Suárez del Villar, Alexis
Preferred name
Suárez del Villar, Alexis
Main Affiliation
Quito
Email
alexissuarezdelvillar@uti.edu.ec
ORCID
0000-0001-9330-8597
Scopus Author ID
57204174430
19 results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 19
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Item type:Publication, Design of a Semi-automatic Dough Mixer for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases in Marzipan ArtisansOlder people, due to the natural aging process, are particularly vulnerable to occupational tasks, as they experience a gradual loss of physical capacities, which increases the incidence of occupational diseases in this population. Despite these challenges, their experience and skills acquired over the years make them a valuable resource for society. This study focuses on designing a semi-automatic dough sheeter for the dough making process used by the artisans of Calderón in Ecuador, who currently carry out this work manually, this practice being an integral part of the local culture. The research began with a detailed analysis of modern manual molders, collecting data on shear force, bending moment, and tensile stress, which are fundamental to the design. Subsequently, a simulation of the design was carried out using SolidWorks software. The result was the creation of a prototype kneading machine equipped with AISI 1050 steel rollers, processed by HR. This device was able to significantly reduce repetitive hand movements, reducing the effort during the kneading process by 25,000 TMU, which translates into improved health and work performance for the artisans. The implementation of this technology reduced the risk of occupational diseases such as bursitis, which is caused by inflammation of the bursae in the joints, and carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the functionality of the hands. In addition to the physical benefits, this project also addresses the psychological aspect, as many older craftsmen and women feel demotivated due to their diminished ability to perform tasks they used to do in their youth. The research aims to provide a better quality of life for these workers, protecting both their physical health and emotional well-being. In short, the semi-automatic laminator not only improves the working conditions of the Calderon artisans but also preserves and promotes an important cultural tradition, ensuring that these valuable knowledge and skills can continue to be practiced in a safe and sustainable manner.11 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Exploring Challenges and Strategies for Measuring the Social Impact of Entrepreneurship in EcuadorResearch conducted in Ecuador reveals that while 27% of entrepreneurs surveyed identified lack of liquidity as their main challenge, another 23% highlighted low sales as a significant obstacle, and 19% pointed to insecurity. These challenges vary markedly between regions such as Pichincha, Guayas, Manabí and Azuay, which complicates the standardization of methods for measuring the social impact of ventures. Through qualitative interviews and quantitative analysis of INEC data, it was observed that less than 40% of entrepreneurs in Pichincha are trained in impact assessment techniques, which contrasts with the need for training and tools adapted to local contexts. This lack of preparation underlines the urgency of developing customized methodologies that allow entrepreneurs and policy makers to better understand and support the sustainable growth of entrepreneurship in each province. The need for adaptation and customization of measurement tools is evident, particularly in provinces where economic and cultural characteristics vary significantly, e.g. in Azuay, where the artisanal sector is preponderant, it would be beneficial to implement measurement systems that consider cultural and community impacts in addition to economic ones, and collaboration between academia, government and non-governmental organizations can provide vital support in the creation of these methodologies, ensuring that they are robust and relevant. By fostering a stronger environment for social impact measurement, supportive policies could be improved, thus contributing to more equitable economic and social development in Ecuador. This study suggests a clear path towards creating a more effective framework for assessing and maximizing the social impact of ventures, opening up opportunities for future research that delves deeper into the interaction between public policies and entrepreneurial practices in different regional settings.31 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Tools for Occupational Diseases Control in the Artisan Figures of Marzipan(2022); Villamarín N.A worker in an eight-hour workday is exposed to muscle aches or numbness in the legs and fatigue. Matrices were made for the identification and evaluation of physical risks to the population of artisans of marzipan figures in the parish of Calderon in Quito Ecuador, ergonomic evaluation methods were also applied such as: The RULA, Check list OCRA and the NIOSH equation. Five stages that make up the production process were identified: Preparation of the dough, kneading, shaping and finishing, varnishing, and drying, of all these stages the drying process is the most time consuming, the shaping and finishing stage is the one that more work and details requires, the kneading is in which a standing posture is maintained by the craftsman and with repetitive movements. It is necessary to implement a production system with well-defined phases, it is necessary to redesign the jobs that present a high level of ergonomic and physical risk, once the improvements proposed in the project have been applied, it is essential to maintain constant training with the artisans. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Scopus© Citations 1 41 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Optimizing the Laboratory Supply Chain with Clarke and Wright Fuzzy AlgorithmThe implementation of an optimization strategy in a company dedicated to the sale of laboratory equipment and reagents is detailed. Initially, two routes were established with the objective of significantly reducing delivery times and related costs. These routes were designed using linear programming methods, considering elements such as vehicle carrying capacity, time constraints and customer requirements. After defining the routes, they were incorporated into the company’s operations, adjusting the delivery schedule, and allocating the appropriate resources for the execution of the new logistics plan. In addition, a system was implemented to regularly monitor and control the results, allowing necessary adjustments to be made. The implementation of these measures proved successful, reducing delivery time by 321 min, equivalent to 5.35 h, and saving USD 51.54 per kilometer. This led to a substantial improvement in the company’s logistical efficiency and customer satisfaction. It is recommended to maintain weekly monitoring and control of the implementation, evaluating the results periodically. It is also advisable to regularly check the vehicles used in transportation to ensure their optimal condition and guarantee efficiency and safety in deliveries. The possibility of applying this optimization proposal in other companies in the same sector is raised, given that the positive results obtained could be replicable in similar organizations. In conclusion, the application of this optimization proposal in the laboratory material and reagents company has proven to be extremely effective, reducing delivery times and associated costs, while improving operational efficiency and increasing customer satisfaction.14 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, AN ASSESSMENT OF CUBAN FOOD SECURITY BASED ON THE AGRICULTURAL AREA UNDER CULTIVATION AND AGRICULTURAL YIELDS(2022); ; Cruz, I.A.The research was carried out with official data published in the country, collected from official information sources from 2007 to 2019. In the variables analyzed, the following were considered as having high explanatory power: land distribution, total area, agricultural area, cultivated area, yields of selected crops. For the calculation of the nutritional needs of the population, the nutritional recommendations for the Cuban population were taken into account and the productions were grouped ac-cording to the classification established for the food groups in Cuba. The country’s agricultural area is 6400.18 Mha in 2019, which its use decreases for all the items studied, except for banana, bell pepper, bean, lemon, guava and pump fruit. In addition, yields of the main crops are low, as is the productivity of the livestock sector analyzed. To contribute to the achieve-ment of food security for the Cuban population in correspondence with the standards of the National Institute of Nutrition, an area with technological package (irrigation and optimal yields) of 3942577.82 ha is needed, existing agricultural area in the country; and without technological package (without irrigation), an area of 6424285.82 ha, which are insufficient in 23485 ha. © 2022, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.24 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Ancestral Gastronomic Knowledge: A Key to Boost Tourism in Ecuador(2025); 54 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Technology and E-Learning as Catalysts for Inclusive Community Development in Social Innovation and EntrepreneurshipThis study explores the impact of emerging technologies and e-learning platforms on inclusive community development, despite significant technological advances, marginalized communities often remain disconnected from the benefits of digitization. The main objective is to assess how e-learning tools can facilitate inclusive development and promote social and economic integration. A mixed methodology combining quantitative and qualitative analysis was employed to assess the impact of e-learning technologies on marginalized communities. The primary endpoint was improved accessibility and quality of education, as measured by student participation and satisfaction. The analysis revealed that 76% of participants experienced a significant improvement in access to educational resources, while 69% reported an increase in satisfaction with the learning opportunities available. However, challenges included the need for more technological infrastructure and training in digital skills. This empowering effect is crucial for community development, as it empowers individuals within their own environments. Together, it was noted that the effective use of ICTs for development is highly dependent on local adaptation of tools and programs, underscoring the importance of personalized and community-based approaches to educational technology implementation. It is concluded that e-learning platforms are effective tools for promoting inclusive community development, especially in marginalized areas. It is essential to address infrastructural and capacity building barriers to maximize their effectiveness. Further research should focus on customized strategies that address the specific needs of different communities to facilitate more effective technological integration, ensuring that the benefits of technological development reach all segments of society. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.6 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Natural Language Processing Applied to Emotion Analysis for Continuous Improvement in Industrial EnvironmentsThe objective of this study was to analyze emotions expressed in natural language within Ecuadorian industrial environments using natural language processing (NLP) techniques. A sample of 150 anonymized texts was used, extracted from workplace climate surveys, satisfaction forms, operational reports, and digital suggestion boxes from companies in the manufacturing, food, logistics, health, education, and technology sectors. The texts were processed with an NLP pipeline using the spaCy library for cleaning, tokenization, and lemmatization, and semantically represented pre-trained models such as multilingual BERT and Emotion BERT. Supervised classification identified six emotions: joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and neutrality. Statistical analysis revealed that the most frequent emotion was neutrality (34% of the total), followed by joy (21%), sadness (18%), anger (12%), fear (10%), and surprise (5%). At the sectoral level, logistics was the sector with the highest proportion of joy (28%), followed by food (24%) and manufacturing (12%). Manufacturing, on the other hand, had the highest proportions of sadness (20%) and anger (18%). The temporal analysis of positive sentiment between January and June 2025 showed a sustained increase in the technology sector, which rose from 62% to 77%. The healthcare sector showed an oscillating curve, falling from 58% to 56% in March and recovering to 63% in June. Education showed a cyclical pattern between 49% and 54%, related to its institutional calendar. In contrast, manufacturing remained stable but low, fluctuating between 40% and 42%. These results show that PLN allows us to capture structural emotional differences between sectors, and that these emotions can be correlated with internal dynamics of recognition, workload, or participation. It is concluded that automated emotional analysis is a useful tool for monitoring the organizational climate, anticipating psychosocial risks, and designing tailored intervention strategies. Its systematic application is recommended in organizations with digitized internal communication structures, especially in sectors with high turnover or emotional vulnerability. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.11 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Strategies to Produce Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Supplies for Tourism in the Galapagos ArchipelagoThe implementation of disinfectants in the Galapagos Islands requires a meticulous and thoughtful approach, given the ecological sensitivity of this protected area. Disinfectants must be biodegradable and non-toxic to preserve the unique terrestrial and marine biodiversity of the islands. Their effectiveness against a variety of pathogens is critical to protect public health, but this must not compromise the integrity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Adherence to strict environmental regulations and the provision of clear information on their use are imperative to ensure that their application is both safe and responsible. Maintaining this delicate balance between the protection of human health and the conservation of the unique ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands is crucial, and the disinfectants used play a key role in this effort. The microenterprise under study is dedicated to the manufacture of cleaning products such as disinfectants, liquid soap, and fabric softener for the hotel sector on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Archipelago; 8 years ago, due to external factors on the island, the company presented an increase in sales, resulting in inefficiency in the manufacturing process due to lack of capacity, the physical space where it processes was not designed for this business as it is located within the property of the owner of the company, for this reason the 30 m2 that are currently used do not have inventory areas of raw materials, material in process and finished products, which can meet the current demand for production. By using manual processes for the manufacture of the products, the transformation time varies between 1 and 2 days for each reference, which delays delivery times, creating failures that contribute to the non-fulfillment of orders. By diagnosing the mixing and packaging operations that directly influence the failure to deliver products to the final customer, an improvement proposal is made to take advantage of the capacity of the areas [1], reduce waste and minimize the ergonomic risks of the current production line to increase its productivity and satisfy the demand of its customers19 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Integration of Information Technologies for Smart and Sustainable Management of Personal Protective Equipment WarehousesThe management of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) warehouses in sectors such as mining is crucial to ensuring safety and operational efficiency, although challenges persist in developing countries such as Ecuador due to a lack of automation and manual processes. This study aimed to analyze the impact of digitization through technologies such as barcode readers and inventory software on PPE logistics management in an Ecuadorian mining company. A mixed approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, with a descriptive cross-sectional design, collecting data through interviews, observation, and documentary records, and evaluating inventory accuracy, traceability, and automation before and after the intervention. The results showed an increase in inventory accuracy from 82% to 98.7% and traceability improved to nearly 95%, in addition to a 40% reduction in delivery and replenishment times and 15% operational savings (This percentage corresponds mainly to the reduction in costs associated with labor and logistics resources, not including the initial costs of implementing the software). Acceptance of the new system was high, with ratings above 4.5 for ease of use and error reduction. The main conclusion is that digitization in PPE warehouse management significantly optimizes logistics efficiency, improves traceability, and reduces occupational risks, demonstrating its viability and benefits in the Ecuadorian context. These findings support technological modernization in similar sectors and lay the groundwork for future research that delves deeper into indicators such as service quality, staff satisfaction, and budget efficiency, thereby contributing to strengthening occupational safety and operational sustainability in critical industries. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.9