Kanda Boonsothonsatit, Sami Kara, Suphunnika Ibbotson and Berman Kayis
The purpose of this paper is to propose a Generic decision support system which is based on multi-Objective Optimisation for Green supply chain network design (GOOG). It aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a Generic decision support system which is based on multi-Objective Optimisation for Green supply chain network design (GOOG). It aims to support decision makers to design their supply chain networks using three key objectives: the lowest cost and environmental impact and the shortest lead time by incorporating the decision maker’s inputs.
Design/methodology/approach
GOOG aims to suggest the best-fitted parameters for supply chain partners and manufacturing plant locations, their order allocations, and appropriate transportation modes and lot-sizes for cradle-to-gate. It integrates Fuzzy Goal Programming and weighted max-min operator for trade-off conflicting objectives and overcome fuzziness in specifying target values of individual objectives. It is solved using exact algorithm and validated using an industrial case study.
Findings
The comparative analysis between actual, three single-objective, and multi-objective decisions showed that GOOG is capable to optimising three objectives namely cost, lead time, and environmental impact.
Research limitations/implications
Further, GOOG requires validation for different supply chain scenarios and manufacturing strategic decisions. It can improve by including multi-echelon supply chain networks, entire life cycle and relevant environmental legislations.
Practical implications
GOOG helps the decision makers to configuring those supply chain parameters whilst minimising those three objectives.
Social implications
Companies can use GOOG as a tool to strategically select their supply chain that reduces their footprint and stop rebound effect which imposes significant impact to the society.
Originality/value
GOOG includes overlooked in the previous study in order to achieve the objectives set. It is flexible for the decision makers to change the relative weightings of the inputs for those contradicting objectives.
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This paper seeks to present the formulation of relationships involving different manufacturing flexibility elements related to the total chain of acquisition, processing and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to present the formulation of relationships involving different manufacturing flexibility elements related to the total chain of acquisition, processing and distribution in order to assess the level of flexibility practiced by Australian manufacturing industries.
Design/methodology/approach
A range of published works and a detailed data gathered from a wide range of Australian manufacturing industry through questionnaires are evaluated to determine how customer‐supplier relationships could have an impact on manufacturing flexibility and enhance the total chain of manufacturing. The main analysis tool used is logistic regression. The knowledge and analysis obtained are linked to evaluate the level of each type of flexibility as well as the impact of customer‐supplier flexibility on the total chain of manufacturing. Finally, a performance assessment framework is developed to connect the interlinking factors and contribution regarding customer, supplier, and manufacturing flexibility of Australian industries.
Findings
The relationships and correlation of data displayed would enhance the available body of knowledge on the total chain of manufacturing. Consequently, the relationships found in this paper can be used to support the overall flexibility assessment of manufacturing industries. In the paper, the current flexibility practices of Australian industries are assessed and a framework is suggested based on several elements taken into consideration. As the different elements under flexibility have suggested, the manufacturing flexibility of Australian industries as affected by customer‐supplier participation is found as medium. Suggestions for pursuing improvements are recommended.
Research limitations/implications
The main outcome of the research is to reveal that customer‐supplier relationship could significantly affect the flexibility level within the industries under different functional areas. As a result, to achieve the “real” flexibility of the system, flexibility has to be built into the total chain of acquisition‐processing‐distribution stages, not just focusing on the manufacturing aspects only. The flexibility framework developed in this paper would better assess the impact of customer‐supplier flexibility on the total chain of manufacturing and give more insights for analyzing the flexibility level of customers, suppliers, and manufacturers with data gathered across the globe.
Originality/value
The originality of the paper lies in its detailed analysis of the effect of supplier and customer contribution on manufacturing problems as well as developing a flexibility assessment framework to discuss its impact on the total chain of manufacturing. Its value to both body of knowledge and practitioners are emphasized in the paper.
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Flexibility has become one of the most useful and necessary weapons in many of today's competitive markets. For companies in situations considering investments in flexibility, it…
Abstract
Flexibility has become one of the most useful and necessary weapons in many of today's competitive markets. For companies in situations considering investments in flexibility, it is necessary to assess carefully exactly what flexibility could benefit the company's operations, and how this flexibility can be achieved. Different manufacturing situations are associated with different levels of uncertainty and variations, and therefore call for different sorts of flexibility. Although flexibility has been argued to be available (to a certain point) without major investments in technology, it can be assumed that flexibility is most likely to come at a price. A company should therefore spend considerable effort on identifying what flexibility would be of benefit to the organisation to enhance their performance, and thereafter assess how to achieve it. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of variability and uncertainty, and therefore, the need for flexibility within an organisation by examining market and manufacturing process related factors. Each factor is further examined to find out relevant flexibilities and corresponding methods, tools, and techniques to be used by suggesting proposed manufacturing approaches to organisations. The human factor is suggested as an essential flexibility component as well as a key contributor for selecting, developing, improving and implementing flexibilities in order to succeed in markets that are accelerating and becoming more turbulent.
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Bernard Kornfeld and Sami Kara
Although there is a considerable body of literature regarding the selection of improvement projects, little of it reveals what actually occurs in industry. To answer this question…
Abstract
Purpose
Although there is a considerable body of literature regarding the selection of improvement projects, little of it reveals what actually occurs in industry. To answer this question the authors aimed to determine how industry selects Lean and Six Sigma projects in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
Practitioners of Lean and Six Sigma were surveyed to ascertain the methods and criteria that are used to select projects as well as their attitudes towards these approaches.
Findings
This paper reveals: significant practitioner dissatisfaction with the approaches used; a gap between strategy formulation and portfolio generation; and that organizations generally use subjective or unstructured approaches and seldom apply the approaches that are advocated in the literature.
Practical implications
Improved linkage from strategy to portfolio ought to lead to better project outcomes and longevity of the methodology. There are opportunities for better translation of the state of the art to industrial application.
Originality/value
This paper presents a relatively large sample set (n=74) that reflects practitioner views on the state of practice in selecting Lean and Six Sigma projects and portfolios.
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Sami Kara, Suphunnika Ibbotson and Berman Kayis
Improved environmental performance of products and services have lately become one of the main strategic and operational goals of manufacturers. This is due to influences from…
Abstract
Purpose
Improved environmental performance of products and services have lately become one of the main strategic and operational goals of manufacturers. This is due to influences from various stakeholders including government, consumers, societies and the business partners. Evidently, different manufacturers differently implement their environmental practices for sustainable product development depending on various driving factors such as customer awareness, legislation, economic benefits and competitive strategies, etc. In theory, manufacturers can efficiently undertake sustainable product development by implementing life cycle thinking into their system. This way, they can monitor the environment hot spots throughout a product life cycle and be able to minimise the environmental impact effectively. Therefore, several researchers have focused on developing tools and strategies to support the manufacturers in implementing sustainable manufacturing and product development studies. However, in reality, each manufacturer may operate their manufacturing system differently to accommodate different demands and constraints induced by firm characteristics and its regional location. Their attempts to implement the sustainable tools and strategies to their companies would also be different. Thus far, a number of studies have studied the implementation for a specific company. No studies have examined the relationship between their decisions and implementation for different characteristics of firms and different manufacturing locations. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to comprehensively investigate the practices of manufacturers towards sustainable product development.
Design/methodology/approach
A detailed statistical analysis was conducted on the survey data gathered from 330 manufacturing organisations in 13 countries. The research questions mainly cover implementation approaches, decision tools and techniques used and main driving forces at the strategic and operational levels concerning environmental practices in sustainable product development. This is to bridge the gaps between the research outputs and implementations in practice for the developed sustainable strategies and tools. Results highlighted interesting relationships of the implementations across different geographical regions (locations) as well as types and sizes of manufacturers. They can be used to shed some light for future research direction, the dominant driving forces of consumers and regulations importance towards the manufacturer practices to improve not only the environmental performance but also their social responsibility. In total, 12 null hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships as well as the correlations between the manufacturing characteristics and the research questions which cover several driving forces in implementing the environmental strategies.
Findings
The results of this large-scale global research highlighted that different geographical/manufacturing regions are driven mainly by legislation, competition and consumer pressures whilst manufacturers of different sizes utilise various decision tools. Design tools such as LCA, DFE and ECQFD methods are likely to be utilised in the medium-and high-complexity product development by OEM and ETM manufacturers. Environmental responsibility plays an important role and also enhanced by other driving forces such as the economic benefits, the long-term survival in the market and the company image.
Research limitations/implications
Future work may include some or all of the following; such as respondents of this survey may be re-contacted and comparative data can be gathered from these manufacturers to capture the changes over the years. Further investigation of the sustainable supply chain management approaches, influences of dynamic driving forces and the environmental practices towards cleaner production practices such as improving energy efficiency, minimising waste, recycling scraps and reusing product as well as the product recovery practices for used products would be beneficial to gather and evaluate. This would support to address the current trends and emerging practices.
Practical implications
Results highlighted interesting relationships and thus provide some answers on strategies adopted by many manufacturers for the sustainability approaches and implementations across different geographical regions (locations) as well as types and sizes of manufacturers. The wave of change towards sustainability is clearly on enterprises, industries, communities and governments for thinking about solutions to increase the awareness in environmental sustainability thus reduce carbon footprint. In some areas there is clear progress but for many, this process is just beginning.
Social implications
There is an overwhelming amount of information, methods and opinions, and proliferation of initiatives. It is in this climate that not only manufacturers but society must provide a practical and effective way to develop and disseminate the skills and knowledge required to fuel an environmentally sustainable economy. To achieve this, results of global surveys like this paper may support manufacturers who need to work with communities and stay well connected to their stakeholders. This may lead to developing training packages that accurately reflect industry needs and provide leadership in communities and workforce development.
Originality/value
There is generally an understanding of the sustainable product development and the use and role of tools and techniques to improve environmental performance of manufacturers at micro-level (within companies based on selected product, process, environmental tools and manufacturing characteristics). Whereas, a large-scale research like this paper, to present the status of sustainable product and process development approaches used by manufacturers located around the globe, of different sizes, types within existing operational and corporate strategies and eco-design initiatives have not been detailed.
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Jessica Hanafi, Sami Kara and Hartmut Kaebernick
End‐of‐life (EOL) products have become a major environmental issue among countries and manufacturers. This is due to the growing number of EOL products and their hazardous…
Abstract
Purpose
End‐of‐life (EOL) products have become a major environmental issue among countries and manufacturers. This is due to the growing number of EOL products and their hazardous contents. Many collection strategies and pilot projects have been conducted to manage EOL products, especially Waste Electrical and Electronics equipments (WEEEs). However, as characteristics of a population are different to one another, a customized collection strategy is required. The purpose of this paper is to find an effective collection strategy which considers cost and environmental impact simultaneously.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents an integrated collection strategy which combines a Fuzzy Colored Petri Net forecasting method and collection network model to collect EOL products. Colored Petri Net is used in modeling the integrated collection strategy. To test the collection strategy, a case study on mobile phone collection in Australia is presented.
Findings
The integrated collection strategy developed in this paper finds that by providing demographic data and historical sales of a relevant product in a certain location, the best strategy to collect EOL products in that location can be determined. This paper finds that the best strategy that suits one location might be different to other locations.
Originality/value
This paper presents a model which provides a customized collection strategy that follows the characteristics of a population. This strategy allows government organizations or manufacturers to simulate the strategies to collect EOL products in different locations.
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Supachai Vongbunyong, Sami Kara and Maurice Pagnucco
The purpose of this paper is to develop an automated disassembly cell that is flexible and robust to the physical variations of a product. In this way it is capable of dealing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an automated disassembly cell that is flexible and robust to the physical variations of a product. In this way it is capable of dealing with any model of product, regardless of the level of detail in the supplied information.
Design/methodology/approach
The concept of cognitive robotics is used to replicate human level expertise in terms of perception and decision making. As a result, difficulties with respect to the uncertainties and variations of the product in the disassembly process are resolved.
Findings
Cognitive functions, namely reasoning and execution monitoring, can be used in basic behaviour control to address problems in variations of the disassembly process due to variations in the product's structure particularly across different models of the product.
Research limitations/implications
The paper provides a practical approach to formulating the disassembly domain and behaviour control of the cognitive robotic agent via a high‐level logical programming language that combines domain‐specific heuristic knowledge with search to deal with variations in products and uncertainties that arise during the disassembly process.
Practical implications
Full disassembly automation that is flexible and robust to the uncertainties that may arise potentially replaces human labour in a difficult and hazardous task. Consequently, the disassembly process will be more economically feasible, especially in developed countries.
Originality/value
The paper provides a practical approach to the basic cognitive functions that replicate the human expert's behaviour to the disassembly cell.
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Seyed Hamed MoosaviRad, Sami Kara and Suphunnika Ibbotson
The value adding of each industry represents the value difference between the outputs and inputs of that industry. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
The value adding of each industry represents the value difference between the outputs and inputs of that industry. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of international outsourcing on the value adding of industries.
Design/methodology/approach
Input output analysis and linear programming are used as for the research methodology. Australian Motor Vehicle and Parts Manufacturing (AMVPM) industry as an outsourcer and its main suppliers were selected for ten alternative international outsourcing scenarios in a case study.
Findings
In all international outsourcing scenarios except the baseline scenario, the reduction in the value adding of Australia would be approximately three times more than the value adding reduction of the AMVPM industry. Moreover, the international outsourcing ratio has negative relationships with the value adding of the Australian industries and positive relationship with the international industries. Finally, it was found that the degree of supplier's dependency on the orders of the outsourcer effects the percentage reduction of supplier's value adding.
Research limitations/implications
The aggregated data and the uncertainties in the technical coefficients are the main limitations of this research. The social and environmental costs, other tangible and intangible costs, as well as benefits of international outsourcing need to be further analysed in future research.
Practical implications
This study would help decision makers at the macro level to analyse and control the effect of international outsourcing on the value adding of their economies.
Originality/value
This study expands the current research at the industry level of international outsourcing by quantifying the effect of international outsourcing upon the value adding of all respected industries.
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Bernard J. Kornfeld and Sami Kara
The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic overview of approaches to project portfolio selection in continuous improvement and to identify opportunities for future…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic overview of approaches to project portfolio selection in continuous improvement and to identify opportunities for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the extant literature on the theory and application of project portfolio selection in continuous improvement.
Findings
Manufacturing organisations must routinely deliver efficiencies in order to compete, but their ability to realise sustainable competitive advantage from these improvements is hampered by the lack of objective approaches for targeting their improvement efforts. In this paper a normative framework for linking strategy to process improvement implementation is presented. The paper then examines the literature on portfolio and project selection in continuous improvement and presents a descriptive framework that represents the current state. Three gaps are highlighted: optimisation of the future state, portfolio generation, and the appropriate measurement to judge outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
As a review, this work relies on the use of secondary sources. Some of these sources were published in publications that are not peer‐reviewed.
Practical implications
There are significant limitations to the approaches used by industry for project selection but the methods described in the literature do not offer an adequate solution to this problem. Practitioners must be aware of the benefits and shortcomings of the methods and recognise that they assist with choice not design.
Originality/value
This review fills a gap in the literature by providing researchers and practitioners with an overview of approaches, a better understanding of the shortcomings of current approaches and a normative model that highlights areas for further research.
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The Finno-Ugric identity, originally formulated by 19th century academics and nurtured as part of national-identity movements, has revived since the collapse of the Soviet Union…
Abstract
The Finno-Ugric identity, originally formulated by 19th century academics and nurtured as part of national-identity movements, has revived since the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991). This chapter explores the transnational vitality of the Finno-Ugric identity for Estonians in the post-Soviet era. In particular, I ask, “How has the Finno-Urgic identity remained meaningful in the contemporary geopolitical context?” I draw on Schiffman's (2006) “linguistic culture” framework to understand the renewed relevance of the Finno-Ugric identity. I argue that the identity's continuing significance and renewed vitality stems from the new meanings that Finno-Ugric culture has taken on in the particular post-Soviet geopolitical context. I examine the key role of Finno-Ugric identity in Estonian efforts to sustain lesser-used-language (LUL) instruction domestically and to support its development internationally. By analyzing Estonia's varied experiences with LUL advocacy and development, I explore how Finno-Ugric linguistic culture functions as a rich resource in developing Estonian national identity, in making statements of ethnic solidarity, and in providing new methods for language revitalization.