Anil B. Jambekar

A systems thinking perspective of maintenance, operations, and process quality

Drawing from observations made at a couple of manufacturing firms, this paper weaves together behavioral aspects of process improvement and maintenance concepts with ongoing commitments to operations management goals. Causal loop diagramming, part of the system dynamics tool‐kit, is used to structure the interrelated nature of involved concepts and variables. An objective is to offer insights from a systems perspective. The paper offers behavioral explanation for limited success in implementing improvement programs and suggests reversing the traditional “maintenance service supplier‐and‐customer relationship” between maintenance and operations.

A model of knowledge processes in a manufacturing company

Purpose – The core purpose is to offer a framework that integrates key insights from the literature on knowledge creation, learning and problem solving in conjunction with mapping of customer needs into a closed loop model of knowledge processes in a manufacturing environment.Design/methodology/approach – Based on review of literature on knowledge creation and synthesis of a conceptual model that connects the life‐cycle of knowledge and know‐how with core product and business processes of a manufacturing company. Specification of requirements and design of a managerial dashboard are illustrated with a case of a medium‐sized manufacturing company.Findings – The paper presents properties of knowledge and know‐how creation processes in manufacturing environment and proposes the integrated model of those processes. Furthermore, the paper recommends a four‐stage approach that can be utilized to create a firm‐specific knowledge management system. The model is applied for design of a managerial dashboard system ...

Improvisation model for team performance enhancement in a manufacturing environment

Purpose – The core purpose of the paper is to propose that improvisational practices have the potential to bring an additional dimension to the learning process in a typical manufacturing organization governed by a culture‐implied “plan what we do and do what we plan” environment. In todays turbulent environment employees should possess both the capability to follow a plan, while at the same time remaining able to respond instinctively to outcomes that are unexpected.Design/methodology/approach – Several authors view the concept of improvisation associated with performing arts and creativity‐based artistic productions such as jazz performance, comedy and improvisational theater as a model to shape organizational processes. The instances of improvisation cited in the literature are first classified as either proactive or reactive. Using the jazz metaphor, the paper offers a model of decision making by an agent and a process view of communication.Findings – The authors propose that a culture of a manufactu...

An implicit enumeration algorithm for the all integer programming problem

Abstract In this paper an implicit enumeration algorithm is presented for solving the general integer programming problem. The algorithm is a generalization of algorithms of Balas and Geoffrion for solving 0-1 problems. In order that each variable may be treated directly, a special data structure has been designed. Based on this data structure, a procedure is developed which efficiently keeps track of the status of the algorithm and of the potential actions to be taken at any stage in the procedure. The concept of a ‘best’ surrogate constraint is extended and incorporated into the algorithm. The algorithm can be modified for solving mixed integer programming problems.

The Effect of Truck Dieselization on Fuel Usage

The effect of truck dieselization for three levels of diesel penetration into each of the eight classes of trucks is modeled. Diesel and total truck sales, population, mileage and yearly fuel usage data are aggregated by four truck classes representing light, medium, light-heavy and heavy-heavy classes. Four fuel economy scenarios for different technological improvements were studied.

Frontier production functions: Improved procedures for estimation and application

Abstract This paper develops improved estimating techniques for frontier production functions and measures of technical efficiency. A clustering analysis procedure is introduced to isolate subsets of data observations on the basis of qualitative considerations. A dominance test is formulated to screen out data observations which will not influence the frontier production function. A computational algorithm is presented to efficiently implement these procedures. These techniques are applied to the steam-electric generating industry and discussed.

Viewing personal quality management through a systems thinking lens

Abstract This paper examines personal quality management projects through a systems thinking lens. This is accomplished by the processes used and issues faced by students who were asked to undertake term-long projects as a part of their assessment activities in a quality management course. Because the feedback from their own actions is rapid while working within the framework of personal quality management, it becomes possible to learn about the important systemic issues in a relatively short duration. Visual representation using systems thinking tools preserves the lessons learned.

Systems thinking, personal quality, and learning

Examines the connection between the softer tools of systems dynamics and personal quality. This is accomplished by portraying the problems and issues managers experienced while engaged in personal quality improvement programmes.

An Emission and Fuel Usage Computer Model for Trucks and Buses

This paper presents the development of a computer model to simulate fuel usage and emission contributions of the past and future truck and bus population in the United States. The projected future years are beyond 1976 to 1990. The trends in vehicle population growth, yearly miles traveled and ton-miles are also calculated by the model. The formulation of the model is based on a systems approach. The preliminary quantitative results are discussed to demonstrate the satisfactory performance of the computer model. Increased rates of dieselization are analyzed to determine their effect on reducing fuel consumption and the impact on total emission contributions. The use of the computer model to study an urban area for air quality is discussed. /GMRL/

A technology choice for noise reduction: a quality management case study

Presents a quality management case study describing the resolution of one type of audible noise during operation of a clothes dryer. The noise, if heard by the customer, frequently resulted in a call for a repair service. Although the noise really never affected the functional quality or reliability of the dryer, it had the potential to influence the perceived quality of the dryer brand. Hence, regardless of technical merit, it became necessary to remedy the noise quality problem. Systemic application of quality management tools and concepts not only resolved the existing noise problem, but also identified a different technology for future investigations.