Hospitals have increasingly come under close public scrutiny in the last several years because of the constantly escalating price of health care in the United States. It has been estimated that approximately 30 per cent of a typical hospital's operational budget is devoted to purchasing consumables plus the cost of materials support. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare materials management practices of selected individual hospitals in Texas Health Services Area 5 in order to determine the extent and manner in which they utilize the materials management concept. In addition, the investigation focuses on determining if there are any relationships between the variables of type of ownership, size and the extent to which the study hospitals utilize the materials management concept.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / Please refer to fulltext for abstract

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

This thesis aims at developing a conceptual model for supply networks optimization in the floriculture industry in Kenya. In the literature review a detailed account of the evolution of supply chain management, the concept and the factors influencing simultaneous optimization of supply networks in the floriculture industry is given. The area of complex adaptive systems is explored and the link with the floriculture industry in Kenya is shown. A review of current studies is done on the subject of supply chain management and particularly the various conceptual frameworks/models developed by a number of researchers around the world. The supply chain performance measurement and the requirements for model building are also given. The research methodology provides the research paradigm and research design and discusses the justification of the approach taken for the study. The target population consisted of all active cut flower exporting firms by 31st December 2009 as per the information provided by Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA). This target population comprising of 412 active exporters was stratified in terms of: large, International, local, embedded, unimpeded, small and medium scale enterprises. Sampling was done through census sampling technique, in which case the entire population was considered. Data analysis is also discussed including the various tests to be carried out in relation to validity and reliability of data. There is a detailed presentation of principal factor analysis results. Finally there is a detailed discussion on the ethical considerations in the conduct of my data collection and research process. Chapter four outlined the factors that are indeed useful to be considered when designing a conceptual model for managing supply networks for simultaneous optimization. Such factors included: country development; quality of inputs; financing; customer responsiveness; research and development. Also discussed are the factors that contribute to overall organizational performance which in this case included: return on trading investment, overall operational costs, overall productivity growth rates and outsourcing activities and decisions. The triple bottom line benefits encompassing environmental vi audit, financial audit and social audit have also been discussed in relation to country specific benefits in relation to the floriculture industry in Kenya. The revised conceptual model for simultaneous optimisation of supply networks in the floriculture industry is presented consisting of: key success factors; financing; information integration; country specific benefits; transport; research and development. These are the factors which contribute to enhancing performance of the floriculture industry in Kenya. The conclusion and recommendations of the study are made on the basis of these factors. / Business Management / D.B.L. (Business Leadership)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The storage and distribution of goods in warehouses have been around for centuries. Information systems and technology have enabled business to run various different functions, like accounting, successfully. Companies soon realised the additional benefits technology can bring to their operations. Increase in product throughput and increase in product range are some of the examples that add additional complexity to the warehousing and distribution functions. In order to cater for the additional complexity, to gain improved customer service levels and gain a strategic advantage in delivering the right product, in the right place at the right time, companies are implementing warehouse management systems (WMS). However, the WMS implementations are complex and involve various different stakeholders. Failed WMS implementations can negatively affect the operations. There are many risks associated with the WMS implementations and many companies have had to issue profit warnings in the past due to failed implementations. Various viewpoints on project success exist but this research report has aimed to provide a framework of key success criteria which organisations can use to evaluate the success of their implementation. Since WMS are generally rolled-out across various sites within a specific supply chain, measuring and evaluating the success of the first project can guide the project team to achieve more project success in the future, eliminating the risks associated with failed implementations. This study clearly defines the difference between project success, project management success, critical success factors and key success criteria. Literature on the topic is limited and therefore this study looked at various sources like peer-reviewed literature, popular literature and case studies. The findings of the report indicate that there is a list of ten different key success criteria which organisations can focus on in order to measure and improve their project success. Taking ownership, change management, managing stakeholder expectations, communication, training and testing are some of the key success criteria that were identified. This study concludes by presenting a framework which organisations can use to measure the success of their WMS implementation.

A major purpose of this dissertation is to design and develop data structures for the Critical Path Method-Material Requirements Planning (CPM/MRP) methodology. The data structures developed consider the trade-off between processing time required to perform the required operations on data structures and the computer capacity utilization to store data. The CPM/MRP technique was designed to combine the capabilities of the critical path method and material requirements planning system. The critical path method is a project planning and control technique which schedules projects subject to technological sequence constraints and activity durations. When combined with material requirements planning, the methodology explicitly considers both the resources required by the activities comprising the project and the lead time to acquire the required resources. CPM/MRP contains algorithms for project scheduling subject to technological sequence and resource constraints. The early start and late start algorithms find feasible early start and late start schedules for both activity start times and resource order release times. The major drawback of the FORTRAN IV computer program which incorporated the CPM/MRP algorithms was the tremendous computer memory capacity requirements. This prohibited application of the CPM/MRP to large projects. The data structures developed in this dissertation are efficient with respect to both computer memory utilization and processing time. To design the data structures, the characteristics of storable and non-storable resources and the necessary operations within each resource category is studied. Another purpose of this dissertation is to develop an algorithm to schedule operating rooms for surgery procedures in hospitals subject to resource constraints to increase operating suite utilization. Since the major reason for low operating suite utilization is lack of required resources when they are needed and where they are needed, the CPM/MRP concept is applied to schedule surgeries. The late start algorithm outlined in this dissertation schedules surgeries and resources required for each surgery. The data structures and the surgery scheduling algorithm are incorporated into a FORTRAN IV computer program. The program has been tested with actual data gathered from a hospital. The results met the objectives of both computer memory utilization and low computation time.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / .08B in shipping and redistribution costs of Not Ready for Issue (NRFI) materiel. This thesis models the NAVICP shipping of unserviceable but repairable (retrograde) Navy materiel or Depot Level Repairables (DLRs). It develops an integer linear program to prescribe minimum cost shipment recommendations of DLRs from fleet to repair locations within the NAVICP and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) distribution system subject to constraints on average shipping time (AveTime). NAVICP provided data on DLR shipments for one year from which we construct six representative DLRs, 3 of aviation and 3 of maritime cognizance. We find a cost and time savings can be achieved for all representative DLRs by avoiding the use of DLA as storage prior to induction for repair. In this study we compare shipping costs for each of the six DLRs when we constrain AveTime, from 2 to 8 days. We find 2-day constrained AveTime shipping, on average, costs 18 times that of 7-day AveTime shipping, twice that of 3-day shipping and a minimum of 5 times and a maximum of 11 times that of the costs of 4 through 6-day shipping. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

A research report submited to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in part all fulfillment of the requirements for the MSc. (Building) in Construction Project Management. / Construction waste minimisation and avoidance at the design stage of a construction project is the most favourable solution in the existing waste management hierarchy triangle. However, there are currently only a limited number of exploratory and context-specific studies that state effective construction waste minimisation factors which can be implemented during the design stage. This can be regarded as a relatively new concept and new research topic, especially as no studies have been done in a South African or a Gauteng region context. This research report aims to address this local knowledge gap. The research method included an initial conceptual framework of factors (identified from surveying both global and local literature) as a launch pad in order to quantitatively survey design consultants in Gauteng with regards to both the significance and ease of implementation of the identified factors. The research target population consisted of; architects, architectural technologists, architectural draughtsman, structural engineers, structural technologists, structural draughtsman and finally sustainability consultants. The target population was further narrowed by only including designers who have both attempted to minimise construction on greenfield projects in Gauteng and who have received Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) accreditation on the same project. This report presents a hierarchical list of twenty-six critical factors that can be implemented during the design stage in order to minimise or avoid construction waste in the context of Gauteng, South Africa. The report further indicates which of these factors will be easier to implement than others. These factors are aimed mainly at clients of construction projects, as they are in essence the stakeholders who will contractually enforce designers to implement these construction waste minimisation factors in order to lower project costs. Furthermore; these factors will also serve as valuable references for the Gauteng Provincial Government as the factors can be utilized in order to drive provincial construction waste regulations and eventually national reform.

Diante da ausência de parâmetros que fundamentem o planejamento e a avaliação do quadro de profissionais de enfermagem nos Centros de Material e Esterilização (CMEs), este estudo, de desenvolvimento metodológico, teve por objetivos identificar e validar as atividades realizadas pela equipe de enfermagem em CMEs de instituições hospitalares, como subsídio para a definição da carga de trabalho da unidade. Para identificar as atividades desenvolvidas pela equipe de enfermagem nos CMEs, foi realizado consulta às indicações formuladas pelos órgãos oficiais e aos manuais técnicos publicados na área. Em seguida, realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico sobre o assunto descrevendo-se, para cada área de trabalho dos CMEs, as atividades consideradas pertinentes e essenciais para o desenvolvimento do trabalho. Para validar as atividades identificadas, optou-se por utilizar o método da Validade de Conteúdo, por meio da aplicação da Técnica Delphi. O instrumento para validação das atividades identificadas ficou constituído por seis áreas de trabalho, 24 subprocessos e 96 atividades, além de 18 atividades específicas da enfermeira. Para compor o grupo de juízes, optou-se por convidar enfermeiras com título de especialista ou com experiência profissional de no mínimo cinco anos na área, que atuassem em unidades de CME de instituições hospitalares da cidade de São Paulo, considerados de bom padrão de desempenho. Ao grupo de juízas, constituído por onze enfermeiras, coube avaliar a pertinência, clareza e objetividade na definição das áreas de trabalho e dos subprocessos relacionados; clareza e objetividade na descrição das atividades indicadas em cada área; representatividade das atividades descritas em cada área; realização das atividades nas áreas apontadas; necessidade de inclusão ou exclusão de atividades em cada área. Foram consideradas validadas as áreas, os subprocessos de trabalho e as atividades que obtiveram índice de concordância mínimo de 70%, em qualquer fase da Técnica Delphi. A análise dos resultados obtidos na primeira fase evidenciou que todos os itens foram validados. Entretanto, a análise dos comentários e das sugestões realizados pelas juízas determinou a realização de alterações no conteúdo do quadro de atividades proposto, que foram submetidas à nova avaliação do grupo, resultando na validação de seis áreas de trabalho, 25 subprocessos, 110 atividades e 25 atividades específicas da enfermeira. Com a realização desta pesquisa evidenciam-se perspectivas para a realização de novas investigações que contribuam para a determinação de parâmetros que subsidiem o processo de dimensionar pessoal de enfermagem nas unidades de CME / Due to the absence of parameters that support the planning and evaluation of the nursing professionals team in the Sterilization Central Supply (SCS), this study, of methodological development, aimed to identify and validate the activities performed by the nursing staff in the SCS of hospitals, as subsidy to determine the workload of the unit. In order to identify the activities developed by the nursing staff in the SCS, indications made by official organs and technical manuals published in the area were consulted. Then, a survey of the literature about the subject was performed, reporting, to each work area of the SCS, the activities considered pertinent and essential to the development of the work. In order to validate the identified activities, the Content Validation method was used, by means of the Delphi Technique. The instrument to validation of the identified activities consisted of six work areas, 24 subprocesses and 96 activities, besides 18 specific activities of the nurse. In order to compose the group of judges, nurses with specialist title or with minimum of five years experience in the area were invited, and who worked in SCS units of hospitals in the city of São Paulo, considered of good standard of performance. The group of judges, consisting of eleven nurses, was in charge of evaluating the pertinence, clarity and objectivity in the definition of the work areas and of the related subprocesses; clarity and objectivity in the description of the indicated activities in each area; representativeness of described activities in each area; performance of the activities in the pointed areas, need of inclusion or exclusion of activities in each area. The areas, subprocesses of work and activities considered validated were those that obtained index of agreement minimum of 70% in any phase of the Delphi Technique. The analysis of the obtained results of the first phase showed that all items were validated. However, the analysis of comments and suggestions performed by the judges determined changes in the content of the proposed activities, which were submitted to new evaluation of the group, resulting in the validation of six work areas, 25 subprocesses, 110 activities and 25 specific activities of the nurse. This research shows perspectives to new investigations that contribute to determination of parameters that subsidize the process of dimensioning of nursing staff in the units of SCS

O mercado de minérios de ferro e aço está extremamente aquecido nesta primeira década do século XXI, e como mostram os especialistas neste assunto deverá permanecer desta forma por no mínimo mais 5 ou 10 anos. Com o aumento substancial de preços das \"commodities\", principalmente os minérios de ferro, nesta década há nas indústrias ou corporações uma alta disponibilidade de recursos para bons projetos. Desta forma, a empresa que tiver condições de tomar decisões estratégicas melhores, mais rápidas e mais fundamentadas garantirá a perpetuidade do negócio neste mundo competitivo. O principal objetivo desta dissertação é o desenvolvimento e aplicação de um método de tomada de decisão, que utilize simulação-otimização durante o processo de planejamento do negócio. Este método será aplicado na cadeia produtiva de minérios de ferro da Samarco Mineração S/A, com o propósito de melhorar a qualidade das informações do processo de escolha da melhor alternativa de investimentos para os próximos 05 anos. Este método demonstrou uma melhora na qualidade do processo decisório de escolha dos investimentos, além disso, observou-se que o desdobramento em fases garantido pelo método proposto, converge diversos fatores, simplificando e otimizando a tomada de decisão gerencial. Ao avaliar e confrontar os conceitos de simulação e otimização, observou-se que existe um grande conjunto de experiências bem explorado de técnicas para resolução de problemas no sentido de aprimorar, em cada uma das áreas de conhecimento (simulação e otimização) separadamente a busca da melhor solução, deixando de se aproveitar o potencial que se pode conseguir com a integração dessas técnicas. Neste sentido procurou-se evidenciar que não era objetivo desta pesquisa analisar qual é a melhor técnica a ser empregada em cada problema que afeta os sistemas logísticos em geral, e sim potencializar a discussão, assim como muitos autores apresentados neste trabalho, que estas técnicas são complementares e que o sucesso da solução do problema ou oportunidade é proporcional a correta aplicação destas técnicas em seus pontos fortes de resolução de problema. E os casos apresentados e o método aqui proposto reforçam que a aplicação destas técnicas em conjunto garantem um melhor resultado do que o emprego destas ferramentas separadamente. / World demand for iron ore and steel industries are extremely high in the very beginning of the 21st century, and the analysts are foreseeing that it will last for a long period. Likewise the commodities in general, the prices of iron ore have been increasing considerably, mainly because of the disarticulation through this industry supply chain. Considering the systemic aspects of this particular market, the decisions to invest in upstream capacities to supply the demand is very complex and risky. The complexity is related with assets intensiveness, competitor\'s movements, time between decision to implant a project and startup, and the demand-price ups and downs cycles. The companies that make the right strategic decisions, at the right time, are the ones that will succeed in this competitive and global market. The objective of this dissertation is to develop a methodology, using simulationoptimization techniques that support strategic investments decisions. In the research part of this dissertation, a sort of concepts and techniques of simulation, heuristics and optimization were explored and it was possible to identify an opportunity to explore the potential integration of techniques. In particular, this dissertation aims to clarify that this techniques may be complementary, and the success if very much related with the correct approach to combine them considering the particularities of the studied problem. The results have shown that the proposed method clarify that the right combination of techniques, in this case, simulation-optimization, is produces better results and individual application of each one of them. The method was applied at Samarco in its business planning process, and it has been useful to support better investments decisions.