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This paper describes the design and development of a re‐configurable dual‐robot assembly system using off‐the‐shelf re‐configurable pneumatic modules, Hall‐effect sensors, a vision system, and a programmable logic controller (PLC). Each robot arm consists of three sets of pneumatic modules and a pneumatic gripper. Each module consists of a pneumatic housing, an air cylinder, and a Hall‐effect sensor, and provides one degree of freedom. Solenoids are used to redirect airflow and thereby extend and/or retract the air cylinder. A vision system is used for fixture inspection. A conveyor and part stopper are designed to transfer and stop pallets. All these modules, the gripper, the part stopper, and the vision system are controlled and synchronized using a PLC. At the end of this paper, a framework for making the system over the Web for remote operation and diagnosis is proposed and described.

The present paper seeks to analyze the role of social networks in the process of career exploration, including its main effect on search intensity, and moderation effect on the linkage between search intensity and job search confidence.

It is a longitudinal design with 239 USA and 165 Chinese graduating students.

Social networks in job search have greater effects on job search intensity in the USA sample. Moderation effects could be detected in the Chinese sample, and guanxi search (a Chinese reference to social networks) minimizes job search confidence and job satisfaction.

Social networks, particularly guanxi search in China, could reflect interdependency in job search process, and might constrain job choice.

The paper examined the cultural differences of guanxi search construct, and compared the role of social networks (guanxi search) in cross‐cultural settings.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the applications of big data in personal knowledge management (PKM).

Five conventional knowledge management dimensions, namely, the value of data, data collection, data storage, data application and data presentation, were applied for integrating big data in the context of PKM.

This study concludes that time management, computer usage efficiency management, mobile device usage behavior management, health management and browser surfing management are areas where big data can be applied to PKM.

While the literature discusses PKM without considering the impact of big data, this paper aims to extend existing knowledge by demonstrating the application of big data in PKM.

One of the primary problems in the production of cement testing cubes is inconsistency in quality due to skill differences between operators and low repeatability in human performance of identical operations. To eliminate this problem and to enhance productivity, a state‐of‐the‐art robot workcell system, which utilized a multitasking control strategy and tool changer and sensor technology to automatically produce cement testing cubes, was designed and integrated. A comparative analysis of compressive strength values of specimens made by human operators and robots indicated that the specimens made by the robot workcell system had lower variation than the human made ones. This study not only demonstrates that robot workcells are flexible and robust enough to be used in cement testing cube production, but also suggests that revision of American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM) procedures to facilitate implementation of high technology in the materials testing process should be considered.

Petri net (PN) and queuing theory are used in performance analysis of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). They are used to determine the FMS measures of performance. These measures of performance include optimal work‐in‐process (WIP), lead time, production rate, machine utilization, and number of servers at each station. The purpose of this paper is to present a comparison between PN and queuing network tools to determine the optimum values for FMS measures of performance.

PN model with dual kanban and closed queuing network are used for analysis and performance evaluation of FMS. Integrated network analyzer and Lingo softwares are used for performance evaluation of FMS by PN tool. CANQ software is used for performance evaluation of FMS by queuing network. In both the approaches, the throughput is bounded by the utilization of the bottleneck machines.

The comparison shows that for the given number of servers, PN gives better values of performance measures for FMS. The PN optimization gives minimum WIP corresponding to the maximum production rate. Minimum WIP leads to minimum lead time.

The results are concluded based on one case study. In future research, the results may be achieved by doing more case studies with different numbers of system parameters and/or parameter settings.

Using the PN model, the production manager may design, analyze, evaluate, and even optimize the layout of the production system for minimum WIP, maximum throughput, and reduced lead time. The determination of the total WIP, total number of stations in the production system, and the number of servers at each station may be helpful in shop floor management. It may result in more production efficiency along with ease of supervision.

This paper presents a first novel comparison of its kind between PN and queuing network for evaluation of FMS.