Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 284-287

Abstract: This paper presents a decision support system for the operation of general and smart vending machine supply chains with product substitution and varying vehicle speeds. The system supports various functions such as the determination of operation parameters, supply chain performance evaluation, CO₂ analysis of delivery vehicle emissions, and more. The potential benefits of the system include the provision of guidance, solutions, and simulation environments for companies in the extensive operations of vending machine supply chains.

Abstract: Integration and splitting are business strategies commonly used by enterprise. This study discusses the impact of the integration and splitting of hospitals from the point of view of efficiency. After using super CCR and context-dependent CCR to assess the performance in various cases, this study finds that the average efficiency of the subsidiary hospitals has been improved after the integration of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. However, the integration has no significant impact on the efficiency of Chang Gung Memorial hospital itself. Chi Mei Medical Center has improved its efficiency after splitting while the efficiency of Chung Shan Hospital after splitting is worse. Hospital integration should be based on functional complementation, and hospital splitting depends on whether the organizational structure can effectively distribute the current resources to achieve efficient operational performance.

Abstract: In this study, a genetic algorithm (GA) based system is used to obtain the feasible combination of activity duration parameters for a project planning. The searching mechanism, developed in the Turbo C programming environment, and the theory, based on a genetic algorithm, can find several feasible solutions of activity duration parameters during proceeding with program evaluation and review technique (PERT) to find the minimum cost of a project. In addition, the system can simultaneously calculate the current cost and finish duration for each set of surveyed solutions in order to provide the project manager with options for the due date. With this system, improving the throughput efficiency of PERT to enhance the competition ability of enterprise in production management can thus be achieved.

Abstract: The design of folding chairs has long been focused on the low-price market targeting at mass gathering with high demand. Following the changes in society, a number of public have accustomed to use the folding chairs as household use, whereas the household folding chair with mid to high price range also emerge from the market eventually. The progress in science and technology, plus the continuous enhancement in plastic molding development and the injection molding technology as well as to the diversity in plastic materials, have all driven to the use of plastic folding chair. Nonetheless, the rise of consumer awareness and enhanced demand for product quality from the public have shifted the design of plastic folding chair from general folding chair to the designers perception oriented chairs. Hence, the study applied quality function deployment to establish user demand for plastic folding chairs, inducing the five expectations for plastic folding chair through the procedures in quality function deployment, namely into “aesthetics,” “convenience,” “structural safety,” “comfort,” and “environmental protection.” These five demands are placed into the House of Quality and transformed into the design elements and benchmark. The research results show that the first three projects and weights for customer requirements are sorted in the order of “parts unlikely to fall off (6.8%),” “non-pinching during use (6.7%)” and “ergonomic considerations (6.5%).” Among the parameter characteristics of design, the first three projects and weights are sorted in order of “use sliders or pullers to prevent pinching (10%),” “no screws used (9.4%)” and “holistic design of structure and form (8.5%).” The designers can fully understand customer demand through this transformation and the designers can add the above demand quality into the design of plastic folding chair during the conceptual design, attempt to assure the new product design can solve the existing inconvenience. The study analysis and results can be proposed as specific reference for the relevant design developers in designing plastic folding chairs.

Abstract: The major procedure of QFD is to identify the customers’ needs for the product and then convert into appropriate technical measures to fulfill the needs based on the company’s competitive priorities. The priorities of product characteristics can be obtained by translating important technical measures into product characteristics. According to their characteristics to identify the relevant engineering parameters, the prior engineering parameters will be selected as the key requirements to redesign. This article will concentrate on the creativity way of thinking “matter-element theory and extension method”, with the help of this method to assist to translate customer requirements (CRs) into product design attributes and engineering characteristics (ECs) can provide effect assistance for the designer to conceive new products comprehensively and deeply. The system for design decision-making will be developed and an innovative design case, wheelchair for the elderly, successfully demonstrates that the proposed design process is feasible and efficient.

Abstract: Effective enterprise architecture has a decisive role in the survival and success of the enterprise. It is also an indispensable means for enterprises to gain competitive advantage through IT. By analyzing the existing DoDAF(Department of Defense Architecture Framework) architecture, we tailor some parts of the capability viewpoint and operational viewpoint to make it more suitable for the implementation of small and medium-sized enterprise architecture. At the same time, in order to meet the requirements of business expanding, we add the enterprise viewpoint and the process viewpoint to DoDAF. Finally, we take a typical part of a logistics case as an example to show the specific application process of our method.

Abstract: Being resource-driven industry, success and failure of construction projects highly depend on resources. As construction industry is now-a-days facing major problem of cost overrun worldwide, this can be contributed by construction resource issues. Hence, this study aimed to assess impact of construction resource on project cost overrun. Structured questionnaire survey was carried out to understand the perception of construction practitioners. A total of 106 samples were collected. Partial Least Square (PLS) of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach regarded as the graphical equivalent of a mathematical representation of relationship between dependant variable to explanatory variable was adopted for data analysis, as common methods of data analyze does not give insight of underlying relationships between various factors. In analyzing cause-effect relationships, PLS-SEM is a dominant approach to establish rigor in complex models. Smart PLS 2.0 software was used to test the relationship between resources and cost overrun. The developed structural model indicates that relationship between resource and cost overrun was satisfactory by having substantial explaining power (GoF=0.529) and 40% of the cost overrun was influenced with resources. The most significant resource was construction material. Hence, effective material planning and management is vital to improve potential construction cost overrun.

Abstract: This study used a questionnaire survey to investigate the maturity of information security governance (ISG). The main objective is to assess the maturity of ISG, exploring the factors concerned, and building an ISG maturity model . Questionnaires were sent to 93 CIOs in schools, and 85 were returned. The return ratio is 91.4% excluding three invalid, and with 82 effective questionnaires, the effective sample return rate is 88.2%. In order to improve the maturity of ISG for Taiwanese technological colleges and universities, this study aims to build an ISG maturity model to look for relevant features of maturity of ISG. According to the Information Security Governance and Maturity Assessment Tool, this study found that schools with low rates of maturity take up 59.8%, medium 31.7%, and high 8.5%. With discriminant analysis, the maturity of ISG can be distinguished by low, medium, and high rates. With correlation analysis, this study finds that 33 items have significant correlation with ISG maturity. With analysis of variance (ANOVA), post hoc range test and ANOVA multiple comparison least significant difference (LSD), this study finds that there are significant differences between the items of ISG maturity. This study also finds the ISG maturity of schools is lower. They can improve their ISG maturity according to this model.

Abstract: Competitiveness of a company has been based on the ability of locating and solving the com-mercial troubles more quickly and effectively than other competitors. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it is necessary to expand the boundaries of the traditional organizations and promote across-domain knowledge in different industries. Thus, the opportunities of industrial in-novation can be increased, and the bright future of the industry can also be confirmed. In Taiwan, there are numerous SMEs in various industries. Conducting and researching in resource conservation service innovation technology and transforming system are deemed to be important for modern enterprises. This research was aimed at building a service-oriented system for saving the energy and reducing discharges to perform a new mechanism of resource conservation services for SMEs. The project “Construction of System Dynamics Model on Service Strategy and Resource Management” was aimed to assist “Wai Cheong Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.”at Chung Hsing Industry Park in Miaoli. The System Dynamics was primarily introduced into this project for per-formance analysis, so that the proposed performance evaluation model could be formulated. With the performance evaluation on the indicators, the overall performance structure was clarified as well. After the reliability analysis of the proposed model was verified, the data provided dynamic results on demand forecasting, quality control, and marketing management for decision making. Then, the effectiveness would be practically adjusted for different quality levels to predict the actual need. It’s the essential way to recognize the cost variation and observe other parameters of the marketing strategy. The strategy was effective to achieve the goals of removing the strategic planning con-straints and reducing resource consumption caused by improper decisions. In conclusion, the con-struction of this model would enhance the opportunity to succeed and achieve in the company’s op-timum profits when confronting the current dynamic and competitive market environment.

Abstract: This research is aimed at increasing efficiency of cash distribution from three distribution centers delivered to 377 branches, and 3,699 automatic teller machines by using Cluster First – Route Second technique. New concept of assignment problem with time window is presented in this paper for clustering. A Group Sweep Algorithm which is modified from a traditional Sweep Algorithm combined with a nearest neighbor search is also presented as the routing methodology. Application software has developed using PHP and MySQL. AMPL with CPLEX 10.0 is used to solve the assignment problem and is perfectly embraced underneath the developed application software to allow the user friendly experience. The software allow the flexibility in changing various parameters such as, capacity proportion of each cash distribution center, speed of vehicle, service time at each branch or ATM, time window of each branch or ATM or distribution center, etc. The result shows that 11 vehicle can be reduced resulting in cost reduction in a total amount of US$195,097 annually