Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2012. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69). / With a growing focus on sustainability many companies are proactively assessing their product and supply chain footprints. Cisco is a leader in the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) industry and is working to define best practices and standards. Product life cycle assessment (LCA) capability is an important competency as customers begin to request environmental impact data. The current LCA standard is to use a commercial software package, such as GaBi or SimaPro, but these tools require significant workforce resources. Often the majority of the time spent completing the assessment is focused on areas that have a minimal contribution to the overall product footprint. Industry specific estimation techniques are being developed which will allow for assessments to be completed with fewer resources. The goal of this work is to evaluate the footprint of a single rack unit router using a full life cycle assessment. Results from the life cycle assessment show that the use phase contributes over 95% of the total global warming potential (carbon footprint) given the selected assumptions. For the production phase, printed circuit boards and integrated circuits contribute over 70% of the total global warming potential. The iNEMI Eco-Impact Evaluator methodology allows for a significant reduction in analysis time to calculate a footprint and offers a valid option for creating life cycle assessments. The footprint results from this estimation technique show similar trends when compared to the results of the full life cycle assessment. The use phase is predicted to be the dominant phase. Based on a detailed comparison, the iNEMI Eco-Impact Evaluator methodology shows great promise as an option to generate product life cycle assessments with lower analysis time. This technique will allow users to integrate LCA capability into the design cycle and make valuable trades to reduce the environmental impact of future products. / by John J. Conway. / S.M. / M.B.A.

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, 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-68). / Amgen is shifting certain drugs from traditional vial and syringe primary containers to more patient friendly delivery devices known as combination products. Combination products are defined by the combination of a medical device and drug into a single entity. These new products are accompanied by new regulations and new production processes. Traditional drug manufacturers are required by the FDA to embrace certain practices traditionally pertinent to medical devices. As Amgen seeks to integrate these device processes into its business processes, additional quality procedures are necessary to control and improve the new production processes. This thesis seeks to examine process control techniques in the clinical manufacturing organization in an attempt to understand and improve the current new processes. A control plan was developed based on risk inputs, observational run data, and batch release requirements. A data collection process was then implemented and data was analyzed in control charts and aggregated defect rate analysis. Results show that 1) the overall assembly process appeared to stabilize over the period of analysis, 2) although processes were within specification limits, none of the inspection processes were entirely within statistical control, and 3) investigative avenues for out of control processes are suggested as a part of the control feedback loop. Recommendations regarding managerial challenges in implementing a quality control system are also suggested. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Amgen Inc. / by Dhanya Cumbum Rangaraj. / 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. 80-82). / This thesis explores how a retailer should determine whether to source goods domestically vs. directly by imports through international sourcing. Through the research a landed cost model was developed and designed to calculate the total landed cost of items that were shipped from overseas locations into the US. The landed cost model is different from typical models in that it integrates the physical size of the item to be imported into the total landed cost considerations. With the landed cost estimates at SKU level, the decision of whether to import or to source domestically is derived. What attributes make better import candidates over others given that a landed cost calculator outputs "yes" to import? What are some of the risks? In addition to creating a landed cost calculator, the research presents approaches around these questions. The characteristics of good import candidates are analyzed through evaluating the variables that contribute to total landed cost. Basker and Van (2008) present theories that examine the two way relationship between the size of a dominant retailer and the imports of consumer goods. They conclude that a chain needs to reach a threshold size before it begins to import. Benchmark studies of import giants like Wal-Mart are presented in this paper to understand how a longer history in the retail sector along with a robust IT infrastructure gives a company an advantage in importing retail goods. The results of this research can help retail companies with new and small import programs understand the variables that are needed to calculate total landed costs with the consideration of container utilization. Additionally it will help the retailer to decide on the best items to import in a smaller program until they can acquire economies of scale through higher import quantities. Ordering methods such as the Periodic Order Quantity Method (POQ) for fixed order periods with variable demand and Newsvendor models for advance ordering are also addressed. The results show that given several import items of varying sizes, there is an optimum region of importing which relates to COGS, size, inventory holding cost, delta of domestic to imports COGS, demand and other costs. The retailer can find this optimum region by applying analytical techniques to evaluate the candidates that are under consideration for importing. In addition to these findings, the organizational and infrastructural needs of a small imports program are addressed. The research also ties in globalization of the retail industry and the world market economy into shifts in the retailer's decisions. / by Sophia E. Scipio. / M.B.A. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2003. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-103). / by Jonathan M. Rheaume. / S.M.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, Thesis (S.M. in Ocean Systems Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology,Dept. of Ocean Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2003. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / "June 2003." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60). / by Lincoln J. Sise. / S.M.in Ocean Systems Management / M.B.A.

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 Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-140). / by Kris R. Harper. / S.M. / M.B.A.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-76). / by Galya Racine. / S.M. / M.B.A.

Thesis (S.M.)--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 Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Cristen C. Baca. / 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 Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-118). / by Eric A. White. / S.M. / M.B.A.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 63). / by Timothy Brian Frederick. / S.M.