Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Forecasting Construction Product Demand, Robert Singerline

Theses

This is a synopsis of practical and theoretical methods used in forecasting construction product manufacturers' product demand. The practical methodology was accumulated by the author while working as a consultant for the Dodge Construction Information Division of McGraw-Hill. The objective is to review and update the various methods of forecasting with illustrations of current practices that are being used to forecast building product demand. The resulting work will help management in the planning process.

Peer Pressure Effect On Group Incentives, John Joseph Witkowski

Theses

When a group-incentive system, all participating workers receive the same bonus. Each pay-group establishes a pace which affects under-achievers and over-achievers.

A null hypothesis, that peer pressure has no effect on group incentives and the distribution of workers' efficiencies will fit a normal distribution, was formulated. The chi-square test was used to test the null hypothesis.

The first part of the study examined the effect of group incentives on experienced workers. The chi-square test indicated a highly significient difference between the actual efficiency distribution and the expected normal distribution; therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. The measure of kurtosis indicated …

A Study Of Personal Conflict And Stress Among Engineering Personnel As Influenced By Corporate Policy, Stated And Unstated, Richard Brian Gordon

Theses

The following concepts are being challenged: That organizations are efficient, well-managed, and intelligent: that if one is to believe in any sort of authority, one must first accept the notion that it truly knows best and that it is not only competent, but well-intentioned; that organizations exist for the benefit of their employees and customers; that organizations reward dedication, competence, and performance: that if the organization is to grow it needs loyal sacrificing people; that organizations are dynamic and receptive to change; that if the employee is discouraged, do not worry, for tomorrow will be better; that to be useful …

An Application Of Personal Microcomputer To Solve Mid-Sized Goal Programming Problems, Chanhon Joe Lu

Theses

This thesis develops a microcomputer software to solve mid-sized goal programming problems utilizing the revised simplex method.

Goal programming is an extension of linear programming, but is more powerful and flexible than linear programming because of its capability in handling problems with multiple conflicting objectives, instead of dealing with "one dimensional" objective - profit maximization or cost minimization. Accordingly, goal programming is very useful to the complex organizational environments.

With the help of rapid and accurate computation of digital computers, solving a complex program is not a difficult task at all. However, some medium-sized companies cannot afford a mainframe -computer, …

Organizing To Manage Future Information Technologies, John Patrick Paczkowski

Theses

The area of information technology has undergone dramatic changes over the past ten years, and the rate of change is expected to continue to accelerate through the 1980's and beyond. The newly developing information systems are providing organizations with numerous options for enhancing the quality of managerial decision making, speeding communications and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative/office processes. Unfortnately, many organizations are discovering that they are unable to effectively assimilate and utilize the technology effectively. Chief executives are finding that the traditional structures for managing Data Processing, Telecommunications, and office systems are often fragmented, lack the technical expertise …

Designing A Data Management System To Support A Quality Control Mission, Erastus Runji Muchioki

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the design of a Data Management System to support a Quality Control Mission particularly within the writer's organization. It defines the term quality, with respect to his company's needs, followed by an outline of quality control management's responsibilities. Problems of quality Control from product design, assembly to the finished product are discussed. The organization's current quality control procedures are analyzed. Problems in establishing the data base are discussed. This data is then organized to form the new Data Management System that will support a Quality Control Mission properly. In the discussion, the author tries to …

Managing In The Technical Sales Arena, Robert Munro

Theses

The major objective of this thesis is to portray the role of a Field Engineer for a major manufacturer of electrical distribution and control equipment. In so doing, it should represent a reasonable facsimile of what a sales manager of a large Field Office, comprised of approximately twelve Field Engineers, would encounter in his supervisory capacity. As such, it should provide information for those interested in entering and hoping to manage in technical sales career.

While much of the information was derived from books, periodicals, and conversations with people associated with the electrical industry, the major portion of the work …

Criteria Measurement In Edp Auditing, Eugene Alexander Ottaviano

Theses

Criteria Measurement in EDP Auditing is a planning technique to assist the Internal Audit function in systematically selecting software applications for budgeted audit reviews. The objective is to develop a risk analysis method, which is not time and labor intensive, that will minimize risk to the corporation and maximize audit effectiveness. The methodology does not consider probabilities or occurrence rates because risks to the EDP environment are extremely difficult to forecast with traditional techniques. The method provides for both objective and subjective risk determinations.

The approach is to measure software risk criteria for a specific data processing environment. Risk concerns …

Designing Cost Effective Pump Suction Systems Using Statistical Correlation Techniques To Estimate Vessel Elevation Costs, Neil J. Bernstein

Theses

In order to minimize total costs (investment plus operating costs) when elevating process equipment to meet hydraulic requirements, it is essential to establish cost effective and energy efficient pump suction systems. During the early stages of design of such systems it is most critical that preliminary costs be determined in a timely manner to avoid job delays. One method of accomplishing this is through the use of a cost estimating relationship for defining the price behavior of alternative pump suction systems. This thesis describes the procedure used to develop a mathematical model to predict the cost of elevating vertical drums. …

Industrial Parameters For Applying New Technology, Michael Cimino

Theses

Industrial Parameters for Applying New Technology is a paper devoted to the study of the role 'of' robots in today's manufacturing environment. Industry looks forward to robotic technology to solve, its declining productivity dilemma. The purpose of this paper is to' aid a Prospective robot buyer in selecting the appropriate application and in particular a suitable robot for that application. A listing of robot performance characteristics, criteria chart, and evaluation table were developed to guide the engineer through the necessary steps required in selecting a successful robot application.

The history of robotics is discussed briefly along with an explanation of …

Design Criteria For Employee Alcholism Programs, Lee G. Conover

Theses

This thesis is an examination and evaluation of treating employee alcohol-related problems through a counseling program. Special attention has been given to the many aspects that must be considered for the implementation of a successful counseling program.

To gather the data for this thesis, a successful counseling program was observed and members of its counseling program staff, medical, labor relations, and personnel departments, along with its union representatives, were interviewed in order to draw on their experience and expertise in organizing, implementing and maintaining such a counseling program. A counseling program consultant, a representative of the New Jersey Department of …

Selection And Problems Faced By The Handicapped In An Industry, Hemank Babulal Dharia

Theses

This thesis reports on the problems faced by handicapped workers placed in an industrial situation. It discusses some of the frustrations, aspirations and hopes of the disabled to find suitable work as well as the fears and misconceptions of employers who consider the employment of the handicapped.

There is discussed the work done by the author in designing jigs and fixtures to assist handicapped workers in production as well as the models of placement, job understanding and rehabilitation efforts.

The work was done at the Delaware County Branch of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind, Chester, Pennsylvania where the author …

Managing And Controlling The Manufacturing Operations, Harish Doshi

Theses

No abstract provided.

Management Of The Interface Between Product Design And Production, Adam Fischer

Theses

The goal of this thesis was to identify some of the many obstacles which tend to, in some way or manner, delay the timely, satisfactory progression of new developments from becoming new profit items. These obstacles which are numerous are the results of personal observation plus research of many books and periodicals. The identification of the obstacles will hopefully result in their obviation. Notable accomplishments along these lines tend to:

1. Reduce the loss of opportunity to gain an appreciable market share.

2. Reduce investment/overhead cost by earlier recovery of cost through earlier marketing effort.

3. Reduce continuing engineering costs …

Investigation Of Mental Workload In A Visual Inspection Task, Michel Alfandari

Theses

This thesis consists of an investigation of the "mental workload" involved in a visual inspection task. A short-term laboratory experiment was conducted on twenty test subjects to study the effects of three typical job-related factors encountered in mental workload situations: load stress, time stress, and motivation. These effects were assessed through the subjects' performances as measured by speed and accuracy data. The analysis of the results revealed that an increase in load stress deteriorates both speed and accuracy, whereas time stress improves speed but only at the expense of accuracy. The expected positive influence of motivational factor (cash prizes) was …

United States V. Western Europe : A Comparative Study Of Safeguarding Practice Against Hazards At The Point Of Operation In Metal Forming Systems, Jeffrey Joseph Schwalje

Theses

The problem of assuring safety for the worker at the point of operation of a metal stamping system is complex by virtue of the multiplicity of combinations possible between all conceivable dies and a press of suitable capacity.

The means of providing safeguarding prescriptions is further compounded by maintaining a viable means to enforce the safety regulations as demanded by law.

A comparative study of the approach to this problem was made between the practices in the United States with that of Great Britain, France and West Germany.

This was accomplished through the study of the available standards, codes and …

Control Of Construction Costs During Construction, David H. Foo

Theses

The construction of a major project requires a vast amount of time, money, material and human resources. Proper coordination of these elements into an array of activities is crutial to the success of the project if it is to be built on time and within budget. As technology advances, the complexity of the project increases the resources to build them remain finite, and therefore, the project manager must seek methods to improve control on the construction project.

This thesis provides an overall view of the relatively new and rapidly expanding field of cost engineering. Cost engineering may be defined as …

Management Of Manpower Planning In A Job Shop, John E. Yadlon

Theses

The object of any system of manpower planning is to provide a means to optimize manpower utilization. Within this base there is the normal requirement to provide effective utilization of equipment, materials and manpower. In a production type of environment, studies, statistics, research and supervisory manpower are readily available to best optimize manpower planning. In a job shop environment only fragments of these elements are available. Also, the available supervisory time for studies and implementation of research into statistics is usually very small. The net result is that manpower management in a job shop is all too often guessed at. …

The Introduction Of A Computerized Production Control System In A Small Manufacturing Company, Harry Leroy Zimmerly

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to acquaint the reader with the intricacies of introducing a computerized production control system into a small manufacturing company. To do this a hypothetical company was described as it existed with a manual production control system. The information flow of the manual system was described in detail.

Potential computerized production control systems with a shop data collection system were then investigated. A computerized system would expedite information flow, allow rapid assembly tracking, take accurate data and reveal the actual cost (including labor cost) of an assembly. This was done first by examining technical publications. …

Point Of Operation Safeguarding - A Metal Forming System Approach, William Baker Eaton

Theses

The mechanical power press in its application in the metal stamping and forming industry has been misinterpreted as a selfcontained metal forming system. Examination of the production routines involving the press show that this machine is actually only one elemental component of the metal forming system and not the total production unit.

Authoritative codes and standards pertinent to the mechanical power press have reflected this misinterpretation by not including system considerations in their contents. These omissions have resulted in the providing of safeguards which do not properly reflect the particular characteristics of the metal forming system to which they are …

The Guarding Of The Principal Metalworking Machines : The Techniques, Need, And Responsibility, Peter James Schwalje

Theses

This thesis examines the guarding of the principal metalworking machines employed in the economy. The machines selected for consideration comprise the bulk of metal processing equipment utilized in the basic fabrication and manufacturing processes. It has been intuitively recognized that this equipment has been involved in a significant quantity of industrial accidents by the very nature of the hazards created by their normal use. Consequently, a need to develop some form of guarding or means of operator protection is called for.

In order to examine this question the principal metalworking machines are enumerated, their basic operating characteristics set forth,, and …

Ecuador And A Business Opportunity, Cesar Arturo Paredes Roldan

Theses

As a result of its recent status as a petroleum exporting country, Ecuador is enjoying an economic boom, which is expected to lead to the formation of new enterprises, the creation of jobs, the utilization of human and natural resources and the encouragement of harmonious development of the national economy.

This thesis is based on the belief that the private sector must assume a decisive role in the adequate implementation of Ecuador's industrial development programs, and it aims to show the feasibility of establishing there an enterprise that would manufacture domestic electric irons.

The coverage of the subject comprises three …

An Approach To Energy Conservation In A Manufacturing Industry, William Polignano

Theses

The approach attacks the problem of control and planning of energy usage via three major categories. These areas are: detection, forecasting and reporting of energy usage.

To initiate any energy program the first step, is the identification of the areas that use the most energy, thus allowing detailed studies to be concentrated in these energy-intensive areas. The author has attempted to show which areas are energy-intensive in his employer's plants.

The second step is the accurate forecasting of energy usage. The author has attempted this via an econometric forecasting model that accurately predicts energy usage based on direct labor hours …

Non-Standard Workweek Scheduling Technique Selection, John Alexander Oak

Theses

This thesis presents a description of non-standard work scheduling techniques and a comparison method which enables decision-makers to differentiate between available work-scheduling alternatives with the purpose in mind of selecting the most appropriate and suitable arrangement. The method developed calls for the decision-maker to follow a five-step sequential process to obtain final results. The ingredients necessary to achieve such final results are obtained in a manner similar to that demanded by decision-making-under-uncertainty conditions commonly followed in actual industrial settings.

Since the primary objective of business management is the achievement of a profit through the manipulation of available resources, initial sections …

Design For A Developing Consortium, Henry A. Mauermeyer

Theses

The number of consortia in American higher education expanded rapidly from only ten in 1960 to eighty in 1973. Many do not have an organized method of developing interinstitutional cooperation, structuring their internal management, or preparing to meet future expansion.

The design of an organizational process appropriate to consortia in general has been developed in this thesis. The design is based on an analysis of various materials: (1) literature on the consortium movement; (2) data gathered from a nationwide survey conducted by the author; (3) visits with directors of consortia and experts in the consortium field; (4) actual working experience …

The Design And Implementation Of A Time-Shared Computer Based Construction Cost Estimating System For An Electric Utility, Thomas Arnold Westphal

Theses

The work of the distribution department of an elec tric utility involves a great deal of medium to heavy construction. This work is vital to serve the energy needs of the public. An electric utility constantly builds, reinforces, and repairs electric distribution facilities. The material and labor used to accomplish this construction is expensive. Money in sufficient amounts is seldom, if ever, available to finance all proposed construction projects. Therefore, the cost of proposed projects must be estimated in advance, so that management may decide on an economic basis which projects will be authorized.

The need for accurate construction cost …

Effectiveness Of Training Programs For Graduate Engineers, V.C. Rajashekar

Theses

This thesis represents an investigation of effectiveness as a result of engineering training. The basic elements of effectiveness and its learning process are explained and said that the effectiveness could be learnt and improved.

The term training, is basically the process of education and training. But training cannot be performed as an individual, but is performed as a group. Therefore training a group with having so many individuals needs careful consideration in designing a training program.

In order to get the broadest possible picture of current thinking and current activity in the area of company training programs for graduate engineers, …

Financing The Nuclear Fuel Requirements Of Public Utilities, Peter A. Lewis

Theses

A major portion of new electric generating capacity will be nuclear powered. The change to nuclear power will require large outlays of capital not required with conventional fuels to finance nuclear fuel inventories. Nuclear fuel financing requirements are unique because nuclear fuel is not consumed in the same manner as conventional fuels. Financing has not been a problem to date because nuclear fuel can be obtained only through lease from the Atomic Energy Commission. This arrangement will be terminated by June 30, 1973 and from that date on all nuclear fuel must be privately owned. Electric utilities have shown an …

Reliability Considerations For Communication Satellites, Frank Polizzi

Theses

A detailed program covering all phases of reliability for a communication satellite was presented. In long mission programs such as this one, reliability is the prime consideration in assuring a successful accomplishment of the stringent goals set forth. Reliability principles and methods were incorporated in delineating each major task in the program. These principles and methods not only aided the reliability personnel in performing their duties better, but also assisted the design group, manufacturing personnel, and the testing and evaluation group in performing their jobs efficiently by being aware and knowledgeable of reliability engineering.

Various reliability disciplines were imposed, as …

Planning And Scheduling Software Programs With Pert, Henry E. Mielo

Theses

The use of the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) in planning and scheduling software programs was discussed in this thesis. A real world program, referred to as the Wrap-Around Simulation or WAS Project, was selected to illustrate that complex efforts in the software domain can respond favorably to modern planning and scheduling techniques

The WAS Project included the provision of a digital simulation of the shipboard environment in which a Digital Fire Control Computer (DFCC) would operate as part of a Digital Fire Control System. The digital simulation afforded a well controlled and conclusive checkout of the operational program …