Production Services Research Articles

Retraction notice: Designing business intelligence (BI) for production, distribution and customer services: a case study of a UAE-based organization

Retraction notice: Designing business intelligence (BI) for production, distribution and customer services: a case study of a UAE-based organization

Overview on Application of Operation Research in Various fields

Abstract: In any area of human endeavour, whether it is a production system, business system or service system where an objective is to be optimized. Operation research as coined by Europeans or operations Research by Americans is relatively a new discipline that deals with the application of analytical methods to gain a better decision. Operation research finds a solution to a problem is by breaking down the problem into basic components and then solving it in defined steps by mathematical analysis.

Leveraging Cost-Effective AI and Smart Technologies for Rapid Infrastructural Development in USA

High cost of building makes houses expensive for US citizens and residents. Thus, this study proposes the leveraging of cost-effective artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technologies (ST) for rapid infrastructural development in US. It considers them as sustainable means of tackling the challenges for the attainment of affordable houses. The study explores the potentials of prominent AI and smart technologies capable of reducing the cost of building houses in the US, for which houses would become affordable for all. The primary data are obtained from telephone interviews with 10 construction workers and 5 experts of AI, alongside observation and introspection. The secondary data are drawn from library and the internet. Qualitative method, thematic and content analyses, systematic review, and descriptive and interpretive tools are employed. The results show Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, and Robotic Process Automation to be prominent cost-effective AI technologies, while Building Automation Systems, Internet of Things, Renewable Energy Systems, and Smart Water Management Systems are cost-effective smart technologies. The study concludes that the identified AI and smart technologies are not only cost-effective, but also transformative and innovation-driven and can be leveraged to increase efficiency, productivity, quality delivery and satisfactory services. The study recommends them to government and organizations for cost-effectiveness towards attaining rapid infrastructural development in the USA.

The LTAR Grazing Land Common Experiment at the Central Plains Experimental Range: Collaborative adaptive rangeland management.

Semiarid rangelands throughout the western Great Plains support livestock production and many other ecosystem services. The degree to which adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing management approaches can help achieve desired ecosystem services remains unclear. At the Central Plains Experimental Range in northeastern Colorado, a management-science partnership with a diverse stakeholder group is comparing collaborative adaptive rangeland management (CARM), designed to incorporate AMP principles, to traditional rangeland management (TRM), consisting of season-long grazing during the growing season. Each treatment was implemented on a set of 10, 130-ha pastures paired by soils, topography, and plant communities to evaluate how CARM affects vegetation (composition and production), livestock production (steer weight gain), and wildlife habitat (vegetation structure for grassland birds). For the first 5 years of the experiment, CARM cattle were managed as a single herd using AMP grazing with planned year-long rest in 20% of the pastures. Relative to TRM, CARM enhanced heterogeneity in vegetation structure across the landscape, benefiting two grassland bird species. However, this came at the cost of 12%-16% lower steer weight gains in CARM versus TRM and declining populations of a third bird species of conservation concern in both treatments. Here we discuss how increased understanding of ecological and social processes during the experiment's first 5 years led to changes in the CARM treatment and management objectives during the next 5 years. We also discuss how innovations in remote sensing, environmental sensors, ecosystem modeling, social learning, and economic analyses are being integrated into and supported by the CARM experiment.

Multi-Source Remote Sensing Analysis of Yilong Lake’s Surface Water Dynamics (1965–2022): A Temporal and Spatial Investigation

With the acceleration of global warming and the intensification of anthropogenic activities, numerous lakes worldwide are experiencing reductions in their water surface areas. Yilong Lake, a typical shallow plateau lake located on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau in China, serves as a crucial water resource for local human production, daily life, and ecosystem services. Hence, long-term comprehensive monitoring of its dynamic changes is essential for its effective protection. However, previous studies have predominantly utilized remote sensing data with limited temporal resolution, thus failing to reflect the long-term variations in Yilong Lake’s water body. This study employs high temporal resolution monitoring, utilizing multi-source satellite data (e.g., KeyHole, Landsat, HJ-1 A/B) images spanning from 1965 to 2022 to investigate the changes in Yilong Lake’s surface area, analyzing the influencing factors and ecological impacts of these changes. The results indicate that from 1965 to 2022, Yilong Lake’s water surface area decreased by 8.33 km2, with a maximum surface area of 40.49 km2 on January 7, 1986, and a minimum surface area of 10.64 km2 on April 20, 2013. These changes are characterized by three significant phases: (1) a rapid shrinking phase (1965–1979); (2) a fluctuating shrinking period (1986–2016); and (3) an expanding recovery phase (2016–2022). Spatially, the most significant shrinkage was observed along the southern and southwestern shores of the lake. The driving factors varied across different periods: sunshine duration was the dominant influence during the rapid shrinking phase (1965–1979), accounting for 82% of the changes; population and cropland area were the main drive factors during the fluctuating shrinking period (1986–2016), accounting for 56% of the changes; and during the expanding recovery phase (2016–2022), the population accounted for 75% of the changes in the lake’s surface area. Currently, the protection of Yilong Lake depends on water supplementation and strict regulation of outflow, resulting in the lake exhibiting characteristics similar to a reservoir. This long-term investigation provides baseline information for future lake monitoring. Our research findings can also guide decision-makers in urban water resource management and environmental protection, ensuring the scientific and rational use of watershed water resources, effectively curbing the shrinkage of Yilong Lake, and achieving long-term sustainable restoration of the lake’s ecology.

Where do data sovereignty security risks come from?-Production perspective based on social reproduction

As a new factor of production, data has been rapidly integrated into all aspects of production, distribution, circulation, consumption and social service management, and has had a profound impact on production methods, lifestyles and social governance methods. In essence, data, as a new factor of production, is the result of the contradictory movement of productivity and production relations in the process of economic development in the digital economy era. It is also the reconstruction of productivity and production relations in the digital era. While the digital industry and digital economy have become an important engine leading global economic growth and bringing huge dividends, data as a production factor is also accompanied by rising sovereign security risks. Taking the production of data elements in social reproduction as an entry point, we clarify the possible security risks of data as a new production factor in the production process, analyze the data sovereignty security risks derived from the security risks, and find that data sovereignty security risks breed when data elements participate in social reproduction. In the production process, there are challenges and threats to data sovereignty security such as internal jurisdiction and control rights owned by sovereign countries, as well as external rights to equality and independence. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately grasp the data sovereignty security risks that exist in the production process of social reproduction of data elements, and build new data production relationships to match the development characteristics of new productive forces, so as to prevent and resolve non-traditional security risks caused by sovereignty security.

Mechanisms and effect assessment of smart city policy pilots on employment resilience: Empirical evidence based on 275 sample cities in China

In the context of a global economic slowdown and structural shifts, comprehending labor market stability is crucial for devising effective macro-employment strategies. This research introduces an innovative framework to analyze employment resilience in the wake of China's smart city pilot policy. Utilizing data from 275 prefecture-level cities across China, spanning 2008 to 2020, the study delves into the beneficial effects of the smart city pilot policy on employment resilience. It employs a dual approach, integrating the Differences-in-Differences method (DID) with robustness analysis. Findings indicate that employment resilience in smart city pilot cities is approximately 0.58% higher compared to non-pilot cities. Factors such as location, size, and city type exhibit varying influences on this outcome. The research further reveals that entrepreneurial activities significantly mediate the link between smart city policies and employment resilience. Additionally, the concentration of manufacturing and productive services, along with their interplay, demonstrates notable moderating effects. This investigation broadens the economic research scope regarding smart cities and offers fresh empirical insights into the labor market impacts of smart city pilot policies, serving as a valuable guide for policymakers in managing employment markets.

How E-commerce Affects Enterprise New Quality Productivity

This paper explores the impact of e-commerce on enterprise new quality productivity using financial statement data of listed companies from 2013 to 2022. The findings suggest that e-commerce significantly enhances enterprise new quality productivity by investing in science and technology, agglomerating productive service industries, and expanding market share. Furthermore, digital transformation and human capital have a significant impact on new quality productivity. E-commerce plays a more substantial role in enhancing new quality productivity for non-state-owned firms in the central and eastern regions, so listed enterprises should prioritize improving e-commerce capabilities and investing in science and technology to foster high-quality development.

CARACTERIZACIÓN DE SISTEMAS DE PRODUCCIÓN LECHERA Y SALUD DE LA UBRE EN EL NORTE DE ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA

<p><strong>Background: </strong>The sociodemographic characterization of milk producers allows knowing their particular conditions in terms of social, political and economic structure through indicators that describe them as social actors, interaction networks, conflict situations and events related to milk production. <strong>Objective:</strong> To characterize the diversity of dairy production systems in Northern Antioquia with a focus on the producer, the farms, access to services and their impact on the biological indicators of udder health. <strong>Methodology:</strong> A cross-sectional study was designed <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">that</span> including 216 milk producers within distributed in 9 dairy municipalities in northern Antioquia. Surveys to characterize the producer, the farm and access to services for health and milk production were carried out. As biological indicators of udder health, the annual average<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">s</span> of bulk tank somatic cell counts (BTSCC) and colony-forming units (CFU) of each farm were analyzed. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS version 25.0 and a p < 0.05. <strong>Results: </strong>The biological indicators of udder health in the studied farms presented poor sanitary quality according to the BTSCC for 67 % of the producers and poor hygienic quality with CFU in for 22 % of the participating farms. Briceño producers showed the lowest production in contrast to Santa Rosa de Osos milk producers, who have the highest production. In the linear regression models, 18.2 % of the BTSCC was explained by the location in relation to the municipality, the size of the production system and the type of milking. The CFU values were explained in 29.8 % by the municipality, the cooperative association or livestock association, the milk storage system, the offer of laboratory services for milk and cows, the area of the farm dedicated to grazing, the number of animals on the farm and the average daily production per cow. <strong>Implications:</strong> This study shows the importance of understanding udder health issues not only at the cow level from a biomedical approach. The understanding of udder health from the farm in the sociodemographic context shows that its location, access to services, technology, education and associativity establish opportunities to improve production and competitiveness of milk production. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> udder health can be positively or negatively affected by the location of the production system, the size of the production system, the type of milking, the association to a cooperative or livestock association, the milk storage system, the supply of laboratory services for milk and cows, the area of the farm dedicated to grazing, the number of animals on the farm and the average daily production per cow. To consider these variables is fundamental in decision-making in mastitis control and preventive care for udder health.</p>

Effects of Organic Farming on Soil Probiotics of Double Rice Cropping System in South China

Organic management practices of double rice cropping can contribute to soil health and crop productivity. However, the impact of organic versus conventional farming practices (CK) on the diversity and functionality of soil probiotics remains poorly understood, despite growing interest in sustainable agricultural methods. To this end, this study evaluated the effects of these farming systems in double rice production on soil microbial communities using metagenomic sequencing and the PROBIO database. Our study accessed the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices of soil probiotics between the two farming systems. Specifically, the Shannon index values were 93.82 for CK and 93.51 for organic farming, showing no statistically significant difference. Similarly, the Simpson index values were 6.18 for CK and 6.46 for organic farming, also demonstrating no significant variance. However, distinct variations in microbial community compositions were observed. Organic farming significantly increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of probiotics that benefit plant growth and nitrogen supply, but reduced those associated with plant nutrient supply and yield. The results show that while organic farming can positively influence certain microbial functions beneficial for sustainable agriculture, it also presents challenges that may affect crop productivity and ecosystem services. These findings suggest that organic farming practices need to be carefully managed to harness the benefits of enhanced microbial functions without compromising crop yields.

Заходи з енергозбереження в метрополітені (на прикладі біметалевих контактних рейок)

The purpose of this study is to develop methods and tools for long-term forecasting of electricity consumption based on an improved integrated method for predicting electricity demand, taking into account the peculiarities of electric use of the Kyiv Metro and its impact on the city's electricity consumption. The scientific novelty of the results obtained is the consideration of technological potential with measures for electric saving, pouring into Level II and Level III in the energy consumption model, which takes into account both the overall potential of electric saving (from structural and technological shifts) in the country as a whole, and the features at the regional level (the city of Kyiv) in the types of economic activity in the provision of transport services (Metro). During the work, material was collected on measures for electricity saving in the metro and forecasts for the development of this type of service provision (passenger transportation). To achieve sufficient energy consumption, it is important to introduce energy-efficient technologies that will reduce electricity costs without losing productivity and passenger service quality. Bimetallic contact rails are more efficient in terms of transmitting electric current and reducing energy losses. This innovation opens up new opportunities for the sustainable development of urban transport and contributes to the creation of more efficient and convenient conditions for city residents. Measures are provided to protect the structures and equipment of the section that is being designed and built, the metro line from electric corrosion. Calculation of electricity saving potentials at the regional level (Kyiv) made it possible to more accurately take into account the volume of implementation of energy saving measures, since such programs are developed at the regional level. These estimates are used to determine the technological potential of energy saving. The technological potential of electricity saving will reach the level of 600 million kWh by 2040, while maintaining the pace of economic development in Kyiv. Keywords: Metro, electric saving, electric saving potential, forecasting, energy efficiency, electricity.

Models for creating innovative cooperatives for processing and sales of milk in private farms

The purpose of the article is to study the models for creating innovative “milk processing cooperative”, created on the basis of cooperative relations with dairy-producing personal subsidiary farms, to give recommendations. Based on the creation of dairy processing cooperatives in private subsidiary farms for processing and selling milk within the country, their great potential is being used and dependence on dairy products is being reduced. The models and options for creating dairy processing cooperatives based on the cooperation of private subsidiary farms in the dairy industry of the country are presented: 1) the creation of a “dairy processing innovation cooperative” based on a cooperative relationship with personal subsidiary farms; 2) under a cooperative agreement with personal subsidiary farms of the Turkistan region, the activities of the innovative dairy processing company FoodMaster-Shymkent LLP were considered; 3) the creation of a “dairy production cooperative” with a commercial dairy farm in the settlements of the district is suggested, based on the cooperation process. This is due to the fact that dairy processing and marketing cooperatives, along with the collection, processing, and sale of milk from personal subsidiary farms, of which they were members, assume responsibilities for processing land plots, foraging, providing breeding young animals, providing production and technical services, and state support for personal subsidiary farms. State support (subsidies, tax and credit benefits) through “milk-producing cooperatives”, in which personal subsidiary farms are created, support for personal subsidiary farms is provided through milk-producing cooperatives and milk-processing cooperatives.

Comparison of Grain Corn Production Performance Between Zero-Tillage and Conventional Tillage at MARDI Seberang Perai

Grain corn is one of the ingredients for formulating animal feed, especially for poultry. Recently, Malaysia has given a higher priority for grain corn to be produced locally due to high import costs. Malaysia imported 3.7 million metric tonnes of corn worth approximately RM 3 billion in 2020-2021. However, locally produced grain corn faces high production costs. The main contributors to the high costs are mechanisation services and agricultural input. Agricultural input costs, such as seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides, are very dependent on market prices that can go up or down and are difficult to control. Tillage, or land preparation, is the most expensive mechanisation service for grain corn production. Conventional tillage involves three operations; ploughing, harrowing, and rotary tillage. These operations cost at least RM900 per hectare. A zero-tillage planting system does not require any tillage. Therefore, a study was conducted to see the performance of zero-tillage as compared to conventional tillage in terms of final yield produced at MARDI Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang. A randomised plot design experiment with 3 replications on plot sizes of 20 × 15 m each was used. All agronomic practices such as fertiliser requirement, pest and weed control, and irrigation were the same for both. The difference was only in the tillage practice where conventional tillage involved 3 tillage operations, ploughing, harrowing, and rotary tilling while there was no tillage operation needed for a zero-tillage planting system. The final yields were analysed using T-test statistical analysis. The yields recorded at 14 % moisture for zero-tillage and conventional tillage were 6.32 ± 0.9 and 6.62 ± 0.6 metric tonnes, respectively. No significant differences were found by t-test analysis with a p-value of more than 0.05. This shows that zero-tillage has the potential to be implemented in Malaysia to reduce the cost of grain corn production by eliminating tillage operations which can save up to RM900 per hectare. Further study for various types of soil shall be conducted to categorise suitable soil for the planting system.

Grain harvesting combiners’ use in Poltava region. Analysis and forecasts

The study aims to find technical, organizational, and economic mechanisms for improving the efficiency of grain harvesters by the example of the resource potential of agricultural harvesting equipment in the Poltava region. The study relied on statistical data, including both quantitative and qualitative characteristics of grain harvesters. The information was gathered from agricultural producers in the Poltava region, regardless of the form of ownership. The data was collected through automated records kept by the agricultural machinery registration department of the State Production and Consumer Service in Poltava. The information pertains to the end of the year 2023. The following indicators and characteristics have been studied in detail: the total number of combine harvesters registered in the Poltava region and their average age since the date of manufacture; absolute quantitative indicators regarding the duration of use of grain harvesters according to agricultural machinery manufacturers as of 2023; and relative indicators regarding the duration of use of grain harvesters according to agricultural machinery manufacturers as of 2023. After conducting the statistical analysis, it was found that machines from certain manufacturers have been used for over ten years in higher percentages: John Deere (66,23 %), Fortschritt (68,75 %), Claas (72,32 %), Case (81,42 %), combine harvesters manufactured in Ukraine and post-Soviet countries (88,60 %), Volvo (91,67 %), Massey Ferguson (94,12 %), Sampo (100 %), New Holland (28.1 %). In the specified category "combines older than 10 years prevail", the most commonly used combiners in the Poltava region are John Deere, Claas, Case combiners, and ones manufactured in Ukraine and post-Soviet countries. This makes up the majority of the combiner park in Poltava Region under current conditions. The national economy is currently facing the challenge of efficiently and effectively assessing the technical condition of grain harvesters, whether old or new. This has become an urgent issue that requires immediate attention. It is crucial to pay special attention to the quality of repair work done on the various units and components of these machines, ensuring that all necessary spare parts and accessories are provided.

İncir Üretiminde Risk Kaynakları, Aydın ili örneği

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın temel amacı, incir üreten çiftçilerin karşılaştıkları risk kaynaklarını belirlemek, bunları önem derecesine göre sıralamak ve birbiri ile olan ilişkilerini analiz etmektir. Tasarım/Metodoloji /Yaklaşım: Bu araştırma Aydın ilinde faaliyetlerini sürdüren 101 incir üreticisi ile yapılan anketlerden elde edilen verilere dayanmaktadır. Araştırmada çiftçilere ait risk kaynaklarının varlığı faktör analizi yardımıyla açıklanmıştır. Ayrıca DEMATEL yöntemi kullanılarak risk faktörleri önem derecesine göre sıralanarak birbirleriyle olan etkileşimleri keşfedilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmada belirlenen 9 faktör önemine göre iklim, üretim, piyasa, gıda güvenliği, işletme, arazi, pazarlama, toprak ve teknik bilgi riskleri şeklindedir. İklim, piyasa, arazi ve teknik bilgi riskleri diğer risk faktörlerini önemli derece etkilemektedir. İklim riski tüm diğer riskleri etkilerken, pazarlama riski tüm risk faktörlerinden etkilenen konumdadır. Özgünlük/Değer: Bu araştırmada incir üreticileri için özgün bir yöntem kullanılarak kapsamlı bir risk analizi oluşturulmuştur. Böylece bu alandaki literatürün gelişimine önemli bir katkı sağlanmıştır. Sosyal çıkarımlar: Sonuçlar incir üreticilerinin risk faktörlerini daha iyi yönetmek için sürdürülebilir üretim, tarım sigortası ve yayım hizmetlerine ihtiyaç duyduğunu göstermektedir.

Towards Sustainable Development: The Impact of Agricultural Productive Services on China’s Low-Carbon Agricultural Transformation

In the context of carbon neutrality, the low-carbon transition in agriculture is crucial to achieving carbon mitigation through clean production. The provision of agricultural productive services (APS) is pivotal for modernizing farming practices in China. However, the impact of this on the low-carbon transformation has received limited attention. This research examined the non-linear relationship between agricultural productive services and low-carbon development, including verifying a threshold effect with APS as the threshold variable, employing panel data for 31 provinces in China from 2010 to 2021. The results of the study suggested that the effect of services associated with agricultural productivity on the transition of the agricultural sector to low-carbon practices varied across threshold ranges. Specifically, when the APS exceeded the threshold of 2.4396, a significant suppressive effect was observed on carbon emission intensity. Further analysis revealed that APS indirectly influenced the farmland scale and agricultural technological advancements, thereby promoting the low-carbon transition of China’s agriculture. Based on these results, it is recommended to intensify the development of APS in key cereal-producing regions, while emphasizing the harmonious progress of these services in conjunction with large-scale farmland management.

ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНІ ІННОВАЦІЇ ЯК КЛЮЧОВИЙ ЧИННИК КОНКУРЕНТОСПРОМОЖНОСТІ НА ГЛОБАЛЬНОМУ РИНКУ

Technological innovations today are becoming not just a key, but an essential success factor for modern enterprises on the global market. The level of competitiveness today is determined not only by the quality of products or services, but also by the speed of their implementation, adaptability to changes and improvement of processes. The article is aimed at studying the role of technological innovations in enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises in the global market. The study found that the introduction of advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, etc., plays a significant role in improving the efficiency of modern enterprises and ensuring the competitiveness of enterprises. The article also analyzes the impact and benefits of technological innovations for entrepreneurship, including production, logistics, marketing, and customer service. It was found that such innovations help companies reduce costs, improve the quality of products and services, and accelerate the development of new products and markets. In addition, the key factors of success in the implementation of technological innovations, such as openness to change, flexibility in solving problems, and the ability to respond quickly to market and technological trends, are highlighted. The author summarizes that innovative activities allow enterprises not only to strengthen their positions in existing markets, but also to create new opportunities for the development of a new digital environment. The author analyzes the current state and prospects for the development of technological innovations in Ukraine, in particular, in the context of Industry 4.0 and technoglobalization. The study showed that Ukraine has the potential to develop technological innovations, particularly in the field of information technology, but needs additional funding and integration into the global scientific space.

Making complementary agricultural resources, technologies, and services more gender-responsive

Rural women in low- and middle-income countries face multiple constraints in accessing and benefiting from essential complementary resources, technologies, and services for agricultural production and participation in the agrifood system. This paper highlights recent thinking around these constraints and how to overcome them. The complementary factors we consider are: (1) networks and social capital, (2) information and communications technologies, (3) other agricultural technologies, (4) agricultural extension and advisory services, (5) financial services, and (6) social assistance. We first analyze constraints women face in accessing and benefiting from these complementary factors and describe the potential benefits of reducing these constraints and gender inequities in the agrifood system. We then provide evidence on what has been effective for improving women's access to and ability to benefit from the six complementary factors. We conclude by highlighting the importance of considering the different preferences of men and women when designing policies and interventions; challenging customs, norms and perceptions; and reforming formal rules and institutions toward more inclusive agrifood systems.

The Power of Training: Enhancing Service Excellence in the Hotel Industry in India

The most valuable asset of any organization is its personnel, who utilize capital, materials, and equipment to propel sales, production, operational processes, and exceptional customer service. It is critical to have both training and a supportive work environment. Staff morale and skill development investments reduce employee turnover and foster continuous progress. Employees influence the long-term success and resilience of the organization and propel daily operations. This study investigates how training enhances the abilities of hospitality employees.

How does artificial intelligence affect productivity and agglomeration? Evidence from China's listed enterprise data

In the digital economy era, artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced significantly and promoted productivity and productive service agglomeration. Using data on the productive service industry and AI in 27 provinces in China from 2006 to 2019, we investigated the influence of AI on productive services, and its direction and magnitude. We found that AI can promote the agglomeration of productive services directly or by enhancing productivity, and further analyzed the regional heterogeneity of the influence and mechanism.