NEXT WEEK
_____________________________________________________
Monday, May
5- noon
Topic: R&D Solutions for Power Delivery Issues, Mike
Ingram, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
One of the things Americans generally take for granted is electricity.
Turn on a switch and the light goes on. Turn on another switch and the air
conditioner comes on. When we do think about electricity, it is usually in
terms of the giant turbines and generators that produce the electricity.
Seldom do we consider the transmission and distribution lines that bring
electricity to our homes and businesses. These represent major engineering
challenges, especially in recent years as the cost of adding new transmission
lines has increased dramatically. Mike Ingram of TVA will provide us with a
perspective of today's electric transmission industry and the many technical
problems it faces. Mike says that probably the biggest challenges for
transmission engineers is the consumer demand for higher power quality and the
constraints of using existing power conditioning equipment to meet ever
increasing power demands. He will explain how TVA deals with these and the
myriad of other power delivery issues.
He will also explain some of the interesting and innovative solutions that
are under development. Seismic qualification of substation equipment and
remote sensing of temperature and sag in transmission lines are among the
efforts underway. Mike is a senior member of the Power Delivery
Technologies team of TVA's Energy Research and Technology Applications.
May Invocation Chairperson: John Thornburgh
Menu: Salisbury steak,
Tossed salad, Squash casserole, Fried green tomatoes, and peach cobbler OUR
PREVIOUS
OUR PREVIOUS
MEETING_________________________________________
Our thanks go
to Judy Driggans for her write-up of this presentation.
Barry Totten,
Y-12 National Security Complex, explained the basics of Six Sigma and how they
are being used at Y-12 to reduce cycle times in some of their most critical
processes. Their current mission includes:
· Production
and refurbishment of weapon components
· Surveillance of
active stockpile weapons
· Storage and protection of
special nuclear material
· Dismantlement of weapons and
recovery of materials
· Prevention of the spread of
weapons of mass destruction
· Providing support for other
national security needs and customers
The six sigma method helps them to
include many people knowledgeable about a process in developing process
improvements. All process improvements are based on measured information. A
handout of resources about Six Sigma included:
Implementing Six Sigma. Forrest W. Breyfogle III. John Wiley & Sons,
1999.
Lean Thinking. Womack & Jones. Simon &
Schuster, 1996.
Making Six Sigma Last. George Eckes. John
Wiley & Sons, 2001.
The Six Sigma Way, How GE,
Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance. Pande, Neuman,
& Cavanagh. McGraw Hill, 2000.
The Six Sigma Way
Team Fieldbook (Implementation Guide for Process Improvement Teams). Pande,
Neuman, & Cavanagh. McGraw Hill, 2002.
http://www.isixsigma.comhttp://www.sixsigmaforum.comhttp://www.isssp.comOther handouts included
a 60th anniversary history of Y-12 and a progress report called "The Changing
Face of Y-12."
Complete minutes of the last meeting are available at
www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/Minutes_4-28-03.htm.
FUTURE MONDAY
MEETINGS_____________________________________
May 12:
Technologies To Enhance Learning- Fred Carr, Assistant
Superintendent for Technology and Support Services, Hamilton County School
System
May 19: Improvements in Chattanooga - Jack Benson,
City Commissioner, District 4
May 26: Memorial Day - No Meeting
June 2:
not confirmed
June 9: Design of Trade Center Renovations -
Ray Boaz, Derthick, Henley & Wilkerson
June 16: High Temperature
Splices - Joe Graziano, TVA
June 23: Lessons Learned on
Environmental Management Systems - Warren Behlau, TVA
June 30:
Tour of the NRC Training Facility - Jan Griffin
July 7: Not
confirmed- requested speaker from MSFC in Huntsville
July 14:
Supercomputer - Thomas Zacharia, Head of ORNL's directorate to
oversee one of the world's most powerful computers
WHERE WE
MEET_______________________________________
Unless we note
otherwise, all of our presentation meetings are held at the Cellar Restaurant in
the Tallan Building, Union Square, Downtown Chattanooga from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Out meeting room and luncheon service are open by 11:30 a.m. Lunch buffet is
$10.00 per person (inclusive). No reservation is required. Free parking is
available in the Days Inn Motel (on Carter Street and MLK Blvd.) courtesy of the
Days Inn management. When you park there, be sure to place a note on your
dashboard indicating you are attending the Engineers Club meeting.
QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS?
______________________________
If you have any questions or suggestions about
program items please call Judy Driggans at 423-751-7616 or email her at
jdriggans@comcast.net. You can find
references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web site:
www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org.
Brad Baucom will return as program chairperson in several weeks.