An Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach in Decision-Making for Material Selection in an Automotive Company: A Case Study

This study is an approach to investigate and to choose the suitable material for the fabrication of tools trolley to ensure the good quality of the product. The project team of an automotive manufacturing company is planning to fabricate 100 sets of tools trolley in the assembly shop. This study was developed to describe an approach based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) that can assist decision-makers and continuous improvement engineers in determining the most suitable material to be employed in fabrication process at the early stage of the product development to reduce the cost. The selected main criteria are Material Strength, Material Cost, Procurement Lead Time and Duration of Fabrication Process while the four materials that will be considered in this study are Aluminium, Steel Tube, and Square Tube. Finally, the results show that Square Tube is recommended as the most suitable material for the in-house tools for trolley fabrication

The Effects of Project Triple Constraint on Malaysia Building Projects

This study was carried out in order to investigate the effects of project triple constraint (time, cost and quality) on the building projects situated in Kuantan Malaysia. The main goal was to examine a series of barriers that are related to the building projects, most of which were caused by delay in time, cost overrun and poor quality of the projects. Aside from these, the lack of proper planning regarding cost estimation may sometimes lead to overestimation or underestimation, thus resulting in the delay of building projects or incompletion of the task. This study employed quantitative research technique because it is most suitable for the investigation. Data were analysed using both the IBM SPSS version 22 and smart PLS version 3.2.4 software. The general objectives of this research were to examine the size effect between time management, cost management and quality management on building projects. The respondents’ profiles were analysed using the SPSS while smart PLS was used to analyse the research objectives such as independent variable (time, cost, and quality) and dependent variable (building projects). The findings clearly showed that the project triple constraint (time, cost, and quality) had a positive relationship with the construction companies’ building projects

Regulation of health professions education and the growth of schools in Somalia.

BACKGROUND: Health professions education, encompassing training programs for medicine and surgery, nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory sciences,, and public health, along with their regulations, are pivotal to achieving universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals, contributing significantly to health outcomes and public trust in the healthcare workforce. However, low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, face challenges, such as inadequate resources, outdated curricula, and weak governance. Somalia in particular grapples with a fragmented health system and a critical shortage of skilled health professionals, exacerbated by decades of civil war and political instability. METHODS: This study employed a mixed-method approach that incorporated both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. A comprehensive literature review was conducted along with semi-structured interviews with 44 key informants, including representatives from professional health schools and officials from the Ministry of Health. Additionally, five focus group discussions were held with young professionals and an online survey was administered to students enrolled in professional health courses. The data analysis employed descriptive for quantitative data, and thematic analysis for qualitative data, guided by the human resources for health (HRH) maturity model framework. RESULTS: This study identified 112 health professions schools across Somalia, with a significant concentration in urban areas, particularly in Benadir. The health workforce analysis revealed a pronounced urban-rural disparity and a density of health professionals below the WHO's recommended threshold. The focus group discussions and surveys highlighted the employment challenges faced by young physicians and students' perceptions of their training and future employment opportunities. CONCLUSION: The proliferation of health professions schools without adequate quality control, the critical shortage and maldistribution of skilled health professionals, and the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework are significant challenges facing Somalia's healthcare system. The establishment of the National Health Professionals' Council (NHPC) Act in 2020 marks a step towards addressing these issues. This study emphasizes the need for accreditation of health professions schools, capacity building of HRH teams, and collaboration among stakeholders to improve healthcare workforce development and regulation. Addressing urban-rural disparities and combating professional misconduct are also crucial for achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes in Somalia