As energy cost and climate change become increasingly prevalent concerns in the planning world, more and more jurisdictions are creating energy efficiency and climate action plans. As of 2011, over 120 cities and counties around the United States had already completed climate action plans (Boswell, Greve, & Seale, 2012, p. 24). A major factor in reducing energy use, and subsequently greenhouse gas emissions, is in making buildings more energy efficient. According to the EPA, buildings account for 36 percent of overall energy use in the United States (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). Although many of these plans set target energy reduction levels for buildings, the process for actually meeting these goal levels is often disorganized, cost-prohibited, and behind schedule. In order to meet energy reduction goals, a jurisdiction must first establish a system for tracking and monitoring energy use, pinpointing areas in needs of improvements, and sharing this information with decision makers. Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager benchmarking system provides a tool for public workers and building managers to meet these needs. The County of San Luis Obispo’s climate action and energy reduction plan, titled the EnergyWise Plan (2011), sets a goal for the County’s municipal buildings to reduce their energy use by 20 percent from 2006 levels by the year 2020 (pg. 171). This report uses the Portfolio Manager Tool to analyze the current energy use of the County’s municipal buildings, pinpointing the areas most in need of further examination in order to meet the EnergyWise Plan’s goal. The report concludes with an audit and retrofit implementation plan for the County’s top energy users, as well as a set of recommendations to improve the County’s overall energy use which include: 1. Organization and collaboration between departments should be encouraged, in order to more efficiently share data. 2. Yearly reports should be produced as a measure of progress towards meeting 2020 reduction levels. 3. Efforts should be focused on audits and retrofits of the twelve selected buildings first, followed by analysis and audits in the remaining County buildings. 4. The Public Protection Department’s energy use levels should be monitored and improved when feasible. 5. Those buildings that are Energy Star qualified should apply for certification. 6. The County should continue to seek funding sources for implementing audits and retrofits.

En el presenta trabajo de investigación se busca aumentar la productividad en el proceso de puertas contra placadas, basados en la información recuperada de la empresa en cuestión. En primer lugar, se realizó el diagnóstico de la empresa en donde se identificó que la productividad de mano de obra y horas hombre era relativamente bajo al comprarse con otras empresas con las mismas características y condiciones, siendo estas de 1.6 puertas por mes por cada operario y 0.05 puertas por horas hombre debido a que identificó tiempos de espera prolongados en el proceso de secado ya que se realizaba de manera natural por lo que sumaba un tiempo de espera de 1 hora con 28 minutos. Con la finalidad de dar solución al problema planteado se utilizó el método de benchmarking para identificar aquellos posibles casos éxitos y las soluciones implementadas a sus problemas y tomar una decisión más informada conociendo las características, ventajas y desventajas de las maquinarias evaluadas. Así mismo, se realizó un plan de capacitación relacionado con el tiempo de armados de estructuras en donde para lograr reducir el 25.75% del tiempo empleado en el proceso. Para comprobar la propuesta se utilizó el software PROMODEL para simular la situación de mejora y verificar el incremento de la productividad de los procesos, obteniéndose un aumento de productividad en mano de obra del 20% en horas hombre del 10.71%.

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Dagens industri är under en konstant utveckling där stora krav är efterfrågad. Miljöpåverkan, kostander och tidspress samtidigt som bra kvalite och säkerhet som krävs är bara några faktorer som är förväntad från industrier. Genom ett korrekt arbetsmetodik kan den växande efterfrågan överträffas. Syftet med detta arbete är att påvisa att på ett iterativ arbetsätt där FEM och Benchmarking som verktyg kan besvara dessa krav och därmed ge ett effektivare produktutvecklingsfas. Detta examensarbete har genomförtts i uppdrag av ZP Engineering. Det är ett företag som har experter inom Benchmarking samt Cost Reduction. Metoden som användes under arbetetsgång är båda kvantitativ men också kvalitativ. Där rapporten började med en litteraturstudie via böcker, vetenskapliga artiklar samt studie besök hos ZP Engineering. När grunden för en produktutvecklingsfasen är stark och det finns tillräckligt mycket med data förenklas processen och risken för framtida problem minskar. Genom att optimera en crossmember på ett iterativ sätt där FEM och Benchmarking går det att på kort tid lösa avancerade problem med en simpel men adaptiv metodik. Via Benchmarking går det att lära sig av konkurenterna i arbetsmarknaden och inte behöva skapa produkt från början. Och genom att använda sig utav FEM kan produkter modelleras och sättas för tester på ett mjukvaraprogram där statiska analyser görs. Resultatet för arbetet visade sig att utnyttja FEM och Benchmarking inom en CAE driven produktutvecklingsfas ger förbättrad produkt inom en kortare tid. Den egen konstruerade Crossmembern som optimerades gav en viktminsking på 67% jämfört med Poletar 2 och 59% jämfört med Tesla Model 3. / Today’s industry in under constant development where big demands is sought after in areas such as environmental impact, costs and a time pressure. At the same time, some factors such as quality and safety, is expected from industries. Through a correct working method can the growing demand of product exceed. The purpose of this project is to show that using an iterative way of work, FEM and Benchmarking, as tools can answer the demands and therefore give more effective production development. This thesis has been implemented through ZP Engineering, who are a company that has expert in Benchmarking and Cost Reduction. The method that is used for this work is both quantitative and qualitative. This thesis started with a literature study with books, scientific articles and a visit to ZP Engineering. When the foundation for the production development phase is strong and has enough data, then the process become simple and the risk for problem in the future decreases. By optimizing a crossmember in an iterative way where FEM and Benchmarking are used as tools, it become significantly easier to solve advanced problems in a simple but adaptive method. With Benchmarking you can learn from your competitors in the market, and you don’t have to create a product from the beginning. And by using FEM can products be modelled and be tested on a software program were static analyzed are performed. The result from this thesis showed that using FEM and Benchmarking through a CAE driven production phase give an improved product in a shorter time period. The own constructed Crossmember, that was optimized, had a weight loss on 27% compared to Polestar 2 and 36& compared to the Tesla Model 3.

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el condicionamiento competitivo de los factores sistémicos sobre los complejos agroalimentarios cárnicos de la provincia de La Pampa. Se toma como base el concepto de competitividad sistémica, considerando factores económicos, socioculturales, ecológico-ambientales, tecnológico-infraestructura, y políticos-institucionales que afectan la competitividad de los complejos de carne bovina, ovina, porcina y caprina. Se realiza un estudio descriptivo-competitivo que incorpora los sectores de consumo, distribución, agroindustria, intermediarios, agropecuario y de ciencia y tecnología. A tal fin, se seleccionan los principales factores de cada dimensión, que son mensurados a través de un indicador. La información es obtenida de entrevistas a agentes calificados, instituciones relacionadas y estudios vinculados. Incialmente se describen los complejos agroalimentarios, luego se considera el condicionamiento de los factores sobre la competitividad de cada sistema y del complejo cárnico provincial como un todo. Se realiza un Análisis de Componentes Principales sobre los factores seleccionados, con el fin de caracterizar y jerarquizar los factores que mayor condicionamiento particular y transversal tienen sobre la competitividad. Los que más impactan sobre la competitividad del complejo bovino son: formalidad, presión sobre los recursos naturales, políticas públicas, ciencia y tecnología, conocimiento de mercado, cultura de consumo y emisiones de CO2. La competitividad del CAA ovino se encuentra afectada principalmente por la concentración y el costo logístico. En el CAA porcino cobra relevancia la capacidad de transformación, la productividad de mano de obra y la calidad de empleo. En el CAA caprino, la concentración de mercado, el agregado de valor, el costo logístico, y el nivel de transabilidad, surgen como los más relevantes del sistema. Además, se seleccionan dos grupos de factores, el conjunto de variables del primer componente permite explicar gran parte de los factores que condicionan la competitividad del complejo bovino, ovino y caprino; mientras que el segundo componente, explica los factores que afectan la competitividad del complejo porcino. La ciencia y tecnología, el consumo de agua y el nivel de emisiones de CO2 son tres factores comunes que afectan la competitividad del CAA bovino y porcino. Si bien la intervención de la ciencia y la tecnología se observa en todos los CAA, el complejo bovino y porcino presentan la mayor cantidad de proyectos de investigación. Ambos sistemas contienen un elevado consumo de agua y de emisiones de CO2. El nivel de transabilidad es un factor común que afecta la competitividad del complejo caprino, ovino y bovino. La capacidad de agregado de valor surge como un factor crítico común para el complejo porcino, caprino, ovino. Los resultados obtenidos permiten mejorar el entendimiento del funcionamiento de los complejos, resaltando en cada uno y a nivel general cuáles son los factores que mayor impacto tienen en la competitividad sistémica. / This work aims at analyzing the competitive conditioning of systemic factors on meat agrifood complexes (AC) in the province of La Pampa. The concept of systemic competitiveness is taken as a starting point, taking into account economic, socio cultural, ecological-environmental, technological-infrastructure, and political and institutional factors, which affect competitiveness of bovine, ovine, porcine, and caprine meat complexes. A descriptive-competitive study is carried out, incorporating consumption, distribution, agroindustry, agricultural, science and technological sectors. The key factors in each dimension are measured by means of an indicator. The information is collected through interviews to qualified agents, related institutions, and related surveys. Firstly, agrifood complexes are described, and then the conditioning of different factors on competitiveness of each system and of the provincial meat complex as a whole. A Principal Components Analysis of selected factors is done to characterize and organize in a hierarchy those factors which have a greater conditioning -both particularly and transversally- on competitiveness. The factors which have a greater impact on the bovine complex competitiveness are: formality, pressure on natural resources, public policies, science and technology, market knowledge, consumer culture, and CO2 emissions. The competitiveness of the ovine AC is affected mainly by the concentration and logistic costs. In the porcine AC, capacity of transformation, workforce productivity, and employment quality becomes relevant. As regards the caprine AC, market concentration, added value, logistic costs, exports levels, arise as the most relevant ones in the system. Moreover, two factor groups are selected. The set of variables of the first component leads to explain most of the factors which condition competitiveness of the bovine, ovine and caprine complex, while the second component explains the factor which affect competitiveness of porcine complex. Science and technology, water consumption, and levels of CO2 emissions are three common factors which affect AC bovine and porcine competitiveness. Although science and technology intervention can be seen in all AC, the bovine and porcine complex account for the highest number of research projects. Both systems have a high consumption of water and CO2 emissions. The export level is a common factor which affect competitiveness in the caprine, ovine, and bovine complexes. The capacity of added value arises as a common critical factor for the porcine, caprine and ovine complexes. Outcomes reached help improve the understanding of how the complexes work, highlighting in each one, and at a general level, which are the factors which have the greatest impact on systemic competitiveness.

Yes / The importance of maintenance has escalated significantly by the increase in automation in manufacturing processes. This condition changed the perspective of maintenance from being considered as an inevitable cost to being seen as a key business function to drive competitiveness. Consequently, maintenance decisions need to be aligned with the business competitive strategy as well as the requirements of manufacturing/quality functions in order to support manufacturing equipment performance. Therefore, it is required to synchronise the maintenance strategy and operations with business and manufacturing/quality aspects. This article presents the design and development of a Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations. The developed framework of the Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations is elaborated to show how the Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations can be applied to support maintenance decisions. The knowledge-based system integrates the Gauging Absences of Prerequisites methodology in order to deal with different decision-making priorities and to facilitate benchmarking with a target performance state. This is a new contribution to this area. The Knowledge Based System for Integrated Maintenance Strategy and Operations is useful in reviewing the existing maintenance system and provides reasonable recommendations for maintenance decisions with respect to business and manufacturing perspectives. In addition, it indicates the roadmap from the current state to the benchmark goals for the maintenance system. / Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia and the University of Bradford, UK.

In recent years, the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) databases has enabled architects/engineers to quantify the environmental impact of building materials for whole building analysis and comparative analyses of design alternatives. The application of building information modeling (BIM) has facilitated this process by providing designers and engineers with the detailed bill of materials required for LCA. However three limitations exist: First, LCA assessments have been limited to the design phase of a project delivery or post completion phase. Consequently, it does not help incentivize the choice of suppliers and delivery strategies that minimize the cradle-to-site impacts. Second, majority LCA tools ignore the impact of construction means and methods during the construction phase. Third, there is a lack of metrics and visualization tools that assess environmental impacts of decisions made during pre-construction and construction phase. As a result, little incentive exists for suppliers to provide embodied carbon footprint rates, and similarly, for contractors to balance project costs, schedule objectives with the corresponding environmental impact. To address these challenges, we propose and develop a new framework that applies BIM for reliable, effective benchmarking, monitoring, and visualization of embodied carbon footprint of construction projects. It comprises of a benchmarking module, and a monitoring and visualization module. In the experiments, this framework is implemented on concrete placement activities during the construction of the Center for the Arts facility at Virginia Tech. The developed framework can revolutionize construction by a) a rapid assessment and visualization of the deviations between expected and released carbon footprint, b) incentivizing contractors to request that manufacturers and suppliers gauge and share their carbon footprints as a part of contractor submittal process and c) incentivizing those construction firms that can complete their project with an overall carbon footprint rate lower than what is budgeted during the pre-construction or compared to the values from the design phase, while documenting and using the performance results as a benchmark for future similar projects. / Master of Science

High-quality drinking water and wastewater systems are essential to public health, business, and quality of life in the United States. Even though the current performance of these systems is moderate, the concern is about the future performance. Planning can be done for improvement once the current performance of utilities is evaluated, and areas with a scope of improvement are identified. Benchmarking and performance evaluation are key components in the process of continuous improvement for utility's performance. Benchmarking helps utilities make policies and programmatic decisions that reduce operational expenses and increase productivity by understanding areas of underperformance, understanding customer needs, developing future plans, and setting goals. This study establishes a strong case for implementing benchmarking methodologies among utilities to evaluate and improve performance. There are many initiatives on performance benchmarking of utilities but a few of them focuses on one or few area of performance. There are a few initiatives which use subjective indicators. Additionally, consultants visit the utilities for performance evaluation. This research focuses on creating a web-based benchmarking platform for performance evaluation using holistic and quantitative indicators. Practical and robust methodologies are used and the research presents the current performance comparisons among utilities for areas that impact overall utility's performance. Web based benchmarking consists of two major parts -- data collection and result visualization. A major contribution from this study is the creation of an online performance benchmarking database. With time more data will be collected which will provide utilities an access to a better database for performance evaluation. The future work in this research will be analyzing the data and results for each participant for each set of indicators, and finding possible reasons for under performance, followed by suggesting solutions for improvement using the best practices. / Master of Science

Haptics is a field of robotics that involves many aspects of engineering, requiring the collaboration of different disciplines like mechanics, electronics, control theory and computer science. Although multi-disciplinarity is an element in common with other robotic application, haptic system has the additional requirement of high performance because of the human perception requirement of 1KHz feedback rate. Such high computing requirement impacts the design of the whole haptic system but it is has particular effects in the design and implementation of haptic rendering algorithms. In the chain of software and hardware components that describe a haptic system the haptic rendering is the element that has the objective of computing the force feedback given the interaction of the user with the device.A variety of haptic rendering algorithms have been proposed in the past for the simulation of three degree of freedom (3DoF) interactions in which a single point touches a complex object as well as 6DoF interactions in which two complex objects interact in multiple points. The use of 3DoF or 6DoF algorithms depends mostly from the type of application and consequently the type of device. For example applications like virtual prototype require 6DoF interaction while many simulation applications have less stringent requirements. Apart the number of degree of freedom haptic rendering algorithms are characterized by the geometrical representation of the objects, by the use of rigid or deformable objects and by the introduction of physical properties of the object surface like friction and texture properties. Given this variety of possibilities and the presence of the human factor in the computation of haptic feedback it is hard to compare different algorithms to asses whether one specific solution performs better than any other previously proposed.The goal of the proposed work is two-fold. First this thesis proposes a framework allowing for more objective comparison of haptic rendering algorithms. Such comparison take into account the perceptual aspect of haptic interaction but tries to remove it from the comparison with the aim of obtaining an objective comparison between algorithms. Second, this thesis proposes a new haptic rendering algorithm for 3DoF interaction and one for 6DoF interaction. The first algorithm for 3DoF interaction provides interaction with rotational friction based on a simulation of the soft finger contact model. The new 6DoF interaction algorithm allows the computation of the haptic feedback of interaction between voxel models.