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This paper aims to propose a method to automate the tolerance analyses of mechanical assembly using STandard for the Exchange of Product model data-Application Protocol Part 242 (STEP AP 242) files derived from the 3-D computer-aided design (CAD) models.

Product manufacturing information and mating information available in ISO 10303 STEP AP242 files resulting from the 3-D CAD model of mechanical assembly are extracted. The extracted geometric attributes, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and mating information are used to automatically generate assembly graph and mating edges required for the tolerance analyses of the mechanical assembly by using the matrix approach.

The feasibility of the proposed method is verified through two mechanical assembly case studies. The results of manual calculations and tolerance values computed by the automated method are very closely matching.

Tolerance analysis is an integral part of product development that directly influences the cost and performance of a product. Apart from the academic interest, the work is expected to have positive implications for the digital design and smart manufacturing industry that involve in the development of solutions for automation of design and manufacturing system functions.

The approach presented in the paper that aids the automation of tolerance analyses of mechanical assembly is an innovative application of the STEP AP 242 file. The automation of tolerance analyses would improve the productivity and efficiency of the product realization process.

IN THE past, many chemical process plant operators have expressed concern about the inconsistencies experienced in mechanical seal reliability. Late in 1981 a paper from Exxon, published by the American Society of Lubrication stated that a population of 14,000 centrifugal pumps cost in excess of $15 million per year to maintain, and that 70% of this cost was attributable to mechanical seal failure. In addition to the strong economic incentive to cut failure rates, health and safety considerations also require a better knowledge of mechanical seal operation and behaviour.

The demand for power has surged in recent times and continues to increase yearly. In comparison to developed countries, the power industry’s risks, especially in piblic–private partnership (PPP) projects, are more complex and essential in developing countries. Appreciating the inter relationship among these risk factors is crucial. However, there exist no studies developing quantitative models to explain how various PPP power risk factors influence each other, especially in developing countries like Ghana. This study aims to investigate and model the relationship, the probability of occurrence and severity of impact of PPP power risk factors in Ghana.

Data were collected through ranking type questionnaire in a two-round Delphi survey with 48 respondents using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for analysis of data.

A model was developed to investigate the influence the risk factors inherent in PPP power projects have on each other. Validity of the model was tested based on the data collected. PLS-SEM results indicated the various relationships and interdependencies the risk factors had on each other considering their probability and severity. Both significant and insignificant levels of relationships were found among the various risk factors.

The SEM that was developed to assess the relationships among the risk factors has great value for policy makers in the energy sector, industry practitioners, researchers and industry practitioners. Strategies can be mapped out to mitigate and effectively allocate the risks with the high interdependencies.

Regarding the quantitative impact of the interrelationship among risk factors in PPP power projects, the findings of this research are arguably the first to be presented for the construction sector and contribute to knowledge on PPP practice and further has implications toward achieving power sector risk mitigation.

Outlines previous research on four explanations for and various factors influencing dividend policy; and reports a survey of senior managers in US listed companies to determine their views. Finds strong support for the signalling explanation and some support for the bird‐in‐hand, tax‐preference and agency costs explanations, especially from regulated companies. Ranks the perceived importance of 20 factors influencing policy and discusses the top five (future earnings, past dividends, share price, concern over false signals and cash flow); and the differences between regulated and unregulated companies. Compares the rankings with Farrelly, Baker and Edelman (1986), recognizes the limitations of the study and considers consistency with other research.

The high‐tech industry is the economic lifeline for Taiwan. Its characteristics are short product life cycle, rapid changes in the market, and a high obsolescence rate for new products. Under globalization, the high‐tech industry has adopted Information Technology (IT) to shorten the manufacturing process, reduce costs and conduct product research and development (R&D) to increase the core competence of enterprises and achieve the goal of sustainable operations. Enterprises should actively strengthen their integration with internal and external resources and lead in R&D management to increase industrial operating performance. Effectively managing operations and R&D management evaluation in Taiwan’s High‐tech Industry has become a critical subject. This study adopted 4 major Balanced Scorecard (BSC) perspectives to establish the Total Performance Evaluation Indicators for the R&D management department in Taiwan’s High‐tech Industry. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) was applied to evaluate the overall performance of the R&D management department. The research framework is divided into 2 phases. The first phase is combined with the 4 major perspectives, Financial, Customer, Internal Business Process and Learning and Growth, as the related indicators for each measurement perspective. The Key Performance Indicators (KPI) were selected using Factor Analysis to identify the key factor from the complicated indicators. The relationship between the characteristics of each BSC’s evaluation perspective is dependence and feedback. This study applied ANP to conduct the calculation and adjustment of correlation between each KPI, and determine on their relative weights for the objective KPI. The “Financial Perspective” for R&D management department in Taiwan’s High‐tech Industry focused on the budget achievement rate of R&D management. The weight indicator value is (0.05863). The “Customer Perspective” focused on problem‐solving satisfaction. The weight value of this indicator is (0.17549). The “Internal Business Process Perspective” focused on the quantity and quality of R&D. The weight value of this indicator is (0.13506). The “Learning and Growth Perspective” focused on improving competence in the research ersonnel’s professional techniques. The weight value of this indicator is (0.02789). From the total weighting indicators, the order of the Performance Indicators for the R&D management department in Taiwan’s High‐tech Industry is: (1) Customer Perspective; (2) Internal Business Process Perspective; (3) Financial Perspective; and (4) Learning and Growth Perspective.

Presents the results of a study looking at the influence of employee participation and flexible work design on productivity change and process quality. Considers whether there is a complementary relationship between participation and flexible work design and investigates if firms employing both of these items together perform better than others.

Effective procurement of infrastructure is partly dependent on infrastructure procurement personnel having the skills that are important for the discharge of their role. Addressing the infrastructure deficits in developing countries, therefore, calls for an understanding of the skills that are important for the discharge of the roles of public personnel that are involved in infrastructure procurement. This study aims to investigate these skills from the perspective of public infrastructure procurement personnel in the sub-Saharan African region.

A questionnaire survey of procurement personnel yielded 590 useable responses, which were analysed using t-tests and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

EFA established eight key components of important infrastructure procurement skills to include skills related to: project success factors; social and environmental sustainability; marketing and e-procurement; project phase management, the application of procurement laws and procedures; soft skills, ICT and communication; and data analysis and team building.

The findings are crucial in developing infrastructure procurement capacity building programmes that would be appropriate for infrastructure procurement personnel in developing country contexts. Infrastructure procurement personnel ought to engage more in capacity development training that is aligned to enhancing skills within the eight components.

Although the overall impacts of innovation and innovative practices have been emphasized in recent years, the effect on the growth of firms in Nigeria have not been proven. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of innovative practices on the growth of quantity surveying firms (QSFs) in Nigeria.

The study adopted the quantitative correlational research design in which a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from QSFs in South-West, Nigeria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to investigate the effect of innovative practices on the growth of QSFs.

The study reveals that there is a significant increase in the growth indices used for assessing QSFs, while all the innovation variables were found to be reliable. Based on the result of multiple regression analysis, the relationships were identified as follows: quantity surveying (QS) software influenced the size growth of QSFs; QS software and services affected client growth and profit growth; and all innovation practices impacted asset growth of QSFs.

Although the use of software tools has been found to negatively affect the size of QSFs and other growth indices, there is need for them to embrace innovative software applications for more quality service delivery. In addition, QSFs should formulate strategic objectives that will guide them in taking informed decisions for diversification.

The outcome of this study provides information and direction for innovation practices required to bring about the growth of QSFs.

While smart building technologies (SBTs) implementation ensures sustainability, their adoption is hampered by latent barriers, especially in project management processes. These latent barriers must be addressed to facilitate the successful and widespread adoption of SBTs. Therefore, this study aims to explore the significant latent barriers inhibiting the project management processes in adopting SBTs in developing countries.

A positivist research philosophy couched within a deductive approach was adopted to undertake a quantitative questionnaire survey of 227 project management and design team participants. Descriptive and inferential analytical tools (including a one sample T-test and exploratory factor analysis) were then adopted to interpret data collected.

The results reveal that the “high cost of smart sustainable materials and equipment” is the major significant barrier hindering the adoption of SBTs in developing countries. Latent barriers were: “structure and time-related barriers,” “construction-related barriers” and “human, policy and cost-related barriers”.

The study contributes novel insights into the prevailing nascent discourse on SBTs from the perspectives of construction project managers and design teams in developing countries, particularly. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that ascertains the significant barriers inhibiting project management processes in adopting SBTs in developing countries.