A fragmentação da floresta nativa, em regiões de Mata Atlântica, foi impulsionada pela expansão de áreas urbanas e agrícolas, gerando uma demanda por restauração de áreas degradadas, afim de promover o aumento da cobertura florestal e a conexão de remanescentes florestais. Essas ações de restauração devem considerar a influência dos atributos da paisagem no processo de restauração ecológica e a definição de áreas prioritárias. Neste contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi desenvolver um índice de priorização de fragmentos florestais, composto por métricas de Ecologia da Paisagem, visando à restauração ecológica da paisagem. A metodologia do Índice Restauração Ecológica de Paisagem (IREP), iniciou-se com a elaboração do mapa de uso e cobertura do solo da sub-bacia do rio Passa-Cinco, a partir do qual se obteve seu mapeamento dos seus remanescentes de floresta nativa que, por sua vez, foi a base para o cálculo de suas métricas de Ecologia da Paisagem e do IREP. As métricas selecionadas foram a área do fragmento (AREA), a dimensão fractal do fragmento (PFD) e a distância média entre os fragmentos (DIST), as quais não apresentaram correlação entre si. Elas foram valoradas por meio da Técnica Participatória e do Processo Hierárquico Analítico, obtendo para a métrica DIST importância de 60%, para AREA de 30% e PFD de 10%. Em seguida calculou-se o IREP para os remanescentes florestais da sub-bacia, os quais foram reclassificados em sete classes de prioridade. Os resultados indicaram o predomínio de fragmentos florestais com área menor que 5 ha, que se encontram dispersos na paisagem e, inseridos em uma matriz agrícola em que se tem o predomínio de pastagem. Assim, 25,44% da área ocupada pelos fragmentos florestais foram associadas a prioridade alta, segundo o IREP. Conclui-se que o IREP propiciou avaliar a importância dos fragmentos florestais para a restauração ecológica da paisagem, destacando, dentre as métricas utilizadas, a distância entre fragmentos. / The native forest fragmentation, in the Atlantic Forest regions, was driven by the urban and agricultural expansion, generating a demand for restoration of degraded areas, to promote the increase of forest cover and the connection of forest remnants. These restoration actions should consider the landscape attributes influence on the ecological restoration process and, the definition of priority areas. In this context, the objective of the work was to develop an index for forest fragment prioritization, composed by Landscape Ecology metrics, aiming at the ecological restoration of the landscape. Considering the land-use/land-cover mapping of the Passa-Cinco sub-basin, we obtained the native forest remnants maps, that supported the generation of Landscape Ecology metrics and, consequently, the Ecological Landscape Restoration Index (ELRI). Three metrics, no correlated between then, were select for ELRI, considering their importance for the study, that was defined through the Participatory Technique and Analytic Hierarchy Process. The selected metrics were the mean distance between patches (DIST), patch area (AREA), the fractal dimension of the patch (PFD) and, their respective importance was 60%, 30% and, 10%. This way, ELRI was calculated for forest patches, defining their priority for ecological restoration. According to the results, the forest fragments smaller than 5 ha were the majority in the Passa-Cinco and, they are scattered in the agriculture matrix, where the pasture is the main land-use. Consequently, 25.44% of the forest patches were associated with the high priority level, through the index. We conclude that ELRI allows the evaluation of forest fragments for the ecological restoration of the landscape, highlighting the importance of distance among fragments.

Orientadores: Carlos Roberto de Souza Filho, Jener Fernando de Morais Leite / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociencias / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T08:21:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Picolo_ConradoEugenioBorges_M.pdf: 3955298 bytes, checksum: cfe9d59f8c1d2f4be316895c7d4a394d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A bacia do Rio Jundiaí Mirim, compreendida nos municípios de Jundiaí, Jarinu e Campo Limpo Paulista, embora seja considerada, na sua maior parte, como uma área de conservação ambiental, tem sido atingida por pressões antrópicas, incluindo ocupação desordenada, operações mineiras, práticas agrícolas inadequadas, desmatamento, entre outras. Cerca de 97% do abastecimento de água da cidade de Jundiaí, o principal pólo consumidor local, é captado dessa bacia. Apesar dessa situação preocupante do uso da terra na área da bacia, nenhum estudo consistente foi realizado até hoje sobre seu impacto potencial sobre o abastecimento de água na região. Nesse contexto, esta pesquisa teve como principal objetivo traçar uma metodologia de análise do risco a perda da capacidade hídrica da bacia do Rio Jundiaí Mirim em função da impermeabilização do solo ocasionada pela ação antrópica, relacionando características morfométricas da bacia à informações pedológicas e ocupacionais. Dois métodos básicos foram utilizados para integração e análise espacial dos dados: o Processo Analítico Hierárquico (PAR) (método dirigido pelo conhecimento) e a Regressão de Multivariáveis (RM) (método dirigido pelos dados). Mapas de favorabilidade da manutenção da capacidade hídrica da bacia foram gerados através do método PAR, retro-ajustado pelo método RM, para dois cenários: (i) ocupação atual da bacia e, (ü) ocupação máxima para manutenção da capacidade hídrica dos canais principais da bacia. A análise cruzada nem os mapas gerados para esses dois cenários permitiu a derivação do produto-alvo desse estudo: um mapa de classes de risco a perda da capacidade hídrica da bacia. Dez Cinco sub-bacias foram classificadas como de muito baixo e baixo risco a perda de suas capacidades hídricas. Segundo os critérios utilizados na análise e considerando as condições atuais de ocupação, a bacia do rio Jundiaí Mirim não apresenta áreas de alto risco quanto a sua capacidade de fornecer água para as cidades da região / Abstract: The Jundiai Mirim river watershed (JMRW) is comprised within the cities of Jundiaí, Jarinu and Campo Limpo Paulista. Although a large portion of this watershed is considered a site of environmental protection, the area has been increasingly submitted to anthropic-related changes, including intricate house settlement, mining operations, damaging farming practices, deforesting, etc. Some 97% of the city of Jundiaí water supply, the main consuming center in the area, comes :&om the JMRW. Albeit this improper land use within the watershed is widely acknowledged, there have been no comprehensive scientific investigations as regards the potential impacts and threats that such anthropic changes may inflict in the water supply of the region. In this context, the main objective of this project is to develop a method for risk assessment of the potential loss of the JMRW hydric capacity, focusing on the effects of soil impermeability driven by antropic events and considering the synergy between morphometric, pedological and landuse characteristics of the watershed. Two basic methods were employed for data integration and spatial analysis: the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP - a knowledge-driven method) and the Multivariables Regression (MR - a data-driven method). Maps of favorability of hydric capacity maintenance were produced through AHP, and the mo deI was retro-adjusted by MR calculations. Two scenarios were considered: (i) present occupation of the watershed; and (ii) maximum possible occupation within a protective limit to maintain the hydric capacity of the main rivers of the watershed. Cross analysis of the favorability maps created for these two scenarios yielded the aimed risk assessment map for the JMRW. Five sub-basins were classified within very low and low risk to loose their hydric capacity. Considering the criteria employed in this work and the existent pattern of landuse, the JMRW shows a situation of overall low risk and it has the necessary resources to keeping the water supply of the region / Mestrado / Metalogenese / Mestre em Ciências

O avanço da economia brasileira e o amadurecimento dos mercados induzem a crescente competitividade nos diferentes setores. Com isso, as corporações buscam por maneiras de investir com maior produtividade de modo a direcionar recursos nas suas atividades fins para desenvolvimento e expansão do negocio principal. Os ativos imobiliários são um dos recursos mais onerosos para muitas empresas, que ainda imobilizam recursos nesses ativos de longo prazo de maturação. É incipiente a percepção das empresas brasileiras em relação às perdas de oportunidade de ganho com os investimentos que são internados nas suas bases instaladas. Nesse contexto, a tese trata da configuração de um método para analise da oportunidade de imobilização e desmobilização em imóveis corporativos sob a ótica das corporações usuárias, por meio da identificação de critérios qualitativos e quantitativos (econômico-financeiros) relevantes a analise, considerando (i) os mecanismos diretos e indiretos atualmente empregados no Brasil, (ii) a sustentação legal, (iii) as praticas tributarias e contábeis, e (iv) as praticas prevalentes de mercado. Os critérios de decisão do método são priorizados pelos administradores das corporações com auxilio de uma ferramenta para analise hierárquica de decisão (Analytic Hierarchy Process - AHP), que indica a alternativa mais adequada entre as opções de imobilização ou não no real estate para cada situação. O método desenvolvido nesta tese pode ser uma importante ferramenta de apoio para as diretrizes de governança corporativa no que tange as decisões em relação ao portfolio de real estate das corporações, podendo ser utilizado por empresas com atuação nos diferentes setores da economia, tais como: manufatura, serviços, varejo, entre outros, inclusive no setor publico. / The development of the Brazilian economy and the maturity of the markets have prompted growing competition within different sectors. In this context corporations tend to find ways to invest more productively by focusing on their main activities in an effort to enhance their core business. Real estate assets are generally one of the companies\' greatest expenses; even so, companies still invest in these long-term maturity assets. It is still incipient the perception of Brazilian companies as regards the opportunity costs incurred by them as a result of investing in real estate assets. In view of the foregoing, the thesis sets forth an analysis method to guide the decision whether to invest or not in real estate assets from the perspective of corporate users. The analysis is based on qualitative and quantitative attributes by taking in account (i) both direct and indirect procedures currently used in Brazil, (ii) the legal framework, (iii) the tax and accounting practices, and (iv) the prevalent market practices. The method\'s decision criteria are prioritized by the corporations` officers through the AHP tool (Analytic Hierarchy Process), which indicates the most appropriate decision in each situation. The method herein developed may work as an important corporate governance guideline in the extent real estate portfolio decisions are taken by corporations, and it can be used by companies of different sectors, such as manufacturing, service, retail, among others, including the public sector.

This thesis considers how the development of Product-Service Systems (PSS) relates to cultural changes in the organizations doing the development. On one hand, reducing cultural shift is desirable to absorb shocks and reduce obstacles that come from internal relations. And on the other hand, the cultural changes may be an opportunity and a breakthrough - or even necessary - to develop PSS. In exploring the possibility of managing culture, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize three possible actions to support the best culture to help PSS development. A survey was also carried out through sending questionnaires to nineteen experts. The results suggest that when people prioritized the three actions, the most important was related to pursuing “economic benefits”, and adopted “strengthen executive support and performance management”. This study proposes a portfolio of practices which is targeted at deep into the prioritized action and figure out an action plan as well as some sub-activities around the four quadrants which formed by the integration of Fulfillment, Informal, Innovation, and Formal approach. And each action and planning could still be applied to PSS development as well as other changes, prepare organizational culture changes and create a more harmonious enterprise culture. / 46769611005

The occurrence of natural phenomena such as floods and floods are gaining alarming proportions in recent years, bringing as a result of social and economic losses. Considering the subsidy in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide for the generation of information and decision making, this geotechnology is in a tool that can assist in the planning of the geographical space. Thus, this research seeks from the digital terrain modeling (DTM) of the watershed Arroio Cadena and Picadinha, located in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul and multi-criteria method Hierarchy Process Analytic (AHP), identify susceptible areas the flood phenomenon. To do this, proceed to the acquisition of contour data, elevation points, hydrography, soil type and satellite images (RapidEye). Manipulation of the data resulted in the hierarchy of hydrography as Shreve, map of soil types in the study area, from satellite images obtained map of the use and occupation of land and generation of MDT, providing maps of slope and hypsometry. Thus, through the variables generated, there was a multi-criteria analysis (AM), which is the intersection of the generated maps and consequently the identification of areas susceptible to the occurrence of the flood event of the watershed Arroio Cadena and Picadinha. From the identification of these areas it was possible to estimate the population that is inserted. Based on these results, it is believed that the techniques and methods used can provide subsidies and soffits for future studies and aid in monitoring the study area. / As ocorrências de fenômenos naturais, como enchentes e inundações, vêm ganhando proporções alarmantes nos últimos anos, trazendo como consequência prejuízos sociais e econômicos. Considerando o subsídio que os Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIG) fornecem para a geração de informações e tomadas de decisões, essa geotecnologia constitui-se em uma ferramenta que pode auxiliar no planejamento do espaço geográfico. Sendo assim, a presente pesquisa busca, a partir da Modelagem Digital de Terreno (MDT) das bacias hidrográficas dos Arroios Cadena e Picadinha, localizadas no município de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul e do método multicritério Processo Analítico Hierárquico (AHP), identificar as áreas suscetíveis ao fenômeno de inundação. Para isso, procedeu-se à aquisição de dados de curvas de nível, pontos cotados, hidrografia, tipo de solos e imagens de satélite (RapidEye). A manipulação dos dados obtidos resultou na hierarquização da hidrografia conforme Shreve, no mapa de tipos de solo da área de estudo, a partir das imagens de satélite obteve-se o mapa de uso e ocupação da terra e na geração do MDT, proporcionando mapas de declividade e hipsometria. Assim, mediante as variáveis geradas, realizou-se a Análise Multicritério (AM), que consiste no cruzamento dos mapas obtidos e, consequentemente, na identificação das áreas suscetíveis à ocorrência do evento de inundação das bacias hidrográficas dos Arroios Picadinha e Cadena. A partir da identificação dessas áreas, foi possível estimar a população que nelas está inserida. Com base em tais resultados, acredita-se que as técnicas e os métodos utilizados possam fornecer subsídios e embasamentos para futuras pesquisas e auxiliar na fiscalização da área de estudo.

In the past few decades, there has been increasing concern towards the potential effects of industrial pollutants on our eco-system. Each country has developed and enacted stringent environmental regulatory standards to address this concern. Several studies conducted in the general area of regulatory impact show significant direct impact of these regulations on organizations. Pharmaceutical industry in particular, due to the generation of variety of hazardous waste during operations, is one among the highly regulated industrial sector globally. The financial liabilities and resource shortages associated while incorporating abatement technologies and related procedural changes make Pharmaceutical Small and Medium Enterprises (PSMEs) highly vulnerable to these regulatory compliance standards. This study aims to investigate two aspects of environment regulation compliance in the PSMEs, namely To identify the nature and magnitude of vulnerabilities encountered by the PSMEs in India while complying with environmental regulations, and To explore and to analyze the adaptation mechanisms followed by the PSMEs in India, while complying with environmental regulations. Literature explorations in the area of environmental regulation, enforcement, compliance, pharmaceutical industry and SMEs, gave limited studies with focus on India. Hence a questionnaire based survey was administered online and face to face. The sampling design followed was stratified random and the total sample size taken for the final analysis was 71. The survey targeted the senior executive officers of pharmaceutical firms across India. Unstructured discussions and interactions with experts in the field were also carried out to understand the gravity of each concern. Data was analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for exploring and prioritizing vulnerability concerns, factor analysis for identifying the general adaptation mechanisms and systems practiced, and cluster analysis for assessing the underlying relationship among vulnerability concerns and adaptation patterns of firms under study. Findings of the analysis highlighted several significant drivers of the interaction between the PSMEs and the environment regulations. Some of them are as follows: One, conforming to literature finding, our study also found manufacturing related problems as the most significant concern for the PSMEs. However, unlike the Western countries, it was the poor quality of raw material available in the market that causes the main concern, and not the need for intensive capital investment in abatement technologies. Investigations revealed the steady global market decline for this sub-sector and the need for new innovations to meet the changing global trends. Two, marketing was a significantly higher concern for the PSMEs than regulator and regulatory management. Marketing has special relevance in the pharmaceutical industry as it deals with health and life saving issues for the people, and this got highlighted in our results. Three, the study found external management factors as the most followed coping / adaptation mechanism pursued by the PSMEs. Conforming to literature findings, our study also demonstrated smaller firms as significantly more vulnerable to adaptation in comparison with medium scale firms. The study also highlighted the attempt at balancing the local and global by the Indian PSMEs. While the process orientation was towards meeting international standards, the management of resources, marketing and regulatory requirements had a focus on the local pressures. The study provides some insight into the vulnerabilities and adaptation efforts of the Indian PSMEs and brings out the relevant strategic interventions needed from government, regulatory organizations and industry associations to develop a more sustainable business environment for the Indian PSMEs.

Earlier studies in the context of windows and blinds selection have mostly tried to increase the awareness regarding various effects of windows and blinds selection on subjective well-being, including their effect on visual comfort, thermal comfort, energy consumption and life cycle cost. However, the main problem is the potential conflicts between visual comfort, thermal comfort, energy consumption and life cycle cost. Increased awareness about the contradictory effect of windows and blinds selection on subjective well-being on one hand and lack of a feasible method in managing the conflicts on the other hand may bind individuals, as decision-makers, in a situation where they follow the immediate economic benefits rather than the long-term visual and thermal benefits. To solve the mentioned problem, this study analysed first the degree of the conflicts between average daylight illuminance and total energy consumption in Sweden. This decision was made due to large variation in solar elevation angle and solar intensity between summer and winter in Sweden, which has significant effects on daylight illuminance and total energy consumption. Analysing the conflicts was accomplished by developing two multivariate linear regression models for calculating average daylight illuminance and total energy consumption. Comparison and analysis of the multivariate linear regression models showed the existence of a high degree of conflicts, which makes window and blind selection a rather complex multidimensional problem. Specifying the degree of the conflicts formed a hypothesis as: “A multi criteria decision-making method increases the controllability and manages the conflicts in selecting windows and blinds”. The developed hypothesis was later tested by employing analytical hierarchy process, as widely used multi criteria decisionmaking method. The analytical hierarchy process prioritizes decision-maker’ preferences and introduces a desired trade-off solution. The results of employing analytical hierarchy process showed the capability of it in managing the conflicts among visual comfort, thermal comfort, energy consumption and life cycle cost. Finally, the application of the analytical hierarchy process was expanded by integrating it with nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II, as an optimization algorithm. Through this integration, optimization algorithm combines windows’ and blinds’ design variables and analyses a large number of solutions, while analytical hierarchy process ranks the solutions based on decision-makers’ preferences and introduces a desired trade-off solution. The integration between analytical hierarchy process and the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II was presented later as a conceptual framework. The developed conceptual framework can be used for selecting windows and blinds II in both residential and commercial buildings. In selecting windows and blinds, the conceptual framework is a novel solution to the lack of a feasible method for increasing the controllability for decision-makers and obtaining a desired trade-off solution. / Tidigare studier avseende val av fönster och solskydd har främst försökt fastställa olika effekter som valet av fönster och solskydd har på det subjektiva välbefinnandet. Detta inkluderar dessa föremåls effekt på den visuella komforten, den termiska komforten, energiförbrukningen och livscykelkostnaderna. Det huvudsakliga problemet är dock de potentiella konflikterna mellan visuell komfort, termisk komfort, energiförbrukning och livscykelkostnader. Avsaknaden av en metod för att hantera denna konflikt leder till att beslutfattaren fastnar i en situation där de snarare gör sitt val utifrån omedelbara ekonomiska fördelar än de långsiktiga visuella och termiska fördelarna. För att lösa ovan nämnda problem analyserades konflikterna mellan det genomsnittliga dagsljusinsläppet och den totala energiförbrukningen i Sverige. En av huvudanledningarna till konflikterna är att solens infallsvinkel och intensitet varierar kraftigt mellan sommar och vinter i Sverige. Detta har betydande effekter på dagsljusinfallet och den totala energiförbrukningen. Konflikterna analyserades genom att utveckla två multivariata linjära regressionsmodeller för att beräkna det genomsnittliga dagsljusinfallet och den totala energiförbrukningen. En jämförelse och analys av de multivariata linjära regressionsmodellerna påvisade en hög grad av konflikter, vilket gör valet av fönster och solskydd till ett komplext och flerdimensionellt problem. Bestämningen av graden av konflikt formade följande hypotes: ” En multikriterieanalysbaserat beslutsstöd ökar kontrollerbarheten och hanterar konflikter vid valet av fönster och solskydd”. Den utvecklade hypotesen testades senare med hjälp av Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), en ofta använd multikriterieanalys metod för beslutsfattande. Metoden tar fram lösningar genom att göra prioriteringar enligt beslutsfattarens preferenser. Resultaten av att tillämpa metoden visade metodens förmåga att lösa konflikterna kring visuell komfort, termisk komfort, energiförbrukning och livscykelkostnad. Slutligen utökades metoden genom att integrera AHP med optimeringsalgoritmen Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II. Genom denna integrering kombinerar optimeringsalgoritmen fönstrens och solskyddens design variabler till ett stort antal lösningsförslag. Dessa lösningsförslag analyseras och till sist rangordnas lösningsförslagen med hjälp av AHP baserat på beslutsfattarnas preferenser. Integreringen av AHP och optimeringsalgoritmen presenterades som ett konceptuellt ramverk. I valet av fönster och solskydd är det konceptuella ramverket en ny lösning för att öka den upplevda kontrollen och därmed förstärka det subjektiva välbefinnandet. / ProWood

Medidas para gerenciamento de saúde e segurança em laboratórios são de extrema importância em laboratórios químicos. As pessoas que realizam qualquer atividade em um ambiente de laboratório estão expostas a diversos perigos e, consequentemente, existe o risco de ocorrência de eventos adversos para a saúde e segurança. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido em um laboratório químico de uma universidade federal tem como principal objetivo o aperfeiçoamento de uma framework que permite a realização de uma análise sistemática qualitativa e quantitativa das folgas presentes em um sistema sócio-técnico complexo. Ferramentas da Engenharia de Resiliência foram utilizadas para estudar o laboratório, o qual foi considerado como um sistema sócio-técnico complexo. Uma das características de um sistema resiliente é a capacidade de lidar com a variabilidade, o que pode ser obtido por meio de recursos de folgas (slack) no sistema. O uso da framework permitiu obter dados importantes para a análise do sistema e sugestões de melhorias. Os aperfeiçoamentos propostos na framework mostraram-se eficazes, principalmente na quantificação das folgas e variabilidades, em função da utilização do método AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) para a análise de dados. O método AHP tornou possível substituir o uso de questionários para toda a equipe por uma avaliação direcionada a especialistas. Ao utilizar o AHP, os dados podem ser adquiridos com maior rapidez. Outro ganho obtido com o uso do método AHP foi a possibilidade de redução de uma etapa da framework, tornando-a mais concisa. / Measures for health and safety management are of paramount importance in chemical laboratories. People who perform any activity in a laboratory environment are exposed to a variety of hazards and consequently there is a risk of adverse health and safety events. This work was developed in a chemical laboratory of a federal university, and has as main objective the improvement of a framework that allows the accomplishment of a systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis of the slack present in a complex socio-technical system. Tools of Resilience Engineering were used for studying a chemical laboratory, which was considered as a complex socio-technical system. One of the characteristics of a resilient system is the ability to deal with variability, which can be obtained through slack resources in the system. This work was developed in a chemical laboratory of a federal university and consists in the improvement of a framework that allows the accomplishment of a systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis of the slack present in the system. The use of the framework allowed to obtain data important for the analysis of the system and suggestions for improvements. The improvements proposed in the framework proved to be effective, especially in the quantification of slack and variability, as a function of the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method for data collection. The AHP method made it possible to replace the use of questionnaires for the entire team by an expert team assessment. By using AHP, data can be acquired more quickly. Another gain obtained with the use of the AHP method was the possibility of reducing one stage of the framework, making it more concise.

Yes / Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a proactive, highly structured, and systematic approach for failure analysis. It has been also applied as a risk assessment tool, by ranking potential risks based on the estimation of Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs). This paper develops an improved FMEA methodology for strategic risk analysis. The proposed approach combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique with the Exponential and Weighted Geometric Mean method (EWGM) to support risk analysis. AHP is applied to estimate the weights of three risk factors: Severity (S), Occurrence (O) and Detection (D), which integrate the RPN for each risk. The EWGM method is applied for ranking RPNs. Combining AHP with EWGM allows avoiding repetition of FMEA results. The results of the developed methodology reveal that duplication of RPNs has been decreased, and facilitating an effective risk ranking by offering a unique value for each risk. The proposed methodology focuses not only on high severity values for risk ranking but also it considers other risk factors (O and D), resulting in an enhanced risk assessment process. Furthermore, the weights of the three risk factors are considered. In this way, the developed methodology offers unique value for each risk in a simple way which makes the risk assessment results more accurate. This methodology provides a practical and systematic approach to support decision-makers in assessing and ranking risks that could affect long-term strategy implementation. The methodology was validated through the case study of a power plant in the Middle East, assessing 84 risks within 9 risk categories. The case study revealed that top management should pay more attention to key risks associated with electricity price, gas emissions, lost-time injuries, bad odor, and production. / This research has been supported by Hashemite University, Jordan.

The automotive manufacturing facility is extremely complex and expensive system. Managing and understanding the dynamics of automotive manufacturing is a challenging endeavour. In the current era of dynamic global competition, a new concept such as Collaborative Lean Manufacturing Management (CLMM) can be implemented as an alternative for organisations to improve their Lean Manufacturing Management (LMM) processes. All members in the CLMM value chain must work together towards common objectives in order to make the LMM achievable in the collaborative environment. The novel research approach emphasises the use of Knowledge-Based (KB) approach in such activities as planning, designing, assessing and providing recommendations of CLMM implementation, through: a) developing the conceptual CLMM model; b) designing the KBCLMM System structure based on the conceptual model; and c) implementing Gauging Absences of Pre-requisites (GAP) analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach in the hybrid KBCLMM. The development of KBCLMM Model is the most detailed part in the research process and consists of five major components in two stages. Stage 1 (Planning stage) consists of Organisation Environment, Collaborative Business and Lean Manufacturing components. Stage 2 (Design stage) consists of Organisation CLMM Capability and Organisation CLMM Alignment components. Each of these components consists of sub-components and activities that represent particular issues in the CLMM development. From the conceptual model, all components were transformed into the KBCLMM System structure, which is embedded with the GAP and AHP techniques, and thus, key areas of potential improvement in the LMM are identified for each activity along with the identification of both qualitative and quantitative aspects for CLMM implementation. In order to address the real situation of CLMM operation, the research validation was conducted for an automotive manufacturer¿s Lean Manufacturing Chain in Malaysia. Published case studies were also used to test several modules for their validity and reliability. This research concludes that the developed KBCLMM System is an appropriate Decision Support System tool to provide the opportunity for academics and industrialists from the fields of industrial engineering, information technology, and operation management to plan, design and implement LMM for a collaborative environment. / Universiti Utara Malaysia and Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia