Revistas
Autores:
Bouranta, N.; Psomas, E.; Casolani, N. (Autor de correspondencia); et al.
Revista:
NEW MEDIT
ISSN:
1594-5685
Año:
2022
Vol.:
21
N°:
4
Págs.:
71 - 84
The purpose of the study is to investigate and compare consumers' food safety perceptions in three Med-iterranean countries (Greece, Italy, and Spain). A survey was carried out based on a structured ques-tionnaire focusing on food safety-related issues concerning food characteristics, the labeling of systems implemented by food companies such as the Quality Management System and the Food Safety Manage-ment System, consumer trust in the food supply chain, and consumer illusion of food control. Information was collected from individuals located in those three countries (2,664 respondents), which share common characteristics. The results indicate that there is a significant heterogeneity in consumers' food safety perceptions in the three countries. The Spanish sample has the greatest level of trust in the supply chain in terms of food safety and the highest level of illusion of food control. The Italians evaluate the food characteristics and the QMS-FSMS's labeling higher than the Spanish and the Greeks. This multinational study brings to light the different types of food safety concerns of consumers from three Mediterranean countries.
Revista:
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ISSN:
2730-5988
Año:
2022
Vol.:
2
Págs.:
693 - 711
The circular economy (CE) is now more imperative than ever due to several shortcomings humanity faces due to global economic disruptions. The CE might help initiate a virtuous circle whereby waste materials would be turned into resources for other companies to create closed-loop systems. However, the CE remains a niche paradigm embraced by only a small number of companies in some areas of the world. Some authors have argued that it is essential to encourage stakeholders at different implementation levels of a CE to increase the uptake of this new model among companies, and stakeholders may provide the required framework for the shift towards a circular model. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to answer the following research question: how can the transition towards the CE be accelerated from a `stakeholders¿ perspective? The study was undertaken in the Spanish region of Basque Country, where a CE strategy is already in place at the regional level, and some companies are already delivering circular solutions. This approach was selected to help understand the lack of widespread adoption of CE initiatives in a local system despite having a regional CE strategy. Data were collected from respondents from various stakeholders and also from desk research to ensure their reliability. The results showed the relevance of understanding how stakeholders can help speed up the transition by proactively exploring new ways to create novel conditions to work together with a broad...
Autores:
Prieto-Sandoval, V. (Autor de correspondencia); Mejía-Villa, A.; Jaca, Carmen; et al.
Revista:
CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ISSN:
2730-5988
Año:
2022
Vol.:
2
N°:
2
Págs.:
713 - 729
The circular economy (CE) is an alternative economic system based on closing energy and material cycles to achieve sustainable development and create value based on innovation. In this sense, business associations (BAs) can work as intermediaries to promote CE in industrial sectors. They bring together many companies, generate trust-based relationships, support companies' strategy and collaborative innovation to construct closed-loop material flows, and increase competitiveness in sectors and regions. This study aims to show the BA's role as intermediaries of CE and promoters of industrial symbiosis (IS) as a value creation strategy among its affiliated companies (AC). Thus, this work takes the form of an exploratory case study of five different companies of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Navarra (UCAN) in Spain. Researchers collected this study's data through a focus group and surveys. As a result, an original serious game was developed in 2016 and a survey in 2016 and 2020, which considers the CE's six fields of action (take, make, manufacture, distribution, use, recovery, and IS). Finally, this study proposes a methodology to promote the CE through the BAs, based on the performance of the UCAN as an intermediary of the CE and IS. Likewise, BAs' potential to promote the closure of energy and materials cycles in regions and commercial sectors such as agribusiness is demonstrated. ...
Revista:
SUSTAINABILITY
ISSN:
2071-1050
Año:
2021
Vol.:
13
N°:
16
A priority must be made on making cities more resilient against crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic to help plan for an uncertain future. However, due to the insufficient transfer of knowledge from, among others, research projects to cities, they are often unaware of the resilience tools available as well as possible standardization activities to foster the integration of relevant stakeholders. To address this issue, this paper analyzes the use of standards and the contribution to standardization in a multi-case study of nine European Framework Program projects and with the Smart Mature Resilience (SMR) project, a more in-depth case study. SMR integrated several European cities in its co-creative approach for developing city resilience tools and the related standards series CWA 17300 on 'City Resilience Development'. Furthermore, the paper defines five steps for integrating standardization in research projects with a focus on (city) resilience and shows the benefits of the standardization process for fostering the engagement of relevant stakeholders.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2021
Vol.:
279
Págs.:
123605
Current research on the circular economy (CE) reveals that, while the concept and its application have been extensively explored as shown in several case studies, the definition of tools and criteria measuring ¿circularity¿ of products, companies or regions are not well-defined. Therefore, indicators for measuring the different levels of a CE (micro, meso, and macro) should be a high priority for stakeholders (governments, companies, NGOs, civil society, etc.) in order to track progress on CE initiatives. However, the increasing interest on CE has caused a still open debate on the conceptualization of CE which hampers the creation of indicators based on a common conceptual framework. As a result, the absence of standard indicators to track progress on circularity is leading to contradiction and misunderstanding, which represents a challenge to the implementation of CE strategies. Thus, this study tries to address this gap by advancing a set of indicators adapted from existing indicators that guarantees simplicity and effectiveness, closely based on indicators proposed by government bodies. This research carried out an exploratory study to formulate the indicators requirements based on literature, refined through experts¿ opinion and then they were tested in Spanish companies located in the Basque Country region through an empirical work to assess this theory...
Revista:
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2013-8423
Año:
2021
Vol.:
14
N°:
3
Págs.:
425 - 438
Purpose: The circular economy has multiple benefits and opportunities to achieve sustainability and a better future for the next generations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology that guides step-by-step any industrial SMEs in the transition from the linear to a circular model. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have a crucial role in the sustainable development transition, considering that they represent most of the world's companies. Design/methodology/approach: To develop this methodology, two research techniques were used: a focus group and storyboarding. Findings: The resulting methodology, called Ecopyme, comprises five steps: 1) Firm identity, 2) Diagnosis, 3) Planning, 4) Get the ball rolling, and 5) Assessment and feedback. In addition, two key criteria that must be included in the whole process were identified: value creation in the firm through a circular economy and organization commitment from the top management to the staff. Research limitations/implications: The Ecopyme methodology has two limitations: It does not propose either implementation tools or involve consumers and actors at the meso (e.g., eco-industrial parks) and macro (e.g., cities, provinces, countries) levels. Practical implications: This study will help policymakers understand the SMEs' perspective and remove barriers that may hinder the paradigm shift. The methodology is also a useful tool for consultants and entrepreneurs to incorporate the circular economy (CE) principles into their business. Originality/value: In the CE literature, little attention has been paid to proposing a structured methodology to implement CE in SMEs. Thus, the study provides a step-by-step methodology that guides any industrial SMEs to transition from linear to circular. Also, it provides additional evidence concerning the importance of human commitment in changing firms' paradigm because people can encourage the adoption of responsible production practices if firms commit CEOs, sustainability managers, and staff.
Autores:
Lindner, R. (Autor de correspondencia); Lückerath, D.; Milde, K.; et al.
Revista:
SUSTAINABILITY
ISSN:
2071-1050
Año:
2021
Vol.:
13
N°:
21
Págs.:
12276
Risks related to climate change and natural hazards increasingly affect urban areas such as historic towns, old urban quarters, villages, and hamlets. These, as well as historic landscapes, make up a significant part of an urban area¿s identity and cannot just be rebuilt or significantly changed without taking into account the historic value, cultural background, and prescribed regulations. Systematic resilience building for historic areas is becoming essential, and research supporting it will be in the spotlight. However, questions still exist concerning how to best transfer research results into practice at the community level. Standardization of resilience-enhancing methods and tools deriving from research projects is one option, chosen, e.g., for the EU-Horizon 2020 project ARCH. Within the project, a disaster risk management (DRM) framework has been composed and then transferred into a standard, supported by a co-creation approach involving relevant stakeholders. This article outlines the project¿s different standardization steps and its impact on the development of the ARCH DRM Framework. It highlights the systematic inclusion of project-external stakeholders who actively contribute to the validation and enhancement of the ARCH DRM framework to guarantee maximum applicability in historic areas, supporting them in their fight against the impacts of climate change and natural hazards
Revista:
RESEARCH IN TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2210-5395
Año:
2021
Vol.:
41
Págs.:
100618
Ride-sharing and services associated with mobility are developing a growing presence in society, especially those that are focused on mobility in cities. These services are provided to a great extent through a digital platform. Measure the aspects of quality, trust and loyalty are relevant to understand the rationale of this kind of business models. The purpose of this paper is to test empirically the relationship between quality, trust (digital and driver trust), satisfaction (platform and driver satisfaction) and loyalty. Specially, we examine the mediating role of trust among these relationships in on-demand ridesharing services. A sample of 429 respondents completed an on-line questionnaire in four European countries (France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy). We propose a model for investigating this relationship and assess its constructs using exploratory factor analysis, and the whole research model by Structural Equating Modelling, using EQS. 6.4 software. In addition, a focus group with users from the four countries was conducted to confirm the results. The present study contributes theoretically to the field of examining the antecedents and consequences of trust in the sharing economy. In addition, this research proposes several trust-building actions that managers can take to increase both business and the level of loyalty to these digital platforms.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
ISSN:
0948-3349
Año:
2020
Vol.:
25
N°:
5
Págs.:
856 - 867
Purpose The European Ecolabel (EU Flower) has the mission to encourage cleaner production and influence consumers to promote Europe's transition to a circular economy. Nonetheless, little is known about EU Ecolabel evolution; it is not clear what the drivers that encourage its implementation are. Thus, this study aims to assess the growing acceptance of the EU Ecolabel in the European Union, and Spain more specifically, by examining product and service categories and geographical regions. Methods The methodological approach taken in this study is a mixed methodology based on the triangulation method by consulting the EU Ecolabel scheme database, EU Ecolabel delegates from some autonomous regions, and the academic literature. Also, a geographic analysis was run in the ArcGIS Software with data about the accumulation of licenses assigned in 2016. Results and discussion The analysis shows that most products in Spain that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel belong to the following categories: Do-It-Yourself Products (paint and varnish), Paper Products, Cleaning Up Products, and Electronic Equipment. At the same time, the study showed that this ecolabel faces significant obstacles in its diffusion, such as the competition with environmental labels launched previously in Europe and other regional labels. Conclusions The results of this study indicate the existence of five drivers that may encourage the implementation of EU Flower in a region: (1) public management, (2) communication strategy, (3) sustainable public procurement criteria, (4) local income per capita, and (5) international trade incentives. Finally, this study provides essential recommendations for policymakers to trigger ecolabeling practices such as the need to improve the understanding of the EU ecolabel impact in different levels of activity, which means countries, regions, industrial clusters, firms, and consumers. Also, this investigation identifies areas for further research, and it expresses the need to develop business case studies about ecolabeling with the objective to visualize this phenomenon as an eco-innovation process.
Revista:
SUSTAINABILITY
ISSN:
2071-1050
Año:
2020
Vol.:
12
N°:
20
Págs.:
8423
Defining the circular economy (CE) as a material and energy model coincides with the definition given by multiple authors in which Industrial Symbiosis (IS) has been deemed as a foundational strategy to support the implementation of the CE. The consumption of secondary materials is essential to achieve a successful transformation from a linear economy to a CE focused on IS practices. In this scenario, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a major role as stakeholders in developing CE systems as it is not possible to create this model with each company working in isolation. However, there is a lack of empirical studies on the role played by relevant local stakeholders such as individual firms interacting in the development of a local CE system. This study aimed to study the challenges that SMEs face in developing a CE system. A case study is selected as a research strategy using a mixed-method approach: a sequential quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) data collection techniques were employed for this research. It was observed that an absence of inter-organisational collaboration and a misunderstanding of the roles played by SMEs may impede the implementation of a local CE system level.
Revista:
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
1535-3958
Año:
2019
Vol.:
26
N°:
6
Págs.:
1473 - 1484
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are key actors in the implementation of the circular economy (CE) concept as a basis for creating sustainable societies. Thus, the main objective of this study is to identify key strategies and resources that may favor CE implementation in SMEs. These key strategies should encourage SMEs to develop eco-innovations to gain competitive advantage and create and capture value that is coherent with nature. A mixed-method approach that consisted of a literature review and a focus group for gathering qualitative data was used. This focus group was made up of experts such as researchers and practitioners from universities, sustainable SMEs, and consultancy firms in Spain. A set of strategies and internal and external factors were identified to help SMEs to implement the CE. Finally, some useful dynamic capabilities for implementing the CE in business performance were identified.
Autores:
Bouranta; Psomas; Suarez Barraza; et al.
Revista:
BENCHMARKING
ISSN:
1463-5771
Año:
2019
Vol.:
26
N°:
3
Págs.:
893 - 921
Purpose¿Literature refers to the key factors of total quality management (TQM) based on studies carriedout in individual countries. However, few studies focus on studying the TQM factors in service companiesbased on multinational data. The purpose of this paper is to empirically identify the key TQM factors andtheir impact on internal and external customer performance measures across different countries.Design/methodology/approach¿The research questions regarding the TQM factors and their effectswere examined using a sample of service organisations from three countries (131 from Greece, 70 from Mexicoand 151 from Spain). TQM factors and their impact on employee and customer satisfaction were analysedseparately for each country. Exploratory factor analyses, coupled with multiple linear regression analyses,were conducted.Findings¿The key TQM factors identified are common among the three participating countries and can besummarised as follows: quality practices of top management, process management, employee qualitymanagement, customer focus, and employee knowledge and education. The adoption level of these five keyfactors of TQM varies across service organisations in different countries. The results also confirmed thatsome of the TQM elements are antecedents of customer- and employee-focused performance.Practical implications¿Multinational service organisations may use such an instrument to evaluate TQMimplementation among worldwide operations and then benchmark their performan
Revista:
MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ISSN:
1477-7835
Año:
2018
Vol.:
29
N°:
1
Págs.:
49 - 62
Purpose
Environmental management (EM) is becoming increasingly important in all types of organizations. The food industry represents the top industrial sector of the Spanish economy; however, there is still little knowledge about how it is managed environmentally. The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive analysis of the Spanish food sector.
Design/methodology/approach
This study undertook a descriptive analysis based on probabilistic sampling surveys from food companies in Spain. The survey was sent out to 900 companies obtaining 128 answers.
Findings
The results of this study show that companies with an EM standard tend to have a more developed system and a greater presence of EM tools and actions. Moreover, statistical differences were identified among the characteristics of companies and various factors that affect the evolution of their EM.
Originality/value
There are no studies that reveal a clear picture of the status of EM in the Spanish food industry. This study presents a clear starting point that might help policy makers, consultants, researchers and other parties to set new improvement routes so companies do not get stuck in their progress toward environmental excellence
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2018
Vol.:
185
Págs.:
157 - 167
The important role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in most economies underpins this research, which develops an empirical analysis that allows us to explore the potential for implementation of the Circular Economy in SMEs and the barriers and opportunities they may distinguish from it. To that end, a survey was carried out in Navarra and the Basque Country, Spain. The main results show that companies are focused on complying with the law and, in many cases, they are worried about their company's image. Moreover, they do not tend to be committed to environmental issues because they do not think it would increase their profits and competitiveness. The focus on cost savings became clear from the Factor Analysis applied to the Take-Transform and Recovery phases of the Circular Economy. In this sense, three factors were associated with the companies' perception of the Circular Economy: 1) Material Provision, 2) Resources' Reutilization and 2) Financial Advantage. With regard to the barriers, another Factor Analysis suggested two different categories of barriers: Hard barriers and Human-based barriers, each requiring different strategies for addressing them, must be considered. Finally, the study briefly examines the integration opportunities between SMEs with other companies and industry associations or clusters to develop industrial symbiosis and close their materials loop. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2018
Vol.:
30
N°:
4
Págs.:
281 - 295
The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology that is based on the concept of environmental comfort and can serve as a tool that can help companies and employees to implement Kaizen projects. This methodology focuses on the worker¿s participation in analyzing and developing improvements related to their workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is focused on the development of a methodology that encourages worker participation in improvement activities, through the analysis of their working conditions. For this purpose, the proposed methodology was developed in accordance with the dimensions of workplace comfort proposed by Vischer. The employees start working on the analysis of problems and their solutions through the logical framework approach, as it is a tool that encourages worker participation and consensus. The developed methodology was applied in a company, with three different groups of people, which enabled the authors to test its utility.
Findings
The findings reveal that the proposed methodology is effective in initiating workers in the path of Kaizen. The employees who applied this methodology were able to propose improvement actions that addressed the problems and opportunities that they had previously detected. Moreover, the questionnaire that was used to validate the methodology and was administered to employees shows that the methodology is useful in preparing them for adopting continuous improvement (CI) programs.
Revista:
MEMORIA INVESTIGACIONES EN INGENIERIA
ISSN:
2301-1092
Año:
2018
Vol.:
16
Págs.:
99-107
La Economía Circular se ha convertido en un tema de gran interés para los legisladores, académicos y empresarios, ya que se muestra como un nuevo paradigma para lograr la sostenibilidad de nuestra sociedad. Sin embargo, los principales esfuerzos en la Economía Circular no pueden reducirse a actos de profesionales o de expertos. Consideramos que, si pretendemos satisfacer las necesidades actuales sin comprometer la capacidad de las generaciones futuras para satisfacer sus propias necesidades, tenemos que enseñar a las generaciones actuales los principios para lograr la sostenibilidad económica, social y ambiental a corto, medio y largo plazo. Este artículo destaca el uso de actividades participativas en lugar de cursos tradicionales para enseñar e involucrar a estudiantes de ingeniería con las prácticas de economía circular.
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2018
Vol.:
30
N°:
4
Págs.:
371 - 390
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to depict how Kaizen and continuous improvement (CI) are represented in scientific journals focusing on quality management (QM) from the 1980s until 2017. Additionally, the study aims to examine how Kaizen is studied and described and how the relationship between Kaizen and CI is portrayed.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies a mixed methods approach to search for tendencies and outlines concerning Kaizen and CI in four scientific journals focusing on QM and two focusing on OM. The data set contains entries from 1980 until 2017, which makes it possible to depict how Kaizen has evolved over more than 30 years.
Findings
The findings show that Kaizen and CI attained special interest in the mid-1990s, after which interest appears to have decreased. However, the findings imply that a regenerated interest for the areas spiked post 2010. In addition, the results indicate that Kaizen is on the one hand accepted by one part of the management community but on the other hand completely ignored by the rest. Finally, the data illuminate a need to strengthen and clarify Kaizen¿s theoretical basis and its relationship to CI.
Practical implications
If an aspiration exists to increase the success rate of Kaizen implementation, the results from the study highlight the need to address and clarify epistemological, terminological and theoretical issues.
Revista:
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ISSN:
0964-4733
Año:
2018
Vol.:
27
N°:
8
Págs.:
1525 - 1534
The circular economy has become an important issue in recent years because it makes sustainable development feasible by creating value in the economy and by closing the energy and materials loops. However, since most companies continue to operate under a linear model, it is particularly important to start providing companies with tools that facilitate their shift to the circular paradigm. The main objective of this research is to establish the key elements that are necessary for assessing the level of circular economy implementation. To that end, the Delphi method is used to validate and define the key elements of three categories: circular economy fields of action, industrial symbiosis, and environmental certifications. As a result, this study identifies the key elements that assess the degree of circular economy implementation and that allows small and medium-sized enterprises to understand where they are and what they need to do to improve their performance.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2018
Vol.:
179
Págs.:
605 - 615
The growing importance of the concept of the circular economy as a way to attain sustainable development has encouraged scholars to propose different ways to understand it. Given the large number of studies done on the circular economy, their differing approaches and their multiple applications, this paper attempts to propose a consensus view of the basic notions of the circular economy framework and highlight its relationship with eco-innovation. To that end, this study carried out a systematic literature review that resulted in four main outputs: a knowledge map of the circular economy, an analysis of the main notions of the concept, principles, and determinants of a circular economy. Finally, this study brings to light some remarkable examples of eco-innovations developed for implementation in the circular economy. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION ECONOMICS
ISSN:
0925-5273
Año:
2018
Vol.:
197
Págs.:
232 - 242
The transport of goods is essential for the economic growth of cities and regions. Urban freight transportation makes up a very small percentage of the total transportation time for goods, but it can represent up to 28% of total transportation costs. To reduce overall costs and increase revenue from this operation, one common methodology used by decision makers is the optimization models. This paper proposes a new methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of urban freight transportation systems using the OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) metric, a well-known rate used in the Lean Manufacturing framework. The methodology uses a mathematical model with several objective functions, two of which are multi-objective, to explore the relationships and trade-offs between economic development, quality, performance and availability (partial rates of the OEE). The final objective is to optimize the OEE metrics and the profitability of a transportation system. This methodology was tested using real data from the city of Bogota, Colombia. Experiments were run with different companies, costs, demands and travel times in order to validate the proposed approach. The results show the benefits of using multi-objective functions to optimize both OEE (quality, performance and availability metrics) and profits. The proposed methodology provides an 'ex ante' evaluation of the tactical and operational decisions made by companies in configuring an urban freight transport system.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
ISSN:
0959-6526
Año:
2018
Vol.:
181
Págs.:
201 - 208
The growing complexity of environmental issues and its connection with the way in which society is consuming make essential to understand the extent of the consumers' awareness regarding the sustainable aspects. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the motivations of sustainable consumers and how those motivations should be considered by consumer organizations for improving their purposes and services to drive environmental sustainability. The research presents a content analysis of the websites of 30 lbero-American organizations that promote sustainable consumption habits, classifying those organizations according to their purposes and services based on the six dimensions of consumer sustainability awareness. Then, a questionnaire was sent to a sample of Spanish-speaking consumers of sustainable products in order to assess their motivations for choosing environmentally friendly products or services. Then, an analysis was performed by comparing both results. As a result, the study offers new knowledge about the perception of sustainability consciousness across Spanish-speaking consumers and of the purpose of consumer organizations. It also provides valuable information for companies and marketers who wish to align their eco-innovation strategies with green consumers' motivations. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Revista:
MEMORIA INVESTIGACIONES EN INGENIERIA
ISSN:
2301-1092
Año:
2017
N°:
15
Págs.:
85 - 95
The circular economy is a paradigm that aims to generate economic prosperity, protect the environment and prevent pollution, consequently, facilitating sustainable development. The growing interest of governments, industry, and society in the implementation of the circular economy has led us to inquire about its direct connection with the ultimate goal of this paradigm: sustainability. For this purpose, an analysis of the scientific articles published in this last century on this concept has been made. As a result, we conclude that the Circular Economy is a paradigm of action that has evolved from the concept of sustainability and its application in the economy, society, and the necessary care of the environment that surrounds us. Accordingly, the Circular Economy has become a paradigm that seeks sustainable development, proposing different strategies throughout the chain of production and use of products and services. For this purpose, the article proposes five concrete fields of action and presents strategies for sustainable design to achieve the circularity in the processes, allowing the production and sustainable consumption.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
2013-0953
Año:
2016
Vol.:
9
N°:
5
Págs.:
1047 - 1058
Purpose: This research analyzes the maturity of environmental management as well as the degree of to which the Circular Economy has been implemented in Basque SMEs. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 17 case studies were carried out in industrial SMEs companies in the Basque Country. Findings: The main results show that companies are limited to complying with the law and in many cases are worried about the image of the company, although they are not committed to environmental issues. There is still a lot to do in SMEs, as they are the companies that face the biggest challenges due to a lack of resources. Originality/value: Circular Economy aims to change a linear economy into promoting sustainability of the economy while also engaging in sustainable environmental protection. This research has focused on small and medium enterprises as they represent a 99% of companies in Europe and they are the ones that have the most difficulty reaching a stage of environmental excellence due to their limited resources.
Revista:
MEMORIA INVESTIGACIONES EN INGENIERIA
ISSN:
2301-1092
Año:
2016
N°:
14
Págs.:
23 - 34
El trabajo en equipo es una de las competencias clave para el desarrollo de muchos
profesionales, más si cabe, para el de los futuros ingenieros. Es por ello que dicha competencia se
debe definir primeramente en los planes de estudios de estas titulaciones como posteriormente
debe controlarse y asegurarse la adquisición de la misma por parte de los alumnos. El artículo
que aquí se presenta propone un modelo que sirve de referencia para entender los factores y
procesos que surgen del desarrollo del trabajo en equipo y lo completa con la definición de unas
herramientas que sirve para evaluar el grado de consecución de la competencia por parte de los
alumnos a lo largo de un grado en ingeniería industrial. El modelo se ha probado en base a datos
experimentales realizados en una escuela de ingenieros española, aunque está diseñado para que
pueda adaptarse a cualquier nivel educativo en el que el trabajo en equipo sea definido como una
competencia a desarrollar en el alumno.
Revista:
REVISTA GLOBALIZACION, COMPETITIVIDAD Y GOBERNABILIDAD
ISSN:
1988-7116
Año:
2016
Vol.:
10
N°:
1
Págs.:
66 - 81
This study focuses on how innovation capability can be developed within a company and how information
capability is integrated into the innovation process. Innovation, helped by elements that generate and share
knowledge, is generated through different practices. Thus, the present study develops an analysis of the role
of information capability in innovation through the assessment of the direct experiences of managers from
innovative companies located in Spain through grounded theory methodology. Our findings suggest that
strategy promotes the appropriate culture and values that are aligned with innovation in the company.
Strategy also establishes and acquires the resources, both internal and external, that an organization
needs in order to achieve competiveness through innovation. Moreover, the organizational culture and
resources support the information capability, and this information capability in turn supports the knowledge
management which supports and develops innovation. The contribution of this research is the proposal of
a framework that explains the elements that underlie innovation management in companies. The paper
contributes to a deeper understanding of how to use information capability and knowledge management as
potential sources of innovation.
Revista:
REVISTA GLOBALIZACION, COMPETITIVIDAD Y GOBERNABILIDAD
ISSN:
1988-7116
Año:
2016
Vol.:
10
N°:
1
Págs.:
66 - 81
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:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITY & RELIABILITY MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
0265-671X
Año:
2016
Vol.:
33
N°:
3
Págs.:
380 - 398
Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to explore the impact of total quality management (TQM) factors on performance dimensions of service companies. Design/methodology/approach - A research project was designed in the Spanish services sector. Companies that had already participated in activities with regard to business excellence were randomly selected and approached through a structured questionnaire, yielding a sample of 151 responding companies. By analyzing TQM implementation and company performance through the exploratory factor analysis, specific TQM factors and performance dimensions are extracted. The TQM factors that significantly influence the performance dimensions are determined through multiple linear regression analyses. Findings - According to the findings, the factors describing TQM implementation in service companies concern quality practices of top management, employee quality management, process management, employee knowledge and education and customer focus. Similarly, the performance dimensions revealed concern financial performance, operational performance, customer satisfaction and product/service quality performance. The TQM factors concerning customers, employees and top management significantly affect the performance dimensions. Research limitations/implications - The subjective data were collected from quality managers of a small-sized sample of companies operating in a European Union country and belonging to different services sub-sectors. Based on these limitations, future research studies are recommended. Practical implications - By focussing on specific TQM factors, a service company can improve its performance dimensions. In doing so, it can lay the foundations not only to survive but to be competitive in the current global scenario that is characterized by an economic downturn. Originality/value - This paper describes a reliable TQM model that can be implemented in the services sector and a means by which a service company can improve its performance.
Revista:
TEAM PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
ISSN:
1352-7592
Año:
2015
Vol.:
21
N°:
5/6
Págs.:
274 - 292
Revista:
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
ISSN:
1478-3363
Año:
2015
Vol.:
26
N°:
42652
Págs.:
958 - 970
The present study focuses on total quality management (TQM) implementation in service companies. The purpose of the study is to determine the latent factors of the TQM practices implemented as well as the dimensions of the respective performance outcomes. A research project was carried out in 72 Spanish service companies, using the questionnaire method. Two measurement models were formulated. The first model includes the TQM practices, while the second contains the performance outcomes. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to extract the latent factors. The TQM factors revealed by this study are the quality practices of top management, process management, employee quality management, customer focus and employee knowledge and education. The dimensions of the performance outcomes are financial performance, customer satisfaction, product/service quality performance and operational performance. In this study, TQM adoption in service companies is decoded by determining specific TQM factors. Moreover, the performance outcomes from TQM are classified. The TQM factors and the dimensions of performance outcomes expand the literature on TQM in the services sector.
Revista:
THE TQM JOURNAL
ISSN:
1754-2731
Año:
2015
Vol.:
27
N°:
3
Págs.:
316 - 327
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRODUCTION RESEARCH
ISSN:
0020-7543
Año:
2014
Vol.:
52
N°:
6
Págs.:
1755-1770
One of the most important enablers of continuous improvement sustainability is ease of communication, and doing so in a way that can be understood by all employees and allows information to flow rapidly throughout the company. Visual Management (VM) provides significant benefits in communication and standardisation which boosts the effectiveness of improvement systems. This article presents an in-depth literature review about the concept of VM and its benefits, and provides results from an exploratory study carried out in the Basque Country that aims to ascertain the usage of VM in 52 companies. Based on a literature review, 20 different VM elements were identified for improving the workplace. The implementation of these elements was studied, as was the relationship of VM with employee participation systems. The results of this study show a general moderate implementation of VM tools in companies with implementation levels differing according to company size. Some of the lowest scores are detected in the areas of visual control of quality, the displaying of indicators and process visibility. Moreover, statistical differences were identified between the implementation of suggestion systems and improvement teams and the implementation level of VM tools.
Revista:
REVISTA GLOBALIZACION, COMPETITIVIDAD Y GOBERNABILIDAD
ISSN:
1988-7116
Año:
2014
Vol.:
8
N°:
3
Págs.:
33 - 44
El objetivo de este estudio es analizar si la gestión y el uso de la información es eficiente en empresas comprometidas con la gestión de la calidad y si depende del sistema de gestión de calidad adoptado por la organización. A partir de una revisión bibliográfica hemos establecido un conjunto de buenas prácticas que conducen a la gestión y el uso eficiente de la información en la organización. A continuación, usando un cuestionario, hemos recogido la percepción de los directivos sobre el nivel de adopción de las prácticas establecidas. Los directivos pertenecían a dos tipos de organizaciones: empresas que han adoptado la ISO9000 como sistema de gestión de calidad y empresas que han adoptado el modelo EFQM de calidad total. El estudio contribuye a lograr un conocimiento más profundo de la gestión y uso eficiente de la información como fuente de ventaja competitiva para la organización. El nivel de adopción de las prácticas que conducen a la gestión y uso eficiente de la información es elevado en las organizaciones comprometidas con la gestión de la calidad. Además se han detectado diferencias que dependen del sistema de calidad adoptado por la misma. Los datos se han obtenido de muestras pequeñas de empresas de diferentes regiones del mundo. Por otro lado, sólo se han tenido en cuenta dos sistemas de calidad
Revista:
REVISTA GLOBALIZACION, COMPETITIVIDAD Y GOBERNABILIDAD
ISSN:
1988-7116
Año:
2014
Vol.:
8
N°:
3
Págs.:
33 -34
Explore the development of the information capability in companies committed to quality management and explore whether the development of information capability depends on the quality management system adopted by the company. The efficient use and management of information can be considered a capability for a company. From a review of the literature we first define information capability related practices. Then, through a questionnaire, we captured the perception of managers in two types of companies regarding the existence of information practices. We contacted companies that used ISO 9000 as their quality management system and companies that were committed to the EFQM excellence model. The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the information capability construct. According to the results, companies committed to quality management have developed the information capability. Also, this study shows the differences in its development in terms of the quality system adopted by the company.The data has been obtained from small samples of companies from different regions in the world. Also other quality management systems could be considered.
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:
INTANGIBLE CAPITAL
ISSN:
1697-9818
Año:
2013
Vol.:
9
N°:
1
Págs.:
281 - 304
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:
INTANGIBLE CAPITAL
ISSN:
1697-9818
Año:
2013
Vol.:
9
N°:
1
Págs.:
281 - 304
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:
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
ISSN:
1478-3363
Año:
2012
Vol.:
23
N°:
42463
Págs.:
449 - 465
Sectors associated with the distribution of products and goods have become more and more important in recent years. Globalisation and changing market demands are increasing competitiveness in these sectors, and as a result many companies have adopted new improvement methods to assure their survival. The adoption of improvement philosophies and a lean culture offer new opportunities to improve the quality and service of distribution networks and activities related with transport and warehousing. The application of these philosophies, widely used in industrial companies, has been little documented in distribution centres. However, these methods are difficult to implement in companies from the distribution sector due to the volatility of customer demand, the high degree of human participation and the demanding mechanical and repetitive activities in retail and storage activities. This paper presents a methodology for change management to adopt lean practices in distribution centres. The presented case study has been used to develop, test and refine the methodology. Results show that the methodology was suitable for establishing a lean culture in the company and it resulted in good outcomes in terms of productivity, employee attitudes and participation.
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:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITY AND SERVICE SCIENCES
ISSN:
1756-669X
Año:
2012
Vol.:
4
N°:
1
Págs.:
51-60
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to see how quality management is carried out in hotels in the Basque Country, a region in the north of Spain with a long tradition in the tourist sector.
Design/methodology/approach: The objective of the study was to establish what approaches to quality management are utilised by hotels in the region. The data were collated from information gathered via a survey conducted by e-mail.
Findings : A large percentage of surveyed hotels implement a quality management system that has been designed in-house. A figure of note, is the fact that 79 per cent of participants claim their quality management system has been introduced successfully. The study also indicated that a significant number of hotels implement a policy of continuous improvement to the system, as hotels believe in the effectiveness of quality management systems and think that such systems have resulted in an increase in customers and profit.
Originality/value: This study offers an understanding on the philosophy of quality management adopted by hotels in the Basque Country. Moreover, it provides empirical evidence on the perceived results of the implementation of quality management in hotels.
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:
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:
REVISTA VENEZOLANA DE GERENCIA
ISSN:
1315-9984
Año:
2011
Vol.:
16
N°:
55
Págs.:
375-389
In the healthcare sector, teamwork is a key issue. Although the sector promotes research on improving the quality of teamwork, it rarely focuses on evaluating this process. This paper develops a methodological proposal for assessing teamwork effectiveness. The model considers 36 factors used to measure it, by observing the existence, importance and application level of these factors in the teamwork. The model was used to assess teams working in the public hospital network in the Basque Country (Spain). Methodology was of the exploratory type and developed with data obtained from interviews carried out according to a script based on the model's structure. The assessment was conducted through interviews in order to qualitatively assess the existence, degree and level of implementation for those factors. From applying the model to the practical case, conclusions are that most of the factors analyzed in those hospitals had medium and high scores; the lowest scores were for factors related to results, recognition, training and selecting team members.
Revista:
REVISTA DE DINÁMICA DE SISTEMAS
ISSN:
0718-1884
Año:
2011
Vol.:
5
N°:
1
Págs.:
30 - 60
La mejora continua es un proceso dinámico y complejo, caracterizado por su dificultad de mantenimiento en el tiempo, ya que su implantación conlleva un cambio cultural en toda la empresa. En los programas de mejora continua, los equipos de mejora son un elemento muy importante, y el modo en que se desarrollen y evolucionen es determinante para el éxito del programa. Por este motivo, el objetivo de este trabajo de investigación es desarrollar un modelo de simulación que permita analizar el desarrollo de equipos de mejora. El modelo obtenido representa la evolución de estos equipos en distintas situaciones. Gracias al modelo se pueden entender mejor cómo funcionan los equipos de mejora y los factores más importantes que deben tenerse en cuenta a la hora de implantar nuevos proyectos; como el seguimiento de la Dirección, el reconocimiento a los equipos, la formalización del sistema, la asignación de recursos y los objetivos que se pretenden alcanzar. Al mismo tiempo, el modelo es una herramienta de formación para todos aquellos implicados en los equipos de mejora.
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.
Revista:
DYNA
ISSN:
0012-7361
Año:
2010
Vol.:
85
N°:
8
Págs.:
662 - 666
The term Web 2.0 is associated with the development of Web-based technology applications and tools used by communities of users. Those applications let these users access and produce information in a simple way, without the necessity of complicated software on their computers. This technology can also be used by small and medium companies to improve of any type of projects involving collaborative work. This paper presents different Web 2.0 applications that can be used by SMES (small and medium enterprises) and the steps that should be addressed to implement them. Different examples of its uses are also explained.
Capítulos de libros
Libro:
Ensuring sustainability. New challenges for organizational engineering
Editorial:
Ed. Springer
Año:
2022
Págs.:
23-33
Sustainability and the circular economy are the answer to today's challenge of resource depletion and waste generation. The transition to circular economy requires technological and process innovations: However, the capacity for innovation has often been a point of difficulty, and the problem is worse in small-sized companies because of the scarcity of resources. Our aim is to show how a company committed to sustainability overcomes the obstacles in the innovation process.
Libro:
Organizational Engineering in Industry 4.0
Editorial:
Ed. Springer
Año:
2021
Págs.:
205-212
Circular economy has been claimed as an approach to foster a systemic change in the current model based on disposability. Though, many companies have sprout to deliver circular solutions through either new business models, products or services, a full shift away from the entire system is lacking. In other words, in order to experience a fully transition toward a circular economy model, an inter-organizational approach needs to be deployed. This approach has been named industrial symbiosis whereby interactions among companies are crucial to start developing a circular economy in the so-called meso level. Collaboration among organizations rises as one of the most important factors in developing industrial symbiosis. In that sense, different projects have developed digital platforms with the idea of promoting active participation and collaboration between organizations. Those sorts of platforms ideally enable industrial symbiosis through gathering information about resources and potential substitutes in order to recommend waste-to-resource exchanges. However, depending on the context the platform was built certain characteristics may not apply. Thus, this paper is focused on the characteristics and usefulness of different available platforms that facilitate the exchange of waste as a resource, product or good. Based on this research, it is likely that none of the existing platforms and the upcoming ones will be one-size-fits-all, thus, for industrial symbiosis to succeed it is still important for companies to determine what their needs are and then explore which platform best covers their requirements.
Libro:
Industrial Symbiosis for the Circular Economy
Editorial:
Ed. Springer
Año:
2020
Págs.:
27 - 41
Most companies operate on a linear economy that consists of ¿take, make, use and waste.¿ However, the growing impact of industries¿ emissions on the environment has aroused global concerns about their activities. As a result, companies are increasingly aware of the importance of implementing a circular economy (CE) with environmental, social and economic beneficial results. In this transition to a circular system, companies will need guidance, especially in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the predominant type of company in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) area. Taking this into account, the objective of this chapter is to provide SMEs with a methodology to understand the value of CE for their corporate strategy, diagnose their business and design an action plan to facilitate the transition to the CE, allowing them to create value and gain a competitive advantage in the market. The CE could be addressed through six fields of action: take, make, distribute, use and recover goods and materials (Park et al. in J Clean Prod 18:1492¿1499, 2010; Stahel in Nature 24:6¿9, 2016), and a transversal field of action called industrial symbiosis. These six fields of action are the methodology¿s backbone. The CE methodology for an SME consists of the following steps: Diagnose the company¿s situation, through reflection on the current value proposal, the stakeholders and a preliminary diagnosis regarding its level of CE application through a proposed diagnosis tool. Analyze barriers and opportunities derived from the application of the CE. Propose a CE implementation plan. This chapter will explain, the process followed, and the various results obtained in the rubber-metal company. The proposed methodology makes an important contribution to SMEs¿ professionals regarding the step-by-step implementation of the CE using a real case that shows how to identify, plan and capitalize on the opportunities of the circular economy. The case study reveals how SMEs can start implementing the paradigm shift through environmental strategies that do not usually require high amounts of financial resources or technology. Moreover, the case study also highlights the relevance of the CE for creating value and a competitive strategy in the market.
Libro:
Industrial symbiosis for the circular economy : operational experiences, best practices and obstacles to a collaborative business approach
Editorial:
Ed. Springer
Año:
2020
Págs.:
27-41
Most companies operate on a linear economy that consists of ¿take, make, use and waste.¿ However, the growing impact of industries¿ emissions on the environment has aroused global concerns about their activities. As a result, companies are increasingly aware of the importance of implementing a circular economy (CE) with environmental, social and economic beneficial results. In this transition to a circular system, companies will need guidance, especially in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the predominant type of company in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) area. Taking this into account, the objective of this chapter is to provide SMEs with a methodology to understand the value of CE for their corporate strategy, diagnose their business and design an action plan to facilitate the transition to the CE, allowing them to create value and gain a competitive advantage in the market. The CE could be addressed through six fields of action: take, make, distribute, use and recover goods and materials (Park et al. in J Clean Prod 18:1492¿1499, 2010; Stahel in Nature 24:6¿9, 2016), and a transversal field of action called industrial symbiosis. These six fields of action are the methodology¿s backbone. The CE methodology for an SME consists of the following steps: Diagnose the company¿s situation, through reflection on the current value proposal, the stakeholders and a preliminary diagnosis regarding its level of CE application through a proposed diagnosis tool. Analyze barriers and opportunities derived from the application of the CE. Propose a CE implementation plan. This chapter will explain, the process followed, and the various results obtained in the rubber-metal company. The proposed methodology makes an important contribution to SMEs¿ professionals regarding the step-by-step implementation of the CE using a real case that shows how to identify, plan and capitalize on the opportunities of the circular economy. The case study reveals how SMEs can start implementing the paradigm shift through environmental strategies that do not usually require high amounts of financial resources or technology. Moreover, the case study also highlights the relevance of the CE for creating value and a competitive strategy in the market.
Libro:
ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS
Lugar de Edición:
Switzerland
Editorial:
Springer International Publishing
Año:
2017
Págs.:
299 - 306
In the turbulent global environment in which organizations now compete, having reliable, accurate and readily available information is a key factor. Information is a strategic company resource. To the extent that TQM is an information-intensive management model, it is not unreasonable to assume that companies committed to TQM models should be efficient when managing information. This study has two main objectives. First, we aim to explore whether the information managed by companies committed to TQM models (in particular a quality management system based on the ISO 9000 international quality standards series) meets the dimensions required for information quality. Second, we aim to explore how information quality dimensions influence information consumers¿ overall feeling of being well informed in those companies. Using a quantitative approach, we used a questionnaire survey to capture the perceptions of managers in companies committed to a quality management system based on the ISO 9000 international quality standards series with respect to the information they managed. More specifically we applied a nonparametric test and performed a multiple regression analysis to address the objectives of the study. The analysis shows evidence that the information managed already meets many dimensions of information quality among the companies analysed.
Libro:
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Management Science and Engineering Management
Lugar de Edición:
Berlin
Editorial:
Ed. Springer
Año:
2014
Págs.:
1521 - 1530
Environmental management is receiving increased attention by researchers, policy makers and companies as today¿s world is facing major environmental problems such as global warming and waste. As a consequence, companies are progressively improving their environmental practices and behaviors with the aim of reaching more advanced stages in their environmental management. Specifically, those companies most committed to environmental issues have started to introduce the concept of life-cycle and footprint thinking in their organizations. Nevertheless, there are currently many different software tools and companies may not know which one is most suitable. Consequently, the main objective of this research is to study the different software applications to help companies choose the most suitable one in each case. To achieve this objective, the paper provides an in depth review of the literature on life-cycle and footprint thinking. As a result, more than 20 software tools have been analysed and compared. It is important to highlight that the appropriateness of one software program relative to another may very much depend on the user¿s scope or objective, as the database of each program could be different.
Libro:
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Management Science and Engineering Management
Lugar de Edición:
Londres
Editorial:
Ed. Springer
Año:
2014
Págs.:
533-539
Supply Chains (SC) encompass interfaces where several interactions occur, notably with flows of services, products and information. Services play a major role in modern economies and its provision is widespread along the supply chain. This piece of research utilizes the Gaps Model of Service Quality, which is based on the disconfirmation paradigm, and relates it with lean principles of waste from a supply chain perspective. The Gaps Model analyses several gaps that might occur within organizations, leading to discrepancies between expected service and perceived service. A methodology is proposed for assessing the internal failures contributing to each gap of the original model. A second stage includes an approach inspired on QFD¿s (Quality Function Deployment) matrices, envisaging a joint analysis of gap¿s structure and supply chain¿s failures, what allows computing the importance of each failure from a service quality perspective. Furthermore, these failures can be associated to lean wastes, thus providing a framework for ¿leanliness¿ assessment. A simplified example for a generic supply chain is also presented.
Libro:
Managing complexity
Lugar de Edición:
Switzerland
Editorial:
Springer International Publishing
Año:
2014
Págs.:
43 - 49
The main objective of this paper is to present the logical framework approach (LFA) as a tool that prepares companies and workers to implement continuous improvement programs. This methodology encourages worker participation in different steps in order to reach consensus in the organization. In addition, the application of LFA improves the capabilities of workers in areas such as participatory analysis, problem analysis and objectives analysis. These capabilities are necessary in any continuous improvement program. The paper also presents the results of applying LFA in two different companies.
Libro:
International Manufacturing Networks. Global Operations Design and Management
Editorial:
CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group
Año:
2013
Págs.:
191 - 224
