Using Fuzzy TOPSIS and Balanced Scorecard for Kaizen Evaluation

Background: Kaizen is a very important continuous improvement technique; however, measuring kaizen results/benefits have not been clearly and comprehensively addressed by the literature. Objectives: This paper aims to propose a kaizen measuring system by integrating a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and a Fuzzy Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy TOPSIS). Methods/Approach: Three research instruments were distributed to kaizen experts to allocate kaizen benefits into the four BSC perspectives. The best measures of kaizen benefits were determined by employing the Fuzzy TOPSIS technique. Results: The results present a kaizen performance evaluation system where the benefits were allocated into the four BSC perspectives, and the best measure for each kaizen benefit was chosen using fuzzy TOPSIS. Conclusions: The research contributes to the literature by proposing a kaizen measurement system that will pair each benefit of using kaizen with BSC perspectives and measures, thus expanding the advantages of adopting kaizen to any sector or industry

Parasitas em ostras de cultivo (Crassostrea rhizophorae e Crassostrea gigas) da Ponta do Sambaqui, Florianópolis, SC Parasites in cultured oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae and Crassostrea gigas) from Ponta do Sambaqui, Florianópolis, SC

Estudou-se a presença de parasitas e realizaram-se exames macroscópicos e histológicos em ostras (Crassostrea rhizophorae e Crassostrea gigas) cultivadas. Entre agosto de 2002 a maio de 2003, 30 indivíduos adultos de cada espécie foram coletados sazonalmente, totalizando 240 ostras. Os animais, provenientes de desova em laboratório, foram mantidos em lanternas de cultivo, em sistema suspenso tipo espinhel, com densidade de 40 ostras/andar. A cada coleta era registrada a mortalidade das ostras, a temperatura e a salinidade da água. A temperatura variou de 19 a 28,5°C e a salinidade, 31 a 35‰. A mortalidade foi de 48,3% para C. gigas e 70,8% para C. rhizophorae. A infestação pelo poliqueta Polydora websteri em C. gigas foi 100% durante todo o período e em C. rhizophorae, 100% em fevereiro e maio. O mal do pé foi observado em novembro (3,3%) e maio (23,3%) em C. gigas e maio (6,6%) em C. rhizophorae. As maiores prevalências do protozoário Nematopsis sp. foram de 70 e 60% em C. gigas e C. rhizophorae, respectivamente. O protozoário Trichodina sp. ocorreu em 1,6% de C. rhizophorae, e larvas do cestóide Tylocephalum sp. foram observadas em 2,5% de C. gigas. Nenhum dos parasitas encontrados foi associado à mortalidade das ostras.Over a 10-month period, cultured oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae and Crassostrea gigas) from Ponta do Sambaqui, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina State were evaluated microscopically and histologically for parasite infection. Thirty mature individuals of each species were examined each season, for a total of 240 oysters. The animals, which originated from laboratory spawning, were kept in culture lanterns suspended in long-line systems at a density of 40 oysters per floor. Mortality, water temperature (19 to 28.5 ºC range) and salinity (31 to 35‰) were recorded at each sampling. The total amount of dead oysters was 58 (48.3%) to C. gigas and 85 (70.8%) to C. rhizophorae. All C. gigas individuals were infected with polydiariosis parasites (100%) throughout the experimental period; whereas 100% infection of G. rhizophorae with polydiariosis was observed only in February and May. "Foot disease" was detected in 3.3% of C. gigas oysters in November and in 23.3% of C. gigas and 6.6% of C. rhizophorae oysters in May. The highest incidences of Nematopsis infection were 70% and 60% in C. gigas and C. rhizophorae, respectively. Trichodina protozoa occurred in 1.6% of G. rhizophorae individuals; while Tylocephalum cestoda larvae were found in 2.5% of C. gigas individuals examined. Total mortality percentages of 48.3 in C. gigas and 70.8 in C. rhizophorae could not be associated with parasite infection