Yihua Chen, Ivanka Visnjic, Vinit Parida and Zhengang Zhang
The authors seek to understand the process of digital servitization as a shift of manufacturing companies from the provision of standard products and services to smart solutions…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors seek to understand the process of digital servitization as a shift of manufacturing companies from the provision of standard products and services to smart solutions. Specifically, the authors focus on changes in the business model (i.e. the value proposition, the value delivery system and the value capture mechanism) for digital servitization.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examine a Chinese air conditioner manufacturer, Gree, who became the global leader with their smart solutions. These solutions included performance-based contracts underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI)-powered air conditioners that automatically adjust to environmental changes and are capable of remote monitoring and servicing thanks to its Internet of things (IoT) technology.
Findings
To successfully offer smart solution value propositions, a manufacturer needs an ecosystem value delivery system composed of suppliers, distributors, partners and customers. Once the ecosystem relationships are well aligned, the manufacturer gains value with multiple value capture mechanisms (i.e. efficiency, accountability, shared customer value and novelty). To arrive at this point, a manufacturer has to pass through different stages that are characterized by both discontinuous and continuous interplay between business models and digital technologies. At the beginning of each stage, new value propositions and value delivery systems are first discontinuously created and then enabled with digital technology. As a result, new value capture mechanisms are activated. Meanwhile, the elements of the existing business model are continuously improved.
Research limitations/implications
By combining process-perspective and business-model lenses, the authors offer nuanced insights into how digital servitization unfolds.
Practical implications
Executives can obtain insights into the business model elements, they need to change over the course of digital servitization and how to manage the process.
Originality/value
A longitudinal case study of a traditional manufacturer that has achieved stellar success through digital servitization business models development.
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Bocheng Bao, Jiaoyan Luo, Han Bao, Quan Xu, Yihua Hu and Mo Chen
The purpose of this paper is to construct a proportion-integral-type (PI-type) memristor, which is different from that of the previous memristor emulator, but the constructing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to construct a proportion-integral-type (PI-type) memristor, which is different from that of the previous memristor emulator, but the constructing memristive chaotic circuit possesses line equilibrium, leading to the emergence of the initial conditions-related dynamical behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a PI-type memristor emulator-based canonical Chua’s chaotic circuit. With the established mathematical model, the stability region for the line equilibrium is derived, which mainly consists of stable and unstable regions, leading to the emergence of bi-stability because of the appearance of a memristor. Initial conditions-related dynamical behaviors are investigated by some numerically simulated methods, such as phase plane orbit, bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent spectrum, basin of the attraction and 0-1 test. Additionally, PSIM circuit simulations are executed and the seized results validate complex dynamical behaviors in the proposed memristive circuit.
Findings
The system exhibits the bi-stability phenomenon and demonstrates complex initial conditions-related bifurcation behaviors with the variation of system parameters, which leads to the occurrence of the hyperchaos, chaos, quasi-periodic and period behaviors in the proposed circuit.
Originality/value
These memristor emulators are simple and easy to physically fabricate, which have been increasingly used for experimentally demonstrating some interesting and striking dynamical behaviors in the memristor-based circuits and systems.
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Xiaoling Song, Wen Wu, Shengyue Hao, Xiaohua Lu, Yihua Zhang and Yuhuan Liu
Drawing on engagement theory, this study aims to examine how leader–member relationships, including on-work relationship (leader–member exchange [LMX]) and off-work relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on engagement theory, this study aims to examine how leader–member relationships, including on-work relationship (leader–member exchange [LMX]) and off-work relationship (leader–member guanxi [LMG]), influence employees’ promotive and prohibitive voice. Furthermore, the study uses procedural justice as the moderator to distinguish the effects of LMG and LMX on employees’ psychological states and voice through a mediated moderation model.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a sample from a private and local company in Southern China to test their theoretical model.
Findings
The study finds that both LMG and LMX have positive effects on employees’ voice behavior through employees’ psychological states (psychological meaningfulness and psychological safety).
Research limitations/implications
In a Chinese context, leaders have a more direct and powerful influence on employees than their counterparts in the Western society. Thus, the findings of LMX and LMG may not be generalizable to a Western context. A possible extension is to examine and compare the effects of social context (e.g., off-work leader–member relationship) on voice between the East and the West.
Practical implications
One important implication is that off-work relationship should be used by managers to encourage employee voice.
Originality/value
This study enriches the antecedents of voice with a new dimension of leader–member relationship, namely, LMG.
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Yi Chen, Yihua Yao, Qinfen Lu, Xiaoyan Huang and Yunyue Ye
With the popularization of permanent magnet linear synchronous machines (PMLSMs) in recent years, the temperature rise has attracted increasingly attention since excessive heat…
Abstract
Purpose
With the popularization of permanent magnet linear synchronous machines (PMLSMs) in recent years, the temperature rise has attracted increasingly attention since excessive heat generated in the windings could deteriorate the electromagnetic performance. In order to solve this problem, adopting water-cooled system is an effective method. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a 12-slot/11-pole (12S/11P) water-cooled double-sided PMLSM, which adopts the all teeth wound concentrated winding and shifted armature ends.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on 2D finite element analysis (FEA), the thermal performances, such as temperature distribution, the optimization of water flow rate and the influence of demagnetization, are investigated under the condition of continuous duty. Then the maximum current density and average thrust force are calculated for PMLSMs with or without water-cooled system. Finally, the detailed comparison is made between single-sided PMLSM and double-sided PMLSM.
Findings
With water-cooled system, the thermal performance of PMLSM can be improved, such as an efficient decrease of temperature rise, restriction of permanent magnet demagnetization and a dramatic increase of the maximum thrust force. It is found that the water flow rate has a significant impact on temperature rise, which can be optimized according to demands.
Originality/value
Electromagnetic and thermal coupled analysis is proposed in this paper. It can approximately predict thermal performance and save the manual iteration time at the same time. This method also can provide as a reference of thermal analysis for other PMLSMs.
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Yihua Yao, Yi Chen, Qinfen Lu, Xiaoyan Huang and Yunyue Ye
Permanent magnet linear synchronous machines (PMLSMs) have large thrust ripple due to the longitudinal end effect caused by the finite length of the armature compared with rotary…
Abstract
Purpose
Permanent magnet linear synchronous machines (PMLSMs) have large thrust ripple due to the longitudinal end effect caused by the finite length of the armature compared with rotary machines. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of electric loading on thrust ripple performances based on a 12 slots/14 poles (12S/14P) PMLSM. Furthermore, the method of skewed PMs to reduce thrust ripple is investigated based on multi slices 2D finite element (FE) models.
Design/methodology/approach
The thrust ripple of PMLSM under open-circuit condition results from the slotting and the longitudinal end effects. Therefore, periodical model has been designed to clarify the effect of the longitudinal end effect. Under on-load condition, the thrust ripple increases and exhibits an effective component of thrust force. To analyze the thrust ripple under on-load condition, frozen permeability (FP) technique is employed. In addition, the method of skewed PMs is analyzed in this paper to obtain more smooth thrust force performance. The effectiveness of skewing accounting for skew angles, step skew numbers and slot/pole number combinations was highlighted.
Findings
The longitudinal end effect dominates the thrust ripple of PMLSM in both cases, i.e., open-circuit and on-load conditions. Under on-load condition, the second harmonic component of thrust ripple related to flux linkage harmonics increases significantly. Moreover, the effectiveness of skewed PMs is largely reduced with the increase of magnetic saturation. At last, a proper skew angle and step skew number are obtained for the conventional PMLSM with fractional-slot winding.
Originality/value
By 60 electrical degrees and two or three step skewed PMs, the thrust ripple can be decreased to a tolerable limite for conventional PMLSM. The thrust ripple harmonics contributed by longitudinal end effect and flux linkage harmonics are analyzed, respectively, which is beneficial to exploring other techniques such as adding end auxiliary teeth to obtain lower thrust force pulsation.
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Xinlei Zhang, Hechao Wu, Xiaoshan Huang, Qin Wu and Yihua Wu
Online learning becomes a trendy format for workplace training, particularly during the pandemic. This study aims to examine the effects of a technology-assisted self-adaptive…
Abstract
Purpose
Online learning becomes a trendy format for workplace training, particularly during the pandemic. This study aims to examine the effects of a technology-assisted self-adaptive training camp on employees’ learning process and acquired knowledge, and the relationship between employees’ knowledge gained and organisational growth.
Design/methodology/approach
The participants were 213 pharmaceutical representatives from a global pharmaceutical business in the Asia-Pacific branch who enrolled in a 21-day professional training camp. Their knowledge gained was calculated by pre-tests and post-test scores captured from an online training system. The company’s profits gained by employees were indicated by individuals’ quarter-over-quarter growth rates. Specifically, the authors applied a series of quantitative analyses to examine the relationship between employees’ knowledge gained, learning quality and organizational growth brought by individuals.
Findings
During the online training session, employees obtained increased professional knowledge significantly. The quality of employees’ learning process was a significant predictor of their learning outcomes. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the knowledge obtained by employees and the company’s quarterly growth rates. A followed-up regression analysis indicated that the greater knowledge improvement an individual achieved, the higher quarter-to-quarter growth rate brought by the individual to the organization.
Originality/value
The study provides educational insights for organisations to effectively train employees’ professional competency through online learning. The investigation on the 21-day camp shows that employees received higher-quality training, resulting in increased revenues and greater workplace flexibility. The findings have implications for supporting the integration of educational technology into workplace training to boost the competency development of employees.
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Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe a numerical simulation method of ice accretion on BO105 helicopter blades for predicting the effects of trailing edge flap deflection on ice accretion.
Design/methodology/approach
A numerical simulation method of ice accretion is established based on Myers model. Next, the shape and location of ice accretion of NACA0012 airfoil are calculated, and a comparison between calculated results and experimental data is made to validate the method. This method is used to investigate the effect of trailing edge flap deflection on ice accretion of a rotor blade.
Findings
The numerical method is feasible and effective to study the ice accretion on helicopter rotor blades. The downward deflection of the trailing edge flap affects the shape of the ice.
Practical implications
This method can be further used to predict the ice accretion in actual flights of the helicopters with multielement airfoils.
Originality/value
The numerical simulation method here can lay a foundation of the research about helicopter flight performance in icing condition through predicting the shape and location of ice accretion on rotor blades.