Business Commons^™

Lasting Improvements In Manufacturing Performance: In Search Of A New Theory, Kasra Ferdows, Arnoud De Meyer

Arnoud DE MEYER

Is there a way to avoid trading off one capability for another in manufacturing? The prevailing wisdom says no. But some manufacturers seem to have been able to defy that: compared to their competitors, they have better quality, are more dependable, respond faster to changing market conditions, and in spite of all that, achieve lower costs. How can this be explained? Our aim here is to provide an explanation. We contend that the nature of the trade-offs among manufacturing capabilities is more complex than has been assumed. Depending on the approach taken for developing each capability, the nature of the …

Managerial Focal Points In Manufacturing Strategy, Arnoud De Meyer

Arnoud DE MEYER

Through analysis of specific decisions in the management of manufacturing in 163 companies, we have identified the key dimensions along which mort of the differences among manufacturing strategies can be explained. Previous research—mostly based on clinical observations—has focused on describing the typical decision categories in manufacturing strategy. Our large sample has allowed us to move beyond that and focus on the differences among manufacturing strategies. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires as a part of a large research project ‘Manufacturing Futures’. The responses to a list of 35 specific current action programmes in manufacturing were reduced through a principal component …

Evaluating Key Factors In Supplier Selection For Micro-Businesses: Implications For Buyer Satisfaction, Avinash Waikar, Minh Huynh, Robert Cope, Uday Tate

Uday S. Tate

Final quality of products/services starts with suppliers in the supply chain. Problems can occur if suppliers do not deliver the quantities requested in full, on time, or buyers select suppliers solely on the basis of lowest price. Supplier selection has been studied for large businesses but not for very small (micro) businesses. Therefore, a survey was administered to micro-businesses to determine: what factors are important to micro-businesses in selecting suppliers and how satisfied they are with their suppliers. Factors included Brand Name, Consistency, Cost/Lower Price, Loyalty, Quality, and Warranty. Results indicated that none of the factors were unimportant. However, buyer …

Creating Quality Precision Instrument: Vfma_35 For The Conduct Of Value For Money Audit Using The Rasch Model, Razimah Abdullah, Mohd Saidfudin Masodi

Razimah Abdullah

Just like an examination paper, the reliability of a survey questionnaire as a measuring instrument is crucial if we want a good and valid instrument. The length of test and rating scale or distractor operational definition are among the determinants that will affect the validity of the instrument. However, how do we assure that we are measuring what is to be measured? This paper investigates the construct validity of an instrument named, VFMA_35 by applying the Rasch analysis. The precision of the instrument is established from the item measurement standard error (SE). Analysis using Rasch creates a functional precise instrument …

Intellectual Capital Statement (Ics) As A Method Of Measurement And Management Of Knowledge Assets, Anna Ujwary-Gil

Anna Ujwary-Gil

The article describes empirical verification of an interesting model – Intellectual Capital Statement (ICS). ICS is an example of a method which emphasizes the European contribution into the developing trend of intellectual capital (IC) measure and evaluation, with particular attention paid to the SME sector (a strong presence of Scandinavian countries and the USA is noticeable here). ICS is presented here as a tool enabling us to manage and evaluate IC of a company and to demonstrate the dynamics of its changes. The article contains a case study of a company operating in the construction sector in Poland. It also …

Can We Make Accounting Relevant Again? Non-Traditional Accounting Systems Can Drive Productivity And Future Prosperity, Mark Doggett

Mark Doggett

No abstract provided.

Human Resource Management, Service Quality, And Economic Performance In Call Centers, Rosemary Batt, Lisa M. Moynihan

Rosemary Batt

This paper examines the relationship between human resource practices, operational outcomes, and economic performance in call centers. The study draws on a sample of 64 call centers serving the mass market in a large telecommunications services company. Surveys of 1,243 employees in the 64 centers were aggregated to the call center level and matched to archival data on service process quality, as measured by customer surveys; call handling time, revenues per call, and net revenues per call. Our path analysis shows that human resource practices emphasizing employee training, discretion, and rewards lead to higher service quality, higher revenues per call, …

The Economic Costs And Benefits Of Self-Managed Teams Among Skilled Technicians, Rosemary Batt

Rosemary Batt

This paper estimates the economic costs and benefits of implementing teams among highly-skilled technicians in a large regional telecommunications company. It matches individual survey and objective performance data for 230 employees in matched pairs of traditionally-supervised and self-managed groups. Multivariate regressions with appropriate controls show that teams do the work of supervisors in 60-70% less time, reducing indirect labor costs by 75 percent per team. Objective measures of quality and labor productivity are unaffected. Team members receive additional overtime pay that represents a 4-5 percent annual wage premium, which may be viewed alternatively as a share in the productivity gains …

Application Of Probabilistic Model By Rasch Measurement To Establish A Performance Index: A Case Study In Audits On Malaysian Institutions Of Higher Learning, Razimah Abdullah, Rosmawati Abd Halim, Azami Zaharim, Rozeha A Rashid, Mohd Saidfudin Masodi

Razimah Abdullah

Continuous Improvement In Engineering Education Through Effective Value For Money Audits, Razimah Abdullah, Rozeha A Rashid, Mazlina Esa, Sadruddin Mohd Saidfudin

Razimah Abdullah

Book Review 3 What Is Lean Six Sigma By Michael L. George, William C. Mcpeck

William C. McPeck

This is my personal review of What is Lean Six Sigma by Michael L. George and published by McGraw-Hill in 2003.