Carlo Nonino and Stefano Savino
The purpose of this paper is twofold: to describe a relevant improvement to an in-house FEM procedure for the heat transfer analysis of cross-flow micro heat exchangers and to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: to describe a relevant improvement to an in-house FEM procedure for the heat transfer analysis of cross-flow micro heat exchangers and to study the influence of microchannel cross-sectional geometry and solid wall thermal conductivity on the thermal performance of these microdevices.
Design/methodology/approach
The velocity field in each microchannel is calculated separately. Then the energy equation is solved in the whole computational domain. Domain decomposition and grids that do not match at the common interface are employed to make meshing more effective. Some flow maldistribution effects are taken into account.
Findings
The results show that larger thermal conductivities of the solid walls and rectangular cross-sectional geometries with higher aspect ratios allow the maximization of the total heat flow rate in the device. However, on the basis of the heat transfer per unit pumping power, the square cross-section could be the best option.
Research limitations/implications
The value of the average viscosity is assumed to be different in different microchannels, but constant within each of the microchannels.
Practical implications
The procedure can represent a valuable tool for the design of cross-flow micro heat exchangers.
Originality/value
In spite of requiring limited computational resources, the improved procedure can take into account flow maldistribution effects stemming from non-uniform microchannel temperatures.
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Carlo Nonino, Stefano Savino and Stefano Del Giudice
The purpose of this paper is to develop a simplified but accurate finite element procedure for the analysis of the conjugate conduction-convection heat transfer in cross-flow…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a simplified but accurate finite element procedure for the analysis of the conjugate conduction-convection heat transfer in cross-flow micro heat exchangers.
Design/methodology/approach
The velocity fields in single microchannels are calculated by solving the parabolised form of the momentum equations and later mapped onto the three-dimensional grid, corresponding to an appropriate portion of the micro heat exchanger, which is used for the solution of the energy equation in its elliptic form. To allow the use of finite elements elongated in the flow direction, layers of perpendicular microchannels can be meshed independently with grids that do not match at the common interface (domain decomposition).
Findings
An original and easy-to-implement method has been developed to deal with non-matching grids. Computed results show that increasing the number of microchannels per layer yields relative pressure drop increments that are larger than those displayed by the relative heat flow rates.
Research limitations/implications
The simplified procedure requires the assumption of constant thermophysical properties. The adopted domain decomposition technique yields non-symmetric system matrices.
Practical implications
The procedure can be very useful in the design of cross-flow micro heat exchangers.
Originality/value
The finite element procedure described in the paper requires only limited computational resources for the analysis of the conjugate conduction-convection heat transfer in cross-flow micro heat exchangers with a large number of microchannels per layer.
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Kyle C. McDermott, Ryan D. Winz, Thom J. Hodgson, Michael G. Kay, Russell E. King and Brandon M. McConnell
The study aims to investigate the impact of additive manufacturing (AM) on the performance of a spare parts supply chain with a particular focus on underlying spare part demand…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the impact of additive manufacturing (AM) on the performance of a spare parts supply chain with a particular focus on underlying spare part demand patterns.
Design/methodology/approach
This work evaluates various AM-enabled supply chain configurations through Monte Carlo simulation. Historical demand simulation and intermittent demand forecasting are used in conjunction with a mixed integer linear program to determine optimal network nodal inventory policies. By varying demand characteristics and AM capacity this work assesses how to best employ AM capability within the network.
Findings
This research assesses the preferred AM-enabled supply chain configuration for varying levels of intermittent demand patterns and AM production capacity. The research shows that variation in demand patterns alone directly affects the preferred network configuration. The relationship between the demand volume and relative AM production capacity affects the regions of superior network configuration performance.
Research limitations/implications
This research makes several simplifying assumptions regarding AM technical capabilities. AM production time is assumed to be deterministic and does not consider build failure probability, build chamber capacity, part size, part complexity and post-processing requirements.
Originality/value
This research is the first study to link realistic spare part demand characterization to AM supply chain design using quantitative modeling.
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Jan Stentoft, Kent Adsbøll Wickstrøm, Anders Haug and Kristian Philipsen
The digital transition process is an important strategic initiative for manufacturing companies to ensure continued competitiveness. The purpose is to investigate the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
The digital transition process is an important strategic initiative for manufacturing companies to ensure continued competitiveness. The purpose is to investigate the relationship between firms' additive manufacturing (AM) readiness and product and process innovation and how this process is mediated by firms' make-or-buy decisions regarding performing AM processes internally or buying AM services from external partners.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a questionnaire survey including full answers from 157 small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
Findings
Results show a positive relationship between AM readiness and both product and process innovation. Results also reveal that firms with higher readiness invest more in in-house AM, which in turn promotes innovation. There was no significant association between AM readiness and the use of external AM services. Nonetheless, buying external AM services is still associated positively with innovation.
Research limitations/implications
Data in the questionnaire survey are provided by single respondents from each company and are only based on Danish respondents.
Practical implications
The results indicate that firms' product and process innovation benefits from higher AM readiness derive from increased investment in in-house AM rather than from increased use of external AM services. This also signifies that firms with lower levels of AM readiness buy external AM services and derive the innovation benefits hereof.
Originality/value
The paper delivers new, empirically found knowledge about how small- and medium-sized manufacturing can improve innovation by both making and buying AM services.
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Seung Hyun Han, Seung Won Yoon and Chugnil Chae
This study has adopted theoretical frameworks of social capital, social networks and the Community of Practice to study how different types of relationships influence the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study has adopted theoretical frameworks of social capital, social networks and the Community of Practice to study how different types of relationships influence the knowledge sharing relationship. This paper aims to suggest that building social capital, particularly structural capital, is part of expected key in knowledge sharing networks.
Design/methodology/approach
Using social capital theory, through social network analysis of 111 management students in the US business school, identified key social capital dimension in knowledge sharing networks. To incorporate the interdependency among examined relationships, network logistic regression with the quadric assignment procedure was used.
Findings
The proposed research model showed that about 98% of the existence of knowledge sharing relationship could be correctly predicted. Among three dimensions of social capital, this study found a superior influence of the structural dimension (i.e. task interdependence) in predicting having a knowledge sharing relationship. The significant effect of trust and friendship network on knowledge sharing was also found. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research were also discussed.
Originality/value
Existing literature as to how people learn through knowledge sharing is limited in at least two important ways. First, scholars of knowledge management acknowledge that organizational knowledge originates from dyadic relationships between or among individuals at work. However, prior research has heavily relied on survey responses from one’s perception of knowledge sharing experience, viewing as unidirectional. Second, substantial attention of prior research has been devoted to the factors of individual attributes. Emphasizing individual interactions as the fundamental building blocks of learning, this study focuses more on relational characteristics of knowledge sharing based on social capital theory.
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Sagar Ghuge, Milind Akarte and Rakesh Raut
The study aims to explore the available academic literature on the decision-making frameworks used in additive manufacturing management (AMM).
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore the available academic literature on the decision-making frameworks used in additive manufacturing management (AMM).
Design/methodology/approach
This research formulates a systematic literature review to determine the research trend of the decision-making framework in AMM. Further, the theory, context, characteristics, and methodology (TCCM) framework is used to identify the research gaps and suggest future research directions.
Findings
The systematic literature review (SLR) delves into overarching research themes within decision-making frameworks in AMM. Additionally, it uncovers trends in article publication, geographical distribution, methodologies utilized, and industry applications. This review not only reveals research gaps but also proposes directions for future exploration.
Originality/value
The key novelty of this research lies in revealing the five most contributing themes of decision-making frameworks in AMM, with the highest contributing theme being AM process selection, followed by part selection for AM. This finding enables decision-makers to make informed decisions to address similar problems while exploring AM technology. Moreover, this research introduces an AM part fabrication roadmap inspired by the literature review. Lastly, the paper highlights key research gaps for future research.
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Qian Wang, Qin Wu, Luqun Xie and Xiao Zhang
Firm resilience is critical for firm survival and development. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether chief executive officer's (CEO) self-oriented perfectionism…
Abstract
Purpose
Firm resilience is critical for firm survival and development. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether chief executive officer's (CEO) self-oriented perfectionism affects firm resilience by taking into consideration of the mediating role of strategic decision comprehensiveness and the moderating effect of competitive uncertainty.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts the survey method and uses two-wave survey data collected from 140 CEOs in different industries in China. The ordinary least square (OLS) regression model and path analysis are adopted to test the authors' theoretical hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that self-oriented perfectionism drives CEOs to pay attention to thoroughness and detail, which helps enhance strategic decision comprehensiveness and further facilitates firm resilience. Furthermore, the positive effect of CEO's self-oriented perfectionism on strategic decision comprehensiveness is weakened when competitive uncertainty is high.
Practical implications
To promote firm resilience, self-oriented perfectionism can be considered when hiring or promoting key decision-makers. When making strategic decisions, top managers need to search for adequate information, consider various factors and seek more alternative plans to improve strategic decision comprehensiveness to further facilitate firm resilience.
Originality/value
This study pioneers the influence of CEO's perfectionism on firm resilience and further tackles the underlying mechanism behind the influence, which contributes to extending the micro-foundation of firm resilience and enriching perfectionism literature in the strategic leadership field.
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Siavash H. Khajavi, Jan Holmström and Jouni Partanen
Innovative startups have begun a trend using laser sintering (LS) technology patents expiration, namely, by introducing LS additive manufacturing (AM) machines that can overcome…
Abstract
Purpose
Innovative startups have begun a trend using laser sintering (LS) technology patents expiration, namely, by introducing LS additive manufacturing (AM) machines that can overcome utilization barriers, such as the costliness of machines and productivity limitation. The recent rise of this trend has led the authors to investigate this new class of machines in novel settings, including hub configuration. There are various supply chain configurations to supply spare parts in industrial operations. This paper aims to explore the promise of a production configuration that combines the benefits of centralized production with the flexibility of local manufacturing without the huge costs related to it.
Design/methodology/approach
This study quantitatively examines the feasibility of different AM-enabled spare parts supply chain configurations. Using cost data extracted from a case study, three scenarios per AM machine technology are modeled and compared.
Findings
Results suggest that hub production configuration depending on the utilized AM machines can provide economic efficiency and effectiveness to reduce equipment downtime. While previous studies have suggested the need for AM machines with efficiency for single part production for a distributed supply chain, the findings in this research illustrate the positive relationship between multi-part production capability and the feasibility of a hub manufacturing configuration establishment.
Originality/value
This study explores the promise of a production configuration that combines the benefits of centralized production with the flexibility of local manufacturing without the huge costs related to it. Although the existing body of knowledge contains research on production decentralization, research on various levels of decentralization is lacking. Using a real-world case study, this study aims to compare the feasibility of different levels of decentralization for AM-enabled spare parts supply chains.
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Shaghayegh Sadeghiyan, Farhad Hosseinzadeh Lotfi, Behrouz Daneshian and Nima Azarmir Shotorbani
Project selection management is a matter of challenge for project-oriented organizations, particularly, if the decision-makers are confronted with limited resources. One of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Project selection management is a matter of challenge for project-oriented organizations, particularly, if the decision-makers are confronted with limited resources. One of the main concerns is selecting an optimal subset that can successfully satisfy the requirements of the organization providing enough resources to the best subset of the project. The projects for which there are not enough resources or those requiring whole resources of the organization will collapse soon after failed to success. Therefore, the issue is in the risk of choosing a set of projects so that can make a balance in investment versus on collective benefit.
Design/methodology/approach
A model is presented for project selection and has been tested on the 37 available projects. This model could increase the efficiency of the whole subset of the project significantly in comparison to the other model and it was because of choosing a diverse subset of projects.
Findings
Provides a general framework for project selection and a diverse and balanced subset of projects to increase the efficiency of the selected subset. Also, reduces the impact of uncertainty risk on the project selection process.
Research limitations/implications
For the purposes of project selection, any project whose results are uncertain is a risky project because, if the project fails, it will reduce combined project value. For example, a pharmaceutical company’s R&D project is affected by the uncertain results of a specific compound. If the company invests in different compounds, a failure with one will be offset by a good result on another. Therefore, with selecting a diverse set of projects, this paper will have a different set of risks.
Originality/value
This paper discusses the risk of selecting or being responsible for selecting a project under uncertainty. Most of the projects in the field of project selection generally consider the risks facing the projects or existing models that do not take into account the risk.
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Hongjuan Tang, Qi Yao, Francis Boadu and Yu Xie
As an important driving factor of digital innovation, distributed innovation has received extensive attention from academia and business circles in recent years. However, extant…
Abstract
Purpose
As an important driving factor of digital innovation, distributed innovation has received extensive attention from academia and business circles in recent years. However, extant works lack a discussion on the influence of distributed innovation on digital innovation performance. Drawing on the opportunity perspective, the study constructs a moderated mediating model to address how distributed innovation directly affects enterprises' digital innovation performance. Particularly, it investigates the moderating and mediating effects of IT-enabled capabilities and digital entrepreneurial opportunities on the above correlation.
Design/methodology/approach
With a survey data set of 399 Chinese science and technology enterprises, the study conducts hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and bootstrap to test the study’s hypotheses.
Findings
Results demonstrate that (1) distributed innovation positively enhances enterprises' digital innovation performance; (2) digital entrepreneurial opportunities partially mediate the positive relationship between distributed innovation and digital innovation performance; (3) IT-enabled capabilities positively moderate the relationship between distributed innovation and digital entrepreneurial opportunities; (4) IT-enabled capabilities positively moderate the mediating role of digital entrepreneurial opportunities in the relationship between distributed innovation and digital innovation performance.
Originality/value
This is an empirical study on the impact mechanism of IT-enabled capabilities and digital entrepreneurial opportunities on the relationship between distributed innovation and digital innovation performance in China. It advances theories related to distributed innovation, digital innovation and digital entrepreneurial opportunities, and provides decision-making references for the enhancement of digital innovation capabilities of science and technology enterprises.