Spring 2003

ME/IE 8773-8774

Dynamic Capacity Management with Substitution*

by

Robert A. Shumsky
Associate Professor of Operations Management
William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY 14627

Wednesday, April 23, 2003
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Room 108 ME
Broadcast on UNITE Channel A
Coffee and cookies will be available in 125 ME following the seminar

The problem of high noise levels generated by hydraulic systems is well known. Exposure to high noise levels for long periods can result in clinically-significant hearing loss, impaired performance of workers and hence it is important to design quieter machines and systems. This can only be tackled through a proper appreciation of the three types of noise present in all hydraulic circuits and the inter-relation between them: fluid borne noise (FBN), structure borne noise (SBN) and airborne noise (ABN). The term FBN describes the unsteady component of the pressure and flow in the liquid in the circuit, sometimes termed 'hydroacoustic' energy. Pressure ripples create fluctuating forces on the pipes which lead to vibration of the pipework, attached components and the supporting structure. The motion of these, in turn, creates ABN. The pumping dynamics of most designs of positive displacement pump result in structural excitation of the pump casing and as a consequence, the supporting structure and attached pipework. This SBN can also be a significant source of ABN. This presentation provides a detailed review of world-wide research on hydraulic system noise and its reduction.

Professor Robert Shumsky received a B.A. degree in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University, a M.S. and a Ph.D. degree in Operations Research, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professor Shumsky has research and teaching interests in the modeling and control of service systems. Current research focuses on the interactions among quality, flexibility and efficiency in service processes. He has conducted research on the U.S. air traffic management system and studied transportation operations for state agencies and the Federal Aviation Administration. He has also served as a consultant for a number of manufacturing and service firms. His research has been published in Management Science, Operations Research, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, and Air Traffic Control Quarterly, and he is an Associate Editor for Operations Research and Management Science. At the Simon School he has won Superior Teaching Awards from the Executive MBA Class of 2000 and the full-time MBA Class of 2001. He is a member of INFORMS and a regular teacher in the INFORMS high school outreach program.

*Authors: Robert A. Shumsky, Simon School, University of Rochester, Fuqiang Zhang, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Informal Faculty Luncheon: Wednesday, April 23, 2003, 12:00 noon. Meet in 1100 ME and walk to the Campus Club with other faculty. Prof. Shumsky will be able to attend.