Title

Prioritizing tactical quality improvement: An action research study

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

7-31-2006

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to test a method for improving decision-making at a tactical level - i.e. at the shop floor level. This is done by testing the use of the binary sorting algorithm (BSA) to improve decisions concerning quality improvement efforts among machine operators in a plastics manufacturer. Design/methodology/approach - The method used was the "action-research" approach since the researchers were actively involved in the training, implementation, and use of the BSA. Findings - It was found that using the BSA to prioritize quality improvement efforts by machine operators reduced the "scrap-from-line" rate in a plastics manufacturer. Research limitations/implications - The study should be replicated in different companies and industries using multiple methods because action-research is limited in its generalizability. Also, since the researchers are actively involved in the process, our observations could not be considered objective. Originality/value - To the authors' knowledge, this is the first application of the BSA to improve decision-making at a tactical shop-floor level in a manufacturing company. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

International Journal of Operations and Production Management

Volume

26

Issue

8

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