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Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Viles
TECNUN - University of Navarra

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0 Data Analysis
0 Sustainable Engineering
0 Lean Green practices
0 Six Sigma approach
0 Sustainable process improvement

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Journal article
Published: 19 February 2021 in Sustainability
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Water has become a critical resource due to increased manufacturing activities. However, there is a lack of detailed information on water management and consumption by industries. In the recent bibliography, lean–green was established as a good approach for achieving sustainability in manufacturing industries, but few studies have aimed to achieve both operational and environmental improvements in water consumption. In this paper, we present a multi-case study in the agri-food industry in which water consumption in company activities is monitored, allowing them to improve their industrial processes based on lean–green practices, leading to a zero-waste strategy for this critical resource. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of having detailed knowledge regarding water consumption in order to discover, in a lean–green context, new improvement opportunities which could remain hidden by the current way of analysing consumption.

ACS Style

Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos; Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Paloma Grau; Tamara Fernández-Arévalo. Lean–Green Improvement Opportunities for Sustainable Manufacturing Using Water Telemetry in Agri-Food Industry. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2240 .

AMA Style

Elisabeth Viles, Javier Santos, Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar, Paloma Grau, Tamara Fernández-Arévalo. Lean–Green Improvement Opportunities for Sustainable Manufacturing Using Water Telemetry in Agri-Food Industry. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2240.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos; Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Paloma Grau; Tamara Fernández-Arévalo. 2021. "Lean–Green Improvement Opportunities for Sustainable Manufacturing Using Water Telemetry in Agri-Food Industry." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2240.

Journal article
Published: 06 January 2021 in Big Data Research
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Data science has employed great research efforts in developing advanced analytics, improving data models and cultivating new algorithms. However, not many authors have come across the organizational and socio-technical challenges that arise when executing a data science project: lack of vision and clear objectives, a biased emphasis on technical issues, a low level of maturity for ad-hoc projects and the ambiguity of roles in data science are among these challenges. Few methodologies have been proposed on the literature that tackle these type of challenges, some of them date back to the mid-1990, and consequently they are not updated to the current paradigm and the latest developments in big data and machine learning technologies. In addition, fewer methodologies offer a complete guideline across team, project and data & information management. In this article we would like to explore the necessity of developing a more holistic approach for carrying out data science projects. We first review methodologies that have been presented on the literature to work on data science projects and classify them according to the their focus: project, team, data and information management. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework containing general characteristics that a methodology for managing data science projects with a holistic point of view should have. This framework can be used by other researchers as a roadmap for the design of new data science methodologies or the updating of existing ones.

ACS Style

Iñigo Martinez; Elisabeth Viles; Igor G. Olaizola. Data Science Methodologies: Current Challenges and Future Approaches. Big Data Research 2021, 24, 100183 .

AMA Style

Iñigo Martinez, Elisabeth Viles, Igor G. Olaizola. Data Science Methodologies: Current Challenges and Future Approaches. Big Data Research. 2021; 24 ():100183.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Iñigo Martinez; Elisabeth Viles; Igor G. Olaizola. 2021. "Data Science Methodologies: Current Challenges and Future Approaches." Big Data Research 24, no. : 100183.

Journal article
Published: 23 November 2020 in Sustainability
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In a circular economy (CE) environment, it is important to make good and efficient use of resources and consider that the waste generated in production processes can be a valuable resource. However, the tools and methodologies conventionally used to analyze and evaluate production systems are based on techniques focused on linear production management models, where the primary purpose is to reduce the treatment and management of waste as much as possible and where productive and environmental efficiency are not evaluated simultaneously. Changing the paradigm from a linear to a circular economy requires that a new strategy for production systems be defined, one that makes production processes simultaneously circular and efficient (in terms of quality and productivity). In this context, a holistic vision is needed when implementing CE strategies. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to provide evidence, through two real case studies in the use of water, that the management of this resource without considering systemic thinking may not be the most circular solution. Main results showed that improvements based on the traditional approach of reducing resource use cannot provide the best results if they are supported only by current process consumption without considering the circularity of resources.

ACS Style

Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos; Tamara Arévalo; Martín Tanco; Florencia Kalemkerian. A New Mindset for Circular Economy Strategies: Case Studies of Circularity in the Use of Water. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9781 .

AMA Style

Elisabeth Viles, Javier Santos, Tamara Arévalo, Martín Tanco, Florencia Kalemkerian. A New Mindset for Circular Economy Strategies: Case Studies of Circularity in the Use of Water. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (22):9781.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos; Tamara Arévalo; Martín Tanco; Florencia Kalemkerian. 2020. "A New Mindset for Circular Economy Strategies: Case Studies of Circularity in the Use of Water." Sustainability 12, no. 22: 9781.

Earlycite article
Published: 15 October 2020 in The TQM Journal
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Purpose The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the current status of Design of experiments (DoE) in the service industry or non-manufacturing processes in the manufacturing sector. This involves the identification of critical success factors and challenges in the use of DoE in the context of the service industry as well as the key skills needed for its successful applications. Design/methodology/approach In order to identify the critical success factors and challenges, an online survey instrument was developed and distributed across Six Sigma Black Belts (SSBB), Six Sigma Master Black Belts (SSMBB), process improvement champions, continuous improvement professionals, DoE experts and specialists as well as academics who are involved in DoE research and applications. Findings A total of 109 participants from over 20 countries responded to the study. One of the first findings of the study is that over 40% of the process improvement professionals in the service sector do not have any hands-on experience with the application of DoE. Further, this study highlights the following critical factors for successful DoE applications: dedicating adequate resources in terms of time, budget and people for the experiment; getting a clear understanding of the problem at hand; securing a reliable and validated measurement system for measuring the response or quality characteristics of interest; and identifying input independent variables, which influence the quality characteristics during the brainstorming stage. Some respondents also mention the importance of having training or education in DoE as a critical success factor. At the same time, the lack of adequate planning to experimentation, mathematical knowledge and statistical reasoning remains as challenge to be solved. Research limitations/implications As data were collected at an individual level, inter-reliability, which measures the consistency of judgements on a particular survey item, could not be gauged. Moreover, due to low sample size across some continents, an intercontinental comparative study on the extent of the application of DoE across various continents could not be performed. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first global survey carried out to understand the status of DoE in the service industry. The results of the global study can be used to encourage quality, continuous improvement and process improvement professionals in the service sector to drive wider acceptance of one of the most powerful tools in the Six Sigma toolkit for problem-solving scenarios. Moreover, senior managers in the service industry can take away some of the key benefits, challenges and success factors in the implementation of DoE.

ACS Style

Jiju Antony; Elisabeth Viles; Alexandre Fonseca Torres; Marcelo Machado Fernandes; Elizabeth A. Cudney. Design of experiments in the service industry: results from a global survey and directions for further research. The TQM Journal 2020, 33, 987 -1000.

AMA Style

Jiju Antony, Elisabeth Viles, Alexandre Fonseca Torres, Marcelo Machado Fernandes, Elizabeth A. Cudney. Design of experiments in the service industry: results from a global survey and directions for further research. The TQM Journal. 2020; 33 (5):987-1000.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jiju Antony; Elisabeth Viles; Alexandre Fonseca Torres; Marcelo Machado Fernandes; Elizabeth A. Cudney. 2020. "Design of experiments in the service industry: results from a global survey and directions for further research." The TQM Journal 33, no. 5: 987-1000.

Earlycite article
Published: 28 September 2020 in The TQM Journal
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Purpose This paper unifies previous research literature on employee participation in continuous improvement (CI) activities through the development and validation of a conceptual model. The purpose of this model is to illustrate how organizational drivers foster organizational and individual enablers which, in turn, strengthen employee participation in CI. The article also discusses the results and managerial implications. Design/methodology/approach Firstly, the article introduces the main variables affecting employee participation in CI, looking at the different possible relationships proposed in existing literature. In accordance with the Kaye and Anderson (1999) framework, these variables are categorized into organizational drivers, organizational and individual enablers and individual outcomes. Based on these categories, a model was put forward and empirically validated using data collected from three Spanish companies (n = 483) and using partial least squares structural equations modelling (PLS–SEM). Findings A model was put forward, proposing PIRK systems (power, information, rewards, knowledge) as the main organizational driver of employee participation in CI activities. PIRK impacts positively on social influence (organizational enabler), self-efficacy and job satisfaction (individual enablers). These enablers, together with employee intention of participating, help determine employee participation in CI activities. Practical implications Organizations with CI programmes should develop systems based on employee empowerment, information, rewards and knowledge in order to foster their self-efficacy and seek out a culture where social influence may help to improve job satisfaction. By suitably managing these organizational drivers, managers can help to further develop certain organizational and individual enablers responsible for fostering employee participation in CI activities. Originality/value By unifying different behavioural and CI-related frameworks, this paper carries out an in-depth study into the process of fostering employee participation as the key aspect in helping organizations sustain CI programmes. This paper shows the importance of managing PIRK organizational drivers as levers in the process of developing certain organizational and individual enablers, which are responsible for enhancing employee participation in CI.

ACS Style

Fernando Ruiz-Pérez; Álvaro Lleó; Elisabeth Viles; Daniel Jurburg. Enhancing participation through organizational drivers. The TQM Journal 2020, 33, 823 -840.

AMA Style

Fernando Ruiz-Pérez, Álvaro Lleó, Elisabeth Viles, Daniel Jurburg. Enhancing participation through organizational drivers. The TQM Journal. 2020; 33 (4):823-840.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fernando Ruiz-Pérez; Álvaro Lleó; Elisabeth Viles; Daniel Jurburg. 2020. "Enhancing participation through organizational drivers." The TQM Journal 33, no. 4: 823-840.

Earlycite article
Published: 09 May 2020 in The TQM Journal
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Purpose The purpose of the article is to present the results of a critical literature review (CLR) on Design of experiments (DoE) in the service industry. Design/methodology/approach A critical review of existing literature review across various databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Emerald Insight were searched for the identification of relevant papers. The authors searched relevant journal articles for a time period of 25 years (1994–2019). Findings A total of 29 industry case studies of DoE applications were identified spanning healthcare, retail, logistics, education, marketing, after sales and catering business. The industrial experimentation strategies adopted by the case study organisations were screening, factorial designs, Taguchi, response surface method and split-plot. It was apparent that there are only a handful number of papers showing the applications of DoE across the service sector and this motivates for pursuing further research into this topic by the authors. Practical implications The findings of the study can be very useful for middle and senior managers to understand the benefits of implementing this powerful technique for increased understanding of service processes, as well as for optimising service performance. Moreover, the paper presents some of the fundamental challenges, as well as skills needed for the successful application of DoE. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this is the first CLR on DoE and its applications in the service sector. The findings of the study can be beneficial to both academic and industrial communities to understand some of the challenges and fundamental gaps which need to be tackled in the future.

ACS Style

Jiju Antony; Elisabeth Viles; Alexandre Fonseca Torres; Taynara Incerti de Paula; Marcelo Machado Fernandes; Elizabeth A. Cudney. Design of experiments in the service industry: a critical literature review and future research directions. The TQM Journal 2020, 32, 1159 -1175.

AMA Style

Jiju Antony, Elisabeth Viles, Alexandre Fonseca Torres, Taynara Incerti de Paula, Marcelo Machado Fernandes, Elizabeth A. Cudney. Design of experiments in the service industry: a critical literature review and future research directions. The TQM Journal. 2020; 32 (6):1159-1175.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jiju Antony; Elisabeth Viles; Alexandre Fonseca Torres; Taynara Incerti de Paula; Marcelo Machado Fernandes; Elizabeth A. Cudney. 2020. "Design of experiments in the service industry: a critical literature review and future research directions." The TQM Journal 32, no. 6: 1159-1175.

Articles
Published: 02 January 2020 in Production Planning & Control
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Many new model launches in Europe do not meet the quality, cost and production targets set by automotive companies during production ramp-up. Although increasing car complexity could be a key factor in explaining this issue, it is not sufficient to explain why production sites are not able to meet these important targets. This article analyses whether the production system used in European car manufacturing plants are suitable for achieving performance goals during the production ramp-up phase. First, the differences between serial production and the production ramp-up phase are analyzed through the conceptual framework of the European Production System in the automotive industry. Second, a case study using real data from a European automotive plant is presented, and the evidence calls into question the appropriateness of maintaining the same production system during the ramp-up phase. The study concludes that there is a need to make the production system in Europe more flexible during the ramp-up phase. In particular, changes should be more oriented towards fostering organizational improvement capability in order to reduce the stops that occur in the production line, avoid using pull systems as a constraint or limitation, and help to build a new culture of stopping to fix problems.

ACS Style

Elisabeth Viles; Ramón Bultó; Ricardo Mateo; Daniel Jurburg. Production ramp-up in European automotive production systems: a performance analysis. Production Planning & Control 2020, 32, 34 -51.

AMA Style

Elisabeth Viles, Ramón Bultó, Ricardo Mateo, Daniel Jurburg. Production ramp-up in European automotive production systems: a performance analysis. Production Planning & Control. 2020; 32 (1):34-51.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elisabeth Viles; Ramón Bultó; Ricardo Mateo; Daniel Jurburg. 2020. "Production ramp-up in European automotive production systems: a performance analysis." Production Planning & Control 32, no. 1: 34-51.

Earlycite article
Published: 04 November 2019 in Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to perform a quantitative analysis of the literature in order to determine the main causes of delay in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach A set of 47 articles from the literature were analyzed, yielding 1,057 different causes of delay. In order to analyze and compare the main causes of delay, their degree of impact was studied statistically. Next, a mention count method was used to determine the primary causes of construction project delays and through the use of Pareto diagrams, the main causes of delays in construction projects were determined. Findings It was determined that the three main causes of construction project delay are problems that occur during execution, administrative problems and labor conflicts; together they account for almost 80 percent of the causes found in the literature. Moreover, it was deduced that problems during execution are based on unpredictable events, while administrative problems are rooted in poor cash flow management. In addition, seven sub-groups of delay causes were identified as being major due to the number of mentions detected. These were “Changes during construction,” “Poor construction management,” “Construction errors,” “Economic/Financial,” “Conflict/Relationship” and “Lack of experience.” Practical implications This study provides a unique classification method, which was successfully validated, for the causes of construction project delay. Thanks to the classification, designers may use this information as a starting point for designing future construction projects, thereby minimizing the appearance of unforeseen events during construction. Moreover, the results of this study will help project managers be aware of the possible causes of delay that may affect their construction projects. This understanding can help them identify potential risks in the initial phases of the project and allow decisions to be made early before problems arise or the consequences of the deviations become irreparable. The results can also serve as input for the development of future management improvement methodologies that are aimed at reducing costs and ensuring that deadlines are met. Social implications Identifying the factors and causes of the delays will allow mitigation actions to be taken in order to avoid delays, which will ultimately allow homes, schools, hospitals and other necessary infrastructure to be delivered on time or even before the planned date. Originality/value This study provides a unique classification method that was successfully validated. Thanks to the classification, designers may use this information as a starting point for designing future construction projects, thereby minimizing unforeseen events during construction.

ACS Style

Elisabeth Viles; Natalia Carolina Rudeli; Adrian Santilli. Causes of delay in construction projects: a quantitative analysis. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 2019, 27, 917 -935.

AMA Style

Elisabeth Viles, Natalia Carolina Rudeli, Adrian Santilli. Causes of delay in construction projects: a quantitative analysis. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. 2019; 27 (4):917-935.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elisabeth Viles; Natalia Carolina Rudeli; Adrian Santilli. 2019. "Causes of delay in construction projects: a quantitative analysis." Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 27, no. 4: 917-935.

Journal article
Published: 03 June 2019 in British Food Journal
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze gaps and trends, as well suggest approaches and methodologies that should be addressed by future studies for implementing the lean and green management in the agri-food sector. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample with 117 papers, this paper presents a systematic review on the integration of lean and green in the agri-food sector. Findings Key findings indicate that research on lean and green topics has increased in recent years, an important gap in the integration of lean and green in the agri-food sector has been identified. Two paths that remain open for further research are detected: the lack of theoretical, prescriptive and quantitative research and the possibility of integrating the two most used tools of lean (i.e. value stream mapping) and green (i.e. life-cycle assessment). Practical implications This study does not only advance the theoretical knowledge of the lean and green field, but it is also beneficial for agri-food companies who aim to effectively deploy lean and green in their processes in order to improve both operational and environmental performances. Social implications No other industry matches in such a complete way the agri-food industry’s challenge of sustainability that is due to the amount of resources it consumes and its interrelatedness with the well-being of humanity. Originality/value There are separate streams of established research on lean and green management in the agri-food sector, yet very few authors have addressed the intersection of these strategic initiatives.

ACS Style

Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Javier Santos; Paloma Grau; Elisabeth Viles. Trends and gaps for integrating lean and green management in the agri-food sector. British Food Journal 2019, 121, 1140 -1153.

AMA Style

Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar, Javier Santos, Paloma Grau, Elisabeth Viles. Trends and gaps for integrating lean and green management in the agri-food sector. British Food Journal. 2019; 121 (5):1140-1153.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Javier Santos; Paloma Grau; Elisabeth Viles. 2019. "Trends and gaps for integrating lean and green management in the agri-food sector." British Food Journal 121, no. 5: 1140-1153.

Journal article
Published: 08 May 2019 in The TQM Journal
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Purpose Companies use continuous improvement (CI) as a strategy to achieve business excellence and innovation. Yet CI initiatives fail mostly due to a lack of employee engagement. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Based on the CI literature and the technology acceptance model (TAM), a comprehensive model called continuous improvement acceptance mode (CIAM) was developed to understand the main organisational antecedents that predict employee intention to participate in CI. The CIAM is based on structural equation modelling using partial least squares and it was validated in a large manufacturing plant in Europe. Findings Emulating the findings of the TAM, this study shows that employee intention to participate can be predicted by two variables called ease of participating and usefulness of participating. The CIAM then relates these constructs with relevant CI enablers found in the CI literature. Practical implications The CIAM could help academics and practitioners to better understand employee participation in CI activities, allowing CI systems to be better designed and achieve long-term sustainability. Originality/value The CIAM presents new variables and interactions that help to understand employee participation in CI activities. Some of these variables and interactions have received scant attention in the CI literature and thus they are worth investigating in greater depth in the future.

ACS Style

Daniel Jurburg; Elisabeth Viles; Martin Tanco; Ricardo Mateo; Alvaro Lleo-De-Nalda. Understanding the main organisational antecedents of employee participation in continuous improvement. The TQM Journal 2019, 31, 359 -376.

AMA Style

Daniel Jurburg, Elisabeth Viles, Martin Tanco, Ricardo Mateo, Alvaro Lleo-De-Nalda. Understanding the main organisational antecedents of employee participation in continuous improvement. The TQM Journal. 2019; 31 (3):359-376.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel Jurburg; Elisabeth Viles; Martin Tanco; Ricardo Mateo; Alvaro Lleo-De-Nalda. 2019. "Understanding the main organisational antecedents of employee participation in continuous improvement." The TQM Journal 31, no. 3: 359-376.

Article
Published: 29 November 2018 in International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing
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Nowadays companies are trying to become ‘greener’, which requires integrating the environmental dimension into their traditional performance metrics. However, managers may not have the complete information and data for their environmental problems and, crucially, there is a lack of knowledge about how these environmental issues affect a company’s productivity. Even though the availability of technology has increased and it is easier than ever to obtain all kinds of data, there is a lack of agreement on how to correctly measure environmental performance, and companies could suffer from an overload of environmental information. The biggest challenge, therefore, lies in how to measure and obtain the appropriate environmental data and how to interpret and relate these data to the company’s productivity. In this context, this paper presents a new and innovative approach, called Plug&Glean, for diagnosing and improving productivity and environmental performance in a defined production system. The approach is applied to a case study in the north of Spain. The findings suggest that it is possible to improve productivity and environmental performance at the same time, as well as reinforce the notion that waste elimination has a positive impact on improving environmental performance.

ACS Style

Javier Santos; Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Marta Ormazábal; Elisabeth Viles. Using problem-oriented monitoring to simultaneously improve productivity and environmental performance in manufacturing companies. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing 2018, 32, 183 -193.

AMA Style

Javier Santos, Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar, Marta Ormazábal, Elisabeth Viles. Using problem-oriented monitoring to simultaneously improve productivity and environmental performance in manufacturing companies. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. 2018; 32 (2):183-193.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Javier Santos; Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Marta Ormazábal; Elisabeth Viles. 2018. "Using problem-oriented monitoring to simultaneously improve productivity and environmental performance in manufacturing companies." International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing 32, no. 2: 183-193.

Conference paper
Published: 19 September 2018 in Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering
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The increase in environmental and social awareness has triggered numerous green initiatives at companies. Traditionally, companies’ training related to environmental management focuses on technical aspects and theoretical concepts. In addition to these theoretical contents, it is necessary to carry out practical activities to impart the desired behaviors and skills. Serious games have been found to improve employees understanding of practical environmental sustainability challenges, by offering opportunities to obtain first-hand experiences that may otherwise be too costly and difficult to reproduce in reality. This work presents [email protected], a serious game which simulates the productive and environmental efficiencies generated by the improvements of processes in a pizza shop. The purpose of the game is the practical learning of the environmental impact caused by the production processes of a company.

ACS Style

Javier Santos García; Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Elisabeth Viles; Marta Ormazabal. Using a Serious Game for the Practical Learning of Productive and Environmental Efficiencies. Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering 2018, 275 -282.

AMA Style

Javier Santos García, Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar, Elisabeth Viles, Marta Ormazabal. Using a Serious Game for the Practical Learning of Productive and Environmental Efficiencies. Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering. 2018; ():275-282.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Javier Santos García; Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Elisabeth Viles; Marta Ormazabal. 2018. "Using a Serious Game for the Practical Learning of Productive and Environmental Efficiencies." Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering , no. : 275-282.

Research article
Published: 06 August 2018 in Business Strategy and the Environment
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The circular economy has become an important issue in recent years because it makes sustainable development feasible by creating value in the economy and by closing the energy and materials loops. However, since most companies continue to operate under a linear model, it is particularly important to start providing companies with tools that facilitate their shift to the circular paradigm. The main objective of this research is to establish the key elements that are necessary for assessing the level of circular economy implementation. To that end, the Delphi method is used to validate and define the key elements of three categories: circular economy fields of action, industrial symbiosis, and environmental certifications. As a result, this study identifies the key elements that assess the degree of circular economy implementation and that allows small and medium‐sized enterprises to understand where they are and what they need to do to improve their performance.

ACS Style

Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval; Marta Ormazabal; Carmen Jaca; Elisabeth Viles. Key elements in assessing circular economy implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Business Strategy and the Environment 2018, 27, 1525 -1534.

AMA Style

Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval, Marta Ormazabal, Carmen Jaca, Elisabeth Viles. Key elements in assessing circular economy implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Business Strategy and the Environment. 2018; 27 (8):1525-1534.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vanessa Prieto-Sandoval; Marta Ormazabal; Carmen Jaca; Elisabeth Viles. 2018. "Key elements in assessing circular economy implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises." Business Strategy and the Environment 27, no. 8: 1525-1534.

Journal article
Published: 10 April 2018 in The TQM Journal
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology that is based on the concept of environmental comfort and can serve as a tool that can help companies and employees to implement Kaizen projects. This methodology focuses on the worker’s participation in analyzing and developing improvements related to their workplace. Design/methodology/approach This research is focused on the development of a methodology that encourages worker participation in improvement activities, through the analysis of their working conditions. For this purpose, the proposed methodology was developed in accordance with the dimensions of workplace comfort proposed by Vischer. The employees start working on the analysis of problems and their solutions through the logical framework approach, as it is a tool that encourages worker participation and consensus. The developed methodology was applied in a company, with three different groups of people, which enabled the authors to test its utility. Findings The findings reveal that the proposed methodology is effective in initiating workers in the path of Kaizen. The employees who applied this methodology were able to propose improvement actions that addressed the problems and opportunities that they had previously detected. Moreover, the questionnaire that was used to validate the methodology and was administered to employees shows that the methodology is useful in preparing them for adopting continuous improvement (CI) programs. Research limitations/implications The methodology presented in this paper has been applied and evaluated by a small number of employees. These limitations suggest future research recommendations. Practical implications This participatory methodology could be used by different types of companies to initiate employees on the path of CI, even if they are not familiar with improvement programs or methodologies. In addition, its use could improve the capabilities of employees in areas such as participatory analysis, problem identification and proposal of objectives. These capabilities are necessary in any Kaizen project. As a result of the application of this methodology, the companies could obtain a list of areas of improvement related to their work and propose actions to work on. Originality/value The paper presents the use of environmental comfort in the workplace as the first step in accomplishing a Kaizen project, with a focus on the employee involvement and consensus.

ACS Style

Carmen Jaca; Marta Ormazabal; Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos. Environmental comfort based (ECB) methodology as a tool for preparing Kaizen application in a catering service company. The TQM Journal 2018, 30, 281 -295.

AMA Style

Carmen Jaca, Marta Ormazabal, Elisabeth Viles, Javier Santos. Environmental comfort based (ECB) methodology as a tool for preparing Kaizen application in a catering service company. The TQM Journal. 2018; 30 (4):281-295.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carmen Jaca; Marta Ormazabal; Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos. 2018. "Environmental comfort based (ECB) methodology as a tool for preparing Kaizen application in a catering service company." The TQM Journal 30, no. 4: 281-295.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2018 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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ACS Style

Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Javier Santos; Elisabeth Viles; Marta Ormazábal. Manufacturing and environmental practices in the Spanish context. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 178, 268 -275.

AMA Style

Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar, Javier Santos, Elisabeth Viles, Marta Ormazábal. Manufacturing and environmental practices in the Spanish context. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 178 ():268-275.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrés Muñoz-Villamizar; Javier Santos; Elisabeth Viles; Marta Ormazábal. 2018. "Manufacturing and environmental practices in the Spanish context." Journal of Cleaner Production 178, no. : 268-275.

Journal article
Published: 08 January 2018 in Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal
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Purpose Environmental management (EM) is becoming increasingly important in all types of organizations. The food industry represents the top industrial sector of the Spanish economy; however, there is still little knowledge about how it is managed environmentally. The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive analysis of the Spanish food sector. Design/methodology/approach This study undertook a descriptive analysis based on probabilistic sampling surveys from food companies in Spain. The survey was sent out to 900 companies obtaining 128 answers. Findings The results of this study show that companies with an EM standard tend to have a more developed system and a greater presence of EM tools and actions. Moreover, statistical differences were identified among the characteristics of companies and various factors that affect the evolution of their EM. Originality/value There are no studies that reveal a clear picture of the status of EM in the Spanish food industry. This study presents a clear starting point that might help policy makers, consultants, researchers and other parties to set new improvement routes so companies do not get stuck in their progress toward environmental excellence.

ACS Style

Marta Ormazabal; Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos; Carmen Jaca. An overview of environmental management in the Spanish food sector: a survey study. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal 2018, 29, 49 -62.

AMA Style

Marta Ormazabal, Elisabeth Viles, Javier Santos, Carmen Jaca. An overview of environmental management in the Spanish food sector: a survey study. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 2018; 29 (1):49-62.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marta Ormazabal; Elisabeth Viles; Javier Santos; Carmen Jaca. 2018. "An overview of environmental management in the Spanish food sector: a survey study." Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal 29, no. 1: 49-62.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2017 in Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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ACS Style

N. Rudeli; A. Santilli; I. Puente; E. Viles. Statistical Model for Schedule Prediction: Validation in a Housing-Cooperative Construction Database. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 2017, 143, 04017083 .

AMA Style

N. Rudeli, A. Santilli, I. Puente, E. Viles. Statistical Model for Schedule Prediction: Validation in a Housing-Cooperative Construction Database. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 2017; 143 (11):04017083.

Chicago/Turabian Style

N. Rudeli; A. Santilli; I. Puente; E. Viles. 2017. "Statistical Model for Schedule Prediction: Validation in a Housing-Cooperative Construction Database." Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 143, no. 11: 04017083.

Journal article
Published: 14 August 2017 in Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal
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Purpose Despite significant amounts of environmental management tools that are available for companies to use, no model guides them toward environmental excellence. As a consequence, the purpose of this paper is to develop an environmental management maturity (EMM) model that helps companies that are on the path toward environmental excellence. Design/methodology/approach An iterative process was used to develop this model, starting with some semi-structured interviews with 19 companies within the Basque Country and two workshops with environmental experts. Following these steps, the initial version of the model was developed. Data from subsequent surveys carried out in Spanish and Italian companies, and a survey and semi-structured interviews in companies in the UK were incorporated into the model, yielding the final, more robust version of the EMM model. Findings The EMM model proposes six maturity stages: legal requirements, responsibility assignment and training, systematization, ECO2, eco-innovative products and services, and leading green company. Each stage details a series of elements: description, agents involved, policies, tools, indicators, structure, and behavior over time graphs. This research confirms that a company’s environmental management evolves through several distinctive stages, regardless of the industrial sector. Originality/value The proposed model concludes that the defined maturity stages provide valuable guidance for industrial firms as it helps them identify their maturity stage as well as the steps they should follow to move to the next stage.

ACS Style

Marta Ormazabal; Jose M. Sarriegi; Elisabeth Viles. Environmental management maturity model for industrial companies. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal 2017, 28, 632 -650.

AMA Style

Marta Ormazabal, Jose M. Sarriegi, Elisabeth Viles. Environmental management maturity model for industrial companies. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 2017; 28 (5):632-650.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marta Ormazabal; Jose M. Sarriegi; Elisabeth Viles. 2017. "Environmental management maturity model for industrial companies." Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal 28, no. 5: 632-650.

Conference paper
Published: 21 June 2017 in Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances
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Companies have made great strides in strengthening their environmental maturity and sustainable production. Nevertheless, many of them have not transmitted their knowledge to their workers, and this makes it more difficult to have employees participate in their company’s sustainability improvement process. In the particular case of Volkswagen Navarra, they have a lot of experience in environmental management, but they don’t have a proper program for teaching their workers so they can be more involved in the environmental aspects of the company. This paper proposes an environmental training program that can be used either as an e-learning course or a face-to-face course with the objective of providing employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the improvement of environmental aspects.

ACS Style

Marta Ormazabal; Elisabeth Viles; Julieth Vanessa Prieto Sandoval; Carmen Jaca. Environmental training at companies. The case of Volkswagen Navarra. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances 2017, 1 .

AMA Style

Marta Ormazabal, Elisabeth Viles, Julieth Vanessa Prieto Sandoval, Carmen Jaca. Environmental training at companies. The case of Volkswagen Navarra. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances. 2017; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marta Ormazabal; Elisabeth Viles; Julieth Vanessa Prieto Sandoval; Carmen Jaca. 2017. "Environmental training at companies. The case of Volkswagen Navarra." Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances , no. : 1.

Original articles
Published: 09 April 2017 in Total Quality Management & Business Excellence
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Implementing continuous improvement (CI) systems is one of the most effective ways to increase operational excellence. One pillar that determines the success of a CI strategy is a climate of commitment and participation among workers. Recent work has focused on identifying organisational factors that directly influence worker participation. However, when analysing these elements, the importance that middle managers have when creating a work environment that enhances employee involvement stands out. The aim of this paper is to identify specific middle manager trustworthy behaviours that impact the level of commitment and participation in a group of line workers in a specific CI environment. To accomplish this, we present a list of specific behaviours based on a concept mapping conducted among a representative group of industrial supervisors and operators in the north of Spain. These identified behaviours define managerial practices that could directly enhance the level of worker commitment and participation.

ACS Style

Alvaro Lleo; Elisabeth Viles; Daniel Jurburg; Lucía Lomas. Strengthening employee participation and commitment to continuous improvement through middle manager trustworthy behaviours. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 2017, 28, 974 -988.

AMA Style

Alvaro Lleo, Elisabeth Viles, Daniel Jurburg, Lucía Lomas. Strengthening employee participation and commitment to continuous improvement through middle manager trustworthy behaviours. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 2017; 28 (9-10):974-988.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alvaro Lleo; Elisabeth Viles; Daniel Jurburg; Lucía Lomas. 2017. "Strengthening employee participation and commitment to continuous improvement through middle manager trustworthy behaviours." Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 28, no. 9-10: 974-988.