Preventing Premature Death in the M&S Lifecycle: Lessons Learned from Resurrection and Modernization of a Space System Contamination Model

Models and simulations (M&S) are often developed to meet specific needs and unique requirements for a particular situation. Once the M&S is implemented for a specific case and questions are answered, the M&S may go dormant until a similar need arises again at a later time, perhaps months to years later. Possible modification of the M&S may be required, and issues may arise if the M&S is not well documented, captured, or available. This can severely limit the useful life of the M&S and hinder future development or enhancements. This situation occurred with an M&S tool that had been developed to determine the impact to space system performance due to the presence of molecular contaminant films accumulating on key spacecraft surfaces. The challenges and issues encountered when resurrecting, executing, and modernizing the tool will be presented as a case study. To stay ahead of tomorrows challenges, resources to create M&S tools must be utilized efficiently. Lessons learned from this case study will aid M&S developers and users in planning for proper maintenance, transfer, and capture of key M&S tools and knowledge to avoid increased cost, increased development time, and wasted resources for projects relying on M&S

Using ACL2 to Verify Loop Pipelining in Behavioral Synthesis

Behavioral synthesis involves compiling an Electronic System-Level (ESL) design into its Register-Transfer Level (RTL) implementation. Loop pipelining is one of the most critical and complex transformations employed in behavioral synthesis. Certifying the loop pipelining algorithm is challenging because there is a huge semantic gap between the input sequential design and the output pipelined implementation making it infeasible to verify their equivalence with automated sequential equivalence checking techniques. We discuss our ongoing effort using ACL2 to certify loop pipelining transformation. The completion of the proof is work in progress. However, some of the insights developed so far may already be of value to the ACL2 community. In particular, we discuss the key invariant we formalized, which is very different from that used in most pipeline proofs. We discuss the needs for this invariant, its formalization in ACL2, and our envisioned proof using the invariant. We also discuss some trade-offs, challenges, and insights developed in course of the project.Comment: In Proceedings ACL2 2014, arXiv:1406.123

The Role of Process Knowledge in a Business Process Improvement Methodology

The newly established holistic approach to BPM (Business Process Management) has led to increased recognition of the knowledge and experience people develop, use and share while modelling, executing and improving their business processes. However, this knowledge perspective is often neglected by the current BP improvement methodologies. Our empirical research confirms that business process improvement is, in fact, a complex, knowledge-intensive, collaborative process that consists of a set of coordinated, contextualised knowledge management processes. This paper describes the results of our on-going research project that, among other things, aims to investigate the role of individual and collective process knowledge developed and used in a business process improvement methodology deployed in a real-life, complex organization

A Systematic Literature Review of Project Management Tools and Their Impact on Project Management Effectiveness

This thesis was conducted to examine project effectiveness and the best methodologies to use for managing projects as supported by the literature. Project effectiveness depends on multiple dimensions and has many situational issues that demand flexibility in method selection and utilization. Three of the most important dimensions explored in this study included: organizational structures, cost and schedule management typologies and leadership styles. A systematic literature review was utilized to collect data on the most common project management methods found to be effective according to the current literature. As projects are complex and vary greatly it was concluded from the literature that project management effectiveness cannot be measured by a single metric. An outline of methods and tools that may best be utilized based on project type and needs was created to better understand potential applications for each method and tool

Abordagem de Anotações para o Suporte da Gestão Energética de Software em Modelos AMALTHEA

The automotive industry is continuously introducing innovative software features to provide more efficient, safe, and comfortable solutions. Despite the several benefits to the consumer, the evolution of automotive software is also reflected in several challenges, presenting a growing complexity that hinders its development and integration. The adoption of standards and appropriate development methods becomes essential to meet the requirements of the industry. Furthermore, the expansion of automotive software systems is also driving a considerable growth in the number of electronic components installed in a vehicle, which has a significant impact on the electric energy consumption. Thus, the focus on non-functional energy requirements has become increasingly important. This work presents a study focused on the evolution of automotive software considering the development standards, methodologies, as well as approaches for energy requirements management. We propose an automatic and self-contained approach for the support of energy properties management, adopting the model-based open-source framework AMALTHEA. From the analysis of execution or simulation traces, the energy consumption estimation is provided at a fine-grained level and annotated in AMALTHEA models. Thus, we enable the energy analysis and management of the system throughout the entire lifecycle. Additionally, this solution is in line with the AUTOSAR Adaptive standard, allowing the development of energy management strategies for automatic, dynamic, and adaptive systems.A indústria automotiva encontra-se constantemente a introduzir funcionalidades inovadoras através de software, para oferecer soluções mais eficientes, seguras e confortáveis. Apesar dos diversos benefícios para o consumidor, a evolução do software automóvel também se reflete em diversos desafios, apresentando uma crescente complexidade que dificulta o seu desenvolvimento e integração. Desta forma, a adoção de normas e metodologias adequadas para o seu desenvolvimento torna-se essencial para cumprir os requisitos do setor. Adicionalmente, esta expansão das funcionalidades suportadas por software é fonte de um aumento considerável do número de componentes eletrónicos instalados em automóveis. Consequentemente, existe um impacto significativo no consumo de energia elétrica dos sistemas automóveis, sendo cada vez mais relevante o foco nos requisitos não-funcionais deste domínio. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo focado na evolução do software automotivo tendo em conta os padrões e metodologias de desenvolvimento desta área, bem como abordagens para a gestão de requisitos de energia. Através da adoção da ferramenta AMALTHEA, uma plataforma open-source de desenvolvimento baseado em modelos, é proposta uma abordagem automática e independente para a análise de propriedades energéticas. A partir da análise de traços de execução ou de simulação, é produzida uma estimativa pormenorizada do consumo de energia, sendo esta anotada em modelos AMALTHEA. Desta forma, torna-se possível a análise e gestão energética ao longo de todo o ciclo de vida do sistema. Salienta-se que a solução se encontra alinhada com a norma AUTOSAR Adaptive, permitindo o desenvolvimento de estratégias para a gestão energética de sistemas automáticos, dinâmicos e adaptativos

Business Process Management Education in Academia: Status, challenges, and Recommendations

In response to the growing proliferation of Business Process Management (BPM) in industry and the demand this creates for BPM expertise, universities across the globe are at various stages of incorporating knowledge and skills in their teaching offerings. However, there are still only a handful of institutions that offer specialized education in BPM in a systematic and in-depth manner. This article is based on a global educators’ panel discussion held at the 2009 European Conference on Information Systems in Verona, Italy. The article presents the BPM programs of five universities from Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America, describing the BPM content covered, program and course structures, and challenges and lessons learned. The article also provides a comparative content analysis of BPM education programs illustrating a heterogeneous view of BPM. The examples presented demonstrate how different courses and programs can be developed to meet the educational goals of a university department, program, or school. This article contributes insights on how best to continuously sustain and reshape BPM education to ensure it remains dynamic, responsive, and sustainable in light of the evolving and ever-changing marketplace demands for BPM expertise

Reliability project optimization : a South African rail case

Abstract: The delivery of projects in the rail industry is a challenge. Transnet SOC Ltd (The South African national rail entity) is the sole bulk freight logistics rail company in South Africa. Transnet Capital Projects (TCP), a division of Transnet SOC Ltd, acts as a service provider to all the operating divisions of Transnet. TCP projects constantly failed due to what seemed like project integration challenges. The purpose of this research is to determine Transnet’s deficiencies and recommend solutions based on project management best practice in the field of railway engineering. This was achieved through the use of a questionnaire that was designed based on the lessons learnt, via an international best practice review, specific to railway projects. The research found that the major deficiencies lay within various levels within Transnet, specific issues being people and other issues being structural and technological. The research recommends a change in the TCP organizational structure, the recruitment of rail experts, skills development of project managers, the introduction of new railway software and the establishment of an Enterprise Project Management Office as potential international best practice solutions

Capturing Risk in Capital Budgeting

NPS NRP Technical ReportThis proposed research has the goal of proposing novel, reusable, extensible, adaptable, and comprehensive advanced analytical process and Integrated Risk Management to help the (DOD) with risk-based capital budgeting, Monte Carlo risk-simulation, predictive analytics, and stochastic optimization of acquisitions and programs portfolios with multiple competing stakeholders while subject to budgetary, risk, schedule, and strategic constraints. The research covers topics of traditional capital budgeting methodologies used in industry, including the market, cost, and income approaches, and explains how some of these traditional methods can be applied in the DOD by using DOD-centric non-economic, logistic, readiness, capabilities, and requirements variables. Stochastic portfolio optimization with dynamic simulations and investment efficient frontiers will be run for the purposes of selecting the best combination of programs and capabilities is also addressed, as are other alternative methods such as average ranking, risk metrics, lexicographic methods, PROMETHEE, ELECTRE, and others. The results include actionable intelligence developed from an analytically robust case study that senior leadership at the DOD may utilize to make optimal decisions. The main deliverables will be a detailed written research report and presentation brief on the approach of capturing risk and uncertainty in capital budgeting analysis. The report will detail the proposed methodology and applications, as well as a summary case study and examples of how the methodology can be applied.N8 - Integration of Capabilities & ResourcesThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Industrialització del procés de confecció de cortines

In this Final Degree Thesis the industrialisation of a small family business, Sactelyer, has been put into practice. With the aim of industrialising the manufacturing process of making curtains. Previously, the company's current manufacturing process is analysed to find the shortcomings and waste it has. And it makes known the production capacity, the annual turnover, the manual tools and artisanal methods it has. Subsequently, the choice of equipment renewal and Lean Management as methodologies for improving the company's competitiveness is justified and an analysis of the techniques and general components thereof is carried out. Once the different methodologies are explained, a study of the current textile market in Spain is carried out, to see which trend is following and if it is the ideal time to invest in this sector. Next, a study of the type of industrial machinery that will be implemented within the manufacturing process is developed in order to increase production capacity tenfold, without the need to hire any additional workers or to train employees. Finally, three new industrial machines have been selected for production in Sactelyer. The specifications of each of the machines and the effect they have on the speed of production have been studied. A 3D model has been created to visualise the layout of the machines in space. Once the new machines are implemented, the production speed is estimated and the results have shown an increase of 88.3% in relation to the previous state. This increase in production speed will lead to a higher net profit for Sactelyer, compared to the profit under the traditional manufacturing process