Bülent Sezen

Relative effects of design, integration and information sharing on supply chain performance

Purpose – The aim of this study is to empirically investigate the relative effects of supply chain integration, supply chain information sharing and supply chain design on supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approach – Data collected from 125 manufacturing firms in Turkey are used for analyzing the relationships between the study variables. Regression analyses are used to find the relative impacts of predictor variables (design, integration and information sharing) on flexibility, resource and output performances of a supply chain.Findings – According to the results of regression analyses, the only significant effects on resource and output performances belong to supply chain design. Integration and information sharing are correlated with performance measures, but their relative effect sizes are lower than supply chain design.Originality/value – The construct of supply chain design developed in this study reveals a significant impact on resource and output performances of a supply chain. Therefore...

An overview of six sigma applications in healthcare industry

Purpose – Delays, measurement and medical errors and variability often undermine the delivery of safe, effective patient care. However, it is possible to minimize them by applying six‐sigma. This methodology aims to focus on the root causes of healthcare problems, analyses them by flowcharts and fishbone diagrams and produces near‐perfect healthcare services.Design/methodology/approach – Five case studies in healthcare are designed to show the performance improvement accomplished by six sigma. The DMAIC (Define‐Measure‐ Analyse‐Improve‐Control), i.e. a road‐map for problem solving and service/process improvement, is implemented.Findings – The findings in this paper show that the healthcare organization has a greater ability to address challenges across the system. Resource utilization has been maximized. Fewer redundancies, waste and rework have been observed. Bottle‐necks related to scheduling have diminished. Working conditions have improved for healthcare personnel. Increased patient and physician sati...

Relative effects of dependence and trust on flexibility, information exchange, and solidarity in marketing channels

Purpose – The extent of relational behaviors displayed by independent partners in channels of distribution is a critical determinant of the efficiency and effectiveness of distribution operations. The purpose of this study is to focus on the two key antecedents of relational behaviors in channel dyads, dependence on and trust in the exchange partner, and to explore the relative effects of dependence and trust on each of the three major relational behavior forms of flexibility, information exchange, and solidarity.Design/methodology/approach – Formal hypotheses are developed in the study regarding the joint and relative effects of dependence and trust on each relational behavior. Data collected from 192 automobile dealerships in Turkey are used for testing the hypotheses through separate regression analyses.Findings – In line with the main study thesis, the results suggest that the relative effects of dependence on and trust in the supplier differ across dealer flexibility, information exchange, and solida...

Supplier fairness as a mediating factor in the supplier performance-reseller satisfaction relationship

The study examines the role of reseller perceptions of supplier fairness in the relationships between reseller evaluations of supplier role performance components and reseller satisfaction. Specifically, reseller perceptions of supplier distributive fairness and procedural fairness are posited as key factors, mediating the effects of reseller assessments of supplier delivery performance, operational support, boundary personnel performance, and financial and sales performance on reseller satisfaction. Results of nested model comparisons using data collected from resellers in Turkey support the hypothesized mediating role of fairness perceptions. Specific relationships between supplier performance components and fairness perceptions, as well as the effects of both fairness types on reseller satisfaction, are discussed.

Analyzing the ambiguous relationship between efficiency, quality and patient satisfaction in healthcare services: The case of public hospitals in Turkey

OBJECTIVE This paper empirically analyzes the effects of efficiency and structural quality on patient satisfaction in Turkish public hospitals. It also investigates the controversial relationship between hospital efficiency and structural quality for small, medium and large size hospitals in a comparative perspective. METHODS Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to analyze the efficiencies of hospitals. Data concerning 523 public hospitals is obtained from Turkish Ministry of Health. Due to the missing data of some hospitals, the sample of this study is composed of the remaining 348 observations. Multiple regression analysis is used to evaluate the relationship between patient satisfaction as a dependent variable and structural quality, hospital efficiency and institutional factors as independent variables. Furthermore, stepwise process multiple regression analysis is used to analyze the moderator effects of hospital efficiency on the form of the relationship between quality and satisfaction. FINDINGS The findings indicate that hospital efficiency changes the form of the relationship between structural quality and patient satisfaction as a moderator variable. The trade-off between quality and efficiency is found to vary depending on the hospital size. Negative correlation is found between quality and efficiency for small-size hospitals. However, positive correlation between efficiency and quality is found significant as indicated by Total Quality Management (TQM) approach for large-size hospitals. This study also provides the empirical evidence on the negative relationship between patient satisfaction and hospital size. CONCLUSIONS The effect of hospital efficiency on patient satisfaction might be improved for inefficient small and medium size hospitals by taking successful large hospitals as role models.

Proposition of a model for measuring adherence to lean practices: applied to Turkish automotive part suppliers

The objective of this study is to develop a model for measuring adherence to lean practices for automotive part suppliers and to assess the relationship between the firm performance and the adoption of lean principles. This model has been developed by utilising the lean practices defined in the literature. The proposed model has been successfully applied to a large number of automotive part suppliers, and has been tested for its statistical validity. To test the proposed model, data were obtained from 207 automotive part suppliers by using the Computer-aided Telephone Interview method. Validity and reliability tests of the developed model of leanness are realised through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Correlation analyses are used to examine the relationships between the lean applications and company performance and size. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is applied to reveal whether there are differences in the use of lean techniques across different company categories. The study shows that, in general, Turkish automotive part suppliers are performing their internal production in compliance with the lean manufacturing principles. Furthermore, it is found that there is a significant relationship between adaptation of lean principles by the supplier firms and their performance. The proposed model of leanness can be used by companies in the automotive industry to measure their leanness levels.

Application of Six Sigma methodology to a diagnostic imaging process

PURPOSE This paper aims to apply the Six Sigma methodology to improve workflow by eliminating the causes of failure in the medical imaging department of a private Turkish hospital. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Implementation of the design, measure, analyse, improve and control (DMAIC) improvement cycle, workflow chart, fishbone diagrams and Pareto charts were employed, together with rigorous data collection in the department. The identification of root causes of repeat sessions and delays was followed by failure, mode and effect analysis, hazard analysis and decision tree analysis. FINDINGS The most frequent causes of failure were malfunction of the RIS/PACS system and improper positioning of patients. Subsequent to extensive training of professionals, the sigma level was increased from 3.5 to 4.2. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS The data were collected over only four months. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Six Sigmas data measurement and process improvement methodology is the impetus for health care organisations to rethink their workflow and reduce malpractice. It involves measuring, recording and reporting data on a regular basis. This enables the administration to monitor workflow continuously. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS The improvements in the workflow under study, made by determining the failures and potential risks associated with radiologic care, will have a positive impact on society in terms of patient safety. Having eliminated repeat examinations, the risk of being exposed to more radiation was also minimised. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This paper supports the need to apply Six Sigma and present an evaluation of the process in an imaging department.

Changes in performance under various lengths of review periods in a periodic review inventory control system with lost sales

Purpose – This study investigates the impacts of changing the length of review period on the performance of a periodic review system with lost sales under varying demand patterns by using simulation method.Design/methodology/approach – The simulation model has been built using a spreadsheet program and depicts a special case of several retailers supplied by a central warehouse. Simulation scenarios are created based on two factors: length of the review period, and product type in terms of the average and standard deviation of the corresponding products demand distribution.Findings – Results obtained from the simulation model show that inventory performance is quite sensitive to the duration of review periods, and selecting the appropriate period length is largely dependent on the variability of demand. Specifically, relatively shorter review periods are required for products with high variable demand, while the inventory system can tolerate longer review periods if the product demand is less fluctuating....

Expected profit approach used in discount pricing decisions for perishable products

Consumers are less likely to purchase perishable goods when their expiry dates are near. For this reason, retailers frequently implement a discount pricing policy when the products have reached closer to their expiry dates. This paper introduces a simple methodology for helping the managers in their discount pricing decisions. Based on the expected value approach, the suggested method utilizes the probability values obtained from the past experiences and calculates an expected profit value for each alternative discount policy. Decision maker then selects the discount policy with the highest expected profit.

The effects of participation in decision making, individual improvement efforts and training on the quality of the product design process

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of decision making participation, improvement effort and training on quality of product design process. An employees perceived degree of his/her own participation in organisational decision making has been considered a major factor influencing the employees improvement efforts. Improvement effort and training are hypothesised to influence quality of product design process. Hypothesised relationships are tested through a survey study of 90 employees in six Turkish business firms which are currently applying total quality management (TQM) practices. A hypothetical model was tested by regression analysis. Findings revealed that training and individual improvement efforts were found to be significantly related to quality of product design process.