Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Brian C. Briggeman / Garden City Co-op, Inc. is a farm cooperative in Southwest Kansas. It provides marketing and storage of grain, fertilizer, crop protection products, seed, and petroleum to both member and non-member accounts. The cooperative also operates a transportation company called Western Transport. Western Transport provides transportation of anhydrous ammonia (NH3), liquid fertilizer (32-0-0 or 10-34-0), diesel, gasoline, and propane utilizing semi-tractors and trailers to Garden City Co-op, Inc. as well as to other agribusinesses in the region. The purpose of this thesis is to integrate and optimize the supply chain strategies for the cooperative’s fertilizer and petroleum products as it relates to storage and transportation of those commodities. Utilizing the framework of an aggregate production plan, a model is constructed to minimize costs associated with inventory holding, net storage asset depreciation after tax savings, net transportation asset depreciation after tax savings, labor, operations, and freight. By varying the quantities of petroleum and fertilizer the cooperative purchases, sells, and stores each month over a one-year period, an optimum mix of storage and transportation assets is determined. Two different demand scenarios are evaluated that relate to demand during a drought year versus demand during a non-drought year. Also, different model scenarios include varying beginning period inventory and ending period inventory to stress transportation assets versus storage assets. The model is optimized using a genetic algorithm solver in the software program Evolver produced by Palisade Corporation. Results of the optimization provided two feasible strategies for the cooperative. By continuing services to non-member accounts, there was a greater investment placed on transportation. Investments included additional trucks, NH3 trailers, petroleum trailers, and drivers. The strategy favored a just-in-time inventory approach versus inventory smoothing with storage. When discontinuing services to non-member accounts, investment between storage and transportation assets were relatively equal. The model favored a reduction in NH3 trailers, liquid fertilizer trailers, trucks, and drivers. However, additional storage was necessary as well as petroleum trailers. The scenario favored an inventory smoothing approach across the model year.

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Orientador: Orlando Fontes Lima Júnior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T18:55:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tarchetti_OliviaPorto_M.pdf: 2823656 bytes, checksum: c6b8adb201e1f821828670671891aead (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar de forma comparativa processos logísticos no setor de serviços para identificar similaridades e diferenças entre eles. A estratégia de pesquisa adotada foi revisão sistemática com metassíntese. A partir de uma revisão bibliográfica inicial na literatura de operação de serviços, de logística e de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos foram identificados 15 elementos logísticos distribuídos entre desenvolvimento dos serviços e retaguarda e linha de frente da entrega dos serviços. Com base nesta referencial teórico, foram pesquisadas diversas bases de dados e estudos práticos desenvolvidos pelo Laboratório de Aprendizagem em Logística e Transportes (LALT/FEC/UNICAMP). Foram localizados 35 estudos contendo 49 casos em 23 segmentos do setor de serviços. As informações foram organizadas, apresentadas e discutidas para cada elemento logístico. Os resultados permitiram compreender algumas características especificas da logística nos serviços analisados. Destaca-se que o transporte e a armazenagem não são muito dependentes da natureza do serviço envolvido já os elementos de compras, fornecimento e parcerias variam muito. Conclui-se que, de forma geral, os aspectos mais táticos dos processos logísticos são comuns para diferentes segmentos de serviços e os aspectos mais estratégicos da gestão da cadeia de suprimentos são bastante variáveis. O trabalho contribuiu para a construção de uma estrutura geral de análise da logística no setor de serviços para futuras pesquisas / Abstract: The objective of this work is to analyze logistics processes in the services sector in a comparative form in order to understand the similarities and differences between them. As a research strategy, it was used the Systematic Review with metasynthesis. Beginning with a literature review on service operation, logistics and supply chain management, it was identified 15 logistics elements distributed in service development and back office and front office. Based on this theoretical framework, it was researched different data bases and case studies developed by the Laboratório de Aprendizagem em Logística e Transportes (LALT/FEC/UNICAMP). We located 35 studies with 49 cases in 23 service sector segments. The information was organized, presented and discussed for each logistic element. The results allowed us to understand some specific characteristics of service logistics. It is noteworthy that on one hand, the transport and storage are not very dependent on the nature of the service involved. On the other hand, the elements of procurement, supply and partnerships vary widely. We conclude that, in general, the tactical aspects of logistics processes are common for different segments of services and, the strategic aspects of supply chain management are quite variable. This work contributed to the construction of a general structure for future analysis in the logistic in the service sector / Mestrado / Transportes / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Globalisering het die wêreldekonomie onomkeerbaar verander. Globalisering is onder andere moontlik gemaak deur die snelle tegnologiese vooruitgang en die verstewiging van handelsbande oor landsgrense heen. Dit het tot groter mededinging gelei en organisasies aan nuwe uitdagings en onsekerhede blootgestel. Die unieke aard van die nuwe ekonomie het organisasies verplig om hul tradisionele besigheidsmodelle aan te pas. Dit is nou moontlik om grondstowwe van bykans enige plek ter wêreld te bekom, om produkte naby buitelandse markte te vervaardig of waar die arbeidskoste die laagste is, om produkte vanaf optimale punte te versprei en om produkte bykans enige plek ter wêreld te bemark. Die geleenthede soos hierbo uiteengesit, het die klem opnuut laat verskuif na die belangrikheid van die voorsieningskanaal in organisasies. Die voorsieningskanaal is vandag die kern van die besigheidsmodel van menige organisasie en sluit verskeie eksterne partye van ’n organisasie in, soos byvoorbeeld verskaffers van grondstowwe en vervoerdienste. Dit is vandag van uiterste belang dat die ketting as ’n eenheid optimaal funksioneer, aangesien dit algemene praktyk is dat voorsieningskanale teen mekaar meeding om produkte so vinnig en goedkoop as moontlik aan die verbruiker te lewer. Voorsieningskanale is inderdaad van strategiese belang vir organisasies. Die prestasie van voorsieningskanale het ’n direkte impak op winsgewendheid en is dus ook bepalend in die skepping van aandeelhouerswaarde. Die moderne voorsieningskanaal is egter weens verskeie faktore, soos die betrokkenheid van derde partye, kulturele verskille en die lengte van sekere voorsieningskanale, ‘n onsekere omgewing. Dit is van uiterste belang dat organisasies hierdie onsekerhede of risiko’s na behore bestuur ten einde te verseker dat die prestasie van hul voorsieningskanale aan die verwagtinge voldoen. Hierdie studie het hoofsaaklik ten doel gehad om ’n optimale struktuur vir die bestuur van voorsieningskanaalrisiko’s asook ’n geïntegreerde benadering vir die effektiewe bestuur van die risiko’s daar te stel. Voorts was dit die oogmerk om die benadering in ’n werklike voorsieningskanaalomgewing deur middel van ’n gevallestudie toe te pas. Die voorgestelde benadering tot risikobestuur in die voorsieningskanaal is ’n ten volle geïntegreerde benadering wat alle komponente van die voorsieningskanaal insluit. Dit sluit dus alle eksterne partye van die organisasie in, soos byvoorbeeld verskaffers van logistieke dienste, asook alle relevante ondernemingsfunksies, soos byvoorbeeld aankope, bemarking en finansies. Voorts is dit ‘n gestruktureerde benadering wat op strategiese, taktiese en bedryfsvlakke in die voorsieningskanaal toegepas kan word. Indien dit behoorlik geïmplementeer en toegepas word, kan dit byvoorbeeld onderbrekings in die voorsieningskanaal voorkom of ten minste die potensiële impak van onderbrekings verminder. Dit het heelwat ander voordele, byvoorbeeld verbeterde besluitneming en sakeprestasie. Enige organisasie kan hierdie benadering implementeer. Dit is egter makliker om dit te implementeer in organisasies wat alreeds gevestigde risikobestuurstrukture het. ’n Deeglik beplande implementeringstrategie is ’n voorvereiste vir die suksesvolle implementering van die benadering. Risikopersepsie is ’n wesenlike aspek wat in ag geneem moet word tydens die implementering en die toepassing van die benadering. Persepsies van risiko en risikobestuur word deur verskeie faktore beïnvloed, byvoorbeeld die opleiding en ondervinding van individue asook die organisasiekultuur. Die uitkomste van risikostudies kan byvoorbeeld benadeel word indien risikopersepsies nie na behore bestuur word nie. / Prof. J. Walters

The construction industry’s world is very complex, competitive and challenging. That means that everyone who is involved needs to be constantly updated and follow the latest technological trends and ideas to be able to work on a viable project by minimizing the problems.  Nevertheless, there are always different complications that arise mainly because there is not much attention given to logistics and logistics solutions. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the major problems in the Swedish construction industry as well as their corresponding logistics solutions applied by different companies. Moreover, this research will try to investigate how the use of the fairly new concept of Construction Consolidation Centers can improve the situation primarily with the material transportation. The current thesis was conducted by investigating the relevant literature and arranging interviews with a few of the many consultant companies working in the construction industry. The outcomes from both investigations are analyzed and compared showing that there are important differences between the theory (literature review) and the reality (interviews) as some of the main problems in real projects do not appear in the current literature. It is also clearly exposed that Construction Consolidation Centers are a game changer to this kind of projects and such a solution is suggested from both sides, while there is high necessity from the companies to emphasize on the logistics and invest more on their logistics solutions.

The content of this thesis is safety and mobility of children crossing streets as pedestrians and bicyclists. The risk of fatal injury is higher for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially for children and elderly, than for other road users except motorcyclists. The effect of speed reducing devices installed to increase the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists at marked pedestrian crosswalks are studied and evaluated in before-and-after studies. Design principles of a safe environment for children as pedestrians and bicyclists are suggested based on research in this thesis and on earlier research results. Most important is that actual motor vehicle speeds are no more than 30 km/h, wherever children (regularly) cross streets. / Godkänd; 2004; 20061026 (haneit)

Partnership is about developing good business relations between two or more companies. It is a simple and effective working method that can be applied in many situations, including developing new products and associated tooling which is the focus of this thesis. The goal with partnership is not to have a cosy relationship between the partners; but rather as an effective way to make money using a simple working method. The work presented in this thesis is the result of a joint project between Luleå University of Technology and the Pressoform consortium. Pressoform was interested in applying the results in the tooling industry in Sweden and therefore funded the research. The aim of the work behind this thesis was to show that by implementing an effective working method, based on partnership, product development lead-times could be reduced without reduction in quality or increased costs. The specific domain of the work was the development process for form tools such as tools for injection moulding, die casting and sheet metal forming. The advantages with working in a partnership include the possibility to achieve a reduced lead-time and at the same time increase quality and reduce the cost by using an effective working method for developing new products. There are however risks with partnerships, it is a more expensive relationship to maintain, customers are more tightly bounded to suppliers. Another risk could be that the customers by tradition have looked for a power relationship, where they control the form of the relationship. On the other hand a partnership may result in customers and suppliers becoming too close and loose the business like attitude. Partnership is a long-term investment and a strategy for the companies involved to make more money in the long term. Personal relations and trust are important in a long-term strategy, since the companies expect to work together for a long period of time. Partnership should therefore only be conducted with companies that are trusted. In addition effective methods should be applied to speed up the development process for the product and tooling. The business process should be conducted without the traditional quotation process, since this is both time- and cost consuming. Instead of using quotes, buying tools on a cost plus basis is far more effective. The product development work must be conducted with active input from all the three parties. It should be conducted in teams to improve communication, the manufacturer and the tool manufacturer being involved in the team to give input in their expertise areas. Using 3D CAD software has been shown to reduce development lead times by 50% compared to using 2D CAD software. Of the five cases followed, a reduction in lead-time was found in three of them. In one case the project failed due to manufacturing problems whilst the last case focused on the effective product development process in general. / Godkänd; 2002; 20070222 (ysko)

This licentiate thesis deals with traffic safety of pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, in urban areas. The aim is to develop a method based on video recordings to describe road safety and mobility for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, at intersections in urban areas. It is tested using empirical data from intersections in Borås, Sweden. The amount of incidents and conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians and cyclists are lower for all age groups after reconstruction. Before reconstructions the share of car drivers giving way were low independent of the pedestrians age. The design of an intersection influences the different road users’ behaviour. At intersections where more pedestrians walk on the marked zebra crossing the children are benefited the most. / <p>Godkänd; 2001; 20061101 (ysko)</p>

Every winter, more than 100,000 pedestrians in the Nordic countries receive medical treatment as a result of falls on slippery surfaces. In addition, the risk of injury reduces interest in outdoor activities during the wintertime. Pedestrians injured in single-pedestrian accidents on icy and snowy surfaces also experience more serious injuries than pedestrians injured on other surfaces. Thus, there is a clear need for measures to reduce single-pedestrian injuries and improve the safety of walking, without curtailing the activity, year round. A "slip accident" occurs when a person loses his/her balance. An attempt is normally made to recover one's balance, and the person's balance is either recovered or a fall occurs. An injury may be the consequence of such a fall. The most critical phases of the human gait are the heel strike and the toe-off.Various countermeasures can be used .to reduce the risk of a person slipping and sliding when walking outdoors during the wintertime. Such countermeasures may involve the use of individual equipment, services provided by the community to assist vulnerable road-user groups or the public at large, and policy changes in winter-maintenance practices. Examples of measures targeting individuals include information on the risk of slipperiness, and encouraging the use of (or providing) winter footwear and/or anti-slip devices to be fastened to shoes. The issues considered in this thesis are related to the prevention of injuries from single-pedestrian accidents by a specific measure, the use of anti-slip devices. More specifically, the following questions have been addressed in the studies it is based upon:How can the properties of anti-slip devices be assessed?How can more effective anti-slip devices be developed?Do anti-slip devices improve walking ability and safety?In laboratory investigations, test methods were developed and applied to 33 anti-slip devices to assess the test methods against validated criteria, and to analyse the benefits of using different types of anti-slip devices. The tests were conducted by observing people making standard movements on various surfaces chosen to simulate the variations in winter maintenance standards on walkways: snow on ice, sand on ice, gravel on ice, salt on ice and pure ice. Movements were analysed from observations of video recordings, and subjective rating scales were developed to assess walking safety and walking balance. In addition, in a field study questionnaires were used to record exposure, occurrence of slips/falls, descriptions of the slips/falls that occurred and general experiences of the use of anti-slip devices.The results show that it is possible to record the performance of anti-slip devices for pedestrians in a laboratory setting, and that the method developed for doing this is satisfactory. The methods used, together with friction measurements made by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), may provide a sound basis for establishing standard methodology for testing anti-slip devices as personal protective equipment.The results from the Laboratory tests can be used to identify favourable designs of anti-slip devices, and indicate that whole-foot devices are the best type, followed by heel devices, for supporting a natural gait. The results from the Field study show that the availability and use of anti-slip devices can promote walking, which is beneficial from a health perspective, and it does not lead to an increased risk of slipping/falling even though it increases exposure. Overall, the results indicate that the use of anti-slip devices is an effective traffic safety countermeasure for reducing single-pedestrian accidents.Aspects that warrant further attention include verification of the effects of anti-slip devices on exposure and the occurrence of falls, and their effects in relation to specific groups such as elderly. / I de Nordiska länderna beräknas mer än 100000 personer uppsöka sjukvård vintertid på grund av fall på snö och is. I Sverige beräknas ca 10000 män och 15000 kvinnor uppsöka sjukvård på grund av skada vid fall på snö och is. Personer skadade i fallolyckor på snö och is har svårare skador och längre konvalescenstid jämfört med fotgängare som faller på barmark. Därför är det viktigt att identifiera preventiva metoder för fallolyckor vintertid och möjliggöra säkra promenader året runt.En fallolycka inträffar när personen förlorar sin balans och alla försök att återfå den misslyckas. En skada kan uppkomma till följd av ett sådant fall. De kritiska momenten i gångcykeln är hälisättningen och fotavvecklingen (avstampet).Olika åtgärder kan vidtas för att reducera fallolyckor vintertid. De kan antingen relateras till åtgärder i miljön som snöröjning, halkbekämpning osv, eller vara inriktade på att stödja individen i form av balansträning, information om väderlek med hög halkrisk, skor med bra egenskaper eller halkskydd. I detta arbete är fokus på att förhindra skador från singelfotgängarolyckor med en individuell åtgärd, halkskydd.Syftet är att besvara följande forskningsfrågor:Hur kan olika egenskaper hos halkskydd testas?Hur kan effektivare halkskydd utvecklas?Förbättrar halkskydd gångförmågan och säkerheten?Halkskydd är av principiellt olika typer: helfotsskydd (vilka täcker hela eller huvuddelen av skons undersida), hälskydd (vilka i huvudsak täcker klacken under skon) samt fotbladsskydd (som i huvudsak täcker främre delen av undersidan på skon). I laboratoriestudier har en testmetodik utvecklats och 33 olika halkskydd har testats. Testbanorna och testcyklerna efterliknar förhållandena i trafikmiljön, speciellt vid anslutning till och på övergångsställen som antas mer fallolycksbelastat. Testerna sker på olika typer av hala ytor för att efterlikna olika driftstandard: grus på is, sand på is, ren is, snö på is samt salt på is. Analys av gångmönster från videoinspelningar har genomförts. Subjektiva metoder har utvecklats för att värdera gångsäkerhet och balans. I en fältstudie användes enkäter för att registrera exponering, förekomsten av halka och fall, beskrivning av halk- och falltillfällena och generella erfarenheter av användningen av halkskydd.Resultaten visar att det är möjligt att registrera egenskaper hos halkskydd i laboratoriemiljö och att de använda metoderna ger tillfredsställande resultat. Testmetoderna har utvärderats i samarbete med FIOH (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health) som utför tester av halkskydd för godkännande enligt EU:s certifieringsregler för personlig skyddsutrustning (CE-märkning). Utvärderingen kan ligga till grund för ett förslag till standardiserad testmetodik för halkskydd.Olika kvaliteter hos halkskydd har kunnat identifieras vid gång på de olika ytorna. Helfotsskydden stödjer bäst en naturlig gång. Hälskydden är näst bäst i att stödja en naturlig gång. Fältstudien visar att de som använde halkskydd hade signifikant högre exponering utan att få en ökade förekomst av halkincidenter/fall. Halkskydd kan antas vara en effektiv trafiksäkerhetsåtgärd för att minska fotgängarolyckor Nya studier rekommenderas för att verifiera effekten av halkskydd på exponering som fotgängare och förekomsten av fallolyckor samt även effekten för olika grupper som t ex äldre. / Godkänd; 2010; 20100518 (glenn); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Trafikteknik/Traffic Engineering Opponent: Professor emeritus Christer Hydén, Lunds tekniska högskola Ordförande: Professor Anders Lagerkvist, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Torsdag den 16 september 2010, kl 10.00 Plats: F1031, Luleå tekniska universitet

Prof. J. Walters