Extremum estimators and stochastic optimization methods

Submitted in partial fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of PhD in Mathematics, in the Speciality of Statistics in the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Shrinking shrinkage:How and why is fruit shrinkage being caused in Sonaemc's convenience stores? Finding opportunities of improvement envisioning its optimization

This work project regards a challenge presented by a Portuguese organization on the retail sector, SONAEMC, which is a case study of how and why fruit shrinkage occurs in the fruit supply chain within their convenience stores. A qualitative research methodology enabled to infer in which stages throughout the chain shrinkage’s causes occur and, to conclude that internal rules for procedures and processes are not always followed and whose compliance would be enough to reduce fruit shrinkage. The key conclusion is that if fruit stock loss is reduced by as much as 15% the category’s profitability could increase about 8%.