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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Total quality management - It works for aerospace information services

Today we are in the midst of information and 'total quality' revolutions. At the NASA STI Program's Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI), we are focused on using continuous improvements techniques to enrich today's services and products and to ensure that tomorrow's technology supports the TQM-based improvement of future STI program products and services. The Continuous Improvements Program at CASI is the foundation for Total Quality Management in products and services. The focus is customer-driven; its goal, to identify processes and procedures that can be improved and new technologies that can be integrated with the processes to gain efficiencies, provide effectiveness, and promote customer satisfaction. This Program seeks to establish quality through an iterative defect prevention approach that is based on the incorporation of standards and measurements into the processing cycle.

Erwin, James↗

A scientific program for infrared, submillimeter and radio astronomy from space: A report by the Management Operations Working Group

Important and fundamental scientific progress can be attained through space observations in the wavelengths longward of 1 micron. The formation of galaxies, stars, and planets, the origin of quasars and the nature of active galactic nuclei, the large scale structure of the Universe, and the problem of the missing mass, are among the major scientific issues that can be addressed by these observations. Significant advances in many areas of astrophysics can be made over the next 20 years by implementing the outlined program. This program combines large observatories with smaller projects to create an overall scheme that emphasized complementarity and synergy, advanced technology, community support and development, and the training of the next generation of scientists. Key aspects of the program include: the Space Infrared Telescope Facility; the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy; a robust program of small missions; and the creation of the technology base for future major observatories.

Source record↗

The work breakdown structure in software project management

A work breakdown structure (WBS) is defined as an enumeration of all work activities in hierarchic refinement of detail which organizes work to be done into short manageable tasks with quantifiable inputs, outputs, schedules, and assigned responsibilities. Some of the characteristics and benefits of the WBS are reviewed, and ways in which these can be developed and applied in software implementation projects are discussed. Although the material is oriented principally toward new-software production tasks, many of the concepts are applicable to continuing maintenance and operations tasks.

Tausworthe, R. C.↗

Dynamic Instructions for Nuclear Power Plant Field Workers

Most tasks conducted at a nuclear power plant are guided by a procedure in one way or another. Some tasks must be conducted by strictly adhering to the prescribed steps, while other tasks use the procedures as a reference guide. Traditionally, the procedure process in the nuclear industry has been paper heavy. In recent years however, the nuclear industry has considered adopting more dynamic solutions to improve the efficiency of their work management process, advance human and system performance, as well as reduce the cost of handling paper copies of documentation. As a first step, many nuclear utilities in the U.S. deployed solutions that electronically route the documents through the review and approval processes and where the worker in the field uses an electronic copy of the instruction or procedure on a handheld device. These electronic copies are very similar to the format of the paper instruction but do have some additional capabilities to capture recorded input and notes.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Stand and environmental conditions drive functional shifts associated with mesophication in eastern US forests

There is a growing body of evidence that mesic tree species are increasing in importance across much of the eastern US. This increase is often observed in tandem with a decrease in the abundance and importance of species considered to be better adapted to disturbance and drier conditions (e.g., Quercus species). Concern over this transition is related to several factors, including the potential that this transition is self-reinforcing (termed “mesophication”), will result in decreased resiliency of forests to a variety of disturbances, and may negatively impact ecosystem functioning, timber value, and wildlife habitat. Evidence for shifts in composition provide broad-scale support for mesophication, but we lack information on the fine-scale factors that drive the associated functional changes. Understanding this variability is particularly important as managers work to develop site-and condition-specific management practices to target stands or portions of the landscape where this transition is occurring or is likely to occur in the future. To address this knowledge gap and identify forests that are most susceptible to mesophication (which we evaluate as a functional shift to less drought or fire tolerant, or more shade tolerant, forests), we used data from the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program to determine what fine-scale factors impact the rate (change through time) and degree (difference between the overstory and midstory) of change in eastern US forests. We found that mesophication varies along stand and environmental gradients, but this relationship depended on the functional trait examined. For example, shade and drought tolerance suggest mesophication is greatest at sites with more acidic soils, while fire tolerance suggests mesophication increases with soil pH. Mesophication was also generally more pronounced in older stands, stands with more variable diameters, and in wetter sites, but plots categorized as “hydric” were often highly variable. Our results provide evidence that stand-scale conditions impact current and potential future changes in trait conditions and composition across eastern US forests. We provide a starting point for managers looking to prioritize portions of the landscape most at risk and developing treatments to address the compositional and functional changes associated with mesophication.

Woodbridge, Margaret↗

Step 1: Human System Integration (HSI) FY05 Pilot-Technology Interface Requirements for Contingency Management

This document involves definition of technology interface requirements for Contingency Management. This was performed through a review of Contingency Management-related, HSI requirements documents, standards, and recommended practices. Technology concepts in use by the Contingency Management Work Package were considered. Beginning with HSI high-level functional requirements for Contingency Management, and Contingency Management technology elements, HSI requirements for the interface to the pilot were identified. Results of the analysis describe (1) the information required by the pilot to have knowledge of system failures and associated contingency procedures, and (2) the control capability needed by the pilot to obtain system status and procedure information. Fundamentally, these requirements provide the candidate Contingency Management technology concepts with the necessary human-related elements to make them compatible with human capabilities and limitations. The results of the analysis describe how Contingency Management operations and functions should interface with the pilot to provide the necessary Contingency Management functionality to the UA-pilot system. Requirements and guidelines for Contingency Management are partitioned into four categories: (1) Health and Status and (2) Contingency Management. Each requirement is stated and is supported with a rationale and associated reference(s).

Source record↗

Communicating Risk to Program Managers

Program Managers (PM) can protect program resources and improve chances of success by anticipating, understanding and managing risks. Understanding the range of potential risks helps one to avoid or manage the risks. A PM must choose which risks to accept to reduce fire fighting, must meet the expectations of stakeholders consistently, and avoid falling into costly "black holes" that may open. A good risk management process provides the PM more confidence to seize opportunities save money, meet schedule, even improve relationships with people important to the program. Evidence of managing risk and sound internal controls can mean better support from superiors for the program by building a trust and reputation from being on top of issues. Risk managers have an obligation to provide the PM with the best information possible to allow the benefits to be realized (Small Business Consortium, 2004). The Institute for Chartered Accountants in England and Wales sees very important benefits for companies in providing better information about what they do to assess and manage key business risks. Such information will: a) provide practical forward-looking information; b) reduce the cost of capital; c) encourage better risk management; and d) improve accountability for stewardship, investor protection and the usefulness of financial reporting. We are particularly convinced that enhanced risk reporting will help listed companies obtain capital at the lowest possible cost (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England &Wales, June 2002). Risk managers can take a significant role in quantifying the success of their department and communicating those figures to executive (program) management levels while pushing for a broader risk management role. Overall, risk managers must show that risk management work matters in the most crucial place-the bottom line- as they prove risk management can be a profit center (Sullivan, 2004).

Shivers, C. Herbert↗

Science Office for Mission Assessments Overview

The Science Office for Mission Assessments (SOMA) at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) supports the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters in the acquisition of competed, Principal Investigator-led, Earth and space science missions and instruments. SOMA Acquisition Managers work with SMD Program Scientists to develop Announcement of Opportunity (AO) solicitations, and to lead the Technical, Management, and Cost (TMC) evaluations of proposals received in response to the AO solicitations and Phase A concept studies. The SOMA proposal evaluation process is described, along with examples of space science missions that SOMA personnel have worked on.

SOMA↗

Dispatch Manager for NEML2 Constitutive Model Calculations Embedded in MOOSE

This report describes the extended capabilities of the NEML2 constitutive modeling library, including a flexible and efficient work dispatching system designed to leverage both CPU and GPU resources. This enhancement addresses one of the primary computational challenges in large-scale simulations: the ability to distribute and execute batches of material model evaluations across heterogeneous computing devices. The new dispatch system introduces a modular set of dispatcher and scheduler classes that coordinate the flow of data and execution between devices. The dispatcher is responsible for efficiently packaging work, managing device-specific memory operations, and synchronizing results. This modularity allows for extensibility, making it straightforward to integrate additional computing backends in the future. From an implementation standpoint, the dispatcher system interfaces seamlessly with NEML2's existing models. They handle device-aware tensor operations, optimize memory transfers, and support asynchronous execution when applicable. This design ensures that batches of material points can be evaluated concurrently, substantially improving throughput compared to previous single-device or serial implementations. These improvements not only enhance the raw performance of NEML2 but also improve its usability in multiscale and high-fidelity simulations, where the simultaneous evaluation of large material point batches is critical. Benchmarks included in the report demonstrate the system’s scalability, highlighting its effectiveness when leveraging modern GPU architectures.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Industrial Assessment Center Technical Field Manager

The work to be performed involves managing Industrial Assessment Centers through a portfolio of activities. The core activities to be performed are in the general areas of; quality assurance of IAC operations, enhancement of the student IAC experience, program development for improving assessments and implementing smart manufacturing projects, program outreach to carry assessment successes beyond the program, and program integration with other DOE/manufacturing assistance programs. The IAC Technical Field Management Organization (FMO) works in close collaboration with DOE and provides technical management for the IAC program working under policy guidelines established by DOE.

42 ENGINEERING↗