1,721,285 research outputs found
The impact of information systems on quality performance
No full textAsserts that information systems are an essential component in the efficacy of quality management systems and that information systems therefore merit greater recognition within the theory and the practice of quality management. Based on an empirically validated reference model which includes three dimensions: quality management practices, quality information systems (split into information flows and information technologies) and quality performance. The claim is stated through null hypotheses which are tested on a sample of 34 manufacturing plants, with more than 100 employees, in the electronics, machinery and auto-supplier industries. The results show that: quality management practices are closely linked to quality information flows; the contribution of information flows to the obtaining of high quality performances is considerable; information technologies seem to contribute something to the achievement of high quality performance and in particular of low defectiveness but their contribution requires further investigation; the upstream links with suppliers and downstream links with customers strongly influence the achievement of quality performance
Surveys
No full textWhen to use survey research. The survey research process. What is needed prior to survey research design: (i) the theoretical model, (ii) defining the unit of analysis, (iii) developing and testing the operational definitions, and (iv) stating the hypotheses. Designing a survey: (i) considering constraints and information needs, (ii) planning the activities, (iii) designing the sample, (iv) choosing the data collection method, (v) developing the measurement instrument, and (vi) defining how to approach companies and respondents. Pilot testing the questionnaire: (i) handling non-respondent and non-response bias, (ii) inputting and cleaning data, and (iii) assessing the measurement validity and reliability. Survey execution.
Data analysis and interpretation of results. What information should be reported in articles
Work organisation in lean production and traditional plants: what are the differences?
No full textProposes a framework (developed from an analysis of the existing literature) which will be useful to research the linkages between work organization and lean production practices. The framework considers two types of work organization practices: type (a) which is directly linked to lean production practices such as JIT/TQM (worker autonomy, multifunctional employees, feedback to workers, etc.) and type (b) which influences the setting up and the maintenance of type (a) practices (training, compensation, etc.). Tests hypotheses concerning the practices which can be said to be directly linked to JIT/TQM on data collected on 43 manufacturing plants through valid and reliable measurement instruments. The results show that lean production plants seem to use more teams for problem solving, to take employees' suggestions more seriously, to rely more heavily on quality feedback both for workers and supervisors, to document production procedures more carefully and to have employees able to perform a greater variety of tasks including statistical process control. Lean production plants, however, show almost no differences with regard to aspects of work organization which involve hierarchy
Achieving superior operating performance from integrated pipeline management: an empirical study
No full textOffers a reference model for the study of influences that new approaches to channel co-ordination have on company operating performance. Presents three propositions concerning the management of flow and quality. Explores these propositions by means of an empirical investigation of medium-sized manufacturing companies. Provides suggestions as to what should be done at chain level to improve the single firm operating performance
Relazioni con i clienti ed i fornitori e presazioni operative
No full textIl presente lavoro propone un modello di riferimento, basato sulle categorie dell'Operations Management, per lo studio dell'influenza che i nuovi approcci di coordinamento del canale hanno sulle prestazioni operative aziendali. Tale modello considera sia le nuove pratiche di coordinamento con i clienti ed i fornitori sia i sistemi informativi che supportano tali pratiche. Vengono inoltre associate al modello le misure delle variabili in esso incluse al fine di poter condurre indagini empiriche. La bontà di tali misure viene successivamente analizzata eseguendo le analisi di affidabilità e di validità. Infine vengono formulate alcune proposizioni di ricerca riguardanti le relazioni fra le varie interazioni a monte ed a valle e fra queste e le prestazioni operative e, ricorrendo ad una indagine empirica, si testa in via esplorativa la validità di tali proposizioni
Design for form postponement: do not overlook organization design
No full textPurpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop a theory of the organizational changes related to the production-planning process that facilitate application of form postponement (FP), an increasingly popular operations-design principle meant to alleviate the negative impact of product variety and customization on operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach - To achieve the theory-building objective, a multiple-case study involving four cases in the machinery industry was designed. In the inductive theory-building process, the authors borrowed from the information-processing theory to further corroborate the internal validity and generalizability of the findings.
Findings - The theory proposed by the author indicates that greater utilization of lateral relations in the production-planning process, higher production-planning frequency, greater degree of self-containment of the production-planning task, and simplification of the production planning-related environment favor application of FP.
Research limitations/implications - The level of analysis of the theory is the production-planning process of a product family within a company. Future research could extend inquiry of the organizational antecedents of FP at both higher and lower levels of analysis, such as the organization as a whole or the individuals participating in the production-planning process.
Practical implications - The theory supports managerial decision making by suggesting how to redesign the organization part involved in the production-planning process of a product family in order to apply FP. The difficulty and cost of this organizational redesign effort should be taken into account when companies consider FP implementation.
Originality/value - Past research has focused on changes to product design and to the manufacturing and supply chain process that enable FR This paper augments the understanding of FP enablers by developing the first model of organizational antecedents of FP. It also responds to calls for more research integrating insights from organization theory and operations/supply chain management
Surveys
No full textWhen to use survey research. The survey research process. What is needed prior to survey research design: the theoretical model; defining the unit of analysis; developing and testing the operational definitions; stating the hypotheses. Designing a survey: considering constraints and information needs; planning the activities; designing the sample; choosing the data collection method; developing the measurement instrument; defining how to approach companies and respondents. Pilot testing the questionnaire: handling non-respondents and non-response bias; inputting and cleaning data; assessing the measurement validity and reliability. Survey execution. Data analysis and interpretation of results. What information should be reported in article
Information flows for high performance manufacturing
No full textThe successful implementation of many management best practices (just-in-time, total quality management, concurrent engineering, etc.) heavily depends on proper organisational communication and information management. In this paper, we address the issue of how these best practices, labelled as high-performance manufacturing (HPM) practices, can affect a firm's communication structure. The paper firstly develops a reference framework for the analysis of information hows in operations. This reference framework integrates research in operations management and in organizational communication. The paper then applies the proposed framework to investigate how information flows lend to be characterised in HPM. In doing so, the proposed framework relates cost, time and quality performances to three operational processes (physical transformation, product development and material flow management) and to three classes of information flows: vertical, horizontal and external information flows
Quality information systems and quality management: a reference model and associated measures for empirical resarch
No full textDevelops the theory on the role of information systems within quality management. Proposes a reference model for the study of quality information systems within quality management. The model includes three dimensions: quality management practices, quality information systems (distinguishing between information flows and information technologies) and quality performance. Proposes associated measures. Measures validity and tests reliability on a sample of 34 manufacturing plants, with more than 100 employees, in the electronics, machinery and auto-supplier industries. Also tests construct validity and internal consistency of model dimensions. The results show that the measures are valid and reliable and the model dimensions are valid constructs with a good internal consistency. The model proposed and the associated measures can therefore be used to study the relationships between quality management practices, quality information systems and quality performance
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