3,521 research outputs found
The routinisation of management controls in software.
Author's post-print version. Final version published by Springer; available online at http://link.springer.com/Our paper aims to explore management control as complex and intertwining process over time, rather than the (mainstream) fixation on rational, optimising tools for ensuring business success. We set out to contribute towards our understanding of why and how particular management controls evolve over time as they do. We discuss how the management control routines of one organisation emerged and reproduced (through software), and moved towards a situation of becoming accepted and generally unquestioned across much of the industry. The creativity and championing of one particular person was found to be especially important in this unfolding change process. Our case study illuminates how management control (software) routines can be an important carrier of organisational knowledge, both as an engine for continuity but also potentially as a catalyst for change. We capture this process by means of exploring the ‘life-story’ of a piece of software that is adopted in the corrugated container industry
Sonoco uses a stochastic lotsizing and scheduling model to optimize the production of coreboard
Since several years we have been working together with the European supply chain team of Sonoco, one of the largest global players active in the packaging industry, to solve a variety of supply chain challenges encountered in their industrial products & services division. In this work, we present the result from a pilot project related to production planning for which we developed a novel stochastic lotsizing and scheduling model and a solution approach tailored to their specific business environment
The Expanded Very Large Array
In almost 30 years of operation, the Very Large Array (VLA) has proved to be
a remarkably flexible and productive radio telescope. However, the basic
capabilities of the VLA have changed little since it was designed. A major
expansion utilizing modern technology is currently underway to improve the
capabilities of the VLA by at least an order of magnitude in both sensitivity
and in frequency coverage. The primary elements of the Expanded Very Large
Array (EVLA) project include new or upgraded receivers for continuous frequency
coverage from 1 to 50 GHz, new local oscillator, intermediate frequency, and
wide bandwidth data transmission systems to carry signals with 16 GHz total
bandwidth from each antenna, and a new digital correlator with the capability
to process this bandwidth with an unprecedented number of frequency channels
for an imaging array. Also included are a new monitor and control system and
new software that will provide telescope ease of use. Scheduled for completion
in 2012, the EVLA will provide the world research community with a flexible,
powerful, general-purpose telescope to address current and future astronomical
issues.Comment: Added journal reference: published in Proceedings of the IEEE,
Special Issue on Advances in Radio Astronomy, August 2009, vol. 97, No. 8,
1448-1462 Six figures, one tabl
Adaptive Capacity through Complex Adaptive System
Problem: The corrugated board industry is highly affected by customer uncertainty, various demands and short delivery times. In combination with a complex multi-step production process managers have to be able to identify bottle-necks and gain knowledge and understanding of how different changes in process will affect the production output. Purpose: The purpose of this master thesis is twofold, (1) to examine applicability of complexity theory through agent-based modelling on a production process (2) to identify improvement areas in order to increase the production output at SKS production site in Eslöv, by modelling and simulating the production process through an agent-based model. Method: The chosen method of this study is a combination of a case study and a complex system approach. The empirical data was collected through interviews, observation and document studies which were analysed through an agent-based simulation model. Conclusions: Through the holistic complex system approach and by iteratively exploring the SKS production process’s components the authors were able to distinguished essential factors of the production process wherefrom the complexity emerged. The production process exhibited several internal complex properties whereby the authors consider that SKS production process can undoubtedly be consider as a Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). By mapping and utilising agent-based modelling the complexity of the system could be transferred to an agent-based model. Through analysis of the agent-based model the authors identified and simulated four improvement areas which provide possibility of an increased capacity utilisation and production output. Based on the results the authors recommend a higher individual freedom for the machines and a greater interaction both within the company and with the customer
Implementing EcoStar Standards at Southern Container
The EcoStar program in Devens Massachusetts is a voluntary program with the goal of encouraging participating companies to be more environmentally friendly. The goal of this project was to further the compliance of Southern Container with the standards of the EcoStar program. In order to do this, an evaluation of energy usage by the facility’s boiler was conducted, along with an analysis of waste streams within Southern Container. Results outline a plan for reduction of fuel use and emissions, and increase in monetary savings through modification to the operation of the boiler. Also the waste stream analysis provides a solid starting point for another MQP group
ANALYSIS OF LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AGILITY IN CORRUGATED BOX INDUSTRY
Several analyses were performed in this case study including the analysis of the business environmentsand the current supply chain system, which than followed by measurement and comparison of supplychain agility performance indicator. As corrugated box industry work in make/engineer to order systemand by considering their competitive situation and uncertain business environment it was concluded thatthey need agility in their supply chain. The main problem was the unbalance power position with papersupplier that resulting low inbound inventory turns. Focusing on this weakness, two solutions wereproposed; those are building higher collaboration with paper suppliers and performing better inventorymanagement by set different inventory control and policy for each inventory class. Keywords: Corrugated box industry, performance indicator, supply chain agility
- …