Service quality factors in the construction sector: A literature review

This paper consists of an exploratory literature review whose main research objectives were the identification of the service quality factors that are considered more important in the construction sector, the service quality models that are used to measure quality, and how are they related to success factors. The research methodology is documental and based on a review of articles obtained from six major scientific databases. The description of the main results follows. In all cases, the traditional models of service quality were used as guidelines to explain and adapt to specific contexts. The typical parameters used in these models are reliability, responsiveness, communication, credibility, assurance, empathy with the client and construction quality. In some cases, additional dimensions were added. Success factors seem to be intrinsically related to project management, communication skills, professional skills, quality of the final product, design, aesthetic and innovation, where the three latter ones represent parameters that have gained recently preponderance. A holistic, flexible and adaptable attitude seems to be relevant to face dynamic and turbulent conditions and changing customer's requirements and expectations. Overall, the results indicate a generalised conservative approach which characterises this sector.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019 and SENESCYT - Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación – Ecuador. Department of Applied Chemistry and Production System - Faculty of Chemistry Sciences - University of Cuenca, Cuenca – Ecuador

Incorporation of form deviations into the matrix transformation method for tolerance analysis in assemblies

Comunicación presentada a MESIC 2019 8th Manufacturing Engineering Society International Conference (Madrid, 19-21 de Junio de 2019)Mathematical models for tolerance representation are used to assess how the geometrical variation of a specific component feature propagates along the assembly, so that tolerance analysis in assemblies can be carried out using a specific tolerance propagation method. Several methods for tolerance analysis have been proposed in the literature, being some of them implemented in CAD systems. All these methods require modelling the geometrical variations of the component surfaces: parametric models, variational models, DoF models, etc. One of the most commonly used models is the DoF model, which is employed in a number of tolerance analysis methods: Small Displacement Torsor (SDT), Technologically and Topologically Related Surfaces (TTRS), Matrix Transformation, Unified Jacobian–Torsor model. However, none of the DoF-based tolerance analysis methods incorporates the effect of form deviations. Among the non DoF-based methods, there are two that include form tolerances: the Vector Loop or Kinematic method and the Tolerance Map (T-Map) model, although the latter is still under development. In this work, a proposal to incorporate form deviations into the matrix transformation method for tolerance analysis in assemblies is developed using a geometrical variation model based on the DoF model. The proposal is evaluated applying it to a 2D case study with components that only have flat surfaces, but the proposal can be extrapolated to 3D cases

Management promoting SME’S competitiveness

As microempresas e empresas de pequeno porte (MPEs) possuem elevada relevância socioeconômica nacional, decorrente da quantidade de unidades existentes, massa salarial e empregos por elas gerados. Essas empresas enfrentam graves problemas de competitividade, que ocasionam o encerramento precoce das suas atividades, dentre os quais se destacam as falhas na gestão organizacional, o que estimula a busca de soluções para a questão. A inovação organizacional é vista como uma alternativa para esta situação, por contemplar a execução de novo método de gestão, aplicável nas práticas de negócios da empresa, na organização do local de trabalho ou nas relações externas. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de apresentar oportunidades para incremento da competitividade em 449 MPEs do Rio Grande do Norte, identificadas a partir da aplicação da Matriz de Competitividade. A fundamentação teórica do presente estudo aborda três dimensões: (i) competitividade nas MPEs; (ii) excelência em gestão; (iii) inovação organizacional. São apresentados os procedimentos metodológicos empregados no projeto e os indicadores decorrentes da sua execução operacional. Os resultados da pesquisa são discutidos mediante: identificação das práticas de gestão presentes nas empresas pesquisadas; verificação do alinhamento das práticas de gestão identificadas aos critérios tomados como referência para o diagnóstico; identificação de oportunidades para inovação organizacional. Constatou-se que existem oportunidades para inovação organizacional incremental no universo pesquisado, cuja implantação tende a endereçar as empresas avaliadas ao incremento da competitividade. Destacam-se entre elas a adoção de práticas de elaboração de estratégias, planos e mensuração de resultados pelas MPEs.The small and micro enterprises (SMEs) have high national socio-economic relevance, due to the amount of existing units, wages and jobs they generate. These companies face serious competitiveness problems, which cause premature closure of its activities, among which stand out the flaws in organizational management, which stimulates the search for solutions to the issue. The organizational innovation is seen as an alternative to this, by contemplating the new execution method of management, applicable in the company's business practices, workplace organization or external relations. This work aims to present opportunities for increased competitiveness in 449 Rio Grande do Norte' SMEs, identified through competitiveness matrix. The theoretical basis of this study addresses three dimensions: (i) competitiveness of SMEs; (ii) management excellence; (iii) organizational innovation. The methodological procedures used in the project and the indicators related to current operational performance are presented. The survey results are discussed through: identification of management practices present in the surveyed companies; checking the alignment of the management practices identified criteria used as a reference for diagnosis; identifying opportunities for organizational innovation. It was found that there are opportunities for incremental organizational innovation in the group studied, whose implementation tends to address the companies valued at increasing competitiveness. Outstanding among them the adoption of policy development practices, plans and measurement results by SMEs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geometric morphometrics of endophytic oviposition traces of Odonata (Eocene, Argentina)

The insertion of the Odonata ovipositor in the plant tissue generates a scar that surrounds the eggs (trace). In insects, individual egg traces are known to vary in size, but their variation in individual shape is mostly unknown. Twenty four specimens were obtained from the Laguna del Hunco (Lower Eocene, Chubut) and Río Pichileufú (Middle Eocene, Río Negro), Argentina, which had 1346 oviposition traces (MEF Collection). For the first time, a study of the shape and size of a large number of individual Odonata endophytic egg traces was carried out using traditional (general and mixed linear models) and geometric morphometrics (Fourier elliptical series) to elucidate whether there are changes in size or shape of the individual endophytic egg traces associated with the substrate used at the time of oviposition, if the Lower Eocene traces have varied in relation to those of the Middle Eocene, and if the ichnological classification (Paleoovoidus arcuatus, P. bifurcatus and P. rectus) reflects such variations. We found differences in size ( p < 0.05), but not in shape, in relation to the variables studied. This could reflect that the shape of Odonata eggs (inferred from the traces), unlike their size, could have a strong evolutionary constraint already observed since the Eocene.Fil: Romero Lebrón, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Gleiser, Raquel M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Petrulevicius, Julian Fernando. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleozoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Persistence of Zika Virus in Body Fluids — Final Report

Zika Virus; Body FluidsVirus Zika; Fluids corporalsFluidos corporalesPaz-Bailey and colleagues (Sept. 27 issue)1 describe the dynamics of Zika virus (ZIKV) in body fluids in a cohort of participants who lived in an area where the virus was endemic and in whom ZIKV infection was detected on reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction assay. We are concerned about the external validity of these results

Use of waterpipes and other substances in adolescents: prevalence and potential associations with mental and behavioral well-being, a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION This study assess the prevalence and potential determinants (attitudes, behavioral and emotional conditions) associated with waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) and cigarette smoking in adolescents in public compulsory secondary schools. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted in October 2017 in three secondary schools from Seville, Spain, among adolescents aged 12–18 years. We administered an ad hoc questionnaire to explore the demographic and clinical characteristics of students; in addition, it included questions on consumption of tobacco (waterpipe and/or cigarette), alcohol (usual consumption and/or drunkenness) and/or cannabis, and attitudes towards waterpipe tobacco smoking. We also administered a validated version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which is used to screen children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. An established usage of a substance was defined as weekly or daily use. A multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression methods to determine the probability of established usage. RESULTS Of the 1135 adolescents, 72.1% lived with at least one smoker; the established usage was 13.4% for waterpipe; 9.2% for cigarettes and 3.2% for dual use. Of those with established usage of waterpipe, 38.2% had established alcohol usage, 12.7% were drunk weekly or daily, and 27.4% used cannabis. Students consolidating the consumption of waterpipes were three times more likely to have established cigarette use than those not having an established usage (OR=3.7; p=0.0005). The overall SDQ score increased the likelihood of established usage of both waterpipes and cigarettes (p=0.0005). CONCLUSIONS The probability of established usage of cigarettes (multivariate analysis) is associated with increasing age (course), cohabitation with smokers, established usage of waterpipe, established use of alcohol and a borderline score in the behavioral dimension (SDQ). Addiction to waterpipes among teens is significantly associated with their behavioral and emotional difficulties

Inteligencia computacional embebida para la supervisión de procesos de microfabricación

En este artículo se presenta el desarrollo e implementación de una estrategia de supervisión de un proceso de microfabricación. El método propuesto está basado en técnicas de Inteligencia Artificial, embebidas en una plataforma de tiempo real para la monitorización inteligente de procesos. La contribución se centra fundamentalmente en dos modelos para la estimación en proceso (on-line) de la rugosidad superficial (Ra), a partir de la mínima información sensorial posible. El primero de estos modelos está basado en un algoritmo para el modelado híbrido incremental (HIM), cuyos parámetros óptimos se obtienen a partir de un método estocástico, representado por el temple simulado. El segundo está basado en un algoritmo de agrupamiento borroso generalizado (GFCM), incorporado en un sistema de inferencia de una estructura neuroborrosa. Esta estrategia se embebe en una plataforma para una ejecución en tiempo real y en paralelo junto con el resto de estrategias y métodos. Finalmente, se hace una validación en una plataforma experimental, utilizada como soporte tecnológico, lo cual permite el aprovechamiento mutuo de las experiencias alcanzadas y la mejora de los resultados obtenidos. Este resultado científico y técnico, supone un salto cualitativo importante sin precedentes en la investigación industrial en el campo de la microfabricación

Prensado, con métodos de la cerámica plana, de piezas cerámicas curvas con especificaciones geométricas de elevada precisión

In order to obtain high-precision three-dimensional pieces by dry pressing, two approaches were studied: modelling the material flow and strain during pressing; and evaluating the bulk density (Da) distribution in a pressed piece and using shrinkage models that allow the post-firing geometry to be predicted. It would thus become possible to act in the design phase (functional geometry and rear) and in the process. This paper describes the studies carried out to predict the final geometry of three-dimensional pieces of the sheet type obtained by conventional pressing techniques, from the Da distribution in each point of the piece. For this purpose, pieces were modelled using finite element method (FEM), applying simulation processes to obtain the strain at each point of the piece as a function of its Da. The experimental validation was performed using the X-ray absorption method for Da and a CMM (coordinate measuring machine) for the geometr

Quality management practices to direct and control the accomplishment of project objectives in R&D units

Projects create value and capabilities for organizations and beneficiaries of their outcomes and must be managed by implementing quality processes to assure an execution compliant with plans, activities, and applicable standards, and to accomplish the defined requirements and objectives in an efficient and effective manner. This study analyzed the frequency of use of quality management practices by companies with R&D units and compared them with project management students expectations of implementing quality project management practices as a professional. The data was collected using an online survey, and twenty-six quality management practices have been analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, following standard procedures, and using the Independent-samples T-Test. For twelve out of the twenty-six practices, significant differences have been found between the two samples, five referring to quality planning practices and seven referring to quality control practices. For the twelve quality management practices, project management students had greater expectations of implementing them, in contrast to the actual frequency of use among the surveyed companies. The results can provide inputs to improve project management practices among companies, reinforcing the importance of training and recruiting project management professionals that have the required training, talent, and aligned expectations on how to successfully manage projects.- (undefined