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Brands are major role-players in the organisational business strategy; and they are recognised as one of the most valuable assets a company can possess. The entry of low-cost competitors has redefined the entire competitive landscape of the health-care industry through their ability to transform their value chain, in order to drastically reduce prices. With the fierce rivalry amongst the competitors, and a quest for companies to achieve competitive advantage, companies must design their strategies better than their competitors. For a company to be successful in such an environment, customer-brand loyalty is a critical issue. The main objective of this study was to measure brand loyalty in the medical-devices industry of South Africa, and to establish the key influencing factors of brand loyalty in this industry. The measurement of brand loyalty in the medical devices industry is founded on a conceptual brand-loyalty framework for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry developed by Moolla (2012). The 12 brand loyalty factors identified by Moolla are: customer satisfaction; switching costs or risk aversion; brand trust; involvement; repeat purchases; relationship proneness; commitment; perceived value; brand relevance; brand affect; brand performance and culture. The empirical study was conducted among 250 medical practitioners across the private sector and public sector health-care system of South Africa. The methodology adopted in the study included the sampling procedure, the data collection, the questionnaire development and the statistical techniques used to analyse the results. The results were analysed with regard to: Factor analysis; Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients, mean values and inferential statistics. The results were presented in a conceptual framework, in order to measure brand loyalty in the medical devices industry of South Africa. The results of this study concluded that the brand loyalty influences, as identified by Moolla, are important for measuring brand loyalty in the medical devices industry. The empirical results focused on the demographic profile of the respondents, the validity of the questionnaire, the reliability of the results obtained, as well as the importance of the research variables. The analysis enabled certain conclusions to be drawn relating to the significant factors of brand loyalty in the medical devices industry in South Africa. A comparison was conducted relating to age group, gender profile, the health-care sector and the medical specialization – to determine whether there were any significant differences in the influence of the brand-loyalty factors identified. The chapter concluded with a conceptual framework for the medical-devices industry adapted from Moolla (2012) framework.

A computer simulation experiment was conducted to evaluate and compare five individual forecasting models across nine different demand patterns. The models were based on the Medical Materiel Management System used by the US Air Force hospitals. Results indicated the best model varied depending on the demand pattern, the safety stock level, the noise level of the demand pattern, and the measure of forecast error. Across all demand patterns, exponential smoothing and 12-month moving average were best for the short term forecast used by the system, regardless of noise level in the demand patterns. Analysis of models within a single demand pattern showed, in most cases, several models as ranking equally well. When overall system requirements were considered, the exponential smoothing method was by far the best choice.

This thesis analyzes the feasibility, efficacy and usability of medical operations working in concert with a Fly-Away Kit (FLAK) and the forming of Hastily Formed Networks (HFNs) in support of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) operations. The initial focus of this research is on the requirements, situation, area of operations, and mission differences between nongovernmental organizations and governmental organizations. The thesis researches and discusses the possibilities for implementing medical technology in the field and the conditions and scenarios in HA/DR that may affect its success. This process will also define the requirements for medical operations as well as facilitate a methodology for ensuring those requirements are met. This thesis investigates the suitability of currently available COTS hardware and software components for medical operations. In addition, it includes a comprehensive review of the value of electronic medical records and telemedicine technologies. Virtually all organizations responding to the December 26, 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami did not have the benefit of large scale medical information technology. For example, the ability to ascertain the real extent of injuries due to the tsunami was hampered by the lack of a central database. Initial media reports claimed a death toll of over 300,000 people, when in fact hindsight now provides a more accurate tally of just over 200,000 dead. This disparity resulted from an archaic system of tracking and accounting. Undoubtedly, humanitarian medical organizations will greatly benefit from the implementation of medical information technology capabilities. This thesis lays the groundwork for further research into medical technologies that can be deployed in the field with humanitarian medical teams in the near future.

A história da pesquisa e desenvolvimento dos biomateriais e dispositivos médicos mostra a inserção de produtos não seguros no mercado, os quais foram causa de mortes e seqüelas nos pacientes. Diante de tal quadro, pode-se dizer que diversos setores da indústria, representantes da academia, assim como órgãos governamentais de regulamentação e controle da qualidade de produtos, estão sob crescente pressão para educação e integração do setor. Sob esta perspectiva, a pesquisa passou a ser um diagnóstico das interrelações inseridas em tal cenário. Este trabalho foi realizado por meio de pesquisa etnográfica entre agosto de 2008 e agosto de 2010 com o intuito de reconhecer e analisar as inter-relações científicas, tecnológicas e normativas na pesquisa dos biomaterias. Neste percurso utilizamos a Norma ISO 10.993, que trata das avaliações biológicas dos biomateriais, para aproximação com os grupos de pesquisa. A pesquisa de campo envolveu: 1. Observação das práticas laboratoriais e acompanhamento de duas disciplinas de pós-graduação oferecidas no IPEN/SP: Introdução aos Biomateriais (TNM5782) e Biomateriais Propriedades e Avaliação (TNM 5783); 2. Participação nos Congressos Latino Americano de Órgãos Artificiais e Biomateriais (COLAOB) e nos eventos promovidos pelo Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) Biofabris; e, 3. Organização de um Debate com os grupos de pesquisa em biomateriais do IPEN. O debate e as aulas foram filmados, transcritos e analisados. Os resultados apontaram os grandes avanços dos programas acadêmicos de biomaterais e da integração entre as diversas 18 formações que trabalham nesta linha de pesquisa. Em termos de aplicação tecnológica, o envolvimento dos pesquisadores com os aspectos industriais e regulatórios tornou-se presente no cotidiano acadêmico. Assim, foi ressaltada a importância das aproximações entre a pesquisa e ensino e estas outras esferas e discutida as possibilidades de inserção de assuntos políticos, sociais, culturais e organizacionais neste contexto. / The history of research and development of biomaterials and medical device has been shown the application of unsafe products on the market, which were the cause of deaths and injuries in patients. For that reason, it can be said that various sectors of industry, academic representatives, government regulation and quality control of products, are under increasing pressure for integration and education of the participants. With these in mind, this research has become a diagnosis of the interrelationships that are present in this scenario. This diagnosis was conducted through ethnographic research between August 2008 and August 2010 in order to recognize and analyze the scientific, technological and regulatory relationships in the field of biomaterial. In this course it was used use the standard ISO 10.993, which deals with biological assessments of biomaterials, for approximation to the studied groups. The research involved: 1. Observation of laboratory practice and two graduate courses offered at IPEN / SP: \"Introduction to Biomaterials\" (TNM5782) and \"Biomaterial - Properties and Evaluation\" (TNM 5783), 2. Participation in the Latin American Congress of Biomaterials and Artificial Organs (COLAOB) and events sponsored by the National Institutes of Science and Technology (INCT) Biofabris, and 3. Organization of a meeting biomaterial research groups at IPEN. The meeting and lectures were videotaped, transcribed and analyzed. The results showed the great achievements of the biomaterials academic programs and the integration of the various professionals backgrounds who work in this field. In terms of technological application, the implication of researchers with industrial and regulatory aspects becomes present in academic daily work. Therefore, it was pointed out the importance of the interactions between researchers with the others spheres and discussed the possibilities of integration of political, social, organizational and cultural subjects in this context.

A história da pesquisa e desenvolvimento dos biomateriais e dispositivos médicos mostra a inserção de produtos não seguros no mercado, os quais foram causa de mortes e seqüelas nos pacientes. Diante de tal quadro, pode-se dizer que diversos setores da indústria, representantes da academia, assim como órgãos governamentais de regulamentação e controle da qualidade de produtos, estão sob crescente pressão para educação e integração do setor. Sob esta perspectiva, a pesquisa passou a ser um diagnóstico das interrelações inseridas em tal cenário. Este trabalho foi realizado por meio de pesquisa etnográfica entre agosto de 2008 e agosto de 2010 com o intuito de reconhecer e analisar as inter-relações científicas, tecnológicas e normativas na pesquisa dos biomaterias. Neste percurso utilizamos a Norma ISO 10.993, que trata das avaliações biológicas dos biomateriais, para aproximação com os grupos de pesquisa. A pesquisa de campo envolveu: 1. Observação das práticas laboratoriais e acompanhamento de duas disciplinas de pós-graduação oferecidas no IPEN/SP: Introdução aos Biomateriais (TNM5782) e Biomateriais Propriedades e Avaliação (TNM 5783); 2. Participação nos Congressos Latino Americano de Órgãos Artificiais e Biomateriais (COLAOB) e nos eventos promovidos pelo Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) Biofabris; e, 3. Organização de um Debate com os grupos de pesquisa em biomateriais do IPEN. O debate e as aulas foram filmados, transcritos e analisados. Os resultados apontaram os grandes avanços dos programas acadêmicos de biomaterais e da integração entre as diversas 18 formações que trabalham nesta linha de pesquisa. Em termos de aplicação tecnológica, o envolvimento dos pesquisadores com os aspectos industriais e regulatórios tornou-se presente no cotidiano acadêmico. Assim, foi ressaltada a importância das aproximações entre a pesquisa e ensino e estas outras esferas e discutida as possibilidades de inserção de assuntos políticos, sociais, culturais e organizacionais neste contexto. / The history of research and development of biomaterials and medical device has been shown the application of unsafe products on the market, which were the cause of deaths and injuries in patients. For that reason, it can be said that various sectors of industry, academic representatives, government regulation and quality control of products, are under increasing pressure for integration and education of the participants. With these in mind, this research has become a diagnosis of the interrelationships that are present in this scenario. This diagnosis was conducted through ethnographic research between August 2008 and August 2010 in order to recognize and analyze the scientific, technological and regulatory relationships in the field of biomaterial. In this course it was used use the standard ISO 10.993, which deals with biological assessments of biomaterials, for approximation to the studied groups. The research involved: 1. Observation of laboratory practice and two graduate courses offered at IPEN / SP: \"Introduction to Biomaterials\" (TNM5782) and \"Biomaterial - Properties and Evaluation\" (TNM 5783), 2. Participation in the Latin American Congress of Biomaterials and Artificial Organs (COLAOB) and events sponsored by the National Institutes of Science and Technology (INCT) Biofabris, and 3. Organization of a meeting biomaterial research groups at IPEN. The meeting and lectures were videotaped, transcribed and analyzed. The results showed the great achievements of the biomaterials academic programs and the integration of the various professionals backgrounds who work in this field. In terms of technological application, the implication of researchers with industrial and regulatory aspects becomes present in academic daily work. Therefore, it was pointed out the importance of the interactions between researchers with the others spheres and discussed the possibilities of integration of political, social, organizational and cultural subjects in this context.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1962.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1962.

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