Industrial Example Research Articles

Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis Using Harmonic Balance Method

There is a high demand for nonlinear structural dynamics in implicit Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Although such methods are available, there are several obstacles to use them daily. One is their extreme and unpredictable computation time, which makes it often impossible to get results in time. Another point is the restriction of the methods to the time domain, which is often in contrary to the usual design rules based on frequency domain results. The Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) is a solution for an important sub-class of analysis cases, which resolves the two mentioned obstacles. As a starting point, we define HBM as a frequency response analysis with local nonlinearities. This allows to solve contact problems or mounting problems with nonlinear force-deflection curves. The primary results of HBM are in frequency domain. For all calculated frequencies, a solution in time domain is also available for a periodic response. A simplified radiator is used as industrial example. To prove the validity of HBM, a comparison with a linear frequency response analysis is performed, which shows same results. Then, rubber bushes and contact are added to the model as nonlinearities. Key results of stress and fatigue are presented, and the computation times are analysed to demonstrate the feasibility of the HBM implementation for applications in research and industry. All simulations are performed with the FEA software PERMAS, which contains the HBM among many other analysis methods in structural dynamics.

Applications of microfluidics in mRNA vaccine development: A review.

The transformative potential of microfluidics in the development of mRNA vaccines is explored in this review, highlighting its pivotal role in enhancing easy-to-use functionality, efficacy, and production efficiency. Moreover, we examine the innovative applications of microfluidics in biomedical research, including its contribution to the rapid and cost-effective synthesis of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery and delve into the advantages of mRNA vaccines, such as targeted delivery and controlled expression. Furthermore, it outlines the future prospects of microfluidic devices, their cutting-edge examples in both research and industry, and the potential to revolutionize vaccine formulation and production. The integration of microfluidics with mRNA vaccine development represents a significant advancement in public health and disease prevention strategies.

Assessing the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing customer personalization: A study of ethical and privacy implications in digital marketing

Technological evolution, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), has significantly changed digital marketing, specifically customer-targeted experience. Machine learning, recommendation systems, and predictive analytics have made it possible for enterprises to personalize content, products, and services, among other things, on a very large scale. Nevertheless, all these advances have come with large ethical and privacy concerns that are yet to be met. This paper discusses how AI can enhance customers' personalization to analyze the moral and privacy considerations involved. The research examines how machine learning marketing strategies work in the digital environment and real-life examples of organizations that successfully implement these approaches and potential issues. It highlights how individuals might buy more products and make businesses more profitable with customized advertising techniques. However, the paper also describes the moral problems of AI that use personal data without permission, artificially intelligent algorithms that affect decision-making, and artificial intelligence decision-making. At the same time, its work has yet to be well known. The paper looks into privacy risks like data breach incidents, privacy violations, GDPR, and CCPA. This paper adopts an exploratory case study research design as it gathers academic papers, industry examples, and expert opinions to present a balanced view of the effects of AI. Based on the research, conclusions can be drawn that great opportunities AI opens for personalization should be met with safety considerations and working ethical guidelines. In the end, the paper presents guidelines that should help businesses integrate trust and compliance into creating and using AI technologies.

Gambling outlets as agents of local area disorganization: Crime and local institutions, the case of the UK

Amid growing public and policy concerns there is a great need for a systematic analysis of the relationship between commodity industries and social disorganization. Using data from the ONS, the UK Census, the UK Police Street-level Crime Dataset, and the POI Ordnance Survey, we analyse the association between gambling outlets as an example of a commodity industry and crime events across England and Wales and explore the possibility of a heterogeneous effect dependent upon the level of deprivation and residential stability of an area. Our findings show that gambling outlets are significantly and positively associated with different types of crime even when controlling for other businesses, the areas’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Small businesses provide distinctive shielding effects – in areas of high density of small business owners, there is no significant correlation between crime types and gambling density. Our results have significant policy implications.

Transforming Supplier Audits with AI: A Risk-Based Approach in Medical Devices

The medical device industry, highly regulated and sensitive to quality standards, relies on rigorous supplier audits to ensure compliance and mitigate risks. However, traditional supplier audits are often resource-intensive, inconsistent in quality, and lack a clear focus on the most critical risk factors. This paper explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize the supplier audit process by enabling a risk-based approach that enhances accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. AI technology, with its advanced data processing, predictive analytics, and machine learning capabilities, can analyze vast amounts of supplier data in real-time, generating risk scores that prioritize high-risk suppliers for more frequent and thorough audits. This shift allows medical device companies to better allocate resources, focusing on high-impact areas and enhancing overall supply chain security. By considering factors such as supplier compliance history, product criticality, regional compliance laws, and performance trends, AI provides a dynamic and data-driven assessment model that minimizes the reliance on subjective audit practices. The paper introduces an AI-powered risk-based audit framework specifically tailored for medical device companies. This framework utilizes a multi-faceted AI-driven risk scorecard, categorizing suppliers by risk levels (high, medium, low) and enabling targeted audit strategies. It also demonstrates how AI can process a wide array of audit-related data inputs—such as supplier compliance, regional geopolitical risks, supply volume, and product criticality—to generate a holistic and accurate risk assessment. Through case studies and industry examples, this research underscores the advantages of integrating AI into supplier audit processes, highlighting cost savings, improved compliance outcomes, and reduced risk of quality issues or product recalls. Furthermore, it examines future trends and ethical considerations of AI in supplier audits, advocating for industry-wide adoption of AI-powered tools to support more efficient and effective supplier management. This paper concludes that adopting a risk-based, AI-driven audit approach in the medical device sector not only supports regulatory compliance but also builds resilience within the supply chain, creating a safer and more efficient landscape for medical device production.

Paradoxes of the late modern emotional regime, as illustrated by the gaming industry

This article explores the increasing interest in the role of emotions in the late modern working world. We examine how emotional regimes are characterised and which unintended consequences accompany the set of normative emotions. We illustrate this with the example of the German gaming industry, which is seen as being at the vanguard of the late modern world of work. Our aim is to show that this is a multifaceted but (organisation-)specific emotional regime. We use selected qualitative data material from the DFG project ‘The regime of emotions as a strategy? An analysis of economic subfields – emotions, emotional capital and gender in the late modern working world’ (duration 2020–2024). With reference to Patulny and Olson (2019), we examine the emotions that define this specific emotional regime, which prove to be (1) complex and ambivalent, (2) individualised, (3) commodified and (4) digitally mediated. Another relevant element of the emotional regime is (5) reflexive emotional management. We illustrate that late modern emotional regimes create paradoxes such as the passion for game development and the unquestioned acceptance of overtime, which can lead to exhaustion. We also reveal prevailing gender inequalities, which are often not immediately obvious in the seemingly egalitarian gaming industry.

The Minimotor Ltd: Pioneering digital transformation in production and operations

This teaching case examines the complexities encountered by a global industrial company undergoing digital transformation, particularly due to its heterogeneous production landscape. It highlights the critical factors for effectively orchestrating digital transformation initiatives and utilizing the scalability of technological applications. This industry example is relevant for delegates, students and practitioners aiming to implement maturity models and to realize the digital transformation within the context of Industry 4.0.

Strategic corporate social responsibility in the tourism and hospitality industry: Conceptual proposal

Considering the growing significance of CSR in the corporate world, this study critically reflects the extant CSR literature and CSR practices, and proposes a conceptual CSR framework, called Strategic CSR, to highlight the importance of developing and implementing CSR practices that can create and optimize both social and business value. Strategic CSR incorporates four existing concepts and frameworks: creating shared value, enlightened stakeholder theory, resource-based theory, and CSR fit perspective. The essential argument for Strategic CSR is that businesses should develop and implement CSR practices that are directly related to the businesses’ core operations and competencies. This study also discusses several additional important issues to consider in developing and implementing Strategic CSR to enhance the understanding of the framework along with tourism and hospitality industry examples. This study conducted survey of which results generally support the proposed framework. Lastly, the study suggests several research directions for CSR scholars.

Application of hybrid multi-criteria decision-making method to the evaluation of corporate social responsibility: An example of the banking industry in China

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a popular research topic, but there have not been comprehensive discussions on CSR evaluation in the banking sector. The purpose of this study is to propose a two-stage analysis combining the modified Delphi method (MDM) and Analytic Network Process (ANP) in order to construct a model for evaluating banks’ CSR. First, we use MDM to select and determine the interdependence of the criteria and then employ ANP to obtain their weights and to rank the alternatives. The results show that 5 criteria and 18 sub-criteria need to be considered in CSR evaluation. The most important criterion and sub-criterion are bank governance and regulatory compliance, respectively. The evaluation model constructed herein can be taken as a decision-making guide for evaluating banking organizations’ CSR and to help promote CSR development in China’s financial industry.

Effectiveness of Integrated Marketing and Financial Strategies in Healthcare

In recent years, the healthcare sector has experienced a shift toward integrated marketing and financial strategies to drive better patient outcomes, streamline operational costs, and improve service delivery. This paper examines the effectiveness of these strategies by exploring how they align to optimize healthcare systems. It focuses on the benefits, challenges, and implications of integrating financial planning with marketing outreach, emphasizing the role of data analytics, technology, and consumer engagement in enhancing both patient satisfaction and financial performance. Through a detailed analysis of current literature, industry examples, and statistical insights, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how an integrated approach influences revenue cycles, operational efficiency, and patient engagement in healthcare.

Dynamic Multiblock Regression for Process Modelling

ABSTRACTThe study introduces three novel strategies for incorporating capabilities for dynamic modelling into multiblock regression methods by integrating sequentially orthogonalised partial least squares (SO‐PLS) with different dynamic modelling techniques. The study evaluates these strategies using synthetic datasets and an industrial example, comparing their performance in predictive ability, identification of process dynamics, and quantification of block contributions. Results suggest that these approaches can effectively model the dynamics with performance comparable to state‐of‐the‐art methods, providing, at the same time, insight into the dynamic order and block contributions. One of the strategies, sequentially orthogonalised dynamic augmented (SODA)–PLS, shows promise by ensuring that redundant information in the time dimension is not included, resulting in simpler and more easily interpretable dynamic models. These multiblock dynamic regression strategies have potential applications for improved process understanding in industrial settings, especially where multiple data sources and inherent time dynamics are present.

Providing Steady Guidance in Uncertain Times: What Employees Need from Leaders

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a period of significant uncertainty for businesses and their employees, as organizations navigated lockdowns, remote work transitions, and economic volatility, looking to their leaders for stability, direction, and support during this ambiguous and changing time when effective leadership is most critical. While the specific needs of employees in an environment of prolonged uncertainty have not been fully addressed, this article explores key leadership behaviors and practices that can bolster employee morale, engagement, and well-being during turbulent times based on guiding principles of transparency, empathy, and a long-term vision that will best position leaders to weather uncertainty. Specifically, research suggests employees need clarity and communication through frequent, transparent updates; psychological safety and support addressing well-being, resilience, and pressure points; meaningful work and growth connecting responsibilities to purpose and fostering development; and collaboration and teamwork through designated teams solving problems and preventing isolation. The article provides targeted recommendations, such as regular all-hands meetings, central information channels, frequent check-ins, establishing counseling resources, assessing workload priorities, articulating organizational purpose, rotational assignments, cross-functional task forces, and virtual team building. Industry examples illustrate specific strategies like increased communications in tech, manager "walk-arounds" in hospitality, banking course subsidies, retailers' rapid response teams, and appreciation gestures in utilities. In conclusion, effectively guiding employees through prolonged uncertainty depends upon leaders upholding principles of transparency, empathy, and vision while attending to the crucial needs of clarity, safety, purpose, and togetherness to strengthen organizational resilience through challenging times.

Cultivating a Culture of Trust: The Key to Unlocking Team Potential

This article examines the research behind psychological safety and provides practical recommendations for how leaders can cultivate it within their teams. Psychological safety refers to shared beliefs among team members that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking and idea sharing. Studies show that psychological safety positively impacts team innovation, collaboration, learning, and performance. However, few organizations consistently foster it. The article discusses the origin and key findings of psychological safety research, including Edmondson's early work and follow-up studies showing its relationship to various organizational outcomes. It then offers advice for leaders, such as modeling vulnerability, focusing on growth over blame, promoting inclusive decision-making, providing constructive feedback, and celebrating learning from failures. Industry examples from Netflix, Google, and Southwest Airlines illustrate how applying these practices helps maintain psychological safety. The article argues that proactive leadership is needed to establish psychological safety as a sustainable norm that allows teams to thrive and reach their highest potential.

Building Effective Teams From the Ground Up

Teambuilding is a critical yet challenging aspect of organizational management. Effective teams do not happen by chance; they require deliberate effort to cultivate the right conditions for collaboration, performance, and sustainability over time. This article synthesizes insights from scholarly literature on teams with consulting experience to provide pragmatic, evidence-based recommendations for constructing high-functioning teams. It outlines key steps managers should take to recruit optimal team members, establish strategic clarity around goals and processes, nurture interpersonal bonds and communication, and offer ongoing support through development, resources and appreciation. Specific strategies and best practices are discussed for each element, grounded in research from fields like organizational behavior yet presented accessibly. Real-world industry examples illustrate application across contexts. The article aims to equip practitioners with a solid framework and actionable strategies for building cohesive, results-driven teams capable of delivering sustained impact from the earliest stages.

A Compact Constraint Incremental Method for Random Weight Networks and Its Application.

Incremental random weight networks (IRWNs) face the issues of weak generalization and complicated network structure. There is an important reason: the learning parameters of IRWNs are determined in a random fashion without guidance, which may increase many redundant hidden nodes, and thereby leading to inferior performance. To resolve this issue, a novel IRWN with compact constraint that guides the assignment of random learning parameters (CCIRWN) is developed in this brief. Using the iteration method of Greville, a compact constraint that simultaneously assures the quality of generated hidden nodes and the convergence of the CCIRWN is built to perform learning parameter configuration. Meanwhile, the output weights of the CCIRWN are assessed analytically. Two types of learning methods for constructing the CCIRWN are proposed. Finally, the performance evaluation of the proposed CCIRWN is undertaken on the 1-D nonlinear function approximation, several real-world datasets, and data-driven estimation based on the industrial data. Numerical and industrial examples indicate that the proposed CCIRWN with compact structure can achieve favorable generalization ability.

Finding Joy as a Manager - Even on Bad Days

This article explores strategies for cultivating joy as a manager, even on challenging work days. Through a review of positive psychology and resilience research, the brief establishes why joy matters significantly for managerial performance, decision-making, coping abilities, and growth over time. Key studies linking joy to upward spirals in well-being, higher cognitive functioning, and resilience are referenced. Practical joy-boosting strategies drawn from evidence are then presented, such as expressing gratitude, fostering positive relationships, celebrating wins, and taking brief renewal breaks. Real-world industry examples showcase how managers in retail, higher education, and non-profits have applied these strategies when facing stresses. The article argues managers should recognize cultivating joy as a strategic competency to maximize their own and their teams' potential over the long run. Simple practices can help tap into inner reservoirs of positive emotion and broaden mindsets even amid difficulties.

A novel framework for optimizing job rotation schedules across industries

Implementing job rotation (JR) can yield positive or negative impacts depending on the firm characteristics and industry type. As a result, a generic framework for its implementation is difficult to develop and presently does not exist in literature. Existing models/frameworks have limited application as they are either too specific or generic, but imprecise. Consequently, managers often rely on their intuition to develop JR schedules which sometimes leads to suboptimal/unwanted outcomes. In this article, we propose a generic JR framework, which can be used by managers to develop optimal JR schedules in firms across many industries, such as IT, manufacturing, banking, medical, construction, chemical, aviation, etc. The proposed framework contributes to theory by addressing important questions, such as when to implement JR, and how to quantify some of its most important impacts. We also demonstrate the utility of the proposed framework through an illustrative industrial example.

The Untapped Potential of Mature Talent: Making the Business Case for an Aging Workforce

Abstract: This article argues that organizations should embrace hiring and retaining older workers due to the many benefits they provide. It dispels common myths that skills and abilities necessarily decline with age by reviewing research showing cognitive abilities remain strong into one's 60s and experience can offset physical declines. The article then presents five key advantages of older workers: they excel at soft skills like leadership and problem-solving; have lower turnover rates which save on training costs; can mentor younger employees and transfer institutional knowledge; bring diversity of perspectives that fuels innovation; and through experience, are able to offset potential physical job limitations. Industry examples from sectors like pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, consulting and retail are given. Overall, the article makes the case that an age-diverse workforce maximizes talent if organizations adopt policies like flexible work arrangements, ongoing skills training, leadership promoting inclusion, and fair performance reviews.

The Heart of the Matter: Compassionate Leadership in Unfeeling Environments

This article explores how compassionate leadership can thrive even within organizations primarily focused on results and profits. It defines compassionate leadership as understanding employees holistically and building trusting relationships. While compassion can clash with short-term, numbers-driven cultures, the article outlines strategies compassionate managers can use. These include developing emotional intelligence, leading by example, refining metrics beyond outputs, establishing compassionate processes, and cultivating social support. Specific industry examples show compassionate leadership in healthcare, higher education, and tech startups. The article concludes that cultivating emotional intelligence and holistic wellbeing metrics can help shift mindsets to recognize sustainable success depends on sustainable, cared-for workforces. Compassion makes both cultural and business sense by valuing people fully within demanding work environments.

Why Capable People Are Reluctant to Lead

This article explores reasons why capable individuals hesitate to step into formal leadership roles, despite having the skills and abilities to lead effectively. Through a review and synthesis of relevant psychological and organizational behavior literature, common factors contributing to reluctance are identified. Key psychological reasons include concerns about work-life balance under increased demands, as well as fears of failure or criticism in leadership positions. Social barriers include a lack of encouragement from senior leaders, ambiguity about leadership expectations, and politicized organizational cultures. To overcome reluctance, the article recommends practical strategies for organizations, such as providing leaders with support structures, coaching, and role modeling. Communicating realistic expectations and definitions of leadership, as well as fostering collaborative cultures, are posited to help motivate capable individuals to accept leadership potential. An industry case study example from Aflac illustrates how addressing work-life concerns can successfully tap new leadership potential.