Vendor Engagement Kaizen Framework Incorporating Risk And Reward Sharing In Lean Manufacturing Practice

Lean manufacturing seeks Kaizen in terms of quality, cost and cycle time. A robust problem-solving often extends to external parties such as vendors, to draw in their unique technology resources and knowledge. The perusal of contemporary peer-reviewed literature reveals limited academic investigation onto such form of partnership; particularly vendor engagement having elements of properly defined risk and reward sharing. In this premise, Vendor Risk and Reward Sharing – Kaizen (VRRS-Kaizen) framework was proposed as a generic and holistic prescriptive system to guide personnel to duly deal with vendors. The objective of the framework is to ensure systematic and effective practice. Plan-Do-Check-Act underpins the framework and dichotomises the relevant stages of Kaizen. VRRS-Kaizen commences with the identification by Kaizen Team for the need of calling in vendors for countermeasure development. Lean tools, proof of concept and multi-criteria scoring methods were used for assessments in the framework. Framework verification was performed through three case studies at an electronic measurement system company in Penang. Their scopes involve 100% elimination of device under test high internal temperature failures (Case Study One), reduction of high workstation electricity by 60.9% and maintenance charges by 55.6% (Case Study Two) and mitigation of high freight charges of Packaging Assembly 64A by 24% (Case Study Three). Evidently different in nature, these three cases have been successfully deployed following the framework. In total, these were translated into RM 204,105.86 in return (between 2017 to 2018), of which 45.52% was shared with vendors as financial reward sharing. The research objectives have been achieved

Contemporary assessment and pharmacotherapy of Tourette syndrome

To develop a guide to clinical assessment and pharmacotherapy for children and adults with Tourette syndrome (TS), we reviewed published literature over the past 25 years to identify original articles and reviews on the assessment and pharmacological treatment of Tourette syndrome, attention—deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive—compulsive disorder (OCD). The literature search also included a survey of reviews published in book chapters. The assessment section was compiled from several reviews. Pharmacological treatments were classified into those with strong empirical support (as evidenced by two positive placebo-controlled studies for tics, OCD, or ADHD in TS samples); modest empirical support (one positive placebo-controlled study), or minimal support (open-label data only). We conclude that accurate diagnosis, including identification of comorbid conditions, is an essential step toward appropriate treatment for patients with TS. In many patients with TS, symptom management requires pharmacotherapy for tics or coexisting conditions. The evidence supporting efficacy and safety for medications used in patients with TS varies. But this evidence offers the best guide to clinical practice