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Yue, Chengyan. "Three essays on food quality and transaction costs." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2006.
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TSENG, ERIC H. "Trade Costs and Quality: Issues in International Trade." The Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460387677.
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Engström, Sven. "Quality, costs and the role of primary health care." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för medicin och hälsa, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-5198.
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The general aim of this thesis is to describe and analyse the role of primary care in health care systems in terms of health, health care utilisation and costs, and to study the feasibility of retrieval of data from computerised medical records to monitor medical quality. The thesis includes five studies, a systematic literature review, a register study of utilisation of hospital and primary care, a study based on data from computerised medical records of individual patients cost for primary care, and two studies of management of respiratory infections in primary care based on data from computerised medical records of twelve health centres. The general findings of the literature review were that an expansion of the primary care component of the health care system would most likely result in better health, lower hospital care consumption and lower expenses for care. The personal physician and continuity of care were core elements to achieve this, and the significance of the way primary care is organised and funded was evident. In the register study fifty health centres were compared. Age and rates of outpatient hospital visits were the most important factors explaining the variation of rates of hospitalisations between the health centres’ areas. Hospital district also influenced hospitalisation rates in the different health centres’ areas, indicating that the health care structure in the district per se was an important factor. The rates of visits to general practitioners correlated negatively with rates of hospitalisations. The study of costs in primary care showed that the variation in the costs of the individual patients was substantial, also within age groups and within the diagnosis-related Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG). Age and gender explained a smaller part of the variation in costs per patient in primary care. Adding the ACG weight had a major influence on improving the ability to explain the variation in costs at patient level. The ACG system might be of value in the calculation of weighted capitation in Swedish primary care, but appears to be sensitive to the thoroughness with which physicians register diagnoses. The retrieval of data from computerised medical records comprised a total number of 19 965 encounters for respiratory tract infections i.e. 199 per 1000 inhabitants during the year 2001. Most frequent diagnoses were common cold, acute tonsillitis, and acute bronchitis. The number of antibioticprescriptions was 7 961, accounting for 47% of the episodes. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were phenoxymethylpenicillin (61%), tetracyclines (18%) and macrolides (8%). A rapid test was performed in 43% of the encounters: for C-reactive protein (CRP) in 31%; for Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (StrepA) in 22%; and both tests were performed in 10% of the encounters. The findings in the study indicate that StrepA and CRP tests were used too frequently and often with minor contributions to patient management. The frequencies of tests and of antibiotic prescriptions varied greatly between health centres in a way that hardly could be explained by differences in morbidity. Computerised medical records provided a source of clinical information, which might be a feasible and pragmatic method for studying daily practice, and for follow-up of adherence to guidelines in general practice.
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Engström, Sven. "Quality, costs and the role of primary health care /." Linköping : Univ, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-5198.
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Eum, Jihyun. "Essays on Product Quality, Trade Costs, and Trade Liberalization." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500505005414076.
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Lamani, Viola. "International trade, trade costs and quality of traded commodities." Thesis, Bordeaux, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017BORD0746/document.
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L'objectif de cette thèse est d'identifier les effets des coûts à l'échange sur la structure du commerce par qualité. Dans le premier chapitre, nous analysons empiriquement les déterminants des exportations de Cognac et nous nous focalisons sur l'impact des coûts à l'échange. Nous montrons que, comme pour d'autres produits de luxe, l'élasticité des exportations de Cognac à la distance est négative et relativement faible. Les droits de douane n'ont par ailleurs pas d'impact significatif sur la marge intensive, mais nous trouvons un impact négatif sur la marge extensive, une fois corrigé d'un biais d'endogénéité. Dans le deuxième chapitre, nous testons empiriquement la validité de l'effet Alchian-Allen qui stipule que les couts unitaires augmentent la demande relative des biens de haute qualité. Nous exploitons la dimension « qualité » de nos données sur les exportations de Cognac. La mesure de la qualité du Cognac est objective et ne varie pas dans le temps. Nos résultats montrent que la distance et les droits de douane spécifiques augmentent la part relative des exportations de Cognac de haute qualité. Nous examinons également l'impact de la conteneurisation sur la structure par qualité des exportations de Cognac entre 1967 et 2013. Dans le troisième chapitre, nous construisons un modèle théorique de duopole Nord-Sud en concurrence à la Bertrand sur les deux marchés. Nous étudions l'impact de plusieurs instruments (droit de douane, quota et standard de qualité) sur l'investissement en R&D de produit de la firme du Nord. Nous montrons que cet investissement augmente avec chaque instrument de politique commerciale à l'exception du quota d'importation<br>The objective of this dissertation is to identify the effects of trade costs on the quality structure of international trade flows. In chapter one we empirically analyze the determinants of Cognac export flows and emphasize the role of trade costs. We show that, as with other luxury products, the elasticity of Cognac exports to distance is negative and relatively small. Meanwhile, average customs duties do not have a significant impact on the intensive margin, but we find that they negatively affect the probability of trade, after correcting for an endogeneity bias. In chapter two we empirically test the validity of the Alchian and Allen effect that states that per-unit charges increase the relative demand of higher quality goods. We use data on Cognac exports by quality designations. The measure of Cognac quality is objective and invariant over time. Our results show that distance and specific duties increase the share of exports of higher quality Cognac. We also examine the impact of containerization on Cognac's quality mix from 1967 to 2013. In chapter three we build a theoretical model of a North-South duopoly where firms compete in prices on both markets. We use this framework to study the impact of several trade policy instruments (import tariff, quota and quality standard) on the product R&D investment of the Northern firm. Our results show that the Northern firm's R&D expenditures increase with each policy instrument except for the import quota
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Faciane, Matthew. "Reducing the Costs of Poor Quality: A Manufacturing Case Study." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5329.
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Manufacturing firms can incur losses of up to 100% due to costs of poor quality (COPQ) in the form of internal and external product failures, rework, and scrap. The purpose of this single case study was to explore what quality improvement strategies senior manufacturing production managers used to reduce COPQ and increase profit. The participants selected were 3 production managers in 1 small-sized manufacturing company in the southeastern region of the United States with successful strategies to lower COPQ. The conceptual framework of this study was based on total quality management theory. Data collection was through face-to-face interviews and from a review of company documents. Yin's 5-step process was used to analyze the data. Three key themes emerged during data analysis: continuous improvement, quality assurance, and institutionalizing training. Manufacturing managers can use these strategies to lower COPQ and increase profits. The findings can contribute to social change by increasing individuals' sense of dignity and self-worth through the manufacturing firm leaders' ability to increase employment rates.
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Blignaut, Bevan Hyron. "Factors that influence warranty costs at Volkswagen South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013088.
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Driving a vehicle while it is within the warranty period provide customers with assurance that should a failure occur on the vehicle, there would be no financial obligation for the customer to repair the vehicle. For the manufacturer, it is a huge financial obligation to repair or replace components that fail on the vehicle. The research conducted in this study explores and identifies the main reasons for high warranty costs as well as the reasons that do not influence high warranty costs at VWSA. The purpose of this research is to provide VWSA with a potential starting point to reduce warranty costs and increase profits. The study revealed that the main cause of high warranty costs at VWSA was related to the quality of vehicles. By improving the quality of vehicles produced, VWSA could reduce a significant portion of the warranty costs it spends each year. With reduced warranty costs, VWSA could increase the warranty period and thereby attract more customers to purchase VW products. In a cutthroat automotive industry, this would ensure a competitive advantage over rivals; maintain longevity, increase profits and continued success.
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Sharma, Naresh Kumar. "Predicting and reducing warranty costs by considering customer expectation and product performance." Diss., Rolla, Mo. : Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2008. http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/thesis/pdf/Sharma_09007dcc80626d74.pdf.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2008.<br>Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed March 2, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-220).
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Saunders, John Alexander. "Quality, clinical outcomes and treatment costs in acute intestinal failure." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2016. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/415503/.
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Type 1 and type 2 intestinal failure (IF) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with little published data reporting outcomes from clinical practice. This thesis will therefore examine the definitions, quality of care, clinical outcomes and treatment costs of these conditions within the setting of an acute hospital which cares for many type 1 IF patients as well as running a regional intestinal failure service for type 2 and 3 IF patients. Observational studies were conducted to examine; the parenteral nutrition (PN) care provided to patients with all types of IF, screening tools and criteria to identify type 2 IF in clinical practice and an assessment of clinical outcomes and treatments costs in this complex patient group. The multidisciplinary nutrition and intestinal failure team were involved in 90% of decisions regarding initiation of PN in this hospital compared to only 52.7% reported by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report. Standards of assessment, monitoring and catheter complications were also better than those in the NCEPOD report. Rates of catheter related sepsis were lower in patients managed within a specialised IF unit compared to other wards; 1.8 episodes/1000 PN days versus 8.21 episodes/1000 PN days (p < 0.0001). The requirement for PN for > 28 days had a 91% sensitivity and 96% specificity for identifying type 2 IF but a low positive predictive value of only 59%. IF surgery criteria had a sensitivity of 96% and a positive predictive value of 100% for identifying type 2 IF.Mortality during an acute admission for type 2 IF patients (n=44) was 4.2%. Following reconstructive surgery (n=37) there were no post-operative deaths, no readmissions within 30 days and only one post-operative fistula recurrence. After surgery 94% of patients were independent of artificial nutrition. The median calculated treatment costs per day for patients with type 2 IF was £572. Current funding mechanisms within the NHS only allow hospitals to recover 44.7% of the treatment costs in type 2 IF.These studies confirm that standards of PN care in IF can be high within a regional specialist centre, with low rates of mortality, fistulae recurrence and PN dependence in type 2 IF. Criteria for screening and defining type 2 IF are relevant to clinical practices and their wider use could result in earlier access to specialist treatment, improvements in outcome reporting and a mechanism for establishing future IF funding.
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Kuong-Lau, Kok-kin. "Quality assurance resource allocation using expert opinion and optimization." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/24331.
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Lindberg, Malou. "Asthma nurse practice in primary health care : quality, costs and outcome /." Linköping : Univ, 2001. http://www.bibl.liu.se/liupubl/disp/disp2001/med695s.pdf.
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Johnson, David Robert. "Conformability analysis for the control of quality costs in electronic systems." Thesis, University of Hull, 2003. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:16059.
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The variations embodied in the production of electronic systems can cause that system to fail to conform to its specification with respect to Critical to Quality features. As a consequence of such failures the system manufacture may incur significant quality costs ranging from simple warranty returns up to legal liabilities. It can be difficult to determine both the probability that a system will fail to meet its specification and estimate the associated cost of failure. This thesis presents the Electronic Conformability Analysis (eCA) technique a novel methodology and supporting tool set for the assessment and control of quality costs associated with electronic systems. The technique addresses the three main elements of production affecting quality costs associated with electronic systems which are functionality, manufacturability and testability. Electronic Conformability Analysis combines statistical performance exploration with process capability indices, a modified form of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and a cost mapping procedure. The technique allows the quality costs associated with design and manufacture induced failures to be assessed and the effectiveness of test strategies in reducing these costs to be determined. Through this analysis of costs the technique allows the potential trade-offs between these costs and those associated with design and process modifications to be explored. In support of the Electronic Conformability Analysis technique a number of new analysis tools have been developed. These tools enable the methodology to cope with the specific difficulties associated with the analysis of electronic systems. The technique has been applied to a number of analogue and mixed signal, safety critical circuits from automotive systems. These case studies have included several different levels of system complexity ranging from relatively simple transistor circuits to highly complex mechatronic systems. These case studies have shown that the technique is effective in a commercial design and manufacturing environment.
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Seawright, Larry L. "Reducing learning object inspection/evaluation costs in instructional design /." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2003. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd232.pdf.
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Dantas, Júnior Cláudio Pereira. "Alternativas de melhorias do processo logístico de máquinas agrícolas." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/25045.
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O acirramento da competição entre as empresas produtoras de tratores agrícolas tem levado ao aumento da exportação de produtos e a consequente necessidade da manutenção dos níveis de qualidade destes produtos. Os custos relativos ao retrabalho em tratores exportados para os mercados externos é um dos problemas enfrentados pelas empresas manufatureiras de máquinas agrícolas. Dentre as principais causas geradoras de retrabalho estão os problemas gerados pelo manuseio destes tratores quando transportados de um país para outro. No caso das máquinas exportadas para o mercado norte-americano este problema se torna ainda mais oneroso, uma vez que os custos de mão-de-obra naquele mercado são bastante elevados. Tendo em vista reduzir a níveis mínimos os custos com retrabalho, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar comparativamente duas propostas para o processo logístico de processamento de tratores nos portos norteamericanos. Desta forma decidiu-se comparar a proposta atual com uma proposta alternativa adotada pela indústria automobilística. Esta proposta envolve a utilização de VPC (vehicle processing center) que são centros de processamento de veículos com preparação completa das unidades para serem entregues às revendas. Desse modo a solução adotada pelo mercado automobilístico foi analisada para efeito de utilização na indústria de tratores através da consideração dos ganhos relativos à eliminação da perda de qualidade quando em comparação ao processo atual. De posse dos resultados desta análise foi concluído que a utilização da solução alternativa gera ganhos de qualidade, os quais foram quantificados em valores monetários.<br>The increasing competition among companies that produce agricultural tractors, has led to the increase in the export of products and the consequent need for maintenance of quality levels for these products Costs due to rework in exported tractors for foreign markets is one of the problems faced by agricultural machinery manufacturers. Problems generated by tractor handling when shipped from one country to another are among the main causes that produce rework. In the case of machines exported to the North American market the problem becomes even more costly, once labor costs are extremely high in that market. In order to reduce the cost of rework to a minimum level, this study had the target of analyzing comparatively two proposals for the logistic process of handling tractors at North American ports. Therefore, it was decided to compare the current proposal to an alternate proposal in use by the automobile industry. This solution involves the use of VPC (Vehicle Processing Center), with a complete preparation of units so as to be delivered to dealers. Therefore the solution adopted by the automobile industry was analyzed so as to be used by the tractor industry, by means of taking in consideration the gains related to the elimination of quality loss when compared to the current process in use. By use of the results it was inferred that the use of the alternative solution generates quality advantages, which were quantified in monetary values.
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Bajpai, Anil Kumar. "Computer simulation of quality costs and benefits : a system dynamics modelling approach." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.278347.
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Tsugawa, Yusuke. "Variation in Quality and Costs of Care Across Physicians and Its Determinants." Thesis, Harvard University, 2016. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33493500.
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This dissertation evaluates one of the key determinants of health care quality and costs – practice patterns of physicians. For decades, rapid health care spending growth and suboptimal quality of care have been fundamental issues of the U.S. health care system. A large body of literature has demonstrated substantial geographic variation in health care utilization without concomitant improvement in patient outcomes in higher spending regions. This literature has spurred debate about whether current levels of health care utilization are indeed socially wasteful – i.e., generate higher spending with no improvement in patient outcomes. While informative, however, this literature has not investigated variation due to individual physician behaviors, despite the central role of physicians as key decision makers in health care. In fact, surprisingly little is known about how individual physicians vary in their care, the determinants of that care, and the implications of that variation for patient outcomes. This dissertation attempts to shed light on these questions by analyzing the productivity of health care spending at the physician level.
Chapter 1 investigates the proportion of service use variation that can be explained by variation in individual physician practice patterns, and examines the impact of that variation on patient outcomes. I analyze data on Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with medical conditions treated by general internists. Using a cross-classified multilevel model, I find that variation in spending across physicians exceeds variation across hospitals (10.9% and 6.2% of overall spending, respectively). As for evaluating the impact of between-physician variation in spending on patient outcomes, I exploit a natural experiment of physicians who specialize in hospital-based care – hospitalist physicians. Hospitalists routinely work in shifts and therefore patients are plausibly quasi-randomized to these physicians within a hospital based on physician work schedule. Among 272,979 hospitalizations treated by 8,489 hospitalists, hospitalists in the highest-spending quartile had lower 30-day patient mortality than hospitalists in the lowest quartile within the same hospital, despite similar patient characteristics (adjusted mortality rate 10.7% vs. 11.2%; adjusted odds ratio 0.94, 95%CI: 0.90 to 0.98, p=0.002). I observe no relationship between physician spending and patients’ readmission rates. Given larger variation in spending across physicians than across hospitals, our findings suggest that policies focused on individual physicians may be as or more effective than those targeted toward hospitals or regions. Moreover, interventions targeted at high-spending physicians to reduce spending, without accounting for their quality of care, may have the unintended consequence of negatively impacting patients’ health.
Chapter 2 begins my evaluation of the upstream determinants of variation in quality of care across physicians with a special focus on physicians’ years in practice. Physicians with longer years in practice may accumulate, or conversely exhibit obsolescence of, knowledge and skills. However, the association between physicians’ years in practice and patient outcomes is poorly understood. Using data on Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older hospitalized during 2011-2013 with a medical condition, I investigate the association between hospitalist physicians’ years since residency completion and patient outcomes, adjusting for patient and physician characteristics and hospital-specific fixed effects. I again rely on quasi-randomization of patients to hospitalists to circumvent the possibility that physicians with greater years in practice may treat patients that are sicker on unobserved dimensions. Of 386,159 hospitalizations treated by 14,650 hospitalists, hospitalists in practice longer had higher patient mortality than hospitalists in practice for fewer years, despite similar patient characteristics. Each additional 10 years in practice was associated with 0.5% increase (95% CI: 0.3% to 0.7%, p<0.001) in patients’ mortality. Significant effects were present for low- and medium-volume physicians, but not high-volume physicians. Readmissions and costs of care were not meaningfully associated with physician years in practice. This study has implications for recent debates in the medical community regarding how best to ensure maintenance of clinical skills over a physician’s career. Our findings suggest that evaluating patient outcomes, particularly among older physicians with low-to-medium patient volume, may be necessary to guarantee that quality care provided by physicians is high throughout their careers.
Chapter 3 assesses another upstream determinant of between-physician variation in quality of care – physician sex. Studies have found differences in practice patterns between male and female physicians, with female physicians more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines and evidence-based practice. However, whether patient outcomes differ between male and female physicians is largely unknown. While physician sex is not a modifiable factor, understanding whether quality of care differs between male and female physicians is critically important, as it allows us to further investigate which aspects of practice patterns that vary between male and female physicians lead to better patient outcomes. Using nationally representative data on Medicare beneficiaries in 2012-2013, I examine the association between physician sex and patient outcomes among general internists. Despite similar observed illness severity of patients, female physicians have lower 30-day patient mortality (adjusted mortality rate 10.9% vs 11.4%; adjusted risk difference -0.5%, 95%CI: -0.7% to -0.4%, p<0.001) and lower 30-day readmissions (adjusted readmission rate 15.1% vs 15.8%; adjusted risk difference -0.7%, 95%CI: -0.8% to -0.5, p<0.001) within same hospital. These findings are unaffected when restricting analyses to hospitalist physicians for whom patients are plausibly randomized. Although the exact mechanism underlying these differences remains unclear, understanding why these differences in care quality exist, and what we might do to alleviate them, is critical to ensuring that all patients get high quality care.<br>Health Policy
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Oseni, Musiliu Olalekan. "Essays on self-generation and payments for quality of service in electricity markets." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2015. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.709118.
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Guevara, Contreras Gremy Yeleny, and Atoche Nery Maritza Angélica Santillán. "Análisis de costos de no calidad en edificaciones multifamiliares masivas caso: Nuevo Alcázar Condominio." Bachelor's thesis, Universidad Ricardo Palma, 2015. http://cybertesis.urp.edu.pe/handle/urp/1265.
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La presente tesis tiene como objetivo ser guía en el análisis e interpretación de las causas de los Costos de No Calidad para los futuros proyectos del sector construcción, tomando como fuente de información el proyecto de viviendas multifamiliares: “Nuevo Alcázar Condominio”, ubicada en el distrito del Rímac en la ciudad de Lima.
La tesis se desarrolló de acuerdo a la información de la Primera Etapa comprendida por los Edificios 17, 18 y 19; las principales fuentes de información fueron los registros de las No Conformidades en el proceso de ejecución de la obra, la data del programa S10 que nos fue de ayuda para obtener los costos reales acumulados, la data del programa PLANOK, del cual se obtuvo el registro de observaciones de los propietarios desde la puesta en servicio del proyecto, el reporte operativo de costos acumulado a Agosto 2015, el registro de adicionales y control de cambios durante la ejecución del proyecto, estas herramientas fueron piezas claves para el análisis de esta investigación.
Para el caso estudiado, se concluyó del objetivo general que los costos de no calidad influyen en el margen de utilidad cuando se realiza un presupuesto sincerado, de los objetivos específicos se concluye que la calidad se debe desarrollar desde el diseño del proyecto y no solo durante la etapa de ejecución, ya que los errores o incompatibilizaciones en los planos generan adicionales de obra y se analizaron que las partidas de control que representaron una mayor ganancia fueron las que obtuvieron mayores observaciones en la puesta en servicio del proyecto.
The objective of this investigation is to be a guide in the analysis and interpretation of the causes of non-quality costs for future projects in the construction sector, using as information the project: “Nuevo Alcázar Condominio", located in the district of Rimac in Lima.
The investigation was developed according to information of the first phase comprised of Buildings 17, 18 and 19; the main sources of information were records of nonconformity in the process of execution of the project, the data of the S10 program that was helpful to us for actual costs accumulated, dates from PLANOK program, which recording observations of the owners was obtained from the commissioning of the project, operating costs accumulated report in August 2015, additional registration and change control during project implementation, these were important tools for the analysis of this research.
For the case study, it was concluded from general object that the costs of not quality affect the profit margin when the budget is exact, the specific objectives that quality is important from the design of the project and not only in the implementation phase, so that the fault on drawings generate additional work and we analyzed the control items accounted for a larger gain were the major observations obtained in the service of the project.
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Rooney, E. M. "The measurement and reduction of quality related costs in the process plant industry." Thesis, Cranfield University, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.380671.
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Seawright, Larry Lynn. "Reducing Learning Object Inspection/Evaluation Costs in Instructional Design." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2003. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/90.
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A widely employed instructional design approach, the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model, has been one of the most popular and well documented instructional design models (Wilson, Jonassen, and Cole, 1993) for decades. Despite its widespread use, Thiagarajan, a leading instructional technologist, asserts that ADDIE, as an instructional design approach, is comparable to an outdated 1950's manufacturing model (Zemke, 2002). Since the 1950's, manufacturing has evolved, focusing initially on reducing inspection or evaluation costs and later on shifting these cost improvements throughout the organization. Just as manufacturing models and their application have evolved, service operations models such as instructional design models and especially their application are evolving. This dissertation reviews these changes in manufacturing models and associated service operations models in order to examine how these changes have informed instructional design models such as ADDIE and their usage in practice by those attempting to design conditions for learning and to create associated learning objects.
In order to better understand how this shift may be applied to both theory and practice in instructional design, this dissertation uses an exploratory case study methodology to examine best practices in the inspection/evaluation process employed during the development of courses. This methodology reflects procedures used in a major study (Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2000). They followed a three-step process, which included a comprehensive literature review, the identification of subjects that "have substantial experience and are providing leadership in distance education." (p.9), and surveying leaders.
In similar fashion, during the first phase of the study reported in this research, quality management and instructional design literature is reviewed. In the second phase, the case study subject, the Center for Instructional Design at a major university is selected. In the third phase, instructional design practices used at the Center were studied and areas for reducing inspection/evaluation costs were identified.
Principles and methods surmised from the literature reviews and the case study research are presented along with application examples from the case study. These principles and methods illustrate how ADDIE has evolved and continues to be a viable model for the creation of instruction.
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Chen, Zhihong. "Two essays on corporate governance and earnings quality /." View abstract or full-text, 2005. http://library.ust.hk/cgi/db/thesis.pl?ACCT%202005%20CHEN.
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Liljegren, Eva. "Contracting out road maintenance. A study on quality, transaction costs and learning organization." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Infrastructure, 2003. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-3666.
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<p>This report studies the effect the opening up of routineroad maintenance in Sweden, traditionally carried out by theSwedish National Road Administration (SNRA). The main aim is tostudy the effect contracting out has had on work quality,transaction costs and the learning organization year 2001. Theresearch is built upon three hypotheses: Hypotheses 1: The SNRAcannot determine if the quality of the work is as contracted.Hypotheses 2: Transaction costs are less than 5% of theproduction costs. Hypotheses 3: The lack of cooperation ofSNRA's regional offices with each other and with the headoffice makes it difficult for SNRA to function as a learningorganization. The main research methods used were interviews, aquestionnaire, and participation in various meetings, such assite meetings and quality audits. Great emphasis has been puton the detailed questionnaire, which was sent to clientrepresentatives. The report includes a description of thebackground, definition and use of three theoretical concepts;quality, transaction costs and learning organization. Theresults show that client representatives at the regional levelcan determine that the SNRA receives the contracted quality,but at the central level it is not possible to determinequality fulfillment due to lack of complete and comparabledata. The study also concludes that it is not possible tocompletely separate transaction costs from the other productioncosts, mainly because man-hours spent per task is not accountedfor at the regional level. The questionnaire results show thatthe largest single transaction costs are those associated withreviewing the contracted work. This study shows that the clientrepresentatives think that the SNRA receives the contractedquality. The client representatives believe that the reviewprocess plays an important role in assuring the quality of theentrepreneurs' work. This study also shows that the client'swork is carried out differently in the different SNRA regionsstudied. This lack of administrative control by a centralauthority has lead to the main offices in the regions becoming"head offices" for the offices at the local level. The freedomallowed each regional office affords its employees theopportunity to develop new methods and organizationalstructures. At the same time substantial differences betweenthe regions and the lack of cooperation between the regionaloffices and the regional offices with the head office makes itdifficult for the SNRA to function as a learningorganization.</p>
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Vuorialho, A. (Arja). "Costs and effectiveness of hearing aid rehabilitation in the elderly." Doctoral thesis, University of Oulu, 2006. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9514282310.
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Hearing aid (HA) rehabilitation was studied in northern Finland. The costs of HA fitting were examined at two hospitals, Kainuu Central Hospital and Oulu University Hospital. The patients were visited and interviewed at their home and use of HAs was charted. The benefit of HAs was evaluated using generic and disease-specific questionnaires. The effect of follow-up counselling of HA users on HA use and on the benefit of HAs was studied.
The proportion of all HA possessors that are regular users has clearly increased during the past twenty years, and the number of non-users, in particular, has decreased significantly. Only 5.3% of first fitted HAs were not in use in 2001.
The costs of HA fitting in 2000 were approximately € 900. There was not much difference in the costs between Kainuu Central Hospital and Oulu University Hospital. The price of a HA accounted for somewhat less than half of the total hospital costs, and the costs of the audiology personnel made up roughly a third of the overall costs.
Emotional problems of HA users were significant before HA fitting, but six months after HA fitting the number of patients who felt handicapped by their hearing problems had decreased significantly. This could be seen in the results of both the social and the emotional items of the disease-specific health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) measure, the short version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE-S). The benefit could not, however, be shown with the generic HRQOL instrument, the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D), which apparently lacks sensitivity for measuring changes brought about by audiological intervention.
Follow-up counselling of HA users can significantly increase HA use and decrease the number of non-users. It can also significantly increase the users' handling skills. The cost of follow-up counselling is approximately € 83 per fitted HA, which is an 8.7% increment to the calculated cost of fitting a HA.
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Plunkett, J. J. "A study of the collection and use of quality-related costs in manufacturing industry." Thesis, University of Manchester, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.235176.
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Amin, Abdinasir Abass. "Range, quality and costs of antimalarial drugs available in the retail sector in Kenya." Thesis, Open University, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.417483.
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Morin, Melinda J. "The Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative : perceived costs and return on investment influencing participation." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59124.
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Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2010.<br>Page 61 blank. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.<br>Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-55).<br>The US health care industry is widely held view that it is failing in its ability to provide, safe, high quality care for its citizens. Escalating financial costs and regional variability in the provision of care have prompted a change in tactics for public health care administered by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) to a "Value-based purchasing" strategy. The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) is a federally funded, voluntary initiative aimed at encouraging community physicians to participate in the growing concept of value-based patient care. The initiative includes a financial incentive for MD's to provide their Medicare practice data to CMS, yet early results have identified little interest. The investment costs associated with PQRI participation and satisfaction with the perceived rewards of the program were explored. Partnering with the American Medical Association (AMA) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) occurred to determine physician attitudes that influenced participation in this initiative and future strategies of value based reimbursement. Utilizing a provider attitude survey, data was obtained on the return on investment for participation, including perceived costs associated with data entry, negative incentives that may be preventing physicians from considering the initiative and attitudes toward quality initiatives and physician payment. This study adds novel information to the literature regarding physician interest in improving quality of care as health care reform increasingly focuses on quality and patient value.<br>Melinda J. Morin.<br>M.B.A.
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Hongoro, Charles. "Costs and quality of services in public hospitals in Zimbabwe : implications for hospital reform." Thesis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London), 2001. http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/1649006/.
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Hospitals come under the focus of health planners and policy makers because they invariably consume large and increasing amounts of health care resources and performance is commonly believed to fall short of that possible. The common response by governments to this situation has been to implement hospital reforms. However, emerging evidence from impact evaluations of such reforms shows little clear evidence of performance enhancement. It is argued in this study that hospital reforms in most countries are implemented without enough understanding of current performance, or knowledge of hospital behaviour. Such information is necessary for effective design, implementation and evaluation of reforms. The aim of the study was to measure hospital performance and contribute to the understanding of its determinants. The role of internal organisation and management to hospital performance has been underplayed in most studies such that the workings of the hospital remain a "black box". The study sought to demonstrate that understanding hospital performance entails understanding not only the technical relationships of dimensions of hospital performance but also the institutional context, and behaviour of individuals or groups within it who ultimately shape hospital behaviour. A multiple case study approach was used to study six tertiary hospitals in Zimbabwe. Hospital performance was first assessed through analysis of utilisation statistics. This was followed by an assessment of two dimensions of hospital performance: costs and quality of inpatient services. Costs were measured using standard cost accounting methods at hospital, ward and patient level. At patient level, a combination of. prospective micro-costing and top-down costing methods was applied to cohorts of patients suffering from selected tracer diseases: 207 malaria and 158 pulmonary tuberculosis cases. The quality of hospital inpatient services was also measured at hospital and patient level using structural and process approaches. The relationship between cost and quality of services was then explored at patient level using tracer conditions. A triangulation of methods was then used to explore internal organisation and management: staff interviews, observations, attendance at hospital meetings and review of administrative records. Analysis of activity statistics showed that the six hospitals had different levels of activity although they had similar roles in the referral hierarchy. Distinctive unit cost patterns were observed across the hospitals. Unit cost variation across hospitals was generally similar at hospital, ward and patient level. The results from the analysis of activity statistics were predictive of hospital cost classifications. The quality of hospital services varied across hospitals from both structural and process perspectives. There was little convergence in results from hospital level structural quality assessment, and process quality assessment. Cost-quality relationships in inpatient care showed a distinct pattern across tracer diseases, which permitted classification of the six hospitals into three performance categories. These classifications were used to relate quantitative and qualitative results of the study. The institutional contexts within which public hospitals in Zimbabwe operate is explored and described. There are fundamental policy design weaknesses related to the way hospitals are financed, governed and managed, which affect hospital performance. Hospital staff appears apathetic about hospital performance because of lack of appropriate incentives. Several hospital internal factors were reported as impinging on hospital performance. These factors can broadly be summarised as lack of management capacity and skills, inappropriate internal organisational and management structures, and staff reward systems. The current incentive structure at individual and institution level does not engender performance improvement. Relative hospital performance did not vary systematically with different institutional characteristics. For instance, compliance or non-compliance with mandated organisation and management structures did not account for performance differences whilst weak associations were found between relative performance, and differences in management capacity and skills. The absence of direct relationships between institutional characteristics and relative performance was not unexpected given the exploratory nature of the study and the possible multiple interrelationships between these factors Nonetheless, the study systematically describes and exposes current weaknesses in the internal structure of public hospitals in Zimbabwe, and identifies those internal organisational and management features considered important to performance. The study concludes that there is considerable scope for improving hospital efficiency and quality of services (with available resources) by changing internal organisation and management of hospitals. Of particular importance is the need to change and align incentives (monetary and nonmonetary) at both individual and institution level in ways that promote performance improvement.
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Zelfel, Anna-Lena, Tobias Quaing, and Lorenz Heller. "The Impact of TQM and Outsourcing on Quality and Costs for OEMs in the Automotive Industry." Thesis, Växjö University, School of Management and Economics, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-2081.
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<p>Background</p><p>The OEMs are facing fundamental changes. The importance of the quality of products in the automotive industry has changed to being exclusively dependent on the demand and sense of the customer. The OEMs have to react quickly on trends to fulfill the customer demands and be technically innovative. These innovations and intensity of their implication lead to a high cost pressure for the OEMs again. Therefore, the OEMs need to work together with their suppliers. Production strategies like TQM or outsourcing are known as the key to success. Although cost and quality management themselves are quite well-investigated in literature, and the use of both TQM and outsourcing are widely implemented in the OEMs’ strategies to improve quality and reduce costs, studies about the combination of TQM and outsourcing and their impact on quality and costs cannot be found. The wide spread opinion of managers is that quality and costs cannot support each other.</p><p>Purpose</p><p>In our Master Thesis we wanted to find out how quality and costs are related to each other to fulfill the given goals. The purpose was to examine the impact of the two common methods, TQM and outsourcing, on costs and quality for the OEMs. We explored how the concepts interact and support costs and quality. Furthermore, the analysis states how these approaches are related within a supply chain and how automobile manufacturers can use both approaches to assure low costs and high quality at the same time.</p><p>Method</p><p>Our Master Thesis is a theoretical study based on a qualitative research method. We used scientific articles and literature for the theory and combined these in the analysis with the data and results from previous case studies as the empiric value. We combined this through the deductive approach. We not only used a positivistic view, but we also used a hermeneutic view due to the fact that analysis and conclusion incorporate both scientific articles and also personal interpretations.</p><p>Results and Conclusion</p><p>We concluded that precisely these two methods, outsourcing and TQM, supplement each other and fit together very well to assure the efficiency of the automobile OEMs with high quality and low costs at the same time. This is due to the fact that outsourcing is often used in companies and reduces the costs of OEMs; and TQM alone leads to quality improvements. Not only do they work well separately in companies, but outsourcing lays ideal foundations for an efficient TQM implementation.</p><p>Suggestions on Continued Research</p><p>We could not find any studies where these two approaches were researched in combination. Thus, one good future research could be to go on with empirical analyses about this theme in the automotive industry, for example by conducting surveys or interviews with OEMs. A case study about the combination of TQM and outsourcing could verify our mostly from the theory concluded results of the interrelation. A further deviation on the research could be that suppliers, instead of OEMs, could be the focus of the study.</p>
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Jönsson, Linus. "Economic evaluation of treatments for Alzheimer's disease /." Stockholm, 2003. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2003/91-7349-724-x.
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Natal, João Carlos. "A utilização dos custos da qualidade como sistema de mensuração dos investimentos em recursos humanos." Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, 2010. https://tede2.pucsp.br/handle/handle/1765.
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Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T18:40:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1
Joao Carlos Natal.pdf: 1388758 bytes, checksum: 09ffd5dc91f43b3110772fe630b9ed5b (MD5)
Previous issue date: 2010-05-12<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>Businesses increasingly need evaluate their performance, seeking the best way to ensure the
survival, growth and deliver results to shareholders, customers and to market. The increases in
revenues and the cost reduction with quality, providing returns to shareholders and keeping
customers, have been a constant search for organizations. The goal of this dissertation is to
develop a system for calculating for measurement results obtained in the Human Resources
business of companies, using of Ordinance 290 of 11/04/1997 as parameter for measuring the
results obtained with the lack of training and knowledge in of routines labor. The three
examples and the three cases developed in this study demonstrate the applicability of the
system of calculation proposed. The values obtained relating to the cost of quality
demonstrates the importance its measurement for the decision making in companies. This
sense, the application of the calculation system has reached the expected goals, measuring
financially the costs of the quality related to the labor routines unfulfilled. At the moment
when the managers become aware the costs of quality found in their companies, could
improve its process of decision-making, earning the benefits arising from an adequate
understanding of the relationships between costs, quality and cost of quality; mainly in
relation to reduction in its labor liabilities<br>As empresas precisam cada vez mais avaliar seu desempenho, buscando a melhor
maneira de garantir a sobrevivência, crescimento e apresentar resultados aos acionistas,
clientes e ao mercado. O aumento das receitas e a redução de custos com qualidade,
proporcionando retorno aos acionistas e mantendo clientes, tem sido uma busca constante
para as organizações. O objetivo desta dissertação é desenvolver um sistema de cálculo para a
mensuração dos resultados dos Custos da Qualidade obtidos na área de Recursos Humanos
das empresas, utilizando a Portaria 290 de 11/04/1997 como parâmetro de mensuração do
resultado obtido com a falta de treinamento e conhecimento das rotinas trabalhistas. O cálculo
dos custos da qualidade dos serviços prestados por tipo de infração possibilita a análise e o
conhecimento do custo financeiro por funcionário e por rotina trabalhista específica não
cumprida. Os três exemplos e os três casos desenvolvidos neste estudo demonstram a
aplicabilidade do sistema de cálculo proposto. Os valores obtidos referentes aos custos da
qualidade demonstram a importância da sua mensuração para a tomada de decisões nas
empresas. Neste sentido, a aplicação do sistema de cálculo atingiu os objetivos esperados,
mensurando financeiramente os custos da qualidade relacionados às rotinas trabalhistas não
cumpridas. No momento em que os gestores tornarem-se conscientes dos custos da qualidade
que ocorrem em suas empresas, poderão melhorar seu processo de tomada de decisões,
auferindo os benefícios que decorrem de um adequado conhecimento das relações entre
custos, qualidade e custos da qualidade, principalmente em relação à redução dos seus
passivos trabalhistas
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Lux, Nicole. "Measurement of compliance costs for US food quality and safety standards for European export businesses." Thesis, University of Reading, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.394149.
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Rimkus, Alfredas. "Kokybės kaštai ir jų mažinimo rezervai įmonėje (AB “Ekranas” pavyzdžiu)." Master's thesis, Lithuanian Academic Libraries Network (LABT), 2005. http://vddb.library.lt/obj/LT-eLABa-0001:E.02~2005~D_20050606_131904-21324.
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The following items are discussed in the scientific work: -quality costs; -continuous improvement, the influence of quality costs accounting and analysis over the continuous improvement; - introduction of quality costs accounting in the company, analysis of quality costs and improvement possibilities on the example of Stock Company “Ekranas”; -the problems related to the quality costs striving for continuous improvement. The aim of the work is to find out the influence of quality costs accounting and analysis methods over the continuous improvement on the example of Stock Company “Ekranas” and to prepare suggestions for the methods of company’s quality costs accounting and analysis. .
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Hu, Xiao Xia Public Health & Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine UNSW. "Improving quality while reducing cost : an innovation journey." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, 2003. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/20464.
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Background: Many innovative ideas have been proposed to manage and improve the quality and cost of clinical care. For many innovations, like Total Quality Management (TQM), the "black box" of implementation process is not well understood. Empirical work on the process of innovation implementation in health care is limited. Objective: This study was designed to explore how one organisation, Intermountain Health Care (IHC), an acute and primary health care provider in the USA, innovates in implementing TQM organisation-wide to improve and manage clinical quality. More broadly, the study aims to identify factors that contribute to innovation implementation in health care for clinical quality improvement, and to generate a model of innovation implementation in health care for clinical quality improvement. Method: This thesis takes a case study approach using multiple research methods. The main methods used comprise interviews with key personnel, assessment of organisational documents and a survey of clinicians' and managers' attitudes and beliefs. Findings: The main finding of the research is that innovation implementation at IHC was a journey, not a destination. Embedded in the journey were five periods and many actions and interactions, grouped into eleven elements. The five periods were: exposing to an innovative idea, embracing the idea, extending knowledge and experience on the idea, emerging of strategies to implement the idea organisation-wide, and enacting and adapting the strategies. The eleven elements were: gestation, shocks, plan, proliferation, fluid participation, setbacks, criteria shift, top executive involvement, relationships and infrastructure building, and adoption. To implement TQM organization-wide, integrated structures and systems were being instituted. The study found that resistance to change came from not only some physicians but also hospital administrators. The study also found that supportive environments played a critical role in the journey. While the TQM implementation at IHC resulted in some cost savings and some behavioural changes including clinical practice change, cultural change at the level of values and beliefs had yet to occur. Conclusion: A process-oriented integrative model of clinical service management is proposed. The elements of an innovation, the temporal change processes, lead to formation and changes of the ongoing organisational processes, which in turn evaluate and improve the important clinical processes. These processes integrate TQM with other quality improvement approaches; also ensure that quality is part of the dialogue between key stakeholders who are responsible for managing and improving clinical quality and costs. These processes also are capable of dealing with dilemmas faced in health care and the constantly created managerial ideas and clinical knowledge. Key Words: Innovation, Clinical Outcomes, Knowledge, Quality and Costs, TQM Management
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Weimer, Rejane. "PERCEPÇÃO SOBRE CUSTOS DA QUALIDADE EM INDÚSTRIAS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO." Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 2011. http://repositorio.ufsm.br/handle/1/8194.
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This study aimed to assess how we are applying the Quality Cost Management in the industries of the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, check whether the company has quality management and costs with their production sectors, to identify whether the company makes the measurement of cost of quality; propose alternatives to reduce and minimize costs, evaluate 1the importance of investing in quality to the competitiveness and survival of the organization. This study aimed to assess how we are applying the Quality Cost Management in the The methodology has grounding in
literature, in the case study and survey research data from participating companies through questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and
frequency distribution simple. With the results collected it was possible to verify that a good part of the industries surveyed have satisfactory results and have several quality certification, among other points, but there are still some things to be improved. Other firms need several adjustments, which will be presented later. Also we will present some suggestions that will serve as tools to assist in the systematization that can be deployed in enterprises, which they deem appropriate.<br>Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar de que forma está sendo aplicada a Gestão de Custos da Qualidade nas indústrias da região central do Rio Grande do Sul,
verificar se a empresa possui Gestão de Custos da Qualidade junto a seus setores de produção; identificar se a empresa faz a mensuração do custo da qualidade; propor alternativas na redução e minimização dos custos; avaliar a importância de
investir em qualidade para a competitividade e sobrevivência da organização. A metodologia utilizada tem embasamento na pesquisa bibliográfica, no estudo de caso e na pesquisa de levantamento de dados junto às empresas participantes, por
meio de questionários. A análise dos dados foi efetuada através de estatística descritiva e distribuição de freqüência simples. Com os resultados levantados, foi possível averiguar que uma boa parte das indústrias pesquisadas possuem
resultados satisfatórios e várias possuem certificação em qualidade, entre outros pontos positivos, mas ainda existem alguns pontos serem melhorados. Outra parte das empresas precisa de várias adequações, as quais serão apresentadas
posteriormente. Também serão apresentadas algumas sugestões que servirão de ferramentas para auxiliar na sistematização que poderá ser implantada nas empresas, as quais acharem convenientes.
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Smith, Delwin. "Treating wastewater in a conventional activated sludge (CAS) system or a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). A comparison of capital and operating costs." Master's thesis, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32399.
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More and more focus is going into the establishment of more sustainable approaches for wastewater treatment (WWT) in South Africa, as well as around the world. Governments are beginning to enforce more economical solutions for WWT, which will have less impact on costs as well as land area requirements. Effective solid-liquid separation in biological wastewater treatment is an important step in the process as it has a major impact on effluent quality. Traditionally this has been achieved using Secondary settling tanks (SSTs) for liquid/solid separation in combination with a biological reactor (for biological degradation of organic matter). SSTs, however, require a large space, which becomes onerous on land requirements. In an immersed membrane bioreactor (iMBR), solid-liquid separation takes place by the wastewater passing through membranes. As the WW flows through, at the same time solids are rejected by the membranes. These membranes are immersed in the bioreactor. iMBR thus eliminates the requirement for SSTs and are becoming more widely used to treat various types of wastewater, due to the decreasing cost of membranes and the resultant reduced plant footprint. MBR is thus becoming an attractive solution to clients due to its sustainable approach. As part of this investigation, 2 types of MBR technology were included, the Kubota FS MBR system and the Zeeweed HF MBR system. As the design of a CAS is sensitive to sludge settleability, various DSVI values were looked at as part of the CAS system. Each system was configured in an MLE and UCT process. In summary, the following systems were included in this investigation: • CAS in an MLE configuration with DSVI of 100,150 and 200 • CAS in a UCT configuration with DSVI of 100,150 and 200 • iMBR using FS membranes in an MLE configuration • iMBR using FS membranes in a UCT configuration • iMBR using HF membranes in an MLE configuration • iMBR using HF membranes in a UCT configuration Each process configuration was designed and sized using the steady state models. Each configuration was then fully costed using actual construction prices from past and current projects. Costing of the MBR systems were done in conjunction with the membrane suppliers who also provided valuable design input. The selection of design MLSS in an MBR and CAS has a significant impact on the reactor and SST size. The MLSS concentration also has an impact on the alpha factor which influences aeration efficiency. As part of this investigation, an optimum MLSS concentration (MLSSopt) cost optimization was done taking into account the effect on reactor size, SST area, membrane area, and aeration CAPEX and OPEX. This resulted in an MLSSopt of 5 500 mg/l and 6 000 mg/l for the CAS MLE and CAS UCT respectively, and 10 000 mg/l for the Zeeweed MBR and Kubota MBR system. The CAS system had the lowest total cost (CAPEX+OPEX) of the 3 systems over a lifespan of 10 years, with the Zeeweed MBR having the 2 nd lowest cost coming in at 61% higher than the CAS system. The Kubota MBR had the highest total cost with a 203% higher cost than the CAS system. In terms of land area requirement, the Kubota MBR required the least amount of land area, followed by the Zeeweed MBR which required 12% more land space. The CAS system required 127-514% more land space at the various DSVI values than the Kubota system. This was due to the additional SST area and a larger reactor requirement.
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Janson, Martin. "Laparoscopic and open surgery for colon cancer : studies on costs and health related quality of life /." Stockholm, 2006. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2006/91-7140-782-0/.
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Zhu, Jia. "The effect of earnings quality on the association between information precision and the cost of equity capital." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2007. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B38791432.
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Zhu, Jia, and 朱佳. "The effect of earnings quality on the association between information precision and the cost of equity capital." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2007. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B38791432.
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Campbell, Robert Jr. "THE BURDEN OF DISEASE AMONG PATIENTS OF THE CAROLINA LUPUS STUDY: HUMANISTIC, CLINICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS." Connect to text online, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=case1145243298.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2006.<br>[School of Medicine] Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Includes bibliographical references. Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.
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Luengo-Fernandez, Ramon. "Resource costs, health outcomes and cost-effectiveness in stroke care : evidence from the Oxford Vascular Study." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2009. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:a5012d51-6794-48a7-bb78-4e5166e8cfdf.
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Introduction: Cerebrovascular events are a major cause of mortality, disability and healthcare resource use. Despite this, there is a lack of reliable information on their costs and outcomes, particularly related to transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) and minor stroke. Such information is vital to inform decisions about local and national service provision, and to provide reliable estimates for use in cost-effectiveness analyses. Aims This thesis estimates the costs and outcomes of stroke and TIA using data from a population-based study undertaken in a population of over 91,000 individuals in Oxfordshire (the Oxford Vascular Study – OXVASC). In addition, the thesis aims to estimate the short-term cost-effectiveness of two secondary stroke prevention programmes evaluated in a study nested within OXVASC. Methods: Using multiple methods of case ascertainment, 1,282 patients were identified as having suffered a stroke or TIA, of which 1,199 (723 stroke and 476 TIA) patients consented to the study. Follow-up of patients took place at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months, with data collected on patients’ disability, medication usage, living arrangements, and quality of life. Healthcare resource use information was derived from hospital and primary care records, and priced using published unit costs. Findings: Stroke patients had higher case-fatality rates than TIA patients (15% vs. 1%; p<0.001), with 5-year life expectancy being one year longer for TIA patients. For stroke and TIA survivors, the risk of disability remained higher, at around 30% at each of the four follow-ups, than at baseline (17%; p<0.001 for all follow-ups). After standardising for age and gender, average quality of life for stroke and TIA patients combined was significantly lower than English population norms (p<0.001 for all follow-ups). However, when quality of life was compared to population norms by event type, quality of life differences between TIA patients and English population norms no longer remained statistically significant. Important predictors of quality of life included event severity, baseline disability and recurrent vascular events. Total costs were considerably higher 1-year after the initial stroke or TIA than for the year preceding it and, except for day cases, increases were observed for all resource-use categories. Five years after the index event, stroke patients incurred costs of £16,923 (95% CI: 15,149 to 18,858) per patient, significantly higher than those incurred by TIA patients, at £13,904 (95% CI: 11,488 to 16,657; p=0.019). In multivariate analyses, event severity was found to be a significant predictor of inpatient care resource use and costs, as were the presence of recurrent vascular events, especially stroke and coronary events. For non-hospitalised patients, results showed that urgent outpatient specialist assessment and treatment reduced the 90-day risk of fatal or disabling stroke (0.4% vs. 5%, p<0.001) compared with less urgent assessment and treatment. In terms of resource usage, patients who were assessed and treated urgently had lower recurrent stroke hospitalisation (2% vs. 8%; p=0.001), and reduced overall number of days in hospital (average reduction of 4 days; p=0.017). These reductions in hospital resource usage generated savings of £643 per patient assessed and treated urgently in an outpatient clinic (p=0.028). Conclusion: Despite the impact of stroke on death, disability and healthcare resource use, there is a lack of reliable information on costs and outcomes, especially for TIA and minor stroke. Through the use of a population-based study, the gold-standard study design when assessing the incidence and outcomes of TIA and stroke, this thesis provides healthcare decision makers and researchers with a wealth of data on the resource use patterns, costs and outcomes of TIA and stroke patients, and their main predictors.
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Urbanová, Lucie. "Systém řízení jakosti společnosti a řízení reklamací." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-221733.
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This master’s thesis deals with system of quality management and its applications in Tyco Electronics EC Trutnov, s. r. o. company. The practical part is focused in management of complaint and implementation of costs of quality monitoring.
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Rees, Gwendolen Jayne. "Two analyses of costs of agricultural NPS pollution: Transactions costs of expanding nutrient trading to agricultural working lands and Impacts of TCs and differential BMP adoption rates on the cost of reducing agricultural NPS pollution in Virginia." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/52939.
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For over 30 years, federal and state governments have been engaged in a collective effort to improve the water quality and living resources in the Chesapeake Bay (CB), focusing particularly on reducing delivered nitrogen and phosphorus loads. However, achievement of water quality objectives remains elusive. In Virginia, agriculture represents the single largest source of nutrient loads to the Chesapeake Bay. Despite aggressive regulatory efforts in other nutrient source sectors, state authorities rely on educational programs and voluntary financial assistance programs to induce landowners to adopt best management practices (BMPs) that reduce agricultural nutrient loads. This study explores two economic aspects of efforts to reduce agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in the Virginia portion of the CB watershed.
Firstly, current and possible future transactions costs associated with specific aspects of agricultural NPS participation in water quality trading (WQT) programs are examined in Chapter 1. A case study approach is used to consider the possible cost consequences of expanding the use of NPS credits from agricultural 'working lands' BMPs in Virginia. Findings indicate that overall transactions costs for nutrient trades involving agricultural NPS in Virginia are currently relatively low, due to the type of activities being credited: simple land conversions. Based on best available evidence, the administrative transactions costs of creating credits on agricultural 'working lands' using management and structural BMPs will be 2 to 5 times more costly on a per project basis than for credits generated from land conversions. Compliance monitoring protocols were found to be a significant driver of costs for credits generated from working agricultural lands. These results suggest an important cost/risk tradeoff between verification cost and compliance certainty for program designers to consider.
The second study (Chapter 2) considers the economic cost of meeting pollution reduction targets for the Virginia portion of the CB Watershed. Existing cost models are based on simplifying behavioral assumptions about public transactions costs, conservation adoption rates, and implementation costs of agricultural BMPs. This study builds on the existing literature and uses the estimates of transactions costs from Chapter 1 together with information on producer BMP adoption rates to examine the implications of including transactions costs and differential BMP costs and adoption rates when estimating the minimum costs of achieving specified nutrient reduction goals in Virginia. The paper uses a cost-minimizing mathematical programming approach and models a number of different cost scenarios. Results indicate that inclusion of transactions costs substantially affects estimates of total costs of meeting nutrient reduction goals; on average total costs increased by 44 percent, but ranged between 19 and 81 percent depending on the scenario analyzed. Analysis of the modelled scenarios shows that those BMPs that account for the most implementation costs do not necessarily account for the most transactions costs (and vice versa). This suggests that transactions costs should be acknowledged to vary with the type of practices being implemented, rather than being approximated as either a fixed amount or a fixed proportion of implementation costs. In addition, the analysis highlights the disproportionate costs associated with achieving nutrient reductions via high-cost adopters, and suggests there may be a role for education or extension to assist landholders to lower opportunity costs of participating in conservation.<br>Master of Science
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Smit, Wiehahn. "Assessing the contribution of quality and efficiency initiatives to reduce productions costs at Distell's Green Park." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/5042.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Manufacturers can gain a competitive advantage through lower production cost, better quality, better efficiencies and being more flexible and dependable than its competitors. Lower production cost can be a result of first-time-right quality products and efficient production processes in terms of throughput. Low production cost is not a destination but a journey where the goalpost will always move as competitors will continuously come up with ideas to lower prices and margins have to be cut in order to stay competitive. This is where manufacturers must come up with
initiatives to continuously drive its operational metrics to remain competitive. This research report will explain how Distell's biggest bottling plant, Green Park, successfully introduced Process Control to increase its quality operational metric and a Six Sigma project to reduce downtime to increase its efficiency operational metric to drive its operational costs down. Process Control was introduced as a TOM initiative with a subsequent reduction in rework due to poor quality (thousands) from R1 585 to R484. This contributed to 'first-time-right' production, better efficiencies and not tying up valuable production time with reworks. The Six Sigma principles were used on a production line to introduce initiatives to reduce changeovers and unplanned downtime to improve its GEE. This initiative has a projected
benefit of R687 (thousands). The report also indicated that a 1% increase in Green Park's overall GEE will result in 1% saving of production hours resulting in a 1% saving of variable cost. This will result in an OEE of 63% that will save 226 hours and R410(thousands).<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vervaardigers kan 'n kompeterende voorsprong verkry deur laer produksiekoste, beter gehalte en groter doeltreffendheid te bewerkstellig en deur meer buigbaar en betroubaar as hul teestanders te wees. Goeie gehalte produkte wat die eerste keer reg is en doeltreffende produksieprosesse vir verwerkingskapasiteit kan laer produksiekoste tot gevolg het. Lae produksiekoste is nie 'n bestemming nie, maar 'n reis waartydens die doelpale sal skuif met teestanders wat deurgaans met idees om pryse te verjaag, vorendag sal kom. Winsgrense sal moet verklein word om kompeterend te bly. Hier moet vervaardigers inisiatief aan die dag lê om hul operasionele meetbares te dryf om kompeterend te bly. Hierdie navorsingsverslag sal verduidelik hoe Distell se grootste botterings aanleg, Green Park, prosesbeheer (Process Control) suksesvol in werking gestel het om sy meetbares wat operasionele gehalte betref, te verhoog, en 'n Six Sigma-projek ingestel het om staantyd te verminder sodat sy meetbares wat operasionele doeltreffendheid betref, kan verhoog en sy operasionele koste sodoende besnoei word. Prosesbeheer is as algehele gehaltebestuursinisiatief ingestel met 'n gevolglike vermindering van herverwerking weens swak gehalte (duisende) van R1 585 na R484. Dit het bygedra tot groter doeltreffendheid met produksie wat uit die staanspoor reg is, en verhoed dat kosbare produksietyd op herverwerking gespandeer word. Die Six Sigma-beginsels is in 'n produksielyn gebruik om inisiatiewe in werking te stel om
oorskakelings en onbeplande staantyd ter verbetering van die algehele
toerustingsdoeltreffendheid (OEE), te verminder. Hierdie inisiatief hou 'n geprojekteerde voordeel van R687 (duisende) in. Die verslag dui verder aan dat 'n 1%-verhoging in Green Park se algehele OEE sal lei tot 'n 1% besparing in produksie-ure, wat 'n 1% besparing op veranderlike koste tot gevolg het. Dit sal tot 'n OEE van 63% lei, wat 226 uur en R410
(duisende) sal spaar.
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Bechel, Diane Lynn. "The effect of patient-centered care on hospital inpatient cost and quality outcomes the experience in southeast Michigan." Ann Arbor, Mich. : University of Michigan, 1998. http://books.google.com/books?id=bhUvAAAAMAAJ.
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Fernando, Guy D. "The impact of audit quality on cash incentive compensation and cost of capital." Related electronic resource: Current Research at SU : database of SU dissertations, recent titles available, full text:, 2007. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/syr/main.
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Tchatchoua, Jean Calvin. "Strategies for Improving Healthcare Efficiency While Reducing Costs." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5136.
Full textAbstract:
In comparison to the European healthcare system, the U.S. healthcare system has lower quality care, higher costs, and covers a smaller percentage of the population. Despite the high costs, the U.S. healthcare system remains dysfunctional. The purpose of this exploratory single case study was to identify the strategies that some healthcare managers in a hospital setting in the midwestern region of the United States use to improve efficiency while decreasing healthcare costs. Complex adaptive systems theory was used to frame this study that included face-to-face interviews with 6 highly experienced healthcare managers. Data were collected from audio recorded interviews and publicly available documents, and the audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using deductive and open coding techniques to identify themes regarding strategies used by managers to find effective ways for improvement. Three strategies emerged as themes, including improving the accuracy of information and reports, implementing precise and accurate information, and improving quality. The findings of this study may directly benefit healthcare managers and compel positive social change by facilitating successful strategies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The successful strategies identified in the study might provide a new direction to healthcare managers attempting to adopt new methods. The findings may also contribute to social change by providing solutions that may improve overall organizational performance in a hospital setting.
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Hlavsová, Kateřina. "Návrh systému identifikace a měření nákladů na jakost ve firmě." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2020. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-416852.
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The diploma thesis deals with the problematics of identification and measurement of quality costs in Adient Czech Republic k. s. company. The theoretical knowledge needed to understand the problematics are defined in the theoretical part. These theoretical findings are applied into environment of a chosen company and evaluated in the practical part. The recommendations which will reduce costs in the area of product quality and contribute to greater efficiency of company quality management are suggested in the conclusion of the thesis.
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Olayinka, Raymond Afolarin. "A knowledge management framework for reducing the cost of poor quality on construction projects." Thesis, University of Wolverhampton, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2436/619040.
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Knowledge management (KM) implementation strategies on construction projects can reap benefits such as improved performance and continuous improvement yet many projects are characterised by inefficiencies, repetition of mistakes and lack of lessons learnt. Poor skills, design changes, errors and omissions contribute to the internal failure cost element of the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) while the resultant effect of client dissatisfaction contributes to the external failure cost. COPQ is prevalent regardless of project type and has been found to be over 10% of total project cost in certain cases. While the need to reduce COPQ is definite, it is uncertain what impact KM has in its reduction. The aims of the research therefore are twofold (i) to investigate the impact of KM in reducing COPQ on construction projects (ii) to develop a KM framework for reducing COPQ on construction projects. A mixed method approach was adopted for the research with an exploratory sequential research design utilising both qualitative and quantitative inquiries to address the research aims. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaire survey were selected as the method for qualitative and quantitative data collection respectively. The interviews were conducted with 25 industry experts involved in KM strategies for large construction organisations across UK to obtain data, based on their experiences and expertise on projects, which were then analysed using content analysis. The output from the analysis yielded variables and working hypotheses which were tested through the questionnaire survey. Further data were obtained from 114 survey respondents who have iii been mostly involved in KM initiatives for large construction organisations across UK. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. From the interpretation of the entire qualitative and quantitative data, it was found that KM can be complex and difficult to manage within organisations and on projects. Although KM was perceived to have positive impact in reducing COPQ, organisations did not, and could not quantify COPQ neither could they measure the extent of the impact of KM on COPQ. Causal links were found between COPQ elements i.e. errors and omissions, design changes and poor skills, contrary to the theoretical suggestion of being mutually exclusive. It was found that KM currently has not been optimised to reduce COPQ due to a number of barriers. Optimising KM to reduce COPQ therefore involves overcoming the barriers as follows: develop performance metrics to assess the impact of KM on COPQ on projects; appoint knowledge champions to facilitate KM activities to reduce COPQ; adopt a positive organisational culture towards KM; allocate adequate time and budget for KM activities on projects; select procurement strategies that support and facilitate KM. A KM framework for reducing COPQ on construction projects was developed as an output of the research and evaluated by industry practitioners. It can be concluded that the optimisation of KM can significantly reduce COPQ. A key recommendation for industry practitioners therefore is to adopt a holistic approach to quantifying COPQ and assessing the impact of KM in reducing COPQ such as the one presented in this research. The research contributes to the body of knowledge in the area of cost reduction, quality improvements and knowledge management on projects.
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Negroni, Daniella Yada. "Método para melhoria da qualidade durante o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos - Design for Quality Costs (DFQC)." Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, 2012. http://www.bd.bibl.ita.br/tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=2254.
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A busca das empresas por maior competitividade no mercado promove o desafio de desenvolver produtos de melhor qualidade, menor custo e que estejam disponíveis cada vez mais rápidos no mercado. Porém, dependendo da complexidade dos produtos e das tecnologias envolvidas, torna-se muito difícil assegurar, simultaneamente, a qualidade do produto e reduções no ciclo de desenvolvimento tomando decisões durante o desenvolvimento que afetam diretamente os custos do produto. Esta tese tem como objetivo apresentar um método elaborado para melhorar a qualidade do produto durante a fase de desenvolvimento gerando uma redução nos custos de falhas no produto. O método é baseado nos conceitos de Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) e Custos da Qualidade, os quais fundamentam o conceito chave do método: Design for Quality Costs (DFQC). O método proposto foi aplicado em um componente de uma aeronave em desenvolvimento, o estabilizador horizontal, que possui a função de estabilizar horizontalmente (eixo x) a aeronave em vôo. A aplicação do método em uma característica selecionada gerou a avaliação de um novo processo de furação automatizado, ainda durante o seu desenvolvimento, que reduziu as falhas na manufatura deste produto. Com isso, o método proposto priorizou as características do produto que causam maior impacto nos custos de falhas e possibilitou a avaliação de ações de melhoria no produto e processo, auxiliando na tomada de decisões durante o Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos (PDP).