Thesis (M. Eng.(Industrial Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Summaries in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 221-227).

The introduction of the Internet has challenged numerous value chain propositions and processes. Its low cost, low barrier of entry and timely distribution of information provides a seamless extension of processes across company borders. Especially in the business-to-business (828) realm, its introduction has however sparked criticism and controversy and many companies are still weary of trading on-line. e-Procurement is a sound solution for companies to initiate the e-wave as it promises high cost savings. Savings promised include a reduction in processing cost, reduction in the supply base (which leads to cost savings) as well as negotiating better prices through the availability of sufficient post-purchase information. Maverick spending (off contract purchasing) is also reduced through better-controlled purchases. A framework is developed in this research to assist in the evaluation of the suitability and scope of a proposed e-procurement implementation. Due to the numerous aspects involved in procurement and therefore also e-procurement, the following five dimensions are addressed in the framework: 1. Procurement and Processes. Although e-procurement does not address all procurement related aspects, such as strategic sourcing of supply, it has an operational focus and reduces processing time and costs. 2. Products. Products can be categorised by means of many different aspects, but the following main characteristics influence the categorisation decision: i) Its function within the organisation, ii) Product characteristics (homogenous or heterogeneous), iii) Product value and iv) Number of suppliers. Indirect goods with a low unit value, supplied by a large number of homogenous suppliers are regarded as susceptible for e-procurement. 3. Purchasing role players. Many different role players function within the purchasing arena, each influencing the purchasing function. The main aspects to be considered when considering e-procurement are: i) Buyer characteristics (demography and background), ii) Supplier characteristics and channel strategy (the supplier's position in the value chain as well, as if the relationship is cohesive or conflicting), iii) Market forces (supply and demand laws as well as market competitiveness) and iv) Industry related purchasing (the product purchased and its significance). 4. Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. The introduction of the Internet has opened up the possibility for planning across the supply chain planning, using techniques such as CPFR. This will result in a pull rather than a push model. For products to be ordered electronically, the following information should be available: i) Stock levels and ii) Current or forecasted demand. Absence of accurate information of any or both of the above would result in a preference for manual ordering. 5. Trading and Information Exchange. Each buying situation may require a different e-procurement solution It is important that users firstly establish the commerce arena requirements (the product characteristics, sophistication of the buyers as well as inefficiencies of current transactions) which will influence the choice in e-procurement business model, trading platform, data format, etc. Thereafter the aspects necessary for consideration are: i) The data format (XML vs. EDIFACT, etc.), ii) Information platform (Internet vs. Intranet, etc.), iii) Integration needs (integrating with back end systems such as an ERP system) and iv) Different e-procurement solutions. Using a qualitative model considering dimensions 1 to 3 above, the susceptibility of different products or commodity groups (products with similar characteristics grouped together) should be examined. For each of these products or commodity groups the preferred e-procurement solution should be crafted by applying dimensions 4 and 5 above. Combining the qualitative ratings with the preferred solution should provide the most feasible e-procurement solution, while simultaneously rating which of the products should be purchased through the solution. / Dissertation (MIng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Industrial and Systems Engineering / unrestricted

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / The Human Resources (HR) outsourcing market in Peru is growing; however, it is dominated by large companies in this area, which prevents the development of new organizations or small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The latter, in spite of providing the same services, fail to reach the expected sales volume, thus reporting low profitability. This article analyzes the different factors that impede the growth of SMEs through a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram and the assessment of initial indicators. It also proposes a model that is based on the three pillars of Digital Transformation and the importance of their alignment in its implementation. A pilot model has been conducted for validation in an SME that provides HR outsourcing services. The research results denote an increase in the company’s profitability and capacity.

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are vehicles of various levels of autonomy which can be made for a large variety of purposes, for instance ferriage and surveying. USV shave technically been around for about 80 years, however, it is only within fairly recent years developments in miniaturization of components and computers have allowed for the construction of USVs of a small size. The primary benefit of USVs is that they can perform otherwise costly and tedious tasks originally done by manned vehicles. They can also run on electric batteries; thus limiting the effect on the environment compared to the fossil fuels used in traditional vehicles. In this project, performed at the Swedish Maritime Robotics Center at KTH Stockholm, a small USV meant to perform depth measurements of waterways was developed. It can be steered via remote control and has the hardware required to navigate autonomously. This report goes through the multiple steps the project group undertook to develop the USV. The project included studying of previous works, selection and ordering of components, creating a schematic, developing the programming, and testing. 11 components were installed while several planned ones were not included due to time constraints. Testing of the remote control and GNSS logging was successful. / Obemannade ytfarkoster (engelska USV) är fordon med olika nivåer av autonomi som kan tillverkas för en mängd olika ändamål, till exempel för färjor och hydrografi. USV har tekniskt sett funnits i cirka 80 år, men det är först inom de relativt senaste åren utvecklingen inom miniatyrisering av komponenter och datorer har möjliggjort konstruktion av USV:s av en liten storlek. Den främsta fördelen med USV är att de kan utföra annars kostsamma och mödosamma uppgifter som ursprungligen utfördes av bemannade fordon. De kan också köras på elektriska batterier; vilket begränsar effekten på miljön jämfört med de fossila bränslen som används i traditionella fordon. I detta projekt, utfört på Swedish Maritime Robotics Center vid KTH Stockholm, utvecklades en liten USV för att utföra djupmätningar av vattendrag. Den kan styras via fjärrkontroll och har den hårdvara som krävs för att navigera självständigt. Denna rapport går igenom de steg som projektgruppen tog för att utveckla USV:n. I projektet ingick att studera tidigare arbeten, välja och beställa komponenter, skapa tekniska diagram, utveckla programmeringen och testning. 11 komponenter installerades medan flera planerade inte ingick på grund av tidsbrist. Testning av fjärrkontrollen och GNSS-loggningen var lyckade.

Compared to other disciplines, software engineering as of today is still dependent on craftsmanship of highly-skilled workers. However, with constantly increasing complexity and efforts, existing software engineering approaches appear more and more inefficient. A paradigm shift towards industrial production methods seems inevitable. Recent advances in academia and practice have lead to the availability of industrial key principles in software development as well. Specialization is represented in software product lines, standardization and systematic reuse are available with component-based development, and automation has become accessible through model-driven engineering. While each of the above is well researched in theory, only few cases of successful implementation in the industry are known. This becomes even more evident in specialized areas of software engineering such as systems integration. Today’s IT systems need to quickly adapt to new business requirements due to mergers and acquisitions and cooperations between enterprises. This certainly leads to integration efforts, i.e. joining different subsystems into a cohesive whole in order to provide new functionality. In such an environment. the application of industrial methods for software development seems even more important. Unfortunately, software development in this field is a highly complex and heterogeneous undertaking, as IT environments differ from customer to customer. In such settings, existing industrialization concepts would never break even due to one-time projects and thus insufficient economies of scale and scope. This present thesis, therefore, describes a novel approach for a more efficient implementation of prior key principles while considering the characteristics of software development for systems integration. After identifying the characteristics of the field and their affects on currently-known industrialization concepts, an organizational model for industrialized systems integration has thus been developed. It takes software product lines and adapts them in a way feasible for a systems integrator active in several business domains. The result is a three-tiered model consolidating recurring activities and reducing the efforts for individual product lines. For the implementation of component-based development, the present thesis assesses current component approaches and applies an integration metamodel to the most suitable one. This ensures a common understanding of systems integration across different product lines and thus alleviates component reuse, even across product line boundaries. The approach is furthermore aligned with the organizational model to depict in which way component-based development may be applied in industrialized systems integration. Automating software development in systems integration with model-driven engineering was found to be insufficient in its current state. The reason herefore lies in insufficient tool chains and a lack of modelling standards. As an alternative, an XML-based configuration of products within a software product line has been developed. It models a product line and its products with the help of a domain-specific language and utilizes stylesheet transformations to generate compliable artefacts. The approach has been tested for its feasibility within an exemplarily implementation following a real-world scenario. As not all aspects of industrialized systems integration could be simulated in a laboratory environment, the concept was furthermore validated during several expert interviews with industry representatives. Here, it was also possible to assess cultural and economic aspects. The thesis concludes with a detailed summary of the contributions to the field and suggests further areas of research in the context of industrialized systems integration.

[pt] A informação passou a ser vista ao longo do tempo como um insumo importante para a tomada de decisão e para a obtenção de vantagens competitivas pelas empresas. A tecnologia passou a fazer parte do cotidiano das empresas para melhor administrá-la e disseminá-la. Entretanto, nem sempre as organizações adotaram esse caminho de forma planejada. Percebe-se uma confusão no uso de conceitos e de soluções em TI, que se estende para o tema da integração eletrônica da informação. O trabalho consistiu em uma revisão da literatura sobre a integração de sistemas e de dados, verificando-se os conceitos mais comuns, as soluções mais utilizadas e as promessas encontradas. Além disso, realizou-se uma pesquisa de campo, na qual gestores expuseram em entrevistas qualitativas o que acontece na prática sobre o assunto, aludindo a benefícios, problemas e requisitos para o desenvolvimento e adoção de soluções de integração. / [en] Organizations began to see information like an important component for decision making and obtaining above average profits, when well used. Computational tools and communication technologies became common on the quotidian of these organizations. However, those tools and technologies weren`t always adopted through the right way. We notice confusion on the use of concepts and the adoption of solutions on IT and that problem extends to information integration. This work consisted on an intense review of the literature about systems and data integration, verifying most common concepts, most utilized solutions and promises about them. Besides, a field research was realized, which manages showed on qualitative interviews what actually happens about this subject, referring to benefits, problems and requisites for the development and adoption of integration solutions.

O processo de fabricação de papel é uma tecnologia multidisciplinar, na qual a maior parte do processo de produção consiste em uma série de operações e sistemas correlacionados. Com a evolução tecnológica a fabricação de papel moderna passou a ser uma instalação industrial de grande complexidade, com processos e máquinas contínuas de alta tecnologia e elevada capacidade de produção, levando a maioria das indústrias papeleiras no mundo à necessidade de ser controlada por modernos computadores e sistemas de automação. Esta dissertação apresenta a análise da integração do sistema de automação aplicada ao processo de fabricação de papel, visando a integração da automação desde o chão de fábrica até o sistema supervisório, utilizando o modelo da estrutura hierárquica para automação industrial, e a interface de operação. Inicialmente será apresentado o processo de fabricação de papel, em seguida, os sistemas convencionais de automação, na etapa seguinte a estrutura hierárquica do sistema de automação e finalmente o desenvolvimento da integração da automação, abordando a metodologia utilizada, aplicação e benefícios. Dentre os benefícios obtidos destacam-se a estrutura organizada no sistema de automação, a interface de operação amigável, o controle do processo na sala de controle, a disponibilidade dos dados de chão de fábrica na sala de controle, a redução no tempo de solução de anomalias, estabilidade no processo, redução de insumos e refugos. / Papermaking is a comprehensive technology, in which most of the production process consists of a series of related operations and systems. Throughout the technological evolution, modern papermaking has become an industrial plant of great complexity, with continuous high-tech processes and machines, and high production capacity, which lead most paper mills in the world to the need of being controlled by modern computers and automation systems. This dissertation presents the analysis of integrated automation system applied to papermaking process, in order to integrate the automation system in all levels, from operation to supervisory system, using the model of hierarchical structure for industrial automation and operator interface. Initially the process of papermaking will be presented, then, conventional automation systems. The following section will be the hierarchical structure of the automation system and, finally, the development of the integration of automation, covering the methodology, application and benefits. Among the benefits, the organized structure in the automation system, the friendly operation interface, process control in the control room, the availability of plant floor data in the control room, the reduction in solution time anomalies, process stability, reduction of inputs and waste will be will be highlighted in this work.

O processo de gestão da produção é responsável pelo planejamento de todas as atividades de produção em empresas de manufatura. Modelos conceituais são referências para implantação e organização deste processo, e alguns não abordam o uso da coleta automática de dados de chão de fábrica. É proposto um modelo conceitual que considera a coleta automática, tratamento e disponibilização destes dados, permitindo que sejam tomadas decisões com base em dados mais precisos, detalhados e fáceis de serem obtidos. / The production management process is in charge to plan all production activities in manufacturing enterprises. Conceptual models are references for implantation and organization of this process. Some of these models do not include automatic shop floor data collection. It is proposed a conceptual model that takes into account the automatica data collection, using, treating and making it available. This will permit a decision making based on more detailed, accurated and easy to get information.

A modelagem de nicho ecológico combina dados ambientais com informações sobre a ocorrência de uma espécie para obter modelos que descrevem a sua distribuição probabilística em uma região. Algoritmos computacionais geram modelos baseados na hipótese de que, se uma espécie foi encontrada sob as condições que definem o seu nicho, então ela pode sobreviver em qualquer lugar que ofereça as mesmas condições. A técnica de modelagem normalmente utiliza dados obtidos de diferentes provedores, em grandes quantidades e em formatos diferentes, e os resultados são exportados para outras ferramentas de análise e interpretação, como os SIGs, Sistemas de Informação Geográfica. Os sistemas de informação disponíveis para modelagem de nicho ecológico são monolíticos e, embora efetivamente implementem algoritmos para gerar modelos, não foram projetados para atender todos os requisitos da modelagem. Este trabalho define uma solução mais abrangente, na forma de uma infraestrutura orientada a serviços para a modelagem de nicho ecológico. A opção pela orientação a serviços está diretamente relacionada com a integração de sistemas. A infraestrutura especifica um barramento de serviços para gerenciá-los, com funcionalidades como roteamento e garantia de entrega, e para tratar questões de interoperabilidade. Antes de construir a infraestrutura, foi formalizado o processo de modelagem de nicho ecológico. Ele permitiu definir o domínio do problema, identificar falhas e potenciais evoluções, e acelerar a curva de aprendizado de pesquisadores iniciantes. Definida a infraestrutura, foram abordados outros aspectos da modelagem, resultando em soluções integradas para alguns dos problemas identificados. Em algoritmos para geração de modelos, foi apresentada uma solução usando tecnologia adaptativa, com resultados promissores. Em computação de alto desempenho, o Garp, um dos algoritmos mais utilizados para modelagem, foi paralelizado. Além de resultados positivos em relação ao desempenho, esta iniciativa mostrou como se evoluir neste sentido. Para integração com outros provedores e disponibilização de recursos oferecidos por outras ferramentas de software, foi proposta a integração com serviços de SIG, utilizando padrões estabelecidos para serviços geoespaciais. Em conjunto, estas soluções mostram a capacidade da infraestrutura de atender os requisitos já identificados e evoluir para incorporar novas características que a evolução natural das técnicas de modelagem venham a desenvolver. Incorporando as soluções propostas à infraestrutura, foi desenvolvido um portal de modelagem para atender aos usuários desta técnica. A modelagem de nicho ecológico apresenta desafios em diferentes áreas do conhecimento e a abordagem adotada permitiu formalizá-los. Trabalhos em andamento incluem a avaliação de modelos, a evolução do barramento de serviços, o desenvolvimento de ontologias e a incorporação de sistemas legados, com potenciais benefícios para a modelagem de nicho ecológico. Como resultado adicional, o próprio desenvolvimento do trabalho mostrou que a solução é integrável com outros domínios, comprovadamente os de agricultura de precisão e polinizadores, mostrando a versatilidade e o potencial da infraestrutura de serviços apresentada. / Ecological niche modelling combines environmental data and information about the occurrence of a species to obtain models to describe its probabilistic distribution in a region. Computational algorithms generate models based on the hypothesis that, if a species was found under the conditions which define its niche, then it may survive in any place which offers the same conditions. The modelling technique usually applies data obtained from different providers, in large quantities and different formats, and the results are exported to other analysis and interpretation tools, such as GIS, Geographic Information Systems. Information systems available for ecological niche modelling are monolithic and, although they effectively implement algorithms for model generation, they were not designed to meet all modelling requirements. This work defines a more comprehensive solution, a service-oriented infrastructure for ecological niche modelling. The choice of a service-oriented solution is directly related to system integrations requirements. The infrastructure specifies a service bus to manage services with many features, such as routing and delivery, and to treat interoperability issues. Before building the infrastructure, the ecological niche modelling process was formalized. It allows defining the problem domain, identifying failures, gaps and potential evolutions, and increasing the learning curve of beginners. Having the infrastructure defined, other modelling aspects were addressed, resulting in integrated solutions for some of the identified problems of the technique. In algorithms for model generation, a solution using adaptive technology was introduced, with promising results. In high performance computing, the Garp, one of the algorithms most applied for modelling, became parallel. Besides positive results related to performance, this initiative showed how to evolve in this sense. Related to integration with other providers and availability of resources offered by other software tools, a proposal to integrate GIS services was presented, applying patterns for geospatial services. Together, these solutions show the ability of the infrastructure to meet all identified requirements and to evolve in order to incorporate new features that the natural evolution of modelling techniques may develop in the future. Incorporating the proposed solutions to the infrastructure, a portal of ecological niche modelling was developed to serve the users of this technique. Ecological niche modelling presents challenges in different areas of knowledge and the adopted approach allowed formalizing them. Research work is ongoing and includes model evaluation, bus services evolution, ontologies development and incorporation of legacy systems, with several potential benefits for ecological niche modelling. As an additional result, the development of this work indicates that the solution may be extended to other domains, such as precision agriculture and pollinators, showing the versatility and the potential of the presented services infrastructure.

O processo de fabricação de papel é uma tecnologia multidisciplinar, na qual a maior parte do processo de produção consiste em uma série de operações e sistemas correlacionados. Com a evolução tecnológica a fabricação de papel moderna passou a ser uma instalação industrial de grande complexidade, com processos e máquinas contínuas de alta tecnologia e elevada capacidade de produção, levando a maioria das indústrias papeleiras no mundo à necessidade de ser controlada por modernos computadores e sistemas de automação. Esta dissertação apresenta a análise da integração do sistema de automação aplicada ao processo de fabricação de papel, visando a integração da automação desde o chão de fábrica até o sistema supervisório, utilizando o modelo da estrutura hierárquica para automação industrial, e a interface de operação. Inicialmente será apresentado o processo de fabricação de papel, em seguida, os sistemas convencionais de automação, na etapa seguinte a estrutura hierárquica do sistema de automação e finalmente o desenvolvimento da integração da automação, abordando a metodologia utilizada, aplicação e benefícios. Dentre os benefícios obtidos destacam-se a estrutura organizada no sistema de automação, a interface de operação amigável, o controle do processo na sala de controle, a disponibilidade dos dados de chão de fábrica na sala de controle, a redução no tempo de solução de anomalias, estabilidade no processo, redução de insumos e refugos. / Papermaking is a comprehensive technology, in which most of the production process consists of a series of related operations and systems. Throughout the technological evolution, modern papermaking has become an industrial plant of great complexity, with continuous high-tech processes and machines, and high production capacity, which lead most paper mills in the world to the need of being controlled by modern computers and automation systems. This dissertation presents the analysis of integrated automation system applied to papermaking process, in order to integrate the automation system in all levels, from operation to supervisory system, using the model of hierarchical structure for industrial automation and operator interface. Initially the process of papermaking will be presented, then, conventional automation systems. The following section will be the hierarchical structure of the automation system and, finally, the development of the integration of automation, covering the methodology, application and benefits. Among the benefits, the organized structure in the automation system, the friendly operation interface, process control in the control room, the availability of plant floor data in the control room, the reduction in solution time anomalies, process stability, reduction of inputs and waste will be will be highlighted in this work.