Quick Scan Audit Research Articles

Application of the quick scan audit methodology in an industrial filter production process

The quick scan audit methodology (QSAM) is an established investigative tool to assess the health of business processes and supply chains within short schedules. This study extends the standard QSAM procedure to include the simulation step. It also extends the QSAM to a wider industry platform by applying it into the precision mechanical engineering industry, where managers have been under competitive pressure to reduce an industrial filter production lead time. Following a review of the relevant literature, this paper presents the research design adopted in the study. The QSAM has been conducted using various data collection techniques (such as observations, process activity mapping, interviews, questionnaires, brainstorming and access to company documents) and data analysis methods (including cause and effect analysis, Pareto analysis and time series plot). This is followed by the development of a set of improvement strategies, namely, direct information sharing, priority planning, and additional data recording and analysis. In addition to testing the potential benefits of changing scheduling approaches for the paint plant, simulation has been utilized in this study as a communication means to increase employee participation in the QSAM process and enhance the audit accuracy. It has also provided the case company with a better understanding of the behaviour and characteristics of the system under study, thus facilitating more thoughtful decisions to improve the system. The paper concludes with further research opportunities derived from this study.

A comparative study of manufacturing and service sector supply chain integration via the uncertainty circle model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences and similarities between the manufacturing and services sectors in order to develop a methodology that can provide the opportunity for the transfer of best practice between the two sectors. This paper aims to describe an audit methodology capable of yielding objective comparisons of supply chain integration performance that can assist practitioners and academics to transfer learned solutions. Design/methodology/approach – A robust, site-based, multi-method supply chain diagnostic for detecting manufacturing supply chain system uncertainty was amended for the service sector in order to yield objective comparisons of the (normalised) supply chain integration performances of 119 organisations. Findings – The research confirms the value of using a lens enabled by the uncertainty circle model (UCM) for generating meaningful comparative supply chain performances. The research found that services do not always exhibit unique attributes which effectively bar manufacturing-based supply chain best practice from being adopted within the service sector. Originality/value – Combining the UCM and Quick Scan Audit Methodology approach has the potential to assist the spread of proven good practice across both sectors. The framework provides realistic and repeatable performance vectors, capable of aligning estimates of value stream health status even when comparing supply chains with differing objectives, configurations, and performance goals.

A quick scan audit of the 'socio-technical' system in a leather accessories manufacturing SME

Leather fashion and footwear industry contributes significantly to the Indian economy through employment generation and earning foreign exchange. Both public and private sectors have increasingly emphasised on the planned development of this industry and encourage more SME involvement and participation. However, recent studies indicate that Indian leather manufacturing SMEs are, often, unable to compete effectively and efficiently on a global platform due to certain inherent and external constraints. This paper adopts a case research methodology with 'quick-scan' audit tool to review the socio-technical system of a leather export SME. It draws attention to the inefficiencies in the production system and highlights the human resource 'gaps' faced by the company. The two-fold findings of the case investigation point to a need to develop 'social' competencies not only in an individual organisation but also at the sectorial level. The selected case has been used as a fundamental prism through which current labour regulations and standards prevailing in the country need to be examined and possibly reformed.

An integrated approach of Six Sigma and QSAM methodologies for a pharmaceutical company: a shipment improvement process

This paper presents a shipment improvement project in a pharmaceutical company to reduce distribution costs of a set of products shipped to Germany. The project consisted in the diagnosis and improvement of the shipment process through the deployment of Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM) as a precursor to Six Sigma implementation. The original sample-shipments process was analysed to improve it and achieve the targets based on optimised sub-processes. The results showed a set of non-value added activities in transportation, motion, waiting, defects and the sub-utilisation of people. Based on the application of quality tools such as VSM, CFD, VOC, CTQ-Three under the Six-Sigma approach, the improvements achieved a 26% reduction in cycle time, and no complaints from customers were reported since the implementation. A control plan was deployed to track shipments and maintain open and close communication with the customer. The resulting benefits had a significant impact on reducing distribution costs.

Methodology challenges associated with benchmarking healthcare supply chains

It is vital that auditing tools used by researchers and managers yield valid assessments and meaningful comparisons irrespective of the organisational setting. The Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM) offers such a systematic approach by utilising multiple data collection methods and a codified value stream uncertainty measure to assess supply chain performance. Although previously only employed within the private sector, this article explores the use of QSAM to benchmark the pharmaceutical value streams in eight Australasian public sector hospitals, which are best characterised as having multi-layered and complex subsystems. Transferability of the QSAM methodology to public healthcare supply chains is critiqued and needed modifications are described. The audits also reveal that high levels of system uncertainty are negatively impacting the provision of critically important healthcare supplies.

A systems engineering approach to supply chain auditing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the theoretical foundations, development, and application of the quick scan audit methodology (QSAM) for comparative evaluation of supply chains via uncertainty codification and material flow assessment.Design/methodology/approachCharts the evolution of QSAM via the Parnaby concept of a manufacturing system leading to a control model representation of a value stream. Monitoring in process and critical interface material and information flows provide the substantive data to evaluate supply chain health. The authors show how QSAM satisfies the six desirable attributes previously established as advantageous when value stream auditing.FindingsBasing QSAM on this particular systems approach readily leads to transferability of approach to new market sectors and new companies within the same sector. It ensures comparability via uncertainty levels to be established. Hence, using statistical cluster analysis “best practice” may be identified and annotated.Research limitations/implicationsThere may yet be specific supply chain regimens where uncertainty codification is insufficient to reach a definitive conclusion. However, QSAM is now sufficiently mature that it has been applied successfully and widely beyond its original systems‐friendly European automotive sector.Practical implicationsA systematic, non‐industry‐specific audit method based on systems modelling builds confidence into comparability studies and identification of “exemplars” exhibiting best practice. The importance of understanding and satisfying the expectations of the four “players” in the QSAM balanced scorecard is discussed and exemplified.Originality/valueQSAM is an original contribution which fits well into the spectrum of excellence measurement techniques. The two established extremes are vertical case studies (European style) and horizontal surveys (US style). QSAM brings together certain strengths of each so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Using the Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM) as a precursor towards successful Lean Six Sigma implementation

PurposeThis paper seeks to propose the use of and analyses the effectiveness of a supply chain auditing methodology called Quick Scan (QS) as a precursor to the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) projects in small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to identify how effective the use of such an approach will be on an organization aiming to implement LSS. The effectiveness of QS Audit Methodology (QSAM) is measured in qualitative terms through its ability to assist LSS project teams in providing the required focus to develop correctly strategically aligned projects which ensure maximum benefits are obtained from LSS projects.Design/methodology/approachThrough the development of a case study approach, the paper initially and briefly describes the results of the implementation of LSS projects into ten manufacturing SMEs. The paper then, through a case study, describes the implementation of the QSAM into the design, development and early stage implementation of an LSS project with an SME and analyses its effectiveness in being able to develop a more robust approach to planning, measuring and defining the early stages of LSS project implementation in companies.FindingsThe paper initially identifies that most LSS project champions identified the project definition stage as being particularly problematic since it was at this stage that future LSS success hinged. The paper then goes on to show how the effective development and implementation of QSAM into the front end of LSS project implementation brought benefit to a subject company and how the approach has led to improvements in project performance for that company.Practical implicationsThe design, development and implementation of an effective QSAM/LSS approach provide a simple yet effective method to achieving improvements in systems performance. Whilst the authors accept that QSAM does not provide a panacea for project definition, the paper offers practicing process managers and engineers as well as industry‐focussed academics a strategic framework for increasing the likelihood of identifying strategically focussed projects for future LSS implementation.Originality/valueThe proposed QSAM/LSS strategy contributes to the existing knowledge based on supply chain and quality systems and subsequently disseminates this information in order to provide impetus, guidance and support towards increasing the development of companies in an attempt to move the UK manufacturing sector towards improved manufacturing performance.

Effective supply chain research via the quick scan audit methodology

PurposeThis paper aims to provide an answer to the important question of how can accurate assessment of supply chain practice and performance be conducted? By conducting audits across a sample of value streams it is thereby possible to identify the components of “good practice” via evidence‐based procedures.Design/methodology/approachQuick scan audit methodology (QSAM) is a site‐based, team‐oriented action research‐led investigative technique for establishing meaningful “snapshots” of value stream behaviour. The participants cover both academic researchers and host organisation staff.FindingsQSAM is found to output repeatable results enabling the transfer of technique between companies, between businesses, between market sectors, and between countries.Research limitations/implicationsCare must be taken when training new auditors and QSAM teams to ensure the required degree of consistency. There is no substitute for operating a “watch one, share one, do one” regimen.Practical implicationsThe research purpose is to establish the performance vectors to enable effective value stream health comparisons to be made. Additionally “quick hits” (not “quick fixes”) may well be identified specific to an individual host organisation.Originality/valueQSAM has already made an important contribution in enabling the gap between case‐based and survey‐based logistics research to be properly bridged.

The effects of schedule volatility on supply chain performance

Schedule volatility is an unfortunate fact of life facing most suppliers of both products and services. In this paper, we are concerned with establishing the magnitude of the problem faced and the resultant effects on supply chain performance. Empirical data collected from 59 value streams are statistically analysed to investigate the negative effects of volatile customer schedules on performance. The evidence has been acquired predominantly via the rigorous site-based Quick Scan Audit Methodology. For each value stream, the forecast error is evaluated, which confirms the excessive volatility of the orders placed by many customers. A comparison between the automotive and non-automotive supply chains is conducted to assess the generic nature of the resultant relationships. We have concluded that volatility is a universal problem not confined to particular industries. Hence it strengthens the viewpoint that solutions initially proposed for the automotive sector may well find successful application elsewhere.

On the impact of order volatility in the European automotive sector

Order volatility is an unfortunate fact of life facing most suppliers of both products and services. In this paper we are concerned with establishing the magnitude of the problem faced by the European automotive sector. The evidence has been acquired via the site-based Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM). Production scheduler strategy is thereby classified according to a new five-set schema as observed via individual value-stream volatilities. System variables have then been codified and correlated with customer order volatility. Powerful statistically significant relationships emerge from this evidence. This generally (but not wholly) supports intrinsic views on what constitutes good practice. A specific interface between supplier and OEM shows the existence of a positive loop that acts as a vicious circle to create unnecessary volatility in material flow.

Enabling the seamless supply chain by exploiting the four smooth material flow controls

A decade after the publication of the concept of smooth material flow via four fundamental principles related to the work of Jay Forrester and John Burbidge (FORRIDGE) the influence of this work on academe and industry is discussed. We show that by extension of their principles via a three-level model which includes the vision and the toolkit, substantial contributions have been made towards new management theory. The associated 12 simplicity rules and uncertainly circle concepts have been exploited within the structured framework provided by the quick scan audit methodology. This generates value stream classification ranging from baseline to exemplar, and a design procedure aimed at material flow best practice. A detailed case study demonstrates the improved industrial performance achievable by this means.