Formulating The Strategy In Managing Manufacturing Complexity

This paper proposed a framework formulating the strategy in managing manufacturing complexities which are divided into two main categories: production strategy and human management. The sub categories for production strategy are manufacturing area, scheduling management and supply chain management; while for human management are self-assessment and organizations’ transformation. There are a lot more elements under these sub categories. Each sub category is related with each other where manufacturing activities involved all of them. The conceptual framework initiated in this paper is able to provide general guidance for manufacturer to manage any sort of manufacturing complexity appeared during their manufacturing activities works or personnel to take action after determining the manufacturing complexity areas and components around their routine activities

Discovering The Classification Of Manufacturing Complexity From Malaysian Industry Perspective

Nowadays, manufacturing complexity (MC) is considered as a major challenge in manufacturing industry. MC covers a very wide area in manufacturing practices either within firm's control or out of control, either directly or indirectly with manufacturing routines. As the technology and globalization getting better, the challenges born by MC are also getting tougher. This scenario experienced by worldwide manufacturing firms including Malaysian manufacturing industry. In order to face this challenges, it is essential to manage MC accordingly. Although some researchers expressed MC negatively, it is believed that managing MC in correct manners will be beneficial to manufacturing firms. The first step towards managing MC accordingly is knowing MC itself in every angle. Generally, MC is divided into two division which are internal MC (IM) and external MC (EM). Initially, both division have several elements which the numbers are 30 and 22 elements for IM and EM, respectively. A set of questionnaire survey consisting of these elements has been distributed to representative of manufacturing firms across Malaysia to gather the information and through factorial analysis using Statistical software (SPSS), these elements are classified into smaller number of classification to facilitate towards the better MC management

THE TRIGGER SIGNAL FOR LEAN PRODUCTION PRACTICES : A REVIEW

Lean production is a social-technical management philosophy that focuses on eliminating waste, while improving the quality of product. It further makes manufacturers remain efficient, responsive and competitive in fulfilling various demands. However, failure to trigger the signal to begin familiarise the lean production will make the adaptation process unsuccessful or doomed to productivity hindrance. A literature review has classified that shorten the processing time, optimising the workspace, better inventory and storage control and efficient man-machine use are the significant trigger signal for manufacturers to start adapt the lean production practices. Discussion and exploration from the review have been discovered that the trigger signals identified is mainly affected by two dominant elements which is time and costs. This consequently influences how manufacturers should respond to the changes and variations in demand and how they use the available workspace in a manufacturing plant. It’s eventually led the way how manufacturers can manage the inventory and storage level and exploit the use of the workforce and machines in a manufacturing plant. These trigger signals closely related and influence on one another and affect the manufacturer performance. Besides, it will be able to provide valuable information for manufacturers to identify the proper action in adapting the lean production

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo