This thesis is composed of two parts, that relate to both parallel and heterogeneous processing. The first describes DistCL, a distributed OpenCL framework that allows a cluster of GPUs to be programmed like a single device. It uses programmer-supplied meta-functions that associate work-items to memory. DistCL achieves speedups of up to 29x using 32 peers. By comparing DistCL to SnuCL, we determine that the compute-to-transfer ratio of a benchmark is the best predictor of its performance scaling when distributed. The second is a statistical power model for the AMD Fusion heterogeneous processor. We present a systematic methodology to create a representative set of compute micro-benchmarks using data collected from real hardware. The power model is created with data from both micro-benchmarks and application benchmarks. The model showed an average predictive error of 6.9% on heterogeneous workloads. The Multi2Sim heterogeneous simulator was modified to support configurable power modelling.

Context: Multi Mediation is a process of collecting data from network(s) &amp; network elements, pre-processing this data and distributing it to various systems like Big Data analysis, Billing Systems, Network Monitoring Systems, and Service Assurance etc. With the growing demand for networks and emergence of new services, data collected from networks is growing. There is need for efficiently organizing this data and this can be done using databases. Although RDBMS offers Scale-up solutions to handle voluminous data and concurrent requests, this approach is expensive. So, alternatives like distributed databases are an attractive solution. Suitable distributed database for Multi Mediation, needs to be investigated. Objectives: In this research we analyze two distributed databases in terms of performance, scalability and availability. The inter-relations between performance, scalability and availability of distributed databases are also analyzed. The distributed databases that are analyzed are MySQL Cluster 7.4.4 and Apache Cassandra 2.0.13. Performance, scalability and availability are quantified, measurements are made in the context of Multi Mediation system. Methods: The methods to carry out this research are both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative study is made for the selection of databases for evaluation. A benchmarking harness application is designed to quantitatively evaluate the performance of distributed database in the context of Multi Mediation. Several experiments are designed and performed using the benchmarking harness on the database cluster. Results: Results collected include average response time &amp; average throughput of the distributed databases in various scenarios. The average throughput &amp; average INSERT response time results favor Apache Cassandra low availability configuration. MySQL Cluster average SELECT response time is better than Apache Cassandra for greater number of client threads, in high availability and low availability configurations.Conclusions: Although Apache Cassandra outperforms MySQL Cluster, the support for transaction and ACID compliance are not to be forgotten for the selection of database. Apart from the contextual benchmarks, organizational choices, development costs, resource utilizations etc. are more influential parameters for selection of database within an organization. There is still a need for further evaluation of distributed databases. / <p>I am indebted to my advisor Prof. Lars Lundberg and his valuable ideas which helped in the completion of this work. In fact he has guided on every crucial and important stages of this research work.</p><p>I sincerely thank Prof. Markus Fiedler &amp; Prof. Kurt Tutschku for their endless support during the work.</p><p>I am grateful to Neeraj Garg, Sourab, Saket &amp; Kulbir at Ericsson, for providing me necessary equipment and helping me financially during my work.</p><p>To my family members and friends who one way or the other shared their support. Thank you.</p><p>Above all I would like to thank the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the author of everything.</p>

Benchmarking is an established method of working which is often used in order to develop the quality of the organization. However, almost 70% of the organizations with benchmarking fail due to the lack of planning and structuring of the benchmarking exercise. Maintenance sections in the paper and pulp industry are one of those who have decided to conduct benchmarking. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain knowledge of how the maintenance sections in the paper and pulp industry deliberately structure and plan to use benchmarking as a driving force for quality development in the maintenance sections. The study is a hermeneutic case study. Telephone interviews and document analysis have been used as data acquisition methods. The results show that there is a lack of both planning and structuring in the benchmarking process, and lack of management commitment for quality improvements within industrial maintenance. Based on the results of the study, discussions and reflections have been made The discussions and reflections are about how the case organization can increase its prospects for the use of benchmarking as a driving force in quality improvement of the maintenance sections, where the committee work plays an essential support in the benchmarking process.

Oakland (1989b) argues that following the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century we are presently in the midst of the quality revolution. In the United Kingdom quality took on a new significance in 1979 with the publication of the British Standard for Quality BS5750. Since that date the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been actively promoting quality improvements. In 1989, the DTI specially supported the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in its Managing in the `90s Program. The benefits of TQM are widely recognised following reports of its successful implementation in many large companies. It has led to these companies becoming highly competitive both locally and internationally through the production of quality products that meet customer requirements at the lowest cost, significantly increasing their market share and profitability. As part of the Sheffield Regeneration effort, this thesis examines the current position of Small and Medium manufacturing Enterprises (SMEs) in Sheffield. The thesis aims to facilitate the implementation of TQM in SMEs by enabling them to benchmark their progress. The thesis examines three hypotheses: 1. SMEs do not understand the definitions or implications of TQM. 2. SMEs can be encouraged to implement TQM by a combination of training and mentoring (Uncle Concept). 3. It is possible to benchmark management styles and the relative position of a company on route to TQM using the biological classification system, Cladistics. The characteristics of SMEs and principles of TQM were closely researched to develop a TQM model based on 5 Pillars that would specifically cater to the needs of SMEs. A questionnaire was developed based on these 5 Pillars to assess the level of TQM implementation in 30 Sheffield and 10 Singapore manufacturing SMEs. The survey results based on interviews with senior management confirmed the first hypothesis that SMEs do not understand the definitions or implications of TQM. This led to the second hypothesis that SMEs can be encouraged to implement TQM through a Framework comprising a combination of training and mentoring (Uncle Concept) by a company that had already implemented TQM. The TQM Framework was applied to six SMEs in South Yorkshire. Customer and Employee surveys conducted as the prerequisite to TQM implementation provided valuable information to the companies about actions they needed to undertake in their implementation programme. All six companies proceeded to TQM Facilitator Training which was conducted by Avesta Sheffield Limited, who having successfully implemented and sustained TQM fulfilled the role of the Uncle. However, the second hypothesis was proved to be incorrect. The companies ‘cherry picked' facets of TQM and the implementation programs failed in each case. This thesis also reviews the evolution of management styles through a study of management pioneers and their principles and theories on management, organisation structures and motivation. The evolution of the bureaucratic, authoritarian and impersonal management style of Frederick W. Taylor to the flexible, open and participative management style of TQM was applied to the classification technique Cladistics to determine if it was possible to benchmark management styles and the relative position of a company along its route to TQM (Hypothesis 3). A Management Style Survey Questionnaire was developed and a structured interview was conducted with ten companies from South Yorkshire and one company from Japan. The results supported Hypothesis 3.

Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2004.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Agric.))(Agricultural Economics)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographic references (leaves 96-100).

Univ., Diss.--Saarbrücken, 2002. / Literaturverz. S. 341 - 370.

Thesis (D. Ed.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 135).

Zugl.: Göttingen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2009.