Industrial Engineer articles from February 2007

Industrial Engineer archives from February 2007

Supply chains save.(managing the relief efforts after the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami of 2004)(Editorial)
February 1, 2007... Last month, we looked at how supply chains promote peace. (To paraphrase best-selling author Thomas Friedman in his book The World is Flat, countries that jointly profit as part of a major global supply chain don't wage war against each other.)...

Productivity for peace: World Productivity Congress recognizes importance of China.(Front Line)(Conference news)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The 14th World Productivity Congress, hosted in Shenyang, China, recognized the leadership position China must play in conserving the world's resources and quality of life, according to George L. Smith, Ph.D., P.E., president of the World...

The work of work improvement.(QUOTE, UNQUOTE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... "Once you see how woven into the work improving the work is, each particular improvement seems less interesting [at the Georgetown, Ky., Toyota factory]. What's interesting is to compare how they think about work at Georgetown with everywhere...

Task force urges greater port security: calls for mandatory national standards.(Fornt Line)
February 1, 2007... A task force established by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced recommendations to enhance security at all 361 U.S. seaports. Headed by Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia, the panel highlighted the need for mandatory...

Aching back? Don't sit up straight.(OUTLIER)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Sitting upright strains the back and can lead to chronic pain in people who spend long hours sitting. This is the conclusion of a study conducted in Aberdeen, Scotland. "A 135-degree body-thigh sitting posture was demonstrated to be the...

Hospital performance measures not very telling: quality of care doesn't predict patient outcomes.(Front Line)
February 1, 2007... Hospitals with high and low performance on Medicare quality measures had little difference in the rate of death for three common conditions at the hospitals, research shows. This indicates that the performance measures may not accurately...

Effective global sourcing.(Front Line)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Eight factors positively and statistically relate to global sourcing performance outcomes. Global sourcing and supply effectiveness will reflect how well these factors are implemented with continuous improvement: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Serving up science.(SITE TO SEE)
February 1, 2007... Why drug companies won't fund some studies. How emotions are much like rational thought. What the half-life of a teaspoon is. When it's preferable to embrace animal extinction. These are some of the fascinating topics explored on SciTechDaily...

Give it a rest.(Engineering Your Retirement: Retirement Planning for Technology Professionals)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2007... Millions of baby boomer Americans will have to continue working during what should be their retirement years because they have not saved enough money. However, an increasing number of technical professionals are interested in retiring before...

Intermodal hub gets financial boost: Michigan airport expansion boosted by private nonprofit.(Front Line)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A $10 million commitment from a private philanthropic organization will help move a Michigan intermodal hub closer to completion. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The hub, to be located at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Mich., is...

Reality engineering.(Front Line)(reality television program 'Design Squad')(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... A PBS television series premiering this month will follow young would-be engineers in a competition that tests their problem-solving skills as they design, construct, and test whimsical yet functional machines. The series is designed to appeal...

Lightening the load: backpack makes use of bungees to distribute weight.(Front Line)
February 1, 2007... An ergonomic backpack devised by University of Pennsylvania biologists uses rubber bands to provide safety and comfort. The suspended-load backpack reduces the force of a backpack's load on the wearer by 86 percent, allowing users to run far...

Dilbert.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2007... www.dilbert.com scottadams@aol.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2-1-06 [c] 2006 Scott Adams, Inc./Dist. by UFS, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [c] Scott Adams/Dist. by United Feature Syndicate, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Steven Beering, M.D.(THREE QUESTIONS)( National Science Board)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... IE: What are your responsibilities as chair of the National Science Board? BEERING: The National Science Board is a group of 24 people appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate with six-year renewable terms. The job of the...

OSHA infractions.(DATA POINTS)(Occupational Health and Safety Administration)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Occupational Health and Safety Administration's 10 most violated OSHA standards for 2005 (the most recent data available): scaffolding, hazard communication, fall protection, respiratory protection, lockout/tagout, powered industrial...

Taking the risk.(performance)(boosting employee performance)(Personal account)
February 1, 2007... ONE SUMMER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I reached a plateau in my running improvement. For three consecutive 5K races, the best I could manage was to run a time within five seconds of eighteen and a half minutes. While this time represented a significant...

Projects require process leaders.(project management)
February 1, 2007... NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF ALL INFORMATION technology projects fail to achieve objectives within the budget and schedule. Can this dismal performance be improved? I recently participated in a two-day conference for project managers and project...

The Air Force needs us.(member forum)(training industrial engineers)
February 1, 2007... THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF AIR FORCE Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21) has created new opportunities for industrial engineers. Most of the concepts espoused in AFSO21 represent principles, tools, and techniques in use by IEs for...

Wave of relief: the power of public-private partnership in speeding critical supplies to tsunami-ravaged villages.(TNT)
February 1, 2007... Dec. 26, 2004 is a day that changed the world. An earthquake of monstrous proportions struck and triggered a tsunami that ravaged the coastlines along the Indian Ocean. Entire coastal villages and towns from Asia to Africa were swept away in a...

Fighting for air: manufacturers enlist scientists to meet EPA regulations.(Environmental Protection Agency)
February 1, 2007... As the temperature staggers above 90 degrees, the last place anyone wants to be trapped is an automobile, particularly one that's being filled with the exhaust fumes of surrounding idle engines. In Atlanta, the skyline captures a summery sight...

Realities of risk: supply chains must scrutinize the unknown.(Survey)
February 1, 2007... Companies are recognizing the severity of danger facing them by not addressing supply chain risk. Indeed, more than two-thirds of the companies surveyed by Accenture, as recorded in Manufacturing Business Technology, said they had experienced a...

Visionary practitioner reforms health care: Vin Sahney brings industrial engineering with him everywhere.
February 1, 2007... His creative forward thinking challenged the status quo to elevate the level of performance. His sharp analytical mind simplified the process, sending his thoughts into motion. His passion for quality health care for everyone has been the...

Made in Taiwan: shifting paradigms in high-tech industries.
February 1, 2007... As high-tech industries continue to penetrate and revolutionize the lives of people worldwide, portions of the Far East, including Taiwan, China, Singapore, and South Korea, are increasingly important areas economically. The solutions for...

Swiss precision.(SOLUTIONS IN PRACTICE)(Swiss Automation)(Company overview)
February 1, 2007... The benefits of lean manufacturing are well publicized--how it improves process design and flow, removes waste, and increases both internal and external customer satisfaction. But eradicating waste and implementing the concepts associated with...

Research.(impact of service networks design on company inventory)(Report)
February 1, 2007... This month, two articles from the February scheduling and logistics issue of IIE Transactions (Vol. 39, No. 2) are highlighted. The first paper describes an integrated approach to the design of service networks that considers the impact of both...

Shifting shift work.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(Brief article)(Column)
February 1, 2007... Q: I am researching the effects of putting our second shift on four 9-hour days and one 4-hour day. Do you have any information as to how this would affect employee turnover, recruiting, attendance, and morale? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Same old IE.(ANSWERS TO YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS)(Column)
February 1, 2007... Q: How does the Six Sigma concept differ from what I have always known as industrial engineering? It seems like the same concept wrapped up in a package that consultants and others can sell. A: The philosophy of Six Sigma recognizes that...

Drum-buffer-rope.(production management theories)(Column)
February 1, 2007... Q: In reviewing literature about the theory of constraints, I came across a scheduling theory called drum-buffer-rope. The logic is simple; however, determining each factor can be challenging, especially for large-scale production systems. ...

Ergo Cup competition heats up: best of the best in innovative ergonomics.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Final preparations are underway for IIE's Ergo Cup competition in March. The contest pits private companies against each other to highlight the most innovative ergonomics solutions implemented in their facilities. As testimony to the...

Web access@IIEnet.org: case studies instruct.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)
February 1, 2007... Sponsored case studies posted on IIEnet.org provide companies with an opportunity to review real-world applications of successful technologies, products, services, and implementations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Sponsored case studies are...

Nashville distribution center rocks: Hot Topic plant tour turns up the volume.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)
February 1, 2007... Hot Topic distributes a line of products for the rock 'n' roll set from its state-of-the-art distribution center in Nashville, Tenn. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Finished products are received from outside vendors, primarily overseas, and...

In other publications: it's all about change.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)
February 1, 2007... In January/February issue of Industrial Management, contributors are talking about change. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In "Macroergonomics for Better Work Systems," Hal W. Hendrick discusses the top-down...

Dalton Corp.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Paul L. Barker, Jr.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Paul L. Barker, Jr., retired director of industrial engineering at Dalton Corp. in Warsaw, Ind., and a senior member of IIE, was inducted into the Foundry Hall of Honor for his achievements in the metal casting industry. Barker, whose career...

DuPont.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Charles O. Holliday Jr. was named Industry Week Technology Leader of the Year)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Charles O. Holliday Jr., chairman and CEO of DuPont, was named Industry Week Technology Leader of the Year. Holliday's key focus has been addressing global sustainability through partnerships with industries, government, nongovernment...

Hallmark Cards Inc.(KUDOS CELEBRATING MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS)(Anita Ranhotra appointed at Advisory Council for the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department at Kansas State University)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Anita Ranhotra, senior strategic buyer for Hallmark Cards Inc. and IIE senior vice president for chapter networking, can add another title to her resume. She was selected chair of the Advisory Council for the Industrial and Manufacturing...

University of Arkansas.(John A. White Jr., Ph.D. receives American Society for Engineering Education )(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... John A. White Jr., Ph.D., chancellor at the University of Arkansas, received the American Society for Engineering Education John L. Imhoff Global Excellence Award for industrial engineering education. This award is given to individuals who go...

Efficiency on the agenda: quality and improvement are key.(KEEPING PACE WITH IIE)(Conference news)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... There's still time to register for IIE's Society for Health Systems Conference Feb. 23-24 in New Orleans. The city is ready, the sessions are planned, and the keynote speakers are anxious to share their insight into some of the key issues...

PC500 Powered Picking Cart.(Seen at ProMat)
February 1, 2007... Multi-tasking is an essential element in running a successful business. It can mean the difference between sinking and swimming. One piece of equipment that can be used as a floatation device is the PC500 Powered Picking Cart. This cart's...

Charlatte CTT07.(Seen at ProMat)
February 1, 2007... Time is money and space is everything. The Charlatte CTT07 helps connect those dots. This light-duty tractor is a battery-powered tow vehicle designed for moving baggage, freight mail, cargo dollies, and pallet dollies. The CTT07, which allows...

ExpressCube 250.(ExpressCube introduces ExpressCube 250 series of countertops)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... When packages come in and out of a distribution center at the speed of light, it's important to keep a steady pace. Answering the call is the ExpressCube 250, a countertop device with preprogrammed options to provide the dimensional weight of...

Datasheet VX3X.(Seen at ProMat)
February 1, 2007... Less is more, and the LXE Datasheet VX3X is an ideal fit to perform large duties despite its 6 x 9-inch frame. This vehicle-mounted computer, which includes a keyboard, Intel XScale processor, and voice-ready applications, is an ideal fit for...

Diamondback Plastic Pallet.(Seen at ProMat)
February 1, 2007... The Diamondback Plastic Pallet uses 48 x 40-inch thermoplastic racks that are secured by nine plastic bolts for strength and stability. Because of the pallets' plastic makeup, products will not suffer damages due to nails and splinters. The...

Work perfect: the day we strive for.(Interview)
February 1, 2007... I'm using lean principles to improve the efficiency of transactional processes. I'm working with people to find waste in terms of paperwork, extra keystrokes, extra traveling time, trying to see if we can make any manual processes electronic...