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The aim of this paper is to show how models fabricated via stereolithography (SL) served as “functional prototypes” for the redesign and optimisation of the spraying arm of a small dishwashing machine. The redesign process depended entirely on systematic experimental testing. SL modelling was employed in order to realise the various geometries proposed for the “new” spraying arm. The SL built spraying arm models (prototypes) themselves were used in the actual experiments, i.e. during the various dishwashing cycles. Their behaviour was very satisfactory. The methodology followed is presented in a systematic way. Aspects such as the effect of various build parameters on the models' functionality as well as “engineering solutions” given to problems encountered during fabrication and testing of the models are discussed in detail.

This paper aims to introduce a new nesting scheme to better describe and solve the single-layer-part packing problem in additive manufacturing (AM).

Parallel nesting scheme using two-dimensional (2D) changeable projection profiles is developed. At first, a feature-based orientation optimization method is used to identify a set of practical alternative build orientations for each part to ensure the part quality. Then, 2D polygons are used to represent each part’s projection profiles under its alternative build orientations. Finally, a parallel layout searching algorithm is developed to identify the optimal part layout by using 2D changeable projection profiles.

The proposed nesting scheme can both guarantee the production quality for each part and search the optimal part layout with larger probability but less computational time.

With the use of changeable 2D projection profiles, this method conducts 2D computation to solve the single-layer-part packing problem with five degrees of freedom, which saves much computation cost and, at the same time, guarantees the production quality of each part. By adding specific nesting objectives or constraints and heuristic searching knowledge to the proposed nesting scheme, practical nesting software can be developed to meet the specific nesting or packing requirements for industrial AM machines.

This paper aims to investigate the influences of process parameters on part quality, electrical energy consumption. Moreover, the relationship between part quality and energy consumption of UTR9000 photosensitive resin fabricated by stereolithography apparatus (SLA) was also assessed.

Main effect plots and contour maps were used to analyze the interactions and effects of various parameters on energy consumption and part quality, respectively. Then, a growth rate was used defined as the percentage of the value of energy consumption (or the part quality) of the sample compared to the minimum value of the energy consumption (or the same part quality), to jointly analyze relationships between part quality and energy consumption on a specific process parameter.

The part qualities can be improved with increased energy consumption via adjusting layer thickness, without further increasing energy consumption through adjusting laser power, over-cure and scanning distance. Energy consumption can be highly saved while slightly decreasing the tensile strength by increasing layer thickness from 0.09 mm to 0.12 mm. Energy consumption and surface roughness can be decreased when setting laser power near 290 mW. Setting an appropriate over-cure of about 0.23 mm will improve tensile strength and dimensional accuracy with a little bit more energy consumption. The tensile strength increases nearby 5% at a scanning distance of 0.07 mm compared to that at a scanning distance of 0.1 mm while the energy consumption only increases by 1%.

In this research, energy consumption and multiple part quality for SLA are jointly analyzed first to accelerate the development of sustainable additive manufacturing. This can be used to assist designers to achieve energy-effective fabrication in the process design stage.

Japanese‐focused management papers were examined to answer four questions: (1) Has there been a relative increase in the proportion of Japanese‐focused papers published? (2) Has there been a relative increase in the proportion of Japanese‐focused Organizational Behavior (OB) papers published? (3) What is the nature of Japanese‐focused OB papers? and (4) Are there “gaps” in the Japanese‐focused OB literature? The paper particularly reports current content appearing between 1994 and 2001 juxtaposed with that reported earlier by Godkin, Endoh, and Cahill (1995) appearing between 1981 and 1993.

Although the concept of culture as a means of control seems to be rather vague and ambiguous, no one can deny its importance, especially in the case of the Japanese multinational companies and issues linked to their control over overseas segments. Cultural control has always occupied a central position, not only in terms of the relationship between Japanese parent companies and their subsidiaries, but also in anything that has to do with the interaction of Japanese management accounting with the rest of the world. This paper offers a fresh view on the issue by building a multinational model and then looking into the effect of this type of control on the relationship between the Japanese parent companies and their overseas subsidiaries. This approach is expected to identify a new angle of looking into the issue and provide insight for further, more dynamic rather than static frameworks in future research.

An important challenge of the osteotomy procedures, particularly in the case of large and complex corrections, is the fixation of the osteotomy site. The purpose of this study is to propose a practical and cost-effect methodology for the plate adapting problem of osteotomy surgery.

A novel patient-specific plate contouring methodology, based on rapid prototyping (RP) and multi-point forming (MPF) techniques, was developed and evaluated. In this methodology, a female mold is fabricated by RP, based on the geometry of the osteotomy site and estimation of the plate spring back. The mold is then used to configure a MPF die, which is then used for press forming of the factory-made locking plate. The applicability of the methodology was assessed in two case studies.

The results of implementing the methodology on a femoral and a tibial locking plate indicated very good conformity with the underlying bone, in both the frontal and sagittal planes. The surgical application of the pre-operatively contoured tibial plate facilitated the plate locating and screw inserting procedures, and provided a secure fixation for bone fragments.

The results are promising and provide a proof of concept for the feasibility and applicability of the proposed methodology in clinical practice, as a complementary to the existing surgical preplanning and patient-specific instrument preparations.

The advantageous features of RP and the MPF were used to provide a solution for the plate adapting problem of osteotomy surgery.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability and effectiveness of Stereolithography rapid prototyping to the field of scale modelling for architectural design evaluation and demonstration purposes. Two scale models concerning a modern renovated track and field sports facility and a reconstructed ancient stadium are examined. Both models were constructed by assembling together resin parts fabricated with Stereolithography instead of milling. Critical issues encountered during the building phase of the two models are addressed and presented in detail. Comments are made on the CAD requirements of the parts geometry, on the part building and the post‐processing phases as well as on the end achieved accuracy. Problems associated with the computational time, related to the 3‐D solid modelling, and with the physical properties of the parts, are also discussed. The present Stereolithography methodology is compared to conventional model building techniques by investigating efficiency and productivity factors, quality matters and time requirements.

Discusses feasibility, desirability and value of Japanese management strategies in a Western context. Major Japanese companies are at the leading edge in refining management strategies, techniques and styles, for example, with regard to having a long‐term perspective and the continuous improvement of quality, stock control, skill formation, communications, training and employee development. As possible models can these approaches be transferred to different cultures?

We examine gender diversity in Spanish multinational companies to test whether their policies in the different countries (i.e. institutional contexts) in which they operate (mainly Latin American countries) are consistent with institutional norms.

After reviewing the relevant literature, we compare longitudinal gender employment data for some of the largest Spanish multinationals. We then extend the analysis to different organizational levels as well as cross-sectionally, to their Latin American subsidiaries.

While not universal, the largest Spanish multinationals show progress in their compliance of gender recommendations within their national borders, in spite of the voluntary character of the relevant legislation. In addition, their subsidiaries sometimes exhibit better gender proportions than the national averages in Latin American countries.

The study’s emphasis on some of the largest Spanish multinational corporations cannot be considered representative of all Spanish companies or of subsidiaries in those host countries.

This study may be of use for politicians, boards of directors, and other decision makers that need to be factually aware of the way these firms manage workplace diversity.

This study shows that some of the largest Spanish firms are slowly exhibiting responsible behavior with respect to female employment, both longitudinally and in their subsidiaries. The fact that this is not a consistent tendency lends support to the argument that existing legislation should have stronger normative pressures, such as fines and penalties for noncompliance.

This paper aims to provide an overview of applications of medical rapid prototyping (MRP)-assisted customized surgical guides (CSGs) and shows the potential of this technology in complex surgeries. This review paper also reports two case studies from open literature where MRP-assisted CSGs have been successfully used in complex surgeries.

Key publications from the past two decades have been reviewed.

This study concludes that the use of MRP-assisted CSGs improves the accuracy of surgery. Additionally, MRP-assisted CSGs make the surgery much faster, accurate and cheaper than any other technique. The outcome based on literature review and two case studies strongly suggested that MRP-assisted CSGs might become part of a standard protocol in the medical sector to operate the various complex surgeries, in the near future.

Advanced technologies like radiology, image processing, virtual surgical planning (VSP), computer-aided design (CAD) and MRP made it possible to fabricate the CSGs. MRP-assisted CSGs can easily transfer the VSP into the actual surgery.

This paper is beneficial to study the development and applications of MRP-assisted CSGs in complex surgeries.