning (Sitp) Methodologies To The Developing Countries, A Victor

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The needfor strategy formulation, or in general terms strategic planning, for IT is considered as one of the most important aspects of IT manage- ment. To this end, there are a number of IT strategy formulation method- ologies world-wide. These methodologies were developed over a span of time, starting from mid 1960's when IT use started to become a serious issue in the developed countries, and continued with the trends in IT de- velopment and use, as was applicable in those countries. Morc recent of the methodologies were developed through improvements on earlier ones, and based on the new challenges …

A Preliminary Model For Lot Sizing In Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tali F. Carmon, Steven Nahmias

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

No abstract provided.

An Empirical Investigation Of Total Quality Management (Tqm) Effectiveness In Healthcare Organizations, Lokesh S. Basappa

Masters Theses

American hospitals are implementing quality programs to offer higher quality service at reduced cost. However, the results of these programs in many hospitals have often not met expectations.

This research analyzed the effectiveness of Total Quality Management (TQM). The objective of the study was to better understand how TQM strategies can best be applied by hospitals. An empirical survey was distributed to Michigan hospitals and an analysis was performed to meet this objective.

The survey results show that hospitals involved indirectly with quality programs haven't realized that they are implementing TQM strategies. On the other hand some hospitals say that …

An Ergonomics Approach To Evaluate The Use Of Two Different Fixtures For Upholstering, Maria Luisa Roa

Masters Theses

A furniture company in West Michigan proposed an evaluation of a new fixture that will be used in a repetitive manual stapling operation.

Numerous studies reveal that activities involving repetitive wrist motions cause inflammation in the median nerve that runs through the structure of the carpal wrist, causing a cumulative disorder known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). This syndrome is one of the most prevalent in industrial settings and service companies.

This study investigated if the use of a new design of a fixture had an impact on operators' performances. Three-dimensional comparative analysis was used to observe operators' wrist angular …

A Finite Capacity Queue With Markovian Arrivals And Two Servers With Group Services, Srinivas Chakravarthy, Attahiru S. Alfa

Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Publications

In this paper we consider a finite capacity queuing system in which arrivals are governed by a Markovian arrival process. The system is attended by two exponential servers, who offer services in groups of varying sizes. The service rates may depend on the number of customers in service. Using Markov theory, we study this finite capacity queuing model in detail by obtaining numerically stable expressions for (a) the steady-state queue length densities at arrivals and at arbitrary time points; (b) the Laplace-Stieltjes transform of the stationary waiting time distribution of an admitted customer at points of arrivals. The stationary waiting …

Capacity Of Automated Highway Systems: Effect Of Platooning And Barriers, H.-S. Jacob Tsao, Randolph Hall, Bruce Hongola

Faculty Publications

The concept of Automated Highway Systems (AHS) is based on the belief that an appropriate integration of control and communication technologies placed on the vehicle and on the highway can lead to a large improvement in capacity and safety without requiring a significant amount of additional highway right-of-way. Stemming from this belief are various conceptual scenarios for vehicle/highway automation.An AHS consists of two major components: vehicle/highway automation technology and highway operating strategy. In this paper, we study the capacity of key AHS operating scenarios.

A Probabilistic Model For Avcs Longitudinal Collision/Safety Analysis, Jacob Tsao, Randolph Hall

Faculty Publications

This paper develops a probabilistic model for analyzing longitudinal collision/safety between an abruptly decelerating vehicle and its immediate follower. The input parameters are the length of the gap between the two vehicles, their common speed prior to the failure, the reaction delay of the following vehicle and a bivariate distribution for the two deceleration rates. The output includes the probability of a collision and the probability distribution of the relative speed at collision time We use this model to compare the safety consequences associated with the platooning and “free-agent” longitudinal-separation rules. We also demonstrate that the free-agent rule implemented with …

Constraints On Initial Ahs Deployment And The Concept Definition Of A Shuttle Service For Ahs Debut, Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

Highway automation and its evolution involve a multitude of systems issues. Particularly important and difficult in defining a deployment sequence is the very first step, i.e. the first user service involving fully automated freeway driving. However, this importance and the difficulty imply that many factors may severely constrain the initial deployment. After discussing the paramount importance of initial AHS deployment, this paper points out major high-level issues and constraints. Any realistic deployment strategy must take into consideration gradual technology maturation, introduction of new driver role and diminishing conventional driver role for automated driving, high cost of early-generation automation-equipped vehicles, gradual …

Error Recovery In Intelligent Robotic Workcells, R. D. Borchelt, Sema E. Alptekin

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This paper focuses on the requirements for achieving automated diagnosis and error recovery in a robotic assembly cell. Untended robust operation is the goal which is discussed, and the use of a knowledge-base oriented diagnostic/control system to support on-line error recovery is advocated. It is proposed that error recovery attempts should be made, not only based on information gathered by system sensors, but also by using additional cell-specific knowledge pertaining to recovery strategies. Recovery attempts are to be made even in the absence of complete diagnosis, in order to gather additional information. A control structure developed to implement this approach …

The Importance Of Considering Size Effect Along The Cutting Edge In Predicting The Effective Lead Angle For Turning, William J. Endres, Daniel Waldorf

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The concept of an effective orthogonal cutting edge in turning is considered. The orientation of this edge in the radial-longitudinal plane, as commonly modeled through an effective lead angle, is studied. The methods of effective lead angle prediction used in numerous previously developed force models are plagued with large errors over ranges of process inputs, in particular feed rate and depth of cut. Four previously developed methods of effective lead angle prediction are reviewed and compared to a new method presented here. This new method accounts for the size effect as introduced through the variation in chip thickness along the …

Integration Of Artificial Neural Networks And Simulation Modeling In A Decision Support System, Kenney Lecroy

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A simulation based decision support system is developed for AT&T Microelectronics in Orlando. This system uses simulation modeling to capture the complex nature of semiconductor test operations. Simulation, however, is not a tool for optimization by itself. Numerous executions of the simulation model must generally be performed to narrow in on a set of proper decision parameters. As a means of alleviating this shortcoming, artificial neural networks are used in conjunction with simulation modeling to aid management in the decision making process. The integration of simulation and neural networks in a comprehensive decision support system, in effect, learns the reverse …

Manufacturing Curriculum Issues Of Two-Year Mechanical Engineering Technology Program In Taiwan, R.O.C., Chuan-Chun Wu

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to evaluate current practices and possible changes in the mechanical engineering technology manufacturing curriculum in Taiwan's two-year junior technical colleges. The study was based on survey responses from three populations: (a) graduates of mechanical engineering (manufacturing division) programs in two-year junior technical colleges, (b) their manufacturing supervisors, and (c) their company chief executive officers (CEOs). The survey was designed to develop responses for following:

1. Determine the degree of importance of courses in the current Taiwanese two-year curriculum in manufacturing, in the opinion of the three groups surveyed.

2. Determine what the future curriculum …

Extending Simulation’S Advantages To Novice Model Builders: Intellisim Tutorial, Paul Savory, Gerald Mackulak, Jeff Cochran

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The potential benefits that discrete-event simulation offers are impeded by the high level of expertise necessary to successfully conduct a sound simulation study. As a solution, this paper introduces IntelliSIM, an intelligent simulation environment. Using this environment makes simulation more accessible to users by reducing the need for extensive experience or training. One of IntelliSIM’s key features for accomplishing this is a tutorial and training module that quickly acquaints a novice simulation user with IntelliSIM’s features and the process of performing a simulation study. This paper discusses this tutorial by explaining how IntelliSIM develops a simulation model, thus illustrating how …

The Science Of Simulation Modeling, Paul Savory, Gerald Mackulak

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Many people refer to simulation model building as an “intuitive art”. This implies that modeling can only be done by a select group of highly trained creative people and thus isolates many from considering simulation as a usable tool. Model building is a science that is learned through education, training and experience. In this paper, we discuss the role of science in performing a simulation study. We illustrate the teaching of the science of simulation by discussing the simulation curriculum at Arizona State University.

Ascertaining Important Features For Industrial Simulation Environments, Gerald Mackulak, Jeffery Cichran, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Recent years have witnessed the development and commercial release of multiple simulation tools, environments, and intelligent simulators. Each release seems to contain additional advanced features designed to simplify simulation use and increase the productivity of model builders. But to date, no one has addressed feature definition from the viewpoint of a simulation practitioner. This paper discusses our efforts to identify and prioritize simulation features deemed most desirable from the practitioner viewpoint. A series of three questionnaires were developed and administered to a group of qualified simulation practitioners. With results that are of interest to simulation users, researchers, and simulation software …

Teamwork In The Workplace: A Discovery Of The Work Processes One Team Used To Meet Its Goals, Thomas Andrew Hassler

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A century-old disagreement in academia surrounds the question of whether individuals acting alone accomplish all work or whether workers can truly act in concert to meet management's production requirements. Total Quality Management (TQM) is a powerful force today in the industrial world, and the formation of teams to solve short-term problems is one of its fundamental techniques. This dissertation focuses on a particular TQM team with the purpose of understanding the processes it used to meet its goals. This ten-member team functioned for about one year and was assigned goals leading to improved accelerator reliability. The investigator was a member …

A Check Parameter Method For Use In Designing Relays, H Kadete

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Low quality magnetic steel available locally has been successfully used as core material for a relay. New design principles as well as construction procedure used in development of a prototype are presented. Then the new approach is assessed and found to deliver acceptable accuracy.

Improvement Of Solar Salt Works Performance, J Katima

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Coal, asphalt, black oil paint, naphthol green b and alkali blue 6b were testedfor improvement Of solar energy utilisation in solar salt manufacture. It was found that the use of alkali blue 6b dye dissolved in raw seawater improves efficiency by 3.6 percent. Both modifications could increase solar salt works with a coal coated surface than one employing raw seawater dyed with alkali blue 6b.

Critical Evaluation Of The Effects Of Changes Made To Roughing Filters Of Mpira-Balaka Plant On Its Treatment And Operational Performance, C Zulu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Mpira Balaka, a full scale rural water supply project was constructed in Ntcheu, Malawi, in 1988 utilising Slow Sand Filtration (SSF) as the main treatment process and roughing filtration as the pretreatment method,following the promo- tion of this technology by various international institutions. During the rainy seasons, the treatment plant for Mpira Balaka failed to cope with the high raw water turbidity, resulting into very short filter run times and hence also to unavoidable distribution Of very turbid water to the rural communi- ties as a result Of by-passing the filters. Of the fifty or so existing rural projects in …

Development Of A Systematic Approach To The Implementation Of A Computer Integrated Manufacturing (Cim) For Small To Medium Sized Companies, G. Steven Trimmer

Masters Theses

CIM technology is rapidly becoming an essential part of businesses of all types and sizes. The impact on the culture of the enterprise is possibly of even greater complexity. Most existing implementations have been done by large businesses large teams of specialized talent.

The unique scope of this work is to simplify the implementation of CIM for small companies. The basic research derived from the WMU/IBM CIM Management Center, a fully functioning CIM facility that provides hands on experience to students and regional businesses.

The cultural references concerning CIM are derived from reading and personal experiences with industry while setting …

A Robust Aggregation Approach To Simplification Of Manufacturing Flow Line Models, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Presentations

One of the more difficult tasks facing a modeler in developing a simulation model of a discrete part manufacturing system is deciding at what level of abstraction to represent the resources of the system. For example, questions about plant capacity can be modeled with a simple model, whereas questions regarding the efficiency of different part scheduling rules can only be answered with a more detailed model. In developing a simulation model, most of the actual features of the system under study must be ignored and an abstraction must be developed. If done correctly, this idealization provides a useful approximation of …

A Robust Aggregation Approach To Simplification Of Manufacturing Flow Line Models, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

One of the more difficult tasks facing a modeler in developing a simulation model of a discrete part manufacturing system is deciding at what level of abstraction to represent the resources of the system. For example, questions about plant capacity can be modeled with a simple model, whereas questions regarding the efficiency of different part scheduling rules can only be answered with a more detailed model. In developing a simulation model, most of the actual features of the system under study must be ignored and an abstraction must be developed. If done correctly, this idealization provides a useful approximation of …

Development Of An Intelligent Geometry Measurement Procedure For Coordinate Measuring Machines, Tae-Sung Kim

Theses

A Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) is a highly accurate electronic scale for the automatic measurement of 2 and 3 dimensional geometries. In a typical operation the CMM measures a set of user defined points, and then utilizes some internal logic to ascertain whether the inspected part meets the specifications. CMMs have received widespread acceptance among the manufacturing community, and in many instances are required as per supplier contract. Applications of CMMs vary from the measurement of simple 2D parts to complex 3D spatial frames (as for example in their use to measure the integrity of automobile frames). The primary objective …

Set-Up Saving Schemes For Printed Circuit Boards Assembly, Oded Z. Maimon, Ezey M. Dar-El, Tali F. Carmon

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Focusing on a basic printed circuit board (PCB) assembly line configuration characterized by very long set-up times, we examine two scheduling methods that can significantly reduce the set-up. Both methods -the Grouped Set-Up (GSU) method that has been recently introduced in the literature and the Sequence Dependent Scheduling (SDS) method, which has not been studied in this context -are based on component commonality among PCB types. Using the typical traditional scheduling method as a benchmark, the GSU and the SDS methods are compared in terms of three performance measures: line throughput, average work-in-process (WIP) inventory level, and implementation complexity. Guidelines …

An Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Total Quality Management In A Service Organization, Charles Stanford Stevens

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This research consists of a formative evaluation designed to identify the steps necessary to revitalize a formerly successful Total Quality Management (TQM) process at a U.S. Navy engineering and logistics support organization. The research also developed a methodology to account for the fact that the investigator is a well-informed insider who served as one of the principle change agents for the TQM implementation.

The research is based on the researcher's observation that the major cause for the waning implementation was due to senior management and leadership issues and the organization-wide processes with which they interface. The investigation consisted of an …

Integration Of Simulation Modeling And Computer Aided Production Management In Computer Integrated Enterprise, Emine Persentili, Sema E. Alptekin

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Designing efficient and integrated manufacturing systems is the first step in attaining computer integrated enterprises (CIE). Integration of planning and implementation phases of manufacturing is essential for taking full advantage of the CIE. In order to design reliable and efficient manufacturing systems, the designers must consider the impacts of planning decisions made by computer aided production management (CAPM) modules on implementations held in manufacturing cells. This paper focuses on two issues. The first issue is importance and necessity of integrating CAPM modules with manufacturing cells. The second issue includes major features of the object-oriented approach and their relevance to our …

An Investigation Of Integrated Product Development Implementation Issues: A Case Study Of Bosma Machine And Tool Corp, F. Paul Khuri, Howard M. Plevyak Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated Integrated Product Development (IPD) implementation issues. Research emphasis focused on teams used in IPD, particularly self-directed work teams (SDWTs). The areas addressed in the study were: Work Environment, Team Organization, Training and Education, Group Dynamics and Communication, Motivation, Rewards and Incentives, Measurements, and Contracts. Data was collected using interviews and presented as a case study. The most significant findings on work environment were that the organization's leadership should commit to the teaming idea and sell it to the organization's members. Teams should be organized by choosing members carefully and defining all roles. Personnel should be trained in …

Pollution Prevention Incentives For Major Weapon System Programs, Donna C. Heinz, Dudley C. Wireman

Theses and Dissertations

This research was undertaken to identify positive incentives that would motivate both government personnel and contractors to incorporate pollution prevention into the early design phases of weapon system acquisitions. The adoption and implementation of such incentives would allow the Air Force to reach pollution prevention objectives more efficiently. A literature search revealed little information on the pollution prevention program in the military. In contrast much information was found concerning military cleanup activities. As a result, in-depth personal interviewing was used to measure pollution prevention awareness in Aeronautical Systems Center program offices. Interviews, analysis, and comparisons were made between three groups …

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. …

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 …