bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of polyaniline and poly(1‐naphthylamine) dispersed oil polyurethane coatings
Authors: Riaz Ufana , Ashraf S.M. , Ahmad Sharif
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report a comparative study of conducting polymer (CP) dispersed oil polyurethane coatings derived from a sustainable resource, i.e. polyaniline (PANI)/coconut oil polyesteramide urethane (CPEAU) and poly(1‐naphthylamine) (PNA)/linseed oil polyurethane (LPUA) coatings.

Design/methodology/approach

The coatings were prepared chemically and were characterized for their physico‐chemical, physico‐mechanical, corrosion protective efficiency, and open circuit potential measurements. The morphological analysis of the corroded carbon steel (CS), coated uncorroded CS, and coated corroded CS specimens, was carried out by SEM analysis.

Findings

The study revealed that the presence of a CP enhanced the corrosion protective efficiency of the sustainable resource‐based organic coatings. The type of CP used also played a major role in defining the corrosion resistance behavior of the coating materials.

Originality/value

The comparative study of anticorrosive properties of CP with oil‐based polyurethane blends has been studied for the first time.
Effect of protonation on the inhibition efficiency of thiourea and its derivatives as corrosion inhibitors
Authors: Mahgoub F.M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Thioureas (TUs) have been studied extensively, but their inhibition mechanism is not fully understood. Experimental results and theoretical calculations were used to investigate the effect of TU and its derivatives on the corrosion reaction of mild steel in 1 M H2SO4 at 40°C. An attempt was made to correlate some molecular parameters of these compounds with their corrosion inhibitor efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The influence of the additives' N‐substituted derivatives of TU such as methylthiourea (MTU), phenylthiourea (PHTU), thiosemicarbazide (TSC) and thiocarbazide (TC) on the dissolution process of the specimen in sulphuric acid was monitored chemically by hydrogen evolution measurements.

Findings

The results show that inhibitor efficiency increased with increase in inhibitor concentration. The protonation process appeared to be the effective parameter with lowering of the inhibition efficiency. Alkyl N‐substituted TU with the least protonation and with the maximum adsorption was a better inhibitor than TU and aryl N‐substituted TU. The thiocarbazide molecule showed less efficiency with the highest protonation due to high charge density on the sulphur atom as well as lengthening and weakening of the C‐ S bond than the thiosemicarbazide.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information relative to the corrosion inhibition efficiency of N‐substituted TU. It presents the experimental results and theoretical calculations that were used to investigate the effect of derivatives TU on their inhibition efficiency.
Effectiveness of corporate employment web sites
Authors: van Birgelen Marcel J.H. , Wetzels Martin G.M. , van Dolen Willemijn M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Although research is emerging, the knowledge base on the evaluative determinants of the effectiveness of corporate employment web sites is still limited. This paper attempts to narrow this gap by investigating how potential job applicants' evaluations of web site content‐ and form‐related attributes contribute to corporate employment web site effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of an empirical study using PLS path modeling.

Findings

Applicants' attitude toward a corporate employment web site is found to be differentially influenced by the web site's content‐ and form‐related evaluations. In turn, attitude toward the web site influences intentions to apply. This relationship is fully mediated by attraction toward the organization. The latter is also influenced by attitude toward corporate employment web sites in general, which consequently contributes indirectly to application intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Using a non‐laboratory setting and a broader sample, future research should further apply a person‐organization fit perspective to corporate online recruitment and investigate effects of personality‐related factors such as risk/security‐seeking tendencies. Furthermore, it may be worthwhile to include technology‐oriented variables such as technological self‐efficacy as well.

Practical implications

Corporate employment web sites used to inform potential applicants about employment opportunities should be easy to use. In addition, firms should provide applicants with updated information and make sure that the information provided matches the applicants' needs during their information search process.. Persons who hold a more favorable overall predisposition toward corporate employment web sites are more attracted toward an organization using such sites. This suggests that corporate employment web sites may be particularly effective for certain groups of applicants, beyond the effects of web site content and form.

Originality/value

Drawing on literature in areas such as job applicant decision making, information systems, and web site effectiveness, the paper develops the understanding of the role of web site features in determining intentions to apply for a job via corporate employment web sites.
Comparing the quality management practices in UK SMEs
Authors: Kumar Maneesh , Antony Jiju
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The last two decades have witnessed an explosion of research into the area of quality initiatives (QI) such as ISO, total quality management, lean, Kaizen and its application within small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). However, very few empirical studies have reported the application of Six Sigma in SMEs; the reasons may be attributed to several myths associated with Six Sigma. The purpose of this paper is to assess the current status of QI in the UK manufacturing SMEs and report the differences in the quality management practices of Six Sigma SMEs against the ISO certified firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey‐based approach was adopted to understand the established quality management practices in the UK SMEs. A short survey instrument was designed by reviewing the literature on quality improvement initiatives in SMEs. A sample of 500 manufacturing SMEs across UK was selected through stratified random sampling technique.

Findings

A response rate of 12.7 per cent was achieved and included respondents at senior management and middle management level across the manufacturing industry in the UK. Data analysis on the history of quality initiatives (QI) in SMEs indicated towards the trend that ISO may be the foundation or building block before embarking on lean or Six Sigma. Differences in quality management practices such as customer focused measures and method of knowledge transfer to employees, were observed in Six Sigma and ISO certified SMEs. The main reasons cited for not implementing Six Sigma in SMEs were lack of knowledge or understanding of the system and limited resources. A significant difference in the performance of Six Sigma/lean firms against ISO certified companies were observed with respect to the strategic and operational measures of organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

The limited response rate from the survey in the UK manufacturing SMEs will affect the generalizability of study to entire SME population. To negate the limitations of this study, a multiple multi‐level case studies will be conducted in SMEs in the next phase of doctoral research. Future study should focus on performing a global survey on quality management practices in SMEs.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper lies in conducting a comparative study on the quality management practices in Six Sigma and non‐Six Sigma UK SMEs and measuring its impact on the performance of the firm. This study will facilitate in demystifying the myth that Six Sigma is only applicable in large organizations.
Mobile TV phone: current usage, issues, and strategic implications
Authors: Shim J.P. , Park Sungmin , Shim Julie M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the status of current mobile TV phone usage and discuss the issues for strategic implications for the communications and mobile TV industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Real tracking data, collected from server's logs during 2006 and 2007 from South Korean satellite DMB providers, were analyzed according to users' age group, peak viewing time of programs, location usage and program duration. Further analysis with the previous literature led to inferences about strategic implications.

Findings

The analysis revealed the current mobile TV usage patterns: widespread user age group, peak viewing time, high indoor usage and longer viewing time. These results shaped strategic implications, furthering and enhancing a personalized media experience.

Research limitations/implications

The data set, collected from the subscription‐based satellite DMB usage in South Korea, is well recognized as being a technological frontier. Further cultural comparison research work on mobile TV usage is required to validate the strategic implications for a wider cross cultural adoption.

Practical implications

This research benefits the strategic planning of the mobile communications and entertainment content industries in decision‐making regarding the improvement of hands‐on experience for mobile TV users.

Originality/value

The findings, based on the mobile TV real tracking data, collected in South Korea for over two years contrast to that of other countries, which only begin to experience the roll‐out of a full commercial service. Consequently, the data presented here highlights an important role in understanding and shaping of the mobile TV phone market for other parts of the world.
Linchpin or weakest link? Challenges to current document delivery practice and services
Authors: Patterson Avril
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to generate discussion on the necessity for document delivery services to re‐position themselves, thus “adding value” within the information chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is empirical, based on working practice in a major academic library.

Findings

Document supply is a vital link in the knowledge chain. It is the information professional's responsibility to rise to the challenges outlined above, and to regenerate and rejuvenate services in order to strengthen the infrastructure to support research and scholarship across all disciplines, in the manner most appropriate to them. In so doing, document supply services will become a linchpin in academic and research support rather than the weakest link.

Originality/value

The paper is a synthesis of current practice, outlining current shortcomings, and challenges.
“Inside every fat man”: balancing the digital library budget
Authors: Baker David
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The aim of this article is to review digital library collection building in the light of changing patterns of provision and usage, with special reference to mechanisms such as the Big Deal.

Design/methodology/approach

The research for the article consisted of a review of recent literature and unpublished research reports.

Findings

The article reviews the current position with regard to the provision of e‐materials, looking at the delivery chain, the role of publishers, agents and librarians, user requirements and current approaches, trends, blockages and opportunities. It is argued that while the Big Deal approach has both improved access and cost effectiveness, a more granular approach is required as user requirements are likely to become more sophisticated. The article is concerned primarily with the UK higher education (UKHE) sector.

Practical implications

The article will be useful in terms of planning future work on the economic aspects of library provision, and digital library development in particular.

Originality/value

The article presents a summary of the present position and possible future trends in the area of digital library collection building.
Factorized high dimensional model representation for structural reliability analysis
Authors: Rao B.N. , Chowdhury Rajib
Published: November 2008

Purpose

To develop a new computational tool for predicting failure probability of structural/mechanical systems subject to random loads, material properties, and geometry.

Design/methodology/approach

High dimensional model representation (HDMR) is a general set of quantitative model assessment and analysis tools for capturing the high‐dimensional relationships between sets of input and output model variables. It is a very efficient formulation of the system response, if higher order variable correlations are weak and if the response function is dominantly of additive nature, allowing the physical model to be captured by the first few lower order terms. But, if multiplicative nature of the response function is dominant then all right hand side components of HDMR must be used to be able to obtain the best result. However, if HDMR requires all components, which means 2N number of components, to get a desired accuracy, making the method very expensive in practice, then factorized HDMR (FHDMR) can be used. The component functions of FHDMR are determined by using the component functions of HDMR. This paper presents the formulation of FHDMR approximation of a multivariate limit state/performance function, which is dominantly of multiplicative nature. Given that conventional methods for reliability analysis are very computationally demanding, when applied in conjunction with complex finite element models. This study aims to assess how accurately and efficiently HDMR/FHDMR based approximation techniques can capture complex model output uncertainty. As a part of this effort, the efficacy of HDMR, which is recently applied to reliability analysis, is also demonstrated. Response surface is constructed using moving least squares interpolation formula by including constant, first‐order and second‐order terms of HDMR and FHDMR. Once the response surface form is defined, the failure probability can be obtained by statistical simulation.

Findings

Results of five numerical examples involving structural/solid‐mechanics/geo‐technical engineering problems indicate that the failure probability obtained using FHDMR approximation for the limit state/performance function of dominantly multiplicative in nature, provides significant accuracy when compared with the conventional Monte Carlo method, while requiring fewer original model simulations.

Originality/value

This is the first time where application of FHDMR concepts is explored in the field of reliability and system safety. Present computational approach is valuable to the practical modeling and design community, where user often suffers from the curse of dimensionality.
Numerical simulation of cracking in reinforced concrete members by an embedded model
Authors: Rosito d'Avila Virgínia Maria , de Sena Brisotto Daiane , Bittencourt Eduardo
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of an embedded crack finite element (FE) model for reinforced concrete (RC) structures, including a bond‐slip methodology to take into consideration the steel contribution in the rupture process, capable of capturing the global behavior of the structure as well as details of cracking phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The reinforcement contribution is added in the equilibrium at element level in an embedded crack FE model, based on displacement localization lines inside the elements.

Findings

The model is able to determine the steel stress in the crack besides the volumetric average steel stress. It is shown that the steel stress in the crack can be considerable greater than the average value. Other important aspect detected is the contribution of the concrete softening in the steel stress in the crack and in the overall behavior. The number, the distribution and the opening of cracks can be estimated too.

Practical implications

The yield of the steel in the cracking process can be detected more precisely by this methodology, allowing a better design and understanding of RC structures. In addition, the knowledge of crack openings is an important information to predict corrosion and other degradation phenomena of the reinforcement bars.

Originality/value

The bond‐slip procedure is linked with the embedded crack model in an original way: sliding gives the crack width. Moreover, the inclusion of steel forces in the crack equilibrium balance was not a usual procedure and permits an understanding of reinforcement effect in both levels (macro and micro) studied in this work.
Reduced sampling for construction of quadratic response surface approximations using adaptive experimental design
Authors: Pérez Victor M. , Renaud John E. , Watson Layne T.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

To reduce the computational complexity per step from O(n2) to O(n) for optimization based on quadratic surrogates, where n is the number of design variables.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying nonlinear optimization strategies directly to complex multidisciplinary systems can be prohibitively expensive when the complexity of the simulation codes is large. Increasingly, response surface approximations (RSAs), and specifically quadratic approximations, are being integrated with nonlinear optimizers in order to reduce the CPU time required for the optimization of complex multidisciplinary systems. For evaluation by the optimizer, RSAs provide a computationally inexpensive lower fidelity representation of the system performance. The curse of dimensionality is a major drawback in the implementation of these approximations as the amount of required data grows quadratically with the number n of design variables in the problem. In this paper a novel technique to reduce the magnitude of the sampling from O(n2) to O(n) is presented.

Findings

The technique uses prior information to approximate the eigenvectors of the Hessian matrix of the RSA and only requires the eigenvalues to be computed by response surface techniques. The technique is implemented in a sequential approximate optimization algorithm and applied to engineering problems of variable size and characteristics. Results demonstrate that a reduction in the data required per step from O(n2) to O(n) points can be accomplished without significantly compromising the performance of the optimization algorithm.

Originality/value

A reduction in the time (number of system analyses) required per step from O(n2) to O(n) is significant, even more so as n increases. The novelty lies in how only O(n) system analyses can be used to approximate a Hessian matrix whose estimation normally requires O(n2) system analyses.
The influence of marketing capabilities on economic international performance
Authors: Blesa Andreu , Ripollés Maria
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The paper's objective is to demonstrate that marketing capabilities have positive effects on firms' international performance. These effects may be both direct and indirect. Marketing capabilities foster international commitment and influence the choice of international entry mode. Through these, marketing capabilities exercise an indirect influence on international performance.

Design/methodology/approach

First, based on arguments from the dynamic capabilities perspective, the dynamic theory of strategy and the transaction‐cost theory, the effects of marketing capabilities on international performance are discussed. A survey was carried out on Spanish and Belgian international firms to test the model. SEM was used to analyse the relationships established in the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show coincidences between the samples in relation to the positive influences of companies' marketing capabilities on economic international performance, international commitment and international entry modes. Moreover, there is also a positive and significant influence of high direct investment entry modes on international economic performance. However, there are differences in other relationships.

Practical implications

The results inform on the kind of entry modes that can be selected, based on firm marketing capabilities, and which of them provide better international results.

Originality/value

This paper confirms that marketing capabilities are at the core of the company's international decisions. Specifically, it demonstrates that marketing capabilities influence both the international commitment of the company and the selection of the appropriate international mode of entry.
LibQUAL+™ in a consortium: KLN's challenges and considerations
Authors: Garthwait Clayton , Richardson Elizabeth A.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the experience of using the LibQUAL+™ library assessment suite in a statewide library consortium.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides anecdotal information about one consortium's experience implementing the LibQUAL+™ survey. It provides a description of the survey and a narrative of the Keystone Library Network's experience, and includes other information from published literature regarding the survey's implementation in other libraries and library consortia when relevant.

Findings

Implementing a library service quality survey as a consortium has benefits, but also provides challenges. Consortium‐wide planning, training, coordination, survey promotion, and intra‐consortium communication are important.

Practical implications

Consortia considering performing a library assessment will want to consider the challenges and considerations mentioned.

Originality/value

This paper provides information about, and suggestions for, implementing the survey in a consortium, differing from the existing body of literature that tends to focus on the instrument itself or on interpreting outcomes.
New roles for an academic library: current measurements
Authors: Opperman Bill V. , Jamison Martin
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the experience of a rising gate count at a departmental science and engineering library while many traditional user statistics show the now familiar decline.

Design/methodology/approach

Library and material‐use statistics gathered continuously over an eight‐year period along with data from a user exit survey describe the many changes in the patterns of use at academic libraries.

Findings

Data confirm that the in‐house use of print material will continue to decline in the face of rising gate counts. Discussion identifies probable causes of the continued rise in gate count.

Research limitations/implications

A description of the environment and causes for findings are available for future comparisons.

Practical implications

Anecdotal and informal observations were confirmed with the analysis of data. Taken together, these two forms of reporting support timely management decision making.

Originality/value

The paper provides baseline data for librarians evaluating “library as place” innovations.
Cultural collisions and bridging the gap between “don't stare” and care
Authors: Kanafani Elturk Ghada
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize and provide some insights into the changes occurring in the library field, focusing on the need to become multi‐culturally competent to address these changes and in helping to bridge gaps between diverse communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates various learning, teaching and communicating styles among cultures. It focuses on using the human experience in general to highlight and bring to the forefront the similarities that humans share rather than what drives them apart.

Findings

Many libraries, grassroots and more established organizations are struggling to achieve common ground and inclusiveness as a sustainable institutionalized work environment. Libraries, by nature, can play a leading role in these steps towards progress.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of the topic and the fact that it is unproductive to treat new views and social changes with old styles of thinking, approaches and solutions, results in difficulties when conformity to style or research methods is mandatory. Trying to box the human experience in scientific or quantified measures negate change and inclusion.

Originality/value

This paper suggests ways by which libraries and other organizations, in multicultural societies, can adapt their view points, work styles, by being open to change and valuing and respecting the different in order to devise new institutionalized measures that encompass all view points and values.
Dealing with death of an employee
Authors: Topper Elisa F.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The death of a staff member can have an effect on all members of the library team. The purpose of the paper is to suggest how a supervisor should deal with the situation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides real life scenarios based on the author's experiences.

Findings

The paper suggests ways on how to cope with the death of an employee.

Originality/value

No one expects to deal with the death of an employee but one should know how to deal with it should it occur.
The influence of modified VER on PU/VER IPN
Authors: Qin Chuanli , Zheng Jin , Haijian Jiang , Qiang Tan , Xuduo Bai
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to develop a method to block hydroxyl groups of epoxy acrylate (AAEP) in vinyl ester resin (VER) and to study the influence of modified VER on polyurethane/(VER) interpenetrating polymer network (PU/VER IPN).

Design/methodology/approach

The hydroxyl groups of AAEP in VER were blocked via different methods. Infra‐red spectroscopy was adopted to study the influence of the reagents, reaction temperature and feed molar ratio on the blocking effect of hydroxyl groups and the optimised technological parameters were determined. The PU/VER IPN and PU/modified VER IPN were prepared by simultaneous interpenetrating of VER (mixture of AAEP and butyl methacrylate with the mass ratio of 2/1) or modified VER and synthesised PU in their laboratory. The microstructure, dynamic mechanical properties and mechanical properties of PU/VER IPN and PU/modified VER IPN were compared.

Findings

The results showed that compared to unmodified IPN, because the hydroxyl groups in VER were blocked and no chemical cross‐linked structure existed between the two networks, the modified IPN showed dual‐continuous microsturcture with larger phase domain sizes between 20 and 50 nm. The effect damping temperature range of modified IPN was broadened and its damping performance was improved. The mechanical strength of modified IPNs decreased and their break elongation increased evidently.

Practical implications

The PU/modified VER IPN with excellent damping properties can be used in the applications where reduction of vibration and noise is desired.

Originality/value

The PU/modified VER IPN, in which no chemical cross‐linked structure existed between the two networks, was novel and its damping performance was improved and excellent.
Application of various solvent‐type alkyd resins to pine and cedar woods for achieving water repellence
Authors: Sahin H.T.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The objective of this study is to evaluate the water repellent efficiency of some oil modified solvent‐type alkyd resins, as wood protective formulations (WPs). It was done by surface treating of pine and cedar woods with the five leading brand of alkyd resins that are available in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

For effective water repellency, various formulations were made by incorporating different concentrations of varnish resin, pigment, solvent, and a substance that repels water. The impact and adhesive strengths of the five different solvent‐type alkyd resins were characterised by using a very simple experimental design.

Findings

The swelling variations of unmodified pine and cedar woods were determined in water. Next, the water repellent efficiency of the five different alkyd resin formulations was evaluated. The modification of pine and cedar woods using alkyd resins showed various level enhancement of resistance against water over the unmodified samples. The modification caused a chemical linkage between surface and resin that led to ensuring the intrinsically chemical bonds across the wood/resin matrix interface, which was the main cause to the improved water resistance. However, some WPs were less compatible, hence, had less bonding potential to both woods.

Practical implications

The method developed provided a simple and practical solution to selecting WPs (brands) for pine and cedar woods.

Originality/value

The method for evaluating adhesive strengths of the five different brand solvent‐type alkyd resins to pine and cedar woods were novel and could find numerous applications in surface coating.
Mechanical properties of 3‐D glass/polyester resin cellular woven composite under impact loading
Authors: Tang Y. , Sun B. , Ding X. , Gu B.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate transverse impact behaviour and energy absorption of 3‐D glass/polyester resin cellular woven composite impacted by flat‐ended rod and to discuss the failure modes of the composite under quasi‐static and dynamic loading.

Design/methodology/approach

The quasi‐static compression tests were conducted with MTS 810.23 tester. The impact behaviours of the 3‐D cellular woven composite were tested with a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus.

Findings

Failure loads and energy absorption capacities of the 3‐D cellular woven composite increase as the increase of load speed, i.e. the composite is strain rate sensitive. The failure loads and energy absorptions in warp direction are lower than those in weft direction at the same loading speed because of the lower linear density of warp yarns. The damage morphologies of the 3‐D cellular woven composite manifest the compression failure in the front side and tension failure in rear side.

Research limitations/implications

The influence of different structure parameters on the failure mode should be studied.

Practical implications

The study provided information on the failure mode and energy absorption of the 3‐D cellular woven composite under impulsive loading. This could be used for light weight structure design, such as vehicle and aircraft stringer structures.

Originality/value

Understanding energy absorption of the 3‐D cellular woven composite under transverse impact is much more important than those under quasi‐static loading. This paper provides the results of dynamic mechanical properties of a new kind of 3‐D cellular woven composite under impact loading.
e‐SCM: internet's impact on supply chain processes
Authors: Giménez Cristina , Lourenço Helena R.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the interaction of two topics: supply chain management (SCM) and the internet. Merging these two fields is a key area of concern for contemporary managers and researchers. They have realised that the internet can enhance SCM by making real time information available and enabling collaboration between trading partners.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review in prestigious academic journals in Operations Management and Logistics has been conducted for the period 1995‐2005. The objective is to collect, organise and synthesise existing knowledge relating to SCM and the internet.

Findings

The paper describes the impact that the internet has on the different processes that SCM embrace. The literature review undertaken on the topic has shown that e‐SCM has been acknowledged as an outstanding topic in the supply chain literature in the most prestigious operations management and logistics journals, especially after year 2000. The main topics have been e‐procurement, e‐fulfilment and information flows.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to define e‐SCM, to analyse how research in this area has evolved during the period 1995‐2005 and to identify some lines of further research.
A structural framework for closed‐loop supply chains
Authors: Wikner Joakim , Tang Ou
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The concept of the customer order decoupling point (CODP) has been used in many different contexts as an important structural concept for the traditional forward supply chain. The CODP is rarely explicitly applied in reverse supply chain management and the purpose of this paper is to show that the CODP can be an important corner stone of a framework for analysis of the closed‐loop supply chain containing both forward and reverse material flows.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual similarities are identified using analogies between forward and reverse supply chains. First, the concepts are discussed in their original context of forward flows and thereafter the concepts are applied on reverse flows. Finally, a holistic closed‐loop model is established.

Findings

The conventional CODP framework for forward flow supply chains can be extended to cover also reverse material flows and therefore providing a foundation for a more comprehensive discussion of closed‐loop supply chains useful in both education, research, and industrial applications. Using the suggested extended framework it is possible to identify nine fundamental supply chain configurations.

Practical implications

Differentiating between demand driven and forecast driven activities plays a critical role in practical supply chain management and this paper highlights that this approach also can be applied to closed‐loop supply chains and therefore extending the reach of the toolbox previously developed for the forward supply chain.

Originality/value

The concept CODP has not previously been comprehensively treated for the closed‐loop supply chain and this paper provides a foundation for establishing a strategic structural framework for discussing issues such as lean vs agile and balancing efficiency and responsiveness in a more comprehensive context involving also reverse material flows.
A unified model of supply chain agility: the work‐design perspective
Authors: Li Xun , Chung Chen , Goldsby Thomas J. , Holsapple Clyde W.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical model of supply chain agility and, based on that, develop a research framework for investigating linkages between supply chain agility and firm competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model of supply chain agility introduced here is based on an inter‐disciplinary literature review, which concentrates on peer‐reviewed journal papers on agility published within the period 1990‐2007. Among a total of 583 papers, representative studies are chosen and analyzed to identify key elements of supply chain agility, and to point out issues that have yet to be addressed.

Findings

He was found that even though there has been considerable research on the topic of agility, in general, there is relatively little examination of agility in the supply chain context. These few studies are not unified in their conceptualizations of agility and tend to adopt fairly limited views of supply chain dimensionality. This situation suggests that there is a need for a theory‐driven, unified model of agility in supply chains.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need for a comprehensive conceptual model of supply chain agility. Built from a work‐design perspective, this new conceptualization of supply chain agility offers a theoretical platform for guiding future research and practice concerned with achieving supply chain agility.
“Empirical characteristics” and “geocentricity” in “top” journals of logistics management
Authors: Svensson Göran , Tronvoll Bård , Slåtten Terje
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe selected journals in logistics management in terms of: the proportion of different “empirical” contributions; the proportion of national versus international research data; the geographical origin of research data; and the authors' geographical affiliations.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of “top” scholarly journals in logistics management is selected on the basis of previous research, expert opinion and journal ranking lists. The selection includes the International Journal of Logistics Management (IJLM), the International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management (IJPDLM), and the Journal of Business Logistics (JBL). The research considers all available papers (a total of 657) published in these journals over an eight‐year period from 2000 to 2007.

Findings

The “empirical characteristics” and “geocentricity” were found to be variable across the studied journals in logistics management.

Research limitations/implications

The present research is limited to the “empirical characteristics” and “geocentricity” of “top” journals in logistics management. It provides opportunity for further research.

Practical implications

The present research provides valuable insights into the nature of academic publishing in the area of top journals of logistics management. The findings presented may be used by authors to direct their submissions to the proper journal.

Originality/value

Scholars will benefit from insights into the “empirical characteristics” and “geocentricity” of the “top” journals in logistics management. Specifically, scholars can note the particular features of individual journals. Further studies of the “empirical characteristics” and “geocentricity” of individual research journals are required in other related journals to the field of logistics management.
Impact of ICTs on user‐provider relations: perspectives from UK local authorities
Authors: Senyucel Zorlu
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of understanding the mutually constitutive relationships between the provider (suppliers of information communication technologies (ICTs)) and user (service departments of ICTs) groups in UK local authorities in order to see the changing work patterns of public sector employees during the modernization process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the literature on the use of the ICTs in local authorities, as well as related literature on user‐provider relationship. Empirical research is gathered from a survey of 22 UK local authorities and five in‐depth case studies.

Findings

The framework shows how the use of ICTs changes the way public sector employee's work, especially when dealing with the Modernization Agenda. The framework highlights that the use of technology alters the roles of user and provider groups, in particular, their sanctioning behaviour, use of resources and barriers they face in their work routines.

Practical implications

The findings should be of value to policy makers who need to understand the changing work patterns in local authorities in order to plan new ways of public service delivery.

Originality/value

The paper illuminates the impact of the use of ICTs on the way different groups of employees work and interact with each other everyday during the time of public sector reform in UK local authorities.
How to measure the “value” in value chains
Authors: Barber Elizabeth
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to broaden the performance measurements of total supply chain performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model is presented based on the balanced scorecard. The new model formulates a model for the tangible aspects that measure the success of the total chain which is then extended to incorporate the intangible value adding aspects to measure total value chain success.

Findings

A framework is presented showing the importance of intangible value adding aspects of the total value chain.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may address in depth research associated with the five key intangible aspects given in the current model.

Practical implications

The practical implementation of the required metrics in such a dynamic area as the supply chain industry needs to be focused on the aspects most required at particular times depending on the varying levels of market activities.

Originality/value

This paper provides a broader performance model than the balanced scorecard or any other framework currently used in the supply chain literature.
Demand chain management+response management=increased customer satisfaction
Authors: Walters David
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to understand the current developments in business models that are aimed at meeting changing market characteristics, many of which require specific customer service responses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a conceptual model that is based on research into the applications of response management.

Findings

This paper suggests validity of the proposed model but also identifies the need for further research.

Practical implications

The paper assumes that management has the awareness and the skills set to manage and deliver added value to customers by implementing a more relevant model.

Originality/value

This paper offers examples of organisations that are responding to market and customer expectations using response management models.
A robust model and numerical approach for solving solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) problems
Authors: Arpino F. , Carotenuto A. , Massarotti N. , Nithiarasu P.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a robust mathematical model and finite element‐based numerical approach to solve solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) problems.

Design/methodology/approach

A robust mathematical model is constructed by studying pros and cons of different SOFC and other fuel cell models. The finite element‐based numerical approach presented is a unified approach to solve multi‐disciplinary aspects arising from SOFC problems. The characteristic‐based split approach employed here is an efficient way of solving various flow, heat and mass transfer regimes in SOFCs.

Findings

The results presented show that both the model and numerical algorithm proposed are robust. Furthermore, the approaches proposed are general and can be easily extended to other similar problems of practical interest.

Originality/value

The model proposed is the first of this kind and the unified approach for solving flow, heat and mass transfer within a fuel cell is also novel.
A stabilized finite element approximation of low speed thermally coupled flows
Authors: Principe Javier , Codina Ramon
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a finite element formulation to approximate thermally coupled flows using both the Boussinesq and the low Mach number models with particular emphasis on the numerical implementation of the algorithm developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The formulation, that allows us to consider convection dominated problems using equal order interpolation for all the valuables of the problem, is based on the subgrid scale concept. The full Newton linearization strategy gives rise to monolithic treatment of the coupling of variables whereas some fixed point schemes permit the segregated treatment of velocity‐pressure and temperature. A relaxation scheme based on the Armijo rule has also been developed.

Findings

A full Newtown linearization turns out to be very efficient for steady‐state problems and very robust when it is combined with a line search strategy. A segregated treatment of velocity‐pressure and temperature happens to be more appropriate for transient problems.

Research limitations/implications

A fractional step scheme, splitting also momentum and continuity equations, could be further analysed.

Practical implications

The results presented in the paper are useful to decide the solution strategy for a given problem.

Originality/value

The numerical implementation of a stabilized finite element approximation of thermally coupled flows is described. The implementation algorithm is developed considering several possibilities for the solution of the discrete nonlinear problem.
Multi‐scale thermo‐fluid transport in porous media
Authors: Sozer Emre , Shyy Wei
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an empiricism free, first principle‐based model to simulate fluid flow and heat transfer through porous media.

Design/methodology/approach

Conventional approaches to the problem are reviewed. A multi‐scale approach that makes use of the sample simulations at the individual pore levels is employed. The effect of porous structures on the global fluid flow is accounted for via local volume averaged governing equations, while the closure terms are accounted for via averaging flow characteristics around the pores.

Findings

The performance of the model has been tested for an isothermal flow case. Good agreement with experimental data were achieved. Both the permeability and Ergun coefficient are shown to be flow properties as opposed to the empirical approach which typically results in constant values of these parameters independent of the flow conditions. Hence, the present multi‐scale approach is more versatile and can account for the possible changes in flow characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

Further validation including non‐isothermal cases is necessary. Current scope of the model is limited to incompressible flows. The methodology can accommodate extension to compressible flows.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a method that eliminates the dependence of the numerical porous media simulations on empirical data. Although the model increases the fidelity of the simulations, it is still computationally affordable due to the use of a multi‐scale methodology.
Modeling of conjugate conduction and heat and mass convection in tube‐fin exchangers
Authors: Comini G. , Nonino C. , Savino S.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the modeling of simultaneous heat and mass transfer under dehumidifying conditions. Moist air cooling in tube‐fin exchangers is investigated using a finite element technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The model requires the solution of a conjugate problem, since interface temperatures must be calculated at the same time as temperature distributions in adjacent fluid and solid regions. The energy equation is solved in the whole domain, including the solid region, and the latent heat flux on the surfaces where condensation takes place is taken into account by means of an additional internal boundary condition.

Findings

Thermal performances for different Reynolds numbers of a typical two‐row tube‐fin exchanger are numerically analysed, for both in‐line and staggered arrangements of tubes. The results justify the great importance that the ratio between latent and overall rates of heat transfer has in the design of compact heat exchangers.

Practical implications

In this work, the capabilities of the proposed methodology to deal with industrial applications in the field of compact exchangers are outlined.

Originality/value

The paper presents an effective approach to the solution of conjugate conduction and convection problems with simultaneous heat and mass transfer. The formulation is completely general, even if the finite element method is used in the calculations.