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.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »
Recent Submissions
Reduction of Cycle Time in Branson of Operation
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025-05) Cruz Orengo, Rubén A.; Nieves Castro, Rafael A.
“With less, it can be accomplished more”. On occasion, everybody wants more but does not want to invest. The company needs higher productivity and capacity, leading to a higher profit and a lower labor cost. A good way to achieve those goals is by optimizing the process and taking advantage of and using all the space, machines, and personnel working in the area. Considering that the scheduled order for the week is not finished at the scheduled time, as proposed. The majority of the orders are not finished on time as proposed. In order to finish, an overtime shift on the weekend must be kept in production to finish the orders for the week. If the orders are not finished in the extra shift, the order must be rolled over to next week, affecting cycle time, productivity of the operation, sterilization process, and estimated arrival time (ETA) for the client. During the investigation, it will be evaluated, applying the methodology of DMAIC, what is happening in the manufacturing process that the orders are being manufactured on an extra shift or rescheduled with a roll over for the next week. It must optimize the process in order to comply with the production schedule and have solid delivery reliability towards the client. Keywords - 7 Wastes: Motion, DMAIC Method, Energy Director, Ultrasonic Welding, Voice of Customer.
Weiler Labeling Machine IOQ Execution and Qualification Improvement
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025-05) Lorenzo Villanueva, Oscar; Nieves Castro, Rafael A.
The pharmaceutical industry requires rigorous equipment to ensure regulatory compliance and operational reliability. This article outlines the Installation Qualification (IQ) and Operational Qualification (OQ) of the Weiler Labeling Machine after system modifications. New functionalities such as Zero Position and Dru Run were introduced via the Human Machine Interface (HMI). The validation process included documentation checks, software installation, source code review, security access verification, and full functional testing. The results confirmed regulatory alignment and enhanced troubleshooting capabilities, reducing downtime and improving packaging reliability [1]. Key Terms - Dry Run, Equipment Qualification, Labeling Machine, Zero Position.
Optimized Design for Electrochemical Test Product Preparation
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025-05) Santiago Correa, Luis Fernando; González Miranda, Carlos J.
This project focuses on improving the processing time for the Electrochemical Performance Test Preparation Process using the DMAIC methodology integrated with Design for Reliability and Manufacturability tools. Time studies and Design for Reliability and Assembly tools provided a baseline measurement of the current processing time and complexity of the process steps. Concept Engineering was implemented to create innovative designs to improve the process while using Analytic Hierarchy Process to objectively evaluate the proposed concepts. A total process time reduction of 22.31% was obtained with the implemented improvements, reducing the penalty score of complexity from 263 to 100. As a medical devices industry, with a high demand for products, process improvements that contribute to decreasing product time to the patient or increase capacity makes a significant difference for the company, increasing market growth. Keywords - AID, AHP, CGM, DfMA.
How Does the Arrival of a New Product Affect the Manufacturing Area?
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025-05) Ramos Santiago, Juan Carlos; Nieves Castro, Rafael A.
The introduction of a new product within a manufacturing environment significantly impacts operational efficiency, employee workflow, and resource distribution. This research analyzes the effects of integrating a new product into an existing manufacturing system, emphasizing the downstream process. Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines employee workload data, activity categorization, and process evaluations over a three-week period. Key findings highlight that onboarding and training initially dominate resource allocation, with a subsequent transition to on-the-floor support and operational involvement. The study identifies inefficiencies in training duration and meeting structures, offering strategies to optimize time management and accelerate employee adjustment. A structure is proposed to improve productivity, minimize disruptions, and update the transition for future product introductions. This research supports manufacturing areas in becoming more active, robust, and effective when facing product innovation, ensuring consistent product quality and timely market delivery. Keywords - Employee Workload, Manufacturing, New Product Integration, Process Optimization.
Analyzing Mechanical Defect Variability in Tablet Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Investigation of Machine Performance Consistency
(Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2025-05) Santos Rolón, Joar Manuel; Nieves Castro, Rafael A.
This study analyzes mechanical edge defects in the production of pharmaceutical tablets by analyzing performance variability across three rotary tablet compression machines. This investigation evaluates defect trends across ten production batches for each machine using statistical quality control methodologies, including control charts. The initial results indicate that Machine C exhibits the highest variability, mainly due to turret vibration, while both Machines A and C exhibit indications of undetected die wear. Following resolving these mechanical issues, all three machines exhibited enhancements in process stability and reduced defects. These findings accentuate the importance of integrating statistical monitoring with preventive maintenance to improve manufacturing consistency and ensure product quality within pharmaceutical operations. Key Terms - Compression, Tablet Edge Defect, Maintenance.