Linda L. Zhang, Qianli Xu and Petri Helo
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it is to introduce a knowledge‐based system for planning processes for families of final products, instead of component items, be they…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it is to introduce a knowledge‐based system for planning processes for families of final products, instead of component items, be they parts or assemblies. Second, it is to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of a prototypical system developed for planning processes families for truck families from a multinational company.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors first identify the challenges in planning process families, including data and knowledge representation and constraint handling. To accommodate these challenges, the paper adopts the integrated product and process structure (IP2S) and colored timed Petri nets (CTPNs) in the proposed knowledge‐based process family planning system. On top of the IP2S and CTPNs, XML‐based knowledge representation is employed to alleviate the difficulties in modelling complex product and process family data and planning knowledge while enabling information exchange across different operating platforms. In addition, in accordance with the correspondence between PNs and knowledge‐based systems, a mechanism is designed to cope with the generation of production rules, which model constraints.
Findings
The proposed system is able to automatically generate production processes for customized products. At a higher level, such production processes provide input (e.g. operations, machines) to downstream activities for planning process details to manufacture component parts or component assemblies.
Research limitations/implications
Traditional trial and error approaches to planning processes limit production performance improvement when companies need to timely produce diverse customized products. Knowledge‐based systems should be developed to help companies better plan production processes based on the available manufacturing resources.
Originality/value
Unlike most reported studies addressing either detailed process planning or assembly planning for component parts or component assemblies, this study tackles process planning for final products, in attempting to maintain production efficiency from a holistic view.
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It is of great significance to study the influence of subgrade filling on permafrost temperature field in permafrost area for the smooth construction and safe operation of…
Abstract
Purpose
It is of great significance to study the influence of subgrade filling on permafrost temperature field in permafrost area for the smooth construction and safe operation of railway.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper builds up the model for the hydrothermal coupling calculation of permafrost using finite element software COMSOL to study how permafrost temperature field changes in the short term after subgrade filling, on which basis it proposes the method of calculation for the concave distortion of freezing front in the subgrade-covered area.
Findings
The results show that the freezing front below the subgrade center sinks due to the thermal effect of subgrade filling, which will trigger hydrothermal erosion in case of sufficient moisture inflows, leading to the thawing settlement or the cracking of the subgrade, etc. The heat output of soil will be hindered the most in case of July filling, in which case the sinking and the distortion of the freezing front is found to be the most severe, which the recovery of the permafrost temperature field, the slowest, constituting the most unfavorable working condition. The concave distortion of the freezing front in the subgrade area increases with the increase in temperature difference between the filler and ground surface, the subgrade height, the subgrade width and the volumetric thermal capacity of filler, while decreases with the increase of the thermal conductivity of filler. Therefore, the filler chose for engineering project shall be of small volumetric thermal capacity, low initial temperature and high thermal conductivity whenever possible.
Originality/value
The concave distortion of the freezing front under different working conditions at different times after filling can be calculated using the method proposed.
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Mengyuan Cheng, Heap-Yih Chong, Guoliang Liu and Qian Li
Perceived justice is crucial to achieving public–private partnership (PPP) projects’ goals, but little is known about the transmission mechanism of perceived justice that affects…
Abstract
Purpose
Perceived justice is crucial to achieving public–private partnership (PPP) projects’ goals, but little is known about the transmission mechanism of perceived justice that affects added value in PPP projects. Therefore, this research intends to investigate the link between perceived justice and PPP projects’ added value and their underlying mechanism by analysing the mediating role of cooperative behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on 246 valid survey data collected from the Chinese PPP professionals, structural equation modelling was adopted to analyse and test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results show all three dimensions of perceived justice positively correlated with PPP projects’ added value. The influence effect from high to low was determined to be as follows: interactive, distributive and procedural justice. Moreover, both perfunctory and consummate performance were found to be positively correlated with and thus of great importance to PPP projects’ added value, but perfunctory performance was found to have a greater influence coefficient. The relationship between perceived justice and PPP projects’ added value is mediated by perfunctory and consummate performance. Therefore, the strategies of perceived justice in improving added value are verified in the context of Chinese PPP projects.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study can help realise added value in three ways. Firstly, new perspectives for PPP project added value should be proposed by combining the improvement of project basic objectives and the realisation of the participants’ implicit demands. Secondly, the effects of different perceived justice on added value should be analysed instead of a single dimension of perceived justice. Thirdly, the mediating effects of different types of cooperative behaviour that may influence the relationship between perceived justice and added value should be evaluated.
Practical implications
This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between perceived justice and PPP projects’ added value and provides a reliable reference for project managers to achieve added value outcomes in PPP projects. In addition, this study reveals the impact of perceived justice on PPP projects’ added value and the path of perceived justice transformation. This provides a useful reference for project managers to take advantage of the positive effects of distributive, interactive and procedural justice to enhance inter-organizational cooperative behaviour. This study thus helps improve the practice and value of PPP projects by using the right strategy of perceived justice.
Originality/value
The research clarifies the impacts of multidimensional perceived justice for added value of PPP projects throughout the implementation process. It offers a new perspective on PPP projects’ added value by combining the improvement of the realisation of participants’ implicit claims.
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Siwei Bi, Jinkui Pi, Haohan Chen, Yannan Zhou, Ruiqi Liu, Yuanyuan Chen, Qianli Che, Wei Li, Jun Gu and Yi Zhang
Three-dimensional (3D) food printing is an innovative technology used to customize food products through the integration of digital technology and food ingredients. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Three-dimensional (3D) food printing is an innovative technology used to customize food products through the integration of digital technology and food ingredients. The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of research in the field of 3D food printing, identify trending topics and identify promising future research directions.
Design/methodology/approach
This bibliometric review systematically evaluates the field of 3D food printing using data from published literature in the Web of Science database. After reference screening, 812 articles were included in the analysis.
Findings
The result reveals that research in 3D food printing primarily focuses on the optimization and characterization of mechanical and rheological properties of food inks and that post-printing processing, such as laser treatment, has emerged recently as an important consideration in 3D food printing. However, extant works lack animal and human studies that demonstrate the functionality of 3D-printed food.
Originality/value
This sophisticated bibliometric analysis uncovered the most studied current research topics and the leading figures in the area of 3D food printing, providing promising future research directions.
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Aamir Rashid, Rizwana Rasheed and Nezih Altay
Environmental concerns, government action and activism have increased the bar for how businesses operate. The United Nations also suggested sustainable performance in their SDG-12…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental concerns, government action and activism have increased the bar for how businesses operate. The United Nations also suggested sustainable performance in their SDG-12 and SDG-13 to achieve sustainability by 2030. Therefore, this research aimed to examine environmental and operational performance in the manufacturing context and how institutional pressure and manufacturing supply chain collaboration affect performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 207 manufacturing firms using purposive sampling. The hypotheses were tested through a Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling approach with the help of IBM SPSS AMOS version 22.0. The study conducted an explanatory factor analysis and found two sub-constructs (higher-order) for “institutional pressure.”
Findings
The findings illustrated that environmental performance significantly mediates the relationship between manufacturing supply chain collaboration and operational performance. The manufacturing supply chain collaboration significantly directly and indirectly affected operational performance. Likewise, institutional pressure was a crucial construct for manufacturing supply chain collaboration.
Originality/value
In earlier studies, the relationships of study variables were examined individually. However, this study validated all the relationships in an integrated model with one variable (institutional pressure) in higher order. The study is grounded in institutional and stakeholder theory and contributes to the literature on green measures. At the operational level, the research can assist managers in comprehending the function of various manufacturing supply chain players to assist the eco-friendly practices that help to achieve SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG-13 (Climate Action) by 2030.
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Mahak Sharma, Rose Antony, Ashu Sharma and Tugrul Daim
Supply chains need to be made viable in this volatile and competitive market, which could be possible through digitalization. This study is an attempt to explore the role of…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chains need to be made viable in this volatile and competitive market, which could be possible through digitalization. This study is an attempt to explore the role of Industry 4.0, smart supply chain, supply chain agility and supply chain resilience on sustainable business performance from the lens of natural resource-based view.
Design/methodology/approach
The study tests the proposed model using a covariance-based structural equation modelling and further investigates the ranking of each construct using the artificial neural networks approach in AMOS and SPSS respectively. A total of 234 respondents selected using purposive sampling aided in capturing the industry practices across supply chains in the UK. The full collinearity test was carried out to study the common method bias and the content validity was carried out using the item content validity index and scale content validity index. The convergent and discriminant validity of the constructs and mediation study was carried out in SPSS and AMOS V.23.
Findings
The results are overtly inferring the significant impact of Industry 4.0 practices on creating smart and ultimately sustainable supply chains. A partial relationship is established between Industry 4.0 and supply chain agility through a smart supply chain. This work empirically reinstates the combined significance of green practices, Industry 4.0, smart supply chain, supply chain agility and supply chain resilience on sustainable business value. The study also uses the ANN approach to determine the relative importance of each significant variable found in SEM analysis. ANN determines the ranking among the significant variables, i.e. supply chain resilience > green practices > Industry 4.0> smart supply chain > supply chain agility presented in descending order.
Originality/value
This study is a novel attempt to establish the role of digitalization in SCs for attaining sustainable business value, providing empirical support to the mediating role of supply chain agility, supply chain resilience and smart supply chain and manifests a significant integrated framework. This work reinforces the integrated model that combines all the constructs dealt with in silos so far in prior literature.
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David Asamoah, Ishmael Nanaba Acquah, Dorcas Nuertey, Benjamin Agyei-Owusu and Caleb Amankwaa Kumi
This study examines green absorptive capacity as an important intervening variable that elucidates the relationship between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines green absorptive capacity as an important intervening variable that elucidates the relationship between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices (specifically, green purchasing, customer cooperation and investment recovery) and firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from the theoretical underpinnings of the natural-resource-based view theory and information processing theory, a research model is developed and tested using data obtained from 368 manufacturing firms in Ghana. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results indicate that green purchasing, customer cooperation and investment recovery have a direct positive and significant effect on firm performance. Additionally, green purchasing and customer cooperation have a positive and significant effect on green absorptive capacity but investment recovery does not. Further, the results show that the paths from green purchasing and customer cooperation to firm performance are positively mediated by green absorptive capacity.
Practical implications
The study reveals to supply chain managers that green absorptive capacity is an important conduit through which firms can achieve enhanced firm performance from GSCM initiatives.
Originality/value
This study makes a contribution by integrating the absorptive capacity literature and green management literature and establishes green absorptive capacity as a mechanism through which GSCM practices enhance firm performance.
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Thanh Tiep Le, Linh Vu Nguyen Thao, Cat Gia Linh Le and Trieu Bui Hai
This study aims to investigate the relationship between green human resource management (GHRM), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational performance (OP) of small…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between green human resource management (GHRM), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational performance (OP) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by examining corporate reputation (CR) and employee engagement (EE) as mediators in Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used the quantitative method with 458 valid responses from mid- to senior-level managers and chief executive officers (CEOs) were obtained and used for data analysis. To analyze and explore the relationships between constructs and mediators, SmartPLS version 4.0 structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data of the SMEs of Vietnam in 2023.
Findings
The results showed strong and positive relationships between GHRM, CSR and OP in SMEs, with CR and EE serving as significant mediators.
Originality/value
This research provides new insights into how GHRM and CSR enhance OP by using an integrated model that examines how CR and EE mediate this relationship. It demonstrates that businesses implementing GHRM and CSR can promote sustainable development among stakeholders, leading to improved OP in Vietnam’s dynamic economic environment. The findings have practical implications for executives and managers, emphasizing the need to balance stakeholder, environmental and social interests to optimize GHRM and CSR initiatives and foster sustainable growth. This study’s insights could significantly influence SMEs in the Vietnamese economy.
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Asma Javed, Qian Li, Sarmad Ejaz, Abdul Basit, Shermeen Hasan, Fodor Zita Júlia and Md Billal Hossain
Due to extensive industrial activities, the manufacturing sector is deteriorating the environment through resource depletion and rising pollution levels which led to a significant…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to extensive industrial activities, the manufacturing sector is deteriorating the environment through resource depletion and rising pollution levels which led to a significant transition toward green supply chain practices (GSCP). Therefore, internal and external GSCP and green training (GT) gaining momentous attention. This study aims to explore the interconnections among the internal and external GSCP, GT, green innovation (GI), pro-environmental behavior (PEB), competitive advantage (CA), green knowledge sharing (GKS), green self-efficacy (GSE), environmental and financial performance (EP) and (FP).
Design/methodology/approach
To check the hypothesized model, researchers used cross-sectional data based on survey questionnaires which were gathered from Pakistani manufacturing firms. The theoretical framework was validated through the utilization of partial least square structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings suggest that internal and external GSCP and GT are correlated with GI, PEB, CA, EP and FP. Additionally, this study discovers that PEB and GI act as intermediaries among internal and external GSCP, GT and CA. GKS positively moderates the connection among internal and external GSCP, and GT, GI, and PEB. Similarly, GSE also serves as a moderator among between PEB and GI.
Research limitations/implications
This study is a significant contribution to the literature by studying potential mediators and moderators that improve the association among outlined constructs. Moreover, findings suggest that firms should adopt an integrated and holistic green approach to combat environmental deterioration, maintain environmental integrity and attain sustainable development.
Originality/value
There is a scarcity of studies concerning the holistic framework of interrelated constructs studied in this research and it is the pioneer research to offer insights with an innovative model and empirical evidence.
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Ebenezer Afum, Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah, Zhuo Sun, Bright Frimpong, Lawrence Yaw Kusi and Innocent Senyo Kwasi Acquah
The aim of this study is to explore the link between green manufacturing practices, operational competitiveness, firm reputation and sustainable performance dimensions as well as…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to explore the link between green manufacturing practices, operational competitiveness, firm reputation and sustainable performance dimensions as well as advance a mediation approach.
Design/methodology/approach
The study resorted to structured questionnaire to collect data from 158 manufacturing firms from different industries, and partial least square–structural equation modelling is used to test all hypothesized relationships.
Findings
The results indicate that green manufacturing has a positive significant impact on social, economic and environmental performance. However, firm reputation and operational competitiveness were found not to significantly influence economic performance. The mediation analysis also showed that operational competitiveness, firm reputation and environmental performance play no mediation role between green manufacturing and economic performance. Furthermore, social performance is found to mediate the relationship between green manufacturing and economic performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study did not consider any moderator variables. Also, the universal applicability and generalizability are somewhat a problem since data was mainly collected from Ghana, an emerging country.
Practical implications
The results provide managers with reasonable evidence to proactively implement and invest in green manufacturing practices because such practices will not only have a positive impact on their sustainable performance dimensions but further enhance operational competitiveness and provide firms with superior reputation.
Originality/value
The study provides significant findings that contribute to and expand the literature on green manufacturing, and it is among the relatively few studies that has investigated the link between green manufacturing, sustainable performance dimensions, firm reputation and operational competitiveness, especially from a mediation analysis perspective.