• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2008

Unit costs for energy production in bioenergy facilities are dependent upon both fixed cost for facility construction and operational costs including biomass feedstock supply. With the increase of capacity, unit fixed cost could be decreased while supply cost tends to increase due to the longer transportation distance. It is desirable to take into account biomass availability in planning bioenergy facilities. A cumulative curve relationship was proposed to relate biomass availability and cumulative products of biomass amount and transportation distance. Optimum size of gasification facilities was affected by collection cost, biomass cumulative relationship. Based on biomass availability of Icheon-City, optimum sizes were about $400kW_{th}$ for gas production, and about $200kW_{el}$ for power generation. Unit cost of bioenergy production could be substantially reduced by reducing collection cost through supplying biomass from diverse sources including land development areas where significant amount of waste wood is generated. When planning bioenergy facilities, however, biomass availability and spatial distribution are key factors in determining the size of capacity.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.34 no.1B
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• pp.34-46
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• 2009

The remarkable growth of Korean telecommunication market has based on the introduction of competition as well as mobile technology like CDMA. It was well Down that such a conspicuous growth has been towed by mobile service rather than fixed telephone service. In telecommunications service the number of subscribers to mobile was over 40 millions in 2006 and also, while the traffic amount of fixed telephone has been more decreased, that of mobile, which already outnumbers the fixed, has been constantly increased and will be much more in future. It will accelerate the substitution of access and call demand of fixed service by mobile. This change of technology and demand does affect directly the market performance of telecommunications. And regulation has also an effect on market structure, which finally affects on market performance. In this paper we suppose the fixed and mobile telecommunications services are in a same industry. After reviewing the relations among the demand, cost, charge structure and revenue structure in the one fixed and mobile telecommunications market using the framework of an industrial structure analysis, we discuss the current issues of telecommunications regulation and implications for the future regulation.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2001

Recently. AGV systems are used to serve the raw material to each work stations automatically. There exists a trade-off between the adequate service supply and the number of purchased AGVs. Also, to reduce the overall production cost, the amount of inventory hold on the shop floor should be considered. In this paper, we present a heuristic technique for determining the number of AGVs which includes the net present fixed costs of each station, each purchased AGV, delivering cost, stock inventory cost, and safety stock inventory cost. Secondly, by using a genetic algorithm, the optimal number of AGVs and the optimal reorder quantity at each station are decided. Lastly, to verify then heuristic algorithm, we have done a computer simulation with different GA parameters.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2011

The aim of paper is to calculate the optimized size of Mobile Harbor(MH) which would be operated in South Korea coast area. MH is the combined entity which has the function of both ship and container port. In estimating the optimized size, the total cost concept is applied to the different size of MH. Trade-off factors for calculating total cost are MH cost and the over-capacity lost cost. The factors for MH cost estimation are the cargo demand, distance from origin to destination, voyage route and MH's fixed and variable cost in both sailing and port. The other cost is the over-capacity lost cost which is occurred from dead space in case of oversize compared with a voyage demand. The alternatives for the least cost are 250TEU, 500TEU, 750TEU and 1,000TEU sized vessel. The result of research is that 250TEU sized vessel is optimized in a South Korea costal service. If the coastal area be separated in terms of voyage distance or the specific area in considering trade, the optimized size is changed depending upon distance.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 1982

This study was intended to develop a cost function for the natural air in-bin drying: system which could lead to an optimization of the drying system cost. Based on the cost function developed, a series of simulated drying tests were conducted with 10-year weather data (1970~1979) for 7 different regions by applying an appropriate levels of system factors. System performance factors treated in this study were initial moisture content, airflow rate, bin diameter and grain depth. An optimization procedure to find the least cost system was developed as follows: First, the worst year of the past decade was determined in consideration of the dryiang time and maximum dry matter loss. Second, the minimum airflow rate for a fixed bin diameter and grain depth was determined. Third, the optimum grain depth was found for the minimum airflow rate with different initial moisture contents and bin diameters. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The optimization procedure developed in this study was able to reduce the time and efforts significantly. 2. Optimum values of drying parameters including airflow rate, grain depth, and fan size were determined for different initial moisture contents and bin diameters in each region. The results are shown in Tables 3 to 9. 3. Optimum grain depths decreased as the initial moisture content and airflow rate increased. 4. Drying time for the least cost system should be reduced with higher initial moisture content and lower drying potential to prevent grain spoilage. 5. The fixed cost was 65 to 75 percent of the total system cost and the variable cost was 25 to 35 percent. To reduce the fixed cost it is desirable to use a drying bin 2 or 3 times a year.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2013

Purpose - It is widely accepted that the process of developing marketing strategy is composed of three steps: market segmentation, target market selection and positioning. However, mass marketing strategy based on cost reduction through economies of scale and standardized products, can be also an effective strategic option. Many marketing scholars including Theodore Levitt emphasize the importance of applying the mass production concept to various industries including service industries. Especially, in times of economic downturn, the capability of providing consumers with low-priced, value products can be an important source of competitive advantage, as well as the ability of providing high-priced premium products. Marketers should decide whether they will implement mass marketing strategy or target marketing strategy. The present study theoretically shows that firms should understand the target customers' price elasticity as well as the firm's cost structure in order to make such a strategic decision. Research design, data, and methodology - Instead of implementing an empirical study, this study provides a theoretical(mathematical) investigation on the effect of consumers' price elasticity on a firm's optimal price level, profit, sales volume, revenue, and cost. The results are mostly deduced from derivative calculations and several graphs are utilized to represent the results on the relationships between the variables under study. Results - The analytical results suggest that it is more profitable for a firm to adopt the segment/target marketing strategy (more specifically the differentiation strategy) when the degree of consumers' heterogeneity is high and the proportion of the fixed cost in the total cost is low. On the other hand, if the degree of consumers' heterogeneity is low and the fixed cost is high, it is better to adopt the mass marketing strategy or the cost leadership strategy. The strategy of concentrating on a single target market will be effective when consumers' needs are highly heterogeneous but the fixed cost is high. Any of the three types of generic strategies proposed my Porter(1980, 1985) can be applied when both the consumers' heterogeneity and the fixed cost are low. This study also proposes the contribution-margin-based method for developing the optimal pricing strategy. Conclusions - One of the primary roles of marketers is to find a proper compromise between the two conflicting goals of maximizing customer satisfaction and minimizing cost. In order to do so, he or she should understand the characteristics of the target customers as well as the cost structure of the firm. In addition to the theoretical analyses, this study discusses several business cases and explains how superior companies find the optimal compromise position between these two goals and dominate the market. One of the radical changes recently taking place in business arena is the reduction of production and distribution costs of both physical goods and information due to the advancement and the wide diffusion of information technology. The cost reduction combined with lowered priced elasticity incurred by customized products and services, will enable many firms to adopt the mass customization strategy.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.1531-1535
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• 2008

In the past vertically integrated power system, the power utility forecasted power demand and invested new power plants to keep a system adequacy. However, in the competitive electricity markets, a principle part of the capacity investment is market participants who decided the investment to maximize their profit. Especially, one of the main factors in their long-term decision making is the retrieval of fixed costs (construction costs). This paper presents the capacity payment in electricity power markets. The capacity payment (CP) in Cost Based Pool (CBP) is needed to recover fixed costs. However, CP in CBP was applied not only recovering fixed costs but also ensuring supply reliability. In order to operate harmonious power markets, pool needs reasonable CP mechanism. This paper analysis CP using capacity proportion and Reliability Pricing Model (RPM).

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.11-18
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• 2017

The safety inspection cost of the construction work was based on commercial facilities classified as a single building. Therefore, it is not possible to fully reflect the characteristics of the multi-building construction project such as apartment houses. Therefore, this study suggests a reasonable estimation model that can fully reflect the characteristics of the multi-building construction project. The safety inspection cost estimation model proposed two models such as construction cost ratio method and cost plus fixed fee method. And these models were simulated by the apartment construction work and compared with the current standard. As a result, the current construction cost ratio method has shown that the safety inspection cost tends to be overestimated as the construction size increases. Therefore, the proposed model has reflected characteristics of the multi-building construction project, so that it can reasonably estimate the safety inspection cost more than the current standard.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.23-48
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to provide criteria which help executives to make decisions through the analysis of profitability of ultrasonography conducted in each medical department. In order to achieve such purpose, the study conducted break-even analyses on three medical departments of a university hospital in which has used ultrasonography was largely conducted in diagnosing diseases and performing surgeries. The research was carried out from January to June 2008. The data necessary for calculating cost, were collected using by computerized data. The results of the study were summarized as follows. 1. The Cost structure of each medical department: The Cost of ultrasonography was divided into direct cost and indirect cost through the categorization by cost object. Labor cost accounted for the largest portion of the direct cost with 69.3% in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, 67.4% in the department of radiology and 58.2% in the cardiac ultrasonography center, which followed by the depreciation cost of ultrasonography equipment. The calculation of the average material cost of each ultrasonographic test by medical test found that the cardiac ultrasonography center took first place with 2,355 won, followed by the department of obstetrics and gynecology with 266 won and the department of radiology with 233 won. As for the power cost of ultrasonography equipment, the department of radiology took fist place with 442,000 won. The power cost, however, did not affect much the cost price, because it accounted for only a small portion of the cost. As for indirect cost, the cardiac ultrasonography center ranked first with 7,156,000 won. Building depreciation cost accounted for the largest portion of the indirect cost. 2. Break-even analysis: Under the supposition that cost price can be divided into fixed cost and variable cost, a break-even analysis was conducted using the cost price confirmed through the cost structure of each medical department. As for the average customary charge of ultrasonography test conducted in each medical department, the department of obstetrics and gynecology charged 24,627 won, the department of radiology 53,179 won and the cardiac ultrasonography center 65,174 won. According to these results, the charges of ultrasonography test imposed by the department of radiology and the cardiac ultrasonography center wre enough to surpass break-even levels, but the charge imposed by the department of obstetrics and gynecology was not enough to offset the cost price. In conclusion, labor cost accounted for the largest proportion of cost price of ultrasonography test conducted in diagnosing diseases and performing surgeries in medical departments, followed by the fixed cost of ultrasonographic equipment depreciation cost. In medical department where the current charge of ultrasonography test turned out not to offset cost price through the break-even analysis of ultrasonographic equipment, ways to reduce fixed cost which accounts for the largest proportion of the cost price should be sought. Even medical departments whose current charge of ultrasonography test is enough to surpass break-even level are required to work for efficient management and cost reduction to continuously generate profits.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.159-164
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• 2005

Various compensators are installed into the power system to operate the system economically and stably by maximizing the availability of utilities and power transmission capability. Fixed Capacitor(FC), Mechanical Switched Capacitor(MSC), and FACTS(Flexible AC Transmission Systems) are used to regulate voltage and power flow of the system. When a disturbance occurs in the power system, the Fixed Capacitor operates dependently on the voltage of the power system and cannot change the amount of installation automatically. But compared to other equipment, the Fixed Capacitor is more economical due to its low cost. Since MSC can change the amount of installation according to the state of the power system, operates more effectively than the Fixed Capacitor. FACTS have fast dynamic performance for the transient condition, but the cost is high. Therefore, it is needed to develop an optimized installation planning for the reactive power compensators by considering their dynamic performance and cost. In this paper, an optimized compensator combination and the proposed scheme is proposed and it is applied to KEPCO system in order to show its capabilities.