Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Unmanned Aerial Systems: Research, Development, Education & Training At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Michael P. Hickey

Publications

With technological breakthroughs in miniaturized aircraft-related components, including but not limited to communications, computer systems and sensors, state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become a reality. This fast-growing industry is anticipating and responding to a myriad of societal applications that will provide new and more cost-effective solutions that previous technologies could not, or will replace activities that involved humans in flight with associated risks.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has a long history of aviation-related research and education, and is heavily engaged in UAS activities. This document provides a summary of these activities, and is divided into two parts. The first part …

Benchmarking Environmental Efficiency Of Ports Using Data Mining And Rdea: The Case Of A U.S. Container Ports, Yong Shin Park, N. Muhammad Aslaam Mohamed Abdul Ghani, Fesseha Gebremikael, Gokhan Egilmez

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

This study provides step-wise benchmarking practices of each port to enhance the environmental performance using a joint application of the data-mining technique referred to as Kohonen’s self-organizing map (KSOM) and recursive data envelopment analysis (RDEA) to address the limitation of the conventional data envelopment analysis. A sample of 20 container ports in the U.S.A. were selected, and data on input variables (number of quay crane, acres, berth and depth) and output variables (number of calls, throughput and deadweight tonnage, and CO2 emissions) are used for data analysis. Among the selected samples, eight container ports are found to be environmentally inefficient. …

Overview Of Smart Manufacturing In West Virginia, Thorsten Wuest, Patrick Schmid, Brian Lego, Eric Bowen

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

The manufacturing sector is currently reinventing itself by embracing the opportunities offered by the industrial internet, automation, and machine learning, just to name a few. This development is commonly referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Smart Manufacturing. While Smart Manufacturing can be observed around the globe, there are distinct differences in how it is adopted and embraced between countries, industries, and companies of different sizes. Small- and medium-sized manufacturers are generally understood as the backbone of the manufacturing sector. However, these manufacturers face specific challenges when it comes to the transition toward Smart Manufacturing. This report presents the …

Predictive Models For Charitable Giving Using Machine Learning Techniques, Leily Farrokhvar, Azadeh Ansari, Behrooz Kamali

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Private giving represents more than three fourths of all U.S. charitable donations, about 2% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Private giving is a significant factor in funding the nonprofit sector of the U.S. economy, which accounts for more than 10% of total GDP. Despite the abundance of data available through tax forms and other sources, it is unclear which factors influence private donation, and a reliable predictive mechanism remains elu- sive. This study aims to develop predictive models to accurately estimate future charitable giving based on a set of potentially influential factors. We have selected several factors, including unemployment …

Evaluation Of Consumer Drone Control Interface, Thomas William Merrell

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The development and use of consumer grade drones is becoming a larger part of our society for many different applications. There has been a great amount of discussion and constant review of proper operation of consumer drones including proper methods of control. In turn, regulation of such devices has been inconsistent. This study aims to better understand the effects of the three primary control interface methods (line of sight, video aided, and first-person view) on flight performance, situational awareness, and perceived mental workload of the operator. Secondarily, this study aims to provide design recommendations for future interfaces. This study shows …

Force-Canceling Mixer Algorithm For Vehicles With Fully-Articulated Radially Symmetric Thruster Arrays, Joseph Nicholas Casabona

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new type of fully-holonomic aerial vehicle is identified and developed that can optionally utilize automatic cancellation of excessive thruster forces to maintain precise control despite little or no throttle authority. After defining the physical attributes of the new vehicle, a flight control mixer algorithm is defined and presented. This mixer is an input/output abstraction that grants a flight control system (or pilot) full authority of the vehicle's position and orientation by means of an input translation vector and input torque vector. The mixer is shown to be general with respect to the number of thrusters in the system provided …

Minimizing Commute Distance For Small Groups: A Linear Programming Approach, Kevin Payne, Kritika Kumari, Levi Huddleston, Rabi Hassan

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

This paper aims to minimize total drive time between members and their respective group leader. Given a limit on group size and days available, how can a formulation of a group occur such that the sum of the total drive time is minimized. To accomplish this task a Linear Program (LP) is implemented that includes three sets of binary decisions variables summing to 4100 variables and a variety of constraints summing between 4200 and 4341 depending on the constraints enforced. For 200 members and 15 leaders the minimized average commuting time was found to be between 4.99 and 5.36 minutes …

Proactive Coordination In Healthcare Service Systems Through Near Real-Time Analytics, Seung Yup Lee

Wayne State University Dissertations

The United States (U.S.) healthcare system is the most expensive in the world. To improve the quality and safety of care, health information technology (HIT) is broadly adopted in hospitals. While EHR systems form a critical data backbone for the facility, we need improved 'work-flow' coordination tools and platforms that can enhance real-time situational awareness and facilitate effective management of resources for enhanced and efficient care. Especially, these IT systems are mostly applied for reactive management of care services and are lacking when they come to improving the real-time "operational intelligence" of service networks that promote efficiency and quality of …

Enhancing Set-Based Design To Engineer Resilience For Long-Lived Systems, Gregory Hartman

Wayne State University Dissertations

At the heart of Set-Based Design is the concept that down-select decisions are deferred until sufficient information is available to make a decision, i.e., a set of possible solutions is maintained. Due to the extended service lives of many of our current and future systems, the horizon for accurately predicting the system’s requirement is shorter than the service life, so the needed information to down-select to a single optimized solution is unavailable at the time of fielding. Set-Based Design can, however, be extended to explicitly carry a set of possible solutions past the point of the initial fielding of the …

Shift Scheduling Optimization For Psu Library, Aayushi Gupta, Anju Babu, Lipishree Vrushabhendra, Shivani Purwar, Shravankumar Doosa

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

Scheduling is important in any business as it creates an order and flow ensuring that all the tasks are covered at appropriate times. According to experts, scheduling determines the economics of a job, the quality of the team, and the skill-building and motivation of professionals doing the work. Therefore, it is essential to have optimized staff schedules to meet the requirements of staff availability, tasks coverage, shift equity and staff preferences. Though staff scheduling is of such prime importance, it is mostly implemented in traditional ways of manually creating spreadsheets and web calendars proving to be laborious and often leaving …

Evaluating Flexibility Metrics On Simple Temporal Networks With Reinforcement Learning, Hamzah I. Khan

HMC Senior Theses

Simple Temporal Networks (STNs) were introduced by Tsamardinos (2002) as a means of describing graphically the temporal constraints for scheduling problems. Since then, many variations on the concept have been used to develop and analyze algorithms for multi-agent robotic scheduling problems. Many of these algorithms for STNs utilize a flexibility metric, which measures the slack remaining in an STN under execution. Various metrics have been proposed by Hunsberger (2002); Wilson et al. (2014); Lloyd et al. (2018). This thesis explores how adequately these metrics convey the desired information by using them to build a reward function in a reinforcement learning …

An Agile Quality Management System For Laboratory Developed Tests, Rita D'Angelo

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

AN AGILE QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR LABORATORY DEVELOPED TESTS

By

RITA D’ANGELO

MAY 2017

Advisor: Dr. Ratna Babu Chinnan

Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Statement of the Problem: We explore the 2014 draft guidance by the FDA entitled Framework for Regulatory Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDT) extended from the medical device industry and discuss how these requirements may be applicable to laboratory medicine. We introduce terms, definitions and provide a call for action for leaders to prepare for the potential adherence to regulatory requirements and explore if compliance was achievable in a laboratory environment …

Modular Product Architecture’S Decisions Support For Remanufacturing-Product Service System Synergy, Johnson Adebayo Fadeyi

Wayne State University Dissertations

Remanufacturing is identified as the most viable product end-of-life (EOL) management strategy. However, about 80% of manufactured products currently end up as wastes. Besides other benefits, the product service system (PSS) could curtail the main bottlenecks to remanufacturing namely quantity, quality, recovery time of used product, and negative perception of remanufactured products. Therefore, the integration of PSS and remanufacturing has been increasingly recommended as an enhanced product offering. However, an integration that is informed by mathematical analysis is missing. Meanwhile, the variables that bolster the performance of PSS and remanufacturing are substantially influenced by product development (PD) decisions. Among the …

Data-Driven Modeling For Decision Support Systems And Treatment Management In Personalized Healthcare, Milad Zafar Nezhad

Wayne State University Dissertations

Massive amount of electronic medical records (EMRs) accumulating from patients and populations motivates clinicians and data scientists to collaborate for the advanced analytics to create knowledge that is essential to address the extensive personalized insights needed for patients, clinicians, providers, scientists, and health policy makers. Learning from large and complicated data is using extensively in marketing and commercial enterprises to generate personalized recommendations. Recently the medical research community focuses to take the benefits of big data analytic approaches and moves to personalized (precision) medicine. So, it is a significant period in healthcare and medicine for transferring to a new paradigm. …

Reliability Analysis By Considering Steel Physical Properties, Wujun Si

Wayne State University Dissertations

Most customers today are pursuing engineering materials (e.g., steel) that not only can achieve their expected functions but also are highly reliable. As a result, reliability analysis of materials has been receiving increasing attention over the past few decades. Most existing studies in the reliability engineering field focus on developing model-based and data-driven approaches to analyze material reliability based on material failure data such as lifetime data and degradation data, without considering effects of material physical properties. Ignoring such effects may result in a biased estimation of material reliability, which in turn could incur higher operation or maintenance costs.

Recently, …

In Defense Of The Broader Application Of Virtual Queues, Evan Rapone

Honors Program Theses

The broader application of virtual queues is proposed. A review of the current state of queuing theory is presented as well as an acknowledgment of the deficiencies in the practicality of queuing theory. It is suggested that the queuing process can be improved by implementing the option of pursuing a virtual line. Specifically, the potential utility of introducing virtual queues is discussed in the context of the FastPass system, highlighting the major features of the method as well as examining the disadvantages of the service. The implementation of a FastPass-style queuing process outside of theme parks is presented as a …

Multivariate Analysis Of Students Perception On Teaching With Client Based And Non-Client Based Team Projects, Philip Appiah-Kubi

Engineering Management and Systems Faculty Publications

The classroom experience has evolved from traditional lecture, PowerPoint and whiteboards to a more active environment where students and instructors work together on hands-on activities to achieve the course objectives. Various names have been given to this pedagogy; experiential learning, project based learning (client based versus non-client based), active learning, and problem based learning are a handful of names used to describe this evolving pedagogy. The main challenge faced by educators in educating undergraduate students to be independent thinkers and problem solvers has been the driving force fueling the shift in pedagogy. This research looks into student’s perception on project …

Impact Of Sustainable Product Design On Elderly Ergonomics, Tris Kee, Alex King

Faculty of Design & Environment (THEi)

No abstract provided.

An Attribute Agreement Method For Hfacs Inter-Rater Reliability Assessment, Teddy Steven Cotter, Veysel Yesilbas

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Inter-rater reliability can be regarded as the degree of agreement among raters on a given item or a circumstance. Multiple approaches have been taken to estimate and improve inter-rater reliability of the United States Department of Defense Human Factors Analysis and Classification System used by trained accident investigators. In this study, three trained instructor pilots used the DoD-HFACS to classify 347 U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board (AIB) Class-A reports between the years of 2000 and 2013. The overall method consisted of four steps: (1) train on HFACS definitions, (2) verify rating reliability, (3) rate HFACS reports, and (4) random …

A Proposed Taxonomy For The Systems Statistical Engineering Body Of Knowledge, Teddy Steven Cotter

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

In the ASEM-IAC 2012, Cotter (2012) identified the gaps in knowledge that statistical engineering needs to address, explored additional gaps in knowledge not addressed in the prior works, and set forth a working definition of and body of knowledge for statistical engineering. In the ASEM-IAC 2015, Cotter (2015) proposed a systemic causal Bayesian hierarchical model that addressed the knowledge gap needed to integrate deterministic mathematical engineering causal models within a stochastic framework. Missing, however, is the framework for specifying the hierarchical qualitative systems structures necessary and sufficient for specifying systemic causal Bayesian hierarchical models. In the ASEM-IAC 2016, Cotter (2016) …

Systems Statistical Engineering – Systems Hierarchical Constraint Propagation, Teddy Steven Cotter, Peggy A. Quigley

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Cotter (ASEM-IAC 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017): (1) identified the gaps in knowledge that statistical engineering needed to address and set forth a working definition of and body of knowledge for statistical engineering; (2) proposed a systemic causal Bayesian hierarchical model that addressed the knowledge gap needed to integrate deterministic mathematical engineering causal models within a stochastic framework; (3) specified the modeling methodology through which statistical engineering models could be developed, diagnosed, and applied to predict systemic mission performance; and (4) proposed revisions to and integration of IDEF0 as the framework for developing hierarchical qualitative systems models. In the last work, …

Pathology-Informed Approach In Vulnerability Assessment Methods, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Adrian V. Gheorghe, Charles B. Keating

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

A system pathology is a circumstance, condition, or pattern that acts to limit system performance, or lessen system viability, such that the likelihood of a system achieving performance expectation is reduced. The idea of pathology has been described in multiple fields, including computer science, organizational studies, policy analysis, system-of-systems engineering, and systems engineering. However, there is scarcity of literature describing relationship between system pathology and vulnerability assessment. The aim of this study lies at the intersection of system pathology and vulnerability assessment in engineered systems. First, authors provide the state of the art review of literature on system pathology. Second, …

A Method For Identification, Representation, And Assessment Of Complex System Pathologies In Acquisition Programs, Charles B. Keating, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Keith F. Joiner, Joseph M. Bradley, Raed M. Jaradat

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Acquisition programs continue to struggle with increasing complexity. High degrees of emergence, interconnectedness, and uncertainty are the norm rather than exception. The purpose of this research is to explore extension of ongoing research in complex system pathologies for acquisition programs. Significant advances have been made in development of deeper understanding of the nature of pathologies (deviations from healthy system function) and their implications for performance of complex systems. Complex system pathologies represent violations of underlying system principles. These violations negatively affect system governance functions (control, oversight, accountability) resulting in degradation of system performance. Greater understanding of complex system pathologies offers …

A Systems Theory Based Examination Of Failure In Acquisition System Reform, Charles B. Keating, Joseph M. Bradley, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Craig Arndt

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The defense acquisition system has been the source of intense scrutiny and calls for reform for over four decades. This research is to examine the contributions of Systems Theory to enhance prospects related to acquisition reform. Systems Theory offers a set of principles, laws, and concepts that explain the behavior of complex systems. Although the acquisition system and constituent programs have been critiqued and examined from multiple perspectives, they have never been the subject of exploration from Systems Theory. Recent advances in Systems Theory have identified 83 different potential system pathologies that can result in degraded system performance or outright …

A Data-Driven And Mixed Methods Analysis Of Automotive Retail Operations Management, Mark Allen Colosimo

Wayne State University Dissertations

The importance of effective retail operations management has never been more significant. Our research aims to expand the understanding for efficiency and dynamics of franchise outlets within retail networks with a focus on sales performance and profitability. The focus and contribution is the development of an actionable data analytics driven process by which automotive dealerships (retail outlets) can be analyzed to identify areas of opportunity for improvement. In general, automotive dealerships aim to sell product to make a profit, the manufacturer of the product/brand desires to sell vehicles to make a profit, and the customer desires to find a suitable …

Venous Thromboembolism (Vte) Harm Measurement And Risk Assessment In Real-Time Using Electronic Health Records(Ehr), Seyed Mani Marashi

Wayne State University Dissertations

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a deadly disease and is considered as one of the top reasons for avoidable hospital deaths in the United States and around the world. Patients who survive this disease often must face life-long complications such as Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTPH), etc. Therefore, it is important to monitor and reduce the number of VTE instances in hospitals. This study shows how Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can be utilized to achieve this goal.

First, a new near real-time VTE harm measurement model was developed. Not only the developed model can deliver near real-time results, …

The Design, Test And Evaluation Of A Sensing System For Process Analytical Technology (Pat), Trevor Murphy

Theses

Increased globalisation and competitiveness has given rise to a more dynamic and diverse global market that has begun to place incredible strain on manufacturing supply chains. Conventional manufacturing methods such as the batch manufacturing methods employed largely by the materials processing industries i.e. pharmaceuticals, polymers and magnesium processing plants are ill-suited to cope with the demands of today. As products evolve with technological advancements they become more complex to produce and require alternative approaches to manufacturing to ensure product quality while reducing costs and increasing manufacturing efficiencies.

A potential solution to the growing demands on today's supply chain is process …

Systems Security Engineering For Mission Assurance: System-Theoretic And Technical Operational Risk Management (Storm), Shiu-Kai Chin, Tyson T. Brooks, Erich Devendorf, William E. Young

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - All Scholarship

STORM (System-Theoretic and Technical Operational Risk Management) is a systems security engineering (SSE) methodology for assuring missions and managing risk. Fully consistent with the System Security Engineering principles and objectives as described in NIST SP 800-160, STORM addresses the shortcomings of compliance-centric approaches by providing rigorous, behavior-focused tools applicable at both leadership and technical levels.

STORM integrates two principal components: STPA-Sec (System-Theoretic Process Analysis for Security) and CSBD (Certified Security by Design). STPA-Sec is used to derive and validate a mission Concept of Operation (CONOPS) by enumerating unacceptable losses, identifying hazards and unsafe control actions, and identifying security constraints. CSBD …

Equivalency Analysis Of Sidestick Controller Modes During Manual Flight, Alex Rummel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Equivalency analysis is a statistical procedure that can enhance the findings of an analysis of variance in the case when non-significant differences are identified. The demonstration of functional equivalence or the absence of practical differences is useful to designers introducing new technologies to the flight deck. Proving functional equivalence is an effective means to justify the implementation of new technologies that must be "the same or better" than previous technology. This study examines the functional equivalency of three operational modes of a new active control sidestick during normal operations while performing manual piloting tasks. Data from a between-subjects, repeated-measures simulator …

The Relationship Between Agile Project Management And Project Success Outcomes, Thomas Bergmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agile project management (APM) has recently emerged as a new approach to managing complex projects. Some experts believe that APM will become the standard project management approach used in the 21st century. However, thus far, the role of agility in project management has not been widely investigated. In the recent past, the concept of agility has mainly been applied to software development projects. The literature on agility is still in its early stages, and further research needs to be conducted in new project management domains. This study is intended to determine the impact of the adoption of APM on project …