A systematic review of research into the management of manufacturing capabilities

Our study aims to explore the past and present knowledge related to the management of manufacturing capabilities and to assess the extent to which our knowledge of this field has developed. It places specific emphasis on the philosophical foundations of the field, while also providing a set of directions for future research. A systematic review is applied, covering 104 articles. The authors unfold a strong dominance of the positivist paradigm, and call for a more balanced and informed approach in philosophical and, more specifically, methodological selection by scholars. In terms of the research content, a strong bias exists towards measuring the impact that certain manufacturing capabilities, and various configurations of these, may have on key performance indicators, such as cost. Our review warns on the dangers of following a dominant paradigmatic stance and on the limitations of researching a limited area of the complex and dynamic manufacturing capabilities arena

Agile Supply Chain Management in the UK Fashion Sector

More demanding customers and the globalisation of both markets and production have led to companies nowadays facing a highly volatile and uncertain environment. In this environment, the ability to react to environmental uncertainty is key for competitiveness. Long lead times and high levels of stock have higher and higher risks associated with and, as a result, producing just-in-time to customer specifications has become the key to succeeding in the market place. Efficient supply chains often become uncompetitive because they don’t adapt to changes in the structures of markets. In this context, the area of agile supply chain management has gained increasing attention over the past few decades. It focuses on increasing the speed and flexibility of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers.If extensive research has been previously conducted on various aspects of agility, the majority of previous studies focus on consumer acceptance of the strategy and not on operational issues. Building on this weakness, this thesis aims to construct a framework of agile supply chain management practices and, through two case studies, investigate the interactions between its components. The UK fashion sector was chosen as the focus of this research, due to its high levels of demand volatility. It also presents a set of challenges, as the high levels of globalization that characterises the sector and the complexity of the supply networks operated by fashion retailers, have previously been identified as barriers to responsiveness.The thesis’ main findings are threefold. First, due to the fact that traditional supply chains are either too complex and cost-laden to distribute low-cost products effectively or too asset-intensive and inflexible to quickly harness and deploy innovation, companies need to build ‘fit-for-purpose’ supply chain networks. This involves configuring supply networks in a tailored fashion to deliver innovation and responsiveness for premium brands and high efficiency for mass value products. Second, through high levels of process integration companies should accelerate the innovation process so that new products and promotions can be introduced into stores more cheaply and quickly. They should also reinvent the value chain by reconfiguring operations to radically cut costs and proactively meet customer demands. Third, to enable high levels of agility in a global sourcing context through rapid supply systems reconfiguration, new supply chain structures and actors, such as trade agents / intermediaries, need to be involved

Deshojando "poemas para niños": Elsa Bornemann y la colección Pétalos de Editorial Latina

El presente artículo aborda la colección de poesía Pétalos de editorial Latina, dirigida por Elsa Bornemann en 1975. El mismo se centra en el análisis del corpus conformado por los volúmenes de la serie, desde las categorías teóricas de colección, declaración de intenciones y mediación editorial. Se explora, asimismo, la figura de Elsa Bornemann como “agente doble” (Cañón, 2016) del campo de la literatura para niños y niñas (LPN) en los años 70 así como las concepciones de poesía e imaginarios de infancia subyacentes en la serie estudiada.El artículo aspira a contribuir al estudio de las colecciones literarias para la infancia desde una perspectiva histórica, tanto por el objeto de estudio en sí mismo, esto es, por sus efectos de visibilización y puesta en valor como patrimonio bibliográfico de una colección como la analizada, así como por los eventuales aportes que investigaciones de este tipo pueden suponer para el campo de la literatura para niños y niñas (LPN) en nuestro país

Lectura crítica de Avedoy, T. (2021). Manifiesto poético-político por la investigación de-en la biblioteca pública. Ciudad de México: Tragaluz

In this manifesto of 80 slogans Teresa Avedoy destabilizes the current notion of public library. Moving away from outdated slogans and discourses (the library as a place of knowledge, access, shelter, culture...) and inviting us to rethink the "common phrases", she raises a tension between the discourses about the public library and the experiences of the individuals who inhabit it: in the speeches, the public library is always "a politically correct issue" (although marginalized and forgotten in social, economic, and political), enclosed in categories that capture what is alive in it and discarding the intimate and subjective, everything that has an experiential place for peopl

De la promoción de la lectura a la formación de lectores literarios

El presente artículo se propone reflexionar sobre el concepto de promoción de la lectura en el contexto escolar. Se abordan, en primer lugar, algunos discursos y prácticas asociados a esta categoría desde los modos de hacer en relación a la lectura ya  instalados en la institución educativa. En segundo lugar, se sistematiza lo que,  creemos,  es lo  distintivo de la promoción de la lectura en la escuela, esto es, la formación de lectores, poniendo el acento en el trabajo conjunto de mediadores docentes (maestras y maestros bibliotecarios y maestras y maestros de grado). Por último, se explicitan algunas consideraciones acerca de la selección de los materiales para la promoción lectora y se puntualizan intervenciones fundamentales para la formación de lectores literarios, sobre todo durante la escolarización primaria

When sustainability becomes an order winner: linking supply uncertainty and sustainable supply chain strategies

This study investigates how to implement a sustainable supply chain strategy by choosing a set of sustainable practices while considering the strategic priority assigned to sustainability within a company’s competitive strategy (i.e., an order winner (OW), market qualifier (MQ) or desirable attribute (DA)). Therefore, two research questions arise: RQ1. What are the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices adopted by companies under the different levels of priority assigned to sustainability (i.e., OW, MQ and DA)? and RQ2. How does supply uncertainty influence the choices regarding the SSCM practices to adopt or vice versa? We addressed these questions through a two-step methodology that includes 10 exploratory case studies in different industries and four explanatory cases in the furniture industry. Six research propositions are developed, and we show how some sustainable practices are common to all companies in the sample, while others are only applicable when sustainability is an MQ or an OW. Moreover, in contrast to the suggestion in the literature, we observed that companies with sustainability as an OW implement sustainability practices despite increasing exposure to supply uncertainty. However, when sustainability is a DA or an MQ, companies might implement sustainable practices with the aim of reducing supply uncertainty rather than for sustainability goals. The cases show that investment in these practices can trigger a transition towards a situation in which sustainability is an OW

3D printing the future: scenarios for supply chains reviewed

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to evaluate existing scenarios for 3D Printing in order to identify the “white space” where future opportunities have not been proposed or developed to date. Based around aspects of order penetration points, geographical scope and type of manufacturing, these gaps are identified. Design/methodology/approach: A structured literature review has been carried out on both academic and trade publications. As of the end of May 2016, this identified 128 relevant articles containing 201 future scenarios. Coding these against aspects of existing manufacturing and supply chain theory has led to the development of a framework for identify “white space” in existing thinking. Findings: The coding shows that existing future scenarios are particularly concentrated on job shop applications and pull based supply chain processes, although there are fewer constraints on geographical scope. Five distinct areas of “white space” are proposed, reflecting various opportunities for future 3DP supply chain development. Research limitations: Being a structured literature review, there are potentially articles not identified through the search criteria used. The nature of the findings is also dependent upon the coding criteria selected. However, these are theoretically derived and reflect important aspect of strategic supply chain management. Practical implications: Practitioners may wish to explore the development of business models within the “white space” areas. Originality/value: Currently, existing future 3DP scenarios are scattered over a wide, multi-disciplinary literature base. By providing a consolidated view of these scenarios, it is possible to identify gaps in current thinking. These gaps are multidisciplinary in nature and represent opportunities for both academics and practitioners to exploit

Effect of xylitol on Porphyromonas gingivalis: A systematic review

Objective: This review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of xylitol against Porphyromonas gingivalis anaerobic species, a key microbe contributing to periodontal disease pathogenesis. Material and Methods: Relevant studies published on seven online databases (Cochrane, Ovid, Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) were included in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria allowed all study designs involving xylitol and P. gingivalis, literature published since the year 2000, and all xylitol delivery forms. Results: The initial search yielded 186 papers. After the removal of duplicates, five reviewers screened every article for eligibility and seven articles were selected for data extraction. Four out of seven included studies assessed the dose-dependent effect of xylitol on P. gingivalis growth, two studies assessed the effect of xylitol on P. gingivalis-induced cytokine expression, and one study assessed both domains. Conclusions: From the in vitro studies included in this systematic review, there is some evidence of xylitol's inhibitory effect on P. gingivalis. However, more evidence derived from in vivo studies is required to confirm its effectiveness warranting their routine use

The development of a lean, agile and leagile supply network taxonomy based on differing types of flexibility

The paper explores the meaning of flexibility in the context of lean, agile and leagile supply networks and articulates a supply network flexibility framework. Two key ‘sources’ of flexibility are investigated: Vendor Flexibility and Sourcing Flexibility. The paper introduces an extension of the ‘leagility’ concept beyond the simple material flow decoupling point concept. Two new types of Leagility are put forward: (1) Leagile with Vendor Flexibility Systems, which combine the use of agile vendors with lean sourcing practices and (2) Leagile with Sourcing Flexibility Systems, which combine the use of lean vendors with agile sourcing practices. Case studies of two UK based specialist fashion retailers’ supply networks are presented in order to gain insights into the sourcing strategies used and the sources of flexibility employed by retailers at supply network level. A new taxonomy that dynamically links Vendor and Sourcing Flexibility with lean, agile and leagile supply network strategies is proposed. We suggest that the proposed taxonomy can be used as a guideline for firms designing and managing parallel supply pipelines that match different operating environments. The findings add to the understanding of the ways in which the two sources of supply network flexibility (Vendor and Sourcing) interact in practice and provide evidence of the ways in which companies can strike balances between these sources, as well as the effects that can be achieved and some of the trade-offs involved