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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of lean practices on performance improvement of process industries in India.

Based on a survey of Indian process industries, this paper proposes two sets of hypothesis to examine if there is any statistically significant impact of lean practices on certain specific performance metrics. First, the sample is classified into two classes of process industries: the adopters of lean and those who have not yet adopted the lean practices in their manufacturing operations. Then statistical tests are conducted to measure the differences in the level of performance between the two classes of Indian process industries with respect to nine performance measures. The survey results are augmented by two in-depth case studies. Case studies include one from lean adopter firms (a refinery) and another from the firms that have not yet adopted the lean practices (a primary metal manufacturing unit).

A survey result of 121 Indian process industries shows that adoption of lean practices results in a positive impact on inventory control, waste elimination, cost reduction, productivity, and quality improvement in process industries. On the other hand, based on the sample data on Indian process industries, no statistically significant improvement could be found on the lot size or space utilization between lean adopters and their counterparts.

This research provides guidance to the managers on how adoption of lean practices results in better performance in process industries in several operational areas.

To the knowledge, this study is the first attempt to analyze the impact of lean practices on a set of specific performance metrics in Indian process industry. Although this study focuses on the Indian process industry, the authors believe that findings of the research can inform other practitioners and researchers who are considering implementing lean in process industry sector in other developing countries like India.

Although lean thinking is deemed to be a gold standard of modern production management, a lot of scepticism still remains regarding its applicability in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to understand the perception of lean in SMEs and establish the relationship between lean adoption and operational performance.

With the help of a survey, data were collected from 425 SMEs in India and analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Operational performance of the firms was found to be positively related to lean implementation.

This study also furnishes practitioners with a better understanding of lean thinking in SMEs and its impact on performance.

This paper reports on an attempt to compare three distinct approaches to simulating the operations of a small enterprise in order to evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of each approach in modelling the enterprise and provide a means for improving its operational performance. The approaches considered are visual, interactive simulation using the WITNESS simulator, SIMNET II, a network‐driven simulation language and queuing modelling using Operations Management Expert. Each approach was found to accurately model the company operations, provide a consistent indication of operational performance in terms of throughput and resource utilisation, and provide a basis for suggesting improved modes of operation.

As the Chinese economy has grown rapidly and as its container throughputs has demonstrated a stark increase in recent decades, companies worldwide have developed stronger financial connections with supply chain entities in China, a huge “Production Factory” in the world. This global economic trend arouses significant attention to distinct preference of individual entities in supply chain. The primary goal of the study is to establish statistical understanding on factors of logistics service preferences of each supply chain of each supply chain entity in China, especially Shandong Province. Ultimately, the study aims i) to establish the solid framework for proper evaluation of logistics services in supply chains, ii) to enhance the preferences of logistics services as a differentiating feature on behalf of entities. The study utilizes a holistic approach in analyzing logistics service attributes which affect overall logistics entities in an effort to overcome the limitations of previous studies which failed to provide integrating viewpoint of supply chain entities. In this study, AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method is used as an analysis tool which allows an in-depth examination of the differences between factors and evaluations of customers regarding the logistics service attributes. The results clearly show distinctive service preferences for each four supply chain entities in Shandong Province of China such as 3PLs (forwarder, carrier, and warehouse), Customs (airport, seaport, and bonded area), Market channels (wholesaler, retailer, and e-retailer), and Manufacturers regarding the logistics service attributes.

Women's financial inclusion has become a global research agenda, and past studies provide mixed evidence on the determinants of financial inclusion among women entrepreneurs across the globe. However, the impact of digital financial literacy on women's financial inclusion has seldom been addressed in the past literature.

The authors perform a cross-sectional analysis of 144 countries using the World Bank Global Findex Database.

This study’s probabilistic regression results indicate that women entrepreneurs with a higher degree of digital financial literacy are more likely to engage in formal banking channels.

The study findings have practical implications in terms of allowing regulators and banks to draw effective policies to attract women customers. Lack of effective regulatory intervention could lead to women exploring financial crimes, such as money laundering, due to their lack of involvement with the formal banking channel.

The authors explore the impact of digital financial literacy on women's financial inclusion. Such evidence is rare in the existing literature.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2022-0277

Information systems are often developed to introduce new technology or to overcome severe maintenance problems rather than to improve fundamental business practice. In today′s manufacturing environment, any attempt to develop effective information systems must benefit the organization as a whole and reflect the strategic needs of the business. The goal is the development of systems that help produce constructive change in business operations to achieve a competitive edge. For most organizations, this means defining a strategy or plan for moving from their current position to the desired goal. Emphasizes the importance of effective information systems planning, details its requirements in today′s manufacturing environment and outlines a planning methodology that helps identify and rank opportunities to develop information systems to meet business needs.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate young female consumers' motivations and perceptions of their alcohol consumption in the context of the changing drinking culture among women.

All the data were collected on a university campus in Poland. The research was conducted in two phases, using two research methods: consumer diaries and consumer collages. In Phase 1, purposive sampling was used to establish a group of five female students, all aged 22, who were asked to keep individual written diaries. In Phase 2, consumer collages were prepared and interpreted by four groups consisting of 24 female students.

Both sets of data were thematically analysed, and the emerging themes were divided into two major issues: drinking motives and control and limits.

This research is limited by a small sample recruited from one university, and the indicative findings should be used in further research.

Better understanding of female students' drinking culture will help to develop more targeted and effective policies and social marketing programmes to prevent further rise in alcohol consumption among female students.

This research contributes to the existing literature by deepening our understanding of the unique characteristics of female undergraduate students' drinking, and identifying the areas of convergence between male and female alcohol consumption. It also explores the motivations behind these convergence processes and highlights areas in which differences between genders are still strong.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between personal and family backgrounds, academic ability, childhood consumer experience, financial socialization, financial literacy, and perceived financial well‐being of college students.

Data were collected using a multi‐stage sampling technique from 11 public and private universities across Malaysia and the sample consists of 2,219 college students. Structural equation modelling was utilized to test the hypotheses.

Childhood consumer experiences such as savings habits contribute to students’ financial well‐being (money saved, current financial situation, and financial management skills). Financial socialization agents, for example, through parents and religion sources could increase college students’ financial well‐being. Financial literacy was related to financial well‐being. There were important differences between the Malay and Chinese ethnic groups in Malaysia.

Overall, implications and recommendations for future research, teaching, and public policy are also provided for parents, college administrators, counselors and educators.

This research provides meaningful information about how various factors (childhood experience, financial socialization, and financial literacy) predict students’ financial well‐being.