Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Air Force Institute of Technology

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 1021 - 1050 of 1247

Full-Text Articles in Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

A Methodology To Assess The Air Force Materiel Command's Exercise Support Program's Weighting Scheme, Gilbert D. Ness Mar 1996

A Methodology To Assess The Air Force Materiel Command's Exercise Support Program's Weighting Scheme, Gilbert D. Ness

Theses and Dissertations

This research performs analysis on the Air Force Materiel Command's Exercise Support Program's Weighting Scheme so that decision makers can create a more efficient and effective Resource Allocation - Integrated Process Team (RA-IPT) manpower allocation process. A linear programming (LP) model was derived from the Exercise Support Program (ESP) to assign manpower reductions throughout the Mission Element Board (MEB) organizational level in AFMC. Parametric analysis was performed on the LP model by simultaneously changing multiple objective function coefficients with the use of various direction vectors. These direction vectors were applied with the use of an incrementally increasing scalar step size …

Go to article

An Investigation Of Preliminary Feature Screening Using Signal-To-Noise Ratios, David B. Sumrell Mar 1996

An Investigation Of Preliminary Feature Screening Using Signal-To-Noise Ratios, David B. Sumrell

Theses and Dissertations

A new saliency metric and a new saliency screening method are developed. This new metric, the SN saliency metric, is based upon signal-to-noise ratios, where the signal is provided by a sum of squared weights associated with a given feature, and the noise is based upon a sum of squared weights associated with a reference noise feature which is injected into the data. The resultant metric allows for a direct comparison of the feature of interest with a reference noise feature which is known to be nonsalient. The SN saliency screening method, which uses the SN saliency metric, offers the …

Go to article

A Response Surface Methodology Approach To Groundwater Model Calibration, Jeffrey B. Rowland Mar 1996

A Response Surface Methodology Approach To Groundwater Model Calibration, Jeffrey B. Rowland

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the effect of parameter bounding, a reduced data set, and data enrichment techniques on a response surface methodology (RSM) approach to groundwater model calibration. The four phases of the study included a calibration using a very dense data matrix, a calibration using a sparse calibration matrix, an evaluation of several data enrichment techniques, and a calibration using a data matrix enlarged with the use of the best enrichment technique. All calibrations were conducted using only a first order approximation to the response surface and with bounds placed on the input parameters. The first two calibrations using the …

Go to article

Optimization Analysis For Design And Planning Of Multi-Project Programs, Victor D. Wiley Mar 1996

Optimization Analysis For Design And Planning Of Multi-Project Programs, Victor D. Wiley

Theses and Dissertations

Program Management concerns the long-term planning, coordination, and control of major technological, engineering, scientific, and/or developmental activities. In general, programs tend to be exceptionally large, consisting of several parallel or sequential projects or groups of projects. While many of the approaches developed for projects have been used in program management, there are critical differences between programs and projects. A key difference is the magnitude of programs, both in program duration and number of tasks to be coordinated. In addition, project parameters are driven by program decisions. While a large number of modeling efforts have focused at the project level, very …

Go to article

Applying Response Surface Methodology To Readiness-Based Leveling Of Reparable Items, Todd E. May Mar 1996

Applying Response Surface Methodology To Readiness-Based Leveling Of Reparable Items, Todd E. May

Theses and Dissertations

Reparable items play a large role in determining the readiness of United States Air Force weapon systems. Many factors characterizing flying tempo and item repair and transit time influence the level of fleet readiness. Readiness-Based Leveling (RBL) considers these factors as it seeks to maximize aircraft readiness as it allocates spare reparable items between bases and a depot. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the validity of using response surface methodology (RSM) within the context of RBL in an effort to quantify the influences these factors have on aircraft readiness. RSM applied designed experiments and least squares regressions …

Go to article

Statistical Process Control In Medical Surveillance. An Application Using Spirometry, Paul W. Mcaree Mar 1996

Statistical Process Control In Medical Surveillance. An Application Using Spirometry, Paul W. Mcaree

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort concentrated on applying statistical process control techniques to the results of seven years worth of spirometry exams of workers at Wright-Patterson AFB in helping the occupational health squadron identify potential work hazard areas. Each spirometry exam was classified as abnormal or normal based on a comparison with established normals or a significant loss of function from the previous year's exam for the individual. Each test was classified into the work area of the individual and the number of abnormalities per population of the work area was examined.

Go to article

Surveillance Plan For Monitoring The Shelf-Life Of Chemical Defense Coveralls, Robert E. Neher Jr. Mar 1996

Surveillance Plan For Monitoring The Shelf-Life Of Chemical Defense Coveralls, Robert E. Neher Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis found a surveillance plan to be used to monitor the shelf-life of the Air Force's chemical defense coveralls. The sampling tests are destructive and the objective was to find a surveillance plan that would minimize the number of suits sampled yet provide enough information to accurately determine if the chemical defense coveralls had degraded past a minimum acceptable level. Six sampling plans were developed and analyzed. The sampling plans included the Air Force's original fixed sampling plan, several variations of sequential sampling plans, a Bayesian sampling plan, and an ad hoc pre-posturing plan. Each of the sampling plans …

Go to article

Development Of A Decision Support System For The Department Of Energy's Selection Of Waste Site Remediation Technologies, Brian E. Ralston Mar 1996

Development Of A Decision Support System For The Department Of Energy's Selection Of Waste Site Remediation Technologies, Brian E. Ralston

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Energy is faced with the complex decision of selecting technologies for waste site remediation. This research focused on developing a decision support system to aid the decision maker in selecting the best strategy of remediation technologies. A decision analysis model was developed which incorporates life cycle cost data, risk information, and user input, to analyze the technology choices. The research outlined the use of multiple attribute utility theory using exponential attribute utility functions with a simple additive objective function. The best available data was used to demonstrate the capabilities of the model. The model provides the decision …

Go to article

Statistical Process Control And Medical Surveillance. An Application With Liver Function Tests, Bryan D. Richardson Mar 1996

Statistical Process Control And Medical Surveillance. An Application With Liver Function Tests, Bryan D. Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, medical surveillance of liver disease generally involves a battery of tests. This research used multivariate analysis techniques to reduce the number of measures required to identify liver dysfunction and found using a Transferase Index (a combination of three tests; ALT, AST, and GGT) provided the most satisfying assessment, but the single best indicator, ALT, may be sufficient. Transferase Index and ALT criterion were both applied to SPC control charts. Through the use of statistical process control (SPC), this research identified work zones possessing signs of adverse effects to an individual's liver as a possible result of their work environment …

Go to article

Issues And Challenges In Validating Military Simulation Models, Michael R. Elmer Jan 1996

Issues And Challenges In Validating Military Simulation Models, Michael R. Elmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to address the challenges of validating simulation models, especially those challenges facing military simulation analysts. Three distinct issues are of concern to the military simulation analyst: (1) What type of validation effort do the academic experts recommend? (2) What does the military policy say is necessary for a proper validation effort? (3) What can a simulation practitioner realistically accomplish given time and resource constraints? Four methodologies were chosen to represent the academic perspective on validation. A model of validation methods is integrated from the methodologies of these four simulation validation references. The validation policies …

Go to article

Validation Of Operational Multiscale Environment Model With Grid Adaptivity (Omega), Gordon R. Taylor Dec 1995

Validation Of Operational Multiscale Environment Model With Grid Adaptivity (Omega), Gordon R. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) is improving the military's capability to forecast dosage and hazard levels due to release of chemical, biological, and nuclear agents. During Operation DESERT STORM the military realized the need for models to predict risk levels for military personnel assigned proximate to missile attacks. One project associated with this is the continuing development of the Operational Multiscale Environmental Model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA). DNA has sponsored AFIT to validate OMEGA with focus on incorporating weather data obtained from Air Force Combat Climatology Center for the period of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident. The physics of the model …

Go to article

Decision Support Model For Municipal Solid Waste Management At Department Of Defense Installations, John F. Muratore Dec 1995

Decision Support Model For Municipal Solid Waste Management At Department Of Defense Installations, John F. Muratore

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on the development of a decision support model to identify the preferred strategy for managing municipal solid waste using the principles of decision analysis theory. The model provides an effective decision making tool to evaluate and compare different municipal solid waste management strategies. The users of this model, the Environmental Manager or decision maker at a given installation, can enter installation-specific waste stream characteristics, treatment and disposal costs, and material buy-back prices to determine the expected value for various alternative strategies. The strategy having the greatest expected value is considered the preferred alternative. In calculating the expected …

Go to article

A Methodology To Assess Post-Launch Efforts To Counter Mobile Tactical Ballistic Missile Launchers, Wayne H. Hayes Dec 1995

A Methodology To Assess Post-Launch Efforts To Counter Mobile Tactical Ballistic Missile Launchers, Wayne H. Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense has a requirement to quantify the force enhancement effects from various configurations of an envisioned multilayered Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system. TMD research accomplished to date has focused primarily on the pre-launch and in-flight tactical ballistic missile (TBM) operational phases while ignoring the post-launch phase during which mobile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) are vulnerable to attack. No methodology currently exists to measure the effectiveness of various post-launch counter-TEL system configurations or their potential contribution to the overall TMD mission. This research uses the decision analysis technique of influence diagrams to model the post-launch counter-TEL process using notional variable …

Go to article

Exmis: An Expert System For The Autonomous Onboard Command System (Aocs), Kevin D. Benedict Dec 1995

Exmis: An Expert System For The Autonomous Onboard Command System (Aocs), Kevin D. Benedict

Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study is the creation of a prototype expert system called EXMIS (EXpert MIssile System) that performs the flight termination logic sequence of the Autonomous Onboard Command System (AOCS). The AOCS is a proposed system that would take the "man-in-the-loop" out of the self-destruct decision making process and place the entire decision on the launch vehicle. Through the use of a six degree of freedom trajectory program called BOOST, simulated flight data for four different flight scenarios is obtained. The launch vehicle selected for the simulations is the Peacekeeper ICBM. EXMIS is developed using an expert …

Go to article

An Evaluation Of Cost Metrics Used Within Aeronautical Systems Center, Kevin M. Byrne Sep 1995

An Evaluation Of Cost Metrics Used Within Aeronautical Systems Center, Kevin M. Byrne

Theses and Dissertations

Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) system program offices rely on cost metrics to acquire information on program effectiveness and organizational improvement. This study was an attempt to determine the effectiveness of ASC’s cost metrics. The effectiveness of the metrics were determined by the desirability of the behaviors which are exhibited when individuals utilize the specific metrics. Using an expert panel to evaluate the metrics, data was collected using the Group Research Laboratory for Logistics located in Armstrong Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. Metric diagnostic charts were utilized to arrange the data into a format which would provide effectiveness information. The …

Go to article

Aggregating Organizational Performance Metrics Using The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Bret L. Indermill Sep 1995

Aggregating Organizational Performance Metrics Using The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Bret L. Indermill

Theses and Dissertations

Measurement provides factual information which is necessary for effective control of business processes. Implementing a Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy is a common process in many organizations today. The United States Air Force is using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria to measure organizational performance in implementing the Quality Air Force (QAF) initiative. Unfortunately, the Baldrige-based unit self-assessment (USA) process is an inconsistent measure due to its subjectivity, and is also time consuming to use. This study determined that a new USA method based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was not a significant improvement over the existing QAF-USA …

Go to article

Assisting Defense Conversion Technology Transfer Efforts. A Case Study Of Ohio's Miami Valley, Marissa C. Salvador Sep 1995

Assisting Defense Conversion Technology Transfer Efforts. A Case Study Of Ohio's Miami Valley, Marissa C. Salvador

Theses and Dissertations

Major changes in the geopolitical environment and the social and economic needs of the United States have resulted in resources being shifted away from national defense. Although the expected decrease in defense spending should not be harmful in macroeconomic terms, it can be devastating locally. To mitigate the effects of the drawdown, individual states and local communities must search for ways to bolster their local economies. One avenue that can be pursued to enhance future economic growth is the transferring of technologies to the commercial sector. Intermediary organizations have emerged to facilitate the process of technology transfer by serving as …

Go to article

The Process Of Technology Transfer: A Case Study Of The National Aero-Space Plane Program, Brett T. Smith Sep 1995

The Process Of Technology Transfer: A Case Study Of The National Aero-Space Plane Program, Brett T. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Due to reduced funding levels and increased pressure towards cooperation with industry, government research and development (R&D) organizations are becoming increasingly involved in the transfer of technology to the commercial sector. However, the process of technology transfer is complex, and transfer activities are being applied inconsistently across the Department of Defense. This research explores the approaches, processes and mechanisms to accomplish technology transfer. A comprehensive literature review documents many of the transfer concepts that have been proposed or are currently in use. A detailed case study then examines the technology transfer efforts of an advanced government research organization: the National …

Go to article

A Comparison Of Consistent Versus Inconsistent Scheduling Rules In A Flow Shop Environment, Nicola Gismondi Sep 1995

A Comparison Of Consistent Versus Inconsistent Scheduling Rules In A Flow Shop Environment, Nicola Gismondi

Theses and Dissertations

A consistent scheduling rule is one which will ensure a job's priority (relative to all other job's) will remain constant as it moves from queue to queue in a production system. Previous research concerning flow shop priority scheduling rules focused on comparison of either consistent or inconsistent rules. Conversely, this study sought to provide additional insight by comprising consistent and inconsistent rules in a flow shop environment The Air Force uses both types of rules in maintenance and logistics scheduling. Time and money can be saved if the scheduling managers can better understand the effect of consistency on a system. …

Go to article

An Empirical Investigation Of The Integrated Weapon System Management Concept Of Seamless Processes, Timothy H. Surabian Sep 1995

An Empirical Investigation Of The Integrated Weapon System Management Concept Of Seamless Processes, Timothy H. Surabian

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the way four Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) single manager organizations operationalized the Integrated Weapon System Management (IWSM) concept of "seamless processes." In this thesis, the IWSM concept of "seamless processes" refers to the degree of integration between acquisition and sustainment organizations. Four SPO organizations were involved in six case studies. This research focused on the way "seamless processes" affect the shifting of the organizational "center of gravity" within or between single manager organizations. An interview questionnaire was administered to 13 Product Center managers and 6 Logistics Center managers. The interview questions focused on IWSM in general, …

Go to article

Just In Time Manufacturing: A Migration From Materials Requirements Planning, Scott A. Koehler Sep 1995

Just In Time Manufacturing: A Migration From Materials Requirements Planning, Scott A. Koehler

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing planning and control systems play an important role in an organization's effectiveness. Over the past twenty to thirty years, U.S. manufacturing companies have faced increasing competition for market share from Japanese and other Pacific rim countries. This thesis will investigate the evolutionary path followed by manufacturing companies that have implemented various manufacturing planning and control systems. Specifically, Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) and Just In Time (JIT) production will be analyzed. MRP is a means of convening demand for the final product into a requirements schedule for the various components comprising that product. The JIT philosophy calls for continuously improving …

Go to article

Tracking Air Force Pallets Using Rfid Technology: A Concept Study, Gary A. Gross Sep 1995

Tracking Air Force Pallets Using Rfid Technology: A Concept Study, Gary A. Gross

Theses and Dissertations

The lack of asset visibility experienced at Aerial Ports of Embarkation (APOEs) during Operation Desert Storm is a phenomenon that has occurred in every major conflict for the last 40 years. The costs associated with this lack of control directly relate to the combat readiness and capability of supported units. This study examined the possibility of installing a Radio Frequency Identification (RF-ID) system to track Department of Defense 463L pallets worldwide. Performance characteristics of commercially available RF-ID systems were summarized, and a conceptual Air Mobility Command (AMC) tracking system was presented. For purposes of concept study, Amtech Corporation's Intellitag RT …

Go to article

A Model For Forecasting Pollution Prevention Life Cycle Costs For Air Force Major Weapon Systems, Mark E. Garner, Jennifer S. Kirchoffer Sep 1995

A Model For Forecasting Pollution Prevention Life Cycle Costs For Air Force Major Weapon Systems, Mark E. Garner, Jennifer S. Kirchoffer

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort developed a modification to the HAZMAT program so that the program could provide the user with the capability to generate an estimate during the concept exploration and design phases for the total costs associated with hazardous materials usage in a major weapon system. Using the HAZMAT database, a spreadsheet was developed which projects a cost for a weapon system based on its total surface area and the number of aircraft to be produced by performing an analogy with a similar weapon system. The modification uses algorithm which are based on the hazardous material substances rather than processes …

Go to article

A Study Of The Factors Associated With Successful Technology Transfer And Their Applicability To Air Force Technology Transfers, James B. Rose Sep 1995

A Study Of The Factors Associated With Successful Technology Transfer And Their Applicability To Air Force Technology Transfers, James B. Rose

Theses and Dissertations

Although the United States is a world leader in scientific research, it lags behind some economic powers in the application of technologies. As quality and manufacturing excellence were critical to US competitiveness in the l98Os, so is commercializing technologies in the 199Os. With billion dollar budgets and exceptional scientific talent, the potential for fruitful technology transfer is abundant. By definition, federal-to-commercial technology transfer is the ability to leverage national investments in technology beyond their traditional customer base. The technology can be physical devices, processes, knowledge, or proprietary information. Unfortunately, and despite exhaustive legislative efforts, US industry has fallen behind its …

Go to article

Methods For Monitoring Process Control And Capability In The Presence Of Autocorrelation, Daniel J. Zalewski Aug 1995

Methods For Monitoring Process Control And Capability In The Presence Of Autocorrelation, Daniel J. Zalewski

Theses and Dissertations

When standard control charts are applied to a process whose measurements of quality exhibit autocorrelation, the performance of those charts can be considerably different than that expected when no autocorrelation is present. To model this performance, the existing definitions of assignable and chance causes of variation are extended to account for the variation induced by the autocorrelation structure. The application of statistical thinking toward continuous process improvement using the proposed taxonomy is discussed. A method to select control limits which yield a specified average run length in the absence of assignable causes of variation and which is suitable for use …

Go to article

A Robust Method Of Solving Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems Via Modified Compromise Programming, John L. Zornick May 1995

A Robust Method Of Solving Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems Via Modified Compromise Programming, John L. Zornick

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an extension of Ng's previous work in which goal programming was used to determine an approximate solution to a boundary value problem. This approach follows the same basic approach developed by Ng in which the method of collocation was recast as a compromise programming model. Hence, instead of solving a system of simultaneous nonlinear equations, one seeks a compromise solution which minimizes (in a weighted residual sense) a vector norm of the differential equation residuals. A difference in this approach is that it makes use of a genetic algorithm as the optimizing engine as opposed to the …

Go to article

Selecting Optimal Experiments For Feedforward Multilayer Perceptrons, Lisa M. Belue Mar 1995

Selecting Optimal Experiments For Feedforward Multilayer Perceptrons, Lisa M. Belue

Theses and Dissertations

Where should a researcher conduct experiments to provide training data for a multilayer perceptron? This question is investigated and a statistically-based method for optimally selecting experimental design points for multilayer perceptrons is introduced. Specifically, a criterion is developed based on the size of an estimated confidence ellipsoid for the weights in the multilayer perceptron. This criterion is minimized over a set of exemplars to find optimal design points. Initially, single output networks are examined. An example is used to demonstrate the superiority of optimally selected design points over randomly chosen points and points chosen in a grid pattern. Also, two …

Go to article

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis For Radioactive Waste Remediation Alternatives, Thomas P. White, Ronald J. Toland, Dorian Y. Buitrago Mar 1995

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis For Radioactive Waste Remediation Alternatives, Thomas P. White, Ronald J. Toland, Dorian Y. Buitrago

Theses and Dissertations

This research has two primary objectives. The first is to develop a generic, interactive, spreadsheet-based life-cycle cost model that uses net present value and risk analysis techniques for cost comparison. The second is to apply the model specifically to the vitrification and cementation methods of waste remediation. By using spreadsheet analysis and graphics capabilities, the model will provide direct and objective comparisons of remediation alternatives. Since vitrification is a new technology, the plant design and operations are conceptual. Therefore, computer simulation and engineering judgement are integral to the vitrification LCC estimate.

Go to article

Applications Of Statistical Process Control In Monitoring Aircrew Bombing Proficiency, Kirk G. Horton Mar 1995

Applications Of Statistical Process Control In Monitoring Aircrew Bombing Proficiency, Kirk G. Horton

Theses and Dissertations

The current tools used by squadron supervisors to monitor the bombing performance of aircrews flying F-111E aircraft are monthly reports that have little predictive capability. No real-time methodology exists for monitoring and predicting aircrew bombing performance and preventing bombing problems that might cause an individual to become unqualified. It has been suggested that Statistical process Control (SPC) can be applied to the bombing process to develop tools for managing the process, correcting problems, and improve the bombing performance of a squadron. This study investigates the application of SPC to the bombing process. It examines data taken from an F-111E Fighter …

Go to article

Patient-Aircraft Forecasting For The Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation "Lift-Bed Process", Donald F. Kimminau Mar 1995

Patient-Aircraft Forecasting For The Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation "Lift-Bed Process", Donald F. Kimminau

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to develop a tool for the Global Patient Movement Requirements Center (GPMRC) to efficiently forecast Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) aircraft and schedule patients in the lift-bed process. During a contingency, GPMRC is responsible for requesting required airlift, and providing lift-bed candidates to the Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center. The objective is to evacuate all waiting patients while minimizing the number of C-141 aircraft which must be dedicated to the AE mission. In the solution process, a short-term forecast of patient movement requirements is input, including number of patients, bed and aircraft availability, and hub preferences. …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last