The trade-offs between labour productivity and decarbonisation

In a recent paper, we show how decarbonisation in industrial plants interacts with efficiency-driven initiatives regarding flow management, waste reduction and workforce commitment, which represent three key fields in which high-performance shop floors strive. Inventory turnover reflects our measure for improvements in flow. The ratio of the total manufacturing cost to the cost of materials indicates how efficiently firms carry out [...

Implementing information technologies and operational excellence: planning, emergence and randomness in the survival of adaptive manufacturing systems

We explore the why and how of synergies and dysfunctions between Information Technologies (IT) and Operational Excellence (OE). Moving away from the type of analyses that focus on the starting-point and the final stage, we address the evolution of the complex factors involved in the joint deployment of IT and OE that try to transform manufacturing systems. Evidence stems from a longitudinal case study over a period of 11 years (2003–2014) in one of the world’s largest canning factories. Combining quasi-experiments at the systems level with time series data, we compare the evolution of IT implementation in a Lean environment with 17 different assembly lines and 1,100 workers. Thus, building on an evolutionary framework, the paper highlights the simultaneity of planned, random and emergent components in mutations; the influence of the rhythm and sequence of reforms in the construction of capabilities; and the effect of environmental evolution on the type of mutations passed on over time

Proyecto básico y de ejecución de la vivienda unifamiliar Villa Güimil

[Resumen] El presente proyecto contempla la rehabilitación de una vivienda unifamiliar de tipología indiana, ubicada en la Avda. Rosalía de Castro nº 38, en la localidad de Villagarcía de Arosa, provincia de Pontevedra, destinada a vivienda unifamiliar, atendiendo las necesidades de confort y conservación del inmueble y respetando su singular estilo arquitectónico y su condición de vivienda protegida a nivel municipal. Se trata de un proyecto básico y de ejecución para llevar a cabo la rehabilitación de la vivienda, de la que debido a un incendio y posterior abandono total, solo se conservan los muros exteriores de la misma. En el proyecto, se intenta preservar la seña de identidad perdida de la vivienda, que es el observatorio octogonal tipo linterna que en su día tuvo la misma, en la intersección de las 4 cumbres de la cubierta de ocho aguas de la edificación. El proyecto incorpora lo necesario para satisfacer las exigencias derivadas del CTE y otras normativas de aplicación.[Abstract] This project involves the refurbishment of a house of Indian type, located in 38, Rosalía de Castro Avenue, in the town of Villagarcia de Arosa, Pontevedra. This house was build aimed at single family home, meeting the needs of comfort and conservation property and respecting its unique architectural style and status of protection housing to the municipal level. It is a base design and working project to carry out the rehabilitation of housing, which due to a fire and later completely abandoned, only the outer walls of it are preserved. In the project, I try to preserve the sign of identity of housing (lost by the fire), which is the octagonal lantern type observatory that once had the same, at the intersection of the 4 summits waters cover eight of the building. The project incorporates necessary to satisfy the requirements arising from CTE and other applicable regulations.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.EUAT). Arquitectura técnica. Curso 2015/2016

Integrating forecasting in metaheuristic methods to solve dynamic routing problems: evidence from the logistic processes of tuna vessels

The multiple Traveling Salesman Problem (mTSP) is a widespread phenomenon in real-life scenarios, and in fact it has been addressed from multiple perspectives in recent decades. However, mTSP in dynamic circumstances entails a greater complexity that recent approaches are still trying to grasp. Beyond time windows, capacity and other parameters that characterize the dynamics of each scenario, moving targets is one of the underdeveloped issues in the field of mTSP. The approach of this paper harnesses a simple prediction method to prove that integrating forecasting within a metaheuristic evolutionary-based method, such as genetic algorithms, can yield better results in a dynamic scenario than their simple non-predictive version. Real data is used from the retrieval of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) by tuna vessels in the Indian Ocean. Based on historical data registered by the GPS system of the buoys attached to the devices, their trajectory is firstly forecast to feed subsequently the functioning of a genetic algorithm that searches for the optimal route of tuna vessels in terms of total distance traveled. Thus, although valid for static cases and for the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), the main contribution of this method over existing literature lies in its application as a global search method to solve the multiple TSP with moving targets in many dynamic real-life optimization problems.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. ECO2016-76625-RXunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC2014/02

Applying the Shapley value to the tuna fishery

The tuna fishing sector has faced important regulatory restrictions for years, mainly based on the number of fish aggregating devices (FADs) allowed per vessel, which has threatened the survival of many tuna firms. Various academics have studied this issue, proposing various solutions based on the reassignment and sharing of FADs. However, previous research has focused primarily on the use of FADs and their implications, rather than actually helping to optimize the tuna fleet’s fishing activity, and possibly for this reason, none of these proposals has impacted current fishing practices. In light of this situation, our research proposes a more equitable approach: we have modeled the tuna vessel problem as a cooperative game, reallocating FADs among vessels, studying the Shapley value, and comparing the results achieved with previous proposals. Although our approach is fairly standard in the literature, it is a novel solution to a deep-rooted problem in this sector that also leads to a significant reduction in emissions associated with fuel consumption. In fact, the application of our theoretical results to real data shows that there is not only a significant scope for improvement for firms and their vessels –both gain more revenue– but also a beneficial contribution to the environment in terms of reduced fuel consumption.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2020-113440GB-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431B2022/03Universidade de Vigo/CISU

On the alignment of competitive strategies for successful acquisitions: a two-decade longitudinal analysis

Purpose – Most studies explore the success of mergers and acquisitions through ex ante analyses based on the compatibility of resources and capabilities between the acquirer and target. As more than half of them fail, there seems to be room for enhancing our understanding of when and how acquisitions can actually improve firms’ competitiveness. Diverging from these conventional approaches, the authors posit that attention should be at the strategic level. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to explore the existence of compatibility between acquirers’ and targets’ competitive strategies and its effect on post-acquisition business performance. Design/methodology/approach – Through the Thomson Reuters Eikon financial and acquisition databases, the authors built a unique data panel of 174 acquirer–target matched acquisitions in the manufacturing sector from 24 different countries between 2000 and 2020. The authors used a two-step System-GMM approach to address the hypotheses proposed in this paper. This methodology allowed to isolate and easily compare the differential effects of each possible combination of strategic similarity and dissimilarity between the target and acquiring company on the latter’s post-acquisition strategies. Findings – The need to unravel the motives behind successful acquisitions has gained enormous interest in recent years among academics and managers to improve – or maintain – firm competitiveness. Through a panel data of 174 acquisitions among manufacturing firms (2000–2020), this study shows that differentiated firms improve their business performance by acquiring firms with similar strategies; nevertheless, their performance worsens if the acquired firm follows a cost-leadership strategy. Concerning acquirers with a costleadership strategy, the lack of clear behavioral patterns suggests that the lower knowledge absorption capacity associated with these firms might be a decisive factor in being able to assimilate and efficiently exploit the acquired firm’s knowledge. Originality/value – Overall, this approach offers a new and valuable perspective for practitioners because it improves understanding of the possible causes of merger failure and opens new attentions to consider in maximizing success and long-term competitiveness. The results of this study bring, thus, an unexpected result to this research: the importance of the acquirer’s strategy beyond the similarity or dissimilarity of the strategies of the acquirer and the acquired company.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2019-106677GB-I0

Firm, industry, and country effects on CO2 emissions levels

We hinge on a panel data of 4660 firms across 79 countries and over 15 years to explore how country, industry, and firm effects influence firms' CO2 emissions. Our results show that firm effects are the main factor influencing firms' CO2 emissions (32.8% of the total variance), ahead of industry (30.6%), country (29.3%), or country-industry effects (4.0%). These results highlight the need to overhaul current public policy baselines that mainly focus on environmental regulation and technological development, for the dissemination of proactive environmental practices within the firm also appears to be—at least—as important to ground a low-carbon future. Our findings should also permeate the rhetoric of the agents setting business collective beliefs and influencing management training, as well as that of international organizations at the forefront of the crusade for decarbonization. By contrast, if the misleading idea of marginal firm effects entrenches in our set of beliefs, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy in the normative system under which policymaking and organizational behavior unfold.Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Meta-analyses in management: what can we learn from clinical research?

We analyze the weaknesses of meta-analyses (MAs) in management research using as benchmark a scientific field where this technique shows a longer tradition: clinical research. We suggest four areas in which management research MA practices should improve: (1) availability of information and replicability of primary research, (2) correct application of statistical support, (3) execution of heterogeneity analyses, and (4) standardization of result reporting. Using a representative MA on an operations management topic, we identify qualitatively the aspects to be improved at each stage. We show the different results that could have been achieved by following standard procedures in clinical research, incorporating different “good practices” from this research field. Overall, these recommendations aim at improving the transparency and replicability of MAs, which can not only facilitate the accumulation of scientific knowledge but also intensify the dialogue between academia and practitioners.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. ECO2016-76625-RXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2018/46Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/04728/202