The results of this work show that the cost efficiency of tendered bus services is similar across all Swedish counties, except for the more high-density counties where efficiency is lower. Considerably lower efficiency is also found for contracts with services run in-house by the Public Transport Authority (PTA), compared to when the same service is run by a private actor. With respect to the competitive environment, it was found that many contract design factors have little or no effect on the number of bids that the PTA sees in their tenders. No measure that could be imposed by a single PTA was found to increase the total number of bidders by more than 0.5 bidders. However, the results suggest that PTAs as a collective could try to avoid tendering too many contracts at the same time because this was shown to reduce participation by up to about two bidders. In addition, these studies show that the local competitive environment is important for the PTAs to consider. The way in which contract areas are defined will also affect the participation rate as operators were found to participate in tenders to a lower extent the farther their workplaces are from the contract area. While larger operators appear to be less sensitive with respect to such distances, the fact that smaller operators are, and that they often bid as one unit as members of cooperation companies, makes the competitive environment important. The results suggest that depots could be included in the contract to stimulate participation, but this is by no means the only nor an easy solution. This thesis has also analyzed the entry made in 2015 by MTR Express (MTR) on the Stockholm-Gothenburg railway line. The overall conclusion is that customers are indeed facing lower prices one and a half years after the entry. MTR's prices are on average 100 SEK lower than the incumbent SJ's prices. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the incumbent’s prices have also gone down, by almost 13 percent, following the entry. / <p>QC 20171106</p>

Purpose: Over the last couple of decades, globalization has impacted market competition. This results in that companies heavily offshore to low-wage countries to enhance its competitiveness through lower costs. Offshoring constitutes relocation of manufacturing activities to other existing manufacturing sites in foreign countries. In recent years, low-wage countries have grown and developed. Studies show that low cost environments are increasing in cost, eliminating the benefits of offshoring. This phenomenon has sparked a new trend, ‘reshoring’- to bring back manufacturing to the home country, which has been acknowledged by both researchers and practitioners. The trend has become more distinct due to the increasing numbers of cases where companies that previously offshored manufacturing activities are returning them to the home country. The research done on reshoring focuses mainly on a “why” perspective, with drivers that cause reshoring and barriers that prevent them. However, research concerning the outcomes of what a company expected from reshoring and what they achieved afterwards is limited, especially in the high cost environment of Sweden. The purpose of this study is to explore the expected and achieved outcomes of the reshoring process through a multiple case study including four companies from Sweden that have reshored manufacturing back to Sweden. Method: The method used in this thesis was a systematic literature review to gain knowledge of the phenomenon. With the help of the systematic literature review an interview guide was created to assist in the data collection. This thesis used a multiple case study, the data was collected through semi-structured interviews and documents. The findings were analyzed within each case, cross-case, and in comparison to literature. Findings: To analyze the outcomes on the same premises, the researcher had to create a framework. All the outcomes from the literature were categorized based on firms’ operational and competitive capabilities namely cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, service, innovation, environment, culture, risk mitigation, reputation and trust, and government legislations. It was found that all the case companies had a successful reshoring process and all their expected outcomes were achieved. However, in comparison to the expected outcomes found in the literature, the companies expected less from reshoring. The companies were unaware of the full extent of reshoring, since their expectations were limited. The most expected outcome of reshoring, found in all the cases and in theory were: to decrease total cost, increase delivery speed, increase reputation and trust, and use the comfort of the home culture. A thorough analysis of achieved outcomes, in case and in literature, showed that all the case companies have achieved lower total cost, increased delivery speeds and higher reputation and trust. On comparing all the achieved outcomes in case and in literature it is evident that researchers have studied the process of reshoring from a why and theoretical perspective, aside from the effects after the reshoring, which this thesis has accomplished. A comparison between expected and achieved outcomes of all the case companies collectively, showed that they have achieved lower costs, higher quality, better service and higher reputation and trust, beyond what they expected. Implications: Reshoring back to Sweden would bring back more manufacturing jobs and encourage further local sourcing within the country. Strategical collaboration within the supply chain in the home country would make companies more responsive to customer demand. Geographically, the literature lacks case studies from Sweden, therefore, this thesis will contribute to theory by presenting successful reshoring case studies from Sweden

Pappersbruket Fiskeby Board som är placerat i Norrköping tillverkar kartong av 100% returfibrer. Bruket har tillverkat papper i flera århundranden och är en av Europas äldsta tillverkare av papper och kartong. På pappersbruket finns ett underhålls- och reservdelslager som bistår med artiklar till hela företaget. Målet med studien är att ta fram förslag till hur förrådshanteringsprocessen kan förbättras för att göra den mer effektiv. Studien resulterade i 25 stycken förbättringsförslag, dessa förslag delades upp i två delar, de förbättringsförslag som kunde implementeras direkt och de som behövde vidare undersökningar. Vissa förslag täcker flera möjligheter och problem och andra förslag täcker bara ett. Lika så kan ett problem ha flera möjliga förbättringsförslag för att lösa dem. Även förbättringar i from av nya instruktioner där hela aktiviteter är inkluderade har föreslagits.

The importance of traffic planning has, throughout the years, been in- creased, providing sustainable developments of traffic and infrastructural investments. The analysis of the current traffic situation and the evalua- tion of the effects of a future investment are crucial for the socio-economic benefits maintenance. These analyses and evaluations are most commonly done using traffic simulation models. One of the main traffic planning aims, nowadays, is to increase the number of public transport users against the number of private car users. This change in mode choice is called transition effect and could be beneficial both from an environmental and socio-economic perspective. This thesis aims to evaluate and improve the macroscopic traffic demand and transition model, used fot the city of Norrköping. Additionally, the thesis investigates if a general transition Logit model can be developed and which parameters are the most important to be included in a modal choice estimation. For the needs of this study, the traffic planning software Visum is used. The travel mode distribution is calculated by Logit models coded in Python-scripts integrated in Visum. Then, a traffic assignment is performed by Visum, computing new travel times as inputs to the Logit model and this iterative procedure continues until the system reaches an equilibrium. The thesis aims for a more reliable prediction of the transition effect by correcting the Python-scripts and estimating the parameters of the Logit model using data from surveys. The study shows that travel times is the most important factor for realistic results generation. However, the data used for the estimation of the Logit model parameters did not include sufficient information of travel times. The travel times had to be calculated, using two different methods, in order to be included in the estimation of new parameters. Although these methods could not provide any positive effects on the transition, they did prove the importance and significance travel time have when developing a traffic model. The result of the study invokes the importance to further develop the method of calculating travel times, when the input data is not sufficient, and shows that the travel time parameters are case specific.

Purpose: The research purpose is to, in a systematic way, build a method to develop suggestions regarding layout planning of gates in a marine terminal and additionally conduct a base for a simulation model. Approach: Firstly, a literature review has been conducted in the fields relevant to port security and gate configurations in marine terminals. Secondly, a case study has been executed in a Swedish marine terminal. The case study consisted of interviews and observations at the case company, who also provided this thesis with numerical raw data. Additionally, a benchmarking was conducted at a company in the same port area where interviews and observations was executed.   Findings: The findings in this thesis resulted in a methodology improvement, which contains important procedure steps that need to be considered while conducting a layout for a gate in a marine terminal. The procedure resulted in a conceptual model that was conducted as a result of the literature review and verified by being tested in the case study. Limitation: The thesis is limited to one case company. Even though it verified and validated the findings, additional case companies are recommended to fully validate the conceptual model which applies for further research. Further limitations to this thesis is that the financial- and technical factors will not be executed.   Theoretical implications: Companies who plans to increase the security in their marine terminal area or implement a new gate system can benefit from the findings. This thesis contributes to science by adding new theory.   Practical implications: This thesis conducted a conceptual model for a layout procedure which recommends to follow while planning a layout for a gate in a marine terminal. The model were verified with a case company and provided two layout suggestions that can be implemented at the specific company.

I och med ett ökat vårdbehov i samhället ställs det utöver medicinska krav också krav på att svensk sjukvård ska öka effektiviteten i sina vårdprocesser. Denna studie utfördes på Seldingerenheten som tillhör den Kardiologiska kliniken vid Universitetssjukhuset i Linköping. På Seldingerenheten utförs behandling av hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar med avancerad kateterteknik i specialutrustade labb. Utöver labben finns det en övervakningsavdelning där patienter som ska behandlas i labben kan få för- och eftervård. Arbetet på Seldingerenheten är uppdelat efter olika sektioner beroende på vilken typ av hjärt- och kärlsjukdom som behandlas. Det finns övergripande planeringsgrupper som planerar på en mer strategisk (långsiktig) nivå medan den mer specifika planeringen på övervakningsavdelningen sker uppdelat efter de olika sektionerna. Tanken med studien var att presentera vilken planering som borde göras på de olika nivåerna samt hur dessa kan integreras med varandra. Varje sektion planerar idag sitt eget patientflöde och bokar in patienter för behandling i labben. När en patient ska behandlas i labben krävs för- och eftervård som antingen kan ske på någon vårdavdelning om patienten är inneliggande eller på övervakningsavdelningen för dagsjukvård. Hur patienter bokas in påverkar därmed patientflödet på dessa vårdavdelningar. Att det inte finns någon gemensam planering eller ett verktyg där de olika sektionerna kan se när patienter är inbokade på Seldingerenheten leder till ett ojämnt patientflöde på övervakningsavdelningen. Studiens resultat visade på ett flertal olika åtgärder som kan tas för att skapa ett jämnare patientflöde och en mer hållbar arbetsmiljö på övervakningsavdelningen. De teorier som åtgärdsförslagen baserats på visar att den negativa effekten av ett ojämnt patientflöde kan minskas genom att antingen påverka patientflödet och dess variation eller genom att vidta åtgärder på övervakningsavdelningen för att hantera situationen som den är.

Denna studie genomfördes på BillerudKorsnäs bruk i Skärblacka och undersökte hur utrymmesbegränsningar i ett färdigvarulager kan hanteras med olika åtgärder. Bakgrunden till studien är att färdigvarulagret i BillerudKorsnäs bruk i Skärblacka redan i dagsläget, när denna studie genomfördes, upplever en hög belastning på grund av en begränsad lagringsyta. Detta är dock hanterbart i dagsläget men i början av 2018 ska en ny pappersmaskin (PM10) implementeras. Detta kommer att medföra en ökad produktion av MG produkter som är de mest svårhanterliga produkterna. Därmed förväntas det att färdigvarulagret överbelastas om inga åtgärder vidtas. Inledningsvis i denna studie presenterade BillerudKorsnäs ett tjugotal åtgärder och av dessa åtgärder valdes åtta åtgärder ut i samråd med BillerudKorsnäs, som vidare kallas för det planerade åtgärdspaketet. De åtta åtgärderna är: lastbilspendel mellan Skärblacka och Norrköpings hamn (Pampus och Öhmansterminalen), ny lagerindelning, flytta all avsalumassa till Pampus, konsolidering av terminaler, alla översjötransporter av MG produkter går via Pampus, en extra ledtidsdag för direktlastbilar, utökad bemanning i magasinet och dokumenterade rutiner för ”onödig” lagring. Studiens syfte är därmed att utvärdera om det planerade åtgärdspaketet är en hållbar lösning för att hantera utrymmesbegränsningarna i färdigvarulagret när PM10 är i drift. För att analysera det planerade åtgärdspaketet skapades två simuleringsmodeller i simuleringsprogrammet Arena. En modell med PM10 och det planerade åtgärdspaketet och en modell med enbart PM10 för att kunna jämföra och analysera effekten av åtgärdspaketet. Analyserna tyder på att färdigvarulagret kommer att överbelastas om inga åtgärder vidtas. Samtidigt tyder analyserna också på att det planerade åtgärdspaketet är en hållbar lösning på de förväntade lagringsproblemen när PM10 är i drift. Vidare indikerade analyserna att andelen lastbilstransporter relativt tågtransporter kommer att öka när PM10 är i drift och att antalet lastbilstransporter per dag har en stor påverkan på lagernivåerna.

Traffic simulation is a safe and efficient tool to investigate infrastructural changes as well as traffic conditions. This master thesis aims to analyse a microscopic traffic simulation method for evaluation of bus terminal capacity. The evaluation is performed by investigating a case study of the bus terminal at Norrköping travel centre. The analysed method, referred to as terminal logic in the thesis, uses a combination of time based and event based simulation. Through the combination of time and event, it is possible to capture all movements within the terminal for individual vehicles. The simulation model is built in the software Vissim. A new travel centre for Norrköping is under development. Among the reasons for a new travel centre is the railway project Ostlänken in the eastern part of Sweden. An evaluation of the bus terminal is interesting due to a suspicion of overcapacity and the opportunity of redesigning. To investigate both the terminal capacity and the terminal logic, three scenarios were implemented. Scenario 1: Current design and frequency Scenario 2: Current design with higher frequency Scenario 3: Decreased number of bus stops with current frequency The results from the scenarios confirm the assumption of overcapacity. The capacity was evaluated based on several different measures, all indicating a low utilization. Even so, the utilization was uneven over time and congestion could still occur when several buses departed at the same time. This was also seen when studying the simulation, which showed congestions when several buses departed at the same time. The case study established the terminal logic to be useful when evaluating capacity at bus terminals. It provides a good understanding of how the terminal operates and captures the movements. However, it was time-consuming to adjust the logic to the studied terminal. This is a disadvantage when investigating more than one alternative. The thesis resulted in two main conclusions. Firstly, a more optimised planning of the buses at Norrköping bus terminal would probably be achievable and lead to less congestions at the exits. Secondly, the terminal logic is a good method to use when evaluating bus terminals but it is not straight forward to implement.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the barriers for and their impact cooperation and coopetition for sustainable distribution of Municipality goods in three selected cities. Design/Methodology/Approach: This thesis is based on a qualitative approach using a multiple case study as data collection strategy. The population building up three cases consists of ten Swedish mid-sized cities with an urban consolidation center. Of these are the three cities Växjö, Kalmar and Borlänge sampled and both the municipality and two locally active freight forwarders (one RFP-winner and one non-RFP-winner) per city are interviewed. These interviews aimed at identifying barriers to cooperation between municipalities and freight forwarders and barriers to coopetition between private freight forwarders for a sustainable distribution of municipality goods. The secondary data is based upon three literature streams: Sustainability, Distribution in Urban Environments and, Cooperation and Coopetition. Findings: The results indicate that the main barriers to cooperation from a freight forwarder perspective are incorrect or missing data in the RFP, price for municipality goods distribution and prohibition of goods consolidation. The main barrier to cooperation, fossil fuel free trucks, is a potential future barrier. The main barriers to coopetition are higher costs, lack of trust and price. These barriers have mainly an impact on the economical sustainability but can, and in some cases, will have effects on the other TBL-aspects. Research Limitations/Implications: The findings of this thesis provide the municipality with knowledge about barriers from the perspective of the freight forwarders which can aid construction of future RFPs. It also provides both municipality and freight forwarders with knowledge of the potential future barriers which could affect ongoing cooperation. Lastly it provides involved actors with knowledge of barriers hindering a coopetition approach in distribution, enabling the next step of solving the barriers. The value of this thesis is the knowledge of the implications as well as the combination of the three chosen literature streams which have not been researched in this context previously

La symbiose légumineuse-rhizobium a une importance majeure pour les écosystèmes terrestres puisqu'elle permet à la plante hôte de fixer l'azote atmosphérique. L'interaction initiale entre le poil absorbant de la plante hôte et son partenaire bactérien repose sur un dialogue moléculaire complexe. L'évènement de signalisation le plus précoce, détecté immédiatement après la perception des facteurs Nod bactériens, est un influx de Ca2+, accompagné d'une inhibition de la pompe à proton et d'un efflux de Cl- conduisant à une dépolarisation de la membrane plasmique. Cette dépolarisation provoque un efflux de K+ permettant le repolarisation de la membrane. L'objectif de ce travail a été d'identifier des acteurs moléculaires de cette signalisation électrique en utilisant Medicago truncatula comme légumineuse modèle. Dans un premier temps, nous avons identifié un répertoire de gènes candidats à partir de l'analyse du transcriptome du poil absorbant obtenu par RNA-Seq. Nous avons alors exprimé différents candidats (2 canaux anioniques, 1 canal cationique potentiel de la famille CNGC et 1 canal potassique) dans des ovocytes de xénope pour tester leur fonctionnalité (dans ce système) et préciser leurs propriétés de transport. Nous nous sommes alors focalisés sur l'analyse de la fonction in planta du gène codant le canal potassique (démontré comme étant de type rectifiant sortant) en précisant son patron d'expression par transgenèse et sa fonction par génétique inverse. L'absence d'expression fonctionnelle de ce gène se traduit par la disparition complète du courant potassique voltage-dépendant sortant des cellules de M. truncatula. Les premières analyses indiquent que cette perte de fonction n'inhibe pas la capacité de nodulation de la plante mais l'affecte significativement. Elle impacte également la régulation de l'ouverture stomatique de la plante mais n'a pas d'effet sur la translocation de K+ dans la sève xylémienne racinaire vers les parties aériennes. / The legume-rhizobium symbiosis is of crucial importance in terrestrial ecosystems because it allows the plant to assimilate atmospheric nitrogen. The establishment of the interaction between plant root hairs and their symbiotic bacterial partners relies on complex signaling mechanisms. The earliest detected event, immediately triggered by root hair perception of Nod-factors, is a Ca2+ influx, proton pump inhibition and efflux of Cl- resulting in depolarization of the cell membrane. This depolarization is followed by K+ efflux, allowing repolarization of the cell membrane. The general objective of this work is to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying this electrical signaling by using the legume model Medicago truncatula. In a first step, we identified candidate ion channels and transporters by analyzing the root hair transcriptome obtained by RNA-Seq. Then, several candidate genes (1 member from the CNGC channel family, 1 from the Shaker K+ channel family and 2 from the SLAC anion channel family) were expressed in Xenopus oocytes to check their activity in this heterologous system and determine their functional properties. Then, we focused on the gene encoding the Shaker channel, shown to mediate outwardly-rectifying voltage-gated K+ selective currents. We analyzed its expression pattern using a GUS construct and its function in planta by phenotyping a loss-of-function mutant pant. A first set of experiments has shown that the loss-of-function mutation does not suppress the plant nodulation capacity but significantly depresses it. It also affects the control of stomatal aperture upon water stress but let unchanged K+ secretion into the xylem sap in roots and translocation towards the shoots.