Designing a manufacturing strategy

A manufacturing strategy is a critical component of the firm's corporate and business strategies, comprising a set of well-coordinated objectives and action programs aimed at securing a long-term, sustainable advantage over the firm's competitors. A manufacturing strategy should be consistent with the firm's corporate and business strategies, as well as with the other managerial functional strategies. We present a process and a structured methodology for designing such a manufacturing strategy. This methodology has been successfully tested in actual manufacturing environments.     

Use of demographic variables to predict overall level of performance on the Halstead-Reitan Battery.

Developed and cross-validated an equation that uses demographic variables (sex, age, education, race, occupational categories) to predict average level of performance on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery by using a sample of 491 15–81 yr old neurologically normal Ss (mean WAIS IQ 112.8). Regression analysis predicted 65% of the variance in the Average Impairment Rating (59% in cross-validation). It is concluded that demographic variables are useful in providing a context for evaluation of cognitive functioning in Ss with known or suspected brain disorders. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Desulfurization of model coal sulfur compounds by coal mineral matter and a cobalt molybdate catalyst—I.: Thiophene

A continuous-flow differential reactor was used to obtain rate equations for the reaction of thiophene and hydrogen over coal mineral matter and a commercial cobalt-molybdate catalyst (Nalcomo 471). Coal mineral matter in its least altered state was obtained by low temperature ashing of Western Kentucky ?9 and ?11 coals in an oxygen plasma. Conversion was determined from the C₄ gases separated by gas chromatography. Pretreatment of both coal mineral matter and catalyst with hydrogen sulfide increased thiophine reaction rates considerably, but introduction of the gas with reactants markedly decreased the rate.     

Aerosol-jet produced,magnetic carrageenan-gel particles: A new affinity chromatography matrix

A new method was developed to produce uniform spherical magnetic carrageenan-gel particles suitable for the affinity chromatography purification of large molecules. A sol-phase of k-carrageenan is pumped into an air jet to produce an aerosol of gel particles. The particle size can be varied by adjusting the air jet velocity. The gel particles are stable in 0-5 mol dm_?3 KCI to 190 psi. The gel particles were used to immobilize soy trypsin inhibitor for the affinity purification of trypsin. The affinity matrix was tested in a packed-bed separator, fluidized-bed separator and a magnetically-stabilized fluidized-bed separator with similar column capacity for each separator.     

Détermination du coefficient d'écoulement des gravillons

The angularity of aggregates of alluvial origin is a subject that systematically arises when one touches upon problems of intergranular friction in pavement courses and making concrete. The authors describe a test, based on measurement of the flow time of the material which tends to quantify this parameter. In particular, this test permits to determine the “indice de concassage” of the material without knowing the conditions of its elaboration and the real granularity of the material before crushing. Realization of measures and behaviour investigation of composite materials should make it possible to establish quickly new specifications in this field.     

Overview of a quality assurance/quality control compliance program consistent with FDA regulations and policies for somatic cell and gene therapies: a four year experience

Somatic cell and gene therapy involve the application of biological technologies to an individual patient through the use of living cells which provide a therapeutic benefit (Aliski, 1991). Various forms of cellular and gene therapies are being developed and evaluated in an increasing number of clinical trials for congenital and acquired disorders. The potential and progress of these therapeutic applications have resulted in an increasing effort by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop the regulatory framework under which these therapeutic approaches would insure safety and efficacy, the primary mandate of the FDA. Over five years ago Cellcor began to define the parameters, specifications, and conditions relevant to a Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program that has evolved to insure safety and maximize the efficacy of applications of the company's ex vivo technology, autolymphocyte therapy. Autolymphocyte therapy is an outpatient form of somatic cell immunotherapy based upon the infusion of T cells that have been activated ex vivo using a combination of previously generated autologous cytokines and an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. We have been able to demonstrate the feasibility for the safe, controlled, and consistent preparation and delivery of a cellular therapy by application of relevant GMP regulations. This presentation reviews aspects of this program and chronicles our experience which at present amounts to over 4400 in fusions for over 700 patients. This program provides a high degree of assurance that a cellular therapy program can be carried out in a multisite mode involving hundreds of patients through the strict adherence to cGMP as set forth in existing regulations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Determinants of parafoveal preview benefit in high and low working memory capacity readers: Implications for eye movement control.

The experiment in this article extended studies by A. W. Inhoff and K. Rayner (see record 1988-06513-001) and J. M. Henderson and F. Ferreira (see record 1990-18858-001) to determine how the printed frequency of two adjacent words influenced the benefit of having parafoveal preview of the 2nd word. High- and low-span participants (assessed by M. Daneman and P. A. Carpenter's, [see PA, Vol 66:2775] Reading Span Test) were tested to determine whether working memory capacity influenced parafoveal preview benefit. Parafoveal preview benefit was determined by an interaction of both words' frequencies in first fixation and by the 2nd word's frequency in gaze duration. However, readers were generally fixated closer to the beginning of the 2nd word when the 1st word was low frequency. When the viewing distance confound was minimized, the prior word's frequency did affect parafoveal preview benefit. Parafoveal preview benefit did not vary between reading groups. Group distributions of fixation duration provided no evidence for J. M. Henderson and F. Ferreira's fixation cutoff model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The evolution of champagne volatiles during ageing

The change in aroma composition during champagne ageing on yeast has been studied by gas chromatography and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the volatiles trapped on Porapak Q. Analyses were made on samples kept on yeasts for 2 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 16 years, respectively. A rapid increase in the level of volatiles was noted in the first period. As ageing proceeded a slow decrease of nero-lidol, isoamyl butyrate and hexyl acetate level was observed while vitispirane and benzaldehyde concentrations increased. After a 16 year period, benzaldehyde concentration increased to a level of 4 mg litre^?1.