Engineering Faculty Internship: Evaluation of a Continuous Improvement Model in a Shared Responsibility Environment

9412648 Currie这个项目的目标是评估田纳西州斯普林希尔的土星公司的持续改进模式。在该项目下，信息的收集、分析和在持续改进模式下得出的结论的过程将根据标准的工程设计实践进行评估。将通过观察和项目团队的参与来评估工作人员团队产生替代方案和做出基于共识的决策的有效性。将与工会和管理层的团队成员进行面谈，以了解所接受的培训是否充分，并就如何改进这一制度的有效性提出建议。本项目下要执行的其他任务包括：评价将建议移交工作单位实施的情况；记录和评价沟通和集体动态进程的成效；评价和记录工作小组成员及其工作单位成员接受建议改进的激励和动力；以及鼓励提高生产率的公司政策。这个项目的潜力包括加强参与该项目的学生和教职员工对持续改进的理解。在持续改进计划下，我们将获得对工程实践和管理理念的宝贵见解。同样，该项目的结果将帮助土星公司和其他类似的制造组织如何改进持续改进模式，从而制定战略，最大限度地从此类计划中获益。

9412648 Currie The objective of this project is to evaluate the continuous improvement models at the Saturn Corporation in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Under the project, the process in which information is gathered, analyzed, and conclusion reached under the continuous improvement model will be evaluated according to standard engineering design practices. The effectiveness of teams of workers to generate alternatives and make consensus based decisions will be evaluated by observations and involvement by the project team. Interview with team members from both union and management will be conducted concerning the adequacy of training received and recommended changes to improve the effectiveness of the system. Additional tasks to be performed under this project include the evaluation of the transfer of recommendations to work units for implementation, documentation and evaluation of the effectiveness of communication and group dynamic process, evaluation and documentation and incentives and motivation of team members and their work unit members to accept recommended improvements, and corporate policies encouraging increased productivity. The potentials for this project include the strengthening of the understanding of continuous improvement by the students and faculty involved in the project. Valuable insights will be gained into engineering practices and management philosophy under continuous improvement programs. Similarly, the outcome of the project will help Saturn Corporation and other similar manufacturing organizations on how to refine continuous improvement models and consequently, develop strategies to maximize the benefits from such program.