Increase Operational Efficiency Research Articles

Assessing Effects of Operational Efficiency on Pollutant Emissions of Nonroad Diesel Construction Equipment

Operational efficiency is a simple way of addressing nonproductive time of diesel-powered construction equipment that performs a construction activity and is defined as the ratio of nonidle activity time to total activity time including idle time. The effects of diesel equipment operational efficiency on total emissions for construction activities have not been fully established; thus a fundamental understanding of operational efficiency is needed to evaluate the effects on total pollutant emissions of diesel-powered construction equipment. This paper presents a methodology to assess the effects of equipment operational efficiency on the total pollutant emissions of construction equipment performing construction activities. This methodology estimates the percentage of additional pollutants emitted due to a reduced operational efficiency, based on the ratio of idle to nonidle emissions. Results for a case study of six bulldozers indicate that pollutant emissions, in addition to the minimum amount required to complete a specific quantity of work, increase as operational efficiency decreases. This conclusion allows the savings resulting from increased efficiency to be determined. Furthermore, additional pollutant emissions for a specified operational efficiency increase as the ratio of idle to nonidle emissions increases. The ratio of idle to nonidle emissions varies according to pollutant and is approximately 1:2 for hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, 1:5 for nitrogen oxides, and 1:7 for particulate matter.

Exploratory Research of Activity-Based Costing Method Implementation in Serbia

The successful organization is the one that is able to improve quality, lower costs and increase efficiency of operations, and eliminate different activities and products that incur losses. To achieve this, organizations implement different costing systems. A costing system is a system that helps the management of an organisation with planning and decision making. This system plays an important role in providing accurate cost information about the products and services provided for clients. Many organizations shift their focus from conventional or traditional costing systems to an increasingly popular costing methodology system that is Activity Based Costing system. This article specifies characteristics and reasons for implementation of this method, and defines establishment of this method in Serbia.

Progression of Strategies Used by a Healthcare System Preparing for Healthcare Reform: Past and Present

Strategies used by CaroMont Health to improve quality, decrease cost, and increase operational efficiency have ultimately aligned our system to address the present and future challenges confronting healthcare. Beginning with To Err is Human (Institute of Medicine 1999) and continuing with the healthcare reform bill of 2010, CaroMont Health has responded to challenges by striving to provide excellent patient care in a cost-effective manner. In this journey, CaroMont has discovered several key success factors essential in navigating this transformation. Our strategies reinforce the fact that improved quality and patient outcomes will ultimately reduce overall healthcare costs. In an ongoing collaboration with the Premier healthcare alliance, CaroMont Health has evolved from focusing on process metrics to delivering value-based care. CaroMont is now positioned to enter the new world of value-based delivery leading to accountability for community health.

압력용기 노즐 용접부 절삭 가우징 장치 개발

후판의 맞대기 용접 시 용접부의 이면에 홈을 파는 가우징 작업은 숙련된 용접 작업과 그라인딩 작업을 필요로 한다. 기존의 가우징은 산소 아크 용접기를 이용하여 제거하고자 하는 부분을 용융시킨 뒤 고압 산소로 불어내는 방식으로 제거된 분진이 작업환경을 열악하게 하며 제거된 부분을 다시 그라인딩 작업으로 평탄화하는 후처리 작업이 필요하기 때문에 생산성을 크게 떨어뜨리고 있다. 이를 절삭에 의한 기계적 제거 작업으로 바꾸어 기존 용접법에 의한 가우징 작업의 단점을 보완하고 생산성을 향상시키고자 절삭 가우징 장치를 개발하고 실험하였다. 개발된 절삭 가우징 장치는 분당 재료제거량이 <TEX>$13,565mm^3/min$</TEX>으로 기존 용접법에 의한 가우징에 비해 작업효율이 약 3배 개선되었다. 또한 가공인건비가 1/3 수준으로 감소되는 것을 기대할 수 있으며 소음과 분진으로 인한 작업환경문제가 크게 개선됨을 확인하였다. Gouging is defined as the removal of weld metal and base metal from the opposite of a partially welded joint to facilitate complete joint penetration. Since the work by current method needs skillful welding and grinding, there is a limit on the increase of operation efficiency. Noise and dust from the weld gouging also deteriorate the work place and cause environmental problems. In this study, the gouging work by cutting method is proposed to overcome the defects from weld gouging such as low productivity, severe noise, dense dust, and so on. The developed cutting gouging system removes material as much as <TEX>$13,565mm^3/min$</TEX>, and enlarge the labor productivity as three times compared to that by weld gouging method.

Optimisation of traceability and operations planning: an integrated model for perishable food production

The food industry has been under pressure regarding improving food safety, implementing efficient risk management, and managing quality ‘from farm to fork’. Individual parties in a food supply chain must make appropriate strategic and operational adjustments, enhance product quality and increase operational efficiency and profits. In this paper, an optimisation model is developed integrating traceability initiatives with operation factors to achieve desired product quality and minimum impact of product recall in an economic manner. A case study with numerical example is provided to illustrate the theory. Sensitivity analyses are conducted. A comparison between the proposed model and the existing model operating in the case company is also presented.

Monetary policy stabilisation, changes in the banking system and interest rate pass-through: the Czech Republic 1999–2006

This article deals with the relationship between market and client interest rates in the period of inflation stabilisation and banking system transformation in the Czech Republic in 1999–2006. It analyses the character of short-run and long-run equilibrium of the transmission of market interest rates to lending and deposit interest rates. In the theoretical part crucial characteristics of the banking system in transition countries and their effects on interest rate dynamics are discussed. These are the strong position of large state-owned banks, limited power of non-banks, low elasticity of demand for bank products, and high demand for investment and consumption. The empirical analysis shows different behaviour of client interest rates in the short and long run and a significant impact of changing characteristics of the bank sector (growth of competition, reduction in credit risk and an increase in operational efficiency) on the stability of the relationship between market and client interest rates.

Modeling of a Solar Seawater Desalination Plant for Automatic Operation Purposes

Desalination plants play a fundamental role in the fight against fresh water shortage in places with seawater availability. On the other hand, optimization of industrial processes is an important goal in order to increase operation efficiency and to minimize costs. This paper deals with an experimental hybrid solar-gas desalination system designed, built, and operated at the Plataforma Solar de Almería (Spain) under the framework of a European R&amp;D project. This desalination system, based on a multieffect distillation process, is partially powered by a low temperature static solar collector field of a compound parabolic concentrator type. With the aim of performing an optimal operation of the plant working with the solar resource, process dynamics have to be studied and modeled. This paper shows control-oriented low complexity models for the solar field and thermal storage subsystems as well as a model of the distillate production rate depending on process temperature. These models are validated with real data with the objective of being useful in the evaluation of optimal operating points, the design of operational procedures, and the establishment of adequate control references to maximize the use of the solar resource and to improve process efficiency.

Evaluation of a MF membrane system composed of pre coagulation-sedimentation and chlorination for water reuse

In this research, we investigated the variation of transmembrane pressure and permeate water quality in pre-coagulation and sedimentation with iron based coagulant, and chlorination of feed water for PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) based MF membrane filtration. NaCIO was fed to the membrane module at a dosage of 0.5 mg/L and maintained during filtration. To observe the effect of raw water, three types of raw and processed waters, including river surface water, coagulated water and coagulated-settled water, were employed. In the case of river surface water, the transmembrane pressure increased abruptly in 500 hours operation. On the contrary, no significant increase in transmembrane pressure was observed for coagulated water and coagulated-settled water for 1200 hours operation. The turbidity of permeate was lower than the detection limit for all applied waters. The removal efficiency for humic substances in coagulated water and coagulated-settled water was approximately ten times higher than that in surface river water. And, the removal efficiency for TOC and DOC was approximately two times higher than that in surface river water. From the results of the operation, it can be observed that it is possible to maintain stable operation at 0.9 m(3)/m(2)-day filtration flux through a combination of pre-coagulation and pre-chlorination. However, the water quality of permeate was the best when the pre-coagulation-sedimentation process was combined with pre-chlorination. With respect to fouling reduction and operation efficiency increase in membrane filtration, the pre-coagulation/sedimentation process is a promising alternative.

Airport Privatisation: Ownership Structure and Financial Performance of European Commercial Airports

After a discourse on commercialisation and privatisation in the sector, this paper assesses the financial performance of 35 European commercial airports for the decade 1990 to 2000 by comparing those in mixed public-private and fully private ownership to those in public possession. The outcomes of partial factor productivity (PFP), financial ratio (FRA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) are evaluated, in order to investigate differences attributable to the degree of privatisation. Changes in performance after a change in ownership structure are reviewed. Finally, airport privatisation is put into perspective. The analysis of sample data reveals economically meaningful and statistically significant differences between publicly owned and privatised airports. The latter group is not a homogeneous one but also shows structural differences between partially and fully privatised companies. The major differences lie in operating efficiency, asset utilisation or capital productivity and capital structure. Whereas privatised airports operate more cost-efficiently, publicly owned airports generate comparatively higher ratios of unit revenue and work load units to total assets. Their capital expenditure to total revenue ratio is lower and the asset turnover is higher. In terms of operating margin, the revenue/expenditure ratio and the ratio of cash flow to revenue, partially and fully privatised airport companies rank higher on average than those in the public sector. Their increased operating efficiency does not, however, translate into significantly higher returns on shareholders' funds. Regarding capital structure and financing of productive assets, publicly owned airports assume more debt relative to their respective equity, which results in considerably higher gearing and financial leverage, compensating for the comparatively low return rate on assets.

Determining negotiating ranges for EDI-induced transaction and float cost reductions

Electronic data interchange (EDI) mechanisms reduce transaction times, increase operational efficiency, and forge supply-chain links that tie customers and suppliers together. EDI is part of a business strategy that affects return on assets by concentrating on reductions in working capital investments. One element of EDI is the ability to negotiate and share the benefits of transaction and float cost efficiencies resulting from the implementation of automated payment systems. This paper provides a series of formulas designed to calculate the effective negotiating range to share transaction and float cost reductions between customer and supplier.

Logistics Reforms and Operational Performance of the National Police Service in Vihiga County, Kenya: Application of the Police Escort Rationalization

Security is one of the pillars required for long-term funding and sustenance of current ventures. Logistic reforms are key in dealing with threats to barriers that hinder operational performance. The core functions of any government is to ensure protection of life and property of its citizens. This study sought to establish the influence of logistic reforms on the operational performance of the national police service in Vihiga County, Kenya, an application of the police escort rationalization. This study was guided by the theory of replacement. The study used positivism research philosophy in choosing the methods, research instruments and techniques. A descriptive survey research design was employed where primary was collected. A target population of 740 police officers was used, and from this number, a sample size of 260 respondents was computed through Yamane’s formula. Questionnaires were used to collect primary. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used. The results of the regression analysis showed that police escort rationalization had a positive significant influence on operational performance with coefficients of 0.210, and p values of 0.000, which are less than 0.05. The study concluded that improvement of police escort rationalization, improve the operational performance by increasing operation efficiency of police service in Vihiga County. The findings have a direct benefits on managers of police services and policy makers to enable them put strategies in place to improve the logistic reforms on operational performance. The study recommended that management of Vihiga police service should implement the police logistic reforms to enhance and improve the operational performance of the National Police Service in Vihiga County.

A note on banking efficiency in Portugal, New vs. Old banks

Following entry into the European Community in 1986, Portugal transformed rapidly its repressed banking system with deregulation, the opening of borders, the granting of new banking licenses, and privatization. In a more competitive banking system, one would expect a priori an increase in operational efficiency. This paper attempts to quantify the magnitude of efficiency gains over the years 1990–1995. Moreover, the paper documents the relative efficiency performance of new domestic banks. Not hampered by a legacy of inefficiency from the past, they could operate nearer the efficiency frontier. The case of Portugal provides unique information on the joint effect of deregulation and the granting of new banking licenses on the change in operational efficiency of a previously repressed banking system.

Market Power in Deregulated Wholesale Electricity Markets: Issues in Measurement and the Cost of Mitigation

An analysis of three recently deregulated markets—California, PJM, and New York—finds that none of them can be regarded as highly competitive, contrary to what conventional measures of market power indicate. Auctions for generation are unlikely to be competitive and costly steps will be needed to mitigate market power, likely eroding any benefits from increased operating efficiency in deregulated markets. Thus, FERC and state legislators need to reexamine the desirability of deregulating the generation portion of the industry.

Factors in Productivity and Unit Cost for Advanced Machine Guidance

This paper presents an initial step in seeking to understand just how the adoption of advanced machine guidance technology, especially global positioning systems, leads to improvements in performance by the earthwork contractor. Two grading scenarios and one dozing scenario are examined based upon site observations and interviews with field personnel. Analysis demonstrated that productivity and unit cost improvements result from a reduction in surveying support, grade checking, an increase in operational efficiency, and a decrease in the number of passes. These results are in agreement with published results of benefits of 3D guidance over 2D guidance.

Food safety and assurance: the role of information technology

The dairy industry is under pressure to improve product security, implement efficient risk management and rapid response capabilities, and manage quality ‘from trough to table’ to achieve full, verifiable traceability. In order to invest proactively in the future of the industry, individual processors must reassess their handling of quality and traceability data for strategic and competitive success, make appropriate physical configuration and operational adjustments, and deploy readily available technological tools to meet legislative and consumer demands, enhance product quality and increase operational efficiency and profits.

Vacuum ultraviolet to visible emission from hydrogen plasma: Effect of excitation frequency

The expanding use of low pressure (p⩽10 Torr), high frequency plasmas in various applications has stimulated research toward increased operating efficiency. In order to optimize a particular plasma process, the operator can vary several “external” (operator-set) parameters, among which the excitation frequency f has received relatively little attention in the literature over the years, probably due to the difficulties encountered in designing meaningful frequency-dependent experiments. These difficulties can be avoided by the use of surface-wave discharges (SWDs), which possess great flexibility: a very broad (continuous) range of excitation frequencies, and wide ranges of operating pressures and plasma densities, under noncritical, almost perfect impedance matching with the power source. In earlier work in these laboratories, we have examined the f dependence of plasma deposition and etching experiments; the present experiments have been designed to investigate the f dependence more “directly” by turning to the plasma through its optical emission. The vacuum ultraviolet to visible emission from SWD plasmas in pure hydrogen or 7%H2 in Ar mixture has been investigated over a broad range of excitation frequency (50⩽f⩽200 MHz) using a spectrophotometer with a known transfer function. The observed f dependence of emission intensity (atomic lines and molecular bands) as f is increased is interpreted in the case of the pure H2 discharge in terms of changes from a nonstationary to a stationary electron energy distribution function (EEDF) while, in the 7%H2/Ar mixture, it is related to changes in the form of the stationary EEDF.

Guide to smooth, clean operation of conveyors in organic finishing plants

The use of a systems approach to conveyor maintenance that includes selection of proper lubricants, automatic lubrication equipment, effective on-line cleaning equipment, and an effective service program will result in increased operating efficiency and improved product quality due to reduced contamination. And remember maintenance doesn't cost, it pays.

Processing of zero load in weight airdynamic experiment on scale 6KETB in wind tunnel ТАД-2

Proposed is a method of zero load approximation on scale 6KETB in wind tunnel ТАД-2 of Kyiv International University of Civil Aviation which guarantees the increase of operation efficiency of the airdynamic experiment and reduction of experiment time by 30-50 %. Considered is the load hysteresis due to angle change of placing the object of investigation. It is proved that its influence on the measurement error can be neglected

Formation of Multicharged Ions in Plasma of ECR Discharge Sustained by Powerful Millimeter Wave Radiation in a Mirror Trap1

Essential increase of operation efficiency of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) multi-charged ion (MCI) sources (that is the increase of the average charge number and current of ion beams) is connected with possibility to achieve more dense plasma and to achieve so called quasi-gasdynamic regime of the plasma confinement in mirror traps using RF radiation with higher frequency. Results of experimental investigation of ion charge state distribution in a pulsed ECR source of MCI with pumping by millimeter wave radiation of powerful gyrotron are presented in the paper. Millimeter wave radiation with maximum power W=130 kW, frequency f=37.5 GHz and pulse duration up to 1.5 ms is used in the experiments. The charge state distribution maximum corresponded to argon charge (+13)-(+15). Total ion saturation current density of the probe achieved 2 A/cm2.

Ion charge state distribution in plasma of electron cyclotron resonance discharge sustained by powerful millimeter wave radiation

An essential increase of operation efficiency of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) multiply charged ion (MCI) sources (that is the increase of the average charge number and current of ion beams) is related to the possibility of achieving more dense plasma and transferring to the so-called quasi-gas dynamic regime of the plasma confinement in mirror traps by pumping with higher frequency. The first results of this experimental investigation of ion charge state distribution in a pulsed ECR source of MCI with pumping by millimeter wave radiation of a powerful gyrotron are presented in the article. Millimeter wave radiation with maximum power W=130 kW, frequency f=37.5 GHz, and pulse duration up to 1.5 ms is used for the experiments. The charge state distribution maximum corresponded to argon charge (+11)-(+12). Total ion saturation current density of the probe achieved 2 A/cm2.