The research group actively engages both undergraduate and graduate students in applied research projects aligned with the group's core focus areas. Students are involved in various stages of the research process, including experimental design, data collection and analysis, modeling, and scientific writing. Several Bachelor's and Master's theses supervised by group members have resulted in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
Our commitment to student development is reflected in the quality of their research outputs and their contribution to real-world problem-solving. Below are examples of outstanding student projects that were conducted under the supervision of our group members and have contributed meaningfully to the academic and industrial communities:
Farah Shihabeddin, Seren Mahmoud, and Asma' Odeh – Supervised by Dr. Lina Al-Qatawneh. Their thesis titled “Improving Luggage Delivery Performance at Queen Alia International Airport using Lean Six Sigma Methodology" was published in a peer‑reviewed journal: https://doi.org/10.1177/18479790251322345.
Abstract:
The efficiency of baggage handling greatly impacts airport operation, as delayed baggage can affect aircraft turnaround time, reduce minimum connection time, and affect gate management and airport capacity utilization. This research paper explores the application of Six Sigma methodology to improve baggage handling time at airports. The case study applied the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) methodology. The different phases of the study involve identifying the main problem in baggage handling, analyzing the data on the key performance metric, and implementing various improvements. There is a noticeable improvement in baggage handling time as quantified by sigma quality level (SQL). The SQL value increased from 1.46 to 1.96 for aircraft code C and 1.56 to 2.25 for aircraft code E. The average baggage handling time decreased by 10.5% and 19% for two aircraft codes. Through a structured Six Sigma approach, the airport identified improvement areas, implemented solutions, and increased customer satisfaction. The results of this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge on process improvement methodologies in the airline industry.
In order to provide an integrated approach to improve healthcare logistics. This paper integrated the analysis of logistics decisions made at the three hierarchical levels with the problem analysis and improvement suggestions. Following a thorough analysis of the problematic logistics decisions, alternative decisions were suggested to improve the current logistics system. The proposed forecasting technique is expected to reduce the average error in forecasting as a percent of average demand from 30.3% to 22.5%. The proposed methodology provides a new structured problem-analysis and problem-solving processes for healthcare logistics and it is expected to be a valuable management tool to improve the quality of patient care.
This paper presents a case study on how Six Sigma methodology can be used to improve student academic performance in three main subjects (Math, Arabic, and English) in a private secondary school located in the Middle East. The Six Sigma methodology of Define, Measure, Analyze, Im prove and Control (DMAIC) was used to improve student performance along with several improve ment tools such as Fishbone diagram, Pareto charts, and Critical-To-Quality (CTQ) tree. Introduc ing quality improvement concepts and tools resulted in a series of improvements leading to an increase in student academic achievement quantified by Sigma Quality Level (SQL). The SQL improved in Math from (2.01) to (2.37) and in Arabic from (1.86) to (2.38). On the other hand, English grades did not increase from baseline. The results of this study provide a clear, step-by step approach to systematically approaching and solving educational problems using the DMAIC model. Practically speaking, the results of this study provides clear evidence that the DMAIC can be used in the educational sector by school administrators and teachers to improve student grades.
Short discharge time from hospitals increases both bed availability and patients' and families' satisfaction. In this study, the Six Sigma process improvement methodology was applied to reduce patients' discharge time in a cancer treatment hospital. Data on the duration of all activities, from the physician signing the discharge form to the patient leaving the treatment room, were collected through patient shadowing. These data were analyzed using detailed process maps and cause-and-effect diagrams. Fragmented and unstandardized processes and procedures and a lack of communication among the stakeholders were among the leading causes of long discharge times. Categorizing patients by their needs enabled better design of the discharge processes. Discrete event simulation was utilized as a decision support tool to test the effect of the improvements under different scenarios. Simplified and standardized processes, improved communications, and system-wide management are among the proposed improvements, which reduced patient discharge time by 54% from 216 minutes. Cultivating the necessary ownership through stakeholder analysis is an essential ingredient of sustainable improvement efforts.
Organizations are spending large amounts of money on their energy consumption. The scarcity of energy resources, along with their price volatility, has become a major concern for all industries. Consequently, the need for managing and conserving energy has recently gained larger attention. A good management always pursues savings opportunities with minimum investments; hence, establishing an energy management system can provide the right approach to detect opportunities and sustain improvements. This article proposes the Lean Six Sigma energy management model (LSS_EnMS) based on the framework of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001 for energy management, supported by the LSS approach define, measure, analyse, improve and control (DMAIC). The LSS_EnMS model applies the DMAIC approach to the energy management process in companies and incorporates the needed tools to define system requirements, analyse energy data, establish a systematic approach to identify energy opportunities and finally to guarantee sustainable system improvements. The model has shown the compatibility of Six Sigma approach with the ISO 50001 framework and has provided guidelines for effective system implementation. A prominent pharmaceutical company in Jordan was taken as a case study to show the significance of this model, and how this approach can lead to valuable and advantageous results in terms of real case application.
Six Sigma process improvement methodology has been applied to reduce patients' waiting time in an outpatient pharmacy located in a cancer treatment hospital. Data concerning patients' satisfaction has been collected and analysed. Discrete event simulation (DES) model and design of experiments are utilised as a decision support tool to optimise staffing requirements. Throughout the different project phases, various improvement opportunities have been proposed to reduce patients waiting time. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to test the robustness of the processes against possible changes in the availability of staff in the pharmacy. As a result of implementing Six Sigma methodology, patients' waiting time are reduced by 50%.