Application of the indicator analysis to assess and improve the quality of the assembly process of telecommunications installations – a case study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to present a case of effective application of the indicator analysis to assess and improve the process of installing a fiber optic Internet network installation at the customer’s site. The processes carried out outside the company’s headquarters, in particular their limited possibility of supervision and direct contact with the customer, cause these processes to require a special approach to management. Design / methodology / approach: The assessment of the installation process was carried out by means of the indicator analysis. The key indicators and their target values were obtained on the basis of research conducted in one of the telecommunications companies. The assessment of the quality and efficiency of the process and the effectiveness of improvement actions was based on observations and analysis of data from the company’s reports from 2017 and 2019. The theoretical scope of the work concerns methods of improving the quality and efficiency of manufacturing processes. Findings: The research process identified a set of indicators that can be used to assess the process of installation of systems in the examined company or similar ones. The quality and efficiency of the analyzed process was evaluated. The key factors determining these process properties were identified, owing to which it was possible to determine the necessary improvement actions to be implemented in the examined organization. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the implemented solutions. Practical implications: The study allowed to broaden the knowledge about the analyzed process in terms of methods of its measurement and factors having a decisive influence on its quality and efficiency. The process under analysis has been effectively improved. Originality / value: Application of the indicator analysis to a process with limited supervisory capabilities, key impact on customer satisfaction and business costs. The paper is addressed to the managerial staff of telecommunications companies involved in the installation of Internet network systems outside the company’s headquarters. The paper contains identified indicators of the assembly process and factors, mainly organizational ones, affecting its characteristics.