Departmental Conferences

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Browsing Departmental Conferences by Conference "iNCOTeM 2018"

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    Effectiveness of lean manufacturing layout of a firm within the apparel industry of sri lanka: a case study
    Ratnayake, RMDK; Dinosha, V
    The study is based on Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer ABC and its SBU of Best Clothing to identify the effectiveness of a lean layout. Apparel export industry is the most important and dynamic contributor to Sri Lanka’s economy. The share of the world market clothes and its share of exports of Sri Lanka are steadily losing since 2000. The imports to US from Sri Lanka have reduced by 1 % in 2015. The time has come for Sri Lanka to look beyond the ordinary clothes and move from low -cost strategy. Retailers are demanding more on increasing for short lead times, to meet the customer demand. They prefer in maintaining a low inventory, material just in time at a low cost as to reduce the tax and increasing interest rates. Effective facility layout design reduces manufacturing lead time, increases the quantity and efficiency of the plant. In today’s society no style longs for more than a week. Four fashion seasons namely spring, summer, fall, winter is blending out 52 "micro-seasons" per year. For a style changeover, an effective layout is set to reduce the loss in efficiency because it will minimize the changeover time by developing multi skilled employees and easy changeover of machines with the size of the layout. Therefore, the findings of this research show that there are two aspects that must be fulfilled for a lean layout to be effective. They are better organizational performance and contented employees. The organizational performance was measured using quality, speed, flexibility, dependability and cost. The employee contentment was measured using safety and ergonomics, income generated, relationship and support received from superiors, peers and supporting department, opportunity for skill development and career growth.
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    “Ethical management practice” as a csr tool to ensure the corporate sustainability of construction industry: a conceptual review
    Somachandra, V; Sylva, K
    Construction industry is one of the main contributors to the national economy in most countries with the industry metabolism of businesses including constructors, clients, material producers, professional service suppliers and construction enterprises, amongst others. In a largely diversified industry like construction, inter-organizational relationships grounded through ethical practice and behavior is of utmost importance to establish sustainable relationships. Nevertheless, globally, the construction industry has been reported as an industry with poor ethical performance due to corrupt practices, health and safety catastrophes and triggering damage to the environment. Thus, if the construction industry is not guided by a proper ethical framework, the damage it could do to the economy, society and ecosystem is unrecoverable. This study attempts to identify the nature of ethical management practices in construction industry and its stakeholders, through extant literature. Also it reveals the prevailing ethical issues of the industry related to its stakeholders. Further, this study identifies the costs of these unethical management practices along with the emerging need and paybacks of properly developed ethical framework to ensure the sustainability of the industry. Further research will aim to develop an ethical management framework for Sri Lankan construction industry in the light of this review. Mix methodology will be utilized, to achieve this objective. Critical unethical management practices of Sri Lankan construction industry stakeholders will be identified thorough a questionnaire based on Relative Importance Index. Recommendations to mitigate the identified critical unethical management practices will be formed through an interview survey with industry experts using content analysis method. Based on those inputs, an ethical management framework for Sri Lankan construction industry will be developed.
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    Evaluation of quality control measures and competency of the staff in non-accredited testing laboratories in sri lanka
    Maduranga, M; Mudalige, DM
    The purpose of this research was to identify the quality control measures adopted by non-accredited testing laboratories (excluding medical and calibration laboratories) in Sri Lanka and to examine the competency of the staff in conducting the tests in non-accredited laboratories using ISO 17025 as the guidance. A field study based on a structured questionnaire and personal interviews was carried out in ten (10) non-accredited laboratories in Sri Lanka. Eighteen test methods (18), twenty one (21) actual tests were observed and twenty four (24) employees were given a structured examination. The study analyzed non-accredited laboratories based on management and technical requirements of ISO 17025. Several specific clauses stipulated in ISO 17025 were considered for the assessment. Each clause selected was subdivided in to a set of objective requirements which was examined in each laboratory/test method/test. The laboratory was decided to have complied with minimum quality control procedures related to the clause if these requirements are met as per the acceptance criteria developed by the researcher. The study identified that less than 40% laboratories observed, used adequate quality control methods in conducting the tests in aspects related management system, equipment and reporting results. Less than 70% laboratories observed, used adequate quality control methods in conducting the tests in aspects related to internal audit, organizations and laboratory environment. Erroneous procedures and deficiencies in conducting the test were observed in many aspects. Ignorance of conditions laid down in the relevant test method/standard, inappropriate handling of testing equipment or standards by the staff, non-use of quality control samples when required and errors in documentation and issuing of the test report were the four major shortcomings observed in test methods. Three major deficiencies in laboratory quality control included calibration issues, not enough facilities to monitor the test environment and lack of documentation in quality procedures. The study also revealed the poor competency and knowledge of the laboratory staff in general quality principles. Although 56% of the employees examined had sufficient technical knowledge to carry out the given test, only 30% had satisfactory understanding of general quality management policies laid down in ISO 17025. The outcome of this research is that due to inadequate level of quality control procedures implemented in most of the non-accredited laboratories and due to the lack of knowledge of the staff in these testing laboratories in quality assurance principles, the ability of non-accredited laboratories to consistently deliver reliable and valid results is highly doubtful. Finally, this paper presents recommendations for an effective and reliable laboratory network in Sri Lanka.
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    Impact of corporate governance on financial innovation: a conceptual framework model
    Mahesh, DD; Sinnathamby, V; Kuruppu, GN; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Samarasinghe, GD
    This paper presents a conceptual framework that could be applied to the relevant empirical research studies on the relative importance of the concept of corporate governance in order to strengthen the innovative practices in financial services industry. The main data and information for the development of this model is obtained from of the available literature, web sites and supplemented with interviews conducted with key relevant stake holders in financial sector. Thus, this research framework could be utilized to examine the corporate governance and innovation related issues in the other industrial sectors though it has been originally designed for the financial services industry.
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    In-house development & implementation of ‘corebrain’ warehouse management system: a case study
    Madurapperuma, S; Ebert, LJ; Kuruppuarachchi, D
    In the modern complex business context where the customer needs and wants are changing radically, the fulfillment of these consumer demands were mainly laid on third party logistics. A new business concept which evolved along with the world trade is now managing the product flow from origin to the destination. In order to provide an innovative solution to customers, visibility of information and uninterrupted communication, information communication technology (ICT) plays a significant role in 3PL industry both globally and locally. Advantis 3PL Plus as one of the main Sri Lankan origin leading third party logistics service providers in the Asia Pacific region saw this challenge of adopting low cost digital technology in order to handle vital information along with the product flow to illuminate origin and destination. As a result, an initiative has taken to develop an in-house Warehouse Management System (CoreBrain) by capturing all modern warehousing operational scenarios and standards. This paper illustrates how Advantis 3PL Plus developed ‘CoreBrain’-Warehouse Management System (WMS) to cater ICT facility for industrial sectors such as apparel, pharma and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) to operate in low cost with 100% inventory accuracy and information visibility for decision making.
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    Iot based smart waste bin model to optimize the waste management process
    kumari, PKS; Jeewananda, THNL; Supunya, NHPR; Karunanayake, VJ
    Waste management has become one of the crucial universal problems at present. The rapid growth in world population, their complex living styles and the rate of urbanization have increased the amount of solid waste produce. Therefore, having a proper monitoring mechanism is a must to manage the situation. This paper suggests a solution to enable the society to automate and optimize waste management process using Internet of Things (IOT) technologies. The proposed solution will notify the user and other authorities when the waste bins are getting filled or when there is an unusual condition inside the bins like having high temperature or high humidity. Users can take necessary action based on the details. Researchers have used the layered architecture to develop this model and the main objective of the project is to gather waste collecting data and inform householders and relevant authorities online. The proposed model provides dashboard, sound and light alerts in the system.
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    Preventing accidents in building construction through safety management
    Perera, HN; Somachandra, V; Samarasiri, NC
    Building Construction sector is one of the major sectors in the construction industry in Sri Lanka. As in other sectors, building construction workers also have to face various types of hazards and accidents. Due to these accidents, there is a significant lost to the industry in terms of valuable lives, wasted time and cost overruns and these adversely affect the reputation of the construction industry. The construction includes the different specific areas such as building, road, tunnel, bridges, harbors, reservoirs etc. But, the most researchers have carried out research in the general area of construction without any separation. Further the Health and Safety of Building construction have not been covered properly by the researchers in the past. However, one of the different areas of the industry, building construction has become the most hazardous industry compared to others. This study identifies the global practices to reduce the accident probability in Building construction projects. It also identifies the accidents that frequently happen, causes for those accidents, and the impact of those accidents on the on Building Construction projects in Sri Lanka. And also from the research it is possible to investigate the applicability of globally identified best practices in Sri Lankan Building Construction Projects. The main objective of this research was to develop a guideline for Sri Lankan Building Construction projects, which would be useful in reducing accidents probability in order to minimize various losses in Sri Lanka building construction projects. Currently there is no proper research carried out regarding this issue to reduce accidents probability and minimize losses in Sri Lankan Building construction projects. Thus, this research is useful to fill that research gap in the Sri Lankan Building Construction Sector.
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    Use of levelized costs and screening curves to select the optimum generation mix for sri lankan electricity sector
    Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D
    Sri Lanka is facing problems in selecting optimum electricity generation mix due to the environmental pressures and economic constraints. With limited hydro resources which have already been harnessed up to maximum level, the only options available are diverting to alternative sustainable energy sources. In this context this study assesses the available generation alternatives for Sri Lanka in terms of financial, social and environmental constraints by using levelized generation cost and screening curves mechanism. Each generation option is thereby selected on analytical hierarchical process (AHP) technique based on four attributes of levelized cost, energy security, environment damage cost and social benefits and thereby optimum generation mix is decided. The identified generation options have been analyzed for next twenty year of life span for calculation of levelized generation cost, energy security and technological constraints, environmental damage cost and social benefits with analytical hierarchical process technique. Research findings show that coal and combined cycle diesel power stations are suitable for base load and high capacity operations at 80% to 90% loading at higher energy security with maximum social benefits. However, hydro and wind power stations are suitable for running at 30% to 40% loading at lowest levelized generation by minimizing environmental damage cost but not base load operations. Presently, Hydro power stations are running for base load operations which have been proven to be re-evaluated in this study despite the proposed generation mix does not include solar power generation due to many factors. Therefore, it is recommended to run existing hydro power generators at 30% to 40% loading at base load operations while coal and combined cycle diesel generators to be run at 80% to 90% throughout the clock. The methodology employed and the policies derived can be used as guides to similar types of research in other countries as well.