User-centered innovation approach: agave mead extractor

Purpose – To describe the evolution of an integrated ‘lean’ and ‘agile’ supply chain process that employed Just‐in‐time (JIT) lean manufacturing approaches at an electronics company. Design/methodology/approach – A case study was designed to examine the links between specific efficiencies and cost savings that derived from transitions in the evolution of the integrated lean and agile supply chain. The case study focused on the company's supply chain management innovations that led to specific improvements in production processes that in turn resulted in enhanced financial outcomes. Findings – The data revealed how specific quality enhancing and lean manufacturing components evolved over a period of seven years in a two stage transition from a ‘lean’ supply chain to one that represented an integrated lean and agile paradigm based on the decoupling point approach (Christopher & Towill, 2001). Research limitations/implications – A single site case study limits the generalizability of the findings. Additional research is necessary to replicate the findings in other firms/industries. Practical implications – By incorporating improvements in production processes in the supply chain, managers can determine how inefficiencies in the supply chain process can be tracked and eliminated to improve a firm's financial performance. Originality/value – Research that documents links between different managerial functions, e.g. supply chain management, improved manufacturing processes, and accounting issues (e.g. cost reduction and improved profitability), is particularly useful.

The main task of machine-building enterprises is the timely provision of the market with competitive products. The solution to this problem is possible on the basis of continuous improvement of production processes for the manufacture of engineering products based on the use of quality management methods. The manufacturing of engineering products is a complex and time-consuming process consisting of a large number of stages of production of individual units and parts as well as the assembly and testing of all elements. Consequently, a simultaneous improvement of all production stages of engineering goods in the existing production is impossible since this will cause disorganization of the production process as a whole. Therefore, in the conditions of operating production, the improvement of production processes should be carried out step by step starting from the stages that require a priority improvement and using a sound combination of quality management methods that take into account the specific features of the particular enterprise. The variety of quality management methods and quality control tools complicates the task of selecting them for each specific production process. For its solution, it is proposed to use the criterion of Taguchi signal/noise. As a criterion for the effectiveness of implementing the stages of improving the production process using quality management methods, it is suggested to use a dynamically integrated indicator of the quality of the production process. The proposed mechanism for managing the continuous improvement of production processes is considered by the example of manufacturing processes for the manufacture of gas turbine engine pipelines.

In this study, alternative situations can be evaluated with process analyser and OptQuest without the need to reconstruct the system. The process analyser provides the running and comparison of alternative scenarios built by changing variable and parameter values in a simulation model. OptQuest module is an optimal search simulation tool that looks for the best solution through input variables and constraints. The aim of this study is to show that process analyser and OptQuest can be used in improving of production processes. Process analyser and OptQuest provide computational simplicity with their user-friendly interfaces in improving production processes. According to current production process simulation model, a large number of iterations are performed in the direction of resource and capacity constraints, and the results that provide the best performances are determined. Finally, the best response values are achieved when the number of package maker (PM) and capacity of package are two.

In this study, alternative situations can be evaluated with process analyser and OptQuest without the need to reconstruct the system. The process analyser provides the running and comparison of alternative scenarios built by changing variable and parameter values in a simulation model. OptQuest module is an optimal search simulation tool that looks for the best solution through input variables and constraints. The aim of this study is to show that process analyser and OptQuest can be used in improving of production processes. Process analyser and OptQuest provide computational simplicity with their user-friendly interfaces in improving production processes. According to current production process simulation model, a large number of iterations are performed in the direction of resource and capacity constraints, and the results that provide the best performances are determined. Finally, the best response values are achieved when the number of package maker (PM) and capacity of package are two.

This study presents new empirical evidence on the relationship between investments in new computer-based information technology (IT) and productivity by investigating several plant-level mechanisms through which IT could promote productivity growth. We have assembled a data set on plants with a common production technology in a narrowly defined industry -valve manufacturing -to study the effects of new IT on product innovation, production process improvements, employee skills and work practices. The homogeneity of the plants' production processes within this narrowly defined industry together with the estimation of longitudinal models eliminate many sources of unmeasured heterogeneity that could confound productivity comparisons in more aggregate data and in broader samples. The three main results of this study highlight how the adoption of new IT-enhanced machinery involves much more than just the installation of new equipment on the factory floor. We find that adoption of new IT-enhanced equipment (1)alters business strategies, moving valve manufacturers away from commodity production based on long production runs to customized production in smaller batches; (2)improves the efficiency of all stages of the production process with reductions in setup times supporting the change in business strategy and (3)increases the skill requirements of workers while promoting the adoption of new human resource practices.

In 2020, Europe reached 76.7 billion people. EUR of cosmetics sales in the retail market and according to this indicator is the largest market for cosmetic products in the world. 500 million European consumers use cosmetics and personal care products every day to protect their health and improve their well-being. With the high demand for cosmetic products, companies must ensure that products are produced at the right time and in the right quantities. However, in cosmetic manufacturing processes, inevitable losses occur in the supply chain and various losses in production that slow the shipments of cosmetic products. Continuous improvement of production processes, cost reduction measures, and quality assurance are necessary measures to obtain maximum profit and remain competitive. The object of the study is to improve production processes in the cosmetics sector. The purpose of the article is to identify the main problems of production processes in the cosmetics sector and to create a model for improving production processes. To achieve the goal, the following tasks are set: perform an analysis of scientific literature related to the improvement of the production process of the cosmetics sector; to choose appropriate research methods that will help identify the problems of improving production processes in the cosmetics sector; to present a model for improving cosmetic product manufacturing processes in cosmetic manufacturing companies. Research methods: analysis of scientific literature, observation method, expert assessment.

The study aims to present and analyze the concepts of gamification, its importance and its application in production. It adopted a literature review methodology related to the subject of gamification in production processes with the aim of identifying its role in improving production processes. The study focuses on the concept of gamification as a strategy aimed at enhancing performance and productivity in industrial work environments and through the application of game elements to motivate workers and increase their participation and satisfaction. No systematic review of gamification in production processes in Arabic was found online when examining the relevant literature. The study revealed the latest findings reached through a comprehensive survey of published academic literature on the subject, related to the intellectual output on the application of gamification in production processes. The theoretical and applied frameworks related to the use of games to develop job performance were reviewed. It is analyzed how gamification strategies can contribute to improving production processes by enhancing interaction, stimulating innovation and increasing efficiency. The results of the study indicate that gamification strategies can significantly improve the effectiveness of production processes by increasing interaction and stimulating innovation. The study also provides a theoretical framework that helps researchers and practitioners understand how gamification can be applied to solve problems and achieve continuous improvement in production processes, and provides practical recommendations for practitioners and managers in various industries on how they can benefit from gamification to improve performance and enhance productivity.

The 5S methodology originates from Japan and is based on the application of five concepts: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. The 5S method focuses on organizing different sectors of a company based on organization, standardization, cleanliness, and discipline. It is a behavioral improvement program characterized by fostering teamwork, organizing the work environment, preserving employee well-being, maintaining productivity, and emphasizing cleanliness and organization. The objective of this work is to describe the implementation of the 5S methodology through the physical rearrangement in a medium-sized metallurgical industry. The research, characterized as a case study in a company in the interior of the state of São Paulo, is carry out applied and qualitative approach, presenting the implementation of a 5S improvement project through physical rearrangement. The choose of the 5S methodology is due to the fact that consolidating, enhancing, or creating an organizational routine facilitates the adoption of the studied concepts in a real case within a medium-sized industry that manufactures and sells fitness equipment. The implementation of the 5S program began with the approval of the management, achieved through awareness demonstrated by photographic evidence showing the current status of the company. This project’s implementation was necessary due to the evident problems arising from a lack of organization, cleanliness, and the conditions where the products were found in the sector. Its implementation led to a significant improvement in production processes in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity, as well as enhancements in visual aspects and workplace conditions. It can be concluded that the 5S Program is a simple philosophy that is easy to implement, but its results entirely depend on the level of engagement of the people involved. Although challenges exist in the implementation process, particularly of a behavioral nature, technical improvements were also observed, resulting in a more positive work environment and a more efficient industrial routine. Despite still having many actions to be taken, it is considered that the 5S Program was successful in its implementation.

A brief overview of the possibility and readiness for digitalization of automotive industry companies has been presented. Since production processes and systems can be more intelligent, they allow to reach the high-quality standards required in service, what is the only way to maximize the improvement of its components from the very beginning of the process.Digitalization is one of the main levers to enhance business and increase competitiveness in the industry, that provides huge opportunities in the future. One of the important conditions is increase flexibility, that allows quickly to adapt production facilities and processes to changes in production and product lines of customer. The digitalization strategy should be applied transversely to all processes, starting from production, logistics, and quality till design, procurement, human resources, or finance. Transversal applying of digitalization strategy is possible in the creation of technology centers graphic engineering worldwide, the use of computerized simulation, CAD systems and virtual 3D environments for research, analysis, evaluation, validation and improvement of production processes. The important aspect to form the future is the development of innovative solutions that contribute turning new concepts into an industrial reality.The revolution in logistics digitalization gives automakers and service providers the opportunity to stay flexible and to be ahead of time. The main transformers are data and digital rethinking of the supply chain, that contribute a significant growth in trade. Advanced automakers create a digital workforce and program robots to solve repetitive tasks. All this provides full flexibility in software development with integrated in it robot’s hardware, fast iterations and adjustments, when it is necessary, which might not have been easily achieved using traditional methods. These projects can be extended to ones with greater investment. Mainly, more flexible and service-oriented solutions can be implemented as a response to speed and automation in logistics. Thereby, it is possible to satisfy the changing and demanding needs of customers now and in the future.

The article establishes that managerial decisions regarding the application of certain methods of optimization or improvement of production processes are based on the evaluation of production processes. To assess the production processes of the enterprise in the literature, many methods are described, one of which is the qualimetric approach to the development quality assessment. The use of a qualitative approach to the development of quality assessment is impossible without a specific system of appraisal of quality of development, the scale by which these indicators can be evaluated, as well as the criteria by which interpretation of the results can be achieved. The selection of indicators of the quality of the production process, in the article is carried out on the main principle - their measurability. In view of this, we consider the indicators that can be calculated and the nature of which indicates an increase or decrease in the quality of the production process. The article also discusses the general algorithm through which the quality of the process (products) is determined, while for the evaluation of production processes, they first classify, and then choose the basic ones that are laid down in the classification of indicators for different groups. The assessment of the possibility of application to the subject of the study - the quality of development - qualimetric principles and approaches applied to the quality of processes. As a result of the application of the decomposition method, the gradation of production processes is constructed according to quality levels and quality development levels.

In the changing economic environment, global competition where the customer demands are changing continuously, the enterprises have to focus on cost reduction, efficiency improvement, higher productivity and profitability. In the production, the resources (raw materials, humans, machines, equipment, etc.) are always limited. It is very important for the manufacturing companies to produce cost effective final products in a short lead time which can be achieved by minimized cost and higher effectiveness, and therefore, efficiency improving methods are needed. There are lot of tools and sophisticated methods for design, analysis and improvement of production and logistical processes. The author introduces the most often applied methods for it, which are the simulation, Lean method and layout design. The paper summarizes the characteristics, typical application fields of these methods and the reasons for application of these. Main aims of logistics process improvement and the main steps and advantages of the described methods are introduced.

This study aims to analyze potential risks and risk mitigation in the company's supply chain to minimize the company's potential losses and develop a policy strategy for importing feeder cattle during the COVID-19 pandemic as a framework (blueprint) for company readiness in the future as well as in handling food security, especially to meet the domestic demand for beef, which is currently only able to meet 70% of the total demand. In the early stages of the research, the House of Risk (HOR) method is employed to identify risk variables (risk events and risk agents) and risk mitigation. The results obtained from the risk analysis are used to develop corporate policy strategies. The results of the ANP-BOCR analysis show that the policy strategy that is set as the highest priority is the improvement and enhancement of operation and production processes (PPOP). The alternative policy strategy with the lowest priority is implementing a Go-Public (KGP) policy. Improvement and enhancement of operation and production processes carried out in the company include: 1) application of complete feed; 2) production efficiency and mechanization; and 3) implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Digitalization. The results of the Rater Agreement (W) show that all respondents (experts) have a fairly high agreement on the priority of the policy strategy set, with Kendall's W coefficient value of 0.5.
 
 Keywords: analytic network process, BOCR, Covid-19, house of risk

В последние годы значительное внимание в научных исследованиях и промышленной сфере уделяется интеграции больших данных и аналитики для улучшения и оптимизации производственных процессов. В данной статье рассматривается роль больших данных и аналитики в оптимизации рабочих процедур, их потенциальное экономическое значение и влияние на производственные мощности. Статья анализирует различные аспекты, связанные с использованием больших данных в индустриальной среде, включая сбор данных, их хранение, обработку и анализ. Большие данные, поступающие с разнообразных сенсоров и систем мониторинга в реальном времени, предоставляют беспрецедентные возможности для глубокого понимания и усовершенствования производственных процессов. Комплексные аналитические инструменты позволяют интерпретировать большие объемы данных, выявлять паттерны и тенденции, что способствует принятию обоснованных управленческих решений. Экономическое значение больших данных и аналитики в производственной отрасли заключается в возможности значительно уменьшить издержки за счет повышения эффективной работы оборудования, уменьшения простоев и улучшения качества продукции. Промышленные предприятия могут оптимизировать процессы планирования и прогнозирования, что ведет к снижению операционных затрат и увеличению прибылей. Кроме того, внедрение аналитических технологий способствует совершенствованию контролинга и управления производством, повышая адаптивность предприятий к изменяющимся условиям рынка и улучшению конкурентоспособности. Статья также подчеркивает важность междисциплинарного подхода в использовании больших данных, включая взаимодействие между специалистами в области информационных технологий, инженерами и менеджерами. Обсуждаются потенциальные барьеры и вызовы, такие как необходимость в высококвалифицированных кадрах, инфраструктурные требования и вопросы безопасности данных. В заключении делается вывод о том, что большие данные и аналитика представляют собой мощный инструмент для трансформации производственных процессов, открывая новые горизонты для развития промышленности в условиях цифровой эпохи. Внедрение этих технологий обеспечивает значительные экономические выгоды, делая предприятия более устойчивыми и конкурентоспособными на глобальном рынке. In recent years, significant attention in scientific research and the industrial sector has been given to the integration of big data and analytics to improve and optimize production processes. This article examines the role of big data and analytics in optimizing work procedures, their potential economic significance, and their impact on production capacities. The article analyzes various aspects related to the use of big data in an industrial environment, including data collection, storage, processing, and analysis. Big data from various sensors and real-time monitoring systems provide unprecedented opportunities for deep understanding and improvement of production processes. Comprehensive analytical tools allow for the interpretation of large volumes of data, identifying patterns and trends, which contributes to informed managerial decision-making. The economic significance of big data and analytics in the manufacturing industry lies in the ability to significantly reduce costs by enhancing equipment efficiency, reducing downtime, and improving product quality. Industrial enterprises can optimize planning and forecasting processes, leading to reduced operational costs and increased profits. Additionally, the implementation of analytical technologies contributes to the improvement of controlling and production management, increasing the adaptability of enterprises to changing market conditions and enhancing competitiveness. The article also emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in using big data, including collaboration between IT specialists, engineers, and managers. Potential barriers and challenges are discussed, such as the need for highly qualified personnel, infrastructure requirements, and data security issues. In conclusion, it is stated that big data and analytics represent a powerful tool for transforming production processes, opening new horizons for industrial development in the digital age. The implementation of these technologies provides significant economic benefits, making enterprises more resilient and competitive in the global market.

The paper concerns research and improvement of production processes in one of the European companies in the rubber industry The company did not allow the name or country to be given. . The main goal is to improve the production process of the thermo-plastics obtained from polymer materials on the company's production line. Improvement is defined as a reduction of the setup time of a key machine in the tested production process. The research method includes the analysis of the literature, observation of the studied process, and the accomplished computer simulation experiments. The proposed activities relate to the reinforcement of the key part of the machine, the change of the machine setup method, and the preliminary staff assignment to the specific tasks. The results of the simulation experiments confirm the implementation of the proposed improvements. The theoretical contribution to the research field development is the proposal of the simulation modeling methodology to improve production processes of continuous materials. Practical conclusions lead to recommendations for the implementation of improvements in the enterprise, with direct application of the proposed actions.

The paper presents results of the studies aimed at improving the production process by performing a reorganization of workstations. The purpose of this reorganization was to increase the rate of utilization of machines in the production process. The studies were carried out with the use of an IT package for modeling and simulation of production systems – ProModel. The paper describes a plan of optimization of the layout of workstations, which consists in grouping them into functional work centers and determining the best arrangement of the workstations using the Schmigalla method of triangles. The arrangement was assessed by comparing the simulation models prior to and after the reorganization.