Sam Solaimani, Jack van der Veen, Durward K. Sobek II, Erdogan Gulyaz and Venu Venugopal
Increasingly, a firm’s innovation capability has become one of the key frontiers of competitive advantage. The Lean philosophy has a well-proven reputation for its focus on…
Abstract
Purpose
Increasingly, a firm’s innovation capability has become one of the key frontiers of competitive advantage. The Lean philosophy has a well-proven reputation for its focus on process efficiency and effectiveness, and therefore, is often applied in various areas of innovation. Such wide and ever-increasing applicability also has resulted in an incoherent corpus of literature on Lean innovation. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize an integrative view on Lean innovation management.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a systematic literature review, the key Lean principles and practices useful in the context of innovation management are identified and synthesized into an all-inclusive framework. By means of three illustrative cases (i.e. public hospital, electronics company and avionics manufacturer), this paper elaborates on how the proposed framework can be applied.
Findings
A total of 88 publications are analyzed, leading to 34 Lean principles and practices relevant to innovation management, which are further integrated into a comprehensive model, dubbed the “Leanovation” framework.
Originality/value
This study is the first attempt to advance the understanding of various interrelated and interdependent components of Lean innovation management in a holistic way.
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Premkumar Rajagopal, Suhaiza Zailani and Mohamed Sulaiman
The primary purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the significant determinant for supply chain partnering (SCP) that can be applied by the firms to increase their…
Abstract
Purpose
The primary purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the significant determinant for supply chain partnering (SCP) that can be applied by the firms to increase their effectiveness in SCP efforts. Next, the paper intends to examine the impact of scalable partnering towards the effectiveness of SCP.
Design/methodology/approach
To address the research problem, a survey instrument is developed and a structured model is hypothesized and tested using SPSS tool. Data are collected from a field research on a sample of 584 companies in Malaysia.
Findings
The result of this research indicates that resource sharing have positive influences on SCP. Increasing scalable partnering would also lead to increases in the effectiveness of SCP.
Research limitations/implications
One of the limitations of the study is that the use of a single key informant for the data collection from the respective companies. A more stringent test of the relationships between scalable partnering and its impact in SCP requires a longitudinal study.
Practical implications
Managers must also recognize the influential role of scalable partnering which actually motivates channel partners to continue their investment in SCM initiatives. Thus, managers should pay more attention to the need of channel member to generate a higher level of confidence in scalable partnering.
Originality/value
While SCP and its determinant exist in prior research, this paper contributes a new variable “Scalable Partnering” towards strengthening the relationship among the supply chain partners.
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Premkumar Rajagopal, Suhaiza Zailani and Mohamed Sulaiman
Supply chain partnering (SCP) in internationally operating companies is still not adequately addressed in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain partnering (SCP) in internationally operating companies is still not adequately addressed in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors towards effective SCP across two organizations of different origins (Company A and Company B).
Design/methodology/approach
The central issue is to investigate how information flow, organizational linkage, supply chain infrastructure, and resource sharing exhibit themselves in the SCP through a case study method.
Findings
The interviews reveal that Company B tends to be a reluctant player and is far more skeptical about the benefits afforded through such a relationship. It can also be concluded that Company B is less interested in the benefits gained and is more likely to highlight the risks associated with heightened dependence on a smaller number of suppliers. On the one hand, it can be stated that Company B thinks about the gains afforded by partnering supply chains but is more easily swayed by traditional purchasing metrics related to cost or initial purchase prices. On another level, Company A seems to fully participate in SCP efforts and sees the benefit from such a relationship.
Research limitations/implications
The interviews are necessary for developing basis understanding on how companies implement SCP, especially to examine the factors that contribute to its successful. The study suggests that larger number of sample need be used.
Practical implications
From the case study, it is believed that firms appear to confirm a positive and significant relationship between the degree of resource sharing and organizational linkage, if they see that scalable partnering efforts as hypothesized are workable.
Originality/value
The case study highlights is the important role of the partnering to support supply chain process and to deliver high‐quality service. This is important because the profitability and survival of the chains depend on how well partnering concept been implemented.
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Gopu Venugopal, V. Gopalakrishnan and S.P. Rajkumar
Induction motors (IMs) are considered one of the most important elements of the industrial process. However, in this environment, these machines are subject to electrical and…
Abstract
Purpose
Induction motors (IMs) are considered one of the most important elements of the industrial process. However, in this environment, these machines are subject to electrical and mechanical faults, which may cause significant financial losses. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to propose an optimal identification of inter-turn insulation faults present in the random wound IM.
Design/methodology/approach
The design approach deals with a simple technique, using the effect of the inter-turn fault in modifying the high-frequency components of the applied pulse-width-modulated voltage.
Findings
The change in insulation strength between the turns affects the capacitive component of the stator line current. Resulting changes in wave shapes of the applied voltage have been studied with respect to both the distance of inter-turn faults from line end and reduction in the insulation strength, and hence in the insulation resistance value.
Originality/value
Studies have been conducted by using computer simulation and validated by experiments. There is ample evidence that an impending and progressing inter-turn fault can be identified in adjustable speed drives driven by frequency converters by studying line-end coil-voltage waveforms.
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Satabdee Dash, Axel Nordin and Glenn Johansson
Dual design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) takes into account both the opportunities and constraints of AM simultaneously, which research shows is more effective than…
Abstract
Purpose
Dual design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) takes into account both the opportunities and constraints of AM simultaneously, which research shows is more effective than considering them separately. Unlike existing reviews, this paper aims to map DfAM research within the engineering design process, focusing solely on studies adopting dual DfAM. Additionally, it aims to suggest future research directions by analysing prominent research themes and their inter-relationships. Special emphasis is on theme inter-relationships concerning the conceptual, embodiment and detail design phases.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a systematic literature review of 148 publications from January 2000 to February 2024. After screening, prominent research themes were identified and systematically analysed. Theme inter-relationships were explored using quantitative analysis and chord diagrams.
Findings
The findings reveal that studies either span the entire design process, the early design phases or the later design phases. Most research focuses on the later design phases, particularly within themes of design optimisation, design evaluation and AM-specific manufacturing constraints. The most frequent theme inter-relationship occurs between design optimisation and AM-specific manufacturing constraints. Overall, the findings suggest future research directions to advance dual DfAM research, such as development of design rules and guidelines for cellular structures.
Originality/value
This review proposes a model by mapping prominent themes of dual DfAM research in relation to the engineering design process. Another original contribution lies in analysing theme inter-relationships and visualising them using chord diagrams – a novel approach that did not exist before.
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Rahul Kumar, Kanwarpreet Singh and Sanjiv Kumar Jain
The concept of agile manufacturing is becoming critically important to manufacturing industry due to rapid industrialization, fluctuating customer demand, and turbulent business…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of agile manufacturing is becoming critically important to manufacturing industry due to rapid industrialization, fluctuating customer demand, and turbulent business environment. The aim of this study is to prioritize the attributes for successful implementation of agile manufacturing using a combined analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach in Indian manufacturing industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study identifies eight agile manufacturing attributes through literature review and discussion with subject experts. The experts from different manufacturing industry have been asked to provide data for pairwise comparison of attributes. Afterward, an integrated AHP and TOPSIS approach is employed. The AHP is used to drive the priority weights of the attributes, and TOPSIS is used for prioritizing the attributes for successful implementation of agile manufacturing.
Findings
“Information technology,” “human resource management-related issues,” “customer-related issues,” “leadership support,” and “organizationalc related-issues” have been ranked as the top five significant and contributing attributes, which can pave the path for top management to concentrate on the critical areas and allocate significant resources to ensure successful implementation of agile manufacturing.
Originality/value
This research integrates AHP and TOPSIS to prioritize the attributes for successful implementation of agile manufacturing, which are further validated by comparing the ranks obtained through respective approach and sensitivity analysis.
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Abdullah H. Alnasser, Mohammad A. Hassanain, Mustafa A. Alnasser and Ali H. Alnasser
This study aims to identify and assess the factors challenging the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in healthcare workplaces.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify and assess the factors challenging the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in healthcare workplaces.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilized a mixed approach, that starts with a literature review, then developing and testing a questionnaire survey of the factors challenging the integration of AI technologies in healthcare workplaces. In total, 46 factors were identified and classified under 6 groups. These factors were assessed by four different stakeholder categories: facilities managers, medical staff, operational staff and patients/visitors. The evaluations gathered were examined to determine the relative importance index (RII), importance rating (IR) and ranking of each factor.
Findings
All 46 factors were assessed as “Very Important” through the overall assessment by the four stakeholder categories. The results indicated that the most important factors, across all groups, are “AI ability to learn from patient data”, “insufficient data privacy measures for patients”, “availability of technical support and maintenance services”, “physicians’ acceptance of AI in healthcare”, “reliability and uptime of AI systems” and “ability to reduce medical errors”.
Practical implications
Determining the importance ratings of the factors can lead to better resource allocation and the development of strategies to facilitate the adoption and implementation of these technologies, thus promoting the development of innovative solutions to improve healthcare practices.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the body of knowledge in the domain of technology adoption and implementation in the medical workplace, through improving stakeholders’ comprehension of the factors challenging the integration of AI technologies.
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Lubaba Basharat and Md Jahangir Alam
Despite Bangladesh’s continued attempts, gender disparity in the workplace has long been a concern, and progress has been slow. Studies conducted earlier indicate that working…
Abstract
Despite Bangladesh’s continued attempts, gender disparity in the workplace has long been a concern, and progress has been slow. Studies conducted earlier indicate that working women in Bangladesh experience an unwelcoming work environment, leading to unequal pay and limited opportunities for their career growth. Academic literature focuses little on the connection between gender and the physical work environment. This chapter focuses on the connection between the masculinist culture of organizations, how work is carried out, and workplaces are set up, illuminating the crucial role played by the built environment in maintaining gender equality. Infrastructure, spatial design, safety measures, amenities, and the biased culture often influence the obstacles to women’s long-term success in the workplace. This chapter investigates and comprehends the constraints female employees encounter in Bangladesh during their work by scrutinizing the influence of the physical space and the biased socio-psychological environment. As women’s long-term professional progress depends on how these elements are interrelated, improving the environment is the first step toward a fairer and more empowered work environment. A qualitative approach has been used in this study. Seventy-eight Bangladeshi graduate, working women have participated in this research. The results show that, regardless of efforts, the environment in Bangladeshi workplaces is inhospitable, directly affecting women’s careers. Building a welcoming workspace accommodating all genders is crucial for creating gender parity and promoting long-term professional growth. Therefore, this research suggests that the government should capitalize on successful efforts and investigate alternative techniques to improve this issue.
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V. Venugopal and W. Baets
Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have many potential applicationsvirtually in wide areas ranging from engineering to management.Recently, a great deal of interest (and effort…
Abstract
Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have many potential applications virtually in wide areas ranging from engineering to management. Recently, a great deal of interest (and effort) has been directed towards using ANNs in business practice. In particular, they have been used in areas which were once reserved for multivariate statistical analysis. Owing to this they are often considered to be statistical methods. Marketing researchers and managers who are not aware of the conceptual differences between these two methods cannot use this new “cutting‐edge” technology effectively. Discusses the conceptual differences and similarities between the two methods, having in mind market researchers and managers who are looking for new tools to support their decision making.
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Among the many accepted clustering techniques, the fuzzy clustering approaches have been developed over the last decades. These approaches have been applied to many areas in…
Abstract
Among the many accepted clustering techniques, the fuzzy clustering approaches have been developed over the last decades. These approaches have been applied to many areas in manufacturing systems. In this paper, a fuzzy clustering approach is proposed for selecting machine cells and part families in cellular manufacturing systems. This fuzzy approach offers a special advantage over existing clustering approaches as it presents the degree of membership of the machine or part associated with each machine cell or part family allowing users flexibility in formulating machine cells and part families. The proposed algorithm is extended and validated using numerical examples to demonstrate its application in cellular manufacturing.