Search results

Assembly lines are one of the places where energy consumption is intensive in manufacturing enterprises. The use of robots in assembly lines not only increases productivity but also increases energy consumption and carbon emissions. The purpose of this paper is to minimize the cycle time and total energy consumption simultaneously in parallel robotic assembly lines (PRAL).

Due to the NP-hardness of the problem, A Pareto hybrid discrete firefly algorithm based on probability attraction (PHDFA-PA) is developed. The algorithm parameters are optimized using the Taguchi method. To evaluate the results of the algorithm, a multi-objective programming model and a restarted simulated annealing (RSA) algorithm are used.

According to the comparative study, the PHDFA-PA has a competitive performance with the RSA. Thus, it is possible to achieve a sustainable PRAL through the proposed method by addressing the cycle time and total energy consumption simultaneously.

To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study addressing energy consumption in PRAL. The proposed method for PRAL is efficient in solving the multi-objective balancing problem.

Purpose: The present research draws from neomaterialist theories to investigate women’s erotic consumption in Brazil, analyzing several stages of the consumption cycle, from need detection to disposal.

Methodology/Approach: Fieldwork followed the Itinerary Method, with 35 in-depth interviews and participant observation.

Findings: In addition to providing thick description of two consumption cycle stages, the chapter analyzes assemblages of material objects and people that are part of erotic consumption. The dialectical process that transforms consumers through the agency of erotic products also transforms products through repurpose or personification – as lovers, butlers, or party crashers – which, in turn, highlights these objects’ agentic nature. Erotic products are understood as possessing social life and death.

Practical Implications: This research uncovered a series of transformations performed by the object on the consumer (i.e., objectification of the consumer) and vice versa (i.e., personification of the object). These processes help understand tensions inherent to networks and assemblages formed during erotic consumption. They also suggest, along the consumption cycle, unmet consumer needs that may be tended to by industry, like disposal issues.

Social Implications: This study broadly aims at helping women to more freely exercise their sexuality (with the mediation of erotic products if they so desire) in a Latin-American patriarchal society where double moral standards regarding men and women still prevail.

Originality/Value of Chapter: This is one of the first studies conducted within consumer culture theory that focuses specifically on sexuality related consumption.

This paper aims to investigate the metallurgical reactions between two commercial AgPt thick films used as a solder land on a low temperature co‐fired ceramic (LTCC) module and solder materials (SnAgCu, SnInAgCu, and SnPbAg) in typical reflow conditions and to clarify the effect of excessive intermetallic compound (IMC) formation on the reliability of LTCC/printed wiring boards (PWB) assemblies.

Metallurgical reactions between liquid solders and AgPt metallizations of LTCC modules were investigated by increasing the number of reflow cycles with different peak temperatures. The microstructures of AgPt metallization/solder interfaces were analyzed using SEM/EDS investigation. In addition, a test LTCC module/PWB assembly with an excess IMC layer within the joints was fabricated and exposed to a temperature cycling test in a −40 to 125°C temperature range. The characteristic lifetime of the test assembly was determined using DC resistance measurements. The failure mechanism of the test assembly was verified using scanning acoustic microscopy and SEM investigation.

The results showed that the higher peak reflow temperature of common lead‐free solders had a significant effect on the consumption of the original AgPt metallization of LTCC modules. The results also suggested that the excess porosity of the metallization accelerated the degradation of the metallization layer. Finally, the impact of these adverse metallurgical effects on the actual failure mechanism in an LTCC/PWB assembly was demonstrated.

This paper proves how essential it is to know the actual LTCC metallization/solder interactions that occur during reflow soldering and to recognize their effect on solder joint reliability in LTCC module/PWB assemblies. Moreover, the adverse effect of using lead‐free solders on the degradation of Ag‐based metallizations and, consequently, on board level reliability is demonstrated. Finally, practical guidelines for selecting materials for second‐level solder interconnections of LTCC module are given.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the housing improvement expenditure as a consumption smoothing strategy for Japanese households.

Tobit estimation method is used to empirically investigate the role of home improvement expenditure in smoothing consumption for households in Japan using data from Japan Housing Demand Survey for 2003.

Findings suggest that: households in Japan use home improvement expenditure to adjust fluctuation in income. Income-constrained elderly households reduce their housing consumption by not improving their homes ceteris paribus in order to maintain their consumption levels. The mortgage repayment burden also plays an important role in home improvement expenditure decisions.

An implication of the analysis is that households who do not own houses may require policy intervention to maintain their welfare. Policies such as subsidies for renters in Japan need to be devised which will provide renters opportunities to smooth consumption. Further, reduction in home improvement expenditure leads to deterioration of quality of housing stock if economic downturn persists longer. This suggests that policies such as tax reduction, tax allowance or tax credit to bolster home improvement behaviour are needed during economic downturn to sustain quality of housing stock.

The paper contributes to the limited literature on the role of home improvement expenditure as a consumption smoothing instrument for households. Those who do not own houses are constrained in maintaining their welfare during downturn. Findings are important for policy makers and paper makes some suggestions in this regard.

Manufacturing companies today are part of a dynamic, globalized system of production and consumption. Globally dividing labor is now the predominant way of organizing business, but it is clear that the resource demands of linear supply chains have created vulnerability and harm in the system and beyond. The authors draw inspiration from ecology to explore the role of manufacturers in the transition from linear to circular supply chains. Borrowing the adaptive cycle model, originally developed to describe dynamic ecological systems, they employ case examples to illustrate the ways that supply chain management is being reimagined in the shift to a circular economy. This conceptualization uses the adaptive cycle to consider the transition from linear to circular supply chains as part of broader systems change, and the opportunities for manufacturers to play a transformative role in shaping a sustainable future.

Conspicuous consumption and sustainable consumption are commonly understood as being in contradiction with each other. Yet, scholars have recently become increasingly interested in examining positive relationships between these forms of consumption. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the synergies and contradictions between sustainable and luxury consumption and proposing whether and how conspicuous motives can foster a shift towards sustainable consumption in newly industrialized countries in general and Egypt in particular.

This paper is a conceptual note, intended as a starting point and acting as an eye-opener regarding the values inherent in both conspicuous and sustainable consumption and the potential influence that conspicuous motivations could have on the latter.

The paper discusses the possibilities for and limitations of conspicuous motives to foster sustainable consumption in newly industrialized countries in the Middle East. The adoption of westernized lifestyles, spreading in Middle Eastern countries, can represent a venue for motivating sustainable consumption behaviours as a means of status distinction. On the other hand, the trickle-down effect and the preconditions of visibility and exclusiveness pose risks on promoting sustainable consumption by addressing conspicuous motives.

The paper suggests that the synergistic interplay between conspicuous and sustainable consumption, as well as barriers and motivations underpinning both constructs, needs to be empirically researched, while factoring in the cultural specifics of the countries under study, as cultural nuances can influence the dynamics of interaction between conspicuous and sustainable behaviours.

Given the salience of the relationship between luxury and sustainable consumption and the focus of most studies on early-industrialized countries, insights regarding the possible influences of conspicuous motives on sustainable consumption in newly industrialized countries are warranted. With the scarcity of research examining the ambiguous relationship between conspicuous and sustainable consumption in newly industrialized countries, this paper contributes by providing insights about the conditions that can help conspicuous motives promote sustainable consumption in newly industrialized countries.

The paper aims to discuss how life cycle assessment can be used in the early stage planning phase of new settlements.

By applying the life cycle methodology on the waste, water and wastewater system of a new carbon‐neutral settlement under planning in Norway, the authors discuss the pros and cons with applying this methodology in an early planning phase.

The LCA methodology enabled the authors to compare suggestions from interdisciplinary planning teams, relate them to the existing systems in Trondheim and provide quantitative results back to the decision‐makers, in this case the municipality. The environmental benefits of implementing alternative solutions in the waste, water and wastewater systems were found to be small.

Data availability and uncertainty can be limitations in the early planning phase.

By applying this methodology, the life cycle environmental impact of different solutions can be assessed at an early planning stage.

Even if life cycle assessment has been used for years in the research community, there is too little experience with applying the methodology in the early planning phase of new projects. This paper discuss how life cycle assessment can be used to compare suggestions from interdisciplinary planning teams, relate them to existing systems and provide quantitative results back to the decision‐makers.

This paper aims to examine how customers encounter consumption-based evolution between mobile and offline platforms together with temporal and crossover effects. Counter to research on customer satisfaction theory, which shows that satisfaction directly affects loyalty, the authors show that when shopping between mobile and offline platforms, customers differently evaluate loyalty compared to the traditional satisfaction and loyalty approach. Also, customers differently evaluate three types of service quality from online to offline (O2O) platforms and response dynamically to firm satisfaction and loyalty.

This study tests temporal, carryover and crossover effects using longitudinal data sets.

From crossover loyalty shifts, the findings show that the relationship between offline provider satisfaction (OS) and mobile provider loyalty (ML) during consumption periods is consistently significant with similar impact. However, mobile provider satisfaction (MS) during the same periods does not impact offline provider loyalty (OL) in the same manner, but differs considerably in terms of pattern of influence. Specifically, the findings show that this crossover effect increases over time even though statistical impact is insignificant. Thus, the carryover loyalty shift has a positive impact when it originally occurs in the offline platform but differs significantly when it originates via the mobile platform. Practical implications – this study offers valuable guidance to managers on how O2O platform-centric firms try to enhance satisfaction with consumption system that links to three types of service quality and loyalty.

This study offers valuable insights into offline and ML. This is seen, however, as an experimental study and further research using the same method would enable cross-cultural comparators.

Insights can be drawn from the findings, enabling comparisons relative to service quality-satisfaction-loyalty linkage across dual platforms. The idea of evolution and progression over time is particular pertinent to business practice assuming data sets are gathered, maintained and analyzed.

Insights can be used from the research findings, including but not limited to comparing the service quality-satisfaction-loyalty linkage across dual platforms and providing firms with an explanation of temporal evolution.

Briefly discusses the industrial development process in Brazil by highlighting a few examples of its social and environmental implications. The current environmental crisis for which the industrial sector is co‐responsible puts evidence on the existing links between production and consumption cycles. In order to identify impacts at their origin, production processes and products need to be re‐assessed. Proposes a paradigm shift with the corporate world internalising the sustainability concept based on dematerialisation (tendency to use less material and energy inputs per unit of output) and eco‐efficiency (strategy to provide goods and services while continuously reducing ecological impacts).