• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.50-59
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• 2020

The 21st century is witnessing a rapid growth of tall buildings in urban centers globally to create more urban space for an anticipated urban population. Tall buildings, however suffer from incessant delays and sometimes total abandonment. Consequently, this study investigated and ranked the causes of delay in tall building projects, while focusing on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Initially, 36 common delay causes investigated globally were categorized into 9 groups, and then further ranked utilizing the Relative Importance Index (RII) through a questionnaire survey. Tall building professionals in the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar) were contacted. The respondents' categories include Consultants, Contractors, and Clients' Representatives/Facility Managers. The results reveal that the top three causes include "client's cash flow problems/delays in contractor's payment", "contractor's financial difficulties", and "poor site organization and coordination between various parties". The findings from this study could help construction professionals develop guidelines and controls for delay mitigation, as well as support them in risk-based decision making in the planning of tall building projects.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.517-520
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• 2013

In construction operation, the temporary structure is used to support designed facilities or to provide work spaces for construction activities. Since the structure is used only during the construction operation, the operation may be given insufficient attention. The contractor is likely to try to save cost on the material and labor cost. This contractor's behavior frequently leads to construction accidents. In order to prevent accidents from the failure, the operation should be carefully monitored for identifying the effect of dynamics in the surrounding site area. Otherwise, any unexpected adversary effect could result in a very costly construction failure. This study presents the feasibility of the ubiquitous sensor network (USN) technology in collecting construction data during the construction operation of earth retaining walls. The study is based on the result at the Construction System Integration Laboratory (CSIL) at the Pusan National University. A USN-based system has been developed for monitoring the behavior of the temporary structure of earth retaining walls. The data collected from the sensors were used to understand the behavior of the temporary structure. The result of this study will be used in increasing the safety during the construction operation of retaining walls.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.479-487
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• 2013

State Highway Agencies (SHAs) have started utilizing cost-plus-time bidding (A+B bidding) since Federal Highway Agency (FHWA) declared it operational on May 4, 1995. Although this technique has successfully accelerated many projects by incorporating construction time in the bidding competition, a framework to illustrate the interactions of incentive/disincentive (I/D) rates on the competitiveness of contractors participating in the bid competition is yet to be developed. In a previous research, authors indicated that for each bid competition there is an efficient cap for I/D rates which are dictated by the capabilities of contractors in project acceleration. However, the results of previous study were based on the assumption that there is a statistically significant relationship between cost and time. In this study, the entire cost-plus-time projects implemented by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) were investigated. Then the significance of relationship between cost and time were analyzed for each contractor utilizing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique, and the price-time function of each contractor was determined by regression analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that there is a significant relationship between cost and time for the majority of contractors. However, a quadratic relationship is not always significant and for some contractors a linear price-time relationship is significant. The results of this project can be used not only by ODOT to optimize the incentive/disincentive rates but also by contractors to determine the most competitive strategies of other bid participants.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.243-251
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• 2013

Cash management is a major concern for all contractors in the construction industry. It is arguable that cash is the most critical resource of all. A contractor needs to secure sufficient funds to navigate the project to the end, while keeping an eye on maximizing profits along the way. Past research attempted to address such topic via developing models to tackle the time-cost tradeoff problem, cash flow forecasting, and cash flow management. Yet, little was done to integrate the three aspects of cash management together. This paper, as such, presents a comprehensive model that integrates the time-cost tradeoff problem, cash flow management, and cash flow forecasting. First, the model determines the project optimal completion time by considering the different alternative construction methods available for executing project activities. Second, it investigates different funding alternatives and proposes a project-level cash management plan. Two funding alternatives are considered; they are borrowing and company own financing. The model was built as a combinatorial optimization model that utilizes ant colony search capabilities. The model also utilizes Microsoft Project software and spreadsheets to maintain an environment that incorporates activities, their durations, and other project data, in order to estimate project completion time and cost. Ant Colony Optimization algorithm was coded as a Macro program using VBA. Finally, an example project was used to test the developed model, where it acted reliably in maximizing the contractor's profit in the test project.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.399-406
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• 2011

Various construction bonds and warranties critically burden the general contractor. Also, sporadic or cumulative delays of progress payment by the owner can further trap the contractor in a financial quagmire. Facing the possibility of cash flow deficiency and callous response from the banks, most construction firms may become financially incapable of market competition, and attractive project tenders become a bidding game among few deep-pocket players. The downside of such market environment is that the depth of pocket, rather than that of professional competency dictates the choice of market winners. In Taiwan, this has been a potential crisis to the construction industry after the financial crisis which started out since 2008. To encounter this problem, this research will examine the means to better manage the construction industry. Essentially, a credit guarantee system (CGS) is the prime solution to strengthen a bank's confidence in any particular construction firm. Thus establishing a national platform which evaluates and rewards a construction firm's overall credibility is pivotal, and this third-party rated credit can help a bank to render a loan more wisely. Finally, this paper will propose the ideal operating schemes of construction-specific CGS in Taiwan and a credit scoring prototype model for construction industry, as reference for the government and banks, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.139-175
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• 2017

The Assembly plenary session on December 3, 2017 passed a Product Liability Amendment bill that introduced clauses concerning consumer burden of proof and punitive damage reimbursement. More specifically, these newly approved provisions will reduce the burden of proof placed on consumers and levy triple punitive damage on suppliers. Significant increases in the number of product-liability lawsuit and the number of related insurance contracts are expected. Since military aircraft are designed for operational purpose(seeking greater combat effectiveness over greater safety) and used in high-risk environment, it is practically impossible to obtain an affordable product-liability insurance, Without having any backup plan, military aircraft manufacturers directly face all sort of liability risks under Product Liability Act, Warrant Liability Act and Non-Performance of Contract Act. The U.S. experienced similar problems when they first implemented their product-liability law in 1970s. There had been a big dispute among legal practitioner, insurance professionals and scholars concerning military aircraft manufacturer's liability. In order to settle the issue, the U.S. Supreme Court has established a new precedent of Government Contractor Defense(GCD). The U.S. government also included an indemnity clause for military aircraft manufacturers in their FMS Contract with the Korean government. Likewise, Korean military aircraft manufacturers should 1) clearly understand their current position that they cannot afford expensive product-liability insurance and the cost is not accounted in the military procurement calculation, 2) estimate potential liability risks with the ongoing overseas export expansion in mind, 3) set up appropriate risk management measures through regulatory reform and policy development.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.65-73
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• 2017

Purpose - The Service Level Agreement which has been used in the IT information communication industry to maintain the level of service supplied by a vendor has been adopted in the service industry surrounding the airliners and airports. Considering that service quality is dependent on attitude of employees who are responsible to provide service, it is very important to understand what kinds of effects SLA(service level agreement) has on the attitude when SLA is applied to the service industry. SLA is an agreement between management authority and service providing contractor to make sure that certain level of service quality should be provided. For employees whose responsibilities are providing the service, SLA has both positive effects and negative effects. Negative side is that employees have to follow many irrigating complicated rules. On the other hand, the attribute of rules is that once one is become accustomed to them one may feel comfortable doing repeated same kinds of works, which is positive side for the workers. Research design, data, and methodology - We analyzed whether the SLA has moderating effects while service providers' job environment of outsourcing companies affects job satisfaction. Especially in the service industry, job satisfaction has great effects on productivity and efficiency. Results - The study results show the following. First, SLA has moderating effects while task performance environment affects treatment satisfaction. Second, SLA has moderating effects while task motivation environment affects treatment satisfaction. Third, SLA has moderating effects while physical work environment satisfaction affects treatment satisfaction. Fourth, on the other hand, the difficulties caused by SLA have moderating effects while the relationship among employees affects job dissatisfaction, which is negative side of SLA. From these results, we can tell that SLA has more positive moderating effects on treatment satisfaction on the whole. which results can be used to justify applying SLA to the service industry. Conclusions - In this study we analyzed the effects of SLA which have become more important in service industry nowadays on service providing employees. For managing side, the positive effects of SLA have to be emphasized while the negative effects should be avoided or minimized.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.765-776
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to a) examine IC (intellectual capital) circumstance of CFMC (contract foodservice management company), b) identify the correlation between IC of CFMC, c) analyze the cause and effect of IC in the viewpoint of contractor, client, and customer. The questionnaires of IC measurement were handed out to 108 CfHCs, there composing of main office employees, foodservice managers, customers, and clients of 207 school, 38 hospital, and 86 business/industry foodservices. The statistical data analysis was completed using SPSS Win (ver 12.0) for descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, simple linear regression analysis. First, CFMCs had operational experience for an average of 8 years and 8 months, and served an average of 38,540 meals a day. Most of the respondent companies operated 'food supply/distribution($50\%$)', 'catering ($46.7\%$)', and restaurant business ($43.3\%$)' except for institutional foodservice and managed an average of 66 clients for the contract period of 2 years and 3 months. Second, there was positive correlation between $\ulcorner$sales of foodservice$\lrcorner$ and 'market ability', $\ulcorner$client satisfaction$\lrcorner$ and necessary intellectual capital for managing branch/chain foodservice office, and $\ulcorner$customer satisfaction$\lrcorner$ and $\ulcorner$renewal and development$\lrcorner$, 'market ability', 'infrastructure support for foodservice operation', 'employee satisfaction', respectively. Finally, the result of the cause and effect analysis on CFMCs, clients, and customers was positively influenced by 'client satisfaction' with 'customer satisfaction', 'infrastructure support for foodservice operation' and 'customer satisfaction' with 'employee satisfaction', and 'infrastructure support for foodservice operation'. In conclusion, if CFMCs were to perform a routine checkups by utilizing CFMC's IC measuring tool, improvements in CFMC operational capacities as well as foodservice quality can be noted. Additionally, CFMCS can satisfy their client-customer relationship by employing internal marketing thechniques for employee, a more efficient infrastructure support system, and construc tive infrastructure utilization. Therefore, CFMCs can show significant improvement in their sales and foodservice quali-ty though continuous maintenance of the client and customer satisfaction.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.433-445
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• 2012

Purpose: In order to validate empirically the theoretical model of this study subjects, who were limited in Andong gun, Youngyang gun, Uiseong gun, Bonghwa gun, Chilgok gun, Cheongsong gun according to residence-specified distribution and over aged 65, were focused to the elderly in rural areas with geographical characteristics where they have difficulties in accessibility of dental facilities and dental care. Methods: The collected data were analyzed by the SPSS 19.0 program. First, the frequency analysis was performed for each independent variable and the dependent variable. Second, reliability analysis and correlation analysis were conducted for daily living skills and Biomedical Vigilance. Third, multivariate analysis was performed in terms of and the post-administration management. Fourth, multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting the post-management of dentures and the period of using dentures. Results: By results of the multiple regression analysis, the elder the subjects are(${\beta}$ = 0.03), the lower their income activities are(${\beta}$ = -0.18), the smaller their monthly allowances are(${\beta}$ = -0.16), the worse their daily activity skills are(${\beta}$ = -0.12), the more they were mounted their dentures by an unlicensed contractor(${\beta}$ = 0.07), and the more they cost to their dentures(${\beta}$ = 0.14), the longer the period of use dentures are. And the beneficiaries of Basic Livelihood Security(${\beta}$ = -0.14) who got free denture business are shorten the period of using dentures. According to multiple regression analysis for post management of dentures, the independent variables like the health education(${\beta}$ = 0.24), smoking(${\beta}$ = -0.18), periodic oral examination(${\beta}$ = 0.13), dentures mounted by an unlicensed contractor(${\beta}$ = -0.13) are shown statistically significant results. In that study subjects are taking part in health education and non-smokers, they are likely to have more chances to post management for their dentures like periodic oral examination. However the subjects who were weared their denture by an unlicensed contractor get less chance to post management for their dentures. Conclusion: As the elderly who want to wear denture are increasing due to the denture insurance for the elderly, the need for oral health education for the elderly is an urgent request, especially continuos education for the way of use their dentures and follow-up management for the elderly who were already mounted their dentures. And also, the need for more systematic researches is requested for securing objective data.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.743-749
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• 1996

A new static contractor using capillary phenomena induced by a highly packed fiber bundle was developed for the solvent extraction. When two immiscible phases being cocurrently and forcedly fed into the packed fiber bundle, the contactor brings about a very large liquid-liquid contact area for mass transfer within a small definite space without any turbulence and drop phenomena. In order to test the characteristics and stability of the static contractor system, continuous extraction experiments of TBP-uranyl ion-nitric acid system were done and compared with the batch extraction experiment of the same chemical system. The performance of the static contractor were the same as that of the ideal batch extractor with the same extraction condition. For the increase of the extraction yield by the contactor, the increase of organic flow rate was required at a fixed aqueous flow rate, and a certain residence time of the aqueous phase flow within the contactor system had to be maintained to meet the performance of the batch system of the same phase ratio. The residence time in the case of TBP-uranyl ion-nitric acid system was about 1.9 minutes. This system was confirmed to be effective and stable enough for purposes of the kinetic study of solvent extraction as well as the mutual separation and purification of ordinary materials because of good reproducibility and the stable and large static liquid-liquid contact area.