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1 – 10 of 486Loukas K Tsironis and Alexandros G. Psychogios
The purpose of this paper is to adopt a multiple case-study approach, of three companies, in order to identify the factors affecting Lean Six Sigma (L6σ) implementation in service…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to adopt a multiple case-study approach, of three companies, in order to identify the factors affecting Lean Six Sigma (L6σ) implementation in service industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary data were collected through companies’ documents, written procedures and quality assurance policies. Primary data were collected through a number of in-depth interviews with managers and quality experts.
Findings
The analysis of qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews with managers in all three cases resulted in the emergence of variety of critical success factors (CSFs) regarding L6σ implementation in service industry. As it can be seen the great majority of the factors have been identified in all three cases. Moreover the analysis shows that there are two categories of factors emerged.
Originality/value
This study has four major contributions. First, it provides an intergraded multi-factor framework regarding the implementation of L6σ in service industry. In particular, this study contributes with three more particular factors that influence the implementation of L6σ in services, namely, top-management active involvement, HR support activities, and practices and systems. Second, it focusses on the responses of managers, who play the critical role in the adoption of L6σ. Third, supports and expands current literature on the key success factors of L6σ application. Finally, it provides future ideas to explore and develop more the suggested L6σ framework.
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Markus Vanharanta and Phoebe Wong
The purpose of this paper is to ease the methodological application of critical realist multilevel research in business marketing. Although there has been plenty of theoretical…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ease the methodological application of critical realist multilevel research in business marketing. Although there has been plenty of theoretical contributions in this field, it is not always clear how critical realism can be best applied in business marketing settings. Accordingly, this paper addresses this gap in literature. Also, this paper addresses the calls for a multilevel conceptualization for resilience, based on the critical realist laminated systems.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a conceptual paper, which uses pre-existing literature to develop a critical realist methodological approach for the purposes of multilevel business marketing research. The contribution is based on literature by combining pre-existing ideas in a new way in the context of business marketing.
Findings
This paper makes a methodological contribution by introducing the critical realist “laminated systems” to business marketing as a multilevel research approach. Furthermore, the authors conceptualize a specific laminated model, the Laminated Interactional Model (LIM), that is designed for the purpose of business marketing research. The LIM is a methodological tool that conceptualizes business marketing based on six levels of analysis, easing the methodological application of critical realism in business marketing settings. In addition, to provide an example, the authors apply the LIM to the literature on resilience, providing a multilevel conceptualization. This is a timely contribution, as resilience has emerged as a central concept addressing interorganizational survival during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
This paper makes three main contributions to business marketing. First, this paper provides a methodological contribution by introducing the critical realist notion of “laminated systems” to business marketing. Second, this paper conceptualizes a specific laminated model for business marketing, namely, the LIM. Third, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper will apply critical realism and the LIM to the notion of resilience, addressing the calls for multilevel conceptualizations.
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Ibrahim Oluwole Raji, Eduard Shevtshenko, Tommaso Rossi and Fernanda Strozzi
Lean and agile are essential supply chain management (SCM) strategies that enhance companies' performance. Previous studies have reported the capabilities of different SCM…
Abstract
Purpose
Lean and agile are essential supply chain management (SCM) strategies that enhance companies' performance. Previous studies have reported the capabilities of different SCM strategies to enhance performance; however, the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies has bred focus on the possibility of attaining more levels of operational performance. Despite being demonstrated helpful at enabling supply chain (SC) strategies, the literature linking Industry 4.0 with SCM strategies is still in its infancy. Thus, this work investigates the degree to which “Industry 4.0 technologies” enable the implementation of lean and agile practices and subsequently assesses the potential performance implications of integrating Industry 4.0 technologies with the SC operations.
Design/methodology/approach
The work employs an exploratory case study approach using empirical data from selected organisations drawn from an Estonian manufacturing cluster and digital solution providing companies. The data collected via interviews were used to assign numerical scores and subsequently aggregated across the five cases for the research variables of interest. The work is crowned with a model grounded on the cross-case analysis to depict which technologies impact each of the lean and agile practices.
Findings
The analysis enabled comprehension of the potential impact and level of importance of the main Industry 4.0 technologies on lean and agile practices and ultimately the potential implication on performance. The findings revealed that the technologies have a high impact on the practices. Although the impacts are of varying degrees, the analysis provides means to identify the technologies with the most significant impact on lean and agile SCM and the sets of practices with the greatest likelihood of being enabled by various digital technologies.
Practical implications
The work presents various lean and agile practices that practitioners can deploy to operations, alongside the technologies that could support the implementation of the practices towards achieving the various performance measures. Also, it provides some guides for the digital solution providing companies towards understanding the SCM practices that can be improved upon by various digital technologies. This enables them to have more saleable proposals for intending companies who might be sceptical about transiting into the digital operation phase.
Originality/value
This is the first attempt to empirically address the connection between Industry 4.0 technologies and the integrated lean and agile strategies despite literature backing of the complementary nature of the two SCM strategies.
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[ELlZ.2, 1970, c.l6] An Act to increase contributions payable by employers under the National Health Service Contributions Act 1965. [15th May 1970]
Evelyne Hahang, Secil Bayraktar and Alfredo Jiménez
Given the critical consequences of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis worldwide, displaying good leadership has been of utmost importance. Hospitality has been among the…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the critical consequences of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis worldwide, displaying good leadership has been of utmost importance. Hospitality has been among the industries that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, and it requires exceptional leadership skills unique to this crisis and sector. This multi-country study aims to contribute to the understanding of some of the most important skills and strategies that leaders in the hospitality industry may use to navigate the COVID-19 crisis effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper employs a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with managers of international hospitality groups or local hotel chains in seven different countries.
Findings
The results show that positive thinking, decision-making, flexibility, divergent thinking, trust-building and communication skills have a positive impact on leadership effectiveness in the hospitality sector during the pandemic. Besides, saving payroll costs, elaborating contingency plans and leveraging from partners' strengths are highlighted as crucial strategies.
Practical implications
This paper provides hospitality professionals across borders preliminary insights and recommendations to manage the COVID-19 crisis.
Originality/value
Especially being one of the sectors that have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis worldwide, the dynamics and leadership requirements of the hospitality sector need further attention. The findings contribute to the literature by illustrating how managers have navigated the initial stages of the crisis in the under-researched hotel sector, and also by gathering evidence about the sector dynamics related to the early stages of this crisis.
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Civil wrongdoings with consequent financial and other loss or damage to employers, employees and third parties may result in the course of various trade union activities. These…
Abstract
Civil wrongdoings with consequent financial and other loss or damage to employers, employees and third parties may result in the course of various trade union activities. These day to day trade union activities take a variety of forms. The most common ones are inducement of breach of contract, conspiracy, trespass, nuisance, and intimidation. Each of these activities constitutes a tort which, unless the statutory immunities apply, would normally give rise at common law to an action for damages or, as is more frequent, enable the aggrieved party to obtain an injunction.
Zhou Su, Xiangwang Kong, Tao He, Dongyu Wu, Jingjing Wu and Shaohe Zhang
Material extrusion technology is considered to be an effective way to realize the accurate and integrated manufacturing of high-performance metal diamond tools with complex…
Abstract
Purpose
Material extrusion technology is considered to be an effective way to realize the accurate and integrated manufacturing of high-performance metal diamond tools with complex structures. The present work aims to report the G4 binder that can be used to create metal composite filament loading high concentrations of large diamond particles through comparative experiments.
Design/methodology/approach
The quality of filaments was evaluated by surface topography observation and porosity measurement. And the printability of filaments was further studied by the tensile test, rheological test, shear analysis and printing test.
Findings
The results show that the G4 binder exhibits the best capacity for loading diamonds among G1–G4. The L4 filament created with G4 has no defects such as pores, cracks and patterns on the surface and section, and has the lowest porosity, which is about 1/3 of the L1. Therefore, the diamond-containing composite filament based on G4 binder exhibits the best quality. On the other hand, the results of the tensile test of L5–L8 filaments reveal that as the diamond content increases from 10% to 30%, the tensile strength of the filament decreases by 29.52%, and the retention force coefficient decreases by 15.74%. This can be attributed to the formation of inefficient bonding areas of the clustered diamond particles inside the composite filament, which also leads to a weakening of the shear strength. Despite this, the results of the printing test show that the diamond-containing composite filament based on the G4 binder has reliable printability.
Originality/value
Therefore, the G4 binder is considered to solve the most critical first challenge in the development of diamond-containing filament.
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Peter Bettess and Jacqueline A. Bettess
A profile solver which factorizes the profile matrix K into the form LDLT, is described. D is a diagonal matrix and L is a lower triangular matrix. LT is stored by columns, using…
Abstract
A profile solver which factorizes the profile matrix K into the form LDLT, is described. D is a diagonal matrix and L is a lower triangular matrix. LT is stored by columns, using a steering vector, to locate the elements. In addition a fixity vector is used. This indicates which degrees of freedom are free and which are fixed. A main program uses a random number generator to set up test data. Full listings are given, together with information on how to get a copy of the program.
Aims to check the validity of measurements of dynamic postures recorded by a body scanner.
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to check the validity of measurements of dynamic postures recorded by a body scanner.
Design/methodology/approach
Measurements between various anatomical landmarks have been taken both manually and using a 3D body scanner so that the validity of the measurements might be assessed when dynamic postures are adopted. Mechanical measurements of changes in the body surface dimensions have been compared with figures produced by a body scanner for both the standard natural position and for five dynamic postures, which must be accommodated when designing high‐performance garments.
Findings
Although the 3D body scanner collects data almost instantaneously and without physical contact with the target surface, the readings taken in respect of dynamic poses showed significant variations from manually‐taken measurements, with discrepancies as large as 6.8 cm over a 16 cm distance.
Research limitations/implications
The research has only been carried out on a very limited number of subjects. However, significant differences between manual and automatic body measurements are clearly demonstrated.
Practical implications
The research showed that as there are as yet no universally‐accepted conventions for 3D scanner measurements, the results appear to be optimised for the natural anatomical position. Body‐scanners are not well‐suited to taking measurements of dynamic postures expected in sporting activities.
Originality/value
Measurements of anthropometric landmarks for high‐performance activities have not previously been assessed, and these results usefully indicate the limitations of current 3D scanning technology.
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Yin Shi-ping, Yu Yulin and Yunping Xi
Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) has excellent bearing capacity and anti-crack and corrosion resistance capacity, which are suitable for strengthening concrete structure under…
Abstract
Purpose
Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) has excellent bearing capacity and anti-crack and corrosion resistance capacity, which are suitable for strengthening concrete structure under harsh environments.
Design/methodology/approach
In this thesis, flexural properties of RC beams strengthened with TRC under chloride wet–dry cycles were studied and the effects of the concentration of the salt solution, number of wet–dry cycles, bending stress level and TRC form were considered. Four-point bend loading mode was adopted for the step-loading procedure.
Findings
As the number of wet–dry cycles was relatively few, the trend of the yield and ultimate load with the increasing concentration of salt solution and wet–dry cycles were not obvious. However, the beams under high sustained bending stress level (0.5) had a decrease in the bearing capacity and an increase in mid-span deflection because of the larger degree of the corrosion of steel bars and the weaker bond capacity between the steel bar and concrete. Besides, there was little difference between the precast TRC plate and the casting TRC on beams in terms of the capacity of anti-crack, bearing and deflection.
Research limitations/implications
In this paper, preliminary work has been carried out, but some of the factors were not comprehensive considered, which are inevitable. As the time of dry–wet cycles was short and TRC layer had good anti-crack and anti-permeability performance, smaller chloride ions’ penetration resulted in the corrosion ratio of steel bars to be lower.
Practical implications
It should be noted that under high corrosion rates of the reinforcement, the whole TRC strengthening layer might be spalled off if only the strengthening form at the beam bottom is used, and thus the U-type strengthening form could be considered, which means that the beam is strengthened at both the bottom and side surfaces.
Originality/value
This research only considers the flexural performance of the beams strengthened with TRC in conventional environment, and there is little research on the TRC-strengthened beam under corrosion environment. On the basis of previous research, this paper carried out the experimental study on beams strengthened with TRC under chloride wet–dry cycle environment, and the effects of the concentration of the salt solution, number of wet–dry cycles, bending stress level and TRC form were considered.
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