Construction of the nearest neighbor embracing graph of a point set

This paper gives optimal algorithms for the construction of the Nearest Neighbor Embracing Graph (NNE-graph) of a given point set V of size n in the k-dimensional space (k-D) for k = 2,3. The NNE-graph provides another way of connecting points in a communication network, which has lower expected degree at each point and shorter total length of connections with respect to those using Delaunay triangulation. In fact, the NNE-graph can also be used as a tool to test whether a point set is randomly generated or has some particular properties. We show that in 2-D the NNE-graph can be constructed in optimal time in the worst case. We also present an time algorithm, where d is the -th largest degree in the utput NNE-graph. The algorithm is optimal when . The algorithm is also sensitive to the structure of the NNE-graph, for instance when , the number of edges in NNE-graph is bounded by for any value g with . We finally propose an time algorithm for the problem in 3-D, where d and are the -th largest vertex degree and the largest vertex degree in the NNE-graph, respectively. The algorithm is optimal when the largest vertex degree of the NNE-graph is .     

Management performance: An empirical study of the manufacturing companies in Taiwan

This paper proposes a methodology to measure the management performance of the firms of an industry. The idea is to break down the very complicated concept of management into subjects such that the performance of each subject can be measured. The performances of all subjects are then aggregated to form an overall performance of management. The weights associated with the subjects which play a decisive role in aggregation are determined from a two-stage method. This method takes into account both the experience of the experts and the reality reflected by the data collected from the firms. Therefore, the weights generated are more acceptable to the firms. An example of the manufacturing firms in Taiwan illustrates how management is broken down into subjects and how their performances are aggregated. A regression analysis shows that management, in addition to capital and labor, makes a significant contribution to organizational performance. Although the discussion of this paper is confined to the manufacturing industry in Taiwan, the methodology can be applied to other industries and other countries.     

Why Does Cell Implementation Stop? Factors Influencing Cell Penetration in Manufacturing Plants

There is little understanding as to why firms have various degrees of cell usage. The intent of this study was to identify factors that had arrested continued implementation of cells at surveyed manufacturing plants. We found no dominant factor that had prevented the firms from continued cellularization. However, by sub‐dividing the plants into those with low and high degrees of direct labor hours spent in cells, short and long experience with cells, and those with and without plans for further cells, a clearer pattern emerged. The inability to find families with high and stable demand, lack of time to implement more cells, the existence of service processes, and the difficulty of cost justifying new cells were the most important factors, although their relative importance varied. The findings support the notion that cellular manufacturing has broad applicability as a form of work organization and that cell users pursue further implementations until no more viable cells with sufficient utilization, demand stability, or economic value can be found.