Purpose The lean production system and world class manufacturing (WCM) have been prominent in recent studies due to their conceptual synergy. However, although the number of studies is increasing, the research is immature, especially regarding the interaction between topics. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to rank the tools of the lean production system, indicating how they help organizations achieve WCM, using the theory of grey systems. Design/methodology/approach Therefore, the authors conducted an initial survey to collect data to determine how the lean production tools are related to the WCM pillars. These data were analyzed by the grey relational analysis statistical method, which passes through the construction of four stages. Findings The results show that of the lean production tools, stream mapping, kaizen, total productive maintenance, Six Sigma, standardized work and 5S stand out for their use and implementation in the organizational environment and facilitate organizations’ transitions to world-class performance through the WCM pillars. Practical implications The results achieved guide organizations to use the tools of the lean production system to help them reach world class status. Originality/value This paper stands out in the field of operations management, specifically in the research on lean production, by making use of the theory of grey correlation system in an innovative and original way. In addition, it promotes the consolidation of information on two of the main administrative strategies currently employed in the organizational environment.

Deposits of insoluble protein fibrils in human tissue are associated with amyloidosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Different proteins are involved in each disease; all are soluble in their native conformation in vivo, but by molecular self-assembly, they all form insoluble protein fibril deposits with a similar cross β-sheet structure. This paper reports the results of an experiment in molecular self-assembly carried out in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). The Self-Assembly in Biology and the Origin of Life (SABOL) experiment was designed to study the growth of lysozyme fibrils in microgravity. Lysozyme is a model protein that has been shown to replicate the aggregation processes of other amyloid proteins. Here the design and performance of the experimental hardware is described in detail. The flight experiment was carried to the ISS in the Dragon capsule of the SpaceX CRS-5 mission and returned to Earth after 32 days. The lysozyme fibrils formed in microgravity aboard the ISS show a distinctly different morphology compared to fibrils formed in the ground-control (G-C) experiment. The fibrils formed in microgravity are shorter, straighter, and thicker than those formed in the laboratory G-C experiment. For two incubation periods, (2) about 8.5 days and (3) about 14.5 days, the average ISS and G-C fibril diameters are respectively: \matrix{{Period\,2} \hfill & {} \hfill & {{D_{ISS}} = 7.5{\rm{nm}} \pm 31\% ,} \hfill \cr {} \hfill & {\rm and} \hfill & {{D_{G - C}} = 3.4{\rm{nm}} \pm 31\%} \hfill \cr {Period\,3} \hfill & {} \hfill & {{D_{ISS}} = 6.2{\rm{nm}} \pm 33\% ,} \hfill \cr {} \hfill & {\rm and} \hfill & {{D_{G - C}} = 3.6{\rm{nm}} \pm 33\% .}}

BackgroundManufacturing methods for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)‐cryopreserved platelets (CPPs) are manual and labor intensive. Thawing and prepare‐for‐transfusion steps are in an open system that requires transfusion within 4 h. A fill‐and‐finish system (CUE) can automate the manufacturing process. A newly configured bag system allows freezing, thawing, and use of resuspension solutions while maintaining the functionally closed system, and extending the post‐thaw shelf life beyond 4 h. Our objective is to evaluate the feasibility of the CUE system and the functionally closed bag system.Study design and MethodsDMSO was volumetrically added to double‐dose apheresis platelets, concentrated, and delivered to a 50‐ or 500‐mL ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) bag by the CUE (n = 12). The functionally closed bag system contained 25 mL platelet additive solution 3 (PAS‐3) in a 50‐mL EVA bag. Control CPP (n = 2) were manually prepared. PAS‐3 and CPP were thawed together. CPP were stored up to 98 h (20–24°C) and tested using a standard assay panel.ResultsCUE prepared CPP met the design targets: volume, platelet content, and DMSO concentration. CUE CPP P‐selectin was high. CD42b, phosphatidylserine (PS) expression, and live cell percentage were favorable compared to controls and favorably maintained over storage. The thrombin generation potency was slightly reduced compared to controls. The 50 mL EVA bag maintained pH for up to 30 h, and the 500 mL EVA bag beyond 76 h.DiscussionThe CUE system presents a technically feasible method to prepare CPP. A functionally closed bag system with resuspension solution was successful and can extend the post‐thaw storage time of CPP.

, for the electron microprobe analyses.