[pt] As técnicas de mineração de processos vêm sendo aplicadas com sucesso como abordagens baseadas em dados e específicas do domínio para melhorar o desempenho do processo de negócios em várias organizações. Dentre suas aplicações, a Mineração de Desvios (Deviance Mining) visa descobrir as razões pelas quais um subconjunto das execuções de um processo de negócio desvia-se em relação aos seus resultados esperados ou desejáveis, produzindo assim insights para melhorar a operação do processo, tais descobertas podem ser feitas utilizando técnicas de aprendizado de tratamentos (Treatment Learning), que identificam os conjuntos de atributos mais influentes nos resultados. No entanto, apesar de os processos da vida real serem tipicamente compostos por eventos de duração não instantânea (eventos não atômicos), as abordagens existentes para mineração de processos, e para mineração de desvios em particular, endereçam exclusivamente eventos atômicos em seus experimentos. Este trabalho propõe um método orientado ao domínio para detectar automaticamente desvios em processos compostos por eventos não atômicos. O método utiliza a dimensão temporal dos eventos não atômicos para aplicar a mineração de desvios, gerando insights sobre como a duração e a ocorrência simultânea de eventos geram desvios e como esses desvios impactam os resultados dos processos. O método foi aplicado com sucesso no domínio da COVID-19, para descobrir quais sequências de intervenções não farmacêuticas mais contribuíram para diminuir a taxa de casos de COVID-19 em países ao redor do mundo. / [en] Process Mining techniques have been successfully applied as a datadriven and domain-aware approach for improving business process performance in several organizations. Among its applications, Deviance Mining aims at uncovering the reasons why a subset of the executions of a business process deviate with respect to its expected or desirable outcomes, thus producing insights towards improving the process operation, such discoveries can be made using treatment learning techniques, which identify the sets of attributes that are most influential in the results. However, despite the fact that real-life processes are typically composed by events with non-instantaneous duration (nonatomic events), existing approaches for process mining and deviance mining in particular only deal with atomic events in their experiments. This work proposes a domain-driven method for automatically detecting deviations in processes composed by non-atomic events. The method uses the temporal dimension of non-atomic events to apply deviance mining, generating insights on how the duration and the simultaneous occurrence of events generate deviations and how these deviations affect the results of the processes. The method was successfully applied in the COVID-19 domain, to find which domain-specific sequences of nonpharmaceutical interventions mostly contributed to slowing down the rate of COVID-19 cases in countries around the world.

Complexity of production processes, high computing capabilities, and massive datasets characterize today’s manufacturing environments, such as those of continuous andbatch production industries. Continuous production has spread gradually acrossdifferent industries, covering a significant part of today’s production. Commonconsumer goods such as food, drugs, and cosmetics, and industrial goods such as iron,chemicals, oil, and ore come from continuous processes. To stay competitive intoday’s market requires constant process improvements in terms of both effectivenessand efficiency. Statistical process control (SPC) and design of experiments (DoE)techniques can play an important role in this improvement strategy. SPC attempts toreduce process variation by eliminating assignable causes, while DoE is used toimprove products and processes by systematic experimentation and analysis. However,special issues emerge when applying these methods in continuous process settings.Highly automated and computerized processes provide an exorbitant amount ofserially dependent and cross-correlated data, which may be difficult to analyzesimultaneously. Time series data, transition times, and closed-loop operation areexamples of additional challenges that the analyst faces.The overall objective of this thesis is to contribute to using of statisticalmethods, namely SPC and DoE methods, to improve continuous production.Specifically, this research serves two aims: [1] to explore, identify, and outlinepotential challenges when applying SPC and DoE in continuous processes, and [2] topropose simulation tools and new or adapted methods to overcome the identifiedchallenges.The results are summarized in three appended papers. Through a literaturereview, Paper A outlines SPC and DoE implementation challenges for managers,researchers, and practitioners. For example, problems due to process transitions, themultivariate nature of data, serial correlation, and the presence of engineering processcontrol (EPC) are discussed. Paper B further explores one of the DoE challengesidentified in Paper A. Specifically, Paper B describes issues and potential strategieswhen designing and analyzing experiments in processes operating under closed-loopcontrol. Two simulated examples in the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process simulatorshow the benefits of using DoE techniques to improve and optimize such industrialprocesses. Finally, Paper C provides guidelines, using flow charts, on how to use thecontinuous process simulator, “The revised TE process simulator,” run with adecentralized control strategy as a test bed for developing SPC and DoE methods incontinuous processes. Simulated SPC and DoE examples are also discussed.

The external customer demands for quality are constantly increasing and thus continuous improvement is a crucial factor within all companies that wish to remain competitive. Performance measurement and follow-ups are fundamental for continuous improvement, management and sustainability in organizations. Organizations are more likely to achieve their goals if they use performance measures to monitor progress. Conversely, managing organizations without performance measures has been likened to flying blind, with no instruments indicating where the organization is heading. This study is carried out at Systembolaget, where customer offer improvements follow a specific process that currently lacks a step for measurement and follow-ups. Regarding methodology for measurement and follow ups within the process, the organization is, according to Systembolaget, "immature". The lack of measurements causes ineffective management and evaluation of the business. The study therefore aims to propose a revised process that ensures systematic measurement and follow-up as well as what the organization can consider in conjunction with implementation. This by first examining current working methods. The study is based on theories about TQM, improvement cycles, change management and organizational culture. Through the study's qualitative method and data collection, including interviews and documentation, the result primarily demonstrates lack of long term measurement and follow-ups. Reasons can be derived from effects that are difficult to measure and a lack of structure, commitment, time and resources. To tackle these shortcomings, a restructuring of the process is recommended. Finally, the need for a cultural change is emphasized in order to ensure successful implementation of the change.

This research aims to optimize operational sustainability and minimize the environmental impacts of lead-acid battery recycling, identifying, and establishing improvements in the smelting and refining stages. Through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) using the SimaPro and STAN tools, recycling processes were modelled to quantify material flows and evaluate environmental impacts. The results indicate the level of control over air emissions, hazardous waste and lead recovery within the operation can be significantly improved with the application of technologies and increased efficiency of the operation process. Concerning the impact assessment, essential categories have been defined including carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects on human health, global warming, and particle formation. The data conclude that the use of technologies and improvement of operational efficiency is crucial it helps to enhance the sustainability of the process while complying with regulatory requirements and producing economic benefits by getting more valuable materials. Within this context, the principles of circular economy can be effectively integrated to maximize resource value throughout their lifecycle, minimizing waste generation, and reducing natural resource consumption. / Denna forskning syftar till att optimera driftens hållbarhet och minimera miljöpåverkan av återvinning av blybatterier genom att identifiera och etablera förbättringar i smält- och raffineringsstadierna. Genom livscykelbedömning (LCA) och materialflödesanalys (MFA) med hjälp av verktygen SimaPro och STAN modellerades återvinningsprocesser för att kvantifiera materialflöden och utvärdera miljöpåverkan. Resultaten indikerar att nivån på kontroll över luftutsläpp, farligt avfall och blyåtervinning inom verksamheten kan förbättras avsevärt med tillämpning av teknologier och ökad effektivitet i driftsprocessen. När det gäller påverkansbedömningen har väsentliga kategorier definierats inklusive cancerframkallande och icke-cancerframkallande effekter på människors hälsa, global uppvärmning och partikelbildning. Data drar slutsatsen att användningen av teknologier och förbättring av driftseffektiviteten är avgörande då det hjälper till att förbättra processens hållbarhet samtidigt som man uppfyller lagkrav och genererar ekonomiska fördelar genom att få mer värdefulla material. Inom denna kontext kan principerna för cirkulär ekonomi effektivt integreras för att maximera resursvärdet under hela deras livscykel, minimera avfallsproduktion och minska konsumtionen av naturresurser.

Patient satisfaction dimensions have a wide ranging and significant impact on organizational performance in the healthcare industry. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Value Based Purchasing (HVBP) Program links patient satisfaction to Medicare reimbursement, putting millions of dollars at risk for health systems. A gap in the literature exists in the exploration of how a patient's experience in the emergency department affects their satisfaction with inpatient services. In a multiple regression analysis, the relationship between HVBP Patient Experience of Care and hospital level factors including emergency department wait times are explored. Results indicate a statistically significant relationship between hospital level factors and standardized measure of patient satisfaction with a moderate adjusted effect size (p= <.0001, R2 adjusted= 0.184). Emergency department wait times post physician admit orders were most salient in predicting patient satisfaction scores (rs2= 0.434, β= -0.334, p= <.001). Recommendations to improve emergency department wait times include focusing on key decision points and implementation of electronic systems to support the movement of admitted patients out of the emergency department as quickly as possible.

This study explores the application of multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) to enhance the decision-making, safety, and passenger comfort of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs)at uncontrolled intersections. The research aims to assess the potential of MARL in modeling multiple agents interacting within a shared environment, reflecting real-world situations where AVs interact with multiple actors. The findings suggest that AVs trained using aMARL approach with global experiences can better navigate intersection scenarios than AVs trained on local (individual) experiences. This capability is a critical precursor to achieving Level 5 autonomy, where vehicles are expected to manage all aspects of the driving task under all conditions. The research contributes to the ongoing discourse on enhancing autonomous vehicle technology through multi-agent reinforcement learning and informs the development of sophisticated training methodologies for autonomous driving.

The lack of a culture of continuous improvement means that organizations risk losing efficiency, cutting back on financial savings and becoming a less attractive employer. Creating a culture of continuous improvement is thus important. Trafik och samhälle in the Uppsala region wants to build an established culture of continuous improvement.  The aim is to identify which key factors are needed to build a culture of continuous improvement, and these are then compared with what emerges regarding how Trafik och samhälle works with continuous improvement. Differences were identified to provide guidance on how management can develop a culture of continuous improvement. The design of the study is qualitative with interviews and a smaller literature study.  The literature study show nine key factors: organizational quality management, committed management and credible leadership, employee commitment and encouragement, good communication, customer focus, clear structure and a process-based way of working, culture of trust and cohesion, training in continuous improvement and continuous improvement and Long term thinking. Trafik och samhälle have strengths in terms of employee engagement and leadership engagement. They have a clear end-customer focus and a culture characterized by trust and cohesion. Trafik och samhälle need to focus on creating an organizational quality management, clear structure and a process-based working method as well as training in continuous improvement. The organization is recommended to work with processes and develop close cooperation with other regional public transport authorities. This study has reinforced the importance of working with structure, processes and tools in parallel with culture. / Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling innebär att organisationer ständigt arbetar med kvalitetsfrågor som en integrerad del av verksamheten. Avsaknaden av en kultur av ständiga förbättringar medför att organisationer riskerar att tappa effektivitet, gå minste om ekonomiska besparingar samt bli en mindre attraktiv arbetsgivare. Att skapa en kultur av ständiga förbättringar är således viktigt. Trafik och samhälle i region Uppsala vill bygga en etablerad kultur av ständiga förbättringar. Syftet är att identifiera vilka nyckelfaktorer som behövs för att bygga en kultur av ständiga förbättringar och dessa jämförs sedan med det som framkommer gällande hur Trafik och samhälle arbetar med ständiga förbättringar. Sedan identifierades skillnader för att ge vägledning i hur förvaltningen kan utveckla en kultur av ständiga förbättringar. Studiedesignen är främst kvalitativ då intervjuer har genomförts men även en mindre litteraturstudie har gjorts. Resultatet av litteraturstudien visar på nio nyckelfaktorer: organisatorisk kvalitetsledning (ledningssystem), engagerad ledning och trovärdigt ledarskap, medarbetarengagemang och uppmuntran, god kommunikation, kundfokus, tydlig struktur och ett processbaserat arbetssätt, kultur av tillit och sammanhållning, utbildning inom ständiga förbättringar samt kontinuerliga förbättringar och långsiktigt tänkande. Trafik och samhälle har många styrkor vad det gäller medarbetarengagemang och ledarengagemang. De har ett tydligt slutkundsfokus och en kultur som präglas av tillit och sammanhållning. Trafik och samhälle behöver fokusera på att skapa en organisatorisk kvalitetsledning (ledningssystem), tydlig struktur och ett processbaserat arbetssätt samt utbilda inom ständiga förbättringar. Organisationen rekommenderas arbeta med processer och utveckla ett nära samarbete med andra regionala kollektivtrafikmyndigheter. Denna studie har stärkt vikten av att arbeta med struktur, processer och verktyg parallellt med kultur.

Se och synas är ett examensarbete i informationsdesign med inriktning mot textdesign. Syftet med detta arbete är att synliggöra förbättringsarbeten på företag med lean-produktion. Examensarbetet ingår i ett större forskningsprojekt, Integrering av innovationsorienterat arbete i lean-produktionssystem, ett samarbete mellan forskare på Mälardalens högskola och olika fallföretag där Eskilstuna ElektronikPartner AB är en av dessa företag. Arbetet strävar efter att ta fram ett designförslag som ska få målgruppen att tänka på förbättringar genom att synliggöra förbättringsarbeten. Målet är att få målgruppen att se och synas, det vill säga se förbättringar och visa upp förbättringsarbeten genom att synas. Under inhämtningen av empirin från observationer, intervjuer och fokusgrupp visade det sig att målgruppen genomför många förbättringar som inte synliggörs och att de önskade mer företagsinformation. Inläsningen av teorier och litteratur kring kognitiv psykologi, stilmarkörer i text, riktlinjer för lättläst text och principer för layout och grafisk form gav mig kunskap om hur information kan utformas på digitala storbildsskärmar. Text och grafik måste vara tydligt utformade. Genom stilmarkörer i språket, lättskrivna texter och hierarkier i grafisk form görs informationen läslig och lätt att förstå. Utifrån empiri och teori har ett gestaltningsförslag tagits fram som synliggör förbättringsarbeten på företag med lean-produktion. Gestaltningen utgår från målgruppens åsikter och består av ett handlingsmönster där förbättringsarbetet synliggörs både muntligt och skriftligt. Gestaltningen består också av en fysisk artefakt där information kring förbättringsarbeten visas på digitala storbildsskärmar. / To see and be seen is a thesis in information design with emphasis on text design. The aim of this thesis is to visualiz improvement in companies with lean production. This thesis is a part of a reseach about embedding innovation-oriented work within lean-production systems. This reseach i based on cooperations between reseachers at Mälardalens högskola and different business cases. On of these business cases is Eskilstuna ElektronikPartner AB. This theses aims to develop a designproposal that will get the target group to consider improvements by visualizing improvements. The goal is to get the target group to see and be seen , that is to see improvement and demonstrate improvement by appearing. From the result of empirical data gathered from observations, interviews and focusgroups has shown that the target group implements many improvements that are not made ​​visible and that they wanted more company information. The conclusion of theories about cognitive psychology, style markers in text, guidelines for readable text and principles of layout and graphic design, gave me knowledge of how information can be designed in digital large screens. Text and graphic design must be clear. Through style markers in text, easily written texts and hierarchies in graphical form, information can be made legible and easy to understand. Based on the empirical work and the theories a design proposal has been developed that visualiz improvements in companies with lean production. The design is based on the opinions of the target group and consists of a pattern of behavior where improvement efforts are made visible both orally and in writing. The design also consists of a physical artifact, where information about the improvement is shown on digital large screens. / Integrering av innovationsorienterat arbete i lean-produktionssystem

Detta examensarbete ämnar till att identifiera kvalitetsproblem inom den studerade organisationen varpå kvalitetstekniska tillvägagångssätt appliceras i syfte av att framställa lösningsförslag. Rapporten innefattar teorierna SWOT, Sociala medielandskapet, hörnstensmodellen, processmodellering, processmognad, TQM, PDSA-cykeln, statistisk processtyrning, Ishikawadiagramoch tidigare forskning som anses adekvat. Arbetet är vidare en fallstudie där kvalitativa och kvantitativa data, övervägande av primär art, skapat underlag för rapportens innehåll. Resultat tyder på att det inom den studerade organisationen råder brist på nödvändiga rutiner och resurseffektivitet för att möjliggöra fortsatt progression. Företagets resurser nyttjas ineffektivt vilket anses hämma företagets utvecklingsmöjligheter. Att det inom organisationen finns kvalitetsproblem har utmynnat i en oönskad mängd ouppfyllda bokningar, en företeelse kallad timeouts. Företeelsen har sedermera lett till förlust av potentiell inkomst. Presenterat resultat påvisar vidare att det inom den studerade organisationen finns goda förutsättningar för tillväxt. Slutsatser som kan dras påvisar att den studerade organisationen i samförstånd med tidigare forskning står inför utmaningen att skapa balans mellan ettagilt arbetssätt och processmognad. Bristen på dokumentation och rutiner samt ett ineffektivt resursutnyttjande utgör stora hot mot tillväxt varpå tre lösningsförslag har presenterats. I rapporten redovisas följande tre lösningsförslag: förbättring av processmognad, förvärv av stylister samt aktivering av befintliga stylister och anskaffning av extrapersonal. För vardera enskild lösning har en individuellt utformad handlingsplan och en preliminärt utformad tidplan upprättats. / This thesis aims to identify quality problems within the studied organization, whereupon quality-technical approaches are applied in order to produce solution proposals. The report includes the theories SWOT, Social Media Landscape, Cornerstone Model, Process Modeling, Process Maturity, TQM, PDSA Cycle, Statistical Process Control, Ishikawa Diagram and previous research that is considered adequate. The work is a case study where qualitative and quantitative data, predominantly of the primary form, created the basis for the report's content. Results indicate that there is a lack of necessary routines and resource efficiency within the studied organization to enable continued progression. The company's resources are used inefficiently, which is considered to inhibit the company's development opportunities. The fact that there are quality problems within the organization has resulted in an unwanted amount of unfulfilled bookings, a phenomenon called timeouts. The phenomenon has subsequently led to a loss of potential income. Presented results further demonstrate that within the studied organization there are good conditions for growth. Conclusions that can be drawn show that the studied organization, in agreement with previous research, faces the challenge of creating a balance between an agile working method and process maturity. The lack of documentation and routines as well as inefficient resource utilization represent major threats to growth, after which three solutions have been presented. The report presents the following three solution proposals: improvement of process maturity, acquisition of stylists and activation of existing stylists and acquisition of extra staff. For each individual solution, an individually designed action plan and a preliminary design timetable have been established.

The purpose of the thesis is to identify how a structure for a management system can be designed for a small industrial company based on the seven quality principles that are described in ISO 9000:2015 – fundamental concepts and principles of quality management. The aim of the thesis is to map the reference company's current situation and analyse the gap between the current situation and the quality principles. The thesis also aims to create a plan for the implementation, control and stabilisation of the proposed structure for a management system within the chosen industrial company. The theoretical selection is based on total quality management and the seven quality principles defined in ISO 9000. The case study is carried out via a qualitative strategy, where qualitative data contributes to formulating assumptions and hypotheses. Quantitative tools such as survey and self-assessment are used to identify the reference company's current situation. Qualitative tools such as document review, observations, a focus group and a group interview are used to investigate the studied phenomenon in the company more thoroughly. The study concludes that the company's current quality work is not based on any systematic working method or clear customer focus. The culture within the company is characterized by a commitment to work with quality, but the company lacks a structure to do this. The proposed structure for a corporate adapted management system is based on the process-based system model, which has been modified to include definitions of the company's risks and opportunities and the management's review. A plan for the implementation, control and stabilisation of the proposed structure is compiled and introduced in the company's reviewed strategy for work with quality. The plan's cyclical design reinforces the recurring improvement work based on the iterative four-step management method that is used for control and continuous improvement of processes and products. / Författarnas syfte med examensarbetet har varit att identifiera hur en struktur till ett företagsanpassat ledningssystem kan utformas i mindre industriföretag, utifrån de sju kvalitetsprinciperna som definieras i ISO 9000. Målet med examensarbetet har varit att kartlägga referensföretagets nuläge och analysera gapet mellan nuläget samt kvalitetsprinciperna. Målet har även varit att redovisa en plan för genomförande, uppföljning och säkring av den föreslagna strukturen för ledningssystemet inom det valda industriföretaget. Det teoretiska urvalet har sin utgångspunkt i det offensiva kvalitetsarbetet och de sju kvalitetsprinciperna som definieras inom ISO 9000. Fallstudien har genomförts via en kvalitativ strategi, där kvalitativa data har bidragit till formulering av antaganden och hypoteser. Författarna valde att använda kvalitativa verktyg såsom enkätundersökning och självskattning för att identifiera referensföretagets nuläge. Tillämpning av kvalitativa verktygen såsom dokumentgranskning, observationer, fokusgrupp och gruppintervju möjliggjorde en mer djupgående undersökningen av det studerade fenomenet. De slutsatser som författarna har kommit fram till är att företagets nuvarande kvalitetsarbete inte utgår ifrån något systematiskt arbetssätt eller ett tydligt kundfokus. Kulturen inom företaget kännetecknas dock av en vilja att jobba med kvalitet men det saknas en struktur för detta arbete. Författarnas föreslagna struktur för det företagsanpassade ledningssystemet bygger på den processbaserade systemmodellen (PBSM) som har modifierats till att omfatta definitioner av företagets risker och möjligheter samt ledningens genomgång. En plan för genomförande, uppföljning och säkring av den föreslagna strukturen har sammanställts och införts i företagets reviderade strategi för det interna kvalitetsarbetet. Planens cykliska utformning förstärker det återkommande förbättringsarbetet utifrån PDCA-cykeln.