Audit - The Measuring Tool Of Quality

This article describes a Quality audit operation that has been tested and proven to be an accurate barometer of quality effectiveness. The paper explains the organization of the audit unit as an integral part of the overall quality concept. The details of how a properly implemented audit is a reliable management tool for measuring quality competency are explained. The paper specifies why there is a need for an independent unit to continuously evaluate the total Quality system. Methods, that may be used to assure that problem areas are detected before they become significant failures, are explained. The qualifications for competent auditors, as well as the four types of audits are defined. In addition, the various techniques for reporting the audit findings, evaluating the overall quality image, and assuring that adequate corrective action has been taken, are discussed. The paper also briefly outlines the need for auditing certain operations outside the normal sphere of Quality but nonetheless pertinent to quality requirements. This aspect of the paper deals with audits conducted to test the degree of compliance with established quality procedure, policies, and practices of the technical operations departments (i.e., engineering, procurement, logistic support)

Minimisation of risk exposure at the pre-production stage through the use of contractor-led design management

Many large-scale construction projects (LSPs) are designed in a collaboration between famous international architects and local design firms. Design management usually evolves as a tool at the design stage for designers and design solution. One of the special characteristics of the Korean construction environment places a duty and responsibility on the contractor to coordinate and check design information. Hence the contractor must manage and integrate diverse design information into the production process. This research considers how the design management diagram (DMD) can help as a part of the system at the pre-production stage of LSPs in Korea. The pre-production stage receives insufficient attention from the research community from the perspective of design management; it is a complex process involving interdependence, risk, and uncertainty. Through the application of a DMD from the pre-production stage, the contractor can predict and manage the design-related uncertainty during production stages. The design management factors (DMFs) were analysed by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and then used complexity system theory to understand the interrelationship between the causal factors. DMFs are presented as a causal loop diagram which can help the contractor to cope with design related uncertainties at the early production phase

Resonantly enhanced and diminished strong-field gravitational-wave fluxes

The inspiral of a stellar mass ($1 - 100\,M_\odot$) compact body into a massive ($10^5 - 10^7\,M_\odot$) black hole has been a focus of much effort, both for the promise of such systems as astrophysical sources of gravitational waves, and because they are a clean limit of the general relativistic two-body problem. Our understanding of this problem has advanced significantly in recent years, with much progress in modeling the "self force" arising from the small body's interaction with its own spacetime deformation. Recent work has shown that this self interaction is especially interesting when the frequencies associated with the orbit's $\theta$ and $r$ motions are in an integer ratio: $\Omega_\theta/\Omega_r = \beta_\theta/\beta_r$, with $\beta_\theta$ and $\beta_r$ both integers. In this paper, we show that key aspects of the self interaction for such "resonant" orbits can be understood with a relatively simple Teukolsky-equation-based calculation of gravitational-wave fluxes. We show that fluxes from resonant orbits depend on the relative phase of radial and angular motions. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate in simple terms how this phase dependence arises using tools that are good for strong-field orbits, and to present a first study of how strongly the fluxes vary as a function of this phase and other orbital parameters. Future work will use the full dissipative self force to examine resonant and near resonant strong-field effects in greater depth, which will be needed to characterize how a binary evolves through orbital resonances.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables. Accepted to Phys Rev D; accepted version posted here, including referee feedback and other useful comment

Where There is No Love, Put Love : Homeless Addiction Recovery Perspectives and Ways to Enhance Healing

This study explores how middle-aged homeless persons in Atlanta, GA, who have harmful, self-identified addictive behaviors come to make positive material and psychological changes, while constrained by urban poverty and structural violence. This study is divided into two parts. In part one, I examine the interaction between individual, social, and material factors that promote recovery from addiction in a poor, urban context. I argue that recovery occurs through a process, initiated by a decision and realized through practice. Recovery is enhanced by a stable community and consistent material access. In part two, I examine how pain associated with homelessness can create a strong drive to intensify substance usage as a means to seek relief. I then describe how alienation, pain and corresponding addictive behaviors among homeless persons can be lessened through intentioned, empowering acts, which I call “symbolic love”. Finally, I offer policy recommendations based on my findings

Tracking and data systems support for the Helios project. Volume 3: DSN support of Project Helios May 1976 - June 1977

Spacecraft extended mission coverage does not generally carry a high priority, but Helios was fortunate in that a combination of separated viewperiods and unique utilization of the STDN Goldstone antenna have provided a considerable amount of additional science data return, particularly at key times such a perihelion and/or solar occultation

Tracking and data systems support for the Helios project. Volume 2: DSN support of Project Helios April 1975 - May 1976

Deep Space Network activities in the development of the Helios B mission from planning through entry of Helios 2 into first superior conjunction (end of Mission Phase II) are summarized. Network operational support activities for Helios 1 from first superior conjunction through entry into third superior conjunction are included

Pressure distributions obtained on a 0.04-scale and 0.02-scale model of the Space Shuttle Orbiter's forward fuselage in the Langley 20-inch Mach 6 air tunnel

Results from pressure distribution tests on 0.04-scale and 0.02-scale models of the forward fuselage of the Space Shuttle Orbier are presented without analysis. The tests were completed in the Langley 20-Inch Mach 6 Tunnel. The 0.04-scale model was tested at angles of attack from 0 to 35 and angles of sideslip from 0 to -4. The 0.02-scale model was tested at angles of attack from -10 to 45 and angles of sideslip from 0 to -4. The tests were conducted in support of the development of the Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS). In addition to modeling the 20 SEADS pressure orifices, the wind-tunnel to models were also instrumented with orifices to match Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) port locations currently existing on the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (OV-102). This DFI simulation had provided a means for comparisons between reentry flight pressure data and wind-tunnel data

Pressure distributions obtained on a 0.04-scale and 0.02-scale model of the Space Shuttle Orbiter's forward fuselage in the Langley continuous flow hypersonic tunnel

Results from pressure distribution tests on 0.04-scale and 0.02-scale models of the forward fuselage of the Space Shuttle Orbiter are presented without analysis. The tests wre completed in the Langley Continuous Flow Hypersonic Tunnel (CFHT). The 0.04-scale model was tested at angles of attack from -5 deg to 45 deg and angles of sideslip from -3 deg to 3 deg. The 0.02-scale model was tested at angles of attack from -10 deg to 45 deg and angles of sideslip from -5 deg to 5 deg. The tests were conducted in support of the development of the Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS). In addition to modeling the 20 SEADS pressure orifices, the wind-tunnel models were also instrumented with orifices to match Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) port locations currently existing on the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (OV-102). This DFI simulation has provided a means for comparisons between reentry flight pressure data and wind-tunnel data

Pressure distributions on a 0.04-scale model of the Space Shuttle Orbiter's forward fuselage in the Langley unitary plan wind tunnel

Pressure distribution tests on a 0.04-scale model of the forward fuselage of the Space Shuttle Orbiter are presented without analysis. The tests were completed in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT). The UPWT has two different test sections operating in the continuous mode. Each test section has its own Mach number range. The model was tested at angles of attack from -2.5 deg to 30 deg and angles of sideslip from -5 deg to 5 deg in both test sections. The test Reynolds number was 6.6 x 10 to the 6th power per meter. The tests were conducted in support of the development of the Shuttle Entry Air Data System (SEADS). In addition to modeling the 20 SEADS pressure orifices, the wind-tunnel model was also instrumented with orifices to match Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) port locations currently existing on the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (OV-102). This DFI simulation has provided a means for comparisons between reentry flight pressure data and wind-tunnel data