Continuous improvement case studies

Nowadays many companies have adopted a policy of continuous improvement of working conditions. Therefore, it is desirable to create target levels for those who want to pursue more efficient control by applying the best available control technologies. There are also endeavors to create optimal working conditions in order to improve the performance and the innovativeness of a staff, and hence enhance productivity. A series of laboratory and case studies show that employee productivity is higher when the work environment is appropriate for the tasks being done.- Such efforts are typical in the advanced sector of industry. One can say that there is a transition from blue-collar to white-collar work. ... 

A case study on the operational improvement of a plasma etching unit in microelectronics fabrication ends the section. This case study illustrates that if similar preference structures are used in both types of formulation, identical final solutions are found when either categorical or continuous performance evaluation modes are employed. 

Under the ACPS Manufacturing Subcommittee a working group will be formed to identify specific steps needed to move towards the desired state. The group will also develop illustrative case studies to support the ICH Q8 document and CPG 7132c.08. ICH Q8 and illustrative examples should then be a basis to develop the draft comparability guidance to facilitate continuous improvements. 

A major addition to the fourth edition is a companion website (http //evolve.eIsevier.com/Tietz/ textbook/), which contains analytical methods, case studies, and supplementary information. We plan to periodically include updated and new information on this website, including corrections when errors are found in the textbook. We invite readers to call such errors to our attention so that corrections can be made and subsequent printings of the textbook will reflect the process of continuous improvement for which we strive. AH of the reference citations in the book are also listed in the Evolve website where they... 

There have been several cases of similar studies, showing the use of in silico metabolism prediction combined with vendor supplied LC-MS data analysis tools, with varying degrees of success. Generally the prediction package will provide several suggestions for metabolites and miss some key pathways. This process is very beneficial to the continuous improvement of the software as missed pathways can be added, and those that are over-predicting can either be set at a lower likelihood or have the chemistry modified to... 

The chemistry of organotransition metal complexes [1] has progressed in step with the development of homogeneous catalysis [2], each influencing the other. In certain cases, study of chemistry of such complexes has been motivated by the wish to understand the mechanisms of important catalytic processes that were already developed and to improve their performance. On the other hand, examination of the chemical properties of a particular type of organotransition metal complex has sometimes led to discoveries of hitherto unknown fundamental reactions. Combination of the concept of a newly found elementary process with a known process will continue to lead to discoveries of novel catalytic processes and emich the scope of organic synthesis... 

For this study, the costs of three feedstocks were varied from 25 to 50% higher or lower than the published base case feedstock costs. The optimum profits were then calculated using the same feedstock availability, product demand, and product selling prices as the base case. Figure II summarizes the results of the calculation. The figure indicates that the optimum profits are indeed very sensitive to feedstock cost changes and that continued improvement of biomass production and collection techniques is very desirable to improve total profit. 

Chen, J. C., Li, Y. and Shady, B. D. (2010). From value stream mapping toward a lean/sigma continuous improvement process An industrial case study. International Journal of Production Research, 48(4), 1069-1086. 

The blood bag case study illustrates the use of polymeric film as a flexible container. It considers the permeability of polymers, plus processes for fabricating plastics film. Plasticised PVC has dominated the market for years, but there could be a changeover to flexible polyolefin films. The case study on replacement joints for implanting in the body illustrates wear and the effects of wear debris. Research continues on improving the wear resistance of the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and mitigating the effects of sterilisation on the implant properties. 

This chapter provides a basic description of UV s effects on POs, and how different additives interfere with UV degradation. The different roles and mechanisms of various commercially available additives are related to each other in terms of effectiveness, relative costs, and interactions with other additives. (Since UV stabilization is an ever-developing field of continuously "new and improved" additives, emphasis will be given to more recently commercialized additive types.) UV stabilizer use in different PO applications will be presented, and case studies will show how companies have been able to fight the effects of UV in real applications. 

The activities presented in this case study show the possibilities and difficulties encountered by the plastics-related industries of the automotive sub-supplier chain, as well as by the automotive producers themselves. There is still much to be done, and the discussion on priorities for environmental improvements within transport continues. No doubt, is there great potential for improvements. The automotive and chemical industries are two of the industry sectors exposed to the hardest environmental criticism. They can turn this to their advantage by putting themselves at the forefront of environmental change. 

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