The focus of this dissertation is on improving decision-maker trade-offs and the development of a new constrained methodology for multiple response surface optimization. There are three key components of the research: development of the necessary conditions and assumptions associated with...

Economics is viewed as a discipline that is mainly concerned with 'simplistic' theorizing, centered upon constrained optimization. As such, it is ahistorical and outcome focused, ie, it does not deal with economic processes. It is argued that all parts of the economy are inhabited by complex...

Reverse procurement platforms which enable buyers to place requests for proposal online and then offer suppliers the possibility to bid for contracts have been intensely used in a B2B-context for several years. Since about 2004, such platforms have become available to ordinary consumers and are...

This thesis provides an analysis of cost of ownership issues and techniques, andprovides the supporting data to enable future system designers to make rationaldecisions on design options. It represents the experience gained whilst collectingcost and cost relationship data in the Rolls-Royce...

In today’s extremely competitive marketplace, firms are facing the need to meet orexceed increasing customer expectations while cutting costs to stay competitive in aglobal market. To develop competitive advantage in this business climate, companiesmust make informed decisions regarding their...

One of the distinguishing features of the civil aero-engine market is its highcompetitiveness. The costs and risks associated with new projects are such that thedifference between two apparently equally attractive options could result in success fromone and a threat to the survival of the...

An attempt has been made here to model the moisture transport kinetics across porcine stratum corneum. Samples of porcine skin were dissected in the form of 'thin layers' (i.e. stratum corneum) of dimensions of 11.3 ?? 11.3 mm (70-200 ??m thick). These layers were dried in a laboratory...