Odysseas Moschidis

Six Sigma's critical success factors and toolbox

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to put forward and classify the critical success factors (CSF) of Six Sigma implementation, as well as the tools‐techniques that it utilizes in all the phases of the Define‐Measure‐Analyze‐Improve‐Control (DMAIC) structured methodology.Design/methodology/approach – A literature review of Six Sigmas CSF has been realized and also an attempt to connect them with the enablers of European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). A literature review of the tools and techniques utilized follows and a categorization of them according to the phase of the DMAIC.Findings – The paper has collected a list of 32 CSF which were classified according to the five EFQM enablers, and the soft‐hard differentiation. A list of 39 tools/techniques used in the different phases of DMAIC and the ISO 13053‐1 suggestions has also been referred.Originality/value – The final classifications of CSF and techniques of Six Sigma methodology could be a valuable tool for Six Sigma academics and profe...

The use of quality management systems, tools, and techniques in ISO 9001:2008 certified companies with multidimensional statistics: the Greek case

The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of use of quality management systems (QMS) and quality tools/techniques in ISO 9001:2008 certified Greek companies. It also considers the differences between the extent of use of QMS, tools/techniques, the importance of critical success factors (CSFs) for the implementation of a QMS, and other demographic characteristics like size and years of certification. A research project was carried out in 146 Greek companies from all business sectors using the questionnaire technique. The selected companies have been implementing a QMS in accordance with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Correspondence analysis, a method from the multidimensional statistics field, was mainly used. The findings showed that the use of standards and tools/techniques was low (compared with companies from other countries). On the contrary, the importance the quality assurance managers attributed to CSF was high enough in most of the items-elements. Differences were evident between all the above variables and certain demographics, like years of certification, size, and the implementation of more than one QMS.

The effects of ISO 9001 certification on the performance of Greek companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of ISO 9001 certification and the association between them, the level of implementation of the critical success factors (CSFs) required for the appropriate functioning of the quality management system in ISO 9001:2008 certified companies and between other demographic variables. Design/methodology/approach – A research project was carried out in Greek companies from all business sectors using the questionnaire technique. The selected companies implement a quality management system in accordance with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Correspondence analysis, a methodology from the field of multidimensional statistics, was used to identify significant differences between the effects on performance and other variables such as the implementation level of CSFs relating to the quality management system and years of certification. Findings – External benefits seem to be more important than internal benefits. The least important benefits were mostly business results, such as profits, costs and market share. Differences were detected between the level of performance and certain demographic variables such as the use of International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) alone, size and years of certification. The certified companies have generally benefited from ISO implementation. Research limitations/implications – The study was based on the perceptions (subjective data) of only one quality manager/representative from each company. The motives for ISO certification, which can seriously affect the benefits derived, were not examined. Practical implications – The measures presented here can be used by certified companies to evaluate performance (financial or not) related to ISO 9001 certification and to discover those factors that contribute to the better exploitation of the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Originality/value – This paper aims to evaluate performance since the implementation of the ISO 9001:2008 standard in Greek companies, which are confronting a tough economic environment and to analyse this data with a methodology from the multidimensional field, with the complementary use of some special tables of coincidence.

Critical success factors examined in ISO 9001:2008-certified Greek companies using multidimensional statistics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of the importance and implementation of the critical success factors (CSFs) required for the appropriate function of a quality management system (QMS) in ISO 9001:2008-certified companies and the differences between the CSFs and the demographic variables of the companies. Design/methodology/approach – A research project was carried out in Greek companies from all business sectors using the questionnaire technique. The selected companies all implement a QMS in accordance with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. Correspondence analysis, a methodology from the multidimensional statistics field, was also used to identify significant differences between the importance and implementation levels of the CSFs of the QMS. Findings – The importance that quality assurance managers attribute to these CSFs was high enough in most categories, but there was a significant difference in the implementation level, which displayed much lower scores. The most important factor...

Quality costing: a survey in Greek supermarkets using multiple correspondence analysis

Purpose – The present paper is an effort toward an integrated depiction of the quality costs of supermarkets in Greece. The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent the P-A-F model is used by Greek trade companies in the years of economic turmoil. Furthermore, it analyses how the quality costing process differentiates itself according to a number of demographic variables (size, number of employees, number of branches, ISO/HACCP certification). Design/methodology/approach – The survey was conducted in 159 Greek supermarkets via a questionnaire. The method of multiple correspondence analysis was successfully implemented in the process of answering the above-mentioned questions. Findings – The survey highlighted the limited use of quality costing practices among supermarkets. The way companies monitor quality costs proved to be highly dependent on their size, the economic circumstances and other variables (i.e. ISO/HACCP certification). Furthermore, our research provides evidence that preventio...

Unified coding of qualitative and quantitative variables and their analysis with ascendant hierarchical classification

The present research deals with the grouping of individuals, who are determined by a number of categorical, ordinal and quantitative variables. This research applies the method of ascendant hierarchical classification CAH, using as criterion, the inertia and the distance metrics of X2. The usual dealing with this problem refers to the coding of the certain categorical and ordered data in a logical table 0-1 under the form: individuals x variables. However, the sub table of the table 0-1, which concerns the ordered variables, deducts information in advance as it deals with the ordered variables as being simple categorical variables. The research suggest a new encoding of the quantitative variables and of the ordinal variables that leads to a new more detailed encoding of categorical and ordinal variables in a new general table of percentages, the analysis CAH of which provides more detailed conclusion.

Service innovation strategies in Greek hotel sector: an exploratory study using the statistical method of multidimensional analysis

This study aims to gain insight into criteria detailed market study, business/financial analysis, business/financial analysis before promotion, resource allocation that contribute to the success of new service development NSD ventures in sectors of tourism economy and focusing especially on the hospitality sector. A second level analysis based on in-depth structured interviews data collected from hotel CEOs is presented. Collected data refer to NSD processes as implemented in their organisations. Correspondence analysis is being used to analyse exploratory studys results. The presentation layer of the analysis is given in the form of factorial axes and their functions. In conclusion, this study identifies service innovation strategies for hotels to gain competitive advantage. Due to the lack of capitalised knowledge on the pathways of new service development, such projects are prone to high failure rates.

An exploratory analysis of quality costing in Greek F&B enterprises

Purpose Given the fact that the Greek food and beverage (F&B) sector, along with the tourism sector, is the basis of Greek economy, the purpose of this paper is to depict the extent to which Greek F&B enterprises have embraced quality costing, as a means toward economic development and quality assurance. Since no previous research has taken place in this area, the paper aims to analyze whether the quality costing approach has been adopted, in order to achieve quality improvement and a reduction of production costs. Design/methodology/approach As the variables in this research are mostly nominal, and no similar work has been previously conducted in Greece, an exploratory approach is adopted, specifically multiple correspondence analysis. This approach enables the researcher not only to analyze the phenomenon in a more holistic way, but also to highlight potential issues and questions that have not been previously identified. Findings The research concludes that Greek F&B enterprises have not yet accepted the assumption that quality costing leads to a reduction of production costs and to quality improvement. Furthermore, a second analysis highlights that “turnover” and “ISO-HACCP systems” are the most dominant demographic variables, which have a direct relationship to prevention and internal failure costs. Originality/value Since the Greek F&B industry constitutes the larger “employer” of domestic manufacturing, this research sheds light on the role that quality costing plays in the development and success of the Greek F&B sector, by exploring the approach that has been adopted by F&B enterprises, as well as the economic outcome of this process.

A comparative analysis of Greek universities’ presence on the World Wide Web using an analytical MCDM methodology

Greek universities are currently in a transition state, as a new bill has been voted by the parliament trying to focus on lasting problems tormenting Greek higher level education; the implementation of the new law creating a strong reaction from part of the academic community. What is more, globalisation has increased competition and academia is now called upon to operate in an international environment facing other well established and prestigious institutions. It is in this context that Web 2 technologies widely available today offer a framework that allow academic institutions to increase their extraversion and reach a wider public; wikis, forums and e-learning platforms to name a few of these technologies. This paper attempts to offer a convincing answer to the ability of the Greek universities, operating in an unfavourable environment with many obstacles, to exploit what Web 2 has to offer; to also assess their readiness to integrate the new technologies and face the competition directly. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used for a comparative analysis of the online presence of Greek universities, and the results can prove to be a helpful tool for website creators and academia administration in order to improve their services.

SHP stations and integrated rural development: a multivariate statistical approach

The multi-functional role of the rural space is gradually being enhanced in recent decades, as agriculture seems to be losing its leading position. The diversification of local economies through the exploitation of natural resources is being highlighted as a fundamental driving force for development. Renewable Energy Resources (RES) and, more specifically, the establishment of Small Hydropower (SHP) stations can also contribute towards integrated local development. The present paper examines the views of citizens in Serres prefecture concerning the present and future development of their area, as well as the impact on local development from the establishment and operation of SHP stations. The research was carried out with the help of a questionnaire distributed in Serres prefecture (Northern Greece), and multivariate statistical methods were used for data processing purposes. Based on the results of the research, we arrive at the conclusion that the respondents are aware of both the developmental and the environmentally friendly role of SHP stations.