| 1. |
- Winroth, Mats
(författare)
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On Manufacturing Strategies : Implementation and utilization at some Swedish manufacturing industries
- 2001
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis discusses the issue of manufacturing strategies. Many articles and books on this matter have been published during the last 30 years, the majority being focused on American or British companies. Research on the formulation and implicationof manufacturing strategies in Swedish companies, however, is limited. This thesis focuses on findings from two large-scale Swedish companies, Saab Automobile AB and Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, known for their work on manufacturingstrategies, and from 62 medium sized enterprises. The main objectives of the manufacturing system are to manufacture products that satisfy the customer as well as to give the manufacturer a good return on investment. The studies show that manufacturing strategies play an important role in these efforts and they always form the base for the specification of the manufacturing system. Furthermore, the studies show that SAAB and Ericsson work actively with manufacturing strategies. The most important factors vary, but quality, cost, delivery precision and, concerning consumer products, Time To Market (TTM) are always considered essential to the success of the company. It is also essential that the top management ofthe company recognize this importance of the strategies. Strategies are not directly used in the daily work, but the personnel work towards short-term, easily comprehensible,targets that are derived from the manufacturing strategies.To get a wider view of the situation in Swedish industry, a survey among a large number of medium sized enterprises was performed. The result showed that also these companies work with strategies, however, not as systematically as Saab and Ericsson and the strategies are not always documented and implemented. The most valued competitive priorities were quality and delivery precision/reliability. It was also shown that a majority of these companies had certified quality management or environmental management systems.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Alami, Jones, 1971-
(författare)
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Plasma characterisation in high power pulsed magnetron sputtering
- 2003
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis, plasma parameters including plasma and floating potentials, electron energy distribution function (EEDF) plasma density and electron temperature are studied in a high power pulsed magnetron (HPPM) discharge at different Argon (Ar) gas pressures and different magnetron powers. It is reported that the EEDF during and shortly after the pulse can be represented by a bi-Maxwellian distribution indicating two energy groups of electrons.Furthermore, we report on the variation of the plasma parameters and electron energy distribution function with gas pressure in the pressure range 0.5-20 mtorr. At a high pressure (> 10 mTorr) two density peaks are present, the second of which occurs hundreds of microseconds after the pulse is switched off. It shows that the second peaks occurrence depends on the target material used as well as the chamber pressure and the magnetron power. It is found that the electron density is very high (up to 1019 m-3, during the whole of the measured 2000 µs, indicating the importance of the second density peak in maintaining the high plasma density.Measurements on the electron temperature show that this does not exceed 3 eV while the pulse is on, and that it is no more than 0.5 after the pulse is off. A movie is constructed using Langmuir probe measurements data, showing the temporal evolution of the plasma at 20 mTorr argon pressure and 11 J pulse energy. Analysis shows the existence of a magnetic trap underneath the center of the target. Furthermore, the electron flux in the substrate vicinity 10 - 12 cm from the target is found to be homogeneous. Ti thin films are grown along the sidewalls of a hole, 1 cm2 in area and 2 cm in depth, using both de magnetron and HPPM sputtering. Secondary electron microscopy shows that the film grown by de magnetron sputtering shows clear columnar growth, while a dense and flat film was produced using the HPPM sputtering technique.
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| 4. |
- Albinsson, Pär-Anders, 1975-
(författare)
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Interacting with command and control systems : Tools for operators and designers
- 2004
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Command and control is central in all distributed tactical operations such as rescue operations and military operations. It takes place in a complex system of humans and artefacts, striving to reach common goals. The command and control complexity springs from several sources, including dynamism, uncertainty, risk, time pressure, feedback delays and interdependencies. Stemming from this complexity, the thesis approaches two important and related problem areas in command and control research. On a general level, the thesis seeks to approach the problems facing the command and control operators and the problems facing the designers in the associated systems development process.We investigate the specific problem of operators losing sight of the overall perspective when working with large maps in geographical information systems with limited screen area. To approach this problem, we propose high-precision input techniques that reduce the need for zooming and panning in touch-screen systems, and informative unit representations that make better use of the screen area available. The results from an experimental study show that the proposed input techniques are as fast and accurate as state-of-the-art techniques without the need to resort to zooming. Furthermore, results from a prototype design show that the proposed unit representation reduces on-screen clutter and makes use of off-screen units to better exploit the valuable screen area.Developing command and control systems is a complex task with several pitfalls, including getting stuck in exhaustive analyses and overrated reliance on rational methods. In this thesis, we employ a design-oriented research framework that acknowledges creative and pragmatic ingredients to handle the pitfalls. Our approach adopts the method of reconstruction and exploration of mission histories from distributed tactical operations as a means for command and control analysis. To support explorative analysis of mission histories within our framework, we propose tools for communication analysis and tools for managing metadata such as reflections, questions, hypotheses and expert comments. By using these tools together with real data from live tactical operations, we show that they can manage large amounts of data, preserve contextual data, support navigation within data, make original data easily accessible, and strengthen the link between metadata and supporting raw data. Furthermore, we show that by using these tools, multiple analysts, experts, and researchers can exchange comments on both data and metadata in a collaborative and explorative investigation of a complex scenario.
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| 5. |
- Aldin, Niklas, 1974-
(författare)
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The strategic interplay between logistics and market development : and the influence of electronic commerce
- 2002
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall purpose of this study is to describe and analyze how logistics and market development interplay. In order to do this the research topics are to analyze what the requirements on logistics are from a changing marketing strategy, as expansion or changed customer focus, and how logistics may support continued market development. This is particularly interesting when the business environment is changing. Within the research topics Internet-based electronic commerce is given attention, firstly as a marketing channel sensitive to business changes and secondly as an integrated part of marketing and logistics development. In all parts of the study, the choice of processes, structures and organizations of logistics have been in focus, here labelled logistics.The study consists of three parts and a cover. The cover synthesizes and summarizes the parts - one case study and two journal papers. The case study is a study over time of a medium-sized Swedish distributor selling tools and machinery to Nordic industrial sectors and the Baltic States. The distributor has gone through a change in marketing strategy and implemented an electronic commerce portal, which makes it interesting to study. In the journal papers the research topics are further elaborated and analyzed. The first journal paper focuses on the requirements, and the second paper on the contributions created, even though they overlap. In both parts electronic commerce has been considered an important element. In-depth interviews have been performed in the main case study object but also in two other distributors concerning electronic commerce possibilities. The case study describes the development of the case considering changes in marketing, logistics and electronic commerce strategy. It shows how the case company goes through a strategic change that involves expansion, the use of electronic commerce and changed logistics processes, structures and organizations. In journal paper one the market channel possibilities are analyzed for the case and how these require changes in logistics. It is concluded that with an increased environmental insecurity the need of strategic flexibility increases in new marketing channels and as a consequence the need for a centralized logistics organization. In journal paper two is the electronic commerce support for market and logistics development analyzed for three different distributors. It is concluded that electronic commerce efforts need to start at an activity level, but constantly widen the scope. A stepwise approach is outlined that combines market repositioning and logistics refinement. Support for how electronic commerce contributes to market and logistics development is found.This study supports previous research that claims that organizational integration between logistics and marketing is important. In a changing business environment organizational issues become the main focus in logistics. The need for centralized responsibility to tackle new and changing market requirements is outlined as essential in combination with a greater amount of internal collaboration through informal communication. In this study, the organization of logistics has been argued to have a decisive impact on the ability to find the best strategies that integrate logistics and marketing. Therefore organizational issues precede process and structural change. Electronic commerce and structural change become parts of a strategy to adapt to a continuously changing business.Electronic commerce, logistics process, organizational and structural development contribute to marketing development in different ways by combining cost, service and flexibility in logistics. The stepwise approach signals that to come further with electronic commerce, different lines of action in logistics are needed, such as process streamlining to create better co-ordination and customer service or structural change to further expand the market. Accordingly, different logistics strategies are adaptable to different marketing strategies. However, a centralized logistics organization is argued to be a pre-requisite to become strategic flexible for new marketing strategies and being able to create the necessary interplay between marketing and logistics.
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| 6. |
- Almén, Lisbeth
(författare)
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Reducing the effects of driver distraction : a comparison of distraction alerts on driver attention
- 2003
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- With the advancement of technology the traffic environment is becoming increasingly complex. Not only is there an increase in the number of in-vehicle displays and systems that are installed or brought into the car, there is also an increasing number of vehicles as well as other road users and messages on the road. All these factors have a potential of causing the driver to become distracted. Since a major contributor to traffic accidents today is driver distraction it is becoming increasingly important to understand how to mitigate the effects associated with distraction.The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate what effects the use of a distraction alert into the car has on driver attention.The thesis is based on three experimental studies, in which the topic of driver distraction and how it can be reduced is central. Two of the studies were performed in a simulated driving environment in which two different distraction alerts were tested and compared. The Kansei study was performed to acquire knowledge and input for the second simulator study.The studies show that it is rather difficult to make a driver distracted on demand with an artificial distracter. They further show that the used method needs to be developed before a potential distraction alert can be recommended.
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| 7. |
- Almroth, Per, 1975-
(författare)
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Constitutive modeling of a nickel base superalloy : with a focus on gas turbine applications
- 2003
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Gas turbines are used where large amounts of energy is needed, typically as engines in aircraft, ferries and power plants. From an efficiency point of view it is desirable to increase the service temperature as much as possible. One of the limiting factors is then the maximum allowable metal temperatures in the turbine stages, primarily in the blades of the first stage, that are exposed to the highest gas temperatures. Specially designed materials are used to cape with these severe conditions, such as the nickel base superalloy IN792. In order to be able to design the components for higher temperatures and tighter tolerances, a detailed understanding and computational models of the material behaviour is needed.The models presented in this work have been developed with the objective of being physically well motivated, and with the intention of avoiding excessive numbers of parameters. The influence of the parameters should also be as easy as possible to interpret. The models are to describe the the behaviour of IN792, under conditions typically found for a gas turbine blade. Specifically the high- and intermediate- temperature isothermal modelling of IN792 have been addressed.One main issue when characterising the material and calibrating the models is the use of relevant tests, that are representative of component conditions. Therefore isothermal tests with an eye on the typical environment of a turbine blade have been planned and performed.Using numerical optimization techniques the material parameters for the isothermal behaviour of IN792 at 650°C and 850°C have been estimated. The good overall calibration results for these specific temperatures, using the presented modeling concept and nonstandard constitutive tests, suggests that the model can describe the behaviour of IN792 in gas turbine hot part applications.
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| 8. |
- Ammenberg, Jonas
(författare)
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How do standardised environmental management systems affect environmental performance and business?
- 2001
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis aims to increase the understanding of what a standardised environmental management system (EMS) is, can be, and is not. The EMS infrastructure, i.e. the standards for EMSs and corresponding systems for their application, is analysed to find out how"ft affects the environmental efforts of companies. Furthermore, the topic of how standardised EMSs fit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is discussed. A special EMS solution used by a group of SMEs is examined to clarify how this model has affected the environmental efforts and business of these enterprises.The thesis is based on three studies. Firstly, external environmental auditors were interviewed. Secondly, the environmental reviews for the group of SMEs were studied. This study also involved a literature review on how to measure environmental performance. Thirdly, the environmental co-ordinators working at the mentioned small enterprises were interviewed.It can be concluded that it is too early to draw any general conclusions on how standardised EMSs affect environmental performance. How ISO 14001 is interpreted and applied is largely left to companies and external environmental auditors. In practise, 14001's requirement concerning continual improvement is often restricted to a few environmental aspects and does not say anything about the total environmental impact. Furthermore, there is an inconsistency in the standard text and its implementation concerning which criteria are approved when assessing environmental aspects. Some auditors allow the inclusion of criteria regarding economy and quality, etc. To ensure the credibility of ISO 14001, the standard and the systems for its application should be improved.The EMS model studied seems to be a cost-effective solution for SMEs that removes the most important barriers for EMS implementation and maintenance at small firms. Also, it appears to have led to significant environmental improvements.
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| 9. |
- Andersson, Annica
(författare)
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Chemical and electronic structure of electroluminescent materials and interfaces in polymer-LEDs
- 2000
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Following the discovery that conjugated polymers can be used as the emitting layer in light emitting devices, extensive studies on these materials have been carried out. In a few years, due to the development of new materials and an increasing knowledge of the underlying chemistry and physics, the performance has improved a lot. One of the important factors that determine the performance of the devices is the chemistry upon interface formation. In the simplest single-layer device there are two interfaces, the interface between the conjugated polymer and the anode and cathode respectively. This thesis deals to a large extent with investigations of the chemical and electronic structure at these interfaces by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The first chapters give a short introduction to conjugated polymers, polymer LEDs and photoelectron spectroscopy on conjugated material. The following three chapters provide some background information in the subject areas of the papers with some references to closely related studies. The first paper compares the device performance characteristics upon using two different anodes, indium tin oxide (ITO) and fluorine tin oxide (FTO). The second and third papers report on chemical interactions between the ITO-anode and the precursor polymer of PPV, one of the most frequently used conjugated polymers. The fourth and final paper reports on the early stage of interface formation between two different metal atoms (lithium and sodium), and a conjugated molecule.
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| 10. |
- Andersson, Anna, 1974-
(författare)
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Management information systems in process-oriented healthcare organisations
- 2003
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this thesis work was to develop a management information system model for process-oriented healthcare organisations. The study explores two questions: “What kinds of requirements do healthcare managers place on information systems?” and “How can the work and information systems of healthcare managers and care providers be incorporated into process-oriented healthcare organisations?”The background to the study was the process orientation of Swedish healthcare organisations. The study was conducted at the paediatric clinic of a county hospital in southern Sweden. Organisational process was defined as “a sequence of work procedures that jointly constitute complete healthcare services”, while a functional unit was the organisational venue responsible for a certain set of work activities.A qualitative research method, based on a developmental circle, was used. The data was collected from archives, interviews, observations, diaries and focus groups. The material was subsequently analysed in order to categorise, model and develop small-scale theories about information systems.The study suggested that computer-based management information systems in processoriented healthcare organisations should: (1) support medical work; (2) integrate clinical and administrative tools; (3) facilitate the ability of the organisation to measure inputs and outcomes.The research effort concluded that various healthcare managers need the same type of primary data, though presented in different ways. Professional developers and researchers have paid little attention to the manner in which integrated administrative, financial and clinical systems should be configured in order to ensure optimal support for process-oriented healthcare organisations. Thus, it is important to identify the multiple roles that information plays in such an organisation.
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