Search results

This paper aims to discuss key aspects of the longevity of business enterprises across the world. It explores the parameters that set apart a company which had survived for more than 1,400 years from most large companies which survive for a fraction of this time.

The paper integrates observations from two important research papers on the topic, and from the author’s own research.

Contrary to expectations, long-surviving firms are usually conservative about change, exploit their opportunities rather than explore more, diversify in relevant areas, and co-operate even with their competitors to live long.

To those companies that live long, age becomes a valuable resource in itself. Consumers see a continuous track record of a firm as a proxy for good quality, and long history can provide managers institutional memory to leverage toward further sustainability. “Long history” not only can provide anecdotes and stories to employees that exemplify the tacit core values of the firm but also, quite counter-intuitively, could be useful in transforming cultures and traditions.

Longevity challenge encompasses both continuity and change, but the experience filtered from many long-lived firms across the globe provides companies with insights that could inspire many more to live long and prosper.

This paper aims to provide a solution to the first phase of a force-controlled circular Peg-In-Hole assembly using an industrial robot. The paper suggests motion planning of the robot’s end-effector so as to perform Peg-In-Hole search with minimum a priori information of the working environment.

The paper models Peg-In-Hole search problem as a problem of finding the minima in depth profile for a particular assembly. Thereafter, various optimization techniques are used to guide the robot to locate minima and complete the hole search. This approach is inspired by a human’s approach of searching a hole by moving peg in various directions so as to search a point of maximum insertion which is same as the minima in depth profile.

The usage of optimization techniques for hole search allows the robot to work with minimum a priori information of the working environment. Also, the iterative nature of the techniques adapts to any disturbance during assembly.

The techniques discussed here are quite useful if a force-controlled assembly needs to be performed in a highly unknown environment and also when the assembly setup can get disturbed in between.

The concept is original and provides a non-conventional use of optimization techniques, not for optimization of some process directly but for an industrial robot’s motion planning.

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Restaurants face stiff competition irrespective of the market in which they operate. Digital marketing is a powerful tool for these restaurants to gain a competitive advantage.

The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

This paper aims to investigate hot corrosion behaviour of different Cr₃C₂–NiCr coatings on boiler tube steel.

High velocity oxy fuel technique has been used to deposit different coatings on commercially available ASTM-SA213-T22 boiler tube steel. The hot corrosion studies have been performed in molten salt environment at 900°C temperature in silicon tube furnace in laboratory.

The results showed that uncoated superalloy suffered intense spalling and the weight change was massive during each cycle on studies of hot corrosion 900°C. The 100 per cent NiCr and 10 per cent (Cr₃C₂) – 90 per cent (NiCr) coatings provided better protection to T22 steel against the hot corrosion because of the formation of Ni and Cr₃C₂ layers.

In this research a variety of coatings have been used. This research work has been aimed to investigate the hot corrosion behavior of Boiler Steel b with different Cr₃C₂–NiCr coatings, under molten salt environment in Silicon tube furnace at 900°C, under cyclic conditions.

The purpose of this study was to fabricate carbon nanotubes (CNT)-reinforced chromium oxide coatings and investigate mechanical and microstructural properties of these newly developed coatings on the boiler tube steel.

1 and 4 Wt.% CNT-reinforced Cr₂O₃ composite coatings were prepared and successfully deposited on ASTM-SA213-T22 (T22) boiler tube steel substrates using high-velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying method. Microhardness, porosity, metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cross-sectional elemental analysis and X-ray mapping analysis have been used to examine the coated specimens.

The porosity of the CNT-Cr₂O₃ composite coatings was found to be decreasing with the increases in CNT content, and hardness has been found to be increasing with increase in percentage of CNT in the composite coatings. The CNT were able to increase hardness by approximately 17 per cent. It was found that the CNT were uniformly distributed throughout Cr₂O₃ matrix. The CNT were found to be chemically inert during the spraying process.

It must be mentioned here that studies related to fabrication of HVOF sprayed CNT reinforced Cr₂O₃ composite coatings on T22 boiler tube steel are not available in the literature. Hence, present investigation can provide valuable information related to fabrication and properties of CNT reinforced coatings on boiler steel.

Industrial Relations and People Management.

Graduate or Postgraduate level, Executive working in manufacturing sector.

This case highlights the industrial relation issues in a public sector undertaking, a government-owned company in India. The case depicted the issues taken place in the company in the year 2015-2016. The primary data were collected by a working professional, who dealt with and was involved in the scenarios discussed in the case. Other modes such as in-depth interviews were also taken as per requirements. This case also highlights the importance of roles of unions and association in these organizations. Factors which are important to maintain industrial harmony were analyzed and their perspective with respect to production loss were addressed.

Every employee must be dealt with in a dignified manner with rationale. Hierarchy is required to be in place but doesn’t need to be authoritative. Be communicative and transparent while taking action. There should be no compromise on indiscipline at workplace and decision to be taken accordingly. Manage conflict by involving all the concerned authorities from outset. The analysis of the case shows that if the rationale was followed while managing the people it will lead to industrial harmony. Role of trade unions and association will prove beneficial as they will become a part of creating a solution in the matter of discords, ensuring growth for the company and its employees. It is important to mention here that the case was developed on the basis of the first-hand experience of the author.

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

CSS 6: Human Resource Management.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the quality characteristics of white button mushroom powder enrichment in sponge cake. The developed product can be a promising inclusion in the convenience functional foods and would serve the purpose of improving nutritional status of consumers.

Cakes containing graded levels of agaricus bisporus (white button mushroom) powder were prepared by replacing wheat flour with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 per cent mushroom powder. The effect of mushroom powder supplementation on physical, nutritive and sensory quality of the cakes was evaluated and analyzed statistically using Agres-Agdata software.

Batter density and specific volume of cake samples decreased with increasing levels of mushroom powder in the formulation, which is contrary to the knowledge that they are inversely proportional. For 20 per cent enrichment, batter density and specific volume decreased by 8.23 and 5.79 per cent, respectively. There was no significant difference in individual organoleptic attributes of cake samples up to a level of 20 per cent fortification of mushroom powder, with significant nutrient enrichment (p > 0.05).

Replacing flour in cakes has been tried with many protein-rich ingredients to improve the nutritional quality of cake although with limiting success when it comes to sensorial acceptability. Mushroom powder was incorporated in the formulation to enrich sponge cakes. The processing technology will also reduce post-harvest losses in mushrooms and improve the nutritional status of society.

This paper aims to explore the experience of adoption of digital marketing and related tools by restaurant entrepreneurs or owners of restaurants in the UK and India.

This study is based on qualitative research. In-depth interviews were conducted with restaurant owners to understand the extent of adoption of digital marketing tools and how they have embraced the digital change in running their business operations.

Findings shed light on major changes in consumer behaviour and the readiness of restaurant owners to adopt digital tools for marketing restaurant businesses. Additionally, this paper also probes restaurant owners’ apprehensions in the process with an objective of retaining customers for a longer period.

It is also evident that there is a clear gap in the restaurant space in India and the UK as far as the adoption of digital marketing tools is concerned. The restaurants in India are yet to adequately harness the digital medium as a strategic tool for marketing. This research can potentially form the basis of further research in terms of using technology and digital tools to reach customers and creating a more personalized experience for them.