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The main task of the thesis is the practical verification of the ultrasonic sealing method for producing bags with a higher probability of goods in the sealing area. Most of the work deals with programming a block for the overall operation of an ultrasonic generator. Part of the solution is creation of visualization of the generator user interface. The last part is designing and implementing a reporting system to help customers get production data.

This research offers an essential enlightenment for a better understanding towards the significance to establish the Center of Excellence for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CoE for TVET), especially in vocational education. It analyzes and synthesizes the data from the existing academic and commercial sources based on the fact that, in most cases, “excellence” is referred to as a foundation term for competitions. Many entities being recognized as or perceived by target audiences in business conduct as “excellent”, are generally “abstract”. In practice, there are only a few entities actually worthy of a true “excellence” judging by appropriate criteria—having “concrete” evidence of activities and components. Exemplifying an existing Center of Excellence would promote a better understanding both in terms of definition and its characteristics. The researcher focuses on conducting comparative research that combines with qualitative and case studies, with an important goal of acquiring 'new definition, new knowledge and specialized practical guidelines related to the CoE for TVET', and to invent a set of practices that will lead to answering of these key questions: • What is 'CoE for TVET'? How many types are they of ? • How is it currently recognized for the 'CoE in TVET' ? • What approaches should be taken to promote a better understanding of definitions, classification, and operations of “a COE in TVET?” This is to provide in-depth research that can be beneficial to the public and visualized clearly worldwide. As per the mentioned aims, comparative case studies between different countries are required. There are neither much studies in the world which clearly proposed the definition; the identification and the demonstration of the applied practical guidelines nor in the dimension of excellence of TVET education management because all that exists are the context of excellence in business and nor in education sector that are often referred particularly to the level of Higher Education and that the basic education cannot be applied to TVET because of its being of different context. In each topic, the researcher clarified points of information including the perception, access, and maintenance of excellence. There shall be further discussion on the classification of all globally existing centers of excellence which is based on perception, presentation, and public understanding in conclusion. Once the foregoing section has been thoroughly accomplished, the next step is accessing the process and techniques of pursuing elements and characteristics that CoE in TVET at least should have by relying on techniques and principles called “Benchmarking+USP” that the researcher has developed recently based on the understanding that 'Apart from being superior to general standard and quality, that is, - no ordinary - ; having a status of excellence, the center of excellence, no matter operating or providing services in any regards, must have a unique identity and distinctiveness that should be as close as possible to -the top-notch – in that particular area.' To be an example case, the researcher had selected the 'Benching Partner' which is recognized for achieving excellence in service providing and educational management in the field of TVET: GTDEE and TGPES, as the answer of the research items that say: • How will there be techniques or processes in the pursuit of components, attributes that indicate the status of excellence of TVET CoE? • Are there any examples of centers of excellence or comparable organizations existing in Thailand? And how do those organizations have the required elements and characteristics of excellence? The final essence, therefore, is studying and striving for the needs in various dimensions regarding the establishment of the Center of excellence in TVET that is able to response to the demands of society for teaching and learning management of the Thai vocational education sector in the points of view of the sample groups --the direct stakeholders--, thus leading to answering the question in the endmost part of the research, that is: In what dimension does Thailand need TVET Center of Excellence? These will be beneficial suggestion to the relevant sectors in Thailand or those wishing to learn, study extensively on the basis of substantial findings delivered by this research.:Tabel of contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv Dedication vi Table of contents vii List of Figures xi List of Tables xii List of Abbreviations xiii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Background and Importance 1 1.2 Definition of Excellence 1 1.3 Thailand's vocational education policies in the direction of excellence development 6 1.4 Research Question 11 1.5 Hypotheses 12 1.6 Purpose of research 13 1.7 Method and Scope of the Research 14 Chapter 2: Quality - Matters behind the scenes of excellence for vocational education 16 2.1 Definition and dimension of quality in the VET sector 16 2.2 “Quality” an impact factor of excellence in VET 19 2.3 Quality approaches: Strategies to improve excellence status 23 2.3.1 The Juran Quality Trilogy: Basic architect of Quality Management 24 2.3.2 Approaches to quality and quality objectives 25 Chapter 3: Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) 32 3.1 How to understand the characteristics and definition of “CoVE” ? 32 3.2 Classic Excellence Approaches 36 3.3 Modern Excellence Approach and Education: EFQM – MBNQ 39 3.4 SEM &TVET Excellence Journey: The Singapore Experience 41 3.4.1 EFQM- MBNQA: The Foundation of the School Excellence Model 41 3.4.2 TVET Excellence Journey 43 Chapter 4: Conceptual Innovation: The Basic Approach to Establishing TVET-CoE Using Benchmarking+UPS 49 4.1 Level Analysis - Policy Examining: First Things to be Aware and Considered 50 4.2 Benchmarking: Learn from other sources, seek Best Practices, and adapt for excellence 53 4.2.1 Popularity and Definition 53 4.2.2 Type and scope 56 4.2.3 The benchmarking process: The Xerox way 57 4.3 Innovative concept: Establising TVET CoE based on excellence using Benchmarking+USP 61 4.3.1 Benchmarking and Vocational Development 61 4.3.2 Input, process and output/outcome: Benchmarking indicators 62 4.3.3 Outputs, outcomes and impacts: “The results chain in modern system” 64 4.3.4 Combining UPS and Benchmarking for TVET CoE under Blue Ocean 67 Chapter 5: Comparative case studies via adaptation of benchmarking technique to identify excellence based on scientific approach 70 5.1 Introduction: Principles of Case Studies Consideration 70 5.2 Analysis: Dual system, a new issue in Thailand - Why GTDEE? 72 5.2.1 Agricultural era and the advent of “Dual system” 72 5.2.2 Factory in school: Utilizing as a makeshift until deep-rooted and falling off from the ideal 74 5.2.3 Subsequent problems of practice that falls off the frame 75 5.2.4 What GTDEE show? - Pull the consciousness of the Thai vocational to look at the original “Dual system” 77 5.3 The application of Benchmarking+USP techniques to pursue unique excellence between GTDEE and TGPES 81 5.3.1 Scope and Basic norms of conducting the study 81 5.3.2 Enter the process of Benchmarking+USP 82 Chapter 6: Benchmarking+USP results conducted through information and views from executives of Benching Partner 91 6.1 Preliminary data and comments of Benching Partner about “TVET Excellence” 91 6.1.1 Personal information of the representatives of Benching Partner 91 6.1.2 Basic understanding of Excellence and Centres of Excellence 92 6.1.3 Awareness, experience, perspective and understanding of CoE for TVET 93 6.1.4 Suggestions and others 95 6.2 Results of exercising Benchmarking+USP based on the designed templates 96 6.3 SWOT analysis: a summary of the results of Benchmarking+USP to pursue excellence 105 6.3.1 Strengths 105 6.3.2 Opportunities 107 6.3.3 Weaknesses 108 6.3.4 Threats 109 Chapter 7: Understanding and demands for the CoE for TVET in Thailand: A case study from a sample group of 102 stakeholders 113 7.1 Introduction 113 7.2 The statistics used in the research and testing of the hypothesis 115 7.3 Personal information and basic information 116 7.4 Basic understanding of Excellence and Centres of Excellence 119 7.5 Awareness, experience, perspective and understanding of CoE for TVET 127 7.6 Suggestions and others 132 Chapter 8: Summary of body of knowledge and Suggestions 137 8.1 Understanding Excellence, CoE and CoE in TVET 137 8.1.1 Definition of excellence and CoE 137 8.1.2 SEM &TVET Excellence Journey: The Singapore Experience 139 8.2 Classification of definition by type and characteristics of “CoE for TVET” 140 8.3 Utilization Techniques and Guidelines for Benchmarking+USP within BOS in Identifying Distinct Excellence for CoEs in TVET 142 8.4 Examples of characteristics of excellence of the TVET CoE in Thailand 145 8.5.1 Factors making contribution to enhance journey toward organizational excellence 146 8.5.2 Perspectives on the mission of CoF for TVET 147 8.5.3 Demand for CoE of TVET in Thailand based-on the opinions of the sample groups 148 References 150 Internet sources 158 Appendix I: Benchmarking+USP templates 159 Appendix II: Questionnaire 176

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Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um microtribômetro linear, do tipo esfera sobre chapa, capaz de analisar o comportamento tribológico de materiais em linhas até 5 mm de comprimento, frequências de até 2 Hz e cargas até 10 N, com ou sem meio úmido, características que o tornam uma ótima ferramenta para observar o comportamento tribológico, ou a resistência ao desgaste de diferentes zonas de uma junta soldada. Durante o projeto do microtribômetro, houve a preocupação de desenvolver um equipamento seguro, fácil de operar e robusto, visando a utilização do mesmo por alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, e na indústria. O trabalho de desenvolvimento compreendeu todas as tecnologias usadas, ou seja, placa de leitura da célula de carga, célula de carga, aparato mecânico responsável pelo movimento da amostra e xação da mesma, braço de suporte do conjunto célula de carga e esfera, carenagem protetora, sistema de segurança e placa de comando. Ensaios foram feitos para a validação do equipamento e demonstrar a capacidade de analisar o comportamento tribológico das diversas zonas de uma junta soldada. / This work presents the development of a linear micro tribometer, sphere over sheet type, capable of analyzing the tribological behavior of materials in lines up to 5 mm in lengh, frenquencies up to 2 Hz and loads up to 10 N, with or without moist enviroment, characteristics that makes it a great tool to observ the diferents regions of a welded joints. During the project there was the concern of developing a secure, easy to operate and robust, aiming it's use by students of gradution, postgraduation and by industry. The development work comprised all the technologies used, reading board of load cell, load cell, mechanical device responsible for moviment and xation of the sample, support arm of the set load cell and sphere, protective cowling, sefety system and board control. Tests have been done to validate the equipment and demonstrate the capacity of analyzing the tribological behavior of the various regions of a welded joint.

Speech is a fundamental means of human communication. In the last several decades, much effort has been devoted to the efficient transmission and storage of speech signals. With advances in technology making mobile communication ubiquitous, communications anywhere has become a reality. The freedom and flexibility offered by mobile technology brings with it new challenges, one of which is robustness to acoustic background noise. Speech enhancement systems form a vital front-end for mobile telephony in noisy environments such as in cars, cafeterias, subway stations, etc., in hearing aids, and to improve the performance of speech recognition systems. In this thesis, which consists of four research articles, we discuss both single and multi-microphone approaches to speech enhancement. The main contribution of this thesis is a framework to exploit available prior knowledge about both speech and noise. The physiology of speech production places a constraint on the possible shapes of the speech spectral envelope, and this information s captured using codebooks of speech linear predictive (LP) coefficients obtained from a large training database. Similarly, information about commonly occurring noise types is captured using a set of noise codebooks, which can be combined with sound environment classi¯cation to treat different environments differently. In paper A, we introduce maximum-likelihood estimation of the speech and noise LP parameters using the codebooks. The codebooks capture only the spectral shape. The speech and noise gain factors are obtained through a frame-by-frame optimization, providing good performance in practical nonstationary noise environments. The estimated parameters are subsequently used in a Wiener filter. Paper B describes Bayesian minimum mean squared error estimation of the speech and noise LP parameters and functions there-of, while retaining the in- stantaneous gain computation. Both memoryless and memory-based estimators are derived. While papers A and B describe single-channel techniques, paper C describes a multi-channel Bayesian speech enhancement approach, where, in addition to temporal processing, the spatial diversity provided by multiple microphones s also exploited. In paper D, we introduce a multi-channel noise reduction technique motivated by blind source separation (BSS) concepts. In contrast to standard BSS approaches, we use the knowledge that one of the signals is speech and that the other is noise, and exploit their different characteristics. / QC 20100929

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um microtribômetro linear, do tipo esfera sobre chapa, capaz de analisar o comportamento tribológico de materiais em linhas até 5 mm de comprimento, frequências de até 2 Hz e cargas até 10 N, com ou sem meio úmido, características que o tornam uma ótima ferramenta para observar o comportamento tribológico, ou a resistência ao desgaste de diferentes zonas de uma junta soldada. Durante o projeto do microtribômetro, houve a preocupação de desenvolver um equipamento seguro, fácil de operar e robusto, visando a utilização do mesmo por alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, e na indústria. O trabalho de desenvolvimento compreendeu todas as tecnologias usadas, ou seja, placa de leitura da célula de carga, célula de carga, aparato mecânico responsável pelo movimento da amostra e xação da mesma, braço de suporte do conjunto célula de carga e esfera, carenagem protetora, sistema de segurança e placa de comando. Ensaios foram feitos para a validação do equipamento e demonstrar a capacidade de analisar o comportamento tribológico das diversas zonas de uma junta soldada. / This work presents the development of a linear micro tribometer, sphere over sheet type, capable of analyzing the tribological behavior of materials in lines up to 5 mm in lengh, frenquencies up to 2 Hz and loads up to 10 N, with or without moist enviroment, characteristics that makes it a great tool to observ the diferents regions of a welded joints. During the project there was the concern of developing a secure, easy to operate and robust, aiming it's use by students of gradution, postgraduation and by industry. The development work comprised all the technologies used, reading board of load cell, load cell, mechanical device responsible for moviment and xation of the sample, support arm of the set load cell and sphere, protective cowling, sefety system and board control. Tests have been done to validate the equipment and demonstrate the capacity of analyzing the tribological behavior of the various regions of a welded joint.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um microtribômetro linear, do tipo esfera sobre chapa, capaz de analisar o comportamento tribológico de materiais em linhas até 5 mm de comprimento, frequências de até 2 Hz e cargas até 10 N, com ou sem meio úmido, características que o tornam uma ótima ferramenta para observar o comportamento tribológico, ou a resistência ao desgaste de diferentes zonas de uma junta soldada. Durante o projeto do microtribômetro, houve a preocupação de desenvolver um equipamento seguro, fácil de operar e robusto, visando a utilização do mesmo por alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, e na indústria. O trabalho de desenvolvimento compreendeu todas as tecnologias usadas, ou seja, placa de leitura da célula de carga, célula de carga, aparato mecânico responsável pelo movimento da amostra e xação da mesma, braço de suporte do conjunto célula de carga e esfera, carenagem protetora, sistema de segurança e placa de comando. Ensaios foram feitos para a validação do equipamento e demonstrar a capacidade de analisar o comportamento tribológico das diversas zonas de uma junta soldada. / This work presents the development of a linear micro tribometer, sphere over sheet type, capable of analyzing the tribological behavior of materials in lines up to 5 mm in lengh, frenquencies up to 2 Hz and loads up to 10 N, with or without moist enviroment, characteristics that makes it a great tool to observ the diferents regions of a welded joints. During the project there was the concern of developing a secure, easy to operate and robust, aiming it's use by students of gradution, postgraduation and by industry. The development work comprised all the technologies used, reading board of load cell, load cell, mechanical device responsible for moviment and xation of the sample, support arm of the set load cell and sphere, protective cowling, sefety system and board control. Tests have been done to validate the equipment and demonstrate the capacity of analyzing the tribological behavior of the various regions of a welded joint.

Numerous moraines front the Coe Glacier on the north side of Mount Hood, Oregon. These moraines were identified and dated using a multiple methodology approach in order to establish a chronology for the advances and stillstands of the Cae Glacier. This chronology was compared to chronologies established for other glaciers on Mount Hood, North Sister, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker as well as glaciers in Scandinavia. The chronology was also compared to a long term temperature record from Longmire, Washington. The maximum identified extent of the pre-Little Ice Age Coe Glacier was indicated by moraines located at an elevation of about 1530 m and about 2 km downvalley of the present terminus. A general period of shrinkage of the pre-Little Ice Age Coe Glacier followed resulting in the deposition of moraines upvalley of the older pre-Little Ice Age moraines. The Little Ice Age Coe Glacier reached its maximum downvalley extent of about 1650 m elevation prior to 1731 AD. An earlier advance (1607 AD) was more extensive laterally than the 1731 AD advance. The Coe Glacier has been in a general state of recession since the mid to late 1700's. The prominent lateral moraines formed prior to 1882 AD. Four low moraines located within the Coe Glacier trough formed before 1901. Historical records indicate that the Coe Glacier has generally continued to recede since then. A comparison of the moraine ages and the historical activity of the Coe Glacier to other glaciers on Mount Hood as well as others in the Pacific Northwest and Scandinavia reveals that fluctuations of the glacier termini are generally synchronous. This similarity, combined with the similarity of the ages of Coe Glacier moraines to cool periods in a long term temperature record, indicates that hemispheric climatic patterns have played a major role in the past fluctuations of the Coe Glacier.

A Teoria de Negócios Internacionais sugere que ao aumentar o seu grau de internacionalização, as Empresas Multinacionais dos Países Emergentes dependerão cada vez menos dos efeitos dos seus países de origem, escapando assim das mazelas e deficiências desses países e igualando-se às Empresas Multinacionais dos Países Desenvolvidos. Essa argumentação de escape do país de origem, ou argumentação de escape, enfrenta, no entanto, dois desafios. O primeiro refere-se à geração das vantagens competitivas das multinacionais. As firmas originárias dos países desenvolvidos utilizam-se principalmente de capacidades tecnológicas e marketing para construir suas vantagens com base em seus produtos e marcas diferenciados, enquanto as multinacionais dos países emergentes o fazem a partir do aproveitamento de condições específicas do seu país de origem, utilizando-se de capacidades de inovação em processos e operações e em funções administrativas. O segundo desafio refere-se a evidências empíricas de que efeitos de país de origem se fazem sentir mesmo nas empresas multinacionais maduras de países desenvolvidos. A presente pesquisa busca ampliar o conhecimento sobre as capacidades de inovação das empresas multinacionais de países emergentes através do estudo dos limites do argumento do escape. Uma análise longitudinal das capacidades de inovação das empresas multinacionais brasileiras é utilizada para este fim. Estuda-se um período de cinco anos em que o ambiente de negócios do Brasil mudou de estável e favorável a turbulento e desafiador. A análise utiliza dois \"surveys\" aplicados em 2010 e 2015, além de informação complementar de fontes primárias e secundárias. Os resultados sugerem que as capacidades de inovação dessas empresas multinacionais ainda podem sofrer influência do ambiente institucional político e econômico do seu país de origem, mesmo com incremento do seu grau de internacionalização. Observam-se ainda diferentes consequências conforme a estratégia de internacionalização utilizada pelas firmas. As implicações dos achados são discutidas. / The international Business theory suggests that as they increase their degree of internationalization, Multinationals from Emerging Markets reduce their dependency on their Country of Origin Effects, escaping from these countries\' instabilities and deficiencies, therefore leveling with Multinationals from developed countries. The escape from the country of origin, or escape argument, faces two challenges. The first is that firms from developed countries base their advantages on technology and marketing capabilities to build strong products and brands, whereas firms from emerging countries do so mainly by exploiting their country of origin effects using innovative capabilities related to process and operations and to administrative functions. The second challenge relates to empirical evidence of the persistence of country of origin effects on mature multinational firms from developed countries. This research attempts to improve the knowledge on the innovation capability of Emerging Markets Multinational Enterprises through studying the limits of the escape argument. A longitudinal analysis of the innovative capabilities of Brazilian Multinational firms is used for that purpose. The five-year period studied involves a shift in Brazil\'s conditions from a stable and positive institutional environment to one of turbulence and instability. The research uses data from two surveys executed in 2010 and 2015, as well as other primary and secondary sources. The results suggest that the innovative capabilities from Emerging Market Multinationals can still suffer influences from changes in their home country political and economic institutional environment, even with an increase in their degree of internationalization. The outcomes vary according to the internationalization strategy used by the firms. Implications of these findings are discussed.