Diego Tlapa

Implementation of lean supply chain: an empirical research on the effect of context

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the effect of a set of contextual variables on the implementation of lean supply chain (LSC) practices. The authors do that by investigating one main research question: “how do the contextual variables (i.e. plant size, supply chain level, level of onshore suppliers and age of the LM initiative) influence on the degree of adoption of LSC practices?” Design/methodology/approach To this end, the authors collected data from 115 companies from different sectors located in Southern Brazil. Data collected was analyzed by means of multivariate techniques. The authors tested if the frequency of observations for each contextual variable was associated to the implementation levels of the LSC practices. Findings The evidences suggest that supply chain context significantly impacts the likelihood of implementing LSC practices. In particular, the influence of tier level, plant size and larger experience in implementing LM seems to be substantial across a wide mix of practices. On the other hand, results indicate that contexts in which companies are still beginners at the lean journey and their level of onshore suppliers appear to be less pervasive than previous empirical researches imply. Originality/value The implementation of LSC practices entails a different business model, in which improved profits arise from the cooperation rather than bargaining or imposing power over supply chain partners. However, not all organizations should implement the same set of practices, since the adoption of any specific management practice depends upon a set of contextual variables. The understanding of the relationship between the level of adoption of LSC practices and the contextual variables helps to anticipate occasional difficulties and sets the proper expectations along the implementation.

Six Sigma enablers in Mexican manufacturing companies: a proposed model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding of Six Sigma (SS) and the underlying dimensions of its critical success factors (CSF) via an analysis of the effects of top management support (TMS), implementation strategy (IS), and collaborative team (CT) on project performance (PP) in Mexican manufacturing companies. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a SS literature review, a survey was conducted to capture practitioners’ viewpoints about CSFs for SS implementation and their impact on performance in manufacturing companies. A factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted in order to identify and analyze causal relationships. Findings – The results suggest that CSFs grouped in the constructs TMS, IS, and CT have a positive impact on PP as measured by cost reduction, variation reduction, and quality improvement. Research limitations/implications – Although the empirical data collected supported the proposed model, results might differ among organizations in different countries. In addition, the study did not analyze a unique performance metric; instead, general PP dimensions were used. Practical implications – Boosting the TMS, IS, and CT enhances positive PP of SS in manufacturing companies. Originality/value – IS as a construct has not been studied exhaustively; this work contributes to a better understanding of it and its impact on PP. Additionally, studies of SS in Latin America are limited, so this study gives a complementary vision to practitioners and researchers about it.

Aplicación de Seis Sigma y los Métodos Taguchi para el Incremento de la Resistencia a la Prueba de Jalón de un Diodo Emisor de Luz

This paper deals with the application of six sigma methodology (DMAIC) and Taguchi methods to solve the problem of low resistance of the pulling test of a light emitting diode (LED), which is used in the assembly of cellular telephones in a northwest Mexican electronic company. After finishing this project a significant improvement was achieved that made possible to increase process capability from 0.56 to 1.45 and the impact in cost reduction only by the elimination of waste was of 130 thousand US dollars in savings per year. This achievement did not require additional investment, it was only necessary to control each of the most important factors in the process.

FACTORES QUE INFLUYEN EN EL ERROR HUMANO DE LOS TRABAJADORES EN LÍNEAS DE MONTAJE MANUAL

Se describe el error humano determinando veintiocho factores que influyen en el comportamiento humano y que en su conjunto conforman las condiciones de operacion bajo las que las personas trabajan. El error humano se encuentra en el origen de multitud de accidentes y, por lo tanto, es un elemento clave que debe ser evitado. Esto puede ser logrado si se conoce y explica el error mediante el analisis de los diferentes factores. Se analizan en un grupo de trabajadores de lineas de montaje manual cada uno de los factores. Luego se realiza un analisis de correlacion multiple con el objetivo de buscar los factores mas influyentes. Esto permite reducir a nueve el numero de factores a estudiar mediante la construccion de modelos de confiabilidad humana para en plantas de montaje.

Gestión de la Calidad y del Medio Ambiente en Instituciones de Educación Superior mediante Integración de ISO 9001 e ISO 14001

Resumen El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo describir la situacion de los sistemas de gestion de la calidad y del medio ambiente en instituciones de educacion superior en Mexico, asi como analizar la factibilidad de la integracion de gestion de la calidad y medio ambiente. Para ello, se realizo una busqueda de instituciones de educacion superior que trabajan bajo ISO 9001 e ISO 14001, encontrando 322 y 3 certificados respectivamente en el ano 2008. El trabajo propone ademas un grupo de procedimientos integrados aplicables a las instituciones de educacion superior, que cuenten o contaran con un sistema de gestion de la calidad y buscan la forma de gestionar el ambiente de una manera practica. Se concluye que es factible la integracion de los requisitos de un sistema de gestion ambiental a los de uno de gestion de la calidad. Palabras clave: sistema de gestion de calidad, sistema de gestion ambiental, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, educacion superior Quality and Environmental Management in Higher Education Institutes by Integrating ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

Critical Factors of Lean Healthcare: an Overview

Efficiency is a main goal in healthcare because it has an impact on safety, quality and waste reduction. To increase efficiency, hospitals and laboratories around the world have implemented Lean Healthcare (LH) in their processes. Reports of case studies, critical factors and benefits have been increased in literature. However, the recent scientific literature review addressing the evolution of LH, the status of critical factors and its impact on healthcare is scarce. Therefore, this paper is intended to provide insights of the LH phenomenon and its evolution in recent years by: (1) examining critical success factors of LH and (2) outlining LH benefit patterns. A total of 218 papers were included in a review of the literature following an adaptation of PRISMA methodology from 2002 to 2016. Ten critical success factors (CSFs) of LH implementation were identified and described.

Lean Manufacturing: A Strategy for Waste Reduction

In this chapter, we present relevant information about lean manufacturing (LM), its beginnings, evolution, as well as the main LM techniques and tools. The main purpose of this chapter is to know the current state of LM methodology and describe the leading tools that have contributed to successful LM projects worldwide. For this purpose, we conducted a literature review of 130 scientific papers, dividing LM tools, and technologies in two periods to track their evolution. Then, we conducted an analysis based on odd ratio and hypothesis testing for the proportions of frequency in the use of LM tools and technologies. This literature review aims at supporting practitioners in understanding the implications of lean manufacturing and knowing the main T&T that have contributed, during the last 12 years, to waste reduction and increased productivity in the industrial sector.

Model of human reliability for manual workers in assembly lines

This study presents the construction of a human reliability model for assembly line manual workers, using Coxs Proportional Risk model. Nine factors were identified in 120 assembly line operators using psychometric tests. Subsequently, the factors of stress, motivation, memory, and personality were identified, using a multiple linear regression analysis, as those that significantly contribute to the occurrence of human error and, together, are considered as the workers operational environment. The parameters were defined for the distribution of base failures for modeling the rate of human risk. The model obtained enables the establishment of the contribution of each factor to the probability that human errors will be committed within a determined period of time.

Critical success factors of six sigma: An overview

Main objectives of this work are to describe the current situation and increase the understanding of successful Six Sigma (SS) implementations through a study of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) reported by researchers and practitioners. The work integrates lessons learned from successful projects and considers additional progress to the approach, through an extended literature review. In order to provide a comprehensive investigation with emphasis on establishing the evolution of SS, two periods of time were analyzed using odds-ratio and a meta-analytic summary was conducted to study 17 CSFs reported in 234 studies from different countries. Main findings support the notion that CSFs reported in the literature are changing their frequency of use in the recent years. Top management involvement and commitment remains as the most important CSF whereas project selection and prioritization seems to decrease its presence nowadays.

Metodología bayesiana para la optimización simultánea de múltiples respuestas

Se muestra la aplicacion de una metodologia bayesiana para la optimizacion simultanea de multiples respuestas. Se modifica una propuesta anterior, introduciendo una modificacion que la hace mas flexible, ya que permite trabajar con el caso en que no todas las variables consideradas en el estudio son igualmente importantes. Para incorporar estas diferencias en cuanto a la relevancia de las variables de respuesta analizadas se utiliza la media geometrica ponderada de las probabilidades de que cada variable cumpla con su especificacion. Con esto, las multiples variables a optimizar se convierten en una sola. Mediante un ejemplo se muestra como la modificacion propuesta ayuda a obtener distintos escenarios optimos para considerar en la toma de decisiones.