Manufacturing Organizations Research Articles

Ralstonia mannitolilytica infection in a tertiary care centre: an outbreak report

BackgroundIn this paper we describe an outbreak of Ralstonia mannitolilytica infection declared in our facility between January 2021 and January 2022. MethodsIn order to identify the source of the outbreak, we applied widespread epidemiological investigation and infection control measures, including device isolation, environmental sampling, and PFGE typing. ResultsThirty-six cases of R. mannitolilytica infection were identified, mostly adults (78%) and males (75%). Initially, neurological procedures were a common risk factor among cases, leading to sampling of related environmental settings. Cases with other medical procedures started to be reported. The PFGE results showed most R. mannitolilytica isolates were indistinguishable which expanded our investigation to all hospital areas. The infection source was discovered later as a single lot number of sodium chloride solution that had been used in practice. The contaminated solution was recalled from all hospital units and the findings were reported to the Saudi FDA to communicate with the manufacturer and other healthcare organizations involved. No new cases of R. mannitolilytica were identified thereafter. ConclusionOur findings indicate that identifying the source of an outbreak could be challenging. An extended incubation period might be considered to improve and accelerate the identification of R. mannitolilytica. In order to minimize similar incidents, it is essential to regularly monitor the compliance of manufacturers and suppliers with regulations related to the safety of solutions administered in medical practice.

Corporate environmental reporting components and return on capital employed growth of the Nigerian listed manufacturing companies: An empirical analysis

This study explored the impact of corporate environmental reporting components on the growth of the return on capital employed in Nigerian listed manufacturing firms. The study adopted an ex post facto research design. 39 manufacturing businesses listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange provided secondary data over the research period (2010-2109). The multiple regression statistical approach was used to analyse the data. This study made use of a quantitative research strategy. While environmental non-financial information did not show any significant influence on the return on capital employed growth of identified manufacturing organisations in Nigeria, results showed that environmental financial and performance information had a significant and beneficial impact. However, the data demonstrated that the integration of all aspects of corporate environmental reporting positively and statistically significantly influenced ROCE growth in Nigeria’s listed manufacturing businesses. A future study could expand the population of the study to include non-manufacturing companies in other industries. The implication of these results is that the manufacturing companies in Nigeria need to pay more attention to environmental, financial, and environmental performance information to enhance their return on capital employed growth. The writers were unable to locate any prior research that demonstrated this connection. Additionally, corporate environmental reporting components impact the growth of return on capital employed in listed manufacturing businesses in Nigeria, and this research provides new and significant findings in this area.

Digital Transformation and Business Model Innovation: Moderating Role of Digital Leadership

Purpose: The manufacturing sector in Ghana has become increasingly important to the country's economic growth, driven by digital transformation and innovation. This research aims to explore the complexities of digital transformation within Ghanaian manufacturing companies, with a specific focus on the moderating role of digital leadership. Design/Methodology/Approach: This conceptual paper presents a framework that integrates socio-technical systems theory and the upper echelon theory. This framework offers a detailed understanding of how digital transformation, digital leadership, organizational adaptation, and business model innovation interact within the Ghanaian manufacturing sector. Findings: The Ghanaian manufacturing sector, a significant contributor to the country's GDP, has seen substantial growth, largely due to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, many industries within the sector face challenges in embracing the digital age, including inadequate technological infrastructure and limited access to funding. The Ghanaian government has responded with policies to enhance digital capabilities and innovation, positioning the country for digital readiness. Originality: This paper contributes to the field by providing practical strategies for leadership development and decision-making within manufacturing organizations. It also advances theoretical perspectives and offers empirical insights specific to the Ghanaian context. Overall, this paper serves as a valuable resource for manufacturing leaders, policymakers, and researchers navigating digital transformation, innovation, and leadership in Ghana's manufacturing sector, with broader implications for emerging economies globally.

Lean sustainability and triple bottom line performance of manufacturing industries in a developing economy: does top management commitment matter?

PurposeAlthough literature abounds on lean sustainability (LS), its contributions to manufacturing industries’ triple bottom line performance (TBLP) through top management commitment (TMC) remain scanty. This research explores the mediating role of TMC in the nexus between LS and TBLP.Design/methodology/approachGiven the study’s quantitative focus, the causal design was utilised. The structured questionnaire, a survey instrument, was used to gather primary data from 285 manufacturing organisations in Ghana, a developing country. Data analysis was done with structural equation modelling.FindingsIt was found that LS and TMC positively influence TBLP, whereas TMC partially mediates the connection between LS and TBLP of Ghanaian manufacturing organisations.Research limitations/implicationsThe study concentrates on Ghana’s manufacturing industry and embraces the stakeholder theory and quantitative methods.Practical implicationsThis research underlines why top managers must prioritise investment in LS to promote sustainable development and attain their organisations’ TBLP targets. The study also provides key insights for top managers to consistently commit enormous resources towards developing lean practices, contributing favourably to TBLP. By establishing the interplay among LS, TMC and TBLP, manufacturing practitioners and researchers can further advance new strategies to address the growing sustainability concerns and achieve higher economic, social and environmental performance.Originality/valueThe study’s originality lies in analysing the mediation effect of TMC on the linkage between LS and TBLP in a developing economy where manufacturing organisations are continuously exposed to resource and waste management problems and lack adequate commitments from top managers towards sustainability initiatives. It is also the first to establish relationships between top management commitment and TBLP in the manufacturing industries of developing economies, concentrating on Ghana.

Barriers and enablers for the adoption of sustainable design practices using new design methods – Accelerating the sustainability transformation in the manufacturing industry

Product development and manufacturing organizations struggle in their sustainability transformation and do not sufficiently contribute to sustainable production and consumption. Design researchers, at the same time, develop and propose a plethora of new and improved design methods that can support the manufacturing industry in such transformation. It is, despite this, well-documented in literature that the industrial adoption of such proposed design methods is challenging. Previous research in the design domain has mainly studied this issue from a process and methodological perspective, whereas previous research in the management domain instead has focused on organizational, and human-behavioral aspects. This poses a research gap for more interdisciplinary research that studies the adoption of design methods from all three perspectives (i.e., process and methodology, organization, and human behavior). Six parallel case studies were carried out with three different product development and manufacturing organizations to collect qualitative empirical data. Glaserian grounded theory was used to analyze the collected data. This resulted in a descriptive framework that captures 53 interdisciplinary factors influencing the adoption of sustainable design practices using new and improved design methods. The descriptive framework is compared to interdisciplinary literature to further clarify and explain the findings, highlighting both practical and theoretical implications. This research provides three main contributions to theory and practice: (1) Two new concepts are introduced and used to explain the empirical findings, which are referred to as the dualism of design methods, and the situational design problem; (2) Nine systemic barriers and eight propositions are formulated, which highlight the need for a paradigm shift in how design is practiced in industry, how cognitive biases inside organizations can lead to a state of pseudo-sustainability, and the need for improved information and data management capabilities in organizations; (3) Sustainable design thinking is proposed as an potential enabler to address several of the main barriers, as it aims to provide a base competence of sustainable design to systematically challenge cognitive biases inside organizations.

Design and Development of AI based Wiring Harness Simulator for Pigtail Wiring Harness Development in Electrical Checkout System (ECOS)

Electrical Checkout System (ECOS) tool validates electrical loads by quantifying their resistance in a typical production line of a commercial vehicle manufacturing organization. Model specific pigtails needs development for connecting the ECOS equipment with commercial vehicles in production. Conventional manual approach is used for Pigtail ECOS harness design and development which is both time-consuming and prone for errors. This project is related to the accelerated design and development of pigtail ECOS harness utilizing the power of Artificial Intelligence in analyzing the input wiring diagrams spanning multiple sheets in PDF format and accurately identify the wire loads. The AI provides the result in the form of tabulated spreadsheets consisting the data of wiring loads and pin details. Through this project the lead time for harness design and development is reduced significantly

Design & Development of smart scrap management system for a manufacturing organisation

Scrap management is handled through manual processes in many manufacturing organizationsleading to poor efficiencies. This paper discusses design, development, and deployment of a suitable scrap management system leveraging Industry 4.0 in a lean manner with traceability using ANPR technologyand digital weighbridge setup aided by logistics trucks, digital handshake, and virtual stores in SAP. The complete processes are digitally photographed leaving behind a digital thread for future forensics

Enhancing precision through AI-enhanced method verification validating iron determination on the Alinity ci® Analyzer: Experience of the central laboratory of Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda

This study meticulously assessed the analytical performance of iron determination on the Alinity ci® analyzer, employing advanced AI-powered method verification techniques. Conducted at Mohammed VI University Hospital's central laboratory in Oujda, Morocco, the validation process strictly adhered to the rigorous guidelines outlined in the French accreditation committee's (COFRAC) Accreditation Technical Guide (GTA) 04. Through comprehensive assessments of repeatability and reproducibility, we definitively confirmed the assay's precision and reliability. Our evaluation yielded highly satisfactory results, consistently exceeding the established criteria set forth by both the instrument manufacturer and esteemed professional organizations like SFBC and RICOS. This unequivocally validates the laboratory's capability to deliver accurate and reproducible iron concentration measurements, crucial for enhanced clinical diagnostics and, ultimately, well-informed patient care decisions. This study underscores the importance of stringent validation processes in ensuring the reliability of diagnostic assays, thereby bolstering confidence in laboratory medicine practices and patient outcomes.

The Dynamics of Real Earnings Management: Analyzing the Effects of ROA, Company Size, and Leverage in Indonesia's Manufacturing Sector

The objective of this research is to examine the impact of ROA, company size, and leverage on REM practices in Indonesia's manufacturing business sector from 2017 to 2021. This research examines financial report data from companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange using a quantitative method with panel data analysis and multiple regression. According to the findings, the only variable that significantly affects REM is the leverage variable. However, there is no evidence that ROA or SIZE significantly affect REM. According to these results, REM practices are driven more by debt obligation pressure than by financial performance indicators or firm size within the earnings management environment. This research adds to the existing body of knowledge on earnings management strategies within the setting of Indonesian manufacturing organizations and deepens our understanding of the factors that impact REM. The research findings highlight the importance of financial strategy planning and earnings management in considering the impact of leverage. It also highlights that REM decisions are influenced by more complicated internal and external factors than just firm size and ROA.

Additive manufacturing service bureau selection: A Bayesian network integrated framework

Additive manufacturing service bureaus (AMSBs) are crucial for enabling manufacturing organizations to leverage the benefits of additive manufacturing (AM) technology, such as on-demand manufacturing, production speed, etc., all while eliminating the expense of maintaining inventories. Consequently, many organizations favor AMSBs for expertise, cost efficiency, and access to diverse equipment, materials, and post-processing, reducing the necessity for substantial in-house investments. While researchers have explored evolving business models and the types of AM services offered by AMSBs to some extent, there is a noticeable research gap in selecting the most compatible AMSB for specific customer requirements, which this research would like to address. Initially, this research identifies various types of services offered by AMSBs, classifying them into eight groups: generative, evaluative, explorative, facilitative, constructive, decisive, selective, and assistive. Then, a knowledge-based expert system is introduced to select a suitable type of AM service. Further, 101 AMSB selection criteria are identified and grouped into criteria and sub-criteria by incorporating insights from literature and experts. Then, 26 pertinent criteria were shortlisted through Delphi. Neutrosophic best-worst method is then utilized to quantify criteria weights. Finally, a Bayesian network is used to calculate the selection probability of each AMSB, identifying the AMSB with the highest probability as the most compatible. The robustness of this framework is validated through sensitivity analysis. The practical effectiveness of the framework was demonstrated through a case study involving Ferro Oil-Tech India Private Limited. The analysis of the results provided valuable managerial insights and suggested ways to enhance the business competitiveness of the organization.

Determinants of internal and external networking behaviours: insights into gender, education, political skills and mentoring

ABSTRACT Employee internal and external networking behaviours may drive different employee and organisational outcomes, which has implications for Human Resource Development professionals. However, little is known about how to develop internal and external networking behaviours. Using social role theory, social capital theory, and personal initiative theory, this study examines the impact of employee gender, education, political skills, and mentoring on internal and external networking behaviours. We utilised a mixed-method sequential research design comprising two studies. Study 1 survey data were collected from 372 middle managers from 10 Sri Lankan manufacturing and service organisations. The results indicate the higher external networking behaviours of men; the elevated internal and external networking behaviours of managers with a master’s degree; a positive relationship between political skills and both internal and external networking behaviours; and a positive relationship between mentoring and internal networking behaviours. Study 2 comprised 12 interviews of middle managers who had participated in Study 1. Thematic and content analyses explain, refine, and extend the results of Study 1. The findings have several implications for developing the networking behaviours of middle managers. Theoretical and research contributions are discussed.

Beyond diversity: an analysis of gender inclusion within Indian manufacturing organizations

Beyond diversity: an analysis of gender inclusion within Indian manufacturing organizations

The role of organizational performance in sustaining competitive advantage through reverse logistics activities

PurposeReverse logistics (RL) activities are becoming crucial in today’s business environment because of their ability to enhance organizational capabilities to manage waste and resources effectively and efficiently as an approach for achieving sustainability. These capabilities can eventually create sustainable competitive advantage (SCA). Drawing on resource-based view (RBV), this study posits RL as a tool to develop capabilities gained from high performance (financial and nonfinancial) to enhance SCA.Design/methodology/approachCovariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze 1,207 responses collected from manufacturing organizations operating in Egypt. Data were gathered through an online survey sent via email to manufacturing organizations operating in Egypt, particularly Cairo, Giza and Alexandria, as these governorates contain most business activities in Egypt and hence high a percentage of waste.FindingsResults indicated that RL activities (recycling, remanufacturing, repair, recondition and disposal) can fully mediate the relationship between organizational performance (financial and nonfinancial) and SCA. However, the remanufacturing and recycling mediating roles between financial performance and SCA were not significant.Research limitations/implicationsApplying this research in a developing country (Egypt) will help extend RBV and incentivize organizations to apply RL activities, which can potentially solve several environmental issues such as decreasing waste.Originality/valueUsing the research variables in combination will help in filling the literature gap as previous research focused on RL and only organizational operational performance, where RL was used as an independent variable with no illustration of how its dimensions affect performance or its mediating role between performance and SCA.

The Mediating Role of Hard Quality Management in the Relationship Between Soft Quality Management and Innovation Performance

Purpose - Hard and soft quality management are known as two important dimensions of total quality management (TQM) that can improve the performance of manufacturing and service organizations. The paper aims to examine the effect of soft quality management (soft QM) on innovation performance (IP) with the mediating role of hard quality management (hard QM). Design/Methodology - A questionnaire was designed for the model test and distributed among 130 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Golpayegan industrial town located in Iran. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the data.Findings - The results showed that soft QM affects hard QM and IP. Also, the impact of hard QM on IP was confirmed. The mediating role of hard QM in the relationship between soft QM and IP was also confirmed.Practical Implications - The findings of this research encourage managers of SMEs to focus attention on hard and soft QM simultaneously to improve innovation performance in companies.

A weighted fuzzy approach for the agility of sustainable product development process assessment: A case study in Chinese medium-sized enterprises

The integration of sustainable practices within manufacturing organizations has become a necessity. However, ensuring a competitive edge in the market remains pivotal for the success of these sustainability initiatives. This research introduces an approach to harmonize the influence of sustainability and agility within the product development process, enabling enterprises to pursue sustainable manufacturing while upholding robust market competitiveness. The significance of this study lies in its combined utilization of expert insights and mathematical techniques to gauge the components and sub-components of sustainability and agility, thereby enhancing the precision of assessment outcomes. This accomplishment was achieved through the application of a Weighted Fuzzy Assessment Method (WFAM) for evaluating both product sustainability and agility. Employing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), the study assigned weights to elements and sub-elements. Subsequently, employing fuzzy logic based on these derived weights, the study assessed the sustainability and agility scores in the product development process. Demonstrating the effectiveness of this devised methodology, the research employed a multi-functional electric bicycle as a case study. The outcomes highlight the potential the proposed method in attaining the varied objectives of sustainability and agility in product development.

Industry 4.0 technologies and circular economy synergies: Enhancing corporate sustainability through sustainable supply chain integration and flexibility

Recently, an increasing number of firms have embraced sustainable supply chain practices to reduce negative environmental and societal impacts in their supply networks. The adoption of a circular economy framework has become popular among many businesses as a strategic approach to achieving sustainable development goals. This involves turning used products into new items with different uses, aligning with wider corporate sustainability aims. The advent of Industry 4.0 initiatives holds the potential to exert a transformative influence across entire business systems, redefining the manner in which products are conceived, manufactured, distributed, and disposed of. The present study undertakes an inquiry into the interconnections linking Industry 4.0 capabilities, green supply chain integration (GSCI), flexibility in sustainable supply chain management (SSCF), and the utilization of circular economy capabilities (CEC) within the context of corporate sustainability performance (CSP). Based on a comprehensive survey of 256 manufacturing organizations, the study highlights the importance of integrating dynamic capabilities like GSCI and SSCF within I4.0 and CE strategies. The collected data reveal the transformative influence of GSCI, SSCF, and I4.0 on enhancing CEC and promoting corporate sustainability. Given these insights, recognizing and harmonizing vital Industry 4.0 technologies with circular economy capabilities proves valuable for organizations aiming to enhance corporate sustainability through informed decisions.

Increasing workforce psychological flexibility through organization-wide training: Influence on stress resilience, job burnout, and performance

There is growing interest in the role of psychological flexibility as a potential resilience factor in workplace settings for protecting employees against the risk of job burnout. This field study contributes to the literature by investigating the utility of delivering brief ACT-informed training to the entire regional workforce of an innovation and manufacturing organization. A total of 504 employees attended the training, 281 of whom completed study measures prior to the training and three months later. Across the 3-month timeframe, participants reported a statistically small and significant increase in work-related psychological flexibility. Increased psychological flexibility was associated with improved stress resilience, reduced exhaustion, and increased personal accomplishment. No change was observed on the depersonalization component of burnout or task performance. Moderation analyses revealed that residual change associations between work-related psychological flexibility and both exhaustion and resilience were stronger among participants with higher baseline exhaustion. By contrast, work-related psychological flexibility trended toward a stronger residual change relationship with personal accomplishment among participants with lower baseline exhaustion. We interpret these findings from the perspective of resource-based theories of workplace functioning, and highlight the potential of cultivating psychological flexibility as part of organization-wide personnel development initiatives.

Carbon footprint accounting method based on dynamic allocation of multi-level carbon data from manufacturing organizations to products

In the process of accounting for product carbon footprints, data quality is a key requirement. To mitigate the impacts of uncertainty, dynamism, and coupling in carbon data during product carbon footprint accounting, a method based on multi-level dynamic allocation of carbon data between organizations and products is proposed. First, considering the complex distribution and merging relationships between organizational carbon emissions and product carbon footprints, an AAC (Accounting Allocation Correlation) model between the two is constructed. Then, through EIS (Enterprise Information System), carbon data is obtained, and a multi-level dynamic allocation method for carbon data, as well as a Monte Carlo-based method for merging carbon data, is proposed for the dynamic accounting of product carbon footprints. Finally, using high-voltage switchgear as a case study, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated.

Singing the same environmental song: transmission of green HR signals from supervisors to subordinates through multilevel modeling

PurposeTo comprehend the influence of green HR practices (GHRM) on employee outcomes, strategic HRM researchers are gradually adopting an employee-centric approach, a subject that has sparked recent discussions among scholars in the field of green HR. These scholars have emphasized the need for studies that shed light on the reasons behind the differences in employees' perceptions of GHRM. To address this concern, we investigated (1) supervisors perceived GHRM (SUP-GHRM) and subordinates perceived GHRM (SUB-GHRM) as the fundamental source of variation in employee eco-friendly behavior and green performance, (2) the association between SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM, (3) the mediation role of SUB-GHRM toward green performance and eco-friendly behavior, and (4) the moderation of perceived HRM system strength (HRMSS) on supervisor-subordinate perceived GHRM.Design/methodology/approachApplying a survey approach, we collected data from 217 supervisors and 624 subordinates from Large-Scale Manufacturing Organizations in the Textile sector of Pakistan. Since the data is hierarchical, we applied the Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) and bootstrapping techniques to examine the hypothesized relationship.FindingsThe results of HLM revealed that (1) the SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM were key in determining green performance and eco-friendly behavior, (2) the SUP-GHRM significantly influenced SUB-GHRM, (3) the SUP-GHRM indirectly affected the eco-friendly behavior and green performance through SUB-GHRM, (4) the HRM system’s strength positively moderated the association between the SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM.Practical implicationsThe corporations need to ensure that both supervisors and subordinates have a consistent understanding of GHRM practices and foster positive relationships between them. It is also important for companies to actively enhance supervisors' knowledge of GHRM and encourage them to effectively communicate the company’s GHRM practices to their subordinates. This is vital for improving employee job-related outcomes. Furthermore, corporations should emphasize developing a strong HRM system designed to create a climate where employees understand the behaviors and responses that are valued and recognized, leading them to perceive situations in line with their managers.Originality/valueThis study suggests SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM as critical factors that influence eco-friendly behavior and green performance, and HRMSS is key to aligning the perception gaps between subordinates and supervisors about what GHRM is in place in their organization, which is empirically analyzed in a developing country context.

From intentions to action: how behavioural intentions shape employee performance through digital learning?

PurposeThis study aims to explore the impact of “Performance Expectancy” (PE) on the performance of Indian automotive manufacturing employees through their “Behavioural Intention” (BI) in the context of digital learning within the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive research design was adopted to gather data from 211 employees of Indian automotive manufacturing companies. Structural equation modelling was applied for data analysis and obtaining results.FindingsLargely, the findings indicate that BI does mediate the relationship between PE and employee performance (EP) in the context of the Indian automotive manufacturing sector. The findings would help in boosting digital learning initiatives, improving EP and fostering organizational success in the VUCA world.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study focused on the Indian manufacturing industry. Extending the research beyond the manufacturing sector to other industries in India could possibly help in generalizing the findings, and thereby enhance knowledge of the broader consequences of digital learning on EP.Practical implicationsDigital learning platforms can enhance sustainable industrialization in the manufacturing sector by providing employees with access to digital learning opportunities. Managers must provide employees with access to digital learning opportunities for making them more creative and innovative, so that they can become real change agents, and can handle real-world problems more efficiently, leading the organization to deal with the complexities and unpredictability in this VUCA world.Originality/valueWithin the ambits of Indian automotive manufacturing organizations, there have been limited research studies that have used two constructs of the UTAUT2 framework to see their impact on EP in terms of digital learning. Thus, based on the limited information available, this research stands as a pioneering effort in the realm of digital learning within the Indian automotive manufacturing industry, where the relationship between PE and EP is examined through the mediational role of BI of employees. Moreover, this research possibly would pave the way for further research studies on exploring the role of potential factors influencing the strength and direction of the relationships between these variables (PE and EP).