Medium-sized Production Research Articles

Assessment of the Profitability of a Photovoltaic Installation Cooperating with Energy Storage Using an Example of a Medium-Sized Production Company

This work aims to comprehensively analyze the cooperation of an electricity storage facility with an operating photovoltaic installation in a manufacturing company regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the device and the economic profitability of the investment. This work aims to check the benefits that can be brought by expanding the PV system with an electricity storage facility. Based on the real energy balance and the characteristics of electricity distribution in the company, profitability calculations were carried out reflecting the expected savings generated by using individual solutions. These methods allowed the authors to calculate the market value of the investment with the assumed boundary criteria and to determine the economic effectiveness of the investment. Additionally, the practical process of selecting an electricity storage facility was presented and key moments in the company’s energy report were analyzed, in which the use of a battery could bring results. Calculations showed that supplementing the described PV installation with an energy storage facility will increase the current level of self-consumption of PV energy by over 14%. The benefits translate into the final effect of energy storage operation, which brings additional annual savings for the company of approximately EUR 23,000 in the case of a weaker device and roughly EUR 40,000 in the case of a more powerful energy storage device. The proposed research could improve the planning of new industrial plants for photovoltaic installations, as well as the redesign of existing ones.

Swelling of Sealing Assembles Parts Manufactured from Composite Materials

One of the advantages of plastics over metals and other materials is that there are very simple and inexpensive ways to make products from them. It is known that there are more than 100 methods for manufacturing plastic products. The use of these methods depends on the configuration of the product being manufactured, the technical conditions required of it, its purpose and economic efficiency. Although there are more than 100 processing methods, the most common of them are mainly extrusion in the production of large-sized products, including pipes, sheet materials, webs, various profiles, rods, as well as in the production of medium-sized products. and small parts in terms of quantity, casting pressure and pressing methods. Based on economic indicators, the optimal method for preparing any composite materials should be taken into account and grouped in advance. The development of new technological methods for manufacturing parts and products from polymers and their compositions is of great importance.

Assessing the disassembly performance of washing machines through the design for circular disassembly methodology

AbstractTo enable the circular economy paradigm, it is important to design easy-to-disassemble products. A new method, known as Design for Circular Disassembly (DfCD), has been proposed to enhance product disassembly performances toward circularity. The method was tested on a small-sized product, showing promising results. However, its applicability to medium-sized products remains unclear. The goal of this article is to assess the effectiveness of DfCD on medium-sized products, particularly washing machines. Results showed DfCD can be extended to medium-sized products, increasing model complexity.

Generic technology R&D strategies in dual competing photovoltaic supply chains: A social welfare maximization perspective

In the context of global warming, photovoltaic (PV) industry is growing rapidly to advance carbon neutrality. A new generation PV technology based on perovskite solar cells has attracted high attention from the industry due to its advantage of low cost and high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and has gradually carried out relevant technology research and development (R&D), as well as small and medium-sized product trials. However, there are still some generic technical issues with perovskite solar cells, such as the stability of large area preparation, efficiency over large areas, and long service life under high efficiency. Collaborative R&D around generic technologies among module suppliers across PV supply chains will help create complementary synergies and accelerate breakthroughs in generic technologies. To explore R&D strategies and subsidy policies for the generic technology in competing PV supply chains, twelve game-theoretical decision models considering cooperative/non-cooperative R&D with/without government subsidy under four scenarios are developed, analyzed and compared respectively. The research results indicate that: (i) in all four scenarios, the adoption of a centralized operational strategy is more effective in terms of government subsidies and the operational performance of the PV supply chains than a hybrid or decentralized operational strategy. (ii) the government should adopt an appropriate subsidy intensity for the dual-competing PV supply chains and set a “threshold” subsidy policy. (iii) the positive externality of R&D effort has a positive spillover effect on profits, social welfare and other indicators. The positive externality of R&D effort for the generic technology can be better exploited by the two PV supply chains jointly deciding on the level of R&D expenditure and by the government providing financial subsidy support. This study is a pioneering study of dual competing PV supply chains in terms of cooperative R&D of generic technology, which is very limited in the PV supply chain management and subsidy policy research literature. The findings and some unnoticed issues in this paper provide a basis for future PV supply chain research.

Estonian and Norwegian Sheep Wool as a Textile Material

In Estonia, up to 90% of local wool is not adequately valued, while in Norway, due to the well-functioning wool-buying and -sorting system, a large part of local wool is used purposefully. However, both countries have room for improvement in terms of the better usage of local wool. This article provides an overview of the Estonian-Norwegian wool research conducted in from 2020 to 2023 and its main results. During the study, wool was collected from three Estonian and three Norwegian sheep breeds, semi-worsted yarn was made from it, and knitted and woven fabrics were produced. Wool, yarn, and fabrics were tested in numerous ways. The paper presents the main test results and suggests how wools with a wide range of qualities can be used in innovative ways to create textiles. The smart use of materials is based on the possibilities offered by medium-sized production and knowledge about local wool.

Wool Yarn Characteristics Made from Wool of Six Different Estonian and Norwegian Sheep Breeds

Wool as a natural fiber is of increasing importance nowadays because of its natural renewable source. In Estonia, up to 90% of local wool is not adequately valued, while Norway has a functioning wool buying and sorting system. However, both countries have room for improvement in the better use of local wool. The article provides an overview of the Estonian-Norwegian wool research conducted in 2020-2023 and its main results according to yarn and measuring its properties. During the research, wool was collected from three Estonian and three Norwegian sheep breeds, semi-worsted yarn of two different sizes was made from it, and knitted and woven fabrics, each with the same structure, were produced. The tensile strength and elongation of the yarns and fabrics were measured. The paper focuses on yarn characteristics such as tensile strength and elongation at break and brings up some possibilities about how the wide range of different sheep breeds wool qualities can be used in innovative ways of creating textiles. The smart use of materials is based on the possibilities offered by medium-sized production and knowledge about local wool.

"Turning employees into brand ambassadors: a qualitative study of four companies in Durres and Tirana "

"The main aim of this study is to investigate some of the strategies that four companies of different sizes in Durres and Tirana Municipalities use for turning their employees into brand ambassadors. It is inevitable for the success of an organization to be measured by the importance that the organization gives to its employees. Employees are considered a significant asset of the organization: thus, they must be treated accordingly. Organizations must pay attention to the complex and increasing demands of their customers. In this regard, managers have to realize the importance and role of the employees in meeting the customer’s demands. Employees represent the image of an organization, which is why activating new strategies and techniques that optimize the workforce efforts would help achieve the organization’s vision and mission. Under these considerations, four face-to-face interviews were conducted with the owners or HR Managers, or Marketing Managers of one shipping agency, one medium-sized production company in Durres, one big-sized production company, and one company that offers telecommunications services in Tirana, Albania. This study first underlines the importance of evaluating marketing and brand management objectives, and afterward explores the strategies that these companies use for turning their employees into brand ambassadors. Within the framework of this study, the advantages of turning employees into brand ambassadors and the problems that the companies face have been examined. The research results show that the motivation of companies to turn their employees into brand ambassadors is high, but most companies lack proper strategies. One of the big-sized companies chooses to turn into brand ambassadors only those employees who accept or have an interest in using their personal social media in this regard and/or have a great curiosity in marketing and technology. "

Инновационная инфраструктура как фактор повышения конкурентоспособности региона

In modern conditions, innovative infrastructure is a fundamental element for the development of a regional economic system. The availability of an efficient innovation infrastructure optimizes the process of the implementation of promising production ideas and their commercialization in the industrial sector of the region. The purpose of this study is connected with the assessment possibility of the influence level of innovations on the competitiveness of regional economic system in the context of global competition and uncertainty growth in social and production processes. The methodological basis of the study is presented by the results of research studies by domestic and foreign experts, within which a comprehensive analysis of conditions and specifics of innovative transformations in the development of the region was carried out, with the identification of promising opportunities for relevant innovations’ integration into the regional socio-economic system. In accordance with this, in the course of the study, the following general theoretical and special research methods were applied: statistical analysis, generalization, grouping, systematization, deduction, induction, and graph theory. The result of the study is the assessment of the impact of innovations on the development of the regional economic system, as well as to form the conditions for construction of innovative infrastructure and predict the results of its impact on the level of competitiveness of the region in case of its optimal integration in accordance with the functioning of national or international organizations. The results obtained can be used by state and regional authorities that provide optimal innovative development and implementation of an economically determined sequence of activities within the framework of regional innovation policy, as well as small and medium-sized production entities, scientific and educational organizations operating in the development and implementation of high-tech products with increased value.

Wastewater Treatment from Chromium(VI) Ions with Calcium Peroxide

The treatment of wastewater from hexavalent chromium ions was studied and a two-stage (reagent) purification method was developed for this purpose. It was concluded that the possible effectiveness of this wastewater treatment at small and medium-sized production sites, especially in the absence of general industrial treatment facilities.

Investigating the nexus between information technology capabilities, knowledge management, and green product innovation: evidence from SME industry.

The aim of this study to investigate the relationship between information technology capabilities (ITCs) and green product innovation (GPI). The information technology (IT) capabilities with multiple dimensions, such as IT competence, IT integration, and IT infrastructure, were used in this paper. Moreover, to verify the deep relationship between ITCs and GPI, we used knowledge management (KM) as a mediator. The data were collected through a questionnaire from the senior managers, middle-level managers, and operational staff associated with the small- and medium-sized production industry of Pakistan. We collect data in two waves between January 2022 and July 2022. The data were analyzed through the partial least square structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2.2. The findings of this study conclude. First, in the direct relationship, two IT capabilities, such as IT competence and IT infrastructure, have a positive and significant direct relationship with green product innovation, but IT integration has an insignificant relationship with green product innovation. Second, the results show that three IT capabilities have positively influenced knowledge management. Third, the results confirm that KM has a significant positive effect on GPI. Finally, the outcomes confirmed that knowledge management positively and significantly mediates between all IT capabilities and GPI in the indirect relationship.

Development, Simulation of Temperatures, and Experimentation in Injection Molds Obtained through Additive Manufacturing with Photocurable Polymeric Resins

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a relatively new option in mold manufacturing for rapid tooling (RT) in injection processes. This paper presents the results of experiments with mold inserts and specimens obtained by stereolithography (SLA), which is a kind of AM. A mold insert obtained by AM and a mold produced by traditional subtractive manufacturing were compared to evaluate the performance of the injected parts. In particular, mechanical tests (in accordance with ASTM D638) and temperature distribution performance tests were carried out. The tensile test results of specimens obtained in a 3D printed mold insert were better (almost 15%) than those produced in the duralumin mold. The simulated temperature distribution closely matched its experimental counterpart-the difference in average temperatures was merely 5.36 °C. These findings support the use of AM in injection molding and RT as an excellent alternative for small and medium-sized production runs in the global injection industry.

Inclusive sustainable business practices in supporting dairy supply chains

PurposeFood supply chains are facing significant changes and challenges coming from the need to adopt inclusive business practices and foster sustainable development. The current research aims to provide insights related to the inclusiveness of sustainable business practices of a dairy production co-operative where the smallholders are engaging with a traditional business mind-set. The purpose of the research is to deliver insights about the linkages between accounting and business practices in the adoption of an inclusive business model.Design/methodology/approachThis research is based on the qualitative case study of a medium-sized production cooperative company operating in the dairy industry supply chain.FindingsThis study answers the call for research on accounting and control systems in the food sector, by exploring how management and control system is practised within contemporary supply chains. The research aims to analyse the contextual insights of managerial and organizational practices that facilitate inter-organizational relationships and coordination among actors that engage along the supply chain.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation relates to the conditions of the time available and the limited number of interviews. Even if key actors were interviewed, a larger sample would have been more beneficial to the research. However, the lack of proper results for accounting tools and software access caused some loss to the research.Originality/valueThis paper emphasizes the effects of the “inclusiveness” of the sustainable business models between suppliers and leading companies by enhancing the sustainable business development within the supply chain, as part of a wider business model in the food sector from an inter-organizational perspective.

A SSIM-Based Approach to Psychosocial Risk Assessment and Interventions

Abstract. Companies often hesitate to assess psychosocial risks, despite being obliged to assess them along with other health risks. One reason might be that companies are afraid of being unable to meet the expectations raised by employee surveys addressing social stressors. Health-oriented leadership approaches focus on supervisors’ role as potential social resources or stressors but neglect the influence of other situational conditions. In this case study, we use a systemic-salutogenic interaction model (SSIM)-based approach to psychosocial risk assessment in a medium-sized production company to focus on these dynamics. Using a pre-post multimethod design, we evaluate the effectiveness of this SSIM approach using two time-shifted standardized psychosocial risk surveys ( Nt1 =72; Nt2 = 224) and qualitative interviews to describe the challenges and problems the company faced. Based on these results, we discuss the perspectives of a SSIM-based approach to psychosocial risk assessment for research and practice.

The Impact of Learning Organizations on Employee Performance with an Emphasis on Network Communication Approach

In this study, an attempt was made to gain knowledge about the impact of learning organizations on employee performance, emphasizing the network communication approach in Esfahan Steel Company. We used a questionnaire to collect the research data. The study's statistical population included all managers and (staff) employees of Esfahan Steel Company, whose number is 300 people. The stratified random sampling was done in this study. The sample size was estimated to be 118 people. Besides, three questionnaires were employed for data collection in this survey that experts confirmed its validity, and Cronbach's alpha confirmed its reliability. The SPSS and the Smart PLS software were used to analyze the data. According to the results achieved from the statistical analysis, learning organizations impact employee performance. Moreover, learning organizations influence the network communication approach. The network communication approach affects the performance of the organization's employees. Small and medium-sized production companies in the Steel industry can use the findings of this research to Achieve continuous improvement of individual and organizational performance through learning organizations and network communication.

Post-Fordist Production and Urban Industrial Land Use Patterns

Economic restructuring of the 21st century is changing the production methods and location requirements of most industries. Mass production on the outskirts of cities, as was common in 20th century Fordism, is largely being replaced by an economic model characterised by a multitude of networked small and medium-sized production sites as well as logistics facilities. In this article, we want to examine if this also creates the opportunity to combine some of the smaller industrial areas with the city as a whole and to initiate a transformation of these areas in favour of redensification and mixed use. Examining the case of Kassel, Germany, we take a closer look at the transformation processes from Fordism to post-Fordism and the possibilities for a smarter land use. In this largely industrially shaped region, younger companies such as the solar panel producer SMA are using new approaches in terms of urban planning and land use by building their low emission-factories on greyfields in an urban environment rather than on suburban greenfields. In our article, we survey selected industrial areas in Kassel and discuss their recent change as part of a broader development from Fordism to post-Fordism. Firstly, the study contains a theoretical discussion of commercial and industrial land-use patterns in both socio-economic models. Subsequently, an on-site analysis is carried out to determine the extent to which both economic models have influenced the use and shape of industrial areas in Kassel. Based on this analysis, we finally show criteria for how urban planning can help to ensure that this change is combined with an improvement in the spatial and design quality of the industrial areas and is meaningfully integrated into the sustainable development of the city region.

The Importance of Virtual Immersion in the Rapid Prototyping of Industrial Products

The prototype has played a major role in the design of industrial products since the beginning. The series production was never launched until the designers validated the new product by studying in detail a prototype made identical to the ones that would have come out on the tape. Rapid prototyping, especially through 3D Printing, for small and medium-sized products, managed to improve this design phase by the quality of the prototype obtained and by the short times of its realisation. Recently, virtual immersion tends to replace 3D Printing technology (or work together), the prototype made by this technology offering the designer many more features of the designed product. As a concept, Virtual Reality Aided Design (VRAD) significantly reduces production times, costs and especially allows the rapid modification of the prototype, which is impossible to achieve in 3D Printing. Our article presents the study of a Compressed Air Vehicle (CAV) prototype participating in the international academic competition PNEUMOBILE; it is a study carried out by the UPBAIR team of UPB through virtual immersion. We believe that the study can be extended to the prototyping of any industrial product, adding that our CAV prototype is quite simplistic and quite far from the complexity of a series car.

Analysis and improvement of the “red/blue spot” of TFT-LCD

“Red/blue spot” is a common undesirable phenomenon in small and medium-sized TFT-LCD products, which directly affects the display quality of the product. It has always been a difficult problem in the display industry, which greatly reduces the market competitiveness of corresponding products. In this work, pressure tests are carried out on liquid crystal panels with different sizes and resolutions. The effects of different factors such as the flatness of the photo space, the distribution density of the spacers, and the glass thickness on the “red/blue spot” are compared. By increasing the flatness of the PS station, the septum distribution density, and the thickness of the glass, the sample’s anti-extrusion ability can be increased by 46.1%, 30%, and 23.1%, respectively. The experimental results can provide the basis for industry to further improve quality of products.

Change-point visualization and variation analysis in a simple production line: a process mining application in manufacturing

In production systems, digital twins must be always aligned with the real system to guarantee an effective decision making process in a continuously changing environment. To allow the alignment, digital models can be updated with process mining techniques through data collected by sensors. This paper addresses the issue of detecting changes in the production system by analyzing data collected from sensors. Using raw collected data, a procedure is proposed to compute and plot relevant system measures that could help change identification. Simulation is used to test the effectiveness of the procedure in a realistic medium size production line.

Recycling system for the FDM/FFF method material designed for small and medium-sized production batches

With fast growing industry in the field of additive technology, possibilities of DIY (Do It Yourself) projects grow as well. This also gives the opportunity for non-expert's users to project and develop some complex products on their own. The reaction was global overflow of the 3D printer's sale worldwide. If we look in the long term, environmental pollution caused by their disposed polymer is their biggest flaw. Recycling process sometimes can be very expensive, and in certain cases unavailable for some users. In this paper, low-cost recycling system for materials that are most commonly used for FDM/FFF method is presented. The main goal was to reduce environmental pollution and 3D printing costs by presenting the possibility of making its own polymer made of scrape plastic. Moreover, this allows users to make their own recipe by mixing different types of scrape polymer, or adding reinforcing material such as chopped dry fibre, metal powder, etc.

Earnings Drivers of Slovak Manufacturers: Efficiency Assessment of Innovation Management

In innovation management, it is crucial to know the incentives or factors that, in many cases, provide the fundamental drivers of earnings, competitive advantage and the sustainable growth of businesses while also measuring their effectiveness. The study deals with the evaluation of the efficiency of investments in innovations utilizing constant returns to scale models of small- and medium-sized industrial enterprises in Slovakia. It is industrial production that includes enterprises that are the creators of new products, the appliers of the latest knowledge of science, and the creators of innovations. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of invested finances in the innovation of small- and medium-sized production enterprises in Slovakia, as it is a very demanding and neglected role in management. The method to assess the efficacy that was used is called Data Envelopment Analysis. CCR-I also CCR-O models were run, where it was essential to determine the inputs and outputs. The indicators R&D expenditures and employee training costs were selected based on a detailed analysis of articles with similar issues. The final sample contained 132 manufacturing enterprises within industrial production that were classified according to the official Slovak categorization because of their relevance. We assessed the effectiveness of food producers, beverage manufacturers, textile and clothing manufacturers, manufacturers of rubber plastic products, metal manufacturers, PC, electronic and optical equipment manufacturers, machine and equipment manufacturers, and furniture manufacturers to identify the enterprises that own earnings drivers caused by innovation. It was detected that the most efficient units in the industrial production are the rubber plastic products manufacturers. The least effective units were found in beverage and furniture manufacturers.