H.‐A. Crostack, I. Hackenbroich, R. Refflinghaus and D. Winter
Apart from the customer demands themselves, the weightings of the customer demands are one of the main input data of a QFD (Quality Function Deployment) and furthermore of the…
Abstract
Apart from the customer demands themselves, the weightings of the customer demands are one of the main input data of a QFD (Quality Function Deployment) and furthermore of the actual construction process of products. Up to now, most interviews with stakeholders have been carried out with questionnaires and then absolute weightings have been used. Now it has been analysed if the use of other interview and evaluation techniques, e.g. relative weightings and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), can improve the precision of the demands and wishes of the stakeholders. Now the task was to analyse if the use of relative weightings as input of a QFD is possible at all, how they have to be adapted and if an increase in precision compared to the use of absolute weightings is reached. When using AHP during the product development it has become clear that only up to seven demands can be rated at the same time by customers. That means that a kind of hierarchy has to be developed to correctly transfer the demands and their weightings into the QFD.
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Chang‐su Kim, B.G. Son and Michael Bourlakis
The principal purpose of this paper is to determine the distinguishing characteristics of the factors that affect the successful adoption of ubiquitous computing technology (UCT…
Abstract
Purpose
The principal purpose of this paper is to determine the distinguishing characteristics of the factors that affect the successful adoption of ubiquitous computing technology (UCT) in supply chain management (SCM) in different settings.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the relevant literature, this paper analyses the adoption of UCT in SCM operations, and describes the series of shaping processes. These processes are influenced largely by management and technical factors such as strong support from top management and by convenient user interfaces in global ubiquitous computing settings. These two factor types (management and technical) support the formulation of a theoretical framework that can be examined in two national environments (UK and Korea).
Findings
The results highlight the key differences in terms of UCT adoption in supply chain contexts between the two national environments examined, and indicate that these differences are affected by the different national industrial foundations, organizational network infrastructures, and perspectives on system development, as well as by issues related to the costs and practical benefits of using this technology in SCM.
Practical implications
This study raises some major implications for researchers and practitioners alike. Specifically, the paper stresses the role of management and technical issues in terms of UCT adoption in SCM operations, and expands current theoretical understanding of the subject. It also provides a set of management implications, including the need for managers to have strong support from top management and the need for a convenient user interface.
Originality/value
There is a scarcity of papers in SCM that examine issues related to ubiquitous computing. This is addressed via the current paper that reports the results of a comparative study of UCT implementation in SCM operations for firms operating in two national environments (UK and Korea). The paper will be beneficial to the strategic thinking of supply chain managers and will support further empirical research work in this academic field of study.
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With the rise of geopolitical tensions among the leading state actors, the Chinese citizens and companies are increasingly targeted by the unilateral restrictive measures. These…
Abstract
Purpose
With the rise of geopolitical tensions among the leading state actors, the Chinese citizens and companies are increasingly targeted by the unilateral restrictive measures. These frequently include the so-called secondary sanctions, i.e. penalties imposed on third parties for failing to comply with the sanctions regime, the US practice being a prominent example. The purpose of this paper is to analyze China's legal instruments related to imposition of and protection from unilateral restrictive measures of third countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The present paper discusses China’s legal defenses counteracting the extraterritorial sanctions by comparison with the legislative and enforcement practices of the EU, which has accumulated substantial experience trying to shield its businesses from the US secondary sanctions. The paper identifies the differences between the two anti-sanctions regimes and highlights the key factors that will affect the future enforcement of blocking rules in China.
Findings
When designing its anti-foreign sanctions legislation, China has considered similar legislation adopted by other jurisdictions, most notably – the EU blocking statute. The comparative assessment of the two blocking regimes reveals substantial similarities in legislative and procedural standards with important differences in enforcement capabilities and institutional frameworks.
Originality/value
The paper represents one of the first attempts to anticipate the directions in enforcement of China's blocking legislation taking into account the EU experiences in this domain.
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Giuseppe Celi and Edgardo Sica
The challenge posed by the new European bioeconomy strategy in support of green transition goals is significant and raises serious questions regarding its sustainability, from…
Abstract
Purpose
The challenge posed by the new European bioeconomy strategy in support of green transition goals is significant and raises serious questions regarding its sustainability, from socio-economic, territorial and ecological perspectives. Such a strategy is indeed being implemented in a Europe divided between economically strong and weak areas and where regional divergences within countries have increased nearly everywhere. Considering this polarised context, the present paper investigates the determinants of biorefinery presence in Europe, adopting a core-periphery perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
Spatial analysis is employed to identify core and periphery regions at the NUTS2 level, and econometric estimates show that the factors determining biorefinery implementation differ between these regions.
Findings
In the core regions, socio-economic factors (e.g. higher income, education and social acceptability) are most significant, while in the periphery, agricultural and territorial determinants play a more prominent role. However, the differences between regions are mitigated when the sample is narrowed to focus on biorefineries with the greatest technological readiness.
Originality/value
To the best of our knowledge, the determinants of biorefineries' presence in a territory is an under-explored topic. Moreover, the existence of core-periphery dynamics even within bio-based activities raises important questions and policy implications in ecological transition processes in Europe.
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José Antonio Clemente-Almendros, Inés González-González, Luis Manuel Cerdá-Suárez and Luis Alberto Seguí-Amortegui
In this paper, the authors present an empirical framework that incorporates different factors of the impact of COVID-19 on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in La Rioja…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, the authors present an empirical framework that incorporates different factors of the impact of COVID-19 on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in La Rioja, Spain, in relation to the value chain, gender and family business and allows the evaluation of these impacts on the SMEs' outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct exploratory research based on phone interviews with 329 business managers from SMEs in La Rioja (Spain), from June 1 to June 30 2021, using ordinary least squares linear regression and matching procedures to test the study hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that the impact of COVID-19 related to primary activities in adding value, such as inbound logistics, operations and marketing, have a positive influence on innovation outcomes in SMEs, as do female managers. Family SMEs present poorer innovation outcomes.
Practical implications
At the organizational level, this paper may be of interest to management, and at the national and regional levels to policymakers, since it could help to develop policies that support SMEs' sourcing, operations and marketing in order to prepare for potential value chain disruptions. Additionally, this research may help decision-makers to foster and promote innovation in SMEs as a way of ensuring their resilience.
Originality/value
In this paper, the authors provide novel evidence about the effect of COVID-19 in SMEs. Moreover, it has been shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the redefinition of supply chains at the organizational level.
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Bettina Bruns, Judith Miggelbrink and Kristine Müller
Using small‐scale cross‐border trade and smuggling as an example of an informal practice carried out in many post‐socialist countries, the purpose of this paper is to explore…
Abstract
Purpose
Using small‐scale cross‐border trade and smuggling as an example of an informal practice carried out in many post‐socialist countries, the purpose of this paper is to explore which different meanings this activity possesses for the people being involved in it and in how far small‐scale cross‐border trade is being accepted and looked at by society. The authors hope to show the different connections between informal and formal activities and specificities of localities which people in the mentioned countries deploy when trying to secure their livelihood.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a qualitative empirical research including group discussions with small‐scale traders and small entrepreneurs, expert interviews with representatives of the border authorities and systematic observations at border crossing points and open‐air markets at the Finnish‐Russian, Polish‐Ukrainian, Polish‐Belarusian and Ukrainina‐Romanian borders.
Findings
The paper provides empirical insights about why people carry out smuggling and small‐scale trade and how these informal activities are perceived in the local environment. It suggests that informal economic cross‐border activities are often highly legitimized despite their illegal character. The border creates certain extra opportunities as it enables arbitrage dealings. Rather as a side effect though, the Schengen visa regime has evoked a decreasing profit margin of transborder economic activities. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the Eastern external EU border will serve as an informal economic resource in the future.
Originality/value
Thanks to a multisited qualitative approach to a very sensitive research topic, the paper allows empirical insights into meanings and uses of smuggling and cross‐border small‐scale trade.
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Bernard Schmidt, Kanika Gandhi, Lihui Wang and Diego Galar
The purpose of this paper is to exemplify and discuss the context aspect for predictive analytics where in parallel condition monitoring (CM) measurements data and information…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to exemplify and discuss the context aspect for predictive analytics where in parallel condition monitoring (CM) measurements data and information related to the context are gathered and analysed.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on an industrial case study, conducted in a manufacturing company. The linear axis of a machine tool has been selected as an object of interest. Available data from different sources have been gathered and a new CM function has been implemented. Details about performed steps of data acquisition and selection are provided. Among the obtained data, health indicators and context-related information have been identified.
Findings
Multiple sources of relevant contextual information have been identified. Performed analysis discovered the deviations in operational conditions when the same machining operation is repeatedly performed.
Originality/value
This paper shows the outcomes from a case study in real word industrial setup. A new visualisation method of gathered data is proposed to support decision-making process.