International Journal of Research in Industrial Engineering
Volume:13 Issue: 2, Spring 2024

Many industrial production lines today are initially constructed and outfitted with machinery that, despite its inherent capabilities, struggles to satisfy increasing demand over time. The goal of this research is to find solutions to bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of the production line to satisfy rising productivity demands. The study primarily looks at an existing bottle production line in the edible oil industry, where the product is witnessing a boom in demand. Data on processing times at various workstations and their capacities were thoroughly collected and analyzed. Simulation emerged as the preferred tool for investigating and addressing the production line's intrinsic difficulties. Using Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis, an existing simulation model was created using Flexsim simulation, a process-oriented simulation software, to detect bottlenecks in the production line using the Processor block in the simulation. As a result, a modified model was offered to reduce waiting times by 12%, increase productivity by 6%, and increase overall profitability while efficiently dealing with rising demand across all seasons. As a result, this research represents a complete effort to identify operational challenges and present viable solutions that correspond with the industry's changing objectives. The study aims to contribute to optimizing production lines by utilizing contemporary simulation tools and statistical analysis, guaranteeing that they stay adaptive and responsive in the face of rising productivity demands.

The Lean, Agile, Resilience, and Green (LARG) supply chains are more competitive than conventional ones. Evaluating its performance under current conditions and developing suitable strategies is crucial to enhance LARG. This study aims to create an assessment model for LARG in Iran's hospital medical equipment supply chain, especially in Hamadan. The Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) evaluates LARG across four dimensions: lean, agile, resilient, and green. Key indicators obtained from a comprehensive review of the literature and other published reports in the field of LARG were also confirmed by a focused group of experts in the medical equipment supply chain field. The findings indicate that the value LARG of the medical equipment supply chain is 0.787. Key indicators for the evaluation of LARG in the hospital medical equipment supply chain include reducing overall supply chain costs, optimizing inventory management, shortening supply chain development cycle time, increasing the introduction of new products, promoting information sharing among supply chain members, establishing flexible supply bases and sourcing, reducing fossil fuel consumption, and implementing waste management practices such as reuse and recycling of recyclable materials. This research provides managers with valuable insights into the current state of LARG and serves as a reference for formulating LARG strategies and practices. The study's results enable supply chain actors, particularly in Iran's Hamadan Province, to comprehend the key indicators for improving LARG performance in the hospital medical equipment supply chain. The proposed model can be adapted to other industries and service sectors by adjusting the indicators and assessing data availability.

Improving supply chain management performance is one of the critical issues to gaining a competitive advantage for companies. In this regard, one of the valuable solutions is the lean approach. A lean approach helps eliminate supply chain waste. On the other hand, considering the existence of the automobile industry in Iran and the presence of many parts manufacturing industries to meet the needs of automobile manufacturers, the implementation of the lean approach in the supply chain of organizations active in this field is essential and creates a competitive advantage in them. At first, by reviewing the literature, eight key factors that cause the supply chain to be clean were identified, and 40 supply chain experts were assisted using a questionnaire. The normality of the data distribution was examined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The main result of this study was the pattern of factors affecting the purity of the supply chain in the automotive parts industry. This model includes the leveling of factors affecting the supply chain, which provides managers with a comprehensive view and attitude about the relationships between these variables.

The purpose of this study is to determine how the Bangladeshi garment industry's sewing defect reduction and productivity enhancement are affected by the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) and 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) techniques. One of the main reasons for production delays and increased costs is sewing defects. By reducing defects, improving  Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and methodically using integrated PDCA concepts, the study aims to streamline and expand the production flowline while increasing throughput. To continuously evaluate and improve the sewing process, the 5S method is also employed. Tools like cause-effect diagrams and Pareto charts were used to identify the defect correctly. The OEE was used to evaluate the actual efficiency. The integration of 5S and PDCA as a lean methodology was utilized to minimize the defect rate and maximize quality to improve efficiency. For this purpose, data was collected from some renowned factories in Bangladesh. This mixed-integrated methodology is used in the study to integrate quantitative defect analysis with worker satisfaction along with efficiency surveys. The findings should offer valuable insights to the RMG industry in Bangladesh, as producers seek sustainable methods to increase productivity and enhance product quality while mitigating the impact of sewing errors on their production procedures. OEE was increased by almost 3-4% through this research.

In today's modern world, the linear economy is no longer responsive, and there is a crucial need for a fundamental shift in people's mindset toward properly using raw materials and products. This article explores the 9R framework as a model for implementing the circular economy in the flooring industry. The framework delves into maximizing material value while minimizing waste and environmental degradation. This research aims to identify the role of the circular economy in the flooring industry across various countries. The article also examines successful strategies proposed to achieve the goals and benefits of this approach, presenting the results within the framework of the 9R model. The results of this research indicate that effective steps have been taken in Iran towards the sustainable production of carpets, which serve as the primary flooring in the country. Among the most important of these, we can highlight the growing trend of using raw materials appropriately in producing this product, along with interesting innovations related to its usage transformation. However, for the complete implementation of all principles of the circular economy in Iran, there are significant obstacles, among which one of the most important is the high cost of establishing recycling units. Therefore, the government must encourage large production units capable of operating in the recycling sector by providing supportive packages. In general, within the scope of this research and its results, it is concluded that designing carpets with a long lifespan and recyclability, along with educating customers on the proper use of products and promoting the repair and reuse of second-hand products, can lead to a more flourishing and sustainable economy in this industry.

In this paper, the prioritization and weighting of different methods of using renewable energy, as well as the feasibility of using renewable energy in the management of sports venues in the water and electricity industry of east Azerbaijan province, have been discussed. The D-number theory method has been used to prioritize different renewable energy methods. The information gathered from experts in this field shows that solar energy weighing 0.5345 is the best method for producing electrical energy in sports and welfare venues. Wind energy, with a weight of 0.5183, and water energy, with a weight of 0.5126, are in the next ranks. The indicators used in ranking factors include total costs, energy efficiency, and compatibility with environmental conditions. Based on the results of the feasibility study and the available findings, it can be seen that the total cost of using renewable energy in the sports and welfare venues of East Azerbaijan province is equal to 10093.4 million Rials. Also, the interest return rate of the investment is equal to 19.43%. Therefore, using solar energy as a source of electricity production has technical and economic justification.