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Six-axis force sensors play an important role in civilian and military fields because of their multifunctionality. In the context of sensor structure design, sensitivity and sensitivity isotropy are often considered. This paper aims to study the possible relationship between the sensitivity/sensitivity isotropy and structural parameters of an 8/4–4 parallel six-axis force sensor. A comprehensive evaluation index and structural optimization design scheme are suggested in the end.

Based on the conditional number of the Jacobian matrix spectral norm, the sensitivity and sensitivity isotropy of the sensor are derived. Orthogonal experiments are used to determine the degree of primary and secondary factors that have a substantial effect on the sensor characteristics. The relationship between the performance indices and the structural parameters is analyzed by the performance atlas method. The comprehensive evaluation index lays the foundation for the structural optimization design of an 8/4–4 parallel six-axis force sensor.

The variation in each performance index of the sensor for each of the structural parameters is analyzed, and the structural parameters of the sensor with the desired performance indices can be easily selected from the performance atlases. A comprehensive performance evaluation index with a target value of 1 is proposed, and the overall influence of the structural parameters on the sensor performance index is investigated. A simulation example shows the feasibility of the proposed evaluation index.

The importance of each structural parameter of the 8/4–4 parallel six-axis force sensor is determined through orthogonal experiments in this paper. Relations among the structural parameters meeting the performance indices are derived and shown in the performance atlases. A comprehensive evaluation index is proposed to analyze the overall sensor performance.

This paper aims to present the optimal design procedure of a symmetrical 2-DOF parallel planar robot with flexible joints by considering several performance criteria based on the workspace size, dynamic dexterity and energy of the control.

Consequently, the optimal design consists in determining the dimensional parameters to maximize the size of the workspace, maximize the dynamic dexterity and minimize the energy of the control action. The design criteria are derived from the kinematics, dynamics, elastodynamics and the position control law of the robot. The analysis of the design criteria is performed by means of the design space and atlases.

Finally, the multi-objective design optimization derived from the optimal design procedure is solved by using multi-objective genetic algorithms, and the results are analyzed to assess the validity of the proposed approach.

An alternative approach to the design of a planar parallel robot with flexible joints that permits determining the structural parameters by considering kinematic, dynamic and control operational performance.

ATLAS is a fully integrated, turnkey library system supporting the following functions: online MARC cataloging and information management; online catalog with four search techniques for staff or borrowers; Boolean and keyword search of both bibliographic and textual databases; circulation control including flexible policy file; reserve book room circulation control; COM catalog; network cataloging; acquisitions, with serials check‐in (in testing); audio‐visual equipment, materials, and room booking; newspaper, magazine, and periodical indexing; information and referral; union list of serials; off‐line backup circulation; and full‐text data retrieval.

Despite the importance given to manufacturing focus in the literature, the subject area continues to suffer from three interrelated problems: lack of agreement with regard to the meaning of “focus” the absence of a conceptual framework for integrating the existing body of research; and uncertainty with regard to the appropriate direction of future research. These problems should be addressed if the focus literature is to continue to mature, and if the true role of focus is to be understood in the light of the “newer” strategic imperatives, such as time‐based competition and flexible manufacturing. Introduces a conceptual model of focus specifically designed in response to these problems. The conceptual model identifies three distinct dimensions of focus, and relates these to the competitive factors facing manufacturing organizations. It is designed specifically to serve as a tool with which researchers and managers can discuss the impact of focus at the firm level. A review of key works in manufacturing focus is also included to justify the structure of the model, and to show how the model integrates previous conceptual and empirical research on focus.

The purpose of this research was to investigate a successful company, Atlas Container Corporation, that practices the values of egalitarianism, democracy, mutuality, and transparency. Moreover, this research sought to identify the human resource policies and practices (HRPP) used to reinforce these values and create a distinctive culture.

An ethnographic approach was used to produce a case study. Interviews, observations, archives, and documents were all part of the collected data.

The HRPP were distinctively different from the normal practices in the industry. Thus, these differences appeared to explain its success.

While this case study focused only on a single organization, it provides an illustration of the importance of reflecting the organization’s culture through its HRPP, and of how they could operate synergistically for optimal impact.

This case illustrated how a company following a set of HRPP contrary to industry norms could succeed. In addition, it pinpointed some areas where HRPP either reduced costs or made the company more responsive to customer needs.

This case illustrated that a company can be both humanistic and efficient. Moreover, it demonstrated a number of ways that the financial success of the company could be shared with its employees.

A review of the literature found that companies that practiced a progressive set of HRPP and made decisions based on democratic principles are rare. Thus, knowledge of such a company should be valuable.

The purpose of this research is to identify the prevalent condition of productivity in the automotive manufacturing industry of Pakistan and to indicate the possible areas for enhancing productivity.

Secondary data for the last ten years were gathered. Total productivity and all partial productivities were computed using methodology proposed by Sumanth, and total factor productivity (TFP) was computed using Cobb‐Douglas production function. Regression analysis and Pearson correlations were run to determine labor elasticity and capital elasticity.

Results indicated very low levels of labor productivity and capital productivity, resulting in huge losses and stagnant growth of these firms. Increasing returns to scales (IRTS) with high values of labor elasticity and low and even negative value of capital elasticity were computed. Low values of TFP showed minimal utilization of technology in these firms.

One of the limitations of this research is that only two automotive manufacturing companies of Pakistan i.e. Honda Atlas and Indus Motors were targeted, which limits the generalizability of findings.

Findings of this research revealed that effective utilization of technology can enhance the productivity of Pakistani manufacturing firms significantly. IRTS with high values of labor elasticity and low value of capital elasticity depict the areas of productivity enhancement.

In Pakistan not enough effort has been put into measuring the productivity of manufacturing industry. The contribution of this paper is that it indicates the productivity blemishes in this industry and also the areas of focus for productivity enhancement.

Existing studies about airline productivity and cost competitiveness are focusing on combination carriers, transporting both passengers and cargo in the same aircraft and with the same inputs. Scientific research about the cost structure and productive performance of all-cargo carriers is very limited. However, the importance of air cargo and express transport in our globalized economy, the high volatility of all-cargo carriers (especially since the 2008 economic crisis), and the success of integrators show the need for more scientific attention to this industry. This chapter aims at benchmarking the productivity and cost competitiveness of US integrated and non-integrated cargo carriers, based on total factor productivity and unit cost competitiveness analyses. The results unveil a positive correlation between productivity on the one hand and the size of the carrier and its average stage length on the other hand, indicating economies of scale. Correcting the results for such factors beyond managerial control and input prices allows us to measure the impact of the crisis and the consequences for the management of the individual carriers.

The purpose of this paper is to review the basic principles of qualitative analysis, and examine the practical application of these principles to analyze student assignments using the ATLAS.ti software.

Student comments from an assignment are prepared for import into ATLAS.ti. The comments are coded, and then analyzed for patterns using ATLAS.ti and its mechanisms for exploring data and data patterns.

ATLAS.ti offers myriad analytic tools that allow the researcher to quantify qualitative information through coding, data query, cross‐tabulation, and networked visualization of project design. By developing both technical expertise with the software, and developing familiarity with qualitative methodology, librarians can wield an effective means to assess and evaluate text‐based data, such as student assignments or surveys.

Because the ATLAS.ti software, and the qualitative analysis process itself is so complex, this article can only outline the most prominent aspects of the tool.

The document can serve as a “jumping‐off” point for other researchers wishing to either explore the qualitative analysis process, particularly as conducted with ATLAS.ti. The reader will become more familiar with the basic concepts of qualitative analysis as reflected in the organization and functions of the ATLAS.ti, as well as the process of preparing and analyzing textual information with ATLAS.ti.

Because there is a general lack of literature on setting up a project with the software, the article is potentially valuable to anyone wishing to expand and improve their evaluative skills using ATLAS.ti or similar tools.

This literature review is on advanced computer analytics, which is a major trend in the field of Human Resource Management (HRM). The authors focus specifically on computer-assisted text analysis (CATA) because text data are a prevalent yet vastly underutilized data source in organizations. The authors gathered 341 articles that use, review, or promote CATA in the management literature. This review complements existing reviews in several ways including an emphasis on CATA in the management literature, a description of the types of software and their advantages, and a unique emphasis on findings in employment. This examination of CATA relative to employment is based on 66 studies (of the 341) that bear on measuring constructs potentially relevant to hiring decisions. The authors also briefly consider the broader machine learning literature using CATA outside management (e.g., data science) to derive relevant insights for management scholars. Finally, the authors discuss the main challenges when using CATA for employment, and provide recommendations on how to manage such challenges. In all, the authors hope to demystify and encourage the use of CATA in HRM scholarship.

The technical development in the field of electronic data processing (EDP), while opening a whole range of possibilities regarding the support and the rationalization of everyday business activities, can also lead to a number of problems and risks, if unproper decisions are made. These reasons have motivated our attempt to study the status quo of computor usage in travel and tourism.