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ABSTRACT Date:                           02 June 2024 Level:                          Master thesis in Product and Process Development, advanced level, 30                                       credits. Institution:                 School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Mälardalen University Author:                       Aziz EzzAlden                        Zain Momin    20th November 1998  10th August 1998                                Title:                           Optimizing Logistic Operations: exploring diverse approaches to order                                         point  dynamics  Tutor:                         Ebba Bengtsson, Organisation                                     Yuji Yamamoto, Mälardalen University Keywords:                  RFID, Kanban; Push; Pull; Just In Time; internal logistics; Signals;                                      Material flow; Order point Purpose:                     The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of order points on                                           logistics operations and how smart inventory technologies address the                                                 challenges of order  point management. By utilizing a framework that                                                                  aligns with logistics operations and smart inventory practices.  Research  questions:  1. How does order point affect the logistic operations and their                                              performance?                           2. How can smart inventory address the challenges related to order                           points?  Method:                      This study adopts an abductive approach, facilitating a dynamic                                      interaction between theoretical frameworks and empirical findings.                                       The theoretical framework is based on scientific articles. The study                                      focuses on a singular main case organisation, supplemented by                                                    comparative analyses involving three additional organisations,                                       forming a case study design. Empirical data allocation used multiple                                       semi-structured interviews, unstructured interviews, and observations                                       to gather data.  Conclusion:                The study indicated that efficient order point systems are crucial for                                        ensuring timely material replenishment and optimizing material flow.                                        Additionally, smart inventory technologies offer effective solutions,                                        including real-time monitoring and automated reordering, which                                        minimize errors and enhance efficiency in logistical operations. / SAMMANFATTNING Datum:                        02 juni 2024 Nivå:                            Examensarbete i produkt- och processutveckling avancerad nivå, 30 hp.                                     Institution:                  Akademin för Innovation. Design och Teknik. IDT, Mälardalens                                                 universitet  Författare:                  Aziz EzzAlden                        Zain Momin     20 November 1998   10 Augusti 1998                                Titel:                            Optimering av logistik operationer: utforska olika tillvägagångssätt för                                        order punkts dynamik. Handledare:               Ebba Bengtsson, Organisation                                     Yuji Yamamoto, Mälardalens universitet Nyckelord:                  RFID, Kanban; Push, Pull; Just In Time; instant logistics; Signaler,                                       Materialflöde; Order Punkt Syfte:                          Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur orderpunkter påverkar                                      logistik operationer och hur smarta lager teknologier hanterar                                      utmaningarna med orderpunkt hantering. Detta genom att använda en                                    ram som överensstämmer med logistikoperationer och smarta                                    lagerpraxis. Frågeställningar:       1. Hur påverkar order punkten logistikoperationer och deras prestanda?                                      2. Hur kan smarta lager hantera utmaningarna relaterade till                                                                order punkter? Metod:                          Denna studie antar ett abduktivt tillvägagångssätt som underlättar en                                         dynamisk interaktion mellan teoretiska ramverk och empiriska resultat.                                        Det teoretiska ramverket är baserat på vetenskapliga artiklar. Studien                                           fokuserar på en enda huvudorganisation, kompletterad med jämförande                                          analyser som involverar tre ytterligare organisationer, vilket bildar en                                         fallstudiedesign. Empiriska datainsamlingen använde sig av flera                                          semi-strukturerade intervjuer, ostrukturerade intervjuer och                                                observationer för att samla in data. Slutsats:                       Studien indikerade att effektiva orderpunkt system är avgörande för att                                        säkerställa att material återfylls i rätt tid och för att optimera                                       materialflödet. Dessutom erbjuder smarta lager teknologier effektiva                                       lösningar, inklusive realtidsövervakning och automatisk ombeställning,                                        vilket minimerar fel och ökar effektiviteten i logistikoperationer.

Utgångspunkten i examensarbetet är flödesmässiga förbättringar. Vid kontakt med fallföretaget presenterades en för företaget viktig produkt. Värdeflödeskedjan för denna produkt går genom flera värdeadderande processer, samt flera icke värdeadderande aktiviteter, vilka företaget önskar kartlägga. Dessa aktiviteter utgörs både av icke värdeskapande, men nödvändiga, aktiviteter, likväl som rena slöserier. Därmed är studiens syfte: Att kartlägga det interna flöde produkten följer, i syfte att identifiera och minimera icke värdeskapande aktiviteter, för att slutligen utifrån teorin utforma förslag på flödesmässig effektivisering och förbättring För att besvara syftet har två frågeställningar formulerats: ”Hur ser värdeflödet för aktuell produkt ut i nuläget, samt vilka slöserier kan identifieras?” samt, baserat på den första: ”Vilka aktiviteter kan uteslutas utan att kundens förväntningar påverkas negativt samt vilka förslag kan ges utifrån teorin för att effektivisera och förbättra flödet?” Frågeställningarna har besvarats genom analys av empiriskt material insamlat genom dokumentstudier, intervjuer samt observationer. Studiens resultat går i linje med de centrala teorierna inom konceptet Lean, vilket anammats och praktiseras av verksamheter av vitt skilda karaktärer. Utifrån den genomförda värdeflödesanalysen för aktuell produkt identifierades slöserier i det logistiska flödet, vilka analyseras och avhandlas. Utifrån den genomförda värdeflödesanalysen har förslag på önskat framtida läge formulerats och illustrerats med grund i befintlig processgruppering och - indelning, i vilken slöserierna minimerats. Utifrån studiens empiriska material och resultat skönjas ett utbildningsbehov i organisationen. Genom att öka den teoretiska och praktiska förståelsen för centrala delar, begrepp och verktyg inom konceptet Lean kan förbättringar inom företagets internlogistik uppnås, och i förlängningen, enligt teorin, för hela företaget. Arbetets flödesövergripande perspektiv medför vissa begränsningar. De ingående värdeadderande processerna har inte analyserats djupare än till deras flödesmässiga påverkan i form av takt och cykeltid, då detta är av processteknisk karaktär.

The study reveals improvement areas in terms of lead time and quality in a traditionalsoftware development process of a large manufacturing-oriented organization, andidentifies four obstacles to the application of a Lean software development frameworkin order to achieve such improvements. The data from interviews are matched tofour predefined categories. These categories are evaluated using value streammapping and a framework of seven common improvement areas in softwaredevelopment. A large project and task tracking system indicate that lead time is a realproblem in the process. The most significant improvement area is wait time forchange approval meetings. A second prominent improvement area is the large amountof approval handshakes. At least a few of these handshakes are always approved, thusadding unnecessary lead time to the process. The four most imminent obstacles in adopting lean software development areidentified through estimating the efficiency of two in-house derivations of Scrum andKanban. The first obstacle is deep vertical but narrow horizontal expertise amongdevelopers. With some systems, there’s only one developer who knows how tomaintain the product. This makes it impossible to work as a team which is animperative principle of lean. A second obstacle is how the teams are arrangedorganizationally. They have a functional setup over three departments and threemanagers, which to some extent create a silo mentality, rendering cooperationdifficult. A third obstacle is how the teams are arranged geographically. Split over twolocations, manufacturing and headquarters, they have different customers, objectivesand a plain unfamiliarity with another that has reduced the will and opportunity tocommunicate and coordinate. A fourth obstacle is the inherent conflict between theprescriptive activities of ITIL, optimized for IT operational services,  and theadaptability of agile methodologies, optimized for rapid change and empiricaldecisions. ITIL fulfills a sometimes uncalled for need to get all changes approvedthrough several layers of management. The study concludes that Lean software development is in conflict with manytraditional values of a manufacturing organization. Although lean may be prevalent inother parts of the organization, this does not necessarily include the IT function. ITstill seems to have hard time grasping the lean concepts of flow, waste and value.

Epiroc Drilling Tools is a manufacturing company that produces tools for rock mining and excavation. The company adopted the principles and framework of Lean Product Development in their R&D department with few practices of an agile framework called Scrum. These agile practices are used in the pre-study phase or the knowledge value stream of their lean product development. Hence, this research is limited to the knowledge value stream within the R&D department. The use of agile project management in manufacturing industry is unique and majority of the agile frameworks are specifically designed to suit the needs of software development companies. Several theories like Scrum, Lean, Kanban and DSDM were studied by the researchers to scrutinize the current framework of the department. The challenges and the similarities of the currently used framework with several other agile frameworks and the companies are discussed. Several qualitative research methods were adopted to know the viewpoints of the working employees in the department which are compared with other companies like Volvo Cars, ABB, LShift, EnergySoftware and from another division of Epiroc called Rocktec Automation who faced some similar challenges while practicing agile project management. After further research on the theories and comparison of the process, roles of the working employees and documentations within the knowledge value stream, DSDM had more similarities with the currently used framework than Scrum. This allowed to recommend ways that can fill the missing gaps using practices of DSDM without altering the existing working procedure in the knowledge value stream. This ensures that the improvement in the knowledge value stream remains continuous. On the contrary, a brief discussion is included on whether there is a need to be agile for manufacturing industries or is it just a changing trend in the field of project management.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-06-14T19:32:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissINP.pdf: 3139204 bytes, checksum: bf1eb57492874b8268a6e94a6fb1ef4a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-06-28T07:43:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissINP.pdf: 3139204 bytes, checksum: bf1eb57492874b8268a6e94a6fb1ef4a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-06-28T07:43:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissINP.pdf: 3139204 bytes, checksum: bf1eb57492874b8268a6e94a6fb1ef4a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-28T07:50:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissINP.pdf: 3139204 bytes, checksum: bf1eb57492874b8268a6e94a6fb1ef4a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Research centers are important for technologies development whose results could be innovative products. One of the difficulties that have arisen is in developing research projects with different professors in a multidisciplinary environment. Many authors have written about the importance project management skills, techniques and practices in research centers, but few show their applications and impacts. An action research was conducted to verify and select the root causes related to the challenges of project management in an international research center (Center for Research, Technology and Education in Vitreous Materials) through the Current Reality Tree. One of the main root causes found was about the lack of knowledge in project management methodology to elaborating multidisciplinary projects involving the transformation of a technology studied in an innovative product. Therefore, workshops were held to apply the Technology Roadmapping (TRM) and the product vision in a project that develops and intends to transform an innovative technology into a product. In addition, the Kanban approach was introduced for planning its main activities. The results from these applications of action research as well as the researchers' perception are discussed in detail. / Os centros de pesquisa possuem um importante papel no desenvolvimento de tecnologias que podem resultar em produtos inovadores. Uma das principais dificuldades é desenvolver projetos de pesquisa com especialistas em diferentes áreas, conciliando a multidisciplinaridade e a liberdade acadêmica. Muitos estudos abordam a importância de habilidades, técnicas e práticas de gerenciamento de projetos em centros de pesquisa, mas poucos efetivamente mostram aplicações e seus impactos. Por meio de uma pesquisa-ação, este trabalho analisou e selecionou as principais causas raízes das dificuldades de gestão de projetos em um centro de pesquisa (Center for Research, Technology and Education in Vitreous Materials) por meio do método da Árvore de Realidade Atual. Além disso, foi realizado um benchmarking em outro centro de pesquisa a fim de verificar se estas dificuldades são recorrentes. A partir deste diagnóstico, uma das causas raízes priorizadas foi a falta de conhecimento de métodos de gestão para auxiliar no desenvolvimento de projetos multidisciplinares envolvendo a transformação das tecnologias pesquisadas em produtos. Com o intuito de minimizar os problemas relacionados a essa causa raíz, foram realizados workshops para a aplicação do método do Technology Roadmapping (TRM) e da prática de visão do produto em um projeto que desenvolve e pretende transformar uma tecnologia inovadora em produto. Como resultado dessas aplicações foi possível verificar a possibilidade de combinar o TRM e a visão para abrir novas perspectivas e rotas e, logo após, realizar a síntese do produto a ser desenvolvido.

Many companies today have to deal with business processes optimization, ongoing removal of system obstacles and identifying any bottlenecks laying on the way which are preventing us to reach our goals. I would like to show how we have dealt with similar problems in our case applied in the department of web application maintenance. In the first chapter I will introduce the basic information about the history, environment the company operate in and maintenance activities which are part of the process. Following with description all of the system obstacles and bottlenecks identified in the process and possible solutions or improvements for their elimination. In the last chapter I will present the achieved results after my executing of the proposed improvements and if the expectations have been met or not and what positive or negative influence it has brought.

The main goal of this diploma thesis is to investigate the possibilities of the usage of Kanban system within a banking environment. To achieve this goal, the history, advantages, disadvantages and main areas of its usage are analyzed and described. Another goal of this thesis is to define the suitable terminology for Czech environment and to inspect the extent to which the concept of Kanban is compatible with the existing approaches and methodologies to project management. The market analysis of available software tools to support the concept of Kanban is performed (criteria definition, evaluation and final comparision). Based on all the previously described outputs a methodology to implement Kanban in banking environment is designed.This methodology is then used in the final chapter of the thesis -- the case study from an international bank, providing middle management with a step by step guide to successfuly implement Kanban system.

One of objectives of practical part of the thesis is to perform an analysis of current state of project management in selected organization. Based on its specific environment and identified opportunities for improvement it follows up with formalization of recommended design and way of implementation of alternative approach for project management which uses appropriate agile elements but also reflects specific needs and limits of the organization. In its theoretical part the thesis describes basic terminology related to management of projects and portfolios, selected models of project lifecycle, popular standards and methods of traditional project management, core philosophy of agile and selected practices of agile project management.

This thesis covers with the topic of process management and organization modeling. The goal is to design a future state of process architecture in selected department of a multi-national company, which is based on ISO / IEC TR 29110-5-1-2:2011 for very small entities, complemented by techniques of agile methodologies. The final form of the future proposal includes the conceptual and detail design according to the aforementioned standard, supported by the selected agile techniques, adjusted for the results of the differential analysis of conceptual and detail design and current status. The theoretical part presents the issue of process management and modeling standards and a methodology for modeling and control of IT processes. The practical part is devoted to the application of the selected standard for IT management processes and agile techniques that support this standard. The proposed process architecture is modeled using the selected methodology MMABP and prescribed standards. The work can serve as an inspiration for the company that would be suited a combination of traditional and agile approaches to IT.