188,602 research outputs found
Characteristics of developed flexible polyurethane foams reinforced with coconut coir fibres and recycled tyres
Flexible Polyurethane (PU) foam is generally used in seat cushions of automotive
seating for comfort and supporting the occupants. However, due to the demand for
more comfortable compartment; seat cushions are now designed for better riding
comfort and acoustic absorption which linked to the damping of foam. Incorporated
treated coir fibres (F) and tyre particles (P) into polymeric material had improved the
damping and strength of the material. In this research, flexible PU foams were
reinforced with two fillers for the purpose of higher damping property and improve
the mechanical strength. Five samples with 2.5wt% of filler loading were developed.
The damping of samples was measured on sound absorption and vibration
transmissibility test that generated at 1mm, 1.5mm, 0.1g, and 0.15g base excitation
while their mechanical properties were examined through compression, tear
resistance, and compression set. The morphology of samples was also observed by
SEM in this research. The results showed that the foam composites produced have
smaller cell size, in which the smallest was 840µm compared to 1290µm obtained in
pure PU foam. The mechanical properties revealed that the strength of flexible PU
foam increased with added treated coir fibres and recycled tyres. The best properties
were shown in PU+2.5wt%(50F50P) which increased by 10.78% on the compressive
modulus, 9.33% on the compressive strength, 14.49% on the static energy absorption,
and 3.76% on the tear strength compared to pure PU foam. The sound absorption
and vibration damping of the developed foams showed that more energy were
absorbed and dissipated by these foams after fillers added. The PU+2.5wt%(80P20F)
and PU+2.5wt%F presented an excellent sound absorption characteristics at 20mm
and 40mm thickness, respectively, whereas PU+2.5wt%P, PU+2.5wt%(80P20F), and
PU+2.5wt%(80F20P) showed higher vibration damping from the transmissibility test
Survey instrument for measuring level of preparedness amongst healthcare personnel in radiation emergency
Drills and exercises are globally practiced to investigate the level of preparedness towards disaster events. However, these activities
are rarely conducted because they require substantial investment, specifically to budget and time. A self-reported survey may serve
as an alternative approach, although it may not be as effective as drills and exercises. As part of the survey development process,
this article discusses preliminary validation of a survey instrument to measure the level of preparedness towards radiation
emergency amongst healthcare personnel. Prior to this validation process, extensive literature reviews pointed out that the
instrument consists of three constructs of preparedness, namely readiness, willingness, and ability. A total of seven subject matter
experts were invited to judge the contents for verification purposes. Randolph Kappa analysis was then conducted to analyse their
judgment to allow irrelevant items to be filtered from the rest prior to any improvements. Initially, the survey instrument consisted
of 69 items; however, the analysis omitted 16 of them. The following values for each preparedness construct were: Readiness (0.77),
Willingness (0.70), and Ability (0.73). These findings indicate that contents of the instrument are valid. Further analysis should be
fulfilled to complete validation process to ensure its practicality prior to using it as an evaluation tool
Planning, evaluation, and analytical studies in planetary quarantine and spacecraft sterilization Quarterly progress report
Planetary quarantine flight regulations and information system, microbe release probability, heat sterilization cycles, organic synthesis and contamination factors, Mars landing microbe
Multi crteria decision making and its applications : a literature review
This paper presents current techniques used in Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and their applications. Two basic approaches for MCDM, namely Artificial Intelligence MCDM (AIMCDM) and Classical MCDM (CMCDM) are discussed and investigated. Recent articles from international journals related to MCDM are collected and analyzed to find which approach is more common than the other in MCDM. Also, which area these techniques are applied to. Those articles are appearing in journals for the year 2008 only. This paper provides evidence that currently, both AIMCDM and CMCDM are equally common in MCDM
Enterprise Experience into the Integration of Human-Centered Design and Kanban
he integration of Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Agile Software Development (ASD) promises the
development of competitive products comprising a good User Experience (UX). This study has investigated
the integration of HCD and Kanban with the aim to gain industrial experiences in a real world context. A
case study showed that requirements flow into the development process in a structured manner by adding a
design board. To this end, the transparency concerning recurring requirements increased. We contribute to
the body of knowledge of software development by providing practical insights into Human-Centered Agile
Development (HCAD). On one hand, it is shown that the integration of HCD and Kanban leads to a product
with a good UX and makes the development process more human-centered. On the other hand, we conclude
that a cross-functional collaboration speeds up product development.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2013-46928-C3-3-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2015-71938-RED
Surfacing ERP exploitation risks through a risk ontology
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a risk identification checklist for facilitating user companies to surface, organise and manage potential risks associated with the post-adoption of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Design/methodology/approach – A desktop study, based on the process of a critical literature review, was conducted by the researchers. The critical review focused on IS and business research papers, books, case studies and theoretical articles, etc.
Findings – By systematically and critically analysing and synthesising the literature reviewed, the researchers identified and proposed a total of 40 ERP post-implementation risks related to diverse operational, analytical, organisation-wide and technical aspects. A risk ontology was subsequently established to highlight these ERP risks, as well as to present their potential causal relationships.
Research limitations/implications – For researchers, the established ERP risk ontology represents a starting point for further research, and provides early insights into a research field that will become increasingly important as more and more companies progress from implementation to exploitation of ERPs.
Practical implications – For practitioners, the risk ontology is an important tool and checklist to support risk identification, prevention, management and control, as well as to facilitate strategic planning and decision making.
Originality/value – There is a scarcity of studies focusing on ERP post-implementation in contrast with an over abundance of studies focusing on system implementation and project management aspects. This paper aims to fill this significant research gap by presenting a risk ontology of ERP post-adoption. It represents a first attempt in producing a comprehensive model in its area. No other such models could be found from the literature reviewed
Modelling an End to End Supply Chain system Using Simulation
Within the current uncertain environment industries are predominantly faced with various challenges
resulting in greater need for skilled management and adequate technique as well as tools to manage
Supply Chains (SC) efficiently. Derived from this observation is the need to develop a generic/reusable
modelling framework that would allow firms to analyse their operational performance over time (Mackulak
and Lawrence 1998, Beamon and Chen 2001, Petrovic 2001, Lau et al. 2008, Khilwani et al. 2011, Cigollini et
al. 2014). However for this to be effectively managed the simulation modelling efforts should be directed
towards identifying the scope of the SC and the key processes performed between players.
Purpose: The research attempts to analyse trends in the field of supply chain modelling using simulation
and provide directions for future research by reviewing existing Operations Research/Operations
Management (OR/OM) literature. Structural and operational complexities as well as different business
processes within various industries are often limiting factors during modelling efforts. Successively, this
calls for the end to end (E2E) SC modelling framework where the generic processes, related policies and
techniques could be captured and supported by the powerful capabilities of simulation.
Research Approach: Following Mitroff’s (1974) scientific inquiry model and Sargent (2011) this research will
adopt simulation methodology and focus on systematic literature review in order to establish generic OR
processes and differentiate them from those which are specific to certain industries. The aim of the
research is provide a clear and informed overview of the existing literature in the area of supply chain
simulation. Therefore through a profound examination of the selected studies a conceptual model will be
design based on the selection of the most commonly used SC Processes and simulation techniques used
within those processes. The description of individual elements that make up SC processes (Hermann and
Pundoor 2006) will be defined using building blocks, which are also known as Process Categories.
Findings and Originality: This paper presents an E2E SC simulation conceptual model realised through
means of systematic literature review. Practitioners have adopted the term E2E SC while this is not
extensively featured within academic literature. The existing SC studies lack generality in regards to
capturing the entire SC within one methodological framework, which this study aims to address.
Research Impact: A systematic review of the supply chain and simulation literature takes an integrated and
holistic assessment of an E2E SC, from market-demand scenarios through order management and planning
processes, and on to manufacturing and physical distribution. Thus by providing significant advances in
understanding of the theory, methods used and applicability of supply chain simulation, this paper will
further develop a body of knowledge within this subject area.
Practical Impact: The paper will empower practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of the supply chain
processes characteristics that can be modelled using simulation. Moreover it will facilitate a selection of
specific data required for the simulation in accordance to the individual needs of the industry
Development of the Integrated Model of the Automotive Product Quality Assessment
Issues on building an integrated model of the automotive product quality assessment are studied herein basing on widely applicable methods and models of the quality assessment. A conceptual model of the automotive product quality system meeting customer requirements has been developed. Typical characteristics of modern industrial production are an increase in the production dynamism that determines the product properties; a continuous increase in the volume of information required for decision-making, an increased role of knowledge and high technologies implementing absolutely new scientific and technical ideas. To solve the problem of increasing the automotive product quality, a conceptual structural and hierarchical model is offered to ensure its quality as a closed system with feedback between the regulatory, manufacturing, and information modules, responsible for formation of the product quality at all stages of its life cycle. The three module model of the system of the industrial product quality assurance is considered to be universal and to give the opportunity to explore processes of any complexity while solving theoretical and practical problems of the quality assessment and prediction for products for various purposes, including automotive
Eco-innovative Method to Improve the Distribution Phase of Product
The integration of the environmental dimension is crucial in industrial activity. Designers should integrate the new environmental constraints to adapt their approaches and methodologies in the framework of eco-innovation of industrial products and consumer goods. This paper proposes a new method integrating ecological aspects into the innovation process composed of three main stages: an analysis and structuring of the product, the formalization of the problem and the resolution phase. According to the structuring and the design objectives, actions can be selected and allow to guide the design to the most relevant modification to perform on the product. An illustration of the approach is applied on the optimization of the environmental impacts related to the logistical aspects
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