Esta tese integra dois problemas de áreas distintas e interdependentes intitulados de Sequenciamento Otimizado de Faturamento (SOF) e Sequenciamento Otimizado de Coleta (SOC). Abordados de forma disjunta pelos pesquisadores, o SOF refere-se a um problema de maximização do faturamento e o SOC consiste de uma variação do Order Batching and Sequencing Problem (OBSP). Fundamentados por pressupostos práticos e científicos, o SOF/SOC retratam o cotidiano dos processos de faturamento e picking de um típico Armazém de Distribuição (AM). No SOF a demanda é estocástica e os faturamentos ocorrem a partir de janelas de tempo variáveis ajustadas para evitar o tardiness mediante a priorização das datas de atendimento pela regra Earliest Due Date (EDD). No SOC o picking é manual e enquadra-se na categoria picker-to-parts (low level) com pick-and-sort utilizando um trolley que é transportado pelo operador ao longo das ruas do AM. Neste contexto, esta tese tem como objetivo desenvolver uma ferramenta de gestão que integre e apresente soluções otimizadas para o SOF/SOC. A perspectiva de integração do SOF/SOC dar-se-á mediante à formulação de dois Algoritmos Genéticos (AGs) nomeados de AG-SOF e AG-SOC. Assim, o enfoque desta pesquisa está na avaliação da eficácia prática do AG-SOF/AG-SOC em resolver problemas reais do SOF/SOC. A eficácia do AG-SOF é comparada à um Algoritmo Guloso Iterativo (AI-SOF) enquanto que a predileção pelo AG-SOC é justificada pela natureza NP-hard do SOC. As experimentações para problemas de diferentes níveis de complexidade demonstraram que os algoritmos satisfazem todas as regras, restrições e variáveis decisórias obtendo soluções de qualidade satisfatória para qualquer categoria do SOF/SOC. O AISOF/ AG-SOF lidam com as restrições de estoque e as possibilidades de faturar pedidos parciais para maximizar o Faturamento Total (FT). Apesar de obterem soluções com a mesma qualidade, o AI-SOF tem desempenho superior ao AG-SOF que é, em termos de Tempo de Processamento Computacional (TPC), limitado às categorias de médio porte do SOF. O AG-SOC é composto pela iteração de dois AGs (AGLOTE e AGPCV) que minimizam o Custo Total das Operações de Picking (CT). Logo, o AGLOTE agrupa os SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) dos diferentes pedidos em múltiplos lotes pela restrição de carga dos trolleys de forma a reduzir o Número de Viagens de Coleta (NVC) e define a sequência de coleta por meio de lotes prioritários para evitar o Atraso no Atendimento dos Pedidos (AAP). O AGPCV faz a roteirização dos lotes dentro do AM de modo que impeça a ocorrência de avarias aos SKUs frágeis e minimize a Distância Total das Rotas (DTR) e o Tempo Total de Picking (TTP). Evidenciou-se que para problemas de complexidade superior os lotes são mais homogêneos, nos quais o Desvio Padrão é pequeno e o Coeficiente de Variação é de 11,22% a 25,20% para a DTR. Para ambientes reais em que se utiliza janelas de tempo e logs de processamentos para lotes off-lines) a combinação do AI-SOF/AGSOC provê soluções otimizadas em tempo e qualidade satisfatória ao SOF/SOC. Em suma, esta pesquisa foi além das abordagens existentes para preencher um gap na literatura e prover uma importante contribuição à prática da otimização do SOF/SOC. É possível conclui que a integração do AI-SOF/AGSOC é capaz de maximizar o faturamento e melhorar a produtividade de forma a minimizar os tempos e custos operacionais de picking do AM. / This thesis integrates two problems from distinct and independent areas called Optimal Sequencing Billing (OSB) and Optimal Picking Sequencing (OPS). Studied separately by researchers, OBS refers to a billing maximization problem and OPS is a variation of the Order Batching and Sequencing Problem (OBSP). Based on practical and scientific assumptions, OSB/OPS portray the picking daily routine in a typical Distribution Warehouse (WA). In OSB, the demand is stochastic and billings occur based on variables time windows that are adjusted to avoid tardiness by prioritizing the service dates based on the Earliest Due Date (EDD) rule. In OPS, picking is manual and falls into the low-level picker-to-parts category, and it uses a trolley that is pushed by an employee along WA aisles. In this context, this thesis has the objective of developing a management tool that can integrate and provide optimal solutions for OSB/OPS. The perspective of integrating OSB/OPS can be achieved through the formulation of two Genetic Algorithms (GAs) called GA-OSB and GA-OPS. Therefore, the focus of this research is to assess GA-OSB/GA-OPS practical efficiency to solve actual OSB/OPS problems. GA-OSB efficiency is compared to an Iterative Greedy Algorithm (IA-OSB) whereas the preference for GA-OPS is justified by the NP-hard nature of OPS. Experiments for problems of different complexity levels showed that algorithms satisfy every rule, restriction and decision variable and provide satisfactory solutions for any OSB/OPS category. IA-OSB/GA-OSB deal with inventory restrictions and the possibility of billing partial orders to maximize Total Billing (TB). Although they also provide quality solutions, IA-OSB performance is better than GA-OSB performance which is limited to OSB medium-sized categories in terms of Computational Processing Time (CPT). GA-OPS comprises the iteration of two GAs (GABATCH and GATSP) that minimize the Total Cost of Picking Operations (TC). Therefore, GABATCH groups SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) of different orders into multiple lots according to trolley load restrictions so as to reduce the Number of Picking Travels (NPT). It also defines a picking sequence by means of priority lots to avoid Tardiness in Customer Orders (TCO). GATSP maps out the routes of lots inside the WA in order to prevent damages to fragile SKUs and to minimize Total Route Distance (TRD) as well as Total Picking Time (TPT). It was evidenced that, for problems of higher complexity, lots are more homogeneous where the Standard Deviation is small and the Coefficient of Variation (CV) ranges from 11.22% to 25.20% to the TRD. For actual environments where time windows and processing logs are used for off-line lots, the IA-OSB/GA-OPS integration provides optimal time solutions and satisfactory quality to OSB/OPS. In short, this research has gone beyond existing approaches to fill a gap in the literature and provide an important contribution to the practice of optimal OSB/OPS. It can be concluded that the integration of IA-OSB/GA-OPS can maximize billing and improve productivity in order to minimize picking operational time and costs in a WA.

This thesis analysed the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of mobile government services in Saudi Arabia using a mixed method approach combining surveys and semi-structured interviews with Saudi citizens and employees of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Three studies were conducted for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives of the thesis. The first study shows that the high level of mobile penetration in the country suggests that there is already a demand of a greater range of m-government services despite the fact that still a large proportion of the Saudi population who do not have access to mobile technologies. Nevertheless, the results suggest that there is still a strong desire among users for the provision of mobile government services and the majority of respondents were willing to use such services and understand the benefits of using m-government. This thesis also shows a strong consensus among both government employees and citizens that m-government implementation would contribute to the technological development of the country. The findings of the second study suggest that the high level of mobile penetration offers an opportunity for the Saudi government to offer mobile government services. However, a number of barriers to mobile government exist, including poor quality and speed of internet, lack of customisation of services and data security and privacy issues as well as infrastructural challenges and bureaucratic attitude of the government departments. The third study focussed on the practicality of a mobile phone application, and for this purpose a mobile application for utility bills was developed and evaluated in terms of its usability, reliability and validity of the service. The thesis revealed that the majority of respondents were satisfied with the service usage, as application was easy to use without complications. However, participants were not comfortable to leave their details pertaining to credit card or any personal information. Misuse of information was major threat to participants, which further added reluctance to usage of the application. Respondents were willing to provide financial details if the service was authorised by government agencies. By exploring the opportunities of, and challenges facing m-government in Saudi Arabia, this thesis contributes to the m-government literature on developing countries in particular. This thesis offers important lessons for the m-government policy makers in Saudi Arabia and around the developing world.

Healthcare business leaders in a rural clinic setting can enhance profitability by implementing strategies to ensure timely payments. The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine strategies applied by healthcare leaders in rural clinics to improve profitability. The population included 10 rural clinic managers and billing staff from 5 rural clinics in the southwestern region of the United States. The conceptual framework for this study was Wernerfelt's resource-based value theory. Implementing Yin's multiple-step data analysis process, data from semistructured interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed to identify strategies used by rural clinic managers and billing staff to enhance profitability. Four primary themes emerged regarding revenue cycle management that could increase profitability, including developing effective communication between medical providers and billing staff, implementing payment plan strategies, ensuring accuracy of billing claims, and consistently reviewing open receivable accounts. The implications of this study for positive social change include insights for clinic managers in the development of strategies to increase cash from accounts receivables, which may contribute to the financial stability of the clinic and improve the provision of healthcare for citizens of the southwestern region of the United States.

<p>Den nya ekonomin innebär ett mer dynamiskt klimat för företagen. Detta ställer nya krav på företagens anpassningsförmåga. Outsourcing är ett sätt att bemöta ovan nämnda flexibilitetskrav. E-handel är en annan del av den nya ekonomin. Allt fler konsumenter upptäcker fördelar med att"shoppa on-line". En aktuell fråga är hur företagen skall ta betalt av sina kunder. I Sverige är det CD- skivor, böcker, datorer och datorrelaterade produkter som stått för den största delen av näthandeln. När det gäller ovanstående produkter rör det sig om relativt billiga produkter och ganska stora betalningsvolymer. Det ställs alltså krav på företagen att kunna hantera ett relativt stort antal betalningar redan från start. Många ”näthandelsföretag” är dessutom nystartade, vilket kan innebära att man inte har råd att köpa in dyra faktureringssystem etc. Man vill istället ofta koncentrera sig på sin kärnkompetens och komma i gång så fort som möjligt till lägsta möjliga kostnad. Ett sätt att undvika de stora fasta kostnader, vilka investeringar i faktureringssystem kan medföra, är att outsourca faktureringsfunktionen. Outsourcing medför att verksamheten kan drivas med löpande kostnader istället för fasta, vilket borde kunna bidra till att lönsamhet kan uppnås snabbare i företagen. Outsourcing av faktureringsfunktionen borde således vara av stort intresse för många av företagen i den nya ekonomin. Denna studie analyserar de problem och möjligheter som uppstår när näthandelsföretag (B2C) bestämmer sig för att outsourca faktureringsfunktionen.</p>

<p>Parker Hannifin AB i Trollhättan ingår i en koncern som består av 263 fabriker med över 50 000 anställda. Med 300 anställda produceras, utvecklas och säljs huvudkomponenterna i mobila hydraulsystem. Parker i Trollhättan har konstruerat och tillverkat fasta pumpar och motorer för lastvagnar sedan 1980-talet.</p><p>Genom att eliminera aktiviteter som inte är värdeskapande och införa nya system strävar Parker efter att uppnå kortare ledtider, minskat bundet kapitel och ständiga förbättringar. Orsaken till att Parker vill införa konsignation är att det innebär många fördelar. Fördelarna är bland annat minskad administration, minskat bundet kapital och ökad tillgänglighet av detaljer.</p><p>Examensarbetet visar att den största vinsten med konsignationslager för kunden är att det eliminerar flera delar av flödet mellan avtal till betalning. Delar som elimineras är avropsarbete, fysisk mottagning, mottagningsrapport, lagerbokföring, fakturaregistrering, fakturakontroll samt materialrekvisition. För leverantören är vinsten att fritt kunna planera försörjningen till kunden efter sin egen kapacitet. Samtidigt lagras materialet kostnadsfritt hos kunden, Parker i Trollhättan.</p><p>Detaljerna ägs av leverantören då de ligger på lager hos Parker. Resultatet av examensarbetet visar att ägandet av material bör övergå till Parker då arbetsordern avrapporteras. Detaljernas lastbärare består av hel-pallar, där pallarna märks upp av en pallflagga. I examensarbetet har en pallflagga för konsignation skapats. Pallflaggan upplyser om att pallen innehåller konsignationsmaterial som ägs av leverantören. Informationsflödet är tydligt eftersom en fraktsedel skickas med det skickade materialet till Parker. Fraktsedeln kontrolleras med följesedel som fås av leverantören. Information måste också ges ut vid större förändringar i förbrukning så att båda parter känner sig trygga över vad som lagerhålls. Konsignation bygger på ett långsiktigt samarbete och bidrar till en tätare relation mellan företagen. Konsignation innebär en vinna/vinna-situation.</p>

Den nya ekonomin innebär ett mer dynamiskt klimat för företagen. Detta ställer nya krav på företagens anpassningsförmåga. Outsourcing är ett sätt att bemöta ovan nämnda flexibilitetskrav. E-handel är en annan del av den nya ekonomin. Allt fler konsumenter upptäcker fördelar med att"shoppa on-line". En aktuell fråga är hur företagen skall ta betalt av sina kunder. I Sverige är det CD- skivor, böcker, datorer och datorrelaterade produkter som stått för den största delen av näthandeln. När det gäller ovanstående produkter rör det sig om relativt billiga produkter och ganska stora betalningsvolymer. Det ställs alltså krav på företagen att kunna hantera ett relativt stort antal betalningar redan från start. Många ”näthandelsföretag” är dessutom nystartade, vilket kan innebära att man inte har råd att köpa in dyra faktureringssystem etc. Man vill istället ofta koncentrera sig på sin kärnkompetens och komma i gång så fort som möjligt till lägsta möjliga kostnad. Ett sätt att undvika de stora fasta kostnader, vilka investeringar i faktureringssystem kan medföra, är att outsourca faktureringsfunktionen. Outsourcing medför att verksamheten kan drivas med löpande kostnader istället för fasta, vilket borde kunna bidra till att lönsamhet kan uppnås snabbare i företagen. Outsourcing av faktureringsfunktionen borde således vara av stort intresse för många av företagen i den nya ekonomin. Denna studie analyserar de problem och möjligheter som uppstår när näthandelsföretag (B2C) bestämmer sig för att outsourca faktureringsfunktionen.

Computing infrastructures offer remote access to computing power that can be employed, e.g., to solve complex mathematical problems or to host computational services that need to be online and accessible at all times. From the perspective of the infrastructure provider, large amounts of distributed and often heterogeneous computer resources need to be united into a coherent platform that is then made accessible to and usable by potential users. Grid computing and cloud computing are two paradigms that can be used to form such unified computational infrastructures. Resources from several independent infrastructure providers can be joined to form large-scale decentralized infrastructures. The primary advantage of doing this is that it increases the scale of the available resources, making it possible to address more complex problems or to run a greater number of services on the infrastructures. In addition, there are advantages in terms of factors such as fault-tolerance and geographical dispersion. Such multi-domain infrastructures require sophisticated management processes to mitigate the complications of executing computations and services across resources from different administrative domains. This thesis contributes to the development of management processes for distributed infrastructures that are designed to support multi-domain environments. It describes investigations into how fundamental management processes such as scheduling and accounting are affected by the barriers imposed by multi-domain deployments, which include technical heterogeneity, decentralized and (domain-wise) self-centric decision making, and a lack of information on the state and availability of remote resources. Four enabling technologies or approaches are explored and developed within this work: (I) The use of explicit definitions of cloud service structure as inputs for placement and management processes to ensure that the resulting placements respect the internal relationships between different service components and any relevant constraints. (II) Technology for the runtime adaptation of Virtual Machines to enable the automatic adaptation of cloud service contexts in response to changes in their environment caused by, e.g., service migration across domains. (III) Systems for managing meta-data relating to resource usage in multi-domain grid computing and cloud computing infrastructures. (IV) A global fairshare prioritization mechanism that enables computational jobs to be consistently prioritized across a federation of several decentralized grid installations. Each of these technologies will facilitate the emergence of decentralized computational infrastructures capable of utilizing resources from diverse infrastructure providers in an automatic and seamless manner. / <p>Note that the author changed surname from Henriksson to Espling in 2011</p>

Parker Hannifin AB i Trollhättan ingår i en koncern som består av 263 fabriker med över 50 000 anställda. Med 300 anställda produceras, utvecklas och säljs huvudkomponenterna i mobila hydraulsystem. Parker i Trollhättan har konstruerat och tillverkat fasta pumpar och motorer för lastvagnar sedan 1980-talet. Genom att eliminera aktiviteter som inte är värdeskapande och införa nya system strävar Parker efter att uppnå kortare ledtider, minskat bundet kapitel och ständiga förbättringar. Orsaken till att Parker vill införa konsignation är att det innebär många fördelar. Fördelarna är bland annat minskad administration, minskat bundet kapital och ökad tillgänglighet av detaljer. Examensarbetet visar att den största vinsten med konsignationslager för kunden är att det eliminerar flera delar av flödet mellan avtal till betalning. Delar som elimineras är avropsarbete, fysisk mottagning, mottagningsrapport, lagerbokföring, fakturaregistrering, fakturakontroll samt materialrekvisition. För leverantören är vinsten att fritt kunna planera försörjningen till kunden efter sin egen kapacitet. Samtidigt lagras materialet kostnadsfritt hos kunden, Parker i Trollhättan. Detaljerna ägs av leverantören då de ligger på lager hos Parker. Resultatet av examensarbetet visar att ägandet av material bör övergå till Parker då arbetsordern avrapporteras. Detaljernas lastbärare består av hel-pallar, där pallarna märks upp av en pallflagga. I examensarbetet har en pallflagga för konsignation skapats. Pallflaggan upplyser om att pallen innehåller konsignationsmaterial som ägs av leverantören. Informationsflödet är tydligt eftersom en fraktsedel skickas med det skickade materialet till Parker. Fraktsedeln kontrolleras med följesedel som fås av leverantören. Information måste också ges ut vid större förändringar i förbrukning så att båda parter känner sig trygga över vad som lagerhålls. Konsignation bygger på ett långsiktigt samarbete och bidrar till en tätare relation mellan företagen. Konsignation innebär en vinna/vinna-situation.

On a market of free competition, when consumers select their telecommunication service provider, they will not only consider basic elements such as the installation fee, call rate, and telecommunication reliability but also whether the provider can furnish the desired customer service, which is especially important. For most consumers, an essential part of customer service is the payment service. Due to the fact that there is not much difference in the technology, communication facilities and the type of business provided by different companies in the telecommunication industry, billing system and related customer services accordingly become the key differential factor and play a indispensable role in the decision-making process of customers. Moreover, as far as the operation, management, and strategy are concerned, billing system is the key backup for telecommunication enterprises. Establishing a billing system meeting the requirement of an enterprise that can provide the desired customer services hence becomes a priority for large telecommunication companies wishing to gain the upper hand in competition. This research uses the software architecture concept to develop a set of description language for the WiMAX billing management system based on which the architecture-oriented WiMAX billing management system model, abbreviated as AOWBMSM, is formulated. AOWBMSM is an integral model of the WiMAX billing management system framework which adopts the structure behavior coalescence, abbreviated as SBC, approach. It can clearly and completely describe the WiMAX billing management system and hopefully can serve as a model with more reference value when enterprises are planning, analyzing, and designing their payment system.

Magistrinio darbo tikslas yra ištirti ir sukurti elektroninių mokėjimų universitetinėje aplinkoje programinę įrangą. Darbo metu buvo atlikta projektavimo ir technologinių sprendimų analizė. Iškelti penki pagrindiniai sistemos realizavimo probleminiai uždaviniai ir pateikti jų galimi sprendimai. Suprojektuotos ir sukurtos programinės įrangos architektūra remiasi trisluoksnio projektavimo principais. Atliekant sistemos kokybės tyrimą ji buvo įvertinta kaip vidutiniška išskiriant tik gana prastai įvertinta sistemos palaikomumo kriterijų. O lyginant sistemos teikiamą naudingumą su alternatyviais sprendimais ji buvo įvertinta kaip naudingiausia. / The objective of this master project was to research and to develop the software for digital cash in the university environment. During the work execution, the analysis of design and technology solutions was performed. Further, five basic goals of system realization were formulated, the potential solutions for which were presented in the thesis. The architecture of the designed and the developed software is based on the principle of three layer design. During the quality analysis of the system, it was evaluated as an average system except that its maintainability rate was rather low. Its comparison with the alternative systems disclosed its superiority over them from the viewpoint of its expediency.