A systematic approach to manufacturing packaging logistics

Packaging is one of the most important activities in the distribution systems and supply chains. Nevertheless, it attracts little attention of people, especially in the manufacturing sector because packaging has been intensively used as a protective agent only. One of the prime factors that inhibit manufacturing efficiency and productivity is treating packaging activities as an individual task. In other words, traditional packaging is usually considered as a cost driven center rather than a value added component throughout the manufacturing and distribution processes. If we reconsider the packaging design in a systematic approach, it is easy to develop more cost effective solutions for manufacturing processing that can support handling and distribution as well as providing protection of the product. By the same token, it will bring additional values to a company because of the improvement in manufacturing and distribution efficiency. The aim of the paper is to review and reorganize the major functions and roles of the packaging played in the manufacturing and logistics system and suggest a methodology for a systematic approach to packaging logistics. The proposed approach is demonstrated through a case study. How to transform an existing packaging system to the proposed one is also suggested.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Second‐harmonic generation of poled BaTiO₃ thin films

Second‐harmonic generation of 1.064 μm incident light was measured on BaTiO3thin films prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Upon corona poling of the film, the second‐harmonic signal was significantly enhanced. The second‐order nonlinear optical susceptibility,d, of the poled film reaches ∼7.5 times that of the quartz. The enhanced second‐harmonic generation shows a very slow decay at room temperature

Dengue Therapeutics, Chemoprophylaxis, and Allied Tools: State of the Art and Future Directions

10.1371/journal.pntd.0003025PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases88e302

Corticosteroids for Dengue - Why Don't They Work?

10.1371/journal.pntd.0002592PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases712e259