Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

The Indentation Of Foam Pattern Surfaces By Coordinate Measuring Machine Probes, Sanjay Nenawati

Masters Theses

When coordinate measuring machines are used to measure the complex shapes of foam patterns, the spherical probe tips indent into the soft surface of the pattern. Such indentation represents a measurement error since the indicated dimension will not be the same as the actual dimension. To determine the magnitude of error, the depth of probe tip indentation into PMMA and EPS foam surface (i.e., elastic indentation) was measured as a function of time, applied load, and foam density. The residual indentation after the removal of the load (i.e., plastic indentation) was also studied.

The depth of elastic indentation increased with …

Computer Aided Process Planning System For Generating Alternative Process Plans, Rao T. Gali

Masters Theses

Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP) has a key role in Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) as an interface between design and manufacturing. Current CAPP systems treat process planning as a static function, and always generate the same machine and process combinations. Thus, these CAPP systems are inadequate for advanced manufacturing facilities such as Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS). This thesis presents research conducted for the design and development of a CAPP system called Alternative Computer Aided Process Planning (A-CAPP) which generates alternative process plans by interacting with production planning and machine loading functions to satisfy system capacity constraints.

A-CAPP is a variant …

Coordinated Strategic Planning Of Hydroelectric Energy Usage Using Stochastic Dynamic Programming With Decoupled Production Cost Simulation, Duane David Highley

Masters Theses

"The method of Stochastic Dynamic Programming is applied to the problem of Long-term hydrothermal coordination for a five-reservoir system in the Midwest. The model that has been developed will optimize the monthly reservoir elevations to produce the lowest expected energy production cost. The production cost calculations are decoupled from the Dynamic Programming loop, resulting in shorter execution times. Constraints are included for maximum and minimum reservoir elevations, maximum monthly reservoir rise and drop, and maximum and minimum monthly energy production. These constraints help to reduce the state space and shorten execution time. An additional constraint is modeled to control the …

An Ergonomic Study Of Meat Processing Operations, Edgar Delgado

Masters Theses

In this study, physical stresses imposed on the different parts of the musculoskeletal system were assessed using a subjective ratings of perceived discomfort (RPD) scale in the meat industry. The effects of a microbreak system on the perceived discomfort of employees were studied. In addition, a comparison of human physical capacities (i.e., anthropometric, strength, and endurance measures) for Caucasian-American and Hispanic-Mexican employees in the meat industry was performed. These measures were also compared against those of employees engaged in manual material handling tasks. Twenty-eight employees participated in the study.

Based on this study, it can be concluded that: (a) RPD …

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 …

Modcad: A Graphic Predetermined Time Standards Software For The Ibm P.C., Raad A. Dawood

Masters Theses

MODCAD is a software program designed to give MODAPTS (MODular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards) the capability to generate workplace layouts that can be used in conjunction with the time study analysis. Software packages have been developed for MODAPTS such as MODAPTS Plus and Task Master that allow the user to input the predetermined codes of MODAPTS.

AutoCAD (a computer aided design software) is used to combine MODAPTS codes and workplace layout drawings in a single environment by customizing the standard AutoCAD menus and icons to include the MODAPTS codes and routines. AutoLisp (AutoCAD resident language) is used to write …

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 …

Packaging Engineering Education Qualitative Need Assessment, M. Douglas Sachs

Masters Theses

"Packaging engineering is an interdisciplinary field which has no formal degree program to support it. While there arc packaging engineers in industry, there are no packaging engineering degrees presently being offered by our nation's colleges and universities. In order to lay a foundation upon which a degree program could be based, this thesis has investigated the needs of packaging engineering education by seeking the input of the packaging industry. This qualitative comparison has been quantified, resulting in a list of prioritized classes and topics upon which a degree program could be based"--Abstract, page ii.

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.

Implementing An Mrp System In A Job Shop Environment, Kathleen A. Behnke

Masters Theses

"In today’s highly competitive marketplace, many small manufacturers are struggling to survive. The competition to produce a quality product at a competitive price comes not only from other small companies, but also from larger companies and foreign manufacturers, who have learned to produce in a more economical fashion. The challenge of the small manufacturer is learning to compete.

Every manufacturer, whether large or small, has one basic objective: to be profitable. The profit objective is usually achieved using a three part strategy of maximizing customer service, minimizing inventory investment, and maintaining efficient plant operation.

Small companies, including the one in …

Packaging Management Organizations: A Case Study, Stephen A. Raper

Masters Theses

"The role of packaging management is taking on an increasingly crucial role as an aid to the success of companies today. This is a case study on the Functional Packaging Management (FPM) organizations of two companies in different industries. The case study examines the structure of the two functions, and examines their missions, responsibilities, and activities. This information is formulated into a definition of FPM for each company. The definitions are then compared to each other and to a literature theorized definition.

The knowledge gained by this case study illustrates that several factors such as the product/market served, alignment in …

Stress And Stress Management Among Geoscientists In The U.S. Petroleum Industry, August 1984: An Analysis, Ann M. Hagni

Masters Theses

"For the past three years, employment in the petroleum industry has declined significantly. This, along with many other factors, has created a potentially stressful situation similar to the petroleum industry recession of the late 1950s. A four page "Stress Questionnaire" mailed to 1000 geoscientists in the U.S. petroleum industry in August, 1984, concludes that geoscientists appear to be coping very well with their potentially stressful situation.

These geoscientists rated themselves considerably up-to-date with respect to their professional discipline and show a strong need to grow and develop. They are very personally involved in their work and at least some of …

A Case Study Of The Management Of New Packaging Technologies, Richard Kirk Maguire

Masters Theses

"There has been a growing interest by industry in the functions of packaging management as packaging is being recognized as a greater factor in the overall success of a company.

This is a case study on the packaging management structure of one company and how the introduction of new packaging technology is handled by that company. The case study follows the history of the packaging department of the company and examines the current structure of the department. The study goes on to analyze the department's methods for handling old and new technologies and the reasons for doing so. A closer …

A Planning System For Research Management In A University Environment, Russell Lee Goldammer

Masters Theses

"The research project director at a college or university has few, if any, of the traditional management tools that are available for other forms of management, especially in performing the early, crucial stages of planning. This is particularly distressing since managing a program in this type of environment can be very difficult, due to bureaucratic red tape and interdepartmental concerns. The purpose here is to develop an aid for managers with these problems, for more effective research management in a university environment.

After developing a general model for a typical research project at a university, the Gasification Research On Wood …

The Transition Of An Engineer To An Engineering Manager: The People Problem., Edward Leon Boyd

Masters Theses

“A review of existing literature and a survey of engineering managers are used to determine the work of the engineering manager, the career path leading to an engineering management position, and the skills that should be acquired by the engineer desiring to make the transition to an engineering management position.

The work of the engineering manager, like that of any manager, is getting things done through other people. In advancing to the first formal management position, the engineer usually passes through three career stages: engineer, informal manager, and formal manager. While advancing through these career stages, the engineer must increase …

An Evaluation Of Productivity And Efficiency In Work Scheduling In A Public Works Department, Kraig L. Gordon

Masters Theses

“Managers throughout the world frequently associate the meanings of productivity and efficiency with the capabilities and performance of employees. This approach is limited since productivity entails far more than the output of the labor force. The factors affecting productivity need evaluating to determine the significance they plan in the overall process.

Industry has attempted to improve its productivity posture by utilizing a multitude of concepts. Some of these concepts are time and motion studies and process planning. However, in the public sector, literature shows that little has been attempted to improve the productivity in public organizations.

The greatest portion of …

Non-Cash Incentives And Worker Motivation, Daniel Franklin Cole

Masters Theses

"A problem of growing concern in the United States deals with the poor results of the nation's businesses in terms of productivity. The U.S. is now suffering the worst decline in productivity in a generation. While part of this decline can be attributed to economic conditions, data indicates that the labor force could be more productive if it wanted to do so. A study has shown that 52% of all workers feel they aren't producing at full capacity. Alienation of the American worker is identified as one of the most important contributors to this problem.

Because it is often difficult …

An Analysis Of The Role And Effectiveness Of The Contract Manager In Government Contracting., Daniel Martin Wilson

Masters Theses

"The contract manager in carrying out the contract management function of government contracting represents a vital element of the procurement process. He is charged with responsibilities for assuring that a product or service is delivered in a timely manner and is of specified quality, quantity and price. However, research and a survey of his role reveal that he is regarded a s a functional specialist, guided by a mass of procedural requirements, and he is not included in the managerial hierarchy of contracting.

Because his role does not accord him the status or authority commensurate with the importance of the …

An Investigation Into The Extent Of Implementation Of Operations Research Techniques For Inventory Control In Industry., Edward Allen Scarff

Masters Theses

"The object of this research is to investigate the techniques currently utilized for controlling inventories in industry. The various significant methods of inventory control in use today are presented and the strengths and weaknesses of these methods are assessed.

A survey of the Fortune 500 companies was conducted to determine the methods of inventory control in use today by industry. In addition, selected production personnel of representative companies were interviewed to determine the advantages and disadvantages of certain inventory control methods they use.

The results of the survey and the interviews are presented, and an analysis is made. Conclusions are …

Project Program Evaluation Technique For Real Property Maintenance Activities., Richard Walter Graumann

Masters Theses

"Managers of Real Property Maintenance Activities often only consider workmanship and customer satisfaction when evaluating the overall effectiveness of their contracted maintenance and construction projects. For multi-functional organizations where top management is responsible for the execution of several hundred concurrent, unrelated, unique, and widely dispersed projects, these subjective factors are not adequate to conduct a meaningful evaluation.

Top management must continually assess not only the progress of contracted work, but also the engineering design and contract administration functions. Published material has given little attention to the need for aggregating project data in a multi-project environment to provide management with the …

A Strategic Planning Model For Implementing Community Development Block Grant Programs., John M. Lang

Masters Theses

"As problems of metropolitan areas have multiplied, the federal government has been drawn into an ever-increasing intimate funding association with city governments. Although federal funding for ii urban problems may have been considered a panacea by some, most local government agencies have now discovered that their problem has shifted in emphasis from where to find funds to that of meeting federal standards and requirements of application in order to get the funds.

The impact of federal programs on local government management is evident in the recently enacted federal Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Title I of the act …

Universality Of Management Principles And Applicability Of American Management Know-How In Less Developed Countries., Minas Lessanu

Masters Theses

"The title is the Universality of management principle through the history and development of management thoughts. It illustrates the gradual education of management principles. Then it goes on to discuss certain problems of the field of management, in particular the problems associated with semetics.

The thesis then discloses the different management principles in the different managerial functions of planning, organizing staffing and controlling. It then shows these principles to be universal and finally discloses the different environmental constraints that evolved and concludes that they are universal, but their applicability is to a certain extent possible and highly dependent on the …

An Organizational Structure For A Highway Agency., Frank L. Carroll

Masters Theses

"Highway agencies in the past have been organized to give primary consideration to economic factors. Th e National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 changed this concept by requiring all states to reevaluate their highway organizations in order to ensure that social and environmental factors, as well as economic factors, are considered.

Various state highway organizations are analyzed to determine the way in which consideration is given to the social, economic and environmental effects of design, and a model organizational structure for a highway agency is developed.

Because considerable difference exists in the ways in which the states have approached the …

An Experimental Model For Predicting The Commodity Futures Market., C. E. Roy Francis

Masters Theses

"Trading of· commodity futures contracts is one of the purest forms of speculation available today. Inherent is the risk of substantial losses. In an effort to reduce these risks, this research was undertaken.

As a result, a computer program was developed to forecast the prices of commodity future contracts on a daily basis. The program employs the Monte Carlo Technique of simulation and provides expected values for the next trading day.

During the development and testing of the prediction model. various trading techniques were also tested. A trading technique utilizing the difference between the forecasted price and the actual price …

The Availability And Development Of An Automated Accounting System For Small Businesses., Margy Rice Beckmeyer

Masters Theses

"A good accounting system is a very essential part of the successful operation of a small business but is often lacking. Therefore, the objective of this research is to furnish a general automated accounting system suitable for use by the small business firm.

To determine the feasibility, a statistical survey was made to evaluate the availability of automated accounting systems now available to small business. The results of the survey suggest that computer systems are presently available to small business firms at economical prices, but to minimize cost the small firm may need to supply its own accounting program.

The …

The Development Of A Selection Model For Coal Conversion Processes., Karen Aldridge Dollar

Masters Theses

"Present research endeavors involving coal conversion technology have encompassed comparisons of the processes on the basis of economics or efficiency. These comparisons lack completeness because many intangible factors pertinent to the evaluations of the processes have been ignored.

A model has been developed to aid in the selection of the optimum coal conversion process for a given situation. The model includes a method for the evaluation of quantifiable factors which affect the decision-making procedure, and also includes methods by which the non-quantifiable factors which are important to the situation may be evaluated. This is a more complete form of decision-making …

Minorities Are Not Prepared For Accepting Jobs In The Petroleum And Petrochemical Industries., Freddie Lorace Thompson

Masters Theses

"A survey has been made from nine petroleum and petrochemical companies in the Houston area to get recommendations on the training required for minorities to secure jobs and advance in these industries. Information gathered through this survey consist of the following; (1) recommendations on careers minorities should concentrate their training to secure jobs in these industries; (2) the demand for qualified technical minority graduates far exceeds the supply; (3) a vehicle whereby minorities can be trained and inducted into the petroleum and petrochemical industries; and (4) the companies surveyed are putting forth an honest effort to increase their job mix …