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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Digital collaboration within the supply chain: unlocking the hidden lean potential  
  by Jamila Alieva, Robin Von Haartman 
  Abstract: Collaboration in a supply chain plays an important role for manufacturing companies that are simultaneously implementing Lean and running enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. This research aims to discover whether the usage of ERP at a supply chain level can boost internal hidden lean potential. Empirical data were obtained from three manufacturing cases in Sweden. The results show that ERP technology usage has a significant impact on discovering hidden lean potential of three types: unlocked hidden lean potential in an unconnected ERP system, unlocked hidden lean potential in a connected ERP system, and unlocked hidden lean potential in a shared ERP system. The findings indicate manufacturers should devote more effort to ensuring active usage of ERP systems internally as well as externally with their customers and suppliers. The transparency and collaboration provided by an ERP system will help these companies become leaner.
  Keywords: lean manufacturing; digital technologies; supply chain; ERP; information exchange; waste; collaboration; business strategy.
  
  
• HOW MANAGEMENT REMAINS EXPANDING ITS THEORETICAL ROOTS TO EVOLVE SERENELY  
  by Mouna HAJJAJ 
  Abstract: Nowadays, management is constantly seeking balance and completion. It is nourishing itself from a variety of disciplines to exploit best practices. Lean and Agile concepts are no more limited to their first fields, namely manufacturing and software development. They are now extending to areas where the traditional project management model had predominated before. In this research, we performed a systematic review of theoretical and empiric studies about Lean and Agile. The content comes from a selection of peer-reviewed scientific output. This study focused mainly on hypotheses, backgrounds, and scopes of approaches in question. A qualitative text analysis software tool was run to extract and analyses data according to several dimensions. This use leads above all to a bibliometric study by developing descriptive statistics. Such an approach has made it possible to illustrate evidence on what existing literature reveals about the concepts involved in this present review. First, they revealed impacts of Lean and Agile on projects that deployed them conduct making a reliable assessment of their suitability. Second, highlighting trends and research trajectories allowed identifying future research streams from under-exploited research.
  Keywords: Agile; bibliometric study; inter-disciplinarity; managerial innovation; research trend; systematic review.
  
  
• An integrated grey-based multi-criteria optimisation approach for sustainable supplier selection and procurement-distribution planning  
  by Nidhi Bhayana, Kanika Gandhi, Akansha Jain, Jyoti Darbari, P.C. Jha 
  Abstract: Increasing pressure from government and stakeholders has led manufacturing companies to initiate sustainable practices into their Supply Chains (SCs). Integrating practices like sustainable supplier selection, performance-based order allocation and carbon efficient distribution planning can immensely improve companies sustainable image and hence provide a competitive edge. However, the integration of practices also necessitates the redesigning of SC network to ensure that the economic gains are also achieved along with the sustainable impact. Hence, the current study focusses on development of an integrated two stage multi-criteria optimization model for the selection of sustainable suppliers, optimum allocation of order and for selection of carbon efficient vehicles for transportation. In the first stage, Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique based on grey numbers is utilized to analyze the attributes influencing suppliers performance. Further, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) is used to evaluate suppliers performances based on the identified attributes. In the second stage, a multi-objective optimization model is developed for selecting the suppliers and optimally assigning the orders. Moreover, delivery time windows has also been considered in the paper to enhance the delivery performance of suppliers, thereby, improving the performance of SC network. For obtaining a trade-off among multiple objectives of minimizing the systems total cost and carbon emission and maximizing the Total Value of Purchasing (TVP), weighted goal programming approach is utilized. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, case study of an electronics company is considered and based on the results obtained, conclusive managerial implications are drawn.
  Keywords: supplier selection; order allocation; sustainability; DEMATEL; Grey Relational Analysis; Time Windows.
  
  
• Operability and Maintainability Obstacles: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach  
  by Nazanin Kordestani, Ehsan Saghatforoush, Ahad Zare Ravasan 
  Abstract: The economic and social growth of countries depends on the successful implementation of construction infrastructure projects. As the population grows, more infrastructure projects are required too; however, after the completion of such projects, their maintenance becomes more significant. It is essential to pay special attention to the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) to sustain the value of the invested budget in long term. Proper O&M implementation has, however, experienced some obstacles. Identifying such obstacles is an initial step in resolving them, and for that, this paper aims to identify and prioritize the O&M implementation obstacles in the construction industry in Iran. A comprehensive list of O&M implementation obstacles is prepared through a questionnaire survey. These obstacles are identified through an in-depth literature review. In total, 800 questionnaires are sent out to the respondents, 445 questionnaires are gathered, while 435 usable questionnaires are used for the data analysis. The results are analyzed using the Robust Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method. 23 obstacles in the construction industry are categorized under 6 themes of management, structure, culture, education and learning, communication, and finance. Through identifying and classifying the significant obstacles, a valuable foundation is initiated to develop effective solutions. Results show that management of these obstacles should be considered in priority for such infrastructure projects, and by solving them, they can significantly prevent new obstacles.
  Keywords: operation and maintenance; project; obstacles; exploratory factor analysis.
  
  
• Genetic Algorithm Based Solution of Multiobjective Stochastic Transportation Problem  
  by Jaydeepkumar Mulajibhai Sosa, Jayesh M. Dhodiya 
  Abstract: In transportation problem (TP) a decision-maker (DM) always wishes to optimize the given objectives by effectively transporting a given item from several sources to several destinations. The present paper explores the genetic algorithm (GA) based hybrid approach to solve Multiobjective Stochastic Transportation Problem. By using exponential membership function, different shape parameters (SP) and aspiration levels (AL), higher degree of satisfaction for each objective function are obtained which provides more flexibility to the decision-maker (DM) for a better decision. In this approach, a multiobjective optimization problem first converted into a single optimization problem then GA is applied with operator selection, crossover, mutation, etc. The logistic distribution is used here to convert the stochastic supply and demand into the real value. Here, we consider the objective functions which are non-commensurable and conflict with each other. To interpret, evaluate, and exhibit the usefulness of the proposed method, a numerical example is given.
  Keywords: Genetic Algorithm; Exponential Membership Function; Stochastic Programming; Multiobjective Optimization.