Cost drivers of integrated maintenance in high-value systems

High value systems are determined by a wide structure, where operations are considered to be one structural component. Nowadays “down-time” as a major impact in the operation costs of any system. To avoid or minimize “down-time” it is essential to match the appropriate maintenance to each failure. Therefore, it is relevant to determine the cost drivers of integrated maintenance in any system, in order to minimize the overall cost. It is common to use Value Driven Maintenance (VDM) to capture the cost drivers in maintenance. VDM is a methodology which relies in four distinct areas: Asset Utilization; Resource Allocation; Control Cost and Health and Safety and Environment. Within each category it is possible to allocate different cost drivers, building a framework for each system studied. The aim of this paper is to categorize the cost drivers of rail infrastructure networks, associating them with the maintenance preformed for each case. Furthermore, analysis of which part of the track falls under each VDM category as well as the general failure causes and effects will be included in the framework presented. Finally relating the maintenance type for each effect will provide the necessary inputs towards a cost model structure. The benefit of achieving a successful model will be the optimization of the cost in integrated maintenance of the rail infrastructure

Asymptotic decay of pair correlations in a Yukawa fluid

We analyse the $r \to \infty$ asymptotic decay of the total correlation function, $h(r)$, for a fluid composed of particles interacting via a (point) Yukawa pair potential. Such a potential provides a simple model for dusty plasmas. The asymptotic decay is determined by the poles of the liquid structure factor in the complex plane. We use the hypernetted-chain closure to the Ornstein-Zernike equation to determine the line in the phase diagram, well-removed from the freezing transition line, where crossover occurs in the ultimate decay of $h(r)$, from monotonic to damped oscillatory. We show: i) crossover takes place via the same mechanism (coalescence of imaginary poles) as in the classical one-component plasma and in other models of Coulomb fluids and ii) leading-order pole contributions provide an accurate description of $h(r)$ at intermediate distances $r$ as well as at long range.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Purdue Libraries in Second Life

Poster was presented at the Purdue Libraries One Book Higher Poster Session. Focus is on the activities and experimentation within the virtual world Second Life by the Purdue Libraries. Key projects were the virtual presentation of Amelia Earhart photographs and a simulation in a restaurant setting for hospitality & tourism management research

Problem-based Learning and Learning Assessment in Information Strategies for HTM Students

Poster was presented at the Purdue Libraries One Book Higher Poster Session. Focus of the poster is on the use of problem-based assignments to create a more real-world experience in utilizing business information resources

Featured Library: Parrish Library

The Roland G. Parrish Library of Management & Economics is located within the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. Between 2005 - 2007 work was completed on a white paper that focused on a student-centered vision for the Management & Economics Library. The next step was a massive collection reduction and a re-envisioning of both the services and space of the library. Thus began a 3 phase renovation from a 2 floor standard, collection-focused library into a single floor, 18,000sq ft. dynamic student-centered space. Each phase added to the overall design while reinforcing the core concept of a student-centered learning environment. The entire space was designed to be multi-functional and provide functional adjacencies between each phase

Competitive Intelligence for MBA Students: Credit Courses

Poster was presented at the Business & Finance Division Poster Session at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, 2016. Focus of the poster is on the credit-level courses taught by Prof Hal Kirkwood to MBA students in the Krannert Graduate School of Management on the topics of international business research and an introduction to competitive intelligence

Information Literacy, Changing Spaces, & Changing Perceptions

Poster presented at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference in Denver Colorado. Focus of the poster is on the development of a new instruction lab as part of the Parrish Library renovation; an overview of the development of information literacy at Purdue University, and business information literacy activities and courses within the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management & Economics. Presented with Kelly Evans, Eastern Washington University

Navigating Business Resources Using Concept Maps

Poster was presented at the Business & Finance Division Poster Session at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, 2016. Focus of the poster is on the use of web-based concept maps to visualize and assist on the selection of business databases

Toward a Unified Theory of Business Information

This article analyses and discusses concepts of business information, with a view to developing a unified theory of business information to help underpin professional information work