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Applying simulation in lean service to enhance the operational system in Indian postal service industry

  • S.I. : Business Analytics and Operations Research
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Abstract

This paper aims to present an innovative approach to design a Lean Service System in the India Post service industry using the Simulation method to reduce the system’s complexity. Using logic and systematic building blocks, simulation models have been developed from lean service elements using the arena software and verified in Siemens Tecnomatix plant simulation suite. Simulation is used to replicate the real model, guide the future production system, and determine the optimal parameter values. Simulation studies have been divided into two perspectives, “before LS” and “after LS” through Value Stream Mapping (VSM). It has been found that there is a 9.62 percent enhancement in delivering articles per person. A real case of postal service internal operational performance has been taken for the study. This study is the first to combine Value Stream Mapping - Simulation (VSM-Sim) to simulate and optimize the mailing service operations’ operational performance parameters.

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Source: Arena Software)

Fig. 6

Source: Siemens Tecnomatix plant simulation Software)

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Source: Siemens Tecnomatix plant simulation)

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ARIZ:

Artificial algorithm

BOM:

Bill of materials

DES:

Discrete event simulation

FLD:

Facility layout design

LM:

Lean manufacturing

MSD:

Muskeletal disorder

Non-TD:

Non-town delivery (other than local mails)

NSH:

National sorting hub

NVA:

Non-value added activities

OP:

Operational performance

PLC:

Program logic control

RBGPS:

RBG pain scale [1-5]

RULA:

Rapid upper limb assessment

TD:

Town delivery (local mails)

UNIF:

Uniform distribution

VSM:

Value stream mapping

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, The National Institute of Engineering, Mysore, India

    Vadivel Sengazhani Murugesan

  2. Operations Management & Decision Sciences, Indian Institute of Management Kashipur, Kashipur, India

    Sunil Kumar Jauhar

  3. School of Management, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India

    Aloysius Henry Sequeira

Authors
  1. Vadivel Sengazhani Murugesan
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  2. Sunil Kumar Jauhar
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  3. Aloysius Henry Sequeira
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Correspondence to Vadivel Sengazhani Murugesan.

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Appendix

Appendix

1.1 Results for current state VSM–simulation model

figure a

1.2 Results for future state VSM–simulation model

figure b

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Murugesan, V.S., Jauhar, S.K. & Sequeira, A.H. Applying simulation in lean service to enhance the operational system in Indian postal service industry. Ann Oper Res 315, 993–1017 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-020-03920-1

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