Lean Index Research Articles

Exploring the relationship between Lean and Green for further research

PurposeExploring the Lean and Green relationship goes back to the beginnings of Lean manufacturing. Most cases established that companies implementing Lean have Green results. However, there are Lean practices with a higher impact on Green, but others with less impact. Therefore, this paper presents research that explores the relationship between Lean and Green in manufacturing companies and aims to determine whether Lean practices have a higher association with Green aspects.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted amongst manufacturing firms to determine their Lean Index (LI). The internally related elements of the Lean construct determined each firm’s LI, whilst Cronbach alpha determined internal LI consistency. The survey also identified firms developing six Green aspects: International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001, ISO 50001, general Green aspects and the specific aspects of materials, energy and water. An individual sample t-test shows different LI levels of association for each Green aspect. Binomial logistic regression shows the LI element association for each Green aspect.FindingsLI is higher at firms reporting the inclusion of Green aspects. More than half of LI components have a statistically relevant association with the six Green aspects. In general, Ishikawa diagrams had the highest association with Green aspects whilst the lowest was seen in workers as improvement initiators. By grouping the LI elements into their categories, the Lean practices related to controlling processes have a higher association, whilst the involvement of employees has the lowest.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research found in this paper identifies the possibilities for investigating the specificities of each Lean tool to develop Green aspects in companies.Practical implicationsPractitioners learn that Lean and Green are not separate issues in business. This article provides evidence that Lean practices in place at companies are already associated with Green aspects, so integration may already be happening.Originality/valueThis paper provides specifics on the relationship between each Lean practice and developing Green aspects. Thus, this paper specifies the Lean practices that contribute most to Green efficiency to support the joint development of both themes.

Frailty in Midlife as a Predictor of Changes in Body Composition from Midlife into Old Age: A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study

Introduction: Few studies have investigated the association between frailty and subsequent body composition. Methods: We performed separate linear mixed model analyses to study the associations between changes in the participant frailty status assessed by a frailty index (FI) and subsequent body mass index (BMI), lean mass index (LMI), fat mass index (FMI), and FMI to LMI ratio values assessed on three occasions over 17 years. The analyses were carried out among 996 participants spanning from age 57 to 84 years. Results: With advancing age, LMI and BMI decreased, whereas FMI and FMI to LMI ratio increased. Participants with “stable frailty,” followed by those with “increasing frailty” experienced faster decreases in LMI and faster increases in FMI and FMI to LMI ratio values from midlife into old age relative to those in the group “stable not frail.” Contrastingly, those in the highest third of absolute annual increase in FMI and FMI to LMI ratio became more frail faster from midlife into old age relative to those in the lowest third. Conclusions: We found evidence of an adverse health outcome of frailty where lean indices declined faster and fat indices and fat-to-lean ratios increased faster from midlife into old age. The changes resembled those that occurred with aging, but at a faster pace. The relationship between body composition and frailty is likely bidirectional, where high or increasing levels of fat are associated with the risk of becoming more frail earlier, but where a longer duration of frailty may increase the risk of faster age-related changes to body composition.

FRAILTY IN MIDLIFE AS A PREDICTOR OF CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION FROM MIDLIFE INTO OLD AGE

Abstract Few studies have investigated the association between frailty and subsequent body composition. We performed separate linear mixed model analyses in 996 adults (mean age at baseline[SD]: 61.5[2.9]) in a Finnish longitudinal birth cohort study to explore the relationships between changes in frailty status assessed by the Rockwood 41-item-frailty-index (FI) and changes in body mass index (BMI), lean mass index (LMI), fat mass index (FMI), and FMI to LMI-ratio values during 17 years of follow-up. With advancing age, LMI and BMI decreased, whereas FMI and FMI to LMI -ratio increased. Those who were frail (FI≥ 0.25) already at baseline, followed by those who became frail during the follow-up, experienced faster decreases in LMI and faster increases in FMI and FMI to LMI -ratio values relative to those who were ‘never frail’. Contrastingly, those in the highest third of absolute annual increase in FMI and FMI to LMI-ratio became frailer faster over time relative to those in the lowest third. We found evidence of an adverse health outcome of frailty where lean indices declined faster and fat indices and fat to lean -ratios increased faster from midlife into old age. The changes resembled those that occurred with aging, but at a faster pace. The relationship between body composition and frailty is likely bidirectional, where high or increasing levels of fat are associated with the risk of becoming frailer earlier, but where a longer duration of frailty may increase the risk of faster age-related changes to body composition.

Dietary Valine/Isoleucine Ratio Impact Carcass Characteristics, Meat Edible Quality and Nutritional Values in Finishing Crossbred Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire Pigs With Different Slaughter Weights.

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of dietary ratio of valine to isoleucine [R(V/I)] on carcass characteristics and meat quality of finishing pigs and whether slaughter weight influence the effect. We carried out a 2 × 3 factorial trial with two slaughter weight (105 vs. 130 kg) and three R(V/I) (0.58, 1.23, and 2.60 at 75–100 kg body weight, and 0.70, 1.24, and 2.39 at 100–135 kg body weight for L-, N- and H-R (V/I), respectively). Data show that increasing slaughter weight significantly increased meat color (a*45 min and b*45 min), drip loss and shear force (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, increasing slaughter weight reduced sarcomere length, the proportion of protein-bound water, and most kinds of muscular total amino acid contents except for tryptophan and arginine, while increased contents of muscular free lysine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, valine, alanine, and arginine in the M. longissimus thoracis (P < 0.05). Health lipid indices based on fatty acid composition of intramuscular lipid were improved as the slaughter weight increased (P < 0.05). Notably, pigs received N-R (V/I) diet improved carcass traits in terms of thinner backfat thickness and higher fat-free lean index, as well as increased meat flavor-contributing amino acids at the cost of reduced intramuscular fat content and increased shear force of cooked meat compared with the pigs fed L-R (V/I) and H-R(V/I) diets (P < 0.05). H-R (V/I) diet decreased ultimate pH value and sarcomere length of the skeletal muscle but increased the proportion of free water (T23), consequently, increased drip loss and cooking loss of fresh meat in pigs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both slaughter weight and dietary ratio of valine to isoleucine exerted significant impacts on carcass characteristics, meat quality and nutrition values. In particular, carcass traits and meat color of lighter pigs were more susceptible to the influence of dietary R (V/I) relative to heavier pigs.

Application of Data Mining in Effect Evaluation of Lean Management

Quantitative evaluation is an important part of enterprise diagnosis, which promotes the scientific and modern management of enterprises. At present, the existing enterprise management evaluation methods cannot complete the mining of enterprise index data, which leads to large error and low significance coefficient in enterprise management evaluation. Therefore, the application of data mining in enterprise lean management effect evaluation is put forward. The process and main functions of data mining are analyzed; data mining algorithm is used to establish the evaluation index system of lean management effect and calculate the index weight. Using the association rules method in data mining, according to the parameters of enterprise lean management level evaluation index and weight value, through the fuzzy set transformation idea, the fuzzy boundary of each index and factor is described by the membership degree, the fuzzy judgment matrix is constructed, and the final evaluation result is obtained by multilayer compound calculation. Experimental results show that this study has a high significance coefficient, and the proposed evaluation method of enterprise lean management effect has ideal accuracy and short time consumption. In practical application, the cumulative contribution rate is higher and has higher stability.

DXA-Derived Adiposity and Lean Indices for Management of Cardiometabolic and Musculoskeletal Frailty: Data Interpretation Tricks and Reporting Tips.

The proper assessment and follow-up of obesity and sarcopenia are relevant for the proper management of the complications of cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal frailty. A total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan should be systematically incorporated in the rehabilitative routine management of patients with obesity and sarcopenia. In the former patients, the total body DXA can be used to assess the fat tissue amount and distribution, while in the latter patients, it can be used to quantify the reduction of appendicular lean mass and to investigate the inter-limb lean mass asymmetry. This tutorial article provides an overview of different DXA-derived fat and lean indices and describes a step-by-step procedure on how to produce a complete DXA report. We suggest that the systematic incorporation of these indices into routine examinations of the patients with obesity and sarcopenia can be useful for identifying the patients at risk for cardiometabolic and neuromuscular impairment-related comorbidities and for evaluating the effectiveness of pharmacological and rehabilitative interventions.

Lean Readiness Index for Malaysian Hospitals: An Exploratory Study

This paper presents an exploratory study on the development of lean readiness index for Malaysian hospitals. A questionnaire survey were obtained from 118 public hospitals and lean readiness model was developed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and the relevant constructs were identified using confirmatory factor analysis. The Lean Readiness Index (LRI) is formulated and a ruler in associate with the LRI were proposed as to meet the objective of the study. The finding to emerge from this study is that only 10.1% of Malaysian public hospitals have ‘good’ readiness status. The study also revealed the overall LRI’s value is 0.617 and, the majority of the hospitals were categorize as having ‘fair’ and ‘weak’ readiness status. The result indicated that training had the strongest association towards lean readiness while communication is the least. This study had revealed the readiness level for lean implementation in Malaysian public hospitals and proposed the required foundation that need to be enhanced before implementing lean.

Evolution of body composition and wasting indicators by time of day of haemodialysis.

It has been a long-standing clinical concern that haemodialysis (HD) patients on afternoon shifts (ASs) are more prone to protein-energy wasting (PEW) than those on morning shifts (MSs), as their dialysis scheme and post-dialysis symptoms may interfere with meal intake. We evaluated the effect of time of day of HD on the evolution of body composition changes and PEW surrogates. We conducted a retrospective study among 9.963 incident HD patients treated in NephroCare centres (2011-16); data were routinely collected in the European Clinical Database. The course of multi-frequency bioimpedance determined lean and fat tissue indices (LTI and FTI) between patients in MSs/ASs over 2 years were compared with linear mixed models. Secondary PEW indicators were body mass index, albumin, creatinine index and normalized protein catabolic rate. Models included fixed (age, sex, vascular access and diabetes mellitus) and random effects (country and patient). Mean baseline LTI and FTI were comparable between MSs (LTI: 12.5 ± 2.9 kg/m2 and FTI: 13.7 ± 6.0 kg/m2) and ASs (LTI: 12.4 ± 2.9 kg/m2 and FTI: 13.2 ± 6.1 kg/m2). During follow-up, LTI decreased and FTI increased similarly, with a mean absolute change (baseline to 24 months) of -0.3 kg/m2 for LTI and +1.0 kg/m2 for FTI. The course of these malnutrition indicators did not differ between dialysis shifts (P for interaction ≥0.10). We also did not observe differences between groups for secondary PEW indicators. This study suggests that a dialysis shift in the morning or in the afternoon does not impact the long-term nutritional status of HD patients. Regardless of time of day of HD, patients progressively lose muscle mass and increase body fat.

Different dietary starch sources alter the carcass traits, meat quality, and the profile of muscle amino acid and fatty acid in finishing pigs

BackgroundWith increasing health awareness among consumers, the demand for healthier, tastier, higher quality and nutritional value pork is increasing. It has been shown that different dietary starch sources can alter the carcass traits and meat quality. However, research on the effects of different starch sources with clear different amylose/amylopectin ratio on the amino acid and fatty acid composition in Longissimus thoracis (L. thoracis) muscle of pigs is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary starch sources on carcass traits, meat quality, muscle amino acid and fatty acid composition, and the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism and muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 72 Duroc × Landrace × Large White barrows were randomly allocated to 3 different dietary treatment groups with 8 replicate pens/group and 3 pigs per pen. Tapioca starch (TS), corn starch (CS), and pea starch (PS), with amylose/amylopectin ratio of 0.11, 0.25, and 0.44, respectively, were used as their dietary starch sources for 40 days.ResultsResults showed that the PS diet significantly increased (P < 0.05) the final body weight, average daily gain, loin-eye area, and fat-free lean index compared with the TS diet, but significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the feed to gain ratio and backfat thickness. Compared with the TS diet, PS diet also increased (P < 0.05) the pH45 min, marbling scores, the content of intramuscular fat and inosine monophosphate in the L. thoracis, and decreased (P < 0.05) the drip loss and shear force. In addition, compared with the TS diet, PS diet increased (P < 0.05) the proportions of flavor amino acids, DHA, EPA, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the L. thoracis compared with TS diet, but decreased (P < 0.05) the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA. Furthermore, compared with the TS diet, PS diet also upregulated (P < 0.05) the lipogenic genes (FAS, LPL, SCD, ACCα) and myosin heavy-chain (MyHC)-IIa mRNA expression levels compared with the TS diet, but downregulated (P < 0.05) the CPT1B and MyHC-IIb mRNA levels.ConclusionsIn conclusion, these results provided compelling evidence that the different dietary starch source altered the carcass traits, meat flavor and quality in finishing pigs, and consumption of a diet with higher amylose/amylopectin ratio results in the production of a healthy, higher quality, and nutritional value pork.

DXA Measured Visceral Adipose Tissue, Total Fat, Anthropometric Indices and its Association With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Mother-Daughter Pairs From India

Visceral fat is the pathogenic fat depot associated with diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases. Estimation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) by dual energy-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a newer technique with less radiation exposure, shorter scanning time, and lower cost. In this study, we attempted to look at relationship between cardiometabolic risk factors and VAT, total body fat percent (TBF%) and anthropometry. We also studied the changes in body composition and metabolic parameters with menopause. The familial resemblance of VAT and TBF% in mother-daughter pair was also compared. This was a cross sectional community study of 300 women (150 postmenopausal mothers and 150 premenopausal daughters). Body composition indices by DXA and metabolic parameters were assessed. The association between DXA-VAT, TBF%, anthropometric measures, and cardiometabolic risk factors were studied by correlation, receiver operating characteristics curves, and logistic regression analysis. VAT indices were significantly higher and lean indices lower in postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women. One fourth of postmenopausal women were categorized as metabolically obese normal weight. DXA-VAT was a better predictor of cardiometabolic risk factors as compared to waist circumference, body mass index, and TF% in postmenopausal women (AUC:0.68 vs 0.62, 0.60 & 0.5, respectively), whereas body mass index had a better prediction in premenopausal women(AUC:0.68). VAT area >100 cm² had a significant association with the presence of ≥2 cardiometabolic risk factors (p = 0.04, OR: 2.2, CI:1.0–4.7) in the postmenopausal women. Daughters of the mothers with higher TBF% were found to have a higher TBF% compared to daughters of mothers with normal TBF% (36.2 ± 4.2 vs 32.2 ± 4.4, p = 0.03), similar resemblance was not seen for VAT. The study showed that the VAT increases and lean mass decreases with age and menopause. DXA measured VAT is a better predictor of cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. Total body fat may have a familial resemblance, but not the VAT which is determined by age, menopause, and probable life style factors.

Body composition of HIV-positive candidates for and recipients of a kidney transplant: comparative analysis between DEXA and anthropometric indices

Objective: To determine body composition (BC) and the correlation, if any, between indices measured by anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Design: Cross-sectional descriptive. Setting: National sample of HIV-positive patients on the ‘positive-to-positive’ kidney transplant programme, South Africa. Methodology: 34 participants categorised as (i) HIV-positive transplant recipients from an HIV-positive donor (n = 16); and (ii) HIV-positive transplant candidates on the waiting list to receive a kidney from an HIV-positive donor (n = 18). Pearson's coefficient was used to correlate anthropometry with DEXA. Outcome measures: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were compared with DEXA-derived percentage body fat (%BF), truncal fat (TF) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC) was correlated with DEXA lean indices namely lean mass (LM), lean mass index (LMI) and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI). Results: Pearson's correlation coefficient between BMI and %BF was strong (r = 0.773, p < 0.001). The correlation between WC with TF (r = 0.799, p < 0.001) and VAT (r = 0.885, p < 0.001) was highly significant, as was the correlation for WHtR with TF and VAT (r = 0.778, p = 0.013 and r = 0.830, p < 0.001). MAMC best correlated with ALMI (r = 0.511, p = 0.011). Conclusion: BMI, WC, WHtR and MAMC are suitable indicators of overall and regional adiposity as well as musculature, based on correlations with DEXA derived %BF, TF, VAT and ALMI respectively. The findings support the use of these anthropometric indices for measurement of BC in this patient group as a cost-effective alternative to DEXA.

Bottleneck Tree Analysis (BOTA) with green and lean index for process capacity debottlenecking in industrial refineries

This paper presents a novel Bottleneck Tree Analysis (BOTA) to cope with the increasing capacities within industrial refineries. BOTA is a clear and concise heuristic graphical debottlenecking method that can accurately pinpoint the process capacity bottlenecks. Coupled with BOTA, four multiple criteria decision-making methods are used for an ensemble with Spearman’s correlation to assess the Green and Lean Index (GLI) of industrial processes. The decision-making tool is formulated to improve operational performance with the consideration for environmental conditions. Empirically, BOTA demonstrated a debottleneck stopping mechanism which can be theoretically explained with the reversed onion model. An additional advantage is that retrofit projects can be guided by BOTA with effective scheduling. From an industrial case study, BOTA improved normalized Global Warming Potential by 94.43 %, normalized energy consumption by 93.09 % and return on investment by 58.36 %. Project implementation by scheduling also reduced payback period from 85 to 66 months.

A roadmap for a leanness company to emerge as a true lean organization

The problem this work aims to solve is the improvement of the leanness level of a company jeopardized by the lack of lean engagement. The objectives of the research are to present a method based on a lean self-assessment approach, consisted of a qualitative self-assessment method based on lean elements that drives an index definition associated with a roadmap. The method consists in providing a roadmap for the assessed enterprise composed by the company’s lean index, recommendations and countermeasures deriving from Delphi and Kendall Coefficient of Concordance ( W) application among lean experts, leading the assessed enterprise to achieve results in terms of lean engagement, autonomy, and decision support criteria for future resource allocation. The results demonstrated that method can highlight gaps where additional improvements and investments would be necessary in the assessed enterprise. Finally, the study concludes that the lean performance identification associated to a lean roadmap in a company can be a highly effective tool to improve lean adoption in a leanness organization.

Optimizing Nutrition Assessment to Create Better Outcomes in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Review of Current Practices

Lung transplantation offers patients with end-stage lung disease an opportunity for a better quality of life, but with limited organ availability it is paramount that selected patients have the best opportunity for successful outcomes. Nutrition plays a central role in post-surgical outcomes and, historically, body mass index (BMI) has been used as the de facto method of assessing a lung transplant candidate’s nutritional status. Here, we review the historical origins of BMI in lung transplantation, summarize the current BMI literature, and review studies of alternative/complementary body composition assessment tools, including lean psoas area, creatinine-height index, leptin, and dual x-ray absorptiometry. These body composition measures quantify lean body mass versus fat mass and may provide a more comprehensive analysis of a patient’s nutritional state than BMI alone.

The effects of dietary soybean hulls particle size and diet form on nursery and finishing pig performance.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate increasing unground and finely ground soybean hulls fed in meal or pelleted form on nursery and finishing pig performance. In experiment 1, 1,100 nursery pigs (initially 6.8 ± 0.1 kg and 28 d of age) were used in a 42-d study with 11 replicates per treatment. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of soybean hulls (10% vs. 20%), grind type (unground, 617 µ vs. ground, 398 µ), and diet type (pelleted vs. meal form). No three-way or soybean hull level × grind type interactions were observed. Overall, average daily gain (ADG) was increased (P < 0.05) by pelleting, decreased (P < 0.05) by grinding, but unaffected by soybean hull levels. Grind type × diet form interactions were observed (P < 0.05) for gain:feed ratio (G:F) and a tendency for average daily feed intake (ADFI; P < 0.10). This was because grinding soybean hulls decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI and increased (P < 0.05) G:F when fed in meal form; however, grinding did not affect ADFI and decreased (P < 0.05) G:F when diets were pelleted. Increasing soybean hulls increased (P < 0.05) ADFI and decreased (P < 0.05) G:F when diets were fed in meal form, but these effects were not observed when diets were pelleted (diet form × soybean hull level interaction, P < 0.06). In experiment 2, 1,215 pigs (initially 21.1 ± 0.1 kg) were used in a 118-d study with nine replications per treatment. Treatments were a corn–soybean meal–based control diet and four diets arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with the main effects of soybean hulls (7.5% vs. 15%) and grind type (unground, 787 µ vs. ground, 370 µ). All diets were fed in meal form. No soybean hull level × grind type interactions were observed for any growth or carcass responses. Increasing dietary soybean hulls from 0% to 15%, regardless of particle size, did not affect ADG or ADFI, but decreased (linear, P < 0.02) G:F. Carcass yield, hot carcass weight, and backfat depth decreased (linear, P < 0.03) whereas percentage lean increased (linear, P < 0.01) with increasing soybean hulls. Pigs fed ground soybean hulls had increased backfat depth (P < 0.01) and decreased (P < 0.01) percentage lean and fat-free lean index. In summary, increasing soybean hulls up to 20% decreased G:F in nursery and finishing pigs, whereas pelleting nursery diets improved ADG and eliminated the negative effect of increasing soybean hulls on G:F. Grinding soybean hulls reduced growth performance in nursery and finishing pigs.

Lean home services in Czech Republic

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of an empirical research on the leanness of the home services sector in the Czech Republic. The automotive sector provides reference to argue the numerical outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The research uses a specifically designed assessment tool (Lean Index – LI) to determine the sector’s leanness level. Referring to the results from both sectors, the paper draws conclusions about the current leanness level of home services providers. Findings The proposed LI indicates a value of 69.50 per cent for home services providers, whereas the LI for the automotive industry suppliers is 82.88 per cent. This suggests that there are large opportunities for the implementation of lean management in the home services sector. However, the main challenge is to introduce a continuous improvement approach to these companies. Research limitations/implications The sample size limits the generalisation of the research results. However, this paper represents the first empirical attempt to implement a large-scale survey. The results are limited to the Czech Republic. However, parties from other countries have indicated interest to replicate the research. Practical implications This research provides first empirical findings on the possibilities of implementing lean in the home services sector. Future research projects in other sectors will have the opportunity to make use of the LI assessment tool. Originality/value The paper presents the first approach of lean management into the home services sector. It provides valuable information to specialised institutions in the sector about the possibilities of lean management in the sector. It also provides an overview of the sector for practitioners and academics willing to pioneer lean in the sector.

A Study on Using LARG (lean, agile, resilient and green) Index to Assess the Sustainability of Egyptian FMCGs Supply Chains

Sustainable or green supply chain (GSC) management has gained significant importance over the past few years in Egypt as global awareness on preserving natural resources and the environment have been increasing. Sustainable operations of the supply chain became an essential requirement for Egyptian products to enter the European and the American markets which are the two major exports' markets for Egypt. Therefore, this research would assess the leanness, agility, resilience and greenness of Egyptian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain by the use of the lean, agile, resilient and green (LARG) index proposed by Azevedo et al. (2016). This research will use the case study approach in assessing the practices of three major FMCG companies' supply chains. Conducting this assessment on a set of companies and to their supply chain will allow the researcher to benchmark the performance of the supply chain members; thus, highlighting the gaps and emphasising on the improvement opportunities.

Identification of muscle and adipose gene expression patterns in lean and obese pigs

Obesity is a major risk factor of preventable deaths worldwide, with increasing rates being observed in adults and children. To understand the mechanisms of obesity development, genetically lean (Duroc strain) and obese (Rongchang strain) pigs were used to identify potential differences in muscle and adipose development patterns following consumption of an identical diet for 180 days. Lean pigs had a significantly higher lean percentage (67.79% versus 44.71%) and lower obesity index (0.68 versus 0.84) than obese pigs. They also exhibited significantly lower adipocyte volumes and higher myofibre cross-sectional areas. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that lean pigs had a significantly higher expression of muscle growth-related genes and lower expression of lipogenesis-related genes. By contrast, obese pigs had higher expression of a myostatin-related gene and lower expression of lipolysis-related genes. Additionally, the mitochondrial DNA copy number was higher in the muscle and lower in adipose tissue in lean compared with obese pigs. These results indicate that lean pigs have a distinct development pattern from obese pigs, involving lipogenesis, muscle growth, and energy metabolism. This study provides a basis for exploring the mechanisms of adipose deposition and muscle growth in obesity. Keywords: Obesity, mitochondrial DNA, Sus scrofa

Lean evaluation system of manufacturing enterprises based on full lifecycle

The production of manufacturing enterprises is a complex process. Lean production is hard to achieve lean weight reduction. It is very important to propose a lean life assessment framework. This paper evaluates the lean production level of the whole life cycle of the company by using the fuzzy theory and the neural network technology, establishes a scientific and systematic framework of the lean evaluation index of the whole life cycle, and establishes the evaluation model of the fuzzy neural network. The example analysis shows that the actual output value of the fuzzy neural network model is not much different from the predicted output value, which indicates that the model has high-prediction accuracy. The experimental results further verify the reliability and validity of the model. The system framework can well plan and evaluate the whole lean production level. Accurate assessment of lean production level is an effective way to improve lean levels.

An Assessment Model Study for Lean and Agile (Leagile) Index by Using Fuzzy AHP

Lean and agile supply chains are the most important and valid supply chain strategies that are accepted in today’s World. They can be used separately or together in business processes. However, some of these companies cannot use lean and agile manufacturing characteristics as it should be due to lack of knowledge or mis-directioning. As a result of this they are not able to come to competitive levels. This study was done for the aim of supporting companies to analyze their current situation, understand the missing and set a course for improvements in the direction of lean and agile criteria. Especially for small-scale manufacturing industry, it is thought to contribute with regards to understand very well what the lean / agile criteria’s are, notice where missing’s are in processes, take an action against them and be competitive by keeping dynamic the cycle of improvement and rendering this process continuously in order to be more efficient and competitive.