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Dealers positioned at the downstream of the supply chains are those who can directly influence demand scenario for the manufacturer. However, manufacturer has to ensure that the influence is favorable by competitively fulfilling the anticipations of the dealers. In this regard, the purpose of this paper is focused on developing sustainable strategic relationships between manufacturer and dealer.

In this paper, the basic requirements of the dealers expected to be fulfilled by a manufacturer are analyzed by applying fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and fuzzy Quality Function Deployment. The said approach is implemented in a case situation of a paint manufacturing company in India, and the results are analyzed to provide directions for the company to strategically align manufacturer–dealer relationships.

It was found that the case company has to focus mainly on promotions and advertisements, painters meet, and recognition offered to the dealers. Although pricing was also considered as one of the prominent aspects yet through competitive assessment the case company was found to be better off compared to its competitors.

As the results obtained in the current study are specific to a manufacturing environment, they cannot be generalized for all the companies. However, similar approach can be adopted for analyzing the customer requirements in order to achieve dealers’ attractiveness and satisfaction.

The application of proposed approach assists a manufacturer to pursue right strategy to practice for achieving dealer attractiveness and satisfaction. This will definitely help the supply chain managers to have the right requirements of the dealers’ are fulfilled on priority.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze preferred supplier enablers (PSEs) and measure the interdependencies among themselves for enhancing preferred supplier relationship.

In the current study, an approach has been developed in which the significance of various PSEs was determined by applying Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and the prominent PSEs were screened out through Pareto analysis. Also, the interdependence among the prominent PSEs was measured by applying the Fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method in order to select the right PSEs in ascribing the Preferred Supplier Status. Finally, the weakest relationships among the PSEs were confirmed by applying the student’s t-test and then an impact relationship map of PSEs was developed.

The strength of relationships among the PSEs, grouping of PSEs into causes and effects on a causal diagram and a concise impact relationship map of PSEs were determined. Further, the PSEs that a manufacturer must primarily focus and monitor were also obtained.

The study was conducted in an Indian electronic manufacturing environment. Therefore, the results obtained would be more relevant to the high end technology product manufacturers operating in the developing countries.

From the current study, a manufacturer can alleviate, favorably associate and integrate with the good suppliers and then eventually establish a strong supply base.

Manufacturers are looking for the closer and favored relationships by bringing in the concept of preferred supplier while dealing with their key suppliers. Thus, the results obtained from the current study would be of great assistance to a manufacturer in gaining an extra cutting-edge and, in turn, tackling the increased competitive pressures and reduced availability of resources.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an extensive examination and analysis of the current literature on the use of blockchain technology in courts. The paper aims to explore the potential benefits of implementing blockchain technology in courts, such as increasing transparency and accountability, improving the efficiency of court procedures and enhancing the security of court records. Additionally, the paper intends to identify the challenges and limitations of using blockchain technology in courts and propose potential solutions to overcome these obstacles. The ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential applications and implications of blockchain technology in the context of the court system.

The research design of this study is qualitative, involving a thorough examination and analysis of existing literature on the use of blockchain technology in courts. The data collection procedure involves gathering information from various sources, such as academic publications, official reports and other relevant records. Data analysis is conducted using a thematic analysis approach, which identifies and categorizes recurring themes that emerge from the data. This approach ensures that the results are credible, dependable and accurate representations of the experiences of the participants. By using these methodologies, the study is able to draw meaningful conclusions and insights into the use of blockchain technology in courts.

The major findings of this paper suggest that the implementation of blockchain technology in courts has the potential to bring significant benefits such as increased transparency, efficiency and security. The use of blockchain technology in courts can enable the creation of tamper-proof records that are immutable, secure and transparent, which can help prevent fraud, reduce costs and enhance trust in the judicial system. However, adopting this technology also poses challenges and limitations, such as interoperability, governance and scalability. Overall, the paper concludes that while there are challenges to be addressed, the benefits of blockchain technology in courts are significant and should be explored further.

The study has several limitations that need to be taken into account. Firstly, the availability of data on blockchain implementation in the court system is limited, making it challenging to provide a comprehensive analysis of the topic. Thus, the study’s findings may not be generalizable to other contexts. Secondly, the study takes a technology-centric approach and does not consider blockchain technology’s social and legal implications in court operations. Thirdly, the case studies presented in this paper are limited to a few countries. Moreover, the implementation of blockchain technology in the court system is still in its early stages and lacks standardization, technical expertise and regulatory frameworks. Lastly, uncertainty around the legal framework may hinder its widespread adoption and use.

The practical implications of this study suggest that the use of blockchain technology in courts has the potential to improve efficiency, security, transparency and accountability in the court system. It can reduce the risk of data tampering, expedite case resolution and lower the cost of legal proceedings. Therefore, this study provides a framework for courts to consider blockchain technology’s potential benefits and explore its future adoption.

The social implications of this study are significant, as the adoption of blockchain technology in the court system can have a profound impact on society. Firstly, by increasing transparency and accountability, blockchain technology can promote public trust in the court system and improve access to justice, particularly for disadvantaged communities (Liu et al., 2020). Secondly, blockchain technology can reduce the reliance on intermediaries, such as lawyers, and streamline the case management process, making legal services more accessible and affordable for the general public (Khurana, 2020). Finally, the use of blockchain technology can create a more secure and efficient court system, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the judicial system and promoting public confidence.

This study provides an original contribution to the literature by exploring the use of blockchain technology in courts from a qualitative research design perspective. While there are a growing number of studies on the potential applications of blockchain technology in various fields, this study provides a comprehensive examination of the current literature on the use of blockchain in courts, identifying the benefits and limitations of its implementation. The study’s focus on the strengths and limitations of blockchain technology and its implications in court adds to the originality of this research.

The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for the identification, categorization and prioritization of operational government-supported healthcare supply chain barriers (GHSCBs).

This study develops a theoretical background for identifying and segregating relevant GHSCBs and proposes a 5W2H (a Toyota production system) with fuzzy DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) embedded approach to quantify the causal–effect relationships among the identified operational GHSCBs.

Seven GHSCBs (i.e. uncertainty of demand management, lack of continuous improvement and learning, lack of deadline management, lack of social audit, warehousing equipment unavailability, human resource shortage and inadequate top level monitoring) were identified as significant cause group where the government, top management and decision-makers of government-supported healthcare supply chain (GHSC) have to put efforts.

The results obtained are specific to the GHSC of Indian perspective, which could be extended to global context. However, the proposed approach can be a base and provide a platform to understand and analyze the interactions among GHSCBs.

The proposed methodology will show the appropriate areas for allocating efforts and resources to mitigate the impact of GHSCBs for successful implementation of healthcare supply chain.

According to best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study of operational barrier for GHSC in India in specific. The use of 5W2H embedded fuzzy DEMATEL approach for the development and analysis of the theoretical framework of Indian GHSCBs is unique in barrier literature.

The purpose of this paper is to propose and develop PA2200-based composite powder containing 0-15 Wt.% magnesium oxide before directly using it in selective laser sintering (SLS) machine to produce end-use products for low-volume production in the engineering applications with keen focus to meet the functional requirements which rely on material properties.

The methodology reported emphasises PA2200-based composite powder containing 0-15 Wt.% magnesium oxide development for SLS process which starts with preparation and characterisation of composite material, thermal and rheological study of composite material to decide optimum process parameters for SLS process machine to get optimal part properties. Further, to verify composite material properties, a conventional casting methodology is used. The composition of composite materials those possessing good properties are further selected for processing in SLS process under optimal processing parameters.

The process parameters of SLS machine are material-dependent. The effect of temperature in X-ray diffraction profile is negligible in the case of magnesium oxide reinforced PA2200 composite material. The cyclic heating of material increases melting point temperature, this grounds to modify part bed temperature of material every time before processing on SLS machine to uphold build part properties, as well as material. With the rise in temperature, the Melt flow index and rheological property of materials change. The magnesium oxide reinforced PA2200 composite material has high thermal stability than pure PA2200 material. By the addition of small quantity of magnesium oxide, most of the mechanical property and flammability property improves while elongation at break (percentage) decreases significantly.

The proposed PA2200-based composite powder containing 0-15 Wt.% magnesium oxide material development system and casting metrology to verify developed material properties will be very useful to develop new composite material for SLS process with use of less material. The developed methodology has proven, especially in the case where non-experts or student need to develop composite material for SLS process according to the property requirement of applications.

Unlike earlier composite material development methodology, the projected methodology of polymer-based composite material and confirmation of material properties instead of commencing SLS process provides straight forward means for SLS process composite materials development with less use of the material and period of time.

E-training changed the employee experience with the help of virtual and online tools. This study aims to analyse the perceived impact of e-training on trainee experience and trainees’ self-assessment.

Data was gathered using a structured questionnaire from 853 employees of 30 Hydropower stations in North India. The partial least squares-structural equation modelling is used to test the relationships between study variables.

The result shows infrastructure and organisational support as the leading dimension, followed by trainer abilities and content/material/design to impact the perceived usefulness of e-training. The perceived trainee experience significantly impacts the e-training outcome as trainees’ perceived significant positive self-assessment.

Employees in select organisations indicate acceptance of the e-training. Hence, this study supports the applications of modern and emerging e-training tools as artefacts to support the learning and development of employees in select organisations.

This study explored the relationship between synchronous e-training and employee experience in the select power sector organisations previously dominated by traditional training tools.

The purpose of this paper is to present a road map to implement Lean-Kaizen concept using value stream mapping (VSM) to identify hidden continuous improvement opportunities in a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) located at the non-capital region of India.

From the collected data, a current state map was prepared that indicated the current operating situation of selected SME. The takt time was calculated and those processes which attained higher cycle time (C/T) than takt time were identified. The continuous flow processing was achieved by adjusting C/T of each process and supermarket pull system was developed to control the production at the workstations. Finally, a future state map was developed that served as a guide for future lean activities. Few problems were identified to realize the future state. The “5-why” analysis was used for identifying root causes of these problems and Kaizen events were proposed as solutions. In this case study, one Kaizen event was identified in which brainstorming technique was used to control the variation caused by unorthodox fixture design for clamping and de-clamping of case product and thus eliminated non-value-added activities performed by the operator on a milling machine.

Before and after implementation of value stream map, the data obtained were analyzed and eliminated rework time, reduced inventory level, reduced lead time and C/T, improved productivity and product quality are presented as finding. Lean-Kaizen provides a better chance for every individual of the industry to have a hand in achieving organization’s goals to attain continuous progress in productivity and quality of the product. Even good understanding of the concept of lean tools and techniques by SMEs, the employee willingness and motivation to identify and eliminate wastes are found feeble.

This study is among best practices to identify hidden improvement opportunities in the regular production of the product to increase productivity and improve quality using value stream map. The research paper gives useful understandings to the lean implementers, Kaizen identifiers, consultants and researchers.

The purpose of this paper is to assist a manufacturer for determining the principal supplier development impediments (SDIs) that are affecting the supplier development programs (SDPs) and yield a basis for drawing the appropriate mitigation strategies.

The proposed approach starts with the application of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and Pareto analysis to obtain the principal SDIs. Subsequently, the interpretive structural modeling and Fuzzy-Matrice d’Impacts Croisés-Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement analysis are applied on the principal SDIs to explore the root causes inducing ineffectiveness in the SDPs.

The outcomes of the proposed approach were demonstrated through a case study conducted in an Indian automotive components manufacturing company. The principal SDIs were identified, ranked, classified and structurally related for the said case company’s manufacturing environment. It was found that the lack of competent workforce, level of nascent relationship between manufacturer and suppliers and poor devolution of authority were the main SDIs that the case company has to primarily focus to make its SDPs effective.

Although the study was conducted in a practical case situation, the obtained results are not indiscriminate to the other case situations. However, the proposed approach can be applied for analyzing the SDIs in any manufacturing environment once the set of SDIs relevant to that environment are carefully chosen.

The methodology would assist a manufacturer to proactively identify the SDIs that it has to primarily focus and subsequently devise the mitigation strategies for smooth running of its SDPs.

By utilizing the identified SDIs and applying the proposed methodology a manufacturer can find the main SDIs that are making the SDPs ineffective and accordingly fix the hindrances through certain mitigation strategies designed.

The purpose of this paper is to quantify, evaluate and compare the implementation performance of a supplier development (SD) program using graph theoretic approach (GTA).

Broadly 13 critical success factors (CSFs) were identified and they were classified into four significant categories (SCs). Featuring these SCs and CSFs under each SC, GTA was proposed for evaluating the implementation performance of SD programs. The analysis was further extended to evaluate the performance of a SD program along the timeline to capture the other influences (if any), eventually compare the results with different performance situations and accordingly set the future targets.

In order to demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach it was applied to an Indian manufacturing company. The results obtained shown that there has been a significant growth achieved in the implementation performance of a SD program over a period of three years (i.e. 12 quarters) along the chosen SCs and CSFs under each SC. It was also found that still there was a performance gap and scope for improvement in the SD program of the case company.

The proposed approach is aimed at providing a procedure for evaluating the implementation performance of a SD program. This study is an attempt to assist a manufacturer to assess its SD program and accordingly define its course of actions.

Although many issues related to SD have been widely recognized and studied, there are no specific studies available in the literature to assess the implementation performance of SD programs along the timeline. The proposed model has the ability to capture the performance and interdependencies of SCs, CSFs under each SC and also to quantify the implementation performance of a SD program along the timeline.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an approach that a manufacturer can periodically use to measure the performances of its supplier development programs (SDPs). It also quantifies and indicates the specific supplier development outcomes (SDOs) that a manufacturer has to concentrate in improving its SDPs.

The proposed methodology integrates fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (to determine the importance of SDOs), Pareto analysis (to choose the significant SDOs) and fuzzy logic (to periodically determine the performance indices and grades of the SDPs) methods to measure the performances of SDPs. In order to demonstrate the utility of the methodology, a case situation is presented where the performance measures of SDPs running at five key suppliers of an Indian turbine manufacturing company were determined.

By periodically applying the above mentioned methodology, the performance indices of a manufacturer’s SDPs are measured, monitored and managed effectively. It is shown that the methodology is advantageous in clearly indicating the scope of improvement for the SDPs along the specific SDOs.

Since the obtained results in this study are specific to a manufacturing environment, they may not be generalized. However, the generic lists of SDOs mentioned in the paper and the proposed approach can be used in any manufacturing environment for analyzing the performances of SDPs.

The performance analysis of SDPs would help a manufacturer to know more about the functioning of its SDPs along the timeline and provide the scope for improvement.

The proposed approach successfully measures and also grades the performances of SDPs. The results enable the supplier development managers to effectively distribute their investments and efforts along the SDPs.