Search results

Stainless steel is widely used in different manufacturing sectors. The purpose of this study is to optimize the process parameters of machining while processing SS316L alloy. The optimization of machining characteristics in the case of SS316L alloy greatly improves the quality and productivity economically.

The machining variables in current research are depth of cut, spindle speed and feed rate. The optimization of response characteristics was carried out using the intelligent approach of grey, regression and teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) and Taguchi-Grey approach. Planning of experiments was made using Taguchi’s based L27 orthogonal array. With the implementation of grey, the response characteristics were normalized and converted into a single response. The regression analysis was used for empirical modeling of the single response induced from the grey application. TLBO is further used to investigate the combinations of machining variables and compared with grey theory.

The grey-TLBO based multi-criteria decision-making approach suggests that the optimized setting for material removal rate, mean roughness depth (Rz) and cutting force (Fz) is spindle speed (N): 720 rpm; feed rate (F): 0.3 mm/rev; depth of cut (DoC): 1.7 mm. The grey theory suggests an optimized setting as N: 720 rpm; F: 0.2 mm/rev and DoC: 1.7 mm.

The parametric optimization during the turning of SS316L using grey-TLBO based intelligent approach is not performed till now. Thus, this intelligent approach will give a path to the researchers working in this direction. However, the grey theory performs better as compared to the grey-TLBO approach.

The purpose of this paper is to uncover the significance of lean manufacturing technique in manufacturing environments.

Lean manufacturing is a management approach focused on incremental improvements in operations. Different lean strategies are being utilized by manufacturing industry to improve the performance of current manufacturing system processes. This study attempts to evaluate the performance of different lean manufacturing tools in the manufacturing industry of northern India. The importance level of different lean tools, important benefits achieved after successful implementation of lean manufacturing approach and benefits occurred after implementation of different lean tools have been identified. A questionnaire survey in the case company has been performed and the most important element of lean manufacturing has been implemented.

Results explicitly depict that just-in-time manufacturing is the most important element of lean manufacturing. Results indicate the net savings of rupees 242,208 annually after implementing lean manufacturing technique in a case company.

The paper demonstrates the practical application of lean technique showing how it can bring real breakthroughs in saving cost in the manufacturing industry.

Indian Railways (IR) has been slow in innovation. The competition from other modes of transport has posed new challenges to IR. Railways worldwide have taken help from startups to develop innovative solutions to improve railway operations. Such collaborations have helped in leveraging the technical expertise of startups in domains which are non-conventional for railways to develop in-house. These collaborations have been made possible by funding startups through various investment channels.

Sorghum is quite comparable to wheat, rich source of nutrients with various health benefits, and therefore considered as a grain of future. The purpose of this paper is to review the bioactive active compounds, health benefits and processing of the sorghum. Sorghum is utilized for animal feeding rather than the human food usage. Therefore, this paper focuses on the emerging new health foods with benefits of the sorghum.

Major well-known bibliometric information sources searched were the Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and PubMed. Several keywords like nutritional value of sorghum, bioactive compounds present in sorghum, health benefits of sorghum and processing of sorghum were chosen to obtain a large range of papers to be analyzed. A final inventory of 91 scientific sources was made after sorting and classifying them according to different criteria based on topic, academic field country of origin and year of publication.

From the literature reviewed, sorghum processing through various methods, including milling, malting, fermentation and blanching, bioactive compounds, as well as health benefits of sorghum were found and discussed.

Through this paper, possible processing methods and health benefits of sorghum are discussed after detailed studies of literature from journal articles.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential success and failure of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).

An exploratory business success versus failure (S/F) prediction model is introduced, modeled after the Lussier prediction model, using data from Singapore. Using logistic regression analysis, it is found that the Lussier model (p=0.057) and the exploratory model (p=0.047) are significant predictors of business success and failure.

The Lussier model accurately predicted 85.6 percent of the surveyed firms and explained 25 percent of the variance of contributing factors to S/F, and the exploratory model explained 86.3 and 38 percent of the same, respectively. SMEs regard the top four most important factors contributing to their business S/F as: employment, training, and the retainment of high‐quality staff members; prevalence of good products, services, and optimum timing in introducing these in the marketplace; excellent relationships with customers and availability of top managers with good leadership qualities.

It is surprising that while pursuing their respective business activities, the SMEs surveyed in this study regarded government policy and the availability of business finance, amongst other factors, of lesser importance compared to the above‐mentioned four broad variables.

This paper establishes benchmarks that could be helpful to decision makers for improving future business‐related policy formulation and research. Business leaders could pursue their goal of ensuring business successes with better personnel management and leadership training by, for example, taking more business management and leadership courses and personal development. Government public policy makers and others could utilize such a model to assess a firm's potential for success so that society could benefit via the allocation of limited resources toward higher potential firms.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the experiences of internationally recruited (IR) consultant psychiatrists focussing on the recruitment process and its adherence to the department of health (DH) guidance.

IR consultant psychiatrists (n=88) from different countries were mailed a 13‐item questionnaire assessing their experiences regarding various aspects of the recruitment process.

In total, 48 per cent IR psychiatrists responded; 97 per cent were from India. The recruitment process was generally satisfactory with perceived gaps in support from various stakeholders. Inconsistent experiences were reported regarding induction, mentorship, clinical responsibilities, and racial discrimination.

This is believed to be the first such questionnaire‐based study carried out on the IR consultant psychiatrists and discussing their experiences of the overall recruitment process.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of perceptions of organizational politics on turnover intentions with a focus on the role of organizational cynicism as a potential mediator.

Using purposive sampling technique and standardized questionnaires, data were collected from 252 Indian bank employees. To analyze the data, statistical techniques such as multiple regression analysis along with PROCESS macro were used.

Findings indicate that perceptions of organizational politics have a significant positive effect on turnover intentions. Further, organizational cynicism is found to be the significant partial mediator in the relationship between the aforementioned constructs.

This study covers the banking sector only. Therefore, the results may vary in the context of other industrial settings. Also, the cross-sectional research design adopted in this study may create difficulties in drawing any causal inferences.

To curtail turnover intentions of bank employees, extensive power-seeking activities need to be regulated by the management. Besides, participative decision-making activities must be encouraged to curb the formation of cynical attitudes among employees.

This study is one of the scarce empirical research works that have substantiated the direct and the indirect effect of perceptions of organizational politics (through organizational cynicism) on turnover intentions among bank employees.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of organizational cynicism (OCyn) on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) among bank employees with a focus on the role of work alienation (WA) as a potential mediator.

Using standardized questionnaire, data were collected from 381 employees working in the banking sector of Punjab, a northern state of India. Statistical techniques such as hierarchical multiple regression and confirmatory factor analysis along with PROCESS macro were used for data analysis.

Results reveal that OCyn has a significant negative effect on OCB. Further, WA is found to be significantly partially mediating the relationship between the aforementioned constructs.

This study pertains to a single sector i.e., banking sector restricting the generalizability to other industrial and vocational settings. Further, it may be difficult to draw any causal inferences as the research design adopted for this study is cross-sectional in nature.

In order to promote OCBs among bank employees, the formation of negative workplace attitudes such as OCyn and WA needs to be regulated. This can be achieved through improving communications network, encouraging participative decision-making activities, conducting psychological counseling and stress management training sessions.

This study is one of the scarce empirical research works that have substantiated the direct impact along with the indirect impact of OCyn (through work alienation) on OCB among bank employees.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of employee engagement and work–life balance in perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions relationship.

The perception of teachers on the constructs considered has been assessed by a survey using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from the teachers of private schools of Punjab, India, and 375 were valid number of responses. Parallel multiple mediated regression was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of perceived supervisor support on turnover intentions mediated through employee engagement and work–life balance.

The results reveal that the effect of perceived supervisor support on turnover intentions is indirect rather than direct. On the comparison of specific indirect effects, the results demonstrate that employee engagement and two dimensions of work–life balance (work interference with personal life and work–personal life enhancement) act as mediators in the perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions relationship.

School principals need to draft teacher-friendly policies for enhancing work–life balance and employee engagement so that teachers can feel satisfied with their work and can handle work and family demands. In this way, positive perceptions associated with high engagement and work–family balance can take place, which in turn can curtail the turnover intentions of teachers.

The use of employee engagement and work-life balance in the relationship of perceived supervisor support and turnover intentions is unprecedented. The study also considered three different dimensions of work–life balance and tested the model in an integrative manner. Since the study is based on an Indian sample, it also adds to growing literature on turnover intentions in nonwestern countries. The results are of great value to school managements, HR managers and policymakers who are seeking to develop practices that reduce employee turnover at workplaces.