Publications

International Journal of Decision Support System Technology (IJDSST)

Linebarger, John M.; De Spain, Mark J.; McDonald, Michael J.; Spencer, Floyd W.; Cloutier, Robert J.

The Design for Tractable Analysis (DTA) framework was developed to address the analysis of complex systems and so-called “wicked problems.” DTA is distinctive because it treats analytic processes as key artifacts that can be created and improved through formal design processes. Systems (or enterprises) are analyzed as a whole, in conjunction with decomposing them into constituent elements for domain-specific analyses that are informed by the whole. After using the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) to frame the problem in the context of stakeholder needs, DTA harnesses the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) to structure the analysis of the system and address questions about the emergent properties of the system. The novel use of DSM to “design the analysis” makes DTA particularly suitable for addressing the interdependent nature of complex systems. The use of DTA is demonstrated by a case study of sensor grid placement decisions to secure assets at a fixed site. © 2009, IGI Global. All rights reserved.

De Spain, Mark J.; Linebarger, John M.; Spencer, Floyd W.

Abstract not provided.

Smith, Bryce B.; Spencer, Floyd W.

Abstract not provided.

Smith, Bryce B.; Spencer, Floyd W.

Abstract not provided.

DiMambro, Joseph D.; Moore, David G.; Spencer, Floyd W.

Abstract not provided.

AIP Conference Proceedings

DiMambro, Joseph D.; Ashbaugh, D.M.; Nelson, C.L.; Spencer, Floyd W.

Sandia National Laboratories Airworthiness Assurance Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center (AANC) implemented two crack probability of detection (POD) experiments to compare in a quantitative manner the ability of Sonic Infrared (IR) Imaging and fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) to reliably detect cracks. Blind Sonic IR and FPI inspections were performed on titanium and Inconel® specimens having statistically relevant flaw profiles. Inspector hit/miss data was collected and POD curves for each technique were generated and compared. In addition, the crack lengths for a number of titanium and Inconel® reference standards were measured before and after repeated Sonic IR inspections to determine if crack growth occurred. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Spencer, Floyd W.

Abstract not provided.

Spencer, Floyd W.

Abstract not provided.

Wenner, Caren; Wenner, Caren; Spencer, Floyd W.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of instructions on aircraft visual inspection performance and strategy. Forty-two inspectors from industry were asked to perform inspections of six areas of a Boeing 737. Six different instruction versions were developed for each inspection task, varying in the number and type of directed inspections. The amount of time spent inspecting, the number of calls made, and the number of the feedback calls detected all varied widely across the inspectors. However, inspectors who used instructions with a higher number of directed inspections referred to the instructions more often during and after the task, and found a higher percentage of a selected set of feedback cracks than inspectors using other instruction versions. This suggests that specific instructions can help overall inspection performance, not just performance on the defects specified. Further, instructions were shown to change the way an inspector approaches a task.