741 publications from this institution
The integration of quality into management of advanced manufacturing systems has not typically included automated approaches. With the advent of automated inspection and quality tools such as coordinate measuring machines and other dimensional measuring equipment, the linkage with integrated manufacturing systems seems natural. This paper shows the functional relationship of computer aided process planning to automated inspection process planning. The series of functional activities within each of these frameworks are mapped in this paper. The operational environment to include computer aided quality control in an integrated manufacturing system is also defined.
The integration of enterprise systems and the supply chain to an organization is becoming more critical in an ever-changing, globally competitive environment. Quick response will require close relationships, especially communications and information sharing among integrated internal functional groups as well as the suppliers and customers of an organization. Texas Instruments (TI), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has come to realize this requirement for building and maintaining its competitive edge. Thus, it sought to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with a focus on linking it with a global electronic commerce (e-commerce) setting, an innovative and current issue (Weston, 2003).
Examines the concept of affordance theory - a term which states that the perception of an objective determines its usage, what it affords, by the entity that is observing it. For example, a staircase’s usefulness or affordance to a baby would be different than for an adult. It is also dependent on the goal of the entity perceiving the use. The object itself may have a true or false affordance.
The influence of stakeholder pressure on the adoption of environmental practices has been established in the literature. In this paper we posit that these direct effects are further mediated, causally, by the level of training in companies. Theoretically, this relationship is supported by the relationship between institutional theory (stakeholder pressure) and the dimensions of dynamic capabilities in resource‐based theory. We investigate this relationship within the Spanish automotive industry. The theoretical contribution of this paper focuses on further supporting the relationship between stakeholder and resource‐based theory as complementary theoretical frameworks. The practical implications focus on whether or not training should be integrated in order to help in the adoption of particular environmental practices, which in this study are represented by environmentally oriented reverse logistics practices.
Sustainability issues pervade the supply chain deep into the recesses of various global regions and resources. Supply chains can become quite complex as they form multiple tiers of organizations and across networks. Solving anthropocentric pressures on the environment and human society means compelling supply chains to alleviate their environmental and social burdens. The strategic and operational complexities of multi-tier supply chain sustainability are transcendent. Addressing these concerns is still in its relative infancy amongst business, engineering, and production economics solutions. It is within this environment that this special issue in the International Journal of Production Economics advances this important research stream. Twenty-three articles using multiple methodologies, theories, and developments provide insights, clarifications and potential solutions to some of the most pernicious problems of multi-tier sustainable supply chains. This editorial overviews the various contentions, study interrelationships, whilst providing some future research directions.
Supplier selection plays an important role in the management of a supply chain. Recent emphasis on sustainability has made this selection more complex. Decision support tools and methodologies can help organizations and supply chain managers make more effective decisions. Many tools have been developed with a variety of formal modeling techniques. These techniques may be limited for a variety of reasons. To help advance this area of research and to help further integrate sustainability discussion into the supplier selection modeling area, we expand on a novel approach first introduced by Li, Yamaguchi, and Nagai (2008). This approach utilizes grey system and rough set theory. Our expansion and contribution includes introduction of additional levels of analysis and application of this methodology, the explicit consideration of sustainability attributes, and insights into the technique with some sensitivity analysis. Implications of the methodology and future research directions, further expanding the methodology and its applications, conclude the paper.
As innovation and technology management grow in complexity, the need for inter-organisational cooperation increases. A part of this cooperation requires the understanding of how Knowledge Management (KM) and learning processes may function to support a successful research and development collaboration. To further this understanding, we use a contingency theory to examine the influence of the locus of a Research Joint Venture (RJV) on KM. To do this, we introduce a typology for RJVs to help categorise different KM efforts within a RJV environment. The typology is based on two dimensions: the locus of the RJV knowledge and the KM approach. Using a broad European database, 98 RJV projects are used to evaluate the typology and test two hypotheses related to these relationships. Implications for research and management of these types of projects are also introduced.
Organizations have demonstrated increasing interest in both leaning and greening activities. Lean manufacturing practices, with an emphasis on waste elimination, have an affinity with environmentally conscious green practices within organizations. Lean practices have diffused across the supply chain and to the service industry, while interest in the greening of supply chains has grown simultaneously. Linking the greening of supply chains and lean practices within a healthcare environment is relatively underexplored. This paper presents a process framework that defines specific dimensions and synergies between lean and green, to support further exploration of green lean supply chains in healthcare and particularly hospitals. In addition, the application of lean and green to hospitals explicitly brings in the third dimension of social sustainability because it focuses on the healthcare industry. The framework is applied to three cases to exemplify opportunities to green hospital processes. The process framework is also used to generate propositions for additional research in this emergent field.
Presents the introductory editorial for this issue of the publication.
Lack of verified knowledge makes it difficult to determine whether and how emerging and disruptive Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies enable social sustainability. The circular economy (CE) might represent an effective approach to integrate I4.0 technologies into practices and business to improve sustainability. This paper explores how I4.0 technologies might contribute to achieve the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) through a CE approach. This paper introduces a framework to evaluate I4.0 technology relationships with SDGs and CE. A predictive method is introduced to evaluate I4.0 technologies by integrating DEMATEL and a linear model. The proposed method is used to evaluate the relationship between I4.0 technologies, SDGs, and CE using secondary data from the electronics industry. This study identifies CE practices as a critical link connecting I4.0 technologies and SDGs. The study further builds on the research foundation linking I4.0, sustainability, and CE domains. It will also benefit practitioners formulating sustainability strategies for I4.0 adoption.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the developing circular economy (CE) policy within China and its relationship to China's information technology (IT) and IT products industry. It provides a framework to understand the role CE plays in sustainability at many levels within China.
The concept of sustainability has become increasingly important for organisations and has permeated a number of managerial and organisational decisions. Sustainability, as defined by its 'triple-bottom line' factors of economic, environmental, and social dimensions, is the underlying framework we use to develop and apply a strategic justification tool for project evaluation with sustainability implications. An activity based management methodological framework is used as a vehicle to frame decisions using corporate sustainability. An illustrative application of this technique demonstrates how an organisation could select between two competing reverse logistics providers. This process requires that we introduce issues relevant to three major sustainability factors (and their sub factors) and how they are influenced by a reverse logistics provider decision. The dual contribution of this paper includes investigating the design and development of the strategic sustainability evaluation framework and introducing the relationships of reverse logistics to economic, environmental and social sustainability dimensions.
The number of organizations contemplating the integration of environmental practices into their strategic plans and daily operations is continuously increasing. Numerous initiatives have provided incentives for organizations to become more environmentally benign. Some of these regulation driven programs are mandatory, but increasingly numerous voluntary environmental programs are also introduced by organizations. Organizations view many of these environmental programs, which may include technological and organizational development projects, as possible alternatives for gaining or maintaining a competitive advantage. One environmental program area that continues to gain in importance is one that focuses on the external relationships among organizations. To help evaluate alternatives that will effect this relationship we present a strategic decision framework that will aid managerial decision-making. This decision framework is based on literature and practice in the area of environmentally conscious business practices. The focus of this paper will be on the components and elements of green supply chain management and how they serve as a foundation for the decision framework. We shall explore the applicability of a dynamic non-linear multiattribute decision model, defined as the analytical network process, for decision making within the green supply chain. Issues facing the modeling approach are also discussed.
The livelihood of smallholder farmers in emerging economies' cocoa supply chain is substandard because of fraud, exploitation, corruption, deceit, child labor, and financial exclusion, usually perpetrated by influential actors. This situation creates a social sustainability problem which needs urgent attention. Digital technologies such as sensors, drones, satellites, and blockchain show promise toward fostering social sustainability deep into the supply chain. This innovation is consistent with the United Nations 2030 sustainable development goals of transforming world economies toward a more sustainable future vision by reducing poverty and inequality. As our contribution, we adopt a traditional approach in our perspective article to initiate a scholarly curiosity to discuss and develop research needs on how to use technology to address this current and critical sustainability and supply chain concern. Blockchain can solve the inefficiencies, complexities, and other social issues of smallholder farmers in the supply chain. This article identifies some blockchain technologies in emerging economies, such as Hara Technology in Indonesia and Cellulant Agrikore Blockchain Solution in Nigeria. Again, we observed that the promise of using technology to improve smallholders' vulnerability in the cocoa supply chain remains underexploited in Africa and other emerging economies. Therefore, rigorous research on smallholders' social sustainability is needed to make sound policy recommendations. This short perspective article describes issues facing these smallholder farmers and how technology can play a role for them and their supply chains to alleviate various social and environmental concerns. Accordingly, we propose some research questions for technology, innovation, and engineering management researchers.
No abstract is provided for this article.
This study explores the integration of blockchain technology into closed-loop supply chain management within the automotive industry. While successful supply chain operations exist, challenges related to responsiveness, integration, and transparency persist. Blockchain technology offers a promising solution by enhancing security and traceability. However, its integration is in its nascent stages, accompanied by challenges such as technology costs, stakeholder involvement, and data processing time, compounded by a shortage of blockchain expertise. This research provides a comprehensive framework and research implications for future studies, emphasizing the transformative potential of blockchain in revolutionizing automotive supply chains and charting a roadmap for further investigation in this evolving field.
