...recognized and fashionable brands globally (Rodrigue, 2015). As the largest package delivery and express carrier firm in the world, it delivers approximately 15.6 million documents and packages on a daily basis. In addition, the company provides specialized logistics, e-commerce, and transportation services to over 200 destinations worldwide (Rodrigue, 2015). To achieve such success, UPS is committed to provision of quality services to all its customers. The company is known as an industry leader in relation to quality. For example, in 2010, UPS was ranked third behind Intel and Disney for provision of quality services (Frankr, 2013). In particular, UPS commitment to quality is apparent in the operation management activities such as lean operation systems, forecasting, scheduling, inventory control, and performance measurements. This essay analyzes UPS worldwide services commitment to quality based on the principles from the course. First, UPS ensures quality in the supply chain through “direct-to-store approach” to eliminate increased costs in the distribution and transportation, and ensure faster delivery (United Parcel Service of America, 2005). This direct distribution ensures that inventory moves from manufacturers to final consumers thereby eliminating storage at the warehouse. Since it is possible to minimize the fulfillment cycle and shrink inventory costs, the direct distribution inventory control approach by UPS provides an appropriate balance between logistics...
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...Film Review of ”About a Boy” Cast: Hugh Grant, Rachel Weisz, Toni Collette and Nicholas Hoult Director: Chris and Paul Weitz Novel written by: Nick Hornby Script writer: Peter Hedges, Chris and Paul Weitz Rating: PG-13 Genre: Romance, Comedy and Drama Running time: 105min. Review: The movie is mainly about 36 year old Will Freeman and 12 year old Marcus Brewer. Will is a so called island which means that he wants nothing to do with family related things; all he really wants is relationships without any form of commitment, he therefore goes to a club for single parents called S.P.A.T. There he meets a woman that he likes, but to be with her he makes up that he has a two-year old son named Ted. When he revels that it was a lie to get close to her, she immediately breaks up with him. Will's keeps on courting and the woman (Suzie) takes him to one of the group's picnics where he meets Marcus the son of Suzie's friend, Fiona. At the picnic, Marcus accidentally kills a duck with piece of bread while he is trying to feed it. When a park ranger asks him about it, Will defends Marcus by saying that the bird was already dead. Afterward, when Will and Suzie take Marcus home, they find Fiona, his mother, in the living room, on a pill-overdose trying to commit suicide. Marcus gets uncomfortable with being at home with his mother; therefore he tries to get Will to date her. After only one date this plan fails so Marcus starts following Will around and discovers that Will...
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...Jenny Smith November 28, 2011 Dr. Min Young Lee English 121 sec 28 The Coming of Age of the Male Characters in About a Boy About a boy is a contemporary novel written by the British author Nick Hornby. It incorporates constructs of post-modern writing by bringing into focus the artists, and styles, and prose of the vernacular. The setting of the novel takes place in London in the mid 1990s. About a boy gives a unique perspective of a coming of age story. It follows the coming of age of two boys of two very different ages; Will Freeman 36 years old and Marcus 12. This novel shows the contrast between consumerism and materialism with real interpersonal connections. Will Freeman made the decision to pursue materialism rather than personal friendships, and to live in self-imposed isolation. Will had the ability to buy “cool” clothes, and sunglasses and sneakers, and so was never at a loss for acquaintances. Marcus, on the other hand, felt isolation due to a lack of materialism. Marcus was an outsider in his school in London since he could not have the best “coolest” clothes, shoes, and haircuts and thus was always the target of bullying. However, as the plot progresses, Marcus and Will undergo transformational experiences together to become more connected to the people around them. The transformational experiences of Fiona’s suicide, falling in love, and Marcus’ arrest all culminate in the maturation of Will and Marcus’ and the genesis of interpersonal connections between...
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...The Principles, Benefits and Compliance of Lean Accounting As a way to reduce costs, manufacturing businesses today are looking for a leaner approach to production and are focusing on the overall process of producing an item to eventually sell to a consumer. This process is called the value stream, which is defined in Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis as “the value-added activities needed to design, manufacture, and deliver a given product or product line to customers” (Horngren, Datar, & Rajan, 2014, p. 635). With the assistance of technology advancements to support with the communication of the different components of the value stream, processes have been developed, like Just in Time (JIT) production, that allow for the lean production of merchandise. Dan Woods describes this lean production process, in an article published in Forbes: “In a lean process, the demand signals pull the materials through the flow processes and the right number of products is created with as little waste as possible. When all the suppliers of materials are also making their processes lean, the result is that the entire supply chain is extremely responsive and efficient. “ (Wood, 2009) To go along with this lean production system, lean accounting was developed as “a costing method that focuses on value streams, as distinguished from individual products or departments, thereby eliminating waste in the accounting process” (Horngren, Datar, & Rajan, 2014, p. 635). This paper will summarize...
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...Lean Management In Automobile Industry Lean Management In Automobile Industry Arvinder Singh, Bargavi Poloju, Inderpreet Kaur, Inderjeet Kaur, Jaskaran Singh Gill Eastern Institute of Technology September 10, 2015 Abstract Lean and six sigma are widely known business improvement processes for industries /organisations these days for achieving drastic results, which are majorly cost cutting, quality maintenance and time management by specializing in processes to boost performance. Nowadays, There are some industries that are even integrating lean and six sigma into a more cohesive strategy i.e., lean sigma in order to establish even more powerful and effective process which focuses at eliminating wasteful activities and retaining most of the strengths of each activity. Lean Sigma aims to combine waste eliminating strategies of Lean Thinking with variability reducing techniques of six sigma to promote growth and increase revenue from the bottom line of organisations(M. Kumara). Lean management is outlined as a consistent and a methodical approach to determining and eliminating waste through continuous improvement, flowing the merchandise at the pull of the client in pursuit of perfection. The idea of lean management was developed for maximizing the resource utilization through reduction of waste, and eventually lean was developed in response to the unsteady and ever-competitive business organisations. For organisations to face major challenges and competition can be...
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...University of Petroşani, Economics, 10(3), 2010, 333-340 333 LEAN MANAGEMENT - THE WAY TO A PERFORMANT ENTERPRISE AMALIA VENERA TODORUŢ, CECILIA IRINA RĂBONŢU, DORU CÎRNU * ABSTRACT: In this work we approached issues related to new methods of production organization such as Lean Management, a method specific for a flexible production of great success which represents the guarantee for a performant enterprise. In this paper we presented the main concepts, the application and adaptation way in different contexts, both in industry and in services. We showed a modern tendency which is taking shape more and more in the contemporary economic context, such as the integration of this concept with the Six Sigma concept, and thus we can talk about Lean Six Sigma, as an integrator method which guarantees high-class quality and lower costs. KEY WORDS: lean management, quality, performances, Six Sigma, the diminution of the defaults JEL CLASSIFICATION: L15, L16, L25, M10, M11, M16 1. INTRODUCTION Researches on production technologies, operations and performance reflect the increasing context of industrial competition in the global economic environment. A key objective is the creation of a systematic knowledge base by applying the systemic approach and quantitative analysis, which will lead to a better understanding of fundamental factors, determinants of growth and industrial decline. An example is the Lean method and the Lean manufacturing principles, concepts and principles outlined after...
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...Assembly Automation Emerald Article: Fundamental mindset that drives improvements towards lean production Yuji Yamamoto, Monica Bellgran Article information: To cite this document: Yuji Yamamoto, Monica Bellgran, (2010),"Fundamental mindset that drives improvements towards lean production", Assembly Automation, Vol. 30 Iss: 2 pp. 124 - 130 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01445151011029754 Downloaded on: 01-12-2012 References: This document contains references to 13 other documents Citations: This document has been cited by 4 other documents To copy this document: permissions@emeraldinsight.com Access to this document was granted through an Emerald subscription provided by JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE A TECHNOLOGY For Authors: If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service. Information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.com With over forty years' experience, Emerald Group Publishing is a leading independent publisher of global research with impact in business, society, public policy and education. In total, Emerald publishes over 275 journals and more than 130 book series, as well as an extensive range of online products and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 3 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner...
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...Reports Lean Laboratories: Competing with Methods From Toyota Mark Graban, BSIE, MSME, MBA, CPIM, Shana Padgett, BS, MT(ASCP) (ValuMetrix Services, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ) DOI: 10.1309/LMX0LEMR7R0USKUM Hospital laboratories throughout North America are successfully using “Lean” methods based on the Toyota Production System to win against multiple competitive threats. Some hospitals have used Lean to help eliminate point-of-care testing for the emergency department (ED). Other hospitals have used Lean to “insource” testing that had previously been done in outside reference laboratories. Lean can defend and protect employment for the laboratory, while also improving turnaround times and service for patients and reducing costs for the hospital. Hospital laboratories have also used freed up capacity to increase their reference laboratory work, bringing additional revenue to the hospital. an improvement of 37%, as shown in Figure 1. The laboratory was also better satisfying physicians who ordered tests for morning rounds, as the percent of tests on the charts by 7 am improved from 65% to more than 90%, as shown in Figure 2. After laboratory professionals demonstrated that they could dramatically reduce turnaround times, the ED discontinued the point-of-care trials. Since Lean implementation, Dr. Decker said, turnaround times “are definitely faster. All the docs agree,” adding, “the lab is no longer the rate-limiting step in the process.” Lean Instead of...
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...The term ‘lean production’ came about to describe the Toyota production system in the late 1980’s. This came to pass through a research group from MIT who over five years analysed the automotive industry in fourteen countries. It was called ‘lean manufacturing’ rather than the Toyota production system to make it easier for competitors and organizations to adopt this type of system. The concept of lean production in a manufacturing organization basically means to try and maximise the use of materials to achieve optimum customer value and at the same time reducing waste and ensuring the same standard of quality in the finished product. Reducing the resources means it will cheaper for the organization to create the product plus also for the customer to buy it. With regards to a manufacturing organization ‘lean production’ is basically a list of rules, tools and techniques which improves the organization in questions manufacturing processes. The main concept of ‘lean’ in a manufacturing organization is to reduce waste which can be broken down and understood as the seven wastes:- 1. Over-production – One of the worse types of waste which is the manufacture of the product before it is actually needed. This can create excess inventory. 2. Waiting – Time between the manufacturing processes 3. Motion – Time wasted from moving people around 4. Transport – Time wasted from the movement of materials from each manufacturing stage. 5. Inventory – Having too much stock...
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...period, Japanese companies developed the concept of lean production. Lean production was regarded as the third step in the historical progression, which took industry from the age of the craftsman through the methods of mass production and into an era that combined the best of both (The Economist 2009). Lean production was designed to combine the flexibility and quality of craftsmanship with the low costs of mass production. And due to its unique characteristics bringing an underdog company in its industry to the market leader, this idea of lean thinking has been adopted by many other industries. Today ‘lean’ may no longer be fashionable but its core principles (flow, value, pull, minimizing waste etc.) have become the paradigm for many manufacturing (and service) operations (Lewis 2000). In this essay, my main argument is that although success of lean production and its positive impacts on corporate competitiveness is undeniable, nevertheless, from the workers’ point of view, lean production has also increased the pressures of work and the degree of exploitation wherever it exists. In the first part of my essay I will present a brief history of lean production. This will be followed by the demonstration of main characteristics and the analysis of how lean production has impacted corporate competitiveness by utilizing Toyota as an example, which is the birthplace of lean production. Part three will spell out the limits of lean production as it dramatically increases the pressures...
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...how Aldi’s strategy led them to a competitive advantage. It will also show how Aldi provides quality products at reasonable costs. Aldi is a Germany-based hard discounter that has unique business practices. They use a lean approach to its business operations to offer its customers quality products at competitive prices. They concentrate on purchasing power; carrying only the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, of which most are ALDI select brands. As a result, they get the lowest prices from our suppliers and pass the savings on to the customers. They update operations eliminating every feature that increases cost and prices. II. Objectives and Scope Our group was given a task to do the case study analysis on Aldi. We need to find out how Aldi’s strategy leads to competitive advantage and how they achieve this strategy. We also need to find out whether Aldi’s low-cost strategy implies that they offer low quality products and why quality is important regardless of competitive strategy.For us to answer these questions, we will use different tools and techniques that are discussed in the class like the lean production. III. Methods/Approach Our group did group discussions through the use of social media. While we were discussing about the case, we were simultaneously doing our case study report through the use of google docs. We basically used the internet for reference. We Identified Aldi’s competitive...
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...Lean Manufacturing in Milk Industry of Pakistan: An Analysis of a Distribution Warehouse. Nimra Masood1, Sara Shahid2,Muhammad Asim3 1 NUST Business School, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2 NUST Business School, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. 3 Center for Advance Studies in Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan. (1n_masood@gmail.com),(2ss_sjm6@yahoo.com)(3a007pk@yahoo.com) Abstract – This Paper aims to apply Lean Manufacturing Tool to the Distribution Center of a Milk Industry in Pakistan. A survey to the Distribution Warehouse was made to identify different activities involved in the distribution process. A Process activity Map was Applied to further divided in to four main categories to indentify the effectiveness and efficiency of the whole process. Milk Industry is one of those industries which have its importance all over the world including Pakistan. The results indicate that there is a lot of room for improvement and expansion in the process. There is consistent increase in the need of milk in Pakistan with the Companies to benefit a lot from this region. The Findings suggested in this paper can help the milk manufacturers to effectively satisfy the customers and decrease the overall cost of production. Keywords – Lean Manufacturing, Process Activity Map, Distribution Warehouse of Milk Industry, Pakistan I. INTRODUCTION Milk industry is one of those industries which has its presence...
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...LEAN MANUFACTURING Lean manufacturing is a management philosophy focusing on reduction of the seven wastes to improve overall customer value: • Over-production • Transportation • Inventory • Motion • Waiting time • Processing Itself • Defective Product (Scrap in manufactured products or any type of business.) By eliminating waste (muda), quality is improved, production time and costs are reduced. To solve the problem of waste, Lean Manufacturing has several "tools" at its disposal. These include constant process analysis (kaizen), "pull" production (by means of kanban) and mistake- proofing (poka-yoke). Key lean manufacturing principles include: • Pull processing: products are pulled from the consumer end (demand), not pushed from the production end (Supply) • Perfect first-time quality - quest for zero defects, revealing & solving problems at the source • Waste minimization – eliminating all activities that do not add value & safety nets, maximize use of scarce resources (capital, people and land) • Continuous improvement – reducing costs, improving quality, increasing productivity and information sharing • Flexibility – producing different mixes or greater diversity of products quickly, without sacrificing efficiency at lower volumes of production • Building and maintaining a long term relationship with suppliers through collaborative risk sharing, cost sharing and information sharing arrangements. Lean is...
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...LSS lean Six Sigma Abstract Purpose – Although research has been undertaken on the implementation of lean within various industries, the many tools and techniques that form the “tool box”, and its integration with Six Sigma (mainly through case studies and action research), there has been little written on the journey towards the integration of the two approaches. This paper aims to examine the integration of lean principles with Six Sigma methodology as a coherent approach to continuous improvement, and provides a conceptual model for their successful integration. Design/methodology/approach – Desk research and a literature review of each separate approach is provided, followed by a view of the literature of the integrated approach. Findings – No standard framework for lean Six Sigma or its implementation exists. A systematic approach needs to be adopted, which optimises systems as a whole, focusing the right strategies in the correct places. Originality/value – This paper contributes to knowledge by providing an insight into the evolution of the lean Six Sigma paradigm. It is suggested that a clear integration of the two approaches must be achieved, with sufficient scientific underpinning. Keywords Lean production, Six sigma Paper type Literature review 1. Introduction The Toyota Production System (TPS) provided the basis for what is now known as lean thinking, as popularised by Womack and Jones (1996). The development of this approach to manufacturing began shortly after...
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...tool that represents a different stage in the value stream process. In order to create a lean process, one needs to have a full understanding of the business, production processes, material flows and information flows. Understanding the proper flow of the product maximizes value throughout the value mapping stream and will eliminate waste without making major cost error. Value stream mapping is not limited to manufacturing processes but, can be applied to service, logistics, distribution, or virtually any type of process. The Current State We can start by taking a look at the current state of this process starting with the supplier and ending with the customer. ******************************************************************** Discussion Questions 1. Is it possible to achieve zero inventories? Why or why not? In reality, zero inventories are a challenging, if not impossible, goal for most organizations. The concept is theoretical because the ideal production unit is one. Nothing is made until the customer expresses an unmet need for the product. In reality, inventories will always exist due to the timing between the expressed need and the actual delivery of the completed unit(s). Nevertheless, this goal aids in understanding of the lean concepts, and remains a reference point to continually remember in the on-going improvement process. 2. One way to help achieve lean production systems is to employ flexible automated manufacturing equipment and automated...
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