Manufacturing and Supply Chain Flexibility: Building an Integrative Conceptual Model Through Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to establish the current themes on the topic of manufacturing and supply chain flexibility (MSCF), assess their level of maturity in relation to each other, identify the emerging ones and reflect on how they can inform each other, and second, to develop a conceptual model of MSCF that links different themes connect and highlight future research opportunities. The study builds on a sample of 222 articles published from 1996 to 2018 in international, peer-reviewed journals. The analysis of the sample involves two complementary approaches: the co-word technique to identify the thematic clusters as well as their relative standing and a critical reflection on the papers to explain the intellectual content of these thematic clusters. The results of the co-word analysis show that MSCF is a dynamic topic with a rich and complex structure that comprises five thematic clusters. The value chain, capability and volatility clusters showed research topics that were taking a central role in the discussion on MSCF but were not mature yet. The SC purchasing practices and SC planning clusters involved work that was more focused and could be considered more mature. These clusters were then integrated in a framework that built on the competence–capability perspective and identified the major structural and infrastructural elements of MSCF as well as its antecedents and consequences. This paper proposes an integrative framework helping managers keep track the various decisions they need to make to increase flexibility from the viewpoint of the entire value chain

Poly(methyl methacrylate) films for organic vapour sensing

Optical constants and fabrication parameters are investigated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies on spun films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) derivatives in contact with two different dielectric media. A value of 1.503 for the refractive index of PMMA films produced from a solution having concentration of 1 mg ml(-1) at the speed of 3000 rpm is in close agreement with the data obtained from ellipsometric measurements. The film thickness shows a power-law dependence on the spin speed but the thickness increases almost linearly with the concentration of the spreading solution. These results are in good agreement with the hydrodynamic theory for a low-viscosity and highly volatile liquid. On the basis of SPR measurements under dynamic conditions, room temperature response of PMMA films to benzene vapours is found to be fast, highly sensitive and reversible. The sensitivity of detection of toluene, ethyl benzene and m-xylene is much smaller than that of benzene

Spun thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer for benzene sensing

Thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were deposited on suitably prepared substrates by spinning the spreading solution in chloroform at 3000 rpm for atomic force microscopy and surface plasmon resonance studies. Four different types of PMMA were used within a range of molecular weight between 540 and 760 kg mol(-1). The film surface was found to be uniform. Values of refractive index for PMMA film were found to exist in the range of 1.50 +/- 0.04 to 1.53 +/- 0.02. All films exhibited fast response to the exposure of benzene vapour but the sensitivity of detection depended upon the molecular weight

Benzene vapor detection using spun poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films

A series of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymers of different molecular weights were synthesized using the Emulsifier-Free Emulsion polymerisation method. Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements the film surface is found to be heterogeneous surface with a RMS surface roughness value of approximately 2.5 nm. The refractive index of the PMMA films was estimated between 1.527 and 1.565 using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method. Furthermore, film thickness is found to depend on the PMMA molecular weight. Thin films of PMMA are found to exhibit a fast and reversible response on exposure to benzene vapor; this would probably suggest that PMMA in thin film form could have a significant role in the development of room temperature vapor sensing devices

The effects on seed germination and seedling growth of the tissue extracts obtained from different organs of walnut (Juglans regia l.)

The effects on germination and hypocotyl and primary developments of cucumber seeds of the tissue extracts, which were added to germination mediums as 2 ml, 4 ml, 6 ml and 8 ml, belonging to phloem, bark with and without buds, bark of shoot tip, root bark and tip buds were evaluated. While no germination in the mediums of 6 ml and 8 ml extracts was not seen, germinations were observed in the mediums of 2ml and 4 ml extracts and control treatments. Tissue extracts were recorded to have shown an inhibiting effect. In addition, total flavan contents of different parts changed between 4.32 mg/g and 8.27 mg/g

Changing of flavan contents at some organs of walnut seedlings (Juglans regia l.) exposed to the controlled grafting conditions

In this study, changing of the flavans, which are one of the phenolic compounds, in the shoot tips, the roots and the bases of lateral branches was followed. The flavan changes after 1, 15, 30 and 45 days in the organs of two years old seedlings of walnut (Juglans regia L.) under controlled grafting conditions with 26+2 °C temperature and 60-70 % humidity were determined by TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography). The observations in the first 30 days were evaluated in relation to the anatomical structure of the graft union, and the changes of 50 days were considered connected with changing of the phenolic compounds in case of exposing to the controlled conditions. Consequently, the flavans decreased 35.95 % in the shoot tips, 32.68 % in the bases of lateral branches and 19.38 % in the roots in first 30 days. But, they increased 48.86 % in the shoot tips and 34.29 % at the roots while reducing 68.81 % in the bases of lateral branches from 30th day to 50th day. In addition, from the 1st day to 50th day they showed a decrease of 4.66 % in the shoot tips and of 79.00 % in the base of lateral branches, but an increase of 8.27 % in the root