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L’impacte de les noves tecnologies en la societat en que vivim és innegable, aquestes ja formen part de la nostra vida laboral, social i privada. Part d’aquest impacte és degut a la importància d’uns petits components electrònics anomenats xips, també coneguts com a semiconductors, aquests components es troben en la majoria d’aparells electrònics que fem usar al nostre dia a dia. L’objectiu d’aquest treball és entendre la fragilitat de la cadena de valor global d’aquests semiconductors, o xips, i veure la història, les crisis i les oportunitats que aquesta cadena ha tingut als últims anys. També es pretén conèixer quins són els punts més crítics d’aquesta cadena de valor, aquelles empreses o països sense els quals la cadena falla del tot. La informació que es dona en el treball prové en molts casos de les mateixes empreses involucrades en la indústria dels semiconductors, sobretot quan es tracta de valors de mercat o vendes, però en altres casos prové d’anàlisis fets en llibres, d’articles publicats o vídeo–reportatges. Finalment les conclusions del treball són diverses. La primera de totes és que la cadena de valor global tractada al treball és una de molt fràgil a causa de la seva poca diversitat, ja que unes poques empreses es reparteixen tota la influencia, i canvis sobtats com la crisi de la COVID-19 causen greus problemes de subministrament. En segon lloc, cal destacar alguns dels punts crítics analitzats al treball, com pot ser l’empresa TSMC (Taiwan) que és la més important de les empreses productores de xips i que aporta el 90% dels xips d’última generació a nivell mundial. Finalment, una última conclusió és que aquesta indústria és una encara emergent, i que no farà més que guanyar importància en el futur, a causa d’això diferents països, regions o empreses ja estan preparant-se per les oportunitats que pot portar, El impacto de las nuevas tecnologías en la sociedad en la que vivimos es innegable; estas ya forman parte de nuestra vida laboral, social y privada. Parte de este impacto se debe a la importancia de unos pequeños componentes electrónicos llamados chips, o semiconductores, que se encuentran en la mayoría de los dispositivos electrónicos que utilizamos en nuestro día a día. El objetivo de este trabajo es entender la fragilidad de la cadena de valor global de estos semiconductores, o chips, y ver la historia, las crisis y oportunidades que esta cadena ha tenido en los últimos años. También se pretende conocer cuáles son los puntos más críticos de esta cadena de valor, es decir, las empresas o países sin los cuales la cadena falla por completo. La información que se presenta en el trabajo proviene en muchos casos de las mismas empresas involucradas en la industria de los semiconductores, especialmente cuando se trata de valores de mercado o ventas. Sin embargo, en otros casos, la información proviene de análisis realizados en libros, de artículos publicados o video-reportajes. Finalmente, las conclusiones del trabajo son diversas. La primera de todas es que la cadena de valor global tratada en el trabajo es una muy frágil debido a su poca diversidad, ya que unas pocas empresas se reparten toda la influencia, y cambios abruptos como la crisis de la COVID-19 causan graves problemas de suministro. En segundo lugar, cabe destacar algunos de los puntos críticos analizados en el trabajo, como la empresa TSMC (Taiwán), que es la más importante de las empresas productoras de chips y que aporta el 90% de los chips de última generación a nivel mundial. Finalmente, otra conclusión es que esta industria aún está emergiendo y que solo ganará más importancia en el futuro, por lo que diferentes países, regiones o empresas ya se están preparando para las oportunidades que puede traer, The impact of new technologies on the society we live in is undeniable; these devices are already part of our work, studies, and private lives. Part of this impact is due to the importance of small electronic components called chips, also known as semiconductors, which are found in most electronic devices we use in our daily lives. The aim of this project is to understand the fragility of the global value chain of these semiconductors, or chips, and to examine the history, crises, and opportunities that this chain has faced in recent years. Another objective of the work is to identify the most critical points in this value chain, those companies or countries without which the chain would fail completely. The information provided in the work often comes from the companies involved in the semiconductor industry, especially when it comes to market values or sales. In other cases, the information comes from analyses in books, especially from the book, from published articles or video reports. Finally, the conclusions of the work are diverse. The first one is that the global value chain discussed in the work is one that is very fragile due to its lack of diversity, where just a few companies share all the influence, and sudden changes like the COVID-19 crisis cause serious supply problems. Secondly, it is worth highlighting some of the critical points analyzed in the work, such as the company TSMC (Taiwan), which is the most important among chip-producing companies and provides 90% of the latest generation chips worldwide. Finally, another conclusion is that this industry is still emerging and will only gain more importance in the future. As a result, different countries, regions, or companies are already preparing for the opportunities it may bring

The aim of this project was to design a shoulder rehabilitation machine tailored for elderly individuals, focusing solely on the mechanical aspect initially. Following industry-standard and safety-regarding methodology, the specific rehabilitation needs of the elderly population were identified, and detailed specifications and requirements were established. A design concept was proposed and evaluated, with the selected concept being further developed to address the identified rehabilitation needs effectively, meeting all the previously specified requirements. Risk assessment methodology has been carried out, deeply defining the limits of the designed machine, identifying the potential hazards, estimating and evaluating the risks and proposing the first iteration of safety measures to be furtherly implemented. Basic design has been developed, by considering weights and dimensions of the mechanical components, considering factors such as ease of use, comfort, and safety for elderly users. Also material selection was carefully assessed, taking into account properties like durability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. More detailed design was materialised via virtual CAD model, which has been created using SolidWorks software, allowing for detailed visualisation and refinement of the design. Structural analysis was conducted using SolidWorks FEM simulations to ensure the mechanical integrity and safety of the machine. Optimisation was performed based on the results of the structural analysis to enhance the machine's performance while minimising its weight and ensuring it met safety standards for elderly users. Finally, the project's technical and economic feasibility was assessed, documenting the manufacturing and assembly processes, as well as considering factors such as environmental impact and budget constraints specific to the development of a shoulder rehabilitation machine for elderly individuals.

The aforementioned work centres on demonstrating the significance and efficacy of collaboration, as well as its various manifestations, within corporate settings. In the contemporary era, characterised by the ubiquitous phenomenon of globalisation and the convergence of diverse business domains, I have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the nature of collaboration, its applications, and advantages. The introductory chapter, titled "The Theory of Collaboration," expounds upon various facets of inter-organizational collaboration. These include an elucidation of the definition and characteristics of collaboration, the diverse types of collaborative relationships, the entities involved in collaboration, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of collaborative efforts. Inter-organizational collaboration pertains to the phenomenon wherein two or more autonomous organisations collaborate to attain shared business objectives that are beyond the capacity of a single organisation to accomplish. Collaboration can manifest in diverse forms, including but not limited to business amalgamations, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, strategic alliances, and business networks. Each of the aforementioned forms exhibits unique characteristics and distinctions; however, the fundamental component that underlies all of them is inter-organizational collaboration. Collaborative partners play a crucial role in the process of inter-organizational collaboration. Inter-organizational collaboration is a phenomenon that can occur among diverse entities such as competitors, customers, suppliers, and other companies within the same industry or sector. In order to attain shared objectives, collaborative partners ought to exhibit reciprocal trust, transparency, and comprehension. The collaboration between organisations yields several advantages, including enhanced resource utilisation, heightened innovation, superior market positioning, and improved financial outcomes. Simultaneously, it i

Wastewater treatment plays a crucial role in preserving the environment and public health, particularly by promoting access to clean water and sanitation, which is a fundamental human right. Moreover, in a world where many still lack access to safe drinking water services, the increasing risks of water scarcity due to the climate crisis underscore the urgent need for effective water resource management. The Downflow Hanging Sponge (DHS) process is a promising technology that utilizes vertical sponges to facilitate the growth of microorganisms, providing a cost-effective and highly efficient system for wastewater treatment compared to other conventional aerobic processes. Additionally, the use of Pure Oxygen (PO) has garnered attention for its significant potential in enhancing treatment performance compared to traditional aeration methods. Consequently, combining Downflow Hanging Sponge (DHS) systems with pure oxygen supply could present a suitable solution for treating urban effluents in areas with limited resources. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the impact of supplying pure oxygen on the performance of Downflow Hanging Sponge (DHS) systems treating municipal wastewater. The study involved a four-month experiment with two reactors (control and treatment) conducted in two phases (stabilization and operation), where pure oxygen was supplied during the operation phase to assess its effects on the system's performance. Different analyses were conducted, such as pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammonium (NH4), Nitrites (NO2), and Nitrates (NO3), using standardized analytical models to assess the water quality and evaluate the treatment efficiency of the system. Also, a taxonomical microbiological analysis was conducted on the initial inoculum sourced from a wastewater treatment plant in Nagaoka (Japan) to determine the composition and diversity of microorganisms present in the system at the start of the experiment. R

Torque control techniques have been proven to control robotic arms more adaptive and safely, adding accuracy to the robot and thus allowing a wide range of applications in which uncertainties are existent such as the presence of humans in the workspace or working with materials with different stiffness. In order to implement torque control, an awareness of the aggregate of torques intervening in the system to control is needed, separating the internal torques caused by elements in the robot itself and the external torques caused by external elements. Therefore, general solution uses torque sensors to measure the external torques. Torque sensors give information with much noise, and also increase the budget, making it more expensive their use in industrial applications, together with the collocation problem present in their correct positioning on the design. Furthermore, sensors add weight, increasing the inertia of the dynamic system which makes the control of the robot more complex and computationally expensive. Moreover, stable contact with the environment is difficult when a torque sensor is used because of its soft mechanical structure and narrow bandwidth of torque sensing [1]. In this thesis, a disturbance observer (DOb) and a reaction torque observer (RTOb) are proposed, implemented and validated in a 1 DoF geared robotic arm system for torque estimation purposes, and their performance has been compared with torque sensor information. The correct functioning of disturbance observers on a geared system also add difficulty to the system due to non-linearities on the friction on the reduction gear. Moreover, simulations have been carried out and experimental data has been collected in order to validate the observers and the control algorithm diagram. With the real system mounted, tests have been performed to find the parameters that define the system dynamics accordingly. With the parameters found, the implementation in the real system of the control loop has be

Nissan Motor Corporation efectuó el cierre de su planta productiva ubicada en la Zona Franca, Barcelona, en diciembre de 2020, forzando el cierre de otros dos centros productivos en la región y suponiendo la pérdida de 23 mil empleos, de los cuales 3 mil eran directos y 20 mil indirectos(1). Dicho cierre tuvo un coste aproximado de 1.450M€(2)<. El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación ha sido averiguar los motivos detrás de dicho cierre, así como los motivos que llevaron a Nissan a cerrar la planta de Barcelona y no otra de sus plantas en Europa, luego poder fundamentar cada uno de esos motivos con algo tangible, establecer un orden de relevancia, elaborar un árbol de decisión y extraer algunas lecciones. Para alcanzar dicho objetivo, primero se ha elaborado un marco teórico que cubre los cierres de plantas productivas en empresas multinacionales, y se ha realizado un análisis general del sector de la automoción, así como un análisis histórico, corporativo, operativo y financiero a Nissan Motor Corporation y a su filial española Nissan Motor Ibérica. Después, se ha elaborado una lista de los motivos del cierre basándose en la información investigada y se han clasificado los motivos en distintas categorías, finalmente elaborando un árbol de decisión con aquellos motivos más relevantes según su impacto con el cierre, haciendo también una comparativa con el marco teórico inicial y extrayendo algunas lecciones. Tras la investigación, se ha determinado que los principales motivos de cerrar la fábrica de Barcelona fueron, en primer lugar, los pobres resultados de la empresa a nivel global, seguido de la decisión de reorganizar la alianza y las presiones de relocalización de fábricas por parte del gobierno francés, posteriormente los elevados costes y los pobres resultados de la fábrica de Barcelona, para terminar con los factores nacionales de distanciamiento por parte de los gobiernos y de inestabilidad política en la región de Cataluña, la posibilidad de trasladar l, La planta catalana de Nissan: motivos y lecciones de su cierre 4 Resum Nissan motor Corporation va efectuar el tancament de la seva planta productiva ubicada a la Zona ranca, Barcelona, al desembre de 2020, forçant el tancament de dos altres centres productius a la regió y suposant la pèrdua de 3 mil llocs de treball directes i 20 mil indirectes(1). El tancament va tenir un cost aproximat de 1.450M€(2). L’objectiu d’aquest treball d’investigació ha estat trobar els motius darrere del tancament i de perquè va tancar Nissan la planta de Barcelona i no una altre planta europea, poder fonamentar cadascun dels motius amb alguna informació tangible, establir un ordre de rellevància, elaborar un arbre de decisió i extreure algunes lliçons. Per arribar al objectiu, primer s’ha elaborat un marc teòric que cobreixi els tancaments de les plantes productives en companyies multinacionals, i s’ha realitzat un anàlisi general del sector de la automoció, així com un anàlisi històric , corporatiu, operatiu i financer de Nissan Motor Corporation i de la seva filial espanyola Nissan Motor Ibérica. Després s’ha elaborat una llista dels motius del tancament basant-se en la informació investigada i s’han classificat els motius en diferents categories, finalment elaborant un arbre de decisió amb aquells motius més rellevants en funció del seu impacte en el tancament, fent també una comparativa amb el marc teòric inicial i extraient algunes lliçons. Després de la investigació, s'ha determinat que els motius principals de tancar la fàbrica de Barcelona van ser, en primer lloc, els pobres resultats de l'empresa a nivell global, seguit de la decisió de reorganitzar l'aliança i les pressions de relocalització de fàbriques per part del govern francès, posteriorment els elevats costos i els pobres resultats de la fàbrica de Barcelona, per acabar amb els factors nacionals de distanciament per part dels governs i d'inestabilitat política a la regió de Catalunya, la possibilitat de traslladar la pr, Nissan Motor Corporation proceeded with the closure of its productive plant located in Zona Franca, Barcelona, in December 2020, driving the shutdown of two other productive centers in the region and implying the loss of 3 thousand direct jobs and 20 thousand indirect jobs(1). The closure had an approximate cost of 1.450M€(2). The objective of this investigation project has been to find out the reasons that support the closure of the plant and those that explain why Nissan closed its plant in Barcelona and not another of its European plants, then be able to support each of the reasons with something tangible, state an importance list of the reasons, elaborate a decision tree, and extract several lessons. To reach the objective, the investigation starts with the elaboration of a theorical backbone that covers the closure of productive plants in multinational companies, then follows with a general analysis on the automotive sector, and then with a historical, corporative, operative, and financial analysis on Nissan Motor Corporation and its Spanish subsidiary Nissan Motor Ibérica. Afterwards, a list of the reasons behind the closure supported by the previous investigation has been elaborated, finally proceeding with the selection of the most relevant reasons based on their impact on the closure, also comparing the conclusions with the initial theoretical backbone of the investigation, extracting several lessons. After the investigation, it has been determined that the main reasons for closing the Barcelona factory were, firstly, the poor results of the company globally, followed by the decision to reorganize the alliance and the pressures for the relocation of factories by the French government, then the high costs and the poor results of the Barcelona factory, the national factors of distancing by governments and political instability in the region of Catalonia, the possibility of transferring production to England, the free trade agreement in Japan and finally the e

This thesis assesses the robustness of the design of an existing test rig used to calibrate clamp-on multi-axial moment sensors. The test bench was designed to recreate different loading conditions involving bending, torsion and a combination of both. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed to identify the test rig by performing static and modal analysis. Several assumptions were done during the modelling of the setup, and a simplified version of the test rig was used for the static analysis. Based on the results of the different analysis, some suggestions are done to improve the test rig design and its performance. Using a finite element model to test different design updates leads to a reduction of the time and costs in the design process. The main proposed changes in the design include a different way of applying torsional load to ensure that the input torque using a wrench is the same as the output, and some updates in the housing of the test rig to increase its stiffness. This improves the torsional and bending stiffness and gives a higher quasi-static behaviour frequency range

During the course of this project, the A3 methodology has been rigorously followed in order to improve the original situation, in addition with the different lean tools and principles that have defined the theoretical framework of the project. Thus, the initial scenario has been defined and quantified, and the relevance of the project for the company has been evaluated. It has been observed that one of the biggest areas for improvement, due to its high impact on OEE, was the batch change, so the project has focused on them. Subsequently, some goals have been established to be reached with the improvement project, in order to be able to benchmark the results obtained. Once it was clear, using techniques such as the "5-Why's" and the Ishikawa diagram, a selection of possible causes that affected the problem was successfully identified. To mitigate or eliminate these causes, countermeasures have been developed. These countermeasures have been implemented following a defined roadmap and the results from the final scenario have been monitored. Thanks to the implemented countermeasures, a very positive outcome has been obtained, reducing the batch change time from 72 minutes to 58 minutes, exceeding the nice-to-have target, and the SKU change time from 46,4 minutes to 41,8 minutes, reaching the must-have target. In order to maintain this improvement and to prevent it from reverting to the original situation, some control charts have been designed to identify any out-of-control observation, analyse it, and detect the possible causes. To continue striving for the best, some future development countermeasures have been designed and presented, ready to be implemented in the future by the company.