Prof. Stephen Kruger

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

Ett arbete inom produktutveckling har utförts på uppdrag av Goodtech Solution AB i Karlstad. Den produkt som utvecklats är en prototyp av en robotcell. Robotcellens uppgift beskrivs som automatisk pallkragsmontering på en lina. Den här rapporten omfattar förbättringsarbetet för Ytterkragen och dess drift för vertikal rörelse och höjdpositionering. Syftet är att rapporten för detta arbete ska ligga som grund för prototypens förbättringsarbeten innan den släpps ut påmarknaden.Monteringen sker på en lina med rullband där emballaget monteras ihop i robotcellen innan det skickas vidare för nästa moment. Ytterkragens uppgift är att fixera pall/översta pallkragen/lock på emballaget för att underlätta nästa monteringsmoment. Fixeringen sker genom att cylindrar pressas mot emballaget för att uppnå önskad position. Problemen för Ytterkragen är att lockmonteringen är opålitlig då monteringen sker utan befintlig instyrning. Driften för vertikal rörelse och höjdpositionering anses vara olämplig och bör utvecklas. När monteringen sker är det viktigt att delarna som monteras ligger i linje med varandra för att inte skapa oönskad kollision. Idag finns inga möjligheter för nödvändiga justeringar mellan Krabba och Ytterkrage. Konstruktionen ska ses över för att förenkla tillverkningen. Kort efter projektets uppstart tillkom ett önskemål från arbetsgivaren att Ytterkragen ska kunna hantera fler pallkragsstorlekar än bara en. En teoretisk undersökning som gjordes sent i projektet visar att dagens fixering är opålitlig på grund av friktionskrafter mellan tryckplåt och emballage.Ställda mål från arbetsgivaren har varit att förbättra instyrningen av lock, utveckla driften och höjdpositionering till en mer lämplig lösning, skapa en injustering mellan Krabba och Ytterkrage, förenkla tillverkningen och få Ytterkragen att kunna hantera fler pallkragsstorlekar. Två koncept har utarbetats för instyrningen av lock. Första konceptet är att locket ska styras in i önskad position vid leveransen för att kunna monteras korrekt. Andra konceptet är att skjuva/fixera locket i önskad position med hjälp av horisontalkrafter när locket väl ligger på översta pallkragen. Utvecklad drift och höjdpositionering är enkel och säker.Injustering är skapad så att Ytterkrage kan anpassas mot Krabban vid installationen av roboten. Tillverkningen har förenklats i mån av tid då detta har haft lägst prioritet. Hanteringen av fler pallkragar sköts genom att ha en längre slaglängd på cylindrarna som fixerar pall/pallkrage/lock. Ett sent upptäckt friktionsproblem har lösts genom att låta låscylindrarna arbeta med en pulserande teknik som slutligen komplett fixerar emballaget.Konstruktionen presenteras i CAD och är skapad med rör, profiler och plattstång av konstruktionsstål. Hållfasthetsberäkningar för materialdimensioner och fästelement har inte ingått i arbetet och har därför bestämts enligt egen bedömning och rekommendationer från handledare då det fortfarande är en prototyp. Pneumatikcylindrar, servomotor och linjärmodul har använts i konstruktionsarbetet.Ställda mål från arbetsgivaren är avklarade. Syftet är uppnått då Goodtech Solutions AB kan använda denna rapport som underlag för prototypens förbättringsarbeten inför en framtida marknadslansering. Utvecklingsarbeten finns kvar att göra på prototypen så som hållfasthetsberäkning av infästningar, uppdatering av motvikt och dess hävarm, hitta en alternativ drift för Krabbans vertikala förflyttning, uppdatera de två stötdämparna för Krabbans rotationsändlägen gällande placering, dimension och fixtur, ytterligare undersökningar om att förenkla tillverkningen, viktbesparingar samt nödvändiga hållfasthetsberäkningar då Krabbans och Ytterkragens vikt ökat avsevärt under arbetet och det fortfarande är en prototyp. / A work of product development has been executed on behalf of Goodtech Solution AB in Karlstad. The product that has been developed is a prototype of a robot cell. The robot cell’s task is described as automatic pallet collar assembly. This report contains the work of the Outer collar and its drive for vertical movement and height positioning. The purpose is that the report of this work is meant to act as a basis for the prototype’s improvement work before it is being put on the market.The assemblage is done on a line with a conveyor belt where the packaging is assembled in the robot cell before it’s passed on to the next phase. The Outer collar’s task is to fix the pallet / top collar/lid on the package to facilitate the next assembly step. The fixation is accomplished by cylinders pressing against the packaging in order to achieve the desired position. The problems of the Outer collar are that the lid assembly is unreliable since the assembly is done without existing guiding. The drive for the vertical motion and height positioning is considered inappropriate and should be developed. When the assembly is made, it is important that the parts to be fitted are in line with each other so that undesired collision does not arise. Today there are no opportunities for necessary adjustments between the Crab and the Outer collar. The design should be reviewed to simplify manufacture. Shortly after the project’s start-up came a desire from the employer that the Outer collar is to be able to handle more pallet collar sizes than just one. A theoretical study executed late in the project shows that todays fixing is unreliable due to frictional forces between the pressure plate and packaging.Set objectives from the employer have been to improve the lid’sguiding, developing the drive and height positioning to a more suitable solution, creating the possibility for an alignment between the Crab and the Outer collar, simplify manufacture and get the Outer collar to be able to handle several pallet collar sizes. Two concepts have been developed for guiding/fixing the lid. The first concept is that the lid should be directed into the desired position at time of delivery to be mounted correctly. The other concept is to push/fix the lid in the desired position by means of horizontal forces when the lid lies on the top collar. Developed drive and height positioning is simple and safe. Opportunities for necessary adjustments between the Crab and the Outer collar have been createdThe design is presented in CAD and is created with pipes, profiles and flat bars of structural steel. Strength calculations for material dimensions and fasteners have not been part of the work and have therefore been determined in own sole discretion and recommendations from the supervisor since it is still a prototype. Pneumatic cylinders, servo motor and linear module has been used in the design work. so that the Outer collar can be adapted to the Crab. The manufacture has been simplified in the extent of time since this has had the lowest priority. Managing more pallet collars is handled by having a longer length of stroke for the cylinders that fix the pallet/pallet collar/lid. A late discovered friction problem has been solved by allowing the cylinders that fixes the packaging to work with a systaltic technology that finally completes the fixing of packaging.Objectives set from the employer have been completed. The purpose is achieved since Goodtech Solutions AB may use this report as a basis for the prototype’s improvement works before its future market launch. Development work remains to be done on the prototype such as strength calculation of attachments, updating the counter weight and it’s lever, find an alternative drive for the Crab's vertical movement, updating the two shock absorbers for the Crab’s rotational end positions regarding the location, size and fixture, further studies to simplify the manufacture, weight savings and the necessary strength calculations as the Crab’s and Outer collar’s weight has increased significantly during the work and it is still a prototype.

M.Com. (Business Management) / A high level of productivity is of utmost importance to any nation seeking economical growth and stability. However, South Africa has fallen behind its most important trading partners regarding levels of productivity. This decline in productivity started during the late 1960's and has resulted in a subsequent decline in competitiveness. Even more alarming is the fact that some third world countries have overtaken South Africa regarding productivity, and are currently maintaining economical growth rates in excess of five percent per annum. Another trend of modern times is the rapid growth in the number of white-collar workers (including knowledge workers). This rise of the knowledge worker is a result of the swing towards technology- and service organizations. It is thus clear that. the importance of knowledge worker productivity cannot be underestimated. There are however a number of problems regarding the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity. Most of these problems have their origin in the unique characteristics of knowledge work. The aim of this study is thus to investigate the problems regarding the measurement of knowledge work, methods of improving productivity in general as well as improving knowledge worker productivity specifically, and finally to develop a guideline for the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity. The study begins with a thorough literature study regarding productivity, knowledge workers and productivity improvement techniques. Following this is an empirical study to investigate certain specific factors which influence productivity. Finally a conclusion is made, resulting in a guideline for the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University

Abstract The government, in assisting Taiwanese enterprises to compete in increasing globalization environment, imitated the European and American countries in establishing stock market, helped corporate bond issuance to finance capital projects, and in the 80¡¦s, allowed foreign investments to enter Taiwanese economy and gradually relaxing regulation to allow greater flexibilities. Because of this policy, Taiwanese Stock Market began to grow exponentially. The number of corporate IPOs mushroomed in great numbers. After 1997 Asian financial and economic crash severely damaged the market and economy. The idea of ¡§Get Rich Quick¡¨ from the West began to invade Taiwan. Many corporate upper management, especially the second generation owners of family enterprises with higher education in international financial operations, broke away from their core business operations and traditional values and began to focus on high risk investment products and speculative investment vehicles. They even use cross-shareholding of stocks, stock speculations, illegal loans and profit sharing, misleading and fraudulent financial reporting to expand their businesses. As the result of their negligence of risk management and miscalculations of economic conditions, corporations experienced severe cash crunch from investment losses and were unable to cover the cash shortage through over-leveraged assets and illegal corporate financial schemes. Many corporations crumpled, causing wide spread lay-off and significant losses by investing public. It also affects many upper, middle, and lower stream merchants, vendors, and financial institutions. The resulting chain reactions from corporate bankruptcies, reorganizations, and stock de-listings caused major ramifications in Taiwan¡¦s social, political, economic, and financial systemsDuring the more than ten years of past criminal investigations of illegal activities in public companies, the media, financial, legal and accounting experts all provided their suggestions in how to prevent these cases. However, other than providing some tabloid news on newspapers, it regrettably has not helped in assisting the investigations or in preventing new cases. This thesis summarizes the major financial and money laundering activities preventive measures, and criminal investigations in Taiwan. It will compare and analyze the various case backgrounds, methods of operations, ramifications, and legal consequences in order to find similar characteristics of these cases from past investigative experiences, evidence gatherings, money trail tracings, and legal procedures. From these analyses, the thesis will make conclusions and suggestions in hope of shortening the investigative process in future cases, so that the investigation can start on the right track immediately to prevent the domino effects on the stock market and economy and minimize damage on economic conditions, and to reach the goal of ¡§To Detect is to Prevent¡¨.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Greifswald, 2003.

The “green jobs for all” movement aims to make “green collar” jobs – those that support families and the environment – accessible to every working man and woman. This report investigates the potential role of the green building sector in this movement in Austin, TX through a literature review and interviews with sixteen green building professionals. The findings suggest that Austin’s green building sector does appear to offer quality green collar jobs with few barriers to entry in the market. As such, it stands to play an important role in the green for all movement locally and nationally. Unlike some other sectors of the green economy, the green building sector, at least in Texas, does not appear to be limited to “eco-elites,” a.k.a., the white, wealthier Americans who tend to dominate mainstream environmental movements. Although it is not clear that the green building sector is growing the environmental movement by involving people whose demographic background is different than most mainstream environmentalists, it does appear that contractors and subcontractors who build “green” take particular pride in their work. New jobs are expanding tin the green building sector and green practices among existing trades often gives firms a competitive edge. There are many potential roles for the city to take in its support of the green building sector. Voluntary programs are the most popular on all fronts, but the case can also be made in some cases for mandates. Rating systems are essential to resolve imperfect information in the market, but rating systems using nationally standardized codes might facilitate the efficiency of real estate markets by giving appraisers and lenders a rating system they can trust. / text

Surveillance has long been used as an enforcement tool to detect conventional crimes and identify and punish offenders. However, its watchful gaze has been strategically directed away from the area of corporate crime. Corporate crime has long been under-studied and under-researched, despite the fact that the damages it causes amount to millions, even billions, of dollars. Its omission from the surveillant gaze, however, has been no accident. Because corporate offenders hold higher positions in society and possess greater political and economic resources than conventional street criminals, corporate offenders have often been able to resist the regulatory attempts against them. This thesis explores the underuse of surveillance as an enforcement tool in corporate crime, but also examines the regulatory climate that perpetuates this. It explores the main tools for addressing criminal and regulatory violations that are used by law enforcement agencies charged with enforcing corporate crime. This thesis identifies and examines five barriers—cultural, political, economic, legal, and technological—that have acted to limit and even prevent surveillance as a tool of regulation against corporate crime. Through an analysis of academic literature and public sources, this thesis assesses the small number of initiatives where surveillance strategies have been attempted in the field of corporate crime and investigates the reasons the attempts have been limited in number, scope and effect. The aim of this thesis is to draw attention to underuse of surveillance in corporate crime and question the current regulatory framework. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2011-04-26 14:38:11.581

Thesis (doctoral)--Groningen, 1981. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 535-542) and index.