• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2004

The primary goal of six sigma is to improve patient satisfaction, and thereby profitability, by reducing and eliminating defects. Defects may be related to any aspect of customer satisfaction: high product quality, schedule adherence, cost minimization, process capability indices, defects per unit, and yield. Many six sigma metrics can be mathematically related to the others. Literally, six means six standard deviations from the mean or median value. As applied to quality metrics, the term indicates that failures are at least six standard deviations from the mean or norm. This would mean about 3.4 failures per million opportunities for failure. The objective of six sigma quality is to reduce process output variation so that on a long term basis, which is the customer's aggregate experience with our process over time, this will result in no more than 3.4 defect Parts Per Million(PPM) opportunities (or 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities. For a process with only one specification limit (upper or lower), this results in six process standard deviations between the mean of the process and the customer's specification limit (hence, 6 Sigma). The results of applicative six sigma experiment studied on 18 items TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA tests in clinical chemistry were follows. Assessment of process performance fits within six sigma tolerance limits were TP, ALB, T.B, ALP, AST, ALT, CL, CK, LD, K, Na, CRE, BUN, T.C, GLU, AML, CA with 72.2%, items that fit within five sigma limits were total bilirubin, chloride and sodium were 3 sigma. We were sure that the goal of six sigma would reduce test variation in the process.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.70-94
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• 1999

This paper was performed for a cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmacologic treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Agents modeled were cholestyramine, gemfibrozil. bezafibrate, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin. Pharmacologic effectiveness was estimated by regression from reported clinical trials. Pharmacologic effects were expressed as the percent change of blood cholesterol level. Cost estimates included patients' travel expenses and time loss as well as resource consumption in the health care sector. Bezafibrate was the most efficient agent for reducing total cholesterol levels, having an cost over 1 year of ￦31.400 per percent reduction in total cholesterol. Simvastatin (10mg/d) was also efficient(￦33,100 per percent reduction). Chole styramine(8g/d) was least efficient at ￦90,200. For low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. simvastatin(10mg/d) was most efficient, at ￦23,200 per percent reduction, followed by lovastatin(20mg/d) at ￦28,000. Gemfibrozil was least efficient at ￦77,800 per percent reduction. For high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. bezafibrate(400mg/d) was most efficient at ￦39,300 per percent increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Cholestyramine was least efficient at ￦514,700. Analyses combining low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density cholesterol effects suggest that bezafibrate(600mg/d) and simvastatin (10mg/d) were most efficient for reducing cardiovascular risk. The cost-effectiveness analysis results show that both simvastatin and bezafibrate could be efficient treatment. Simvastatin provide more effective treatment at higher cost, whereas bezafibrate is more cost-effective, as it may be less effective, at lower cost. Therefore, clinicians should choose reasonable treatment according to the patient's needs This pharmacoeconimc analysis will provide a guideline for efficient pharmacologic treatment and also be reference data for pricing new drugs.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.101-118
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• 2023

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to find out how a company can do reasonable cost calculations in a simple way and establish profitability improvement strategies based on the results. Design/methodology/approach - In this study, a case that compounding company K applied TDABC was studied. A case study was conducted on the process of company K reviewing and applying TDABC and the process of implementing the cost calculation for each product by applying TDABC, and establishing a profitability improvement strategy for each product based on the results. Findings - Company K rearranged the production standard information of the compounding industry such as productivity and batch size of each product to apply TDABC. Cost calculation was performed for each product according to the revised production standard information. After the cost calculation for each product was carried out, Company K established a strategy to improve profitability of each product. The profitability improvement strategy was implemented in two ways: a cost reduction strategy and a product price increase strategy. As a result of the final strategy execution, the profitability of each product was improved. Research implications or Originality - This study found a reasonable costing standard in consideration of the specificity of the research target company, and applied it to cost calculation cost for each product. It contains the process of establishing production and sales strategies for each product based on the cost calculation results. It is expected that this case study will serve as a good reference material for establishing cost calculation and profitability improvement strategies in similar businesses.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 1991

The system analysis for Korean nuclear power reactor option is made on the basis of reliability, cost minimization, finite uranium resource availability and nuclear engineering manpower supply constraints. The reference reactor scenarios are developed considering the future electricity demand, nuclear share, current nuclear power plant standardization program and manufacturing capacity. The levelized power generation cost, uranium requirement and nuclear engineering professionals demand are estimated for each reference reactor scenarios and nuclear fuel cycle options from the year 1990 up to the year 2030. Based on the outcomes of the analysis, uranium resource utilization, reliability and nuclear engineering manpower requirements are sensitive to the nuclear reactor strategy and associated fuel cycle whereas the system cost is not. APWR, CANDU longrightarrow FBR strategy is to be the best option for Korea. However, APWR, CANDU longrightarrow Passive Safe Reactor(PSR）longrightarrowFBR strategy should be also considered as a contingency for growing national concerns on nuclear safety and public acceptance deterioration in the future. FBR development and establishment of related fuel cycle should be started as soon as possible considering the uranium shortage anticipated between 2007 and 2032. It should be noted that the increasing use of nuclear energy to minimize the greenhouse effects in the early 21st century would accelerate the uranium resource depletion. The study also concludes that the current level of nuclear engineering professionals employment is not sufficient until 2010 for the establishment of nuclear infrastructure.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of application of the draft nutritional standards for school lunches in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from the supplier perspective. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In November 2018, a pilot operation was conducted at 104 participating schools for 2 weeks each by applying the draft standards A and B. To evaluate the ease and appropriateness of application of the standards, we analyzed the nutritional values and food cost of the school lunches for 2 weeks before and for 4 weeks under the pilot operation. We conducted an online survey of school dietitians or nutrition teachers of the participating schools to evaluate the feasibility of application of the standards in school lunch sites. RESULTS: The proportions of schools of which lunches met the reference values of the school's own nutritional standards were 19.2% for the standards A and 21.2% for the standards B. The food cost of school lunches applying the standards A (KRW 2,880) was significantly lower than that of school lunches applying the standards B (KRW 3,030) or the existing standards (KRW 2,980). As a result of the survey, the mean score for the ease of application was significantly higher for the standards B (2.75) than for the standards A (2.24). The proportions of school dietitians or nutrition teachers reporting no problem in meeting an existing food cost standard were 72.5% for the standards A and 61.8% for the standards B, respectively. The overall appropriateness of application was higher for the standards B, because almost two-thirds (58.8%) of the respondents answered that the standards B were more appropriate than the standards A. CONCLUSION: The standards B were more feasible to apply as nutritional standards for school lunches than the standards A from the supplier perspective.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.248-255
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this research is to develop the optimized method and process in the reliability-growth target setting, especially for complex and repairable system (or products) such as vehicle and airplane, construction equipment. Method : A reliability-growth test plan specifies a scenario to achieve the planned reliability value (or reliability target). The major elements in test planning are reliability-growth starting time and reliability level at that time, reliability-growth rate and reliability-growth target. All of them except a reliability target can be referred to the previous development data and reference researches. The reliability target level is directly influencing to test period (or time) which is related to test and warranty cost together. There are a few researches about the reliability target setting method and but showing the limitations to consider the views of engineering, business and customer together. There is no research how to handle the target setting process in detail. Result : We develop the optimized method and systematic process in reliability target setting with considering such views. This research also establish the new concept as production capability which means company (or supplier) capability to product its products. Conclusion : In this research result, we apply the new method to a few projects and can set the reasonable test planning. The developing results is showing the good balance between the developing cost and warranty cost at market.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.165-170
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• 2015

The topic of this paper is the advanced absolute altitude determination for 3-D positioning using barometric altimeter and the reference station. Barometric altimeter does not provide absolute altitude because atmosphere pressure always varies over the time and geographical location. Also, since Global Navigation Satellites system such as GPS, GLONASS has geometric error, the altitude information is not available. It is the reason why we suggested the new method to improve the altitude accuracy. This paper shows 3-D positioning algorithm using absolute altitude determination method and evaluates the algorithm by real field tests. We used an accurate altitude from RTK system in Seoul as a reference data and acquired the differential value of pressure data between a reference station and a mobile station equipped in low cost barometric altimeter. In addition, the performance and advantage of the proposed method was evaluated by 3-D experiment analysis of PNS and CNS. We expect that the proposed method can expand 2-D positioning system 3-D position determination system simply and this 3-D position determination technique can be very useful for the workers in the field of fire-fighting and construction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.877-888
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• 2002

Price is a product attribute, which is determined by the function of the producing cost and profit. It is also identified as one of the most important components of the marketing mix. For consumers, price is an always-existing cue, definite evaluation criteria, and easily accessible information in the purchasing process. Considering the concept of the clothing-price in a comprehensive perspective encompassing economic, psychological and marketing perspectives, a theoretical model was developed. The model includes souses and dimensions of price perception and related behaviors. Souses of price perception were: the actual retail price at selling point, the internal reference price and external reference price. The dimensions of price perception included sacrifice perception, economic value perception, inference, savings perception and price as information perception. Clothing price related behaviors that flowed these dimensions were: low price consciousness, value for money consciousness, price-quality inference, price-prestige inference, sale proneness and price mavenism. An empirical study was conducted to validate the theoretical model. A questionnaire was developed and data were collected from 680 adult women living in Seoul, Korea. Confirmatory factor analysis as well as exploratory factor analysis results showed that theorized price related behaviors were successful classifications.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2018

This paper describes the method of hull shape optimization to improve the resistance performance of planing hulls when a reference hull shape and its principal dimensions are given. First, the planing hull of precedent research is adopted as the reference hull and an optimization problem is formulated by defining hull shape parameters. The search space of this research is discretized for computing cost and DPSO(Discrete binary version of Particle Swarm Optimization) method is used to solve the optimization problem. As the result of optimization, the decrease of resistance is confirmed from the comparison between the reference hull's and the modified hull's planing performance from computational results.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2007

Indoor location system using wireless sensor network technology was applied for the status evaluation and activity monitoring of elderly person or chronic invalid at home. Location awareness application is transparent to the daily activities, while providing the embedded computing infrastructure with an awareness of what is happening in this space. To locate an object, the active ceiling-mounted reference beacons were placed throughout the building. Reference beacons periodically publish location information on RF and ultrasonic signals to allow application running on mobile or static nodes to study and determine their physical location. Once object-carried passive listener receives the information, it subsequently determines it's location from reference beacons. By using only the sensor nodes without any external network infrastructure the cost of the system was reduced while the accuracy in our experiments. was fairly good and fine grained between 7 and 15 cm for location awareness in indoor environments. Passive architecture used here provides the security of the user privacy while at the server the privacy was secured by providing the authentication using Geopriv approach. This information from sensor nodes is further forwarded to base station where further computation is performed to determine the current position of object and several applications are enabled for context awareness.