Modelling of different circular end-of-use scenarios for smartphones

Purpose Repairing, refurbishing and remanufacturing are three strategies of the Circular Economy (CE), aiming at closing product cycles and maintaining materials and resources in the product cycle as long as possible. This paper analyses the environmental impacts of these three circular end-of-use scenarios (repairing, refurbishing and part remanufacturing) when performed on a common, “non-circular” smartphone. The underlying data used for this paper partly have been result of the Horizon 2020 project sustainablySMART, where circular product concepts have been developed and analysed in detail. Methods To analyse the environmental impacts of different circular end-of-use scenarios of smartphones, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is performed. For considering the impact of a smartphone’s first life (e.g. materials, production), an economic allocation is used. Since the goal of the study was to better understand the environmental impacts of processing routes that enable multiple life cycles of a product, allocation according to the economic value is applied instead of applying system expansion. As system expansion provides just an aggregated view of the first and second product life cycles and no decision support at the end of the first life regarding the relevant CE strategy can be given. The economic allocation is based on the ratio between the residual market value and the original price from the scenario’s input stream of smartphones of the respective end-of-use scenario. To reach comparability of the results, a second-use-time-parameter is defined for each scenario. This parameter takes into account that the second use time reaches only a certain share from the average smart phone use time. Results This study shows that through all three circular strategies, a reduction in the investigated impact categories—Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP)—can be achieved. Conclusions The analysed end-of-use scenarios repairing and refurbishing show the highest potential for smartphones in terms of Circular Economy, as most of the environmental impacts can be allocated to the device production, and the impact of additional steps to perform CE-strategies (e.g. collection of discarded phones, refurbishing) is rather low.

Improving Manufacturing Agility Through Optimal Production Scheduling System

The garment industry is a global industry that requires high agility in response to changing market demands that are quickly changing. Short product cycles with unpredictable demand often make the industry unable to meet consumer needs. In increasing the agility of production to deliver products to customers as fast as possible, the production scheduling system must be designed optimally. Recently algorithm hybridization is used because the combination of more than one algorithm is more optimal. Genetic Algorithm (GA) is a metaheuristic algorithm is applied in various production scheduling and its power can be improved by combining it with the Tabu Search (TS). The GA is the best metaheuristic algorithm to output the optimal scheduling with less execution time but has the disadvantage –easily trapped in local optimum (early convergence is faster). The TS algorithm works as a local search algorithm with a faster computation time than GA. This study aims to minimize the total time to complete the work (minimizing makespan) by combining TS into GA in conducting local searches to increase industrial agility. The results obtained are GA-TS hybridization can provide a more optimal solution for the production scheduling in the garment so that agility can increase.

Progressive Damage Numerical Modelling and Simulation of Aircraft Composite Bolted Joints Bearing Response

Finite element numerical progressive damage modelling and simulations applied to the strength prediction of airframe bolted joints on composite laminates can lead to shorter and more efficient product cycles in terms of design, analysis and certification, while benefiting the economic manufacturing of composite structures. In the study herein, experimental bolted joint bearing tests were carried out to study the strength and failure modes of fastened composite plates under static tensile loads. The experimental results were subsequently benchmarked against various progressive damage numerical modelling simulations where the effects of different failure criteria, damage variables and subroutines were considered. Evidence was produced that indicated that both the accuracy of the simulation results and the speed of calculation were affected by the choice of user input and numerical scheme.

The impact of time pressure on knowledge transfer effectiveness in teams: trust as a critical but fragile mediator

Purpose With faster innovation and shorter product cycles, time pressure is a highly relevant factor affecting contemporary business processes. This study aims to extend prior research on the effects of velocity at the firm level by considering the effect of time pressure on knowledge transfer effectiveness (KTE) on the team level and the role of trust as a mediator of this effect. Design/methodology/approach We empirically assess the impact of time pressure on knowledge transfer effectiveness in teams. Further, we test the mediating effect of trust on this relationship. We study a sample of 285 project teams applying partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The authors find that time pressure is negatively associated with KTE. Moreover, trust among team members has a complementary mediating effect on this relationship. Thus, while trust is urgently needed for enhancing KTE under time pressure, time pressure reduces trust-building too. Research limitations/implications This study establishes empirically the importance of time pressure and trust as drivers of KTE in teams. The contribution connects the field of knowledge management to important streams in the wider business literature: organization studies, management, strategic management, project management, innovation etc. Whereas the model is parsimonious, it has high explanatory power and high generalizability to other contexts. Practical implications Team managers should take care to allow enough time for knowledge transfer within the team. This is particularly important when knowledge sharing is central, e.g. in innovation, development and change processes. If this is not possible, measures should be taken to maintain trust among team members. Social implications Effective knowledge management enhances the performance of business entities and public-sector organizations alike. Today, both the private and public sectors are under considerable pressure to increase both efficiency and effectiveness. Effective knowledge transfer within teams is a core capability to achieve this goal. More effective organizations result in more competitive private firms, more employment opportunities and improved public services to citizens. Originality/value Time pressure is an increasingly relevant factor in contemporary business but so far little explored in research. This study extends current knowledge by considering the effect of time pressure on KTE.

Reframing Working, Rethinking Learning: The Future Skills Turn

Research on Future Skills is one of the current hot topics in education, management and organizational research. In times of global networked organizations and steadily accelerating product cycles, the model of qualification for future jobs seems debatable. Can we really prepare graduates and employees for the future by the predominant model of knowledge acquisition? Do we already have adequate concepts for competence development in higher education and work environments? An international study led to the identification of the change processes that the working and learning world are undergoing as well as of the Future Skills that will be needed in highly emergent future contexts – including digital competences, but transcending them. This calls for new strategies and concepts concerning structural, teaching and learning aspects and a new way of embracing lifelong learning concepts. “Future organizations” have been identified that have already set out for dealing with those new demands. By learning about their innovative approaches concerning employees’ competence and skills acquisition, a veritable turn away from specialist knowledge and towards Future Skills can be observed – and cannot be ignored by higher education.Keywords: Future Skills, Higher Education, Learning, Competence, Delphi Survey, Education Research

Regulating digital health technologies with transparency: the case for dynamic and multi-stakeholder evaluation

Background The prevalence of smartphones today, paired with the increasing precision and therapeutic potential of digital capabilities, offers unprecedented opportunity in the field of digital medicine. Smartphones offer novel accessibility, unique insights into physical and cognitive behavior, and diverse resources designed to aid health. Many of these digital resources, however, are developed and shared at a faster rate than they can be assessed for efficacy, safety, and security—presenting patients and clinicians with the challenge of distinguishing helpful tools from harmful ones. Main text Leading regulators, such as the FDA in the USA and the NHS in the UK, are working to evaluate the influx of mobile health applications entering the market. Efforts to regulate, however, are challenged by the need for more transparency. They require real-world data on the actual use, effects, benefits, and harms of these digital health tools. Given rapid product cycles and frequent updates, even the most thorough evaluation is only as accurate as the data it is based on. Conclusions In this debate piece, we propose a complementary approach to ongoing efforts via a dynamic self-certification checklist. We outline how simple self-certification, validated or challenged by app users, would enhance transparency, engage diverse stakeholders in meaningful education and learning, and incentivize the design of safe and secure medical apps.

Engel's Law in the Global Economy: Demand‐Induced Patterns of Structural Change, Innovation, and Trade

Endogenous demand composition across sectors due to income elasticity differences, or Engel's Law for brevity, affects (i) sectoral compositions in employment and in value‐added, (ii) variations in innovation rates and in productivity change across sectors, (iii) intersectoral patterns of trade across countries, and (iv) product cycles from rich to poor countries. Using a two‐country model of directed technical change with a continuum of sectors under nonhomothetic preferences, which is rich enough to capture all these effects as well as their interactions, this paper offers a unifying perspective on how economic growth and globalization affect the patterns of structural change, innovation, and trade across countries and across sectors in the presence of Engel's Law. Among the main messages is that globalization amplifies, instead of reducing, the power of endogenous domestic demand composition differences as a driver of structural change.

Challenges in Creating Transformative Growth for Companies In Digital Economy

Summary Digital economy creates waves and waves of disruptions. To survive and thrive in digital economy, where technology is disrupting industries from education to even manufacturing, companies are looking for new approaches to stay relevant. As the world becomes more digitalized, customer-centric approach to product development, short product cycles and rapid decision-making is needed. At the same time, while optimizing the existing core business, companies must grow more entrepreneurial culture and transformational growth engines inside the companies. Following this path, the major challenge for companies is how to implement strategic growth innovation along with executing traditional business model and operational excellence. This paper aims to explore and present the importance of digital transformation and innovations. Companies should strive to build collaborative relationships as a means to creating transformational growth. It is suggested that information and communications technologies are significant in the process of strategic planning. The Paper also emphasizes the importance of organizational structure and culture required for implementing strategies that are aligned with digital transformation.