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## Über dieses Buch

This volume contains a selection of the best papers presented at the 8th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Industrial Management, XX International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, and International IIE Conference 2014, hosted by ADINGOR, ABEPRO and the IIE, whose mission is to promote links between researchers and practitioners from different branches, to enhance an interdisciplinary perspective of industrial engineering and management.

The conference topics covered: operations research, modelling and simulation, computer and information systems, operations research, scheduling and sequencing, logistics, production and information systems, supply chain and logistics, transportation, lean management, production planning and control, production system design, reliability and maintenance, quality management, sustainability and eco-efficiency, marketing and consumer behavior, business administration and strategic management, economic and financial management, technological and organizational innovation, strategy and entrepreneurship, economics engineering, enterprise engineering, global operations and cultural factors, operations strategy and performance, management social responsibility, environment and sustainability.

This book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners working in any of the fields mentioned above.

## Inhaltsverzeichnis

### Mixed-Model Sequencing Problem Improving Labour Conditions

It is presented an extension of the mixed-model sequencing problem that considers some working conditions agreed between companies and trade unions. In particular, it is formulated a mathematical model with saturation limits which an operator can have throughout his workday and with the possibility of increasing the work pace of the operators at certain times of the workday. In this way, it is possible to improve labour conditions and line productivity simultaneously. In fact, the proposed model is evaluated by means of a computational experience that allows to observe that an increment of

$$3.\overset{\lower0.5em\hbox{\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\frown}}}{3} \;\%$$

3

.

3

%

on the work pace factor of processors reduces the work overload by 62.6 % while the saturation conditions imposed by collective agreements are satisfied.

Joaquín Bautista, Rocío Alfaro-Pozo, Cristina Batalla-García, Sara María Llovera-Laborda

### A Heuristic Approach for Integrated Storage and Shelf-Space Allocation

We address the joint allocation of storage and shelf-space, using an application motivated by the management of inventory items at Outpatient Clinics (OCs). OCs are limited health care facilities that provide patients with convenient outpatient care within their own community, as opposed to having them visit a major hospital. Currently, patients who are prescribed a prosthetics device during their visit to an OC must often wait for it to be delivered to their homes from a central storage facility. An alternative is the use of integrated storage cabinets at the OCs to store commonly prescribed inventory items that could be given to a patient immediately after a clinic visit. We present, and illustrate with an actual example, a heuristic algorithm for selecting the items to be stocked, along with their shelf space allocations. The objective is to maximize total value based on the desirability of stocking the item for immediate dispensing. The heuristic model considers cabinet characteristics, item size and quantity, and minimum and maximum inventory requirements in order to arrive at the best mix of items and their configuration within the cabinet.

Nazanin Esmaili, Bryan A. Norman, Jayant Rajgopal

### Evaluation of Pull Control Strategies and Production Authorisation Card Policies Recovery Period in a Multi-product System

Pull production control strategies have demonstrated poor responses to large variations in demand volume. A recently developed pull production control strategy referred to as Base Stock-Kanban-CONWIP control strategy is capable of minimising WIP while maintaining high volume flexibility. This paper investigates the recovery period of pull production control strategies and production authorisation card policies after lumpy demands in a multi-product manufacturing system. Discrete event simulation and multi-objective optimisation approach were adopted to develop sets of non-dominated optimal solutions for configuring suitable decision set to the pull control strategies. It was shown that the shared Kanban allocation policy outperforms the dedicated Kanban allocation policy. Additionally the Basestock-Kanban CONWIP control strategy outperforms the alternatives.

Chukwunonyelum Emmanuel Onyeocha, Joseph Khoury, John Geraghty

### Smart Decision in Industrial Site Selection: What’s New in the Case of a Steel Mill in Brazil?

The site-selection problem on Steel industry deals with complex aspects of economy, society, engineering and environment. For a long time, there was only the logistics outlook, but until today, this is not completely overcame. The consequences of a wrong decision are adverse for most firms. In this regard, this paper proposes a hierarchical multi-criteria Fuzzy-based model and simulates a steel facility selection in Brazil to approach the problem beyond the logistics, including new factors imposed by the current business and social demands. Initially, we present the first two steel mill’s locational studies in Brazil and their relationship with the classical models. Then, a hypothetical steel mill of 2.5 Mtons/year is specified to enable the assessment of four locational options over twenty factors. The results showed that environment and engineering factors gained relevance, where the former may be decisive and the later mitigates the risks for construction and operation, contrarily to the traditional view. Furthermore, transportation still plays a relevant role onto decision, but solely. Lastly, short and long terms forecasts encourage to rethink the traditional view of locating steel mills close to the resources.

Alexandre de Oliveira Gomes, Carlos Alberto Nunes Cosenza

### Dynamic Multi-objective Maximal Covering Location Problem with Gradual Coverage

In this study, a dynamic multiple-objective model of maximal covering location problem has been presented in which the gradual coverage radius has been taken into account. The model has several aims, including: maximizing initial coverage, maximizing backup coverage, and minimizing the fixed and variable expenses related to the location, transportation vehicles, and variable demands in the course of programming. This model intends to find the best location for the centers of emergency services which can meet the maximum demands of present and future. In this model, the variables of backup and initial coverage have been presented fractionally in order to cover more demands. Then, an example with random numbers has been given and solved by lexicographic multi-objective linear programming (LMOLP) and fuzzy goal programming (FGP) approaches. The obtained results show the superiority of fuzzy goal programming approaches.

### Drivers and Stages in “Packaging Logistics”: An Analysis in the Food Sector

Packaging design stands out as one of the elements that eases a sustainable and efficient supply chain management. This paper sets out to define and characterize both the drivers and the evolutionary stages for implementing “packaging logistics”, through a “case study” analysis of eight Spanish food manufacturers. Likewise, one example of packaging improvement in one of these companies is supplied for illustrating the potential of its implementation.

### A Tabu Search Approach for Production and Sustainable Routing Planning Decisions for Inbound Logistics in an Automotive Supply Chain

In this paper, a mixed-integer mathematical programming model is proposed to address a production and routing problem related to inbound logistics processes in supply chains environments. This model is also enriched with sustainable issues related to routing decisions by introducing additional fuel consumption and pollutants emissions calculations into the objective function. For the solution methodology, a two-phase decoupled solution procedure based on exact algorithms for the production model and a tabu search algorithm for the routing model is adopted. Results of computational experiments performed with a real-world automotive supply chain confirm the efficiency of the proposed solution method in terms of total cost, fuel consumptions and CPU time.

David Peidro, Manuel Díaz-Madroñero, Josefa Mula, Abraham Navalón

### Clothing Industry: Main Challenges in the Supply Chain Management of Value Brand Retailers

The clothing sector is currently characterized by frequent assortment rotation in stores, a quick response product development and a focus on minimizing end-of-campaign stock levels. This paper is based on the literature review and a case study carried out at a value brand retailer, with a purpose to identify the main challenges that value brand retailers deal in the supply chain management and how they could reconfigure their internal and external supply chain in order to can stay competitive in a market requiring more responsiveness. The research shows that the garment’s categorization, the development of a global purchasing strategy and a global and local supplier network, the introduction of mini-collections, the implementation of concurrent engineering and the redesign business processes and the supply chain leads to a sales increase and purchasing savings.

Sandra Martínez, Ander Errasti, Martin Rudberg, Miguel Mediavilla

### Structural Equation Modeling for Analyzing the Barriers and Benefits of E-procurement

We perform an empirical study to analyze whether it would be beneficial for a company to switch from traditional procurement system to e-procurement system. For this purpose, we determine the main barriers and benefits of e-procurement systems, and using Structural Equation Modeling, we analyze the effects of the barriers and benefits on the e-procurement adoption decision. The results denote that barriers (benefits) of e-procurement systems have negative (positive) effect on the adoption decision. We also find that the effect of the benefits is higher than that of the barriers, indicating that it would be beneficial for the company to adopt the e-procurement system.

Peral Toktaş-Palut, Ecem Baylav, Seyhan Teoman, Mustafa Altunbey

### Ergonomic Risk Minimisation in Assembly Line Balancing

In this work it is presented a variant for the assembly line balancing that considers simultaneously production conditions and labour conditions. Specifically, a new mathematical model is formulated to solve the assembly line balancing problem. The objective of this model is minimising the maximum ergonomic risk, given a specific cycle time and a number of workstations. This affords the evaluation of the ergonomic risk impact on the number of workstations of the line through an application linked to the Nissan plant of engines, located in Barcelona.

Joaquín Bautista, Cristina Batalla-García, Rocío Alfaro-Pozo

### Reverse Logistics Barriers: An Analysis Using Interpretive Structural Modeling

The objective of this research is to identify and analyze the interactions of the barriers that impede reverse logistics (RL) development from a Brazilian perspective. Firstly, international peer-reviewed publications were considered to select the barriers and classify them into categories. Secondly, an empirical research was conducted using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), in order to evaluate the relationship between the barrier categories for the Brazilian RL context.

Marina Bouzon, Kannan Govindan, Carlos Manuel Taboada Rodriguez

### Mixed Trips in the School Bus Routing Problem with Public Subsidy

In some regions, school buses have a subsidy associated with the number of school buses needed in a day, in relation to the number of schools or students. This paper presents the application of a Tabu Search (TS) metaheuristic to generate an information system that will allow searching for the best selection of routes and schedules with the minimum number of buses. The complexity and magnitude of the problem is important, especially at economic level for Andalusia government, because there are many buses and roads to go to school. The approach is more relevant for the necessary austerity in public services, considering that the quality is guaranteed by a set of restrictions. In the mixed trip problem, students of different schools can share the same bus at the same time. We use a mixed load algorithm for the school bus routing problem (SBRP) and measure its effects on the number of required vehicles. The solution could reduce the required number of vehicles compared with the current practice.

Pablo Aparicio Ruiz, Jesús Muñuzuri Sanz, José Guadix Martín

### Analysis of the Criteria Used by Organizations in Supplier Selection

In order to analyse the criteria used by organizations in their selection of suppliers and to compare them with those provided by the literature, a survey has been designed with which a field study has been carried out. The article shows some the most relevant conclusions of the field study, after a statistical analysis (descriptive and principal components) of the responses. In this work the methodology used for the creation of the survey is also detailed.

Joan Ignasi Moliné, Anna Maria Coves Moreno, Anna Rubio

### Event Monitoring Software Application for Production Planning Systems

In a company, unexpected events may affect the planning production system. These events should be identified and analysed with the aim of evaluate their impact and make (or not) decision about the on-going production plan. This paper submits an event monitoring software application based in expert systems for planning production systems (1) to identify and describe events that generate incidences in the system (2) to define alert criteria and (3) to check periodically the production planning system to identify possible incidences.

Andrés Boza, Beatriz Cortes, Maria del Mar Eva Alemany, Eduardo Vicens

### Optimization of Public Transport Services in Small and Medium Size Towns. A Case Study on Spain

Optimizing transit services become a challenge when economic resources are limited. Different from big cities which can afford expensive consultancy firms to support the establishment of their transportation plans, small and medium size towns have to face this problem under economic constraints. This paper aims to design a methodology to provide a pragmatic approach to transport planning in small and medium size towns, speeding up this process. The empirical investigation examined a sample of citizens based on stratification sampling methods to identify their transportation needs and preferences with the aim of enhancing the transit service performance and to increase its market share versus others modes of transport. Results show that there is a possibility in these type of towns to attract private car users to public transport when planning is effective.

Elvira Maeso-González, Juan Carlos Carrasco-Giménez

### Methodology to Manage Make-to-Order and Make-to-Stock Decisions in an Electronic Component Plant

Supply chain management is a crucial part of any production system, therefore many strategies and concepts have been developed in order to help firms make the most out of their manufacturing capacity and to fulfil the best service level for customers. However, companies still face the problem of supply chain failures. Some of the main strategies to fulfil orders that exist nowadays are make-to-order (MTO), make-to-stock (MTS), assemble-to-order (ATO) or engineer-to-order (ETO) policies. In this paper, we review the literature about methods to help stakeholders to decide if a product has to be MTO or MTS. A case study of a hybrid MTO/MTS system on an electrical component manufacturing plant, that has to consider new decision factors and constraints, is introduced.

Julien Maheut, David Rey, José P. Garcia-Sabater

### Effects of the Implementation of Antequera Dry Port in Export and Import Flows

Currently many companies are forced to go outside due to the economic situation and in many cases, as the sole alternative to ensure their survival. In this context the logistic performs a leading role. To promote and to take advantage of an efficient logistic management is key to exports. In this sense, dry ports constitute the required nexus for road-rail-sea intermodal transport. The establishment of a dry port in Antequera would boost the export and import flows to and from Andalusia with the rest of the world.

Guadalupe González-Sánchez, Mª. Isabel Olmo-Sánchez, Elvira Maeso-González

### An Iterative Stochastic Approach Estimating the Completion Times of Automated Material Handling Jobs

Recently manufacturing facilities increasingly use automated material handling systems (AMHS) owing to the advancement in control technology. They provide various material handling functions such as transportation, storage, sorting, and identification with quicker and precise devices. This paper studies an estimation method encountered in manufacturing facilities operated by automated material handling systems. A heuristic method based on a stochastic approach is used to estimate the arrival times of transportation jobs to their final destinations in a manufacturing facility. To analyze the performance of the new method, the authors collected a set of actual transportation data from the industry and the analysis shows that the new method outperforms an existing method that uses simple statistics based on historical data.

Gunwoo Cho, Jaewoo Chung

### Transportation Infrastructure and Economic Growth Spillovers

The present study aims to analyze the spatial spillover effects of transportation infrastructures on the economic growth in Brazilian states through the application of a spatial econometric technique (Spatial Durbin Model). The results demonstrate that road infrastructure has the greatest impact on economic growth, and that the spatial unit neighboring highways are most relevant to their growth than their own infrastructure. Still, some infrastructures showed insignificant or negative spillovers.

Herick Fernando Moralles, Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto

### Influence of the Environmental Factors in the Creation, Development and Consolidation of University Spin-offs in the Basque Country

The university entrepreneurship, together with its highest representative, the university spin-off, are a key instrument to technological innovation and economic development of a territory. Therefore, due to the importance of these companies for the future sustainable development of the regions, the study of the factors that influence the creation, development and consolidation of university spin-offs is really important. Specifically, the aim of the present study is to analyze the importance of various environmental factors in the creation and development of Basque university spin-offs, and the presence of these factors in the specific environment of the Basque Country, in general, and according to the companies development stage, in particular.

E. Zarrabeitia Bilbao, P. Ruiz de Arbulo López, P. Díaz de Basurto Uraga

### Conceptual Model for Associated Costs of the Internationalisation of Operations

We propose a conceptual model for a representative cost structure associated to the internationalisation of operations. The main contribution of this paper for researchers and industry practitioners is the identification of cost issues in order to reduce the number of unexpected costs related with companies that have internationalised their operations. This conceptual model could serve as a starting point for cost challenges and issues that firms will face when they get involved in the internationalisation of operations.

Ángeles Armengol, Josefa Mula, Manuel Díaz-Madroñero, Joel Pelkonen

### Relations Between Costs and Characteristics of a Process: A Simulation Study

Operations managers have to take decisions where costs have to be taken into account. However, the amount of those costs depends on the costing system in use. In consequence, the aim of this paper is to analyse the influence of the costing system on the production process and vice versa. To assess the importance of the different factors, a computer-based simulation experiment has been carried out (a four-stage production system has been modelled) and results have been analysed with a full factorial experimental design. Two different experiments are explained in this paper: The first one analyses the variation of the average manufacturing cost as a function of the costing system and the cost distribution pattern. The second one, analyses the influence of the lot size and the product family on the manufacturing cost.

J. Fortuny-Santos, P. Ruiz de Arbulo-López, M. Zarraga-Rodríguez

### Critical Success Factors on Implementation of Customer Experience Management (CEM) Through Extended Marketing Mix

If Customer Experience Management (CEM) is a strategy to focus on operations and processes of a business around the experiences of the customers with the company, it is essential to seek grants to structure it. Through research with managers of retail chains Brazilian clothing, it was possible to identify the Critical Success Factor (CSF) and the relation between Extended Marketing Mix (EMM) and CEM. To promote superior customer experiences, CEM can be used as a guiding matrix management. Specific characteristics of the segment suggest that is crucial that each industry scan your own variables as a basis for CEM.

A. Arineli, H. Quintella

### Financing Urban Growth in Aging Societies: Modelling the Equity Release Schemes in the Welfare Mix for Older Persons

The paper examines the role of Equity Release Schemes (ERS) in the welfare mix for seniors. The concepts for asset-based welfare, where the housing owned by the occupant is part of his portfolio comprised of defined contribution (private) pension and residential property, are examined. We present how the variance of expected senior’s income is reduced by using residential property as the pillar of the pension system, as proposed in the EC Green Paper on Pensions (2010). The study is focusing on modelling the decumulation of the housing equity and the defined contribution private pension, incorporating insurance mechanisms for management of longevity. Development of longevity insurance in the framework of reverse mortgage products is important in European Union due to lack of government insurance of reverse mortgage products as developed in United States under the HECM insurance program. Here we propose a new model in which periodic payout that the beneficiary receives is the difference between the amount drawn and the annuity premium for longevity insurance. The paper shows how the drawing amount in the loan model ERS (reverse mortgage) is decreasing with the increasing interest rate, while the pension arising from defined contribution systems is increasing with the increasing interest rate. The optimal combination of sources in the portfolio which minimize volatility induced by volatile interest rate is derived and discussed. The paper intend to show that regarding his/her old-age welfare protection, young person when employed should consider buying a home instead of rent, to gain the optimal structure of pension portfolio in retirement.

David Bogataj, Diego Ros-McDonnell, Marija Bogataj

### Sustainable Urban Growth in Ageing Regions: Delivering a Value to the Community

Europe is wealthy but unbalanced, and the flows of people, money, information, goods and services are suffering from this situation. There is a crucial question in today’s European economy: “How to balance the European wealth and facilitate the flows to achieve wellbeing for all generations (job opportunities for the young and proper care for seniors)”. The answer is in Smart Silver Economy, by developing a firm understanding of space of flows and space of places as considered by Castells. The idea is to develop the knowledge to embed it in SUGAR ICT toolkit, based on SUGAR technology platform (SUGAR TP), which would facilitate understanding to increase intensity of processes. It is the ambition of SUGAR to establish roadmaps for action at EU, national and international level, bringing together scientific knowledge, art (architecture), technological know-how (GIS, ICT), industry (health care, real estate and facility management, ICT development companies), regulators (banks, insurance, health, municipalities and regional spatial planning authorities), and financial institutions to develop a strategic agenda for leading technologies for smart urban growth in face of an ageing society. The core of this idea is presented in article here.

David Bogataj, Deigo Ros McDonnell, Alenka Temeljotov Salaj, Marija Bogataj

### The Role of the Entrepreneur in the New Technology-Based Firm (NTBF)

The aim of this article is to stress the role of entrepreneur from the point of view of the New Technology-based Firm (NTBF) perspective. The importance of this group of companies for the economic growth and their input into the economic development of regions, make the NTBFs an interesting issue to be analyzed. Although this group is relatively small but its potential to lead a substantial change of productive model of the country, is remarkable. The conceptual survey will allow us to contribute to formulating of a clarification of the entrepreneur’s role at the New Technology-based Firm.

Juan Antonio Torrecilla García, Agnieszka Grazyna Skotnicka, Elvira Maeso-González

### Increasing Production and Minimizing Costs During Machining by Control of Tool’s Wears and or Damages

Industries involved in machining processes need to increase their competitiveness to adequately meet the market demand, i.e. better quality of their final products and a more efficient machining process. There are some industries that prefer to work with the managers of machining tools in order to control the costs of the proceedings. However, the authors of this article have the opinion that it is essential to have professionals hired directly by the company to play the role of improvements introducer to the machining process. So, following this procedure, this paper proposes the use of the Six Sigma methodology to the management and stratification of the consumption and tool breakage during the machining process. Thus, the DMAIC method was used. By providing data collection during research in the areas of factory production, causes of tool breakage were identified. With this information were initiated actions seeking process improvements and also attempting to define new ideal conditions, both of machine tools, as tools. The result showed that it was possible to propose a model for controlling the tool breakage and, undoubtedly, contribute to reducing costs and increasing productivity.

Nivaldo Lemos Coppini, Ivair Alves dos Santos

### Impact of 5S on Productivity, Quality, Organizational Climate and IS at Tecniaguas S.A.S

This paper describes an approach to assessing the impact of 5S on four study factors: namely quality, productivity, industrial security (IS) and organizational climate (OC) in the manufacturing processes carried out at SMEs in Bogota (Colombia). The approach is illustrated by a case study conducted at a manufacturing SME. The main purpose is to evaluate whether the 5S methodology could be considered as an effective tool to improve manufacturing processes at SMEs. A visual diagnosis is chosen to identify the areas that exhibit the largest amount of clutter and dirt. Once the location is identified, surveys, performance measurements and a risk landscape are conducted, focusing on particular study factors so as to understand the initial situation of the area. Subsequently, implementation of 5S is carried out and then three measurements are taken to monitor the performance of the study factors, thus finding out whether a trend can be observed during the measuring period. The results show the existence of a positive connection between the study factors and the implementation of the 5S methodology, since there is evidence of an increase in productivity (44 %), quality (44 %) and OC (52 %) and a decrease in the risks identified (90 %).

Paloma Martínez Sánchez, Natalia Rincón Ballesteros, Diana Fuentes Olaya

### Structuring a Portfolio for Selecting and Prioritizing Textile Products

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a proposal on product portfolio management for the development of new products in a textile company. The research methods address the application of real data from the studied company. This work is characterized both as conceptual and field-based research. It constructs a proposal based on existing theory and involves an empirical application of that proposal. By using the portfolio selection and prioritization proposal, the company was able to select new products for development in a structured way. As continuity for this work, the paper suggests the application of product selection and prioritization for other organizations.

Maurício Johnny Loos, Paulo Augusto Cauchick-Miguel

### Methodology for Evaluating the Requirements of Customers in a Metalworking Company Automotive ISO/TS 16949 Certified

This issue presents the process of implementation and management of customer-specific requirements aimed at the automotive industry, focusing stamping operations, machining, welding and surface treatment and certifications ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949. Requirements management includes the implementation, monitoring and procedures, through quality management tools as indicators, audits, action plans, org charts, etc. This whole structure is required by ISO 9001 certification standards and ISO/TS 16949, quality standards required to supply parts and services to the automotive market. Initially it is shown the importance of quality in the product and in the productive process, enhanced by the opinion of the leading names of quality management. At the end it is shown the methodology and the results that will demonstrate the management strategy developed in the company, including but not limited to implementing, structuring and monitoring the processes until its full functioning till the point of being audited.

Gil Eduardo Guimarães, Roger Oliveira, Luiz Carlos Duarte, Milton Vieria, Daniel Galeazzi

### Improving Resilience and Performance of Organizations Using Environment, Health and Safety Management Systems. An Empirical Study in a Multinational Company

This article presents and analyzes the experience of a European multinational company working in diverse infrastructure sectors on the deployment and enhancement of a new internal Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) management system. As the company works in various sectors and had a much decentralized approach to EHS management, there was a need for centralization and integration of its practices to a system that could allow the headquarters to assess, control and properly administer its processes and its people under one single management system. The new system aimed to improve the performance of the company’s sites and also has shown as an effective tool to build up corporate resilience. During the deployment of the system, various industrial units presented very critical issues concerning bad EHS administration and commitment, which enabled organization to tempt its capacity to realignment of EHS management to corporate strategy on those sites. The case of one specific unit is showed here in order to illustrate the situation prior to and subsequent to the execution of an orientated action plan and implementation of the new EHS management system on site.

Barbara Seixas de Siqueira, Mercedes Grijalvo, Gustavo Morales-Alonso

### Effectiveness of Construction Safety Programme Elements

Occupational health and safety levels in construction continue to be an international cause of concern because of high accident rates in the sector. In order to reduce negative incident rates in the industry, construction companies implement safety programmes that include different elements. In current research, an expert panel of 8 members was selected with the aim to quantify the effectiveness of the essential safety program elements using staticized groups methodology. Results showed that effectiveness of Job hazard analyses and communication, and upper management support as safety program elements, obtained the best scores by the experts. These results can be used to prioritize the most effective safety elements for construction projects in order to control construction safety risk.

Antonio López-Arquillos, Juan Carlos Rubio-Romero, Jesús Carrillo-Castrillo, Manuel Suarez-Cebador

### Operational Issues for the Hybrid Wind-Diesel Systems: Lessons Learnt from the San Cristobal Wind Project

Hybrid wind-diesel power systems have a great potential in providing energy supply to remote communities. Compared with the traditional diesel systems, hybrid power plants can offer many advantages such as additional capacity, being more environmentally friendly, and potential reduction of cost. The O&M of a hybrid power project requires comprehensive knowledge from both technical and managerial points of view. This study focuses on one of the largest existing hybrid wind-diesel power system, the San Cristobal Wind Project. Performance analysis and computer simulation are conducted to illustrate the most representative operational issues. We demonstrate that the wind uncertainty, control strategies, energy storage, and the wind turbine power curve have a significant impact on the performance of the system.

Yu Hu, Mercedes Grijalvo Martín, María Jesús Sánchez, Pablo Solana

### Points of Convergence Between Knowledge Management and Agile Methodologies in Information Technology (IT)

Software companies operate in an environment where there is global competition and demand for innovation is increasing. In these environments, the knowledge generated daily is primarily priority raw material for the development of programs, which will be delivered to increasingly demanding customers. The difficulty in systemizing the process of knowledge creation in order to retain it and improve it, even with the intense changes in staff, in technology and in the defined organizational objectives, is the major challenge for the organizations. The methodologies used in the software development process can influence directly the way knowledge is shared by the team and the customer and in adding value to the final product. The research is relevant due to link agile practices and knowledge management for competitive survival of IT companies. The methodology used was based on exploratory research to establish the theoretical bases of the relevant topics. From this theoretical foundation it was possible to establish the points of convergence between the pillars of Knowledge Management and Agile Methodologies.

Eliane Borges Vaz, Maria do Carmo Duarte Freitas

### Recent Advances in Patent Analysis Network

The databases of patents are considerable, with many authors, as a source of information very valuable within the innovation process. One of the most important methods in patent analysis is based on the citations. The basic concept of patent citation analysis is that there exists a technological linkage between two patents if a patent cites the other. The networks codifying the cited-citing relationship between patents are useful for visualizing the overall status of a given technology and helps the experts in the identification of the technological implications using analysis network techniques. The potential offered by the measuring citations for planning and assessing of policies from Science and Technology is immense. The aim of this paper is to describe the utilities and limitations of the analysis network of patents as well as recent advances.

Javier Gavilanes-Trapote, Rosa Río-Belver, Ernesto Cilleruelo, Jaso Larruscain

### Information Enclosing Knowledge Networks: A Study of Social Relations

We design and test a multiagent-based knowledge-exchange network, the results of which will guide corporate decision-making in this field. Its novelty resides in the application of multiagents to the field of knowledge management. We selected this methodology because it is valid for the purpose of the study, because it generates realistic and practical conclusions and, moreover, because it serves to negotiate the difficulties that these aspects of a qualitative and social nature can in reality imply for the firm. We designed the knowledge network through simulation with multiagents, studying some of their most important parameters. In doing so, we arrived at a set of conclusions, prominent among which are that by using the network, we may easily identify experts, and people that either share or conceal knowledge. The network also helps us locate people with leadership capabilities and those that remain isolated, as well as the formation of subgroups that segregate themselves from the original network and that can set up their own independent relational structures, unsupportive of knowledge exchange.

L. Sáiz-Bárcena, J. I. Díez-Pérez, M. A. Manzanedo del Campo, R. Del Olmo Martínez

### Cost System Under Uncertainty: A Case Study in the Imaging Area of a Hospital

An activity-based costing (ABC) system is based on the premise that activities consume resources and cost objects (e.g. products and services) consume activities. The development of effective costing systems requires a good design of processes and activities. But some business and production systems can be characterized by high levels of uncertainty. In the particular case of hospitals, the amount of resources consumed for the same type of examination by two different patients can be completely different, which may hinder costs and to bias the process of budget planning. This paper presents an ABC costing model for the imaging area of a hospital, including the uncertainty of the processes. A Monte Carlo simulation was made and interesting results were obtained. The probabilistic ABC costing model is a tool that can be used to improve decision making.

Victor Jiménez, Carla Duarte, Paulo Afonso

### Innovation in Consulting Firms: An Area to Explore

Services are the most representative sector in developed economies due to their contribution to GDP and employment. Consulting firms are classified as part of the Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) and provide professional services to all types of organizations. Consulting firms usually innovate with their customers and suppliers in a nurturing environment for value co-creation. This environment is project-based, process-oriented and with intensive knowledge exchange among all stakeholders. Based on literature review, it has been found that despite the existence of frameworks for service innovation, none of them have specifically focused on consulting firms. Further implications on this issue are addressed for both academics and practitioners.

Isaac Lemus-Aguilar, Antonio Hidalgo

### Innovation Capability and the Feeling of Being an Innovative Organization

Companies today compete in a turbulent global environment characterized by considerable technological advance and a knowledge-based economy, and the basis for sustainable competitive advantage has shifted to innovation. Given that a capability is a source of competitive advantage under the Resource Based View (RBV) theory, the development of an innovation capability is a critical factor for success. The aim of this paper is to explore the degree to which certain companies have developed this innovation capability. We also explore the relationship between innovation capability and the feeling of being an innovative organization. Spain is no longer cost competitive, and this fact makes innovation a top priority for the tourism sector. In light of this state of affairs, the study focuses on Spanish hotels because it is expected that such companies have developed this innovation capability.

Marta Zárraga-Rodríguez, M. Jesús Álvarez

### Minimizing Carbon-Footprint of Municipal Waste Separate Collection Systems

Environmental performance of municipal waste management systems plays a key role in the so called smart cities performance. The authors propose a reference framework for public decision-making in optimizing municipal waste separate collection systems. A Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model is built up to set the collecting system (CS) and the optimal level of collection of each fraction. The goal is to minimize carbon footprint of the whole CS. The model is applied to a full-scale case study. Results obtained stress out the effectiveness of the model. Moreover the Environmental Efficiency Effort index is introduced to test the model solution evaluating the attitude of citizens in participating and improving waste separate collection.

Giancarlo Caponio, Giuseppe D’Alessandro, Salvatore Digiesi, Giorgio Mossa, Giovanni Mummolo, Rossella Verriello

### A MILP Model for the Strategic Capacity Planning in Consultancy

This paper deals with the Strategic Capacity Planning problem in knowledge intensive organizations (KIOs), particularly in consulting firms. Considering different characteristics such as the organization structure, the workforce characteristics, the capacity requirements, the capacity decisions or the evaluation criteria in a consulting company, a model based on MILP is developed to be applied to a particular case.

Carme Martínez Costa, Manuel Mateo Doll, Amaia Lusa García

### Forecasting the Big Services Era: Novel Approach Combining Statistical Methods, Expertise and Technology Roadmapping

This paper aims at proposing a novel approach to gathering and structuring information concerning an emerging technology, generating a relevant profile, identifying its past evolution, forecasting the short and medium-term evolution and integrating all of the elements graphically into a hybrid roadmap. The approach combines four families of technological forecasting methods, namely: Statistical Methods in terms of Bibliometrics and Data Mining; Trend Analysis; Descriptive Methods in terms of Technological Roadmapping; and Expertise. Its future application to forecast the evolution of emerging IT trends in current entities, which are creating the Big Services era, is proposed as future work.

Iñaki Bildosola, Rosa Rio-Bélver, Ernesto Cilleruelo
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