7/30/2019 Wood - Critique Summary
1/2
Kyle Wood
Scholarly Article Critique
03/21/13
H.A. Salaam, S. B. How, M. F. Faisae - Productivity improvement
using industrial engineering tools
The purpose of this article is to explain how industrial
engineering can effectively improve
production, in particular with small medium enterprises (SME).
The author thoroughly describes
the different methods used by industrial engineers to try and
improve quality, profit, and the
overall manufacturing process; the seven QC tools, also known as
Total Quality Management
tools (TQM), are briefly mentioned in the beginning of the
article, however, it is not until further
in that their importance is brought to light.
As the article progresses the author, Salaam, mentions several
key factors that go into
choosing a proper SME; these factors include: no prior
involvement with hired expertise to
improve the line, the quality of the product being produced, as
well as the number of products
produced with defects. These specific features found in any SME
allow for the best possible
results when it comes to improving the production line. After
taking everything into
consideration, the chosen SME was a paper box company in
Kuantan, Pahang, which is located
in the third largest state in Malaysia.
Once the company was chosen, several preliminary visits took
place before any actual
changes were made. During these visits, interviews with heads of
operations were held, as well
as observations of the different lines of productions. Results
of the preliminary visits indicated
that the line that produces the 1040 mm box (approx.. 41 inches)
was the right line to focus the
engineers attention on, based on its high demand but also high
amount of defects produced
daily.
After more keen observations of the 1040 mm box line, and
interviews with those on the
production team, it was decided that the main problem resulting
in the defected boxes was the
glue, more specifically the amount used, the lack of proper
drying, and the form of stacking used.Several different options
were tested over a few days and the results of the trials were
varied but
overall successful. Heating lamps, fans, and blow dryers were
used to focus on the wet glue
factor and a new stacking system was developed which allowed for
the boxes to be exposed for a
longer period of time before another box was stacked on.
7/30/2019 Wood - Critique Summary
2/2
Kyle Wood
Scholarly Article Critique
03/21/13
The use of many different industrial engineering tools and
methods proved very fruitful for
the small paper box company in Kuantan,From all four options
that have been proposed, it is
found that the best solution is using three hair dryer which
record 6.4 defects in one hour or total
defects costs of RM 0.0224 (Salaam, 5). By simply taking the
time to investigate and pinpoint a
problem, focus industrial engineering skills towards finding
solutions, and then comparing
results and data, Salaam was able to demonstrate the importance
of methods engineering, work
measurement, data interpretation, and many other skills that are
integral to the success of
industrial engineers.
ARTICLE
LINK:http://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-
899X_36_1_012006.pdf
http://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-899X_36_1_012006.pdfhttp://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-899X_36_1_012006.pdfhttp://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-899X_36_1_012006.pdfhttp://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-899X_36_1_012006.pdfhttp://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-899X_36_1_012006.pdfhttp://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/36/1/012006/pdf/1757-899X_36_1_012006.pdf
