Globalization breeds increasing competition. In today's dynamic climate, lean thinking has been found a promising business continuous improvement strategy for improving quality while reducing product cost and delivery time. However, its implementation has dynamic nature of challenges that varies from industry to industry and country to country, necessitating a specific framework by taking all stakeholders onboard. This study aims to propose a lean implementation framework to reduce defects and waste to improve the performance of the metal casting industry. The structure of the framework has been divided into three phases namely the lean conception phase, lean implementation phase, and lean sustainability phase. The proposed framework integrates the six sigma DMAIC methodology with lean tools and techniques to reduce defects and achieve performance improvement. A solid cast software has been used as a computer-assisted casting simulation tool to perform the analysis of defects within the casting. Further, the proposed framework is demonstrated and validated by employing a real-time case study that was manufactured using the sand casting process. The obtained results show remarkable improvements in poured metal weight (33.3%), mold weight including gating system (40%), casting yield (24.56%, rejection rate (90%), and financial saving (24.63%). As a result of analysis of percentage improvements data, the proposed framework can provide the practitioners with a standard roadmap and motivate the casting industries to implement lean for performance improvement through organizational change. Through the effective application of the lean implementation framework, quality enhancement has been demonstrated. INDEX TERMS Lean implementation framework, metal casting industry, six sigma-DMAIC, computerassisted simulation
Humanity has faced unprecedented chaos in the education sector due to the inevitable sudden adoption of online mode of learning during the pandemic. The complexities associated with technology-enabled learning and assessment have different connotations in developing countries due to a lack of infrastructure and awareness. Such countries can switch over to an online mode of education more frequently in the future due to highly volatile local political and cultural situations on top of the pandemic. This study evaluates the complexities associated with technology-enabled online assessment methods in Pakistan. Technology readiness and performance for the learning assessment of students are appraised through approaching approximately one thousand students from more than one hundred public and private sector engineering universities. A screened list of assessment alternatives and their influencing factors are then prioritized using the multi-actor multi-criteria analysis (MAMCA) by considering the perceptions of national policymakers, faculty members and students. The aggregate results reveal that, among the influencing factors, ‘mental health’ received the highest weightage, and stakeholders are indifferent to associated costs despite financial challenges. Automated MCQs secured the top position in the ranking list. Sensitivity analysis incorporates some disagreements among the stakeholders, which makes this study highly beneficial for policy modeling.
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