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Many hospitals have achieved high levels of lean performance only to lose it later on. This research develops a theoretical understanding of how organisations can sustain lean in healthcare, through a practical and innovative framework to assess the maturity level of lean in healthcare that can be used by both practitioners and academics. Through the analysis of the literature, it was possible to compile 22 main critical success factors of lean sustainability in hospitals. A comparative case study provides evidence to confirm these 22 theoretical propositions, and also to add other 3 new success factors to the framework. The proposed framework allows hospitals to conduct a structured process of change, with all the foundation needed to succeed and sustain the lean journey in the long-term. New insights are revealed by studying hospitals after minimum 18 months of lean implementation and comparing the ones that have achieved a high level of lean sustainability with those that did not. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first to attempt to bring together the key factors that influence hospitals to sustain lean improvements in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Moacir Godinho Filho, Rogerio de Avila Ribeiro Junqueira This paper proposes an algorithm to choose suitable methods to solve the Chinese Postman Problem (CPP). This study also concerns CPP computational time analysis, aiming to determine whether optimising methods can be used to solve real CPP instances with minimal computational time (polynomial time). The algorithm proposed is based on a literature review of the CPP. Regarding computational time analysis, two case studies were performed in a medium-sized city in Brazil. In addition, it was shown that for real problems (200 nodes) no significant differences exist between the computational time of the mathematical solutions for undirected, directed and mixed problems.

Manufacturing companies strive for ever-increasing competitiveness through productivity and quality. This goal can be achieved through the implementation of lean manufacturing and six sigma methodologies. Lean manufacturing adds value by reducing waste, while six sigma eliminates variability. In this context, this article proposes a new framework within Lean Six Sigma circumstances. The framework was proposed by means of an exhaustive literature review which identified the positive points of other Lean Six Sigma frameworks available on literature. The framework was applied to a case study, and the assessments were based on semi-structured questionnaires and analysis of records and documents. The implementation was carried out in a manufacturing company in Brazil, which belongs to an American-based multinational. In the case study described herein, the manufacturing company established the proposed framework to support the combination of lean manufacturing and six sigma and introduced an enterprise-wide culture of project through the proposed Lean Six Sigma framework, which resulted in significant benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research is dedicated to the Production Scheduling Problem in a hybrid flow shop with setup times separated from processing times. The goal is to identify and analyze the current literature to identify papers that develop methods to solve this problem. In this review, it was possible to identify and analyze 72 papers that have addressed this issue since 1991. Analyses were performed using the number of papers published over the years, the approach used in the development of the methods for the solutions, the type of objective function, the performance criterion adopted, and the additional constraints considered. The analysis results provide some conclusions about the state of the art in the subject and also enable us to identify suggestions for future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how six continuous improvement programmes (arrival variability, process variability, defect rate, time to failure, repair time, and set-up time), together with lot-size reduction, affect work in process (WIP) and utilisation in two different manufacturing environments: single-machine and flow-shop. The main tool we use to attain this goal is a combined system dynamics/factory physics approach proposed by Godinho Filho and Uzsoy [2011. The effect of shop floor continuous improvement programs on the lot size – cycle time relationship in a multi-product single-machine environment. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 52, 669–681]. Results that emerged include (i) improvement in mean set-up time and variability (process and arrival for the flow-shop environment) has the largest effect on WIP reduction for the majority of scenarios evaluated in this article; (ii) improvement in arrival variability and small simultaneous improvements in all variables help to stabilise the amount of WIP downstream in the flow-shop environment even when large lot sizes are used; (iii) only a lot-size reduction combined with a set-up improvement programme, or small, simultaneous improvements in all variables, presents relevant effects to reduce workstation utilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article reviews the literature on production planning and control (PPC) for remanufacturing. The objectives are threefold: to determine whether the gaps identified by Guide (Guide Jr, V.D.R., 2000. Production planning and control for remanufacturing: industry practice and research needs. Journal of Operations Management, 18, 467–483) on the subject with respect to the main complicating characteristics of remanufacturing have been fulfilled; to classify the literature based on an appropriate structure to obtain a better understanding of the subject identifying sources of future research and to provide a useful source for scholars and practitioners. Seventy-six papers were examined and classified. It was found that none of the studies deals simultaneously with all of the complicating characteristics, and that more practical research is needed. In addition it was found that we lack studies regarding forecasting and aggregate planning considering disassembly of returned products, material matching restrictions or stochastic routings, master production scheduling considering material matching restrictions or stochastic routings, ordering system and capacity planning considering material matching restrictions and inventory control and management considering stochastic routings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present a proposal of a hybrid MRPII (Manufacturing Resources Planning) - CPM (Critical Path Method) production planning and control system (PPCS). The proposal was implemented in a big Brazilian industry which manufactures heavy equipment. The results showed that that the average value of WIP was reduced in about 31.4%, the average lead time was reduced in about 38.9% and the average delay of the final products was reduced in about 60.9%. Besides the results regarding reduction on average WIP, lead time and delay, the paper presented a practical example of the possible integration between a PCP hybrid system (MRPII and CPM) and a production-scheduling tool (DAA approach), showing that the information systems integration is an important tool to achieve a satisfactory performance of production planning, scheduling, and control [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a practical proposal for integrating production control (PC) and quality control (QC) at the shop floor level. Design/methodology/approach - The proposed method is based on three principles which relate PC and QC at the shop floor level. The proposal is applied successfully at the world's largest pencil factory. Findings - The results show that the proposed method contributes to improve four performance indicators related to PC and QC at the company studied: increase the average throughput in about 28.9 per cent; reduce the average value of work in process (WIP) in about 35.6 per cent, reduce the average lead time by about 45.4 per cent, and reduce the average defect rate by about 71.4 per cent. Research limitations/implications - The proposal (mainly because of principle III) is developed to be applied in repetitive production (RP) systems, i.e. environments characterized by low production volume and low product variety. Practical implications - Some practical implications for industrial managers arises from this study: managers must consider the importance of integrated PC and QC functions in order to get better results concerning performance indicators such as throughput, WIP, lead time, and rejection rate; the materials flow simplification is a prerequisite for a lot of improvement initiatives at the shop floor level; the adequate choice of the production control system (PCS) is vital in order to get positive results regarding the performance indicators related to PC; the determination of the production pace (or rate) for a RP system must take account capacity restrictions and the influence of defect rate on production rate. Originality/value - The paper is original in that it shows that the performance of the shop floor level can be improved by means of integrating PC and QC, by discussing and implementing a method which simplifies the material flow in the shop floor level, chooses the most adequate PCS and shows how the production rate influence on the rejection rate. Therefore, the paper is important for those which practice industrial management, more specifically on PC and QC functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the moderating effect of Occupational Health and Safety actions based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to mitigate the negative effect of COVID-19 on the operational, logistical, marketing (OLMP), and health and safety performance (OHSP) of workers in multinational industries. The development of surveys in companies was the method adopted, which had confirmatory evaluations through Structural Equations Modelling (SEM). As a result, it was confirmed that this is one of the few scientific studies that expectedly validates that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted operational, logistical, market, and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance. This is also one of the few research projects to assess the moderating effect of OHS practices based on WHO to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. According to our findings, those practices were able to reduce by at least 50% the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on operational, logistical, and marketing performance. However, they minimize by only 1.8% the negative effects of health and safety performance for the worker, generating absenteeism increasingly due to physical and mental problems. This number could be higher if the social distance could be provided in public transportation and if employees were more aware of the risks of COVID-19 contamination during their social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, companies have shown growing concerns in relation to the environmental impact of their manufacturing activities. Green supply chain management (GSCM) has been considered by the manufacturers as a feasible option to reduce the environmental impact of operations while simultaneously improving their operational performance. The literature suggests that further research on institutional pressures, performance, and environmental practices are needed, especially in the case of developing countries. The present paper explores the GSCM pressures, practices, and performance observed in suppliers of a Brazilian automotive supply chain. The data were treated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) provided by SmartPLS software. The results show that the economic and environmental performance of the studied supply chain is positively related to the adoption of GSCM practices. In addition, the present research also identified the institutional pressures that influence this supply chain to pursue green supply chain management practices. The results of this study provide managerial and theoretical approaches for different industries in Brazil to focus on environmental awareness by adopting GSCM practices. In addition, this study helps increase confidence among managers and policy makers of Brazilian companies in the adoption of GSCM practices to improve firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaner Production (CP) is defined as a continuous application of an integrated environmental strategy applied to production, processes and services to increase production efficiency and reduce risks to the environment and people. A lot of survey research has been investigating the adoption level of CP practices around the globe. Despite their contributions, these works do not use a clear and validated construct to represent CP. Also, most of them use only a few constructs to represent CP or do not take into account the CP multi-dimensional structure recognised by the UNEP, the primary international reference in this field. The objective of this article is to contribute to filling this gap by proposing a scale to measure CP. The methodological approach includes specification of theoretical domains and operational definition of constructs, generation of items, face validation, pre-test and scale purification, reliability and validity analysis of the scale. The study is based on responses from 499 researchers and managers obtained in over two successive surveys. Psychometric properties were assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The proposed scale comprises eight constructs and twenty-five practices. The scale was validated in terms of construct reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. In practical terms, this research is relevant because it provides companies with an instrument to measure their efforts towards CP. The scale can be useful as a benchmarking tool between companies and industry sectors and also can be used by public policy managers seeking to create or improve environmental regulations. • Proposition of a multi-dimensional scale to measure Cleaner Production. • The scale follows the structure proposed by the UNEP. • It incorporates supply chain management practices. • The study is based on responses from 499 researchers and managers. • Psychometric properties were assessed using Exploratoty Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]