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1 – 10 of over 1000Bassam A. Tayeh, Khalid Al Hallaq, Hafiz Zahoor and Abdulla H. Al Faqawi
The purpose of this paper is to prioritize the vital tools/techniques for the effective implementation of the last planner system (LPS) in the cross-cultural setting of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to prioritize the vital tools/techniques for the effective implementation of the last planner system (LPS) in the cross-cultural setting of a developing country, i.e. Gaza Strip. Besides, the potential benefits of implementing LPS are prioritized.
Design/methodology/approach
The significant techniques and likely benefits of LPS implementations were identified through comprehensive literature, followed by their verification through a pilot study. The quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire survey from 89 companies, operating in the Gaza Strip construction industry. The relative important index was calculated for prioritizing the significant tools/techniques (16) which support the effective LPS implementation, and highlighting the potential benefits (10) achieved through LPS implementation.
Findings
The results showed that the “use of visual devices to spread information in the construction site,” “attendance of key actors” and “look ahead plan” are the most important tools/techniques supporting LPS implementation. The top three potential benefits of implementing LPS include: “allows a better understanding of the program control,” “maximizes the co-operation and confidence among team members” and “allows the manager to better visualize the work program.” To prevent any waste in project time and to ensure the material supply and continuity of works, the study recommends advance supply and storage of demand materials, and early availability of the shop-drawings for acceptance by the superintendent.
Practical implications
The study’s findings are expected to guide the key construction stakeholders to prioritize their energies toward effective LPS implementation in the Gaza Strip.
Originality/value
Though this study pertains to Palestine, its methodology can be generalized in other countries and regions, having a similar work environment, after making necessary cultural adjustments.
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Shruti J. Raval, Ravi Kant and Ravi Shankar
The purpose of this paper is to examine and introduce comprehensive insights into the field of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) by reviewing the existing literature and identifying the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine and introduce comprehensive insights into the field of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) by reviewing the existing literature and identifying the research gap. The state of LSS research is assessed by critically examining the field, along with a number of dimensions, including time horizon, year, journal and publisher, university, country, author, geographic analysis, research design, research affairs, research methods, tools/techniques used, focus industries, major research area, benefits gained by LSS, critical success factors and barriers of LSS implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a systematic literature review of 190 articles containing the word LSS in their title, which are published in a well-known database, such as Elsevier ScienceDirect, Taylor and Francis, Emerald Full Text, Springer Link, Wiley InterScience and Inderscience from January 2000 to September 2016.
Findings
This analysis reveals 15 significant dimensions to identify the state of LSS research. Authors find a noticeable rise in the attention of LSS research in the available literature. Major findings show that, the empirical research holds greater credibility. Statistics prove that the case study method scores the highest among all the research methods used in the discipline. The largest number of studies have investigated research issues related to implementation and process of LSS. The LSS uses a wide range of tools/techniques/methodologies: the choice of tools is situation-specific. Manufacturing and health-care sectors have been the focus of LSS research, but LSS has also been adopted by other types of industries. The organizations following LSS have improved bottom-line results, improved company profitability and growth and enhanced customer satisfaction. In general the research is more interpretive in nature; there is still a lack of standard in the LSS implementation framework.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to reviewing those articles which contain the word LSS appeared in the title.
Originality/value
This study will help understand the current state of research on LSS, various trends in the field, its applicability and future prospects of investigation in the field.
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Jaiprakash Bhamu and Kuldip Singh Sangwan
The advent of recession at the beginning of twenty-first century forced many organizations worldwide to reduce cost and to be more responsive to customer demands. Lean…
Abstract
Purpose
The advent of recession at the beginning of twenty-first century forced many organizations worldwide to reduce cost and to be more responsive to customer demands. Lean Manufacturing (LM) has been widely perceived by industry as an answer to these requirements because LM reduces waste without additional requirements of resources. This led to a spurt in LM research across the globe mostly through empirical and exploratory studies which resulted in a plethora of LM definitions with divergent scopes, objectives, performance indicators, tools/techniques/methodologies, and concepts/elements. The purpose of this paper is to review LM literature and report these divergent definitions, scopes, objectives, and tools/techniques/methodologies.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper highlights various definitions by various researchers and practitioners. A total of 209 research papers have been reviewed for the research contribution, research methodology adopted, tools/techniques/methodologies used, type of industry, author profile, country of research, and year of publication.
Findings
There are plethora of LM definitions with divergent objectives and scope. Theory verification through empirical and exploratory studies has been the focus of research in LM. Automotive industry has been the focus of LM research but LM has also been adopted by other types of industries also. One of the critical implementation factors of LM is simultaneous adoption of leanness in supply chain. LM has become an integrated system composed of highly integrated elements and a wide variety of management practices. There is lack of standard LM implementation process/framework.
Originality/value
The paper reviews 209 research papers for their research contribution, research methodology, author profile, type of industry, and tools/techniques/methodology used. Various characteristics of LM definitions are also reviewed.
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A new rapid tooling technique named Rapid Pattern Based Powder Sintering (RPBPS) has been developed. It comprises the steps of first building a pattern made of polymer materials…
Abstract
A new rapid tooling technique named Rapid Pattern Based Powder Sintering (RPBPS) has been developed. It comprises the steps of first building a pattern made of polymer materials using a rapid prototyping machine based on a 3‐D CAD model. The pattern is positioned on a substrate in a box or frame, then a mixture of metal (ceramic or polymer) powder and binder is cast around the pattern. Next, there is a step of removing the pattern and separating the substrate to obtain a green compact that has the desired cavity. Then the green compact will be sintered and/or infiltrated to form a tool or part. The new technique has the advantages of using a variety of materials, rapidity, making complex geometry parts and low cost, compared with several existing rapid tooling techniques. Many key technical problems in RPBPS are related to the binder. In order to select a suitable binder, the heat deformation resistance and heat stabilization of some polymer materials are discussed in depth.
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a step‐by‐step implementation framework for lean product development (LPD), from the marketing research on product development process, product design to the launch of final production.
Design/methodology/approach
The research approach taken in this paper is built around the primary industry cases, practical approaches and partial solutions available within the existing literature.
Findings
The most recent improvement of LPD, from the authors' perspective, focuses on tools and implementation for LPD. In this paper, a detailed step‐by‐step implementation is given after the framework is introduced. Led by value and waste analysis in product development, different tools and techniques which can be used to eliminate wastes were discussed briefly, and then the implementation from Doing the Right Thing to Doing the Right Thing for company transition to lean were proposed elaborately.
Research limitations/implications
Due to time and economic environment limitations, the authors have not covered and implemented this approach in all existing different environments to ensure that it is robust.
Originality/value
The approach described here seeks to overcome other frameworks' weaknesses in terms of the realistic aspect and feasibility, and combines more existing best practice from industry, consultancy and academia into a step‐by‐step framework for the achievement of effective LPD.
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Asmita Dessai and Vahid Javidroozi
Integration of city systems is needed to provide flexibility, agility and access to real-time information for the creation and delivery of efficient services in a smart and…
Abstract
Purpose
Integration of city systems is needed to provide flexibility, agility and access to real-time information for the creation and delivery of efficient services in a smart and sustainable city. Consequently, City Process Modelling (CPMo) becomes an essential element of connecting various city sectors. However, to date, there has been limited research on the requirements of an ideal CPMo approach and the usefulness of available Business Process Modelling (BPMo) approaches. This research develops a framework for CPMo to guide smart city developers when modelling city processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from literature analysis was gathered to derive capabilities of existing BPMo techniques. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted to thematically and qualitatively explore the requirements, challenges and success factors of CPMo.
Findings
The interview findings offered 17 requirements to be addressed by a CPMo approach, along with several challenges and success factors to be considered when implementing CPMo approaches. Then, the paper presents the results of mapping these requirements against 12 existing BPMo capabilities, identified from the literature, concluding that a significant number of requirements (which are mainly related to inputs and visualisation) have been left unfulfilled by existing BPMo approaches. Hence, developing an innovative CPMo approach is necessary to address the components of unfulfilled requirements.
Originality/value
The innovative framework presented in this paper justifies the CPMo requirements, which are unexplored in existing SCD frameworks. Moreover, it will act as a guide for smart city developers, to model cross-sectoral city processes, helping them progress their SCD road map and make their cities smart.
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Sirje Virkus and Emmanouel Garoufallou
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study exploring the emerging field of data science from the library and information science (LIS) perspective.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study exploring the emerging field of data science from the library and information science (LIS) perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis of research publications on data science was made of papers published in the Web of Science database to identify the main themes discussed in the publications from the LIS perspective.
Findings
A content analysis of 80 publications is presented. The articles belonged to the six broad categories: data science education and training; knowledge and skills of the data professional; the role of libraries and librarians in the data science movement; tools, techniques and applications of data science; data science from the knowledge management perspective; and data science from the perspective of health sciences. The category of tools, techniques and applications of data science was most addressed by the authors, followed by data science from the perspective of health sciences, data science education and training and knowledge and skills of the data professional. However, several publications fell into several categories because these topics were closely related.
Research limitations/implications
Only publication recorded in the Web of Science database and with the term “data science” in the topic area were analyzed. Therefore, several relevant studies are not discussed in this paper that either were related to other keywords such as “e-science”, “e-research”, “data service”, “data curation”, “research data management” or “scientific data management” or were not present in the Web of Science database.
Originality/value
The paper provides the first exploration by content analysis of the field of data science from the perspective of the LIS.
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Shruti J. Raval, Ravi Kant and Ravi Shankar
The aim of this analysis is to review the Indian manufacturing organizations practicing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) tools/techniques with an objective of monitoring the performance of an…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this analysis is to review the Indian manufacturing organizations practicing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) tools/techniques with an objective of monitoring the performance of an organization and to develop recommendation for strategies to benchmark organizational operational efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
This study offers insights of the LSS performance measurement aspects of the Indian manufacturing organizations based on Data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. The five inputs and two outputs are considered on the basis of literature review and discussed with the practitioners.
Findings
In this analysis, the relative efficiency score of 18 Indian manufacturing organizations has been determined in order to assist evaluation of the impact of monetary investment on the outputs. The present analysis not only investigates the optimum level of input variables but also lays down a significant observation that an organization having higher profit and inventory turnover ratio is not necessarily an efficient organization.
Practical implications
The results assist to determine the best practice units, potential source of inefficiency and deliver beneficial data for the consistent enhancement of the operational efficiency. The DEA results assist managers and decision makers to derive appropriate strategies to enhance their performance with reference to the efficient organization and to regard it as their role model.
Originality/value
This analysis renders a DEA based framework of LSS practicing Indian manufacturing organizations. The framework is unique in terms of its input-outputs variable selection and measurement procedure.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the contribution from the use of quality tools and the implementation of quality management systems (QMSs) to the management of an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the contribution from the use of quality tools and the implementation of quality management systems (QMSs) to the management of an organization. The question is if these aspects have an impact on the important elements of a QMS, like critical success factors (CSFs), but more on the performance derived from its functioning.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was created and addressed to Greek companies which were certified with at least one QMS standard, in this case ISO 9001:2008.
Findings
It was concluded that companies implementing more than one QMS and more than nine quality tools gave more importance to specific CSFs of the QMS and also displayed better performance from the rest of the companies. The final conclusion is that the utilization of tools, techniques, and the implementation of more than one QMS – integration of management systems (MSs) – can contribute to many aspects of organization functioning.
Research limitations/implications
This study was based on the perception (subjective data) of only one quality manager/representative of each company. The companies were not asked about specific actions they have established to integrate their MSs.
Practical implications
This paper provides a closest look to the utilization of more than one QMS and the use of quality tools. These actions, as concluded, can play an important role in the management of organizations, and managers could use them in an appropriate way.
Originality/value
This paper aims to evaluate the value of QMS integration and the utilization of quality tools to specific issues of QMS as CSFs and performance in Greek companies.
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S. Rahmati, J. Akbari and E. Barati
Dimensional accuracy analysis of wax model created by room temperature vulcanization (RTV) silicone rubber molding to be used in investment casting is presented. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Dimensional accuracy analysis of wax model created by room temperature vulcanization (RTV) silicone rubber molding to be used in investment casting is presented. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effective parameters of dimensional accuracy in RTV tooling technique.
Design/methodology/approach
After producing a pattern by stereolithography (SLA) and then creating the RTV silicone rubber mold by the SLA pattern, dimensional accuracy of wax models produced by RTV tool are analyzed. Design of experiments (DOE) using the Taguchi approach is used for analysis and determination of optimum condition.
Findings
Experiments show that the dimensional accuracy in RTV technique is as accurate as in traditional molding. Hence, RTV tooling technique can be used in investment casting. Using Taguchi approach based on DOE, it was realized that the optimum condition to achieve acceptable accuracy is 35°C for mold temperature, 85°C for wax temperature, and −0.5 barG for vacuum pressure.
Practical implications
RTV silicone rubber mold is a useful alternative of metallic mold to produce wax patterns for investment casting. It has benefits such as reduction in production lead‐time and cost, compared with traditional metallic mold.
Originality/value
A case study for research of dimensional accuracy of wax patterns created by RTV silicone rubber mold had not been attempted as such. In addition to reduction in production lead‐time and cost, the dimensional accuracy of wax patterns using RTV tooling technique are as accurate as in traditional technique.
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