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The purpose of this paper is to adopt the multi-objective optimization technique for identifying a set of optimum abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) parameters to achieve maximum material removal rate (MRR) and minimum surface roughness.

Data of a few experiments as per the Taguchi’s orthogonal array are considered for achieving maximum MRR and minimum surface roughness (Ra) of the Inconel718. Analysis of variance is performed to understand the statistical significance of AWJM input process parameters.

Empirical relations are developed for MRR and Ra in terms of the AWJM process parameters and demonstrated their adequacy through comparison of test results.

The signal-to-noise ratio transformation should be applied to take in to account the scatter in the repetition of tests in each test run. But, many researchers have adopted this transformation on a single output response of each test run, which has no added advantage other than additional computational task. This paper explains the impact of insignificant process parameter in selection of optimal process parameters. This paper demands drawbacks and complexity in existing theories prior to use new algorithms.

Taguchi approach is quite simple and easy to handle optimization problems, which has no practical implications (if it handles properly). There is no necessity to hunt for new algorithms for obtaining solution for multi-objective optimization AWJM process.

This paper deals with a case study, which demonstrates the simplicity of the Taguchi approach in solving multi-objective optimization problems with a few number of experiments.

This paper adopts a modified Taguchi approach to develop empirical relationships to the performance characteristics (output responses) in terms of process variables and demonstrated their validity through comparison of test data. The method suggests a few tests as per the orthogonal array and provides complete information for all combinations of levels and process variables. This method also provides the estimated range of output responses so that the scatter in the repeated tests can be assessed prior to the tests.

In order to obtain defect-free products meeting the required specifications, researchers have conducted extensive experiments using powder bed fusion (PBF) process measuring the performance indicators (namely, relative density, surface roughness and hardness) to specify a set of printing parameters (namely, laser power, scanning speed and hatch spacing). A simple and reliable multi-objective optimization method is considered in this paper for specifying a set of optimal process parameters with SS316 L powder. It was reported that test samples printed even with optimal set of input variables revealed irregular shaped, microscopic porosities and improper melt pool formation.

Finally, based on detailed analysis, it is concluded that it is impossible to express the performance indicators, explicitly in terms of equivalent energy density (E_0ˆ*), which is a combination of multiple sets of selective laser melting (SLM) process parameters, with different performance indicators. Empirical relations for the performance indicators are developed in terms of SLM process parameters. Test data are within/close to the expected range.

Based on extensive analysis of the SS316 L data using modified Taguchi approach, the optimized process parameters are laser power = 298 W, scanning speed = 900 mm/s and hatch distance = 0.075 mm, for which the results of surface roughness = 2.77 Ra, relative density = 99.24%, hardness = 334 Hv and equivalent energy density is 4.062. The estimated data for the same are surface roughness is 3.733 Ra, relative density is 99.926%, hardness is 213.64 Hv and equivalent energy density is 3.677.

Even though equivalent energy density represents the energy input to the process, the findings of this paper conclude that energy density should no longer be considered as a dependent process parameter, as it provides multiple results for the specified energy density. This aspect has been successfully demonstrated in this paper using test data.

Reviews the global status of total quality management (TQM). Emphasizes continuous quality improvement as one of the main pillars of TQM. Illustrates a part of the research that was carried out to examine Taguchi′s on‐line quality control (TOLQC) methods as the means to effect continuous quality improve‐ment. Describes a case study that was carried out to study the implementation feasibilities of TOLQC methods. Highlights the inferences drawn from this case study which assert the need for managerial approach rather than mere technical computations for successful implementation. Insists on intensified training and awareness programmes on the implementation strategies of these methods to attain the ultimate goals of TQM.

Surface properties (smooth or roughness) play a critical role in controlling the wettability, surface area and other physical and chemical properties like fluid flow behaviour over the rough and smooth surfaces. It is reported that rough surfaces are offering more significant insights as compared to smooth surfaces. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of surface roughness in the diverging channel on physiological fluid flows.

A mathematical formulation based on the conservation of mass and momentum equations is developed to derive exact solutions for the physical quantities under the assumption of low Reynolds numbers and long wavelengths, which are appropriate for biological transport scenarios.

The results reveal that an increase in surface roughness reduces axial velocity and volumetric flow rate while increasing pressure distribution and turbulence in skin friction.

These findings offer valuable insights for biological flow analysis, highlighting the effects of surface roughness, non-uniformity of the channel and magnetic fields.

These findings are very much applicable for designing the pumping devices for transportation of the fluids in non-uniform channels.

This study examines the impact of surface roughness on the peristaltic pumping of viscoelastic (Jeffrey) fluids in diverging channels with transverse magnetic fields.

The complex behavior of viscoelastic fluids and its flow analysis under the impact of transverse magnetic field are becoming increasingly important in numerous emerging applications including biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, geophysics and industrial applications. Additionally, the thermal analysis and fluid flow driven by propagating membranes will aid significant applications for microscale transport in bio-thermal systems. This study aims to investigate the thermal effects of viscoelastic fluids driven by membrane-induced propagation and transverse magnetic field.

The propagation of the membranes will work as pump which pushes the fluids from bottom to top against the gravitation force; however, there is backflow due to compression and expansion phases of membrane propagation. The Jeffrey fluid model is employed to analyze the viscoelastic fluid flow, with entropy generation examined and equations solved analytically under low Reynolds number and long-wavelength assumptions.

The findings reveal that an increase in magnetic field strength impedes fluid flow, while higher values of the Grashof number, heat source parameter and Jeffrey fluid parameter enhance fluid motion. The study’s findings have significant implications for optimizing magnetohydrodynamic systems in various emerging applications, including biomedical engineering, aerospace, geophysics and industrial processes.

This study aims to investigate the impact of a transverse magnetic field on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of viscoelastic fluids driven by membrane propagation.

To provide a modified orthogonal array‐based model for enabling the researchers and practitioners to exploit the technique, “design of experiments” in an agile manufacturing environment.

The characteristics of Taguchi's off‐line models and agile manufacturing were studied. A theoretical model of modified orthogonal array‐based experimentation was designed. This model was subjected to implementation study in an Indian pump‐manufacturing company.

The model contributed in this paper has shown its feasibility in achieving quality in agile manufacturing environment.

The authors are residing in an Indian city where the majority of the companies have not adopted agile manufacturing criteria. Hence, it was not possible to carry out implementation study in an agile manufacturing company. Future researchers should examine the practical validity of the proposed model in agile manufacturing companies.

Since the manufacturing organizations are fast becoming agile, due to the customers' dynamic demands coupled with competition, the traditional quality improvement techniques are becoming obsolete. The model contributed in this paper is found to be useful in achieving continuous quality improvement in AM environment. Hence the model would be a useful technique for today's practitioners whose activities are increasingly focused towards achieving agility in manufacturing.

The literature survey covering articles on agile manufacturing indicates that no researcher or practitioner has contributed a model that would exploit the technique, “design of experiments” in an agile manufacturing environment. Hence the proposed model is expected to be of high value for researchers and practitioners to explore the way of achieving continuous quality improvement in agile manufacturing environment.

Scarcity of resources, ecological imbalance, global warming, rising energy prices and the ever-changing need for variety have attracted the government and manufacturers for sustainable development of the industries. The integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile manufacturing system (ISGLSAMS) provides a solid platform for meeting both the customers’ variety needs and business sustainability requirements. Many organizations opted for ISGLSAMS, but still due to various barriers organizations are not able to fully implement ISGLSAMS. The purpose of this paper is to identify the barriers to the ISGLSAMS, so that a more sustainable industrial manufacturing system and industrial symbiosis can be developed.

A literature review, from the Web of Science and Google Scholar database, has been carried out to identify the various barriers to the implementation of ISGLSAMS in the entire value chain. A total of 168 research papers have been reviewed for identifying the ISGLSAMS barriers.

This paper elaborates the concept of the ISGLSAMS, its attributes and various barriers and contributes to a better understanding and successful implementation of ISGLSAMS to meet business’ sustainability and market performance goals in the entire value chain. The paper also projects the future research framework and directions for the ISGLSAMS, integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile (ISGLSA) product and ISGLSA supply and value chain.

The study contributes to a better understanding of ISGLSAMS’ barriers. The government, stakeholders and policymakers may plan the policy, road map and strategies to overcome the ISGLSAMS’ barriers. In-depth knowledge of subclauses of ISGLSAMS’ barriers will help the practitioners to overcome the ISGLSAMS’ barriers strategically. By overcoming the ISGLSAMS barriers, a more sustainable 7 Rs based market focused manufacturing system can be designed. This will also increase the opportunities to enhance the industrial ecology, industrial symbiosis and better recovery of the product, process and supply chain residual value. This will reduce the waste to the ecosystem.

This work has been carried out in search of a more sustainable manufacturing system, i.e. ISGLSAMS (which is 7 Rs based, i.e. 6 Rs of sustainability with 7th R, reconfiguration) to meet the customer variety needs along with sustainability in the ever-changing customer market. This study adds value to the practitioners to identify and prioritize the ISGLSAMS’ industry-specific barriers and design the solution for the more sustainable development of (1) industries, (2) the industrial symbiosis system and (3) the ISGLSA product, process, system and supply value chain with minimum resource consumption and environmental impact. The research also contributes to the (a) ISGLSAMS (b) ISGLSA supply chain (c) reconfigurable, sustainable and modular products and (d) redesign, recovery and refurbishing of the product to increase the product life cycle.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that influence hospitals’ selection by health-care insurers in India and to establish a hierarchical model representing the relationship among different factors and their influence on the entire scenario.

A survey with a set of questionnaires was conducted with different health-care insurer executives of reputed health insurance companies. The data has been gathered by using a five-point Likert scale. Their opinions were converted into a reachability matrix and an interpretive structural modeling was constructed. The final results obtained were verified by using fuzzy Matriced Impacts Croises-Multiplication Applique and Classement analysis.

The results suggested three key driving factors, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditation of the hospital, purchasing power of people in the region and national and international recognition of the hospital among the eleven factors selected for the study.

The research mainly focuses on the health insurance benefits provided by privately owned insurance companies and do not comment on any government’s mass health insurance scheme.

With a small proportion of people under the umbrella of health insurance in India, these factors will assist and expedite insurer’s effort to penetrate deep into rural and urban areas enhancing availability and escalating affordability.

This paper presents key factors responsible for better coordination between health-care systems and insurance companies.

The NHS Bowel cancer screening programme (NHSBCSP) aims to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) cumulative mortality by up to 23 per cent; long-term outcomes at national level are not yet known. The purpose of this paper is to examine a local population of CRC patients of screening age for their characteristics and long-term survival in relation to their presentation, including through the NHSBCSP.

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained CRC database for the years 2009-2014 in a single district hospital providing bowel cancer screening and tertiary rectal cancer services.

Of 528 CRC patients diagnosed in the screening age range, 144(27.3 per cent) presented through NHSBCSP, 308(58.3 per cent) electively with symptoms and 76(14.4 per cent) as emergency. NHSBCSP-diagnosed patients were younger (median 66 vs 68 and 69 years, respectively, p=0.001), had more often left-sided cancers (59(41.0 per cent) vs 82(26.6 per cent) and 24(31.6 per cent), respectively, p=0.001), more UICC-stage I (42(29.2 per cent) vs 49(15.9 per cent) and 2(2.6 per cent)), stage III (59(41.0 per cent) vs 106(34.4 per cent) and 20(26.3 per cent)) and less stage IV disease (8(5.6 per cent) vs 61(19.8 per cent) and 34 (44.7 per cent), respectively, p<0.001). Three-year overall survival was best for NHSBCSP and worst for emergency patients (87.5 per cent vs 69.0 per cent and 35.3 per cent, respectively, LogRank p<0.001).

Patients diagnosed within the NHSBCSP have improved outcome compared to both symptomatic elective and emergency presentations. A reduction in overall cumulative mortality in order of 25 per cent may well be achieved, but continuing high levels of emergency presentations and undetected right-sided disease emphasise need for further improvement in public participation in the NHSBCSP and research into more sensitive and acceptable alternative screening methods.

Scarcity of resources and ever-changing customer demand has driven the manufacturing organization to opt for an integrated sustainable-green-lean-six sigma-agile manufacturing system (ISGLSAMS). The purpose of this study is to identify and rank the various drivers for the adoption of ISGLSAMS for the more sustainable development of the industries.

Using a survey questionnaire, data were collected for the 14 ISGLSAMS drivers, identified through the literature review, from 108 Indian manufacturing industries. The sign test is used to check the relevance and significance of drivers. ISGLSAMS drivers are ranked based on the median and standard deviation. A multiple regression model was employed to investigate the effects of other drivers on the highest-ranked driver to strengthen the understanding of the drivers.

Competition, customer demand, technological changes, supply chain pressure, cost benefits, incentives, top management commitment and future legislation are found the strongest drivers for ISGLSAMS. For administering the competition for ISGLSAMS policymakers must focus on the availability of organization resources, customer demand, future legislation, incentives, supply chain pressure and technological developments.

The study contributes to a better understanding of ISGLSAMS drivers. Through this study government, stakeholders and policymakers may plan the policy, roadmap and strategies to drive the manufacturing organizations for the adoption of ISGLSAMS for more sustainable development of industries in India.

This work contributes to the identification and prioritization of the drivers for the more sustainable manufacturing system, i.e. ISGLSAMS (7 Rs based, i.e. 6 Rs of sustainability with 7th R, reconfiguration). The research also contributes to the (1) ISGLSAMS literature (2) the awareness and demand of (a) ISGLSAMS (b) reconfigurable, sustainable and modular products (c) redesign, recovery and refurbishing of the product to increase the product life cycle.