Abstract
This paper addresses new Mixed-model Assembly Line Balancing Problems (MALBP) in a real industrial context, the stitching systems of a footwear company. The work is part of large ongoing projects with this industry, and the main purposes are minimising the number of required workstations and smoothing the operators' workload. The company has invested in new flexible automated assembly systems, which accommodate dozens of workstations and many moving boxes. Footwear components are inside boxes (with various quantities) which can move from the warehouses to a convenient workstation or between any workstations (in any order). This is a significant and distinct feature of the MALBP, together with the fact that the assignment of different skilled operators and machines is achieved simultaneously. An optimisation model is developed, in part to facilitate the understanding of the situation and to solve small-size instances. Due to the complexity of the problems, we had to devise an approximate method, based on the Variable Neighbourhood Descent (VND) metaheuristic and integrating an adaptation of the Ranked Positional Weighted (RPW) method. The adapted RPW method is used to create initial feasible solutions, while preassigning special operators and machines. After choosing good initial solutions, VND is applied to improve their quality. The new contributed method, named as RPW-VNDbal, is tested with medium and large instances, in two distinct stitching systems. A Lower Bound of the objective function and Simulation contribute to evaluate the solutions and their practicability. The results implemented by the project team, show that the RPW-VNDbal method is fast enough and offers better solutions than those implemented by the experienced operation managers of the company.

Abstract
Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are measuring devices that, when placed in electrical networks, observe their state by providing information on the currents in their branches (transmission lines) and voltages in their buses. Compared to other devices, PMUs have the capability of observing other nodes besides the ones they are placed on. Due to a set of observability rules, depending on the placement decisions, the same number of PMUs can monitor a higher or smaller percentage of a network. This leads to the optimization problem hereby addressed, the PMU Placement Problem (PPP) which aims at determining the minimum number and location of PMUs that guarantee full observability of a network at minimum cost. In this paper we propose two general mathematical programming models for the PPP: a single-level and a bilevel integer programming model. To strengthen both formulations, we derive new valid inequalities and promote variable fixing. Furthermore, to tackle the bilevel model, we devise a cutting plane algorithm amended with particular features that improve its efficiency. The efficiency of the algorithm is validated through computational experiments. Results show that this new approach is more efficient than state-of-the-art proposals.

Abstract
The decision to adopt new technologies is the most important stage in integrating a new technology into the ongoing processes of the organization and also to obtain benefits from its routine use. This paper proposes an integrated framework that combines Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Theory, Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and Institutional Theory (INT) to characterize the critical factors influencing advanced technologies adoption in manufacturing context. This conceptual framework identifies three contextual environments - innovation, internal organizational and external environmental - that can influence the adoption decision along with some sub-contexts from the literature that may be considered. This framework can be used as starting point to explore in depth influential factors in advanced technologies in manufacturing contexts. Additionally, this framework can assist companies to develop adoption process plans as well as managerial practices that consider the role of these factors and thus lead to successful implementations.

Abstract
This work addresses the well-known capacitated lot sizing problem (CLSP) which is proven to be an NP-hard optimization problem. Simple period-by-period heuristics are popular solution approaches due to the extremely low computational effort and their suitability for rolling planning horizons. The aim of this work is to apply genetic programming (GP) to automatically generate specialized heuristics specific to the instance class. Experiments show that we are able to obtain better solutions when using GP evolved lot sizing rules compared to state-of-the-art constructive heuristics.

Abstract
Car rental companies have the ability and potential to integrate their dynamic pricing decisions with their capacity decisions. Pricing has a significant impact on demand, while capacity, which translates fleet size, acquisition planning and fleet deployment throughout the network, can be used to meet this price-sensitive demand. Dynamic programming has been often used to tackle dynamic pricing problems and also to deal with similar integrated problems, yet with some significant differences as far as the inventory depletion and replenishment are considered. The goal of this work is to understand what makes the car rental problem different and hinders the application of more common methods. To do so, a discrete dynamic programming framework is proposed, with two different approaches to calculate the optimal-value function: one based on a Mixed Integer Non Linear Program (MINLP) and one based on a Constraint Programming (CP) model. These two approaches are analyzed and relevant insights are derived regarding the (in)ability of discrete dynamic programming to effectively tackle this problem within a rental context when realistically sized instances are considered.

Abstract
Today, manufacturing is moving towards customer-driven and knowledge-based proactive production. Shorter product life cycles lead to increased complexity in areas such as product and process design, factory deployment and production operations. To handle this complexity, new knowledge-based methods and technologies are needed to model, simulate, optimize and monitor manufacturing systems. Product lifecycle management research tends to focus on situations that are responsive to formal analysis and modelling. However, in several domains such as knowledge intensive collaborative environments, it's not possible to model processes using formal notations. Knowledge based and collaborative process management involves a combination of structured and non-structured processes. Structured processes management can be reduced to a set of fully-defined rules leading to high efficiency but also low flexibility, whereas the management of non-structured processes is not prone to a full formalization. A combination of both structured and unstructured management approaches is required in order to achieve a successful trade-off between efficiency, flexibility and controllability. We call a process as semi-structured when it contains both structured and non-structured sub-processes leading to a flexible and efficient hybrid approach. Large enterprise information systems, impose structured and predictable workflows, while knowledge based collaborative processes are unpredictable to some extent, involving high amount of human-decision. Moreover, large enterprise information systems are not able to manage the daily ad hoc communication inherent to the knowledge-based process itself. This paper introduces a set of concepts, methods and tools of an innovative Hybrid Process Management approach validated by a real world business case in the automotive industry.