Integrated analysis of the performance of TQM tools and techniques: a case study in the Taiwanese motor industry

Most studies of total quality management (TQM) have focused on the managerial aspects and associated success factors of TQM programmes, whereas relatively few studies have examined the appropriateness and performance of the large number of available tools and techniques that actually implement TQM practices. To assist in determining the best strategy for improving the performance of TQM tools and techniques, the present study integrates a modified importance–performance matrix with elements of failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to provide a comprehensive methodology for assessing and improving the performance of TQM tools and techniques in the Taiwanese motor industry. The methodology presented here can be applied in a variety of industries, including the Taiwanese motor industry, to enable efficient utilisation of TQM tools and techniques and thus improve quality, reduce costs and shorten cycle times.     

A SCOR-based model for supply chain performance measurement: application in the footwear industry

Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) is a widely employed model for SC performance assessment, regardless its generic nature. This article presents a SCOR-based model for performance measurement in supply chains (SC) and apply it in the context of Brazilian footwear industry. The model has two dimensions: SCOR processes (source, make, deliver and return) and performance standards adapted from original SCOR (cost, quality, delivery and flexibility). This structure delivers a 4 × 4 matrix, with each component assessed under analytical hierarchy process. Using focus groups, SC’s experts weighted each component of the matrix regarding their relevance. Thereafter, SC’s managers indicated respective results. The SC’s overall performance was obtained by adding the performance of all indicators. The model application embraced one focal footwear manufacturer, four suppliers, three distribution channels and a return channel, with 85 indicators assessed. The achieved performance for the whole SC is 75.29%.The main gaps were found in deliver process (12.78 percentual points of difference between relevance and achieved proportions) and in flexibility performance (9.82). Further application is recommended in order to find consolidated results.     

An AHP-based multi-criteria model for assessment of the social sustainability of technology management process: A case study in banking industry

The abrupt development of technology has confronted different industries' managers with crucial decision points. The scope of their decisions' impact goes beyond their companies' borders. Sustainable assessment of technology investigates the economic, environmental, and social effects of technologies on firms and their environment. Nonetheless, the technology management process includes different steps (such as technology acquisition and exploitation) which need a comprehensive decision-making tool toward sustainable development targets. This paper aims to propose an integrated decision-making model to investigate the social sustainability of the technology management process. Considering three main steps of the technology management process (technology selection, technology acquisition, and technology exploitation), we constructed our model utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as one of the most popular decision-making tools. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the model, we implemented it for E-banking technologies in one of the oldest banks of Iran (Iran's AgriBank). The results indicated that internet banking, internal R&D, and internal exploitation are the best decision alternatives among the technology management process from the social sustainability perspective. The results were validated by calculating the Consistency Rate (CR) and performing scenario-based sensitivity analysis.     

A novel performance evaluation model for MRO management indicators of high-end equipment

High-end equipment oriented maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) management is crucial for asset intensive industries. The existing works mainly focus on providing the best possible joint optimisation for production and maintenance management without aiming at the complicated relationships among them. In the intelligence-connected era, the rapid development of Internet of things and big data technologies enables us to access, collect, and store the industrial big data, which is especially necessary for MRO management indicator evaluation, and so we try to apply big data analysis to visualise the system structure of complicated relationships among MRO indicators at different management levels. In this paper, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and improved analytical network process (ANP) are applied to build the performance evaluation model for MRO management indicators, in which DEMATEL is utilised to quantify the system structure of different management levels, and the improved ANP is introduced to calculate relative weights of corresponding indicators. The results point out to managers which indicators should deserve more attention in MRO management decision-making as well as joint optimisation for production and maintenance management. A case study illustrates the feasibility and practicality of the proposed model.     

评估知识生产绩效的BP神经网络模型

把知识生产划分为批量型知识生产和订单型知识生产两类,绘制了它们的流程,并系统地比较了它们与传统制造行业供应链的差异。针对知识生产的流程更加复杂多变,供应链更新更快且对象更难于量化的特点,提出了批量型和订单型两类知识生产的绩效评估指标体系,在此基础上通过BP神经网络模型,得出了它们的绩优度,为知识生产绩效的评估提供了参考和依据。     

Scale development of safety management system evaluation for the airline industry

The airline industry relies on the implementation of Safety Management System (SMS) to integrate safety policies and augment safety performance at both organizational and individual levels. Although there are various degrees of SMS implementation in practice, a comprehensive scale measuring the essential dimensions of SMS is still lacking. This paper thus aims to develop an SMS measurement scale from the perspective of aviation experts and airline managers to evaluate the performance of company's safety management system, by adopting Schwab's (1980) three-stage scale development procedure. The results reveal a five-factor structure consisting of 23 items. The five factors include documentation and commands, safety promotion and training, executive management commitment, emergency preparedness and response plan and safety management policy. The implications of this SMS evaluation scale for practitioners and future research are discussed.     

A fuzzy goal programming approach for green supply chain optimisation under activity-based costing and performance evaluation with a value-chain structure

Supply chain operation with sustainable consideration has become an increasingly important issue in recent years. However, the decision framework with integrated costing and performance evaluation for green supply chain (GSC) has not been well developed so far in the literature. For this reason, this paper is aimed to propose a fuzzy goal programming (FGP) approach that integrates activity-based costing (ABC) and performance evaluation in a value-chain structure for optimal GSC supplier selection and flow allocation. The FGP approach is particularly suitable for such a decision model which includes flexible goals, financial and non-financial measures, quantitative and qualitative methods, multi-layer structure, multiple criteria, multiple objectives, and multiple strategies. An activity-based example of structural GSC with relevant costs and performances is presented for computing the composite performance indices of the GSC suppliers. A green supply chain of a mobile phone is used as an illustrative case. Several objective structures and their results are compared. The sensitivity analyses show that pure maximisation of financial profit can achieve the highest profit level, which also has the largest Euclidean distance to the multiple aspiration goals. In order to determine the final objective structure, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used. This paper provides a new approach to assess and control a complex GSC based on value-chain activities, and obtain a more precise solution. The establishment of this GSC model not only helps decision-makers to monitor GSC comprehensive performance but also can facilitate further improvement and development of GSC management.     

A fuzzy fractional chance-constrained programming model for air quality management under uncertainty

A fuzzy fractional chance-constrained programming model (FFCCPM) was developed for dealing with air quality management under uncertainty. FFCCPM integrates a fractional programming model and a double-sided fuzzy chance-constrained programming model. It considers the ratio between total treated pollutant amounts and system cost in the objective function; the constraints with fuzzy variables can be satisfied under some predetermined confidence levels and reliability scenarios. The air quality management system in Fengrun district, Tangshan City, China, was used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method. The obtained results indicated that the proposed model was suitable in describing and providing an overview of a studied management system for decision makers, generating various cost-effective air pollution-abatement alternatives. The strategy with a balance between system economy and reliability was recommended for decision makers. The successful application of FFCCPM in Fengrun district provides a good example of real-world regional air quality management.     

A quality management framework for implementing additive manufacturing of medical devices

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the implementation of additive manufacturing (AM) for medical devices. A quality management framework is proposed with discussion on topics such as software and data input, product understanding, AM equipment qualification, process understanding and continuous process verification. The interplay between input materials, process controls, and final outcomes of AM were analysed in the framework of quality management. Opportunities and challenges in implementing AM for medical devices are discussed.     

Intermediate product selection and blending in the food processing industry

This study addresses a capacitated intermediate product selection and blending problem typical for two-stage production systems in the food processing industry. The problem involves the selection of a set of intermediates and end-product recipes characterising how those selected intermediates are blended into end products to minimise the total operational costs under production and storage capacity limitations. A comprehensive mixed-integer linear model is developed for the problem. The model is applied on a data set collected from a real-life case. The trade-offs between capacity limitations and operational costs are analysed, and the effects of different types of cost parameters and capacity limitations on the selection of intermediates and end-product recipes are investigated.     

Requirements in performance measurement systems of construction projects from the lean production perspective

Performance measurement (PM) generates useful data for process control, facilitates communication between different sectors, and helps to align efforts on the most important aspects of the business. Thus, PM plays a key role in the management of projects and organizations. PM is also important in the implementation of lean production principles and methods, such as reducing the share of nonvalue-adding activities, increasing process transparency, building continuous improvement into the process, and benchmarking. Moreover, the adoption of the lean production philosophy requires changes in PM. Despite its importance, limited studies have been conducted on the use of PM systems for assessing the impact of lean production programs in construction projects. In addition, studies on how lean companies (or projects) use performance measurement and to what extent the indicators adopted reflect the result of actions that have been undertaken are limited. This study proposes a set of requirements in PM systems of construction projects from the perspective of lean production and a taxonomy of performance metrics for lean production systems. Five empirical studies have been carried out on construction companies from South America involved in the implementation of lean production systems. The scope of this investigation is limited to the construction projects as production systems rather than PM at the level of construction organizations.     

A new decision support system for performance measurement using combined fuzzy TOPSIS/DEA approach

It is apparent that there is a need for integrated criteria in the performance measurement of modern organisations when dealing with the performance measurement of manufacturing businesses. This paper addresses this issue in the context of measuring the performance of the 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command manufacturing/maintenance jobshops of Turkey by using a new framework which combines fuzzy TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) for measuring qualitative performance with DEA (data envelopment analysis) for measuring quantitative performance. This proposed approach provides a comprehensive measure of performance incorporating both quantitative and qualitative attributes, which in general reflect efficiency and effectiveness of the manufacturing jobshops respectively.     

The use of fuzzy measures in a performance-evaluation model for ERP implementation among Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers

Many semiconductor-related manufacturing enterprises in Taiwan have embarked upon the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) to integrate and optimize various business processes across the entire firm. The present study proposes a performance-evaluation model of ERP implementation utilizing fuzzy measures. The paper then presents an empirical study of semiconductor-related manufacturers in Taiwan in which the proposed model is used to: (i) identify the critical implementation items requiring improvement; and (ii) rank the strategies for improving them according to weight value. A systematic approach is thus proposed to: (i) examine the performance of an ERP implementation process; (ii) determine the items to be improved; and (iii) select appropriate and feasible strategies to improve these items. The proposed model can ensure successful implementation of ERP and thus enhance its potential benefits for semiconductor manufacturers.     

A supportive pricing model for suppliers with purchase order financing

Traditionally, lowering the purchase price is welcomed by a business buyer since people believe it can reduce the costs. However, it can be another story if her supplier is short of money and applies for purchase order financing to fund the production. This paper identifies the conditions under which a buyer has the motivation of allowing higher purchase price to facilitate the supplier’s loan application and consequently improve the supply availability. We use a Stackelberg model to describe the interaction between the supplier’s plan (deciding the loan amount and production input simultaneously) and the buyer’s order design (deciding the purchase price and order size jointly). We show the buyer’s optimal order design has four kinds of closed-form solutions as the supplier’s operational state follows a two-point distribution. The design choice should depend on the item value and the supplier’s reliability. In short, this research shows when to increase the purchase price and how to coordinate the order size with it. Generally speaking, if the item value is high and the supplier’s reliability is medium, a buyer allowing a premium price can ensure the supply and actually maximise her expected profit.     

A framework for cost evaluation in product service system configuration

Configuration systems are increasingly used as a means for efficient design of customised product service systems (PSS) to satisfy diverse customer needs. Cost evaluation is thereby important to assist the configuration engineers in making decisions on feasible configuration solutions. However, little research attention has been received until recently. To fill this gap, this paper contributes in developing a framework for cost evaluation in PSS configuration. A holistic view of PSS configuration, the three-dimensional PSS cost element, and a life cycle-oriented cost evaluation approach are successively proposed. The framework is thereby established with a number of parts, including the preparatory stage, the evaluation stage and the configuration stage. A pump PSS is illustrated to validate the developed framework. Four feasible configuration solutions in one configuration activity are evaluated and compared. The configuration engineers are thus assisted with the decision on selecting the one with the least cost.     

Supplier quality development: A review of literature and industry practices

Managing quality of suppliers is of prime importance in supply chains to minimise costs arising due to poor-quality products and services. Supplier quality development (SQD) is a strategic quality development activity for increasing quality, reliability and efficiency of suppliers. This paper reports results of review on the academic literature and industrial practices on SQD in order to find main concepts, steps, prevalent methodologies, tools and techniques, and best practices. We reviewed 177 papers from years 1980–2013 including 22 company manuals for conducting this study. The proposed review assists readers in developing a better understanding of SQD, involved processes and their key elements, tools and techniques used, challenges in supplier quality management, best practices from academics and industry, and open research problems in SQD that require detailed investigation.     

A fuzzy chance-constrained programming model with type 1 and type 2 fuzzy sets for solid waste management under uncertainty

Effective management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is critical for urban planning and development. This study aims to develop an integrated type 1 and type 2 fuzzy sets chance-constrained programming (ITFCCP) model for tackling regional MSW management problem under a fuzzy environment, where waste generation amounts are supposed to be type 2 fuzzy variables and treated capacities of facilities are assumed to be type 1 fuzzy variables. The evaluation and expression of uncertainty overcome the drawbacks in describing fuzzy possibility distributions as oversimplified forms. The fuzzy constraints are converted to their crisp equivalents through chance-constrained programming under the same or different confidence levels. Regional waste management of the City of Dalian, China, was used as a case study for demonstration. The solutions under various confidence levels reflect the trade-off between system economy and reliability. It is concluded that the ITFCCP model is capable of helping decision makers to generate reasonable waste-allocation alternatives under uncertainties.     

网络分析法在军工研究所R&D人力资本投资风险评估中的应用

在对军工研究所RD人力资本投资风险因素进行识别的基础上,建立风险评价指标体系,发现指标之间存在相互影响与反馈的关系,提出基于网络分析法并同时考虑评估意见模糊性的军工研究所RD人力资本投资风险模糊评估模型,给出相关算法。最后,通过实例说明该方法的分析结果更合理、直观,而且还能为决策者提供更为详细的决策信息。     

A distinct decision model for the evaluation and selection of a supplier for a chemical processing industry

The supplier selection process has gained importance recently due to the considerable amount of revenue spent on purchasing. The intention of this work is to develop an appropriate hybrid model by integrating the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA) for supplier evaluation and selection, which comprises three stages. In Stage I, the most influential criteria are selected by mutual-information-based feature selection. Stage II focuses on the determination of the weights of the attributes using AHP, while Stage III is used for the determination of the best supplier using GRA. The proposed model is illustrated using the case study of an electroplating industry to highlight the effectiveness and flexibility of the model. The model effectively combines specialised knowledge, experience and quantitative data to select the best suppliers. This paper presents the model development, solution and application processes of the proposed hybrid model for supplier selection. The decision support software was implemented in Excel to automate supplier selection. The proposed hybrid model is applied to enhance the decision-making process in supplier selection and also helps decision makers to effectively select suppliers.