Shedding light on TQM: some research findings

Over the last decad , the paradigm of Total Quality Management (TQM) has been successfully forged in our business world. TQM may be defined as something that is both complex and ambiguous; nevertheless, some key elements or principles can be mentioned which are common to all of them: customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, commitment and leadership on the part of top management, involvement and support on the part of employees, teamwork, measurement via indicators and feedback. There are, in short, two main reasons for it having spread so widely: on the one hand, the successful diffusion of ISO 9000 standards for the implementation and certification of quality management systems, standards that have been associated to the TQM paradigm, and, on the other, the also successful diffusion of self evaluation models such as the EFQM promoted by the European Foundation for Quality Management and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the USA, promoted by the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. However, the quality movement is not without its problems as far as its mid and long term development is concerned. In this book some research findings related to these issues are presented.

Industrial ecology at factory level: A prototype methodology

The concept of sustainable manufacturing is a form of pollution prevention that integrates environmental considerations in the production of goods while focusing on efficient resource use. Taking the industrial ecology perspective, this efficiency comes from improved resource flow management. The assessment of material, energy and waste resource flows, therefore, offers a route to viewing and analysing a manufacturing system as an ecosystem using industrial ecology biological analogy and can, in turn, support the identification of improvement opportunities in the material, energy and waste flows. This application of industrial ecology at factory level is absent from the literature. This article provides a prototype methodology to apply the concepts of industrial ecology using material, energy and waste process flows to address this gap in the literature. Various modelling techniques were reviewed and candidates selected to test the prototype methodology in an industrial case. The application of the prototype methodology showed the possibility of using the material, energy and waste resource flows through the factory to link manufacturing operations and supporting facilities, and to identify potential improvements in resource use. The outcomes of the work provide a basis to build the specifications for a modelling tool that can support those analysing their manufacturing system to improve their environmental performance and move towards sustainable manufacturing. © IMechE 2012.

具有严格操作语义的图形化软件过程建模研究

``软件危机''，这一始于上世纪~60~年代的概念，始终伴随着软件业的整个历史发展进程。 为了解决该问题，人们逐渐开始借鉴一些传统领域内的管理理论、方法和工具，以期解决软件开发中所面临的问题。其中，更多的是作为一种管理哲学，而不是具体管理方法的全面质量管理（Total Quality Management，TQM），在软件工程领域得到了广泛应用。全面质量管理对于软件工程的影响，一个很重要的方面是促进了软件过程和软件过程改 进的研究、实践。 作为软件过程研究的重要内容，软件过程建模是通过特定的方法对软件过程进行抽象、表示和分析以增加对软件过程的理解，并通过直接或者间接的方式指导实际软件开发活动。为了对软件过程管理活动提供方法和工具支持，人们提出了多种以过程为中心的软件过程工程环境（Process-centered Software Engineering Environment, PSEE），其最终目的是使得实际软件开发活动受软件过程模型的支配。但由于过程模型本身的正确性得不到保证、PSEE中执行的软件过程模型和实际开发过程之间的信息反馈缺乏客观性以及过程模型和实际开发过程之间的抽象层次不同和描述粒度不一致，导致PSEE中执行的软件过程模型和实际开发过程之间经常产生严重的偏差，以至于PSEE对实际开发活动逐渐地失去了支持和指导作用，进而使得投入大量成本所开发的软件过程模型无法发挥其应有的作用。 针对这些问题，本文提出了一种具有严格操作语义的图形化软件过程建模方法。由于在具有图形化表示方式的同时，又具备严格的操作语义，因此基于该方法所描述的软件过程比较易于分析。特别是，通过模型检测技术验证软件过程模型本身的正确性，可以减少由模型错误所导致的不一致；通过比较预定义的过程模型和实际开发过程，可以发现两者间的不一致并及时地消除。同时，具有严格操作语义的软件过程建模方法，可以为软件过程执行提供良好的支持。 首先，本文提出了一种具有严格操作语义的图形化建模语言——TRISO/ML。该语言具有图形化的表示方式，可以更容易地为软件工程人员所接受，以及更好地满足过程表示对易用性和可理解性的需求。该语言同时具有严格的操作语义，可以映射到多元PI演算，从而能够更准确地描述软件过程，避免歧义的产生。更为重要的是，该语言从行为角度出发，能够以一致的方式描述软件过程中的各种实体及其相互间的并发、同步和通信。 其次，在TRISO/ML语言的基础之上，提出了一系列的软件过程分析方法。主要研究如何利用多元PI演算的理论、方法和工具以及软件验证技术，对软件过程进行分析和验证。软件过程分析的研究主要集中在如下两个方面：a）软件过 程模型本身正确性的验证，以确保该模型准确地描述了所希望表达的内容。b）比较两个过程模型是否等价。 然后，基于软件过程移动性概念，研究了如何通过软件过程结构的变化支持过程的动态执行。软件过程移动性概念反映了软件过程执行时，由于软件过程实体的动态交互，导致构成软件过程的实体及其相互间的关系不断地发生变化。 软件过程移动性这一概念的提出，使得软件过程实体之间的关系可以在软件过程执行时动态地确立和调整，软件过程的定义随着过程信息的不断丰富而逐步地细化和明确，从而能够以更灵活的方式支持软件过程的表示和执行。 最后，描述了支持TRISO/ML的原型工具，包括基于TRISO/ML的过程表示、多元PI演算语义描述的自动生成，以及进一步的分析和验证。

供应链中物流及信息流管理

供应链管理使企业在变化的市场环境中有效地与其它企业合作 ,取得集体竞争优势。本文首先讨论了后勤学与供应链管理的定义和之间的关系。本文认为供应链管理的核心是物流与信息流的控制。物流控制决策主要包括操作层次的库存补充和运输路径规划 ,以及战略层次的设施地点规划。信息流管理跨越部门与企业的界限将相关的应用集成起来。动态联盟协调各企业内部的生产经营活动 ,战略性地决定物流与信息流的构形。

Qualidade nos serviços públicos

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências da Comunicação, especialização em Relações Públicas.

Design of Scheduling Algorithms Using Game Theoretic Ideas

Scheduling a set of jobs over a collection of machines to optimize a certain quality-of-service measure is one of the most important research topics in both computer science theory and practice. In this thesis, we design algorithms that optimize {\em flow-time} (or delay) of jobs for scheduling problems that arise in a wide range of applications. We consider the classical model of unrelated machine scheduling and resolve several long standing open problems; we introduce new models that capture the novel algorithmic challenges in scheduling jobs in data centers or large clusters; we study the effect of selfish behavior in distributed and decentralized environments; we design algorithms that strive to balance the energy consumption and performance.

The technically interesting aspect of our work is the surprising connections we establish between approximation and online algorithms, economics, game theory, and queuing theory. It is the interplay of ideas from these different areas that lies at the heart of most of the algorithms presented in this thesis.

The main contributions of the thesis can be placed in one of the following categories.

1. Classical Unrelated Machine Scheduling: We give the first polygorithmic approximation algorithms for minimizing the average flow-time and minimizing the maximum flow-time in the offline setting. In the online and non-clairvoyant setting, we design the first non-clairvoyant algorithm for minimizing the weighted flow-time in the resource augmentation model. Our work introduces iterated rounding technique for the offline flow-time optimization, and gives the first framework to analyze non-clairvoyant algorithms for unrelated machines.

2. Polytope Scheduling Problem: To capture the multidimensional nature of the scheduling problems that arise in practice, we introduce Polytope Scheduling Problem (\psp). The \psp problem generalizes almost all classical scheduling models, and also captures hitherto unstudied scheduling problems such as routing multi-commodity flows, routing multicast (video-on-demand) trees, and multi-dimensional resource allocation. We design several competitive algorithms for the \psp problem and its variants for the objectives of minimizing the flow-time and completion time. Our work establishes many interesting connections between scheduling and market equilibrium concepts, fairness and non-clairvoyant scheduling, and queuing theoretic notion of stability and resource augmentation analysis.

3. Energy Efficient Scheduling: We give the first non-clairvoyant algorithm for minimizing the total flow-time + energy in the online and resource augmentation model for the most general setting of unrelated machines.

4. Selfish Scheduling: We study the effect of selfish behavior in scheduling and routing problems. We define a fairness index for scheduling policies called {\em bounded stretch}, and show that for the objective of minimizing the average (weighted) completion time, policies with small stretch lead to equilibrium outcomes with small price of anarchy. Our work gives the first linear/ convex programming duality based framework to bound the price of anarchy for general equilibrium concepts such as coarse correlated equilibrium.

Developing a model of innovation implementation for UK SMEs: A path analysis and explanatory case analysis

Continuous large-scale changes in technology and the globalization of markets have resulted in the need for many SMEs to use innovation as a means of seeking competitive advantage where innovation includes both technological and organizational perspectives (Tapscott, 2009). However, there is a paucity of systematic and empirical research relating to the implementation of innovation management in the context of SMEs. The aim of this article is to redress this imbalance via an empirical study created to develop and test a model of innovation implementation in SMEs. This study uses Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the plausibility of an innovation model, developed from earlier studies, as the basis of a questionnaire survey of 395 SMEs in the UK. The resultant model and construct relationship results are further probed using an explanatory multiple case analysis to explore ‘how’ and ‘why’ type questions within the model and construct relationships. The findings show that the
effects of leadership, people and culture on innovation implementation are mediated by business improvement activities relating to Total Quality Management/Continuous Improvement (TQM/CI) and product and process developments. It is concluded that SMEs have an opportunity to leverage existing quality and process improvement activities to move beyond continuous
improvement outcomes towards effective innovation implementation. The article concludes by suggesting areas suitable for further research.

The early-stage risk capital market in Scotland since 2000: issues of scale, characteristics and market efficiency

In this paper we provide a detailed profile and analysis of the regional risk capital market in Scotland, using an innovative methodology and specially developed databases which cover risk capital investment in young companies in the periods 2000–04 and 2005–07. This identifies the investment activity of all actors in the market and provides estimates of the total flow of risk capital investment into early-stage Scottish companies over the period. The paper concludes by drawing out the implications for policy makers (providing a more robust evidence base for the development, implementation and monitoring of policy) and for academic researchers (on the methodologies for estimating market scale and efficiency).

Redispersion Microreactor System for Phase Transfer Catalyzed Esterification

An interdigital mixer - redispersion capillary assembly was applied to prevent the liquid-liquid bubbly flow coalescence in microreactors. The redispersion capillary consisted of 1 mm long and 0.25 mm inner-diameter constrictions placed every 0.50 m along the channel length. The system was tested on the phase transfer catalyzed esterification to produce benzyl benzoate. The application of constrictions to prevent coalescence resulted in a better reproducibility compared to a capillary without the constrictions. By controlling the total flow rate and the aqueous-to-organic ratio the bubbly flow surface-volume ratio could be increased up to 230 700 m(2)m(-3). Compared to the conventional phase transfer catalyzed esterification, the continuous operation in the interdigital-redispersion capillary assembly eliminated the use of solvents and bases, removing an energy intensive step of distillation, while increasing process safety.

The challenge of managing airline delay costs

Estimates of airline delay costs as a function of delay magnitude are combined with fuel and (future) emissions charges to make cost-benefit trade-offs in the pre-departure and airborne phases. Hypothetical scenarios for the distribution of flow management slots are explored in terms of their cost and target-setting implications. The general superiority of passenger-centric metrics is of significance for delay measurement, although flight delays are still the only commonly-reported type of metric in both the US and Europe. There is a particular need for further research into reactionary (network) effects, especially with regard to passenger metrics and flow management delay.

A Implementação de um sistema de gestão da qualidadena Junta de Freguesia de Gandra

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Auditoria Orientado por: Doutora Alcina Augusta de Sena Portugal Dias

A importância dos fluxos de caixa na análise da solvência, liquidez e visibilidade das empresas

Orientada por: Prof. Doutora Cláudia Lopes