Applications of lean thinking: a briefing document

This report has been put together by the Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre (HaCIRIC) at the University of Salford for the Department of Health. The need for the report grew out of two main simple questions, o Is Lean applicable in sectors other than manufacturing? o Can the service delivery sector learn from the success of lean in manufacturing and realise the benefits of its implementation?The aim of the report is to list together examples of lean thinking as it is evidenced in the public and private service sector. Following a review of various sources a catalogue of evidence is put together in an organised manner which demonstrates that Lean principles and techniques, when applied rigorously and throughout an entire organization/unit, they can have a positive impact on productivity, cost, quality, and timely delivery of services

Regional technology framework: evidence pack

The evidence pack is a body of evidence collected to support the strategic prioritisation contained in the Regional Technology Framework (RTF)

Examining the contribution of internal customer service to improved e-procurement performance: A Case Study investigation

Much of the existing published research into the impact of electronic procurement has focused on the cost efficiency or implementation issues of its adoption. Issues relating to the significance of improved compliance on procurement performance were noted in our earlier paper [7], yet little if any research has so far set out to quantify the impact of electronic procurement on internal customers’ perceptions of service quality. This paper provides an examination of the impact of e-procurement adoption on internal users perceptions of service quality. Employing Johnston’s [15] 15 service quality criteria, we compared users perceptions of pre- and postelectronic procurement processes for two categories of supply: computer consumables and stationery. Using an online survey (appendix 1) a pilot study was conducted in a single organisation that has employed ‘supplyside’ electronic procurement for 18 months. We found that users expressed ‘delight’ in many aspects of the service provision relating to the design characteristics of the eprocurement system, but dissatisfaction with issues concerning the actual system delivery (particularly related to IT infrastructure and networks). This paper only provides early results from the pilot study, so further conclusions from our research must be deferred until a more significant sample of responses have been analysed

Building a boundaryless manufacturing organisation through HITOP method

There is little empirical research to support the allegation that ‘leagile’ manufacturing organisations thrive in hostile environments, nor has it been demonstrated that organisation processes (referred to as enablers) actually support ‘leagile’ performance. This study tests the statistical significance of five selected HITOP (highly integrated technology, organisation and people) ‘leagile’ enablers. This was accomplished by using a mail survey instrument to measure the presence of ‘leagile enablers’ in a sample of companies taken from best factory award winners in UK, US and Japan. [Continues.

Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street : Calendar 1991/92

Calendar of academic year 1991/92. Contents include. DIT Courses, fee structures, undergrad programmes, short courses, fees, research & development, campus companies, student services, college regulations, Graduates and prizewinners, awards and external examiners, advisory services for prospective students, college structures, college staff and college library. Foreward by F.M. Brennan, President

Emerging Informatics

The book on emerging informatics brings together the new concepts and applications that will help define and outline problem solving methods and features in designing business and human systems. It covers international aspects of information systems design in which many relevant technologies are introduced for the welfare of human and business systems. This initiative can be viewed as an emergent area of informatics that helps better conceptualise and design new world-class solutions. The book provides four flexible sections that accommodate total of fourteen chapters. The section specifies learning contexts in emerging fields. Each chapter presents a clear basis through the problem conception and its applicable technological solutions. I hope this will help further exploration of knowledge in the informatics discipline

Discrete Event Simulations

Considered by many authors as a technique for modelling stochastic, dynamic and discretely evolving systems, this technique has gained widespread acceptance among the practitioners who want to represent and improve complex systems. Since DES is a technique applied in incredibly different areas, this book reflects many different points of view about DES, thus, all authors describe how it is understood and applied within their context of work, providing an extensive understanding of what DES is. It can be said that the name of the book itself reflects the plurality that these points of view represent. The book embraces a number of topics covering theory, methods and applications to a wide range of sectors and problem areas that have been categorised into five groups. As well as the previously explained variety of points of view concerning DES, there is one additional thing to remark about this book: its richness when talking about actual data or actual data based analysis. When most academic areas are lacking application cases, roughly the half part of the chapters included in this book deal with actual problems or at least are based on actual data. Thus, the editor firmly believes that this book will be interesting for both beginners and practitioners in the area of DES

A framework for embedding simulation.

Although exemplars of successful outcomes from using simulation are readily available, little has been published outlining how simulation can be implemented in an organisation.This study examines on an experimental approach on how discrete event simulation (DES) can be implemented in an organisation and the various success and failure factors associated with it. The importance of factors like organisational culture, information management, and human resource management was investigated. To understand the general challenges faced by organisations in implementing simulation and other business process improvement techniques, various case studies were discussed. A questionnaire was also formulated to invite some of the well-known organisations that use simulation technology to evaluate the current methods and strategies in implementing simulation.The primary outcome was to create a framework for embedding simulation based on the research from the successful case studies and the findings and outcomes from the literature survey and questionnaire. The framework was validated using examples of various cases during the research experience in the collaborating organisation. The importance of creating a structural framework and its collaboration and co-existence with the current organisational framework and required project outcome(s) were highlighted. In creating a relevant and workable framework and validating the same, this study has contributed significantly to the research gap established within the existing simulation integration studies

Journal Usage Report for Fiscal Year 2012

Journal usage for the University Libraries are listed alphabetically by authority title. The report includes the usage statistics taken from each vendor and incorporated in Serials Solutions 360 Counter. The report is broken down monthly for fiscal year 2012 and shows each journal\u27s usage per month and the cost per use for the year, if available

Framework of Six Sigma implementation analysis on SMEs in Malaysia for information technology services, products and processes

For the past two decades, the majority of Malaysia’s IT companies have been widely adopting a Quality Assurance (QA) approach as a basis for self-improvement and internal-assessment in IT project management. Quality Control (QC) is a comprehensive top-down observation approach used to fulfill requirements for quality outputs which focuses on the aspect of process outputs evaluation. However in the Malaysian context, QC and combination of QA and QC as a means of quality improvement approaches have not received significant attention. This research study aims to explore the possibility of integrating QC and QA+QC approaches through Six Sigma quality management standard to provide tangible and measureable business results by continuous process improvement to boost customer satisfactions. The research project adopted an exploratory case study approach on three Malaysian IT companies in the business area of IT Process, IT Service and IT Product. Semi-structured interviews, online surveys, self-administered questionnaires, job observations, document analysis and on-the-job-training are amongst the methodologies employed in these case studies. These collected data and viewpoints along with findings from an extensive literature review were used to benchmark quality improvement initiatives, best practices and to develop a Six Sigma framework for the context of the SMEs in the Malaysian IT industry. This research project contributed to both the theory and practice of implementing and integrating Six Sigma in IT products, services and processes. The newly developed framework has been proven capable of providing a general and fundamental start-up decision by demonstrating how a company with and without formal QIM can be integrated and implemented with Six Sigma practices to close the variation gap between QA and QC. This framework also takes into consideration those companies with an existing QIM for a new face-lift migration without having to drop their existing QIM. This can be achieved by integrating a new QIM which addresses most weaknesses of the current QIM while retaining most of the current business routine strengths. This framework explored how Six Sigma can be expanded and extended to include secondary external factors that are critical to successful QIM implementation. A vital segment emphasizes Six Sigma as a QA+QC approach in IT processes; and the ability to properly manage IT processes will result in overall performance improvement to IT Products and IT Services. The developed Six Sigma implementation framework can serve as a baseline for SMEs to better manage, control and track business performance and product quality; and at the same time creates clearer insights and un-biased views of Six Sigma implementation onto the IT industries to drive towards operational excellence