A hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach to assess the enablers of manufacturing flexibility under fuzzy environment

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Manufacturing Flexibility ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Uncertain Environment ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Fuzzy Environment ◽  
The Right ◽  
Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment

PurposeThe study aims to assess and prioritise the enablers of manufacturing flexibility by evaluating the degree of environmental uncertainty and manufacturing flexibility in an uncertain environment.Design/methodology/approachThe study proposes a methodological approach based on fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD), fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (FAHP) and fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) to assess and prioritise enablers of manufacturing flexibility in an uncertain environment.FindingsThe study proposes a methodological approach that can facilitate firms to concentrate on preferred enablers and assist them in formulating a strategy to develop manufacturing flexibility. The empirical case study analysis of an Indian auto-air conditioning manufacturing firm was done to illustrate the effectiveness, flexibility and feasibility of the proposed approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed approach is limited to manufacturing flexibility. This study does not consider inter-dependencies among environmental uncertainties.Practical implicationsThe proposed methodological approach can assist practitioners in the identification and development of the preferred enablers to improve manufacturing flexibility. Thus, practitioners can invest strategically in the right resources to improve manufacturing flexibility.Originality/valueThe study proposes and validates a methodological approach that simultaneously addresses drivers and enablers of manufacturing flexibility; therefore, it aims to fill the gaps of earlier studies that have majorly studied flexibility concept in an isolated way.

Study on manufacturer–dealer relationships for strategic alignment

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-87
Author(s):  
Sunil Kumar C.V. ◽  
Surya Hemanth ◽  
Srikanta Routroy ◽  
Ram Kumar Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Customer Requirements ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Relationships ◽  
Demand Scenario ◽  
The Right ◽  
Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Purpose Dealers positioned at the downstream of the supply chains are those who can directly influence demand scenario for the manufacturer. However, manufacturer has to ensure that the influence is favorable by competitively fulfilling the anticipations of the dealers. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is focused on developing sustainable strategic relationships between manufacturer and dealer. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the basic requirements of the dealers expected to be fulfilled by a manufacturer are analyzed by applying fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and fuzzy Quality Function Deployment. The said approach is implemented in a case situation of a paint manufacturing company in India, and the results are analyzed to provide directions for the company to strategically align manufacturer–dealer relationships. Findings It was found that the case company has to focus mainly on promotions and advertisements, painters meet, and recognition offered to the dealers. Although pricing was also considered as one of the prominent aspects yet through competitive assessment the case company was found to be better off compared to its competitors. Research limitations/implications As the results obtained in the current study are specific to a manufacturing environment, they cannot be generalized for all the companies. However, similar approach can be adopted for analyzing the customer requirements in order to achieve dealers’ attractiveness and satisfaction. Originality/value The application of proposed approach assists a manufacturer to pursue right strategy to practice for achieving dealer attractiveness and satisfaction. This will definitely help the supply chain managers to have the right requirements of the dealers’ are fulfilled on priority.

Doctoral capital and well-being amongst Australian PhD students: exploring capital and habitus of doctoral students

2021 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-336
Author(s):  
Wayne Usher ◽  
Brittany A. McCormack
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Reproduction Theory ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
The Right ◽  
Australian Universities

PurposeThe Higher Degree Research (HDR) journey is known for its difficulties, complexities and challenges (Lees-Deutsch, 2020), with many students experiencing multi-faceted issues and concerns (Skopek et al., 2020). Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the relationships that exist between variables, vulnerability factors and doctorial capital of candidates (n = 532) studying at Australian universities (2019).Design/methodology/approachA quantitative cross-sectional correlational research design and Bronfenbrenner's socio – ecological framework (personal, home, university, community) was utilised to collect participants' (n = 532) descriptive statistics. Bourdieu's social reproduction theory was used as a lens to examine how experiences, across the PhD candidature, are influenced by several psychosocial factors and doctoral capital.FindingsFrom such a dual methodological approach, the findings from this study suggests that (1) age, (2) gender, (3) nationality, (4) financial/work status, (5) years of PhD and (6) attending postgraduate (PG) student events, go to significantly (p < 0.001) impact (positively and negatively) on students' experiences and correspondingly, impacts on their self-confidence, motivation and mental health and well-being status.Research limitations/implicationsResearch limitations are related to the recruitment of more doctoral students across more Australian universities. Further research is required from HDR supervisors, so as to “balance” the experiences of the PhD journey in higher education.Practical implicationsIn order to succeed in academia and HDR programs, students need to identify with and develop the “right kind of capital” to successfully navigate fields of social and scholarly play. Investigating how the participants perceive their social and scholarly habitus is seen as crucial in helping students to develop positive dispositions relevant to being a doctoral student.Social implicationsThe concept of doctoral capital and well-being, amongst Australian PhD students, is under researched and requires further investigation as a precursor to developing more specific policy designs aimed at providing heightened positive learning environments/HDR programs tailored to support doctoral students.Originality/valueWhilst reforms to improve PhD experiences are well established across the international literature (Geven et al., 2018; Skopek et al., 2020), evidence for Australia is largely missing. It is envisaged, that findings from this research will further assist in the development of quality policies that would go to provide effective services and support for doctoral students within Australian universities.

E-rickshaws on urban streets: sustainability issues and policies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eijaz Ahmed Khan ◽  
Mohammed Quaddus
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Resource Dependency ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Urban Streets ◽  
Optimal Policies ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Infrastructural Support ◽  
Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment

PurposeIn urban streets of developing countries, informal e-rickshaw operation can contribute to the development of economically viable, citizen-oriented and environmentally friendly transport systems. Even though informal e-rickshaw operation is important, significant gaps are apparent in the literature in relation to e-rickshaw sustainability issues and policies, and the development of a methodology grounded in a robust theoretical base. The current paper aims to address these gaps by integrating stakeholder theory (ST) and resource dependency theory (RDT) as we consider the linkage between e-rickshaw operation and the sustainability concept.Design/methodology/approachWe apply fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD), integrated with the 0–1 non-linear optimisation technique, to identify optimal policies for the e-rickshaw informal sector on Khulna city's urban streets in Bangladesh.FindingsThe results suggest that optimal policies should be formalised to regularise e-rickshaw operation. Appropriate supervision and monitoring; infrastructural support for battery charging, parking, battery recycling and solar panel installation; and training and development should all be provided.Research limitations/implicationsThe theoretical and managerial implications of our results are discussed, with future research suggestions presented.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, no previous study has used ST and RDT in e-rickshaw sector research. We recognised that the stakeholder settings for sustainability policies can well influence the behaviour of informal e-rickshaw operators while allotting the necessary resources to this sector. This move assists researchers and policymakers to understand the stakeholders and resource dependency sustainability requirements of this sector and the implementation of the required policies.

Purchasing performance of engineering procurement and construction companies using a fuzzy quality function deployment approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gitesh Chavan ◽  
Ranjan Chaudhuri ◽  
Wesley J. Johnston ◽  
Benjamin Garner
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Quality Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment

Purpose This paper aims to empirically validate an integrated model, combining fuzzy analytical hierarchy processing and quality function deployment, used to construct a purchasing performance (PP) matrix for engineering procurement and construction companies (EPCs). The relationship is established by linking internal customer needs (“whats”; product-related factors), with engineering requirements (“hows”; buyer-related factors [BRFs] and organization-related factors). Three different of buying types are included: new task, straight rebuy and modified rebuy. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses qualitative and quantitative techniques to determine the factors affecting PP and the extent of their influence. Evaluation of the factors affecting the PP of EPC companies is based on 32 industry experts’ opinions, supported by the academic literature. Findings The most significant finding is that researchers should explicitly consider BRFs like buyer knowledge, which has been missing in earlier PP models. BRFs appear to be a link between different types of buying; ignoring their importance can lead to less optimized PP and erroneous findings. Originality/value This research is unique, as PP models of EPC firms have neither been published nor validated empirically, either nationally or internationally. This exploratory study adds to the body of knowledge both by identifying the emerging factors that constitute the construct of the PP of EPCs and by filling the gap between theory and practice concerning an evaluation of the PP of EPCs. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Fuzzy reliability of a turbines structure system using the right triangular fuzzy number

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja Dhiman ◽  
Amit Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Number ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Time To Failure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reliability Indices ◽  
Fuzzy Environment ◽  
Generalized Fuzzy Number ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mean Time

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of a turbine structure of the oil and gas Egyptian company in terms of reliability, mean time to failure (MTTF), mean time to repair (MTTR) and mean time between failures (MTBF) under fuzzy environment and working criteria. This paper examines the impact of the failure of various components on the complete turbine structure of the oil and gas system.Design/methodology/approachTo overcome the problem of uncertain behavior of available data for various components, the right triangular generalized fuzzy number (RTrGFN) is proposed to be taken into the account to express the uncertainty which attains some tolerance in data. Furthermore, reliability indices are calculated with the help of the Lambda Tau method and the arithmetic operations on right generalized triangular fuzzy numbers (RTrGFN).FindingsThis paper explores the reliability of a repairable 3 out of 4 structure of turbines and along with the other parameters namely MTTF, MTTR and MTBF; under a fuzzy environment. Failure rates and repair times are expected to be exponential. The ranking of components of the structure is being found to decide the priority for maintenance.Originality/valueThis paper investigates the performance of the system with different spread/tolerance like 15%, 25% and 50% of crisp data. It helps to predict realistic results in the range value. To enhance the system's performance, the most important item of the system requires greater attention. For this, the authors find the sensitive part by ranking. For ranking, an extended approach has been developed to find the sensitive unit of the system by using the right triangular generalized fuzzy number. This paper explores the most and least sensitive component of the system, which helps the maintenance department to plan the maintenance action.

Prioritising dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation for supply chain flexibility development in an uncertain environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Mishra ◽  
Onkar Nath Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Analytical Approach ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Chain Flexibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Supply Chain Flexibility ◽  
Innovative Culture

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underlying relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain flexibility (SCF) in a market characterised by several uncertainties. Design/methodology/approach The study applies an explanatory sequential mixed method, in which an analytical approach is proposed and validated to establish the underlying relationships between environmental uncertainties, SCF, and entrepreneurial orientation. Thereafter, a focus group study is carried out to explain the findings of a case study analysis. Findings The study evaluates and prioritises dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to develop SCF in a market characterised by several environmental uncertainties. It also develops a structured, effective, and flexible methodological approach to establish the relationships between environmental uncertainty, SCF, and entrepreneurial orientation. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to a single firm; therefore, the use of larger sample size can improve its generalisability. Practical implications Supply chain practitioners should emphasise on innovative culture to support SCF. The study also proposes an analytical approach to improve flexibility in the supply chain. Originality/value The study contributes to the area of interdisciplinary research by developing an integrated analytical approach that identifies and brings together concepts that existed in the disparate form in supply chain, flexibility, and entrepreneurship literature.

Building excellence through the Agile Reengineering Performance Model (ARPM)

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Petrillo ◽  
Gianpaolo Di Bona ◽  
Antonio Forcina ◽  
Alessandro Silvestri
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Performance Model ◽  
Process Reengineering ◽  
Production Lines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Agile Approach ◽  
The Right

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build a theoretic and practical framework, based on agile project management, to support the decision-making process in order to help companies in optimizing the reengineering production processes and improve management costs. Design/methodology/approach This paper seeks to propose an agile Reengineering Performance Model (ARPM) for managing projects of reengineering of processes and applies it in a real case study concerning a water bottling plant. Findings The proposed model should serve as a valuable tool to facilitate a successful business process reengineering design in the project management and intends to assist companies as they operate projects of transferring and optimizing production lines. Thanks to the use of ARPM tools, it is easy to modify the evolution of the project, with the possibility of extending or enhancing the application if necessary. Research limitations/implications The main limits of the ARPM model are: it requires close collaboration among team; it is rather intense for developers; and it is necessary flexibility to change course as needed and to ensure delivery of the right product. Practical implications The main implications of the authors’ work for research and business are to propose a structured methodological approach, rigorous but simple, suitable to implement in any companies. Originality/value The novelty of the approach is to apply the agile approach not for software development but in a manufacturing company.

scholarly journals Thematic analysis without paradox: sensemaking and context

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Ozuem ◽  
Michelle Willis ◽  
Kerry Howell
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Descriptive Phenomenology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Right ◽  
Data Context ◽  
Wide Usage

Purpose In this paper, the authors underpin thematic analysis with a philosophical and methodological dimension and present a nuanced perspective on the application of thematic analysis in a data-driven context. Thematic analysis is a widely used qualitative analytic method; it is perceived as a transparent approach that offers single meaning. However, through Husserlian descriptive phenomenology, this paper aims to examine issues regarding subject/object and multidimensional meanings and realities. Design/methodology/approach In most extant studies, thematic analysis has become a prescriptive approach. This emerging qualitative approach has been applied to a range of studies on social and organisational issues, knowledge management and education. However, despite its wide usage, researchers are divided as to its effectiveness. Many choose quantitative approaches as an alternative, and some disagree as to what counts as the definitive framework and process for thematic analysis. Consequently, the authors provide a level of validity for thematic analysis through emphasising a specific methodological approach based on ontological and epistemological positions. Findings Contrary to the common mantra from contemporary qualitative researchers who claim thematic analysis is often based on a static and enduring approach, the current paper highlights the dynamic nature of a thematic analytic approach and offers a deeper understanding of the ways in which researchers can use the right approach to understand the emerging complex data context. Originality/value Several insights regarding the literature on thematic analysis were identified, including the current conceptualisation of thematic analysis as a dynamic approach. Understanding thematic analysis through phenomenology provides a basis on which to undertake a whole range of inclusive approaches that were previously undifferentiated from a quantitative perspective.

A framework for VSM integrated with Fuzzy QFD

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 616-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mohanraj ◽  
M. Sakthivel ◽  
S Vinodh ◽  
K.E.K. Vimal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Value Stream ◽  
Current State ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Fuzzy Qfd ◽  
Manufacturing Organization ◽  
Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to apply a framework for value stream mapping (VSM) integrated with fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) for enabling scientific prioritization of improvement proposals to improve leanness. Design/methodology/approach – The literature was reviewed from the perspectives of VSM, QFD and fuzzy logic applications. The current state map was developed for the case component; fuzzy QFD was used for prioritizing improvement proposals and prioritized proposals were incorporated in the future state map. Findings – The approach enabled the scientific mapping of wastes with improvement proposals and thereby enabling systematic implementation of improvement proposals. The conducted pilot study resulted in 4 percent reduction in cycle time. As the lean implementation is a continuous process, furthermore improvements are expected in near future. Research limitations/implications – The study was conducted in an Indian camshaft manufacturing organization. The improvements in terms of leanness parameters were quantified. Practical implications – The findings determined from the study has practical relevance. Besides, managerial implications were also discussed. Originality/value – The study presented in this paper was conducted in a real time manufacturing environment. Hence the contributions of study are found to be valuable among academic and practicing communities.

scholarly journals A discussion frame for explaining records that are based on algorithmic output

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-141
Author(s):  
Herbjørn Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conceptual Frame ◽  
The Right

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to raise attention within the records management community about evolving demands for explanations that make it possible to understand the content of records, also when they reflect output from algorithms. Design/methodology/approach The methodological approach is a conceptual analysis based in records management theory and the philosophy of science. The concepts that are developed are thereafter applied to “the right to an explanation” and “an algorithmic ethics approach,” respectively, to further examine their viability. Findings Different forms of explanations, ranging from “certain” explanations to predictions, as well as varying degrees of control over the input data to algorithms, affect the nature of the explanations and what kinds of records the explanations may reside in. Originality/value This paper contributes to a conceptual frame for discussing where explanations to algorithms may be documented, within different kinds of records, emanating from different kinds of processes.

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