Bob White

Materials-Based Occupation versus Imagery-Based Occupation versus Rote Exercise: A Replication and Extension

Historically, occupational therapists have embedded exercise within occupation to enhance performance. In a recent study Lang, Nelson, and Bush (1992) compared the effects of materials-based occupation (kicking a balloon), imagery-based occupation (imagining kicking a balloon), and rote exercise on the number of exercise repetitions performed. This study extends that study by measuring the vertical distance and speed of the movement by means of Motion Analysis, Inc. digitization of videotape, in addition to exercise repetitions. The subjects included 24 women and 4 men between 76 and 98 years of age residing in residential facilities. All of the subjects experienced the three conditions but in different orders. After a statistically significant analysis of variance across the three conditions (p<.001), the Tukey procedure determined that the materials-based occupation condition elicited significantly more repetitions than the other two conditions. The difference between the imagery-based occupation and rote exercise was not statistically significant. Analyses of variance indicated no significant difference between conditions for both the vertical distance variable (p=.074) and the speed variable (p=.61).

Quality and optimum parameter selection in metal cutting

Abstract In many metal cutting operations, production parameters are treated as decision variables that can be determined based on some technological as well as optimization criteria. Parameters such as speed, feed rate, and depth of cut affect the quality of the product, its machining time, and overall machining costs. This paper deals with optimization of a single item in single-stage and multi-stage production systems, and determines the optimal cutting parameters under various evaluation criteria. In particular, the minimum machining time, minimum machining cost, and maximum profit rate criteria are discussed. Considering cutting speed as the only decision variable, we concluded that quality constrains the optimal cutting speed to a certain range in an attempt to produce higher-quality products in an optimum time. For multi-stage production, optimization techniques were used to determine the optimal speed for each production stage, and the optimal cycle time. To study the effect of introducing the element of quality into the determination of optimum cutting parameters, a comparison was also made with existing models.

Exact optimal solution for facility layout: deciding which pairs of locations should be adjacent

Abstract This paper describes the development of a mathematical model for determining optimum block layout systems utilizing 0–1 integer programming as the optimization component. The objective function is to maximize a weighted sum of adjacent departments. The selected weight is a measure of the flow of material between departments. Developing a set of constraints, and changing the objective function to minimization of adjacency of departments with no interaction, it is shown that the procedure is capable of determining the optimal location in small size problems. To apply it to larger size problems, additional constraints are developed that help reduce the number of iterations for the integer program to converge to an optimal solution.

Comparison of solution procedures to the facility location problem

Abstract This paper describes a mathematical model for determining optimum location for N facilities of the same size so as to maximize the sum of the material flow between the adjacent facilities. The model is based on a 0–1 integer program formulation of the problem which may produce an optimal, but infeasible solution, followed by a heuristic which begins with the 0–1 integer solution and generates a feasible solution. The procedure is capable of generating good solutions for medium-size problems. For location problems of size N = 4 to N = 16, the performance of the procedure in terms of the CPU time and the degree of closeness of the final solution to the optimal (yet infeasible) solution is measured and conclusions are drawn. The procedure is an addition to the existing pool of mathematical models for the facility layout problem.

Combining ergonomics and work measurement for job analysis

Abstract This presentation discusses a program that combines the benefits of ergonomic analysis and an established predetermined time system (MODAPTS) to identify and reduce the risks of cumulative trauma disorders.

Model for robot motion performance

Experimental studies were conducted on the Prab Model E, General Electric P-50, and Cincinnati T3 robots to develop a model to predict performance times for motions in the X, Y, and Z axes. Based on this analysis, it was determined that some robots have a definite point where the programmed velocity does not affect the time to move from one point to another.

Using computer controlled physical models to analyze computer integrated manufacturing systems

Abstract It is usually difficult to design and install complex computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems without a large amount of time spent on debugging. In many cases miniature computer controlled physical models can provide information that reduces the time spent in the design and installation of larger systems. This paper describes how miniature physical models can be used to help industrial engineers design and install CIM systems.