Two-layer fabrics for moisture management

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilhan Niles ◽  
Sandun Fernando ◽  
Nipuni Rathnayake ◽  
Ayesha Hewamalavi ◽  
Samudika Weerasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Outer Layer ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Woven Fabrics ◽  
Woven Fabric ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Smart Fabrics ◽  
Moisture Management ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Fabric Structures

Purpose Woven fabrics have been popularised in use owing to their superior properties and functionality. Today, weavers strive to add value to their product to be competitive and to secure profit in performance fabrics such as technical fabrics, smart fabrics and sportswear fabrics. Over the years, fabrics with special properties such as moisture management have gained higher demand. In this context, multi-layer fabrics provide a reasonable solution to the demand. Design/methodology/approach An attempt was made to develop two-layer fabrics with different compositions and properties. A two-layer woven fabric was produced using handloom weaving, with a hydrophobic inner layer and hydrophilic outer layer, the two layers being attached together using different stitching methods. Different fabric structures and yarn counts were used to achieve the objectives. Findings Experiments carried out verified the suitability of the developed fabric for effective moisture management. It was found that a fabric with a 100% cotton outer layer and 100% polyester inner layer, both layers of 2 × 2 matt weave, showed the best properties. Practical implications In the present COVID-19 pandemic situation, the use of masks in public has become mandatory in many countries. This research will help handloom manufacturers meet the need using simple methods. Originality/value This research uses handloom fabric. As such it provides an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to use available low-cost technology to develop fabric with superior properties.

scholarly journals The Effect Of Entrepreneurial Competencies On Business Performance (Empirical Study On Msmes Of Palembang Woven Fabric)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 498-505
Author(s):  
Bainil Yulina ◽  
Pridson Mandiangan ◽  
Nurul Azizah
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Woven Fabrics ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Woven Fabric ◽  
Ordinary Least Square ◽  
High Category ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Very High

The aims of this study were to investigate the entrepreneurial competence in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Palembang woven fabrics, the busniess performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Palembang woven fabrics, and whether entrepreneurial competence affected business performance at Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Palembang woven fabrics. This research employed quantitative method. The population in this study was 90 owners of MSMEs as well as woven fabric craftsmen in the Tuan Kentang Palembang area. The sample used a random sample of 50 respondents. To collect the data, a closed-ended questionnaire was used. For data analysis, Ordinary Least Square was used. The research results showed 3 findings: overall, the entrepreneurial competence in the Palembang woven fabric business was in the high category, the overall performance of the Palembang woven fabric business was in the very high category, and entrepreneurial competence had a positive and significant effect on the business performance of the Palembang woven fabric business.

The challenges of state intervention in Singapore’s youth labour market

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Waring ◽  
Christopher Vas ◽  
Azad Singh Bali
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Youth Labour Market ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficacy of the policy measures to encourage young Singaporeans to pursue employment in the manufacturing sector while at the same time discouraging the sector’s traditional dependence on low-cost foreign labour. In doing so, the paper sheds light on the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SME) as well as the less than optimum impact the policy rhetoric has had on redirecting the aspirations of young people away from tertiary qualifications attainment and towards vocational skills development. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on primary survey data of 222 manufacturing firms and in-depth interviews with 20 SME leaders in Singapore. Findings The paper argues that despite the government’s policy efforts to encourage the employment of young Singaporeans in the manufacturing sector, the impact has been negligible. Even with moves to increase the transaction costs of employing foreign workers, the findings indicate that SMEs have not changed their staffing policies. Indeed, the results lay bare the low cost-low skill/low productivity trap that most SMEs now find themselves in. The government’s efforts to discourage the pursuit of tertiary qualifications in favour of vocational qualifications are unlikely to succeed. Originality/value The value of this research is fourfold. First, it exposes the difficulty of policy overcoming path dependency. Second, it sheds light on the need for government to rethink its policy approach in how best to re-tool human capital for traditional industry sectors like manufacturing. Third, the results show that there is limited efficacy in simply increasing transaction costs and altering rhetoric to discourage attainment of tertiary qualifications unless vocational employment is adequately remunerated. And finally, the results indicate that firms in the manufacturing sector need to embrace new business models, practices and technologies that are reflective of the digital era to be able to attract youth.

Learning from the “data poor”: energy management in understudied organizations

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 424-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn B. Janda ◽  
Catherine Bottrill ◽  
Russell Layberry
Keyword(s):  
Energy Management ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present new empirical data on leases, energy management, and energy meters in the UK, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other “minor” players. The paper develops a new segmentation model that identifies six different combinations of energy and organizational conditions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors surveyed participants in an online energy management and data analytics service. A 30-question online survey gathered data from 31 respondents on three kinds of infrastructure – legal, organizational, and technical. Findings – SMEs and other minor players are generally “data poor,” lack energy managers, and have legacy meters that are read only annually or quarterly; some rent via leases that inhibit permanent alterations to the premises, including the meter. Research limitations/implications – The research is exploratory and subject to self-selection bias. Further research is needed into: lease language, governance structures, social practices to facilitate cooperation between tenants and landlords; the scope for energy management positions in small organizations; low-cost “smart-er” meters that can be reversibly retrofitted onto existing energy meters; and the combination of these areas. Practical implications – Organizations may need to augment a combination of legal, organizational, and technical infrastructures to enable better energy management. Social implications – SMEs and other “minor” energy users are important to society and the economy, yet they are often overlooked by government programs. This developing data set can help policymakers include these groups in their programs. Originality/value – This paper presents a new conceptual framework for future research and new empirical data on understudied groups.

Twiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Juma James Masele
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Medium Enterprises

TitleTwiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises.Subject areaThe case describes the launch of Twiga Hosting Ltd, a company providing information and communication technology (ICT) services to the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Tanzania and in a many countries in Africa.Study level/applicabilityThis case targets a range of audience from undergraduate students taking both Bachelor of Commerce and those taking Bachelor of Business Administration; and Postgraduate students taking business‐related courses. Nonetheless, the case may be used by all other learners of advanced studies in entrepreneurship and innovation management.Case overviewThe case addresses a number of issues including: Issues to be considered when starting an ICT enterprise. Strategic management. Business revenue models.Expected learning outcomes To impart/inculcate entrepreneurial insights in ICT and related areas. To make learners aware of the business growth opportunities in ICT ventures. The success factors for fruitful ICT ventures. To enable learners to identify challenges facing entrepreneurs in ICT ventures and the ways to overcome them.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

Thermal characterisation analysis and modelling techniques for CubeSat-sized spacecrafts

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (1246) ◽  
pp. 1858-1878
Author(s):  
Anwar Ali ◽  
Khalil Ullah ◽  
Hafeez Ur Rehman ◽  
Inam Bari ◽  
Leonardo M. Reyneri
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Small Surface ◽  
Short Development Time ◽  
Similar Materials ◽  
Absorbed Power ◽  
Medium Enterprises

ABSTRACTRecently, universities and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have initiated the development of nanosatellites because of their low cost, small size and short development time. The challenging aspects for these satellites are their small surface area for heat dissipation due to their limited size. There is not enough space for mounting radiators for heat dissipation. As a result, thermal modelling becomes a very important element in designing a small satellite. The paper presents detailed and simplified generic thermal models for CubeSat panels and also for the complete satellite. The detailed model takes all thermal resistances associated with the respective layers into account, while in the simplified model, the layers with similar materials have been combined and are represented by a single thermal resistance. The proposed models are then applied to a CubeSat standard nanosatellite called AraMiS-C1, developed at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Thermal resistance measured through both models is compared, and the results are similar. The absorbed power and the corresponding temperature differences between different points of the single panel and complete satellite are measured. In order to verify the theoretical results, thermal resistance of the AraMiS-C1 and its panels are measured through experimental set-ups. Theoretical and measured values are in close agreement.

Relevant factors of innovation contests for SMEs

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1196-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Rodriguez Ferradas ◽  
José A. Alfaro Tanco ◽  
Francesco Sandulli
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Factors ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Relevant Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevant factors that influence the implementation of innovation contests, an open innovation (OI) practice that has been extensively reported in the literature as a managerial tool for external knowledge search. The authors focus the study on the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The approach is a retrospective case study. This methodology allows an in-depth view into a Spanish SME that successfully undertook two new product development processes thanks to the deployment of innovation contests. Findings The main context factors influencing innovation contests as managerial tool are ambidexterity, technological and marketing turbulence and intermediaries, among others. Regarding design factors, this work highlights the role of attraction and facilitation. Additionally, the repetitive implementation of innovation contests creates a corporate culture that promotes OI activities. Practical implications Managers will understand that they can use innovation contests as a managerial tool, and knowing the factors that need to be taken into account when implementing an innovation contest will help SMEs managers to make better use of this practice. Originality/value This case study enriches the literature of both innovation contests and topics relevant to SMEs. Based on a theoretical framework of the design factors that influence the implementation of innovation contests, the authors propose a research framework that incorporates those context factors in association with an SME.

Effects of cloud computing assimilation on supply chain financing risks of SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Lu ◽  
Jinliang Chen ◽  
Hua Song ◽  
Xiangyu Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Financing ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how cloud computing assimilation reduces supply chain financing (SCF) risks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study also investigated the mediating roles of internal and external supply chain integration between cloud computing assimilation and the SCF risks of SMEs, as well as the moderating role of environmental competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from surveys of SMEs located in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to validate the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses. Findings The findings show that cloud computing assimilation could reduce the SCF risks of SMEs directly. The results also indicate that both internal and external supply chain integration mediate the relationship between cloud computing assimilation and SCF risks. Furthermore, environmental competitiveness inhibits the effects of cloud computing assimilation on SCF risks. Originality/value To our best knowledge, this is the preliminary study to explore the role of cloud computing assimilation in reducing the SCF risks of SMEs. Also, this study attempted to investigate the process by which cloud computing assimilation affects the SCF risks of SMEs.

How to survive in the age of artificial intelligence? Exploring the intelligent transformations of SMEs in central China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinqiang Wang ◽  
Yaobin Lu ◽  
Si Fan ◽  
Peng Hu ◽  
Bin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Central China ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Text Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to explore how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in central China achieve intelligent transformation through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Because of unequal resource allocation, constraints on the intelligent transformation of SMEs in central China are different from those in economically and technologically well-developed coastal provinces. Hence, the authors focus on SMEs in central China to identify drivers of and barriers to intelligent transformation.Design/methodology/approachThe interview data were collected from 66 SMEs across 20 industries in central China. To verify the validity of the data collection method, the authors used two methods to control for retrospective bias: multi-level informants and enterprises' AI project application materials (Wei and Clegg, 2020). The final data were validated without conflicts. Next, the authors cautiously followed a two-step approach recommended by Venkatesh et al. (2010) and used NVivo 11.0 to analyze the collected text data.FindingsSMEs in central China are enthusiastic about intelligent transformation while facing both internal and external pressures. SMEs need to pay attention to both internal (enterprise development needs, implementation cost, human resources and top management involvement) and external factors (external market pressure, convenience of AI technology and policy support) and their different impacts on intelligent transformation. However, constrained by limited resources, SMEs in central China have been forced to take a step-by-step intelligent transformation strategy based on their actual needs with the technological flexibility method in the short term.Originality/valueConsidering the large number of SMEs and their importance in promoting China's economic development and job creation (SME Bureau of MIIT, 2020), more research on SMEs with limited resources is needed. In the study, the authors confirmed that enterprises should handle “social responsibility” carefully because over-emphasizing it will hinder intelligent transformation. However, firms should pay attention to the role of executives in promoting intelligent transformation and make full use of policy support to access more resources.

Big data-driven supply chain and performance: a resource-based view

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shampy Kamboj ◽  
Shruti Rana
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Firm Age ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to study the role of supply chain performance (SCP) as a mediator between big data-driven supply chain (BDDSC) and firm sustainable performance. In addition, the role of firm age as a moderator between BDDSC and SCP as well as between SCP and firm sustainable performance has also been explored.Design/methodology/approachThe 200 managers of medium or senior level positions in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) located at Delhi-NCR have been contacted. Further, collected data have been confirmed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In this paper, structure equation modeling (SEM) has been employed to empirically check the proposed hypotheses and their relationships.FindingsThe findings confirmed that SCP mediates the link between BDDSC and firm sustainable performance. Additionally, firm age moderates the association between BDDSC and SCP as well as between SCP and firm sustainable performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe role of SCP and firm age between BDDSC and sustainable performance have been examined in the context of MSMEs in Delhi-NCR and thereby limit the generalization of results to other industries and country contexts.Originality/valueThe present study adds to the existing literature via recognizing the blackbox using SCP and firm age to comprehend BDDSC and firm sustainable performance relationship.

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