<p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Date: </strong>8 June 2009<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Degree Program: </strong>International Business and Entrepreneurship<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Program Division: </strong>School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering</p><p><strong>Course: </strong>Graduation Project in Innovation Management<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Title: </strong>Sustainable Development in Innovation, Design, and Technology Perspective.  Case Study of Volvo Construction Equipment<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Authors: </strong>Nithiwat Riebroicharoen 821024-T173 nrn08002@student.mdh.se</p><p>Pim Koykitcharoen 830311-T101</p><p>pkn08002@student.mdh.se</p><p><strong>Supervisors: </strong>Sten Ekman, Christer Nygren<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Problem Statement: </strong>How does Volvo CE facilitate sustainable development in technology, design and innovation perspectives?  The purpose of this graduation project is to identify and analyze how Volvo CE improves sustainable development in technology, design and innovation. Volvo CE is chosen as the subject of the study since it is the one of the leading company that claimed to have efficient implementing system of technology, design and innovation that truly solves the environmental problem that its business can cause.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Qualitative research methodology was used in this study.<strong> </strong>Two in-depth interviews were conducted with an environmental manager and an environmental engineer of Volvo CE with a focus on sustainable issues and technologies when the authors visited the manufacturing plant. Corresponding secondary resources from literature, articles, and theories were thus collected to be studied in parallel with the qualitative data.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The research found that Volvo CE has implemented a lot of business activities by applying innovation, technology and design approaches in order to support and improve its sustainable development business concept which covers all social, environment and economic aspects.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Sustainable development, Sustainability, Innovation, Design, Technology, Volvo Construction Equipment</p>

Abstract Date: 8 June 2009 Degree Program: International Business and Entrepreneurship Program Division: School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering Course: Graduation Project in Innovation Management Title: Sustainable Development in Innovation, Design, and Technology Perspective.  Case Study of Volvo Construction Equipment Authors: Nithiwat Riebroicharoen 821024-T173 nrn08002@student.mdh.se Pim Koykitcharoen 830311-T101 pkn08002@student.mdh.se Supervisors: Sten Ekman, Christer Nygren Problem Statement: How does Volvo CE facilitate sustainable development in technology, design and innovation perspectives?  The purpose of this graduation project is to identify and analyze how Volvo CE improves sustainable development in technology, design and innovation. Volvo CE is chosen as the subject of the study since it is the one of the leading company that claimed to have efficient implementing system of technology, design and innovation that truly solves the environmental problem that its business can cause. Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used in this study. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with an environmental manager and an environmental engineer of Volvo CE with a focus on sustainable issues and technologies when the authors visited the manufacturing plant. Corresponding secondary resources from literature, articles, and theories were thus collected to be studied in parallel with the qualitative data. Conclusion: The research found that Volvo CE has implemented a lot of business activities by applying innovation, technology and design approaches in order to support and improve its sustainable development business concept which covers all social, environment and economic aspects.   Keywords: Sustainable development, Sustainability, Innovation, Design, Technology, Volvo Construction Equipment

<p>Too high levels of noise lead to various health problems and cost society billions of SEK peryear. In this thesis we have examined a model of the A40E articulated hauler at VolvoConstruction Equipment in Braås. We have tried to reduce cabin noise in an articulated hauler,while also providing a way on how to proceed with a machine when the cabin does not measureup to the sound requirement. The best way to find leaks were with a reference source of model4205 and its speaker HP 1001 from Brüel & Kjaer in the cab and then walk around and listen towhere the reference source was more prominent. In this way, we found that the edges and theplugs were sensitive areas. We managed to reduce cabin noise 2.77 dB(A) at 1900 rpm, byisolating certain areas with glass wool. We have also looked at how certain areas individually canreduce cabin noise. We concluded that the isolation of the following areas gave the bestresponse: Cabin ceiling, cabin floor, cabin door, window edges around the dashboard, torpedowall.</p>

Too high levels of noise lead to various health problems and cost society billions of SEK peryear. In this thesis we have examined a model of the A40E articulated hauler at VolvoConstruction Equipment in Braås. We have tried to reduce cabin noise in an articulated hauler,while also providing a way on how to proceed with a machine when the cabin does not measureup to the sound requirement. The best way to find leaks were with a reference source of model4205 and its speaker HP 1001 from Brüel &amp; Kjaer in the cab and then walk around and listen towhere the reference source was more prominent. In this way, we found that the edges and theplugs were sensitive areas. We managed to reduce cabin noise 2.77 dB(A) at 1900 rpm, byisolating certain areas with glass wool. We have also looked at how certain areas individually canreduce cabin noise. We concluded that the isolation of the following areas gave the bestresponse: Cabin ceiling, cabin floor, cabin door, window edges around the dashboard, torpedowall.

<p>The world economy is in a transition period never experienced before, One of the main realising factors, boosting economy growth, is the catch up of many emerging countries. The emerging countries impose new competitive dimensions to the global economy, forcing well established multinational corporations into new competitive situations, brining both opportunities and threats.</p><p>The construction equipment industry has entered a condition of unprecedented growth. The total market demand has increased significantly and the demand development is prospected to continue for many more years. To keep up with the market demand and the sales opportunities, it is important to have machines available in the market. This impose that the logistic strategy is getting more important for companies in order to keep up with the prospected sales opportunities.</p><p>This Masters thesis is initiated by our case company, Volvo Construction Equipment International, currently suffering from an inefficient logistics strategy constraining international growth.</p><p>Based on our analysis and conclusion, Volvo Construction Equipment is recommended to move from transaction selling, spot market like international logistics strategy towards a relationship marketing based logistics strategy establishing in-depth collaborations with key account shipping suppliers. Furthermore, we recommend that Volvo CE should consider a logistics management function in order to facilitate the inter-organizational flow of logistics information.</p>

This report represents the bachelor thesis examination by Julia Kastehelmi Rintamäki. The examination has been performed during spring semester 2013 at Volvo Construction Equipment in Eskilstuna. This report, Development of parking brake component, describes the product development process of the parking brake component for articulated hauler, wheel loader and grader. Volvo CE has problems with the parking brake switch that exist today on articulated hauler, wheel loader and grader. The purpose of this project is to develop one common solution for the parking brake component for articulated hauler, wheel loader and grader. The secondary purpose is to find final concept proposal for each machine. Employees at the Volvo CE were interviewed; they were contacted via e-mail, phone calls and via meetings to get the information about the machines and the information around the parking brake component. Volvo CE databases were also used for gathering information about standards and pictures. Lots of different ideas were sketched and concept proposals were created with the aid of material from marketing analysis, competitor analysis, target group analysis, requirement specification, function analysis, standards and ergonomics. Eight concept proposals were chosen to be evaluated with QFD, Pugh’s matrix and FMEA. Two concepts were most suitable and developed further to three dimensional models with the aid of Solid Works. The different aspects were taken into account when designing and dimensioning the final concepts. Two models were created with the aid of plasticine for figuring out the ergonomics and dimensions of the product. DFM, DFA, DFE, D4S were used for taking into account costs, assembly, dimensions and environmental impacts of this product. One of the concepts could replace the existing parking brake switch and suit in different cabins because of its size and design. This concept can be located on vertical or on horizontal plane. The other final concept solution functions better for the  articulated hauler on account of the double function with exhausting brake system activating before parking brake system. Suggestion for next steps for the project could be to make prototypes of the two concepts and test these components in real machines. Also interviewing users for further development of the final concepts and redesign if needed.

The world economy is in a transition period never experienced before, One of the main realising factors, boosting economy growth, is the catch up of many emerging countries. The emerging countries impose new competitive dimensions to the global economy, forcing well established multinational corporations into new competitive situations, brining both opportunities and threats. The construction equipment industry has entered a condition of unprecedented growth. The total market demand has increased significantly and the demand development is prospected to continue for many more years. To keep up with the market demand and the sales opportunities, it is important to have machines available in the market. This impose that the logistic strategy is getting more important for companies in order to keep up with the prospected sales opportunities. This Masters thesis is initiated by our case company, Volvo Construction Equipment International, currently suffering from an inefficient logistics strategy constraining international growth. Based on our analysis and conclusion, Volvo Construction Equipment is recommended to move from transaction selling, spot market like international logistics strategy towards a relationship marketing based logistics strategy establishing in-depth collaborations with key account shipping suppliers. Furthermore, we recommend that Volvo CE should consider a logistics management function in order to facilitate the inter-organizational flow of logistics information.

In this study the aim was to investigate and nuance how the Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE) production Hub can evolve their environmental work, at Chinese wheel loader producer Shandong Lingong (SDLG), to reach Volvo standard. The study also aimed to investigate what international companies in China should take into consideration in their environmental work. The work was carried out by answering the following research questions; In which way or ways can the VCE Hub at SDLG evolve their environmental work to reach Volvo standard? What should international companies take into consideration in their environmental work when establishing on the Chinese market, and why? A lot of the information in this Thesis is based on empirical data, i.e. interviews. Three interviews with Swedish companies have been carried out. They are all highly valuing Environmental work but use different methods, their situations are unlike and they produce diverse products. Several interviews with people working with environmental issues in different ways have also been done, as well as with the SGS; a Chinese certification body. Three different companies with production in or around Shanghai were chosen; Volvo CE, SKF, and Sandvik. All three companies are originally Swedish but with production in China. Environmental work is highly prioritized in Sweden and the companies have global environmental policies and goals. The three companies were chosen because they are in different production areas but they are striving in the same direction with environmental issues in China. They are working differently and their situations are of various kinds. In 2006 Volvo CE invested in a Chinese wheel loader producer named Shandong Lingong. Volvo CE has a Hub, at the plant, which runs independently. SDLG are still not ISO 14001 certified and do not have an environmental management system (EMS) that is conformably with the Volvo demands. The most important to take into consideration when doing business in China is according to the study; top management support, to do training for the employees, mediate the importance of awareness, and to have knowledge about Chinese regulations. These are some of the issues International companies have to deal with when doing business in China. A well established EMS is a necessity for a good environmental work. To implement an EMS in the Hub as a pilot project is the best solution according to the information gathered in this thesis. SDLG could be a part-, they can evaluate-, and later it could be possible to implement the process in the whole SDLG. Due to this methodology they will learn how to work according to Volvo requirements and obtain benefits of an implementation. There are three different alternatives for the ISO 14001 certification of the Hub according to this work. For the Hub to be ISO 14001 certified together with another Volvo plant seems to be the best alternative thought it reduces the amount of work with legal authorities. VCE’s EMS will also not be compared with SDLG and it will be moneysaving. The policies and Environmental aspects (EA) though have to be rewritten to be suitable for both the factories.

This research study investigates the factors contributing to delays in construction equipment projects, specifically in the User Experience (UX) and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) area, with a particular focus on projects conducted at the company Volvo Construction Equipment. The study incorporates a literature review, a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, and in-depth discussions. Through the analysis of existing literature, the study identifies various factors associated with delays in construction equipment projects, including unclear project requirements, challenges in integrating systems and technologies, communication and collaboration issues, inadequate project management practices, and external influences. Building upon this foundation, qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys were conducted to gather insights from project managers, engineers, and other stakeholders at Volvo Construction Equipment. The findings from the data analysis highlight the frequency and average duration of delays in the UX/HMI area of construction equipment projects. Key contributing factors include communication issues, changes in project requirements or scope, insufficient resources or manpower, delays in component/material delivery, and lack of coordination among teams. These factors significantly impact project performance. Participants in the study reported employing various strategies to mitigate these delays, such as improving communication channels, enhancing cross-functional collaboration, investing in training and skill development, and closely monitoring project requirements. The research outcomes provide valuable insights into the relationships between identified factors and project delays in the UX/HMI area at Volvo Construction Equipment. The results emphasize the importance of addressing these factors through improved planning, effective communication, collaboration, and resource management to enhance project efficiency. Furthermore, the study contributes to the field of UX/HMI in construction equipment projects by shedding light on the specific challenges faced by the company and providing recommendations to improve project management practices and minimize delays. Recommendations to future research directions include longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impact of implemented strategies, exploration of emerging technologies in the UX/HMI domain, and evaluation of different project management methodologies for their effectiveness in addressing delays. By addressing these research gaps, further advancements can be made to optimize the UX/HMI area of construction equipment projects, ensuring successful project outcomes. / Denna forskningsstudie undersöker faktorer som bidrar till förseningar i produktutvecklingsprojekt av arbetsmaskiner, specifikt inom användarupplevelse (UX) och människa-maskin-gränssnitt (HMI), med särskilt fokus på projekt som genomförs vid företaget Volvo Construction Equipment. Studien innefattar en litteraturöversikt, en blandad metodansats som kombinerar kvalitativ och kvantitativ analys samt fördjupade diskussioner. I analysen av befintlig litteratur identifieras olika faktorer som är förknippade med förseningar i denna typ av projekt, inklusive oklara projektkrav, utmaningar att integrera system och teknik, kommunikations- och samarbetsproblem, otillräckliga projektledningsmetoder och externa påverkningar. Med denna grund genomfördes kvalitativa intervjuer och kvantitativa enkäter för att samla insikter från projektledare, ingenjörer och andra intressenter vid Volvo Construction Equipment. Resultaten från dataanalysen belyser frekvensen och genomsnittlig varaktighet av förseningar inom UX/HMI-området för denna typ av projekt. Nyckelfaktorer inkluderar kommunikations-problem, ändringar i projektkrav eller omfattning, otillräckliga resurser eller arbetskraft, förseningar i leverans av komponenter/material och brist på samordning mellan team. Dessa faktorer påverkar projektets prestanda avsevärt. Deltagarna i studien rapporterade att de använder olika strategier för att mildra dessa förseningar, såsom att förbättra kommunikations-kanaler, förbättra tvärfunktionellt samarbete, investera i utbildning och kompetensutveckling samt noggrant övervaka projektkrav. Resultaten ger värdefulla insikter i sambanden mellan identifierade faktorer och projekt-förseningar inom UX/HMI-området på Volvo Construction Equipment. Vikten av att hantera dessa faktorer genom förbättrad planering, effektiv kommunikation, samarbete och resurshantering för att förbättra projekteffektiviteten betonas särskilt. Vidare bidrar studien till fältet UX/HMI inom denna typ av projekt genom att belysa de specifika utmaningar som Volvo Construction Equipment står inför och ge rekommendationer för att förbättra projektlednings-metoder och minimera förseningar. Framtida forskningsriktningar som rekommenderas inkluderar longitudinella studier för att bedöma den långsiktiga effekten av implementerade strategier, utforskning av framväxande teknik inom UX/HMI-domänen och utvärdering av olika projektledningsmetodiker gällande deras effektivitet i att hantera förseningar. Genom att ta itu med detta kan ytterligare framsteg göras för att optimera UX/HMI-området för produktutvecklingsprojekt av arbetsmaskiner och säkerställa framgångsrika projektresultat.

Volvo Construction Equipment is considering applying modular design to their organisation in order to constrain the growing intangible information and parts assortment within the company, and as well to enable a rearrangement of production, sales and logistics in the near future of organisational growth and industrial footprint. Hence the purpose of this thesis is to investigate the opportunities and threats of implementing modular design to Volvo Construction Equipment. The analysis is scoped on the generic aspects of modularity and the organisational weaknesses within Volvo CE towards implementing a new organisational structure, product design and production with modular design. Modularity enables the company to move towards decupling the constraints of tangible sales and provides an opportunity to offer Product Service Systems as a Total Solution for each individual customer. By implementing the authors common knowledge and education within engineering revolving tangible and intangible products and services alongside with innovation, together with informal interviews of stakeholders, the results of the thesis was reached. The analysis of the results was reached by implementing Design Research Methodology to the structure of the thesis, research method and interviews made. There is a distinct opportunity for Volvo CE to implement modular design since the informational flows, innovation, research and development is enhanced by a correct modular design. Although there is a distinct risk in changing a well-established product design, development process and organisational structure, the opportunities to create a product service system strategy and to re harvest and recycle value within the company with modularity outweigh the risk. Incomprehension of how to optimize a modular design may amplify the reasons why Volvo CE is considering revising their products and organisation with modularity, thus the authors recommend implementing a generic and specific education in modularity within Volvo CE to ensure a shared language of modularity and enhance traceability of the development within the company. In order to enhance the organisational velocity around development, the authors also recommend a new computer environment which enables the different disciplines of engineering and marketing to modularise the product, services and processes while keeping the comprehension of the subject close to hand. This enables the organisational structure to change and improve towards modular deployment and to further accelerate Volvo CE’s growth, market share and revenue. / Volvo Construction Equipment överväger att tillämpa en modulär design till sin organisation i syfte att begränsa den växande immateriella information och det växande sortiment av delar inom företaget som finns idag. Volvo ser även till möjligheterna med modulär design för att möjliggöra en omflyttning av produktion, försäljning och logistik inom den närmaste framtiden för organisatorisk tillväxt och för att minska det industriella fotavtrycket. Därav syftet med denna uppsats; att undersöka möjligheter och hot för att genomföra modulär design i Volvo Construction Equipment. Analysen är fokuserad på generiska aspekter på modularitet och organisatoriska svagheter inom Volvo CE mot att genomföra en ny organisationsstruktur, produktdesign och produktion med modulär design. Modularitet möjliggör för företaget att gå mot att minska begränsningen av materiell försäljning och ger en möjlighet att erbjuda system med Product och Service lösningar som en helhetslösning för varje enskild kund. Genom att implementera författarnas gemensamma kunskap och utbildning inom teknik roterande kring materiella och immateriella produkter samt tjänster tillsammans med innovation, och med informella intervjuer av intressenter, har resultaten i denna avhandling uppnåtts. Analysen av resultaten uppnåddes genom att implementera metodiken Design Research Methodology till strukturen, forskningsmetod och gjorda intervjuer i avhandlingen. Det finns en tydlig möjlighet för Volvo CE att genomföra modulär design eftersom de informativa flöden, innovation, forskning och utveckling förstärks av en korrekt modulär design. Även om det finns en klar risk i att ändra en väletablerad produkts design, utveckling process och organisations struktur, är möjligheterna i att skapa en produkt strategi med servicesystem och att återvinna återvinna värde i företaget med modularitet väl värt risken. Oförståelse för hur man optimerar en modulär design kan innebära ytterligare risker och förklarar varför Volvo CE överväger revidera sina produkter och organisation med en ny design, och då kanske en modulär struktur. Detta har lett till att författarna rekommenderar att genomföra en allmän och specifik utbildning i modularitet inom Volvo CE för att säkerställa ett gemensamt språk för modularitet och öka spårbarheten av utvecklingen inom företaget. För att öka den organisatoriska hastigheten kring utveckling, rekommenderar författarna också en ny datormiljö som gör att de olika disciplinerna i teknik och marknadsföring ligger närmre till hands för att modularisera produkter, tjänster och processer samtidigt som förståelsen av ämnet blir enklare att uppnå. Detta maximerar effektiviteten i den organisatoriska strukturen för att förändra och förbättra mot en modulär utbyggnad och att ytterligare påskynda Volvo CE : s tillväxt , marknadsandelar och intäkter