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This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework of the implementation of the contact points (CPs) between Lean Six Sigma practices and Industry 4.0 technologies.

A systematic literature review was carried out based on two samples. A first sample containing 78 articles was analyzed through bibliometric indicators. After that, a second sample of 33 articles was analyzed in-depth according to research questions.

The conceptual framework involves 13 CPs between Lean Six Sigma (LSS) practices and I4.0 technologies (what), going through the technical requirements needed (how), categorized as information technology (IT), automation and competence requirements, to finally present the main results reported in the literature (why).

This paper presents an innovative perspective of interactions between digital technologies and LSS practices, expanding knowledge about Digital LSS. Such perspective gives emphasis to the importance of technical requirements, such as communication and connectivity protocols, network topology, machine-to-machine communication (M2M), human–machine interfaces (HMI), as well as analytical and digital skills.

The managerial implications regarding the digitalization of LSS practices address the investments required for the acquisition and maintenance of cyber-physical systems (CPS). Moreover, there is a need for the development of skills so that operators can successfully use the new technologies in a context of continuous improvement.

This paper presents a conceptual framework covering 13 CPs between LSS practices and Industry 4.0 technologies, the technical requirements and the expected results. It is hoped that this framework can assist future research and operational excellence projects towards digitalization.

In the last few years, environmental issues have become a matter of survival. In this sense, e-waste management is among the major problems since it may be a way of mitigating mineral depletion. In this context, the literature lacks e-waste supply chain studies that systematically map supply chain challenges and risks concerning material recovery.

Given this context, the authors' paper conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to build a framework to identify the constructs of e-waste supply chain risk management.

The paper revealed the theoretical relationship between important variables to achieve e-waste supply chain risk management via a circular economy (CE) framework. These variables include reverse logistics (RL), closed-loop supply chains (CLSC), supply chain risk management, supply chain resilience and smart cities.

The literature contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) a complete list of the risks of the e-waste supply chains, (2) the techniques being used to identify, assess and mitigate e-waste supply chain risks and (3) the constructs that form the theoretical framework of e-waste supply chain risk management. In addition, the authors' results address important literature gaps identified by researchers and serve as a guide to implementation.

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test control methods for real‐time automatic presser‐foot force control in industrial sewing machines. In this work, a closed‐loop controller that controls presser‐foot maximum vertical displacement is presented and compared to existing solutions that adjust force depending on sewing speed. Automatic force control can reduce problems such as stitch irregularity, stitch distortions and material damage, besides making material handling easier.

An electromagnetic force actuator was integrated in an industrial lockstitch machine. A computer‐based control system was designed implementing either speed‐variable force control, closed‐loop control, or emulating a traditional constant‐force system. Maximum presser‐foot displacement values were measured and analysed in relevant sewing situations, and seam quality was assessed.

Constant‐force control does not allow optimal force setting at all speeds. Speed‐variable force control is an improvement, but requires empirical setting of the speed‐force relation, not always assuring optimal operation. Closed‐loop control adapts force to the requirement of each sewing situation more precisely. Sewing quality is good and material handling is eased.

The actuator has to be optimised regarding response time and maximum force. Some aspects in the behaviour of the control system and actuator have to be further studied.

The proposed control system enables the automatic setting and adaptation of force to all sewing situations, making material handling easier at low speeds without compromising feeding performance at high speed. The closed‐loop controller may be used as a teach‐in system for speed‐dependent control.

This is the first prototype of a closed‐loop control system for presser‐foot force on a lockstitch sewing machine and the first comparative study of control methods for presser‐foot force control.

In recent years, Portugal has witnessed the siting of 250 wind farms, particularly in mountainous and rural areas. Even though, unlike other European countries, general public consensus seemed at first to prevail, protests by local population and ENGOs have been increasing of late (many broadcast by the media) – the outcomes of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) provide a good example. This chapter has two main objectives. On one hand, it examines how rural landscapes are discursively framed in the press when the Portuguese media picks up wind energy issues. On the other hand, by analysing EIA reports, it aims at identifying the social actors involved in the decision process of the siting of wind farms in rural or peri-urban areas, the arguments for and against the location of these facilities and how the (rural) landscape is framed and represented. The empirical material is drawn on three different sources: media analysis of the public discourse on landscape issues related to wind farms; an analysis of EIA reports regarding wind farms in Portugal and an analysis of official positions on this issue assessed through the Environmental Impact Declarations (EID) of EIA processes. It is concluded that despite the lack of media attention to landscape impacts’ of wind farms, the existing discursive frames are often attached to dichotomized cultural meanings: it either deems wind farms as technological tools for landscape progressive transformation or as a risk to its pristine image. As to the EIA reports, landscape matters are more visible and important and at times sufficient to reject approval or change of the siting of a wind farm.

The purpose of this paper is to build a customer quality assessment scale for use in the field of policing – POLQUAL. It adapts and applies a modified SERVQUAL approach to police traffic services in Portugal.

Original data was collected by means of telephone interviews over a three‐month period. The proposed scale's reliability and validity are assessed.

The study shows how it is possible to implement a SERVQUAL‐based approach in police traffic services. The adapted scale – POLQUAL – includes all five original dimensions plus another new dimension “promptitude”. The most negative gaps found are for the dimensions of reliability and tangibles. There was evidence that perceived quality of service decreases as the level of education of the driver increases. The paper did not find a difference between perceived quality of service provided between requested services and imposed services, respectively, represented by the accident service and radar service.

The results are based on a specific police services context – that of out of office traffic services in Portugal.

The study provides the police traffic services with a tool for measuring quality of service which can provide information for focusing improvement efforts.

Often the user cannot choose to interact with police services. However, in a democratic society good quality of service is essential for maintaining trust in the police services.

The study provides police traffic services with a valid and reliable tool to assess quality of service from the user's perspective.

The design methods currently proposed by the codes prescribe the strength assessment of structures to be based on their strength limit state. These design methods can be applied to isolated steel members to determine their design strengthin fire. The real response of a structural member is, however, more complex due to the thermal expansion and the presence of restraints against this expansion by the surrounding structure. It is therefore imperative to study the response of a structural member at high temperature in a way which includes its interaction with its surroundings. This paper focus on the numerical investigation of steel beams in structural frames connected to concrete filled tubular (CFT) columns through reverse channel connections and comparison to hand calculation procedures. Finite element models (FEM) of the sub-frames were validated against fire tests conducted on sub-frames and then their results were compared to the proposed simplified hand calculation procedures (HCM).

The purpose of this paper is to analyse two parameters relevant to the physical‐mechanical performance of external renders, mainly, bulk density and apparent or open porosity, by performing laboratory tests on samples collected under real in‐service conditions.

The test procedure (sample preparation and techniques used) and its relationship with the overall performance characteristics and with any anomalies are discussed for each parameter. The analysis of the results covers seven case studies and 15 walls with renders made on site (cementitious and cement‐lime based) and non‐traditional or pre‐mixed renders.

It was concluded that reliable relationships could be established between the test results and other physical parameters relevant to the mechanical and water‐related behaviour of different types of cementitious renders. Notwithstanding the usual drawbacks of laboratory tests (more time‐consuming, higher costs and greater destruction of the walls), the use of small samples and the additional data obtained in terms of in‐service performance justify the use of this type of test.

The originality of this approach comes from the advantage of conducting both laboratory tests (reliability and standardization) and in situ tests (testing real materials subjected to in‐service conditions). Current practice is either to test virgin materials in quasi‐perfect laboratory conditions (therefore far from reality) or to test materials on site using standard in situ techniques sensitive to subjectivity and in far from ideal environmental conditions.

The simple model of Eurocode 3, for the fire resistance evaluation of stainless steel members, are based on the procedures used for carbon steel structural elements. However, due to the existing differences in the constitutive laws of these two materials, it is expected that it would not be possible to use, in both materials, the same formulae for the member stability calculation, as proposed in Eurocode 3. This paper aims at increasing the knowledge on the behaviour of stainless steel axially loaded columns at elevated temperatures. For this purpose, a geometrical and material non linear computer code has been used to determine the buckling load of these elements. The Eurocode formulae are evaluated and a new proposal, that ensures accurate and conservative results when compared with the numerical simulations, is presented.

The client‐supplier alignment problem is receiving growing attention in related literature and important contributions have been made for our understanding of the phenomenon. However, recent works agree on the fact that an integrative view of the problem is still lacking and consequently, a practical model is lacking also. The purpose of this paper is to present a new management control perspective that may help to improve understanding of the phenomenon.

From a review of the previous literature, the paper evolves into the conceptual development of a new model.

The paper argues that previous literature shows important limitations. First, its models try to find the best archetypes when evidence shows that no pure archetype can be found. Second, it has neglected the performance problem. Third, the suggested specific control mechanisms have been limited to the appropriation problem. In order to make a contribution, this paper presents an innovative and complete view of the client‐supplier alignment problem from a management control perspective that evolves into an integrative model which introduces the concepts of central misfit and management control paths.

The paper makes a contribution to the outsourcing literature by exposing previous biases and proposing an innovative view of the client‐supplier alignment problem. Moreover, the paper proposes a new model for the design of management control systems in order to improve performance. These contributions, although theoretical, could have a great practical impact as they could lead to a prescriptive model, useful for practitioners.