Manufacturing Management Research Articles

The Effects of Corporate Governance, Managerial Ownership and Bonus Plan on Earnings Management: A Case of ASEAN-3 Companies

This study is to examine and analyze the effects of corporate governance, managerial ownership, and bonus plan on earnings management of manufacturing and financial companies, which are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, Malaysia Stock Exchange, and the Philippines Stock Exchange. It analyzed the balance sheet data, income, and capital statements presented in the 2008-2012 periods and applied the multiple linear regression analysis and one-way ANOVA to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings showed that corporate governance, managerial ownership, and bonus plan simultaneously did not affect earnings management. There was no significant difference in the proportion of independent board of commissioners, the size of the board of directors, proportion of independent audit committee, managerial ownership, bonus plan, and earnings management between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines stock exchanges. It implies that the ASEAN-3 companies consider corporate governance unimportant in managing their earnings. It also gives new insights into a rare phenomenon of agency theory findings in semi-strong market efficiency post-global financial crisis 2008.

Management of digital additive manufacturing: Features and perspectives

Aim. To find and argue points of growth of additive manufacturing, as well as to justify the rel­evance and significance of new business models using digital platforms.Tasks. To consider the features of management of digital additive manufacturing; to analyze the reasons for the low rate of additive technology development; to show the prospects of dig­ital development of additive manufacturing; to justify the importance of digital platforms for additive services as a new business model and prove that digital additive manufacturing can be characterized as a system innovation.Methods. General scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, monographic, grouping) were used in the research. The best Russian and world practices, fundamental and applied works of na­tional and foreign researchers, scientists, practitioners in the field of management, digital transformation were studied using the search of relevant research in open sources, both in ge­neral purpose search engines, and in specialized search engines and databases.Results. It is proved that digital additive manufacturing should be regarded as a system in­novation, and its large-scale benefits can be realized if the technology is complemented by va­rious innovations in products, processes and services. From the author's point of view, the po­tential and prospects of a new business model in the online market of additive design and manu­facturing are obvious: a digital platform of additive services for manufacturing parts from various materials.Conclusions. Additive manufacturing plays a vital role in Industry 4.0 because of the shortened cycle time of the lean process and the high degree of decentralization of production processes. Therefore, a systematic approach using digital platforms is required to unlock their capabilities. Customers who require parts produced using this technology can place their designs on a plat­form and find a manufacturing partner based on available technical resources, geographic loca­tion, and the amount of anticipated cost. Implementing a digital platform design strategy that integrates all stages of the design and production process for different products, facilitates data traceability and product reproducibility on different additive manufacturing machines, greatly increases customer value.

Syngas production from municipal solid waste plasma gasification: A simulation and optimization study

As a greener alternative to traditional combustion systems, thermal plasma gasification has gained a lot of attention in industries including manufacturing and waste management. The primary objective of this research is to enhance the efficiency of the process and boost the quantity and quality of syngas fuel produced through the plasma gasification of MSW. The goal is to find a long-term solution for recycling municipal solid waste into a carbon-free fuel source. Modeling and simulation analysis using Aspen software was used for the prediction of syngas yields from MSW thermal plasma gasification. Eight responses, including syngas fuel output gases and process performance measures including cold gas efficiency (CGE) and carbon conversion (CC), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Three input variables such as air equivalence ratio (ER), steam to fuel ratio (SFR) and oxygen content in the air (O2 %) were examined. Correlations between the primary responses from MSW plasma gasification and the three input variables were developed and shown to be highly accurate. The optimization results for the MSW plasma gasification showed that ER = 0.04, SFR = 0.28, and O2 = 84.31% are the best operating conditions to maximize the hydrogen = 50.66%, carbon monoxide = 44.67, CGE = 57.64% and CC = 86.52%.

A Study on Work-life Balance Towards Employee Performance with Reference to Santh Exports Pvt Ltd. Karur

From this study the Impact of Work Life Balance towards Employee Performance is investigated through Santh Exports employees by taking survey using questionnaire based on their i.e., Age, Gender, Marital Status, Educational Qualification, Annual Income. Data Collected through the closed ended questionnaire. The sample size is 150 but the questionnaire was collected around 133. Data is analyzed through Chi – Square, Regression analysis. Empirical research methods used to analysis this study. The study is limited to textile and manufacturing industries. This study will provide insight about the employee’s work life satisfaction and their struggles that create impact on the organization outcome which can be useful for employers, managers in manufacturing and Textile industries.

Rearticulating supply chain design and operation principles to mitigate uncertainty in the Norwegian engineer-to-order shipbuilding sector

Engineering-to-order (ETO) systems are especially prone to high levels of uncertainty in demand, as well as from internal processes, supply side sources and their own control systems. Understanding and categorising the causes of uncertainty provides an opportunity for organisations to determine the principles and tactics for their mitigation. Previous scholars have developed a framework for ETO uncertainty reduction by the extension of the established ‘FORRIDGE’ principles from general manufacturing management. Although such a framework is claimed to be generic, it has only previously been applied in the UK construction industry. The aim of this paper is to determine—via a replication study—the reproducibility, reliability and validity of the ETO uncertainty reduction framework and extend it. A conceptual replication research study was undertaken involving a different population sample: the Norwegian shipbuilding sector. Based on previous research, we categorise ETO into two forms: innovate to order (ITO) and redesign to order (RTO). Targeting 10 Norwegian first-tier ship equipment manufacturers, the respondents were questioned regarding their sources of uncertainty and measures they adopted to mitigate these. Supply chain tactics for shipbuilding have been identified and mapped against the ETO uncertainty reduction principles and uncertainty sources for RTO and ITO types of ETO. Our study has highlighted the reliability of the FORRIDGE principles. We extend the original set of tactics established in the construction sector so that the ETO uncertainty reduction principles can be used in another sector, and we indicate the significance of different tactics for ITO and RTO types of ETO. We make a methodological contribution by showing the application of a conceptual replication research design in an operations management context. Further research is required to test the principles in other ETO-intensive sectors.

Exploring the influence of lean manufacturing and total quality management practices on environmental sustainability: the moderating role of quality culture

PurposeOrganizations have released the importance of lean manufacturing practices (LMPs) and total quality management (TQM) in enhancing competitiveness. However, the implementation of LMPs and TQM becomes more complex when discerning the environmental sustainability position. The complexity stems from the fact that LMPs and TQM are more intricate because of cultural differences. Thus, this study aims to tackle the aforementioned phenomenon by investigating the impact of LMPs and TQM on environmental sustainability moderated by quality culture.Design/methodology/approachA survey was distributed among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Jordan; thus, 315 valid responses were received. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used to analyze the data and test hypotheses.FindingsThe findings showed that environmental sustainability was significantly impacted by all the LMP practices except Kanban and all the TQM practices except statistical process control. Moreover, quality culture significantly and negatively moderated the relationship between TQM and environmental sustainability. However, the influence of LMPs on environmental sustainability was not significantly moderated by quality culture.Practical implicationsThis study has implications for policymakers in SMEs, supply chain managers and academics regarding the importance of LMPs and TQM systems for implementing environmental sustainability and the role of quality culture.Social implicationsThis study provides guidelines for decision-makers on the pathways that enable them to sustain the environment to safeguard the natural ecosystem and natural resources for upcoming generations.Originality/valueThe originality of this study stems from the alignment of LMPs and TQM in enhancing environmental sustainability, taking into consideration the role of quality culture in SMEs, where previous studies failed short to investigate this phenomenon.

Reconfiguration management in manufacturing

Abstract Driven by shorter innovation and product life cycles as well as economic volatility, the demand for reconfiguration of production systems is increasing. Thus, a systematic literature review on reconfiguration management in manufacturing is conducted within this work in order to determine by which degree this is addressed by the literature. To approach this, a definition of reconfiguration management is provided and key aspects of reconfigurable manufacturing systems as well as shortcomings of today’s manufacturing systems reconfiguration are depicted. These provide the basis to derive the requirements for answering the formulated research question. Consequently, the methodical procedure of the literature review is outlined, which is based on the assessment of the derived requirements. Finally, the obtained results are provided and noteworthy insights are given.

Perspective: The Role of Cryopreservation Techniques in Manufacturing, Transport, and Storage of Car-T Therapy Products

Several clinical trials have proved the efficacy and safety of T-cells chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T cells) in treatment of malignant lymphoma and the first products were registered in the European Union in 2018. The shelf-life of CAR-T cell products in the liquid state is short, so cryopreservation offers a significant benefit for logistics in manufacturing and patient management. Direct shipment of the cryopreserved CAR-T cell therapy products to the clinical department is feasible, nevertheless, intermediate storage in the hospital cryostorage facility gives significant advantage in planning of their administration to patients. Moreover, some manufacturers prefer transport of the starting material cryopreserved at the collection site. The cryopreservation protocol used for starting material by the authors is based on combining dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and slow controlled cooling in cryobags housed in metal cassettes. This achieves the mononuclear cell post-thaw viability of 98.8 ± 0.5 % and recovery of 72.8, ± 10.2 %. Transport of the starting material to the manufactures and return transport of the CAR-T therapy product is performed by authorized courier companies. Intermediate cryostorage of the final CAR-T cell therapy product is performed in a separate dry-storage liquid nitrogen container. On the day of infusion, the cryopreserved products are transported to the clinical department in a dry shipper. On the wards the product is removed from the cassette, inserted into a sterile plastic bag, thawed in a 37 °C water bath followed by immediate intravenous administration. The authors discuss the adherence of the used technology to good manufacturing practice (GMP) principles and genetic safety assurance rules.

An enquiry into competitive value of sustainable manufacturing capabilities

PurposeDespite its great practical and theoretical significance, research on how and to what extent sustainable manufacturing capabilities (SMCs) provide competitive advantage to firms remains scarce. Towards bridging the gap, this paper conducts an enquiry into the competitive value of SMCs.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical framework on the competitive value of four SMCs, namely, pollution control (PC), pollution prevention (PP), product stewardship (PS) and clean technology (CT) is developed through synthesis of literature. More specifically, competitive value is characterised in terms of enabling key resources and market positioning opportunities. A case study, using a deductive qualitative approach is conducted to test the framework by analysing reported sustainable manufacturing practices (SMPs) of three multinational firms. Observed compliances and deviations to the framework are analysed and accordingly few propositions are framed.FindingsThe empirical findings largely support the conceptualisation of competitive value for PC, PP, PS and CT provided in the theoretical framework. However, a few deviations were observed for PC, PP and PS. For instance, some PC-based actions, such as co-processing and implementation of zero liquid discharge technology show characteristics of resource conservation and lead to cost benefits. Similarly, there were instances when PP demonstrated the use of non-tacit (imitable) resources and PS was employed to seek compliance to environmental regulations.Research limitations/implicationsThe results based on limited number of case firms may not be generalisable to other sectors and contexts.Practical implicationsThe study provides guidance to the manufacturing managers about the competitive value of SMPs.Originality/valueThis is a novel study that empirically investigates the competitive value of SMCs by understanding the associated sustainability impetus, enabling key resources and market positioning opportunities.

Hierarchical RNN-based framework for throughput prediction in automotive production systems

Throughput analysis plays an important role in the operations and management of automotive manufacturing. Predicting how the system throughput changes over time helps the plant managers to make timely operational decisions to meet the daily production requirement. In today’s automotive production systems, the availability of sensing data reflecting process variables and machine status across the plant floor raises new opportunities for improving the throughput prediction accuracy. However, challenges exist in extracting the most important features from the high-dimensional data and capturing the complicated time-vary interdependency among different assets in the system. To overcome such challenges, in this paper we propose a hierarchical Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)-based framework that is composed of clustering, dimension reduction and feature selection, regression, and prediction pruning/adjustment. In addition to predicting end-of-line throughput, our framework then identifies the associations for low throughput to facilitate downtime prevention and maintenance decision-making. The proposed framework is applied to an automotive production system, and its effectiveness is demonstrated by comparison with conventional methods.

Efficacy and volume stability of a customized allogeneic bone block for the reconstruction of advanced alveolar ridge deficiencies at the anterior maxillary region: a retrospective radiographic evaluation

ObjectivesThe aim of this retrospective case series was to evaluate the efficacy and volume stability of a customized allogeneic bone block (CABB) for the hard tissue reconstruction of severely atrophied anterior maxillary ridges.Materials and methodsHard tissue alterations between baseline (T1), 2-month follow-up (T2), and 6-month follow-up (T3) cone-beam computed tomography scans were evaluated with semi-automatic segmentation. Following automatic spatial alignment of the datasets, 3D subtraction analysis was performed. The volume stability of the inserted allogeneic bone block was determined on the basis of the ratio of the T3 and T2 hard tissue volumes.ResultsThe newly formed hard tissue volume at T2 averaged at of 0.75 cm3 ± 0.57 cm3, whereas at T3, an average of 0.52 cm3 ± 0.42 cm3 volumetric hard tissue gain could be detected. The T3/T2 ratio was found to be 67.83% ± 18.72% on average. The dice similarity coefficient between the T2 and T3 hard tissue models averaged at 0.73 ± 0.15.ConclusionsCancellous CABBs are a reliable option for the reconstruction of severely atrophied alveolar ridges. The resorption rates of these grafts are similar to those found in the literature; however, with precise manufacturing and proper intraoperative flap management, the resorption rates may be reduced.Clinical relevanceWith precise knowledge of the resorption patterns, the shape of blocks can be altered in the future to compensate for the volumetric loss.

МЕТОДИКА РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ ПРОЕКТОВ ПО УЛУЧШЕНИЯМ В СИСТЕМЕ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТА БЕРЕЖЛИВОГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ ОБОРОННО-ПРОМЫШЛЕННОГО КОМПЛЕКСА

A method to implement improvement projects in the lean manufacturing management system (LMMS) of a military-industrial complex enterprise (MIC) is proposed, which is developed on the basis of the scientific and methodological apparatus of the modern theory of lean manufacturing (LM), as well as on the principles of scientific labor organization and project management. The algorithm of implementing the successful life cycle of such projects in the military-industrial complex enterprise is considered. A comprehensive system to evaluate the proposed improvement projects is presented, which allows determining the priority of the project in improvement activities. The best cases of implementing improvement projects are considered by the example of JSC "Obukhov Plant".

A Review on Recent Trends and Applications of IoT in Additive Manufacturing

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new way of communicating that is changing the way things are monitored and controlled from a distance. Gradually, companies want to digitalize their production processes and implement control and monitoring systems on the shop floor. On the basis of the Industry 4.0 concept, internet features and database services have been incorporated into processes in order to reinvent manufacturing. This study proposes a proof-of-concept system for the management of additive manufacturing (AM) machines, where an internet integration of beacon technology in the manufacturing environment enables the rapid and intuitive interchange of production data retrieved from machines with mobile devices in various applications. Even though AM technologies can be used to customize the final product, they cannot be used to make a lot of 3D-printed jobs at once for commercial usage. Therefore, this research-based study aims to understand IoT technologies to improve the understanding and reliability of AM processes and 3D print smart materials in large quantities for manufacturers around the world. This study demonstrates the significance of the successful use of internet-based technologies in AM by examining its practical consequences in various fields. This paper gives an overview of IoT-based remote monitoring and control systems that could solve problems in AM, particularly in digital twin, human augmentation (HA), 3D bioprinters, 3D scanners, input parameters optimization, and electronics fields. IoT in AM makes production processes more efficient, reduces waste, and meets customer needs.

Improving the time-based performance of the preparatory stage in textile manufacturing process with value stream mapping

PurposeThe evaluation of time-based performance is a valued approach in the lean management thinking which is based on delivering value from customer's perspective. This approach contributes for long-term competitiveness and success in today's business environment. The focus of this study is to analyse the cycle time and manufacturing lead time with value stream mapping (VSM) in the preparatory stage of the textile fabric manufacturing process and to identify and improve the non-value adding activities in the value chain (VC). The study presents an insight on the translation of performance improvement across functions and how upstream supply chain (SC) segments can be linked in the performance improvement program. It also covers how the application of VSM improves visibility and planning flexibility in textile fabric manufacturing process.Design/methodology/approachThe time-based performance was evaluated using VSM and recording of the activity times in the existing process. The impact of the quality of supplier's raw material was also measured contributing to identify the strategy for procurement and the means to establish a feedback system to the upstream segments of the SC. The methodology of VSM, observation of the practice and the expertise of the individuals involved with the process were utilised to develop the value stream maps and to identify value adding activities, non-value adding activities, existing gaps and plans for improvement.FindingsThe means for improving the time-based performance were identified and their impact was measured. The factors responsible for improvement are related to the production system and with the procurement strategy. The improvement was achieved in terms of available capacity utilisation, balancing the work flow in the preparatory stages, visibility of the process by measuring its capability and flexibility for the planning function. The study revealed that the effectiveness and enhancement of VSM and related tools should be adopted to address the issue of limiting success rates of long term and repeating application of such tools. Continuous improvement, innovations and the systematic embedding of VSM in the process life cycle provide the ways for achieving long-term success.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper presents a real and in-depth study on the application of VSM in the textile manufacturing process. The scope of the study is broad; it covers activities across functions with actual estimates of activity times in the manufacturing process for the focused value streams. It offers researchers the opportunity to analyse the translation of productivity improvement across functions and how upstream SC segments can be linked in a performance improvement program.Practical implicationsThe study offers useful insight for the managers in textile manufacturing and other sectors for improving the time-based performance and achieving higher utilisation of capacity. It identified the production factors and their impact on warping and sizing cycle time in selected value streams and those which share common activities. It also identified the directions for future research when repeating the application of VSM in the continuous improvement cycle. Furthermore, since the industries need to progress towards advanced systems including Industry 4.0 standards, adoption of advanced VSM tool with relevant technology can align their production systems to develop the required capability. This will also bring a sustainable competitive advantage in the system.Social implicationsThe focused sector is stagnant in terms of productivity and innovation. The adoption of the advanced tools can facilitate the implementation of continuous improvement and innovation strategies.Originality/valueThe main focus of this study is to analyse and improve the cycle time in the preparatory stage of the fabric manufacturing process. This has impact on other important and tangible measures including capacity utilisation and work flow and intangible measures including production planning flexibility and process visibility. The improvement impact is across departments.

이주 노동자의 직무만족에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한연구

Purpose - This study is a study on the factors affecting job satisfaction of foreign migrant workers (focusing on domestic automobile industry workers) to examine the impact of foreign workers on the corporate management of Korean manufacturers in Korean society.
 Design/methodology/approach - A survey was conducted on 152 foreign laborers who lived in Korea. First, an exploratory factor analysis was performed to confirm reliability and validity. Second, an multiple regression was conducted based on the reliability and exploratory factor analysis results. Third, the mediation regression by checking the effect of organizational commitment.
 Findings - The acculturation and organizational fairness were found to have a great influence on job satisfaction, and this study found that perceived acculturation had an effect on job satisfaction through the mediating effect of organizational commitment. In addition, organizational fairness was also found to have an effect on job satisfaction as a mediating effect of organizational commitment.
 Research implications or Originality - It was to provide meaningful implications for foreign workers in the current Korean labor market. Based on the results, the corporate competitiveness of Korean manufacturers should be further secured.

Active and Passive Thermal Management in Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing

This article presents innovative approaches for managing residual stresses and distortion in additive manufacturing (AM) of metal components (baseplate material: EN8; filler wire material: ER70S-6). The experiments are conducted with two approaches for thermal management—passive and active. The passive approach of experiments is performed by varying the selected process parameters to study their effect on residual stresses and distortion. The chosen parameters are current, torch speed, geometry, continuous or a delay in the deposition, and cooling arrangement. Based on the understanding gained from the passive approach, the active approach of thermal management was implemented by insulating the substrate with and without adaptive current and heating the substrate. The experimental results were corroborated with the simulation to understand the process better. A comparative study for hardness was made based on the T8/5 extracted from the simulation. These experiments and simulations endorse passive and active thermal management as effective tools that can alter the distortion and residual stress pattern and the mechanical properties of an AM component. The investigation concludes that the process parameters that lead to higher heat input vis-à-vis an increase in current or a decrease in speed increase the distortion. On the other hand, the parameters that affect the rate of heat distribution vis-à-vis torch speed and geometry affect the residual stresses. When current, traverse speed and a/b ratio were kept the same, active thermal management with a heated base reduced distortion from 1.226 mm to 0.431 mm, a 65% reduction compared to passive thermal management. Additionally, the maximum residual stress was reduced from 492.31 MPa to 250.68 MPa, with residual stresses decreasing from 418.57 MPa to 372 MPa. Overall, active thermal management resulted in a 63% reduction in distortion, lowering it from 1.35 mm to 0.50 mm using external heating. The components that are difficult to complete because of the in-process distortion are expected to be manufactured with thermal management, e.g., heating the substrate is an effective measure to manage the in-process distortion. Thermal management techniques depend on geometry; for instance, a concave surface, because of self-heating, reduces the cooling rate and has relatively less variation in hardness.

Analisis Kinerja Keuangan Pada PT. Unilever Indonesia Tbk

Financial ratios become an illustration in consideration materials to explain between the values in the financial statements. All aspects of the business sector are very important in paying attention to financial management both in banking, industry, manufacturing, and retail. This is because the financial sector applies financial principles in an institution with the aim of creating optimal value to make decisions and manage resources owned by the company appropriately. The method in this study uses data analysis based on financial statements by measuring, knowing, illustrating, and comparing charts in financial statements, especially the balance sheet and profit and loss. Ratio analysis uses a method of financial statement analysis that looks at a certain period of years, then compares with financial statements with different years through sections of the financial statements. From the results of the research conducted, the Company's Performance of PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk based on the Profitability Ratio in 2021 and 2022 decreased and the Financial Performance of PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk based on the Liquidity Ratio also decreased in 2021 and 2022.

Understanding blockchain applications in Industry 4.0: From information technology to manufacturing and operations management

The current literature regarding blockchain-based applications in the context of Industry 4.0 has rapidly grown during the last decade. However, a systematic literature review that summarizes the main contributions, findings, and implications from a managerial perspective of the blockchain technology adoption in the specific context of Industry 4.0 is still missing. The present article aims to fill this research gap by examining and elaborating on the extant literature to develop a literature-grounded framework (WHY-HOW-WHAT) that helps better understand the management issues that blockchain technology can help resolve in the context of Industry 4.0, as well as identify the main features of blockchain-based solutions in various areas of Industry 4.0. Furthermore, the proposed framework is useful to understand how ten Industry 4.0 enabling technologies combine with the blockchain technology to implement efficient and effective blockchain-based solutions in Industry 4.0 settings. Finally, based on this framework we conjecture the trajectories of the evolution of blockchain technology in Industry 4.0 settings, and highlight the relevant research gaps that both academics and practitioners working on this field should address in the near future.

Microbial Biocatalysis

Biocatalysis, which can be performed by whole cells and isolated enzymes, has become a topic of public interest for its potential use in the chemical industry in manufacturing, monitoring, and waste management [...]

A method of milling force predictions for machining tools based on an improved ARMA model

Purpose Cutting force prediction is pretty important for manufacture management. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to obtain the cutting force of the machining process with high efficiency and low cost. A method based on the improved auto regressive moving average (ARMA) model is proposed for cutting force predictions in milling process. Design/methodology/approach First, classification and normalization are made for initial cutting force. Second, the cutting force sequences are compressed followed singular and valid value removed. At last, the improved ARMA model is used for cutting force fit and extrapolation considered the time domain characteristics. Findings A series of cutting force with the spindle speed 595r/min is carried out in the research. It is showed that the mean absolute percentage error value of cutting force extrapolation results which is based on the improved model is smaller. The percentage value is approximately 5.80%. Then the root mean square error test value is only 72.49, which is smaller than that with other traditional method, such as hidden Markov model. The extrapolation results with the proposed model performed good consistency and accuracy in terms of peaks, valleys and volatility compared with the experiment results. Originality/value The proposed method that is based on the improved ARMA model can be used for cutting force predictions conveniently. And the predictions can be used for improving the qualities in milling process.