Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Analysis Of Quality Costs For Vrp-109 And Larox Power Pf And Intensifying The Manufacturing Process, Tapani Kilpelainen

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science & Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Tapani Kilpelainen on April 13, 2007.

Short-Term Stock Market Timing Prediction Under Reinforcement Learning Schemes, Hailin Li, Cihan H. Dagli, David Lee Enke

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

There are fundamental difficulties when only using a supervised learning philosophy to predict financial stock short-term movements. We present a reinforcement-oriented forecasting framework in which the solution is converted from a typical error-based learning approach to a goal-directed match-based learning method. The real market timing ability in forecasting is addressed as well as traditional goodness-of-fit-based criteria. We develop two applicable hybrid prediction systems by adopting actor-only and actor-critic reinforcement learning, respectively, and compare them to both a supervised-only model and a classical random walk benchmark in forecasting three daily-based stock indices series within a 21-year learning and testing period. The …

Acuta Enews April 2007, Vol. 36, No. 4

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From the President.................... Carmine Piscopo, RCDD, ACUTA President

Nominate for ACUTA Ruth A. Michalecki Award

Board Report ............................ Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

Tech Talk: CMDB ls a Step Toward Seeing All, Knowing All.................. Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update................... Jeanne Jansenius, Sewanee, The University of the South

National LambdaRail and lnternet2 Renew Merger Discussions

FYI: Useful lnformation from the Campus............... Student Monitor

Web Tip: RSS Feed Technology............ Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA lnformation Technology Manager

lnfo Links................ Randy Hayes, Univ of Northern lowa

Grants to Higher Ed from Microsemi

Welcome New Members

Investigation Of The Lead-Free Solder Joint Shear Performance, James Webster, Jianbiao Pan, Brian J. Toleno

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Reflow profile has significant impact on solder joint performance because it influences wetting and microstructure of the solder joint. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of reflow profile and thermal shock on the shear performance of eutectic SnPb (SnPb) and Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC305) solder joints. Test boards were assembled with four different sized surface mount chip resistors (1206, 0805, 0603 and 0402). Nine reflow profiles for SAC 305 and nine reflow profiles for SnPb were developed with three levels of peak temperature (12ºC, 22ºC, and 32ºC above solder liquidus temperature, or 230ºC, 240ºC, and 250ºC for SAC …

Agile Mpc System Linking Manufacturing And Market Strategies, Ahmed M. Deif, Waguih H. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Increasing complexity and interdependency in manufacturing enterprises require an agile manufacturing paradigm. This paper considers a dynamic control approach for linking manufacturing strategy with market strategy through a reconfigurable manufacturing planning and control (MPC) system to support agility in this context. A comprehensive MPC model capable of adopting different MPC strategies through distributed controllers of inventory, capacity, and WIP is presented. A hierarchical supervisory controller (referred to as decision logic unit, DLU) that intakes the high-level strategic market decisions and constraints together with feedback of the current manufacturing system state (WIP, production, and inventory levels) and optimally manages the distributed …

Uncertainty Assessment In High-Risk Environments Using Probability, Evidence Theory And Expert Judgment Elicitation, Stella Barberis Bondi

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The level of uncertainty in advanced system design is assessed by comparing the results of expert judgment elicitation to probability and evidence theory. This research shows how one type of monotone measure, namely Dempster-Shafer Theory of Evidence can expand the framework of uncertainty to provide decision makers a more robust solution space. The issues imbedded in this research are focused on how the relevant predictive uncertainty produced by similar action is measured.

This methodology uses the established approach from traditional probability theory and Dempster-Shafer evidence theory to combine two classes of uncertainty, aleatory and epistemic. Probability theory provides the mathematical …

Determining Underlying Characteristics Of Supplier Evaluation Model: A Quantitative Empirical Research, Zeynep Ozlem Ozgun

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Rapid changes in the business environment, driven by competitive pressures and business complexity, present challenges that organizations cannot address without the support of their suppliers. In the past decades, performance evaluation factors such as quality, delivery, and price have been widely used by organizations to measure their suppliers' performance. Traditional supplier performance dimensions now considered to be only single dimensional, and not guarantee long term success of an organization. Use of internationally recognized standards and guidelines such as ISO 9000, MBNQA are recommended to be feasible for supplier Quality Management System evaluation in the literature. However, their effectiveness as a …

A Risk- And Fuzzy Set-Based Methodology For Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Military Utility Assessment Design, Thomas James Meyers

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) and derivative, rapid acquisition programs offer timely solutions to critical military needs by assessing the utility of technologies mature enough to be fielded without application of traditional, defense system development processes. Military utility assessments (MUA) are ACTDs' most critical features, but the lack of a standard for identifying assessment criteria tailored to specific demonstrations risks poorly informed acquisition decisions and the military operations those decisions are intended to support.

The purpose of this research was to develop and deploy a methodology for identifying measures of effectiveness integral to advanced concept …

2007 Survey Of Summer Sessions Students At The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

During Summer 2007, UNL Summer Sessions (FlexEd) surveyed summer students to learn about their experience in taking a summer course(s). The survey results will offer confirmation of what we are doing well and will provide guidance on areas of improvement and better strategies for marketing UNL summer opportunities. A total of 227 students completed the survey. Fifteen summer classes were selected to complete a paper-based or electronic version of the survey. The classes were from three different summer sessions and used different delivery mechanisms (on-campus, studio, distance education).

An Exploratory Study Of Iso 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Using The Iso/Iec 15504 Architecture, Paul Richard Shimp

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory study on the implementation and issues regarding Quality Management Systems as defined by ISO 9001 :2000 using the architecture of ISO/IEC 15504. The recently published ISO/IEC 15504 series of standards provides a framework to assess processes and determine levels of capability. With the use of this framework, the study will focus on the assessment and identification of problem areas requiring focus for continual improvement within an ISO 9001 :2000 quality management system.

The structure of this paper is as follows: Section 1 provides a background discussion of ISO 9001 :2000. …

A Structured Systemic Framework For Software Development, Kevin Macgregor Adams

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop and apply a systems-based framework for the analysis of software development project performance. Software development project performance is measured at the project level; that is, cost, schedule, and product quality that affect the overall project. To date, most performance improvement efforts have been focused on individual processes within the overall software development system. Making improvements to sub-elements, processes, or sub-systems without regard for the overall project is a classic misbehavior entered into by practitioners who fail to use a holistic, systemic approach. Attempts to improve sub-system behavior are at odds with The …

Systems Architecting Heuristics For Systems Engineering Management And Embedded Systems Engineering, Mark S. Anderson, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Software development for United States Air Force (USAF) weapon systems is a "right here, right now" prize captured by those who can rapidly develop requirements and deliver a quality product. The Air Logistics Centers (ALCs) located at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, Warner-Robins AFB, Georgia, and Hill AFB, Utah develop requirements utilizing 3400 funding to capture this prize. The ALCs identify these requirements as corrective maintenance or perfective and adaptive maintenance. Colleen A. Calimer and John L. BeVier introduce the concept of the "Embedded Systems Engineer" in their 2004 INCOSE paper "Embedded Systems Engineering: Managing Systems Complexity, Change, and …

System Evaluation And Description Using Abstract Relation Types (Art), Joseph J. Simpson, Ann K. Miller, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Two abstract relation types (ART) are developed to represent, describe and establish a computational framework for a system. An abstract relation type is closely related to and builds upon two fundamental ideas. The first idea is the binary relation and structural modeling techniques developed by John N. Warfield. The second idea is the concept of abstract data types. These two ideas are combined to create an abstract relation type that provides a structured representation and computational method for systems and system components. The complete system description approach is based on six abstract relation types: context, concept, functions, requirements, architecture, and …

Feasibility Study Of Variance Reduction In The Logistics Composite Model, George P. Cole Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The Logistics Composite Model (LCOM) is a stochastic, discrete-event simulation that relies on probabilities and random number generators to model scenarios in a maintenance unit and estimate optimal manpower levels through an iterative process. Models such as LCOM involving pseudo-random numbers inevitably have a variance associated with the output of the model for each run, and the output is actually a range of estimates. The reduction of the variance in the results of the model can be costly in the form of time for multiple replications. The alternative is a range of estimates that is too wide to realistically apply …

A Multivariate Magnitude Robust Control Chart For Mean Shift Detection And Change Point Estimation, Ryan M. Harrell

Theses and Dissertations

Statistical control charts are often used to detect a change in an otherwise stable process. This process may contain several variables affecting process stability. The goal of any control chart is to detect an out-of-control state quickly and provide insight on when the process actually changed. This reduces the off-line time the quality engineer spends assigning causality. In this research, a multivariate magnitude robust chart (MMRC) was developed using a change point model and a likelihood-ratio approach. Here the process is considered in-control until one or more normally distributed process variables permanently and suddenly shifts to out-of-control, stable value. Using …

A Layered Social And Operational Network Analysis, Jennifer L. Geffre

Theses and Dissertations

To provide maximal disruption to a clandestine/terrorist network's ability to conduct missions, we must develop a means to determine the individuals' importance to the network and operations. In a network centric world, this importance is represented as an additive value of their criticality across the convergence of multiple layers of network connections. The connections layers of the network are comprised of social layers (Acquaintance, Friendship, Nuclear Family, Relatives, Student-Teacher, and Religious Mentors, Reverent Power and others), as well as layers representing interactions involving Resources, Knowledge/Skills and Temporal Local. The social criticality of an individual is measured by centrality. Event Trees …

Internet Protocol Geolocation: Development Of A Delay-Based Hybrid Methodology For Locating The Geographic Location Of A Network Node, John M. Roehl

Theses and Dissertations

Internet Protocol Geolocation (IP Geolocation), the process of determining the approximate geographic location of an IP addressable node, has proven useful in a wide variety of commercial applications. Commercial applications of IP Geolocation include market research, redirection for performance enhancement, restricting content, and combating fraud. The potential for military applications include securing remote access via geographic authentication, intelligence collection, and cyber attack attribution. IP Geolocation methods can be divided into three basic categories based upon what information is used to determine the geographic location of the given IP address: 1) Information contained in databases, 2) information that is leaked during …

Beyond Passswords: Usage And Policy Transformation, Alan S. Alsop

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine whether the transition to a two-factor authentication system is more secure than a system that relied only on what users “know” for authentication. While we found that factors that made passwords inherently vulnerable did not transfer to the PIN portion of a two-factor authentication system, we did find significant problems relating to usability, worker productivity, and the loss and theft of smart cards. The new authentication method has disrupted our ability to stay connected to ongoing mission issues, forced some installations to cut off remote access for their users and in one …

Developing A Framwork For Evaluating Organizational Information Assurance Metrics Programs, Adam R. Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

The push to secure organizational information has brought about the need to develop better metrics for understanding the state of the organization’s security capability. This thesis utilizes case studies of information security metrics programs within Department of Defense organizations, the United States Air Force (USAF), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Jet Propulsion Lab to discover how these organizations make decisions about how the measurement program is designed, how information is collected and disseminated, and how the collected information supports decision making. This research finds that both the DOD and USAF have highly complex information security programs that …

Information Management Principles Applied To The Ballistic Missile Defense System, John M. Koehler Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Information systems (IS) have evolved over the last 50 plus years from individual components with single functionality to grand architectures that integrate multiple individual business functions into global organizational enterprises. Similarly several military systems with the single mission of missile defense have evolved in service stovepipes, and are now being integrated into a national and global missile defense architecture. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is currently tasked with developing an integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) capable of defending against all ranges of ballistic missiles in all phases of flight in defense of the homeland, our deployed forces, and our …

Acuta Enews March 2007, Vol. 36, No. 3

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From ACUTA Headquarters Jeri A. Semer, CAE, ACUTA Executive Director

Board Report............... Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ. ACUTA Sec./Treasurer

Liability When Employees Use Cell Phones White Driving............. Brendan Carr, Wiley Rein LLP

Telecom Managers Profit from VolP Knowledge .................. Gary Audin, Delphi, lnc.

Tech Talk: Time for a Change? Yes, and lt's March 11............... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update ............ Jeanne Jansenius, Sewanee, The University of the South

lnvite Your Vendors to Join ACUTA

FYI: Useful lnformation from the Campus Student Monitor

Web Tip: New RFI/RFP Web Page............. Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA lnformation Technology Manager

ACUTA …

Investigating Optimal Capacity Scalability Scheduling In A Reconfigurable Manufacturing System, Ahmed M. Deif, Waguih Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Responsiveness to dynamic market changes in a cost-effective manner is becoming a key success factor for any manufacturing system in today’s global economy. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) have been introduced to react quickly and effectively to such competitive market demands through modular and scalable design of the manufacturing system on the system level, as well as on the machine components’ level. This paper investigates how RMSs can manage their capacity scalability on the system level in a cost-effective manner. An approach for modeling capacity scalability is proposed, which, unlike earlier approaches, does not assume that the capacity scalability is simply …

Efficient Algorithms For Machine Scheduling Problems With Earliness And Tardiness Penalties, Guang Feng, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, we study the multi-machine scheduling problem with earliness and tardiness penalties and sequence dependent setup times. This problem can be decomposed into two subproblems—sequencing and timetabling. Sequencing focuses on assigning each job to a fixed machine and determine the job sequence on each machine. We call such assignment a semi-schedule. Timetabling focuses on finding an executable schedule from the semi-schedule via idle-time insertion. Sequencing is strongly NP-hard in general. Although timetabling is polynomial-time solvable, it can become a computational bottleneck if the procedure is executed many times within a larger framework. This paper makes two contributions. We …

Peer Review Of Teaching Project, Paul Savory, Amy M. Goodbrun, Amy Nelson Burnett

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The national impact of UNL’s Peer Review of Teaching Project was recognized in 2005 – with a TIAA-CREF Hesburgh Certificate of Excellence – as an exceptional program in enhancing undergraduate student learning. In 2006, the project was designated an Institutional Leader by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. As a national institutional leader, the project will continue defining, measuring, tracking, and improving approaches that deepen student understanding.

Selecting Electricity Generation Sources In Remote Locations, Kelly E. Kwan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of using a decision analysis technique for the selection of an electrical generation system for remote locations. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer five research questions addressing the types of energy sources used in remote locations, the decision-making processes used to identify these sources, the types of constraints incorporated in such a process, other valued factors, and their level of importance in relation to each other. The research questions were answered through a comprehensive literature review and the 10-Step Value-Focused Thinking Process on a specific case study in the National …

Recommendations For A Standardized Program Management Office (Pmo) Time Compliance Network Order (Tcno) Patching Process, Michael Czumak Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Network security is a paramount concern for organizations utilizing computer technology, and the Air Force is no exception. Network software vulnerability patching is a critical determinant of network security. The Air Force deploys these patches as Time Compliance Network Orders (TCNOs), which together with associated processes and enforced timelines ensure network compliance. While the majority of the network assets affected by this process are Air Force owned and operated, a large number are maintained by external entities known as Program Management Offices (PMOs). Although these externally controlled systems provide a service to the Air Force and reside on its network, …

Towards The Development Of A Defensive Cyber Damage And Mission Impact Methodology, Larry W. Fortson Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to establish a conceptual methodological framework that will facilitate effective cyber damage and mission impact assessment and reporting following a cyber-based information incidents. Joint and service guidance requires mission impact reporting, but current efforts to implement such reporting have proven ineffective. This research seeks to understand the impediments existing in the current implementation and to propose an improved methodology. The research employed a hybrid historical analysis and case study methodology for data collection through extensive literature review, examination of existing case study research and interviews with Air Force members and civilian personnel employed as …

Indentifying And Assessing Effective Mechanisms For Technology Transfer, Michael A. Romero

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to shift knowledge and resources from federal laboratories to industrial and academic partners and vice versa is the primary reason that technology transfer (T²) exists today. Without the cooperation of federal, state, and private agencies working together to resolve today’s technology quandaries, a lot of the breakthroughs experienced today would not exist. This research was focused on uncovering which mechanisms are utilized by scientists and engineers. The research entails uncovering both official and unofficial mechanisms and ascertaining why some methods are preferred over others. It is also a secondary focus, to determine which barriers are impeding …

Optimizing The Prioritization Of Natural Disaster Recovery Projects, Jason M. Aftanas

Theses and Dissertations

Prioritizing reconstruction projects to recover a base from a natural disaster is a complicated and arduous process that involves all levels of leadership. The project prioritization phase of base recovery has a direct affect on the allocation of funding, the utilization of human resources, the obligation of projects, and the overall speed and efficiency of the recovery process. The focus of this research is the development of an objective and repeatable process for optimizing the project prioritization phase of the recovery effort. This work will focus on promoting objectivity in the project prioritizing process, improving the communication of the overall …

The Chaos Of Katrina: A Nonlinear Analysis Of Federal Logistics Support During Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations, Gerald W. Morris Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a case study of federal logistics support during Hurricane Katrina disaster relief operations. Data from federal contracts covering the first 10 weeks of Katrina are used to measure federal logistics activity. The study investigates whether chaos theory, part of complexity science, can extract information from Katrina contracting data to help managers make better logistics decisions during disaster relief operations. The study uses three analytical techniques: embedding, fitting the data to a logistic equation, and plotting the limit-cycle. Embedding and fitting a logistic equation to the data were used to test for deterministic chaos. The logistic equation and …