{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:16:40Z","timestamp":1760059000934,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]],"date-time":"2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747008000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra","award":["12598\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["12598\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Processes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Testing bicycle components is an essential procedure for guaranteeing quality and compliance with legal requirements. The tests are performed following normalized procedures, involving specialized equipment operated by qualified technicians. This study analyses the processes carried out in a Mobility Laboratory, with the emphasis on optimizing the assembly process for fatigue tests on bicycle frames, simulating the cyclist\u2019s pedal stroke. Data were collected and analysed. The diagnostic approach adopted took into account the application of Pareto\u2019s Law, thus enabling a structured and detailed assessment of the organization\u2019s current situation. Data analysis and the adoption of lean tools revealed the process could be optimized and the costs brought down taking advantage of appropriate management methodologies and opportunities for improvement. A set of initiatives were proposed to increase operational efficiency and reduce the tests\u2019 non-value-added activities by 31%.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pr13051482","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]],"date-time":"2025-05-12T10:58:07Z","timestamp":1747047487000},"page":"1482","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Optimizing Operational Processes in Bicycle Testing: A Case Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-8802-2657","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana","family":"Menezes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes-Quinta da Nora, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Gil","family":"Nadais","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Abimota, Rua Ramiro Soares de Miranda 133, 3750-866 \u00c1gueda, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Jorge","family":"Almeida","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes-Quinta da Nora, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9694-8079","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Torres","family":"Farinha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes-Quinta da Nora, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"RCM<sup>2+<\/sup> Research Centre for Asset Management and Systems Engineering, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4313-7966","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mateus","family":"Mendes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes-Quinta da Nora, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"RCM<sup>2+<\/sup> Research Centre for Asset Management and Systems Engineering, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tranpol.2022.09.005","article-title":"What do we know about pedal assist E-bikes? A scoping review to inform future directions","volume":"128","author":"Jenkins","year":"2022","journal-title":"Transp. Policy"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Mordor Intelligence (2024, November 26). Europe E-Bike Market Size & Share Analysis\u2014Growth Trends & Forecasts Up to 2029. Available online: https:\/\/www.mordorintelligence.com\/industry-reports\/europe-e-bike-market."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Eurostat (2023). Bicycles: Trade value surged in 2022. Bike Europe, Eurostat."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Pereira, M. (2017). Melhoria de Desempenho de Processo de Tratamento de Reclama\u00e7\u00f5es e Gest\u00e3o de Stocks de Produto Interm\u00e9dio numa Empresa do Setor Autom\u00f3vel. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Universidade do Minho]."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.12776\/qip.v23i3.1334","article-title":"Lean Six Sigma Approach to Improve the Production Process in the Mould Industry: A Case Study","volume":"23","author":"Pereira","year":"2019","journal-title":"Qual. Innov. Prosper."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Cust\u00f3dio, M. (2013). Aplica\u00e7\u00e3o de Metodologias Lean Para a Melhoria Cont\u00ednua das Opera\u00e7\u00f5es e Movimenta\u00e7\u00e3o de Materiais Numa empresa Transformadora. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico]."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nguyen, T., and Nguyen, P. (2023, January 10\u201311). Applying Tools of Lean\u2014Six Sigma Method in the Plastic Products Industry: A Case Study. 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Available online: https:\/\/fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt\/cursos\/megi\/dissertacao\/2353642475441."}],"container-title":["Processes"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9717\/13\/5\/1482\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:31:23Z","timestamp":1760031083000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9717\/13\/5\/1482"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]]},"references-count":14,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}},"alternative-id":["pr13051482"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pr13051482","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-9717"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2227-9717"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]]}}}