Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:10:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 cavichioli_fa_me_jabo.pdf: 648826 bytes, checksum: 1314e2ae2e955d65b475307ab209b59f (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / A cultura do milho no Brasil tem importante papel sócio-econômico, pois desempenha uma função estratégica na cadeia produtiva. Para a indústria, o milho é uma matéria-prima que possibilita obtenção de subprodutos destinados a alimentação humana e animal. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho operacional relacionando o efeito da velocidade de deslocamento de um conjunto trator-semeadora-adubadora combinado com três populações de plantas (número de sementes por metro) na demanda energética do conjunto, na quantificação das características agronômicas referente a cultura do milho e análises físicas e químicas do solo. O experimento foi implantado na área da Fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Produção da UNESP/Jaboticabal, SP, o solo da área experimental é classificado como LATOSSOLO Vermelho eutroférrico típico, A moderado, textura argilosa. O experimento foi constituído de um esquema fatorial 2x3 conduzido sob delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados com tratamentos sob duas velocidades de deslocamento do conjunto trator-semeadora-adubadora (6,5 km h-1 e 4,5 km h-1), definidas em função da potência do trator a ser utilizado, e três populações de plantas de milho (55.000, 65.000 e 75.000 plantas ha-1), definidas em função do híbrido utilizado, com quatro repetições, perfazendo um total de 24 parcelas. Foram analisadas as variáveis referentes a demanda energética da operação de semeadura como: força e potência na barra de tração, consumo horário e operacional de combustível e capacidade de campo operacional. Variáveis referentes a cultura: número médio de dias para emergência das plântulas de milho, população inicial e final de plantas, altura de inserção da espiga viável, altura de plantas e diâmetro do colmo, número de fileiras, número de grãos na fileira e índice de espigas, produtividade de grãos... / The maize crop in Brazil has an important socioeconomic role that it plays a strategic role in the production chain for the industry, corn is a feedstock that allows obtaining products intended for human consumption and animal feed. This study aimed to evaluate the operational performance relating the effect of forward speed of a tractor-planter combined with three plant densities (number of seeds per meter) and the energy demand of the set, the quantification regarding agronomic corn and analysis physical and chemical of soil. The experiment was established in the area of Finance Education, Research and Production, UNESP / Jaboticabal, SP, the experimental area is classified as Typic Eutrudox, moderate, clayey. The experiment consisted of a 2x3 factorial conducted under randomized block design. treatments under two travel speeds of the tractor-planter (6.5 km h-1 and 4.5 km h-1), defined according to the power of the tractor to be used, and three plant populations of maize (55.000, 65.000 and 75.000 plants ha-1), defined depending on the hybrid used, with four replications, a total of 24 plots. We analyzed the variables of energy demand in the sowing operation such as strength and power at the drawbar, fuel consumption and fuel and operating performance in field operations. Variables related to culture: the average number of days to emergence of corn seedlings, initial and final population of plants, height of ear insertion viable, plant height and stem diameter, number of rows, number of grains in the row index and cob, yield and mass of cornstalks and weeds. The speed of movement influence on power, operational field capacity and fuel consumption, increasing these variables and consumption reducing operating this variable, the population of corn plants in the affected stem diameter, with the smallest population in the highest diameter The combination of higher speed of seeding... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Submitted by FERNANDA SCARANELLO DRUDI null (fernandadrudi@gmail.com) on 2017-09-20T23:50:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FERNANDA DRUDI.pdf: 2024833 bytes, checksum: cbe34437f894f4e8eacd8bd43eefb0cc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-09-25T14:36:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 drudi_fs_me_bot.pdf: 2024833 bytes, checksum: cbe34437f894f4e8eacd8bd43eefb0cc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-25T14:36:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 drudi_fs_me_bot.pdf: 2024833 bytes, checksum: cbe34437f894f4e8eacd8bd43eefb0cc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A cana-de-açúcar é de grande importância para o agronegócio brasileiro, sendo o Brasil o maior produtor mundial desta cultura. O sistema mecanizado na colheita da cana-de-açúcar é um dos fatores que contribuíram para o setor sucroenergético brasileiro ser mais sustentável com impactos positivos nas áreas ambientais, econômica, social e agronômica. O uso de metodologias se torna necessário para ensaiar as máquinas de forma concisa avaliando o seu desempenho operacional e a qualidade das operações agrícolas auxiliando nas tomadas de decisões operacionais, administrativas e financeiras. No âmbito da Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) não existe norma para a realização de ensaios com colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar com procedimentos padronizados, o que dificultam as comparações entre os resultados de diferentes ensaios. O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar os parâmetros para a padronização dos ensaios de colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar, com base na metodologia utilizada pelo Núcleo de Ensaio de Máquinas e Pneus Agroflorestais (Nempa) da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA) da Unesp de Botucatu, oriundos de trabalhos realizados por diversos autores, utilizando como fatores de avaliação o desempenho operacional e a qualidade da colheita. Foram utilizados dados de diversos relatórios de ensaio de campo que utilizaram a mesma metodologia, em diferentes localidades no país e no exterior, com colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar de uma e duas linhas, para diferentes produtividades agrícolas, portes do canavial, declividades do terreno, velocidades de deslocamento e rotação do motor. Os indicadores de qualidade e desempenho avaliados durante o trabalho foram o consumo de combustível, as perdas visíveis de matéria-prima no campo, a matéria estranha de origens vegetal e mineral, a altura das soqueiras e os danos e os abalos às soqueiras. A produtividade agrícola do canavial e a velocidade de deslocamento da colhedora influíram nos resultados dos indicadores avaliados durante o trabalho. A metodologia utilizada no ensaio de colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar à campo apresentou resultados compatíveis entre si e com a bibliografia consultada, mostrando ser uma técnica confiável em relação aos parâmetros avaliados, tanto para colhedoras de uma linha como para de duas linhas. / The sugarcane is of great importance for the Brazilian agribusiness. Brazil is the world largest producer of this crop. The mechanized system in the harvest of sugarcane is one of the factors that contributed to the Brazilian sugar-energy sector being more sustainable with positive impacts in the environmental, economic, social and agronomic areas. The use of methodologies becomes necessary to test the machines in a concise way by assessing their operational performance and the quality of agricultural operations, assisting in decision making operational, administrative and financial perspective. In the context of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) there is no standard for testing with chopping of sugar cane with standardized procedures, which make the comparisons between the results of various tests. The objective of this work was to present the parameters for the standardization of the tests of chopping of sugarcane, based on the methodology used by the Center for Testing of machines and Agroforestry Tires (Nempa) of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FCA) of UNESP, Botucatu, arising from work carried out by several authors, using as factors for evaluating the operational performance and harvest quality. We used data from several test reports of field that used the same methodology, in different locations in the country and abroad, with harvesting of sugarcane one and two lines for different agricultural yields, sizes of rushes, slope of the terrain, travel speed and rotation of the motor. The quality indicators and performance assessed during the study were the fuel consumption, the visible losses in the field, the strange matter of vegetable origin and mineral, the height of the stumps of the ratoon and its damage and shocks. The agricultural productivity of sugarcane field and the speed of displacement of the harvester influenced on the results of the indicators evaluated during the study. The methodology used in the testing of sugarcane harvesters in the field presented compatible results among themselves and with the bibliography consulted, showing it to be a reliable technique in relation to the parameters evaluated, for both one and two lines of sugarcane harvesters.

As maiores dificuldades ao se avaliar o desempenho operacional portuário concentram-se na identificação e na expurgação das particularidades físico-operacionais que podem distorcer as comparações e mascarar algumas ineficiências. Por esta razão, a maior parte dos autores considera a produtividade em um nível macro de agregação de valores e atividades, o que dificulta a orientação de ações corretivas. O propósito deste trabalho é desenvolver um método de avaliação do desempenho capaz de subsidiar a identificação das melhores práticas e a determinação de metas operacionais efetivamente pertinentes para cada sistema. Para isso, elaborou-se uma estrutura de indicadores de desempenho capaz de identificar e expurgar os efeitos das particularidades dos terminais. O cerne da estrutura de indicadores sugerida é o atendimento aos navios por terminais especializados na exportação de minério de ferro, sob o ponto de vista do operador portuário. Seu desenvolvimento fundamenta-se em conceitos e instrumentos já consagrados de gestão por processos, gestão de organizações e gestão da qualidade. O escopo do trabalho compreende a proposição do método de comparação e o estabelecimento de metas aplicado em um estudo de caso no contexto de um grande operador portuário. Conclui-se que o método é simples e eficaz, na medida em que cumpre seu objetivo de aperfeiçoar o monitoramento e o controle do desempenho operacional, podendo ser um instrumento importante para o desenvolvimento dos operadores portuários e, porque não, do Brasil, que é carente em infraestrutura. / The greatest difficulty in evaluating the operational performance of seaports lies in the identification and treatment of physical-operational particularities that can distort comparisons and mask inefficiencies. For this reason, the majority of authors consider port productivity at a highly aggregated level of values and activities, which hampers the orientation of corrective actions. This study aims at developing a performance evaluation method capable of assisting with the identification of best practices and the determination of operational goals which are indeed relevant to each system. The core of the proposed structure of indicators is the servicing of ships in specialized iron ore export terminals, from the port operator standpoint. The structure is elaborated on well-established concepts and instruments of process management, organizational management and quality management. The scope of this study encompasses the proposition of comparison method and the definition of goals applied to a case study regarding a large port operator. The study concludes that the method is simple and effective, as it fulfills its objective of enhancing the monitoring and the control of operational performance. The method could be an important tool for the development of port operators and, perhaps, of infrastructure-deficient Brazil.

Orientador: Antonio Jose da Silva Maciel / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T10:33:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gomes_JaimeAlberti_D.pdf: 1745292 bytes, checksum: a89e627d9bb974ba000ab13a77a9d405 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: O estudo de desempenho operacional de máquinas e implementos agrícolas é considerado fator de grande importância na busca de melhor eficiência da adequação dos equipamentos à operação a ser realizada. Conceitos de qualidade podem auxiliar nesse processo através da utilização de ferramentas para a aquisição de dados de forma rápida e simplificada. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer uma metodologia para avaliar o desempenho de cinco diferentes colhedoras de batata com base em parâmetros de qualidade para condições brasileiras e duas distintas colhedoras de batata nas condições européias. No Brasil, o trabalho foi desenvolvido em lavoura comercial de batata sob sistema de irrigação por pivô-central com a variedade Atlantic, em um latossolo vermelho de textura arenosa, no município de Vargem Grande do Sul, estado de São Paulo. Na Europa, o trabalho foi desenvolvido junto a Universidade de Wageningen, estado de Gelderland, Holanda. Para coleta de dados em campo, tanto para o trabalho desenvolvido no Brasil quanto na Holanda, foram montadas para cada uma das colhedoras avaliadas, malhas espacializadas dispostas com 5 linhas e 15 colunas, totalizando 75 pontos de amostragem eqüidistantes 15 metros. Para realização do trabalho, foi elaborado uma estratégia com 7 fases. Na primeira fase foram selecionados agricultores que utilizam da colheita mecanizada da cultura da batata para elencar e notificar as colhedoras no momento da operação. Na segunda fase foram avaliados os parâmetros de produção em cada ponto de amostragem para caracterização das áreas. Na terceira fase os agricultores foram orientados a realizar a aplicação de notas nos quesitos elencados em cada colhedora. Na quarta fase os trabalhos foram realizados em campo onde os agricultores notificaram cada máquina e demais dados foram coletados. Na quinta fase os dados foram processados, sendo utilizadas análise de estatística descritiva para os parâmetros de produção. Foi aplicado analise estatística não paramétrica para as notas atribuídas pelos agricultores. Na sexta fase foram realizados trabalhos com números índices nas notas atribuídas pelos agricultores. Na sétima fase foi realizado estudo econômico comparativo entre colheita semi-mecanizada e colheita mecanizada da cultura da batata para o trabalho no Brasil. Os resultados apresentaram correlação entre as notas atribuídas pelos agricultores e os resultados pesquisados a campo. Os dados de eficiência de campo apontaram para valores de 69,59% a 76,92% entre as colhedoras estudadas. Os números índices facilitaram uma melhor visualização e interpretação dos dados. Os estudos econômicos realizados no Brasil mostram que são necessários aproximadamente 43 homens para realizar o trabalho de uma colhedora. Com base nos resultados encontrados nos locais estudados, conclui-se que a metodologia proposta pode servir como ferramenta de auxilio simples, rápida e eficaz para a tomada de decisões e avaliação de desempenho de máquinas e implementos agrícolas / Abstract: The study of machine operational performance and agricultural equipment is considered a factor of great importance in the search of better efficiency adequacy of the equipment to the operation to be carried through. Concepts of quality can help in this process through the use of tools for the data acquisition in a fast and simplified way. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of five different potato harvester considering quality parameters. This work it consists of the methodology application for harvesters evaluation with in quality parameters in Brazilian conditions and European conditions. From Brazil, the work was developed in a potato commercial farming under irrigation system by central-pivot with the Atlantic variety, in one red latossol with sandy soiltexture, in Vargem Grande do Sul city, in the state of São Paulo. In Europe, the work was developed University of Wageningen, state of Gelderland, Holland. For the collection of data in field, so much for the work developed in Brazil as in Holland, it was mounted for each harvester, five in Brazil and two in Holland, grid displayed in 5 lines and 15 columns, totalizing 75 points of sampling. For the accomplishment of the work, a strategy with 7 phases was elaborated. In the first phase agriculturists whom use the mechanized harvest of potato culture had been selected to mention and to notify the harvester at the moment of the operation. In the second phase the production parameters in each point of sampling for area characterization had been evaluated. In the third phase the agriculturists were oriented to carry through the evaluation of items mentioned in each harvester. In the fourth phase the works had been carried through in field where the agriculturists had notified each machine and more data had been collected. In the fifth phase the data had been processed, being used descriptive statistics analysis for the production parameters. It was used free distribution statistics analyses for notes attributed for the agriculturists. In the sixth phase works with numbersindices had been carried through in the grades attributed by the agriculturists. In the seventh phase a comparative economic study between half-mechanized harvest and mechanized harvest of potato culture was carried through for the work in Brazil. The results presented a correlation among notes attributed by the agriculturists and the results searched in the field. The field efficiency results ranged from 69,59% to 76,92% among the harvesters studied. The results obtained with numbers-indices made better data visualization and easier interpretation. The economic studies accomplished in Brazil show that approximately 43 men are necessary to carry through the harvester work. Considering the results in the studied places it is concluded that the proposed methodology can serve as a simple helpful, fast and efficient tool to make decisions and evaluation of performance machine and agricultural equipments / Doutorado / Maquinas Agricolas / Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola

Diversos autores apontam a inovação como uma atividade crítica para todas as empresas inseridas num contexto concorrencial, pois ela orienta a estratégica da empresa, direciona a alocação de recursos e influencia os indicadores de desempenho. Como os altos investimentos em P&D não são suficientes para assegurar o sucesso de seus produtos, o diferencial competitivo das organizações não estaria relacionado apenas às grandes diferenças de conhecimento tecnológico, mas a maneira como cada uma delas aperfeiçoa os seus processos internos para implementar um novo produto. Esta condição reforça o papel das áreas funcionais periféricas, na construção de um ambiente inovador, não apenas modificando o desempenho da organização, mas também o impulsionando. Mas como será a participação dessas áreas, por exemplo, as de facilidades (termo traduzido do anglo-saxão facilities management), que estão fora do eixo tradicional de P&D, nesse ambiente inovador? Elas inovam? Como suas inovações afetam o desempenho das empresas? O objeto de estudo da tese consistiu na caracterização das inovações e melhorias em facilidades e os impactos no desempenho das organizações. A hipótese principal foi que as inovações em facilidades afetariam diretamente a eficiência operacional e esta, por sua vez, os desempenhos financeiros, ou seja, as inovações em facilidades seriam intermediárias na obtenção dos resultados das operações. A pesquisa foi descritiva-relacional, quantitativa e qualitativa, utilizando triangulação metodológica. Os resultados foram obtidos por meio de casos coletados em campo durante a fase empírica, estudo de caso único e por questionários semiestruturados. Foram inquiridos 163 profissionais da área e analisadas 220 mudanças técnicas e organizacionais em facilidades, entre os anos de 2007 e 2010. Esperou-se com essa tese aprofundar os estudos da dinâmica das inovações e melhorias em facilidades; estender a teoria da inovação por meio da investigação das em facilidades e avançar na discussão do papel delas no desempenho organizacional, dando um novo significado à gestão de facilidades dentro da área de Operações. Os resultados da tese apontaram que as mudanças técnicas e organizacionais nas facilidades constituem melhorias e inovações que impactam principalmente os fatores de eficiência operacional - produtividade e meio ambiente e, indiretamente, os financeiros - lucro. Todavia, numa análise fatorial, pode-se notar a formação de conglomerados específicos chamados aqui de inovações e melhorias em facilidades para apoio à produtividade, sustentabilidade, qualidade e rentabilidade. Esses grupos indicam que as melhorias e inovações geradas em facilidades são oriundas de intensa relação entre parceiros, busca contínua pela redução de custos e aumento do ciclo de vida dos ativos e das infraestruturas de apoio das organizações. Constataram-se diferenças na composição, na dinâmica e no propósito dessas inovações e melhorias, revelando assim que as estratégias e gestões para o desenvolvimento e implantação dessas mudanças, nesses ambientes, não são iguais aos recomendados pelas teorias correntes. As mudanças técnicas e organizacionais encontradas foram adotadas, na sua maioria, em caráter informal e tácito, gerando indiretamente novos serviços e produtos em facilidades, além de aprendizado infraestrutural. O grau de novidade variou de melhorias contínuas à inovações incrementais e raramente radicais. / Several authors place the innovation as a critical activity for all companies included in a competitive environment because it supports the strategic direction of the company, directs the allocation of resources and influences the performance of the indicators. As the high investments in R & D are not sufficient to ensure the success of its products, the competitive advantage of organizations would not be related only to large differences in technological knowledge, but how each one improves your internal processes to implement a new product. This condition strengthens the assumption that the role of peripheral functional areas, the construction of an innovative, can not just change the organization\'s performance, but also boost it. But how will the participation of these areas, for example, the facilities management, which are outside the traditional R & D in this innovative environment? Do they innovate? How their innovations affect corporate performance? The subject of the thesis was the characterization of the innovations in facilities and its impacts on performance of organizations. The main hypothesis was that the innovations in facilities would directly affect operational efficiency and this, in turn, financial performance, in other words, the innovations in facilities would be intermediate in obtaining superior results in operations. The research was a descriptive-relational, quantitative and qualitative, using methodological triangulation. The results were obtained from cases collected in the field during the empirical phase and semi-structured questionnaires applied to 163 professionals and 220 innovations and improvements on facilities. It was expected that thesis with further study of the dynamics of innovation in facilities; extend the theory of innovation through research in the facilities and advance the discussion of their role in organizational performance, giving new meaning to the facilities management within Operations field. The results of the thesis showed that the changes and organizational in facilities producing improvements and innovations that impact primarily the factors of operational efficiency: productivity and environment and, indirectly, the financial markets: profit. However, a factor analysis, one could note the formation of specific clusters called here, innovations and improvements in facilities to support the productivity, sustainability, quality and profitability. These groups indicate that improvements and innovations generated by the facilities are artifacts coming from a close relationship between partners, continuous search for lower costs and increase the life cycle of assets and infrastructure in support of the organizations. There were differences in the nature, composition, dynamics and purpose of innovations and improvements, thus revealing that the strategies and management activities for the development and deployment these changes, these environments are not exactly the same as recommended by current theories. The technical and organizational changes found were adopted, mostly in an informal and tacit way, indirectly generating new services and products in facilities, and infrastructural learning. The degree of novelty varied from the continuous improvements to the incremental innovations, and, rarely, to radical.

Today, companies have to redesign and improve their operational performance to cope with the market competition. While research related to organizational improvements has focused on applications of value stream mapping in mass production plants, it is unclear whether value steam mapping can be applied in new product introduction organizations. This thesis strives to generate and describe a customized value stream mapping tool adapted to manage twofold customer value within new product introduction environments, processes that construct products and information gathered from the production and incorporated into next generation products. The study is conducted with a case study approach including an application of the model in an industrial setting. The findings implicate that the value stream mapping tool is applicable when managing performance improvements during new product introduction. Moreover, performance measures to evaluate the new product introduction information loop are presented.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / This paper proposes the application and implementation of the lean thinking methodology at a company dedicated to selling vehicles, spare parts, and post-sales services. For these purposes, tools such as process maps, flowcharts, indicators, system layout planning tools, and 5S implementation are used, supported by training sessions for process participants. As a result, customer complaints were reduced by 0.13% per month, and the number of work orders handled by the site increased by 0.38% per month. Moreover, a 0.32% increase in man/hour productivity was reported, leading to a 44.32% decrease in Duster vehicle delivery times.

The rapid rate of increase in competition among the manufacturing industries has caused many organizations to continuously seek improvement in the quality of the products they manufacture to meet and exceed customer expectations. Organizations are under pressure to minimize the production costs to offer competitive prices for their products. The success story of Toyota Motor Company in implementing Lean Manufacturing (LM) has inspired many organizations around the world to adopt LM in order to improve their operational performance. There are, however, mixed results on the impact of LM on operational performance. Some studies have shown that its implementation increases operational performance while others have shown little to no improvement or even negative results. Institutional and contingency theories may provide insight into some of these contradictions and give a perception of why the implementation of LM has yielded different results on operational performance. The institutional theory states that organizations mimic the actions and practices of other organizations because of the pressure to remain competitive. Organizations in the developing countries also seem to have been imitating the Toyota Motor company that has been successful in implementing LM. On the other hand, the contingency theory states that corporations are organized according to external situations. Related to the contingency theory is the effect of Industry Clockspeed (IC). Some industries are transforming at a high speed while others are transforming at a low speed. The high IC industries are characterized by the quick development and release of new products, shorter development time and frequent changes in organizational structures. Low IC industries, however, manufacture products with a long life cycle, thus the products, processes and organizational structures for these industries change only after a long period. This study opines that the environment under which an organisation operates may affect the results of LM implementation process. The research was conducted in three parts and each of these parts is presented as chapters in this thesis. The first part (Chapter 4) gives a review and classifies the impact measurement models that have been used by various researchers to measure the success of implementing LM. These models can be classified as quantitative, qualitative, simulation-based and graphical measurement models. Pareto analysis is used to select the type of measurement model and Lean practices that are frequently used by researchers to develop Lean measurement models. The qualitative measurement model was preferred for evaluating the effect of implementing LM on operational performance because of its ability to use question structures that allow qualitative data collection for a rich analysis of opinion. With a proper structure, the questionnaire items can also be parsed and analyzed quantitatively with modern statistical techniques like Structural Equation Modelling. The Lean practices selected were Just In Time (JIT), Jidoka, People integration and Stability and standardization for building the model. This part concludes by developing a structural model that can be used to measure the impact of Lean implementation in industry, using Zimbabwean industry data. The second part (Chapter 5) evaluates the effect of implementing LM tools on operational performance across various industries in Zimbabwe. The major goal of this chapter was to develop an operational model (based on the lead from chapter 4) and test it in manufacturing organizations across various industries. A structured survey questionnaire was used for the collection of data in identified companies and 214 useful responses were obtained. The results of the study indicated that operational performance was improved by implementing the selected LM tools. The performance improvement variables that were significantly influenced were speed, flexibility and dependability. The third part (Chapter 6) analyzed the moderation effect of IC on the relationship between LM tools and operational performance. The industries grouped under low IC were pharmaceutical, agrochemicals, steel, automobile, timber production, battery, chemical and plastics. The high IC industries were food, beverage, electronics and garment. A structural equation model was proposed and investigated across the two groups. A structured survey questionnaire was used to collect empirical data from manufacturing companies. The data obtained from the responses was analysed using Smart PLS 3 and SPSS version 25. The results of the study showed that IC had a moderating effect on the relationship between LM practices and operational performance for both low and high IC industries. The last chapter summarises the findings, made recommendations and proposes directions for further research. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) / Industrial and Systems Engineering / PhD / Unrestricted

Yes / This paper focuses on the application and exploitation of Big Data to create competitive advantage. It presents a framework of application areas and how they help the understanding of targeting and scoping specific areas for sustainable improvement. Empirical evidence demonstrates the application of Big Data in practice and tests the framework. An exploratory approach is adopted to the secondary research which examines vendors’ offerings. The empirical research used the case study method. The findings indicate that there is opportunity to create sustainable competitive advantage through the application of big data. However there are social, technological and human consequences that are only now beginning to emerge which need to be addressed if true long-term advantage is to be achieved. The research develops a framework and tests it only in 2 dimensions. This should be expanded. The vendor analysis limitations lie within the nature of the information available and the difficulties in mitigating against bias. The suggested framework can help academics and managers to identify areas of opportunity to do so, setting new levels of performance and new agendas for business. This work contributes to service operations management, building on Kranzberg (1986) and the impact of technology and on Fosso Wamba et al. (2015) by developing a systems application framework to further understanding of big data from a practical perspective to extend their research taxonomy insights. Our case studies demonstrate how the use of BD enhances operational performance.

Yes / The art of unwinding voluminous data expects the expertise in analyzing meaningful decisions out of the acquired information. To encounter new age challenges, practitioners are trying hard to shatter the constraints and work edge-to-edge to achieve higher performance (Market, Financial and Operational performance). It is evident that organizations desire to exploit maximum of their injected resources, but often fail to reap their actual potential. Developing resource-based capabilities stands out to be the most concerned aspect for the firms in recent times, and the same is studied by the previous scholars. In the dearth of literature, it is challenging to find out evidence which marks up the effect of strategic resources in the development of dynamic organizational capability. This study is a two-fold attempt to examine the relationship between organizational capabilities, i.e. big data predictive analytics while achieving superior organizational performance; also, examining the effect of control variables on superior organizational of performance. We tested our research hypotheses using cross-sectional data of 209 responses collected using pre-tested single-informant questionnaire. The results underpin criticality human factor while developing analytical capabilities dynamic in nature in the process of achieving superior performance.