Production Managers Research Articles

Merancang Succession Planning dan Career Planning pada Industri Kertas dan Karton

To achieve company goals, employees need to be encouraged in the form of rewards and opportunities to develop improvements through certain job promotions or positions according to their abilities. Succession planning at PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper currently has 5 important positions namely Director, Technical Manager, Finance Manager, Marketing Manager, Production Manager and HR Manager. Because the current Director will retire, PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper is looking for a replacement by selecting and assessing each of the existing Managers. To work at PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper, every employee must have a value according to the criteria given by the company. There are 10 individual development programs namely job enlargement/enrichment, on the job development, special assignments, mentoring, workshops/in-class training, job rotation, action rotation, action based learning, self study, cross training and coaching/counseling. There are Engineering Managers, Finance Managers, Marketing Managers, Production Managers and HR Managers in the company's plans to make them grow by carrying out career planning with descriptions and indicators of each. The advice we can give PT. Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper should focus more on succession planning and career planning, because these two things have been proven to have a positive impact on the company.

Addressing distributional shifts in operations management: The case of order fulfillment in customized production

To meet order fulfillment targets, manufacturers seek to optimize production schedules. Machine learning can support this objective by predicting throughput times on production lines given order specifications. However, this is challenging when manufacturers produce customized products because customization often leads to changes in the probability distribution of operational data—so‐called distributional shifts. Distributional shifts can harm the performance of predictive models when deployed to future customer orders with new specifications. The literature provides limited advice on how such distributional shifts can be addressed in operations management. Here, we propose a data‐driven approach based on adversarial learning, which allows us to account for distributional shifts in manufacturing settings with high degrees of product customization. We empirically validate our proposed approach using real‐world data from a job shop production that supplies large metal components to an oil platform construction yard. Across an extensive series of numerical experiments, we find that our adversarial learning approach outperforms common baselines. Overall, this paper shows how production managers can improve their decision making under distributional shifts.

Обеспечение безопасности одновременных работ на морской платформе

The purpose of the work is to analyze measures to ensure safety during the simultaneous performance of various high-risk works on the Prirazlomnaya offshore ice-resistant stationary platform. Due to the high requirements for ensuring industrial and environmental safety, almost all the works performed on the Prirazlomnaya offshore ice-resistant stationary platform are classified as high-risk works. The most dangerous periods from the point of view of the development of accidents are the periods of commissioning work on working environments during the completion of construction and the startup of facilities after repairs. During the current operation of the Prirazlomnaya offshore ice-resistant stationary platform, more than 90 work permits are issued daily for work, with more than 50 people involved in the preparation and approval of them. There are technological operations that should not be carried out simultaneously for safety reasons. To manage the safety of simultaneous works, Gazprom neft shelf LLC developed the matrix of simultaneous operations on the Prirazlomnaya offshore ice-resistant stationary platform. The matrix allows the work production manager to quickly navigate the existing restrictions, which minimizes the occurrence of errors. To automate this process, Gazprom neft shelf LLC implemented the Electronic work order — approval module. The IT solution integrates a matrix of simultaneous operations and introduces algorithms to prevent conduct of conflicting operations. When approving and issuing work permits, the system signals the presence of conflicting operations, as a result of which a prompt decision is made on the division of works in time. At the same time, the work managers do not face the situations related to downtime of a team arriving at a work site where it is prohibited to carry out work. This made it possible to optimize the work of the teams, directing them to perform other work. The implemented solution allowed to ensure controllability of high-risk works, improve the quality of work planning, and reduce the risks of conducting conflict operations by minimizing the influence of the human factor.

Industry 4.0 adoption and firm efficiency

Purpose - Industry 4.0 links smart production processes with embedded system production technologies to open the door to a new technological era that fundamentally alters industry value chains and business structures. This study examines the effects of Industry 4.0 on firm efficiency. Methods - Based on a cross-country sample of 1440 firms operating in the top twelve Giants of Asia-Pacific countries and a control sample with another set of 1440 similar-sized firms from non-adopting firms. Findings - The empirical evidence shows that Industry 4.0 positively impacts firm efficiency. Next, the Tobit model is used for the robustness of the main findings. Further, study also examine the mediating role of intangible assets (human capital and firm reputation) for the impact of Industry 4.0 on firm efficiency. Study findings support the hypotheses that intangible assets mediate the Industry 4.0-firm efficiency relationship. Implications - Study findings have managerial implications for production and operation managers on enhancing firm efficiency. Drawing upon practice-based-view theory, this study is the first to explore the mediating role of intangible assets (human capital and firm reputation) between in-Industry 4.0 and firm performance. Originality - This study shed light on the significance of intangible asset congruence in enhancing Industry 4.0 impact.

CLARIFICATION OF THE CONCEPT OF INNOVATICS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The article is devoted to clarifying the concept of “higher education innovation.” Examples of the use of the term “innovatics” in other areas and cases of application are analyzed. The formation of the modern theory of innovatics, pedagogical innovatics and innovatics as a new toolbox of skills for innovative production managers are considered.

“Soy Boy vs. Holy Cow”—Understanding the Key Factors Determining U.S. Consumers’ Preferences and Commitment to Plant-Based Milk Alternatives

Plant-based milk products are ultra-processed food products that enjoy a positive reputation as being safe, healthy, ethical, and sustainable. The present study is focused on these products and addresses the product and brand managers of US food retailers. A consumer survey explores the factors explaining US consumers’ preferences for and commitment to plant-based milk and other plant-based milk products. Environmental concerns, food safety, health, and sustainability concerns are identified as relevant predictors for both consumer behaviors. In addition, animal welfare concerns are relevant, but only for product commitment.

Product Management in the AI Landscape: LESSONS FROM IBM

Tarun Chopra shares what IBM’s product managers have learned in seeking to responsibly use generative AI to improve the quality and productivity of the company’s product management.

Towards Building a More Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Society: Interactive Sessions with the HFES Csouncil of Affinity Group (COAG) Leads

Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) professionals, as part of their job, are required to consider the differences and varying perspectives of their human stakeholders (e.g., users, customers, teammates, sponsors). Beyond the performance of purely HF/E methodologies, practicing empathy and engaging with affinity groups (AGs) are recognized methods for researchers, designers, engineers, or product managers to achieve such understanding. In this two-part panel, the leaders of AGs and of the Council of Affinity Group (COAG) of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) will engage with the audience in conversational and interactive sessions aimed at both discussing and practicing empathy and engagement with community groups including AGs. The first session will be focused on experiential learning through interactive exercises. The second session will be reflective in nature and oriented toward follow-on actions and behavior change within and outside HFES. The sessions are expected to promote DEI in our HFES community and beyond. Discussion time: Two sessions (90 minutes each), one at the beginning of the conference and the second toward the end of the conference.

A sustainability-oriented methodology to compare production strategies: The case of AM-based remanufacturing

The implementation of sustainability principles is becoming fundamental for companies, also for creating added value in the production processes. Production managers should not consider only the economic-financial aspects in their decisions, but also the environmental and social implications to extend the benefits to all current and future world populations. This vision requires to develop and apply sustainability-oriented methodologies to compare alternative production strategies. This paper contributes to addressing this problem by proposing a methodology that allows comparing different production strategies by considering their sustainable impact, starting with the definition of their processes. An aggregated sustainability index has been designed for this purpose. Thus, the paper contributes to the literature on the evaluation of sustainability through the development of a methodology, which can be used by the practitioners as a decision support tool to identify the most sustainable production strategy according to the objective of the company and the specific production process considered. Then, the proposed methodology has been applied to compare two different production strategies, i.e., AM-based remanufacturing and the production of new components. A simulation model has been implemented to reproduce the behaviour of the two competing production strategies. Although the results depend on the utilized data, this application showed that it is possible to distinguish different areas of convenience for each strategy. Moreover, findings revealed that the sustainability of the production strategies is strictly connected to the adopted technology and the importance given to the economic, environmental and social aspects by the company.

Analisis Penerapan Green Accounting dan Dampaknya terhadap Laba Usaha

Indonesia is included in the top five countries whose industrial sector is quite high, so that Indonesia is known as an industrial country. It is undeniable that the industrial sector creates various problems for the environment such as water and air pollution, production waste and social inequality in the environment. Green accounting is an accounting concept that emphasizes the balance between business objectives, namely obtaining profit and environmental objectives, namely environmental sustainability itself. The purpose of this study is to describe how the implementation of green accounting at PT ABC and whether the application has an impact on PT ABC's operating profit. This research was conducted using qualitative methods with a descriptive approach. Data collection by researchers is by way of observation, interviews and documentation. Informants in this study were production managers, SPV accounting and the community around the factory. The results of this study indicate that PT ABC has carried out its responsibility towards the surrounding environment by incurring costs related to environmental activities. The costs incurred are environmental prevention costs and internal failure costs. The application of green accounting at PT ABC has a positive impact on company profits. Although an increase in company profits may not occur immediately, with a strong commitment to sustainable practices, companies can obtain greater and more sustainable financial benefits in the future.

(Invited) Is Commercialization of Intellectual Property in an Academic Environment Feasible?

A career in academics is in some ways at odds with commercialization. The priorities of an academic institution are publish or perish. Yet, the path to commercialization embeds either patents or trade secrets. Many in academics do not acknowledge patents as academic achievement. For a variety of reasons, university laboratories are not established to build the demonstrations needed to promote commercialization.Universities support patenting but are not equipped to facilitate commercialization of research, especially research based on sophisticated, fundamental ideas. Because of the constraints of the academic environment, ideas are driven to patents before devices are demonstrated. Yet the Bayh Dole Act provides that federally supported research be commercialized with any profits returned to the universities and inventors.These constraints create a barely navigable matrix for the academic inventor.When financial constraints reduce the University's support of patents, ownership is transferred to the inventor. This creates complexities in IP management with the University and increases cost to the inventor. However, it also creates opportunity.To commercialize the existing and evolving IP, a small business was formed with family. And now we maintain the patents, write grant applications restricted to the personally held IP, promote the IP, and try to bridge the chasm to commercialization.Startup success is elusive under the best conditions with experienced founders that understand both the technology and more importantly the business need. Founders typically have a working system and industry contacts before attempting to launch a new venture. Founders spend most of the time selling to investors and early prospects.New ventures started by academics have none of these advantages. They often have a great idea but no commercially viable prototype, no industry contacts and no connections to investors. They do not understand the amount of time spent on fundraising, and lack the skills and desire to raise funds. Commercialization of university research is more difficult than starting with nothing outside because university life is a full time job with many constraints. Investors are not interested in part-time CEOs. They want full time commitment and focused dedication. Investors are not interested in dealing with university administrations and procedures.Successful commercialization requires three roles: Business person that understands the market opportunitySubject matter expert that can defined a solution to the problemProduct manager that can translate between the other two and build a working system. A successful combination of these roles in coordination is required to build an investable business that can attract the capital required for commercialization.Academics can provide the subject matter expertise but engaging successful business people and product managers need to be found outside universities. Finding these connections is difficult but friends and family, industry organizations, and angel investment networks can provide some paths. University business schools and administrations should facilitate these connections with vetted business people.Universities should have an investment pitch competition put on by professors with patent portfolios each semester. Universities can invite investors to view the commercializable research that is being developed within the university. This is a non-trivial undertaking but can be done virtually to reach a wide range of investors across the country.Very few US universities have provided successful paths to commercialization. These most famous, well funded, private universities attract most of the investment interest. A few worked examples coming from other universities will encourage the appetite for future investment.

Overview of the Strategic Advantages of AI-Powered Threat Intelligence in the Cloud

Cloud adoption has become synonymous with business agility and scalability in the digital transformation era. However, this shift has also ushered in a new wave of security threats, necessitating advanced protective measures. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a beacon of hope, promising adaptive, predictive, and automated security solutions. Cloud security is becoming more critical than ever with a rise in cyberattacks. AI can improve cloud security drastically. This study examines AI’s significant influence on cloud security, challenges, and opportunities from the vantage point of product leaders. Through a comprehensive exploration of market dynamics, product development nuances, and strategic considerations, this paper offers insights into the pivotal role of product managers in shaping the future of cloud security.

Investigating LOHAS for Muslim customers segment: does Islamic religiosity matter?

PurposeThe growing number of Muslim consumers pursuing a lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS) under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic is interesting to assess; however, existing research focusing on this topic remains scarce. This study aims to address the research gaps and add to the body of knowledge from previous literature related to Islamic religiosity, environmental knowledge, LOHAS and Muslim customer well-being.Design/methodology/approachThe sample used in this study is Muslim customers, including university students in a medical department and medical workers in Indonesia, using proportional random sampling methods with a total sample of 308 respondents.FindingsThe results demonstrate that Islamic religiosity positively and significantly impacts environmental knowledge, LOHAS and Muslim customer well-being. Similarly, environmental knowledge positively and significantly influences LOHAS, and subsequently, LOHAS fruitfully impacts Muslim customer well-being.Practical implicationsThe results can assist managers of eco-friendly and healthy products or services and public policymakers in their effort to enhance LOHAS, particularly for Indonesian Muslim consumers to accomplish well-being considering their Islamic religiosity.Social implicationsThe results of this study help society protect a sustainable environment by increasing their environmental knowledge and LOHAS. Based on Islamic religion, society recognize how important environmental issues are to keep the environment safe in the future and build the culture of LOHAS to achieve their well-being.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the body of marketing literature for Muslim green consumer behaviour in particular and the LOHAS of the Muslim customer segment based on Islamic religiosity.

Analysis of Macro-Environmental Influence on Performance of Plastic Tank Manufacturers in Kenya: A Case of Nairobi County

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the influence of the macro environment on the performance plastic tank manufacturing firms in Nairobi’s industrial area.
 Methodology: Respondents were four department managers who were the finance manager, the marketing manager, the production manager, and the supply chain manager who responded to each performance parameter respectively. The sample was a census sample considering there were only 18 plastic tank manufactures in this area. This yielded 72 respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered to the various respondents. Once collected, the questionnaires were edited for completeness before being entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Computer Package for Analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were obtained and used. Expected outcomes were the different weights that each environmental factor exerted on each performance parameter
 Findings: Energy cost had a negative and significant relationship with the performance of performance of plastic tanks manufacturing companies in Kenya. Exchange rates, interest rates and income distribution had a negative but insignificant relationship whereas transport costs had an insignificant positive relationship. Ethics was also found to have a positive and significant relationship with performance of plastics tanks manufacturing firms in Kenya. Purchasing power had an insignificant relationship with firm performance. Result further established that new production technologies, new distribution technologies and new marketing technologies was positively and significantly related to performance of plastics tanks manufacturing firms in Keny.:This study concluded that stakeholders in the matters of security should come with measures to ensure that is favourable for functioning of manufacturing companies in Kenya. The study concluded that stakeholders should keenly study the economic environment such exchange rates, interest rates, energy and transports costs to ensure they come counter measures to mitigate their influence on the performance of the companies.
 Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy and Practice:The study recommended that manufacturing sectors stakeholders should work closely with the ministry of internal security and other relevant authority to provide a secure environment which will enhance their performance. The stakeholders in the manufacturing sector should also come up with measures that will enable them to mitigate the effects of macro-economic factors. The study finally recommended that manufacturing companies in Kenya must adopt latest technology in production, marketing and distribution of their products if they are to perform highly

Lead Time Management Practice and Supply Chain Leverage of Sugar Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lead time management practice on supply chain leverage of sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya
 Methodology: A census survey sampling was adopted and conducted on all the 15 sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya forming the unit of analysis. A sample size of 241 respondents comprising of Procurement officers, Finance officers, Production managers and senior managers was obtained randomly from the sugar manufacturing firms. Convenience sampling was then employed to select officers and managers from the sugar manufacturing firms. Structured and semi-structured research questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the respondents. The questionnaires were dropped and picked later to enhance the response rate. The qualitative and quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 28. Inferential analysis was further carried out by correlation analysis, regression analysis and hypothesis testing. The results were then presented using tables, graphs, charts and histograms.
 Results: Lead time management Practice was found to have a significant effect on supply chain leverage of sugar manufacturing (t =5.05, p =.000), from the study results. This meant that a change in lead time management practice had a significant change on supply chain leverage of sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya. The study further revealed that lead time management and supply chain leverage had a statistically significant association (R =.779, R2 =.607). Consequently, lead time management practice was responsible for 60.7 percent of the variation in Supply chain leverage of sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya in terms of production efficiency, production flexibility and cost reduction.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that individual sugar manufacturing firms observes lead time practices in the acquisition of raw material supplies ensuring the shortest possible lead time, to increase production optimization and efficiency, thus supporting the theory of constraints. Consequently the sugar manufacturing firms will incur limited inventory related costs associated with stock outs or overstocking hence promoting performance, resource optimization and production efficiency and flexibility.

Real estate product manager role

The methodology of creating, supporting and implementing investment projects in construction has undergone many changes, from the use of industrial technologies of the late 20th century with strict compliance on standards of livability to the analogues of foreign premium projects with bright advertising slogans. Currently, development is experiencing the need to form a holistic image of the product, precisely tailored to the needs and interests of the end consumer. Similar to the project management in IT and FMCG sectors, there is a demand in real estate development for a new role unit - product manager or a productologist. The article provides a rationale for the proposed functional model of a specialist who will give a new impetus to development companies and enrich the benefits of development projects with exactly those values which form a comfortable and environmentally friendly urban environment.

A behavioural perspective of organic wine production decisions: an application to the Spanish wine industry

PurposeUsing the behavioural perspective as a theoretical complement of rational models, this paper examines factors that influence the decision of producing organic wines.Design/methodology/approachBased on a quantitative analysis of 687 wineries belonging to Denomination of Origin in Spain, the authors empirically examine the sequential relationships between manager's personality and winery and institutional level factors, on organic wine production activity and winery export performance.FindingsThis paper investigates the direct and indirect sequential relationships between wineries' factors including an organic production activity and two dimensions of export performance, namely: volume-based and value-based performance. The results of a sequential model provide evidence that openness to experience, a manager's personality trait, has a positive causal relationship with organic wine production.Practical implicationsThis paper offers richer insights into the factors leading wine production managers to change from conventional to organic production methods. Specifically, the study shows that wine production managers are susceptible to make decisions to whether produce organic wine or not that may not be consistent with the current theoretical models based on economic efficiency (i.e. comparing costs and benefits). Instead, these decisions are, in part, based on their personality traits. Future research could study how the functional attribute affects the willingness to produce organic wines.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a new strategic implication of organic wine production activity and export performance linkage in behavioural and traditional theoretical perspectives. These findings are valuable for policy makers in the wine sector, as they can better inform and guide policies directed to identify organic production support programs.

Quarterly business review for digital transformation: insights from the automotive industry

PurposeAs quarterly business reviews (QBRs) remained unexplored in the scholarly community, this paper sheds light on what QBRs are, how they are being used across organisations and provides deep insights into the implementation of the QBR at an incumbent car manufacturer’s digital transformation business unit. Particular attention has been paid to decision processes, portfolio management, challenges and success factors.Design/methodology/approachGiven the explorative nature of the research, a case study is well suited to explore the phenomenon in its real-world context, especially given the dynamic and volatile business environment. This article is based on insights from an incumbent car manufacturer undergoing a business-wide transformation.FindingsThe car manufacturer introduced the QBR process and themes to improve business effectiveness and efficiency through (1) focusing on the biggest issues, (2) concentrating efforts, (3) providing autonomy and stability, (4) building and maintaining strong relationships, and (5) building domain expertise. Through the QBR process, themes were (de)prioritised, resources allocated, financial value (estimates) agreed upon, and key performance indicators (e.g. £m/FTE; FTE, full-time equivalent employees) introduced. Digital product managers’ were assigned to the prioritised themes, and portfolio management structures were presented.Originality/valueManaging short- and long-term objectives is challenging for most businesses but essential to perform well in uncertain environments. The QBR process can help organisations continuously (de)prioritise work and reallocate resources based on changing environments and aligned with strategic priorities.

SWOT Analysis of the Innovation Process on the Market of Banking Products in the Republic of Moldova

The strategic approach of the management of the innovation process implies choosing from a multitude the most relevant opportunities and threats, which are truly important for the evolution of the banking products market, taking into account the ability of banks to launch profitable innovation activities. The achievement of this objective falls within the SWOT analysis methodology and tools. In order to determine the prospects for innovation on the banking products/services market, the SWOT methodology was adapted to the specifics of the banking innovation process. Thus, for the analysis and evaluation of the innovative process on the market of banking products in the Republic of Moldova, the internal and external environments of the innovative banking process were explored. The results of the media exploration served as the basis for the development of a questionnaire with the help of which was conducted a survey among experts - specialists from banks, both in the ICT field, as well as product manager specialists from the back-, head- and front office. The research of experts’ opinions focused on the identification and evaluation of external factors that represent innovation opportunities/threats at the current stage, as well as the evaluation of the innovation potential and re-sources of banks through the lens of the 6 dimensions of the innovation process, namely: the revenue model, the concept of product/service delivery, customer interaction, delivery channels and delivery organization. Thus, the strengths and weaknesses of the banks were identified and evaluated, which, in interaction with the innovation opportunities and threats, allowed the formulation of strategic innovation directions in the market of banking products.

Does Relationship of Corporate Social Responsibility, Absorptive Capacity and Innovation Performance Exist in Manufacturing Micro Companies?

This research is designed to check the Impact of kinds of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on kinds of Absorptive Capacity( AC) and impact of kinds of Absorptive Capacity( AC) on Innovation performance (IP). Data was collecting from 375 employees of manufacturing micro-companies of Pakistan with the help of purposive sampling. Results indicates that there are positive impact of kinds of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on kinds of Absorptive Capacity( AC). Reserch also describes that there are positive impact of kinds of Absorptive Capacity( AC) on Innovation performance (IP). The study also has managerial implications by revealing the contribution of intangible resources to innovation performance. The research also offers different configurations that production managers might choose to use to achieve innovative by using the concept of absorptive capabilities.