For standardized environmental management systems (EMS) to be environmentally effective tools, they should affect important environmental aspects related to flows of materials and energy, which for manufacturing companies are closely connected to their products. This paper presents how external environmental auditors interpret and apply important product-related requirements of ISO 14001 at manufacturing companies in Sweden. The results indicate that the link between EMS and products is rather weak. Products are seldom regarded as significant environmental aspects and are therefore not within the main scope of many EMS, which are mainly focused on sites. However, all of the interviewed auditors require that some kind of environmental considerations be incorporated into product development, but these considerations are to large extent site oriented; how they are prioritized in relation to other factors such as economics and other customer priorities appears to be up to the companies. The paper includes some recommendations to strengthen the role of products within the framework of standardized EMS.

El objetivo de esta tesis es establecer una metodología que facilite el intercambio de esquemas mentales, tanto en el ámbito del aprendizaje de conceptos de ingeniería en la universidad como su aplicación en la mejora de la transmisión de conocimientos en la industria.EMS o Exchange of Mental Schemes es la metodología propuesta para el cumplimiento de los objetivos establecidos. La base de este método es la evolución de la técnica de la Auto- explicación hacia una metodología a aplicar en grupo, en el que cada uno de sus componentes lleve a cabo una exteriorización de sus propios esquemas mentales, utilizando como facilitador los comentarios de sus propios compañeros, forzándose, de este modo, a una reflexión, no sólo del propio esquema mental sino del de los demás participantes. Pretende inducir, pues, un proceso de aprendizaje / ampliación de conceptos reflexivo y, como consecuencia, fomentar la transferencia de conceptos e inducir un proceso de aprendizaje duradero.Los experimentos llevados a cabo para el análisis de la aplicación práctica de la metodología propuesta y su validación son los siguientes:1. Primera aplicación en ámbito universitario para observar tendencias y primeros resultados.2. Ampliación del análisis con una muestra suficientemente grande para validar estadísticamente la metodología mediante la comparación de dos tratamientos. 3. Realización de la aplicación de la metodología EMS en el ámbito industrial, con el objetivo de observar la existencia de la misma tendencia que los resultados obtenidos en el ámbito universitario.Las aplicaciones en el ámbito universitario se han realizado con la colaboración de estudiantes de ingeniería. La aplicación en la industria, en cambio, se ha llevado a cabo con la participación de 5 diseñadores de procesos de producción que realizan tareas de diseño equivalentes.La obtención de resultados se ha llevado a cabo no sólo a través del análisis del resultado (comparación de pre-test y post-test) a partir del estudio de índices pre-definidos relacionados con el nivel de aprendizaje, sino también a través del análisis del proceso (análisis de protocolo: grabación en video de las sesiones de aplicación de la metodología y posterior codificación y análisis).Las conclusiones obtenidas a partir del primer análisis de resultados en el ámbito universitario se resumen en la existencia de una tendencia claramente positiva amentando el valor de los índices relacionados con el nivel de aprendizaje, incluso transcurrido un cierto tiempo.La ampliación del tamaño de la muestra en el segundo experimento ha permitido validar estadísticamente la metodología con un grado de seguridad mayor al 95%.Con la aplicación del método EMS en el ámbito industrial los resultados obtenidos, tanto mediante el análisis del pre-test y post-test como a través del análisis del protocolo, son equivalentes.Del mismo modo, los diseñadores definen la metodología EMS como fácil de aplicar, con potencial claro en el área analizada, que ayuda a aprender a reflexionar sobre los conceptos propios, e incluso a mejorar la relación entre las personas del departamento.Así pues, puede afirmarse que los resultados obtenidos en los distintos experimentos, permiten entender la metodología EMS como un método válido para fomentar el intercambio de conocimientos en ambos casos: en el ámbito universitario para fomentar el aprendizaje de conceptos de ingeniería, consiguiéndose un aprendizaje más profundo y duradero, y en el ámbito industrial, para facilitar la transmisión de conocimientos entre las distintas personas de la organización. / The aim of this thesis is to establish a methodology that allows exchange of mental schemes, not only talking about learning engineering concepts in university but also to improve knowledge transmission with its industrial environment application.EMS (Exchange of Mental Schemes) methodology is the method proposed in order to achieve objectives established. The base of this methodology is the evolution of Self-explanation technique to a group applied method, in which every member of the group do externalize his/her own mental schemes (as much as possible), using a facilitator or guide comments realized by the other people of the group, forcing a reflection, not only of the own mental scheme but other participants' mental schemes. It is, then, a method to apply in group, to help the learning process / extension of concepts that is reflexive, and, as a consequence, encourage transfer of concepts and induction of long term learning. Experiments carried out in order to analyse the practical application of the proposed methodology and its statistical validation are the following:1. First application in university environment to observe tendencies and first results.2. Wider analysis with a big enough sample to statistically validate the methodology (comparison between two treatments).3. EMS methodology application in industrial environment, with final purpose of observing the same tendency in the obtained results as in the university environment.The application in the university environment has been carried out with the collaboration of a group of engineering students. Otherwise, application in industry has been done with the collaboration of 5 production process designers that used to perform similar task in their daily work.Results have been obtained through analysis of results (comparison between pre-test and post test) using for this aim pre-established indexes related with the level of knowledge, but also through protocol analysis (video-recording of sessions in which the EMS methodology was used, codifying of verbalizations and analysis). Conclusions obtained from the results of the first analysis in university environment can be summarized in the existence of a clearly positive tendency in increasing the value of indexes related with level of knowledge, even after some time.A wider sample in the second experiment has allowed to statistically validating the methodology with a degree of certainty higher than 95%.With the EMS methodology application in the industrial environment, the obtained results, in both pre-test and post-test analysis and through protocol analysis, are equivalent.Also, after analysis the designers' opinion it is discovered that EMS methodology is seen as easy to apply, with a clear potential in the analysed area, it helps to reflect about own concepts and even improve the relation between people of the area.Therefore, results obtained in the experiments carried out, enable to consider the EMS methodology as a valid method to encourage exchange of knowledge in both analysed cases: in the university, to support engineering concepts learning, achieving learning that is both deeper and longer lasting, and in the industry, to make knowledge transfer between people of the organization easier.

Organisational impacts on the environment have been a primary topic of discussion for several decades, prompting a need for organisations to eva- luate and manage their environmental impacts. Environmental management systems have since been adopted by companies worldwide for numerous reasons and benefits. In more recent years, IT solutions have been designed to meet the various needs of environmental management but with little at- tention drawn to a standardised approach.   The following thesis aims to determine the use of IT adopted by organisa- tions to support their environmental management systems (EMSs). In doing so, the importance of EMSs, IT solutions to support EMSs and the benefits of IT for such systems are addressed. A small number of informative inter- views were conducted with EMS consultants and numerous representatives of ISO 14001 certified companies to establish what IT solutions are availa- ble to support EMSs and identify the differences between such solutions.   This thesis demonstrates that IT solutions adopted by organisations to sup- port their EMSs differ in complexity and depend upon the expected results of the EMS itself. Depending on how integral the EMS is to the organisa- tion’s business processes, IT can benefit the EMS and ultimately the organi- sation in a number of ways. In conclusion, EMSs can be implemented with little technical aid. However, IT is a communicative tool adopted to review, manage and monitor environmental data and enables easier handling of en- vironmental data enhancing the performance of the EMS.

Many of the future methods are used in areas like economical studies, predicting future markets or legislations that might have an effect on a company or an organization. There is a necessity for knowing what the future holds. Following sustainable development companies has begun to adopt standardized environmental management systems like EMAS and ISO 14001. The companies that use scenario methods are often companies that also use environmental management and standardized management systems, which also is the case in this study. The aim of the study is to examine how future oriented studies can be used to develop the environmental strategic arena, by suggesting possible work procedures. The aim is also to describe how different future studies and techniques theoretically can be used within the strategic environmental area and to examine the use of future studies within different companies. Four Semi-structured interviews were made with companies that both use EMS and future studies. The interviews and the theoretical framework in study were used to answer the aim. The results indicate that company future studies only have an effect on the market area and not the company EMS, the influence at the best is only indirect. The companies are more focused on factors that can change the market and economical aspects surrounding their products and services, than on factors that can be of important in making strategic important decisions about the appearance of the future environmental arena. Future oriented studies can be of use in EMS, the forecasting used in company A or the external method used in the three other companies. The methods each have qualities that are of use in different areas of the standardized EMS. Forecasting can help the user in the beginning of the planning process of EMS, with its short term visions the user can create an understanding about which way to go and this can then be complemented with backcasting. External scenarios used in the other three companies should be able to be integrated with the environmental area of the companies. These companies have god conditions to integrate their scenario work with the EMS because of the knowledge and use of future studies today. / The ISRN in the pdf-file is incorrect. The correct ISRN is shown below.

Diversity of consumers, timely needs of the times, combined with market information, production and selling out of products, enterprises can profit possible. Want in the fierce competition; we must attach importance to production and sales co-ordination and integration. This study aimed to clarify the "Toyota production and sales integrated management system," in close connection with production and sales, rapid response to changes in the meaning and operation of the structure and conditions of its formation. "Toyota production and sales integrated management system," the biggest feature is the production site with frequent sales information for the various stages of the production plan to do a different range of amendments, the final production and micro-adjustments to billboards, fast response to changes in demand. In the full sales pipeline, the distributor effective master customer information and establish long-term relationships with customers, thus the right to collect and prepare sales forecasts, and quickly back to the Toyota Motor Sales, such as Toyota's strong sales management an important support system behind the production factors. "Toyota production and sales integrated management systems," the transfer of applications across industries, from brand computer makers and electronics contract manufacturing service provider of supply chain production micro-tune the system for evidence. Through analysis and comparison of the two operational framework that, dismantling of production steps, multi-stage production scheduling amendments, the changes in the components remain the highest to the final assembly, so that the flexible "instant production of Just-In-Time" , can be applied in different industries. "Toyota production and sales integrated management systems," the production of micro-adjustment of the operational structure to clarify and resolve inter-industry transfer of instances, not only academic significance, other electronic products manufacturing industry for practical application, also has a reference value.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is used as a countermeasure in animal disuse studies that seek to determine which forms of exercise are most effective in mitigating the effects of disuse atrophy on bone and muscle. Although EMS has been used for many years in our lab and others, few researchers have been able to quantify the levels of strain on rat tibiae during EMS and far fewer have investigated the causal relationship between torque produced at the ankle and strain on the tibia. This thesis sought to investigate the relationship between ankle torque and tibial strain by using a combination of techniques, namely: (1) the addition of rosette strain gages, (2) improved synchronization between ankle torque and tibial strain recordings, and (3) spectral analysis between torque and strain waveforms. In previous work, few methods existed to align torque and strain recordings temporally, as those data were recorded on separate computers and synchronizing events were not captured. Attempting to create a torque-strain crossplot with unsynchronized data does not always yield valid results, so a method of reliably synchronizing those data is required. This thesis developed methods to capture simultaneous (synchronizing) events in both torque and strain recordings and then used those captured events to synchronize data between two computers. Following that synchronization, stiffness calculations were run on torque-strain crossplots to determine linear-model relationships between torque and strain for each method of synchronization. The results from those regressions were then used to determine if one or more synchronization techniques are superior to others, in terms of repeatability or precision. The results of these analyses have shown that using portions of the curves can dramatically increase computing speed while providing high levels of repeatability in synchronization measures. After synchronization techniques had been investigated, 3-element rosette data were used to calculate the principal strains on the surface of the tibiae, and the percentage of principal strains that are accounted for in the axial direction. Since the strain environment changes along the axis of the bone, the principal strain data were plotted versus the distance from proximal epiphysis to rosette gage, and statistical analysis was presented. After rosette data were analyzed, the torque and strain data pairs were fed into a signal processing suite for the purpose of transfer function calculation. Using the synchronization methods outlined above, two means of synchronization were compared in the transfer function program. Results for these analyses demonstrated that transfer functions are slightly dependent on synchronization methods, but that calculated gains do not differ between synchronization techniques. The specific shapes of the transfer functions highlight the relative attenuation/amplification of frequencies in torque and strain signals. Specifically, a range of frequencies, commonly called a band, between 24 and 32Hz is attenuated by the soft tissues and mechanical linkages in the lower leg of rats. This finding gives researchers looking to increase or decrease modeling stimulus to bone a new piece of information about the relative efficiency of EMS exercise. For example, EMS performed at 24-25Hz might produce less strain in the tibia than EMS at 22-23Hz, despite the 22-23Hz stimulation producing marginally less torque.

Among the available methods of creating selectable variation, induced mutagenesis has been historically under-utilized in cotton improvement. Dick Auld showed that chemical mutagenesis could be used to enhance fiber length of a medium staple cotton cultivar without sacrificing yield. The goal of this project was to determine if mutagenesis could be used to improve the fiber quality of a germplasm line already considered to be at the upper-limits of fiber length. Seed of TAM 94 L-25 were treated with EMS in 2001 and the M2 generation was produced at Lubbock, Texas in 2002. More than 1200 M3 plants were grown at College Station, Texas in 2004, harvested individually, and HVI fiber properties determined. The top and bottom 1 percent for UHML, strength, and elongation were selected and the seeds of these individuals planted as an M4 progeny row nursery in 2005. Approximately ten individual plants per progeny row were harvested for re-evaluation of fiber parameters. From the approximately 1600 individual TAM 94L-25 M4 plants harvested in 2005, 61 were selected and subsequently treated as pure lines. Agronomic performance trials were conducted on 61 of those TAM 94L-25 M lines along with the M0 check and two commercial cultivar checks, Fiber Max 832 and Phytogen 355, in 2008 and 2009 in College Station and Weslaco, Texas. Within-boll yield components were examined for 13 representative mutant lines and the three checks. TAM 94L-25 averaged 751 kg lint ha^-1, 31.1 mm UHML, 303 kN m kg^-1 fiber bundle strength, and 6.0 percent elongation. The 61 mutant lines yielded from 366 to 932 kg lint ha^-1, exhibited UHML from 24.3 to 34.9 mm, fiber bundle strengths of 261 to 333 kN m kg^-1, and elongations from 5.4 to 8.1 percent. Seed surface area of the TAM 94L-25 M-lines was between 99 and 124 mm^2, and fibers per unit seed surface area from 123 to 168 fibers mm^-2. The M0 parent, TAM 94L-25 averaged 125 mm^2 seed-1, and 128 fibers mm^-2. The data presented herein demonstrate that EMS-induced mutagenesis was successful in creating TAM 94L-25 M-lines with superior fiber and yield traits to that of the non-mutated, high fiber quality parent, TAM 94L-25.

Electronic Industry is the leader of Taiwan manufacturing industries. Recently, the Electric Manufacture Service (EMS) of Taiwan has adopted the American professional model. In electronic products, Print Circuit Board (PCB) is a key important component with high reliability. Print Circuit Board is a customer-made product possesses unique manufacturing features, such as high quality, complicated and protracted manufacturing process, etc. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the correct selection of the PCB supplier by the Supplier Evaluation Department is of utmost importance in assisting the establishment of a successful business among the electronic manufacturing service companies that utilizing the professional knowledge and techniques in the EMS value chain. This study integrates the management designs from ISO 9001, QS9000 and TQM to provide the evaluation system for PCB products. The related literatures were applied to the whole evaluation methodology, divided into Quality System and Processing Control. Using the Processing Control as the center, it breaks up all the product-related functional departments and processing procedures of PCB into units. According to the long-term PCB supplier evaluation experience, this study details the common mistakes and evaluation standard of each evaluation item. It also provides the related flow-charts for supplier evaluation process. The major differences of evaluation methodology between electronic and traditional industries are evaluated. Major conclusions and suggestions are obtained by simultaneously collecting a large amount of secondary information in the field, and in depth interview with the middle and high levels managers of the PCB factories. The major conclusions and suggestions are as follow: 1. Coordinate with purchasing strategy Establish an effective supplier evaluation system to select the most suitable supplier both in the quality- and cost-controls. The ordinary EMS factories will receive OEM orders of different PCB technical levels and products from different customers. This system could help finding the most suitable supplier for the job. 2. Obtain the best quality assurance for the final products According to the validation of the in-field evaluation, this study separates the analytical results into four categories. It concludes a variant table based on the levels of evaluation, manufacturing capability index and product usage. This variant table will recommend the most capable supplier in accordance with the different PCB technical levels. 3. Minimize the variation of evaluation personnel This study details the common mistakes and the evaluation standard of each evaluation item providing references to the EMS or ODM companies. After several in-field trainings, the variation of the evaluation personnel can be minimized to the least. 4. Improve the managing and manufacturing capability of PCB supplier Select the best part of the QS9000 management techniques as the references for PCB supplier to conduct the Six Sigma or Business Process Improvement (BPI). In order to improve the managing and manufacturing capability of PCB suppliers, this study suggests conducting the practical execution and prevention methods and continuous improvement activities. Through these action plans, it can decrease the unqualified rate and rejected cost, improve the management constitution, become the world-class manufacturing factories and obtain high profit.

<p>Organisational impacts on the environment have been a primary topic of</p><p>discussion for several decades, prompting a need for organisations to eva-</p><p>luate and manage their environmental impacts. Environmental management</p><p>systems have since been adopted by companies worldwide for numerous</p><p>reasons and benefits. In more recent years, IT solutions have been designed</p><p>to meet the various needs of environmental management but with little at-</p><p>tention drawn to a standardised approach.</p><p> </p><p>The following thesis aims to determine the use of IT adopted by organisa-</p><p>tions to support their environmental management systems (EMSs). In doing</p><p>so, the importance of EMSs, IT solutions to support EMSs and the benefits</p><p>of IT for such systems are addressed. A small number of informative inter-</p><p>views were conducted with EMS consultants and numerous representatives</p><p>of ISO 14001 certified companies to establish what IT solutions are availa-</p><p>ble to support EMSs and identify the differences between such solutions.</p><p> </p><p>This thesis demonstrates that IT solutions adopted by organisations to sup-</p><p>port their EMSs differ in complexity and depend upon the expected results</p><p>of the EMS itself. Depending on how integral the EMS is to the organisa-</p><p>tion’s business processes, IT can benefit the EMS and ultimately the organi-</p><p>sation in a number of ways. In conclusion, EMSs can be implemented with</p><p>little technical aid. However, IT is a communicative tool adopted to review,</p><p>manage and monitor environmental data and enables easier handling of en-</p><p>vironmental data enhancing the performance of the EMS.</p>

A series of studies were conducted on an emerging disease in farmed penaeid shrimp. This disease was first named as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or more descriptively as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS). As part of the outcome of this research, the etiology of EMS/AHPNS was demonstrated. EMS was first classified as an idiopathic disease because no causative agent had been identified. Preliminary studies conducted in Vietnam in 2012 by the University of Arizona Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory (UAZ-APL) indicated that EMS is infectious (Tran et al., 2013). The agent was identified as a unique strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Hence, EMS has a bacterial etiology confirmed by satisfying Koch's Postulates. Further studies focusing on the bacterial isolate causing EMS revealed that the agent could produce toxin(s), which is responsible for the primary pathology in affected shrimp. Since the causative agent has been identified, we propose a new name for EMS as Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND). Characterizations of the AHPND-causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus: Biochemical methods and molecular methods were used. Based on these results, various diagnostic methods were developed including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and biochemical tests. Other aspects of the AHPND causing V. parahaemolyticus were also run to determine such as antibiogram and the development of resistance mechanism of the bacteria exposed to farm conditions with antibiotic medications, pathogenicity, and infection dose of the bacteria, mode of infection, mechanisms governing the toxin production, and effects of environmental parameters on the invasion of the agent. Some proposed control measures for AHPND: Several antibiotic-free approaches were tested to determine viable control methods for AHPND. The principle proposed control method is to increase biosecurity. With the PCR method that has been developed, potential sources of the pathogen such as post-larvae and broodstock can be tested. As more and more insights of the pathogen were explored, the behavior of the pathogen was further elucidated. Based on this, control methods such as using polyculture with tilapia, probiotics, and bioflocs system were also tested. Several improvements in shrimp farming practices that may reduce the outbreak of the disease were also proposed.