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Improving product quality while making decisions remains a challenge. The objective of this research was to develop a model that supports the precise enhancement of product quality through comprehensive analysis of possibilities, product incompatibilities, root causes, and recommended improvement actions. The model incorporated various tools and methods such as the SMARTER method, expert team selection, brainstorming, Ishikawa diagram, 5M+E rule, FAHP, and FTOPSIS methods. The study demonstrated that integrating quality management tools and decision-making methods into a unified model enables the accurate prioritization of activities for product quality management. This integrated approach represents the novelty of this research. The model was evaluated using a mechanical seal made of 410 alloy. The research findings can be valuable to enterprises seeking to enhance product quality at any stage of production, particularly for modified or new products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is at the heart of continuous product improvement, where social, environmental, and economic considerations are key. This is a difficult task, especially in the area of the following economic and environmental changes, as well as changes in customer expectations. Additionally, it has become crucial to make product decisions that will be based on their entire life cycle (LCA). Although these aspects of sustainability and LCA are popular, bringing them together in one analysis remains challenging. Therefore, the article's objective was to develop a simplified model that supports decisionmaking, taking into account the criteria of sustainable development and life cycle assessment (LCA). The originality is the proposed model, which operates based on a qualitative indicator (product quality level), an environmental indicator (the product's impact on the environment throughout its life cycle) and a price indicator (purchase price of the product). These indicators are created using the TOPSIS method and the modified ACJ-E method. As a result, a product ranking is created. A novelty is the combination of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) criteria with quality criteria and the actual purchase price of the product. The model test was carried out on the example of CATERPILLAR mini excavators. However, the model can be dedicated to any company that wants to make decisions in accordance with the idea of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the expectation quality products level is possible among others, by using adequate management techniques, which allow or identify incompatibilities, its sources, and above all, the reasons for its occurrence and ways of its elimination. Applying in this aim singe technique is common, but it was turned out that a lack is integrated connection between selected techniques. The purpose of the study is to propose a technique consisting of cyclical use: brainstorming (BM), relationship diagram, cause and effect diagram, multiple voting, and the AHP method.The technique was verified in the nondestructive testing process. The analysis was performed for often occurring incompatibilities in mechanical sealers for 410 steel. The identified incompatibilities of the analyzed mechanical sealers were the most frequent porosity, which was identified by fluorescent method (FPI). The effectiveness of the proposed technique was shown. The main advantage of its use was to improve the process of decision-making referred to incompatibility causes. It is possible to effectively use this method to analyze another type of incompatibility and products in production and service enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of causes of incompatibilities of the products treated with the powder method allows their elimination or minimization of those differences, which contributes to the improvement of the powder coating method and thus to the development of processes in the field of metallurgy. The aim of the article is to analyze the corrosion problem on the ventilator cover with the use of the sequence of selected quality management instruments (Ishikawa diagram and the 5Why method) and proposed actions to eliminate or minimize the problem and improve the powder coating process and organization within the workplace place of the selected company. The analysis was carried out at the request of the management of the Podkarpackie fan producer. The management wanted to analyze some of a problems in the simple and cheaper way, and thus in the enterprise this using the types of the method was not practiced. The management were wanted to analyze the problem with using these types of method because, in this enterprise, this was not practiced yet. The analysis of corrosion using the new sequence - Ishikawa diagram and 5Why method allowed, i.e.: appropriate analysis of the problem, identified the root cause of adequate problem and proposed the actions for the problem, thanks to which is possible to improve the powder coating process and a good organization workplace in the selected company. The sequence used and the proposed improvement actions can be used to analyze quality problems in other production and service companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to present results of pilot studies from survey research of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the electromechanical industry of the countries of the Visegrad Group, i.e.: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Design/methodology/approach: As subject of research selected SMEs from electromechanical industry. Survey research was quantitative in nature. They were conducted in a written and electronic way using the MS FORMS platform. Findings: In recent years, issues related to nature protection have become more and more priority for small and medium enterprises from the electromechanical industry of Visegrad countries. This is mainly due to the updated way of managing organisations and the increasing emphasis on the use of sustainable development tools. This pressure is exerted by competition but also by customers. It turned out that today it is not enough to ensure high quality of products, but in order to achieve the basic goals of the organisation, it is also necessary to invest in sustainable development. However, there is resistance in this area, related to awareness and costs. Research limitations/implications: The article included initial research. In the future, the next research is planned in this area. Originality/value: The article presented an analysis of the pilot survey research of approach to quality and environmental issues in SMEs. The article refers to enterprises from one industry, i.e.: the electromechanical industry of Visegrad Group - Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The conclusions from the research are important for national SMEs and organisations that support the development of this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activities of the organisation concentrate mainly on meeting customers' requirements. For this purpose, various activities are being conducted for customer satisfaction surveys. In this context, it is important to predict the quality of the product and the changes in the cost of the purchase product. The purpose of this study is to propose a method for predicting the quality level of a product and change the cost of the product considering current customers' requirements for a combination of product feature states and pro-quality changes. The method includes the calculation of the quality level of the product using the punctationformalised method, where the level depends on a combination of values of states (parameters) attributes of the product, that is, current and modified. The method was tested as an example of a household vacuum cleaner for which 20 attributes were determined. According to the Pareto rule (20/80), the four product attributes important for customers were selected. Thereafter, for important attributes, possible combinations of the values of these attributes were determined. In addition, an algorithm for determining the possible combinations of product attribute states in the MATLAB program was developed. Additionally, the change in the current cost of the product considering the change in the quality level was estimated. The product cost changes were determined based on the actual cost of the product and the current product quality level. The method allows the determination of all combinations of values of state attributes of the product, such that it is possible to take appropriate improvement actions both in terms of quality and cost. The results from the method allow the prediction of product satisfaction for customers and they are favourable in terms of production cost. Therefore, it is possible to design the product in advance and support the producer in preparatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The basic purpose of research was to determine the causes of making the decision that manufacturers on their way to improve the quality of their products. Design/methodology/approach: The research method applied in article is mainly standardized survey research making based on survey conducted in contact and remote way conducted in 78 enterprises in south-eastern Poland. The research process also accompanied analysis of the source documentation. Findings: It was concluded that decision during improving quality of the product were making mainly in simultaneously with considering customers' requirements of the customers about the quality of the products and the impact of products on the natural environment. Research limitations/implications: Most of the verified enterprises from SMEs are tried integrating qualitative-environmental actions as part of improving the quality of products. This is a favorable condition for further research, so that it is possible to adjust the quality and environmental approach when improving the quality of products in SMEs. Practical implications: Discussion of the results of research have a series of practical implications mainly for product management staff. Especially in organizations that designed new products or also in significant modification of these products. Social implications: Building awareness improves not only quality of products, but also simultaneously in line with sustainable development, including in improving environmental aspects. Originality/value: The article has cognitive value for development of knowledge, science, quality, and environmental in the area of management of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main goal of the research was to determine the spectrum of instruments supporting management processes that are used to improve the quality of products in terms of sustainable development. We analyzed the degree of their use in the practical functioning of the surveyed enterprises. In addition, the aim of the research was to determine the scope of application of the indicated instruments or the possibility of their use in the decision-making process relating to the improvement of the broadly understood quality of products. Design/methodology/approach: The research method applied are: 1) standardized survey research making based on a survey conducted in contact and remote way conducted in 78 enterprises in south-eastern Poland; 2) analysis of the source documentation and in-depth interviews. It is a component of broader research. Findings: The following methods were used in decision-making processes with varying frequency: the Delphi method by 58% of respondents, Tree of Failure Analysis (by 52%), Event Tree Analysis (by 44%), and the QFD method (by 41% respondents). The surveyed companies that have implemented a vapour management system based on ISO standards tend to use 5 methods out of 25 cited in this study (these are a survey, brainstorming, 5Why and/or 5W2H, benchmarking, and the Delphi method). As a result of using mainly the abovementioned methods in decision-making processes, 74% (out of all) of the respondents indicated an increase in the quality level of products, and 39% of respondents indicated the enhancement of the pro-ecological impact of products on the natural environment. Research limitations/implications: Most of the analysed enterprises from SMEs are tried integrating qualitative-environmental actions as part of improving the quality of products. This approach is crucial when improving the quality of products in SMEs. Practical implications: It is necessary to develop a multidimensional modl enabling the optimization of decision-making processes with the possibility of making full use of the available instruments for improving the quality of the product in such a way as to meet the rapidly changing requirements of stakeholders. Originality/value: The article has cognitive value for development of knowledge, science, quality, and environmental in the area of management of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose was to develop an approach to predict product quality considering current customers' expectations. Design/methodology/approach: The approach includes integrated techniques, i.e.: SMART(-ER) method, a questionnaire with the Likert scale, brainstorming (B&M), WSM method, and Naïve Bayes Classifier. This approach refers to obtaining customers' expectations for satisfaction from the current quality of products and the importance of these criteria. Based on the satisfaction of customers, the quality of the product was estimated and classified. Then, the quality of the product was predicted for current customers. Findings: It was shown that it is possible to predict product quality based on current customer expectations, and so based on the current existing product. Research limitations/implications: The proposed approach does not include the possibilities of determining the expected quality of the product. The approach focuses on predicting customers' satisfaction with the current quality of the product. Therefore, if there is a need for improvement actions, further analyzes should be carried out to determine which criteria should be modified and how. Practical implications: The presented approach can be used for any product. Therefore, it is a useful tool for any kind of organization, which strives to meet customer satisfaction. Despite the possibility to predict the quality of the product, the proposed approach can indicate at an early stage to the organization that it is necessary to make improvement actions. Social implications: It is possible to reduce the waste of resources by predicting that improvement actions are necessary. Moreover, the approach supports an entity (e.g., expert, enterprise, interested parties) in predicting current customers' satisfaction. Originality/value: Originality is predicting product quality based on current customers' expectations. A new combination of quality management techniques, decision support, and machine learning was implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The competitive and turbulent environment generates the need to use various techniques to determine the level of product quality. In this aim, it is necessary to determine the direction of improvement attributes and function of the product based on customer requirements, which are usually uncertain. Therefore, the aim of the article is to propose the technique to improve the product quality by precisely determine the customers' requirements and the importance of the quality parameters for the current attributes of the product. This technique is a combination of methods i.e.: the QFD method (Quality Function Deployment) with the GRA method (Grey Relational Analysis). Using the QFD method, customer requirements were translated into technical features of the product. In turn, using the GRA method the imprecise customers' requirements were reduced and the importance of quality parameters was determined in a more accurate way. A test of a combination of the QFD and GRA methods for the household vacuum cleaner was made. The originality of the article is ensuring a precise study of the current attributes of the product from the point of customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim was improving the process of risk assessment occupational for industry, by implemented in this process the fuzzy scale (and the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, 11 FAHP). Design/methodology/approach: The FAHP method was integrated with the PN-N-18002 method. Findings: It was demonstrated that implemented the FAHP method in PN-N-18002 method allows on more precise an assessment of the root of threats on the workplace. Research limitations/implications: This method can be used to risk assessment of each workplaces, by integrating the FAHP with any methods of occupational risk assessment. Practical implications: The assumption was to improve the method of risk assessment occupational for industry, in which as was shown the number of accidents in work was the highest. Test of the proposed method was carried out for the operator's position of a floating excavator KG-2.5 in one of Podkarpacie enterprise extracting aggregate. Social implications: This method can be helped to the entity performing the occupational risk assessment in precise identify the root of threats on the workplaces. This will ensure a safe workplace. Originality/value: The originality of the proposed method is to achieve more precise an assessment of the root of threats in the workplace than by using the traditional risk 27 assessment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effectiveness of the NDT tests is to identify the incompatibility of the products without their destruction, but NDT tests do not point out the root of incompatibility. The aim of the study was to identify the incompatibility in the product (the mechanical sealer) using the fluorescent method (FPI) and to identify the root of this incompatibility using quality management techniques (5W2H method, Ishikawa diagram, 5Why method). Design/methodology/approach: To identify the root of incompatibility in the product the quality management techniques were used, i. e. 5W2H method, Ishikawa diagram and 5Why method. The subject (the mechanical sealer) on which being incompatibility (porosity cluster) was identified, was made from 410 steel. The problem in which the porosity cluster was identified after the fluorescent method (FPI). Findings: It has been shown that integrating NDT with the selected quality management techniques is an effective way to identify the problem and the root of its creation. Practical implications: This approach can be used in enterprises to analyze different types of products and incompatibilities. Originality/value: It was proposed to integrate the NDT tests with the selected quality management techniques. This integration allows identify the root of the problem and achieving the needed quality of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The analysis process of the causes of the problem by often used the Ishikawa diagram is not effective when knowledge is lacking with regard to the particular causes and their validity about the problem. Moreover, its subjectivity is affected by the people undertaking the analysis. The aim of this paper is to reveal ways of improving the analysis process of problem causes by utilising the new method of integrated techniques, i.e.: Ishikawa diagram and FAHP method. Design/methodology/approach: An analysis process of problem causes was made by utilizing the integrated techniques, i.e.: Ishikawa diagram and FAHP method. The problem was identified after the FPI method, and it was a linear indication on the bearing cover from 410 steel. Findings: It was shown that implementing the FAHP method in the Ishikawa diagram allows a numerical analysis of the main causes of the problem. Research limitations/implications: Future analysis should be undertaken by applying the 5Why method, in order to fully identify the root cause of the problem. Practical implications: A new method can be used to precisely and reliably analyse different types of problems. Social implications: This method is an effective tool that supports the process of analysing the causes of the problem, and thus the process of making multi-criteria decisions. Originality/value: The article proposes a new method for integrating analysis techniques, i.e. the Ishikawa diagram and the FAHP method, which can be effective in precisely and reliably assessing the causes of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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