Gad Vitner

Project Control: Literature Review

A project control system aims to minimize the gap between project planning and project execution in order to achieve project aims, i.e., cost, time, and content. This paper reviews the current literature on project control systems. The first part provides an overview of the nature and importance of project control. The second part deals with current project control tools and techniques, followed by a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of these systems.

Optimal allocation of work in assembly lines for lots with homogenous learning

This paper deals with the problem of allocating work to the stations of an assembly line to minimize the makespan of a lot of products with a low overall demand. There is no buffer permitted in between the stations, and the line operates under homogeneous learning (i.e., under the same learning rate for all stations). We show that in the presence of learning, the optimal makespan requires imbalanced allocation of work to stations. The level of savings in the optimal makespan value due to the imbalanced loading of work over the balanced loading case are demonstrated as a function of the value of the learning constant, number of stations on the line as well as lot size. These savings can be quite significant under the case of low overall demand.

MPCS: Multidimensional Project Control System

Abstract Project control systems often fail to support management in achieving their global project goals. This paper propose a MPCS (Multidimensional Project Control System) as a quantitative approach for quantifying deviations from the planning phase to the execution phase with respect to the global project control specification (GPCS). The project current state must be translated into yield terms which are expressed as a gap vector that represents the multidimensional deviation from the global project control specification. The systematic multidimensional project control is described and illustrated by a computational example.

Work allocation to stations with varying learning slopes and without buffers

Abstract In this paper, we address the problem of allocating the work elements, belonging to the products of a lot, to the stations of an assembly line so as to minimize the makespan. The lots that are processed on the assembly line are characterized by a low overall demand for each product. There is no buffer permitted in between the stations, and the line operates under learning. In particular, the stations’ learning slopes are assumed to be different. We present a procedure to determine the optimal assignments of the workload to the stations under learning variability and show that it considerably affects these assignments.

ISO 9001 in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

PURPOSE The aim of this paper is to present the process for approving and certifying a neonatal intensive care unit to ISO 9001 standards. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The process started with the department heads decision to improve services quality before deciding to achieve ISO 9001 certification. Department processes were mapped and quality management mechanisms were developed. Process control and performance measurements were defined and implemented to monitor the daily work. A service satisfaction review was conducted to get feedback from families. FINDINGS In total, 28 processes and related work instructions were defined. Process yields showed service improvements. Family satisfaction improved. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS The paper is based on preparing only one neonatal intensive care unit to the ISO 9001 standard. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The case study should act as an incentive for hospital managers aiming to improve service quality based on the ISO 9001 standard. ORIGINALITY/VALUE ISO 9001 is becoming a recommended tool to improve clinical service quality.

Final-year projects as a major element in the IE curriculum

This paper presents a multi-perspective view of the final-year project of an industrial engineering and management (IEM) department. The final year project is a major element of a 4-year curriculum within any engineering discipline. Such a project gives the student an opportunity to use and implement methods, techniques and tools that he or she studied during the entire course of studies. The project is conducted in a working organisation of any type under the supervision of the academic staff. This paper presents observations from 10 years of experience during which 172 projects were performed within production and service organisations. In this paper, we present the final-year project methodology to achieve its aim and objectives supported with an assessment process to ensure professional performances.

Productivity of voluntary organizations: the case of Counseling Services for the Elderly (CSE) of the National Insurance Institute (NII) in Israel

Purpose – To review the voluntary operations of Counseling Services for the Elderly, which has operated since 1972 under the National Insurance Institute of the State of Israel.Design/methodology/approach – The paper considers the elderly population and its characteristics and the gradual development of the volunteering counseling services. The characteristics of the volunteers and their motivation in this work are also discussed. The training that volunteers undergo is constantly being updated and upgraded, and details are provided that cover home visits, consultations and special projects.Findings – Currently, Counseling Services for the Elderly operates 4,278 volunteers in 21 branches across the country, supporting thousands of the elderly on a relatively low budget of less than

Service Management of Special Care Units: Lessons Learned in Manufacturing

3 million for 2003.Originality/value – The paper presents a unique voluntary service that is fully integrated into national welfare for the elderly. The service meets the objectives of assistance to the elderly while helping t...

Optimal layout and work allocation in batch assembly under learning effect

Special care units express an increasing interest in adopting methods for quality management, previously developed and implemented in manufacturing firms. The paper examines the analogy between service management in special care units and the management of manufacturing processes. This paper is based on the authors’ implementation of ISO 9001:2000 in a neonatal intensive care unit. It maps the major processes and entities that create the treatment outcome, conducting a focused comparison between healthcare organizations/special care units and manufacturing organizations. To verify the performance of various major processes in healthcare the authors recommend the use of the Yield performance measurement. The literature review shows that a comparison between manufacturing and service organizations is both useful and valid even though service organizations differ from manufacturing organizations. Despite the complexities of treating humans and the level of uncertainty that goes hand in hand with health care decision making, strict product and/or customer treatment identification and specifications can raise the level of success in achieving positive results.

Multidimensional project control system implementation methodology

This research investigates the effect of systems configuration (layout) and work allocation on the makespan of batches of different products characterised by significant learning. Frequently, in science-based industries the layout of the batch assembly could be relatively easily setup separately for each batch, where each batch contains different type of products. The research aims at finding guidelines for configurations and work allocations that will minimise the makespan for a given number of workers. Analytical expression of the makespan is developed and analysed.