Supply chain integration framework using literature review

Definitions and measures of supply chain integration (SCI) are diverse. More empirical research, with clear definition and appropriate measures are needed. The purpose of this article is to identify dimensions and variables for SCI and develop an integrated framework to facilitate this. A literature review of the relevant academic papers in international journals in Logistics, Supply Chain Management and Operations Management for the period 1995-2009 has been undertaken. This study reveals that information integration, coordination and resource sharing and organisational relationship linkage are three major dimensions for SCI. The proposed framework helps integrate both upstream suppliers and downstream customers with the focal organisation. It also allows measuring SCI using both qualitative and quantitative approach. This study encourages researchers and practitioners to identify dimensions and variables for SCI and analyses how it affects the overall supply chain (SC) performance in terms of efficiency and responsiveness. Although there is extensive research in the area of SCI, a comprehensive and integrated approach is missing. This study bridges the gap by developing a framework for measuring SCI, which enables any organisation to identify critical success factors for integrating their SC, measures the degree of integration qualitatively and quantitatively and suggest improvement measures

An analysis of the direct and mediated effects of employee commitment and supply chain integration on organisational performance

This paper focuses on the interrelationships among the different dimensions of supply chain integration. Specifically, it examines the relationship between employee commitment and supply chain integration dimensions to explain several performance measures, such as flexibility, delivery, quality, inventory and customer satisfaction. Very little research has been conducted onto this topic, since employee commitment is rarely included as an antecedent of the effect of supply chain integration on performance. Seven research models have been analysed with Structural Equation Models using a multiple-informant international sample of 266 mid-to-large-size manufacturing plants. The findings suggest that the relationship between employee commitment and operational performance is fully mediated by supply chain integration. Employee commitment contributes to improving internal integration, and internal integration affects performance both directly and indirectly. Moreover, obtaining internal integration helps to achieve supplier and customer integration. As a result, companies should strive to achieve both employee commitment and internal integration, as they mutually reinforce each other. Similarly, managers should achieve internal integration before external integration and include external integration at the strategic level in order to reap the greatest advantages from supply chain integration. Meanwhile, managers should promote employee commitment not only for better supply chain success, but also to mitigate the barriers of supply chain management implementation.This paper has been made possible thanks to Grants DPI2009-11148 and DPI2010-18243 awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Project of Excelence P08 SEJ 3841 awarded by the Junta de Andalucia.Alfalla-Luque, R.; Marín García, JA.; Medina-Lopez, C. (2014). An analysis of the direct and mediated effects of employee commitment and supply chain integration on organisational performance. International Journal of Production Economics. (162):242-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2014.07.004S24225716

La elección real e ideal de pareja: un estudio con parejas establecidas

El objetivo fue detectar cuáles fueron las características físicas, de personalidad y sociales tomadas en cuenta cuando se eligió a la pareja actual, y cuáles serían las que ahora preferiría, si pudiera hacer una nueva elección. Se trabajó con 100 parejas establecidas con más de cinco años de permanencia. Se utilizó el cuestionario de elección de pareja, con instrucciones específicas para la elección real e ideal. Los resultados mostraron diferencias por sexo, respecto de las características tomadas en cuenta para la elección real e ideal de la pareja. En la real, los hombres se orientaron por elegir alguien físicamente atractiva, en comparación con las mujeres que eligieron alguien con características de formalidad. En cuanto a la elección ideal, destaca la preferencia de los aspectos físicos en ambos sexos. Al comparar la elección real con la ideal por sexo, de forma general se encontró que ambos sexos tenderían a elegir a una persona diferente pero con características muy similares a su pareja actual. Sin embargo, los hombres en contraste con las mujeres buscarían no repetir el modelo de pareja, ya que, la eligirían con menos características de parecido con su pareja actual. Aparentemente las mujeres se muestran más satisfechas con la elección que hicieron de su pareja rea

¿Es necesario el compromiso de los trabajadores para alcanzar ventajas competitivas y satisfacción del cliente cuando las compañías emplean prácticas de HRM y TQM?

[EN] There is mounting interest in both theory and practice regarding the relationship between Human Resource Management (HRM) and Total Quality Management (TQM), as well as the relationship between HRM and TQM and organisational performance. This paper focuses on the empirical explanation of the role of commitment as a form of mediation between the HRM or TQM practices and company competitiveness (competitive advantage and customer satisfaction). Light is also shed on the interrelationship between HRM and TQM practices testing the scope of influence of each HRM practice on TQM implementation, including the effect of HRM on individual TQM practices.[ES] Hay un creciente interés, tanto en los aspectos teóricos como en los prácticos, sobre la relación entre la gestión de los recursos humanos (HRM) y la gestión de la calidad total (TQM), así como sobre la relación entre HRM y TQM y los resultados empresariales. Este artículo realiza un estudio empírico que analiza el papel del compromiso de los trabajadores como variable mediadora entre las prácticas de HRM y TQM y la competitividad de la empresa (ventaja competitiva y satisfacción del cliente). También se analiza la relación entre las prácticas de HRM y TQM, determinando el efecto que cada práctica individual de HRM tiene sobre la implementación de TQM, así como el efecto en HRM de cada práctica de TQM.This paper has been made possible thanks to grant DPI2006-05531 (HPM Project-Spain: Project for high performance manufacturing) awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and the project “CORSARI MAGIC DPI2010-18243” by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation within the Program “Proyectos de Investigación Fundamental No Orientada”.Alfalla Luque, R.; Marín García, JA.; Medina Lopez, C. (2012). Is worker commitment necessary for achieving competitive advantage and customer satisfaction when companies use HRM and TQM practices?. Universia Business Review. (36):64-89. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/45837S64893

The Supply Chain in the metallurgical sector: an analysis of the main links

[EN] In the current business context, competition is no longer firm against firm, but has moved on to a higher plane, with the generation of supply chain against supply chain competition. Therefore, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has strategic relevance as a source of competitive advantage. The design of the supply chain is defined largely by the characteristics of the sector. Consequently, sectorial analysis is required. The aim of this paper is to analyze the supply chain of the metallurgical sector. Specifically, it will be focused on determining its supply chain and defining its main links and relationships.[ES] Los directivos actuales conciben que la competencia ya no es empresa frente a empresa, sino que desborda este plano generándose una competencia cadena de suministro frente a cadena de suministro. Por ello, la gestión de la cadena de suministro se convierte en un elemento clave para la supervivencia empresarial y la obtención de ventajas competitivas. El diseño de la cadena de suministro viene definido, en buena parte, por las características del sector al que pertenece. En consecuencia, es de interés realizar análisis sectoriales. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar la cadena de suministro en un sector de gran importancia en la economía española, como es el metalúrgico. En concreto, buscamos determinar su cadena de suministro, definiendo los principales eslabones que la configuran y las relaciones entre ellos.Abstract: In the current business context, competition is no longer firm against firm, but has moved on to a higher plane, with the generation of supply chain against supply chain competition. Therefore, Supply Chain Management (SCM) has strategic relevance as a source of competitive advantage. The design of the supply chain is defined largely by the characteristics of the sector. Consequently, sectorial analysis is required. The aim of this paper is to analyze the supply chain of the metallurgical sector. Specifically, it will be focused on determining its supply chain and defining its main links and relationships.Carbajo-De-Lera, P.; Alfalla-Luque, R.; Medina-Lopez, C. (2011). La cadena de suministro del sector metalúrgico: un análisis de sus principales eslabones (The Supply Chain in the metallurgical sector: an analysis of the main links). Working Papers on Operations Management. 2(2):14-24. doi:10.4995/wpom.v2i2.867SWORD14242

Cinematica de lanzamiento de los pitcheres de Beisbol de primera división del equipo Indios del Bóer, Agosto-Diciembre 2021

El estudio cuyo tema fue Cinemática de lanzamiento de los pícheres de primera división del equipo Indios del Bóer fue realizado en el periodo de agosto-diciembre 2021. Según análisis es de tipo descriptivo, según el tiempo de ocurrencia de los hechos es prospectivo, el periodo es transversal y según el enfoque es mixto, la muestra fueron 10 atletas, el análisis de videos se realizó mediante el software Kinovea versión 0.9.4x64, los datos extraídos se ingresaron en el programa SPSS para ser analizados mediante tablas de frecuencia y cruzadas que se interpretaron en graficas en el programa de Microsoft Excel. Los principales resultados fueron que: el rango de edad que más predomino es de 17 -21 años, en relación a la talla con 1.71m a 1.91m y peso de 71 kg a 80 kg, el tipo de lesión más frecuente en la práctica deportiva en los pícheres fue a nivel muscular donde la región que evidencio sufrir lesiones es el miembro superior más prevalente dentro de toda la población en estudio con respecto al área corporal se identificó que es el codo. En las fases II, III Y IV donde realizan los movimientos de abducción y rotación externa del hombro realizan un ángulo mayor lo que le implica a estar más propenso a sufrir lesión a nivel articular, muscular y tendinoso, sobre todo los pícheres en estudio no cumplen con los ítems establecido en el instrumento debido a que presentan una variación en los ángulos analizados. Palabras Claves: Pícheres, lanzamiento, cinemática, Indios del Bóe

Cinemática de lanzamiento de los pitcheres de Beisbol de primera división del equipo Indios del Bóer, Agosto-Diciembre 2021

El estudio de Cinemática de lanzamiento de los pícheres de primera división del equipo Indios del Bóer fue realizado en el periodo de agosto-diciembre 2021. Método: Es de tipo descriptivo, según el tiempo es prospectivo, de periodo es transversal y enfoque mixto, la muestra fueron 10 atletas. Resultados fueron el rango de edad que más predomino es de 17 -21 años, en relación a talla de 1.71m a 1.91m y peso de 71 kg a 80 kg, el tipo de lesión más frecuente en la práctica deportiva en los pícheres fue a nivel muscular donde la región que evidencio sufrir lesiones es miembro superior más prevalente dentro de la población con respecto al área corporal se identificó que es el codo. En las fases II, III Y IV donde realizan los movimientos de abducción y rotación externa del hombro realizan un ángulo mayor lo que le implica a estar más propenso a sufrir lesión a nivel articular, muscular y tendinoso, no cumplen con los ítems establecido en el instrumento debido a que presentan una variación en los ángulos analizado

Optimizing Lighting in the Workplace and Occupational Risk Prevention through Mobile Applications

Nowadays, there are many problems arising from the exploitation of energy resources and the production and use of energy. This research aims to analyze in which way the development of a mobile application may help on registering the lighting levels from different kind of environments, allowing to manage and assess consumption, comply with current regulations. Furthermore, the application provides information about how to optimize the use of energy and prevent occupational risks resulting from mismanagement. To do this relevant information is stored for the evaluation of the measurements through a rule engine that behaves as an expert system capable of guiding in the decision-making process

Exosomes promote restoration after an experimental animal model of intracerebral hemorrhage

Exosomes are gaining importance because they show great promise in therapeutic applications for several diseases. Particularly in stroke, exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy work as paracrine effectors responsible for promoting neurovascular remodeling and functional recovery. Adult male rats were subjected to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by intrastriatal injection of collagenase type IV; 24 h after surgery, MSC-derived exosomes were administered through the tail vein. The rats were euthanized at 7 or 28 days after treatment. Functional evaluation, lesion size, fiber tract integrity, axonal sprouting and white matter repair markers, biodistribution of exosomes and secretome proteomics were analyzed. DiI-labeled exosomes were found in the brains of the ICH-treated group and in the liver, lung and spleen. Animals receiving treatment with exosomes showed significantly better results in terms of functional recovery, lesion size, fiber tract integrity, axonal sprouting and white matter repair markers compared with the control group 28 days after stroke. Proteomics analysis of the exosomes identified more than 2000 proteins that could be implicated in brain repair function. In conclusion, white matter integrity was partly restored by exosome administration mediated by molecular repair factors. Exosomes as a treatment could be a heterogeneous process by nature and presents many factors that can influence brain plasticity in an adaptable and versatile manner.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study has been partially supported by grants from PS15/01318 and INVICTUS (RD12/0014) (Spanish Neurovascular Network), Miguel Servet (CP15/00069 to Marıa Gutierrez-Fernandez) and a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship (CD12/00706, to Laura Otero-Ortega) from the Research Institute Carlos III, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund. This study was also co-funded within the Roche Farma project. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.S

The Relationship between Zinc Intake and Serum/Plasma Zinc Concentration in Children: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Recommendations for zinc intake during childhood vary widely across Europe. The EURRECA project attempts to consolidate the basis for the definition of micronutrient requirements, taking into account relationships among intake, status and health outcomes, in order to harmonise these recommendations. Data on zinc intake and biomarkers of zinc status reported in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can provide estimates of dose-response relationships which may be used for underpinning zinc reference values. This systematic review included all RCTs of apparently healthy children aged 1–17 years published by February 2010 which provided data on zinc intake and biomarkers of zinc status. An intake-status regression coefficient was calculated for each individual study and calculated the overall pooled and SE using random effects meta-analysis on a double log scale. The pooled dose-response relationship between zinc intake and zinc status indicated that a doubling of the zinc intake increased the serum/plasma zinc status by 9%. This evidence can be utilised, together with currently used balance studies and repletion/depletion studies, when setting zinc recommendations as a basis for nutrition policies