Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2014. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT. / Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT. / Supervised by Jonathan Fleming and Warren Seering. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-49). / Companies and research institutes maintain large intellectual property portfolios, which are considered company assets and require significant investments to maintain. This thesis looks at the potential to extract value from such portfolios through new product development to offset this capital investment. Traditionally the IP protects existing products or excludes competitors from entering a given market. Alternatively this process looks to move from intellectual property (IP) to product ideas (PI), hereafter referred to as the IP2PI process ... [figure 1]. As outlined in Figure 1 the IP2PI process starts with intellectual property as the main input. Next the IP2PI process itself consists of three steps: -- Understanding the IP and key technologies included therein, -- Identifying market opportunities and applications of the technologies, and -- Evaluating product ideas based on market needs and other criteria. / by Sarah Cooper-Davis. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2014. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT. / Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2014. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 126-127). / This thesis focuses on the creation of a high-performance service operations organization. As organizations increasingly compete on service quality, increased attention has been given to measuring, tracking, and improving customer satisfaction. This thesis 1) provides a novel framework for service quality improvement and 2) explores concepts in game theory, relational contracts, and incentive mechanism design that impact service quality in the modern organization. The framework introduced in this thesis is comprised of four distinct steps. In the first step, service quality is quantitatively measured and drivers of service quality are determined both through qualitative methods and through statistical analysis on a customer-by- customer basis. In the second step, key drivers of service quality are addressed through process redesign and operational improvement. In the third step, the alignment of service operations incentive mechanisms with employee behavior consistent with high service quality is analyzed and considered in the context of building a high-performance service organization. Finally, the role of organizational learning and the relational contracts that may help to sustain a culture of experimentation, learning, and improvement are considered. These concepts are applied to a host organization, Atlantic Energy, by way of case study throughout this thesis; this acts to provide a concrete example of the application of these concepts and shows an example of the effectiveness of the framework when compared to traditional methods in service operations improvement. / by Ryan Garrett Doss. / S.M. / M.B.A.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017. / Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017. / "June 2017." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-62). / A need exists for systematic evaluation methods of battery storage sizing as an electric utility asset investment. Atlantic Electric, like many US utilities, has begun to consider battery energy storage systems for multiple applications, and will likely continue to evaluate potential investments in energy storage in the future. This thesis develops and evaluates three sizing methodologies for battery energy storage systems for a reliability application at an electric distribution substation. The methods are applied to three substation locations using real historical load data to understand the required supplemental capacity provided by on-site battery storage energy systems in situations of peak demand coinciding with N-1 contingency. The study also includes analysis of business processes for asset planning and recommendations. The results of the analysis indicate that deterministic conservative sizing methods, when compared to a probabilistic historical risk-based method, yield battery size that is significantly larger. The most conservative battery size, which would cover the most extreme capacity needs, is approximately twice the size of the risk-based battery size, which would cover approximately 80% of capacity need events. Going forward, the methodologies from this thesis can be developed further for evaluating battery storage systems for reliability applications among diverse conditions and use cases. Furthermore, integrating multiple use cases and potential value streams for battery storage systems in utility operations will involve cross-functional and comprehensive processes for evaluation in the future. / by Sandy Yuan. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017. / Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 107-109). / This thesis presents the results of a study to compare Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), a hazard analysis methodology based on a new model of accident causation called Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP), with the traditional assessments recommended by industry standards for analyzing safety risks in modern manufacturing workplaces that are increasingly incorporating automated systems. These increasingly complex, modern socio-technical systems are introducing new problems in the manufacturing environment that traditional methods of analysis were not designed to analyze. While these traditional methods have previously proven effective at analyzing hazards, the increasing levels of complexity and technological advancement in the factories are surpassing the limits of traditional assessment capabilities. Today's continuous search for opportunities to automate manufacturing process makes this a critical time to ensure that the hazard analysis methodologies in use are capable of providing an effective and efficient analysis. STAMP and STPA were developed specifically to understand and analyze modern, complex socio-technical systems that are introducing new types of accidents with causes beyond traditional component failures. This thesis provides background and discussion of traditional models and methods, of the current industry standard method, and of the proposed method. The current and proposed methods are then used on an actual semi-automated manufacturing process being implemented in an aerospace manufacturing company and analyzed with a set of criteria to determine their effectiveness and efficiency. The results of this analysis determine that STPA is better equipped for the modern manufacturing environment. / by Nathaniel Arthur Peper. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017. / Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-72). / Amazon's Prime Pantry is a specialty business that focuses on selling household goods such as toilet paper or bottled water. The business is a part of the consumables portfolio that has consistently met or exceeded forecasts. However as the business grows and lower Average Sales Price (ASP) items are introduced, optimizing the current fulfillment solution is critical to ensure profitability through growth. In 2016, there was a $662B market opportunity to fulfill consumables between the $0-5 ASP range. As a relatively high velocity consumables business, the Pantry platform is well situated to help address this opportunity as well as address fulfillment of items below a $5 ASP. This thesis analyzes two primary initiatives: 1) The first is to determine the ideal characteristics (inbound profile, cubic velocity, demand) of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) that will determine how new SKUs can be added to Amazon Pantry while maintaining a positive profit through an in depth analysis of inventory management strategies, 2) The second is to design a low cost fulfillment solution for this chosen product profile while maximizing throughput and capacity through process flow changes and automation where necessary. Part I analysis determined general tenets for inventory management correlating item characteristics with cost. Key recommendations included palletizing larger items and storing smaller items in smaller quantities to decrease obsolescence costs. The study showed it was necessary to make strategic decisions at a SKU level. Therefore, a dynamic model was created to change the inputs based on characteristics for new or existing SKUs to output the operational cost implications on the network. Part II analysis showed that splitting process paths significantly improved throughput and capacity for Pantry operations. The thesis shows that with a large scale operation, consolidation of process paths is not necessarily cost efficient or operationally beneficial. This is shown through an in depth analysis of a new picking process, pick to rebin. An additional design analysis of an automated sortation system investigates further operational improvements. Each of the initiatives outlined above will provide additional savings to the Pantry business. Though the Low ASP analysis generated savings of $2.27M, only a fraction of the SKUs were analyzed. If case replenishment is automated or more pallets are used in the field, these savings will increase since the Variable Cost Per Unit (VCPU) of handling these items will decrease. The pick to rebin initiative can save the company an additional $432,000 annually with a VCPU improvement of $0.018. Lastly, the OPEX machine would save $312,000 annually since the improvement over manual pick to rebin is a VCPU improvement of $0.013. In total, these savings amount to $3.02M annually. Though the cost improvements are fairly significant, these improvements could prevent the business from needing to open new sites at the current frequency required and will improve the business's current operations immensely. Additionally, it will enable the business to introduce even lower ASP items profitably while improving the customer experience. / by Nupur Satchit Dokras. / S.M. / M.B.A.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018. / Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 82-83). / A high degree of complexity exists in the product, processes, organization and supply chain at HIGHVOLT Prüftechnik GmbH, subsidiary of Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen. The current state complexity results from unique market dynamics, the highly technical nature of the solutions offered and customer demands for vast customization. Paramount strategic goals of the company are to reduce delivery time, decrease cost and mitigate risk. The focus of this project is to achieve these strategic goals through complexity management. We hypothesize that by beginning at a high-level collection of process, product and organizational complexity information, we can achieve a highly effective method for managing the complexity in the system. This project uses two primary diagnostic analysis techniques: thorough core process flow mapping and pain-point data collection from critical stakeholders. Synthesis of the process flow mapping and pain-point data reveals high complexity challenge areas. Specific problematic components and subsystems are also illuminated and subsequently evaluated for management, including modularization feasibility investigation and supply chain analysis. A case study is conducted on high-voltage capacitors, which were revealed by the investigatory process as a critical complexity and risk driver. This study validates the methodology and provides actionable recommendations to executive leadership, enabling progress towards strategic goals. These recommendations include employing a modularization strategy to a portion of the product portfolio in order to influence supply chain dynamics to increase HIGHVOLT's influence and autonomy. Results of this project include identification of thirteen critical high-impact areas with recommendations for further action. Specific high-risk drivers are also highlighted; particularly, reliance upon single-source suppliers. A deep investigation to alleviate the single source supply issue for high-voltage capacitors results in a novel technical solution that increases modularization to reduce variants in the product portfolio while maintaining essential flexibility and improving HIGHVOLT's supply chain dynamics. / by Paige Mahler Blok. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018. / Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 77-79). / The recent surge of direct-to-customer (DTC) orders in the retail industry has increasingly put pressure on omni-channel retailers' supply chain networks to offer faster and cheaper delivery while maintaining their supply chain cost position and committed service level agreements. As warehousing and logistics operations are not part of the core business for most omni-channel retailers, both operations are often outsourced to third-party logistics (3PL) companies. This makes it challenging for omni-retailers to actually improve these operations to handle the surging DTC orders through the relationships with their 3PL partners. This thesis presents cost analysis frameworks for improving the effectiveness of warehousing and logistics cost structures in outsourced omni-channel retail distribution networks. The thesis also conveys short-term and long-term strategy recommendations for reducing supply chain costs of these networks through a case study based on Verizon's retail supply chain network. First, a short-term strategy is proposed through leveraging the key cost drivers identified in a should-cost model developed to simulate receiving, pick-pack, and verification operations in distribution centers (DCs) based on a set of parameter inputs, such as volume, labor rate, labor standard time, facility location, staffing strategy, etc. This zero-based should-cost modeling technique can help the hiring company enhance their bargaining power in contract negotiation with 3PL companies in order to realize cost savings and collaborate on implementing new technologies. Second, a long-term strategy is formed to provide frameworks for omni-channel retailers to reconsider the pros and cons of outsourcing and to think of building sustainable and collaborative relationships with 3PL companies for the coming challenges in the omni-channel retail industry. The recommended execution plan is to stay with a centralized DC model and transition to partnering with capable 3PL service providers to pool ground shipments in order to achieve zone-skipping before the last mile delivery for the future. / by Shile Ding. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2010. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-87). / Corporations continue to grapple with the dilemma of identifying, developing and managing the implementation of meaningful process improvement projects while simultaneously meeting business goals and customer needs. In this thesis we propose a methodology, dubbed Design for Project Implementation (DFPI) that integrates a change management model and engineering design and assessment tools to provide facts and data upon which to base decisions. We suggest that the methodology can be applied via a two-dimensional evaluation process that provides a means of balancing the needs of the business (via an impact to business perspective) and a means to accelerate return on investment (via an ease of project implementation perspective). We propose that the DFPI methodology can be applied in a bottoms-up approach to investigate the value proposition of a project, highlighting critical project elements and making specific recommendations to project leaders. We also suggest that a DFPI integrated business solution (design tools in conjunction with an interactive database) can be applied in a top-down approach, identifying high risk or high leverage areas to leadership sponsors whom can deploy project leaders to investigate the potential opportunities. We tested our hypotheses related to the DFPI methodology and design tools at Raytheon Company. The methodology was deployed on process improvement projects targeted on leveraging the increased capability gained from a recent transition to an SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system integrated solution. In this thesis we define the DFPI methodology, describe how the associated design tools can be customized to target any type of business processes within a corporation (by applying it to ERP-related business processes at Raytheon), review the results of our pilot application at Raytheon and conclude with a short discussion of future areas of study. / by Julie M. Chun. / S.M. / M.B.A.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and, (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-75). / This thesis describes the formulation of short-term and mid-term operational excellence strategies through the use of value stream mapping. It is shown that many interconnected issues form a backdrop for seemingly independent "symptomatic issues" or issues that can be seen readily on the surface because of their significant financial or organizational impacts. These underlying issues indicate organizational improvement projects are necessary in the short term to create an environment conducive to sustaining results stemming from projects addressing the surface issues. One example of a surface issue is that of scheduling where the problem can be readily seen with blockages, starvation, and long cycle times, but must be solved with organizational and other fundamental improvements for improvements to be sustainable. Also presented is a case study showing a root cause and financial analysis relating to the capabilities of the aseptic filling process. The value stream mapping analysis led to recommendations of working on fundamental organizational, communication, and cultural issues to create a strong foundation for improvement projects on more visible projects. / by Zachary Wolf. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and, (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 44). / In an increasingly complex supply chain, the use of a structured methodology for locating applicable existing parts during the design process can help a large-volume manufacturer to encourage the reuse of components already in inventory, rather than source new ones. This reuse can dramatically reduce the speed at which the database grows in complexity and can prevent unnecessary escalation of inventory levels. It can also serve to increase the order volume of a smaller number of electromechanical components and reduce the cost and delivery time of new products in development. The use of an internal search tool to facilitate the design process will also encourage engineers to make design decisions that benefit the larger organization. This thesis proposes a design methodology for a web-based search tool aimed at reducing unnecessary new part creation in a component database. Included is a proposed set of features to be implemented in the software tool to assist engineers in locating, reviewing and utilizing relevant existing parts quickly, as well as suggestions for integrating this tool into the standard engineering workflow. The goal will be to encourage the reuse of parts in inventory and prevent unjustified proliferation in the database. / by Toni J. Ferreira. / M.B.A. / S.M.