The Speed-Track is a prototype of tracked vehicle made for material transportation on yards andgalleries. It was realized in 2011 and during the past two years has been employed mainly forload transportation on mountains. The main innovations adopted by the vehicle are about thesuspension system and the hydrostatic transmission; the combination of both allows acomfortable driving up to a maximum speed of 20 km/h.First of all, the present thesis aims to quantitatively evaluate the performances of the vehiclefrom the point of view of the suspension system and the transmission. The design of the vehicle,in fact, has been driven by the designer’s experience and no preliminary simulations and sizingcomputations have been performed.According to the outcomes of the first step as well as the feedback, some improvements to thecurrent configuration are designed and evaluated. The feedback has been submitted to theprototype’s users through a questionnaire. Improvements are supposed to be easily implementedon the existing vehicle.The outcomes of the previous steps as well as the communication with employees andentrepreneurs and the knowledge of the state of the art in terms of construction and earthmovingmachines drive the last step of the present work.The employees and entrepreneurs consulted mainly work in the agricultural sector and they havebeen contacted through web-based forums. In addition, the participation to the fair Bauma 2013allowed us to get a more complete picture of the state of the art.New solutions, starting from scratch, are designed in the last part.Keywords: / Speed-Track är en prototyp av en spårfarkost utvecklad för materialtransport på gårdar och igallerior. Den konstruerades 2011 och under de senaste två åren har den främst använts för tungatransporter på berg.De huvudsakliga innovationerna av vilka farkosten använder sig av är kopplade tillsuspensionssystemet och den hydrostatiska transmissionen; kombinationen av dessa möjliggören bekväm resa i hastigheter upp till 20 km/h.Målet med detta examensarbete är framför allt att utvärdera prestandan hos farkosten medhänsyn till suspensionssystemet och transmissionen. Designen av farkosten har utformats baseratpå utvecklarens erfarenheter och inga preliminära simuleringar eller beräkningar har utförts.Baserat på resultaten från, och utvärdering av det första steget har vissa förbättringar till denrådande uppbyggnaden framtagits och utvärderats. Utvärderingen har lämnats till användare avprototypen genom ett frågeformulär.Förbättringarna skall vara lätta att tillämpa på den existerande farkosten.Resultaten från de föregående stegen tillsammans med en dialog med anställda och entreprenörersamt teknisk kunskap med avseende på konstruktion och jordfraktande maskiner driva det sistasteget av det presenterade arbetet.Medarbetare och entreprenörer härstammar framför allt från arbete inom jordbrukssektorn ochhar blivit kontaktade genom web-forum.Dessutom har medverkan under mässan Bauma 2013 givit en mer komplett bild av den rådandetekniken.Nya lösningar skapade från början utvecklas i arbetets sista del.

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In recent years, deficiencies in construction documents has become a common problem in the construction industry. In most cases this leads to financial consequences, both for clients and building contractors. The risk of financial consequences can be minimized if the deficiencies and errors are eliminated before the construction phase or if it’s detected in an early stage of a project. Within Peab Skellefteå, a lot of time, energy and money are spent to investigate the deficiencies and errors in construction documents. This mostly occur in the construction phase, since that is where the deficiencies and errors usually are discovered. Previous studies concerning the same area indicate that financial consequences is a result of inadequate construction documents and alteration and additional works, but none of the studies includes further investigation concerning how it practically appears in projects and in what way it affects the client’s and building contractor’s economy. Based on this, the purpose of the report has been formulated: The purpose of the master thesis is to investigate and understand how inadequate construction documents affects individual construction projects in terms of economy. Based on the results from the interviews, recommendations will be proposed regarding how the risk of financial consequences can be reduced to help entrepreneurs avoid these types of situations. The content of this report is essentially based on interviews with nine participants, either site managers, construction engineers or purchasers from Peab Skellefteå. Theory from previous studies is also used and the report is limited to traditional contracts. The results of the interview study revealed that both the building contractor and the client have been negatively affected in terms of economy in project 1–6. It is hard to report accurate numbers, since inadequate construction documents might affect the next work stage, contract rate, time that should have been spent doing something else and the time spent to investigate deficiencies and errors, which can be difficult to prove. Some costs could be deduced to the discovered deficiencies and errors, see Table 1. Generally, it’s stated that deficiencies in construction documents entails financial consequences for both entrepreneurs and clients. The respondents explain that the drawings are the most problematic construction document and that’s where most errors are discovered. The parts of the drawings that’s usually inadequate is piercings, fittings, inner walls, details, attachments and contradictory information. Deficiencies typically connected to financial consequences for the building contractor is piercings, reinforcement, fire sealing and time spent investigating the deficiencies. For the client, typical deficiencies connected to financial consequences are lack of foundation- and ground investigation, quantifying errors, when incorrect dying times leads to extra costs and additional work. The respondents’ suggestions for improvement in collaboration with the author’s own thoughts is the basis of the given recommendation. The main potential improvements for designers are to review construction documents more accurate, increase their knowledge about production and materials, work with BIM-coordination and be receptive to feedback. Clients should check the coordination, increase their knowledge about work steps and materials and have consistent solutions through the project. Building contractors should have coordination meetings with designers, clients and installers, make an appropriate number of tender calculations, provide feedback to designers and clients, use the question/answer-method, design a useful contract administration and increase the review of contract documents for the often-deficient parts.

Detta examensarbete utgör den avslutande delen i högskoleingenjörsprogrammet inom maskinteknik på Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan med inriktningen industriell ekonomi och produktion och bedrevs i samarbete med Skanska Sverige AB. Studien undersöker hur Lean kan användas för effektivisering av armeringsprocessen av en stödmur genom att tillämpa Kata-metodiken adapterad för byggindustrins kontext. Det huvudsakliga målet med studien var att undersöka hur kostnadsbesparingar skulle kunna uppnås med hjälp av processförbättringar som minskar ledtiden för armeringsprocessen genom att ta fram ett måltillstånd för hur systemet bör fungera i framtiden. För att nå fram till målet med examensarbetet används en anpassad förbättringsmodell, Skanska Process Improvement (SPI) som steg-för-steg visar hur processförbättringar kan uppnås med hjälp av Lean-principer som exempelvis Genchi Gembutsu och PDCA. Vid genomförandet av studien har datainsamling till största del skett genom att följa yrkesarbetarna ute på arbetsplatsen under fem arbetsdagar vid progressionen av armeringsprocessen, vilket har genererat flertalet tidsadderande observationer. Tre måltillstånd har därefter tagits fram med syftet att eliminera avvikelserna varefter ett av måltillstånden valdes ut som lämpligast att bearbeta först, vilken är att implementera en standardiserad monteringsanvisning för armeringsprocessen. I ett längre perspektiv skulle SPI-modellen kunnat tillämpas för att förbättra helt andra byggprocesser som till exempel formsättning eller gjutning. För fortsatta studier skulle måltillståndet behöva omsättas i verkligheten genom utförandet av de PDCA-experiment som har förberetts i examensarbetet och med vägledning av SPI-modellen. / This bachelor thesis is the final part of the university engineering program in mechanical engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology with a focus on industrial economics and production and was conducted in collaboration with Skanska Sverige AB. The study examines how Lean can be used to streamline the reinforcement process of a retaining wall by applying the Kata methodology adapted to the context of the construction industry. The main goal of the study was to investigate how cost savings could be achieved with the help of process improvements that reduce the lead time for the reinforcement process by developing a target condition for how the system should work in the future. To achieve the goal of the bachelor thesis, a customized improvement model is used, Skanska Process Improvement (SPI), which step-by-step shows how process improvements can be achieved with the help of Lean principles such as Genchi Gembutsu and PDCA. In conducting the study, data collection has largely taken place by following the construction workers out in the workplace for five working days during the progression of the reinforcement process, which has generated several time-adding observations. Three target conditions have subsequently been developed with the aim of eliminating the deviations, after which one of the target conditions was selected as most suitable to process first, which is to implement a standardized assembly instruction for the reinforcement process. In a longer perspective, the SPI model could be applied to improve completely different construction processes such as formwork or casting. For further studies, the target condition would need to be tested in real world performing the PDCA experiments that have been prepared in the bachelor thesis and with guidance from the SPI model.

Affärssystem skapar fördelar samt påverkar företags finansiella prestationer. Affärssystem är därför ett viktigt medel för företag vid deras ekonomistyrning. Trots detta visar tidigare studier att det finns problem med att realisera fördelarna. Tidigare studier har främst fokuserat på andra faser än post-implementationsfasen, den fas där fördelarna realiseras. Därtill varierar det i existerande utvärderingsmodeller av affärssystem vad som bör utvärderas samt en brist i förklaringen av varför företag bör utvärdera affärssystem i post-implementationsfasen. Dessa brister kan vara en anledning till att företag inte utvärderar sina affärssystem, då det är oklart vilka värden som utvärdering ger företag. Syftet med denna fallstudie är därför att empiriskt utforska vilka värden som utvärdering av affärssystem i post-implementationsfasen ger företag. Vi har genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med representanter från fyra företag och med fyra affärssystemskonsulter. Studien visar att företag vid utvärdering bör se verksamhet och affärssystem som en entitet. Passformen mellan verksamhet och affärssystem måste vara stark för att företag ska erhålla önskade fördelar från affärssystemet. Vidare visar studien att det uppstår olika former av gap i verksamheter. Gap är de unika behov som företag behöver åtgärda för att nå önskad passform mellan affärssystem och verksamhet. Vår viktigaste slutsats är att företag får två värden av att utvärdera affärssystem i post-implementationsfasen, vilka är styrningsvärdet och förbättringsvärdet. / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems creates benefits and affect corporate financial performance. ERP is therefore an important means for the financial management in companies. Despite this, previous studies show that there are problems realizing the benefits from ERP. Previous studies have mainly focused on phases other than the post-implementation phase, which is the phase where ERP benefits are realized. In addition to this, existing evaluation models of ERP varies in what should be evaluated and also lack in explanation of why companies should evaluate ERP in the post-implementation phase. These shortages may be a reason that companies do not evaluate their ERP since it is unclear which values companies obtain from evaluation. The purpose of this case study is to empirically explore what values companies obtain from evaluating ERP in the post-implementation phase. We conducted semi-structured interviews with representatives from four companies and with four ERP consultants. The study shows that when doing evaluations companies should view business and ERP as one entity. The fit between the business and the ERP must be strong for companies to obtain desired benefits from the ERP system. The study also shows that different forms of gaps emerge in businesses. Gaps are the unique needs that companies must address in order to achieve the desired fit between business and ERP. Our main conclusion is that companies obtain two values from evaluating ERP in the post-implementation phase, which are the governance value and the improvement value.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is a major public health issue. Diabetes prevalence is growing and is the 7th leading cause of death in the US. Virginia has a slightly higher prevalence than the national average. Community-based diabetes lifestyle management programs that include a physical activity component are effective at improving glycemic control and influencing lifestyle behavior changes among people with T2D. The Balanced Living with Diabetes (BLD) program uses an active learning approach to improve glycemic control and healthful lifestyles. The Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together (LIFT) program uses behavioral strategies to improve functional fitness, participant engagement, and program adherence. Participant retention is a challenge for community-based program. Participants may start the program, but then fail to complete the program and/or adhere to program recommendations. Two pilot studies were conducted to evaluate strategies for increasing participant retention and improving outcomes. The first evaluated the implementation and impact of a retention plan implemented in BLD programs conducted from 2015-2017. There were more participants returned to the reunion class session prior the development of the retention plan. There were improvements in some health behavior and self-efficacy indicators in programs that used the retention materials, however, impacts on outcomes were mixed. Preliminary findings showed that the retention plan could be a tool for providing additional support to participants, however strategies for dissemination of the retention plan needs to be reevaluated. The second study evaluated the impact on participant engagement and program outcomes when the LIFT program is incorporated with the BLD program. There was an increase in participant retention, self-efficacy and one health behavior for physical activity and health behaviors related to diet in BLD+LIFT programs. Extension Agents are willing to implement the BLD+LIFT programs, however, clarity of program logistics is needed prior to implementation. Extension Agents indicated that implementation of these programs in locations with older adults that have greater disability may not be the best locations. Having larger studies on the effect of incorporation of LIFT with the BLD with older adult populations that have fewer co-morbidities are needed to determine the impact of addition of the LIFT program with the BLD program on program outcomes. / Doctor of Philosophy / Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not use insulin as it should or does not produce enough insulin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the prevalence of diabetes was 23.1 million among US adults in 2015. The prevalence of diabetes in Virginia is slightly higher than the national average. Community-based diabetes lifestyle management programs that include a physical activity component are effective in improving glycemic control and influencing lifestyle behavior changes among people with T2D. The Balanced Living with Diabetes (BLD) program uses an active learning approach to influence better glycemic control and healthful lifestyles. The Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together (LIFT) program uses behavioral strategies to improve functional fitness, participant engagement, and program adherence. The challenge with implementing community-based programs is retention. Participants may initially agree to participate in a program, but then fail to complete the program and/or follow program recommendations. Two pilot studies were conducted to evaluate strategies for increasing participant retention and program outcomes. The first evaluated the implementation and impact of a retention plan implemented in BLD programs conducted from 2015-2017. There were more participants returned prior to the development of the retention plan. There were improvements in some health behavior and self-efficacy indicators in programs that used the retention materials, however, impacts on outcomes were mixed. Findings showed that the retention plan could be a useful tool for providing additional support to participants, however distribution of the retention plan needs to be reevaluated. The second study evaluated the impact of program outcomes when the LIFT program is combined with the BLD program. There was an increase in participants' self-confidence to perform physical activity and making changes in their diet in BLD+LIFT groups. Extension Agents were enthusiastic about conducting more BLD+LIFT programs, however, program procedures and the time commitment needs to be understood before doing so. Expanding the conduct of BLD programs that incorporate the LIFT program can be effective in improving glycemic control and increasing physical activity, however, working with organizations that service people that have diabetes with fewer health conditions that limit physical activity may be more effective.

År 2030 beräknas var fjärde person i Sverige att vara 65 år eller äldre. Akutsjukvården är i dagsläget dåligt anpassad för att tillgodose de sköra äldres specifika behov. För att tillmötesgå de ökande behoven krävs nytänkande i omhändertagandet. Detta ställer stora krav på sjukvårdens kunskap om åldrandet och dess sjukdomar. Sjuksköterskan har en nyckelroll vid omhändertagandet av sköra äldre patienter genom att bedöma vårdbehov, utföra omvårdnadsåtgärder samt bidra till en trygg och säker vårdmiljö. Syftet med denna studie var att identifiera förbättringsområden i omhändertagandet av den sköra äldre patienten på akutmottagningen. Denna studie genomfördes med kvalitativ metod med induktiv ansats och fokusgruppsintervjuer. För att analysera datamaterialet har en kvalitativ innehållsanalys använts. I resultatet framkom en huvudkategori; ”För att tillmötesgå de ökade sköra äldres omvårdnadsbehov krävs av dagens akutvårdspersonal ökad förståelse och kunskap. Detta uppnås lämpligast på välbemannade akutmottagningar med god struktur”. Följande tre kategorier stöttar upp huvudkategorin; ”Tid och prioritering”, ”Förståelse och kunskap” samt ”Struktur”. Slutsatsen är att det finns förbättringsområden på akutmottagningen vid omhändertagandet av de sköra äldre patienterna. Studien visar behov av erfaren och intresserad personal som arbetar på personaltäta och strukturerade akutmottagningar där det finns möjlighet till fortbildning. / In 2030, every fourth person in Sweden is estimated to be 65 or older. Emergency care is currently poorly adapted to meet the specific needs of frail older people. In order to meet the increasing needs, new thinking is needed in the care. This places great demands on the healthcare knowledge about aging and its diseases. The nurse has a key role in the care of frail older patients by assessing care needs, performing nursing and contributing to a safe and secure caring environment. The aim of this study is to identify areas of improvement in the care of the frail older patient at the emergency department. This study was carried out with a qualitative method with inductive approach and focus group interviews. To analyze the data material, a qualitative content analysis has been used. In the result, a main category emerged; “To meet the increased frail older nursing needs, todays emergency care staff require increased understanding and knowledge. This is best achieved on well-manned emergency departments with a good structure”. The following three generic categories support the main category; “Time and priority”, “Understanding and knowledge” and “Structure”. The conclusion is that there are areas of improvement in the emergency department when handling the frail older patients. The study shows needs of experienced and interested staff who work on staff-tight and structured emergency department where there is the possibility of continuing education.

Além do fato de as organizações se encontrarem em ambientes turbulentos com rápidas e radicais mudanças, soma-se a importância que se tem dado à questão da implementação das ações estratégicas nas empresas. Assim justifica-se uma análise mais cuidadosa para entender como as empresas podem buscar a implementação bem sucedida de suas ações de melhoria e mudança, alinhando-as e integrando-as aos seus objetivos e metas estratégicos. Para tratar essa questão, esta pesquisa propõe uma sistematização para o processo de gestão de melhoria e mudança de desempenho. Entretanto, agir não significa simplesmente mudar, mas sim tomar ações para a melhoria e mudança na direção que a própria empresa escolheu para seguir, ou seja, sua estratégia. Porém, para uma efetiva gestão da implementação da estratégia, a organização deverá ter um sistema para avaliação e medição do seu desempenho. Dessa forma, este trabalho está estruturado, inicialmente, com uma discussão teórica sobre os temas estratégia, gestão de melhorias e mudanças e medição do desempenho organizacional. Com o embasamento teórico, é realizada uma proposta de um modelo para a gestão de melhorias e mudanças estratégicas, que é detalhada em processos e atividades. Com o objetivo de analisar o caráter prático dessa proposta conceitual, foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso em uma empresa considerada “caso de sucesso" em seu processo de gestão de melhoria. Pôde-se notar a importância de se ter um processo estruturado e sistematizado para gerenciar a melhoria e mudança, entretanto, o desenvolvimento desse processo deve assumir a realidade e entender as características particulares de cada empresa / Besides the fact of organizations finding themselves in a turbulent environment with fast and radical changes, the importance they have given to the subject of strategic actions implementation is becoming higher. Then, it has justified a more careful analysis to understand how companies can reach a successful implementation of their improvement and change actions, aligning and integrating them into their objectives and strategic goals. To treat that subject, this research proposes the systematization to the process of performance improvement and change management. However, acting does not simply means changing, but taking actions in order to reach improvement and change in the direction chosen by the own company, in other words, their strategy. However, for an effective management of the strategy implementation, the organization should have a performance evaluation and measurement system. In that way, this work is based, initially, on a theoretical discussion about themes like strategy, improvements and changes management and performance management. After this, a model of improvement and strategic change management is proposed, which is detailed in process and activities section. A case study was developed within a company considered “success case" with the objective of analyzing the practical character of this conceptual proposal. It was noticed the importance of having a structured and systematized process to manage improvements and changes. However, the development of this process should assume the company’s reality to understand its peculiars characteristics

Esta dissertação apresenta uma reflexão sobre a possibilidade de se promover melhorias nas condições de moradias em favelas urbanizadas, através de programas de melhorias habitacionais, analisando suas limitações e potencialidades. Apesar dos avanços obtidos nas favelas com as iniciativas de urbanização e com os instrumentos de garantia de posse da terra, ainda persistem nestas áreas precariedades relacionadas às unidades habitacionais, condição que tem impacto direto na saúde da população. Buscando solucionar estas questões, vêm sendo desenvolvidos, há mais de uma década, programas de melhorias habitacionais em favelas, iniciativas que têm encontrado uma série de dificuldades para sua operacionalização. Neste contexto, a pesquisa propõe um aprofundamento no universo das precariedades habitacionais das moradias em favelas, identificando os problemas mais frequentes e sua incidência. Para esta avaliação, são estudadas três favelas urbanizadas no município de Diadema (SP). Analisa-se, posteriormente, como estas situações vêm sendo enfrentadas pelos programas de melhorias habitacionais, e quais as principais dificuldades e avanços a eles relacionados. Para isso, são considerados programas realizados pelo poder público, ONGs e negócios sociais. Os resultados dos estudos apontam para altos índices de inadequação nas moradias em favelas e identificam como principais fatores que dificultam a implantação dos programas a limitação de recursos, os arranjos produtivos inadequados e o controle urbano. Ao final, são apresentadas algumas recomendações para que os programas de melhorias habitacionais atinjam maior escala e efetividade. / This dissertation presents a reflection on the possibility of promoting improvements in housing conditions in urbanized favelas (or slums?), through housing improvement programs, analyzing their limitations and potentialities. Despite the progress made in the favelas with urbanizing initiatives and land tenure guarantee instruments, still persist in these areas, precariousness related to housing units, a condition that has a direct impact on the health of the population. In order to solve these issues, housing improvement programs in favelas have been developed for more than a decade, initiatives that have encountered a series of difficulties for their operationalization. In this context, the research proposes, firstly, a deepening in the universe of housing precariousness of dwellings in favelas, identifying the most frequent problems and their incidence. For this evaluation, three favelas urbanized in the city of Diadema (SP) are studied. Then, it is analyzed how these situations are being faced by the housing improvement programs, and what are the main difficulties and advances related to them. To this end, are being considered programs performed by the public power, NGOs and social businesses. The results of the studies point to high levels of inadequacy in housing in favelas and identify as main factors that hamper the implementation of the programs the limitation of resources, inadequate productive arrangements and urban control. At the end, some recommendations are presented so that housing improvement programs achieve greater scale and effectiveness.

This research explored different catalytic cracking zeolite additives to improve propylene selectivity and minimize dry gas yield. A comprehensive study of the effect of zeolite structure, pore system and crystal size on maximizing propylene production in FCC unit and the effect of post synthetic modifications on the physicochemical properties and cracking activity of ZSM-5 was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), pyridine adsorption fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), 27Al and 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) and the catalytic cracking using n-heptane, as a model compound for heavy naphtha. The catalytic performances of these additives were evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor unit using n-heptane as a model compound for naphtha at temperatures 450 - 500 oC and W/F 38 - 92 gcat.h/mol. A range of zeolites were tested with ZSM-5 showing the optimum results at high feed conversion. Further studies on ZSM-5 crystal size illustrated that nano ZSM-5 (300 nm) was superior compared to the regular ZSM-5 (2000 - 4000 nm) in achieved conversion level and propylene selectivity. These improvements were attributed to the shorter path lengths for the reactant reducing diffusion constraints significantly. Modifying nano ZSM-5 acidity using steaming, acid leaching and silanation showed significant improvement over nano ZSM-5 parent. Mild steaming of nano ZSM-5 improved both n-heptane conversion and propylene selectivity whilst severe steaming only improved propylene selectivity. This work attempted to address the often discussed catalytic activity enhancement from mild steaming and identified newly created moderate acid sites as the source of increased activity. Dealumination by acid leaching decreased the total aluminium content of nano ZSM-5 and changed the Brønsted/Lewis ratio. Increasing the B/L ratio, increased the conversion and propylene selectivity. In addition, this research focussed for the first time on the silanation of nano ZSM-5 and its effect on n-heptane cracking, in particular, propylene and dry gas selectivity. Silica was deposited on the external surface of nano ZSM-5 neutralising the acidic sites and as a result, dry gas yield was significantly decreased due to the elimination of non-selective cracking. However, the trade off with conversion was high.