Anthony S.F. Chiu

The relationship of continuous improvement and cleaner production on operational performance: An empirical study in electronic manufacturing firms, Taiwan China

Abstract Recent research has pointed out the limitations of achieving commitment and continuous improvement in cleaner production program implementation. And cleaner production designed to reduce wastes and emissions at source can improve the environmental, as well as economic performance of participating organization. However, there is inadequant empirical evidence or model to prove the relationship of cleaner production, continuous improvement and operational performance existed. This paper investigates the effects of continuous improvement and cleaner production on operational performance. A conceptual model is developed and three research hypotheses are empirically examined using structural equation modeling. The data were collected via a survey of Taiwan electronic manufacturing firms. The result indicated that cleaner production has a positive influence on operational performance as well as on the continuous improvement on cleaner production and operational performance. Theoretical, managerial and research implications are discussed.

Identifying the competitive determinants of firms’ green supply chain capabilities under uncertainty

The link between green supply chain (GSC) and firm performance has been thoroughly studied, and it has been argued that firms are unlikely to perform well if they apply their capabilities in isolation. However, there is a lack of studies that identify the competitive determinants, the critical success factors, of GSC capabilities of firms, and the evaluation of GSC capabilities is predisposed to subjective and linguistic preferences. This study proposes to address the vague nature of qualitative measures using the fuzzy Delphi method to filter the measures and the fuzzy analytic network process to deal with the linguistic preferences in hierarchical structure of firms’ GSC capabilities. Data were collected from supply chain networks of electronic industry in Taiwan. This study presents empirical evidence of firms’ GSC capabilities, concluding that cost is the top competitive determinant and the environmental costs is the top priority of GSC capability.

Evaluation of Worker Productivity Improvement Using ISM and FAHP

In recent years, many printed circuit board manufacturing firms have looked upon worker productivity improvement as the means by which they can improve their firm performance. This paper uses the critical factors and interpretive structural modeling to determine the structure of analytical hierarchical process model in fuzzy environment. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-based methodology was used to tackle the different decision criteria in a hierarchical structure in the improvement of worker productivity. The findings advocate that these manufacturing firms would thereby the hierarchical model to setup the priorities of the worker productivity improvement. And best practice, reduce unit cost and physical working environment are the crucial sub-factors for worker productivity improvement.