Showing papers on "Engineering economics published in 2012"

Decision-Based Design: Integrating Consumer Preferences into Engineering Design

Abstract: Building upon the fundamental principles of decision theory, Decision-Based Design: Integrating Consumer Preferences into Engineering Design presents an analytical approach to enterprise-driven Decision-Based Design (DBD) as a rigorous framework for decision making in engineering design. Once the related fundamentals of decision theory, economic analysis, and econometrics modelling are established, the remaining chapters describe the entire process, the associated analytical techniques, and the design case studies for integrating consumer preference modeling into the enterprise-driven DBD framework. Methods for identifying key attributes, optimal design of human appraisal experiments, data collection, data analysis, and demand model estimation are presented and illustrated using engineering design case studies. The scope of the chapters also provides: A rigorous framework of integrating the interests from both producer and consumers in engineering design, Analytical techniques of consumer choice modelling to forecast the impact of engineering decisions, Methods for synthesizing business and engineering models in multidisciplinary design environments, and Examples of effective application of Decision-Based Design supported by case studies. No matter whether you are an engineer facing decisions in consumer related product design, an instructor or student of engineering design, or a researcher exploring the role of decision making and consumer choice modelling in design, Decision-Based Design: Integrating Consumer Preferences into Engineering Design provides a reliable reference over a range of key topics.

Cost Engineering for manufacturing: Current and future research

Abstract: The article aims to identify the scientific challenges and point out future research directions on Cost Engineering. The research areas covered in this article include Design Cost; Manufacturing Cost; Operating Cost; Life Cycle Cost; Risk and Uncertainty management and Affordability Engineering. Collected information at the Academic Forum on Cost Engineering held at Cranfield University in 2008 and further literature review findings are presented. The forum set the scope of the Cost Engineering research, a brainstorming was held on the forum and literatures were further reviewed to understand the current and future practices in cost engineering. The main benefits of the article include coverage of the current research on cost engineering from different perspectives and the future research areas on Cost Engineering.

Meta-Heuristics Optimization Algorithms in Engineering, Business, Economics, and Finance

Abstract: Optimization techniques have developed into a significant area concerning industrial, economics, business, and financial systems. With the development of engineering and financial systems, modern optimization has played an important role in service-centered operations and as such has attracted more attention to this field. Meta-heuristic hybrid optimization is a newly development mathematical framework based optimization technique. Designed by logicians, engineers, analysts, and many more, this technique aims to study the complexity of algorithms and problems.Meta-Heuristics Optimization Algorithms in Engineering, Business, Economics, and Finance explores the emerging study of meta-heuristics optimization algorithms and methods and their role in innovated real world practical applications. This book is a collection of research on the areas of meta-heuristics optimization algorithms in engineering, business, economics, and finance and aims to be a comprehensive reference for decision makers, managers, engineers, researchers, scientists, financiers, and economists as well as industrialists.

Energy Savings for a Manufacturing Facility Using Building Simulation Modeling: A Case Study

Abstract: :Efforts to improve energy efficiency are an increasing concern for many facility engineering managers. Building energy simulation software can provide a useful tool to assess facility energy consumption and to develop cost effective energy efficiency improvements. In this case study, two energy simulation software packages were linked to create an improved approach to modeling a manufacturing plant. Both energy simulation programs were observed to be adequate in modeling the facility energy consumption; however, this study also revealed limitations in both programs' ability to accurately model industrial facilities. To illustrate the combined energy models, a case study was conducted with five alternatives. The alternatives were evaluated using payback and after-tax analysis (ATA) figures of merit. The analysis illustrated the problem of using payback to choose among competing alternatives. The engineering manager is provided with a robust template for energy analysis as an economic decision maki...

Fundamentals of Engineering Economics and Decision Analysis

Abstract: The authors cover two general topics: basic engineering economics and risk analysis in this text. Within the topic of engineering economics are discussions on the time value of money and interest relationships. These interest relationships are used to define certain project criteria that are used by engineers and project managers to select the best economic choice among several alternatives. Projects examined will include both income- and service-producing investments. The effects of escalation, inflation, and taxes on the economic analysis of alternatives are discussed. Risk analysis incorporates the concepts of probability and statistics in the evaluation of alternatives. This allows management to determine the probability of success or failure of the project. Two types of sensitivity analyses are presented. The first is referred to as the range approach while the second uses probabilistic concepts to determine a measure of the risk involved. The authors have designed the text to assist individuals to prepare to successfully complete the economics portions of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam. Table of Contents: Introduction / Interest and the Time Value of Money / Project Evaluation Methods / Service Producing Investments / Income Producing Investments / Determination of Project Cash Flow / Financial Leverage / Basic Statistics and Probability / Sensitivity Analysis

Technical Note: Simulating the Two-Factor Schwartz and Smith Model of Commodity Prices

Abstract: Commodity price simulation is useful in many engineering economics applications, yet discrete approximations of the continuous stochastic processes used in modeling commodity prices are not always straightforward. This article describes the exact solution for discretely simulating the Schwartz and Smith (2000) two-factor model of commodity prices.

Solving the Paradox of Multiple IRR's in Engineering Economic Problems by Choosing an Optimal

Abstract: Until now single values of IRR are traditionally used to estimate the time value of cash flows. Since uncertainty exists in estimating cost data, the resulting decision may not be reliable. The most commonly cited drawbacks to using the internal rate of return in evaluatton of deterministic cash flow streams is the possibility of multiple conflicting internal rates of return. In this paper we present a fuzzy methodology for solving problems of multiple IRR in any type of streams. Utilization of fuzzy cash flow allows modeling of uncertainty in estimating cost data. The approach of

Entrepreneurship as a field of study in engineering management

Abstract: In the past decade entrepreneurship has become a fast growing field of study with contributions from several disciplines including psychology, sociology, strategic management, or economics. This paper reviews engineering literature and shows that by number of publications entrepreneurship is a relevant field of study for engineering (management), but it is scattered among multiple journals and lacks visibility and the conceptual integrity of a scholarly discipline and body of knowledge. The paper puts forward that engineering is well positioned to make an original contribution to entrepreneurship as engineers and entrepreneurs both are seen as “creators”. Engineering can contribute a systems perspective to understanding the entrepreneurial phenomenon and can offer a well-developed formal and mathematical apparatus to further the understanding of complex non-linear and dynamic processes in the creation of new ventures. The engineering code of ethics provides a broader basis to understand entrepreneurial motivations including utilitarian and esthetic values than a one-dimensional economic profit maximization assumption alone. The paper discusses elements of a research road map to develop this view.

Enhancing Engineering Education through Engineering Management

Abstract: Engineering Management courses are added to a traditional engineering curriculum to enhance the value of an undergraduate's engineering degree. A four-year engineering degree often leaves graduates lacking in business and management acumen. Engineering management education covers topics enhancing the value of new graduates by teaching management skills that are immediately applicable. Thermodynamics or circuits or heat transfer may not be immediately useful to an engineering graduate. Companies often use software (or software versions) unfamiliar to a graduate or their specialization requires a lengthy break-in period. Team building using personality inventories or behavioral profiling or conflict resolution techniques are immediately applicable in any work setting. Project management and engineering economics are applicable if tailored to a particular engineering genre or workplace environment. A coordinated set of courses designed to give a student a lead over other workplace entrants has been shown to enhance the likelihood of a person being hired based on feedback from employers, alumni, and advisory boards.Keywords: Economics, team, interviewing, management, performance, reviews, personality, inventories, business, practicalIntroductionThe roots of engineering management education at Vanderbilt date back to the mid- 1960s,when Robert Garner, a Board of Trustees member and former president of the World Bank, believed that a need existed for people to be educated in both technology and management in order to better manage the increasingly large and complex industrial and government projects. Thus the first engineering management professor was hired and charged with designing a curriculum that contained quantitative methods, applied economics, and organizational theory. A psychiatrist was hired to teach applied behavioral science, then defined as the study of the human problems associated with the task of managing, or simply to "teach students how people feel about themselves and their jobs" (Jacobs, 1975). The graduate program was offered two years later and was "designed for the mature, experienced engineer- the average age [was] 32-and it [led] to the Master of Science degree" (Jacobs, 1975). The graduate program also contained a one-year internship where students applied their classroom work in a real-world industrial setting and then returned to campus to analyze their findings and prepare their theses. By 1970 engineering management was its own department offering undergraduate and graduate courses-arguably some of the most popular in the School of Engineering at the time.For nearly 40 years Vanderbilt University has maintained the importance of enhancing traditional undergraduate engineering education by offering unique courses of study in engineering management. In a 1994 Frontiers in Education conference proceedings, the founding director of the formal management of technology minor program (in place since 1991) argued that, "the successful development and implementation of advanced technologies will require scientific and engineering excellence, and also effective technology management. (p. 375)" He also argued that issues involving "strategic planning, financial feasibility, the availability and cost of raw materials, innovative product development, human resources, project management, and the global competitive environment" (p. 375). must be considered when determining what the management of technology entails and how an academic program should be constructed.During this time it was determined that about 50% of Vanderbilt's engineering undergraduates reached management positions within five years of graduation. This realization solidified the hypothesis that, especially at Vanderbilt, management education was important to preparing engineering students for their future careers.The management of technology minor, as it was called then, was designed to provide students with a fundamental working knowledge of business processes, decision making, and problem solving strategies as they relate to high-tech enterprises. …

A New Optimization Model about Enterprise Equipment Investment Project based on Integrated Entropy Weight and Fuzzy Matter Element

Abstract: The equipment investment scheme evaluation of enterprise is usually multi-objective optimization problem affected by many factors. Among many optimization methods, the common fuzzy matter element is based on the matter-element analysis and combined with the concepts of fuzzy mathematics, which can reflect the subjective fuzzy judgment; the common entropy weight method makes use of the judgment matrix composed of evaluation index value, Weights gotten by the common entropy weight method mainly reflects usefulness of data and can't reflect actual importance of evaluation indexes. Considering this fact, this study integrates engineering economics, reliability theory, fuzzy matter element and entropy theory presents a new optimization model about enterprise equipment investment project and also presents detailed methods and steps of application of integrated model in concrete example, which can offer the reference for project investment activity of practical enterprise equipment.

Implication of curricula design on engineering education

Abstract: Engineering education is central to technology creation and economic growth. It is a major contributor to human welfare. It is based on pure science, mathematics, and technology. It is about analyzing, modeling, and proposing solutions to day-to-day problems taking into consideration various constraints, such as, laws of nature, optimized cost and time, regulations and politics, and culture and ethical values. This paper focuses on the effect of changing curricula on engineering education and engineering graduates. We will present in detail the scenario of engineering programs in the South Pacific, accompanied with real survey data.

Infusion of ABET — Specified professional and academic content into off-campus work experiences via distance learning modules

Abstract: Educating engineering students on ABET-required professional and nontechnical skills is usually a challenging task. The related challenges include finding a balance between the content, the delivery format, the time of delivery, and location in the curriculum for this material. This paper presents details on a pilot project to deliver professional and academic content to engineering students via distance learning during required co-op semesters. Assessment of this experience to solve multiple challenges simultaneously is also presented. Students were educated on engineering ethics, engineering economics, and project management, which are readily applied in workplace settings. This pilot study was conducted during the winter 2011 semester and included six modules, targeting the level of the first co-op course. Twelve co-op students were carefully chosen as a controlled sample to participate in the study. This sample included a horizontal cross section representing all engineering programs, and a vertical cross section including students from each of the three co-op courses. Direct and indirect assessment methods were conducted to assess the project. Students' perceptions of their knowledge in the targeted topics were greater than their demonstrated knowledge. Direct assessment showed an increase in students' knowledge for all three topic areas.

Importance of the Course of Economics in Engineering and Architecture Faculty

Abstract: Today, lecturers discuss whether the courses like business management, economics, marketing management and engineering economics, which have no direct relevance with the subject of the study in Engineering and Architecture Faculty, are really useful for students or not. In other words, the subject of the discussion is whether these courses are included in compulsory courses during preparation of new course plans in Bologna process or not. In this study, valuation of ECTS credit (student workload) definition questionnaires, which were applied to students studying in civil engineering, industrial engineering and computer engineering, who studied business management, engineering economics, economics, and financial and cost accounting courses, and the management panel including ECTS data will be investigated. In the study, only “Economics” course will be evaluated.

Current practice and teaching of engineering economics in brazilian universities

Abstract: Engineering economics includes tools which permit to evaluate the economic feasibility of alternative solutions considered along with their major technical requirements. Realizing the changes that are being discussed about new approaches in engineering education, this work aims to analyze the practice and teaching of engineering economics in Brazilian universities, thereby contributing to the identification of opportunities for improvements in the teaching and learning process of such concepts and tools in Brazil. The methodology followed was essentially exploratory. Firstly, it was obtained relevant evidence from the general information offered by universities and production engineering departments. Secondly, a questionnaire was used to gather data from the responsible of each identified undergraduate and graduate program. The analysis of this evidence contributes to the understanding of the current practice and teaching of engineering economics in the Brazilian universities, namely which concepts and tools, teaching strategies, interdisciplinarity approaches, partnerships with firms and type of real problems are used.

Wiki as a ckm tool in websites

Abstract: ing the customers intention and knowledge "for" ,"from" and "about" customer usage for CRM. The differences among these types of knowledge were indicated in e_ckm model of sue and et lc(2006). The knowledge "for" customer is used to identify the benefits and features of product to consumers, the knowledge "about" customer is utilized to categorize customer needs and the advantage of knowledge "from" customer is taken to segment needs and pattern extraction. Lopez-Nicolas and Molina Castillo(2008) in their research introduced four common web tools in companies’ CKM (Shared databases, Document repositories, Workflow applications and Discussion forums) for hosting in websites to collect customer knowledge and concepts, and their findings showed that choosing suitable tools for hosting in websites for linking customers and producers, plays an important role in reducing customers perceived risk[11]. For considering these reasons we have chosen the wiki tool for collecting the required data about customer because this tool doesn't need any extra information from customers. 2-2. Wiki Use in CKM Yang & Liu (2009) using blog to set a new standard of online customer service process said that conventional production-oriented enterprises have shifted towards a customer-oriented approach, thus, nurturing long-term relationships with customers is crucial in the success of customer-oriented enterprises. To deliver high-quality services, corporations can use wikis such as blogs, as websites which are created by users in web browser and is different from other websites. In this kind of website everyone can create a new pages as well as adding, editing or deleting the content in an existing page thereby creating a "freely, expandable collection of interlinked web pages"[10]. As such, wikis can be used to enable customers to not only access but also change the organization's Web presence, creating previously unheard of opportunities for joint content development and "peer production" of Web content[21]. Wikis are also used for external collaboration with customers and business partners. Wikis overcome distance barriers with customers and logistics of sharing information [18] . Prasarnphanich and Wagner argue that wiki offers more opportunities for collaboration than other web2. Unique characteristics such as collaborative authorship, instant publication and versioning and simplicity of authorship make wiki as a favorite tool for knowledge sharing of customers in websites [18]. 3. Factors Affecting Knowledge Sharing and Purchase Intention in Wiki tool Recently, consumer shopping intention in the context of online stores has attracted increasing attention and satisfactions of customers become a vital element for corporation. Based on an extensive literature review on the topic, a model for wiki tool implementation was developed, while considering Knowledge sharing as the main factor and other factors mentioned in the literature are: culture, customers’ experiment, perceived risk and trust. D ow nl oa de d fr om ij ie pr .iu st .a c. ir at 1 7: 38 IR S T o n W ed ne sd ay O ct ob er 2 1s t 2 02 0 R. Samizadeh & S. Parsaie Mehr Wiki as a Customer Knowledge Management Tool in Websites 219 International Journal of Industrial Engineering & Production Research, September 2012, Vol. 23, No. 3 These factors can have direct or indirect effects on purchase intention of customer in an online environment success. A direct effect is considered as a direct impact of the factor in the wiki success. An indirect effect is considered as an impact in the wiki success not directly but through other factors. Many factors may explain how we can use wiki to increase customer intention, but the present article focuses on the knowledge sharing factor in order to shed light on the variables affecting consumers’ purchase intentions in the online context (Fig. 1). 3-1. Culture of Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Sharing Culture is a set of key values that are widely accepted by members of organization. Culture is socially learned and transmitted by members, and can be found in any fairly stable social unit, of any size, as long as it has a reasonable history. In summary, culture provides norms/rules for behavior in organizations [23]. Yang said that there was a strong and positive relationship between a collaborative culture and the effectiveness of knowledge sharing. Many factors including environmental, managerial and technical factors influence the sharing of knowledge, that all of these factors are affected by organizational culture. Because of the knowledge embedded in individual values, culture persuades community members to share what they know. Based on previous research, we posit that sharing knowledge culture may be a factor in increasing information exchange in the online context. [25] H1. Culture of knowledge sharing has a positive influence on knowledge sharing in wiki. 3-2. Trust and Knowledge Sharing Chai, Kim (2010) in their exhaustive review found that there is a positive relationship between contributors trust and their knowledge sharing practices [3]. This study explores trust in multiple dimensions including economy-based trust, trust in bloggers, trust in the Internet and trust in blog providers. This study investigates the role of trust in blog environment but the researcher generalizes this factor to the wiki tool, because in some aspect both of them have similar features. Renzl (2008) states that trust in management is an important prerequisite for knowledge documentation and documentation of knowledge has a positive impact on knowledge sharing. Documentation of knowledge serves as mediating variable between trust in management and knowledge sharing [16]. According to the knowledge sharing between online community members, trust plays an important role in encouraging members to share knowledge and information. These statements give us the chance to formulate the following hypothesis: H2. The higher level trust between members, the higher knowledge sharing 3-3. Perceived Risk, Knowledge Sharing and Purchase Intention Perceived risk involves the amount of feeling that would be lost if consequences of an act were not favorable [12]. In several literatures introduced different dimensions of perceived risk associated with the product and place. Perceived risk about product includes technical, service, social and psychological risk and about place this risks contains performance, financial, time and delivery risk[11],[4],[5].When consumers perceive higher risks, it is less likely that they will buy the products. Consumers perceive higher risks in online shopping than in physical store shopping because consumers will face higher uncertainty in achieving shopping goals [5]. H3. Knowledge sharing in website with wiki tool reduces the perceived risk with customers. H4. The lower perceived risk with customers occurs to higher purchase intention in a website which is hosted with wiki tool. 3-4. State Customer Experience in Wiki and Purchase Intention Experienced e-customers are people who have made at least one e-purchase and think about continuing to do so. for online customer experiences, perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, skill, perceived control, perceived benefit, perceived risk, and trust can be mentioned[8]. Tsou, Yu Hsu(2011) proposed that through delivering customer experiences on blogs, consumers are more likely to have the intention to purchase products. Considering this statement and expand these results to wiki such as blog, we propose that: H5.customer experiences have an influence on increasing purchase intention. 3-5. Knowledge Sharing in Wiki and Purchase Intention Being able to know customer’s expectation is a key competitive factor and should be seen as an invaluable asset for the enterprise and this leads to build a desirable mutual relationship. This relation develops in business through technology and provides a variety of effective ways for both sides to be in knowledge transaction with each other. On the other side, the crucial point here is the constant changes in customer needs and satisfactions, since several ways of getting information have been provided and expanded due to the technology upgrading. It also enables customers to have a wide variety of choices in the market with the knowledge that is promoted in the websites where all the users and consumers can see this idea about the productions [19]. Behavioral intention of customer associated with websites in many times depends on positive remarks or comments about the websites and products[7]. H6.Sharing knowledge in wiki has a positive influence on purchase intention in an online environment. D ow nl oa de d fr om ij ie pr .iu st .a c. ir at 1 7: 38 IR S T o n W ed ne sd ay O ct ob er 2 1s t 2 02 0 220 R. Samizadeh & S. Parsaie Mehr Wiki as a Customer Knowledge Management Tool in Websites International Journal of Industrial Engineering & Production Research, September 2012, Vol. 23, No. 3 4. Methodology 4-1. Sample and Data Collection In order to prove our hypotheses we conducted an experiment among Internet customers. A sample of 254 people who bought modems from one of Iranian ISP Corporation was chosen. The sample was selected with an attempt to concentrate on people who are familiar with these kinds of instruments. A self-administered questionnaire was prepared for being used in the survey, and it was pre-tested on 20 IT and Business experts. A number of suggestions were made on how to improve the questionnaire substantially. Once the modifications were included, the questionnaire was given to the subjects who at least have an experience in the online environment. The survey instrument started with several questions concerning previous ecommerce experience, and these were followed by sections where each customer was asked to value the sharing knowledge and purchase intentions associated with wiki tool in the websites. Questionnaire was attached with a

Fuzzy complexity analysis with conflict resolution for educational projects

Abstract: Evaluative and comparative analysis among educational projects remains an issue for administration, program directors, instructors, and educational institutes. This study reports a fuzzy complexity model for educational projects, which has two primary aspects (technical aspects and transparency aspects). These aspects may not be measured precisely due to uncertain situations. Therefore, a fuzzy graph-based model to measure the relative complexity of educational projects is presented that uses an aggregation operator to resolve conflict among experts with respect to a complexity relation. The model maps the fuzzy graph into a scaled Cartesian diagram that depicts the relative degree of complexity among projects. An illustrative example for several educational projects is demonstrated to present the application of the model.

Finding a Probabilistic Approach to Develop a Fuzzy Expert System for the Assessment of Research Projects using ANP Approach

Abstract: Nowadays, project selection is a vital decision in many organizations. Because competition among research projects in order to gain more budgets and to attain new scientific domain has increased. Due to multiple objectives and budgeting restrictions for academic research projects have led to the use of expert system for decision making by academic and research centers. The existing methods suffer from deficiencies such as solution time inefficiency, ineffective assessment process, and unclear definition of appropriate criteria. In this paper, a fuzzy expert system is developed and improved for decision making in allocating budgets to research projects, by using the analytic network process(ANP). This has led to fewer rules and regulation, faster and more accurate decision-making, fewer calculations, and less system complexity. The rules of the expert system exacted in C# environment, consider all of the conditions and factors affecting the system. We describe the results of proposed model to measure its advantages and compare to existing selection processes for 120 projects. We also discuss the potential of proposed expert system in supporting decision making. The implementation results show that this system is significantly valid in selecting high-priority projects with respect to the known criteria , decision making regarding the determination of the assessment factors, budget allocation, and providing the appropriate initiatives for the improvement of the low-priority projects.

A New Advanced Graduate Course for Developing and Challenging World

Abstract: The fast developing engineering technology and globalization process have changed traditional educational roles and expectations from teachers. This leads to the course curriculum and teaching reforms that focus on introducing potential technologies and programs which can provide students with latest and challenging engineering knowledge. A recent graduate course titled “Manufacturing Strategy and Lean” has been developed to establish entrepreneurship opportunities for fast-pace and developing world. Some advanced technologies, including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Standard Operation Procedure (SOP), and Lean Manufacturing, have been introduced in helping students to gain high level of engineering experiences. It also helps students to examine political, social and economic issues that associated to engineering project delivery processes that can lead to save product process expenses, increase manufacturing efficiency, improve product quality and shorten production period. Although this course was taught at mechanical and manufacturing engineering majors, it can also benefit the students from many other engineering disciplines such as industrial engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering and engineering management. The fundamental theories and technologies taught in this class can be applied to most areas of US industrial and engineering practices.

A study of efficacy of building energy-saving technology

Abstract: The article mainly discusses the Building energy-saving technology which has great impact on both users and investors.Commenting on this issue,the author divides the applying value of this technology into economic value and environmental value,analyzes real cases,applies input and output model and therefore evaluate the economic value and environmental value.Accordingly,the conclusion suggests that energy-saving technology brings tremendous economic benefits to companies and the society.

Promoting Intra-Disciplinary Design in Civil Engineering Technology: An Approach to Comprehensive Capstone Design Through Faculty and Practitioner Mentorship

Abstract: Working in teams, civil engineering technology students develop an open-ended design on a project of their choosing. The design integrates several design and engineering concepts including design alternatives, design assumptions, value engineering, cost, safety, construction feasibility, construction scheduling, engineering ethics and engineering economy. All projects include elements of civil engineering sub-disciplines, including structural, hydraulic, site-civil, environmental and geotechnical engineering into the design. To facilitate teams, the course is team-taught by a group of faculty with expertise in specific sub-disciplines of civil engineering. In addition, other practicing professionals, faculty and/or alumni are available to students to provide expertise, advise and mentor in other topic areas relevant to the particular design. Access to multiple faculty and practicing professionals allows students to develop design concepts to project-specific challenges that often have more than one civil engineering area of specialty. The course format promotes student development in both integrated design as well as project-based teamwork and has been recognized as a program strength as an outcome of a recent accreditation review.

Paperless environments: fad or fab

Abstract: Provide an abstract of the mini-dissertation. An abstract is a short summary of the contents covered in the item.) This project covers the proposal of the introduction of paperless processing in South African Financial institutions, to reduce the trail of paper being used and money spent on non-value adding resources. Category (Enter the category in which the project was done. E.g. Operations Research, Simulation, Logistics...) Engineering Economics, Business Engineering, Systems Engineering Declaration 1. I understand what plagiarism is and I am aware of the University's policy in this regard. 2. I declare that this is my own original work 3. Where other people's work has been used (either from a printed source, internet or any other source) this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements 4. I have not used another student's past work to hand in as my own 5. I have not allowed and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of handing it in as his/her own work Handtekening Signature