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Rolling bearings are basic mechanical elements for supporting rotational and reciprocating motion in engineering products. Many approaches have been proposed by researchers in order to facilitate the procedure of bearing design, but mainly concentrating on the development of PC‐based systems or relative software packages.The authors present a novel approach to implementing a design support system for rolling bearings based on the World Wide Web so as to achieve agility in rolling bearing design. The system was developed based on the philosophy of agile manufacturing by integrating various information resources, artificial intelligence, and Web technology with expertise. This Web‐based distributed system will be globally accessible by the user on the Internet and can be automatically sized according to the demand of application requirements. The system implementation issues are discussed in detail in this paper.

To date little is known about the actual level of utilisation of digital/web‐based interaction technologies in purchasing and supply management (SM) in the UK. This paper seeks to address this gap in the extant knowledge through empirical research in a UK setting. It examines the level of usage, the uses, the perceived benefits, and future perspective on the use, of web‐based technology in purchasing and SM.

An empirical survey of UK‐based organisations was undertaken. Information simultaneously collected on the buyer‐supplier relationship orientation of the firms in the sample was used to test the proposition that the use of web‐based technology leads to stronger collaborative relationships with suppliers.

Data obtained from 156 valid responses indicated that six in every ten organisations use web‐based technology to support purchasing and SM activities, but that the usage is lower in small to medium‐sized enterprises. The main uses reported are for communicating with suppliers, for marketing products/services, and for locating technical data. Making purchases over the internet was significantly more prevalent in organisations exhibiting relatively more partnership orientation.

The findings provide only limited evidence in support of the proposition that the deployment of web‐based technology leads to stronger buyer‐supplier relations. However, findings do suggest that the effectiveness of the purchasing and supply function can be enhanced through greater use of web‐based technology for online purchasing and for efficient consumer response.

The paper establishes salient UK managerial perception on the strategic and operational importance of web‐based technology adoption in purchasing and SM.

The purpose of this paper is to establish common metrics for web-based mapping applications to facilitate user decision making and enhance information providers’ product design.

The metrics were developed from a combination of literature review and case studies. From the literature review, the authors identified three major areas of assessment for web-based mapping applications. The authors then studied six online applications to refine the metrics.

The results suggest that web-based mapping applications can be evaluated from three major aspects: data content, geographic information systems (GIS) functionality and usability. The authors have developed detailed measures for each factor through the evaluation of the six applications.

The metrics developed from this study could be used as a standard for online spatial information users to choose appropriate products according to their needs. It can also provide valuable information for data providers to improve their products.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that has systematically examined web-based mapping applications in academic libraries. Results from this study could be a valuable tool for librarians as well as general information users without background of GIS and usability to evaluate online mapping resources.

Purpose – This study aims to introduce an application of web‐based data mining that integrates online data collection and data mining in selling strategies for online auctions. This study seeks to illustrate the process of spider online data collection from eBay and the application of the classification and regression tree (CART) in constructing effective selling strategies. Design/methodology/approach – After developing a prototype of web‐based data mining, the four steps of spider online data collection and CART data mining are shown. A business dataset from eBay is collected, and the application to derive effective selling strategies for online auctions is used. Findings – In the web‐based data‐mining application the spiders can effectively and efficiently collect online auction data from the internet, and the CART model provides sellers with effective selling strategies. By using expected auction prices with the classification and regression trees, sellers can integrate their two primary goals, i.e. auction success and anticipated prices, in their selling strategies for online auctions. Practical implications – This study provides sellers with a useful tool to construct effective selling strategies by taking advantage of web‐based data mining. These effective selling strategies will help improve their online auction performance. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature by providing an innovative tool for collecting online data and for constructing effective selling strategies, which are important for the growth of electronic marketplaces.

The internet and web‐based technologies have enabled the integration of information systems across organisational boundaries in ways that were hitherto impossible. The measurement of e‐business (EB) value has been traditionally considered as a single construct. However, the desire to develop a comprehensive understanding of the impact of EB applications from a theoretical perspective has resulted in the modelling of multiple EB constructs. The impact of EB enabled collaboration on operational performance was also investigated. The purpose of this paper is to explore the enabling role of multiple dimensions of EB investigating if all EB applications impact directly and positively on supply chain collaboration.

A web‐based survey was carried out to collect data within the German automotive industry. Structural equation modelling was conducted to test the measurement and structural model.

The results provide justification for the modelling of EB in multiple dimensions. Furthermore, some EB applications impacted positively on supply chain collaboration whilst some did not. The results also proved that EB enabled collaboration impacted directly and positively on the multiple dimensions of operational performance tested.

EB applications cannot be viewed by practising managers as being universally beneficial in improving collaboration across a buyer‐supplier boundary. However, the results reveal that, by carefully selecting the most appropriate EB applications, operations improvement benefits can be realised across a range of operational metrics due to enhanced supply chain collaboration.

The deconstruction of EB into multiple constructs will enable the measurement of EB value to be more accurately assessed. Furthermore, the direct impact of EB‐enabled collaboration to facilitate interaction and integration and its impact on operational performance adds to the body of knowledge within the larger research field of supply chain collaboration.

Information agility, or informational efficiency, represents the major prerequisite for agile management and means eliminating inefficiencies in accessing, exchanging and disseminating all kinds of information. Presents a framework for implementation of Web technology in enhancing information access for agile management. Web‐to‐host access tools as a specific subset of Web technology are used to improve and ease access to several types of information such as legacy data, messaging system, electronic documents, and business intelligence.

To provide a selective bibliography for researchers and practitioners interested in database modeling of engineering information with sources which can help them develop engineering information systems.

Identifies the requirements for engineering information modeling and then investigates how current database models satisfy these requirements at two levels: conceptual data models and logical database models.

Presents the relationships among the conceptual data models and the logical database models for engineering information modeling viewed from database conceptual design.

Currently few papers provide comprehensive discussions about how current engineering information modeling can be supported by database technologies. This paper fills this gap. The contribution of the paper is to identify the direction of database study viewed from engineering applications and provide a guidance of information modeling for engineering design, manufacturing, and production management.

The purpose of this paper is to review augmented reality (AR) within retailing by identifying, outlining and discussing definitions of AR, applications of AR that are relevant for retailers, and the value AR provides for retailers and consumers.

The paper is based on a review of AR research within the business-oriented literature and an overview of current AR applications within retailing.

Based on previous literature, the paper presents a synthesised definition of AR, its main elements and how it differs from virtual reality. Furthermore, it reviews and provides examples of three major types of AR applications in retailing: online web based, in-store and mobile app based. Finally, the paper identifies the specific value that AR applications may provide for consumers and retailers.

The paper contributes an overview of a relatively recent but rapidly emerging theme that has not yet been sufficiently reviewed. It outlines areas for further research and thus provides value for both researchers and retail practitioners.

Concerns about cost management have led purchasing officers of many companies to look for new solutions – an Internet‐based electronic procurement system. The promise of Web procurement has made it one of the hottest topics of business‐to‐business e‐commerce. The promise is simple: to streamline administrative routines, and help companies consolidate their purchasing practices, enabling them to receive better discounts and better service from suppliers. Web‐based procurement systems are still in their infancy, and a lot of extra costs are around the corner. This paper presents tips for IT managers for successful implementation of this technology.

The purpose of this paper is to explore useful Semantic Web technologies and ontology-based applications for digital libraries. It also investigates the perceptions of university librarians and academicians in Pakistan about Semantic Web technologies and their use in digital libraries.

An exploratory research design based on Delphi research strategy was conducted to answer the research questions. Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 50 key informants including university librarians and academicians to explore their perceptions about Semantic Web technologies and their use in digital libraries. Thematic analysis of interview data was conducted to obtain results.

The results of this paper showed that DuraCloud, Semantic information mashup, OntoEdit and resource description framework (RDF) are the various Semantic Web applications which are useful for digital libraries to develop semantic relationships among digital contents and increase their accessibility in the web environment. Findings revealed that Semantic Web provides precise results and meets user information needs in an effective way. Results also showed that next-generation digital libraries use context-awareness technology, intelligent agent software and detecting sensors to analyze user information needs and provide dynamic information services. This paper recommended that librarians should embrace the use of emerging web technologies in libraries and offer library services through the medium of the web.

This paper envisaged the future of digital library services and Semantic Web applications that can be used to re-structure metadata of digital library. This paper has practical implications for librarians to consider the useful applications of Semantic Web for digital library and enhance the interoperability of metadata among heterogeneous information systems. Practically, results obtained from this paper are highly useful for library schools and LIS teachers to up-date their curriculum by incorporating new contents related to web languages and Semantic Web applications for digital libraries.

This paper identifies various Semantic Web applications which are useful for developing Semantic Digital Libraries.