Communities in PRCR
Select a community to browse its collections.
- Colecciones de la Albizu University
- Colecciones digitales de Atenas College
- Colecciones de los Centros Sor Isolina Ferré
- Materiales utilizados para la certificación.
Recent Submissions
Reduction of Material Variance for the Top Offender in Terumo
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Alicea Negrón, Sebastián J.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
Material variance associated with
Suture Bondex Plus was identified as a significant cost opportunity in the final assembly process of the Angio-Seal® vascular closure device at Terumo
Puerto Rico. This project applied the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology to investigate and reduce over-consumption while maintaining product quality and regulatory compliance. Financial variance reports and process-level review were used to establish baseline performance and confirm that scrap was not a primary contributor. Root cause analysis tools, including a Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram and targeted “Why” questioning, determined that the absence of a
standardized method to store and manage usable suture between shifts was the main contributor to material loss. A designated and standardized suture
storage method was implemented, supported by updated work instructions and associate training. Weekly material variance decreased from $2,830 in
a high-variance week to $1,809 during implementation and to $1,467 in the following week. These results confirmed improved material control and reduced variance without compromising product quality or compliance. Key Terms ⎯ Lean Manufacturing, Process Optimization, Root Cause Analysis, Standardized
Work.
Optimization of a Portable Passivation Skid in Manufacturing Operations
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Alicea Perez, Ryan A.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
The limited internal utilization of a portable passivation skid in a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility resulted in reliance on outsourced passivation services, increasing operating costs. This project applied a structured Define – Measure – Analyze – Improve - Control methodology to quantify the economic and operational impact of contractor executed passivation and to evaluate internal execution alternatives within a three-month project window. Baseline analysis demonstrated that contractor executed passivation events incurred significantly higher costs than internally executed activities, even when internal support labor was considered. Cost–benefit evaluation by passivation type identified recurring heat exchangers and a 500-liter tank as high impact candidates for internal execution. Results showed that internal passivation reduced per event costs by approximately 80% for the heat exchangers and by more than 70% for the tank. The primary constraint limiting internal passivation was economic dependence on external contractors rather than technical capability. Key Terms ⎯ cost-benefit analysis, outsourcing reduction, preventive maintenance strategy, process standardization.
Development of a Centralized Digital Platform to Improve Visibility of Local Service Providers in Puerto Rico
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Vélez Rodríguez, Ronald J.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
Independent local service providers in Puerto Rico rely heavily on informal digital channels, such as social media groups and personal referrals, to promote their services. These channels lack structure, consistency, and effective search capabilities, creating challenges for provider visibility and customer access to reliable service information. This project developed a managerial planning and feasibility framework for a centralized digital platform intended to improve
visibility for independent service providers and enhance customer access to organized service information. The project applied a structured DMAIC-based methodology focused on analysis and planning rather than system implementation. Secondary data sources and documented observations were used to establish baseline service discovery conditions and identify gaps related to information organization, search efficiency, and user confidence. The results
demonstrated that fragmented and informal discovery practices limited effective service matching and provider exposure. The conclusions supported the feasibility of a centralized managerial framework as a foundation for future platform development and implementation efforts within the Puerto Rican service market. Key Terms ⎯ Centralized digital platform, managerial planning framework, service discovery, service provider visibility.
Sistema de Monitoreo en Tiempo Real para la Supervisión de Avances en Proyectos de Construcción Mecánica
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) González Rodríguez, Ricardo J.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
En proyectos de construcción mecánica del sector farmacéutico, el seguimiento tradicional suele depender de reportes manuales y consolidaciones periódicas que generan latencia informativa y dificultan la detección temprana de desviaciones críticas. Este estudio propone un esquema de paneles de control en tiempo real (dashboards) para integrar reportes de progreso, datos de campo, estatus de tareas y registros de calidad, con el fin de mejorar la visibilidad
operativa. Para ello se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica, un diagnóstico del proceso actual con datos anonimizados y el diseño conceptual de un panel de control con Indicadores Clave de Desempeño y una estrategia de integración. Como resultado, y en base a evidencia bibliográfica y un análisis conceptual de sensibilidad, se proyecta de forma conservadora una reducción del 15% en el tiempo medio de detección de desviaciones y un aumento del 20% en la precisión de los reportes. Se concluye que la solución propuesta aumenta la capacidad de respuesta y la toma de decisiones proactivas en entornos regulados. Términos clave- Gestión Proactiva, Indicadores Clave de Rendimiento, Industria Farmacéutica, Monitoreo de Obra.
Improving FEMA Reconstruction Contract Procurement at the University of Puerto Rico
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025) Ramos Miranda, Oscar J.; Cruzado Vélez, Héctor J.
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) undertook a reconstruction program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following the 2017 hurricanes, managing a portfolio of over 700 facilities across 11 campuses. Although UPR had established procurement procedures, the scale and compliance requirements of FEMA-funded permanent work created bottlenecks during bidding and contract execution. This study analyzed the end‑to‑end procurement workflow from design completion to contract signing, identifying systemic delays caused by incomplete bid packages, fragmented responsibilities, inconsistent evaluation documentation, and extended approval cycles. The project developed an improved procurement and governance model tailored to FEMA recovery operations. The proposed model incorporates a dedicated FEMA bid committee, parallel campus‑level bid structures, standardized templates
and checklists, and defined entry/exit criteria to reduce rework and improve compliance. Performance indicators demonstrated that the redesigned process could reduce procurement lead time, increase bid throughput, and strengthen documentation quality, supporting timely execution of FEMA-funded reconstruction projects. Key Terms ⎯ Bid Procurement Process, FEMA Public Assistance, Process Improvement Model, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).