Companies are more and more moving to low wage regions like Eastern Europe and Asia to stay competitive. Instead of lowering the cost of production, it has been argued that a company can stay competitive through making the use of the resources more efficient. In this study the effects a German resource saving concept, involving reorganization towards processes and an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) module, has on Supply Chain Management (SCM) are investigated. In addition to this a comparison between German best-practice companies and Swedish companies has been done. This comparison was conducted in order to determine the changes needed to be made when taking this German concept to Swedish companies. The results of this study indicate that through the German resource saving concept major improvements in delivery performance, responsiveness, supply chain costs, and asset management can be achieved. Further, this study has shown that there are very good possibilities for Swedish companies at reaching these improvements successfully. Barriers to a success in Sweden include a lack of managerial commitment and hierarchies as well as outsourced IT departments at Swedish companies. Recommendations to overcome these barriers consist of training key users more thoroughly and stressing the importance of committed managers.

Two metakaolins were evaluated for use as supplementary cementitious materials in cement-based systems. The metakaolins varied in their surface area (11.1 v. 25.4 m2/g), but were quite similar in mineralogical composition. Performance of metakaolin mixtures was compared to control mixtures and to mixtures incorporating silica fume as partial replacement for cement at water-to-cementitious materials ratios of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60. In this study, the early age properties of fresh concrete and the mechanical and durability properties of hardened concrete were examined. Early age evaluations aimed to determine the reactivity of metakaolin (heat of hydration) and its effect on mixture workability (slump, setting time, unit weight). In addition, three types of shrinkage were monitored in metakaolin-cement systems: chemical, autogenous, and free. Compressive, tensile, and flexural strength and elastic modulus were measured at various concrete ages. The influence of metakaolin addition on durability was assessed through accelerated testing for sulfate resistance, expansion due to alkali-silica reaction, and through rapid chloride permeability measurements. To further quantify the underlying mechanisms of metakaolin's action, the microstructure of pastes was examined. Calcium hydroxide (CH) content was determined using thermogravimetric analysis and verified using differential thermal analysis. Surface area and pore size distribution were evaluated via nitrogen adsorption. These analyses yielded information about the pozzolanic reactivity of metakaolin, associated CH consumption and pore structure refinement, and resulting improvements in mechanical performance and durability of metakaolin-concretes.

Environmental chemicals may affect human health by disrupting endocrine function. Many of the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are estrogens or estrogen-like molecules that have been classified as environmental estrogens or xenoestrogens (XEs). XEs include endosulfan, chlordance, nonylphenol, bisphenol A, octylphenol, and coumestrol, etc. Although these compounds have wide structural diversity, but all have in common the and/or other hydrophobic components. Many studies have shown that XEs affect cell viability. For instance, Nonylphenol is used in surfactants or plasticizers and bisphenol A (4, 4¡¦-isopropylidene-2-diphenol) is used as protective coatings on food containers and for composites and sealants in dentistry. Most previous studies have focused on the toxicity of XEs on development process and reproductive system, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Thus, the effects of these two environmental chemicals on the toxicological effect are still controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of nonylphenol and bisphenol A in induction of cell death in human gastric cancer (SCM-1) cells and Madin Darby canine renal tubular (MDCK) cells. First, WST-1 reduction assays and propidium iodide-staining assay were used to determine cell viability and apoptosis in the present of nonylphenol and bisphenol A. Furthermore, we will use immunoblotting to measure the activity of apoptotic markers caspase-3, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) to survey how nonylphenol affects apoptotic pathways. Besides, I will explore bisphenol A whether induces cell death and the mechanisms underlying the [Ca2+]i rise in MDCK cells. The results may be helpful for understanding the pharmacological and toxicological effects of these two environmental chemicals in cells from important organs. Results showed that nonylphenol caused apoptosis via the activation of caspase-3 in cultured human gastric cancer (SCM-1) cells. Although nonylphenol could activate the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), only SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) partially prevented cells from apoptosis. Nonylphenol was also found to induce [Ca2+]i increases and pretreatment with BAPTA/AM, a Ca2+ chelator, prevented nonylphenol-induced [Ca2+]i increases, and protect cells from death. These results suggest that nonylphenol induced apoptosis via a Ca2+- and p38 MAPK-dependent pathway. On the other hand, the effect of the environmental contaminant bisphenol A on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells is unclear. This study explored whether bisphenol A changed basal [Ca2+]i levels in suspended MDCK cells by using fura-2 as a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye. Bisphenol A at concentrations between 50-300 £gM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The Ca2+ signal was reduced partly by removing extracellular Ca2+. Bisphenol A induced Mn2+ influx, leading to quench of fura-2 fluorescence suggesting Ca2+ influx. This Ca2+ influx was inhibited by phospholiapase A2 inhibitor aristolochic acid, store-operated Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine and SK&F96365; and protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X. In Ca2+-free medium, pretreatment with the mitochondrial uncoupler carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitors thapsigargin or 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) inhibited bisphenol A-induced Ca2+ release. Conversely, pretreatment with bisphenol A abolished thapsigargin (or BHQ)- and CCCP-induced [Ca2+]i rise. Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 abolished bisphenol-induced [Ca2+]i rise. Bisphenol A caused concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability via apoptosis in a Ca2+-independent manner. Collectively, in MDCK cells, bisphenol A induced [Ca2+]i rises by causing phospholipase C-dependent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and Ca2+ influx via phospholipase A2-protein kinase C-sensitive store-operated Ca2+ channels. Key words: calcium, apoptosis, human gastric cancer cells (SCM-1), Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK), nonylphenol, bisphenol A.

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Abstract In this globalized era, most industries will not be able to survive by simply optimizing internal structures and infrastructures based upon business strategy. The most successful manufacturers seem to be those that have carefully linked their internal processes to external suppliers and customers in unique supply chains. Quality management represents company-wide activities to improve the quality level of products and works through customer orientation, continuous quality improvement, employees¡¦ involvement, etc. to establish and sustain a competitive advantage. From a perspective of competitive strategy, quality is often seen as a source of differentiation. Quality improvement is an important issue influencing long-term viability of any business enterprise, especially manufacturing companies producing physical goods. A number of researchers suggest that better performance can be achieved by consolidating customer and supplier bases, removing unnecessary steps in the chain, speeding up information and material flows, and creating long-term partnerships with major customers and suppliers to leverage the capabilities of several companies in the chain. Recent years have seen growth in the importance of integration suppliers, manufacturers and customers. Effective integration of suppliers into supply chains serves as a key factor for some companies to gain competitive advantage. Supply chain integration refers to a formation of network encompassing elements of supply chain, which are the suppliers, customers and the company. This paper presents results of an empirical study on effect of quality management practices upon supply chain integration in Aerospace Industry manufacturing companies. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were conducted to test hypothesizes. This paper used six scales to measure different aspects of quality management including top management leadership for quality , small group problem solving , processes management, supplier involvement, information and feedback and customer forcus upon supply chain integration. Regression results indicated two external factors including supplier involvement, customer forcus have significant impact on supply chain integration, also will increase company competitive performance if all resourses have been adopted properly. For those four internal factors,such as management leadership for quality , small group problem solving , processes management, information and feedback doesn¡¦t have significant impact on supply chain integration.

The objective of this study is to investigate the technique of the PWS (Post-Weld-Shift) measurement in cylindrical-type laser diode module packaging processes. Including measure the shift in focus plane and the run-out between the axis of laser diode and optical fiber. The objective of this technique is to quantify the PWS in packaging processes. This technique can improve the efficient of the laser hammering technique. The measurement technique developed in this study employs a laser displacement meter (Keyence LC-2430) to measure the profile and position the upper housing of laser diode module. Using the concepts of ellipse and symmetric figure, the Ellipse Fitting Method (EFM) and the Symmetric Center Method (SCM) are developed. A simulation program is coded for discussing the relationship between the measurement error and the roundness of the optical fiber housing. Finally, these measuring technique are applied on the laser diode module packaging system (Newport-LW4000) to measure the PWS. The experimental measuring data of PWS is 3.5£gm, which is reasonable in compare to the estimate alignment offset (2.9£gm to 5.9£gm) by the coupling efficiency method. Therefore it is believed that the technique developed in this study is feasible and practical.

Vendor managed inventory (VMI) is a form of automated replenishment under which a supplier takes responsibility for managing a customer¡¦s inventory levels for a given product or material. The promise of VMI was more efficient inventory management with less out-of-stock, improved sales and improved consumer satisfaction. Based on the sharing sales information, VMI makes suppliers reduce inventory and cost. Therefore, VMI is one of the most widely discussed initiatives for improving multi-firm supply chain efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effect of supplier¡¦s expected cost by using the sharing sales information .We assume the underlying demand process faced by the retailer is ARMA(1,2). We model the supplier¡¦s delivery variance, optimal delivery-up-to level, and expected cost under three different levels of information sharing, namely no information sharing, partial information sharing, and total information sharing. Furthermore, we study the sensitivity analysis of supplier¡¦s delivery variance, optimal delivery-up-to level, and expected cost for the following four factors: lead-time l, correlation coefficient , tow-weights in ARMA(1,2), and , followed by numerical examples to verify our findings. The main results are as follows. 1¡B Information sharing stabilizes the supplier¡¦s delivery and reduces supplier¡¦s optimal delivery-up-to level as well as expected cost. 2¡B In each level of information sharing, there is positive effect to the supplier¡¦s delivery variance, optimal delivery-up-to level, and expected cost for every factor. 3¡B All the factors multiply the cost reduction effect contributed by increasing the level of information sharing. Among all, the lead time l and cause the most significant effect.

<p>In today’s computerized society more and more companies choose to utilize new applications that can ease the way of handling the information. For many of us is imperative that the process as efficient as possible if one takes in consideration the size of savings that this new application can bring.</p><p>The developer of the evaluated system is SYSteam AB Huskvarna and they are the ones that gave us this assignment. The application that we evaluate is SCM (Secure Connection Manager). It is already used today by big companies such as Telia and Ericsson to search for errors in telephone servers placed all over the country. The reason why this application is used is to increase the efficiency of error searching without traveling to the location of the servers.</p><p>The issues that the report focuses on are the system’s usability and efficiency for the user. Since the application is already in use we must be aware that just small adjustments are going to be made afterward.</p><p>In order to evaluate an already developed system we interviewed users that are familiar with the application and were willing to be answering our questions.Those users’ opinions have been crucial to us and our evaluation.</p><p>The result is a gathering of tables and data which methodically describes every subject in our questionnaire. These subjects are the following: navigation, design, content and efficiency.  Our analyses results show a positive reaction to almost all the subjects treated in the questionnaires. Several opinions and comments during the interviews confirm this statement. </p><p>The theoretical methods used to form this opinion are the heuristics rules that we followed, but also some of the most useful principles from theory books about interaction design.</p><p>The conclusion is, as the results of our evaluation show, that the system that we evaluated (SCM) is both efficient and user-friendly.</p><p>We would like to thank all the users, which took part in our study, as well as our supervisors both at university and at SYSteam AB Huskvarna. Thank you!</p> / <p>Med dagens mer systematiserade tillvaro är det fler som väljer att införa applikationer i företag som kan underlätta informationshanteringen. För många är det viktigt att detta sker så effektivt som möjligt med tanke på de besparingar som det kan medföra.</p><p>De som har utvecklat den studerade applikationen och som också är våra uppdragsgivare är SYSteam AB i Huskvarna. Denna applikation som vi utvärderar heter Secure Connection Manager (SCM). Den används idag av bland annat företag som Telia och Ericsson för att göra felsökningar på telefonväxlar som finns utplacerade i landet. Anledningen till att denna applikation används är att det blir mer effektivt att med hjälp av fjärrstyrning kunna göra felsökningar utan att behöva åka till telestationerna som de tidigare har gjort.</p><p>Frågeställningarna som arbetet fokuserar på är om systemet är användarvänligt och effektivt för användaren. Eftersom systemet redan är i drift måste man ha i åtanke att det endast kan ske marginella justeringar i efterhand.</p><p>För att kunna evaluera ett färdigt system har vi haft hjälp av ett antal frekventa användare som villigt har ställt upp på att svara på frågor och intervjuer. Dessa testpersoner har varit av yttersta vikt för oss och för vår evaluering.</p><p>Resultatet blev en samling tabeller och data som metodiskt beskriver varje element var för sig. De element som frågeguiden är indelad i är navigation, design, innehåll och effektivitet. Analysen gav positiva resultat till de frågeställningar vi hade ställt, förutom elementet innehåll. Flera av de synpunkter och kommentarer som samlades in under intervjuerna förstärkte detta resultat.</p><p>De teoretiska metoder som hjälpte oss att bedöma detta var några av de heuristiska regler som finns att följa, men även några av de principer som finns att läsa om i böcker om interaktionsdesign.</p><p>Slutsatsen blev att av de resultat vi fick av vår utvärdering konstaterade vi att SCM är både effektivt och användarvänligt.</p><p>Vi vill gärna rikta ett tack till alla testpersoner som ställde upp och till våra handledare både på högskolan och på SYSteam AB i Huskvarna. Tack!</p>

Offshore oil and gas exploitation is principally conducted using dry or wet tree systems, otherwise called the subsea Xmas tree system. Due to the shift to deeper waters, subsea production system (SPS) has come to be a preferred technology with attendant economic benefits. At the centre of the SPS is the subsea control module (SCM), responsible for the proper functioning and monitoring of the entire system. With increasing search for hydrocarbons in deep and ultra-deepwaters, the SCM system faces important environmental, safety and reliability challenges and little research has been done in this area. Analysis of the SCM reliability then becomes very fundamental due to the huge cost associated with failure. Several tools are available for this analysis, but the FMECA stands out due to its ability to not only provide failure data, but also showcase the system’s failure modes and mechanisms associated with the subsystems and components being evaluated. However, the technique has been heavily challenged in various literatures for several reasons. To close this gap, a novel multi-criteria approach is developed for the analysis and ranking of the SCM failures modes. This research specifically focusses on subsea tree-mounted electro-hydraulic (E-H) SCM responsible for the underwater control of oil and gas production. A risk identification of the subsea control module is conducted using industry experts. This is followed by a comprehensive component based FMECA analysis of the SCM conducted with the conventional RPN technique, which reveals the most critical failure modes for the SCM. A novel framework is developed using multi-criteria fuzzy TOPSIS methodology and applied to the most critical failure modes obtained from the FMECA evaluation using unconventional parameters. Finally, a validation of these results is performed using a stochastic input evaluation and SCM failure data obtained from the offshore industry standard reliability database, OREDA.

An overall process of globalization influences major changes in companies’ bussiness strategy. Supply chain management (SCM) becomes one of the most prioritetical activities in company. Seeking to survive in hard competition, they must improve their distribution strategies. Spreading Net technology requires flexible company to work directly with suppliers and to be able to react quickly and reasonably to demanding environmental changes. The classic objective of SCM is to be able to have the right products in the right quantities (at the right place) at the right moment at minimal cost. This requires a close integration of effective control functions and SCM to assure correctness and maturity of sending and receiving information, complience with internal company rules and supply strategies. This paper analyses SCM information systems emphasising their principles, pecularities and weaknesses. A new control method of SCM is introduced — „SCM using complex control methods“. It adds content management principles to current SCM control methods. This paper describes system concept, system architecture and generic business process models. To prove effectiveness of this method software was designed, developed and implemented in one big trading company. Additionally quality research of implemented software was made and it showed the effectiveness of applying quality assurence in software implementation process.