Kaizen implementation and other continuous improvement practices can be used by companies to lower manufacturing costs and increase product value. Kaizen activities are one way that wood products companies can increase their competitiveness. Being able to measure the effectiveness of Kaizen events is important to factors that contribute to Kaizen effectiveness as well as identifying the success of Kaizen implementation. However, little research has focused on the implementation of Kaizen and other continuous improvement methods within the wood products industry or on the perceptions of employees within this industry regarding either the motivators for, barriers to, and effectiveness of perceptions of Kaizen, or the drivers affecting Kaizen implementation. The goal of this research is to develop a tool to measure the effectiveness of Kaizen and to apply this tool to companies within the wood products industry. To accomplish this research goal, a case study approach was used in examining how two U.S. wood products companies implemented Kaizen and other continuous improvement initiatives and how employees at these companies viewed such implementation. As part of this case study, interviews were conducted with staff in each company and surveys were administered to production and non-production employees at each company. A tool was developed to measure the perceived effectiveness of Kaizen events, and this tool was tested using the survey data were collected from each company. The results from these analyses show statistically significant differences in how production employees across companies viewed the following: motivators related to cost and quality outcomes, as well as the success of other companies, as motivators for Kaizen; and barriers related to middle management, time, money, technology, and poor past experiences. Poor past experience with Kaizen were also viewed significantly differently by production and non-production employees in one of the companies studied. The results also show that perceptions of productivity improvements were the most significant predictor of the perceived effectiveness of Kaizen implementation. These results and the development of a tool to measure Kaizen will help guide and improve future Kaizen and other continuous improvement efforts within the wood products industry and provide insights for future research. / Master of Science

No / ‘Lean’ is an operations management initiative that has received significant attention from both practitioners and scholars within service environments (Panchak 2003, de Souza 2009, Mazzocato et al. 2010, Burgess and Radnor 2012, Vegting et al. 2012, Toussaint and Berry 2013, Bhat and Jnanesh 2014). The application of Lean processes is alluring for healthcare managers globally because of the promise of combining cost reductions with outstanding standards of health service to patients.

No / Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to explore the results of implementing the Kaizen approach in a caravan repairing project near the Jordanian–Syrian border in the Zaatari camp. Design/methodology/approach. The study is based on the exploratory qualitative research approach. The data were collected through interviews and on-site observation with employees who were involved with the caravan maintenance project and have adequate knowledge and information about this project. In this process, a fishbone diagram, a quality control tool, is used to recognize and explain a causal-effect relationship under the selected Kaizen theme. Findings. The findings suggest that the Kaizen approach was economical in terms of both money and time. Also, waste elimination can be achieved through a variety of tools and easily combined with the Kaizen approach. Implementing the Kaizen approach is an effective and reliable system that allows for the tackling of all types of inefficiencies in the caravan repairing project. Research limitations/implications. The findings of this study will help policy makers and managers put together suitable and effective policies that will assist those firms in overcoming the demands of customers and competitors to deliver high quality, inexpensive products in less time through the application of the Kaizen approach. This, in turn, will lead to improved quality, efficiency and productivity in the most cost-effective way. However, these results should not be generalized since they are only confined to the context of caravan repairing project. Originality/value. Very little research has been done that takes into account the contexts of developing countries. Additionally, most literature presents the use of Kaizen applications only in the manufacturing or production sectors. This study is the first to implement Kaizen as a continuous improvement technique in a caravan repairing project – a job shop industry different from the repetitive batch work environment that is usually associated with implementation of Kaizen. The current research should be of great interest to researchers, managers and professionals who wish to apply Kaizen approach as it is sustainable over time in similar projects.

When working in software development teams, there are challenges when it comes to always keeping the software stable and reliable. Continuous integration are frequently used to increase the stability and reliability. Extensive research has been performed on the matter of development processes of continuous integration, but there are no consensus on how systems to support continuous integration should be implemented for best results. In this report a continuous integration system is implemented based on best practices and to support the general continuous integration development process, by using Jenkins and other open source tools. The system is adapted to work well with the cross-platform mobile development framework CoffeeMaker developed by VISIARC AB and the general needs of the company. In order to roughly estimate the increased developer productivity and product quality when introducing the system, a questionnaire that discusses the system and working habits was sent out to the developers. The evaluation lead to the conclusion that the productivity would improve by approximately 30-60 minutes per week and developer. It also lead to the conclusion that the quality of their developed applications would most probably increase by introducing such a system.

Two continuous performance tests were administered to normal adult subjects. The mode of presentation (visual or auditory) and the type of task (vigilance or distractibility) were varied, and their effects on performance measured. Data were collected on eighty-two subjects, and results indicated that auditory presentation of stimuli increased the difficulty of both tasks. Results also suggest that the distractibility task administered in either mode was more difficult than the vigilance task. Intercorrelations among the four continuous performance tasks are provided. Normative data are presented on all four tasks administered. A measure of symptoms of attention-deficit disorder in adults, the Adult Behavior Checklist, was found to correlate significantly with another measure of pathology, the SCL-90-R.

Aim Aerobic exercise may interfere with subsequent responses to strength training. The aim of this research was to examine the acute effects of cycling or running on subsequent leg strength performance. It was hypothesized that eccentric contractions induced by running would impair strength performance more than the cycling mode of exercise, which consist mainly of concentric muscle actions. Method In order to investigate if continuous running or cycling affected following strength performance, 6 healthy individuals (5 males, 1 female) were subjected to a randomized cross-over design. Subject characteristics were age (year) 25,5 ± 2,1, height (cm) 180,5 ± 6,4, and body weight (kg) 83 ± 3,4. The experimental sessions included three protocols: strength protocol (S) which included 3 repetitions measuring peak power followed by 3 sets to muscular failure at 80% of 1RM in the squat exercise; and continuous running (RS) and cycling (CS) conditions (40 minutes at 80% of maximal heart rate), followed by the S protocol. Peak power performance and total work volume was measured. Results Average peak power attained between the three protocols were CS = 1639± 444Watts (W), RS = 1633± 422 and S = 1565 ± 349. No significant differences were observed between the three conditions (P = 0,817). No differences across the three protocols was observed for highest peak power attained by each subject (P = 0,619). Total work volume performed (main effect P = 0,027) revealed a significant difference between CS = 2559 kg and S = 3715 kg (P=0,037), and CS and RS = 3345 kg (P=0,037) due to the lower loads lifted in CS.  Conclusions There were no differences observed between the three training protocols regarding peak power performance. When cycling exercise was performed prior to the strength session, the total volume lifted was lower than when performing the strength test alone. Thus, it is concluded that cycling exercise, but not running, interferes with subsequent strength training performance. / Syfte och frågeställningar Uthållighetsträning kan leda till försämrad styrkeprestation. Syftet med denna forskning var att undersöka de akuta effekterna från cykling eller löpning på efterföljande benstyrka. Hypotesen var att löpning, som omfattar excentriska muskelaktioner, skulle leda till en större försämring av efterföljande styrkeprestation jämfört med cyking, som främst omfattar koncentriska muskelaktioner. Metod För att undersöka om kontinuerlig cykling och löpning påverkade efterföljande benprestation, undersöktes 6 deltagare (5 män, 1 kvinna) i en randomiserad cross-over design. Försökspersonernas karakteristika var ålder (år) 25,5 ± 2,1, längd (cm) 180,5 ± 6,4, vikt (kg) 83 ± 3,4. Försökspersonerna utförde tre experimentella protokoll: styrka (S), vilket bestod av 3 repetitioner av maximal kraftutveckling efterföljt av 3 set till muskulär utmattning på 80% av 1RM i benböj; och löpning (RS) samt cykling (CS) protokoll (40-minuter på 80% av maximal hjärtfrekvens), efterföljt av S protokollet. Data för maximal kraftutveckling och total arbetsvolym samlades in.  Resultat Den genomsnittliga maximala effekten som uppnåddes mellan de tre protokollen var: CS = 1639 ± 444 Watt (W), RS = 1633 ± 422W och S = 1565 ± 349W. Inga signifikanta skillnader observerades mellan de tre förhållandena (P=0,817). Högst uppnådda effekten för varje deltagare mellan de tre förhållandena visade ingen skillnad (P=0,619). Totala arbetsvolymen (tidseffekt: P=0,027) visade signifikanta skillnader mellan CS = 2559 kg och S = 3715 kg (P=0,037), och CS och RS = 3345 kg (P=0,037) på grund av lägre vikt lyft vid CS. Slutsats Ingen skillnad observerades mellan de tre förhållandena angående maximal styrkeprestation. Den totala vikt volymen som kunde lyftas var dock lägre när cykling utfördes innan styrketestet. Slutsatsen är därför att cykling, men inte löpning, hindrar maximal träningsprestation vid ett efterföljande styrkepass.

The first chapter gives basic definitions and theorems concerning set functions and set function integrals. The lemmas and theorems are presented without proof in this chapter. The second chapter deals with absolute continuity and Lipschitz condition. Particular emphasis is placed on the properties of max and min integrals. The third chapter deals with approximating absolutely continuous functions with bounded functions. It also deals with the existence of the integrals composed of various combinations of bounded functions and finitely additive functions. The concluding theorem states if the integral of the product of a bounded function and a non-negative finitely additive function exists, then the integral of the product of the bounded function with an absolutely continuous function exists over any element in a field of subsets of a set U.

Background and problem Previously, management has focused on cost, lead time reduction and quality improvement for competiveness in the market. However, most researchers agree that in today´s highly competitive business environment quality is a necessity but not sufficient. For companies to survive it is also imperative to also continuously innovate. These two activities are both important. Achieving a balance between the two, the objectives of improved quality and increased innovation, is not a straightforward exercise. Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how innovative companies manage continuous innovation and continuous improvement. Furthermore, it aims to extend the understanding of the relationship between continuous innovation and continuous improvement in innovative companies - the balance between these two activities. Method The primary research in this study has been collated through semi-structured interviews with leaders involved in innovation. The primary research is analysed and a comparison is made between primary research and secondary research. Similarities and differences are outlined in terms of the relationship. Results and conclusion The findings suggest that the innovative companies are fully aware of the importance of continuous innovation and continuous improvement. Moreover, there is a constant balancing act going on between these two activities in the companies. These activities are organised in different ways in the innovative companies. Continuous improvement is often prioritized due to for instance urgency and cost reduction. The companies support these activities through for instance recognition, rewards, KPIs, long term view, purpose and sustainability

Este trabalho mostra uma aplicação de conceitos de produção enxuta em uma empresa de processo contínuo. Existe uma percepção por parte de algumas destas empresas de que, sendo de fluxo contínuo, elas se adequam mais aos princípios da produção em massa, não sendo portanto aplicáveis a elas os conceitos de produção enxuta. Também existe a crença, igualmente questionável, de que elas já são enxutas por natureza, devido ao elevado nível de automação com pouca manipulação e movimentações discretas. Este trabalho mostra que isso nem sempre é verdade e que uma empresa de processo contínuo pode se beneficiar consideravelmente da aplicação de conceitos de manufatura enxuta. É apresentada aqui uma revisão bibliográfica das principais ferramentas e conceitos de produção enxuta. Também é apresentado um caso já documentado na literatura técnica de aplicação destes conceitos em uma empresa química de processo contínuo. A seguir é mostrado o caso de aplicação de produção enxuta conduzida pelo autor em uma empresa de grande porte do setor termoplástico no estado de São Paulo, que tem características de processo contínuo. São também apresentados os resultados desta aplicação, evidenciando os ganhos obtidos como redução de 21% no indicador de refugo e 14% no tempo médio de set up, e algumas considerações sobre aplicação de produção enxuta em empresas desta natureza. / This paper shows a application of the concepts of lean production in a continuous process company. There is a misconception from some companies\' part that because they have continuous process, they fit more the mass production principles, therefore it is not valid to them the concept of lean production. There is also the belief, questionable as well, that they are naturally lean, due to the high level of automation with little handling and discret movements. This paper shows that this is not true and that continuous process company can benefit considerably from the application of the lean production concepts. It is presented here a bibliography review of the main tools and concepts of lean production. It is also presented a documented case of the application of these concepts in a chemical industry with continuous process. Next, the case of the application of lean production is showed, conducted by the author in a big company of termoplastic in the state of São Paulo that presents the characteristics of continuous process. The results of this application is presented, enfasizing the results obtained, it was obtained 21% of reduction in the screp indicator and 14% in the midium time of the set up and also some comments about the application of the lean production in these kinds of companies.

Ants typically use path integration and vision for navigation when the environment precludes the use of pheromones for trails. Recent simulations have been able to accurately mimic the retinotopic navigation behaviour of these ants using simple models of movement and memory of unprocessed visual images. Naturally it is interesting to test these navigation algorithms in more realistic circumstances, particularly with actual route data from the ant, in an accurate facsimile of the ant world and with visual input that draws on the characteristics of the animal. While increasing the complexity of the visual processing to include skyline extraction, inhomogeneous sampling and motion processing was conjectured to improve the performance of the simulations, the reverse appears to be the case. Examining closely the assumptions about motion, analysis of ants in the field shows that they experience considerable displacement of the head which when applied to the simulation leads to significant degradation in performance. The family of simulations rely upon continuous visual monitoring of the scene to determine heading and it was decided to test whether the animals were similarly dependent on this input. A field study demonstrated that ants with only visual navigation cues can return the nest when largely facing away from the direction of travel (moving backwards) and so it appears that ant visual navigation is not a process of continuous retinotopic image matching. We conclude ants may use vision to determine an initial heading by image matching and then continue to follow this direction using their celestial compass, or they may use a rotationally invariant form of the visual world for continuous course correction.