ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES FOR LIGHTWEIGHT BIW DESIGNS, USING ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS

The main objective of the analysis was to investigate the forming of Body in White (BIW) panels using alternative processes most suitable for replacing the conventional press working process in order to achieve a reduction in the total mass of the vehicle body structure. The selection of the alternatives was guided by multi criteria decision making tool, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Here the alternatives were selected based on their relative importance to the different manufacturing attributes considered. The selected processes were applied to the manufacturing of different parts of BIW indicated in the BOM along with suggestion of the appropriate material to be used

Green Supply Chain Management Consideration Using Analitycal Network Process (ANP) Method in Supplier Selection in PT. XYZ

The concept of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is to integrate supply chain management with consumers, which includes the process of resource extraction, product design and development, distribution, waste disposal and recycle processes based on the thought of saving the environment. The problem found in this study is that suppliers pay little attention to environmental aspects as well as safety, delivery delays and quality. Government regulations related to the industry regarding the environment and the increasing number of people who switch to green products compel industry players to start incorporating environmental aspects into each of their production processes. This study uses the green supply chain management (GSCM) concept that integrates environmental aspects into business processes in the industry and discusses standardization of supplier selection. Selection of suppliers is an important problem that must be consider by the company in order to get suppliers who can support and improve the competitiveness of the company. The sample in this study was top management who worked at PT XYZ. Data collection techniques is using a questionnaire. The analysis of the green supplier selection was carry out using the Analytical Network Process (ANP) method because ANP is one method that is able to represent the importance of various parties by considering the interrelationships between the criteria and the existing sub-criteria. Criteria for selecting suppliers are financial, environmental, quality, technical (service). An ANP linkage model is base on the identification of criteria and sub-criteria and the interrelationships between the two. All of the criteria and sub-criteria are compare with each other. The comparison scores are process and obtained scores for each alternative supplier. The results is obtained data quality criteria have a score of 0.319, environmental criteria have a score of 0.254, technical criteria (service) has a score of 0.216 financial criteria has a score of 0.211. The supplier's recommendation is PT C because it has the highest score of 0.36

Analytic Network Process (ANP) for Housing Quality Evaluation: A Case Study in Ghana

Quality of housing is crucial to an individual\u27s quality of life as it is known to affect human health and well-being. Several studies have employed different methods to assess housing quality. These methods, however, failed to account for the interdependence among the factors (criteria) used for evaluating the quality of housing. This thesis proposes an Analytic Network Process (ANP)-based framework, integrated into Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to assess housing quality. ANP is a multicriteria analysis method. It provides a tool for identifying the relative importance of all the elements (criteria) influencing a goal of decision/evaluation problem (e.g., the problem of evaluating housing quality). The method allows for incorporating dependence relationships into the multicriteria evaluation procedure. A case study of housing quality evaluation at the district level in Ghana using the framework is presented. A set of quality based indicators related to the physical (structural material, dwelling types, housing services), socio-economic (tenure and household density (overcrowding) and environmental (modes of solid waste and liquid waste disposal) aspects of dwellings was used for the evaluation. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The GIS-based ANP approach allows for examining spatial distribution of housing quality. It also identifies the most important factors (indicators) contributing to the variability of housing quality in Ghana

Sustainable competitive advantage in maternal and child healthcare institutions: A resource-based approach

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to protect the rights of women and children, and made consistent efforts to promote their all-round and health development. The country’s efforts in maternal and child health (MCH) have made significant improvements to the safety of mothers and infants, meeting their diversified health care demands and increasing fairness in medical treatment. While China’s medical reform progresses, the fall in birth rate and the growing diversified and multi-level health care service demands of people call for the survival and development of MCH institutions, especially MCH institution at the prefecture level facing more changes and challenges. Thus, MCH institutions need to explore new ways to improve their competitiveness and meet the challenges brought by these new changes. This research integrates qualitative and quantitative research methods by using scientific methods such as the Delphi Method and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Through three rounds of expert consultation, we completed the construction of an evaluation index model of the competitive advantage of MCH institutions, and selected 10 MCH institutions to verify the applicability of the model. According to the sensitivity analysis results of the Super Decision software, the model was found to have good stability. From the evaluation model, it can be seen that human resources have the greatest weight. In practice, it is also found that people are the most controllable core resource, and the one with most potential. Therefore, by focusing on people as the core for MCH success, we have discussed the ways for MCH institutions to acquire and maintain competitive advantages from the three dimensions of discipline leader cultivation, scientific research ability improvement, and construction of a flexible hospital culture.O governo chinês sempre atribuiu grande importância à proteção dos direitos das mulheres e das crianças, desenvolvendo esforços consistentes para promover o seu desenvolvimento saudável. Nesse sentido, os esforços do país ao nível da saúde materno-infantil (SMI) trouxeram melhorias significativas para a segurança das mães e dos seus bebés, atendendo às suas necessidades específicas de cuidados de saúde e aumentando a equidade no tratamento médico. À medida que a reforma médica da China avança, a queda na taxa de natalidade e a crescente procura de serviços de saúde diversificados a vários níveis requerem a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento das organizações de SMI, especialmente a nível municipal, que enfrentam mais mudanças e desafios. Assim, as organizações de SMI necessitam de explorar novas formas de melhorar a sua competitividade e enfrentar os desafios trazidos por essas novas mudanças. O presente estudo integra métodos de investigação qualitativa e quantitativa, nomeadamente o método Delphi e o Analytic Hierarchy Process. Por meio de três rondas de consulta a especialistas, foi possível desenvolver um índice de avaliação da vantagem competitiva das organizações de SMI, tendo sido selecionadas 10 instituições de SMI para verificar a aplicabilidade prática do sistema de avaliação. De acordo com os resultados da análise de sensibilidade realizada com recurso ao software Super Decisions, o modelo apresentou uma boa coerência interna e estabilidade no cálculo das performances parciais. Através do modelo de avaliação criado, percebe-se que os recursos humanos têm maior peso nas avaliações feitas. Também se descobriu que as pessoas constituem o recurso central mais controlável e aquele com maior potencial de desenvolvimento. Como tal, ao focarmo-nos nas pessoas como o elemento primário para o sucesso das organizações de SMI, discutimos diferentes formas para que estas organizações possam adquirir e manter vantagens competitivas sustentáveis, nomeadamente a partir da liderança, da melhoria da capacidade de investigação científica e de uma cultura hospitalar flexível

An information model for lean, agile, resilient and green supply chain management

Dissertação para a obtenção de Grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão IndustrialIn modern business environments, an effective Supply Chain Management (SCM) is crucial to business continuity. In this context, Lean, Agile, Resilient and Green (LARG), are advocated as the fundamental paradigm for a competitive Supply Chain (SC) as a whole. In fact, competition between supply chains (SC) has replaced the traditional competition between companies. To make a supply chain more competitive, capable of responding to the demands of customers with agility, and capable of responding effectively to unexpected disturbance, in conjugation with environmental responsibilities, and the necessity to eliminate processes that add no value, companies must implement a set of LARG SCM practices and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to measure their influence on the SC performance. However, the selection of the best LARG SCM practices and KPIs is a complex decision-making problem, involving dependencies and feedbacks. Still, any decision-making must be supported by real and transparent data. This dissertation intends to provide two integrated models to assist the information management and decision-making. The first is an information model to support a LARG SCM, allowing the exchange and storage of data/information through a single information platform. In this model three types of diagrams are developed, Business Process Diagram (BPD), Use Cases Diagram and Class Diagram to assist the information platform design. The second is a decision-making model, designated LARG Analytical Network Process (ANP) to select the best LARG SCM practices/KPI to be implemented in SCs. Both models are developed and validated within the automotive SC, namely in Volkswagen Autoeuropa

Decision Support System to Select the Most Effective Strategies for Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect Using Sustainability and Resilience Performance Measures

As climate change continues to alter the temperature of the cities, various urban heat island mitigation strategies (UHIMSs) are now needed to be employed to mitigate the effects of increasing temperatures. However, to ensure their resilience and sustainability, the effectiveness of such strategies should be evaluated using a set of criteria. According to a review of the literature, there is a need for a comprehensive model and performance assessment tool that considers the various characteristics and features that are significant in assessing whether the chosen strategies are viable candidates for minimizing the effects of urban heat island (UHI). As a result, the primary purpose of this study is to develop a decision support system (DSS) to assist decision-makers in reducing the effects of the UHI by allowing them to choose the most viable mitigation method/technique based on resiliency and sustainability concerns. The DSS would function as a performance measure selecting tool in form of a quick-selection-guide-sheet of most effective method(s)/technique(s). Therefore, this study has identified, categorized, and organized affecting parameters in a comprehensive hierarchical framework based on sustainability and resilience. The system starts by creating a list of objectives (sustainability andresilience), criteria (economic, environmental, social, vulnerability, and resistance to change), attributes, and the most used mitigation methods for the UHI effect. The system\u27s second component is the main engine (using the Weighted Scoring method (WSM)), which is responsible for determining the best mitigation strategies - the system\u27s predefined goal. The WSM is being used in this study to develop matrices to do a pairwise comparison of criteria, assign a relative weight to each criterion, score each strategy against each criterion, and calculate the weighted scores based on gathered data from experts elicitation exercises. Decision-makers can analyze the UHIMSs after the matrix has been set up with weighted scores to find the best method that fits their needs (system objective). The third key component is the user-friendly interface, which combines the previous two components of the system and applies spreadsheets to present the best feasible mitigation strategy. The contribution this study seeks is to develop a DSS resembling a knowledge-sharing platform to support stakeholders like urban planners, architects, decision-makers, and policymakers in the extraction of UHIMSs, and in a wide scope, the expected benefit would be more sustainable more resilient design. In addition, this study serves as a foundation for the establishment of a dynamic computer-based decision support system (DSS) for selecting the most efficient UHIMSs

A Decision Tool for Supplier Selection That Takes into Account Power and Performance

Companies select their suppliers to provide required performance while being successful partners. An important aspect of collaboration is the power relationship between the company and its suppliers. Although the significance of power in supplier selection is acknowledged, published work rarely includes assessment of power. An empirical study on selecting suppliers for new product developments in a major European diesel engine manufacturing company, supported by three smaller studies with electronic engineering companies, frames overall questions regarding the importance of incorporating power into supplier selection and how this might be achieved. This research proposes an approach that assesses both performance and power and integrates the assessment results by modelling the relative effects of power and performance. It positions the suppliers into six scenarios (ideal, satisfying, tolerable, unfavourable, risky and tough) which depict to what extent a supplier is ‘suitable’ to work with. A reverse analysis reviews the relationship when several suppliers appear suitable. An assessment method is developed incorporating both subjective and objective data for qualitative and quantitative criteria. It combines two decision making methods, AHP and TOPSIS, with triangular fuzzy numbers. Multiple judgements from several decision makers are synthesised. This method is adapted for performance assessment of single, group and cross-group suppliers. Weights are calculated for the criteria, and combined with calculations of supplier performance against each criterion to provide an overall assessment and supplier profile. Power is quantified against a set of power determinants and power relations (supplier dominance, buyer dominance and balanced) are determined. The effects of supplier perceptions (objective, optimistic and pessimistic) are estimated in the calculation. The proposed approach involves complex calculations and a prototype software tool is developed with graphical interfaces. The tool includes performance criteria and power determinants collected from literature and allows users to define new ones. Application to an agriculture case enables the sustainable performance of suppliers (farmers) to be evaluated and compared

A Mathematical Modeling Framework For Phlebotomist Scheduling And Blood Draw Assignments In Laboratory Medicine

Laboratory services in healthcare delivery systems play a vital role in inpatient care. Studies have shown that laboratory data affects approximately 65% of the most critical decisions on admission, discharge, and medication. Laboratory testing accounts for approximately 10% of hospital billing. Reducing laboratory costs would contribute to reducing total healthcare cost, which is one of the major goals for the U.S. healthcare delivery system. This research focuses on improving the performance of the hospital laboratory in a large hospital system. The intention of this study is to identify and then optimize the most critical stage to improve the entire laboratory testing process. Using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP) modeling, the preanalytical stage was identified as most critical. Then, a two-stage stochastic integer linear programming (SILP) model was formulated to determine better weekly phlebotomist schedules and blood collection assignments in the preanalytical stage. The objective of the two-stage SILP is to balance the workload of the phlebotomists within and between shifts, as reducing workload imbalance would result in improved patient care. Due to the size of the two-stage SILP problem, a scenario reduction model and a heuristic algorithm were proposed to solve the problem. The performance evaluation results show that for practical cases the heuristic algorithm proposed could find near optimal solutions with a relative gap less than 3.5% within 20 minutes. The two-stage SILP model and the heuristic algorithm proposed will assist laboratory management in balancing phlebotomist workload, which could reduce the risk of poor phlebotomist performance and patient neglect caused by work overload. By implementing the recommendations of this study, hospital laboratories should see significant improvements in workload balance and resource utilization, which are both considered cost savings strategies