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Article
Publication date: 6 November 2023

Daniel E.S. Rodrigues, Jorge Belinha and Renato Natal Jorge

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is an extrusion-based manufacturing process using fused thermoplastics. Despite its low cost, the FFF is not extensively used in high-value…

Abstract

Purpose

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is an extrusion-based manufacturing process using fused thermoplastics. Despite its low cost, the FFF is not extensively used in high-value industrial sectors mainly due to parts' anisotropy (related to the deposition strategy) and residual stresses (caused by successive heating cycles). Thus, this study aims to investigate the process improvement and the optimization of the printed parts.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, a meshless technique – the Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM) – is used to numerically simulate the viscoplastic extrusion process – the initial phase of the FFF. Unlike the FEM, in meshless methods, there is no pre-established relationship between the nodes so the nodal mesh will not face mesh distortions and the discretization can easily be modified by adding or removing nodes from the initial nodal mesh. The accuracy of the obtained results highlights the importance of using meshless techniques in this field.

Findings

Meshless methods show particular relevance in this topic since the nodes can be distributed to match the layer-by-layer growing condition of the printing process.

Originality/value

Using the flow formulation combined with the heat transfer formulation presented here for the first time within an in-house RPIM code, an algorithm is proposed, implemented and validated for benchmark examples.

Article
Publication date: 19 July 2023

Rafael Teixeira, Jorge Junio Moreira Antunes, Peter Wanke, Henrique Luiz Correa and Yong Tan

This paper aims to measure and unveil the relationship between customer satisfaction and efficiency levels in the most relevant Brazilian airports.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to measure and unveil the relationship between customer satisfaction and efficiency levels in the most relevant Brazilian airports.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilize a two-stage network DEA (data envelopment analysis) and AHP (analytic hierarchy process) model as the cornerstones of the study. The first stage of the network productive structure focuses on examining the infrastructure efficiency of the selected airports, while the second stage assesses their business efficiency.

Findings

Although the results indicate that infrastructure and business efficiency levels are heterogeneous and widely dispersed across airports, controlling the regression results with different contextual variables suggests that the impact of efficiency levels on customer satisfaction is mediated by a set of socio-economic and demographic (endogenous) and regulatory (exogenous) variables. Furthermore, encouraging investment in airports is necessary to achieve higher infrastructural efficiency and scale efficiency, thereby improving customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

There is a scarcity of studies examining the relationships among customer satisfaction, privatization and airport efficiency, particularly in developing countries like Brazil.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 January 2023

Sruangporn Satchapappichit, Angkana Leerattananugulsiri, Watcharaporn Kayom, Khajornjit Thanasarn and Tanasorn Girum

This study investigates the relationship between stakeholders and implementing environmentally sustainable practices (ESPs) by Thai restaurant chains.

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between stakeholders and implementing environmentally sustainable practices (ESPs) by Thai restaurant chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method using the questionnaire was used to collect data from 400 owners/managers of Thai restaurant chains. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to determine the relationship between stakeholders and the implementation of ESPs by Thai restaurant chains.

Findings

The finding revealed that both primary and secondary stakeholders significantly influence implementing ESPs, with no moderating effect of environmental knowledge on primary stakeholders regarding implementing ESPs.

Practical implications

The results can help restaurant chain businesses understand how stakeholder power, in response to their regular interactions and societal expectations, affects the implementation of ESPs.

Originality/value

This study is among the first study to investigate the effects of stakeholder pressure on the implementation of ESPs in Thai restaurant chains in Thailand. By looking at restaurant chains, the authors add to the body of knowledge on ESPs in the hospitality sector and offer insights on the role of stakeholders and the moderating role of environmental knowledge.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. 6 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 June 2023

Cecilie Andersen, Marit Gundersen Engeset and Ellen Katrine Nyhus

This paper aims to explore how different levels of involvement in the prevacation phase affect vacationers’ subsequent satisfaction, word of mouth (WOM) recommendations and loyal…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how different levels of involvement in the prevacation phase affect vacationers’ subsequent satisfaction, word of mouth (WOM) recommendations and loyal behavior with regard to the planning/booking process.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a field study (N = 5,158) in a travel planning context are used to investigate the differences in WOM recommendations and loyalty between self-packagers (higher involvement) and package buyers (lower involvement).

Findings

Tourists who are less involved in the prevacation phase are more likely to recommend the planning/booking process, while more involved tourists are more likely to repeat the same planning/booking process than package buyers.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for tourist agencies, tour operators, tourism suppliers and tourism marketers in terms of customer retention and WOM communication. These findings also have theoretical implications for the WOM and loyalty literature.

Originality/value

This paper reveals how involvement in travel planning may affect satisfaction, WOM recommendation and loyalty behavior. These relationships have not been investigated before.

目的

本文探讨了度假规划和预订模式的选择(自我安排行程与购买套餐)是否会影响度假者随后的满意度、口碑(WOM)推荐以及与规划和预订过程相关的忠诚行为。

设计/方法

使用在旅游规划背景下的一项实地研究(N = 5158)数据来研究自我安排行程者与套餐购买者之间的WOM推荐和忠诚度的差异。

结果

较之自我安排行程者, 套餐购买者更有可能推荐规划/预订过程, 而自我安排行程者比套餐购买者更有可能重复相同的规划过程。

原创性

本文对参与旅游规划如何影响满意度、WOM推荐和忠诚度行为进行了深入探讨。尚无研究对这些关系进行探讨。

意义

研究结果对旅游机构、旅游经营者、旅游供应商和旅游营销人员的客户保留和客户WOM沟通有启发意义。研究结果对WOM和忠诚度文献也有理论上的意义。

Propósito

Este artículo explora si la elección de la planificación de vacaciones y la modalidad de reserva (independiente vs compra de paquetes) afecta la satisfacción posterior de los turistas, las recomendaciones boca a boca (WOM) y la fidelización relacionada con el proceso de planificación y reserva.

Diseño/metodología

Se utilizaron datos de un estudio de campo (N = 5158) en un contexto de planificación de viajes para investigar las diferencias en las recomendaciones WOM y la fidelización entre viajeros independientes (mayor participación) y compradores de paquetes (menor participación).

Hallazgos

Es más probable que los compradores de paquetes recomienden el proceso de planificación/reserva que los viajeros independientes, mientras que estos últimos tienen más probabilidades de repetir el mismo proceso de planificación que los compradores de paquetes.

Originalidad

El documento proporciona información sobre la manera como la participación en la planificación de viajes puede afectar la satisfacción, recomendaciones WOM y fidelización. Estas correlaciones no han sido investigadas anteriormente.

Implicaciones

Estos hallazgos tienen implicaciones para las agencias, operadores, proveedores y comercializadores turísticos en términos de retención de clientes y comunicación WOM con el cliente. Los hallazgos también tienen implicaciones teóricas para el WOM y la literatura sobre fidelización.

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