Chun Tian, Gengwei Zhai, Mengling Wu, Jiajun Zhou and Yaojie Li
In response to the problem of insufficient traction/braking adhesion force caused by the existence of the third-body medium on the rail surface, this study aims to analyze the…
Abstract
Purpose
In response to the problem of insufficient traction/braking adhesion force caused by the existence of the third-body medium on the rail surface, this study aims to analyze the utilization of wheel-rail adhesion coefficient under different medium conditions and propose relevant measures for reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion to ensure the traction/braking performance and operation safety of trains.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the PLS-160 wheel-rail adhesion simulation test rig, the study investigates the variation patterns of maximum utilized adhesion characteristics on the rail surface under different conditions of small creepage and large slip. Through statistical analysis of multiple sets of experimental data, the statistical distribution patterns of maximum utilized adhesion on the rail surface are obtained, and a method for analyzing wheel-rail adhesion redundancy based on normal distribution is proposed. The study analyzes the utilization of traction/braking adhesion, as well as adhesion redundancy, for different medium under small creepage and large slip conditions. Based on these findings, relevant measures for the reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion are derived.
Findings
When the third-body medium exists on the rail surface, the train should adopt the low-level service braking to avoid the braking skidding by extending the braking distance. Compared with the current adhesion control strategy of small creepage, adopting appropriate strategies to control the train’s adhesion coefficient near the second peak point of the adhesion coefficient-slip ratio curve in large slip can effectively improve the traction/braking adhesion redundancy and the upper limit of adhesion utilization, thereby ensuring the traction/braking performance and operation safety of the train.
Originality/value
Most existing studies focus on the wheel-rail adhesion coefficient values and variation patterns under different medium conditions, without considering whether the rail surface with different medium can provide sufficient traction/braking utilized adhesion coefficient for the train. Therefore, there is a risk of traction overspeeding/braking skidding. This study analyzes whether the rail surface with different medium can provide sufficient traction/braking utilized adhesion coefficient for the train and whether there is redundancy. Based on these findings, relevant measures for the reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion are derived to further ensure operation safety of the train.
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Zhiping Zhu, Chen Tian, Xiyao Shi, Tao Li and Shangming Zhou
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of nano polypyrrole-modified boron nitride on the performance of phosphate film.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of nano polypyrrole-modified boron nitride on the performance of phosphate film.
Design/methodology/approach
By adding polypyrrole-modified boron nitride to the phosphate solution, a phosphate film is formed on the metal surface, improving its corrosion resistance. The effect of different concentrations of polypyrrole-modified boron nitride on the corrosion resistance of Q235 carbon steel surface was studied. The corrosion resistance of the phosphate film was evaluated using the copper sulfate drop test. The electrochemical corrosion performance of the phosphate film was assessed using the weak polarization curve method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The surface of the samples was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.
Findings
The results show that samples containing polypyrrole-modified boron nitride have a denser and more uniform phosphate film. When the concentration of polypyrrole-modified boron nitride is 0.6 g/L, the drop time of copper sulfate on the formed phosphate film can reach 219 s, which is a 189% increase compared to the performance of the sample without the additive. The current density is 1.06 × 10−6 A/cm2 lower than that of the pure phosphate film, indicating the best corrosion resistance. Polypyrrole-modified boron nitride effectively promotes the formation of the phosphate film.
Originality/value
This study used the modification of phosphate solution using nanoparticles to investigate the influence of different nanoparticle concentrations on the phosphate film. The corrosion resistance of the phosphate film was enhanced, providing a method and theoretical guidance for the improvement of phosphate solution formulation.
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Roulin Chen and Ling Cao
Drawing on the “Resource- Capability – Competitive advantage” framework within Natural Resource-Based View, this study is purposed to address problems of manufacturing companies…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the “Resource- Capability – Competitive advantage” framework within Natural Resource-Based View, this study is purposed to address problems of manufacturing companies “turning into the green” issues, providing references for manufacturing companies to achieve green competitive advantage via internal motivation and identity perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected survey data from 112 Chinese manufacturing listed enterprises from the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and obtained 418 questionnaires. Following an empirical design, hierarchical regression analysis and Bootstrapping analysis were applied to examine these hypotheses.
Findings
Results show that green innovation behaviors positively mediate the positive relationship between organizational environmental identity and green competitive advantage. Furthermore, slack resource not only positively moderates the interaction effect between organizational environmental identity and green product innovation behaviors, but also moderates the mediation role of green product innovation behavior in the main effect.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to the data samples and dynamic evolution between variables. More longitudinal designs and diverse enterprise fields will be considered in future.
Practical implications
The findings provide guidance for manufacturing enterprises to gain green competitive advantage in green manufacturing era from identity value origins. Moreover, the results provide practical suggestions for manufacturing enterprises to enhance green innovation behaviors and integrate useful but slack resources.
Social implications
The findings provide implications for manufacturing industry to increase both the awareness of organizational environmental identity and green innovation behaviors, all of which helps promote the corporate environmental responsibility.
Originality/value
The study breaks the limitation of the existing literature which focuses on the influence of external push factors (e.g. environmental regulation), and bring new visions in constructing green competitive advantage in green manufacturing era, not only extending the identity theory and upper echelon theory, but also enriching the current studies on green management. Also, these findings provide deeper and new insights into risks and uncertain features of green manufacturing era, analyzing how polluted manufacturing enterprises obtain green competitive advantages through the mediating role of green innovation behaviors and the moderating role of slack resource.
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Qian Ding and Jinyu Chen
Customer resource allocation efficiency (RAE) refers to the ability of customers to use, allocate and manage their available resource inputs to produce valuable outputs. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Customer resource allocation efficiency (RAE) refers to the ability of customers to use, allocate and manage their available resource inputs to produce valuable outputs. This study draws on organizational entrainment theory (OET) to examine how the implementation of supplier digitalization affects customer RAE through supply chain entrainment.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on supplier and customer data disclosed by Chinese A-share listed firms from 2009 to 2022, this study uses fixed effects panel data models to empirically examine the impact of supplier digitalization on customer RAE and the mechanistic role of supply chain entrainment.
Findings
The results show that supplier digitalization significantly increases customer RAE. It improves RAE by influencing the three dimensions of supply chain entrainment (the bullwhip effect, inventory management coordination and risk management coordination).
Practical implications
This study provides important insights into how managers can adapt the external digital environments and maintain synchronous operations with their supply partners. Our findings demonstrate how managers can fully leverage the advantages of digitalization of their suppliers to improve their own RAE through supply chain entrainment strategies.
Originality/value
This study introduces the concept of supply chain entrainment to reveal how firms optimize their own resource allocation strategies and achieve efficient operations. Our research enriches the understanding of supply chain governance in the digital age and contributes to the literature on supply chain digitalization.
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Nahuel Ignacio Depino-Besada, Antonio Sartal, Fernando León-Mateos and Josep Llach
The survival of companies today hinges on their adaptability and flexibility, with digital transformation (DT) and organizational slack (OS) playing crucial roles. Despite their…
Abstract
Purpose
The survival of companies today hinges on their adaptability and flexibility, with digital transformation (DT) and organizational slack (OS) playing crucial roles. Despite their recognized importance, these factors are often studied separately. This study aims to explore how OS facilitates DT and evaluate their synergies and trade-offs to improve performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from the European Manufacturing Survey, structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we investigate causal relationships and possible combinations between different dimensions of OS and DT that contribute to business performance.
Findings
We confirmed the positive effect of OS and DT on business performance, highlighting the importance of organizational over technological factors. While not definitively establishing OS as a precursor to DT, our findings underscore the need for human and operational slack to improve performance, especially in less technology-intensive contexts.
Research limitations/implications
Our findings evidence that decision-makers should integrate OS with DT initiatives to improve the firm’s competitiveness. However, it is worth noting that while OS seems essential in low-tech shopfloors, its importance is lower in high-tech environments. Furthermore, within the possible combinations, managers should promote operational slack and digitalization, as it seems fundamental to improve business performance.
Originality/value
This article contributes to the management field in three ways. First, it clarifies controversies by providing evidence of the positive roles of DT and OS as drivers of competitiveness for manufacturing firms. Second, we verify that OS is not directly linked to DT, challenging existing assumptions. Third, it investigates the combinations of OS and DT that drive business performance improvement, emphasizing their synergies and trade-offs.
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This study aims to examine the impact of digital transformation on firms’ value and explore the mediating impact of ESG performance and moderating impact of information…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of digital transformation on firms’ value and explore the mediating impact of ESG performance and moderating impact of information interaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange between 2012 and 2020 with 21,488 observational samples, featuring a selection of 3,348 companies. Panel data regression techniques were used to test the mediating role of ESG performance and the moderating role of information interaction.
Findings
The study found that digital transformation can improve firms’ ESG performance, which in turn positively affects their value. The firms that engage in more interaction with outsiders benefit more from digital transformation and have a higher value.
Originality/value
This study provides new theoretical insight into improving firms’ value through digital transformation and ESG performance. It is the first to discuss and study the moderating role of information interaction in the relationship between digital transformation and firms’ value.
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Muhammad Bilal, Zhao Xicang, Wu Jiying, Jan Muhammad Sohu and Sadaf Akhta
In the era of digitalization, digital technology has transformed businesses and created enormous opportunities for organizations worldwide. Unsurprisingly, research on digital…
Abstract
Purpose
In the era of digitalization, digital technology has transformed businesses and created enormous opportunities for organizations worldwide. Unsurprisingly, research on digital transformation has garnered significant interest among academics in recent decades. However, this study aims to recognize the key and holistic antecedents influencing digital transformation in manufacturing firms. This study also investigates the indirect relationships of antecedents with firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The hypothesis was investigated using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. The data was collected from 279 employees through a self-administered survey of manufacturing firms.
Findings
The results described a significant and positive impact of competitive pressure, leadership role, organization culture, organization mindfulness, government regulation, and IT readiness on digital transformation and firm performance. Furthermore, digital transformation partially mediates the relationship between antecedents and firm performance.
Originality/value
The study finds a holistic perspective of the critical antecedents of digital transformation using the mediation role of digital transformation and moderating effects of firm agility. Additionally, all antecedents have a significant association with Firm Performance.
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Xiuyun Yang and Qi Han
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of enterprise is influenced by the enterprise digital…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of enterprise is influenced by the enterprise digital transformation. In addition, this study explains how enterprise digital transformation affects ESG performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample covers 4,646 nonfinancial companies listed on China’s A-share market from 2009 to 2021. The study adopts the fixed-effects multiple linear regression to perform the data analysis.
Findings
The study finds that enterprise digital transformation has a significant inverted U-shaped impact on ESG performance. Moderate digital transformation can improve enterprise ESG performance, whereas excessive digital transformation will bring new organizational conflicts and increase enterprise costs, which is detrimental to ESG performance. This inverted U-shaped effect is more pronounced in industrial cities, manufacturing industries and enterprises with less financing constraints and executives with financial backgrounds. Enterprise digital transformation mainly affects ESG performance by affecting the level of internal information communication and disclosure, the level of internal control and the principal-agent cost.
Practical implications
The government should take multiple measures to encourage enterprises to choose appropriate digital transformation based on their own production behaviors and development strategies, encourage them to innovate and upgrade their organizational management and development models in conjunction with digital transformation and guide them to use digital technology to improve ESG performance.
Social implications
This study shows that irrational digital transformation cannot effectively improve the ESG performance of enterprises and promote the sustainable development of the country. Enterprises should carry out reasonable digital transformation according to their own development needs and finally improve the green and sustainable development ability of enterprises and promote the sustainable development of society.
Originality/value
This study examines the relationship between enterprise digital transformation and ESG performance. Different from the linear relationship between the two in previous major studies, this study proves the inverse U-shaped relationship between enterprise digital transformation and ESG performance through mathematical theoretical model derivation and empirical test. This study also explores in detail how corporate digital transformation affects ESG performance, as well as discusses heterogeneity at the city, industry and firm levels. It is proposed that enterprises should take into account their own characteristics and carry out reasonable digital transformation according to their development needs.
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Monojit Das, V.N.A. Naikan and Subhash Chandra Panja
The aim of this paper is to review the literature on the prediction of cutting tool life. Tool life is typically estimated by predicting the time to reach the threshold flank wear…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to review the literature on the prediction of cutting tool life. Tool life is typically estimated by predicting the time to reach the threshold flank wear width. The cutting tool is a crucial component in any machining process, and its failure affects the manufacturing process adversely. The prediction of cutting tool life by considering several factors that affect tool life is crucial to managing quality, cost, availability and waste in machining processes.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has undertaken the critical analysis and summarisation of various techniques used in the literature for predicting the life or remaining useful life (RUL) of the cutting tool through monitoring the tool wear, primarily flank wear. The experimental setups that comprise diversified machining processes, including turning, milling, drilling, boring and slotting, are covered in this review.
Findings
Cutting tool life is a stochastic variable. Tool failure depends on various factors, including the type and material of the cutting tool, work material, cutting conditions and machine tool. Thus, the life of the cutting tool for a particular experimental setup must be modelled by considering the cutting parameters.
Originality/value
This submission discusses tool life prediction comprehensively, from monitoring tool wear, primarily flank wear, to modelling tool life, and this type of comprehensive review on cutting tool life prediction has not been reported in the literature till now. The future suggestions provided in this review are expected to provide avenues to solve the unexplored challenges in this field.