MSc & MSc Funded Theses

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https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/20847

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Browsing MSc & MSc Funded Theses by Course name "Organisational Knowledge"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    An examination of knowledge acquisition (KA) requirements and practices within the gas turbine energy industry - does effective KA impact reliability and availability?
    (Cranfield University, 2009-09) Ingham, James; Sehdev, K.
    In order to manage a modern day gas turbine plant, an operator must collect and disseminate a wide range of knowledge, for decision making and for reporting to high level management. Often, an operator must also justify its decisions to a parent company. A key element of power plant management is the use of maintenance strategy, in order to maintain its equipment in an adequate condition so as to reliably produce power when required. This thesis seeks to explore and define the links between effective knowledge management and effective power plant management, which are explored to produce a replicable best practice methodology for a human capital and technology driven KM system in order to enhance operator profitability.
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    An Investigation into the application of Lean Methodology in the UK Hospital Sector
    (Cranfield University, 2009-11) Mistry, Manoj; Wainwright, Charles
    Lean principles have been used in manufacturing organisations globally for many years. Lean principles are increasingly being successfully applied with respect to the delivery of healthcare services on a global scale. Lean begins with eliminating waste, ensuring all work adds value, whilst serving the customer’s / purchaser’s needs. Determining the ‘value added’ and ‘non value’ added steps in every process, is the key tenet of Lean Thinking. For lean principles to be effective, an organisation’s culture that is receptive to its concepts and methodologies is vital. Demonstrated commitment to lean must begin at the very apex of an organisation, and key personnel should be involved in helping to redesign and reshape key processes, with a view to improving flow, whilst at the same time reducing waste. Whilst healthcare differs in many ways from manufacturing, a number of similarities do exist: staff members are dependent on multiple and often complex processes in order to complete their duties, whilst at the same time provide value to the customer or patient. Examples within this Thesis, illustrate Lean principles when applied to a healthcare setting, can have a dramatic effect on cost, productivity, financial performance, and most importantly the timely delivery of services to patients.