Effects of Learning from Distributors on Manufacturers’ Exploitation and Exploration Innovation Strategies in Food and Beverages Industry

The relevance of innovation as source of competitive advantage is clearly justified in the literature (Adner and Kapoor, 2010; Song and Thieme, 2009). In particular, knowledge, as well as all items related to organizational learning, represents a main factor contributing to the innovation success (i.e., Song and Parry, 1997). In this sense, different authors have emphasized the importance that external sources of knowledge possess for the development and success of the innovation capability (Li and Tang, 2010; Spithoven et al., 2010).The globalization of manufacturing companies is closely linked to the globalization of distribution activities (Mattsson, 2003). It can be said that globalization of retailers drives globalization of manufacturing companies. So the latter will be influenced by the supply conditions of the target markets, the possibilities to supply new markets, or the possible threat to be replaced by alternative suppliers (Ruiz, 2000, Etemad, 2004).At the same time, supply chains have progressively become more international and complex (Monczka and Trent, 2005), representing principal sources of competitive advantage in terms of availability of technological and organizational competencies and access to minor operative costs (Pagano, 2009). The international supply tends increasingly to be considered as a strategic tool chasing to take advantage of the previous advantages. Consequently, organizations should promote this critical organizational relational capability (Kotabe and Murray, 2004)

La fuerza, la aceleración y la resistencia como indicadores de la condición física en jugadores de fútbol de 17-21 años

Programa de Doctorado en Investigación en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del DeporteLa consecución de la mejora de las prestaciones físicas del futbolista ha sido motivo de investigación continua. Sin embargo, los estudios centrados en los efectos producidos como consecuencia de un periodo de entrenamiento han sido realizados teniendo en cuenta los cambios en la resistencia, la fuerza, o la velocidad, sin analizar de manera más completa los cambios en el rendimiento físico del deportista. Además, en los estudios centrados en la fuerza, la medición y el entrenamiento de esta cualidad han sido efectuados mediante el empleo de repeticiones máximas (RM) movilizadas a bajas velocidades. Sin embargo, existe la posibilidad de programar el entrenamiento y medir su efecto a través del control de la velocidad de la ejecución y aplicando cargas que se puedan movilizar a velocidades medias y altas. Esta metodología puede significar un menor estrés para el jugador y además probablemente permita obtener obtener información relevante sobre la relación entre la fuerza de las piernas y el rendimiento del futbolista en acciones tan relevantes como la capacidad de acelerar, saltar o mantener el rendimiento en una repetición de secuencias de esfuerzos de alta intensidad. Por tanto, la presente Tesis Doctoral tuvo como objetivos: 1) Comprobar el efecto del entrenamiento de fuerza con cargas prescritas en función de la velocidad de desplazamiento sobre los cambios en el rendimiento físico del futbolista y la relación entre éstos y la frecuencia cardiaca media de entrenamiento y competición; 2) Comprobar la relación entre la potencia generada en salto vertical y sentadilla con cargas ligeras y medias y el rendimiento en aceleración del futbolista y el número de esprints de 40 m realizado hasta perder el 3% de la velocidad de la mejor repetición; 3) Comprobar la relación entre la concentración de amonio y lactato, la fuerza y la resistencia del futbolista y la capacidad de mantener el rendimiento en una secuencia de esfuerzos de alta intensidad compuesta por 20 + 20 m con cambio de dirección, golpeo a portería y salto. Para el objetivo 1 se evaluó en diferentes momentos de la temporada la velocidad aeróbica máxima, la aceleración y la velocidad con la que los futbolistas desplazaron diferentes cargas en sentadilla completa. Además durante este periodo se registraron los minutos a diferentes intensidades de la frecuencia cardiaca de los jugadores en entrenamiento y competición. Para el objetivo 2 se midió la potencia generada en salto con carga y sentadilla completa en un test progresivo con cargas, la capacidad de aceleración del futbolista y su capacidad de efectuar esprints de 40 m hasta perder un 3 % de la mejor repetición. Por último, para el objetivo 3 fueron evaluadas la fuerza y la resistencia del futbolista, los cambios producidos en aceleración (20 + 20 m con cambio de dirección), golpeo a portería y salto al repetirse nueve veces esta secuencia de acciones técnicas y la concentración de amonio y lactato resultante de estos esfuerzos repetidos. La capacidad de aplicación de fuerza de los futbolistas presentó mejoras significativas (p ¿ 0.05-0.01) tras la aplicación del entrenamiento de fuerza con cargas ligeras y medias en función de la velocidad de desplazamiento. Los cambios en la aceleración presentaron correlación significativa con los cambios en la aplicación de fuerza en sentadilla (r = -0.531/-0.642, p ¿ 0.05) y el volumen de entrenamiento de fuerza efectuado (r = -0.532/- 0.564, p ¿ 0.05). La potencia generada en salto y sentadilla con cargas ligeras y medias presentó correlación significativa con el rendimiento en aceleración (r = -0.54/- 0.79, p ¿ 0.05-0.01) y la capacidad de mantener el rendimiento ante la repetición de carreras de 40 m (r = -0.539/- 0.640, p ¿ 0.05-0.01) . Finalmente, la capacidad del futbolista de mantener el rendimiento en esprints repetidos de 20 + 20 m con cambios de dirección presentó correlación significativa con el rendimiento en fuerza medido por medio de la carga desplazada a 1 m·s-1 en sentadilla (r = -0.52 [-0.79, -0.25], p ¿ 0.05), la concentración de lactato (r = 0.67 [0.47, 0.87], p ¿ 0.01) y amonio (r = 0.53 [0.27, 0.79], p ¿ 0.05). Los resultados de los diferentes estudios muestran que la medición y prescripción del entrenamiento de fuerza en función de la velocidad de desplazamiento con cargas ligeras y medias es una alternativa al empleo de cargas máximas para la mejora de la aplicación de fuerza del jugador de fútbol. Además, el rendimiento en sentadilla y salto con estas cargas presentó correlación tanto con el rendimiento en el esprint como con el rendimiento ante una repetición de esprints y secuencias técnicas repetidas. Por tanto, el empleo de cargas movilizadas a velocidades altas y medias empleado en la presente Tesis Doctoral presenta una alternativa muy útil al empleo tradicional de repeticiones máximas efectuadas a bajas velocidades, evitando los riesgos derivados del cálculo directo de 1RM y el empleo de repeticiones hasta el fallo muscular como se produce con el uso de XRMUniversidad Pablo de Olavide. Departamento de Deporte e Informátic

Learning sequences of rules using classifier systems with tags

IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. Tokyo, 12-15 October 1999.The objective of this paper was to obtain an encoding structure that would allow the genetic evolution of rules in such a manner that the number of rules and relationship in a classifier system (CS) would be learnt in the evolution process. For this purpose, an area that allows the definition of rule groups has been entered into the condition and message part of the encoded rules. This area is called internal tag. This term was coined because the system has some similarities with natural processes that take place in certain animal species, where the existence of tags allows them to communicate and recognize each other. Such CS is called a tag classifier system (TCS). The TCS has been tested in the game of draughts and compared with the classical CS. The results show an improving of the CS performance

RTCS: a reactive with tags classifier system

In this work, a new Classifier System is proposed (CS). The system, a Reactive with Tags Classifier System (RTCS), is able to take into account environmental situations in intermediate decisions. CSs are special production systems, where conditions and actions are codified in order to learn new rules by means of Genetic Algorithms (GA). The RTCS has been designed to generate sequences of actions like the traditional classifier systems, but RTCS also has the capability of chaining rules among different time instants and reacting to new environmental situations, considering the last environmental situation to take a decision. In addition to the capability to react and generate sequences of actions, the design of a new rule codification allows the evolution of groups of specialized rules. This new codification is based on the inclusion of several bits, named tags, in conditions and actions, which evolve by means of GA. RTCS has been tested in robotic navigation. Results show the suitability of this approximation to the navigation problem and the coherence of tag values in rules classification.Publicad

Knowledge acquisition including tags in a classifier system

Congress on Evolutionary Computation. Washington, DC, 6-9 July 1999.One of the major problems related to classifier systems is the loss of rules. This loss is caused by the genetic algorithm being applied on the entire population of rules jointly. Obviously, the genetic operators discriminate rules by the strength value, such that evolution favours the generation of the stronger rules. When the learning system works in an environment in which it is possible to generate a complete training set, the strength of the rules of the CS will reflect the relative relationship between rules satisfactorily and, therefore, the application of the genetic algorithm will produce the desired effects. However, when the learning process presents individual cases and allows the system to learn gradually from these cases, each learning interval with a set of individual cases can lead the strength to be distributed in favour of a given type of rules that would in turn be favoured by the genetic algorithm. Basically, the idea is to divide rules into groups such that they are forced to remain in the system. This contribution is a method of learning that allows similar knowledge to be grouped. A field in which knowledge-based systems researchers have done a lot of work is concept classification and the relationships that are established between these concepts in the stage of knowledge conceptualization for later formalization. This job of classifying and searching relationships is performed in the proposed classifier systems by means of a mechanism. Tags, that allows the classification and the relationships to be discovered without the need for expert knowledge

Applying classifier systems to learn the reactions in mobile robots

The navigation problem involves how to reach a goal avoiding obstacles in dynamic environments. This problem can be faced considering reactions and sequences of actions. Classifier systems (CSs) have proven their ability of continuous learning, however, they have some problems in reactive systems. A modified CS, namely a reactive classifier system (RCS), is proposed to overcome those problems. Two special mechanisms are included in the RCS: the non-existence of internal cycles inside the CS (no internal cycles) and the fusion of environmental message with the messages posted to the message list in the previous instant (generation list through fusion). These mechanisms allow the learning of both reactions and sequences of actions. This learning process involves two main tasks: first, discriminate between rules and, second, the discovery of new rules to obtain a successful operation in dynamic environments. DiVerent experiments have been carried out using a mini-robot Khepera to find a generalized solution. The results show the ability of the system for continuous learning and adaptation to new situations.Publicad

Reactive with tags classifier system applied to real robot navigation

7th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation. Barcelona, 18-21 October 1999.A reactive with tags classifier system (RTCS) is a special classifier system. This system combines the execution capabilities of symbolic systems and the learning capabilities of genetic algorithms. A RTCS is able to learn symbolic rules that allow to generate sequence of actions, chaining rules among different time instants, and react to new environmental situations, considering the last environmental situation to take a decision. The capacity of RTCS to learn good rules has been prove in robotics navigation problem. Results show the suitability of this approximation to the navigation problem and the coherence of extracted rules

Development of a novel smoke-flavoured trout product: An approach to sodium reduction and shelf life assessment

[EN] This work aimed to develop a reduced sodium smoke-flavoured trout product with similar physicochemical traits and sensory quality to commercial smoked trout. In a first phase, a reduced sodium smoke-flavoured trout product was developed by a novel smoke-flavouring process using water vapour permeable bags. In a second phase, the obtained product's microbial and physico-chemical quality was evaluated for 42 cold storage days. A smoke-flavoured trout product with similar physico-chemical characteristics and sensory acceptance to commercial smoked trout was achieved through smokeflavouring with water vapour permeable bags. Partial substitution of NaCl for KCl led to a 42% sodium reduction in the smoke-flavoured trout and did not affect its physico-chemical traits, sensory attributes and hygienic quality throughout the storage. During shelf life study, no sample exceeded the limits of acceptance proposed for physico-chemical and microbial parameters, except for mesophilic bacteria, which limited the product shelf life to 1 month.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Tub-Ex Aps (Taars, Denmark) for the supply of the water vapour permeable bags and for providing all the necessary technical information. Arantxa Rizo would like to thank the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the FPI grant.Rizo, A.; Fuentes López, A.; Fernández Segovia, I.; Barat Baviera, JM. (2017). Development of a novel smoke-flavoured trout product: An approach to sodium reduction and shelf life assessment. Journal of Food Engineering. 211:22-29. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2017.04.031S222921

Smoke-flavoured cod obtained by a new method using water vapour permeable bags

[EN] The objective of this study was to adapt and optimise a new smoking-salting process developed for salmon to obtain smoke-flavoured cod. Fish was processed at 60% relative humidity (RH)/5 degrees C for 24 h using different salt doses. During process optimisation, new conditions were studied (salt dose, RH, processing time). Smoke-flavoured cod showed higher salt and moisture content than the salmon samples, which required a higher salt concentration to reach similar a(w) values. Process optimisation allowed the exudate to evaporate when the process lasted 72 and 96 h. The samples obtained with the 2% salt dose, 60% RH and 96 h gave the closest levels of moisture, salt and a(w) to commercial products. This new smoking-salting could substitute traditional procedures as it minimises product handling and brine wastes, reduces processing steps and can be applied to different fish types by adapting processing parameters. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors gratefully acknowledge Tub-Ex Aps (Taars, Denmark) for the supply of the water vapour permeable bags and for providing all the necessary information about their use. Author A. Rizo is grateful to Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for a FPI grant.Rizo, A.; Fuentes López, A.; Fernández Segovia, I.; Barat Baviera, JM. (2016). Smoke-flavoured cod obtained by a new method using water vapour permeable bags. Journal of Food Engineering. 179:19-27. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2016.01.028S192717

Generación automática de categorías mediante la evolución de Tags en Sistemas Clasificadores

Este trabajo se centra en los Sistemas Clasificadores (SC) y proponeuna nueva aproximación a los mismos que se denomina Sistema Clasificadorcon Tags (SCT). Los SC son sistemas híbridos que permiten el aprendizajegenético sobre sistemas de producción paralelos. Los SC utilizanAlgoritmos Genéticos (AG) para la generación de nuevas reglasque reemplazan a reglas inútiles del sistema. La utilizaciónde los AG sobre el conjunto de reglas produce el reemplazo de algunas reglasútiles que obligan al sistema a reiniciar el aprendizaje. Para evitaresta circunstancia se ha desarrollado una codificación especialque incluye un conjunto de posiciones en la parte de la condicióny de la acción, denominadas Tags, que permiten al SCT evolucionargrupos disjuntos de reglas. La validez de la propuesta se ha comprobadomediante la utilización del SCT en un entorno clásico dejuegos, comparando los resultados de un SC clásico con los del SCT.Publicad