Influence of biopreparations on formation of elements of productivity of spring barley

Relevance. The strategy for the development of agriculture in Russia and its biologization determine the relevance of our research. Empirical studies are aimed at studying the effect of biological preparations on the formation of elements of the structure of the yield of spring barley. The data presented in the work continues the research carried out in 2016–2020 in the Rostov region.Methods. Studied biopreparations are: Biodux; Trainer; Artafite; Obereg; Fulvogumate. Control — water treatment. Spraying was carried out according to the recommendations for the use of preparations: 1st — in the tillering phase, 2nd — in the heading phase. The total area under the experiments is 600 m2, the area of each variant is 25 m2, the replication is 4 times. The link in the crop rotation is “sunflower — spring barley”. The soils of the experimental plot are ordinary chernozem. Used variety is Leon.Results. In 2021, full sprouting of barley was observed on the 8th day after sowing. This is due to sufficient warming up of the sowing layer of soil (+8 °C) and moisture 28 mm (in a layer of 0–10 cm). Studies have shown that field germination of barley was 88%. The use of biological products influenced the survival rate of plants to harvest which wasmore than 80%. In the variants with the use of Biodux and Obereg, this figure was 86 and 87%, respectively. Biopreparations stimulated the growth of productive stems, productive bushiness increased in comparison with the control (1,21) to 1,28–1,33. The mass of a thousand grains in the variants exceeded the control, especially with the use of Obereg — 45,6 g, which is 2,9 g more than the control. The number of grains in an ear ranged from 17,7 to 18 pieces, which is on average 1 piece more than in the control. The highest productivity was formed by barley plants under the influence of the biopreparations Obereg and Biodux. Thus, the increase in productivity under the influence of biological products due to all elements of the productivity of barley plants has been reliably proven.

INDUSTRIAL LINKAGE STRATEGIES AND THEIR ROLE IN BRIDGING THE EMPLOYABILITY GAP IN INSURANCE SECTOR

Purpose: Industrial linkage strategies are necessary in any industry since they promote development of new products and technologies and access to new capabilities.The objective of this study is to identify the industrial linkage strategies and their role in bridging the employability gap in the insurance sector. The purpose of the study is to enable the readers understand the emerging trends in the insurance industry that help to bridge the employability gap and the innovative programs and approaches that foster youth employability. Methods: A desktop literature review was used for this purpose. Relevant seminal references and journal articles for the study were identified using Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria entailed papers that were not over five years old. Conclusions: The study concluded that some of the industrial linkage strategies that have reduced the employability gap include; use of high-tech programs, the hierarchy of critical skills and industrial talent strategy. Their role in bridging the employability gap in the insurance sector has resulted in increase in productivity among employers and employees in the insurance sector. Recommendations: The study recommended that insurance companies should incorporate and partner the high- tech companies who are more digitized, reinvent their workforce models and come up with training programs to nurture and equip their employees with top talent and adaptable skills.

Modelling of Technical Efficiency of Indian Scientific Laboratories using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

Performance Measurement (PM) is a thoughtful demand of every sector for a sustainable growth. There are intangible factors known as economic growth drivers, where Research and Development (R&D), is a vital indicator. As per Global Innovation Index–2020, India ranks 48th among the 131 economies for its education, software exports, R&D and market value. Every year, a massive amount is invested in research labs but the output generated is much lower as compared to world average. Measurement of Scientific Productivity (SP) is a genesis of this though. Earlier, Publications and Patents were considered as means to identify growth but there exists a need holistic measurement of innovative potential. In this study, Technical Efficiency (TEs) of Indian Scientific Laboratories (CSIR) was measured using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with few more parameters – Scientific Performance Indicators (SPIs). This study concluded with demarcation of efficient and lesser efficient laboratories during a specific period. This study would contribute towards an introspection by policy makers and government to re-evaluate the organizational outputs as per their mandates. Such studies are envisaged to assess the strength and weakness and furthermore, plan to contribute efficiently to increase in productivity of organization and national economy as well.

Agility enhancement through agile manufacturing implementation: a case study

PurposeDynamic business environment has a deep influence on production and management related exercises. In order to remain competitive, organization needs to coordinate with continuous and unpredictable changes taking place in the market. Globalization of markets is posing competitive pressure on firms, which leads them to adopt a new manufacturing paradigm termed agile manufacturing (AM). The purpose of the present case study is to explore the contribution of AM towards agility and productivity enhancements in an Indian manufacturing company.Design/methodology/approachThe study is carried out at forging industry which has been assessed on certain key business performance indicators. The assessment highlighted various issues which had scope for improvement to enhance the agility of the organization. Therefore, a phase-wise implementation of AM is carried to reap the significant benefits as a result of AM implementation in the case study company. The methodology has been applied to decrease the inline rejection, increase the productivity and responsiveness of the organization.FindingsThe results revealed an improvement in performance score from 77.5 to 100. Further, an increase in productivity and reduction in line rejection has been achieved through the systematic implementation of AM.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the contributions of strategic AM implementation to organizational performance and highlights the need for successful management of AM practices for establishing sustained performance of the organization.Originality/valueThe contribution of the present work is the phase-wise implementation of AM in the case studied company.

Process design of a novel combination of peel grinding and deep rolling

Grinding is mostly considered as a finishing operation by which a high surface quality is achieved. An increase in productivity is therefore limited by maintained surface properties such as the roughness or tensile residual stresses. Thus, a roughing operation is inevitable followed by a finishing operation, while both operations are separated, leading to larger cycle times and process costs. In this paper, a novel process combination is investigated in which the roughing is done by grinding and the finishing operation by deep rolling within one tool setup. In this way, both processes are conducted parallel within the primary processing time. The objective of this study is the knowledge of the characteristics of this process combination with regard to the workpiece surface integrity. Therefore, shafts are ground in peel grinding with varying grinding wheel types and process parameters and subsequently machined with deep rolling. The process combination is evaluated with regard to the process forces and the resulting surface properties. In addition, experiments using the process combination were conducted in order to investigate the transferability of the results towards the process combination. By this approach, it was found that the surface roughness was reduced up to 80% by deep rolling showing the potential of the process combination.

CONTRIBUTION OF MOTION STUDY TO STANDARD TIME AT BALL TEA STATION (CASE STUDY PT. MITRA KERINCI, SOUTH SOLOK)

PT Mitra Kerinci is a company established in West Sumatra Province which is engaged in tea plantations and tea processing in its factories. PT Mitra Kerinci produces an average of 7,000 kg or 7 tons of green tea shoots per day. The production process for processing tea shoots, the factory sometimes does not reach the production target in accordance with the production target of the company. The goal of research to determine the amount of the contribution of the motion study to the standard time and determine the amount of the contribution of the standard time to the increase in productivity in the final drying process at Ball Tea station, the production of tea shoots at PT. Kerinci Partners. This research an experimental research type and uses the same subject research design (treatment by subject design), namely the treatment is imposed on the same subject. The results of time calculations after the motion study on the process flow map reached 15,676.02 seconds. Then proceed with the calculation of the cycle time which reaches 825.41 seconds with the actual standard deviation obtained at 3.58 and the standard deviation of the subgroup distribution is 1.79. After knowing the results of the average cycle time, the actual standard deviation and the standard deviation of the subgroup distribution, the data uniformity test was continued, starting with calculating the BKA and BKB. The BKA calculation results obtained 830.78 and the BKB reached 820.04. So that in the data uniformity test the results reached 0.908. In the series of movements of the left and right hands after the repair, a cycle time of 825.41 seconds / unit of Ball Tea was obtained from the previous time, reaching 906.66 units / Ball Tea and getting a time difference of 81.25 seconds. In the calculation of the standard time, the normal time calculation is carried out first, after it is known that the result of the adjustment calculation reaches 1.12 so that the normal time is obtained with a total of 924.45 seconds. Continue to calculate the standard time and the results reach 1423.65 seconds with an allowance of 54%. This contributed to an increase in productivity by 5.7%.

Increased Working From Home in Vocational Counseling Psychologists During COVID-19: Associated Change in Productivity and Job Satisfaction

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vocational counselors in Switzerland more frequently worked from home (WFH) and less frequently worked on-site. The aim of this study was to assess how WFH corresponds with indicators of job performance and occupational wellbeing. More specifically, the current questionnaire study analyzed the increase in WFH, self-reported productivity, distractibility in WFH, current job satisfaction, work-life balance in WFH, and feeling of loneliness. Findings showed that the increase in WFH in vocational counseling psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in productivity and job satisfaction and with lower distractibility in WFH compared to work on-site. However, more frequent WFH was not significantly associated with improved work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vocational counselors who shared the office on-site with many colleagues experienced higher feeling of loneliness during WFH. Vocational counselors regarded the condition of WFH as productive and satisfying while work-life balance did not improve. The discussion sheds light on the potential WFH-related increase of boundary management demands.

Collard greens and chicory intercropping efficiency as a function of chicory (Cichorium intybus) transplant time

Vegetable intercropping has advantages over single cultivation in terms of less environmental impact. However, to convince farmers to adopt this production system, it is necessary to prove greater efficiency in the production of more food per unit area and therefore an increase in productivity. An experiment was carried out aiming to evaluate the effect of the chicory transplant time in intercrops with collard greens on crop yields and land use efficiency index (LUE). The experimental design was a randomized block, with nine treatments in a 2 × 4 + 1 factorial scheme, and four replications. Crop systems (intercrop and monoculture) and chicory transplant time (0, 14, 28 and 42 days after transplant (DAT) of collard greens) were evaluated. The collard greens yield increased as the chicory transplant time was delayed. The total and per harvest yields of chicory were not influenced by its transplant time. Regardless of chicory transplant time, collard greens and chicory intercropping provided greater LUE than their monocultures and reached the maximum value (52% higher) when the chicory was transplanted 42 days after collard greens. Highlights: The collard green yield increased by 11 kg ha-1 for each day of delay in the chicory transplant (0 to 42 days). The total and per harvest chicory yields were not influenced by its transplant time in relation to collard green transplant. The collard green and chicory intercropping provided 52% higher land use efficiency than their monocultures when the chicory was transplanted 42 days after collard green.

The Effect of Material Conveyances on Workload, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Productivity and Performance in the Process of Plate Cutting

The use of material conveyances that are not in accordance with the concept of ergonomics harm the human body. Repair of work brushes by applying ergonomics to material conveyances can reduce the risk category. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of material conveyance on reducing workload, musculoskeletal disorders, increasing productivity and performance. The study was conducted using the same subject design method with a sample of 16 workers. The data were analyzed by paired t-test with a significant level of p<0.05. The results of the analysis showed that the PO workload data was 104.4 beats per minute, P1 was 93.5 beats per minute there was a decrease of 10.9 beats per minute or 10.4%, PO musculoskeletal complaints were 80.1 scores, P1 was 70.0 the scores were decreased by 10.1 or 12.6%, PO productivity of 0.201, P1 of 0.355, an increase of 0.154 or 43.4%. The conclusion is that the use of material conveyances means a decrease in workload, musculoskeletal disorders, an increase in productivity and performance. It is recommended to workers to use material conveyances equipment in carrying out transport and material transport activities.

Investigating the Effects of Introducing Automated Straddle Carriers in Port Operations with a System Dynamics Model

Port automation has been in the forefront of maritime innovation in the last decade. On that front, Automated Straddle Carriers (ASCs) are increasingly used to move containers efficiently. However, the introduction of ASCs in port operations can be disruptive if not handled properly, especially since the field can face many uncertainties such as increased container trade. The purpose of the paper is to investigate whether the introduction of Automated Straddle Carriers in port operations can improve the overall efficiency. To achieve the objective, a System Dynamics model was developed and tested under different scenarios. The results indicate that the introduction of ASCs is accompanied by an increase in productivity of the vehicles which results in more TEUs serviced. One of the most interesting results of the various scenarios is that for all rates of incoming TEUs, berth productivity is superior when operations are performed with 5 ASCs than with 10 manned vehicles. Finally, another issue that port authorities should always have in mind is the need for coordination among the various sub-processes and optimization of the necessary vehicles in order to avoid under-utilization of resources.