Search

The article aims to assess the improvement of the process capability by implementing the Six Sigma methodology in furniture enterprises with different levels of the quality management system (QMS) and ownership. The implementation of the Six Sigma methodology according to the DMAIC steps, also analysis, evaluation, and comparison of the implementation results were performed to improve the process performance. The implementation of the Six Sigma methodology was carried out in an international enterprise with foreign capital and a certified Quality Management System (QMS) and in a domestic enterprise with purely domestic capital without an established Quality Management System. The implementation results confirmed the positive development in the key indicators of critical processes, namely, in the reduction of DPMO, the increase of efficiency and the level of Sigma Process, and the values of process capability indices. The positive effects were more pronounced in the international enterprise compared to the domestic. The application of the Six Sigma methodology brings better results in manufacturing companies with international management skills and implemented certified QMS. These two aspects can be key success factors by managing and improving process capability. The practical contribution of the paper can be seen in the proposal of suitable methods and tools by implementing Six Sigma conception in furniture manufacturing regardless of the ownership or level of quality management systems.

The article focuses on establishing a comprehensive methodology for evaluating agility levels in enterprises. Topics include the significance of agility in adapting to rapidly changing market conditions, the development of a maturity model that outlines different levels of agility, and the practical application of this methodology within organizations to improve decision-making and enhance overall performance.

Increasing the proportion of broadleaved trees in stands during regeneration raises questions about how these trees will be reflected in the economics of forest owners and whether these owners can influence certain economic aspects during stand management. In this respect, the paper focuses mainly on the revenue side of forestry and, crucially, analyses the selling prices of assortments of tree species groups as offered in public tenders of state forests under the outsourcing business model. The price level of spruce is used as a benchmark for comparisons in the analyses. It is clear that the cultivation of species-diverse forests entails an increase in the representation of a higher number of tree species and, presumably, increased stand stability. However, a concomitant consequence may be an increase in costs and a reduction in returns for forest owners. Here, the revenue from timber sales can be improved by appropriate adjustment of the species composition through educational interventions. All this is in the context of the economic viability of forestry, as declared in a number of strategic and forest policy documents, which essentially depends on the timber production function of forestry and the subsequent processing of timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current competitive environment is only favourable to those companies that can cope with changes and use them to their advantage. The innovation of business processes is required to improve financial performance. Scientific works have not yet offered an effective solution to the monitoring of the impact made by process reengineering on corporate financial results. This work presents the case of a business process reengineering in a particular company to improve its performance. The results of implemented reengineering are analysed from the point of view of the impact made on the financial situation of the company. The paper aims to demonstrate the implementation of reengineering and evaluate its impact on the financial standing of a company and its performance. The practical application of reengineering was made according to Hammer and Champy methodology, which is based on the analysis of production processes in the company, the implementation of selected reengineered production processes and the evaluation of the reengineering impact on the corporate financial situation and performance. During the evaluation, the selected indicators of financial performance, activity indicators, the indebtedness indicator, business performance indicators as a cash flow to measure financial flows and the economic value-added (indicator EVA) were calculated and analysed. Subsequent to financial analyses and based on the selected indicators, the authors concluded that the implemented reengineering of the production process increased the performance and value of the company, which had a positive impact on the company’s financial situation. The funds spent on the proper implementation of the reengineering steps were effectively used, and the reengineering process was also timed. This contribution to the body of theoretic knowledge links the implementation of reengineering and the part of the financial analysis, which is related to the preparation, implementation and reengineering results.

The increasing pressure of globalisation on the worldwide market has forced enterprises to shift their focus from product quality to effectiveness of internal business processes. The object of interest of this paper is a modern management approach based on corporate performance evaluation by measuring the performance of internal processes. The paper aims to prove that the use of modern indicators and the measurement of internal processes belong among factors that have a direct positive impact on corporate performance. To reach the aim, empirical primary research was carried out. The paper focused on research results regarding the use of modern indicators for the measurement of business processes in Slovak industrial enterprises from selected branches. The primary quantitative research was conducted using questionnaires. The research aimed to test the hypothesis stating that enterprises using modern indicators to measure process performance have been reaching more positive ROE values, representing a basic indicator of corporate performance. Dependences among the data selected from the empirical research were analysed using statistical methods, namely, the chi-squared test, T-test and the correlation analysis. Based on the statistically processed data, the authors concluded that business processes are a basic source for the evaluation of corporate performance. Higher ROE values can be reached using modern process indicators, especially in mass production enterprises. The paper contributed to the further development of knowledge in performance management, specifically, process-oriented management.

Constant change is typical of the current business environment. The ability to manage change is a highly appreciated managerial skill. Being adaptive has become a new competitive advantage of a company. Appropriately and successfully implemented changes can improve corporate performance. This paper aimed to evaluate how Slovak companies had been dealing with change in recent years; whether they had been prepared for it; what tools, methods and concepts they had used; and what ultimately had necessitated them from an economic point of view. The paper explored the current status of change management in the context of business processes particular to Slovak enterprises. A literature review concerning change and process management was provided in order to design appropriate research. The research focused on the level of process-oriented management of change in Slovak enterprises operating in different industrial sectors. The main research method was primary quantitative research via questionnaires. Outputs from the questionnaires were subsequently evaluated by contingency tables and the chi-square test which determined the level of significance via p-value. Research results presented in this paper confirmed a positive influence of business process change on process maturity and corporate performance. The paper contributed to the development of knowledge in the field of change management, namely, process-oriented change management. The creation of a change-based maturity model for enterprises was identified as a new direction for future work with practical implications.

Copyright of Wood Industry / Drvna Industrija is the property of Drvna Industrija and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

International trade metrics can indicate the competitive advantage of the industry in international markets. However, the export of the raw materials utilized by the industry can influence company and industry performance negatively. This article assessed the effectiveness of the international trade with raw wood and its impact on the economic results of the industry. A system of indicators was formed to measure the international trade impact on the industry performance, and the following hypothesis was established: increasing the international trade with raw wood influences the economic growth of the industry negatively. The results confirmed the hypothesis, showing that the growth of export volume and also import of raw wood decreased industry performance during the monitored period. In the forestry sector, the more significant influence appeared in revenues, which influenced the profit most in the timber industry. Other findings demonstrated that the international wood trade in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic does not create a comparative advantage, but decreases competitiveness of the forestry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]