Uppdraget var att undersöka huruvida det är möjligt att införa fasta flyttider efter slutmontering på Volvo Bussar AB. Undersökningar i verksamheten har visat på att det finns stora kvalitets- och materialbrister som hindrar verkligt effektiva flöden. Examensarbetet resulterade i två tekniska förslag, med utgångspunkt i två olika scenarion. Det första förslaget är att verksamheten ligger kvar i de lokaler de idag förfogar över, men fasta flyttider införs. Det andra förslaget är att stegen efter slutmontering flyttas ihop med de aktiviteter som ligger före slutmonteringen. På så vis får samtliga arbetare mer insikt i de olika moment som ett chassi går igenom, samt det blir ett naturligare flöde från dagens montering och slutmontering, till stegen som ligger efter slutmontering. Takttider och övrig information för dessa förslag bifogas i en excelfil. Det största hindret för att införa fasta flyttider idag ligger hos personalen i de berörda avdelningarna. De är vana att arbeta lite för sig själva i en lugnare och mer självstyrande miljö än de andra montörerna på Volvo Bussar AB. Det största bekymret som framkom under examensarbetet är att Volvo Bussar AB och Volvo AB arbetar suboptimerat mellan avdelningar och fabriker. Det upplevs att det finns ett stort fokus på tekniska lösningar. Det är vår åsikt att fokus bör ligga på visioner, som sedan stöds av tekniska system.

<p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Date: </strong>8 June 2009<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Degree Program: </strong>International Business and Entrepreneurship<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Program Division: </strong>School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering</p><p><strong>Course: </strong>Graduation Project in Innovation Management<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Title: </strong>Sustainable Development in Innovation, Design, and Technology Perspective.  Case Study of Volvo Construction Equipment<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Authors: </strong>Nithiwat Riebroicharoen 821024-T173 nrn08002@student.mdh.se</p><p>Pim Koykitcharoen 830311-T101</p><p>pkn08002@student.mdh.se</p><p><strong>Supervisors: </strong>Sten Ekman, Christer Nygren<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Problem Statement: </strong>How does Volvo CE facilitate sustainable development in technology, design and innovation perspectives?  The purpose of this graduation project is to identify and analyze how Volvo CE improves sustainable development in technology, design and innovation. Volvo CE is chosen as the subject of the study since it is the one of the leading company that claimed to have efficient implementing system of technology, design and innovation that truly solves the environmental problem that its business can cause.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Qualitative research methodology was used in this study.<strong> </strong>Two in-depth interviews were conducted with an environmental manager and an environmental engineer of Volvo CE with a focus on sustainable issues and technologies when the authors visited the manufacturing plant. Corresponding secondary resources from literature, articles, and theories were thus collected to be studied in parallel with the qualitative data.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The research found that Volvo CE has implemented a lot of business activities by applying innovation, technology and design approaches in order to support and improve its sustainable development business concept which covers all social, environment and economic aspects.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Sustainable development, Sustainability, Innovation, Design, Technology, Volvo Construction Equipment</p>

<p>Sweden is one of five nations in the world manufacturing fighter aircrafts. Highly advanced technology is needed in order to develop a fighter aircraft. When developing advanced technology, new applications, other than those initially intended occur, spin-off. Some of Sweden’s largest companies are spin-offs from the fighter aircraft industry. Saab Automobile is an example of this. Spin-off as a concept appears in different contexts, from television series to audit terms but foremost in connection with splitting of companies. In the initial phase of our study we came across numerous definitions and concepts as explanation of spin-off and we therefore choose to adopt our own definition. </p><p>Our study defines civil spin-offs from military aircraft projects. The Swedish aircraft industry consists of three large companies, Saab, Volvo Aero and Ericsson Microwave and we have for our case studies chosen spin-off processes within those companies. We interviewed persons well familiar with the above mentioned process in the respective companies, individually. The answers from the interviews, which we have analysed based on theory and literature, have enabled us to identify, describe and analyse factors promoting as well as counteracting spin-offs arising from military aircraft projects.</p><p>From our study we have drawn the conclusion that all companies want to achieve spin-offs. One important way of creating opportunities for spin-offs is organising in cross functional groups, one of many internally acting factors that we have tried in our study. A factor that strongly counteracts the development of a spin-off is a strict focus on the core business of the company. This comes as a result of demand for saving measures, which has also led to much less time or no time at all for reflecting on new ideas.</p><p>The historic role of the Swedish Government as a long term and demanding customer of military aircraft systems has over the last years shown less significance. The Government now has to play the role of co-operative link between the industry and the university in what is called a Triple Helix. The role of the Government is thus to support new enterprising as spin-off through technique parks, incubators and VINNOVA.</p><p>Another significant factor supporting the development of spin-offs is co-operation in networks and clusters. In the spring of 2005 SwedCat was founded, a cluster between Saab, Volvo Aero and Ericsson microwave with the aim to take advantage of spin-offs from the respective companies and to support each other in developing them. We are of the opinion that this collaboration sets an excellent example for the industry, irrespective of line of business.</p>

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Background: Despite the time and money invested in relationships with other companies, it is a fact that many of them fail. Considering this, remarkably little research has been done regarding how inter-organisational relationships are controlled, given that control can function as a solution to the problems involved with collaboration, which arise since such a relation exists in the interface between organisational boundaries, where the companies’ often conflicting interests and points of view meet. If one part is stronger than the other in a relationship, the weaker however tends to give way for the stronger’s will. What happens then in a relationship between mutually strong, mutually dependent actors? Up until now research within the field of inter-organisational control focuses on asymmetric situations of dependence, which leaves the research field of more balanced relationships unexplored. At the same time it is obvious that also more equal parties collaborate and need to efficiently control their relationships. Aim: The aim of this study is to create a model of control in an inter-organisational relationship where a strong mutual dependence exists between the parties. Completion: Through qualitative interviews a case study has been conducted in a relationship between two mutually dependent companies. Findings: The findings of the study show that control in a relationship that is characterized by a strong mutual dependence between the parties, is complex and comprises a combination of different control mechanisms. Closeness, and trust as a control mechanism remain central, but the results also highlight the importance of hierarchical control mechanisms. Furthermore, trust, in certain cases, substitutes hierarchical control. Market forces are also used to control the relationship, but only to a certain extent. Moreover, the study shows that both parties have an active role in developing trust as a control mechanism. The customer has however a more active role in bringing forward other control mechanisms, while the supplier mainly responds to these initiatives, and also accepts them to a great extent. The findings also pinpoint that the contract has a remarkable role, since the control that it enables is only partly applied in the relationship. Keywords: management control, inter-organisational relationship, dependence, partnership, Autoliv, Volvo. / Bakgrund: Trots det engagemang, den tid och de pengar som företag investerar i relationer med samarbetspartners, är det ett faktum att många samarbeten mellan företag misslyckas. Med tanke på detta fokuserar anmärkningsvärt lite forskning på hur interorganisatoriska relationer styrs, trots att styrning kan fungera som en lösning på den problematik som uppstår i interorganisatoriska samarbeten. Denna problematik består i att ett samarbete mellan företag befinner sig i ett gränssnitt mellan två parter där inte sällan konflikterande intressen och uppfattningar möts. Om en part är starkare i en relation, tenderar dock den svagare att vika sig för den starkares vilja. Vad sker då i ett samarbete där ingen part är starkare, där båda är ömsesidigt beroende? Hittills fokuserar forskning inom interorganisatorisk styrning på asymmetriska beroendeförhållanden, vilket lämnar forskningen vad gäller mer jämbördiga relationer outvecklad. Samtidigt är det uppenbart att även jämbördiga företag samarbetar och är i behov av att styra sina samarbeten så att de fungerar. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att skapa en modell över styrningen i ett interorganisatoriskt samarbete där parterna är starkt ömsesidigt beroende av varandra. Genomförande: Med hjälp av kvalitativa intervjuer har en fallstudie gjorts av ett samarbete som präglas av ett starkt ömsesidigt beroende. Resultat: Studiens resultat pekar på att styrning i ett samarbete som präglas av ett starkt ömsesidigt beroende är komplex och utgörs av en kombination av olika styrmekanismer. Kärnan i styrningen är dock en nära relation och tillit som styrningsmekanism men till detta kommer också en hög grad av hierarkisk styrning, där dock tillitsmekanismer i vissa fall visar sig ersätta hierarkisk styrning. Dessutom finns en liten användning av marknadsmekanismer. Studien påvisar att båda parterna har en aktiv roll i att skapa tillit som styrmekanism. Vad gäller övrig styrning är framförallt kunden pådrivande och leverantörens roll ligger främst i att svara på kundens initiativ till styrning, som till största del accepteras. Studiens resultat pekar också på att den styrning som kontraktet lägger en grund för inte används till fullo i samarbetet, vilket ger kontraktet en anmärkningsvärd roll i samarbetet. Nyckelord: styrning, interorganisatoriskt samarbete, beroende, partnerskap, Autoliv, Volvo

Abstract Date: 8 June 2009 Degree Program: International Business and Entrepreneurship Program Division: School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering Course: Graduation Project in Innovation Management Title: Sustainable Development in Innovation, Design, and Technology Perspective.  Case Study of Volvo Construction Equipment Authors: Nithiwat Riebroicharoen 821024-T173 nrn08002@student.mdh.se Pim Koykitcharoen 830311-T101 pkn08002@student.mdh.se Supervisors: Sten Ekman, Christer Nygren Problem Statement: How does Volvo CE facilitate sustainable development in technology, design and innovation perspectives?  The purpose of this graduation project is to identify and analyze how Volvo CE improves sustainable development in technology, design and innovation. Volvo CE is chosen as the subject of the study since it is the one of the leading company that claimed to have efficient implementing system of technology, design and innovation that truly solves the environmental problem that its business can cause. Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used in this study. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with an environmental manager and an environmental engineer of Volvo CE with a focus on sustainable issues and technologies when the authors visited the manufacturing plant. Corresponding secondary resources from literature, articles, and theories were thus collected to be studied in parallel with the qualitative data. Conclusion: The research found that Volvo CE has implemented a lot of business activities by applying innovation, technology and design approaches in order to support and improve its sustainable development business concept which covers all social, environment and economic aspects.   Keywords: Sustainable development, Sustainability, Innovation, Design, Technology, Volvo Construction Equipment