S. Raj Sachin, T. Kandasamy Kannan and Rathanasamy Rajasekar
The purpose of this study is to carry out an investigation of the role of the wood particle size on the mechanical properties of poly lactic acid (PLA)-reinforced neem fiber…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to carry out an investigation of the role of the wood particle size on the mechanical properties of poly lactic acid (PLA)-reinforced neem fiber biocomposite.
Design/methodology/approach
Composite test specimens were processed by reinforcing neem wood flour (NWF) in two different particle sizes, micro-sized NWF (MNWF) and nano-sized NWF (NNWF) separately into PLA. Composites were extruded at four different fiber loadings (10, 15, 20 and 25 Wt.%) into PLA matrix. The MNWF and NNWF had particle sizes varying from 5 to 15 µm and 10 to 15 nm, respectively.
Findings
Tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of PLA increased with fiber reinforcement for both the MNWF and NNWF cases. The NNWF-reinforced PLA composite at 20 Wt.% fiber loading proved to be the best composite that had outstanding mechanical properties in this research.
Practical implications
The developed composite can be used as a substitute for conventional plywood for furniture, building infrastructure and interior components for the automobile, aircraft and railway sectors.
Originality/value
A new biocomposite had been fabricated by using PLA and NWF and had been tested for its mechanical characteristics.
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Azz-Eddine Meafa, Abla Chaouni Benabdellah, Kamar Zekhnini, Amine Belhadi and Sachin Kamble
Under the current untrusted business environment, digital technologies, such as blockchain technology (BT), show the potential to digitally transform SC processes particularly the…
Abstract
Purpose
Under the current untrusted business environment, digital technologies, such as blockchain technology (BT), show the potential to digitally transform SC processes particularly the sourcing process (SP). Indeed, this process suffers from a lack of digitalization, a lack of trust and a high workload in the automotive supply chain (ASC). Therefore, BT coupled with smart contracts can deal with such issues by fostering trust, transparency, reliability and traceability as a digital solution.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper conducts multiple case studies in the automotive sector and interviews 11 managers from two firms. It follows the managers’ perspective to identify and analyze the main issues that occurred while conducting this process using the existing technology.
Findings
It proposes a new architecture for the smart sourcing process (SSP) that uses BT & smart contracts to mitigate the identified issues, enable traceability, improve resilience, eliminate intermediaries, automate tasks, and enhance trust and data management. Also, the paper provides a decision tree to help determine which blockchain platform is needed for adopting the SSP solution.
Practical implications
This study is useful for both academics and practitioners as it demonstrates the digitalization of one of the SC processes using BT and smart contracts, as well as develops a roadmap for digitalizing the SP of the ASC, and solves its vulnerabilities.
Originality/value
BT has been used by researchers to digitalize the sourcing process only in the public procurement area. Considering all the faced challenges by the private procurement area, this paper aims to present a new architecture for the digitalization of the SP using BT and smart contracts in the ASC as a private SC.
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Sachin S. Joshi, Vikas J. Patil and Vikas V. Gite
Effects of corrosion are very dire and mitigation of corrosion holds prime importance. Protective coatings play major role in preventing corrosion of metals and coating…
Abstract
Purpose
Effects of corrosion are very dire and mitigation of corrosion holds prime importance. Protective coatings play major role in preventing corrosion of metals and coating application is the most convenient, economical and quick solution. The purpose of the study is development of protective coatings to effectively mitigate corrosion of metal components.
Design/methodology/approach
A high-performance anticorrosion coating was prepared using multiple monomers and paste of functional and reinforcing fillers with extenders to protect metal components from corrosion in aggressive environmental conditions. The structures of copolymers synthesized with multiple monomers were studied by the NMR and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The percentage conversion of different proportions of various monomers was estimated using gas chromatography technique. The functional paste to impart superior anticorrosion properties was prepared using various functional and reinforcing fillers. The final coatings were prepared by mixing these resins with functional paste in various proportions.
Findings
The prepared anticorrosion coating was tested for high-performance mechanical and chemical properties and it was witnessed that the said coating offered desired performance properties needed for protecting metal components from corrosion.
Research limitations/implications
As such it is overcoming drawbacks of two pack systems and thus has almost no limitations or implications for application on metal substrate.
Practical implications
Being formulated as a single pack, it is free from drawbacks otherwise involved in two pack system of conventional paints. The coating system developed is very easy to apply using conventional tools, namely, brush, spray and roller techniques. The formulation is made in such a way that it has fast-drying properties. Makes painting or coating operations cost effective and confirm the performance.
Social implications
The findings of the research have anticorrosion nature that can enhance the life span of the substrates. It is specially designed for metal substrate and can protect metal substrate from corrosion in most aggressive conditions. Thus, it helps to reduce losses due corrosion and increase safety of metal structures and human being as well. As it is based on conventional material but with new formulation and technology, it has commercial possibilities to explore.
Originality/value
Unlike conventional protective coating systems, the said coating offered disruptive features like single pack systems and fast drying at ambient temperature along with high-performance properties. The coating formulation was observed to have a great importance in industry for effective corrosion mitigation and to reduce losses due to corrosion.
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The apex planning body of India, NITI Aayog launched an Aspirational District Programme (ADP) in January 2018. The programme aimed to the quick and effective transformation of 112…
Abstract
The apex planning body of India, NITI Aayog launched an Aspirational District Programme (ADP) in January 2018. The programme aimed to the quick and effective transformation of 112 (14%) districts of the country. This programme is considered as world's biggest result-based governance initiative having reached up to 250 million people. It is based on a ranking that is done on monthly basis. This ranking is based on 49 KPIs across six broad socio-economic themes.
The study attempts to inquire and assess the progress made by 112 Aspirational Districts under Financial Inclusion, Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure theme from the inception of the programme to June 2022 (i.e. 54 months). Instead of ranking districts with delta rank or composite scores, the study divorce from NITI Aayog's methodology of monthly delta ranking. The study explores 8 indicators under the basic infrastructure theme and 16 indicators under the financial inclusion and skill development themes. For this purpose, the study explores the availability of individual household latrines, drinking water, electricity and road connectivity. Districts are also tracked for the number of Internet-connected Gram Panchayats, and panchayats with Common Services. Every district is provided with the target as per national development priority, the study makes an effort to grasp the distance of each district from the national target. This allows researchers to develop a scale Very Far, Far, Near, Very Near, Achieved with descriptive statistics techniques. Juxtaposing the scale with timelines results in a pattern of progress made by these 112 districts.
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This study aims to enhance the success of Sponsored Institutional R&D Projects (SIRPs) by investigating the influence of risk dimensions over four criteria Cost overrun, Time…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to enhance the success of Sponsored Institutional R&D Projects (SIRPs) by investigating the influence of risk dimensions over four criteria Cost overrun, Time overrun, Schedule overrun, and Quality of projects. The study identifies risk dimensions and prioritizes and explores causal relationships to guide risk mitigation strategies during project execution.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted with qualitative data obtained through a systematic questionnaire from 10 domain experts associated with SIRPs. Through an extensive literature review, the study identifies the ten risk dimensions, Fuzzy TOPSIS was employed for prioritizing the explored risk dimensions and Fuzzy DEMATEL explored the qualitative causal relationships among these dimensions. The sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the robustness of findings by adjusting the weightage assigned to experts.
Findings
The findings reveal financial risk as the highest ranked and business risk as the least influential among identified dimensions. The study also highlights management risk as the most significant, followed by business risk and sensitivity analysis concludes that the findings are robust, lacking significant judgment bias.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to risk management strategies for SIRPs, to ensure timely completion within the allocated budget. The findings of the study can be implemented in other such SIRPs. The study also informs funding agencies' policies and project monitoring mechanisms and advancing project management practices
Originality/value
Its originality lies in being the first to systematically identify and prioritize risk dimensions, adding significant value to SIRP management and academic discourse on project management and risk analysis.
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Rohit Kumar Singh and Sachin Modgil
This study aims to explore the key drivers contributing to supply chain resilience, with specific attention on agility, absorptive capacity and ambidexterity. It focuses on the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the key drivers contributing to supply chain resilience, with specific attention on agility, absorptive capacity and ambidexterity. It focuses on the roles of supply chain absorptive capacity (SCAC), supply chain ambidexterity (SCAB), supply chain agility (SCAG) and supply chain flexibility (SCF) in enhancing supply chain resilience (SCR).
Design/methodology/approach
A survey based on a questionnaire with established scales for SCAC, SCAB, SCAG, SCF and SCR was conducted among professionals in various industries within India, receiving 356 responses. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypothesis.
Findings
The study reveals significant relationships between SCAC, SCAB, SCAG and SCR. SCAC and SCAB are positively correlated with SCAG, which in turn positively influences SCR. Further, SCF directly influences SCR and moderates the relationships between SCAC/SCAB and SCAG, enhancing the agility and resilience of the supply chain. These findings underline the importance of integrating knowledge management, adaptability and flexibility in supply chain strategies to cope with the dynamic business environment.
Originality/value
The uniqueness of this study lies in its integrated investigation of absorptive capacity, ambidexterity, agility and supply chain flexibility, with a specific focus on the moderating role of flexibility. This research is unique in demonstrating how these dynamic capabilities transform disruptions into innovative and growth opportunities for supply chain management.
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FR. Oswald A. J. Mascarenhas, S.J.
The typical corporation is based on free capital markets, and in general, on the free market capital system for all its factors of production, distribution, and consumption…
Abstract
Executive Summary
The typical corporation is based on free capital markets, and in general, on the free market capital system for all its factors of production, distribution, and consumption. Hence, this chapter studies the economic, legal, ethical, and moral goodness and promise of the Free Enterprise Capitalist System (FECS) as it exists and thrives in the open and free economies of the world. We will review several versions of FECS starting from Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) views on private property, Thomas Hobbes’ (1588–1679), The Leviathan (1651), Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations, 1776), Max Weber (The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, 1904/1958) to modern defenses of capitalism by David Bollier (Aiming Higher, 1997), Raghuram Rajan and Luigi Zingales (Saving Capitalism from Capitalists, 1998, 2004), C. K. Prahalad (2005) on Inclusive Capitalism, Nitesh Gor (The Dharma of Capitalism, 2012), and John Mackey and Raj Sisodia (Conscious Capitalism, 2014), to name a few. Based on these seminal authors and subsequent theoretical developments, this chapter seeks to defend, save, and uphold the goodness of the FECS along multiple viewpoints such as economics, management, law, ethics, morals, and executive spirituality.
Dana Abdullah Alrahbi, Mehmood Khan, Shivam Gupta, Sachin Modgil and Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour
Health-care knowledge is dispersed among different departments in a health care organization, which makes it difficult at times to provide quality care services to patients…
Abstract
Purpose
Health-care knowledge is dispersed among different departments in a health care organization, which makes it difficult at times to provide quality care services to patients. Therefore, this study aims to identify the main challenges in adopting health information technology (HIT).
Design/methodology/approach
This study surveyed 148 stakeholders in 4 key categories [patients, health-care providers, United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizens and foresight experts] to identify the challenges they face in adopting health care technologies. Responses were analyzed using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Findings
EFA revealed four key latent factors predicting resistance to HIT adoption, namely, organizational strategy (ORGS); technical barriers; readiness for big data and the internet of things (IoT); and orientation (ORI). ORGS accounted for the greatest amount of variance. CFA indicated that readiness for big data and the IoT was only moderately correlated with HIT adoption, but the other three factors were strongly correlated. Specific items relating to cost, the effectiveness and usability of the technology and the organization were strongly correlated with HIT adoption. These results indicate that, in addition to financial considerations, effective HIT adoption requires ensuring that technologies will be easy to implement to ensure their long-term use.
Research limitations/implications
The results indicate that readiness for big data and the IoT-related infrastructure poses a challenge to HIT adoption in the UAE context. Respondents believed that the infrastructure of big data can be helpful in more efficiently storing and sharing health-care information. On the technological side, respondents felt that they may experience a steep learning curve. Regarding ORI, stakeholders expected many more such initiatives from health-care providers to make it more knowledge-specific and proactive.
Practical implications
This study has implications for knowledge management in the health -care sector for information technologies. The HIT can help firms in creating a knowledge eco-system, which is not possible in a dispersed knowledge environment. The utilization of the knowledge base that emerged from the practices and data can help the health care sector to set new standards of information flow and other clinical services such as monitoring the self-health condition. The HIT can further influence the actions of the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the challenges in HIT adoption and the most prominent factors. The conceptual model was empirically tested after the collection of primary data from the UAE using stakeholder theory.
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Ravindra Baliga, Rakesh D. Raut and Sachin S. Kamble
Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is a relatively new sub-field of supply chain management (SCM). The performance of SSCM is based on the triple bottom line approach…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is a relatively new sub-field of supply chain management (SCM). The performance of SSCM is based on the triple bottom line approach encompassing people-planet-profit, hence being defined not in only in social and environmental terms, but also the economic. The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated study which uses antecedent-practices-performance principles in order to determine the drivers of SSCM practices, and the impact of these practices on sustainable supply chain performance. The importance of the study lies in the fact that the Indian Government is making significant efforts to boost the manufacturing sector, and sustainability is among the significant imperatives for Indian manufacturing to be competitive globally.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model based on the antecedents-practices-performance principles was developed, and included six constructs identified from the literature: the drivers being the motivators of sustainability, lean management (LM) and supply management (SM), the practices were the environmental and social practices in the supply chain and, finally, the sustainable supply chain performance; eight hypotheses were conceived in the model development process. The survey instrument was conceptualised from an in-depth study of literature and was employed to conduct a survey of 211 operations and supply chain managers and functional heads from the Indian manufacturing industry. The scales were validated by employing the confirmatory factor analysis, followed by structural equation modelling to develop the structural relationships between the constructs using Amos 20.0.
Findings
The results of the SEM suggest that the antecedents, i.e. motivators, LM and SM, have a significant bearing on environmental and social practices in the SCM; these practices, in turn, also have a positive relationship with SSCM performance (except the relationship between LM and social practices in SCM) with acceptable goodness-of-fit measures. Thus out of the eight hypotheses, seven can be said to statistically significant.
Research limitations/implications
In addition to the motivators of sustainability, the study based on extant literature has considered LM and SM among the drivers of sustainability in SCM. The study has also identified that in earlier studies, the focus has been on environmental practices, and this integrated study has also included social practices in the supply chain.
Originality/value
This study suggests that sustainability performance may also be realised through lean and SM principles; an integrated perspective has been adopted with the consideration of both environmental and social practices. Further, the proposed model represents a novel integration of literature from diverse domains such as environmental management, business ethics and corporate social responsibility as well as performance management.