Industrial Engineering and Management

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.7	4.5	2011	16.9 Days	CHF 2400
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400
Journal of Risk and Financial Management jrfm	-	2.8	2008	20.5 Days	CHF 1400
Games games	0.9	1.4	2010	17.1 Days	CHF 1600

15 pages, 2968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Spatial Risk Factors with Social Media Data Analysis for an Ambulance Allocation Strategy: A Case Study in Bangkok

by Ranon Jientrakul, Chumpol Yuangyai, Klongkwan Boonkul, Pakinai Chaicharoenwut, Suriyaphong Nilsang and Sittiporn Pimsakul

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10247; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610247 - 18 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1551

Abstract

Emergency medical service (EMS) base allocation plays a critical role in emergency medical service systems. Fast arrival of an EMS unit to an incident scene increases the chance of survival and reduces the chance of victim disability. However, recently, the allocation strategy has [...] Read more.

Emergency medical service (EMS) base allocation plays a critical role in emergency medical service systems. Fast arrival of an EMS unit to an incident scene increases the chance of survival and reduces the chance of victim disability. However, recently, the allocation strategy has been performed by experts using past data and experiences. This may lead to ineffective planning due to a lack of consideration of a recent and relevant data, such as disaster events, population density, public transportation stations, and public events. Therefore, we propose an approach of the integration of using spatial risk factors and social media factors to identify EMS bases. These factors are combined into a single domain by using the kernel density estimation technique, resulting in a heatmap. Then, the heatmap is used in a modified maximizing covering location problem with a heatmap (MCLP-Heatmap) to allocate ambulance base. To acquire recent data, social media is then used for collecting road accidents, traffic, flood, and fire incidents. Additionally, another data source, spatial risk information, is collected from Bangkok GIS. These data are analyzed using the kernel density estimation method to construct a heatmap before being sent to the MCLP-heatmap to identify EMS bases in the area of interest. In addition, the proposed integrated approach is applied to the Bangkok area with a smaller number of EMS bases than that of the existing approach. The simulated results indicated that the number of covered EMS requests was increased by 3.6% and the number of ambulance bases in action was reduced by approximately 26%. Additionally, the bases defined by the proposed approach covered more area than those of the existing approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 8862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Contact Surfaces’ Impact on the Gear Profile during Hobbing Process

by Alina Duta, Ionut-Daniel Geonea, Dragos-Laurentiu Popa and Ludmila Sass

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8027; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168027 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

This work is the result of research on the dynamic process that occurs during milling machining, namely, the influence of the contact surfaces’ impact on the gear and the hob and the influence of their displacements on the resulting profile of the tooth. [...] Read more.

This work is the result of research on the dynamic process that occurs during milling machining, namely, the influence of the contact surfaces’ impact on the gear and the hob and the influence of their displacements on the resulting profile of the tooth. An acquisition system was placed on the final elements of the milling machine chain to determine the torque moments and displacements during gear milling. The experimental analysis proves that the displacements are within admissible limits and have no major influence on the quality of the processing surfaces. A dynamic simulation of the hobbing process with the finite element method (ANSYS) was performed for a limited period of time, and the values of deformation, equivalent strain, and stress have been determined; the time at which the chips come off and the corresponding value of the equivalent stress that occurs at their break were determined based on the maximum distortion energy von Misses theory. It is required to simulate the entire hobbing process, even if it can be time-consuming to differentiate the influence of the dynamic behavior of the machine’s kinematic supplementary chains on the hob wear and the tooth profile. A modal analysis will be able to support the comparative study related to the obtained experimental data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 1240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accomplishing Sustainability in Manufacturing System for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) through Lean Implementation

by Karishma M. Qureshi, Bhavesh. G. Mewada, Saleh Y. Alghamdi, Naif Almakayeel, Mohamed Rafik N. Qureshi and Mohamed Mansour

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9732; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159732 - 8 Aug 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2967

Abstract

Business enterprises such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in economic development but struggle for sustainability. A business enterprise such as a manufacturing unit tries many technological innovations and strategic initiatives to accomplish sustainability in the manufacturing system. Lean [...] Read more.

Business enterprises such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in economic development but struggle for sustainability. A business enterprise such as a manufacturing unit tries many technological innovations and strategic initiatives to accomplish sustainability in the manufacturing system. Lean manufacturing implementation is one such initiative that helps SMEs manufacture value-added products with increased profitability and waste minimization. However, lean implementation in SMEs is challenging. Hence, it is essential to follow a systematic framework and control the critical success factors (CSFs) in attempting lean implementation. The purpose of this research is to find, evaluate, and rank the CSFs of lean implementation of SMEs so that they may be controlled to accomplish successful lean implementation. The CSFs of lean implementation found by an in-depth assessment of the literature are modeled using the interpretative structural modeling (ISM) approach. MICMAC analysis is also used in classifying and understanding the significance of each lean implementation CSF. ISM and MICMAC provide the relationship modeling to reveal the inter-relationships of each lean implementation CSF. Subsequently, the ISM model is validated using the Delphi technique. The interpretative ranking process (IRP) has been applied to rank the CSFs of lean implementations. The results show that sustainability in a manufacturing system, financial capability, and employee involvement hold significant importance in lean implementations in manufacturing SMEs. Practicing managers may benefit from revisiting their lean implementation plans and respective aligned strategies. They will also be in a position to identify and focus on the scarce resources required for the subsequent lean implementations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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23 pages, 1502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Main Corporate Social Responsibility Drivers and Barriers and Their Foreseeable Evolution—Evidence from Two Leading Multinationals: The Airbus and TASL Cases

by Rafael García Martín, Alfonso Duran-Heras and Karen Reina Sánchez

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 8167; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14138167 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2934

Abstract

This article undertakes a comparative analysis of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) drivers and barriers in the European multinational Airbus and the Indian Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL), both in their current, as-is state, and in the desirable future, should-be state. These in-depth [...] Read more.

This article undertakes a comparative analysis of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) drivers and barriers in the European multinational Airbus and the Indian Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL), both in their current, as-is state, and in the desirable future, should-be state. These in-depth case studies are based on structured interviews, complemented with a survey. The research findings provide qualified, bounded support to the currently preponderant view among CSR scholars, regarding both the preeminent role of the internal (vs. external) drivers and the key importance of moral-driven (vs. profit-driven) drivers such as the values of the top management. The caveat here reflects that, contingent on cultural issues, individual companies might not have reached this state yet. Furthermore, these findings suggest that the current CSR situation could be characterized as contingent, transitional and convergent; the practical implications for the various CSR stakeholders of this characterization are discussed. The most salient trait, convergence, suggests the existence of a certain commonality in CSR’s foreseeable evolutionary path, even among disparate companies, converging on such aspects as the ever-increasing role of the value system and of the shared, internalized company culture, and the shift of CSR’s role from obligation to potential source of competitive advantage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 6133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Carbon Strategies Considering Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Based on Carbon Trading and Carbon Reduction Technology Investment

by Yanhong Yuan, Bowen Zhang, Lei Wang and Li Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6683; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116683 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2052

Abstract

This paper focuses on the optimal strategic choice of carbon trading and carbon reduction technology investment under the cap-and-trade system. We consider a carbon-dependent production enterprise that trades carbon emission rights or invests in carbon reduction technologies under the regulation of the cap-and-trade [...] Read more.

This paper focuses on the optimal strategic choice of carbon trading and carbon reduction technology investment under the cap-and-trade system. We consider a carbon-dependent production enterprise that trades carbon emission rights or invests in carbon reduction technologies under the regulation of the cap-and-trade system. The enterprise undertakes corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and aims to maximize the comprehensive benefits of both the economy and the environment. Using numerical simulation, we analyze the impacts of the CER coefficient and initial carbon quotas on the comprehensive benefits, optimal emission reduction rate, and production quantity of the enterprise. Our main contribution is studying the low-carbon strategic option for CER production enterprises to maximize the comprehensive benefits by trading carbon emission permits or investing in carbon emission reduction technologies. We found that the carbon emission trading mechanism plays an important role in promoting enterprises to reduce carbon emissions and is a beneficial supplement to the carbon cap policy. Under different initial carbon quotas allocated by the government, the manufacturer strategically chooses to trade carbon emission rights or invest in carbon reduction technologies. CER is a significant factor in encouraging companies to reduce carbon emissions proactively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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23 pages, 4119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Construction of Safety-Management Platform for Chemical Enterprises Based on the Immune System Model

by Xiongjun Yuan, Bingjie Wang, Xin Guan, Yuqin Wang, Othmane Chemsi, Jiaxuan Zhang and Xiaoyu Chen

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5522; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115522 - 29 May 2022

Viewed by 1715

Abstract

Identifying risk factors and improving safety “immunity” is beneficial to chemical enterprises to reduce the occurrence of production accidents. In this paper, an immune system model has been built according to the bionics principle, and the corresponding antigen–antibody index system based on hidden [...] Read more.

Identifying risk factors and improving safety “immunity” is beneficial to chemical enterprises to reduce the occurrence of production accidents. In this paper, an immune system model has been built according to the bionics principle, and the corresponding antigen–antibody index system based on hidden dangers and treatment measures has been established, including 8 factor layers and 33 index layers. Then, the immune evaluation model of production safety was built using index weight, and an evaluation model of immune response ability for production safety was constructed based on grey system theory. Finally, aiming to identify immune deficiency through numerical analysis, a safety-management platform focused on people management, visual monitoring, and danger warning was constructed. The results verify the suitability of the immune correlation principle applied in chemical enterprises, which makes an instructive contribution to the construction of information management platforms for chemical enterprise safety production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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19 pages, 4718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Logistics 5.0 Implementation Model Based on Decision Support Systems

by Maja Trstenjak, Tihomir Opetuk, Goran Đukić and Hrvoje Cajner

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6514; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116514 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2885

Abstract

With the introduction of Society 5.0 for the sustainable future, special caution is given to humans’ role within the general system. Similarly, Industry 5.0 as a concept has been presented, followed by Logistics 5.0 in its theoretical framework. The transition towards the new [...] Read more.

With the introduction of Society 5.0 for the sustainable future, special caution is given to humans’ role within the general system. Similarly, Industry 5.0 as a concept has been presented, followed by Logistics 5.0 in its theoretical framework. The transition towards the new concept of Logistics 5.0 requires an accurate and optimal strategic plan definition for which, in this paper, an implementation model based on decision support systems will be developed. The output data from this model are the priority of Logistics 5.0 elements (from five groups—green warehousing, green transport, green packaging, infrastructure and organization, and human resources) for the optimal implementation, based on three goals (initial investment, return of investment time, implementation and exploitation complexity) that companies aim to achieve in the future. The model is based on the analytic hierarchy process, and data were collected from an expert group and analyzed with several statistical methods. The result is a model that provides an optimal strategy for the implementation of elements of Logistics 5.0. The implementation priority list of elements is very beneficial for the management of many companies from various types of industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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24 pages, 1319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Challenges of Lean Transformation and Implementation in the Manufacturing Sector

by Catherine Maware and David M. Parsley II

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6287; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106287 - 21 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 11704

Abstract

In this study we explored the challenges involved in Lean Transformation and implementation in the manufacturing sector. Using survey data from 50 North American manufacturing organizations, we examined the challenges involved in implementing and sustaining Lean Manufacturing (LM) principles and practices in production [...] Read more.

In this study we explored the challenges involved in Lean Transformation and implementation in the manufacturing sector. Using survey data from 50 North American manufacturing organizations, we examined the challenges involved in implementing and sustaining Lean Manufacturing (LM) principles and practices in production processes. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and the fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) were used to rank the considerable challenges observed in these organizations. We concluded that the need for a change in organizational culture was the major barrier to Lean implementation. It is challenging to sustain Lean without a culture shift and a clear direction set by the organization’s leadership team. The originality of the paper relates to prioritizing the cultural aspects of organizations as a major barrier to LM implementation. Other challenges encountered during Lean implementation in the manufacturing industries were related to management support, technical knowledge, and employee resistance to change. Early identification of these challenges enables companies to question their capabilities before implementing the Lean philosophy. In this study we used results obtained from 50 manufacturing companies in North America, representing a subset of manufacturing organizations. As a result, it must be interpreted based on the data acquisition method and the study’s sample size. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 2054 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamics between Power Consumption and Economic Growth at Aggregated and Disaggregated (Sectoral) Level Using the Frequency Domain Causality

by Ashutosh Dash, Sangram Keshari Jena, Aviral Kumar Tiwari and Shawkat Hammoudeh

J. Risk Financial Manag. 2022, 15(5), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm15050219 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2488

Abstract

We investigated the Granger causal relationship between the consumption of power both at the aggregate and sectoral level and economic growth in India using the frequency domain approach, which would help policy makers seek the efficient allocation of electricity via proper policy initiatives [...] Read more.

We investigated the Granger causal relationship between the consumption of power both at the aggregate and sectoral level and economic growth in India using the frequency domain approach, which would help policy makers seek the efficient allocation of electricity via proper policy initiatives at different frequencies. We find that at the aggregate level, unidirectional causality runs from the total power consumption to economic growth, starting from the second up to the seventh quarter. In the sectoral context, the results are different. Since there is no causality between industrial power consumption and economic growth; therefore, an energy conservation policy can thus be implemented for the industrial sector. Moreover, since a bidirectional causality exists after 15 quarters for the commercial sector, a short-term policy but not an energy conservation policy could also be initiated for this sector. In the industrial and agricultural sectors, a promotional policy should be initiated because a unidirectional causality exists from sectoral power consumption to economic growth. Therefore, different and sector-specific policies would be more appropriate than a single policy for all power sectors in India in order to orient the efficient utilisation of power towards better economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 4340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Regional Dynamic Transfer Characteristics of Liquid Oil Contamination Induced by Random Contact in Machining Workshops in Shanghai, China

by Xin Wang, Jinchi Zhao, Yinchen Yang and Yukun Xu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4765; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094765 - 9 May 2022

Viewed by 1473

Abstract

In industrial sites, the movement and contact behaviors of workers are random, but their frequency and statistical characteristics can be determined. Particularly in machining workshops, metalworking fluids (MWFs) cause liquid oil contamination on the processed workpieces, and the contamination spreads to the entire [...] Read more.

In industrial sites, the movement and contact behaviors of workers are random, but their frequency and statistical characteristics can be determined. Particularly in machining workshops, metalworking fluids (MWFs) cause liquid oil contamination on the processed workpieces, and the contamination spreads to the entire workshop given the random contact of workers or the handling of workpieces. This study proposes a contact transmission model based on the Markov chain to quantify oil contamination transfer. First, the transfer efficiency between the glove and the workpiece, which is regarded as a key model parameter in this research, was determined through experiments. The model was used to characterize and predict the spread of oil contamination across different regions, including production and assembly areas. Specifically, the oil contamination concentrations on workbench surfaces in seven locations of a machining workshop in Shanghai GKN HUAYU Driveline Systems Co., Ltd. (SDS) were measured on-site. Findings showed that the model could feasibly depict the transfer process of oil contamination across different surfaces. Then, the variation law of oil contamination concentration on the workbench surfaces over time was analyzed, the oil contamination distribution map of the entire workshop plane was drawn, and the effectiveness of two cleaning measures to reduce oil contamination concentrations was compared. The proposed contact transmission model offers a basis for identifying highly polluted surfaces in machining workshops and controlling the spread of liquid oil contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 2152 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Service Innovation and Quality Assessment of Industry 4.0 Microservice through Data Modeling and System Simulation Evaluation Approaches

by Yen-Chun Wen and Wun-Hwa Chen

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4718; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094718 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1639

Abstract

This study proposes a system construction approach under Industry 4.0 infrastructure that is validated by the proposed framework of microservice quality assessment with framework with data modeling and simulation methodology to achieve innovation and value cocreation goals. The framework, which combines a dynamic [...] Read more.

This study proposes a system construction approach under Industry 4.0 infrastructure that is validated by the proposed framework of microservice quality assessment with framework with data modeling and simulation methodology to achieve innovation and value cocreation goals. The framework, which combines a dynamic process flow with service-dominant logic design and reliability assessment using a multilayer perceptron (MLP) prediction model can assist decision makers in optimizing their service innovation and decision-making processes. The service innovation and evaluation approaches have implications for optimizing the corporation cooperation. The corporation can form a much more comprehensive manufacturing infrastructure or system by considering the requirements and assessment results of third parties. To help the corporation redefine its value proposition and system structure, we must examine the system interaction between different hierarchical layers within the Industry 4.0 system infrastructure. This study used a production dataset from the NASDAQ-listed electronics corporation and two top German and Japanese automobile firms. The proposed system framework had already been validated and introduced to improve 12% of service quality. The system integrated with anticipated functions will accelerate service innovation and optimization by combining MLP and Kaplan–Meier estimation methodologies by extracting the characteristics of realistic datasets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 2413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Carbon Policy on Carbon Emission Reduction in Supply Chain under Uncertain Demand

by Changhong Li, Jialuo Wang, Jiao Zheng and Jiani Gao

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5548; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095548 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2167

Abstract

Although there are many articles on carbon emission reduction of sustainable supply chain, most of them study the carbon emission reduction efficiency of supply chain in the case of single carbon policy or demand determination. Based on previous studies, this paper considered a [...] Read more.

Although there are many articles on carbon emission reduction of sustainable supply chain, most of them study the carbon emission reduction efficiency of supply chain in the case of single carbon policy or demand determination. Based on previous studies, this paper considered a supply chain consisting of a single manufacturer and a single retailer in an uncertain demand market. The effects of demand randomness and different carbon policies on carbon emission reduction level and optimal decision in supply chain were studied by constructing mean-variance utility function and Stackelberg game. Due to the difficulty of data acquisition, this paper verified the equalization results by numerical simulation. The results show that: (1) cap-and-trade policy, government subsidy policy and carbon tax policy can promote the carbon emission reduction investment of supply chain, while carbon tax policy will lead to the decline of the overall profit of supply chain; (2) For the manufacturer and the retailer, adopting a strategy with a low degree of risk avoidance will increase its own profits; (3) For the supply chain as a whole, it is more advantageous for manufacturers to adopt higher risk avoidance strategies, while retailers to adopt lower risk avoidance strategies. In addition, in the conclusion, this paper puts forward management implications related to stakeholders, thus providing help for the development of sustainable supply chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 6367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leveraging Quantity Surveying Data and BIM to Automate Mechanical and Electrical (M & E) Construction Planning

by Maroua Sbiti, Djaoued Beladjine, Karim Beddiar and Bélahcène Mazari

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4546; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094546 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2615

Abstract

Despite the great potential of LPS and BIM to improve construction project productivity, the full integration of these modern production and information management systems at the data processing level is not yet achieved. After matching the literature to empirical studies in a Constructive [...] Read more.

Despite the great potential of LPS and BIM to improve construction project productivity, the full integration of these modern production and information management systems at the data processing level is not yet achieved. After matching the literature to empirical studies in a Constructive Research Approach, it emerged that very few studies have investigated how buildings’ data could be preserved and continuously evolve during the project lifecycle. Accordingly, we underline the potential role of data warehousing in rendering operational data as a strategic asset for decision making. These findings motivate the present research, which aims to capitalize on quantity surveying data in order to automate the generation of M & E installation schedules. This paper first introduces the system functional requirements. Then, it proposes a conceptual scheme for the planning data mart (a data warehouse subset dedicated to planning subject area). Furthermore, we shed light on the M & E fragnet standardization procedure and how data have been processed. Finally, we present the current software developments to demonstrate the feasibility of this concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 1364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technical–Economic Analysis of the Solutions for the Modernization of Lighting Systems

by Elisabeta Spunei, Nătălița-Mihaela Frumușanu, Gheorghița Măran and Mihaela Martin

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5252; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095252 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1427

Abstract

In the context of the electricity crisis, measures are needed to reduce energy consumption. The case study was conducted on the lighting system at a university sports hall. To determine the efficiency and quality, the lighting systems and technical characteristics of the sources [...] Read more.

In the context of the electricity crisis, measures are needed to reduce energy consumption. The case study was conducted on the lighting system at a university sports hall. To determine the efficiency and quality, the lighting systems and technical characteristics of the sources used were identified, lighting level measurements were made, the luminotechnical coefficients and the power of the whole lighting system were calculated and the results were compared to the values set out in the standards. Following analysis, the lighting system was found not to meet the quality requirements and was energy inefficient. For financial efficiency, only the replacement of lighting was sought, keeping the same equipment and granting the same facilities to the building users. Some lighting source options were analyzed and the option to have the highest luminous efficacy and the highest energy class was chosen. The analysis shows that the investment is amortized within a maximum of 17 months. The innovative aspect is based on linking the measurements with the determination of power and the proposal of modernization solutions, which shows the need for investments to ensure the quality of the system and the increase in energy efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Management Model Based on Risk Analysis and Implementation of the Model

by Semih Coşkun and Elif Akgül

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4396; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084396 - 7 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2597

Abstract

In modern business management, the effective management of organizational structures based on goals within the scope of modern management concepts, as well as the continuous improvement of processes for increasing competitiveness, are critical. The purpose of this study is to discuss the matter [...] Read more.

In modern business management, the effective management of organizational structures based on goals within the scope of modern management concepts, as well as the continuous improvement of processes for increasing competitiveness, are critical. The purpose of this study is to discuss the matter of risk identification and analysis, practices that are seen in many different fields within the scope of the notion of sustainable management. It aimed to add the dimensions of targets and risk analysis to the scope of process analysis and development, within this study. The stages, starting with the definition of the processes in the process model through the targets based on the risk analysis, are transformed into a quality assurance cycle and completed with the determination, monitoring, and evaluation of the sustainable process development activities. The performance indicators of the business processes in a textile business were determined, and the identification of a model structure with systematic traceability was provided, in practice. The opportunities and threats encountered in achieving the determined goals were identified. The defined factors were examined within the scope of the failure mode and effects analysis and risk analysis methods. The risk evaluations were performed using fuzzy numbers. The results obtained by fuzzy failure mode effects analysis were evaluated through the MATLAB Fuzzy Logic Design Toolbox model. Risks were ranked as a result of the evaluation, and process development activities were chosen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 3732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Current Density Limit of DC Grounding Facilities Considering Impact on Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio)

by Hailiang Lu, Jiahao Chen, Guanhua Li, Kai Xu, Bo Tan, Xuefang Tong, Yun Teng, Chun Li, Lei Lan and Xishan Wen

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3942; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073942 - 26 Mar 2022

Viewed by 1492

Abstract

Grounding facilities, including high-voltage DC grounding electrodes and auxiliary anodes in impressed current cathodic protection systems, inject current into the ground. This study developed an experimental platform to determine the safe limit of current density for such facilities through an analysis of fish [...] Read more.

Grounding facilities, including high-voltage DC grounding electrodes and auxiliary anodes in impressed current cathodic protection systems, inject current into the ground. This study developed an experimental platform to determine the safe limit of current density for such facilities through an analysis of fish behavior on the platform. Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) were selected for the experiment and placed in a tank; two rod electrodes were used to inject direct current into the water. A wireless camera was focused on the water tank to video record possible changes in fish behavior. The output voltage of the DC power source was varied, and the trajectories of the fish under various direct current fields were recorded. A tracking program was developed to analyze the trajectories and quantify the behavior of the fish. A new method combining the trajectories of fish samples with the results of current density calculations for analysis was proposed. Results demonstrated that the zebrafish could sense current in the water and turn when exposed to certain current densities. The intensity of the current at the turning points was statistically analyzed, and the threshold of current density at which the fish could no longer tolerate the current and turned was 0.4231 A/m². Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ambidexterity in a Rapidly Changing Environment of China: Top Management Team Decision Making and Sustained Performance

by Jiewei Zu, Jianan Wang and Jun Ma

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3894; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073894 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2148

Abstract

The market requires Internet companies to achieve unit ambidexterity to adapt to a rapidly changing market environment. Studies have discussed the background, behavior, and performance of corporate ambidexterity but have not focused on formulating ambidextrous decisions by the top management team. We implemented [...] Read more.

The market requires Internet companies to achieve unit ambidexterity to adapt to a rapidly changing market environment. Studies have discussed the background, behavior, and performance of corporate ambidexterity but have not focused on formulating ambidextrous decisions by the top management team. We implemented inductive multiple case studies by utilizing five Chinese Internet companies as subjects. Results show that if the senior managers consider the contingency between business and environment from the perspective of the entire industry to achieve goals, resource allocation, and co-evolution, and effectively coordinate the internal conflict of the decision-making process, then the company could attain sustained performance. The newly constructed theoretical framework emphasizes the role of contingency and strategy behavior, rather than deterministically interpreting the outcome based on the personal judgment of senior managers and the embeddedness of units. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

15 pages, 2975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Context-Based Decision Support System for Energy Efficiency in Industrial Plants

by Rui Neves-Silva and Luis M. Camarinha-Matos

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3885; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073885 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1947

Abstract

Industrial companies must actively pursue more energy efficiency in their processes, with impacts on both costs and the environment, and ultimately business performance. This article explores the influence of context around the manufacturing process on energy consumption. By creating awareness of this influence [...] Read more.

Industrial companies must actively pursue more energy efficiency in their processes, with impacts on both costs and the environment, and ultimately business performance. This article explores the influence of context around the manufacturing process on energy consumption. By creating awareness of this influence in a quantified way, it is possible, via a structured decision process, to find opportunities and derive solutions to improve energy performance. This work introduces a method developed in the scope of the LifeSaver project, which is based on the visualization of energy consumption data against benchmark/average values. The overall approach is supported by a software platform which offers a set of functionalities covering the complete approach, from the detection of the consumption pattern to the implementation of improvement solutions. The approach was tested in two industrial business cases. The first one illustrates the approach by showing the influence of the human factor on the energy performance in cement production. The second case deals with finding opportunities on the selection of the operation point, and its impact on peak load management. The proposed approach and developed system demonstrate a positive direct impact on reducing energy consumption and consequent carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, the operation of the implemented case studies has an important indirect effect on bringing awareness to the impact of small actions on general energy efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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12 pages, 1096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Black Liquor Shocks on the Stability of Activated Sludge Treatment of Kraft Pulp Mill Effluent: Morphological Alteration in Daphnia magna and Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity Response in Salmonella typhimurium

by Soledad Chamorro, Laura Hernández, Katia Saéz, Gloria Gómez and Gladys Vidal

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3869; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073869 - 25 Mar 2022

Viewed by 1719

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the stability of activated sludge (AS) in the treatment of kraft pulp mill effluent exposed to black liquor shock, as well as the effect of its exposure on the morphology of Daphnia magna and DNA [...] Read more.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the stability of activated sludge (AS) in the treatment of kraft pulp mill effluent exposed to black liquor shock, as well as the effect of its exposure on the morphology of Daphnia magna and DNA damage through mutagenicity and genotoxicity response in Salmonella typhimurium. To this end, we applied doses of 2-, 4-, 10-, and 30-mL black liquor/L influent—shock 1 (S1), shock 2 (S2), shock 3 (S3), and shock 4 (S4), respectively—to kraft pulp mill effluent. The system stability was checked by analyzing heterotrophic biomass activity and discharge quality, evaluated using Ames test and Daphnia magna. The results show that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency for normal conditions was 64.84%, falling to 61.68%, and 61.31% for S1 and S2, respectively, and values of 52.11% for S3 and 20.34% for S4. The biomass activity decreased after each shock was applied, but then recovered. There was no evidence of lethal toxicity (LC₅₀) to Daphnia magna at any of the concentrations. Therefore, it is feasible to apply doses S1 and S2 to an AS system that treats kraft pulp mill effluent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 6487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Hybrid Predictions Based on the Synthesized Health Indicator for Marine Systems and Their Equipment Failure

by Peng Zhang, Lele Cao, Fangyang Dong, Zeyu Gao, Yongjiu Zou, Kai Wang, Yuewen Zhang and Peiting Sun

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3329; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073329 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1517

Abstract

Ship mechanical system health prognosis is one of the major tasks of ship intelligent operation and maintenance (O&M). However, current failure prediction methods are aimed at single pieces of equipment, and system-level monitoring remains an underexplored area. To address this issue, an integration [...] Read more.

Ship mechanical system health prognosis is one of the major tasks of ship intelligent operation and maintenance (O&M). However, current failure prediction methods are aimed at single pieces of equipment, and system-level monitoring remains an underexplored area. To address this issue, an integration method based on a synthesized health indicator (SHI) and dynamic hybrid prediction is proposed. To accurately reflect the changes in system health conditions, a multi-state parameter fusion method based on dynamic kernel principal component analysis (DKPCA) and the stacked autoencoder (SAE) is presented, along with construction of a system SHI. Taking into consideration that the system degradation process includes global degradation trends, local self-healing phenomena, and local interference, a dynamic hybrid prediction model is established after SHI decomposition. The performance of the proposed approach is applied to a ship fuel-oil system to show its effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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23 pages, 856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Political and Socioeconomic Factors That Determine the Financial Outcome of Successful Green Innovation

by Kevin Riehl, Florian Kiesel and Dirk Schiereck

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3651; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063651 - 20 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2459

Abstract

Green innovation and technology diffusion must be financially and commercially attractive to convince corporate decision makers. This paper focuses on the factors that determine the financial outcome of successful green innovation activities conducted by large, listed companies. We employ a cross-industry dataset including [...] Read more.

Green innovation and technology diffusion must be financially and commercially attractive to convince corporate decision makers. This paper focuses on the factors that determine the financial outcome of successful green innovation activities conducted by large, listed companies. We employ a cross-industry dataset including more than 97,954 reports on corporate environmentalism from 286 international listed companies. Our results indicate that economic, political, cultural, firm-specific, investor-related, and governance factors significantly determine the financial performance of green innovation, measured by abnormal returns. Moreover, we can show that factors that reduce the competition in green innovation markets benefit the financial success of firms operating via them. Finally, we find an opposing influence for several factors that benefit earlier stages of innovation (e.g., research output) while harming the later stages (e.g., market introduction and financial performance). These findings imply that a spatial separation strategy for different stages of innovation supports corporate environmentalism activities. Moreover, physical property rights, the governments’ willingness to support green technologies, and economic framework conditions such as oil price, GDP, or public R&D budget need to be balanced by policymakers to address and stimulate green innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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13 pages, 2616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy-Saving for Industrial Pneumatic Actuation Systems by Exhausted Air Reuse Based on a Constant Pressure Elastic Accumulator

by Hongwang Du, Wei Liu, Xin Bian and Wei Xiong

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3535; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063535 - 17 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2229

Abstract

Exhausted air reuse is one of the most important energy-saving methods for pneumatic actuation systems. However, traditional exhausted air storage tanks have the disadvantages of unstable pressure and low energy density. To solve these problems, this paper presents an energy-saving method by exhausted [...] Read more.

Exhausted air reuse is one of the most important energy-saving methods for pneumatic actuation systems. However, traditional exhausted air storage tanks have the disadvantages of unstable pressure and low energy density. To solve these problems, this paper presents an energy-saving method by exhausted air reuse for industrial pneumatic actuation systems based on a constant pressure elastic accumulator. Employing the hyperelastic mechanical properties of rubber, a constant pressure energy storage accumulator is designed and applied to a pneumatic circuit for exhausted air recovery and energy saving. In the circuit, the accumulator recovers exhausted air from a primary cylinder and supplies it to another secondary cylinder. Then the secondary cylinder no longer needs air supply from the air compressor to achieve the purpose of energy saving. The energy-saving mathematical model of the circuit is established using air consumption, and the system operation test bed is built to verify the energy-saving efficiency. Results show that the maximum energy-saving efficiency of the system is 54.1% under given working conditions, and the stability of the cylinder can be improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 1453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality Attributes of Hotel Services in Brazil and the Impacts of COVID-19 on Users’ Perception

by Clérito Kaveski Peres and Edson Pacheco Paladini

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063454 - 15 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

The unprecedented crisis faced by the hotel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in guests’ perceptions of service quality attributes. In view of the need to monitor this environment, this study is dedicated to identifying the main negative topics [...] Read more.

The unprecedented crisis faced by the hotel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in guests’ perceptions of service quality attributes. In view of the need to monitor this environment, this study is dedicated to identifying the main negative topics related to the quality of hotel services in Brazil and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on guests’ perception of these topics. For this purpose, a set of 866,048 online hotel reviews were collected from the Booking.com platform. Initially, data were analyzed through topic modeling to identify the attributes addressed by guests in their evaluations. Subsequently, an average comparison method was used to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the evaluation scores of each attribute. A total of 13 topics related to five attributes of hotel service quality were identified. The topics related to room cleaning and check-in were the most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the largest drops in average evaluation scores. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 2141 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rescheduling Plan Optimization of Underground Mine Haulage Equipment Based on Random Breakdown Simulation

by Ning Li, Shuzhao Feng, Tao Lei, Haiwang Ye, Qizhou Wang, Liguan Wang and Mingtao Jia

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3448; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063448 - 15 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1620

Abstract

Due to production space and operating environment requirements, mine production equipment often breaks down, seriously affecting the mine’s production schedule. To ensure the smooth completion of the haulage operation plan under abnormal conditions, a model of the haulage equipment rescheduling plan based on [...] Read more.

Due to production space and operating environment requirements, mine production equipment often breaks down, seriously affecting the mine’s production schedule. To ensure the smooth completion of the haulage operation plan under abnormal conditions, a model of the haulage equipment rescheduling plan based on the random simulation of equipment breakdowns is established in this paper. The model aims to accomplish both the maximum completion rate of the original mining plan and the minimum fluctuation of the ore grade during the rescheduling period. This model is optimized by improving the wolf colony algorithm and changing the location update formula of the individuals in the wolf colony. Then, the optimal model solution can be used to optimize the rescheduling of the haulage plan by considering equipment breakdowns. The application of the proposed method in an underground mine revealed that the completion rate of the mine’s daily mining plan reached 83.40% without increasing the amount of equipment, while the ore quality remained stable. Moreover, the improved optimization algorithm converged quickly and was characterized by high robustness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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25 pages, 15184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Process Monitoring Using Kernel PCA and Kernel Density Estimation-Based SSGLR Method for Nonlinear Fault Detection

by Faisal Shahzad, Zhensheng Huang and Waqar Hussain Memon

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(6), 2981; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12062981 - 15 Mar 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2066

Abstract

Fault monitoring is often employed for the secure functioning of industrial systems. To assess performance and enhance product quality, statistical process control (SPC) charts such as Shewhart, CUSUM, and EWMA statistics have historically been utilized. When implemented to multivariate procedures, unfortunately, such univariate [...] Read more.

Fault monitoring is often employed for the secure functioning of industrial systems. To assess performance and enhance product quality, statistical process control (SPC) charts such as Shewhart, CUSUM, and EWMA statistics have historically been utilized. When implemented to multivariate procedures, unfortunately, such univariate control charts demonstrate low fault sensing ability. Due to some limitations of univariate charts, numerous process monitoring techniques dependent on multivariate statistical approaches such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) have been designed. Yet, in some challenging scenarios in industrial chemical and biological processes with notably nonlinear properties, PCA works poorly, according to its presumption that the dataset generally be linear. However, Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) is a reliable and precise nonlinear process control methodology, but the interaction mainly through upper control limits (UCLs) dependent on the Gaussian distribution may weaken its output. This article introduces time-varying statistical error tracking through Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) based on Generalized Likelihood Ratio statistics (GLR) using a sequential sampling scheme named KPCA-SSGLR for nonlinear fault detection. The main issue of employing just T² and Q statistic in KPCA is that they cannot correctly give practitioners the change point of the system fault, preventing practitioners from diagnosing the issue. Based on this perspective, this study attempts to incorporate KPCA with sequential sampling Generalized Likelihood Ratio (SSGLR) for monitoring the nonlinear fault in multivariate systems. The KPCA is utilized for dimension reduction, while the SSGLR is employed as a tracking statistic. The kernel density estimation (KDE) was employed to approximate UCLs for variational system operation relying on KPCA. The testing efficiency of the corresponding KPCA-KDE-SSGLR technique was then analyzed and competed with KPCA and kernel locality preserving projection (KLPP), the UCLs of which were focused on the Gaussian distribution. The purpose of this analysis is to enhance the development of KPCA-KDE-SSGLR to accomplish future enhancements and to advance the practical use of the established model by implementing the sequential sampling GLR approach. The fault monitoring efficiency is demonstrated through different simulation scenarios, one utilizing synthetic data, the other from the Tennessee Eastman technique, and lastly through a hot strip mill. The findings indicate the applicability of the KPCA-KDE-based SSGLR system over the KLPP and KPCA-KDE methods by its two T² and Q charts to recognize the faults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 1868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence Mechanism of High-Tech Industrial Agglomeration on Green Innovation Performance: Evidence from China

by Jiaoping Yang, Shujun Wang, Shan Sun and Jianhua Zhu

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3187; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063187 - 8 Mar 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2175

Abstract

This paper uses panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China between 2008 and 2017. It calculates the green innovation performance of each province and city based on the super-efficiency SBM model of unexpected output and measures the high-tech industrial agglomeration degree [...] Read more.

This paper uses panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China between 2008 and 2017. It calculates the green innovation performance of each province and city based on the super-efficiency SBM model of unexpected output and measures the high-tech industrial agglomeration degree of each province and city by using the location entropy method. The influence of high-tech industrial agglomeration on green innovation is also empirically tested. It is found that the agglomeration level of high-tech industry and green innovation performance in Eastern China are much higher than those in Central and Western regions. There is a significant positive relationship between high-tech industrial agglomeration and green innovation performance. Human capital has a mediating effect in the positive impact of high-tech industry agglomeration on green innovation performance. The moderating effect of environmental regulation is markedly established. The higher the level of environmental regulation, the stronger the mediating effect of human capital. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward relevant policy suggestions for promoting the organic combination of green and innovation-driven development and for promoting green transformation in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 2413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Reform of Mining Production and Management Modes under Industry 4.0: Cloud Mining Mode

by Lin Bi, Zhuo Wang, Zhaohao Wu and Yuhao Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(6), 2781; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12062781 - 8 Mar 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2375

Abstract

In the context of Industry 4.0, using a new generation of information technology to activate and transform traditional industries will maintain the long-term competitiveness of traditional industries. The mining industry is also going through the process of informatization transformation. Through a literature survey, [...] Read more.

In the context of Industry 4.0, using a new generation of information technology to activate and transform traditional industries will maintain the long-term competitiveness of traditional industries. The mining industry is also going through the process of informatization transformation. Through a literature survey, we analyze the current situation and challenges faced by mine production and operation management. Many mining companies are expanding in scale, but their operation and management methods are inefficient, and their business processes and organizational management methods need to be reformed. We propose a new mode named CM mode (cloud mining mode). We define this as integrating the core business of the mine (such as production and operation management, mining technology, planning services, etc.) into the cloud through effective use of cloud technologies, cloud resources, and cloud services. A large number of human and intellectual resources move to the cloud. A new mode of operation and management of mining industry clusters is thus formed; it is open, cooperative, and coordinated. We present five elements of the CM mode: data resources, digital technologies, digital talents, cloud business form, and cloud cooperation mode. We establish a “cloud–edge–terminal” technical framework of the CM mode, and describe its technical characteristics. We also describe three main application scenarios of the CM mode, and highlight the development path and key points of construction. The CM mode highlights a new development direction for the production and management of intelligent mines, and is of great significance for giving full play to the value of intelligent construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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23 pages, 4070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Emissions in Fab Labs: An Additive Manufacturing Environment Issue

by Shirin Khaki, Maud Rio and Philippe Marin

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2900; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052900 - 2 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1902

Abstract

The emergence of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, such as 3D printing and laser cutting, has created opportunities for new design practices covering a wide range of fields and a diversity of learning and teaching settings. The potential health impact of particulate matter and [...] Read more.

The emergence of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, such as 3D printing and laser cutting, has created opportunities for new design practices covering a wide range of fields and a diversity of learning and teaching settings. The potential health impact of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from AM technologies is, therefore, a growing concern for makers. The research behind this paper addresses this issue by applying an indoor air quality assessment protocol in an educational fabrication laboratory. The paper presents the evaluation of the particle emission rate of different AM technologies. Real-time monitoring of multiple three-dimensional Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) printers and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) laser cutters was performed in different usage scenarios. Non-contact electrical detectors and off-line gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to detect VOCs. The results show that the emitted particle surface area concentrations vary between 294 and 406.2 μm²/cm³ for three-dimensional printers, and between 55.06 and 92.3 μm²/cm³ for laser cutters. The experiments demonstrate that the emission concentrations were highly dependent on the filtration systems in place. The highest quantities of VOCs emitted included Cyclohexene and Benzyl Alcohol for PLA, ABS and TPE 3D printers, and formic acid and Xylene for PMMA laser cutters. The experiment concludes that signature emissions are detectable for a given material type and an AM technology pair. A suitable mitigation strategy can be specified for each signature detected. Finally, this paper outlines some guidelines for improving indoor air quality in such specific environments. The data provided, as well as the proposed indoor air quality protocol, can be used as a baseline for future studies, and thus help to determine whether the proposed strategies can enhance operator and bystander safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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23 pages, 1434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Collaboration on Enterprises Internationalization Process

by Beatriz Andres, Raul Poler and Eduardo Guzman

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2843; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052843 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2764

Abstract

At present, competitive globalized environments force enterprises to make more effort to both set up collaborative processes among networked partners and open their borders to the internationalization process. With this participation in internationalization processes, a set of barriers emerges that enterprises must overcome, [...] Read more.

At present, competitive globalized environments force enterprises to make more effort to both set up collaborative processes among networked partners and open their borders to the internationalization process. With this participation in internationalization processes, a set of barriers emerges that enterprises must overcome, particularly SMEs. The internationalization barriers are classified in four main dimensions, namely, strategy, technology, partners and product, which are considered to establish relationships between the internationalization and the collaborative processes. Accordingly, the research objective is to analyse the extent to which collaboration with international partners facilitates the internationalization process. A research survey was held with Spanish manufacturing SMEs to assess the internationalization of operations by establishing collaborative processes in global networks. Two surveys were conducted to analyse collaboration and internationalization concepts, and the influences among them: (i) a first survey, designed to validate the posed hypothesis about the relation between internationalization and setting up collaborative processes; (ii) a second survey, devised to perform a descriptive analysis that identifies less-applied collaborative processes in SMEs by establishing internationalization activities. The study results reveal that collaboration positively influences the internationalization process, and identifies the collaborative processes that are less performed among the partners that internationalize their operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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28 pages, 3809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy-Saving Oriented Manufacturing Workshop Facility Layout: A Solution Approach Using Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization

by Zhongwei Zhang, Lihui Wu, Zhaoyun Wu, Wenqiang Zhang, Shun Jia and Tao Peng

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052788 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2443

Abstract

Low-carbon sustainable development has become the consensus of manufacturing enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities. Facility layout is an essential part of manufacturing system planning. Current research has demonstrated the advantages of energy saving on the manufacturing system level where operational methods (e.g., [...] Read more.

Low-carbon sustainable development has become the consensus of manufacturing enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities. Facility layout is an essential part of manufacturing system planning. Current research has demonstrated the advantages of energy saving on the manufacturing system level where operational methods (e.g., energy-efficient production scheduling and path planning) can be utilized and do not require massive investment in the existing legacy system. However, these efforts are mostly based on the existing fixed facility layout. Meanwhile, although facility layout problems have been extensively studied so far, the related work seldom involves the optimization of energy consumption (EC) or other EC-related environmental impact indicators, and does not clearly reveal if EC can be an independent optimization objective in facility layout. Accordingly, whether the energy-saving potential of a manufacturing system can be further tapped through rational facility layout is the gap of the current study. To address this, an investigation into energy-saving oriented manufacturing workshop facility layout is conducted. Correspondingly, an energy-efficient facility layout (EFL) model for the multi-objective optimization problem that minimizes total load transport distance and EC is formulated, and a multi-objective particle swarm optimization-based method is proposed as the solution. Furthermore, experimental studies verify the effectiveness of the presented model and its solution, indicating that EC can be regarded as an independent optimization objective during facility layout, and EFL is a feasible energy-saving approach for a manufacturing system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 50248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scientometric Analysis of Research on Corporate Social Responsibility

by Mario Morales-Parragué, Luis Araya-Castillo, Fidel Molina-Luque and Hugo Moraga-Flores

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042291 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3307

Abstract

This work shows how Corporative Social Responsibility (CSR) has been filtering into different management areas, providing an insight into its evolution, and presenting literature reviews and efforts to incorporate conceptualisations and recommendations on its application. It can be understood through a scientometric and [...] Read more.

This work shows how Corporative Social Responsibility (CSR) has been filtering into different management areas, providing an insight into its evolution, and presenting literature reviews and efforts to incorporate conceptualisations and recommendations on its application. It can be understood through a scientometric and bibliometric analysis, using the WoS documents on the “Social Responsibility” concept in the “Business and Economics” category, analysing a total of 8728 papers up to the year 2020. In this work, CSR is associated with views from different fields of study in economics and business, highlighting diverse management fields; it seeks to explain the correlation between CSR and concepts from such fields of study, suggesting that there is a need to order and question the current understanding of CSR and show its relevance so it can be considered an area of specialisation within the management of businesses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 2751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Task Allocation in Human–Machine Manufacturing Systems Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

by Taejong Joo, Hyunyoung Jun and Dongmin Shin

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042245 - 16 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2421

Abstract

Catering for human operators is a critical aspect in the sustainability of a manufacturing sector. This paper presents a task allocation problem in human–machine manufacturing systems. A key aspect of this problem is to carefully consider the characteristics of human operators having different [...] Read more.

Catering for human operators is a critical aspect in the sustainability of a manufacturing sector. This paper presents a task allocation problem in human–machine manufacturing systems. A key aspect of this problem is to carefully consider the characteristics of human operators having different task preferences and capabilities. However, the characteristics of human operators are usually implicit, which makes the mathematical formulation of the problem difficult. In addition, variability in manufacturing systems such as job completion and machine breakdowns are prevalent. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a deep reinforcement learning-based approach to accommodate the unobservable characteristics of human operators and the stochastic nature of manufacturing systems. Historical data accumulated in the process of job assignment are exploited to allocate tasks to either humans or machines. We demonstrate that the proposed model accommodates task competence and fatigue levels of individual human operators into job assignments, thereby improving scheduling-related performance measures compared to classical dispatching rules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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28 pages, 1927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Coordination of Multi-Stage Discounts in a Dual Channel Fresh Agricultural Produce Supply Chain: Minimizing the Loss of Quantity and Quality

by Xiaojing Zheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2174; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042174 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1799

Abstract

This paper explores the coordination of the agricultural cooperative to supermarket or E-commerce supply chain, under the condition of quantity loss with a mixed decay function of exponential and logistical distribution. The nature of this process is analyzed, and the corresponding demand and [...] Read more.

This paper explores the coordination of the agricultural cooperative to supermarket or E-commerce supply chain, under the condition of quantity loss with a mixed decay function of exponential and logistical distribution. The nature of this process is analyzed, and the corresponding demand and supply functions with single- and multi-stage discount strategies are constructed, respectively, to create a working model. The optimal discount ratios for supermarkets and agricultural cooperatives in decentralized and centralized decision-making modes coupled with single- and multi-stage discounts are calculated, respectively. Finally, a universal optimal strategy is designed, which can be applied to various quantity decay scenarios and makes the discount strategy more generalized. The results show that discounts can coordinate supply chains more effectively; not only would fresh agricultural produce be sold out before it starts to rot, but also the benefit conflicts arising from both supermarkets vs. cooperatives and traditional vs. E-commerce channels could be equilibrated. Further, multi-stage discounts are more difficult to coordinate than single-stage ones, the corresponding optimal discount ratios rely on the initial quantity of fresh agricultural produce in the supply chain, its market share in the traditional distribution channel, the potential market size, retail price, the price sensitivity coefficient of the channel, the cross-elasticity coefficient of prices between different channels, and the properties of the quantity loss. It is concluded that, regardless of what kind of quantity and quality loss occurs, whether decentralized or centralized decision making is selected, or whether the supermarket’s or agricultural cooperative’s discount ratio is considered, a universal price discount consisting of a fixed term and a drift term could both maximize supply chain profit and coordinate this dual-channel supply chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Scenario Evaluation for Intelligent Ships by Mapping Hierarchical Holographic Modeling into Risk Filtering, Ranking and Management

by Wenjun Zhang, Yingjun Zhang and Weiliang Qiao

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042103 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1676

Abstract

To identify and screen the risk scenarios for the navigation risk of intelligent ships, the analysis and evaluation of navigational risks were performed in this study. Risk scenarios were developed and evaluated by mapping the hierarchical holographic modeling (HHM) into risk filtering, ranking [...] Read more.

To identify and screen the risk scenarios for the navigation risk of intelligent ships, the analysis and evaluation of navigational risks were performed in this study. Risk scenarios were developed and evaluated by mapping the hierarchical holographic modeling (HHM) into risk filtering, ranking and management (RFRM). In detail, considering the insignificant influences of some factors on navigational activities, risk factors were filtered and ranked using the RFRM model. Seven final factors were successfully determined, including traffic flow, navigation environment understanding, ship–shore interaction capabilities, target recognition capabilities, communication equipment reliabilities, professional skills, and situation judgments. The results indicated that cargo security can be guaranteed by following navigational risk identification and screening steps, and thus our findings provide theoretical guidance for the dynamic management of maritime organizations and ship companies. In addition, the proposed methodology is desirable for making predictions on maritime traffic risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 10133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strategic Turnaround in the Paper Industry: A New Model for the Procurement of Recycled Paper

by Golub V. Marković and Marko M. Mihić

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1475; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031475 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2741

Abstract

In recent decades, the paper industry has undergone many changes, making this industry more lucrative, “greener”, and thus more attractive. Today, recycled paper is a key raw material for paper production. However, this intense growth has also increased the number of market players, [...] Read more.

In recent decades, the paper industry has undergone many changes, making this industry more lucrative, “greener”, and thus more attractive. Today, recycled paper is a key raw material for paper production. However, this intense growth has also increased the number of market players, making competition more intense and dynamic and causing frequent turmoil. In such an environment, planning procurement and forecasting the price of recycled paper is a big challenge, even for highly experienced procurement managers. In addition, paper production itself is a dynamic process that requires all key grades of recycled paper to be available at all times. Accordingly, managing the optimal level of recycled paper stocks is also a difficult task faced by the procurement unit. The goal of this paper is to address these challenges by developing a new model for the sustainable procurement of recycled paper in the paper industry with the help of the principles of strategic management. Specifically, we aim to enhance our understanding of the factors driving the complexity of recycled paper procurement management. To this end, we conducted a comparative case study in four European companies. To build cases, we collected secondary data on the sampled companies as well as primary data from interviews with top executives at these companies. On the basis of the results from the comparative case study, we propose a new model for the procurement of recycled paper that helps increase the accuracy of forecasting price trends and by extension overall procurement performance. In a nutshell, this paper seeks to improve procurement processes by reducing the complexity of the enterprise procurement unit as well as by offering guidelines for the maintenance of optimal stock levels of recycled paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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23 pages, 996 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Disclosures of Information on Cybersecurity in Listed Companies in Latin America—Proposal for a Cybersecurity Disclosure Index

by Maricela Ramírez, Lázaro Rodríguez Ariza, María Elena Gómez Miranda and Vartika

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1390; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031390 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3720

Abstract

For the corporate sphere, cybersecurity becomes an inescapable business responsibility, and accountability becomes a way of providing trust and ensuring resilience against cyber risks and high-impact cyber threats. The purpose of this study was to create a disclosure index that allows analysis of [...] Read more.

For the corporate sphere, cybersecurity becomes an inescapable business responsibility, and accountability becomes a way of providing trust and ensuring resilience against cyber risks and high-impact cyber threats. The purpose of this study was to create a disclosure index that allows analysis of the scope of the disclosure of voluntary and mandatory cybersecurity information. The content analysis technique used focuses on the examination and identification of the cybersecurity information revealed in the annual reports and the 20 F annual forms of the companies with the highest stock market prices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru during the period of 2016–2020. Longitudinal analysis indicates an increase over time in the disclosures and scope of information. The findings highlight that the country with the highest related disclosure is Argentina; the most extensive disclosures are due to the financial sector; and the strategy dimension represents the greatest weight in the index score. The study provides a novel instrument for measuring the content of disclosure on cybersecurity that is applicable in any specific context. In this case, the scope of disclosure in Latin America—a region which, according to our research, does not have previous studies on the subject—is evaluated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 4854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Circular Saw Blade Design on Reducing Energy Consumption of a Circular Saw in the Cutting Process

by Ján Svoreň, Ľubomír Naščák, Štefan Barcík, Peter Koleda and Štefan Stehlík

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031276 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4546

Abstract

Optimal cutting conditions, which lead to a high quality of the machined surface and low energy consumption, are crucial for wood processing. This paper describes the effect of feed speed, cutting speed and mean chip thickness on energy consumption and saw blade surface [...] Read more.

Optimal cutting conditions, which lead to a high quality of the machined surface and low energy consumption, are crucial for wood processing. This paper describes the effect of feed speed, cutting speed and mean chip thickness on energy consumption and saw blade surface temperature during the spruce (Picea excelsa) cutting process. In the experiment, the energy consumption and the surface temperature of the saw blades were measured to find the optimal cutting conditions for the energy-efficient cutting process. The surface temperature of the circular saw blade was monitored online using a non-contact infrared sensor connected directly to a PC via a USB connector. The results show that the cutting power and the surface temperature of the circular saw blade increased with increasing feed speed. The lowest values of cutting power were shown by the saw blade CSB3. Compared to the classic CSB1 circular saw blade, the values were lower by 8%. The surface temperature of the circular saw blade is highest at the outer edge (area of the heel of the teeth), and decreases towards the center of the circular saw blade. For an identical mean chip thickness, energy-efficient cutting was achieved at a feed speed of 21 m/min. There must be a trade-off between machine productivity and energy consumption. Monitoring the cutting process of circular saws using intelligent sensors is the way to adaptive control systems that ensure higher quality of the machined surface and cost-effective machining. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Analysis of Company Growth Determinants Based on Financial Statements of the European Companies

by Bojana Vuković, Kristina Peštović, Vera Mirović, Dejan Jakšić and Sunčica Milutinović

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020770 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3701

Abstract

The primary aim of this paper is to determine the indicators that have an influence on the company growth in the field of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries during the six-year period (2014–2019). This sector is very important for sustainable development, bearing in mind [...] Read more.

The primary aim of this paper is to determine the indicators that have an influence on the company growth in the field of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries during the six-year period (2014–2019). This sector is very important for sustainable development, bearing in mind the need to preserve natural resources, i.e., land, water, plant, and animal resources. Sustainable development of this sector is of satisfactory technical-technological development, economically sustainable, and socially acceptable. The sample consists of 1333 observations of active companies on the European market. Multiple regression analysis was used in order to thoroughly analyze the variables of growth. The obtained results showed that company size has a negative impact on growth, while return on assets and leverage have a positive impact on growth. The impact of these variables was statistically significant. Along with the influence of observed determinants based on data from financial statements, the future growth and development of companies in this sector will certainly depend on the volume of investments, pricing policy, credit and natural conditions, agricultural policy measures, and adequate institutional support through the provision of financial support and encouragement of exports of products. Institutional incentives for more intensive integration of the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector are aimed at achieving the concept of integrated sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

18 pages, 723 KiB

Open AccessReview

Condition-Based Monitoring and Maintenance: State of the Art Review

by Ahad Ali and Abdelhakim Abdelhadi

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(2), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020688 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7406

Abstract

Manufacturing firms face great pressure to reduce downtime as well as maintenance costs. Condition-based maintenance (CBM) can be used to effectively manage operations and maintenance by monitoring detailed machine health information. CBM policies and the development of the mathematical models have been growing [...] Read more.

Manufacturing firms face great pressure to reduce downtime as well as maintenance costs. Condition-based maintenance (CBM) can be used to effectively manage operations and maintenance by monitoring detailed machine health information. CBM policies and the development of the mathematical models have been growing recently. This paper provides a review of the theoretical and practical development in the field of condition-based maintenance and its current advancements. Standard CBM platform could make it effective and efficient in implementation and performance improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 2634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Value Stream Mapping in E-Commerce: A Case Study on an Amazon Retailer

by Yanfang Qin and Hongrui Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 713; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020713 - 10 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 17936

Abstract

In recent years, the e-commerce market has grown significantly, and the online retail market has become very competitive. Online retailers strive to improve their supply chain operations to reduce costs and to improve customer satisfaction. Value stream mapping (VSM), a tool created by [...] Read more.

In recent years, the e-commerce market has grown significantly, and the online retail market has become very competitive. Online retailers strive to improve their supply chain operations to reduce costs and to improve customer satisfaction. Value stream mapping (VSM), a tool created by the lean production movement to identify and reduce errors, losses, and lead time and to improve value-added activities, has been proven to be effective in many manufacturing processes. In this study, we investigate the application of value stream mapping (VSM) in the supply chain of an e-commerce retailer on Amazon. By visualizing the entire supply chain with VSM, the waste that is produced during the delivery process from the retailer to the customer was identified. The five whys method was then applied to find the root cause of the waste. Furthermore, a scoring method was developed to evaluate and compare two different supply chain logistic models to identify a strategy for improvement. This study provides a systematic methodology to understand, evaluate, and improve the entire e-commerce supply chain process utilizing VSM. It was demonstrated that the methodology could improve supply chain management efficiency, customer satisfaction, and cost reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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24 pages, 1527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Specific Open Innovation Issues from Perspectives of Open Source and Resources—The Series Cases of Tesla

by Jianan Wang, Yuzhen Duan and Guijian Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010142 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 11794

Abstract

It is difficult for enterprises to adapt to the rapidly developing market demand and increasingly intense competition by relying only on internal resources to carry out innovation activities. We identify three new issues for the Cross-Functional Consortium Families (CFCFs, CF²s) open [...] Read more.

It is difficult for enterprises to adapt to the rapidly developing market demand and increasingly intense competition by relying only on internal resources to carry out innovation activities. We identify three new issues for the Cross-Functional Consortium Families (CFCFs, CF²s) open innovation model based on a cooperating network: participation of large-scale high-tech enterprises (LHEs), impact from open source, and motivation of keeping resource independence. By studying the series cases of Tesla, Inc. (Austin, TX, USA) cooperating with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through an open source CF² model, we examined and discussed these three issues and gave new connotations to both open innovation and the CF² model from perspectives of open source and resources. This paper also provides strategic reference for other LHEs to mitigate the dependency on key resources and generate new key resources accepted by the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 1110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strategies for Improving the E-Waste Management Supply Chain Sustainability in Indonesia (Jakarta)

by Nurhadi Wibowo, Jerry Kuswara Piton, Rahmat Nurcahyo, Djoko Sihono Gabriel, Farizal Farizal and Alfian Ferdiansyah Madsuha

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13955; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413955 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4216

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. However, only 17.4% of it can be collected and recycled in 2019. This study aims to formulate strategies to improve the supply chain of e-waste management in Indonesia. Methods [...] Read more.

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. However, only 17.4% of it can be collected and recycled in 2019. This study aims to formulate strategies to improve the supply chain of e-waste management in Indonesia. Methods used to develop strategies in this study are the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), the Analytical Network Process (ANP), Strength–Weaknesses–Opportunities–Threats (SWOT), and the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). The results show that infrastructure criteria have the largest weight, that is 0.267, followed by a social environment with 0.261, regulation with 0.244, stakeholder with 0.122, and economy with 0.054. The top priority of the selected strategies is to improve public education (ST1) and provide socialization of regulations and sanctions to the public (ST2). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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11 pages, 1440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Pause Design on the Decline in Pulling Effort and the Evaluation of Perceived Effort in Pulling Tasks

by Cannan Yi, Fan Tang, Kaiway Li, Hong Hu, Huali Zuo and Caijun Zhao

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 12022; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112412022 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1554

Abstract

Pulling is one of the manual material handling activities that could lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The objectives of this study were to explore the development of muscular fatigue when performing intermittent pulling tasks and to establish models to predict the pull strength [...] Read more.

Pulling is one of the manual material handling activities that could lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The objectives of this study were to explore the development of muscular fatigue when performing intermittent pulling tasks and to establish models to predict the pull strength decrease due to performing the tasks. A simulated truck pulling experiment was conducted. Eleven healthy male adults participated. The participants pulled a handle with a load of 40 kg, which resulted in a pulling force of approximately 123 N. The pulling tasks lasted for 9 or 12 min with one, two, or three pauses embedded. The total time period of the embedded pauses was 3 min. The pull strength after each pull and rest was measured. Ratings of the perceived exertion on body parts after each pull were also recorded. The results showed insignificant differences regarding the development of muscular fatigue related to rest frequency. We found that the development of muscular fatigue for pulling tasks with embedded pauses was significantly slower than that for continuous pulls. The forearm had a higher CR-10 score than the other body parts indicating that the forearm was the body part suffering early muscle fatigue. An exponential model was developed to predict the pull strength of the pulling tasks with embedded pauses. This model may be used to assess the developing of muscular fatigue for pulling tasks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 3665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Performance Evaluation of Faceshield Bracket Manufacturing by Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

by Getasew Taddese, Severine Durieux and Emmanuel Duc

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13883; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413883 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2151

Abstract

Faceshield brackets were among highly relevant products manufactured in various workshops, including Sigma Clermont, during the outbreak of COVID-19 to tackle acute shortages of personal protective equipment. However, many of these products are yet to be checked for appropriateness in design, quality, safety, [...] Read more.

Faceshield brackets were among highly relevant products manufactured in various workshops, including Sigma Clermont, during the outbreak of COVID-19 to tackle acute shortages of personal protective equipment. However, many of these products are yet to be checked for appropriateness in design, quality, safety, comfort, and overall sustainability performance which might lead to unknown damages to human health and the environment. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the sustainable performance of Faceshield bracket manufacturing. Appropriate data are collected from designers, machine operators, and supplementary data are utilized from experts’ opinions and literature. A total of 38 carefully selected indicator sets are utilized while applying multicriteria decision-making methodology (MCDM) of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate the sustainability performance of these manufacturing processes. Evaluation is performed to examine the processes’ sustainability performance and associated indicator contribution based on the three dimensions. Results disclosed that 3D printing (score = 0.108) showed better performance for the environment, and injection molding showed better economic and social performance, with scores of 0.1922 and 0.160, respectively. A detailed contribution of each subcriteria for each sustainability dimension and each of the three processes as well as major contributing indicators are identified and discussed. Finally, overall performance was assessed using the total sum approach, and Borda count methodology and injection molding showed better sustainability performance in the manufacturing of Faceshield brackets considered with scores of 43 and 87, respectively. The authors believe that indicator selection approaches and overall methodology followed for this study will be relevant for future sustainability evaluation of engineering products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 423 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Emotional Labor in COVID-19 through the Lens of Self-Efficacy

by Lixia Yao and Jie Gao

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13674; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413674 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2939

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a significant blow to the restaurant industry, with many restaurants suspending operations or closing altogether. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of emotional labor on employees’ well-being and the mediating role of self-efficacy in the [...] Read more.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a significant blow to the restaurant industry, with many restaurants suspending operations or closing altogether. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of emotional labor on employees’ well-being and the mediating role of self-efficacy in the context of chain restaurants. Data were collected in 2020 through an online survey in China, and results revealed that emotional labor had a significant impact on well-being that was measured in life and job satisfaction. Self-efficacy not only had a significant positive impact on employees’ job- and life-related well-being but also played a fully mediating role between deep acting and life satisfaction, with a partial mediating role between deep acting and job satisfaction. Job-related well-being also played a fully mediating role between deep acting and life satisfaction, with a partial mediating role between deep acting and job satisfaction. It is important for restaurant employees to develop deep acting skills and improve self-efficacy and job satisfaction Restaurant managers must establish a healthy working environment by providing better job support and creating a more relaxed working atmosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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12 pages, 2816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vacuum Leak Detection Method Using Index Regression and Correction for Semiconductor Equipment in a Vacuum Chamber

by Taekyung Ha and Hyunjung Shin

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11762; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112411762 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3381

Abstract

In semiconductor manufacturing, fault detection is an important method for monitoring equipment condition and examining the potential causes of a fault. Vacuum leakage is considered one of the major faults that can occur in semiconductor processing. An unnecessary O₂ and N₂ [...] Read more.

In semiconductor manufacturing, fault detection is an important method for monitoring equipment condition and examining the potential causes of a fault. Vacuum leakage is considered one of the major faults that can occur in semiconductor processing. An unnecessary O₂ and N₂ mixture, a major component of the atmosphere, creates unexpected process results and hence drops in yield. Vacuum leak detection systems that are currently available in the vacuum industry are based on helium mass spectrometers. They are used for detecting the vacuum leakage at the sole isolation condition where the chamber is fully pumped but cannot be used for in situ detection while the process is ongoing in the chamber. In this article, a chamber vacuum leak detection method named Index Regression and Correction (IRC) is presented, utilizing common data which were gathered during normal chamber operation. This method was developed by analyzing a simple list of data, such as pressure, the temperature of the chamber body, and the position of the auto pressure control (APC), to detect any leakages in the vacuum chamber. The proposed method was experimentally verified and the results showed a high accuracy of up to 97% when a vacuum leak was initiated in the chamber. The proposed method is expected to improve the process yield of the chamber by detecting even small vacuum leakages at very early stages of the process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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25 pages, 1110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On Comparing Cross-Validated Forecasting Models with a Novel Fuzzy-TOPSIS Metric: A COVID-19 Case Study

by Dalton Garcia Borges de Souza, Erivelton Antonio dos Santos, Francisco Tarcísio Alves Júnior and Mariá Cristina Vasconcelos Nascimento

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413599 - 9 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1979

Abstract

Time series cross-validation is a technique to select forecasting models. Despite the sophistication of cross-validation over single test/training splits, traditional and independent metrics, such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), are commonly used to assess the model’s accuracy. [...] Read more.

Time series cross-validation is a technique to select forecasting models. Despite the sophistication of cross-validation over single test/training splits, traditional and independent metrics, such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), are commonly used to assess the model’s accuracy. However, what if decision-makers have different models fitting expectations to each moment of a time series? What if the precision of the forecasted values is also important? This is the case of predicting COVID-19 in Amapá, a Brazilian state in the Amazon rainforest. Due to the lack of hospital capacities, a model that promptly and precisely responds to notable ups and downs in the number of cases may be more desired than average models that only have good performances in more frequent and calm circumstances. In line with this, this paper proposes a hybridization of the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and fuzzy sets to create a similarity metric, the closeness coefficient (CC), that enables relative comparisons of forecasting models under heterogeneous fitting expectations and also considers volatility in the predictions. We present a case study using three parametric and three machine learning models commonly used to forecast COVID-19 numbers. The results indicate that the introduced fuzzy similarity metric is a more informative performance assessment metric, especially when using time series cross-validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Subrange and Its Application to the R-Chart

by En Xie, Yizhong Ma, Linhan Ouyang and Chanseok Park

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11632; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112411632 - 8 Dec 2021

Viewed by 1915

Abstract

The conventional sample range is widely used for the construction of an R-chart. In an R-chart, the sample range estimates the standard deviation, especially in the case of a small sample size. It is well known that the performance of the sample range [...] Read more.

The conventional sample range is widely used for the construction of an R-chart. In an R-chart, the sample range estimates the standard deviation, especially in the case of a small sample size. It is well known that the performance of the sample range degrades in the case of a large sample size. In this paper, we investigate the sample subrange as an alternative to the range. This subrange includes the range as a special case. We recognize that we can improve the performance of estimating the standard deviation by using the subrange, especially in the case of a large sample size. Note that the original sample range is biased. Thus, the correction factor is used to make it unbiased. Likewise, the original subrange is also biased. In this paper, we provide the correction factor for the subrange. To compare the sample subranges with different trims to the conventional sample range or the sample standard deviation, we provide the theoretical relative efficiency and its values, which can be used to select the best trim of the subrange with the sense of maximizing the relative efficiency. For a practical guideline, we also provide a simple formula for the best trim amount, which is obtained by the least-squares method. It is worth noting that the breakdown point of the conventional sample range is always zero, while that of the sample subrange increases proportionally to a trim amount. As an application of the proposed method, we illustrate how to incorporate it into the construction of the R-chart. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

13 pages, 2050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality Study on Vehicle Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning Failure

by Dina Diga, Irina Severin and Nicoleta Daniela Ignat

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13441; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313441 - 4 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2953

Abstract

The automotive industry has set a highly demanding standard to meet customer satisfaction. The paper aimed to detail how quality analysis has been conducted to state the main causes that generated nonconformities of heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Problems have been [...] Read more.

The automotive industry has set a highly demanding standard to meet customer satisfaction. The paper aimed to detail how quality analysis has been conducted to state the main causes that generated nonconformities of heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Problems have been reported on HVAC systems, such as noise, not being cold enough and moldy smell issues. All three problems determined by customer reports initiated the first contribution of this paper, namely by an initial quality study, and generated the investigation using is/is not problem scoping, data analysis, and graphical analysis. Pareto analysis and the Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) approach are used to highlight the traceability of the actions performed in the evaluation of the problems and the detection of the causes related to each problem. The data analysis process and the data obtained from the analysis are the core of this paper. An immediate action plan is proposed, concluding with the hypothesis that the root cause is the blockage of the heater. This methodology has significant potential for being implemented, even for other components in the same industry or different sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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27 pages, 1643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Taxation Promotes the Intelligent Transformation of Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises: Tax Leverage Theory

by Longzhen Yu, Jianhua Zhu and Zhixian Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13321; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313321 - 1 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1996

Abstract

A key issue that concerns governments is how to formulate optimal technology subsidies and green tax standards to promote the intelligent transformation of manufacturing enterprises. In this work, the Pollutant Emission Indicator Trading Mechanism (PEITM) is proposed, and green taxes are divided into [...] Read more.

A key issue that concerns governments is how to formulate optimal technology subsidies and green tax standards to promote the intelligent transformation of manufacturing enterprises. In this work, the Pollutant Emission Indicator Trading Mechanism (PEITM) is proposed, and green taxes are divided into Tax of Pollutant Emissions (TPE) and the Tax of Excess Pollutant Emissions (TEPE). On this basis, we study the impact of green taxes and technology subsidies on the intelligent transformation of enterprises in different manufacturing environments from the government’s perspective and provide the optimal government subsidy scheme under different green tax policies. Although it seems counter-intuitive, enterprises’ usual responses to increases in TPE and TEPE are non-monotonic. Moreover, we find a threshold effect for the government’s green taxation. Blindly increasing or reducing taxes may not promote intelligent transformation, but instead force enterprises towards negative choices. Lastly, an effective measure for the government to promote the intelligent transformation of manufacturing enterprises is proposed: by properly adjusting TPE and TEPE, governments can produce more cost-effective intelligent products than ordinary ones. Consequently, intelligent products will sell better than ordinary products, and manufacturing enterprises will be able to consciously carry out intelligent transformation to remain viable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organizational Strategies and Their Impact on Employee Commitment during the Health Emergency

by Cecilia Ramos-Estrada, María Teresa de la Garza Carranza, Jorge Armando López-Lemus, Quetzalli Atlatenco-Ibarra and Edgar René Vázquez-González

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13089; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313089 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2111

Abstract

The emergence of a new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has generated multiple consequences that have affected the lives of all human beings, imposing a new normal where social distancing and mobility restrictions have become the norm. This situation has also affected organizations forcing [...] Read more.

The emergence of a new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has generated multiple consequences that have affected the lives of all human beings, imposing a new normal where social distancing and mobility restrictions have become the norm. This situation has also affected organizations forcing them to create or strengthen strategies to respond to the situation to guarantee their survival and growth, which has made it essential to have full commitment from employees. Structural equations were used to design an instrument that was used with managers and middle managers at 130 Mexican companies. Once reliability and validity were tested and confirmed, the study found that there is a positive and significant relation between organizational strategies applied during the health emergency and employee commitment with the organization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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11 pages, 2680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Operating of Gasoline Engine Using Naphtha and Octane Boosters from Waste as Fuel Additives

by Obed Majeed Ali, Omar Rafae Alomar, Omar Mohammed Ali, Naseer T. Alwan, Salam J. Yaqoob, Anand Nayyar, Sameh Askar and Mohamed Abouhawwash

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13019; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313019 - 24 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2867

Abstract

Fuel quality is an important indicator for the suitability of alternative fuel for the utilization in internal combustion (IC) engines. In this paper, light naphtha and fusel oil have been introduced as fuel additives for local low octane gasoline to operate a spark [...] Read more.

Fuel quality is an important indicator for the suitability of alternative fuel for the utilization in internal combustion (IC) engines. In this paper, light naphtha and fusel oil have been introduced as fuel additives for local low octane gasoline to operate a spark ignition (SI) engine. Investigated fuel samples have been prepared based on volume and denoted as GN10 (90% local gasoline and 10% naphtha), GF10 (90% local gasoline and 10% fusel oil), and GN5F5 (90% local gasoline, 5% naphtha and 5% fusel oil) in addition to G100 (Pure local gasoline). Engine tests have been conducted to evaluate engine performance and exhaust emissions at increasing speed and constant wide throttle opening (WTO). The study results reveal varying engine performance obtained with GN10 and GF10 with increasing engine speed compared to local gasoline fuel (G). Moreover, GN5F5 shows higher brake power, lower brake specific fuel consumption, and higher brake thermal efficiency compared to other investigated fuel samples over the whole engine speed. The higher CO and CO₂ emissions were obtained with GN10 and GF10, respectively, over the entire engine speed and the minimum CO emissions observed with GN5F5. Moreover, the higher NO_x emission was observed with pure local gasoline while the lowest was observed with GF10. On the other hand, GN5F5 shows slightly higher NO_x emissions than GF10, which is lower than GN10 and gasoline. Accordingly, GN5F5 shows better engine performance and exhaust emissions, which can enhance the local low gasoline fuel quality using the locally available fuel additives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 11844 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Manual Skill Degradation Due to Automation in Apparel Manufacturing

by Zahid Rashid and Matthias Rötting

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11098; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311098 - 23 Nov 2021

Viewed by 2199

Abstract

Manual skill degradation is a common problem that production managers face in assembly lines due to frequent changes in batch styles. Since the advancement in automated machinery, reliance on manual machines has been reduced. However, due to the high cost of fully automated [...] Read more.

Manual skill degradation is a common problem that production managers face in assembly lines due to frequent changes in batch styles. Since the advancement in automated machinery, reliance on manual machines has been reduced. However, due to the high cost of fully automated machinery, it is still not available on a large scale in apparel manufacturing setups as most of the setups are in developing countries. Few related studies regarding the effects of automation on manual skills have been conducted in aviation and other emerging technological advanced fields; little focus was given on the effects of automation in apparel manufacturing. This exploratory study examines automation-induced performance degradation in the apparel production line. Sixty-seven sewing machine operators were initially trained on manual sewing machines to learn a complex production operation. Then, participants were divided randomly into three groups to experience varied amount of automation exposure. The manual machine group (MMG)kept working on the manual machines after the initial training and skill development. In contrast, the automation group (AG) shifted to automated pocket setting machines after skill development. Finally, the refresher training group (RTG) rotated between manual and automated machines after the skill development. The skill retrieval assessment was carried out after six weeks in the production line. The result of an independent t-test showed no significant differences among performances of the three groups after the initial training stage. A significant increase in the average single cycle time (ASCT) and decrease in the right-first-time percent (RFT %) was found in the AG while the ASCT decreased and the RFT% increased among the MMG after the retention interval. The RTG almost maintained its production output and the ASCT due to refresher training drills. Relevance to industry: Production managers usually maintain a skill set among the operators to run the production line smoothly. Therefore, capacity development drills of sewing operators are essential to maintain an efficient required skill set. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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13 pages, 292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supply Chain Replenishment Decision for Newsvendor Products with Multiple Periods and a Short Life Cycle

by Chun-Chin Wei and Liang-Tu Chen

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212777 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

Traditionally, the newsvendor problem is a single-period model for a retailer and can be applied in the replenishment decision for a product with a short life cycle. However, many fashionable commodities are seasonal; not all of these products must be sold within a [...] Read more.

Traditionally, the newsvendor problem is a single-period model for a retailer and can be applied in the replenishment decision for a product with a short life cycle. However, many fashionable commodities are seasonal; not all of these products must be sold within a single period of a selling season, and they can be replenished once in each cycle. This study develops a novel multi-period model to determine multiple ordering replenishment decisions for a product over a short selling season. This study not only demonstrates the profit function for a retailer, but also provides those for both the manufacturer and the entire channel in a supply chain problem. The proposed multi-period ordering model provides explicit insights into how the ordering decisions of the retailer are affected in a specific period by considering unsold inventory or unsatisfied demand from a previous period. A numerical analysis and the simulation results illustrate the feasibility of the proposed model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

13 pages, 1220 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can the “VUCA Meter” Augment the Traditional Project Risk Identification Process? A Case Study

by Thordur Vikingur Fridgeirsson, Helgi Thor Ingason, Svana Helen Björnsdottir and Agnes Yr Gunnarsdottir

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12769; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212769 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2485

Abstract

In this rapidly changing and fast-growing world, sustainability is an important paradigm. However, the constantly growing level of uncertainty leads to increased strain in decision making. This results in a growing need for a more effective and extensive approach for identifying project risk [...] Read more.

In this rapidly changing and fast-growing world, sustainability is an important paradigm. However, the constantly growing level of uncertainty leads to increased strain in decision making. This results in a growing need for a more effective and extensive approach for identifying project risk in particular events that are not easily detected but can have a severe impact, sometimes referred to as Black Swans or “fat tail” events. The VUCA meter is a normative approach to identify project risk by assessing in a structured way events that may be volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous and might contribute to the project risk. In this study, the VUCA meter is benchmarked against a traditional risk identification process as recommended by PMI^®. Firstly, two workshops, each referring to the respective risk identification method, were conducted. Secondly, a Delphi survey was run to investigate if the VUCA meter would capture Black Swan risk events that are bypassed by the traditional risk identification approach. The results clearly indicate that the VUCA meter can be developed to be a significant addition to the conventional risk identification process for large projects that are at an early stage. The VUCA meter facilitates a discussion that gets people to think beyond the traditional framework for identifying project risk factors. As a consequence, “fat tail” events, that are not apprehended with the conventional technique, are captured by the VUCA meter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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11 pages, 1848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of an Efficiency-Based Global Green Manufacturing Innovation Index: An Input-Oriented DEA Approach

by Hisham Alidrisi

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12697; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212697 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2311

Abstract

Innovation-based economic growth is considered to be a vital strategic aim for all economies, but environmentally friendly concepts and sustainable development (SD) must also be considered. The literature on the Global Innovation Index (GII) shows various investigations relevant to innovation, yet the lack [...] Read more.

Innovation-based economic growth is considered to be a vital strategic aim for all economies, but environmentally friendly concepts and sustainable development (SD) must also be considered. The literature on the Global Innovation Index (GII) shows various investigations relevant to innovation, yet the lack of comprehensive consideration within the GII of environmental concerns represents a critical challenge. This paper aims to provide a holistic-perspective evaluation model for the top 15 manufacturing countries worldwide in order to resolve this. The efficiency-based Global Green Manufacturing Innovation Index (GGMII) was developed by formulating an input-oriented data envelopment analysis model. Criteria such as the value added to the gross domestic product (GDP), corresponding CO₂ emissions, and unemployment rates were examined in order to represent the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of SD, respectively. Other scientific and technological dimensions were also considered. The data corresponding to all ten of the criteria were collected from World Bank Open Data. The results show a mismatch between the original GII and the proposed GGMII for the top eight manufacturing countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, France, China, Japan, and Canada), while the remaining countries (Italy, Spain, Russia, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia) occupied the same rank in both indices, but showed a sizable diminution in their original GII scores. The proposed GGMII might be utilized as a benchmarking instrument for all countries worldwide in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circular Economy as a Catalyst for Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: A Positive Relationship between Two Self-Sufficient Variables

by Juan-Manuel Valverde and Carmen Avilés-Palacios

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12652; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212652 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4041

Abstract

Governments, civil society organisations and companies have expressed an interest in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, but incorporating these goals into their strategies and activities is not an easy task. This study aims to provide information on the role [...] Read more.

Governments, civil society organisations and companies have expressed an interest in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, but incorporating these goals into their strategies and activities is not an easy task. This study aims to provide information on the role of circular economy as a tool to boost progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals to assist these different stakeholders in their quest to attain the goals. Using heuristic methodology, a review of the existing literature was conducted to explore the relationship between the two terms. Specific attention was paid to the development goals with the highest interdependence with circular economy: Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water), 8 (Decent work), 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and 15 (Life on land). Having identified the reciprocal relationships between the two variables, the results of the literature review were then analysed to explore their possible self-sufficiency. The findings of the study are intended to assist stakeholders in incorporating the SDGs into their corporate sustainability strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Will Internet Market Newness Improve Performance? An Empirical Study on the Internet Market Innovation of Offline Retailers in China

by Cheng Lu, Tongyu Gu, Jie Chen and Zunli Liu

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12619; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212619 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1808

Abstract

With the increasing impact of the Internet, the transformation of traditional retailers through Internet innovation has become a pressing issue. Based on the theory of innovation and marketing capability, this study investigated the relationships among adaptive marketing capability (AMC), Internet market newness, and [...] Read more.

With the increasing impact of the Internet, the transformation of traditional retailers through Internet innovation has become a pressing issue. Based on the theory of innovation and marketing capability, this study investigated the relationships among adaptive marketing capability (AMC), Internet market newness, and innovation performance. The mediation effect of compromise on these relationships was also investigated. Through data analysis of 205 questionnaires in China, the current study confirmed that interaction between AMC and Internet market newness significantly affected innovation performance, and Internet market newness positively affected performance only when AMC was high. The results also demonstrated that compromise mediated the interaction with performance. AMC moderated not only the direct effects on performance by Internet market newness, but the effects on compromise by Internet market newness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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33 pages, 2544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Finding Targets in Non-Radial FDH Models: A Hybrid Technique Based on STEM and Extended Ratio Based Approach

by Mehdi Abbasi, Mohammad Reza Mozaffari, Peter F. Wanke and Mohamad Amin Kaviani

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10626; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210626 - 11 Nov 2021

Viewed by 1407

Abstract

Performance evaluation using interactive methods and extended ratio-based approaches can be very important for some organizations. Free disposal hull models can be created if there is no concern for convexity, and using non-radial DEA models can simultaneously create more logical and practical situations [...] Read more.

Performance evaluation using interactive methods and extended ratio-based approaches can be very important for some organizations. Free disposal hull models can be created if there is no concern for convexity, and using non-radial DEA models can simultaneously create more logical and practical situations for finding DMU targets. In this paper, a new hybrid technique based on the additive slack based method and enhanced Russel measure in variable return to scale technology has been proposed. The proposed technique can find decision making unit targets in non-radial free disposal hull models using the step method. Furthermore, the extended ratio-based approach in the proposed technique has been applied to find DMU targets of related non-radial free disposal hull models without solving any mathematical programming models. Finally, targets of Fars province pharmaceutical distributing companies were found by applying the proposed hybrid technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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11 pages, 1551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Techno-Economic Assessment of Fuel Cycle Facility of System Integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART)

by Salah Ud-Din Khan, Zeyad Almutairi and Meshari Alanazi

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11815; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111815 - 26 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1934

Abstract

The economic assessment of advanced nuclear power reactors is very important, specifically during the early stages of concept design. Therefore, a study was performed to calculate the total cost estimation of fuel cycle supply for a system modular advanced reactor (SMART) by using [...] Read more.

The economic assessment of advanced nuclear power reactors is very important, specifically during the early stages of concept design. Therefore, a study was performed to calculate the total cost estimation of fuel cycle supply for a system modular advanced reactor (SMART) by using the Generation-IV economic program called G4-ECONS (Generation 4 Excel-based Calculation of Nuclear Systems). In this study, the detailed description of each model and methodology are presented including facility, operations, construction matrix, post-production model, and fuel cycle cost estimation model. Based on these models, six Generation-III+ and Generation-IV nuclear reactors were simulated, namely System 80+ with benchmark data, System 80+ with uranium oxide (UOx) and mixed oxide (MOx) fuel assemblies, fast reactor, PBMR (Pebble Bed Modular Reactor), and PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor), with partially closed and benchmarked cases. The total levelized costs of these reactors were obtained, and it was observed that PBMR showed the lowest cost. The research was extended to work on the SMART reactor to calculate the total levelized fuel cycle cost, capital cost, capital component cost, fraction of capital spent, and sine curve spent pattern. To date, no work is being reported to calculate these parameters for the SMART reactor. It was observed that SMART is the most cost-effective reactor system among other proven and advanced pressurized water-based reactor systems. The main objective of the research is to verify and validate the G4-ECONS model to be used for other innovative nuclear reactors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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34 pages, 8284 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

MCDM-Based R&D Project Selection: A Systematic Literature Review

by Dalton Garcia Borges de Souza, Erivelton Antonio dos Santos, Nei Yoshihiro Soma and Carlos Eduardo Sanches da Silva

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111626 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3892

Abstract

From small spin-offs deploying innovative software to big pharmaceutical complexes making vaccines, Research and Development (R&D) Project Portfolio Selection (PPS) is an essential strategic process for various companies. It was never easy to select a set of projects among many feasible possibilities, even [...] Read more.

From small spin-offs deploying innovative software to big pharmaceutical complexes making vaccines, Research and Development (R&D) Project Portfolio Selection (PPS) is an essential strategic process for various companies. It was never easy to select a set of projects among many feasible possibilities, even for yesterday’s paces. However, the world is rapidly changing, and so is R&D PPS. The portfolio objectives excel profit in the same manner that model constraints go beyond budget limitations. In parallel, project selection approaches and solving algorithms followed the increase of computational power. Despite all those changes, the importance of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods and the decision criteria used for R&D PPS, there is still room for a systematic literature review (SLR) for the topic. Thus, this paper offers an SLR of the existing literature from the half-century, 1970, and onward MCDM-based R&D PPS performed in Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection. We provide a comprehensive picture of this field, show how it is changing, and highlight standard practices and research opportunities in the area. We perform a broad classification of the MCDM methods, categorized by the nature of alternatives, types of integration approach, the MCDM method itself, and types of uncertainty, by the 66 studies in the SLR database. The portfolios’ classification obeys the application domain and the number of projects. We have also explored all the 263 criteria found in the literature by grouping them according to experts from five Brazilian R&D organizations that together manage portfolios valued around US$ 5 billion a year, accounting for 38% of all Brazilian annual expenditure in R&D projects. We also include a bibliometric analysis of the considered papers and research opportunities highlighted or not explored by researchers. Given the increasing number of decision-making approaches and new technologies available, we hope to provide guidance on the topic and promote knowledge production and growth concerning the usage of MCDM methods and decision criteria in R&D PPS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 1412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Collaborative Evolution of Blockchain Industry Ecosystems in Terms of Value Co-Creation

by Hui Zhang, Jin-Biao Yi and Qian Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11567; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111567 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

The formation of blockchain industrial ecology can help improve the open and efficient value synergy network, and this paper seeks to clarify the value relationship among industrial units and the trend of synergistic evolution of blockchain industrial ecosystem. Based on value co-creation theory, [...] Read more.

The formation of blockchain industrial ecology can help improve the open and efficient value synergy network, and this paper seeks to clarify the value relationship among industrial units and the trend of synergistic evolution of blockchain industrial ecosystem. Based on value co-creation theory, the blockchain industrial ecosystem synergy evolution process is analyzed, and the composite system synergy model is used to empirically investigate the evolution synergy of China’s blockchain industrial ecosystem from 2015 to 2020. The results show that: although the development level of China’s blockchain industry ecosystem continues to improve, it is still at a low level, and the policy-driven effect is obvious. There is a large disparity in the orderliness level of each subsystem of the blockchain industry ecosystem, and the industrial integration and application implementation are in a good situation, while the blockchain enterprises, located in the value pivot subsystem, are in a relatively tough position, and China’s blockchain industry ecosystem is overall in a state of reconciliation and has not yet formed a synergistic effect. Handling the synergistic relationship between the government, the market and other value-supporting units, and blockchain enterprises is the top priority for further promoting the synergistic evolution of the blockchain industry ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DEA-Based PROMETHEE II Distribution-Center Productivity Model: Evaluation and Location Strategies Formulation

by Hisham Alidrisi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9567; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209567 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2328

Abstract

The current era of industrial economics necessitates warehouse and logistic distribution centers (DCs) to contribute productively toward an organization’s success. Playing such a critical productive role implies that logistics activities must be practiced effectively and efficiently. However, the indistinguishability between effectiveness and efficiency [...] Read more.

The current era of industrial economics necessitates warehouse and logistic distribution centers (DCs) to contribute productively toward an organization’s success. Playing such a critical productive role implies that logistics activities must be practiced effectively and efficiently. However, the indistinguishability between effectiveness and efficiency leads to a somewhat shallow interpretation, and consequently, a diluted evaluation. Hence, this paper aims to develop a productivity evaluation model for nine DCs belonging to an international automotive vehicles and spare parts company. The developed model was set up based on two multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approaches: the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment of Evaluations II (PROMETHEE II) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). PROMETHEE II was employed to evaluate the effectiveness, while the DEA was utilized in order to measure the efficiency of the investigated DCs. The resulting hybrid model collectively creates what can conceptually and practically be considered a productivity evaluation model. The results also provide six different strategies through which distribution center locations can be evaluated in order to implement potential future initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 6209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Soot and Ash Accumulation Characteristics of Diesel Particulate Filter Substrate Using Nondestructive Computed Radiography X-ray Imaging Technique

by Giyoung Park, Hoyoung Ryu, Manjae Kwon and Seangwock Lee

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9483; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209483 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

The diesel particulate filter of a diesel engine is an after-treatment device that removes particulate matter from exhaust emissions by filtering and oxidating them through a regeneration process. When the diesel particulate filter is damaged, a vehicle inspection is usually performed; if the [...] Read more.

The diesel particulate filter of a diesel engine is an after-treatment device that removes particulate matter from exhaust emissions by filtering and oxidating them through a regeneration process. When the diesel particulate filter is damaged, a vehicle inspection is usually performed; if the cause is not found through using on-board diagnostics, then the diesel particulate filter is removed, and a visual test is conducted. However, it is not easy to find the exact cause of the diesel particulate filter being damaged, and a visual test takes a long time as the diesel particulate filter substrate is covered by a canister. In this study, using the computed radiography X-ray imaging technique, X-ray images were taken after placing an accumulated amount of carbon powder, similar to soot and ash powder in the substrate. Results confirmed that carbon powder and ash powder were shown in white in X-ray images, leading to a conclusion that distinguishing between carbon powder and ash powder is possible by analyzing the pixel value through the image processing technique. However, since pixel values alone are insufficient for exact quantitative evaluation, various studies and analyses are necessary for quantitative evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study for Real Options of Water Management in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area

by Zuliang Lu, Xiankui Wu, Fei Cai and Fei Huang

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11255; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011255 - 12 Oct 2021

Viewed by 1537

Abstract

This paper investigates an empirical evaluation of water management on agricultural irrigation. To address this problem, a real options model was proposed. This model analysis the choice of investment in water savings. Also, the model discusses a linear complementary problem that can be [...] Read more.

This paper investigates an empirical evaluation of water management on agricultural irrigation. To address this problem, a real options model was proposed. This model analysis the choice of investment in water savings. Also, the model discusses a linear complementary problem that can be transformed into the inequalities of parabolic variational. By using a power penalty method, we solved the parabolic variational inequalities. The results depicted that the nonlinear parabolic equations’ solution is converges to the rate of order

O (h^{- \frac{k}{2}})

. A numerical example is given at the end of the paper to demonstrate the theoretical analysis follows from the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 2122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pricing and Coordination Strategies of Dual Channels Considering Consumers’ Channel Preferences

by Rufeng Wang, Siqi Wang and Shuli Yan

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11191; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011191 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1683

Abstract

With the rapid development of electronic commerce, consumers can freely buy the same product from a manufacturers’ Internet channel or a resellers’ physical channel. Based on the consumers’ channel preferences, this article classifies consumers into three types and investigates the price decision in [...] Read more.

With the rapid development of electronic commerce, consumers can freely buy the same product from a manufacturers’ Internet channel or a resellers’ physical channel. Based on the consumers’ channel preferences, this article classifies consumers into three types and investigates the price decision in a dual-channel supply chain using a Stackelberg game, which assumes that the manufacturer, as the game leader, first sets the wholesale price, then the reseller decides the retail price, according to the wholesale price. Furthermore, some numerical experiments are developed to investigate the impact of consumer acceptance, the degree of customer loyalty, and the proportion of identical shoppers on prices and profits. The results show that whether both the retail price and the wholesale price rise or fall depends on a combination of the cost of the physical channel and the Internet shopper’s acceptance of the Internet channel. The reseller’s profit is always lower than the manufacturer’s profit. The reseller’s profit is lower and the manufacturer’s profit is higher, compared with that of a traditional single channel supply chain. The numerical experiments showed that when an Internet shopper’s acceptance of an Internet channel is lower, the wholesale price and retail price in the dual channels will increase with an increase of the degree of customer loyalty (the proportion of identical shoppers). The reseller’s profit (the manufacturer’s profit) will reduce (rise) with the augmentation of the Internet shopper’s acceptance of an Internet channel. Finally, we design a revenue-sharing contract that can coordinate the supply chain and implement a win–win strategy for all partners. This work makes some contributions to the research area of coordination in dual-channel supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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19 pages, 704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Leadership Matter in Performance of Social Enterprises in South Korea?

by Seokwon Chang and Mugoan Jeong

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11109; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011109 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2488

Abstract

In social enterprises, which are hybrid organizations that create social and economic values, the role of leaders is important to achieve goals. However, prior research on social enterprises overlooked the importance of a leader, and some research that considered leadership was insufficient to [...] Read more.

In social enterprises, which are hybrid organizations that create social and economic values, the role of leaders is important to achieve goals. However, prior research on social enterprises overlooked the importance of a leader, and some research that considered leadership was insufficient to concern the characteristics of social enterprises. This study aims to find whether there is no problem in applying the leadership emphasized in a profit-firm to a non-profit-firm such as a social enterprise, since social enterprises pursue economic and social objectives simultaneously. To do so, we examined the effects of four leadership styles (transactional leadership, transformational leadership, servant leadership, and entrepreneurship) used mainly in commercial enterprises on the performance of social enterprises. In review of prior studies, it was assumed that transactional leadership would not have a significant effect on performance, and the other three kinds of leadership were hypothesized to have a positive effect on performance. Additionally, to clarify the relationship between leadership and performance of social enterprises, leader trust and calling were considered as mediators. Using the list of Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency, questionnaires were distributed via e-mail to employees of 318 social enterprises located in Seoul, and 251 copies were collected and analyzed. The results of this study show that transactional leadership only affects economic performance and does not show significance with the rest of the variables as was expected. Transformational leadership had positive relationships with variables considered as performances of social enterprises, and the mediating effects of leader trust and calling were also verified. Entrepreneurship was positively related to three performances of social enterprises, but servant leadership had a positive relationship with organizational commitment. This study contributes to highlighting the need for research to find appropriate leadership styles that focus on the characteristics of social enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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13 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Measurement for the Recycling Production System Using Cooperative Game Network Data Envelopment Analysis

by Huang-Chu Huang and Cheng-Feng Hu

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11060; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131911060 - 7 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1543

Abstract

Resources scarcity and environmental degradation have made sustainable resource utilization and environmental protection necessary worldwide. The development of the circular economy is considered an approach for more appropriate economic and environmental management. This work introduces a cooperative game network data envelopment analysis model [...] Read more.

Resources scarcity and environmental degradation have made sustainable resource utilization and environmental protection necessary worldwide. The development of the circular economy is considered an approach for more appropriate economic and environmental management. This work introduces a cooperative game network data envelopment analysis model for evaluating the implementation effect of recycling production systems from a closed loop and centralized control perspective. The factor efficiency analysis of the involved inputs and outputs is presented to provide guidance for the factor dominance of subsystem efficiencies. An application for assessing the circular economy of EU countries is provided to illustrate the validation of the proposed method. Our results show that the average performance of the production subsystem is superior to that of the recycling subsystem in EU countries. Furthermore, factor efficiency analysis reveals that the inefficient environmental treatment input is the culprit in worse performance of the recycling subsystem. A comparison of the proposed method with recent studies for circular economy performance evaluation is also included. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 1021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative and Sustainable Food Production and Food Consumption Entrepreneurship: A Conceptual Recipe for Delivering Development Success in South Africa

by Faith Samkange, Haywantee Ramkissoon, Juliet Chipumuro, Henry Wanyama and Gaurav Chawla

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 11049; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131911049 - 6 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2942

Abstract

Innovative food production and food consumption entrepreneurship can be viewed as a recipe for delivering sustainable development goals to promote economic, human, and community growth among vulnerable and marginalised communities in South Africa (SA). This study critically analyses the trends and related issues [...] Read more.

Innovative food production and food consumption entrepreneurship can be viewed as a recipe for delivering sustainable development goals to promote economic, human, and community growth among vulnerable and marginalised communities in South Africa (SA). This study critically analyses the trends and related issues perpetuating the development gap between privileged and marginalised communities in SA. It explores the link between innovative food production and food consumption entrepreneurship and underdevelopment based on sustainable development goals (SDGs). The study also generates a conceptual model designed to bridge the development gap between privileged and marginalised communities in SA. Philosophically, an interpretivism research paradigm based on the socialised interpretation of extant literature is pursued. Consistent with this stance, an inductive approach and qualitative methodological choices are applied using a combination of thematic analysis and grounded theory to generate research data. Grounded theory techniques determine the extent to which the literature review readings are simultaneously pursued, analysed, and conceptualised to generate the conceptual model. Research findings highlight the perpetual inequality in land distribution, economic and employability status, social mobility, gender equity, education, emancipation, empowerment, and quality of life between privileged and marginalised societies in SA. Underdevelopment issues such as poverty, unemployment, hunger, criminal activities, therefore, characterise marginalised communities and are linked to SDGs. Arguably, food production and food consumption entrepreneurship are ideally positioned to address underdevelopment by creating job opportunities, generating income, transforming the economic status, social mobility, and quality of life. Although such entrepreneurship development initiatives in SA are acknowledged, their impact remains insignificant because the interventions are traditionally prescriptive, fragmented, linear, and foreign-driven. A robust, contextualised, integrated, and transformative approach is developed based on the conceptual model designed to create a sustainable, innovative, and digital entrepreneurship development plan that will be executed to yield employment, generate income and address poverty, hunger, gender inequity. To bridge the gap between privileged and marginalised societies. The conceptual model will be used to bridge the perpetual development gap between privileged and marginalised societies. In SA is generated. Recommended future research directions include implementing, testing, and validating the model from a practical perspective through a specific project within selected marginalised communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumer Satisfaction towards Green Products: Empirical Insights from Romania

by Elena-Simina Lakatos, Ligia-Maria Nan, Laura Bacali, George Ciobanu, Andreea-Maria Ciobanu and Lucian-Ionel Cioca

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910982 - 3 Oct 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6167

Abstract

The current model of linear economy is causing accelerated consumption and an extensive use of natural resources that accentuates the effects of the current global environmental crisis. In this context, green products are becoming a key element in the transition to a sustainable [...] Read more.

The current model of linear economy is causing accelerated consumption and an extensive use of natural resources that accentuates the effects of the current global environmental crisis. In this context, green products are becoming a key element in the transition to a sustainable consumption and production model. The main goal of this paper is to identify the factors predicting youth consumer satisfaction towards green products and to analyze the public perception of green brand products in Romania. Considering these goals, a questionnaire was developed and applied to 268 participants. The results show that a positive attitude towards green products and the level of information held by the consumers about them are significant predictors of green product satisfaction. Moreover, the importance of products being green significantly predicts the purchase of such products. Further implications and research directions are discussed towards the end. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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21 pages, 750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Convergence or Divergence among Business Models of Public Bus Transport Authorities across the Globe: A Fuzzy Approach

by Büşra Buran and Mehmet Erçek

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10861; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910861 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3036

Abstract

Building on the debate about global convergence or divergence of practices, this study aims to query the viability of a new strategic action tool specifically geared to the interests of public bus transportation authorities (PBTA) around the globe and explore the degree of [...] Read more.

Building on the debate about global convergence or divergence of practices, this study aims to query the viability of a new strategic action tool specifically geared to the interests of public bus transportation authorities (PBTA) around the globe and explore the degree of homogeneity in their responses as well as the possible drivers of them. To answer its research question, the study first offers a generic business model design for a PBTA, which integrates an extended version of the business model canvas with external environmental factors in order to enhance its sustainability. Subsequently, the importance attributions of international transportation experts to different model components are evaluated by using the Spherical Fuzzy AHP method. The model is developed in three hierarchical layers and evaluated by experts from four continents: America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. The results indicate that the expert opinions tend to converge more on the internal components of the model and diverge on the external components, especially regarding economic and technological factors. A strategic response action set is also designed to facilitate the adoption of the model by PBTA. The study not only extends the research on the strategic management of the public bus transportation domain but also contributes to the convergence and divergence debate by offering a reconciliatory duality perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 3214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applications of FFTA–HFACS for Analyzing Human and Organization Factors in Electric Misoperation Accidents

by Chuan Lin, Qifeng Xu and Yifan Huang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9008; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199008 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2310

Abstract

Human and organizational factors (HOFs) play an important role in electric misoperation accidents (EMAs), but research into the reliability of human factors is still in its infancy in the field of EMAs, and further investment in research is urgently required. To analyze the [...] Read more.

Human and organizational factors (HOFs) play an important role in electric misoperation accidents (EMAs), but research into the reliability of human factors is still in its infancy in the field of EMAs, and further investment in research is urgently required. To analyze the HOFs in EMAs, a hybrid method including the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) and fuzzy fault tree analysis (FFTA) was applied to EMAs for the first time in the paper. HFACS is used to identify and classify the HOFs with 135 accidents, reorganized as basic events (BEs), intermediate events (IEs), and top event (TE), and develop the architecture of fault tree (FT). Fuzzy aggregation is employed to address experts’ expressions and obtain the failure probabilities of the BEs and the minimal cut sets (MCSs) of the FT. The approach generates BEs failure probabilities without reliance on quantitative historical failure statistics of EMAs via qualitative records processing. The FFTA–HFACS model is applied for quantitative analysis of the probability of failure of electrical mishaps and the interaction between accident risk factors. It can assist professionals in deciding whether and where to take preventive or corrective actions and assist in knowledgeable decision-making around the electric operation and maintenance process. Finally, applying this hybrid method to EMAs, the results show that the probability of an EMAs is 1.0410 × 10⁻², which is a risk level that is likely to occur and must be controlled. Two of the most important risk factors are habitual violations and supervisory violation; a combination of risk factors of inadequate work preparation and paralysis, and irresponsibility on the part of employees are also frequent errors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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6 pages, 1966 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Design Study for a New Spanner

by Ming-Che Lin and Tsung-Han Ho

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 8878; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11198878 - 24 Sep 2021

Viewed by 1669

Abstract

A replacement for the original F-spanner is designed using computer-aided engineering (CAE) and the Taguchi method. In the design process, the L₉(3⁴) orthogonal table was used for parameter design. Four control factors are used: outer diameter, bend radius, angle, [...] Read more.

A replacement for the original F-spanner is designed using computer-aided engineering (CAE) and the Taguchi method. In the design process, the L₉(3⁴) orthogonal table was used for parameter design. Four control factors are used: outer diameter, bend radius, angle, and connected fillet. Each factor is set to three levels with numerical analysis using ANSYS software. After performing an optimization analysis for the combination parameters, the prototype is created by rapid-prototyping (RP) and is found to improve operational safety in a piping system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gym-Goers Preference Analysis of Fitness Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Conjoint Analysis Approach for Business Sustainability

by Ardvin Kester S. Ong, Yogi Tri Prasetyo, Kerr Lorenzo Picazo, Kim Aaron Salvador, Bobby Ardiansyah Miraja, Yoshiki B. Kurata, Thanatorn Chuenyindee, Reny Nadlifatin, Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira Redi and Michael Nayat Young

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10481; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810481 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 18455

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the fitness centers industry. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preference of gym-goers on fitness centers in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing a conjoint analysis approach. One thousand [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the fitness centers industry. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preference of gym-goers on fitness centers in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing a conjoint analysis approach. One thousand gym-goers voluntarily participated in this study and answered 22 queries created from the orthogonal design. The results indicated that Price was the highest attribute considered (21.59%), followed by Ventilation (17.56%), Service (16.59%), Trainer (14.63%), Payment Method (11.95%), Operating Hours (8.90%), and Login (8.70%). The results also indicated that comfort, security, and fitness center services were the main aspects that gym-goers would consider as their main preference. The study highlighted how gym-goers are sensitive to the price set by the fitness centers. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation and size are considered highly important attributes among gym-goers. Comfort, safety, and security are the main consideration to have sustainable fitness centers during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome of this study may benefit fitness centers and increase their business market by considering the preference of customers. Finally, the result of this study can be utilized by fitness centers to promote a generalized fitness center for gym-goers of different generations, statuses, and even socioeconomic status during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 1759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Knowledge-Sharing Incentive of the Cross-Boundary Alliance Symbiotic System

by Xiaoxing Zhang, Changyuan Gao and Shuchen Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10432; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810432 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1934

Abstract

The rise of the cross-boundary alliance as a new organizational model profoundly affects innovation development. The incentive mode of knowledge-sharing among cross-boundary alliance members from the perspective of symbiosis is the key to improving the efficiency of knowledge-sharing and promoting the alliance’s sustainable [...] Read more.

The rise of the cross-boundary alliance as a new organizational model profoundly affects innovation development. The incentive mode of knowledge-sharing among cross-boundary alliance members from the perspective of symbiosis is the key to improving the efficiency of knowledge-sharing and promoting the alliance’s sustainable development. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge and information asymmetry among alliance members, knowledge-sharing is prone to opportunistic behavior, which greatly impacts cross- boundary innovation cooperation. The symbiotic system of the cross-boundary alliance is constructed based on the analysis of symbiosis among alliance members to solve these problems. In this research study, the principal–agent theory is used to describe the expected benefits and the related constraints of knowledge-sharing partners. Moreover, an incentive model of knowledge-sharing in the cross-boundary alliance is established. By solving the model, the agent’s sharing intention and the principal’s reward incentive coefficient are obtained, which provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of the optimal incentive scheme of knowledge-sharing in the alliance. The results show that the knowledge potential difference, knowledge transmission efficiency, knowledge transformation, innovation effort, and the symbiotic environment will directly affect the knowledge transfer level of the alliance. In this research study, a theoretical research framework of the cross-boundary alliance symbiotic system linked by knowledge-sharing is constructed. The incentive model of knowledge-sharing is established especially on the basis of fully considering the internal and external factors of knowledge-sharing. This research study has provided some innovation in the theoretical system and method improvement, and has guaranteed the efficient integration, utilization, and innovation of knowledge resources in the cross-boundary alliance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 1386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Recommendation Model for the Smart Factory System

by Chun-Yang Chang, Chun-Ai Tu and Wei-Luen Huang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8606; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188606 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2272

Abstract

In Industry 4.0, the concept of a Smart Factory heralds a new phase in manufacturing; the Smart Factory System (SFS) will have a huge demand in Taiwan. However, the cost of constructing a factory system will be high, and the complexity processes and [...] Read more.

In Industry 4.0, the concept of a Smart Factory heralds a new phase in manufacturing; the Smart Factory System (SFS) will have a huge demand in Taiwan. However, the cost of constructing a factory system will be high, and the complexity processes and introduction time must be considered. Thus, it is important to figure out how to grasp the key success factors for Smart Factories to reduce difficulties in the process, deal with the occurrence of problems, and improve the success rate of constructing Smart Factories. This research constructs an SFS recommendation model to make up for past research deficiencies in terms of recommendation. It combines the methodology of the Engel–Kollat–Blackwell Model (EKB Model) and the Modified Delphi Method to derive SFS recommendation indicators. Through analyzing weights, the ELECTRE II was used to obtain the importance of each dimension by calculating the Modified Compound Advantage Matrix. For prototype indicators, it reviewed the past literature to find out deficiencies and examined the world’s four largest manufactories or computer technology corporations to analyze their Smart Factory solutions regarding the SFS function characteristics. The survey ran for several rounds with a group of five experts to amend indicators until a consensus was obtained. It proposed 64 indicators of 8 primary dimensions in total, based on the Updated Information System Success Model, and then added the concepts of SFS Function characteristics, Information Security, Perceived Value, Perceived Risk, and UI Design. According to the indicators, the framework and prototype of this system will provide solutions and references for purchasing SFS, the functions of which include SFS purchase ability analysis, demand analysis of manufacture problems, and raking and scoring of recommendation indicators. It will provide real-time ranking and the best alternative recommendations to suppliers, and will not only be referred to for design and modification but also enable the requirements to be closer to the users’ demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 1811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessments of Work Gloves in Terms of the Strengths of Hand Grip, One-Handed Carrying, and Leg Lifting

by Caijun Zhao, Kai Way Li and Cannan Yi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8294; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188294 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3578

Abstract

Gloves are used at workplaces to protect hands and fingers from potential hazards. Three types of work gloves were assessed in terms of the strength of grip, carrying, and lifting. Thirty adults (14 males and 16 females) joined as human participants. The strength [...] Read more.

Gloves are used at workplaces to protect hands and fingers from potential hazards. Three types of work gloves were assessed in terms of the strength of grip, carrying, and lifting. Thirty adults (14 males and 16 females) joined as human participants. The strength data were measured under bare hand and three gloved conditions. The grip spans in the grip strength measurements included 45 mm, 55 mm, 65 mm, and 75 mm. The carrying strength was measured for both dominant and non-dominant hands under leg straight and semi-squat postural conditions. The lifting strength was measured at a semi-squat posture. The results showed that glove (p < 0.0001), grip span (p = 0.001), gender (p < 0.0001), and handedness (p < 0.0001) all affected grip strength significantly. Wearing the gloves tested in this study led to a decrease of grip strength up to 22.9%, on average, depending on gender, grip span, and hand tested. Wearing the cotton gloves led to a decrease of one-handed carrying strength ranged from 3.5% to 9.7% for female participants. All the participants took advantages in carrying strength when wearing the cut-resistant gloves. The leg lifting strength data indicated that the effects of the gloves were insignificant. The information of this study is beneficial for practitioners in the design of manual materials handling tasks concerning the use of work gloves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 2816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Safety of Constructions from the Point of View of Population Protection in the Context of Industry 4.0 in the Czech Republic

by Simona Slivkova, Lenka Brumarova, Barbora Kluckova, Jiri Pokorny and Katerina Tomanova

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9927; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179927 - 3 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1768

Abstract

The current safety situation and the conclusions of a number of strategic and conceptual works require a broader integration of the population protection system into the areas of construction management. The approaches adopted by individual countries to this matter differ greatly. In the [...] Read more.

The current safety situation and the conclusions of a number of strategic and conceptual works require a broader integration of the population protection system into the areas of construction management. The approaches adopted by individual countries to this matter differ greatly. In the Czech Republic, the definition of constructions to which it is necessary to apply population protection requirements has not been dealt with sufficiently. The construction technical requirements from the point of view of population protection are also not sufficiently dealt with. This article presents a new draft procedure for designating the requirements for the relevant constructions of population protection in the Czech Republic. In addition, possible external hazards affecting the constructions or their strategic importance functions were assessed. In conclusion, the general, specific, and strategic requirements for constructions are set. The procedure is applied to the conditions of the Czech Republic, but it is also applicable in other countries. The area of public protection is closely related to Industry 4.0. Ensuring the protection of the population, as well as the safety of workers, employers, and production facilities, is one of the basic preconditions for the development of the industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 876 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Control in the Application of a Rotary Dryer for Reduction in the Over-Drying of Cut Tobacco

by Shunpeng Pang, Junhua Jia, Xiangqian Ding, Shusong Yu and Yang Liu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 8205; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178205 - 3 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3011

Abstract

The drying process is fundamental for cut tobacco processing. However, there are some problems related to the drying process such as overheating, or inconsistent control of moisture content. This paper shows how an intelligent controller is designed for an industrial rotary drying system. [...] Read more.

The drying process is fundamental for cut tobacco processing. However, there are some problems related to the drying process such as overheating, or inconsistent control of moisture content. This paper shows how an intelligent controller is designed for an industrial rotary drying system. This controller is applied to a tobacco production unit to reduce overdried cut tobacco and improve the overall unit performance. The proposed control system aims to keep the content of moisture at the dryer outlet as close as possible to the optimal value and improve the homogeneity of the product without any operator intervention. The study shows that, if a reduction of humidity in the cut tobacco drying process is achieved using AI, the quality of the final product improves. In particular, if compared to regulatory control, the proposed method constantly monitors and adjusts the moisture content level in order to reduce the amount of overdried product. The findings of this paper indicate that the suggested process can save at least 222.2 kg of cut tobacco for each batch in the first stage of the drying process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 2210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Sustainability Performance Measurement of a Small Brazilian City

by Fernanda Caroline Caldatto, Sandro César Bortoluzzi, Edson Pinheiro de Lima and Sergio E. Gouvea da Costa

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9858; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179858 - 2 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2036

Abstract

The population increase in cities implies the need to balance environmental, social, and economic demands in such a way that growth is guided by sustainable development. This research aimed to build a model for evaluating the performance of urban sustainability in a small [...] Read more.

The population increase in cities implies the need to balance environmental, social, and economic demands in such a way that growth is guided by sustainable development. This research aimed to build a model for evaluating the performance of urban sustainability in a small Brazilian city. To structure the model, the multicriteria decision support methodology-constructivist (MCDA-C) was adopted, which aims to identify the objectives and criteria of a context based on the actors’ values. The measurement model resulted in 66 criteria, which were measured by considering the reference levels (Good and Neutral). The results of the analysis through the model showed that the city’s urban sustainability performance was good in 45 criteria, excellent in 20, and compromising in 1. Thus, there is a theoretical contribution by presenting a multi-criteria performance assessment methodology focused on the sustainability of small towns and practice by helping to formulate and evaluate public policies. In addition, when confronting the criteria of the model built with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it was identified that, although they are partially aligned, the improvement of performance in local sustainability has positive effects on achieving global goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 2099 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chain Innovation Mechanism of the Manufacturing Industry in the Yangtze River Delta of China Based on Evolutionary Game

by Na Yu and Chunfeng Zhao

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9729; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179729 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2338

Abstract

It is of great theoretical and practical significance to achieve high-quality development that promotes the transformation of digestion, absorption, and re-innovation to an independent innovation model, actively participating in the restructuring of the industrial chain, and enhancing the status of the Yangtze River [...] Read more.

It is of great theoretical and practical significance to achieve high-quality development that promotes the transformation of digestion, absorption, and re-innovation to an independent innovation model, actively participating in the restructuring of the industrial chain, and enhancing the status of the Yangtze River Delta in the global innovation chain. This study constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model of collaborative innovation led by the government, participated by upstream enterprises and downstream enterprises. Moreover, this article analyzes the strategic choices of the tripartite entities in the process of collaborative innovation, and the simulation analyzes the influencing factors of the government, upstream enterprises, and downstream enterprises’ collaborative innovation strategy selection. The results indicate that the government, upstream enterprises, and downstream enterprises have different degrees of influence on each other’s willingness to participate. In addition, the analysis proves that government policy support and financial support have different impacts on upstream enterprises and downstream enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 5141 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Tailored Engineering Design Process for Individualized Micro-Mechatronic Systems with a Novel Case-Based Methodology

by Faruk Civelek, Karl-Peter Fritz and André Zimmermann

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 7909; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11177909 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2097

Abstract

The development and manufacturing of high-precision micro-mechatronic systems (MMS) is a challenging task, and the high demand for individualized products complicates the engineering design process (EDP) in particular. The established EDP for MMS is not designed for individualized products. This article gives an [...] Read more.

The development and manufacturing of high-precision micro-mechatronic systems (MMS) is a challenging task, and the high demand for individualized products complicates the engineering design process (EDP) in particular. The established EDP for MMS is not designed for individualized products. This article gives an overview of the challenges (critical factors) in product development and manufacturing of individualized MMS (iMMS), a novel definition of iMMS, and describes a new qualitative methodology in order to tailor an EDP based on use cases, so-called “Tailored EDP-Methodology” (TEDP-Methodology). This TEDP-Methodology allows creating use-case-based product groups through the abstraction of the use cases and evaluating the requirements, which is essential to tailor or develop a new EDP. For the development of this new approach, a literature review and qualitative content analysis are prefaced. The TEDP-Methodology is critically examined and validated with a real case study for the development and manufacturing of an iMMS. This study shows critical points within the EDP. It shows fields of action for innovative tools to support the development process of iMMS and requirements for different product groups within iMMS. This article has both theoretical and practical implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 6053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maintenance Prediction through Sensing Using Hidden Markov Models—A Case Study

by Alexandre Martins, Inácio Fonseca, José Torres Farinha, João Reis and António J. Marques Cardoso

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7685; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167685 - 21 Aug 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3528

Abstract

The availability maximization is a goal for any organization because the equipment downtime implies high non-production costs and, additionally, the abnormal stopping and restarting usually imply loss of product’s quality. In this way, a method for predicting the equipment’s health state is vital [...] Read more.

The availability maximization is a goal for any organization because the equipment downtime implies high non-production costs and, additionally, the abnormal stopping and restarting usually imply loss of product’s quality. In this way, a method for predicting the equipment’s health state is vital to maintain the production flow as well as to plan maintenance intervention strategies. This paper presents a maintenance prediction approach based on sensing data managed by Hidden Markov Models (HMM). To do so, a diagnosis of drying presses in a pulp industry is used as case study, which is done based on data collected every minute for three years and ten months. This paper presents an approach to manage a multivariate analysis, in this case merging the values of sensors, and optimizing the observable states to insert into a HMM model, which permits to identify three hidden states that characterize the equipment’s health state: “Proper Function”, “Alert state”, and “Equipment Failure”. The research described in this paper demonstrates how an equipment health diagnosis can be made using the HMM, through the collection of observations from various sensors, without information of machine failures occurrences. The approach developed demonstrated to be robust, even the complexity of the system, having the potential to be generalized to any other type of equipment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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28 pages, 18242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Sharing Transportation Based on Game Theory

by Guanqiao Pan, Hongchao Jiang, Qianhui Jin, Tianyi Zhao, Jiajun Wang and Li Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169347 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2212

Abstract

In order to solve the problems of mismatch between transportation resources and order volume in logistics transportation, we propose a cooperative pattern called sharing transportation to solve this problems. In this pattern, several logistics enterprises or alliances cooperate with each other and share [...] Read more.

In order to solve the problems of mismatch between transportation resources and order volume in logistics transportation, we propose a cooperative pattern called sharing transportation to solve this problems. In this pattern, several logistics enterprises or alliances cooperate with each other and share transportation resources to achieve the goal of reducing costs and increasing income. In this paper, we set the application scene of sharing transportation to the section from the distribution center to the service outlets in the city. We first put forward the judgment function in the analysis model of cooperative pattern, and the possible cooperative pattern is divided into three kinds by constructing and solving the replication dynamic equation. Then we proposed the income allocation model by considering the functions of order quantity and overall income. Moreover, the proposed models are extended to the multi-agent game situation to realize the sharing transportation of multiple enterprises. Finally, we use the example simulation and sensitivity analysis to verify the rationality of the model. This paper provides a new idea for how to integrate the surplus resources to increase the profit in the process of logistics transportation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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11 pages, 2877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Hydraulic Turbodrills for Deep Well Drilling

by Mikhail V. Dvoynikov, Dmitry I. Sidorkin, Andrey A. Kunshin and Danil A. Kovalev

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7517; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167517 - 16 Aug 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2912

Abstract

The article discusses the possibility of improving the design of the turbine of a hydraulic drilling machine for drilling wells in very hard rocks and at considerable depths (5000–12,000 m). The analysis of the results of studies on the technical and technological characteristics [...] Read more.

The article discusses the possibility of improving the design of the turbine of a hydraulic drilling machine for drilling wells in very hard rocks and at considerable depths (5000–12,000 m). The analysis of the results of studies on the technical and technological characteristics of downhole drilling motors showed that it is impossible to ensure stable operation due to the limitation on the operating temperature, while with an increase in the flow rate of the drilling fluid, they do not provide the required power on the spindle shaft, and cannot reach high-speed drilling. In such conditions, turbodrills with a significant change in the profile of the stator and rotor blades and a reinforced support unit are most suitable. The paper presents an invariant mathematical model, which made it possible to determine the optimal geometric parameters based on preselected boundary conditions and the main performance characteristics of the turbine being developed. The results obtained were tested by the finite element method, which showed a convergence of 12.5%. At the same time, zones with the lowest and highest flow rates were identified. Additionally, this paper presents a comparative analysis of the obtained hydraulic turbine with turbodrills of the TSSH-178T and Neyrfor TTT 2 7/8 brands. In comparison with the domestic turbodrill, the developed turbine design shows a 13-fold reduction in its length and a 3-fold reduction in torque, provided that the maximum power is increased by 1.5 times. In comparison with the foreign analog, there is a decrease in length by 8.5 times, an increase in torque by 5 times, and in maximum power by 6.5 times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 2695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Footprint in Vegeburger Production Technology Using a Prototype Forming and Breading Device

by Magdalena Wróbel-Jędrzejewska, Joanna Markowska, Agata Bieńczak, Paweł Woźniak, Łukasz Ignasiak, Elżbieta Polak, Katarzyna Kozłowicz and Renata Różyło

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9093; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169093 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2149

Abstract

The aim of the research was to develop a laboratory test stand for forming vegeburgers and to determine the carbon footprint of vegeburger production technology with the addition of frozen vegetable outgrades. This vegetable material is waste from frozen food production. During the [...] Read more.

The aim of the research was to develop a laboratory test stand for forming vegeburgers and to determine the carbon footprint of vegeburger production technology with the addition of frozen vegetable outgrades. This vegetable material is waste from frozen food production. During the research, unique recipes for vegeburgers fabricated of vegetable outgrades, potatoes, fiber, potato flour, salt and spices were also developed. The physicochemical properties, texture and color of vegeburgers were determined. The CO₂ to kWh conversion factor, with a value of 0.765 kg CO₂∙kWh⁻¹ was used to calculate the carbon footprint. Vegeburgers obtained during the study were characterized by protein content ranging from 2.05 to 2.29 g 100 g⁻¹, carbohydrate content from 7.27 to 10.36 g 100 g⁻¹, fiber content ranging from 3.97 to 4.92 g 100 g⁻¹ and fat content was at the level of 0.20–0.24 g 100 g⁻¹. The amount of sodium did not exceed 1 g 100 g⁻¹. The amount of disqualifying nutrients (fat, trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol) was significantly lower compared to similar products on the market. The conducted analyses showed that the highest CO₂ emission occurred during the blanching process. The proportion of this process for small productions (2.0 kg) ranged from 62% to 68%. The process of vegeburger formation had the second largest percentage in emissions and accounts for 22% to 24% for small productions (2.0 kg). The total carbon footprint was 1.09–1.13 kg CO₂/kg of product, respectively, i.e., about 0.10–0.12 kg CO₂ per one vegeburger. The research demonstrated that the process of producing vegeburgers from vegetable outgrades is a low-emission process compared with other agri-food technologies. Considering the above, this study allows for improvement of the management of waste from frozen food production, and is also the basis for the development of low-emission agri-food technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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28 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model Supporting Development Decisions by Considering Qualitative–Environmental Aspects

by Dominika Siwiec and Andrzej Pacana

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9067; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169067 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

Dynamic changes in customers’ expectations and unfavorable climate changes have generated the need to consider such aspects in the process of creating new products and the modernization of existing products. Simultaneously including customers’ expectations and environmental impact is a key element of the [...] Read more.

Dynamic changes in customers’ expectations and unfavorable climate changes have generated the need to consider such aspects in the process of creating new products and the modernization of existing products. Simultaneously including customers’ expectations and environmental impact is a key element of the sustainable development of products. Enterprises attempt, within their awareness and possibilities, to apply the idea of sustainability; they do this more or less methodically. As such, an instrument to support decision-making in the area of product development is still needed because it would both be desirable for customers and have less of a negative effect on the natural environment. The purpose of this study was to develop a model that supports decision-making in the development of products while considering sustainability. The model determines the key criteria of the product, criteria states (current and future), and their positive correlations (e.g., achieving high levels of product quality and no (or a reduction in) destructive impact on the environment). To reduce the fuzzy decision-making environment, multiplicative decision methods with the fuzzy Saaty scale were implemented. These methods were the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and the fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS). The model is able to support qualitative–environment decisions in the development of any product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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19 pages, 307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thai Non-Life Insurance Companies’ Resilience and the Historic 2011 Floods: Some Recommendations for Greater Sustainability

by Kanitsorn Terdpaopong and Robert C. Rickards

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8890; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168890 - 9 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2039

Abstract

The severe flooding occurring in parts of Thailand in 2011 constituted the fifth most costly catastrophe worldwide during the past 31 years. Many businesses suffered either directly or indirectly. A sharp downturn in the country’s economy resulted, with Thai non-life insurance companies’ annual [...] Read more.

The severe flooding occurring in parts of Thailand in 2011 constituted the fifth most costly catastrophe worldwide during the past 31 years. Many businesses suffered either directly or indirectly. A sharp downturn in the country’s economy resulted, with Thai non-life insurance companies’ annual losses totaling USD 4.1 bn. Focusing first on changes in their key performance indicators (KPIs) as evidence of their financial resilience, this study analyses data for 58 companies from 2008–2010 (years prior to the flooding), 2011 (the flood year), and 2012–2014 (the immediate post-flood years). Descriptive and inferential statistics depict differences in firm characteristics and key performance indicators between these periods. The findings show that: (1) not surprisingly, the floods had a major impact on Thai non-life insurance companies’ finances; and (2) even after two years, they still had not recovered fully. Then, employing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the study assesses the relative efficiency of 58 Thai non-life insurance companies in using their assets to generate operating profit. The evidence indicates that: (1) larger insurance companies are more efficient than smaller ones in this regard; and (2) almost all the entities examined performed less efficiently during the post-flood years than in earlier periods. These results serve as the basis for recommendations to Thai non-life insurance companies, government policymakers, and future researchers. Although Thai non-life insurance companies survived the challenges they faced during the study period, implementation of the measures recommended here likely would boost their technical efficiency and financial resilience, thereby facilitating their ability to operate more sustainably in the long run. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

25 pages, 4032 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Globally Optimal Facility Locations for Continuous-Space Facility Location Problems

by Xuehong Gao, Chanseok Park, Xiaopeng Chen, En Xie, Guozhong Huang and Dingli Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7321; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167321 - 9 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3101

Abstract

The continuous-space single- and multi-facility location problem has attracted much attention in previous studies. This study focuses on determining the globally optimal facility locations for two- and higher-dimensional continuous-space facility location problems when the Manhattan distance is considered. Before we propose the exact [...] Read more.

The continuous-space single- and multi-facility location problem has attracted much attention in previous studies. This study focuses on determining the globally optimal facility locations for two- and higher-dimensional continuous-space facility location problems when the Manhattan distance is considered. Before we propose the exact method, we start with the continuous-space single-facility location problem and obtain the global minimizer for the problem using a statistical approach. Then, an exact method is developed to determine the globally optimal solution for the two- and higher-dimensional continuous-space facility location problem, which is different from the previous clustering algorithms. Based on the newly investigated properties of the minimizer, we extend it to multi-facility problems and transfer the continuous-space facility location problem to the discrete-space location problem. To illustrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method, several instances from a benchmark are provided to compare the performances of different methods, which illustrates the superiority of the proposed exact method in the decision-making of the continuous-space facility location problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 2742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Impact of Working Environment Factors on Employee’s Health and Wellbeing; Workplace Lighting Design Evaluation and Improvement

by Ružena Králiková, Ervin Lumnitzer, Laura Džuňová and Anna Yehorova

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8816; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168816 - 6 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5176

Abstract

In modern society, humans spend most of their time in the indoor environment (home, work, school...). This indoor lifestyle constantly poses challenges to our physical and mental health by affecting our hormone levels and circadian rhythm. This article deals with the possible connection [...] Read more.

In modern society, humans spend most of their time in the indoor environment (home, work, school...). This indoor lifestyle constantly poses challenges to our physical and mental health by affecting our hormone levels and circadian rhythm. This article deals with the possible connection between human and working environment factors and the emergence of health problems in connection with work. Using statistical methods, the dependence between the six characteristics (age, length of employment, visual demand of the work task, satisfaction with lighting conditions, and shift work) and occurrence of health-related problems and discomfort (i.e., eye discomfort, headache, eye fatigue, and seasonal affective disorder symptoms) was examined. The paper also deals with the evaluation of lighting conditions in the workshop using the lighting design software DIALux evo 9.2. Using this software, two lighting variants were modeled. The first simulated variant included lighting parameters according to the currently used luminaries and the second variant contained more efficient LED luminaries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 3694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Circular Supply Chain Risk: A Bayesian Network Methodology

by Madhukar Chhimwal, Saurabh Agrawal and Girish Kumar

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8448; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158448 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3792

Abstract

The world is facing economic, as well as social, crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing sustainable practices is one of the possible ways to address these issues. Adopting circular oriented techniques throughout the supply chain not only guarantees economic profitability, but also [...] Read more.

The world is facing economic, as well as social, crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing sustainable practices is one of the possible ways to address these issues. Adopting circular oriented techniques throughout the supply chain not only guarantees economic profitability, but also provides an edge to the organization in the market of fierce global competition. The concept of implementing circularity in the supply chain is novel and dynamic in nature, and it involves certain risk. In this study, a Bayesian Network methodology is adopted to analyze how the risk propagation takes place in a circular supply chain network of an automobile organization. The circular supply chain network consists of a group of manufacturers, retailers and recyclers, located in the Delhi–NCR region. Economic, environmental, social, technological, waste management, agile vulnerability, and risk of cannibalization are the major risk categories that were identified through an extensive literature review. Further, the impact of risk on the performance of the circular supply chain is analyzed by considering performance parameters such as lost sales, impact on supply chain revenue, and inventory holding cost. Risk exposure index is incorporated into the study to analyze the vulnerability of each node. The findings of the study reveal that the reverse side of the circular supply chain can be a source of risk propagation during the implementation of the circularity concept. This work is carried out under a single industry domain. In the future, risk propagation analysis can be examined in the supply chain of other sectors. The findings of the study can assist the supply chain managers and the risk experts to focus on the areas that are more vulnerable to risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 5561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Objective Optimization of Forth Flotation Process: An Application in Gold Ore

by Wen Zhang, Qinghe Yuan, Shun Jia, Zhaojun (Steven) Li and Xianhui Yin

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8314; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158314 - 26 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1992

Abstract

In order to improve production control ability in the gold ore flotation process, the output index in this process was studied. Flotation is an effective gold recovery process. Gold concentrate grade and gold recovery rate are the key output indicators of the flotation [...] Read more.

In order to improve production control ability in the gold ore flotation process, the output index in this process was studied. Flotation is an effective gold recovery process. Gold concentrate grade and gold recovery rate are the key output indicators of the flotation process. However, in the existing studies exploring the impact of parameter changes on the output indicators, the control ability of the output indicators is insufficient, and the interaction between variables is inadequately considered. Therefore, a multi-objective optimization model based on response surface methodology and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the experiment was designed based on the Box-Behnken principle. Based on the experimental results, the interaction between variables was analyzed and the response polynomial was fitted. Secondly, a multi-objective optimization model was constructed, and the NSGA-II was used to solve the model. Finally, an example of gold ore flotation was used to verify the effectiveness of the method. The optimal solution was a gold concentrate grade of 75.46 g/t and a gold recovery rate of 85.98%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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13 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single-Manufacturer Multi-Retailer Supply Chain Models with Discrete Stochastic Demand

by Yaqing Xu, Jiang Zhang, Zihao Chen and Yihua Wei

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8271; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158271 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

Although there are highly discrete stochastic demands in practical supply chain problems, they are seldom considered in the research on supply chain systems, especially the single-manufacturer multi-retailer supply chain systems. There are no significant differences between continuous and discrete demand supply chain models, [...] Read more.

Although there are highly discrete stochastic demands in practical supply chain problems, they are seldom considered in the research on supply chain systems, especially the single-manufacturer multi-retailer supply chain systems. There are no significant differences between continuous and discrete demand supply chain models, but the solutions for discrete random demand models are more challenging and difficult. This paper studies a supply chain system of a single manufacturer and multiple retailers with discrete stochastic demands. Each retailer faces a random discrete demand, and the manufacturer utilizes different wholesale prices to influence each retailer’s ordering decision. Both Make-To-Order and Make-To-Stock scenarios are considered. For each scenario, the corresponding Stackelberg game model is constructed respectively. By proving a series of theorems, we transfer the solution of the game model into non-linear integer programming model, which can be easily solved by a dynamic programming method. However, with the increase in the number of retailers and the production capacity of manufacturers, the computational complexity of dynamic programming drastically increases due to the Dimension Barrier. Therefore, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) approach is introduced, which significantly reduces the computational complexity of solving the supply chain model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

19 pages, 460 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Business-Operational Performances and Company Size on CO₂ Emissions Decrease-Case of Serbian Road Transport Companies

by Svetozar Slobodan Sofijanic, Sinisa Milos Arsic, Dragutin Jovanovic, Milos Zivko Arsic, Safet Kalac, Zoran Ribaric, Dragan Kostadinovic, Velibor Peulic, Dragana Rosulj, Tibor Fazekas, Srdjan Ljubojevic, Srdjan Dimic and Boris Ribaric

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8176; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158176 - 22 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

This research includes the analysis and comparison of long-term values of key business parameters of profit-oriented companies in Serbia, which are engaged in road transport of cargo or passengers. This paper takes into account the decreasing emissions of CO₂ and its relation [...] Read more.

This research includes the analysis and comparison of long-term values of key business parameters of profit-oriented companies in Serbia, which are engaged in road transport of cargo or passengers. This paper takes into account the decreasing emissions of CO₂ and its relation to the size of business (in terms of transported cargo or number of passengers), and thus by the company’s business success (income, profit). In the empirical part of this research—ecological, operational, and business factors were analyzed on a sample of road carriers from Serbia, i.e., the most common type of organized transport of people or physical goods. Key difference was made between large and small companies engaged in transport activities, followed by difference between those companies which have business activities only in Serbia, or engage also in international activities in the Balkan region (or in the rest of world). The main goal of this paper is to determine statistically significant differences between transport companies in terms of key performance indicators, depending on whether they operate only domestically or abroad. In relation to company size, this paper examined the sustainability of operations in the case of the largest transport companies, which represent half of the total transport activity in the country (by number of people transported or the amount of transported cargo), compared to all small carriers with less than 50 employees. Future research involves extending this sample of road transport companies to all Balkan countries, which have not yet become a part of the European Union and including additional operational as well as environmental indicators that are not conventionally measured during vehicle inspections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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31 pages, 669 KiB

Open AccessReview

Innovation Management Systems and Standards: A Systematic Literature Review and Guidance for Future Research

by M-Chukri Idris and Alptekin Durmuşoğlu

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8151; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158151 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5160

Abstract

In order to establish an innovation culture, a set of organizational procedures and practices called “Innovation Management”, which may differ among companies, should be followed. At the enterprise level, systematic innovation management becomes more complicated. A number of works covering various aspects of [...] Read more.

In order to establish an innovation culture, a set of organizational procedures and practices called “Innovation Management”, which may differ among companies, should be followed. At the enterprise level, systematic innovation management becomes more complicated. A number of works covering various aspects of this subject have been published. However, a systematic synthesis of all of these contributions is still lacking in management literature. In this review, we aim to analyze and classify the main contributions published on the topic of innovation management systems/standards in management literature, seeking to discover the gaps which still remain in the literature, and to outline future avenues of research in this domain. More than 70 articles in Innovation Management Systems/Standards (IMS/St) studies published in peer-reviewed journals during 2006–2020 are reviewed and analyzed systematically by searching the science databases ScienceDirect, Scopus and Emerald, etc., and using Google Scholar and Mendeley Elsevier to identify related terms. A complete and accurate view of the latest literature on IMS/St is provided, which identifies the main topics developed in the management literature on IMS/St, as well as significant gaps, and demonstrates the low maturity level of the current state of the field. This paper contributes theoretically to the development of literature on IMS/St and provides a clear understanding of the state of the field during the period 2006–2020, shedding light on the research needed in the future in this field of study. From a managerial perspective, it can help companies to better understand the implications of IMS/St, and to harvest the best benefits from the implementation of IMS/St. Our study also answers these three important questions: 1. What are the main topics developed in the management literature on IMS/St so far? 2. Are innovation management standards mature from a practical point of view? 3. What are the main research gaps in management literature, and how could future avenues of research be shaped? Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of General Sustainability Objectives as Tools to Improve the Environmental Performance of Industry

by Richard Almgren and Olof Hjelm

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8144; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158144 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1892

Abstract

This article examines the implementation of the Swedish national environmental quality objectives and discusses what can be learned for the equivalent process for the set of global UN 2030 goals (SDGs), established in 2015. The empirical basis is a study on 50 large [...] Read more.

This article examines the implementation of the Swedish national environmental quality objectives and discusses what can be learned for the equivalent process for the set of global UN 2030 goals (SDGs), established in 2015. The empirical basis is a study on 50 large companies in Sweden and their use of these objectives in their policy formulation. The SDGs are crafted with a broader approach than the Swedish national environmental quality objectives. Therefore, the SDGs probably better reflect the agenda of the business community since they have a global character, cover the whole spectrum of important sustainability issues and provide a mutual agenda for the business community worldwide. More than 90 percent of the large companies in the study have explicitly committed themselves to the SDGs, only 1–2 years after they were published, whereas similar commitments hardly exist for the national environmental quality objectives, even 20 years after their establishment. A large majority of the large companies in this study know about the SDGs, have actively endorsed them, and started to adjust their activities accordingly. In the end, the results of these endorsements remain to be seen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

22 pages, 8046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Prototype for Automatic Identification of Stone Block Internal Structure

by Bernardo Anes, Joao Figueiredo and Mouhaydine Tlemçani

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6630; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146630 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2306

Abstract

Nowadays, the inner shape and economic viability of a stone block is dependent on the skill and experience of the “expert” that makes predictions based on external observations. This actual procedure is an extremely high empirical method, and when it fails, substantial work, [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the inner shape and economic viability of a stone block is dependent on the skill and experience of the “expert” that makes predictions based on external observations. This actual procedure is an extremely high empirical method, and when it fails, substantial work, time, and money is wasted. At present, researchers are committed to developing models to predict the stone block internal structure based on non-destructive tests. Ultrasonic tomography and electrical resistivity tomography are the tests that best fit these objectives. Trying to improve the existing procedures for collecting stone information and data exporting, a novel approach to perform both tomographies is proposed in this paper. This novel approach presents sound advantages regarding the current manual procedure: namely, (i) high accuracy due to a new automatic positioning system; (ii) no need for highly skilled operators to process measurements; (iii) measurements are much easier to derive, and results are quickly delivered. A comparison between the new automatic process and the current manual procedure shows that the manual procedure has a very low accuracy when compared to the new developed automatic system. The automatic measurements show extremely significant time savings, which is a relevant issue for the future competitiveness of the stone sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Allocation Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Scientific and Technological Resources in the Yangtze River Delta City Group

by Yuhong H. Cao, Jianxin X. You, Yongjiang J. Shi and Wei Hu

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7951; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147951 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1687

Abstract

Through the establishment of a comprehensive evaluation index system, this paper analyzes the allocation of science and technology resources in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2014 to 2020, evaluates the allocation efficiency of science and technology resources from the perspective of [...] Read more.

Through the establishment of a comprehensive evaluation index system, this paper analyzes the allocation of science and technology resources in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2014 to 2020, evaluates the allocation efficiency of science and technology resources from the perspective of multi input and output, and understands the advantages and disadvantages of regional resource allocation. The research results show that: (1) under the guidance of the national strategic policy of actively promoting the development of world-class urban agglomerations, the allocation efficiency of science and technology resources in various provinces and cities of the Yangtze River Delta continues to optimize, and the allocation level of some regions shows a rapid development trend; (2) R&D personnel and R&D funds are the core factors that affect the efficiency of science and technology resource allocation; (3) the marketization of resource allocation is helpful to improve its allocation efficiency; and (4) improving the transformation rate of scientific and technological achievements, opening up the channel for innovative products, technologies, and services to enter the market, and enabling innovative enterprises to make profits can provide strong and lasting incentives for the improvement of scientific and technological resource allocation efficiency. Based on the research conclusions, this paper puts forward countermeasures and suggestions to improve the allocation efficiency of scientific and technological resources in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from the aspects of human resources and material resources, and provides a theoretical reference for the coordinated and sustainable development of the Yangtze River Delta City Group under the background of the implementation of the urban agglomeration strategy and the construction of a scientific and technological infrastructure platform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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17 pages, 2079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Modern Timber Structure Building Development in China

by Qiang Du, Runnan Zhang, Changlu Cai and Liangwei Jin

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7936; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147936 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2766

Abstract

In China, modern timber structure (MTS) has great market potential as an advanced architectural technology and corresponds to the direction of construction industrialization. However, the MTS building sector is still developing slowly, despite previous efforts by the Chinese government to promote its development. [...] Read more.

In China, modern timber structure (MTS) has great market potential as an advanced architectural technology and corresponds to the direction of construction industrialization. However, the MTS building sector is still developing slowly, despite previous efforts by the Chinese government to promote its development. The development of the MTS building industry involves numerous stakeholders, and the complex relationships and behaviors of stakeholders are regarded as the reason for slow development. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influencing factors related to MTS building from the stakeholders’ perspectives. The social network analysis (SNA) method was used to explore the key factors affecting MTS building development and analyze the interactions of influencing factors. Nine stakeholders were identified, and 23 influencing factors associated with these stakeholders were determined based on a literature review, questionnaire survey and interviews with specialists. The critical factors were government policy, the public’s understanding and acceptance, market positioning and development cost. In addition, the relationships of designer, prefabricated component manufacturer, and construction enterprise were very close. Based on the findings, corresponding countermeasures were put forward, including policy incentives and support expansion, technical specification system improvements, public awareness reinforcement, and the strengthening of personnel training, etc. This paper contributes to the developmental improvement of the MTS building sector in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 4321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Push/Pull Parts Production Policy Optimization in the ATO Environment

by Marco Bortolini, Maurizio Faccio, Francesco Gabriele Galizia and Mauro Gamberi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6570; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146570 - 16 Jul 2021

Viewed by 1998

Abstract

Within the Assembly to Order (ATO) production strategy, the common approach is to produce the parts to assemble with a Push-Make to Stock policy.In recent decades, the effects of the modern Just in Time (JIT) moved to a Pull-Make to Order policy. Assembled [...] Read more.

Within the Assembly to Order (ATO) production strategy, the common approach is to produce the parts to assemble with a Push-Make to Stock policy.In recent decades, the effects of the modern Just in Time (JIT) moved to a Pull-Make to Order policy. Assembled parts characterized by wide variety and huge storage space utilization are critical, and a proper Push/Pull production policy definition is required. An appropriate balance of storage space utilization and setup times leads to the optimization of the production policy. The aim of this paper is to define a bi-objective mathematical optimization model to assign the most suitable production policy to the parts within the production mix in an ATO industrial context. A numerical simulation and an operative case study showcases the model application, proving the industrial relevance of this research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 946 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dimensionless Correlations for Natural Convection Heat Transfer from a Pair of Vertical Staggered Plates Suspended in Free Air

by Alessandro Quintino, Marta Cianfrini, Ivano Petracci, Vincenzo Andrea Spena and Massimo Corcione

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6511; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146511 - 15 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1623

Abstract

Buoyancy-induced convection from a pair of staggered heated vertical plates suspended in free air is studied numerically with the main scope to investigate the basic heat and momentum transfer features and to determine in what measure any independent variable affects the thermal performance [...] Read more.

Buoyancy-induced convection from a pair of staggered heated vertical plates suspended in free air is studied numerically with the main scope to investigate the basic heat and momentum transfer features and to determine in what measure any independent variable affects the thermal performance of each plate and both plates. A computational code based on the SIMPLE-C algorithm for pressure-velocity coupling is used to solve the system of the governing conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy. Numerical simulations are carried out for different values of the Rayleigh number based on the plate length, as well as of the horizontal separation distance between the plates and their vertical alignment, which are both normalized by the plate length. It is observed that an optimal separation distance between the plates for the maximum heat transfer rate related to the Rayleigh number and the vertical alignment of the plates does exist. Based on the results obtained, suitable dimensionless heat transfer correlations are developed for each plate and for the entire system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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28 pages, 11016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agent-Based Modeling for By-Product Metal Supply—A Case Study on Indium

by Jinjian Cao, Chul Hun Choi and Fu Zhao

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7881; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147881 - 14 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2536

Abstract

With rapid development and deployment of clean energy technology, demand for certain minor metals has increased significantly. However, many such metals are by-products of various host metals and are economically infeasible to extract independently. Meanwhile, by-product metals present in the mined ores may [...] Read more.

With rapid development and deployment of clean energy technology, demand for certain minor metals has increased significantly. However, many such metals are by-products of various host metals and are economically infeasible to extract independently. Meanwhile, by-product metals present in the mined ores may not be extracted even if they are sent to smelters along with host metal concentrates if it is not economically favorable for the producers. This dependency poses potential supply risks to by-product metals. Indium is a typical by-product metal, mainly from zinc mining and refining, and is important for flat panel displays, high efficiency lighting, and emerging thin-film solar panel production. Current indium supply–demand forecast models tend to overlook the volatile and competitive nature of minor metal market and are mostly based on top-down approaches. Therefore, a bottom-up agent-based model can shed new light on the market dynamics and possible outcome of future indium supply–demand relationship. A multi-layered model would also be helpful for identifying possible bottlenecks of indium supply and finding solutions. This work takes indium as an example of minor metal market and sets up an agent-based model to predict future market situation and supply–demand balance. The market is modeled as a Cournot competition oligopolistic market by refineries with capacity restriction based on host metal production. The model maintains active Nash equilibrium each year to simulate competitions between suppliers. The model is validated and verified by historical data and sensitivity analysis. Several scenarios are also explored to illustrate possible uncertainties of the market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Sustainability of Pig Slaughtering Firms in the Production Chain of Denomination of Origin Hams in Italy

by Giuseppe Bonazzi, Paolo Camanzi, Giovanni Ferri, Elisa Manghi and Mattia Iotti

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7639; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147639 - 8 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2519

Abstract

Pork meat in Italy is one of the largest agri-food chains in Italy. In the swine production chain, slaughter plays an important role, because it has an impact on animal welfare, food safety and the sustainability of the agri-food chain. These companies also [...] Read more.

Pork meat in Italy is one of the largest agri-food chains in Italy. In the swine production chain, slaughter plays an important role, because it has an impact on animal welfare, food safety and the sustainability of the agri-food chain. These companies also deal with pigs destined for typical Denomination of Origin products and therefore play an important role in the production chain of typical products and in the field of EU agricultural policy. In this context, the research aims to analyze the economic sustainability of the major pig slaughter firms in Italy, through data analysis of the annual account statement (AAS) on a sample of eight companies analyzed over a ten-year historical series. Financial ratios and margins (FRM) analysis is applied in the research. FRM analysis shows that firms have the largest absorption of financial resources in the net working capital cycle. The research highlights the high incidence of raw materials in companies in the sector. Consequently, the profit margins of the companies in the sample are modest and in some cases are lower than the cost of debt, suggesting a moderate capacity to attract capital. This result appears as a negative signal of the economic sustainability of the companies in the sector. The research, now limited to a small number of large companies, opens a line of research that can be developed by expanding the sample to small and medium-sized enterprises of the chain of Denomination of Origin hams in Italy to suggest improvement interventions, in particular for rural or marginal areas of production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediating Role of Innovation Capability on the Relationship between Strategic Agility and Organizational Performance

by Ibrahim Rashed AlTaweel and Sulieman Ibraheem Al-Hawary

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7564; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147564 - 6 Jul 2021

Cited by 129 | Viewed by 9355

Abstract

The changes in the business environment and the increase in competition have led organizations to focus greatly on improving their organizational performance in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage by relying on keeping pace with these changes and developing their innovation capability [...] Read more.

The changes in the business environment and the increase in competition have led organizations to focus greatly on improving their organizational performance in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage by relying on keeping pace with these changes and developing their innovation capability to meet their customers’ desires. Therefore, this research paper aims to explore the relationship between strategic agility and organizational performance through the mediating role of innovation capability. The research population consisted of senior managers in industrial corporations, and the sample comprised 224 senior managers. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as a statistical method for testing hypotheses. The results showed that there is a significant influence of strategic agility on organizational performance and innovation capability. Furthermore, innovation capability plays a mediating role in improving the relationship between strategic agility and organizational performance. Accordingly, a set of recommendations are provided to corporations’ senior managers for supporting the organizational activities that lead to the creation of new products and services that are appropriate to the general context of the development of customer desires, realizing the importance of the corporation acquiring flexible re-sources that can be reallocated to meet the changes in the business environment, and adopting modern business models based on stimulating collaborative work and adopting creative ideas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 4511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceived Trip Time Reliability and Its Cost in a Rail Transit Network

by Jie Liu, Paul Schonfeld, Jinqu Chen, Yong Yin and Qiyuan Peng

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137504 - 5 Jul 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1770

Abstract

Time reliability in a Rail Transit Network (RTN) is usually measured according to clock-based trip time, while the travel conditions such as travel comfort and convenience cannot be reflected by clock-based trip time. Here, the crowding level of trains, seat availability, and transfer [...] Read more.

Time reliability in a Rail Transit Network (RTN) is usually measured according to clock-based trip time, while the travel conditions such as travel comfort and convenience cannot be reflected by clock-based trip time. Here, the crowding level of trains, seat availability, and transfer times are considered to compute passengers’ Perceived Trip Time (PTT). Compared with the average PTT, the extra PTT needed for arriving reliably, which equals the 95th percentile PTT minus the average PTT, is converted into the monetary cost for estimating Perceived Time Reliability Cost (PTRC). The ratio of extra PTT needed for arriving reliably to the average PTT referring to the buffer time index is proposed to measure Perceived Time Reliability (PTR). To overcome the difficulty of obtaining passengers’ PTT who travel among rail transit modes, a Monte Carlo simulation is applied to generated passengers’ PTT for computing PTR and PTRC. A case study of Chengdu’s RTN shows that the proposed metrics and method measure the PTR and PTRC in an RTN effectively. PTTR, PTRC, and influential factors have significant linear relations among them, and the obtained linear regression models among them can guide passengers to travel reliably. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 4457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Resource Allocation Approach for Resource-Constrained Construction Operation under Multi-Objective Operation

by Wei He, Wenjing Li and Wei Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7318; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137318 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5139

Abstract

In the construction industry, it is of great importance for project managers (PM) to consider the resource allocation arrangement problem based on different perspectives. In this situation, the management of resources in construction becomes a challenge. Generally speaking, there are many objectives that [...] Read more.

In the construction industry, it is of great importance for project managers (PM) to consider the resource allocation arrangement problem based on different perspectives. In this situation, the management of resources in construction becomes a challenge. Generally speaking, there are many objectives that need to be optimized in construction that are in conflict with each other, including time, cost, and energy consumption (EC). This paper proposed a multi-objective optimization framework based on the quantum genetic algorithm (QGA) to obtain the best trade-off relationship among these goals. The construction resources allocated in each construction activity would eventually determine its execution time, cost, and EC, and a complexed time-cost-energy consumption trade-off framework of the project is finally generated due to correlations between construction activities. QGA was performed to find the best combination among time, cost, and EC and the optimal scheme of resource arrangement under this state. The construction process is simulated in BIM to check the rationality of this resource allocation mode. An industrial plant office building in China is presented as an example to illustrate the implementation of the proposed model. The results show that the presented method could effectively reduce 7% of cost, 17% of time, and 21% of energy consumption. This developed model is expected to help PMs to solve the problem of multi-objective optimization with limited resource allocation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 3610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GA-Based Optimization Method for Mobile Crane Repositioning Route Planning

by Han-Seong Gwak, Hong-Chul Lee, Byoung-Yoon Choi and Yirong Mi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 6010; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11136010 - 28 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1840

Abstract

Mobile cranes have been used extensively as essential equipment at construction sites. The productivity improvement of the mobile crane affects the overall productivity of the construction project. Hence, various studies have been conducted regarding mobile crane operation planning. However, studies on solving RCP [...] Read more.

Mobile cranes have been used extensively as essential equipment at construction sites. The productivity improvement of the mobile crane affects the overall productivity of the construction project. Hence, various studies have been conducted regarding mobile crane operation planning. However, studies on solving RCP (the repositioning mobile crane problem) are insufficient. This article presents a mobile crane reposition route planning optimization method (RPOS) that minimizes the total operating time of mobile crane. It converts the construction site into a mathematical model, determines feasible locations of the mobile crane, and identifies near-global optimal solution (s) (i.e., the placement point sequences of mobile crane) by implementing genetic algorithm and dijkstra’s algorithm. The study is of value to practitioners because RPOS provides an easy-to-use computerized tool that reduces the lengthy computations relative to data processing and Genetic Algorithms (GAs). Test cases verify the validity of the computational method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Combined-Unified Hybrid Censored Samples from Pareto Distribution: Estimation and Properties

by Khalaf S. Sultan and Walid Emam

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 6000; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11136000 - 28 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1354

Abstract

In this paper, we use the combined-unified hybrid censoring samples to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates of the unknown parameters, survival, and hazard functions of Pareto distribution. Next, we discuss some efficiency criteria of the maximum likelihood estimators, including; the unbiasedness, consistency, and [...] Read more.

In this paper, we use the combined-unified hybrid censoring samples to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates of the unknown parameters, survival, and hazard functions of Pareto distribution. Next, we discuss some efficiency criteria of the maximum likelihood estimators, including; the unbiasedness, consistency, and sufficiency. Additionally, we use MCMC to obtain the Bayesian estimates of the unknown parameters. In addition, we calculate the intervals estimation of the unknown parameters. Finally, we analyze a set of real data in view of the theoretical findings of the paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

29 pages, 2659 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Process Parameters on Cutting Width in CO₂ Laser Processing of Hardox 400 Steel

by Constantin Cristinel Girdu, Catalin Gheorghe, Constanta Radulescu and Daniela Cirtina

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 5998; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135998 - 28 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2387

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental research that proposes to determine the influence of process parameters on CO₂ laser cutting of 8 mm thick Hardox 400 steel, for which Kerf has a minimum value. The experimental research was conducted according to a complete [...] Read more.

This paper presents an experimental research that proposes to determine the influence of process parameters on CO₂ laser cutting of 8 mm thick Hardox 400 steel, for which Kerf has a minimum value. The experimental research was conducted according to a complete factorial plan with laser power, assistant gas pressure and cutting speed as the input parameters, and cutting width as the dependable variable. The Design of Experiment (DOE) consisted of 27 references and was completed with four replicas to determine the variation of the Kerf average. Functional, linear and quadratic relations were determined, which describe the Kerf dependence on the cutting parameters in order to establish the most influential parameter. The results show that the independent parameter with the most significant influence was the laser power, with minimum Kerf obtained if the laser power and the assistant gas pressure were adjusted to average values. The interaction between laser power and auxiliary gas pressure at constant cutting speed was investigated to improve Kerf and reduce the laser processing cost. The study offers the right combination of process parameters that leads to a minimum value of the cutting width. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 5550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Occupational Exposure to BTEX in a Petrochemical Plant via Urinary Biomarkers

by Višnja Mihajlović, Nenad Grba, Jan Suđi, Diane Eichert, Smilja Krajinović, Milivoj B. Gavrilov and Slobodan B. Marković

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7178; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137178 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2724

Abstract

This work presents the results of the first Serbian monitoring campaign performed to assess the occupational exposure of petrochemical industry workers to benzene (B), toluene (T), ethylbenzene (E), and xylene (X), known collectively as BTEX. The following urinary biomarkers were investigated: phenol, hippuric [...] Read more.

This work presents the results of the first Serbian monitoring campaign performed to assess the occupational exposure of petrochemical industry workers to benzene (B), toluene (T), ethylbenzene (E), and xylene (X), known collectively as BTEX. The following urinary biomarkers were investigated: phenol, hippuric acid, o-Cresol, p-Cresol, and creatinine. BTEX compounds were collected in 2014 using Casella passive samplers. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to put in evidence the correlation between the BTEX measured in air and the concentration of urinary biomarkers. While the results indicate an elevated presence of benzene in the air in the working environment studied that surpasses the national and European Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL), the levels of the remaining (TEX) parameters measured were below the OEL. The high relative standard deviations (RSD) for the concentrations of each BTEX compound (68–161 mg m⁻³) point toward an intensive occupational exposure to BTEX. This was confirmed by relevant urine biomarkers, particularly by the mean values of phenol, which were ten and fourteen times higher than the ones found in the control group (14–12 mg g⁻¹ of creatinine). On average, workers are at a higher risk of developing cancer (6.1 × 10⁻³), with risk levels exceeding the US EPA limits. Benzene levels should therefore be maintained under tight controls and monitored via proper urinary biomarkers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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19 pages, 1673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Sustainability of Waste Management Models in Circular Economies

by Carmen Avilés-Palacios and Ana Rodríguez-Olalla

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7105; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137105 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4447

Abstract

The circular economy (CE) is considered a key economic model to meet the challenge of sustainable development. Strenous efforts are focused on the transformation of waste into resources that can be reintroduced into the economic system through proper management. In this way, the [...] Read more.

The circular economy (CE) is considered a key economic model to meet the challenge of sustainable development. Strenous efforts are focused on the transformation of waste into resources that can be reintroduced into the economic system through proper management. In this way, the linear and waste-producing value chain problems are solved, making them circular, and more sustainable solutions are proposed in those chains already benefiting from circular processes, so that waste generation and waste are reduced on the one hand, and on the other, the non-efficient consumption of resources decreases. In the face of this current tide, there is another option that proposes a certain nuance, based on the premise that, although circular systems promote sustainability, it does not mean that they are in themselves sustainable, given that, in the first place, the effects of CE on sustainable development are not fully known and, on the other hand, the CE model includes the flow of materials, with only scant consideration of the flow of non-material resources (water, soil and energy). This paper aims to contrast both currents from an empirical viewpoint. To achieve this, a sustainability analysis of the circular waste management systems measured through a sustainability indicator, the carbon footprint (CF), as a main sustainable indicator in climate change action, is carried out. A crucial difference between circular models that promote waste management and those that do not is found in the collective systems of extended producer responsibility (or CPR). One of the most efficient recycling processes in Europe, waste tire management, has been chosen. Thus, the aim is to verify the sense of including environmental sustainability indicators, as CF, in the process of these systems. A sustainability management model (SBA) applies to End-of Life tire collection systems (ELT). This model is based on the accumulation of environmental impacts through the activities that generate them. To be transparent, this study requires a publicly recognized CF, so the study is focused on SIGNUS, the main Spanish waste tires CPR. The results achieved allow us to conclude that CF is much lower using CPR than non-linear processes. Despite the role that CPR have in the management and use of waste as secondary raw material, it is a priority to focus efforts on their redesign in order to reduce waste. In terms of circular economy, all actions are necessary in order to achieve system efficiencies, even when externalities occur in this process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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28 pages, 3683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of Sustainability Indicators in Engineering Education Using a Combined Balanced Scorecard and Quality Function Deployment Approaches

by Ali M. Al-Bahi, Mohamed S. Abd-Elwahed and Abdelfattah Y. Soliman

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7083; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137083 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3132

Abstract

One year and a half after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became suitable to rethink the design of the engineering education systems to remain sustainable and resilient. The paper aims to identify the most important aspects of the system, as well [...] Read more.

One year and a half after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became suitable to rethink the design of the engineering education systems to remain sustainable and resilient. The paper aims to identify the most important aspects of the system, as well as the most vulnerable ones and the extent to which the system meets the sustainability requirements of the society. The Balanced Scorecard approach is used to ensure that the system remains sustainable and resilient. The indicators to measure the aspects of this design are developed. A Quality Function Deployment approach is used to identify the extent to which a designed system satisfies the sustainability requirements of the society. The problem is formulated as an engineering design problem in which the customer requirements are presented using a sustainability Triple Bottom Line framework. The results indicate that a well-designed engineering education system is capable of addressing the majority of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations. The most important aspect of this system is its commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement. Such a system is a key player to achieve the SDGs, particularly those of economic growth, quality education, good health and wellbeing, and industry innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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21 pages, 442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Retailer’s Emergency Ordering Policy When Facing an Impending Supply Disruption

by Jingfu Huang, Gaoke Wu and Yiju Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7041; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137041 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1319

Abstract

Supply disruption is a common phenomenon in business activities. For the case where the supply disruption is predictable, the retailer should make an emergency procurement beforehand to decrease the inventory cost. For the scenario such that the happening time of the supply disruption [...] Read more.

Supply disruption is a common phenomenon in business activities. For the case where the supply disruption is predictable, the retailer should make an emergency procurement beforehand to decrease the inventory cost. For the scenario such that the happening time of the supply disruption obeys a certain common probability distribution but the ending time of the supply disruption is deterministic, based on minimizing the inventory cost and under two possible procurement strategies, we establish an emergency procurement optimization model. By considering the model solution in all cases, we establish a closed-form solution to the optimization model and provide an optimal emergency procurement policy to the retailer. Some numerical experiments are made to test the validity of the model and the effect of the involved parameters on the emergency procurement policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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13 pages, 1865 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circular Technology Roadmapping (TRM): Fostering Sustainable Material Development

by Raphael Cobra, Paula Sanvezzo, Marcia Branciforti and Janaina Mascarenhas

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7036; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137036 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

To design more sustainable products often means improving the sustainability of materials. Currently, sustainable innovation calls upon materials to not only minimize environmental impacts but also to become circular. That requires efforts to keep materials functional for longer, avoid early disposal, and re-entering [...] Read more.

To design more sustainable products often means improving the sustainability of materials. Currently, sustainable innovation calls upon materials to not only minimize environmental impacts but also to become circular. That requires efforts to keep materials functional for longer, avoid early disposal, and re-entering the cycle via recycling and other feedback processes. Those emerging challenges for materials development and the Circular Economy (CE) are especially critical in the case of polymers. How to develop strategies to preserve the value of polymers remains a question that mobilizes both researchers and practitioners. Technology Roadmapping (TRM) is a tool traditionally used for planning innovation processes and has supported the development of sustainable materials and other sustainability-related projects. This study tests TRM’s potential to assist with the planning of new circular polymers solutions and proposes the Circular TRM method. This proposition results from the case study of the development of waste-based fiber-polymer materials and strategies for getting them into the market. Our case study demonstrates how it would be possible to differentiate the various polymer material technologies and determine the most circular strategy path. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 1619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Air Route Alternation and Display Design on an Operator’s Situation Awareness, Task Performance and Mental Workload in Simulated Flight Tasks

by Hao Chen, Liping Pang, Xiaoru Wanyan, Shuang Liu, Yufeng Fang and Da Tao

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 5745; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125745 - 21 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2390

Abstract

Air route alternation caused by unexpected events in abnormal or emergency situations often produces adverse consequences on an operator’s cognition and behavior in flight tasks. Under such a circumstance, it is especially necessary to examine the utility of the interaction displays usually designed [...] Read more.

Air route alternation caused by unexpected events in abnormal or emergency situations often produces adverse consequences on an operator’s cognition and behavior in flight tasks. Under such a circumstance, it is especially necessary to examine the utility of the interaction displays usually designed based on the routine environment. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of air route alternation and display design on operators’ situation awareness (SA), task performance and mental workload during simulated flight tasks. Twenty-four participants attended an experiment where they were instructed to perform simulated flight tasks with three types of display designs in both air-route-as-planned and air-route-altered conditions. Subjective measures, behavioral measures and eye movement measures were adopted to assess the participants’ SA, task performance and mental workload. The results show that unexpected air route alternation increases mental workload as well as deteriorates the SA and task performance due to the gap between attention resource demand and supply. Reducing the demand of the operator’s attention resource should be the focus when coping with unexpected events in abnormal situations. In addition, reasonable information layout, such as a center-layout design of the critical decision-making information, is more important than information salience for improving the SA and task performance in abnormal situations. Nevertheless, indicators with a high-salience design, such as a more open window design and immersive design, are still worth recommending. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Gender and Expatriation Choice on Career Paths in Supply Chain Management: Evidence from Master of Science Graduates

by Salomée Ruel and Anicia Jaegler

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6907; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126907 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4201

Abstract

Zinn et al. (2018) and Esper et al. (2020) call for more research on gender diversity in Supply Chain Management, and our study responds to that call. We analyze the career path of 1081 international graduates from a higher degree program in Supply [...] Read more.

Zinn et al. (2018) and Esper et al. (2020) call for more research on gender diversity in Supply Chain Management, and our study responds to that call. We analyze the career path of 1081 international graduates from a higher degree program in Supply Chain Management from 2000 to 2017 to assess the impact of gender and expatriation choice on hierarchical progression. We explore two variables that may affect graduates’ career paths, namely, their gender and their expatriation choices, and compare their relative importance. Our analysis shows that there were, on average, 33.5% women recruited in the MSc and that this has not significantly changed over the years. It also shows that gender significantly influences the number of years spent at each level in the career hierarchy and the level reached. Regarding expatriation choice, this variable has some significant impacts on career progression. Finally, statistics indicate that gender has a far greater influence on career progression than expatriation choice. Overall, this study proves the difficulties for women in enjoying the same career progression as men in the field of Supply Chain Management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 2596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of Bioplastics and Food Waste Disposal Methods

by Shakira R. Hobbs, Tyler M. Harris, William J. Barr and Amy E. Landis

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6894; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126894 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4380

Abstract

The environmental impacts of five waste management scenarios for polylactic acid (PLA)-based bioplastics and food waste were quantified using life cycle assessment. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the potential for a pretreatment process to accelerate the degradation of bioplastics and were modeled in two [...] Read more.

The environmental impacts of five waste management scenarios for polylactic acid (PLA)-based bioplastics and food waste were quantified using life cycle assessment. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the potential for a pretreatment process to accelerate the degradation of bioplastics and were modeled in two of the five scenarios assessed. The five scenarios analyzed in this study were: (1a) Anaerobic digestion (1b) Anaerobic digestion with pretreatment; (2a) Compost; (2a) Compost with pretreatment; (3) Landfill. Results suggested that food waste and pretreated bioplastics disposed of with an anaerobic digester offers life cycle and environmental net total benefits (environmental advantages/offsets) in several areas: ecotoxicity (−81.38 CTUe), eutrophication (0 kg N eq), cumulative energy demand (−1.79 MJ), global warming potential (0.19 kg CO₂), and human health non-carcinogenic (−2.52 CTuh). Normalized results across all impact categories show that anaerobically digesting food waste and bioplastics offer the most offsets for ecotoxicity, eutrophication, cumulative energy demand and non-carcinogenic. Implications from this study can lead to nutrient and energy recovery from an anaerobic digester that can diversify the types of fertilizers and decrease landfill waste while decreasing dependency on non-renewable technologies. Thus, using anaerobic digestion to manage bioplastics and food waste should be further explored as a viable and sustainable solution for waste management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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25 pages, 5422 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Revised Systematic Layout Planning to Fit Disabled Workers Contexts

by Guido J. L. Micheli, Annamaria Rampoldi and Fabrizio Baccanti

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6850; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126850 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3329

Abstract

Some people may be disadvantaged on the labor market because of their lower productivity; still, they have the same right to be employed as any other citizen. Social cooperatives employ disabled workers who are trained and supported in developing their abilities through individualized [...] Read more.

Some people may be disadvantaged on the labor market because of their lower productivity; still, they have the same right to be employed as any other citizen. Social cooperatives employ disabled workers who are trained and supported in developing their abilities through individualized paths and targeted techniques. For the cooperatives to survive on the labor market, an improvement of management procedures and internal organization is required. To achieve this result, an optimal arrangement of activities must be determined to streamline the production processes, which is why Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) has been modified and adapted to fit disabled workers contexts. The factors of social cooperatives influencing the layout study have been determined and introduced into the classic SLP; the new methodology has been applied at L’Iride, a social cooperative developed through the years. The new layout has shown an improvement in space saturation of 219.2% and 197.5% considering the years 2019 and 2020. This paper provides social cooperatives with a revised SLP, including social factors, to enhance the disabled workers situation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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12 pages, 3280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conveyor Belt Damage Detection with the Use of a Two-Layer Neural Network

by Agata Kirjanów-Błażej and Aleksandra Rzeszowska

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 5480; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125480 - 13 Jun 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

Non-invasive conveyor belt diagnostics in damage detection allows significant reductions of the costs related to belt replacement, as well as the evaluation of belt usability and wear degree changes over time. As a result, it increases safety in the location where the belt [...] Read more.

Non-invasive conveyor belt diagnostics in damage detection allows significant reductions of the costs related to belt replacement, as well as the evaluation of belt usability and wear degree changes over time. As a result, it increases safety in the location where the belt is used. Depending on the location of a belt conveyor, its length or the type of the transported material, the belt may undergo wear at different rates, albeit the wear process itself is inevitable. This article presents an artificial intelligence-based approach to the classification of conveyor belt damage. A two-layer neural network was implemented in the MATLAB programming language, with the use of a Deep Learning Toolbox set. As a result of the optimization of the created network, the effectiveness of operation was at the level of 80%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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12 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Performance Measurement Procedure and Its Accuracy for Shape-Stabilized Phase-Change Material and Microcapsule Phase-Change Material Combined with Building Materials

by Hyun Bae Kim, Masayuki Mae and Youngjin Choi

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6671; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126671 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2088

Abstract

The accuracy of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) used in the dynamic method, which is the method most widely used to measure the thermal performance of existing phase-change materials (PCMs), is limited when measuring the phase-change range and peak temperature of PCMs combined with [...] Read more.

The accuracy of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) used in the dynamic method, which is the method most widely used to measure the thermal performance of existing phase-change materials (PCMs), is limited when measuring the phase-change range and peak temperature of PCMs combined with building materials. Therefore, we measured the thermal performance in a thermochamber; the samples were a sheet of shape-stabilized phase-change material (SSPCM) and a microencapsulated PCM-impregnated gypsum board fabricated by combining PCM building materials with paraffin. Then, we investigated ways to improve the measurement accuracy. We confirmed the setting time of the thermochamber temperature change based on the internal temperature of the PCM and the effect of the PCM capacity on its thermal performance using the dynamic method. The temperature was increased or decreased in uniform steps at regular time intervals. The error of the heat absorption and release was less than 2% when a stabilization time of at least 4 h elapsed before the start of the heating or cooling process. Overall trends in the specific heat and enthalpy, such as the phase-change section and peak temperature of the PCM, were similar regardless of the setting time. Thus, it was confirmed that the latent heat performance did not increase proportionally with the increase in the PCM capacity. The proposed approach can be used to measure the specific heat and enthalpy of various types of PCMs and building materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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12 pages, 1405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life-Cycle Assessment of the Breezhaler^® Breath-Actuated Dry Powder Inhaler

by Brett Fulford, Karen Mezzi, Andy Whiting and Simon Aumônier

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6657; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126657 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4342

Abstract

The Breezhaler^® dry powder inhaler (DPI) has a low carbon footprint compared with other inhalation therapies, consistent with the literature on other DPIs. This life-cycle assessment was conducted in France, Germany, the UK, and Japan using a “cradle-to-grave” technique to evaluate six [...] Read more.

The Breezhaler^® dry powder inhaler (DPI) has a low carbon footprint compared with other inhalation therapies, consistent with the literature on other DPIs. This life-cycle assessment was conducted in France, Germany, the UK, and Japan using a “cradle-to-grave” technique to evaluate six environmental impact categories (global warming potential; acidification; ozone depletion; use of resource, minerals, and metals; eco-toxicity; and freshwater use) associated with the use of the Breezhaler^®. Three variants of the Breezhaler^® (30-day packs with and without the digital companion and a 90-day pack without the digital companion) were evaluated to identify major hotspots in the device life-cycle and to provide realistic solutions to reduce the environmental impact. Although no single life-cycle stage dominated the climate change impact of the 30-day device with the digital companion, the inhaler’s raw materials and packaging contributed to 96% of the resource depletion impact for the 30-day device without the digital companion. For the 90-day device without the digital companion, packaging contributed 42–62% of the impact across all categories. Overall, the Breezhaler^® inhaler with the 90-day pack had the lowest environmental impact. The environmental impact of the device did not vary significantly among the considered markets. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of active pharmaceutical ingredients and improvement in clinical outcomes on the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 2115 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Performance Evaluation Indicators for Table Grape Packaging Units. 2. Global Indexes

by Edson Kogachi, Adonias Ferreira, Carlos Cavalcante and Marcelo Embiruçu

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6367; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116367 - 3 Jun 2021

Viewed by 1730

Abstract

The adoption of a global index (GI) for performance evaluation has been increasingly recognized as a useful strategy for decision-making as it simplifies the interpretation and monitoring of the results. Because the GI is often built by adopting a combination of different procedures [...] Read more.

The adoption of a global index (GI) for performance evaluation has been increasingly recognized as a useful strategy for decision-making as it simplifies the interpretation and monitoring of the results. Because the GI is often built by adopting a combination of different procedures for normalization, weighting, and aggregation of indicators, it is challenging to select the optimal combination of procedures, since the countless combinations lead to different results. This paper proposes a method for the development of a robust and original GI for the evaluation of table grape production units (TGPUs). Various combinations of procedures were used to develop eighteen GIs for each TGPU. These are located in the lower-middle San Francisco valley in the northeast of Brazil, where their robustness was assessed by identifying outlier GIs and via a graphical analysis. Plausible GIs were reliably identified and a cluster analysis was conducted to categorize the TGPUs into groups considering each performance objective. The identification of the outlier GIs and the use of the plausible GIs in cluster formation constitute a new scientific approach to the topic, which can be extended to other applications and contribute to the sustainable development of several industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 1299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

UAV Detection with Transfer Learning from Simulated Data of Laser Active Imaging

by Shao Zhang, Guoqing Yang, Tao Sun, Kunyang Du and Jin Guo

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5182; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115182 - 2 Jun 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

With the development of our society, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) appear more frequently in people’s daily lives, which could become a threat to public security and privacy, especially at night. At the same time, laser active imaging is an important detection method for [...] Read more.

With the development of our society, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) appear more frequently in people’s daily lives, which could become a threat to public security and privacy, especially at night. At the same time, laser active imaging is an important detection method for night vision. In this paper, we implement a UAV detection model for our laser active imaging system based on deep learning and a simulated dataset that we constructed. Firstly, the model is pre-trained on the largest available dataset. Then, it is transferred to a simulated dataset to learn about the UAV features. Finally, the trained model is tested on real laser active imaging data. The experimental results show that the performance of the proposed method is greatly improved compared to the model not trained on the simulated dataset, which verifies the transferability of features learned from the simulated data, the effectiveness of the proposed simulation method, and the feasibility of our solution for UAV detection in the laser active imaging domain. Furthermore, a comparative experiment with the previous method is carried out. The results show that our model can achieve high-precision, real-time detection at 104.1 frames per second (FPS). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 2607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crafting a Sustainable Next Generation Infrastructure: Evaluation of China’s New Infrastructure Construction Policies

by Jun Wu, Yuanjie Zhang and Zhun Shi

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116245 - 1 Jun 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3822

Abstract

How to boost the economy and achieve more sustainable development with enhanced quality, efficiency, and fairness by leveraging digital technology in the post-COVID-19 era has been an important agenda faced by many countries. As China’s new infrastructure initiative has the potential to open [...] Read more.

How to boost the economy and achieve more sustainable development with enhanced quality, efficiency, and fairness by leveraging digital technology in the post-COVID-19 era has been an important agenda faced by many countries. As China’s new infrastructure initiative has the potential to open a new pathway for economic resilience, its policy characteristics and orientation have attracted more and more attention by policy makers and researchers. Taking the new infrastructure policies issued by Chinese local governments since 2020 as a data source, this paper, on the one hand, uses text mining and social network analysis to reveal the scope and coverage of the construction of new infrastructure and its orientation. On the other hand, a quantitative evaluation of 12 provincial policies grounded on a revised framework and policy modeling consistency index approach was conducted. The results show that Chinese governments adopt a bottom-up incrementalism planning mode for the policy steering of the construction of new infrastructure. This policy arrangement is a kind of goal-oriented modulation that makes planning more adaptive and participatory to enhance the infrastructure sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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21 pages, 5046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Safety Assessment for Upper Part of Floating Crane Considering Minimum Luffing Angle

by Min-Woo Lee, Ji-Hyun Lee, Yeon-Seung Lee, Hyun-Jin Park and Tak-Kee Lee

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5104; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115104 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3147

Abstract

Floating cranes are used for the construction and installation work of harbors, various heavy industries, and offshore structures. In the case of floating cranes that need to move around the work site, their navigation can be constrained due to marine bridges. In some [...] Read more.

Floating cranes are used for the construction and installation work of harbors, various heavy industries, and offshore structures. In the case of floating cranes that need to move around the work site, their navigation can be constrained due to marine bridges. In some cases, the clearance under the bridge between the water surface and the bottom of the marine bridge may be too low, and floating cranes cannot pass under the marine bridge. In this study, the height of the marine bridges and the boom height of the floating cranes considering the minimum luffing angle were investigated. Through minimizing the boom luffing angle of the floating crane by the height of back tower, a floating crane with improved mobility through marine bridges was developed. A structural analysis model was produced to check whether the developed crane design satisfies the design criteria obeying the KR, DNVGL, and ABS rules, including luffing condition as a special consideration. As a result of the structural analyses, structural safety was validated for the service, stowage, and luffing conditions in terms of combined stresses, displacements, and buckling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of a Protestant Work Ethic on Burnout: Mediating Effect of Emotional Dissonance and Moderated Mediating Effect of Negative Emotion Regulation

by Sukbong Choi, Yungil Kang and Kyunghwan Yeo

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5909; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115909 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2260

Abstract

This study examined the effect of the Protestant work ethic on burnout using a sample of 259 South Korean workers from a manufacturing firm. We also investigated the mediating role of emotional dissonance on this effect and addressed the moderating and moderated mediating [...] Read more.

This study examined the effect of the Protestant work ethic on burnout using a sample of 259 South Korean workers from a manufacturing firm. We also investigated the mediating role of emotional dissonance on this effect and addressed the moderating and moderated mediating roles of negative emotion regulation on the relationship between Protestant work ethic and emotional dissonance. Our empirical results indicated a significant direct negative effect of the Protestant work ethic on burnout, but there was no evidence of an indirect relationship between these. Results also found that negative emotion regulation changed the relationship between Protestant work ethic and emotional dissonance. In addition, negative emotion regulation changed the mediating role of emotional dissonance in the relationship between Protestant work ethic and burnout. The study is meaningful in that it grasped the importance of value as a major factor in job burnout, and it finally confirmed the antecedents of Koreans’ diligence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 3154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Simulation as Tools to Increase the Protection of Critical Infrastructure and the Sustainability of the Provision of Essential Needs of Citizens

by Tomáš Loveček, Lenka Straková and Katarína Kampová

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5898; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115898 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2000

Abstract

States and their cities are at the forefront of efforts to address many of today’s transnational security challenges. States cannot fulfill their basic functions, which include caring for the all-round development of their territory and the needs of its inhabitants, without the existence [...] Read more.

States and their cities are at the forefront of efforts to address many of today’s transnational security challenges. States cannot fulfill their basic functions, which include caring for the all-round development of their territory and the needs of its inhabitants, without the existence of critical infrastructure, which can be damaged, destroyed, or disrupted by malicious behavior. The legislation of EU authorities presents methods for improving the crisis management cycle within critical infrastructure protection. However, these methods are not elaborated. Modeling and simulation using software tools enable more accurate decision-making by security managers during the process of designing and evaluating the physical protection systems of critical infrastructure. This article presents a new software solution to the intrusion of unauthorized persons and its potential mathematical extension. The main innovative benefit of this newly created software tool is the possibility of creating more sophisticated attack scenarios using various 2D maps. Mathematical extension model response scenarios are constructed for various types of intruders, allowing more accurate training of defenders, which leads to more effective resource usage. This combination of software and mathematical solutions should allow physical protection system designers to test various intrusion scenarios of critical infrastructure elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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16 pages, 281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Effects of Credit Allocation Structure and Environmental Expenditures: Evidence from China

by Qiming Yang, Jun He, Ting Liu and Zhitao Zhu

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5865; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115865 - 23 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1852

Abstract

This article studies how the allocation structure of bank credit capital between state-owned and private enterprises and government environmental expenditures affect environmental pollution in China. The present literature argues that credit allocation and government environmental expenditures may play an important role in environmental [...] Read more.

This article studies how the allocation structure of bank credit capital between state-owned and private enterprises and government environmental expenditures affect environmental pollution in China. The present literature argues that credit allocation and government environmental expenditures may play an important role in environmental quality improvement. However, these studies rarely consider the credit allocation structure between State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private enterprises; in addition, they overlook the interaction effects of credit allocation and government environmental expenditures. Based on these, we put forward three hypotheses. Moreover, the study applies relevant spatial data for 2011–2017 from 31 provinces in China to a spatial econometric model, and the results indicate that (1) environmental pollution among provincial regions shows a significant positive spatial autocorrelation. (2) Environmental expenditures and environmental pollution display an inverse U-shaped relationship, which supports the numerical simulation results. (3) The interaction effect of credit allocation structure and environmental expenditures on environmental pollution is significantly positive, which means that the allocation of more credit capital to private enterprises will restrain the effect of government environmental expenditures. With the increasing significance of environmental protection in China, it is necessary to strengthen the supervision of private enterprises’ environmental pollution behavior, expand government expenditures on ecological protection, and promote regional collaborative environmental governance to improve environmental quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

17 pages, 1649 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Nanoparticles from the Cosmetics and Medical Industries in Legal and Environmental Aspects

by Renata Włodarczyk and Anna Kwarciak-Kozłowska

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5805; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115805 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3913

Abstract

This paper presents the application and role of nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on the cosmetics and medical industries. Methods of obtaining materials at the nanoscale and their characteristic structure, which determines their attractiveness and risk, especially in recent years, have been described. The [...] Read more.

This paper presents the application and role of nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on the cosmetics and medical industries. Methods of obtaining materials at the nanoscale and their characteristic structure, which determines their attractiveness and risk, especially in recent years, have been described. The subject of the work was to indicate the hazards and risks that are associated with the properties of nanomaterials; dimension, and high chemical and physical activity, thus making ways to capture and monitor them difficult. Legal and environmental aspects were taken into account, and the involvement of the European Commission in this subject and the activities carried out in a few European countries as well as in Japan, the USA and Canada were analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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12 pages, 2100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Telecom Churn Prediction System Based on Ensemble Learning Using Feature Grouping

by Tianpei Xu, Ying Ma and Kangchul Kim

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 4742; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114742 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6408

Abstract

In recent years, the telecom market has been very competitive. The cost of retaining existing telecom customers is lower than attracting new customers. It is necessary for a telecom company to understand customer churn through customer relationship management (CRM). Therefore, CRM analyzers are [...] Read more.

In recent years, the telecom market has been very competitive. The cost of retaining existing telecom customers is lower than attracting new customers. It is necessary for a telecom company to understand customer churn through customer relationship management (CRM). Therefore, CRM analyzers are required to predict which customers will churn. This study proposes a customer-churn prediction system that uses an ensemble-learning technique consisting of stacking models and soft voting. Xgboost, Logistic regression, Decision tree, and Naïve Bayes machine-learning algorithms are selected to build a stacking model with two levels, and the three outputs of the second level are used for soft voting. Feature construction of the churn dataset includes equidistant grouping of customer behavior features to expand the space of features and discover latent information from the churn dataset. The original and new churn datasets are analyzed in the stacking ensemble model with four evaluation metrics. The experimental results show that the proposed customer churn predictions have accuracies of 96.12% and 98.09% for the original and new churn datasets, respectively. These results are better than state-of-the-art churn recognition systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 1566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Supplier Collaboration of Daily Consumer Goods under Uncertainty of Supply and Demand

by Tianwen Song, Qiang Zhang, Junmu Ran and Wenxue Ran

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5683; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105683 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

This paper establishes the decentralized decision-making model of consumer goods, the active collaboration model of consumer goods suppliers, and the decentralized decision-making model of customized consumer goods. Through formula derivation and simulation, the benefit and influence differences of the three modes are compared. [...] Read more.

This paper establishes the decentralized decision-making model of consumer goods, the active collaboration model of consumer goods suppliers, and the decentralized decision-making model of customized consumer goods. Through formula derivation and simulation, the benefit and influence differences of the three modes are compared. This paper studies the influence of supplier’s active collaboration on the supply and demand instability of consumer goods and discusses the ideal value of supply chain inventory control. In China’s modern circular economy, the inventory control of the consumer goods supply chain is unscientific and nonstandard. We discuss a new inventory control method and study the ideal value of supply chain inventory control. It helps reduce the inventory shortage loss caused by the uncertainty of daily consumer goods, improve the efficiency of the supply chain, enhance the liquidity of supply chain inventory to achieve the purpose of increasing economic value. It has reference value for the inventory control of consumer goods in other countries and regions. The results show that under certain conditions, the horizontal collaboration between suppliers can improve the completeness of consumer goods. The collaboration between suppliers can reduce the hidden dangers caused by the uncertainty of supply and demand and significantly reduce the total inventory cost of manufacturers and improve profits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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20 pages, 269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How the Balanced Scorecard Is Implemented in the Spanish Footwear Industry

by Carlos Suárez-Gargallo and Patrocinio Zaragoza-Sáez

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5641; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105641 - 18 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2230

Abstract

This paper provides a deeper knowledge of the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in the Spanish footwear industry, under an exploratory research which has been conducted with a final sample of seven firms. An online questionnaire was developed, supported by phone calls [...] Read more.

This paper provides a deeper knowledge of the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in the Spanish footwear industry, under an exploratory research which has been conducted with a final sample of seven firms. An online questionnaire was developed, supported by phone calls and a personal interview. An 18–24-month-period has been found to be enough to develop solid foundations for a BSC. Financial and non-financial measures are presented in the whole firms and in the majority of the four perspectives, linked by cause-and-effect relationships, showing a high development in the BSC implementation. BSCs with a high grade of development are more likely to identify their intangibles as well as include them in the firm’s strategy. A personal BSC has been identified as a limitation. Although the strategy is spread out with meetings in the whole firms, it is not known at all levels, showing a gap to be fulfilled. Strategy maps are key in BCS implementation: they are present in the majority of the firms and show that the performance drivers reach the strategy. Firms with a high grade of development and expectation, using both financial and non-financial measures linked by cause-and-effect relationships, are more likely to define sustainable measures, integrating them in their own BSC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

20 pages, 15409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanized Grape Harvest Efficiency

by Ján Jobbágy, Martin Dočkalík, Koloman Krištof and Patrik Burg

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4621; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104621 - 18 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3402

Abstract

Due to the low number of employees and the time limit in the field of grape harvesting, we focused in the presented article on evaluating the effectiveness of the deployment of an outboard grape harvester within the conditions of Slovak viticulture. The vineyards [...] Read more.

Due to the low number of employees and the time limit in the field of grape harvesting, we focused in the presented article on evaluating the effectiveness of the deployment of an outboard grape harvester within the conditions of Slovak viticulture. The vineyards are in the Nitra wine-growing region on the southwestern slopes behind the Pivnica Radošina company, Piešťany district, in a total area of 33 ha. The object of the research was a PELLENC 8090 Selective Process trailed grape harvester aggregated with a SAME Frutteto3 100 tractor. The mechanized harvesting was tested in the vineyards of Pivnica Radošina s. r. on three selected varieties (Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Tramin Red) for two years. Entry conditions, technical parameters of the equipment, and weather conditions were monitored for all varieties. Data were analyzed with STATISTICA statistical software. As part of the research, post-harvest losses due to mechanized harvesting were monitored. The average losses for all examined varieties reached the value of 2.17% in 2018, and the value of 2.25% in 2017. A significant output was the efficiency of the deployment of the set for mechanized grape harvesting, where in 2018 a minimum value of 146.3 ha was set (the average cost of grapes was 500 Euro·t⁻¹). A significant part of the cost was fixed items, as a two-year tractor and a trailed collector (for 2017) were used for mechanized harvesting. The difference compared to previous research was the deployment of a completely new set during a two-year period on varieties that have not yet been evaluated. The economic efficiency over two years was elaborated in detail, which highlighted the benefits of multi-annual use. In terms of examining losses, differences were shown not only between varieties, but also between years, and these data were statistically verified. The paper evaluates the dependence of the use of mechanized harvesting on changes in the purchase price of grapes (increasing it also exponentially increases the required area) and on changing the hourly wage of an employee (increasing it degressively reduces the required area). From the results it can be said that statistically and economically significant outputs were achieved for the deployment of machine collection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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14 pages, 3467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method for Viewing Real-World Scenes while Recording Video

by Daehee Park and Cheoljun Lee

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4617; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104617 - 18 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1670

Abstract

Because smartphones support various functions, they are carried by users everywhere. Whenever a user believes that a moment is interesting, important, or meaningful to them, they can record a video to preserve such memories. The main problem with video recording an important moment [...] Read more.

Because smartphones support various functions, they are carried by users everywhere. Whenever a user believes that a moment is interesting, important, or meaningful to them, they can record a video to preserve such memories. The main problem with video recording an important moment is the fact that the user needs to look at the scene through the mobile phone screen rather than seeing the actual real-world event. This occurs owing to uncertainty the user might feel when recording the video. For example, the user might not be sure if the recording is of high-quality and might worry about missing the target object. To overcome this, we developed a new camera application that utilizes two main algorithms, the minimum output sum of squared error and the histograms of oriented gradient algorithms, to track the target object and recognize the direction of the user’s head. We assumed that the functions of the new camera application can solve the user’s anxiety while recording a video. To test the effectiveness of the proposed application, we conducted a case study and measured the emotional responses of users and the error rates based on a comparison with the use of a regular camera application. The results indicate that the new camera application induces greater feelings of pleasure, excitement, and independence than a regular camera application. Furthermore, it effectively reduces the error rates during video recording. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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22 pages, 273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Busyness, Tenure, Meeting Frequency of the CEOs, and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure

by Melinda Cahyaning Ratri, Iman Harymawan and Khairul Anuar Kamarudin

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5567; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105567 - 17 May 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3803

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between busyness, tenure, and the frequency of CEO meetings and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure. This study used 624 observations from 78 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) database [...] Read more.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between busyness, tenure, and the frequency of CEO meetings and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure. This study used 624 observations from 78 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) database for the 2010–2018 period. This study indicated that companies with busy CEOs or CEOs with long tenure produce fewer CSR disclosures. On the other hand, companies with CEOs who frequently attend board meetings generate more CSR disclosures because they can absorb a lot of useful information to address the changing social and environmental issues. Companies can limit the activities and tenure of the CEO and increase the awareness of the CEO to attend board meetings to encourage the firm’s sustainability. Companies with busy CEOs and long tenure result in less CSR disclosure. Furthermore, the frequency of CEO meetings can enhance CSR disclosure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

24 pages, 7369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cognitive Gap and Correlation of Safety-I and Safety-II: A Case of Maritime Shipping Safety Management

by Weiliang Qiao, Yang Liu, Xiaoxue Ma and He Lan

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5509; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105509 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

In contrast to the conventional safety management principle, namely, safety-I, which focuses on “what goes wrong”, a new-born safety philosophy (safety-II) inspires people to investigate “how and why things go right”. In the present study, the cognitive difference and correlation between safety-I and [...] Read more.

In contrast to the conventional safety management principle, namely, safety-I, which focuses on “what goes wrong”, a new-born safety philosophy (safety-II) inspires people to investigate “how and why things go right”. In the present study, the cognitive difference and correlation between safety-I and safety-II in the maritime shipping industry are explored and investigated. For this purpose, a questionnaire is administered to survey seafarers and maritime experts, and semi-structured interviews are conducted to collect original data associated with safety-I and safety-II. Then, the data from seafarers and maritime experts are further processed by empirical statistical methods and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology. The results show that impacting factors associated with individual aspects are usually accepted as dominant with respect to views of safety-I, while organizational factors are more influential for safety-II, which is essential to developing an organizational resilience capacity. Based on the findings and discussions, potential safety countermeasures that integrate safety-I and safety-II are proposed in this article. The present study discusses the new-born safety-II perspective to elucidate the safety issues associated with maritime shipping operations, which can be seen as the main innovation of this work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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33 pages, 14928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Emission Dispatch Considering Renewable Energy Resources—A Multi-Objective Cross Entropy Optimization Approach

by Qun Niu, Ming You, Zhile Yang and Yang Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5386; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105386 - 12 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2299

Abstract

The conventional electrical power system economic dispatch (ED) often only pursues immediate economic benefits but neglects the harmful environment impacts of gas emissions from thermal power plants. To address this shortfall, economic emission dispatch (EED) has drawn a lot of attention in recent [...] Read more.

The conventional electrical power system economic dispatch (ED) often only pursues immediate economic benefits but neglects the harmful environment impacts of gas emissions from thermal power plants. To address this shortfall, economic emission dispatch (EED) has drawn a lot of attention in recent years. With the increasing penetration of renewable generation, the intermittence and uncertainty of renewable energy such as solar power and wind power increase the difficulties of power system scheduling. To enhance the dispatch performance with significant penetration of renewable energy, a modified multi-objective cross entropy algorithm (MMOCE) is proposed in this paper. To solve multi-objective optimization problems, a crowding–distance calculation technique and a novel external archive mechanism are introduced into the conventional cross entropy method. Additionally, the population updating process is simplified by introducing a self-adaptive parameter operator that substitutes the smoothing parameters, while the solution diversity and the adaptability in large scale systems are improved by introducing the crossover operator. Finally, a two-stage evolutionary mechanism further enhances the diversity and the rate of convergence. To verify the efficacy of the proposed MMOCE, eight benchmark functions and three different test systems considering different mixes of renewable energy sources are employed. The dispatch results by the proposed MMOCE are compared with other multi-objective cross entropy algorithms and published heuristic methods, confirming the superiority of the proposed MMOCE over other methods in all test systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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15 pages, 2071 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Framework for Long-Term Public Housing Supply Plan Focusing on Small-Scale Offsite Construction in Seoul

by Hosang Hyun, Young-Min Lee, Hyung-Geun Kim and Jin-Sung Kim

Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5361; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105361 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1895

Abstract

The public housing demand in Seoul has been continuously increasing, but the available land for housing is insufficient. To meet the demand, the Seoul government is planning to develop small-scale housing in urban areas through various methods. Construction activities for increasing housing capacity [...] Read more.

The public housing demand in Seoul has been continuously increasing, but the available land for housing is insufficient. To meet the demand, the Seoul government is planning to develop small-scale housing in urban areas through various methods. Construction activities for increasing housing capacity cause negative environmental impacts, and this inevitably leads to an increase in the number of civil complaints. The complaints can be mitigated by using offsite construction (OSC) for fabricating components. However, OSC remains underdeveloped in Korea owing to concerns over high project costs. To promote OSC, the government must develop a long-term plan to secure demand for OSC. For such a plan, the number and feasibility of applicable sites in Seoul must be estimated. This study suggests a two-stage research framework: (1) estimate the number of applicable sites in Seoul using GIS and (2) conduct feasibility analyses of these sites through architectural planning. The estimated number of sites was equal to the expected supply of small-scale housing units in Seoul for 8 years, and the selected case sites were identified to be feasible. Therefore, the use of OSC for developing small-scale housing units in Seoul is reasonable. This research differs from previous studies in that the previous use of qualitative studies to promote modular construction was replaced with a quantitative analysis that included the entire Seoul area. Using the research framework, the Seoul government can develop a specific long-term plan based on the quantitative research analysis. Furthermore, manufacturers can develop plans based on the government plan and deliver returns on the higher initial costs. The contractors can reduce the higher project cost and doing so is expected to mitigate the negative perception and to promote modular construction in Korea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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21 pages, 86366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behavior of an Internally Confined Hollow Reinforced Concrete Column with a Polygonal Cross-Section

by Sungwon Kim, Hyemin Hong and Taekhee Han

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4302; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11094302 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2170

Abstract

The new supporting structure, internally confined hollow reinforced concrete (ICH RC), was suggested by former researchers. It maintains the material saving effect, which is the advantage of the hollow concrete structure, and it solves the brittle fracture problem of the inner wall by [...] Read more.

The new supporting structure, internally confined hollow reinforced concrete (ICH RC), was suggested by former researchers. It maintains the material saving effect, which is the advantage of the hollow concrete structure, and it solves the brittle fracture problem of the inner wall by the inner steel pipe to make it into the 3-axis confinement state. However, until now, its design and analysis model has been limited to a circular cross-section. In this study, to expand the applicability, research and development of an ICH RC structure with a polygonal cross-section were performed. The material model was developed by defining the constraint stress in the members of the concrete and deriving a reasonable stress-strain relationship. For the column model, it was developed to predict the behavior of the polygonal ICH RC columns by analyzing the axial force-moment correlation, moment-curvature, and lateral force-displacement relationship. Each model was verified not only by comparing with the results of previous experiments but also by analyzing the results according to parameters. The maximum load and ultimate displacement values through the developed model showed the difference with the experimental results within 6% of mean error. It was verified that the proposed analytical model reasonably reflects the behavior of actual columns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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29 pages, 1765 KiB

Open AccessReview

How Ready Is Higher Education for Quality 4.0 Transformation according to the LNS Research Framework?

by Bandar Alzahrani, Haitham Bahaitham, Murad Andejany and Ahmad Elshennawy

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5169; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095169 - 6 May 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7411

Abstract

The world is evolving, and it has transformed from the industrial age to the era of connected and intelligent products in both organizations and competition. The advances in technology in the last decade have led to the introduction of a new term called [...] Read more.

The world is evolving, and it has transformed from the industrial age to the era of connected and intelligent products in both organizations and competition. The advances in technology in the last decade have led to the introduction of a new term called Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution and that has led to the emergence of the term Quality 4.0. Quality 4.0 is the digitalization of traditional quality approaches and the focus on the use of digital tools to improve an organization’s ability to meet customers’ requirements with high quality. The purpose of this paper is to assess the environments of higher education institutions (HEIs) against the 11 axes of LNS Research Quality 4.0 framework and provide insights about their readiness for Quality 4.0 transformation. The framework helps the organizations digitalize their traditional quality practices and transform to Quality 4.0 through exploring the traditional quality—Quality 4.0 continuum of tools and/or concepts related to each axis so they can assess their transformation efforts accordingly. This paper uses these continuums to identify the quality implementation efforts conducted by HEIs through analyzing the continuums’ related practices adopted within their environments and find out what should be done to get to the full transformation to Quality 4.0 within the higher education field. The study shows the HEIs potential of adopting the Quality 4.0 tools and techniques of varies axes of the framework while revealing a limited adoption of most of them in the current times. This is due to several challenges the most impacting of which is having fragmented processes together with fragmented data systems and sources. The study is concluded with a proposed roadmap to assist HEIs to get the best out their efforts in the Quality 4.0 transformation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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18 pages, 5513 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Soil–Structure Interaction in Structure Models via Shaking Table Test

by Seongnoh Ahn, Gun Park, Hyungchul Yoon, Jae-Hyeok Han and Jongwon Jung

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094995 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2494

Abstract

Modeling the soil–structure interaction (SSI) in seismic design involves the use of soil response curves for single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structures; however, real structures have multiple degrees of freedom (MDOF). In this study, shaking-table-derived p-y curves for SDOF and MDOF superstructures were compared using numerical [...] Read more.

Modeling the soil–structure interaction (SSI) in seismic design involves the use of soil response curves for single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structures; however, real structures have multiple degrees of freedom (MDOF). In this study, shaking-table-derived p-y curves for SDOF and MDOF superstructures were compared using numerical analysis. It was found that an MDOF structure experienced less displacement than an SDOF structure of the same weight, but the effect of increasing the DOF decreased at greater pile depths. Numerical analysis results estimated using the natural periods and mass participation rates of the structures were similar to those of shaking table tests. Abbreviations: finite element: FE; frequency response function: FRF; multiple degrees of freedom: MDOF; single degree of freedom: SDOF; soil–structure interaction: SSI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Industrial Engineering and Management)

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