How did the publication of the book The Machine That Changed The World change management thinking? Exploring 25 years of lean literature

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to take a critical, analytical approach to explore the growth and spread of lean through the academic and practitioner community over the last twenty-five years. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive and systematic review of the extant of literature of lean was undertaken. The review spans from 1988 to 2013. To enable us to effectively manage and understand the diffusion of this set of literature a database, the Lean Publications Database (LPD), was constructed. Findings Lean has evolved to be one of the best-known, yet fiercely debated, process improvement methodologies. It emerged during a proliferation of such methodologies in business and management literature. Lean has developed from a generic description of Toyota Production System (TPS) to a particular type of organizational and management intervention focused on best practice and process improvement methodologies. Research limitations/implications This paper provides the first comprehensive review of the Lean literature, from the perspective of Lean as the unit of analysis. It covers both sides of the academic debate and categories the progression of Lean from its origins as a generic description of TPS to a movement that has change management systems in many and diverse sectors. Practical implications This paper demonstrates how Lean research, application and thinking has evolved over 25 years from its origins in explaining the performance improvements in Japanese auto-manufacturing to a holistic value system that is applicable to all business sectors, both private and public. Originality/value This study is original in that provides a different perspective to that of most previous studies. In most empirical studies on Lean, the unit of analysis is the organisation. However, in this study, the unit of analysis is the Lean phenomenon itself and represents a first step to developing an underpinning theory of Lean by linking it to the theory of swift, even flow (Schmenner and Swink, 1998), as such, it of interest to academics in the field of operations management and contributes to knowledge. It is also likely to be of interest to policy makers. Considerable amounts of public money have been spent, and continue to be spent, on promoting Lean. Taxpayers and policymakers are likely to be interested in whether that expenditure is justifiable. Twenty-five years of publications have been analysed to provide clarity around this popular approach to improvement

Decoupling thinking in service operations: a case in healthcare delivery system design

The notion of decoupling thinking has been well established in the manufacturing operations and supply chain management literature. This paper explores how this decoupling thinking can be applied in service operations and in particular in health care. It first reviews the relevant literature on decoupling fundamentals, the front- and back-office distinction, and new emerging decoupling thinking in service operations. Subsequently, a flow-based framework including content and process is developed for decoupling thinking in service operations. The framework provides an integrated perspective on customer contact, flow driver and flow differentiation (level of customisation). The framework hence, through flow differentiation, introduces the concept of standardisation versus customisation in a service context. This is followed by a health care case example to illustrate how the framework can be applied. The managerial implications are primarily in terms of a modularised approach to system design and management. The framework offers potential for benchmarking with other service systems as well as with manufacturing systems based on the shared foundation in decoupling thinking. Finally, suggestions are provided for further research opportunities derived from this research

The Change of Production Systems through Consultancy Involved Projects: a Multiple Case Study in Chinese SMEs

Production systems, such as Lean Production System (LPS), have been developed to improve organisational performance. In their application to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), resource constraints mean that business assistance from external agencies, such as management consultants, is often required. Building on organisational learning research associated with knowledge flow across boundaries, this study aims to explore the practical issues associated with consultancy-involved LPS implementation in Chinese SMEs and the possible approaches to deal with them. A multiple case study is conducted focusing on four real-life, consultancy-involved, lean projects in Chinese SMEs. Four key problems that arise from consultancy-involved change of production systems are identified and four relevant approaches to handle these problems are also addressed. The case study implies that to better embed new production systems, such as LPS into SMEs, both consultants and SME clients need to adopt a more proactive approach when engaging with each other

Profiling ellagic acid content: The importance of form and ascorbic acid levels

As the importance of plant-based antioxidants to human health becomes clearer there is a rapidly expanding search for rich sources of these compounds. Much attention is currently focussed on the antioxidant potential of ellagic acid (EA). Making assessment difficult is that EA occurs in different forms: free EA, EA glycosides and polymeric ellagitannins. The overall structure of these forms has a pronounced effect on their antioxidant efficiency and is responsible for widely differing reactivity, solubility and hence bioavailability properties. Often associated with EA is vitamin C which also contributes to the plant foods total antioxidant activity. Previous studies have suggested that ascorbic acid may have protective effects on the polyphenol content of plants. With a view to gaining evidence that the bioactive forms of vitamin C influence EA content, several fruits with a range of EA and vitamin C contents were examined. To facilitate a more detailed assessment of the selected fruits antioxidant potential the relative proportions of EA forms were also determined. In strawberries and boysenberries EA content was predominantly in the polymeric form (21% and 12% free EA plus EA glycoside vs total EA levels for strawberry and boysenberry respectively), while in Kakadu plum it was mainly in the free form (70% of total EA). An increasing percentage of dehydroascorbic acid (9 to 14% of total vitamin C) indicating enhanced transformation of ascorbic acid to its oxidative degradation product together with stable free EA levels (≈ 950 mg/100 g DW) over the 4 month frozen storage period for the Kakadu plum samples are consistent with a possible protective effect of EA by ascorbic acid

Criminal Law and Procedure

This Article surveys recent developments in criminal procedure and law in Virginia. Because of space limitations, the authors have limited their discussion to the most significant published appellate decisions and legislation

Towards a theory for Operational Excellence

The term Operational Excellence is widely applied to businesses but the meaning is ill-defined and is often used as a desired goal. This paper provides a comprehensive review of Operational Excellence and starts to address the criticism of its lack of theoretical foundation. The aim of this conceptual paper is to clarify the meaning of Operational Excellent and to identify the underpinning theories and laws, or rules that guide it. Based on the synthesis of the literature using the term 'Operational Excellence' writings are reviewed against five criteria for a good theory. Our findings show there has been considerable research into identifying common practices and regularities of Operational Excellence but currently there is no single underlying theory of Operational Excellence that meets the criteria for a good theory. From our analysis of the literature we provide some recommendations to address the gaps found. Further research is required to develop a more robust theory of Operational Excellence that will serve to facilitate learning and innovation in next generation management thinking. Future study is also required to identify research that has been carried out that has tested the laws identified in this study. Ideas and input from practitioners would also be required to develop the theory and underpinning laws

Structure and Reversible Pyran Formation in Molybdenum Pyranopterin Dithiolene Models of the Molybdenum Cofactor

The syntheses and X-ray structures of two molybdenum pyranopterin dithiolene complexes in biologically relevant Mo(+4) and Mo(+5) states are reported. Crystallography reveals these complexes possess a pyran ring formed through a spontaneous cyclization reaction of a dithiolene side-chain hydroxyl group at a C=N bond of the pterin. NMR data on the Mo(+4) complex suggests a reversible pyran ring cyclization occurs in solution. These results provide experimental evidence that the pyranopterin dithiolene ligand in molybdenum and tungsten enzymes could participate in catalysis through dynamic processes modulated by the protein

Structure and Reversible Pyran Formation in Molybdenum Pyranopterin Dithiolene Models of the Molybdenum Cofactor

The syntheses and X-ray structures of two molybdenum pyranopterin dithiolene complexes in biologically relevant Mo(+4) and Mo(+5) states are reported. Crystallography reveals these complexes possess a pyran ring formed through a spontaneous cyclization reaction of a dithiolene side-chain hydroxyl group at a C=N bond of the pterin. NMR data on the Mo(+4) complex suggests a reversible pyran ring cyclization occurs in solution. These results provide experimental evidence that the pyranopterin dithiolene ligand in molybdenum and tungsten enzymes could participate in catalysis through dynamic processes modulated by the protein

Reproductive and Sexual Healthcare Needs Among Adults with Disabilities as Perceived by Social Workers

People with disabilities often experience unique gynecological and reproductive healthcare needs, which may be exacerbated by their experience of sexual victimization. Previous research on adolescents with disabilities found that social workers held beneficial roles in supporting their clients to make empowered decisions concerning sexual healthcare, pregnancy, and parenting. This study aimed to assess the reproductive and sexual health needs of adults with various disabilities from the perspectives of their social workers. Eleven social workers working primarily with adults with various disabilities were interviewed using a phenomenological study design to offer their perspectives of the sexual and reproductive health needs of their clients. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed; themes and subthemes were identified. According to social workers, (1) adults with disabilities experienced distinctive reproductive healthcare interactions and challenges, including specific needs that were uniquely related to risks for sexual victimization and (2) social workers performed several roles in supporting sexual and reproductive healthcare of these clients, including education and brokering. Social workers demonstrated the need to support clients within a biopsychosocial framework since their biological, psychological, and social needs intersected to either restrain or empower their reproductive health. Social workers played key roles in supporting their clients in reproductive and sexual health decision-making, yet appeared to struggle to address ethical dilemmas, especially those related to ensuring their clients’ well-being and self-determination. Secondly, the results of this study made a connection between challenges in adults with disabilities’ receipt of health wellness exams and histories of sexual victimization