Research on goal-setting method of rock drivage based on the balance among period, cost and quality

On the basis of the analysis on the disadvantages of the original goal-setting about rock drivage, this paper defined the ＂life cycle quality＂. With project management theory and the Cobb-Douglas function, ＂quality-cost and quality-price curve model＂ and the ＂total cost-period prediction model＂ were built. Then the goal-setting method of the balance among quality, cost and period of rock drivage was constructed by finding ＂life cycle cost＂ through ＂life cycle quality＂ using ＂quality-cost and quality-price curve model＂ and ensuring period through ＂life cycle cost＂ using ＂total cost-period prediction model＂ （hereinafter referred to as the ＂three goals balance method＂）. ＂Value contribution＂ which is the value of the contribution to a mine because of rock drivage, was found in the process of constructing the ＂quality-cost and quality-price curve model＂. An industrial test was done in coal mine A with the research results, staff footage efficiency improved by 24.24%, the period shortened by 14.3%, the ＂life cycle cost＂ dropped by 2.09%, the ＂life cycle quality price＂ improved by 3.29%, and value contribution increased by 25.3%. The result shows that the new goal method setting on the basis of coal mine profit maximization can ensure construc- tion period. At the same time, it can realize cost and quality objectives and the optimization and balance of relationship among them; rewarding excavation teams by ＂value contribution＂ can combine organizational goal with personal goal, it significantly raise the employee＇s work efficiency.

Research on Optimal Delivery Days and Customer Satisfaction Based on Quality Costs

Customer satisfaction is an important index to evaluate the competitiveness and efficiency of an enterprise. Every enterprise is confront with the subject of supplying with the customer satisfactory products at the lowest costs and the highest manufacturing speed. Regarding the delivery days of a coach company as a design variable, this paper builds up an optimization model of customer satisfaction, and suggests an effective method to reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction based on analysis and research.

VPLS Based Quality and Cost Control for Tennessee Eastman Process

Product quality and operation cost control obtain increasing emphases in modern chemical system engineering. To improve the fault detection power of the partial least square (PLS) method for quality control, a new QRPV statistic is proposed in terms of the VP (variable importance in projection) indices of monitored process variables, which is significantly advanced over and different from the conventional Q statistic. QRPV is calculated only by the residuals of the remarkable process variables (RPVs). Therefore, it is the dominant relation between quality and RPV not all process variables (as in the case of the conventional PLS) that is monitored by this new VP-PLS (VPLS) method. The combination of QRPV and T2 statistics is applied to the quality and cost control of the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process, and weak faults can be detected as quickly as possible. Consequently, the product quality of TE process is guaranteed and operation costs are reduced.

Study on Generation Cost Prediction Based on Coal Quality and Generating Unit Performance

燃料变化条件下发电成本的预测是火电厂普遍关心的重要课题。分析了影响机组性能及发电电量成本的各种煤质指标，重点研究了基于结构参数及燃烧传热机理的锅炉稳态热力性能分析计算方法，讨论了制粉系统、风机、脱硫和脱硝装置性能随燃料等运行条件的变化关系，最终提出了基于煤质和机组性能分析计算的发电电量成本预测模型并研发了“煤炭选配与机组发电成本预测系统”。该系统在我国某600MW火电厂的实际应用经验表明：提出的电量成本分析预测模型合理，研发的软件系统有助于辅助火电厂的选煤和购煤决策，优化动力配煤方案，从而提高火电厂的运行经济性。

The Application of Quality Control Circles to Reduce the Cost of Non-priced Consumables in Department of Oncology

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of using quality control circle(QCC)techniques to reduce the cost of non-priced consumables in medical oncology.Methods:Analytic statistics were compiled on the performance appraisal form.Aiming at the key points of improvement with respect to the excess cost of non-valuable consumables,the reasons were analyzed,and corresponding measures were formulated to compare the cost before and after the improvement.Results:After the QCC activity,the cost of non-priced consumables decreased from RMB 6.57/bed day to RMB 3.96/bed day.Conclusion:QCC has effectively reduced the cost of non-priced consumables in the oncology department,and it is worthy of promotion.

Quality-Oriented Facade Systems： Initial Investments vs. Global Cost Approach

An analysis applied to an existing building considering the whole service life, regulated or, if any, measured, of energy/technological upgrading action does not only require initial investments to be taken into account. Of course, such investments are significant and will have to be considered at a first stage, but it is not the only aspect to be considered. Provisions of Construction Procurement Guidance, No.7 Whole Life Costs state： ＂All procurement must be made solely on the basis of value for money in terms of the optimum combination of global costs--and not only initial investment costs--and quality to meet the user＇s requirements＂.

Pancreatic function,quality of life and costs at long-term follow-up after acute pancreatitis

AIM:To evaluate long-term endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function,quality of life and health care costs after mild acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).METHODS:Patients prospectively included in 2001-2005 were followed-up after 42(36-53)mo.Pancreatic function was evaluated with laboratory tests,the oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT),fecal elastase-1 and a questionnaire.Short Form(SF)-36,was completed.RESULTS:Fourteen patients with a history of SAP and 26 with mild acute pancreatitis were included.Plasma glucose after OGTT was higher after SAP(9.2 mmol/L vs 7.0 mmol/L,P=0.044).Diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance in fasting plasma glucose and/or 120 min plasma glucose were more common in SAP patients(11/14 vs 11/25,P=0.037).Sick leave,time until the patients could take up recreational activities and time until they had recovered were all longer after SAP(P <0.001).No significant differences in SF-36 were seen between the groups,or when comparing with age and gender matched reference groups.Total hospital costs,including primary care,follow-up and treatment of complications,were higher after SAP(median€16572 vs €5000,P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Endocrine pancreatic function was affected,especially after severe disease.SAP requires greater resource use with long recovery,but most patients regained a good quality of life.

Low-Cost Stormwater Filtration System to Improve Urban Water Quality: The Case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Urbanization in developing countries often negatively impacts water re-sources by polluting surface waters. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is currently experiencing rapid urbanization accompanied by significant water shortages, unmanaged stormwater, and increasing river water pollution. To supplement the need for non-potable water and address stormwater runoff pollution, we constructed a low cost stormwater filtration system. The filtration system is comprised of a sedimentation area followed by three gravel grain sizes arranged horizontally from coarse to medium to fine filter media. We compared the quality of pretreatment water with post-treatment water by measuring physicochemical parameters, heavy metals and nutrients. We found that the filtration system reduced turbidity by 87%, TSS by 80%, Cu by 87% and Zn by 90%. Further, it positively increased the concentration of DO by 42%. However, the filtration system did not remove nitrates and nitrites. Implementing this system at outfalls in the rapidly expanding condominium housing areas can increase residents’ supply of non-potable water and reduce the amount of polluted stormwater entering nearby streams and rivers.

Low-Cost Sensors Calibration for Monitoring Air Quality in the Federal District—Brazil

Critical situations that cannot be solved by conventional approaches (traditional air quality monitoring networks), have the possibility of being managed quickly by a wide network of portable systems with sensors. The purpose of this research was to calibrate and validate low-cost sensors. Pilot indoor and outdoor areas, in the central area of Brasilia (Brazil’s capital city) were chosen for corporative performance evaluation of the sensors. The CO at 99.999% volumetric injection method has been used in a gas test box, among two MiCS-5521 (CO/VOC) sensors, one being new and the other one with a short useful life. The number of injections adopted to each volume (from 1 ml to 6 ml) was 10, rising each sensor’s confidence interval mean. A increase of the injected volume (ml) of CO resulted in significant decrease in a resistance (Ohms), as shown by a good inverse relationship on the interaction of these two variables (r = 0.88), with good measurement accuracy, when compared to the manufacturer’s reference datasheet. Finally, a geospatial management system was built for the pollution data measured by the low-cost sensors.

An Integrated Approach to Evaluate Benefits and Costs of Wastewater and Solid Waste Management to Improve the Living Environment: The Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia

Absence of wastewater and solid waste facilities impacts the quality of life of many people in developing countries. Implementation of these facilities will benefit public health, water quality, livelihoods and property value. Additional benefits may result from the potential recovery of valuable resources from wastewater and solid waste, such as compost, energy, phosphorus, plastics and paper. Improving water quality through implementation of wastewater and solid waste interventions requires, among others, an analysis of i) sources of pollution, ii) mitigating measures and resource recovery potentials and their effect on water quality and health, and iii) benefits and costs of interventions. We present an integrated approach to evaluate costs and benefits of domestic and industrial wastewater and solid waste interventions. To support a policy maker in formulating a cost and environmentally effective approach, we quantified the impact of these interventions on 1) water quality improvement, 2) resource recovery potential, and 3) monetized benefits versus costs. The integration of technical, hydrological, agronomical and socio-economic elements to derive these three tangible outputs in a joint approach is a novelty. The approach is demonstrated using the heavily polluted Indonesian Upper Citarum River in the Bandung region. Domestic interventions, applying simple (anaerobic filter) technologies, were economically most attractive with a benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 3.2, but could not reach target water quality standards. To approach the target water quality, both advanced domestic (nutrient removal systems) and industrial wastewater treatment interventions were required, leading to a BCR of 2. We showed that benefits from selling recovered resources represent here an additional driver for improving water quality and outweigh the additional costs for resource recovery facilities. While included benefits captured some of the major items, these may have been undervalued. Based on these findings, water quality interventions justify their costs and are socially and economically beneficial.

Will Cleaner Air Reduce CorporateLabor Cost?

With China’s listed companies from 2005 to 2015 as samples, this paperinvestigates how air quality influences labor cost based on city-level air quality data. Ourstudy finds a significant negative correlation between air quality and corporate employeecompensation - such a negative correlation is particularly strong in regions whereemployees are more rights-conscious and for companies that are non-labor-intensive. Byadjusting employee compensation according to air quality, firms will increase their futurecorporate value. In addition, air quality has significantly differentiated effects on employeecompensation for firms of different ownership nature and different level of cash on hand.Further research reveals that the effects mainly stem from poor air quality. In general,extreme air quality changes will lead to a difference of 14,210 yuan in the annual averagecompensation to employees from sample companies, or a labor cost difference of around23 trillion yuan for all companies nationwide during the sample period. Our researchconclusions have broadened the scope of research on how air quality influences firmbehavior, and provide empirical reference for employee motivation and cost management,as well as empirical evidences for China’s policy principle that “lucid waters and lushmountains are invaluable assets”.

Effects of feeding rate and formula fineness degree of ring die pellet mill on mechanical property, physical quality, energy requirements, and production cost of poultry diets

The effect of a machine feeding rate(FR;1,1.5 and 2 Mg/h)and/or three levels of selected fineness degree(FD;3,5 and 7 mm)on machine performance,pellet physical parameters,required energy and production cost of three main types of broilers diets were examined in this experiment.The examined broiler diets were formulated to meet the Ross 308 strain requirements.A complete factorial design(3×3×3)was used to identify the effects of studied factors on the pellet mill machine and pellet production.The obtained results indicated that the pellet mill productivity significantly(p˂0.001)improved through increased pellet mill feeding rate level.In addition,the machine pelleting efficiency was found to be significantly affected by all studied variables and their interactions.While the total power consumption of the machine showed no variations under the impact of the tested factors or with any of their combinations.Regarding the pellet physical quality indices,all broiler diets with all selected FD and lower FR had the maximum durability and bulk density levels.Furthermore,lower feeding rates were associated with higher hardness degrees.The lowest production costs were substantially correlated with high FR and intermediate FD(5 mm).Furthermore,production costs were determined to be reduced in finisher broiler diets under different feeding rates.Moreover,manufacturing costs of finisher broiler meals were observed to decrease in several feeding rates.Overall,these findings indicate the capabilities of producing high-quality pellets and reducing the needed production costs by optimizing feeding rates to 2 Mg/h and 2 mm fineness in broiler diets.

A Transaction Cost Analysis on the Acquisition of Rice Seed by Small-Scale Farmers in ECA Region： Generating Empirical Evidence in Tanzania

The present study is an attempt to develop empirical evidence of transaction costs that rice farmers incur in production and other factors that affect farmers＇ demand for seed and estimating the proportion of costs accounted for by transaction costs due to quality seed in the formal and informal sectors, and analyze how these costs affect sourcing decision. An agricultural household model was developed from the study area. To test the model, information was collected in a survey of 387 households. There is now empirical evidence that transaction cost in rice seed acquisition in Tanzanian agriculture is an added cost to the farmer in the process of purchasing seed. Descriptive analysis shows that about 18% of the total seed cost is accounted for transaction cost, which is 2% of the total variable cost in farmers＇ rice farming. Econometric model was fitted to the household data to determine the factors hindering farmers to use purchased quality seed. Factors that were significant in influencing transaction cost include information search, seed source, farmers＇ seed arrangements, trust, and distance from farmers＇ homestead to the seed source, location and age of the farmer. We recommend that, policy amendments inclined towards reduction of the transaction costs can improve the profitability of the rice enterprise by increasing the demand for inputs.

Analysis of Road Traffic Accident Costs in Sudan Using the Human Capital Method

In this study, we used the Human Capital (HC) accident analysis method, to determine the road traffic accident costs in Sudan in two successive years (2010 and 2011) with slight modifications to the recommended and known framework in the way it handles currently and future accident cost components. We evaluated and compared the significance and impact of the economic loss caused by road traffic accidents in Sudan using detailed information on road traffic accident casualties, classified by severity level, vehicle type, and other key parameters such as discount rates and medical and insurance information for Sudan in its entirety. The total cost of road traffic accidents in Sudan in 2010 was estimated at US $391 million, which represents 0.57% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while in 2011 the cost was calculated to reach US $413 million, representing 0.62% of GDP. Findings show that the amount of accident costs is estimated to a certain extent at less than 1% of the total GDP of the country in the two estimation years, but we believe that the evaluation process used fulfilled the eligibility criteria of HC studies and that the produced values for Sudan are valid and reliable. Unit costs for each crash severity level were also estimated in the two years such as death, disability, serious injury, slight injury, and vehicle damage. Death or fatality was equal to US $38,932 and 39,508;disability was equal to US $43,113 and US $45,165;serious injury was equal to US $6963 and US $7596;slight injury was equal to US $2570 and US $3198 and vehicle damage only was equal to US $2268 and US $2579 in the assessment years 2010 and 2011, respectively.

A critique of Porter＇s cost leadership and differentiation strategies

Porter identifies high market share with cost leadership, citing GM as a successful practitioner of this strategy. However, GM became a market share leader in the American automobile industry due to a strategy of market segmentation, differentiation and a broad scope shaped during the 1920s. Porter argues that cost leadership and differentiation offer an equally viable path to competitive success. Nevertheless, a differentiation strategy based on superior quality compared to competition is more profitable than cost leadership strategy. It can lead a business to become a market share leader, and consequently even a low-cost leader. Research indicates that differentiation and cost leadership can co-exist. However, Porter insists that each generic strategy requires a different culture and a totally different philosophy. The problem is that Porter＇s generic strategies are too broad. It is not his logic that is flawed, but his basic premise that prescribes cost leadership strategy as the only route to market share leadership, and presents a narrow view of differentiation with a unique product--sold at a premium price--on the one hand, and a ＂standard, or no-frills＂ product on the other. Mintzburg （1988） says Porter＇s cost leadership strategy should be called ＂price differentiation＂： a strategy that is based on a lower price than that of the competition. He suggests that business strategy has two dimensions： differentiation and scope. Thus, setting scope aside, competitive strategy has only one component： differentiation. So, the key question is not whether to differentiate, but how？ First, make customer-perceived quality as the foundation of competitive strategy because it is far more critical to long-term success than any other factor. Second, serve the middle class by competing in the mid-price segment, offering better quality than the competition at a somewhat higher price. It is this path that can lead to market share leadership--a strategy that can be both profitable--and sustainable.

The Effect of Executive Management Support and Cost Accountant Competency on CMS Design Effectiveness and Its Consequences： An Empirical Research of Manufacturing Business in Thailand＊

The objective of this research is to examine the antecedents and consequences of cost management systems （CMS） design effectiveness of manufacturing businesses in Thailand. The effect of CMS design effectiveness on cost information quality is investigated. Moreover, the effect of cost information quality on business success is investigated. Furthermore, executive management support and cost accountant competency are assumed to become the antecedents of CMS design effectiveness. Electronics manufacturing businesses in Thailand are samples of the research. A mail survey procedure via the questionnaire was used for data collection from accounting controllers. The results indicate that CMS design effectiveness has a positive significant effect on cost information quality. Moreover, cost information quality also has a positive significant effect on business success. Additionally, both executive management support and cost accountant competency have a positive significant effect on CMS design effectiveness.

Optimal Resource Allocation and Quality of Service Prediction in Cloud

In the present scenario,cloud computing service provides on-request access to a collection of resources available in remote system that can be shared by numerous clients.Resources are in self-administration;consequently,clients can adjust their usage according to their requirements.Resource usage is estimated and clients can pay according to their utilization.In literature,the existing method describes the usage of various hardware assets.Quality of Service(QoS)needs to be considered for ascertaining the schedule and the access of resources.Adhering with the security arrangement,any additional code is forbidden to ensure the usage of resources complying with QoS.Thus,all monitoring must be done from the hypervisor.To overcome the issues,Robust Resource Allocation and Utilization(RRAU)approach is developed for optimizing the management of its cloud resources.The work hosts a numerous virtual assets which could be expected under the circumstances and it enforces a controlled degree of QoS.The asset assignment calculation is heuristic,which is based on experimental evaluations,RRAU approach with J48 prediction model reduces Job Completion Time(JCT)by 4.75 s,Make Span(MS)6.25,and Monetary Cost(MC)4.25 for 15,25,35 and 45 resources are compared to the conventional methodologies in cloud environment.

Study on Model for Assessment of Quality Management Performance of Coal Preparation Plant in CIMS

In this paper the method to calculate intangible quality cost is put forward for the first time based on the production and management characteristics of coal preparation plant. A model for assessment of quality management performance of coal preparation plant is established on the ground of quality cost. By using of CIMS integration environment the strategy to carry out the model and the application example are also offered. It provides a new and feasible way to assess performance quality management of coal preparation plant.

Memory-Type Control Charts Through the Lens of Cost Parameters

A memory-type control chart utilizes previous information for chart construction.An example of a memory-type chart is an exponentially-weighted moving average(EWMA)control chart.The EWMA control chart is well-known and widely employed by practitioners for monitoring small and moderate process mean shifts.Meanwhile,the EWMA median chart is robust against outliers.In light of this,the economic model of the EWMA and EWMA median control charts are commonly considered.This study aims to investigate the effect of cost parameters on the out-of-control average run lengthðARL_(1)Þin implementing EWMA and EWMA median control charts.The economic model was used to compute the ARL_(1) parameter.The 14 input parameters were identified and the analysis was carried out based on the one-parameter-at-a-time basis.When the input parameters change based on a predetermined percentage,the ARL_(1) is affected.According to the results of the EWMA chart,nine input parameters had an effect andfive input parameters had no effect on the ARL_(1) parameter.Further,only seven of the 14 input parameters had an effect on the ARL_(1) of the EWMA median chart.However,the effect of each input parameter on the ARL_(1) was different.Moreover,the ARL_(1) for the EWMA median chart was smaller than the EWMA chart.This analysis is crucial to observe and determine the input parameters that have a significant impact on the ARL_(1) of the EMWA and EWMA median control charts.Hence,practitioners can obtain an overview of the influence of the input parameters on the ARL_(1) when implementing the EWMA and EWMA median control charts.

An Empirical Analysis on the Relationships Between Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in the Malaysian Healthcare Services

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between service quality （SQ） and customer satisfaction （CS） in the Malaysian healthcare system. The study is significant due to the environmental pressures such as the demographic changes, the aging of populations, the emergence of new treatments and technologies, and the increased insistence on grater quality of service. A service satisfaction survey was conducted among visitors （either patients or their relatives and friends） that visited hospitals （both public and private） in 10 regions in Malaysia. A total of 1,000 questionnaires were distributed purposively to these visitors, of which 925 questionnaires were returned for further analysis, yielding a response rate of 92.5 percent. The study found that among the eight dimensions of SQ tested, safety measures were not at all significantly related to CS as compared with the other seven dimensions. On a detailed note, the quality satisfaction of customers is very much influenced by infrastructure （0.121）, clinical care （0.601）, and trustworthiness of the hospitals （0.139）. Also as noted, the time satisfaction of customers is influenced by personnel quality （0.102）, administrative procedures （0.562）, and trustworthiness of the hospitals （0.168）. Whilst the cost satisfaction of customers is influenced by administrative procedure （0.101）, corporate image （0.130）, social responsibility （0.315）, and trustworthiness of the hospitals （0.261）. On overall, the findings of this study suggest that trustworthiness and administrative procedures are the two most important factors that influence satisfaction of customers that the Malaysian healthcare industry should take a good care of.