The impact of lean practices on inventory turnover

Lean manufacturing (LM) is currently enjoying its second heyday. Companies in several industries are implementing lean practices to keep pace with the competition and achieve better results. In this article, we will concentrate on how companies can improve their inventory turnover performance through the use of lean practices. According to our main proposition, firms that widely apply lean practices have higher inventory turnover than those that do not rely on LM. However, there may be significant differences in inventory turnover even among lean manufacturers depending on their contingencies. Therefore, we also investigate how various contingency factors (production systems, order types, product types) influence the inventory turnover of lean manufacturers. We use cluster and correlation analysis to separate manufacturers based on the extent of their leanness and to examine the effect of contingencies. We acquired the data from the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS) in ISIC sectors 28-35.     

试论质量管理中的质量控制与质量改进

阐述了质量控制与质量改进的概念、目标、特点,以及两者的相互关系。指出,质量控制和质量改进是质量管理的重要组成部分,质量控制和质量改进有其内在联系,从事这些活动必须遵循一定的原则,同时还要采取科学的方法。     

The selected determinants of manufacturing postponement within supply chain context: An international study

Modern supply chains focus on an ultimate consumer satisfaction and often require essential dynamic reconfiguration. Manufacturing companies constitute important central nodes in supply chains, where almost all physical flows are concentrated.Postponement is the operating concept, which aims at delaying activities until a customer’s order has been received. The growth of interest in the postponement concept partially results from the increased demand for customized products.Data for the analysis has been collected through the survey carried out by researchers in several countries. The main research instrument used for this research was a questionnaire developed by the Global Manufacturing Research Group (GMRG). The conclusions formulated on the basis of data analysis proved that market and demand characteristics do not seem to be important for the choice between postponement and speculation strategy. The research showed that assembly postponement depends mostly on managerial decisions about the goals of company and the level of acceptance of an assembly postponement strategy on the market. Full postponement strategy is dictated mainly by the level of product customization and capacities of manufacturing and logistics systems. Production postponement has to be accepted on the market and should be associated with excellent forecasting techniques.     

Applied customer knowledge in a manufacturing environment: Flexibility for industrial firms

Dynamic business markets are forcing B2B marketers to create flexibility in their firms. The present study investigates: (1) made-to-stock (MTS) versus made-to-order (MTO, which is considered more flexible); (2) production technology routineness (with nonroutine considered more flexible); and (3) a marketing-based enabler of flexibility, i.e., applied customer knowledge. SEM analysis shows that applied customer knowledge completely mediates the relationships of both MTO and routineness with financial performance. This delineates two routes to financial performance, beginning with manufacturing-based flexibility constructs and operating through marketing-based applied knowledge. In addition, exploratory analysis of a subsample confirmed empirically that the financial success of mass customization depends on extensive customer knowledge application and low finished goods inventory levels. Managerial implications are discussed, along with ideas for future research.     

运用质量管理方法改进充填防砂施工

针对砾石充填防砂工艺技术在现场应用中存在的一些问题,运用质量管理方法对充填防砂工艺进行质量改进,结合深部解堵技术、稳砂固砂等技术,提高了充填防砂效果,减少了油井出砂,提高了原油采收率。     

Environment-quality management coalignment across industrial contexts: An empirical investigation of performance implications

Quality management (QM) affects many variables related to marketing. Persuaded by the numerous benefits and competitive potential of QM, many firms have decided to implement QM programs. The study examines how the fit between industrial environment characteristics and QM practices impacts financial, operational and employee performance. To test our hypotheses, we surveyed a sample of 273 managers. The findings suggest that the results of implementing QM practices depend on the degree on internationalization of the industrial environment, as well as on the existing level of competence. Findings offer implications for marketing theory and practice as well as for strategic management and QM.     

Designing supply chains: Towards theory development

This paper describes a typology for designing supply chains that work in harmony to design, produce, and deliver products with different characteristics and customer expectations. This research discusses supply chain types that are necessary for success across three types of products: standard, innovative, and hybrid. It develops a framework for categorizing the supply chain types according to product characteristics and stage of the product life cycle. The key success factor for a product change as the product moves through its life cycle, and this may require different supply chain characteristics and capabilities. The paper blends literature and theory development with cases study research to create the typology and develop a set of research questions for further investigation.     

企业质量管理过程中信息的质量问题

在明确质量信息管理是质量管理的一个重要组成部分的前提下,指出了吉林石油集团有限责任公司内由上至下各环节的信息管理工作中存在的问题,指出了信息对质量管理具有特殊重要的意义,以及质量信息在质量管理中的重要作用,并给出了衡量信息质量的五项标准,提出了改善质量信息管理工作的五点措施.     

我国电网企业国际化人才管理策略研究

随着电网企业国际化战略的实施,国际化人才对电网企业具有越来越重要的意义。在分析国际化人才对电网企业重要意义的基础上．总结了电网企业国际化人才的特点,对比当前电网企业国际化人才队伍存在的主要问题,从人才引进、教育培训、薪酬福利等方面提出电网企业加强国际化人才管理的建议。     

Configuring quality management and marketing implementation and the performance implications for industrial marketers

This study empirically examines if different configurations of quality management and marketing (Q&M) implementation exist in various industrial organizations and explores their implications for firm performance. We survey 304 organizations that have operational quality management systems and conduct in-depth interviews with selected groups of respondent organizations to understand their market-oriented behaviors. We perform cluster analysis of the survey data to empirically construct taxonomic configurations of Q&M implementation that may exist in these organizations. The results show three distinct configurations with each configuration displaying specific implementation characteristics. We label the corresponding organizations as reactive firms, progressive firms, and proactive firms, respectively. In other words, each configuration represents a different extent of implementing Q&M in organizations. We also find that the empirically-derived configurations, corroborated with in-depth interview data, are associated with various firm performance measures. The analysis reveals that proactive firms in which Q&M are implemented at a high level attain the best firm performance. Despite the exploratory nature of this study, the taxonomy developed yields valid and reliable findings that have significant theoretical and practical implications for industrial marketers.     

Quality improvement in competing supply chains

In this study, we consider quality improvement in a given segment of the market, shared by two supplier-manufacturer supply chains which offer a given product at the same price but compete on quality. The mechanism on the selection of supply chain structures and quality improvement strategies of the two supply chains is described. In particular, we analyze three possible structure combinations: two integrated supply chains, two decentralized supply chains, and one integrated and one decentralized supply chains. Between the supply chains, Nash's non-cooperative game is implemented. Numerical experiments illustrate the mechanism and some related issues are discussed.     

Towards theory building in agile manufacturing strategies—Case studies of an agility taxonomy

Agility is widely accepted in the manufacturing industry as a new competitive concept. However, how to develop a manufacturing strategy based around agility is not fully understood. A numerical taxonomy of agile manufacturing strategies was developed recently by the author, based on a large scale questionnaire study of UK industry. The taxonomy suggested the existence of three basic types of agility strategies: quick, responsive, and proactive. This paper presents a case-based investigation of the practical details of the three basic types of agility strategies. Typical cases from the basic strategy types were chosen and studied to establish why companies choose each type of the strategies, what distinctive agility drivers they are faced with and why, and whether and what typical action programs are used to implement the strategies. A cross-case analysis found that the choice of agility strategies is related to the nature of markets and competition, the characteristics of products (life cycles and degrees of maturity), and market positions of individual companies.     

对建筑施工企业强化质量管理的思考

中国加入WTO以后，中国建筑业市场竞争将日趋激烈，竞争的核心是工程质量问题。本就建筑施工企业如何强化质量管理进行阐述，提出了升华职工质量意识，竭力加强施工现场管理：建立和改进质量保证体系；强化工序质量控制；防治质量通病等行之有效地控制途径，具有很强的操作性和实践性。     

以管理提升工程建设企业全面质量管理水平

工程建设企业在管理提升活动中必须正视全面质量管理工作中存在的不足,正确处理全面质量管理内容与形式的关系、全面质量管理体系与HSE体系的关系,采取转变管理思路、健全规章制度、完善管理机制、规范业务流程、量化工作标准、注重务实操作、细化质量标准、强化监督检查、注重体系融合、建立长效机制等一系列措施,通过与先进企业的对标管理和内部管理短板的纵向查找,全面提升工程建设企业全面质量管理水平。     

完善采油企业质量保证体系

从油藏工程质量、采油工程质量、注水工程质量、设备管理体系及供应方质量保证来探讨提高油田开发质量的办法，以质量保证为基础，开展采油厂质量成本管理，探索建立质量管理体系的新方法，进一步深化向质量要效益的观念。     

质量管理与经济效益浅析——对石油物资供应质量管理经济性的思考

指出了石油物资供应部门,在对质量管理与经济效益关系的认识上,存在的单纯强调高质量水平和注重管理形式,缺乏对投入产出和质量体系有效性的综合经济分析的认识误区.提出了质量成本科目设置和运行等实施质量成本管理的具体设想.     

基于DEA的农业企业化龙头企业的生产效率分析

对农业企业化龙头企业生产效率的研究能够较好地评估农业的竞争态势。以我国10省区近200家农业企业化龙头企业为研究对象,应用DEA方法对农业企业化龙头企业的生产效率进行评价,计算出生产效率值、存在的差距和改进方向,并且就农业企业化龙头企业经营中存在的问题提出对策措施。