bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Main quality programs characteristics in large size Brazilian companies
Authors: Helena Boarin Pinto Silvia , Monteiro de Carvalho Marly , Lee Ho Linda 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships as to complementarities and redundancies of the main quality programs in large Brazilian companies by a comparative and critical analysis of their implementation in those companies.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper the survey methodology was utilized. The data collection was done from “Ranking Valor 1000” list, which comprises the 1,000 largest Brazilian companies; the assumption was that in these companies the embryos of the emerging models in quality management were to be found. The data collected from questionnaires were analyzed through statistical methods.FindingsThe findings showed that the large organizations in Brazil have been investing in quality programs.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper presents the limitations which are inherent to the research method applied, that is, the results should not be generalized because the collected data are not originated in a probabilistic sample.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the companies where the Six Sigma program was implemented are those with the strongest tradition in the market; the companies that most invested in quality by adopting these programs were successful according to the quality performance indicators as well as concerning the return on investment; and the main causes of failure in the quality programs analyzed in this study were shortage of financial resources for the proper implementation of the programs and the fragile support given by the company management.Originality/valueThis paper may prove to be significantly helpful to a better and deeper understanding of the factors influencing the quality programs adopted by Brazilian companies.
The value of quality improvements
Authors: Setijono Djoko , Dahlgaard Jens J. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to present a proactive quality costs measurement methodology, which describes the value of quality improvements and the implication of this value on customers' perception regarding the value of the product.Design/methodology/approachBy describing the perceived customer value in a dynamic term, it becomes possible to derive an analytical model that recognizes the implication of a company's efforts to improve design quality and conformance quality on product value as perceived by the customers. Quality costs as a performance indicator of improved design quality and conformance quality (as the results of prevention and appraisal activities) can be expressed in terms of value (i.e. a trade‐off between benefits and sacrifices), where the benefits of the improvement include higher product quality and reduction of failure costs. The sacrifices include the costs to perform improvement activities (i.e. prevention and appraisal costs). Expressing quality costs in this way thus establishes a link between a producer's efforts to improve quality and the way customers perceive the value of the product. The developed methodology of proactive quality cost measurement has been applied for collecting, measuring, and reporting quality costs in a Swedish wood‐flooring manufacturing company.FindingsTransforming quality cost measurements into value provides a better explanation regarding the effect of prevention and appraisal activities on the quality improvement indicators. Thus, the value of quality improvements is a measure of return on quality improvements (ROQI), which indicates whether the quality improvement efforts gave higher, fair, or lower return.Originality/valueThis paper develops and discusses a model of customer value by accommodating its relative nature, and presents a proactive way of measuring quality costs (i.e. value‐oriented and customer‐oriented).
The impact of the setting of air‐jet looms on the fabric quality: an investigation
Authors: Brun Alessandro , Corti Donatella , Pozzetti Alessandro 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to provide a methodology aimed at improving the setting up of air‐jet looms by clarifying the function which links different important variables involved in the setting procedure and by proposing a method to measure the quality of fabrics depending on the factor values.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed procedure is based on the use of a load sensor: the tension profile received from it is used to analyse the weft behaviour and, sometimes, to predict any quality problems. Because of the high number of variables influencing the set up, the factorial experiments have been used to develop the setting procedure. Numerical results have been analyzed by means of a regression analysis and an ANOVA analysis.FindingsRelationships among different variables and their influence on the quality of the fabric have been derived thanks to the use of a load sensor.Research limitations/implicationsSo far, the proposed procedure has been developed for air‐jet looms and for a limited set of fabrics, but it could be adapted in other situations as well.Practical implicationsUse of the proposed procedure allows practitioners to reduce cost and time of the setting up of air jet looms. High productivity of air jet looms could be thus better exploited also for producing small batches of products.Originality/valueThe combination of the load sensor and the statistical analysis allowed the development of a systematic setting procedure for air‐jet looms.
An overview on reliability, availability, maintainability and supportability (RAMS) engineering
Authors: Saraswat S. , Yadava G.S. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of RAMS engineering in industry and research.Design/methodology/approachA range of research articles (1988‐2005) covering RAMS engineering is discussed to provide a practical and theoretical overview of RAMS engineering in industry and research.FindingsThe paper provides information about the current scenario and also about the past scenario of RAMS engineering in research and industry.Research limitations/implications– This paper reviews much of the literature on RAMS engineering. The literature is collected from major journals and conference proceedings, the period covered is from 1988 to 2005. The authors have tried to make it reasonably comprehensive, but those papers which are not included were either inadvertently overlooked or considered peripheral to this survey. In the present work the authors have only considered those articles which have included two or more aspects of RAMS.Practical implications– The paper is a very useful source of information for researchers working in the area of RAMS engineering.Originality/value– This paper offers help to researchers in understanding the current and past status of RAMS.
Vision by design: a reflexive approach to enterprise regeneration
Authors: Finkelstein Sydney , Harvey Charles , Lawton Thomas 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce a strategic visioning method called vision by design and to use the example of Harley‐Davidson's corporate regeneration to illustrate how the method works in practice. This approach conceives visioning as a practical tool of management whose power stems from the facilitation of strategic conversations among stakeholders and the reflexive engagement of business leaders in past‐present‐future thinking.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a four‐dimensional visioning model that facilitates exploration of both the internal and external contexts of the business. The advantage of the approach lies in breaking down vision into its component parts, lending simplicity and structure to the visioning process. The study employs a case study of the turnaround of Harley‐Davidson to illustrate this method.FindingsThe paper finds that, in undertaking corporate regeneration, Harley‐Davidson's senior management recognized the need for a vision that was comprehensive, inclusive and dynamic, but also realistic and grounded in the history and present circumstances of the business. The visioning process at the company was transformational because it ignited a strategic conversation that went beyond the boardroom to include employees, customers, partners and financiers.Originality/valueThe vision by design method adds value by simplifying the visioning process and focusing on a series of transitions, whereby the emerging vision is rooted squarely in business realities. As the picture of a regenerated enterprise is built up, both internal and external contexts are scrutinized, ensuring that the future vision is consistent and complete, attractive externally and deliverable internally.
Driving renewal: the entrepreneur‐manager
Authors: Chakravarthy Bala , Lorange Peter 
Published: March 2008

PurposeStrategic renewal requires both a top‐down and bottom‐up effort. Top management sets the broad vision for the firm and specifies the scope and pace of renewal. However, it is the firm's entrepreneur‐managers who shape its renewal strategies and take responsibility for their implementation. This paper aims to profile the skills, personal traits and experiences of successful entrepreneur‐managers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses field research.FindingsThe paper finds that entrepreneur‐managers are in part corporate entrepreneurs. They are outward‐focused, cognizant of changes in their business environment and the new opportunities that these may bring. They are willing to experiment with new business models and to explore new capabilities. But they are also operating managers interested in scaling up an entrepreneurial idea and in delivering results. They have a few special personality traits. They are not risk averse and are action oriented. They are also supremely self‐confident. These traits allow entrepreneur‐managers to take risks, persist despite failures and learn from their mistakes. However, more than special traits, it is experience that grooms entrepreneur‐managers in a firm. Entrepreneur‐managers are typically not new comers to the organization. Their long tenure helps with networking inside the firm. They also have an established track record of performing well. That buys them the freedom to operate outside the usual confines of the organization and enjoy the trust that is needed to take risks on behalf of the firm.Research limitations/implicationsLike in any field‐based study, the sample size is a limitation. However, for the modest goal that this paper has set for itself, i.e. profiling the entrepreneur‐manager, this is not a severe limitation.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a profile for identifying and nurturing entrepreneur‐managers. As it argues, they are the drivers of strategic renewal within the firm.Originality/valuePrior empirical and theoretical research on intrapreneurship has focused more on creating distinct new corporate ventures. This article suggests that the real power of intrapreneurship is to help connect the future of the firm with its current core businesses. Intrapreneurship is about leverage and build, more so than transform, to use the three types of renewal strategies that are offered in this article.
The DNA of Innovation
Authors: Dobni C. Brooke 
Published: March 2008

PurposeA survey by Gary Hamel's company (Strategos) identified that over 80 percent of senior managers agreed that innovation creates a strong source of competitive advantage, and 90 percent indicated that innovation is highly valued. Yet these same companies rated themselves poorly at innovation. This paper sets out to consider behaviors and traits that will help organizations to successfully innovate.Design/methodology/approachRecent articles have attempted to use the concept of scientific DNA as a metaphor to describe characteristics of an organization. Many of these are descriptive and refer to basic core activities that managers need to concern themselves with. This article presents an analogy of DNA for the business perspective. There are certain behaviors and traits – call them innovation genes – that are foundational to innovation. It is believed that the sequence presented is this paper represents the basic building blocks for organizational innovation.FindingsThe paper finds that the innovation DNA sequence includes employee centric traits of knowledge management, cluster management, value management, and alignment. The context shaping innovation includes employee constituency and empowerment. The outcomes include strategic architecture to support innovation, innovation mapping of strategic initiatives, and value creation. There are competitive and positioning advantages of innovation DNA that promote a sustainable competitive advantage.Originality/valueEmbedding innovation DNA into the organization's fabric elevates organizations to being innovative in everything they do ‐ from knowledge management to value creation, and execution. Its application is universal as it elevates the least common denominator respecting how employees think and act; behaviors which lend life to innovation. As a result, the innovation imperative will only be as good as the organization's lowest common denominator in this respect.
Predicting changes in industry structure
Authors: Jackson Stuart E. 
Published: March 2008

PurposePrevious Reaching for value columns, have looked at companies and industries in historical terms. (How did smart companies use strategic market positioning (SMP) to make acquisitions and other investments? How did less smart companies pick the wrong growth path?) This column aims to consider how the basis of competition in an industry can change over time, with big implications for many of those operating in the industry today. A challenge for business strategists is to know when the time is right to launch new business models that go against established business practices. Too late and they risk ceding first‐mover advantage to competitors; too early and they risk launching businesses that fail to yield expected operating benefits and financial returns. This paper seeks to usesthe example of the healthcare industry to examine how changing operating models and market forces are likely to influence the future competitive landscape for US healthcare providers.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, different sectors of the US healthcare industry are considered and what has caused some sectors to be dominated by national or global‐scale competitors while others continue to be served by thousands of local‐scale providers are examined. To illustrate the points the recent emergence of retail clinics, such as RediClinic, owned by national pharmacy companies and attempts by hospital organizations such as HCA and Mayo to build national‐scale businesses are considered.FindingsThe paper finds that just because an industry sector has been operating one way for many years does not mean that the basis of competition can never change. Companies that can identify when new technology or other factors have made the conditions right for a newer, more efficient way of doing business can unlock value and leapfrog competitors by launching new product or service offerings and building the right capabilities and scale for the new environment.Originality/valueBy looking in detail at current and future benefits of scale in the healthcare industry, the paper provides valuable insights into how to understand and predict when major discontinuities in the structure of an industry sector are likely to.
State of the art of numerical modeling for induction processes
Authors: Lavers J.D. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeTo provide a selective bibliography for researchers and graduate students who have an interest in induction processes applied to the electromagnetic processing of materials.Design/methodology/approachThe objective is to provide references that identify seminal, early work, and references that represent the current state of the art. References are listed in categories that cover the broad range of induction modeling and application issues.FindingsA brief overview of the key areas in induction processing of materials is provided, but greater emphasis and space is devoted to the references provided.Research limitations/implicationsThe middle years of each topic area are not covered.Practical implicationsA very comprehensive coverage of material is provided to those with an interest in induction processing of materials.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified information/resources need.
Dynamic melting model for small samples in cold crucible
Authors: Bojarevics V. , Pericleous K. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeA small size cold crucible offers possibilities for melting various electrically conducting materials with a minimal wall contact. Such small samples can be used for express contamination analysis, preparing limited amounts of reactive alloys or experimental material analyses. Aims to present a model to follow the melting process.Design/methodology/approachThe presents a numerical model in which different types of axisymmetric coil configurations are analysed.FindingsThe presented numerical model permits dynamically to follow the melting process, the high‐frequency magnetic field distribution change, the free surface and the melting front evolution, and the associated turbulent fluid dynamics. The partially solidified skin on the contact to the cold crucible walls and bottom is dynamically predicted. The segmented crucible shape is either cylindrical, hemispherical or arbitrary shaped.Originality/valueThe model presented within the paper permits the analysis of melting times, melt shapes, electrical efficiency and particle tracks.
Numerical studies of the melting process in the induction furnace with cold crucible
Authors: Umbrasko A. , Baake E. , Nacke B. , Jakovics A. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeAims to present recent activities in numerical modeling of cold crucible melting process.Design/methodology/approach3D numerical analysis was used for electromagnetic problem and 3D large eddy simulation (LES) method was applied for fluid flow modeling.FindingsThe comparative modeling shows, that higher H/D ratio of the melt is more efficient when total power consumption is considered, but this advantage is held back by higher heat losses through the crucible walls. Also, calculations reveal that lower frequencies, which are energetically less effective, provide better mixing of the melt.Originality/value3D electromagnetic model, which allows to take into account non‐symmetrical distribution of Joule heat sources, together with transient LES fluid flow simulation gives the opportunity of accurate prediction of temperature distribution in the melt.
Strategy of coupling to model physical phenomena within molten glass bath heated by direct induction
Authors: Jacoutot Laetitia , Sauvage Emilien , Gagnoud Annie , Fautrelle Yves , Brun Patrice , Lacombe Jacques 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to report on a vitrification process based on direct induction that has been developed by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA, France). This process is characterized by currents directly induced inside the molten glass and by the cooling of all the crucible walls. In addition, a mechanical stirring device is used to homogenize the molten glass. This paper presents a global modelling of coupled phenomena that take place within the glass bath.Design/methodology/approachElectromagnetic, thermal and hydrodynamic phenomena are modelled. The aim of this study is to develop strategy of coupled modelling between these aspects. The thermohydrodynamic calculations are achieved with the Fluent software (distributed by Fluent France) and the electromagnetic aspects are solved by the OPHELIE program based on integral methods (developed in EPM laboratory).FindingsTwo configurations are considered: the first deals with thermal convection in an unstirred bath and the second takes into account the mechanical stirring.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is that repartition of the Joule power density within the molten glass is supposed to be not perturbed by the intrusive elements like the thermocouples or the stirrer. This assumption allows us to perform only axisymmetric calculations of induction effect.Originality/valueThis paper present different strategy of coupling the thermohydrodynamic and direct induction phenomena taken place in the molten glass.
Modelling of EM glass convection
Authors: Cepīte D. , Jakovičs A. , Halbedel B. , Krieger U. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeTo develop the mathematical model, which allows predicting the temperature and flow distribution of an opaque glass melt with the temperature‐dependent properties in case it is generated by electromagnetic and thermal convection. Analysis has been done for geometry of the model crucible with the immersed rod electrodes. Numerical analysis is used as a tool for finding out the parameters of the system, which allow getting desiderated homogeneity of temperature field by EM action.Design/methodology/approachANSYS CFX software is implemented for coupling of EM, thermal and HD processes in the modelled system. Usability of non‐inductive approximation is shown using a full harmonic analysis in ANSYS.FindingsExternal magnetic field can impact the temperature distribution in the whole volume of the melt significantly, it relocates the hottest zones and changes the maximal temperature in the melt. Qualitative agreement between the numerical and experimental results has been obtained. Dependence of the potential difference between the electrodes on the velocity and temperature range has been examined. Impact of different thermal boundary conditions has been analysed.Research limitations/implicationsEffects analysed in the publication occur in each conducting media subjected to the impact of simultaneous electrical and magnetical field. The main limitation is non‐transparency of the melt.Practical implicationsThe purpose is to develop a mathematical tool for parameter optimisation of real glass melting furnace.Originality/valueIn the present model temperature dependent properties of the melt have been taken into account, which has been neglected in previous models.
Magneto‐thermal‐motion coupling in transverse flux heating
Authors: Tudorache Tiberiu , Fireteanu Virgiliu 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to deal with the 3D finite element analysis of metallic sheets heating in translating motion through the air gap of an inductor of transverse flux type.Design/methodology/approachThis study presents two finite element based motion coupling techniques used to analyze the transient temperature field of moving metallic sheets heated by induction.FindingsThe numerical results obtained by the two different magneto‐thermal – translating motion coupling techniques proposed in this paper are in good agreement with each other being validated also by experimental measurements.Practical implicationsThe proposed numerical techniques can be used for the design and optimization of transverse flux induction heating systems.Originality/valueAn original solution to improve the transversal thermal profile of the metallic sheet based on the magnetic shielding is proposed and analyzed. The numerical results of the thermal field are validated by experimental measurements.
Skin effect in toroidal conductors with circular cross‐section
Authors: Aliferov A. , Lupi S. 
Published: March 2008

PurposeThe paper deals with the current density distributions in toroidal conductors of circular cross‐section.Design/methodology/approachA review of the analytical solutions existing in the literature only for the case of very thin skin depth is presented.FindingsResults are given for different aspect ratios of torus. The accuracy of these analytical solutions is verified by comparison with numerical results. Finally, a set of numerical results are given for the same aspect ratios but different penetration depths of the electromagnetic wave in the conducting material.Originality/valueThe paper provides results for different penetration depths of electromagnetic wave in conducting material and different torus aspect ratios.