<p>Background: Following the wave of privatisation and deregulation during the last decades, buyers of infrastructure constructions, such as dams, roads and telecommunication, have changed from states or public authorities to private companies. Private buyers do not always have the financial strength to arrange the financing for a project and providing a financial arrangement, for example by helping customers to obtain loans, has become a means to compete on the market. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyse how Swedish companies arrange project finance for large-scale projects.</p><p>Method: In order to gain knowledge of our area of investigation we searched for relevant literature and articles from magazines. </p><p>Result: The result of this study has showed that three factors are of special importance when choosing a certain financial arrangement. These three factors are the region in which the project is located, duration of the project and its size measured in monetary terms.</p> / <p>Bakgrund: Privatiseringsvågen och avregleringarna de senaste decennierna har medfört att många köpare av infrastruktur, t.ex. dammar, vägar och telekommunikation, gått från att vara statligt ägda företag till att vara privata företag. Privata köpare har inte alltid möjligheten att ordna finansieringen av projektet. Således har det blivit en viktig del av säljarens erbjudande att kunna erbjuda köparen en finansiell lösning, t.ex. förmedling av lån. </p><p>Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva och analysera hur svenska företag organiserar finansieringen av storskaliga projekt. </p><p>Resultat: Resultatet av denna studie pekar på att det är tre faktorer som är speciellt viktiga när det gäller hur man ska organisera en projektfinansiering. Dessa tre faktorer är regionen där projektet är lokaliserat, projektets löptid och dess storlek.</p>

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) were founded to improve the activity and effectiveness of small industries, to provide economic and social needs of the country, to increase the competitive level of the country, and to establish integration in the industry. In today&rsquo / s competition conditions, SMEs should continuously improve themselves / otherwise, they could lose their market shares. One of the major problems encountered in Turkish SMEs is poor quality activities / especially, not being able to exploit the Statistical Process Control (SPC) techniques. Production runs become shorter and shorter, and the product variety seems to be ever increasing, which cause short production runs. Using traditional control charts for short production runs can yield wrong and costly results. Instead of traditional control charts, short run charts such as Difference Charts (DNOM), Zed Charts, and Zed-Star Charts should be preferred.For this purpose, software that not only constructs short run control charts but also implements charts by tests to solve the problems of SMEs is developed. A Control Chart Selection Wizard, which is capable of emulating human expertise in finding a suitable control chart according to the user response for different cases is developed and added as a subprogram. Software was tested at Ar&ccedil / elik Dishwasher Plant in Ankara. The overall evaluation of the developed software, as regards the user, was satisfactory. The software can meet some requirements of the SMEs.

Thin-film solar cells on glass substrates are likely to have a bright future due to the potentially low costs and the short energy payback times. Polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si, grain size &gt 1 pm) has the advantage of being non-toxic, abundant, and long-term stable. Glass as a substrate, however, limits the processing temperatures to ~600??C for longer process steps. Films with large grain size can be achieved by solid phase crystallisation (SPC), and especially by solid phase epitaxy (SPE) on seed layers, using amorphous silicon deposited at low temperatures as a precursor film. With SPC and SPE, the amorphous silicon film is typically crystallised at ~600??C over hours. During this anneal at atmospheric pressure -depending on the properties of the amorphous silicon film- ambient gas can percolate the film and can negatively affect the crystallisation. In this work, a high-vacuum anneal chamber was designed and built to allow the in-situ crystallisation of amorphous silicon films deposited on glass in a PECVD cluster tool. An important aspect of the design was the comfortable and safe operation of the vacuum anneal chamber to enable unattended operation. This was realised by means of a state-of-the-art, programmable temperature controller and a control circuit design that incorporates various safety interlocks. The chamber interior was optimised such that a temperature uniformity of 2-3K across the sample area was achieved. The chamber was calibrated and tested, and SPC and SPE samples were successfully crystallised. In initial SPC crystallisation experiments with solar cell structures, after post-deposition treatments, a 1 -sun open-circuit voltage of 465 mV was obtained, similar to furnace-annealed samples. In initial experiments with SPE solar cell structures, difficulties regarding the characterisation of the unmetallised solar cells with the quasi-steady-state open-circuit voltage method (QSSVOC) were encountered after post-deposition hydrogen treatment. A possible explanation for these difficulties is the contact formation with the metal probes. Furthermore, limiting factors of the QSSVOC method for the characterisation of unmetallised cells with high contact resistance values were investigated and, additionally, the accuracyof the QSSVOC setup was improved in the low light intensity range.

It is a difficult challenge to develop a feedback control system for Statistical Process Control (SPC) because there is no effective method that can be used to calculate the accurate magnitude of feedback control actions in traditional SPC. Suitable feedback adjustments are generated from the experiences of process engineers. This drawback means that the SPC technique can not be directly applied in an automatic system. This thesis is concerned with Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Logic applied to the uncertainty of relationships between the SPC (early stage) alarms and SPC implementation. Based on a number of experiments of the frequency distribution for shifts of abnormal process averages and human subjective decision, a Fuzzy-SPC control system is developed to generate the magnitude of feedback control actions using fuzzy inference. A simulation study which is written in C++ is designed to implement a Fuzzy-SPC controller with satisfactory results. To further reduce the control errors, a NeuroFuzzy network is employed to build NNFuzzy- SPC system in MATLAB. The advantage of the leaning capability of Neural Networks is used to optimise the parameters of the Fuzzy- X and Fuzzy-J? controllers in order to obtain the ideal consequent membership functions to adapt to the randomness of various processes. Simulation results show that the NN-Fuzzy-SPC control system has high control accuracy and stable repeatability. To further improve the practicability of a NN-Fuzzy-SPC system, a combined forecaster with EWMA chart and digital filter is designed to reduce the NN-Fuzzy-SPC control delay. For the EWMA chart, the smoothing constant 0 is investigated by a number of experiments and optimised in the forecast process. The Finite Impulse Response (FIR) lowpass filter is designed to smooth the input data (signal) fluctuations in order to reduce the forecast errors. An improved NN-Fuzzy-SPC control system which shows high control accuracy and short control delay can be applied in both automatic control and online quality control.

Com o aumento da produção mundial em proporções cada vez maiores, os processos industriais têm se tornando um desafio pela complexidade do seu gerenciamento. A identificação rápida e precisa de não conformidades é cada vez mais necessária e mais difícil de ser realizada. Este estudo propõe a integração do Controle de Engenharia com o Controle Estatístico de Processo, no monitoramento e controle de processos industriais, almejando a percepção mais rápida de anormalidades, visando à redução de problemas de especificação de produtos. Uma forma de autoajuste do controlador Proporcional-Integral e Derivativo (PID) é proposta, aumentando a robustez do sistema, empregando-se técnicas comumente utilizadas nos processos. O modelo matemático do processo, equacionando as relações das variáveis envolvidas, é estabelecido para determinação e especificação do controlador e de forma conjunta as cartas de controle são configuradas. O controlador projetado para a situação normal de operação atua no sentido de manter as variáveis de saída (controladas) dentro de especificações através do conhecimento de sua relação com as de entrada e de processo. As cartas de controle baseadas em modelos, monitorando os resíduos provenientes de ajustes de modelos ARIMA, acompanham as variações do processo, evitando variabilidade excessiva e possibilitando a detecção de comportamentos anormais, inclusive monitorando o desempenho do próprio controlador. Com a sinalização das cartas de controle, é realizada uma interferência na equação de ajuste do controlador. Empregando-se a simulação numérica, analisam-se os comportamentos do controlador e este, combinado com as cartas de controle. Falhas inseridas propositalmente, em cada variável controlada, foram devidamente sinalizadas. Estas sinalizações ocorreram mesmo em situações em que as variáveis estiveram mantidas dentro da especificação pelo controlador. Para o sistema de autoajuste, o aumento dos ganhos de contribuição das cartas de controle proporcionou maior acurácia das variáveis controladas (monitoradas). A integração proposta apresentou melhores resultados, quanto à manutenção das variáveis de saída próximas aos seus alvos, quando comparada com o controlador operando isoladamente. / With the increase of world production at bigger and bigger proportions, the industrial processes have become a challenge by the complexity of their management. The fast and precise identification of non-conformities is increasingly necessary and more difficult to be performed, preferably even before problems with product specification or waste can be considered. This study proposes the integration of Engineering Process Control with the Statistical Process Control, in monitoring and controlling of industrial processes, aiming the quicker perception of abnormalities, looking for the reduction of products specification problems. A form of self-adjustment of the Proportional-Integral and Derivative Controller (PID) is proposed, increasing the system robustness applying techniques commonly used in the processes. The mathematical model of the process, equating the relationship of the variables involved, is established to the determination and specification of the controller, and the control charts are configure in an integrated way. The controller projected to the normal operation situation, acts in the sense of keeping the exit variables (controlled) within the specifications through the knowledge of its relationship with that of the entrance and that of the process. The control charts based in models, monitoring the residues coming from the models adjustment ARIMA, follow up the process variations avoiding excessive variability and making it possible the detection of abnormal behaviors, even monitoring the performance of the controller itself. With the signalling of the control charts, an interference in the equation of adjustment of the controller is performed. Applying the numerical simulation, the controller behaviors are analyzed and this combined with the control charts. Intentionally inserted failures, in each controlled variable, were properly signalized. These signallings have happened even in situations where the variables were kept by the controller within the specification.. To the self-adjustment system, the increase of contribution gains of the control charts has provided greater accuracy of the controlled variables. The integration proposed has presented better results, in relation to maintain of the exit variables next to their targets, when compared to the controller operating in isolation.

Com o aumento da produção mundial em proporções cada vez maiores, os processos industriais têm se tornando um desafio pela complexidade do seu gerenciamento. A identificação rápida e precisa de não conformidades é cada vez mais necessária e mais difícil de ser realizada. Este estudo propõe a integração do Controle de Engenharia com o Controle Estatístico de Processo, no monitoramento e controle de processos industriais, almejando a percepção mais rápida de anormalidades, visando à redução de problemas de especificação de produtos. Uma forma de autoajuste do controlador Proporcional-Integral e Derivativo (PID) é proposta, aumentando a robustez do sistema, empregando-se técnicas comumente utilizadas nos processos. O modelo matemático do processo, equacionando as relações das variáveis envolvidas, é estabelecido para determinação e especificação do controlador e de forma conjunta as cartas de controle são configuradas. O controlador projetado para a situação normal de operação atua no sentido de manter as variáveis de saída (controladas) dentro de especificações através do conhecimento de sua relação com as de entrada e de processo. As cartas de controle baseadas em modelos, monitorando os resíduos provenientes de ajustes de modelos ARIMA, acompanham as variações do processo, evitando variabilidade excessiva e possibilitando a detecção de comportamentos anormais, inclusive monitorando o desempenho do próprio controlador. Com a sinalização das cartas de controle, é realizada uma interferência na equação de ajuste do controlador. Empregando-se a simulação numérica, analisam-se os comportamentos do controlador e este, combinado com as cartas de controle. Falhas inseridas propositalmente, em cada variável controlada, foram devidamente sinalizadas. Estas sinalizações ocorreram mesmo em situações em que as variáveis estiveram mantidas dentro da especificação pelo controlador. Para o sistema de autoajuste, o aumento dos ganhos de contribuição das cartas de controle proporcionou maior acurácia das variáveis controladas (monitoradas). A integração proposta apresentou melhores resultados, quanto à manutenção das variáveis de saída próximas aos seus alvos, quando comparada com o controlador operando isoladamente. / With the increase of world production at bigger and bigger proportions, the industrial processes have become a challenge by the complexity of their management. The fast and precise identification of non-conformities is increasingly necessary and more difficult to be performed, preferably even before problems with product specification or waste can be considered. This study proposes the integration of Engineering Process Control with the Statistical Process Control, in monitoring and controlling of industrial processes, aiming the quicker perception of abnormalities, looking for the reduction of products specification problems. A form of self-adjustment of the Proportional-Integral and Derivative Controller (PID) is proposed, increasing the system robustness applying techniques commonly used in the processes. The mathematical model of the process, equating the relationship of the variables involved, is established to the determination and specification of the controller, and the control charts are configure in an integrated way. The controller projected to the normal operation situation, acts in the sense of keeping the exit variables (controlled) within the specifications through the knowledge of its relationship with that of the entrance and that of the process. The control charts based in models, monitoring the residues coming from the models adjustment ARIMA, follow up the process variations avoiding excessive variability and making it possible the detection of abnormal behaviors, even monitoring the performance of the controller itself. With the signalling of the control charts, an interference in the equation of adjustment of the controller is performed. Applying the numerical simulation, the controller behaviors are analyzed and this combined with the control charts. Intentionally inserted failures, in each controlled variable, were properly signalized. These signallings have happened even in situations where the variables were kept by the controller within the specification.. To the self-adjustment system, the increase of contribution gains of the control charts has provided greater accuracy of the controlled variables. The integration proposed has presented better results, in relation to maintain of the exit variables next to their targets, when compared to the controller operating in isolation.

Com o aumento da produção mundial em proporções cada vez maiores, os processos industriais têm se tornando um desafio pela complexidade do seu gerenciamento. A identificação rápida e precisa de não conformidades é cada vez mais necessária e mais difícil de ser realizada. Este estudo propõe a integração do Controle de Engenharia com o Controle Estatístico de Processo, no monitoramento e controle de processos industriais, almejando a percepção mais rápida de anormalidades, visando à redução de problemas de especificação de produtos. Uma forma de autoajuste do controlador Proporcional-Integral e Derivativo (PID) é proposta, aumentando a robustez do sistema, empregando-se técnicas comumente utilizadas nos processos. O modelo matemático do processo, equacionando as relações das variáveis envolvidas, é estabelecido para determinação e especificação do controlador e de forma conjunta as cartas de controle são configuradas. O controlador projetado para a situação normal de operação atua no sentido de manter as variáveis de saída (controladas) dentro de especificações através do conhecimento de sua relação com as de entrada e de processo. As cartas de controle baseadas em modelos, monitorando os resíduos provenientes de ajustes de modelos ARIMA, acompanham as variações do processo, evitando variabilidade excessiva e possibilitando a detecção de comportamentos anormais, inclusive monitorando o desempenho do próprio controlador. Com a sinalização das cartas de controle, é realizada uma interferência na equação de ajuste do controlador. Empregando-se a simulação numérica, analisam-se os comportamentos do controlador e este, combinado com as cartas de controle. Falhas inseridas propositalmente, em cada variável controlada, foram devidamente sinalizadas. Estas sinalizações ocorreram mesmo em situações em que as variáveis estiveram mantidas dentro da especificação pelo controlador. Para o sistema de autoajuste, o aumento dos ganhos de contribuição das cartas de controle proporcionou maior acurácia das variáveis controladas (monitoradas). A integração proposta apresentou melhores resultados, quanto à manutenção das variáveis de saída próximas aos seus alvos, quando comparada com o controlador operando isoladamente. / With the increase of world production at bigger and bigger proportions, the industrial processes have become a challenge by the complexity of their management. The fast and precise identification of non-conformities is increasingly necessary and more difficult to be performed, preferably even before problems with product specification or waste can be considered. This study proposes the integration of Engineering Process Control with the Statistical Process Control, in monitoring and controlling of industrial processes, aiming the quicker perception of abnormalities, looking for the reduction of products specification problems. A form of self-adjustment of the Proportional-Integral and Derivative Controller (PID) is proposed, increasing the system robustness applying techniques commonly used in the processes. The mathematical model of the process, equating the relationship of the variables involved, is established to the determination and specification of the controller, and the control charts are configure in an integrated way. The controller projected to the normal operation situation, acts in the sense of keeping the exit variables (controlled) within the specifications through the knowledge of its relationship with that of the entrance and that of the process. The control charts based in models, monitoring the residues coming from the models adjustment ARIMA, follow up the process variations avoiding excessive variability and making it possible the detection of abnormal behaviors, even monitoring the performance of the controller itself. With the signalling of the control charts, an interference in the equation of adjustment of the controller is performed. Applying the numerical simulation, the controller behaviors are analyzed and this combined with the control charts. Intentionally inserted failures, in each controlled variable, were properly signalized. These signallings have happened even in situations where the variables were kept by the controller within the specification.. To the self-adjustment system, the increase of contribution gains of the control charts has provided greater accuracy of the controlled variables. The integration proposed has presented better results, in relation to maintain of the exit variables next to their targets, when compared to the controller operating in isolation.

The objective of this work is to evaluate, through the Environmental-SCP model, the strategies adopted by a Brazilian textile company. In this context, it shows a longitudinal analysis of environmental strategies adopted by the company for eleven years, from 1996 to 2006. The research was based on an environmental strategy evaluation model, called Environmental-SCP model, proposed by Abreu (2001). The model links environmental performance to the conducts of the companies exposed to the pressure of the industry in which they operate. Thus, it was identified the environmental pressures, conducts and performance of the company in the last eleven years. Finally, this work presents the companyÂs strategic positioning, in the last eleven years, face to environmental questions. This strategic positioning is determined from the matrix that clusters companies depending on their environmental behavior and industry structure pressure according to Environmental-SCP. The analyzed company is a large scale textile firm in Cearà state that maintains an environmental management system certified according to ISO 14001 since 2001. The data were collected through document analysis and structured interviews with employees. The data were organized in electronic spreadsheets for qualitative and quantitative analysis. From this analysis, three stages of environmental strategy were identified in this period. The first stage management was unaware of environment-related pressures and merely adopted environmental conducts with the aim of acquiring obligatory environmental license. In the second stage, the perception of external though as yet unthreatening pressures led to the implementation of an environmental management system. In the third stage, as response to increased environmental pressures threatening the companyÂs competitiveness and in consideration to demands expressed by stakeholders, management adopted environmental conducts while making processes more efficient and created a competitive advantage. This study showed the companyÂs change from relative indifference to an environmentally responsible attitude harmonizing pollution prevention and increased process efficiency. / O trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar, à luz do modelo ECP-Ambiental, as estratÃgias adotadas por uma empresa tÃxtil. Neste contexto, apresenta uma anÃlise longitudinal das estratÃgias ambientais adotadas por uma empresa tÃxtil ao longo de onze anos, compreendidos entre o perÃodo de 1996 a 2006. A pesquisa foi elaborada a partir do modelo de avaliaÃÃo da estratÃgia ambiental ECPAmbiental, proposto por Abreu (2001). Com base neste modelo, a partir das pressÃes da estrutura da indÃstria, a empresa reage adotando condutas ambientais que por sua vez, afetam sua performance ambiental. Dentro deste contexto, foram identificadas as pressÃes, condutas e performance ambiental da empresa e a partir desta, determinados os Ãndices e a evoluÃÃo da pressÃo, da conduta e da performance para os Ãltimos onze anos. Por fim, o trabalho apresenta o posicionamento estratÃgico adotado pela empresa, nos Ãltimos onze anos, frente Ãs questÃes ambientais. Este posicionamento estratÃgico à determinado a partir da matriz que relaciona a pressÃo da estrutura da indÃstria com a conduta ambiental, desenvolvida a partir do modelo ECP-Ambiental. A empresa objeto deste estudo à uma empresa tÃxtil de grande porte, que possui significativa representatividade na economia do Estado do Cearà e mantÃm um sistema de gestÃo ambiental certificado na norma ISO 14001 desde 2001. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de anÃlise documental e aplicaÃÃo de um instrumento de coleta de dados atravÃs de entrevistas com funcionÃrios da empresa. Os dados coletados foram tabulados em planilhas eletrÃnicas, nas quais foram realizadas anÃlises qualitativa e quantitativa. A partir destas anÃlises, constatou-se que a empresa ao longo desses onze anos, passou por trÃs estÃgios: o primeiro foi caracterizado pela nÃo percepÃÃo das pressÃes ambientais, desta forma a conduta ambiental adotada era voltada ao atendimento aos requisitos do licenciamento ambiental; o segundo foi aquele em que as pressÃes ambientais foram percebidas de forma a nÃo oferecer risco à competitividade da empresa, as condutas ambientais neste estÃgio estavam voltadas à implantaÃÃo de um sistema de gestÃo ambiental; o terceiro estÃgio foi caracterizado pela percepÃÃo por parte da empresa de uma pressÃo ambiental que oferecia risco à sua competitividade, como resposta a empresa adotou condutas ambientais que atendessem as necessidades das partes interessadas e melhorassem a eficiÃncia dos processos, de forma a gerar vantagem competitiva frente aos concorrentes. No tocante à estratÃgia ambiental, a pesquisa identificou uma evoluÃÃo do posicionamento estratÃgico, migrando de uma situaÃÃo de indiferenÃa frente Ãs questÃes ambientais, para uma atuaÃÃo responsÃvel, na qual aliou prevenÃÃo da poluiÃÃo à melhoria na eficiÃncia dos processos.

Due to growing awareness of sustainable development and renewable sources of electricity, the public demand for electric cars has increased during the last decade, Lithium-ion batteries are used to power today's electric cars and the batteries are mainly produced in Asia. The need for batteries in the automobile industry in Europe has led to the birth of many new organisations, Northvolt is one of them. The mission at Northvolt is to bring lithium-ion batteries to the European market. The process of producing Lithium-ion batteries is complex and includes several sub-processes that together will generate the final product. The quality of the processes and product are important for performance as well as safety. Statistical Process Control is one way of creating and maintaining good quality. This thesis aims to describe how Statistical Process Control can be implemented in the context of Lithium-ion battery production. To answer the aim, a literature study and a field study were conducted at Northvolt labs in Västerås. The field study collected data through interviews, as well as observations on the different processes in production. A thematic analysis was conducted, the findings resulted in a framework for implementation of Statistical Process Control in the Lithium-ion battery industry. The framework has similarities with other frameworks gathered from literature on Statistical Process Control implementation but differs in some key aspects. A clear emphasis on initial focus regarding training and education is one aspect that contributes to the existing literature and a practical contribution to organisations in the batter production industry. Early focus on process definition and identification of critical-to-quality characteristics are also aspects that are emphasised in the developed framework. The emphasize on these factors are connected to the complexity of the processes of the Lithium-ion battery production.

This diploma thesis focusses on quality management system settings in accordance with the international standard ISO/TS 16949 in the conditions of a medium-sized enterprise, a supplier for the automotive industry. The theoretical part of the thesis is based on professional literature, including professional articles, and describes individual theoretical outcomes, which are subsequently applied in the practical part. The practical part of the thesis concentrates on the project of the implementation of this standard into the structure of medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the thesis evaluates financial and temporal difficulties with regard to the introduction of certification. It also provides an analysis of key processes, proposes a process map and offers a risk analysis via the method FMEA as well as an assessment of individual tools of quality management. Overall, the thesis provides a holistic overview of the issue concerning the implementation of quality management system in the conditions of the supplier for the automotive industry.