Applying performance measures to support informed decision making at an operational level

Performance Measurement Systems (PMS) have commonly been applied to evaluate and reward performances at managerial levels, especially in the context of supply chain management. However, evidence suggests that the effective use of PMS can also positively influence the behaviour and improve performance at an operational level. The purpose of the study described in this paper is to develop a conceptual framework that adopts performance measures for ex-ante decision-making at an operational level within the supply chain. A case study at Coca-Cola Enterprises has been carried out and as a result, a conceptual framework of the PMS has been developed

Why do SMEs implement open innovation? The case of Portugal

The concept of open innovation is gaining popularity in both the world of engineering and management. However, despite this growing interest, most existing studies tend to focus mainly on large companies. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore the drivers of the implementation of the open innovation concept in SMEs. This study uses a survey carried out through an online questionnaire that was sent to some Portuguese SMEs. The results show that there is a high level of receptivity to implement open innovation. The findings also suggest the existence of a positive relationship between the application of open innovation and the level of satisfaction with the R&D unit’s performance. Overall, SMEs seem to be more motivated to apply open innovation to improve their innovation process and capacity than to reduce costs, share innovation risks, or improve reputation. Moreover, findings also demonstrate that the main drivers for the adoption of open innovation vary along with company size. For micro-enterprises, the main driver is to complement internal skills. Small enterprises look for the most effective way to develop new products and services whilst medium-sized enterprises are mainly driven to monitor market trends and improve their innovation process.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of industry's 4.0 technologies in the portuguese footwear industry

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contributions towards the adoption of circular economy in the hospitality industry: consumer awareness and preferences

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Future trends on electrical vehicles servitization driven by the digital revolution

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rethinking marine plastics pollution: science diplomacy and multi-level governance

Although science diplomacy has been gaining relevance in foreign policy to solve environmental challenges, critical questions concerning what different instruments mean under the term ‘science diplomacy’ and whether science diplomacy does contribute to the progress in solving environmental issues remain unanswered. We explore those questions by linking science diplomacy salient features through documentary analysis of international instruments addressing the plastics pollution in the ocean. We find that from a science diplomacy and multi-level governance perspective, the responsibilities and capabilities of emergent actors of cross-level governance are also important, leading to more attention being paid to changes in the role of national authorities, away from passive leadership to cross-cutting coalitions supported by the salient features of science diplomacy, and redefining dominant discursive approaches that have framed plastics waste.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Food Plastic Packaging Transition towards Circular Bioeconomy:A Systematic Review of Literature

Advancement in packaging technology has played an essential role in reducing food waste and losses; however, most of this technology relies mostly on the use of plastics. Thus, there is an imminent need to think seriously about the transition towards a circular bioeconomy of innovative biobased materials with biodegradability potentials. This paper examines the driving forces behind the changes in food plastic packaging regimes and specifically seeks to understand how sociotechnical configurations may influence niches to transition to a circular bioeconomy, particularly biobased biodegradable plastic materials. By employing a systematic review of the literature, we find that coordination with other back-end socio-technical systems that provide valorization of packaging waste is crucial to enable the transition. The literature indicates that one possible transition path is that the biobased biodegradable materials serve as “carriers of food waste”. The paper contributes to the discussion on the dynamics of food packaging in the transition to a bioeconomy viewed through the lenses of a socio-technical system (niche-regime-landscape), which continues to reinforce future actions, leading to better management of packaging end-of-life.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desulfurization of liquid fuels by extraction and sulfoxidation using H2O2 and [CpMo(CO)3R] as catalysts

Efficient and recyclable liquid–liquid extraction and catalytic oxidative desulfurization (ECODS) systems for the removal of refractory sulfur compounds from liquid fuels are reported that use the cyclopentadienyl molybdenum tricarbonyl complexes [CpMo(CO)3Me] (1), [CpMo(CO)3(CH2-pC6H4-CO2Me] (2) and [CpMo(CO)3CH2COOH] (3) as catalyst precursors. An ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, was used as both extractant and reaction medium, entrapping the active homogeneous MoVI catalysts that are formed in situ under the operating catalytic conditions (aqueous H2O2 as oxidant, 50 °C). The high sulfoxidation activity of the catalyst formed from 1 was largely responsible for enabling >99% desulfurization within 1 h of a model oil containing 1-benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene, 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (2000 ppm S). The IL/catalyst phase could be repeatedly recycled with no loss of desulfurization efficiency. By sequentially performing extractive desulfurization and ECODS steps, 83–84% sulfur removal was achieved for untreated real diesel and jet fuel samples with initial sulfur contents of ca. 2300 and 1100 ppm, respectively.publishe

A sustainable peroxophosphomolybdate/H2O2 system for the oxidative removal of organosulfur compounds from simulated and real high-sulfur diesels

Highly efficient, deep desulfurization of a multi-component model diesel containing benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) has been achieved by using the peroxophosphomolybdate [(n-C4H9)4N]3{PO4[MoO(O2)2]4} (Q3PMo4) directly as catalyst, and aqueous H2O2 as oxidant. Q3PMo4 behaves as a heterogeneous catalyst in the complete oxidation of the various sulfur compounds to the corresponding sulfones within 3 h at 70 °C, using a relatively low H2O2/S molar ratio of 3.7, and could be recycled for ten times with only a minimal decrease in activity. A study was performed to adapt the catalyst Q3PMo4 for the removal of sulfur from a real untreated diesel while maintaining a low, economically desirable, H2O2/S molar ratio of 3.7. The highest desulfurization performance was achieved in the presence of an extraction solvent during the catalytic oxidative stage, reinforced by two extraction steps before and after sulfur oxidation. Under these conditions, the sulfur content of the real diesel was reduced from 2300 to 500 ppm (78% desulfurization efficiency) after 3 h.publishe