Continuous Improvement Beyond Manufacturing

This study examines Six Sigma, Lean, and Continuous Improvement systems in settings outside of it originating atmosphere of manufacturing; examples of these settings include healthcare, construction, and the utility industry. Enablers and inhibitors to successful implementation and sustainability are often challenging to identify for organizations during their infancy stages of continuous improvement. This study aims to clearly identify the enablers and inhibitors to optimize the process of utilizing continuous improvement in alternate industries. Methods used within this study include extensive literature review and interviews of individuals working within manufacturing, healthcare, and utility settings that have adopted and successfully implemented a culture of continuous improvement. Conclusions of the study include that when an organization properly identifies their strengths and weaknesses, capitalizes on the strengths and makes plans to minimize weakness, continuous improvement can be integrated into the culture of the organization. This culture of continuous improvement yields greater efficiency, improved quality, and a reduction in defects within the product or service being delivered to the consumer

Viscosity-density correlation of Newtonian liquids

The viscosity of monatomic liquids was modeled by an equation derived from the kinetic theory of gases. Viscosities may be calculated from data on density and molecular weight of the liquid. In adapting this relationship to polyatomic liquids, a single correction factor was developed for each of five series of homologues; n-paraffins, n-1 -alkenes, n-alkylcyclohexanes, n-alkylbenzenes and n-alcohols, to account for the deviations of the calculated viscosities from those reported, extending over a one- to three-hundred degree range. The factor is a function of reduced temperature relative to the normal boiling point, TrB. A single equation for each of the series of homologues, n-paraffins to n-alcohols, was thus used as a predictor for the viscosities with an average error of 6.8, 4.9, 7.9, 4.9 and 29.5 per cent, respectively. The correction factors for the hydrocarbon series, excluding the alcohols were sufficiently similar so that they were estimated to be identical. A combined correction factor for two series, n-paraffins and n-l-alkenes, was employed to extrapolate to the alkylbenzenes and alkylcyclohexanes with an accuracy in predicted viscosity of 10. 1 and 18.4 per cent, respectively. The maximum error in both series was only 37.9 per cent. Thus predictions of liquid viscosity were performed over extended temperature ranges, with good accuracy without requiring viscosity data. A further refinement of the correction factor for each of the five series of homologues was introduced by correlation with two parameters; TrB and with the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group, C. The use of the carbon parameter decreased the average error in predicted viscosity to 1.78, 1.95, 2.39, 3.46 and 14.5 per cent for the n-paraffins, n-l-alkenes, n-alkylcyclohexanes, n-alkylbenzenes and the n-alcohols, respectively. The idealized liquid state model which is the basis of the present development does not adequately predict the viscous behavior of real liquids. It is significant, however, that the deviations from the model are relatively consistent, and may be taken into account by a relatively simple empirical function, applicable to a wide variety of liquids. This study also describes the experimental determination of density and kinematic viscosity over wide ranges of temperature and of molecular weight for the n-alcohols. A density apparatus based on the hydrostatic weighing method was constructed and used for the measurement of n-alcohol densities from room temperature to near their normal boiling points. The apparatus permitted a density measurement every 30 minutes on 5 ml of liquid sample with an average accuracy of 1.4 x 10-4 g/ml, and a reproducibility of 1-4 x 10-4 g/ml

The purification, analysis and growth of single crystals of organic semiconductors

The purpose of this investigation was to design and construct a furnace for growing large single crystals of organic compounds by slow crystallization from the melt by the Bridgman technique. The crystals obtained by this furnace will be used in a later investigation of the intrinsic electrical and optical properties of organic semiconductors. The methods describe have been used width success to produce large single crystals of anthracene and ethyl-p aminobenzoate with diameters of 1/2 inch. The most promising methods of purification of anthracene, which were chemical synthesis, washing, recrystallization from solvents, sublimation, dimerization, co-distallatian and zone refining have been investigated. The relative merit of each method were explored and discussed with particular attention to co-distillation which is considered to be the most applicable. Anthracene of higher purity than commercial zone refined anthracene was prepared and is believed to be adequate for crystal growth and subsequent electrical measurements. A very simple fluorescence technique for qualtitative analysis of traces of naphthacene in anthracene was developed which employs a colloidal suspension of the sample. Sensitivity approaching 0.1 ppm naphthacene in anthracene is readily obtainable. The method is convenient to use, involving samples and uncomplicated manipulative techniques. For rapid semiquantitative analysis, it provides a visible fluoreucence color correlation with level of impurity

A Process for Co-Designing Educational Technology Systems for Refugee Children

There is a growing interest in the potential for technology to facilitate emergency education of refugee children. However, designing in this space requires knowledge of the displaced population and the contextual dynamics surrounding it. Design should therefore be informed by both existing research across relevant disciplines, and from the practical experience of those who are on the ground facing the problem in real life. This paper describes a process for designing appropriate technology for these settings. The process draws on literature from emergency education, student engagement and motivation, educational technology, and participatory design. We emphasise a thorough understanding of the problem definition, the nature of the emergency, and of socio-cultural aspects that can inform the design process. We describe how this process was implemented leading to the design of a digital learning space for children living in a refugee camp in Greece. This drew on involving different groups of participants such as social-workers, parents, and children

Building an alternative to the traditional computer terminal

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1987.Bibliography: leaves 63-66.Allison Druin.M.S

Initiating e-learning by stealth, participation and consultation in a late majority institution

The extent to which opportunities afforded by e-learning are embraced by an institution can depend in large measure on whether it is perceived as enabling and transformative or as a major and disruptive distraction. Most case studies focus on the former. This paper describes how e-learning was introduced into the latter environment. The sensitivity of competing pressures in a research intensive university substantially influenced the manner in which e-learning was promoted. This paper tells that story, from initial stealth to eventual university acknowledgement of the relevance of e-learning specifically to its own context

Design and Construction of R.C. Plane

This project was started to help students understand how to conduct a proper research project and to gain a general understanding of circuitry and aerodynamics. As undergraduate students, this was practical information and experience. Our project’s goal was to create a functioning airplane made from mainly on-hand pieces. We had to figure out how to improvise and use the resources we had creatively while troubleshooting many problems

Children's storytelling technologies: Differences in elaboration and recall

This paper is based on a doctoral dissertation submitted by Angela Boltman in partial fulfillment of a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Maryland at College Park. This study could not have been accomplished without the generous funding of the European Union's Experimental Schools Environments initiative (project 29310) and the assistance of members of "KidStory", a three-year research team that focused on creating storytelling technologies for young children. We would particularly like to acknowledge Benjamin Bederson and Juan Pablo Hourcade, our colleagues at the University of Maryland and chief architects of the KidPad technology. We would like to thank Allison Farber, who recreated the book images in KidPad for this study. Our colleagues Carina Fast and Marita Kjellin at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and Danae Stanton, Sue Cobb, and Claire O'Malley at the University of Nottingham supported the study in many ways. In addition, we would like to thank Steve Benford from the University of Nottingham and Yngve Sundblad from the Royal Institute of Technology for their project leadership and continual support of our research. We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Melanie Killen at the University of Maryland as an ever-patient reviewer of this paper. Finally, we would like to thank the children in England and Sweden who participated in the study and who taught us a great deal about storytelling. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Allison Druin at the University of Maryland, 3180 A.V. Williams Building, College Park, Maryland 20782 or electronically at [email protected]. Abstract This study examined the elaboration and recall of children's stories through an analysis of the content and structure of children's retelling of a wordless picture book. The book was presented to 72 children (ages 6-7) in England and Sweden. Using a between subjects design, each child was presented with either a paper version of the picture book, a computer presentation with traditional hyperlinks, or a computer presentation with panning and zooming. The technology that was used was KidPad, a children's spatial storytelling application (Druin et al., 1997). Results revealed that the computer presentation with panning and zooming offered benefits in elaboration and recall by means of more complex story structure and a greater understanding of initiating events and goals. (UMIACS-TR-2001-87) (HCIL-TR-2001-25