Edward F. Watson

Effectiveness of using an enterprise system to teach process‐centered concepts in business education

This study investigates whether or not student’s performance, self‐efficacy, and satisfaction are enhanced by the use of an enterprise system as a support tool for learning business process and enterprise systems concepts. The study compares three instructional delivery methods. A traditional instruction method (lecture format plus reading/exercises) serves as the control. The second and third instructional methods are computer‐based methods. In the second method, students receive traditional lecture format with full access to hands‐on an enterprise system transaction exercise. In the third method, students receive traditional lecture format, but also have full access to simulated hands‐on an enterprise system via Web transaction exercises (i.e. ScreenCam movies). A statistically significant difference between‐instructional methods effect is found. Post hoc analysis showed that the simulated hands‐on instruction group’s performance score was significantly higher than that of the control group. There were no other statistically significant differences found, but practical considerations at this learning environment are discussed.

A simulation-based backward planning approach for order-release

The problem of order release planning for a make-toorder production facility is addressed. Traditionally, order-release planning in a multi-stage shop is performed with material requirements planning (MRP) logic. MRP assumes infinite resource capacity and component lead times that are estimated using historical data, past experience, and rules-of-thumb. These assumptions often result in infeasible plans that make the task of scheduling difficult. An approach to order release planning termed qRP (resource planning based on queuing simulation) is discussed. qRP generates order release plans via a backward bill of material explosion logic similar to MRP except that a queuing simulation model of the facility is used. The simulation model captures the appropriate level of detail to provide a more realistic picture for planning. Component lead times are time-based (dependent on the current state of the shop) and may change from period to period. Automatic factory and simulation model generators are developed to compare this dynamic lead time approach with the static approach offered by MRP. Generalizations are made for key manufacturing attributes.

Model-driven simulation of World-Wide-Web cache policies

The World Wide Web (WWW) has experienced a dramatic increase in popularity since 1993. Many reports indicate that its growth will continue at an exponential rate. This growth has created a tremendous increase in network loads and user response times. The complexity and diversity of many WWW documents (e.g., texts, images, video, audio, etc.) and the diversity of user requested WWW information require sophisticated WWW cache management strategies. Several popular WWW cache algorithms perform rather poorly and lack mathematical or empirical foundations. As a result, WWW system administrators and browser users are forced to arbitrarily define certain important cache parameters. Typically, such systems perform suboptimally averaging hit rates below 55%. Our objective in this study is to develop a cache management strategy that is based on sound theory and principles from the information sciences and that can be utilized on-line, in real-time. Our approach is to study current cache algorithms and utilize actual empirical data to develop efficient and effective self-adaptive cache management strategies to handle anticipated Web growth.

DETERMINING PROCESS CAPABILITY IN A CHEMICAL BATCH PROCESS

In the last 10 years, the emphasis on quality has permeated practically all areas of society. This has been especially true in the chemical process industry. Total quality management, statistical process control, statistical quality control, and just-in..

Business Process Automation

Integrated enterprise-wide information systems (EwIS) are a class of customizable packaged business software applications that have replaced arrays of disparate legacy systems in organizations around the world. EwIS have been the catalyst for the reengineering and automation of core business processes that has led to organization-wide transformation across most industries in corporate America. Chief among this category of packaged business software is enterprise resource planning (ERP), the back-office suite that was embraced by many industries in the 1990s as a cure for legacy system ailments and impending year-2000 (Y2K) disasters. ERP is considered a product of the evolution of an earlier manufacturing planning system referred to as manufacturing resource planning (MRPII). Whereas MRPII was focused on the factory planning environment, ERP incorporates enterprise-wide functionality and therefore is used in virtually all industries. ERP has enabled organizations to streamline, automate, and commoditize their business processes, leveraging best-of-industry practices, quite significantly over the last 15 years. Two other packages that are attributing to this phenomenon are customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM). In this chapter we review EwIS in a historical context as it has developed over the years and discuss the most important characteristics of EwIS today as well as how we expect this field to evolve.

Analyzing throughput and capacity of multiproduct batch processes

A detailed discrete-event simulation model is extensively utilized by a major chemical process facility to evaluate new plant designs. This model is further exploited using known statistical techniques to provide valuable sensitivity analysis feedback to engineers for process analysis and improvement. A framework is proposed to guide the implementation and application of multivariate statistics and simulation metamodels to analyze simulation output of multiproduct batch processes.

A COMPARISON OF THE TECHNIQUES USED TO EVALUATE THE MEASUREMENT PROCESS

The main emphasis in the chemical process industries has been on reducing manufacturing process variation. The Shewhart control chart has been the workhorse in conducting process assessment. Due to industrys familiarity with this technique, it has been..