bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of the average power of cross‐talk effects in multiconductor transmission lines
Authors: Linaresy M R. , Kontorovich V. Ya. , Jardón A. H.
Published: July 2007

This article presents an efficient model for the prediction of cross‐talk effects on generator wires and on both the near and far ends of receptor wires of multiconductor transmission lines. The parameter of interest is the average power output of the generator wire, where all effects of multiconductor transmission‐line parameters are included and the cross talk on the receptor wire is also estimated. This model was used in a printed circuit board (PCB) with microstrip lines, and good agreement between theory and measurements was obtained. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Parameter estimation of frequency‐dependent scatterers using superresolution techniques
Authors: Odendaal J. W. , van Jaarsveld P. A.
Published: July 2007

A technique to estimate the frequency dependence of electromagnetic scattering centers is proposed. The technique employs a superresolution algorithm to estimate poles corresponding to the various scattering centers contributing to the total backscattered field. A relationship between the amplitudes of the estimated poles and the frequency dependence of the scatterers is derived. The technique is applied to estimate the frequency dependence of simulated and measured backscattered field data. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A study on the pattern‐forming synthesis of a hemielliptical conformal‐array antenna
Authors: Hashimoto Osamu , Nobori Kanichi , Nishizawa Shinichiro
Published: July 2007

In this article a new pattern‐forming synthesis for an arbitrary conformal‐array antenna is shown. Using this method, various antenna patterns of hemielliptical array for varying the ratio of vertical and horizontal length and number of elements are calculated. As a result, it is confirmed that the side‐lobe level is almost suppressed within the desirable level by using the optimum number of elements. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Modified analysis of conical horns
Authors: Bornemann Jens
Published: July 2007

A modified analysis of conical horns ispresented that takes into account the true phase relationships between the feeding waveguide, the conical horn section, and the aperture phase variation. It is demonstrated that, especially for low‐gain applications, an accurate account of the aperture phase error results in higher gains than those obtained by widely used design methods‐or that a slightly shorter horn is obtained for identical gain specifcations. Comparisons with measured data reveal the advantage of this relatively simple analysis compared with techniques involving the conical waveguide mode spectrum. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Study of a circularly bent slab waveguide as a limiting case of a waveguide of large annular cross section
Authors: Choudhury P. K. , Shukla P. K. , Khastgir P. , Ojha S. P.
Published: July 2007

In this article an analytical investigation has been made of a slab waveguide with a small circular deformation across the direction of wave propagation. The resulting guide can be considered as a waveguide having a large annular cross section. Using the approximation of vanishing refractive index difference between the guiding and the nonguiding regions, fractional powers have been estimated that flow individually through these regions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Equivalent circuit of an inside cylindrical microstrip GAP discontinuity
Authors: And Jui‐Han Lu , Wong Kin‐Lu
Published: July 2007

The equivalent circuit of the microstrip gap discontinuity of a cylindrical microstrip line mounted inside a cylindrical surface is studied using a full‐wave formulation and a moment‐method calculation. The equivalent circuit is modeled as a π network consisting of the equivalent gap admittance and the equivalent open‐end admittance, which are determined from the reflection and transmission coefficients from the gap discontinuity. Typical theoretical results are calculated and presented. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A FDTD networking approach to meshed‐strip lines
Authors: Wang Bing‐Zhong
Published: July 2007

A finite‐difference‐time‐domain (FDTD) networking approach is applied to the full‐wave analysis of the transmission properties of meshedstrip lines. The network formulation incorporated with the FDTD method leads to a large saving in computation time and computer memory. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Characterization of fiber‐optic microwave link with optoelectronic upconverter using impulse response identification system
Authors: Liu Qing Z. , Davies Robert , MacDonald R. Ian
Published: July 2007

A fiber‐optic microwave link with a monolithic integrated optoelectronic upconverter has been characterized experimentally using the impulse response identification system (IRIS). It is shown that a low‐cost optical system performs signal transmission, detection, and conversion, while introducing minimal signal distortion over that of standard radio modulation devices. This offers potential for a low‐cost solution to the problem of distribution of future microwave and millimeter‐wave signals in building for PCN and wireless LAN applications. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analysis of the probability density of the detection signal in an optical coherent system from measurement results using DFB laser diodes
Authors: Ziemann O. , Rauschenbach P. , Irmer R. , Freund R. , Reimer W.
Published: July 2007

This article presents the analysis of the probability density of the envelope of the intermediate‐frequency signal in an optical coherent system. The electrical components were replaced by idealized numerical models, in order to be able to compare the results with theoretical results from the literature. The results from this work agree well with numerical calculations. A numerical simulation will be given in this article. The results make it possible to give much better statements about the statistical properties of laser phase noise. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Experimental performance comparison of analog and digital correlators in optical spread‐spectrum systems
Authors: Al‐Raweshidy H. S.
Published: July 2007

This article evaluates the experimental performance comparison between analog and digital correlation techniques in optical spread‐spectrum systems. The digital correlation achieved a 3‐cm spatial resolution, in comparison with the analog case of 20 cm. To the author's best knowledge this is the best resolution reported to date with a noncoherent system. The advantages of the approach are also discussed with reference to synchronization performance. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Efficient calculation of reaction integrals for aperture coupled cavity resonators
Authors: Singer M. , Friedsam G. L. , Biebl E. M.
Published: July 2007

An efficient method for the calculation of the field distribution in aperture coupled cavity resonators is proposed. The coupling between the resonator and the surrounding free space is accomplished by means of an aperture in one of the cavity walls. This concept is very attractive for integrated microwave and miilimeter‐wave circuits, because active elements can be integrated within the aperture. The field distribution is solued using Galerkin's method. For rooftop basis functions the reaction integrals are analytical calculated in the space domain for each cavity mode. A criterion is derived that gives the minimum number of cavity modes depending on the dimensions of the cavity and the size of the discretization cells. Eficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are demonstrated for slot coupled cavity resonators. The numerical results are compared with measurements. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electromagnetic scattering from a circular cylinder with an anisotropic surface impedance due to an obliquely incident plane wave
Authors: Kishk Ahmed A. , Kildal Per‐Simon
Published: July 2007

The series solution of the electromagnetic scattering from a circular cylinder with an anisotropic surface impedance due to an arbitrary plane‐wave incidence is given. The solution can be used as a canonical problem, and for validation of more general numerical methods or for exact calculations of the cylinder with the actual dimension of the realization of the surface impedance. Examples are given for verification purposes. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Iterative angular‐mode inversion of a conducting cylinder
Authors: Park Seon‐Kyu , Park Cheon‐Seok , Ra Jung‐Woong
Published: July 2007

For the iterative reconstruction of the shape function of a two‐dimensional conducting object, the angular modal representation of the scattered field gives effective choice of measurement points especially in the presence of noise in the scattered field. It is shown that the object center and its initial shape may be estimated from the effective propagating modes of the measured scattered field. By employing N effective propagating modes excluding the exponentially small higher‐order modes, numerical calculation shows that the reconstruction of the shape function with 2N unknowns is possible. When the noise is present, the characteristics of the cost function show that the effective propagating modes with multiple incident waves eliminating the shadow region of the object are needed for the stable inversion. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electromagnetic scattering by some composite bianisotropic eccentric cylinders
Authors: Wenyan Yin
Published: July 2007

The scattering of a TM‐polarized plane wave by some bianisotropic eccentric cylinders is considered. Such composite structures include a one‐layer bianisotropic eccentric cylindrical shell, a two‐layer bianisotropic eccentric cylinder, and an impedance cylinder embedded in an eccentric bianisotropic cylinder, respectively. An algorithm based on the boundary value technique combined with the addition theorem for cylindrical functions is constructed, and is also suitable for the obliquely incident case. Numerical results are presented to show the different effects of various geometrical and constitutive parameters on the copolarized and cross‐polarized bistatic echo widths of bianisotropic eccentric cylinders. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analysis of a coupled coplanar waveguide for MMIC applications
Authors: Zhu N. H. , Qiu W. , Pun E. Y. B. , Chung P. S.
Published: July 2007

The article presents a computational method for calculating the electric potential and field distributions in a coupled coplanar waveguide with finite electrode thickness. This method provides a simple and fast approach to the quasistatic analysis of the structures. The same structure with infinitely thin electrodes is also analyzed using conformal‐mapping techniques, and excellent agreement of the results is obtained between the two methods. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Microwave properties of traveling‐wave InGaAs/InGaAlAs quantum‐well optical waveguide modulators
Authors: Mihailidi M. M. , Zucker J. E. , Feuer M. D. , Khan M. N. , Chang T. Y. , Sauer N. J.
Published: July 2007

We analyze and measure the electrical properties of a hybrid coplanar/ microstrip traveling‐wave optical modulator containing an InGaAs/InAlAs quantum‐well electron transfer structure. S‐parameter measurements to 20 GHz reveal the microwave refractive index and microwave loss as a function of waveguide geometry. These experiments allow us to project electro‐optical modulation bandwidths in excess of 40 GHz. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bandpass distributed amplifier design guidelines
Authors: Prasad S. N. , Kajjam Ashok , Li Zhi M.
Published: July 2007

A systematic approach to the design of GaAs FET bandpass distributed amplifiers is presented for the first time. The graphical design procedures presented enable one to examine the trade‐offs between the design variables and arrive at the appropriate design for a specified gain and bandwidth. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Broadside‐coupled coplanar waveguide: Studies of hybrid modes and dominant‐mode operation
Authors: Nguyen Cam
Published: July 2007

Hybrid modes in the broadside‐coupled coplanar waveguide (CPW) are examined for the first time using the full‐wave spectral‐domain method. Various numerical results for the characteristic impedances and effective dielectric constants are obtained to study the behaviors of the dominant and higher‐order modes as well as to assess the operating range of the dominant propagation modes in this structure. Criteria to enhance the dominant‐mode frequency range are also discussed. Over the dominant‐mode frequency range, the dispersion is low. However, variation of the characteristic impedances is more pronounced than that of the effective dielectric constants, indicating the need for dynamic characteristic impedances for accurate circuit designs. The results in the low‐frequency limit agree well with those obtained using a quasistatic approach. Also, the calculated effective dielectric constants of the dominant odd mode match closely the existing data for the effective dielectric constants of a shielded conductor‐backed CPW. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Address recognition in all‐optical packet switching by FWM in semiconductor amplifiers
Authors: D'Ottavi A. , Iannone E. , Scotti S.
Published: July 2007

In this Letter we propose a novel technique for all‐optical address recognition in all‐optical packet switching, based on wide‐deviation FSK with direct detection and FWM in semiconductor optical amplifiers. The probability of erroneous recognition is evaluated theoretically to assess the feasibility of this solution. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hybrid and monolithic tunable recursive filter design at microwaves including a new stability analysis procedure
Authors: Delmond M. , Billonnet L. , Jarry B. , Guillon P.
Published: July 2007

Active filter structures are proposed using a low‐frequency transversal and recursive approach. Separate studies of the different functional blocks lead to the design of nontunable and tunable original structures for which we present both simulated and measured results in MMIC technology. We also validate a new stability analysis method developed in [1], by comparing the normalized determinant function to the classical recursive approach. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Field‐of‐view overlap effects in helmet‐mounted night‐vision systems
Authors: Alam M. S. , Karim M. A. , Zheng S. H. , Iftekharuddin K. M.
Published: July 2007

The effect of increasing the field of view by partial‐overlap technique was investigated experimentally for both static and moving images. A number of factors, such as binocular rivalry, suppression, image breakup, resolution, and search time were investigated. The experimental results show that the binocular overlap area should be greater than 40% for the display to be comfortable to the eye. Image breakup effect was found to be predominant for static images but negligible for moving images. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electromagnetic scattering from slot antennas on waveguides with arbitrary terminations
Authors: Chen Ji , Jin Jianming
Published: July 2007

A numerical technique is presented to study the scattering of electromagnetic waves from slot antennas fed by waveguides with arbitrary terminations. The technique employs the method of moments in conjunction with the entire‐domain basis functions to solve the integral equation derived for the field in the slots. The validity and accuracy of the proposed technique are demonstrated by comparing the numerical results to the solution obtained using the finite‐element method. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New velocity‐matching technique for integrated‐optic traveling‐wave modulators
Authors: Fushen Chen
Published: July 2007

Multisection electrodes are proposed with the same interaction length but different transmission lengths from a microwave input to the interaction sections, so that the proper microwave transmission delay can provide exactly the same polarity of microwave voltage for each section. Therefore, the electro‐optically induced phase shift in each of the electrode sections can always add in phase, and several sections can be used to reduce the required drive voltage at the design frequency. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electromagnetic scattering from an anisotropically impedant cylinder immersed in a chiral medium
Authors: Shanker Balasubramaniam
Published: July 2007

We first obtain solutions in terms of partial waves for scattering from an anisotropic impedance cylinder. The impedance boundary condition takes a very general form; n × (n × E) = Z n × H, where the elements of the impedance dyadic Z are arbitrary. Using these expression, we derive the scattering response of such a cylinder coated with a chiral medium for both the TE and TM polarizations of the incident wave. As we have used a generalized impedance dyadic Z, the solution presented here is very general and can accommodate a number of reductions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A fast multiresolution moment‐method algorithm using wavelet concepts
Authors: Kim Hyeongdong , Ling Hao
Published: July 2007

A fast multiresolution moment‐method algorithm is developed based on the spectral‐domain wavelet concept. The computational savings are achieved by taking advantage of the multiscale feature of the spectral‐domain Green's function. It is shown that the multiresolution algorithm leads to reduced computational complexity in the matrix‐vector multiplication operation. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Quartic perfectly matched layers for dielectric waveguides and gratings
Authors: Chen J. C. , Li K.
Published: July 2007

In some cases, perfectly matched layers (PML) with quartic conductor profiles are superior to the traditional quadratic gradations. This PML boundary condition can be applied to gratings; it does not suffer from Fabry‐Perot fringes and is not swamped by noise, unlike the absorbing boundary condition. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
On the reciprocity factor for shielded microstrip
Authors: Livernois Thomas G.
Published: July 2007

Numerical results relating off‐diagonal elements of the impedance matrix [Z] for a two‐port waveguide junction are derived based on a general waveguide circuit theory [1] and a rigorous space‐domain approach. The junction between a coaxial line and a lossy shielded microstrip line is considered. Data indicate that even when the waveguides are composed of reciprocal media, the forward and reverse transmission coefficients are not necessarily equal. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dominant mode field solutions in a chiral‐filled rectangular waveguide
Authors: Samant Abhay R. , Whites Keith W.
Published: July 2007

There are two principle topics of this article. The first is the development of a numerical technique to compute the field patterns within a longitudinally invariant rectangular waveguide filled with a chiral material. The finite‐difference method is used because of the complex nature of the solution to the chiral rectangular waveguide. Based on these field plots, a simple approximate series solution for the dominant mode is proposed for these guided‐wave structures and verification comparisons are made. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electromagnetic scattering by nonlinear dielectric cylinders with non‐kerr‐like nonlinearities
Authors: Caorsi Salvatore , And Andrea Massa , Pasterino Matteo
Published: July 2007

In this letter, electromagnetic scattering by nonlinear dielectric cylinders under transverse magnetic illumination is considered. The nonlinearity is assumed to be so weak as to allow the application of an iterative approach based on the distorted‐wave Born approximation. The bistatic and back‐scattering radar cross sections per unit length are computed. The key feature of the Letter is the use of nonlinearities represented by models different from previously assumed Kerr‐like ones. In particular, we consider nonlinearities that are of the saturated and are characterized by power laws. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Performance analysis of cellular mobile communicatons over multistar ring fiberoptic/coaxial catv networks
Authors: Lee Yang‐Han , Lai Eugene , Hsieh Ching‐Tang
Published: July 2007

The embedded hybrid fiber‐optic/coaxial CATV network can provide cellular mobile communications with a star ring fiber‐optic network to distribute broadcasting cable TV programs and to provide the transmission of a bidirectional wireless signal. There are two lasers at the head end. The down‐link laser is split into two parts. One part is the local oscillator for the up‐link coherent detection, and the other part is externally modulated by the combined TV and wireless signals. The up‐link laser is connected to the ring network with the cascaded phase modulators scheme. For the location neighborhood and frequency reuse, we may apply the multistar ring CATV cellular network with the distance between the head end and the first‐level hub of 5 km and the distance between the first‐level hub and the second‐level hub of 0.5 km. The total hub number of 42 for the multistar ring system can support 34,860 wireless users for the IS‐54 system with frequency reuse number of 7 covering an area of radius 5 km. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Generalized multipole technique for electromagnetic scattering by arbitrary‐shaped two‐dimensional anisotropic objects
Authors: Zhang Ming , Shu Yong‐Ze
Published: July 2007

The generalized multipole technique (GMT) is applied successfully to obtain electromagnetic scattering from an arbitrary‐shaped two‐dimensional anisotropic object. The results obtained for circular and square anisotropic cylinders are given along with validations obtained via an alternative method. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Polypharmacy among people with rheumatoid arthritis: the role of age, disease duration and comorbidity
Authors: Treharne G. J. , Douglas K. M. J. , Iwaszko J. , Panoulas V. F. , Hale E. D. , Mitton D. L. , Piper H. , Erb N. , Kitas G. D.
Published: July 2007

Background: People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often have comorbidities with associated disability and complex medication regimens. Little published evidence exists about why people with RA require so many medications, although it is logical to hypothesize that this may relate to older age, longer duration of RA, more active RA, worse functional disability and a greater number of comorbidities.

Objectives: We set out to quantify polypharmacy in RA and identify its predictors in an observational cohort.

Methods: The case notes of 348 people receiving secondary care for RA were reviewed to record polypharmacy. The 28‐joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) was calculated and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Self‐administered Comorbidity Questionnaire (SCQ) were completed.

Results: The mean total number of medications was 5.39, with a maximum of 16; of these, a mean of 2.41 medications were directly for RA. A mediational relationship was identified: older age and longer RA duration were significant predictors of a greater total number of medications, but these relationships were explained by the greater number of comorbidities in older participants and those with longer RA duration. Polypharmacy was not related to RA activity or functional disability.

Conclusions: Polypharmacy is common among people with RA and associates with older age and longer RA duration through a greater number of comorbidities. Regular review of the full treatment plan of individuals with RA by pharmacists and other health professionals specializing in rheumatology, to weigh the benefits and risks of each medication and their interactions in light of RA activity and comorbidities, is advocated. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disseminated sporotrichosis presenting with granulomatous inflammatory multiple mononeuropathies
Authors: Mauermann Michelle L. , Klein Christopher J. , Orenstein Robert , Dyck P. James B.
Published: July 2007

We describe a case of sporotrichosis that disseminated to involve multiple nerves after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy and then precipitously worsened after withdrawal of therapy. This case illustrates that multiple mononeuropathies are not always caused by vasculitis, and a correct pathological diagnosis should be established before treatment. Based on clinical and pathological features, the mechanism of neuropathy may have been due to either direct nerve infection or a bystander effect of inflammatory/immune damage or, perhaps more likely, to both mechanisms. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Vitamin B12 and methylmalonic acid levels in patients presenting with polyneuropathy
Authors: Nardin Rachel A. , Amick Amy N.H. , Raynor Elizabeth M.
Published: July 2007

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of definite vitamin B12 deficiency (defined as ≤240 pg/ml) and possible vitamin B12 deficiency (defined as >240 pg/ml and a methylmalonic acid [MMA] level >243 nmol/L) in patients with polyneuropathy and to determine whether patients in both groups respond to vitamin B12 repletion. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 581 patients presenting with polyneuropathy over a 2‐year period; 4% had definite vitamin B12 deficiency and 32% had possible deficiency as the sole or contributing cause for their polyneuropathy. For those who received treatment with vitamin B12, subjective improvement was seen in 87% with definite and in 43% with possible deficiency. Possible vitamin B12 deficiency, defined as an elevated MMA level, is a common finding in patients with polyneuropathy and treatment of these patients with vitamin B12 may lead to clinical improvement. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Dr. W. Edwards Deming—a prophet with belated honor in his own country
Authors: Bhote Keki R.
Published: July 2007

“Export anything to a friendly country, except American management”.

“Unemployment is not inevitable…it is created by management”.

“American management has fallen into the hands of financers and lawyers—paper entrepreneurs”.
The invisible workforce: How to align contract and temporary workers with core organizational goals
Authors: Jacobs Richard A.
Published: July 2007

If combined in a line entry, outsource, contract, and temporary work would be the largest element of many private and public organizations' operating statements. These type of employment arrangements are among the fastest growing portions of the workforce, now representing about one in every five workers. Yet despite its growth, outsourcing is frequently poorly controlled, high in cost, and a drain on quality and service performance. Outsourcing can, however, be successfully managed. This article illustrates the philosophies that managers must adopt and the steps they must take to help turn outsourcing into a competitive advantage for their organizations.
Strategic quality management: Turning the spotlight on strategic as well as tactical issues
Authors: Recardo Ronald J.
Published: July 2007

Seeking to improve their performance and product and/or service quality, many organizations focus exclusively on tactical quality issues. This is often done at the expense of the fundamental strategic direction of the organization. To avoid the mediocre results that sometimes stem from such poorly conceived total quality management programs, managers must learn to design, implement, and evaluate a strategic quality management effort.
Improving organizational quality by forging the best union‐management relationship
Authors: Cohen‐Rosenthal Edward , Burton Cynthia
Published: July 2007

A positive union‐management relationship can be a major driver for organizational improvement. Too often the quality of this relationship is sidestepped or ignored. When establishing total quality or participative management programs in unionized workplaces, organizational management often assumes that the programs will work well, that this will be obvious to everyone, and that, therefore, the union will go along. None of these three assumptions is necessarily true. Just as other important changes in the organization need to be addressed head‐on, so too does the challenge of developing the best possible union‐management relationship while driving the organization toward quality improvement.
Reengineering for simplicity and flexibility at siemens solar industries
Authors: Ardhaldjian R. Paul , Fahner Michael J.
Published: July 2007

Simplicity and flexibility are goals that everyone should consider when reengineering a process. They were essential to productivity and quality improvements at Siemens Solar Industries. This case study describes how Siemens combined creativity and some fundamental manufacturing principles in successfully reengineering its circuit assembly process.
The meeting as a lever for organizational improvement
Authors: Johann Bernard
Published: July 2007

Imagine a company that wants to focus on reducing cycle time but that does not set any action items or assign any due dates during its organizational meetings. How important is time to that company? Is there any relation between what is said and what is done there?.

Although managers and executives spend 70 to 80 percent of their time in meetings, this organizational rite has been neglected as a powerful lever for change. This article is not about using colored pens and flip charts; it is about fostering cooperation and teamwork in the arena in which people work together—the meeting. Meetings are windows into organizational culture. By coaching leaders on how to effectively run their meetings, managers can initiate fundamental organizational change.
Applying the theory of constraints' process management technique to an administrative function at stanley furniture
Authors: Spencer Michael S. , Wathen Samuel
Published: July 2007

This article describes the successful application of the five‐step focusing process productivity improvement technique to an administrative function. A component of the theory of constraints, this productivity improvement method has usually been applied in manufacturing settings. The process allows management to identify the critical operations that determine the overall output from both the physical system and the administrative support system. Once identified, bottlenecks are systematically removed, thereby improving the performance of the entire system.
What do you do when your organization isn't ready for TQM?
Authors: Forbes Lincoln H.
Published: July 2007

In today's challenging economic climate, many organizations have come to recognize that improved quality is an essential ingredient for success. Many may want to jump on the total quality management (TQM) bandwagon, but are not ready or willing to invest either the time or the significant resources that a TQM program typically requires. This article discusses strategies for improving quality in that type of environment.
Kaizen leads to breakthroughs in responsiveness—and the shingo prize—at critikon
Authors: Tanner Cheryl , Roncarti Ron
Published: July 2007

The world market share leader in the peripheral intravenous catheter market, Johnson & Johnson Medical's Critikon Vascular Access Facility attributes its latest successes—including a 1994 Shingo Prize—to a management philosophy of continuous improvement through total employee involvement. This case study describes how Critikon launched an aggressive kaizen continuous improvement program to implement cellular just‐in‐time manufacturing principles that led to extraordinary accomplishments in a relatively short period of time.
Recognizing failure factors helps small‐business turnarounds
Authors: Sheldon Dan
Published: July 2007

The chances for a failing small business to survive and prosper are improved when owners and managers follow general turnaround management guidelines and recognize the factors that most contribute to creating their economic crisis. By examining those factors from four perspectives—based on whether they originate inside or outside of the firm and whether the type of required corrective response is predominantly administrative or strategic—small business leaders can collect the information they need to get their firm back on track.
The t‐model: A systematic approach for implementing change
Authors: Plenert Gerhard , Hibino Shozo
Published: July 2007

To survive, organizations must learn how to change. And to efficiently implement needed changes, they must have a formal system. This article introduces the T‐model, a mechanism to facilitate rapid change, the type that is critical in effective time‐to‐market considerations in total quality management environment.
Using process reengineering to revamp the finance function of a multinational pharmaceutical firm
Authors: Recardo Ronald J.
Published: July 2007

During the 1990s staff functions have come under increasing pressure to improve the value they provide to line departments. This case study describes how the finance division of a large pharmaceutical firm used reengineering to reorganize itself to more closely support a customer‐focused business strategy.
Critical success factors for reengineering business processes
Authors: Leth Steven A.
Published: July 2007

Reengineering of major business processes is an integral component in the pursuit of continuous improvement. With its emphasis on cross‐functional, top‐down process or system change, the tactic complements total quality management. But even though the results are potentially significant, more reengineering programs fail than succeed. Five factors are critical to the success of a reengineering initiative. This article discusses those factors and offers managers suggestions on how to make sure they get the most from their reengineering efforts.
Using a formula for creativity to yield organizational quality improvement
Authors: Firestien Roger L. , Kumiega Kenneth J.
Published: July 2007

Creativity is a strategic business weapon. The companies that will survive and thrive will not be the ones with the deepest pockets, but the ones that can utilize the creativity of their workforce. This article explores a model for unleashing creativity in organizations, illustrates the vital link between quality and creativity, and introduces creative problem solving, a method to help individuals and organizations become deliberately creative. It also illustrates the benefits of successfully applying creative problem solving in organizations and provides recommendations for those who want to embark on any type of change program.
Linking creativity, common vision, and customer connection: Synergy for organizational competitiveness
Authors: Burns Greg , Napier Barbara
Published: July 2007

Over the past five years, creativity and innovation have become critical as organizations attempt to stay ahead of the competition. This article discusses the relationships among three critical aspects of organizational climate: creativity, common vision, and customer connection. Actions that leaders can take to improve their organization's climate to make it more creative are also discussed, with special emphases on how to increase the level of customer connection and common vision.
From team building to community building
Authors: Nirenberg John
Published: July 2007

Although many organizations have become team‐oriented, few are harnessing their full power. When teams become self‐managing, the next logical step is to build workplace community—a truly living organization. Workplace community will unleash the full potential of the workforce and help realize the only lasting competitive advantage: brainpower, imagination, and resourcefulness. this article discusses the process of bow teams can become a workplace community and refers to several companies supporting the effort, ft concludes wilh a summary of the critical aspects required to build workplace community.
The U.S. patent and trademark office: A case study in business process reengineering
Authors: Taylor Susan
Published: July 2007

In spite of Vice President Al Gore's initiative, few federal government agencies have actively embraced the concept of business process reengineering. One notable exception is the Patent and Trademark Office of the Department of Commerce. Already one of the best managed agencies in the federal government, the PTO is revamping the application process for both patents and trademarks and expects to save lens of millions of dollars every year once the redesigned systems are fully implemented.

The new processes will take full advantage of electronic technology to achieve huge reductions in labor and printing costs, as well as allow innovative and flexible management techniques such as work‐at‐home programs. Responsibility and authority will be concentrated in fewer employees through job enrichment and restructuring, and the level of service provided to PTO's customers will improve. The redesigned trademark application process also will meet up coming international trademark requirements.
Total quality through speed: Alliedsignal's fast breakthrough
Authors: Parker T. Wood
Published: July 2007

In about one year, AlliedSignal, Inc. increased its net income by almost $1 billion, despite a flagging market for many of its products. In the three years that followed, the multibillion‐dollar manufacturing corporation has consistently achieved aggressive goals for improvements in productivity and a range of other business results. To create this fast sustained breakthrough, AlliedSignal has emphasized cycle lime reduction, introduced and institutionalized by a company wide initiative called Total Quality Through Speed (TQS).

Numerous articles have been written about the concept of cycle time reduction. This article, however, describes how AlliedSignal put the concept into practice. It also discusses corporate actions that laid the foundation for rapid productivity improvement and the critical success factors underlying the effectiveness of AlliedSignal's TQS program.
Uncovering implementation problems keeps TQM on track at Iowa's department of employment services
Authors: Spencer Michael S. , Loomba Aruinder P. S.
Published: July 2007

More and more government organizations are implementing Total Quality Management programs. One of the initial steps in doing this is to conduct an organizational assessment of employees' attitudes toward quality‐related principles and practices. Thus, an organization can determine the degree of its quality orientation and uncover opportunities for bolstering interest in and support for quality improvement. This article discusses the quality assessment efforts of a Midwest government agency and examines the challenges it faces in achieving successful TQM implementation.
Military pharmacy looks to TQM to satisfy its customers
Authors: Scheldt Anthony , Amsler Gordon M.
Published: July 2007

This article describes a study of problems with the operation of a military base pharmacy. The investigation was accomplished using statistical quality control and operations management tools, including Pareto analysis, survey techniques, and layout analysis. An analysis of customer complaints showed that the time to fill new prescriptions was the major cause of customer discontent. A process action team (PAT) approach was used to ensure that recommended solutions were compatible with local resources.
Focusing on time and teams to eliminate waste at shingo prize‐winning ford electronics
Authors: Lowry David
Published: July 2007

Ford Electronics Manufacturing Corporation's Markham, Ontario, plant won the 1994 Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence thanks to a comprehensive waste reduction program begun during the late 1980s. This article outlines the unique approach taken at the plant to implement its program, which concentrated on inventory management, floor space utilization, and employee empowerment.
Uncommon sense: Lean manufacturing speeds cycle time to improve low‐volume production at Hughes
Authors: Roby Don
Published: July 2007

What can a company do to reduce costs and eliminate non‐value‐added activities from the production process? As this article shows, it may be necessary to cost away some long‐cherished ideas about standard manufacturing practices.
The corporate ombudsman at work in health care, banking, utility, and transportation firms
Authors: Ziegenfuss James T.
Published: July 2007

How do corporate executives handle internal people problems and encourage the continuing development of their human social system? One tool is the corporate ombudsman.

Four organizations with active ombudsmen in four industrial fields (banking, utilities, transportation, and health‐care) were studied as a continuation of research on corporate ombudsmen begun in the 1980s. The results are of interest to all organizations concerned with managing employee disputes and litigation and continuously improving productivity and quality.
Competing based on the customer's hierarchy of needs
Authors: Schaffer Doug
Published: July 2007

Even when companies improve their performance, they often have difficulty achieving real competitive advantage. In the face of often astounding operational improvements, most customers just don't seem very excited.

The reason? Customers have largely been excluded from improvement efforts to date. For companies to better performance in ways that matter to their customers, they must know why customers buy from them in the first place. And once they do, why they keep coming back. This represents a shifting heirarchy of needs that often escapes the notice of companies trying to gain advantage in today's marketplace. This article outlines the stages of the customer‐supplier relationship and provides guidelines for companies that want to improve their performance in ways that will make their customers sit up and take notice.
Employee‐owned standard operating procedures smooth and regulate production at nature's sunshine
Authors: Shepherd Lit
Published: July 2007

More and more companies are appreciating the value of written standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure efficiency and uniformity in a variety of production and service settings. But for those SOPs to be beneficial, they should be designed by the people with the real power to improve daily operations—the people on the shop floor and in the office who do the jobs to be described in the SOPs, day in and day out.

This article details how to obtain management and employee support for the SOP process, design and implement this concept, and set performance measures to ensure that objectives are accomplished. It also emphasizes the necessity of documenting SOPs and shows how to test them for quality and effectiveness before and after they are used.
The secrets of successful empowerment
Authors: Story Mark R.
Published: July 2007

Many companies today are seeking to empower their workforce for all the right reasons, but they often fail to achieve the results they want. Meanwhile, “how to” seminars, books, and tapes on the subject abound. What does empowerment mean? How does an organization know it has it and what are the tangible benefits to be reaped from it?. This article describes empowerment in action, using a series of illustrations to show what it is and what it is not.
Using a family of measures to assess organizational performance
Authors: Thor Carl G.
Published: July 2007

Every organization is interested in finding out how it's doing. But there is no one measure that will provide a meaningful answer. This article discusses the need for a family of measures—and how to arrive at the optimal number and types of measures to make up that family.
Twelve steps to walking the talk
Authors: Maguire Brian
Published: July 2007

What does an organization need to do to reach its goals, and how can it best do so? These are the questions that haunt many a manager. This article outlines a 12‐step process to help organizations improve their operations by learning how to manage what matters most.
How to strengthen your leadership mettle
Authors: Womack Larry
Published: July 2007

… “Bring me only good news!” ordered the sales manager of the marine products wholesaler. When his charges did otherwise, they were blamed for whatever problems they brought before him. Fed up with the sales manager's practice of “killing the messenger,” the company president asked the manager to stop; but he didn't, and no additional corrective action was taken. The sales manager personally controlled over 30 percent of the company's sales. The president was afraid that further retribution for the demoralizing practice might cause the sales manager to take business elsewhere.

… In operation for less than a year, the fledgling advertising agency had already won an award for a radio commercial created for its largest account, a chain of auto transmission repair facilities. A salesman from a radio station on which the commercial was regularly aired told the CEO of the agency that there had been numerous complaints that the advertised offer was misleading and unethical. The CEO told the salesman that she'd talk with the client and get to the bottom of the matter. When she confronted the irascible owner of the chain, he told her it was none of her business. He said that her job was to prepare commercials from the information he gave her. Without discussing the matter with her partners, she resigned the account on the spot.
A small amount of empowerment pays off big in a regional bank
Authors: Kappelman Leon A. , Prybutok Victor R.
Published: July 2007

An autocratic management style can demoralize employees and hinder productivity. But for an organization to be successful, there are times when an autocratic approach is necessary. This case study describes how a 700‐branch regional bank provided a small opportunity for employee empowerment during a time of massive organizational change, and how this contributed to the successful implementation of a quality improvement program.
TQM as a driver of change and profitability at Friendly's
Authors: Carpenter David G.
Published: July 2007

What is the secret to increasing capacity and revenue while reducing inventory as well as operating and material costs? At Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, the answer came in the form of a tailor‐made TQM program that stressed teamwork and heightened morale in a new customer‐focused corporate culture.
A participatively designed shift system reduces turnover in a glass factory
Authors: Cummings Thomas G. , Kizilos Mark A.
Published: July 2007

Organizations that seek the advantages of 24‐hour operations frequently experience personnel problems related to the demands of shiftwork. Common difficulties include excessive turnover, poor productivity, and increased incidence of industrial accidents. This article describes the experience of a glass company facing high turnover stemming from employee dissatisfaction with shiftwork in one of its continuous operation factories. Designed as a high‐involvement organization, the factory formed an employee task force to analyze the turnover problem and develop recommendations. Once the shift system was identified as a major factor contributing to employee turnover, a team of employees and managers was formed to design a new one. Following the adoption of the new shift system, turnover was reduced significantly. Based on this organization's experience, a general strategy for shift system design is proposed.
Reengineering ryder to meet rising customer expectations
Authors: Riddle J. Ernie
Published: July 2007

How can a company that is in the business of providing transportation and logistics solutions add value to the services it provides its customers? For Ryder System, Inc., the answer was found in process reengineering. This article details Ryder's ongoing reengineering effort, which began with a rethinking of its view of the market and a readjustment of the company's strategic focus. It also discusses the progress made and pitfalls encountered thus far, shedding special insight into the roles of leadership and corporate culture in fundamentally transforming an organization.
Managing a sea of quality information at Ark‐La‐Tex aquatics
Authors: Lin Binshan , Fite Darrell
Published: July 2007

When it comes to the wholesale distribution of perishable items, timely and accurate information regarding sales, inventories, and warranties is critical. In such a setting, a well‐implemented quality control information system (QCIS) can ensure not only growth, but also survival. This article describes the components of the QCIS at Ark‐La‐Tex Aquatics and how the new system enhanced project teamwork and systems‐level thinking.