scholarly journals Influence of Building Characteristics and Building Lifespan on Condominium Operating Expenses

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Sittiporn Issarasak ◽  
Sarich Chotipanich ◽  
Michael Pitt
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Service Life ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Budget Planning ◽  
Building Component ◽  
Building Characteristics ◽  
Cross Case Analysis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Component Replacement

This paper is an exploration of building lifespan, building characteristics, and operating expenses. The main objectives are to identify the building component lifespan, including architectural components and engineering components, to determine the pattern of building component replacement life cycle and to examine the relationship between building characteristics and facility operating expenses. The investigation was undertaken through a study of thirty-nine residential condominiums located in Bangkok. The expense data were collected through document searches and surveys with key juristic persons of each condominium. The building service life document was collected from international references and standards. The data were examined using cross-case analysis to identify the lifespan of the buildings and to identify the relationships between the condominium operating expenses and the characteristics of the buildings. It was found that the typical building replacements occur on a broad 60-year cycle that can be subdivided into several phases. Further findings indicate that a significant pattern of building component replacement shifts every two decades through the building lifespan. It was also found that the condominium operating expenses vary according to the building age and building characteristics. Direct variation, inverse variation, and joint variation from the characteristics of the condominium building can be identified. The findings add to the understanding of condominium operating expenses based on building characteristics. The study can provide a reference for consideration of building selection criteria and replacement plans, and for building budget planning based on age and building characteristics. 

Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms and Global R&D Operations in MNCs

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 1550011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Song ◽  
Jinping Zhu ◽  
Jonas Rundquist
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Expatriate Management ◽  
Communication Frequency ◽  
Cross Case Analysis ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Transfer Mechanisms

With the development of globalization, companies will need worldwide resources for R&D. Multinational corporations (MNCs) will rely on their subunits located in different countries for R&D. As a result, knowledge transfer between headquarters and subunits or among subunits will be crucial for MNCs to operate their R&D activities. This study explores the relationship between knowledge transfer and R&D operations, using a qualitative research approach including four multinational companies. We conducted a cross-case analysis connecting four R&D configurations and two knowledge transfer mechanisms: expatriate management policy and communication frequency. Results show that both transfer mechanisms are very important for MNCs for the management of knowledge transfer in global R&D operations. However, each of these mechanisms will need a different focus depending on R&D strategy and configuration. The paper summarizes recommendations for managers as drawn from these insights.

scholarly journals The Stochastic Annuity Method for Supporting Maintenance Costs Planning and Durability in the Construction Sector: A Simulation on a Building Component

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2909
Author(s):  
Elena Fregonara ◽  
Diego Giuseppe Ferrando
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Service Life ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Annual Cost ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Cost Approach ◽  
Global Cost ◽  
Building Component

Service life estimate is crucial for evaluating the economic and environmental sustainability of projects, by means—adopting a life cycle perspective—of the Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA). Service life, in turn, is strictly correlated to maintenance investment and planning activities, in view of building/building component/system/infrastructure products’ durability requirements, and in line with the environmental-energy policies, transposed into EU guidelines and regulations. Focusing on the use-maintenance-adaptation stage in the constructions’ life cycle, the aim of this work is to propose a methodology for supporting the “optimal maintenance planning” in function of life cycle costs, assuming the presence of financial constraints. A first research step is proposed for testing the economic sustainability of different project options, at the component scale, which imply different cost items and different maintenance-replacement interventions over time. The methodology is based on the Annuity Method, or Equivalent Annual Cost approach, as defined by the norm EN 15459-1:2017. The method, poorly explored in the literature, is proposed here as an alternative to the Global Cost approach (illustrated in the norm as well). Due to the presence of uncertainty correlated to deterioration processes and market variability, the stochastic Annuity Method is modeled by introducing flexibility in input data. Thus, with the support of Probability Analysis and the Monte Carlo Method (MCM), the stochastic LCCA, solved through the stochastic Equivalent Annual Cost, is used for the economic assessment of different maintenance scenarios. Two different components of an office building project (a timber and an aluminum frame), are assumed as a case for the simulation. The methodology intends to support decisions not only in the design phases, but also in the post-construction ones. Furthermore, it opens to potential applications in reinforced concrete infrastructures’ stock, which is approaching, as a considerable portion of the building stock, its end-of-life stage.

A new handbook on structural concrete service life assignment taking into account the operating environment impact in their life cycle

2020 ◽  
pp. 126-134
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav Falikman ◽  
◽  
Valentina Stepanova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Service Life ◽  
Operating Environment ◽  
Environment Impact ◽  
Structural Concrete ◽  
Concrete Service

В статье систематизированы основные критерии, необходимые для определения нормативных сроков эксплуатации бетонных и железобетонных конструкций, проведен анализ состояния отечественной и зарубежной нормативной базы в отношении требований к срокам службы железобетонных конструкций, рассмотрены основные нормативно-технические документы в области проектирования железобетонных конструкций зданий и сооружений по их жизнен-ному циклу. Описаны виды коррозионных повреждений железобетонных конструкций и определяющие их факторы, приведены согласованные на международном уровне модели долговечности для некоторых деградационных процессов. На основе проведенных работ подготовлены предложения по оценке коррозионного состояния эксплуатировавшихся железобетонных конструкций, их остаточной несущей способности, эксплуатационной пригодности, ожидаемого срока службы в заданных агрессивных условиях и методов определения нормативных сроков службы железобетонных конструкций. Даны предложения по разработке и актуализации ряда релевантных нормативных, технических и организационно-методических документов.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of the Life-Cycle Cost of Robot Substitution: A Case of Automobile Welding Production in China

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Xuyang Zhao ◽  
Cisheng Wu ◽  
Duanyong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Allocation ◽  
Industrial Robot ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Industrial Robots ◽  
Analysis Model

Within the context of the large-scale application of industrial robots, methods of analyzing the life-cycle cost (LCC) of industrial robot production have shown considerable developments, but there remains a lack of methods that allow for the examination of robot substitution. Taking inspiration from the symmetry philosophy in manufacturing systems engineering, this article further establishes a comparative LCC analysis model to compare the LCC of the industrial robot production with traditional production at the same time. This model introduces intangible costs (covering idle loss, efficiency loss and defect loss) to supplement the actual costs and comprehensively uses various methods for cost allocation and variable estimation to conduct total cost and the cost efficiency analysis, together with hierarchical decomposition and dynamic comparison. To demonstrate the model, an investigation of a Chinese automobile manufacturer is provided to compare the LCC of welding robot production with that of manual welding production; methods of case analysis and simulation are combined, and a thorough comparison is done with related existing works to show the validity of this framework. In accordance with this study, a simple template is developed to support the decision-making analysis of the application and cost management of industrial robots. In addition, the case analysis and simulations can provide references for enterprises in emerging markets in relation to robot substitution.

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