Implementation of an Integrated Activity-Based Costing in a Holistic Database Management System and its Implications for Operations Management

Diplomity��ss�� on tutkittu reaaliaikaisen toimintolaskennan toteuttamista suomalaisen lasersiruja valmistavan PK-yrityksen tietoj��rjestelm����n. Lis��ksi on tarkasteltu toimintolaskennan vaikutuksia operatiiviseen toimintaan sek�� toimintojen johtamiseen. Ty��n kirjallisuusosassa on k��sitelty kirjallisuusl��hteiden perusteella toimintolaskennan teorioita, laskentamenetelmi�� sek�� teknisess�� toteutuksessa k��ytettyj�� teknologioita. Ty��n toteutusosassa suunniteltiin ja toteutettiin WWW-pohjainen toimintolaskentaj��rjestelm�� case-yrityksen kustannuslaskennan sek�� taloushallinnon avuksi. Ty��kalu integroitiin osaksi yrityksen toiminnanohjaus- sek�� valmistuksenohjausj��rjestelm����. Perinteisiin toimintolaskentamallien tiedonkeruuj��rjestelmiin verrattuna case-yrityksess�� sy��tteet toimintolaskentaj��rjestelm��lle tulevat reaaliaikaisesti osana suurempaa tietoj��rjestelm��integraatiota.Diplomity�� pyrkii luomaan suhteen toimintolaskennan vaatimusten ja tietokantaj��rjestelmien v��lille. Toimintolaskentaj��rjestelm���� yritys voi hy��dynt���� esimerkiksi tuotteiden hinnoittelussa ja kustannuslaskennassa n��kem��ll�� tuotteisiin liittyvi�� kustannuksia eri n��k��kulmista. P����telmi�� voidaan tehd�� tarkkaan kustannusinformaatioon perustuen sek�� m����ritt���� j��rjestelm��n tuottaman datan perusteella, onko tietyn projektin, asiakkuuden tai tuotteen kehitt��minen taloudellisesti kannattavaa.

Improved order fulfillment in paper production

For the paper mill profitability it is crucial to minimize overproduction and underproduction. Overproduction and underproduction both generate undesired costs and profit losses in paper mill production. This master���s thesis examines paper production order fulfillment subject from paper production level point of view. Research and development approach is selected due to clarification requirements in lately implemented manufacturing execution system. Manufacturing execution systems are generally expected to offer reliable and accurate information about mill production details. However, confusions are likely to occur after implementation of new manufacturing execution system. These confusions are usually harmful and become cumulatively more influential the longer they keep occurring. In this master���s thesis is presented actions to improve order fulfillment at paper mill production level. Central points of the improvement actions are a model for successful order fulfillment in paper mill production and manufacturing execution system catalogue configuration redesign. Improvement actions are implemented in Jokilaakso paper production plant and it is examined as a case study. In the end of this master���s thesis is presented performance measurements which demonstrate order fulfillment from case Jokilaakso.

Tuotekustannus- ja kannattavuustiedon hallinta kartonkitehtaalla

Ty��ss�� keskityt����n tuotekustannus- ja kannattavuustiedon hallintaan kartonkitehtaalla. Aiemmassa kohdeymp��rist����n tehdyss�� lopputy��ss�� osoitettiin selke�� tarve uudelle laskentaj��rjestelm��lle. Uuden tehdasj��rjestelm��n my��t�� uuden laskentaj��rjestelm��n hankkiminen tuli ajankohtaiseksi, joten ty��ss�� tutkitaan muun muassa tarkennetunlaskentaj��rjestelm��n ominaisuuksia ja paperiteollisuuden sille asettamia vaatimuksia. Ty��ss�� tutkitaan my��s m����riteltyjen k��ytt��j��ryhmien tuotekustannus- ja kannattavuustietotarpeita. Tarpeita peilataan reaaliaikaiseen kustannuslaskentaj��rjestelm��n ja tarkennetun paperiteollisuuteen suunnitellun taloudellisenohjausj��rjestelm��n ominaisuuksiin. Lis��ksi ty��ss�� k��yd����n yleisell�� tasolla kohdeymp��rist��n tuotekustannuslaskentaa l��pi ja tarkastellaan kriittisesti sen sek��nykyisten laskentaj��rjestelmien toimivuutta nykyisess�� toimintaymp��rist��ss�� teorian pohjalta sek�� case-esimerkkien avulla. Ty��n tuloksena voidaan sanoa, ett�� laskentaj��rjestelmien ja -menetelmien kehitt��minen on v��ltt��m��t��nt�� kohdeymp��rist��ss��, sill�� t��m��n hetkiset laskentaj��rjestelm��t ja -menetelm��t ovat riitt��m��tt��mi�� nykyisess�� toimintoymp��rist��ss��. Lis��ksi nykyisen tuotekustannus- jakannattavuustiedon hallinta tuotetasolla on liian ep��tarkka. Ty��ss�� k��sitellyt laskentaj��rjestelm��t tyydytt��isiv��t yhdess�� k��ytt��j��ryhmien tietotarpeet ja lis��ksi vastaisivat paperiteollisuuden erityistarpeita laskentaj��rjestelmien osalta.

Threat modeling a factory environment using Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle methodology

The number of security violations is increasing and a security breach could have irreversible impacts to business. There are several ways to improve organization security, but some of them may be difficult to comprehend. This thesis demystifies threat modeling as part of secure system development. Threat modeling enables developers to reveal previously undetected security issues from computer systems. It offers a structured approach for organizations to find and address threats against vulnerabilities. When implemented correctly threat modeling will reduce the amount of defects and malicious attempts against the target environment. In this thesis Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) is introduced as an effective methodology for reducing defects in the target system. SDL is traditionally meant to be used in software development, principles can be however partially adapted to IT-infrastructure development. Microsoft threat modeling methodology is an important part of SDL and it is utilized in this thesis to find threats from the Acme Corporation���s factory environment. Acme Corporation is used as a pseudonym for a company providing high-technology consumer electronics. Target for threat modeling is the IT-infrastructure of factory���s manufacturing execution system. Microsoft threat modeling methodology utilizes STRIDE ���mnemonic and data flow diagrams to find threats. Threat modeling in this thesis returned results that were important for the organization. Acme Corporation now has more comprehensive understanding concerning IT-infrastructure of the manufacturing execution system. On top of vulnerability related results threat modeling provided coherent views of the target system. Subject matter experts from different areas can now agree upon functions and dependencies of the target system. Threat modeling was recognized as a useful activity for improving security.

A Co-Processor Approach for Efficient Java Execution in Embedded Systems

This thesis deals with a hardware accelerated Java virtual machine, named REALJava. The REALJava virtual machine is targeted for resource constrained embedded systems. The goal is to attain increased computational performance with reduced power consumption. While these objectives are often seen as trade-offs, in this context both of them can be attained simultaneously by using dedicated hardware. The target level of the computational performance of the REALJava virtual machine is initially set to be as fast as the currently available full custom ASIC Java processors. As a secondary goal all of the components of the virtual machine are designed so that the resulting system can be scaled to support multiple co-processor cores. The virtual machine is designed using the hardware/software co-design paradigm. The partitioning between the two domains is flexible, allowing customizations to the resulting system, for instance the floating point support can be omitted from the hardware in order to decrease the size of the co-processor core. The communication between the hardware and the software domains is encapsulated into modules. This allows the REALJava virtual machine to be easily integrated into any system, simply by redesigning the communication modules. Besides the virtual machine and the related co-processor architecture, several performance enhancing techniques are presented. These include techniques related to instruction folding, stack handling, method invocation, constant loading and control in time domain. The REALJava virtual machine is prototyped using three different FPGA platforms. The original pipeline structure is modified to suit the FPGA environment. The performance of the resulting Java virtual machine is evaluated against existing Java solutions in the embedded systems field. The results show that the goals are attained, both in terms of computational performance and power consumption. Especially the computational performance is evaluated thoroughly, and the results show that the REALJava is more than twice as fast as the fastest full custom ASIC Java processor. In addition to standard Java virtual machine benchmarks, several new Java applications are designed to both verify the results and broaden the spectrum of the tests.

Implementing the Product Configurator in a Large Manufacturing Company

Ty��n tavoitteena on kuvata hissin ovien tuotekonfigurointiprosessia sek�� SAP R/3 tuotekonfiguraattorin k��ytt����noton aiheuttamia vaikutuksia. Ty��ss�� kuvataan my��s uuden tuotekonfiguraattorin kehityst��, testausta, k��ytt����nottoa sek�� pitk��aikaishallintaa. Tuotekonfigurointi on tehokas tapa toteuttaa massar����t��l��inti��. Sen tarkoituksena on yhdist���� massatuotannon ja asiakaskohtaisen tuotannon etuja tarjoamalla asiakkaille r����t��l��ityj��, esisuunniteltuihin komponentteihin ja ennalta m����r��ttyyn konfigurointimalliin perustuvia tuotteita. N��it�� tuotteita tuotetaan konfigurointiprosessissa. T��m�� prosessi voi olla eritt��in monimutkainen ja altis virheille, joten sen tueksi on kehitetty tuotekonfiguraattoreita. Tuotekonfiguraattorit voivat tehostaa konfigurointiprosessia merkitt��v��sti. KONE on valmistanut konfiguroitavia tuotteita useita vuosikymmeni�� ja se on k��ytt��nyt prosessien tukemiseen useita eri konfiguraattoreita. N��in ollen uuden konfiguraattorin k��ytt����noton vaikutusten ei oleteta olevan niin dramaattisia kuin otettaessa konfiguraattoria k��ytt����n ensimm��isen kerran. Uudella konfiguraattorilla on kuitenkin useita vaikutuksia tuotteen hallintaan, konfigurointiprosessiin, tietoj��rjestelmiin, alihankkijoihin sek�� asiakkaisiin. Konfiguraattorin k��ytt����noton vaikutuksia tehostaa projektin liittyminen ERP j��rjestelm��n k��ytt����nottoon

Robots and robotic systems for the electronics and telecommunication industry

T��m�� diplomity�� tutkii elektroniikka- ja telekommunikaatioteollisuutta sek�� siihen l��heisesti liittyvi�� robotteja ja robottij��rjestelmi��. Tavoitteena on m����ritt���� E&T-teollisuuden prosesseihin soveltuvien robottien testausmenetelm��. Tavoitteena on my��s selvitt���� kahden ABB:n robotin soveltuvuutta E&T-teollisuuden tarpeisiin. Muutamia systemaattisia valmistusj��rjestelmien suunnitteluun soveltuvia menetelmi�� ja apuv��lineit�� on my��s k��sitelty. Alussa ty�� keskittyy elektroniikka- ja telekommunikaatioteollisuuden nykytilan tutkimiseen sek�� siell�� vallitsevien ja ennustettujen trendien kartoitukseen. Kohdat ���Collaborative manufacturing��� ja E&T-teollisuuden valmistusj��rjestelmille asettamat vaatimukset k��yd����n yksityiskohtaisesti l��pi. Tutkimuksen p����kohteina ovat robotit, erityisesti ABB:n IRB 140 ja IRB 340 sek�� robottien testausmenetelm��n m����ritt��minen. Ty��ss�� k��yd����n l��pi IRB 340:ll�� suoritetut testit, jotka tehtiin sek�� konen��k��j��rjestelm���� apuna k��ytt��en ett�� ilman. My��s TTKK:lla suoritetut robottitestit on k��yty l��pi. Robottien testituloksia on analysoitu ja vertailtu muihin robotteihin. Testausmenetelm��t perustuvat ISO 9283 standardiin. Viimeinen osa ty��st�� esittelee robottij��rjestelmien systemaattiseen suunnitteluun soveltuvia menetelmi�� ja apuv��lineit��. Esill�� ovat mm. Modular function deployment (MFD) ja The system design method (SDM).

Managing manufacturing data and improving its accuracy

There are two main objects in this study: First, to prove the importance of data accuracy to the business success, and second, create a tool for observing and improving the accuracy of ERP systems production master data. Sub-objective is to explain the need for new tool in client company and the meaning of it for the company. In the theoretical part of this thesis the focus is in stating the importance of data accuracy in decision making and it's implications on business success. Also basics of manufacturing planning are introduced in order to explain the key vocabulary. In the empirical part the client company and its need for this study is introduced. New master data report is introduced, and finally, analysing the report and actions based on the results of analysis are explained. The main results of this thesis are finding the interdependence between data accuracy and business success, and providing a report for continuous master data improvement in the client company's ERP system.

Technology roadmap for new sales support and management system for crane manufacturing company

Sales configurators are essential tools for companies that offer complicated case specifically crafted products for customers. Most sophisticated of them are able to design an entire end product on the fly according to given constraints, calculate price for the offer and move the order into production. This thesis covers a sales configurator acquisition project in a large industrial company that offers cranes for its customers. The study spans the preliminary stages of a large-scale software purchase project starting from the specification of problem domain and ending up presenting the most viable software solution that fulfils the requirements for the new system. The project consists of mapping usage environment, use cases, and collecting requirements that are expected from the new system. The collected requirements involve fitting the new sales system into enterprise application infrastructure, mitigating the risks involved in the project and specifying new features to the application whilst preserving all of the admired features of the old sales system currently used in the company. The collected requirements were presented to a number of different sales software vendors who were asked to provide solution suggestions that would fulfil all the demands. All of the received solution proposals were exposed to an evaluation to determine the most feasible solutions, and the construction of evaluation criteria itself was a part of the study. The final outcome of this study is a short-list of the most feasible sales configurator solutions together with a description of how software purchase process in large enterprises work, and which aspects should be paid attention in large projects of similar kind.

Engendering Group Support Based Foresight for Capital Intensive Manufacturing Industries - Case Paper and Steel Industry Scenarios by 2018

In recent times of global turmoil, the need for uncertainty management has become ever momentous. The need for enhanced foresight especially concerns capital-intensive industries, which need to commit their resources and assets with long-term planning horizons. Scenario planning has been acknowledged to have many virtues - and limitations - concerning the mapping of the future and illustrating the alternative development paths. The present study has been initiated to address both the need of improved foresight in two capital-intensive industries, i.e. the paper and steel industries and the imperfections in the current scenario practice. The research problem has been approached by engendering a problem-solving vehicle, which combines, e.g. elements of generic scenario process, face-to-face group support methods, deductive scenario reasoning and causal mapping into a fully integrated scenario process. The process, called the SAGES scenario framework, has been empirically tested by creating alternative futures for two capital-intensive industries, i.e. the paper and steel industries. Three scenarios for each industry have been engendered together with the identification of the key megatrends, the most important foreign investment determinants, key future drivers and leading indicators for the materialisation of the scenarios. The empirical results revealed a two-fold outlook for the paper industry, while the steel industry future was seen as much more positive. The research found support for utilising group support systems in scenario and strategic planning context with some limitations. Key perceived benefits include high time-efficiency, productivity and lower resource-intensiveness. Group support also seems to enhance participant satisfaction, encourage innovative thinking and provide the users with personalised qualitative scenarios.

On Doing Successful ICT Business with Russian Manufacturing Enterprises

This Master���s thesis addresses different approaches using which a foreign IT company could enter Russian manufacturing industry with its enterprise information systems and IT services. In order to define the most suitable market entry approach, several aspects related to Russian manufacturing enterprises are studied. These aspects include challenges of doing ICT business with the previously mentioned enterprises, their perception of ICT role and their ICT preferences, as well as their buying behavior related to acquisition of information systems (IS). The study results show that there are several challenges that can be faced by a foreign IT vendor when starting conducting ICT business with Russian manufacturing enterprises. The results also show that Russian manufacturing industry is still rather immature in sense of business process automation, and its IT buying behavior is rather specific and complicated. The results suggest that an efficient way to approach these enterprises is through a network of trusted partners that consists of reliable Russian IS integrators and business consultants having established connections to Russian manufacturing companies and possessing the needed competence.

Researching Manufacturing Planning and Control system and Master Scheduling in a manufacturing firm.

The objective of this thesis is to research Manufacturing Planning and Control (MPC) system and Master Scheduling (MS) in a manufacturing firm. The study is conducted at Ensto Finland Corporation, which operates on a field of electrical systems and supplies. The paper consists of theoretical and empirical parts. The empirical part is based on weekly operating at Ensto and includes inter-firm material analysis, learning and meetings. Master Scheduling is an important module of an MPC system, since it is beneficial on transforming strategic production plans based on demand forecasting into operational schedules. Furthermore, capacity planning tools can remarkably contribute to production planning: by Rough-Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP) tool, a MS plan can be critically analyzed in terms of available key resources in real manufacturing environment. Currently, there are remarkable inefficiencies when it comes to Ensto���s practices: the system is not able to take into consideration seasonal demand and react on market changes on time; This can cause significant lost sales. However, these inefficiencies could be eliminated through the appropriate utilization of MS and RCCP tools. To utilize MS and RCCP tools in Ensto���s production environment, further testing in real production environment is required. Moreover, data accuracy, appropriate commitment to adapting and learning the new tools, and continuous developing of functions closely related to MS, such as sales forecasting, need to be ensured.

Projektivalmistuksen hallinnan kehitt��minen

Ty��n tavoitteena on kehitt���� elektroniikka-alalla toimivan mittalaitteita valmistavan yrityksen projektivalmistuksen tiedonkulkua. Projektivalmistuksen tietovirrat halutaan keskitt���� sidosryhmille yhteiseen j��rjestelm����n. Keskitt��misen mahdollistamiseksi tutkimuksessa selvitet����n ensin sidosryhmien tarpeet yhteiselle j��rjestelm��lle, jonka j��lkeen olemassa olevasta j��rjestelm��st�� kehitet����n l��ydettyj�� tarpeita vastaava. Tutkimuksen taustatiedoksi syvennyt����n kirjallisuudessa esitettyihin ohjeisiin informaatiosysteemin kehitysprojekteista, projektin onnistumiseen vaikuttavista seikoista ja asiakasl��ht��isest�� kehitt��misest��. Avainasemassa tutkimuksen kehitysprojektin onnistumisessa on k��ytt��jien tarpeiden huomiointi j��rjestelm��n kehityksess��. T��st�� syyst�� tutkimus toteutettiin toimintatutkimuksena, jolloin p����stiin mahdollisimman syv��lle kohdeorganisaation tarpeisiin. Tutkimuksen tuloksena projektivalmistuksen hallintaj��rjestelm�� kehitettiin vastaamaan k��ytt��jiens�� tarpeita ja tietovirrat keskitettiin j��rjestelm����n. Yhteinen j��rjestelm�� paransi tiedon laatua, poisti p����llekk��isi�� t��it�� sek�� tarjoaa paremman n��kyvyyden projektivalmistukseen. N��kyvyyden lis����ntymisen my��t�� my��s projektivalmistuksen jatkokehitys helpottuu.

Quality, Productivity and Economy in Welding Manufacturing - Case Study: West Africa

This thesis studies quality, productivity and economy in welding manufacturing in West African states such as Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. The study consists of two parts: the first part, which forms the theoretical background, reviews relevant literature concerning the metal and welding industries, and measurement of welding quality, productivity and economy. The second part, which is the empirical part, aims to identify activities in the metal manufacturing industries where welding is extensively used and to determine the extent of welding quality, productivity and economy measurements in companies operating in the metal manufacturing industries. Additionally, the thesis aims to identify challenges that companies face and to assess the feasibility of creating a network to address these issues. The research methods used in the empirical part are the case study (qualitative) method and the survey (quantitative) method. However, the case study method was used to elicit information from companies in Ghana, while the survey method was used to elicit information from companies in Nigeria and Cameroon. The study considers important areas that contribute to creating awareness and understanding of the current situation of the welding industry in West Africa. These areas include the metal manufacturing industrial sector, metal products manufactured, metal production and manufacturing systems deployed, welding quality, productivity and economy measurement systems utilized, equipment and materials on the markets, general challenges facing companies in welding operations, welding technology programs and research in local universities, and SWOT analysis of the various West African states. The notable findings indicate that majority of the companies operate in the constructionindustrial sector. Also, majority of the companies are project manufacturing oriented, thus provide services to customers operating in the growing industries such as the oil and gas, mining, food and the energy industry. In addition, only few companies are certified under standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 3834, and OHSAS 18001. More so, majority of the companies employ manual welding technique, and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) as the commonly used welding process. Finally, welder salary is about ��� 300 / month as of June 2013 and the average operations turnover of medium to large companies is about ��� 5 million / year as at 2012. Based on analysis of the results of the study, it is noted that while welding activities are growing, the availability of cheap labor, the need for company and welder qualification and certification, and the need to manufacture innovative products through developmental projects (transfer of welding expertise and technology) remain as untapped opportunities in the welding industry in the West African states. The study serves as a solid platform for further research and concludes with several recommendations for development of the West African welding industry.