...Voters in the United States don’t seem to do such a great job of showing up to vote, which is especially true when it’s time for the presidential election. Hard to believe that only a little bit more than half of eligible voters in this country actually participate in voting in the presidential elections. This seems preposterous, especially when you consider that voting plays a major part in our government. I mean, what’s a democracy without the right to vote? But sadly, a plethora of Americans don’t take advantage of that right. In my opinion, at least two causes contribute to this dilemma: people feeling disconnected from a government that seems too impersonal to them, and/or people getting tired of the mudslinging in politics. As government has grown in size and complexity, many people see less need for their participation. “Why should I vote if I can’t affect the political process?” seems to be the view taken by many people who do not vote. They have heard again and again that every vote counts, that their vote counts, but they just don’t believe it. Human beings also have the capability of being just plain lazy. To those who use this as an excuse, it’s too much trouble to register to vote and then actually go to the polls on election day. The second cause of voter apathy in my opinion, is all the mudslinging present in politics today. When one candidate says something about their opponent’s personal life, it makes people wonder what kind of person would make such an...
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...In order to understand poverty one must be able to identify exactly what it is, in the oxford dictionary the definition of poverty is ‘the condition of being extremely poor’. But then one must question what is defined as poor? I will be looking at two approaches of this question, the first is the ‘monetary approach’ and the second is the ‘capabilities approach’. I will also be analysing two different measures of poverty, ‘absolute’ and ‘relative’ and to conclude which is a more accurate or a more suitable instrument in poverty measure. The monetary approach is probably the most common method of understanding poverty. It is highly used by economists and is significantly connected with microeconomic theory. Utility maximisation is the base for this approach and the main instrument used is a poverty line; this sets a threshold where if income or consumption is below, people are then classified as poor. An example of this would be the ‘dollar a day’ where any income below $1 a day is classified as poor. This approach suggests that income or consumption is equivalent to well-being. In developing countries measuring welfare with consumption would be more appropriate than using income, as income is a small component and would be an overestimate. There is plenty of data which can be analysed at household levels. However, poverty is an individual phenomenon where individuals are situated within households. After assuming some measurements between income and consumption, data at the household...
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...UTS: ENGINEERING Assignment Cover Sheet STANDARD and BLOCK Mode SUBJECT NAME: QUALITY PLANNING AND ANALYSIS SUBJECT NUMBER: 49309 ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: ASSIGNMENT 1 STUDENT LAST NAME: LUU STUDENT FIRST NAME: THIET XIEU STUDENT ID: 11311848 Declaration of Originality: The work contained in this assignment, other than that specifically attributed to another source, is that of the author(s) and has not been submitted in any other subject or published elsewhere before. It is recognised that, should this declaration be found to be false, disciplinary action could be taken and penalties imposed in accordance with University policy and rules. Signature: __________________________________ THIET XIEU LUU - 11311848 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 2. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3 Customer satisfaction ..................................................................................................... 5 2.1 2.2 2.3 Stakeholder identification ................................................................................................... 5 Methods for capturing customer needs................................................................................ 6 Customer needs identification ............................................................................................ 9 3. Design requirements ..............................
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...Quality Improvement Implementation Paper Team C University of Phoenix Quality Management and Productivity MGT/449 Teacher Date Quality Improvement Implementation Paper Introduction Quality is the basic element which should be highly emphasized when a company wants to attain greater market share and acceptability. Through this paper we’ll discuss the quality improvement systems or processes adopted by Hartman Industries in order to gain and retain more and more customers and success. According to Hartman Industries, LLC (2009) the company is considered to be colossal and a leader in plastic injection molding. To be massive and in top positions Hartman Industries has adopted strategies to manage their accuracy and exactness in regard to plastic injection molding. Hartman Industries succeeded because of their efforts in implementing and improving the ISO 9000 standards. They have come up with their own quality control programs which ensure that the quality delivered is up to the mark and as per the requirements of the present trends. The company is highly renowned for their quality work which they deliver in accordance to their outstanding quality control standards. These standards are set and maintained with the help of Six Sigma, thorough research and pertaining to the advanced technology. Identify a quality management system for process or organizational improvement As per UOP (2009) Hartman Industries can be considered as the leader and on the top position in...
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...survive and this zeal to improve require the innovation in processes and management which helps in reducing the cost or improving the productivity. Innovation is the only tool with the help of which the organization can maintain its position in the competitive market and stay one step ahead of its competitors. It is the only way that creates the differentiation with the customers. Moreover, customers prefer the products which make their life simpler and this is possible with the continual improvement in product or processes. Being first in the market with the new product gives the significant advantage in building the customer base. The term Operational Strategy is defined as, “the total pattern of decisions which shape the long term capabilities of any type of operations and their contribution to the overall strategy.” Thus, innovation in the method of producing goods being offered to the customers is the innovation in operational strategy. There are several operational strategies which make the company process efficient and effective such as adopting Just – In – Time approach and six sigma lean, implementing quality circle at...
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...Pick Sigma Green Belts, Brown Belts or Black Belts who are categorized on the basis of the training they have received in Six Sigma techniques. Trained experts would form teams, which are constituted to tackle a particular problem or process and thereafter disband to form another team for tackling another process at a different time, may be with different people, all trained in Six Sigma. Selection for training should ensure picking up highly motivated employees that will result in creating a high performance team. Another important point is to give them a project right after training without allowing any time gaps. Generally, IT people do not go ahead with untried methodologies until they have tried out tools with which they are familiar. Experts sound a note of caution against this and say that throwing technology at a business problem results in a bad process with new technology. If the process is free from defects, then technology can be used to take it to greater heights. Focus On Defect Removal And Improvement While Six Sigma tenets are supposed to be religiously followed, they should not be treated as the be-all, end-all. The aim should be to reduce defects and to continuously streamline and improve the process conducting regular evaluations. Six Sigma is a structured approach to problem-solving within a disciplined, fact-based methodology. The Six Sigma approach focuses on understanding the problem, collecting and analyzing data about the problem, identifying...
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...Robotics is changing the face of warfare through progressive technology. Unmanned systems are a growing trend on the battlefield. These systems are not designed to provide complete human replacement, but rather to enhance human capabilities. The advantages of such a strategy are immense. Autonomous systems provide capabilities that are not subject to human error. Additionally, the operator has more options available and can be more flexible in dangerous situations. Unmanned systems can react at speeds that are beyond the capability of humans. Not only does this reduce the pressure placed on system operators, but it enables the operator to delegate tasks more effectively. The trend of autonomy can be seen in many robots recently released or currently under development. One example is the Pentagon’s PackBot. The PackBot, which aids US troops in clearing roadside bombs, recently received upgrades that allow it to act autonomously in certain circumstances. When the PackBot loses communication with its operator, it will return to the location where it last had contact. Before the upgrade, the robot had to be retrieved by hand, potentially putting soldiers in harm’s way. While still not fully autonomous, the PackBot reflects the goal of autonomy. It performs a specific function autonomously while eliminating a situation that can put soldiers at risk. Additional upgrades that increased autonomy included the ability of the PackBot to upright itself in situations where it...
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...Running head: Business Research Methods I Business Research Methods I Aaron L. Richards, Bill Houston, Christi Lawson, Jeff Smith QNT/TM561 – Research and Statistics for Process Control Dr. Joseph Hamel University of Phoenix June 13, 2011 Abstract Insert Abstract Text Here. Business Research Methods I Introduction Riordan Manufacturing is an industry leading plastic manufacture with facilities located in both North America and China. Riordan has struggled to meet their effectiveness standards for multiple categories and they are looking to implement one of three quality improvement methods to improve process efficiency. If Riordan is to maintain an industry leader, changes must occur in processes across the board in relation to accuracy, availability, quality, timeliness, and cost. However, the first effectiveness measure to be looked at should be the receiving of raw materials from suppliers since every other process thereafter deals with inventory. In addition, the formulation of a solution involves certain steps be taken. Firstly, a process-driven research question should be formulated defining the initial problem. Secondly, a methodology such as Six Sigma, ISO, or Baldridge must be chosen to improve the process. Thirdly, a research design should be created to define any and all variables involved in the solution, and fourthly a sample design should be identified for the collection of data. Process & Methodology In any process improvement...
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...Introduction In race to be a leader, most companies are realizing that traditional management, manufacturing processes, and other orthodox approaches, are not enough. More effective methods are needed: • Lean Manufacturing • Six Sigma Lean “Lean is a way to specify value, line up value-creating actions in the best sequence, conduct those activities without interruption whenever someone requests them, and perform them more and more effectively. In short, lean thinking is lean because it provides a way to do more and more with less and less – less human effort, less human equipment, less time, and less space – while coming closer and closer to providing customers with exactly what they want.”- Womack and Jones (1996). “Becoming ‘lean’ is a process of eliminating waste with the goal of creating value.” – Womack & Jones There are FIVE overriding principles to Lean. Identify Customers and Specify Value - The starting point is to recognise that only a small fraction of the total time and effort in any organisation actually adds value for the end customer. By clearly defining Value for a specific product or service from the end customer’s perspective, all the non value activities - or waste - can be targeted for removal. Identify and Map the Value Stream – The Value Stream is the entire set of activities across all parts of the organisation involved in jointly delivering the product or service. This represents the end-to-end process that delivers the value to the...
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...Question 1.1. (TCO E) Suggested reasons why many customer satisfaction efforts fail include all of the following EXCEPT: (Points : 5) using poor satisfaction measurement schemes @ failing to weight quality dimensions equally confusing loyalty with satisfaction failing to identify appropriate quality dimensions Question 2.2. (TCO D) Factors that should be considered when selecting Six Sigma projects include the following EXCEPT: (Points : 5) financial return. impacts on customers and organizational effectiveness. @ fit to existing government legislation(s) on quality. probability of success. Question 3.3. (TCO C) Lean production refers to approaches that originated at: (Points : 5) @ Ford. Xerox. Motorola. Toyota. Question 4.4. (TCO C) Which one of the following is NOT one of the three levels of mistake-proofing? (Points : 5) Designing potential errors out of the process. Identifying potential defects and stopping a process before the defect is produced. @ Training the workforce in implementing and monitoring the modified process. Finding defects that enter or leave a process. Question 5.5. (TCO B) _____ measures are generally tracked by senior leadership to gauge overall organizational performance. (Points : 5) @ Financial Customer Product Service Question 6.6. (TCO I) The cost associated...
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...Question 1: Starwood introduced a team of Six Sigma experts, also known as black belts, to make the processes in the hotel more efficient and even more satisfying for the customers. The Six Sigma team used the DMAIC process, which consists of defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling. First the DMAIC process will be explained. After this the top down commitment, measurement systems, goal setting, education, communication and customer priorities will be described. * Define – in order to fulfill the customers satisfaction (or the Sheraton Service Promise), three key features were identified i.e. speed, empathy, and efficiency. * Measure - call logs were established to track speed, empathy of associate handling the call, and efficiency of the staff charged with fixing the problem. * Analyze - Pareto charts and other techniques were used for the analysis. * Improve – since there is always space for improvement, the committee is looking for ways how to make the parts of the process (such as: telephone operators’ handling of requests, procedures for determining who to call, engineering workloads) faster, more emphatic and more efficient in order to increase customers’ satisfaction. * Control and monitoring – there will be 12 to 18 months tracking, with monthly feedback to the manager or department head responsible for the improvement of the Sheraton Service Promise program. Top-Down Commitment: Top-level management commitment is crucial...
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...Week 5 Individual Assignment: Process Improvement Plan Justin Sciarro OPS 571 November 26, 2012 Barry Haigh Process Improvement Plan During week one the process of pulling patient room trash and linen was analyzed. The steps included the designing of a flowchart outlining the steps of the actual process, while identifying factors and metrics. The remainder of this paper will focus on process improvement as it relates to control limits and confidence intervals. Moving on, in this case, process control is concerned with monitoring quality while the service is being performed (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). The two types of variation within processes are assignable and common. Assignable variation is defined by factors that can be clearly identified and perhaps even managed, while common variation or random variation is simply natural in the process itself (Chase, Jacobs, & Aquilano, 2006). Regarding the process of pulling patient room trash and linen, assignable variation included collection/disposal methods and trash liner compatibility/fit. After evaluating these variations, it was determined they could be effectively managed through alternative options. For example, since the trash and linen is collected using separate receptacles, the linen is left in a staging area where it is picked up by a third party vendor each evening. However, the trash, once collected, is disposed of into a large compactor. This particular task can be time consuming; therefore, it...
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...Statistical Process Control is a statistical procedure using control charts to detect and prevent poor quality of production. It is achieved by taking periodic samples from the process and plotting these sample points on a chart to see if the process is within statistical control limits. When a company is about to conduct SPC, they should train the employees on a continuing basis. SPC is a tool individuals can use to monitor production process for the purpose of making improvement. So employees have their own responsibilities for their own operation. The quality of a product itself can be evaluated using attribute of the product and variable measures. Attribute is a product characteristic that can be evaluated with a discrete response such as texture, color, taste. Variable measure is a product characteristic that is measured on a continuous scale such as length, weight, temperature, or time. Meanwhile, SPC for service process tend to use the quality characteristic and measurement such as customer satisfaction and time. Control charts are graphs that establish the control limit of a process and to monitor the process to indicate when it is out of control. The quality measures used in attribute control charts are discrete values reflecting a simple decision criterion. P – Chart uses the proportion of defective items in a sample as the sample statistic . C- Chart is used when it’s not possible to compute a proportion defective and the actual number of defects must be used. Variable...
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...Executive Summery The benefits of lean manufacturing are evident in factories across the world. With a view to achieve performance improvement both the developed and developing countries are practicing lean. In this study nine garment manufacturing companies were selected as sample. A field survey with a semi-structured questionnaire, interviews and site visits were conducted to get necessary lean information from the respondent. These companies were selected purposively to ensure the best possible scenario of lean practices in Bangladesh. The focus of this study is to investigate the improvement of manufacturing performance through lean practice in the Bangladeshi garment industry. The findings indicate that the selected companies have adopted a wide variety of lean tools and techniques and gained many performance improvements. Findings also identified the business challenges that drive the companies to practice lean as well as the areas where changes have been made. It concludes with suggestions for further work. Introduction Today’s global supply chains are, in effect, highly complex networks. They are increasingly vulnerable to disruption which can have significant impact on profitability and shareholder value. Recent research at Cranfield School of Management has highlighted where the sources of risk in supply chains might lie and how that risk might be mitigated and managed by the application of ‘Six Sigma’ philosophies and procedures. [pic] As Supply Chain...
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...Strategic Capacity Planning Capacity – upper limit on the load that an operating unit can handle - Design: Maximum obtainable output under ideal conditions - Effective: Max capacity given current product mix Actual output: rate of output actually achieved – often less than the effective capacity Efficiency = Actual Output/ Effective Capacity Utilization = Actual Output / Design Capacity Factors Influencing Capacity - Facilities and Machines – Floor Space, Layout, machine maintenance - Products/Services – The larger the # of products, increase changeover times, lower effective capacity - Human – Training, Skills, Experience - Planning & Operational - # of shifts per day, bottlenecks, inventory decisions, quality control, procedures, late deliveries, defective purchased material - External – Products standards (Quality & Performance), pollution standards, paper work required by government agencies Strategic Capacity Planning – deals with long term overall capacity levels - Process: Forecast demand 1-5 years ahead -> Determine capacity requirements -> Measure the capacity now and decide how to bridge the gap: (A) Generate feasible alternatives (b) Evaluate alternatives considering economic and non-economic aspects (c) choose best alternative & implement - Growth Patterns: Growth, Decline, Cyclical, Stable - Math – Calculate Annual Capacity, Total Processing Time needed/ Annual Capacity Break Even Analysis - P=TR-TC=Q*r-(FC+Q*v) - Q = (P+FC)/(R-v) – BEP is when...
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