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1 – 10 of over 155000Sunkyung Choi and Shinya Hanaoka
The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for diagramming a base camp or space for emergency workers and a staging area to be used during sorting, storing, loading, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for diagramming a base camp or space for emergency workers and a staging area to be used during sorting, storing, loading, and unloading of relief goods in a humanitarian logistics base airport.
Design/methodology/approach
A method is developed based on a synthesis of the relevant literature and current practices of airports. This provides a means for estimating the area required for each facility and visualizes the layout of the base through an adjacency diagram and a bubble diagram. The method is applied to the Shizuoka Airport in Japan as a case study.
Findings
The proposed method can be used to determine the approximate size and layout of a humanitarian logistics base in an airport based on the affected population and the number of emergency workers.
Research limitations/implications
Airport operation regulations and mathematical models from architectural planning need to be reflected further.
Practical implications
The method provides potential operational improvements for policies and standards for airport operations and enables government officials and humanitarian logistics organizations to identify concerns in facilitating and managing constraints in existing airports.
Originality/value
This study addresses the detailed phases in a diagramming for a humanitarian logistics base airport by integrating an architectural approach and airport disaster management. The results highlight the importance of managing the flexible use of space to improve effective humanitarian logistics.
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Isabelina Nahmens and Michael Mullens
The purpose of this paper is to better define the relationships between product variety and lean production in enabling mass customization in industrialized homebuilding.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to better define the relationships between product variety and lean production in enabling mass customization in industrialized homebuilding.
Design/methodology/approach
This study includes a case study analysis of two housing plants that instituted lean production systems. For each company, the case study documented the company's background, the product choice offered, the lean implementation approach used, the results obtained, and the effect of product choice on the lean implementation. Using these case study findings, common trends were identified and used to develop guidelines for an effective mass customization strategy for industrialized homebuilders. This paper summarizes the extensive findings for one of the two plants and provides the recommended guidelines developed from common trends identified at both plants.
Findings
Case study findings indicated that product choice does not necessarily make the implementation of lean concepts more difficult. In fact, good lean concepts (e.g. continuous flow, pull system, workload leveling, defect‐free processes, standard tasks, good visual control, and reliable technology) were also good concepts for (or easily accommodated) handling a range of product choice.
Research limitations/implications
Research findings are limited by the small number of plants involved in the study.
Originality/value
The paper makes an important contribution to the understanding of both lean production and mass customization, identifying the lean principles that facilitate mass customization for industrialized homebuilders. Findings also provide useful guidelines for builders interested in better addressing specific customer needs, while managing the operational complexities resulting from product variety.
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Mary Barbosa-Jerez, Kasia Gonnerman, Benjamin Gottfried and Jason Paul
The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how a liberal arts college library has reimagined its spaces in response to the changes in higher education, particularly…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how a liberal arts college library has reimagined its spaces in response to the changes in higher education, particularly integration of educational technology into research, teaching, and learning; changes in students’ information-seeking behaviors; and an increasingly important role of local special collections as a means to preserve and reinforce unique institutional identity.
Methodology/approach
This case study is built on the first-hand experience, as all contributors directly participated in each phase of the process, from formulating ideas to completion of the current stage.
Findings
Meaningful and high-impact space adjustments do not necessarily entail extensive budgetary investments. They do entail, however, developing comprehensive goals and directions and a level of collaboration among library departments and relevant academic units in order to deliver cohesive services, programming, and a creative, nimble response to the constantly changing needs of the patron.
Practical implications
We believe that these high-impact, cost-conscious improvements provide a useful model for other small academic libraries preparing to reconfigure or renovate their spaces. We offer a model for creating a dynamic, service-centered space on a limited budget.
Originality/value
The overwhelming majority of the literature related to library spaces focuses on large universities, and the treatment of space topics in small undergraduate colleges, and liberal arts colleges in particular, is strikingly negligent. This case study of a small liberal arts college will help fill the void by adding to the rare voices commenting on library spaces in liberal arts colleges.
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The use of standard time values is advocated as a means of measuring and improving productivity in materials handling. Although handling operations are difficult to schedule and…
Abstract
The use of standard time values is advocated as a means of measuring and improving productivity in materials handling. Although handling operations are difficult to schedule and are subject to many variations in order, size and quantity, common and repetitive activities exist which are measurable and controllable. Application of Master Standard Data methods and Method Time Measurement to materials handling operations in a public warehouse have demonstrated that accurate standards can be developed. These standards embrace both physical and cost measures. Although a heavy resource commitment is required to implement these standards and worker attitudes may be negative, adoption of these standards is advocated as a positive action pattern for dealing with typically unprofitable handling operations.
Belarmino Adenso‐Díaz and Fernando Gascón
In spite of the wide experience already developed in the field of internal logistics using radio frequency, many companies are wary of its implantation due to the fact that the…
Abstract
In spite of the wide experience already developed in the field of internal logistics using radio frequency, many companies are wary of its implantation due to the fact that the benefits of this technology are not easily quantifiable in most cases. Develops a detailed discounted payback analysis of the cash flows associated with the implementation of radio frequency, presenting a table with the needed payback periods depending on the size of the warehouse.
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Using visual materials to understand a social object requires the researcher to know that object's purpose, and this is true whether the object is an artifact, a restricted event…
Abstract
Using visual materials to understand a social object requires the researcher to know that object's purpose, and this is true whether the object is an artifact, a restricted event, a small social world, or something as massive as the modern city. I argue that the purpose of the city as a settlement is driven by the need to safely sleep in peace at night while satisfying other basic biophysical needs during the day as conveniently as possible. An examination of these needs identifies 10 functional prerequisites for human settlement, entangling its inhabitants in involuntary community with entities and events other than themselves, whether they like it or not. In addition, the rise of the modern city exacerbates the challenge of living in a reluctant community and pressures its inhabitants to come to terms with the consequences for how these relationships affect daily life. I highlight nine challenges posed as questions that have been particularly salient in American urban history since the mid-nineteenth century. How these challenges have been addressed indicates not only what it takes to make a modern city a settlement suitable for satisfying human needs, but also just how deeply invested its residents are in making the city work. Finally, the 10 functional prerequisites and nine moral challenges not only provide a framework for researching the city, but also suggest a coherent outline for imagining a “shooting script” or guide for conducting visual research.
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William Y. Arms, Naomi Dushay, Dave Fulker and Carl Lagoze
This paper describes the use of the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting in the NSF’s National Science Digital Library (NSDL). The protocol is used both as a…
Abstract
This paper describes the use of the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting in the NSF’s National Science Digital Library (NSDL). The protocol is used both as a method to ingest metadata into a central Metadata Repository and also as the means by which the repository exports metadata to service providers. The NSDL Search Service is used to illustrate this architecture. An early version of the Metadata Repository was an alpha test site for version 1 of the protocol and the production repository was a beta test site for version 2. This paper describes the implementation experience and early practical tests. Despite some teething troubles and the long‐term difficulties of semantic compatibility, the overall conclusion is optimism that the Open Archive Initiative will be a successful part of the NSDL.
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In manufacturing, corporate growth and profitability are more challenging than ever before. The company reviewed in this study has been and is currently suffering tremendous…
Abstract
In manufacturing, corporate growth and profitability are more challenging than ever before. The company reviewed in this study has been and is currently suffering tremendous growing pains with poor record of profitability. This paper reports learning and application of a few significant techniques to improve basic business practices in a company, which manufactures large volume, high quality optical thin film coatings. Some of the tasks involved in identifying opportunities for improving operational efficiencies included analysis of current business processes, identification of non‐value‐added activities including wastes and proposing process changes. Process mapping and kaizen “blitz” activities were utilized during analysis of key business processes within this company. The study demonstrates measurable results realized through use of process mapping tools, kaizen blitz activities, formalized and documented work instructions and work measurement tools. To ultimately be successful, a company must educate their workforce and create a fulfilling work environment for each of their employees. Worker involvement is essential and critical in today's society. Gaining the worker's trust and commitment is extremely important.
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Suddenly speech technology looks viable for many real world applications, as Jack Hollingum explains.