Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / The Agriculture Equipment Manufacturing industry is a $42 billion dollar industry in the United States. The Agricultural Equipment industry is very competitive across all market segments, especially in the less than 100 horsepower category (<100hp). This tractor category consists of 4 sub categories: <20hp, 20-40hp, 40-60hp, and 60-100hp. The <100hp tractor segment accounted for 170,547 of the 207,833 tractors that were sold during the 2014 year. Compared to the over 100 horsepower category (100+hp) that has fewer competitors, the <100hp segment is more competitive with more manufacturers competing for market share. Company XYZ is a full line manufacturer of agricultural equipment, harvesters, and construction equipment. Company XYZ lost some ground in market share due to the increased competition from new entrants into the market place as well as established manufacturers increasing their presence. To be more competitive, Company XYZ is looking at industry best practices to see how they can increase market share. One of these practices is a terms bank. A terms bank allows a dealer to stockpile unused months of terms to be used at a later date on tractors with expired terms. This minimizes financial risk for dealers to stock inventory. The cost to stock inventory is a large expense that dealers must carefully manage. One of the biggest costs of stocking inventory is the interest paid for tractors that have exhausted their interest free terms. A terms bank may lower the amount of interest that a dealer pays. It also lowers the cost to stock inventory and allows the dealership to manage and reduce these costs and risks. Evaluating the factors associated with stocking inventory, especially interest rate, will help manage inventory costs and stocking levels. This thesis uses regression analyses to analyze the costs of stocking units and the effect it has on dealership revenues. A regression analysis will test the hypothesis that lowering the interest portion of the cost of stocking inventory will increase sales. Data were gathered for dealership groups in the Western United States on a monthly basis for the years 2008 – 2014. The results supported the hypothesis that lowering the interest rate at dealerships was positively correlated with revenues. The reduced interest cost lowers the carrying cost of inventory and point to a terms bank being an effective tool for increasing Company XYZ’s market share.

Orientador: José Alexandre de Jesus Perinotto / Banca: Leandro Eugênio da Silva Cerri / Banca: Henry Lesjak Martos / Banca: Mariselma Ferreira Zaine / Banca: Paulo César Boggiani / Resumo: A pesquisa científica, efetuada no Município da Estância Turística de Paraguaçu Paulista, foi um aprofundamento do estudo da dissertação de mestrado concluído em 2004, apresentado como um diagnóstico do meio físico geológico e suas contribuições para o desenvolvimento sustentável do turismo com base local. No presente estudo de caso, levado a efeito como tese de doutorado, delimitou-se a influência qualiquantitativa do meio físico geológico e geomorfológico sobre o planejamento ambiental do turismo, visando obter um método aplicável em regiões semelhantes, reservadas as peculiaridades naturais. Inicialmente, o município foi subdividido, segundo caracteres fisiográficos naturais, em unidades básicas de compartimentação, aplicando conhecido método de zoneamento geotécnico. Em seguida, verificou-se essa influência sobre a área-alvo definida pelas rotas turísticas e seus recursos ou atrativos turísticos. Dentre esses, revistos e validados pelas suas características predominantes indicadas para geoturismo e geoecoturismo com base na geodiversidade, foi constatado que os elementos constituintes desse meio físico influenciam limitando a capacidade de carga turística. Esta depende daqueles, fatores naturais de fragilidade do meio que devem ser considerados na gestão do turismo ambiental. São subsídios preventivos à degradação ambiental e que visam a geoconservação pela geoeducação da comunidade receptora e emissora do turismo, ao absorver conhecimentos básicos da geologia e geomorfologia. A geodiversidade é o arcabouço para o equilíbrio e uso adequado de um patrimônio natural da humanidade também para o turismo. Os subsídios geológicos são fatores de planejamento e instrumentos de gestão ambiental do turismo. Ademais, trazem agregação de valor ao turismo através da inclusão do geoturismo e do geoecoturismo como fontes rejuvenescedoras... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The scientific research conducted in the touristic resort city of Paraguaçu Paulista was a deepening of the study of the master's dissertation completed in 2004, presented as a diagnosis of the physical geological environment and their contributions for the tourism's sustainable development with local basis. In this study case carried out as a doctoral thesis, the qualiquantitivity influence of the physical geological and geomorphological environment on the planning of the environmental tourism was delimited to obtain an applicable method in similar regions, reserved the natural peculiarities. Initially the city was divided, accordingly to physiographic natural characters, in basic units of compartmentalization, aplying the known method of geotechnical zoning. Then was verifyied this influence over the target area defined by the tourist routes and its resources or tourist attractions. Among these, reviewed and validated by their predominant characteristics indicated for geotourism and geoecotourism based on geodiversity, was verified that the physical elements of that environment influence limiting the tourism carrying capacity. This depend of those, natural factors of the envirionment that must be considered in the management of environmental tourism. These are preventive subsidies to the environmental degradation and wich aimed geoconservation by the geoeducation of the community receiving and issuing the tourism, absorbing basic knowledge of geology and geomorphology. The geodiversity is the framework for balance and proper use of a humanities natural heritage, also for tourism. The geological subsidies are factors of planning and also tools for the environmental management of tourism. Moreover, they bring value aggregation to tourism through the inclusion of geotourism and geoecotourism as renovable sources of tourism's evolutive cycle. The thematic scientific knowledge... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / The species Serjania lethalis A.St.-Hil. is a native plant found in all regions of Brazil, like North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and South. It is associated with many biomes, such as Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal. In CearÃ, this species is found in a Cerrado disjunction in the Araripe plateau, and it is known popularly as croapÃ, cipà - uva, and cipà â trÃs - quinas. Although it is exploited for honey production for over twenty years in Araripe Plateau, the scientific studies about this species are few in number. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential of this plant to apicultural exploitation in the region. To this end, we studied the floral biology, botanical aspects, pollination requirements, flower visitors, foraging behavior of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), the carrying capacity of apiaries and also the characteristics of the honey produced. The study was carried out from 2008 to 2012 in Crato, Jardim, Juazeiro do Norte, Santana do Cariri (CearÃ) and MoreilÃndia (Pernambuco). The data were analyzed through analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey test (5%), using the SAS statistical software version 9.1 and the t test (5%) using the program Microsoft Office Excel 2007. The results showed that the species is a plant andromonoecious and presents a diclinous or unisexual phase (with male flowers) and another hermaphroditic or monoecious phase, besides presenting an annual flowering phase that lasts four months (August to November). The flowers are produced in axillary inflorescences of the type thyrsus, and 5:00 h 73.75% of the buds were open. The nectar secretion pattern varied over the years and its concentration was higher during the afternoon. The inflorescences lasted 35 days, with a range in length from 20.5 to 22.68 cm (Santana do Cariri) and from 13.47 to 21.89 cm (MoreilÃndia), 86.76 to 154.90 flowers/inflorescence (Santana do Cariri) and 58.64 to 128.92 flowers/inflorescence (MoreilÃndia), and 17.35 to 21.30 inflorescences/branch (Santana do Cariri) and 12.20 to 16.60 inflorescences/branch (MoreilÃndia). The cipà - uva fruits are dry and indehiscent of the type samara, with characteristics of an anemochoric seed dispersal syndrome, and the open pollination yielded more fruits set in both counties, differing from other types of pollination. The species depends on their biotic agents in order to accomplish its pollination, because the wind cannot carry the cipà - uva pollen grains, and the flower is unable to promote self-pollination. The family Apidae was the most frequent among the insect visitors, especially the species Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes. The foraging by Apis mellifera occurs throughout the day, with the highest peak at 9 h, collecting, exclusively, nectar either in male as in hermaphroditic flowers. In general, the Africanized bee colonies distributed in a natural cipà - uva area in the Araripe Plateau (2008) and Santana Cariri (2008 and 2010) showed a larger honey storage area and a smaller brood area regarding to the total comb area, and also a satisfactory pollen flow. The polifloral honey produced fits within the Brazilian legislation for all physicochemical parameters analyzed, and showed no contamination by molds, yeasts and total coliforms. In sensory acceptance, the cipo - uva honey was approved by the panelists for the attributes of color, flavor, aroma, viscosity and overall acceptance, especially the flavor attribute that was the most appreciated by the panelists. It was concluded that the cipà - uva (Serjania lethalis) requires biotic agents to promote its pollination and consequently it is not able to promote self-pollination. The species is is quite attractive to insects, predominantly honey bees, with only nectar as a food reward. Thus, this species is able to keep well-developed colonies in apiaries, and it presents a honey suitable for the human consumption, however there is a need to improve the management of the colonies in the region in order to avoid compromising honey production. / A espÃcie Serjania lethalis A.St.-Hil. à uma planta nativa encontrada em todas as regiÃes do Brasil, como Norte, Nordeste, Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul, sendo associada hà vÃrios biomas, tais como AmazÃnia, Caatinga, Cerrado, Mata AtlÃntica, Pantanal. No CearÃ, a espÃcie à encontrada em um encrave de cerrado na Chapada do Araripe, sendo conhecida popularmente como croapÃ, cipà - uva e cipà - trÃs - quinas. Embora seja explorada para a produÃÃo de mel hà mais de vinte anos na Chapada do Araripe, pouco sÃo os estudos cientÃficos sobre a espÃcie. Com o presente estudo objetivou-se, portanto, investigar o potencial desta planta para exploraÃÃo apÃcola na regiÃo. Para tanto, foram estudados a biologia floral, aspectos botÃnicos, requerimentos de polinizaÃÃo, visitantes florais, comportamento forrageiro da abelha Apis mellifera, bem como a capacidade de suporte de apiÃrios e as caracterÃsticas do mel produzido. O estudo foi realizado no perÃodo de 2008 a 2012 em Crato, Jardim, Juazeiro do Norte, Santana do Cariri (CearÃ) e MoreilÃndia (Pernambuco). Os dados foram analisados por meio de anÃlise de variÃncia e as mÃdias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (5%), usando-se o programa estatÃstico SAS versÃo 9.1 e pelo teste t (5%) usando o Programa do Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Os resultados mostraram que a espÃcie à uma planta andromonoica e apresenta uma fase unissexual ou dÃclina (com flores masculinas) e outra fase hermafrodita ou monoclina, alÃm de apresentar uma floraÃÃo anual com duraÃÃo de quatro meses (agosto a novembro). As flores sÃo produzidas em inflorescÃncias do tipo tirso axilar e Ãs 5 h, 73,75% dos botÃes florais estavam abertos. O padrÃo de secreÃÃo de nÃctar variou ao longo dos anos e sua concentraÃÃo foi maior no perÃodo da tarde. As inflorescÃncias duraram 35 dias, tendo uma variaÃÃo de 20,5 a 22,68 cm (Santana do Cariri) e 13,47 a 21,89 cm (MoreilÃndia), de 86,76 a 154,90 flores/inflorescÃncia (Santana do Cariri) e 58,64 a 128,92 flores/inflorescÃncia (MoreilÃndia), e de 17,35 a 21,30 inflorescÃncias/ramo (Santana do Cariri) e 12,20 a 16,60 inflorescÃncias/ramo (MoreilÃndia). Os frutos de cipà - uva sÃo secos e indeiscentes do tipo sÃmara, caracterÃsticas de sÃndrome de dispersÃo anemocÃrica e a polinizaÃÃo aberta proporcionou maior nÃmero de frutos vingados em ambos os municÃpios, diferindo dos demais tipos de polinizaÃÃo. A espÃcie depende de agentes biÃticos para sua polinizaÃÃo, pois o vento nÃo consegue carrear seu pÃlen e a flor à incapaz de promover autopolinizaÃÃo. A famÃlia Apidae foi a mais frequente entre os insetos visitantes, destacando-se as espÃcies Apis mellifera e Trigona spinipes. O forrageamento por Apis mellifera ocorre durante todo o dia, com maior pico Ãs 9 h, coletando exclusivamente nÃctar tanto nas flores masculinas quanto nas hermafroditas. Em geral, as colÃnias de abelhas africanizadas distribuÃdas na Ãrea do cipà - uva na Chapada do Araripe (2008) e Santana do Cariri (2008 e 2010) apresentaram maior Ãrea de mel e menor Ãrea de cria em relaÃÃo à Ãrea total de favos puxados e fluxo de pÃlen satisfatÃrio. O mel polifloral produzido està enquadrado dentro das especificaÃÃes da legislaÃÃo brasileira para todos os parÃmetros fÃsico-quÃmicos analisados e nÃo apresentou contaminaÃÃo por bolores, leveduras e coliformes totais. Na aceitaÃÃo sensorial, verificou-se a aprovaÃÃo do mel pelos provadores para os atributos de cor, sabor, aroma, viscosidade e aceitaÃÃo global, sendo o atributo sabor o mais apreciado pelos provadores. Conclui-se que o cipà - uva (Serjania lethalis) necessita de agentes biÃticos para promover a polinizaÃÃo, nÃo sendo capaz de promover autopolinizaÃÃo. A espÃcie à bastante atraente aos insetos, predominantemente a abelha Apis mellifera, tendo exclusivamente o nÃctar como a recompensa alimentar. Desta forma, consegue manter colÃnias bem desenvolvidas nos apiÃrios e apresenta mel apto para o consumo humano, no entanto hà necessidade de melhorar o manejo das colÃnias na regiÃo para nÃo comprometer a produÃÃo de mel.

As atividades recreativas em áreas naturais são apresentadas como uma ferramenta capaz de conciliar desenvolvimento e conservação. Entretanto, a falta de um planejamento que leve em consideração os fatores relacionados com sua sustentabilidade pode ocasionar graves impactos tanto ecológicos como econômicos e sociais. No Brasil, onde as discussões sobre o assunto são muito recentes, existe falta de informações sistematizadas sobre as verdadeiras repercussões do uso recreativo e sobre a recuperação dos ambientes. Além da própria complexidade do assunto, existe uma outra dificuldade em razão da bibliografia específica, dispersa e nem sempre de fácil acesso. No presente trabalho é feita, no primeiro capítulo, uma revisão bibliográfica sobre: a natureza dos impactos; os fatores relacionados a sua ocorrência e à capacidade de carga do ambiente; os métodos de avaliação de impacto mais usados; e a experiência brasileira. Esta revisão forneceu a base teórica necessária para a elaboração do estudo de caso, visando discutir a sustentabilidade ecológica das atividades recreativas. No segundo capítulo foi realizado um estudo na antiga Fazenda Santa Carlota (SP),área de elevado potencial turístico. Para tanto, elaborou-se um zoneamento ecológico, em ambiente de SIG, sintetizando as fragilidades e as oportunidades. Para o Mapa de Fragilidades foram utilizadas as informações abióticas (pedologia,declividade, geomorfologia e clima) e bióticas (vegetação e fauna) relacionadas com a capacidade de carga para recreação (CCR) do ambiente. Para o Mapa de Oportunidades, foi feito um levantamento preliminar dos atrativos potenciais para a área de estudo. O resultado é o Mapa de Zoneamento Ecológico que classifica a fazenda em cinco zonas: três zonas propostas para o desenvolvimento de atividades recreativas, com níveis diferentes de fragilidade e potencialidade; uma de uso especial, onde está o patrimônio histórico; e uma zona de recuperação. Foi estimada a CCR, adaptando o método de Cifuentes (1992), para cada uma das três zonas destinadas para o uso. Os valores obtidos representam os limites máximos de uso que devem ser permitidos de forma a evitar a degradação dos recursos naturais. Estes valores não são absolutos e incorporam conhecimento científico e juízos de valor. A utilização do SIG mostrou-se adequada para o objetivo de zoneamento ecológico para fins recreativos. O método de CCR mostrou-se flexível e rápido. Porém, a CCR foi superestimada devido aos fatores importantes não incorporados por falta de dados específicos e à escala de trabalho. / Recreational activities in wildland areas are being considered a way to achieve development and protect the environment. However, without a planning program that considers the factors related to their sustainability, they can cause serious ecological, economic and social impacts. In Brazil, in spite of the recent concerns about recreational problems, there is a lack of systematic information about actual consequences of the recreational use and environmental restoration. It is very difficult to deal with the recreational sustainability, due to its complexity and to a dispersed and inaccessible specific bibliography. The first chapter of this work is a bibliography revision on: the nature of the impacts; the factors related to their occurrence and the environmental carrying capacity; the most useful methods of impact evaluation; and the Brazilian experiences. This revision supplied the theoretical base necessary for the elaboration of a study case that intended to discuss the ecological sustainability of recreational activities. The second chapter is a study about Fazenda Santa Carlota (SP), an area with a high touristic potential. A GIS was used to elaborate an ecological zoning, synthecizing fragilities and opportunities. Abiotic (pedology, slope, geomorfology and climate) and biotics informations (vegetation and wildlife) related with the recreational carrying capacity (RCC) have been used to elaborate the Map of Fragilities. For the Map of Opportunities, a preliminary survey of the attractive potentials for the study area was made. The result is the Map of Ecological Zoning that classifies the area in five zones: three zones that permit for the development of recreational activities, with different levels of fragility and potentiality; one zone of special use, where there is a historic site; and a restoration zone. The RCC was estimate, for each of the three recreational zones, using the Cifuentes method (1992). The values obtained represent the limits of acceptable change that could be allowed to prevent the degradation of the natural resources. These values are not absolute and involve scientific and judgmental considerations. The use of GIS revealed to be adequate for the objective of ecological zoning for recreationals objectives. The RCC method revealed to be flexible and fast. However, due to important factors not considered because of lack of specific data and due to the working scale, it overestimates the RCC.

One way to secure identity over the Internet and other channels is to use digital signatures. Since this area is often used in contact with banks, we have during our work co-operated with Nordea IT. In order for customers to use a digital signature whenever they wish to, a way of making them mobile is required. In our thesis we give an overall understanding of digital signatures and how they can be used. Our main goal is trying to find out what technique customers want to use for carrying their digital signature and if information positively affects customers? will to use the new service. We have found theories about the customers from literature, articles and Nordea IT. The most important theories state the importance of listening to customers and the importance of creating a trust between bank and customer. The main method used for the investigation is a questionnaire. This questionnaire is used to find out public opinions regarding the use of digital signatures. As seen from the result of our investigation most theories about the customers are confirmed. The answers from the questionnaire showed that it is important that the technique fulfils the customers? desire. Every other person could consider using digital signatures, if the number of uncertain can be convinced. From those who are negative or uncertain, one fifth are affected by information from the bank. The importance of information about security and bank policies is thus also confirmed. Both the choices of technique and the information positively affects customers? will to use digital signatures.

Dynamically Typed Assembly Language (D-TAL) is not only a lightweight and effective solution to the gap generated by the drop in security produced by the translation of high-level language instructions to low-level language instructions, but it considerably eases up the burden generated by the level of complexity required to implement typed assembly languages statically. Although there are tradeoffs between the static and dynamic approaches, focusing on a dynamic approach leads to simpler, easier to reason about, and more feasible ways to understand deployment of types over monomorphically-typed or untyped intermediate languages. On this occasion, DISM, a simple but powerful and mature untyped assembly language, is extended by the addition of type annotations (on memory and registers) to produce an instance of D-TAL. Strong-DISM, the resulting language, statically, lends itself to simpler analysis about type access and security as the correlation between datatypes and instructions with their respective memory and registers becomes simpler to observe; while dynamically, it disallows operations and further eliminates conditions that from high level languages could be used to violate/circumvent security.

Abstract Although the present day management of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus L.) and its operational environment have changed from the past, knowledge of the ecological mechanisms typical of traditional herding is still important. The main objective of this study was to examine factors related to stock productivity and carrying capacity of pastures in the Finnish semi-domesticated reindeer management area during 1960-1990's in order to clarify the basis of the present management strategies in Finland. In the Oraniemi district, before 1987, calf production was more affected by the snow conditions of the previous winter, than the weather conditions of the previous summer. Slaughtering mass of calves was more affected by the weather and precipitation in spring and summer than the snow conditions of the previous winter. Thick snow cover and unfrozen soil in early winter also probably affect the quality of natural winter food of reindeer by favouring the growth of certain micro fungi on pastures. Before the mid-1990's in the northern part of the management area, calf production decreased and its variability increased between the districts when reindeer densities on forest and heath land increased, amount of lichen (Cladonia spp.) pastures per reindeer decreased and condition of these pastures deteriorated. Variability in calf production increased especially when the amount of arboreal lichen (Alectoria, Bryoria spp.) pastures per reindeer decreased. The slaughtering mass of reindeer decreased when reindeer densities on all pastures increased. Intensive calf slaughtering increased reindeer stock productivity although it was density dependent. Because of intensified feeding, reindeer densities on winter pastures did not affect stock productivity in the whole management area between 1993 and 1999. Stock productivity could be increased markedly by feeding. Still, slaughtering mass and meat production per reindeer decreased when reindeer densities on summer pastures increased. In the Finnish grazing system, reindeer densities should have remained well below 10 reindeer/km2 lichen range for maintaining lichen ranges in a good condition. The average lichen biomass of lichen ranges in the management area in the mid-1990's was 13% of the lichen biomass at the maximum production. Lichen ranges should have been ungrazed for an average 18 years to recover to the maximum production. The time needed for the lichen ranges to recover to a good condition, would have been 7 years. This study showed that the amount and condition of pastures had a fundamental part in the productivity of Finnish reindeer stock. Calf slaughtering and feeding were effective ways to increase and stabilize stock productivity in the situation where the economic carrying capacity of winter ranges has obvuously been exceeded due to overgrazing and the effects caused by the other land use. This has made reindeer management more and more dependent on feeding. Improvements of the state and condition of winter ranges would only be possible during a long period by regulating reindeer stock size, developing pasture rotation and protecting reindeer pastures from the other land use.

The aim of this article is to study in what way the politicians manage the work of Sustainable Tourism Development in Barcelona. The questions at issue is to define the main problems in the city caused by tourists and in what way the city is working to find sustainable and long-term solutions. The method used is a qualitative analysis of important Management documents for tourism of Barcelona City Council, especially Barcelona Strategic Tourism Plan, diagnosis, 2017-2020. The results shows that the biggest problems caused by tourism is overcrowding in Ciutat Vella as well as noise and social fragmentation caused by private rented homes, and loss of public space for the citizens in the same area. The city is working together with the citizens of Barcelona, direct and indirect stakeholders to find sustainable solutions, compiling the Barcelona Strategic Tourism Plan 2020. Apart of finding solutions for the tourist situation, one of the main goals with the plan is to improve the social conditions for the citizens of Barcelona. One of the solutions against overcrowding is to widen the brand of and the destination of Barcelona to find new, responsable segments. The other is mainly about all kind of Visitors-Management in order to manage visitors from overcrowded areas to less crowded areas. To solve the renting problems, new restrictions and supervision is made. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att studera på vilket sätt politikerna i Barcelona arbetar för en Hållbar Turismutveckling. Det övergripande målet är att definiera huvudproblemen i staden, orsakade av turism samt på vilket sätt staden arbetar för att finna långsiktiga, hållbara lösningar. Metoden utgörs av en kvalitativ analys av viktiga styrdokument vid Barcelona Kommun, speciellt fokus läggs på Barcelona Strategic Tourism Plan 2020. Resultatet visar att de största problemen är överexploatering i Ciutat Vella, samt störningar och sociala motsättningar orsakade av privatuthyrda bostäder, samt brist på plats i det offentliga rummet för lokalbefolkningen i ovan nämnt område. Staden arbetar tillsammans med lokalbefolkningen, direkta och indirekta intressenter för att finna hållbara lösningar genom att sammanställa en strategisk handlingsplan. Utöver att finna lösningar på turistsituationen är ett av de övergripande målen att förbättra levnadsvillkoren för invånarna i staden. En av lösningarna på överexploateringen är att bredda destinationen Barcelonas varumärke för att på så sätt finna nya, hållbara kundsegment. Den andra lösningen består huvudsakligen av Visitor-Management med syfte att styra besökare från överexploaterade områden till de mindre hårt belastade. För att komma till rätta med uthyrningsproblematiken har nya regler och kontroller införts.

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Lifting and overstraining are major causative factors related to musculoskeletal injuries and low back pain. A great number of work-related injuries arise from the handling and/or mishandling of materials. Hence there is a need to quantify risk factors in situ and develop guidelines for safe lifting practises in industry. The aim of this study was to make appropriate in situ quantification, within a commercial warehouse, of the stresses and physical demands imposed on the worker when performing two handed lifts in the sagittal plane. The performance of employees was assessed under normal working conditions through an observational methodology of data collection. Task performance evaluation was based on detailed measurement of all containers handled, an activity and time analysis, and the 'Work Practices Guide to Manual Lifting’ (NIOSH, 1981) which was used as the primary guide to developing theoretical recommendations to probable MMH risk factors for the workers involved. Of the 191 tasks analysed 103 were deemed unsuitable. Appropriate task factor adjustments were made where necessary to both the frequency and Hfactors (horizontal distance between the centre of gravity of the container and that of the worker) in order to reduce the risk factor for the workers