The role of qualitative methods in production management research

Article Abstract:

This paper examines previous approaches to the identification and measurement of strategic flexibility and concludes that the use of quantitative methods alone cannot capture the essence of such a complex and intangible subject. It is reasoned that a holistic approach to research design should be adopted when carrying out particular categories of production management research. A research design used to investigate the concept of strategic flexibility in manufacturing industry is briefly outlined as an illustration. The role of the case study within this and the contribution it was able to make to the investigation is described. Keywords: Research design; Qualitative methods; Computer analysis; Strategic flexibility

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Automatic notation of the physical structure of a flexible manufacturing system

Article Abstract:

It is essential to have a generic notation that can be associated to any problem involved in the flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). Such a notation must allow any potential actor who has to deal with one of these points (researcher or industrialist) to present his FMS and the problem to be solved without ambiguity and in a unanimously recognized format. In this paper we propose a notation that both relies on basic elements given by the modelizer and on analyzed complex structures. Examples of notation are presented, as well as a presentation of the automatic notation software under development. Keywords: Production management; Modeling; Generic notation; Control

Brief Article

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Economic design of a Vp [bar]X chart

Article Abstract:

We develop an economic model for [bar]X control charts having all design parameters varying in an adaptive way, that is, in real time considering current sample information. In the proposed model, each of the design parameters can assume two values as a function of the most recent process information. The cost function is derived and it provides a device for optimal selection of the design parameters. Through a numerical example one can foresee the savings that the developed model possibly provides. Keywords: Control charts; Process control; Variable design parameters; Expected cost

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