A Case study of value streams and lean implementation for a small print shop

The growing use of portable Internet devices (smart phones, iPads, laptops, etc.) has caused a huge shift toward digital distribution of content over traditional print processes. Poor economic conditions have contributed to increased customer price sensitivity and higher costs of goods involved in printing. These factors have changed demand for traditional printed products. Many printers have been unable to adapt to the new market environment, leading to dwindling profit margins and thousands of shop closures. Many strategies have been touted as the best way to stay profitable in the new market environment, including value-added services, new machinery, and software packages. However, according to the NAPL, productivity improvements, such as Lean, will now play the central role in differentiating the leaders in the industry. Printers, particularly small- and medium-sized printers, have been slow in their adoption of Lean or any of its variants. Lean organizations produce less waste (in its many forms), have improved product quality with shorter lead times, and have employees who are more engaged. Unfortunately small- and medium-sized printers are less likely to begin productivity improvement initiatives due to lack of knowledge, time commitment issues, fear of change, and lack of resources. The goal of this case study is to provide a theoretical framework and an in-depth example of how a small print shop\u27s production line operates and how to generate a tailored action plan for implementing Lean Manufacturing Principles. Specifically, the study focuses on the creation and usefulness of value stream mapping (graphically identifying the many forms of waste within a given system) for a small print shop. The case study is written with an easy to follow language as a guide to aide other small printers in creating their own Lean implementation plans. Careful, direct observation and documentation of a small 6-employee print shop occurred over a short period to gather data about the shop\u27s current value stream. Three product families were chosen for mapping: digital color printing, digital black and white printing, and offset press. Data collection focused on the workflow for jobs from creation to completion, how long each step takes, and how communication and materials move through production. Current value stream maps were generated using the collected data and were used to develop ideal and future maps. Detailed analysis of the current value stream revealed six key areas for the company to address that will provide the greatest benefit toward becoming Lean. The areas are: company culture, organization, bottlenecks, scheduling, communication and inventory. The following recommendations were made for the company to reduce waste and excess costs, improve value-added ratios, and reduce stress on employees. The current company culture has trust issues and does not encourage innovation. Management\u27s constant commitment to building and maintaining a new culture will be essential to creating change. Daily meetings and Kaizen events can help establish trust and empower employees to find and implement solutions. The shop floor needs 5S organization and will also require the implementation of an inventory system and reduction initiative. New suppliers may need to be found to accomplish just-in-time delivery. To alleviate bottlenecks in premedia and finishing, the graphic design stage should be removed from production to give production control the responsibilities of job scheduling and load leveling. Finishing then becomes the pacemaker process and dictates the flow, preventing push within the system. Kanban signals and supermarkets are recommended for maintaining a pull system. Communication across the shop can be improved through daily production meetings, utilizing exiting software for job tracking, establishing visual management boards, and establishing a sales department for handling customers

Management control as reflected in order filling and shipping procedures.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit

A Study of Efficiency Improvement in Test Automation for Electronic Invoicing Software Solutions

Testing is the process of experimenting or evaluating a system, either manually or automatically, to verify that it meets specified requirements or to identify differences between expected and observed results. Software testing, on the other hand, covers the dynamically performed verification activities to meet the expected behavior of software from an infinite number of work areas, with a limited number of appropriately selected tests. Test Automation is an important step of Continuous Deployment. Automation reduces bug fix costs by testing early and testing often principles. Automation projects also increase quality and reliability. But also the test Automation should be fast to keep track of the test. In this project, I aim to improve the testing efficiency and methodology. During my internship my supervisor and my team leader expected me to make some improvements on tests, try to find some ways to make the tests faster, or find what might be making the test slower and how to discard these parts.Testing is the process of experimenting or evaluating a system, either manually or automatically, to verify that it meets specified requirements or to identify differences between expected and observed results. Software testing, on the other hand, covers the dynamically performed verification activities to meet the expected behavior of software from an infinite number of work areas, with a limited number of appropriately selected tests. Test Automation is an important step of Continuous Deployment. Automation reduces bug fix costs by testing early and testing often principles. Automation projects also increase quality and reliability. But also the test Automation should be fast to keep track of the test. In this project, I aim to improve the testing efficiency and methodology. During my internship my supervisor and my team leader expected me to make some improvements on tests, try to find some ways to make the tests faster, or find what might be making the test slower and how to discard these parts

Advanced Computer Program Models : A Talking Textbook Based on Three Languages

The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a learning instrument, to be used by programmers preparing for the Data Processing Management Association Test as a self study book, or by college business programming and computer science students who have completed a course in data processing and a course in programming a higher level language. The mathematical ability requirement was minimized by developing the algorithms in parallel with the programs. The learner should experience _emphasis in the following .areas: l. The type of activities required to pass the DPMA test (the programming part) 2. Data Structures 3. Fortran (at the level of the DPMA test) I 4. RPG (at the level of the DPMA test) 5. Flow chart reading and writing Fortran and RPG (Report Program Generator) languages were used, since their proficiency is required for the DPMA test; however a subset of IBM Basic Assembler language was used, because the author believed that a person who is more than superficially interested in computers should demonstrate a proficiency with a machine language. An important part of this method of presentation are the cassette recordings which allow the learner to progress outside the classroom. The recordings plus the hard copy of the actual programs, diminished in size, give the learner material which he can move to any location and study without the presence of the instructor

Comparative study of logistics services in the container liner shipping market in the U.K. and South Korea

In line with the dramatic changes of business environment, certain liner shipping companies have claimed that what they are providing is a 'logistics service' rather than a 'traditional shipping service'. It was found that there is a shortage of discussion in existing literature related to the liner shipping industry regarding the introduction of logistics service and no empirical study on how the operation of such a logistics service has been perceived by shippers. The prime objective of the research is to provide a practical clarification to understanding an operation of logistics service in the liner shipping market. The Delphi technique was used to investigate the difference between the features of traditional shipping service and those of logistics services. It also explored the driving forces, which appear to stimulate liner shipping service providers to adopt logistics service concepts into their business area. A mail questionnaire was developed to analyse shippers' perception of logistics service and measure the performance of logistics service operation with reference to the international shippers in the U. K. and South Korea. An analysis of the survey revealed that there is a significant association between years in business and the perception of logistics service. With regard to the analysis of relationship between service providers' performance and choice of service providers, the research reached an answer by analysing the correlation between service providers' performance and the behaviour of choosing service providers. A positive correlation was found for transport, payment, and cargo related factors. On the other hand, no correlation was found for the document factor. With reference to these findings, service providers could initiate the target marketing for various classes of shippers. The comparisons between the U. K. and South Korean shippers were made in terms of the level of satisfaction on the service functions. The Delphi technique indicated the exploratory findings related to the conceptualisation of logistics service in the liner shipping market. The research dealt with experts' points of view only, albeit in some depth. However, the conceptualisation would be more developed if the views of service providers and service consumers were also sought. Based upon the size of the sample, caution must be exercised when making any broad generalisation. The research makes an original contribution to knowledge by applying a service function approach to a logistics service concept in the liner shipping context for the first time. The researchf indings could help explain consumers' assessmenot f their service provided in a wider variety of industries and therefore add to the understanding of perceptions and the assessmenot f the nature of logistics service operations

Using bar codes to improve labor and equipment tracking in the construction industry

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2001."September 2001."Includes bibliographical references.This thesis outlines the costs, advantages, and industry impacts of implementing a system to track resource allocations, procurement and deliveries of materials on construction job sites. By using bar code scanners and hand held data collection devices, the construction industry stands to reduce costs to owners by some $16 billion annually. The system will provide daily reporting of budget allocations across sets of phases, and automatically create various reports defined by the project team prior to beginning work. The result is improved quality, reduced project costs, and increased accountability of resources. The paper presents a dynamic system that has the capability to track a high level of labor and equipment cost detail, as well as an improved means of tracking submittals, approvals, fabrication, delivery, and installation of materials. The need for the system stems from the demands placed on supervisory personnel in the construction industry. Supervisory personnel include foremen on job sites and in fabrication shops, vendors shipping materials to job sites, project managers, and management in supply houses. With improved data collection capabilities, these individuals will provide their supervisors with improved cost information with greater frequency. This data will result in lower costs per reports, such as project schedules and inventory reports, and bolster the companies' historical cost data for all operations performed. Additionally, the system will allow contractors to recover a greater portion of extra work expense than they do presently, as well as shorten payment durations from general contractors and owners. The thesis examines the effect of implementation on a single subcontractor in a single trade. The potential ramifications of industry wide use of such a system are similar in scope to what the grocery industry experienced in the late 1970's and early 1980's as a result of implementing bar code technology to track and order inventory through the checkout process. At a minimum, the system promises to help individual contractors realize savings and increases productivity on construction projects. At most, it could change the way the world buys$4 trillion in construction services globally every year.by Jon Pizzagalli.S.M

City of Meridian v. Petra Inc. Clerk\u27s Record v. 4 Dckt. 39006

https://digitalcommons.law.uidaho.edu/idaho_supreme_court_record_briefs/4734/thumbnail.jp