bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of SPC tools for a preliminary assessment of an aero engines' maintenance process and prioritisation of aero engines' faults
Authors: Vassilakis E. , Besseris G. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a relatively straightforward approach of implementing standard statistical process control (SPC) concepts while instituting problem‐solving intonations in aero‐engine maintenance processes.Design/methodology/approachThe inspection workflow approach is presented in order to aid in collecting and monitoring critical aero‐engine data. Observed defects are categorized according to a Pareto analysis assisted by a cause‐and‐effect diagram. A binomial process capability analysis is performed on nonconforming aero‐engines based on operating curves produced specifically for this case study. The time frame for experimental analysis is reflected in a span of six months.FindingsIt is found that a significant number of aero‐engines may be benefited by entering a more progressive maintenance program relying on predictive maintenance on the way to establishing a more effective Total Productive Maintenance scheme.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study showcases an approach to aero‐engine rejection statistical rates by accepting the fact that maintenance process may not be viewed as a process that may be limited to constant sampling.Practical implicationsFor a long time, total quality management (TQM) tools have been deeply rooted in design, manufacturing and assembling of airliners and jet fighters alike. However, a comprehensive study focusing on the maintenance function of such complex machines may prove worthwhile now that an unstable global economy may prohibit extensive replacement of aging flying fleets.Originality/valueWith the lack of a prior practical unfolding in the field of genuine aero‐engine maintenance, this presentation aims to fill in the gap for engine rejection treatment. The variant operating curve notion introduced in the text is also a unique idea espoused for variable sampling situations when a binomial distribution is adopted.
Research opportunities in maintenance of office building services systems
Authors: Wu Shaomin , Neale Keith , Williamson Michael , Hornby Matthew 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to highlight special characteristics of building services systems and investigate how practitioners view reliability and maintenance. These characteristics include energy‐hungry services systems, operating modes, maintenance types, the relationship between procurement costs and maintenance costs.Design/methodology/approachThe practitioners' viewpoints on reliability and maintenance are explored through a workshop. The authors wish to draw the attention of researchers in the reliability and maintenance community and furthermore emphasise the difference between building services systems and systems in industries other than construction.FindingsIt is shown that a lack of failure data and maintenance data is the main problem from both academic researchers' and industrial practitioner's points of view. The paper suggests that there exists no fixed cost ratio available to apply to building services systems; the analysis of RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) should include duty cycles and the environment; and clients of the construction industry would benefit from mandating a LCC to be applied to the build.Practical implicationsThe gap between academia and practitioners should be bridged through better understanding each other's needs. Accurately estimating the ratio between procurement and maintenance costs is needed from a whole life costing perspective.Originality/valueThis paper is a good reference for building designers, facility managers and maintenance staff of building services systems. It also offers reliability researchers references on special characteristics of building services systems.
System failure behavior and maintenance decision making using, RCA, FMEA and FM
Authors: Sharma Rajiv Kumar , Sharma Pooja 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to permit the system reliability analysts/managers/engineers to model, analyze and predict the behavior of industrial systems in a more realistic and consistent manner and plan suitable maintenance strategies accordingly.Design/methodology/approachRoot cause analysis (RCA), failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) and fuzzy methodology (FM) have been used by the authors to build an integrated framework, to facilitate the reliability/system analysts in maintenance planning. The factors contributing to system unreliability were analyzed using RCA and FMEA. The uncertainty related to performance of system is modeled using fuzzy synthesis of information.FindingsThe in‐depth analysis of system is carried out using RCA and FMEA. The discrepancies associated with the traditional procedure of risk ranking in FMEA are modeled using decision making system based on fuzzy methodology. Further, to cope up with imprecise, uncertain and subjective information related to system performance, the system behavior is quantified by fuzzy synthesis of information.Originality/valueThe complementary adoption of the techniques as discussed in the study will help the maintenance engineers/managers/practitioners to plan/adapt suitable maintenance practices to improve system reliability and maintainability aspects after understanding the failure behavior of component(s) in the system.
Research paradigms of contemporary knowledge management studies: 1998‐2007
Authors: Ma Zhenzhong , Yu Kuo‐Hsun 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the research paradigms of contemporary knowledge management studies in the past decade using citation and co‐citation analysis.Design/methodology/approachResearch in any academic area often clusters into informal networks that focus on common questions in common ways, and the accumulated knowledge often flows between members of these networks, revealed in patterns of citations. The research paradigms of a given field can be identified by analyzing corresponding knowledge flows and citation and co‐citation process. The methods used in the study include citation analysis, co‐citation analysis, and social network analysis.FindingsThe paper draws an intellectual map of knowledge flows between knowledge management scholars. Key research themes and concepts as well as their relationships in the field of knowledge management are identified.Research limitations/implicationsAn in‐depth analysis of the relationships between knowledge management research and industrial practices should be conducted in future in order to examine the impact of academic research on knowledge management and the management of knowledge accumulated in the practice.Originality/valueThe paper profiles knowledge management studies in the past decade and presents a solid foundation for a better understanding of different research paradigms in the area of knowledge management. It helps identify the invisible network of knowledge management studies that traces the evolution of knowledge management research, which thus provides a new perspective on knowledge management research.
Recursive view of the project‐based companies' knowledge production
Authors: Koskinen Kaj U. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeAccording to the traditional “stable‐process” problem, the project‐based company's memory and project implementation cannot interact. They remain conceptually distinctly different entities, the differences stemming from epistemologically different theoretical projects. However, the idea of recursivity within autopoiesis theory and autopoietic epistemology might enable an approach to this problem by bridging the gap. A recursive view of the project‐based company assumes that the memory of the company and the project implementation processes within the company exist at different levels of analysis. They remain analytically distinct from each other, yet they interact in such a way that they are both modified through interaction. Therefore, this paper aims to show that, with the help of a recursive view, it can shed new light on the problem of knowledge production in project‐based companies.Design/methodology/approachKnowledge production in project‐based companies is conceptualized with the help of autopoiesis theory and autopoietic epistemology, in that the focus is on the recursivity.FindingsThe idea of recursivity seems to represent explanatory potential by bringing new light to relationships between the project‐based company's memory and project implementations.Originality/valueCurrent theories about knowledge production in project‐based companies are largely based on the idea of transferability of knowledge between people and across borders. These theories are challenged by the implications of autopoiesis theory and autopoietic epistemology, which suggest transition from these theories to the theory of knowledge production as a creational matter. That is, autopoietic epistemology and the recursive view within it provide a lens through which individuals may advance their understanding of the dynamics of project‐based companies' knowledge production.
The correlation between organizational culture and knowledge conversion on corporate performance
Authors: Tseng Shu‐Mei 
Published: March 2010

PurposeOrganizational culture can significantly promote or hinder the success of knowledge management initiatives. Therefore, this study seeks to develop and test empirically a conceptual framework to investigate the correlation between organizational culture and knowledge conversion on corporate performance.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire and statistical analytical techniques were applied to gain best exploration on organizational culture, knowledge conversion and corporate performance.FindingsThe results of the questionnaire analyses indicate that an adhocracy culture enables knowledge conversion and enhances corporate performance more than clan and hierarchy cultures.Research limitations/implicationsThe research investigates the correlation between organizational culture and knowledge conversion on corporate performance under a Chinese‐centric set of societal, cultural and linguistic attitudes and behaviors. However, different countries have different cultures. Future research could extend this study to other regions of the world with a different set of attitudes and behaviors.Practical implicationsIf the organization can nurture an adhocracy culture, it will be easy to create an environment where knowledge workers can learn, feel comfortable, and have the opportunity to be creative and innovative, improve corporate performance and increase the organization's value.Originality/valueA lot of evidence shows that successful knowledge management initiatives can increase business innovation capacity. However, there is still a lack of empirical evidence regarding organizational culture, knowledge conversion, and corporate performance. Thus, a statistical analytical model for assessing the correlation between organizational culture and knowledge conversion on corporate performance with three cultural aspects and four knowledge conversion activities was developed in the study.
Exploring the military contribution to KBD through leadership and values
Authors: Bennet Alex , Bennet David , Long Lee Shiang 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to present an exploration of the contributions of the military organization to knowledge‐based development within and beyond the boundaries of its home country.Design/methodology/approachAfter first defining knowledge, several frames of reference for considering knowledge are presented. Then the nature of contributions to societal knowledge from military organizations is explored, with a focus on leadership and values as knowledge contributions. A large part of this paper is a case study which introduces the core values of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and looks at SAF's knowledge contributions to the city‐state of Singapore and Singapore's allies and regional neighbors.FindingsThe knowledge and learning that occur in military organizations are entangled with the knowledge and learning of the country they serve, in terms of both individuals moving through the military setting and back into society, and the military organization's larger knowledge contributions made in service to its citizens. Using SAF, specific examples are cited that support the movement of knowledge from the military to the public and private sectors and enhance the growth of knowledge‐based development. The strong values needed for effective military defense clearly carry over to the nation's civilian needs in terms of leadership.Originality/valueThe paper takes a unique approach to exploring the role of military organizations and personnel in knowledge‐based development of the country they serve, intertwining descriptions of military values and knowledge with individual examples of leaders who move from the SAF to the public and private sectors, and stories provided by current and past SAF leaders. A new conceptual model of the relationship between moral values and knowledge is introduced.
Analysis of significant factors in DWDM optical communication systems
Authors: Kaur Gurmeet , Singh M.L. , Patterh M.S. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe current generation of light wave systems benefit from increased transmission distance by using optical amplification and increased capacity by using dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology. The reach of present systems is limited by the noise contributed by the used amplifiers, combined with nonlinear effects from transmission. This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe nature and extent of degradations in the optical DWDM systems due to these limiting factors have been discussed in this paper.FindingsIt has been learnt that stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), four wave mixing (FWM) and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) are the important factors in optical DWDM systems. These factors limit the system capacity of the transmission systems drastically.Originality/valueIt can be concluded from the discussion that while designing an efficient DWDM system, an optimization of the channel separation and the amplifier separation is required to minimize the nonlinear effects (FWM and SRS) along with the ASE noise introduced by inline optical amplifications.
Emerging contractors in South Africa: interactions and learning
Authors: Martin Ludwig , Root David 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe South African construction industry is undergoing transformation. Part of this metamorphosis is the explosion in the number of “emerging contractors”. However, emerging contractors have a tendency to fail to develop into sustainable enterprises due to inadequate construction knowledge and lack of experience. These shortfalls can be potentially overcome by learning through appropriate interactions with others who possess the required knowledge and experience but there is an absence of comprehensive data about the form and frequency of such interactions and reliance has tended to be on small scale samples or anecdotal reports. The paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachA survey amongst emerging contractors on interactions in the civil engineering sector was carried out, collecting mainly quantitative but also qualitative data for analysis.FindingsSignificant relations between particular forms of interactions and knowledge perceived to be held by the respondents exist. Interdependencies between interactions and knowledge levels are present. Yet, the findings indicate that these interactions are not fully capitalised on in terms of knowledge gains by the respondents.Originality/valueUsing the conceptual framework of the Basho, as introduced by Nonaka, the knowledge of patterns of interactions with indicators of knowledge‐interaction interdependencies are of interest. Mapping these allows for the relevant existing learning contexts and knowledge transfer mechanisms to be explored and described.
Investigating the cutting forces in heat treated medium carbon steel when turning on a lathe machine
Authors: Alabi A.G.F. , Ajiboye T.K. , Olusegun H.D. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeDeveloping countries are now fully aware of the importance of the manufacturing sector as a key factor of growth and transformation of their economy. Improved technology and method of manufacturing have produced quality products at reduced cost and this has advanced development. The study uses experimental methods based on orthogonal cutting process to measure the cutting forces using a dynamometer while machining the test specimen with a diamond cutting tool at 5° rake angle. The machining forces for the dry cutting are higher than the wet cutting in the range of 31.2‐44.31, 32.09‐40.67, 29.10‐35.62, 29.21‐45.03 and 29.94‐38.74 percent for “as received”, normalized, tempered, annealed and hardened specimen, respectively. For annealed and hardened test specimen, the cutting speed of 245 rpm is ideal for machining when it gives a fine surface finish. Also for precision machining, dry turning is by far a better cost saver and cleaner option than wet turning. This is because though wet machining is relatively more expensive, it is hazardous to health. Normalized and annealed specimens require lower cutting forces and chip formation is slow. Tempering and annealing medium carbon steel facilitated rapid machining and chip formation is rapid. It is therefore an advantage to temper or anneal medium carbon steel before processing into component parts in the manufacturing industry as it saves cost and gives fine component surface finish. The paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachTensile samples are prepared from medium carbon steel. These prepared samples were later subjected to heat‐treatment operations (normalizing, hardening, tempering and annealing). Tensile test were carried out to obtain the materials' sensitive properties used in the modeling equations. An experimental method based on orthogonal cutting is adopted to measure the machining forces using techquipment dynamometer.FindingsIt is observed that as tu increases, Fc increases for all conditions, i.e. as tu increases, tool‐chip contact area increases and increasing frictional force, also volume of metal removal increase resulting in increasing energy input. Fc values is highest for the normalized followed by that of the annealed. They are less for hardened and tempered. This is because of the mode of chip formation whereby ductile structures give continuous chips as against discontinuous structure for the hardened and quenched structures. Input energy is high for the former and low for the later. This is confirmed by the m values and observed chips.Research limitations/implicationsThere is no limitation, except for the instrumentation. On availability of the appropriate equipment, like the Kystler dynamometer for the correct reading of the experimental results.Practical implicationsThe implication is limited to the workshop hazard during the experiment.Originality/valueThe research work is original.
The effect of age on the job satisfaction of construction workers
Authors: Chileshe Nicholas , Haupt Theodore C. 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceived age differences in job satisfaction of construction workers in South Africa, and how these differences affect job overall satisfaction of young and old workers on construction sites in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study involved construction workers at operational levels comprising younger (age<40 years) and older (age>40 years) in the Western Cape province. A total of 300 questionnaires were sent to potential respondents chosen from construction workers within the Western Cape province. A total of 65 useable questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 22 per cent.FindingsResults of this paper indicate that job satisfaction differential does not exist between younger and older construction workers in South Africa. Overall the findings suggest that although both younger and older workers rank the relationship with workmates as being poor, age does not have an influence on the effects of the aspects of work, however, the differences are significant for one of the job satisfaction effects with younger workers reporting higher scores on “indifference”, whereas the younger workers rank poor recognition of abilities as the most effect in comparison to the older workers who reported suffering from a “lack of alertness” as the most ranked effect.Research limitations/implicationsThe relatively small sample means that the findings presented are not generalisable to the wider population of workers in the South African construction industry.Practical implicationsThe paper offers practical suggestions to the construction industry and management in general on how to minimise the negative job effects arising from lack of job satisfaction. Contributes to the theory building efforts in the discipline of organisation behaviour.Originality/valueThe paper examines job satisfaction related issues in a developing economy and under‐researched area. The Herzberg's two factor theory of motivation which has hitherto been based on white‐collar and its applicability to blue‐collar workers such as construction bricklayers, general workers and site based personnel remains to be tested, more so with the African context.
Examining “response”: video‐based studies in museums and galleries
Authors: vom Lehn Dirk 
Published: March 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to use a video‐taped fragment of conduct and interaction in a museum to illustrate the analysis of visitors' interactionally produced response to works of art.Design/methodology/approachThe method draws on ethnomethodology and conversation analysis to investigate the social and sequential organisation of people's action and interaction. The fragment discussed as part of this paper sheds light on the social and interactional production of people's response to and experience of exhibits.FindingsThe detailed analysis of one video‐fragment illustrates how the analysis progresses from an inspection of the sequential organisation of talk to an examination of the sequential organisation of verbal, visual and bodily conduct. The analysis also makes a small substantive contribution to current debates on people's experience of artwork in museums. In particular, the findings suggest that the experience of works of art is not a subjective and cognitive response to the objects, but arises in and through socially organised, embodied practices at the exhibit‐face.Originality/valueThe paper discusses an innovative way to analyze video‐data, and makes a contribution to the growing body of research in arts marketing and museum marketing on the exhibition floor.