Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Capital equipment'

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, System Design and Management Program, Engineering and Management Program, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-58).
Capital equipment is a critical component of almost every industry and is used to create valuable goods and services for the end customers. However, the initial cost of acquisition and subsequent running costs associated with these equipment pose a significant barrier to young businesses. While servitizing capital equipment is a proven method of increasing access to these machineries in many high-income countries (HICs), the benefits of servitization often do not extend to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this thesis, I examine the capital equipment ecosystems of both HICs and LMICs, with a focus on the stakeholders involved. I also explore both the challenges facing equipment businesses when operating in LMICs and the innovative solutions being implemented by successful LMIC service businesses. Based on these examples, I offer recommendations for budding service-based equipment business that are working to improve affordable access to capital equipment in resource-constrained settings.
by Oluwasoga Oni.
S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research) Naval Postgraduate School, September 1996.
Thesis advisor(s): Gordon H. Bradley. "September 1996." Includes bibliographical references (p. 61). Also available online.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 69).
As companies outsource more manufacturing and design responsibilities to external vendors and therefore become less vertically integrated, the role of supply chain management becomes increasingly complex. Its role is particularly difficult when product generation follows a serial process flow, with the supply chain function residing at the end and where it inherits poorly defined supplier relationships. A more integrated approach that seeks to proactively design the supply chain during product generation is required. Central to this integrated approach is the timely exchange of information both within the company, between R&D and procurement, and external to the company, between procurement and its suppliers. The timing of the information flow is crucial. It needs to occur before the company is locked into a single supplier and when its bargaining power is the highest. It also needs to occur in a manner that does not slow down the product development process. In practice, that means that specific information needs to be exchanged and committed to prior to supplier selection. Ultimately, the information exchange described in this thesis leads to improved supplier relations that enable the company to shift its procurement practices from the tactical approach of buying materials to the strategic approach of buying supply services. The research for this thesis was conducted at a partner company of the Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) program. The company manufactures test equipment used in the semiconductor industry. Due to the highly cyclical and unpredictable nature of this industry, supply chains that can guarantee responsiveness and availability are desirable. The supply chain design recommendations proposed in this thesis are based on an analysis of a recent product generation program at the company. By continuing to implement these recommendations, the company should benefit from shorter product development cycle times, smoother production ramps, improved customer service levels and lower sourcing costs.
by Jens P. Voges.
S.M.
M.B.A.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2019, In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2019, In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 85-86).
Composite airplane manufacturing requires the use of autoclaves to cure composite materials in order to create durable, lightweight parts for use in airplanes. The large size, complexity and utility consumption of this equipment makes it an ideal starting place for cost optimization. Cost modeling and the framework created by this research provide input to understand the cost impact of the complex decision between multiple part capacity and single part capacity autoclaves. The results of this research include the identification of cost drivers for the autoclave equipment as focus areas for future cost reduction efforts. Additionally, wait time modeling illustrates how multiple capacity autoclaves increase work in progress and queue lengths and how to assign costs based on the impact of batching to production flow. The framework and analysis also show cost sensitivity to offloading parts and changes in production rates by using linear optimization algorithms to evaluate different scenarios. The framework is extendable to other capital equipment with complex tradeoffs by serving as a starting point for a data driven understanding of costs from recurring, non-recurring and production flow factors.
by Mauricio Salvador Benitez Cardenas.
M.B.A.
S.M.
M.B.A. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Energy conservation, the improvement of energy efficiency, is recognised as an important part of energy policy. This thesis examines the potential for conservation investment and possible energy savings, in part of the UK industrial sector. Assessments of the extent and type of energy conservation activity to date, both investments and energy management, within the brewing, malting, distilling and dairy sectors are made. Achievements to date affect future potentials. In the light of a model of technical change related to energy conservation several potentials are defined. The inter-related problems of estimating or measuring these and measuring performance in energy management are discussed. Some estimates of potentials, with explicit assumptions, are made for the four sectors studied. As any definition or measurement of potential is arbitrary, processes of change are also examined. A soft systems model of necessary activities in energy management is advanced and used to explore managerial barriers to profitable conservation investments in companies studied. Managerial factors for promoting successful energy management are discussed. Economic barriers to change are explored by profitability modelling for several energy conservation techniques used within the four sectors, including heat pumps and combined heat and power. The approach used throughout has been systematic and on several levels.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-119).
The Capital Equipment Procurement group of Intel Corporation is responsible for developing and procuring the semiconductor processing capital equipment that is used throughout all of the company's development and manufacturing facilities. The semiconductor industry is faced with rapid technology change, increase in the complexity of the manufacturing process, and high cost of capital. In this challenging environment, the group is concerned with the following two issues required to maintain their leadership position in the industry. First is the need to evaluate risk earlier in the capital equipment specification and development cycle to ensure that the semiconductor processing capital equipment is developed on schedule (on-line, on-time) at an affordable cost. A previous model developed and used in the manufacturing readiness phase of process development serves as the basis for a new risk assessment approach. Modifications, including new risk categories, criteria, and processes enable the new model to be applied earlier, in the technology development phase. Second is the need for a more accurate cost model to capture the costs of new processes that employ equipment from existing processes at Intel. As Intel faces increasing cost pressure on some of the new commodity products it is developing, it must increase equipment reuse in its new process designs. A target costing model is developed that first sets target and baseline costs, and then tracks progress from the baseline cost until the target cost is achieved. This model is used to closely manage various cost reduction programs or projects being undertaken in its process development organization. The overall theme of this thesis is to demonstrate how these two program management systems can be used to manage
(cont.) the development of new manufacturing equipment such as needed in the semiconductor and other capital intensive industries.
by Thomas B. Chandler.
S.M.
M.B.A.

This thesis addresses the capital replacement modelling problems associated with a mixed, or inhomogeneous, fleet and also takes account of the fleet size problem. Applications considered relate to a fleet of buses and a fleet of medical equipment. The initial chapters introduce the notion of capital replacement modelling and review previous work in the field, as well as reviewing the fleet size problem. Replacement policies are also put in the context of the fleet rather than the context of a 'typical plant'. In the third chapter, we present our first attempt to model capital replacement with variable fleet size over a finite planning horizon. A two cycle model is developed in which the notion of penalty cost for breakdown is introduced. This cost is incurred when demand is not met. To take account of the cost of unmet demand, a simple failure model for plant is proposed. The replacement model is applied to a fleet of ventilators in an intensive care unit of a hospital. In the fourth chapter we develop various models for the case of replacement of a sub-fleet within a mixed fleet. These models themselves have variable finite planning horizon of variable length and build on developments described earlier in the thesis. Other aspects such as the increased cost of sub-optimal policy due to delayed replacement, smaller replacement sub-fleet etc. are also considered. The models developed in chapter 4 are applied, in the following chapter, to a fleet of buses operated by a Malaysian inter-city bus company. Sensitivity analysis on different factors is also carried out. Finally the sensitivity of optimal decision policy to the choice of the replacement model is described in the context of the bus application.

Thesis (M.S. in Management) Naval Postgraduate School, December 1997.
"December 1997." Thesis advisor(s): Kevin R. Gue, Shu S. Liao. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35). Also available online.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1999.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 62).
by Eric C. Selvik.
S.M.

The subject of machine recognition of connected characters is investigated. A generic single character recognizer (SCR) assumes there is only one character in the image. The goal of this project is to design a connected character segmentation algorithm (CCSA) without the above assumption. The newly designed CCSA will make use of a readily available SCR. The input image (e.g. a word with touching letters) is first transformed (thinned) into its skeletal form. The CCSA will then extract the image features (nodes and branches) and store them in a hierarchical form. The hierarchy stems from the left-to-right rule of writing of the English language. The CCSA will first attempt to recognize the first letter. When this is done, the first letter is deleted and the algorithm repeats. After extracting the image features, the CCSA starts to create a set of test images from the beginning of the word (i.e. beginning of the description). Each test image contains one more feature than its predecessor. The number of test images in the set is constrained by a predetermined fixed width or a fixed total number of features. The SCR is then called to examine each test image. The recognizable test image(s) in the set are extracted. Let each recognizable test image be denoted by C₁. For each C₁, a string of letters C₂, C₃, CL is formed. C₂ is the best recognized test image in a set of test images created after the deletion of C₁ from the beginning of the current word. C₃ through CL are created by the same method. All such strings are examined to determine which string contains the best recognized C₁. Experimental results on test images with two characters yield a recognition rate of 72.66%. Examples with more than two characters are also shown. Furthermore, the experimental results suggested that topologically simple test images can be more difficult to recognize than those which are topologically more complex.
Applied Science, Faculty of
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of
Graduate

Thesis: M. Eng. in Manufacturing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 91-92).
Manufacturing operations were studied at a semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing plant, with an aim to reduce the production time of their longest lead time module. Preliminary analysis was done by observing the assembly and test operations on the production floor, and material handling operations at the warehouse. Detailed time studies were then performed on the assembly and test processes, to establish baseline measurements and to gather in-depth information on the value added and non-value added activities. It was found that 18% of the assembly activities were non-value added activities, 28% of which were related to material handling on the production floor. Based on the analysis a new kit design and kitting process were developed, which enabled parts to arrive from the warehouse in kits specific to each assembly procedure performed on the module. A method of indicating shortages was also proposed. The new design and process also facilitated Just-in-Time ordering and arrival of parts. The new kitting process was piloted, and based on two trial runs it was found that it reduced material handling time on the production floor by 70% and overall time spent on non-value added assembly operations was reduced by 20%.
by Sonam Jain.
M. Eng. in Manufacturing

Thesis (M. Eng. in Manufacturing)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-110).
This thesis addresses the challenge of increasing capacity in a high-mix low-volume semiconductor equipment assembly plant, without investing in additional floor space or labor shifts. A hypothesis-driven methodology is used to analyze the factory operations and identify factors limiting capacity. Based on the preliminary analysis, a hypothesis tree is developed. Space, effective utilization of labor for assembly operations and inventory stock-outs are identified to be the main factors limiting the plant's capacity. A factory simulation model is used to estimate current capacity and identify imbalances in the assembly line design. A new layout is developed which is capable of increasing throughput by 30% with five fewer assembly bays on the shop floor. Implementing the new layout in addition to increasing the percentage of labor hours devoted to assembly operations is expected to increase capacity by 36%. An improvement in percentage of labor hours dedicated to assembly operations is observed to result in a greater increase in throughput for the proposed layout compared to the current layout. Based on the above findings, a comprehensive labor and space utilization strategy is presented to the management for increasing plant capacity. Line starvation or inflated operation times due to inventory shortage lowers the capacity of the plant. Hence, a finished goods inventory policy is proposed based on the base-stock model to effectively manage the high-volume assemblies which are made in the supermarket area on a make-to-stock basis for downstream usage in the assembly line. Shortage of inventory at the component level is found to be a major cause of stock-outs for these assemblies. A systematic component level inventory policy is developed to improve the service level. The proposed inventory policies are also expected to reduce expediting costs and total safety stock costs across the bill of materials for the high volume assemblies.
by Venkataraman Ramachandran.
M.Eng.in Manufacturing

Thesis: M. Eng. in Manufacturing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 80).
The assembly protocols for a semiconductor capital equipment machine were analyzed for potential lead time reduction. The objective of this study was to determine the minimum assembly lead time for the machine based on the constraints of design, space, and labor availability. An assembly requires the completion of a set of procedures that each contains assembly tasks. Precedence relationships between tasks indicate for each procedure what other tasks must be completed before it can start. Each procedure was assumed to have constant resource requirements throughout its duration. The Critical Path Method (CPM) was used to identify 13 procedures on the critical path, based on design and space constraints. A preliminary build schedule was developed that prioritized critical path procedures. A trial of this build schedule achieved an assembly lead time of 39 hours, resulting in a 70% reduction from the current average of 5.5 days. This trial was also accomplished with 76% of the average labor hours for assembly. A production build schedule with a lead time of 43 hours was developed based on the trial results. This schedule allows for production rates of up to 5 machines per week to be achieved with the current shift structure of the company, without the incurrence of overtime. A critical path drag analysis identified critical procedures with the highest potential for lead time reduction. The highest drag of a critical path item was 260 minutes, accounting for 10% of the assembly lead time.
by Blake William Clark Sedore.
M. Eng. in Manufacturing

Titel: Investeringsuppföljningar – En fallstudie på Volvo Construction Equipment i Braås Seminariedatum: 2011-06-01 Ämne/kurs: 2FE13E:3 Författare: Aleksandar Stamenkovic och Donald Bergström Handledare: Anders Jerreling Examinator: Fredrik Karlsson Nyckelord: Post-audits, Capital Budgeting, Investments, Performance Evaluations, ROI, RI, AARR Syfte: Syftet med detta ämnesfördjupande arbete är att förklara de problem som uppstår när avsaknad av investeringsuppföljning föreligger, samt att förklara för hur rutiner av uppföljningar kan organiseras. Metod: Valet föll på att göra en kvalitativ fallstudie gällande Volvo Construction Equipment i Braås. Kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer har utförts med fyra stycken respondenter på anläggningen. Detta ämnesfördjupande arbete har utförts enligt en deduktiv metod och en diskussion förs angående arbetets validitet och reliabilitet. Teori: Den teoretiska referensramen behandlar relevant teori gällande investeringar och uppföljning, vidare behandlas även kortfattat de metoder som används för att bedöma investeringars lönsamhet på Volvo Construction Equipment i Braås. Empiri: Det empiriska avsnittet redovisar data från de semistrukturerade intervjuerna som fördes med personal på anläggningen i Braås. Dessa bestod av ekonomichefen, controllern samt två projektledare. Slutsats: Resultaten som presenteras behandlar komplexiteten med att följa upp investeringar enligt dess faktiska kassaflöden och förkastar därmed en sådan uppföljning för Volvo Construction Equipment i Bråas. Vidare presenteras två konkreta förslag över hur rutiner och metoder för investeringar givet anläggningens förutsättningar kan organiseras. Avslutningsvis för att öka validiteten presenteras respondenternas kommentarer till förslagen.

The focus of this thesis is on the acquisition of major capital equipment within Australia's defence system. For the purposes of this analysis, major capital equipment constitute selected projects with a total value of at least $200 million. The projects selected for examination are from each of the three arms of the military service. These projects are: the Royal Australian Air Force's BLACKHAWK helicopters, the Army's PERENTIE vehicles, and the Royal Australian Navy's Australian FFG-7 FRIGATES. These projects were chosen because they share similar planning and management related characteristics. They represent substantial public sector investments. The technology used in each of the systems is available 'off-the-shelf but the way in which the systems were ultimately assembled and produced are uniquely Australian: this adaptation and local innovation involved developmental work. Since each of these projects is almost complete, a comprehensive analysis of the project has been possible. The study of these particular projects provides the basis for a comparative analysis of the acquisition of major defence projects, and facilitates the development of project planning and management 'lessons'. Since current Australian public (and private) sector policies seek to maximise the use of leading edge technology by adapting it to meet specific local requirements; the examination of these three projects provides an objective determination of the validity of such policies.

Thesis: M. Eng. in Manufacturing, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 63).
Processes at a semiconductor equipment manufacturing facility were studied with the goal to reduce the production lead time. Based on the principles of lean manufacturing, DMAIC methodology was used to guide the process. Value Stream Mapping (VSM) of the whole process was done to determine that the Universal End Station (UES) was the module with the longest lead time. This work focuses on the optimization of the testing process on the UES. Time studies were conducted for the assembly and test of the UES module and analysis of results revealed a testing process that is serial and thus of a very long duration. Further investigations revealed that some of the processes required the test technician to do manual calibrations and measurements which resulted in long test times. Based on the interviews with involved personnel, historical data analysis and the research carried out, specific tests were recommended for automated testing and parallel testing. A decision tree was developed to help aid in the selection of the suitable candidates for automation while a dependency network diagram was developed to aid in selection of candidates for parallel testing. It is projected that these recommendations will reduce the Testing lead time of UES by 8.4% and labor hours by 16.3%. Keywords: Lean manufacturing, semiconductor, optimization, bottle neck, lead time, DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, Time study, Root cause analysis.
by Anubha Singh Bhadauria.
M. Eng. in Manufacturing

This thesis is concerned with the regional economic impacts of the Hibernia oil and gas development. With the intention of showing the linkage-leakage process of major resource development, I develop a conceptual framework which combines notions of interregional input-output, location quotient and capital availability ratio. The framework suggests how standard approaches to input-output analysis could be modified by concepts of capital constraints; and used as a basis to formulate policies on how to extract significant economic benefits from resource development. The study shows that the impact of resource development, particularly on Newfoundland, would be restricted to a few industrial sectors. Thus, extensive regional economic development could not be carried out based mainly on natural resource projects dictated by the operations of market forces. The main reason is that there are limited manufacturing establishments in Atlantic Canada. Also, a significant portion of the equipment would be sourced from outside Canada. The results of the empirical analysis also indicate that given the manufacturing linkages between the provinces regional economic development should not be viewed in isolation, but rather should be considered within a broader context of how the regions relate to the national economy. Therefore, there is a need to develop a sourcing policy based on the principle of government-industry cooperation if the high expectations regarding the industrial and employments benefits to be generated by the Hibernia oil and gas development are to be realized. The challenge facing policy makers in the coming years would be to nurture through their initiatives government-industry cooperation, as well as, develop operational policies that would balance regional interests with national objectives; while maintaining the "Single Window" concept through the Joint Offshore Management Boards (JOMB). Finally, I discuss the recently concluded Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is expected to come into force on January 1, 1989. There are seven specific provisions of the Agreement which would have an impact on major oil and gas development projects and the federal regional economic development policies and programs. The implications of the FTA would present a challenge to decision makers and analysts in designing programs and policies to optimize oil and gas development related benefits.

Thesis (M. Eng. in Manufacturing)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-145).
A semiconductor capital equipment manufacturing plant is a high-mix low-volume manufacturing environment where the complex products produced requires skilled manual assembly and expensive raw materials. The semiconductor capital equipment industry is sporadic with high demand variability and hence, semiconductor capital equipment manufacturers must be able to allocate resources to meet demand at minimum cost to maintain their manufacturing competitiveness. This thesis draws heavily on the research done at Varian Semiconductor Equipment, a manufacturer of ion implantation machines for the semiconductor industry, over a period of seven months as part of the Master of Engineering in Manufacturing program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and aims to enable Varian to make optimal resource allocation, capacity planning and personnel decisions that will allow it to meet demand at minimum cost. The goal of this thesis is achieved through the development of three optimization models, a labor flexibility framework, and an inventory management policy. The first optimization model, resource optimization for cost minimization, will allow Varian to determine the optimal combination of workers and assembly bays for each production process that will allow it to meet demand at minimum cost. The second optimization model, labor cost minimization, will enable Varian to determine the optimal combination of regular time and overtime that will allow it to meet demand at minimum labor cost. The final model, labor flexibility, will allow Varian to determine the optimal movement of workers that will allow the Varian's plant to meet demand with the minimum total cost of work hours to be provided. The final model is based on a labor flexibility framework introduced in this thesis. We also present an inventory management policy to manage certain assemblies produced at Varian's supermarket build area that will allow Varian to reduce those assemblies' safety stock levels by 30%.
by Lohithaksha Chengappa.
M.Eng.in Manufacturing

Thesis (M. Eng. in Manufacturing)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-117).
Semiconductor capital equipment is manufactured in a high-mix and low-volume environment at Varian Semiconductor Equipment business unit of Applied Materials. Due to the demand growth over the past years, Varian has been continuously improving its operations practices to increase the factory capacity without investing additional floor space or labor shifts. A hypothesis-driven analysis is used to identify, understand and formulate solutions for the issues that Varian faces in order to increase its production capacity. Based on the preliminary analysis, we develop a hypothesis tree and we identify effective operation time reduction and cycle time reduction to be the two root hypotheses. Inventory shortages increase the effective operation time of the production lines and lower Varian's production capacity, especially those high-volume low-variety assemblies built in supermarket build area. We present a consumption based assembly level inventory management system based on the base-stock model to reduce assembly shortages on downstream production lines. This system will be used to manage those finished goods inventory of supermarket assemblies on a make-to-stock basis for all downstream consumptions, and it will allow Varian to increase those assemblies' service levels while reducing finished goods inventory level of assemblies by 30%. Supermarket piece parts are the components used to build assemblies; piece part shortages delay the scheduled delivery of assemblies to the downstream production lines thereby causing assembly shortages. For piece part shortages caused by inaccurate inventory records, Varian lacks an effective solution. We present two component level inventory management systems for reducing piece part shortages. In short to middle term, we present a secured tablet solution as a self-check-out terminal to provide better user experience aiming at reducing inaccurate inventory records by 50%. In middle to long term, we present a Vertical Lift Module solution to completely eliminate inaccurate inventory record while reducing storage space.
by Yiming Wu.
M.Eng.in Manufacturing

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2012.
Page 99 blank. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98).
A static capacity planning model was developed and tested following a four-phased framework. This model was developed for the purposes of capital planning for capacity requirements at a large aerospace parts manufacturing plant. Implications for capacity planning of the nature of the aerospace industry, as well as the company and plant being studied are discussed, as well as the current state of capacity planning. In phase I of model development, an appropriate modeling solution is selected. In phase II, information is collected from the user base as to the desired user experience and functionality of the model, as well as the parameters that should be considered in it. Phase III involves assessment of the parameters' impact on capacity, and identification of appropriate data sources to feed the model. Additionally, phase III recommends changes to current data structures in order to optimize the balance of model accuracy with minimal incremental resource allocation. In phase IV, the mathematical model is explained, and the user interface is developed. With a working model, the results are validated with the shop floor, identifying gaps in data sources previously unobservable. Following model development and validation, the model is applied to a subset of the shop, and used to develop recommendations for addressing predicted future capacity constraints. Application of the model reveals a blind spot in current heuristics-based planning, where high development loads can lead to immediate capacity constraints, but effects of the experience curve can actually cause this constraint to disappear on its own, without the need for excess equipment purchases. Finally, extensions of the research and lessons learned are discussed, suggesting future project work within the plant studied, as well as elsewhere in the company and in other companies or plants.
by Matthew A. Reveley.
S.M.
M.B.A.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007.
Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 26, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-64).

Master of Agribusiness
Department of Agricultural Economics
Arlo Biere
In the world of fast paced competition with a focus on profits, small businesses are always looking for ways to stay ahead of their competition. One way to maintain the competitive advantage is to join forces with another small business that sells and services similar products. Mergers and acquisitions have been very common in agribusiness since the farm economy collapse in the early 1980s. Farms have been increasing in size, equipment has been growing in complexity with new technologies and size to keep up with growing farm size and equipment manufacturers are merging to create larger corporations that offer more solutions to the end user. Additionally, fewer machines are being purchased by growers and producers each year and the machines that are being purchased are able to do more than previous models. The new complexities require highly trained and skilled technicians to make repairs and service these machines. Farming practices continue to evolve with more limited- and no-till crop production. These factors are contributing to dealers forming larger multi-store operations with trade areas large enough to provide an adequate return on investment to attract the resources required to sell and support technologically advanced agricultural equipment. Large multi-store organizations support the requirement of customers by providing higher levels of customer service. As these large organizations increase in size they ensure a more sustainable business model with reduced fixed expenses leading to higher returns on sales and increased total sales. This study will examine two multi-store farm equipment farm equipment dealerships with a total of a total of eleven locations and make recommendations to create a merger of equals. The analysis will include a review of current sales data at each location and make recommendations for any new locations strategy using industry data as well. This information will help determine which locations should be eliminated or combined into single locations to reduce expenses. The study will also provide data to support implementing standard job pricing in the new organization. A new functional management structure will also be recommended to guide the new company towards increased sales revenues and position the organization for long term growth and sustainability.

Nous nous interrogeons sur la pertinence de considérer les concepts de "diversité culturelle" {DC) et/ou de "capital social" {CS) comme des facteurs explicatifs de la capacité d'ïnnovation {Cl) des organisations et des territoires. Nous partons des travaux de Reagans & Zuckerman (2001), qui montrent qu'à l'échelle des groupes de travail {GT), la DC n'a pas d'impact direct sur la CI, mais plutôt un impact indirect via deux variables de CS : la cohésion et la portée externe.Nous proposons que le concept de "capital social sécant-cohésif" (CSSC) - combinaison des 2 variables- constitue un facteur explicatif pertinent de la Cl des GT. Nous montrons à travers une revue de littérature. pourquoi et comment ce schéma complexe d'interactions peut être étendu à l'échelle des organisations, des territoires et des territoires-industries (Tl). Nous menons deux analyses empiriques pour tester cette modélisation. La première se situe à l'échelle des Tl et mobilise des données brevet pour reconstituer des réseaux de co-invention de 85 Tl de I'UEI dans l'industrie des équipements électriques. Nous évaluons le CSSC et la Cl de chaque Tl, et testons économétriquement leur relation. Les résultats confirment l'impact positif du CSSC sur la Cl et montrent que la cohésion stimule la quotité de brevets déposés, tandis que la portée externe favorise l'orientation collective et durable des innovations. La seconde se situe à l'échelle des organisations et mobilise des données primaires, collectées auprès d'un échantillon de 104 PME françaises. Les résultats confirment globalement nos hypothèses, bien que te cadre empirique ne permette de tester le modèle que partiellement
We investigate whether tt is salient to çonsider the concept of "cultural diversity" (CD) and/or "social capital" (SC) as explanatory factors of organisations' and territories' innovative capacity (IC). The starting point of our demonstration is Reagans & Zuckerman's article (2001), who shows that at the level of work groups, CD does not have a direct impact on IC but rather an indirect impact, mediated by two variables of SC cohesion and external range. We propose that the concept of "bonding-and-bridging social capital"' (BBSC)- combination of the two SC variables- constitutes a salient explanatory factor of work group's IC. Through an interdisplinary literature review we show how and why this more complex pattern interaction can be extended at the level of organisation, territories, and territory -industry (Tl). We carry out two empirical analyses to test our hypotheses. The first study concerns Tl level. lt uses EPO patent date to reconstitute the co-inventor's network of 85 Tls of the EUI5 in the electric equipment industry. We evaluate BBSC and IC in each TI, and we test their interaction econometrically. Result.s confirm the existence of a positive impact of BBSC on Cl, and show thal cohesion stimulates the quantity or patents, while extemal range stimulate the sustainable and collective orientation of patents. The second analysis concerns organisation level. It uses a set of unique data collected from 104 French SMEs. Results broodly confirm our hypotheses although the empiricaI frame allows to test only a small part of the model

Esta dissertação trata da indústria fornecedora de equipamentos para o setor elétrico nacional, com recorte específico para a geração de energia. A partir do contexto de formação do setor de serviços, busca-se estabelecer a trajetória da formação da estrutura de demanda para estes equipamentos. Enfatiza-se a presença do capital estrangeiro neste processo, inicialmente no setor de serviços e mais a frente atuando no setor industrial. Apresenta-se as principais características desta indústria, com destaque para a concentração existente e o favorecimento das empresas multinacionais. A análise é feita sob a perspectiva da oferta e da demanda.
This thesis is about industries which provide equipment to national electrical sector, with specific focus on energy generation. From formation context of service sector, we search to establish the formation\'s trajectory of demands structure for these equipments. Emphasize the presence of foreign capital in this process, at first in service sector and later at industrial sector. Presents this industry main characteristics, prominence to the existing concentration and advantages for multinational companies. The analysis is made in the supply and demand perspective.

IFRS allows firms to choose between fair-value accounting and historical cost accounting with impairment testing for property, plant and equipment (PPE). This study examines the effect of firms' accounting choices for this group of non-financial assets on over-investment after IFRS mandatory adoption in the European Union (EU). My results indicate that over-investment in PPE (or capital expenditures) is lower following IFRS adoption among EU firms that used historical cost accounting with impairment testing in the post-IFRS period, consistent with EU firms having more timely loss recognition for PPE under IFRS strict impairment rules. In my analysis of United Kingdom (UK) firms, I find that most UK firms elected to use historical cost accounting with impairment testing for PPE after IFRS mandatory adoption. I also find that UK firms that previously used fair-value accounting under UK GAAP and then switched to historical cost accounting with impairment testing under IFRS exhibit greater reductions in over-investment relative to other EU firms that used historical cost accounting with impairment testing prior to IFRS adoption. Additional analysis suggests that the reductions in over-investment after IFRS mandatory adoption are greater as the severity of agency conflicts increases, consistent with outside shareholders demanding timely loss recognition as a means of addressing agency conflicts with managers.

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O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar os determinantes da perda de recuperabilidade de ativos, nas empresas brasileiras listadas na BM&FBOVESPA, no período de 2010 a 2014. Sua importância se dá a partir da Lei n° 11.638/09 que torna obrigatório, a partir de 2010, o teste de redução ao valor recuperável de ativos, no mínimo, anualmente. Para tanto, foi utilizada a abordagem quantitativa, com a finalidade de demonstrar a relação estatística entre o impairment reconhecido pela empresa e o valor de mercado, o ativo, o patrimônio líquido, o investimento, o imobilizado e o resultado do exercício e para testar a hipótese nula de que não existe essa relação utilizou-se o teste de Mann-Whitney. A população foi composta por 346 empresas brasileiras, abertas, ativas, e que negociam ações na BM&FBOVESPA. Para a amostra final, considerou-se 28 empresas que tiveram mensuração do impairment nesses grupos daquele período. A análise dos resultados evidenciou que: (i) o setor de Petróleo e Gás obteve a maior perda, seguido de Energia Elétrica e Têxtil. Em relação aos outros resultados obtidos levou-se em consideração a variável dependente e sua relação com às variáveis independentes onde foi possível observar no que se refere ao impairment registrado que o aumento de uma unidade nesse coeficiente foi acarretado por (ii) uma diminuição no coeficiente do valor de mercado; (iii) uma diminuição no coeficiente do ativo; (iv) um aumento no coeficiente do patrimônio líquido; (v) uma diminuição no coeficiente do investimento; (vi) uma diminuição no coeficiente do ativo total;(vii) uma diminuição no coeficiente da dívida; (viii) uma diminuição no coeficiente do EBITDA; (iv) um aumento no coeficiente do setor.
The present study aimed to investigate the determinants of asset impairment loss, the Brazilian companies listed on the BM&FBOVESPA, in the period from 2010 to 2014. Its importance is given from the law No. 11,638/09 that makes it compulsory, from 2010, the decrease in recoverable value of assets at least annually. To this end, quantitative approach was used, with the purpose of demonstrating the statistical relationship between the impairment recognized by the company and the market value, the active, the equity, the investment, fixed assets and the profit or loss for the financial year and to test the null hypothesis that there is no such relation using Mann-Whitney's test. The population was composed of 346 companies, open, active, and who trade shares on BM&FBOVESPA. For the final sample, 28 companies that had the impairment in these groups of that period. The analysis of the results showed that: (i) the oil and gas sector got the biggest loss, followed by power and textile. In relation to other results took into account the dependent variable and your relationship with independent variables where it was possible to observe with regard to impairment recorded that the increase of one unit in this coefficient was led by (ii) a decrease in the coefficient of market value; (iii) a decrease in the coefficient of active; (iv) an increase in the coefficient of net equity; (v) a decrease in the coefficient of investment; (vi) a decrease in the coefficient of total assets; (vii) a decrease in the coefficient of debt; (viii) a decrease in the coefficient of EBITDA; (iv) an increase in the coefficient.

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The market of machinery and equipment used in construction works has a significant participation: as massive representative in the Brazilian economy and as a supply chain in construction. These are a hypercompetitive industry, composed of transnational companies that uses the relationship marketing and B2B ¹ strategies as a main pillars of the strategic communication. Using the technique of multiple case study of which three were part of the largest manufacturers of construction equipment installed in Brazil Caterpillar, Case and Volvo , this research will show how and why these companies chose to focus on relationship marketing and brand image as a path to build stable and long term customers loyalty.
O setor de máquinas e equipamentos para construção civil utilizados em obras de grande porte tem uma participação expressiva tanto na economia brasileira como na cadeia produtiva da construção civil. Trata-se de um setor hipercompetitivo, composto por indústrias transnacionais que têm no marketing de relacionamento e nas estratégias B2B os principais pilares de sustentação de estratégia de comunicação com o mercado. Utilizando como técnica o estudo de caso múltiplo do qual fizeram parte três dos maiores fabricantes de equipamentos para construção instalados no Brasil Caterpillar, Case e Volvo o estudo mostra como e porque essas empresas optaram por privilegiar o marketing de relacionamento e a imagem da marca, em detrimento de outras competências de comunicação, como forma de construir relacionamentos estáveis, fiéis e de longo prazo com seus clientes.

This thesis examines the development of a capital goods industry in Mendoza Argentina through an analysis of linkages and industrial governance systems. Linkages are material, informational, and financial flows among firms. Industrial governance systems are the social practices that cement linkages. Hence, linkages are understood as socially embedded and not as market transactions governed solely by price considerations. The study has two major arguments. First, it claims that contrary to conventional industrial location theory firms do not locate in view of the previous existence of certain favorable factors, but rather construct these factors as they grow. This argument is operationalized by asking how firms generate in time their own linkages. Examples taken from the 1895-1990 period include labor and subcontractors, clientele, services, and the emergence of economic groups. Second, this study argues that the capital-goods industry in Mendoza is undergoing a Substantial (and unprecedented) transition in the way production is organized. The transition is part of the larger shift taking place at both the national and global scales. The analysis focuses on the historical pattern of linkages and governance systems in the industry, and contrasts that pattern with that of the recent decade. Implicit in the previous two arguments are two territorial dimensions. First, the development of “industry produces regions" (Storper and Walker 1989). Second, at the intra-city level this means that the evolution of the industry (and specifically its linkage structure and governance systems) has a direct bearing on the direction and nature of the city’s growth. These two arguments are illustrated through empirical work in Mendoza, a city of close to a million people in western Argentina. Over 100 interviews gathered over ten months reveal the origins, evolution, and current form of linkages in the capital-goods industry. These interviews are complemented by data from a variety of sources. The main conclusions of the study are three. First, the study illustrates the richness and depth that emerges from a project based on substantial fieldwork. Second, it shows the advantages of conceiving industrialization not as the location of plants in response to favorable conditions, but as a process initiated by the firms themselves. Third, the dissertation shows that the capital-goods industry of Mendoza iS in a transitional phase towards new ways of organizing production. The transition is expressed in new linkage structures, new governance systems, and the emergence of new types of firms and institutional arrangements.
Ph. D.

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This study aims to investigate the influence of the asset class and the breakdown of tangibility as determinant factors of the capital structure of companies listed on the BM & FBOVESPA in the period of 2008-2012. Two current assets classes were composed and once they were grouped by liquidity, they were also analyzed by the financial institutions for credit granting: current resources (Cash, Bank and Financial Applications) and operations with duplicates (Stocks and Receivables). The breakdown of the tangible assets was made based on its main components provided as warrantees for loans like Machinery & Equipment and Land & Buildings. For an analysis extension, three metrics for leverage (accounting, financial and market) were applied and the sample was divided into economic sectors, adopted by BM&FBOVESPA. The data model in dynamic panel estimated by a systemic GMM of two levels was used in this study due its strength to problems of endogenous relationship as well as the omitted variables bias. The found results suggest that current resources are determinants of the capital structure possibly because they re characterized as proxies for financial solvency, being its relationship with debt positive. The sectorial analysis confirmed the results for current resources. The tangibility of assets has inverse proportional relationship with the leverage. As it is disintegrated in its main components, the significant and negative influence of machinery & equipment was more marked in the Industrial Goods sector. This result shows that, on average, the most specific assets from operating activities of a company compete for a less use of third party resources. As complementary results, it was observed that the leverage has persistence, which is linked with the static trade-off theory. Specifically for financial leverage, it was observed that the persistence is relevant when it is controlled for the lagged current assets classes variables. The proxy variable for growth opportunities, measured by the Market -to -Book, has the sign of its contradictory coefficient. The company size has a positive relationship with debt, in favor of static trade-off theory. Profitability is the most consistent variable in all the performed estimations, showing strong negative and significant relationship with leverage, as the pecking order theory predicts
Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a influ?ncia das classes de ativos e da desagrega??o da tangibilidade como fatores determinantes da estrutura de capital das empresas listadas na BM&FBOVESPA no per?odo de 2008 a 2012. Foram compostas duas classes de ativos circulantes que, agrupadas por liquidez, s?o analisadas pelas institui??es financeiras para concess?o de cr?dito: recursos correntes (Disponibilidades e Aplica??es Financeiras) e opera??es com duplicatas (Estoques e Clientes a Receber). A desagrega??o dos ativos tang?veis foi feita com base em seus principais componentes fornecidos como garantias para empr?stimos, como M?quinas & Equipamentos e Terrenos & Edifica??es. Para extens?o das an?lises, tr?s m?tricas para alavancagem (cont?bil, financeira e de mercado) foram empregadas e a amostra foi dividida em setores econ?micos adotados pela BM&FBOVESPA. O modelo de dados em painel din?mico estimado por GMM sist?mico de dois est?gios foi utilizado neste estudo por ser robusto ? problemas de rela??es end?genas assim como para vieses de vari?veis omitidas. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que os recursos correntes s?o determinantes da estrutura de capital possivelmente por serem caracterizados como proxies para solv?ncia financeira, sendo sua rela??o positiva com o endividamento. A an?lise setorial corroborou os resultados para recursos correntes. A tangibilidade de ativos possui rela??o inversamente proporcional com a alavancagem. Ao desagreg?-la em seus principais componentes, a influ?ncia negativa e significativa das M?quinas & Equipamentos foi mais acentuada no setor de Bens Industriais. Esse resultado demonstra que, em m?dia, os ativos mais espec?ficos da atividade operacional de uma empresa concorrem para menor uso de recursos de terceiros. Como resultados complementares, verificou-se que a alavancagem possui persist?ncia, o que coaduna com a teoria do static trade-off. Especificamente para alavancagem financeira, observou-se que a persist?ncia ? significativa quando controlada para as vari?veis de classes de ativos circulantes defasadas. A vari?vel proxy para oportunidades de crescimento, medida pelo Market-to-Book, tem o sinal de seu coeficiente controverso. O tamanho da empresa tem rela??o positiva com o endividamento, a favor da teoria do static trade-off. A lucratividade ? a vari?vel mais consistente em todas as estima??es realizadas, apresentando rela??o fortemente negativa e significativa com a alavancagem, conforme prediz a teoria do pecking order

Durante los últimos 40 años, junto con los avances historiográficos en el ámbito de la historia económica, se ha generado un debate recurrente sobre el nivel económico de Latinoamérica durante el siglo XIX y cuál era el grado de industrialización de la región en los albores de la I Guerra Mundial. En el caso de Chile, esta pregunta está aún en vías de ser resuelta, pues aún no existe un trabajo cuantitativo definitivo y enriquecedor que logre situar las principales variables macroeconómicas del país en un contexto internacional. La presente tesis doctoral pretende aportar a este debate, mediante el estudio del desempeño de la inversión, el stock y la productividad del capital en maquinaria de Chile durante el periodo 1830 - 1938. Ésta se inscribe dentro de la tradición de la historia económica cuantitativa y de reconstrucción de cuentas nacionales en el largo plazo. Las medidas de inversión y sus derivados, entiéndase precios, sectores, productividad y stock capital en maquinaria, tienen como fin, generar una aproximación al desempeño de la economía chilena en el siglo XIX y el primer tercio del XX, ampliando, complementando y criticando las visiones actuales del periodo mencionado. En este sentido, el principal objetivo es graficar el comportamiento de la economía chilena a través de su proceso de maquinización, entendiendo este paso como base de una futura industrialización o modernización, considerando los dos procesos como positivos para una economía en desarrollo. La elaboración de la serie de maquinaria en sus distintas facetas contribuirá a formar una idea más fidedigna con respecto a la estructura de esta economía latinoamericana, además de permitir comparaciones internacionales con países que ya han realizado procesos de reconstrucción de la inversión en maquinaria (UK, Países Bajos y Suecia) Surgirán dos resultados posibles, que constituirán la hipótesis principal: 1) la inversión en maquinaria durante el periodo fue creciendo constantemente y aumentando la capacidad productiva del país; 2) la inversión en maquinaria no muestra un ritmo creciente en comparación con los países que estuvieron a la par de Chile y hoy son desarrollados; se fue estancando producto de la aparición de adversas condiciones y la aparición de actividades económicas rentables que necesitaron menos maquinaria y desincentivos institucionales a la inversión. En correspondencia con el punto anterior, la presente disertación aportará datos relevantes a los procesos de divergencia y convergencia de la economía chilena, no solamente en relación con sus pares latinoamericanos, si no con el resto del mundo. Un ejemplo paradigmático, que grafica la divergencia, es la comparación con Suecia. El PIB per cápita del país nórdico en 1.890 era de US$ 2.086, mientras que el de Chile le seguía de muy cerca, con US$ 1.966. Lo interesante es que la importación de maquinaria per cápita de ambos países proveniente del Reino Unido - para entonces el principal exportador a estas dos economías similares en tamaño, población y estructura exportadora-, era de 50 libras esterlinas en el caso de Suecia (238.000 en total), mientras que en Chile la cifra ascendía a 121 libras (308.439 en total). Sin entrar aún en el análisis de la calidad de la maquinaria importada, es posible adelantar que esta relación de la maquinaria en la importación/producción irá mermando en el tiempo, aumentando la importación y producción de maquinaria per cápita en Suecia, mientras que en Chile aumentará la importación, hasta caer abruptamente durante la I Guerra Mundial y no recuperará esos niveles en un extenso periodo de tiempo. Sería muy aventurado asegurar que la divergencia entre Chile y Suecia pueda atribuirse en su totalidad a esta pérdida de ratio capital - trabajo, pero es un elemento a considerar para un análisis detallado de la productividad. Como podrá advertirse, esta tesis podría caer en el viejo debate sobre si hubo o no un proceso industrializador en Chile antes del proceso de Industrialización por Sustitución de Importaciones. Para darle un enfoque moderno y aportar a la discusión, habrá un capítulo especial dedicado a esta cuestión, que entregará nuevas evidencias sobre el proceso de industrialización antes de la industrialización por sustitución de importaciones. Por lo tanto, sin desviarnos del objetivo primordial, que es entregar una aproximación al desempeño económico de Chile en el contexto latinoamericano, por medio de los indicadores de inversión en maquinaria, la disertación aportará al debate con nuevas evidencias sobre el desempeño industrial de Chile en el periodo 1880-1938. La investigación se ha realizado en base a fuentes oficiales, principalmente las estadísticas de comercio exterior de la República de Chile, y cuando esto no ha sido posible, los anuarios estadísticos de Chile, que traen versiones más resumidas de los primeros. También se han utilizado fuentes extranjeras, como el "Annual Statement of the Trade" del Reino Unido, los "Chief Bureau of the Trade" de los Estados Unidos y recopilaciones hechas de Alemania ya trabajadas por otros autores. La principal externalidad positiva lograda con este tipo de recopilación de información y la metodología ocupada, es que se obtuvieron cifras desagregadas de la inversión en maquinaria, según su sector económico, permitiendo analizar la estructura económica de Chile en el XIX y la primera treintena del XX.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 92% of all Ghana firms, providing 60% of citizens' employment and contributing about 70% of Ghana's income from gross domestic products. Within the first 5 years of operation, 40% of new businesses fail. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used by Ghanaian SME manufacturing leaders in the fruit industry to sustain business for longer than 5 years of operation. The conceptual framework for this study was open systems theory and complexity theory. The population for this study was 5 Ghanaian SME manufacturing business leaders in the fruit industry who maintained their businesses longer than 5 years of operation. The data sources were semistructured face-to-face interviews, interview notes, and the organizations' manuals for standard operations. Data collected were transcribed, member checked, analytically coded, and analyzed using Yin's 5-stage method of qualitative data analysis. Four themes emerged: training and capacity building, the need for good equipment and good packaging, the availability of working capital, and the need for target marketing. The implications of this study for positive social change include lowering high unemployment, alleviating poverty, supporting community development, and enhancing economic growth in the country.

Leasing has become a desirable alternative for acquiring capital equipment in the 80's. However, there are many tangible and intangible conditions that must be taken into consideration before signing a lease contract. This report presents leasing terminology, and the new tax laws that are relevant to leasing; explaining and illustrating common true lease plans on a before and after-tax basis, and finally, developing microcomputer software for the discussed true lease plans.
Master of Engineering

Esta dissertação trata de Porto Alegre durante os anos de 1820 – 1890. Tem como objetivo realizar uma análise das transformações e características de seu espaço urbano a partir da leitura e do cruzamento das descrições da cidade contidas nos relatos dos viajantes estrangeiros. É um estudo que se apóia nos diários destes informantes, fontes não oficiais e pouco utilizadas nas pesquisas empreendidas por arquitetos e urbanistas sobre a capital, para valorizá-los como possibilidades de contribuição para o estudo da cidade. Nesse sentido a pesquisa busca alternativa às fontes utilizadas com mais freqüência como a cartografia histórica e os documentos oficiais e procura avaliar que estas outras fontes são importantes e devem ser mais exploradas pelos estudos urbanos. Seu uso permitiria, assim, uma aproximação mais íntima com o cotidiano da cidade, com seus espaços, com as sensações que eles transmitem. São buscados nos textos dos viajantes informações sobre Porto Alegre relativas aos seus aspectos locacionais (implantação, arrabaldes, malha urbana/arruamento e aparência geral do conjunto), seus serviços públicos e de infra-estrutura urbana (estradas, abastecimento de água, esgotamento sanitário e pluvial, limpeza urbana, transporte, calçamento, iluminação, policiamento, aterros), seus equipamentos e espaços públicos (hospitais, instituições de ensino, templos religiosos, cais e alfândega, quartéis e edificações de cunho militar, teatros, cemitério, presídio, mercado, edifícios administrativos, esporte e lazer, praças e parques) e outras características não enquadradas nas categorias anteriores (conjunto da arquitetura residencial, população, etc). Foram selecionados seis viajantes como fontes para subsidiar a pesquisa, dispersos em saltos de tempo mais ou menos regulares ao longo dos setenta anos do recorte temporal adotado. São eles: Auguste Saint-Hilaire, Arsène Isabelle, Robert Ave-Lallemant, Oscar Canstatt, Wilhelm Breitenbach e Moritz Schanz.
This thesis is about Porto Alegre during the years of 1820 – 1890. Its objective is to analize the transformations and characteristics of its urban space from the reading and crossing of the descriptions of the city contained in the reports of foreing travelers. It is a study that relies on diaries, unofficial sources little used in the researches from architects and planners about the capital, to value them as a possible contribution to the study of the city. In this sense the research seeks alternative sources to the used most often as the historical cartography and the official documents, and also to present that these other sources are important and should be more explored by urban studies. Its use would enable a more intimate approach to the daily life of the city, with its spaces and the feelings they convey. Are sought in the writings of travelers information about Porto Alegre regarding locational aspects (implantation, suburbs, urban network/streets and general appearance of the whole), its public services and urban infrastructure (roads, water supply, sewerage, urban sanitation, transportation, sidewalks, lighting, policing, landfill), its equipment and public places (hospitals, educational institutions, religious temples, wharf and customhouse, quarters and buildings of military nature, theaters, cemeteries, prisons, markets, administrative buildings, sports and recreation, squares and parks) and other characteristics not covered into the above categories (cluster of residential architecture, population, etc.). Were selected six travelers as sources to support the research, dispersed with certain regularity throughout the seventy years studied. They are: Auguste Saint-Hilaire, Arsène Isabelle, Robert Avé-Lallemant, Oscar Canstatt, Wilhelm Breitenbach and Moritz Schanz.

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The use of government duty assistance, like drawback, can be, at first time, always be advantage without considering the firm size. However, many different factors inside and outside of the organization interfere on its use. With the proposal of analyse the influence of the company size on the performance of logistic integrations management activities on the company that used drawback, it has been done a research including two steps based on theory of logistic knowledge and small firm internalization authors. The first, considered of exploratory nature, was used a sample compound of 3 companies. The information collected was treated by the content analysis and the result understood more of: a) drawback practice; and b) drawback s effects on logistic performance. Based on these results started the second stage, which was of descriptive nature research. The sample contained of 136 companies of different sizes, chosen for convenience. At these step the collected information had been treated through descriptive and inference statistics and as a result appeared differences in stages of logistic integration management, supply, manufacture and distribution, as well as advantage, disadvantage, block and facility elements on company that used drawback. The analyses provide, also, the information that new companies failed to apply the drawback due to the complexity and weakness of specialized providers of knowledge. The data results permitted the affirmation that company s size influenced the performance of logistic integration management activities, with the drawback users. Finally, as a suggestion, the proposal of this research could be continued studied by increasing: a) the sample group with other sectors of Brazilian s industrial companies; and b) the research with small companies in order to understand more about the drawback s advantage in this group.
A utilização de incentivos fiscais às exportações, como o Regime Aduaneiro Especial de Drawback pode parecer, à primeira vista, ser sempre vantajosa, independentemente do porte das empresas. Entretanto, diferentes fatores internos e externos à empresa interferem na utilização do regime. Com o objetivo de analisar a influência do porte no desempenho das atividades de logística integrada das empresas usuárias do Regime de Drawback, foi realizada uma pesquisa constituída de duas etapas e fundamentadas teoricamente em autores das áreas do conhecimento logístico e da internacionalização das pequenas e médias empresas. A primeira, considerada de natureza exploratória utilizou-se de uma amostra composta de 3 empresas. Os dados coletados e tratados pela análise de conteúdo possibilitaram: a) maior entendimento da utilização do Drawback; e b) melhor compreensão dos efeitos do regime no desempenho das empresas usuárias. Com base nestes resultados iniciou-se a segunda etapa da pesquisa, de natureza descritiva. Usou-se, para isso, de uma amostra de 136 empresas de diversos tamanhos escolhidos por conveniência. Os dados coletados e tratados por meio da estatística descritiva e inferencial evidenciaram diferenças nas 3 fases da logística integrada, abastecimento, manufatura e distribuição, bem como nas vantagens, desvantagens, bloqueadores e facilitadores no uso do regime. Revelou-se, também, que as empresas não usuárias deixaram de utilizar o regime pela complexidade e falta de conhecimento especializado para aplicação do regime. A análise destes resultados permitiu concluir que o tamanho influenciou no desempenho das atividades de logística integrada das empresas usuárias do Drawback da amostra. Por fim, propõem-se como sugestões de prosseguimento do estudo: a) ampliar a amostra com a participação de outros setores da indústria brasileira, principalmente do setor de material de transporte, de produtos siderúrgicos e de produtos alimentícios, de forma a possibilitar análises e comparações entre os diversos setores industriais brasileiros e; b) realizar pesquisa exclusiva com as micro e pequenas empresas a fim de melhor avaliar os benefícios do regime nesse grupo.

A reutilização do dialisador capilar em hemodiálise é uma prática realizada em muitos países, apesar de não haver consenso sobre sua segurança e eficácia em comparação ao dialisador de uso único. Em relação ao uso único, apontam-se os custos como grande entrave e a preocupação com o aumento do lixo hospitalar. No que se refere aos riscos do reuso, aponta-se a exposição dos profissionais aos produtos químicos necessários à realização do processo de reutilização, assim como movimentos repetitivos envolvidos na dinâmica dessa técnica; somadas a isto, a redução da eficiência da membrana, a contaminação do sistema, as infecções cruzadas, as reações pirogênicas e as bacteremias. Nesse sentido, tornam-se relevantes estudos que investiguem o efeito da adoção desses métodos nesses desfechos. Objetivos: Comparar as implicações do dialisador reutilizado (reuso) com as do utilizado uma única vez (uso único) na saúde dos profissionais, nos desfechos clínicos e custos de pacientes em hemodiálise. Métodos: Estudo longitudinal, com coleta de dados retrospectiva, realizado em um Hospital Público Universitário (Janeiro de 2015 a Fevereiro de 2016). Foram incluídos 18 técnicos de enfermagem e 34 pacientes renais crônicos submetidos à hemodiálise nos dois períodos do estudo (período de reuso e período de uso único), por meio de cateter, fístula ou enxerto, com fluxo de sangue de pelo menos 300 ml/min. e tempo de diálise definido entre três a quatro horas por sessão. Considerou-se como desfechos primários os distúrbios osteomusculares, irritação ocular, as dermatoses, afastamento do trabalho e uso de medicações. Como secundários, hemodinâmica, volemia, exames laboratoriais, reações pirogênicas, bacteremias, uso de antibióticos e custos diretos e indiretos do procedimento. Projeto aprovado no Comitê de Ética da instituição. Resultados: O tempo médio de trabalho dos 18 técnicos de enfermagem foi de 12±7 anos. Durante o período de reutilização do dialisador, houve sete notificações. Verificou-se uma taxa de exposição ao uso de medicamentos de 6,7 dias para cada 1.000 profissionais no período de reuso do dialisador; 1,52 dias de exposição à medicação para cada 1.000 profissionais no período de uso único do dialisador (RDI= 4,4; IC 95%: 2.182-9.805); os dias de afastamento foram semelhantes entre os períodos. Nos 34 pacientes estudados nos dois períodos, foram semelhantes os parâmetros hemodinâmicos e volêmicos; houve redução de ureia pós-diálise, creatinina, fósforo, ferritina, hematócrito e hemoglobina durante o uso único do dialisador; foi observado um risco 91% menor de pirogenia no uso único do dialisador, se comparado ao período de reuso (RC= 0,091; IC 95%: 0,002-0,625). Não houve diferença significativa na presença da bacteremias (p= 0,125); a vancomicina foi utilizada empiricamente para tratar a pirogenia. Para cada paciente em hemodiálise utilizando o dialisador reutilizado, o valor médio foi R$ 23,18; e com o dialisador de uso único foi de R$ 39,77 (p= 0,002). O custo indireto médio mensal durante o período de reuso foi de R$ 168,07 (R$ 0,37 por sessão); e para o uso único foi de R$133,23 ao mês (R$ 0,29 por sessão). O custo indireto não apresentou diferença estatística comparando o reuso e uso único do dialisador (p= 0,463). Conclusão: O reuso do dialisador esteve associado a distúrbios osteomusculares, irritação ocular e dermatoses entre os profissionais de enfermagem, além de maior uso de medicamentos. O uso único do dialisador reduziu pequenos solutos, ferritina, hematócrito, hemoglobina, e apresentou menor risco de pirogenias e bacteremias. Quanto aos custos, o reuso do dialisador obteve benefícios adicionais em relação aos custos diretos. Entretanto, para custos indiretos, o reuso não apresentou diferença em relação ao uso único.
Capillary dialyzer reuse in hemodialysis is a practice carried out in many countries, although there is no consensus about its safety and effectiveness in comparison with the single-use dialyzer. Regarding the single-use dialyzer, costs are considered a major obstacle, as is the concern with the increase in medical waste. In what concerns the risks of reuse, the exposure of the professionals to chemicals needed to carry out the process of reuse, as well as the repetitive movements involved in the dynamics of this technique stand out; added to this, there are the reduced efficiency of the membrane, the contamination of the system, cross-infections, pyrogenic reactions and bacteremia. In this sense, a study which investigates the effect of the adoption of these methods in these outcomes becomes relevant. Objectives: To compare the implications of reused dialyzer with single-use dialyzer on the health of professionals, clinical outcomes and costs of patients in hemodialysis. Methods: Longitudinal study with retrospective data collection, carried out in a Public University Hospital (January 2015 to February 2016). Participated in the study 18 nursing technicians and 34 chronic kidney patients subjected to hemodialysis in the two periods of the study (reuse and single-use periods), through catheter, fistula or graft, with blood flow of at least 300 mL/min, dialysis time set between three to four hours per session. Musculoskeletal disorders, eye irritation, skin diseases, work leave and the use of medications were considered as primary outcomes. Secondary included hemodynamics, blood volume, laboratory tests, pyrogenic reactions, bacteremia, antibiotic use, direct and indirect costs of the procedure. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institution. Results: The average time of work of the 18 nursing technicians was 12±7 years. During the period of dialyzer reuse there were seven notifications. There was a rate of exposure to the use of medicines of 6.7 days for each 1,000 professionals within the period of dialyzer reuse; 1.52 days of exposure to medication for each 1,000 professionals in the period of single use of the dialyzer, (IDR = 4.4; 95% CI: 2,182-9,805); the days of work leave were similar between periods. In the 34 patients studied in the two periods, the hemodynamic and blood volume parameters were similar; there was reduction of urea after dialysis, creatinine, phosphore, ferritin, hematocrit and hemoglobin during the single use of the dialyzer; 91% less risk of pyrogenic reaction was noted in the single use of the dialyzer compared to the period of reuse (OR = 0.091; 95% CI: 0.002-0.625). There was no significant difference in the presence of bacteremia (p = 0.125); vancomycin was used empirically to treat pyrogenic reactions. For each patient on hemodialysis using the reused dialyzer, the average value was R$ 23.18 and with the single-use dialyzer, R$ 39.77 (p=0,002). The average monthly indirect cost during the period of reuse was 168,07R$ (0.37 R$ per session), and for the single-used period, R$ 133,23 per month (0.29 R$ per session). The indirect cost showed no statistical difference comparing the reuse and the single use of the dialyzer (p = 0.463). Conclusion: The reuse of the dialyzer was associated with musculoskeletal disorders, eye irritation and skin diseases among nursing professionals, in addition to more frequent use of medicines. The single use of the dialyzer reduced small solutes, ferritin, hematocrit hemoglobin, and showed lower risk of pyrogenic reactions and bacteremia. In what concerns the costs, the reuse of the dialyzer obtained additional benefits concerning the direct costs. However, for indirect costs, reuse exceeded single use values.
La reutilización del dializador capilar en hemodiálisis es una práctica realizada en muchos países, aunque no hay ningún consenso sobre su seguridad y eficacia en comparación al dializador de uso único. Con relación al uso único, se señalan los costos como un gran obstáculo, además del incremento de los residuos hospitalarios. En lo respecta a los riesgos del reuso, se señala la exposición de los profesionales a los productos químicos necesarios para la realización del proceso de reutilización, así como los movimientos repetitivos involucrados en la dinámica de esta técnica; se suma a esto la reducción de la eficiencia de la membrana, la contaminación del sistema, las infecciones cruzadas, las reacciones pirogénicas y las bacteriemias. En este sentido, estudios para investigar el efecto de la adopción de estos métodos en estos desenlaces se vuelven relevantes. Objetivos: Comparar las implicaciones del dializador reutilizado (reuso) con las del dializador de un solo uso (uso único) para la salud de los profesionales, desenlaces clínicos y costos de los pacientes en hemodiálisis. Métodos: Estudio longitudinal, con recopilación retrospectiva de datos, realizado en un Hospital Público Universitario (desde Enero 2015 hasta Febrero 2016). Se incluyeron 18 técnicos de enfermería y 34 pacientes renales crónicos sometidos a hemodiálisis en los dos periodos de estudio (periodo de reuso y periodo de uso único), a través de catéter, fístula o injerto, con flujo de sangre de por lo menos 300 ml/min y tiempo de diálisis definido entre tres y cuatro horas por sesión. Se consideraron como desenlaces primarios los trastornos osteomusculares, irritación ocular, dermatosis, alejamiento del trabajo y uso de medicaciones. Como secundarios, se consideraron la hemodinámica, volemia, exámenes de laboratorio, reacciones pirogénicas, bacteriemias, uso de antibióticos y costos directos e indirectos del procedimiento. El proyecto fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética de la institución. Resultados: El tiempo medio de trabajo de los 18 técnicos de enfermería fue de 12±7 años. Durante el periodo de reutilización del dializador, hubo siete notificaciones. Se verificó una tasa de exposición al uso de medicamentos de 6,7 días para cada 1.000 profesionales en el periodo de reuso del dializador; 1,52 días de exposición a la medicación para cada 1.000 profesionales en el periodo de uso único del dializador (RDI= 4,4; IC 95%: 2,182-9,805); los días de alejamiento fueron similares entre los periodos. En los 34 pacientes estudiados en los dos períodos, los parámetros hemodinámicos y volémicos fueron similares; hubo una reducción de urea después del diálisis, y de creatinina, fósforo, ferritina, hematocrito y hemoglobina durante el uso único del dializador; se observó un nivel de riesgo de piogenia 91% menor en el uso único del dializador, en comparación con el periodo de reuso (RC= 0,091; IC 95%: 0,002-0,625). No hubo diferencia significativa en la presencia de bacteriemias (p= 0,125); la vancomicina fue utilizada empíricamente para tratar las reacciones pirogénicas. Para cada paciente en hemodiálisis utilizando el dializador reutilizado, el valor medio fue de R$ 23,18; y con el dializador de uso único fue de 39,77 R$ (p= 0,002). El costo indirecto medio mensual durante el periodo de reuso fue de 168,00 R$ (R$ 0,37 por sesión); y para el uso único fue de R$ 133,23 al mes (R$0,29 por sesión). El costo indirecto no presentó diferencia estadística comparando el reuso y el uso único del dializador (p= 0,463). Conclusión: El reuso del dializador estuvo asociado a trastornos osteomusculares, irritación ocular y dermatosis entre los profesionales de enfermería, además de un mayor uso de medicamentos. El uso único del dializador ha reducido pequeños solutos, ferritina, hematocrito, hemoglobina, y ha presentado un riesgo menor de reacciones pirogénicas y bacteriemias. En cuanto a los costos, el reuso del dializador ha obtenido beneficios adicionales con relación a los costos directos. Sin embargo, para los costos indirectos, el reuso no ha presentado diferencia con relación al uso único.

Yes
We provide multi-factor real option models (and quasi-analytical solutions) for equipment capital budgeting under uncertainty, when there is either unexpected, or anticipated, or uncertain (volatile) technological progress. We calculate the threshold level of revenues and operating costs using the incumbent equipment that would justify replacement. Replacement is deferred for lower revenue thresholds. If progress is anticipated or highly uncertain, alert financial managers should wait longer before replacing equipment. Replacement deferral increases with decreases in the expected correlation between revenue and operating costs, and with increases in the revenue and/or operating cost volatility. Uncertain technological progress increases the real option value of waiting. The best approach for equipment suppliers is to reduce the expected revenue and/or cost volatility, and/or reduce the expected uncertainty of technological innovations, since then an incentive exists for the early replacement of old equipment when a technologically advanced version is launched.

The purpose of this thesis is to detail the management control process as related to the Productivity Program at the Navy Public Works Center (PWC) San Francisco, Calif. The Department of Defense and Navy programs provide a broad framework within all PWCs have developed their own unique Productivity Programs. The Asset Capitalization program (ACP) has provided industrial fund activities like PWCs with the means of implementing the productivity strategy. In particular, the Capital Equipment Investment Plan establishes a systematic approach in the substitution of capital equipment for labor with enhanced productivity a desired result. With such a plan, PWC San Francisco, has been able to achieve revitalization and modernization of capital assets. However, there are weaknesses in the planning and acquisition procedures which have been identified and which require management attention. Keywords: Public Works Centers; Productivity; Capital investments; Asset Capitalization Program; Capital equipment; Navy industrial fund; Five-year Capital Equipment Investment Plan. (Theses)

Companies and organizations must make decisions concerning capital budgeting. Capital budgeting is a decision-making process that determines whether a firm should purchase equipment to be used on a long-term basis. The initial investment in the equipment is predicted to be returned through revenue gained by the use of the equipment over its lifetime. However, there is inherent risk associated with these investment decisions. Therefore, potential purchasers must decide whether the risk involved with investing in the equipment is justified. This dissertation addresses risk-based technology assessment for capital equipment acquisition decisions in small firms. Technology assessment, here, is concerned with understanding the uncertainty associated with assessing the value predicted in the capital budgeting process. When analyzing the risk for a given technology, we assign a probability law to its net present value. Our primary research contribution is providing an analytical framework together with a computational strategy to support capital equipment budgeting in firms where the value of candidate technologies can represent nearly all the firm’s value. Since small firms typically have limited budgets, spending for technology is always a difficult budgeting decision. The organization’s administration must decide which, if any, among the available technologies will be best for their operation. The process for acquiring technology in many small firms can be filled with challenges. Most important among them is that capital budgeting is typically a “one-off” decision. These decisions are difficult since the candidate technologies may not have operational data available. Thus, decision makers need some means to predict how the proposed technology (e.g., equipment or machinery) will be used. Hence, firms should follow techniques and procedures based on appropriate normative principles and well-established theory. Senior company executives and/or governance boards are often authorized to approve capital equipment purchases. However, these company leaders may not have adequate expertise in the operations of candidate technologies or may lack the understanding necessary to determine how new technologies may impact other company operations. Appropriate financial evaluation measures and selection criteria that incorporate risk are critical to making sound, quantitative acquisition decisions. The research reported here offers an analytical framework for comparing different technology alternatives in capital budgeting decisions. Comparison is based on the expected net present value and the risk (i.e., probability law on net present value) associated with each decision alternative. To this end, the operational characteristics of each technology alternative are connected to their potential revenue and cost streams. The framework is embedded within a computational architecture that can be customized to account for operations and technologies in specific application scenarios. One major barrier addressed by this research is overcoming the fact that new technologies typically have no historical operational data. Therefore, characterizing the uncertainty of operations (e.g., distribution of the equipment lifetime) can be very difficult. Discrete- event simulation is used to generate potential revenue and cost estimates. We demonstrate the tractability and practicality of the analytical framework and computational architecture via a healthcare technology assessment decision. Data extracted from a published journal article detailing a hospital’s technology assessment decision are used to find the risk of the medical technology using the computational architecture developed. Widely-available, no-cost software tools are employed. Results of the health care example suggest that the financial analysis in the original technology assessment was in- adequate and simplistic. Small firms may find this research particularly beneficial because potential investments can be a significant portion of a small firm’s value.

abstract: Ramping up a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility is a challenging endeavor. One of the key components of this process is to schedule a large number of activities in installing and qualifying (Install/Qual) the capital intensive and sophisticated manufacturing equipment. Activities in the Install/Qual process share multiple types of expensive and scare resources and each activity might potentially have multiple processing options. In this dissertation, the semiconductor capital equipment Install/Qual scheduling problem is modeled as a multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem (MRCPSP) with multiple special extensions. Three phases of research are carried out: the first phase studies the special problem characteristics of the Install/Qual process, including multiple activity processing options, time-varying resource availability levels, resource vacations, and activity splitting that does not allow preemption. A modified precedence tree-based branch-and-bound algorithm is proposed to solve small size academic problem instances to optimality. Heuristic-based methodologies are the main focus of phase 2. Modified priority rule-based simple heuristics and a modified random key-based genetic algorithm (RKGA) are proposed to search for Install/Qual schedules with short makespans but subject to resource constraints. Methodologies are tested on both small and large random academic problem instances and instances that are similar to the actual Install/Qual process of a major semiconductor manufacturer. In phase 3, a decision making framework is proposed to strategically plan the Install/Qual capacity ramp. Product market demand, product market price, resource consumption cost, as well as the payment of capital equipment, are considered. A modified simulated annealing (SA) algorithm-based optimization module is integrated with a Monte Carlo simulation-based simulation module to search for good capacity ramping strategies under uncertain market information. The decision making framework can be used during the Install/Qual schedule planning phase as well as the Install/Qual schedule execution phase when there is a portion of equipment that has already been installed or qualified. Computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the decision making framework.
Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation Industrial Engineering 2015

碩士
國立清華大學
高階經營管理碩士在職專班
104
In this study, for semiconductor test equipment agents, in order to promote the new equipments, company must make expensive demonstrate machines for consignment on the customers side; During the demonstration period there is the Operating working capital as sales costs plus operation cost; Due to the high risk of semiconductor industry, product life cycle is short, the profit margin is not easy to maintain; Therefore, reduced gross margins means to do larger revenue. In order to deal with the lower gross margin, the company must correct choice of debt or equity financing because of the company's growth rate varying by the business expansion or shrink. Due to the small amount of the company's capital, usually the borrowing cost is higher than the larger companies. In this study, based on the actual financial data, the following analysis will help companies to make capital structure decisions relating to the gross margin and growth. According to the characteristics of this industry, in response to the decrease in operating margins, calculate the minimum revenue for the breakeven point and the relationship in between gross margin, growth and assets increased. Capital structure change should be varying by gross margin and growth rate to decide on debt or equity financing.

碩士
國立政治大學
經營管理碩士學程(EMBA)
96
In the 21st century, the globalization movement to multinational corporations is an inevitable process to maintain the continuous business growth. Asia, in particular, has drawn all the attention of multinational corporations worldwide and is considered as the region of the century. This research is designed to study the Asian regional operations of a multinational corporate in semiconductor equipment industry. In response to the regional customers demand, the regional competition, and the regional operations cost reduction, the case company has strategically established regional operations centers in Asia, covering the aspects of technical support, technical training, parts logistics, parts sourcing and repairing, as well as service outsourcing. This study found that the outstanding regional operations strategy plays a key role in the industrial competition and the overall operational excellence. The service enhancement through the technical support and spares sourcing can directly benefit the IC manufacturing customers and reword to the cost reduction of the regional operations. The studied case company clearly can be a benchmark of the regional operations practices for semiconductor equipment industry as well as for other related industries. Furthermore, the objective of this research is to provide useful suggestions that may help the firms in the industry on their future regional operations strategies setting as well as offer the academic researchers with a good case study of the development of regional operations in Asia.

After events like the global financial crisis and the advent of globalisation, companies have experienced increased competition and pressure to improve performance in the new environments in which business is conducted. This has impacted the world of manufacturing, among others, and has necessitated companies in this industry to adopt improvement methodologies to assist in growing the business. This study looks into the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as one of these procedures and highlights that most articles and studies on this process concentrate on the highvolume, low-mix manufacturing environment. On account of this, a gap is left in the application of these techniques in the low-volume, high-mix environment. The literature highlights the differences in the two disciplines that have now evolved into one toolkit that is applied as LSS and how that is achieved. The cases highlighted do not, however, cover the low-volume, high-variety manufacturers, and this paper seeks to use the expertise of LSS practitioners in this environment to get information and derive a framework for successful implementation of LSS in the capital equipment environment. The main contributor to the study is a company that manufactures capital equipment for the mines, with other respondents being practitioners in similar companies and customers in the mines. Respondents were sent a survey to get their opinion on the implementation of LSS in their environment. The survey attempted to gather information through five key questions on how LSS was being applied and its impact on the cost, cycle-time and on-time delivery of the organisation. A quantitative study design was adopted to develop a framework for the successful implementation of LSS in the capital equipment industry. A total of 38 respondents gave feedback, which was analysed, and this showed what - according to the professionals involved in this study - are the vital aspects of this implementation to ensure success.
Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
zkgibs2015
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
Unrestricted

Procurement’s role in engineering and construction is changing. Procurement is evolving into a far more strategic discipline. Major equipment procurement in particular ties up a large proportion of construction cost, has long lead time, and is usually associated with the acquisition of complex or specialized technology. Selection of suppliers is a complex process which requires the evaluation of several suppliers and project targets. This analysis is usually performed manually, it is time consuming, and certain tradeoffs may be overlooked. This research advances state of the art to aid the commercial evaluation and selection of engineered equipment suppliers in the early stages of capital projects. A decision support system was developed in cooperation with several leading engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) and owner firms within industrial construction. The system integrates firms’ market and supplier performance data with a decision aid method to support rapid tradeoff analysis and evaluation of sourcing alternatives in the early stages of capital projects. The tool has been developed in Visual C#, in the form of simple and intuitive forms, with Microsoft Access as the back-end database. A supplier selection module uses the Aspiration Interactive Method (AIM) for providing rapid tradeoff analysis and points how each supplier is ranked in relation to the expected procurement targets. The system also includes a module for schedule analysis of the preferred supplier. Managers first need to assess unique project and supplier’s characteristics to estimate most likely durations. These durations are used to run a PERT analysis and provide initial feedback on probability of equipment delivery success. Therefore, managers are able to check whether their procurement master schedule milestones are feasible or not. Two actual selection cases were used to validate system’s usefulness, completeness, and deployability. According to experienced managers, this tool brings intelligence to the traditional selection process. The ability to quickly generate what-if scenarios and rapidly perform tradeoff analysis based on real data improves the quality of decision making, and supports commercial assessment and recommendation of suppliers in the early phases of capital projects.
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