A venda direta é caracterizada como sendo um sistema de comercialização de bens de consumo e serviços, na qual o contato pessoal entre vendedores e compradores é realizado fora de um estabelecimento comercial fixo. O Brasil ocupa a quarta posição no ranking da World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), atrás apenas dos Estados Unidos, Japão e China. Em alguns casos, os pedidos provindos das chamadas consultoras de vendas, não são compatíveis com a rotina da confecção destinada à produção em larga escala, pois, alguns produtos são específicos para um tipo determinado de público-alvo e, por isso, não tem uma aceitação em massa. Para este tipo de produto deve-se ter uma atenção especial às características dos tecidos e a tecnologia utilizada, visando a diminuição da geração de resíduos têxteis. As sobras de tecidos quando descartados de forma inadequada aceleram a degradação do meio ambiente, além de desperdiçar tempo e recursos financeiros. O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar os métodos de trabalho em empresas do segmento de venda direta, a fim de propor, a partir do estudo de encaixe, quer seja, manual ou informatizado, a otimização e aproveitamento máximo da matéria-prima, resultando na redução de descarte de resíduos têxteis. A Metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa bibliográfica, que constitui o procedimento básico para os estudos monográficos, e a pesquisa exploratória, pois não requer a formulação de hipóteses para serem testadas. Foi feito um estudo de caso e apresentada uma proposta de encaixe dos moldes para uma empresa que comercializa seus produtos através de venda direta e que possui altos índices de descarte de resíduos. A metodologia utilizada se mostrou viável para um estudo de encaixe eficiente com possibilidade de redução do desperdício e do custo do produto final para as empresas desse segmento / Direct selling is characterized by being a marketing system for consumer goods and services to which personal contact between sellers and buyers is carried out outside a fixed commercial establishment. Brazil occupies the fourth position in the ranking of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), behind only the United States, Japan and China. In some cases, requests from sales consultants are not compatible with routine manufacturing for large-scale production because some products are specific to a particular type of target audience and therefore do not have an acceptance in large scale. For this type of product should have special attention by using the characteristics of the tissue and oriented technology in reducing the generation of textile waste. Due to this, the objective of this research was to verify the working methods in companies of the direct sales segment, in order to propose, from the study of fit, be it, manual or computerized, in the chothing cutting sector, optimization and the maximum use of the raw material, reducing the waste of commonly generated textile waste, which collaborates every day to the degradation of the environment, in addition to wasting time and financial resources. The methodology used was the bibliographic research, which is the basic procedure for the monographic studies, and the exploratory research, since it does not require the formulation of hypotheses to be tested and, after the research, it was verified that the methodology used proved to be feasible for an efficient fit study and cost reduction for the companies in the segment

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-06-16T12:13:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Leandro Mengue da Silva_.pdf: 1918963 bytes, checksum: 8d329d578b6f3672b670f65fd2f7ea08 (MD5) Leandro Mengue da Silva_.pdf: 1918963 bytes, checksum: 8d329d578b6f3672b670f65fd2f7ea08 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-16T12:13:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Leandro Mengue da Silva_.pdf: 1918963 bytes, checksum: 8d329d578b6f3672b670f65fd2f7ea08 (MD5) Leandro Mengue da Silva_.pdf: 1918963 bytes, checksum: 8d329d578b6f3672b670f65fd2f7ea08 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-23 / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A contribuição de metaheurísticas, em especial a dos algoritmos evolutivos, na área de otimização combinatória é de extrema relevância, pois auxiliam na busca de soluções próximas ao ótimo para problemas complexos da vida real cuja resolução em tempo aceitável é inviável devido a sua complexidade computacional, oferecendo uma flexibilidade importante na modelagem do problema. Este trabalho se propõe a apresentar e implementar um modelo computacional a ser utilizado na otimização do escalonamento de ordens de produção utilizando um Algoritmo Memético (AM), que permite a busca tanto da melhor sequência das ordens de produção quanto dos lotes de tamanho variável em que a quantidade de cada operação pode ser subdividida. A possibilidade de utilização de máquinas alternativas, de recursos secundários, de intervalos de indisponibilidade e de lotes de transferência, é apresentada no modelo, o que lhe proporciona grande robustez e aplicabilidade em ambientes de manufatura flexível, permitindo uma modelagem do Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem (FJSSP) que reflete com maior fidedignidade a realidade do ambiente fabril, gerando como resultado um escalonamento otimizado e aderente às necessidades da fábrica. Várias instâncias do FJSSP são utilizadas nos testes e os resultados obtidos comprovam que o algoritmo proposto consegue otimizar o escalonamento das ordens de produção de cada instância de maneira eficiente. / The contribution of meta-heuristics, especially evolutionary algorithms, in combinatorial optimization area is extremely important, as they help in finding near optimal solutions to complex real-life problems whose resolution is infeasible in acceptable time due to its computational complexity, offering an important flexibility in the modeling of problem. This study propose to present and implement a computational model to be used in optimizing the production scheduling of manufacturing orders using a Memetic Algorithm that allows to search both the best sequence of jobs as of variable size batches that the quantity of each operation can be subdivided. The possibility of using alternative resources, operations with secondary resources, unavailability intervals and batch transfer lots are features presented in the model, which lends it great robustness and applicability to flexible manufacturing environments, allowing the modeling of Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem (FJSSP) that reflects with higher accuracy the real manufacturing environment, generating optimized scheduling results that are adhering to the plant needs. Multiple instances of FJSSP are used in the tests and the results show that the proposed algorithm succeeds in optimizing the scheduling of production orders for each instance so efficient.

Diploma thesis is focused on creation of new marketing strategy for company QUERCUS' electronic store. Theoretical part deals with basic concepts of marketing and strategic marketing planning. It further introduces marketing mix specifics on the internet, basic aspects of electronic commerce and consumer behavior on internet. Practical part includes introduction of company QUERCUS, e-shop SWOT analysis, brief characteristic of current marketing strategy and finally proposal of new marketing strategy.

A evolução pela qual passou o chão-de-fábrica no último século transformou-o numa área estratégica para as empresas, por meio da qual é possível atender e satisfazer as necessidades dos seus clientes. Esse novo chão-de-fábrica gera hoje uma grande quantidade de dados nos controles do seu processo produtivo, os quais, em muitos casos, após seu uso imediato ou de curto prazo, acabam descartados ou armazenados inadequadamente, impossibilitando ou dificultando seu acesso. Esses dados, no entanto, podem vir a ter uma importante utilidade como matéria-prima para a geração de informações úteis à gestão do negócio. Aliado à necessidade que as empresas hoje têm de possuir um adequado sistema de medição de desempenho, é possível obter, a partir dos dados históricos do chão-de-fábrica, um bom conjunto de indicadores de desempenho para a área. Para isso, esses dados precisam ser modelados em sistemas especialmente projetados para esta função. Esses sistemas vêm sendo tratados como sistemas de apoio à decisão (SAD) ou Business Intelligence (BI). Como solução para os problemas acima, foi feita então uma revisão sobre os temas: sistemas de informação, ERP, sistemas de medição de desempenho, qualidade da informação, SAD/BI, bem como uma revisão sobre os trabalhos científicos relacionados ao tema da tese. Uma vez tendo sido esses conceitos consolidados, partiu-se para o desenvolvimento de um modelo dimensional de BI que se utilizou das ferramentas de Data Warehouse, On Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) e Data Mining. O software utilizado foi o Analysis Services, pertencente ao banco de dados Microsoft SQL Server 2000. Em seguida, o modelo foi testado com dados reais de uma empresa do ramo metal-mecânico, tratada aqui como “empresa A”. Por meio do modelo e dos dados reais, uma série de análises foram realizadas com o intuito de mostrar a contribuição, capacidade, flexibilidade e facilidade de uso do modelo, atingindo o objetivo proposto / The shop floor evolution in the last century has transformed it in a strategic area for the companies, through which is possible to reach and to satisfy the customers needs. This new shop floor generates today a great amount of data by the productive process controls, the ones which, in many cases, after its immediate use or in a short period, are discarded or stored inadequately, disabling or making impossible its access. These data, however, can come to have an important use as raw material for the production of useful information to the business administration. Together to the need that the companies have today to possess an appropriated performance measure system, it is possible to obtain, from the historical shop floor data, a good performance indicators group for the area. For that, these data must be modeled by systems specifically designed for this purpose. These systems have been treated as decision support systems (DSS) or Business Intelligence (BI). As solution for the problems above, it was made a review over the following themes: information systems, ERP, performance measure system, information quality, DSS/BI, as well as a review about the scientific works related to this thesis theme. Once consolidated these concepts, started the development of a BI dimensional model, that used Data Warehouse tools, On Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) and Data Mining. It was used the Analysis Services software, belonged to the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database. In the following, the model was tested with real data from a metal-mechanic company branch, called here as “company A”. Through the model and of the real data, a series of analyses was accomplished with the intention of showing the model contribution, capacity, flexibility and use easiness, reaching the proposed objective

Successful independent coffee shop owners in Washington struggle to compete with the larger coffee shop chains. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to investigate what strategies owners of independent coffee shops in Washington use to survive beyond the first 5 years. Five independent coffee shop owners in Washington participated in the study and shared their practices and observations. Systems theory directed the study exploring the perspectives of successful independent coffee shop owners in Washington. Using communication skills and personal availability to answer questions and remain in contact throughout the research process built a rapport with participants. Data were gathered from participant interviews and from an examination of available physical artifacts such as the locations, premises, websites, and social media pages. Within-method triangulation was used to ensure the participant interview data were interpreted with credibility and transparency. Three primary themes appeared from the study: community involvement, customer loyalty, and location. Encouraging community involvement generates product awareness, which creates new business. Based on the independent coffee shop owners' descriptions, community involvement, customer loyalty, and location were important strategies to increase profits. The implications for social change include added community involvement, customer loyalty, and location. Involvement in the community generated revenue, customer loyalty, and community opportunities. Independent coffee shop owners may remain sustainable by incorporating these strategies.

This dissertation addresses the phenomenon of 'radical commodities'-commercial products which advance an oppositional politics. Examples of such include the products of Rage Against The Machine, a 'revolutionary' rock band; Michael Moore, a best-selling author and award-winning documentary filmmaker; Naomi Klein, a journalist and author of the international bestseller No Logo; The Body Shop, a multinational manufacturer and retailer of 'natural' cosmetics and toiletries; Freitag, a company which manufactures bags, wallets and other fashionable accessories from recycled materials, and; the Adbusters Media Foundation, publisher of Adbusters magazine and producer of Blackspot shoes. Radical commodities are fundamentally paradoxical objects whose apparent ethic would appear to be at odds with the fact that they are commodities. This dissertation asks: can a commodity-object legitimately serve as a vehicle for social and political critique? It is reasoned that the problem of radical commodities is principally structural. Marx's seminal writings on the commodity accordingly represent the logical point of departure. The Marxian analysis illuminates not only the commodity-structure, but also the political problematic which emerges from that structure-for Marx, the commodity is a mechanism of exploitation. From an orthodox Marxist perspective, the idea of a radical commodity would therefore be most contradictory, or indeed impossible. It is argued, however, that the Marxian analysis is inconclusive. This dissertation traces a genealogy of analyses of the commodity, which variously advance or diverge from the orthodox Marxist position. From a perspective of the consumption of commodity-objects, the radical commodity would appear to be possible. Yet, the relationship between the commodity-structure and the capitalist ideology runs deep. The question of the radical commodity is therefore markedly more complex than it might initially appear. With regard to the ideological consequence of the commodity-structure, however, certain streams of post-Marxist analysis are themselves problematic, for they ultimately short-circuit historical critique and destabilise the very possibility of politics. In contrast, this dissertation seeks to reaffirm a place for politics and, in so doing, to establish the theoretical possibility of radical commodities. To contend that the idea of a radical commodity is not fundamentally contradictory, however, says nothing of the political potency of such objects. These are undoubtedly complex objects, whose peculiarities cannot be ascertained by abstract theorisation alone. For this reason, this dissertation also employs empirical analyses of a number of radical commodities. In sum, it is argued that the sphere of commodities should be admitted as a possible site for the expression or implementation of a radical politics, and thus that radical commodities should be understood as a legitimate vehicle for social and political critique, but that such objects are by no means free from contradiction, and that the political efficacy of these products is anything but guaranteed.

Cette thèse -spécialisée en Recherche Opérationnelle- traite de l'intégration, dans le processus décisionnel industriel, de deux facteurs-clés: la planification des ressources humaines et l'ordonnancement de la production. Un premier cas de ce genre de problématiques est tout d'abord étudié. Deux bornes inférieures obtenues par relaxation lagrangienne et deux méthodes de résolution exacte par décomposition et génération de coupes sont présentées. Si la première approche relève d'une technique connue de la littérature (décomposition de Benders), la seconde se veut plus spécifique. Une technique de génération de coupes énergétiques valides, applicable en préprocess de toute méthode de résolution, est également proposée. La seconde partie traite d'un autre cas particulier, déjà évoqué dans la littérature, de la problématique générale. Ces travaux prolongent ceux effectués lors de la première étude dans le sens où le problème traité est intrinsèquement plus complexe et le but avoué est d'expérimenter les techniques de décomposition et génération de coupes, a priori efficaces, sur une autre problématique. Une technique de génération d'inégalités valides, applicable elle aussi en préprocess de toute méthode de résolution, est tout d'abord mise en place. Deux méthodes de résolution exacte sont ensuite développées. La première est analogue à la technique spécifique de décomposition décrite auparavant. La seconde, plus novatrice, exploite la décomposition intuitive de la problématique et la génération de coupes dédiées dans un cadre où les solutions à valider sont construites via une approche arborescente de type Procédure de Séparation et Evaluation Séquentielle.

<p><p>Rapporten tar upp och behandlar ämnet betalväxlar utifrån en utvecklares perspektiv. Två företag som varit i eller nära inpå processen att utveckla en webbshop har intervjuats och jämförts med utbudet hos ett antal olika betalväxlar. Intervjuerna har visat ett resultat som är mycket troligt att man som ny utvecklare kommer i kontakt med i början. Positionen kan då vara både som utvecklare eller som ägare till webbshoppen. Det gick även att konstatera att det fanns ett antal betalväxlar lämpade för olika kunskapsnivåer. Professionell hjälp i form av råd och implementation måste inte tvunget vara en nödvändighet för att man ska kunna sätta upp en relativt avancerad webbshop.</p></p> / <p><p>This report deals with online Payment Service Providers (PSPs) from the developer's point of view. Two companies that were in or in close connection to the process of developing a web shop were interviewed and compared to the suppöy of payment options at a number of different payment PSPs. The interviews has shown a result which is probable that a new developer will get in contact with in the beginning. The position could be either as a web developer or as an owner of a web shop. It was also possible to establish that there were a number of PSPs suitable for different levels of knowledge within the field. Professional help such as advices and implementation is not necessary in order to be able to set up a relatively advanced web shop.</p></p>

This dissertation aims to contribute to the discourse on the future of manufacturing in Sweden. It is argued that the real threat does not come from lower wages in Eastern Europe and Asia. Rather it comes from an inability to make the most of existing manufacturing systems. The joint contribution of the underlying studies that this dissertation is based on provides compelling support for corroborating this line of thought. More important, however, is that in addition to showing that there is room for improvement, a lot of input is provided on how to act creatively for enhanced performance. The discussion on how to act mainly focuses on three research issues. First, enhancing continuous improvement capability. The continuous improvement abilities considered most important for Swedish manufacturers to develop are pointed out. That is, the ability to adopt a systematic and strategic approach to continuous improvements, the ability to lead the way towards continuous improvements, and finally the ability to involve customers and suppliers in continuous improvements. Furthermore, the likely positive performance impact of accomplishing this is clarified. Second, adopting the principles of lean manufacturing. Rather than reinforcing Taylorism, it is shown that lean manufacturing seems to contribute to the creation of sustainable work systems in Sweden. However, a broad process of change awaits the many companies that might aspire to transform their operations in this direction. In order to reap the full potential of this strategy, the work organisation, as well as management accounting and remuneration systems, must change, not only manufacturing processes. Third and finally, making more effective outsourcing decisions. It is shown that any positive effects of outsourcing manufacturing are more likely to be realized if concurrent initiatives are taken to develop the capability of the manufacturing function. The analysis also indicates a potential for taking a more strategic approach to outsourcing, i.e., outsourcing in order to increase focus on core manufacturing activities and take advantage of the supplier’s higher innovation capability. Moreover, a potential for selecting suppliers more appropriately is also indicated, such as by trying to achieve greater economies of scale. The chosen methodological approach has been to combine two large-scale surveys of representative samples of Swedish engineering industry companies with two multiple case studies. The surveys measured continuous improvement behaviours, lean manufacturing and outsourcing, and provides descriptive statistics as well as tests of theoretical assumptions. The case studies provide a deeper understanding of researched issues. One was designed to illustrate how the Balanced Scorecard may enhance the continuous improvement capability level, and the other, to hearing some voices of the empirical field. / QC 20100525

This Master’s thesis has been carried out within the subject area of Production Development and Management and aims to reduce internal lead times in make-to-order (MTO) and job-shop production environments with the use of identified theoretical methods. The reason this particular production environment was chosen was the flexibility and satisfaction it provides its customers. Today, customers expect customised products, a situation which causes problems for manufacturers as they are unable to produce such products in large amounts. In order to investigate problems with these kinds of environments and the causes for long lead times, we have conducted a literature study where we identified the problems these particular kinds of production environments experience regarding production planning and control which are related to the immense amount of time consumed by changeovers because of high demand variance and high requirements for customisation. To affirm the theoretical findings, we opted to undertake a case study and chose Talent Plastics Gislaved AB as our case, because this company utilises an MTO and job-shop production environment for its production of highly customised products with high demand variance. In the analysis of our case, we found that the wastes in the organisation were similar to those identified in the theoretical findings. The current planning system and the current state of the manufacturing lead time system were evaluated and a theoretical framework using a combination of lean production, work load control and constant work-in-process theories was suggested. We claim that concentrating on the reduction of setup times can lead the job-shop towards drastically decreased lead times and a much more effective use of time throughout the organisation. Because the organisation will continue to face problems due to the ever-increasing demand variance and requirements for customisation, there are plenty of opportunities for further research in these kinds of production environments. Emerging theories, such as quick response manufacturing, may also be tested to construct an efficient framework.