Appliance Industry Research Articles

Technical and economic simulation of a hybrid renewable energy power system design for industrial application

Countries in Africa rank the highest in low energy accessibility and air pollution globally. Presenting the urgent need to explore renewable energy sources to tackle the power challenge and reduce the carbon footprint for a greener atmosphere. A novel hybrid wind and solar renewable energy power system (HREPS) coupled to a battery that is capable of powering industrial appliances in the Basse district of The Gambia has been proposed. The HREPS size was estimated automatically with the PVsyst software taking into account the PV power and battery capacity based on the load profile and loss of load probability, with all the necessary meteorological, technical, and economic factors. The optimal size was possible with 20 photovoltaic modules (250 W) and 1 Wind generator (1 KW) compatible with the annual load requirement of about 2555 MWh. These results suggested that the HREPS is reliable for the user’s load demand in all the tested meteorological conditions of the study area. When the HREPS is linked to any other renewable source, it shows the potential of gaining about 8395 kWh annually in the battery. The continuous operation of the hybrid system for 21 years presents a net gain of > 400% for the standalone systems with a projected gain of > 600% when linked to a small smart grid system. Since high taxes may scuttle these gains, it is recommended that the Government encourage investment in renewable energy power systems by subsidizing the taxes on the purchase of items to make them more affordable.

Analyzing the impact of viral marketing on brand equity dimensions in Egypt’s home appliances sector: A customer and legal perspective

In the digital age, viral marketing has emerged as a key driver in shaping brand equity, particularly in the highly competitive Egyptian home appliances sector. Traditional marketing strategies have proven insufficient in reaching consumers with the same efficacy as viral campaigns, which leverage digital platforms and consumer networks. This study examines the influence of viral marketing on brand equity dimensions – brand awareness, perceived quality, brand loyalty, and brand association – through the lens of both customer perception and legal frameworks Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 270 respondents across 389 companies, with a response rate of approximately 70% of the total population in Egypt’s home appliances sector, with simple linear regression analysis employed to assess the relationships. The results indicate a strong positive effect of viral marketing on brand equity. Specifically, viral marketing accounts for 27.2% of the variance in brand awareness (R² = 0.272, p < 0.001), 28.1% in perceived quality (R² = 0.281, p < 0.01), 13.6% in brand loyalty (R² = 0.136, p < 0.05), and 40.9% in brand association (R² = 0.409, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study finds that regulatory compliance plays a moderating role, ensuring that viral marketing campaigns remain within ethical and legal bounds, thereby enhancing consumer trust and the long-term impact of marketing efforts.These findings highlight the strategic value of integrating viral marketing with a firm understanding of legal frameworks to optimize brand equity in Egypt’s home appliances industry. This research provides actionable insights for brand managers and marketers looking to maximize the efficacy of their viral campaigns while maintaining brand integrity. AcknowledgmentThe authors are thankful to the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at University of Bisha for supporting this work through the Fast-Track Research Support Program.

Cultivation of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, Monoraphidium sp and Scenedesmus obliquus in wastewater from the household appliance industry for bioremediation and biofuel production.

Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Monoraphidium sp were cultivated in effluent from the household appliance industry as an alternative medium for bioremediation due to the high variability of chemical and biological substances in wastewater. The experiments were carried out using biological effluent (BE), chemical effluent (CE), and a combination of the two (MIX). The results showed a maximum biomass yield of 1056mg/L (± 0.216) in the BE cultivation of the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus, 969mg/L (± 0.20) in the BE of the microalga Monoraphidium sp. and 468mg/L (± 0.46) in the CE of Chlorella vulgaris. In addition, they showed removal (100%) in the CE and MIX for cultivation with Chlorella vulgaris and 100% BE and 75% MIX with Monoraphidium sp. For the (75.3%, 99% e 97.9%) in the cultures with C. vulgaris BE, CE, and MIX respectively, with Monoraphidium sp. 58% in BE and 42% in CE and MIX. With S. obliquus, 100% removal was observed in all 3 treatments. Metal removal was also observed. The C. vulgaris culture showed lipid contents of 16%, 12%, and 17% for BE, CE, and MIX, respectively. For Monoraphidium sp., 14.5% for BE, 16% for CE, and 14% for MIX. In the culture of S. obliquus, 17%, 15.5%, and 16.5% for BE, CE, and MIX, respectively.

Emerging concerns in sustainability reporting: Disclosure of tertiary effects in the home appliance industry

Home appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers have grown rapidly worldwide, contributing to significant ecological impacts across their life cycle. Part of the corporate response to ecological concerns has been to better document and report impacts via Sustainability Reporting (SR), which follows various global standards but often lacks specificity, particularly in capturing beyond direct (tertiary) effects. Our review asks how well and to what extent sustainability reporting covers these emerging “tertiary effects”, in home appliance industry. We assess all 26 available SRs from 254 major home appliance brands (representing 50 conglomerate companies), to assess how well they cover tertiary effects including: measurement of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, attention to the nine planetary boundaries, and estimation and discussion of potential rebound effects. Only 23% of reports mention rebound effects, often framed as beneficial due to increased product demand, without addressing the negative implications of expanded resource use. Just one report covers all nine planetary boundaries, and relevant Scope 3 emissions, such as emissions from product use, are mentioned in less than half of the reports. The findings point to many opportunities for companies to disclose tertiary impacts. We draw on existing SR literature and examples from the reviewed SR reports to suggest ways for corporate self-reporting to better reflect ecological realities further afield from direct production operations. To improve SR, companies should acknowledge potential rebound effects from efficiency gains and follow guidelines to address a wider range of planetary boundary impacts and Scope 3 emissions beyond climate and freshwater concerns.

Research on Optimizing the Carbon Footprint of Products Based on Identifier Resolution

Abstract: This article takes a certain refrigerator of Haier Company as the research object and conducts an in-depth discussion on its carbon footprint throughout the full lifecycle. To achieve accurate tracking and calculation of the carbon footprint of the refrigerator's full lifecycle, this article adopts Handle and Ecode identification and resolution technologies. It establishes corresponding identification coding rules for key points throughout the lifecycle of refrigerator production, transportation, usage, and recycling, and designs a set of identification coding schemes for each stage of the refrigerator from raw material acquisition to recycling. Based on this identification coding scheme, this article calculates in detail the carbon footprint of the refrigerator at each stage of its full lifecycle. Based on the calculated carbon footprint data, it gains a deep understanding of the distribution of the carbon footprint of the refrigerator product and proposes a series of targeted optimization strategies. This research provides a powerful reference for the green development of the home appliance industry and promotes its development towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable direction.

Sound quality characteristics of reciprocating hermetic refrigeration compressors

In recent years, sound quality (SQ) has become an increasingly important factor in the home appliance industry, enhancing the customer experience and comfort. Manufacturers that prioritize SQ in their designs can gain a competitive advantage in the market and increase customer satisfaction. The compressor is one of the main sources of noise in a refrigerator. While manufacturers typically provide refrigerator sound quality and noise labels, research that specifically evaluates the compressor sound quality metrics at a component level is not common. Therefore, this study aims to isolate the compressor from the refrigerator to investigate SQ metrics for hermetic refrigeration compressors. To achieve this, compressors with different capacities are operated and recorded at different working speeds for different thermal conditions. Objective parameters are calculated and tested using time domain signals and analyzed with spectral analysis methods. In addition to the objective parameters, subjective results are obtained through jury tests consisting of 75 people of different genders and age ranges. By considering objective parameters of sound quality as input and sound quality evaluation values as output, a regression model is established. It is found that Loudness, Sharpness, and Degree of Modulation play an important role in compressor sound quality evaluations consider.

Research on the influence of the digital economy on the development of China’s small household appliance industry and enhancement countermeasures

Purpose The implementation of the digital economy has had a considerable influence on the manufacturing industry, and this paper aims to address the important issues of how to capture the opportunities presented by digital innovation and promote the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, as well as the improvement of quality and efficiency. Design/methodology/approach Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces and cities between 2010 and 2021, this study establishes the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model and uses impulse response function analysis to evaluate the influence of the digital economy on the high-quality transformation and upgrading of China's small home appliance industry across five dimensions under the digital economy. Findings The development of digital infrastructure has not demonstrated a noteworthy capacity for advancing the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry. Furthermore, digital industrialization has exerted a minimal restraining influence on this process. Nevertheless, digital governance has consistently exhibited a substantial impact on facilitating the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry. While both industrial digitization and digital innovation hold significant potential for promoting the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry, their sustainability remains limited. Practical implications The organization should logically join independent innovation and open innovation, construct an industrial ecosystem for the profound convergence of the digital economy and compact household appliances, use digital-wise science and technology to empower the establishment of brand effects, strengthen the portrayal of the digital standard framework for the intelligent compact household appliance industry, advance the development of a public stage for computerized administrations in the compact household appliance industry and develop a strategy ecosystem for computerized assets in the compact household appliance industry. Originality/value This study offers systematic evidence of the relationship between the digital economy and the development of the small home appliance industry. The results of this research contribute to the literature on the impact of the digital economy on the manufacturing sector and provide a logical explanation for the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry within the context of the digital economy.

After-sales service and brand reputation: a case of kitchen appliance industry

PurposeTo build long-term relationships and gain a competitive edge, marketers need to provide customers with unique and distinct experiences that they cannot find in other companies. According to the literature, after-sales service helps to achieve these goals. By modeling the linkages between after-sales service, service quality, customer attitude and purchase intention, this study aims to understand how customers perceive after-sales service in decision-making in kitchen appliance industry.Design/methodology/approachThrough purposive sampling, 324 respondents, primarily female, answered a structured questionnaire about their perception of after-sales service for kitchen appliance products. Previously well-established, validated scale measures from the extant literature were used. The responses were gathered using a seven-point Likert scale.FindingsAccording to the findings, after-sales service quality is vital in kitchen appliance buying decisions. Accordingly, the higher the quality of service perceived by the customer, the more favorable the brand's attitude and purchase intention will be. Additionally, brand reputation was found to be an essential moderator between customer attitude and purchase intention, suggesting that the reputation of the kitchen appliance brand plays a positive and significant role in consumers’ purchase intentions.Originality/valueIt is well known that after-sales service plays a crucial role in current business scenarios, but empirical research on kitchen appliances has been scarce. This study aims to fill a void in the existing literature by investigating the relationships between after-sales service, after-sales service quality, customer attitude and purchase intention in the domain of kitchen appliances.

Sensorless control using single current sensor with PFC assisted SRM drive for cost-effective domestic appliances

This paper presents a sensorless control designed for low to medium speed operation of an 8/6 pole switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive, utilizing only a single current and voltage sensor while ensuring grid-side power quality. It emphasizes a cost-effective solution suitable for low-power applications in both domestic and industrial appliances, employing SRM drive technology. In this, AC input is fed to Cuk converter that suppresses grid current total harmonic distortion (THD). Using symmetrical structural properties of SRM allows for a cost-friendly sensorless control approach. Position estimation for four-phase SRM is achieved by comparing two-position reference fluxes with running flux. In case of four-phase SRM, phases A and C are conducted sequentially, enabling a single voltage and current sensor to estimate flux for both phases. This method contrasts with lookup table-based rotor position estimation, requiring only two sets of position flux data, thus reducing memory usage, controller complexity, and speeding up response. A laboratory prototype of a four-phase 8/6 SRM is used to estimate rotor position in sensorless control. Finally, test results are used to validate effectiveness of presented PFC assisted sensorless control approach.

Investigation of home appliances industry and devices obsolescence considering energy consumption

The objective of this study is to optimize a linear objective function that pertains to the obsolescence of home appliances in a household. The approach introduced is an ILP-based method that is both simple and adaptable. This optimization guarantees that the total energy consumption remains below a predetermined energy threshold, while also adhering to an inequality constraint. The proposed methodology was effectively tested using a household containing four home appliances: a washing machine, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and an oven. The findings indicate that the refrigerator is the most hazardous and inexpensive home appliance. The current formulation aims to optimize the device's lifespan considering the customer's financial constraints and the expenses associated with repairing and replacing its parts. This study centers on the maintenance of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and considers the effects of degradation-related malfunctions, as assessed through testing. Moreover, we employ an additional ILP approach to assess the vulnerability of refrigerator’s PCB components by determining which ones should be replaced when a customer has limited financial resources.

QUALITY ASPECTS IN THE WELDING OF SOME ELEMENTS OF MICRO-MOTORS IN AUTOMOTIVE AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES INDUSTRY

In the automotive and household appliances industry, there is a permanent concern to find fast and efficient welding methods and technologies, pressure welding being one of the usual joining methods, due to the minimum qualification requirements, cheap equipment, ease of control, high speed of operation, repeatability and suitability for automation or robotization for inclusion in high production assembly lines. In the paper, quality aspects are described in spot welding of some elements of micro-motors in the automotive industry and household appliances by using tools that allow highlighting the fact that the process is controllable from a statistical point of view, concerning two micro-motors from the production flow.

Scaling up a circular business model for remanufacturing: A case study of a sustainable value creation strategy for the white goods industry

AbstractBecause of the ever‐increasing pressure on producers to adopt environmentally responsible industrial practices, remanufacturing has emerged as a key strategy to address the challenges of resource conservation and waste reduction. In this paper, we address a conspicuous research gap regarding innovative and large‐scale circular solutions in the form of remanufacturing systems. We investigate how the private sector can build widespread remanufacturing networks to handle waste from the appliance industry. Starting from a successful case study of a leading Italian distributor of spare parts, our analysis expands their existing business model and inductively develops an original framework for regional remanufacturing. Our resulting model encompasses a centralised hub specialised in high‐tech data management and supply‐chain logistics, coupled with two tiers of remanufacturing labs and repairers, diffusing triple‐bottom‐line benefits throughout the local territory. We discuss the generalisability of such a centralised/decentralised model and propose avenues for the policy support of systemic circular innovations.

Oxidative Stress Assessment of Noise Exposure in the Workers Using Hearing Protection in a Pressing Industry.

Exposure to noise by generation of free radicals causes oxidative stress in body. The aim of this study was the evaluation of oxidative stress in workers who have used hearing protection devices during working time. Pressing workers (n=24) of a home appliance industry were studied using hearing protection devices to reduce noise exposure. Twenty two office staff (without exposure to noise) were considered as a control group. Two groups were matched for age, work experience and smoking. Exposure to noise was measured by dosimeter method at workstations. By obtaining 3 ml blood sample, Malondialdehyde levels, Thiol groups and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated in all subjects. Exposure to sound pressure level in pressing workers by considering the noise reduction factor of the earplug was observed in 77.65 dB with minimum 75.1 dB and Maximum 81.22 dB. Plasma thiol groups (0.076 (0.041-0.119) vs (0.110 (0.076-0.197), mmol/l P =0.0001) and total antioxidant capacity (361.33± 54.65 vs 414.14± 96.82, µmol/ml P = 0.026) in pressing workers significantly decreased than control group. Pearson correlation showed significant results between exposure to noise and oxidative stress parameters. Exposure to noise wave cause oxidative stress in different site of body. Oxidative stress is an intermediate way for different disease due to noise exposure. Reducing of noise exposure by earplug in pressing workers is not efficient protection for oxidative stress generation. Therefore, hearing protection devices are not a barrier to the harmful effects of noise in occupational exposure.

Toward Industry 4.0 in home appliance industry: challenges and future perspectives

PurposeConsidering the problems faced by the home appliance industry in Iran, such as the increase in waste, lack of information transparency and lack of traceability of manufactured products, etc. the companies in the home appliance industry are moving toward Industry 4.0 and have been prompted to use it. On the other hand, the adoption of Industry 4.0 is associated with challenges that may lead to the failure of the adoption project and the bankruptcy of home appliance manufacturers. This study identified the challenges in the implementation of Industry 4.0 on current status and provided suitable solutions to overcome the identified challenges.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a review of the literature and background of Industry 4.0 identified the challenges that influence the adoption of Industry 4.0. To measure the current status of the identified challenges, the opinions of experts in the Iranian home appliance industry were used. To find solutions to the challenges in the adoption of Industry 4.0 in the Iranian home appliance industry, a fuzzy cognitive mapping and scenario design were used.FindingsThe results of this study show that to face the challenge of data sharing, skilled personnel should be effectively promoted among workers in the home appliance industry. The results of this study also show that the barriers to cooperation should be removed to reduce the impact of the IT Security Concerns challenge.Originality/valueThis paper is the first article that identifies the challenges and effective solutions for implementing Industry 4.0 in the home appliance industry.

Case Study of Enterprise Value Assessment

Along with the gradual advancement of the deepening reform of our country's socialist market economy and the further optimization of resource allocation, the restructuring, investment, acquisition and merger of enterprises are becoming increasingly frequent economic activities. The evaluation of the value of the target enterprise is one of the important links. This paper takes the small household appliance industry as the starting point, takes the small B Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. as an example, and uses the discounted free cash flow model in the income method to estimate its market value. It can reflect that this method is conducive to providing detailed and solid basis for value assessment relatively comprehensively from the aspects of enterprise profitability, profit quality, future profit sustainability, expected rate of return of the industry in which it is located, and time cost of funds, etc., and is widely used in the capital financial market and market information disclosure requirements.

Effect of equal channel angular pressing on magnesium alloys − A review

Magnesium (Mg) alloys own excellent properties that includes better castability, low density and great specific strength. Mg and its alloys are easily available and economical. Necessity of Mg and its alloys for manufacturing and engineering purposes has increased, predominantly in the area of aircraft and automobile applications. The known limitation of magnesium is its poor formability at room temperature, with inadequate slip systems due to hexagonal closed packed construction of magnesium. Formability of magnesium alloys will be enhanced at room temperature by grain structure refinement which improves ductility with grain refined structure. Severe plastic deformation (SPD) procedure induces extreme strain within the sample to produce ultrafine grained structure. Additionally, few shortcomings of magnesium is increased wear mass loss and corrosion rate obstructing the use of Mg and its alloys in several industrial appliances. Wear resistance and corrosion behaviour can be enhanced by SPD thereby increasing the requirement of magnesium alloys for engineering applications. Among SPD, equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) is an efficient approach to develop and vary the mechanical and microstructural properties as per the need. In ECAP approach, the workpiece undergoes shear deformation and large strains are induced in the workpiece with no variation in cross sectional aspect of the workpiece. Microstructure plays a very important role in achieving the required mechanical properties. ECAP process creates ultrafine-grained microstructure with different number of ECAP passes with varying temperatures inducing high strain rate.

Psychological Health and Coronavirus Disease 2019-related Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavioral Practices among Industrial Workers: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Aim: The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a high threat on the health of industrial workers as the most crucial source of the workforce in maintaining business and the community economy. The present study was conducted toevaluate the levels of psychological health and knowledge, attitude, and behavioral practice (KAP) relating to COVID-19 and to investigatethe individual and occupational risk factors associated with them. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 randomly selected workers from Tehran industrial city, Iran. Data collected through an online self-reporting questionnaire consisted of demographic variables, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and items about KAP. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U-tests, and regression model analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with DASS-21 and KAP scales. Results: In this study, a prevalence of moderate to extremely severe symptoms was 30.2% for depression, 35.7% for anxiety, and 15.6% for stress. 89.9%, 95.3%, and 66% of the workers had moderate knowledge, attitude, and good behavioral practice, respectively. Home appliance industry (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.84, P = 0.002), work experience over 16–20 years old (aOR = 0.38, P = 0.031), and having an associate’s degree (aOR = 0.82, P = 0.02) were positively associated with worker’s attitude, depression, and knowledge, respectively. Conclusion: The findings indicated a considerable proportion of psychological health problems, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress among workers across industries. Occupational health services should provide interventions to improve knowledge, particularly in disease transmission, increase awareness, and emphasize appropriate preventive measures to reduce workplace chronic stressors and improve psychological health.

The Effect of Marketing Mix on Purchase Intention in the Home Appliance Industry in West Java

The purpose of this research is to discover what factors influence someone's decision to purchase home equipment. In this study, a discussion was held about the effect of the 4P marketing mix elements on purchase intention. The product, the price, the place, and the promotion are the four marketing aspects that will be discussed in this paper. The respondents in this study were 234 people who met the requirements of being of productive age, living in West Java, and having a fixed income. SEM-PLS was used to analyze the data, and the results revealed that just three variables from the marketing mix affected customer purchase intention in the home appliances industry. Product, price, and promotion are the variables that influence purchase intention; however, place has no effect. The company can pay attention to these three variables while designing strategies to improve market competition.

Effect of Product Evaluation on Purchase Intention toward White Goods: Mediating Role of Country of Origin

In the era of globalization, the significance of a product's Country of Origin (COO) in consumer behavior studies has gained prominence. COO serves as an intangible cue influencing consumers' purchasing decisions and product evaluations. Amidst the escalating trends of global trade and competition, COO emerges as a powerful determinant impacting the competitive positioning and business success of brands. Given this context, this study aims to elucidate the influence of COO on the purchasing behaviors of young Indian consumers in the context of white goods. Additionally, the study delves into the intricate interplay among COO, product evaluation, and purchase intention within the home appliances industry in India. Utilizing mediation analysis, the study reveals that product evaluation significantly mediates the relationship between COO and consumers' purchase intentions regarding white goods.

Research on home appliance circular design strategy in response to carbon border adjustment mechanism

In May 2023, the EU formally adopted the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) bill, which requires that from 2026 onwards, high-carbon imports must use the appropriate Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificates. At the initial stage, the mechanism has gradually covered eight high-carbon industries, and is likely to be expanded to include more industries, including the already highly competitive home appliance industry. In order to cope with the challenges that the CBAM may bring, and in line with the general trend of international green trade and circular economy, the government and the international trade industry in multiple categories, including home appliance enterprises, should react quickly and take feasible countermeasures. This study adopts a case study analytical framework to understand the responses of Chinese home appliance enterprises to CBAM through cluster analysis of 240 samples, and to explore the impact of CBAM on individual enterprises, as well as their product development and design strategies in the transition to a carbon-reducing economy. The results show that, firstly, CBAM has both negative and positive impacts on Chinese home appliance firms. Second, four product development strategies were summarized in the cluster analysis, including technological advantage, customer orientation, cost advantage and imitation. Third, 20 strategies related to product cycle design were summarized in the case interviews. In addition, there is a correlation between the product design strategies adopted by the sample firms and the firm attributes (firm size, business form and product development type). The results of this study can provide product design strategy references for the sample companies to deal with CBAM and future competition, as well as practical experience for companies in other fields to deal with CBAM.