[dipl] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI

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Browsing [dipl] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI by Department "Department of Industrial Engineering and Management"

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  • Enabling Closed Loop Lifecycle Management with Information Exchange Standards
    (2013) Maharjan, Merina
     School of Science | Master's thesis
    Today, the manufacturing industry is focusing on the customer oriented service. This requires appropriate product lifecycle knowledge in order to facilitate product servicing and the design of next generation of products. A concept called Closed Loop Lifecycle Management (CL2M) is developed as an extension to traditional Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). CL2M enables the desired information gathering, processing and exchange throughout the whole life of an entity from beginning, through middle to end of life. A key challenge for the implementation of CL2M is when the information is distributed; a standard becomes essential concerning the format of data and way to exchange it. The objective of this thesis is to define such a messaging standard that aids in seamless information flow and exchange of information in CL2M. The Quantum Lifecycle Management (QLM) messaging standard is currently being developed. The standard is derived from PROMISE Messaging Interface (PMI) developed in the PROMISE EU project in 2008. In this thesis, the power consumption monitoring application example presents the implementation of QLM messaging standard. During the study, similar standards that are already exist is found, and compared with QLM. Furthermore, two application cases have been addressed in the thesis to enable information flow visibility and exchange in a real manufacturing scenario. QLM is developed for Internet of Things (IoT) as an information exchange standards for information flow between any kinds of intelligent products, devices, users and information systems and to close the information loop in CL2M.
  • Growth and internationalization of venture capital backed technology-based new companies
    (2008) Rönkkö, Perttu S.
     Faculty of Information and Natural Sciences | Master's thesis
    Previous research on growth models of companies has been focusing on modeling the growth of a company through a sequence of developmental stages. The stages models offer a simple, easy to understand framework to deal with the rather complex phenomenon of corporate growth. However, there are clear deficiencies which compromise the idea of stages models. A large number of different versions of stages models have been published, but yet there is not a widely accepted model. The purpose of this study is to establish a new conceptual framework for modeling the growth and internationalization of venture capital backed technology-based new companies. Based on the literature review and expert interviews, a new model is developed by applying a process view of the corporate growth. The model conceptualizes the growth and value creation of a technology-based new company, while using milestone achievement as the primarily input. The model is based on the idea of four parallel processes: 1) Value creation process, 2) Technology and product development process, 3) Business development process, and 4) Network and market development process. The Value creation process is seen as the backbone of the model, as the value creation is the ultimate target of a venture capital backed company. To map the development of a company on each one of the four processes, a set of key milestones has been composed. The new model developed in this study is further validated and tested through eight exploratory case studies. The case companies were selected from the Finnish ICT cluster. The case studies include detailed case descriptions, but the core of the case studies is the mapping of the acquired milestone information to the new model. The initial model is then further supplemented and finalized based on the case studies. As a result, the final evolution model for a technology-based new company is obtained. Key findings of the study include the discovery of different patterns of evolution revealed by the milestone mapping and the role of venture capital investors in accelerating the milestone achievement. Implications for entrepreneurs and recommendations for further research are also presented.
  • Large patent portfolio optimization
    (2007) Orelma, Heli
     Master's thesis
    This master's thesis studies the systematic management and optimization of large patent portfolio. The objective is to explore the main characteristics of large patent portfolio management and to create systematical logic for the selection and management processes. The created logic will also be tested in a practical case. The study is constructive and it is conducted as an action research. It combines both qualitative and quantitative data. The main emphasis of the research is the computational management of patents as a portfolio. The questions concerned are business decision making choices and the study doesn't cover questions like the exact valuation of a single patent or patent portfolio. The studied industry assumed to be the electronic and telecommunication industry. First, the study explores the management of patents as a whole. Subsequently, different mathematical and computational methods are explored to understand, what kind of model and algorithm is needed. A model for managing patents computationally is presented as well as an algorithm for defining which patents should be studied for the decision of discarding them. The procedures also help to evaluate, which parts of the portfolio need additional investments. Finally, the study and assumptions beneath are discussed. The study contributed to the existing knowledge by studying the factors affecting decisions about large patent portfolios and presented a model for the discarding process. It helps the managerial practices by listing the possible patents that could be further studied for discarding decisions. Additionally, it can help to justify the decisions of adding, keeping and discarding patents.
  • Mobile Internet usage measurements : case Finland
    (2006) Kivi, Antero
     Master's thesis
    Mobile Internet is the outcome of two intense and global trends of the recent years: mobile/wireless and the Internet. Despite the potential the hundreds of millions of new mobile devices sold globally each year present, little information on mobile data service usage apart from mobile operator portals is currently available. In this research, mobile Internet usage was measured in fall 2005 using three fundamentally different methods to answer the question What are the characteristics of consumer mobile Internet usage in Finland? First, data on 80-90% of all Finnish mobile subscribers and terminals was collected with mobile operators' charging-oriented reporting systems. The observed Finnish mobile terminal installed base was old and did not widely support key features for data usage as e.g. packet data capability was in 48% and WCDMA capability in less than 1% of terminals. Nokia's market share was a remarkable 87%. Smartphones constituted 6% of all terminals, over 99% of which were Nokia's Symbian handsets and one third of these Nokia communicators. The terminal base was fairly concentrated as the 50 most common models made up 88% of all terminals. Some 92-94% of all mobile subscribers were postpaid subscribers, 75% of them consumers. While 99% of consumers had operators' default usage-based packet data tariff plan, the remaining 1% created 82% of all consumer subscriber packet data traffic. Second, 50% of all Finnish mobile network packet data traffic was captured in TCP/IP header collection -based measurements. Strikingly, the Windows operating system originated 65% of all packet data traffic in mobile networks. Moreover, VPN usage created 46% of traffic volume leading to a very high 85% share of UDP traffic. The Internet APN accounted for 90% of all packet data traffic. Third, a panel of 500 Finnish Symbian S60 handsets was monitored with software installed in the handsets. Panelists with higher radio capability handsets used packet data more frequently and in higher volumes. Data usage volumes were also higher for users with relatively cheaper fixed fee packet data plans. Operator sites and infotainment dominated web/wap site visits with 32% and 33% shares of all visits. Using handset as a modem formed a 21-25% part of all smartphone data traffic. The most active 20% of data users created 80% of traffic, even when modem traffic was excluded. Browsing was the most important data application area with a 72% share of non-modem traffic, and its relative share increased with data usage volume. In conclusion, Finnish mobile data usage is currently business driven. Traffic to non-operator controlled sites appears to be important. The usage of 3G terminals and effectively flat-rate packet data tariffs seems to increase data usage considerably, and browser is a central application also in mobiles. Mobile operators are recommended to include items on off portal traffic to their regular reporting. Similar measurements enabling evaluation of the development of Finnish mobile data usage should be repeated. The measurement methods could also be productized or sold to operators as a service by a 3rd party. Potential ways to utilize the handset-based data are numerous.
  • Post-acquisition performance of active acquirers of divested assets in the software industry
    (2008) Junna, Olli
     Faculty of Information and Natural Sciences | Master's thesis
    Corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are a popular means by which companies pursue various strategic objectives. However, studies show that M&As on average do not produce positive returns to the acquirer. Furthermore, the existing research on factors contributing to acquisition performance is inconclusive at best. This study complements the existing research on M&A performance by focusing on acquisitions of divestments as a distinct subset of all acquisitions. Besides individual acquisitions, the study considers multiple acquisition programs, continuing the research stream initiated at Helsinki University of Technology. The aim is to find out if acquisitions of divestitures perform on average better than acquisitions of stand-alone firms both in the short and long run. The objective is also to determine what factors affect the performance of acquirers of divested assets. The sample used in this study consists of a total of 1,143 acquisitions undertaken by the 60 most active acquirers during the time period 1988-2005, where the acquirer operated in the US software industry. The data was analyzed by multivariate regression, using the event study methodology for individual acquisitions, and panel regression for acquisition programs. Performance was measured by the acquirer's market value change. The results show that both the short and long term average performance of acquirers buying divested assets was above average. The returns are significantly higher when the divested target enjoys a better fit with the acquirer than with the divesting parent. Also the long term performance of acquirers classified as "strategic" based on their systematic acquisition behavior was found significantly positive. On the other hand, divestiture acquisitions bought from a financially distressed parent contributed negatively to long-term market value. The deal price of divestiture acquisitions did not have a significant effect according to this study. This study makes a valuable contribution to existing research by showing a positive relationship between divestiture acquisitions and buyer performance. The result has implications to corporate managers who plan to use M&As as a strategic move. Furthermore, the study opens up various questions for further research in terms of divestiture acquisitions and acquisition programs. Through triangulation by multiple methods using different time frames it also raises some methodological concerns regarding the prevalence of short-term measures in existing acquisition research.
  • Pricing of exotic foreign exchange rate options
    (2008) Eloranta, Antti
     Faculty of Information and Natural Sciences | Master's thesis
    The popularity of exotic foreign exchange rate options has grown rapidly during the past decade. High profit margins and rapid market growth have made the market particularly lucrative for the banks. On the other hand, the correct pricing of exotic options requires more sophisticated models than the traditional Black-Scholes. The objective of this thesis is to build, implement, and validate a pricing model for the exotic foreign exchange rate options. Based on previous research, this thesis models the stochastic behavior of the foreign exchange rates as a stochastic volatility – jump-diffusion process with piecewise constant model parameters. The process is defined in both continuous and discrete times. The continuous time process is used for pricing European options in a semi-closed form, which enables an efficient model calibration. The discrete time model is used for pricing exotic options with Monte Carlo. The model is calibrated using a method customized specifically for the purposes of this thesis. The model is validated by analyzing its performance with real market data from the beginning of July to the end of August 2007. The convergence of the closed-form and Monte Carlo solution option prices shows that the model is internally consistent. The comparison of the model implied and market implied option prices indicate that the model is market consistent. The analysis of the robustness suggests that the model and its calibration are mathematically meaningful.
  • Reengineering a physical distribution network in the sport instruments industry
    (2008) Kauppinen, Petteri
     Faculty of Information and Natural Sciences | Master's thesis
    Today's fierce competitive environment drives companies to seek competitive advantage from their supply chains. Earlier companies focused on cost reduction, but now the ever changing environment forces companies to increase the responsiveness of their supply chains. Agility and flexibility are today's paradigms towards to more responsive supply chain. This research studies the design of physical distribution network. This research contains two parts. First part, theoretical is based on supply chain management, physical distribution and performance management. Empirical part applies the knowledge build during the theoretical part in Finnish based sport instrument company. The main research question is "What is the optimal physical distribution network for Case Company?". Literature part presents a general framework for companies how to analyze their supply chains and products to devise optimal physical distribution networks. To devise the optimal distribution network company has to go through four steps. First is to define the nature of product, second is to decide priorities in the supply chain, third to define a proposal for the optimal distribution network and fourth to use performance measures to define optimal distribution network. Empirical part analyzed Case Company using the framework that literature review presented. Author conducted the four step analysis presented above in the empirical part. The research approach of thesis was constructive and also principles of the case study approach were applied. The findings of empirical part show that companies whose products' demand patterns are unpredictable and the supply chain requires agile and flexible performance, deliveries directly to retailers can be lucrative choice when considering physical distribution structure. Depending on the As-Is state of physical distribution there is possibility to shorten total order cycle time and cut inventory levels. Distance to customer is not measured anymore in kilometers, but in time. This research shows that Case Company can be nearer to customer in time when the location of distribution centre is further. Direct delivery is possible to implement without increasing logistics cost. Direct retail deliveries will increase the costs of pollution, because companies need use more airfreight to meet the customer requirements. Direct retail deliveries are more attracting choice when delivering goods from east to west. This is due to time difference between consignor and consignee.
  • Sataman kapasiteettijoustavuus
    (2010) Kauhaniemi, Marjo
     School of Science | Master's thesis
    The trade volume capacity of a domestic short-sea port may adjust to meet surge demand with the availability of supplementary berths, ramps, personnel and handling equipment. National disruptions may force the operators to reroute vessels. The destination port should have enough capacity to cope with the increased volume. High utility levels create bottlenecks if processes are not entirely adjusted. The unloading of semi-trailers contains three main process stages each of them having typical restrictions and bottlenecks. If the port systems and process stages have enough capacity flexibility the throughput of the port can be increased. In this work the method for measuring capacity flexibility in one of Finland's short-sea Roll on - Roll off (RoRo) ports was developed. The scope of the work was to search for the throughput measurements and capacity levels of semi-trailer operations. The theoretical models used were the Theory of Constraints, planning for bottlenecks and short-sea freight transport and port systems. The study used port operator statistics from October 2009. The empirical element included the analysis of Vuosaari RoRo traffic, port system infrastructure and port operator processes. Bottlenecks were identified as well as current capacity additions. Based on the model, an excel-sheet was developed to visualize the situations where either the capacity of port is used to the maximum. After that point, capacity flexibility no longer exists. The excel-sheet was also used to test new capacity extensions and the effects of them. The replacement of the original port with a smaller port was analysed. The results of the study show that if short-sea ports support each other, the planning should be placed on bottlenecks. If physical constraints create restrictions, capacity may be added if processes are modified. The throughput of a system will partly adjust to the demands if closely managed. Another option is to increase the size of the port. Other results are the process description of semi-trailer yard operations, capacity problems, throughput variations and capacity extensions needed to enhance port capacity flexibility. The current practice is to measure the throughput and the capacity needs of the vessel unloading process. Measuring maximum capacity levels of semi-trailer operations highlights the bottlenecks in yard operations and could solve the problems in bottleneck management. Maximum level utilization also measures capacity flexibility. Using smaller ports in national disruptions will create capacity problems when the size of the port cannot be increased. Therefore planning for and measuring maximum capacity levels better reflects capacity flexibility of a short-sea RoRo port.
  • Terveydenhuollon vuosittaisten kustannusten ennustettavuus kuntanäkökulmasta
    (2008) Malmström, Tomi
     Faculty of Information and Natural Sciences | Master's thesis
    Small municipalities have difficulties to prepare to fluctuation of healthcare expenses in Finland. Especially fluctuation of hospital care expenses may be very remarkably. The main objective of this study is to clarify the predictability of annual healthcare expenses. Predictability of annual healthcare expenses is examined through the effect of expensive patients. Time series are used to analyze fluctuation of annual healthcare expenses. Research data have been gathered from municipalities of Vantaa, Kalajoki and Kuusamo. Findings of data gathered from Vantaa are compared to Kalajoki and Kuusamo. Simulated municipalities are used to analyze the effect of municipality's size to fluctuation of annual healthcare expenses. There are specific illnesses which are rare, hard to predict and expensive. These illnesses have a great effect on the fluctuation of hospital care expenses. Excluding these illnesses it is possible to predict annual healthcare expenses also in small municipalities. Larger population makes predictability better. Already a population of 10 000 considerably diminishes the significance of very expensive illnesses. Insurance can be used to prepare to the very expensive patients. Insurance pool used in Finland is not certainly equal to all small municipalities. By developing new insurance systems the position of small municipalities can be improved. New insurance systems could help municipalities to cope with surprising expenses of hospital care patients.