International Journal of Advanced Operations Management (9 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Road Map for Integration of Lean Six-Sigma methodology with ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard  
  by Veena T R, Prabhushankar G V 
  Abstract: In the present day competitive world practitioners and researchers are attempting to integrate different quality and management concepts to achieve profitability and sustain in the market. One such integration is Lean Six Sigma methodology. Similar to this effort, few researchers have integrated Lean Six Sigma methodology with the ISO 9001 QMS standard. There doesn?t exist any noteworthy attempt made by the researchers to integrate Lean Six Sigma methodology with the ISO 9001:2015 QMS. In this paper this research gap is explored and revealed by conducting literature review. Further, the requirements of Lean Six Sigma methodology are explored and a roadmap for implementation of Lean Six Sigma methodology through ISO 9001:2015 QMS has been contributed in this research paper.
  Keywords: Lean Six Sigma methodology; ISO 9001:2015; Belt based training infrastructure; DMAIC methodology; Critical Success Factors (CSFs); Quality Management System.
  
  
• Lean Manufacturing and Production Efficiency of the Food and Beverages Sector in Nigeria  
  by Nneoma Benita Amos, Vivian Adaobi Ariguzo, Johnson Ashiemamho Egwakhe, Joachim Abolaji Abiodun 
  Abstract: The dilemma of waste management across man, material and money has remained a burden especially in the food and beverage industry in Nigeria. This constituted the academic enquiry into understanding the power of lean manufacturing to engender production efficiency. Secondary data were collected from the dominant manufacturing companies: Unilever, Nestle and Cadbury Nig. Plc. Data envelopment analysis efficiency frontier software was used to test the assumption that lean manufacturing system affects operational efficiency. The results showed that the operational efficiency of Nestle and Cadbury Nigeria Plc improved vis-a-vis Unilever that first instituted lean thinking. The study recommends institutionalization of lean manufacturing to drive operational efficiency but gradual adoption is preferred to escape the liability of newness and enhance a harvesting of experience gained during the learning process.
  Keywords: Inventory leanness; Lean manufacturing system; Money leanness; Production efficiency; Workforce leanness.
  
  
• Analysis of the interaction correlation between leverage and dividend policy: empirical evidence from the Indonesian stock exchange  
  by Dhani Nur 
  Abstract: The objective of this research is to analyze the effect of managerial ownership and institutional ownership on leverage and corporate dividends, and the correlation between interaction leverage and dividends for companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange. The hypotheses were tested using a simultaneous equations model. In this model, some equations form an equation system that describes the dependencies among the variables of those equations. The estimation technique used was the two-stage least square (TSLS) method. The results show that a high level of managerial ownership decreases the leverage and corporate dividend payments. High asset growth tends to need a high external capital which increases the dividend payments. High sales growth decreases the leverage meanwhile the high profitability tends to lower the dividend payments. The use of high leverage decreases the dividend payments, by contrast, high dividend payments have the effect of decreasing the level of leverage.
  Keywords: dividend; institutional ownership; leverage; managerial ownership; payment.
  
  
• MANAGERIAL DECISION ANALYSIS OF BULK ARRIVAL QUEUEING SYSTEM WITH STATE DEPENDENT BREAKDOWN AND VACATION  
  by NIRANJAN S.P 
  Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyze service mode dependent breakdown in bulk arrival and batch service queueing system with vacation. Server affords service in two service modes as single service and batch service, depending upon the queue length. The server may be affected with unpredictable failures while serving customers. Here occurrence of server failure during single service and batch service are different. When the server fails during single service, service process immediately gets interrupted and it will be sent to repair station immediately. On the other hand when the server gets failure during batch service, service process will not be interrupted it will be continued for current batch by doing some technical precaution arrangements. The server will be repaired after the batch service completion. Either after single service completion or batch service completion, if the queue length is less than a (minimum server capacity) then the server leaves for a vacation. After vacation completion depending upon the queue length the server either goes for single service or batch service. Likewise if the queue length is still less than a even after vacation completion then the server remains idle until queue length reaches the value a. For the designed queueing system probability generating function of the queue size at an arbitrary time epoch will be obtained by using supplementary variable technique. Various performance measures also presented with suitable numerical illustration. Additionally optimum cost analysis is carried out to reduce the total average cost of the system with real time application. All the estimated results will be more useful to make decision in optimizing overall cost of the system.
  Keywords: State dependent breakdown; two service modes; renewal time; vacation; rnCost estimation; supplementary variable techniquern.
  
  
• A Hybrid Genetic-Goal Programming Approach for Improving Group Performance in Cell Formation Problems  
  by Barnali Chaudhuri, R.K. Jana, Dinesh Sharma, Pranab Dan 
  Abstract: This paper proposes a hybrid genetic-goal programming approach to improve group performance in cell formation problems in manufacturing systems. The problem is formulated mathematically as a multi-objective programming problem. A proposed genetic algorithm (GA) is used to solve the problem. The chromosomes of the GA represent a combination of machines and parts. The proposed approach improves group performance by considering group efficacy as the performance measure. A software package corresponding to the proposed approach is developed in C# has a user-friendly GUI. Thirty problem instances of varying sizes prove the superiority of the approach in terms of group efficacy by avoiding duplicity in the allocation of parts into machines.
  Keywords: Cellular Manufacturing; Group Efficacy; Hybrid Genetic Algorithm; Goal Programming.
  
  
• Numerical investigation on welding process parameters optimisation using multi-objective optimisation technique  
  by Mark Christhian Barrueta Pinto, Yongbo Li 
  Abstract: This study considers one such successful application of multi objective optimisation technique on CO₂ laser beam welding process parameters with cupronickel as a material. Though several process parameters exist within the literature, only most cited parameters are considered namely focal position, welding speed, welding current and welding angle. In initial phase the experimental procedure was conducted with CO₂ laser beam welding, further the obtained outputs given as inputs to the numerical evaluation. The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) has been considered as solution methodology for this study to identify the optimised process parameters. Several mechanical properties are considered as the multi-objective functions for this study which includes impact, elongation, hardens, tensile strength and yield strength. With the assistance of this multi objective optimisation, the researchers, shed light on one of the new applications of welding technologies.
  Keywords: multi-objective optimisation; parameter optimisation; CO₂ laser beam welding; TOPSIS.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2020.10032145
   
  
• A parts feeding model for big size products: the active and idle assembly islands strategy  
  by Ilenia Zennaro, Serena Finco, Martina Calzavara, Daria Battini, Alessandro Persona 
  Abstract: In fixed-position assembly systems (or assembly islands) for big-size highly customised products, workers and parts move around the sub-assemblies, which stay fixed in one place. Generally, there are several parallel assembly islands and a single product is assembled in each of them. In some cases, assembly workers can also do the parts feeding activities, which are considered as non-value added activities, with a consequent decrease in the system performance. In this paper, we propose a new mathematical model to reduce parts feeding costs by considering active and idle assembly islands, so that the parts feeding and the assembly activities can be done simultaneously by the respective operators. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to study the effects of the variables and of the parameters on the model results. Moreover, the model is applied to two real applications by evaluating how many idle assembly islands are required to improve the efficiency of the whole system. The results show that the main parameters that influence the final number of idle assembly islands are the percentages of time that assembly operators spend for parts feeding activities and the time required for material preparation and assembly activities.
  Keywords: assembly islands; big size products; fixed-position layout; layout design; value and non-value activities; parts feeding.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2020.10032188
   
  
• Block printing process performance evaluation and improvement using FMEA and Taguchi loss function for selecting print paste suppliers in apparel industry  
  by Reena Nupur, Arshia Kaul, Pallavi Sharma, Sushil Kumar, Mark Barrueta, P.C. Jha 
  Abstract: Block printed fabrics are a choice of many, both in India and abroad. Block printing is a time-consuming process requiring expertise of traditional artisans. But with the current fast urbanisation, technological advances, the opportunities seem minimal for these artisans. Setting up of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ensures jobs for many such artisans. Even these MSMEs need to strive for overall operational and service excellence. Hence, the focus of this study is on minimisation of defects to enhance block printing process in an Indian apparel manufacturing MSME. For this Six Sigma is implemented through define, measure, analyse, improve and control. Root causes for occurrence of defects were uncovered through current reality tree (CRT). The large number of root causes, are prioritised in two-folds using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). Root causes obtained were then eliminated in two phases of improvement. Using Taguchi loss function (TLF) and AHP for evaluating and selection of best suppliers of print paste. In second phase, FMEA is performed to ensure the feasibility of all improvement initiatives taken against each root cause. Improvement in the process is established in terms of sigma level.
  Keywords: DMAIC; block printing process; supplier selection; FMEA; Taguchi loss function; TLF; current reality tree; CRT; two-fold reduction.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2020.10032194
   
  
• Critical success factors in implementing Industry 4.0 from an organisational point of view: a literature analysis  
  by Miriam Bongo, Dharyll Prince Abellana, Shirley Ann Caballes, Rosein Ancheta Jr., Celbert Himang, Jun-Jun Obiso, Lanndon Ocampo, Custer Deocaris 
  Abstract: Industry 4.0 is an emerging technological innovation inspired by the advent of intelligent systems such as the internet of things, cloud computing, cyber-physical systems and smart manufacturing. However, its implementation faces significant challenges such that understanding the crucial factors in its successful integration into organisational processes becomes an interesting point of departure. Thus, this paper establishes a list of critical success factors (CSFs), mostly derived from the general innovation domain, that would aid in organisational strategy development in implementing Industry 4.0. As such, 29 CSFs from the relevant domain literature are initially extracted from 78 published articles. By removing redundant and irrelevant CSFs, a list of seven CSFs is established. This work contributes to the literature as it is one of the relatively few papers to develop a list of CSFs devoted to Industry 4.0. Stakeholders would find it beneficial as it provides them a framework in facilitating the adoption process efficiently.
  Keywords: Industry 4.0; critical success factors; CSFs; technology adoption; implementation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2020.10032195