Opportunities for Improvement

The nation did make important progress in the national areas for improvement identified in the 2012 NPR—cyber security, recovery-focused core capabilities, and integration of individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs—but challenges remain. Enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems and maturing the role of public-private partnerships are newly identified national areas for improvement. 

Marcel Dekker, Inc. 270Madison Ayoiiic. New Yoric, New York 10016 

Depressed consciousness Thoracic/upper abdominal surgery Device-related 

Personnel- or procedure-related Cross contamination by hands 

Use incentive spirometry, positive end-expiratory pressure, continuous positive airway pressure by mask. 

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The development of computer capabiUties in hardware and software, related instmmentation and control, and telecommunication technology represent an opportunity for improvement in safety (see COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY). Plant operators can be provided with a variety of user-friendly diagnostic aids to assist in plant operations and incipient failure detection. Communications can be more rapid and dependable. The safety control systems can be made even more rehable and maintenance-free. Moreover, passive safety features to provide emergency cooling for both the reactor system and the containment building are being developed. 

Condenser and eboiler AT. The losses for AT are typically far greater than those for reflux beyond the minimum. The economic optimum for temperature differential is usually under 15°C, in contrast to the values of over 50°C often used in the past. This is probably the biggest opportunity for improvement in the practice of distillation. A specific example is the replacement of direct-fired reboilers with steam (qv) heat. 

Ereduc tion of a product or service must be evaluated over its entire istoiy or life cycle. This life-cycle analysis or total systems approach (Ref. 3) is crucial to identifying opportunities for improvement. As described earher, this type of evaluation identifies energy use, material inputs, and wastes generated during a products hfe from extraction and processing of raw materials to manufacture and transport of a product to the marketplace and finally to use and dispose of the produc t (Ref. 5). 

Third party auditors shall identify opportunities for improvement. Auditors have to examine records and make a judgement as to whether results indicate unacceptable trends. 

You can expect the auditor to identify opportunities for improvement but not offer advice as to how such opportunities may be realized. 

Opportunities for improvement can be identified through Process and product measurement systems System audits... 

Identify opportunities for improvement in the quality system (the innovative role)... 

How do you identify opportunities for improvement in quality, cost, technology, and productivity ... 

Quality records A critical element in improving performance is establishing measurements of performance which can subsequently be analyzed to identify opportunities for improvement. ... 

Although it can be fascinating to collect as much data on performance as possible, there will be a diminishing rate of return. Instead, try to focus on the areas where the greatest opportunity for improvement existed, as were identified during your initial assessment. 

This potential for consolidation in the area of documentation systems was used as an example to sell the overall integration concept. Documentation was an area of constant complaint and senior management could easily visualize opportunities for improvement in basic resource requirements, as well as secondary effects on resources for training, auditing and other activities. Exhibit 10-1 was a key part of the presentation that the VP, ESH made to senior management. 

A hypothetical separation of a homogeneous mixture, carried out in a thermodynamically reversible manner, would require the theoretical minimum expenditure of energy. In practice, however, separations of such mixtures need 50 to 100 times this minimum. Thus, there is significant opportunity for improvement of separations by creating ways to reduce energy consumption without a commensurate increase in capital and operating costs. 

There are two key limitations of the use of ROC methods and decision analytic valuations in such applications, each of which gives rise to an opportunity for improving the reach of R D management simulations ... 

Minimization goes much further than storage, however. For many processes the largest inventory of hazardous materials is in the reactor. If, through radical reactor design, inventories and equipment size can be reduced whilst throughput is maintained, then this presents opportunities for improved safety and possibly reduced capital costs. This is the concept behind Process Intensification which is discussed more fully below. 

The chemical industry has a strong tendency to think from factory gate to factory gate. Their historic focus on environmental issues has been in minimising waste and emissions from their own operations. Many chemical companies are weak at looking at what is going on upstream of their factory or downstream. Thinking about the entire life cycle of a product allows many new opportunities for improved performance to be identified. 

Benchmark 1 characterizes chemical products as Avoid - Ghemical of High Goncern Benchmark 2 characterizes chemical products as Use but Search for Safer Substitutes Benchmark 3 characterizes chemicals as Use but StiU Opportunity for Improvement and Benchmark 4 characterizes chemicals as Prefer - Safer Ghemical . 

Benchmark 3 Use hwf Still Opportunity for Improvement. (See criteria for Benchmark 3 in Figure 8.3.)... 

Identify opportunities for improvements in specifications and ordering procedures for raw materials Identify opportunities for improved materials receiving operations Identify opportunities for improvements in materials storage... 

Identify opportunities for improvements in material and water transfer and handling Identify opportunities for improved process control Identify opportunities for improved cleaning procedures... 

The ET landfill cover is a complete cover, not a cover component. It offers opportunities for improved performance and lower construction and maintenance cost. In addition, the new cover may be beneficial for use with bioreactor landfills because ET covers can be designed to pass a controlled amount of precipitation through the cover and into the waste.4... 

Because the techniques of estimating releases are so diverse and underdeveloped, there are many opportunities for improvement. However, the opportunities are difficult to describe in specific terms. We therefore note only a few broad areas ... 

The field is now poised to move into a new phase that will address opportunities for improvement on the profiles of RAL and EVG. These "next generation" drugs will need to deliver notable advantages in resistance profile along with having a high genetic barrier to resistance [51,52]. 

The waste audit should systematically evaluate opportunities for improved operating procedures, process modifications, process redesign, and recycling. 

Needed improvements and potential sources of non-coirformances either teehnical or concerning the quality management system, shall be identified. If preventive action is required, an action plan shall be developed, implemented and monitored to reduce the likelihood of the oceurrenee of such non-coirformances and to take advantage of the opportunities for improvement. 

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