Constructing Institutional Measures: Indicators of Political and Property Rights in Mozambique, 1900-2005

In this paper we focus on the role of political and economic institutions in Mozambique’s development. We produce a set of institutional indicators for Mozambique for the period 1900 through to 2005. The first index tracks political freedoms and is unique in its duration and complexity. The second index is a measure of property rights for Mozambique and such a measure has not existed previously and certainly not for this length of time. The construction of these indices is a painstaking process through historical records but it provides us with a richness of institutional data previously not available. The new institutional indices will allow us to explore the role of the institutional environment in determining economic growth and development in Mozambique over time.Political Rights, Property Rights, Insitutional Indicators, Mozambique

Simulation of a milk run material transportation system in the semiconductors industry

This paper deals with a project that consisted in the implementation of a Milk Run Lot Transportation System in Qimonda Porto Test Area, done by a multidisciplinary team formed by Qimonda Porto's workers, and the development of the corresponding simulation model. The first part of the study concerns an industrial engineering assessment of the test area, which identified sources of waste and improvement possibilities, and the implementation process of a Milk Run system in this area. Secondly, the results of the system implementation are discussed, and the construction of a simulation model in Arena® is presented. The purpose of the simulation exercise is to test different system configurations that may allow the improvement of the real-world system. Finally, some information about the simulation results and further steps to be taken regarding the improvement of the system is presented. The target of the project, framed in a Lean approach, was to reduce waste, namely transportation waste, thus optimizing the utilization of the test area human resources.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combining simulation and optimization models on a production line problem: A case study

To improve the performance of a production line of a company of the Bosch Group, an optimization model was developed, which produces the optimum allocation of tasks to workstations and workers, according to a set of constraints. These results can thereafter be used in the simulation model, to estimate performance indicators, which would be difficult to estimate with other approaches, namely: waiting times, times spent with displacements and utilization rates. Thus, the purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it describes the combined use of the optimization and the simulation models. Thereafter, it presents the results obtained for 2 scenarios: one without displacements and another with displacements. The former was used to compare the simulation and the optimization models, whilst the later was used to assess the impact of displacements in the production line. By analyzing the results, it was possible to verify that the displacements increased the total time required to produce the devices in more than 10%. Furthermore, it was shown that the displacements caused considerable changes in the remaining performance indicators, indicating the relevance of considering them. This work also brings insights to the Industry 4.0 by proposing an approach to virtualize a production line system, providing the benefits of the 3D visualization of the simulation tool used in this research.This research was partially sponsored by the Portugal Incentive System for Research and Technological Development. Project in co-promotion nº 002814/2015 (iFACTORY 2015-2018) and has been partially supported by FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019

Integrated design of production systems in a lighting manufacturer using CAD and simulation in layout and process optimization

This paper discusses production systems design issues, applied to the production system layout of a manufacturer of lighting fittings and components. In this paper, production systems design software tools – Information Systems, Simulation and Computer Aided Design are integrated, exploring ways of dealing with data diversity and assuring valid and efficient production system layouts, taking advantage of the mentioned data integration. This integration is implemented on Microsoft Access (databases with system knowledge repository), AutoCAD (layout design) and WITNESS (simulation). The software package developed was called IDS (Integrated Design of Systems). This approach can help on global system optimization that considers all important system resources and system performance measures. Solutions are expected to be faster to achieve and better than solutions obtained with non-integrated approaches. IDS approach is open and accessible, thus enabling different companies to use this advanced production systems design tool, taking advantage of simulation and CAD systems and their integration. This application intends to validate the concept and functionalities of the proposed tool, on a real industrial case study.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (algoritmi

Agent-based micro simulation to assess the performance of roundabouts considering different variables and performance indicators

Traffic congestion problems in intersections are usually solved by building infrastructures such as roundabouts. Several variables influence its performance, e.g. geometry, size and driving behaviour. Thus, it becomes necessary to compare these variables. This paper proposes a simulation model, developed to compare the performance of roundabouts, employing the object and agent modelling paradigms of Simio, to model the individual behaviour of vehicles. The results indicate the optimum size of roundabouts is around 40 meters of diameter and that the driving style has a greater influence on the performance of the roundabout than its unbalancing. In addition, it was found that roundabouts considering unbalancing and human behaviour decreased: The flow of vehicles in 8%, the waiting time per vehicle in 3 minutes, the queue size in 90%, the number of stops per vehicle in 88% and vehicles spent three times more fuel, than the roundabouts that did not consider these variables.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A dimensão climática nos conflitos sudaneses: desafio para a estabilidade de Darfur

The central theme of this article is the influence of climate change on the conflicts in Sudan, especially in Darfur. After gaining independence in 1956, Sudan has had to deal with disputes in both the southern region (culminating in the separation of South Sudan in 2011) and in Darfur, resulting in open conflict in 2003. In the last two decades, climate change has increasingly come to be seen as a potential factor exacerbating these local tensions. In the light of this, we seek to answer the following question: what are the implications of climate change for Sudan’s security panorama, particularly in Darfur? In theoretical terms, the article adopts a critical security perspective, with the objective of understanding the multidimensional nature of non-traditional sources of threat to the country\u27s security, such as the climate threat. In methodological terms, a qualitative and hermeneutical approach was used, with the analysis of reports from International Organizations and documents from the Sudanese government, in addition to other academic works. Although climate phenomena have contributed to the exacerbation of instability in Sudan, especially the disputes in Darfur, it is concluded that their influence occurred indirectly, in conjunction with other social, economic and political elements. In our view, the inclusion of climatic aspects would be an important tool to reduce local instability.El presente trabajo tiene como tema la influencia del cambio climático en los conflictos en Sudán, especialmente en Darfur. Tras obtener su independencia en 1956, Sudán ha tenido que lidiar con disputas tanto en la región sur (que culminaron con la separación de Sudán del Sur en 2011) como en Darfur, lo que resultó en un conflicto abierto en 2003. En las últimas dos décadas, el cambio climático ha pasado a ser considerado cada vez más como un factor potencial que exacerba estas tensiones locales. Ante esto, buscamos responder la siguiente pregunta: ¿cuáles son las implicaciones del cambio climático para el panorama de seguridad de Sudán, particularmente en Darfur? En términos teóricos, el artículo adopta una perspectiva crítica de seguridad, con el objetivo de comprender el carácter multidimensional de las fuentes no tradicionales de amenazas a la seguridad del país, como la amenaza climática. En términos metodológicos, se utilizó un enfoque cualitativo y hermenéutico, con el análisis de informes de organizaciones internacionales y documentos del gobierno sudanés, además de otros trabajos académicos. Si bien los fenómenos climáticos han contribuido a la exacerbación de la inestabilidad en Sudán, sobre todo las disputas en Darfur, se concluye que su influencia se produjo de manera indirecta, en conjunto con otras dimensiones sociales, económicas y políticas. Se entiende, sin embargo, que la inclusión de aspectos climáticos sería una herramienta importante para reducir la inestabilidad local.O presente trabalho tem como tema a influência das mudanças climáticas nos conflitos do Sudão, em especial em Darfur. Desde a conquista da independência, em 1956, o Sudão teve de lidar com disputas tanto na região Sul (que culminou com a separação do Sudão do Sul, em 2011), quanto em Darfur, resultando em um conflito aberto em 2003. Nos últimos dois decênios, as mudanças climáticas passaram a ser consideradas crescentemente como potenciais fatores de exacerbação dessas tensões locais. Diante disso, busca-se responder à seguinte questão: quais são as implicações das mudanças climáticas para o panorama securitário do Sudão, particularmente em Darfur? Em termos teóricos, o artigo adota a perspectiva crítica de segurança, com a finalidade de compreender o caráter multidimensional das fontes não tradicionais de ameaça à segurança do país, como a ameaça climática. Em termos metodológicos, fez-se uso de uma abordagem qualitativa e hermenêutica, com a análise de relatórios de órgãos da ONU, de documentos do governo sudanês e de outras obras. Embora os fenômenos climáticos tenham contribuído para a exacerbação da instabilidade no Sudão e das disputas em Darfur, conclui-se que sua influência ocorreu de forma indireta, em conjugação com outras dimensões sociais, econômicas e políticas. Entende-se, porém, que a inclusão dos aspectos climáticos seria uma ferramenta importante para se reduzir a instabilidade local

Assessing the performance of a restaurant through discrete simulation in Simio

For the purpose of evaluating the level of service of a Portuguese self-service restaurant, a simulation model was developed in Simio. The purpose of such model was to quantify specific performance indicators. In this sense, data was gathered by conducting observations of the field, which allowed the authors to find relevant problems in the system. The simulation model was validated and, afterwards, simulation experiments were conducted, which suggested some changes that could be implemented, without reducing the performance of the restaurant and reduce the utilization of workers, who become available for other tasks with more added-value, such as supplying critical items (e.g., main dishes and soap). Moreover, the potential impact of the introduction of an information device used to warn workers responsible to supply items was assessed through simulation, indicating that it would lead to benefits both for customers and workers.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013 and by the Doctoral scholarship PDE/BDE/114566/2016 funded by FCT, the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through national funds, and co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Operacional Programme for Human Capital (POCH)

Discrete simulation software ranking -A top list of the worldwide most popular and used tools

This paper documents a work on all-purpose discrete event simulation tools evaluation. Selected tools must be suitable for process design (e.g. manufacturing or services industries). Rather than making specific judgments of the tools, authors tried to measure the intensity of usage or presence in different sources, which they called "popularity". It was performed in several different ways, including occurrences in the WWW and scientific publications with tool name and vendor name. This work is an upgrade to the same study issued 5 years ago (2011), which in its turn was also an upgrade of 10 years ago (in 2006). It is obvious that more popularity does not assure more quality, or being better to the purpose of a simulation tool; however, a positive correlation may exist between them. The result of this work is a short list, of 19 commercial simulation tools, with probably the nowadays' most relevant ones.This work has been co-supported by SI I&DT project in joint-promotion nº 36265/2013 (HMIEXCEL) and by FCT Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - project: PEst-OE/EEI/UI0319/2014. REFERENCESinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A novel application of pre-signals to improve the performance of signalized intersections: Evaluation through simulation

To ponder less costlier solutions to solve traffic congestion problems at signalized intersections, this paper proposes a novel application consisting of using pre-signals. Hence, an agent-based traffic simulation model was developed, where it is possible to model different types of intersections - including roundabouts of different sizes - and quantify and compare their performance. By analyzing the simulation results, it was found that: on the intersection with pre-signals, an increase in the flow of 10% and 3% was registered, the vehicles spent 1 and 2 less minutes to cross the intersection and the fuel consumption was decreased in 22% and 44%, in comparison to regular intersections and roundabouts, respectively. Concerning the size of queues, it was noted that the queues of the regular intersection were 60 meters longer than the queues on the intersection with pre-signals and on the roundabout. Based on these findings, and by making cost assumptions, a small cost analysis was made, which indicates that at least 1 million € could be yearly saved.This work has been supported by FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019

Sistema de apoio à decisão para o transporte não urgente de doentes em veículo partilhado

O transporte não urgente de doentes em Portugal foi alvo de reformulação legislativa de modo a reduzir os custos que acarretava. Neste artigo apresentam-se métodos heurísticos para a formação de agrupamentos de doentes a serem transportados na mesma viatura. São apresentados resultados computacionais que validam os algoritmos desenvolvidos. Os algoritmos podem ser facilmente integrados num sistema de apoio à decisão.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)COMPETE Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade (POFC) Ref FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-02060