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1 – 10 of over 147000Rajyalakshmi K. and Nageswara Rao Boggarapu
Scatter in the outcome of repeated experiments is unavoidable due to measurement errors in addition to the non-linear nature of the output responses with unknown influential input…
Abstract
Purpose
Scatter in the outcome of repeated experiments is unavoidable due to measurement errors in addition to the non-linear nature of the output responses with unknown influential input parameters. It is a standard practice to select an orthogonal array in the Taguchi approach for tracing optimum input parameters by conducting a few number of experiments and confirm them through additional experimentation (if necessary). The purpose of this paper is to present a simple methodology and its validation with existing test results in finding the expected range of the output response by suggesting modifications in the Taguchi method.
Design/methodology/approach
The modified Taguchi approach is proposed to find the optimum process parameters and the expected range of the output response.
Findings
This paper presents a simple methodology and its validation with existing test results in finding the expected range of the output response by suggesting modifications in the Taguchi method.
Research limitations/implications
Adequacy of this methodology should be examined by considering the test data on different materials and structures.
Originality/value
The introduction of Chauvenet’s criterion and opposing the signal-to-noise ratio transformation on repeated experiments of each test run will provide fruitful results and less computation burden.
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Aleksandra Zivaljevic, Katarina Zakic and Vuk Bevanda
This study aims to provide information on particular combination of benefits or disadvantages with exact timing of their appearance in the company after its first certification…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide information on particular combination of benefits or disadvantages with exact timing of their appearance in the company after its first certification, along with the information on the value range each benefit and disadvantage would take, as well as on the duration period of expected values.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey was conducted from October 2015 to January 2019 in 306 certified companies with respondent rate of 58.82%. A questionnaire, structured using literature review to identify all possible benefits and disadvantages of QMS, was used to determine the time of appearance, value range and duration of each identified benefit or disadvantage. Results were used to define indicators for fully applied QMS in each age of its maturity, then the indicators were verified using the records of two ISO certified companies.
Findings
There is a difference in the set of benefits and disadvantages in companies with fully implemented QMS and those that are using QMS only to maintain the certificate. In each age of QMS application a specific set of benefits and disadvantages can be expected as well as the volume range of each of them. These timely sets of benefits and disadvantages can be used as indicators to distinguish well-implemented QMS from those partially implemented.
Research limitations/implications
The sample consists of companies from Balkan area, therefore economy, politics and culture could have influenced results, predominantly regarding the value ranges of some benefits and disadvantages.
Practical implications
Companies which already have implemented or are about to implement QMS may use results of the research to plan its effects in years ahead, concerning costs and profit dynamics, as well as to prepare themselves for upcoming probable issues. Auditors can use results in addition to certification criteria to determine the level of QMS implementation and to forecast whether audited company would keep the certificate in the future.
Social implications
Supply chain management could use research findings in selection of chain members to support and speed up third party audits since the benefits and disadvantages of fully implemented QMS are known for each QMS age. This would further imply better structure of supply chains, which would consequently lead to lower production costs, higher quality and competitive prices at the market, which has beneficial implications on the whole society.
Originality/value
For each age of QMS maturity, starting from the first year of certification, expected combination of benefits and disadvantages along with its expected value range and duration are defined. A set of indicators with their expected values.
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Matilda R. Brady and Paul Goethals
To recover the growing deficit between American and near-peer mobile artillery ranges, the US Army is exploring the use of the M982 Excalibur munition, a family of long-range…
Abstract
Purpose
To recover the growing deficit between American and near-peer mobile artillery ranges, the US Army is exploring the use of the M982 Excalibur munition, a family of long-range precision projectiles. This paper aims to analyze the effectiveness of the M982 in comparison to the M795 and M549A1 projectiles to further the understanding of what this new asset contributes.
Design/methodology/approach
Based upon doctrinal scenarios for target destruction, a statistical analysis is performed using Monte Carlo simulation to identify a likely probability of kill ratio for the M982. A values-based hierarchical modeling approach is then used to differentiate the M982 from similar-type projectiles quantitatively in terms of several different attributes. Finally, sensitivity analyzes are presented for each of the value attributes, to identify areas where measures may lack robustness in precision.
Findings
Based upon a set of seven value measures, such as maximum range, effective range, the expected number of rounds to destroy a target, and the unit cost of a munition, the M982 1a-2 was found to be best suited for engaging point and small area targets. It is noted, however, that the M795 and M549A1 projectiles are likely better munition options for large area targets. Hence, an integrated targeting plan may best optimize the force’s weapon systems against a near-peer adversary.
Originality/value
The findings provide initial evidence that doctrinal adjustments in how the Army uses its artillery systems may be beneficial in facing near-peer adversaries. In addition, the values-based modeling approach offered in this research provides a framework for which similar technological advances may be examined.
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Satish Kumar Reddy and Prabir K. Pal
– The purpose of this paper is to detect traversable regions surrounding a mobile robot by computing terrain unevenness using the range data obtained from a single 3D scan.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to detect traversable regions surrounding a mobile robot by computing terrain unevenness using the range data obtained from a single 3D scan.
Design/methodology/approach
The geometry of acquiring range data from a 3D scan is exploited to probe the terrain and extract traversable regions. Nature of terrain under each scan point is quantified in terms of an unevenness value, which is computed from the difference in range of scan point with respect to its neighbours. Both radial and transverse unevenness values are computed and compared with threshold values at every point to determine if the point belongs to a traversable region or an obstacle. A region growing algorithm spreads like a wavefront to join all traversable points into a traversable region.
Findings
This simple method clearly distinguishes ground and obstacle points. The method works well even in presence of terrain slopes or when the robot experiences pitch and roll.
Research limitations/implications
The method applies on single 3D scans and not on aggregated point cloud in general.
Practical implications
The method has been tested on a mobile robot in outdoor environment in our research centre.
Social implications
This method, along with advanced navigation schemes, can reduce human intervention in many mobile robot applications including unmanned ground vehicles.
Originality/value
Range difference between scan points has been used earlier for obstacle detection, but no methodology has been developed around this concept. The authors propose a concrete method based on computation of radial and transverse unevenness at every point and detecting obstacle edges using range-dependent threshold values.
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Manuel Bolsinger, Anna Elsäßer, Caroline Helm and Maximilian Röglinger
Process improvement is a fundamental activity of the business process management (BPM) lifecycle. However, practitioners still lack concrete guidance and adequate objectives for…
Abstract
Purpose
Process improvement is a fundamental activity of the business process management (BPM) lifecycle. However, practitioners still lack concrete guidance and adequate objectives for process improvement. Moreover, improvement projects typically tie up considerable amounts of capital and are very risky. Thus, more guidance is needed on how to derive concrete recommendations for process improvement in a goal-oriented manner. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors propose a decision model that determines along which paths the instances of a process should be routed to maximize the value contribution of the process. To do so, the decision model requires a process model and a set of historical process instances as inputs.
Findings
The decision model builds on the idea that only the parameters of the process, i.e., the values according to which it is decided on which path an instance traverses the process, can be modified, without altering the structure of the process. The decision model determines the parameter setting that maximizes the value contribution of the process, which is measured in terms of the expected cash flow of the process. When determining the optimal parameter setting, the decision model considers that different instances and paths have different cash flow effects.
Practical implications
The authors prototypically implemented the decision model and report on the insights from a demonstration example that is based on the order verification process of an IT distributor.
Originality/value
The decision model complements existing approaches to process improvement as it reveals additional improvement potential by focussing on the decision points in a process without altering the structure of the process. The decision model also enables identifying an optimal parameter setting, as a concrete recommendation for process improvement, in line with the principles of value-based BPM.
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H. Eduardo Salamanca and L. Luis Quiroz
To present a method of interaction between flight loads that is applied to a probabilistic damage tolerance analysis in an acrobatic aircraft.
Abstract
Purpose
To present a method of interaction between flight loads that is applied to a probabilistic damage tolerance analysis in an acrobatic aircraft.
Design/methodology/approach
The uncertainties concerning material strength, initial crack size and loads in the aircraft are considered. We place special emphasis on stress distribution, using superposition criteria that distinguish between gust, maneuver and ground‐air‐ground loads. Gust load is generated form its power spectral density and modified using service load data (exceedance curves). Crack initiation time and propagation time are considered in calculating the service time.
Findings
A new and realistic method of interaction between loads during acrobatic flight is proposed. This method was compared with other methods in an example. The effects of the interaction criteria are related to the influence between loads (stress levels and frequency).
Originality/value
In commercial aircraft, maneuver loads have a lower influence than gust loads, and the mission concept is the correct approach. Training aircraft have the opposite king of behavior and the proposed superposition method is shown to be better approach. This method would have more pronounced effects in aircraft types with behaviors between commercial and training (for example, amphibious aircraft).
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Suggests that the restructuring of the European‐owned consumerelectronics industry, and the relocation of manufacturing plants withinEurope, will inevitably affect the…
Abstract
Suggests that the restructuring of the European‐owned consumer electronics industry, and the relocation of manufacturing plants within Europe, will inevitably affect the distribution of their products. Considers that the centralization of production capacity, and a move away from country‐by‐country operations, will require major adjustments to transport systems and that incomers may also need to establish new systems of delivery from their new manufacturing points. Examines the current logistics practices and future expectations of major consumer electronics manufacturers operating in Europe, in the context of intense competitive rivalry and changing market structures, using empirical data gathered from companies operating in France, the United Kingdom and West Germany. While there are national differences, the results indicate growing involvement of multiple retailers in the distribution of consumer electronic products, further contracting out of manufacturers′ logistical operations, and growing demands on all logistics systems as order lead‐times continue to shorten.
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Bidisha Burman and Abhijit Biswas
One main concern regarding the use of reference prices in advertisements relates to the possibility of deception due to consumers' positive response towards exaggerated or…
Abstract
One main concern regarding the use of reference prices in advertisements relates to the possibility of deception due to consumers' positive response towards exaggerated or implausible claims. This paper examines the moderating roles of a contextual variable‐market price dispersion for a product category, and that of an individual level variable‐need for cognition, in influencing consumer evaluation of reference prices across two experiments. The results support the hypothesized effects of need for cognition and demonstrate that, for low need, for cognition individuals, increasing the level of reference price results in positive effects on value perception and shopping intention.
Mariano Tomás Fernandez, Sergio Zlotnik and Pedro Diez
This paper aims to provide a method for obtaining physically sound temperature fields to be used in geophysical inversions in the presence of immersed essential conditions.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a method for obtaining physically sound temperature fields to be used in geophysical inversions in the presence of immersed essential conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The method produces a thermal field in agreement with a given location of the interface between the Lithosphere and Asthenosphere. It leverages the known location of the interface to enforce the location of a given isotherm while relaxing other constraints known with less precision. The method splits the domain: in the Lithosphere the solution is immediately obtained by standard procedures, while in the Asthenosphere a minimization problem is solved to fulfill continuity of temperatures (strongly imposed) and fluxes at the interface (weakly imposed).
Findings
The numerical methodology, based on the relaxation of the bottom fluxes, correctly recovers the thermal field in the complete domain. To obtain bottom fluxes following geophysical expected values, a constrained minimization strategy is required. The sensitivity of the method could be improved by relaxing other quantities such as lateral fluxes or mantle velocities.
Originality/value
A statement of the energy balance problem in terms of a known immersed condition is presented. A novel numerical procedure based on a domain-splitting strategy allows the solution of the problem. The procedure is tailored to be used within geophysical inversions and provides physically sound solutions.
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The purpose of this paper is to present implications of the seller's ability to bid in the four classical auction forms, with independent private values: English, Dutch, first…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present implications of the seller's ability to bid in the four classical auction forms, with independent private values: English, Dutch, first‐ and second‐price auctions.
Design/methodology/approach
Under each auction form, the identity of the winning bidder and the expected winning bid are compared between the case when the seller may bid and when he cannot, using equilibrium bidder strategies. The seller's incentive to bid is evaluated.
Findings
The strategies and the welfare results differ with auction type and underlying information assumptions – bidders are either aware or unaware of the seller's ability to bid. In the Dutch and the first‐price auctions, seller‐bidding does not affect any classical results. In the English and the second‐price auctions, it leads to no lower expected prices than without it and higher prices with positive probability. In the English and the second‐price auctions, the seller bids above his reservation value and may unintentionally win the auction. These auctions result in inefficiency with positive probability.
Practical implications
The English and the second‐price auctions are the most common real‐world auctions. In these auctions, the seller's ability to bid – secretly or publicly – redistributes welfare among participants and introduces a possibility of inefficiency. Making this ability publicly known does not solve the latter problem. Auctioneers must prevent the seller from bidding, or must select a different auction form when seller‐bidding is anticipated.
Originality/value
The paper clarifies to regulators, auction designers, bidders, and other readers which auction forms are susceptible to subversion by seller‐bidding and what the potential damages are.