Tragic, life-changing, and fatal incidents are a reality on large-scale, civil construction projects. Despite a decline following the enforcement of the 1971 Occupational Safety and Health Act, serious and fatal incidents on heavy construction projects remain higher than that of the active military and have not declined in any notable way in the past decade. Industrial-organizational literature suggested a lack of applied testing for the well-developed theory of authentic leadership (AL) to impact safety outcomes. This quasi-experiment combined the constructs of authentic leadership with safety climate perception as quantifiable measurement of potential safety outcomes in the workplace. The research question focused on whether AL would impact safety climate, thus, reducing injury and fatalities on the job. The researcher examined 1 of the 4 segments that comprised a $1 billion freeway improvement project. Perceptions of 108 field craft personnel were collected on a Likert-type instrument before and after their supervisors attended a brief AL workshop. Utilizing an ordinal scale, statistical significance was calculated pre- and postintervention by computing a Mann-Whitney U for independent samples. Significant improvement was found following the supervisor workshop. The reduction in incidents, when compared to the jobsite's history and the other 3 jobsite segments associated with the highway improvement project, suggests a potential for this framework to support positive social change, that is, to reduce the human cost and suffering associated with industrial accidents.

This dissertation aims to provide efficient process defect identification methods for advanced manufacturing environments using AI tools/algorithms with limited labeled data availability. Asset and equipment quality become highly sensitive in sustaining virtuous performance and safety in various manufacturing domains. Internally generated process imperfections degrade finished products' optimum performance and mechanical attributes. The evolution of big data and intelligent sensing systems leverage data-driven defect identification in advanced manufacturing environments. Widely adopted data-driven process anomaly detection methods assume that the training (source) and testing (target) data follow the same distribution and that labeled data are available in both source and target domains. However, the source and target sometimes follow different distributions in real-world manufacturing environments as the diversity of industrialization processes leads to heterogeneous data collection under different production conditions. Such a case significantly limits the performance of AI algorithms when distribution discrepancy exists. Moreover, labeling data is typically costly and time-consuming, signifying that identifying process defects is limited by rare labeled data. Also, more realistic industrial applications incorporate fewer defect data than ordinal data and unforeseen target defects, leading to complications in understanding the process behaviors in various aspects. Therefore, we introduced methodological principles, including unsupervised grouping, transfer learning, data augmentation, and ensemble learning to address these limitations in advanced operations. First, rapid porosity prediction methodology for additive manufacturing (AM) processes under varying process conditions is developed by leveraging knowledge transfer from existing process conditions. Second, designing an effective classification method concerning time series signals to advance predictive maintenance (PdM) for machine state prediction is discussed. Finally, a data augmentation-based stacking classifier approach is developed to enhance the precision of predicting porosity, even when limited porosity data is available.

The purpose of this study was to identify faculty perceptions of the personal and student benefits deriving from participation in faculty development activities. Faced with the challenge of keeping up-to-date with technology in order to keep their students up-to-date, faculty participate in many different activities. The perceived effectiveness of faculty development activities varies depending on the knowledge and interest of each faculty member. This study was descriptive, using a two-part survey to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. First, a mail survey was used to collect data on the perceptions of faculty members regarding 12 professional development activities. The survey was sent out to 407 faculty in Business Technology and Engineering and Industrial Technology at the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Second, selected participants were contacted for a follow-up phone interview which elucidated some of the information from the mail survey. The surveys were designed based upon a review of the literature and through interviews with professionals. The survey was pilot tested on community college faculty. Major findings from the study included the following: 1. The three most participated in activities were training in computer skills, professional conferences, and college-sponsored presentations and workshops. 2. Professional conferences and college-sponsored presentations and workshops were the highest rated in terms of participation, but rated the lowest in terms of personal and student benefit. 3. Females, on average, participate in more activities and have higher ratings for personal and student benefit. 4. Many faculty reported that funding for professional development activities is limited and that they have a limited amount of time to participate in activities. It is not uncommon for a faculty member to pay out of their own pocket for a worthwhile activity. 5. Activities that deal the most with learning new technologies, such as training in computer skills, retraining for fields in technology, and internships in business or industry, were given the highest ratings of personal and student benefit. Based on the findings several recommendations and suggestions for future research were made: 1. Additional research is needed on the actual measures of student benefit, not just perceptions 2. Community college faculty need to carefully select professional development activities that will benefit not only themselves and their student as well. 3. Community college administrators should encourage faculty members to participate in internships in business and industry. Administrators need to do all they can to provide funding for these activities. 4. Additional research is needed on the differences in how males and females rate their perceptions. / Ph. D.

A comparison analysis conducted via COMPASS life cycle analysis software has indicated that a one-way crate design, rather than a reusable crate design, is in fact the more environmentally friendly packaging system. These results can be interpreted differently, however, as the manufacturer of said crate designs must confirm what impact indicators they would like to reference as environmental goalposts. The conducted analysis provides insight into what the environmental impacts of each packaging system look like as packaging at all three system levels has been identified as a means of reducing environmental impacts globally. As such, the manufacturer of said crate designs would like to establish a baseline understanding of what the environmental impact of their products look like. Version 3.5 of COMPASS LCA software was utilized, which references ecoinvent 3.9.1 LCA databases as well as U.S. Life Cycle Inventory (USLCI) LCA methodologies. These findings are significant as they affirm that all packaging system inputs and product life-cycle phases must be carefully considered as they impact every impact indicator score differently.

Global competition is pushing the composites industry to advance and become more cost effective. Liquid Composite Molding or LCM is a family of processes that has shown significant promise in its potential to reduce process times and cost while maintaining high levels of part quality. However, the majority of research and information on composite processes have been related to prepreg-autoclave processing which is significantly different than LCM. In order for LCM processes to gain large scale implementation, significant research is required in order to model and simulate the unique nature of the resin infusion process. The purpose of this research is to aid in the development of in situ void measurement and characterization during LCM processing, particularly for carbon fiber composites. This will allow for the gathering of important empirical data for the validation of models and simulations that aid in the understanding of void formation and movement during LCM. For such data to be useful, it needs to include details on the formation, mobility and evolution of the void over time during infusion. This was accomplished by creating a methodology that allowed for in situ images of voids to be captured during the infusion process. A clear mold was used to visually monitor infusions during RTM with UV dye and lighting to enhance contrast. Consecutive images were acquired through the use of macro lens photography. This method proved capable of yielding high quality images of a variety of in situ voids during infusions with carbon fiber composites. This is believed to be the first instance where this was accomplished. A second methodology was then developed for the analysis of the collected images. This was done by using ImageJ software to analyze and process the acquired images in order to identify and characterize the voids. Success was found in quantifying the size and circularity of a wide range of micro and macrovoids in both a satin weave and double bias NCF woven fabrics. To facilitate the burden of collecting large amounts of data, this process was made to be automated. A user generated macro script could be applied to large sets of images for rapid processing and analysis. This automated method was then evaluated against manually processed images to determine its overall effectiveness and accuracy as tool for validating void theory.

Innovation is one of the most important sources of competitive advantage. It helps a company to fuel the growth of new products and services, sustain incumbents, create new markets, transform industries, and promote the global competitiveness of nations. Because of its importance, companies need to manage innovation. It is very important for a company to be able to measure its innovativeness because one cannot effectively manage without measurement. A good measurement model will help a company to understand its current capability and identify areas that need improvement. In this research a systematic approach was developed for a company to measure its innovativeness. The measurement of innovativeness is based on output indicators. Output indicators are used because they cannot be manipulated. A hierarchical decision model (HDM) was constructed from output indicators. The hierarchy consisted of three levels: innovativeness index, output indicators and sub-factors. Experts' opinions were collected and quantified. A new concept developed by Dr. Dundar Kocaoglu and referred to as "desirability functions" was implemented in this research. Inconsistency of individual experts, disagreement among experts, intraclass correlation coefficients and statistical F-tests were calculated to test the reliability of the experts' judgments. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the sensitivity of the output indicators, which indicated the allowable range of the changes in the output indicators in order to maintain the priority of the sub-factors. The outcome of this research is a decision model/framework that provides an innovativeness index based on readily measurable company output indicators. The model was applied to product innovation in the technology-driven semiconductor industry. Five hypothetical companies were developed to simulate the application of the model/framework. The profiles of the hypothetical companies were varied considerably to provide a deeper understanding of the model/framework. Actual data from two major corporations in the semiconductor industry were then used to demonstrate the application of the model. According to the experts, the top three sub-factors to measure the innovativeness of a company are revenue from new products (28%), market share of new products (21%), and products that are new to the world (20%).

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recognizes five computing disciplines: Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), and Software Engineering (SE). Founded in 1947 the ACM is the world's largest society for computing educators, researchers, and professionals. While Computer Science has been a degree program since 1962, the other four are relatively new. This research focuses on understanding the graduate research in four of the five ACM disciplines (CS, CE, IT, and IS) using a large body of thesis and dissertation metadata. SE is not found in the metadata and graduate work in SE is not included. IS is no longer officially found in the metadata so its representative ProQuest replacement, Information Science although not an ACM recognized discipline is used based on the commonality of the associated ProQuest Classification code. The research is performed using co-word and graph analysis of author-supplied Classifications, Departments, and keywords. Similarities and differences between the disciplines are identified. Whether the computing discipline is the primary or the secondary focus of the research makes a large difference in the connections it makes with other academic disciplines. It was found that the Departments from which computing research originates varies widely but the majority come from computing-related Departments. Finally, gaps are apparent from the practitioners' views of the computing disciplines versus the public's view.

Technology is a critical component of modern-day success. Advancements in technology have improved communication between individuals and companies. Technological advancements have allowed students to earn college degrees online. People who habitually use technology expect a high level of performance and support. As new technologies are implemented, such as complex web services or new operating systems, the dependence for information technology (IT) support grows in demand. Even learning curves can be cumbersome without proper assistance from IT professionals. Companies and institutions must accommodate user needs by implementing fast, efficient, and friendly support. In order to offer optimal customer support, representatives must be knowledgeable of the products and services that are supported. At Western Kentucky University’s (WKU) IT Helpdesk, a training program called Consultant Accelerated Development and Education in Technology (CADET) focuses on software, hardware, customer service, and procedures mandated by the IT Division. Prior to CADET, the Student Certification program was used to train student consultants. The Student Certification program was developed to satisfy training needs that allowed consultants to support end-user technical issues. CADET was developed in 2008 to replace the Student Certification program. This study explored the question if CADET training is more effective in preparing consultants to do their jobs than the Student Certification program. The study investigated the effectiveness of CADET training compared to the Student Certification program by surveying IT Helpdesk student consultants. The survey results indicated which program was more adequate. Both programs contained the same training content, but training delivery methods differed. A t-test was used to compare both programs and determine the outcome of the study’s hypotheses. The Student Certification program did not accommodate different learning styles. The teaching methods only included traditional classroom-style delivery. CADET training did accommodate different learning styles, delivering training through a wide variety of formats including video, audio, assessment, assignment, and face-to-face training. The research focused on the importance of addressing different learning behaviors. The study suggested that CADET is more adequate in preparing students to do their job duties. When both Student Certification survey and the CADET survey were compared, CADET training is more adequate in 26 out of the 27 training sessions. The results suggested that learning style accommodation is directly related in the success in the CADET training program over the Student Certification program.

Submitted by Milena Rubi (milenarubi@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-03T19:35:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 VIEIRA_Mauricio_2016.pdf: 40526749 bytes, checksum: 1c600eb4a2855afa7637be7362014068 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Milena Rubi (milenarubi@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-03T19:35:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 VIEIRA_Mauricio_2016.pdf: 40526749 bytes, checksum: 1c600eb4a2855afa7637be7362014068 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Milena Rubi (milenarubi@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-03T19:35:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 VIEIRA_Mauricio_2016.pdf: 40526749 bytes, checksum: 1c600eb4a2855afa7637be7362014068 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-03T19:35:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VIEIRA_Mauricio_2016.pdf: 40526749 bytes, checksum: 1c600eb4a2855afa7637be7362014068 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-06 / Não recebi financiamento / The new technologies at industries improve products and services processes, needing capacitated professionals. In turn, the Technology Higher Courses (CSTs, in Portuguese), search to qualify their students to work at this Market, following the inovation dinamics. Technology demands at a region can variate according with it social, economic characteristics and regional particularities. To CSTs, this juncture of factors can create a misalignment between the content taught at student’s formation and the content applied at the Market professional practices. Based on theses, this research has the objective of analyze and identify the CSTs factors that may improve the adherence of new Technologies to the student’s vocational education. As analysis object was selected the Industrial Mechatronics CST from Itu – SP, located at Sorocaba’s Metropolitan Area. At the collect and analysis of the data was used quantitative and qualitative approach and the method of integrated single case study with single analysis unity and multiple evidences source. Among the main results, it is the identification of external and internal factors to the researched course, which interfere at the adherence of technology demands to the student’s formation. Through these factors was possible to evaluate the relationship between the CSTs academic environment and the technology institutions from the course region. Among the main barriers at adherence of new Technologies to the course, it is worth noting the lack of an academic directory responsible for communication between the course and the technology institutions. Generally was not identified the effective communication or articulation between the researched course and the regional technology companies, proposing the discussion and development of an internal system in the CSTs that can evaluate this relationship , based on the evaluation model of this research. / As novas tecnologias nas indústrias melhoram os processos de produtos e serviços, necessitando de profissionais capacitados. Por sua vez, os Cursos Superiores de Tecnologia (CSTs) buscam qualificar seus discentes para trabalhar neste mercado, acompanhando a dinâmica das inovações. As demandas de tecnologia em uma região podem variar de acordo com as suas características sociais, econômicas e de particularidades regionais. Para os CSTs, essa conjuntura de fatores pode gerar um desalinhamento entre o conteúdo ensinado na formação dos discentes e o aplicado nas práticas profissionais do mercado de trabalho. Frente ao exposto, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo, identificar e analisar os fatores nos CSTs que podem melhorar a aderência das novas tecnologias ao ensino profissionalizante dos seus discentes. Como objeto de análise foi selecionado o CST em Mecatrônica Industrial de Itu - SP situado na Região Metropolitana de Sorocaba (RMS). Na coleta e análise dos dados, utilizou-se uma abordagem qualitativa e o método de estudo de caso único integrado, com uma unidade de análise e múltiplas fontes de evidência. Dentre os principais resultados está a identificação dos fatores internos e externos ao curso pesquisado, que interferem na aderência das demandas de tecnologias na formação profissional dos discentes. Por meio destes fatores foi possível avaliar a relação entre o ambiente acadêmico dos CSTs com as instituições de tecnologia da região do curso. Dentre as principais barreiras na aderência das novas tecnologias ao curso, cabe destacar a falta de um diretório acadêmico responsável pela interlocução entre a instituição e as indústrias de tecnologia na área de formação do curso. De maneira geral não foi identificada a comunicação/articulação efetiva entre o curso pesquisado e as empresas de tecnologias da região, sendo proposta a discussão e elaboração de um sistema interno nos CSTs que possa avaliar essa relação, embasado no modelo de avaliação da presente pesquisa.

I noticed that the workers had the same itinerary when emptying trashcans, meanwhile trashcans needed urgently to be emptied. Traditionally, ETSU maintenance operate on daily routes to pick trash on designated time, regardless the level of the containers. This leads to overflown trashcan in busy areas or during rush hours in certain areas. This overflown trashcan result in an unclean environment for the community and an unpleasant look of our beautiful campus. The time, resources and labor invested in collecting the trash could be saved. Therefore, I decided to use the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a device that will optimize trash collection, to reduce costs and pollution. The Eco-Smart Can will contain a renewable source of energy such as the solar panel. Furthermore, it will have a compactor as well to decrease the trash volume. The system in the Eco-Smart can will give prior information of the trash level to maintenance facility so that they can empty the trash in a timely manner and preserve the environment.