The springboard perspective argues that emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) can overcome their latecomer disadvantages via aggressive and risk-taking capability-upgrading measures in developed economies. However, extant research is mainly designed to study cross-sectional data sets rather than longitudinal process research. Therefore, the former contributes little to explaining the evolution of EMNEs’ springboard strategy in a consideration of firm-specific capability-upgrading. Building on these main tenets and echoing scholars’ appeal for further research into EMNE’s capability-upgrading and qualitative process perspective, this thesis opens the way for two new avenues of research in the springboard literature: the initial springboard assumption, the springboard advantages of specific host locations – most notably small and open developed economies, and the relationship between different ownership structures and springboard strategy. By default of process research these avenues have been poorly explored. In order to address these avenues and further uncover the evolutionary motivations and processes of springboard behavior, this study uses Chinese multinational enterprise (CMNE) cases to investigate how they achieve firm-specific capability-upgrading through a process perspective.While CMNE strategies in large European markets such as Germany, the UK, and France have received considerable attention, there is a lack of in-depth research on the locational advantages of most notably small and open economies such as Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxemburg. Given the demand for the extension of the aforementioned springboard perspective and the specificity of the research object and setting, I follow a grounded approach as part of inductive research. Grounded theorizing is especially plausible in research contexts calling for theoretical elucidation grounded in the practitioners’ own experiences. This theory can provide a more complete and convincing argument through creative interpretation and systematic rigor. In this study, our major sources of data are collected by interviews. On the basis of a grounded analysis, five aggregate dimensions emerged which relate to the process of CMNE’ capability-upgrading through overseas investment: (I) Capability-upgrading intent, (II) Initial learning challenge, (III) Learning mechanism, (IV) Subsidiary bound evolution, (V) Capability evolution. Furthermore, we developed a three-phase model of springboard capability-upgrading starting from i) headquarter managers’ initial intent, ii) Subsidiary learning challenge, and iii) consequent renegotiation with headquarter managers with regard to the subsidiary’s capability-upgrading role. This result shows that the subsidiary mandates of CMNEs have evolved along with different stages of internationalization.This study makes two main contributions to the springboard literature. First, it challenges assumptions of the springboard perspective through a process perspective. Second, this study contributes to qualitative process research and proposes a grounded model of CMNE evolutionary springboard process based on a three-stage typology. It suggests that CMNEs’ learning through subsidiaries in small and open economies has extended the scope of the springboard perspective through insights into the evolutionary process. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

In this thesis I dealt with the Six Sigma method and uses in practice in Miele technica s.r.o. company. The first part deals with the theoretical description of Six Sigma, DMAIC methodology and used tools as SIPOC, Ishikawa diagram, Pareto diagram, or regression or correlation. The second part describes the application of Six Sigma methods, which I had the opportunity to perform as a team leader in the assembly process of washing machines and dryers.

The importance of processes is growing. Processes are integrated into many areas of human work, where they help to organize all activities. This thesis aims on statistical approach to process behavior analysis. There are mentioned the basic process management issues in the beginning of this thesis. The main focus is on the techniques used during process analysis. There are mentioned approaches that are used to easily and effectively assess process behavior using process behavior charts and how to deduce proper steps from the analysis results to improve the process. The last part of this thesis is dedicated to practical analysis of real process behavior data using implemented solution. The results show common usability of statistical methods and approaches to process analysis.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:47:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jiam Pires_ Frigo.pdf: 2243207 bytes, checksum: 76a818d3ba4a98ecda459c13486050ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-02 / The sprinkler irrigation system is widely used because of the possibility of high uniform distribution and to adapt itself to different crops and soils. On the other hand, the water uniform application in irrigation is affected by meteorological factors that decrease the system efficiency. There has always been some concern about the quality of products and services in human history, since all products should have desirable characteristics to be accepted by consumers. Currently, development, improvement and monitoring of new management models quality during the production process have become essential for many organizations. Thus, inspection control has enhanced by statistical techniques, losses have been decreased and it was possible to stimulate some trading competition. In this context, this study aimed at evaluating the irrigation system in a conventional sprinkler using the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC) and the index Process Capability (CP) to correlate techniques with the system efficiency as well as verify the wind influence on irrigation by Shewhart control chart and compare the results of Shewhart control charts use with the EWMA and tabular CUSUM control charts, applied in quality control of the conventional sprinkler irrigation. In this study, 60 essays were carried out on a four irrigation sprinklers system, Xcel-Wobbler model, 1.0 m height above soil and 6.0 x 6.0 m spaced. The collectors were 1.0 m spaced apart with 0.5 m height from soil. The service pressure was monitored and appropriate to the sprinklers specifications, while wind was monitored in situ by a 2.0 m high digital anemometer. In order to evaluate the system, Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC), the index Process Capability (CP), Shewhart charts (Xbarra) and the charts of exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative sum (CUSUM) were used. The irrigation sprinkler system showed the best performance and was under control when the average wind speed was less than 1.0 m s-1. The use of individual Shewhart control charts visually allowed affirming that wind has a direct influence on CUC. Night irrigation showed less variability on the studied data, when compared to daytime ones and this has resulted in greater efficiency in irrigation. The CPi index showed great similarity with the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC). It proved to be very sensitive to efficiency sprinkler (Ea) variation and able to indicate the quality of sprinkler irrigation. The EWMA chart, when compared to the control charts, was susceptible when used in autocorrelated data, according to the occurrence of false alarms. But, to the residue data without autocorrelation (the ARIMA model), the CUSUM tabular chart was more sensitive to detect variations in irrigation due to wind speed, when compared to EWMA and Shewhart charts for the same data. In sprinkler irrigation, when there is a relation between CUC and wind speed, the Shewhart chart was more indicated by simplicity, reliability and ease of interpretation, even in the presence of autocorrelated data. / O sistema de irrigação por aspersão é muito utilizado, devido à possibilidade de elevada uniformidade de distribuição e por adaptar-se às diversas culturas e solos. Porém, a uniformidade de aplicação de água nas irrigações é afetada por fatores meteorológicos que diminuem a eficiência do sistema. A preocupação com a qualidade de produtos e serviços oferecidos sempre esteve presente na história da humanidade, pois para que os produtos fossem aceitos, deveriam possuir características desejáveis pelos consumidores. Atualmente, com o surgimento de novos modelos gerenciais, a melhoria e o monitoramento da qualidade durante o processo de produção tornaram-se uma necessidade para muitas organizações. Assim, aprimorou-se o controle da inspeção por meio de técnicas estatísticas, reduziram-se perdas e foi possível competir no mercado. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a irrigação em um sistema por aspersão convencional, utilizando o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC), o índice de Capacidade do Processo (CP) para correlacionar as técnicas com a eficiência do sistema, verificar a influência do vento na irrigação pelo gráfico de controle de Shewhart e confrontar os resultados da utilização dos gráficos de controle de Shewhart, com os gráficos de controle MMEP e CUSUM tabular, aplicados no controle de qualidade da irrigação por aspersão convencional. Neste estudo, foram realizados 60 ensaios em um sistema de irrigação por aspersão convencional. O sistema era constituído de quatro aspersores, modelo Xcel-wobbler, altura de 1,0 m em relação ao solo e espaçamento de 6,0 x 6,0 m. Os coletores foram espaçados em 1,0 m entre si com altura de 0,5 m do solo. A pressão de serviço foi monitorada e adequada às especificações dos aspersores, e o vento monitorado in loco, por um anemômetro digital com 2,0 m de altura. Para a avaliação do sistema, foram utilizados o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC), o índice de Capacidade do Processo (CP), gráficos de Shewhart (Xbarra) e os gráficos de média móvel exponencialmente ponderada (MMEP) e de soma cumulativa (CUSUM). O sistema de irrigação por aspersão convencional teve melhor desempenho e esteve sob controle, quando a velocidade média do vento esteve menor que 1,0 m s-1. O uso dos gráficos individuais de controle de Shewhart possibilitou afirmar visualmente que o vento tem influência direta sobre o CUC. A irrigação noturna apresentou menor variabilidade nos dados, quando comparados aos dados do período diurno e isso resultou em maior eficiência na irrigação. O índice CPi teve grande similaridade com o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC); mostrou-se bastante sensível à variação da eficiência de aspersão (Ea) e capaz de indicar a qualidade da irrigação por aspersão. Em comparação aos gráficos de controle, o gráfico MMEP mostrou-se suscetível quando utilizado em dados autocorrelacionados, pelas ocorrências de alarmes falsos. Para dados de resíduos, sem autocorrelação (pelo modelo ARIMA), o gráfico CUSUM tabular foi mais sensível ao detectar as variações ocorridas na irrigação devido à velocidade do vento, quando comparado aos gráficos MMEP e Shewhart para os mesmos dados. Na irrigação por aspersão, relacionando CUC com velocidade do vento, o gráfico de Shewhart foi mais indicado pela simplicidade, confiabilidade e facilidade de interpretação, mesmo na presença de dados autocorrelacionados entre si.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:23:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jiam Pires_ Frigo.pdf: 2243207 bytes, checksum: 76a818d3ba4a98ecda459c13486050ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-02 / The sprinkler irrigation system is widely used because of the possibility of high uniform distribution and to adapt itself to different crops and soils. On the other hand, the water uniform application in irrigation is affected by meteorological factors that decrease the system efficiency. There has always been some concern about the quality of products and services in human history, since all products should have desirable characteristics to be accepted by consumers. Currently, development, improvement and monitoring of new management models quality during the production process have become essential for many organizations. Thus, inspection control has enhanced by statistical techniques, losses have been decreased and it was possible to stimulate some trading competition. In this context, this study aimed at evaluating the irrigation system in a conventional sprinkler using the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC) and the index Process Capability (CP) to correlate techniques with the system efficiency as well as verify the wind influence on irrigation by Shewhart control chart and compare the results of Shewhart control charts use with the EWMA and tabular CUSUM control charts, applied in quality control of the conventional sprinkler irrigation. In this study, 60 essays were carried out on a four irrigation sprinklers system, Xcel-Wobbler model, 1.0 m height above soil and 6.0 x 6.0 m spaced. The collectors were 1.0 m spaced apart with 0.5 m height from soil. The service pressure was monitored and appropriate to the sprinklers specifications, while wind was monitored in situ by a 2.0 m high digital anemometer. In order to evaluate the system, Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC), the index Process Capability (CP), Shewhart charts (Xbarra) and the charts of exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative sum (CUSUM) were used. The irrigation sprinkler system showed the best performance and was under control when the average wind speed was less than 1.0 m s-1. The use of individual Shewhart control charts visually allowed affirming that wind has a direct influence on CUC. Night irrigation showed less variability on the studied data, when compared to daytime ones and this has resulted in greater efficiency in irrigation. The CPi index showed great similarity with the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC). It proved to be very sensitive to efficiency sprinkler (Ea) variation and able to indicate the quality of sprinkler irrigation. The EWMA chart, when compared to the control charts, was susceptible when used in autocorrelated data, according to the occurrence of false alarms. But, to the residue data without autocorrelation (the ARIMA model), the CUSUM tabular chart was more sensitive to detect variations in irrigation due to wind speed, when compared to EWMA and Shewhart charts for the same data. In sprinkler irrigation, when there is a relation between CUC and wind speed, the Shewhart chart was more indicated by simplicity, reliability and ease of interpretation, even in the presence of autocorrelated data. / O sistema de irrigação por aspersão é muito utilizado, devido à possibilidade de elevada uniformidade de distribuição e por adaptar-se às diversas culturas e solos. Porém, a uniformidade de aplicação de água nas irrigações é afetada por fatores meteorológicos que diminuem a eficiência do sistema. A preocupação com a qualidade de produtos e serviços oferecidos sempre esteve presente na história da humanidade, pois para que os produtos fossem aceitos, deveriam possuir características desejáveis pelos consumidores. Atualmente, com o surgimento de novos modelos gerenciais, a melhoria e o monitoramento da qualidade durante o processo de produção tornaram-se uma necessidade para muitas organizações. Assim, aprimorou-se o controle da inspeção por meio de técnicas estatísticas, reduziram-se perdas e foi possível competir no mercado. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a irrigação em um sistema por aspersão convencional, utilizando o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC), o índice de Capacidade do Processo (CP) para correlacionar as técnicas com a eficiência do sistema, verificar a influência do vento na irrigação pelo gráfico de controle de Shewhart e confrontar os resultados da utilização dos gráficos de controle de Shewhart, com os gráficos de controle MMEP e CUSUM tabular, aplicados no controle de qualidade da irrigação por aspersão convencional. Neste estudo, foram realizados 60 ensaios em um sistema de irrigação por aspersão convencional. O sistema era constituído de quatro aspersores, modelo Xcel-wobbler, altura de 1,0 m em relação ao solo e espaçamento de 6,0 x 6,0 m. Os coletores foram espaçados em 1,0 m entre si com altura de 0,5 m do solo. A pressão de serviço foi monitorada e adequada às especificações dos aspersores, e o vento monitorado in loco, por um anemômetro digital com 2,0 m de altura. Para a avaliação do sistema, foram utilizados o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC), o índice de Capacidade do Processo (CP), gráficos de Shewhart (Xbarra) e os gráficos de média móvel exponencialmente ponderada (MMEP) e de soma cumulativa (CUSUM). O sistema de irrigação por aspersão convencional teve melhor desempenho e esteve sob controle, quando a velocidade média do vento esteve menor que 1,0 m s-1. O uso dos gráficos individuais de controle de Shewhart possibilitou afirmar visualmente que o vento tem influência direta sobre o CUC. A irrigação noturna apresentou menor variabilidade nos dados, quando comparados aos dados do período diurno e isso resultou em maior eficiência na irrigação. O índice CPi teve grande similaridade com o Coeficiente de Uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC); mostrou-se bastante sensível à variação da eficiência de aspersão (Ea) e capaz de indicar a qualidade da irrigação por aspersão. Em comparação aos gráficos de controle, o gráfico MMEP mostrou-se suscetível quando utilizado em dados autocorrelacionados, pelas ocorrências de alarmes falsos. Para dados de resíduos, sem autocorrelação (pelo modelo ARIMA), o gráfico CUSUM tabular foi mais sensível ao detectar as variações ocorridas na irrigação devido à velocidade do vento, quando comparado aos gráficos MMEP e Shewhart para os mesmos dados. Na irrigação por aspersão, relacionando CUC com velocidade do vento, o gráfico de Shewhart foi mais indicado pela simplicidade, confiabilidade e facilidade de interpretação, mesmo na presença de dados autocorrelacionados entre si.

The master’s thesis contains a procedure of implementation of statistical process control for a machining process in a chosen company. The method is based upon knowledge of this topic which are mentioned in the first part of the thesis. The output is a comparison of general process performance before and after implementation of the above-mentioned statistical method and evaluation of the influence of this new method at the process. The comparison is done using hypothesis testing of specific statistical variables and analysis of process performance and capability of both data sets. The acquired knowledge and experience will be used for implementation of statistical process control for other processes in the company’s production portfolio.

This diploma thesis deals with use of Shewhart Control Charts in quality control. The thesis describes the currently used process of quality control in the enterprise. Afterwards practical guidance for implementation of the statistical process control of the selected component and evaluation of capability is provided. An application for creating control charts and monitoring the quality of the product is included.