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A modelling methodology, consisting of tools and techniques, has been developed to achieve quality improvement in any area of a manufacturing organisation. A 3 step approach was piloted within the Test Department at ICL Kidsgrove which tests printed circuit boards manufactured at the factory. The first step was to produce a full process model and to use this to highlight non-conformances. The next step was to develop a cost of quality model. The information from this model is used to take cost prioritised and cost justified corrective actions. The final step is to prepare a procedure which defines to the customers how to use the cost of quality information effectively. This 3 step pilot methodology was then applied to indirect functions such as Finance and Maintenance through an implementation team. The process modelling step was also developed in other quality applications such as auditing and procedure preparation. The final methodology is currently being considered for adoption as a problem solving approach throughout ICL. The process modelling step is being incorporated into auditor training. The modelling methodology, developed through this research, provides a structured, disciplined approach to quality improvement.

Thesis--Ph. D., University of Hong Kong. / Mimeographed.

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The Interacting Boson Model (IBM) is extended to include singleparticle levels corresponding to proton-neutron pairs, which might be expected to have some importance for light nuclei where protons and neutrons are filling the same shell. Two such versions are considered in detail:- the first with an isospin triplet (T = 1) of bosons (IBM-3), the second (IBM-4) with, introducing an intrinsic spin S, and (01). (TS) = (10) These, together with the standard model IBM-2 which comprises levels corresponding to proton pairs and neutron pairs only, are applied in detail to the even-even nuclei in the first half of the sd shell. Assuming the same Hamiltonian for all nuclei, IBM-4 alone is found to be consistent with the observed spectra and binding energies relative to 160 . Matrix elements of the E2 operator are also reasonably well reproduced by this model. The introduction of 'neutron-proton' bosons allows odd-odd nuclei to be described, and detailed IBM-4 calculations for 22Na and 26A~ are presented. Satisfactory agreement with the observed energies, and matrix elements of the Ml and E2 operators, is obtained on the introduction of a strong non-central interaction. Analysis of the wavefunctions suggests an 'extended' SU3 classification scheme which also reproduces qualitatively the spectra of other sd shell odd-odd nuclei. A considerable breaking of the zeroth-order approximation when mapping the shell model spin-orbit force is indicated by the presence of this non-central interaction and supported by a simple study In the p shell. The boson number N is found to have a strong effect on the spectra of odd-odd nuclei, moreover it is shown that the most natural reproduction of the data is obtained by adopting the conventional value.

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