The purpose of the thesis is to evaluate Delphi’s claims of being a well-suited choice for beginner programmers, which will be performed by comparing it to other established environments and languages to see potential differences and similarities in order to see if their claims have any truth behind them. To assess Delphi as a beginner programming language, it will be compared relatively to three other programming languages, namely Python, Java and C#. Four main aspects of each language were looked into, the first one was the readability, the second writability, the third covers community support and finally how easily understandable the official documentation is. It is important to know that IDEs have been left out of the evaluation. These four characteristics were used as fundamentals when performing the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in order to find the most suitable language for a beginner. The results were clear, Python was the most suitable language for a beginner, C# was the second most suitable, Java a close third and finally Delphi. In relation to Python, C# and Java, Delphi is the least suitable language for a beginner. Firstly this thesis work should not be considered as only an assessment of the programming language Delphi, instead it can be looked upon as a method or guide on how to evaluate a programming language relatively given some parameters to compare it to. Secondly, the purpose of this thesis is an important one, the demand on engineers and programers keeps on growing. Therefore the research on suitable languages that can be used in the education of these people needs to keep on going in order to find a language that can provide all the necessary concepts in an easy to understand without sacrificing anything. / Syftet med denna undersökning är att evaluera Delphis påstående om att vara ett väl lämpat alternativ för nybörjare inom programmering, relativt genom att jämföra språket med andra etablerade miljöer och språk genom att potentiellt finna skillnader och likheter för att se om det finns någon sanning bakom deras påståenden. Följande rapport kommer ha subjektiva åsikter samt objektiv fakta, men det kommer vara skrivet tydligt om det är den ena eller andra. För att evaluera Delphi som ett programmeringsspråk, kommer den att bli jämförd med tre andra programmeringsspråk, dessa är Python, Java och C#. Fyra huvudaspekter av varje språk undersöktes, den första var läsbarhet, den andra skrivbarheten, den tredje hur bra dess uppkopplade gemenskap är och den fjärde hur bra den officiella dokumentationen för språket är. Det är viktigt att nämna att IDE:er har blivit utelämnade från evalueringen. Dessa fyra egenskaper jämfördes med varandra med hjälp av analytisk hierarkisk process (AHP) för att finna språket som är mest lämpligt för en nybörjare. Resultaten vara tydliga, Python var det mest lämpliga språket, C# kom på en andra plats, Java på en tredje och Delphi på en sista plats vilket betyder att den är minst lämplig för en nybörjare. För det första så ska denna avhandling inte anses vara endast en bedömning av programiners språket Delphi, utan det ska även ses på som en metod eller guide på hur ett programmeringsspråk kan evalueras relativt givet några parametrar att jämför det med. För det andra är syftet med denna rapport viktig. Efterfrågan på ingenjörer och programmerare ökar för varje dag. Därför är forskning kring lämpliga språk som kan användas inom utbildningen av dessa människor viktig och behöver fortsätta för att hitta ett språk som kan förse med alla nödvändiga koncept på ett lättförståeligt sätt utan att offra någonting.

Kuwait’s per capita electrical energy consumption is among the largest in the world, reaching 13,663 kWh per person in 2011. The electricity demand in Kuwait is increasing, which requires additional investments in power generation. A particular challenge in Kuwait is the peak demand in summer, when extreme heat increases air conditioning loads. Peak demand reached 11,220 MW in 2011, with a fast growth rate averaging 5.6% over the last decade and a maximum production capacity of around 14,720 MW. It is not possible to cope with this demand simply by increasing generation capacity. Therefore, the only alternative available to Kuwait is to control electricity demand via demand-side management. The main objective of this research is to assess and select the optimal demand- side management (DSM) technologies for buildings in the governmental sector (office, religious and school buildings) and to investigate the key factors in the evaluation process. To achieve the research objective, a model was proposed using multi-criteria decision-making techniques to enable the forecasting and comparison of DSM alternatives that are suitable for buildings. The developed model includes environmental, economic, technical and social considerations. The research methodology is based on three main phases. Phase 1: Data collection through a mail questionnaire that was sent to 42 experts for the identification of criteria and demand-side management alternatives. Phase 2: Screening and narrowing of the data collected in Phase 1 using a set of questionnaires, including the identification of potential DSM alternatives and criteria suitable for further analysis. This phase was performed through the Delphi process, taking into consideration the opinions of 28 experts. Phase 3: Use of Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques, namely the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), to evaluate and rank the identified DSM alternatives and criteria. This was done using pairwise comparisons of 17 experts to evaluate the criteria and alternatives for the buildings (office, religious and school). The research showed that the experts identified six alternative technologies and five criteria for the selection and evaluation of governmental buildings (office, religious and school). After performing the three phases of this research project, a set of criteria and alternatives were ranked based on the information gathered from every group of experts. It was found that reduction in consumption, capital cost and ease of implementation were the three most recommended criteria for the selection of DSM technologies in Kuwait government buildings while high efficiency lighting and programmable thermostats were identified as the most recommended DSM technologies for these buildings. An important aspect of this research is that unlike engineering approaches which sometimes depend on expensive test equipment or, often for building design, expensive computer modelling exercises, the proposed framework can be easily adopted by anyone without any significant financial cost. The FAHP approach was also tested and its results compared with those of AHP. There was a slight difference between using AHP and FAHP in terms of ranking the criteria and alternatives but that the difference barely affects the ranking. It was found that the AHP provides a convenient MCDM approach for solving the complex problem of selecting the optimal DSM options for buildings. The contributions of this thesis are the development of a novel framework for systematic selection and ranking of DSM technologies in different types of buildings using the Delphi method and AHP; the identification of the most important DSM technologies and criteria for their selection for three types of governmental buildings in Kuwait; and establishing that results from using AHP and FAHP for the selection of appropriate DSM measures in these buildings are almost identical, so use of AHP is likely to be sufficient in most building studies of this type.

分析層級程序法在產品刪除決策之應用 / The recent explosion of product management in consumer packaged goods has highlighted the importance of product assortment decisions. In particular, firms are increasingly faced with the decision of which products to delete from distribution. Upon reflection, there are both strategic and tactical dimensions to this decision. Strategic approaches focus on the development of optimal product assortments as the basis for deletion decisions. Tactical approaches address incremental (i.e., item-by- item) decisions whether to delete any product, and if so, which product. This thesis focuses on tactical approaches and proposes using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a systematic and analytic tool that helps to quantify the managerial judgments in identifying the candidates for product deletion. Supported by a practical case study, which illustrates how AHP can be beneficial in quantifying both financial and non-financial product performance rankings for managers’ easier understanding and higher transparency of product deletion decision-making.

Le monde industriel est sans cesse confronté à des problèmes de choix. Une multitude de critères doit être pris en compte dans la résolution de ces derniers. Face à ces situations, les outils d’aide à la décision prennent tout leur sens. Nous utiliserons ici la méthode Analytic Hierarchic Process dans le domaine de la Production et plus particulièrement dans le cadre de l’ordonnancement d’une ligne de production de prothèses cardiovasculaires. Le paramétrage initial de cette méthode fait appel à l’évaluation d’un expert. Bien que ce dernier ait les connaissances nécessaires pour faire un paramétrage convenable, il n’en reste pas moins humain et introduira, même involontairement, une partie subjective dans ses décisions. L’ordonnancement en résultant ne sera donc pas forcément optimal. La réduction de cette subjectivité passe par l’utilisation d’une méta heuristique, de type algorithme génétique, pour améliorer ce paramétrage par l’exploration de solutions voisines à celles proposées par l’expert. / The industrial world is continually faced with problems of choices. Multitude of criterion must be taken into account in resolving them. Faced with these situations, the decision making tools give solutions. We will use the Analytic Hierarchy Process in the production field and especially in the scheduling of a cardio vascular prosthesis production line. The initial parameterization of this method involves the evaluation of an expert. Although he has the required knowledge to make a fitting setup, he is no less human and he will bring even unintentionally a subjective part in his decision. The resulting scheduling will therefore not necessarily be optimal. The reduction of the subjectivity can be done using a metaheuristic method, of genetic algorithm type, to improve this parameterization by exploring neighbouring solutions compared to those proposed by the expert.

Orientador: Valério Antonio Pamplona Salomon / Resumo: Técnicas de gestão do conhecimento (GC) podem ser úteis para a organização e compartilhamento do conhecimento na educação à distância (EAD). Como existem diversas técnicas de GC sua priorização permitirá a implantação das técnicas uma a uma. Assim a priorização poderá permitir que uma instituição de ensino venha obter vantagens como redução de custos e foco em objetivos estratégicos. Para a priorização foi aplicado o método Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). O AHP foi escolhido por suas vantagens, conforme a literatura de decisão multicritério. Este trabalho apresenta a aplicação do método AHP na priorização de técnicas de GC para EAD. Foram adotados critérios da literatura de GC. Considerando-se mais de nove alternativas (doze técnicas de GC), o método AHP foi aplicado de maneira não usual, ou seja, com ratings e síntese ideal. / Mestre

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-02-15T15:42:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vagner Gerhardt Mâncio_.pdf: 2330651 bytes, checksum: 51d1129f6c7064f70ea101a75bca32d1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-15T15:42:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vagner Gerhardt Mâncio_.pdf: 2330651 bytes, checksum: 51d1129f6c7064f70ea101a75bca32d1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-03 / Nenhuma / A competição entre as empresas é cada vez mais um fator de sobrevivência, e a busca de diferenciais é o principal objetivo para que as empresas tornem-se destaques no mercado e se mantenham competitivas. Com o objetivo de contribuir para a evolução das empresas com variedade de produtos e uma taxa média de produção, desenvolveu-se esta pesquisa sobre a viabilidade de altos investimentos em automação e a criação de um método para a escolha de equipamentos a partir de uma visão estratégica, considerando as principais dimensões de competição: custo, qualidade, flexibilidade, entrega. A pesquisa delimita-se no campo de Sistemas Flexíveis de Manufatura – do inglês Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) –, cujas análises estratégicas e de equipamentos de automatização tenham características de sistemas flexíveis. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na metodologia de modelagem quali-quantitativa, na qual, através da modelagem dos cenários, puderam ser realizadas avaliações qualitativas e quantitativas; o Método de Análise Hierárquica – do inglês Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) – foi utilizado para determinar o cenário que melhor combina com a principal variável competitiva. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa, foram coletadas opiniões de especialistas de empresas sobre os pesos comparativos do método AHP e sobre os equipamentos de automação que fazem parte dos cenários criados. O cenário 1 possui layout escada com a movimentação dos materiais realizado por esteiras através de pallets, cuja manipulação é realizada por sistemas pneumáticos. O cenário 2 possui layout campo aberto com a movimentação dos materiais realizado por veículos guiados automaticamente – do inglês Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), capazes de abastecer e descarregar os equipamentos. O cenário 3 possui layout centrado no robô, com 3 robôs que se movimentam em uma esteira para abastecer e desabastecer os equipamentos. Foram propostos dois métodos de cálculo do mérito final dos cenários, e, para ambos, o melhor cenário foi o 3. Adicionalmente, concluiu-se que adotar o cenário 3 é melhor do que não fazer nada, ou seja, continuar com a instalação atual da célula estudada. / The competition between companies is increasingly a factor of survival, and the search for differential is the main objective for companies to become highlights in the market and remain competitive. In order to contribute to the development of companies with a variety of products and an average rate of production, this research was carried out on the feasibility of large investments in automation and the creation of a method for choosing equipment from a vision strategic, considering the main dimensions of competition: cost, quality, flexibility, delivery. The research is delimited in the Flexible Manufacturing Systems field (FMS) whose strategic analysis and automation equipment have flexible systems characteristics. The research was conducted in the qualitative and quantitative modeling methodology, in which, through the modeling of scenarios, could be carried out qualitative and quantitative assessments; the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the setting that best suits the key competitive variable. For the development of research, business expert opinions were collected on the comparative weights of AHP and on the automation equipment that are part of the created scenarios. Scenario 1 has ladder layout with the movement of the materials carried by pallets through mats, in which the handling of materials is achieved by pneumatic systems. Scenario 2 has the open layout with the movement of materials held by Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), able to supply and unloading equipment. Scenario 3 has focused on the layout robot, in which there are three robots, moving on a conveyor and load and unload the equipment. Two methods of calculating the final merit of the scenarios were proposed. By both methods, the best scenario was the 3. Additionally, the conclusion is that adopting the scenario 3 is better than doing nothing, that is, continue with the current installation of cell studied.

A Reserva Biológica (REBIO) de São Donato é uma Unidade de Conservação localizada na fronteira oeste do Rio Grande do Sul, no trecho médio da bacia do rio Uruguai, no bioma Pampa. A área da REBIO é constituída por uma área úmida – banhado – característico do Pampa. Entretanto, desde o seu decreto em 1975, o banhado vem sofrendo impactos da rizicultura, essa região é a maior produtora do estado. Assim, o objetivo geral dessa dissertação é analisar a dinâmica e a fragilidade ambiental da Reserva Biológica de São Donato, a partir de geoprocessamento. Para atingir esse objetivo foram utilizados: dados de precipitação diários e imagens orbitais, de 1984 a 2016, que indicassem inundação no banhado e sua sub-região hidrográfica; reconhecimento de campo; análise de uso e cobertura do solo do raio de amortecimento da REBIO; análise da fragilidade ambiental a partir da metodologia do Processo Analítico Hierárquico (AHP). Os resultados de análise da inundação do banhado e sua sub-região hidrográfica indicaram três padrões: um padrão regional, que afeta grande parte do trecho médio e alto da bacia do rio Uruguai; um padrão de inundação sub-regional, que compreende a sub-região hidrográfica dos rios Butuí-Icamaquã; um padrão que afeta a área local que compreende o banhado da REBIO de São Donato. As análises do uso e cobertura do solo e da fragilidade ambiental indicaram que as áreas mais frágeis da REBIO correspondem ao banhado e sua vegetação adaptada a umidade, e áreas de planícies de inundação. A avaliação do AHP para a análise da Fragilidade Ambiental se mostrou coesa, confirmando observações realizadas principalmente com relação ao impacto ambiental gerado pelo cultivo de arroz. Espera-se que as informações possam contribuir para estudos futuros de planejamento e gestão da área, e como base para a elaboração do Plano de Manejo da REBIO de São Donato. / The San Donato Biological Reserve (REBIO) is a Conservation Unit located on the western border of Rio Grande do Sul, in the middle stretch of the Uruguay River basin, in the Pampa biome. The area of the REBIO is constituted by a wetland - marsh - characteristic of the Pampa. However, since its decree in 1975, the marsh has been suffering from the impacts of rice cultivation, this region is the largest in the state. Thus, the general objective of this dissertation is to analyze the dynamics and environmental fragility of the San Donato Biological Reserve, based on geoprocessing. To achieve this objective, daily precipitation data and orbital images from 1984 to 2016 were used to indicate flooding in the marsh and its sub-river basin; Field recognition; Use analysis and soil cover of the REBIO Damping Ray; Analysis of the environmental fragility from the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology. The results of flood analysis of the marsh and its hydrographic sub-region indicated three patterns: a regional pattern, which affects much of the middle and upper reaches of the Uruguay River basin; A subregional flood pattern comprising the sub-river basin of the Butuí-Icamaquã rivers; A pattern that affects the local area comprising the marsh of San Donato Biological Reserve. The analyzes of soil use and cover and environmental fragility indicated that the most fragile areas of REBIO correspond to the wetland and its vegetation adapted to humidity and floodplain areas. The evaluation of the AHP for the analysis of the Environmental Fragility showed to be cohesive, confirming observations made mainly in relation to the environmental impact generated by rice cultivation. It is hoped that the information may contribute to future planning and management studies of the area, and as a basis for the elaboration of the São Donato REBIO Management Plan.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2017-03-17T12:29:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Sandro Augusto Martins Bittencourt_.pdf: 2499816 bytes, checksum: 0956055e2fde2467515deaf1ac232b30 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-17T12:29:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sandro Augusto Martins Bittencourt_.pdf: 2499816 bytes, checksum: 0956055e2fde2467515deaf1ac232b30 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-12 / Nenhuma / O objetivo desta tese foi construir um modelo de mensuração de desempenho aplicável a cadeias de suprimentos da indústria automotiva. A concepção do modelo foi baseada nos cinco processos SCOR: planejar, fornecer, produzir, distribuir e retornar, sob o enfoque das principais dimensões competitivas em estratégias de produção: custo, flexibilidade, entrega, qualidade e serviços. O método de pesquisa foi a modelagem. O modelo proposto foi aplicado em três semestres consecutivos da operação de uma cadeia de suprimentos composta por uma empresa focal, três fornecedores e três distribuidores. Pela realização de grupos focais com os gestores da cadeia, foram identificados os processos SCOR e as dimensões competitivas prioritárias, com o auxílio do método multicriterial Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Com a elaboração do quadro de indicadores foi possível capturar os desempenhos obtidos pelos elos da cadeia nos três períodos analisados. Para as comparações e totalização dos resultados, os índices obtidos foram relativizados em função dos objetivos de desempenho atribuídos às empresas da cadeia. Por fim, foi desenvolvido um comparativo temporal com os desempenhos globais, onde foram discutidos os comportamentos e lacunas de cada processo SCOR e de cada dimensão competitiva. Os resultados finais proporcionaram a estruturação de um modelo conceitual de mensuração de desempenho, que aplicado em uma cadeia de suprimentos da indústria automotiva apontou os seguintes resultados: no segundo semestre de 2014 o desempenho da cadeia foi 65,49 %, com uma lacuna de 35,41 pp., neste período, os melhores desempenhos foram verificados no processo planejar e na dimensão competitiva qualidade; no primeiro semestre de 2015 o desempenho da cadeia foi 68,79 %, com uma lacuna de 31,21 pp., onde os melhores desempenhos foram verificados no processo planejar e na dimensão competitiva custo; no segundo semestre de 2015 o desempenho da cadeia foi 73,37 %, com uma lacuna de 23,63 pp., e os melhores desempenhos foram verificados no processo planejar e na dimensão competitiva custo. / The objective of this thesis was to construct a model of performance measurement applicable to supply chains of the automotive industry. The design of the model was based on the five SCOR processes: planning, supplying, producing, distributing and returning, on the focus of the main competitive dimensions in production strategies: cost, flexibility, delivery, quality and services. The research method was modeling. The proposed model was applied in three consecutive semesters of the supply chain operation composed of a focal company, three suppliers and three distributors. The achievement of focus group discussions with chain managers identified the SCOR processes and the priority competitive dimensions, with the help of the multicriteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). With the elaboration of the indicator tables, it was possible to capture the performances obtained by the chain links in the three periods analyzed. For the comparisons and totalisation of the results, the indices obtained were relativized in function of the performance objectives attributed to the chain companies. Finally, a temporal comparison with the global performances was developed, where the behaviors and gaps of each SCOR process and of each competitive dimension were discussed. The final results provided the structuring of a conceptual model of performance measurement, which applied in an automotive supply chain pointed the following results: in the second semester of 2014 the performance of the chain was 65.49%, with a gap of 35.41 pp., During this period, the best performances were verified in the process planning and in the competitive dimension quality; the first semester of 2015 chain performance was 68.79%, with a gap of 31.21 pp., wh the best performances were verified in the process planning and at the competitive dimension cost; in the second semester of 2015 chain performance was 73.37% with a gap of 23.63 pp., and the best performances were verified in the planning process planning and the competitive dimension cost.

<p><strong>Purpose</strong> – The purpose of our thesis is to introduce a new approach to help small and medium third party logistics service providers (3PLs) to develop and improve their Reverse logistics.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach</strong> – A case study was adopted, and a qualitative questionnaire and face-to-face interview were used to collect the fundamental data. In addition, the multi-criteria decision-making tool-AHP and the Reverse Logistics audit model were used to analyze the case and to solve the problem of 3PLs in Reverse Logistics improvement.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Findings</strong> – Under the fierce competition and in today’s volatile market, the Reverse Logistics is considered as a new competitive advantage to many 3PLs. However, the effective solutions in instructing 3PLs how to develop and improve their Reverse Logistics competence are still very scarce. Based on these, a new approach will be presented in this thesis to help 3PLs to solve problem.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Limitations – </strong>There are two main limitations in our paper, which emerge in the two models we adopted. Regarding the Reverse Logistics audit model, we need more data of the case company to support our research. For the AHP method, the limitation is:  the fact that general assumptions were used to provide correlative data in computation, and complex computation was simplified in order to show calculative processes clearly.<strong></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Practical implications – </strong>FLB, the case company will be researched to verify the practical implication of our new approach. We believe through our approach, lots of small and medium size 3PLs will find it easier to get a holistic view of their RL competence, and know how to develop or improve it.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Originality/value</strong> – How to evaluate and assess the RL competence will be presented separately from inside view of 3PLs and outside view of their customers. AHP and self-made RL audit model will be used to achieve then respectively.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords</strong> Reverse logistics, Analytic hierarchy process, Assessment tool, and 3PLs </p><p> </p><p><strong>Paper type</strong> Case study/ Research paper</p>

<p>There are a number of decision making problems in which Geographical Information System (GIS) has employed to organize and facilitate the procedure of analyzing the problem. These GIS-based decision problems which typically include a number of different criteria and alternatives are generally analyzed by Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA).Different locations within a geographical area represent the alternatives by which the overall goal of the project is achieved. The quality of achieving the goal is evaluated by a set of criteria which should be considered in the work. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is a powerful method of MCDA generally can organize spatial problems and decides which alternatives are most suitable for the defined problems. However due to some intrinsic uncertainty in the method, a number of authors suggest fuzzifying the method while others are against fuzzification of the AHP.</p><p>The debate over fuzzifying AHP is going on and attempt for finding that was mostly in theory, and little, if any; practical comparison between the AHP and fuzzified AHP has done. This work presents a practical comparison of AHP and fuzzy AHP in a GIS-based problem, case study, for locating a dam in Costa Rica, considering different criteria. In order to perform the AHP and fuzzy AHP in the GIS-based problem and calculating weights of the criteria by the methods, some computer codes have written and developed in MATLAB.</p><p>The comparisons between the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods are done on result weights and on the result final maps. The comparison between the weights is repeated on different levels of uncertainty in fuzzy AHP then all the results are compared with the result of AHP method. Also this study for checking the effect of fuzzification on results is suggested Chi-Square test as a suitable tool.</p><p>Comparisons between the resulting weights of the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods show some differences between the methods. Furthermore, the Chi-Square test shows that the higher level of uncertainty in the fuzzy AHP, the greater the difference in results between the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods.</p>