The problem under investigation is the failure of current project cost control processes in Australia to adequately examine alternative design solutions due primarily to the imposition of time and cost constraints. Hence project optimisation does not occur-- the cost of a design is controlled but rarely is a design formulated to comply with a pre - determined budget allocation . This thesis attempts to improve current practice through the introduction of a computer guidance system called "COSTPLANNER!" devised to enable implementation of complex optimisation and control procedures between the stages of conception and tender while simultaneously improving speed and accuracy. In order to arrive at a workable solution the investigative study is subdivided into three main sections. First, traditional methods of project cost control are discussed in order to ascertain the basic philosophies which will need to be preserved. Second, current levels of computer involvement are analysed to arrive at the essential elements which any computer - based system must possess. Third, a framework for a complete computer- guided cost planning package, incorporating the necessary mechanisms to enable more thorough investigation and overcome restrictions curre.ntly imposed by insufficient time, is designed in detail. The investigation has highlighted that design optimisation must be initiated at an early stage before valuable time and money is spent documenting a Bcheme that is inherently cost expensive . Also, to enable proper exploration of alternative solutions either the number of areas to be investigated must be r educed or the speed with which such area s are examined increased . The use of computers to undertake cost control activities means that the latter is an achievable goal that does not resist acknowledged attempts by the National Public Works Conference (N .P.W.C. ) in Australia to encourage industry standardisation. The major conclusion reached is that current practice can be significantly improved through the utilisation of computer guidance systems at all stages in the design of a project . Preparation time of feasibility reports can be reduced by ninety-three percent, sketch design cost plans by forty-five percent and tender document cost plans by thirty-four percent an overall reduction in time and cost of fifty percent. In addition to the obvious benefits of making instantaneous changes to cost information, full reports including life cycle costing, value analysis and cost- benefit analysis studies as applicable are automatically prepared . Implementation of computer guidance systems to improve efficiency is not only desirable but absolutely essential, although it is an area which t o date has been suprisingly ignored.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1963. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Zugl.: Frankfurt (Oder), Univ., Diss., 2006

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2005. / "August, 2005." Includes bibliographical references (leaf 43). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

<p>Living Lab är en öppen innovationsmiljö där innovationer samproduceras, testas och verifieras av användarna, tillsammans med företag och akademin i en kontext som representerar innovationens tänkta användningsområde. Genom samverkan kan olika värden skapas för företagen. Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka hur Living Lab skapar värde för företag och vilka värden företag kan identifiera ur de användarcentrerade aktiviteterna. Uppsatsen karaktäriseras av en kvalitativ ansats och grundar sig i en explorativ undersökning med djupintervjuer där fyra företag ligger till grund för uppsatsens resultat. Uppsatsen har visat att Living Lab skapat värden för företag genom att de fått mer tilltalande produkter, identifierat nya användarkategorier och samordnat resurser med företag. Living Lab är därmed värdeskapande för företag genom stöd för utvärdering, ny- och vidareutveckling av innovationer. Samverkan mellan användare, företag och akademin öppnar upp för ett kunskapsutbyte vilket skapar värde för företag då kompetensutveckling äger rum och en djupare kunskap om användarna kan erhållas</p>

<p>Purpose – During the past decades, implementing reforms becomes a popular topic for most manufacturers. With the aim to cope with the environment changes, there are urgent needs for these manufacturing companies to carry on reforms on the existing businesses. At the same time, value creation under a new service dominant logic for manufacturers are cited by many scholars. The aim of this paper is to analyze the new dominant logic, with the comparison of traditional goods dominant logic, recognize the advanced value creation model. To go a step further, this paper also discusses about the way of implementing reforms and new business logic for manufacturers.</p><p>Methodology – This paper mainly takes the methodology of literature review. The literatures reviewed here include academic papers, books, and website information. The main field of literatures include: service definition and service characteristics; goods-dominant logic versus service dominant logic; and value creation (co-creation). On the other hand, some small case studies can also be found in this paper.</p><p>Findings – After the comparing between goods dominant logic and service dominant logic, this paper suggests the service-dominant logic as a preferred business logic. Because it provides a more interactive way of consumption, presents a value-in-use view rather than value-in-exchange, and requires manufacturers playing a role of assisting customers in value creating process. For those manufacturers wish to implement the service dominant logic, this paper suggests them to take innovations on their business, which including the innovations on products/services, business processes, and business models.</p><p>Research limitations/implications – As a relative new field of study, the research is mostly taken by literature review. However, the research on the implementing of new business logic and reforms requires more voice from the real industry.  </p><p>Practical implications – Manufacturers may position themselves to new roles by involving in the customers’ value creating process. Taking innovations from a integrated view may help manufacturers to achieve the higher value under service dominant logic.</p><p>Originality/value – This paper concluded the ongoing service dominant logic development, after which, offers a discussion on the implementing of which for the manufacturing companies.</p>

<p>The after market is of great importance of a company’s competitiveness and an increasing part of its revenues can be derived from it. Remanufacturing, in focus of this thesis, is a great business opportunity and the European market has an enormous growth potential. In the USA it is a major business and the automotive industry, targeted in this thesis, sells approximately 60 million remanufactured automotive products compared to 15 million products in Europe for an equivalent stock of vehicles</p><p>Compared to manufacturing, the remanufacturing environment is a more complex business due to the high degree of uncertainty in the production process, mainly caused by two factors: the quantity and quality of returned cores. Overall, seven characteristics that make the remanufacturing material flow harder to control have been identified. Emerging in the 1990’s the concept of Lean production is a well-known method for improving the manufacturing capabilities of a company. Lean production, which is said to increase productivity, decrease lead-time and costs and enhance quality, is widely adopted.</p><p>In this thesis, the purpose is to explore what characteristics of the remanufacturing environment that can hinder the implementation of Lean production principles of material flows and how Lean principles can be employed in a remanufacturing environment.</p><p>In accordance, the theories of Lean production and Remanufacturing are used and the research methodology chosen that of a case study. To assess material flow, the production flows of five major product groups in a car engine are assessed. For the collection of data, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) methodology has been used.</p><p>The main result about material flows and how Lean principles can be employed in a remanufacturing environment have resulted in eight generic proposals. The main conclusion from these proposals is that the inherent characteristics of variable processing times and uncertainty in materials recovered have major negative impact for implementing a lean production process. Vice versa, given an accurate supply of parts for reassembly, all the principles of Lean production can be fully implemented in the phases of reassembly and testing.</p>

The creation of shareholder wealth has become the key of corporate success. A setback in achieving this is a lack of commitment and participation in productivity initiatives at shop floor level in South Africa and companies are faced with competitive challenges of promoting innovativeness relating to productivity improvement amongst employees. It has increasingly been recognized that by introducing a carefully crafted incentive scheme, it may be possible to induce workers to work both harder and smarter and use existing technologies in new and better ways that enhance their productivity. The purpose of the study is to evaluate to what extend gainsharing can be a solution to the predicament. The empirical data used during the study was based on questionnaires that were administered amongst managers of Eskort Ltd. The research established that gainsharing would induce employees to effectively participate in problem solving or productivity improvement initiatives in the company. The majority of participants feel that gainsharing will benefit the company to deliver on client requirements; help enhance teamwork; create a feeling of ownership; share a portion of saved-cost for productivity improvement purposes; stimulate organization learning; improve communication between management and employees; stimulate employees to make suggestions on ways to improve productivity; and increase profit and reduce costs. The study clearly illustrates that money can be the primary drive for motivation to certain employees within the company. Further more based on the results of the empirical study the researcher came to the conclusion that motivated employees will be more productive and as a result have a positive influence on the value drivers employed by the EVA methodology. EVA is a value based performance measure, an investment decision tool and also a performance measure indicating the absolute amount of shareholder value created. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Two models are developed that considers the different services provided by retail firms as an output of the retail industry besides the goods sold. The first model considers that consumers only gain utility from consuming retail goods and services and the second model considers that consumers shop for retail goods and experience a transaction cost, which is determined by the level of services. From both models a measure of retail output and value added is constructed. The models are used to answer the following question. Does the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) accurately capture the value of retail services while calculating the value added of the retail sector? The models are estimated by a Generalized Method of Moments estimation technique using data for the retail industry between 1980 and 2005. The estimate of parameters from both models suggests declining market power over time and scale economies in the retail industry. The BEA measures the retail output on the basis of the gross margin which is total sales less total purchases and does not consider the value of services. We compute value added on the basis of our models. In both models, the values of retail services are included while calculating retail output. Results show that the BEA has underestimated the value added of the retail sector for all years in the study. The degree of underestimation is close in both models and it declines across time.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Mathematics, June 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.