The Small and Medium-size Enterprises are the key bone of the economy of many nations. The usual definition of SME’s, make up 99.8% of the approximately 19 million enterprises of the European Union (ISO, 2002) and Sweden is not an exception. That is why SME’s faces the strategic challenge of achieving sustained profitable growth. To meet this challenge, SME’s must develop capabilities to integrate their systems. Since ICT gives so many advantages to support the Supply Chain, and MRPII software’s have become a very popular tool in the last thirty years; Our purpose is to answer the following research question: How can MRP II-type computer systems be used effectively to support the manufacturing and organizational integration? The research started with on-site observations and interviews but the development of a model and a survey was needed. After, we linked the research with an already accepted model. The results show how important the human aspect and the accuracy are in the effective usage of an MRP II. It also demonstrates that the MRP II philosophy must be accepted to use the MRP II software profitably. Nevertheless, we modeled the vicious cycle that our case company might deal with, tried to find the root cause and give recommendations to break it. / Små och Mellan- stora företag är många nationers byggstenar. Den vanligaste definitionen av SME´s utgör 99,8% av de uppskattningsvis 19 miljoner företag inom Europeiska Unionen (ISO, 2002) och Sverige är inget undantag. Det är anledningen till att SME´s möter den strategiska utmaningen att uppnå ihållande och vinstgivande tillväxt. För att ta sig an denna utmaningen måste SME´s utveckla förmågor att integrera sina system. Eftersom ICT ger så många fördelar att stödja utbudskedjan, och eftersom MRP II mjukvaror har kommit att bli ett populärt verktyg de senaste trettio åren, kommer vårt syfte bli att svara på följande fråga: Hur kan datasystem av typen MRP II användas för att på ett effektivt sätt underlätta integrering av tillverkning och organisation? Undersökningen startade med observationer samt intervjuer på plats, men utförandet av en statistisk undersökning och en modell var nödvändig efter det att vi redan hade kopplat ihop arbetet med en redan accepterad modell. Reasultaten visar hur viktig den mänskliga faktorn samt exaktheten är i användandet av en MRP II. Den visar också att MRP II filosofin måste vara accepterad innan man kan använda MRP II mjukvaran på ett fördelaktigt sätt. Likväl har vi illustrerat den onda cirkeln som vårt företag måste försöka ta sig ur, försökt hitta den underliggande orsaken och slutligen att ge rekommendationer för att bryta den.

Este trabalho apresenta e discute uma proposta baseada na teoria dos conjuntos fuzzy para predizer o desempenho da empresa-foco em cadeia de suprimentos modelada de acordo com os relacionamentos causais entre medidas de desempenho propostas pelo SCOR (versão 8.0). O uso de sistemas de medição de desempenho para gerenciar o desempenho de cadeias de suprimentos apresenta algumas limitações tais como a dificuldade de interpretação de resultados de natureza qualitativa, assim como a complexidade de um sistema tradicional de medição de desempenho lidar adequadamente com os relacionamentos de causas e efeito entre métricas de desempenho de diferentes processos de negócios ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos. Por outro lado, a lógica fuzzy, uma técnica apropriada para lidar com situações de incerteza e subjetividade, configura-se como uma alternativa interessante. Utilizando uma abordagem de pesquisa quantitativa descritiva, assumiu-se a hipótese de que um modelo de simulação quantitativo poderia ser construído para explicar o comportamento de processos operacionais. Os resultados da simulação mostraram-se bastante consistentes à metodologia SCORmark, proposta pelo Supply Chain Council. Análises estatísticas dos resultados da simulação, baseados no Método de Superfície de Resposta, também confirmaram a relevância dos relacionamentos causais incorporados no modelo. Em geral, os resultados reforçam que a proposição da adoção de um modelo de simulação baseado em lógica fuzzy e nas métricas do SCOR parece ser uma abordagem possível para auxiliar os gerentes no processo de tomada de decisão do gerenciamento do desempenho em cadeias de suprimentos. / This paper presents and discusses a proposal based on the theory of fuzzy sets to predict performance of focus company in a supply chain modeled according to causal relationships among performance metrics proposed by SCOR (version 8.0). The use of performance measurement systems to manage performance of supply chains presents some limitations such as difficulty of interpretation of results of qualitative nature as well as the complexity of having a conventional performance measuring system that can adequately handle cause-and-effect relationships of metrics of performance of different business processes of a supply chain. On the other hand, fuzzy logic, a technique suitable for dealing with uncertainty and subjectivity, becomes an interesting alternative approach. Using a descriptive quantitative approach, the research was based on the assumption that a quantitative simulation model can be built that explain (at least in part) the behavior of operational processes. Results of simulation were very much in line with those of the SCORmark methodology (SCC). Statistical analysis of the simulation results based on surface response method also confirmed the relevance of the causal relationships embedded in the model. In general, the findings reinforces the proposition that adoption of a simulation model based on fuzzy-logic and on metrics of the SCOR model seems to be a feasible approach to help managers in the decision making process of managing performance of supply chains.

A utilização de medicamentos fitoterápicos tem crescido a taxas acima da média em todo o mundo, quando comparada à dos medicamentos tradicionais, constituindo-se em uma grande oportunidade de crescimento e desenvolvimento para a indústria farmacêutica nacional. O Brasil, além de possuir a maior biodiversidade em plantas do mundo, possui um conhecimento popular em relação à propriedade medicinal de muitas ervas e plantas que poderiam balizar o desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos. Na cadeia produtiva farmacêutica, a qualidade da matéria-prima é fundamental e pode ser a diferença entre a produção de um medicamento eficaz ou não. Nesse contexto, a gestão da cadeia de suprimentos se apresenta como parte importante para a estruturação das relações e para a qualidade do desenvolvimento de tais produtos. Assim, este estudo objetiva analisar a estrutura e organização da cadeia de suprimento de insumos para fitoterápicos, procurando compreender as suas inter-relações e suas dificuldades de desenvolvimento. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em parceria com a Escola de Administração da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) e com o projeto Centro de Estudos Avançados em Biodiversidade e Fitoprodutos (BIO-FITO) da Faculdade de Farmácia da UFRGS. Foram estudados três laboratórios situados no Rio Grande do Sul, que utilizam a planta Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch., conhecida popularmente como “Espinheira-santa”, para a produção de fitoterápicos. Com base nos resultados encontrados, verificou-se que a estrutura da cadeia de suprimentos apresenta dificuldades relacionadas ao fluxo de informações e de produtos e que existem três diferentes formas de estrutura e organização para obtenção de insumos pela empresa focal: compra, verticaliza parcialmente e verticaliza totalmente. A definição dessa estrutura está diretamente relacionada com os recursos disponíveis na empresa e para identificá-la foi criado um modelo teórico. / The use of phytomedicines has grown above average in the world, when compared to the traditional medicines, consisting in a great opportunity of growth and development for the national pharmaceutical industry. Brazil, beyond the fact that possesses the largest biodiversity of plants in the world, possesses also a popular knowledge related to medicinal properties of many herbs and plants, which could lead to the development of new medicines. In the pharmaceutical supply chain, the quality of the raw material is fundamental and could be the difference between the production of an efficient medicine or not. In this context, the supply chain management presents itself as a key element to structure the business relations and to the quality of these products development. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the structure and organization of the raw material’s supply chain for phytomedicines, trying to comprehend the inter-relations and the difficulties of its development. The research was developed in a partnership of the Management School of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the project “Centro de Estudos em Biodiversidade e Fitoprodutos” (BIO-FITO) of Pharmacy School from UFRGS. Three laboratories which use the plant Maytenus ilifolia (Schrad.) Planch. for the production of phytomedicines were studied in Rio Grande do Sul. Based on the results, it was verified that the structure of the supply chain presents difficulties related to the flow of information and products and that exists three different ways of structure and organization to obtain raw materials for the enterprise: purchase, partially integrates and totally integrates. The definition of this structure is directly related to the available resources in the firm and for its identification was created a theoretical model.

Submitted by Daniel Spina (danielspina2010@gmail.com) on 2013-12-10T23:38:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 10122013_MPA_Dissertação_Daniel_Spina_v15.pdf: 1400753 bytes, checksum: d2a82a60c831d48aa0a0db2d746c303c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzinei Teles Garcia Garcia (suzinei.garcia@fgv.br) on 2013-12-12T12:47:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 10122013_MPA_Dissertação_Daniel_Spina_v15.pdf: 1400753 bytes, checksum: d2a82a60c831d48aa0a0db2d746c303c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-12-12T14:09:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 10122013_MPA_Dissertação_Daniel_Spina_v15.pdf: 1400753 bytes, checksum: d2a82a60c831d48aa0a0db2d746c303c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-05 / Nas últimas décadas, as empresas perceberam a importância que a busca por vantagem competitiva pode resultar na geração de valor para os negócios. A gestão da cadeia de suprimentos é uma forma que as organizações têm para orquestrar seu diferencial competitivo e maximizar o valor, sendo feita por meio da adoção de práticas de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos. Porém, para gerar uma vantagem competitiva sustentável, elas precisam ser valiosas, raras e difíceis de imitar, caminhando em linha com a visão baseada em recursos. Desta forma, o propósito desta pesquisa é identificar quais práticas de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos os gestores deveriam adotar, de modo que tragam desempenho superior para suas empresas. Para tanto, será utilizada a abordagem quantitativa para analisar a influência das práticas de gestão sobre as métricas de desempenho operacionais das empresas. Serão analisadas cerca de 800 empresas espalhadas entre 13 tipos de indústrias. Como resultado, espera-se compreender quais práticas realmente impactam o nível de desempenho das empresas, considerando diferentes tipos de indústrias, tamanho de empresa e região continentais. E consequentemente, contribuir para acadêmicos da linha de pesquisa de 'Estratégia e Operações', quanto para gestores que trabalham na gestão da cadeia de suprimentos.

[pt] A gestão da cadeia de suprimentos (Supply Chain Management - SCM) vem sendo introduzida com o intuito de gerar vantagens competitivas através de uma redução de custos ao longo da cadeia e de um aumento no nível de serviço prestado aos clientes. A tecnologia de informação é um viabilizador para o sucesso da SCM, onde os sistemas (ou aplicativos, ou softwares) têm um papel muito importante. A presente dissertação tem como objetivos propor um modelo de referência que incorpore os principais sistemas de informação (SI) integrados utilizados para SCM e aplicá-lo de forma a analisar os principais macro-processos de negócio de uma empresa de eletroeletrônicos na forma de um estudo de caso sob a perspectiva da distribuição e vendas. Esta análise é feita em conjunto ao mapeamento dos macro-processos de negócios da empresa. A empresa escolhida foi a divisão da Sony Electronics que atua no Brasil como Sony Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda, que nesta dissertação é chamada de Sony Brasil. O estudo de caso contou também com dois operadores logísticos e com um grande varejista que fazem parte da cadeia de suprimentos da Sony Brasil. A metodologia científica incluiu: uma revisão bibliográfica da literatura referente ao tema; diversas entrevistas estruturadas e não estruturadas; observações diretas e visitas in loco em diversas instalações pertencentes à cadeia analisada. Esta dissertação é concluída com uma análise crítica da SCM da Sony Brasil sob a perspectiva dos sistemas de informação voltados para as atividades de distribuição e vendas. / [en] Supply Chain Management (SCM) - has been introduced aiming to create competitive advantages through cost reduction alongside the chain and of an increase of service rendered to clients. IT (Information Technology) makes feasible the SCM success, where the systems (or application or softwares) play a very important role. The current dissertation has as objectives to propose a reference pattern which incorporates the main integrated information systems utilized for SCM and employ it in order to form, map and analyse the main macro business processes of an electro-electronical company in the form of a case study, under distribution and sales perspective. This analysis is conducted together with the mapping of the macro business processes of the company. The chosen company was Sony Electronics division, which acts in Brazil as Sony Indústria e Comércio Ltda that in the dissertation is called Sony Brazil. The case study also counted on with two logistic operators and with a big retailer which are both part of Sony Brazil supply chain. The scientific methodology included: bibliographic review of literature relating to the theme; several structured and non-structured interviews and direct observations; and in loco visits, in several facilities belonging to the analysed chain. This dissertation is completed with a critical analysis of Sony Brazil SCM, under the information systems perspective backed to distribution and sales activities.

[pt] A globalização da competição tem forçado as organizações a buscar e implementar novas vertentes geradoras de vantagens competitivas. Como na atualidade a competição ocorre freqüentemente entre cadeias de suprimentos e não entre empresas isoladas, a Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos (Supply Chain Management - SCM) aparece como uma nova fronteira a ser explorada. Em função dessas considerações, esta dissertação tem por objetivo de aplicar o Modelo para SCM de Aragão et al. (2004) para analisar cadeias de suprimentos baseadas em dimensões-chave necessárias para uma bem sucedida SCM. As dimensões-chave consideradas neste modelo são: integração de processos de negócios, identificação dos membros-chave da cadeia, compartilhamento de informação e medidas de desempenho relacionadas à cadeia de suprimento de uma empresa fabricante de gases industriais no mercado Brasileiro. Este fabricante é considerado nesta dissertação como a empresa focal da cadeia de suprimentos. Cinco membros-chave desta cadeia são também incorporados na análise. Conclui-se que a empresa focal possui diferentes formas de gerir a sua cadeia em função de cada membro chave. / [en] The globalization of competition has forced the organizations to seek and to implement new forms to create competitive advantages. Nowadays, as competition occurs effectively between supply chains and not between isolated companies, SCM (Supply Chain Management) appears as a new frontier to be explored. Within this context, this dissertation has the objective to apply the model for SCM proposed in Aragão et al. (2004) to analyze the supply chains based on key-dimensions for a successful SCM. The key- dimensions considered in this model are: business process integrations, identification of the supply chain key-member, sharing of information and measures of performance related to the supply chain of an industrial gas manufacturer in the Brazilian market. This manufacturer is considered in this dissertation as the focal company of the supply chain. Five key-members of this chain are also included in the analysis. As a result the analyses, it is possible to conclude that the focal company develops different ways to manage its chain depending on each of its key members.

The Small and Medium-size Enterprises are the key bone of the economy of many nations. The usual definition of SME’s, make up 99.8% of the approximately 19 million enterprises of the European Union (ISO, 2002) and Sweden is not an exception. That is why SME’s faces the strategic challenge of achieving sustained profitable growth. To meet this challenge, SME’s must develop capabilities to integrate their systems. Since ICT gives so many advantages to support the Supply Chain, and MRPII software’s have become a very popular tool in the last thirty years; Our purpose is to answer the following research question: How can MRP II-type computer systems be used effectively to support the manufacturing and organizational integration? The research started with on-site observations and interviews but the development of a model and a survey was needed. After, we linked the research with an already accepted model. The results show how important the human aspect and the accuracy are in the effective usage of an MRP II. It also demonstrates that the MRP II philosophy must be accepted to use the MRP II software profitably. Nevertheless, we modeled the vicious cycle that our case company might deal with, tried to find the root cause and give recommendations to break it. / Små och Mellan- stora företag är många nationers byggstenar. Den vanligaste definitionen av SME´s utgör 99,8% av de uppskattningsvis 19 miljoner företag inom Europeiska Unionen (ISO, 2002) och Sverige är inget undantag. Det är anledningen till att SME´s möter den strategiska utmaningen att uppnå ihållande och vinstgivande tillväxt. För att ta sig an denna utmaningen måste SME´s utveckla förmågor att integrera sina system. Eftersom ICT ger så många fördelar att stödja utbudskedjan, och eftersom MRP II mjukvaror har kommit att bli ett populärt verktyg de senaste trettio åren, kommer vårt syfte bli att svara på följande fråga: Hur kan datasystem av typen MRP II användas för att på ett effektivt sätt underlätta integrering av tillverkning och organisation? Undersökningen startade med observationer samt intervjuer på plats, men utförandet av en statistisk undersökning och en modell var nödvändig efter det att vi redan hade kopplat ihop arbetet med en redan accepterad modell. Reasultaten visar hur viktig den mänskliga faktorn samt exaktheten är i användandet av en MRP II. Den visar också att MRP II filosofin måste vara accepterad innan man kan använda MRP II mjukvaran på ett fördelaktigt sätt. Likväl har vi illustrerat den onda cirkeln som vårt företag måste försöka ta sig ur, försökt hitta den underliggande orsaken och slutligen att ge rekommendationer för att bryta den.

The overall economic development during the nineteenth and twentieth century has left us with an interconnected global society. However, the pollution does not adhere to the boundaries of nation-states. Therefore, the sustainability issue calls for holistic solutions on all levels of society, from individuals to states, large NGOs, and in particular the companies that produce the goods we consume. Corporate initiatives on this matter are usually referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR. Many large corporations have been under scrutiny from different stakeholders ever since the early 1990’s and it is no longer possible for them to neglect their responsibility for i.e. pollution or human rights. However, smaller actors do not receive as much attention as their larger competitors, due to lower stakeholder awareness. With this background, this master thesis aims at investigating how small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the apparel industry in Sweden perceive their opportunities and challenges when working with CSR in their global supply chain. Thus, the thesis hopes to help bridge a scientific gap, and also connects to Supply Chain Management, SCM. This was accomplished through a literature review that identified and categorized different aspects of the problem. Following this, a multiple-case study with eight different brands was carried out, interviewing representatives from the organizations. The results show, among other things, that for SMEs, top management and/or owner values and commitment are of significant importance. This is in line with the literature. On the other hand, aspects like difficulties with language and cultural barriers were not an issue, contrary to the current academic research on SMEs. This was said to be due to the organizations extensive implementation or use of social capital through long-lasting business relations, which is another characteristic of the SME sector identified by the literature. Existing industry initiatives and cooperation between brands can work, but external help to manage these projects is essential for their success. Available Environmental Management Systems (EMS) on the other hand are often considered too expensive, time-consuming or unknown to end-consumers to be implemented. On the contrary, harsher government regulation and enforcement, both in Sweden as well as in the production countries are advocated. This is particularly noticeable, since generally, private sector representatives tend to be against government regulations. / Mistra Future Fashion

When performing an analysis of the evolution of software quality and software metrics,there is a need to get access to as many versions of the source code as possible. There isa lack of research on how data or source code can be extracted from the source controlmanagement system Git. This thesis explores different possibilities to resolve thisproblem. Lately, there has been a boom in usage of the version control system Git. Githubalone hosts about 6,100,000 projects. Some well known projects and organizations thatuse Git are Linux, WordPress, and Facebook. Even with these figures and clients, thereare very few tools able to perform data extraction from Git repositories. A pre-studyshowed that there is a lack of standardization on how to share mining results, and themethods used to obtain them. There are several tools available for older version control systems, such as concurrentversions system (CVS), but few for Git. The examined repository mining applicationsfor Git are either poorly documented; or were built to be very purpose-specific to theproject for which they were designed. This thesis compiles a list of general issues encountered when using repositorymining as a tool for data gathering. A selection of existing repository mining tools wereevaluated towards a set of prerequisite criteria. The end result of this evaluation is thecreation of a new repository mining tool called Doris. This tool also includes a smallcode metrics analysis library to show how it can be extended.

L’objectif de ce travail est de proposer un modèle thermodynamique à 25°C qui permette de décrire les principaux produits d’hydratation d’un ciment Portland ordinaire avec et sans matériaux cimentaires secondaires : les hydrosilicates de calcium. La composition riche en aluminium de ces produits de substitution modifie la nature et la composition des hydrates de la pâte de ciment.Nous avons donc étudié le système simplifié CaO-SiO2-H2O, pour lequel nous avons réalisé différentes synthèses de C-S-H dans des conditions de synthèse et d’analyse identiques. Nous avons distingué le cas où la solution d’hydratation est sous-saturée de celui où elle est sursaturée par rapport à la Portlandite.Nous avons ensuite étendu le système simplifié précédent au système CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O, pour lequel nous avons réalisé différentes synthèses de C-A-S-H et déterminé le protocole le plus adéquat pour obtenir des hydrates purs.La nature nanoparticulaire et la surface spécifique importante des C-S-H nous ont conduit à développer un modèle thermodynamique qui tiennent compte de réactions de surface. Ainsi, le modèle thermodynamique proposé dans ce travail, inspiré de différents travaux antérieurs du laboratoire, permet de décrire la composition de la solution, la stoechiométrie, et les propriétés de surface des C-S-H à l’équilibre. Ce premier modèle a été étendu aux C-A-S-H, en implémentant dans le modèle précédent des réactions de surface qui permettent de décrire l’incorporation de l’aluminium dans les différents sites possibles.Ce modèle a été appliqué à des cas simples tels que l’étude de la rétention d’alcalins par les C-S-H, et l’évaluation de l’impact de l’incorporation d’aluminium dans les C-S-H sur la répartition minéralogique des hydrates à l’équilibre pour un mélange cimentaire avec une forte teneur en aluminium / The aim of this work is to build a thermodynamic model at 25°C to describe the main hydrates of ordinary Portland cement with or without supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) : calcium hydrosilicates. With high aluminium content, SCM in blended cements modify the nature and the composition of the hydrates of cement paste.The simplified model system CaO-SiO2-H2O was studied by synthesising of C-S-H with identical protocol and analysis. We distinguished, hydration solutions undersaturated and supersaturated from Portlandite.This last system has been extended to CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O system. Then, we determined the most suitable protocol to synthesize pure C-A-S-H.The nanoparticular nature and high specific surface of C-S-H lead us to build a surface dependant thermodynamic model. The modelling described in this work, which is inspired from previous works of our laboratory, enables to describe chemistry of solution, solid composition but also surface properties of C-S-H at equilibrium. This first model has been extended to C-A-S-H. Incorporation of aluminium in C-S-H has been taken into account through surface reactions on different titrable sites.Our models were applied to some simple cases such as the study of alkali retention by C-S-H, the evaluation of the impact of aluminium incorporation in C-S-H on hydrates nature and distribution for highly substituted blended cements, i.e. with high aluminium content