Operational and Support Functions

Rating the layout of the warehouse is based on how well these objectives are met. Effective use of space for storage, operational, and support functions is considered here. The transport and storage of material is analyzed to determine how well the layout supports reduced handling costs and increased labor productivity. 

Returning to Porter s original value chain, how can company services and support functions like IT, HR or Finance be integrated into strategy, planning and operations as an extended value chain management framework ... 

Lowers operator exposure to hazardous conditions and supports functional automation of repetitive tasks. 

The service and support area, centrally located in the main building, provides for operational control and support functions such as surveillance, decontamination facilities, utility and environmental systems and chemical laboratories. 

Testing and verification of the ISS have involved a number of unique requirements and constraints. The major contributing factors include the on-orbit assembly process, the series of vehicle stages defining the incremental steps in the assembly process (each with unique functional performance requirements), and the requirement to operate and support human activity under the extreme environmental conditions of space. Add to this that the system is designed, built, and deployed by a consortium of 16 nations, and its parts delivered to their final assembly location by the most complex space vehicle ever built (the Space Shuttle), and the result is arguably the most difficult test and verification program ever attempted. 

The second and more common hardware FMEA examines actual system assemblies, subassemblies, individual components, and other related system hardware. This analysis should also be performed at the earliest possible phase in the product or system life cycle. Just as subsystems can fail with potentially disastrous effects, so can the individual hardware and components that make up those subsystems. As with the functional FMEA, the hardware FMEA evaluates the reliability of the system design. It attempts to identify single-point failures, as well as all other potential failures, within a system that could possibly result in failure of that system. Because the FMEA can accurately identify critical failure items within a system, it can also be useful in the development of the preliminary hazard analysis and the operating and support hazard analysis (Stephenson 1991). It should be noted that FMEA use in the development of the O SHA might be somewhat limited, depending on the system, because the FMEA does not typically consider the ergonomic element. Other possible disadvantages of the FMEA include its purposefiil omission of multiple-failure analysis within a system, as well as its failure to evaluate any operational interface. Also, in order to properly quantify the results, a FMEA requires consideration and evaluation of any known component failure rates and/or other similar data. These data often prove difficult to locate, obtain, and verify (Stephenson 1991). 

Operation, inspection, testing and maintenance and supporting functions shall be conducted by sifpcient numbers of adequately trained and authorized personnel in accordance with approved procedures. 

List scheduling, with constraints on the number of functional units, chaining, multi-cycle operations, and support for pipelined functional units. 

A required function specifies an item task. A correct, exact and unequivocal definition is a primary starting point for all dependability definitions as well as for a right failure definition. Operation conditions affect significantly both dependability and especially possible failure occurrence, hence the reason why they have to be determined very thoroughly. We concentrate on the main and support functions (Valis Bartlett 2010) in terms of failure occurrence and function loss of polymer composites with natural fibres. 

The Services Viewpoint is the design for solutions articulating the Performers, Activities, Services, and their Exchanges, providing for or supporting operational and capability functions. 

Operating and Support Hazard Analysis (OSHA) is an analysis performed to identify those operating functions that may be inherently dangerous to test, maintenance, handling, transportation or operating persoimel or in which human error could be hazardous to equipment or people. The information for this analysis is normally obtained from the PHA. The OSHA should be performed at the point in system development when sufficient data is available, after procedures have been developed. It documents and evaluates hazards resulting from the implementation of operations performed by personnel. It also considers ... 

As specified in both the draft DOE Nuclear Safety Policy and Policy and Expectations for Formal Conduct of Operations in DOE Owned Nuclear Material Production Program Facilities, facilities shall be operated and supported by personnel designated by management as qualified to perform their assigned function. Minimum qualification criteria shall be established and documented consistent with the requirements in DOE Order 5480.6 ANSI/ANS 3.1 draft DOE Order 5480.XX, "Personnel Section, Qualification, and Training Requirements" (Reference 3) and the NRC Policy Statement on Education for Senior Operators and Shift Supervisors at Nuclear Power Plants. Deviations from these requirements will require the approval of the Department of Energy Savannah River Site. Selected positions and their associated requirements are highlighted due to the restart issues that surround them. 

Educational criteria are established to ensure personnel possess the prerequisite academic skills required to successfully complete training classes. Training of operations and support personnel is a significant resource investment which should be predicated on a reasonable probability of success. Personnel assigned to their positions prior to June 1, 1989, who do not meet the new acceptance criteria for the position are not disqualified from continuing to function in those positions provided they continue to meet the training and examination requirements provided for their positions. Acceptable alternatives to educational requirements include the following ... 

A risk assessment analyses systems at two levels. The first level defines the functions the system must perform to respond successfully to an accident. The second level identifies the hardware for the systems use. The hardware identification (in the top event statement) describes minimum system operability and system boundaries (interfaces). Experience shows that the interfaces between a frontline system and its support systems are important to the system cs aluaiion and require a formal search to document the interactions. Such is facilitated by a failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA). Table S.4.4-2 is an example of an interaction FMEA for the interlace and support requirements for system operation. 

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