THE RIPPLE EFFECT - IMPLICATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF INCIDENTAL DISRUPTIONS AND BLACK SWAN PHENOMENA IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Global supply chains are one of the key components of the economy. Any disruption in their functioning can have implications for the global economic situation. Phenomena known as black swans have transformed supply chains. In addition, unforeseen incidental events have contributed to an increasing global ripple effect, the implications of which are unpredictable for all supply chain participants. Black swans have contributed to the increased use of digitalisation and automation processes, combined with algorithms to predict trends in an uncertain market. Models and concepts hitherto used to manage supply chains have become useless, and phenomena previously described as unlikely to occur have become part of reality. The intensification of the risks identified is related to the lengthening of supply chains, decreasing reliability of supply, lack of visibility and transparency of individual processes. New ways and methods of managing supply chains should provide a solution to these and identified problems. Supply chains have become more complex over recent years, becoming key elements of competitiveness for many companies. But their interconnected, global nature also makes them increasingly vulnerable to a range of risks and failures.Recent years have shown that the resilience of supply chains to global shocks and changes has been shaken. It is therefore important to examine how chains have changed, the implications of global shocks and what actions need to be taken to strengthen the resilience of new business models. The aim of this study is to analyse the scope, implications and possible consequences of these phenomena in supply chains. A bibliometric method will be used to realise this objective, using tools to support visualisation and inference within the phenomena under study)

Innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Study of Businesses in New South Wales, Australia

This paper examines the process of innovation within SMEs, focusing on a sample of firms in New South Wales, Australia. The trend of the last several decades towards increased integration of global markets, or globalization, has meant that many firms are experiencing continuously increasing pressure to remain viable as their markets expand, and they begin competing with a larger number of firms. SMEs, in particular, are vulnerable to this pressure, since they tend to be disadvantaged relative to larger firms that generally have better access to funding and other resources. The ways in which SMEs operate to remain economically viable, and contribute to economic performance, is of especial interest to governments given the prominent roles that they play in most economies. One way of doing so is through innovation. In this paper, we present a more complex model of the innovation process than the traditional linear model involving R&D investment, what we term the "Ripple Effect Model", building upon recent developments in the literature. The Ripple-Effect Model appears to be substantially supported.small and medium enterprises, innovation, New South Wales, Australia

Identification of Design Rules for Interior PM motors with Different Cooling Systems

The conventional scaling rules for the optimal design of electric machines are best suited for naturally cooled machines with stator winding current densities less than 4A/mm2. In this paper, through a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, first, it is demonstrated that the correlations between some geometric variables and the performance metrics of interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors vary significantly with respect to the stator winding current density. For this purpose, three current densities are selected so as to approximately account for naturally cooled, fan-cooled and liquid-cooled machines. Subsequently, a parameterized IPM motor is optimized at these current densities through a large-scale design optimization algorithm by evaluating a total of 20,000 design candidates. The 100 best designs from each group are then identified and extracted to investigate the scaling rules for the optimal design of such IPM motors with different cooling systems. The outcomes of the study are in correspondence with the conventional design principles for naturally cooled machines. Nevertheless, it is illustrated that these rules vary for fan-cooled and liquid-cooled machines owing to the increased ampere loading, and also heavy saturation of the magnetic core in such machines. A configuration of a 50 hp, 48-slot, 8-pole IPM motor with a single-layer v-type magnet is used as the benchmark of this study

Household Changes in Electricity Consumption Behavior Post Solar PV-Adoption

textI combine quantitative data on minute-resolved electricity-consumption profiles and survey data with qualitative interviews of PV adopters to create a holistic understanding of how PV adoption influences behavioral change of electricity use. In particular, I examine the information and heuristics consumers use to make energy-related choices and evaluate how consumption behavior affects the total amount and timing of electricity use. Consumption behavior post adoption can significantly alter the environmental benefits of solar PV. Post-adoption changes such as decreases in energy consumption or load shifting from times of high peak demand to times of lower peak demand increase the amount of solar PV generation that is exported to the grid. Higher outflows may reduce the need for less efficient peaking generation units during peak demand, particularly in the summer when solar PV is at its highest generation capacity and electricity demand is greatest. I find that PV adoption does trigger increases in awareness of electricity use. However, while adopters report small or insignificant decreases in household consumption post-adoption, examination of actual records shows both significant increases and decreases in consumption post-PV adoption at the household level. I explain this seeming discrepancy by noting that these households were already energy-conscious prior to PV adoption and had newer, more energy efficient homes, which could offset effects of increased awareness. Supporting this, a majority of respondents considered PV adoption as one action within a larger electricity conservation campaign initiated prior to system adoption. Because they had already implemented several energy efficiency measures, respondents could not easily identify additional ways to reduce electricity use. Most respondents have a method of monitoring consumption, but their attentiveness to monitoring declines after installation-- which could explain the awareness gap as well as the consumption increase. In addition, exogenous factors such as the purchase of an electric vehicle and changes in household size may explain increases in consumption. While I find changes in total consumption after adoption of solar PV at the individual household level, the aggregate mean consumption for all households is just 1.0% but the change in means is insignificant.Energy and Earth Resource

Vectorial formalism for analysis and design of polyphase synchronous machines

A vectorial formalism for analysis and design of polyphase synchronous machines without reluctance and saturation effects is described. We prove the equivalence of such a machine with a set of magnetically independent machines, which are electrically and mechanically coupled. Specific problems of polyphase machines can thus be favorably analyzed with this concept. Rules of conception and constraints on electric supply can be deduced. Moreover the vectorial approach, which generalizes the complex phasor method, can also be used to control n-leg Voltage Source Inverters. This methodology is applied to 3-phase and 6- phase synchronous machines

02-01 "Economic Analysis in Environmental Reviews of Trade Agreements: Assessing the North American Experience"

Beginning in the late 1990s, Canada and the United States began requiring "Environmental Reviews (ERs)" of all trade agreements to be negotiated by each government. This paper, commissioned by the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, outlines how ERs have evolved in North America, and evaluates the different methodological approaches that have been employed in ERs thus far. We show that the ERs conducted to date have an encouraging number of strengths that can be built upon. However, we also establish that the art of conducting ERs is still in its infancy. We identify four limitations with the methodological approaches that have been employed in the most recent ERs. Based on an analysis of these limitations, we propose four ways to improve how ERs are conducted in the future:

Conceptualizing Supply Chain Resilience in Exogenous Crisis Times: Toward a Holistic Definition

Supply chain resilience has become increasingly crucial in today’s scenario in response to major disruptions that generated huge exogenous crises. This paper investigates the current SCR-related academic literature related to SCR to develop a new holistic definition. A total amount of 214 scientific contributions the last 5 years (i.e., between 2018 and 2022) have been analyzed. Findings revealed four important issues to achieve SCR, i.e., Key resilience attributes, Technology-aided visible SC, Sustainable and measurable SCR practices, and Relationship between SC partners. Leveraging insights gleaned from these critical issues, we have meticulously crafted an updated and comprehensive definition of SCR, by considering the multi-faceted facets that contribute to its holistic understanding. In light of our emerging insights, we suggest a novel approach to fortify organizational supply chain resilience, emphasizing a more holistic perspective. Our recommendations for future research include (1) exploring the integration of emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring to enhance adaptive decision-making in post-COVID-19 supply chains, (2) investigating the strategic role of collaborative networks and information sharing among supply chain partners to enhance agility and responsiveness amidst post-pandemic uncertainties, and (3) analyzing the impact of sustainable and circular supply chain practices on resilience. Findings of the paper and the new holistic definition of SCR have several implications for both academics and managers that are listed at the end of the paper along with limitations of the study and future research avenues

Pursuing International Labour Rights in U.S. Courts: New Uses for Old Tools

Filing lawsuits in U.S. federal and state courts for workers’ rights violations suffered by workers employed by American corporations abroad is one of several strategies for promoting labour rights. Other strategies include use of labour rights mechanisms in GSP laws, in regional trade agreements like NAFTA and Mercosur, in corporate codes of conduct, in the ILO and other venues. To succeed, such suits must first overcome the strong presumption against extraterritorial effect of U.S. law. Other jurisdictional hurdles like “inconvenient forum” also require caution in bringing suits. However, several cases using common law tort and contract theories as well as international human rights law have recovered substantial actual and punitive damages for workers of U.S. multinational companies in several developing countries. With the right strategic choices, labour rights litigation can be an effective means of advancing workers’ rights in the global economy