An experiment on task performance forecasting based on the experience of different tasks

Performance in a task is influenced not only by the experience obtained in doing this task, but by how recent it is and by the experience obtained in doing similar tasks. Competence-Performance Approach is used as the theoretical framework. A modified version of Nembhard and Uzumeri learning and forgetting function is proposed to forecast performance by including the experience derived from other similar tasks. An experiment with voluntary students of telecommunication engineering was carried out. The tasks require assembly of electronic circuits. The results fitted well with the proposed model.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A contribution towards a methodology for managing learning, multi-skilling and performance on the shop floor

High-performance work is applied in production methodologies like lean production. In this approach, workers are able to perform several different tasks and participate in continuous improvement. In order to be able to do this, workers must obtain practical knowledge of the tasks and acquire a global vision of the process. Work plans must take into account workers’ performance when they begin working on new tasks, the cost of learning new tasks in terms of training or low performance, the effects of previous knowledge and personal absorption capacity, and a final knowledge objective. We propose a task-assignment model that takes these factors into account. A particular version of the model is defined in detail. Several instances based in a real case are solved using optimization software. This proves that the model is affordable for moderate-sized problems. The information that can be obtained using this method is presented. These results form the basis for an applicable methodology to be developed in future research.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Analysis of flexibility clauses to adapt work time to demand in the automotive industry in continental Europe

This paper aims to describe and analyse the use of flexibility clauses instead of overtime to adapt work time to demand in the automotive industry in continental Europe. Flexibility to adapt to demand has become critical in the automobile manufacturing industry. Variability of the number of hours worked by existing staff is an indispensable component of manufacturing flexibility. Outside continental Europe, work time flexibility is obtains basically by using overtime. In continental Europe, the desire of governments and unions to maintain staff, and even to distribute the work more, strongly limits the possible accumulation of work time by the same workers. Due to the global nature of the automotive industry, this disadvantage has to be compensated. This has been achieved by the simultaneous used of several flexibility clauses, particularly average working time accounted and working time accounts. These clauses are designed to respect and even favour the interest of workers. National collective agreements of two outstanding cases, Volkswagen in Germany and Renault in France are analysed. Numerical internal variability generated by the combination of clauses is calculated. Equal or greater flexibility is seen than with the use of overtime, considering intervals of one or several years, depending on the case. It is concluded that the flexibility clauses are effective substitutes for overtime

Estudantes internacionais e o ciclo econômico: o caso dos estudantes latino-americanos na Espanha

The mobility of Latin American students to foreign countries is a very important phenomenon in the context of globalization and the internationalization of higher education. The total volume of students going to Spain to study is growing over the years, but a reduction in the flow of these subjects is currently identified. Apparently the reasons for this reduction have to do with the economic cycle that is found either the country of originPostprint (published version

Calibrating cross-training to meet demand mix variation and employee absence

We address the problem of determining the cross-training that a work team needs in order to cope with demand mix variation and absences. We consider the case in which all workers can be trained on all tasks, the workforce is a resource that determines the capacity and a complete forecasting of demand is not available. The demand mix variation that the organization wants to be able to cope with is fixed by establishing a maximum time to devote to each product. We contend that this approach is straightforward, has managerial practicality and can be applied to a broad range of practical scenarios. It is required that the demand mix variation be met, even if there are a certain level of absences. To numerically solve the mathematical problem, a constraint-based selection procedure is developed, which we term CODEMI. We provide illustrated examples demonstrating solution quality for the approximation, and we report on an illustrative set of computational cases. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. and Association of European Operational Research Societies (EURO) within the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS). All rights reserved.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Stabilizing work schedules in a call centre: expected and unexpected results

At call centres, work schedules change frequently and are often announced at the last minute, which causes absenteeism and turnover. We analyzed the call centre of a major Spanish electricity company. This centre requires a long initial training period and therefore turnover is especially damaging. New scheduling methods were adopted that limited the variability of individual timetables. Lower turnover and absenteeism were expected to compensate for the disadvantages of limitations to changes in timetables. We developed a software tool to assign timetables. An interval of time was assigned to each worker. The software calculated the coverage demand associated with these assignments. Next, the software establishes work on weekends and public holidays, weekday days off and, finally, individual timetables. This process is fully automatic, but every detail is displayed. Middle managers approved of the new policy and the tool. Nonetheless, turnover decreased less than expected and absenteeism, rather than decreasing, increased.Peer Reviewe

Shop-floor work organization in a lean factory: a set of indicators

Lean-production (LP) methodology is increasingly being used worldwide. Shop-floor work organization is a central aspect of analysing lean practices and supporting their implementation. This concept must first be precisely defined. The words “team” and “lean” have a range of very different meanings. We must define what we mean by teams in sociological systems, lean work in a broad sense and work organization for lean production. Work-organization practices appropriate for manufacturing or other activities that completely follow lean principles are known as work organization for lean production. Major studies of Toyota Production Systems and LP have set out the general principles to be followed by all areas of the company. Flow and kaizen summarize these principles, and both depend on how work is done on the shop floor. In spite of this, detailed work-organization practices are not described in the LP literature. Even though these practices do not define LP, more knowledge about them is required. Some aspects can vary from one case to another and over time, while others appear repeatedly in LP factories. In this paper, we analyse the literature. Based on this analysis, we propose seven policies and practices that define lean shop-floor work: standardization and control; training and learning; participation and empowerment; teamwork; multi-skilling and adaptability; common values; and compensation and prizes. Policies and practices that support lean implementation are deduced. We define a set of indicators to evaluate whether these policies and practices are applied in real cases and with what intensity. We consulted experts throughout the field about the indicators and their relation to LP. This study is part of a project aimed at obtaining tools to help companies with the work-organization aspects of LP implementation. The next steps will be to analyse real practices in various factories and study alternative methods and trends.Postprint (published version

Cellular manufacturing against relocation: the most efficient way to transform plants

This paper presents a methodology to help decide whether a process-oriented plant would become more competitive by relocating its facilities in a low-cost country or by transforming it into an efficient plant by means of the implementation of a cellular layout with production driven by demand, managed in accordance with the principles of lean manufacturing. In this paper, our methodology is applied to an existing processoriented production system A set of key magnitudes and cost data attributed to the production plant and the way it is managed are calculated. These key magnitudes, related to production cycles and inventories, are easily calculated by means of an Operation-Time diagram. Fourteen types of manufacturing and distribution costs are considered including those costs due to the relocation strategy, which are mostly related to logistics. The paper includes the necessary calculations to transform the original plant by implementing three U-shaped flexible cells and to quantify the number of employees that are necessary, taking into account global takt time and cycle time of individual processes. Key production magnitudes and production and distribution costs are then calculated for the cellular implementation. Final conclusions show that an efficient implementation of cellular production processes pursuant to the lean management principles (low resource consumption, elimination of activities that do not contribute to value creation, maintenance, on-time deliveries, high quality…) is able to offset, at least in the studied case, the improvement in costs attributed to relocation strategies in process-oriented plants managed in a conventional style.Postprint (published version

Impacto de los programas de becas en la movilidad de estudiantes internacionales: el caso de Brasil / Impacto dos programas de bolsas de estudos na mobilidade de estudantes internacionais: o caso do Brasil

Brasil es responsable por varios programas de becas en la educación superior, estos patrocinados por el gobierno e instituciones privadas que otorgan becas nacionales e internacionales. Este articulo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto de los programas de becas de Brasil en la movilidad de estudiantes al extranjero, en particular de los que eligen España para la realización de los estudios superiores. Para este estudio se ha utilizado los datos de los programas de becas del gobierno de Brasil, desarrollados a través del Consejo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (CNPq), Ciencia sin fronteras (CsF) y Coordinación de Perfeccionamiento de Personal de Nivel Superior (Capes) y también los datos de la UNESCO - Instituto de Estadística (UIS) series historiales de entradas (inbound) y salidas (outbound). Los resultados han demostrado que los programas de becas de Brasil tienen una importancia muy destacada entre los estudiantes brasileños, este factor tiene una presencia menor en los estudios de la literatura referidos a otros flujos, a pesar de ello, los estudios con estudiantes extranjeros para acudir a España son todavía escasos. En concreto, el flujo de estudiantes desde Brasil hasta España no ha sido estudiado con anterioridad, así que este estudio pretende cubrir esta carencia.  

Brazilian university students in Spain: motivations and decision factors

A mobilidade internacional de estudantes é um fenômeno de crescente importância no cenário da educação superior. Nota-se nos últimos anos um crescimento de estudos na literatura e investigações acerca deste tema. Este artigo apresenta os resultados de um estudo exploratório, cujo objetivo foi analisar as motivações e fatores de decisão no processo de mobilidade dos estudantes universitários brasileiros que elegeram a Espanha para seus estudos superiores. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa quantitativa, escala de Likert de 3 pontos, com 216 estudantes membros da comunidade estudantil brasileira na Espanha, distribuídos nos cursos de graduação, mestrado e doutorado, e o uso de fontes de dados estatísticos. A comparação entre os estudos anteriores da literatura e os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que os fatores nível acadêmico do centro e prestígio e perspectivas de futuro são coincidentes em ambos. De fato, esses fatores estão entre os mais significativos em quase todos os estudos de mobilidade internacional e também foram destacados pelos pesquisadores, confirmando a importância desses fatores na decisão de estudar no exterior. Por outro lado, entre os fatores que se apresentaram como mais relevantes no fluxo de estudantes brasileiros à Espanha, destacaram-se a experiência internacional, as bolsas de estudos, a imagem e cultura do país, o prestígio e as perspectivas futuras e o idioma espanhol.Postprint (published version