Bakgrund Benchmarking är ett populärt styrverktyg men studierhar visat att benchmarking inte anses som ett likaeffektivt förbättringsverktyg som andra styrverktyg,vilka kritiska faktorer som ligger bakom enframgånsrik benchmarking bör då undersökas. Efter en genomgång av tidigare studier fann vi dessutom attbrister finns gällande vetskapen hur användandet avintern benchmarking upplevs. Få studier har gjortsinom detaljhandeln där intern benchmarking tycksvara användbart. Syfte Syftet med studien är att få en större kunskap kringupplevelserna av intern benchmarking inomdetaljhandeln. Studien syftar även till att redogöra förvad det är som ligger bakom en framgångsrik internbenchmarking. Frågeställningar Hur upplevs intern benchmarking inom detaljhandeln? Vilka är de kritiska faktorerna för framgångsrik internbenchmarking? Metod Studien utgörs av en kvalitativ ansats bestående av 2 intervjuer med företagsledning och 5 intervjuer medvaruhuschefer. Studien har även en kvantitativ delsom består av en enkätundersökning med enpopulation på 75 personer. Slutsats Studiens slutsats är att intern benchmarking upplevs som motiverande, stimulerande, användbart i dendagliga verksamheten samt ökar förståelsen förorganisationen. Kritiska faktorer bakom enframgångsrik intern benchmarkingprocess är en tydlig process, utbildning, tillgång till data, ett bra forum förkommunikation och högt deltagande av anställda. / Background Benchmarking is a popular managament tool butstudies have shown that benchmarking is notconsidered as an effective management tool as othermanagement tools, what the critical factors behind asuccessful internal benchmarking should therefore belooked into further. We also found, after reviewingformer studies, that there are lack of informationabout the experience of using internal benchmarking. Only a few studies have been done in retail whereinternal benchmarking seems useful. Aim The aim with the studie is to get more knowledgeabout the experiences of internal benchmarking inretail. The study also aims to state the critical factorsbehind a successful internal benchmarking. Research questions What is the experience of internal benchmarking inretail? What are the critical factors behind a successfulinternal benchmarking? Methodology The study has a qualitative approach and consists of 2 interviews with management and 5 interviews withstore managers. The studie also has an quantitativeapproach that consists of a survey with a populationof 75 people. Conclusion The conclusion of the study is that internalbenchmarking are experienced as motivating,stimulating, useful in the daily business and alsoincreases the understanding of the organization. Critical factors behind succescfull internalbenchmarking process are a clear process, education,access of data, a good forum for communication andhigh participation rate of the employees.

An analysis that is based on the monitoring of dynamic features from in-situ sensors of an industrial PECVD tool is presented. Linear Discriminant Analysis is used to determine which features are the most sensitive to various changes in the tool condition. The concept of Confidence Values (CVs) is used to quantify statistical changes of these dynamic features as the condition of the tool changed. Two data sets were collected from a PECVD tool in the facilities of a well-known equipment supplier. Dynamic features coming from the RF plasma power and matching capacitors’ sensors are shown to be sensitive to various changes in the cleaning cycles for Si-N, Si-O₂, and TEOS depositions. Quantifying the statistical distributions of the sensitive sensor features during tool condition changes is important for determining which sensor features are necessary to monitor in order to predict the tool chamber health. Results show that these RF plasma sensors could be used to track changes inside the tool chamber. / text

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is a viable therapy for end stage heart failure. However, despite clinical success, the ability to compare MCS devices in vitro and perform training scenarios is extremely limited. Comparative studies are limited as different devices cannot be interchanged in a patient due to the surgical nature of implant. Further, training and failure scenarios cannot be performed on patients with devices as this would subject a patient to a failure mode. A need exists for a readily available mock system that can perform comparative testing and training scenarios with MCS devices. Previously, our group has fabricated a well characterized mock circulation system consisting of a SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH) and Donovan Mock Circulation tank (DMC tank). Further, utilizing this system with the TAH operating in reduced output mode, a heart failure model was developed. In the present study, three ventricular assist devices (VADs) were independently attached to the heart failure model to compare device performances over a range of preloads and afterloads. In addition, specific clinical scenarios were created with the system to analyze how VAD-displayed waveforms from the system correlate with clinical scenarios. Finally, each VAD was powered off while attached to the heart failure model to compare fluid flow through the VAD in a pump-failure scenario. We demonstrated that this system can successfully be utilized to compare MCS devices (i.e. ventricular assist devices) and for successful training of patients and clinicians.

Darbo tyrimo sritis yra informacinių technologijų vertinimo metodologijos ir jų praktinis taikymas, detaliau nagrinėjamos COBIT (angl. Control Objectives for Information and related Technology) ir CMM (angl. Capability Maturity Model). Tyrimo objektas - vertinimo proceso kompiuterizavimas, problema - informacinių technologijų atitikimo įmonių veiklos poreikiams nustatymas. Tikslas yra suteikti galimybes įvertinti įmonių informacinių technologijų atitikimą jų veiklos poreikiams, sukuriant kompiuterizuotą vertinimo sistemą. / The problem of identifying the adequacy beside information systems and business needs exists in enterprises. This research work analyzes a few evaluation methodologies and proposes supporting software tool developed for this purpose on the base of integration of two methodologies - Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT) and Capability Maturity Model (CMM). The developed software tool allows to approach to the main purpose of this research work – to provide the opportunity to evaluate the adequacy beside information systems and business needs.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vad elever och lärare anser om att använda mobiltelefonen som hjälpmedel i skolan. Fungerar den bra som hjälpmedel eller väger nackdelar som konflikter med elever angående användningen och risken för kränkningar över till dess nackdel? Undersökningen genomfördes med enkäter samt uppföljande intervjuer med lärare och elever. Då liknande undersökningar tidigare har utförts bland äldre elever valde jag att göra undersökningen bland lärare och elever i mellanstadiet. Undersökningen visar att både elever och lärare är positiva till att mobiltelefonen används i skolan då den är lättillgänglig och snabb att använda. Nackdelar som kommit fram i undersökningen är att en del elever kan känna sig otrygga då de är oroliga för att filmas eller fotograferas mot sin vilja varpå detta material kan distribueras på internet. Några upplever också mobiltelefoner som störande på lektioner. Trots detta visar dock min undersökning att fördelarna överväger nackdelarna då man genom att tillåta mobiltelefoner i skolsammanhang också öppnar möjligheter att sätta upp regler för användandet av de samma. Större möjligheter att arbeta med förebyggande av mobbning och kränkningar är en annan konsekvens av att tillåta mobiltelefon i skolan. / The intention with this study is to analyse students ' and teachers ' opinions about the use of cellphones as a tool in the school. Do they work as a tools or do the conflicts regarding use and the risk of harassment means too big disadvantages? The study was carried out with surveys and additional interviews with teachers and students. Since similar studies have already been done on elder students, I chose to do this study on teachers and students in primary school. The study shows that both students and teachers are positive regarding the use of cellphones in school, since it is an accessible and quick-to-use tool. But there are disadvantages, such as some students fearing that they will be filmed or photographed against their will, and that this material may be distributed on the Internet. Some students also find the use of cellphones disturbing during lessons. Despite this, my study shows that the advantages outweighs the disadvantages, since when allowing cellphones in the school, you also open up for the possibility of setting rules for their use. Greater possibilities to prevent bullying and harassments is another consequence of allowing cellphones in the school.

The doctoral thesis is concerned with the issues that are faced when selecting strategic analysis tools to be used in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the process of strategic management. The paper comprises three parts. The first part presents a discussion on the methodology of strategic analysis and the application of its tools in SME. As a result, the taxonomy of 40 strategic analysis tools applied in business organizations (including SME) was designed. In addition, the „model of strategic tune“, defining the correlation of „a dominating strategy type“, „the size of an enterprise“, and „the nature of strategic analysis“, was formed in this part. The second part describes the methodologies to study the application of strategic analysis tools. In the course of research project, two individual empirical studies were conducted: 1) expert evaluation study of strategic analysis tools, during which the criteria for expert evaluation of 40 strategic analysis tools were prepared; 2) SME owners, executives and specialists‘ testing and survey. The third part of the thesis indicates the results of the study into the application of strategic analysis tools. While combining theoretical and empirical methods and using various classification criteria, four typologies of strategic analysis tools were designed. Factual material reflecting SME executives‘ scope of knowledge and their perceptions and attitudes towards strategic analysis was collected by means of testing and... [to full text]

Distance studies ensure the possibility of lifelong studies and lifelong improvement, enable easier adaptation and establishment of oneself in the labour market being in constant fluctuation and raising an increasing number of requirements. The title of the paper is “E-tool for Teaching Practice Skills of Peripheral Equipment of Computer”. This thesis aims at creating the software tool to improve the quality of practical performance of computer peripheral equipment, as well as the assessment of structural tasks. Moreover, this also ensures the maintenance of regular contact between the student and the professor. The analytical section singles out the peculiarities of distance learning by employing virtual educational environments, highlights consumers’ needs for distance studies and obtaining practical skills of computer peripherals. Furthermore, this part of the paper provides the comparison of technologies applied for the creation of dynamic websites. The teaching tool has been designed and implemented by applying the following software: •MS Visio 2003 – for design (creation of diagrams); •PHP – for the creation of the tool (programming); •Apache – for the maintenance of the tool and for determining access on the Internet; •txtSQL – for the use of the database, which stores all the information in relation to the e-tool for teaching. In the course of the present experiment the designed e-tool for teaching purposes was installed in the Faculty of Business and Technologies of... [to full text]

A tool path generation method for sculptured surfaces defined by triangular meshes is presented in this thesis along with an algorithm that helps determine the best type of cutter geometry to machine a specific surface. Existing tool path planning methods for sculptured surfaces defined by triangular meshes require extensive computer processing power and result in long processing times mainly since surface topology for triangular meshes is not provided. The method presented in this thesis avoids this problem by offsetting each triangular facet individually. The combination of all the individual offsets make up a cutter location surface. A single triangle offsetting results in many more triangles; many of these are redundant, increasing the time required for data handling in subsequent steps. To avoid the large number of triangles, the proposed method creates a bounding space to which the offset surface is limited. The original surface mesh describes the bounding surface of a solid, thus it is continuous with no gaps. Therefore, the resulting bounding spaces are also continuous and without gaps. Applying the boundary space limits the size of the offset surface resulting in a reduction in the number of triangular surfaces generated. The offset surface generation may result in unwanted intersecting triangles. The tool path planning strategy addresses this issue by applying hidden-surface removal algorithms. The cutter locations from the offset surface are obtained using the depth buffer. The simulation and machining results show that the tool paths generated by this process are correct. Furthermore, the time required to generate tool paths is less than the time required by other methods. The second part of this thesis presents a method for selecting an optimal cutter type. Extensive research has been carried out to determine the best cutter size for a given machining operation. However, cutter type selection has not been studied in-depth. This work presents a method for selecting the best cutter type based on the amount of material removed. By comparing the amount of material removed by two cutters at a given cutter location the best cutter can be selected. The results show that the optimal cutter is highly dependent on the surface geometry. For most complex surfaces it was found that a combination of cutters provides the best results.

This research focuses on the development of intelligent fastening tool tracking systems for the automotive industry to identify the fastened bolts. In order to accomplish such a task, the position of the tool tip must be identified because the tool tip position coincides with the head of the fastened bolt while the tool fastens the bolt. The proposed systems utilize an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and another sensor to track the position and orientation of the tool tip. To minimize the position and orientation calculation error, an IMU needs to be calibrated as accurately as possible. This research presents a novel triaxial accelerometer calibration technique that offers a high accuracy. The simulation and experimental results of the accelerometer calibration are presented. To identify the fastening action, an expert system is developed based on the sensor measurements. When a fastening action is identified, the system identifies the fastened bolt by using an expert system based on the position and orientation of the tool tip and the position and orientation of the bolt. Since each fastening procedure needs different accuracies and requirements, three different systems are proposed. The first system utilizes a triaxial magnetometer and an IMU to identify the fastened bolt. This system calculates the position and orientation by using an IMU. An expert system is used to identify the initial position, stationary state, and the fastened bolt. When the tool fastens a bolt, the proposed expert system detects the fastening action by triaxial accelerometer and triaxial magnetometer measurements. When the fastening action is detected, the system corrects the velocity and position error using zero velocity update (ZUPT). By using the corrected tool tip position and orientation, the system can identify the fastened bolts. Then, with the fastened bolt position, the position of the IMU is corrected. When the tool is stationary, the system corrects linear velocity error and reduces the position error. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system can identify fastened bolts if the angles of the bolts are different or the bolts are not closely placed. This low cost system does not require a line of sight, but has limited position accuracy. The second system utilizes an intelligent system that incorporates Kalman filters (KFs) and a fuzzy expert system to track the tip of a fastening tool and to identify the fastened bolt. This system employs one IMU and one encoder-based position sensor to determine the orientation and the centre of mass location of the tool. When the KF is used, the orientation error increases over time due to the integration step. Therefore, a fuzzy expert system is developed to correct the tilt angle error and orientation error. When the tool fastens a bolt, the system identifies the fastened bolt by applying the fuzzy expert system. When the fastened bolt is identified, the 3D orientation error of the tool is corrected by using the location and the orientation of the fastened bolt and the position sensor outputs. This orientation correction method results in improved reliability in determining the tool tip location. The fastening tool tracking system was experimentally tested in a lab environment, and the results indicate that such a system can successfully identify the fastened bolts. This system not only has a low computational cost but also provides good position and orientation accuracy. The system can be used for most applications because it provides a high accuracy. The third system presents a novel position/orientation tracking methodology by hybridizing one position sensor and one factory calibrated IMU with the combination of a particle filter (PF) and a KF. In addition, an expert system is used to correct the angular velocity measurement errors. The experimental results indicate that the orientation errors of this method are significantly reduced compared to the orientation errors obtained from an EKF approach. The improved orientation estimation using the proposed method leads to a better position estimation accuracy. The experimental results of this system show that the orientation of the proposed method converges to the correct orientation even when the initial orientation is completely unknown. This new method was applied to the fastening tool tracking system. This system provides good orientation accuracy even when the gyroscopes (gyros hereafter) include a small error. In addition, since the orientation error of this system does not grow over time, the tool tip position drift is limited. This system can be applied to the applications where the bolts are closely placed. The position error comparison results of the second system and the third system are presented in this thesis. The comparison results indicate that the position accuracy of the third system is better than that of the second system because the orientation error does not increase over time. The advantages and limitations of all three systems are compared in this thesis. In addition, possible future work on fastening tool tracking system is described as well as applications that can be expanded by using the KF/PF combination method.

In the construction industry, onsite labour is one of the most variable and costly factors which affect project profits. Due to the variable nature of construction labour and its correlation with profits, construction managers require a comprehensive understanding of the activities of workers onsite. For project success, it is important that workers are spending the majority of their time installing materials which advance the project. This material installation time is known in the construction industry as “direct-work” or “tool time”. Site management should continuously seek to improve the direct-work rate through the life of the project. A review of the literature indicates that no workface assessment method exists in the literature which provides: (1) a detailed description of worker activities, and (2) a continuous productivity improvement process to help management identify productivity inhibitors affecting site labour, to develop a plan to reduce or eliminate these issues, and to measure improvements as a result of these changes. In response to this need, this research has focused on the development of a workface assessment method called activity analysis. Activity analysis is a continuous productivity improvement process which efficiently measures the time expenditure of workers onsite and identifies productivity inhibitors that management must reduce or eliminate to provide workers with more time for direct-work activities. Six case studies were conducted to verify the feasibility of the activity analysis process. Further, cyclical data from two major construction firms was collected and statistically analyzed to validate the hypothesis that activity analysis can improve direct-work rates. It has been concluded that activity analysis, as a continuous productivity improvement process, is both feasible and when continually applied to a construction site, can significantly improve direct-work rates through the life of a project.