Search results

The idea of implementing supply chain management (SCM) principles for the construction industry was embraced by construction stakeholders to enhance the sector's performance. The analysis from the literature revealed that the implementation of SCM in the construction industry enhances the industry's value in terms of cost-saving, time savings, material management, risk management and others. The construction supply chain (CSC) can be managed using the pull or push system. This chapter also discusses the origin and proliferation of SCM into the construction industry. The chapter revealed that the concept of SCM has passed through five different eras: the creation era, the use of ERP, globalisation stage, specialisation stage and electronic stage. The findings from the literature revealed that we are presently in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. At this stage, the SCM witnesses the adoption of technologies and principles driven by the 4IR. This chapter also revealed that the practice of SCM in the construction industry is centred around integration, collaboration, communication and the structure of the supply chain (SC). The forms and challenges hindering the adoption of these practices were also discussed extensively in this chapter.

This chapter aimed to uncover the gaps in the existing construction supply chain management (CSCM) models. Organisational culture and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) components are the two gaps that were identified through reviewing existing CSCM models. The 4IR is driven by three components which are smart management, virtualisation and cyber-physical system. It was proposed in this chapter that the practice of CSCM should be in tandem with the components of 4IR. This chapter recommended that for the effective practice of the construction supply chain (CSC) in the 4IR era, construction stakeholders should adopt an innovative and collaborative organisational culture. The organisational culture adopted by a construction firm performs a crucial role in encouraging construction stakeholders in adopting 4IR components for CSCM. Each of the 4IR components is driven by technologies like autonomous robots, building information modelling (BIM), radio frequency identification (RFID), the internet of things (IoT) and others. Among all the technologies, it was discovered that RFID and BIM had gained prominence in most CSC literature. The chapter recommended that blockchain, digital twins and the cyber-physical system are the next trending technology for CSCM.

The paper aims to discuss a new direction of design outline of four‐axis machine with multi‐dimensional motors. It proposes an integrated, direct‐drive machine based on switched reluctance (SR) principles. This includes how the machine is constructed and the structure of each axis of motion. The simulation and control results are also provided for performance prediction. The study aims to provide a solution and find applications for high‐performance, low‐cost manufacturing facilities.

The study is based on simulation and experimental results for performance prediction of the multi‐dimensional motors. With the approach of grounded theory on SR machines, design and construction of each axis of motion is verified with finite element analysis. Then, corresponding control strategy is provided for the control of each axis of motion. Some corresponding experimental results are carried out to verify motor performance.

The paper provides a general design procedure for direct‐drive, integrated, multi‐dimensional SR motors. It suggests a mechanically robust, low‐cost and simple machine structure for potential applications of industrial multi‐axis machines.

Considering the performance from the prototype, it is expected to find applications in low‐level force and torque output such as automated small‐scale printed circuit board drillings.

Owing to the limitations of the present study, the machine needs further control tests for robust or adaptive applications. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to implement further advanced control strategies on the machine.

The authors attempt to provide a comprehensive solution of multi‐axis machine design based on direct‐drive, low‐cost multi‐dimensional SR motors.

Most advanced manufacturing processes require high‐speed and high‐precision assembly machines for material transfer, packaging, assembly, and electrical wiring. To achieve the precise motion control, most of the machines use rotary electrical motors as their prime motion actuators, and couple their output shafts to mechanical motion translators. In this paper, the author proposes a new direction in high performance automated machine design, and suggests that the future high performance motion systems should be designed through the philosophy of “simplifying the mechanics through direct‐drive actuators and advanced control methodologies”. For this purpose, this paper investigates a class of direct‐drive variable reluctance (VR) motion actuators for high performance motions, and also looks into a number of VR actuators suitable for robotic applications. It also highlights their features and advantages, and describes the challenges of controlling these devices.

This chapter focused on presenting the result of the Delphi study from the questionnaire distributed to the experts. The Delphi technique was used for modelling the construction supply chain management (CSCM) practice in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. The technique was also used to predict the supply chain management's (SCM) possible trends in the construction industry. A total of 15 experts were selected for this study based on their working experience. The Delphi study also validated the gaps (organisational culture and 4IR component) identified from the existing CSCM model. The findings from the Delphi study revealed that organisational culture has a significant impact on the practice of CSCM in the 4IR era. Regarding adopting the 4IR component for the CSCM in Nigeria, the Delphi study revealed that smart management and virtualisation are the most adopted. Unfortunately, the cyber-physical system, the heartbeat of the 4IR, is yet to be fully implemented for CSCM practice in the Nigerian construction industry.

Effective service logistics can lower the cost and increase service value by improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, the conventional ways of the service logistics are information driven instead of knowledge‐driven which are insufficient to meet the current needs. The purpose of this paper is to present a knowledge‐based service automation system (KBSAS) to enhance the competitiveness for manufacturing enterprises in service logistics.

The KBSAS incorporates various artificial intelligence technologies such as case‐based reasoning which is used for achieving four perspectives of knowledge acquisition, service logistics, service automation and performance measurement, respectively.

A prototype customer service portal has been built based on the KBSAS and implemented successfully in a semi‐conductor equipment manufacturing company. It is verified that the KBSAS provides high quality customer services with fast and efficient customer responses. It also allows the company to capture the valuable experience and tacit knowledge of the staff in performing customer and field services.

The KBSAS yields a number of advantages over conventional service logistics which include streamlining the service logistics process; performance measurement; reduction of paper work; the provision of 24 hours worldwide automatic customer service supported by the verified knowledge base established in the date time operations as well as the driving for continuous improvement of customer service quality.

The paper presents the development and successful implementation of a KBSAS which allows for the capture of the valuable experience and tacit knowledge of the staff in performing customer and field services.

The issues discussed in this article will be familiar to everyone struggling to deinstitutionalise sheltered workshops. The solutions being developed — social firms, supported employment — are also well known. But can they flourish in the very special situation of the new Hong Kong? Now part of the People's Republic of China, the former colony is still sitting between East and West, capitalism and communism, and is also in the throes of a very sharp recession. Lindsay Barker, Stephen Cheung and Petrus Ng tell the story so far and then look at what the future might hold for this fledgling revolution. Bob Grove

Based on the panel data analysis of Taiwan’s family business groups from 2000 to 2002, this research attempts to investigate the relationships among the types of ownership structure, particularistic ties, and the engagements in regional markets from a social capital perspective. The result indicates that a family business group’s use of particularistic ties is contingent on its relative centralization in decision‐making. Consequently, the family business group’s use of particularistic ties in subsidiaries significantly influences its engagements in regional markets. This study highlights the possible role of particularistic ties as a kind of firm‐specific advantage existing within family business groups when expanding internationally. Furthermore, it indicates that the indigenous particularistic ties intrinsic to Great China societies have implications for multinational companies in the context of this region.

In today's dynamic business environment and crisis and pandemic like situations, psychological capital has become very significant for sustainable competitive advantage. Due to its importance in organizational context, researchers are investigating it from various perspectives, making it a burgeoning research area. Hence, this study aims to review the literature, provide identity in terms of various patterns and trends, and build the intellectual structure (academic structure) of psychological capital research by presenting a big picture. It further provides the theories, characteristics, context and methodologies (TCCM) analysis and potential avenues for possible future research to facilitate the growth of the field.

This study compiles, evaluates and synthesizes the extant literature of psychological capital, consisting of 954 journal articles collected from Web of Science (WOS) database, using bibliometric techniques, content analysis, and TCCM analysis.

The study identifies various patterns and trends of psychological capital research and unfolds four major themes, namely psychological capital theoretical concept development, psychological capital relationship building with organizational variables, psychological capital as an underlying mechanism for linkage between organizational variables and psychological capital interventions. It also identifies TCCM outcome and potential avenues for possible future research. The study reveals that psychological capital research area is progressing and has enormous potential to advance in the future.

This study is pivotal to past–future orientation wherein past is being investigated for developing new pathways of psychological capital research. It has used research articles published in the WOS database, and future studies may further enhance the understanding of psychological research using other databases.

In addition to advance a comprehensive understanding of psychological capital research, this study will be a quick reference and notable and profound resource for researchers venturing into this marked research area. Further, it will facilitate to leaders and managers to look into various possible avenues to enhance psychological capital of their subordinates for greater organizational good.

To the best of authors' knowledge, this is first study to advance a comprehensive and systematic understanding of psychological capital by integrating bibliometric, TCCM and content analysis.