Process Improvement Practices Research Articles

Nurses perception of a hospital’s process improvement on patient satisfaction

As nurses provide most of the patient care in hospitals, patient satisfaction depends in part on their interactions with patients. We examined how the nurses’ use of non-technical methods (shared goal understanding, patient focus, and nurse empowerment) and technical methods (standard problem-solving and visual management) affect patient satisfaction. Data was gathered through a survey of nurses in one hospital that has employed process improvement practices for more than five years. Significant findings are that patient focus, nurse empowerment, and using standardized problem-solving methods improve patient satisfaction. We also found that patient satisfaction decreases in two cases: first, when nurses use visual indicators without using standardized problem-solving methods, and when nurses are not empowered but are strongly pressured to meet goals.

Probabilistic-Mechanistic Evaluation of a Hybrid Drying System Using l1 Norm Regularisation: Simultaneous Ohmic Heating and Convection Drying

Ohmic-assisted drying (OAD) is a novel drying system that combines ohmic heating and convection drying simultaneously. The present study is aimed at evaluating the mechanism of OAD system behaviours against the combined impact of operational and model uncertainties. Moreover, the dynamic (time-dependent), as well as static (end-of-drying) spatial homogeneity of the model predictions, was quantitatively described for the first time in the literature using Buzas and Gibson’s evenness value (an α-diversity index). The Monte Carlo simulation approach was used to propagate the uncertainty of randomly selected input variables using the Halton sequence sampling method. Mechanistic models include input uncertainties that lead to deviations in model estimations. Both time-dependent and independent global sensitivity of moisture, sample temperature, sample’s internal pressure, their spatial homogeneity, and drying time were assessed using Lasso regression (a variable selection method that penalises the coefficients using l1 norm). The stochastic results of the mechanistic investigation showed that the effects of the input variables are almost identical both as static and time-dependent variables. Lasso regression results indicated that operational and model uncertainties cause varying changes in the magnitude and direction of the stochastic model predictions throughout the process. By contrast, the homogeneity properties of the dry product are not caused by these variations and heterogeneous distribution of the electric field. Additionally, electrical conductivity, oven temperature, applied voltage, and initial moisture were found to be the variables which have the most significant effect on all the variables which were examined in terms of operational and model uncertainties. Practical Applications. The present study investigates the stochastic behaviour of the OAD system through the mechanistic model and using a probabilistic modelling approach. To the best of our knowledge, in addition to being the first study to probabilistically evaluate the OAD system, we are introducing Buzas and Gibson’s evenness value for the first time in the food science/technology literature. This measure serves as a numerical indicator of the spatial distribution homogeneity of the physical properties of the sample. The study’s findings and proposed methodologies will have further applications not only for researchers but also for manufacturers, particularly for those involved in the design and analysis of new drying and food systems in general. Moreover, the presented methods and novel homogeneity measures are generic tools; they can be easily adapted to other process improvement practices involving input/output uncertainty/variability.

A Dynamic Capabilities View of Lean in a Service Context

In this article, we present the progression of lean deployment in a multilateral organization and subsequently characterize a dynamic capabilities framework of lean for organizational learning. It systematically explores the identification, execution, sustenance, and evaluation of lean in a service setting. A roadmap to lean deployment in pure-service environments and leveraging lean to create a win-win strategy for both employees and top management are a few key highlights of this article. Drawing parallels from dynamic capabilities literature, we propose a “dynamic capabilities” view of lean deployment (as a strategic resource), thereby evaluating lean's fitness to be recognized as a dynamic capability and not merely a process improvement practice.

Rethinking the Theory and Practice of Process Improvement

Rethinking the Theory and Practice of Process Improvement

Bayesian analysis of the relationship between process improvement practices and procurement maturity

Procurement maturity becomes a crucial indicator reflecting how effectively and efficiently a procurement function fulfills the expectations. Purchasing and supply management literature posits several maturity evaluation models providing tools for a comprehensive assessment of excellence. Quality management literature also handles that excellence issue from the process improvement perspective. This study investigates the role of process improvement practices in improving the maturity level of procurement organizations. A maturity assessment survey collects data from 96 purchasing and supply management professionals. We suggest a Bayesian hierarchical mean difference model that deploys a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler in inferring posterior parameters. Results indicate that firms regularly practicing process improvement activities have statistically higher performance than rarely or never practicing firms on aggregate procurement maturity and its sub-dimensions. These results emphasize that process improvement escalates procurement maturity from reactive to proactive level. As a novel branch of data science, we discuss the advantages of Bayesian hypothesis testing with the probabilistic programming approach compared to the traditional frequentist hypothesis testing.

Design and Implementation of a Track n trace 2D Multi Scanner Bulk Code Reader for Pharmaceutical Packaging

With various compliance initiatives surrounding the traceability of medical drugs coming into prominence and with federal regulations becoming more stringent, there is a need to efficiently manage the supply chain process involving drug packaging. To enable traceability of the drugs being packaged, many manufacturers are implementing barcoding of product labels which contains a minimum of the attributes namely GTIN, lot number, serial numbers, expiry date, manufacturing dates, etc., to enable traceability of the packaged item. Currently, manufacturers are looking for ways to keep their supply chain moving at an efficient and optimal process. One of the challenges was to build automated equipment providing a well-defined and properly structured framework for functioning, designing, and implementing of Track N Trace Counterfeit Risk Management (CRM) application to increase the speed of the aggregation with the child-to-parent aggregation and generation of online case labels after the required child's Quantity in Multi carton aggregation station. Track N Trace Counterfeit Risk Management (CRM) allows the manufacturers to establish the parent-child relationship during packaging their drugs. Also, various guidelines US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), EU regulation (Falsified Medicines Directive-FMD), Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), Indonesia's National Agency of Drug and Food Control (NADFC), India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade - DGFT, and Australia TGA will need to be integrated into one single source of equipment that can meet with their barcoding regulation for tracking of drugs packed. Machine Vision systems are finding themselves in use in the pharma machinery and the "multi-carton" equipment that has been built for implementation for pharmaceutical packaging uses the vision systems architecture. We aimed to build a counterfeit risk management software solution that ensures compliance with various regulatory agencies by building a common framework that can be extensible for any further changes to the guidelines and/or additional regulatory guidelines from other countries. Lots of design architecture work has been refined through continuous process improvement practices and we developed a software tool that improves efficiency and requires minimal changes to the current manufacturing/packaging supply chain lines.

Can precise numbers boost energy efficiency?

The United States has long recognized the potential of improved energy efficiency to profitably reduce energy consumption in manufacturing. The Department of Energy (DOE) has also recognized the potential and initiated several programs to enhance energy efficiency in manufacturing. Despite the attention, studies point out that many energy‐efficiency opportunities remain unexploited. Increasingly, scholars have emphasized that behavioral factors could facilitate the uptake of energy‐efficiency practices. Accordingly, we adopt a behavioral perspective and investigate whether precision (a hitherto unexplored behavioral factor) affects the adoption of energy‐efficiency practices. Specifically, we examine whether the implementation of energy‐efficiency practices depends on whether the costs and savings associated with such practices are presented as precise (e.g., $20,431) or round (e.g., $20,400) numbers. First, we explore the impact of precision with econometric analysis using data on energy‐efficiency recommendations made by the DOE to small‐ and medium‐sized manufacturing firms. Our econometric analysis indicates that energy‐efficiency recommendations with precise cost and precise saving exhibit higher adoption rates as compared to other recommendations. Next, we use individual interactions with managers and laboratory experiments with managers and students to replicate and isolate the precision effects. Then, we elicit the mechanism by which precision affects the adoption of energy‐efficiency initiatives. We find that credibility serves as a key mechanism that drives the precision effect. Our findings suggest that credibility‐enhancing cues such as precision can be leveraged to increase the uptake of energy efficiency and possibly other process improvement practices.

Best practices of business process improvement: towards a representation on top of the Quintessence kernel

PurposeOrganizational process improvement plays an important role for sustaining business in a competitive environment. Therefore, enterprise leaders are increasingly prone to adopt business process improvement (BPI) practices. However, organizations are unable to implement formal and reusable solutions, representing a gap between academic research and practical use. In addition, companies adopt discipline-dependent solutions, lacking BPI representations of best practices applicable to all organizational divisions. This paper aims to propose some constructs on top of the Quintessence kernel for representing the practice systematic development of the BPI in the BPI lifecycle and we conduct two case studies in a multinational company.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research design was adopted for recognizing gaps in previous approaches and identifying best BPI practices. Subsequently, characterization of practices and activities are represented based on a unified definition model and the Quintessence kernel. Finally, two case studies are developed for applying the solution.FindingsThe formal representation is applicable to multiple disciplines in organizational environments. Besides, the sub-alphas (abstract level progress health attribute) states and the work products resulting from each activity completion criteria evidence the health and progress accomplished during the practice execution.Originality/valueThe practice representation serves as a formal, graphical, reusable and multidiscipline guide compiling activities and tasks for systematically developing BPI during the radical/incremental improvement lifecycle.

Development of a Kaizen series model: abducting a blend of participatory formats to enhance the development of process improvement practices

The paper utilises a form of Action Research, known as the ‘Constructive Research Approach’ (CRA), to explore how project teams could engender the development of process improvement (PI) routines in a higher education context. The methodology of Mediated Discourse Analysis (MDA), an ethnographic approach to researching practice, is used to trace the development of PI routines over time. The findings showed that process owners and actors who were engaged because of ‘power’ of an initial pre-project Kaizen event, then became more passive participants in the ensuing traditional improvement project, with reduced performances of the PI routines. The main contrition stemming from the work was the abduction of a hybrid model of participatory engagement, that of a ‘Kaizen series’. This extended series of events affords the development of two key routines, ‘the working with a process map’ and the process analysis routine, by increasing opportunity for actors to perform these routines both within and between events, and by balancing the facilitation and empowerment routines. In addition, the Kaizen series is not dependent on any individual PI methodology. The resulting Kaizen series offers PI practitioners an opportunity to blend the best aspects of two different modes of engagement, Kaizen events and project improvement teams.

The retrospective determination of process improvement's economic value at the individual manufacturing firm level: Literature review and proposed measurement framework

AbstractEven a cursory reading of the literature on process improvement shows that there are many accounts proposing that operational as well as financial gains can be made using methodologies like JIT, TQM, Six Sigma, and Lean. While some studies have investigated the statistical links between process improvement practices and corporate financial outcomes in large populations of firms, documentations of how individual firms can determine economic value derived from their own process improvement projects are scarce. We reviewed the literature, first ad hoc then systematically, to investigate the extent to which studies have covered the determination of process improvements' economic value in manufacturing companies postimplementation, and how such assessments are conducted. The results suggest that retrospective value determinations at the plant level are exceedingly rare. In fact, only 0.09% of 35,968 scholarly articles produced on process improvement in the period 1980–2020 have that focus. Since expenditures on process improvement have alternative uses, organizations should have at their disposal benefit determination frameworks so that financially efficient decisions can be made. Building on literature reviews and additional sources, this study proposes a set of principles and a model for cost–benefit determination that make up such a framework in the context of process improvement.

Implementation of Technology to Enhance Nursing Practice Peer Review Processes.

Nursing Peer Review is a foundational and essential element of professional nursing practice. It is a systematic methodology to improve nurse and patient outcomes. The process can be labor-intensive and cumbersome in managing data from diverse data sources, especially if the process is manual. Directors of Professional Practice in a health care system partnered with an external vendor to create an interactive software platform where technology was leveraged to streamline the review process including review of aggregate data and trend analyses and generate reports using an electronic database. This resulted in a 75% reduction in the number of steps and subsequently the time required to complete the review process from initial screening to referral and closure. The generation of actionable data facilitated active engagement of clinical nurses in addressing identified clinical issues using process improvement and evidence-based practice methods. A critical feature of the software platform is that it provides actionable data that can be used to improve patient safety and fosters accountability for clinical nurses to promote self-regulation of nursing practice.

The Effect of Process Improvement Practices on Manufacturing Competitiveness of Apparel Factories

Process improvement practices (PIP) are being used as ways to improve manufacturing competitiveness (MC) but their overall effect in apparel factories have not been well quantified. This paper identifies the effects that PIP have on the manufacturing competitiveness of multinational apparel manufacturing plants. The methodology followed uses the Delphi method and exploratory factor analysis for variable selection, the Mann-Whitney test for analyzing the relationship between PIP usage and MC performance and regression analysis for estimating the existing correlation among the variables studied. The results show that factories with a high use of PIP have a higher manufacturing competitiveness and that specific practices related to error detection and waste elimination have a positive effect in cost, delivery time and environmental protection.

Impact of improvement tools on standardization and stability goal practices

PurposeThis paper empirically examines the implementation pattern of different types of lean management (LM) techniques on the shop-floor. Based on the socio-technical systems framework, LM techniques are classified as social improvement tools and technical process standardization and stability practices. This categorization facilitates investigating their implementation relationship in a complex production system.Design/methodology/approachBased on the survey data from managers of the three major US auto-manufacturers and their suppliers (n = 137), measurement scales are developed using confirmatory factor analysis for the LM process improvement, stability, and standardization constructs. Hypotheses are tested by applying the Sobel test technique for mediating regression.FindingsStatistical results confirm the mediation role of LM improvement tools between standardization and stability goal practices, indicating that technical process-oriented practices are not directly related and that their association is impacted by the corresponding implementation of social tools on the shop-floor.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that LM practices should not be randomly implemented on the shop-floor but rather adopted and executed based on a systematic pattern. In LM systems, the implementation of process stability, standardization, and improvement practices on the shop-floor are more tightly integrated than traditionally assumed.Originality/valueThis study establishes a new categorization of specific LM tools based on social and technical characteristics. The conclusions highlight the importance of adopting a social emphasize of continuous improvement to establish a technical focus of process standardization and stability for LM implementation success.

Uticaj menadžmenta ljudskih resursa na poboljšanje poslovnih procesa - analiza u okviru MMSP tekstilne i odevne industrije

Business process improvement is necessary given the need to satisfy consumers by delivering value-added products and services. The textile and clothing industry in the age of consumerism of textile and clothing products is facing the challenge of the constant need to meet and exceed consumer expectations. Establishing the practice of continuous business process improvement, especially within the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of the textile and clothing industry, as the largest group of companies, is of particular importance in resisting these challenges. As the textile and clothing industry is labor-intensive and a large number of processes operate on the basis of direct engagement of human resources, there is a need to examine the impact of human resource management on the establishment of the practice of business process improvement in MSMEs. Within this paper, the impact of human resource management on the improvement of business processes was examined by applying regression analysis.

Leading Business Intelligence (BI) Solutions and Market Trends

Business intelligence solution implies to the competences, technologies, functions & practices for continuous business process improvement & evaluation of the business information to provide actionable insights. Business intelligence (BI) solutions emphases on mounting improved visions and crystal understanding of organizational performance built on data insights. BI solutions are used to data extraction, processing to the delivery of the business insights. BI solutions’ in-build data science algorithm and machine learning capabilities when mixed with the high-speed OLAP, it becomes essential to drive business with its real-time analytics, receptive informational dashboards, self-serve intuitive reports, print enabled standard reports, report scheduling & delivery. Business intelligence (BI) solutions capabilities potentially enable value & lead to greater organisational performance. Business intelligence and its insights have become part of every progressive organization. This research paper discusses the significance of the business intelligence solution, industry-wide adaptability, the leading ten business intelligence solution across the industry. It also discusses the key components and the critical processes necessary to create the business value out of the BI solutions.

Metacognition-based process improvement practices

While cognition is the knowledge structure used by people to make an assessment or decision, metacognition is the higher-order process controlling that existing knowledge structure. Thus, the functional role of metacognition in process improvement practices (PIP) is quite different from the role of cognition. Metacognition has been studied in several disciplines, including education, psychology, and neuroscience; however, research has yet to address the role of metacognition in an operations management context. Thus, the present study explored how a process improvement leader's metacognitive awareness influences PIP effectiveness. A survey was conducted with process improvement leaders from U.S.-based firms. Results revealed that managerial metacognition was positively related to adaptive PIP performance within the organization. There was also a positive synergistic relationship between managerial metacognition and PIP implementation on a firm's competitive advantage. We discussed practical and theoretical implications as well as future research agendas for how managerial metacognitive skills can be utilized for advantageous operational activities. This study not only contributes to the operations literature by providing new insights into the relationship between psychological and methodological mechanisms in PIP implementation but also provides the first step toward theory-building in terms of metacognition concepts in operations management.

Trigger alerts associated with laboratory abnormalities on identifying potentially preventable adverse drug events in the intensive care unit and general ward.

Medication safety strategies involving trigger alerts have demonstrated potential in identifying drug-related hazardous conditions (DRHCs) and preventing adverse drug events in hospitalized patients. However, trigger alert effectiveness between intensive care unit (ICU) and general ward patients remains unknown. The objective was to investigate trigger alert performance in accurately identifying DRHCs associated with laboratory abnormalities in ICU and non-ICU settings. This retrospective, observational study was conducted at a university hospital over a 1-year period involving 20 unique trigger alerts aimed at identifying possible drug-induced laboratory abnormalities. The primary outcome was to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) in distinguishing drug-induced abnormal laboratory values using trigger alerts in critically ill and general ward patients. Aberrant lab values attributed to medications without resulting in an actual adverse event ensuing were categorized as a DRHC. A total of 634 patients involving 870 trigger alerts were included. The distribution of trigger alerts generated occurred more commonly in general ward patients (59.8%) than those in the ICU (40.2%). The overall PPV in detecting a DRHC in all hospitalized patients was 0.29, while the PPV in non-ICU patients (0.31) was significantly higher than the critically ill (0.25) (p = 0.03). However, the rate of DRHCs was significantly higher in the ICU than the general ward (7.49 versus 0.87 events per 1000 patient days, respectively, p < 0.0001). Although most DRHCs were considered mild or moderate in severity, more serious and life-threatening DRHCs occurred in the ICU compared with the general ward (39.8% versus 12.4%, respectively, p < 0.001). Overall, most trigger alerts performed poorly in detecting DRHCs irrespective of patient care setting. Continuous process improvement practices should be applied to trigger alert performance to improve clinician time efficiency and minimize alert fatigue.

Ramp-up Process Improvement Practices for Time-to-Market Reduction

The importance of the “Ramp-up bridge” covering the gap between product development and serial production, as well as the speed at which this bridge can be crossed, has increased, providing companies with a significant competitive advantage.However, a significant percentage of project aiming to introduce new products do not achieve their goals. [(60 percent of the automotive supplier ramp-up projects fail on either the technical, or the economic side (Bischoff, 2007)].The author explores the possible reasons, then makes suggestions regarding the support of successful ramp-up projects, through practical examples taken from the industry. Through the continuous improvement of ramp-ups, a new core competency can be achieved, with a decrease in time-to-market. This core competency is difficult to duplicate, and can provide an additional competitive advantage for companies manufacturing products with high technical complexity.

Diffusion of process improvement methods in European SMEs

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the European Regions for Innovative Productivity project that established Innovative Productivity Centres (IPCs) to assist SMEs in the North Sea Region of Europe to develop a process improvement capability. A conceptual framework explains how a process improvement methodology developed for large firms was adapted and shaped to meet the needs of SMEs.Design/methodology/approachA comparative case study of 23 SMEs within six European countries. A protocol was developed to collect financial and operational data. This was supplemented by observations, secondary data and field notes. An established research model was used to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the process improvement interventions.FindingsThe intervention context and structure of the IPCs varied by country which shaped process improvement interventions at two levels: the country and the firm. During diffusion three process improvement variants emerged that were tailored to fit the local context. Developing a process improvement capability depended upon the availability of company resources, establishing KPIs and change agent support.Originality/valueThe research contributes to knowledge and theory on diffusion and institutionalization by examining how SMEs responded to institutional pressures by implementing process improvement practices in different ways. Heterogeneity of both the IPCs and the external change agents were the drivers in shaping the improvement practices.

Business Process Improvement Practices: Does Human Resource Management really changed by implementing BPI principles in multi-national organization

this study aims to present recent research and development in the field of Business process Improvement (BPI) and in the Human Resource Management processes across the multinational organization around the globe. The basic and fundamental purpose of this study is to explore important yet unexplored matters of Human Resource Management practices in MCB Bank, Pakistan. Literature provides the strong evidence to lay a platform which provides the most authenticated and authorized practices that have been adopted by successful organizations. Traditional BPI methodologies have been used by several manufacturing and service industries in order to make their business processes successful than before. Strategic HRM has significantly changed the way of organizations deal with their human capital by adopting such processes which could increase the process efficiency, employee job satisfaction and give a comprehensive structure for HR department Over the years, it has been accepted by all goal-oriented organizations, to have the best human capital or HR, they must have structured process improvement strategies to be implemented. Business Process Improvement Strategies aligned with strategic objectives provide a strong platform for organizations to deal in the best way regarding HR activities. This study specifically explores the alignment issues of strategies in the HR process of a well-known Bank. Both interviews and survey of managers, employees provide a strong insight of the problem covering the effectiveness issues of Recruitment/Selection process and performance measurements of the employees. Moreover, Simulation using Arena has been done to analyze the model in a broader perspective. Statistical verification through Paired-T-test further validates the significance of model having two different plans. Results of these two plans explore the benefits of applying BPI. It is clearly shown that the lack of implementation of process improvement techniques leads to poor performance and effectiveness as a whole.