An Integrated Fuzzy Framework for Analyzing Barriers to the Implementation of Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing

Purpose – Delivering premium services and quality products are critical strategies for success in manufacturing. Continuous improvement (CI), as an underlying foundation for quality management, is an ongoing effort allowing manufacturing companies to see beyond the present to create a bright future. We propose a novel integrated fuzzy framework for analyzing the barriers to the implementation of CI in manufacturing companies. Design/methodology/approach – We use the fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and a fuzzy Shannon’s entropy to identify and weigh the most significant barriers. We then use fuzzy multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis (MOORA), the fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and fuzzy simple additive weighting (SAW) methods for prioritizing and ranking the barriers with each method. Finally, we aggregate these results with Copeland’s method and extract the main CI implementation barriers in manufacturing. Findings – We show “low cooperation and integration of the team in CI activities” is the most important barrier in CI implementation. Other important barriers are “limited management support in CI activities,” “low employee involvement in CI activities,” “weak communication system in the organization,” and “lack of knowledge in the organization to implement CI projects.” Originality/value – We initially identify the barriers to the implementation of CI through rigorous literature review and then apply a unique integrated fuzzy approach to identify the most important barriers based on the opinions of industry experts and academics

Comparison of patient�s kidney function based on kidney disease improving global outcomes (Kdigo) criteria and clinical parameters in isolated coronary artery bypass graft (cabg) surgery in on-pump and off-pump methods in patients with low cardiac output syndrome (lcos) after surgery

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the serious complications of cardiac surgery. It is worsened when accompanied by low cardiac output syndrome. Objectives: In this study, we compared kidney function based on the KDIGO criteria in isolated on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: In this cohort study, 52 patients with LCOS were enrolled after on-pump (28 patients) and off-pump (24 patients) CABG. In the first six hours after ICU entrance, blood samples were taken for serum creatinine based on routine. For determining AKI after surgery, we used the KDIGO criteria as a primary endpoint. Also, some clinical parameters were recorded before, during, and after surgery. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 24, using paired and independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation test and non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.3) and gender (P = 0.57) between the two groups. Among cardiac disease risk factors, only hypertension (P = 0.02) had a significant difference between the two groups, but AKI in patients with hypertension did not show a significant difference (P = 0.09). In paraclinical parameters, serum creatinine showed a significant difference before and after surgery in on-pump (P < 0.001) and off-pump (P = 0.007) groups. Also, this parameter had a significant difference at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery between the on-pump and on-pump groups. The AKI incidence showed a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of AKI was more in on-pump patients than in off-pump patients. Also, a significant difference was observed between their clinical parameters. Thus, to improve the patients� clinical outcomes and lower the health costs, we suggest that patients with a high risk of LCOS be followed up after CABG, especially on-pump CABG. © 2020, Author(s)

Social commerce advertising avoidance and shopping cart abandonment: A fs/QCA analysis of German consumers

In recent years, due to the extensive use of social media advertisement and the development of social commerce tools, scholars and practitioners pay more attention to interaction with the digital channel, shopping intention, satisfaction, and retention. The objective of this study is to understand the shopping cart abandonment behavior as an outcome condition of ad avoidance on social media platforms. This research takes into consideration of cognitive, affective, and behavioral ad avoidance; alongside its antecedent conditions of perceived goal impediment, perceived add clutter, and prior negative experiences on social media. The research is conducted in Germany and Fuzzy sets/Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fs/QCA) is applied to understand the outcome condition of shopping cart abandonment. The findings imply that ad avoidance can create a learning mechanism for consumers about shopping cart abandonment of a brand or product if interrupted by a futile message or content. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Epidemiologic evaluation of ophthalmic traumas in 150 patients hospitalized in Farabi Hospital in Tehran

History and Objectives: Considering the incremental trend for the incidence of trauma and the existence of little information and much controversies in this field, the present study was carried out on referrals of Farabi hospital in 1999. Materials and Methods: The descriptive and sequential sampling strategy was carried out on hospitalized patients with definitive diagnosis of trauma. For this purpose the personal characteristics and condition were evaluated regarding the cause of trauma, its kind, the ensuing lesion and post-traumatic vision. Results: A total of 150 patients were studied and the incidence rate for post-traumatic hospitalization was 3.2, that is in the ages 16.3 respectively 14.5 from a minimum 3 months to a maximum 70 years and with a ratio of 2.7/1 for males to females. The most common causes of trauma were stone (14), wood (13.3) and knife (8.7) and the most prevalent lesion was corneal rupture (77.3), scleral rupture (30), traumatic cataract (25.3) and iris prolapse (25.3). Conclusion: Since the patient's characteristics, the causative agent and condition of trauma is different from other countries or in comparison with references, therefore it is recommended to perform more intense research in this field by other universities and their affiliated hospitals and to find the most appropriate method to involve in a general training program

Social commerce advertising avoidance and shopping cart abandonment: A fs/QCA analysis of German consumers

In recent years, due to the extensive use of social media advertisement and the development of social commerce tools, scholars and practitioners pay more attention to interaction with the digital channel, shopping intention, satisfaction, and retention. The objective of this study is to understand the shopping cart abandonment behavior as an outcome condition of ad avoidance on social media platforms. This research takes into consideration of cognitive, affective, and behavioral ad avoidance; alongside its antecedent conditions of perceived goal impediment, perceived add clutter, and prior negative experiences on social media. The research is conducted in Germany and Fuzzy sets/Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fs/QCA) is applied to understand the outcome condition of shopping cart abandonment. The findings imply that ad avoidance can create a learning mechanism for consumers about shopping cart abandonment of a brand or product if interrupted by a futile message or content. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

An integrated fuzzy sustainable supplier evaluation and selection framework for green supply chains in reverse logistics

Green supply chain management considers the environmental effects of all activities related to the supply chain, from obtaining raw materials to the final delivery of finished goods. Selecting the right supplier is a critical decision in green supply chain management. We propose a fuzzy green supplier selection model for sustainable supply chains in reverse logistics. We define a novel hierarchical fuzzy best-worst method (HFBWM) to determine the importance weights of the green criteria and sub-criteria selected. The fuzzy extension of Shannon’s entropy, a more complex evaluation method, is also used to determine the criteria' weights, providing a reference comparison benchmark. Several hybrid models integrating both weighting techniques with fuzzy versions of complex proportional assessment (COPRAS), multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis plus the full multiplicative form (MULTIMOORA), and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) are designed to rank the suppliers based on their ability to recycle in reverse logistics. We aggregate these methods' ranking results through a consensus ranking model and illustrate the capacity of relatively simple methods such as fuzzy COPRAS and fuzzy MOORA to provide robust rankings highly correlated with those delivered by more complex techniques such as fuzzy MULTIMOORA. We also find that the ranking results obtained by these hybrid models are more consistent when HFBWM determines the weights. A case study in the asphalt manufacturing industry is presented to demonstrate the proposed methods' applicability and efficacy

Customer Behavior Towards Second-Hand Online Shopping

The advent of Internet facilitated the emergence of sustainable consumption where consumers can easily buy second-hand products through websites or applications. As a cross-cultural study, this research aims to investigate under what circumstances customers buy second-hand products through online environment. A fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was used on a set of factors by seven marketing professors to rank the most important variables (based on literature review) associated with second-hand online shopping behavior from which price, brand nostalgia, eco-consciousness, need for uniqueness, and brand involvement were identified. Furthermore, to examine the customers’ perspective towards the extracted factors, this study used a survey approach from a sample of 261 Malaysian and 317 French online shoppers. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the measurement and structural models. While price, eco-consciousness, and brand involvement are found as the main factors conducive to second-hand online shopping amongst Malaysians, the results of French sample indicate that price, need for uniqueness, and brand involvement are the most significant variables. The results also imply that the sense of nostalgia is not relevant to second-hand online shopping in both cultural settings

The preventive effect of Ampicillin washing on ulcerative infection in perforated and gangrenous Appendicitis

History and Objectives: Considering the incidence of ulcer infection within incision area and its complications and a similar condition in perforated and gangrenous appendicitis and the efficacy of local application of antibiotics in reduction of infection, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of ampicillin washing in incision area. Materials and Methods: The clinical trial strategy of this study was performed on two groups for patients incised with McBorni method. All of the patients received intravenous injection of metronidazole and gentamicin one day before operation and for 7 consecutive days therefore received ciprofloxacin and were followed up for a period of 1 month. For healing, control group was washed with normal saline and experimental group washed with saline solution and ampicillin. Results: A total of 74 patients in two groups (n=37) were studied and they were alike regarding age and gender. The incidence rate in control and experimental group was 13.5 and 10.8 respectively that was non-significant statistically. In addition, age, gender and type of complication played no role in infection. Meanwhile, a thickness greater than 2cm for subcutaneous tissue can increase the incidence rate. Conclusion: It is concluded that ampicillin washing in comparison to saline itself can not affect the incidence of infection. It is recommended to perform more studies on ulcers with a subcutaneous thickness greater than 2cm