Vincent K. Omachonu

The relationship between quality and quality cost for a manufacturing company

This paper examines the components of quality cost (internal failure, external failure, appraisal cost, and prevention cost) in the context of two key manufacturing inputs, materials and machines; the concept is also explained for the company as a whole. The purpose of this research is to analyze the variables that impact quality in a manufacturing environment. There are three major findings in this research. First, there is an inverse relationship between appraisal cost plus prevention cost and failure cost. Second, the relationship between appraisal cost plus prevention cost and quality is positive. Finally, failure cost is negatively correlated with quality. This analysis also revealed a strong relationship between appraisal cost plus prevention cost and quality for material input, machine input, and the company. The results indicate that as the appraisal cost plus the prevention cost increases, quality improves and failure cost decreases.

An empirical test of the drivers of overall customer satisfaction: Evidence from multivariate Granger causality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether customer‐perceived service quality and expectation of service quality have causal impacts on overall customer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach – Data on all the variables were elicited from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), and these were analyzed using the Granger causality method.Findings – Satisfaction and perceived quality were positively related. Even though perceived quality did not Granger‐cause satisfaction in the short term, it did so in the long term. Likewise, even though satisfaction did not Granger‐cause perceived quality in the short term, it did so in the long term. But customer expectations Granger‐caused both satisfaction and expectation in the short‐term and the long term.Research limitations/implications – The findings are based on only one company. Extrapolation to other companies demands caution and the data may not satisfy asymptotic assumptions.Originality/value – The study contributes to the litera...

Quality system implementation process for business success

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation activities involved in certifying a quality management system to the ISO 9000 quality management system standard. This includes developing the best business performance measures that will serve as indicators of an effective quality management system. This paper aims to establish a relationship between implementation activities involved in the quality system and specific business performance measures that can be used to assess the systems effectiveness.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected using an online survey combined with publicly available financial reporting information. Regression and other statistical techniques along with text clustering and association of the survey comments were used to analyze the data.Findings – Emphasis on implementing a documentation system were found to be linked to business performance as measured by the return on assets financial measure.Research limitations/implications – Future research sh...

Quality function deployment (QFD): application to rehabilitation services

Describes how the challenge of providing rehabilitative services at reasonable costs is beginning to mount. The management of quality in rehabilitative services is therefore gaining increasing attention in the health care arena. States that if a link is implied between the above stated goal and customer satisfaction, it is imperative to evaluate quality or customer satisfaction in the context of the patients experience. Describes the quality function deployment (QFD) system and how it leads to a better understanding of the customers needs and wants. Explores the process of applying the concept of QFD to physical therapy.

Applying activity-based costing to the nuclear medicine unit

Previous studies have shown the feasibility of using activity-based costing (ABC) in hospital environments. However, many of these studies discuss the general applications of ABC in health-care organizations. This research explores the potential application of ABC to the nuclear medicine unit (NMU) at a teaching hospital. The finding indicates that the current cost averages US

Decision Latitude and Workload Demand: Implications for Full and Partial Absenteeism

236.11 for all procedures, which is quite different from the costs computed by using ABC. The difference is most significant with positron emission tomography scan, US

Displays and Controls

463 (an increase of 96%), as well as bone scan and thyroid scan, US

Systems engineering in the healthcare service industry

114 (a decrease of 52%). The result of ABC analysis demonstrates that the operational time (machine time and direct labour time) and the cost of drugs have the most influence on cost per procedure. Clearly, to reduce the cost per procedure for the NMU, the reduction in operational time and cost of drugs should be analysed. The result also indicates that ABC can be used to improve resource allocation and management. It can be an important aid in making management decisions, particularly for improving pricing practices by making costing more accurate. It also facilitates the identification of underutilized resources and related costs, leading to cost reduction. The ABC system will also help hospitals control costs, improve the quality and efficiency of the care they provide, and manage their resources better.

Cost minimization models: Applications in a teaching hospital

This research examined the relative importance of two components of job stress—decision latitude and workload demand—on employee absenteeism. The analysis was based on confidential self-reported data from employees at two worksites, which were collected in three independent cross-sections beginning in 1995. The negative binomial technique was used to estimate the effects of decision latitude and workload demand on employee attendance, while controlling for employee demographics and other workplace characteristics. Estimation results show that high decision latitude was negatively and significantly related to number of full days absent from work (full absenteeism) and number of days arriving late to work or leaving work early (partial absenteeism). Conversely, the coefficient estimates for low decision latitude were positive in every model and significantly related to partial absenteeism. Low workload demand was negatively and significantly related to partial absenteeism, but not full days absent. The interaction effects of decision latitude and workload demand on absenteeism were not statistically significant. Several recent studies have estimated a significant relationship between decision latitude, workload demand, and medical problems such as cardiovascular disease. The current findings suggest that decision latitude and workload demand are also related to workplace attendance. Employers and occupational hygienists should consider decision latitude and workload demand as a means to improve workplace productivity and employee health.

Measuring productivity: outcome vs. output.

Abstract This chapter examines the various types of displays and controls, as well as the design characteristics that make them effective or less so. Since there are many types of displays and controls already in existence, an overview is presented in this chapter to assist the practicing ergonomist in the selection of displays and controls. Important distinctions are made between quantitative and qualitative displays as well as discrete and continuous controls. Population stereotypes are also discussed as they affect the design of displays and controls.