Quality Management Techniques Research Articles

Application of six sigma and the system thinking approach in COVID-19 operation management: a case study of the victorian aged care response centre (VACRC) in Australia

COVID-19 has posed many unique and critical challenges in various contexts and circumstances. This often led the stakeholders and decision-makers to depart from traditional thinking and the business-as-usual processes and to come up with innovative approaches to tackle various mission-critical situations within a short time frame. In this paper, a real-life case study of COVID-19 operation management following a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder novel integrated approach in aged care facilities in Victoria, Australia, is presented which yielded significant and positive outcomes. The purpose of the intervention was to develop an integrated system performance approach through the application of various quality management tools and techniques to achieve organizational excellence at the aged care centers. The case involved the use of mathematical models along with statistical tools and techniques to address the specific problem scenario. A system-wide management plan was proposed, involving various agencies across several residential aged care facilities during the pandemic. A three-step methodological framework was developed, where Six Sigma, a system thinking approach, and a holistic metric were proposed to manage the value chain of the pandemic management system. The experimental result analyses showed significant improvement in the management process, suggesting the validity and potential of this holistic approach to stabilize the situation and subsequently set the conditions for operations excellence within the sectors. The model offers new insight into the existing body of knowledge and offers an efficient approach to achieving operational excellence in any organization or business regardless of its type, shape and complexity, which can help practitioners in managing complex, mission-critical situations like a pandemic.

Improving the model of the European Foundation for Quality Management by applying the radar and fuzzy logic approaches

In the present day's fast-paced and competitive business world, managers attempt to distinguish their firms from the competition. The most common strategy for accomplishing this objective is consistently increasing performance standards. The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model is the most reliable and relevant tool for monitoring a company's progress towards organizational excellence. The European Foundation for Quality Management established this notion. This study employs the EFQM model to provide a novel, unified strategy for boosting the firm's overall performance. The Iraqi Oil Tanker Company conducted a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique. This significance was proved by identifying strengths and development opportunities using a European Foundation for Quality Management technique. In the case study, the RADAR method and the proposed fuzzy logic technique were applied ( EFQM). Matlab software was utilized to execute the proposed design

Impact of Total Quality Management (TQM) on the Competitive Priorities of Lebanese Industries

Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques significantly impact the competitive priority in terms of cost, quality, time, and innovation of Lebanese businesses. Changing an organization's operational strategy is highly dependent on top management commitment as changing employees' behavior is challenging without the cooperation of the business's senior management. Both descriptive and cause-and-effect methods were used in this research, and data was gathered from Lebanon's businesses in May 2022 via a questionnaire. The survey was sent to more than 200 managers and supervisors, but only 184 answered. First, a correlation between variables was established and then a hypothesis was evaluated using multiple regressions to determine the tool's validity and reliability. According to the findings, Lebanese enterprises strongly apply TQM and competitive priority factors, and these variables have significant correlations. The competitive goals of Lebanese enterprises are also influenced by top management commitment, employee training, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Dynamic Innovation Information System (DIIS) for a New Management Age

Innovations are essential for global development and market dynamics. Innovation management is central to organizations for gaining adaptability and dynamic capabilities to ensure their sustainability over time. Right decisions are essential for the implementation of innovations. However, on many occasions, especially in the product development process, decisions are taken based on static analysis, qualitative criteria, questionnaires, and/or quantitative evaluations that are outdated. Moreover, many innovation developments do not consider the existing databases in their information systems of similar innovation projects, especially in the early phases of new innovations when evaluations are mainly driven by area, group, or person. Furthermore, inventions are introduced in different regions, plants, and socio-economic situations, providing different results. In this context, considering that innovations shape our current and future world, including all products and services, as well as how humans, organizations, and machines interact, the significance of the paper is clear. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an innovation management model based on the Viable System Model to cope with any potential future environment based on internal organizational capabilities. For this purpose, the paper designs a Digital Ecosystem for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (DE4.0) based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology applicable to any information system consisting of a digital twin, a simulation model, databases from existing information systems, and quality management techniques. This DE4.0 provides a huge advantage for the applicability and scalability of innovations as it allows one to plan, monitor, assess, and improve. Moreover, based on the conceptual model, a generic project evaluation scheme is developed, providing a platform for innovation project management and control during the whole innovation life cycle. As a result, the research provides a scientific and practical contribution for an integrated management of innovations based on the best information and set of techniques available. Based on this framework, a supply-chain case study is developed. The results show how, depending on the intended goals, the past experiences, the evolution of the innovation, and the innovation scope, indicators can be influenced towards reaching the initial goals and reducing the innovation risks. Finally, a discussion about the potential use and role of the DE4.0 for innovation projects and the related learning process is performed.

A New Model Supporting Stability Quality of Materials and Industrial Products.

Stabilizing the quality of industrial product materials remains a challenge. This applies mainly to new or significantly modified materials. It also refers to special processes. The tests of product quality can stabilize the quality of industrial product materials. The popular method for this is using the non-destructive testing (NDT). The NDT identifies incompatibility but does not determine the cause of its occurrence. Hence, it was necessary to support the process of identifying causes of incompatibilities in products. The purpose of the article was to develop a model based on a new approach to determine the ranking of actions that are possible as part of the process of stabilizing the quality of industrial products. The model was developed to improve quality through sequential and systematic methods of identification (and reduce) and incompatibility. The quality management techniques and decision method were applied and combined in this model, i.e., SMART(-ER) the method, method of selecting a team of experts, brainstorming (BM), Ishikawa diagram with the 5M rule, Likert scale validation technique, arithmetic average, and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The test of this model was carried out to find cracks in the outer hull of 418 alloy four-point bearing (CPW-S 5616), which was identified by NDT (magnetic-powder method). As a result, a ranking of activities was obtained to stabilize the quality of the product and the main cause of incompatibility was indicated, i.e., the cause which can influence to the most degree influence on occurrence the incompatibility. The originality of the proposed model is an application in the right order of specially selected and combined qualitative methods and supporting decision methods. The finding of causes of incompatibility of products is the basis of product improvement in the area of stabilizing the quality of materials, mainly by the occurrence of special processes. The universality of the model refers to the possibility of its application for any material, processes of its formation, and processes of products, and any incompatibilities where the model can be integrated with quality control.

Total Quality Management Dan Biaya Mutu: Meningkatkan Daya Saing Melalui Kualitas Produk

Increasingly competitive business competition demands innovation in the quality of products produced by companies with the aim to fulfill customer satisfaction, one of which is through Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques. The achievement of optimum company performance can be achieved by implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) properly and being able to reduce quality costs in creating quality products. This study aims to identify the relationship between Total Quality Management (TQM) and the cost of quality on product quality using a literature review. The research uses qualitative methods related to the research problem. The results showed that by implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) on an ongoing basis by involving all components of management has a direct relationship to product quality. Product quality is influenced by quality costs which consist of prevention, assessment, internal, and external failure costs. The fewer defective products produced, the higher the allocation of quality costs used by the company to produce quality products, this leads to an increase in orders or customer demand which means it will increase sales and company profits.

Selecting an Appropriate Configuration in a Construction Project Using a Hybrid Multiple Attribute Decision Making and Failure Analysis Methods

To successfully complete a project, selecting the most appropriate construction method and configuration is critical. There are, however, plenty of challenges associated with these complex decision-making processes. Clients require projects with the desired cost, time, and quality, so contractors should trade-off project goals through project configuration. To address this problem, in this study, an integrated FTA-DFMEA approach is proposed that implements the integrated AHP-TOPSIS method to improve construction project configuration. The proposed approach applies quality management techniques and MADM methods concurrently for the first time to improve construction project configuration considering project risks, costs and quality. At first, the Client’s requirements and market feedback are considered to identify potential failures in fulfilling project goals, and an integrated AHP-TOPSIS is used to select the most critical potential failure. Then fault tree analysis is used to indicate minimal paths. An inverse search in the operational model is performed to determine relevant tasks and identify defective project tasks based on WBS. Afterward, failure modes and effect analysis are applied to identify failure modes, and an integrated AHP-TOPSIS is used to rank failure modes and select the most critical one. Then Corrective actions are carried out for failure modes based on their priority, and project configuration is improved. This study considers construction resource suppliers with different policies, delivery lead times, warranty costs, and purchasing costs. Moreover, redundancy allocation and different configuration systems such as series and parallel are taken into account based on the arrangement and precedence of tasks. Finally, a case study of a building construction project is presented to test the viability of the proposed approach. The results indicate that the proposed approach is applicable as a time-efficient and powerful tool in the improvement of construction project configuration, which provides the optimal output by considering various criteria with respect to the client’s requirements and contractor’s obligations. Moreover, the algorithm provides various options for the contractor to improve the implementation of construction projects and better respond to challenges when fulfilling project goals.

ASSESSMENT OF PEOPLE CRITERIA IN PUBLIC SECTOR: A TALE DOCUMENTED THROUGH LENS OF CAF

Growing trends such as globalization, internationalization, and diversity management have increased the use of HRM practices in the South Asian region. In the recent past, various reform initiatives taking place have propelled the public sector HRM in an opportunistic direction. HRM in Pakistan is still passing through a preliminary phase. The culture in Pakistan's public sector organization is highly centralized and bureaucratic with political interference on practices. It is a descriptive study framed in a mixed-method approach. A comparative analysis has been conducted of three semi-autonomous state-owned enterprises of Pakistan which are Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). The current research's theoretical bases are taken from the revised version of CAF 2013 model by the European Institute of Public Administration. The research objectives are twofold: To study the people criterion of CAF in WAPDA, WASA and SNGPL, and to determine the strengths and weaknesses of these enterprises required to identify areas of improvement. The qualitative data will be collected through 45 in-depth interviews; analyzed through thematic analysis. The quantitative data is analyzed through scores given by interviewers and documentary secondary evidence. The current research will be significant as it will assist other public sector organizations in using quality management techniques and improve the performance of their organizations by following the footsteps of WAPDA, WASA, and SNGPL. Keywords: HRM system; Pakistan; Common Assessment Framework; Public sector. JEL Codes: M10; O15

Total quality management tools and techniques for improving service quality and client satisfaction in the healthcare environment: A qualitative systematic review

The aim of the given research is to analyse total quality management tools for improving service quality and client satisfaction in healthcare settings through a systematic qualitative review. Data was collected through the web of sciences (WOS), Scopus, EBSCO, PubMed, and Medline. Initially, we found 573 articles from all the sources, but after eliminating the non-relevant articles, only 24 usable articles were finalized. Furthermore, 12 articles were purely related to TQM, service quality, and client satisfaction. This study concludes that TQM practices and tools improve service quality and client satisfaction in healthcare organizations. This study provides excellent managerial and practical insights. Managers should implement the TQM tools to improve service quality and client satisfaction. This way, customer satisfaction is enhanced, and patient satisfaction is improved, leading to high operational and overall performance. This study also reveals a need for further studies to clarify the role of TQM tools on service quality and patient satisfaction.

Adopting a Digital Transformation in Moroccan Research Structure using a Knowledge Management System: Case of a Research Laboratory

Digital Transformation has become one of the most discussed debates; many sectors have adopted digital transformation to gain a competitive advantage and to ensure their continuity. Moroccan universities, in their turn, are facing strategic and managerial challenges due to emerging practices related to digital transformation. To address this issue, the proposed work sets out to define the factors that lead us to adopt a digital transformation using SWOT analysis and to apply total quality management techniques to contribute to our research laboratory's digital transformation, by digitalizing and managing knowledge and processes. KMS-TQM digital platform has been used to capitalize knowledge and profile the different existing functions, positions, tasks, and referential competencies. Then, we analyzed all the actual processes to propose a business process re-engineering using Bizagi Modeler. The study’s contribution is to standardize all the current processes in the laboratory to help the Doctoral Studies Center successfully carry out the digital transformation. Moreover, the aim is to make all functions and tasks for each position explicit.

A literature review on total quality management (models, frameworks, and tools and techniques) in higher education

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of total quality management (TQM) models, frameworks, and tools and techniques in higher education (HE) over the last thirty years from 1991 till 2020, based on a literature reviewDesign/methodology/approach30 articles from 52 journals were used to perform this detailed literature review. For the detailed analysis, the focus was only on articles related to TQM in higher education and specifically related to models, frameworks and tools and techniques. The study has investigated the growth of research articles, research streams, research methodologies, models and frameworks in the higher education sector and tools and techniques related to those.FindingsThis review addresses the progress and gaps in the application of TQM in HE, including the shift in global research in this area from the USA and Europe to Asia in recent years. The articles have been classified into four research methodologies and two research streams which have been reviewed in detail. The findings include reasons for multiple models/frameworks in HE proposed by researchers over the years and the importance of tools and techniques used in TQM implementation.Originality/valueThis study, which tries to bring a perspective to the main trends in TQM application to higher education wrt models, frameworks, tools and techniques over the last thirty years, is expected to add to the body of knowledge in this area and help future researchers to focus on the relevant areas identified in this paper.

Data Quality Management in the Internet of Things.

Nowadays, IoT is being used in more and more application areas and the importance of IoT data quality is widely recognized by practitioners and researchers. The requirements for data and its quality vary from application to application or organization in different contexts. Many methodologies and frameworks include techniques for defining, assessing, and improving data quality. However, due to the diversity of requirements, it can be a challenge to choose the appropriate technique for the IoT system. This paper surveys data quality frameworks and methodologies for IoT data, and related international standards, comparing them in terms of data types, data quality definitions, dimensions and metrics, and the choice of assessment dimensions. The survey is intended to help narrow down the possible choices of IoT data quality management technique.

DEVELOPMENT OF A WORKMANSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

One of the most important aspect of quality in a project is workmanship. Most contractors have failed in meeting stakeholders’ needs in the area of workmanship as it relates to the objectives of cost, quality and time. The lack of a workmanship management system in the construction process is one of the major problems facing the construction industry. In this regard, this study is aimed at developing an integrated benchmarking framework to measure workmanship performance of construction projects at any stage with focus on ensuring quality. To do so, the study undertakes a critical survey of literature and building professionals using mixed survey methods. It then uses the information gathered to develop an integrated workmanship benchmarking framework by integrating three major existing quality management techniques that include TQM, Six Sigma and SMS. This study successfully developed an integrated benchmarking framework with capability to measure the workmanship performance at both organization and project levels in any stage of construction projects. Also, the study identified a set of critical success factors for workmanship assessment and is expected to assist with and guide in the development of a workmanship performance assessment tool for the construction industry in developing counties including Trinidad and Tobago.

Improving the Quality of the Friction Welding Process of Steel Components

Abstract The aim of the study was to implement an integrally configured method of quality control of frictional welding of piston forgings intended for Diesel Man trucks. The use of the method (consisting of the 5W2H method, the Ishikawa diagram and the ABCD - Suzuki method) would contribute to the detection of the causes of non-compliance and consequently to the elimination of non-compliant products. Steel pistons have become the subject of research due to significant problems with maintaining their expected level of quality after the introduced structural and technological changes. The proposed method has helped to identify the root cause of non-compliance. It was: incorrect design of the combustion chamber in terms of diameter and depth. The study shows that it is advisable to use an integrated approach to finding the causes of quality problems on the example of the friction welding process. This was a new solution for the company, as no in-depth analyses of quality problems using a sequence of quality management techniques have been carried out so far.

The effects of HRM approach on quality management techniques and performance

Using data from 250 companies from Brazil and Denmark, this study aims to investigate the effects of commitment- and control-oriented human resource management (HRM) on the relationship between four QM technique groups, namely goal setting (GS), continuous improvement (CI), measurement (MS) and failure prevention and control (FPC) techniques, and performance. Both HRM approaches affect the QM techniques and performance positively. However, the association with control-oriented HRM has a stronger performance effect for three QM techniques groups (CI, MS and FPC) than the association with commitment-oriented HRM. Only for the GS techniques, the effects of control- and commitment-oriented HRM on performance are not statistically significantly different. These results show that HRM practices may contribute to enable QM techniques to have a positive effect on performance. Additionally, the results demonstrate that control-oriented HRM supports the QM techniques better in improving performance than commitment-oriented HRM for most groups of QM techniques studied. These findings suggest an important duality: while previous studies suggest that QM practices thrive in a commitment-oriented HRM environment, this research shows that QM techniques are best supported through control-oriented HRM. Further research, going beyond the two country samples, is needed to explore the implications of this duality.

Method of improve the level of product quality

Abstract Meeting customers’ requirements and achieved the right level of product quality is key action of enterprises. It is being done by controlling the product, using for example non-destructive testing (NDT). But the NDT not indicating what is the root of incompatibility. Additionally, previous research does not include the decision methods, which would be related the identify the causes of the problem as part of improving the product quality. Therefore, the aim is supporting the process of improving the product quality level in the context of precisely identify the incompatibility and the root of their occurrence with including the solve decision problem. In this aim, it was assumed that using after the NDT research in connection way: brainstorming, cause and effect diagram, AHP method (Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process) and the 5Why method, will be allowed on effective identify the root of the problem. The method test was carried out for the porosity on a welded mechanical seal made of steel 410, which was identified by the fluorescence method (FPI) in Podkarpacie enterprise. The analysis has shown the effectiveness of using after NDT the combined methods as part of identifying the incompatibility and precisely identifying the root of its occurrence in context of solving the decision problem. The proposed method can be used to improving the quality of other products, for example from the aviation and automotive industry, as part of meeting customer requirements. Originality is the combined NDT research with quality management techniques and supported the process of improving the quality level of the product by implementing in this sequence the fuzzy multicriteria decision method.

Analysis of the Possibility of Used of the Quality Management Techniques with Non-Destructive Testing

Analysis of the Possibility of Used of the Quality Management Techniques with Non-Destructive Testing

Upravljanje kvalitetom u industrijskim preduzećima - empirijska studija sistema upravljanja kvalitetom u Češkoj

Since monitoring, managing, sustaining and improving the quality are is so important to the competitiveness of the company, it is advisable to use a variety of Quality Management tools (QMTs) and techniques, in addition to comprehensive Quality Management Systems (QMSs). The main aim of this research study is to explore the connection between Quality Management System (QMS) and selected Quality Management tools (QMTs) in industrial companies in the Czech Republic. This study summarizes the results of the online questionnaire survey between April 2017 and July 2017. The final sample consisted of answers from 200 companies. It has been found that 46% of surveyed companies monitor and evaluate quality of their business processes. Furthermore, it has been found that 59% of surveyed companies are ISO 9001 certified. Larger companies tend to monitor and evaluate quality of their business processes and to have ISO 9001 certification. The relationships between the use of Quality Management tools (QMTs), monitoring and quality assessment of business processes (MQABP) and ISO 9001 certification have been found based on the Pearson's Chi-square Test of Independence, the Fisher's Exact Test of Independence and the Column Proportions Z-Test.

Water quality mathematical modelling for drainage water in rural communities

The research's main objective is to study water quality management techniques using different scenarios by applying three mathematical models. The study focuses on the Rosetta Branch-River Nile, which is considered the supreme contaminated Branch of river Nile. The study is composed of three main parts. First: Water quality modeling using WASP 6 was adopted to simulate the water quality status. This model was calibrated and used to simulate different scenarios presenting an alternative solution for the water quality problem in Rosetta Branch. They also optimized water quality indicators using the genetic algorithm to determine the optimum techniques essential to eliminating the Rosetta branch's water quality problem. Second: Mathematical Modeling Using the SOBEK model, measure the environmental effect of wastewater discharges on the water quality of the Rosetta branch, taking into account seasonal variations. Third: statistical analyses to research the association between discharge and concentration of ammonia using simple regression equations. The study is focused on theoretical and applied scientific Methodology. It concluded that increased discharge in the Branch does not significantly affect water quality in the Branch. However, the treatment processes appear to have a large and significant impact on the water quality instead of increasing discharge solution. There is an inverse relationship between the discharge in Rosetta Branch and ammonia concentrations. All relationships have a correlation coefficient of, on average of about 0.7. The paramount water quality challenging in the Branch is cumulative of ammonia and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) overhead guidelines. Moreover, improving water quality for point source effluents, particularly at El Rahawy drain, improves the Rosetta branch's water quality.

Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) of radiotherapy

Learning outcomes Learning outcomes are as follows: students will discover the importance of process orientation in management; students will determine the root cause of the problem by applying root cause analysis technique; students will identify the failure modes, analyze their effect, score them on a scale and prioritize the corrective action to prevent the failures; students will analyze the processes and propose error-proof system/s; and students will analyze organizational culture and ethical issues. Case overview/synopsis Purpose: This case study is intended as a class-exercise, for students to discover the importance of process-orientation in management, analyze the ethical dilemma in health care and to apply quality management techniques, such as five-why, root cause analysis, failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and error-proofing, in the management of the health-care and service industry. Design/methodology/approach: A voluntary reporting of a case of “radiation overdose” in a hospital’s radio therapy treatment unit, which led to an ethical dilemma. Consequently, a study was conducted to establish the causes of the incident and to develop a fail-proof system, to avoid recurrence. Findings: After careful analysis of the process-flow and the root causes, 25 potential failure modes were detected and the team had assigned a risk priority number (RPN) for each potential incident, selected the top ten RPNs and developed an error-proofing system to prevent recurrence. Subsequently, the improvement process was carried out for all the 25 potential incidents and a new control mechanism was implemented. The question of ethical dilemma remained unresolved. Research limitations/implications: Ishikawa diagram, FMEA and Poka-Yoke techniques require a multi-disciplinary team with process knowledge in identifying the possible root causes for errors, potential risks and also the possible error-proofing method/s. Besides, these techniques need frank discussions and agreement among team members on the efforts for the development of action plan, implementation and control of the new processes. Practical implications: Students can take the case data to identify root cause analysis and the RPN (RPN = possibility of detection × probability of occurrence × severity), to redesign the protocols, through systematic identification of the deficiencies of the existing protocols. Further, they can recommend quality improvement projects. Faculty can navigate the case session orientation, emphasizing quality management or ethical practices, depending on the course for which the case is selected. Complexity academic level MBA or PG Diploma in Management – health-care management, hospital administration, operations management, services operations, total quality management (TQM) and ethics. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.