1,721,061 research outputs found
Improving the efficiency of public administrations through business process reengineering and simulation: a case study
Full text linkPurpose: this paper proposes a business process reengineering (BPR) approach to a public administration of Italy, to first assess the efficiency of the administration, then to redesign its internal processes, to improve the current performance.
Design/methodology/approach: a detailed mapping of the AS IS processes of the public administration was initially carried out, together with the collection of the relevant data. Then, a simulation model was designed to support the BPR approach. In particular, the model was exploited to assess the performance of the AS IS scenario of the organization, then to investigate numerous TO BE process configurations and evaluate the achievable performance improvements.
Findings: From the study, it emerged that the current efficiency level of the public administration examined has potentials to be significantly improved. For instance, by maintaining its current workforce, the public administration could consider the opportunity of providing additional services to the citizens or to serve citizens from the neighbouring municipalities. Otherwise, the organization could consider a reorganization and reduction of its current workforce, at the same time keeping the service level to its citizens almost unchanged.
Research limitations/implications: results of this study cannot be fully generalised, since the whole analysis is grounded on specific public administration. Moreover, although the simulation outcomes of the TO BE processes show interesting improvements compared to the AS IS scenario, the TO BE configurations were not (yet) implemented in practice. Therefore, the results provided should be confirmed in future research activities.
Practical implications: the case study allowed deriving some useful guidelines to improve the efficiency of the public administration examined, as well as to identify some TO BE configurations that could be implemented in practice.
Originality/value: scientific literature includes a limited number of studies that evaluate the efficiency of public organizations in real contexts. Moreover, no studies target public administrations in Italy. Therefore, this case study represents an interesting addition to the literature
The new product development process in the mechanical industry: evidences from some Italian case studies
No full textHow many to produce? The impact of machine flexibility on the performance of a supply chain
No full textThis work analyses the impact of machine flexibility on the performance level of a supply chain. A simulation model is developed to reproduce different supply chain configurations, with one player per echelon.
Machine flexibility is modelled as the capability of the manufacturer to produce different kinds of products, in response to the customer’s requests, and of the supply chain to manage those products. By means of simulation, six supply chain configurations are investigated, resulting from the combination of different numbers of supply chain players (from 3 to 5) and of products managed by the supply chain (1 or 3). For each scenario, we compute some economic outcomes (i.e., cost of holding stocks, stock-out cost, production or order cost and total supply chain cost), as well as the supply chain lead time and the bullwhip effect. Design of experiments and statistical analysis of outcomes are used to assess the significance of the effects measured. Results of the study provide some guidelines about the effect of machine flexibility on the
supply chain performance
The impact of agility on the performance of a supply chain: a simulation study
No full textThe aim of this work is to analyze the performance of different supply chain configurations, with a particular attention to the impact of agility of supply chain players on the performance level.
A simulation model is developed to reproduce a simple supply chain; the agile strategy is reproduced of supply chain players is reproduced by appropriately setting the simulation parameters. Overall, 18 supply chain configurations are examined, resulting from the combination of the following design parameters: (i) number of supply chain echelons; (ii) number of products managed by the supply chain; (iii) degree of flexibility of supply chain echelons. The agile supply chain is identified as the supply chain that manages a high number of products and whose echelons are characterized by a high degree of flexibility. The performance investigated for the supply chain configurations considered include some economical parameters (such as cost of holding stocks and stock-out costs), besides the supply chain lead time and the
bullwhip effect.
Results of the study suggest a possible impact of agility on reducing the bullwhip effect in the supply chain, and, under some circumstances, on reducing the costs of stock-out. Conversely, it emerges from the study that supply chain lead time, stock-out costs and costs of holding stocks do not significantly depend on the agility of the supply chain. The above results provide some guidelines concerning the performance achievable by adopting agile strategies in the supply chain
Attività motoria per il miglioramento dello stato di salute in carcere
No full textLa detenzione è stata associata ad una ridotta attività fisica. I detenuti sedentari hanno un sostanziale aumento del rischio di sviluppare diabete mellito, malattie cardiache e una serie di altre condizioni croniche invalidanti. Lo scopo del presente studio è stato quindi di valutare gli effetti di un programma di allenamento aerobico e di stretching su peso, IMC, circonferenza vita, circonferenza fianchi, rapporto vita-fianchi, fitness cardiorespiratorio (distanza al 6MWT), flessibilità ed equilibrio in 23 detenuti adulti sedentari. I risultati indicano che un programma di allenamento aerobico e di stretching della durata di tre mesi migliora significativamente il fitness cardiorespiratorio e l’equilibrio
Investigating the demand propagation in EOQ supply networks using a probabilistic model
No full textIn this paper, we introduce a new demand probabilistic approach, named M.DPA.eoq (Montanari Demand Probabilistic Approach in EOQ scenario), for predicting the demand seen by an upper-tier echelon (e.g., a distribution centre) of a supply network, serving several lower-tier echelons operating according to an economic order quantity (EOQ) reorder policy. The M.DPA.eoq is based on an analytic approach, by which we derive the distribution of the demand seen by the upper-tier echelon of the supply network. The approach has been designed to be very simple, so as to gain in pedagogical value. The simplicity and ease of application of this approach is confirmed by the possibility of exploiting general purpose software, such as Microsoft ExcelTM, to implement and validate it. Moreover, the M.DPA.eoq has potential to be directly exploited by practitioners, such as supply network managers, to estimate the distribution of the demand the upper-tier echelon will face under a defined network structure. Students and researchers could also benefit from such a model, given its ease of understanding and usage.
With the purpose of showing its potential usefulness in real cases, we discuss two practical implications of the M.DPA.eoq, referring to the use of its results for: (1) computing the bullwhip effect of the network; and (2) analysing the impact of each retail store on the variance of the demand seen by the upper-tier echelon
An adapted water wave optimization algorithm for routing order pickers in manual warehouses
No full textIn this paper, we present a new algorithm for routing order pickers in manual warehouses and optimizing the total distance covered. The proposed approach is an adaptation of the recent water wave optimization (WWO) algorithm, a nature-inspired algorithm based on the shallow water wave theory. The algorithm is tested on a rectangular 1-block warehouse, with 12 aisles and 45 storage locations per aisle side (1080 storage locations overall). The depot is located at the bottom left corner of the warehouse. A Microsoft ExcelTM file was programmed to reproduce both the adapted WWO algorithm and to test its performance, in terms of the travel distance covered by pickers. A formal design of experiment (DOE) analysis is carried out on some of the algorithm parameters, to assess their effect on the performance observed (namely computational time and number of iterations required to reach convergence) and identify the optimal setting
Modelling and multi-objective optimization of closed loop supply chains: a case study
Full text linkThis study investigates the issue of optimizing the asset management process in a real closed-loop supply chain (CLSC), consisting of a pallet provider, a manufacturer and 7 retailers. A detailed simulation model, based on an adapted economic order quantity (EOQ) policy is developed under Microsoft ExcelTM to reproduce the reorder process of assets by the manufacturer and the corresponding flow of returnable transport items (RTIs) in the CLSC. A multi-objective optimization, including both economic and strategic key performance indicators of the system, is then carried out exploiting the commercial software ModeFRONTIERTM. The optimization investigates three scenarios, which refer to as many operating conditions of the manufacturer. Scenario 1 basically reproduces the current operating conditions of the manufacturer, while scenarios 2 and 3 are both hypothetical, and describe situations where the manufacturer would like to minimize the purchase of new assets and the pick-up of assets from its customers, respectively. For each scenario, the optimal configuration (i.e., the setting of the asset management process that performs best in the multi-objective optimization) is identified. Scenarios 1 and 3 are found to generate the most interesting performance of the assets management process, from both the economic and strategic perspectives. Because the present paper is grounded on a real CLSC, the results are expected to be useful to logistics and supply chain managers, to support the evaluation of the performance of CLSCs
Intervento combinato di esercizio fisico e ultrasuoni - Dimostrazione di efficacia nel miglioramento della composizione corporea
No full textThe aim of this study is to analyze the effect of exercise training (aerobic and strength) combined with ultrasound treatments. The subjects underwent the following assesments: anthropometry, body composition (skinfold thickness), Sit & Reach, distance covered in the 6-minute walk test performed while wearing a step counter. Preliminary findings of the study show strong effects of combined exercise training and ultrasound in improving body composition and body shap
Ergonomic Assessment Methods Enhanced by IoT and Simulation Tools
No full textThe advent of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) principles and technologies has been a great boost for manufacturing companies, constantly focused on the production processes optimization in order to reach the double objective of improving productivity and minimizing related costs. Today, the use of I4.0 technologies seems to be more accessible for a large number of companies, allowing to perform a more detailed analysis on their processes by means of experimental data coming directly from the system. In this context, ergonomics, which has been underestimated until 30 years ago, is assuming more and more importance. This paper aims at proposing a methodology focused on an ergonomic analysis carried out by implementing data collected from the field; in particular, a set of inertial sensors integrated in the worker suit detects the body posture. Then, thanks to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data are transferred to a simulation software in order to quickly evaluate the current ergonomic effort. In this way, it is possible to perform a real-time evaluation on the workstation design and consider a possible re-design with the aim of improving ergonomics
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