PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus the application of design of experiments (DOE) using industrial equipments, reinforcing idea that non‐statistical aspects in planning and conducting experiments are so important as formal design and analysis.Design/methodology/approachTwo case studies are presented to illustrate typical industrial applications and difficulties. Supported on these case studies and literature, this paper presents guidelines to planning, conducting and analysis involving technical and organizational aspects.FindingsSolving problems in industry, including in companies recognized as competent in the respective industrial sector, is not just a question of applying the right technique. Ceramic industry case study illustrates how important are non‐statistical issues in DOE application. Paint industry case study illustrates the strong relationship of the results with incorporating presented guidelines into practice. Moreover, both case studies consolidating a fundamental advantage of DOE: experimentation provides more knowledge about products, processes and technologies, even in unsuccessful case studies.Research limitations/implicationsUnsuccessful cases studies are very useful for identifying pitfalls and others limitations. This paper highlight difficulties aroused from non‐statistical aspects, although it is possible to find unsuccessful case studies due to statistical issues also. So, papers illustrating inadequate application of statistical techniques are welcome.Practical implicationsSuccessful DOE implementation depends on statistical and non‐statistical aspects. Although none of them shall be neglected, technical skills and technological knowledge about processes and products, management understanding of potential possibilities of statistical techniques and statistical fundamentals and knowledge about techniques of DOE must be ensuring to successful case studies in industrial setting.Originality/valueThis paper highlights non‐statistical aspects instead of the statistical ones. Tob overcome difficulties structured guidelines were designed to support DOE application in industrial setting.

The main objective of this research is to analyze through a structured questionnaire, the influence of the motivations that lead companies to implement Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the barriers found in the benefits perceived by companies, as well as, the degree of difficulty perceived for the implementation of the different requirements to be fulfilled, which are established in the regulation. An extensive review of the academic literature published on motivations, barriers, difficulties and benefits in environmental standards has been carried out in order to establish the working hypotheses which refer to the relationship between motivations, barriers with the benefits and degree of difficulty in implementing the requirements. The empirical investigation was carried out in a sample of 114 of the 255 companies of the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain) that have EMAS certification. The methodology used was the use of the application of a regression analysis to test the hypotheses; previously the measurement scales were validated and an exploratory factorial analysis was applied in order to determine the structure of the different variables considered in the study. The results show that the motivations affect the benefits positively and on the contrary, affect the barriers negatively (reduce them) and it was observed that the greater the barriers, the lower the benefits obtained from the implementation of EMAS (negative influence). The proposed regression models show the joint influence of the motivations and barriers on the benefits considered.

The traditional viewof quality related costs (QRC) tries tojustify investment in preventionasa way to reduce the costs offailure. Butthisstatic viewmust countera moredynamic vision that fosterscontinuous improvementand assessesthe costs andbenefits of implementingtechniques and methods ofquality management, such ascertification ofISO 9001systems. However, it is unknown whether such companies are also engaged in the management of QRC, arising from activities undertaken, either at the level of monitoring, or coming from failures, and if such organizations verify (or not) the recovery of investments in quality. In this sense, the present article aims to provide insight into the procedures adopted by Portuguese companies in managing QRC, and to assess the extent to which management reports allow the analysis of quality costs and contribute to the related planning and control activities. The results of this study showed that there is hardly any assent to the implementation of formal mechanisms for planning and control of QRC, and to the explicit identification and segregation of those costs in management reports.

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In this work, a survey is made of the analysis of the resource selection process. We approach the process also from the point of view of conventional enterprises but with particular emphasis on the existent models in Agile/Virtual Enterprises in order to identify the main limitations and shortcomings of the process. This analysis was focused in the global process of the resource selection, namely in terms of the pre-selection and selection phases, requisites, mathematical models, tools and other relevant areas in the existent models. It is concluded that the resource pre-selection is an area that is not adequately explored in a systematic way. The value concept is not incorporated in the selection process. As a result, a reasoned analysis is not performed of the decision-making process for creating an Agile/Virtual Enterprise. These conclusions were made to envision a future approach that allows the incorporation of new areas that contribute to the improvement of the resource selection process.