Investigation on Additive Manufacturing as an enabler for reshoring manufacturing activities

The recent phenomenon known as re-shoring, has gained momentum among developed countries. It is also evident that the new generation of technologies such as Additive Manufacturing (AM) and intelligent robotics can affect the manufacturing location decision. This study aims to investigate how AM can help companies to re-shore manufacturing activities. Three in-depth case studies are conducted where AM is used as primary manufacturing approach to reduce the number of suppliers and shorten the supply chain. The results show that companies can reduce transportation, lead-time, inventory and substantially improve customisation, meanwhile accommodate product changes as well as process changes in production

A process model for developing integrated product-service offerings

Manufacturers are increasingly seeing the benefits of adopting a servitization strategy, however, literature reports that they face challenges developing new product-service offerings. Although a number of approaches have been proposed, they fail to distinguish the characteristics of products and service, they are typically sequential and exhibit variations in the level of detail proposed. Overcoming these knowledge gaps, a new development process model is proposed, consisting of 19 distinct processes. The process model was tested and recommendations for improvements are reported

Mutations in FRMD7, a newly identified member of the FERM family, cause X-linked idiopathic congenital nystagmus.

Idiopathic congenital nystagmus is characterized by involuntary, periodic, predominantly horizontal oscillations of both eyes. We identified 22 mutations in FRMD7 in 26 families with X-linked idiopathic congenital nystagmus. Screening of 42 singleton cases of idiopathic congenital nystagmus (28 male, 14 females) yielded three mutations (7%). We found restricted expression of FRMD7 in human embryonic brain and developing neural retina, suggesting a specific role in the control of eye movement and gaze stability

Alternative raw material research for decarbonization of UK glass manufacture

Based on the current UK decarbonization policy, a general outlook on potential routes for the glass industry to achieve net‐zero is discussed and the differentiation during decarbonization is specified. Biomass ash is considered a potential alternative raw material for low‐carbon glass manufacture as it is rich in certain advantageous components, chiefly network modifiers. Simple sieving processes were shown to effectively separate impurities such as S, Cl, and C from some biomass ashes according to particle size distribution. The concentration of undesirable impurities decreased with increasing particle size. Morphologies and X‐ray diffraction patterns of larger washed biomass ash particles indicated liquid/amorphous phase formation during biomass combustion. The washing of ashes was also shown to be a potential route to purification. A washed bracken ash relevant to both modern and ancient glass production was characterized for comparison. Ultraviolet‐visible near‐infrared (UV‐Vis‐near IR) absorption spectra of representative green container glasses produced using biomass ash confirmed that ∼5 wt.% ash in representative glass batches has little impact on the color and redox state of glasses; the redox status of glass produced using >2 mm biomass ash after washing was less reduced than that of glass produced using high levels (>∼9 wt.%) of >2 mm biomass ash after sieving alone, observed via the redox couple Cr3+/Cr6+ by UV‐Vis‐near IR absorption spectroscopy

Mutations in FRMD7, a newly identified member of the FERM family, cause X-linked idiopathic congenital nystagmus

Idiopathic congenital nystagmus (ICN) is characterised by involuntary, periodic, predominantly horizontal, oscillations of both eyes. We identified 22 mutations in FRMD7 in 26 families with X-linked idiopathic congenital nystagmus. Screening of 42 ICN singleton cases (28 male, 14 females) yielded three mutations (7%). We found restricted expression of FRMD7 in human embryonic brain and developing neural retina suggesting a specific role in the control of eye movement and gaze stability

BHPR research: qualitative1. Complex reasoning determines patients' perception of outcome following foot surgery in rheumatoid arhtritis

Background: Foot surgery is common in patients with RA but research into surgical outcomes is limited and conceptually flawed as current outcome measures lack face validity: to date no one has asked patients what is important to them. This study aimed to determine which factors are important to patients when evaluating the success of foot surgery in RA Methods: Semi structured interviews of RA patients who had undergone foot surgery were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted to explore issues that were important to patients. Results: 11 RA patients (9 ♂, mean age 59, dis dur = 22yrs, mean of 3 yrs post op) with mixed experiences of foot surgery were interviewed. Patients interpreted outcome in respect to a multitude of factors, frequently positive change in one aspect contrasted with negative opinions about another. Overall, four major themes emerged. Function: Functional ability & participation in valued activities were very important to patients. Walking ability was a key concern but patients interpreted levels of activity in light of other aspects of their disease, reflecting on change in functional ability more than overall level. Positive feelings of improved mobility were often moderated by negative self perception ("I mean, I still walk like a waddling duck”). Appearance: Appearance was important to almost all patients but perhaps the most complex theme of all. Physical appearance, foot shape, and footwear were closely interlinked, yet patients saw these as distinct separate concepts. Patients need to legitimize these feelings was clear and they frequently entered into a defensive repertoire ("it's not cosmetic surgery; it's something that's more important than that, you know?”). Clinician opinion: Surgeons' post operative evaluation of the procedure was very influential. The impact of this appraisal continued to affect patients' lasting impression irrespective of how the outcome compared to their initial goals ("when he'd done it ... he said that hasn't worked as good as he'd wanted to ... but the pain has gone”). Pain: Whilst pain was important to almost all patients, it appeared to be less important than the other themes. Pain was predominately raised when it influenced other themes, such as function; many still felt the need to legitimize their foot pain in order for health professionals to take it seriously ("in the end I went to my GP because it had happened a few times and I went to an orthopaedic surgeon who was quite dismissive of it, it was like what are you complaining about”). Conclusions: Patients interpret the outcome of foot surgery using a multitude of interrelated factors, particularly functional ability, appearance and surgeons' appraisal of the procedure. While pain was often noted, this appeared less important than other factors in the overall outcome of the surgery. Future research into foot surgery should incorporate the complexity of how patients determine their outcome Disclosure statement: All authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Can Industry 4.0 hold the answer for mitigating intertemporal tensions in sustainable manufacturing? A conceptual model

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.This paper makes the case for analysing the role of Industry 4.0 in mitigating the intertemporal tensions of balancing the short-term and long-term sustainability objectives rife in sustainable manufacturing. It is argued here that Industry 4.0 has the unique potential to unlock juxtaposition of the short and long-term dimensions of sustainable manufacturing without restricting manufacturing organisations growth potential. In this context, successful mitigation of intertemporal tensions relies on understanding the role played by five different mechanisms that manufacturing organisations need to well practice and manage when adopting Industry 4.0-associated technologies. Since this is the first study of its kind, this paper presents a novel conceptual model enhancing the application of mechanisms that may mitigate intertemporal tensions in manufacturing organisations using Industry 4.0. The model also suggests five different research propositions that call for future research agenda to further investigate this topic

Postponement: a review and an integrated framework

The concept of postponement has a long history of academic literature and practical applications. The recent literature has also well documented that the need for postponement is driven by today's market and business environment. However, its applications are still not as widespread as expected. Therefore, we are interested in what factors enable or hinder the successful implementation of postponement. After a review on postponement, we propose an integrated framework that will help to develop a set of general ideas on which further work can be based. The practical difficulties associated with moving toward postponement are also included in this framework. The objective is also to understand better the challenges that exist in implementing postponement strategies

An Empirical Investigation into the Barriers to Postponement

The need for postponement is significantly driven by today's business and marketing environment. However, currently its applications are still not as widespread as expected. Therefore, this paper empirically investigates what factors hinder the adoption and implementation of postponement, and whether postponement applications are expected to increase in practice. Following a literature review on how to prompt and progress postponement applications, we present our research design. Namely, a questionnaire survey was conducted (by way of both post and e-mail) among 368 British manufacturing companies across four industrial sectors to help build statistical generalizations on the barriers to postponement. Then, we provide demographic data and response rate, and assess the reliability and validity of the survey instruments. The results from our questionnaire survey indicate that most of the highest ranked barriers were related to how a company manages its external networks (suppliers or customers), while those barriers related to distributors were put towards the bottom of the list. The respondents also expected postponement to be less used in three years. Finally, we draw some conclusions, determine limitations of this research and make suggestions for future research

Choice of NSAID and management strategy in rheumatoid arthritis and osteo-arthritis : the impact on costs and outcomes in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an effective therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, they are associated with significant adverse effects, the management of which imposes additional costs on the healthcare system. Prescribing NSAIDs which have a lower risk of major adverse effects as the first-line NSAID for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis may be expected to lead to an improvement in clinical outcomes and reduce overall treatment costs. This analysis examines data from a published randomised controlled trial of 5 NSAIDs to explore these hypotheses. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data from a clinical trial comparing 5 NSAIDs were combined with published cost data to construct 2 clinical decision models, reflecting alternative approaches to the management of major and minor adverse effects in the UK. INTERVENTIONS: The 5 NSAIDs evaluated in the analysis were nabumetone, diclofenac, ibuprofen, piroxicam and naproxen, although only the results for ibuprofen and nabumetone are reported. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The total cost of care per patient receiving nabumetone was estimated to be between 25 pounds sterling (Pound) and 41 Pounds more expensive than ibuprofen. In a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 patients, there were between 690 and 821 more major adverse effects using ibuprofen than nabumetone. The cost per life-year gained (LYG) from using nabumetone rather than ibuprofen ranged between 1880 Pounds and 2517 Pounds (1995 values), depending upon the management of adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that: (i) prescribing the newer, currently more expensive, NSAIDs will not necessarily lead to cost savings; (ii) the management of adverse effects can have a significant impact on costs; and (iii) the additional cost may be justifiable in terms of the mortality and morbidity gains associated with the new lower-risk NSAIDs.</p