bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
JTM use Motoman to stack pails of lubricants
Authors: Bloss Richard 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo report on the design and development of a robotic palletizing system that handles both pails of lubricant as well as cardboard cartons or cases.Design/methodology/approachThe customer selected a material‐handling expert to design and install the system after reviewing the offerings from a number of suppliers.FindingsCareful planning, detailed simulation and attention to details helped ensure that the working production system was in service to meet a tight deadline.Practical implicationsRobotic solutions can be designed to handle a multitude of product configurations. Hiring an expert in the particular application type with specific prior experience addressing the project requirements can prove very beneficial. Improving throughput is just one of many benefits that such a project can provide. Other benefits may include, improving workplace safety, reducing floor space needs and adapting to small order sizes.Originality/valueKnowing what others have accomplished can provide not only a project plan but can also bring fresh ideas to other projects. Helps designers think outside the box.
Gesture‐based human‐robot interaction using a knowledge‐based software platform
Authors: Hasanuzzaman  , Zhang T. , Ampornaramveth V. , Ueno H. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeAchieving natural interactions by means of vision and speech between humans and robots is one of the major goals that many researchers are working on. This paper aims to describe a gesture‐based human‐robot interaction (HRI) system using a knowledge‐based software platform.Design/methodology/approachA frame‐based knowledge model is defined for the gesture interpretation and HRI. In this knowledge model, necessary frames are defined for the known users, robots, poses, gestures and robot behaviors. First, the system identifies the user using the eigenface method. Then, face and hand poses are segmented from the camera frame buffer using the person's specific skin color information and classified by the subspace method.FindingsThe system is capable of recognizing static gestures comprised of the face and hand poses, and dynamic gestures of face in motion. The system combines computer vision and knowledge‐based approaches in order to improve the adaptability to different people.Originality/valueProvides information on an experimental HRI system that has been implemented in the frame‐based software platform for agent and knowledge management using the AIBO entertainment robot, and this has been demonstrated to be useful and efficient within a limited situation.
Handling unpredicted motion in industrial robot workcells using sensor networks
Authors: Walker Ian , Hoover Adam , Liu Yanfei 
Published: June 2006

PurposeAims to show how sensor networks can be used to effectively allow industrial robots to handle unpredicted movements within their workcells.Design/methodology/approachPresents the concept of using sensor networks, using off‐the‐shelf technologies, to sense in real time movements within the workcell, and to feed this information, in real time, to the industrial robot controller, to allow adaptation of the robot to the movements. Results of numerous experiments in intercept and grasp of moving objects using a prototype of the system are reported.FindingsFinds that the prototype system operates effectively and in a robust fashion in over 1,000 trials.Research limitations/implicationsProvides new insight and understanding for engineers working in the area of visually guided robots.Practical implicationsResults are of significant value to practitioners seeking to expand the markets of industrial robots by showing how to expand the capabilities of current systems with off‐the‐shelf technology.Originality/valueIntroduces the concept of using sensor networks to drive the controllers of industrial robots to intercept unpredictable moving objects in their workcells. Results are of value to practitioners working to expand the capabilities of their systems.
Consumption disparities in information society
Authors: Rasanen Pekka 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis article compares consumption differences between population groups in the fields of the traditional and new information and entertainment. The interest is to estimate to what extent traditional information and entertainment expenditure and expenditure on the new information technology display similar structural characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe data used is the Finnish Expenditure Survey data from 1998 (N=4359) and 2001‐2002 (N=5495) provided by the Statistics Finland. The information and entertainment consumption is studied by using purchasing costs of books and magazines, television license and pay channel costs, video rentals, and operating costs of phone and internet services. The differences by population groups are analysed according to the respondent's level of education and income, type of household, respondent's age and gender, and place of residence.FindingsThe findings indicate that the differences concerning books and magazines and especially phone and internet services have increased in the 21st century.Research limitations/implicationsThe conclusions presented in this article are connected with circumstances during and after the product consolidation in Finland. In this regard it should be stated that the empirical analysis was restricted to the use of variables including different operating costs and to a short time frame in one European country.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate that consumption disparities display the same structural characteristics in the realms of both traditional information technology (books and magazines) and new information technology (phone and internet services). Despite the fact that new technology is apparently available to everyone, growing disparities are displayed by both education and income.Originality/valueThis paper compares the traditional and digital divides in Finland to display the structural similarities and differences.
Stress, social support and depression in informal caregivers to people with HIV/AIDS in Lomé, Togo
Authors: Moore Ami R. , Vosvick Mark , Amey Foster K. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis study examined factors associated with depression in 125 informal caregivers to adults living with HIV/AIDS in Lomé, Togo.MethodologyEach caregiver completed a questionnaire that assessed primary and secondary stressors, social support and depression. Most of the participants were women (78 per cent), married (53 per cent), and had been giving care to nuclear family members (63 per cent) for about 11 months. OLS regression was used to examine the association of primary and secondary stressors with self‐reported depression.FindingsThe analysis showed that caregiving demand, role captivity, and job conflict were positively associated with self‐reported depression. This suggests that work‐related strains and role strains were associated with depression levels among caregivers in our sample.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on a small convenience sample of volunteers and this may limit the generalisability of the results.Practical implicationsThis knowledge can benefit HIV/AIDS service providers in counselling caregivers who need to maintain a healthy quality of life and well‐being for their difficult and challenging task.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to knowledge on caregiving role to people with chronic illnesses by incorporating an understudied population into the knowledge base.
Health care governance and gender relations within the health services of Germany and Italy
Authors: di Luzio Gaia 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThe paper addresses the question of the contribution made by health service institutions towards the perpetuation of gender inequality within health occupations.Design/methodology/approachInstitutions that enable the medical profession to exercise influence over the working, training and examination practices of other health occupations will be looked at in their role as sustaining the dominance of the medical profession over all other health services. Statistically analysing the proportions of women and men in health occupations the paper examines whether this is a gender‐specific form of dominance. Using an institutionalist actor‐centred approach it will be examined whether the stability of the subordination of the allied occupations depends on whether the medical profession is also a corporate actor allotted a central steering function in the governance of the health system. A comparison is made between Germany and Italy.FindingsIn Germany and Italy physicians fulfil the criteria for professional dominance. It is shown that in both countries there exists a gender‐specific segregation across the health occupations, women being under‐represented in the profession of physician, and greatly over‐represented in the subordinate occupations. Therefore, the dominance of the medical profession is gender‐specific. The dominance of the medical profession in Germany is reinforced by several institutions with the consequence of stagnation in the traditional relationship between physicians and allied health occupations. In Italy, more self‐determination of the allied health occupations in the areas of training and examination has become a distinct possibility.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to assess the impact of health care institutions on gender inequality within the health services.
Buyer‐focused operations as a supply chain strategy
Authors: van der Vaart Taco , Pieter van Donk Dirk 
Published: June 2006

PurposeBuyer‐focused operations aim at a high level of supply chain alignment by singling out resources for one buyer in order to serve this buyer optimally. The purpose of this paper is to identify what business characteristics make suppliers choose buyer‐focused operations as a supply chain strategy in their relationships with key buyers.Design/methodology/approachA broad range of qualitative and quantitative data was collected during interviews and plant visits in a multi‐case study research design. Nine units and 42 supply links with key buyers were investigated and analysed.FindingsThe suppliers choose buyer‐focused operations for different reasons. As expected, some of them choose buyer‐focused operations to fulfil the buyer's requirements in terms of flexibility (mix, volume, specification and timing). However, in other situations, buyer‐focus is used for other reasons: mostly to perform additional assembly operations. Suppliers rarely consider buyer‐focus of core production technology in relationships with buyers for which cost and speed are the main order‐winners.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on a relatively small number of cases. Although the findings confirm the theoretical framework, more empirical work is needed to better understand different forms of buyer‐focus. Further research should also point out if and how mutual trust and risk dispersal influence decisions to invest in buyer‐focused resources.Practical implicationsThe results of this paper help managers in choosing between different forms of buyer‐focus, based on the specific characteristics of a supply chain link.Originality/valueThe paper introduces focus into the domain of supply chain management and shows that striving for close cooperation in a supply relationship needs to be carefully considered and depends on the business characteristics. The paper contributes also to a better understanding of the concept of buyer‐focus and distinguishes different types.
Determinants of supplier‐retailer collaboration: evidence from an international study
Authors: Sheu Chwen , Rebecca Yen HsiuJu , Chae Bongsug 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to increase the understanding of social and technical factors contributing to successful supplier‐retailer collaboration. The objective is to identify the necessary supply chain architecture for supplier‐retailer collaboration, and demonstrate how it influences supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachFive pairs of suppliers and retailers in Taiwan were studied with each pair serving as a unit of analysis. In each case, data pertaining to eight relationship variables critical to collaboration between supplier and retailer were collected and analyzed. A comprehensive supplier‐retailer relationship model is developed with five specific research positions: supplier‐retailer business relationship (interdependence, intensity, trust) affects long‐term orientation; supplier‐retailer business relationship affects supply chain architecture (information sharing, inventory system, information technology capabilities, coordination structure); long‐term orientation affects supply chain architecture; supply chain architecture affects the level of supplier‐retailer collaboration; and supplier‐retailer collaboration enhances supplier‐retailer performance.FindingsOverall, with the exception of duration, all variables are found to be critical to supplier‐retailer collaboration. It is the intensity, as opposed to the duration, of the relationship that influences the retailer‐supplier relationship.Originality/valueThe proposed model demonstrates how eight critical social and technical variables are directly and/or indirectly related. This knowledge will enable the management of supplier‐retailer networks to produce better supply chain collaboration and performance.
What is the “right” inventory management approach for a purchased item?
Authors: Wallin Cynthia , Johnny Rungtusanatham M. , Rabinovich Elliot 
Published: June 2006

PurposeHow should a firm decide which of four choices – i.e. inventory speculation, inventory postponement, inventory consignment, and reverse inventory consignment – is most appropriate to adopt for a given purchased item in a particular context? This paper seeks to identify and explain the critical factors that drive this decision.Design/methodology/approachBy conducting a review of relevant literature and deriving anecdotal observations from four case studies.FindingsThis decision is influenced by three factors – customer demand or usage requirements, nature of the supply line and bargaining power of a firm relative to the supplier.Research limitations/implicationsFrom the perspective of science, the conduct of both empirical research to augment the reported anecdotal evidence and conceptual research along a number of directions (e.g. to juxtapose the research findings in existing theories, to examine variations of the four “pure” inventory management approaches, or to consider the vantage point of the supplying firm rather than that of the buying firm) is encouraged.Practical implicationsAs for the perspective of practice, the critical factors serve as the basis for the articulation of a decision framework – one that should help firms not only pin‐point the most relevant issues concerning a particular purchased item but also to avoid the costly mistake of selecting a less‐than‐ideal inventory management approach.Originality/valueThese critical factors, along with the proposed decision framework, extend prior research which has focused only on choosing between the inventory speculation approach and the inventory postponement approach.
A framework for assessing value chain agility
Authors: Swafford Patricia M. , Ghosh Soumen , Murthy Nagesh N. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo gain understanding of value chain (VC) agility in terms of value‐adding processes, this paper seeks to present a VC agility framework and then to develop the involved constructs.Design/methodology/approachA framework of VC agility and its theoretical underpinnings is presented. Within the framework, drivers and determinants of VC agility are identified as characteristics enabling flexibility within key components of a firm's VC. Also, it is posited that information technology (IT) capability impacts the levels of achieved flexibility and agility, and that VC agility impacts business performance.FindingsFrom scale development, key determinants of flexibility within VC activities are identified. Correlation analysis suggests that firms derive higher levels of agility through integrating information across the VC rather than within VC activities. Firms with flexibility in their VC functions enjoy higher levels of ensuing VC agility and on‐time delivery, ROA, and market share.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the sample size is adequate for scale development, it is not adequate for structural equation modeling since the guideline is to have at least five survey responses for every item measure. Thus, insights were gleaned from initial analysis based on correlations.Practical implicationsManagerial insights concerning key value‐adding activities that build flexibility and ultimately agility are identified.Originality/valueTo the best of one's knowledge, this work is the first to operationalize VC agility from the perspective that agility is derived from flexibility in the VC processes and is enabled by IT integration. From exploratory research, insights are gained on how VC agility links with business performance.
ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards: an international diffusion model
Authors: Marimon Viadiu Frederic , Casadesús Fa Martí , Heras Saizarbitoria Iñaki 
Published: June 2006

PurposeIn an economic environment characterized in recent years by globalization and the integration of economic processes, standardization in management systems has had a high growth. In this context, there has been a remarkable increase in certain standards, or norms, issued by international organizations. Among these standards, two main groups stand out, both issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO): one for quality management systems – the family of ISO 9000 standards – and the other for environmental management systems – the ISO 14000 standards. This paper aims to analyze the world wide diffusion process of these two standards, using data provided by the ISO itself.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology proposed is developed in four separate phases. The first two analyze the diffusion model over time with a model based on the logistic curve proposed by Franceschiniet al.The next two phases analyze whether the diffusion process has proceeded in a relatively homogeneous way in the different sectors of activity. In order to do that, the use of indices of concentration and instability has been carried out.FindingsThe conclusion is that the diffusion of both standards is very similar – in general and in terms of the different sectors. This result coincides with certain hypotheses formulated in the theoretical literature.Originality/valueThis is the first paper where it can be demonstrated that, world‐wide, both the ISO 14000 and the ISO 9000 standards have followed very similar patterns of diffusion in their expansion.
Supplier performance and selection in China
Authors: Millington Andrew , Eberhardt Markus , Wilkinson Barry 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the availability and performance of different types of supplier in China.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on a survey of the purchasing behaviour of 75 western firms with manufacturing facilities in the eastern seaboard region of China and 167 separate supply relationships with foreign‐invested and indigenous Chinese suppliers.FindingsThe results suggest that, while the availability of indigenous suppliers is limited, private Chinese enterprises have the flexibility and potential to perform well if both the supplier and buyer are willing to make significant investments, especially in the areas of workforce training and quality procedures.Practical implicationsFirms should treat state‐owned enterprises with caution, carefully considering whether they have the willingness and flexibility to respond to investment.Originality/valueThis should prove beneficial to both supplier and buyer companies based in China, both now and in the future.
Exploring the barriers to the adoption of e‐auctions for sourcing
Authors: Hartley Janet L. , Lane Michelle D. , Duplaga Edward A. 
Published: June 2006

PurposeTo understand the differences in perceived barriers to e‐auctions both in US buying organizations that have adopted e‐auctions and in both those that have not.Design/methodology/approachFour propositions were developed based on the literature and case studies in eight companies that used e‐auctions for sourcing. Measures were developed for lack of e‐auction knowledge, lack of supplier participation, information security concerns and importance of supplier relationships. Survey data were gathered from 163 US National Association of Purchasing Management members. GLM‐MANOVA was used to test the propositions.FindingsE‐auction adopters perceive information security to be less of a concern than non‐adopters. No significant differences were found between adopters and non‐adopters on the buyer's e‐auction knowledge, lack of supplier participation, and the importance of supplier relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe small sample size limits statistical power, so small differences may not have been detected. The results may not generalize beyond the sample.Practical implicationsSupply managers should focus on reducing information security concerns within their organizations to facilitate adoption.Originality/valueNo published studies have explored the differences between adopters and non‐adopters of e‐auctions to identify barriers.
2005 Poetry Publication Showcase: selected titles
Authors: Romanos Michael 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a selection of poetry titles from the Poets House Showcase of 2005.Design/methodology/approachThis article gives a review of the 2005 Poetry Publication Showcase.FindingsThis review represents a wide‐ranging selection of contemporary poetry collections and anthologies.Originality/valueThis list documents the tremendous range of poetry publishing from commercial, independent and university presses as well as letterpress chapbooks, art books and CDs in 2004 and early 2005.
Using depository exchange lists as collection development tools
Authors: Clemons Angel , Sproles Claudene 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper seeks to highlight the benefits of using depository exchange lists as collection development tools.Design/methodology/approachThe authors provide a general overview of depository collection development and analyze exchange list activity at the national and local level.FindingsAlthough exchange lists are widely available electronically, only a small portion of depository libraries actually use them as found in the analysis of exchange list activity at the national level. Many unique and out of print documents are regularly being offered on the lists.Originality/valueThis paper provides information on an area of government documents and collection development librarianship that is not widely covered in the literature. It highlights the use of exchange lists as a way to increase collections at a relatively low cost.
Zines in libraries: how, what and why?
Authors: Gisonny Karen , Freedman Jenna 
Published: June 2006

PurposeThis paper sets out to discuss the importance of collecting alternative press materials, particularly zines, in libraries and presents case studies of zine collections; Barnard College Library and the New York Public Library.Design/methodology/approachThis paper builds on work presented by the authors and others at the 12th National ACRL conference in Minneapolis, where zine collections in different types of academic and research libraries were discussed.FindingsZines document contemporary culture in the same way newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and movies as, but from a much different point‐of‐view. It is important for libraries to collect zines, and all alternative press materials, to ensure balanced and diverse collections, as well as securing primary source material for scholars today and in the future.Originality/valueThis paper provides concrete examples of how two libraries are handling collections of zines.