Search results

1 – 10 of 85
Expert briefing
Publication date: 26 March 2024

This episode could have a significant impact on South Sudan's government, which derives almost 90% of its revenue from oil.

Executive summary
Publication date: 16 January 2024

EAST AFRICA: EAC bloc faces unity challenges

Article
Publication date: 13 February 2024

Dinesh Kumar Kushwaha, Dilbagh Panchal and Anish Kumar Sachdeva

An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) modelling-based framework for examining the performance analysis of a packaging unit (PU) in three different stages has been proposed.

46

Abstract

Purpose

An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) modelling-based framework for examining the performance analysis of a packaging unit (PU) in three different stages has been proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

For the series and parallel configuration of PU, a mathematical model based on the intuitionistic fuzzy Lambda–Tau (IFLT) approach was developed in order to calculate various reliability parameters at various spreads. For determining membership and non-membership function-based reliability parameters for the top event, AND/OR gate transitions expression was employed.

Findings

For 15%–30% spread, unit’s availability for the membership function falls by 0.006442%, and it falls even more by 0.014907% with an increase in spread from 30% to 45%. In contrast, for 15%–30% spread, the availability of non-membership function-based systems reduces by 0.007491% and further diminishes. Risk analysis has presented applying an emerging approach called intuitionistic fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis (IFFMEA). For each of the stated failure causes, the output values of the intuitionistic fuzzy hybrid weighted Euclidean distance (IFHWED)-based IFFMEA have been tabulated. Failure causes like HP1, MT6, FB9, EL16, DR23, GR27, categorized under subsystems, namely hopper, motor, fluidized bed dryer, distributor, grader and bin, respectively, with corresponding IFFMEA output scores 1.0975, 1.0190, 0.8543, 1.0228, 0.9026, 1.0021, were the most critical one to contribute in the system’s failure.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the proposed framework lies in the fact that the results obtained for both reliability and risk aspects mainly depend on the correctness of raw data provided by the experts. Also, an approximate model of PU is obtained from plant experts to carry performance analysis, and hence more attention is required in constructing the model. Under IFLT, reliability parameters of PU have been calculated at various spreads to study and analyse the failure behaviour of the unit for both membership and non-membership function in the IFS of [0.6,0.8]. For both membership- and non-membership-based results, availability of the considered system shows decreasing trend. To improve the performance of the considered system, risk assessment was carried using IFFMEA technique, ranking all the critical failure causes against IFHWED score value, on which more attention should be paid so as to avoid sudden failure of unit.

Social implications

The livelihood of millions of farmers and workers depends on sugar industries. So perpetual running of these industries is very important from this viewpoint. On the basis of findings of reliability parameters, the maintenance manager could frame a correct maintenance policy for long-run availability of the sugar mills. This long-run availability will generate revenue, which, in turn, will ensure the livelihood of the farmers.

Originality/value

Mathematical modelling of the considered unit has been done applying basic expressions of AND/OR gate. IFTOPSIS approach has been implemented for ranking result comparison obtained under IFFMEA approach. Eventually, sensitivity analysis was also presented to demonstrate the stability of ranking of failure causes of PU.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 10 May 2021

Olusola Joshua Olujobi

This study aims to investigate why anti-corruption statutes are not efficient in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry.

6082

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate why anti-corruption statutes are not efficient in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a doctrinal legal research that embraces a point-by-point comparative methodology with a library research technique.

Findings

This study reveals that corruption strives on feeble implementation of anti-corruption legal regime and the absence of political will in offering efficient regulatory intervention. Finally, this study finds that anti-corruption organisations in Nigeria are not efficient due to non-existence of the Federal Government’s political will to fight corruption, insufficient funds and absence of stringent implementation of the anti-corruption legal regime in the country.

Research limitations/implications

Investigations reveal during this study that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) operations are characterised with poor record-keeping, lack of accountability as well as secrecy in the award of oil contracts, oil licence, leases and other financial transactions due to non-disclosure or confidentiality clauses contained in most of these contracts. Also, an arbitration proceeding limit access to their records and some of these agreements under contentions. This has also limited the success of this research work and generalising its findings.

Practical implications

This study recommends, among other reforms, soft law technique and stringent execution of anti-corruption statutes. This study also recommends increment in financial appropriation to Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions, taking into consideration the finding that a meagre budget is a drawback.

Social implications

This study reveals that corruption strives on feeble implementation of anti-corruption legal regime and the absence of political will in offering efficient regulatory intervention. Corruption flourishes due to poor enforcement of anti-corruption laws and the absence of political will in offering efficient regulatory intervention by the government.

Originality/value

The study advocates the need for enhancement of anti-corruption agencies' budgets taking into consideration the finding that meagres budgets are challenge of the agencies.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 26 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 April 2024

Zhen Li, Jianqing Han, Mingrui Zhao, Yongbo Zhang, Yanzhe Wang, Cong Zhang and Lin Chang

This study aims to design and validate a theoretical model for capacitive imaging (CI) sensors that incorporates the interelectrode shielding and surrounding shielding electrodes…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to design and validate a theoretical model for capacitive imaging (CI) sensors that incorporates the interelectrode shielding and surrounding shielding electrodes. Through experimental verification, the effectiveness of the theoretical model in evaluating CI sensors equipped with shielding electrodes has been demonstrated.

Design/methodology/approach

The study begins by incorporating the interelectrode shielding and surrounding shielding electrodes of CI sensors into the theoretical model. A method for deriving the semianalytical model is proposed, using the renormalization group method and physical model. Based on random geometric parameters of CI sensors, capacitance values are calculated using both simulation models and theoretical models. Three different types of CI sensors with varying geometric parameters are designed and manufactured for experimental testing.

Findings

The study’s results indicate that the errors of the semianalytical model for the CI sensor are predominantly below 5%, with all errors falling below 10%. This suggests that the semianalytical model, derived using the renormalization group method, effectively evaluates CI sensors equipped with shielding electrodes. The experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the theoretical model in accurately predicting the capacitance values of the CI sensors.

Originality/value

The theoretical model of CI sensors is described by incorporating the interelectrode shielding and surrounding shielding electrodes into the model. This comprehensive approach allows for a more accurate evaluation of the detecting capability of CI sensors, as well as optimization of their performance.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 September 2022

Rajan Kumar Gangadhari, Vivek Khanzode, Shankar Murthy and Denis Dennehy

This paper aims to identify, prioritise and explore the relationships between the various barriers that are hindering the machine learning (ML) adaptation for analysing accident…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to identify, prioritise and explore the relationships between the various barriers that are hindering the machine learning (ML) adaptation for analysing accident data information in the Indian petroleum industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) is initially used to identify key barriers as reported in extant literature. The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique is then used to discover the interrelationships between the barriers, which are then prioritised, based on three criteria (time, cost and relative importance) using complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) and multi-objective optimisation method by ratio analysis (MOORA). The Delphi method is used to obtain and analyse data from 10 petroleum experts who work at various petroleum facilities in India.

Findings

The findings provide practical insights for management and accident data analysts to use ML techniques when analysing large amounts of data. The analysis of barriers will help organisations focus resources on the most significant obstacles to overcome barriers to adopt ML as the primary tool for accident data analysis, which can save time, money and enable the exploration of valuable insights from the data.

Originality/value

This is the first study to use a hybrid three-phase methodology and consult with domain experts in the petroleum industry to rank and analyse the relationship between these barriers.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 30 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 August 2023

Yingshuang Liu, Ran Liu, Dalei Zhang, Shaohua Xing, Xiaohui Dou, Xinwei Zhang and Zonghao He

The corrosion behaviour of titanium alloy surface when fluid with different flow rates flows through welded joints with different residual heights was explored.

Abstract

Purpose

The corrosion behaviour of titanium alloy surface when fluid with different flow rates flows through welded joints with different residual heights was explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment uses a combination of array electrodes and simulation.

Findings

It is found that when the weld reinforcement exists, the corrosion tendency of both ends of the weld metal is greater than that of other parts of the welded joint due to the influence of high turbulence kinetic energy and shear stress. The presence of weld reinforcement heights makes the fluid behind it fluctuate greatly. The passivation films of both the base metal (BM) at the rear and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) are more prone to corrosion than those of the front BM and HAZ, and the passivation film is rougher.

Originality/value

The combination of test and simulation was used to explore the influence of electrochemical and hydrodynamic factors on the corrosion behaviour of titanium alloy-welded joints when welding residual height existed.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 70 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Expert briefing
Publication date: 30 January 2024

Modestly increased gas exports to China have offset only a fraction of the lost business in Europe. The United States last year imposed sanctions on the flagship Arctic-2 LNG…

Article
Publication date: 12 September 2023

Javad Gerami, Mohammad Reza Mozaffari, Peter Wanke and Yong Tan

This study aims to present the cost and revenue efficiency evaluation models in data envelopment analysis in the presence of fuzzy inputs, outputs and their prices that the prices…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present the cost and revenue efficiency evaluation models in data envelopment analysis in the presence of fuzzy inputs, outputs and their prices that the prices are also fuzzy. This study applies the proposed approach in the energy sector of the oil industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a value-based technology according to fuzzy input-cost and revenue-output data, and based on this technology, the authors propose an approach to calculate fuzzy cost and revenue efficiency based on a directional distance function approach. These papers incorporated a decision-maker’s (DM) a priori knowledge into the fuzzy cost (revenue) efficiency analysis.

Findings

This study shows that the proposed approach obtains the components of fuzzy numbers corresponding to fuzzy cost efficiency scores in the interval [0, 1] corresponding to each of the decision-making units (DMUs). The models presented in this paper satisfies the most important properties: translation invariance, translation invariance, handle with negative data. The proposed approach obtains the fuzzy efficient targets corresponding to each DMU.

Originality/value

In the proposed approach, by selecting the appropriate direction vector in the model, we can incorporate preference information of the DM in the process of evaluating fuzzy cost or revenue efficiency and this shows the efficiency of the method and the advantages of the proposed model in a fully fuzzy environment.

Details

Journal of Modelling in Management, vol. 19 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-5664

Keywords

Case study
Publication date: 12 January 2024

Chetna Rath and Asit Tripathy

The case was devised using secondary sources of data collection from annual reports, sustainability reports and the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) website. These…

Abstract

Research methodology

The case was devised using secondary sources of data collection from annual reports, sustainability reports and the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) website. These documents provided insights into the HPCL’s sustainability initiatives, financial performance and disclosure practices. Other data were obtained through the websites of the relevant businesses/sectors.

Case overview/synopsis

In March 2022, Pushp Kumar Joshi, chairman and managing director of HPCL, contemplates the oil giant’s sustainability strategy amid challenges. Despite a 38% revenue increase in financial year 2021–2022, profits dropped because of reduced refinery capacity. HPCL, a major player in India’s oil and gas industry, recognized the need to align with climate goals and changing consumer expectations. Joshi emphasized stakeholder engagement, carbon mitigation, technology adoption and transparent environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting. A materiality assessment highlighted key issues like gender diversity, air quality and the low-carbon transition. Joshi grapples with balancing profitability and sustainability amid stakeholder pressure and market fluctuations, seeking advice from the sustainability team for the future.

Complexity academic level

This can potentially be a case study for a business management course, particularly focusing on sustainability, corporate social responsibility and strategic decision-making. It could be used at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in courses related to business administration, sustainability management, corporate strategy, environmental management or stakeholder engagement. The case could be analyzed to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by a company like HPCL in balancing profitability and sustainability, developing effective sustainability strategies, integrating ESG considerations and managing stakeholder expectations.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Details

The CASE Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Case Study
ISSN: 1544-9106

Keywords

1 – 10 of 85