We propose to develop a comprehensive, user-friendly, computer-based process analysis and improvement methodology based on sound theoretical foundations and apply the methodology to Shuttle operations. The methodology will enable operations analysts to significantly better understand the important schedule and cost implications of process anomalies (i.e., delays on tasks), and to make rational decisions for improving the process (i.e., reducing delays). The methodology we propose centers on a new representation for representing processes that cause deviations to some base process (Shuttle operation). We call this representation an anomaly process diagrams (APD). The proposed methodology provides a significant improvement on state-of-the-art in-process analysis and improvement by explicitly modeling anomaly processes in an intuitive yet theoretically rigorous (statistical decision theory, Bayesian probability theory) way, providing an object-oriented framework for storing, recalling, and displaying the information relevant to a process analysis and providing theoretically- sound algorithms for drawing inferences based on that information.
Potential Commercial Applications: The results of the proposed research will be a theoretically rigorous methodology for process improvement and analysis and software tools that will operationalize that methodology. While the first application of this tool will be to Space Shuttle ground processing, the methodology and software proposed here can be applied off-the-shelf to a significant number of manufacturing and other business process improvement situations. Based on our current knowledge, we believe that the methodology we are developing could produce significant economic benefits in industries such as semiconductor fabrication, airplane repair, and motor vehicle repair.
