RET: Universal Design of Distribution Center Workstation – VT08-RET

Data-Driven Adaptive Forecasting and Inventory Control – CDP08-Forecasting
July 31, 2009

RET: Universal Design of Distribution Center Workstation – VT08-RET

CELDi researchers at Virginia Tech will collaborate with Special Education teachers in the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) System to redesign a task in an existing distribution center so that it can be effectively completed by people with special needs. The research team will include Dr. Kimberly Ellis, Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, and two special education teachers from middle schools in MCPS. The research team will visit the Walgreens Distribution Center in Anderson, SC, to learn more about their inclusive environment. The research team will then visit another distribution center (either the UPS distribution center in Roanoke, VA, or the Target Distribution Center in Stuarts Draft, VA) to select a task for redesign. The team will employ the Systems Engineering Design Process (Blanchard and Fabrycky, 2007) to determine the requirements for the selected task from both the operational perspective as well as the operator perspective. Based on the requirements, the team will conduct preliminary system design and detailed design while incorporating accessibility and universal design guidelines. The team will then implement the design (either in the laboratory or at the facility) and assess the effectiveness and accessibility of the redesign.

Sponsor:

NSF

Research Team:

Dr. Kimberly Ellis

Universities Involved:

Virginia Tech

Start Date:

08/01/2008

End Date:

05/31/2009

Summary:

CELDi researchers at Virginia Tech will collaborate with Special Education teachers in the Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) System to redesign a task in an existing distribution center so that it can be effectively completed by people with special needs. The research team will include Dr. Kimberly Ellis, Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, and two special education teachers from middle schools in MCPS.

The research team will visit the Walgreens Distribution Center in Anderson, SC, to learn more about their inclusive environment. The research team will then visit another distribution center (either the UPS distribution center in Roanoke, VA, or the Target Distribution Center in Stuarts Draft, VA) to select a task for redesign.

The team will employ the Systems Engineering Design Process (Blanchard and Fabrycky, 2007) to determine the requirements for the selected task from both the operational perspective as well as the operator perspective. Based on the requirements, the team will conduct preliminary system design and detailed design while incorporating accessibility and universal design guidelines. The team will then implement the design (either in the laboratory or at the facility) and assess the effectiveness and accessibility of the redesign.

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Description:

No description has been provided for this project.

Results:

No results have been provided for this project.

Final Report:

 

Supporting Files:

 

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