Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bijaya Bijeta Nayak Author-X-Name-First: Bijaya Bijeta Author-X-Name-Last: Nayak Author-Name: Siba Sankar Mahapatra Author-X-Name-First: Siba Sankar Author-X-Name-Last: Mahapatra Title: Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on performance measures in wire electrical discharge machining process during taper cutting operation Abstract: Deep-cryogenic treatment brings some remarkable improvements in mechanical properties by refining the microstructure of the materials. In recent times, cryo-processing has been successfully applied to toughened and high strength to weight ratio work piece materials and tools in electrical discharge machining (EDM) and wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) for improving machining efficiency. In the present investigation, coated Bronco cut-W wire electrode and Inconel 718 work piece are subjected to deep cryogenic treatment (-196°C). The microstructure of deep cryo-treated and untreated wire electrode and work piece is observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of deep cryogenically treated wire electrode and work piece on various performance characteristics are studied during taper cutting operation in WEDM process. Taguchi's experimental design has been applied to determine the optimal parameter setting considering six input parameters such as part thickness, taper angle, pulse duration, discharge current, wire speed and wire tension on various performance measures such as angular error, surface roughness and cutting speed. The study reveals that deep cryogenic treatment of both wire electrode and work piece can improve the machining performance in WEDM. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 1-20 Issue: 1 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: angular error; deep-cryogenic treatment; wire electrical discharge machining; WEDM; taper cutting; surface roughness. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=96969 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:1:p:1-20 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bhaskar B. Gardas Author-X-Name-First: Bhaskar B. Author-X-Name-Last: Gardas Author-Name: Rakesh D. Raut Author-X-Name-First: Rakesh D. Author-X-Name-Last: Raut Author-Name: Annasaheb H. Jagtap Author-X-Name-First: Annasaheb H. Author-X-Name-Last: Jagtap Author-Name: Pradeep Yadav Author-X-Name-First: Pradeep Author-X-Name-Last: Yadav Title: Service provider's rationalisation for the performance improvement of the organisation: a case study Abstract: In the highly competitive environment organisations want to select an efficient service provider (SP) for improving their supply chains performance. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the selection criteria identified through literature review and expert opinions, specific to the oilfield services for the selection of (surface equipment's) service providers in the Indian context by employing an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach. The results of the study revealed that cost and preventive maintenance measures are the top two significant criteria, and the service provider 1 is the best amongst 15 shortlisted SPs. The developed hierarchical model is intended to guide the decision and policy makers in understanding the evaluation process, and for formulating the strategies and policies for the same. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 21-33 Issue: 1 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: service providers' rationalisation; performance improvement; evaluation; selection; analytic hierarchy process; AHP; oilfield services. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=96989 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:1:p:21-33 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Omar E.M. Khalil Author-X-Name-First: Omar E.M. Author-X-Name-Last: Khalil Author-Name: Nadia Khalil Author-X-Name-First: Nadia Author-X-Name-Last: Khalil Title: Business research productivity and barriers Abstract: Knowing why some faculty members are more scholarly productive than others and what factors influence research productivity in an institution is essential to guiding research productivity improvement efforts. This study explored the research productivity and perceived research barriers to conducting research by the business faculty members at the Kuwait University (KU) as well as the influence of their individual characteristics on the reported productivity and barriers. The reported business research productivity tends to be low. Barriers related to research efficacy, physical and information resources, fiscal resources, and time reportedly challenge research productivity. However, the individual characteristics of gender, age, nationality, academic rank, experience at HE, time spent on research, and time spent on teaching variably influence the reported research productivity and perceived research barriers. These findings as well as their implications and limitations are further discussed in the paper. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 34-57 Issue: 1 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: business research; productivity; barriers; gender; age; nationality; academic rank; academic experience; teaching time; research time; Kuwait University. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=96990 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:1:p:34-57 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammad Saljoughian Author-X-Name-First: Mohammad Author-X-Name-Last: Saljoughian Author-Name: Hadi Shirouyehzad Author-X-Name-First: Hadi Author-X-Name-Last: Shirouyehzad Author-Name: Elaheh Khajeh Author-X-Name-First: Elaheh Author-X-Name-Last: Khajeh Author-Name: Reza Dabestani Author-X-Name-First: Reza Author-X-Name-Last: Dabestani Title: Evaluating the efficiency of the commercial banks admired in Fortune 500 list; using data envelopment analysis Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a new approach for identifying the relatively most efficient banks in future 500 list. The second purpose of this paper is to suggest benchmarks for the banks that were not considered efficient. In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to discriminate efficient banks from the inefficient ones. To do so, each bank was considered as a decision making unit (DMU). Then, experts assigned inputs and outputs to the model. They suggested assets as the input and revenue, profit, and total stockholders' equity as the output. Having discriminated the DMUs, we ranked them and ran a sensitivity analysis on the data. Necessary data were acquired from the Fortune 500 list. The results, findings, implications, and suggestions are presented in the paper. DEA results can serve as a benchmark for the inefficient DMUs. That is, each inefficient bank can find its benchmark and set proper policies to achieve the efficiency with least wastage of budget and time. The findings reveal that the banks with higher asset and profit are not necessarily the most efficient. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 58-73 Issue: 1 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: data envelopment analysis; DEA; efficiency; commercial banks; ranking; sensitivity analysis. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=96991 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:1:p:58-73 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Swarnambuj Suman Author-X-Name-First: Swarnambuj Author-X-Name-Last: Suman Author-Name: Anupam Das Author-X-Name-First: Anupam Author-X-Name-Last: Das Title: Monitoring of an ingot making facility via principal component analysis and its variants Abstract: The ingots are a key intermediate product manufactured in the steel making industries. The article delves into the monitoring of the ingot manufacturing facility by making use of the multivariate process monitoring techniques. In order to deal with the various scenarios arising during the production of ingots, different variants viz. multi-block principal component analysis and multi-way principal component analysis are also employed to monitor the process and feed stock characteristics. A comparative analysis of the merits and demerits of the employed variants is also presented in the article based on the case study. On the basis of the findings it may be concluded that the decision regarding the methodology to be adopted depends upon a trade-off between the scope of application of the methodology and the ease of development. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 74-95 Issue: 1 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: ingot manufacturing; steel manufacturing facility; principal component analysis; PCA; multi-block PCA; multi-way PCA; statistical process monitoring; quality management; quality engineering. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=96992 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:1:p:74-95 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anu P. Anil Author-X-Name-First: Anu P. Author-X-Name-Last: Anil Author-Name: K.P. Satish Author-X-Name-First: K.P. Author-X-Name-Last: Satish Title: An empirical investigation of the relationship between TQM practices, quality performance, and customer satisfaction level Abstract: Although much has been written about TQM, little attention has been paid to determine the effect of TQM practices on organisations performance measures, particularly in the Indian manufacturing context. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the significant impact of TQM practices on quality performance and customer satisfaction level of an organisation through an empirical approach. This paper also extends the research on exploring the mediating effect of quality performance on the relationship between TQM practices and customer satisfaction level. The empirical data was collected from a survey of 260 manufacturing organisations in India using a self-administrated questionnaire. After confirming the reliability and validity of latent variables with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling technique. The findings support the proposed hypotheses that there is a positive and significant relationship between TQM practices and quality performance as well as customer satisfaction level simultaneously. The results of the study also support the hypothesis that quality performance partially mediates the relationship between TQM practices and customer satisfaction level. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 96-117 Issue: 1 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: total quality management; TQM; quality performance; customer satisfaction level; structural equation modelling; SEM. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=96993 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:1:p:96-117 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Santosh Kumar Yadav Author-X-Name-First: Santosh Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Yadav Title: Prioritising post sales service quality items in light commercial vehicles using TOPSIS method Abstract: Post sales service quality is the most essential viewpoint to measure customer satisfaction in light commercial vehicles. A post sales service is required after the sale of a vehicle. Customer satisfaction checks whether, after getting services, customers feel happy or not. This research paper attempts to identify post sales service quality items that lead to customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. A questionnaire was developed about post sales service quality in which the customer was asked to rate the importance of these items. The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was applied to rank the post sales service quality items based on their importance in light commercial vehicles. From the results, it is found that having a consistent standard for accepting and returning vehicles for service and promptness of service were the two most important post sales service quality items. The accessibility to the service station and the availability of advanced facilities in the service station were also found to be of significant importance. Service station managers may give these items priority in order to increase post sales service quality. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 119-138 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: post sales service quality; light commercial vehicle; technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution; TOPSIS. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97762 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:119-138 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pornwasin Sirisawat Author-X-Name-First: Pornwasin Author-X-Name-Last: Sirisawat Author-Name: Tossapol Kiatcharoenpol Author-X-Name-First: Tossapol Author-X-Name-Last: Kiatcharoenpol Title: A study of correlation for reverse logistics barriers to solutions using structural equation modelling Abstract: Reverse logistics (RL) plays an important role in many industries especially in the electronics industry and helps sustainability businesses while also reducing environmental impacts. The electronics industry is one of the most rapidly growing industries in Thailand. Many companies adopted RL for their business process but still enforce some barriers that make it unsuccessful. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship of RL barriers and solutions then examines the relationship between these factors. A conceptual model was developed by proposing four hypotheses in which structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the proposed model. The main results of this study show that there are statistics significant of the proposed hypothesis. In conclusion, the proposed model could fit with the empirical data. The proposed results could reconfirm that there are statistics significant of the relationship between RL barriers and solutions of RL practices implementation in Thailand electronics industry. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 139-159 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: structural equation modelling; SEM; correlation; reverse logistics; electronics industry. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97763 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:139-159 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Farzad Firouzi Jahantigh Author-X-Name-First: Farzad Firouzi Author-X-Name-Last: Jahantigh Title: Evaluation of healthcare service quality management in an Iranian hospital by using fuzzy logic Abstract: Benefits of service quality management in promoting the functions of health systems are well established. A growing number of studies have attempted to measure the quality. However, evaluating service quality in medical centres has received less attention. Moreover, the measurements of the service quality based on the non-fuzzy methods have failed to address the uncertainty associated with patients' judgments. Thus, the present study is an attempt to examine the service quality gap between the expectations and perceptions of patients in healthcare using a fuzzy method. Using a random sampling method, a total of 102 patients were recruited to participate in the study. Data were collected through a standard questionnaire (SERVQUAL) and the gap was measured by a nonparametric Mann-Whitney rank sum test. Analysis of the data showed that the hospitals were able to meet patients' expectations in terms of tangibility and still there is an urgent need to address the inadequacy in different aspects of health service such as empathy, responsiveness, security, and safety. The results of the study can help hospital managers to understand how patients evaluate the quality of healthcare provided. Moreover, the hospitals can discover and recover those aspects of service quality that need more improvement. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 160-175 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: healthcare system; fuzzy logic; evaluation; quality management of healthcare. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97764 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:160-175 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sachin S. Kamble Author-X-Name-First: Sachin S. Author-X-Name-Last: Kamble Author-Name: Rakesh D. Raut Author-X-Name-First: Rakesh D. Author-X-Name-Last: Raut Title: Evaluating the factors considered for procurement of raw material in food supply chain using Delphi-AHP methodology - a case study of potato chips processing company in India Abstract: Procurement of raw material plays a very critical role in a supply chain. In the era where organisations are searching for cost saving innovative ideas due to the increasing cost pressures, the procurement function provides an opportunity to these organisations to remain competitive. Procurement of raw materials in a food supply chain has to face the problems like shortage of raw material, quality, lack of continuous supply of seasonal raw material, inadequately trained labour force, costly imported packing material, infrastructure and technological deficiencies. This demands that the food industry needs to manage the risk/cost trade-off without disregarding freshness, sustainability and corporate social responsibility issues. This paper presents a case study of a food processing plant in India manufacturing potato chips, with potato as the main raw material. The objective of this paper is to identify and evaluate the important criteria that are considered while procuring the raw material in a food supply chain. Delphi technique and analytical hierarchical process (AHP) were used for exploring and ranking the criteria. Quality of the raw material, supplying capacity of the supplier-quantity and price were identified as the most important purchasing criteria. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 176-189 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: agricultural supply chain; procurement of raw material; analytical hierarchical process; supplier; supply chain management; Delphi technique; India. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97765 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:176-189 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hari Prasad Author-X-Name-First: Hari Author-X-Name-Last: Prasad Author-Name: Narayana Rao Author-X-Name-First: Narayana Author-X-Name-Last: Rao Author-Name: Prasanta Mukhopadhyay Author-X-Name-First: Prasanta Author-X-Name-Last: Mukhopadhyay Title: Reducing variation in tensile impact testing of plastics Abstract: Polymeric materials are characterised using various analytical techniques, the interest in this work emanates from tensile impact studies. Tensile impact properties have been a critical factor in evaluating polymeric material brittleness or ductility changes. High variation of this test leads to difficulty in formulation optimisation, targeted for applications demanding mechanical designs and integrity. The objective of this study is to understand the different factors affecting the variation in the test results. A systematic statistical analysis with multiple samples showed that specimen alignment in the test fixture was a major source of error. Modifications to the test fixture were carried out to address this issue. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that the data spread was significantly reduced and sample mean was not shifted post-machine modification. Product benchmark report estimated process capability increase in the <i>Z</i> value from 0.843 to 2.192, post-instrument modification (67% improvement in process capability). Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 190-205 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: statistical process control; SPC; risk priority number; RPN; failure mode effective analysis; FMEA; standard deviation; homogeneity of variance; HOV. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97766 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:190-205 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Richa Sharma Author-X-Name-First: Richa Author-X-Name-Last: Sharma Title: Overall equipment effectiveness measurement of TPM manager model machines in flexible manufacturing environment: a case study of automobile sector Abstract: Total productive maintenance (TPM) has provided a quantitative metric tool which is known as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). OEE provides an efficient and effective way of measuring and analysing the efficiency of a single machine cell or an integrated manufacturing system. The objective of this paper is to highlight the OEE measurement in flexible manufacturing systems of a selected automobile manufacturing plant by enhancing the equipment and plant reliability by eliminating all the losses incurred. In this study, a methodology is presented for analysis of OEE of TPM manager model machines in a selected semi-automated cell. In this paper, an approach is developed to identify and address the losses and failures which are responsible for lowering the OEE. The results show that there was a significant improvement in OEE measurement of TPM manager model machines in the semi-automated cell by addressing the six big losses. The findings of the research determine a significant contribution due to OEE measurement and assessment of losses and therefore were quite useful for the organisation to initiate TPM improvement activities to enhance the overall plant efficiency. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 206-222 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: overall equipment effectiveness; OEE; total productive maintenance; TPM; six big losses; efficiency; availability; autonomous maintenance; flexible manufacturing environment. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97767 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:206-222 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Hulda Olafsdottir Author-X-Name-First: Anna Hulda Author-X-Name-Last: Olafsdottir Author-Name: Harald Sverdrup Author-X-Name-First: Harald Author-X-Name-Last: Sverdrup Author-Name: Gunnar Stefansson Author-X-Name-First: Gunnar Author-X-Name-Last: Stefansson Author-Name: Helgi Thor Ingason Author-X-Name-First: Helgi Thor Author-X-Name-Last: Ingason Title: Using system dynamics to better understand quality management in the construction industry Abstract: System dynamics was applied to evaluate the use of quality management in the construction industry. Results were reached with the following: 1) a background study; 2) group model building; 3) a case study of a construction project; 4) a simulation model. The main objective of the study is to assist in minimising the total quality cost for a construction project with the holistic approach system dynamics offer. The model offers a unique contribution to the possibility to be adapted to other projects. It can then be used to minimise cost with suggested dynamic policies. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to offer a system dynamics approach to evaluate the cost of quality in a construction project. The results give a link to the literature with a comparison between simulation outputs and Juran's (1988) graphical representation of the total cost of quality. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 223-245 Issue: 2 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: system dynamics; construction industry; case study; quality management; project management. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97768 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:223-245 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Milad Kolagar Author-X-Name-First: Milad Author-X-Name-Last: Kolagar Author-Name: Seyed Mohammad Hassan Hosseini Author-X-Name-First: Seyed Mohammad Hassan Author-X-Name-Last: Hosseini Title: The effect of combining knowledge-based practices and healthcare policies on healthcare quality Abstract: Nowadays, quality promotion of healthcare services has become one of the most challenging goals of healthcare systems all over the world. Also, one of the most important factors affecting the implementation of healthcare policies in any country is managing and controlling knowledge and learning of healthcare systems. In this study, a model has been proposed for healthcare quality improvement which investigates the relationship between knowledge-based practices (knowledge management and organisational learning) and healthcare policies (patient safety culture and clinical governance) and their impact on healthcare quality in three training hospitals of Tehran, Iran. The results and findings have confirmed the strength of the proposed framework. The novelty of this research lies in the inclusion of knowledge-based practices while implemented on patient safety culture as a basis for the dominance of hospitals' clinical governance in order to improve the healthcare quality which leads to healthier families, healthier lifestyles and healthier societies. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 247-275 Issue: 3 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: patient safety culture; knowledge management; organisational learning; clinical governance; health care quality. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98363 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:247-275 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Rakesh Kumar Phanden Author-X-Name-First: Rakesh Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Phanden Author-Name: Rahul Sindhwani Author-X-Name-First: Rahul Author-X-Name-Last: Sindhwani Author-Name: Vivek Kalsariya Author-X-Name-First: Vivek Author-X-Name-Last: Kalsariya Author-Name: Faizan Salroo Author-X-Name-First: Faizan Author-X-Name-Last: Salroo Title: Selection of material for electric arc spraying by using hierarchical entropy-TOPSIS approach Abstract: Electric arc spray (EAS) is a process used to solidify the molten metal on the substrate surface. The desired material is first melted due to current and voltage applied to the ends of two electrically conductive metal wires and then propelled on the desired surface. The present work suggests possible material alternatives that could enhance the properties of the EAS process. Entropy approach is used to give the weightage to the factors on which materials will be prioritised. TOPSIS method is applied to determine the ranking of each of the material which could happen to be a best feasible alternative. It is found that Tin, Zirconium and Titanium are top-ranked best feasible metals while as cadmium and calcium are the least priority. Thus, the results yield a platform to choose the best possible material as an alternative. The future scope of the work lies in the fact that an ideal solution as an alternative would help in increasing the quality of the capacitors besides saving the cost. The motive of every manufacturer is to achieve the right quality at the right price which is met by using these alternate materials during manufacturing. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 276-289 Issue: 3 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: electric arc spray; EAS; entropy method; TOPSIS method; alternative material. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98364 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:276-289 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Shlomo Globerson Author-X-Name-First: Shlomo Author-X-Name-Last: Globerson Author-Name: Gad Vitner Author-X-Name-First: Gad Author-X-Name-Last: Vitner Title: Measuring productivity in multi-stage, multi-product environment Abstract: Productivity is defined as the ratio of output to the resources required to produce it. The objective of this study is to present a model aimed at measuring the productivity of producing different products, each consisting of a few work stations, in a service and manufacturing environment. Since organisational profit, or other financial indicators used for evaluating organisational success, cannot be measured at the time of the operation, the presented model can be used as a fast and valid indicator of expected future profit. Calculating productivity requires measuring both output and resources. This study focuses on the measurement of the outputs and offers methodologies to quantify the following two concepts: 1) calculating total output for each product, taking into consideration the value of items in process by summing up partial items into an equivalent number of complete items; 2) developing a method to sum up the outputs of various products by assigning the relative weight of each product, according to the level of usage of the most intensively used resource. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 290-304 Issue: 3 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: productivity; performance management; multi-stage; multi-product. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98365 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:290-304 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Angeline Geetha Author-X-Name-First: M. Angeline Author-X-Name-Last: Geetha Author-Name: R. Suresh Premil Kumar Author-X-Name-First: R. Suresh Premil Author-X-Name-Last: Kumar Author-Name: S.R. Devadasan Author-X-Name-First: S.R. Author-X-Name-Last: Devadasan Author-Name: A. Pal Pandi Author-X-Name-First: A. Pal Author-X-Name-Last: Pandi Title: Cost and benefit analysis of implementing TFMEA in tea industry: a case study Abstract: Tea is an aromatic drink commonly consumed by the people worldwide. Tea manufacturers face a serious threat in controlling the failures in its manufacturing process. Failures in the manufacturing process affect the quality of the tea produced. The cost of the tea varies with the quality of the tea. The tea manufacturers are more concerned about the internal failure cost incurred in its manufacturing process as it determines the cost and quality of the tea. In this background, a new approach namely cost-based total failure mode and effect analysis (CTFMEA) was applied in the research reported in this paper. In this research, a maiden attempt is made to implement this new approach by conducting a case study in tea manufacturing company. After implementing TFMEA technique its cost benefit analysis was conducted. The outcome of this research indicated that through the application of CTFMEA, the quality of the tea could be improved by reducing the failures thereby assuring cost benefits to the tea manufacturers. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 305-329 Issue: 3 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: tea manufacturing; internal failure cost; continuous quality improvement; total quality management; TQM; fault tree analysis; FTA; failure mode effect analysis; FMEA; CTFMEA; cost benefits. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98366 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:305-329 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Leonardo Stertz Sfreddo Author-X-Name-First: Leonardo Stertz Author-X-Name-Last: Sfreddo Author-Name: Guilherme B.B. Vieira Author-X-Name-First: Guilherme B.B. Author-X-Name-Last: Vieira Author-Name: Gabriel Vidor Author-X-Name-First: Gabriel Author-X-Name-Last: Vidor Author-Name: Roque A. Zin Author-X-Name-First: Roque A. Author-X-Name-Last: Zin Title: Systematic literature review of ISO 9001 and process management Abstract: This paper presents a systematic literature review of ISO 9001 and process management from 1990 to 2017. In order to investigate the studies published in English on these topics, the keywords 'ISO 9001' and 'process management' were searched in science direct database. These terms should be mentioned in papers' title, abstract or keywords as an inclusion criterion. Studies which were redundant due to search criterion or which were published in a language other than English were excluded. Three rounds of analysis were conducted, including quantitative analysis of search results, bibliometric analyses, qualitative analysis, and in-depth reading of the selected studies. By carrying out the review, it was possible to identify an opportunity to deepen the studies that correlate ISO 9001 and process management, which is justified by the small number of papers published with this specific approach. In addition, the papers which were analysed in this systematic review did not address some important aspects in the relationship between ISO 9001 and process management, such as evidence of improved operational efficiency of processes, and cultural changes noticed in organisations after the implementation of ISO 9001. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 330-352 Issue: 3 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: ISO 9001; process management; systematic literature review. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98368 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:330-352 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Gururaj Upadhyaya Author-X-Name-First: Gururaj Author-X-Name-Last: Upadhyaya Author-Name: K. Subrahmanya Bhat Author-X-Name-First: K. Subrahmanya Author-X-Name-Last: Bhat Title: Association of interacting quality initiatives and quality awards with performance; the effect of context Abstract: Even though quality initiatives (QI) and quality award (QA) models have found a significant place in continuous improvement (CI) journey of organisations, a great concern has been shown in the recent past on their indifferent performance implications, given the resources that they consume. This paper discusses the effect of contextual attributes such as size, type and sector of organisation on the correlation between 'interacting' QI/QA models and performance during different time spans of CI journey. The results of the study show that such a correlation existed between some performance measures (PM) and interacting QI/QA models only in case of large-scale and public sector Indian organisations during the time spans before winning the QA. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 353-370 Issue: 3 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: quality initiatives; quality awards; interaction; mutual influence; correlation; performance. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=98369 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:353-370 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Mathiyazhagan Author-X-Name-First: K. Author-X-Name-Last: Mathiyazhagan Author-Name: Shivani Sehrawat Author-X-Name-First: Shivani Author-X-Name-Last: Sehrawat Author-Name: Bhumika Sharma Author-X-Name-First: Bhumika Author-X-Name-Last: Sharma Author-Name: K. Elangovan Author-X-Name-First: K. Author-X-Name-Last: Elangovan Title: Assessing the challenging factors towards green initiatives in Indian electronic industries: a framework and evaluation Abstract: Globally industries are under pressure to incorporate environmental consideration in traditional activities based on demand from customers and government regulations. But industries are facing a lot of problems in analysing and identifying the influential challenging factors for adopting eco-friendly and green practices in traditional activities. This paper reviews the scenario of green supply chain management (GSCM) in India as well as the electronics industry perspective based on extensive literature review. Also, this study focuses on identifying the most influential challenging factors for adoption of green initiatives in traditional practices with the help of decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. A total of 35 challenging factors were identified based on literature and discussion with industry experts, then 20 challenging factors were considered for further analysis. This study involved 30 electronics SMEs in and around the Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR) of India, and more than 15 academicians were also consulted. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 417-445 Issue: 4 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: green initiatives; green supply chain management; GSCM; electronics industries; challenging factors; DEMATEL. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99621 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:4:p:417-445 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: G. Sakthivel Author-X-Name-First: G. Author-X-Name-Last: Sakthivel Author-Name: Bernard W. Ikua Author-X-Name-First: Bernard W. Author-X-Name-Last: Ikua Title: A novel approach for failure mode and effect analysis in propeller shaft manufacturing industry using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and GRA VIKOR Abstract: The present study develops the evaluation model based on FMEA and AHP integrated with GRA VIKOR under fuzzy environment to evaluate the greatest risk for processes in the production of dust cap assembly in the propeller shaft manufacturing industry. Three risk factors S, O, D and their weights are treated as fuzzy triangular linguistic variables to eliminate the risk for production. FAHP is used to compute the weights of S, O, D whereas GRA VIKOR is used to obtain the final ranking of a risk alternative. Here, the risk factors and their weights are treated as fuzzy triangular linguistic variables for eliminating the risk of subjective quantification and similarity of risk priority number (RPN). Among the various failures, drawing dimension failure and blanking of blank failure are obtained as the most serious failure modes using fuzzy GRA VIKOR. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 371-393 Issue: 4 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: risk assessment; failure mode and effect analysis; FMEA; fuzzy analytical hierarchy process; FAHP; GRA VIKOR. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99622 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:4:p:371-393 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen Ngoc Anh Author-X-Name-First: Nguyen Ngoc Author-X-Name-Last: Anh Author-Name: Trieu Dinh Phuong Author-X-Name-First: Trieu Dinh Author-X-Name-Last: Phuong Author-Name: Phan Chi Anh Author-X-Name-First: Phan Chi Author-X-Name-Last: Anh Author-Name: Yoshiki Matsui Author-X-Name-First: Yoshiki Author-X-Name-Last: Matsui Title: The relationship between human resource management practices and manufacturing flexibility: empirical evidence from manufacturing companies in Vietnam Abstract: Manufacturing flexibility has been widely considered as an aid to greater productivity, meanwhile, multi-functional employees have been viewed as a great potential source of productivity improvement by avoiding bottlenecks. This study aims to investigate the relationship between human resource management practices and manufacturing flexibility in Vietnamese manufacturing companies. Data were collected from 25 Vietnamese companies belonging to three industries: electronics/electrical, machinery and automobile in 2014. Correlation and regression analyses are applied to explore the relationships among research variables. The results indicate not only a significant linkage between multi-functional employees and manufacturing flexibility but also a positive relationship between management breadth of experience, task-related training for employees and multi-functional employees. The paper enriches the literature of manufacturing flexibility by providing empirical evidence from developing countries, and by providing insights into how Vietnamese manufacturers use internal resources, i.e., human resources, to achieve a higher level of manufacturing flexibility. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 394-416 Issue: 4 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: manufacturing flexibility; human resource management; HRM; competitive performance; empirical study; Vietnamese manufacturing companies; Vietnam. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99623 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:4:p:394-416 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C.K.H. Lee Author-X-Name-First: C.K.H. Author-X-Name-Last: Lee Author-Name: C.C. Luk Author-X-Name-First: C.C. Author-X-Name-Last: Luk Author-Name: K.L. Choy Author-X-Name-First: K.L. Author-X-Name-Last: Choy Author-Name: H.Y. Lam Author-X-Name-First: H.Y. Author-X-Name-Last: Lam Author-Name: C.K.M. Lee Author-X-Name-First: C.K.M. Author-X-Name-Last: Lee Author-Name: Y.P. Tsang Author-X-Name-First: Y.P. Author-X-Name-Last: Tsang Author-Name: G.T.S. Ho Author-X-Name-First: G.T.S. Author-X-Name-Last: Ho Title: Using fuzzy-based association rule mining to improve production systems for chemical product development Abstract: In chemical product development, challenges lie in the determination of appropriate ingredients and parameter settings that lead to the desired product attributes. This relies heavily on the past knowledge and experience of the domain experts to generate feasible product candidates for verification. In this paper, a fuzzy-based association rule mining model (FbARM) is developed to provide knowledge support during chemical product development. Fuzzy-based association rule mining is applied to discover hidden relationships between parameters and the resultant product quality, followed by the use of fuzzy logic to generate recommendations on parameter settings. The feasibility of the FbARM is verified by means of a case study in a personal-care products manufacturing company. The results demonstrate the practical viability of the FbARM, while the learning ability of the FbARM allows a continuous improvement of the fuzzy rules, which is of paramount importance in responding to the changing requirements of the chemical industry. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 446-468 Issue: 4 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: knowledge management; product development; chemical products; fuzzy association rule mining; fuzzy logic. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99624 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:4:p:446-468 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bhavesh Chandrayan Author-X-Name-First: Bhavesh Author-X-Name-Last: Chandrayan Author-Name: Ankit Kumar Solanki Author-X-Name-First: Ankit Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Solanki Author-Name: Richa Sharma Author-X-Name-First: Richa Author-X-Name-Last: Sharma Title: Study of 5S lean technique: a review paper Abstract: 5S is a housekeeping technique used by various organisations derived from five Japanese words - Seiri (sort), Seiton (set in order), Seiso (shine), Seiketsu (standardise) and Shitsuke (sustain). This technique improves efficiency, productivity and quality by making the workplace orderly, pleasant and organised. The objective of the paper is to examine the 5S implementation process across all the different manufacturing scenarios and to emphasise the significant positive results of 5S. The paper is based on systematic literature review that monitors the 5S implementation technique in various organisations and categorises the published literature in three distinguished categories based on conciseness and systematic approach to analyse and review the methodology. The paper reviews preponderance of the findings by numerous researchers and highlights the suggestions and improvisations for ensuring efficient and effective 5S implementation in any organisation. The results exhibit the effectiveness of the 5S tool to improve the performance and to aid the organisation to achieve continuous improvement and higher performance. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 469-491 Issue: 4 Volume: 26 Year: 2019 Keywords: 5S; productivity; lean manufacturing; housekeeping; waste elimination; literature review; Japanese tool; quality management. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99625 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:26:y:2019:i:4:p:469-491 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Sundar Author-X-Name-First: R. Author-X-Name-Last: Sundar Author-Name: A.N. Balaji Author-X-Name-First: A.N. Author-X-Name-Last: Balaji Author-Name: R.M. Satheesh Kumar Author-X-Name-First: R.M. Satheesh Author-X-Name-Last: Kumar Title: Analysing the performance of lean manufacturing implementation with chronological execution of lean elements using spread sheet features: a case study Abstract: Globalisation influences the manufacturing sector to practice the best manufacturing system to sustain in competing business environment. The outcome of this article elucidate the effect of transition from traditional manufacturing practice to lean manufacturing system in a paint brush company located in South India. The existing practice utilises push system where the large batches of raw material are routed from one operation to another along a production line. In this case study, a lean manufacturing system along with sequential implementation of lean elements such as value stream mapping, group technology, cellular manufacturing, U-line manufacturing, etc., is premeditated for reducing the cycle time to relax the Takt time and stabilising the production process. The implemented lean manufacturing system increases the productivity, reduces work-in-process and lead time. The performance measure of lean system such as bottleneck cycle time, production capacity, lead time and work-in-process inventory are evaluated by instant part transfer rate through spread sheet model. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 66-96 Issue: 1 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: value stream mapping; group technology; cellular manufacturing; U-line manufacturing; push system; pull system. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99626 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:1:p:66-96 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Afshin Jahanbazi Goujani Author-X-Name-First: Afshin Jahanbazi Author-X-Name-Last: Goujani Author-Name: Arash Shahin Author-X-Name-First: Arash Author-X-Name-Last: Shahin Author-Name: Ali Nasr Isfahani Author-X-Name-First: Ali Nasr Author-X-Name-Last: Isfahani Author-Name: Ali Safari Author-X-Name-First: Ali Author-X-Name-Last: Safari Title: Developing a model for classifying employee behaviour based on job satisfaction and loyalty using gap analysis and loyalty matrix with a case study in the gas industry Abstract: The main aim of this study is to identify the dimensions of employee job satisfaction and loyalty and to classify employees based on these two factors using the concepts and approaches of customer satisfaction and loyalty. For this purpose, a mixed research method has been conducted by which, the senior managers of Isfahan Province Gas Company have been interviewed and a thematic analysis has been performed. A questionnaire has been developed and used for data collection. Quantitative analysis has been done and research hypotheses have been tested using SPSS 21 software. Findings imply that the gap between expectations and perceptions regarding job satisfaction dimensions is significant and the level of job satisfaction is lower than the average. Moreover, given the high level of employee loyalty, it is determined that most of the employees are classified in the hostage category. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 1-16 Issue: 1 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: job satisfaction; employee loyalty; gap analysis; loyalty matrix; Isfahan Province Gas Company; IPGC. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99627 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:1:p:1-16 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sean P. Goffnett Author-X-Name-First: Sean P. Author-X-Name-Last: Goffnett Author-Name: Andrew N. Paquet Author-X-Name-First: Andrew N. Author-X-Name-Last: Paquet Author-Name: Oliver M. Strong Author-X-Name-First: Oliver M. Author-X-Name-Last: Strong Author-Name: Kevin P. McCarron Author-X-Name-First: Kevin P. Author-X-Name-Last: McCarron Title: Replication of a Six Sigma black belt case study: GEP box's paper helicopter experiment in a drone logistics scenario Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) have gained attention in business in recent years. Drones have demonstrated potential use in logistics operations, such as surveillance, inventory counting, order picking, and 'last-mile' delivery. Given the proliferation in potential uses of drones, it is no surprise companies are testing drone capabilities. This article presents a theoretical business case describing the Six Sigma DMAIC model applied in a logistics context involving drone capacity and reliability. Define, measure, analyse, improve and control are presented. This article builds on earlier studies on structuring Six Sigma projects. This service-related business case can be used for training and education purposes. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 17-65 Issue: 1 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: distribution; drone; DMAIC; DOE; e-commerce; failure modes; FMEA; fulfilment; Gage R%R; logistics; repeatability; reproducibility; Six Sigma; unmanned aerial vehicle; warehousing. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99628 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:1:p:17-65 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Elias Fouad Mami Author-X-Name-First: Elias Fouad Author-X-Name-Last: Mami Author-Name: Abdelmadjid Cheikh Author-X-Name-First: Abdelmadjid Author-X-Name-Last: Cheikh Author-Name: Mohammed Kadi Author-X-Name-First: Mohammed Author-X-Name-Last: Kadi Author-Name: Karim Labadi Author-X-Name-First: Karim Author-X-Name-Last: Labadi Title: Maintenance optimisation through quality management: a case study in 'Alzinc' Plant in Algeria Abstract: The aim of this paper is to apply the maintenance optimisation through quality management for a real-life industrial plant in Algeria, 'Alzinc' that have obtained various certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001) and is moving towards a new integrated management. The purpose consists of maintaining production activities without reducing the equipment efficiency as well as the quality of the products, the workers safety and the environment protection. In our study, maintenance optimisation combines two innovative and strategic methods, taking into account the social and cultural local background. In this case, it becomes crucial to identify indigenous culture specificities that could be integrated to universal strategic methods and techniques. Thus, our methodology relies upon the combination between reliability centred maintenance (RCM) and total productive maintenance (TPM), using the four first pillars with the aim of achieving a maximal efficiency of the production system (axis no. 1). Results show that our approach could be generalised to all the plant workshops, et allows the implementation of the other TPM pillars, in order to improve and secure the plant optimal production (axis no. 2). Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 97-123 Issue: 1 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: total productive maintenance; TPM; reliability-centred maintenance; RCM; optimisation; overall equipment effectiveness; OEE; performance; sociocultural dimension. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=99629 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:1:p:97-123 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Marzieh Barkhordar Author-X-Name-First: Marzieh Author-X-Name-Last: Barkhordar Author-Name: Hadi Shirouyehzad Author-X-Name-First: Hadi Author-X-Name-Last: Shirouyehzad Title: Identification of critical success factors for implementation of MIS in project-based organisations and classification using Kano model Abstract: The problem is that, in spite of the effective role of management information systems (MIS) in improving decision-making in organisations, the implementations of these systems are faced challenges. This problem is especially susceptible to project-based organisations due to their nature and uncertainty. Also, a number of critical success factors (CSFs) in implementing these systems require a good way to categorise. Therefore, due to the gap, in this research, Kano method was used. So, firstly, these CSFs of the implementation of MIS were collected and then they were analysed through questionnaires by academic experts. Then, these CSFs filtered using binomial test and the final CSFs were classified using Kano method. According to the definition of Kano, it can be said that the success of MIS implementation in the project-based organisations is realised when basic characteristics are met, functional characteristics are increased and as far as possible, attractive features can be achieved. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 125-143 Issue: 2 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: critical success factors; CSFs; management information system; MIS; project-based organisations; Kano's model. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100140 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:2:p:125-143 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Efraín De La Hoz Granadillo Author-X-Name-First: Efraín De La Hoz Author-X-Name-Last: Granadillo Author-Name: José Morelos Gómez Author-X-Name-First: José Morelos Author-X-Name-Last: Gómez Author-Name: Tomás José Fontalvo Herrera Author-X-Name-First: Tomás José Fontalvo Author-X-Name-Last: Herrera Title: Methodology with multivariate calculation to define and evaluate financial productivity profiles of the chemical sector in Colombia Abstract: This research presents a methodology to evaluate the financial productivity profiles of the companies in the chemical sector in Colombia. A rational empirical analysis was carried out, supported by the information of 320 companies in the sector reported in the governmental entity SIREM, business reporting information system. The theoretical foundation was based on the theories of multivariate calculus associated with cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. Also, the theories associated with financial productivity indicators were used. With the appliance of cluster analysis business profiles were defined, productive indicators of the company's object of this research were evaluated in the same way. The discriminant analysis allowed analysing the membership of the business productivity profiles with a 95.36% confidence. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 144-160 Issue: 2 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: productivity; business profiles; conglomerate analysis; discriminant analysis. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100141 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:2:p:144-160 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kasra Jahani Author-X-Name-First: Kasra Author-X-Name-Last: Jahani Author-Name: Hamidreza Feili Author-X-Name-First: Hamidreza Author-X-Name-Last: Feili Author-Name: Fereydon Ohadi Author-X-Name-First: Fereydon Author-X-Name-Last: Ohadi Title: Phase II monitoring of the nominal logistic regression profiles based on Wald and Rao score test statistics (a case study in healthcare: diabetic patients) Abstract: In many statistical process monitoring (SPM), quality of process or product describes by a relationship between one or more predictor variable(s) and a nominal response variable called nominal logistic regression profile (NLRP). In this paper, two control charts including Wald and Rao score test (RST) is developed to monitor NLRP in Phase II. In addition, to evaluate the parameter estimation effect on the performance of control charts, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is developed in Phase I. Performance of the proposed control charts are evaluated using some simulation studies and results show that Wald control chart has better performance than RST chart under different shifts in NLRP parameters. Furthermore, to show the efficiency of the proposed approaches in real application, a case study in health-care is applied. Real case results is also showed that Wald control chart has better performance in faster detecting the out-of-control condition. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 161-176 Issue: 2 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: nominal logistic regression profile; NLRP; control chart; Phase II; statistical process monitoring; SPM; healthcare systems. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100142 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:2:p:161-176 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Prasun Das Author-X-Name-First: Prasun Author-X-Name-Last: Das Author-Name: Susanta Kumar Gauri Author-X-Name-First: Susanta Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Gauri Author-Name: Anupam Das Author-X-Name-First: Anupam Author-X-Name-Last: Das Author-Name: Debolina Chatterjee Author-X-Name-First: Debolina Author-X-Name-Last: Chatterjee Title: Modelling HSLA steel product quality under multi-stage manufacturing set up using multi-block partial least square regression Abstract: In order to have an understanding about the quality of steel product, involving multiple stages of manufacturing process, adequate assessment about the input-output relationship is necessary to ensure high-quality product. In this study, a high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel product quality, comprising of two stages of manufacturing, is modelled using partial least square regression (PLSR) and multi-block PLSR (MBPLSR) approaches. The alloy chemistry and rolling parameters are considered here as input variables along with strength and ductility of the finished steel as responses. Hotelling's <i>T</i><SUP align="right"><SMALL>2</SMALL></SUP> statistic is used for diagnosis of faults in batches of heat along with developing fault detection system through significant input variables. Both the modelling approaches are found to be useful for this purpose. However, the MBPLSR-based modelling approach is preferable since it helps to locate the source of the problem quicker at appropriate stages of operation with the help of input variables. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 177-195 Issue: 2 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: multi-stage manufacturing; partial least square regression; PLSR; multi-block PLSR; MBPLSR; steel making; variable contribution; alloy chemistry; rolling parameters; strength; ductility; sensitivity. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100143 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:2:p:177-195 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Muthu Baskaran Author-X-Name-First: S. Muthu Author-X-Name-Last: Baskaran Author-Name: A.R. Lakshmanan Author-X-Name-First: A.R. Author-X-Name-Last: Lakshmanan Title: A framework model for lean tools selection for improving material flow using fuzzy TOPSIS Abstract: Lean manufacturing is a world class manufacturing paradigm applied by the manufacturers to achieve manufacturing goals and to attract and retain their customers. Application of lean manufacturing lies in following the lean principles and lean tools selection. Even then, literature pointed out many challenges in selecting the right lean tools. In this work, lean tools are categorised with the help of a framework model for material flow. The developed framework model enlists place, man, machine, process and material as the factors which affect the material flow. The 25 lean tools were selected and ranked within its category using fuzzy TOPSIS, a multi-criteria decision making method under three criteria namely value creation, sustain flow and waste elimination. The three crtieria follow the lean manufacturing principles. This method will help the managers in applying the right lean tools according to their categorisation. The results of sensitivity analysis were found to be good. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 196-228 Issue: 2 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: lean tools; lean criteria; material flow; multi-criteria decision making; MCDM; framework model; improving material flow; category; lean criteria; ranking of lean tools; fuzzy logic; fuzzy TOPSIS; sensitivity analysis. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100144 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:2:p:196-228 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed Rawabdeh Author-X-Name-First: Mohammed Author-X-Name-Last: Rawabdeh Author-Name: Sahem Nawafleh Author-X-Name-First: Sahem Author-X-Name-Last: Nawafleh Title: The impact of economic decline on the satisfaction and productivity of the public employees in the Jordanian public-sector Abstract: Economic crisis has different consequences on economy such as bankruptcies, generalised inflation and economic decline. Accordingly, economic decline has had a notable and wide-ranging affect in terms of employee conditions and outcomes. Current paper seeks to explore the influence of the economic decline on the productivity of employees and their satisfaction in their role. Data were gathered through the completion of 435 questionnaires by the public-employees, administered randomly across the public-financial institutions in Jordan, notably making up 5% of all workers across this domain. Benchmark and deductive analysis were carried out through the application and recognition of such standard frameworks. The findings emphasised economic decline as negatively affecting both the productivity and job satisfaction of employees, with staff recognised as viewing job security as paramount when contrasted with other factors. Importantly, when considering the problematic economic conditions experienced by Jordan as a developing country, such a conclusion would be reasonable. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 229-248 Issue: 2 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: economic decline; crisis; employee productivity; job satisfaction; employee motivation; financial institutions. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=100155 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:2:p:229-248 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Harshal A. Chavan Author-X-Name-First: Harshal A. Author-X-Name-Last: Chavan Author-Name: Vijay P. Wani Author-X-Name-First: Vijay P. Author-X-Name-Last: Wani Title: Evaluation of forming parameters affecting the grooving process for automotive connecting rod: an experimental and statistical approach Abstract: Forming industries are trying to reduce the cost of product without affecting its quality by minimising the defects to get-up the globalisation, competition and increase demand in the manufacturing domain. Present investigation is focused on identifying and minimising the various defects occurs in the grooving operation for connecting rod used to connect recliners of automobile seat. The cumulative approach of Pareto, AHP and Taguchi analysis has been applied to overcome the defects and to improve the productivity. Pareto analysis is used to find out the major intensity of defects, AHP techniques is applied for selection of most appropriate operational parameters. Finally, Taguchi analysis is carried out for optimisation of process parameters and selection of the best range of each parameter. From ANOVA the optimised value of each process parameter for minimisation of defects are evaluated and validated by conducting experiments in the industrial unit and found huge reduction in the percent rejection of component. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 249-275 Issue: 3 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: metal forming; defects; quality; Pareto analysis; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; design of experiment; DOE; ANOVA; forming parameters; optimisation; productivity improvement. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101490 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:3:p:249-275 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. John Martin Author-X-Name-First: A. John Author-X-Name-Last: Martin Author-Name: M. Rajkumar Author-X-Name-First: M. Author-X-Name-Last: Rajkumar Title: Quality tolerance design based on fuzzy binary range approach Abstract: Total quality tolerance (TQT) has been widely recognised as a strategic weapon for improving manufacturing performance. The evaluation of quality tolerance efficiency can assist factories in improving their operations across a variety of dimensions. Effective benchmark of high performance in tolerance design, dimension analysis, machinability and assemblability are identified for improving the quality tolerance in manufacturing units. In this paper, drive shaft assembly is considered which is adopted from literature and finding the overall quality tolerance through neuro-fuzzy flow diagram method for different level with minimum inputs are analysed in different fuzzification range values to get optimisation in overall quality tolerance. The characteristics of neuro-fuzzy, multi-stage evaluation and decision making in concurrent product design process are also analysed and a decision support system for tolerance design in concurrent engineering is presented. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 329-351 Issue: 3 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: tolerance design; dimension analysis; machinability; assemblability; weighted binary range method. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101494 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:3:p:329-351 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ritesh Adhyapak Author-X-Name-First: Ritesh Author-X-Name-Last: Adhyapak Author-Name: Abin Baby Author-X-Name-First: Abin Author-X-Name-Last: Baby Author-Name: Sobhan Koppuravuri Author-X-Name-First: Sobhan Author-X-Name-Last: Koppuravuri Title: Reduction in call handling time in transportation service industry using lean Six Sigma DMAIC methodology Abstract: The paper reviews the use of DMAIC six sigma methodology in a selected transportation cab service industry to improve customer satisfaction levels. The DMAIC comprises of five phases define, measure, analyse, improve and control. Various tools were used in the five phases starting with the voice of customer (VOC) matrix and project charter. Cause and effect diagram was used to find out the potential factors behind the high waiting time. Brainstorming sessions were also conducted to get a better sense of the high call handling time and suggestions were put forth to improve them. SMED analysis was also done to gauge the different changeover elements in the company. The average queue length for the 1st shift came down to 3.6 from 4.433 resulting in an estimated annual profit of $29250 annually. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 352-368 Issue: 3 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: DMAIC; transportation; Six Sigma; voice of customer; VOC; cause and effect; brainstorming. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101495 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:3:p:352-368 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Mahalakshmi Author-X-Name-First: S. Author-X-Name-Last: Mahalakshmi Author-Name: A. Arokiasamy Author-X-Name-First: A. Author-X-Name-Last: Arokiasamy Author-Name: J. Fakrudeen Ali Ahamed Author-X-Name-First: J. Fakrudeen Ali Author-X-Name-Last: Ahamed Title: Productivity improvement of an eco friendly warehouse using multi objective optimal robot trajectory planning Abstract: Production of environment is one of the top rated objectives of all countries. 10% emission of CO2 in the world is from logistics industries due to freight transports and warehousing operations. Green logistics is an important step to minimise ecological impacts of the logistics operations. Green environment in a warehouse plays a mandatory role in green logistics. Automation, robotics and smart systems give a good contribution in making the warehouse environment clean and green. A method for productivity improvement of a green warehouse using multi objective optimal trajectory planning of a warehouse robot is proposed in this paper. Mixed load palletising operation (build-to-order palletising) is considered. Two multi objective optimisation algorithms such as multi objective particle swarm optimisation (MOPSO) and multi objective differential evolution (MODE) are used. A numerical example on an Industrial robot (MTAB ARISTO 6XT robot) is presented. An economic and productivity analysis is carried out. The obtained results proved that the multi objective optimisation on warehouse robot trajectory planning enhances supply chain productivity and profits. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 305-328 Issue: 3 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: green supply chain; green logistics; productivity improvement; mixed load palletising; eco friendly warehouse robot; multi objectives; optimal trajectory planning; MOPSO; multi objective differential evolution; MODE. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101517 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:3:p:305-328 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Umar Sherif Author-X-Name-First: S. Umar Author-X-Name-Last: Sherif Author-Name: P. Sasikumar Author-X-Name-First: P. Author-X-Name-Last: Sasikumar Author-Name: P. Asokan Author-X-Name-First: P. Author-X-Name-Last: Asokan Author-Name: J. Jerald Author-X-Name-First: J. Author-X-Name-Last: Jerald Title: Bi-objective optimisation model with societal constraints for green closed loop supply chain network - a case of battery industry Abstract: Scrap-battery collection, recovery and new-battery production activities in the battery industries have increased a large quantity of materials and products distribution between the facilities. This situation leads to the sustainability issue in terms of higher transportation cost, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and drivers fatigue (long driving). In order to address the sustainable issues, the present closed loop supply chain network (CLSCN) is customised. The objective of this paper is to develop bi-objective multi product multi echelon multi period green CLSCN model with societal constraints (GCLSCN-SC) to minimise: 1) the sum of distribution centres' (DC) storage capacity expansion cost and transportation cost; 2) the GHG emission (CO<SUB align="right"><SMALL>2</SMALL></SUB> and NO<SUB align="right"><SMALL>x</SMALL></SUB>). The storage capacity expansion strategy and the transportation strategy are established in the proposed model to stimulate the bi-directional flow of the products and materials between facilities and the model is solved by using GAMS-23.5. The performance of proposed model has been compared with the present model and the evaluation demonstrates that the proposed model is efficient. The analysed results of the proposed model under different scenarios are presented in this paper. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 276-304 Issue: 3 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: green closed loop supply chain network; battery industry; societal issues; bidirectional flow; capacity expansion; GHG emission. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101518 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:3:p:276-304 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abhijeet Ganguly Author-X-Name-First: Abhijeet Author-X-Name-Last: Ganguly Author-Name: Saroj Kumar Patel Author-X-Name-First: Saroj Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Patel Title: Fuzzy multi-objective economic-statistical design of X-bar control chart Abstract: Nowadays manufacturing organisations are aiming towards producing higher quality outputs at lower cost of production to keep stride with the competition. The control charts are the most popular and widely used statistical process control tools that can be used for monitoring the unevenness in quality characteristics of a production process. The economic-statistical design of control chart selects three parameters, namely sample size <i>n</i>, sampling interval <i>h</i> and control limit width <i>k</i> to achieve the lowest cost with desirable statistical properties. However, the cost function and statistical properties are interrelated. Hence, minimising the cost as the only objective is not an efficient method of designing control charts. In this paper, a multi-objective model for the economic-statistical design of X-bar control chart has been proposed with three objectives, i.e., to minimise mean hourly cost, maximise in-control average run length and maximise the power of detecting process shift. A multi-objective evolutionary genetic algorithm is used to obtain the Pareto-optimal solution for this design which is then ranked by fuzzy performance importance index. The performance of the proposed method is compared through a numerical example and observed to be superior to that reported in the literature. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 435-463 Issue: 4 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: economic-statistical design; fuzzy logic; multi-objective genetic algorithm; Taguchi method; X-bar control chart. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101925 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:4:p:435-463 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ahmed Mohammed Abdelalim Author-X-Name-First: Ahmed Mohammed Author-X-Name-Last: Abdelalim Author-Name: Emad Elbeltagi Author-X-Name-First: Emad Author-X-Name-Last: Elbeltagi Author-Name: A.A. Mekky Author-X-Name-First: A.A. Author-X-Name-Last: Mekky Title: Factors affecting productivity and improvement in building construction sites Abstract: This research aims to identify and investigate factors affecting productivity in building construction sites. The importance of these factors has been studied extensively through a widely spread questionnaire among 183 participants. The research covers the MENA region, especially Egypt and Saudi Arabia as the main markets there and diversity of mega construction projects. The comparison of factors importance will help in making right investment decisions and better understanding of the nature of building construction sites, as well as it applies to a boarder construction environment as most of working construction companies there are international. Among all factors affecting productivity, 49 factors were carefully selected throughout carrying out extensive search and factor frequency of similar researches, they were categorised into seven groups. The survey was utilised for data gathering from Egyptian and Saudi construction sites. This research also provides simple and comprehensive recommendations and suggested method of determining loss in productivity that can be adopted by construction managers for an effective management of construction sites and higher productivity. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 464-494 Issue: 4 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: productivity; construction sites; effectiveness; importance index; motivation; human factors; variance and statistical analysis. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101927 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:4:p:464-494 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Callistus Tengan Author-X-Name-First: Callistus Author-X-Name-Last: Tengan Author-Name: Clinton Aigbavboa Author-X-Name-First: Clinton Author-X-Name-Last: Aigbavboa Title: A principal component analysis of monitoring and evaluation determinants for construction projects delivery in developing countries Abstract: A data reduction technique is adopted to identify the critical determinants of effective monitoring and evaluation in the construction industry. The views of randomly selected construction professionals from Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa were collected through a questionnaire survey. Adopting a quantitative research approach for the study, extant literature was conducted to identify monitoring and evaluation determining factors. Subsequently, a five-point Likert scale was drawn for respondents to rank the factors. A Cronbach's alpha value of 0.953 was achieved based on standardised items. Similarly, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity was conducted before the data were subjected to principal component analysis. The study provides a new contribution to knowledge by introducing three new variables of uncorrelated determinants that better explain effective monitoring and evaluation. These variables are described as M%E management and human relation, M%E participation and information and M%E implementation and approach. The study, therefore, recommends consideration of these factors by project managers to ensure M%E is effective and delivers successful construction project. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 420-434 Issue: 4 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: construction; determinants; Ghana; implementation; monitoring and evaluation; human relation; participation. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101930 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:4:p:420-434 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kailash Author-X-Name-First: Author-X-Name-Last: Kailash Author-Name: Rajeev Kumar Saha Author-X-Name-First: Rajeev Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Saha Author-Name: Sanjeev Goyal Author-X-Name-First: Sanjeev Author-X-Name-Last: Goyal Title: Benchmarking of internal supply chain management: factors analysis and ranking using ISM approach and MICMAC analysis Abstract: Several qualitative and quantitative techniques are available for factors analysis of benchmarking of supply chain management. Fifteen variable factors of benchmarking of internal supply chain management (ISCM) has been identified and derived theoretically from various literature sources and opinions of expert's from 300 manufacturing industries. Mean score and an interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach is applied to assign the rank of factors. In ISM approach, influence between factors is determined by considering the opinions of experts from relevant field. An industrial questionnaire method is used to collect the opinion of experts. Firstly, analysis of the interactions among factors for benchmarking of ISCM by ISM approach and matriced impacts croises multiplication appliqueeaun classement (MICMAC) analysis. Secondly, to develop the relationship among identified rank of factors. Finally, to do the classification of variable factors into clusters based on their driving power and dependence power. According to social implication and managerial point of view, this research provides help to researchers and managers to understand the mutual influence of factors. This research work is also helpful to identify those factors which support in benchmarking of ISCM of any business organisation. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 394-419 Issue: 4 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: internal supply chain management; ISCM; ISM approach; benchmarking practices; MICMAC analysis; industrial questionnaire survey. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101933 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:4:p:394-419 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Karishma Chaudhary Author-X-Name-First: Karishma Author-X-Name-Last: Chaudhary Author-Name: Prem Vrat Author-X-Name-First: Prem Author-X-Name-Last: Vrat Title: Sustainable benefits of electronic waste recycling in India: a system dynamics analysis Abstract: Despite the fact that 95% of the electronic waste (e-waste) generated is routed to unorganised sector, India is still struggling to put up an effective e-waste management system. This paper highlights the sustainability link of an efficient and effective e-waste reverse supply chain (RSC) of e-waste in India. A system dynamics (SD) model of circular flow of electronics products from manufacturing stage to recycling stage has been developed using STELLA Software version 9.1.3. Seven scenarios have been simulated using the model to study behaviour of various variables. Study of trends provides very useful insights to facilitate policy decisions for implementation of e-waste RSC in India. This study also recommends various strategies to improve the collection efficiency of the organised sector. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 369-393 Issue: 4 Volume: 27 Year: 2019 Keywords: e-waste; electronic waste; material reserve; system dynamics; SD; sustainability link; causal loop diagram; CLD; stock and flow diagram; SFD. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101934 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:27:y:2019:i:4:p:369-393 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yadav Narottam Author-X-Name-First: Yadav Author-X-Name-Last: Narottam Author-Name: K. Mathiyazhagan Author-X-Name-First: K. Author-X-Name-Last: Mathiyazhagan Author-Name: Krishan Kumar Author-X-Name-First: Krishan Author-X-Name-Last: Kumar Title: Literature review: continuous improvement through Lean Six Sigma Abstract: Six Sigma is a business metric used in manufacturing, service and healthcare sectors. The purpose of this paper is to uncovering existing literature gaps in the field of Lean Six Sigma. From the literature review, 2,461 papers were identified based on publication period of 2003 to 2018. It is concluded from the analysis of the results that no framework available in the literature for successful implementation of LSS. There is a need for empirical study that how to create a continuous improvement culture in the organisation and specific barriers for conducting improvements. Lean Six Sigma can be integrated with other improvement philosophies to achieve overall excellence. The thorough review of existing literature reveals that adoption of LSS plays a vital role in process improvement, variation reduction and defect reduction. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 3-27 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: Lean; Six Sigma; literature review; problem-solving; manufacturing sector; process improvement; Indian industry. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102423 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:3-27 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Omkar Kaushik Author-X-Name-First: Omkar Author-X-Name-Last: Kaushik Author-Name: Saket Jha Author-X-Name-First: Saket Author-X-Name-Last: Jha Author-Name: Shikha Kashyap Author-X-Name-First: Shikha Author-X-Name-Last: Kashyap Author-Name: Ravindra Ojha Author-X-Name-First: Ravindra Author-X-Name-Last: Ojha Title: Inventory reduction using the optimal policy curve approach: a case study Abstract: The current trends in Indian automotive manufacturing industry indicate a rapidly increasing socio-technical complexity of its manufacturing systems. The industry is striving to meet the ever-changing behaviour of the market demand. This has led to considerable increase in variety of products manufactured under one roof. Increasing variety requires high attention to control the high inventory levels of parts and aggregates. This paper focuses on understanding and analysing causes of high inventory levels of a leading tier-I automotive supplier and recommending the way forward using a structured methodology. The quality control (QC) tools, the economic order quantity (EOQ) and the optimal-policy curve (exchange curve) approach have been utilised effectively to funnel the key issues and finally optimise the inventory level of the key parts. The application of the QC tools and the optima-policy curve approach has resulted in a healthy 25% reduction of the high inventory in the industry under taken as a case study. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 28-39 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: optimal policy curve; exchange curve approach; economic order quality; Pareto analysis and cause and effect diagram. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102424 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:28-39 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Deevesh Sharma Author-X-Name-First: Deevesh Author-X-Name-Last: Sharma Author-Name: Awadhesh Bhardwaj Author-X-Name-First: Awadhesh Author-X-Name-Last: Bhardwaj Author-Name: Monica Sharma Author-X-Name-First: Monica Author-X-Name-Last: Sharma Author-Name: Ashraf Mirza Author-X-Name-First: Ashraf Author-X-Name-Last: Mirza Title: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of discomfort glare due to artificial indoor lighting Abstract: The research evaluated the effect of the change in position of the observer and luminance of light source on discomfort glare. There were two approaches taken in this study, one was qualitative and other was quantitative approach. The quantitative approach was based on <i>unified glare rating</i>. In this study, 11 experiments have been conducted to get degree of glare at different places of room. The qualitative analysis performed over 15 participants and on the basis of questionnaire, degree of glare has been evaluated. A participant has to answer that he finds particular field of direction comfortable or not by marking it on a scale (De-Boer) of 1-4. The result obtained from both approaches was compared to get the comfortable range of illuminance and the angle between the luminaire with line of sight. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 90-102 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: discomfort glare; unified glare rating; UGR; Guth position index; luminance; light-emitting diode; LED; compact fluorescent light; CFL; productivity management; glare; lighting; productivity; management. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102425 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:90-102 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B.C.P. Jayarathna Author-X-Name-First: B.C.P. Author-X-Name-Last: Jayarathna Author-Name: C.N. Wickramasinghe Author-X-Name-First: C.N. Author-X-Name-Last: Wickramasinghe Title: Determinants of green supply chain practices of manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka Abstract: Most of the organisations tend to accept the green practices as a concern to environmental sustainability. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key drivers that influence to adopt green supply chain practices of manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka. For this purpose, quantitative approach was followed and data collected through structured questionnaire were analysed using structural equation model. Theoretical scope of the study includes identifying external factors based on institutional theory and internal factors based on resource-based view for adopting green supply chain practices while empirical scope narrows down to the manufacturing companies in western province of Sri Lanka. The study found that normative pressure and mimetic pressure as external factors and tangible resources and capabilities as internal factors are significantly influenced to adopt green supply chain practices while coercive pressure and intangible resources are not. These findings will guide manufacturers and suppliers when implementing green supply chain practices in their organisation and help government to make some policies regarding green supply chain management. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 103-127 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: green supply chain management; resource-based view theory; structural equation analysis; internal factors; external factors; manufacturing companies; green supply chain practices Sri Lanka. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102426 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:103-127 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Deepinder Singh Author-X-Name-First: Deepinder Author-X-Name-Last: Singh Author-Name: Harwinder Singh Author-X-Name-First: Harwinder Author-X-Name-Last: Singh Author-Name: Jagwinder Singh Author-X-Name-First: Jagwinder Author-X-Name-Last: Singh Author-Name: Raman Kumar Author-X-Name-First: Raman Author-X-Name-Last: Kumar Title: Exploring the relationship between dimensions of quality management practices and business performance Abstract: Quality management practices (QMP) can be either explorative or exploitative, and these can benefit organisation with both orientations. In this research work, an attempt has been made to explore the dimension of QMP with respect to business performance. A path model is developed which exhibit the relationship between QMP and business performance. The SPSS AMOS 21 software package was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis. The second order confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the considered six hypotheses. The finding showed that top management support (TMS), supplier relationship (SR), workforce commitment (WC), people management (PM), workplace organisation (WO) are directly related to business performance. Moreover, leadership is not directly associated with business performance. The outcome of this study offers theoretical as well as practical managerial implication to improve business performance. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 128-142 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: quality management practices; QMP; business performance; path model; CFA. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102429 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:128-142 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Blanka Tundys Author-X-Name-First: Blanka Author-X-Name-Last: Tundys Author-Name: Andrzej Rzeczycki Author-X-Name-First: Andrzej Author-X-Name-Last: Rzeczycki Author-Name: Yudi Fernando Author-X-Name-First: Yudi Author-X-Name-Last: Fernando Title: A framework for analysis of the supplier selection in green supply chain Abstract: The main purpose of the article is to build the framework of the supplier assessment model in the green supply chain. To achieve this purpose, specific objectives were taken to consideration: 1) an indication of the basis for the analysis of supplier selection in green supply chain; 2) identify of the gaps that exist in this respect, in the literature; 3) the identification of the criteria catalogue for the supplier selection with the particular emphasis on the needs of green supply chain; 4) develop a model to assess the green supply chain, taking into account the sustainable aspects; 5) using AHP method to the investigation and analysis of the meaning of the selected criteria, on the example of companies operating in the Polish economy; 6) indication which of them are the most important and which of them did not play an important role in the selection process of the suppliers. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 40-67 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: green supply chain; supplier selection; logistics; supply chain assessment; AHP method. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102441 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:40-67 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Sathiya Author-X-Name-First: V. Author-X-Name-Last: Sathiya Author-Name: M. Chinnadurai Author-X-Name-First: M. Author-X-Name-Last: Chinnadurai Title: Optimal autonomous mobile robot motion planning for green logistics Abstract: In 2017, CO2 emissions from logistics activities is 0.82 million tons across the world. Introduction of low exhaust emission vehicles, reduction in transportation distance, introduction of electrical vehicles, improvement in load factor, reduction in cost, fast delivery are goals of green logistics. To accomplish these goals, Autonomous mobile robots are good choice. This paper proposes a good method for improving the performance of a warehouse robot by a multi objective optimal motion planning. Wheeled mobile robot is considered. Two multi objective optimisation algorithms [elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and multi objective differential evolution (MODE)] are used. A cubic NURBS curve constructs the robot path. Four multi objective performance metrics and two methods are utilised to examine the performance of MODE and NSGA-II algorithms. The results from a numerical simulation proved that the suggested method is a good idea to improve the green warehouse operations and to do necessary automation. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 68-89 Issue: 1 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: green logistics; green warehouse; autonomous mobile robot; multi objective optimal motion planning; elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm; NSGA-II; multi objective differential evolution; fuzzy logic. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102442 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:1:p:68-89 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Atif Awad Author-X-Name-First: Atif Author-X-Name-Last: Awad Author-Name: Ishak Yussof Author-X-Name-First: Ishak Author-X-Name-Last: Yussof Title: The impact of foreign labour on average real wages of residents: evidence from Malaysia's construction sector Abstract: In this study, instead of examining the impact of migrant workers on the real wages of natives, which has already been extensively addressed, we have estimated the impact of migrant workers on the average real wages of residents (both natives and earlier immigrants). We examine whether the impact of migrant workers on the average real wages of residents varies over time as well as varying across occupations. We employ the pooled mean group (PMG) technique on panel data for four Malaysian construction subsectors during the period 1990 to 2010. The results show that over time, all foreign labour as well as unskilled migrant workers have considerable and positive impacts on the real wages of all resident workers. However, in the adjustment period, in the short-run, only the wages of unskilled workers respond positively and significantly to foreign workers. Given both the unfavourable work conditions for natives as well as the significance of this sector to the overall economy, policy makers should facilitate the flow of migrant workers to this sector. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 183-209 Issue: 2 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: foreign labour; wages; working condition; demand and supply of labour. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102918 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:2:p:183-209 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Muhammad Arslan Author-X-Name-First: Muhammad Author-X-Name-Last: Arslan Title: Evaluating the maturity level of TQM benefits in Pakistan Abstract: Previous studies majorly focus on defining TQM and describing relationship between TQM practices and performance. This paper addresses the achievement of post implementation benefits of total quality management (TQM). TQM is highly emphasised from the last decade in industries of Pakistan and this examination shows practical influence after implementation. A survey form was designed and the survey was conducted in diversified type of companies in Pakistan. Analysis through descriptive statistics of 61 survey forms represents that organisations, following TQM approach, are realising the positive paybacks of TQM. Consequently, it is a source of inspiration to help the non-TQM industries to implement TQM and understand the actual performance of TQM system so they can achieve the direct and indirect benefits in terms of profit. One of the firms, before implementing TQM, assigned a project to conduct a practical survey which will contribute to know the extent of the industry practitioners about the maturity level of TQM benefits to compete at global market place. Finally, it aims to provide the idea for any industry to initiate the application of TQM. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 143-159 Issue: 2 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: total quality management; TQM; benefits of TQM; maturity level of TQM; practical survey TQM; Pakistan. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102919 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:2:p:143-159 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Suhan Sundar Author-X-Name-First: Suhan Author-X-Name-Last: Sundar Author-Name: H. Mahesh Prabhu Author-X-Name-First: H. Mahesh Author-X-Name-Last: Prabhu Title: The impact of quality management practices, training and employee suggestion schemes on quality performance Abstract: Quality has become an important competitive priority for manufacturing industries in the globalised scenario and this has resulted in firms benchmarking their quality practices among the best in the world. The purpose of this paper is to look into the impact of quality management practices on quality performance in a manufacturing firm of a public sector undertaking in India and explore the indirect impact of training and employee suggestion scheme on the relation between quality management practices and quality performance. Data was collected from 235 executives and analysed using partial least square. Results indicate that quality management practices had a positive impact on quality performance. Further analysis revealed that training partially mediates the relation between quality management practices and quality performance whereas employee suggestion scheme did not. Recommendations to ensure better organisational performance through quality management practices suggested. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 210-226 Issue: 2 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: quality management practices; QMP; training; employee suggestion scheme; ESS; quality performance; QP. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102921 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:2:p:210-226 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Priyank Srivastava Author-X-Name-First: Priyank Author-X-Name-Last: Srivastava Author-Name: Dinesh Khanduja Author-X-Name-First: Dinesh Author-X-Name-Last: Khanduja Author-Name: Subra Ganesan Author-X-Name-First: Subra Author-X-Name-Last: Ganesan Author-Name: Mohit Agarwal Author-X-Name-First: Mohit Author-X-Name-Last: Agarwal Author-Name: Mridul Tulsiyan Author-X-Name-First: Mridul Author-X-Name-Last: Tulsiyan Author-Name: Manik Tandon Author-X-Name-First: Manik Author-X-Name-Last: Tandon Author-Name: Sumit Gupta Author-X-Name-First: Sumit Author-X-Name-Last: Gupta Title: Risk analysis of CNG dispensing unit by fuzzy digraph matrix and Dempster-Shafer approach Abstract: The CNG dispensing unit is an important investment for taking advantage of CNG fuel, though its handling is not as simple as other conventional fuels. The cost can only be realised if it is operated with maximum availability. In present research work, risk analysis of CNG dispensing unit has been exemplified by applying fuzzy digraph matrix and D-S theory. Forty-three failure causes have been identified, analysed and prioritised using the mentioned approach. The display error and regulator function failure for metering skid, internal valve failure and gasket damage for compressor, internal pipe leakage and PLC failure for priority panel, flow sensor, motherboard and valve failure for dispenser unit, plug and tank leakage have been identified as risk for CNG dispensing unit. The results from both the approaches show synergy. The risk identification and prioritisation results have been forwarded to maintenance engineer for critical analysis and proper maintenance planning. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 227-255 Issue: 2 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: CNG; FDMA; D-S theory. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102922 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:2:p:227-255 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vimlesh Kumar Ojha Author-X-Name-First: Vimlesh Kumar Author-X-Name-Last: Ojha Author-Name: Sandhya Dixit Author-X-Name-First: Sandhya Author-X-Name-Last: Dixit Author-Name: Sanjeev Goyal Author-X-Name-First: Sanjeev Author-X-Name-Last: Goyal Title: An AHP-based comparison between automated and manual material handling systems in FMS environment Abstract: Flexible manufacturing is a process which permits production systems to perform under high customised production needs. The goals of manufacturing systems like minimum inventories, improved quality, enhanced technical performance and reduction of cost can be achieved by implementing the FMS. Material handling system plays a very important role and consumes a significant amount of cost and time in flexible manufacturing system (FMS). Since a lot of factors affect the material handling system, so selection of best suitable material handling system which optimises all these factors is a big problem before any material manager. The purpose of this study is to present a multi-criteria decision making comparison model which would be very useful for choosing better alternative between automated and manual material handling system (MMHS). Analytical hierarchy process (AHP)-based comparison is performed upon these attributes to select the best alternative between manual material handling system and automated material handling system (AMHS). Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 256-277 Issue: 2 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: flexible manufacturing system; FMS; material handling system; attributes; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; weightage. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102927 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:2:p:256-277 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Salim Morched Author-X-Name-First: Salim Author-X-Name-Last: Morched Author-Name: Anis Jarboui Author-X-Name-First: Anis Author-X-Name-Last: Jarboui Title: The determinants of women's entrepreneurship development: an empirical study in Tunisia Abstract: This study has set itself the main specific objective to identify the obstacles and determinants of female entrepreneurship in Tunisia. Despite the obstacles encountered by women entrepreneurs (family, social, etc.), the ambition of women entrepreneurs in Tunisia is successful at the professional level while maintaining a certain flexibility to be able to fulfil their other responsibilities. So the main rules of women's success are self-fulfilment, a sense of risk and a willingness to be independent, and today women entrepreneurs are optimistic, confident in the future, comfortable with administrative formalities and the relationships. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 160-182 Issue: 2 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: women entrepreneurship; Tunisia; empirical study. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=102942 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:2:p:160-182 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Zineb Ibn Majdoub Hassani Author-X-Name-First: Zineb Ibn Majdoub Author-X-Name-Last: Hassani Author-Name: Abdellah El Barkany Author-X-Name-First: Abdellah El Author-X-Name-Last: Barkany Author-Name: Abdel Moumen Darcherif Author-X-Name-First: Abdel Moumen Author-X-Name-Last: Darcherif Author-Name: Abdelouahhab Jabri Author-X-Name-First: Abdelouahhab Author-X-Name-Last: Jabri Author-Name: Ikram El Abbassi Author-X-Name-First: Ikram El Author-X-Name-Last: Abbassi Title: Planning and scheduling problems of production systems: review, classification and opportunities Abstract: Production planning and scheduling are generally treated sequentially. Scheduling largely depends on the production quantities computed at the production planning level. Ignoring scheduling constraints in planning leads to inconsistent decisions, therefore, this generates unfeasible solutions. Moreover, solving these problems in complex manufacturing systems is a big challenge in production management. So, integrating production planning and scheduling is crucial to realise the coherence between objectives and workshop's capacities. That is why industries are seeking to improve their production systems to make them more flexible, competitive and reactive, through a better production management and integrating approaches. This paper represents a literature review of the production planning, scheduling and the different approaches that have been elaborated in order to solve the main problematic. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 372-402 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: production; planning; scheduling; coupling; constraints; criteria; optimisation; simulation. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103520 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:372-402 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sujeong Seo Author-X-Name-First: Sujeong Author-X-Name-Last: Seo Author-Name: Robert Parody Author-X-Name-First: Robert Author-X-Name-Last: Parody Title: Product quality analysis for multi-processes with multiple quality characteristics using capability indices Abstract: To obtain numerical measures on process potential and process performance which meets the pre-set targets of the customer, process capability indices are used widely in the manufacturing industry. Capability measure for processes with a single set of characteristics has been investigated extensively but is comparatively neglected for processes with multiple characteristics. Also, process capability indices are treated effectively wherein the indices identify and measure deficiencies in process capability owing to individual quality characteristics instead of the product level quality. In this paper, we propose a reliable approach to multiple quality components and how components affect the product level quality overall. Relationships between quality components and product level quality process contribute opportunities for continuous improvement on the manufacturing process. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 403-416 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: quality engineering; process capability indices; PCIs; production management; quality control; process capability analysis; statistical process control. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103521 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:403-416 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Michael Sony Author-X-Name-First: Michael Author-X-Name-Last: Sony Author-Name: Nandakumar Mekoth Author-X-Name-First: Nandakumar Author-X-Name-Last: Mekoth Title: Broadening the Lean Six Sigma concept through employee adaptability: a literature review Abstract: LSS is one of the most widely implemented initiatives within the organisations. Employees are one of the most important factors for its success. However, due to the absence of an implementation framework, it creates a complex environment for the employees. The purpose of this paper is to examine the different dimensions an employee must adapt while implementing LSS. An integrative literature review is carried for the last 25 years. This research paper finds eight dimensions on which employee has to adapt while implementing LSS. The eight dimensions along with research propositions for future research are discussed. There are many studies on the implementation aspect of LSS. There is yet to be a study discussing how an employee would adapt to LSS initiatives for a sustainable implementation. This is the first literature review carried out on employee adaptability and LSS. This study will add value to organisations so that they can better recruit and manage their employees. Likewise, the academicians will also benefit from the literature review and research propositions for the future research agenda. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 279-298 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: lean; Six Sigma; Lean Six Sigma; LSS; employee adaptability; literature review. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103522 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:279-298 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed Rawabdeh Author-X-Name-First: Mohammed Author-X-Name-Last: Rawabdeh Author-Name: Sahem Nawafleh Author-X-Name-First: Sahem Author-X-Name-Last: Nawafleh Title: Compensation system and job satisfaction: the application of the job descriptive index in the public-sector of Jordan Abstract: The current study examined the effect of compensation system in the prediction of employee job satisfaction within the public-sector of Jordan through using the job-descriptive-index (JDI). Data was collected through questionnaire across (314) respondents. Structural-equation-modelling applied and following the completion of the analysis, direct-monetary compensation was found to be partially related to JDI dimensions, whilst, in contrary to expectations indirect-monetary compensation were seen to have no role in achieving job satisfaction, further, non-monetary compensation significantly influenced JDI dimensions of satisfaction, in addition to that, demographic characteristics were found to be significant in affecting job satisfaction. Such results indicate an issue with the provided compensation system that need to be addressed by the public-sector administrative. Further works need to be carried out in order to explore how provided compensation could be effective booster for employee satisfaction especially in the context of Jordan. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 299-317 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: compensation system; job satisfaction; job-descriptive-index; JDI; demographic characteristics; public-sector; Jordan. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103523 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:299-317 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Chen Fung Liew Author-X-Name-First: Chen Fung Author-X-Name-Last: Liew Author-Name: Joshua Prakash Author-X-Name-First: Joshua Author-X-Name-Last: Prakash Author-Name: Kok Seng Ong Author-X-Name-First: Kok Seng Author-X-Name-Last: Ong Title: An FMEA-based integrated framework to quantify and improve operational performance in advanced manufacturing environments: a case study Abstract: The failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) aims to improve the operational performance in manufacturing processes of a product. Current FMEA practice does not define a specific method for quantifying achievement in operational performances. Risk priority number (RPN) is independent of operational performance. The capability of current FMEA to improve operational performance cannot be validated unless a quantifiable operational performance improvement is demonstrated. This study offered guidelines to quantify the operational performance within the FMEA methodology. Different from traditional FMEA, the new FMEA-based integrated framework ascertains the priority set by RPN with operational performance indicators (OPI) for ensuring the priority is relevant to operational performance. Design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA) and poka-yoke provide systematic guidelines for optimising design and developing a highly robust error-proofing system. Application of the new FMEA-based integrated framework in a medical device manufacturer in Malaysia demonstrated that the overall defect rate was reduced by 87.2%. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 318-339 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: failure mode effect and analysis; FMEA; risk priority number; RPN; operational performance indicator; OPI; design for manufacturing and assembly; DFMA; poka-yoke. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103527 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:318-339 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Amir Karbassi Yazdi Author-X-Name-First: Amir Karbassi Author-X-Name-Last: Yazdi Author-Name: Yong J. Wang Author-X-Name-First: Yong J. Author-X-Name-Last: Wang Author-Name: Mehdi Mohammadi Kahorin Author-X-Name-First: Mehdi Mohammadi Author-X-Name-Last: Kahorin Title: Performance benchmarking on export credit agencies: a data envelopment analysis Abstract: Export credit agencies (ECAs) play an important role in a country's export oriented economy. Due to the importance, this research aims to evaluate the performance of ECAs that are members of the Prague Club and the Berne Union, based on four inputs and five outputs. For the purpose of performance benchmarking, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied in this research to investigate the performance variables. The results show that, among the selected ECAs, 12 of them are efficient and nine are inefficient. Moreover, we demonstrate how inefficient ECAs can benchmark against efficient ECAs for better performance by prioritising inputs and outputs. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 340-359 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: data envelopment analysis; DEA; BCC model; firm performance; benchmarking; export credit agency; ECA. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103528 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:340-359 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Pradeepa Veerakumari Author-X-Name-First: K. Pradeepa Author-X-Name-Last: Veerakumari Author-Name: S. Suganya Author-X-Name-First: S. Author-X-Name-Last: Suganya Title: Characteristic evaluation of SkSP-T with special type double sampling plan as reference plan Abstract: Acceptance sampling is one of the imperative methods used in statistical quality control through judgement a lot concerning its quality of 100% inspection and no inspection. Acceptance sampling plan is able to minimise the inspection cost and sampling error. It is a technique that deals with accepting or not the lot to be found on sampling inspection that delivers the quality of products manufactured by industries. This paper portrays designing procedure and development of skip-lot sampling plan of type SkSP-T with special type double sampling plan (STDSP) as reference plan which is designated as SkSTDSP-T. Operating characteristics and performance measures are derived, evaluated and tables involving incoming and outgoing quality levels are constructed for SkSTDSP-T plan. Tables are simulated by changing various parametric values of SkSP-T and STDSP plan. Table values are calculated, operating characteristic curve is drawn by using R (programming) language. Additionally, the efficiency of the proposed plan is discussed. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 360-371 Issue: 3 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: acceptance sampling; continuous sampling plan; incoming quality level; outgoing quality level; SkSP-T; STDSP. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103529 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:3:p:360-371 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Arash Apornak Author-X-Name-First: Arash Author-X-Name-Last: Apornak Author-Name: Maryam Amiri Hezaveh Author-X-Name-First: Maryam Amiri Author-X-Name-Last: Hezaveh Title: Extension of the model of manufacturing supply chain quality management: an empirical study Abstract: Supply chain management could flow the quality management from the level of the individual to the entire chain. The cross-compliance with supply chain management and effective relationships between supply chain partners are able to provide the context in which they can play their role in a successful quality management and ultimately improve the quality of the final customer and the profitability and satisfaction. The existing research to develop previous studies that have focused on supply chain quality management, according to this after a survey on different frameworks in the areas of quality management and supply chain from reviewing of literature, the most appropriate framework based on a case study situation has been chosen. Then the data has been gathered from questionnaires and was statistically analysed. The hypotheses of the study have been confirmed and it also suggests that the eight components of the model influence on supply chain quality management. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 417-437 Issue: 4 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: total quality management; TQM; supply chain management; SCM; production management; quality models; structural equation modelling. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103686 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:417-437 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mojtaba Ghiyasi Author-X-Name-First: Mojtaba Author-X-Name-Last: Ghiyasi Title: Dealing with generalised inverse DEA models for input-output estimation Abstract: This article addresses the inverse DEA models to deal with such a question: if a DMU changes some of its input (output) levels among a group of DMUs, to what extent should the unit change outputs (inputs) such that its efficiency score remains unchanged? The article unfolds some problematic aspect of inverse DEA model with saying that inverse DEA models do not work in some situations which should be considered on process of input or output estimation. This is done by proposing a numerical example and mathematical ratiocination. Additional arguments and theorems are provided to overcome to the current drawbacks. This article revises and improves the existing literature. Proposed models are illustrated using numerical examples. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 511-521 Issue: 4 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: input-output estimation; inverse problem; data envelopment analysis; DEA; multiple objectives linear programming; MOLP. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103687 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:511-521 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sooksan Kantabutra Author-X-Name-First: Sooksan Author-X-Name-Last: Kantabutra Title: People management for sustainable SMEs Abstract: The study identifies people management practices among sustainable SMEs that adopt the Thai philosophy of sufficiency economy. The study adopts multi-data collection methods. 'Grounded theory' is adopted as the approach for data analysis. Emerging people management practices are: 1) identifying core competencies consistent to Thai values; 2) being genuinely concerned for employees; 3) offering life skills training for employees; 4) providing opportunities for employees to suggest ideas and encourage them to take part in decision makings; 5) growing own managers; 6) encouraging employees to contribute to the society and environment. This paper is among the first that explore the relationships between people management practices and corporate sustainability in Thai SMEs and propose theoretical assertions between them for future theory building. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 438-456 Issue: 4 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: sufficiency economy; sustainable people management; corporate sustainability; Thailand. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103688 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:438-456 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Barnes Sookdeo Author-X-Name-First: Barnes Author-X-Name-Last: Sookdeo Title: Measuring organisational performance using work measurement: towards improving productivity Abstract: Improvements in quality and productivity based on work measurement can be achieved by means of a simple, consistent measurement system in spite of the ever-increasing importance of performance measurement to monitor outputs and improve productivity, few large-scale empirical studies concern models, characteristics and indicators of performance measurement systems (PMS). The objective of this article is to demonstrate the necessity for a PMS to ensure that performance is measured, and operations and employees are managed. The research design of the study consisted of a mixed-methods approach. The output of this article is a PMS designed and based on the work measurement technique. The results indicate that if organisations do not have measurement systems, they will not be able to measure their outputs and improve productivity. The empirical results indicate the essential need for the system. The implementation of this system will ensure that organisational performance is measured and productivity is enhanced. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 497-510 Issue: 4 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: work study; work measurement; performance measurement; time study; basic time; rest allowance; contingency allowance; rating; standard time. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103689 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:497-510 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sujata P. Deshmukh Author-X-Name-First: Sujata P. Author-X-Name-Last: Deshmukh Author-Name: Prashant D. Deshmukh Author-X-Name-First: Prashant D. Author-X-Name-Last: Deshmukh Author-Name: Bhushan T. Patil Author-X-Name-First: Bhushan T. Author-X-Name-Last: Patil Author-Name: G.T. Thampi Author-X-Name-First: G.T. Author-X-Name-Last: Thampi Title: Exploring the factors to make e-commerce and m-commerce ubiquitous and pervasive to improve national productivity of India Abstract: Electronic commerce (EC) and mobile commerce (MC) are leading edge technologies-based practices for doing global, local and context-based business but percentage of retail e-commerce sale in India in 2018 is expected as 1.4% (Retail Ecommerce Sales in India 2014-2018: Disappointing 1% of Total Retail Sales, https://dazeinfo.com/2015/01/07/retail-ecommerce-sales-inindia-growth-2014-2018-report), which is very low as compared to total commerce transactions, and it shows that it is not ubiquitous, though wide penetration of ICT (internet and PC, mobile penetrations) (IAMAI, 2016). So, the aim of this study is to find the ways and means to make EC-MC-based practices pervasive and ubiquitous to improve national productivity in India. This study is an attempt to specify mathematical equations using regression modelling, to describe the relationships between factors to make EC-MC-based practices ubiquitous and pervasive in India and productivity improvements as proposed by theory. The design methods and procedures used in this study are based on statistical theory to obtain representative samples from the real world. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 457-496 Issue: 4 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: e-commerce; m-commerce; u-commerce; principal component analysis; PCA; ANOVA; national productivity; India. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103691 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:457-496 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K.M. Arunraja Author-X-Name-First: K.M. Author-X-Name-Last: Arunraja Author-Name: S. Selvakumar Author-X-Name-First: S. Author-X-Name-Last: Selvakumar Author-Name: P. Praveen Author-X-Name-First: P. Author-X-Name-Last: Praveen Title: Optimisation of welding fixture layout for sheet metal components using DOE Abstract: Machining fixtures are used to locate the workpiece and constrain it during the machining operation. Fixture layout is the positioning of fixturing elements such as clamps and locators. The purpose of this work is to design an optimum fixture layout which reduces the maximum deformation of the sheet metal workpiece caused by clamping and welding forces. This can be achieved by selecting the optimal number of fixture elements with optimum locations. Other than 3-2-1, N-2-1 locating principle is demonstrated with sheet metal workpiece. The deformation of the workpiece is found by ANSYS. The fixture layout optimisation is carried out using response surface methodology and Taguchi methods. Then results of RSM and Taguchi method are compared for optimum layout with minimum deformation. Finally, the better locating scheme with optimum fixture layout is found for minimum deformation of the sheet metal workpiece. Journal: Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management Pages: 522-558 Issue: 4 Volume: 28 Year: 2019 Keywords: fixture layout; optimisation; elastic deformation; Taguchi; sheet metal; response surface methodology; RSM. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=103703 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpqma:v:28:y:2019:i:4:p:522-558