Lean Manufacturing (LM) is widely accepted as a world-class manufacturing paradigm, its currency and superiority are manifested in numerous recent success stories. Most lean tools including Just-in-Time (JIT) were designed for repetitive serial production systems. This resulted in a substantial stream of research which dismissed a priori the suitability of LM for non-repetitive non-serial job-shops. The extension of LM into non-repetitive production systems is opposed on the basis of the sheer complexity of applying JIT pull production control in non-repetitive systems fabricating a high variety of products. However, the application of LM in job-shops is not unexplored. Studies proposing the extension of leanness into non-repetitive production systems have promoted the modification of pull control mechanisms or reconfiguration of job-shops into cellular manufacturing systems. This thesis sought to address the shortcomings of the aforementioned approaches. The contribution of this thesis to knowledge in the field of production and operations management is threefold: Firstly, a Multi-Agent System (MAS) is designed to directly apply pull production control to a good approximation of a real-life job-shop. The scale and complexity of the developed MAS prove that the application of pull production control in non-repetitive manufacturing systems is challenging, perplex and laborious. Secondly, the thesis examines three pull production control mechanisms namely, Kanban, Base Stock and Constant Work-in-Process (CONWIP) which it enhances so as to prevent system deadlocks, an issue largely unaddressed in the relevant literature. Having successfully tested the transferability of pull production control to non-repetitive manufacturing, the third contribution of this thesis is that it uses experimental and empirical data to examine the impact of pull production control on job-shop performance. The thesis identifies issues resulting from the application of pull control in job-shops which have implications for industry practice and concludes by outlining further research that can be undertaken in this direction.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal a proposição de um método de desenvolvimento de sistemas híbridos de planejamento e programação da produção para ambientes de manufatura enxuta que possuam alta variedade de itens, estruturas complexas, variabilidade de lead times e demanda flutuante. Nestes ambientes existe uma grande dificuldade na definição das estratégias para a adoção do sistema mais adequado de planejamento e programação da produção. A maioria das empresas acaba adotando um tratamento genérico de planejamento e programação para todos os itens. O método foi desenvolvido a partir de uma ampla revisão bibliográfica em torno de sistemas de planejamento, programação e controle da produção, de suas respectivas funções, dos desafios para os sistemas atuais, bem como dos princípios e das principais práticas e ferramentas enxutas. Em seguida, o método foi testado em quatro aplicações práticas nas quais a essência da discussão em torno de um sistema de planejamento e programação da programação migrou do tradicional conflito entre sistemas kanban versus MRP, puxar versus empurrar, para o desafio de se criar um ambiente no qual estes dois sistemas, juntamente com outros, devem coexistir em harmonia. / This work has as main goal to propose a method of developing hybrid systems for planning and scheduling for lean manufacturing environments that have high variety of items, complex structures, variability of lead times and fluctuating demand. In these environments there is great difficulty in defining the strategies to adopt the most appropriate system of planning and scheduling. Most companies just adopting a generic treatment planning and programming for all items. The method was developed from an extensive literature review around systems of planning and scheduling of production, their respective roles, the challenges to the current systems as well as the principles and practices of the major tools and dried. Then, the method was tested in four practical applications in which the essence of the debate on a system of planning and scheduling migrated from traditional conflict between kanban systems versus MRP, pull vs. push, to the challenge of creating an environment in which these two systems, along with others, must coexist in harmony.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal a proposição de um método de desenvolvimento de sistemas híbridos de planejamento e programação da produção para ambientes de manufatura enxuta que possuam alta variedade de itens, estruturas complexas, variabilidade de lead times e demanda flutuante. Nestes ambientes existe uma grande dificuldade na definição das estratégias para a adoção do sistema mais adequado de planejamento e programação da produção. A maioria das empresas acaba adotando um tratamento genérico de planejamento e programação para todos os itens. O método foi desenvolvido a partir de uma ampla revisão bibliográfica em torno de sistemas de planejamento, programação e controle da produção, de suas respectivas funções, dos desafios para os sistemas atuais, bem como dos princípios e das principais práticas e ferramentas enxutas. Em seguida, o método foi testado em quatro aplicações práticas nas quais a essência da discussão em torno de um sistema de planejamento e programação da programação migrou do tradicional conflito entre sistemas kanban versus MRP, puxar versus empurrar, para o desafio de se criar um ambiente no qual estes dois sistemas, juntamente com outros, devem coexistir em harmonia. / This work has as main goal to propose a method of developing hybrid systems for planning and scheduling for lean manufacturing environments that have high variety of items, complex structures, variability of lead times and fluctuating demand. In these environments there is great difficulty in defining the strategies to adopt the most appropriate system of planning and scheduling. Most companies just adopting a generic treatment planning and programming for all items. The method was developed from an extensive literature review around systems of planning and scheduling of production, their respective roles, the challenges to the current systems as well as the principles and practices of the major tools and dried. Then, the method was tested in four practical applications in which the essence of the debate on a system of planning and scheduling migrated from traditional conflict between kanban systems versus MRP, pull vs. push, to the challenge of creating an environment in which these two systems, along with others, must coexist in harmony.

Yes / Modern early warning system (EWS) requires sophisticated knowledge of the natural hazards, the urban context and underlying risk factors to enable dynamic and timely decision making (e.g., hazard detection, hazard preparedness). Landslides are a common form of natural hazard with a global impact and closely linked to a variety of other hazards. EWS for landslides prediction and detection relies on scientific methods and models which requires input from the time series data, such as the earth observation (EO) and urban environment data. Such data sets are produced by a variety of remote sensing satellites and Internet of things sensors which are deployed in the landslide prone areas. To this end, the automatic discovery of potential time series data sources has become a challenge due to the complexity and high variety of data sources. To solve this hard research problem, in this paper, we propose a novel ontology, namely Landslip Ontology, to provide the knowledge base that establishes relationship between landslide hazard and EO and urban data sources. The purpose of Landslip Ontology is to facilitate time series data source discovery for the verification and prediction of landslide hazards. The ontology is evaluated based on scenarios and competency questions to verify the coverage and consistency. Moreover, the ontology can also be used to realize the implementation of data sources discovery system which is an essential component in EWS that needs to manage (store, search, process) rich information from heterogeneous data sources.

No / Early warning systems (EWS) for electrical grid infrastructure have played a significant role in the efficient management of electricity supply in natural hazard prone areas. Modern EWS rely on scientific methods to analyze a variety of Earth Observation and ancillary data provided by multiple and heterogeneous data sources for the monitoring of electrical grid infrastructure. Furthermore, through cooperation, EWS for natural hazards contribute to monitoring by reporting hazard events that are associated with a particular electrical grid network. Additionally, sophisticated domain knowledge of natural hazards and electrical grid is also required to enable dynamic and timely decision‐making about the management of electrical grid infrastructure in serious hazards. In this paper, we propose a data integration and analytics system that enables an interaction between natural hazard EWS and electrical grid EWS to contribute to electrical grid network monitoring and support decision‐making for electrical grid infrastructure management. We prototype the system using landslides as an example natural hazard for the grid infrastructure monitoring. Essentially, the system consists of background knowledge about landslides as well as information about data sources to facilitate the process of data integration and analysis. Using the knowledge modeled, the prototype system can report the occurrence of landslides and suggest potential data sources for the electrical grid network monitoring. / FloodPrep, Grant/Award Number: (NE/P017134/1); LandSlip, Grant/Award Number: (NE/P000681/1)

Submitted by Livia Mello (liviacmello@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-13T17:56:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFJGP.pdf: 3333112 bytes, checksum: 8963ce6444bcd4b9ef7bf9a0131996b6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-15T13:29:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFJGP.pdf: 3333112 bytes, checksum: 8963ce6444bcd4b9ef7bf9a0131996b6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-15T13:29:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFJGP.pdf: 3333112 bytes, checksum: 8963ce6444bcd4b9ef7bf9a0131996b6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-15T13:29:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissFJGP.pdf: 3333112 bytes, checksum: 8963ce6444bcd4b9ef7bf9a0131996b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-29 / Outra / Operations Management Researchers have largely studied and analyzed Lean Manufacturing (LM), by its capacity of productivity improvement in industry. Even so, this approach has found several difficulties to deal with all production types, especially those that have high-variety and low-volume. Therefore, LM has been integrated with other approaches to maximize its action, like Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM). However, few researchers have studied the integration of LM and QRM. In the aim of solving this gap, this research studies how QRM complements LM in high-variety production, in order to extend improvements with the integration of the two approaches. This research used multiple case study method to determine the behavior of the two approaches inside high-variety production. Two companies were analyzed, where the approaches supplied some improvement proposals to find complimentary elements. Data were collected throughout interviews, document analyzes and observation. As main result, QRM inserts concepts of System Dynamics as a compliment of Lean. Thus, tools as simulation, lead-time treatment, and analysis of utilization are the easiest for incorporation in the opportunities of improvement. A tool proposed based in unification of Value Stream Map (VSM) and Manufacturing Critical-Path Time (MCT) detects waste using the approaches, optimizing them. Future research should focus on using the integration proposed, verifying if compliments are successful in other flow and type production. / A abordagem Lean Manufacturing (LM) e as suas técnicas foram amplamente estudadas e analisadas por pesquisadores da área de planejamento da produção pela capacidade de melhoria de produtividade da indústria. Mesmo assim, tal abordagem tem encontrado diversas dificuldades para tratar todos os ambientes produtivos, especialmente àqueles que têm alta variedade de produtos e baixo volume. Portanto, ela vem sendo integrada com outras abordagens para potencializar a sua ação, como o Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM). Porém, a integração do LM com o QRM tem sido pouco estudada. Com o objetivo de preencher esta lacuna, esta pesquisa aborda como o QRM complementa o LM em ambientes de alta variedade, a fim de ampliar os efeitos de melhoria das duas abordagens em conjunto. Para isto, a pesquisa adotou o estudo de caso múltiplo com objetivo de determinar o comportamento das duas abordagens dentro do contexto de alta variedade. Foram analisadas duas organizações em que as abordagens fornecessem propostas de melhorias para encontrar elementos complementares entre elas. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas, análise documental e observações diretas nos casos. Como resultado encontrou-se que o QRM complementa o LM na inserção da dinâmica de sistemas. Com isso, ferramentas como simulação, tratamento de lead time, e análise de utilização são mais fáceis de incorporar nas oportunidades de melhoria. A unificação entre o Mapeamento do Fluxo de Valor (MFV) e Manufacturing Critical-Path Time (MCT) consegue detectar desperdícios utilizando as abordagens em conjunto, potencializando-as para mais aplicações. Para futuras pesquisas, sugere-se focar na utilização do modelo integrado proposto, verificando se as áreas de complementaridade são as mesmas em outros tipos de ambientes e fluxos.

This thesis investigates the possibility to adapt Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), tothe development process in the shipbuilding industry.More specifically the development process wasdelimited to the phases; design, work preparation, production and verification.Ordinarily, OEE is a performance measurement for mass production. Itincludes aquality parameter which has been the focus of this thesis. Both literature review and case study investigation show that process quality is of critical importance in the shipbuilding industry because of the needs for dimensional accuracy and high-quality assemblage.The three main factors affecting process quality are;the flow of information between engineering phaseand productionphase, and the amount of rework and delays. The factors wereevaluated along an optimization method with a specific attention to process quality. Acase studywas conductedto confirm the relevance of the literature review on factors affecting process qualityand allowedto gather factors in process quality that are relevant to the industry.In light of those results, I re-developed a model providingnew measurement of what I call OPQE (Overall Process Quality Efficiency).This study contributes to a betterunderstanding of process quality in ETO(Engineering-To-Order)industries. Notably it shows how deviations that require rework and causesdelays are impacting process quality. It also shows that detecting errors early in the process of production is essential for insuring quality control. An error detected late affects negatively process quality and increases cost.

The research highlights the problems of the diglossic relationship between Shona and English in the teaching-learning situation in Zimbabwe secondary schools. It focuses on how English as a high variety language adversely affects the performance of learners writing 'O' level Shona examinations in secondary schools. The research also confirms that teachers and learners of Shona in Zimbabwean secondary schools have a negative attitude towards Shona. Finally, the use of English in the teaching of Shona, the less hours allocated to Shona, the low esteem of Shona vis-à-vis the dominance of English and the association of English with social mobility impact on the attitude of students towards Shona as a subject. This linguistic attitude coupled with orthographic problems causes low passes in Shona at 'O' level. Hence, one proposes, language awareness campaigns and the use of Shona in the teaching of practical criticism and grammar. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

The research highlights the problems of the diglossic relationship between Shona and English in the teaching-learning situation in Zimbabwe secondary schools. It focuses on how English as a high variety language adversely affects the performance of learners writing 'O' level Shona examinations in secondary schools. The research also confirms that teachers and learners of Shona in Zimbabwean secondary schools have a negative attitude towards Shona. Finally, the use of English in the teaching of Shona, the less hours allocated to Shona, the low esteem of Shona vis-à-vis the dominance of English and the association of English with social mobility impact on the attitude of students towards Shona as a subject. This linguistic attitude coupled with orthographic problems causes low passes in Shona at 'O' level. Hence, one proposes, language awareness campaigns and the use of Shona in the teaching of practical criticism and grammar. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)