System Dynamics and Lean Approach: Development of a Technological Solution in a Regional Product Packaging Company

Ernesto A Lagarda-Leyva

doi:10.3390/app11177938

Abstract

This study was performed in a regional product marketing company located in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México, where a problem was detected in empirical decision-making due to their recent incorporation into the market. Thus, the objective of this study is the shelf-product production link, where the interest is in knowing the behavior of the main variables that influence the system. System dynamics methodology follows six steps: (1) Map the process under study with the value stream map (VSM); (2) Create a causal diagram; (3) Elaborate the Forrester diagram and equations; (4) Validate the current model; (5) Simulate scenarios; (6) Create the graphical user interface. The main results were the design of the scenarios starting from a robust system dynamics model, three scenarios, and the graphical interface. For this purpose, Stella Architect Software was used as it has special attributes to create a graphical user interface. Furthermore, all the elements of the VSM were added under the Lean Startup approach. Significantly, the inadequate management of the materials was detected, which is why the recommendation was to separate the packaging of dry and cold products to care for food innocuousness and the cold chain. Likewise, processing time decreased, reducing material transfer, which was detected by applying a future VSM based on the Lean Startup methodology. The technological solution in this study is a contribution based on social sciences and mathematics (nonlinear equations) using dynamics simulation to observe the complexity of system behavior.

Highlights

The economic sectors are constituted of a series of diverse organizations, which are the basis of the economy
Cardiel, Baeza, and Lizarraga [29] analyzed the complexity associated with the production systems to improve process yield through the Six Sigma philosophy, using a dynamic model; the results showed an improvement in process yield by increasing the Sigma level that allowed for validating the proposed approach
In the Physical Internet approach, the goods are encapsulated in modular dimensions, reusable or recyclable, and smart containers [43]. The completion of this project met the objective of developing a graphical user interface that would allow for analyzing the packaging process of shelf products in different scenarios, considering the demand and decision-making based on quantitative data

Summary

Introduction

The economic sectors are constituted of a series of diverse organizations, which are the basis of the economy. With reference to the 2019 version of the Global Competitiveness. Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the economies with more potential are led by the United States of America jointly with Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan, while in the other extreme, Haiti, Yemen, and Chad are the less competitive economies. This report is not necessarily only associated with greater income competitiveness and with outstanding economic results, including life satisfaction [1]. Acknowledging the extraordinary events that occurred in 2020, and the unified global effort required to confront the health crisis and its socioeconomic consequences, the WEF suspended spreading the Global Competitiveness Index rankings. The 2021 edition will retake the comparative assessment, providing a renewed framework to direct future economic growth

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