Value Stream Mapping of Information Flow in Infrastructure Projects

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a tool for depicting the flow of material in a manufacturing process. This study demonstrates that value stream mapping can also be applied to the movement and processing of information in a non-manufacturing environment. Here, the handling of, and changes to, water project construction plans within the Cleveland Division of Water (DOW) are tracked using value stream mapping. The map identifies opportunities for the Division of Water to streamline its processes and ensure that accurate information about project construction reaches its primary database in a timely fashion. Currently it takes about 19.1 weeks from the time a project is proposed to the time the construction may begin. The value stream map shows that 17 weeks of this time consists of non-value added activity such as backlogs and waiting. A second issue of concern to the DOW is receiving the changes made to the original project plans. It is common for crews to deviate from plan to accommodate unexpected conditions found at a construction site. These changes must be communicated back to the Division of Water. Using Lean tools both value-added and non-value added activities on the value stream map can be identified. The future state map shows how the process might be improved after changes are made to the process. The challenge lies in organizing the information in the VSM to remove or reduce the non-value added steps. With the recommendations made to the Division of Water, the time from project proposal to the construction may feasibly be reduced from 19.1 weeks to 12.1 weeks. Similarly the bottleneck in the flow of the updated project information is identified. It is recommended that the bottleneck be removed as its value is negligible. There are some distinct differences between the office processes and manufacturing processes. Unlike production systems, information flows can be loosely structured and use informal scheduling, making it difficult to identify and map their values streams. However, companies can apply va

Value Stream Mapping of Information Flow in Infrastructure Projects

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a tool for depicting the flow of material in a manufacturing process. This study demonstrates that value stream mapping can also be applied to the movement and processing of information in a non-manufacturing environment. Here, the handling of, and changes to, water project construction plans within the Cleveland Division of Water (DOW) are tracked using value stream mapping. The map identifies opportunities for the Division of Water to streamline its processes and ensure that accurate information about project construction reaches its primary database in a timely fashion. Currently it takes about 19.1 weeks from the time a project is proposed to the time the construction may begin. The value stream map shows that 17 weeks of this time consists of non-value added activity such as backlogs and waiting. A second issue of concern to the DOW is receiving the changes made to the original project plans. It is common for crews to deviate from plan to accommodate unexpected conditions found at a construction site. These changes must be communicated back to the Division of Water. Using Lean tools both value-added and non-value added activities on the value stream map can be identified. The future state map shows how the process might be improved after changes are made to the process. The challenge lies in organizing the information in the VSM to remove or reduce the non-value added steps. With the recommendations made to the Division of Water, the time from project proposal to the construction may feasibly be reduced from 19.1 weeks to 12.1 weeks. Similarly the bottleneck in the flow of the updated project information is identified. It is recommended that the bottleneck be removed as its value is negligible. There are some distinct differences between the office processes and manufacturing processes. Unlike production systems, information flows can be loosely structured and use informal scheduling, making it difficult to identify and map their values streams. However, companies can apply va

Inhomogeneous Relativistic Electron Systems: a Density Functional Formalism.

The correlation energy of an unpolarized relativistic electron gas is numerically calculated by summing ring diagrams due to both the longitudinal and transverse photon contributions. From this a local relativistic correlation potential is deduced which appears in the density functional theory of inhomogeneous systems where relativistic effects make important contributions. The non-relativistic gas results are found to be significant underestimates. A fitted form of the correlation energy and potential were used in a self-consistent calculation of energies of atoms of large Z. Trends of the correlation contribution across the periodic table are evaluated and discussed. Correlation contributions to the K(alpha)(,1) and K(alpha)(,2) lines are compared to the differences between accurate computations, without correlation, and experimental values. The role of the Breit interaction in a local approximation is evaluated through self-consistent atomic calculations. It is found that the full transverse interaction is underestimated by about an atomic unit in the systems investigated. Comparison with previous non-local Dirac-Fock calculations indicate that non-local effects may be important. The problem of the relativistic spin polarized electron gas is considered. The Green function is deduced and used to calculate the particle density, magnetization, exchange energy and potentials. In the ultrarelativistic limit the magnetization is found to be one-third its non-relativistic value. States of uniform magnetization do not appear as ground states in the Hartree-Fock approximation. The exchange energy is found to change sign over a range of values of the relativistic parameter (beta)(=(H/2PI)k(,F)/mc) and magnetization. Effective one particle equations for the inhomogeneous polarized gas are given. The effective one particle potentials that appear in this equation are calculated in a local density scheme and their significance discussed

Synthesis and Applications of Luminescent Quantum Dots in Bioassays

Luminescent quantum dot (QD) based probes have gained significance in the last decade for optical imaging of cells, tissues and in bioassays as alternatives to conventional organic fluorophores. The main objective of my PhD dissertation was to develop luminescent quantum dot based bioassays for real time monitoring of enzyme activity and simultaneous detection of several biomarkers. The quantum dot based bioassays developed will be potential tools in identification and diagnosis of several ailments that interfere with normal living conditions of human beings. In Chapter 2 new liposome encapsulated quantum dot based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes have been fabricated and characterized for monitoring the enzymatic activity of phospholipase A 2. The probes were able to detect the enzyme activity as low as 0.0075 U/mL (PLA2 = 1500 U/mg) in 30 min. Further these FRET probes were also used to screen the inhibition efficiencies of phospholipase A2 inhibitors. Chapter 3 focuses on the first time synthesis and characterization of liposome encapsulated InP/ZnS quantum dots while preserving the integrity of the liposomes. Results from the experiments to assess photostability and effect of pH on the optical properties of InP/ZnS QD-liposomes showed greater advantages over InP/ZnS quantum dots demonstrating their utility as a potential tool in several biological applications such as bio imaging, bioassays and in immunoassays. Chapter 4 discusses the development of fluorescence based immunoassay for simultaneous detection of the cardiac biomarkers troponin T and troponin I using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. The assay achieved a detection limit was 0.1 pg/mL for both biomarkers troponin xi T and I. The method was highly specific for the both the biomarkers with no observed cross reactivity. The multiplex assay was able to detect two biomarkers simultaneously that will yield a high throughput diagnostic tool for heart attack. A similar method discussed as above was used in chapter 5 for the simultaneous detection of atherosclerosis biomarkers. The detection limits achieved in this study are comparable to the detection limits of the biomarkers reported so far. Incorporation of QDs in silica beads before conjugation to antibodies might improve detection limits that will also improve risk assessment

Nonlinear seismic behaviour of steel planar moment-resisting frames

The nonlinear response of steel planar moment-resisting frames during strong earthquakes poses a strong need for accurately modelling inelastic behaviour and large displacements. This thesis attempts to provide realistic and efficient analytical tools to aid this study. Two large -displacement small-strain beam-column models are employed to include material and geometric nonlinearities. The first model assumes lumped plasticity, and discretises an element into segments. Axial force-Bending Moment strength interaction and flexural bowing are considered. Ten characteristic segment states are identified. An efficient numerical scheme is suggested to solve the nonlinear governing equations. This model only approximately represents the strength and stiffness of beam-columns. A comprehensive finite element beam-column model is developed to more accurately model the strength and stiffness. A beam-column is discretised into segments, and further, each segment into one-dimensional fibres. A uniaxial cyclic constitutive law valid under arbitrary transient loading is proposed for structural steel. This physically motivated law incorporates the initial yield plateau, and provides explicit expressions for stress in terms of strain throughout the hysteretic path. This law is used to control the hysteretic loading of fibres. A simple semi-empirical model is employed to analytically describe the highly nonlinear hysteretic behaviour of flexible joint panel zones in steel planar frames. Some modelling assumptions that may be made in frame analyses are evaluated. Numerical study of a building frame with flexible joints indicates that its collapse is sensitive to the joint panel zone design in addition to the ground motion