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Claims that the concepts of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) fundamentally aim at applying Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy in maintenance engineering. Emphasises the need of incorporating quality system and its monitoring to enhance maintenance quality. Points out that QS 9000 standard is expected to be a future quality system model in enterprises. Describes the design features of maintenance quality system model that has been developed based on QS 9000 standards. Cites the need of using continuous and economical knowledge which is possible only through the careful exploitation of information technology. Briefs the design of a knowledge base system and the development and performance of its pre‐auditing module. Presents a few sample screen outputs of this module. Concludes by suggesting the ways of productively exploiting the pre‐auditing module of the knowledge base system.

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the adoption of computer aided design (CAD) technology for enabling the contemporary organizations to acquire agile characteristics.

A model called total agile design system (TADS) was designed. Subsequently, a survey was conducted among 25 industry captains. By referring to their reactions, a roadmap for successfully implementing TADS has been evolved.

The results of literature survey indicated that both research and practicing communities are yet to exploit CAD and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies effectively for acquiring agile characteristics in organizations. The survey conducted among the industry captains indicated that the TADS model would bridge CAD/CAM and AM concepts in organizations.

The findings of this research were based on the survey conducted among industry captains of organizations situated only in Coimbatore city of India. Yet these findings would be applicable to the organizations situated in majority of the other parts of the world as the environment prevailing in these organizations is mimicking the scenario of all contemporary organizations.

This research culminated in the development of a roadmap. This roadmap considers the practicality of implementing TADS in contemporary organizations. The contemporary organizations, which apply TADS using this roadmap, would imbibe world class manufacturing dimensions.

The literature on AM has so far seen no survey examining the application propensity of automation technologies like CAD/CAM. This paper has overcome this research lacuna.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of adopting a pilot project approach for foreseeing the working and financial viability of a technique, named as agile innovative total quality function deployment (agile ITQFD).

The agile ITQFD technique and its financial accounting system were designed. The implementation study of two pilot projects on agile ITQFD was conducted in an electronics switches manufacturing company. The statements of the financial accounting system were used to foresee the financial viability of agile ITQFD projects.

The research reported in this paper indicates the feasibility of adopting a pilot project approach and its financial accounting system for test implementing new techniques and models in the organisations aspiring to attain global competitiveness.

Like many other modern organisations, the company in which the research work was carried out has been aspiring to compete globally. Hence, even though the implementation study involved only two pilot projects, the implications of this research would represent the global scenario as well.

Currently practitioners struggle to choose the best techniques for applying them in specific cases. The research reported in this paper would help practitioners in this regard to adopt the pilot project approach and its financial accounting system.

The pilot project approach reported in this paper helps a company save time and money while exploring the practical compatibility of the technique. The financial accounting system presented would be useful in foreseeing the viability of projects using monetary values.

Manufacturing organisations are expected to produce their products with prompt delivery using better supply chain activities. Starting from the procurement of raw materials to the delivery of final products, there are inevitable losses occurring due to major time delays in supply chain activities. Hence it is essential to study, understand and track these major time delays by developing futuristic supply chain risk management strategies. This paper reports a research which was conducted to meet this requirement. During this research, major time delays were investigated by conducting a questionnaire supported interview based survey in 15 manufacturing organisations. On analysing the responses, pilot strategies for achieving loss reduction have been proposed. The paper is concluded by pointed out the necessity for developing dynamic models for achieving loss reduction and continuous improvement.

Appraises that the quality circle programme is one of the enablers of total quality management (TQM) projects. Points out that a considerable number of quality circles fail throughout the world in spite of their contributions toward attaining TQM objectives. Claims that lack of financial accountability causes management to underestimate the contributions of quality circles. Suggests a framework to financially account for quality circle programmes. Describes the efforts made to validate it by attempting implementation in a medium size manufacturing enterprise. Presents financial statements concerning a quality circle prepared using a commercially available accounting package. Concludes by discussing the future scope and issues connected with the implementation of the proposed quality circle accounting system.

The idea of implementing supply chain management (SCM) principles for the construction industry was embraced by construction stakeholders to enhance the sector's performance. The analysis from the literature revealed that the implementation of SCM in the construction industry enhances the industry's value in terms of cost-saving, time savings, material management, risk management and others. The construction supply chain (CSC) can be managed using the pull or push system. This chapter also discusses the origin and proliferation of SCM into the construction industry. The chapter revealed that the concept of SCM has passed through five different eras: the creation era, the use of ERP, globalisation stage, specialisation stage and electronic stage. The findings from the literature revealed that we are presently in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. At this stage, the SCM witnesses the adoption of technologies and principles driven by the 4IR. This chapter also revealed that the practice of SCM in the construction industry is centred around integration, collaboration, communication and the structure of the supply chain (SC). The forms and challenges hindering the adoption of these practices were also discussed extensively in this chapter.

The purpose of this paper is to report a research which is carried out to examine the possibility of applying finite element analysis (FEA) and computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) concepts in a typical organisational environment to acquire the characteristics of agile manufacturing (AM).

One of the components of a model of electronic switch manufactured by a company was chosen as the candidate of this research. Five new models of this component incorporated with agile characteristics were developed in electronic environment using Moldflow Plastics Insight software.

The experiences of conducting this research being reported in this paper indicate the possibility of adopting FEA‐integrated CAD/CAM concept for achieving agility. However, certain hindrances have to be overcome to pursue deeper journey by the contemporary organisations in this direction.

This research is conducted on one component of a product manufactured by a company. The typical scenario prevailing in the company is similar that is seen in many companies situated in other parts of the worlds. Hence, the contributions of this research, particularly the roadmap would be useful for adopting FEA and CAD/CAM concepts to achieve agility in contemporary organisations.

The research reported in this paper has shown the way of focusing FEA‐integrated CAD/CAM utilities towards enhancing AM capabilities of contemporary organisations.

The literature survey conducted in the beginning of this research indicated that deeper research in the direction of applying FEA‐integrated CAD/CAM concept for acquiring agile characteristics is yet to start. Hence, the research reported in this paper is original and valuable.

Cites the importance of quality information system (QIS) in attaining the ultimate goals of TQM. Presents the essence of QIS by describing a typical real time example. Points out that practitioners show little interest in QIS implementation as its results are seldom financially sensed. Views that a system to financially account the performance of QIS would contribute significantly towards sustaining TQM projects. Briefs the efforts made to develop the system to financially account ISO 9001:1994 based QIS and validate the same. Brings out the various financial accounting documents, including income and expenditure account and balance sheet pertaining to ISO 9001:1994 based QIS financial accounting system. Concludes by claiming that the work has shown promising results, but further research is required to bring out much more valuable contributions.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the researches reported in literature on agile manufacturing (AM) and determine the avenues by which agility can be imparted in traditional sectors.

After reviewing the literature on AM, it has been found that these papers address AM along as many as 12 directions. The findings of this review are used to design a model called total agile design system (TADS).

The major finding of the exploration reported in this paper is that, the need of the hour is to sensitize the traditional sectors for acquiring design capabilities compatible for imbibing agility in totality.

The TADS model proposed has been reviewed only by 25 industry captains. However, this may not affect the credibility of this model as it is designed by referring to a large number of researches reported in peer reviewed articles appeared in leading international journals.

After designing, TADS was exposed to 25 industry captains. Their feedback was gathered using a questionnaire. The results of analysis of their feedback indicates the practical compatibility of TADS.

It appears that no researcher has identified the different directions in which AM researches have progressed. Moreover, no researcher has contributed a model to adopt computer aided design (CAD)/computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and rapid prototyping (RP) technologies in totality to achieve agility in manufacturing organisations. As this paper has overcome the absence of these kinds of researches, it is original and valuable.

The purpose of this paper is to design a tool for quantifying agility in organisations and test its practical compatibility.

An agile quantification tool was designed initially by referring to a 20 criteria agile model. A scoring pattern with a maximum 1,000 marks was incorporated in the agile quantification tool which was then subjected to experimentation in an Indian electronics switches manufacturing company.

A feedback session was conducted among the executives of the company to test the practical acceptability of the agile quantification tool. A statistical analysis of the study revealed that 90 per cent of their views were in favour of adopting it.

The marks allotted against the 20 agile criteria incorporated in the agile quantification tool are not supported with research findings. This leads to the questioning of the rationale behind allotting the marks against these criteria. In order to overcome this limitation, the opinions of the executives were gathered. Their opinions revealed that the marks allotment followed in the agile quantification tool is practically compatible.

In order to acquire agile characteristics, modern organisations should measure the agility levels at which they operate. This agile quantification tool explained in this paper fulfils this need.

The agile quantification tool presented in this paper rests its foundation on the 20 criteria agile model which is well supported by the research findings reported in literature. By the virtue of its research background and practical compatibility, the agile quantification tool is considered to be highly valuable.