A System Dynamics model for evaluating the performance of a Technical Support Organisation
Date
2007-02-15T11:04:22Z
Authors
Williams, Hansell Hatfield
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Abstract
Technical support organisations (TSOs) and service groups are becoming
increasingly important in the upkeep and maintenance of the highly sophisticated
and optimised automation equipment and systems that drive production in the
mining and manufacturing industries. This study presents a methodology for
designing and analysing the performance of a TSO, with a view to ongoing
optimisation. The method of approach is the ‘System Dynamics’ (SD) simulation
technique, which has at its core a mathematical model of the organisational unit,
and which attempts to model its behaviour over time. The organisational design is
based on Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) principles. It was found that the
System Dynamics modelling approach was useful for a technical support
organisation. For managers and organisational strategists, the quantitative ability
of SD provides an intuitive and practical way to evaluate the impact of different
structural and operational scenarios in response to ever-demanding business
imperatives.
Description
Student Number : 8609118F -
MSc(Eng) project report -
School of Electrical Engineering -
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Keywords
System Dynamics, Organisational Simulator, Technical Support