<p>Kinnarps AB är ett av de största ledande möbeltillverkande företagen i Europa, för kontorsmöbler. Kinnarps AB har många produktvarianter och erbjuder hela inredningslösningar och leveranser över hela världen. De normala leveranstiderna är två till fyra veckor men för närvarande har Kinnarps AB:s leveranstider förlängts då efterfrågan gått upp kraftigt.</p><p>Produktionen präglas av kortsiktig planering med akuta lösningar, vilket innebär att den långsiktiga resursplaneringen till stor del uteblir. Produktions- och inköpsavdelningen har uppgett att den efterfrågeinformation som finns tillgänglig är svår att tillämpa vid strategisk och taktisk planering för material- och kapacitetsresurser. Med hjälp av mer utvecklade prognoser är förhoppningen att bättre kunna hantera efterfrågevariationer så som säsongsvariationer, produktmixförskjutning och trender.</p><p>För att söka förbättringsområden för prognostiseringsarbetet genomfördes detta projekt som en fallstudie på Kinnarps AB. Utgångspunkten var att utifrån produktions- och inköpsavdelningen identifiera vilken prognosinformation som är behövlig för att kunna allokera produktions- och materialresurser på ett effektivt sätt.</p><p>Målet var främst att bestämma lämpligt prognosobjekt och lämplig grupperingsnivå vid prognostisering. Genom att utforma de långsiktiga prognoserna så att de effektivt kan tillämpas vid resursplanering, skapas möjligheten att simulera de produktionslogistiska konsekvenserna vid en förändring i efterfrågan. Genom att använda goda prognoser som beslutsunderlag vid strategisk och taktisk planering sätts ramarna för den operativa planeringen. Vilket leder till att Kinnarps AB bättre kan möta kundernas efterfrågan. Det som krävs är att prognoserna innehåller lämplig information och avser passande detaljeringsnivå, samt att företagets olika funktioner samverkar för att bestämma hur prognosen bör utformas för att gynna helheten.</p><p>Kinnarps AB rekommenderas att utforma sina prognoser så att de uttrycker vilken typ av produkter som ska produceras för att få mer specifik information om var i produktionsprocessen resurser behövs. Kinnarps AB:s produkter delas in i åtta övergripande produktgrupper och för dessa rekommenderas att en prognos i kronor genereras. Vidare bör en mer detaljerad prognos i styck tas fram som beskriver hur efterfrågan ser ut för vissa produktmodeller eller grupperingar av produktmodeller.</p>

<p>It seems like outsourcing often does not live up to the expected results. Furthermore, sourcing decisions are often unplanned and improvised based upon insufficient short term foundation. Poor basis for sourcing decisions can lead to that some important factors, which can result in long term consequences, could get overlooked in the decision foundation.</p><p>The purpose of the master thesis is to create a structured decision process that could lead to a well balanced sourcing decision and apply this at Husqvarna AB.</p><p>The method used is a case study which includes a theoretical and an empirical study.</p><p>The decision process is based upon the theoretical framework and is structured as a number of activities. Each activity includes a number of questions that should be answered if a well balanced sourcing decision is to be made. The questions are developed so that they include all the factors that could be affected by outsourcing.</p><p>The case at Husqvarna AB was analyzed and evaluated by using the theoretical decision process. This showed how the decision process can be used by Husqvarna AB.</p><p>The conclusion of the thesis is that the purpose was fulfilled since a decision process was developed that could be applied at Husqvarna AB.</p> / <p>Outsourcing verkar ofta inte leva upp till de resultat som förväntas. Det förefaller som om sourcingbeslut oftast har sin utgångspunkt i bristfälliga underlag baserade på kortsiktiga motiv samt att de ofta är oplanerade och improviserade. Detta kan leda till att viktiga faktorer, som kan medföra långsiktiga konsekvenser, inte beaktas i de beslutsunderlag som tas fram.</p><p>Syftet är att ta fram en strukturerad beslutsprocess som leder fram till ett väl avvägt sourcingbeslut och att praktiskt tillämpa denna på Husqvarna AB.</p><p>Metod som använts är en fallstudie som innehåller en teoretisk djupstudie som utmynnar i den teoretiska referensramen. Vidare har en empirisk studie genomförts på Husqvarna AB där ett verkligt fall studeras, analyseras och utvärderas.</p><p>Beslutsprocessen är baserad på den teoretiska referensramen och är strukturerad som ett antal aktiviteter. Varje aktivitet innehåller i sin tur ett antal frågor som bör besvaras för att på så vis säkerställa ett väl avvägt sourcingbeslut. Frågorna är framtagna så att de tillsammans skall omfatta allt det som kan påverkas av outsourcing och som därför bör beaktas inför ett sourcingbeslut.</p><p>Fallet på Husqvarna AB analyseras m h a beslutsprocessen vilket dels visar på beslutsprocessens användbarhet och dels ger en utvärdering av fallet. De empiriska studierna visar att om företaget hade använt beslutsprocessen vid genomförandet inför sourcingbeslut så hade beslutet blivit mer väl avvägt.</p><p>Slutsatsen är att syftet med examensarbetet uppfylldes eftersom en strukturerad beslutsprocess tagits fram vilken har visat sig vara tillämpbar på Husqvarna AB.</p>

No description available.

<p>ITAB Shop Concept Nässjö AB is a major actor in the shop interior decoration market. ITAB has during several years, seen their inventory levels increase and has experienced efficiency problems in their purchasing. Part of ITAB's problems is their customers’ very unsteady demand and their inability to give ITAB good information on when and where they will open or refurbish their stores. In ITAB’s efforts to improve their purchasing they have decided to move from a system where they exchange single orders with their suppliers, with a given, fixed delivery time, to a system of sending block orders and exchange forecasts. The block order system means that ITAB places an order for the full amount of an article needed during a set period. The suppliers will then deliver the amount needed by ITAB at several occasions specified by ITAB. Delivery schedules and forecast will give the supplier the information as to how much and when to deliver. However, this change has yet to be implemented. The purpose of this study is thus to analyse what effects such a change might have on ITAB and their suppliers.</p><p>The study made is based on a qualitative approach. The information used to analyse the problem was acquired through several semi-structured interviews with different managers within ITAB as well as two people within each of the supplier organisations. Five of ITAB’s suppliers were interviewed. The people interviewed in the supplier organisations all belonged to sales, or order department or production planning or vice president. Mapping was used to illustrate the current order flow, purchasing flow, and production flow within ITAB as well as the order flow in the supplier organisations.</p><p>The outcome of the interviews was that several of the suppliers showed a very positive attitude to the implementation of the block order system. The cooperation between them and ITAB seemed, according to both parties, to be working well. A good relationship is a good basis to introduce new routines and deepen the relationship. The suppliers believed that a forecast would give them the possibility to improve their production planning as well as their capacity use. However, each supplier set terms for its implementation. One being that the information sharing between the two companies must improve. ITAB also have to take the responsibility as well as ownership of everything they purchase. If this is the case, most suppliers aired a certain promise to be able to store ITAB’s products before delivering and to be able to implement the block order system. However, there need to be further negotiations between ITAB and the suppliers to discuss and settle the exact terms of contract.</p><p>It is the authors’ belief that some prerequisites must be fulfilled before ITAB implements the block order system. The information sharing between the two companies must improve. If the forecast shall give the suppliers some benefits, they need to be as accurate as possible. The communication about orders has to be timelier and fit the suppliers lead times better. Today, the suppliers often receive order information from ITAB too late, which causes difficulties. If the suppliers are to trust the forecasts, they must be as accurate as possible. It is the author’s belief that if this is not so the suppliers will increase their inventory costs as well as continue to have difficulties delivering. It is also the author’s belief that the communication between sales and purchasing in ITAB needs to improve so that the forecast can be updated in a timely fashion as well as correctly. More involvement of suppliers as well as purchasing and production within ITAB’s product development phase could help them prepare for changes, and prevent mishaps.</p>

<p>This thesis deals with the development of the competence tocreate assembly efficient products. The assembly-relatedknowledge that is resident within an organisation is ofinestimable value and should be used, refined and developed inorder to obtain assembly efficient products. The question ishow competence development can be promoted organisationally.This thesis has adopted the working hypothesis thatmodularisation promotes competence in the development ofassembly efficient products. This position is based on theliterature regarding competence development,competence-promoting organisations, and concurrentengineering.</p><p>The empirical research reported in this thesis is along-term case study carried out at Volvo Car Corporation. Inthe licentiate thesis that preceded this doctoral thesis, itwas suggested that assembly work should be based on modules.The further topics researched in this thesis includeexamination of a modularisation process, examination of thecommunication interface between the assembly organisation andthe product development organisation, the effects ofmodularisation on the assembly process, and an investigation ofthe development of two assembly efficient products.</p><p>The product of the research is a model representing theorganisational prerequisites for developing competence in thecreation of assembly efficient products. The key elements inthe model are a transparent organisational structure, clearintention in the organisation, and accommodation ofcross-functional exchange. Modularisation is a means ofcreating a transparent organisational structure that makes itpossible for members of the organisation to understand thecontext in which they work, which is a basic requirement fordeveloping competence. A structure for cross-functionalcooperation should be put in place to facilitatecross-functional exchange and learning. To succeed indeveloping assembly efficient products, an organisation mustalso clear signal that this is its intention. Visions, goalsand strategies must express this ambition. Only then will themembers of the organisation have the mindset that enables themto use their full potential to develop competence in creatingassembly efficient products.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>competence-promoting organisation, transparentorganisation, modularisation, assembly efficiency, automobileindustry</p>

<p>For a number of years, manufacturers have increasingly focused on their perceived core competencies and outsourced activities not seen as such. In doing so there are an increasing number of competencies that fall outside the ‘core’ domain but are nonetheless required for effective product and process development. The proposed solution to this problem has been external integration with an emphasis on collaborative product or process development and also the wider concept of supply chain management. It is, however, not always easy to substitute internal competencies with customers’ and suppliers’ capabilities. Many authors have focused on finding the prerequisites for effective external integration and particularly on areas such as trust and power.</p><p>This thesis contributes to the literature by extending the concept of absorptive capacity into the manufacturing domain and in the context of external integration. A conceptual framework is developed, where different streams of the literature have been merged into one coherent model. Integral parts of this framework are the concept of absorptive capacity as well as a model of competitive priorities. Competitive priorities have been taken into account as firms differ; what contributes to competitive advantage for one firm may be irrelevant for another.</p><p>Three papers are included in the thesis. The first one uses survey data, from a representative sample of the Swedish manufacturing industry, in order to validate the concept of absorptive capacity in the manufacturing sector. The second paper also uses survey data but aims to shed some light on competitive priorities’ impact on both the extent and the outcome of internal and external integration. The third paper describes a case study of a first-tier supplier and aims to illustrate how absorptive capacity in a manufacturing firm may look in practice.</p><p>The thesis concludes that the conceptual framework is indeed useful for understanding the challenges of effective external integration. Internal manufacturing competencies may allow a firm to integrate more effectively external sources, but the required competencies may vary from firm to firm. This implies a need for a fit between companies’ competitive priorities, external integration and absorptive capacity. It also implies that companies may struggle to achieve competitive advantage by utilising their customers and suppliers if they do not simultaneously develop appropriate competencies in-house.</p>

Texte remanié de: Thèse de doctorat--Histoire des relations internationales--Paris 3, 2004. / En appendice, choix de documents. Bibliogr. p. 265-280.

Svenska Försvarsmakten genomgår nu en förändring från att tidigare ha haft ett fokus på att försvara hemlandet till att utvecklas emot en expeditionskår. Utvecklingen har drivits på av ett ökat internationellt engagemang och förändringen från ett nationellt till internationellt fokus har lett till att nya krav ställts på Försvarets försörjningskedja och inte minst anskaffnings processen att bli effektivare. Ledare som arbetar med beställning och anskaffning har en avgörande påverkan på ledtider, men ofta är det inte klart på vil-ket sätt och var i processen ledare skall fokusera kraft och resurser för att förbättra hela försörjningskedjan och anskaffningsprocessen. För att öka förståelsen av fenomenet och sprida kunskap om ämnet, så har syftet med uppsatsen varit att analysera faktorer i anskaffningsprocessen för Role 2 medicinsk för-måga, för att leva upp till de nya kraven som ställs för att utveckla militära förmågor så-som Nordic Battle Group i en nära framtid. Detta har gjorts med stöd av teorier hämta-de från kommersiell logistik (Supply Chain Management). Metoden har varit induktive samt bygger på en fall studie av anskaffningen av den medicinska förmågan som gått under beteckningen Role 2. Resultatet av analysen visar att det finns likheter mellan de empiriska och teoretiska ele-menten. Många av aktörerna i processen är medvetna om vad som behöver göras för att förbättra anskaffningsprocessen; emellertid finns det en del upptäckter som är värda att lyftas fram. Resultatet indikerar att mätsystem inte används som ett sätt att leda och sty-ra processer enligt respondenterna. Genom att använda olika typer av mätsystem i an-skaffningsprocessen kan försvarsmakten bättre definiera tidsåtgången för anskaffningen och på så vis indirekt förbättra anskaffningsprocessen. Den viktigaste slutsatsen från analysen är att kompetens verkar vara den avgörande fak-torn för att öka effektiviteten i anskaffningsprocessen för att leva upp till kraven på hur nya militära förmågor såsom Nordic Battle Group skall tas fram. Det förefaller nästan som denna faktor har glömts bort eller negligerats av Försvarsmakten. För utveckla och förbättra anskaffningsprocessen rekommenderas därför att Försvarsmakten intar en se-riösare approach när det gäller specialistutbildning och utbildningsprogram inom led-ning och genomförande av logistik fram över. / Today the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) is in a process of transformation, with the focus changing from homeland defence to more expeditionary operations. This change is being driven by a trend towards increasing international commitments. The shift from a national to an international focus has created a new set of demands on SAF which place pressure for greater efficiency on the supply chain, not least the order fulfilment process (OFP). Today material managers can have a significant impact on lead-time reduction, but often it is not clear on which aspects of the process managers should focus their efforts and capital to bring about improvements in the supply chain and the order fulfilment process. To increase understanding of this phenomenon and spread knowledge about the subject, the purpose of this thesis has been to analyze factors in the order fulfilment process for Role 2 medical equipment, in order to meet the new demands for developing military capabilities, such as NBG, in the near future. This has been completed with the support of theory on commercial supply chain management and an inductive approach has been taken. The results of the analysis show that there are similarities between the empirical and theoretical elements. Several actors in the process are well aware of what needs to be done to improve the OFP; hence, there are some implications worthy of emphasis. However, the results also indicate that the use of measurements is not considered as a key principle for the management of processes by the respondents. Nevertheless, by using measurements in the OFP, SAF could better define the actual order cycle time and indirectly improve the OFP. The main conclusion from the analysis is that competence seems to be the essential factor in increasing efficiency in the OFP to meet the demand for the development of new military capabilities, such as the NBG. It almost appears that this factor has been forgotten or is being neglected by SAF. Therefore, in order to progress, and improve the OFP, it is strongly recommended that SAF takes a much more serious approach to specialized education and training programs in logistics management in the future.

Behandlingsassistenter och lärare på Lövsta skolhem, ett behandlingshem för ungdomar mellan 12-21 år, har i nuläget svårigheter att enas om hur skolgången ska bedrivas och finna en bra samarbetsform för skolundervisningen. Syftet med studien är att belysa den framväxande organisationsutvecklingen på Lövsta skolhem och utveckla konkreta förslag för behandlingsassistenter och lärare att finna samarbetsformer och en gemensam målbild för de omhändertagna ungdomarnas skolgång. Metoden är av kvalitativ karaktär vilket gjort det möjligt att i studien undersöka kontexten i organisationen och skapa en helhetsuppfattning. Förslagen som presenteras för behandlings- och skolverksamheten är följande; struktur och kontinuerlighet i KNESS- mötena, enhetliga riktlinjer i arbetsutförandet, att medarbetarna följer de angivna rutinerna och att den ledande funktionen lyssnar och tar aktiv del av deras samlade kunskaper och idéer.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / In temperate New South Wales, most fish species in the family Labridae have not previously been investigated with available knowledge restricted primarily to photographic identification guides providing brief notes on species distribution, habitat preferences and identification. This information is inadequate for assessing the impact of labrid harvesting on rocky reef systems and for making informed management decisions for the protection of these fishes. Therefore, this study aimed to fill some of the significant gaps in the understanding of labrid assemblages associated with rocky reefs of temperate eastern Australia. This was accomplished by concentrating primarily on three species - Ophthalmolepis lineolatus, Notolabrus gymnogenis and Pictilabrus laticlavius - which are abundant and co-occur in shallow waters (less than 20 m depth) on the central coast of New South Wales. The methods used in this study included SCUBA surveys of labrid assemblages; in situ observations of labrid behaviour on SCUBA; and acquisition of labrid specimens for the extraction of intestines, gonads and otoliths, and for measurements of fish weight and length. <br /> Labrids were found to be the most species rich family in the study region and were the most abundant of all non-planktivorous fishes. Overall, a higher number of labrid species and a higher number of labrid individuals occurred in sponge garden habitat (15-22 m depth) compared to fringe (3-7 m) and barrens (8-15 m), owing to greater densities of O. lineolatus, Austrolabrus gymnogenis and Eupetrichthyes angustipes. The common labrids, N. gymnogenis, Achoerodus viridis and P. laticlavius, occurred at higher densities in fringe habitat due mostly to a higher representation of juveniles in this habitat. The effect of habitat on labrid assemblages was subject to small-scale variation between sites (separated by hundreds of metres) and experienced temporal changes due primarily to a substantial increase in the abundance of recruits coinciding with late summer and autumn (April-May). Behavioural observations revealed that the three focal species differed substantially in their spatial structure. O. lineolatus were found to be temporary reef residents using home ranges in excess of 2500 m2 for periods of up to 1 year before permanently emigrating outside these temporary home ranges. In contrast, N. gymnogenis exhibit strong site fidelity to reef patches of less than 600 m2 in which they remain for periods in excess of 2 years. Reef patches are shared by up to at least 10 juvenile and female individuals and a single, highly territorial male in a mating system suggestive of resource defence polygyny. An understanding of the spatial structure of P. laticlavius was constrained by its cryptic behaviour, but behavioural observations suggest this species is home ranging and establishes temporary territories for the purpose of feeding and/or reproduction. Intensive ethological observations allowed for the description and quantifying of several major behaviours in which all species typically engaged including encounters and interactions with other fishes, lying, use of shelter, side-swiping, bending, gaping, cleaning by clingfishes (Gobiesocidae) and colour change. The occurrence of these behaviours often demonstrated substantial differences among species (e.g. lying, shelter and bending) and/or experienced shifts with ontogeny (e.g. interactions and area usage). These trends generally remained consistent at different times of the day and periods of the year, and at both locations. Dietary analyses revealed O. lineolatus, N. gymnogenis and P. laticlavius are generalist carnivores feeding on a variety of benthic invertebrates including polychaetes, amphipods, decapods, gastropods, bivalves, polyplacophorans, echinoderms and cirripedes. Differences in the volumetric contribution of prey items in the guts of each species showed that food resources are partitioned among species and observations of foraging behaviour demonstrated a partitioning of microhabitats used for feeding. Ontogenetic shifts in diet and feeding microhabitats demonstrate that food resources are further partitioned within a species. However, overall morphological and behavioural similarities within a species results in greater competition occurring among individuals of the same species than among individuals of different species. This was reflected in higher rates of intra-specific interactions compared with interactions between labrid individuals of different species. Observations of feeding episodes revealed the bite rates of all species were typically unaffected by the time of day and period of year in which sampling occurred, but a location effect occurred for O. lineolatus and P. laticlavius. A reduction in bite rate with ontogeny occurred for N. gymnogenis. The population structure of the three species suggests each exhibits the typical labrid reproductive strategy of protogynous hermaphroditism. O. lineolatus and N. gymnogenis are both monandrous species, but the occurrence of some P. laticlavius males at small sizes and young ages suggests this species may be diandrous. Similarities occurred between O. lineolatus and N. gymnogenis in the size/age at which individuals sexually matured (c.a. 180 mm, 2 years) and changed sex (c.a. 280 mm, 4.6 years), but these events occurred at substantially smaller sizes (95 and 138 mm, respectively) and younger ages (les than 0.9 and 1.9 years, respectively) in P. laticlavius. Sectioned otoliths were used to determine that the longevity of O. lineolatus, N. gymnogenis and P. laticlavius was at least 13.4, 9.6 and 4.8 years, respectively. Ages were validated using marginal increment analysis. Timing of reproduction in each species was asynchronous with peaks in the reproductive activity occurring in late summer to early autumn (February-March) for O. lineolatus, mid winter (July) for N. gymnogenis and mid spring to early summer (October-December) in P. laticlavius.