Impacto das comunidades de consumidores no valor das marcas

International Congress Marketing Trends Annual Conference in Paris, 17 ��� 19 January 2013

Desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta de pr��-selec����o de recursos para empresas ��geis/virtuais

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrot��cnica e de Computadores

Estudo emp��rico da caracteriza����o da selec����o de fornecedores

O problema de selec����o de fornecedores/parceiros �� uma parte integrante e importante nas empresas que se prop��em a um desempenho competitivo e lucrativo na sua ��rea de actividade. A escolha do melhor fornecedor/parceiro passa na maior parte da vezes por fazer uma an��lise cuidada dos factores que podem influenciar positiva ou negativamente essa escolha. Desde cedo este problema tem vindo a ser alvo de in��meros estudos, estudos esses que se focam essencialmente nos crit��rios a considerar e nas metodologias a adoptar para optimizar a escolha dos parceiros. De entre os v��rios estudos efectuados, muitos s��o os que consideram como crit��rios chave o custo do produto, a qualidade, a entrega e a reputa����o da empresa fornecedora. Ainda assim, h�� muitos outros que s��o referidos e que na sua maioria se apresentam como subcrit��rios. No ��mbito deste trabalho, foram identificados cinco grandes crit��rios, Qualidade, Sistema Financeiro, Sinergias, Custo e Sistema Produtivo. Dentro desses crit��rios, sentiu-se a necessidade de incluir alguns subcrit��rios pelo que, cada um dos crit��rios chave apresenta cinco subcrit��rios. Identificados os crit��rios, foi necess��rio perceber de que forma s��o aplicados e que modelos s��o utilizados para se poder tirar o melhor partido das informa����es. Sabendo que existem modelos que privilegiam a programa����o matem��tica e outros que fazem uso de pondera����es lineares para se identificar o melhor fornecedor, foi realizado um inqu��rito e contactadas empresas por forma a perceber quais os factores que mais peso tinham nas suas decis��es de escolha de parceiros. Interpretados os resultados e tratados os dados foi adoptado um modelo de pondera����o linear para traduzir a import��ncia de cada um dos factores. O modelo proposto apresenta uma estrutura hier��rquica e pode ser aplicado com o m��todo AHP de Saaty ou o m��todo de An��lise de Valor. Este modelo permite escolher a ou as alternativas que melhor se adequam aos requisitos das empresas.

Controlador dedicado de Ecr��s LCD/TFT

Para dar resposta aos grandes avan��os tecnol��gicos e, consequentemente, �� postura mais exigente dos clientes, a empresa Francisco Parracho ��� Electr��nica Industrial, Lda., que tem actividade no ramo dos elevadores, decidiu introduzir no mercado um controlador dedicado de ecr��s Liquid Crystal Display / Thin Film Transistor (LCD / TFT). O objectivo �� substituir um sistema suportado por um computador, caracterizado pelas suas elevadas dimens��es e custos, mas incontorn��vel at�� �� data, nomeadamente para resolu����es de ecr�� elevadas. E assim nasceu este trabalho. Com uma selec����o criteriosa de todos os componentes e, principalmente, sem funcionalidades in��teis, obteve-se um sistema embebido com dimens��es e custos bem mais reduzidos face ao seu opositor. O ecr�� apontado para este projecto �� um Thin Film Transistor ��� Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) da Sharp de 10.4��� de qualidade industrial, com uma resolu����o de 800 x 600 p��xeis a 18 bits por p��xel. Para tal, foi escolhido um micro-controlador da ATMEL, um AVR de 32 bits que, entre outras caracter��sticas, possui um controlador LCD que suporta resolu����es at�� 2048 x 2048 p��xeis, de 1 a 24 bits por p��xel. Atendendo ao facto deste produto ser inserido na ��rea dos elevadores, as funcionalidades, quer a n��vel do hardware quer a n��vel do software, foram projectadas para este ��mbito. Contudo, o conceito aqui exposto �� adjacente a quaisquer outras ��reas onde este produto se possa aplicar, at�� porque o software est�� feito para se tornar bem flex��vel. Com a ajuda de um kit de desenvolvimento, foram validados os drivers dos controladores e perif��ricos base deste projecto. De seguida, aplicou-se esse software numa placa de circuito impresso, elaborada no ��mbito deste trabalho, para que fossem cumpridos todos os requisitos requeridos pela empresa patrocinadora: - Apresenta����o de imagens no ecr�� consoante o piso; - Possibilidade de ter um texto horizontalmente deslizante;Indica����o animada do sentido do elevador; - Representa����o do piso com deslizamento vertical; - Descri����o sum��ria do direct��rio de pisos tamb��m com deslizamento vertical; - Rel��gio digital; - Leitura dos conte��dos pretendidos atrav��s de um cart��o SD/MMC; - Possibilidade de actualiza����o dos conte��dos via USB flash drive.

Proposta de um modelo de avalia����o de websites de turismo de habita����o

actividade de turismo de habita����o tem crescido de forma sustentada ao longo dos ��ltimos anos em Portugal e o recurso �� internet como canal de comercializa����o deste servi��o tem substitu��do gradualmente os restantes canais mais tradicionais. No entanto, esta generaliza����o do recurso a websites, nesta e noutras ��reas da actividade econ��mica, n��o tem sido sempre sin��nimo de qualidade, justificando assim a procura de sistemas de avalia����o deste tipo de produto de software, que possam ser aplicados sistem��tica e eficazmente. Nesse sentido, foi desenvolvido este trabalho, no prop��sito de conseguir um modelo de avalia����o de websites, espec��fico para o turismo de habita����o, na convic����o de que para ��reas espec��ficas se exigem abordagens espec��ficas. A pesquisa por modelos orientados para esta actividade n��o produziu qualquer resultado, ao contr��rio de outras ��reas onde j�� existem modelos adequados, como sejam a ��rea acad��mica e outras. Da�� a necessidade de conjugar ideias e conceitos mais gen��ricos, de fontes diversas, com elementos espec��ficos de turismo de habita����o, no intuito de os combinar e adequar aos objectivos deste trabalho. Assim, a partir de elementos da Norma ISO 9126; de conceitos de usabilidade, funcionalidade, credibilidade, e outros; da op����o por uma abordagem de desempenho empresarial; de modelos j�� existentes, embora direccionados para outras ��reas; e de um modelo explorat��rio de car��cter emp��rico entretanto desenvolvido, foi concebido e implementado um modelo que se caracteriza no essencial, por ser estruturado em tr��s n��veis, contemplar um conjunto de trinta e oito atributos em avalia����o, com maior incid��ncia naqueles relacionados com aspectos que se considera terem maior influ��ncia no desempenho da actividade econ��mica subjacente, e que tem uma pondera����o vari��vel do seu impacto no resultado final. No intuito de dar flexibilidade ao modelo e de contrariar a carga subjectiva resultante do processo de pondera����o do impacto de cada atributo avaliado, foram implementados no modelo tr��s cen��rios alternativos com pondera����es distintas, cada um valorizando determinado tipo de atributos e desvalorizando outros. Naturalmente que, aquando da implementa����o do modelo explorat��rio foram j�� retiradas algumas conclus��es sobre o panorama geral, todavia o modelo definitivo veio dar-lhes maior consist��ncia e pormenor.

Gest��o de processos e opera����es

Esta disserta����o de Mestrado pretende, numa primeira fase, identificar as condi����es gerais e os pressupostos da aplica����o da ferramenta An��lise do Valor (AV) e integr��-la nos Sistemas de Gest��o da Qualidade. Pretende-se demonstrar a t��cnica e aumentar o seu conhecimento, assim como as v��rias abordagens do processo, as vantagens e os constrangimentos no seu uso, conduzir �� ideia que poder�� ser ��til proceder a uma an��lise organizada e sistem��tica dos produtos/servi��os existentes nas organiza����es, abrindo a hip��tese a novas solu����es para o produto/servi��o de mais f��cil produ����o/realiza����o e ensaio ao menor custo. �� real��ada a import��ncia do conceito da An��lise do Valor demonstrando que se pode tornar numa ferramenta eficaz na melhoria dos produtos mas tamb��m de processos de fabrico e at�� em processos administrativos. Sendo a Qualidade entendida como um conjunto de caracter��sticas que um bem, produto ou servi��o possui que o tornam apto para satisfazer na plenitude uma dada necessidade do seu utilizador, este trabalho tamb��m faz a liga����o com os Sistemas de Gest��o da Qualidade comparando dois referenciais, a Norma NP EN 12973 e a ISO 9001:2008. Numa segunda fase �� realizada uma profunda abordagem �� ferramenta QFD ��� Quality Function Deployment ��� como uma t��cnica complementar �� aplica����o pr��tica da t��cnica AV e �� realizado um estudo a um servi��o p��s-venda que inclui muitos dos seus conceitos e princ��pios. O trabalho foi realizado na empresa onde sou colaborador h�� cerca de 10 anos exercendo o cargo de ���Service Manager Press/Post Press��� ao departamento de servi��o t��cnico e apoio ao cliente. Foi muito ��til a demonstra����o pr��tica para entendimento das dificuldades sentidas e dos obst��culos a ultrapassar. O trabalho termina com as conclus��es do caso pr��tico e as conclus��es gerais, mencionando as defini����es dos aceleradores / obst��culos da aplica����o da AV.

Interactive light and sound table: an EPS@ISEP project

Interactive products are appealing objects in a technology-driven society and the offer in the market is wide and varied. Most of the existing interactive products only provide either light or sound experiences. Therefore, the goal of this project was to develop a product aimed for children combining both features. This project was developed by a team of four thirdyear students with different engineering backgrounds and nationalities during the European Project Semester at ISEP (EPS@ISEP) in 2012. This paper presents the process that led to the development of an interactive sound table that combines nine identical interaction blocks, a control block and a sound block. Each interaction block works independently and is composed of four light emitting diodes (LED) and one infrared (IR) sensor. The control is performed by an Arduino microcontroller and the sound block includes a music shield and a pair of loud speakers. A number of tests were carried out to assess whether the controller, IR sensors, LED, music shield and speakers work together properly and if the ensemble was a viable interactive light and sound device for children.

Aplica����o da t��cnica An��lise do Valor (AV) a um determinado porduto/servi��o

Mestrado em Engenharia Mec��nica - Gest��o de Processos e Opera����es

A case study on the eco-efficiency performance of a composite processing industry: evaluation and quantification of potential improvements

In this study, an attempt was made in order to measure and evaluate the eco-efficiency performance of a pultruded composite processing company. For this purpose the recommendations of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WCSD) and the directives of ISO 14301 standard were followed and applied. The main general indicators of eco-efficiency, as well as the specific indicators, were defined and determined. With basis on indicators��� figures, the value profile, the environmental profile, and the pertinent eco-efficiency ratios were established and analyzed. In order to evaluate potential improvements on company eco-performance, new indicators values and eco-efficiency ratios were estimated taking into account the implementation of new proceedings and procedures, at both upstream and downstream of the production process, namely: i) Adoption of a new heating system for pultrusion die-tool in the manufacturing process, more effective and with minor heat losses; ii) Recycling approach, with partial waste reuse of scrap material derived from manufacturing, cutting and assembly processes of GFRP profiles. These features lead to significant improvements on the sequent assessed eco-efficiency ratios of the present case study, yielding to a more sustainable product and manufacturing process of pultruded GFRP profiles.

Assessing the eco-efficiency of a composite processing industry: evaluation and quantification of potential improvements���

In this study, an attempt was made in order to measure and evaluate the eco-efficiency performance of a pultruded composite processing company. For this purpose the recommendations of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WCSD) and the directives of ISO 14301 standard were followed and applied. The main general indicators of eco-efficiency, as well as the specific indicators, were defined and determined. With basis on indicators��� figures, the value profile, the environmental profile, and the pertinent ecoefficiency���s ratios were established and analyzed. In order to evaluate potential improvements on company eco-performance, new indicators values and eco-efficiency ratios were estimated taking into account the implementation of new proceedings and procedures, both in upstream and downstream of the production process, namely: a) Adoption of new heating system for pultrusion die in the manufacturing process, more effective and with minor heat losses; c) Recycling approach, with partial waste reuse of scrap material derived from manufacturing, cutting and assembly processes of GFRP profiles. These features lead to significant improvements on the sequent assessed eco-efficiency ratios of the present case study, yielding to a more sustainable product and manufacturing process of pultruded GFRP profiles.

Eco-efficiency approaches towards a sustainable composite materials manufacturing industry���

In this study the potential eco-efficiency performance of a pultrusion manufacturing company was assessed. Indicators values and eco-efficiency ratios were estimated taking into account the implementation of new proceedings and procedures in the production process of glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) pultrusion profiles. Two different approaches were foreseen: 1)Adoption of a new heating system for pultrusion die in the manufacturing process, more effective and with minor heat losses; and 2) Recycling approach, with partial waste reuse of scrap material derived from manufacturing, cutting and assembly processes of GFRP profiles. These features lead to significant improvements on the sequent assessed eco-efficiency ratios of the present case study, yielding to a more sustainable product and manufacturing process of pultruded GFRP profiles.

A case study on the improvement of eco-efficiency ratios: application to a composite processing industry

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) defines Eco-Efficiency as follows: ���Eco- Efficiency is achieved by the delivery of competitively priced-goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life-cycle to a level at least in line with the earth���s estimated carrying capacity���. Eco-Efficiency is under this point of view a key concept for sustainable development, bringing together economic and ecological progress. Measuring the Eco-Efficiency of a company, factory or business, is a complex process that involves the measurement and control of several and relevant parameters or indicators, globally applied to all companies in general, or specific according to the nature and specificities of the business itself. In this study, an attempt was made in order to measure and evaluate the eco-efficiency of a pultruded composite processing company. For this purpose the recommendations of WBCSD [1] and the directives of ISO 14301 standard [2] were followed and applied. The analysis was restricted to the main business branch of the company: the production and sale of standard GFRP pultrusion profiles. The main general indicators of eco-efficiency, as well as the specific indicators, were defined and determined according to ISO 14031 recommendations. With basis on indicators��� figures, the value profile, the environmental profile, and the pertinent eco-efficiency���s ratios were established and analyzed. In order to evaluate potential improvements on company eco-performance, new indicators values and ecoefficiency ratios were estimated taking into account the implementation of new proceedings and procedures, both in upstream and downstream of the production process, namely: a) Adoption of new heating system for pultrusion die in the manufacturing process, more effective and with minor heat losses; b) Implementation of new software for stock management (raw materials and final products) that minimize production failures and delivery delays to final consumer; c) Recycling approach, with partial waste reuse of scrap material derived from manufacturing, cutting and assembly processes of GFRP profiles. In particular, the last approach seems to significantly improve the eco-efficient performance of the company. Currently, by-products and wastes generated in the manufacturing process of GFRP profiles are landfilled, with supplementary added costs to this company traduced by transport of scrap, landfill taxes and required test analysis to waste materials. However, mechanical recycling of GFRP waste materials, with reduction to powdered and fibrous particulates, constitutes a recycling process that can be easily attained on heavy-duty cutting mills. The posterior reuse of obtained recyclates, either into a close-looping process, as filler replacement of resin matrix of GFRP profiles, or as reinforcement of other composite materials produced by the company, will drive to both costs reduction in raw materials and landfill process, and minimization of waste landfill. These features lead to significant improvements on the sequent assessed eco-efficiency ratios of the present case study, yielding to a more sustainable product and manufacturing process of pultruded GFRP profiles.

Personalised placement in networked video

Personalised video can be achieved by inserting objects into a video play-out according to the viewer's profile. Content which has been authored and produced for general broadcast can take on additional commercial service features when personalised either for individual viewers or for groups of viewers participating in entertainment, training, gaming or informational activities. Although several scenarios and use-cases can be envisaged, we are focussed on the application of personalised product placement. Targeted advertising and product placement are currently garnering intense interest in the commercial networked media industries. Personalisation of product placement is a relevant and timely service for next generation online marketing and advertising and for many other revenue generating interactive services. This paper discusses the acquisition and insertion of media objects into a TV video play-out stream where the objects are determined by the profile of the viewer. The technology is based on MPEG-4 standards using object based video and MPEG-7 for metadata. No proprietary technology or protocol is proposed. To trade the objects into the video play-out, a Software-as-a-Service brokerage platform based on intelligent agent technology is adopted. Agencies, libraries and service providers are represented in a commercial negotiation to facilitate the contractual selection and usage of objects to be inserted into the video play-out.

Optimization of antioxidants extraction from coffee silverskin, aroasting by-product, having in view a sustainable process

Coffee silverskin is a major roasting by-product that could be valued as a source of antioxidant compounds. The effect of the major variables (solvent polarity, temperature and extraction time) affecting the extraction yields of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of silverskin extracts was evaluated. The extracts composition varied significantly with the extraction conditions used. A factorial experimental design showed that the use of a hydroalcoholic solvent (50%:50%) at 40 ��C for 60 min is a sustainable option to maximize the extraction yield of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of extracts. Using this set of conditions it was possible to obtain extracts containing total phenolics (302.5 �� 7.1 mg GAE/L), tannins (0.43 �� 0.06 mg TAE/L), and flavonoids (83.0 �� 1.4 mg ECE/L), exhibiting DPPHradical dot scavenging activity (326.0 �� 5.7 mg TE/L) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (1791.9 �� 126.3 mg SFE/L). These conditions allowed, in comparison with other ���more effective��� for some individual parameters, a cost reduction, saving time and energy.

Association between dairy product intake and abdominal obesity in Azorean adolescents

BACKGROUND: Some studies have reported an inverse association between dairy product (DP) consumption and weight or fat mass loss. OBJECTIVES: The objective of our study was to assess the association between DP intake and abdominal obesity (AO) among Azorean adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional analysis. A total of 903 adolescents (370 boys) aged 15--16 years was evaluated. Anthropometric measurements were collected (weight, height and waist circumference (WC)) and McCarthy���s cut-points were used to categorize WC. AO was defined when WC was X90th percentile. Adolescent food intake was assessed using a self-administered semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and DP intake was categorized in o2 and X2 servings/day. Data were analyzed separately for girls and boys, and logistical regression was used to estimate the association between DPs and AO adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of AO was 54.9% (boys: 32.1% and girls: 70.7%, Po0.001). For boys and girls, DP consumption was 2.3��1.9 and 2.1��1.6 servings/day (P��0.185), respectively. In both genders, the proportion of adolescents with WC o90th percentile was higher among individuals who reported a dairy intake of X2 servings/day compared with those with an intake o2 servings/day (boys: 71% vs 65% and girls: 36% vs 24%, Po0.05). After adjustments for confounders, two or more DP servings per day were a negative predictor of AO (odds ratio, 0.217; 95% confidence interval, 0.075 -- 0.633) only in boys. CONCLUSION: We found a protective association between DP intake and AO only in boys.