Revistas
Revista:
SURGERY TODAY
ISSN:
0941-1291
Año:
2023
Vol.:
53
N°:
2
Págs.:
269 - 273
Wrong surgery (wrong-site, wrong-procedure, or wrong-patient surgery) is among the most feared patient safety problems in hospitals. We aimed to evaluate associations between numeric assessment of risk assigned to wrong surgery with that of other healthcare quality and patient safety challenges. This nationwide study collected information from healthcare quality experts in charge of a clinical quality and/or patient safety department in general hospitals of >= 150 beds in Spain. Out of the 100 included hospitals, the highest strength of associations were observed with risk priority number (RPN) for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, RPN for venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients, RPN for incorrect patient identification, RPN for lack of informed consent for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, RPN for catheter-related bacteremia, and RPN for adverse events and injuries due to medical devices related to use and/or design. These results are of potential interest for designing combined and coordinated strategies to improve patient safety in hospitals.
Revista:
ACADEMIA Y VIRTUALIDAD
ISSN:
2011-0731
Año:
2021
Vol.:
14
N°:
2
Págs.:
57 - 74
social learning is the ability to learn from others by observing their behavior. Today, we have technological advances and digital media that provide us with more information and learning tools. The users who have made the most of them are millennia's, who use social media and these new technologies in their social and educational spheres. The case method has proven to be very effective in executive education since its inception at Harvard Business School in 1908 and has been widely disseminated in numerous business schools. This research seeks to assess social learning through social media as an alternative to the case-based method. The hypothesis holds that social learning through social media and the case method enable an equivalent level of learning. A mixed experimental method was used with two groups of millennia's, both exposed to these methodologies. In the experiments carried out to evaluate their effectiveness, we reached two conclusions: (1) the average achieved in grades using social learning is slightly higher than the average achieved using the case method, and (2) in analyzing means, the difference is not statistically significant.
Revista:
PRODUCTION PLANNING AND CONTROL
ISSN:
0953-7287
Año:
2021
Vol.:
32
N°:
1
Págs.:
34 - 51
Many new model launches in Europe do not meet the quality, cost and production targets set by automotive companies during production ramp-up. Although increasing car complexity could be a key factor in explaining this issue, it is not sufficient to explain why production sites are not able to meet these important targets. This article analyses whether the production system used in European car manufacturing plants are suitable for achieving performance goals during the production ramp-up phase. First, the differences between serial production and the production ramp-up phase are analyzed through the conceptual framework of the European Production System in the automotive industry. Second, a case study using real data from a European automotive plant is presented, and the evidence calls into question the appropriateness of maintaining the same production system during the ramp-up phase. The study concludes that there is a need to make the production system in Europe more flexible during the ramp-up phase. In particular, changes should be more oriented towards fostering organizational improvement capability in order to reduce the stops that occur in the production line, avoid using pull systems as a constraint or limitation, and help to build a new culture of stopping to fix problems.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF PATIENT SAFETY
ISSN:
1549-8417
Año:
2021
Vol.:
17
N°:
8
Págs.:
541 - 547
Objective The aim of the study was to identify and rank leading healthcare quality and patient safety challenges of general hospitals in Spain. Methods A novel online cross-sectional survey for hospitals with 150 or more beds carried out between June and September 2018. Sample frame is hospitals of the National Catalogue of Hospitals of the Ministry of Health in Spain (N = 888). Eligibility criteria are quality experts of clinical quality and/or patient safety services of general hospitals with 150 or more beds. Challenges were ranked using a risk priority number (RPN) calculated from the product of severity, frequency, and detectability scores. Results Targeted hospitals were 234. The contact rate was 97.4%, representing 63% of total beds nationwide. One hundred hospitals completed the questionnaire. According to the RPN, the top five challenges were incorrect hand hygiene of health professionals (mean RPN = 334.5, SD = 198.5), ineffective interprofessional communication (mean RPN = 334.3, SD = 169.5), medication errors in transitions of care (mean RPN = 254.0, SD = 151.0), low reporting rates of patient safety incidents and adverse events (mean RPN = 252.3, SD = 176.3), and antimicrobial resistance due to inappropriate use of antibiotics (mean RPN = 243.5, SD = 158.7). Conclusions This pioneer study of ranking quality and patient safety challenges of hospitals in Spain provides an evidence-based and context-specific foundation for quality improvement decision-making.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
ISSN:
0309-2402
Año:
2021
Vol.:
77
N°:
7
Págs.:
3168 - 3175
Aims To identify and prioritize the root causes of adverse drug events (ADEs) in hospitals and to assess the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to prevent ADEs. Design A mixed method design was used. Methods A cross-sectional study for hospitals in Spain was carried out between February and April 2019 to identify and prioritize the root causes of ADEs. A nominal group technique was also used to assess the ability of AI capabilities to prevent ADEs. Results The main root cause of ADEs was a lack of adherence to safety protocols (64.8%), followed by identification errors (57.4%), and fragile and polymedicated patients (44.4%). An analysis of the AI capabilities to prevent the root causes of ADEs showed that identification and reading are two potentially useful capabilities. Conclusion Identification error is one of the main root causes of drug adverse events and AI capabilities could potentially prevent drug adverse events. Impact This study highlights the role of AI capabilities in safely identifying both patients and drugs, which is a crucial part of the medication administration process, and how this can prevent ADEs in hospitals.
Autores:
Fuentes-Cáceres, V.; Neriz, L.; Núñez-Mondaca, A. (Autor de correspondencia); et al.
Revista:
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
ISSN:
1472-6963
Año:
2020
Vol.:
20
N°:
1
Págs.:
550
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to a propose a standardized methodology to identify a list of cost objects that can be used by any ED to compute costs considering that the resulting data must facilitate unit management by improving the information available for decision-making.MethodsThis study considers two stages, first, we analyzed the case-mix of two hospitals collecting their data to define and diagram their processes, activities and to obtain their cost objects, second, we used four additional hospitals to validate our initial findings.ResultsWe recognized 59 cost objects. Hospitals may have all these cost objects or just a subset of them depending on the services they provide.ConclusionsAmong the main benefits of our cost objects definition are: the possibility of tracing the processes generated by the services delivered by EDs, the economic sense in its grouping, the chance of using any costing methodology, the flexibility with other classification systems such as DRGs and ICDs, and the opportunity of costing for both diseases and treatments. Furthermore, cost comparison among hospitals using our final 59 cost objects list is more accurate and based on comparable units. In different EDs, each cost object will be the result of a similar combination of activities performed. We also present the results of applying this cost objects list to a particular ED. A total of 53 out of 59 cost objects were identified for that particular unit within a calendar year.
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2019
Vol.:
31
N°:
3
Págs.:
359 - 376
Purpose
Companies use continuous improvement (CI) as a strategy to achieve business excellence and innovation. Yet CI initiatives fail mostly due to a lack of employee engagement. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the CI literature and the technology acceptance model (TAM), a comprehensive model called continuous improvement acceptance mode (CIAM) was developed to understand the main organisational antecedents that predict employee intention to participate in CI. The CIAM is based on structural equation modelling using partial least squares and it was validated in a large manufacturing plant in Europe.
Findings
Emulating the findings of the TAM, this study shows that employee intention to participate can be predicted by two variables called ease of participating and usefulness of participating. The CIAM then relates these constructs with relevant CI enablers found in the CI literature.
Practical implications
The CIAM could help academics and practitioners to better understand employee participation in CI activities, allowing CI systems to be better designed and achieve long-term sustainability.
Originality/value
The CIAM presents new variables and interactions that help to understand employee participation in CI activities. Some of these variables and interactions have received scant attention in the CI literature and thus they are worth investigating in greater depth in the future.
Revista:
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
ISSN:
1478-3363
Año:
2018
Vol.:
29
N°:
7-8
Págs.:
817 - 833
Continuous improvement (CI) systems still have room for improvement due to the difficulty in sustaining the system and attaining a high level of employee participation. This study looks to analyse the level of implementation in manufacturing companies of 16 CI routines, and how these routines foster CI and employee participation. Based on a general survey of CI managers from Spain which yielded 147 valid responses, a Cluster Analysis (CA) and a Factorial Analysis were performed in order to group both responses and the variables used into more comprehensive categories. Statistical tests were run to test for significant relationships. This paper introduces a new perspective on the issue of CI maturity levels by using CA to group companies into three categories based on the score of a set of 16 CI enablers, which were in turn reduced to four factors using Factor Analysis, allowing for the identification of improvement challenges depending on the maturity stage of each company. Three different maturity groups of companies were identified, named as Leaders, Followers and Laggards. Results show that companies with better scores on these factors believe to have more sustainable CI systems and a higher level of employee participation.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
0749-6753
Año:
2018
Vol.:
33
N°:
4
Págs.:
915 - 933
ContextAn emergency department (ED) in a hospital provides 24-hour care for the injured/severely ill patients. EDs are essential in any health care system. However, they face many challenges to provide timely treatment such as shortage of specialists, inadequate infrastructure, and unavailability of hospital beds, among others. These challenges are worldwide and undermine the effectiveness of operations and quality of services throughout the hospital. MethodsThis study aims to improve the performance of EDs using key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs will help decision makers to monitor and manage the performance of EDs systematically. Based on an in-depth field study, expert opinions, and literature review, we propose 5 categories of KPIs regarding Capacity for, Temporality of, Quality of, Outcomes of, and Economics of emergency care. The KPIs are applicable to the basic stages of emergency care. The achievement of the KPIs in each stage will be a function of (1) how the KPIs are used, (2) resources for achieving the KPIs, and (3) management of the resources. The unified systemic framework to manage EDs is presented as an ontology that articulates the very large number of potential ways of ED performance management. ResultsSeventy-five KPIs were defined for monitoring purposes. The KPIs and the proposed framework were validated and applied in 2 EDs at a public children's hospital and a medium size clinic in Chile. ConclusionsBased on the study, we propose to standardize the essential information necessary to assess the performance of EDs in Chile using KPIs for their continuous improvement.
Revista:
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
ISSN:
1478-3363
Año:
2017
Vol.:
28
N°:
13-14
Págs.:
1469 - 1488
Continuous improvement (CI) is still one of the strongest ways for companies to achieve process excellence in order to survive in nowadays¿ competitive environments. Yet, it is still very difficult to implement and sustain CI systems, mainly because of the difficulty in engaging people in these activities. Based on an exhaustive literature review, followed by a three-round Delphi study with Spanish experts, this paper helps to assess what the main elements are with respect to the CI system that could motivate employees¿ intention to participate in CI activities. Main results show 44 elements grouped into 10 factors that could affect employees¿ intention to participate. These factors were structured into a more comprehensive model following an interpretive structural modelling approach.
Revista:
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
ISSN:
1478-3363
Año:
2016
Vol.:
27
N°:
1-2
Págs.:
157 - 168
This research states that a continuous improvement environment (CIE), unlike a mechanical one, may help workers to voluntarily incorporate new routines based on conscientiousness. Moreover, these routines could help humans to improve themselves in some key character traits related to worker performance. A laboratory experiment in a simulated pen factory was carried out. Participants were categorised into two treatments: a CIE and a mechanical work environment. The results show that new routines based on conscientiousness were incorporated by all participants, both with low and high conscientiousness levels. Therefore, important implications about the effect of a CIE in the improvement of personality traits could be deduced. The result is relevant for explaining a cross-interaction between a CIE and personal habits based on conscientiousness. Therefore, firms have to think about job designs with conscientiousness requirements, namely competence, order, dutifulness, achievement-striving, self-discipline and deliberation using CIE as a means.
Revista:
DYNA
ISSN:
0012-7361
Año:
2016
Vol.:
91
N°:
3
Págs.:
250
Revista:
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2013-8423
Año:
2016
Vol.:
9
N°:
5
Págs.:
1059 - 1077
Purpose: Achieving employee participation in continuous improvement (CI) systems is considered as one of the success factors for the sustainability of those systems. Yet, it is also very difficult to obtain because of the interaction of many critical factors that affect employee participation. Therefore, finding ways of measuring all these critical factors can help practitioners manage the employee participation process accordingly. Design/methodology/approach: Based upon the existing literature, this paper presents a 4-Phase (9 steps) diagnostic tool to measure the main determinants associated with the implementation of CI systems affecting employee participation in improvement activities. Findings: The tool showed its usefulness to detect the main weaknesses and improvement opportunities for improving employee participation in CI through the application in two different cases. Practical implications: This diagnostic tool could be particularly interesting for companies adopting CI and other excellence frameworks, which usually include a pillar related to people development inside the organization, but do not include tools to diagnose the state of this pillar. Originality/value: This diagnostic tool presents a user's perspective approach, ensuring that the weaknesses and improvement opportunities detected during the diagnose come directly from the users of the CI system, which in this case are the employees themselves. Given that the final objective is to identify reasons and problems hindering employee participation, adopting this user's perspective approach seem more relevant than adopting other more traditional approaches, based on gathering information from the CI system itself or from the CI managers.
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2016
Vol.:
28
N°:
6
Págs.:
869-886
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a readiness programme designed to increase employees¿ awareness of order and cleanliness as a way of building the necessary foundation for implementing and sustaining continuous improvement processes. In this paper, the authors propose a new readiness programme based on the principles of 5S, with the aim of strengthening employees¿ motivation and involvement prior to 5S being implemented.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is based on case study methodology, followed by a programme of four structured activities. The validity of the programme is shown through the implementation of the activities in two different organizations.
Findings
The readiness programme was applied before 5S was successfully implemented. The degree of awareness and motivation of the programme participants improved as a result of these activities. Moreover, the activities increased people¿s motivation to participate in improvement activities.
Originality/value
Applying a readiness programme before implementing 5S can help organizations to achieve and sustain improvement activities, thus increasing worker commitment and motivation.
Revista:
PLOS ONE
ISSN:
1932-6203
Año:
2015
Vol.:
10
N°:
11
Págs.:
e0141243
Recent studies have shown that despite crucially needing the creative talent of millennials (people born after 1980) organizations have been reluctant to hire young workers because of their supposed lack of diligence. We propose to help resolve this dilemma by studying the determinants of task performance and shirking behaviors of millennials in a laboratory work environment. We find that cognitive ability is a good predictor of task performance in line with previous literature. In contrast with previous research, personality traits do not consistently predict either task performance or shirking behaviors. Shirking behaviors, as measured by the time participants spent browsing the internet for non-work purposes (Cyberloafing), were only explained by the performance on the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT). This finding echoes recent research in cognitive psychology according to which conventional measures of cognitive ability only assess a narrow concept of rational thinking (the algorithmic mind) that fails to capture individuals¿ capacity to reflect and control their impulses. Our findings suggest that hiring diligent millennials relies on the use of novel cognitive measures such as CRT in lieu of standard personality and intelligence tests.
Revista:
DYNA
ISSN:
0012-7361
Año:
2015
Vol.:
3
Págs.:
1 - 16
Revista:
DYNA (ESPAÑA)
ISSN:
0012-7361
Año:
2015
Vol.:
90
N°:
2
Págs.:
219-226
An extensive literature review was carried out to detect why design of experiments (DoE) is not widely used among engineers in Europe. Once 16 main barriers were identified, a survey was carried out to obtain first-hand information about the significance of each. We obtained 101 responses from academics, consultants and practitioners interested in DoE. A statistical analysis of the survey is introduced, including: (a) a ranking of the barriers, (b) grouping of barriers using factorial analysis, (c) differences between characteristics of respondents. This exploratory analysis showed that the main barriers that hinder the widespread use of DoE are low managerial commitment and engineers¿ general weakness in statistics. Once the barriers were classified, the most important resultant group was that related to business barriers.
Revista:
MEMORIA INVESTIGACIONES EN INGENIERIA
ISSN:
2301-1092
Año:
2015
N°:
13
Págs.:
17-32
Las empresas de hoy en día se encuentran inmersas en una feroz competencia por
sobrevivir y sobresalir. Para ello, la clave de la excelencia está en desarrollar estrategias globales
orientadas hacia la mejora continua de los procesos en la organización. No obstante, uno de los
principales obstáculos a superar en ese camino hacia la excelencia es precisamente lograr la
participación y compromiso de todos los trabajadores de manera sostenida en el tiempo. Este
problema aparece citado en repetidas ocasiones en la literatura, pero las razones por las cuales las
personas deciden o no participar de estas iniciativas siguen sin estar del todo claras. Este artículo
busca aportar en el conocimiento de la relación entre los sistemas de mejora continua y la
intención de participar de los trabajadores. Mediante una encuesta a empresas españolas, se
detectó que aquellas empresas que puntúan alto en una serie de hábitos relacionados con el éxito
de los sistemas de mejora continua, consideran que sus sistemas son más sostenibles en el tiempo
y que sus trabajadores están más comprometidos. A la luz de estos resultados, se desarrolló un
Panel Delphi para profundizar acerca de cuáles son los elementos claves que los gerentes deben
de tener en cuenta a la hora de desplegar los sistemas de mejora continua, con el objetivo de
fomentar la participación de todos los trabajadores, obteniéndose como resultado una lista de
elementos claves.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
ISSN:
0020-7543
Año:
2014
Vol.:
52
N°:
15
Págs.:
4574-4586
The 5S methodology is a very appropriate way to initiate and achieve the process of continuous improvement. This paper studies management practices in successful Japanese companies in order to determine what 5S principles are behind them. After visiting and conducting interviews at five different plants, a multi-case study analysis was developed to identify the key aspects of the success of the implementation of 5S in Japan. Although each of the companies studied is different, there are commonalities that provide for interesting learning. As a result, best managerial practices based on 5S principles are explained, and the most important principles associated with the success of the 5S method are described and discussed.
Revista:
MANAGEMENT DECISION
ISSN:
0025-1747
Año:
2013
Vol.:
51
N°:
9
Págs.:
1861 - 1877
The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between accuracy and conscientiousness among people working in a tidy/messy work environment. A laboratory experiment was conducted, where participants performing a simple task in a highly controlled environment were sorted into two different treatments, a tidy or a messy work environment. The results of this study suggest that conscientious people commit more errors in a messy environment than in a tidy environment. Therefore, one of the most significant findings to emerge from this study is that a messy environment could be detrimental to the accuracy of conscientious people. This study is limited in several respects. First of all, the sample is not large, with 80 participants; some variables, such us IQ levels, fatigue levels, caffeine consumption, etc. were not controlled for. Third, the task was restricted to inputting data into a computer. Taken together, these findings suggest the need to promote excellence in work environment tidiness, because highly conscientious employees will work with greater accuracy, while the less conscientious will not be affected. Therefore, overall, accuracy will be better. Consequently, the managers of the organization should be committed to defining policies about high standards of tidiness in the workplace environment
Revista:
TEAM PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
1352-7592
Año:
2013
Vol.:
19
N°:
3/4
Págs.:
222-236
Teamwork is one of the most powerful tools to ensure success across any activity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that actively contribute to the effectiveness of teams. This research looks at two different types of teams: care delivery teams representing healthcare and improvement teams representing the manufacturing industry. The aim is to provide greater knowledge about the application of team work factors in different environments. Design/methodology/approach -- Qualitative interviews about teamwork factors were conducted with 17 leaders of teams from healthcare and 22 leaders from manufacturing industries. The responses were categorized into different levels according to the application of each factor. Then, the factors were analyzed to draw conclusions about the different approaches to teamwork and their application. Findings -- Most of the factors analyzed are highly applied in both sectors. However, we found significant differences between hospitals and the manufacturing industry when it comes to factors such as strategies, feedback on results, leadership, participation and communication. Originality/value -- Measuring each factor in two different sectors (healthcare and industry) has yielded noteworthy findings and the best practices for their implementation
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2012
Vol.:
24
N°:
2
Págs.:
142 -154
The purpose of this paper is twofold: to evaluate the importance of the factors reported in the literature as enablers of Continuous Improvement (CI) programmes and to determine the perception of managers of different companies in the Basque Country and Navarre (Spain) regarding the relevance of these factors to their improvement programmes. In total, 15 elements have been considered to be key issues for the sustainability of CI programmes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 companies in order to assess how the companies value the factors and how the factors are applied and measured. The findings regarding the application and evaluation of such factors have revealed that companies are focused on the agents associated with the achievement of results. Other factors, such as management commitment or the promotion of team working, are highly scored and applied, but few companies evaluate them or take actions to improve their application. This paper analyzes the application of some factors considered to be enablers or key factors for the sustainability of continuous improvement systems. Furthermore, it examines the mechanisms or indicators which are used by some companies to measure the application of those factors
Revista:
MEMORIA DE TRABAJOS DE DIFUSION CIENTIFICA Y TECNICA
ISSN:
1510-7450
Año:
2012
Vol.:
10
Págs.:
33 - 44
El trabajo en equipo es uno de los elementos más importantes para los sistemas de
Mejora Continua, ya que facilita el intercambio de información, la resolución de problemas y el
desarrollo de las personas. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo obtener conclusiones sobre los
factores críticos para conseguir el éxito del trabajo realizado por los equipos de mejora, a través
de una investigación cualitativa basada en entrevistas a empresas industriales de la Comunidad
Autónoma Vasca, en España, gestionadas según el modelo EFQM y premiadas por su gestión.
Para ello se ha adaptado el modelo IMO de efectividad de trabajo en equipo, que permite la
evaluación de los distintos factores críticos. Los resultados obtenidos indican que las
organizaciones deben prestar atención a los factores relacionados con el equipo y sus miembros,
como el reconocimiento grupal y la formación en conjunto, entre otros.
Revista:
BUSINESS ETHICS: A EUROPEAN REVIEW
ISSN:
0962-8770
Año:
2012
Vol.:
21
N°:
2
Págs.:
140 - 153
There is convergence among researchers of the Big Five personality traits taxonomy, that the dimension of conscientiousness best explains differences in work performance. This research is a literature review on the interrelationship between certain traits of the conscientiousness dimension and human virtues, or character traits. It also analyzes whether or not it is rational to argue that the continuous improvement culture enhances the exercise of these character traits. The personal effort to develop one's conscientiousness enriches one's character or way of being, and this development is a consequence of character moulding through an intellectual and willful effort enabling one not only to develop personal habits but also to improve task performance. Continuous improvement culture, on the one hand, should provide a work environment where employees can practice virtues, including those contained in conscientiousness. On the other hand, the requirement is that continuous improvement culture should be developed in an environment that respects the freedom and purpose of the individual
Revista:
HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES
ISSN:
1090-8471
Año:
2012
Vol.:
24
N°:
4
Págs.:
444 - 453
Many researchers consider absenteeism to be a significant problem for employers. Absenteeism lowers the overall level of worker expertise, which may affect product quality and trigger an increase in customer complaints. This research was carried out in a prominent automobile manufacturing company, with an assembly line¿driven rigid production process. This article gathered customer quality complaints registered during the 17 months after cars were delivered to customers, from one year of car production, to analyze how employee absenteeism affects customer quality complaints. The empirical evidence presented by this research in the automotive industry confirms that absenteeism does not lead, necessarily, to a decrease in quality. This evidence must make organization redefine the value of their expert workers. Moreover, these results could have an impact on assembly-line design and the use of worker job-rotation programs for technologically sophisticated assembly lines.
Revista:
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
ISSN:
1478-3363
Año:
2012
Vol.:
23
N°:
3-4
Págs.:
277-290
By means of a case study of an automotive manufacturer, this paper aims to study the impact of a continuous improvement (CI) programme on quality defects. The analysis aims to ascertain if several independent variables such as production, CIs, and shifts are correlated to each of two dependent variables: internal quality defects and auditor quality defects (detected in the line). We gathered daily data for each shift of internal quality and auditor quality in a 12-month period. The defects considered and analysed through this study amounted to more than 68,000. This analysis could be useful as a methodology to evaluate the CI programmes of other manufacturers, since there is very little literature in terms of case studies or examples that focus on the daily struggle that manufacturers face when transforming these strategies into working practices
Revista:
INTANGIBLE CAPITAL
ISSN:
1697-9818
Año:
2011
Vol.:
7
N°:
1
Págs.:
143 - 169
Objeto: En los últimos 50 años las empresas industriales han adoptado sistemas de mejora continua para mejorar su competitividad. Sin embargo, el mantenimiento de estos sistemas de mejora no es fácil. Algunas organizaciones, después de un período inicial de uno a dos años, abandonan el sistema debido a distintas causas. El propósito principal de este estudio es examinar el grado de aplicación de los sistemas de mejora continua y los factores que apoyan la sostenibilidad de su gestión a lo largo del tiempo en dos regiones diferentes. Diseño/metodología: Con el fin de obtener un resultado comparativo entre dos regiones diferentes, se realizó una encuesta a dos zonas industriales, una en el norte de España y otro en México. Ambas zonas son importantes áreas industriales en España y en México. El estudio se ha realizado a través del análisis de datos obtenidos a partir de una encuesta. En concreto, la encuesta estaba dirigida a grandes empresas industriales que habían participado en las actividades de calidad y promoción de la mejora continua apoyada por fundaciones locales.
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2011
Vol.:
23
N°:
6
Págs.:
598 - 610
Purpose ¿ Since the field of healthcare was a latecomer to the quality movement, knowledge transfer has generally flowed in one direction, from industry to healthcare. However, organisations can also be enriched by healthcare. In particular, this paper aims to show industry that important lessons can be learned regarding how teamwork is generally managed within healthcare. Design/methodology/approach ¿ To identify the useful lessons that healthcare can teach industry, the authors started with a brainstorming session among the members of the research team to pin-point the lessons based on their experience with healthcare and industrial environments. Afterwards, an exhaustive review of the relevant literature from the last ten years was carried out. Findings ¿ Industrial organisations need to develop teamwork frameworks focused on involving every employee in cross-disciplinary, empowered and trained teams. Moreover, from a team perspective, special care must be shown when defining clear roles, focusing on end clients, formulating shared objectives and facilitating internal communications. Practical implications ¿ The ten lessons from healthcare teamwork best practices believed to be the most important are given in the paper. Although some of these lessons may not be completely new concepts for industrial organisations, the paper shows how healthcare develops, spreads and applies these concepts in the real world. Originality/value ¿ The paper summarises, in ten useful lessons for organisations, healthcare's best teamwork practices in the literature
Revista:
JOURNAL OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
1367-3270
Año:
2011
Vol.:
15
N°:
1
Págs.:
40 - 52
Purpose - This research paper aims to explore how intranet mechanisms for knowledge transfer in a multinational automotive company can he improved with the inclusion Of a human interface. specifically a resident engineer. A resident engineer is an assembly line employee who spends the majority of their lime in the Advanced Engineering Center, which aims to improve knowledge transfer through face-to-face interaction. Design/methodology/approach - A multinational automotive company was selected for the study Six years of data containing all product modifications were analyzed. Findings The paper concludes that electronic knowledge transfer can be significantly improved when resident engineers physically interact with the Advanced Engineering Center Intranet knowledge transfer alone cannot overcome the considerable handicap involved in knowledge assimilation. Practical implications - For companies with Advanced Engineering Centers located far from assembly-line plants. the creation of specific human mechanisms to explain the knowledge generated and to reduce approval time is indispensable. Originality/value - This research paper features a complete case study from a multinational automotive company with more than EGO analyzed modifications.
Revista:
DYNA (ESPAÑA)
ISSN:
0012-7361
Año:
2011
Vol.:
86
N°:
2
Págs.:
232-240
Después de los planteamientos de Taylor y Ford, la industria japonesa, con su principal exponente Toyota, demostró que es posible tener un mayor nivel de flexibilidad y productividad a través de sus principios de Just in Time, polivalencia de la mano de obra, cero inventarios, producción en flujo continuo y mejora continua. Diversidad de conceptos, propuestas y hasta filosofías han surgido de las ideas originales de Taiichi Ohno y sus colaboradores y, en muchos casos, al querer ser implantados en la organización se pierde la esencia de lo verdaderamente importante. La finalidad de este artículo, resultado de una revisión bibliográfica sobre sistemas de mejora continua, es mostrar cómo interactúan los diferentes planteamientos desarrollados en torno al Sistema de Producción Toyota, y al mismo poner de relieve sus aspectos comunes y los puntos críticos a considerar en su implementación. Para tal fin, se ha recurrido a los conceptos originales de los principales autores como son Taiichi Ohno, Masaaki Imai, Hiroyuki Hirano, Shigeo Shingo, James Womack y Daniel Jones, todos ellos considerados gurúes de la mejora continua. Así, el artículo contribuye a una comprensión holística sobre la aplicación de los sistemas de mejora continua.Como síntesis conclusiva se extrae que, además del despilfarro considerado el centro de atención de los diferentes planteamientos, existe también un interés general por lograr la participación del personal en los programas de mejora a través del cambio de hábitos, capacitar permanente al personal en los fundamentos y técnicas sobre mejora, romper el círculo vicioso que asocia la mejora continua con la pérdida del empleo y, finalmente, generar un cambio de mentalidad como precondición al comenzar a implantar un programa de mejora continua. En este mismo sentido, la gestión de los procesos y el aprendizaje de las personas son dos aspectos que conducen, de manera interrelacionada, a que una organización mejore su productividad y competitividad.
Revista:
DYNA
ISSN:
0012-7361
Año:
2011
Vol.:
86
N°:
2
Págs.:
232-240
After Taylor and Ford's approaches, the Japanese industry, with its main leading exponent Toyota, showed that it is possible to have a greater level of flexibility and productivity through its principles of "just in time, versatility of labor, any inventory, continuous flow production and continuous improvement. Diversity of concepts, proposals and even philosophies have arisen from the original ideas of Taiichi Ohno and his associates, however, when they are going to be implemented in a organization its key essence is lost. The purpose of this paper, result of a review of the literature on continuous improvement systems, is to show how different approaches developed around the Toyota Production System interact. At the same time to emphasize in their common and decisive points to consider in its implementation. For this task, it has to be turned to original concepts of the leading authors such as Taiichi Ohno, Masaaki Imai, Hiroyuki Hirano, Shigeo Shingo, James Womack and Daniel Jones. All of them known such as gurus in the field of continuous improvement. Thus, this article contributes to a holistic understanding on continuous improvement systems implementation. As a conclusion, besides the wasting considered the focus of attention of different approaches, there is also a general interest in engaging staff in improvement programs through the change of habits, permanent staff training in the improvement fundamentals and techniques, leaving behind the vicious circle that links continuous improvement with a condition of lacking work, and finally motivate a change of mind, create a climate of trust before starting to implement a continuous improvement program. In this sense, the management processes and the learning of employees working in harmony are two aspects that lead an organization to improve in both: productivity as competitiveness.
Revista:
INTANGIBLE CAPITAL
ISSN:
1697-9818
Año:
2010
Vol.:
6
N°:
1
Págs.:
51-77
Este artículo analiza el grado de sostenibilidad de las empresas en la gestión de la mejora continua y los factores que apoyan la sostenibilidad en el tiempo, a través de una encuesta enviada a 350 empresas de la Comunidad Autónoma Vasca y Navarra durante el mes de junio de 2009. El estudio presenta datos sobre la evolución de los sistemas de mejora en los últimos años, y la implantación de las distintas metodologías utilizadas. A continuación realiza un análisis de los factores que las empresas asocian con el abandono de los sistemas de mejora. Dado que los sistemas de mejora se basan en la participación de las personas, el estudio caracteriza cómo es dicha participación. Finalmente se analizan los elementos que las empresas utilizan en sus sistemas de mejora, y en qué grado se han introducido indicadores y objetivos en la gestión de la mejora. Como conclusiones se apuntan las siguientes claves para la mejora sostenible: una mayor implicación del personal directo en el sistema de mejora continua, la integración del sistema de mejora continua en la organización y el establecimiento de indicadores asociados al sistema.
