Implementation Of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (Amts) In The Small And Medium Scale Industries (Smis) Of Malaysia

The implementation of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) has been known to increase the competitiveness of manufacturing firms. For the small and medium scale industries (SMIs), the implementation of AMT is necessary to face the challenges of globalization and to ensure their future survival. However, studies have shown that the full potential of AMT can only be realized if certain requirements are in place before embarking on AMT implementation. The competitive benefits can be fully acquired if there is alignment between the technology and organization. Thus, the implementation of AMT requires not only technological change, but also supported by operational and organizational change.This study evaluates the ability and capabilities of the Malaysian SMis to implement AMI successfully. The current level of technology, the organizational and managerial capabilities of the SMIs were investigated to determine the extent of 'alignment' or 'misalignment' between technology and organization. By identifying the gap of the 'misalignment', the necessary steps can be taken to close this gap. A survey questionnaire was developed to meet the objectives of the study. A total of 1182 companies were included in the sample, and only 136 (-12%) companies responded. The results were analysed using the Statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) for mean values, percentages and correlation coefficients. To determine the 'gap' between technology and organization, a regression analysis was conducted to find the 'best fit curve'. The results showed that among the AMTs implemented, CAD and PLC were the most commonly used and adopted by about 25% of the companies. Other AMTs were used by less than 25% of the companies. It was found that, overall, the business techniques have greater emphasis compared to the engineering and manufacturing techniques, especially for the AMT that are in place and in progress. The companies showed a greater tendency for software based AMTs. The technologies implemented can be classified as 'stand alone' or level one AMT against the level four or fully integrated systems signified by the least common technologies implemented. Computer controlled equipment is hardly used and integration of functions through computer systems is very low. The companies showed a higher usage of computers for the business functions rather than in production

On the use of MCDM technique for identifying key technology: a case of auto company

In today's world, technology strategy development for industries is one of the most important tasks in proposing technology roadmap. Moreover, identifying strategic technology is main part of strategy development. This article tries to apply MCDM methods in finding key strategic technologies from identified technologies from in order to provide appropriate technology strategy. TOPSIS method helps in finding key strategic technologies from identified technologies from in order to provide appropriate technology strategy. At last Efficient TOPSIS method used for determining key strategic technology in Auto Company and key technology are derived from identified technology so as to develop technology strategy

Development of a model for technology strategy elaboration

Considering the role of industry in the economy, especially the developed countries and countries with automobile (automotive industry) seems to be necessary to develop technology development strategy. In this paper a model by choosing appropriate technology development strategy to how good we are. (So review existing models and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses of the measure applied in the industry with the closest model industry conditions is consistent with the practices were selected and other factors as the failure of this model was determined it developed a new model for strategy is presented)

A decision model for selecting of areas for improvement in EFQM model

To monitor the progress towards business excellence, thousands of organizations across the world use self-assessment on a regular basis. There are a few popular business excellence models that provide standard criteria against which an organization can measure its performances. European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) is the most popular ones. The EFQM Excellence Model was introduced at the beginning of 1992 as the framework for assessing organizations for the European Quality Award. It is now the most widely used organizational framework in Europe and across the world and it has become the basis for the majority of international, national and regional Quality Awards. It is a practical tool that can be used as a guide to identify areas for Improvement. However, the current EFQM model has some drawbacks and problems which are not able to identify the priorities in Area for Improvement (AFI). For organizations with limitations of time, budget and resources and cannot implement all the Area for Improvement, some standards or indexes and limitations should be defined for prioritizing and choosing the Area for Improvement. Using Topsis1 method which is one of the multi-attribute decision making model, the Area for Improvement can be identified. Therefore, this work will develop a method of evaluating, assessing and determining the Area for Improvement in the EFQM model. The results showed that the developed model is more valid and acceptable and the experts verified the model for selecting of Area for Improvement in EFQM in practice. The proposed model was employed in a case study and drawn out results from it and were evaluated from different points of view

Development of a decision model for selecting action plans in EFQM

In a progressively turbulent and competitive business environment, numerous organizations adopt the total quality management (TQM) approach to endeavor for business excellence; in this sense total quality management (TQM) and excellence frameworks play vital roles in organizational successes and sustainable business. Thousands of firms beyond the globe use self-assessment system in a regular manner to monitor the progress towards business excellence. There are a few popular business excellence models that provide standard criteria against which an organization can measure its performances. European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) is the most popular ones. Currently, it is the most widely employed as an organizational assessment model in Europe and across the globe and become the basis for the majority of international, national and regional quality awards. Nevertheless, the current EFQM model has some drawbacks, which are not able to recognize the preferences in Area for Improvement (AFI). Companies cannot be able to implement all the Area for Improvement due to constraints of time, budget and resources, etc. some criteria would be delineated for ranking and choosing the AFI. The proposed model is designed in order to develop a multi criteria decision making method using simple additive weighting (SAW) to consider multi criteria for selecting AFIs in EFQM in terms of expert panel opinions. The model was tested and verified under real condition and were implemented in a mega car producing company. The case was assessed by assessors and experts of an EFQM business excellence organization and internal assessors of the companies. Furthermore, by analysing of classic and new model, assessors and experts agreed with outputs of the developed model

Factors affecting quality during the construction phase in Iraqi government companies

Construction projects play a significant part in the development of any country and quality is one of the important factors in the success of the construction industry. There is a lack of understanding of quality is the problem in the construction industry in Iraq, but the main problem is the absence of good quality supervision of the construction industry. Based on the literature review yielded managers, designers, and contractors with necessary information needed to better manage the quality of a construction project by identifying the factors that affect process quality of construction projects and to rank them by degree of importance and develop a model to represent the factors affecting the overall quality of Construction projects. This study was based on questionnaire surveys, which was designed based on literature review. After, validation a total 109 questionnaires were collected among project manager, quality engineer, and general manager in Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis applying SPSS software Ver.21. The results of data analysis indicated that the level of importance all factors were more than a moderate level and the highest level which was almost high belonged to the material. The other factors, including Quality systems, Owner, Design, Equipment, Labors and contractor almost ranged between 3.69-3.75. Based on multiple regression analysis among all factors only “contractor” did not show any significant effect on quality in construction projects. The highest effect belonged to, quality systems with (β=0.289, P value<0.001) and then owner and materials followed by design, equipment, site staff and the lowest impact was observed for labor factor (β=0.137, P value=0.049)

A comparison on the capabilities of Malaysian SMEs with different equity structure in implementing advanced manufacturing technologies

The principal ownership of firms by equity structure or country reflects the differences in management styles and practices. Based on a “culture” of origin, many researchers have argued that national culture and different equity structure have an impact on management strategies and practices. In Malaysia, different equity structure based on the Bumiputra (the people of the land) and non-Bumiputra may have an influence in the implementation process of advanced manufacturing technology. Since the SMEs in Malaysia play a vital role in developing the economy, the use of technologies has been one of the main focuses by the government. Using data collected from 136 manufacturing companies in Malaysia, this paper presents the results of a study on the differences between the Bumiputra and Non-Bumiputra SMEs implementing Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT). The survey results showed that although the Bumiputra scored better in its organizational structure planning, provisions and training, it has less number of AMTs, mostly stand alone compared to the non-Bumiputra companies. However, both group of companies focused on short term solutions, rather than planning for the future with the AMTs they implemented. Also, the results indicated that the changes in nonBumiputra can be significantly correlated with AMT, but not so in the case of Bumiputra companies. Based on indices developed for organizational (O) requirements (culture, structure, workers skill) and technology (T) (integration of functions using computer, levels of computer usage), the fit between organization and technology was determined by regression analysis and compared between the two groups. The O-T map showed that most of the Bumiputra companies were in the stage 1 of technology implementation (stand-alone technology), while non-Bumiputra companies lie in stage 2 (having ‘Islands’ of automation). The R-squared value for the non-Bumiputra companies (0.4584) is much higher than the Bumiputra companies (0.2516) indicating that the non-Bumiputra companies has a higher fit between organization and technology. A fit between technology and organization has been shown by many researches as having positive contributions from AMT implementation. The results of the study have provided a better understanding of the underlying factors in these companies in the implementation of technologies, and thus, would enable the government to structure appropriate policies and programs for each group

Ranking of critical success factors in reverse logistics by TOPSIS

Environmental issues and governmental regulations have pushed companies to be more environmentally conscious and socially responsible. Sustainable production plays an important role in the global markets and companies practicing sustainable manufacturing processes for protecting the environment can increase their competitiveness. Reverse logistics is one of the sustainable approaches, which returns back used product from point of consumption to the point of origin due to recovery and product reuse. The identification of critical success factors for reverse logistics is essential to facilitate reverse logistics organization in implementing it. In this work, critical success factors (CSFs) in reverse logistics were identified based on the critical success factors in supply chain management. A survey was conducted among reverse logistics experts to identify the factors. Then, the factors were ranked by TOPSIS, showed that transportation as the most important factor followed by process planning and resource efficiency. However, innovation was the lowest ranked

Using TOPSIS method with goal programming for best selection of strategic plans in BSC model

Strategic planning is expressly significant for organization's success and competitive advantage making in an increasingly competitive business environment. Implementation of applicable strategies plays an important role for organizations' success. Balanced scorecard is a suitable tool for designing operative strategies. However, one of the balanced scorecard difficulties is the selection in strategic plans' performance. In this issue paper, was demonstrated a model for selection and ranking of strategic plans in Balanced Scorecard using Topsis method Goal Programming model. So first using the view and consensus of organization's managers and experts' opinions, measures of four perspectives and objectives are settled in BSC. And then using experts' opinions and taking the relative importance of decision makers' opinions into consideration, by using Goal Programming model and Topsis method, the implementations of strategic plans are selected in BSC model. The results are revealed that the introduced methods are more reliable and acceptable and the experts were verified the model for selecting of strategic plans in BSC in operation. The initiated methods were used in a study and derived results from it were analyzed from various points of view. In this article Initiative is called strategic plans

A Hybrid Method for Prediction and Assessment Efficiency of Decision Making Units: Real Case Study: Iranian Poultry Farms

The objective of this article is an evaluation and assessment efficiency of the poultry meat farm as a case study with the new method. As it is clear poultry farm industry is one of the most important sub- sectors in comparison to other ones. The purpose of this study is the prediction and assessment efficiency of poultry farms as decision making units (DMUs). Although, several methods have been proposed for solving this problem, the authors strongly need a methodology to discriminate performance powerfully. Their methodology is comprised of data envelopment analysis and some data mining techniques same as artificial neural network (ANN), decision tree (DT), and cluster analysis (CA). As a case study, data for the analysis were collected from 22 poultry companies in Iran. Moreover, due to a small data set and because of the fact that the authors must use large data set for applying data mining techniques, they employed k-fold cross validation method to validate the authors’ model. After assessing efficiency for each DMU and clustering them, followed by applied model and after presenting decision rules, results in precise and accurate optimizing technique