O estudo busca entender as relações entre os fatores limitantes e impulsionadores enfrentados pelos fornecedores brasileiros de exploração e produção da cadeia de petróleo em relação à competitividade. Para atingir os objetivos propostos, empreendeu-se um estudo de natureza quantitativa, no qual 88 dentre os fornecedores do segmento de exploração e produção, responderam a um questionário online. Os resultados indicam que as empresas competitivas são influenciadas pela capacitação tecnológica e pelas trocas de conhecimento entre fornecedores e clientes. Na amostra estudada, não houve fatores limitantes em relação a competitividade dos fornecedores de exploração e produção. A percepção destes, de modo geral, quanto às especificações técnicas da Petrobras é que existe um custo mais alto no fornecimento dos produtos em razão das customizações solicitadas pela Petrobras, mas, em contrapartida, geram um aumento da qualidade dos produtos. Ao analisar as barreiras de ampliação da capacidade de produção, verificou-se que os fornecedores de exploração e produção não sofrem influência devido às incertezas dos mercados brasileiro e mundial. Assim, as empresas, independente de sua competitividade, não sofrem influência das questões tecnológicas ou demanda, ou falta de força de trabalho qualificada, como barreiras da ampliação da capacidade de produção. / This study seeks to understand the relationship between the limiting and driving factors faced by Brazilian exploration and production suppliers of the oil chain regarding competitiveness. To achieve the proposed objectives a quantitative study was carried out. Eighty-eight suppliers from the exploration and production sector answered an online questionnaire. The findings indicate that competitive companies are influenced by technological training and the exchange of knowledge between suppliers and customers. There were no limiting factors in the sample studied regarding the competitiveness of exploration and production suppliers. The perception of suppliers, in general, regarding Petrobras\' technical specifications is that there is a higher cost to supply products because of the customizations requested by Petrobras, but on the other hand, they generate an increase in product quality. Analyzing the expansion barriers in production capacity, it was found that the E&P suppliers do not suffer influence due to the uncertainties of the Brazilian and global markets. Companies, regardless of their competitiveness, do not suffer influence from technological issues, demand or lack of skilled labor as barriers to the expansion of production capacity.

A seleção de fornecedores é uma importante decisão na área de logística para obter menores custos e um melhor nível de serviço. Os modelos de seleção atualmente praticados nas empresas buscam estritamente minimizar custos, o que é bastante questionado por parte da literatura especializada. Este trabalho propõe um modelo de seleção de fornecedores de logística balizado em uma abordagem multicritério que busca a escolha ideal através da ótica do contratante. As suas principais contribuições são a adaptação do processo MCDA na formulação e resolução desta escolha, a análise crítica dos fatores que influem neste tipo de decisão (critérios, subcritérios e curvas de impacto) e a apresentação do modelo proposto que utiliza um software de apoio à decisão. O modelo foi aplicado com sucesso em dois estudos de caso reais e em ambos os casos contribuiu para um maior entendimento do problema, tornando o processo de negociação mais assertivo e racional. / Suppliers selection is a major alternative to obtain lower costs and a better level of service. The selection models currently practiced in the companies seeks strictly the minimization of costs, which is widely questioned by the literature. This paper proposes a model for supplier selection in logistics area using a multicriteria approach that finds the ideal choice from the perspective of the contractor. The main contributions are the adaptation of the MCDA process at formulating and solving this problem, the critical analysis of influence factors of this type of decision (criteria, sub-criteria and value function) and the proposed model that uses software to support the decision of contractor. The model was successfully applied in two real cases and in both has contributed to a better understanding of their problem by making the negotiation process more explicit and rational.

The central objective of this study was to establish the extent to which public procurement, as applied at Sedibeng District Municipality, contributes to the development of designated suppliers. Previously, procurement was considered just another function of government responsible for purchasing and receiving goods. Currently, procurement is considered a strategic function that can be utilized by government to achieve certain policy objectives, such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Local Economic Development (LED).If implemented properly, without favoritism, nepotism and corruption, public sector procurement will promote the empowerment of designated groups. In this way, it will address socio-economic imbalances of the past. The study's hypothesis implied that Sedibeng District Municipality has laudable objectives to promote black economic empowerment through procurement. However, the implementation procedures and processes showed considerable constraints. Academic literature and government procurement documents were reviewed; and interviews were conducted at Sedibeng municipal area. The literature study was based on best procurement practices both in government and private sector. Empirical research was conducted on Sedibeng District Municipality's procurement unit practices, Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise development and the benefits of procurement to designated suppliers. The purpose was to determine the role that procurement policies play in promoting black economic empowerment. Eventually, a number of models and systems were recommended to improve procurement policies and procedures at Sedibeng District Municipality. These methods include: Management Assessment System; Realistic Objectives System; Departmental Evaluation Plan; Contract Progress Report Form; and Checklists. In the view of the researcher, a combination of these methods can assist to improve procurement policies and procedures. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

<p>This thesis aims to contribute to global value chain studies by examining an empirical case of vietnamese apparel firms in Swedish clothing value chains with a focus on insertion and upgrading issues . we apply mixed method of  both qualitative and quantitative tools from a holistic approach researching from both vietnamese suppliers and Swedish buyers perspective. Our findings show some progressive improvements of Vietnamese suppliers in GVC especially of private sector. In swedish value chain trust and long term cooperative business realtions for mutual benefits are among the key points for insertion and ugrading. On Vietnamese suppliers side, lack of information serves as the main reson for their reluctance in approaching Swedish market . Willingness to listen to buyer's advice or suggestions and management strategic Vision of development are critical for upgrading sucess of suppliers.</p>

A common electricity market in Europe will in all probability lead to a levelling out of the electricity price, which implies that Swedish consumers will face higher electricity prices with a European structure. This new market situation will force industry and energy suppliers to take new essential measures as actors in a deregulated European electricity market. In this thesis it is shown how over 30 Swedish small and medium-sized industries can reduce their use of electricity by about 50%. When scaling up the result to include all Swedish industry, the measures will lead to a significant reduction in global CO2 emissions, and a situation where Sweden will have a net export of electricity. Changing industrial energy use towards increased use of district heating will consequently affect the local energy suppliers. As a local energy supplier invests in CHP and co-operates on heat with an industry that has altered its energy use, the system cost will be halved. Considering higher European electricity prices, the benefits will be even higher with possibilities to reduce global emission with over 350%. In Sweden where district heating is very well established, heat driven absorption technology is especially favourable since it will lead to cost effective electricity production and increased utilization time for a CHP plant. Vapour compression chillers have been compared with heat driven absorption cooling for a local energy utility with a district cooling network and for industries in a Swedish municipality with CHP. The results show that the higher the share of absorption technology is, in comparison to compression chillers, the lower the production cost will be for producing cooling. This thesis illustrates measures for Swedish industry and energy suppliers in a fully deregulated European electricity market that will shift the energy systems in the direction of cost-effectiveness and resource effectiveness. The thesis also shows that the benefits of the measures will increase even more when accounting with electricity prices with a higher European structures. To methodically change the use of electricity would be an economical way to increase the competitiveness of Swedish plant in relation to other European plants. Taking advantage of these particularly Swedish conditions will contribute to the creation of lean resource systems, and as a result help the whole EU region to meet its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol. Altering industrial energy use towards less electricity and energy dependence will be a competitive alternative to new electricity production and help secure energy supply in the European Union.

The purpose of this study is to identify the suppliers’ involvement in innovation and New Product Development (NPD) of wind turbine manufacturing. In this thesis we analysed the sources of innovation and also explored the benefits that the companies derive when they involve the suppliers in the process of innovation and NPD. We present results from the study of 31 wind turbine producers across the globe including, small, medium and large companies. The conclusions are that most of the companies claimed that they involve suppliers in innovation and NPD. In the theory chapter, we have presented different techniques of suppliers’ involvement in innovation: to, with and by (Wintelism) the suppliers. Most of the companies use ‘’to’’ the suppliers technique when they involve suppliers in innovation. Improved quality, lower cost and utilising the suppliers’ knowledge &amp; expertise are the main benefits that companies receive when they involve suppliers in innovation and product development.

The medical equipment market is very competitive in Taiwan, the equipment suppliers in response to the multiplex market changing, and to satisfy with the hospitals about demands of equipment and costs of control, we adopt the cooperative way, buildoperate- transfer (BOT) for specific equipment in some hospitals. ¡´The equipment suppliers may participate in the management of non-medical behavior to achieve mutual benefit and win-win situation with the hospital. ¡´ This study is case study research, according to the experiences of management over past several years I collect data from the objects of 6 BOT cases in each 6 hospital. By data classification and statistical analysis, found the characteristics and differences in each case that the equipment suppliers can proposed the more precise investment appraisal in the future. ¡´ This research found that medical equipment, the number of patients, examination items, the proportion between hospital and the equipment supplier, hospital¡¦s location, and the payment points from NHI are causing hospitals and equipment suppliers having a large gap between revenue and are affecting the survival of medical suppliers. ¡´ According to the results, in order to providing more accurate diagnosis to doctors and improving patient's medical quality, this study suggested that the hospitals and the equipment suppliers should develop a set of medical equipment about BOT investment appraisal system. To achieve the aspect that a three-way win for the patient, hospital and equipment supplier.

Using an evolutionary perspective, this thesis examines the presence of specific genetic features that make spinoff suppliers more advantageous compared to other (non-spinoff) suppliers. The spinoff supplier concept is studied by analyzing the automotive subsidiary of one of the largest industrial and commercial conglomerates in Turkey. The company name is kept confidential. In this study, the idea that managerial processes and routines of the parent firm will pass on to spinoff suppliers (like the transfer of genes from mother to child), and that due to this genetic ability, spinoff suppliers will possess faster organizational learning processes compared to other external suppliers, is adopted. In addition, it is expected that spinoff suppliers&amp / #8217 / founders, who are former employees of the parent firm, will access the parent&amp / #8217 / s resources more easily as a result of their informal relations with the parent company. In this regard, it is considered that spinoff supplier companies will be more advantageous compared to other suppliers which provide products/services to the same parent firm. Transfer of managerial processes and routines, organizational learning, informal relations and social capital are examined using a multiple case study method. Data collected is analyzed qualitatively. The results imply that managerial processes and routines genetically pass on from the parent company to suppliers and that spinoff suppliers perform more effective organizational learning. At the same time, the findings also show that informal relations with the parent company do not provide an advantage in terms of access to its resources. However, as a result of the dependence of non-spinoff suppliers to the parent company in sales, it is found that they might develop the advantages that spinoff supplier companies have.

Since year 2004, the advantage of low material cost in Southeast Asia and Mainland China have enabled them to hold standard fastener market. Taiwan¡¦s manufacturers have thus changed and even lost their competitiveness on standard fastener parts due to the increasing cost. The only way to face this global trend is to keep away from the price competition and adopt an active marketing strategy such as making use of fasteners¡¦ association and convenient internet. These two advantages not only integrate Taiwan¡¦s suppliers but allow them to do a long-term marketing strategy to their customers, provide them with better service and further satisfy customers¡¦ needs. The standard parts have been the main products of big manufacturers since post 80s as the market demand a bigger quantity of the standard parts than the special ones. For that reason, big manufacturers lacked the experience of producing nonstandard parts. They concerned about utilization ratio, so they spent less time in researching and developing special parts. On the contrary, the facility restriction made small manufacturers incapability of making big quantities of standard parts, then forced them to spend more time developing special parts. However, they were not capable of selling their products overseas but to depend on trading companies to push their products all over the world. This in-depth research generalizes company A¡¦s marketing integration strategy, which satisfy its customers and keep its growth rate without being threatened by low-cost countries like Southeast Asia and Mainland China and so on. This strategy includes relationship marketing plus support of suppliers. Based on trust and commitment, Company A gets to connect and build a long-term beneficiary relationship with its customers. In addition, the ability and integration of suppliers play an important role in fulfilling the marketing integration strategy.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the role that environmental technology plays in the solution of environmental problems in cities, and discuss models and conditions that can facilitate the processes of selection, implementation and use of environmental technologies in and by cities. The technological component is perhaps one of the most important characteristics of modern cities. The dependence of humans on technology is in most cases a given, something that is not ignored in the sustainability debate. The development and implementation of new, “better” technologies is however hindered by the inertia that modern societies have and the influence of the dominant systems (e.g. economic systems based on growth, extraction of natural resources and environmental disturbance). So-called environmental technologies are not always able to efficiently compete against other technologies that are embedded in societies by lock-in mechanisms, e.g. learning by doing and using, scale economies, subsidies, and network externalities. Even with the “right” technologies, an exclusively techno-centered approach to sustainability can result in other problems, and it might reduce the sustainability debate and the cities’ role in it to discussions of an administrative nature. The actual role of local actors and their agency must be also considered in the models and frameworks directed at understanding sustainability transition processes. It is thus important to analyze the dynamics of technology selection, implementation, use and diffusion in cities from a stakeholders’ perspective as well. Not only is the availability of technology of interest for understanding the impact it has on the environment, but also the intensity of its use. This has resulted in increased attention from politicians and scholars on the so-called global cities (e.g. London, New York, Tokyo), which are characterized by their intense use of e.g. transport, security and surveillance, and information and communication. Paradigmatic models of sustainability can however be contested when the role of local actors, power and agency are considered in detail and not isolated from the context. Some authors recognize the need to address what they call “ordinary cities”, since focusing on the cities’ comparative level of development (be it political, economic or technological) hinders the possibility of bidirectional learning. In the end, sustainability is a “collective good,” which means that it is in everyone’s interest to coordinate efforts and learn from the best practices, regardless of where they come from. This thesis focuses on “ordinary cities,” and promises to offer conclusions that can contribute to a better understanding of how societies can learn from each other and how environmental technologies can have deeper and better results when implemented in different contexts than the ones where they were developed. Two questions related to the process of environmental-technology adaptation are addressed in this thesis: How do technology adaptation processes for the solution of urban environmental problems take place in cities? And how do cities benefit from environmental technologies? It is found that environmental technology is not only seen as a solution to environmental problems in cities, but every day more as a component of strategies to attract attention and compete for resources in national and international markets. Cities have different adaptation and learning strategies. This means that technological solutions have to be flexible and adaptive to local conditions, and allow for vernacular knowledge and past experiences to enrich their performance by facilitating their connection to existing systems. Learning between cities is important and necessary for global sustainability transitions. When it comes to environmental technology, this process is facilitated by strong proof-of-concept projects. Such projects are not only expected to be able to show their technical ability to solve a problem, but must also offer contextual connections to the problems faced by interested cities or potential implementers.