Assessing the wall effects of packed concentric cylinders and angular walls on granular bed porosity

The effect of added wall support on granular bed porosity is systematically studied to elucidate performance enhancements in filtration processes achieved by using inserts, as demonstrated experimentally (Bandelt Riess et al. in Chem Eng Technol 2018, 2021). Packed beds of spheres are simulated through discrete element method in cylinders with different internal wall configurations. Three containing systems are generated: concentric cylinders, angular walls, and a combination of both. Variations of particle size and wall friction and thickness are also considered, and the resulting granular bed porosities are analyzed. The porosity increase is proportional to the incorporated wall support; the combination of cylindrical and angular inserts displays the greatest effect (up to 26% increase). The sinusoidal porosity values near the walls are exhibited to clarify the effects. The presented method can change and evaluate granular bed porosity increments, which could lead to filtration process improvements, and the obtained behaviors and profiles can be used to explore additional effects and further systems. Graphical abstract

BPM in the analysis of sale energy electric

This article presents the results of an investigation carried out in the agency Zitácuaro for sale of energy, with the BPM ideology which strengthens the processes in an organization, becomes more transparent and manageable by all. In combination with software engineering, they are responsible for transforming, defining, executing and managing processes and tasks, providing solutions and improvements, these transformations based on added value, generating customer satisfaction, so if these transformations are strengthened, It will be influencing process improvements, emphasizing that it provides satisfactory quantitative results. Sales results have been of great impact in the eastern region of Michoacán.

Strategic Management in Quality Improvement at State Madrasah

This study aims to analyze strategic planning, policy implementation and evaluation of quality improvement programs at a State Madrasah Aliyah Medan. This study uses a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation. While strengthening the validity of the data from research findings, the use of data validity standards based on Lincoln Guba consists of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The results of this study indicate that; 1) strategic planning in quality improvement is carried out by deliberation and teamwork to formulate the madrasa's vision and mission, analysis of the internal environment of the resources owned by the madrasa and the external environment of the madrasa environment both geographically, socio-culturally and economically, analysis of strategy selection and the key to success appropriate, and strategy selection; 2) Implementation of madrasa policies in quality improvement is carried out by implementing education quality improvement programs and adopting policies to carry out continuous process improvements, establishing quality assurance and quality standards for quality improvement, creating a madrasa culture or culture, making organizational changes and maintaining good relations with stakeholders both central government, regional and community; and 3) Evaluation of the quality improvement program is carried out through monitoring all the results of planning and implementation, measuring the performance of individuals and madrasah institutions, compiling reports on the implementation of activities and taking corrective steps.

Impact of Industry 4.0 on decision-making in an operational context

The implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies suggests significant impacts on production systems productivity and decision-making process improvements. However, many manufacturers have difficulty determining to what extent these various technologies can reinforce the autonomy of teams and operational systems. This article addresses this issue by proposing a model describing different types of autonomy and the contribution of 4.0 technologies in the various steps of the decision-making processes. The model was confronted with a set of application cases from the literature. It emerges that new technologies' improvements are significant from a decision-making point of view and may eventually favor implementing new modes of autonomy. Decision-makers can rely on the proposed model to better understand the opportunities linked to the fusion of cybernetic, physical, and social spaces made possible by Industry 4.0.

Optimizing Player Management Processes in Sports: Translating Lessons from Healthcare Process Improvements to Sports

Typical player management processes focus on managing an athlete’s physical, physiological, psychological, technical and tactical preparation and performance. Current literature illustrates limited attempts to optimize such processes in sports. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the application of Business Process Management (BPM) in healthcare (a service industry resembling sports) and formulate a model to optimize data driven player management processes in professional sports. A systematic review, adhering to PRISMA framework was conducted on articles extracted from seven databases, focused on using BPM to digitally optimize patient related healthcare processes. Literature reviews by authors was the main mode of healthcare process identification for BPM interventions. Interviews with process owners followed by process modelling were common modes of process discovery. Stakeholder and value-based analysis highlighted potential optimization areas. In most articles, details on process redesign strategies were not explicitly provided. New digital system developments and implementation of Business Process Management Systems were common. Optimized processes were evaluated using usability assessments and pre-post statistical analysis of key process performance indicators. However, the scientific rigor of most experiments designed for such latter evaluations were suboptimal. From the findings, a stepwise approach to optimize data driven player management processes in professional sports has been proposed.

Technoeconomic Evaluation of Recent Process Improvements in Production of Sugar and High-Value Lignin Co-Products via Two-Stage Cu-Catalyzed Alkaline-Oxidative Pretreatment

Background A lignocellulose-to-biofuel biorefinery process that enables multiple product streams is recognized as a promising strategy to improve the economics of this biorefinery and to accelerate technology commercialization. We recently identified an innovative pretreatment technology that enables of the production of sugars at high yields while simultaneously generating a high-quality lignin stream that has been demonstrated as both a promising renewable polyol replacement for polyurethane applications and is highly susceptible to depolymerization into monomers. This technology comprises a two-stage pretreatment approach that includes an alkaline pre-extraction followed by a metal-catalyzed alkaline-oxidative pretreatment. Our recent work demonstrated that H2O2 and O2 act synergistically as co-oxidants during the alkaline-oxidative pretreatment and could significantly reduce the pretreatment chemical input while maintaining high sugar yields, high lignin yields, and improvements in lignin usage. Results This study considers the economic impact of these advances and provides strategies that could lead to additional economic improvements for future commercialization. The results of the technoeconomic analysis (TEA) demonstrated that adding O2 as a co-oxidant at 50 psig for the alkaline-oxidative pretreatment and reducing the raw material input reduced the minimum fuel selling price from $1.08/L to $0.85/L, assuming recoverable lignin is used as a polyol replacement. If additional lignin can be recovered and sold as more valuable monomers, the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) can be further reduced to $0.73/L. Conclusions The present work demonstrated that high sugar and lignin yields combined with low raw material inputs and increasing the value of lignin could greatly increase the economic viability of a poplar-based biorefinery. Continued research on integrating sugar production with lignin valorization is thus warranted to confirm this economic potential as the technology matures.

Integrating Social Media and Business Process Improvement: Value Propositions and Opportunities for Corporates

<p>The pervasiveness of social media and the pressure for corporates to be more agile in delivering to customer needs and expectations has led organisations to more business process improvement initiatives. Social Media’s features can drive organisation responsiveness to customer needs and change. Although social media is used aggressively in many businesses across the world, integration with business process improvement has not be been researched. This research focuses on the integration of social media into the business process improvement lifecycle to alleviate the current problems experienced in business process improvement. This research explores the current business process improvement issues and challenges and the value propositions of social media. A qualitative approach was used to collect data via multiple rounds of questionnaires with experts in business process improvement and social media. A conceptual research framework is proposed. Results are interpreted against the framework, leading to findings that include challenges and limitations. In practical terms, the research shows the possibilities and potential of social media in business process improvement by facilitating transparency, ease of communication and reducing cost during economic downturns. Despite extensive research in social media and business process improvement in their own right, there has been little progress on how the social media can be used as a tool in delivering business process improvements for organisations. Social media is an excellent collaboration tool for collecting valuable information for analysis and design from a larger stakeholder group. This paper addresses a gap in the literature relating to some of potential benefits of social media in business process improvement.</p>

Integrating Social Media and Business Process Improvement: Value Propositions and Opportunities for Corporates

<p>The pervasiveness of social media and the pressure for corporates to be more agile in delivering to customer needs and expectations has led organisations to more business process improvement initiatives. Social Media’s features can drive organisation responsiveness to customer needs and change. Although social media is used aggressively in many businesses across the world, integration with business process improvement has not be been researched. This research focuses on the integration of social media into the business process improvement lifecycle to alleviate the current problems experienced in business process improvement. This research explores the current business process improvement issues and challenges and the value propositions of social media. A qualitative approach was used to collect data via multiple rounds of questionnaires with experts in business process improvement and social media. A conceptual research framework is proposed. Results are interpreted against the framework, leading to findings that include challenges and limitations. In practical terms, the research shows the possibilities and potential of social media in business process improvement by facilitating transparency, ease of communication and reducing cost during economic downturns. Despite extensive research in social media and business process improvement in their own right, there has been little progress on how the social media can be used as a tool in delivering business process improvements for organisations. Social media is an excellent collaboration tool for collecting valuable information for analysis and design from a larger stakeholder group. This paper addresses a gap in the literature relating to some of potential benefits of social media in business process improvement.</p>

Capacity constraints as a trigger for high growth

High-growth enterprises (HGEs) have a large economic impact but are notoriously hard to predict. Previous research has linked high-growth episodes to the configuration of lumpy indivisible resources inside firms, such that high capacity utilisation levels might stimulate future growth. We theorize that firms reaching critically high capacity utilisation levels reach a “trigger point” involving either broad-based investment in further growth or shrinking back to previous levels. We analyze EIBIS survey data (matched to ORBIS) which features a question on time-varying capacity utilisation. Overcapacity is a transitory state. Firms enter into overcapacity after a period of the rapid growth of sales and profits, and the years surrounding overcapacity have higher employment growth rates. Firms operating at overcapacity make incremental investments (e.g. capacity expansion, process improvements and modern machinery) rather than investing in R&D and new product development. We find support for the “fork in the road” hypothesis: for some firms, overcapacity is associated with launching into massive investments and subsequent sales growth, while for other firms, overcapacity is negatively related to both investments and sales growth.