The Struandale Engine Plant (SEP) was set up in 1924 and was the 16th Ford plant outside North America. The plant has since produced a variety of different components ranging from wheel hubs, to engine components such as crank shafts and cylinder blocks, to the assembly of engines. Manufacturing at this plant has predominantly been via the job-shop method, where mass production techniques were used. The RoCam programme preparation started in 1999. In 2001, SEP experienced a very steep ramp-up due to an unexpected surge in volume requirements. This forced the plant’s Human Resources team to embark on an “emergency” recruitment drive to cover the required human resources to support the programme. Due to this action being taken by the Human Resources department, the educational level of the employees was at a very basic level and had an adverse effect on productivity. The SEP operating committee made a decision in 2004 to focus on the implementation and maintenance of the Ford Production System (FPS). This initiative was important because ageing equipment needed to be maintained at predetermined intervals through continuous improvement techniques that form part of the FPS programme. If these techniques are not in place, the Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) suffers. This programme comprises a number of critical elements such as FTPM that requires a certain education and skill level in effort to completely comprehend the system. Evidently, education was an issue and an effort had to be made to upgrade the workforce skill’s level, specifically the team leaders. On the 30th January 2008, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) had announced plans to invest more than R1.5-billion to expand its operations in South Africa for the production of Ford's next-generation compact pick-up truck iv and Puma diesel engine. In an effort to secure and retain the Puma contract at SEP, the plant had to prove that it could compete globally; hence it had to improve OEE levels to the world-class standard. The Puma engine contract had been contracted to South America, Turkey, Thailand, and South Africa. This was a strategic move in order to retain flexibility within the supply chain i.e. if one supplier / plant cannot deliver, demand can be shifted to one of three alternative suppliers. The problem statement which will be addressed by this research is: What are the main causes for the poor Overall Equipment Efficiency level (OEE) at the Struandale Engine Plant of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa? The Primary Objective of this research is to: Identify the main causes for the poor Overall Equipment Efficiency level (OEE) at the Struandale Engine Plant of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa

This thesis reports the development by the author of a job order system for a maintenance department in a Burnaby petroleum refinery during the summer of 1952. The requirements of this system are (1) to provide a practical channel of communication for the planning and control of all maintenance department work, (2) to provide an adequate description and estimate of the work requested, (3) to provide information necessary for scheduling requested work, (4) to ensure the proper approval authorities for all expenditures, (5) to provide information necessary for costing all work done, and (6) to measure the overall efficiency of the maintenance department. These requirements have been fulfilled partially by (1) the establishment of approval authority limits, (2) the introduction of job order and job order memo forms, and (3) the employment of a job order clerk. At present, however, expenditures are controlled only by maximum approval authority limits. It is recommended, therefore, that the services of a qualified estimator be sought in order that costs may be controlled more closely by means of accurate job cost estimates. This method of control, in turn, will provide satisfactory measures of the overall efficiency of the maintenance department. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Ideally, pavement management is a process of sequential decisions on a network of pavement sections. The network is subjected to uncertainties arising from material variability, random traffic, and fluctuating environmental inputs. The pavement manager optimizes the whole system subject to resource constraints, and avoids sub optimization of sections. The optimization process accounts for the dynamics of the pavement system. In addition to objective data the manager seeks information from a number of experts, and considers selected social-political factors and also potential implementation difficulties. Nine advanced schemes that have been developed for various pavement administrations are compared to the ideal. Although the schemes employ methods capable of handling the pavement system's complexities in isolation, not one can account for all complexities simultaneously. Bayesian decision analysis with recent extensions is useful for attacking the problem at hand. The method prescribes that when a decision maker is faced with a choice in an uncertain situation, he should pick the alternative with the maximum expected utility. To illustrate the potential of Bayesian decision analysis for pavement management, the author develops a Markov decision model for the operation of one pavement section. Consequences in each stage are evaluated by multi-attribute utility. The states are built of multiple pavement variables, such as strength, texture, roughness, etc. Group opinion and network optimization are recommended for future research, and decision analysis suggested as a promising way to attack these more complex problems. This thesis emphasizes the utility part of decision analysis, while it modifies an existing approach to handle the probability part. A procedure is developed for Bayesian updating of Markov transition matrices where the prior distributions are of the beta class, and are based on surveys of pavement condition and on engineering judgement. Preferences of six engineers are elicited and tested in a simulated decision situation. Multi-attribute utility theory is a reasonable approximation of the elicited value judgements and provides an expedient analytical tool. The model is programmed in PL1 and an example problem is analysed by a computer. Conclusions discuss the pavement maintenance problem from the decision analytical perspective. A revision is recommended of the widespread additive evaluation models from the standpoint of principles for rational choice. Those areas of decision theory which may be of interest to the pavement engineer, and to the civil engineer in general, are suggested for further study and monitoring. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

M.Ing. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Orientador: Antônio Celso Fonseca de Arruda / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T07:27:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paixao_EdsonVieira_M.pdf: 2011118 bytes, checksum: 949a108a8596c8dc3f48843a56e9dd43 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O PROCONVE, programa de controle de emissões de poluentes veiculares brasileiro, instituído em 1986, definiu limites de emissões que são periodicamente atualizados. Ao longo dos anos, a indústria automobilística nacional tem desenvolvido soluções tecnológicas de controle de emissões visando atender aos referidos limites. Desde 1992, o catalisador automotivo é adotado em conjunto com outras soluções nos veículos comercializados no país. O PROCONVE estabelece, entre outros pontos, que qualquer modelo de veículo comercializado no Brasil deve passar por uma homologação oficial, onde se verifica a conformidade dos valores de emissões de poluentes. Estabelece também que programas de verificação da conformidade dos valores de emissões da frota circulante devem ser verificados em campo. A cidade de São Paulo implementou em 2008, o programa de Inspeção Veicular para todos os veículos de sua frota circulante. O objetivo desse trabalho é verificar a influência do catalisador automotivo nos resultados da Inspeção Veicular realizada em um veículo representativo da frota circulante. Para isso, o veículo foi devidamente instrumentado e diversos ensaios foram realizados em laboratório, para verificação da eficiência do catalisador. Concluiu-se que, devido às características do procedimento adotado pela Inspeção Veicular, o catalisador do veículo em questão apresentou baixa eficiência, levando o veículo a ser reprovado na inspeção. Este estudo deve ser estendido a outros veículos, bem como deve ser desenvolvido o método adotado pela Inspeção Veicular, no sentido de garantir que o catalisador funcione corretamente, durante sua realização / Abstract: PROCONVE, Brazilian's Vehicle Emission Program, started in 1986, has defined emissions limits, periodically in revision process. Since then, local automotive industry is developing emission control solutions in order to reach these limits. Since 1992 automotive catalyst is adopted with other solutions on local vehicles. PROCONVE establishes that any vehicle model sold in the country must be certificated by government, when its emissions are verified against legislation limits. It also establishes that fleet emissions conformity should be checked in field. In 2008, São Paulo city implemented its own Inspection Program for its fleet. The objective here is verify the influence of catalyst in a Inspection procedure adopted by São Paulo city, using a fleet representative vehicle. Emissions tests were performed in a Emissions Laboratory in order to verify catalyst efficiency. Due to the characteristic of Inspection procedure, the catalyst presented low efficiency and vehicle has been not approved. This study should be extended to other vehicles and Inspection methods should be improved, in order to guarantee a minimum efficiency temperature for catalyst / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Miss Clean es una empresa dedicada a la limpieza y mantenimiento de carteras para mujeres ejecutivas y modernas que no disponen de tiempo suficiente para realizar dicha actividad. La empresa está ubicada en el distrito de San Borja para atender los pedidos de nuestro público objetivo, mujeres entre los 25 y 55 años que viven en los distritos de San Borja, San isidro, Surco, La molina y Miraflores del NSE B. Gracias al análisis del entorno realizado se detectó una necesidad insatisfecha en mujeres que no encuentran un lugar confiable donde hacer el mantenimiento a sus carteras con total garantía. Miss Clean pone a disposición un servicio personalizado donde podrán contactarnos mediante nuestra página web, redes sociales y el personal de recojo se encargará de la recepción en la comodidad de su hogar o centro de laborales. Nuestro equipo de trabajo está liderado por 5 integrantes altamente calificados para la gestión de las áreas claves de la empresa. La estrategia principal para el éxito del negocio es el enfoque por diferenciación ya que contaremos con una ventaja competitiva a través de un servicio de calidad que genere valor para el cliente. Este proyecto ha sido evaluado efectivamente por diferentes indicadores financieros, obteniendo una tasa interna de retorno (TIR) de 61% y un valor actual neto (VAN) de S/458,308. Por último, confiamos que el 6.25% la rentabilidad que ofreceremos al inversionista será una propuesta atractiva para atraer el capital necesario para el desarrollo de nuestro plan de negocio. / Miss Clean is a company dedicated to the cleaning and maintenance of portfolios for executive and modern women who do not have enough time to carry out this activity. The company is located in the district of San Borja to meet the requests of our target audience, women between 25 and 55 years living in the districts of San Borja, San Isidro, Surco, La Molina and Miraflores of NSE B. Thanks to the analysis of the environment carried out, an unmet need was detected in women who do not find a reliable place to maintain their portfolios with full guarantees. Miss Clean offers a personalized service where you can contact us through our website, social networks and the pick-up staff will take care of the reception in the comfort of your home or work center. Our team is led by 5 highly qualified members for the management of key areas of the company. The main strategy for business success is the differentiation approach, since we will have a competitive advantage through a quality service that generates value for the client. This project has been effectively evaluated by different financial indicators, obtaining an internal rate of return (IRR) of 61% and a net present value (NPV) of S / 458.308. Finally, we trust that the 6.25% profitability that we offer to the investor will be an attractive proposal to attract the necessary capital for the development of our business plan. / Trabajo de investigación

Ett examensarbete genomfördes på Nolato Cerbo AB i Trollhättan, med målet att utforma ett förslag på ett digitalt arbetsflöde för avvikelsehantering på inköpt material. De frågeställningar som arbetet skulle besvara var: • Kan ett arbetsflöde för avvikelser på inköpt material digitaliseras för att underlätta dokumentering, spårbarhet och hantering av information? • Hur ska arbetsflödet utformas för att uppnå de interna intressenternas krav och behov? • Vilka fördelar respektive nackdelar kan uppstå vid införandet av ett digitalt arbetsflöde? För att kartlägga hur flödet ser ut i nuläget samt problem med flödet, genomfördes intervjuer med de berörda avdelningarna. Intervjuerna tog också upp de anställdas åsikter om ett digitalt flöde. Ett flödesschema skapades och därefter identifierades slöseri i flödet. En benchmarking genomfördes också på Varner Retail Logistics AB, för att se hur ett annat företag arbetar med ett digitalt flöde för avvikelsehantering. Ett nytt flödesschema togs fram för avvikelsehantering på inköpt material, där de manuella delarna digitaliserades. Efter att ett test genomförts med berörd personal kunde det konstateras att det digitala flödet kommer underlätta dokumentering, spårbarhet och hantering av information. De interna intressenternas krav och behov uppfylldes också. Fördelar som respondenterna anser kan uppnås med det digitala flödet var tidsbesparing, ingen manuell pappershantering, snabbare spridning av informationoch att rätt information fylls i från början. Nackdelar som anses kan uppstå är att det kommer ta tid för personalen att lära sig och vänja sig vid det nya arbetssättet, samt begränsningar i mobilapplikationen. Slutsatserna som drogs var att det digitala flödet kommer att kunna användas om det utformas enligt författarnas förslag, men förändringar kan komma att ske i flödet i framtiden. Det kan också finnas personal på Nolato Cerbo AB som känner en osäkerhet inför digitalisering och förändringar. För att implementeringen ska bli lyckad kommer därför utbildning och information om digitaliseringens möjligheter krävas. / A case study was performed at Nolato Cerbo AB in Trollhättan, with the objective to design a suggestion of a digital workflow for deviation handlingfor purchased material. The following questions were issued to fulfil the objective of the case study: • Is a workflow for deviation handling for purchased material possible to digitalize in order to facilitate documentation, traceability and information handling? • How should the workflow be designed in order to reach the involved personnel's requirements and needs? • Which advantages and disadvantages could emerge from the implementation of a digital workflow? To be able to map the current workflow and its issues, interviews with the involved departments were conducted. The interviews also brought up the employees' opinions of a digital workflow. A flowchart was created and waste in the workflow was identified. A benchmarking was performed at Varner Retail Logistics AB, to get an insight of how another company uses a digital workflow for deviation handling. A new flowchart for deviation handling for purchased material was created, where the manual parts of the flow were digitalized. After a test had been performed with concerned employees, it could be stated that the digital workflow will facilitate documentation, traceability and information handling. The requirements and needs for the involved personnel were also fulfilled. Advantages that the respondents consider can be achieved with the digital workflow was time save, no manual handling of paper, a faster distribution of information and that the correct information will be filled in from the beginning. Disadvantages that the respondents consider can emerge is that it will take some time for the employees to learn and adapt to the new way of working and the limitations of the mobileapplication. The conclusions that were drawn was that the digital workflow will be able to be used if it's designed according to the suggestion, although changes to the workflow might be performed in the future. There might also be employees at Nolato CerboAB which afraid of digitalization and changes. For the implementation to be successful, an education and information about the possibilities that digitalization brings will be required.

The safety of dams is crucial in ensuring the continual availability of water, safety of the surrounding communities and infrastructure. Surveillance systems are implemented to monitor the structural integrity of certain dams which have a safety risk. The components and extent of the surveillance systems adopted depends on many factors, which include the type of dam wall structure used to impound the reservoir, geotechnical and environmental conditions. The case study used for this thesis is Kouga Dam located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is a double curvature, concrete arch dam which supplies water for domestic, irrigation and industrial use to the Gamtoos River Valley and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan. During construction the stability of the right flank was questioned and subsequently, remedial measures were taken in order to increase the shear resistance of this flank. Previous dam safety evaluations also noted the possibility of Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) occurring within the structure which resulted in concrete swelling and loss of strength. Due to these factors and the large hazard potential rating associated with this dam an intensive surveillance system has been used to monitor the dam's behaviour during operation. In this thesis the results of the surveillance system is analysed. A strong linear relationship exists between the temperature loading and displacement response of the dam wall. Changes in temperature initiate the response of the structure almost instantaneously. A more complex relationship exists between hydrostatic loading and the displacement response of the structure. A phase lag of approximately one to three months is evident between these two variables. Since construction the displacement and strain rates in the upstream (y) and upward (z) directions are 0.3mm/annum and 8.6με/annum respectively. However, since 1989 there has been a reduction in the average displacement and strain rates in all directions by approximately 70%. This may suggest that the ASR has stabilized. The vertical construction joints, especially the central and upper joints, are relatively open during low water levels. The structure is found to transfer the imposed loading mainly to the central foundation via dominant cantilever action. As a result the reaction forces on the upper foundation have been found to be relatively low, lowering the risk of potential shear failure of the right foundation. Small foundation movements of less than 0.3mm have been observed within the foundation downstream of the dam wall on the right flank. These movements are between 10 and 40m within the foundations.

Shutdown maintenance projects are an intergral part of any plant maintenance system. When a plant is shutdown, production stops and major maintenance work and modification of components is carried out. Whatever the size and scope of the shutdown, component project management. is vital if the shutdown project is to be completed successfully. This autnor has found that there is little or no literature available that treats shutdown maintenance projects as a complete study. The study of the management organisation and structure, as well as the associated resources and services required by a shutdown project manager has been neglected. The aim of this thesis project is to research and investigate shutdown maintenance and to present it as a complete study. All the aspects of shutdown maintenance project management are dealt with. This is done in tne following way. Shutdown maintenance is defined with specific objectives. Then the management organi sati on. and structure, as well as the resources and services required for shutdown projects are discussed. The shutdown project management procedure and techniques are dealt with next, and finally there is a section on the effect of condition based maintenance on shutdown maintenance projects. This thesis project serves to provide a complete perspective on snutdown proJects where this was found to be lacking in previous literature on maintenance management. This thesis provides a useful source of instruction and information to an engineer who for the first time has been given a shutdown project to complete.

UHRF1 is a critical epigenetic regulator which serves as a molecular model for understanding the crosstalk between histone modification and DNA methylation. It is integrated in the process of DNA maintenance methylation through its histone ubiquitylation activity, ultimately functioning as a recruiter of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). As the faithful propagation of DNA methylation patterns during cell division is a common molecular phenomenon among vertebrates, understanding the underlying conserved mechanism of UHRF1 for executing such a key process is important. Here, I present a broad-range evolutionary comparison of UHRF1 binding behavior and enzymatic activity of six species spanning across the vertebrata subphylum. According to their distinct binding modes to differentially methylated histone H3, a pattern is emerging which separates between mammalian and nonmammalian orthologs. H. sapiens, P. troglodytes and M. musculus UHRF1 orthologs utilize the functionality of both TTD and PHD domains to interact with histone H3 peptides, while G. gallus, X. laevis, and D. rerio employ either TTD or PHD. Further, UHRF1 allosteric regulation by 16:0 PI5P is a unique case to primate orthologs where H3K9me3 peptide binding is enhanced upon hUHRF1 and pUHRF1 interacting with 16:0 PI5P. This is due to their closed and autoinhibited conformation wherein TTD is blocked by the PBR region in linker 4. 16:0 PI5P outcompetes TTD for PBR binding resulting in a release of TTD blockage, hence, enhanced H3K9me3 binding. However, owing to the lack of phosphatidylinositol binding specificity and reduced sequence conservation of linker 4, the regulatory impact of 16:0 PI5P in avian and lower vertebrate orthologs could not be detected. Additionally, all UHRF1 orthologs exert their ubiquitylation enzymatic activity on histone H3 substrates, supporting the notion that the overall functionality of UHRF1 orthologs is conserved, despite their divergent molecular approaches. Taken together, my findings suggest that UHRF1 orthologs adopt distinct conformational states with a differential response to the allosteric regulators 16:0 PI5P and hemi-methylated DNA.