scholarly journals The Implementation of Industry 4.0 Elements as a Tool Stimulating the Competitiveness of Engineering Enterprises

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-94
Author(s):  
Lea Kubickova ◽  
Marcela Kormanakova ◽  
Lucie Vesela ◽  
Zdenka Jelinkova

The article deals with the implementation of Industry 4.0 elements in Czech engineering companies in connection with the impact of this trend on the relationship between supplier and customer. The implementation of Industry 4.0 elements can have a positive effect on the relationship between supplier and customer through higher labour productivity, higher product quality as well as shorter production or delivery times. Industry 4.0 brings great opportunities for companies, which can mean greater efficiency and competitiveness; on the other hand, there are questions about whether companies are ready for it, i.e. whether there is sufficient infrastructure necessary to put Industry 4.0 into practice. The aim of this article is to identify the specifics of supplier-customer relationships in engineering which respond to the current trends and to find out how Czech engineering companies have implemented specific elements of Industry 4.0. No study of this kind has ever been conducted in the environment of Czech engineering companies. Based on the analysis of primary data obtained from 236 Czech engineering companies, the current trends in the management of relations between suppliers and customers are described; Czech engineering companies can use our results to increase their competitiveness. Emphasis is placed on Industry 4.0, planned investments in this infrastructure and the implementation of individual elements. Of the elements of Industry 4.0, Czech engineering companies mostly use tools and methods ensuring data security, automation of technological equipment and processes, cloud computing, mass customization and introducing sensors into production. Our results show that the investment in the necessary infrastructure is mainly related to the size of the company, with almost half of the large companies surveyed planning to invest in the infrastructure necessary to implement Industry 4.0 elements, while 46% of micro-enterprises do not plan to invest in Industry 4.0 elements.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
Noora Ahmed Lari ◽  

The State of Qatar has implemented several family policies in order to improve the wellbeing of Qatari families and ensure fair distribution of development benefits for both men and women. However, there is a linkage between female employment outside the home and instability in the marriages of Qatari families. This paper investigates the impact of female employment on marital stability, based on the results of primary data collected in Qatar, a questionnaire that consisted of several sections such as challenges in the workplace, supervisor, family and spouse relations, work motivation and performance. Of the 824 questionnaires that were returned, 807 were completed and valid for analysis. Regression analysis and an ANOVA test have been used to test the relationship between the variables. The results of the research have produced mixed findings about how wives’ employment increases marital instability and have yielded few significant differences on mean scores of discuss on work demands, insufficient time together, housework, financial matters, communication, relatives and rearing children. The results indicates that in general Qatar working women face several challenges in relation to their marital life as part of cultural and social constraints.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-41
Author(s):  
Colin Agabalinda ◽  
Alain Vilard Ndi Isoh

The study investigated the direct effects of financial literacy (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) on financial preparedness for retirement and the moderating effect of age among the small and medium enterprises in Uganda. Primary data was collected from a sample of n = 380 selected from the SME workforce. Descriptive analysis was run on SPSS, while validity and reliability of the measurement items yielded satisfactory composite reliability scores and average variance explained (AVE) scores for all items. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses and multi-group analysis conducted to test for the moderating effect of age on the relationship between financial literacy and retirement preparedness. The results revealed that knowledge and skills were significant predictors of retirement preparedness. However, ‘attitude' was not a significant predictor, and age had no moderating effect on the relationship between the study variables. These findings present practical implications for policymakers and financial educators in a developing country context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Kowalczyk ◽  
Elżbieta Gałęska ◽  
Ewa Czerniawska-Piątkowska ◽  
Anna Szul ◽  
Leszek Hebda

AbstractThe aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the concentration of hormones in the seminal plasma, the bull maintenance system in the insemination station, and the regularity of sperm donation and the response to the phantom (libido level). An additional goal was to determine whether there is a relationship between the hormonal profile in the blood, the sperm plasma, the oxidative and antioxidant profile in the blood of bulls and the biometry of their testicles and scrotum, as well as the quality of their sperm in both different seasons and intensities of reproductive use. For the study, 220 healthy and sexually mature Polish Holstein–Friesian bulls were used. They all had normal libido and were fed equally. The animals were grouped according to the scheme: young (16–20 month/n = 60) and old (26–30 month/n = 60) including: individually housed (n = 30) and group housed (n = 30) young, old individually housed (n = 30) and group housed (n = 30) (n total animals = 120); young animals donating semen once a week (every Thursday) (n = 25) and sporadically (once every two months on a random day of the week) (n = 25), old animals donating semen once a week (every Thursday) (n = 25 ) and sporadic donors (once every two months on a random day of the week) (n = 25) (n total animals = 100). When analyzing the results of this study, it should be stated that regular use has a positive effect on the secretion of sex hormones in bulls. Higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of estradiol and prostaglandins resulted in higher sexual performance, expressed by a stronger response to the phantom. The differences in favor of regular use were independent of the bull's age. The results of our research illustrate that the quality of semen and its freezing potential may depend on the season and frequency of its collection, as well as on the age of the males.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Tominc

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the impact of global celebrity chefs and their discourse about food on the genre of cookbooks in Slovenia. Design/methodology/approach – Focusing this discourse study on cookbook topics only, the analysis demonstrates the relationship between the aspirations of local celebrity chefs for the food culture represented globally by global celebrity chefs, such as Oliver, and the necessity for a local construction of specific tastes. While the central genre of TV celebrity chefs remains TV cooking shows, their businesses include a number of side products, such as cookbooks, which can be seen as recontexualisations of TV food discourse. Findings – Hence, despite this study being limited to analysis of cookbooks only, it can be claimed that the findings extend to other genres. The analysis shows that local chefs aspire to follow current trends, such as an emphasis on the local and sustainable production of food as well as enjoyment and pleasure in the form of a postmodern hybrid genre, while, on the other hand, they strive to include topics that will resonate locally, as they aim to represent themselves as the “new middle class”. Originality/value – Such an analysis brings new insights into the relationship between discourse and globalisation as well as discourse and food.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-368
Author(s):  
Tirivavi Moyo ◽  
Gerrit Crafford ◽  
Fidelis Emuze

PurposeWhile operational factors reduce construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe, the impact of the people-centred management aspects has not been empirically interrogated as a remedy. This article reports on a study that sought to determine significant people-centred management aspects that lead to improved labour productivity and assesses the existence of statistically significant differences due to the demographic variables of respondents. Demographic-specific strategies that enhance construction “workers” productivity were revealed.Design/methodology/approachThe survey research design using a self-administered questionnaire was deployed to collect the primary data. The design followed a positivist paradigm to evaluate objectively how people-centred management affects construction workers' productivity. The statistical data were descriptively and inferentially analysed.FindingsPeople-centred management was determined to be significant in improving construction workers' productivity, with the most significant aspect being the building of employee confidence in related approaches. Designations and educational levels mostly indicated a statistically significant difference in several aspects that included the adoption of a functional reward culture for workers and training on people-centred principles. Training on-site management and construction workers in people-centred management and its application are crucial to improving construction workers' productivity.Research limitations/implicationsConstruction companies should drastically improve their concern for people while they sustain a high concern for production within their construction sites. Although several factors affect construction workers' productivity, this study determined that management-related factors and people-centred management were significant towards influencing low productivity in Zimbabwe.Originality/valueThe study determined people-centred management and demographic-specific interventions as being able to improve construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 218 ◽  
pp. 04014
Author(s):  
Yixing Jin ◽  
Peiying Wu ◽  
Cheng Lin ◽  
Yingda Wang

This study investigated the impact of emotional leadership of leaders on organizational commitment of hotel employees, as well as the mediating role of job satisfaction. The results indicate that: (1) Emotional leadership and job satisfaction have positive effects on organizational commitment. (2) Emotional leadership has a positive effect on job satisfaction. (3) Job satisfaction plays a mediating role between emotional leadership and organizational commitment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Herman Karamoy ◽  
Agus Tony Poputra

This paper analyzes the impact of economic and social variables on fiscal independence of district government in Province of North Sulawesi.  Scope of research includes all districts in  2009-2012. To analyze secondary data, we utilize the Pooled EGLS (Cross-section random effects) method. This research not only use secondary data, but also primary data. The primary data are used to get deep picture about factors that lower fiscal dependence of districts in North Sulawesi. Those data are collected by interview to parties related to generate own resource revenues and by focus discussion group with academicians. This research finds that economic development and population in districts of North Sulawesi do not affect on fiscal independence. Otherwise, only variable human development index has significantly positive effect on fiscal independence. These findings are supported by primary data which show that: (1) most activities of dominant economic factor of those districts, except Manado and Bitung, namely agriculture, are not tax or surcharge objects; (2) types of local government tax have small tax base for districts and varies between dictricts that have big cities and small cities; (3) low of human resource capacity and creativity to generate own source revenues effectively and efficiently; and (4) low of taxpayers compliance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Alfiero ◽  
Massimo Cane ◽  
Ruggiero Doronzo ◽  
Alfredo Esposito

This research, based on stakeholder theory and the national cultural dimensions, aims to test the influence of foreigners on board and its size on Integrated Reporting (IR) practices. The analysis is based on a sample of 1,058 European companies from 18 different countries, who adopted or not the IR for the year 2015, and it relies on a Logit. The dependent variable is a dummy (presenting or not the IR) and the independent variables are represented by the board characteristics (foreigners and size). The impact of the critical mass on the presence of foreigners and the cultural dimension on the basis of directors’ nationality was tested relying on the masculinity/femininity dimension of Hofstede. Besides, the directors’ country of origin was considered, namely if they belong to the major European countries presenting a wider IR diffusion. The relationship between foreigners on board and IR is found to be negative. This means that companies with at least one foreigner are less inclined to adopt IR. The results show that the boards with more of three foreign administrators have a major propensity to adopt the IR. The membership of the directors in countries with a feminist culture also has a positive effect.


Author(s):  
Edy Effendi ◽  
Muhammad Imron

Research on the role of the APIP review of the Ministry/agency Work Plan and Budget document to determine the impact on the efficiency of ministry/agency spending (case study at the Ministry of Religion). The method used in this study uses simple linear regression with dummy. The use of linear regression is used to examine the relationship between independent variables (certain types of expenditure) and dependent variables (total expenditure). Whereas, dummy is used to find out before and after the APIP review is done. Throughout the author's search, this research has never been done. Based on the results of linear regression obtained, the APIP review significantly had a positive effect on official travel expenditure and honorarium but did not significantly affect building spending and equipment. Abstrak   Penelitian atas peran reviu APIP atas dokumen Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran Kementerian Negara/Lembaga untuk mengetahui dampaknya terhadap efisiensi belanja kementerian/lembaga (studi kasus pada Kementerian Agama). Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan regresi linier sederhana dengan dummy. Penggunaan regresi liner digunakan untuk meneliti hubungan antara variable independen (jenis belanja tertentu) dan variable dependen (total belanja). Sedangkan, dummy digunakan untuk mengetahui sebelum dan setelah reviu APIP dilakukan. Sepanjang penelusuran penulis, penelitian ini belum pernah dilakukan. Berdasarkan hasil regresi linier diperoleh, reviu APIP signifikan berpengaruh positif terhadap  belanja perjalanan dinas dan honorarium tetapi tidak signifikan berbengaruh terhadap belanja gedung dan alat.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilham Akbar

The research entitled �The Influence of Relationship Marketing and Relationship Quality Towards Customer Loyalty with Customer Satisfaction as The Intervening Variable on Mulleg Perfume Product in Purwokerto� aims to determine the impact of relationship marketing and relationship quality towards customer satisfaction and customer loyalty and to determine whether customer satisfaction could become the intervening variable. The hypothesis of this research is the relationship marketing has negative effect towards customer satisfaction, the relationship marketing has positive effect towards customer loyalty, the relationship quality has positively effect towards customer satisfaction, the relationship quality has positively effect towards the customer loyalty, and the customer loyalty could be able to mediate the influence of relationship marketing and relationship quality toward customer loyalty.� The analysis method that used on this research is the structural equation modeling.The results show that the relationship marketing has positive and significant effect towards customer satisfaction. It will increase the customer satisfaction of Mulleg Aromatic perfume product in Purwokerto. The relationship quality has positive and significant effect towards customer satisfaction, so it will increase the customer satisfaction of Mulleg Aromatic perfume product in Purwokerto. The relationship marketing has positive and significant effect towards customer loyalt. It will increase the customer loyalty of Mulleg Aromatic perfume product in Purwokerto. The relationship quality has positive and significant effect towards the customer loyalty. The Customer Satisfaction has positive and significant effect towards customer loyalty. The customer satisfaction could mediate the influence of relationship marketing towards the customer loyalty on Mulleg Aromatic perfume product in Purwokerto. The customer satisfaction could mediate the influence of relationship quality towards the customer loyalty of Mulleg Aromatic perfume product in Purwokerto.�Keywords : Relationship Marketing , Relationship Quality , Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty�


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