The costs of late changes due to earlier misunderstandings in product development are very high, even though no company wants to admit how high they really are. From experience in Swedish industry and based on results from previous research found in the literature, the conclusion is drawn that people need to talk to one another to be able to understand one another and thereby avoid misunderstandings. Information technology can be used to increase the frequency and amount of information communicated within a product development organization but it cannot replace talking. This project aims at delivering methods that are intended to improve effectiveness of product development, i.e. fewer misunderstandings will contribute to improved quality and, as a consequence, lowered costs and shortened lead-times. The project also aims at delivering a method that is intended to improve organizational learning, which would in turn improve a company’s ability to adapt more easily to a changing environment. The ultimate goal and vision is more competitive companies. The following contributions to the theory of Engineering Management are presented in this thesis: (i) ‘An Engineering Management Model for Improvement of Organizational Learning’ is a theoretical model of how three management disciplines can be used together to improve organizational learning within a product development organization, based on the framework of Senge’s five disciplines. (ii) ‘Phantom Turbine Development’ is a presentation of how people engaged in development of technology and processes for product development can share goals and visions based on future customer needs. (iii) ‘Process Improvement Simulations’ are a method for simulating and comparing improvements to the development process before they actually take place. (iv) ‘Knowledge Overlapping Seminars (KOS)’ are a communication method for engineers in a product development team with the purpose of eliminating misunderstandings. Obstacles that occur in ‘ordinary meetings’ are avoided in a KOS. Action research has been used as research method. It has been performed at ABB STAL, a company developing gas and steam turbines, where the researcher of this project is employed. The approach used, collaborative action inquiry, is characterized by the researcher having an almost total identification with the activities and direction of change of the company, which is the case since the research is to a great extent based on the researcher’s own experience. / Kostnaderna för ändringar sent i produktutvecklingsprojekt på grund av missförstånd tidigare i projektet är mycket höga, även om inget företag vill erkänna hur höga de verkligen är. Baserat på erfarenheter från svensk industri och på resultat från tidigare forskning inom området drasslutsatsen att människor måste tala med varandra för att kunna förstå varandra och därmed undvika missförstånd. Informationsteknik kan användas för att öka frekvensen och mängden information som kommuniseras inom en produktutvecklingsorganisation men den kan inte ersätta samtal mellan människor. Detta forskningsprojekt har som mål att presentera metoder som ska kunna användas för att förbättra måluppfyllelsen vid utveckling av nya produkter, det vill säga färre missförstånd ska ge en förbättrad produkt- och processkvalitet, vilket i sin tur medför sänkta kostnader och förkortade ledtider. Ytterligare ett mål är att presentera en metod för att öka det organisatoriska lärandet, vilket skulle förbättra en organisations förmåga att anpassa sig till förändringar i dess omvärld. Det övergripande målet är mer konkurrenskraftiga företag. Följande bidrag till forskningsområdet Metoder och organisation för ledning av ingenjörsarbete (Engineering Management på engelska) lämnas i denna avhandling: (i) En modell för ledning av ingenjörsarbete är en teoretisk modell av hur tre olika ledningsfilosofier kan användas tillsammans för att förbättra det organisatoriska lärandet inom en produktutvecklingsorganisation baserat på Senges ramverk ‘De fem disciplinerna’. (ii) Fantomturbinutveckling är en presentation av hur ingenjörer som arbetar med utveckling av teknik och process för produktutveckling kan dela mål och visioner baserade på framtida kundbehov. (iii) Simulering av processförbättringar är en metod för att simulera och jämföra förbättringar av en utvecklingsprocess innan de införs. (iv) Kunskapsöverlappningsseminarium (KOS) är en kommunikationsmetod som ingenjörer i ett produktutvecklingsteam kan använda för att eliminera missförstånd. Hinder som uppträder i vanliga möten undviks i KOS. Aktionsforskning har använts som forskningsmetod. Forskningen har utförts på ABB STAL, ett företag som tillverkar gasturbiner och ångturbiner, där författaren till denna avhandling är anställd. Det använda angreppssättet, samverkande aktionsforskning, karaktäriseras av att forskaren i stort sett totalt identifierar sig med företagets aktiviteter och förändringsriktning, vilket väl överensstämmer med forskningen inom detta projekt som till stor del är baserat på författarens egna erfarenheter.

Aujourd’hui les réseaux électriques sont exploités dans un marché dérégulé. Les gestionnaires des réseaux électriques sont tenus d’assurer un certain nombre de critères de fiabilité et de continuité du service, tout en minimisant le coût total consacré aux efforts effectués pour maintenir la fiabilité des installations. Il s’agit de trouver une stratégie, qui répond à plusieurs exigences, comme : le coût, les performances, la législation, les exigences du régulateur, etc. Cependant, le processus de prise de décision est subjectif, car chaque participant ramène sa contribution sur base de sa propre expérience. Bien que ce processus permette de trouver la « meilleure » stratégie, cette dernière n’est pas forcément la stratégie « optimale ». Ce compromis technico-économique a sensibilisé les gestionnaires des réseaux électriques à la nécessité d’un recours à des outils d’aide à la décision, qui doivent se baser sur des nouvelles approches quantitatives et une modélisation plus proches de la réalité physique. Cette thèse rentre dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche lancé par ELIA, et dénommé COMPRIMa (Cost-Optimization Models for the Planning of the Renewal, Inspection, and Maintenance of Belgian power system facilities). Ce projet vise à développer une méthodologie qui permet de modéliser une partie du réseau électrique de transport (par les réseaux de Petri stochastiques) et de simuler son comportement dynamique sur un horizon donné (simulation de Monte Carlo). L’évaluation des indices de fiabilité permet de comparer les différents scénarios qui tentent d’améliorer les performances de l’installation. L’approche proposée est basée sur la stratégie RCM (Reliability-Centered Maintenance). La méthodologie développée dans cette thèse permet une modélisation plus réaliste du réseau qui tient compte, entre autres, des aspects suivants : - La corrélation quantitative entre le processus de maintenance et le processus de vieillissement des composants (par un modèle d’âge virtuel) ; - Les dépendances liées à l’aspect multi-composant du système, qui tient compte des modes de défaillance spécifiques des systèmes de protection ; - L’aspect économique lié à la stratégie de maintenance (inspection, entretien, réparation, remplacement), aux coupures (programmées et forcées) et aux événements à risque (refus disjoncteur, perte d’un client, perte d’un jeu de barres, perte d’une sous-station, etc.).

Mining equipment are becoming very sophisticated and complex. At the same time, mining companies modernise its operation by increased mechanisation and automation (Dhillon, 2008). That requires well-developed and planned maintenance strategy. A proper maintenance strategy and appropriate maintenance actions, are essential to keep equipment safe & reliable, decrease the overall costs, and it helps to eliminate workplace hazards. Maintenance strategies and maintenance actions, in turn, are changed and developed more than any technology (Moubray, 1997). Changing and developing of the maintenance can be due to many factors, perhaps due to the complexity of the systems or due to the development of the technology. One of the best research (developed technology) that has been done in this area is the research by Nowlan and Heap about Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) in 1978. RCM is defined as, “a zero-based, structured process used to identify the failure management strategies required to ensure an asset meets its mission requirements in its operational environment in the safest and cost – effective manner” (Regan, 2012). The RCM is one of the best powerful asset management strategies. RCM can be applied to any asset, nuclear power plant, aeroplane, or truck ship. According to (Nowlan & Heap, 1978), the main goal of implementation an RCM process is to provide the stated function of the facility with required reliability and availability at the lowest cost. In this master thesis, an RCM analysis process has been described in details. Moreover, two types of implementation approaches of an RCM analysis process have also been described. The intention of describing these two approaches is to see what the differences between them are and which one can be recommended for using in mining. The first approach is according to (Hinchcliffe & Smith, 2004) and the second approach is according to (Regan, 2012). Moreover, in this master thesis, there are also two case studies that have been analysed. The intention of analysing these two case-studies is to see how the RCM has been implemented. As a result of the research carried out in this master thesis, some basic streamline RCM analysis process has been recommended for using in mining. This recommended RCM analysis process could be applicable to be used in every industry section. The result of this work can be summarised that RCM is an applicable tool which can be used in mining for selecting the right maintenance approach for different equipment, systems or subsystem. RCM analysis process is discussed from different perspective. In the discussion, the misconceptions about the implementation of an RCM analysis process have been discussed. Altogether, Reliability Centered Maintenance is one of the most powerful asset management strategies that can be used in every industry section. If the RCM is applied by right people and by the right way, the result can be profitable for the mining companies.

Under de senaste åren har energibranschen mött nya utmaningar som förändrat förutsättningarna, i en tidigare stabil verksamhet som kännetecknats av god tillväxt och kapitalintensitet. De nya utmaningarna inom branschen har lett till ett behov av att förändra sättet att organisera och leda verksamheterna. Många koncerner inom energibranschen har hierarkiska, funktionsstyrda strukturer som betraktas som mekaniska, reaktiva system med ett internt fokus. De nya förutsättningarna kräver hög flexibilitet, proaktiva system med ett externt fokus. Total Quality Management (TQM) har lanserats som framgångsrika koncept för att uppnå detta. Studier visar att en lyckad implementering av dessa koncept kräver en stark företagskultur, ett engagerat ledarskap och en struktur anpassad till TQM (Bergman och Klefsjö, 2012; Ljungberg och Larsson, 2012) Många organisationer i energibranschen står inför en genomgripande förändring av kultur, struktur och ledarskap. Genom att medvetandegöra och belysa dessa faktorer ökar möjligheterna att motverka oönskade kulturella effekter och därmed underlätta förändringen. Föreliggande studie har undersökt hur kultur, struktur och ledarskap samverkar genom att kartlägga dessa faktorer, i en organisation med en funktionell struktur. Studien har genomförts som en fallstudie där även en organisations styrkor respektive svagheter avseende kultur, struktur och ledarskap ur ett TQM-perspektiv har beskrivits. Resultatet visade att samverkan mellan kultur, struktur och ledarskap kan beskrivas som en iterativ, interagerande process. Ledarskapet har förmåga att påverka värderingar, kultur och struktur, samtidigt som strukturen bär på värderingar och kultur som påverkar ledarskapet. Ledarskapet i fallstudien dominerades av värderingar, som stämmer överens med TQM, även kulturen dominerades av dessa värderingar, trots den funktionella strukturen. Men studien påvisade även att den funktionella strukturen hade en viss inverkan både på kultur och ledarskap. Resultatet visade också en brist på struktur anpassad till den rådande kulturen och ledarskapet i fallstudien, eftersom den funktionella strukturen visade sig vara dominerande / <p>2019-08-29</p>

Iden till arbetet fick författarna från en föreläsning om kultur (SIQ &amp; SKI, 2018) och hur enligt Drucker kulturen i en organisation slår strategi utan problem. Syftet var att undersöka vilka beteenden som driver resultat i en processorienterad kultur, samt att utveckla en modell för att mäta detta.   Målet var att mäta beteende i organisationen för att hjälpa dem skapa en konkurrenskraftigare kultur och snabbare uppnå processorientering med en enkät i en kvantitativ pilotstudie. Trots att alla svarade var populationen får pilotstudien för liten för att ge signifikanta resultat. Studien bygger på teorin om kluster av fyra tillämpningar “fumlare”, “kartläggare”, “pratare” och “organiserare” från Hellström &amp; Eriksson (2013) och resultaten redovisas i diagram och IPA-matris.   Slutasatsen är att organisationen lutar åt funktionsorientering, men strävar i riktning mot processorientering. Den sammanlagda bilden är att de tillhör klustret “pratare” med knapp marginal. De är dock på väg i riktningen att börja sin resa mot processorientering via fokus på kommunikation. Mätmodellen som används är i linje med forskning och ger svar på vilka hindrande och stödjande beteenden som finns i en organisation för en processorienterad kultur. Mätmodellen har även svagheten att den inte ger svar på andra frågor än för hörnstenen “att arbeta med processer” och att processorientering endast utgör en del av det som är en kvalitetskultur. / The authors of this thesis got the idea to this projekt from a lecture and from Drucker´s quote “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”. The purpose was to investigate what behaviours that drives results in a process oriented culture, and to develop a model for measuring these behaviours.   The goal was to measure the behaviours in the organisation and to help them obtain a culture that exceed the culture of their competitors, and reaching process orientation using a quantitative survey in a pilot study. Even though we got answers from all participants in the survey, the population was too small to generate statistically significant results. The study is based on the theory of four clusters; “fumblers”, “talkers”, “organisers”, and “mappers” by Eriksson and Hellström (2013) and the results are displayed in diagrams and an IPA-matrix.   The conclusion is that the organisation leans towards function orientation, but they are striving towards becoming process orientated. The total picture the authors got is they belong to the cluster “talkers” with a slight margin. They are heading in the direction of becoming process orientated by focusing on their communication though. The model was designed using research about what behaviours have a positive or a negative effect on the processorientated culture of the organisation. The weakness of the model is that it only takes the cornerstone “working with processes” into account and does not measure the other perspectives of quality culture. / <p>2019-07-26</p>

This thesis investigates what the possible benefits and challenges are with different organization structures from the perspective of an international non-governmental organization (INGO). Based on learnings from other organizations it is examined what a revised structure could look like for Organization X in order to maximize their use of internal resources. The aim of the study is to achieve a structure more aligned with the strategic priorities of Organization X. As well as contribute to the field of organization theory from an INGO perspective. To achieve this benchmarking against other organizations is used to collect learnings in relation to organizational design. The learnings are analyzed in relation to organization theory and common challenges for INGOs. The result and analysis show that benchmarking can be used to gather valuable learnings regarding organizational design for INGOs in general and Organization X in particular. Two options for structural revisions for Organization X are presented. It is suggested that the second option should be implemented, at least as a first step, due to the current strategic priorities of the organization and the larger risks associated with option one. If implemented, the revisions proposed in this thesis should enable increased flexibility and the freeing up of resources, resulting in increased capability for fundraising and increased impact.

Inom industriell tillverkning har alla maskiner en teoretisk duglighet. Den skiljer sig däremot från den faktiska när den sätts i en process, där påverkas dugligheten av samtliga resurser i processen. Electrolux Laundry Systems har problem i sin plåtberedning som beror på att dugligheten bland plåtberedningens maskiner är okänd. Projektet handlar om att beräkna dugligheten i Electrolux Laundry Systems plåtberedningsmaskiner samt ge förslag på hur dugligheten kan förbättras och övervakas. De studerade maskinerna består av tre stansar och fem bockningsmaskiner. Dugligheten mäts i duglighetsindexet Cpk. Mätdatan plottas även i diagram måttvis. Resultatet från studien visar att samtliga plåtberedningmaskiners duglighet beräknades till under 1,0. Ett godkänt värde bör ligga mellan 1,33 och 1,66. Det betyder att plåtberedningsprocessen inte är duglig.

Estudos têm sido conduzidos para a implantação da Manutenção Centrada em Confiabilidade em sistemas complexos, seja com o intuito de aumentar a segurança das pessoas envolvidas e do meio ambiente ao redor das instalações, seja com o intuito de diminuir os custos de manutenção envolvidos. Tem destaque nestes estudos o inicial com a implantação em aeronaves da aviação civil e militar, a indústria espacial e também as instalações nas plantas de geração de energia elétrica, especialmente as movidas à energia nuclear. Este trabalho foi conduzido para implantar o sistema de Manutenção Centrada em Confiabilidade na área veicular, especialmente em frotas sob controle e de determinados veículos que trafegam em locais inóspitos e de difícil acesso para resgate em caso de falha. Um levantamento estatístico foi executado e a vida útil da bomba de água no estudo de caso foi determinada, sendo recomendada uma inspeção nas mesmas. A conclusão a que se chegou é de que é sim possível, em determinados componentes, implantar a Manutenção Centrada em Confiabilidade, realizando-se a análise de vida e a especificação de um tempo correto para a inspeção e troca do componente antes de sua falha, que pode ser crítica, trazendo prejuízos a outras partes dos veículos. / Studies have been conducted for the implementation of Reliability Centered Maintenance in complex systems, is aiming to increase the safety of those involved and environment around the facility, either in order to reduce maintenance costs involved. These studies have highlighted the initial deployment in airplanes of civilian and military aviation, space industry and also in the plants to generate electricity, especially those powered by nuclear energy. This study was conducted to establish the Reliability Centered Maintenance system in the vehicle area, especially in fleets under control and certain vehicles that travel in places inhospitable and inaccessible for rescue in case of a failure. A statistical survey was performed and the useful life of water pump in the case study has been determined and recommended an inspection in them. The conclusion is that it is indeed possible in certain components, deploy the Reliability Centered Maintenance, performing the age exploration and the specification of a correct time for inspection and replacement of the component before its failure, which can be critical, causing damages to other vehicle parts.

This thesis is about the healthcare managers, working at operational levels, defined as the first-line managers. These managers often are given the role and responsibility to integrate improvements into daily work. A stronger development ability of Swedish healthcare requires first-line managers with a developed ability to lead change. Thereby efforts must be made to provide these managers with supportive work conditions when leading and developing organizations. One approach to organizational development is Lean, which refers to a strong improvement culture based upon a supportive and highly engaged leadership as well as a strong customer focus. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to knowledge about and an understanding of the conditions that influence first-line healthcare managers’ abilities to drive improvement work based on Lean. Some of the conditions investigated are; time, receiving support from the own manager, feeling joy in improvement work and being assured about the effects of Lean. The thesis is based on three separate analyses of a web-based survey, which relate to the two research questions. The study was conducted in a Swedish healthcare organization two years after the initiation of Lean. The analyses are presented in three separate papers. The first research question considers; How can an instrument be developed that investigates first-line managers’ views on their role, conditions and ability to drive improvement work based on Lean? The second question is; What can be learned from using the instrument that investigates first-line managers’ views on their role, conditions and ability to drive improvement work based on Lean? A qualitative study based on a hermeneutic, inductive, qualitative research approach was conducted in order to meet the research purpose and answer the research questions. The thesis is mainly based on three papers. In paper 1 it is stated that the assuredness about the effects of Lean was quite high among the managers when the survey was conducted, such as that Lean contributes to a greater patient focus and to the development of an improvement culture. In paper 2 it is noted that the first-line managers view their role as crucial in improvement work based on Lean. Time, support from coworkers, and a clear vision and clear goals were the three conditions they considered to be most important for their ability. The results presented in paper 3 show that to initiate improvement work based on Lean, they ask for own managers who are assured about Lean and include them in discussions. They view their role and responsibility in relation to their coworkers as extensive, for instance increating a culture where problems and mistakes are viewed as possibilities to improve and for encouraging that new work procedures are tested. The findings indicate a need for a deeper understanding of Lean. It is concluded that a thorough understanding of Lean is a main condition for the first-line managers´ ability to drive improvement work based on the approach. Developing a common view of Lean takes time, which is important to emphasize in the practical setting to motivate for a long-term perspective. This development takes highly motivated, assured and persistent leaders with a continuous improvement attitude and a mission to improve healthcare together. There is also an applied research question; How can the use of the instrument contribute to developing first-line managers’ role, conditions, and ability to drive improvement work based on Lean? In its essence, Lean is concerned with improving a system and since the instrument raises questions about relationships between organizational members, it sets focus on the system and calls on a system view. The responsibility for one management level must continuously be set I relation to another, when putting the pieces together in the “improvement puzzle”. Change depends on adjustments in human behavior and the instrument establishes a focus on the people in the processes necessary for development and results. The instrument also provides opportunity and structure to investigate and talk about the soft conditions important for the ability, such as receiving support from the own manager, and feeling inspiration and being assured. The practice of Lean requires changes in attitudes, new habits, new skills in the whole system, meaning in each individual from the executive management to the front-line workers. Thereby self-reflection becomes important, which requires forums for dialogue. It is concluded that such forums can influence first-line healthcare managers’ abilities to drive improvement work based on Lean. In dialogue forums improvement work can be reflected upon and learned from together. / <p>Vid tidpunkten för framläggningen av avhandlingen var följande delarbeten opublicerade: delarbete 2 (accepterat), delarbete 3 (inskickat).</p><p>At the time of the defence the following papers were unpublished: paper 2 (accepted), paper 3 (submitted).</p>

Forskningen   utgår från framtidens utmaning att öka kunskaperna kring kvalitetsutveckling   och lyfta detta både som ledningsfråga och strategisk ägarfråga. Detta ur ett   SME-perspektiv som har begränsade resurser och kunskaper att ta sig an   kvalitetsutveckling. Studien   syftar till att öka förståelsen för hur kvalitetsutveckling, med hjälp av SIQ   Managementmodell, kan bidra till en hållbar resultatutveckling inom ett SME,   med erfarenhet av kvalitetsledningssystem genom ISO 9001. Studien är   baserad på en kvalitativ fallstudie av ett SME. Initialt skedde   litteraturundersökning och utformning av workshop med fokus på SIQ   Managementmodell i form av en presentation samt diskussionsunderlag för   fokusgrupp. Därefter genomfördes workshopen och datainsamling genom   individuella intervjuer samt gruppintervjuer och observationer. Studien   visar på en ökad förståelse för kvalitetsutveckling genom en påvisad medvetenhet   från medarbetarna. Med hjälp av SIQ Managementmodell kunde ett tidigare   deterministiskt synsätt på kvalitet göras medvetet för att ge utrymme för ett   mer dynamiskt synsätt. Deltagarna   blev medvetna om en möjlig hållbar resultatutveckling och ett fokus på   processutveckling, som kräver delaktighet för framgångsrikt arbete. Detta   beslutade deltagarna skulle bli nästa steg i utvecklingsarbetet. För   verksamheten som utgjorde fallstudien genererade workshopen en grund att utgå   ifrån att påbörja ett kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete. Det skapade även en   medvetenhet om förbättringsområden som både ledning och medarbetare kan   arbeta med. / This research is based on the future challenge of   increasing knowledge about quality development and highlights this both as a   management question and a strategic ownership issue. This from a SME   perspective that has limited resources and knowledge to take on quality   development. The study aims to increase understanding of how   quality development, with the help of SIQ Management model, can contribute to   a sustainable performance development within an SME, with experience of   quality management systems through ISO 9001. This study is based on a qualitative case study of   an SME. Initially, literature research and design of a workshop took place   focusing on SIQ Management model in the form of a presentation and discussion   for a focus group. Subsequently, data collection was carried out the workshop   through both individual and group interviews and observations. The results of the study show an increased   understanding of quality development through a proven awareness of the   employees. With the help of SIQ Management model, a previous deterministic   approach to quality could be made consciously to allow for a more dynamic   approach. The participants became aware of a possible sustainable performance   development and a focus on process development, which requires participation   for successful work. The participants decided that this would be the next   step in the development work. For the firm that constituted the case study, the   workshop generated a foundation on which to start a quality development work.   It also created an awareness of areas for improvement that both management   and employees can work further with. / <p>2019-06-26</p>