The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the use of linear and quadratic approximating response surfaces as metamodels in a reliability assessment of a sheet metal forming process using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Monte Carlo simulation was used to determine the probability for springback and thickness variation in a sheet metal part. The conclusions of this study is that Monte Carlo analysis can be used to identify the most important variables and to estimate the range of the studied responses. Linear metamodels can be used to identify the important variables and to give an estimate of the probabilistic response. But quadratic surfaces are required for a more accurate analysis.

Topology optimization has developed rapidly, primarily with application on linear elastic structures subjected to static loadcases. In its basic form, an approximated optimization problem is formulated using analytical or semi-analytical methods to perform the sensitivity analysis. When an explicit finite element method is used to solve contact–impact problems, the sensitivities cannot easily be found. Hence, the engineer is forced to use numerical derivatives or other approaches. Since each finite element simulation of an impact problem may take days of computing time, the sensitivity-based methods are not a useful approach. Therefore, two alternative formulations for topology optimization are investigated in this work. The fundamental approach is to remove elements or, alternatively, change the element thicknesses based on the internal energy density distribution in the model. There is no automatic shift between the two methods within the existing algorithm. Within this formulation, it is possible to treat nonlinear effects, e.g., contact–impact and plasticity. Since no sensitivities are used, the updated design might be a step in the wrong direction for some finite elements. The load paths within the model will change if elements are removed or the element thicknesses are altered. Therefore, care should be taken with this procedure so that small steps are used, i.e., the change of the model should not be too large between two successive iterations and, therefore, the design parameters should not be altered too much. It is shown in this paper that the proposed method for topology optimization of a nonlinear problem gives similar result as a standard topology optimization procedures for the linear elastic case. Furthermore, the proposed procedures allow for topology optimization of nonlinear problems. The major restriction of the method is that responses in the optimization formulation must be coupled to the thickness updating procedure, e.g., constraint on a nodal displacement, acceleration level that is allowed.

The deregulation and integration of the Nordic electricity market into the European Union's internal electricity market will have a major impact on the current Swedish energy system. In particular, Swedish hydropower, the mainstay of Swedish energy, will have a significantly different role under these new conditions. The price of electricity can logically be expected to rise and to fluctuate more on a daily basis, leading to a considerable increase in profits for suppliers as they adapt their operations.The primary purpose of this study, which forms a basis for further research, is to investigate the fundamental operational changes that will occur when profits are maximised along with their economical effects. It contains, in particular, optimisation calculations which show how hydropower plants must be operated to achieve maximum profit under these new constraints. The larger of the two main models, which have been developed to perform this analysis, represents a vital area in Indalsälven, which contains plants owned by Jämtkraft AB in Östersund, while the smaller is of Stångån with plants owned by Tekniska Verken AB in Linköping.The results show that revenue will generally double when hydropower operations are altered from the traditional yearly based focus to a more day to day focus as the border of the energy system expands and the electricity markets of today are integrated into a homogeneous deregulated European one.

Avregleringen och integreringen av den nordiska elmarknaden i unionens inre elmarknad kommer att ge stora effekter på det nuvarande svenska energisystemet. I synnerhet vattenkraften som har varit en av grundpelarna i detta, kommer att spela en signifikant annorlunda roll under dessa nya omständigheter. Priset på el kan logiskt förväntas stiga och anta en mer dygnsvarierande karaktär än tidigare vilket kommer att ge avsevärt högre vinster då producenterna kommer att anpassa driften efter detta.I den här studien som utgör ett fundament för vidare forskning utreds i första hand de grundläggande driftsändringar som kommer att inträffa då vinsten maximeras men även den ekonomiska aspekten på detsamma kartläggs. Studien omfattar i huvudsak optimerande beräkningar som visar hur vattenkraftverken kommer att drivas för att uppnå en maximal avkastning utefter dessa nya randvillkor. Modellerna som har utvecklats för att analysera detta avbildar ett stycke från Indalsälven med anläggningar ägda av Jämtkraft i Östersund som storskaligt tillämpningsexempel samt en mindre modell som beskriver ett stycke av Stångån med anläggningar ägda av Tekniska Verken i Linköping. Modellerna analyserar en mängd olika scenarion vad gäller vattentillgång med medeltillrinning samt en mängd autentiska årstillrinningar.Resultaten visar i stort att intäkten kommer att fördubblas då driften ändras från den traditionellt årsfokuserade till en mer dygnsvarierad, då systemgränserna utvidgas i och med integreringen i en europeisk avreglerad elmarknad.

It is ideas that act as initiators of new product development projects. In the literature, ideas for the development of new products are found to originate from different sources both external and internal to an organisation. For example, formalised product development processes use customer surveys and technology development in order to find ideas for new products while integration with a lot of other idea sources is less evident. Some organisations have identified this weakness and created arenas where ideas can be discussed and exchanged between individuals. One example of an arena is idea management systems, which are formal ways of capturing, examining, nurturing, storing and developing ideas created in an organisation. In this paper, the role of idea management systems in three multinational Swedish organisations is studied. The findings suggest that idea management systems can be used to introduce and strengthen the innovation capability of an organisation.

During the past 20 years, there has been steady growth not only in the service sector but also in the service content of most products. Traditional manufacturing companies have become more dependent on the services they provide and this part of their business is very important for their business result. A large proportion of the activities in these traditional manufacturing companies consists of activities related to services. This will place new demands on how these organizations work with quality management and on how they manage their product development process. With an increased attention to services, the ability to incorporate new knowledge regarding the service part of products in product development will become all the more important.

The overall purpose of this thesis is to contribute empirical evidence and knowledge in quality management. During the course of the research process, both survey and case study research have been conducted. Two of the surveys are cross-sectional investigations of quality practices in Swedish organizations. The third study using survey data is an investigation of the relationship between quality and customer satisfaction. The three case studies have been conducted in order to better understand how Swedish organizations work to improve their product development process.

A contribution of this research is the framework for linking quality practices to performance. Such a framework makes it possible to identify how product and service companies are both similar and different with respect to the effects of quality practices on customer satisfaction and business results. The results of the empirical investigation show that quality management processes work differently depending on the product versus service nature of a company and the associated production processes.

In addition, a quality perspective on continuous improvement in product development is presented. The investigation of improvement programs and quality principles shows that there are distinct differences between the three case companies. Different quality principles are promoted and the meaning of the quality principles is different. The research strengthens the claim that organizations introducing improvement programs without considering the related quality principles cannot expect the same results as organizations where improvement programs and principles work in harmony.