Process Capability

We investigate the issues involved in developing a scalable World Wide Web (WWW) server on a cluster of workstations and parallel machines. The objective is to strengthen the processing capabilities of such a server by utilizing the power of multicomputers to match huge demands in simultaneous access requests from the Internet. We have implemented a system called SWEB on a distributed memory machine, the Meiko CS-2, and networked workstations. The scheduling component of the system actively monitors the usages of CPU, I/O channels and the interconnection network to effectively distribute HTTP requests across processing units to exploit task and I/O parallelism. We present the experimental results on the performance of this system

Ion channels play a crucial role in the physiology of complex biological systems because of their influence on the electrical equilibrium between the cells and their environment. From an engineering viewpoint, ion chan- nels will be the key components of the design and the production of a new generation of biosensors integrat- ing the selectivity of ion channels with the

Reservoir Computing is a recent pattern recognition tech- nique that combines temporal processing capabilities with fast learning rates and excellent convergence properties. The system consists of two parts: a recurrently connected network of simple nodes (e.g. neurons) called the reservoir, and a so-called readout function which can be any tra- ditional statistical technique and which computes the actual output. The choice of the node with which we build the reservoir is very broad, and in this case we use stochastich bitstream neurons. Classical sigmoidal neurons perform a weighted sum of their inputs, followed by a non-linearity. This uses a lot of additions and multiplications, which is not hardware efficient at all. Stochastic bitstream neurons circumvent this problem by communi- cating through stochastic bitstreams instead of analog values, which trans- forms additions and multiplications to simple bitwise operations, thus al- lowing an efficient hardware implementation. For t...

With increasing interest by the software development community in software process improvement (SPI), it is vital that SPI programs are evaluated and the reports of lessons learned disseminated. This paper presents an evaluation of a program in which low-rigour, one-day SPI assessments were offered at no cost to 22 small Australian software development firms. The assessment model was based on

Over the past years, the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) have been broadly used for assessing organizational maturity and process capability throughout the world [20]. However, the rapid pace of change in information technology ...

A methodology to estimate the cost implications of design decisions by integrating cost as a design parameter at an early design stage is presented. The model is developed on a hierarchical basis, the manufacturing cost of aircraft fuselage panels being analysed in this paper. The manufacturing cost modelling is original and relies on a genetic-causal method where the drivers of each element of cost are identified relative to the process capability. The cost model is then extended to life cycle costing by computing the Direct Operating Cost as a function of acquisition cost and fuel burn, and coupled with a semi-empirical numerical analysis using Engineering Sciences Data Unit reference data to model the structural integrity of the fuselage shell with regard to material failure and various modes of buckling. The main finding of the paper is that the traditional minimum weight condition is a dated and sub-optimal approach to airframe structural design.

This study we observed the application of variable control charts on the data from a sugar factory, to test the quality of the sugar`s color property and compute factory`s capability. The samples are selected at systemic random sample covered all the season. Variables control charts are applied using Mintabe software program, x-bar chart, R chart, x-bar with R chart and x- bar with S chart. R chart, x- bar chart and xbar with S chart shows that the dispersion of the point are random within control limits, chart pattern seem to be of cyclic pattern, the process was in statistical control, x-bar with R chart shows that there is one point outside the lower control limit. np chart was applied to display where the defect that leads to the nonconforming a point , np chart clearly showed that the test failed at points 15,2 and 9 is grown on same said of center line and test failed at points 9,10,11,12. Process Capability was computed to monitor effect of variables, for this Factory the process uses up about 98% of the specification band. The study recommends the use of control charts to monitor the processes of the product lines and can be used as one of the tools to measure variation in the quality of specifications in factories

With the continuous enhancement in the speed and architecture of mobile processors it has become possible to play even high resolution videos on them. However the compilers have lagged behind in taking full utilization of the processing capabilities of the underlying hardware. H.264, known for its high compression ratio and computational complexity, needs performance optimizations for a computationally constraint environment. Some of these techniques are described in this paper.

An important element of IT governance is the provision of robust IT capability. The concept of process capability maturity provides a useful methodology for the measurement and analysis of the state of IT capability. The COBIT IT Governance framework provides both a measurement methodology and IT process structure that provides a foundation for the measurement of process capability maturity across the lifecycle of IT investment. This study reports the results of a large-scale field study of process maturity in 51 organizations in eight developed and developing countries.

This article is a theoretical article regarding Six Sigma. Six Sigma has been interpreted over time within quality theory as a metric, methodology or a management system. We explain Six Sigma using a logistics context: Delivery-On-Time (DOT) rate problem. It is a theoretical context useful both for academic users and practitioners. At the beginning of the paper the DOT problem is generally described, while Sigma is presented according to statisticians view in the second part of the paper. Six Sigma is then presented as a metric for process’ capability. The fourth part of this article contains details regarding Six Sigma usage as a methodology for improvement, while the fifth part of this article refers to Six Sigma as a management system which can be used at firms’ level. The last chapter is dedicated to conclusions regarding the possible use of Six Sigma in Romania.

NANOSIL Network of Excellence [NANOSIL NoE web site 〈www.nanosil-noe.eu〉], funded by the European Commission in the 7th Framework Programme (ICT-FP7, no 216171), aims at European scale integration of the excellent European research laboratories and their capabilities in order to strengthen scientific and technological excellence in the field of nanoelectronic materials and devices for terascale integrated circuits (ICs), and to disseminating the results in a wide scientific and industrial community.NANOSIL is exploring and assessing the science and technological aspects of nanodevices and operational regimes relevant to the n+4 technology node and beyond. It encompasses projects on nanoscale CMOS and beyond-CMOS. Innovative concepts, technologies and device architectures are proposed—with fabrication down to the finest features, and utilising a wide spectrum of advanced deposition and processing capabilities, extensive characterization and very rigorous device modeling. This work is carried out through a network of joint processing, characterization and modeling platforms. This critical interaction strengthens European integration in nanoelectronics and will speed up technological innovation for the nanoelectronics of the next two to three decades.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between internal strategic fit and business performance, propose six classifications of internal fit using the “strategic map” managerial framework and identify how firms should best move from one classification to another and the impact that these changes will have on business performance.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical research was conducted in 12 service organisations. Based on these findings, two fit‐performance relationships were identified and the “fitness map” framework was developed showing six classifications of fit.FindingsThe alignment of operations strategy within an organisation is significantly and positively related to market share, whereas, the alignment of the service delivery system is significantly and positively related to return on sales. However, neither the alignment of the operations strategy nor the service delivery system appears to have a relationship with return on investment. Six cl...