Análisis y propuesta de mejora en el proceso de producción de yogur griego de una empresa peruana mediante herramientas Lean (5S)

The purpose of this investigation was to apply the Lean 5S methodology to the Greek yoghurt production process of a Peruvian microenterprise with the aim of analyzing and propose improvements in order to promote a culture of continuous improvement. The methodology comprises the 5 stages of sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain. Several engineering tools were applied to this end, such as a process operations diagram, route diagram, time study, VSM and Load/Distance Matrix. The research achieved a reduction in production time, with indicators such as a 40 % reduction in the load-distance matrix, a 36,8 % reduction in travel time, a 64,4 % reduction in preparation time and an improved lead time by 21,52 %. In addition, productivity saw an increase of 65,94 % as well as 15 % higher production efficacy.El propósito de la investigación se centró en la aplicación de la metodología Lean 5S en el proceso de manufactura de yogur griego de una empresa peruana, a fin de poder analizar y proponer una cultura de mejora continua. Esta metodología está compuesta por cinco fases: clasificar, organizar, limpiar, estandarizar y mantener. Se aplicaron diversas herramientas de ingeniería, tales como diagrama de operaciones del proceso, diagrama de recorrido, estudio de tiempos, VSM, matriz carga-distancia. La investigación dio como resultados una disminución de tiempos de producción con indicadores como reducción del 40 % en la matriz carga-distancia, reducción de tiempo de recorrido de 36,8 %, reducción de tiempo de preparación en un 64,4 % y un lead time mejorado en un 21,52 %. Además, la productividad mejoró en 65,94 %, con una mayor eficacia de producción en 15 %

Subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin for prevention of disease in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) can provide standardized and controlled antibody content. Data from controlled clinical trials using hIG for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 outpatients have not been reported. We assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) compared to placebo in preventing development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We did a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in asymptomatic unvaccinated adults (≥18 years of age) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 days between April 28 and December 27, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a blinded subcutaneous infusion of 10 mL with 1 g or 2 g of C19-IG20%, or an equivalent volume of saline as placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who remained asymptomatic through day 14 after infusion. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of individuals who required oxygen supplementation, any medically attended visit, hospitalisation, or ICU, and viral load reduction and viral clearance in nasopharyngeal swabs. Safety was assessed as the proportion of patients with adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of potential benefit in the target population in a planned interim analysis conducted in December 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04847141. Findings: 461 individuals (mean age 39.6 years [SD 12.8]) were randomized and received the intervention within a mean of 3.1 (SD 1.27) days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. In the prespecified modified intention-to-treat analysis that included only participants who received a subcutaneous infusion, the primary outcome occurred in 59.9% (91/152) of participants receiving 1 g C19-IG20%, 64.7% (99/153) receiving 2 g, and 63.5% (99/156) receiving placebo (difference in proportions 1 g C19-IG20% vs. placebo, −3.6%; 95% CI -14.6% to 7.3%, p = 0.53; 2 g C19-IG20% vs placebo, 1.1%; −9.6% to 11.9%, p = 0.85). None of the secondary clinical efficacy endpoints or virological endpoints were significantly different between study groups. Adverse event rate was similar between groups, and no severe or life-threatening adverse events related to investigational product infusion were reported. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that administration of subcutaneous human hyperimmune immunoglobulin C19-IG20% to asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe but did not prevent development of symptomatic COVID-19. Funding: Grifols