Análise e melhoria de processos de logística numa empresa do setor automóvel

A melhoria de processos e a redução de custos fixos são cada vez mais o ponto de foco das organizações, de forma a que estas possam fazer face à elevada competitividade existente no mercado. O presente projeto foi realizado no departamento de logística da Novares Arouca, uma empresa que pertence ao setor de injeção de plástico, localizada no distrito de Aveiro, no município de Arouca. O projeto desenvolvido teve como objetivos a melhoria dos processos existentes, ao nível dos fluxos físicos e de informação. Foram detetadas algumas falhas a nível de fluxos e procedimentos. De forma a melhorar os processos e a reduzir os problemas detetados, foram sugeridas e implementadas diversas ferramentas e ações, tais como: a normalização do processo de expedição com a criação de instruções de trabalho; o seguimento do indicador e a criação de um mapa de horário de cargas; a implementação do processo de declaração de expedições; a criação de um procedimento para a verificação das receções; a criação de um procedimento para a gestão de entradas; a criação de um modelo de controlo de stock e de encomendas; e, por fim, a normalização do processo de receção com a criação de instruções de trabalho. Com as propostas de melhorias sugeridas, constataram-se ganhos ao nível do espaço físico com a diminuição de embalagens danificadas; em relação à performance de serviço de clientes, a taxa de cumprimento passou a 100%; ao nível da circulação de informação, houve a redução do valor de faturas bloqueadas e de custos de aluguer, em cerca de 1590€; e, por fim, no que respeita à qualidade de entrega ao cliente, houve uma melhor gestão de desvios nas preparações e uma redução dos incidentes de logística.Improving processes and reducing fixed costs are more and more the focus of organizations, so that they can cope with the high competitiveness that exists on the market. This project was carried out in the logistics department of Novares Arouca, a company that belongs to the plastic injection sector, located in the district of Aveiro, in the municipality of Arouca. The project aimed to improve the existing processes, at the level of physical traffic and information. In order to improve the processes and reduce the problems detected, several tools and actions were suggested and implemented, such as: standardization of the shipping process with the creation of work instructions; monitoring of the indicator and creation of a cargo map; implementation of the shipping process; creation of a procedure to check receptions; creation of a procedure for managing the receptions; creation of a stock and order control model; and, lastly, normalization of the reception process with the creation of work instructions. With the suggested improvement proposals, there were gains at the level of the physical space, with an absence of accumulation of trucks in the company area and with the absence of damaged packaging; in terms of the customer performance, the compliance rate went up to 100%; at the level of the circulation of information, there was a reduction of the value of blocked invoices and a reduction of the rental costs, by around € 1590; and, finally, in respect of the quality of the delivery to the customer, there was a reduction in logistics incidents

Biosorption of Cr(VI) by an E. coli biofilm supported on GAC

The increasing concern with environmental pollution significantly motivates the investigation and development of safe remediation technologies. The retention of contaminants by a biofilm supported on granular activated carbon is one of the promising technologies. This study aims the investigation and development of an innovative process for the removal of chromium (VI) from wastewater. The effect of the initial concentration of metal was tested, the polysaccharide and polymeric net of the E.Coli biofilm were quantified and the application of this system to a real effluent was made. The industrial effluent was provided by tannery factories. The support used for the biofilm formation was granular activated carbon (GAC) from MERCK with an average particle size of 2.5 mm, characterised by N2 adsorption (77K) with an ASAP Micromeritics 2001 which indicated a Langmuir area of 1270 m2g-1 and an average pore diameter of 2 nm. The use of activated carbon as a support is justified by the fact that this material is a versatile adsorbent due to its high surface area, porous structure, high adsorption capacity and surface chemical nature. The role of the biofilm was evaluated considering that microorganisms are quite adequate for heavy metals biosorption due to their ability to sorb metal ions, suitability for natural environments and low cost. Minicolumns (internal diameter = 2 cm, ht = 30 cm) were used for open systems studies, partially filled with GAC (15 g). The metal solutions were passed in upflow through the column with a flow rate of 5 ml/min (residence time of 19 min). Samples (5 ml) were taken, centrifuged and analyzed for metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, AAS. The results showed uptake values of 0.19 mg/gbiosorbent, 3.60 mg/gbiosorbent and 4.61 mg/gbiosorbent, respectively for the initial concentration of 10, 50 and 100 mg/l. The quantification of polysaccharides and polymeric net reveled a value of 4.77 mg/gbiosorbent for the polysaccharides and 142 mg/gbiosorbent, for the polymeric net. The polyssacharide and polymeric net give importante informations about the capacity of biofilm formation by the microrganism. The studies made with the industrial effluent showed values of Cr uptake of 0.093 mg/gbiosorbent, for an initial concentration of 4.2 mg/l. The value obtained for the removal percentage with the most diluted solution used (10 mg/l) was of 18% (after 10 hours of experiment) and the value of removal percentage obtained with the industrial effluent was of 9%, for the same period of time. This can be explainded by the fact that another compounds present in the industrial effluent than Cr(VI) can compete for the same active sites

Biosorption of Cr(VI) by three different bacterial species supported on granular activated carbon: a comparative study

The ability of three different bacterial species supported on granular activated carbon (GAC) to remove hexavalent chromium from low concentration liquid solutions was investigated, in batch and column studies. The microorganisms tested were Cr(VI) reducing types: Streptococcus equisimilis (CECT 926), Bacillus coagulans (CECT 12) and Escherichia coli (CECT 515). The results showed metal uptake values of 5.82, 5.35 and 4.12 mg/gbios., respectively, for S. equisimilis, B. coagulans and E. coli, for an initial metal concentration of 100 mg/l. In the same order and for the initial concentration of 50 mg/l, metal uptake values were 2.33, 1.98 and 3.60 mg/gbios.. Finally, for the initial metal concentration of 10 mg/l, those values were, respectively, 0.66, 1.51 and 1.12 mg/gbios.. Studies made with an industrial effluent, with the aim of testing these biofilms in a real situation, showed values of Cr uptake of 0.083, 0.090 and 0.110 mg/gbios., respectively, for S. equisimilis, B. coagulans and E. coli, for an initial concentration of 4.2 mg/l of total Cr. The quantification of polysaccharides, playing a key role in the whole process, was made and it was concluded that the production of polysaccharides is higher for B. coagulans followed by S. equisimilis and E. coli (9.19, 7.24 and 4.77 mg/gbios.). The batch studies data were described using the Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich–Peterson, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Sips andToth model isotherms. The best fit was obtained with Sips and Toth model isotherms, respectively, for the S. equisimilis and for the B. coagulans biofilms. For the E. coli biofilm the Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, Sips and Toth models fitted very well to the experimental data. The Adams–Bohart,Wolborska and Yoon and Nelson models were applied to column studies data. Those models were found suitable for describing the dynamic behaviour of the columns with respect to the inlet chromium concentration. Obtained results showed that the biofilms tested are very promising for the removal of Cr(VI) in diluted industrial wastewater. Despite differences in the cell wall structure and composition, the three bacteria exhibit comparable sorption affinities towards chromium, in the open systems studies. The Gram-positive bacteria tested (B. coagulans and S. equisimilis) presented best metal removal percentages in batch studies.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia FEDE

Biosorption of Cr(VI) by a Bacillus coagulans biofilm supported on granular activated carbon (GAC)

The ability of a biofilm of Bacillus coagulans supported on granular activated carbon (GAC) to biosorb Cr(VI) was investigated in batch and column studies so it may be applied to low metal concentration wastewater treatment. The quantification of polysaccharides and polymeric net revealed a value of 9.19 mg/gbiosorbent for the polysaccharides and 75 mg/gbiosorbent, for the polymeric net. The results obtained with open systems showed uptake values of 1.50, 1.98 and 5.34 mg/gbiosorbent, respectively, for initial concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 mg/L of Cr(VI). Column studies performed with an industrial effluent showed values of Cr uptake of 0.090 mg/gbiosorbent, for an initial concentration of 4.2 mg/L. The presence of functional groups on the cell wall surface of the biomass that may interact with the metal ion, was confirmed by FTIR. The equilibrium studies in batch systems were described by Freundlich, Langmuir, Reddlich–Peterson, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Sips and Toth model isotherms. Best fit was obtained with Toth model isotherm. Data from column studies were described by Adams–Bohart and Wolborska models. These models were found suitable for describing the dynamic behaviour of the columns with respect to the inlet chromium concentration. The whole study showed that the biofilm tested is very promising for the removal of Cr(VI) in industrial wastewater.FEDER.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - POCTI/QUI/44840/2002

Basic Scale on Insomnia complaints and Quality of Sleep (BaSIQS): Reliability, initial validity and normative scores in higher education students

Based on successive samples totaling more than 5000 higher education students, we scrutinized the reliability, structure, initial validity and normative scores of a brief self-report seven-item scale to screen for the continuum of nighttime insomnia complaints/perceived sleep quality, used by our team for more than a decade, henceforth labeled the Basic Scale on Insomnia complaints and Quality of Sleep (BaSIQS). In study/sample 1 (n = 1654), the items were developed based on part of a larger survey on higher education sleep-wake patterns. The test-retest study was conducted in an independent small group (n = 33) with a 2-8 week gap. In study/sample 2 (n = 360), focused mainly on validity, the BaSIQS was completed together with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). In study 3, a large recent sample of students from universities all over the country (n = 2995) answered the BaSIQS items, based on which normative scores were determined, and an additional question on perceived sleep problems in order to further analyze the scale's validity. Regarding reliability, Cronbach alpha coefficients were systematically higher than 0.7, and the test-retest correlation coefficient was greater than 0.8. Structure analyses revealed consistently satisfactory two-factor and single-factor solutions. Concerning validity analyses, BaSIQS scores were significantly correlated with PSQI component scores and overall score (r = 0.652 corresponding to a large association); mean scores were significantly higher in those students classifying themselves as having sleep problems (p < 0.0001, d = 0.99 corresponding to a large effect size). In conclusion, the BaSIQS is very easy to administer, and appears to be a reliable and valid scale in higher education students. It might be a convenient short tool in research and applied settings to rapidly assess sleep quality or screen for insomnia complaints, and it may be easily used in other populations with minor adaptations.Projects: LEIES (FCGPortugal); SPASHE (FCT-Portugal); Research Units CCPSF / CIECC (FCT-Portugal)

Comprimidos bucodispersables: ventajas terapéuticas y tecnológicas de elaboración

Los comprimidos bucodispersables se definen como comprimidos no recubiertos destinados a ser colocados en la boca, donde se dispersan rápidamente antes de ser tragados. Estas formulaciones son conocidas por las siglas FDDT´s (Fast Dissolving Disintegrating Tablets). Son útiles para la administración a pacientes con dificultades en la deglución, presentan una elevada aceptación por parte del paciente, mejoran de la biodisponibilidad del principio activo y suponen una nueva alternativa para la industria farmacéutica. Dentro de sus inconvenientes destacan el poco conocimiento por parte del paciente, la baja resistencia mecánica, su mayor susceptibilidad a la degradación por temperatura y humedad; la falta, a veces, de bioequivalencia con las formulaciones convencionales, y la dificultad de obtener liberaciones prolongadas o retardadas del principio activo. A nivel tecnológico, existen varios procesos que se pueden aplicar en su elaboración. Con los métodos clásicos de elaboración de comprimidos, mediante la correcta selección de los excipientes y de las variables de la etapa de compresión se obtienen unos comprimidos en los que existe un equilibrio entre dureza y disgregación. Han surgido una serie de tecnologías novedosas: Flashtab, Wowtab, Orasolv y Durasolv. Otra opción es el empleo de técnicas de liofilización, aunque presenta como desventaja su alto coste. Algunas tecnologías especiales patentadas como son Lyoc, QuickSolv y Zydis. Por último, estos comprimidos se pueden elaborar por el método de los polímeros entrecruzados, también conocido como FlashDose y se basa en la formación de una matriz de hilos de azúcares entrelazados.Orally Disintegrating Tablets are defined as non-coated tablets that are placed in the mouth, where they are rapidly disintegrated before being swallowed. These formulations are known by the acronym FDDT's (Fast Dissolving Disintegrating Tablets). They are useful for administration to patients with difficulties in swallowing, present high acceptance by the patient, improve the bioavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and represent a new alternative for the pharmaceutical industry. Among their disadvantages are the lack of knowledge by the patient, the low hardness and friability, their major degradation susceptibility by temperature and moisture environment, the non bioequivalence with the conventional formulations that sometimes happens and finally the difficulty to obtain prolonged or delayed drug release. From a pharmaceutical technological point of view, there are several processes that can be applied in their preparation. With the conventional tableting technology, choosing a proper role of excipients and variables in the compression stage, tablets with a good balance between hardness and disgregation must be obtained. A series of innovative technologies have been arisen: Flashtab, Wowtab, Orasolv and Durasolv. Another option is the use of freeze drying technique, although it high cost represents a significantly disadvantage. There are some special patented technologies such as Lyoc, QuickSolv and Zydis. Finally, these tablets can be produced by the method of interlocking polymers, also known as FlashDose base on the formation of a matrix of interwoven threads of sugar

Atuação da Área de Operações Indiretas na Região Sudeste de 2004 a 2013

Este capítulo destaca o papel da Área de Operações Indiretas (AOI) na Região Sudeste, no período 2004-2013. Argumenta-se que a parceria com os agentes financeiros amplia o número de operações e de empresas beneficiadas e destaca o impulso que as operações da área tomaram a partir da redução das taxas de juros do Finame e da criação do Cartão BNDES. Nesse período, os financiamentos à região aumentaram a uma velocidade superior à dos financiamentos totais da área e ao crescimento do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) regional. Os setores da região para os quais os desembolsos da AOI tiveram maior crescimento foram petróleo e combustível, indústria extrativa, construção e comércio. Mas transporte terrestre, comércio e agropecuária continuam sendo os setores de maior peso nos desembolsos. O acentuado declínio nas taxas de juros do Finame, a partir de 2009, deu forte impulso aos investimentos em máquinas e equipamentos na região. Os destaques foram as máquinas rodoviárias, caminhões, colheitadeiras e máquinas para movimentação de carga. Já caminhões, ônibus e máquinas rodoviárias continuam sendo os equipamentos de maior peso nos desembolsos, de cerca de 54%.This chapter describes the role of the Indirect Operations Division (AOI) in the Southeast Region from 2004 to 2013. It is argued that partnerships with financial agents increase the number of operations and companies that benefit, while highlights the increase in operations from the Division once Finame’s interest rates were reduced and the BNDES Card was created. In this period, financing to the Region grew more swiftly than total financing from the Division and than the growth of the regional GDP. Sectors in the Region that recorded higher growth in AOI disbursements include: Oil and Gas, Extraction Industry, Construction and Trade. However, Road Transport, Trade and Cattle-Raising still figure among the most demanding sectors for disbursements. The acute drop in Finame’s interest rates as of 2009 leveraged investments in machinery and equipment in the region, especially in machinery for cargo handling, roads, and harvesters. Yet, about 54% of AOI disbursements are still supporting trucks and buses, road machinery and farm tractors demand

Concurrent agreement between an anthropometric model to predict thigh volume and dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry assessment in female volleyball players aged 14-18 years

A variety of performance outputs are strongly determined by lower limbs volume and composition in children and adolescents. The current study aimed to examine the validity of thigh volume (TV) estimated by anthropometry in late adolescent female volleyball players. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures were used as the reference method. Total and regional body composition was assessed with a Lunar DPX NT/Pro/MD+/Duo/Bravo scanner in a cross-sectional sample of 42 Portuguese female volleyball players aged 14-18 years (165.2 ± 0.9 cm; 61.1 ± 1.4 kg). TV was estimated with the reference method (TV-DXA) and with the anthropometric method (TV-ANTH). Agreement between procedures was assessed with Deming regression. The analysis also considered a calibration of the anthropometric approach. The equation that best predicted TV-DXA was: -0.899 + 0.876 × log10 (body mass) + 0.113 × log10 (TV-ANTH). This new model (NM) was validated using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) method (R2PRESS = 0.838). Correlation between the reference method and the NM was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.880-0.964, Sy∙x = 0.325 L). A new and accurate anthropometric method to estimate TV in adolescent female volleyball players was obtained from the equation of Jones and Pearson alongside with adjustments for body mass.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio