Continuous Product Improvement Research Articles

Formulation of Micro Product Positioning Strategy

This study examines the strategic alignment of microfinance products following the integration of PNM, Pegadaian, and BRI into the Ultra Micro Holding (UMi). A primary focus is the standardization of micro-segment products to avoid overlap and strengthen the ecosystem. The analysis highlights similarities among BRI’s KUPEDES, Micro Pegadaian, and PNM’s ULaMM products, emphasizing the impact on ULaMM’s conventional individual lending. Identifying product overlaps and conducting comparative feature analysis is essential for continuous product improvement. The study employs a qualitative approach to: (1) analyze product feature comparisons, (2) assess customer satisfaction performance, (3) investigate the background of product feature overlaps, and (4) formulate a customer-driven development and positioning strategy. Findings aim to present a Sustainable Competitive Advantage using strategic management tools. Key informants and structured timelines are designed to minimize respondent disruption while collecting insights for product differentiation. A SWOT analysis of PNM’s Business Model Canvas post-integration will inform strategic initiatives for growth over the next five years. Effective marketing programs must communicate the desired product perception, while the company prepares for potential digital transitions to enhance technology readiness and customer experience management. Addressing operational gaps and aligning human capital within the holding is crucial for fostering stakeholder engagement and sustainable growth.

Probing an LSTM-PPO-Based reinforcement learning algorithm to solve dynamic job shop scheduling problem

With the growth of personalized demand and the continuous improvement in social productivity, the large-scale and few-variety centralized production model is gradually transitioning towards a personalized model of small batches and multiple varieties, which makes the manufacturing process of the job shop increasingly complex. Furthermore, disruptive events such as machinery failures and rush orders in the job shop increase the uncertainty and variability of the production environment. Traditional scheduling methods are usually based on fixed rules and heuristic algorithms, which are difficult to adapt to constantly changing production environments and demands. This may lead to inaccurate scheduling decisions and hinder the optimal allocation of job shop resources. To solve the dynamic job shop scheduling problem (JSP) more effectively, this paper proposes a Reinforcement Learning (RL) optimization algorithm integrating long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network and proximal policy optimization (PPO). It can dynamically adjust scheduling strategies according to the changing production environment, achieving comprehensive status awareness of the job shop environment to make optimal scheduling decisions. First, a state-aware network framework based on LSTM-PPO is proposed to achieve real-time perception of job shop state changes. Then, the state and action space of the job shop are described within the context of the state-aware network framework. Finally, an experimental environment is established to verify the algorithm’s effectiveness. Training the LSTM-PPO algorithm makes it feasible to achieve better performance than other scheduling methods. By comparing the initial planning time with the actual completion time of the rescheduling decision under different dynamic disturbances, the efficiency of the proposed algorithm is verified for the dynamic JSP.

The Impact of Adopting Six Sigma in Improving Productivity of the Jordanian Dairy Companies

This research aimed to explore the impact of adopting the Six Sigma methodology in improving the productivity of Jordanian dairy companies. It focuses on four critical aspects of Six Sigma standards: the support of the senior leadership, continuous improvement, feedback, and control. Data were collected from 275 employees from 11 Jordanian Dairy Companies through self-administered questionnaires. The data were input into IBM SPSS AMOS software for analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the model fit and the validity and reliability of the data. In contrast, path analysis was used to estimate the impact of Six Sigma standards. The findings suggest that feedback, control, and supportive senior leadership are important factors driving productivity improvement in Jordanian Dairy Companies. While providing feedback and granting control have positive effects, the relationship between continuous improvement and productivity improvement requires further exploration. More importantly, the total mean of the four Six Sigma standards is associated with a positive and significant improvement in productivity improvement (PI) in Jordanian Dairy Companies. The implications suggest that Jordanian Dairy Companies should prioritize feedback, control, and supportive leadership as essential drivers of productivity improvement.

Quality risk management and data integrity in R&D laboratories supporting CMC lifecycle of biological products

The development of pharmaceutical products is the critical bridge that moves a potential new medicine from academic discovery to applied treatment of patients. It translates an idea for a new drug to bench-level research on how it can be manufactured, formulated, characterized and controlled for use in non-clinical and early clinical trials.From pre-clinical R&D discovery work through the commercial launch, substantial R&D CMC data is generated to develop and optimize cGMP manufacturing and testing operations, while also supporting product comparability, elucidating product / impurity structures, assessing critical quality attributes, developing the drug delivery mode, and developing the product formulation for long-term stability. Significant R&D CMC work continues post-approval to support continuous improvement and market expansion of the commercial product. These activities are crucial elements of Product Lifecycle Management, and taken together, they comprise Pharmaceutical Quality or Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC). The objective of this paper is to mitigate the regulatory ambiguity of R&D quality systems with practical, risk-based examples and recommendations when conducting supportive CMC studies for biological products.Making sound strategic CMC decisions under any circumstances assumes data from R&D studies are reliable, traceable, and complete. While there are specific regulatory guidelines on phase-appropriate cGMP activities, none exist for quality practices in R&D CMC laboratories conducting non-cGMP studies. Hindsight is not the time to discover that R&D studies lack key elements that would otherwise have allowed the data to be directly presented to regulators, if needed. There is a strong prospective business interest in protecting considerable investments made for CMC R&D studies. Therefore, establishment of a robust and stage-appropriate R&D laboratory quality system is essential for companies seeking to capitalize on prior knowledge, protect investments, and be prepared for accelerated approval pathways.

Continuous Improvement of Productivity and Quality with Applying Lean Six Sigma: A case study

Any business that wants to compete may need to constantly raise both its output and quality. An effective and popular approach to achieving continuous improvement is known as Lean Six Sigma. This paper demonstrates a successful implementation through a case study in wood manufacturing. The enhancement greatly benefited from the optimization of the production process. The seven quality control tools were integrated into specific systematic steps of the PDCA cycle and DMAIC process, along with lean technology. As a result, this led to an increase in product quality and a decrease in manufacturing errors. Customer satisfaction and market competitiveness have risen as a result. A wood production line's productivity and quality were both improved, and this case study demonstrates the positive effects. It could be considered for implementation in various production or assembly lines in other fields such as electronic, clothing and furniture assembly lines.

Nachhaltige Steigerung der Produkt- und Prozessqualität

Abstract The quality in the product creation process is of crucial importance for manufacturing companies in terms of customer satisfaction and thus economic success. However, a growing variety and increasing product requirements pose challenges to the achievable product quality and the necessary processes. As a result, quality defects often occur in the development, manufacturing, and the application of a product. To be able to sustainably learn from the errors that have occurred and to initiate a suitable process of continuous product improvement as a company, the introduction of QRQC (Quick Response Quality Control) may be necessary. To illustrate the implementation of such a methodological approach, this article exemplarily presents the introduction and functionality of a problem-solving system at Liebherr Hydraulikbagger GmbH.

Organizational factors, quality performance and competitive advantage of village-owned enterprise in Indonesia

PurposeThis research objective is to (1) examine the effect of organizational factors on quality performance, (2) examine the effect of quality performance on competitive advantage and (3) examine the mediating role of quality performance between organizational factors and competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachThe research sample includes 140 employees in the Windusari village-owned enterprise, in Magelang, Indonesia. Data are collected using 5-Likert scale questionnaires which follow Ferdousi et al. (2019). The dependent variable is a competitive advantage. The Independent variable is organizational factors which are top management support, employee empowerment, employee involvement, reward and recognition, training and customer focus. The mediating variable is quality performance. Data analysis uses path analysis provided by structural equation modeling.FindingsBased on path analysis, organizational factors have a positive effect on quality performance, quality performance has a positive effect on competitive advantage and quality performance mediates the effect of organizational factors on competitive advantage. The results confirm the concept of quality management where continuous improvement of products and services can meet customer expectations and bring the organization to a better position in the industry to face other competitors.Originality/valueThis research extends the previous studies of the relationship between organizational factors and organizational outcomes by considering the effectiveness of the organizational process. This research also contributes to giving new evidence about the relationship between organizational factors, quality management and competitive advantage in the village-owned enterprise in Magelang, Indonesia. This research also contributes to updating the literature on the theory of quality management.

Development and innovation of locally inspired food products by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Central Java, Indonesia

Indonesia possesses significant and diverse potential in local food production. The diversity has created ideal conditions for the production of a wide variety of local foods rich in flavors and nutritional value. This research aims to assess the extent of product development and innovation by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Central Java, Indonesia, in responding to market challenges in producing locally-inspired food products. The research method involved a survey of 50 MSMEs producing local food products in five districts of Central Java, namely Grobogan, Banyumas, Semarang, Sragen, and Wonosobo, with 10 MSMEs sampled from each district using purposive sampling technique. Data analysis is conducted descriptively and through a literature review. The results of the study indicate that MSMEs have a high ability to create various locally-sourced food products, modify food products, believe in the originality of their products, and make efforts to brand the products they produce. Furthermore, the research also reveals a high level of innovation in marketing strategies carried out by MSMEs, including their ability to try new things in product marketing, openness to new marketing ideas, continuous product improvement, and the development of new product models.

Mastering Data Product Development: Strategies, Architectures, and Best Practices

Abstract: The importance of data products for organizations cannot be overstated, as they enable valuable insights and informed decision-making. This article offers a thorough guide to constructing data products, with a specific emphasis on data warehouse architecture and data product management. Key concepts in data product management are explored, such as treating data as a product, understanding the data product lifecycle, and defining roles and responsibilities. The article explores the key elements of a data warehouse, including data integration and ETL processes, data modeling, and storage and retrieval techniques. This approach outlines a systematic process for developing data products, covering everything from identifying opportunities and defining requirements to design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Emphasizing the significance of data governance, quality assurance, security, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, we delve into performance metrics, monitoring, and strategies for continuous improvement of data products. The article showcases case studies, such as Our World in Data [1], to demonstrate real-world applications and best practices. Finally, we will explore future trends, challenges, and opportunities in data p

Membangun Fondasi Complementary Agenda Untuk Transformasi Digital Bisnis

Digital innovation is fundamentally changing the business landscape, driving advances in products, processes and business models. It involves complex interactions between technological and social aspects, creating ambiguity between process and product. It is important to understand how digital innovation impacts business process management. This study uses a literature approach to explore the concepts of digital innovation and business process management. The research was conducted by analyzing related literature from various academic and professional sources, including scientific journals, books and industry publications. Digital innovation not only creates technological progress, but also changes social processes and organizational structures. This phenomenon can be seen in platforms such as Uber or DevOps, which show a close connection between product and process. Digital innovation also enables continuous evolution and improvement of products and processes over time. Business process management is becoming increasingly important in facing the challenges and opportunities brought by digital innovation. Agile and adaptive process management strategies are needed to cope with rapid changes in the digital business environment. From the literature analysis, it appears that integration between digital innovation and business process management is very important. To optimize the benefits of digital innovation, organizations need to adopt an agile and adaptive approach in their process management. This involves continuous adaptation to technological and social changes as well as increased collaboration between various functions within the organization. Suggestions for future research are to conduct more in-depth empirical studies to understand the concrete impact of digital innovation on business process management, as well as to develop a practical framework for applying process management principles in the context of digital innovation.

ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING THE COMPETITIVE POTENTIAL OF AN ARCHITECTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Introduction. Adaptive strategy is a key in the modern business environment as it allows businesses to respond effectively to changes in market conditions and ensures their competitiveness. The adaptive strategy for managing the competitive potential of the architectural and construction company was not investigated at the level of a separate study. The purpose of the study is to determine the nature and characteristics of an adaptive strategy for managing the competitive potential of an architectural and construction company. The process of forming the competitive potential of the company as a comprehensive strategy of actions aimed at achieving competitive advantages over a certain period of time is considered. The strategies of growing, stabilising, surviving and adapting are analysed. The principles, functions and stages of operation of the adaptive management system are the subject of the article. According to the authors, an adaptive strategy for managing the competitive potential of architectural and construction companies is an approach aimed at continuously adapting the company’s management strategies to the changing internal and external environment in which it operates. This approach implies flexibility and readiness for rapid response to changes in market conditions, technologies, competition, legislation and other aspects of activity. It has established that a flexible organisational structure, staff competence and continuous improvement of products and services are the components of the adaptive strategy methodological triangle. Using such a methodological triangle allows architectural and construction organisations to be flexible and adaptable to changes in the competitive environment, to adapt quickly to new conditions and to maintain their competitiveness. According to the authors, the characteristics of the adaptive strategy for managing the competitive potential of architectural and construction companies include the following aspects: intellectual capital of companies in the field; ensuring the uniqueness of products in a particular market segment; pricing; ensuring the quality of products and services; availability of financial resources; information and innovation activities; introduction of resource-saving technologies in a construction company; use of innovative approaches to the design, construction and operation of buildings. The results of the study can be used in the process of formation and implementation of adaptive strategies for managing the competitive potential of the architectural and construction company.

Minimalisasi Defect Produk Granite Tile Pada Proses Sorting & Polishing Dengan Pendekatan Root Cause Analysis (RCA) (Studi Kasus di PT. Niro Ceramic Nasional Indonesia, Bogor–Jawa Barat )

Competition in the industry makes manufacturing companies do continuous improvement of production in order to achieve good quality. PT. XYZ is a company engaged in the manufacturing industries that produce granite tile. The problems that often arise on the production floor, especially in the process of sorting and polishing that is, the high defect products produced in the process. The purpose of this study is to minimize damage to the product on the S & P, Useful and finished product quality improvement plans. To support solving this problem, researchers used a method approach Root Cause Analysis (RCA). In the histogram obtained from the check sheets, Pareto diagrams visible damage in the S & P damage type of disability the most dominant is the Crack (57%), followed Thick (18%), Glaze Drop (11%), Black Coring (8%), and the last is the Scraper Defect (6%). From the research, a result that most of the damage is Crack. Factors causing these defects are the factors that cause deviations quality raw materials such factors, factors working methods irregularities in the implementation of the work, a factor that is less engine preventive maintenance, factor of fewer operators do not obey the standard factory operations. From the productivity results in the S & P, generate some suggestion in terms of minimizing the product is defective is implementing kaizen. Keywords: Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Application of Process Improvement, Kaizen, 5S, Granite Tile.

Symposium Introduction: Recent Progress and Current Challenges in Wine Analytical Sciences.

Oenology, behind the more visible social and convivial aspects associated with the consumption of wine and spirits, has great complexity due to the coexistence of countless different styles of artisanal products, linked to the diversity of places grapes are grown and wine is produced, and its global distribution. Premium wine is not a commodity. To scientifically support such complexity requires an extremely rigorous and diversified scientific expertise, capable of supporting the continuous improvement of processes and products that are developed, evaluated, and offered on international markets. Rigorous chemical and sensory analyses are essential to this continuous process of improvement, and for several decades now have regularly brought together a large community of researchers from multidisciplinary backgrounds to share, discuss, and harmonize their knowledge and experience of wines. The 12th edition of In Vino Analytica Scientia 2022 was held in Neustadt, Germany, in July 2022. The conference was attended by over 240 delegates, from 23 nationalities, who shared different aspects of wine and spirits research, with 9 key note lectures; 37 full talks; 36 short communications, and over 200 posters. This special issue is a collection of full papers from a selection of contributed oral presentations and posters presented at the conference.

Maturity Assessment for the Introduction of Predictive Quality Approaches in Production Environments

By integrating data-driven analysis methods into existing procedures, quality and failure management performance can be increased systematically. Linking product and process data with existing failure and quality knowledge offers significant potential for enhancing the continuous improvement of processes and products. Nevertheless, the potential of data-driven analysis still needs to be fully exploited. Despite the apparent advantages of analysis-oriented approaches, many companies are hesitant to implement such transformation projects because quantifying possible benefits is challenging. Thus, there is an economic risk due to the limited availability of resources, which must be utilized purposefully. An approach that allows the systematic identification and prioritization of promising use cases and reduces the risk of introducing data-based approaches is missing. This paper conceptualizes a model to evaluate the potential for introducing data-based analysis in production processes. A maturity assessment, consisting of four dimensions and seventeen sub-dimensions, is presented, which enables the identification of promising use cases for implementing data-based approaches. The conceptualized model is validated using an expert survey.

Developing a new procurement model, using behavioural economics, to enable continuous improvement of productivity and better value in large UK infrastructure projects.

Global construction has been blighted by productivity inertia caused by behavioural bias for decades. While other industry sector productivity has grown more than fifteen-fold since 1960, construction has stagnated with no more than a seven to ten percent overall growth. McKinsey Global Institute’s report Reinventing Construction: A Route to Higher Productivity, reported infrastructure construction amongst a small group of outperforming market sub-sectors at 15 to 20 percent. This paper, which charts the development of a unique procurement model designed for high productivity, builds on that performance using behavioural insights to counter damaging and habitual biases. The new model changes trading relationships using a nudged ‘opt-out’ contract structure creating a different responsibility dynamic between client and supplier. A recognisable but different infrastructure construction procurement model to improve productivity using recognised behavioural economics and construction economics. Highways England was set up to run England’s strategic road network in 2015. The procurement model that resulted, Regional Delivery Partnerships can be refined for any infrastructure sector construction environment and sets up a key step forward in contracting based on integrated project delivery. Using a combination of counter bias strategies built from loss aversion and nudge theory this new construction procurement model uses ‘opt-out’ from lean construction to drive higher productivity. By setting up an integrator, to create an integrated project team, Regional Delivery Partnerships uses loss aversion as the motivational key to better innovation. It empowers the integrator to counter uniqueness bias and find and eradicate waste (process time and money) to enhance productivity. Reward is aligned to both optimised efficient design and high productivity working. As 100% of budget underspend can be kept rewarding the integrator, the potential of not achieving this triggers loss aversion and motivates change using the principles of escalation of commitment in favour of the client. Performance data is also used to motivate using reduced acquisition costs from secondary competition, long held as an inefficient market overhead.Using recognised pragmatic academic techniques, and constructionism; choice architectures were remodelled into a new outcome and value focused procurement model. Using applied research, the team used processes and techniques to develop, build, test, and deploy the model in open market competition. It can be used by any infrastructure sector construction client to replicate a sector specific version of Regional Delivery Partnerships that changes trading choice architecture towards higher productivity.

Will “Dual Control of the Amount and Intensity of Energy Consumption (DCEC)” Policy Increase Urban Green Competitiveness?

Urban green transformation is an important part of global low-carbon development. Coercive government policies are critical to achieving success, but, as of now, there is no unified concept of “green competitiveness”. To address climate change, it is necessary to clearly define core concepts and apply measures. For this study, “urban green competitiveness” refers to the continuous improvement of total factor productivity by cities while fully emphasizing resource limitations and environmental issues to achieve economic growth. This article focuses on a Chinese policy of “dual control of the amount and intensity of energy consumption” (DCEC), which has not been fully studied. The DCEC policy incorporates a quasi-natural experiment to assess whether urban green competitiveness has been affected. This paper builds on the multi-period DID model and explores the effect based on city-level data from 2003 to 2019. The conclusion shows that DCEC policy can address climate change by restricting energy consumption and intensity. Success is achieved through the promotion of local green patent innovation and by intensifying environmental regulation. The policy should start from a long-term perspective by promoting structural and technological changes in the economy, rather than short-term quick success and instant benefits.

Total Quality Management at Vocational High Schools

This paper presents the implementation of total quality management at vocational high schools. TQM is used to manage the organization as a whole in order for the organization to achieve excellence in all products and services that are important to customers. An important note of this dimension is that quality covers the entire organization in everything the organization does and that quality is ultimately defined by the customer. The goal of improving product quality is customer satisfaction. TQM has the goal of continuous quality improvement, adapted to changes concerning the needs, desires, and tastes of consumers. TQM is the approach that today's organizations should take to improve the quality of their products, reduce production costs and increase productivity. TQM is an approach to doing business that tries to maximize the competitiveness of the organization through continuous improvement of products, services, people, processes, and the environment.

Visual Analysis of Green Total Factor Productivity Research in China based on CiteSpace

In order to achieve high-quality economic development and ecological civilization construction, we must pay attention to the continuous improvement of green total factor productivity. In this context, it is particularly important to systematically review the literature in order to better grasp the current status and development trend of green total factor productivity research. Based on this, we use 596 CSSCI papers in the database of China Knowledge Network from 2009 to 2023 as a sample, and use CiteSpace software to visualize and analyze the "green total factor productivity". The results show that the number of papers has increased significantly in general, and the core group of authors has taken shape, but the publishing institutions are independent of each other and have not yet formed cooperation. The research stage can be roughly divided into three stages: budding stage, exploratory stage and rapid growth stage, and the research hotspots focus on the measurement and influence factors of green total factor productivity.

Defining Technopreneurs’ Commercialization Research Process in the Emerging Thai Economy: Research for Constructing Grounded Theory

This research aimed to 1) define sources of meaning in technopreneurs’ commercialization research process, 2) establish the common features of technopreneurs’ commercialization research process, and 3) construct a grounded theory of technopreneurs’ sources of meaning and commercialization research process. The study employed a qualitative ground theory approach to explain the phenomena and develop theoretical conclusions. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews with 15 technopreneurs using theoretical sampling. The interviews used open-ended questions, and the resulting data were analysed via analytic induction to define concepts and construct the grounded theory. The results indicated that technopreneurs elicited sources of meaning through the commercialization research process, which were categorized into three features of idea development with passion, integrated business model development, and innovative and technological business networking. The commercialization research process includes eight stages: 1) business opportunity assessment, 2) technopreneurial mindset and passion development, 3) technology assessment and exploitation, 4) co-research and application to new product development, 5) technopreneurship incubation and business networking, 6) business planning for innovation commercialization, 7) continuous product improvement, and 8) sustainable technopreneurship and development. Finally, this research constructed theoretical conclusions, discussing and suggesting approaches for improving technopreneurs’ commercialization research process and future research directions.

MARKETING COMO OPÇÃO NA CONSTRUÇÃO DE RELACIONAMENTO COM CLIENTES

This study aimed to identify and describe the marketing strategies adopted by companies that aim to establish a lasting bond with their customers, with the aim of transforming them into allies in the search for continuous improvements in products and services. It also sought to highlight the return that these strategies can bring to the business, in addition to describing what companies do to understand their customers, aiming to develop close relationships with them, in order to constantly satisfy and even exceed their expectations. At first, the study describes the changes in the objective, focus and concept of marketing over the years, addressing how the relationship between companies and customers was and how it is seen, then the marketing strategies that companies have adopted with a view to creating and establishing a lasting relationship with their customers are discussed and, finally, the return that can be obtained by companies that seek to establish a consistent and lasting relationship with their customers is addressed. The conclusions indicate that, currently, customer loyalty and the lifetime value they represent are essential factors for companies, and that customers are preferring companies that, in addition to satisfying their needs, seek to establish a long-term relationship.