Sustainability of quality improvement programmes in a heavy engineering manufacturing environment : a system dynamics approach
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Companies realize to stay competitive they have to introduce quality improvement programs. Many companies are challenged today with the sustainability of these quality improvement programs. Generally the understanding of the dynamic behaviour of quality \nimprovement programs is poorly understood with soft issues as factors of the system. System dynamics may solve this problem. \nThis research was focussed on operational management of operations. The organising framework of this research has been qualitative research where the research design was a \npolar type research design where the case studies focussed on initiatives that were dramatic success or failures, with the expectation that their comparison would help identify those processes that prevent competence enhancing change. \nA dynamic hypothesis has been constructed from archival data, semi-structured interviews and direct observations, gathered during these case studies. A system dynamics model for quality improvement programs in an automotive environment has been tested and expanded to be applicable for a heavy engineering manufacturing environment. The structure of the system dynamics model has been expanded to include a sustainability feedback loop which \nalso included a management support model. The management support model included soft factors such as management support, management pressure and managerial effectiveness. \nThe complete quality improvement program system dynamics simulation model with sustainability has been tested and validated against a real system data, for a heavy engineering manufacturing environment, gathered during the case studies. The model \nparameters were determined from a calibration algorithm, by using the Vensim® simulation platform, that fitted the real system behaviour the best. A sensitivity analysis has been done on the model parameters determining the information cues for the management decision policies. \nFrom the system dynamics model of the complete quality improvement program, including the sustainability feedback loop, proposed management decision policies have been studied \nthat could lead to sustainable quality improvement programs for a heavy engineering manufacturing environment. From these simulation studies several management policies have been proposed.
Authors: Van Dyk, Johannes Dirk
Language: English
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1942054173