Chronological Monte Carlo-based assessment of distribution system reliability

Regulatory authorities in many countries, in order to maintain an acceptable balance between appropriate customer service qualities and costs, are introducing a performance-based regulation. These regulations impose penalties, and in some cases rewards, which introduce a component of financial risk to an electric power utility due to the uncertainty associated with preserving a specific level of system reliability. In Brazil, for instance, one of the reliability indices receiving special attention by the utilities is the Maximum Continuous Interruption Duration per customer (MCID). This paper describes a chronological Monte Carlo simulation approach to evaluate probability distributions of reliability indices, including the MCID, and the corresponding penalties. In order to get the desired efficiency, modern computational techniques are used for modeling (UML -Unified Modeling Language) as well as for programming (Object- Oriented Programming). Case studies on a simple distribution network and on real Brazilian distribution systems are presented and discussed. © Copyright KTH 2006.

Propagandas de medicamentos psicoativos: Análise das informações científicas

Objective: According to the World Health Organization, medicinal drug promotion should be reliable, accurate, truthful, informative, balanced, up-to-date and capable of substantiation. The objective of the present study was to review psychoactive drug advertisements to physicians as for information consistency with the related references and accessibility of the cited references. Methods: Data was collected in the city of Araraquara, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. There were collected and reviewed 152 drug advertisements, a total of 304 references. References were requested directly from pharmaceutical companies' customer services and searched in UNESP (Ibict, Athenas) and BIREME (SciELO, PubMed, free-access indexed journals) library network and CAPES journals. Advertisement statements were checked against references using content analysis. Results: Of all references cited in the advertisements studied, 66.7% were accessed. Of 639 promotional statements identified, 346 (54%) were analyzed. The analysis showed that 67.7% of promotional statements in the advertisements were consistent with their references, while the remaining was either partially consistent or inconsistent. Of the material analyzed, an average 2.5 (1-28) references was cited per advertisement. In the text body, there were identified 639 pieces of information clearly associated with at least one cited reference (average 3.5 pieces of information per advertisement). Conclusion: The study results evidenced difficult access to the references. Messages on efficacy, safety and cost, among others, are not always supported by scientific studies. There is a need for regulation changes and effective monitoring of drug promotional materials.

Redução de desperdícios no serviço de atendimento ao consumidor: estudo de caso do orçamento base zero em uma empresa de linha branca

The self-evaluation is increasingly necessary in a competitive environment, and a way for companies to self-evaluate is through your budget. Knowing the importance of this budgetary process, this study aimed to observe and analyze the developing process of a zero-based budgeting (ZBB) highlighting its best practices and difficulties and propose recommendations for other companies in general. This goal was achieved through a case study in an area responsible for the budgeting process in the customer services department from a white-goods company. Also was required to review the literature regarding the customer services area, waste reduction, cost management, budgets in general and the zero-based budgeting. After reviewing the literature and the study, we can highlight good practices and difficulties observed in the studied company, and also propose recommendations on how to develop a zero-based budget and evidence what plans, analyzes and justifications are essential in a good budget process execution

Uma análise investigativa da prática de Relações Públicas na indústria da moda

The main idea of this paper is to outline a brief overview about the fashion world from its evolution in the world and in Brazil, including also its growth in the Brazilian economy. From this point, the paper aims to show the relevance of the Public Relations professionals in the fashion market, which needs, more than anything of professionals who are capable and specialized in the relationship between the company and its target market, and in the service for customers who are more and more demanding when talking about quality of customer services

Improving logistics services through the technology used in fleet management

Outsourcing logistics has established itself in the area of the LSP (Logistics Service Provider), which offers a range of services to its customers. In this line, transportation is characterized as one of the most important services, and therefore efficient fleet management is essential for establishing a high level of customer service. With advances in technology and vehicle tracking systems, this approach of management has gained new possibilities for the improvement of logistics services. By studying the specific case of an LSP, this paper investigates the use of these technologies in the management of their business and services. The results indicate that the LSP seeks to increase its services and to streamline information in order to respond to customer needs in real time. It is also evident in this case under study that the combination of the technology available together with the fleet management system has become a distinguishing feature for this LSP, one which increases their skills and important information for both customers and business.