Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making

Orientation: Growing operational uncertainty in manufacturing industries affects decision-making processes. Research purpose: This study conceptualised and developed an integrated assessment index to measure operational uncertainty in manufacturing. Motivation for the study: There is a growing nee...

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Main Authors: Matolwandile M. Mtotywa, Matshediso Mohapeloa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-07-01
Series:Acta Commercii
Subjects:
Online Access:https://actacommercii.co.za/index.php/acta/article/view/1426
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author Matolwandile M. Mtotywa
Matshediso Mohapeloa
author_facet Matolwandile M. Mtotywa
Matshediso Mohapeloa
author_sort Matolwandile M. Mtotywa
collection DOAJ
description Orientation: Growing operational uncertainty in manufacturing industries affects decision-making processes. Research purpose: This study conceptualised and developed an integrated assessment index to measure operational uncertainty in manufacturing. Motivation for the study: There is a growing need for continuing research to develop integrated indices that fully understand and help manage uncertainty within a firm for its long-term sustainability. Research design, approach and method: The study is based on a four-step process, which involves identifying theoretical dimensions, measuring indicators, determining the level of individual factors, determining the weight estimates of the factors and composing the manufacturing operational uncertainty index (MOUI). Main findings: The illustrated index analysis was based on nine operational uncertainty at the external environmental, industrial and firm levels. The results of the present study also confirm that operational uncertainty is a norm in the manufacturing industry with a MOUI = 0.752, indicating the range of futures. This posits that it is difficult to divide these futures into a discrete and exhaustive set of possibilities due to the complexity of conditions at play. Practical/managerial implications: The study provides essential tools for decision-making, allowing stakeholders to assess performance and enhance continuous improvement efforts by providing a quantitative measure to assess operational uncertainty. It can be applied in order of rank to prioritise response, effects of operational uncertainty on performance and baseline for configuration solutions. Contribution/value-add: Developing this index is crucial in operations management, as it provides a systematic and simplified approach to assessing, comparing and managing complex data sets.
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spelling doaj-art-9c9e95084b7141e5b341d17ac90bff852025-08-20T02:59:42ZengAOSISActa Commercii2413-19031684-19992025-07-01251e1e910.4102/ac.v25i1.1426527Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-makingMatolwandile M. Mtotywa0Matshediso Mohapeloa1Rhodes Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes University, MakhandaRhodes Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes University, MakhandaOrientation: Growing operational uncertainty in manufacturing industries affects decision-making processes. Research purpose: This study conceptualised and developed an integrated assessment index to measure operational uncertainty in manufacturing. Motivation for the study: There is a growing need for continuing research to develop integrated indices that fully understand and help manage uncertainty within a firm for its long-term sustainability. Research design, approach and method: The study is based on a four-step process, which involves identifying theoretical dimensions, measuring indicators, determining the level of individual factors, determining the weight estimates of the factors and composing the manufacturing operational uncertainty index (MOUI). Main findings: The illustrated index analysis was based on nine operational uncertainty at the external environmental, industrial and firm levels. The results of the present study also confirm that operational uncertainty is a norm in the manufacturing industry with a MOUI = 0.752, indicating the range of futures. This posits that it is difficult to divide these futures into a discrete and exhaustive set of possibilities due to the complexity of conditions at play. Practical/managerial implications: The study provides essential tools for decision-making, allowing stakeholders to assess performance and enhance continuous improvement efforts by providing a quantitative measure to assess operational uncertainty. It can be applied in order of rank to prioritise response, effects of operational uncertainty on performance and baseline for configuration solutions. Contribution/value-add: Developing this index is crucial in operations management, as it provides a systematic and simplified approach to assessing, comparing and managing complex data sets.https://actacommercii.co.za/index.php/acta/article/view/1426operational uncertainty indexmanufacturingdecision-makingrange of futuresquantification index
spellingShingle Matolwandile M. Mtotywa
Matshediso Mohapeloa
Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making
Acta Commercii
operational uncertainty index
manufacturing
decision-making
range of futures
quantification index
title Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making
title_full Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making
title_fullStr Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making
title_short Integrated Index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision-making
title_sort integrated index for assessing operational uncertainty in manufacturing for decision making
topic operational uncertainty index
manufacturing
decision-making
range of futures
quantification index
url https://actacommercii.co.za/index.php/acta/article/view/1426
work_keys_str_mv AT matolwandilemmtotywa integratedindexforassessingoperationaluncertaintyinmanufacturingfordecisionmaking
AT matshedisomohapeloa integratedindexforassessingoperationaluncertaintyinmanufacturingfordecisionmaking