Identification of the Barriers in Implementation of Lean Principles in Iranian SMEs: Case Study Approach

The manufacturing sector is considered to be a cornerstone in the global economy through its influence on areas such as mining and construction in upstream and warehousing and transportation in downstream. Despite having a rich literature concerning the application of lean principles in the large companies, the number of studies related to SMEs is relatively limited and a lot of essential problems and areas are largely untouched in academic research. This paper aims to identify the main barriers in implementation of lean manufacturing principles in Iranian SMEs. In order to do so, case study approach was selected and 9 in-depth interviews were conducted in various industrial sectors such as electrical equipment, industrial machinery and automotive part supplier. As a result the main barriers were classified into four categories namely, lack of top management support, financial capability, lack of employee’s skill and expertise and organizational culture. Accordingly a guideline was developed that can be adopted to address the aforementioned barriers and reduce their costs by adopting the lean principle

Inventory optimisation adoption amongst SMEs

It is acknowledged that UK SMEs make a significant contribution to its economy. However, SMEs are generally slow to adopt new technologies due to intrinsic constraints such as lack of in-house expertise and investment limitations. Inventory is a key asset in any organisation. Most SMEs use of some form of IT platforms to manage inventory but it appears that inventory optimisation is not a prime goal. If deployed correctly, inventory optimisation can significantly reduce costs and improve operational effectiveness. This paper presents the underlying causes behind the lack of commitment to inventory optimisation in UK SMEs based on the evidence gathered from industry and literature. It also outlines potential actions that may be taken to motivate adoption of inventory optimisation in SMEs.</jats:p

Blockchain-Based traceability system for enhanced humanitarian supply chain management

Traceability and transparency are crucial aspects of humanitarian supply chains to ensure the efficient delivery of aid. Existing research emphasises the need for improved traceability and transparency to address challenges like corruption, counterfeit goods, and inefficient distribution. Traditional systems, however, often lack the necessary infrastructure and mechanisms to achieve these objectives effectively. Blockchain technology offers unique capabilities to enhance traceability in humanitarian supply chains. This paper presents a conceptual blockchain-based system designed to record and verify the movement of humanitarian goods and resources and facilitate collaborations of key stakeholders throughout the supply chain. By enhancing traceability, transparency, and stakeholder collaboration, this system could contribute to the effective delivery of humanitarian aid, ultimately benefiting the affected communities in their time of need

Data quality problems in discrete event simulation of manufacturing operations

High-quality input data are a necessity for successful discrete event simulation (DES) applications, and there are available methodologies for data collection in DES projects. However, in contrast to standalone projects, using DES as a daily manufacturing engineering tool requires high-quality production data to be constantly available. In fact, there has been a major shift in the application of DES in manufacturing from production system design to daily operations, accompanied by a stream of research on automation of input data management and interoperability between data sources and simulation models. Unfortunately, this research stream rests on the assumption that the collected data are already of high quality,and there is a lack of in-depth understanding of simulation data quality problems from a practitioners’ perspective.Therefore, a multiple-case study within the automotive industry was used to provide empirical descriptions of simulation data quality problems, data production processes, and relations between these processes and simulation data quality problems. These empirical descriptions are necessary to extend the present knowledge on data quality in DES in a practical real-world manufacturing context, which is a prerequisite for developing practical solutions for solving data quality problems such as limited accessibility, lack of data on minor stoppages, and data sources not being designed for simulation. Further, the empirical and theoretical knowledge gained throughout the study was used to propose a set of practical guidelines that can support manufacturing companies in improving data quality in DES

Teaching supply chain simulation : from beginners to professionals

Both in academia and industry, supply chain simulation is a relatively mature subject. Academic researchers have produced supply chain modelling/simulation frameworks and have used simulation to teach supply chain dynamics. A review of industrial applications however points to the heavy use of consultants and/or simulation software vendors. The shortage of in-house supply chain simulation skills/practitioners appears to be hampering the wider use of simulation. Although many universities in the UK offer postgraduate programs in Supply Chain Management a very few provide opportunities to learn and experience hands-on simulation. This paper presents how a commercial simulation software that understands supply chain language was used in various settings to develop simulation skills and teach supply chain dynamics. This paper will also outline how an integrated environment involving simulation software and an industry standard supply chain management framework can be used to develop the simulation skills and competencies of supply chain professionals

IDEF based methodology for rapid data collection

In recent years, computer simulation has become a mainstream decision support tool in manufacturing industry. In order to maximise the benefits of using simulation within businesses simulation models should be designed, developed and deployed in a shorter time span. A number of factors, such as excessive model details, inefficient data collection, lengthy model documentation and poorly planned experiments, increase the overall lead time of simulation projects. Among these factors, input data modelling is seen as a major obstacle. Input data identification, collection, validation, and analysis, typically take more than one‐third of project time. This paper presents a IDEF (Integrated computer‐aided manufacturing DEFinition) based approach to accelerate identification and collection of input data. The use of the methodology is presented through its application in batch manufacturing environments. A functional module library and a reference data model, both developed using the IDEF family of constructs, are the core elements of the methodology. The paper also identifies the major causes behind the inefficient collection of data.N/

The ISO 14001 Standard : analysis into its strengths and weaknesses, and potential opportunities for deployment by tomorrow’s global business

ISO 14001 is the most widely recognised and implemented international standard which organisations use to help reduce the negative impact which they may have on the environment. This approach is used by organisations from just about any industry sector and is used by SME’s (small to medium sized enterprises) to large Global organisations. It is a voluntary environmental management system that enables companies to be certified by an external certification authority. With environmental legislation and targets increasing globally year on year it is not clear whether ISO 14001 will ensure that companies can reach these goals or whether a modified or different approach is required? It is also unclear whether it is aligned to some of the new governmental legislation that is now becoming law including the (CCB) climate change bill in the United Kingdom. ISO 14001 has undoubtedly had a positive impact on reducing greenhouse gasses and reducing pollution levels that organisations emit, however research has shown that it does have some shortcomings that need to be changed in order to ensure sustainability of the approach. This paper explores and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of ISO 14001 and how these transcend into the key opportunities. It also introduces potential concepts and methods including the development of Green Lean Six Sigma Solutions that could enhance this well established environmental management approach for the businesses of the future

Embedding simulation technologies into business processes: challenges and solutions

The need to fully integrate simulation as a daily tool has been subject to much attention over the past few years. This study investigated the reasons behind the limited use of simulation and the past experiences of companies which implemented simulation. A literature review, questionnaire survey and case study were conducted to examine these factors. Subsequently, an easy-to-follow framework for enabling companies to embed simulation technologies into their business processes was developed. The framework comprises five key stages, namely: foundation, introduction, infrastructure, deployment and embedding. It provides a best practice approach to guide companies to integrate simulation as a mainstream technology