An evaluation of preventive maintenance framework in an Italian manufacturing company

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaustav Kundu ◽  
Fabiana Cifone ◽  
Federica Costa ◽  
Alberto Portioli-Staudacher ◽  
Matteo Rossini
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Maintenance ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Manufacturing Company ◽  
World Class ◽  
Maintenance Model ◽  
First Time

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide the description of an original framework for maintenance management plan development. The research aims to use in an integrated way different World Class Manufacturing (WCM)-based tools, in order to obtain a model which can be used for preventive maintenance in different industrial contexts.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, a conceptual framework of preventive maintenance was described and then it was evaluated through a qualitative study in an Italian company. The company was chosen based on an initial interview with the operations team and the model area was selected. Then, the location was reorganized in order to obtain a green field which could sustain the implementation of the framework tools.FindingsThe case study was carried out in a small-medium manufacturing company which produces quick-release couplings and multiconnections, ranging from medium to ultra-high pressure. The defined framework has proved to be easy to implement in a company with a corrective maintenance plan, allowing the maintenance department to embrace the preventive maintenance culture. The maintenance model has been well received from the employees.Practical implicationsThe framework allows a standardization of maintenance plans. Firstly, the standardization design itself allows finding previous wastes and consequent improvement areas. Then, it brings the improvement of a single machine which impacts all other machines in its family.Originality/valueThe added value of this study is the ability to integrate different WCM-based tools. Since the framework depicts a step-by-step process; it is also a starting point for companies that want to approach preventive maintenance for the first time.

Design workshops in the age of climate change

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen De Waegemaeker ◽  
Eva Kerselaers ◽  
Maarten Van Acker ◽  
Elke Rogge
Keyword(s):  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Water System ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Project ◽  
Design Workshop ◽  
Specific Barriers

Purpose As policy makers address the issue of climate adaptation, they are confronted with climate-specific barriers: a long-term horizon and a high degree of uncertainty. These barriers also hamper the development of spatial planning for climate adaptation. So how can spatial planners encompass these barriers and steer the general debate on climate adaptation? The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This research analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of an international design workshop on climate adaptation, and drought issues in particular. Design workshops are originally an educational setting but they are increasingly employed as a tool to explore alternative futures on a complex, real-life design problem. The case study illustrates how climate-specific barriers emerged throughout the design workshop and clarifies how they were encompassed by the participating design students. Findings The research clarifies the added value of a design workshop on climate adaptation. The paper highlights specific promising characteristics of the design workshop: the visualization of future adaptation challenges and the current water system, the focus on a regional project instead of sectoral adjustments and the integration of the adaptation challenge with other socio-economic goals. In the case study Flanders, however, the necessary participation of climate experts and policy makers of other domains proved challenging. Originality/value The paper argues that a design workshop has the potential to enrich the debate and policy work on climate adaptation. In many countries with low-planning tradition, however, additional tools are needed to help set the “adaptation agenda.”

Intellectual capital in family firms: human capital identification and measurement

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Claver-Cortés ◽  
Patrocinio Carmen Zaragoza-Sáez ◽  
Hipólito Molina-Manchón ◽  
Mercedes Úbeda-García
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Based on the literature devoted to family firms and the intellectual capital-based view of the firm, the purpose of this paper is not only to identify the most important human capital intangibles owned by family firms but also to show a number of indicators that can help measure them. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case-study-based research approach was adopted taking as reference: 25 family firms belonging to different sectors; previous works existing in the literature; and the intellectus model. Findings – The present study identifies ten intangibles associated with the human capital of family firms and shows 60 indicators that can be used to measure them. It additionally provides empirical evidence and gives examples of these intangibles through the analysis of 25 international family firms. Research limitations/implications – The difficulty in collecting all the human capital intangibles of family firms; the problems associated with the creation of accurate indicators; and those specific to the research methodology adopted. Practical implications – Identifying the human capital intangibles of family firms and their indicators can help managers become aware of their importance, and this will consequently help them improve their management. This could be an interesting starting point to value these intangibles in the balance sheet as well as to draw comparisons between family and non-family organisations. Originality/value – The framework provided by family firms sheds light on several intangibles specific to these firms – precisely for their condition as “family” firms. Those intangibles – human capital intangibles being especially highlighted in this study – provide the basis for the achievement of competitive advantages.

Towards Chinese smart manufacturing ecosystem in the context of the one belt one road initiative

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafif Al-Sayed ◽  
Jianhua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Industrial Clusters ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Smart Manufacturing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Regional Collaboration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically China’s determined thrust to attain a high level of technological innovation and the factors affecting moving towards a smart and sophisticated manufacturing ecosystem in conjunction with the Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR). Design/methodology/approach This research provides empirical determination of the factors affecting moving towards smart manufacturing ecosystems in China. The method is based on combining two approaches: semi-structured interview and questionnaire-based with academics, experts and managers in various Chinese industrial sectors. The results are based on the multivariate analysis of the collected data. A case study of the current manufacturing ecosystem was also analyzed, in order to understand the present state as well as the potential for China’s competitive edge in the developed OBOR countries. Findings The results illustrate the importance of the infrastructure dimension comprising variables related to ecosystems, industrial clusters and Internet of Things IoT and other advanced technologies. A case study of the city of Shenzhen’s transformation into a smart cluster for innovative manufacturing points out how China’s OBOR initiative for regional collaboration will further transform the regional smart clusters into an ultra-large innovation based smart ecosystem. Originality/value This research is the first to study China’ policies towards playing a prominent role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution 4IR in the context of the OBOR initiative, through empirically defining the factors affecting moving towards a knowledge-intensive smart manufacturing ecosystem where the added value is mostly innovation based.

In search of a world-class university in Iran

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 522-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Nazarzadeh Zare ◽  
Javad Pourkarimi ◽  
Gholamreza Zaker Salehi ◽  
Sahba Rezaeian
Keyword(s):  
Data Gathering ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Comprehensive Universities ◽  
Innovation Research ◽  
World Class ◽  
World Class Universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine faculty members’ views about the assessment of world-class university components in Iran’s comprehensive universities. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a descriptive methodology by using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of 8,548 faculty members of comprehensive universities all over Iran. Considering the large size of the population, the comprehensive universities were categorized into five clusters (North, South, East, West and Center). The authors selected the faculty members from different clusters using Cochran’s formula. A total of 367 faculty members were selected from five clusters. For data gathering, a researcher-designed questionnaire was used. In data analysis, statistical procedures including the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Kolmogrov-Smirnov test, one-sample t-test, and Friedman test were performed. Findings The findings of the research showed that except for academic freedom, other components of world-class university in Iran’s comprehensive universities were lower than the mean. Practical implications The case study showed how Iran’s comprehensive universities can become world-class universities. The methods of this case study can also be used in other fields. Originality/value This study adds to the knowledge of a world-class universities. Therefore to reach a desired level in comprehensive universities’ preparation for converting to a world-class university, it is essential that the policy makers and organizers of Iran’s higher education system pay greater attention to items such as research motivation, research innovation, research budget increase, authority reduction on various university departments, internet bandwidth increase and laboratory facilities increase.

A novel MADM approach to the ground-handling agent selection problem in B2B markets

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmut Bakır ◽  
Emircan Özdemir ◽  
Şahap Akan
Keyword(s):  
Airline Industry ◽  
Multiple Attribute Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Multiple Attribute ◽  
Time In Literature ◽  
Agent Selection ◽  
Ground Handling ◽  
First Time

PurposeGround-handling services are important for effective aircraft operations in the air transportation system. Airlines often outsource these services to ground-handling agents through business-to-business (B2B) marketing decisions. Therefore, this paper aims to address the problem of ground-handling agent selection in the airline industry.Design/methodology/approachA real-world case study was carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the integrated best worst method and fuzzy multi-attribute ideal real comparative analysis (F-MAIRCA) approach to solve ground-handling agent selection problems under uncertainty and imprecision. A two-stage sensitivity analysis was also conducted to ensure the credibility and validity of the application.FindingsIn the weighting stage, “Quality” was determined as the most important criterion in terms of supplier performance. With regard to the performance of the ground-handling agents, A2 was found as the optimal supplier in terms of both credibility and validity.Practical implicationsThis study enumerated several criteria that ground-handling agents must meet in order to effectively supply services for the airlines. In addition, this study provides a novel framework from which managers can gain additional benefits from their businesses. Finally, it is concluded that this approach will help airline managers quantitatively in choosing the most appropriate ground-handling agent.Originality/valueThe contributions of this study to the existing literature are twofold. First, we propose a novel multiple attribute decision-making approach to address the problem of supplier selection for airlines under uncertainty and imprecision. Second, the selection of ground-handling agents from the B2B perspective is addressed for the first time in literature.

Should knowledge management in organizations be rebranded?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maayan Nakash ◽  
Dan Bouhnik
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Strategic Perspective ◽  
First Time

Purpose This study aims to examine the relevance of the term “knowledge management” (KM) in the organizational context, and deliberates whether there is a need for rebranding of this field. It also enriches the understanding regarding the appropriateness of the term “KM,” which was chosen to represent the discipline. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative research methodology, and a case study approach was followed by conducting 19 semi-structured in-depth interviews with international KM experts working in a global consulting firm. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis method based on the grounded theory approach. Findings The findings provide empirical evidence that attempts are being made to move away from the label “KM” in certain knowledge-intensive organizations. This study sheds light on the challenges associated with this term, which leads some to believe that the name of the discipline needs to change. Originality/value The present pioneering research contributes to empirical knowledge through investigation of an unexplored scientific field. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, its uniqueness can be established by the fact that the opinions of KM professionals are being heard regarding the “KM” label, as well as the need for a rebranding of this discipline in the organizational context. From a practical and strategic perspective, this study suggests that the research community and practitioners pay attention to attempts to shift away from the existing title identified in organizational practice.

Impact of advertising puffery and celebrity trustworthiness on attitude and purchase intent: a study on Indian youth

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krunal K. Punjani ◽  
V.V. Ravi Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Airline Industry ◽  
Multiple Attribute Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Multiple Attribute ◽  
Agent Selection ◽  
Ground Handling ◽  
First Time ◽  
Business To Business

PurposeGround handling services are important for effective aircraft operations in the air transportation system. Airlines often outsource these services to ground handling agents through business-to-business (B2B) marketing decisions. Therefore, this paper aims to address the problem of ground handling agent selection in the airline industry.Design/methodology/approachA real-world case study was carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the integrated Best Worst Method and fuzzy multi-attribute ideal real comparative analysis (F-MAIRCA) approach to solve ground handling agent selection problems under uncertainty and imprecision. A two-stage sensitivity analysis was also conducted to ensure the credibility and validity of the application.FindingsIn the weighting stage, “Quality” was determined as the most important criterion in terms of supplier performance. With regard to the performance of the ground handling agents, A2 was found as the optimal supplier in terms of both credibility and validity.Practical implicationsThis study enumerated several criteria that ground handling agents must meet in order to effectively supply services for the airlines. In addition, this study provides a novel framework from which managers can gain additional benefits from their businesses. Finally, it is concluded that this approach will help airline managers quantitatively in choosing the most appropriate ground handling agent.Originality/valueThe contributions of this study to the existing literature are in twofold. First, the authors propose a novel multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) approach to address the problem of supplier selection for airlines under uncertainty and imprecision. Second, the selection of ground handling agents from the B2B perspective is addressed for the first time in the literature.

scholarly journals KMS re-contextualization – recognizing learnings from OMIS research

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Mühlburger ◽  
Stefan Oppl ◽  
Christian Stary
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Memory ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Knowledge Retrieval ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Categorization Scheme ◽  
Stored Information ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose Deployment of knowledge management systems (KMSs) suffers from low adoption in organizational reality that is attributed to a lack of perceivable added value for people in actual work situations. Poor task/technology fit in the process of knowledge retrieval appears to be a major factor influencing this issue. Existing research indicates a lack of re-contextualizing stored information provided by KMSs in a particular situation. Existing research in the area of organizational memory information systems (OMISs) has thoroughly examined and widely discussed the topic of re-contextualization. The purpose of this paper, thus, is to examine how KMS design can benefit from OMIS research on approaches for re-contextualization in knowledge retrieval. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines OMIS literature and inductively derives a categorization scheme for KMS according to their strategy of re-contextualizing knowledge. The authors have validated the scheme validated in a multiple case study that examines the differentiatory value of the scheme for approaches with various re-contextualization strategies. Findings The classification scheme allows a step-by-step selection of approaches for re-contextualization of information in KMS design and development derived from OMIS research. The case study has demonstrated the applicability of the developed scheme and shows that the differentiation criteria can be applied unambiguously. Research limitations/implications Because of the chosen case study approach for validation, the validation results may lack generalizability. Practical implications The scheme enables an informed selection of KMSs appropriate for a particular OMIS use case, as the scheme’s attributes serve as design rationale for a certain architecture or constellation of components. Developers can not only select from various approaches when designing re-contextualizaton but also come up with rationales for each candidate because of structured representation. Hence, stakeholders can be supported in a more informed way and design KMSs more effectively along organizational change processes. Originality/value The paper addresses an identified need for systematic characterization of KMS approaches and systems intending to meet the objectives of OMISs. As such, it allows streamlining further research in this field, as approaches can be judged according to their originality and positioned relative to each other.

Remarks about factors shaping the heliosphere

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-335
Author(s):  
Romana Ratkiewicz ◽  
Wojciech Konior ◽  
Jan Kotlarz
Keyword(s):  
Status Report ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
General Review ◽  
New Information ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Theoretical Results

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to give a brief description of the new topic introduced for the first time at the EASN Conferences. Design/methodology/approach The topic concerns the heliosphere, the nearest surrounding of the Sun and thus the nearest vicinity of the Earth. The heliosphere is created due to the interaction between the solar wind and the local interstellar medium. Findings This paper does not include any new information about the heliosphere and only introduces a new topic to this journal. It is briefly shown how heliospheric structures are formed, what factors affect a shape of the heliosphere, what measurements are made by Ulysses, Voyager and IBEX space missions (important for the heliosphere modeling) and how obtained data are used to validate theoretical results. Practical implications To categorize the paper under one of these classifications, research paper, viewpoint, technical paper, conceptual paper, case study, literature review or general review, the authors chose a paper type, general review, as the closest category to this paper. However, it is not a purpose of this paper to provide an extensive review of the community efforts to investigate the physical processes in the vicinity of the heliosphere interface. This is mostly a status report. Originality/value As the new topic in this journal, the article introduces in detail only a small number of aspects connected with heliosphere models. Interplanetary and interstellar magnetic field structures are primarily described. Other factors are only mentioned.

scholarly journals An analysis of a structured benchmarking project

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1431-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Abdullah Al Nuseirat ◽  
Zeyad Mohammad El Kahlout ◽  
Ahmed Abbas ◽  
Dotun Adebanjo ◽  
Prattana Punnakitikashem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Project Data ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a benchmarking project carried out by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) as part of a structured benchmarking initiative. The project was based on the TRADE benchmarking methodology and this paper examines the tools, activities and outcomes that relate to each stage of the adopted methodology. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on case study methodology. Data were collected from various sources including analysis of project reports written by DEWA’s benchmarking team reporting on their activities during the project. Data were also collected from four project presentations given at different stages of the project. In addition, the research team held three meetings with the DEWA benchmarking team at different stages of the benchmarking project. Findings The results show the key challenges and successes faced during each stage of the benchmarking project. It indicates the actions taken to overcome the challenges and the role played by internal and external stakeholders in facilitating the success of the benchmarking project. Practical implications The study presents information that would guide organisations that wish to carry out a benchmarking project – and particularly those implementing benchmarking for the first time. The study provides a summary of the key lessons learnt by DEWA’s benchmarking team as a guide for other organisations. Originality/value Academic research has not adequately examined and analysed the stage-by-stage elements of a benchmarking project from the perspective of the implementing organisation. This study addresses this gap by detailing and analysing the experiences of a benchmarking project by tracking the stage-by-stage activities of the benchmarking team.

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