This thesis deals with issues related to the identifiability and traceability of parts manufacturing company engaged in the aviation industry. The paper summarizes the international standard ČSN EN ISO 9001 and ČSN EN 9100, according to which the company is certified, and other in-house standards under which it dealt with the interpretation of international standards. Subsequent to solve the problem is the result of consultation within the company and market research, dealing with the identification of products. The proposed solutions are a self-adhesive label, which allows companies to leverage existing technology of barcodes generated by the SAP system and the simplicity of using the stickers. It is possible their reapplied after each operation, which was performed on the work piece and the staff are on the barcode system used, ie no need for complex training.

La globalizzazione del mercato agroalimentare ha determinato una crescente attenzione da parte dei consumatori verso i prodotti alimentari, non solo in termini di qualità e di sicurezza, ma anche di origine geografica. Infatti, il territorio d’origine ha un forte impatto sull’alimento, dovuto alle condizioni pedoclimatiche che ne determinano le caratteristiche. Poiché non esistono dei metodi analitici di routine per l’autenticazione della provenienza geografica, lo scopo del progetto di ricerca è quello di determinare l’origine geografica e l’autenticità degli alimenti mediante profiling dei composti fenolici e steroli, grazie all’applicazione di tecnologie omiche, tecniche statistiche e chemometriche. La componente fenolica e/o steroli dei campioni, viene analizzata tramite cromatografia liquida (UHPLC) accoppiata ad uno spettrometro di massa (Q-TOF-MS). I dati così ottenuti, vengono elaborati mediante statistica multivariata. L’applicazione combinata di avanzate tecnologie omiche e tecniche statistiche chemometriche ha portato come risultato l’effettiva identificazione della provenienza geografica e autenticità di numerose matrici alimentari. I dati ottenuti dimostrano che i metaboliti secondari possiedono proprietà discriminanti. L’approccio di metabolomica UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS combinato a una statistica multivariata risulta essere adeguato per identificare potenziali markers. Il lavoro attuale è focalizzato sulla ricerca di nuovi metaboliti che, insieme a fenoli e steroli possano confermare la potenza di questo approccio. / Nowadays, food traceability is a growing consumer interest worldwide. Food traceability could be considered a fundamental tool for ensuring safety and high quality of food. Food quality is based not only on the safety and integrity of food, but also on the authenticity, the genuineness of the raw material and the geographical origin. The aim of the work was to investigate the potential of untargeted metabolomics to ensure the authenticity and traceability of foods. Secondary metabolites, like polyphenols and sterols, could be conveniently used to meet this goal due to their chemical diversity and their responses to environmental stimuli. Samples were analyzed through UHPLC-ESI/QTOF-MS. The obtained data were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. The obtained results showed that secondary metabolites can be efficiently used for authenticity and traceability purposes, with regards to cultivars and geographical origin. These information confirm the role of environmental factors in shaping the actual profile of secondary metabolites in plant foods. The markers found could be used for a target quantification method, a less expensive and less sophisticated analysis, in order to provide an efficient tool that could help to guarantee food quality on routine basis.

Avec la mondialisation et l'industrialisation de l'alimentation, la fraude et les cas de contamination des aliments peuvent avoir un impact international et entraîner des conséquences de grande envergure à la fois sur l'économie et la santé des consommateurs (Cubero-Leon et al., 2014). La fraude et l'authentification sont donc devenues des sujets émergents dans le secteur alimentaire. D'autant que les fraudes sont de plus en plus sophistiquées pour contourner au mieux les contrôles et donc de plus en plus difficiles à détecter par des analyses classiques. Les aliments issus de l'agriculture biologique (AB ou bio) font d'ailleurs partie des aliments qui risquent le plus de faire l'objet de fraude. Mais la traçabilité des aliments est principalement garantie par des moyens administratifs (règlement UE 178/2002). C'est pourquoi il est nécessaire de recourir à des techniques analytiques avancées pour détecter les produits non-conformes et pour garantir la traçabilité et l'authenticité des aliments, notamment ceux issus de l'AB. Notre étude est basée sur l'hypothèse que les traitements, associés à différents types d'agriculture, ont un impact mesurable sur la microflore des aliments. L'objectif principal était de pouvoir utiliser l'environnement microbien des aliments pour les discriminer en fonction de leur mode de production. La PCR-DGGE, un outil moléculaire d'écologie microbienne, pourrait servir à discriminer les modes de production d'aliments par analyse des profils génétiques des ADNr bactériens et fongiques. L'analyse des profils génétiques microbiens de nectarines, pêches, bananes et de pommes a montré qu'il était possible de différencier les fruits en fonction de leur mode de production. La robustesse de notre méthodologie a été démontrée en comparant les résultats obtenus sur deux années de récolte successives. Létude des variation intra-parcellaires ont également permis de démontrer que les fruits bio pouvaient être différenciés des conventionnels indépendamment de leur position dans la parcelle (centre vs bord) ou encore sur l'arbre. Les différences observées au niveau de la structure des communautés microbiennes étaient donc suffisamment importantes pour conclure que les traitements appliqués ont un impact significatif sur ces communautés. De plus, l'identification des espèces microbiennes obtenues après PCR-DGGE et NGS a révélé que certains groupes microbiens (fongiques et bactériens) pourraient être spécifiques aux aliments bio. Cependant, l'effet terroir est un critère important à prendre en compte dans la mise en place d'un outil d'authentification des aliments bio. Une application sur le terrain serait donc difficile à prévoir si elle est parcelle-spécifique. Cette étude s'inscrit à la base de la mise au point d'un outil analytique qui pourrait permettre de répondre aux besoins des professionnels de l'industrie alimentaire en termes d'authenticité et de sûreté alimentaire, en particulier pour aider les organismes certificateurs à contrôler et authentifier les aliments bio. Cette étude a également permis d'enrichir les connaissances actuelles sur l'écosystème microbien des fruits en fonction des pratiques agricoles. / Globalization of trades and industrialization of food have increased the occurrence of food fraud. Cases of food contamination now have a global impact and lead to far-reaching consequences both on the economy and the health of consumers (Cubero-Leon et al., 2014). Thus, fraud and authentication became important topics in the food sector. Especially as food frauds are becoming more sophisticated to bypass controls and are therefore more difficult to detect by classical approaches. Organic foods are part of foods that are the most likely to be subject of fraud. But traceability of foods is mainly performed by administrative means (UE Regulation 178/2002). That is why it is necessary to resort advanced analytical techniques to detect non-compliant products and to ensure traceability and authentication of foods, including those from organic agriculture. Our study is based on the hypothesis that treatments associated to various farming types have a measurable impact on food microflora. That is why, the main objective of this study was to use the microbial environment of foods to discriminate them according to their production mode. PCR-DGGE, a molecular tool of microbial ecology, could be used as to discriminate food production modes using bacterial and fungal rDNA profiles. The analysis of microbial genetic profiles of nectarines, peaches, bananas and apples showed that it was possible to differentiate fruits according to their farming types. It was possible to verify the robustness of our methodology by comparing results obtained on two successive harvest years. We estimated also the intra-plot variations and observed that organic apples could be discriminated from conventional ones independently upon their position in the field (centre or border) or even on the tree. The observed differences in microflora between organic and conventional apples were significant enough to conclude that the applied treatments have a significant impact on this microflore. Furthermore, the analysis of DNA sequences obtained from PCR-DGGE and NGS allowed some microbial groups (fungal and bacterial) to be identified as specific to organic foods. However, the “terroir effect” is an important criterion to take into account for the implementation of an authentication tool for organic products. So, an application in the field would be difficult to predict if it is plot-specific. This study constitutes the basis for the development of an analytical tool that could meet the needs of food industry professionals in terms of authenticity and food safety, especially to assist certifying bodies to control and authenticate organic food products. This study enabled also to enrich the existing knowledge on the microbial ecosystem of fruits from different agricultural practices.

<p>  </p> <p>Food safety educators and specialists are committed to closing the food safety education gap among different actors in the supply chain, from farm to fork. To accomplish it, they have to understand the needs of the target population to disseminate information and develop interventions. This thesis is divided into three case studies to explore needs assessments (Ch. 1 and 2) and program evaluation (Ch. 3). The first needs assessment (Ch.1) was developed due to a recent multistate outbreak linked to dried wood ear mushrooms. This study evaluated YouTube video content on the preparation of different wood ear mushrooms dishes and investigated the food safety risk associated with the handling practices. Practices such as rehydration procedures were identified as key food safety risk factors that need future exploration. The second needs assessment (Ch.2) was developed due to the impact of small- and medium-sized farms on USA agriculture. This study aimed to understand consumers’ perceptions and expectations of produce from small- and medium-sized farms and their desire to pay a premium price for food safety information. The findings showed that consumers perceived the produce from these farms to be fresher and of higher quality. Also, they considered food safety as a minimum quality standard and valued produce safety information. Finally, multiple needs assessments have shown that low-income populations, including minority groups, have unique barriers to adopting food safety practices. The third study (Ch.3) evaluated a dialogue-based virtual food safety program for English- and Spanish-speaking low-income populations using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Findings suggest that the TPB helped to discern the behavior change intentions of this population and showed that the intervention was able to increase participants’ knowledge, attitudes toward the behavior, perceived behavioral control (PBC), subjective norms, and behavior change intentions. Future work could modify the program to fit other minority populations in the USA.</p>

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[pt] O rastreio dos sinais precoces do Transtorno do Espectro Autista é essencial para o encaminhamento para a intervenção precoce. Diante da escassez de instrumentos com tal finalidade no Brasil, foi desenvolvido o Questionário para Rastreio de Sinais Precoces do Transtorno do Espectro Autista (QR-TEA). Estudo preliminar indicou evidências de validade baseadas no conteúdo. Entendendo a validação de um instrumento como um processo contínuo e ininterrupto, a presente tese teve por objetivo analisar evidências de validade baseadas na estrutura interna e na relação com medidas externas. O resultado apontou plausibilidade da solução fatorial de dois fatores (χ²/gl = 1; RMSEA = 0,00, IC 90% = 0,00-0,06; CFI = 1,03; TLI = 1,03) e também de um fator geral (χ²/gl = 1,49; RMSEA = 0,06, IC 90% = 0,05-0,06; CFI = 0,95; TLI = 0,95). No modelo de dois fatores, a fidedignidade composta foi adequada (acima de 0,70) para ambos fatores e a medida de replicabilidade da estrutura fatorial sugeriu que os dois fatores podem ser replicáveis em estudos futuros (H > 0,80). O alpha de Cronbach obtido (0,80) também indicou que a consistência interna do instrumento é adequada. Os dados obtidos apontam ainda que o QR-TEA apresenta uma correlação forte, positiva e significativa com a CARS (ρ = 0,890; p<0,001), com o M-CHAT (ρ = 0,890; p<0,001) e com a SRS-2 (ρ = 0,874; p<0,001) e com as escalas Comunicação e Interação Social (ρ=0,769; p<0,001) e Padrões Restritos e Repetitivos (ρ=0,751; p<0,001) da SRS-2. Recomenda-se a condução de outros estudos para buscar novas evidências de validade e analisar outras propriedades psicométricas do QR-TEA. / [en] Screening for early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder is essential for referral to early intervention. Given the lack of instruments for this purpose in Brazil, the Questionnaire for Screening Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (QR-TEA) was developed. A preliminary study indicated validity evidence based on content. Understanding the validation of an instrument as a continuous and uninterrupted process, this thesis aimed to analyze validity evidence based on internal structure and evidence of validity based on relationships with external measures. The results indicate plausibility of a factorial solution of two factors (χ² / gl = 1; RMSEA = 0.00, 90% CI = 0,00-0,06; CFI = 1.03; TLI = 1.03) and also of a general factor (χ² / gl = 1.49; RMSEA = 0.06, 90% CI = 0.05-0.06; CFI = 0.95; TLI = 0.95). In the two-factor model, the reliability was adequate (above 0.70) for both factors and the measure of replicability of the factor structure suggested that the two factors could be replicable in future studies (H>0.80). The internal consistency of the instrument assessed by Cronbach s alpha was also high (0,80). The results also indicate that QR-TEA has a strong, positive and significant correlation with the instruments CARS (ρ = 0.890; p <0.001), M-CHAT (ρ = 0.890; p <0.001) and SRS- 2 (ρ = 0.874; p <0.001, and also with the SRS-2 scales: Communication and Social Interaction (ρ = 0.769; p <0.001) and Restricted and Repetitive Patterns (ρ = 0.751; p <0.001). Further studies are recommended to seek new verification evidence and analyze other psychometric properties of the QR-TEA.

The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries worldwide with vast impacts on all three pillars of sustainability – ecology, society and economy. Recently there has been increased interest in improving sustainable practices in the clothing industry. These practices look to tackle the negative impacts from emissions, pollution and synthetic or man-madematerials (i.e. those made from fossil fuels). Popular approaches are transparency, supply chain traceability and product certifications. This research aims to evaluate these different approaches with a multi-criteria analysis using a developed evaluation framework and applying the framework at a case study at ASKET AB, a menswear brand from Sweden. Research included seven different certifications common in the clothing industry. Due to a different focus not on a product but rather on a company management level, one of the certifications is excluded in the evaluation process. To ensure the relevance of the framework, the common approaches in sustainability research of the Planetary Boundaries and the Doughnut Economy are combined with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Thus, the evaluation framework covers an environmental as well as a social dimension, including 18 impact categories in total. The evaluation results in a score for each certification according to the ranking per impact category for each certification. The results showed a clear advantage for certifications covering impact categories from the environmental as well as the social dimension. The results from the evaluation are accompanied by semi-structured interviews with seven experts from within the apparel and sustainability industry. The interviews support most of the findings from the literature research and evaluation. The combination of evaluation and interviews concludes that there is a necessity to take different factors into account before choosing a certain certifications scheme. There is no one fits all approach due to the fact that each organisation adopts its own sustainability practices. Key factors to take into consideration include values and focus areas of the company as well as the rigour of the certification. Consequently, depending on the circumstances, a combination of different certifications and ecolabels might be the best approach. The results are applied to a case study at ASKET AB, a Stockholm-based menswear brand focussing on high-quality and timeless wardrobe essentials. Applicability of different traceability approaches and certifications for ASKET considered different factors including limited monetary and personnel resources of a small- to medium-sized enterprise to a micro-company. Furthermore, a comparison to other approaches of supply chain traceability and transparent communication are taken into account in the assessment. Overall, a different focus depending on the supply chain processes is the most suitable option for ASKET since a full certification of the company, or specific products are not applicable at the current stage of the company. / Textilindustrin är en av världens mest förorenande industrier med stor påverkan på alla tre delar inom hållbarhet – ekologiskt, social och ekonomist. På senare tid har intresset för mer hållbara metoder inom klädindustrin ökat. Målet med dessa metoder är att minska de negativa effekterna från utsläpp, föroreningar samt material från fossila källor. Populära tillvägagångssätt inkluderar transparens, spårbarhet i leverantörskedjan och produktcertifiering. Denna studie utvärderar dessa tillvägagångssätt via en multikriterieanalys utförd med ett framtaget utvärderingsramverk. Studien innehåller sju, för klädindustrin, vanliga certifieringar varav en av dessa exkluderades i utvärderingsprocessen på grund av annat fokus. Ramverkets relevans säkerställs genom att kombinera de vanligaste metoderna i hållbarhetsforskning inom Planetary Boundaries och Doughnut Economy med FN:s mål för hållbarutveckling (FN:s SDGs). Därmed täcker utvärderingsramen såväl miljö- som sociala aspekter innehållandes 18 olika påverkningsbara kategorier. Utvärderingen ger varje certifiering en poäng enligt ranking per påverkningsbar kategori. Certifieringar innehållandes miljö- och sociala aspekter fick bästresultat. Utvärderingsresultaten åtföljdes av semistrukterande intervjuer med sju experter som stöder mestadels av litteraturforskningen och utvärderingen. Utvärderings- och intervjuresultaten visar vikten av att ta olika faktorer i beaktning innan ett certifieringsschema väljs. Dessa inkluderar företagsvärden, fokusområden samt kriteriets strikthet. Det existerar således ingen universell metod och i vissa fall kan en kombination av olika certifieringar och ekomärkningar vara den bästa metoden. Resultaten applicerades på en fallstudie hos ASKET AB, ett Stockholmsbaserat herrklädesmärke med fokus på högkvalitativa och tidlösa ”wardrobe essentials” (garderobsnödvändigheter). Tillämpbarheten av olika spårbarhetsmetoder och certifieringar för ASKET innehöll faktorer så som begränsade monetära- och personalresurser för ett litet till medelstort bolag till ett mikroföretag. I bedömningen beaktas även en jämförelse av andra tillvägagångssätt för spårbarhet i leveranskejdan och kommunikationstransparens. Sammanfattningsvis ärolika fokus beroende på leveranskedjeproncessen mest användbar för ASKET eftersom en fullständig certifiering av företaget eller en specifik produkt i nuläget inte är applicerbar.

Manufacturers and suppliers in the tech industry, trading and utilizing minerals, are often unable to conduct substantial supply chain due diligence, due to reasons such as lack of competence, the scattered spread of information and fluid nature of their supply chains. Declaring whether a product has been responsibly sourced, or whether it contains conflict minerals or not, is almost impossible. This study is an exploration of the potential role of blockchain in mineral supply chain management, as a supplementary tool for carrying out due diligence. Well-performed supply chain due diligence should demand continuous status records of various measures of social sustainability, identifying impacts on human well-being. So, how may a blockchain solution for traceability in a mineral supply chain contribute towards ensuring responsible sourcing? Blockchain provides traceability of transactions through its immutable chain structure, and knowing an asset’s origin is vital in order to carry out supply chain due diligence. While the blockchain network has the potential to provide information on the digitally registered flow of an asset, the validity of the information of the physical and social qualities of the asset remains dependent on the actor adding it to the blockchain, leading to an inherent problem regarding the interface between the digital and the physical world, in application of blockchain in supply chains. Through a background study and interviews with researchers and professionals, this study proposes a set of requirements to take into account while addressing responsible sourcing via a blockchain solution. The study finds that a blockchain alone cannot ensure responsible sourcing, and further provides insight into the challenges and opportunities present in the industry and discusses the suitability of potential solutions. / Tillverkare och leverantörer inom techindustrin, som handlar med och drar nytta utav mineraler, är ofta oförmögna att genomföra djupgående företagsgranskningar i sina logistikkedjor, på grund av exempelvis kompetensbrist, vida utspridd information och kedjornas flytande natur. Att säkerställa ifall en produkt har utvunnits på ett hållbart sätt eller huruvida den innehåller konfliktmineraler är i det närmaste omöjligt. Denna studie utforskar blockkedjeteknikens potentiella roll i leverantörskedjor för mineraler, som ett kompletterande verktyg för att genomföra företagsgranskningar. Välgenomförda granskningar bör inkludera fortlöpande statusprotokoll för olika åtgärder gällande social hållbarhet, som identifierar utvinningens påverkan på mänskligt välmående. Så, hur kan en blockkedjelösning för spårbarhet i en leverantörskedja för mineraler bidra till att säkerställa hållbar utvinning? En blockkedja möjliggör spårbarhet av transaktioner genom sin oföränderliga kedjestruktur; samtidigt är kännedom om ursprunget hos en resurs avgörande för att genomföra företagsgranskningar i logistikkedjor. Ett blockkedjenätverk har potential att tillhandahålla information gällande det digitalt registrerade flödet hos en resurs, men informationens validitet gällande dess fysiska och sociala kvaliteter är fortsatt beroende av aktören som registrerar resursen på blockkedjan, vilket leder till ett ofrånkomligt problem gällande gränssnittet mellan den digitala och fysiska världen vid applicering av blockkedjor i leverantörskedjor. Utifrån en litteraturgenomgång och intervjuer med forskare och professionella, så föreslås i denna studie en kravlista att ta hänsyn till ifall blockkedjelösningar ska användas för att understödja hållbar utvinning. Studien visar att en blockkedja på egen hand ej kan säkerställa hållbar utvinning och ger vidare insikt i utmaningar och möjligheter inom industrin, samt diskuterar lämpligheten för potentiella blockkedjelösningar i dessa sammanhang.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of technologies for traceability within the Swedish textile recycling industry. This study further aims to investigate the status of information collection and management in the textile recycling industry and the factors which are affecting the implementation of different traceability technologies, such as blockchain technology.   Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This study followed a qualitative exploratory approach as there is little prior knowledge regarding usage of traceability technologies, such as blockchain technology in the Swedish textile recycling industry. Primary data was collected by semi-structured interviews, and it was analysed through thematic analysis. Purposive sampling was used to collect relevant data. The sample included experts from the academia and industry, who have knowledge in the field of textile recycling and traceability technologies.   Findings: The findings suggest that there is no available information collection and management systems that enable efficient recycling processes. Moreover, there is a lack of infrastructure for collecting and sorting the textile waste, cost and technological challenges hampering the potential of efficient textile recycling and the possibility to create an efficient circular supply chain in Sweden. There are four factors which affect the opportunities and challenges for implementation of traceability technologies, such as blockchain technology, these are: management and decision making, integration and collaboration, rules and regulations and value creation through blockchain in the textile recycling industry.   Implications: This study may contribute to reshaping the traditional view on where traceability technologies can be implemented to create efforts to enhance the circular economy principles, as suggested by literature from the previous stages in a supply chain. This study suggests that blockchain technology may enhance information sharing in a circular supply chain within the textile recycling industry. It further shows that the textile recyclers have the potential to implement blockchain technology from their stage to minimise the information gaps which are currently existing.   Originality/ Value: The academic literature lacks practical cases and exploration regarding the usage of traceability technologies such as blockchain technology at the textile recycling stage and this study tries to explore if it would be beneficial for the textile recycling industry in Sweden.

This research examines the implementation process of blockchain technology and aims to identify prerequisites needed for this process. The study has been conducted through a case study at a Fair Trade handloom firm in Sri Lanka. Data has been collected through observations and semi-structured interviews with blockchain experts and employees at the case firm. The result is analysed through the TOE-framework. This research primary findings is divided into two categories, knowledge and willingness. Knowledge refers to usage of technical systems, awareness of how the firm's supply chain is built and knowledge of blockchain technology. Willingness refers to the ambition for constant improvement which is the crucial prerequisite for actually implementing blockchain technology. The firm’s knowledge and willingness to implement blockchain technology are the first stages of moving from Fair Trade certification to blockchain integration.