Applications of neural networks in manufacturing management systems

Abstract. The inherent complexities of modern manufacturing require more sophisticated systems for their management. Neural networks, which are massively parallel interconnected networks, have been shown to have extensive applications in various systems that can be used in manufacturing management. An extensive amount of literature has been published on the applications of neural networks in manufacturing, yet no comprehensive review of this literature to date has been offered. In this paper, we review the concepts and applications of neural networks as they relate to various aspects of manufacturing management.     

The Consequences ofLarge Monetary Incentivesin Mail Surveys of Elites

Research concerning incentives and responses to mail questionnairesusually deals with the effects on response rates of paymentsof less than a dollar and with mass respondents. This articlereports the results of an international mail survey of eliterespondents using incentives ranging from 0 to 50 dollars. Thestudy found that larger incentives have a slight positive effecton the response rate and a substantial effect on response quality.The implications of these findings for cost-effective researchare discussed.