Fraunhofer Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics
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Evaluating the Real Estate Transaction Process Identifying common practice across the industry and potential for improvements
No full textThe process of a transaction in real estate is characterized by complex networks of involvement from
multiple stakeholders. Furthermore, the originality of each transaction necessitates the need for
flexibility and adaptation to the process whilst maintaining a level of standardization in the strive to
achieve efficiency. The level of complexity and ever-changing contextual factors have created the
need for a process which facilitates this type of environment. This thesis seeks to evaluate current
common practice and identify possible improvement potential for the transaction process.
This thesis focuses on three main point of views, (1) the internal perspective, (2) the external
perspective and (3) the comparison of the process between different companies. The projected result
was to identify areas where the process could be improved.
The investigation of the subject starts with a theoretical collection of knowledge in the subjects of:
real estate transaction processes, project management and procurement process theory. Specific sub
theories are further investigated based on their application to the phenomenon, examples are soft skills
in project management and stakeholder management to name a few. The empirical collection in this
thesis include interviews with internal personnel at Willhem, other real estate companies and advisors
involved in the process. Results from the study show that the generic characteristics of the process are
very similar both between companies, but also in comparison to theory. The interesting findings are
instead in the soft areas and regard the application of the process more than the process itself.
Lastly, recommendations derive from the analysis of gathered data pertaining the transaction process.
One of the main conclusions involve a change in the handling of the process by treating it more as a
project process, another to map and understand the stakeholders involved in the process to assure
proper handling and involvement
Heavy vehicle path control with neural networks - Heavy vehicle path control with neural networks
No full textThis thesis explores the possibility of using neural networks for solving the path
control problem, i.e. how to follow a predefined path as closely as possible. Two main
approaches are used to achieve this, namely supervised learning and reinforcement
learning. The supervised learning approach is based on existing path trackers which
are used to generate data for the training procedure. The reinforcement learning uses
a genetic algorithm and simulations to evaluate possible solutions. The supervised
learning controllers are constructed as feed forward neural networks only, while the
reinforcement learning controllers uses a recurrent neural network.
The results shows that neural networks can be trained to solve the path tracking
problem, both with supervised and reinforcement learning methods. Both the
feed forward networks and the recurrent networks outperform the geometric path
trackers. Further, a recurrent network was shown to perform better than a feed
forward network, which indicates that the dynamical properties of such networks
can be useful in path tracking applications
Throughput Time Reduction of Complex, High Volume, Spare Parts A Study within the Assembly Department of an Automotive Components Manufacturer
No full textThe need for shorter lead times has always been one of the many desires for organisations in the
automotive industry. It allows for quick adaption, higher margins and less uncertainties,
however can be difficult to accomplish due to the large product portfolio and high product
complexity. Especially in the spare part segment, where demand fluctuates and serial production
is prioritised, it is challenging to comprehend. This thesis aims to contribute towards an
understanding of how organisations, and more specifically the case company voestalpine, can
reduce its lead time of the spare parts production without damaging risk and planning control.
An extensive review of literature has led to the identification of potential causes and its
accompanying effects on long lead times. These causes include the utilisation rate, preparation
time, production time, discrepancies and waiting time. To gain more insight in possible
disturbers within the voestalpine, an interactive AIM workshop has been executed. The
outcomes combined with the cause-effect relationship has been the foundation for the
assessment of a current process analysis. From this research, a portion of the aforementioned
causes were eliminated as major lead time disturbers, since degree of influence was insignificant.
A future process analysis of the remaining disturbers resulted in a generic decision tree, which
will guide the improvements of production steps of spare parts in the assembly department.
Restructuring bill-of-materials and adapting planning behaviour and production strategies has
been proven in this research to the reduction of lead times. An average lead time reduction of
20,5%, or translated to 38 days, will allow the case company to approach customer demands
and increase production flexibility
ViPHS mobile - a mobile video tool for decision support for transportation decisions in acute stroke cases
No full textUsing a Servitized Business Model to Facilitate Adoption of Electric Vehicles for the Chinese Private Car Market
No full textThe automobile industry is facing a technological shift from internal combustion engines to battery driven electric vehicles, a shift called electrification. Since 2015, when it surpassed the U.S. market, the Chinese market has been the world’s largest electric vehicle market.
Electrification gives rise to a new set of consumer anxieties, primarily related to battery charging and range, but also price. In addition to the ongoing electrification, the automobile industry is also subject to a servitization trend, meaning that manufacturers are integrating a
higher level of services in their offers. Further, innovative leasing and car pool related offers are rapidly emerging on the Chinese electric vehicle market. These trends suggest that car manufacturers need to develop new innovative business models to facilitate technology
adoption and stay competitive.
This study investigates characteristics of servitized business models and how servitized business models can be used to overcome the obstacles concerning diffusion of electric vehicles on the Chinese market. The report’s theoretical framework and findings are therefore structured
based on the business model framework provided by Chesbrough and Rosenbloom (2002).
Through interviews with researchers and industry representatives, and by studying market reports for the Chinese EV market, the study maps the components and attributes of a servitized business model from the perspective of the Chinese electric vehicle market. By doing this, it contributes to the theoretical field of servitization in B2C industries.
It is found that the Chinese electric vehicle market is rapidly growing, but consumer anxieties and preferences are continuously changing. The study concludes that several attributes of servitized business models, such as more agile development and closer customer relationships,
could facilitate adoption of electric vehicles on the Chinese automobile market. Thus, to implement and benefit from a servitized business model, it is concluded that manufacturing companies must develop capabilities for gaining and acting on consumer insights. One way of
doing this is by increasing the number of customer touch points, either physical or digital, throughout the usage life cycle
Large solar assisted grounds source heat pump systems - Design based on a new low-temperature solar collector model
No full textIn order to reduce the climate impact, it is important to reduce the energy consumption in all sectors. A heat pump could be used to fulfill the heating and the cooling demand of a building. The disadvantage of a ground source heat pump is the relatively high investment cost. A major
part of the total investment cost for such a energy system is because of the borehole thermal energy storage. When the heating and the cooling demand is not of the same size, the borehole thermal energy storage will be dimensioned so that the temperature in the storage won't drop too much after
a few years. If the temperature in the storage drops it will lead to a performance drop in the heat pump.
This master's thesis examines the possibility of reducing the size of the borehole thermal energy storage by recharging the storage with a low-temperature solar collector. The cost saving for the borehole thermal energy storage is compared to the cost that the low-temperature solar collector contributes. The research has been done on an existing building in Umeå, Sweden. First, a model of a
low-temperature solar collector was built in MATLAB. The model was then validated against the solar thermal collector model in TRNSYS developed by Bengt Perers, senior researcher at Technical University of Denmark. The energy output from the low-temperature solar collector together with the energy demands and the electricity consumption of the heat pump for the investigated building were used as inputs to the model of the borehole thermal energy storage in Earth Energy Designer. Despite the relatively large cooling demand for the examined building that could be used for charging, the results shows that it would be possible to have a smaller borehole thermal energy storage, if
it was recharged with a low-temperature solar collector. If such an energy system would be built today it would be possible to lower the total investment cost of the energy system, if recharging the borehole thermal energy storage with a low-temperature solar collector
