IIE Solutions articles from August 1998

IIE Solutions archives from August 1998

IE thrives on learning process. (industrial engineer Frank L. Harper, Jr.)
August 1, 1998... Frank Harper has never shied away from learning new things - even the hard way. For instance, in 1985, after reading an article in The Wall Street Journal that ranked Atlanta the number one city in which to start a business, Harper bought a...

The need for engineering superheroes.
August 1, 1998... Do you feel unnoticed, unloved, unappreciated, and underpaid? That's the situation for engineers. Where are the engineering superheroes? When was the last time you saw an engineer in a movie, situation comedy, or soap opera save the world, get...

We made our numbers, but what happened to the profits?
August 1, 1998... Many companies today seek high quality, good flow, and timely production from their manufacturing operations. They believe these will give them an edge in the marketplace, which is correct. But how can companies ensure that these goals will be...

Designing and installing effective performance measurement systems.
August 1, 1998... Most organizations today use some type of strategic planning to identify objectives or initiatives. Linking the objectives to the organizational vision and the daily activities within the company is often difficult to achieve. An effective...

Implementing strategic goal deployment and other nontraditional roles for industrial engineers.
August 1, 1998... Oakwood Healthcare System (OHS) is part of an industry on the edge of revolutionary change. It must reduce its costs, improve quality, and increase profitability in an environment with reduced payments for services and unprecedented competition....

Selection and design of computerized maintenance management systems.
August 1, 1998... Considering the $250 billion spent annually on computer technology, serious consideration must be given to the selection and design of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). Although CMMSs tend to be somewhat smaller in scope than...

Paper cup manufacturer slashes SPC report time. (Imperial Bondware Corp; statistical process control)
August 1, 1998... CHALLENGE: Replace old SPC software system to generate faster summary reports on cup-making machine specs for paper container manufacturer. STRATEGY: Install three-tier software that provides fast and flexible report generation as well as...