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This paper examines how the level of low-carbon awareness (LCA) affects the remanufacturing strategy in a supply chain with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and an independent remanufacturer (IR) competing with each other.

Game theory and operations optimization.

The studies analytically characterize the threshold levels of the LCA in response to which the OEM and the IR will change their remanufacturing strategies from no remanufacturing to partial remanufacturing and then to full remanufacturing. In addition, the studies reveal that as compared with the OEM, the IR has more flexibility in terms of the market entry to remanufacturing with the level of LCA increasing. With the extended studies, it is exhibited that the above findings are robust to a good extent.

It can provide decision support for remanufacturing enterprises.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify, evaluate and structure the research that focusses on omni-channel retailing from the perspective of logistics and supply chain management; and to reveal the intellectual foundation of omni-channel retailing research.

The paper applies a multi-method approach by conducting a content-analysis-based literature review of 70 academic papers. Based on the reference lists of these papers, the authors performed a citation and co-citation analysis based on the 34 most frequently cited papers. This analysis included multidimensional scaling, a cluster analysis and factor analysis.

The study reveals the limited consideration of logistics and supply chain management literature in the foundation of the omni-channel retailing research. Further, the authors see a dominance of empirical research as compared to conceptual and analytical research. Overall, there is a focus on the Western retail context in this research field. The intellectual foundation is embedded in the marketing discipline and can be characterised as lacking a robust theoretical foundation.

The contribution of this research is identifying, evaluating and structuring the literature of omni-channel research and providing an overview of the state of the art of this research area considering its interdisciplinary nature. This paper thus supports researchers looking to holistically comprehend, prioritise and use the underpinning literature central to the phenomena of omni-channel retailing. For practitioners and academics alike, the findings can trigger and support future research and an evolving understanding of omni-channel retailing.

This paper aims to explore the transformation process and transformation mechanism of carbon steel under the marine environment.

In this paper, the transformation and rust layers corrosion products on 0Cu2Cr carbon steel with different cycles coupon test was investigated and deeply explored by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffraction.

The results showed that the thickness of rust layers grew from 71.83 µm to 533.7 µm with increasing duration of corrosion. The initial corrosion product was γ-FeOOH, then part of the γ-FeOOH continued growing, and under the capillary action, the other part of the γ-FeOOH transformed to α-FeOOH.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper puts forward for the first time a new viewpoint of the development of corrosion products of low-carbon steel in two ways. This discovery provides a new idea for the future development of steel for marine engineering.

Unsatisfactory level of construction materials quality has been a persistent problem for companies in construction. This study aims to describe the application of the Six Sigma methodology for improving the tensile strength in a Chinese reinforcement material manufacturing company.

Six Sigma-based framework of define-measure-analyse-improve-control (DMAIC) methodology is adopted in this case study. During different stages, quality problems and critical factors are identified to improve the low performance of tensile strength and thixotropy of the impregnating resin.

The results provide solid evidence that how Six Sigma can be successfully applied in reinforcement material manufacturing. Results showed that vacuum degree, reaction temperature and stirring rate are significant factors on tensile strength. Control plans for continuous improvements are suggested and implemented. Our study found that managerial assurance activities such as verification were less developed than equipment-related control activities. Besides, data management required further elaboration on integrated data and information systematically, thereby to enable the company to make informed decisions and to support continuous improvement.

This study contributes to show a potential area in which Six Sigma DMAIC approach can promote to improve the tensile strength of impregnating resin. This case can prompt managers of the company to apply Six Sigma method to address complicated problems in other reinforcement material processes. Companies of construction and their suppliers can refer to this study when improving their manufacturing process.