This report is the result of a thesis carried out at the Department of Innovation, Design and Technology (IDT), at Mälardalen University on behalf of ABB AB Machines.The year was 1988 when ASEA and Brown Boveri formed a joint venture under the name ABB (Asea Brown Boveri).We perform our thesis at the division Discrete Automation and Motion where they primarily develops, manufactures and sells synchronous and asynchronous AC motors and generators.The main purpose of this thesis was initially to write a general packaging instruction, but the priority changed to develop more specific packaging instructions for Rotors, Stator gables, Bearing support and Outer Cover (plates) instead.The work started off to deal with a problem about that the staff had to start its work to grind away rust on the stator gables due to those stored outdoors. The result was mainly an investment in a new gable rack so that the material can be stored inside, as well as a packing instruction as it was originally intended.The problem on the bearing supports were that the staff thought it was demanding and difficult to clean them from the rustproofing they were greased in. If it is not possible to remove all rust protection it can cause the paint to not attach properly. After having compared with similar articles a test were done to order a pair of bearing supports without corrosion inhibitor, which gave good results. This initiative also set in motion a process to do the same for more different items.For special pallet, a survey were made of the process with two different VSM and a calculation of how much ABB would earn at ordering more special pallets than getting the material delivered on the A-pallets. As a result, the recommendations to ABB where to purchase five special pallets to have a good moving flow.In the current situation rotors are delivered to ABB in three different ways, by three different suppliers. The current status were reviewed of those three suppliers and talking to the staff to choose which way that was best and then write a packing instruction accordingly to that. / Denna rapport är resultatet av ett examensarbete utfört vid Institutionen för Innovation, Design och Teknik, (IDT), vid Mälardalens högskola på uppdrag av ABB AB Machines.Året var 1988 då ASEA och Brown Boveri bildade ett gemensamt företag under namnet ABB (Asea Brown Boveri).Examensarbetet utfördes på divisionen Disctrete Automation and Motion där de främst utvecklar, tillverkar och säljer synkrona och asynkrona växelströms- motorer och generatorer.Huvudsyftet med detta examensarbete var från början att skriva en generell emballageinstruktion, men prioriteringen ändrades till att ta fram mer specifika emballage instruktioner för Rotorer, Statorgavlar, Lagerstöd och Yttre kåpa (plåtar) istället.Arbetet började med att ta itu med ett problem om att personalen fick börja sitt arbete med att slipa bort rost på statorgavlarna pga. att dem förvaras utomhus. Resultatet blev främst en investering i ett nytt gavelställ så att materialet kan förvaras inomhus samt en emballageinstruktion som det var tänkt från början.Problemet angående lagerstöden var att personalen tyckte att det var krävande och svårt med rengöringen från rostskyddet lagerstöden var insmorda i. Om allt rostskydd inte går att få bort kan det leda till att målarfärgen inte fäster ordentligt. Efter att ha jämfört med liknande artiklar gjordes ett test att beställa ett lagerstöds par utan rostskyddsmedel, vilket gav ett bra resultat. Detta initiativ satte även igång en process för inköparna att göra samma sak för fler olika artiklar.För specialpallen gjordes en kartläggning av processen med två olika VSM samt att en beräkning gjordes på hur mycket ABB skulle tjäna på att beställa fler specialpallar än att få plåtdetaljerna levererade på A-pallar. Resultatet blev att vi rekommenderar ABB att köpa in 5 specialpallar till för att ha ett bra rullande flöde.I dagsläget levereras rotorer till ABB på tre olika sätt från tre olika leverantörer. Nuläget analyserades för dem tre leverantörerna för att sedan i samspråk med personalen välja vilket sätt som var bäst och skriva en emballageinstruktion utifrån det.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'établir les liens entre élaboration, microstructure et comportement des getters non-évaporables (NEG) en couches minces, en vue de leur utilisation dans le cadre du packaging collectif des MEMS sous vide ou sous atmosphère contrôlée. Après une étude bibliographique sur l'herméticité des MEMS et l'effet getter, la modification du comportement de piégeage de gaz par les NEG couches minces, engendré par l'ajout de sous-couches métalliques, est mise en évidence. Afin d'expliquer cette influence, la microstructure des couches minces est étudiée, notamment sa dépendance aux paramètres d'élaboration et aux traitements thermiques. Ensuite, le comportement macroscopique de piégeage de l'azote est caractérisé, de même que les mécanismes microscopiques d'activation et de pompage. Ces derniers permettent finalement d'élaborer quelques recommandations pour l'intégration des NEG couches minces dans les MEMS.

A direct injection nebulizer (DIN) was constructed in our laboratory and was evaluated as an interface between a liquid chromatography column and an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Optimum operating conditions, detection limits and reproducibility of the DIN closely matched literature data for a somewhat different commercial device. In addition, when using the DIN for sample introduction, the ICP detection exhibited uniform response towards phosphorous compounds of different volatilities. / Department of Chemistry

Emerging I/O density and bandwidth requirements are driving packages to low-CTE silicon, glass and organic substrates for higher wiring density and reliability of interconnections and Cu-low k dielectrics. These are needed for high performance applications as 2.5D packages in large-size, and also as ultra-thin packages for consumer applications that are directly assembled on the board without the need for an intermediate package. The trend to low-CTE packages (CTE of 3-8ppm/°C), however, creates large CTE mismatch with the board on which they are assembled. Interconnection reliability is, therefore, a major concern when low CTE interposers are surface mounted onto organic system boards via solder joints. This reliability concern is further aggravated with large package sizes and finer pitch. For wide acceptance of low CTE packages in high volume production, it is also critical to assemble them on board using standard Surface Mount Technologies (SMT) without the need for under-fill. This research aims to demonstrate reliable 400 micron pitch solder interconnections from low CTE glass interposers directly assembled onto organic boards by overcoming the above challenges using two approaches; 1) Stress-relief dielectric build up layers on the back of the interposer, 2) Polymer collar around the solder bumps for shear stress re-distribution. A comprehensive methodology based on modeling, design, test vehicle fabrication and characterization is employed to study and demonstrate the efficacy of these approaches in meeting the interposer-to-board interconnection requirements. The effect of varying geometrical and material properties of both build-up layers and polymer collar is studied through Finite Element Modeling. Interposers were designed and fabricated with the proposed approaches to demonstrate process feasibility.

Stress and burnout among workers are reaching epidemic proportions, resulting in loss of millions in revenue due to absenteeism and corresponding reduction in productivity. The question as to whether the participants of this study experience low levels of work wellness (i.e., low burnout and high work engagement) or not, is not easy to answer. Therefore, research is needed regarding the understanding of how burnout manifests itself, as well as underlying factors contributing to the work engagement of managers and their relationship with job demands and resources thereof. The objective of this study was to investigate which job demands and job resources will predict burnout and work engagement of managers in the packaging manufacturing sector and how different job characteristics will affect their levels of engagement. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population (N = 90) consisted of managerial staff from various divisions of a national packaging manufacturing company in South Africa. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Job-Demands-Resources Questionnaire and a biographical questionnaire were administered. The reliability of the measuring instruments was assessed with the use of Cronbach alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationships between burnout, job demands, job resources and work engagement. The results showed that exhaustion was positively related to job demands (work overload). Both exhaustion and cynicism were negatively related to a lack of job resources such as organisational support and growth opportunities. Managers with low opportunities to learn, little work independence, poor relationship with colleagues, poor relationship with immediate supervisor, limited access to information, poor communication, insufficient participation, lack of contact possibilities, poor remuneration and limited career possibilities were found to experience high burnout and less work engagement, presumably because stimuli from the environment did not promote growth, self-development, personal accomplishment and meaning for the manager. The results showed that both job demands and job resources contributed to burnout and work engagement. Recommendations for future research have been made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

There are high demands on flexographic print quality to be sufficiently high and consistent in order to create a competitive packaging. At the same time the production efficiency need to be high. Printers thus need to achieve the same quality every time and quickly start-up new printing jobs. To accomplish this, one needs to gain a thorough understanding of how the liquid packaging board interacts with the ink and impacts the print quality. This thesis focuses on water-based ink absorption of liquid packaging boards and particularly on a) how uniformity of ink absorption can be measured and b) to what extent the absorption characteristics contribute to print mottle in flexographic printing. The work encompasses two parts. First, an absorption non-uniformity test method has been developed using a staining technique. This method is unique as it measures how unevenly an aqueous solution is absorbed, in a short time period and without impact from surface roughness. Moreover, the contributions from white-top mottle and absorption non-uniformity can be quantified simultaneously from one single measurement. Second, a method to independently study the effects of absorption non-uniformity on print quality has been established. This is achieved by introducing artificial absorption non-uniformities with well-controlled barrier patterns. A barrier pattern may modify local pore structure and/or surface energy, hence lead to lateral absorption variations. By these means, it is possible to produce a substrate property-matrix; encompassing absorption non-uniformity and for example surface roughness. It was demonstrated that non-uniform absorption indeed has a negative impact on print quality, both on smoother and rougher boards. Low absorption made print density decrease and uneven absorption caused print mottle. This was the case when other properties of the samples were kept within a narrow range; otherwise surface roughness appeared to determine print mottle ranking.

Advancements in the semiconductor industry have lead to the miniaturization of components and increased power densities, resulting in thermal management issues. In response to this shift, finding multifunctional materials with excellent thermal conductivity and tailored electrical properties are becoming increasingly important. For this research thesis, three different studies were conducted to develop and characterize thermally conductive polymer composites. In the first study, a PPS matrix was combined with different types of carbon-based fillers to determine the effects of filler’s size, shape, and orientation on thermal conductivity. In the second study, effects of adding ceramic- and carbon- based fillers on the tailored thermal and electrical properties of composites were investigated. Lastly, the possibility of improving the thermal conductivity by introducing and aligning polymer fibers in the composites was investigated. The composites were characterized with respect to their physical, thermal, and electrical properties to propose possibilities of application in the electronic packaging industries.

Advancements in the semiconductor industry have lead to the miniaturization of components and increased power densities, resulting in thermal management issues. In response to this shift, finding multifunctional materials with excellent thermal conductivity and tailored electrical properties are becoming increasingly important. For this research thesis, three different studies were conducted to develop and characterize thermally conductive polymer composites. In the first study, a PPS matrix was combined with different types of carbon-based fillers to determine the effects of filler’s size, shape, and orientation on thermal conductivity. In the second study, effects of adding ceramic- and carbon- based fillers on the tailored thermal and electrical properties of composites were investigated. Lastly, the possibility of improving the thermal conductivity by introducing and aligning polymer fibers in the composites was investigated. The composites were characterized with respect to their physical, thermal, and electrical properties to propose possibilities of application in the electronic packaging industries.

Childhood obesity is a major public health issue. Canada has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the world. Food advertising and marketing have contributed to the rapid rise in childhood obesity. High energy and low nutrient foods have been promoted directly to children through attractive imagery on packages, including the use of popular cartoon characters. Children’s food packaging also features a range of nutrition information targeted at parents, including nutrition claims; however, there is relatively little research on the impact of these nutrition claims and the extent to which they may interact with child-friendly imagery to influence parents’ perception of food quality. The current study used a 2 x 2 experimental design to examine the effect of four front-of-package (FOP) nutrition information and four cartoon characters on parental perceptions of children’s food products. Participants consisted of 897 parents recruited across Canada through GMI, a market research company. Participants were over 18, had at least one child between ages 4-10 and the primary shopper of their household. Participants completed an online survey in July 2011. Participants were shown images of food products with or without cartoon characters and with or without FOP nutrition information and were asked to rate the food product on appeal, nutritional quality, intention to buy and willingness to pay. Participants were also asked to rate the FOP nutrition information on believability, ease of understanding and perceived effectiveness. Linear mixed modelling examined the influence of cartoon characters, FOP nutrition information and socio-demographic factors on these outcomes. Results indicated that cartoon characters increased product appeal and FOP nutrition information increased the perceived nutritional quality of food products with low nutritional value. No significant differences were observed for intention to buy or willingness to pay. There was no consistent pattern between socio-demographic factors and product rating outcomes. For FOP nutrition information ratings, Health Check and Source of Fibre were rated more believable, easier to understand and more effective overall than Sensible Solution and Given the Thumbs Up by Kids. Overall, the findings indicate that cartoon characters can increase the perceived appeal and FOP nutrition information can increase the perceived nutritional quality of food products with low nutritional value.

The complex and challenging process of construction supply chain management can involve tens of thousands of engineered components, systems, and subsystems, all of which must be designed in a multi-party and collaborative environment, the complexity of which is vastly increased in the case of megaprojects. A comprehensive Advanced Construction Supply Nexus Model (ACSNM) was developed as a computational and process-oriented environment to help project managers deal efficiently and effectively with supply chain issues: fragmentation, resource shortages, design delays, and planning and scheduling deficiencies, all of which result in decreased productivity, cost and time overruns, conflicts, and time-consuming legal disputes. To mitigate the effects of these difficulties, four new prototype systems are created: a front-end planning tool (FEPT), a construction value packaging system (CVPS), an integrated construction materials management (ICMM) system, and an ACSNM database. Because these components are closely interdependent elements of construction supply nexus management, the successfully developed model incorporates cross-functional integration. This research therefore effectively addresses process management, process integration, and document management, features not included in previous implementations of similar models for construction-related applications. This study also introduces new concepts and definitions, such as construction value packages comprised of value units that form the scope of value-added work defined by type, stage in the value chain, and other elements such as drawings and specifications. The application of the new technologies and methods reveals that the ACSNM has the potential to improve the performance and management of the enterprise-wide supply chain. Through opportunities provided by our industry partners, Coreworx Inc. and Aecon Group Inc., the elements of the developed model have been validated with respect to implementation using data from several construction megaprojects. The model is intended to govern current supply nexus processes associated with such megaprojects but may be general enough for eventual application in other construction sectors, such as multi-unit housing and infrastructure.