On harvesting two competing populations

The problem of harvesting two competing populations is formulated in an optimal control setting. The maximum sustained rent (MSR) solution is introduced and is shown to be not only totally singular, but also to play a central role in solutions to the harvesting problem. It is further shown that nonsingular extremal subarcs must in general approach and leave the MSR along partially singular curves. A numerical example is introduced to demonstrate this phenomenon. In the case where the populations are driven onto the MSR in minimum time, however, the optimal control is shown to be bang-bang with at most one switch.The author is indebted to Professor D. H. Jacobson and Dr. D. H. Martin for helpful discussions during the preparation of this paper.     

Designing Firm Integrating Processes from the Knowledge-Based View—Graduate Student Best Paper Award, CASOS 2002 Conference

The knowledge-based view provides a powerful perspective for analyzing and understanding the firm. However, some of its assumptions have proven difficult to operationalize, making hypothesis testing difficult. One strategically important assumption is that firm competitive advantage depends on effective integrating processes. This paper develops a more precise specification of effective integrating processes. Then, two integrating processes are modeled using an agent-based simulation approach to test a set of factors believed to influence knowledge transfer and application. Results support several hypotheses generated by the knowledge-based view including: (1) greater levels of tacit knowledge transfer enhance the performance benefits gained from integrating processes, and (2) integrating processes with greater task uncertainty benefit from more formal information communication. The results also suggest that the design and management of firm integrating processes is a complex undertaking that requires a clear understanding of (1) the primary performance measure(s) used to evaluate the process, (2) the nature of the process tasks (e.g., routine vs. idiosyncratic), and (3) the knowledge required to perform those tasks (e.g., explicit vs. tacit).     

Toward the responsible innovation with nanotechnology in Japan: our scope

The societal impacts of nanotechnology have attracted growing attention in the United States and Europe in recent years. In Japan, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Technology Information Department) has played a central role in promoting discussions on this topic by collecting information from Japan and overseas, creating a network of the interested parties, and providing a forum for discussion. This paper presents a summary of recent activities in Japan relating to the societal impacts of nanotechnology, fro the launch of the “Nanotechnology and Society” open forum (August 2004) until the “Nanotechnology Debate” discussion forum (February 2007), and outlines the policy recommendations that came out of a project entitled “Research on Facilitation of Public Acceptance of Nanotechnology” (March 2006).     

消毒供应中心(室)的风险管理

为探讨消毒供应中心（室）的风险管理，提高防范意识，减少风险事件的发生等，分析了消毒供应中心的风险因素，提出了风险防范措施，包括：合理的建筑布局，配置必要的设备，规范工作流程，完善工作制度，制订质量标准等。结果表明，规范化的管理是降低消毒供应室医院感染风险的有效保证。     

The new ISO 17025 – basic idea

 This paper offers a concise overview of the recent draft of ISO 17025, which is expected to replace EN 45001 in 1999. Reference is made to the general area of related ISO standards for management systems. The main changes compared with EN 45001 are discussed for testing laboratories.     

Using a learning curve approach to reduce laboratory errors

Hospital laboratories have error rates that are too high and in some cases may be responsible for adverse patient treatment. This paper introduces reliability growth management (RGM), which is based on learning curve theory, as a method to improve laboratory error rates. RGM is widely used in the defense and automotive industry to solve problems when resources are limited and knowledge about the product and/or process is incomplete. An example of RGM, which was used to improve the reliability of instrument assay systems in the medical diagnostics industry is presented. RGM is a closed-loop process that entails creating a goal and event model, classifying events with failure review and corrective action system (FRACAS), tracking progress and predicting completion with Duane analysis. Results achieved by RGM were far better than those obtained by previously used methods. RGM techniques can be transferred to hospital laboratories to reduce laboratory error rates. The advantages of RGM compared to other quality initiatives such as ISO 9000 and Six Sigma are discussed. Received: 3 February 2002 Accepted: 17 July 2002 Acknowledgements The majority of the work of transferring reliability growth management from the defense industry to the medical device industry was performed by Keith K. McLain, while he was at Ciba Corning Diagnostics. Keith is now at Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (email: KMcLain@ocdus.jnj.com). Presented at the European Conference on Quality in the Spotlight in Medical Laboratories, 7–9 October 2001, Antwerp, Belgium Abbreviations  RGM Reliability growth management · FRACAS failure review and corrective action system · CAP College of American Pathologists · LIS laboratory information system · HIS hospital information system Correspondence to Jan Krouwer     

The human factor in quality management

 "Quality management is not just a strategy. It must be a new style of working, even a new style of thinking. A dedication to quality and excellence is more than good business. It is a way of life, giving something back to society, offering your best to others" (George Bush 1991). From this statement it becomes immediately clear that the human factor plays an eminent role in quality management. Therefore, some important relevant aspects of quality management are highlighted which are not so frequently discussed elsewhere. Various definitions and statements on quality lead to the fact that quality depends essentially on people. Some thoughts are developed on the Japanese quality culture which contributed essential impulses to the evolution of certain quality installations such as quality circles. The Japanese also developed a philosophy of quality, Kaizen, which is significantly different from Western industrial quality concepts. Kaizen works well in a slow growth economy, contrary to Western innovation which is more suited to the fast growth economy of the past. Some ideas on the quality control of top management as well as on the quality control of ourselves are expressed and it is shown how this is related to ethical principles. Every human society is as successful as: its intrinsic degree of honesty and righteousness, its degree of prevention of corruption and nepotism, and its readiness to work hard for personal advancement and for the sake of the community. Leadership, political or economic, is a special cultural effort – or at least it should be. But the striving for quality must be everybody's business in a company. It is the old 'pride of workmanship' which is greatly lost in today's industrial structures, and which is so absolutely important to again find satisfaction and contentment in our work. It is shown that the human factor in quality management, apart from all the necessary formal and institutional regulations, is of major importance, but very often neglected, especially in the present situation of over-rationalization. It is shown that dynamic equilibria do not only regulate chemical and biological systems but also operate in our psychic world. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to unhealthy extremes in the latter, e.g. to workaholics or neo-capitalism. Installations of total quality management such as systems, procedural and product audits are important facets of modern quality assurance. They are again closely related to human behaviour, as well as the procedure of company and laboratory accreditation. Finally the "Codex Hammurabi" shows that product liability was a clearly regulated issue in ancient Babylon, 2200 BC. This may be indicative of the fact that many new trends propagated by management gurus usually stem from a very old part of the wisdom of mankind but they are newly decorated and formed to modern slogans. Received: 11 May 1999 / Accepted: 24 September 1999     

实验室信息管理系统研究与开发

给出了实验室信息管理系统的研究思路和开发方法，介绍了此系统的主要模块的功能和特点。     

STANDARDIZATION OF CATCH-PER-UNIT-EFFORT FOR SHORT-TERM TRENDS IN CATCHABILITY

Examination of daily catch–per–unit–effort (CPUE) information on Pacific halibut revealed sharp declines that could not be explained by natural and fishing mortality. Catchability may have decreased during a fishing period because of local depletions of fish, changes in fish behavior, and other causes. Mathematical models of CPUE with a short–term catchability function of time or effort were based on a generalization of the DeLury method. A method of standardization was developed to account for the length of a fishing period and to correct for catchability. The effort model was best for Pacific halibut data and the application showed that standardization of CPUE is necessary to have a valid index of abundance when short–term changes in catchability occur.     

理化试验室仪器设备的计量管理

仪器设备计量管理的主要内容是通过不确定度、M_(cp)值计算或重复性试验判断仪器设备配备的合理性,开展仪器设备的计量检定、校验和检验,建立标志和技术档案等管理,使仪器设备始终处于正常的工作状态。