Hajime Yamashina and Shunsuke Otani
The purpose of this paper is to properly plan the preventive maintenance schedule for multiple elevators and optimize the number of maintenance workers.The total amount of the…
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to properly plan the preventive maintenance schedule for multiple elevators and optimize the number of maintenance workers.The total amount of the maintenance cost consisting of the labor cost, the part cost, and the quality cost (the loss evaluated in terms of cost, to be incurred when an elevator breaks down) is to be minimized.The method is presented of setting up the optimal preventive maintenance schedule on a long‐term basis by rescheduling the contents of schedule dynamically and flexibly in accordance with the ever‐changing maintenance conditions, taking the possibility of the future occurrence of failure into consideration. From numerical experiments, the validity of the proposal procedure for planning the preventive maintenance schedule and the effectiveness of considering the possibility of the future occurrence of failure in planning the schedule are shown, and the optimal number of maintenance workers can be decided.
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Hajime Yamashina and Shunsuke Otani
Elevator manufacturers are responsible for securing the safety and maintaining the performance, cleanliness and cosmetic appearance of the elevators which they sell.The purpose of…
Abstract
Elevator manufacturers are responsible for securing the safety and maintaining the performance, cleanliness and cosmetic appearance of the elevators which they sell.The purpose of this paper is to develop a cost‐optimized after‐sales strategy for the maintenance of an elevator part. First, in order to find an optimum maintenance method, the replacement probability and the inspection probability of the part are theoretically derived using each of the three maintenance methods: Time Based Maintenance (TBM), Condition Based Maintenance (CBM), and Breakdown Maintenance (BM). Then, the approach to plan a cost‐optimized maintenance method is presented and the relationship between the failure characteristics of the part and the cost‐optimized maintenance method is discussed.The results of using the proposed approach are compared with those obtained by Online Quality Engineering (Taguchi methods). Finally, from numerical experiments, it is shown that this approach can provide a more cost‐effective and better maintenance method than the method provided by Online Quality Engineering.
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Discusses the strategies used by Japan in the past to become aleading economic power. Examines the problems of the 1990s including theimpact of the appreciation of the Yen, cost…
Abstract
Discusses the strategies used by Japan in the past to become a leading economic power. Examines the problems of the 1990s including the impact of the appreciation of the Yen, cost structures and offshore production. Presents strategies currently being implemented by Japanese manufacturing firms and the role of total productive maintenance (TPM) to help maintain and strengthen Japan’s competitive edge. The strategies include just‐in‐time product development and cost reduction with the help of TPM.
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Discusses how a group of European manufacturing executives had the opportunity of seeing, first hand, the Japanese approach to TQM. Provides insights into their quality practices…
Abstract
Discusses how a group of European manufacturing executives had the opportunity of seeing, first hand, the Japanese approach to TQM. Provides insights into their quality practices and identifies the key to TQM elements common to all successful Japanese organizations. Describes the emphasis placed on increasing the average knowledge base of the workforce. Contends that Japanese companies have invested more resources in production engineering, documents, and TQM observations. Summarizes that the group learned a lot about TQ but recognised that this “way of life” may not be so easy to implement within their own plants.
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Logistics in the industrial sense started in transportation and distribution. Now it is a much broader professional function crossing the traditional boundaries of supply…
Abstract
Logistics in the industrial sense started in transportation and distribution. Now it is a much broader professional function crossing the traditional boundaries of supply, manufacture and retail. The emergence of logistics as a total concept particularly in the UK is discussed by Bob Hoilier, professor of Operational Management in the Management Science Department at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and Editor‐in‐Chief of Logistics World.
Armagan Altinisik and Utku Yildirim
Electrical defects cover an important part of assembly defects and strongly affect the vehicle system performance. Almost 40% of assembly defects are classified as human errors…
Abstract
Purpose
Electrical defects cover an important part of assembly defects and strongly affect the vehicle system performance. Almost 40% of assembly defects are classified as human errors and electrical connection failures represent a significant part of them. Humans still remain a cost-effective solution for the flexible manufacturing systems with increasing product complexity. So, understanding human behaviors is still a challenging task. The purpose of this study is to define, prioritize and validate the critical factors for the complexity of electrical connector plugin process.
Design/methodology/approach
The critical variables were defined by the expert team members. The required number of measurements and variables were revised resulting preliminary analysis of binary logistic regression. After the revision of measurement plan, the list of critical input variables and the mathematical model were defined. The model has been validated by the fitted values of the residuals (FITS analysis).
Findings
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the limited studies, which defines the critical factors for electrical connection process complexity. Female connector harness length, connector width/height/length differences, operator sense of correct connector matching and ergonomy were defined as the factors with the highest impact on the failure occurrence. The obtained regression equation strongly correlates the failure probability.
Practical implications
The obtained mathematical model can be used in new model development processes both for the product and assembly process design (ergonomy, accessibility and lay-out).
Originality/value
The obtained risk factors demonstrated a strong correlation with assembly process complexity and failure rates. The output of this study would be used as an important guide for process (assembly line ergonomy, accessibility and lay-out) and product design in new model development and assembly ramp-up phases.
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Torbjørn H. Netland and Ebly Sanchez
How can multinational companies become more productive on a global scale? The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a production improvement programme can improve…
Abstract
Purpose
How can multinational companies become more productive on a global scale? The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a production improvement programme can improve quality performance in a global network of factories. Specifically, the paper analyses the effects of the Volvo Group's production improvement programme on global quality performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The research approach is a case study of the Volvo Production System (VPS). The paper analyses the effects of the programme on global quality performance, using data from an implementation audit and a questionnaire survey. The paper triangulate the analysis with longitudinal quality performance data from three different plants.
Findings
The paper finds a significant and strong positive relationship between implementation of the VPS and improvements in both process quality and product quality. Hence, the paper suggests that tailored production improvement programmes have clear positive effects on global quality performance.
Research limitations/implications
As with all case studies, the paper should use caution when generalising beyond the specific case. However, the Volvo Group is a broad and diversified corporation, which mitigates this limitation.
Originality/value
While many studies have investigated the effect of production improvement programmes on performance, very few have looked at the effect of a corporate multi-plant programme. This study represents one of the first attempts to do so. The paper also provides a case description of the VPS that readers might find valuable in its own right.
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Don Jyh‐Fu Jeng and Thomas Bailey
As wireless penetration continues to increase worldwide, competitors in the mobile telecommunication industry are changing their strategies from a growth model to a value‐added…
Abstract
Purpose
As wireless penetration continues to increase worldwide, competitors in the mobile telecommunication industry are changing their strategies from a growth model to a value‐added one. The companies that can attract and retain customers in this highly competitive and increasingly saturated market stand poised to make considerable gains, and thus customer retention is an important field of study in this maturing market. Using the Canadian mobile phone market as an example, this work aims to study the major motivators of customer retention and their interrelationships, and assess the value that customers perceive with regard to the related advertising.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review and expert validation, the motivators of customer retention are divided into three dimensions and eight criteria. A systematic hybrid multiple criteria decision‐making (MCDM) method that combines the decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique and the analytic network process (ANP) is used to examine the customer retention framework and to evaluate the promotional strategies used by various market players.
Findings
The interdependence relation shows that phone service quality, customer service quality, and phone plan quality are three major motivators in terms of causality with regard to brand image, customer service quality, and complaint management, while phone service quality has become a hygiene factor with regard to customer satisfaction and retention. The findings from an assessment of the promotional strategies used by the major players in the Canadian mobile telecoms industry suggest that well‐financed foreign entrants pose a risk to the major domestic carriers, and that successful promotional strategies will require strong leverage of their existing price and quality advantages.
Originality/value
This work adopted a hybrid MCDM approach to examine a major strategic issue in mobile telecoms, – i.e. customer retention – and demonstrated the strengths of using this method to investigate rapidly changing markets. The relative importance of the motivators of satisfaction and retention is investigated, and a strategy for customer retention in the mobile telecoms industry is provided to managers.