Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 1993. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xx, 174 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-172).

More than two decades have passed since the introduction of Quality Assurance Systems in the form of BS 5750/ISO 9000 yet the effectiveness of these systems are still a matter of controversy and debate. Although the implementation of Quality Assurance Systems in the construction industry has been slow to emerge, most large construction organisations are currently implementing such systems. Much has been written about the advantages and disadvantages of Quality Assurance Systems but unfortunately without any direct reference to any hard data. Most of the reported advantages and disadvantages are based purely on perceptions and views of individuals involved. The British Standards Institution (BSI) acts as a collaborating establishment for this research. This is the first research that attempts to assess the effectiveness of Quality Assurance Systems, in the construction industry. Based on data collected from literature, construction companies and experts in the field of Quality Management, the research provides a better understanding of the objectivity of available data regarding the effectiveness of QA Systems and examines the possibility of fording reliable measures. This thesis shows that no construction company has managed to assess the effectiveness of its Quality Assurance Systems in an objective manner. Regarding measures of the effectiveness of QA Systems, most experts believed that such measures are very important because an organisation must justify the existence of such systems, which are considered as overheads. However, all experts declared 1 that they are not aware of any construction company that has managed to assess the effectiveness of its ISO 9000 in any reliable manner. This research is of a particular value to construction companies who are considering implementing an ISO 9000 as well as those companies that are already implementing such systems.

The management of heavy construction equipment is a difficult task. Equipment managers are often called upon to make complex economic decisions involving the machines in their charge. These decisions include those concerning acquisitions, maintenance, repairs, rebuilds, replacements, and retirements. The equipment manager must also be able to forecast internal rental rates for their machinery. Repair and maintenance expenditures can have significant impacts on these economic decisions and forecasts. The purpose of this research was to identify a regression model that can adequately represent repair costs in terms of machine age in cumulative hours of use. The study was conducted using field data on 270 heavy construction machines from four different companies. Nineteen different linear and transformed non-linear models were evaluated. A second-order polynomial expression was selected as the best. It was demonstrated how this expression could be incorporated in the Cumulative Cost Model developed by Vorster where it can be used to identify optimum economic decisions. It was also demonstrated how equipment managers could form their own regression equations using standard spreadsheet and database software. / Ph. D.

by Ho King-sang. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1981. / Bibliography: leaf 56.

The research is based on the European Directive aimed at harmonising standards for construction products. Harmonised standards remove technical barriers to trade allowing manufacturers to sell their products anywhere in the European Economic Area (EEA) provided the product complies with the standard and has affixed the CE marking. This should lead to greater competition in all EEA markets. A review of relevant literature covered three distinct areas; developments of the European Union and the Construction Products Directive (CPD), the UK construction industry and materials sector and strategic management concentrating on market barriers and entry strategies. The research combined these areas together by investigating the impact of the CPD on the UK construction product manufacturers specifically considering the strategic decisions of the UK brick industry. As there was little previous empirical research into this area, data was generated through exploratory interviews with manufacturers and bodies involved with the UK implementation of the Directive, through a self-completion postal questionnaire survey with manufacturers from six product groups and by a case study approach used to examine the UK brick industry. The research demonstrated that the Directive is having little impact to date on the strategic decisions of UK construction product manufacturers. Also, there are a disturbing number of producers that were not aware of the Directive and its possible implications. By applying previous research findings to the UK brick industry, conclusions were drawn highlighting the specific nature of this industry and identifying specific characteristics that influence its competitiveness. The Directive and the UK brick industry have never previously been examined in such a manner and areas for further research have been suggested.

<p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Date: </strong>8 June 2009<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Degree Program: </strong>International Business and Entrepreneurship<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Program Division: </strong>School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering</p><p><strong>Course: </strong>Graduation Project in Innovation Management<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Title: </strong>Sustainable Development in Innovation, Design, and Technology Perspective.  Case Study of Volvo Construction Equipment<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Authors: </strong>Nithiwat Riebroicharoen 821024-T173 nrn08002@student.mdh.se</p><p>Pim Koykitcharoen 830311-T101</p><p>pkn08002@student.mdh.se</p><p><strong>Supervisors: </strong>Sten Ekman, Christer Nygren<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Problem Statement: </strong>How does Volvo CE facilitate sustainable development in technology, design and innovation perspectives?  The purpose of this graduation project is to identify and analyze how Volvo CE improves sustainable development in technology, design and innovation. Volvo CE is chosen as the subject of the study since it is the one of the leading company that claimed to have efficient implementing system of technology, design and innovation that truly solves the environmental problem that its business can cause.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Qualitative research methodology was used in this study.<strong> </strong>Two in-depth interviews were conducted with an environmental manager and an environmental engineer of Volvo CE with a focus on sustainable issues and technologies when the authors visited the manufacturing plant. Corresponding secondary resources from literature, articles, and theories were thus collected to be studied in parallel with the qualitative data.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The research found that Volvo CE has implemented a lot of business activities by applying innovation, technology and design approaches in order to support and improve its sustainable development business concept which covers all social, environment and economic aspects.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Sustainable development, Sustainability, Innovation, Design, Technology, Volvo Construction Equipment</p>

<p>This report contains the first step towards a complete, fully autonomous, robust bucket fill regulator for a wheel loader working with gravel materials.</p><p>The bucket fill procedure is the most critical part of the work cycle of a wheel loader. It is a task that has a long learning curve and also is weary, even for experienced drivers. The automation of it could therefore have a big impact on the cost effectiveness for wheel loaders and for the comfort of the drivers.</p><p>In this report, a suggestion for the complete solution of an automatic bucket fill regulator is presented. A regulator prototype is also constructed with a Volvo L120F as the base. The scope for the prototype is limited to one type of gravel material and quite optimal conditions for the wheel loader, but the complete solution is kept in mind throughout the synthesis. The constructed regulator is prepared for expansion, but the implementation and field testing is limited to the scope.</p>

Abstract Date: 8 June 2009 Degree Program: International Business and Entrepreneurship Program Division: School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering Course: Graduation Project in Innovation Management Title: Sustainable Development in Innovation, Design, and Technology Perspective.  Case Study of Volvo Construction Equipment Authors: Nithiwat Riebroicharoen 821024-T173 nrn08002@student.mdh.se Pim Koykitcharoen 830311-T101 pkn08002@student.mdh.se Supervisors: Sten Ekman, Christer Nygren Problem Statement: How does Volvo CE facilitate sustainable development in technology, design and innovation perspectives?  The purpose of this graduation project is to identify and analyze how Volvo CE improves sustainable development in technology, design and innovation. Volvo CE is chosen as the subject of the study since it is the one of the leading company that claimed to have efficient implementing system of technology, design and innovation that truly solves the environmental problem that its business can cause. Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used in this study. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with an environmental manager and an environmental engineer of Volvo CE with a focus on sustainable issues and technologies when the authors visited the manufacturing plant. Corresponding secondary resources from literature, articles, and theories were thus collected to be studied in parallel with the qualitative data. Conclusion: The research found that Volvo CE has implemented a lot of business activities by applying innovation, technology and design approaches in order to support and improve its sustainable development business concept which covers all social, environment and economic aspects.   Keywords: Sustainable development, Sustainability, Innovation, Design, Technology, Volvo Construction Equipment

This report contains the first step towards a complete, fully autonomous, robust bucket fill regulator for a wheel loader working with gravel materials. The bucket fill procedure is the most critical part of the work cycle of a wheel loader. It is a task that has a long learning curve and also is weary, even for experienced drivers. The automation of it could therefore have a big impact on the cost effectiveness for wheel loaders and for the comfort of the drivers. In this report, a suggestion for the complete solution of an automatic bucket fill regulator is presented. A regulator prototype is also constructed with a Volvo L120F as the base. The scope for the prototype is limited to one type of gravel material and quite optimal conditions for the wheel loader, but the complete solution is kept in mind throughout the synthesis. The constructed regulator is prepared for expansion, but the implementation and field testing is limited to the scope.