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The selection of the accept/reject criteria for any automated inspection machine depends first on what is deemed an acceptable quality level for the particular company/organisation doing the soldering. Although there are many specifications and guidelines, the criteria become those which were previously acceptable. As a result, a method has been developed for the Solder Process Inspector, SPI‐2000, to adjust the variable threshold settings based upon that particular solder line's previously acceptable performance. Once this has been accomplished and the automated machine is performing the function for which it was purchased, additional process data can be analysed and improvements considered. Utilising this method puts the machine to work in the existing environment rather than forcing undesired changes to the process, resulting from the new acquisition.

IF the plane of symmetry of the wheel is the same in both its landing and retracted positions, retraction is achieved by simple rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the wheel.

An aspect of globalization is the creation of macro-regions through integration. A macro-region is a territorial unit created through the process of cooperation, cohesion, and integration. Areas of integration can be political, economic, and social. An example of a macro-region is the European Union (EU). For EU member states and for acceding countries economic integration means accepting EU rules and regulations. The rationale behind these laws and rules is to increase economic, financial, and trade cooperation among partner countries. To increase the viability of this macro-region, the EU, has emphasized the need for social integration, which is the expansion of self-identification by individuals from viewing themselves as citizens of a country to a broader European identity, a citizen of Europe. This paper evaluates the impact of joining the European Union on the labor markets of Central and Eastern Europe countries, an economic integration; and the parallel expansion of the citizens’ identity expanding to include a European self-image, a social integration.

The purpose of this paper is to explore antecedents of perceived intra‐ and extra‐organisational alternatives among employees in the Czech Republic, Poland and the Slovak Republic.

Data were collected from 9,068 low‐educated supermarket employees at 360 supermarkets. LISREL analysis was employed.

Age, job autonomy and organisation size predict both forms of perceived alternatives. Tenure appears to influence both forms of perceived alternatives positively. Job challenge and sex only predict perceived extra‐organisational alternatives. Unexpectedly, despite relatively high unemployment rates, the respondents perceive extra‐organisational alternatives.

Some of the antecedents of perceived alternatives identified in research among workers in Western societies seem to have a different or no impact on the perceived alternatives of employees in these countries. The study comprises only cross‐sectional data. In order to test causality a longitudinal design is needed.

Managers should offer development and promotion opportunities in order to prevent turnover and to enhance internal flexibility as well as reflect on inducements for female and older workers.

This is one of the few studies exploring employee perceptions in Central European transition countries. Moreover, in general, research on the perceived alternatives of low‐educated employees is very scarce. Therefore, this research also contributes to knowledge about their labour market perceptions.

The Supermodel Astronaut (SMA) Challenge began with a group of women in a graduate class who joined together to take the pledge “I Am Enough.” The goals of the pledge are to practice positive affirmative actions of self-acceptance, self-grace, self-improvement and positive encouragement of oneself and others. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

The SMA Challenge involves an online video pledge to encourage women and girls to demonstrate their opposition to the promotion of singular ideals of body perpetuated through media. Various individuals and groups have created music videos titled SMA to the soundtrack created by Ellen Tift (the originator of the project).

Here, framed by Daignault’s (1983) theories on curriculum construction, the authors critically reflect on their support of the idea of the video, but also their apprehension and insecurities in participating in the video production.

From reflections, writings and dialogic discussions, they determined five embodied frames of mind that supported them in traversing the liminal space of new learning: imagining the possible, learning in doing, settling in vulnerability, journeying through empowerment and heightening self-reflection.

The purpose of this paper is to develop industry specific operational definitions for marketing dimensions and sub-variables in the luxury goods industry that will contribute to the growing body of company-based research on luxury brand management.

Case study of a leading luxury goods conglomerate provides operational definitions and insight into best practices for management of a luxury goods brand through an in-depth historical review and analysis of variables, measures, relationships, and patterns that emerged throughout the study of the sample company.

Successes and failures of brand management for the sample company for the umbrella variables of brand strategy, growth trade-offs, and strategic planning, and their associated sub-variables, were identified in the review of literature and were analyzed, adapted, and enumerated according to findings from the case study.

Results limited to the study of one sample company. Common themes were identified in the management of a luxury brand that can be used by researchers to study other luxury companies.

Variables and measures for luxury brand management were identified throughout the review of literature and verified throughout the case study as being instrumental in brand management success of a leading luxury goods conglomerate and may be relevant to other luxury companies aiming to hone their brand management strategies.

Luxury goods research is increasing in prominence, but the majority of this research is consumer-based. This research contributes to the growing body of company-based luxury research.

This study aims to investigate differences and similarities in the approach to understanding university social responsibility (USR) among the academic and university administrative staff.

The quantitative research was conducted on a group of 1,160 respondents from the chosen university. The survey contributes to the discussion about the needs and expectations regarding USR. The data were subjected to reliability verification and statistically tested.

The study revealed that academic and university administrative staff pay attention to different aspects of USR. The differences appear in expectations of the senior and junior academic staff and when scientific disciplines are taken into consideration. It may suggest that not only the level of research performance but also the structure of academic staff can be a driver for corporate social responsibility benefits.

Research results can be helpful for proper designing of socially responsible activities regarding different groups of employees and enable a better understanding of the needs of employees regarding the creation of socially responsible activities at the university.

This study contributes to the literature by presenting the academic and university administrative staff’s attitude towards USR, giving better insights into their expectations and needs. Research findings contribute to the more grounded discussion on the topic and can be used by organizations to set goals and priorities for USR.

The economic reforms and privatization in the wake of political changes in Poland after 1989 have led to rapid growth in the private sector. Although many new companies have been established, there has been a sharp increase in unemployment. Compared to the public sector, employees in the private sector tended to be less educated, younger and predominantly male. The private sector is also more dynamic, with higher rates of labor turnover, recruitment and separation, and average monthly wages were lower but, in recent years, have become close to those in the public sector. The Gini coefficient is higher in the private than in the public sector, showing that earnings are less equally distributed in this sector.

In this chapter, the author critically examines the relationship between sociology and the identities/experiences of disability and ‘mental illness’ (referred to throughout as distress). The author argues that despite sociology having an ethos of social justice and frequently producing critical accounts of inequalities – such as anti-racism and gender equality – it nonetheless uncritically reiterates the marginalisation of disability and distress. As such, sociology not only reflects the increasing ‘medicalisation of everyday life’ and shores up the essentialist discourses of genetics and neuroscience, but also consigns research and knowledge production about disability and distress to the medical sciences. The author challenges these sociological conventions and highlights the ways in which both disability and distress are socially structured, embodied experiences. The author argues that a sociological account of distress and disability are important not only in and of themselves, but also because they highlight the ways and means to challenge essentialism, inequality and the ever-narrowing definition of what is considered a normal or acceptable part of human experience. Furthermore, vibrant streams of user-led research, activism and practice-interventions – resulting in widespread social, legal and identity transformations – have emerged from the experiences of disability and distress. These user-led perspectives highlight the importance and potential of knowledge produced from the margins, not only for those experiencing disability and/or distress but also for the ways in which we perceive, theorise and research the social world more broadly.