XTP for the NASA space station

The NASA Space Station is a truly international effort; therefore, its communications systems must conform to established international standards. Thus, NASA is requiring that each network-interface unit implement a full suite of ISO protocols. However, NASA is understandably concerned that a full ISO stack will not deliver performance consistent with the real-time demands of Space Station control systems. Therefore, as a research project, the suitability of the Xpress transfer protocol (XTP) is investigated along side a full ISO stack. The initial plans for implementing XTP and comparing its performance to ISO TP4 are described

AIRNET: A real-time comunications network for aircraft

A real-time local area network was developed for use on aircraft and space vehicles. It uses token ring technology to provide high throughput, low latency, and high reliability. The system was implemented on PCs and PC/ATs operating on PCbus, and on Intel 8086/186/286/386s operating on Multibus. A standard IEEE 802.2 logical link control interface was provided to (optional) upper layer software; this permits the controls designer to utilize standard communications protocols (e.g., ISO, TCP/IP) if time permits, or to utilize a very fast link level protocol directly if speed is critical. Both unacknowledged datagram and reliable virtual circuit services are supported. A station operating an 8 MHz Intel 286 as a host can generate a sustained load of 1.8 megabits per second per station, and a 100-byte message can be delivered from the transmitter's user memory to the receiver's user memory, including all operating system and network overhead, in under 4 milliseconds

Partnering with Profs

This thesis will focus on the study of corporate universities and the development of a business plan for the implementation of Bi-State University. Research presented will cause the reader \O consider alternatives 10 accomplish strategic organizational training and development objectives. The reader should keep in mind their organizational culture and the developmental needs of their organization\u27s human resources. The purpose of this commentary is to identify the various options available beyond traditional training methods to develop a corporate university for Bi-State Development Agency. The best way to research approaches to human development is to ask the subject matter experts. Several approaches were used in this research including phone interviews, interviews with practitioners in HR publications, teleconference interviews, journal articles from training/HR national publications, published works of professional trainers and books from the American Society of Training and Development Best Practices Series. The business plan will act as a proposal for a partnership with a local university to offer an on-sight Bachelors program at Bi-State. The degree program will be a study in Management with a major in Transportation. Over twenty Bi-State employees have a Masters or Ph. D. that qualifies their participation as instructors m this joint venture. Many of these people have or are currently teaching in local colleges and universities. The education plan will go beyond theory into practical application using real-world transportation problems and opportunities. Students will learn through a unique challenge of combining classroom theory with practical application of the learned theory on tl1e job at Bi-State. This developmental approach will provide participants with education and practical career building learning. This project is one of a series of HR initiatives to assist Bi-State in creating a Learning Organization and help become the employer of choice in the public sector in the St. Louis region

Six sigma and beyond: a case study of Motorola Semiconductors Hong Kong Limited.

by Poon Lai-king, Yip Wai-man Christina.Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79).PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.iiiABSTRACT --- p.vTABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viChapterChapter I. --- INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY --- p.1Introduction --- p.1Organization of the Paper --- p.2The Approach --- p.3Chapter II. --- COMPANY PROFILE --- p.5Introduction --- p.5History --- p.5Operating and Financial Results --- p.6Organization and Management --- p.7Motorola Asia Pacific Semiconductor Group --- p.8Motorola Semiconductors Hong Kong Limited --- p.9Chapter III. --- EVOLUTION OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN MOTOROLA --- p.11Introduction --- p.11Motorola's Quality Improvement Stages --- p.11Motorola-HK --- p.17Chapter IV. --- QUALITY GOAL - THE SIX SIGMA --- p.20The Six Sigma Concept --- p.21Six Steps to Six Sigma --- p.22Six Sigma and Beyond --- p.23Chapter V. --- QUALITY CULTURE --- p.24The Notion of Quality Culture --- p.24Shared Values and Assumptions --- p.25Top Management's Commitment --- p.28Organization --- p.29Communication --- p.30Teamwork --- p.33Training and Education --- p.35Motivation --- p.37Chapter VI. --- IMPLEMENTATION OF THE QUALITY MANAGEMENT --- p.41"Quality, Speed and Teamwork Program" --- p.41Implementation through Various Programs --- p.46VII. SUCCESS STORIES SHARED --- p.52Manufacturing Examples --- p.5 3Non-manufacturing Examples --- p.61Chapter VIII --- . MOTOROLA CORPORATE QUALITY SYSTEM REVIEW --- p.65Introduction --- p.65The Quality System Review (QSR) --- p.67Some Thoughts on the QSR --- p.70Chapter IX. --- CONCLUSION --- p.76BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.78APPENDICE

Remote experimental station for engineering education

This thesis provides a distance-learning laboratory for students of electrical and computer engineering department where the instructor can conduct experiments on a computer and send the results to the students at remote computers. The output of the experiment conducted by the instructor is sampled using a successive approximation Analog to Digital (A/D) converter. A microcontroller collects samples using high speed queued serial peripheral interface clock and transmits data to IBM-compatible personal computer over a serial port interface, where the samples are processed using Fast Fourier Transforms and graphed. The client/server application developed transfers the acquired samples over Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network with operational Graphical User Interface (GUI) to the remote computers where the samples are processed and presented to students. The application was tested on all Windows platforms and various Internet speeds (56k modem, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Local Area Network (LAN)). The results were analyzed and appropriate methodology of Remote Experimental Station was formulated

Applying Total Quality Leadership to an aviation squadron

The implementation of Total Quality Leadership has been successful in several Department of Defense organizations. However, an aviation squadron provides an unique environment for the application of TQL. This thesis describes an adaptation of the NPRDC TQM process improvement model for a fleet squadron which includes the Shewart Cycle, customer supplier relationships, and mission deployment. Dr. W. Edwards Deming's 14 points are discussed in the context of the squadron environment. Continuous process improvement tools are explained and demonstrated using squadron examples.http://archive.org/details/applyingtotalqua00knigLieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Six sigma : changing a culture.

The objective of this thesis was to apply what was learned from Six Sigma while working for General Electric, towards real applications to improve processes. Two manufacturing problems were targeted. One of the issues dealt with variation, in an assembly process, which caused a large amount of missed opportunities. The other issue was based on defects caused by a reflector coating process that was creating haze and affecting lumens generated by the lamp. While analyzing the missed opportunity issue, a DMAIC approach was followed, measuring the collected data and analyzing the variation and mean of the processes by the use of box plots, Cause and Effect analysis, Pareto Diagrams, and Statistical analysis. After analyzing the data, three improvements on the machine were implemented. After analyzing the haze issue, a DOE was conducted to prove what factor was causing the haze. The missed opportunities were improved upon by implementing a preventative maintenance schedule and driving some Quick Hit projects for a total annualized savings of $140,000. The haze issue was proven, by a very simple 2X2 Design of Experiment, to be caused by the environment. By controlling the environmental conditions, the business was able to save$121,000 annualized

Supply Chain Finance: Impact on Supply Chain Competency and Organizational Performance

Supply chain finance (SCF) has begun to garner some attention in the supply chain management literature, yet we find no empirical works assessing the role that SCF plays within a supply chain context and the impact it has on supply chain competency (SCC) and organizational performance (OP). This paper is an attempt to fill this literature gap in supply chain management and provide empirical evidence on the role of SCF. This study employs a structural equations model to investigate the role of SCF in the context of supply chain management on U.S. manufacturing firms. The results map SCF in the center of the supply chain management spectrum with supply chain management strategy (SCMS) and information sharing (IS) as the antecedents to, and SCC and OP as the consequences of SCF. Supply chain finance, together with supply chain competency positively impacts 51% of the variations in organizational performance.  

Real-time sound synthesis on a multi-processor platform

Real-time sound synthesis means that the calculation and output of each sound sample for a channel of audio information must be completed within a sample period. At a broadcasting standard, a sampling rate of 32,000 Hz, the maximum period available is 31.25 μsec. Such requirements demand a large amount of data processing power. An effective solution for this problem is a multi-processor platform; a parallel and distributed processing system. The suitability of the MIDI [Music Instrument Digital Interface] standard, published in 1983, as a controller for real-time applications is examined. Many musicians have expressed doubts on the decade old standard's ability for real-time performance. These have been investigated by measuring timing in various musical gestures, and by comparing these with the subjective characteristics of human perception. An implementation and its optimisation of real-time additive synthesis programs on a multi-transputer network are described. A prototype 81-polyphonic-note- organ configuration was implemented. By devising and deploying monitoring processes, the network's performance was measured and enhanced, leading to an efficient usage; the 88-note configuration. Since 88 simultaneous notes are rarely necessary in most performances, a scheduling program for dynamic note allocation was then introduced to achieve further efficiency gains. Considering calculation redundancies still further, a multi-sampling rate approach was applied as a further step to achieve an optimal performance. The theories underlining sound granulation, as a means of constructing complex sounds from grains, and the real-time implementation of this technique are outlined. The idea of sound granulation is quite similar to the quantum-wave theory, "acoustic quanta". Despite the conceptual simplicity, the signal processing requirements set tough demands, providing a challenge for this audio synthesis engine. Three issues arising from the results of the implementations above are discussed; the efficiency of the applications implemented, provisions for new processors and an optimal network architecture for sound synthesis