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1 – 10 of 16
Article
Publication date: 28 May 2019

Biju Prasad B., Biju N. and Radhakrishna Panicker M.R.

The purpose of this paper is to design an electromechanical actuator which can inherently tolerate a stuck or loose failure without any need for fault detection isolation and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design an electromechanical actuator which can inherently tolerate a stuck or loose failure without any need for fault detection isolation and reconfiguration.

Design/methodology/approach

Generalized design methodology for a thrust vector control application is adopted to reduce the design iterations during the initial stages of the design. An optimum ball screw pitch is selected to minimize the motor sizing and maximize the load acceleration.

Findings

A high redundancy electromechanical actuator for thrust vector control has lower self-inertia and higher reliability than a direct drive simplex configuration. This configuration is a feasible solution for thrust vector control application because it offers a more acceptable and graceful degradation than a complete failure.

Research limitations/implications

Future work will include testing on actual hardware to study the transient disturbances caused by a fault and their effect on launch vehicle dynamics.

Practical implications

High redundancy electromechanical actuator concept can be extended to similar applications such as solid motor nozzle in satellite launch vehicles and primary flight control system in aircraft.

Social implications

High redundancy actuators can be useful in safety critical applications involving human beings. It can also reduce the machine downtime in industrial process automation.

Originality/value

The jam tolerant electromechanical actuator proposed for the launch vehicle application has a unique configuration which does not require a complex fault detection isolation and reconfiguration logic in the controller. This enhances the system reliability and allows a simplex controller having a lower cost.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 91 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 June 2021

Rojalin Patri, M. Suresh and Rajiv Prasad

The purpose of this study is to identify the leadership characteristics that make a health-care organization ready for lean implementation, analyse the interdependence among them…

1095

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the leadership characteristics that make a health-care organization ready for lean implementation, analyse the interdependence among them and determine the rank of each characteristic based on their influence in the overall phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The leadership characteristics were identified through a review followed by an expert interview. Then, total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) was used to analyse the interdependence and determine the rank, driving power and dependence of each characteristic.

Findings

The results suggest that modesty is the most crucial leadership characteristic that makes a health-care organization ready for the successful incorporation of lean practices. Apart from that, attributes such as transparency, accountability, a leader’s ability to empower the employees and communication play a significant role in making the change management programme impactful and effective. A leader’s team building capacity was found to be the dependent characteristic and was ranked the last in the overall phenomenon.

Research limitations/implications

Though this study throws light on various leadership dispositions that prepare a health-care organization to become a lean, it is still not an exhaustive exploration to be generalized. Because the leadership characteristics required for successful lean implementation may vary from one organization to the other depending on the purpose, intensity and priority of the implementation programme, these parameters along with the complexity of the scenario would determine what other leadership characteristics need to be included in the model to make it more robust and holistic.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study lies in capturing the leadership characteristics for organizational readiness in the health-care sector and using the TISM approach to identify the critical characteristics in the context of lean implementation in hospitals.

Details

Leadership in Health Services, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1879

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 January 2019

Sovanjeet Mishra and S. Pavan Kumar

The purpose of this paper is to highlight e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness as the untapped antecedents of employer branding (EB) in the relevant literature, which…

3157

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness as the untapped antecedents of employer branding (EB) in the relevant literature, which might enhance the employer’s knowledge and lead to organisational development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an exploratory conceptual modelling approach based on the extant literature from 1964 to 2017 using the databases of Emerald, EBSCO, Scopus, Proquest, JSTOR and search engines such as Google Scholar to ensure the reliability of the literature.

Findings

This paper suggests that e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness might be the untapped antecedents of EB as compared to traditional recruitment and training process explored in earlier studies.

Research limitations/implications

The viewpoint can be further refined through academic conceptualisation and empirical validation.

Practical implications

This paper lays a conceptual foundation in the emerging area of EB. Ideas expressed herein can be approached by academicians.

Originality/value

Past studies have not explored e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness as the antecedents of EB. This work provides knowledge that candidly contributes to the conceptualisation of e-recruitment and training comprehensiveness. Further, this research has the potential to help academicians to understand the antecedents of EB leading to organisational development.

Details

Industrial and Commercial Training, vol. 51 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0019-7858

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 July 2013

Muhammad Kashif and Uda Hashim

The purpose of the current research is to use impedance spectroscopy to study the AC parameters that varied with frequency such as impedance, dielectric constant and conductivity…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the current research is to use impedance spectroscopy to study the AC parameters that varied with frequency such as impedance, dielectric constant and conductivity of ZnO nanorods MSM structure in the range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz under atmospheric conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

ZnO nanorods were grown on glass substrate using low cost sol‐gel method. 0.35 M seed solution was prepared by dissolving zinc acetate dihydrate in 2‐methoxyethanol and monoethanolamine which acts as a stabilizer was added drop‐wise. Prior to the deposition, glass slide was cut into pieces of 1.5 cm×2 cm. Ultra‐sonication process is used to clean the glass substrate using acetone, ethanol, and de‐ionized (DI) water for 5 min. The prepared seed solution was coated on glass substrate using spin coater at spinning speed of 3000 rpm for 30 s and then dried at 250°C for 10 min followed by annealing at 550°C for 2 h. The hydrothermal growth was carried out in aqueous solution of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (25 mM), hexamethyltetramine (25 mM).

Findings

ZnO nanorods were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and impedance spectroscopy. The real part of impedance (Z′) showed two semicircles that correspond to the distribution of the grain boundaries and electrode process. SEM image showed the densely packed ZnO nanorods on the surface of glass substrate, whereas XRD revealed the grown nanorods have c‐axis orientation. The results show that the impedance dielectric increases as the frequency decreases while the conductivity showed the opposite behavior.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the electron transport mechanism of ZnO nanorods at room temperature to understand the frequency dependent parameters.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 November 2020

Shaad Ahmad, Ahmad Abdullah and Faisal Talib

In a globalized environment, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing formidable challenges. Not only do they have to keep up their profitability, but there is also a…

Abstract

Purpose

In a globalized environment, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing formidable challenges. Not only do they have to keep up their profitability, but there is also a pressure from various stakeholders to add to their environmental and quality performance .The solution obviously lies in continuously adopting and improving upon lean-green practices in their operations. This work aims at identifying, classifying and building up a duly tested robust ranked-order model of such “enablers”, related to lean-green practices, that puts them (the enablers) in an order of being the most significant to being the least significant further to be accorded the same or similar weight in strategy formulation and implementation stage by Indian SMEs for enhancing their overall organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study identifies 20 enablers (12 lean and 08 green manufacturing enablers) through extensive literature review and experts' opinion survey and classifies them into three main categories. The ranking and significance of each of the main and subcategory enablers is evaluated according to its weight which is determined by the best-worst method (BWM) approach, one of the novel multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Further, the results have been drawn after running accuracy check of the rankings (based upon optimal weights) and testing the robustness of the ranked-order model through sensitivity analysis.

Findings

The results of this study reveal that out of the three main category enablers, “operational performance enablers (E1)” and “quality performance enablers (E3)” are the most and the least significant enablers, while in the group of 20 subcategory enablers, “Kaizen (E17)” and “environment emission control (E28)” are the most and the least significant subcategory enablers, respectively.

Practical implications

The prioritization model or ranked-order model of the lean-green manufacturing enablers proposed through this study may serve as a standard model to managers to help them decide and allocate their efforts and resources accordingly in managing their operations. This will also help them adopt high-ranking lean-green manufacturing enablers in their firms and benchmark and standardize their existing practices accordingly, leading to greater competitive advantage.

Originality/value

The study identifies various green-lean manufacturing enablers in SMEs, classifies them into three main categories and ranks them using BWM approach. The findings of this study should be extremely relevant to managers, manufacturing engineers and practitioners in Indian SMEs from the perspective of developing deeper appreciation of these enablers as per their relative ranked importance to further formulating an effective and efficient strategy for their implementation resulting in optimal results.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 September 2023

Rafael Henao and William Sarache

Sustainability has become a priority for companies due to pressure from multiple stakeholders. In an overly competitive market, shareholders push for economic results, allowing…

Abstract

Purpose

Sustainability has become a priority for companies due to pressure from multiple stakeholders. In an overly competitive market, shareholders push for economic results, allowing lean manufacturing to establish itself as dominant paradigm in manufacturing. However, concerns grow regarding how lean implementation can allow companies to achieve sustainable development goals, or, if the resources required for a successful lean implementation can result in a detriment of environmental and social performance. This paper intends to help close the knowledge gap regarding the effects of lean manufacturing on sustainable performance from a triple bottom line perspective, and how operational, environmental and social outcomes interact between themselves.

Design/methodology/approach

Two models for the interaction between lean and sustainability were proposed. The first is called the “sand-cone” model, which poses that performance improvements derived from lean are cumulative on each one of the sustainability dimensions. The second is called the “trade-offs” approach. In this case, the resources required to improve one dimension of sustainability clash with those required by the others. Data were gathered from a sample of 133 Colombian metalworking companies and processed using structural equations models.

Findings

The results support the cumulative “sand-cone”, which follows a sequence of operational-environmental-social improvement in the presence of lean. For the “trade-offs” model, partial evidence suggests that they can occur in detriment of social performance.

Originality/value

The “sand-cone” and “trade-offs” are empirically tested for the first time in the context of sustainability, providing further knowledge into its interaction with lean manufacturing. The models’ results contribute to practitioners by providing a tested path for companies to improve their performance in a cumulative sequence that will provide better long-term results.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 34 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 July 2020

Abobakr Aljuwaiber

This paper aims to offer a wider examination of the research concerning entrepreneurship characteristics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region via a review of recent…

2143

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a wider examination of the research concerning entrepreneurship characteristics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region via a review of recent studies relevant to this topic. Research publications concerning entrepreneurship within the MENA region evidence growing interest in this field of study, with the potential to boost and drive future economic development and growth. This focus within entrepreneurship research is because of the economic development in the region, which is becoming increasingly important for policymakers and businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The author performed a systematic literature review to produce robust information about entrepreneurship in the MENA region, followed by a thematic analysis to identify key research themes within each category.

Findings

Despite the growth in entrepreneurship research in the MENA region, research on certain factors is lacking. An analysis of 271 studies published between 2009 and 2019 identifies 9 main research categories, within which 30 themes have attracted significant academic attention. Female entrepreneurship and gender, youth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship behaviour and orientation are the three key categories influencing perspectives on entrepreneurship in the MENA region. This study highlights research gaps and provides recommendations to guide future research on the sustainable development of entrepreneurship in the MENA region.

Originality/value

This paper highlights trends in entrepreneurship research amongst scholars within the MENA region and suggests paths for future research efforts.

Details

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2019

Antonio Marco-Ferreira, Nelson Oliveira Stefanelli, Bruno Michel Roman Pais Seles and Reginaldo Fidelis

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the conceptual framework related to the Lean and Green practices, paradigms, future prospects and problems, indicating…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the conceptual framework related to the Lean and Green practices, paradigms, future prospects and problems, indicating points of convergence and divergence between them.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on this premise, through vast literature systematization, the authors sought to categorize studies in order to consolidate constructs, reinforcing aspects regarding the positive and negative approaches and pointing out the gaps in the current state of the art. Broad literature systematization was carried out; the authors found 107 articles published between 2014 and 2018, separated into 10 categories.

Findings

The main constructs confirmed are the positive approximation of the Lean and Green union, evidenced by studies premised on the independent variable category demonstrating that their union influences other environmental performance variables.

Research limitations/implications

The present research is a systematization of the literature, so its results have to be confirmed by other studies.

Practical implications

The study supports the Lean and Green theme, confirming converging issues between the two areas and launching new topics for future research.

Social implications

The study contributed to the environmental theme by confirming synergies of the Lean and Green union and presenting new research themes.

Originality/value

To assert that Lean and Green systems union is sustainable, with regard to the tripod of sustainability, more studies on the social category are necessary.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 27 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 August 2019

Ravindra Baliga, Rakesh D. Raut and Sachin S. Kamble

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is a relatively new sub-field of supply chain management (SCM). The performance of SSCM is based on the triple bottom line approach…

3190

Abstract

Purpose

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is a relatively new sub-field of supply chain management (SCM). The performance of SSCM is based on the triple bottom line approach encompassing people-planet-profit, hence being defined not in only in social and environmental terms, but also the economic. The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated study which uses antecedent-practices-performance principles in order to determine the drivers of SSCM practices, and the impact of these practices on sustainable supply chain performance. The importance of the study lies in the fact that the Indian Government is making significant efforts to boost the manufacturing sector, and sustainability is among the significant imperatives for Indian manufacturing to be competitive globally.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model based on the antecedents-practices-performance principles was developed, and included six constructs identified from the literature: the drivers being the motivators of sustainability, lean management (LM) and supply management (SM), the practices were the environmental and social practices in the supply chain and, finally, the sustainable supply chain performance; eight hypotheses were conceived in the model development process. The survey instrument was conceptualised from an in-depth study of literature and was employed to conduct a survey of 211 operations and supply chain managers and functional heads from the Indian manufacturing industry. The scales were validated by employing the confirmatory factor analysis, followed by structural equation modelling to develop the structural relationships between the constructs using Amos 20.0.

Findings

The results of the SEM suggest that the antecedents, i.e. motivators, LM and SM, have a significant bearing on environmental and social practices in the SCM; these practices, in turn, also have a positive relationship with SSCM performance (except the relationship between LM and social practices in SCM) with acceptable goodness-of-fit measures. Thus out of the eight hypotheses, seven can be said to statistically significant.

Research limitations/implications

In addition to the motivators of sustainability, the study based on extant literature has considered LM and SM among the drivers of sustainability in SCM. The study has also identified that in earlier studies, the focus has been on environmental practices, and this integrated study has also included social practices in the supply chain.

Originality/value

This study suggests that sustainability performance may also be realised through lean and SM principles; an integrated perspective has been adopted with the consideration of both environmental and social practices. Further, the proposed model represents a novel integration of literature from diverse domains such as environmental management, business ethics and corporate social responsibility as well as performance management.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 31 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 September 2019

Qian Yee Ang and Siew Chun Low

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have aroused focus in medicinal chemistry in recent decades, especially for biomedical applications. Considering the exceptional abilities to…

Abstract

Purpose

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have aroused focus in medicinal chemistry in recent decades, especially for biomedical applications. Considering the exceptional abilities to immobilize any guest of medical interest (antibodies, enzymes, etc.), MIPs is attractive to substantial research efforts in complementing the quest of biomimetic recognition systems. This study aims to review the key-concepts of molecular imprinting, particularly emphasizes on the conformational adaptability of MIPs beyond the usual description of molecular recognition. The optimal morphological integrity was also outlined in this review to acknowledge the successful sensing activities by MIPs.

Design/methodology/approach

This review highlighted the fundamental mechanisms and underlying challenges of MIPs from the preparation stage to sensor applications. The progress of electrochemical and optical sensing using molecularly imprinted assays has also been furnished, with the evolvement of molecular imprinting as a research hotspot.

Findings

The lack of standard synthesis protocol has brought about an intriguing open question in the selection of building blocks that are biocompatible to the imprint species of medical interest. Thus, in this paper, the shortcomings associated with the applications of MIPs in electrochemical and optical sensing were addressed using the existing literature besides pointing out possible solutions. Future perspectives in the vast development of MIPs also been postulated in this paper.

Originality/value

The present review intends to furnish the underlying mechanisms of MIPs in biomedical diagnostics, with the aim in electrochemical and optical sensing while hypothesizing on future possibilities.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 39 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

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