Monday, December 30, 2019

Analysis Of The Poem Native Guard - 1446 Words

A traumatic event will never define a person’s identity, it will never prove character, or show weaknesses. A person is defined by much more than a single life event. Natasha Trethewey uses her confusion and hurt that she experienced as pieces for an artwork that has yet to be finished. By writing Native Guard, Trethewey recreates herself like a disjointed collage. Using gut-wrenching poetry as her medium, Trethewey uses her words to represent a self portrait of her struggles. Giving the reader a chance to immerse themselves completely within â€Å"Native Guard†, her audience is a key element throughout the book. You, as the reader, become an empty shell for Trethewey to build herself anew; a skeleton structure for a new identity. Instead of showing herself to the reader entirely, Trethewey uses her own complex emotions to establish intimacy with the audience. You experience her emotions as raw as she writes them. In her poem, â€Å"After Your Death,† Trethewey seems to walk you through her actions, â€Å"I found it half eaten, the other side / already rotting, or - like another I plucked / and split open - being taken from the inside,† (13). When you look at this at face value it seems meaningless, monotonous, and something that shouldn’t be included in a poem about mourning. Nevertheless, Trethewey lets her emotions and thoughts seep through specific words of the poem. With phrases such as â€Å"rotting,† â€Å"split,† and â€Å"plucked† you can see a hidden aggressiveness that only shows itselfShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Native Guard 913 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry Analysis Native Guard is a poem that is built on a lot of passion and precision that makes this entire book of poetry stand out. From the beginning with the elusive imagery and foreshadowing of her childhood and her mother’s life we are easily engulfed in the lifestyle of being born in the south. The imagery continues on in the new memory of the pinnacle time of slavery and the Civil War, which shows the true nature of the south through repetition and metaphoric sentences of many gruesomeRead MoreProblems with Hurricanes by Victor Hernandez Cruz736 Words   |  3 Pages A Literary Analysis of â€Å"Problems with Hurricanes† This poem was written by Victor Hernandez Cruz. â€Å"Victor Hernà ¡ndez Cruz was born on February 6, 1949, in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. He moved with his family to New Yorks Spanish Harlem at the age of five.† (Kannelos) He moved to America in 1954 and began writing in 1964, when he was 15. He published his first collection of poetry in 1969, at the age of 20.Victor Hernandez Cruzs poem â€Å"Problems with Hurricanes† is a poem addressing dark problemsRead MoreCauses Of The Mau Mau Revolt1012 Words   |  5 Pagespolitically controlled by the Kikuyu rebel group, had a rebellion or a movement against the British army because the British were coming to take their land. The British colony began to settle on the Kenyan land and they tried forcing the natives to become laborers. The natives did not accept this and instead began to fight for their land. After a bit of time, the Mau Mau rebels were defeated by the British Colonies. In 1954, the Mau Mau rebels sent a lett er to the British Government stating what they wantRead MoreEssay on Robert Frost1443 Words   |  6 PagesJanuary 29, 1963. Frost was considered to be one of America’s leading 20th century poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. He was an essentially pastoral poet who was often associated with rural New England. Frost wrote poems of a philosophical region. His poems were traditional but he often said as a dig at his archrival Carl Sandburg, that â€Å"he would soon play tennis without a net as write free verse.† Frost said this because he believed he was a pioneer of rhythm and meter and in the poeticRead MoreThe Representation of Colonized People in Rudyard Kipling’s Poem â€Å"the White Man’s Burden†: an Unrealistic Representation3227 Words   |  13 Pagesimperialism(Orwell 116). And this is well manifested in his poem The White Mans Burden published in 1899. It ideologically justifies the process of colonization and empire namin g it a burden. It urges the colonial power to take up the burden of colonialism representing the West as the superior whose responsibility is to civilize the backward colonized nations. Thus, in analyzing the issue of representation of colonized people in the poem from Edward Said’s perspective, one can find out that itRead MoreJohn Milton Opens Paradise Lost Essay2170 Words   |  9 Pagesintent, he makes a very ambitious statement of his goal, claiming that his book would be sufficient means by which â€Å"[He might] assert Eternal Providence, / And justify the ways of God to men† (Paradise Lost 1.25-26). So the reader should treat his epic poem as the attempted justification that it is, and ask themselves this: does this argument successfully justify God’s ways? A key—perhaps even the key—part of Milton’s book, and therefore of his argument, is God’s behavior with regards to the fall, whetherRead MoreThe Development Of Japanese Landscape Painting2295 Words   |  10 PagesThis Paper will be an analysis of the development of Japanese landscape painting, analyzing the historical context behind these paintings and what led to the changes in style. Both of these paintings are representative of their specific culture during this rapidly changing time and these changes will be discussed in relation to the artwork. I am going to be discussing Japanese landscape painting, the outside influences shaping Japanese landscape painting but also focusing on the internal elementsRead MoreThis Tournament Goes to Eleven4982 Words   |  20 Pagesof Acentejo occurred here in 1494 and was a setback for Fernà ¡ndez de Lugos attempts at colonization, which were begun when the 1474 Treaty of Alcà ¡Ãƒ §ova had ceded this place to Isabel of Castile. Antonio de Viana wrote an epic ode to the aboriginal natives of this place, and one of his works provides the name of Mount Teide, which is the highest point in its entire country. Secondary landmasses here include * Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gomera, and La Palma, while its largest component is named TenerifeRead MoreRomanticism and Modernism as Strange Bedfellows: A Fresh Look at Jack Kerouacs On the Road12240 Words   |  49 Pages . . a Denver Mexican . . . anything but what I was so drearily, a ‘white man’ disillusioned† (180). This is the counterpart of his romantic spirit of optimism and innocence. However, even the â€Å"mad ones† are not void of a modernist analysis. When describing Dean and his friend Carlo in romantic fashion, he ends on a bleaker note. â€Å"They rushed down the street together, digging everything in the early way they had, which later became so much sadder and perceptive and blank† (6). The spiritRead MoreSanskrit6594 Words   |  27 PagesSanskrit à ¤ ¸Ã  ¤â€šÃ  ¤ ¸Ã  ¥ Ã  ¤â€¢Ã  ¥Æ'à ¤ ¤Ã  ¤ ®Ã  ¥  saá ¹Æ'ská ¹â€ºtam Pronunciation [sÉ™ÌÆ'skÉ ¹ÃŒ ©tÃŒ ªÃ‰â„¢m] Spoken in Greater India Total speakers 14,135 native speakers in India (2001)[1] Language family Indo-European * Indo-Iranian o Indo-Aryan + Sanskrit Writing system DevanÄ garÄ « (de facto), various BrÄ hmÄ «Ã¢â‚¬â€œbased scripts, and Latin alphabet Official status Official language in India (Uttarakhand) one of the 22 scheduled languages of India Regulated by No official regulation Language codes

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Are Babies Born on the United States Soil Be Considered...

A big issue that surrounds the United States today is whether or not babies born on United States soil are to be considered full-fledged citizens or not, regardless of the family’s recent migration into the United States. The children born in the United States to illegal alien mothers are often referred to as anchor babies†. Under current practice, these children are United States citizens at birth, simply because they were born on United States soil. They are called anchor babies because, as United States citizens, they become eligible to sponsor their relatives when they turn 21 years of age, thus becoming the legal United States anchor for an extended immigrant family (Shopper). Thus, the United States born children of illegal aliens not only represent additional U.S. population growth, but also act as anchors to eventually pull a large number of extended family members into the country legally; moreover, a whole industry has built up around the United States system o f birthright citizenship, thousands of pregnant women who are about to deliver come to the United States each year from countries as far away as South Korea and as near as Mexico so that they can give birth on U.S. soil (Anchor Babies, NumbersUSA).The original intent of the 14th Amendment was clearly not considering illegal aliens going around the United States laws. Estimates indicate there may be over 300,000 anchor babies born each year in the United States; overall, causing illegal alien mothers to addShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesD421.E77 2010 909.82—dc22 2009052961 The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992 Printed in the United States of America 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 C ONTENTS Introduction Michael Adas 1 1 World Migration in the Long Twentieth Century †¢ Jose C. Moya and Adam McKeown 9 †¢ 2 Twentieth-Century Urbanization: In Search of an Urban ParadigmRead MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 Pages441 441 CASE STUDIES A summary of the case analysis I N T R O D U C T I O N Preparing an effective case analysis: The full story Hearing with the aid of implanted technology: The case of Cochlearâ„ ¢ – an Australian C A S E O N E high-technology leader Delta Faucet: Global entrepreneurship in an emerging market C A S E T W O DaimlerChrysler: Corporate governance dynamics in a global company C A S E T H R E E Gunns and the greens: Governance issues in Tasmania C A S E F O U R Succeeding in theRead MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 Pagesof this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 22 2 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978)

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Neiman Marcus Sales Plan Free Essays

string(109) " will still interview candidates regardless of test scores just in case there were errors in the assessment\." Neiman Marcus is a premier luxury retailer with distinctive merchandise and superior service. They opened in Dallas, Texas in 1908. Since 1908, Neiman Marcus has opened 40 additional stores. We will write a custom essay sample on Neiman Marcus Sales Plan or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 2010, the current count is 41 retail stores and 28 clearance centers called Last Call Neiman Marcus. As you can see from the chart, Neiman Marcus sells very diverse items. The largest category is women’s apparel, followed by women’s shoes, handbags and accessories, men’s apparel and shoes, cosmetics and fragrances, designer and precious jewelry, home furnishings and decor and the smallest category is other items. Neiman Marcus’s Mission Statement: â€Å"Neiman Marcus Stores will be the premier luxury retailer recognized for merchandise leadership and superior customer service. We will offer the finest fashion and quality products in an exceptional environment. † For the fiscal year 2010, Neiman Marcus had strong sales numbers. The total sales in the first quarter included the months of August, September, and October. The total sales were $ 869 million. The second quarter included the months of November, December, and January. The total sales were $ 1,102 million. The third quarter included the months February, March, and April. The total sales in the third quarter were $ 895 million. These figures include all 41 retail stores and the Neiman Marcus on-line website. According to the latest annual report from the U. S. Census Bureau the total amount of sales for the U. S. retail industry was $ 4. 13 trillion. This report comes from the calendar year ending in December 2009. Neiman Marcus has three top competitors. They are Barneys New York, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Even though there are many other luxury retailers, only the three listed above can compete with Neiman Marcus’s customer service and diversity of products. Code of Ethics The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. placed a Code of Ethics and Conduct to all its sales associates. The following are only a few examples of the policies that were placed. Protecting Customer Information When it comes to customer information, Neiman Marcus is dedicated to protect their customer’s confidential information. The company places the responsibility of protecting customer information to each sales associate that comes in contact with that information. Not only is certain information protected by state and federal laws, it is also protected by the company’s own data security policies. Sales associates are prohibited from using a client’s personal information on personal PDA’s or any personal computer for future reference. Conflicts Of Interest Neiman Marcus’s Code of Ethics and Conduct describes situations in which sales associates should avoid. According to the Code of Conduct, associates should avoid any situations that their personal interests could conflict to those of the company. The sales associate should avoid lending money to its customers for them to buy from the company nor should he or she use the company’s information or a customer’s confidential information for personal gain. It is also stated that the â€Å"associates should not accept any gifts†. These rules are made to avoid any unethical transactions between its associates and its customers or other parties. Discipline For Violations Neiman Marcus has disciplinary guidelines for sales associates who authorize, condone, or participate in actions that violate not only the company’s policies but the law. This also applies to sales associates who encourage others to retaliate against whistleblowers. Sales associates who withhold information relating to a violation are also at risk of disciplinary action. Sales associates who also submit false reports of violations or suspected violations which are made in bad faith will also receive disciplinary action. Neiman Marcus also prohibits sales associates to share employee discounts. Because the company regards the employee discount as a courtesy and privilege extended to the employee, if discovered, sales associates can have their benefit revoked or be terminated. Recruiting and Selecting Part of how Neiman Marcus selects its sales force is through its interview process. Part of that process is the use of a personality assessment to screen for desirable candidates to fit with Neiman Marcus’s ideology. The screening tests are supposed to help an interviewer have objective information that is not subject to biases. According to the Dalrymple’s Sales Management text â€Å"Testing was found to be one of the most reliable predictors of entry level job success. † Three main tests mentioned are intelligence, personality, and aptitude. The application process is as follows: after a candidate completes a job application on a HRIS (Human Resource Information System) they are then transferred to the SHL system and complete an assessment test. They are then transferred back to the HRIS system. (â€Å"SHL is a company that provides workplace talent assessment solutions including ability and personality tests, and psychometric assessments in more than 50 countries and in 30 languages†. ) A report is then immediately available which enables the interviewer to hire right then and there. As a result of Neiman Marcus adopting this process they make claims of having a reduction in staff turnover by 18%. In locations where the new system is being used, the pay for sales associates have been increased by 15. % and the interview – to- hire cycle was reduced from several days to 24 hours. The criteria selected by Neiman Marcus for a sales associate position is a direct result from the planning process where the company would define the company culture by analyzing the job, analyzing the job description and determining the qualifications they want to invest in a sales force. After receiving that information, the company SHL designed a personality assessment based on key competencies, attitude, and behaviors that applied to top performing sales associates with good employment tenure records. The assessment is simple and easy to use by store managers for the purpose of minimizing the risk of poor interviewing techniques. 30% of businesses that were surveyed showed that they used personality tests in hiring. Many companies consider testing more important than experience or education, while other companies like Universal Studios Theme Park will still interview candidates regardless of test scores just in case there were errors in the assessment. You read "Neiman Marcus Sales Plan" in category "Essay examples" In most cases the results are close to what is surmised in the interview. Long held debates question whether or not personality tests can reduce personality to a set of numbers. Examples of popular tests are the â€Å"The Myers-Briggs type indicators used to match job seekers with jobs based on four qualities of introversion/ extroversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, judgment/perceiving and for careers in positions of authority and trust. Another popular test is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test, which looks for drug abuse or other pathologies. Questions remain unanswered. Could this sort of testing stigmatize applicants who have not committed any wrong doings and could it result in an injustice to innocent people? A survey showed that 49 percent of companies that used computerized hiring systems saw no changes in turnover rates. The American Psychological Association found little evidence that tests purporting to measure honesty are accurate. The danger that lies in these tests is they are not regulated or certified, and anyone can make up a test and make claims as they wish. Companies like â€Å"People Answers† make claims of â€Å"streamlining the recruiting process† and hiring process for hiring managers offer â€Å"full behavioral analysis on every candidate†. They claim they can uncover hidden attributes that reveal a candidates drive for success and can separate out the underachievers. While this procedure may save time and the associated costs of hiring staff, questions arise about these programs of whether they make allowances for people who come from different cultures and minorities. These programs may be set to be too narrow as to not give equal opportunity to deserving candidates. Creativity and innovation cannot be predicted by a computer survey. Also, candidates could gain knowledge on how to beat these tests rendering them useless. While these tests might prove to be a good indicator of the attributes of what a company finds desirable in a candidate, it is being suggested here that there is no substitute for good training and interview skills. Caution is indicated where there could be an over reliance on these procedures and could prove to be a drawback in the long run. Training Since Neiman Marcus’s training programs are decentralized, sales associates are trained at the store location where they will work. This instruction is done in a classroom setting that includes web conferences and online essions. This strategy reduces travel expenses and managers can observe the new employees first hand. The decentralized training for sales associates has worked well for them. One of the things Neiman Marcus has been doing right is their training philosophy and techniques. Much of what they have done has been imitated by others. The contemporary theory of customer service was popularized by Neiman Marcus. Neiman Marcus offers a five day training course to new employees, while Nordstrom has a less formal approach with more emphasis on incentives and providing information. New Sales force employees receive training that covers Neiman Marcus history, policies and procedures. They also receive a course called ‘The Art of Selling† which teaches new sales associates how to give outstanding service to clients. This training offers custom-designed materials and programs to fit the Neiman Marcus philosophy. The material covers product knowledge and how sales process behavior leads to a successful conclusion. Another thing Neiman Marcus does right is their follow up training. They use a variety of methods that include classroom session, video, web conferences, systems training, online resources, lending library, in the job coaching, and in-store/in-facility experiences. Associates receive 200 hours of training their first year and 150 hours of training in subsequent years. This constant training reinforces the Neiman Marcus culture and leads to continual improvement, better selling skills, increased product knowledge, and ultimately better customer relations. Retailers have found that better service often equals higher sales and almost always results in loyal customers. A new topic for sales training is technology based selling skills. This is an area that is changing all the time. Cutting edge technology can give a company a real advantage over the competition when they are early entrants. One new technology is customer relationship management hand held devices. In the past, product information that might only be known by a few specialists with years of experience is now at the finger tips of the entire floor of sales associates. This is the power of being trained in using customer relationship management hand held devices. These devices are called Mobile CRMs. The devices have the power to take customer service to a whole new level. Imagine a sales person being able to access customer data at any time. Sales people can up sell, make suggestions, check inventory availability, and even answer customer’s questions about a specific product without having to run off somewhere to get answers and information. Instead, they can get it on the spot. If a product is not available, they can put the customer on a call list to be notified when a product has become available. This cutting edge technology will free sales associates to make the buying experience as effortless as possible. Sales people can make the transactions for the customer without having to go back to the register counter or point of sale station. Customers can be on their way in just minutes. This type of device helps a sales person improve his/her efficiency by being more competent in carrying out one’s duties which will in turn improve customer relations that result in an increase of productivity that leads to more personal satisfaction resulting in reduced turnover. According to the New York Times article, â€Å"Creating a Better Sales Force†, Mr. Lyon of The Container Store states: â€Å"If you give great service, you make people happier. Not only do employees who are better prepared to sell have a greater sense of accomplishment, they contribute ideas that help the company grow, and they become the next generation of management. † Account Relationships Neiman Marcus prides itself as the premier luxury retailer dedicated to providing our customers with distinctive merchandise and superior service. Former President Stanley Marcus believed in the â€Å"best of the best†, both in products and customer relationships. It was his belief that providing superior customer support through consultative transactions would result in customer loyalty. The sales associates should provide a â€Å"personal shopping† experience with each customer. They assist by knowing where merchandise is located, what? s in stock, what? s coming in, what will meet a customer’s needs, and what will not. Associates build trust with customers by answering the customer’s needs rather than providing the nearest product with a simple solution. For example, if a customer arrived looking for a lightly colored lip gloss, a sales associate would try to determine if the customer was looking for nourishment, a concealer, or an enhancer, because each situation may have a different product as a result. To assist the sales associates, Neiman Marcus partnered with Business Objects in 2002 to redesign a strategic customer relationship application. The new computer system provided sales associates with product information. They are able to know what is in stock and on the floor at all times. The system was also created to include a computer based clientele tracking system. This system can track all sales for each client. Based on the information from the sale, such as designers, colors, sizes, time of purchase, and frequency, a profile can be built for each customer. It will also allow the sales associates to track life events and special occasions for each client to add value and build a meaningful personal relationship. This system will also allow department sales managers to access real time reporting on the sales of each associate in their department based on dollar amount, number of sales, and brands sold. Sales associates are also instructed to build a relationship and create loyalty by maintaining familiarity with InCircle, Neiman Marcus’s loyalty program. Each associate is expected to introduce new customers to the program and provide updates to existing members. To become a member, a customer only needs to open a new Neiman Marcus account. Once opened, they are enrolled and can register their American Express and Diners Club credit cards, the only other cards accepted in stores. Each dollar spent in the store or online will equal one point in the InCircle loyalty program. After the first purchase, members will receive advanced notices of promotions, shows, and invitations to exclusive events. It is these â€Å"soft rewards† that generate Neiman Marcus’s most loyal customers. Sales associates promote the exclusivity of the events to make members feel as though they are included in the most fashionable circles. At the exclusive InCircle events, shoppers mingle with other likeminded members who positively influence their spending. Members are also encouraged to bring a non-member to the events which generate promising new customers. Businesses can also benefit for the quality customer service at Neiman Marcus. Many businesses use the knowledge and reliability of associates to place bulk orders. Often a business relationship can develop over the phone, with products being delivered in person. This service allows minimal interruptions for busy business professionals. This service if often utilized during the holiday season by corporations looking to distribute luxurious gifts to their employees. How to cite Neiman Marcus Sales Plan, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

IT For Fast Fashion free essay sample

Spanish Inditex’s most successful retail clothing store Zara is known all across the world for its trendy apparel (Mcafee, Dessain, Sjoman, 2004). The company has been very successful throughout the years but management has recently decided that the IT infrastructure may need updating. The store currently runs off of a POS system supported by DOS, which has not been supported by Microsoft for several years (Ferdows, Lewis, Machuca, 2004). The POS system has been working flawlessly for many years, however, management is worried that the hardware vendor for the POS machines will stop providing this outdated machines (Ferdows et al., 2004). The purpose of this paper is for Salgado, the head of the technical department at Inditex, to analyze whether Zara should keep the system that has worked well for so long, or to upgrade it to a newer technology with more advanced features. The issues surrounding the DOS system, dial-up modem, networking abilities, manual inventory system, and handheld computers will be discussed in detail. Out of the alternatives and options examined, I will make recommendations to the company in favor of updating the POS system to Windows, as well as set an implementation plan for how they can rollout this project. Monitors and controls will be decided on how the project will be evaluated. Introduction Zara, Inditex’s most successful retail clothing store has come to a crossroads in regards to its IT infrastructure (Mcafee et al. , 2004). The company is headquartered in La Coruna, Spain (Mcafee et al. , 2004). There are 650 Zara stores across 50 countries (Mcafee et al. , 2004). Zara’s marketing task is focused on customer’s responsiveness to demand supplying small batches of clothing within three weeks of the emergence of the fashion trend (Mcafee et al. , 2004). This allows them to rely on their loyal customers to frequently visit their stores (Mcafee et al. , 2004). Zara’s competition includes The Gap, Benettons, and HM (Mcafee et al. , 2004). Zara manufactures it’s clothing to be worn a few times and prices are fairly affordable (Mcafee et al. , 2004). Zara does not use a heavily advertised business model, as they only spend 0. 3% of sales on marketing and advertising (Mcafee et al. , 2004). Zara’s uses a vertically integrated business model to produce trendy women’s, men’s, and children’s fashions and quick and efficient as possible (Ferdows et al., 2004). They own most of the manufacturing and distribution part of the supply chain, as well as developed all of the software related to their IT department (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Zara’s management uses a decentralized decision making strategy. A group within the company, called â€Å"Commercials† find the latest styles and decide what clothes to manufacture, and store managers decide what clothes they will sell in their stores (Mcafee et al. , 2004). The current IT infrastructure is run off of a POS (point of sale) system developed by Salgado, the head of IT for Inditex (Ferdows et al. , 2004). The system is run off of a DOS program, which Microsoft has not supported for many years (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Although the program has worked well for many years, the company is afraid that the hardware vendor for the POS system will stop providing this outdated technology and the company will be left without a POS system (Ferdows et al. , 2004). In the below analysis, Salgado will analyze the facts and come to a decision whether to upgrade the current computing infrastructure. Issue Identification The following issues dealing with Zara’s point-of-sale system will be discussed: 1)DOS system 2)Dial-Up Modem3)Networking Abilities. Manual inventory system 5)Handheld Computers Environmental and Root Case Analysis DOS System Our current POS system, supported by a DOS operating system, presents an issue as DOS has not been supported by Microsoft since 2003 (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Therefore, all new computer systems are not compatible with DOS. Zara’s hardware vendor could stop supplying the DOS compatible POS systems at anytime. The current program operating under DOS was written by myself and has worked so well for us for many years, as new stores do not need any training on it, and have not had any issues with it. We designed the program specifically to our wants and needs. However, some new features could be helpful. For example, the current POS program does not automatically track daily sales (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Getting a new operating system is urgent because POS systems are essential for business and there is uncertainty in how long the current system will be available for. The cost for new POS terminals at each store is â‚ ¬5,000 (Ferdows et al. , 2004). A Windows operating system for the new POS terminal would be a one time fee of â‚ ¬140 per computer and an annual maintenance fee of â‚ ¬30 per computer (Ferdows et al., 2004). It will take 32 hours per store and cost â‚ ¬2,000 per day to install the new programming to the new POS system and train the staff on how to use it (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Dial Up Modem Our current IT infrastructures in our various Zara stores are supported by dial-up modems (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Dial-up modems create problems, as only one computer in each store is able to connect to the Internet to communicate sales and orders with our headquarters (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Also, computers are not able to connect simultaneous to each other across a store. Store managers have to use a floppy disk to transfer information between computers (Ferdows et al. , 2004). This is a very outdated technology and this upgrade is inevitable. This is a more urgent requirement as this type of Internet connection is limiting our ability to conduct business. The cost per store for wireless Internet is a one time fee of â‚ ¬430, in addition to â‚ ¬240 annually (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Networking Abilities Another issue we have with our current IT infrastructure is that we don’t have ideal networking abilities. For example, our Zara store sales information is not sent to headquarters until the end of the day when managers manually transfer information to the only computer hooked up to the dial-up Internet (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Store-to-store networking is also non-existent, as Zara stores have to call each other to see if another store has a certain product (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Inventory transfers and returns to headquarters would be simplified with wireless Internet. Since management views communication between different functions as a vital part of business, this is considered as a priority upgrade. Once each POS terminal is connected to wireless Internet, it should be easy to get much better networking abilities without an added cost. Manual Inventory System Zara currently operates under a manual inventory system. This means that store managers have to physically walk around the store to get an understanding of what items are on the shelves (Ferdows et al. , 2004). This is time consuming for the store manager when they are conducting product orders and it doesn’t allow them to see what a popular seller is. Finding out what were popular selling items means having to talk to the salespeople to see what they sold most of. Part of this new inventory system should include a system for showing a more accurate total of inventory, compared to the theoretical inventory method they currently use. Inventory should also be constantly available for the headquarters to see. This is not an urgent requirement and can get done whenever the new operating system is working properly. The cost of programming the new inventory system is â‚ ¬450 per day and it will take roughly 5,000 hours total (Ferdows et al., 2004). Handheld Computers (PDA’s) Our store managers use small handheld computers (PDA’s) to see what new clothing the commercials are offering, and use these to also order new shipments (Ferdows et al. , 2004). These PDA’s are also used to handle garment returns to the headquarters. The negative thing about these PDA’s is that they are not connected to the POS system or the headquarters. Store managers also complain about the small screens and how the PDA’s are constantly being discontinued or replaced because of technical advances (Ferdows et al. , 2004). Even though this creates a hassle for our employees, this is not as urgent of a problem as we are still able to conduct business with the PDA’s. Upgrading our POS system would also require us to incorporate the ordering system onto the new operating system so that we no longer require PDA’s. Once the new operating system is installed, there are no additional costs to adding the functionality of the ordering process. There will actually be saving benefits, as PDA’s will no longer be required. Alternatives and Options OptionProConAlternative Keep the DOS POS systemReliable, Cost efficient, No training  required Obsolete technology, risk with hardware vendor, Limited functionsUpgrade to new POS system Purchase extra POS terminals supported by DOSGain extra time to make a decisionInvesting more money in technology that is obsoleteKeep the DOS POS systems as the hardware vendor assured us that they will not discontinue them Upgrade all POS terminals and transfer to Windows operating systemCan add more functionality to software, more communication, same system other stores rely onExpensive (â‚ ¬13,000 per store), Not as many personalized functions, Have to train staff on new system (â‚ ¬2,000/store) (Ferdows et al., 2004). Develop own software Develop a new operating system software using their IT knowledgeCan customize to suit Zara’s needsTime and labor consuming, limited to IT department’s knowledgePurchase already created operating system Recommendations From the above analysis, it is clear that it is time for Zara to upgrade its POS terminals and operating system. It is inevitable that the hardware vendor will at some time stop providing Inditex with the DOS operating POS system, and it would not be logical to continue investing in this technology if it is only short lived. The new POS operating system should be outsourced to a well-known system, such as Windows, because my knowledge and the rest of the IT department’s knowledge may be limited. Thousands of other stores currently use a Windows operating system and have no problems with it. The new functionalities that can be added will greatly improve the efficiencies of the business. Such functionalities include an automatic inventory system, daily sales and trends per store easily accessible by headquarters, product ordering, and communication to headquarters and between stores. This rollout will be mostly conducted by Inditex’s IT department and support staff. A pilot store will first test the technology and give feedback on how it is working for them. IT support staff will then train all store managers on the new POS system and begin to transfer all inventory data. The rollout of the new POS terminals and system will be conducted during slower retail shopping season and PDA’s will be phased out.   After each Zara store is set up with new POS terminals and operating systems, a post rollout assessment will be  conducted by IT support staff where the managers will give their input into how the transition went.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Macbeth Essays (438 words) - Characters In Macbeth,

Macbeth In the final acts of Shakespeare's Macbeth the motiff blood plays a big role. It adds drama and shows how influencial the sight of blood is to many people. For instance, on page 356,Act 5, Scene 3, .lines 17-20Macbeth say"Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear, thou lily-livered boy. What soldiers, patch? Death of thy soul! Those linen cheeks of thine Are counselors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?" In this passage Macbeth suggests that the servant cut his face so that blood will hide his cowardice . This adds drama and states the sight of blood makes people look lss cowardly and may scare another thus giving Macbeth power over his enemy. In act 4 scene, scene 1, page 335 , lines 89-92 there is a reference to a bloody child that states" Be bloody, bold, snd resolute; laugh to scorn The pow'r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. It is more dramatic that is is said by a bloody child because it wouldn't be such an impotant statement said byu a regular man or woman. Characterization lets ua know what is going on in each characters head and lets us know things about the character that the author wants us to know. For example in act 4, scene 1, pg. 337, lines 165-179 Macbeth says aside " Time, thou anticipat'st my ddread exploits............ The castle of Macduff I will surprise, , seize upon Fife, give to the edge o' the sword That trace him, in his line............ Come, bring me where they are." Shakespeare lets Macbeth talk to himself so the audience knows exactly what is going through his mind. In Act 5 scene 1 the whole opwning section with the doctor talking to the gentlewoman is created so that we understand what is going with Lady Macbeth without being told in a more obvious way that would take away from the play. Characterization is a big part of letting us know more about the play otherwise without there would be many things we didn't understand. Foreshadowing adds suspense and gives the reader an eye to look into the future of the play to keep them interested and let them know what will happen. In act 5,scene 1 pg,353, lines 73-75 when the doctor says," Look after her; remove from her means of annoyance, and still keep eyes upon her .' This is said as to forshadow that later in the play Lady Macbeth might take her own life because of her guilty feeling. Also, at the beginning of Act 4 scene 1 the three witches foreashadow by telling Macbeth what the future holds such as the witches showing Macbeth the lines of futeure kings foreshadow what will happen to Macbeth.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Formal lab report on ionic and covalent compounds Essay Example

Formal lab report on ionic and covalent compounds Essay Example Formal lab report on ionic and covalent compounds Paper Formal lab report on ionic and covalent compounds Paper This experiment was divided in four steps to find the electrical conductivity of covalent and ionic solutions. There were four unknown solutes A, B and C. Each had a specific weight and was dissolved in a certain amount of solute to form either the covalent or ionic solution. Covalent compounds are made up of molecules which are electrically neutral. Ionic compounds are composed of ions, which are positively or negatively charged. Therefore an electric current can be conducted by solutions containing charged particles. Ionic compounds conduct electricity and covalent compounds do not. Once ready the unknown solutions a certain amount of them was placed in four labeled beakers. The conductivity of each was measured with an apparatus containing a light bulb which was plugged in a 110 volt outlet. The ionic compound solutions A C results were bright light, D solution result was dim light. Solution B was a covalent compound which result was no light. The results showed which solutions conducted electricity. Introduction: The purpose of the experiment was to determine the electrical conductivity of the unknown solutions and whether they were formed of ionic or covalent compounds. The solutions were careful made and each was tested with a conductivity apparatus. Purpose: Solutes A, B, C and D were weighted to the amounts indicated. There was a certain amount of solvent for each which also was indicated. Each became a solution formed of either ionic or covalent compounds; they had its unique color. The solutions were labeled to avoid any confusion. : Discussion and Conclusion: the results of the conductivity test showed of what type of compound the solutions were made of. The solutions made out of ionic compound resulted in light because ionic compounds are charged which mean they conduct electricity in the other hand the covalent compounds did not give any light as a result because they are neutral which means they dont conduct electricity.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Management class-Trader Joe's case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management class-Trader Joe's case - Essay Example At the same time he asks his employees to interact with customers to collect their feedback on the products. Trader Joe has been able to satisfy both his employees and customers at the same time. Joe ensures that those who work for him are well paid and satisfied. The benefits for employees include medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid retirement, paid vacation and a 10% employee discount. 2. The management operations include various strategic phases such as planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. The effective coordination of these correlated activities is a basic factor which determines the level outcomes of business performance. Planning is one of the very important managerial strategies. The focus should be on satisfying the taste of customers for choosing the natural ingredients, inspiring flavors, and minimizing the costs by purchasing directly from producers. A well effective organization of the trade is also very important. Trader Joe’s considers it important to sell the quality products at low prices and limit the stock as too many options may confuse the customers. Joe allows employees to play vital role in determining the overall success. Joe has very good conviction regarding the production processes. He believes that production should not be in extra large quantities but to satisfy the customers.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Financial analysis for Performance management Research Paper

Financial analysis for Performance management - Research Paper Example After the merger, there is a substantial increase in the companys capital as well as a decrease in the liabilities. It shows that the company position to meet its financial obligation has improved after the merger. The equity multiplier calculated for the period before the merger shows that the company had funded a huge share of its assets using debts. After the merger, the company gets the additional capital that boosts its books, but still ratio remains relatively high. The interest cover ratio for the period the merger shows the company was not in a position to pay it interests obligation, the company made a loss. In the period after the merger, the period ended 26 July 2014, the company is in a better position to cater for its interest obligations though there are more interest obligations as results of the increase in debts. The gross margin shows the portion of the total sales that is left out after accounting for the direct costs related to the production of the goods and services. The gross margin ratio is within an acceptable range. There is increased in sales revenue in the period ended revenue in the financial year ended 26 July 2014 and point to a more efficient selling capacity. The fixed asset turnover ratio calculated is seen to increase over the period. The higher ratio in the period after the merger shows that the efficiency in utilising the fixed asset to generate sales has improved. During the period that ended 27 July 2013, the company was in a very poor position to meet its financial obligation. The company made a loss. After the merger, that is, the period that ended 27 July 2013, the company made a profit and can then be able to meet its financial obligations as and when they become due for payment. Therefore, the lender can now confidently trust to lend the firm without risking default. To the company management, I recommend they ensure the profitability trend is

Monday, November 18, 2019

Morality, Ethics & Human Behavior and Determining Moral Behavior Essay

Morality, Ethics & Human Behavior and Determining Moral Behavior - Essay Example These rules are applicable for a single class of human action like political ethics, social ethics and medical ethics. Values are the set ethical ideals which are being created before developing an ethical program (ERC, 2009). A person’s value system helps to built moral beliefs, thus they are integral part of ethical system. Ethical systems are moral theories or philosophies through which one approaches toward making moral decision. These approaches are universal and can be divided into certain categories like Utilitarianism and Deontology. All these ethical systems follow rigid rules and they are highly regulated; these systems are reliable and dependable for asserting moral behavior, they reflect moral thoughts and they are logically impartial (universal), they does not have any value until and unless they are employed thus they not self-servicing. Both teleological and deontological systems are the two most common theories which provide conflicting answer regarding morality. Teleological system takes into account result of the act. Thus consequence of an action is taken into consideration while making decision, in spite of the intention behind the act. Deontological system takes nature of the act into consideration while judging an act, thus they are duty based. If intention behind a decision is morally correct, then what ever be the outcome, it will be considered as a moral decision (White,

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Gas metal arc welding

Gas metal arc welding Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 1 Introduction Welding is the fabrication process of joining two metal pieces permanently by applying heat or pressure or both. Joining takes place by melting and fusing: melting the base metals and applying the filler metal. This is achieved by melting workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material (weld pool) that cools to become a strong joint. (Wikipedia) Some advantages of welding are that it produces a strong and tight joining between two pieces, is cost effective, simple and can be mechanized and automated. However welding results in internal stresses, distortions and changes in microstructure in the weld region. GMAW is currently one of the most popular welding methods, especially in industrial environments because it has lead to simplification of the welding process. GMAW is said to be one of the easiest welding processes to learn and perform. This is because in the process, the power source virtually does all the work by adjusting welding parameters to handle differing conditions. GMAW is extensively used in sheet metal industry and automobile industry. It has replaced riveting and resistance spot welding. It has also found applications in robot welding, where robots handle the workpieces and the welding gun to increase the consistency and the manufacturing process rate. The change in welding trends from SMAW to GMAW in the small and medium fabrications, mainly in the automotive industry. The reason is the attempt of manufacturers to maintain quality and decreasing cost.Lateron it was noted that GMAW was not preferred previously because of the limitation of incomplete fusion, which was not preferred for bridge and structural fabrications. However, with increase in the technology in GMAW, such as advancement in pulsed spray mode of transfer of metal, applications of the welding process has increased. Then there were some advancement in pulse metal arc welding by producing spray transfer at low mean currents. In a GMAW, process good thermal and electrical conductivities act as a drawback because such properties lead to excessive heating of base metals. Hence, limiting the use of the gas metal arc welding process. Pulsed gas metal arc welding (GMAW-P) addresses such problems. Another advancement in GMAW is the use of double electrode in the welding proc ess to increase the manufacturing speed. The DE-GMAW allows increasing the melting current while controlling the base metal current at a desired level. They also developed a model to correlate the change in resistance in the base metal required to achieve the desired base metal current. Then came upon the process of laser hybrid welding, which is popular in automotive industry today. They describe the interaction of laser with GMAW during welding and discuss various variables involved during the process. Later on engineers reviewed the droplet transfer models of solid wire. They described the simulation models: SFBT (static force balance theory), PIT (pinch instability theory) and VOF theory. They concluded that results produced by VOF were in confirmation with the experimental results. With advancement in technology of GMAW, its applications have touched new horizon. Therefore, it is important to study about this process in detail. The purpose of this report is to present the process variables, effect of process variables and equipment on the welding process, and sensing and control systems. Advantages, disadvantages and applications of GMAW process are briefly discussed. This report is expected to help future researchers in their research endeavors by acting as a literature review and a guide to the gas metal arc welding process. 2 Methodology This section will briefly describe the types of welding processes and then concentrate on the GMAW process. Different methods of GMAW process, the modes of metal transfer are introduced in this section. Emphasis is laid on the process variables in the GMAW process, equipment used, and the sensing and control systems. In designing a welding process, the effect of different process variables must be considered. Each application has its unique requirements and limitations. These will be in relation to the parameters that can be controlled or not. Also, the equipment used is of great concern in terms of its simple operation and control and uses. It is important to know the process variables that will have affect on the welding process and their relationship with other parameters. The emerging necessity of the welding processes is its automation. With the use of robots in welding, it has become necessary to automate the whole process and monitor and control the operation and quality of weld. Different sensing and control systems under research and recently introduced in the industry are discussed. 2.1 Welding processes Various welding processes have been developed and used in the welding industry depending upon their application, energy source, such as mechanical, electrical, chemical or optical, metals to be welded, location of metals, cost, etc. The three broad classes are: Solid state welding Fusion welding Soldering and Brazing 2.1.1 Solid state welding Solid state weldingis a welding process, in which two work pieces are joined under a pressure providing an intimate contact between them and at a temperature essentially below the melting point of the parent material (Kopeliovich). Two materials bind by diffusion of the interface atoms. The processes that come under this class are: Forge Welding (FOW) Cold Welding (CW) Friction Welding (FRW) Explosive Welding (EXW) Diffusion Welding (DFW) Ultrasonic Welding (USW) Although these processes have advantages, they require thorough surface preparation like degreasing, oxide removal and brushing or sanding. In addition, these processes are expensive. 2.1.2 Soldering and brazin. Soldering and brazing involve melting the filler metal, which then flows into the space between the closely fitted base metals and solidifies. In soldering, the melting point of the filler metal is below 800Â °F while in brazing it is above this temperature. In both these processes, the melting point of the filler metal is below that of base metals. The filler metal is distributed between the properly fitted parts by capillary attraction. Some disadvantages are removal of flux residuals to prevent corrosion, no gas shielding may cause porosity of the joint, large sections cannot be joined, filler materials may contain toxic components and expensive filler materials. 2.1.3 Fusion welding Fusion welding involves the partial melting of two members welded by a heat source and amalgamated into one piece. The thermal energy required for fusion is usually supplied by chemical or electrical means. It may use a filler material like a consumable electrode or a wire. Fusion welding uses a protective layer like gas shielding or flux, which melts and forms a viscous slag on the weld metal that solidifies and removed later. 2.2. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) or metal inert gas (MIG) welding or metal active gas (MAG) welding is a semi-automatic or automatic arc welding process, which joins metals by heating them to their melting point with an electric arc. A continuous, consumable electrode wire and a shielding gas are fed through a welding gun. MIG involves use of an inert gas while MAG uses active gas like oxygen or carbon dioxide. 2.2.1 GMAW process Gas metal arc welding process usually comprise of a constant voltage, direct current (constant current or alternating current systems can also be used) arc burning between a thin bare metal wire electrode and the work piece. The arc and weld area are encased in a protective gas shield, fed through the welding gun. A continuous, consumable wire electrode is fed from a spool, through the welding torch/gun, which is connected to the positive terminal into the weld zone. 2.2.1.1 Parameters. The parameters of GMAW process are: Shielding gas Electrode size Electric parameter: voltage and current (continuous current is used) Feed rate (of electrode) Travel speed The shielding gas like carbon dioxide or a mixture of carbon dioxide and argon helps protect the molten metal from reacting with the atmosphere. Molten metal when exposed reacts with oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen in the environment. Shielding gas flows through the gun and cable assembly and out of the gun nozzle with the welding wire to shield and protect the molten weld pool. The risk of reacting of metal with atmosphere limits the use of GMAW indoors because outdoors wind can blow the shielding gas away from the work piece and result in reaction. The consumable wire commonly is copper colored mild steel, which has been electroplated with a thin layer of copper to protect it from rusting, improve electrical conductivity, increase contact tip life, and improve arc performance. 2.2.2 GMAW methods. GMAW can be performed in three different ways: Semiautomatic Welding wire feeding is controlled by the equipment and the movement of welding gun is by hand. Also called hand-held welding. Machine Welding a gun is connected to a manipulator (not hand-held). Manipulator controls are adjusted constantly by an operator. Automatic Welding welds without the constant adjusting of controls by a welder or operator. 2.2.3 Mode of metal transfer in GMAW. GMAW use four different modes to transfer metal from the electrode to the work piece. These are: Globular mode of transfer Short-circuit transfer Globular transfer Spray transfer Pulse-spray transfer 2.2.3.1 Short-circuit transfer Short circuit transfer refers to the welding achieved by short-circuiting (touching) welding wire with the base metal between 90 200 times per second. The wire feed speeds, voltages, and deposition rates are usually lower than with other types of metal transfer such as spray transfer. This facilitates welding thin or thick metals in any position. A typical Short Circuit Cycle can be summarized in following steps: Electrode is short-circuited to base metal. No arc and current is flowing through electrode wire and base metal. Resistance in electrode wire increases causing it to heat, melt and neck down. Electrode wire separates from weld puddle, creating an arc. Small portion of electrode wire is deposited, which forms a weld puddle. Arc length and load voltage are at maximum. Heat of arc flattens the puddle and increases the diameter tip of electrode. Wire feed speed overcomes heat of arc and wire approaches base metal again. Short circuit cycle starts again. 2.2.3.2 Globular Transfer Globular transfer refers to the state of transfer between short-circuiting and spray arc transfer. Large globs of wire are expelled from the end of the electrode wire and allowed to enter the weld puddle. This type of mode of transfer results when welding parameters such as voltage, amperage and wire feed speed is somewhat higher than the settings for short circuit transfer. 2.2.3.3 Spray Arc Transfer Spray arc transfer refers to spraying a stream of tiny molten droplets across the arc, from the electrode wire to the base metal. Spray arc transfer uses relatively high voltage, wire feed speed and amperage values, compared to short circuit transfer. Inert argon rich shielding gas is used for best results. 2.2.3.4 Pulse-spray Transfer In the pulse-spray transfer mode, the power supply is made to cycle between a high spray transfer current and a low background current. It is different from the spray transfer in that it allows the super cooling of the weld pool during background cycle. In each cycle one droplet transfers from the electrode to the weld pool. The low background current allows pulse-spray mode of transfer to weld out of position on thick sections with higher energy than the short-circuit transfer, thus producing a higher average current and improved sidewall fusion. It can be used to lower heat input and reduce distortion when high travel speeds are not needed or cannot be achieved because of equipment or throughput limitations. 2.2.4 Process Variables The process variables of the GMAW affect the welding efficiency and weld quality. These variables either act alone by affecting the final product or they interact with each other and affect weld penetration, bead geometry. It is important to study these variables and have their set limits for a desired welding process and good overall weld quality. The enough penetration, high heating rate and rightwelding profile make the quality of welding joint. These are affected by welding current, arc voltage,welding speed and protective gas parameters. Table 1 shows the effect of different process variables on penetration depth, deposition rate, bead size and bead width. Table 1: Effect of process variables on penetration, deposition rate, bead size and bead width. Welding variables Desired changes to change Penetration Deposition rate Bead size Bead width Increase Decrease Increase Decrease Increase Decrease Increase Decrease Current and wire feed speed Increase Decrease Increase Decrease Increase Decrease Little effect Little effect Voltage No effect No effect Little effect Little effect Little effect Little effect Increase Decrease Travel speed No effect No effect Little effect Little effect Decrease Increase Decrease Increase Electrode extension Decrease Increase Increasea Decreasea Increase Decrease Decrease Increase Wire diameter Decrease Increase Decrease Increase Little effect Little effect Little effect Little effect Shield gas % Increase Decrease Little effect Little effect Little effect Little effect Increase Decrease Gun angle Drag Push Little effect Little effect Little effect Little effect Push Drag a change will occur if current is maintained by wire feed speed. http://products.asminternational.org/hbk/index.jsp The process variables are listed and discussed below: Welding current (electrode feed speed) Polarity Arc voltage (arc length) Travel speed Electrode extension Electrode orientation (gun angle) Electrode diameter 2.2.4.1 Welding current Welding current is the electrical amperage in the power system as the weld is being made. In GMAW constant voltage power sources (voltage) are used, therefore, amperage is thought to be controlled by wire feed speed. Welding current is read from the power source meter or a separate ammeter is often used. The total welding amperage or current supplied to the arc is determined by the wire feed rate, open circuit voltage setting and the slope setting on the welding power source (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The faster the wire feed speed, higher is the welding amperage. However, the wire feed speed only determines the balance between the welding current and the load voltage at the arc. When all other variables are held constant, an increase in welding current results in an increase in the depth and width of penetration, deposition rate, and weld bead size. This makes GMAW arc was made self-regulating. i.e. if the welder pulls the torch away from the workpiece—raising the arc length and arc voltage—the power supply drops the arc current to burn off wire at a slower rate until the preset arc voltage was re-established. If the welder pushed the torch toward the work—shortening the arc and reducing the arc voltage—the power supply quickly raised the welding current to burn off more wire until the preset arc voltage was re-established. 2.2.4.2 Polarity Polarity describes the electrical connection of the electrode (welding gun) with the terminal of a power source. When the gun power lead is connected to the positive terminal, the polarity is designated as direct current electrode positive (DCEP). When the electrode or the gun power is connected to the negative terminal, the polarity is designated as direct current electrode negative (DCEN). When alternating current (AC) is used, the polarity changes every half cycle of 50 or 60 Hz. In GMAW usually DCEP is used because it yields a stable arc, smooth metal transfer, relatively low spatter, good weld bead characteristics and deep penetration for a wide range of welding currents. On the other hand, DCEN results in the molten droplet size tends to increase and the droplet transfer becomes irregular (Figure 3). This increases large grain spatter. Some wires with unique chemical composition have been developed for DCEN, which give excellent results on galvanized sheets. Variable polarity gas metal arc welding (VP-GMAW) is the current trend in the welding industry. Inverter pulse power supplies allow to combine DCEP and DCEN polarities in varying amounts (Figure 4). In their research, Harwig et al. (2000) showed that VP-GMAW could be used for welding thin gage aluminium sheets. They noted that during DCEN polarity, droplet formation takes place and it is transferred across the arc by DCEP polarity. They said that DCEN could be added up to 60 % to the current, beyond that the arc becomes unstable. 2.2.4.3. Arc Voltage Arc voltage is the amount of voltage present between the electrode and workpiece. Arc voltage and arc length are used interchangeably. Arc voltage is an approximate means of defining the physical arc length in electrical terms. However, one physical arc length could yield different arc voltage readings, depending on factors such as shielding gas, current, and electrode extension. If all these variables are kept constant, arc voltage and arc length can be correlated i.e. with increase in voltage setting, arc length increases. The welders are interested in arc length, but arc voltage is easy to monitor and must be specified in welding procedures. Therefore, its the arc voltage that is most commonly used term than the arc length. Arc voltage controls the height and width of the weld. Any increase in arc voltage from specific value, flattens the bead and increase the width of the fusion zone. Very high voltage results in porosity, spatter (unstable arc), and undercut. However, a voltage less than required will result in narrower weld bead with higher crown i.e. wire stubs on the work. Therefore, voltage must be set midway between high/low voltages. 2.2.4.4. Travel speed is the speed at which a welder moves the electrode along the joint to make a weld. Technically its the linear rate at which the arc is moved along the weld joint. Weld penetration is always maximum at intermediate travel speed, when all other conditions are constant. If low travel speed is used, the arc will impinge on the molten weld pool than working on the base metal and hence affect penetration efficiency. Large increase in travel speed will result in less thermal energy on the base metal. At high speed, the rate of melting of base metal is increased first and then decreased. If travel speed is increased any further, undercutting along the edges of weld bead may occur because of insufficient deposition of filler metal in the path melted by the arc. High speed GMAW as signifies uses high travel speeds. Rapid Arc Company uses pulsed GMAW for faster travel speeds, low spatter, out of position operation and lower heat input. They achieve high travel speeds by using lower arc voltage i.e. shorter arc length, this reduces spatter and washed out bead profile, allowing high torch travel speed. They divided rapid waveform into four parts (Figure 5): Pulse: A sudden increase in current increases arc energy, and forms and squeezes a molten droplet extending from the end of the electrode. Puddle Rise: The ramp down of current relaxes the plasma force, depressing the puddle, allowing it to rise up towards the droplet. Short : The arc collapses, and the droplet contacts the weld puddle. Puddle Repulsion: immediately following a short breaking into an arc, a gentle plasma boost pushes the puddle away and conditions the electrode tip. This ensures reliable separation of the wire tip and the puddle resulting in a stable rhythm of the cycle. 2.2.4.5 Electrode orientation Electrode orientation is the angle of the electrode axis with respect to the travel direction. This is called the travel angle. On the other hand, it could be the angle of the electrode axis with the work surface. This is called the work angle. When the electrode points in a direction opposite to the travel direction, it results in a trail angle and is called the backhand welding technique. When the electrode points in the direction of travel, it results in a lead angle and is called the forehand welding technique. The maximum penetration is achieved for trailing travel angle between 5 to 15Â ° (from perpendicular). This also provides a narrow, convex surface configuration and shielding of the molten weld pool. However, the leading travel angle provides the welder better visibility and a flatter weld surface. This is more commonly used technique. For materials such as aluminum, a leading angle is preferred, because it provides a cleaning action ahead of the molten weld metal, which promotes wetting and reduces base-material oxidation. This is because the leading angle of the electrode pushes the molten metal and slag ahead of the weld. When producing fillet welds in the horizontal position, the work angle should be about 45Â ° to the vertical member. 2.2.4.6. The electrode extension The distance between the last point of electrical contact (usually the gun contact tip or tube) and the end of the electrode. An increase in the amount of this extension causes an increase in electrical resistance. This, in turn, generates additional heat in the electrode, which contributes to greater electrode melting rates. Without an increase in arc voltage, the additional metal will be deposited as a narrow, high-crowned weld bead. The optimum electrode extension generally ranges from 6.4 to 13 mm for short-circuiting transfer and from 13 to 25 mm for spray and globular transfers. 2.2.4.7. The electrode diameter Influences the weld bead configuration. A larger electrode requires a higher minimum current than a smaller electrode does to achieve the same metal transfer characteristics.Higher currents, in turn, produce additional electrode melting and larger, more-fluid weld deposits. Higher currents also result in higher deposition rates and greater penetration, but may prevent the use of some electrodes in the vertical and overhead positions. 2.2.5 Equipment The basic assembly of GMAW containing the components of equipment can be seen in Figure 6. It is important to study each part of the equipment to reach the required quality of the weld. Each application of GMAW will have a specific requirement for each part. Therefore, these can be controlled or modified to change the welding process to achieve good welding efficiency and quality. The fundamental equipment for a typical GMAW installation includes: Welding gun Electrode feed unit Welding control mechanism Power source Electrode source Regulated Shielding gas For automatic welding equipment the wire feed unit and the current contact and gas barrel are combined in a single welding head (Figure 7). For Semi automatic welding flexibility is generally achieved by separating the wire feed unit from the torch and passing wire, gas, current and cooling water through the flexible conduit. Wire-feeding complexities must be considered using these systems. High powered motors are required to push wire for several yards. Ferrous metal wires can be fed through smooth, flexible and rigid spiral steel wire-feed tubes. But, aluminium and non-ferrous metals are difficult to feed through tubes until they are nylon lined. The wire feed difficulties increase with decreasing wire diameter. Welding current in GMAW equipment is introduced to the wire by passing it to a copper tube. A variation in point of current pick up can alter the resistance between contact and arc and cause variations in burn-off rate because of its effect on overall circuit resistance. With high currents or high resistance metals the current contact tube is shortened or fitted with small tip diameter tip to reduce variation. Water cooking is required for equipments that have automatic welding heads and those that work at about 250 A. Water cooling and chromium-plated surface make removal of fume and spatter from the nozzle easier. POWER CABLE (NEGATIVE) POWER CABLE (POSITIVE) WELDING VOLTAGE CURRENT DETECTION 115 VAC IN TO PRIMARY POWER 230/460/575 V COOLING WATER IN SHIELDING GAS IN TO CARRIAGE DRIVE MOTOR 115 VAC IN TRAVEL START/STOP WIRE FEED MOTOR SHIELDING GAS IN COOLING WATER IN COOLING WATER OUT The parts of GMAW are discussed below in detail. 2.2.5.1Welding gun Responsible for delivering the electrical current to the electrode, and directs it to the work piece and allows the flow of shielding gas to the weld area. The choice of welding gun is critical, but often ignored over power source, wire feeder, and shielding gas, which are most costly. Proper choice can give good welds and productivity. Different types of guns are used for different applications: heavy duty guns for high current and high volume production, and light guns for low current and out of position welding. Figure 8 shows the most commonly used gun, which is air cooled. Water cooled gun is used for high current requirement. Welding guns are rated on their current-carrying capacity. If inert gas is used, the gun rating is reduced to a much lower extent. A welding gun can be equipped with its own electrode feed unit. Parts of welding gun Back end is the power pin that connects the gun and power cable to the wire feeder. This connection must be tight. A loose connection between the gun and the feeder can cause electrical resistance throughout the entire system. This will result in overheating, which may damage the gun or the wire feeder. This may also cause gas leakage and poor conductivity that can lead to an erratic arc and poor weld quality. Usually a supportive strain relief is provided at the connection between the power cable and wire feeder. This helps in good wire feeding, which results in a stable arc and quality welds. There is another option of selecting a gun with multiple feeders for various GMAW applications reducing overall cost. Contact tube: is used to transmit welding current to the electrode and to direct the electrode towards the work. It is usually made of copper or a copper alloy and connected electrically by power cable to the power source. The tube hole for wire input is of 0.13 to 0.25 mm larger than the wire being use, larger for aluminium and non ferrous metals. Nylon lining is used for non ferrous metals and aluminium electrodes. This inner surface of the tube has to be changed in case of excessive wear, which may result in poor electrical contact. Consumables (nozzles and tips): The nozzle in the welding gun directs the shielding gas into the welding area. An even flow must be maintained to protect molten weld from the environmental gases. Larger nozzles are used for high current work with large weld pool and small nozzles used for low current work. Consumables are selected based on longevity instead of price. This reduces costs of replacement parts and changeover time. Non-threaded, large-base contact tips that fit securely to the diffuser provide good electrical conductivity and heat transfer. It is important to use heavy-duty tips and nozzles that provide good gas coverage to help ensure good arc starts, less spatter, and less rework and cleanup. Electrode conduit and liner support: protect and direct the electrode from the feed rolls to the gun and contact tube. They are connected to a bracket adjacent to the feed rolls on the electrode feed motor. It is necessary to maintain uninterrupted electrode feeding for good arc stability. The liner is the most critical component of the GMAW gun because of the problems that can arise from it. A steel liner is used for steel and copper electrodes, whereas nylo

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Poes Fall of The House of Usher Essay: A Psychological Piece

The Fall of the House of Usher as a Psychological Piece This essay examines "The Fall of the House of Usher" from the viewpoint that none of the events really happened -- or if they did, were exaggerated by the fear felt by the characters.   The essay proposes that the action took place in the mind of the narrator and discusses the dream imagery present in the story and how this supports this theory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While discussing "The Fall of the House of Usher," Thompson investigates the idea that the story is not really a truthful tale - that is, a re-telling of events that the narrator experienced - but is rather the result of a "mutual hysteria of the narrator and Roderick Usher."   Basically, he asserts that the narrator and Usher are both so filled with fear that they imagined the events, or else there is a logical explanation for the things that happened while the narrator stayed at the House of Usher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thompson's first point reminds us that the narrator of this story attempts to rationalize many of the spooky things that he witnesses at the house.   This is in contrast to the fact that Usher's mind is obviously disintegrating throughout the tale.   Thompson claims that Poe uses the "apparent" rationality of the narrator to "heighten the irrational."   By instilling in the reader a sense of coherence, the weirdness of the situation and the mental state of Usher are more noticeable.   Also, Thompson mentions that an integral part of the tale is the "mechanism of fear itself," which begins with Usher and spreads to the narrator.   This feeling of fear, he claims, is what gives us the basis for reading this story as a psychological thriller rather than a series of events that actually happened.   Thompson looks at p... ...ndriac," which might be how people of that time period referred to mental illness. Many people seemed to believe that Usher really suffered from mental illness rather than a physical ailment. And lastly, the possibility of incest between brother and sister, and other generations of Ushers, was discussed. This stemmed from the part of the story that talked about how the Usher family tree did not branch out much. Some people took this to mean that not many people were brought in from outside the family. I think this is very plausible, and is actually what I always thought was at the core of this story. I think that the two siblings are more than just brother and sister, and found this to be one of the more interesting discussions we had.    Works Cited Thompson, G.R. "Explained Gothic," Poe's Fiction.   University of Wisconsin Press, 1973.   Pages 87-97. Â