• Title/Summary/Keyword: Product Assurance

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Towards a Knowledge Recipe for State Corporations in the Financial Sector in Kenya

  • Moturi, Humphrey;Kwanya, Tom;Chebon, Philemon
    • International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.33-50
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    • 2020
  • Knowledge recipes are packages of knowledge which arise from the process of combining the knowledge assets in the organization in distinctive ways. This involves converting them into useful outputs which are the ideal core competitive advantage enablers for companies. The major objective of this study was to propose a knowledge recipe for financial-sector state corporations in Kenya. The study adopted a convergent parallel mixed methods research design. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires and key informant interviews. The target population of the study was 1574 respondents drawn from all financial state corporations. A multistage sampling technique was used for the study. The first phase involved purposive sampling of the organizations to be studied whereby the four state corporations namely: Capital Markets Authority, Competition Authority of Kenya, Kenya Investment Authority, and Kenya Revenue Authority were identified. The second phase entailed stratified sampling of the respondents in three strata namely senior management team, knowledge management team, and general staff. The authors used a census of all senior management team and knowledge management staff while a simple random sampling technique was used for the general staff. By use of the Krejcie and Morgan table, the actual sample size was 358 respondents from all the four organizations. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis while the quantitative data were analyzed by the use of Ms. Excel and VOSviewer and presented using pie charts, bar graphs, and tables. The response rate for this study was 257 (72%). The study revealed that while most employees in the financial sector organizations understand their knowledge needs, knowledge types, knowledge uses and knowledge gaps, they do not have a universal knowledge recipe to facilitate effective knowledge management in their organizations. Consequently, the authors propose a universal knowledge recipe for the state corporations in the financial sector in Kenya. The ingredients of the recipe are legal-knowledge (18%), financial knowledge (15%), administrative knowledge (11%), best practice (10%), lessons learnt (8%), human resource knowledge (8%), research and statistics knowledge (7%), product knowledge (6%), policy and procedure knowledge (5%), ICT knowledge (4%), investor knowledge (3%), markets knowledge (2%), general knowledge (2%) and regulatory framework knowledge (1%).

Recycling of Waterworks Sludge in Red Clay Bricks Manufacturing (정수슬러지를 이용한 점토벽돌 생산 기술 개발 연구)

  • Hwang, Hyeon-Uk;Kim, Ji-Hoon;Kim, Young-Ju
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.217-222
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    • 2009
  • This study was conducted to search possibilities of the use of sludge from waterworks industry in the manufacturing of red clay bricks. Different compositions of the sludge were added into the raw materials of the bricks and required engineering characteristics of the manufactured bricks were examined. Compressive strength, plasticity, and surface absorption of the recycled bricks were analyzed and were compared with the bricks quality standard rules and regulation for quality assurance of the product. Compressive strength of the bricks made in a ratio 75% clay, 5% sludge and 20% silica was found 261.3 $kg_f/cm^3$ and that was comparable with first grade bricks standard. Compressive strength of the bricks made in a ratio 70% clay, 10% sludge, and 20% silica was found 249.9 $kg_f/cm^3$ while it was decreased to 217.3 $kg_f/cm^3$ when bricks were made in a ratio 65% clay, 15% sludge and 20% silica. However, these values of compressive strength were in agreement with the bricks quality standard. Surface absorption of the bricks made by the mixing of 20% silica with varying amount of sludge, i.e., 5%, 10%, and 20% was found 10%, 9.65% and 10.92% respectively. These values satisfied the quality standard of bricks of grade 1 and 2. Recycling of proper amount of sludge in bricks making could produce bricks of high engineering characteristics.

FMEA for rotorcraft landing system using Dempster-Shafer evidence theory (Dempster-Shafer 증거 이론을 이용한 회전익 항공기 착륙장치의 FMEA)

  • Na, Seong-Hyeon;So, Hee-Soup
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.76-84
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    • 2021
  • The quality assurance activities can detect the factors that affect the quality based on risk identification in the course of mass production. Risk identification is conducted with risk analysis, and the risk analysis method for the rotorcraft landing system is selected by failure mode effects analysis (FMEA). FMEA is a method that detects the factors that can affect the product quality by combining severity, occurrence, and detectability. The results of FMEA were prioritized using the risk priority number. On the other hand, these methods have certain shortcomings because the severity, occurrence, detectability are weighted equally. Dempster-Shafer evidence theory can conduct uncertainty analysis for the opinions with personal reflections and subjectivity. Based on the theory, the belief function and the plausibility function can be formed. Moreover, the functions can be utilized to evaluate the belief rate and credibility. The system is exposed to impact during take-off and landing. Therefore, experts should manage failure modes in the course of mass production. In this paper, FMEA based on the Dempster-Shafer evidence theory is discussed to perform risk analysis regarding the failure mode of the rotorcraft landing system. The failure priority was evaluated depending on the factor values. The results were derived using belief and plausibility function graphs.

Applying ISO/IEC 25023 to Software Engineering Process in Weapon System for Quality Improvement (무기체계 소프트웨어 품질 개선을 위한 ISO/IEC 25023의 소프트웨어 개발 프로세스 적용 방안)

  • Yoon, Gyeonghwan;Yu, Jiseon
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.22 no.5
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    • pp.387-393
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    • 2021
  • This study aimed to improve the software quality in weapon systems by applying ISO/IEC 25023 to the software engineering process. The software engineering process in weapon systems manages the Software Quality Requirement but has restrictively improved the software quality. Software quality items are already defined and used for software engineering processes in weapon systems, but they are defined inconsistently according to individual software development cases. Thus, the methods of quantifying software quality are different, even though the same software quality is defined. In addition, the software quality has been managed differently. The major problems of software engineering processes in weapon systems are the unclear definition of the software quality requirements and the absence of quantifying software quality standards. ISO/IEC 25023 is composed of eight quality characteristics and thirty-one sub-characteristics. ISO/IEC 25023 provides measurement functions that can quantify the software product quality based on its characteristics. To improve the software quality further, the measurement functions in ISO/IEC 25023 are suggested to quantify and manage software quality for software engineering processes in weapon systems. The expected effects of this study were analyzed.

An Empirical Study on the Effect of International Standard Certification Execution and CRM Satisfaction on Business Performance in B2B Transaction (B2B거래에서 국제표준인증 실행과 CRM만족도가 사업성과에 미치는 영향에 대한 실증적 연구)

  • Kim, Chang-Bong;Park, Sang-An;Jung, Jin-Young
    • Korea Trade Review
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    • v.42 no.2
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    • pp.319-344
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    • 2017
  • The international standard certification evaluates the extend to which the supplier satisfies the international standard certification standards of the supplier of the product and the service, recognizes the quality assurance ability and reliability of the supplier, thereby resolving the international trade regulation that can occur to various fields and strengthening the network of the global partnership it is making an important contribution. Therefor, in this study, the survey was conducted on 153 companies of Korean import and export companies. The research method was empirically analyzed by the structural equation model. The results of the hypothesis test of this study are as follows. First, resource management factors among the international standard certification factors in the global trade supply chain integration had a positive effects on CRM satisfaction. Second, the measurement, analysis and improvement factors of international standard certification factors had a positive effects on CRM satisfaction. Third, CRM satisfaction has a positive effects on business performance. Through this study, it is concluded that the Korean import and export companies have an important role in improving the business performance of the global trade partners.

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토양 및 지하수 Investigation 과 Remediation에 대한 현장적용

  • Wallner, Heinz
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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    • 2000.11a
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    • pp.44-63
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    • 2000
  • Situated close to Heathrow Airport, and adjacent to the M4 and M25 Motorways, the site at Axis Park is considered a prime location for business in the UK. In consequnce two of the UK's major property development companies, MEPC and Redrew Homes sought the expertise of Intergeo to remediate the contaminated former industrial site prior to its development. Industrial use of the twenty-six hectare site, started in 1936, when Hawker Aircraft commence aircraft manufacture. In 1963 the Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company purchased part of the site. Ford commenced vehicle production at the site in the mid-1970's and production was continued by Iveco Ford from 1986 to the plant's decommissioning in 1997. Geologically the site is underlain by sand and gravel, deposited in prehistory by the River Thames, with London Clay at around 6m depth. The level of groundwater fluctuates seasonally at around 2.5m depth, moving slowly southwest towards local streams and watercourses. A phased investigation of the site was undertaken, which culminated in the extensive site investigation undertaken by Intergeo in 1998. In total 50 boreholes, 90 probeholes and 60 trial pits were used to investigate the site and around 4000 solid and 1300 liquid samples were tested in the laboratory for chemical substances. The investigations identified total petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil up to 25, 000mg/kg. Diesel oil, with some lubricating oil were the main components. Volatile organic compounds were identified in the groundwater in excess of 10mg/l. Specific substances included trichloromethane, trichloromethane and tetrachloroethene. Both the oil and volatile compounds were widely spread across the site, The specific substances identified could be traced back to industrial processes used at one or other dates in the sites history Slightly elevated levels of toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were also identified locally. Prior to remediation of the site and throughout its progress, extensive liaison with the regulatory authorities and the client's professional representatives was required. In addition to meetings, numerous technical documents detailing methods and health and safety issues were required in order to comply with UK environmental and safety legislation. After initially considering a range of options to undertake remediation, the following three main techniques were selected: ex-situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils, skimming of free floating hydrocarbon product from the water surface at wells and excavations and air stripping of volatile organic compounds from groundwater recovered from wells. The achievements were as follows: 1) 350, 000m3 of soil was excavated and 112, 000m3 of sand and gravel was processed to remove gravel and cobble sized particles; 2) 53, 000m3 of hydrocarbon contaminated soil was bioremediated in windrows ; 3) 7000m3 of groundwater was processed by skimming to remove free floating Product; 4) 196, 000m3 of groundwater was Processed by air stripping to remove volatile organic compounds. Only 1000m3 of soil left the site for disposal in licensed waste facilities Given the costs of disposal in the UK, the selected methods represented a considerable cost saving to the Clients. All other soil was engineered back into the ground to a precise geotechnical specification. The following objective levels were achieved across the site 1) By a Risk Based Corrective Action (RBCA) methodology it was demonstrated that soil with less that 1000mg/kg total petroleum hydrocarbons did not pose a hazard to health or water resources and therefore, could remain insitu; 2) Soils destined for the residential areas of the site were remediated to 250mg/kg total petroleum hydrocarbons; in the industrial areas 500mg/kg was proven acceptable. 3) Hydrocarbons in groundwater were remediated to below the Dutch Intervegtion Level of 0.6mg/1; 4) Volatile organic compounds/BTEX group substances were reduced to below the Dutch Intervention Levels; 5) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals were below Inter-departmental Committee for the Redevelopment of Contaminated Land guideline levels for intended enduse. In order to verify the qualify of the work 1500 chemical test results were submitted for the purpose of validation. Quality assurance checks were undertaken by independent consultants and at an independent laboratory selected by Intergeo. Long term monitoring of water quality was undertaken for a period of one year after remediation work had been completed. Both the regulatory authorities and Clients representatives endorsed the quality of remediation now completed at the site. Subsequent to completion of the remediation work Redrew Homes constructed a prestige housing development. The properties at "Belvedere Place" retailed at premium prices. On the MEPC site the Post Office, amongst others, has located a major sorting office for the London area. Exceptionally high standards of remediation, control and documentation were a requirement for the work undertaken here.aken here.

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COATED PARTICLE FUEL FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE GAS COOLED REACTORS

  • Verfondern, Karl;Nabielek, Heinz;Kendall, James M.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.39 no.5
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    • pp.603-616
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    • 2007
  • Roy Huddle, having invented the coated particle in Harwell 1957, stated in the early 1970s that we know now everything about particles and coatings and should be going over to deal with other problems. This was on the occasion of the Dragon fuel performance information meeting London 1973: How wrong a genius be! It took until 1978 that really good particles were made in Germany, then during the Japanese HTTR production in the 1990s and finally the Chinese 2000-2001 campaign for HTR-10. Here, we present a review of history and present status. Today, good fuel is measured by different standards from the seventies: where $9*10^{-4}$ initial free heavy metal fraction was typical for early AVR carbide fuel and $3*10^{-4}$ initial free heavy metal fraction was acceptable for oxide fuel in THTR, we insist on values more than an order of magnitude below this value today. Half a percent of particle failure at the end-of-irradiation, another ancient standard, is not even acceptable today, even for the most severe accidents. While legislation and licensing has not changed, one of the reasons we insist on these improvements is the preference for passive systems rather than active controls of earlier times. After renewed HTGR interest, we are reporting about the start of new or reactivated coated particle work in several parts of the world, considering the aspects of designs/ traditional and new materials, manufacturing technologies/ quality control quality assurance, irradiation and accident performance, modeling and performance predictions, and fuel cycle aspects and spent fuel treatment. In very general terms, the coated particle should be strong, reliable, retentive, and affordable. These properties have to be quantified and will be eventually optimized for a specific application system. Results obtained so far indicate that the same particle can be used for steam cycle applications with $700-750^{\circ}C$ helium coolant gas exit, for gas turbine applications at $850-900^{\circ}C$ and for process heat/hydrogen generation applications with $950^{\circ}C$ outlet temperatures. There is a clear set of standards for modem high quality fuel in terms of low levels of heavy metal contamination, manufacture-induced particle defects during fuel body and fuel element making, irradiation/accident induced particle failures and limits on fission product release from intact particles. While gas-cooled reactor design is still open-ended with blocks for the prismatic and spherical fuel elements for the pebble-bed design, there is near worldwide agreement on high quality fuel: a $500{\mu}m$ diameter $UO_2$ kernel of 10% enrichment is surrounded by a $100{\mu}m$ thick sacrificial buffer layer to be followed by a dense inner pyrocarbon layer, a high quality silicon carbide layer of $35{\mu}m$ thickness and theoretical density and another outer pyrocarbon layer. Good performance has been demonstrated both under operational and under accident conditions, i.e. to 10% FIMA and maximum $1600^{\circ}C$ afterwards. And it is the wide-ranging demonstration experience that makes this particle superior. Recommendations are made for further work: 1. Generation of data for presently manufactured materials, e.g. SiC strength and strength distribution, PyC creep and shrinkage and many more material data sets. 2. Renewed start of irradiation and accident testing of modem coated particle fuel. 3. Analysis of existing and newly created data with a view to demonstrate satisfactory performance at burnups beyond 10% FIMA and complete fission product retention even in accidents that go beyond $1600^{\circ}C$ for a short period of time. This work should proceed at both national and international level.

A Quality Assurance Study for the Application of Cook/Chill System in School Foodservice Operation (II) - Pork Bulgogi (Broiled Sliced Pork with Sauces) - (학교급식에 Cook/Chill System 적용을 위한 품질보증연구(II) - 돼지불고기 -)

  • Kwak, Tong-Kyung;Moon, Hye-Kyung;Park, Hye-Won;Hong, Wan-Soo;Ryu, Kyung;Chang, Hye-Ja;Kim, Sung-Hee;Choi, Eun-Jung
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.319-331
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    • 1998
  • The purposes of this study were to develop Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan applicable to cook/chilled Pork Bulkogi (broiled sliced pork with sauces) in school foodservice operations and to establish reasonable shelf-life limits by assessing food quality during chilled storage period of 5 days. During the product flow, time-temperature profile was recorded and microbiological analyses including mesophilic and psychrotrophic total plate counts, coliform, and fecal coliform and qualitative analyses of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes were done. Chemical analyses (pH, acid value, total volatile basic nitrogen), sensory evaluation, and quantitative analysis of thiamin were conducted for 5 days of chilled storage. The number of mesophiles in raw pork ($4.26{\pm}0.11\;Log\;CFU/g$), seasoning mixture ($5.97{\pm}O.04\;Log\;CFU/g$) and marinated pork ($5.56{\pm}0.21\;Log\;CFU/g$) were below the microbial standards for "requires further cooking" food items. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in seasoning mixture. After heating, the number of mesophiles ($5.17{\pm}0.04\;Log\;CFU/g$) were slightly reduced but it did not meet the microbial guidelines of $5\;Log\;CFU/g$ for "ready-to-eat" foods. No other microbes including pathogens were detected. By reheating the menu item after chilled storage, the number of mesophiles were reduced in every phase of 1st day ($4.62{\pm}0.22\;Log\;CFU/g$), 3rd day ($4.55{\pm}0.20\;Log\;CFU/g$) and 5th day ($4.25{\pm}0.16\;Log\;CFU/g$) of chilled storage, and the number of microbes was below the standard limits for "ready-to-eat" foods. At the fifth day of chilled storage, pH (p<0.05), acid value (p<0.01) and TVBN (p<0.05) showed significant increases. Sensory evaluation results did not show any significant change for 5 days of chilled storage. Thiamin content showed a decrease for 5 days of chilled storage. Consequently, the ideal shelflife recommended for Pork Bulkogi was within 3 days of chilled storage. CCPs for Pork Bulkogi were purchasing and receiving of raw meat and some seasoning ingredients, heating, chilling, chilled storage, reheating, and distribution.

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