Orientadores: Waldemir Silva de Lima, Kamal A. Radi Ismail / Dissertação (mestrado profissional) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T03:05:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbosa_FranciscoAlexandrinodeALmeida_M.pdf: 1233169 bytes, checksum: 4eeda3bd1dc5b38405d99e8a4673fdaf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia executiva de Gerenciamento Estratégico de Energia, de forma sistematizada, utilizando ferramentas de gerenciamento estratégico de processos, método PDCA, conceito de just in time e administração e gestão de estoques; que permitirão o tratamento de dados e informações quantitativas e qualitativas a serem aplicadas, independentes e/ou integradamente, objetivando a eficiência energética dos sistemas. Visando compartilhar de forma irrestrita com a comunidade direta ou indiretamente envolvida no programa, o mesmo foi desenvolvido e aplicado no sistema produtor da Companhia de Água e Esgoto do Estado do Maranhão; Sistema produtor de Italuís, seguindo as etapas de sensibilização da comunidade, através de diversos mecanismos; execução de diagnósticos energéticos compartilhados; promoção de análises tarifaria pontual; promoção de estudos da viabilidade econômica da implementação das ações; avaliação do desempenho auferido e ações de realinhamento da metodologia adotada, de modo a garantir melhoria na qualidade da energia fornecida pelo concessionário, redução de despesas com energia, na produção e ainda, otimização do sistema elétrico reduzindo assim, a necessidade de novos investimentos na geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia elétrica, com conseqüente melhoria na preservação do meio ambiente. Embora não tendo sido possível a implantação dos recursos tecnológicos identificados, neste primeiro momento, as medidas de pura gestão, foram suficientes para promover um percentual de economia, da ordem de 20% (vinte por cento) sobre a média anual de consumo e faturamento de energia elétrica na produção do sistema / Abstract: This work, studies an executive methodology of Industrial Energy Management, in a systemized form, using strategical management tools of processes, method pdca, concept of ¨just in time¨ and administration and management of stock; that they will allow the data handling and quantitative and qualitative informations to be applied, independent and/or totality, objectifying systems' energy efficiency. Aiming to share unrestrictedly with the directly or indirectly involved community in the program, it was also developed and applied in the producing system of the ¨Compania de Água e Esgoto¨ of the State of the Maranhão; Italuís's producing system of Italuís, following the stages of sensitivity of the community, through several mechanisms; shared energy disgnostic execution; promotion of analyses would tariff prompt; promotion of studies over the economic viability of the actions implementation ; evaluation of the gained performance and action of realignment actions adopted methodology, in order to guarantee improvement of energy quality supplied through the concessionaire, reduction of expenditures with energy, in the production and still, optimization of the electrical system reducing thus, the necessity of new investments over the generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy, with consequent improvement on the environment preservation. Although the identified technological resources had not been possible , at this first moment, the measures of pure management, had been enough to promote a percentage of economy, of (twenty percent) over the annual average of consumption and invoicing of electric energy in the production of the system / Mestrado / Planejamento e Gestão Estrategica da Manufatura / Mestre Profissional em Engenharia Mecanica

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ing. / Project cost control constitutes one of the three most important aspects in managing a project effectively. The other two items are time and quality. In order to control the cost aspect of a project as effectively as possible, up-to-date information is needed. This points to a properly integrated cost control system that simultaneously supports all the needs of project management. Fortunately in todays engineering environment, information systems have evolved to such a level that simultaneous support to all aspects of project management is achievable. It is the goal of this thesis to investigate how to do proper cost control and status reporting in the correct manner and as effectively as possible by making use of modern information systems in order to increase to productivity levels of organisations. Ways in which the cost controlling process can be integrated with the status reporting process will be investigated. A case study will be done in the author's own project engineering environment and improvements to the process will be made in order to increase productivity levels in the author's working environment.

M.Ing. / The telecommunications industry worldwide is experiencing massive downsizing activities as the mobile telecommunications market is flooded with mobile operators. In Europe and other leading countries world wide, fixed line operators are able to cover more than 90% of the population of the country and there is not such a necessity for a mobile service as in a country such as South Africa, where less than 50% of the population is connected to a fixed line operator. Together with many investors, planning to create substantial returns on investments saturated the communication market in these worldleading countries. When mobile data transfer, in the form of GPRS (General Packet Radios Services) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), was developed it was estimated that the amount of mobile data transferred (via mobile operators) per annum would exceed the amount of data transferred by normal fixed line transport (fixed line operators). Many mobile cellular operators worldwide have invested in these technologies but their ROI (Return on Investment) is not nearly as good as was estimated in the initial feasibility study of the technologies. Together, these issues have had a negative impact on all the world leading mobile communication infrastructure suppliers, which had to downsize to accommodate the decrease in world business. Only 3rd world countries (such as in Africa) are still expanding their mobile networks and are creating some business opportunities for the world leading suppliers, but it is unfortunately not sufficient to sustain the current business. With the initial roll out of GSM (Global system for mobile communication) network infrastructure suppliers could ask what they want for the equipment and services supplied, as these were hard to imitate, but as the market grew, more competitors were able to meet their standards in equipment quality and better the price and service.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ing. (Engineering Management) / Capital intensive engineering projects involve the flow of large sums of money over the project life. During the pretender phase of the project, estimates of the forecast cash flow and associate return on investment are made based on certain assumptions which at the time are, at best, only informed guesses. As the project progresses, the uncertainty surrounding the magnitude and the timing of these cash flows and rate of return, diminishes. By recognising the time value of money and the importance of the synthesis of time and cash flow as well as the interdependence of project activities, it is desirable to obtain an estimate of the PROBABLE outcome of the return on investment~ should the bid be accepted. This outcome can only be 'guessed' at by means of a probabilistic analysis of the parameters that go to make up the nett cash flow. This study is an attempt to find a model suitable for use in the construction industry which accurately describes the construction process, and presents an overall analysis of the variation in the rate of return as a result of the probabilistic nature of the original parameters. Various models were investigated. All were found suitable under limited conditions.

M.Com. (Business Management) / It is a well established fact that the majority of South Africans do not have access to health of a satisfactory quality, and that many have almost no effective access to health care at all. Health care in South Africa today can be characterised as being both inequitable and inefficient. It is inequitable as particular groups enjoy privileged access to health care, whereas others do not have any access at all and it is inefficient because of the existence of over treatment in the private sector and fragmentation in the public sector (Picard, 1992:1). In 1987, according to the best calculations available, South Africa spent R9,2 billion on health care. This figure amounted to 5,8 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) for that year (De Beer & Broornberg, 1990:1). The private sector accounted for 44 percent of expenditure that year, yet supplied health care to 20 percent of the South African population. On the other hand, the remaining 80 percent of the population had to rely on the public sector where just 56 percent of the total expenditure was located (De Beer & Broornberg, 1990:1). It is clear that the pUblic sector is unable to provide adequate health care for 80 percent of the population on the money presently available. This inability to provide services in the public sector has arisen from fragmentation and duplication of facilities, excessively bureaucratic management structures, undue emphasis on expensive curative care, high technology tests and interventions at the expense of providing basic health services. In addition to this, the public sector has been significantly underfunded. This can be supported by the above figures that show that 3,3 percent of the GNP is spent on public sector health care and this figure is well below the 5 percent target set by the World Health Organisation as a minimum standard ,(De Beer & Broomberg, 1990:1).

D.Ing. (Engineering Management) / Promotion of ICT usage in developing countries, even under rigorous government initia- tives and policies, is a discouraging undertaking and a very di cult one. One of the many challenges government of developing countries is facing in the promotion of ICT adoption is how to incorporate a subsidy rate discount into a price model as expressed in the following sentiments: Until now, USAASA has used very little of the money in the USAF. It must justify its spending plans each year before it is given access to any of Information on how price a ects the number of users was generated by asking users on how much the spent on internet usage. The sensitivity of users was determined by asking users how many hours they spent on the internet. Analysis of the information gathered showed that there was a substantial amount of money in USAASA and ZICTA co ers which was not utilized. Furthermore users expressed desire to have their prices subsidized. In rural areas internet prices were more expensive, on comparative terms, than those in the urban areas. Analysis of data or results concerning the price and the number of users showed that there was a positive relationship between the number of users and the price of the internet service. The relationship showed that a low price attracted a lot of users, while a high price attracted few users or none at all. The mathematical analysis of the pricing model proved that at a certain subsidy discount rate and price sensitivity, the model was able to reach equilibrium while maximizing the ISP's revenue. In conclusion the price of internet services for the information \have nots" depend on the price sensitivity and the level of subsidy given by the government. the funds". \Universal access of ICT services with particular reference to rural areas is an issue that has been on the agenda of most countries in the whole world today. You are aware that while some countries are currently e ectively extending services to rural areas using various means, others have found this challenging and have ended up with unutilized funds in the banks". Subsidies, though seen as the means of promoting social and economic agendas in developing countries, can create the tragedies associated with public resources usage or something-for-nothing resources. Given a subsidy discount rate or a low price, consumers usually anticipate a net bene t derived from free resources due to subsidy. Anticipation of net a bene t from such resources may generate a damaging rush from consumers to exploit the resource, which may result in the tragedy of the commons. On the contrary, when no subsidy is given, consumers face no di erential between the perceived utility and the price of the resource creating a no social and pecuniary bene t to users, as such very few consumers or users will utilize the resource. The contribution this research develops is as follows: To show the extent of ICT usage patterns in developing countries.To determine why ICT usage in developing countries is low even under rigorous government initiatives and policies. To determine how price a ects the number of users using the internet resource. To incorporate a subsidy discount rate in a price model for unserved or rural areas of developing countries. To proposes a subsidy driven pricing framework that helps both the internet service providers and users to maximize their utilities and prevent the tragedies associated with resource use i.e. the tragedy of the commons and the tragedy of the anti- commons. To apply a non-cooperative game theoretic model to investigate the con ict between ISPs and consumers or consumers in a heterogeneous communities i.e. the infor- mation \haves" and \have-nots". We de ne utility-based decision rules for both providers and users under varying prices and subsidy requirements. We provide a decision model under a non-cooperative, incomplete-information game environment. To investigates the properties of the NE (under di erent optimization rules) and to study whether there exists an optimal solution to the game. The basic hypothesis that this research addresses is: A pricing model, with correct subsidy discount rate allows for better resource usage (preventing the tragedy of the commons and anti-commons) and makes the attainment of the objective of \ICT access for all" more likely. The methodology used for collecting statistical data was a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The purpose of research was to collect data that would later be used to propose a pricing framework for heterogeneous communities. The strategy was to use three important variables in the subsidy driven pricing model to validate the hypothesis i.e. subsidy discount rate, the relationship between price and the number of users and the sensitivity (elasticity of demand) of users towards price. Incorporation of subsidy discount rate into the pricing model was driven by the fact that institutional frameworks such as universal service and access agency of South Africa (USAASA) and the Zambia information and communications tech- nology authority (ZICTA) were sitting with unutilized universal service and access fund (USAF). Additionally, users of internet services in underserviced areas of the two countries advocated for subsidized prices towards internet provision.

M.Ing.(Engineering Management) / A lot have been said and written about how South African Small Micro and Medium Size Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Construction sector of the economy have failed in the delivery of their projects and about how they have not measured up in terms of the requirements needed to be competitive in the global place. Services delivery protests by communities where SMMEs have either failed to deliver their projects adequately or have out rightly abandoned projects are common features in our various electronic and print media, and in many cases these days the most reasons given for this behavior is the total collapse or lack thereof of proper financial management of the project. Because of the ease of procedure required to register construction outfits at the Department of Trade and Industry many have flocked to the opportunity and established business enterprises with the intention that at least they will be considered for one tender or the other to carry out some sort of construction work or the other in their various environments. Others registered such companies because they have links and ties to these opportunities in the various government establishments responsible for creating these works in the name of service delivery to their respective communities. Many of the proprietors of these enterprises, when they eventually get the job, have little or no financial knowledge on how to successfully manage a construction project and sometimes always based their financial judgment on the bottom line without considering the various factors that influence the bottom line profit. Virtual calculations of their financial inputs and relative desired outputs are done with little or no consideration for cost implications of the individual building blocks of the project itself. Safe to say, in many instances, the project fail or is abandoned due to mismanaged funds or the exhaustion of such funds required to carry the project to the completion stage. It has been observed in many instances and in interactions with some SMMEs in the construction sector that not many of the appointed Project Managers and/ or Site Managers have Project Management skills, and those who do have, in most cases are unable to apply these skills to their projects. Usually they just result to invoking personal experiences obtained from their various earlier endeavors in financial projections and decisions involving the management of their projects. More often than not, these financial projections and decisions become inaccurate and tend to drive the project into financial losses. This now begs the question, that if there exits simple mathematical techniques and methods of evaluating the various costs during the project life cycle, and weighing those daily weekly and monthly costs against targeted objectives, both in the planning and execution of the projects, wouldn’t it then be easier to make sensible financial decisions if we are able to control and manage project resource costs so much so that the resultant will always be the desired financial objectives? The aim therefore, of this dissertation is to examine a simple but adequately comprehensive method, of managing resources cost as applied to road construction projects and how, by also weighing the influence of other trade-offs such as quality and time within the life cycle, the project is kept in good financial status and is subsequently able to make a profit at the end of the day. An illustration of the application of this cost control method is highlighted in a case study of a road construction project in Limpopo undertaken by an emerging South African construction company. The financial management style and those factors that govern some of the cost decisions made during the course of the project are taking into account. The resultant financial success of the work so far is evidence that the cost control mechanism employed largely contributes to its present successful state. It can therefore be concluded that if properly implemented, this method will assist SMMEs in the promotion of proper cost control practices, and subsequent financial breakthroughs when applied to other similar projects.

M.Ing. (Engineering Management) / “A robust set of estimates puts a project on a firm footing from day 1, allowing the project manager to apply the right level of resources at the appropriate time. If the plan has been based on poor estimates, problems will occur during the execution of the project …” This statement places great importance on the ability to estimate costs as accurately as practicable early during a project life cycle. Many techniques have been proposed with the aim of aiding with the production of early cost estimates,which have acceptable accuracies necessary for Feasibility Study purposes. One such technique is Parametric Cost Estimating for developing Parametric Cost Models used in producing these conceptual estimates.At the heart of Parametric Cost Estimating Technique, is a fundamental statistical technique commonly known as Linear Regression Analysis.The problem that the research addresses is that of the general misconception found to prevail within project houses that some engineering systems are too complex to model using the Parametric Cost Estimating Technique. The objectives of this research are to investigate and demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique in predicting the costs of a system for Feasibility Study purposes. The objectives were achieved by conducting a secondary literature review of case studies of similar Parametric Cost Models that were developed by others for engineering systems of varying complexities. A second method used in achieving the objectives included formulating a case study in which a Parametric Cost Model was developed to illustrate the concept and to prove that the accuracies produced by the model meet the requirements for Feasibility Studies.The research was limited to initial project costs required for Feasibility Studies,ignoring the effects of qualitative factors,focusing only on the acquisition costs and not the total life cycle costs of the system.The case study was developed for a passenger motor vehicle as the system of interest because sufficient cost data in the form of vehicle retail price and performance specifications is publicly available in car magazines making it possible to build a meaningful Parametric Cost Model. The Parametric Cost Model was developed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and had a Mean Absolute Error Rate of 10.9% and the range of accuracy obtained, -20% to 10% with 67% confidence level and -30% to 30% with 95% confidence level, conforming to a Class 4 estimate which meets the accuracy requirements for a Feasibility Study.