Simulation of a PCB assembly line: A modified JIT approach

In this paper, a simulation model of an existing printed circuit board (PCB) assembly line is developed in an attempt to identify strategies which tend to improve the system performance. The model is based on the concept of the JIT (Just-In-Time) production approach. Parameters investigated includes sequencing rules, lot sizes, number of Kanbans used, and number of PCB types.     

Toward an Understanding of Consumer Attitudes on Online Review Usage

ABSTRACT

With the rapid e-commerce growth and changes in consumers’ behaviors, many businesses are forced to adapt their business model to match their target customers’ needs. To provide consumers with more product details and increase their confidence in making online purchases, online businesses offer an online review as an alternative to physically interacting with a product. Although consumers have become familiar with the use of online product reviews, many aspects of user behavior toward the usage of online reviews are still not well understood. This study explores the factors underlying the acceptance of consumers’ online review usage when considering purchasing an item. The study results provide insight into the factors that affect customers’ use of online reviews prior to a purchase. This study furthers the body of knowledge that deals with online reviews and system usage, providing results that allow e-commerce businesses to adapt their business model to better fit consumers’ expectations.     

Supporting managers' internal control evaluations: an expert system and experimental results

Internal control issues are of significance to entities to assure the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of the financial reports. Although management is responsible for maintaining an effective internal control system, the literature contains no example of a system devised to aid managers detecting internal control weaknesses. This type of system might prove to be highly beneficial. Nonetheless, it is not obvious that this system would yield positive results because managers may not be willing or feel comfortable using it. This study reports on the development of such system, plus empirical testing of its value and managers' perceptions on its usefulness.     

Effect of learning in JIT production system: A simulation experiment on microcomputer

In this study, we investigate the effect of learning in a Just-In-Time production environment. A simulation model is developed to evaluate the system performance when there is a bottleneck due to unbalance in processing times. We then analyze the situation in which the processing time at the bottleneck station can be reduced through learning. The model identifies the minimum number of Kanbans to be used at various production rates in order to attain the specified production level.     

Cloud Computing: An Examination of Factors Impacting Users’ Adoption

With a rapid growth in technology, cloud computing has become increasingly popular among individual users and businesses around the world. This computing technology continues to attract attention in both academic and business settings. The popularity of cloud computing is due to its ability to provide faster on-demand infrastructure, self-service, and independent ability to contribute to, and access, resources. Despite many potential benefits of cloud computing usage, there are certain aspects that have prohibited some consumers to accept this technology and remain reserved toward its adoption. There are some crucial factors to consider before cloud computing can be accepted entirely by the individual, larger business, or academic groups. This study thus aims at investigating how cloud computing is perceived by potential users and which factors have a tendency to encourage or discourage them to adopt cloud computing.     

Measurement of malondialdehyde by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method has been developed to measure malondial-dehyde (MDA) in biological systems. MDA was reacted with 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) to minimize formation of artifacts. Initial separation of the TBA-MDA adduct was accomplished by isobutanol extraction. Further elimination and separation of interfering substances was achieved by high performance liquid chromatography. The mobile phase consisted of a 1∶1 (v/v) mixture of methanol and water with 0.05% (w/v) tetrabutyl ammonium dihydrogen phosphate added as an ion pairing reagent. At a flow rate of 1 ml/min, the TBA-MDA adduct was eluted from a 15-cm, c-18, reversed phase column in approximately 4.9 min. The TBA-MDA adduct was quantitated with a fluorescence detector set at 515 nm excitation and 550 nm emission. Using this method, picomole quantities of MDA can be easily detected in plasma and liver samples.     

Process and reality in information systems benefit analysis

The identification of the potential benefits of a proposed information system project is a very challenging and important task. However, little research describes how this is actually carried out. The objective of this research was to answer the core question: how do organizations identify the expected benefits of proposed IS projects? To accomplish this objective, the authors studied 24 projects by interviewing 20 subjects from 13 organizations. Based on these interviews, a model of the benefit identification process was formulated showing it to be a set of loosely defined, overlapping, iterative activities. The study suggests that, despite great uncertainty about the potential benefits, proposers were compelled to use the benefit identification process to persuade the organization to be committed to the project. This effort to build commitment under great uncertainty may contribute to the overstatement or understatement of expected benefits. The study offers managers an understanding of the process and guidance for carrying it out. It also suggests that future researchers validate the model, use it to help identify best practices and test related hypotheses.     

Urinary excretion of meperidine and its metabolites

The urine of male and female mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, and dogs, given meperidine hydrochloride, 20--40 mg/kg ip, was analyzed by GLC for meperidine, normeperidine, p-hydroxymeperidine, and total (free and conjugated) meperidinic and normeperidinic acids. More than 90% of the excreted drugs was found in the 24-hr urine. Meperidine was observed in the urine of mice, rats, guinea pigs, and cats, but only a trace amount was observed in the urine of rabbits and dogs. Normeperidine, p-hydroxymeperidine (except in the mice), and total meperidinic and normeperidinic acids were observed in all species. All of the species studied have the capacity to N-demethylate meperidine to normeperidine and to hydrolyze meperidine and normeperidine to their respective acids. The male has a higher N-demethylating activity that the female with the exception of mice. Ester hydrolysis is a major metabolic pathway for meperidine metabolism.