The Pro-t-con project : the development of a system for continuous process improvement using Pro-t-con process optimisation software at AEP Filmpac Ltd : a thesis submitted to the Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Quality Systems

Appendix M removed due to copyright restrictions. Consult print copy held in the LibraryThis project details the work done to develop a methodology for process improvement at AEP Filmpac in Auckland, New Zealand. The company had purchased a process optimisation software package called Pro-t-con which they intended to use to improve the operating conditions for each product on each machine in the plant. Early use of the Pro-t-con software produced a number of questions as to its ability to optimise processes as effectively as expected. Thus research was done to test the effectiveness of the package and analyse its strengths and weaknesses. The results of this work suggest that Pro-t-con although very easy to use is limited in its ability to effectively optimise processes. Statistically it lacks the rigor of Classical and Taguchi design of experiment methods and cannot resolve processes with interactions or non-linear factors. At the outset of the project the plant did not possess a system for suitably storing and retrieving machine setup information, thus any improvements made to the settings one day would not be available for use the next time that product was run. Consequently in order to longitudinally develop process settings it was also necessary to develop a setting sheet system to support the process improvement initiatives. The combination of a methodology for continuously improving processes and one for actually undertaking experiments to exploit such a process produced a coherent 10 step method for general process improvement This method was used successfully on a variety of processes at plants in Auckland and Sydney

Semi-Classical Wavefunction Perspective to High-Harmonic Generation

We introduce a semi-classical wavefunction (SCWF) model for strong-field physics and attosecond science. When applied to high harmonic generation (HHG), this formalism allows one to show that the natural time-domain separation of the contribution of ionization, propagation and recollisions to the HHG process leads to a frequency-domain factorization of the harmonic yield into these same contributions, for any choice of atomic or molecular potential. We first derive the factorization from the natural expression of the dipole signal in the temporal domain by using a reference system, as in the quantitative rescattering (QRS) formalism [J. Phys. B. 43, 122001 (2010)]. Alternatively, we show how the trajectory component of the SCWF can be used to express the factorization, which also allows one to attribute individual contributions to the spectrum to the underlying trajectories

Corporate Social Responsibility in Supply Chains of Global Brands: A Boundaryless Responsibility? Clarifications, exceptions and implications

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly becoming a popular business concept in developed economies. As typical of other business concepts, it is on its way to globalization through practices and structures of the globalized capitalist world order, typified in Multinational Corporations (MNCs). However, CSR often sits uncomfortably in this capitalist world order, as MNCs are often challenged by the global reach of their supply chains and the possible irresponsible practices inherent along these chains. The possibility of irresponsible practices puts global firms under pressure to protect their brands even if it means assuming responsibilities for the practices of their suppliers. Pressure groups understand this burden on firms and try to take advantage of the situation. This paper seeks to challenge the often taken-for-granted-assumption that firms should be accountable for the practices of their suppliers by espousing the moral (and sometimes legal) underpinnings of the concept of responsibility. Except where corporate control and or corporate grouping exist, it identifies the use of power as a critical factor to be considered in allocating responsibility in firm-supplier relationship; and suggests that the more powerful in this relationship has a responsibility to exert some moral influence on the weaker party. The paper highlights the use of code of conducts, corporate culture, anti-pressure group campaigns, personnel training and value reorientation as possible sources of wielding positive moral influence along supply chains

Enhancing the liquidity of U.S. Treasury securities in an era of surpluses

Treasury bills ; Government securities ; Liquidity (Economics) ; Debts, Public

On the Pricing of Intermediated Risks: Theory and Application to Catastrophe Reinsurance

We model the equilibrium price and quantity of risk transfer between firms and financial intermediaries. Value-maximizing firms have downward sloping demands to cede risk, while intermediaries, who assume risk, provide less-than-fully-elastic supply. We show that equilibrium required returns will be "high" in the presence of financing imperfections that make intermediary capital costly. Moreover, financing imperfections can give rise to intermediary market power, so that small changes in financial imperfections can give rise to large changes in price. We develop tests of this alternative against the null that the supply of intermediary capital is perfectly elastic. We take the US catastrophe reinsurance market as an example, using detailed data from Guy Carpenter & Co., covering a large fraction of the catastrophe risks exchanged during 1970-94. Our results suggest that the price of reinsurance generally exceeds "fair" values, particularly in the aftermath of large events, that market power of reinsurers is not a complete explanation for such pricing, and that reinsurers' high costs of capital appear to play an important role.

Multi-segment foot kinematics and plantar fascia strain during treadmill and overground running

Although physiologically beneficial, running is known to be associated with a high incidence of chronic injuries. Excessive coronal and transverse plane motions of the foot segments and strain experienced by the plantar fascia are linked to the development of a number of chronic injuries. This study examined differences in multi-segment foot kinematics and plantar fascia strain during treadmill and overground running. Twelve male recreational runners ran at 4.0 m.s-1 in both treadmill and overground conditions. Multi-segment foot kinematics and plantar fascia strain were measured using an eight-camera motion analysis system and contrasted using paired samples t-tests. The results showed that plantar fascia strain was significantly greater in the overground condition (8.23 ± 2.77) compared to the treadmill (5.53 ± 2.25). Given the proposed relationship between excessive plantar fascia strain and the etiology of injury, overground running may be associated with a higher incidence of injury although further work is necessary before causation can be confirmed

An integrated study of structures, aerodynamics and controls on the forward swept wing X-29A and the oblique wing research aircraft

The results of an integrated study of structures, aerodynamics, and controls using the STARS program on two advanced airplane configurations are presented. Results for the X-29A include finite element modeling, free vibration analyses, unsteady aerodynamic calculations, flutter/divergence analyses, and an aeroservoelastic controls analysis. Good correlation is shown between STARS results and various other verified results. The tasks performed on the Oblique Wing Research Aircraft include finite element modeling and free vibration analyses

Effects of new military footwear on knee loading during running

Military recruits are known to be susceptible to chronic injuries. The knee is the most common injury site and patellofemoral pain has been demonstrated as the leading mechanism for medical military discharge. Military boots have been cited as a key mechanism responsible for the high incidence of chronic injuries. The British Army has therefore introduced two new footwears – a cross-trainer and running shoe to reduce the incidence of chronic injuries. The aim of this study was to compare knee joint kinetics of the cross-trainer and running shoe in relation to conventional military boots. Twelve male participants ran at 4.0 m s−1 in each footwear condition. Knee joint kinetics was obtained and contrasted using repeated-measures ANOVAs. The results showed that patellofemoral load was significantly greater in the military boots. However, peak knee abduction moment was significantly greater in the running shoes. On the basis of the findings from this study, it is recommended that recruits who are susceptible to injuries mediated through excessive knee loads select the cross-trainer for their running activities

Grain boundary partitioning of Ar and He

An experimental procedure has been developed that permits measurement of the partitioning of Ar and He between crystal interiors and the intergranular medium (ITM) that surrounds them in synthetic melt-free polycrystalline diopside aggregates. ^(37)Ar and ^(4)He are introduced into the samples via neutron irradiation. As samples are crystallized under sub-solidus conditions from a pure diopside glass in a piston cylinder apparatus, noble gases diffusively equilibrate between the evolving crystal and intergranular reservoirs. After equilibration, ITM Ar and He is distinguished from that incorporated within the crystals by means of step heating analysis. An apparent equilibrium state (i.e., constant partitioning) is reached after about 20 h in the 1450 °C experiments. Data for longer durations show a systematic trend of decreasing ITM Ar (and He) with decreasing grain boundary (GB) interfacial area as would be predicted for partitioning controlled by the network of planar grain boundaries (as opposed to ITM gases distributed in discrete micro-bubbles or melt). These data yield values of GB-area-normalized partitioning, K¯^(Ar)_(ITM), with units of (Ar/m^3 of solid)/(Ar/m^2 of GB) of 6.8 x 10^3 – 2.4 x 104 m^(-1). Combined petrographic microscope, SEM, and limited TEM observation showed no evidence that a residual glass phase or grain boundary micro-bubbles dominated the ITM, though they may represent minor components. If a nominal GB thickness (δ) is assumed, and if the density of crystals and the grain boundaries are assumed equal, then a true grain boundary partition coefficient (K^(Ar)_(GB) = X^(Ar)_(crystals)/X^(Ar)_(GB) may be determined. For reasonable values of δ, K^(Ar)_(GB) is at least an order of magnitude lower than the Ar partition coefficient between diopside and melt. Helium partitioning data provide a less robust constraint with K¯^(He)_(ITM) between 4 x 10^3 and 4 x 10^4 cm^(-1), similar to the Ar partitioning data. These data suggest that an ITM consisting of nominally melt free, bubble free, tight grain boundaries can constitute a significant but not infinite reservoir, and therefore bulk transport pathway, for noble gases in fine grained portions of the crust and mantle where aqueous or melt fluids are non-wetting and of very low abundance (i.e., <0.1% fluid). Heterogeneities in grain size within dry equilibrated systems will correspond to significant differences in bulk rock noble gas content