Implement Continuous Improvement Research Articles

STRATEGIC PLANNING USING THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP MODEL

In a highly competitive global scenario, companies seek new ways to optimize production and implement continuous improvement mechanisms to reduce costs. An essential tool in this context is the Total Cost of Ownership model, applied to the acquisition processes of inputs to determine the costs involved and compare the economic viability between domestic and international suppliers. Given the unstable economic scenario and high exchange rate fluctuations, the possibility of nationalizing production is evaluated. The case study method is adopted, characterized as applied and exploratory research, with the objective of generating knowledge for practical application and solving specific problems. This method combines a literature review with exploratory field analysis. The studied company faces a loss of profitability due to rising import costs, reduced demand, and the loss of purchasing power of the national currency against international suppliers. The increase in costs resulting from exchange rate fluctuations necessitates the search for new supply options, primarily in the domestic market, where exchange rate influence is lower. Thus, the nationalization of inputs becomes crucial in business decisions to minimize costs and maintain competitiveness. The results indicate that the nationalization of production using the Total Cost of Ownership model is viable. This model considers all costs involved in the acquisition of inputs, unlike the traditional acquisition model, which focuses exclusively on the unit price.

Exploring the impact of street play as a powerful pedagogical tool in public health programs

This case study reports on the production, performance and evaluation of a public health street play by MSc Public Health students at York St John University (London Campus) in the United Kingdom. The street play was performed on World AIDS Day 2023. This paper focuses on the dynamic and interactive nature of street play as a pedagogical technique that aligns with constructivist principles, fostering meaningful learning experiences. Increased confidence, engagement and programme commitment were observed in students both in in-person and online sessions following the street play. While recognising these strengths, we discuss the need to address challenges, foster collaborations and implement continuous improvement strategies to make street play even more effective as a teaching method in the public health discipline.

Near Miss Archive: A Challenge to Share Knowledge among Inspectors and Improve Seveso Inspections

In European Seveso Legislation for the control of the hazard of major accidents (Directive 2015/12/UE), the Safety Management System SMS is an essential obligation for managers and the authorities are required to periodically verify its adequateness through periodical inspections at Seveso sites. One of the pillars of the SMS is the collection and analysis of documents on accidents, near misses, and possible anomalies, in order to identify weaknesses and implement continuous improvement. In Italy, for a few years, the documents, gathered from all Italian Seveso sites by the inspectors, have been archived and used for research purposes. The archive currently contains some 4000 reports, collected in 5 years by some 100 inspectors throughout Italy. This paper discusses in detail the challenges faced to extract the knowledge hidden in the documents and make it usable through the design of a robust model. For this aim, machine learning techniques have been used for preprocessing of the reports for extracting the concepts and their relations, organized into an entity-relation model. The effectiveness of this methodology and its potentiality are pointed out by investigating a few hot topics, exploiting the information contained in the repository.

Intellectual capital of the MSMES in the area of influence. Universidad Tecnológica de Tula Tepeji

Mexico's Academic Synergy Network-MyPyMES developed a project called "The Intellectual Capital of mSMEs of the area of influence of the Technological Universities" to carry out an analysis of the indicators that make up the Intellectual Capital: active intangible value-added and competitive advantages for business development; was done to determine the value of the Skandia Browser Model approaches with a web-mobile application. The type of research was exploratory, cross-cutting and with a mixed approach, the survey technique was used by applying a questionnaire to 32 MSMEs of the Tula-Tepeji area. As a result, it was found that most do not have financial data or administrative procedures to determine the five approaches of Skandia Browser, the most important thing for companies is to sell; however, they do not conduct market research, very few are led by a professional who applies strategic planning, or have a definite mission or vision; Managers also do not know what Intellectual Capital is, do not attach importance to the development and training of staff, do not use ICT's as a management tool, do not evaluate processes or implement continuous improvement. It was concluded that the MSMEs in the buffer area present an area of opportunity to develop their intellectual capital, therefore higher education institutions must assist in the training of entrepreneurs and design a model to implement appropriate methodologies and procedures that promote intellectual capital.

Trato digno de enfermería durante 2010-2015 en el sistema nacional de indicadores de calidad

En este trabajo se presenta el comportamiento del indicador de trato digno de enfermería durante el periodo 2010 a 2015 en el Sistema Nacional de Indicadores de Calidad en Salud, con el objetivo de describir la percepción de la calidad de la atención recibida por los usuarios de los servicios de salud, así como identificar las variables de este indicador que representen un mayor reto para el profesional de enfermería. La información analizada se obtuvo del portal de internet de la Dirección General de Calidad y Educación en Salud. Los resultados indican que durante el periodo 2010-2011 no se cumplió con el estándar de calificación mínima de 95% esperada por el cumplimiento de los criterios establecidos para este indicador. Los criterios limitantes fueron porcentaje de pacientes a los cuales la enfermera (o): a) lo saluda en forma amable, b) se presenta, y c) se dirige por su nombre. De 2012 a 2015 se cumplió con el estándar, lo cual sugiere que la medición de este indicador ha permitido detectar áreas de oportunidad e implementar estrategias de mejora continua, por otro lado también indica el enfoque ético y humanístico en la atención que caracteriza la profesión de enfermería.

Quality management assurance using data integrity model

High complexity of modern quality management systems (QMS) leads to the need for new tools aimed to support them and implement continuous improvement. The key process to manage the quality level is quality assurance. The paper investigates process information integrity and consistency as properties or quality assurance process. Some basic approach for organizing data integrity metrics is described. An approach for QMS requirements assurance based on SysML modelling language is proposed.

Difficulty in implementing continuous improvement – Rasch measurement analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to define a general and common construct in order to measure the level of difficulty companies experience when they implement continuous improvement (CI). Additionally, a rank of barriers is obtained together with a rank of companies. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve the objective, first, a literature review is carried out to specify the domain of the construct; second, a sample of items is selected; third a survey is carried out in companies that have already implemented CI initiatives, the results being thus limited to this population; fourth, measures are purified by analysing the reliability and validity of the measurements, and finally results are obtained. The Rasch measurement theory will be used to provide a new perspective on a mature research topic. Findings It can be concluded that a new valid construct has been defined together with a rank of CI barriers, being lack of time the main barrier. A rank of companies is also obtained which is a first step in the development of future research studies. Practical implications Managers are provided with a better understanding of the barriers that can obstruct CI implementation. Thus, the rank of CI barriers guides managers through the most common and important obstacles so that they will be able to plan better CI strategies. In addition, the rank of companies allows each company to undertake a benchmarking exercise. Originality/value This work proposes a new way of analysing the difficulty in implementing CI as a continuum, rather than as independent barriers. From a theoretical point of view, it defines a new construct and offers a rank of CI barriers together with a rank of companies based on their level of difficulty when implementing CI initiatives. This is something new, as previous studies were mainly focussed on the items side. From a practical point of view, this study offers the surveyed companies the opportunity to see how they are positioned with respect to the other companies. Moreover, this rank of companies is the foundation on which to develop further studies with a practical orientation in the future.

Institutionalizing Continuous Improvement Plan for Program Assessment

Continuous improvement is a corner stone of a quality engineering or engineering technology program. Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology requires that a well-planned and implemented continuous improvement plan should be in place.A successful continuous improvement plan that is institutionalized is self-driven and does not require external stimuli. For example, if an outcome assessment goal is not reached in an academic term, a sequence of events/actions are set in motion to address the deficiency. Evidence of existence of an institutionalized continuous improvement plan include but not limited to: A timeline of repeated activities related to the assessment and evaluation of student outcomes, agreed upon performance indicators to assess learning outcomes, systematic data collection focusing on direct evidence of student performance related to the student outcomes. Various data streams feeding into the assessment plan may include, course assessment data, senior exit survey, alumni and employer survey, internship reports and feedback from industrial advisory boards.

Prioritizing process improvement initiatives in manufacturing environments

In today's competitive and globalized markets, companies need to focus on eliminating wastes in their processes and implement continuous improvement initiatives. Lean and Six Sigma are two process improvement philosophies that have been successfully applied by many organizations to improve their business processes. Selecting and prioritizing process improvement initiatives in the workplace can be a challenging task, especially when multiple decision factors are involved. In this study, a proposed framework for prioritizing process improvement initiatives in manufacturing environments is developed which considers process variables, resource constraints, and operator skills. The framework ranks workplace areas and uses a multi-objective optimization model to assign improvement projects and associated operators. A case study from a manufacturing environment is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed framework.

Sustaining TQM through self‐directed work teams

Teamwork is increasingly seen as a prerequisite for many job functions within those organisations seeking to sustain total quality management (TQM). However, the daunting task of creating a teamwork environment within many companies is often left to pro‐active senior management that assumes the responsibility for creating a culture of interdependency. The opportunity for maximising employee potential through empowered teamwork represents a challenge for many managers. These managers who often become champions for success inevitably contribute towards improving organisational performance through re‐engineering the people process. This paper describes a reflective case experience of a small to medium enterprise that developed a team‐based organisation, where all employees were empowered to challenge the status quo, implement continuous improvement strategies and, thus, strive towards TQM. The paper describes how the formation of self‐directed work teams (SDWTs) is used as a strategy for motivating a diverse group of people with different attitudes, skills and personalities, to work together towards common business goals. Particularly, emphasis is placed on the role of the team facilitator within dynamic teams, and the necessary attributes of such a facilitator are identified. This identification also assists in providing an understanding of how a facilitator can assist in curtailing conflict. The benefits experienced by the case study as it sustains its TQM efforts through flexible SDWTs are also identified.

Between Shock Absorption and Continuous Improvement: Supervisors and Technicians in Fiat `Integrated Factory'

The results of fieldwork research by the shadowing method on two supervisory roles in the Fiat plant of Mirafiori (Turin) are discussed. The roles are those of UTE leader and UTE technologist, neither of which existed before the advent of the cellular-manufacturing inspired `Integrated Factory'. UTE (Unitd Tecnologica Elementare) is the basic cell in the new production regime. Whereas the UTE leader is a line figure in the production process, the UTE technologist is a staff figure in charge of the search for innovation and improvement. The main question addressed is: to what extent are UTE leaders and technologists able to go beyond the role of `shock absorber' (ex post elimination of anomalies) and implement continuous improvement to avoid anomalies ex ante? A number of different situations emerge as the result of the interweaving between technological constraints and supervisors' capacity to manage the flow of events. Two main phenomena were observed: (a) a bifurcation between UTEs in which the high frequency of anomalies compels supervisors into a mere function of shock absorbers, and UTEs in which the low frequency of anomalies generates slack time that is devoted to improvement activities, with a snowball effect leading to further reduction of anomalies; (b) the socially constructed nature of anomalies, whose relevance is always related to pre-established degrees of ordinariness, reflected in the measures available to deal with them.

Implement continuous improvement to maximise quality and reduce costs

Implement continuous improvement to maximise quality and reduce costs