Communities in PRCR
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- Colecciones de la Albizu University
- Colecciones digitales de Atenas College
- Colecciones de los Centros Sor Isolina Ferré
- Materiales utilizados para la certificación.
Recent Submissions
Cooling Tower Structural Refurbishment and Performance Enhancement
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Rivera De Jesús, Roberto; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
This project documents the comprehensive refurbishment of a cooling tower at Amgen's biopharmaceutical facility in Juncos, Puerto Rico. The tower exceeded its service life with significant degradation affecting structural integrity, mechanical systems, and heat transfer performance. Executed September 15-October 9,
2025, the refurbishment was completed one day ahead of schedule. Performance testing demonstrated 15% energy reduction and improved cooling capacity. The refurbishment extends service life by 15-20 years at a lower cost than a full replacement.
Unibox: Universal Packaging Solution for Power over Ethernet (PoE) Switches
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Hernández Benejam, Luis A.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
The setting of the project was a technology company which, for confidentiality issues, will be called Puerto Rico Repair Industry (PRRI). The UniBox project was formed to reduce high packaging costs by replacing thirty different box designs for Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches with one universal solution. A literature
review was conducted to substantiate the advantages of multi depth corrugated boxes in terms of cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and compliance with ASTM standards. Data collection included stakeholder interviews and supplier evaluations. Drop tests were conducted to validate durability. Cost analysis compared the costs of the packaging options to those of the current packaging. The results showed that Uline was the best supplier, providing adequate boxes with an 88% cost reduction, at $6.88 per unit. The implementation of multi-depth boxes was expected to improve warehouse operations. The overall findings of the project indicated that standardized multi depth packaging is practical and cost-effective.
Optimizing End-to-End Project Cycle Through Advanced Asset Digitization
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Figueroa Almodovar, Juan Diego; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
The exponential growth in wireless data demand necessitated optimizing network expansion processes burdened by long project cycles, multiple physical site visits, and data inaccuracies. This project utilized the DMAIC framework to address these systemic issues, implementing advanced asset digitization using drones, 360-degree cameras, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create digital twin (DT) assets and verification tools. The initiative delivered total net savings and cost avoidance of $8,633,200, achieving a unit cost percentage reduction of approximately 5.31%. Operational efficiency improved dramatically, reducing the
overall project cycle time by 1.5 months, meeting the target of 1 to 2 months, and improving documentation accuracy by 30%, tripling the 10% goal. Sustained improvements are ensured via the control phase, which mandates digitized deliverables as the new standard and utilizes Application Programming Interface (API)
integration for automated data flow, enabling continuous improvement for future network expansion.
Enhancement of Retail Performance through Standardized Communication and Onboarding Systems
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Ruiz Figueroa, Jean E.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
This project addressed inefficiencies in a mid-sized clothing retail store where fragmented communication and unstructured onboarding led to delays, errors, and high employee turnover. The objective was to design a conceptual framework for standardized communication and structured onboarding to enhance operational consistency, clarify role expectations, and strengthen workforce integration. The DMAIC methodology was applied to analyze existing practices, identify root causes, and develop improvements. Tools included SIPOC diagrams, process maps, check sheets, fishbone diagrams, and benchmarking. Findings revealed systemic managerial choices and lack of standard protocols as primary drivers of inefficiency. The Improve Phase produced a framework featuring a task–channel communication matrix, milestone-based onboarding flow, and Lean alignment. The Control Phase defined KPIs, monitoring strategies, and review cycles for sustainability. While the framework was not implemented, results demonstrated measurable pathways to improve reliability, reduce errors, and lower turnover risk if adopted.
Improving Prepayment Quality Control in Medicare Claim Processing
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Delgado Alvarez, Jorge L.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
Improper payments in Medicare claim processing present a recurring financial and operational challenge in Puerto Rico’s healthcare system. Frequent payment inaccuracies, caused by both human and system-level errors, have increased administrative costs and reduced providers’ confidence. To address this issue, a prepayment quality control framework was engineered using data integration, risk-based modeling, and automated workflow optimization. The methodology involved developing validated data pipelines, constructing predictive risk-scoring models, and implementing an automated claim routing process supported by SQL Server and CMS datasets. During the initial audit phase, financial discrepancies totaling $153,298.57 were identified; after the new framework’s implementation, financial error rates decreased from 5.12% on average to 0.11%. These results demonstrate that automation combined with targeted analyst calibration significantly enhances claim accuracy, operational efficiency, and compliance with CMS standards. The project validates an engineering approach capable of improving payment integrity and serving as a scalable model for healthcare financial systems.