Expert Prioritization of Factors in Welding and Operational Efficiency

Citation Author(s):
Yagnesh
Purohit
Submitted by:
Yagnesh Purohit
Last updated:
Thu, 02/06/2025 - 03:29
DOI:
10.21227/0wxh-sf35
Data Format:
excel sheet
Research Article Link:
Optimizing Standard Work Hours in Fabrication: A Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Approach Using SMART
Links:
Optimizing Standard Work Hours in Fabrication: A Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Approach Using SMART
License:
Creative Commons Attribution
19 Views
Categories:
Education and Learning Technologies
Keywords:
Labour Efficiency (LE), Operational Efficiency (OE), Job Weight (JW), Weld Volume (WV), Skill Level (SL)
0
0 ratings - Please login to submit your rating.
ACCESS DATASET CITE SHARE/EMBED

Abstract 

Expert opinions were gathered using an online survey conducted through Microsoft Forms to assess the relative importance of various factors in a welding and operational efficiency context. The factors evaluated included Labor Efficiency (LE), Operational Efficiency (OE), job weight, weld volume, and skill level. Participants were asked to compare these factors in terms of their importance relative to each other.

Key findings from the survey indicated the following:

  • LE vs. OE: LE was considered equally important as OE by the experts.
  • LE vs. Job Weight: LE was deemed moderately more important than job weight.
  • LE vs. Weld Volume: LE was viewed as strongly more important than weld volume.
  • LE vs. Skill Level: LE was considered moderately more important than skill level.
  • OE vs. Job Weight: OE was found to be moderately more important than job weight.
  • OE vs. Weld Volume: OE was strongly more important than weld volume.
  • OE vs. Skill Level: OE was rated moderately more important than skill level.
  • Job Weight vs. Weld Volume: Job weight was slightly more important than weld volume.
  • Job Weight vs. Skill Level: Job weight was regarded as equally important as skill level.
  • Weld Volume vs. Skill Level: Weld volume was slightly less important than skill level.

This survey provided valuable insights into how industry professionals prioritize different aspects of welding and operational efficiency, offering a foundation for further analysis and decision-making in the field.

Instructions: 

  • Data Collection:

    • After the survey is completed, download the collected data from Microsoft Forms in an Excel or CSV format. This file will contain responses for each of the survey questions.

  • Data Cleaning:

    • Review the data for any inconsistencies or incomplete responses. Remove any entries that are not valid or are incomplete.

  • Data Analysis:

    • Quantitative Analysis:

      • Frequency Distribution: Calculate the frequency of each response option for every question. This will help you see which comparisons had the highest agreement among experts.
      • Weighted Scoring: Assign numerical values to the response options (e.g., "Equally Important" = 0, "Slightly More Important" = 1, "Moderately More Important" = 2, "Strongly More Important" = 3). Calculate the average score for each question to determine the overall importance.
      • Ranking: Based on the average scores, rank the factors from most to least important.

    • Qualitative Analysis:

      • If there are open-ended responses, use thematic analysis to identify common themes or insights provided by the experts.

  • Interpreting the Results:

    • Prioritization: Determine which factors are deemed most and least important based on the survey results. This will inform decision-making in areas like resource allocation, process improvements, or strategic planning.
    • Comparative Insights: Analyze how different factors compare against each other. For example, if Labor Efficiency (LE) consistently ranks higher than Operational Efficiency (OE), it might suggest that experts prioritize workforce efficiency over operational processes.
    • Consensus: Identify areas of strong consensus among the experts, as well as any areas where opinions diverge. This can highlight which aspects of welding and operational efficiency are universally recognized and which might be more subjective or context-dependent.

  • Visualizing the Data:

    • Charts and Graphs: Create bar charts, pie charts, or heat maps to visually represent the frequency distribution and average scores. This makes it easier to communicate the findings to stakeholders.
    • Comparison Matrices: Use matrices to compare the relative importance of different factors side by side, which can be particularly useful for presenting the results in a clear, accessible format.

  • Reporting the Findings:

    • Summary Report: Prepare a report summarizing the key findings from the survey, including the overall ranking of factors, any significant trends, and areas of consensus or disagreement.
    • Recommendations: Based on the survey results, provide actionable recommendations for improving welding and operational efficiency in the organization or industry.

  • Application of Insights:

    • Use the insights gained from the survey to inform strategic decisions, optimize processes, or guide further research. For example, if the survey reveals that Labor Efficiency is prioritized, efforts can be focused on training, workforce management, and productivity enhancement.

  • Review and Feedback:

    • Share the findings with the participants and other stakeholders for feedback. This can help validate the results and refine the analysis for future surveys or studies.

Dataset Files

LOGIN TO ACCESS DATASET FILES

 

QUESTIONS?