The improvement of supply chain performances through process modeling and multivariate analysis

In the supply chain management (SCM), the ability to fulfill the highly fluctuative demand in the most efficient way without compromising the product and/or service quality is seen as a strong value added that can contribute to the organization's financial performance and reputation. This study will explore the significance of the fluctuative demand towards the supply chain KPI performances. As an industry that is prone to demand fluctuation, a pharmaceutical case study company will be used as part of the empirical study. The method will be implemented through business process modeling and simulation using ExtendSim 9 scenario analysis, followed by multivariate analysis using SAS. The objective is to understand how the seasonal demand fluctuation statistically impacts the SCM system and how can it be handled better to sustain and improve the SCM performance level. The results for this study is that both demand and process variation have statistically shown significance in affecting the KPI performances. It furthermore shows that both production methods that are done within the organization's internal location are more sustainable against the demand increase in comparison to the toll out manufacturing system. The minimization use for toll out manufacturing is seen as strongly beneficial in the long run as the system has shown high vulnerability, and an investment to increase the in-house production capacity is seen as pivotal move in order to provide a greater manufacturing flexibility in the long run.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

Operating characteristics of passenger screening processes and the development of a paced inspection system

The airport checkpoint security screening (ACSS) system is an important line of defense against the introduction of dangerous objects into the U.S. aviation system. Recently, there has been much interest in modeling these systems and to derive operating parameters which optimize performance. In general there are two performance measures of interest (i) the waiting time of the arriving entities, and (ii) the allocated screening resources and its utilization. Clearly, the traveling public would like a zero waiting time, while airports are limited both in terms of space and resource capital. The arrival and exit entity in the ACSS system are passengers. On arrival, passengers split into two sub- entities (i) bags or other carry-on items and (ii) passenger body and the two must rejoin prior to exit. There is a 1:M ratio between passengers and carry-on items with M\u3e0. The existing knowledge base related to the operating characteristics of ACSS processes is very limited. Almost all screening systems have a human interpretive component, as a result the screening behavior is highly variant and difficult to predict. This dissertation studies the operating characteristics of the security screening process to develop proven relationships between inspection times and clearance rates. A descriptive model of the screening system, which identifies the design variables, operational parameters and performance measures, is defined. Screening data was collected from 18 U.S. airports (10 high volume, 5 medium volume, and 3 low volume). The data sets captured (i) passenger arrival times, (ii) X-ray inspection times, (iii) clearance decision, (iv) passenger physical inspection times, and (v) secondary carry-on item inspection times. An empirical analysis was used to generate a speed of inspection operating characteristic (SIOC) curve for each of the inspection processes. Mean inspection times are found to be much larger than what is frequently assumed in the literature. The findings showed that the inspection rate increases linearly with inspection time until the 7 second point, after which it describes a negative growth. The behavior of these relationships under different operating conditions was studied using a set of hypothesis. These include performance differences between airport types, between checkpoints within an airport, as well as the effect of increased passenger arrival rates. Reliable data describing the operating characteristics of security inspection processes are now available. This data can be used to design and analyze ACSS systems with much greater accuracy and detail. The results will in effect reduce the dependence on trial-and-error experiments at the site. A greater understanding of the statistical behavior of the inspection process is known and validated. The SIOC curves provide a standard against which new and alternative ACSS designs can be evaluated and benchmarked. Paced ACSS systems are demonstrated as a viable alternative with potentially higher performance

Петрі-об’єктне моделювання систем із використанням 3D-анімації

Структура та обсяг роботи. Пояснювальна записка дипломного проекту складається з шести розділів, містить 107 сторінок, 25 рисунків, 9 таблиць, 1 додаток, 23 джерела. Дипломний проект присвячений розробці алгоритму імітаційного Петрі-об’єктного моделювання систем з використанням 3D-анімації. У розділі загальних положень були розглянуті процеси діяльності, предметне середовище та наявні аналоги програмного продукту. У розділі інформаційного забезпечення розглянуто вхідні та вихідні дані, описана структура масивів інформації. У математичному розділі наведена змістовна постановка задачі, математична постановка задачі, алгоритм імітації Петрі-об’єктного моделювання, та опис методу імітації в режимі реального часу. У розділі з програмного забезпечення наведена діаграма класів, їх взаємодія у вигляді послідовності та основні компоненти програми. Наведені вимоги до технічного забезпечення. У технологічному розділі наведено керівництво користувача.Structure and scope of work. The explanatory note of the graduation project consists of six sections, containing 107 pages, 25 pictures, 9 tables, 1 application, 23 sources. This graduation project is dedicated to the development of Petri-object system simulation algorithm with use of 3D animation. In the section of the general provisions, the processes of activity, the subject environment and the available analogues of the software product were considered. In the section of the information support, the input and output data are considered, the database is described. In mathematical section presents the mathematical formulation of the problem, the general formulation of the problem, the algorithm for solving problem of Petri-objects system simulation, and the method of solving this problem in real time. In the software section, the structure of classes, their relations and interactions in sequence and the main components of the program are presented. The requirements for the technical support are specified. The technology section provides user guides and software test methods

An Investigation into changes in the phytoplankton community in Loch Creran, a Scottish sea loch

Short term and irregular sampling in Loch Creran over recent decades suggested that changes may be occurring in the phytoplankton community in the loch. This study sought to confirm this suggestion. After instigating a regular sampling regime during 2008 and 2009 it became clear that significant changes had occurred, relative to information from the 1970s, in both the numbers of phytoplankton in the loch and in their biomass, particularly during the time of the spring bloom. Utilising a tool to assess change in the phytoplankton community, it also became clear that significant changes had occurred in the composition of the phytoplankton in Loch Creran. Work was undertaken to explore possible explanations behind these changes.The effect that toxic, anti-fouling compounds, arising from an increase in leisure boating in Loch Creran, were having on the productivity of phytoplankton in the loch was considered by adapting an existing assimilative capacity model for phytoplankton growth. It was found, that at present levels of boating activity, the concentration of anti-fouling products present in the loch, would not be great enough to significantly impact on phytoplankton growth.Nutrient samples collected during 2009 showed no significant changes in the concentration of silicate or nitrate in the loch, but phosphate levels were found to be significantly lower. A review of the effects of grazing on phytoplankton by farmed mussels in Loch Creran indicated that, at current levels, this would not account for the decrease in phytoplankton numbers observed in the loch.Significant changes were observed in the water temperature in the loch and in the intensity and pattern of local rainfall. Increased levels of rainfall in the first three months of the year were found to be high enough to influence the rate of flushing and the rate of phytoplankton washout from the loch. A correlation was found between the availability of light in the surface layers of the loch and the concentration of phytoplankton present in these layers. This correlation was found to exist, throughout the year and not only, as previously thought, during the winter months.In conclusion, the observed decline in phytoplankton numbers in Loch Creran, was attributed to changes in local weather patterns, that had an impact on the physical structure of the water column, washout rates, the pattern and intensity of heterotrophic grazing and the availability of light

Integrationsaspekte der Simulation: Technik, Orgnisation und Personal, Karlsruhe, 7. und 8. Oktober 2010 = Integration Aspects of Simulation: Equipment, Organization and Personnell, Karlsruhe, 7th and 8th October 2010

Die Integration technischer, organisatorischer und personalorientierter Aspekte in Simulationsverfahren ist das Leitthema der 14. Fachtagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Simulation (ASIM) innerhalb der Gesellschaft für Informatik, die vom Institut für Arbeitswissenschaft und Betriebsorganisation im Oktober 2010 ausgerichtet wurde. Der vorliegende Tagungsband gibt somit einen vertiefenden Einblick in neue Entwicklungen und Beispiele guter Praxis der Simulation über den deutschsprachigen Raum hinaus

Historia, evolución y perspectivas de futuro en la utilización de técnicas de simulación en la gestión portuaria: aplicaciones en el análisis de operaciones, estrategia y planificación portuaria

Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Análise Económica e Estratexia Empresarial. 5033V0[Resumen] Las técnicas de simulación, tal y como hoy las conocemos, comenzaron a mediados del siglo XX; primero con la aparición del primer computador y el desarrollo del método Monte Carlo, y más tarde con el desarrollo del primer simulador de propósito específico conocido como GPS y desarrollado por Geoffrey Gordon en IBM y la publicación del primer texto completo dedicado a esta materia y llamado the Art of Simulation (K.D. Tocher, 1963). Estás técnicas han evolucionado de una manera extraordinaria y hoy en día están plenamente implementadas en diversos campos de actividad. Las instalaciones portuarias no han escapado de esta tendencia, especialmente las dedicadas al tráfico de contenedores. Efectivamente, las características intrínsecas de este sector económico, le hacen un candidato idóneo para la implementación de modelos de simulación con propósitos y alcances muy diversos. No existe, sin embargo y hasta lo que conocemos, un trabajo científico que compile y analice pormenorizadamente tanto la historia como la evolución de simulación en ambientes portuarios, ayudando a clasificar los mismos y determinar cómo estos pueden ayudar en el análisis económico de estas instalaciones y en la formulación de las oportunas estrategias empresariales. Este es el objetivo último de la presente tesis doctoral.[Resumo] As técnicas de simulación, tal e como hoxe as coñecemos, comezaron a mediados do século XX; primeiro coa aparición do computador e o desenvolvemento do método Monte Carlo e máis tarde co desenvolvemento do primeiro simulador de propósito específico coñecido como GPS e desenvolvido por Geoffrey Gordon en IBM e a publicación do primeiro texto completo dedicado a este tema chamado “A Arte da Simulación” (K.D. Tocher, 1963). Estas técnicas evolucionaron dun xeito extraordinario e hoxe en día están plenamente implementadas en diversos campos de actividade. As instalacións portuarias non escaparon desta tendencia, especialmente as dedicadas ao tráfico de contenedores. Efectivamente, as características intrínsecas deste sector económico, fanlle un candidato idóneo para a implementación de modelos de simulación con propósitos e alcances moi variados. Con todo, e ata o que coñecemos, non existe un traballo científico que compila e analiza de forma detallada tanto a historia como a evolución da simulación en estes ambientes portuarios, clasificando os mesmos e determinando como estes poden axudar na análise económica destas instalacións e na formulación das oportunas estratexias empresariais. Este é o último obxectivo da presente tese doutoral.[Abstract] Simulation, to the extend that we understand it nowadays, began in the middle of the 20th century; first with the appearance of the computer and the development of the Monte Carlo method, and later with the development of the first specific purpose simulator known as GPS developed by Geoffrey Gordon in IBM. This author published the first full text devoted to this subject “The Art of Simulation” in 1963. These techniques have evolved in an extraordinary way and nowadays they are fully implemented in different fields of activity. Port facilities have not escaped this trend, especially those dedicated to container traffic. Indeed, the intrinsic characteristics of this economic sector, make it a suitable candidate for the implementation of simulation with very different purposes and scope. However, to the best of our knowelegde, there is not a scientific work that compiles and analyzes in detail both, the history and the evolution of simulation in port environments, contributing to classify them and determine how they can help in the economic analysis of these facilities and in the formulation of different business strategies. This is the ultimate goal of this doctoral thesis

Pre-study of flow accumulation at Astra Tech

Syftet med arbetet var att undersöka möjligheten för optimering av produktflödet. Företagets produkter transporteras på ett transportband till en gemensam process. Det nuvarande flödet till processen är inte optimerat vilket resulterar i att processen körs ineffektivt. Ackumulering av produkter innan processen ska därför undersökas som en lösning till problemet. Fyra olika ackumuleringsförslag har analyserats och jämförts: hängande bansystem, palleteringssystem, depalleteringssystem och kombination av bansystem och palleteringssystem. Förslagen har blivit bedömda och jämförda utifrån följande parametrar: yta, investeringskostnad, flexibilitet, arbetsbelastning, arbetsmiljö och tid. Hängande bansystem fick det högsta snittvärdet och valdes därför för fortsatt analys med stöd av simulering. Simuleringen gjordes i ExtendSim 7. Två simuleringsmodeller jämfördes, en med ackumulering av produkter i bansystem och en utan. Resultatet var att ackumulering av produkter kan ge en besparing på 16 procent i driftkostnader per år. Simulering av övriga förslag kan göras för att få en tydligare jämförelse mellan förslagen. Rekommendationen till företaget är att ackumulera produkter i ett bansystem. Det baseras på analys av jämförelsen. Analysen och diskussionen visar också att robothantering inte är en passande lösning på problemet, eftersom rörelserna skulle skaka om produkterna för mycket. En vidare undersökning av utformningen av bansystemet bör göras för att få fram den optimala utformningen.The purpose of the work was to investigate possibilities for optimization of the material flow. The different products of the company are being transported by a conveyor belt to a common process. The current flow to the process is not optimized with the result that the process runs inefficiently. Accumulation of products before the process should therefore be investigated as a solution. Four different accumulating systems have been analyzed and compared: hanging conveyor belts, palletizing, depalletizing and a combination of conveyor belts and palletizing. The systems have been assessed and compared according to six parameters: area, investment cost, flexibility, work load, work environment and time. The hanging conveyor belt yielded the highest average score and was therefore chosen for further analysis with the support of simulation. The simulation was made in ExtendSim 7. Two simulation models were compared, one with accumulation of product in conveyor belts and one without. The result of the simulation part was that accumulation of product results in savings of running costs with 16 percent per year. To get a better comparison between the accumulation systems simulations of all systems can be done. The recommendation to the company is to accumulate products in a conveyor system. This is based on the analysis of the comparison. The analysis and discussion also shows that robot handling is not an appropriate solution to the problem, because the movements would shake the products too much. A further investigation of the layout should be done in order to find the optimal layout