Sivasankar Arumugam and Rajesh Ranganathan
This research aims to focus on developing a customized support surface using additive manufacturing (AM) for effective pressure relief for patients who are in bed or wheelchair…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to focus on developing a customized support surface using additive manufacturing (AM) for effective pressure relief for patients who are in bed or wheelchair suffering from pressure ulcers (PU).
Design/methodology/approach
A novel customized support surface is developed using AM technology incorporated with magnetic levitation and ball and socket mechanisms. Magnetic levitation provides cushioning effect for the developed cushion to users who are sitting in a wheelchair and increases the rate of healing. The ball and socket mechanism provides the user body's self-adaptive mechanism and reduces shear and friction forces between the surfaces of the additive manufactured cushion and the human buttocks.
Findings
From the results of ISO 16480-6 biomechanical standardized tests, the additive manufactured support surface performed better than, or on par with, the most widely available commercial cushions. It is evident that the developed cushion’s peak pressure values are lower when compared with other cushions. The overall efficiency of the developed cushion was qualitatively reported; 67% of people felt it was excellent and 22% of people responded as good and 11% were satisfactory. Henceforth, the overall effectiveness of the developed support surface provides a better experience to the end-user in the view of PU reduction.
Originality/value
A developed additive manufactured customized support surface will be an alternative approach for the reduction of PU, and it overcomes the drawbacks faced by the currently available cushions.
Details
Keywords
Sreekanth M.P., Rajesh Ranganathan and Arivazhagan Pugalendhi
Laparoscopic surgeons suffer because of discomfited body posture while performing surgery and experience discomfort owing to lack of customized surgical instruments. Accordingly…
Abstract
Purpose
Laparoscopic surgeons suffer because of discomfited body posture while performing surgery and experience discomfort owing to lack of customized surgical instruments. Accordingly, this paper aims to recommend an individual customization strategy by developing an ergonomically designed laparoscopic forceps handle and thereby increase the comfort of surgeons.
Design/methodology/approach
Hand anthropometric parameters of 282 south Indian male subjects are used to customize the handle. uPrint and Objet260 Connex, which works based on fused deposition modeling and PolyJet, respectively, are used to fabricate the prototype of the handle. Design modifications include a pistol-type grip, the increased contact area between the hand and handle, and neutral wrist posture.
Findings
Ergonomic evaluation parameters such as grip, functionality, comfort and wrist posture using subjective ratings from laparoscopic surgeons were recorded and obtained average values of 4.1, 3.6, 4.1 and 4.1, respectively, based on a five-point ordinal scale. Additionally, stress analysis also confirms the safety of the handle based on von Mises stress criteria.
Research limitations/implications
Anthropometric data are limited to 282 subjects and subjective evaluation is conducted using a prototype, not the end-use product.
Originality/value
Evaluation using subjective rating confirms the ascendancy of a modified handle over the existing handle in terms of assessed parameters. The proposed individual customization strategy can be applied for other industrial hand tools to enhance comfort.
Details
Keywords
Vivek C., Rajesh Ranganathan, Sivakumar Ganesan, Arivazhagan Pugalendhi, Sreekanth M.P. and Sivasankar Arumugam
This paper aims to develop a customized orthosis for treating congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) deformity. Complications from non-surgical treatment method such as Ponseti…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a customized orthosis for treating congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) deformity. Complications from non-surgical treatment method such as Ponseti method leads to relapse/recurrence of the foot after treated.
Design/methodology/approach
An alternate approach for treating clubfoot deformity can be seen as a viable approach to overcome the above-mentioned difficulties. Customized orthosis is designed and developed for a subject affected with right clubfoot deformity through fused deposition modeling of additive manufacturing (AM) technology with ABS plastic as base material. A unique mechanism is used to develop customized orthosis for achieving rotation of the foot along the three axis and range of motions.
Findings
Developed orthosis is incorporated with a unique mechanism that can be rotated and arrested at the specified angle along the three principle ranges of motion of the foot. Overall weight of the developed customized orthosis achieved is about 284 g, which has a significant 25 per cent reduction in weight when compared to traditional Ponseti casting method. Overcoming the difficulties faced in Ponseti method, customized orthosis can be an alternative method for treating clubfoot.
Originality/value
Developed orthosis will be an alternative approach for treating clubfoot deformity, and it overcomes the drawbacks faced by Ponseti method.
Details
Keywords
Manivannan Chandrasekaran and Rajesh Ranganathan
The purpose of this paper is to reduce the post-harvest loss occurring through respiration and CO2 emission produce by the selected produces, during logistics. This paper proposes…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reduce the post-harvest loss occurring through respiration and CO2 emission produce by the selected produces, during logistics. This paper proposes a supply chain (SC) structure for the Indian traditional agriculture SC planning model to reduce post-harvest loss and mixed closed transportation to reduce CO2 emission.
Design/methodology/approach
The Indian agriculture SC structure is modeled and solved by genetic algorithm using a MATLAB Optimization toolbox. The respiration rate is measured by a static method. These values are applied in an SC planning model and the post-harvest loss and its corresponding CO2 emission are estimated.
Findings
This paper proposes a supply structure for the Indian traditional agriculture SC to reduce the post-harvest loss; the experiments measured the respiration rate to estimate the CO2 emission. The mixed closed transportation method is found to be suitable for short-purpose domestic transportation.
Research limitations/implications
The optimized supply structure leads to unemployment through eliminating the intermediaries. Therefore, further research encourages the conversion of intermediaries into hub instead of eliminating them.
Practical implications
This paper includes implications for the development of Indian traditional agriculture SC by an optimized supply structure and novel transportation method for the selected agriculture produces based on compatibility.
Originality/value
This paper identified that the agriculture produces respiration can also emit the CO2. The closed transportation method can reduce the CO2 emission of produces respiration than traditional open transportation.
Details
Keywords
Sai Charan Das, Rajesh Ranganathan and Murugan N.
The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of build orientation on the tensile properties of PolyJet 3D printed parts. Effects on manufacturing time and total…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of build orientation on the tensile properties of PolyJet 3D printed parts. Effects on manufacturing time and total cost per part are the secondary objectives.
Design/methodology/approach
Solid tensile specimens were prepared as per the American Society for Testing and Materials D638 standards and were manufactured in six different orientations by using the Objet260 Connex 3D printer. VeroWhitePlus RGD835 was used as the build material, with FullCure 705 as the support material. The specimens were tested for their tensile strength and elongation. The side surface and the fracture surface were analyzed using the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope-SIGMA HV-Carl Zeiss with Bruker Quantax 200-Z10 EDS detector. Scanning electron microscope images of each surface were obtained at various magnifications.
Findings
From the study, it can be concluded that build orientation has an influence on the tensile strength and the manufacturing cost of the parts. The microstructural analysis revealed that the orientation of surface cracks/voids may be the reason for the strength.
Originality/value
From literature survey, it is inferred that this study is sure to be among the first few under this topic. These results will help engineers to decide upon the right build orientations with respect to print head so that parts with better mechanical properties can be manufactured.
Details
Keywords
Arun Palaniappan, S. Vinodh and Rajesh Ranganathan
The purpose of this paper is to report the analysis of factors influencing additive manufacturing (AM) application in the food domain.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the analysis of factors influencing additive manufacturing (AM) application in the food domain.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on literature review, 16 factors are being considered in the study. Interpretive structural modelling is used as a modelling approach. The derived structural model indicates the dominant factors. Matriced’ impacts croises-multipication applique and classment (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) (MICMAC) analysis is being done to group the factors.
Findings
Based on the study, it has been found that raw material usage, the shelf life of food, demand for the food and accuracy are dominant factors. MICMAC analysis indicated that number of driving, dependent and linkage factors are 6, 4 and 4, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
In the present study, 16 factors are being considered. In future, additional factors could be considered to deal with advancements in the food domain.
Practical implications
The study has been executed in discussion with practitioners in AM, and hence derived inferences have practical validity. Food making has become more agile with 3D printer and has become sensitive to customer demand.
Social implications
Social implications are primarily highlighted by the aspect of controlling the exact amount of nutrients corresponding to the application of food. In certain commercial applications, people can customize their shape and ingredients to be injected into the food.
Originality/value
The development of a model for the analysis of factors influencing AM in the food domain is the original contribution of the authors.
Details
Keywords
Hamid Moradlou, Chris Backhouse and Rajesh Ranganathan
Due to today’s volatile business environment companies have started to establish a better understanding of the total risk/benefit-balance concerning manufacturing location…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to today’s volatile business environment companies have started to establish a better understanding of the total risk/benefit-balance concerning manufacturing location decisions of their component supply. The focus is now much more on comprehensive and strategic supply chain issues rather than simply relying on piece-part cost analysis. This has led to an emerging trend called re-shoring. The purpose of this paper is to understand the primary motivation behind the re-shoring strategy in the UK and investigate the factors that influence this decision from Indian industries perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis of the paper is based on interviews conducted in the UK and India (state of Tamil Nadu) in various industries including automotive, industrial goods, textile, and marine. For this purpose an interview framework based on key enablers identified from the literature, being information technology solutions, manufacturing equipment and human factors. This provided an assessment of the capability of the companies for being responsive to western demand.
Findings
The findings indicate that re-shoring to the UK is the result of inadequacy in responsiveness and long production lead times of the Indian suppliers. The outcome of this paper indicates that the top factors behind this inadequacy in responsiveness are logistics and transportation, electricity shortage, excessive paperwork and working attitude.
Originality/value
This paper aims to fill the gap in the re-shoring literature by providing a clear picture behind the reason for re-shoring in the UK and identify the drivers behind this shortcoming in the component supply from India.
Details
Keywords
Ratri Parida, Rajesh Katiyar and Kirti Rajhans
Achieving sustainable development in terms of people, prosperity and partnership is the main aspect in any country’s plan for development. This sustainable development has to be…
Abstract
Purpose
Achieving sustainable development in terms of people, prosperity and partnership is the main aspect in any country’s plan for development. This sustainable development has to be achieved in three major dimensions, that is, economic, social and environmental in an integrated, balanced and systematic way. The same is highlighted in the United Nations’ (UN) vision for sustainable development by 2030. The purpose of this study is to identify the critical barriers of urban sustainability and gender equality with reference to Indian context, to suggest the strategies to achieve sustainable development in the referred area and to evaluate the relationship between them.
Design/methodology/approach
The major contribution of this study lies in the development of a contextual relationship model from the various identified critical barriers in Indian context, using interpretive structural modeling with MICMAC analysis.
Findings
Of the 17 goals given by UN, considering the Indian context, the goals of building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation; promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth along with full and productive employment and decent work for all; and gender equality and empowering women at all levels seem to be the major challenges and the same are selected in this study for further analysis. To understand the major challenges in these areas and also to find the way forward, the study has set following three major objectives: to identify the critical barriers of urban sustainability and gender equality with reference to Indian context; to suggest the strategies to achieve sustainable development in the referred area; and to evaluate the relationship between them.
Originality/value
Considering the highly volatile and complex demand requirements, this approach may help to enable the government to tackle issues/challenges related to both urban sustainability and gender inequality on priority basis and in a holistic manner to achieve the goals of sustainable development, thereby improving the quality of life.
Details
Keywords
Gavriel Dahan and Michal Levi-Bliech
The main purpose of this study is to examine the influence of two characteristics of supply chain management (SCM) (resilience and integration) on new product performance (NPP…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to examine the influence of two characteristics of supply chain management (SCM) (resilience and integration) on new product performance (NPP) via the mediation of marketing innovation orientation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was designed by the quantitative method, and the research model was developed based on the resource-based view (RBV) theory of 211 managers from Israeli firms using SmartPls3 software.
Findings
The main finding that emerges from this study is that marketing innovation orientation serves as a full mediator in the relationship between supply chain resilience (SCR) and NPP as well as in the relationship between supply chain integration (SCI) and NPP. Thus, companies that wish to achieve a competitive advantage over their rivals should improve and strengthen their marketing innovation orientation. By doing so, they enhance the relationship between SCM and NPP.
Practical implications
The findings provide an applicable guideline for marketing managers. Managers should be ready to adapt to customers’ demands, environmental changes and, most importantly, disruptive events in a dynamic environment.
Originality/value
The current study sheds light on the mechanism for NPP via integrating suppliers, customers and the organization. So, managers should adopt SCR and integration to strengthen their marketing innovation orientation in order to achieve NPP.
Details
Keywords
Mihir Kumar Pal and Pinki Bera
This study attempts to analyze energy intensity, capacity utilization (CU), output and productivity growth of aggregate manufacturing sector in India during the period 1980–1981…
Abstract
This study attempts to analyze energy intensity, capacity utilization (CU), output and productivity growth of aggregate manufacturing sector in India during the period 1980–1981 to 2016–2017. A decadal analysis as well as a comparison between pre- and post-liberalization period of productivity growth is also made. Total factor productivity growth (TFPG) is also adjusted with CU to obtain adjusted TFPG. The trend in energy intensity is also analyzed to answer the question of sustainability. Results shows that TFPG declined in the post-reform period, highlighting the fact that liberalization process has its adverse impact on productivity growth. From the study it is observed that a declining trend in adjusted TFPG in the post-reform period, but the rate of decline is higher. Energy intensity and CU of the Indian manufacturing industries is found to be increasing over the study period. Increasing energy intensity, quite significantly, would increase the level of pollution generated by the manufacturing industries. So, interestingly enough, this may lead to conclude that the growth of the manufacturing industries is not in line with the basic essence of sustainable development.