Browsing by Author "De Silva, MM"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11

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Benefits realization of robotic process automation (RPA) initiatives in supply chains
(IEEE, 2023) Nielsen, IE; Piyatilake, A; Thibbotuwawa, A; De Silva, MM; Bocewicz, G; Banaszak, ZA
Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which automates repetitive, rule-based operations, is becoming a crucial component of today’s enterprises as they compete in more dynamic business contexts. This study intends to provide implications on the Benefits Realization Key Success Factors (BRKSFs) appropriate for RPA projects, given that between 30% and 50% of RPA initiatives fail. The methodology of this study comprises three stages: identify the main contributing BRKSFs, develop a hierarchical relationship model for BRKSFs, and provide real-world examples to show the usability of BRKSFs using two case studies. The results show that having a clear, well-defined, and unchanging process is the most important BRKSF because of its strong influence over other factors. Three factors, namely, aligning the objective of the RPA initiative with the organization’s strategic objectives, choosing the right process for automation, and change management, have lower driving powers but high dependence powers than other factors. The five factors that have both high driving and high dependence powers are: prioritizing the benefits that can be obtained through the RPA initiative, performing a feasibility study, assembling a cross-functional team, having a team leader and receiving support from top management. This study sheds light on the interdependencies between BRKSFs for academics and business professionals, enabling them to determine which variables must be considered most for RPA initiatives.
item: Conference-Full-text
Development of methodology for vehicle emissions modeling
(Sri Lanka Society of Transport and Logistics, 2023-08-26) Lakshan, A; Kumarage, AS; De Silva, MM; Gunaruwan, TL
The issue of poor air quality in Sri Lanka is a pressing concern for public health and the environment. To address this issue, a novel methodology for vehicle emissions modeling is developed, focusing on identifying sources and effects of emissions through comprehensive data analysis. The methodology involves collecting emission data from vehicle emission test companies, and transforming it into annual datasets for analysis. The R language is used to facilitate the analysis, enabling advanced statistical methods like descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Data visualization tools are employed to present insights clearly and comprehensively. The study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by introducing a novel approach to vehicle emissions modeling in Sri Lanka, highlighting unique aspects of the methodology and new data sources. The findings will serve as the foundation for policy recommendations to effectively manage emissions, impacting Sri Lanka's environmental policies and air quality management strategies.
item: Conference-Full-text
An experimental study on smart electric bicycle with optimized power pack
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 2021-09) Silva, NCD; Withanage, WDSK; Jayasundara, VK; Randombage, SP; Randombage, PMTSA; Perera, WMKG; De Silva, MM; Wijesiriwardhana, R; Abeykoon, AMHS; Velmanickam, L
Energy-efficient transport systems orientation including the up take of electric vehicles provides socio-economic opportunities that generate multiplie reflects fortrade, employment, good quality of life,and improved health.Among many, electric bicycle (e-bicycle)is attracting significant attention worldwide due to its lightweight,compact design,andcheaperpricethan other electric vehicles. Many smart e-bicycle solutions have been advocated as important supportive tools to embrace-bicycles but failed to continue the paradigm due to the weight of the bicycle has increased. This paper proposes a novel approach to design an electrically assisted bicycle prototype including hardware, powerpack, and bicycle computer to control the motor using physiological information and the bicycle sensor data.The study presents the experimental results regarding fatigued etection based on heartrate, heart rate vary ability, bike speed data,cadence , and terrain data information for assisting the rider. Accordingly, the novelty of this study is to optimize the weight of thee-bicycle and implement a bicycle computer system to control the motor.
item: Conference-Full-text
Fuel efficiency and e-mobility policy development in Sri Lanka
(IEEE, 2022-07) De Silva, MM; Jayalath, MM; Rathnayake, M; Adhikariwatte, V; Hemachandra, K
Transport is one of the sectors targeted to reduce CO 2 emissions and where adaptation measures are needed to reduce the global vulnerability to climatic changes. This research was designed to understand the limitations of conducting an impact analysis of policy options for vehicles’ fuel economy and discuss opportunities for fuel economy baseline and policy development including government foresight and global commitments. This paper proposes a two-stage methodology namely fuel economy baseline and System Dynamics (SD). This amalgamated framework allows policymakers to review and analyse the impacts and relationships of past and current fiscal policies on energy-efficient vehicles. Empirical evidence suggests that government intervention and leadership will be a major requirement for developing a baseline for fuel economy. Public awareness and decision making should be considered in policy and planning because people do not easily link policies with fuel economy. These results would be useful in understanding consumer behaviour and market responses to fiscal policies that will impact the vehicle fuel economy and emissions in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
Fuel stacking and stove choice decisions: a discrete choice model of Sri Lankan household preferences for clean cooking solution
(IEEE, 2022-07) Dissanayake, BI; Perera, HN; De Silva, MM; Rathnayake, M; Adhikariwatte, V; Hemachandra, K
Transition from non-clean cooking fuels to clean cooking fuels is a sustainable development requirement which needs to be addressed at a household level. Household decisions play a crucial role in terms of cooking transition and preference towards product specific factors. Developing countries need to address this problem immediately as it faces socioeconomic challenges which are complex. The presence of improved consumer products according to consumer’s preference for cooking fuels in these regions acts as a major motivator for cookstove adoption. Hence, understanding household preference for clean cooking solutions is useful for policy makers and organisations involved with the cooking fuel supply chain and product development. In order to better understand household decision-making in Sri Lanka, a stated preference survey and discrete choice model were constructed. With the exception of price and usage cost factors for the dirty stacking households, the study indicated that the product-specific factors explored have a significant impact on stove and fuel choices. Instead, energy switching, in which LPG and electricity supplement and increase a household's energy portfolio, is more likely.
item: Conference-Full-text
Identifying best practices in supplier selection using a comprehensive benchmarking framework
(Sri Lanka Society of Transport and Logistics, 2022-08) Dharmadasa, N; De Silva, MM; Thibbotuwawa, A; Perera, N; Thibbotuwawa, A
Supplier selection is highly industry specific with the industry specific regulations and requirements, making gauging the quality of the process difficult. This arises the requirement for industry practitioners and quality institutes to benchmark the Supplier Selection Process (SSP) to identify where the process adapted currently stands and what are the good practices within the industry. To cater to that need, this study has three objectives: to identify current supplier selection practices adopted by Sri Lankan practitioners, to derive a base benchmarking framework to assess the SSP of a firm and to identify best practices adapted by industry practitioners using the framework. This is achieved through a two-phase methodology: framework derivation and framework validation. From the validation phase it was discovered that employing such benchmarking framework creates opportunities for firms to improve existing SSP.
item: Conference-Full-text
Identifying quality related risk factors in spices and allied products for export market
(IEEE, 2022-07) Niroshana, T; De Silva, MM; Barnes, L; Rathnayake, M; Adhikariwatte, V; Hemachandra, K
Sri Lankan spices sector is one of the leading export sectors among the export products and a significant part of the country’s economy. But Sri Lankan spices exporters face issues with quality, packaging, standard certifications, and value addition. The study focuses on trade competitiveness and trade barriers of regional trade agreements, in the export trade of spices. The purpose of this study is to identify the quality related risk factors for the exporters in spices industry and suggest the risk mitigation strategies. Potential issues were identified by conducting a background study and obtaining industry experts’ opinions. Thereafter, selected factors were analyzed through Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) technique that presented the relationships between ten quality standard related risk factors. The study was able to identify Inadequate laboratory services (R2), Sudden changes in quality parameters (R5), and Lack of awareness of value chain partners (R4) as the top three risk factors among the identified risks. The MICMAC analysis shows that are highly independent risk factors in the system. Also, they are the risk generators in the system according to the hierarchy. The key areas of the risk mitigation strategies are technological enhancements, research and development, and initiatives to make awareness on industry.
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Impacts of the first COVID-19 lockdown on mobility and consumption of households in Sri Lanka : results of a survey
(2021) De Silva, MM; Perera, HN; Kumarage, AS
Sri Lanka was introduced to an unnamed virus on 27th January 2020 when a Chinese tourist was diagnosed with it [1]. Within 8 weeks, the virus named COVID-19 had begun infecting the local population, and the government was taking measures to prevent its spread in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
Leadership in change management decisions for successful erp implementation - a system dynamics perspective
(IEEE, 2022-07) Lakdinu, M; De Silva, MM; Balachandra, K; Perera, KPDF; Rathnayake, M; Adhikariwatte, V; Hemachandra, K
Nowadays, more and more organizations are moving towards Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system solutions from their old legacy system solution. ERP is a project that requires a significant amount of change management to ensure a successful implementation. It involves not only large-scale technology changes, but also major shifts in process and organizational behavior. Despite this, literature have not extensively explored the interrelation between the challenge in change management and ERP implementation. This study intends to discuss and evaluate how the leadership will assist to the development of change management decisions in ERP implementation. Empirical evidence suggests that leadership responsibilities such as effective communication between management and employees, building core team productivity, increasing the quality of reengineering process and top management commitment will drive the implementation to the success. Relative Importance Index (RII) is used to define the research problem. Then system dynamics methodology was used to analyse and validate the dynamic behaviour of ERP implementation. Findings of the research paper emphasis the importance of various leadership factors in change management decisions how those will influence the success of ERP implementation in the long run.
item: Conference-Full-text
Perception of safety and vulnerability to disease of bus passengers in Kandy, Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Society of Transport and Logistics, 2022-08) De Silva, MM; Sehan, T; Kumarage, AS; Rathnayake, B; Perera, N; Thibbotuwawa, A
The public transport sector in Sri Lanka lacks up to date guidelines and an effective communication mechanism to enhance passenger health safeguards, reduce vulnerability to disease and ensure overall safety and security in travel. This study investigates perception of bus passengers on (a) safety, (b) health and hygiene facilitates made available when choosing to travel by bus. A total of 96 passenger responses were collected between 10th to 12th April 2021 at bus terminals in Kandy, Sri Lanka, including personal profiles as well as safety perceptions, including potential exposure to COVID-19. Quantitative methods analyzed the sample responses. With respect to health and hygiene, it was observed that 68% of the respondents felt unsafe from diseases when travelling on a bus, but only 29% reported feeling unsafe inside a terminal. The analysis further reveals that the Sri Lankan public transport has failed to meet passenger expectations of measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, more than 80% of the respondents agreed to pay a 10% premium fare for bus services having improved security, health, and hygiene features. It was also found that 90% of the bus passengers in the Kandy district have accessibility to a mobile phone for use of IT-based interventions and improved communications. These results would be useful in understanding the potential of implementing a technology solution when perceiving it as an immediate requirement.
item: Conference-Full-text
System dynamics approach to identify the factors that affect in determining fuel pricing and vehicle pricing in Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka Society of Transport and Logistics, 2023-08-26) Lorensuhewa, S; Kumarage, AS; De Silva, MM; Gunaruwan, TL
Implementing sustainable transportation policies is crucial for countries in worldwide to address environmental concerns and meet global targets. In Sri Lanka, the lack of a clear transportation policy has resulted in the absence of any goals for fuel and vehicle pricing, hindering progress towards a sustainable transportation system. To address this issue, a System Dynamics (SD) approach was used to develop a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) to visually represent the interdependence and interactions of variables in the transportation system, including socio-economic factors, environmental factors, fuel and vehicle factors, and government policies. The CLD identified five loop behaviours: three balancing and two reinforcing loops. The results showed that SD could be used as a reliable tool to guide policymaking in the transportation sector, including fiscal instruments, consumer information, and regulatory measurements for fuel and vehicle pricing.