Benchmarking Water Services

Benchmarking Water Services
Author: Enrique Cabrera Jr
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Total Pages: 185
Release: 2011-03-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1843391988

Benchmarking has become a key tool in the water industry to promote and achieve performance targets for utilities. The use of this tool for performance improvement through systematic search and adaptation of leading practices, has expanded globally during the past decade. Many ongoing projects worldwide aim to address different needs and objectives, in varying contexts, with outstanding results and impact. Benchmarking Water Services provides valuable information to everyone interested in benchmarking in the water industry. The text is aimed at utilities considering joining a benchmarking project, experienced practitioners in charge of organizing a benchmarking exercise, consultants, regulators and researchers. The document is presented with a clear practice oriented approach and can be used as a how-to-benchmark guide presented from different perspectives (participants, organizers, supervising bodies). Readers will gain practical insight on real life benchmarking practices and will benefit from the experiences gained in some of the leading benchmarking projects of the water industry (including the IWA-WSAA benchmarking efforts, the European Benchmarking Co-operation and the several benchmarking projects carried out in Austria and Central Europe). The manual also presents the new IWA Benchmarking Framework, which aims to harmonize the terms used to describe benchmarking and performance indicators practices in the water industry, guaranteeing a more fluent and efficient communication. This Manual of Best Practice is edited by the IWA Specialist Group on Benchmarking and Performance Assessment, and co-published by AWWA and IWA Publishing. Praise for Benchmarking Water Services: "The continual trend of conceptual to specifics throughout the book provides for an educational experience each time the book is either casually perused or carefully studied." "The authors (Cabrera, Haskins and Fritiz) diligently pursue the focus of improvement." "Benchmarking Water Services is an in depth and practical ‘must have’ guide for any utility currently engaged in or planning to develop a benchmarking process" - Gregory M. Baird (2012) Benchmarking: An International Journal 19:2. More information about the book can be found on the Water Wiki in an article written by the author: http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/TheNewIWABenchmarkingFramework A Spanish language version of this book is available as a free eBook: http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/eBookTitlesfromIWAPublishingFreetoDownload-Volume2#HBenchmarkingParaServiciosdeAgua

Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices in Modern Construction

Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices in Modern Construction
Author: Lincoln H. Forbes
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 613
Release: 2020-04-01
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 0429859341

Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices in Modern Construction is the new and enhanced edition of the pioneering book Modern Construction by Lincoln H. Forbes and Syed M. Ahmed. This book provides a multi-faceted approach for applying lean methodologies to improve design and construction processes. Recognizing the wide diversity in the landscape of projects, and encompassing private and public sector activity, buildings and infrastructure, the book expands upon the detailed coverage of integrated project delivery and new lean tools and techniques to include: Greater emphasis on the importance of creating a lean culture and the initiatives required to transform the industry; Expanded discussions of the foundational writings in lean construction theory; Exploration of the synergies between "lean" and "green" initiatives; Specific procedures for modifying planning and scheduling activities to improve the performance of the project team; Expanded sections on quality, and topics that have become a part of the lean lexicon, such as Choosing by Advantages, "line of balance"/location-based scheduling, virtual design teams, takt time planning and set-based design; Discussion questions for beginners and advanced lean practitioners; and Improved cross-referencing within the text to help the reader navigate the frameworks, techniques and tools to support the application of lean principles. The techniques described here enhance the use of resources, reducing waste, minimizing delays, increasing quality and reducing overall costs. They enable practitioners to improve the quality of the built environment, secure higher levels of customer/owner satisfaction, and simultaneously improve their profitability. This book is essential reading for all those wanting to be at the forefront of construction management and lean thinking.

Linear and Mixed Integer Programming for Portfolio Optimization

Linear and Mixed Integer Programming for Portfolio Optimization
Author: Renata Mansini
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 131
Release: 2015-06-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3319184822

This book presents solutions to the general problem of single period portfolio optimization. It introduces different linear models, arising from different performance measures, and the mixed integer linear models resulting from the introduction of real features. Other linear models, such as models for portfolio rebalancing and index tracking, are also covered. The book discusses computational issues and provides a theoretical framework, including the concepts of risk-averse preferences, stochastic dominance and coherent risk measures. The material is presented in a style that requires no background in finance or in portfolio optimization; some experience in linear and mixed integer models, however, is required. The book is thoroughly didactic, supplementing the concepts with comments and illustrative examples.

Lean Six Sigma in Service

Lean Six Sigma in Service
Author: Sandra L. Furterer
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 484
Release: 2016-04-19
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1420079107

In real life, data is messy and doesn't always fit into normal statistical distributions. This is especially true in service industries where the variables are, well, variable and directly related to and measured by the constantly changing needs of customers. As the breadth and depth of tools available has increased across the integrated Lean Six S

Statistical Methods for Quality Improvement

Statistical Methods for Quality Improvement
Author: Hitoshi Kume
Publisher: Productivity Press
Total Pages: 231
Release: 1987-08-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9784906224340

This text is highly recommended for managers and serious students of quality. Major US companies issue this reference and training manual to all managers during their quality training. This volume is also very valuable as a stand-alone reference on using statistics with a business and quality perspective.

OECD Reviews of School Resources: Estonia 2016

OECD Reviews of School Resources: Estonia 2016
Author: Santiago Paulo
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2016-04-06
Genre:
ISBN: 9264251731

The effective use of school resources is a policy priority across OECD countries. The OECD Reviews of School Resources explore how resources can be governed, distributed, utilised and managed to improve the quality, equity and efficiency of school education.

bookdown

bookdown
Author: Yihui Xie
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2016-12-12
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1351792601

bookdown: Authoring Books and Technical Documents with R Markdown presents a much easier way to write books and technical publications than traditional tools such as LaTeX and Word. The bookdown package inherits the simplicity of syntax and flexibility for data analysis from R Markdown, and extends R Markdown for technical writing, so that you can make better use of document elements such as figures, tables, equations, theorems, citations, and references. Similar to LaTeX, you can number and cross-reference these elements with bookdown. Your document can even include live examples so readers can interact with them while reading the book. The book can be rendered to multiple output formats, including LaTeX/PDF, HTML, EPUB, and Word, thus making it easy to put your documents online. The style and theme of these output formats can be customized. We used books and R primarily for examples in this book, but bookdown is not only for books or R. Most features introduced in this book also apply to other types of publications: journal papers, reports, dissertations, course handouts, study notes, and even novels. You do not have to use R, either. Other choices of computing languages include Python, C, C++, SQL, Bash, Stan, JavaScript, and so on, although R is best supported. You can also leave out computing, for example, to write a fiction. This book itself is an example of publishing with bookdown and R Markdown, and its source is fully available on GitHub.

Statistical Data Editing: Methods and techniques

Statistical Data Editing: Methods and techniques
Author: United Nations. Statistical Commission
Publisher:
Total Pages: 256
Release: 1994
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN:

The first volume defined statistical data editing and presented associated methods and software. This volume, containing some 30 contributions divided into six chapters, addresses how to solve individual data editing tasks, focusing on efficient techniques for data editing operations and for evaluat

Communication: Innovation & Quality

Communication: Innovation & Quality
Author: Miguel Túñez-López
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 507
Release: 2018-07-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319918605

This book explores the disruptive changes in the media ecosystem caused by convergence and digitization, and analyses innovation processes in content production, distribution and commercialisation. It has been edited by Professors Miguel Túñez-López (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain), Valentín-Alejandro Martínez-Fernández (Universidade da Coruña, Spain), Xosé López-García (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain), Xosé Rúas-Araújo (Universidade de Vigo, Spain) and Francisco Campos-Freire (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain). The book includes contributions from European and American experts, who offer their views on the audiovisual sector, journalism and cyberjournalism, corporate and institutional communication, and education. It particularly highlights the role of new technologies, the Internet and social media, including the ethics and legal dimensions. With 30 contributions, grouped into diverse chapters, on information preferences and uses in journalism, as well as public audiovisual policies in the European Union, related to governance, funding, accountability, innovation, quality and public service, it provides a reliable media resource and presents lines of future development.