Use Of Systems Approach with Total Quality Management in Industrial Organizations

The objective of the work has been to study why systems thinking should be used in combination with TQM, what are the main benefits of the integration and how it could best be done. The work analyzes the development of systems thinking and TQM with time and the main differences between them. The work defines prerequisites for adopting a systems approach and the organizational factors which embody the development of an efficient learning organization. The work proposes a model based on combination of an interactive management model and redesign to be used for application of systems approach with TQM in practice. The results of the work indicate that there are clear differences between systems thinking and TQM which justify their combination. Systems approach provides an additional complementary perspective to quality management. TQM is focused on optimizing operations at the operational level while interactive management and redesign of organization are focused on optimization operations at the conceptual level providing a holistic system for value generation. The empirical study demonstrates the applicability of the proposed model in one case study company but its application is tenable and possible also beyond this particular company. System dynamic modeling and other systems based techniques like cognitive mapping are useful methods for increasing understanding and learning about the behavior of systems. The empirical study emphasizes the importance of using a proper early warning system.

Studies on the Multifaceted Interaction of Atoms and an Electromagnetic Field

In this Thesis the interaction of an electromagnetic field and matter is studied from various aspects in the general framework of cold atoms. Our subjects cover a wide spectrum of phenomena ranging from semiclassical few-level models to fully quantum mechanical interaction with structured reservoirs leading to non-Markovian open quantum system dynamics. Within closed quantum systems, we propose a selective method to manipulate the motional state of atoms in a time-dependent double-well potential and interpret the method in terms of adiabatic processes. Also, we derive a simple wave-packet model, based on distributions of generalized eigenstates, explaining the finite visibility of interference in overlapping continuous-wave atom lasers. In the context of open quantum systems, we develop an unraveling of non-Markovian dynamics in terms of piecewise deterministic quantum jump processes confined in the Hilbert space of the reduced system - the non-Markovian quantum jump method. As examples, we apply it for simple 2- and 3-level systems interacting with a structured reservoir. Also, in the context of ion-cavity QED we study the entanglement generation based on collective Dicke modes in experimentally realistic conditions including photonic losses and an atomic spontaneous decay.

Etelä-Karjalan sosiaali- ja terveyspiirin kuntakohtaisen kustannuslaskentamallin kehittäminen

Työn tavoitteena oli tutkia Etelä-Karjalan sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon kuntayhtymän kuntalaskutusta ja rakentaa laskentamalli, jolla kuntakohtaiset kustannukset pystytään laskemaan ja jakamaan. Tutkimusote oli konstruktiivinen. Tiedot kerättiin kuntayhtymän toiminta- ja taloustietojärjestelmistä sekä haastattelemalla organisaation asiantuntijoita. Työn tulokseksi saatu laskentamalli koostuu suoritepohjaisesta, asukaslukupohjaisista ja tarvepainotetuista asukaslukupohjaisista kustannusajureista, joilla kustannukset jaetaan piirin jäsenkunnille. Tällä sekamallilla pystytään toteuttamaan kuntalaskutusta, sillä se täyttää kuntalaskutusmallille asetetut vaatimukset. Työn tulosten perusteella tulo-osuusmalli olisi paras tapa toteuttaa kuntalaskutusta. Yksinkertainen rahoitusmalli mahdollistaa toiminnan vapaamman kehittämisen kuin sekamalli ja on lisäksi selkeämpi ja läpinäkyvämpi. Sekamallissa tulisi painottaa tarvepohjaisia asukaslukuajureita. Tärkeimmät ja suurimpia kustannuksia aiheuttavat alueet kannattaisi tuotteistaa.

Microscopic simulation of pigment coating consolidation

The control of coating layer properties is becoming increasingly important as a result of an emerging demand for novel coated paper-based products and an increasing popularity of new coating application methods. The governing mechanisms of microstructure formation dynamics during consolidation and drying are nevertheless, still poorly understood. Some of the difficulties encountered by experimental methods can be overcome by the utilisation of numerical modelling and simulation-based studies of the consolidation process. The objective of this study was to improve the fundamental understanding of pigment coating consolidation and structure formation mechanisms taking place on the microscopic level. Furthermore, it is aimed to relate the impact of process and suspension properties to the microstructure of the coating layer. A mathematical model based on a modified Stokesian dynamics particle simulation technique was developed and applied in several studies of consolidation-related phenomena. The model includes particle-particle and particle-boundary hydrodynamics, colloidal interactions, Born repulsion, and a steric repulsion model. The Brownian motion and a free surface model were incorporated to enable the specific investigation of consolidation and drying. Filter cake stability was simulated in various particle systems, and subjected to a range of base substrate absorption rates and system temperatures. The stability of the filter cake was primarily affected by the absorption rate and size of particles. Temperature was also shown to have an influence. The consolidation of polydisperse systems, with varying wet coating thicknesses, was studied using imposed pilot trial and model-based drying conditions. The results show that drying methods have a clear influence on the microstructure development, on small particle distributions in the coating layer and also on the mobility of particles during consolidation. It is concluded that colloidal properties can significantly impact coating layer shrinkage as well as the internal solids concentration profile. Visualisations of particle system development in time and comparison of systems at different conditions are useful in illustrating coating layer structure formation mechanisms. The results aid in understanding the underlying mechanisms of pigment coating layer consolidation. Guidance is given regarding the relationship between coating process conditions and internal coating slurry properties and their effects on the microstructure of the coating.

Monitoring of centrifugal pump operation by a frequency converter

Centrifugal pumps are widely used in industrial and municipal applications, and they are an important end-use application of electric energy. However, in many cases centrifugal pumps operate with a significantly lower energy efficiency than they actually could, which typically has an increasing effect on the pump energy consumption and the resulting energy costs. Typical reasons for this are the incorrect dimensioning of the pumping system components and inefficiency of the applied pump control method. Besides the increase in energy costs, an inefficient operation may increase the risk of a pump failure and thereby the maintenance costs. In the worst case, a pump failure may lead to a process shutdown accruing additional costs. Nowadays, centrifugal pumps are often controlled by adjusting their rotational speed, which affects the resulting flow rate and output pressure of the pumped fluid. Typically, the speed control is realised with a frequency converter that allows the control of the rotational speed of an induction motor. Since a frequency converter can estimate the motor rotational speed and shaft torque without external measurement sensors on the motor shaft, it also allows the development and use of sensorless methods for the estimation of the pump operation. Still today, the monitoring of pump operation is based on additional measurements and visual check-ups, which may not be applicable to determine the energy efficiency of the pump operation. This doctoral thesis concentrates on the methods that allow the use of a frequency converter as a monitoring and analysis device for a centrifugal pump. Firstly, the determination of energy-efficiency- and reliability-based limits for the recommendable operating region of a variable-speed-driven centrifugal pump is discussed with a case study for the laboratory pumping system. Then, three model-based estimation methods for the pump operating location are studied, and their accuracy is determined by laboratory tests. In addition, a novel method to detect the occurrence of cavitation or flow recirculation in a centrifugal pump by a frequency converter is introduced. Its sensitivity compared with known cavitation detection methods is evaluated, and its applicability is verified by laboratory measurements for three different pumps and by using two different frequency converters. The main focus of this thesis is on the radial flow end-suction centrifugal pumps, but the studied methods can also be feasible with mixed and axial flow centrifugal pumps, if allowed by their characteristics.

Pilvisovelluskehitys Google App Engine -pilvisovellusalustalla

Tämä Diplomityö keskittyy tutkimaan pilvisovelluskehitystä Google App Engine – pilvisovellusalustalle perustuen kuusi –vaiheiseen vesiputousmalliin sekä tutkimaan Google App Engine -pilvisovellusalustan tarjoamia mahdollisuuksia ja rajoituksia sovelluskehityksen muodossa. Tutkimuksen perusteella kuusi –vaiheinen vesiputousmalli soveltuu pilvisovelluskehitykseen,mikäli vaatimusmäärittely on tarkka jo sovelluskehityksen alkuvaiheessa. Tutkimuksen tuloksena syntyi vaatimusmäärittely MikkoMail –pilvisovellukselle. Vaatimusmäärittelyn pohjalta luotiin MikkoMail –pilvisovellus Google App Engine –pilvisovellusalustalle. Google App Engine –pilvisovellusalusta tukee vain Python- ja Java –ohjelmointikieliä eikä sisällä lainkaan ulkoista tietokantapalveluiden tukea. Tästä syystä Google App Engine -pilvisovellusalusta soveltuu pieniin, keskisuuriin ja pilottiprojektinomaisiin sovelluskehitysprojekteihin.

Learning Robot Environment through Simulation

Traditionally simulators have been used extensively in robotics to develop robotic systems without the need to build expensive hardware. However, simulators can be also be used as a “memory”for a robot. This allows the robot to try out actions in simulation before executing them for real. The key obstacle to this approach is an uncertainty of knowledge about the environment. The goal of the Master’s Thesis work was to develop a method, which allows updating the simulation model based on actual measurements to achieve a success of the planned task. OpenRAVE was chosen as an experimental simulation environment on planning,trial and update stages. Steepest Descent algorithm in conjunction with Golden Section search procedure form the principle part of optimization process. During experiments, the properties of the proposed method, such as sensitivity to different parameters, including gradient and error function, were examined. The limitations of the approach were established, based on analyzing the regions of convergence.

Broadband excitation in the system identification of active magnetic bearing rotor systems

One of the targets of the climate and energy package of the European Union is to increase the energy efficiency in order to achieve a 20 percent reduction in primary energy use compared with the projected level by 2020. The energy efficiency can be improved for example by increasing the rotational speed of large electrical drives, because this enables the elimination of gearboxes leading to a compact design with lower losses. The rotational speeds of traditional bearings, such as roller bearings, are limited by mechanical friction. Active magnetic bearings (AMBs), on the other hand, allow very high rotational speeds. Consequently, their use in large medium- and high-speed machines has rapidly increased. An active magnetic bearing rotor system is an inherently unstable, nonlinear multiple-input, multiple-output system. Model-based controller design of AMBs requires an accurate system model. Finite element modeling (FEM) together with the experimental modal analysis provides a very accurate model for the rotor, and a linearized model of the magneticactuators has proven to work well in normal conditions. However, the overall system may suffer from unmodeled dynamics, such as dynamics of foundation or shrink fits. This dynamics can be modeled by system identification. System identification can also be used for on-line diagnostics. In this study, broadband excitation signals are adopted to the identification of an active magnetic bearing rotor system. The broadband excitation enables faster frequency response function measurements when compared with the widely used stepped sine and swept sine excitations. Different broadband excitations are reviewed, and the random phase multisine excitation is chosen for further study. The measurement times using the multisine excitation and the stepped sine excitation are compared. An excitation signal design with an analysis of the harmonics produced by the nonlinear system is presented. The suitability of different frequency response function estimators for an AMB rotor system are also compared. Additionally, analytical modeling of an AMB rotor system, obtaining a parametric model from the nonparametric frequency response functions, and model updating are discussed in brief, as they are key elements in the modeling for a control design. Theoretical methods are tested with a laboratory test rig. The results conclude that an appropriately designed random phase multisine excitation is suitable for the identification of AMB rotor systems.

Bayesian methods for estimation, optimization and experimental design

Mathematical models often contain parameters that need to be calibrated from measured data. The emergence of efficient Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods has made the Bayesian approach a standard tool in quantifying the uncertainty in the parameters. With MCMC, the parameter estimation problem can be solved in a fully statistical manner, and the whole distribution of the parameters can be explored, instead of obtaining point estimates and using, e.g., Gaussian approximations. In this thesis, MCMC methods are applied to parameter estimation problems in chemical reaction engineering, population ecology, and climate modeling. Motivated by the climate model experiments, the methods are developed further to make them more suitable for problems where the model is computationally intensive. After the parameters are estimated, one can start to use the model for various tasks. Two such tasks are studied in this thesis: optimal design of experiments, where the task is to design the next measurements so that the parameter uncertainty is minimized, and model-based optimization, where a model-based quantity, such as the product yield in a chemical reaction model, is optimized. In this thesis, novel ways to perform these tasks are developed, based on the output of MCMC parameter estimation. A separate topic is dynamical state estimation, where the task is to estimate the dynamically changing model state, instead of static parameters. For example, in numerical weather prediction, an estimate of the state of the atmosphere must constantly be updated based on the recently obtained measurements. In this thesis, a novel hybrid state estimation method is developed, which combines elements from deterministic and random sampling methods.

Kustannuslaskentamalli EDI-yhteyksien vaihtoehtoisten toteutustapojen arviointiin

Työn tutkimusongelmana oli selvittää EDI-yhteyksien vaihtoehtoiset toteutustavat kustannuksineen. EDI-palveluiden käytöstä aiheutuvien kustannusten arviointia varten muodostettiin MS Office Excel -laskentamalli, jonka avulla voidaan arvioida perushankinnasta ja käytöstä aiheutuvia kustannuksia sekä EDI-projektin kannattavuutta. Tilaustenkäsittelyn yhteydessä syntyviä vuotuisia kustannuksia sekä kustannussäätöjä arvioitiin aikaperusteisen toimintolaskennan avulla.   Sovellettava teoria rajattiin toiminto- ja investointilaskennan alueelle. EDI-palveluita tarjoavilta operaattoreilta selvitettiin hinta, palveluiden laatu ja muut lisäarvopalvelut. Kustannustarkastelu rajattiin perushankintakustannusten ja käytönaikaisten kustannusten selvittämiseen. Työn tutkimusote on luonteeltaan konstruktiivinen, sillä tavoitteena oli luoda johdon päätöksentekoa tukeva laskentamalli.   Kartoituksen perusteella EDI:n käyttökustannuksiin vaikuttavat tekijät muodostuvat kolmesta ryhmästä, joita ovat sähköisten tilaussanomien piirissä olevien asiakkaiden ja toimittajien lukumäärä, verkkolaskut sekä EDI-sanomat. EDI-sanomien osalta vaikuttavana tekijänä on lähettävän sanoman muoto ja veloitusperuste.

Modeling study of limestone reactions in fluidized bed conditions

Traditionally limestone has been used for the flue gas desulfurization in fluidized bed combustion. Recently, several studies have been carried out to examine the use of limestone in applications which enable the removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gases, such as calcium looping technology and oxy-fuel combustion. In these processes interlinked limestone reactions occur but the reaction mechanisms and kinetics are not yet fully understood. To examine these phenomena, analytical and numerical models have been created. In this work, the limestone reactions were studied with aid of one-dimensional numerical particle model. The model describes a single limestone particle in the process as a function of time, the progress of the reactions and the mass and energy transfer in the particle. The model-based results were compared with experimental laboratory scale BFB results. It was observed that by increasing the temperature from 850 °C to 950 °C the calcination was enhanced but the sulfate conversion was no more improved. A higher sulfur dioxide concentration accelerated the sulfation reaction and based on the modeling, the sulfation is first order with respect to SO2. The reaction order of O2 seems to become zero at high oxygen concentrations.

Automation Concept for Electrically Excited LV Synchronous Motor: Implementation into AC500 Programmable Logic Environment

This bachelor’s thesis is a part of the research project realized in the summer 2011 in Lappeenranta University of Technology. The goal of the project was to develop an automation concept for controlling the electrically excited synchronous motor. Thesis concentrates on the implementation of the automation concept into the ABB’s AC500 programmable logic enviroment. The automation program was developed as a state machine with the ABB’s PS501 Control Builder software. For controlling the automation program is developed a fieldbus control and with CodeSys Visualization Tool a local control with control panel. The fieldbus control is done to correspond the ABB drives communication profile and the local control is implemented with a function block which feeds right control words into the statemachine. A field current control of the synchronous motor is realized as a method presented in doctoral thesis of Olli Pyrhönen (Pyrhönen 1998). The Method combines stator flux and torque based openloop control and power factor based feedback control.

Modelling head loss along emitting pipes using dimensional analysis

Local head losses must be considered in estimating properly the maximum length of drip irrigation laterals. The aim of this work was to develop a model based on dimensional analysis for calculating head loss along laterals accounting for in-line drippers. Several measurements were performed with 12 models of emitters to obtain the experimental data required for developing and assessing the model. Based on the Camargo & Sentelhas coefficient, the model presented an excellent result in terms of precision and accuracy on estimating head loss. The deviation between estimated and observed values of head loss increased according to the head loss and the maximum deviation reached 0.17 m. The maximum relative error was 33.75% and only 15% of the data set presented relative errors higher than 20%. Neglecting local head losses incurred a higher than estimated maximum lateral length of 19.48% for pressure-compensating drippers and 16.48% for non pressure-compensating drippers.

Palveluliiketoimintamallin kehittäminen teolliselle laitetoimittajalle

Tässä tutkimuksessa käsitellään teollisuuden palveluliiketoimintaa. Yritykset ovat perinteisesti saavuttaneet kilpailuetua markkinoilla tuottamalla teknisesti innovatiivisia koneita ja laitteita, mutta viime vuosien aikana yritykset ovat havainneet tarpeen myös palveluliiketoiminnan kehitykselle. Kohdeyrityksenä on teollisuudelle korkealuokkaisia mittalaitteita kehittävä ja valmistava yritys. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kehittää uusi innovatiivinen vuokraukseen perustuva palveluliiketoimintamalli perinteisen hankinnan sijaan. Olennaisena osana uuteen palveluliiketoimintamalliin liittyi myös tuotteen elinkaarikustannusten selvittäminen ja laskeminen. Toisena tutkimuksen kohteena oli selvittää semi-kvalitatiivisen kyselytutkimuksen avulla, miten yrityksen asiakkaat ja henkilökunta näkevät palveluiden tuottamisen nykytilan ja mitä haasteita palveluliiketoimintaan siirtyminen aiheuttaa organisaatiolle. Työn teoriaosuudessa käsiteltiin palveluliiketoimintaa eri näkökulmista, palvelun laadun muodostumista sekä uuden liiketoimintamallin kehittämistä Osterwalderin Canvas mallin avulla. Lisäksi käsiteltiin elin-kaarilaskennan soveltamista palveluliiketoiminnassa sekä eri investointimalleja teollisiin palveluihin. Kyselytutkimuksen tulosten perusteella asiakkaiden ja yrityksen henkilökunnan näkemykset erosivat palvelun laadun ja prosessien nykytilasta. Asiakkaat arvostivat palvelut paremmalle tasolle kuin henkilökunta. Tulosten perusteella yrityksen olisi kohdennettava resursseja sisäisten prosessien parantamiseen ja kehitettävä organisaatiota enemmän palveluorientoituneeksi. Tuotteen elinkaarikustannukset onnistuttiin selvittämään hyvin ja niiden avulla pystyttiin luomaan sekä yritykselle kannattava että asiakkaille houkutteleva palveluliiketoimintamalli, jonka avulla yrityksen on mahdollista palvella asiakkaitaan entistä paremmin.

Teollisten palveluiden kehittäminen asiakaslähtöisesti

Teollisuuden palvelut tuottavat tulevaisuudessa yhä suuremman osan yritysten liikevaihdosta ja tämän vuoksi niiden systemaattinen kehittäminen yrityksessä on erityisen tärkeää. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on luoda teorian pohjalta malli, jonka avulla mekatroniikkaklusterin yritykset voivat analysoida tarjottavia palveluitaan asiakkaan näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksessa pyritään myös selvittämään empiirisesti mallin soveltuvuus palvelutarjonnan kehittämiseen tutkimuksessa mukana oleville erikokoisille yrityksille. Tutkimuksen teoreettisessa osassa luodaan katsaus yrityksen kasvustrategioihin. Palveluiden innovaatio- sekä kehitysprosessit käydään lyhyesti läpi, sekä esitetään lähtökohtia, miten yritykset voivat siirtyä tuotetarjoajasta palveluntarjoajaksi. Teoriaosassa käydään läpi QFD -malli, jota voidaan käyttää hyödyksi kun analysoidaan asiakkaan palvelutarpeita ja priorisoidaan yrityksen resursseja. QFD -mallin lisäksi esitellään myös muita laatutyökaluja sekä asiakkaan tarpeiden selvitysmenetelmiä, joita yritys voi käyttää hyödykseen QFD -mallin kanssa. Synteesiosassa esitellään ensin MS Excel -pohjainen QFD -malli. Mallin käyttö-kokeilu toteutetaan työpaja tyylisessä kokouksessa, ja tutkimustulokset kerätään havainnoimalla, teemahaastattelulla sekä kyselyn avulla.