Ingeniera Civil Química. Ingeniera Civil en Biotecnología / El agua es un recurso natural fundamental para la vida y la salud de las personas, y a lo largo del tiempo se ha vuelto un elemento indispensable en la producción industrial y generación de energía. Se espera que la demanda de agua dulce aumente en las próximas décadas, sin embargo, debido a los efectos del cambio climático se prevé que la disponibilidad de agua disminuya. Actualmente, en el ámbito industrial, especialmente en la industria de alimentos, se utilizan grandes volúmenes de agua en los procesos productivos, y dado el escenario futuro, las empresas tienen especial preocupación por mejorar la eficiencia del uso de agua, junto con optimizar los recursos disponibles. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo plantear y evaluar técnica y económicamente estrategias que ayuden a minimizar los flujos de agua utilizados por una empresa de jugos sin aditivos. Para realizar esto, se utilizó la metodología denominada Six Sigma que se centra en la mejora continua de un proceso. El proceso productivo del jugo comienza con el lavado de frutas, luego sigue una molienda y prensado de la misma, el jugo resultante de esta etapa se pasteuriza, se envasa en caliente y luego sigue una etapa de enfriamiento, para finalizar con el etiquetado de las botellas. Entre las etapas de la línea principal y las etapas anexas al proceso, existen ocho que utilizan agua en su operación, de las cuales cinco serán evaluadas. Luego del análisis, surgen ocho alternativas para disminuir el consumo de agua actual. Las alternativas que resultan más atractivas de acuerdo a la inversión y al ahorro mensual que representan son: refrigerar el agua que entra en la etapa de enfriamiento, reutilizar el agua de enfriamiento, recircular el agua de lavado de frutas y utilizar una hidrolavadora para lavar pisos. Cabe destacar que todas las alternativas evaluadas están sujetas a los supuestos que se tomaron para llevar a cabo la evaluación técnica. Finalmente, como recomendación a la empresa se sugiere implementar protocolos de lavados para todas las operaciones para así estandarizar los métodos que se realizan de forma manual, también se sugiere implementar sistemas de medición los que permiten llevar un control del proceso.

In a globalized and competitive world, logistics is receiving a lot of attention from business managers because of its importance concerning the fidelity of customers and their participation in the total costs of the company. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a model to the management of the services of physical distribution based on the six sigma strategy in an agroindustry that produces canola oil and it is located in the northwest of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The data were collected by using a questionnaire which refers to the level of satisfaction and the importance of the services offered by the company concerning the customers attendance; the kind of ordering, invoice service and payment; logistic of transports and the information given. In order to analyze the data it was used the descriptive statistics and the techniques of analyses Cluster hierarchic and Cluster k-means. The six customers who buy unmanufactured canola oil from this company took part on this study. The results showed that the customers are satisfied with most of the services offered by the company. It was also observed that the customers demonstrated a lot of satisfaction referring to the kind of ordering, invoice service and payment. However, the clients consider the attendance service as being the most important feature of the company. Based on these results, a model to the management of the services of physical distribution based on the six sigma strategy was proposed with the purpose of guaranteeing the quality of services offered. / Em um mercado globalizado e competitivo a logística começa a receber maior atenção por parte dos gestores empresariais, devido à sua importância quanto a fidelização de clientes e sua participação nos custos totais da empresa. Por isso, este trabalho tem por objetivo propor um modelo para o gerenciamento dos serviços de distribuição física, com base na estratégia seis sigma, em uma agroindústria produtora de óleo bruto de canola situada na região noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário, referentes ao grau de satisfação e importância dos serviços prestados pela empresa quanto ao atendimento; tomada de pedido, faturamento e pagamento; logística de transportes e informações prestadas. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se a estatística descritiva e a técnica da análise de Cluster hierárquico e Cluster k-means. Fizeram parte deste estudo os seis clienteadquirem o óleo bruto de canola da empresa estudada. Os resultados mostraram que os clientes estão satisfeitos com a maioria dos serviços prestados pela empresa. Observou-se, também, que os clientes estão mais satisfeitos com os serviços referentes à tomada de pedidos, faturamento e pagamento. Porém, quanto ao grau de importância, eles consideram mais importante os serviços prestados no atendimento. Com base nestes resultados foi proposto um modelo de gerenciamento para os serviços de distribuição física baseado na estratégia seis sigma, visando garantir a qualidade dos serviços prestados.

The goal of the thesis is the optimization of non-compliant processes and the design of effective workflow for centralization of processing vendor master data at PPG Industries. The idea of unique process leads to savings and also to standardization and thus fulfills legal requirements. In the first part the project deals with the identification of processes, defines central model and process maps used to draft a more efficient process. Proposing part uses the findings to the previous chapters and focuses on implementation to workflow using Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. Final output is the definition of efficient workflow and metrics demonstrating a clear benefit in using these procedures at PPG Industries.

Magister Artium - MA / South Africa

Magister Artium - MA / Much has been researched in South Africa about the trauma of losing one's home, one's community and rebuilding one's life in a new environment. Several books have been published tracking the lives of the forcibly removed and their responses to leaving District Six. My research focuses on a different group namely those who had been forcibly removed from the centre of Stellenbosch, called Die Vlakte during that time. Living and working with and among people who have experienced this removal, I was keen to research whether the impact of the trauma is currently manifesting in this specific community and if so, what the symptoms would be. This qualitative inquiry focuses on one particular individual, Mr. Hilton Biscombe. I selected him because he, who experienced the removal as a teenager, spent most of his later life determinedly collecting stories and documents relating to this incident. Mr. Biscombe is also the only person of whom I am aware who responded personally through compiling a book, making a DVD, writing poetry as well as an autobiography relating to this event. My inquiry into the ways trauma manifests in a narrative, will be based on two interviews: one conducted by a white man from the University of Stellenbosch thirty years after the event; and another interview, six years later, conducted by myself.Our understanding of trauma is usually associated with a death or injury or the possibility thereof, but it could also include the victims response to extreme fear, serious harm or threat to family members. According to van der Merwe and Vienings, people also become traumatized when witnessing harm, physical violence or death or the sudden loss or destruction of a victim's home (van der Merwe Vienings, 2001). So the issue of trauma is not in question, nor the fact that forced removals cause trauma. I am exploring testimony in the form of interviews for possible current manifestations of this trauma thirty-six years down the line. / South Africa

Magister Artium - MA / Much has been researched in South Africa about the trauma of losing one’s home, one’s community and rebuilding one’s life in a new environment. Several books have been published tracking the lives of the forcibly removed and their responses to leaving District Six. My research focuses on a different group namely those who had been forcibly removed from the centre of Stellenbosch, called “Die Vlakte” during that time.Living and working with and among people who have experienced this removal, I was keen to research whether the impact of the trauma is currently manifesting in this specific community and if so, what the symptoms would be. This qualitative inquiry focuses on one particular individual, Mr. Hilton Biscombe. I selected him because he, who experienced the removal as a teenager, spent most of his later life determinedly collecting stories and documents relating to this incident. Mr.Biscombe is also the only person of whom I am aware who responded personally through compiling a book, making a DVD, writing poetry as well as an autobiography relating to this event. My inquiry into the ways trauma manifests in a narrative, will be based on two interviews: one conducted by a white man from the University of Stellenbosch thirty years after the event; and another interview, six years later, conducted by myself.Our understanding of trauma is usually associated with a death or injury or the possibility thereof, but it could also include the victim’s response to extreme fear, serious harm or threat to family members. According to van der Merwe and Vienings, people also become traumatized when witnessing harm, physical violence or death or the sudden loss or destruction of a victim’s home (van der Merwe & Vienings, 2001).So the issue of trauma is not in question, nor the fact that forced removals cause trauma. I am exploring testimony in the form of interviews for possible current manifestations of this trauma thirty-six years down the line. / South Africa

Magister Educationis - MEd / Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), through the use of iPads in English Home Language in the Intermediate Phase, with a special focus on Grade six, at one primary school in the Western Cape. Through the lens of the Sociocultural and Constructivist theories, the study investigated how iPads were used for language and literacy development in the Grade six classroom where English was the main medium of instruction. The study was purely a qualitative single case study involving one teacher and one class of 28 learners at a well-resourced former-white school in Cape Town. Data was collected through classroom observations and interviews. The interviews were conducted with six selected learners, one Grade six teacher, the Head of Department (HOD) and the Principal. The analysis of the transcribed interviews, video recordings and documents was done through the Atlast.Ti 7 software package. The findings of the study show that Grade six learners had good access to ICTs, and had no difficulties in using iPads for language and literacy learning. Their competence was associated with their high socio-economic backgrounds as most of them were from middle class families. The findings also indicated that teacher disposition had a positive impact on ICT implementation in the English lessons. Another interesting finding was that while the school had successfully adopted ICT as a teaching and learning resource, the Grade six teacher’s pedagogical strategies did not enhance learners’ comprehension of certain language (English) aspects such as grammar because there was no special training for integrating ICTs in language teaching. Overall, the results showed that the iPad is an extremely potential tool for literacy development and it encourages not only learners’ active engagement and collaboration as directed by the teacher, but also learner initiated engagement and collaboration. The study concludes that while many well-resourced schools seem to do well with regard to access to ICT and its integration in teaching and learning, technology cannot completely replace the role of the teacher in the classroom. There is a need for teacher development to enhance their own understanding of ICTs and how to use it for effective language and literacy teaching and learning.

Diploma thesis focuses on individual approaches to increase process efficiency in Czech banks. Target banks are Komerční banka, Česká spořitelna and Raiffeisenbank. Trend of bank services commoditization is forcing banks to reduce products prices and increase quality. The goal of this thesis is to compare approaches of forementioned banks and evaluate them based on pre-set criteria. After the analysis suggestions will be made. The first part diploma thesis explains process management terminology and presents specific theoretical approaches to process enhancing. The second part compares specific projects in three banks and suggests specific improvements. Diploma thesis also confirms the philosophy of continuous process improvement is valid for tertiary sector as well.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to apply Lean Six Sigma methodology on a specific improvement project in manufacturing company Lindab, s.r.o. The purpose of the project is to reduce number of complaints from inner customer, improve quality of selected product and increase overall effectiveness of manufacturing process. The first part of the thesis focuses on theoretical basis of Lean Six Sigma methodology. Each chapter in this part corresponds to one phase of DMAIC improvement cycle. Theoretical part contains descriptions of methods, tools and techniques used in practical part. The second part is dedicated to practical usage of the methodology. The DMAIC cycle is there applied on project of reducing defects on selected product. Attention is put on detailed process mapping, developing measuring system and process analysis. The main output of the practical part is introduction of specific proposals for improvement leading to reduction of defects and waste in manufacturing process.

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited / Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. / Healthcare costs throughout the United States are on the rise, drawing increased scrutiny from government officials and Congress. The cost of pharmacy operations and pharmaceuticals is growing at a rate that is alarmingly higher than that of the total cost of military healthcare itself. Recent congressional legislation has essentially given the Department of Defense the ultimatum to cut costs for beneficiaries wherever possible, or risk having benefits arbitrarily cut by Congress. In the face of this possibility, cutting costs through better business practices must be explored, particularly within the area of pharmacy operations. This project explores the potential cost savings that can be realized by implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology in the pharmacy operations of the DoD Medical Treatment Facilities (MTF). This research proves that implementing Lean Six Sigma methodology will improve military pharmacy operations, often at little cost, while realizing significant savings and increased customer satisfaction.