11 research outputs found
Industrial Performance Measurement Systems Coherence: A Comparative Analysis of Current Methodologies, Validation and Introduction to Key Activity Indicators
No full textThis paper discusses and integrates the concept of complexity in the industrial performance measurement and management systems (PMM) theory, providing a comprehensive overview of the different methodologies used within the decision systems research area. It also discusses the importance of introducing Key Activity Indicators (KAI) within PMM, specifically related to the Operations and Supply Chain management research and industrial areas. Moreover, it provides validation of the methodology through a case study concerning the production environment of a multinational pharmaceutical company. The main research objective is to design appropriate industrial PMM systems with the aim of increasing the industrial efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing and service organizations. An analysis of the central industrial performance measurement systems design methods is conducted, classifying them into macro-categories and conducting a comparative study. Based on the analysis of the different proposed methods, organisations will be able to choose the best one based on their needs to design effective decision systems. The research work allows organisations to evaluate, assess, and design effective industrial performance measurement systems. Moreover, the proposed methodology can be easily integrated within an Industry 4.0 context, and benefit from the digitalization environment to obtain continuous feedback on the effectiveness of the industrial PMM
Optimal Shape for a Rectangular Warehouse with a Lateral Receive/Ship Dock
No full textPurpose: This technical note provides the mathematical demonstration for obtaining the optimal aspect ratio for a rectangular storage area with a lateral receive/ship dock, representing the standard configuration of modern distribution centers and logistic warehouses. The proposed aspect ratio is the one that minimizes the travel times of operators, keeping the common assumption of a storage area having a uniform access probability.Design/methodology/approach: To obtain the optimal aspect ratio of the storage area, the entry point of the uniformly distributed dock is modeled with a random variable, with a continuous uniform distribution, and the average travel path of the operator is consequently assessed as a function of the latter. Successively, the average roundtrip length of the operator is evaluated and minimized, leading to the optimal aspect ratio of the storage area.Findings: It is found that the optimal aspect ratio between the warehouse width (U) and length (V) equals 1.5. The obtained result - which is novel for the warehouse design research since no other contribution discussed it - shows that the operators' travel times are minimized with a storage area where 1 = 1.5V.Research limitations/implications: Warehouses with a dock on one side now represent the standard configuration of modern distribution centers'. However, no optimal aspect ratio for the storage area has been discussed. For this reason, the paper fills this lack of scientific literature in the warehouse optimization research by providing indications on how to design this class of warehouses.Practical implications: Distribution managers find here guidance for defining a proper design of logistics centers and evaluating the operators' 'travel times to perform a roundtrip within the storage area. Indeed, the found aspect ratio indicates the optimal design for a storage area with the abovementioned assumptions.Originality/value: Traditional warehouse shape optimization models assume a single input/output point to the storage area. To our knowledge, no formal demonstration has been proposed for a warehouse with a dock on one entire side. Hence, the added value and novelty of this contribution are given by the possibility to adopt the optimal aspect ratio to perform an adequate design of distribution centers and warehouses
The Impact of University Challenges on Students' Attitudes and Career Paths in Industrial Engineering: A Comparative Study
No full textThe educational landscape is undergoing a transformative shift from conventional teaching methodologies towards experiential approaches, such as flipped classrooms, case-based learning, and university challenges. This paradigm change spurred our investigation to evaluate the influence of university challenges on students' attitudinal development, alignment with future roles, and job satisfaction, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. To achieve this, we devised a questionnaire and a personality test administered to two datasets of Engineering and Management students commencing in 2022. The first questionnaire integrated 249 items from the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) and dimensions from the O*NET workstyles database, focusing on psychological constructs and job profile characteristics, contributing to the advancement of SDG 4's goal for inclusive and quality education. The second questionnaire covered various occupational dimensions. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between participation in university challenges and analytical thinking and innovation, demonstrating the potential impact of experiential learning on crucial skill development. However, job satisfaction seemed to be influenced by multifaceted factors, with no discernible impact stemming from contest participation during academic studies. This study quantitatively underscores the influence of experiential teaching methods, particularly challenge-based learning, within the context of SDG 4, shedding light on how these approaches significantly shape students' attitudes and perspectives. In the realm of education, the adoption of diverse teaching methodologies, such as collaborative teaching methods, learning factories, and active learning, has been on the rise, enriching the learning experience in university classrooms. Our research delves into the impact of integrating optional university challenges within Engineering and Management courses and their correlation with improved academic trajectories and enhanced job prospects. These findings carry significant implications for the evolution of university teaching methodologies and the definition of occupational profiles in the field of Industrial Engineering, offering valuable insights for business assessments in line with SDG 4
On the relationship between Human Factor and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): evidences from an application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process
No full textThe Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is one of the leading Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for manufacturing operations management, which is aimed at identifying and measuring the inefficiencies of industrial equipment. Along the years, the OEE indicator, first introduced by Seiichi Nakajima within the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) theory, has become a pillar
for continuous improvement and productivity measurement in the operations context, and is largely adopted by many manufacturing organizations. However, despite the wide adoption and implementation of OEE, the influence of the “human factor” on its outcomes has only begun to receive attention during the last decades. Indeed, in recent years few scientific contributions have investigated their relationship, showing that the link between manufacturing performances and human aspects appears relevant, though not clearly identified yet. For this reason, the objective of our study is to investigate the relationship between the Overall Equipment Effectiveness and the human factor, with the aim of identifying the human activities that exert an influence upon reaching high levels of OEE. To reach this goal, the paper first proposes a framework to clarify the relationship between human factors, OEE parameters, industrial sector and degree of automation, and then validates it through the
application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology, with a set of experts with relevant
experience in the manufacturing industrial setting. As a result, 13 aspects related to the human factor have been identified and their degree of influence on the OEE indicator has been analysed and described. Lastly, the paper provides practical guidance and implications for
leveraging the outcomes of this investigation, with the objective of improving an organization’s overall manufacturing performance
Objective key results and their role in modern performance management: a critical analysis of benefits, challenges, and integration with traditional tools
No full textIn the current era of rapid innovation and technological evolution, measuring business performance has become crucial for organizational success. Accurate performance measurement enables companies to identify areas for improvement, evaluate the effectiveness of business strategies, and make data-driven decisions. It has become an integral part of modern business management, allowing companies to adapt to the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly competitive and ever-changing market. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of an innovative goal setting methodology—“Objective Key Results” (OKRs)—by first examining their structure and definition, and then evaluating their application in various industries. Furthermore, this work aims to provide insight into the integration of OKRs with traditional performance measurement tools such as Balanced Scorecard, Hoshin Kanri, and Key Activity Indicators, exploring the synergies and differences between these methodologies. Lastly, the research provides guidance on how to implement OKRs within organizational processes along with a perspective on their practical usage. Hence, by presenting a critical analysis of OKRs and their potential benefits and challenges, this article seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of their role in modern performance management
Distribution in the large-scale retail trade industry: requirements for vehicle routing problems
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to outline and establish the characteristics and requirements of Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) in the Large-Scale Retail Trade (LSRT) industry. Characteristics and operational constraints of the VRP for the LSRT industry are described, after analysing some variants of the state-of-the-art models in the present literature. Successively, a comprehensive definition for this specific class of problems is provided, along with a taxonomy and a new VRP formulation. The research reveals that state-of-the-art VRP models often fail to thoroughly describe real-world LSRT instances, leading to seldomly applicable models. For this reason, the paper provides guidance to design and apply a model for solving real-world transportation problems in the LSRT industry. Hence, our paper establishes requirements and criteria for obtaining a VRP applicable to real-world instances of the LSRT industry
Human Excellence Maturity Model: leveraging Human Resource Management to achieve operational excellence
No full textThe objective of this paper is to propose a maturity framework in the human resource
domain (“Human Excellence Maturity Model” – HEMM), with the aim of supporting
organizations in achieving operational excellence through the adoption of Human
Resource Management (HRM) practices. The paper firstly provides an in-depth and
original literature review regarding both HRM practices and the state of the art of
human maturity models. Successively, a general maturity framework to assess and
improve HRM processes for the achievement of operational excellence is proposed.
The model structure allows to identify the level of organizational maturity through a
set of achievements, along with best practices and practical examples to translate the
proposed indications into operational practices and to determine the critical areas of
improvement for the organization
Soft Skills, Attitudes, and Personality Traits: How Does the Human Factor Matter? A Systematic Review and Taxonomy Proposal through ProKnow-C Methodology
No full textIn the realms of operations management (OM) and supply chain management (SCM), the significance of the human factor (HF) is increasingly recognised as a pivotal determinant of corporate performance. This burgeoning interest aligns with the recognition that individual characteristics—spanning personality traits, attitudes, and soft skills—play a critical role in enhancing organisational outcomes. Despite growing scrutiny, the discourse is hampered by terminological ambiguity and the conflation of critical human-centric concepts within the OSCM context. Addressing this gap, our study embarks on a mission to dissect and delineate the nuanced distinctions among “soft skills”, “attitudes”, and “personality traits”. By proposing a clear and actionable taxonomy, this paper aims to facilitate the practical application and understanding of these terms within organisational settings. Leveraging the “Knowledge Development Process-Constructivist” (ProKnow-C), we conducted a systematic examination of the existing scientific literature to unearth and critically review pertinent bibliometric and content analyses. Our work not only illuminates the path for future research but also underscores the necessity of clarity and precision in the conceptualisation and application of human-factor considerations in OM and SCM
Sustainable Value Proposition for the Digitalization of the Fire Inspection: A Case Study of the Swedish Fire Protection Association
No full textMSc in Innovation and Industrial ManagementThe relentless spread of technology and digitalization, over the past twenty years, has utterly altered and revolutionized the way in which corporations do business today and create and deliver value to their customers. Keeping up with the constantly changing trends is the key to not only be successful in the market, but also to develop and sustain a competitive advantage within a steadily transforming ecosystem.
The main purpose of the present Master’s thesis project is to show how a public service provider can move towards a digitized Business Model and seek for value creation.
In this respect, the ultimate objective of the research here presented will be to help the Swedish Fire Protection Association (in Swedish Brandskyddföreningen) develop a new Sustainable Value Proposition concerning specifically the digitalization of the Fire Inspections, with the aim to eventually deliver more and better value for the organization itself, its customers, partners and the society as a whole.
The present investigation has been thoroughly conducted with the final intent to produce and illustrate, exploiting the Value Proposition Canvas that is a template designed by A. Osterwalder and Y. Pigneur (2014), a new feasible and Sustainable Value Proposition for the Swedish Fire Protection Association, by collecting, examining and assessing all the different empirical data gathered throughout the entire period of analysis.
The most important findings that have helped the author practically complete the aforementioned task and fill in the theoretical model were, for instance, the necessity perceived by the Insurance companies to have further access to their customers’ personal data, to be capable to make better and advanced predictions of fire incidents and improved evaluation of the risks, to be more confident about the proper and efficient performance of the sprinkler systems
The Human Performance Impact on OEE in the Adoption of New Production Technologies
No full textThe initial adoption phase of new production technologies is the period between the first production run or technology reconfiguration and the achievement of a stable target output. This time frame is generally characterized by productivity unsteadiness, quality performance variability, and unexpected machine failures together with increasing production volumes due to the process setup and instability, which inevitably affects production output. In this context, human performance represents an additional source of variability and process instability that is dependent on the workers’ productivity, learning curve and related training activities. Hence, to effectively assess the ramp-up phase of new production technologies, an appropriate evaluation of human performance is required. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework and criteria to perform a consistent assessment of the initial adoption phase of new production technologies by introducing two OEE measurement methodologies that distinguish between human performance, process configuration and technical features of the production technology. The proposed framework is then applied to and validated by a case study concerning the introduction of a semi-automatic packaging machine in a primary multinational company in the logistics industry. This case study shows the difference between the two OEE measures, along with the values interpretation and useful insights for achieving a stable production output
