Tesis sobre el tema "Industrial performances"

It is not unknown that the evolution of firm theories has been developed along a path paved by an increasing awareness of the organizational structure importance. From the early “neoclassical” conceptualizations that intended the firm as a rational actor whose aim is to produce that amount of output, given the inputs at its disposal and in accordance to technological or environmental constraints, which maximizes the revenue (see Boulding, 1942 for a past mid century state of the art discussion) to the knowledge based theory of the firm (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995; Nonaka & Toyama, 2005), which recognizes in the firm a knnowledge creating entity, with specific organizational capabilities (Teece, 1996; Teece & Pisano, 1998) that allow to sustaine competitive advantages. Tracing back a map of the theory of the firm evolution, taking into account the several perspectives adopted in the history of thought, would take the length of many books. Because of that a more fruitful strategy is circumscribing the focus of the description of the literature evolution to one flow connected to a crucial question about the nature of firm’s behaviour and about the determinants of competitive advantages. In so doing I adopt a perspective that allows me to consider the organizational structure of the firm as an element according to which the different theories can be discriminated. The approach adopted starts by considering the drawbacks of the standard neoclassical theory of the firm. Discussing the most influential theoretical approaches I end up with a close examination of the knowledge based perspective of the firm. Within this perspective the firm is considered as a knowledge creating entity that produce and mange knowledge (Nonaka, Toyama, & Nagata, 2000; Nonaka & Toyama, 2005). In a knowledge intensive organization, knowledge is clearly embedded for the most part in the human capital of the individuals that compose such an organization. In a knowledge based organization, the management, in order to cope with knowledge intensive productions, ought to develop and accumulate capabilities that shape the organizational forms in a way that relies on “cross-functional processes, extensive delayering and empowerment” (Foss 2005, p.12). This mechanism contributes to determine the absorptive capacity of the firm towards specific technologies and, in so doing, it also shape the technological trajectories along which the firm moves. After having recognized the growing importance of the firm’s organizational structure in the theoretical literature concerning the firm theory, the subsequent point of the analysis is that of providing an overview of the changes that have been occurred at micro level to the firm’s organization of production. The economic actors have to deal with challenges posed by processes of internationalisation and globalization, increased and increasing competitive pressure of less developed countries on low value added production activities, changes in technologies and increased environmental turbulence and volatility. As a consequence, it has been widely recognized that the main organizational models of production that fitted well in the 20th century are now partially inadequate and processes aiming to reorganize production activities have been widespread across several economies in recent years. Recently, the emergence of a “new” form of production organization has been proposed both by scholars, practitioners and institutions: the most prominent characteristic of such a model is its recognition of the importance of employees commitment and involvement. As a consequence it is characterized by a strong accent on the human resource management and on those practices that aim to widen the autonomy and responsibility of the workers as well as increasing their commitment to the organization (Osterman, 1994; 2000; Lynch, 2007). This “model” of production organization is by many defined as High Performance Work System (HPWS). Despite the increasing diffusion of workplace practices that may be inscribed within the concept of HPWS in western countries’ companies, it is an hazard, to some extent, to speak about the emergence of a “new organizational paradigm”. The discussion about organizational changes and the diffusion of HPWP the focus cannot abstract from a discussion about the industrial relations systems, with a particular accent on the employment relationships, because of their relevance, in the same way as production organization, in determining two major outcomes of the firm: innovation and economic performances. The argument is treated starting from the issue of the Social Dialogue at macro level, both in an European perspective and Italian perspective. The model of interaction between the social parties has repercussions, at micro level, on the employment relationships, that is to say on the relations between union delegates and management or workers and management. Finding economic and social policies capable of sustaining growth and employment within a knowledge based scenario is likely to constitute the major challenge for the next generation of social pacts, which are the main social dialogue outcomes. As Acocella and Leoni (2007) put forward the social pacts may constitute an instrument to trade wage moderation for high intensity in ICT, organizational and human capital investments. Empirical evidence, especially focused on the micro level, about the positive relation between economic growth and new organizational designs coupled with ICT adoption and non adversarial industrial relations is growing. Partnership among social parties may become an instrument to enhance firm competitiveness. The outcome of the discussion is the integration of organizational changes and industrial relations elements within a unified framework: the HPWS. Such a choice may help in disentangling the potential existence of complementarities between these two aspects of the firm internal structure on economic and innovative performance. With the third chapter starts the more original part of the thesis. The data utilized in order to disentangle the relations between HPWS practices, innovation and economic performance refer to the manufacturing firms of the Reggio Emilia province with more than 50 employees. The data have been collected through face to face interviews both to management (199 respondents) and to union representatives (181 respondents). Coupled with the cross section datasets a further data source is constituted by longitudinal balance sheets (1994-2004). Collecting reliable data that in turn provide reliable results needs always a great effort to which are connected uncertain results. Data at micro level are often subjected to a trade off: the wider is the geographical context to which the population surveyed belong the lesser is the amount of information usually collected (low level of resolution); the narrower is the focus on specific geographical context, the higher is the amount of information usually collected (high level of resolution). For the Italian case the evidence about the diffusion of HPWP and their effects on firm performances is still scanty and usually limited to local level studies (Cristini, et al., 2003). The thesis is also devoted to the deepening of an argument of particular interest: the existence of complementarities between the HPWS practices. It has been widely shown by empirical evidence that when HPWP are adopted in bundles they are more likely to impact on firm’s performances than when adopted in isolation (Ichniowski, Prennushi, Shaw, 1997). Is it true also for the local production system of Reggio Emilia? The empirical analysis has the precise aim of providing evidence on the relations between the HPWS dimensions and the innovative and economic performances of the firm. As far as the first line of analysis is concerned it must to be stressed the fundamental role that innovation plays in the economy (Geroski & Machin, 1993; Stoneman & Kwoon 1994, 1996; OECD, 2005; EC, 2002). On this point the evidence goes from the traditional innovations, usually approximated by R&D investment expenditure or number of patents, to the introduction and adoption of ICT, in the recent years (Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 2000). If innovation is important then it is critical to analyse its determinants. In this work it is hypothesised that organizational changes and firm level industrial relations/employment relations aspects that can be put under the heading of HPWS, influence the propensity to innovate in product, process and quality of the firm. The general argument may goes as follow: changes in production management and work organization reconfigure the absorptive capacity of the firm towards specific technologies and, in so doing, they shape the technological trajectories along which the firm moves; cooperative industrial relations may lead to smother adoption of innovations, because not contrasted by unions. From the first empirical chapter emerges that the different types of innovations seem to respond in different ways to the HPWS variables. The underlying processes of product, process and quality innovations are likely to answer to different firm’s strategies and needs. Nevertheless, it is possible to extract some general results in terms of the most influencing HPWS factors on innovative performance. The main three aspects are training coverage, employees involvement and the diffusion of bonuses. These variables show persistent and significant relations with all the three innovation types. The same do the components having such variables at their inside. In sum the aspects of the HPWS influence the propensity to innovate of the firm. At the same time, emerges a quite neat (although not always strong) evidence of complementarities presence between HPWS practices. In terns of the complementarity issue it can be said that some specific complementarities exist. Training activities, when adopted and managed in bundles, are related to the propensity to innovate. Having a sound skill base may be an element that enhances the firm’s capacity to innovate. It may enhance both the capacity to absorbe exogenous innovation and the capacity to endogenously develop innovations. The presence and diffusion of bonuses and the employees involvement also spur innovative propensity. The former because of their incentive nature and the latter because direct workers participation may increase workers commitment to the organizationa and thus their willingness to support and suggest inovations. The other line of analysis provides results on the relation between HPWS and economic performances of the firm. There have been a bulk of international empirical studies on the relation between organizational changes and economic performance (Black & Lynch 2001; Zwick 2004; Janod & Saint-Martin 2004; Huselid 1995; Huselid & Becker 1996; Cappelli & Neumark 2001), while the works aiming to capture the relations between economic performance and unions or industrial relations aspects are quite scant (Addison & Belfield, 2001; Pencavel, 2003; Machin & Stewart, 1990; Addison, 2005). In the empirical analysis the integration of the two main areas of the HPWS represent a scarcely exploited approach in the panorama of both national and international empirical studies. As remarked by Addison “although most analysis of workers representation and employee involvement/high performance work practices have been conducted in isolation – while sometimes including the other as controls – research is beginning to consider their interactions” (Addison, 2005, p.407). The analysis conducted exploiting temporal lags between dependent and covariates, possibility given by the merger of cross section and panel data, provides evidence in favour of the existence of HPWS practices impact on firm’s economic performance, differently measured. Although it does not seem to emerge robust evidence on the existence of complementarities among HPWS aspects on performances there is evidence of a general positive influence of the single practices. The results are quite sensible to the time lags, inducing to hypothesize that time varying heterogeneity is an important factor in determining the impact of organizational changes on economic performance. The implications of the analysis can be of help both to management and local level policy makers. Although the results are not simply extendible to other local production systems it may be argued that for contexts similar to the Reggio Emilia province, characterized by the presence of small and medium enterprises organized in districts and by a deep rooted unionism, with strong supporting institutions, the results and the implications here obtained can also fit well. However, a hope for future researches on the subject treated in the present work is that of collecting good quality information over wider geographical areas, possibly at national level, and repeated in time. Only in this way it is possible to solve the Gordian knot about the linkages between innovation, performance, high performance work practices and industrial relations.

It is not unknown that the evolution of firm theories has been developed along a path paved by an increasing awareness of the organizational structure importance. From the early “neoclassical” conceptualizations that intended the firm as a rational actor whose aim is to produce that amount of output, given the inputs at its disposal and in accordance to technological or environmental constraints, which maximizes the revenue (see Boulding, 1942 for a past mid century state of the art discussion) to the knowledge based theory of the firm (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995; Nonaka & Toyama, 2005), which recognizes in the firm a knnowledge creating entity, with specific organizational capabilities (Teece, 1996; Teece & Pisano, 1998) that allow to sustaine competitive advantages. Tracing back a map of the theory of the firm evolution, taking into account the several perspectives adopted in the history of thought, would take the length of many books. Because of that a more fruitful strategy is circumscribing the focus of the description of the literature evolution to one flow connected to a crucial question about the nature of firm’s behaviour and about the determinants of competitive advantages. In so doing I adopt a perspective that allows me to consider the organizational structure of the firm as an element according to which the different theories can be discriminated. The approach adopted starts by considering the drawbacks of the standard neoclassical theory of the firm. Discussing the most influential theoretical approaches I end up with a close examination of the knowledge based perspective of the firm. Within this perspective the firm is considered as a knowledge creating entity that produce and mange knowledge (Nonaka, Toyama, & Nagata, 2000; Nonaka & Toyama, 2005). In a knowledge intensive organization, knowledge is clearly embedded for the most part in the human capital of the individuals that compose such an organization. In a knowledge based organization, the management, in order to cope with knowledge intensive productions, ought to develop and accumulate capabilities that shape the organizational forms in a way that relies on “cross-functional processes, extensive delayering and empowerment” (Foss 2005, p.12). This mechanism contributes to determine the absorptive capacity of the firm towards specific technologies and, in so doing, it also shape the technological trajectories along which the firm moves. After having recognized the growing importance of the firm’s organizational structure in the theoretical literature concerning the firm theory, the subsequent point of the analysis is that of providing an overview of the changes that have been occurred at micro level to the firm’s organization of production. The economic actors have to deal with challenges posed by processes of internationalisation and globalization, increased and increasing competitive pressure of less developed countries on low value added production activities, changes in technologies and increased environmental turbulence and volatility. As a consequence, it has been widely recognized that the main organizational models of production that fitted well in the 20th century are now partially inadequate and processes aiming to reorganize production activities have been widespread across several economies in recent years. Recently, the emergence of a “new” form of production organization has been proposed both by scholars, practitioners and institutions: the most prominent characteristic of such a model is its recognition of the importance of employees commitment and involvement. As a consequence it is characterized by a strong accent on the human resource management and on those practices that aim to widen the autonomy and responsibility of the workers as well as increasing their commitment to the organization (Osterman, 1994; 2000; Lynch, 2007). This “model” of production organization is by many defined as High Performance Work System (HPWS). Despite the increasing diffusion of workplace practices that may be inscribed within the concept of HPWS in western countries’ companies, it is an hazard, to some extent, to speak about the emergence of a “new organizational paradigm”. The discussion about organizational changes and the diffusion of HPWP the focus cannot abstract from a discussion about the industrial relations systems, with a particular accent on the employment relationships, because of their relevance, in the same way as production organization, in determining two major outcomes of the firm: innovation and economic performances. The argument is treated starting from the issue of the Social Dialogue at macro level, both in an European perspective and Italian perspective. The model of interaction between the social parties has repercussions, at micro level, on the employment relationships, that is to say on the relations between union delegates and management or workers and management. Finding economic and social policies capable of sustaining growth and employment within a knowledge based scenario is likely to constitute the major challenge for the next generation of social pacts, which are the main social dialogue outcomes. As Acocella and Leoni (2007) put forward the social pacts may constitute an instrument to trade wage moderation for high intensity in ICT, organizational and human capital investments. Empirical evidence, especially focused on the micro level, about the positive relation between economic growth and new organizational designs coupled with ICT adoption and non adversarial industrial relations is growing. Partnership among social parties may become an instrument to enhance firm competitiveness. The outcome of the discussion is the integration of organizational changes and industrial relations elements within a unified framework: the HPWS. Such a choice may help in disentangling the potential existence of complementarities between these two aspects of the firm internal structure on economic and innovative performance. With the third chapter starts the more original part of the thesis. The data utilized in order to disentangle the relations between HPWS practices, innovation and economic performance refer to the manufacturing firms of the Reggio Emilia province with more than 50 employees. The data have been collected through face to face interviews both to management (199 respondents) and to union representatives (181 respondents). Coupled with the cross section datasets a further data source is constituted by longitudinal balance sheets (1994-2004). Collecting reliable data that in turn provide reliable results needs always a great effort to which are connected uncertain results. Data at micro level are often subjected to a trade off: the wider is the geographical context to which the population surveyed belong the lesser is the amount of information usually collected (low level of resolution); the narrower is the focus on specific geographical context, the higher is the amount of information usually collected (high level of resolution). For the Italian case the evidence about the diffusion of HPWP and their effects on firm performances is still scanty and usually limited to local level studies (Cristini, et al., 2003). The thesis is also devoted to the deepening of an argument of particular interest: the existence of complementarities between the HPWS practices. It has been widely shown by empirical evidence that when HPWP are adopted in bundles they are more likely to impact on firm’s performances than when adopted in isolation (Ichniowski, Prennushi, Shaw, 1997). Is it true also for the local production system of Reggio Emilia? The empirical analysis has the precise aim of providing evidence on the relations between the HPWS dimensions and the innovative and economic performances of the firm. As far as the first line of analysis is concerned it must to be stressed the fundamental role that innovation plays in the economy (Geroski & Machin, 1993; Stoneman & Kwoon 1994, 1996; OECD, 2005; EC, 2002). On this point the evidence goes from the traditional innovations, usually approximated by R&D investment expenditure or number of patents, to the introduction and adoption of ICT, in the recent years (Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 2000). If innovation is important then it is critical to analyse its determinants. In this work it is hypothesised that organizational changes and firm level industrial relations/employment relations aspects that can be put under the heading of HPWS, influence the propensity to innovate in product, process and quality of the firm. The general argument may goes as follow: changes in production management and work organization reconfigure the absorptive capacity of the firm towards specific technologies and, in so doing, they shape the technological trajectories along which the firm moves; cooperative industrial relations may lead to smother adoption of innovations, because not contrasted by unions. From the first empirical chapter emerges that the different types of innovations seem to respond in different ways to the HPWS variables. The underlying processes of product, process and quality innovations are likely to answer to different firm’s strategies and needs. Nevertheless, it is possible to extract some general results in terms of the most influencing HPWS factors on innovative performance. The main three aspects are training coverage, employees involvement and the diffusion of bonuses. These variables show persistent and significant relations with all the three innovation types. The same do the components having such variables at their inside. In sum the aspects of the HPWS influence the propensity to innovate of the firm. At the same time, emerges a quite neat (although not always strong) evidence of complementarities presence between HPWS practices. In terns of the complementarity issue it can be said that some specific complementarities exist. Training activities, when adopted and managed in bundles, are related to the propensity to innovate. Having a sound skill base may be an element that enhances the firm’s capacity to innovate. It may enhance both the capacity to absorbe exogenous innovation and the capacity to endogenously develop innovations. The presence and diffusion of bonuses and the employees involvement also spur innovative propensity. The former because of their incentive nature and the latter because direct workers participation may increase workers commitment to the organizationa and thus their willingness to support and suggest inovations. The other line of analysis provides results on the relation between HPWS and economic performances of the firm. There have been a bulk of international empirical studies on the relation between organizational changes and economic performance (Black & Lynch 2001; Zwick 2004; Janod & Saint-Martin 2004; Huselid 1995; Huselid & Becker 1996; Cappelli & Neumark 2001), while the works aiming to capture the relations between economic performance and unions or industrial relations aspects are quite scant (Addison & Belfield, 2001; Pencavel, 2003; Machin & Stewart, 1990; Addison, 2005). In the empirical analysis the integration of the two main areas of the HPWS represent a scarcely exploited approach in the panorama of both national and international empirical studies. As remarked by Addison “although most analysis of workers representation and employee involvement/high performance work practices have been conducted in isolation – while sometimes including the other as controls – research is beginning to consider their interactions” (Addison, 2005, p.407). The analysis conducted exploiting temporal lags between dependent and covariates, possibility given by the merger of cross section and panel data, provides evidence in favour of the existence of HPWS practices impact on firm’s economic performance, differently measured. Although it does not seem to emerge robust evidence on the existence of complementarities among HPWS aspects on performances there is evidence of a general positive influence of the single practices. The results are quite sensible to the time lags, inducing to hypothesize that time varying heterogeneity is an important factor in determining the impact of organizational changes on economic performance. The implications of the analysis can be of help both to management and local level policy makers. Although the results are not simply extendible to other local production systems it may be argued that for contexts similar to the Reggio Emilia province, characterized by the presence of small and medium enterprises organized in districts and by a deep rooted unionism, with strong supporting institutions, the results and the implications here obtained can also fit well. However, a hope for future researches on the subject treated in the present work is that of collecting good quality information over wider geographical areas, possibly at national level, and repeated in time. Only in this way it is possible to solve the Gordian knot about the linkages between innovation, performance, high performance work practices and industrial relations.

Future industrial gas turbines will be required to operate at higher temperatures to increase operating efficiencies and will be subjected to more frequent thermal cycles. The temperatures that the substrates of components exposed in the harshest environments experience can be reduced using air-cooling systems coupled with ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs); however, few studies have been carried out at the substrate temperatures encountered in industrial gas turbines (e.g. 900 – 1000 °C). Better understanding of their behaviour during service and, their various potential failure mechanisms, would allow more accurate prediction of TBC lifetimes and improve coatings. The aim of this research, as a part of the Supergen Plant Life Extension (PLE) project, was (a) to investigate the influence of industrial gas turbine blade geometry on TBC system lifetimes, and (b) to extend knowledge on the effect of bond coat composition on the oxide growth at temperatures below 1000 °C. The main results of this thesis, obtained using mass change and characterisation techniques, increase the understanding of the significant interactions between the different coating layers, samples’ geometry, interdiffusion and failure mechanisms involved during oxidation. Curvature was found to affect the quality of manufacture and thus promoted premature failure at the convex features of modified aerofoil-shaped samples. In parallel new bond coat compositions, suitable for industrial gas turbines were suggested from the wide range investigated in oxidation exposures. The selective growth of protective Cr2O3 or Al2O3 oxides or other mixed oxides was observed and mapped in ternary diagrams. Furthermore two novel techniques were successfully used during this project. Pulsed flash thermography proved to be efficient in identifying areas of sub-surface TBC delamination non-destructively. Magnetron co-sputtering using 2 and 3 targets was found to be a flexible method to deposit thick coatings with a wide range of compositions.

Organizational agility has received much attention from practitioners and researchers in Information Systems. Existing research on agility, however, often conceptualizes information systems in a traditional way, while not reflecting sufficiently on how, as a consequence of digitalization, they are turning into open systems defined by characteristics like modularity and generativity. The concept of digital infrastructures captures this shift and stresses the evolving, socio-technical nature of such systems. This thesis sees IT in large companies as digital infrastructures and organizational agility as a performance within them. In order to explain how such infrastructures can support performances of agility, a focus on the interactions between IT, information and the people using and designing them is proposed. A case study was conducted within Telco, a large telecommunications firm in the United Kingdom. It presents three projects employees regarded as agile. A critical realist ontology is applied in order to identify generative mechanisms for agility. The thesis develops a theory of agility as a performance within digital infrastructures. This contains the central generative mechanism of agilization – making an organization more agile by cultivating digital infrastructures and minding flows of information to attain an appropriate level of agility. This is supported by the related mechanisms of informatization and infrastructuralization. Moreover, the concept of bounded agility illustrates how people in large organizations do not strive for agility unreservedly, instead aiming for agility in well-defined areas that does not put the business at risk. This theory of agility and the concept of bounded agility constitute the main theoretical contributions of this thesis. It also contributes clear definitions of the terms ‘information’ and ‘data’ and aligns them to the ontology of critical realism. Finally, the proposed mechanisms contribute to an emerging middle range theory of organizational agility that will be useful for practitioners.

L’industrie sidérurgique est l’un des secteurs les plus énergivores contribuant à la consommation mondiale d’énergie et de ressources ainsi qu’aux émissions de dioxyde de carbone. Des efforts ont été réalisés pour augmenter l’efficacité des procédés en interne mais le potentiel d’amélioration est de plus en plus limité. Ce travail de recherche porte donc sur la symbiose industrielle comme solution pour faire face aux enjeux environnementaux sur un territoire industriel et pour laquelle les usines sidérurgiques ont un rôle majeur à jouer. Une nouvelle méthodologie et un nouvel outil évaluant dans le temps les impacts économiques et environnementaux de scénarios de symbiose industrielle sur ces sites ont été développés. Basés sur la dynamique des systèmes, ils visent à favoriser l’emploi des symbioses industrielles dans ce contexte industriel en proposant une approche systématique pour évaluer leurs performances.La méthode développée est décrite après l’étude de ses fondements théoriques. Elle est ensuite appliquée à une usine sidérurgique intégrée typique. Un modèle dynamique est ainsi construit et validé sur une période de simulation de deux ans afin de simuler tout scénario de symbiose industrielle impliquant des flux d'énergie et de matières relatifs aux activités sidérurgiques. Un cas concret d'application de symbiose industrielle dans des conditions opérationnelles réelles est enfin proposé et simulé. Il montre la valeur ajoutée de ce travail de recherche qui vient en support des processus de prise de décisions en matière de symbiose industrielle dans le contexte de l’industrie sidérurgique
Iron and steel industry is known as one of the most energy-intensive sectors which contribute to worldwide energy and resource consumptions as well as carbon dioxide emissions. Many efforts have been made to increase the efficiency of internal processes but the potential of improvement tends to be more and more limited. This research work is thus focused on industrial symbiosis as a mean to face these environmental stakes on a common industrial territory and for which iron and steel plants have a major role to play. A new methodology and a new tool aiming at evaluating over time economic and environmental impacts of industrial symbiosis scenarios on this kind of industrial sites have been therefore developed. Based on the system dynamics concepts, they further yearn to enhance the deployment of industrial symbioses in the context of iron and steel industry by providing a systematic approach for assessing their performances.The developed method is described after investigating its theoretical foundations. It is then applied to a typically integrated iron and steel plant. A dynamic model is thus built and validated over a two year simulation period enabling to run industrial symbiosis scenarios involving energy and material flows implied throughout iron and steel production activities. An application case of a concrete industrial symbiosis in real operational conditions is finally proposed and simulated. It allows showing the significant added value of this research work in the support of decisions-making processes towards industrial symbiosis in the framework of iron and steel industry

The aim of the study was to consider whether opera performances could exert an influence such that audiences travel and stay away from home overnight in order to experience those performances. In particular, it was to be considered whether such visits were undertaken as a holiday and whether opera was the sole or most important reason for that holiday. Additionally, an opera-producing organisation (Buxton Arts Festival) was to be studied in order to assess its recognition of the tourism connection and any influence of that upon the organisation. It was concluded, from an examination and synthesis of existing work, that there were grounds for believing that some of those in an opera audience could be tourists and holiday tourists for whom opera dominated as the reason for the tourist visit. A consideration of Buxton, the geographical location of the opera performances, confirmed its partial function as a tourist resort. Concern about the present and future nature of that function was identified. The Festival company was studied through a combination of observation, examination of internal papers and discussions. It was concluded that the company had acknowledged a need for and/or a desire to attract audiences from a widespread area. This tourism dimension did not dominate policy nor influence the product. Audiences at Festival operas were surveyed directly and by post. The surveys showed that there were tourists in the audiences and also those who classified their tourist visit as a holiday. For both holiday and non-holiday tourists itwas concluded that the operas had been the most important factors influencing the decision to visit. Despite some differences between holiday and non-holiday tourists, the factors causing the holiday/non-holiday distinction remained unclear. The distinction between the tourist and non-tourist was largely, though not necessarily, one of distance from Buxton.

Ce mémoire présente un cadre d’évaluation des performances économique, environnementale et sociale dans les chaînes logistiques. Nous avons proposé un modèle de caractérisation de la performance « globale », intégrant les trois performances liées au développement durable (économique, environnementale et sociale) dans les chaînes logistiques. Ce modèle nous a permis d’analyser les impacts des pratiques de gestion des chaînes logistiques sur un ensemble d’enjeux durables, matérialisés par la Matrice de Performance Globale des Chaînes Logistiques (MPGCL). Un modèle analytique permet ensuite d’évaluer ces impacts sous une forme agrégée par un triplet : . Trois instanciations de la MPGCL ont été réalisées : académique (basée sur l’analyse de la littérature), industrielle (basé sur des référentiels industriels) et empirique (suite à une enquête de terrain). Une approche multicritère d’aide à la décision pour le choix des pratiques à mettre en œuvre (CAMPLID) a été proposée. Son application sur les instances de MPGCL permet un classement de bonnes pratiques des chaînes logistiques basé sur l’amélioration simultanée, et selon différentes stratégies, des trois performances économique, environnementale et sociale. Une étude plus spécifique selon une approche par simulation de l’impact des pratiques d’approvisionnement (approvisionnement individuel / mutualisé, différentes règles de réapprovisionnement) sur des enjeux durables complète ce travail
This thesis presents a framework for assessing economic, environmental and social performances in supply chains. We propose a characterization model for "global" performance, integrating the three performances related to sustainable development (economic, environmental and social) in supply chains. This model allows us to analyze the impacts of management practices in supply chains on a set of sustainability fields, materialized by the Global Performance Matrix of Supply Chain (MPGCL). An analytical model is used to evaluate these impacts in aggregate form by a triplet. Three instantiations of MPGCL are carried out: academic, industrial and empirical. A multicriteria decision-making approach for selecting practices to implement (CAMPLID) is proposed. Its application to MPGCL instances allows a ranking of supply chains best practices, based on the simultaneous improvement of the economic, environmental and social performances. A more specific study in a simulation of the supply practices (individual/shared supply, different rules replenishment) impacts on sustainability fields complete this work

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the seriousness of HIV and AIDS affecting productivity at workplaces, little attention is being paid to the special needs of the infected people in the world of work and the ultimate reality this will have on the companies’ financial health. HIV/AIDS retards economic development and business growth. The epidemic influences the workforce and markets in which business operates. Business must play a leading part in the internal response to HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is both an ethical imperative and the key to business success. Most research conducted on the subject mainly concentrated on the effects of HIV and AIDS on productivity, emphasizing absenteeism as the direct cause of low productivity. The costs of HIV and AIDS will be felt beyond the direct effect of the disease. The indirect costs include the following: The increased costs of recruiting and training, given the extra deaths and disabilities expected. The negative effect on staff morale Loss of time as a result of management and labor meetings to discuss the AIDS crisis as it develops, this resulting in loss of turnover and profits. With the rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS, businesses should be increasingly concerned about the impact of the disease on their organizations-concerns that should be well founded. At the broadest level, businesses are dependent on the strength and vitality of the economies in which they operate. HIV/AIDS raises the costs of doing business, reduces productivity and lowers overall demand for goods and services. The research process in this article focused particularly on workplace issues, which are a key dimension of the relationship between corporations and HIV/AIDS. Data collection was by both structured questionnaires and unstructured interviews, interviews with both management and workers’ representatives and structured questionnaires with the general workforce. The questions asked were open-ended: “Is HIV/AIDS a problem for your company now or in the future?” and “If HIV/AIDS impacted on your company’ financial performance would you act and why?” The research group consisted of four companies in different areas of operations: retail, service and manufacturing and the participants were chosen on the basis of certain inclusive criteria: The number of employees employed. Length of service operation. Willingness to share certain financial information. A qualitative method of data analysis was used in the study and is described in detail. The qualitative research method looks at the subjective meanings attached, descriptions, metaphors, symbols and descriptions of specific cases. It was found that despite the differences from one company to the other, the potential impact of HIV/AIDS on companies’ financials went beyond the direct costs of productivity. As the debate over the availability of cheaper generic anti-retroviral drugs rages in the background, business is faced with the dilemma of significant investment to keep their labour force healthy and alive. This has to be weighed up against the high costs involved in rehiring, retraining and re-incentivising their replacements.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ten spyte van tekens dat MIV en VIGS produktiwiteit in die werkplek affekteer, word daar nog baie min te doen aan die behoeftes van die werkers wat deur die epidemie getref word. Verder, word min aandag geskenk aan die potensiële uitwerking van die epidemie op die finansiële gesondheid van maatskappye. MIV/VIGS vertraag ekonomiese ontwikkeling en besigheidsgroei. Die epidemie het ‘n negatiewe impak op die arbeidsmag en die market waarin besigheid plaasvind. Besigheid moet dus die leiding neem in die interne respons op die MIV/VIGS pandemie. Dit is eties belangrik en die sleutel tot die sukses van besigheid. Die meeste navorsing oor die onderwerp het tot dusver gekonsentreer op die effek van MIV en VIGS op produktiwiteit met die klem op afwesigheid as ‘n direkte oorsaak van lae produktiwiteit. Die koste van MIV en VIGS behels egter veel meer as net die direkte gevolge van die siekte. Die indirekte koste sluit die volgende in: Die koste verbonde aan opleiding en die soeke na nuwe personeel weens sterftes en siekte van personeel. Die negatiewe effek op die moraal van personeel. Verlore tyd as gevolg van bestuurs- en arbeidsvergaderings om die VIGS-krisis te bespreek namate dit ontwikkel en winste negatief beïnvloed. Besigheid behoort meer bekommerd te wees oor die toename in MIV/VIGS gevalle en die impak wat dit op organisasies sal hê. MIV/VIGS verhoog die kostes van besigheid doen, verminder produktiwiteit en verlaag die algemene vraag na goedere en dienste. Die navorsingsbenadering in die artikel fokus op daardie werkplek-aangeleenthede wat ‘n sleuteldimensie is van die verhouding tussen organisasies en MIV/VIGS. Data is ingewin deur middel van gestruktureerde vraelyste en ongestruktureerde onderhoude. Onderhoude is met beide bestuurslui en verteenwoordigers van werkers gevoer, en gestruktureerde vrae met die werkers. Die vrae gestel was oop vrae soos “Is MIV/VIGS `n problem vir u onderneming huidiglik of in die toekoms? En “Indien MIV/VIGS ‘n negatiewe impak het op die onderming se prestasie sal jy optree en waarom?” Die navorsingsgroep het bestaan uit vier ondernemings in die kleinhandels-, dienslewerings-, en vervaardigingssektor. Die deelnemers is gekies op die basis van inklusiwiteit met die volgende criteria: Die getal werkers in diens. Hoe lank is onderneming in besigheid? Die bereidwilligheid om inligting te deel. `n Kwalitatiewe metode van data analise is gebruik wat breedvoerig verduidelik en beskryf word. Die navorsingsmetode kyk veral na subjektiewe betekenisse, omskrywings, metafore, simbole en omskrywings van spesifieke gevalle. Navorsing het getoon dat MIV/VIGS ‘n impak het op ondernemings se finansiële omstandighede en produktiwiteit. Terwyl die debat oor goedkoper generiese anti-retrovirale middele aan die gang is, word ondernemings of besighede konfronteer met die keuse tussen beduidende investering om die arbeidsmag gesond en lewendig te hou of die hoë koste van herindiensneming, heropleiding en insentiewe.

The mechanical performance of an asphalt mixture is largely dependent on the properties of its constituents and by the way they reciprocally interact in the bituminous layer. In particular, the stress-strain response of the road pavements is closely related to the rheological behavior of the bituminous binder and of its interaction with the finest part of the lytic skeleton. Therefore, it is important to study in the laboratory by means of advanced rheological tests, how mastics (Bitumen-Filler Systems) and mortars (Bitumen-Filler-Sand Systems) react to dynamic loads and thermal stresses. Moreover, the understanding of the contacts mechanisms within the bitumen-filler system, through 3D micro-mechanical models, should allow for a deeper analysis of the mastic rheological behavior. Based on these considerations, in a socio-economic context in which it is necessary to reduce the environmental impact caused by the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructures, bituminous mastics containing different reclaimed fillers from the industrial production wastes were studied. For this purpose, advanced rheological tests have been first validated and then implemented and combined with the 3D DEM models development. Results showed that the methods used to study the bituminous mastics and mortars allowed to understand the effects due to the addition of innovative and recycled fillers within the mixtures blend, highlighting as these can increase the asphalt mixture performance during its service life.

The mechanical performance of an asphalt mixture is largely dependent on the properties of its constituents and by the way they reciprocally interact in the bituminous layer. In particular, the stress-strain response of the road pavements is closely related to the rheological behavior of the bituminous binder and of its interaction with the finest part of the lytic skeleton. Therefore, it is important to study in the laboratory by means of advanced rheological tests, how mastics (Bitumen-Filler Systems) and mortars (Bitumen-Filler-Sand Systems) react to dynamic loads and thermal stresses. Moreover, the understanding of the contacts mechanisms within the bitumen-filler system, through 3D micro-mechanical models, should allow for a deeper analysis of the mastic rheological behavior. Based on these considerations, in a socio-economic context in which it is necessary to reduce the environmental impact caused by the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructures, bituminous mastics containing different reclaimed fillers from the industrial production wastes were studied. For this purpose, advanced rheological tests have been first validated and then implemented and combined with the 3D DEM models development. Results showed that the methods used to study the bituminous mastics and mortars allowed to understand the effects due to the addition of innovative and recycled fillers within the mixtures blend, highlighting as these can increase the asphalt mixture performance during its service life.

Ce travail de thèse s'intéresse à l'évaluation de performances des systèmes industriels de type smart grids, dont le rôle est d'assurer la transmission d'électricité depuis la/les source(s) de production jusqu'aux consommateurs. Considérés comme des systèmes distribués à forte criticité, il en résulte une obligation de respect de contraintes temps-réel. Le standard IEC 61850, déployé pour l'automatisation et la protection des postes électriques composant ces smart grids, propose une quantification de ces contraintes sous forme de latences minimales à ne pas excéder. L'IEC 61850 ne préconisant aucune approche spécifique pour garantir ces contraintes temporelles, des solutions doivent alors être trouvées pour y répondre. Dans le cadre de cette thèse nous proposons en premier lieu un nouvel outil d'aide à la décision fournissant des résultats obtenus par simulation, basés sur le logiciel OMNeT++. Ces modèles intègrent à la fois des outils pour Ethernet classique, la norme Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) et l'IEC 61850. Une seconde contribution est la modélisation analytique des délais de pire cas, basée sur l'ordonnancement de flux en lieu et place d'un ordonnancement par trame. Cette nouvelle approche permet de simplifier l'analyse du délai pire de cas par une succession d'analyses locales reposant sur des opérations peu coûteuses en temps de calcul, tout en minimisant le pessimisme des bornes de ces délais. Cette analyse prend en considération des architectures reposant sur Ethernet classique et TSN. Enfin, nous étudions l'apport possible, à notre problématique, de la Multi-Modélisation et de la co-simulation, reconnue comme solution pour l'étude de systèmes complexes (dont les smart grids). Nous contribuons ainsi à l'amélioration des capacités de l'intergiciel de co-simulation MECSYCO, en permettant à ce dernier la possibilité de co-simuler des systèmes smart grids intégrant trois expertises métiers : électrotechnique, contrôle-commande et communication numérique
This thesis work focuses on the performance evaluation of smart grids, whose role is to ensure the transmission of electricity from the production point(s) to the consumers . Considered as distributed industrial systems with high criticality, these systems have a strong need to meet hard real time requirements. The IEC 61850 standard, deployed for the automation and protection of electrical substations composing these smart grids, proposes a constraint quantification as minimum latencies which must not be exceeded. As IEC 61850 does not recommend any specific approach to guarantee these time constraints, solutions must be found to guarantee the performance. We first propose a new decision support tool, providing simulation results based on the OMNeT++ simulator. Theses models integrate modeling elements for classical Ethernet, Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) and IEC 61850. The second contribution is the analytical modeling of worst-case response time, based on flow scheduling in place of frame scheduling. Thanks to this, we can simplify the worst-case response time analysis by a succession of local analyses based on low computational time operations, while minimizing the worst-case response time pessimism. This approach encompasses classical Ethernet architecture as well as TSN ones. Finally, we study the possible benefits of the Multi-Modeling and co-simulation approach, recognized as a solution for the study of complex systems (including smart grids). We thus contribute to the improvement of the capabilities of the MECSYCO middleware, introducing the possibility for the latter co-simulate smart grids integrating three fields of expertise : electrical engineering, control and digital communication

Problem: What are the most critical activities for process industry? Whether general view of impact of these value chain activities on product performance (quality, cost and innovation) applied to process industry? How do those activities impact to product performances? If they cannot affect product performance, what could be the reason behind it?   Purpose: This paper aims to conclude general view of impact of value chain activities on product performances (quality, cost and innovation). Accordingly we would create a conceptual model. And then test whether this model applies for process industry and further more figure out the reason behind through case study.   Methodology: In this paper, qualitative research is our approach. We choose single case study as research strategy and conduct three interviews. Documentation and interview data are collected and analyzed to provide theoretical framework and empirical evidence for the whole paper.     Result: Based on case study, and previous work, the model concerning impact of major activities for process industry (Marketing sales, Human Resource and Supplier management) on product performances (Quality, Cost and Innovation) is derived. This model contains answers to nine hypotheses assumed in theoretical part, giving reader a new and easy way to understand process industry.        Conclusions: Distinguished from other industry, process industry with its own unique characteristics does not lend support to all nine hypotheses. Fundamental analysis proved that some assumptions do not establish for process industry while the others may have more significant relationships. To be specific, there exists strong impact of human resource on product quality and cost, supplier management on product cost and also marketing and sales on product quality. But, to our surprise, the other assumed relationships are not that significant while product innovation has adverse affect on marketing and sales.

In the global, competitive market of energy transformation, increased operational expenses and depletion of raw materials have resulted in companies pursuing alternate materials to reduce consumer costs. In electrical applications, energy is transformed using materials with high electrical conductive properties. The conductive material used to transmit a signal is called conductor wire and is comprised of any material that has the ability to move charged particles from one point to another without propagation or delay. The conductor wire in many applications is encapsulated in epoxy resin called enamel. The enamel is the insulation system that provides necessary dielectric clearances to prevent voltage leakage. The most common form of energy transformation is the electric motor. Both copper and aluminum conductor wire are commonly used in electric motors, but copper is preferred due to thermal and electrical properties. However, there is a significant economic incentive to convert to aluminum conductor wire. Limited white papers are available comparing the performances of the two materials; the research is limited to physical and electrical performances of the raw material and does not take into considering the insulation. The conductor wire, which includes the insulation, is susceptible to damage during the manufacturing process and is an inherent risk if not fully understood. During the blocking process, the conductor wire is pushed and compressed into lamination slots. This process changes the conductor wire outer diameter to accommodate void spaces within the lamination slots. The percentage of slot area occupied by the conductor wire is known as slot fill. The higher the slot fill, the more wire occupying the available space. The higher the slot fill, the more force required to fill the slots. High slot fill motor designs provide a performance advantage with little associated cost. The more wire pressed into the slot, the higher the potential efficiency gains. However, high slot fill motors are more susceptible to damage. The study is designed to evaluate and measure the durability of aluminum and copper conductor wire under simulated compression stresses. Utilizing this information, electric motor manufacturers can push current design limits without affecting conductor wire quality and reliability.

La science des données offre de nombreux avantages dans divers secteurs, notamment dans le domaine industriel, où elle est essentielle pour l'intégration des entreprises dans l'Industrie 4.0. Les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) cherchent à rivaliser avec les grandes entreprises en utilisant les nouvelles technologies liées à la science des données, facilitant ainsi leur progression vers la digitalisation et la fabrication intelligente. Cette thèse développe une solution basée sur la science des données pour aider les PME à réaliser des analyses prédictives des systèmes industriels et à optimiser leurs performances. En effet, la production industrielle rencontre souvent des anomalies causant des interruptions et affectant la qualité des produits, ce qui engendre des pertes significatives de temps en maintenance et réduit la productivité. Le cadre méthodologique proposé comprend deux couches principales : une couche de données et une couche métier. La couche de données utilise des méthodes innovantes pour collecter, centraliser, traiter et améliorer la qualité des données, préparant ainsi l'analyse prédictive dans la couche métier dédiée au développement de modèles d'intelligence artificielle pour prédire les anomalies industrielles, telles que les arrêts de machines et les écarts de qualité détectés par des mesures 3D des pièces. Le projet inclut également une interface homme-machine pour gérer les données, signaler les arrêts et afficher les prédictions des machines et des dimensions des pièces. Ce travail est démontré par une étude de cas réelle de collaboration scientifique et industrielle entre l'Institut Femto-ST et la PME française Scoder, dont les solutions déployées ont considérablement amélioré les performances globales de l'entreprise
Data science offers numerous advantages across various sectors, particularly in the industrial domain, where it is essential for integrating businesses into Industry 4.0. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aim to compete with large corporations by using new technologies related to data science, thus facilitating their transition towards digitalization and intelligent manufacturing. This thesis develops a data science-based solution to help SMEs perform predictive analyses of industrial systems and optimize their performances. Indeed, industrial production often encounters anomalies that cause interruptions and affect product quality, leading to significant maintenance time losses and reduced productivity. The proposed methodological framework comprises two main layers: a data layer and a business layer. The data layer employs innovative methods to collect, centralize, process, and enhance data quality, thus preparing for predictive analysis in the business layer, which is dedicated to developing artificial intelligence models to predict industrial anomalies, such as machine breakdowns and quality drifts detected through 3D measurements of parts. The project also includes a human-machine interface for managing data, reporting stoppages, and displaying machine predictions and part dimensions. This work is demonstrated through a real case study of scientific and industrial collaboration between the Femto-ST institute and the French SME Scoder, whose deployed solutions have significantly improved the company's overall performance

Within the scope of moving towards a circular economy, “green” materials surely represent an excellent alternative, both in terms of sustainable manufacturing process and circular lifespan. For instance, “bio-composites” are promising bio-based materials constituted by bio-polymers or bio-derived polymers that are reinforced by natural fibres or biological wastes and/or residues. The present Internship and Thesis project took place at Mogu S.r.l., a small Italian company (VA) that creates responsible products for interior design. In details, it focused on the production process of bio-composites tiles for flooring from agro-industrial residues like hemp-shives. The current production protocol was firstly implemented through the investigations of macro-variables: particles’ size and distribution, alternative fibres, different %/dry weight of kraft lignin as binder, temperature and pressure, density and thickness. This allowed to cut by almost 38% the total manufacturing time and reduce the amount of bio-adhesive, thus improving the overall sustainability of the process. Then, alternative bio-adhesives have been tested both in a pure form and after pre-treatments. Precisely, some experimental procedures have been developed to denaturise soy and whey proteins, on the basis of methodologies reported in literature. Finally, the most promising bio-composites were further characterized by performing some mechanical tests. Particularly, the tiles with thermally activated whey proteins isolates as binder showed the best flexural properties, far above the threshold values set by norms. Conversely, further studies will be needed to improve panels’ dimensional stability since also the lowest value of swelling in thickness, recorded for panels with kraft lignin and thermally pre-treated, was not in compliance with norms. Nevertheless, the Project confirmed that it is feasible to reach interesting properties with natural components coming from leftovers of several industries.

Ce travail de thèse, réalisé dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE avec l’entreprise Essilor et le laboratoire ERPI de l’Université de Lorraine, propose un cadre d’évolution des organisations basée sur le management opérationnel des connaissances et des compétences. Nous avons mis en valeur les mécanismes organisationnels de partage et de mise en oeuvre des connaissances et compétences en environnement de conception, afin de proposer des modèles, méthodes et outils permettant aux acteurs et organisations d’améliorer leurs performances. Quatre aspects ont été développés dans ce travail, dont trois contributions et une évaluation de l’efficacité du cadre d’évolution proposé : • L’élaboration d’une méthode de modélisation d’entreprise basée sur le modèle conceptuel KROM et de sa déclinaison en modèles opérationnels. Cette méthode vise à expliciter les liens organisationnels des concepts de connaissance et de compétence afin de les rattacher à leurs contextes de mise en oeuvre. • La définition d’un cadre global d’évolution d’une organisation sur la base du management de ses connaissances et compétences. Ce cadre d’évolution comprend une caractérisation et une évaluation de la maturité des organisations dans leurs pratiques de gestion des connaissances et des compétences, ainsi qu’une méthode d’évolution des organisations reposant sur la proposition de scénarios d’actions d’amélioration : la méthode ACKME. • La proposition d’une approche organisationnelle de conception de Systèmes Multi-agents (SMA) appelée DOCK, permettant de spécifier des SMA adaptés aux enjeux rencontrés par les approches d’ingénierie à base de connaissances, à savoir la prise en compte et la gestion du cycle de vie de la connaissance. • Une évaluation de l’intérêt du cadre d’évolution mis en oeuvre (les trois contributions précédentes) sur la base de l’évaluation des compétences des acteurs de l’organisation. Cette évaluation repose d’une part sur la possibilité d’intégrer le cadre d’évolution dans une approche globale de pilotage du changement dans l’organisation et d’autre part, sur des expérimentations menées au sein du service Ingénierie d’Essilor
This research, carried out under a PhD “CIFRE” with the company ESSILOR and the ERPI Laboratory of the Lorraine University, proposes a framework to make organizations evolve, based on the operational management of knowledge and competences. We have enhanced the organizational mechanisms of sharing, and the use of knowledge and competences within the design environment, in order to propose models, methods and tools allowing actors and organizations to improve their performances. Four key elements have been developed in this research, including three contributions and an assessment of the efficiency of the proposed development framework: • The development of an enterprise modeling method based on the conceptual model KROM and its translation into operational models. This method aims to clarify the organizational links of the knowledge and competence concepts in order to link them to their implementation contexts. • The definition of a global framework to make an organization evolve based on the management of its knowledge and competence assets. This evolution framework includes a characterization and an assessment of the organizations’ maturity in their knowledge and competences management practices, as well as a method to make organizations change, based on the proposal of scenario of improvement actions: the ACKME method. • The proposal of an organizational approach to design Multi-agent systems (MAS) called DOCK, allowing the designer to specify MAS oriented toward the issues faced by knowledge engineering approaches, namely the recognition and management of the knowledge life cycle. • An assessment of the value of the implemented framework (the three previous contributions) based on the assessment of the competences of the actors within the organization. This evaluation is based, on one hand, on the possibility to integrate the evolution framework into a global steering approach to make the organization evolve, and on the other hand, on experiments led within the Engineering department of Essilor

Ces travaux de thèse s’intéressent à l’association des performances industrielles et environnementales avec une démarche d’amélioration continue orientée vers le développement durable et ciblent l’élimination conjointe des « gaspillages » Lean et Green dans les processus de fabrication. La problématique majeure réside dans la mise en place des outils L&G au sein d’entreprises manufacturières possédant des processus et caractéristiques culturelles variés. Basés sur une analyse suivie de l’état de l’art et d’enquêtes de bonnes pratiques, les travaux de recherche incluent plusieurs évaluations et observations sur sites industriels. La mise au point d’une roadmap de déploiement adaptable, mettant en valeur les aspects sociaux par le biais de l’implication et de la valorisation des employés, est ainsi complétée par un modèle de sélection d’indicateurs environnementaux, une « Maison du L&G » et un modèle de maturité particularisé pour le niveau d’implémentation de la stratégie
This thesis addresses the association of industrial and environmental performances with a continuous improvement approach oriented toward sustainable development, and particularly seeks for the identification and elimination of Lean and Green “wastes” in manufacturing processes. The major issue lies in the deployment of L&G tools within manufacturing firms with various processes and cultural characteristics. Based upon a thorough state of the art and industrial surveys on best practices, the research includes several assessments and observations on manufacturing sites. The development of an adaptable roadmap of deployment highlighting social concerns through the involvement of employees in improvements is therefore completed with a selection model of environmental indicators, a “L&G House” and a maturity model for the strategy’s implementation

De nombreuses industries ont mené des recherches en vue de choisir la méthode appropriée afin d'améliorer les résultats, notamment Lean manufacturing et Six Sigma. Ce travail de thèse s’intéresse principalement à l’influence de l’implémentation de ces méthodes au sein des entreprises françaises, selon trois critères : financier, opérationnel et innovation. Les résultats de nos recherches montrent que les entreprises, appliquant Lean manufacturing et Six Sigma, sont plus efficacies pour l'amélioration des performances en matières financière et opérationnelle. Par ailleurs, les entreprises qui utilisent juste une partie des pratiques de Lean manufacturing et/ou de Six Sigma ont montré des améliorations limitées. En ce qui concerne le volet innovation, nous avons montré que l’implémentation de Lean manufacturing est suffisante pour avoir une amélioration des performances. En outre, nous avons constaté que les pratiques de Lean manufacturing et Six Sigma, telles que One Piece Flow, Kanban, 5S, etc. contribuent fortement à l’amélioration des performances. Les résultats statistiques montrent également que les facteurs clés, de la réussite de la mise en place de Lean et Six Sigma, peuvent être significativement différents selon la méthode
Many industries conduct research in order to decide on the appropriate methodology for delivering optimal performance outcomes such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma. Therefore, this research shows the influence of different categories based on the implementation method against three criteria: financial performance, operational performance and innovation performance. Research results indicate that companies implementing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma were more effective in improving company performance across financial and operational dynamics. Additionally, it shows companies who implemented Lean Manufacturing only saw improvements in innovation performance. Moreover, we found that Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma practices such as One Piece Flow, Kanban, 5S, etc, supported increases in companies’ performance. The statistical results also show that the key factors for the success of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma implementation could differ depending on the method employed

The importance of checking the normality assumption in most statistical procedures especially parametric tests cannot be over emphasized as the validity of the inferences drawn from such procedures usually depend on the validity of this assumption. Numerous methods have been proposed by different authors over the years, some popular and frequently used, others, not so much. This study addresses the performance of eighteen of the available tests for different sample sizes, significance levels, and for a number of symmetric and asymmetric distributions by conducting a Monte-Carlo simulation. The results showed that considerable power is not achieved for symmetric distributions when sample size is less than one hundred and for such distributions, the kurtosis test is most powerful provided the distribution is leptokurtic or platykurtic. The Shapiro-Wilk test remains the most powerful test for asymmetric distributions. We conclude that different tests are suitable under different characteristics of alternative distributions.

La société Nanoe en collaboration avec le Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (LCMCP) propose un procédé innovant pour la synthèse de NMC, un matériau communément utilisé en tant que matériau d’électrode positive pour accumulateur Li-ion. Ces matériaux sont actuellement synthétisés en solution par coprécipitation demandant de traiter des déchets de métaux dissous en solution aqueuse. La nouvelle méthode proposée est une synthèse par voie solide composée d’une étape de broyage à haute énergie des précurseurs, suivie d’une étape de séchage et de structuration par atomisation pour finir sur un traitement à haute température pour former la phase désirée. Cette voie possède les avantages de ne rejeter aucun déchet solide ou liquide mais également de compter moins d’étapes de synthèse et l’utilisation de matières premières moins coûteuses. Le but de ces travaux de thèse est d’optimiser ce procédé de synthèse pour la production de NMC de compositions de plus en plus riches en nickel. Les étapes du procédé ont été optimisées sur NMC333, un matériau largement étudié et commercialisé. La synthèse a ensuite été adaptée pour des compositions plus riches en nickel, à savoir NMC622 et 811. Il a été montré qu’enrichir la composition en nickel nécessitait de réduire la température de synthèse pour obtenir les meilleures propriétés structurales, morphologiques et électrochimiques. Les matériaux synthétisés sont ensuite comparés à leurs homologues commerciaux produits par coprécipitation et montrent, à un régime rapide de 1C, une capacité plus faible dans les premiers cycle mais une meilleure rétention de capacité leur permettant de dominer sur le long terme
The company Nanoe in collaboration with the Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (LCMCP) offers an innovative process for the synthesis of NMC, a positive electrode material for Li-ion batteries. These materials are currently synthesized in solution by coprecipitation, requiring retreating waste metals dissolved in aqueous solution. The new method proposed is a solid-state synthesis composed of a high-energy milling of the solid-state precursors in suspension, followed by a spray-drying structuration step and a final heat treatment.to form the NMC phase. This new route not only produces no solid or liquid waste, but also have fewer synthesis steps and the use of cheaper raw materials. The aim of this thesis work is to optimize this synthesis process to produce NMC by using nickel-rich compositions. The different process stages were first optimized on LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2, a widely used and commercial material. The synthesis was then adapted for compositions richer in nickel, namely LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2. It has been shown that enriching the nickel composition required reducing the synthesis temperature to obtain the best structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties. The synthesized materials are then compared to their commercial counterparts produced by a coprecipitation process and demonstrated, at 1C-rate, a lower capacity in the first cycles but a better capacity retention allowing them to dominate in long-term cycling

The aims of this study are to assess the direct and indirect impacts of social capital on the performance ‎‎‎of MSEs (daily sales revenue of enterprises) within the framework of Porter’s Diamond Model. The ‎‎primary data used in this study were collected through ‎structured questionnaires survey carried out at ‎‎‎204 micro and small scale enterprises in six sampled ‎traditional clusters in Herat City, Afghanistan. The ‎‎hypotheses derived from the literature review were tested in order ‎to examine the direct and indirect ‎‎impacts of social capital on the performance of MSEs.‎ The results indicate that ‎social capital plays a ‎significant role in promoting the ‎performances of MSEs and cooperation within ‎each of the clusters. ‎The quality of social capital of ‎enterprises has ‎dynamic and significant effects on their performances. It ‎has been confirmed that social ‎capital ‎dimension has direct and indirect impacts on the performance of ‎MSEs mediated through other ‎factors ‎in the Porter’s Model.‎
博士(グローバル社会研究)
Doctor of Philosophy in Global Society Studies
同志社大学
Doshisha University

User experience with public products needs special attention considering the specific context. Different from other consumer or personal products that users own, public products do not belong to the user
they are shared with and used in front of other people. Thus, different concerns and problems are incorporated affecting the user experiences. This thesis dwells on the effects of presence of other people on user-public product interaction. The relationships between social context, users&rsquo
feelings, and task performances constitute the basis of the thesis. These relationships were investigated by consulting to the literature, but mainly by conducting three empirical studies. All these studies revealed that the presence of other people affects the users&rsquo
feelings and task performances greatly.

La Directive sur les émissions industrielles (IED) réglemente les impacts environnementaux d'un large éventail d'activités industrielles et agricoles via une approche intégrée de leurs pollutions et consommations. En pratique, cette approche se traduit par l’obligation de mettre en œuvre les « Meilleures Techniques Disponibles » (MTD) décrites dans des documents de référence européens : les BREF. Cependant, lors de l’élaboration ou de la révision d’un BREF, il n’est pas possible de couvrir chaque activité pour tout ou partie des enjeux environnementaux qu’elle est susceptible de causer. Les exploitations concernées par ces activités sans référence ne sont pas exemptes de mettre en œuvre les MTD. Pourtant, les enquêtes menées sur l’application des MTD en France montrent que le manque de MTD de référence conduit souvent à ce que la mise en œuvre des MTD ne soit pas effective sur site, et / ou vérifiée par l’autorité compétente. Face à ce constat, une méthodologie permettant aux exploitants d’installations soumises à l’obligation de mise en œuvre des MTD de démontrer leur conformité aux autorités compétentes en l’absence de référence officielle est proposée. Elle se compose de deux phases visant respectivement à l’identification des enjeux environnementaux majeurs d’une installation et à comparer les performances de celle-ci à celles des MTD pour chacun de ces enjeux. Elle est testée sur deux études de cas issues de secteurs d’activité différents, puis ses avantages et ses limites sont discutés à la lumière du retour d’expérience des exploitants. Enfin, des perspectives de travail et de recherche sont proposées
The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) regulates the environmental impacts of a wide range of industrial and agricultural activities through an integrated approach of their pollution and consumption. In practice, this approach translates into the obligation to implement the "Best Available Techniques" (BATs) described in European reference documents: BREFs. However, when drawing up or revising a BREF, it is not possible to cover every activity for all or part of the environmental issues that it is likely to cause. Installations involved in these activities without reference are not exempt from implementing BATs. However, surveys carried out on the application of BATs in France show that the lack of BAT reference often leads to the implementation of BATs not being effective on site, and / or verified by the competent authority. Faced with this finding, a methodology allowing operators of installations subject to the obligation to implement BATs to demonstrate their compliance to the competent authorities in the absence of an official reference is proposed. It consists of two phases aimed respectively at identifying the major environmental issues of an installation and comparing its performance with that of BATs for each of these issues. It is tested on two case studies from different activity sectors, then its advantages and limitations are discussed in the light of industrial feedback. Finally, work and research perspectives are proposed

The objective of this research was to: Develop and evaluate a method which supports performance improvement in industrial operations. This has been done through several case studies and literature research. The result is a scientifically evaluated Performance Improvement Method. All companies strive for better performance, since a high performance level means greater competitiveness, which in turn generates more money. However, there are an extensive number of change and improvement methods described in many different research fields. Moreover, a number of issues, which are linked to these Performance Improvement Methods have been identified. The issues were summarised as criteria, which were posed on both existing improvement methods and the newly developed method, for evaluation and development purposes. The most important issues with Performance Improvement were found to be that most methods were specialist dependent and did not have competence support. Efforts to improve performance in manufacturing operations have been important since the start of the industrialisation era. Some of the first well-known and well-documented practitioners in the area of PI were Taylor and Ford; so there have been many attempts to work with Performance Improvement. A definition of performance, profitability and productivity is presented to show how they can support improvement work. Performance measurement is important to form a basis of facts to link Performance Improvement on. Furthermore, two models, a performance factor model and a performance measurement model, have been developed for use with Performance Improvement. An evaluation of commonly used improvement methods such as Lean Production, Just in Time, Total Productive Maintenance, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints and Business Process Reengineering, shows both strengths and weaknesses, which were used in the development of the new Improvement Method. Furthermore, a number of case studies were performed to give empirical input to the Performance Improvement Method for practical use. With these practical and theoretical considerations, a formalisation of the Performance Improvement Method was carried out. The Performance Improvement Method has been evaluated through 4 full-scale case studies. The case studies showed that the new Performance Improvement Method has higher criteria support than the other improvement methods evaluated in this research.
QC 20100709

A collaborative approach to industry-environment issues is acknowledged as a key aspect of sustainable development. Sincerely, resource sharing among firms offers the potential to increase stability of operations, especially in supply-constrained areas, by ensuring that access to important inputs such as water, energy and raw materials are guaranteed. Industrial Symbiosis (IS), a sub-field of Industrial Ecology, is primarily concerned with the cyclical flow of resources through networks of industrial units as a means of cooperatively approaching environmentally sustainable industrial activity. In line with this principle, a critical assessment of the change in environmental performance brought about by industrial symbiosis (IS) was conducted in nineteen selected eco-industrial park case studies identified in all regions of the world with the exception of the African continent. Case study selection criteria were based on models of eco-industrial parks proposed by Chertow (2000). A description of the type of material exchanges that go on in each case study was carried out which revealed evidence of implemented synergies in respective case studies. A comparative assessment of cross-case patterns which is a semi-quantitative matrix used to quantify the degree of environmental performance showed that there was a clear evidence of improved environmental performance among respective case studies investigated where water, energy and material flows served as indicators. Results obtained from the study showed a common pattern of industrial presence in respective case studies reflecting the occurrence of heavy process industries such as oil refineries, cement industries, petrochemical industries, and steel industries. The principle of “anchor tenant” proposed by some experts in the field of industrial ecology was strongly supported by the obtained results. Symbiotic cooperation among participating firms in respective case studies were mainly on areas like cogeneration, re-use of materials, recycling and wastewater treatment and re-use.

Une carte électronique a été réalisée à l'Institut de chimie et physique industrielles de Lyon utilisant quatre processeurs à architecture à flot de données et programmable liant ainsi puissance et souplesse d'utilisation. Pour valider cette architecture pour le traitement et l'analyse d'image, l'approche a été double : - mise en oeuvre d'algorithme à la fois coûteux et originaux scientifiquement : algorithme de Danielson, suppression de flou, reconstruction 3D. - implantation sur site industriel avec prise en compte des contraintes de temps et intégration dans une chaine complète de contrôle

The purpose of this report is to single out and apply the most critical factors for dynamic performance meausrement systems. The report concludes that the existence in practice of theoretically important aspects are diverse and that the most appropriate way of governing the aspects are through the creation of a performance management process.

The theoretical chapter is established for dual purposes. The first is to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of what has been done in the field of performance measurement and management so far and the second is to answer the first research question imposed.

The empirical chapter investigates to what degree the existence of factors singled out in theory are present in practice. Further, the chapter also answers research question two.

Finally the result and analysis chapters focuses on cross-analysing the case studies made and generate a recommendation. Research question three is answered under these headings.

PREPARE

Thesis (MBA (Graduate School of Business))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globalisation, constant innovations and well-informed customers have made modern business environments dynamic and complex. Organisations, with their ever-changing business models, are striving to improve the quality of their products and services. Congruently, several management theories have evolved. Total Quality Management (TQM),Just in Time (JIT), Benchmarking, Lean Management, Balanced Scorecard and Six Sigma are some of the more well known. Each movement with its own life span, its share of popularity and level of acceptance has the same basic goal – improvement in quality by measuring performance. Recent years have seen an upsurge in the approaches and contributions to the field of performance measurement. Are these management theories just a flavour of the month or do they add value. The object of this study is to provide industry specific manufacturing business with a Manufacturing Performance Measurement Matrix Model, which can be used over time to measure improvement and serve as a basis for Knowledge Management.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Globalisering, konstante inbring van veranderinge en goed ingeligte kliënte het die moderne besigheidsomgewing dinamies en kompleks gemaak. Organisasies, met hulle ewig veranderende besigheidsmodelle, streef daarna om die kwaliteit van hulle produkte en dienslewering te verbeter. Verskeie bestuursteorieë het as gevolg hiervan ontwikkel. Die mees bekende bestuursteorieë is onder andere: Total Quality Management (TQM), Just in Time (JIT), Benchmarking, Lean Management, Balanced Scorecard en Six Sigma. Elkeen van hierdie planne, met sy eie leeftyd, porsie van die gewildheid en vlak van aanvaarding, het dieselfde basiese doel – verbetering van kwaliteit deur die meet van prestasie. Onlangse jare het ‘n opvlam gesien in die benaderings en bydraes tot die veld van prestasiemeting. Is hierdie bestuursteorieë net ‘n nuutjie of is hulle waardevol vir die besigheidswêreld? Die doel van hierdie studie is om industrie spesifieke vervaardigingsbesighede met ‘n Vervaardigings Prestasiemetings Matriks Model te voorsien wat deur die verloop van tyd verbeterings kan meet en kan dien as ‘n basis vir die bestuur van kundigheid.

Cette thèse s’intéresse à la prédiction de la qualité de produits et à l’amélioration de la performance des alarmes de diagnostics au sein d’une usine de semi-conducteurs. Pour cela, nous exploitons l’historique des alarmes collecté durant la production. Premièrement, nous proposons une approche de modélisation et d’estimation du risque de dégradation du produit final associé à chaque alarme déclenchée en fonction du comportement d’activation de celle-ci sur l’ensemble des produits durant la production. Deuxièmement, en utilisant les valeurs de risque estimées pour toute alarme, nous proposons une approche de prédiction de la qualité finale d’un lot de produits. Grâce à l’utilisation des techniques d’apprentissage automatique, cette approche modélise le lien entre les événements d’alarmes des processus et la qualité finale du lot. Dans la même veine, nous proposons une autre approche basée sur le traitement du texte d’évènement d’alarmes dans le but de prédire la qualité finale du produit. Cette approche présente une amélioration en termes de performances et en termes d’exploitation de plus d’information disponible dans le texte d’alarme. Enfin, nous proposons un cadre d’analyse des activations d’alarmes en présentant un ensemble d’outils d’évaluation de performances et plusieurs techniques de visualisation interactive plus adaptées pour la surveillance et l’évaluation des processus de fabrication de semi-conducteurs. Pour chacune des approches susmentionnées, l’efficacité est démontrée à l’aide d’un ensemble de données réelles obtenues à partir d’une usine de fabrication de semi-conducteurs
This thesis addresses the prediction of product quality and improving the performance of diagnostic alarms in a semiconductor facility. For this purpose, we exploit the alarm history collected during production. First, we propose an approach to model and estimate the degradation risk of the final product associated with each alarm triggered according to its activation behavior on all products during production. Second, using the estimated risk values for any alarm, we propose an approach to predict the final quality of the product's lot. This approach models the link between process alarm events and the final quality of product lot through machine learning techniques. We also propose a new approach based on alarm event text processing to predict the final product quality. This approach improves performance and exploits more information available in the alarm text. Finally, we propose a framework for analyzing alarm activations through performance evaluation tools and several interactive visualization techniques that are more suitable for semiconductor manufacturing. These allow us to closely monitor alarms, evaluate performance, and improve the quality of products and event data collected in history. The effectiveness of each of the above approaches is demonstrated using a real data set obtained from a semiconductor manufacturing facility

L'objectif de cette étude est de caractériser le pilotage des performances énergétiques à partir d'une analyse d'actions d'économie d'énergie dans leur phase de formulation. Les actions, objet de l'étude, sont recueillies dans de grandes entreprises industrielles tunisiennes opérant dans les secteurs des matériaux de construction, de la chimie et de l'énergie. La diversité de ces actions et leur planification sont très souvent traitées en littérature. Notre observation montre en plus que certaines de ces actions relèvent plutôt de l'innovation. Ainsi, le pilotage des performances énergétiques peut être appréhendé dans une logique de maîtrise ou dans une logique de développement. Après une période d'observation, nous avons constitué une base de données à partir d'un échantillon d'actions que nous avons jugé représentatif. Nous avons alors dégagé les variables de définition de l'action et nous les avons organisées dans une approche systémique. Une analyse d'invariance sur ces variables de définition nous a permis de classer les actions en trois catégories homogènes. Nous en déduisons alors trois modes différents de pilotage que nous proposons de désigner par : pilotage arithmétique, pilotage algorithmique et pilotage heuristique. Les cas pratiques choisis ont permis d'illustrer chacun de ces modes. Le pilotage arithmétique assure un fonctionnement stable par l'application des règles dans le cadre des procédures existantes. Il prend en charge les aspects opérationnels. Le pilotage algorithmique assure un fonctionnement cohérent par la vérification et la mise en œuvre de modèles de fonctionnement dans le cadre des ressources disponibles. Le pilotage heuristique, est un mode qui assure un fonctionnement intelligent par le traitement de la complexité cognitive et combinatoire des situations nouvelles. Il permet d'intégrer à la notion de pilotage une dimension essentielle pour le développement de la valeur: l'innovation.

CC-Systems has developed a diagnostic system used to monitor the operation of crane-spreaders, called Diagnostics Runtime Engine (DRE). The system monitors signals from the spreaders’ control system and performs different actions when needed. The system can for example send an e-mail to an operator if a problem occurs. The control system is implemented in a softPLC named CoDeSys. A softPLC is a kind of virtual machine for running PLC programs on a normal computer, while the diagnostic system is a normal computer program that runs under the host operating system. The system is currently operational and in use, but there have been concerns with the system’s ability of performing well under a large signal load, preventing it from being used in large systems. Tests have shown that a large amount of time is spent copying signals from the control system in the virtual machine to the diagnostic system that runs directly under the host operating system. In this Master’s Thesis a new design for the diagnostic system was developed and implemented as a prototype under the name CoDeSys Diagnostics Runtime Engine (CODRE). This new design eliminated the need of copying signals from the control system and thus allowed for much better scaling. Testing showed that CODRE was capable of handling almost twice as many signals as DRE within the same time constraints.

O intenso crescimento industrial associado às pressões de todos os setores da sociedade por processos, produtos e serviços mais ambientalmente corretos, levou ao surgimento de novos paradigmas de desenvolvimento que assegurem a perpetuação de recursos para as futuras gerações, alicerçada no tripé da sustentabilidade. Nesse contexto, para o setor produtivo, é nítida a necessidade de que os sistemas humanos devam ser considerados como parte dos sistemas naturais e se aproximar ao máximo das características destes. Essa concepção de sistemas industriais similares aos ecossistemas naturais, onde pouquíssimas perdas são verificadas, é a base do conceito de Ecologia Industrial, principal conceito usado no desenvolvimento desse trabalho para melhoria da sustentabilidade de uma empresa no setor eletroeletrônico, o que até o presente momento ainda não havia sido estudado. A metodologia adotada seguiu as premissas principais da Ecologia Industrial integradas ao Sistema Integrado de Gestão, a saber: o estabelecimento de ecossistemas industriais, a medição de desempenho através dos graus de sustentabilidade, e o amplo acesso à informação, via criação de um software customizado de Ecologia Industrial, que considera inclusive a comparação de produtos, com metodologia similar ao início de Análise do Ciclo de Vida simplificado, no que concerne ao desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Neste trabalho, o estudo de caso considerou uma empresa de grande porte e uma das características mais importantes observadas neste trabalho foram as similaridades, no país e no exterior, para implantação de sistemas de prevenção de poluição na área de microeletrônica. No que tange à área de Surface Mouting Technology, o estudo mostrou que, ao contrário dos setores de base, o maior impacto ambiental está relacionado à geração de resíduos sólidos e significativas perdas ambientais e econômicas são percebidas devido à Gestão de Fim de Tubo. A análise da área de Printed Circuit Board mostrou que ecossistemas industriais incipientes existem, tanto para água como para resíduos sólidos. 6 Através dos estudos de caso interno a essa empresa, foi possível concluir que no setor produtivo, mesmo em empresas de grande porte, que apresentam princípios, políticas e sistemas de gestão claramente definidos, a questão da sustentabilidade não é compreendida e aplicada em seu sentido mais amplo. Quanto aos ecossistemas industriais internos, ferramenta fundamental da Ecologia Industrial, a formação é muito difícil em função de tamanha distinção dos processos existentes em cada planta industrial. Notou-se a viabilidade, com ganhos expressivos, da formação de ecossistemas externos principalmente para dois tipos de co-produtos da empresa, metais nobres e óleos. Assim, conclui-se que as ferramentas da Ecologia Industrial adotadas para melhorar a sustentabilidade empresarial propiciam maior eficiência a partir da adoção de métricas, atingem, em geral, a maioria dos envolvidos e operações, permitem melhor formatação e padronização de processos, favorecem a visão sistêmica da organização, tornando a tomada de decisão um processo factual e por fim, permite a implantação de métodos e/ou procedimentos para mudança estratégica, incluindo a mudança cultural, fator essencial para o desenvolvimento. Deste modo, foi possível observar que a formação de tais ecossistemas industriais, em geral, promove uma melhora ambiental, econômica e social. Estas ferramentas, muito provavelmente, podem ser rapidamente aplicadas, seguindo-se a metodologia proposta, em qualquer empreendimento, independente de seu porte ou processo de produção.
The industrial development and the increasing pressure for more environmentally friendly processes, products and services led to new development paradigms, based on the three sustainability pillars, that essentially assure resource availability for the next generations. The need for making human systems part of the natural ecosystems and similar to natural environment is clearly stated. This approach, which is the basis of Industrial Ecology, aims to enhance industrial symbiosis cooperating to mitigate process or material loss. Industrial Ecology was the main concept used to improve sustainability at an electronic company, first applied to the industrial area in Brazil. The defined methodology followed the most important premises of Industrial Ecology aligned to the Integrated Management Systems which consists in the establishment of industrial ecosystems, performance evaluation through sustainability levers and the spread of information to stakeholders, by the development of a customized Industrial Ecology software, which also compares products with the simplified Life Cycle Assessment methodology, when it comes to the development of new products. Indeed, the case study has been conducted at a big enterprise and the similarities for Pollution Prevention implementation between the Brazilian facility and the European one were the most important features related to the microelectronics area. Regarding the Surface Mouting Technology area, this study has shown that unlike other segments, the end of pipe is still applied. The most relevant environmental impact is the generation of solid waste and therefore significant economic and environmental loss is easily observed. The Printed Circuit Board sector was also analyzed and the results showed that industrial ecosystems are not formalized but do exist for water and solid waste. Important issues were concluded such as the idea that even though big enterprises present principles, policy and sound management systems, the sustainability concept is not fully comprehensive and applied. The development of industrial ecosystems is considered one of the fundamental tools of industrial ecology. It is hard to establish them within the facilities 8 once the processes differ significantly. However, the creation of external ecosystems for metals and oils, leads to great benefit. It was possible to conclude that the Industrial Ecology concept tools used in the company did benefit its industrial sustainability because it allowed more efficient processes through the use of metrics, involved most of the employees and operations, favored better process standardization, enhance the systemic approach making the decision process easier once it is based on real time facts and it finally contributed to the adoption of methods, systems and procedures that enabled deep strategic change and as a consequence improved cultural change, which is one of the essential aspects of the sound sustainable development. Finally, it is suggested that Industrial Ecology be used as a fruitful metaphor for facilitating the improvement of sustainability. The tools developed in this study might be easily applied to any enterprise, independently of the level or production processes. Ecosystems

The wide range of applications for single input single output controllers have encouraged interest in monitoring their performance. Over the past two decades researchers in the area have found many performance enhancement opportunities by applying these techniques. These are most evident in large operational plants with hundreds of controllers being monitored at the same time. Early performance measures were based on minimum variance control as a benchmark for controller performance. Many other procedures have since emerged that have improved the level of accuracy in these performance measures. In addition, these improvements made it easier to implement control loop performance monitoring in large industrial settings. This thesis looks at the performance measures in use for single input single output controllers. The work here looks at incorporating these different measures for a specific manufacturing plant. Ways of identifying the goals and objectives of controllers in a system are presented. Furthermore, measures are proposed that most accurately indicate if these goals and objectives are being met. The concept is demonstrated on a distillation system in a gas plant. It is shown how using these objective driven techniques can provide the user with sound results. These results do not require much user analysis to identify sources of problems and areas of improvement.

The general trend towards the use of high performance lubricants and environmentally friendly products supports the design of new industrial lubricants. Therefore, there are good practical reasons to extend the research related to lubrication. Bio-oils, as promising growing substitutes for mineral oils, need more research to deal with new and inherited problems. Meanwhile, there is no complete understanding of the lubrication phenomenon, nor a complete rheological characterization of oil lubricants. This research is an effort to study industrial bio-lubricants and to develop a more comprehensive approach, at the same time correlating their rheological and tribological behavior. Different commercial canola oil based lubricants were studied using different techniques. For validation and comparison, engine oil, silicone oil and mineral hydraulic oil were tested. Bio-lubricants exhibited constant viscosity at both moderate and high shear rates and shear thinning at low shear rates and temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. Frequency sweep tests revealed a significant viscoelasticity of bio-lubricant which developed over time. Time dependence, structure recovery, gap size effect, surfactant behavior, and geometry’s material influence were all investigated. A high pressure cell and a polarized light microscope coupled with the rheometer were used to investigate the bio-lubricants. Thermal analysis was conducted using a differential scanning calorimeter. Several transition points were identified in the range of temperatures from -30 to 100 degrees Celsius, and the results have been connected to the viscoelastic behavior. Different tribological tests were used to investigate the lubricity of lubricants and bio-lubricants added by liquid crystals. The coefficient of friction, at tested temperatures, and the wear rate were observed over time. Adding two percent of ionic liquid crystals improved the wear resistance of the oil, but the bio-lubricant had the lowest coefficient of friction. This research could be considered as pioneer work. An attempt was made to achieve profound perspective matching between rheometry, tribology and thermal analysis. Some assumptions explaining the rheological and tribological behavior were hypothesized and associated with arguments and discussions. Based on, Imaginary scenario of bio-hydraulic oil behavior within a small gap was visualized.

Our analysis aims to further the understanding of the factors that determine economic activity and productivity growth at the regional level. More specifically, we compile three essays investigating some of the sources that may be held responsible for the differential economic performance of regions in India and the UK, while providing evidence drawn from two of the fastest growing sectors in each country: Indian registered manufacturing and the UK service sector. India is currently one of the top-10 largest economies in the world while exhibiting the second largest GOP amongst emerging economies. At an average rate of GOP growth between six and seven per cent per year, India is forecasted to take over Italy's position in G7 by 2016, and shortly later achieve levels of domestic output comparable to those of France (2019) and United Kingdom (2023). Despite its spectacular confederate economic performance, however, the regional disparity in domestic state product has widened significantly, especially following the post reform (1991) era. Our first two essays discuss these disparities and develop two simple theoretical frameworks which are then tested out rigorously using cutting-edge econometric techniques, and snowing how the distribution of national investment in infrastructure across states should be expected to affect overall economic activity. Our results indicate that investment in infrastructure is a major determinant of regional economic performance and a central factor on the decision of firms to locate across states. Finally, the third essay discusses the distribution of economic acti~ity in the UK, focusing on a sector that has so far failed to attract much research attention, possibly due to the, till recently, limited availability of usable data. Using a simple theoretical model of Hotelling type as a general guide, we exploit firm-level data (50,000 observations) for the years 1997-2003 to show how the existence of knowledge spillovers leads to the concentration of dqmestic retailers in regions where the presence of Multinational Enterprisers (MNE) is most eminent. Our results confirin the existence of positive spillovers, which we then find to be local in nature and to increase with the absorptive capacity of firms.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 52).
This paper uses statistical regression techniques, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), to develop models to explain the relationship between physical characteristics and performance of industrial properties. The physical characteristics studied in this paper include building size, building age, building type, and tenant type. Rent and occupancy rates are used as a proxy for performance. The results show that building size, building age, building type and tenant type are significant variables in the explanation of industrial property performance and volatility of annual growth of performance, but these variables are not found to exert a significant influence on the long-term trend of performance. The results also indicate that the decrease in size of industrial properties increase their performance ( or the relationship is negative) but decrease their volatility of annual growth of performance ( or the relationship is positive); medium-age industrial properties outperform newer and older ones in both performance and volatility of annual growth of performance; R&D industrial properties have the best performance and also the highest volatility of annual growth of performance among the three building types: manufacturing, warehouse, and R&D; single tenant industrial properties have better performance and higher volatility of annual growth of performance than multitenant ones.
by Yajie Zhao.
S.M.

Ce mémoire, réalisé dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE avec la société Schneider Electric, porte sur l’évaluation sur l’évaluation d’indicateurs de sûreté de fonctionnement des architectures de contrôle-commande. Le problème industriel posé est un problème d’aide au dimensionnement des architectures en réponse à des exigences de performances. Les problèmes scientifiques sont relatifs, d’une part, à la génération automatique des modèles support à l’évaluation pour un ensemble d’architectures dans la mesure où leur construction manuelle ne permet pas de faire face à la multiplicité des architectures dans des délais contraints, et, d’autre part, à la prise en compte des phénomènes de dégradation dans les modèles dysfonctionnels des architectures. Le choix du formalisme de modélisation s’est porté sur les réseaux de Petri colorés et temporisés (CPN) qui permet notamment la hiérarchisation des modèles et la prise en compte de phénomènes temporisés dont les durées peuvent suivre des distributions de probabilité. Notre contribution se présente sous la forme d’une méthodologie permettant la construction automatique d’un modèle CPN d’architecture par instanciation d’un ensemble de composants élémentaires et de la définition d’observateurs génériques couvrant les besoins exprimés et qui permettent de déterminer les indicateurs de sûreté de fonctionnement tels que la fiabilité, la disponibilité du système, son MTTF, le nombre de défaillances mais aussi des facteurs d’importance permettant d’orienter les choix des concepteurs en phase d’élaboration en réponse à un appel d’offre
This PhD dissertation, supported by a CIFRE agreement with the Schneider Electric company, deals with the dependability performances assessment of industrial control system (ICS) architectures. The industrial challenge is to provide a tool able to guide on the sizing of ICS architectures in terms of performances. The scientific challenge in another hand is double. Firstly, we must generate automatically the models which are the core of the performance evaluation for a set of ICS architecture, since their manual modelling is challenging based on the wide variety of architecture to model and the limited amount of time and resources. Secondly, we must consider the degradation phenomena in those architectures. The selected modelling formalism is the coloured and timed Petri nets (CPN) which allows to represent model hierarchically, to handle random time delays which help on characterizing the components lifetime. Our contribution is on the development of a method for automatically generate a CPN model of ICS by instantiating a set of elementary components and defining generic observers, covering dependability indicators such as system reliability, availability, MTTF, number of failures and importance measures, and allowing to guide the choices of system integrators during pre-sales stage

Les bâtiments commerciaux et industriels présentent une part non négligeable de la demande énergétique. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse est d’étudier par des simulations numériques, le comportement thermoaéraulique des bâtiments de grand volume à usage commercial ou industriel et d’améliorer leurs performances afin de réduire leurs consommations énergétiques tout en assurant le confort thermique des occupants. La première partie de l’étude consiste à définir et à évaluer les paramètres d’enveloppe et de ventilation qui affectent la consommation d’énergie et le confort thermique de ce type de bâtiment. À travers des modèles développés (multizone et zonal) sur un bâtiment « générique », nous présentons l’impact des paramètres les plus importants (orientation du bâtiment, isolation thermique de l’enveloppe, propriétés radiatives de la toiture, sol, inertie thermique interne, diffusion de l’air…) sur la consommation énergétique et le confort. Ces paramètres sont déterminants surtout dans la conception de la toiture et du plancher de par leur influence sur les performances énergétiques du bâtiment étudié. Cette modélisation thermoaéraulique est ensuite appliquée à un bureau-entrepôt commercial existant. L’exploitation du modèle, dont les résultats sont confrontés aux mesures, et des études paramétriques permettent de démontrer l’efficacité de stratégies de ventilation naturelle nocturne. Dans la deuxième partie, nous évaluons certaines solutions de rafraîchissement passif (isolation thermique, ventilation naturelle nocturne, revêtement de toiture « cool roof ») permettant de maintenir le confort thermique en hiver aussi bien qu’en été tout en minimisant la consommation énergétique. Enfin, une étude d’optimisation nous permet de déterminer les paramètres optimums en fonction des conditions climatiques et des deux objectifs de confort et de performance énergétique. Ce travail ouvre de nombreuses perspectives sur la méthodologie de conception des enveloppes et l’adaptation du fonctionnement des installations de ventilation pour le rafraîchissement passif des bâtiments
Commercial and industrial buildings represent a significant part of total energy demand. The objective of this thesis is to study the thermal behavior and airflows of commercial or industrial buildings (low-rise and large volume) by numerical simulations, to improve their thermal performance in order to reduce their energy consumption while maintaining thermal comfort of the occupants. The first part of this study consists in identifying and evaluating the keys factors that affect the energy demand and thermal comfort of these buildings. Using the developed models (multizone and zonal), we present the impact of the most important parameters (building orientation, thermal insulation, radiative properties of the roof, soil, internal thermal inertia, air diffusion…) on energy consumption and thermal comfort. We have identified here that the main influencing parameters can be found in the design of the roof and the ground floor considering the energy performance of the studied building. The developed model is then applied to a real commercial building. Results showed that the predictions are in good agreement with the measurements and that night-time natural ventilation can be an efficient passive cooling technique to avoid overheating in summer. In the second part, we evaluate the efficiency of different passive cooling techniques (thermal insulation, night-time natural ventilation, cool roof…) applied to ensure the thermal comfort in winter as well as in summer while minimizing the energy consumption. Finally, an optimization study is proposed to determine the optimal set of parameters for both objective functions considering the passive cooling techniques and the energy demand according to different climatic zones

The industry is constantly growing and thus needs new applications for the future. The problems for these technologies are the main worries for the developers because in an industrial environment there are interference factors, which make use of other kind of technologies and antennas. Generally, the technologies currently used in an industry are not optimized for industrial environments although some standard organizations are working to develop future standards (ETSI). Special structures, which are used in industries, include different materials; these materials produce changes in the behavior of transmitters and receivers. Absorbent materials can reduce this problem and reduce propagation. The main goal of this project is to analyze different antennas using the software Savant, to choose the best one in an industrial environment. The analysis of antennas will simulate the usage of different antennas in an industrial environment in the frequency range of (300 MHz- 3 GHz). Further, different coats will be used to find out which one is the better one concerning the coat. By using the software Savant we will design the coating to analyze it. We will use two different kinds of coat Metal (PEC) and Single layer dielectric.Once we found the result we will look in the range of frequency 2.4 GHz and we will select the best one for calculating the losses of the difference between total field of Metal PEC and Singer layer dielectric. The study showed that the best antennas for industrial environments are the dipole and monopole ones, because both of them have low losses in this hostile environment. The sections provided during the study intend to guide the research into the important aspects that revolve around the experiment.

Measuring the Environmental Performance of industry is an essential element in the movement to minimise the impact that industry has on the environment. There has been a significant increase in interest in this area over the last few years, however it is recognised that the available literature still tends towards the conceptual and theoretical and there is little practical advice for a business wishing to undertake environmental performance measurement. This project has concentrated on the practical development of tools and techniques for measuring environmental performance in a large, complex engineering company, using LucasVarity as an example. The portfolio discusses the general trends and approaches in environmental performance measurement, explains the specific aspects developed in practice and their results. Finally, the general conclusions for industry are discussed.

Implantation of methodologies and tools for the quality and of productivity improvement in industrial and services companies has been growing in order to make possible the obtaining of products and services every better and cheaper. In this survival effort, a lot of companies have been stimulating the engagement of all the areas in adoption of varied strategies that can contribute to make a most competitive organization. One of these strategies is named by Six Sigma. In an uncommon application, it was implemented for optimizing the acting of a great chemical company industrial restaurant placed in São José dos Campos in the state of São Paulo. By the use of a group of indicators for the attendance and analysis of the results of Six Sigma, it was possible to verify if there was or no increments in associated results the administration of restaurant businesses, as well as, to evaluate the effectiveness of the used indicators. The results evidenced won with the use of the strategy Six Sigma, especially concerning to the reduction of costs operation in the restaurant, in function of the wastes reduction or elimination.
A implantação de metodologias e ferramentas para a melhoria da qualidade e de produtividade em empresas industriais e do segmento de serviços tem crescido na medida em que estas procuram viabilizar a obtenção de produtos cada vez melhores e mais baratos. Neste esforço de sobrevivência e crescimento, muitas empresas têm estimulado o engajamento de todas as áreas na adoção de variadas estratégias que possam contribuir para tornar a organização mais competitiva. Uma destas estratégias é conhecida como Seis Sigma. Em uma aplicação incomum, esta foi implementada como meio de otimizar o desempenho de um restaurante industrial de uma grande empresa do setor químico situada em São José dos Campos no estado de São Paulo. Utilizando-se um conjunto de indicadores para o acompanhamento e análise dos resultados do Seis Sigma, foi possível verificar se houve ou não incrementos nos resultados associados a gestão de negócios do referido restaurante, assim como, avaliar a eficácia dos indicadores utilizados. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram ganhos com a utilização da estratégia Seis Sigma, especialmente no tocante a redução dos custos de operação do restaurante, em função da redução e eliminação de desperdícios.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de répondre à trois questions principales ; commentexpliquer et interpréter un réseau de collaboration, est-ce que des firmes avec une positionparticulière dans un réseau bénéficient d’une performance accrue et enfin, existe-t-il desstructures de réseaux qui favorisent l’innovation ?Pour répondre à ces questions, la thèse est organisée en trois parties. La première partieprésente, dans un premier chapitre, une revue analytique de la littérature suivie d’un chapitrequi présente la théorie derrière une des méthodes d’analyse réseau utilisée dans cette thèse :les Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGM).La seconde partie présente trois analyses empiriques. Le premier chapitre empirique analysel’impact du cycle de vie de la technologie sur la dynamique du réseau de collaboration autourdes composites structuraux en aéronautique. Les deux chapitres suivants se concentrent sursecteur aéronautique et le secteur des biotechnologies respectivement. L’objectif de ceschapitres est d’analyser la dynamique structurelle et d’identifier s’il existe un lien entreposition dans le réseau et la performance de la firme.La dernière partie cherche à identifier des structures de réseaux qui favorisent l’innovation.Un modèle à base d’agents (ABM) est proposé pour répondre à cette question
This thesis aims to answer three main questions ; how can one explain andinterpret the structure of an innovation network, are there positions in a network which allowfor an increased performance for firms and finally, are there network structures which favourinnovation ? In order to answer these questions, the thesis is organised in three parts.The first part presents, in a first chapter, an analytical review of the literature followed by achapter presenting the theory behind one of the network analysis methods: ExponentialRandom Graph Models (ERGM).The second part of the thesis presents three empirical analyses. The first empirical chapteranalyses the impact of the life-cycle of the technology on the structural dynamics of thecollaboration network for Structural Composite Materials. The following two chapters focuson two sectors, the aerospace and biotech sector. The aim of these chapters is to analyse thestructural dynamics of collaboration networks as well as identifying a link between networkposition and firm performance.The third and final part of this thesis searches for network structures which might favourinnovation. An Agent-Based Model is used to answer this final question

Ce mémoire, réalisé dans le cadre d’une thèse sous convention CIFRE avec la société Schneider-Electric et l’Université de Lorraine à travers le laboratoire du CRAN, porte sur l’évaluation des performances temporelles des architectures de contrôle-commande distribuées sur un réseau de communication. Le besoin industriel s’exprime sous la forme d’un outil d’aide au dimensionnement des architectures en phase d’avant-vente caractérisée par une connaissance partielle de ces dernières. Le problème scientifique sous-jacent est relatif à la génération automatique des modèles servant de support à l’évaluation. En effet, l’évaluation des performances doit être réalisée pour un ensemble important d’architectures, dans un temps court, difficilement compatible avec une construction manuelle des modèles. Notre contribution porte sur la définition formelle, à l’aide de réseaux de Petri colorés et temporisés, d’un modèle « constructeur » d’architectures embarquant des mécanismes de configuration, d’instanciation et de paramétrage. Plusieurs algorithmes sont proposés pour, d’une part, construire automatiquement le modèle d’une architecture donnée, à partir d’une description formelle de sa topologie et d’une librairie de modèles d’équipements de contrôle-commande, et, d’autre part, pour générer les observateurs requis à partir d’une description formelle des performances à évaluer. Ces différents algorithmes ont été implantés dans un outil interfacé, d’une part avec l’outil Schneider de description des architectures, et, d’autre part avec le simulateur de l’outil CPN Tools qui fournit une estimation des performances via des simulations de Monte-Carlo. L’intérêt de cette approche a été illustrée sur la base de quelques architectures types fournies par la société Schneider-Electric
This PhD dissertation, supported by CIFRE convention between the company Schneider-Electric and the University of Lorraine through the CRAN laboratory, deals with the assessment of temporal performances for a networked distributed control system. The industrial need was the development of a quotation and sizing tool of industrial control architecture during pre-sales stage. This stage is characterized by limited information about the process and the customers’ needs. The underlying scientific problematic was the ability to generate automatically models serving as support for the evaluation. In fact, performance assessment is realized for a wide range of architecture during a small amount of time, which is not compliant with a manual definition of the models. Our contribution is mainly based on a formal definition of a “builder” model with Colored and Timed Petri Nets which embeds mechanisms for configuration, instantiation and parameters setting of the architecture models. Several algorithms have been proposed for firstly build automatically the architecture Petri Nets model from a formal description of the topology and from a component model library and, secondly, for generating performance observers. Theses algorithms have been implemented on a tool gathering a user interface developed by Schneider –Electric and the Petri Nets simulator called CPN Tools which provides the performance assessment through Monte-Carlo simulation. The added value of this approach has been illustrated through case studies provided by Schneider-Electric