The relationship between quality approaches and their impact on portuguese companies´ quality performance

Recent research on the link between quality management practices and organization performance, however, often finds contradictory outcomes. That is, quality procedures may not consistently result in a positive or favorable organizational outcome (Foster 2007; Kaynak 2003; Montes, Jover, and Fernandez 2003; Zu, 2009). Jabnoun et al., 2003 concluded that although quality management practices have been implemented by many organizations all over the world, such implementations have often failed. Recent studies, underline the importance of causal relations between quality management practices (Cua et al. 2001; Sousa and Voss, 2002 and Kaynak, 2003). Many authors suggested a positive association between TQM practices and organizational performance (Anderson et al., 1995; Flynn et al., 1995a; Mohrman et al., 1995; Choi and Eboch, 1998; Terziovski and Samson, 1999; Cua et al., 2001; Douglas and Judge, 2001; Kaynak, 2003). However, conflicting reports have been published regarding the effectiveness of TQM programs. Researchers have postulated various reasons for this perplexing outcome, with several researchers suggesting the need to develop more comprehensive models to explain the process by which quality management links to organization performance (Montes, Jover, and Fernandez 2003; Naor et al. 2008; Pinho 2008). In this paper, a conceptual model is presented which reflects the relationship between QMPs and their impact in Portuguese companies’ performance

Contribuição para o estudo da influencia de agentes osmoticos sobre a atividade depressora da isoaminila (PerocanR) no ileo isolado de cobaio

Orientador : Minoru SakateDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: Não informado.Abstract: Not informed.Mestrad

Quality management principles and practices impact on the companies’ quality performance

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to expose the conceptual model which pretends to reflect the relationship between the use and implementation of quality management principles and practices and their impact on the companies’ quality performance. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the literature review carried out, we have identified the most common and used quality management principles and practices. Hence, we have proposed a conceptual model relate those quality management principles and practices to the companies’ quality performance. In order to validate these quality management principles and practices and consequently the conceptual model developed, we conducted several semi-structured interviews with the Portuguese Quality Leaders. The following phase consisted in developing a questionnaire, based on the literature review carried out and on the main contributions of the semi-structured interviews. This questionnaire was sent to all the Portuguese companies certified according to the ISO 9001 standard. Our main purpose is to validate the model developed based on the structural equation modeling technique (SEM). Currently we are in the survey phase. Findings - It is expected that the results show a significant and positive relationship between the implementation of quality management principles and practices and their impact on the companies’ quality performance. Originality/value - As far as we were able to find out in the literature review phase, the conceptual model proposed is a new approach to characterize the direct results and effects of quality management principles and practices in the companies’ quality performance

Quality approaches and practices and their impact on companies’ organizational performance

Purpose: The aim of this research is to develop and propose a conceptual framework that reflects the relationship between the implementation of quality management practices (QMPs) and their impact on the organizational performance of the Portuguese organizations. Design/Methodology/Approach: Based on the literature review carried out, we have identified the most common and used quality management practices. In the next phase we conducted semi-structured interviews with the Portuguese Quality Leaders in order to validate the work developed in the previous phase. In the third phase we conducted case studies in several types of companies with the aim of validating the theoretical work that had been developed in the previous phases. Currently we are in the phase four of the project that consists in the development of the conceptual model that will try to explain the relationship between the adoption of quality practices and approaches and the companies’ quality performance. This model will be statistically validated based on a survey that will be sent to the Portuguese companies. The statistical methodology that will be used is the structural equation modeling technique (SEM). Findings: It is expected that the results show a positive relationship between the implementation of quality management practices and the Portuguese organizations quality performance. Implications: This model could be used by the quality professionals as an approach for an efficient quality management implementation. Furthermore, the conceptual model proposed and tested in this study may also be used by researchers to develop the quality management theory. Originality/value: As far as we were able to find out in the literature review phase, the proposed model is a innovative approach to characterize the direct results and effects of quality management practices (QMPs) in the companies’ quality performance

Towards a mobile application for an engineering geology course: A contribution to improved student learning

One of the subjects studied on engineering geology courses is the description of rock masses and the application of geotechnical classifications. Field information is collected and organised in order to make possible to apply rock mass classification systems and analyse stereographic projection data. The present work proposes the use of computer supported ubiquitous learning to collect and treat field data. It presents work in progress towards the creation of a mobile application suitable for Engineering Geology courses. A first prototype for the Apple iOS system is presented

Experimental measurement of bridge deflection using Digital Image Correlation

Civil engineering bridges usually face a multitude of loads, ranging from strong winds to intense traffic. Thus, it is important to understand their behaviour for adequate maintenance design and prevention of catastrophic failure. The present work reports an image sensing methodology for deflection measurement that was successfully employed on the Entre-Águas bridge in Caniçal, Madeira, Portugal. For the application of two-dimensional Digital Image Correlation, it was necessary to build and deploy a patterned target onto the bridge in the monitored area and a camera setup in stable ground on a plane orthogonal to the target. Two different 2D DIC software packages were used for calculations, one commercial and one self-developed, enabling their comparison and increasing the confidence in the experimental results. The developed system was applied in order to analyze the effects of the passage of 30-ton trucks in the bridge, with promising results.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dimensionamento de um suporte para lançadores de PIG e para proteção de válvulas

O atual trabalho consiste no dimensionamento de um suporte para dutos submarinos, que tem como função suportar um lançador de PIG, que significa Pipeline Inspection Gaugeou peça para inspeção de dutos, que é composto por algumas válvulas que deverão ser protegidas durante sua instalação.Não faz parte do escopo do trabalho dimensionar a proteção para as válvulas, nem dimensionar o lançador.Os lançadores e recebedores de PIG serão instalados no gasoduto com a finalidade de efetuar a inspeção e limpeza. Esses dispositivos proporcionarão o lançamento de PIGs instrumentados, os quais possibilitarão a monitoração do estado físico do duto.Este documento apresenta todos os dados, informações, critérios normativos e recursos utilizados na realização das análises e verificações, bem como uma descrição detalhada. Todas as análises estruturais foram realizadas utilizando o software SACS (Sistema de Análise Estrutural Computacional) desenvolvido pela EDI, Inc., Nova Orleans, E.U.A.[13].A utilização de todos os conceitos apresentados neste trabalho, como a consideração da carga ambiental,não se restringe à aplicação a estruturas submarinas. Obras da Engenharia Civil tradicional também estão sujeitas a carregamentos ambientais de onda e corrente, como por exemplo pontes, estruturas de cais, dolfins e estruturas de contenção do mar

Uma perspetiva integrada.

O Sistema de Forças 2014 (SF 2014) estabelece uma relação entre as missões, a estrutura de forças, as áreas de capacidades e as capacidades ao nível do EMGFA e de cada Ramo individualmente, mas não contempla a existência de capacidades especificamente designadas por logísticas, conceito que também não está plasmado no quadro normativo das Forças Armadas relativo ao apoio logístico. Assim, com base numa definição operatória de capacidade logística, foi analisado o SF 2014, no que concerne a áreas de capacidade, capacidades, tipos de força e os âmbitos de atuação, tendo-se concluído que o apoio logístico necessário em cada caso está definido em diretivas e planos específicos, não sendo necessário edificar novas capacidades logísticas para o efeito. No entanto, apurou-se que, face às limitações existentes, algumas das capacidades relacionadas com o apoio logístico carecem de desenvolvimento. Nesta investigação foi também analisada a experiência recente, operacional e de exercícios, tendo emergido novas possibilidades quanto a capacidades logísticas a desenvolver, para emprego nacional e no quadro das organizações internacionais que Portugal faz parte. Assim, foi possível identificar as capacidades relacionadas com o apoio logístico no SF 2014 que carecem de desenvolvimento, bem como oportunidades de especialização em novas capacidades a desenvolver neste domínio. Abstract: The Portuguese Forces Catalog 2014 (SF 2014) relates the missions, the force structure, the military capability areas and the military capabilities, at the Joint Staff and service levels. However, it doesn’t include military capabilities specifically classified as logistic. Moreover, the concept of logistic capability is not defined in the Portuguese Armed Forces normative framework for the logistic support. Therefore, based on an operating definition of logistic capability, the SF2014 was analyzed regarding the military capability areas and the military capabilities, as well as the types of force and the employment scenarios. It was concluded that the logistic support required in each case is already defined in the applicable directives and plans, which makes not needed the development of new logistic capabilities. Nevertheless, this analysis also showed that, due to the current shortfalls, some of the military capabilities were still to be developed. This research was also focused on the recent operational and exercises experience, yielding as a result there are new possibilities regarding the development of logistic capabilities. Consequently, it was possible to identify what developments are required concerning the logistic support capabilities in the SF 2014, as well as opportunities for Portugal to specialize in new logistic capabilities.N/

Metabolic Profile And Spontaneous Physical Activity Modulation Under Short-term Food Restriction In Young Rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term food restriction (6-weeks) on metabolic profile and spontaneous physical activity (SPA) of young male Wistar rats. METHODS Thirty rats had their baseline SPA measured at 21 days-old and were separated into two groups at 28 days-old: Control (CG) and 50% of food restriction (FR). The food restriction protocol lasted six weeks, being the SPA measured weekly by a gravimetric apparatus. At the end of the experiment, biochemical analyses were performed in serum and tissue samples with statistical significance set at 5%. RESULTS FR showed less SPA than CG, as occurred for body mass, water intake, adipose tissue and liver, heart and soleus glycogen, serum glucose, total protein, triglycerides and total cholesterol (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Data set demonstrates that low substrate stores signaled to decrease spontaneous physical activity to save energy.23especia

Planeamento sustentável em saúde: percepções sobre termos, conceitos e características processuais e metodológicas

Introdução: Nas últimas décadas, o reconhecimento do papel central da saúde para o alcance do desenvolvimento sustentável tem provocado desafios específicos ao processo de planeamento do desenvolvimento, em geral, e do planeamento em saúde, em particular. Integrado num projeto de investigação mais vasto, com a finalidade de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de um modelo de planeamento em saúde no quadro dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS), este estudo, de carácter exploratório, tem por objetivo contribuir para a compreensão de conceitos e características processuais e metodológicas do planeamento sustentável em saúde, com base nas principais mensagens recolhidas num painel de discussão realizado durante o 5º Congresso Nacional de Medicina Tropical em abril de 2019. Material e Métodos: As apresentações dos oradores convidados para o painel e as transcrições das intervenções no debate foram submetidas a análise de conteúdo. Adicionalmente, foi conduzida uma análise documental de fontes documentais resultantes de uma revisão da literatura de tipo narrativa, que permitiu uma recolha de elementos para complementar e enquadrar os achados da análise de conteúdo e a discussão da temática. Resultados e discussão: Emergiram 4 temas principais: i) perceções do planeamento sustentável, II) planeamento sustentável e participação dos cidadãos, III) planeamento sustentável e articulação intersectorial, e IV) planeamento sustentável e condições de implementação. As perceções do planeamento sustentável foram das mais diversas, por exemplo, o planeamento que garante a implementação ou a continuidade do ciclo de planeamento, e só uma minoria dos participantes enquadrou o planeamento sustentável como sendo aquele que contribui para a consecução dos ODS. As abordagens participativas do planeamento em saúde, que integram a participação dos cidadãos e a articulação intersectorial, com particular enfoque na redução das iniquidades em saúde e no alcance da cobertura universal, foram consideradas entre as mais efetivas para o alcance de objetivos de saúde e de bem-estar alinhados com os princípios do desenvolvimento sustentável. Conclusão: A mobilização social e das comunidades no processo de planeamento em saúde parece ser facilitador da seleção e implementação de estratégias de saúde no contexto do desenvolvimento sustentável.N/