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Industrial convergence refers to the dynamic process in which different industries gradually form new industries through mutual penetration and cross. As an advanced form of industrial synergy, industrial convergence is crucial in building a modern economic system. Using a panel data set covering China's 30 provinces during 2006–2018, this study explores the impact of industrial convergence on regional high-quality development. The findings suggest that: (1) Industrial convergence is conducive to high-quality development, and this conclusion remains robust after a series of tests. (2) For heterogeneity, the positive impact of industrial convergence on high-quality development is greater in regions with optimized energy structure and high investment outward, as does the regions with reasonable financial structure and moderate economic agglomeration. (3) Productivity improvement and industrial upgrading are the mediating paths by which industrial convergence promotes high-quality development, and the former plays a greater role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The employment of Business Information Modeling (BIM) may assist the resident engineering department in reaching its long-term strategic goals. The suggested computer software was created and tested using the first package of new projects for roads, bridges, and tunnels aimed at solving the traffic congestion crisis taking place in the capital city of Iraq, Baghdad. In the context of the current study, questionnaires and personal interviews with specialists in the field of road, tunnel, and overpass construction were employed. The aim of implementing BIM is to assess the introduced program's efficiency, verify its performance, and identify any errors, defects, or challenges that users may encounter during its application. The computer program underwent successful testing at several Resident Engineer's Offices (REOs) within the initial package of new projects aimed at addressing traffic congestion issues in Baghdad through independent verification checks. Initially, the program was utilized with the assistance of a user guide to facilitate its operation and provide a detailed description of each program feature which can provide effective decisionmaking and enhance REOs' computer skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's fast-paced and dynamic work environment, stress management is key to creating a harmonious and productive workplace. Workplace stress is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to improve personal well-being and professionalism. This research aims to explore practical and proven stress management strategies that can improve the quality of the workday and work outcomes. Based on the Systematic Literature Review (SLR), practices such as mindfulness and programs such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) are proven to reduce emotional exhaustion and improve employees' psychological wellbeing. In addition to individual stress management, these strategies also positively impact team dynamics by reducing interpersonal conflict and encouraging collaboration. However, implementation of stress management practices in the workplace often faces barriers such as resistance to cultural change and insufficient support from management. Overcoming these barriers requires a comprehensive approach that involves education, training, and the development of supportive policies. An organizational culture that prioritizes mental health and leadership that emphasizes employee well-being is critical to the long-term success of workplace stress management techniques. By integrating these strategies, this research aims to empower individuals and organizations to control stress, increase job satisfaction, and achieve professional goals more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IT organizations are investing heavily on artificial intelligence (AI), though the value realization and areas of application of AI are still limited and not explored completely. Artificial intelligence applications are using large set of data to train the system to either generate new content or to predict the outcomes. Predictive analytics is used in agile management projects for budgeting, forecasting and capacity management. The article represents the use of cycle time and cumulative flow diagram metrics in ActionableAgile or JIRA to predict in agile development projects for forecasting of inflow of work and for the improvement of current work processes.

Agile frameworks bring numerous benefits to IT organizations for software development lacking in the traditional development processes. Multinational organizations are using outsourcing practices for cost reduction along with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) for agile scaling. SAFe practices are successful when resources are co-located and approachable for daily discussions and planning. However, when onsite resources are working with outsourced resources, SAFe needs definite changes for better development outcomes and resource coordination. This article presents recommendations to improve productivity in outsourcing settings while using the SAFe framework in IT organizations.

Conducting a study on this topic is becoming relevant due to the rapid introduction of digital technologies in the agricultural sector, which requires urgent study to effectively address current challenges in agriculture. The purpose of this paper is to analyse innovative approaches to improving the efficiency of economic activity in the agri-food sector. The methods used include the analytical method, classification method, functional method, statistical method, synthesis method, and others. The study found that the use of innovative approaches has significantly improved the productivity and sustainability of the agricultural sector. The use of blockchain technologies has increased trust in the supply chain by providing verified and transparent information on product quality. The analysis of large volumes of data has made it possible to develop specialized solutions and strategies tailored to specific business conditions in different regions. The results show an increase in the resilience of the agricultural sector to changes in economic and climate conditions. The findings of the study highlight the potential of digital transformation as a strategic tool for innovative and sustainable development of the agricultural sector. The study identified key strategies for the future implementation of digital technologies, taking into account the needs of the agricultural sector. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of introducing digital technologies to increase efficiency, improve management and ensure the sustainability of the industry in today’s digital economy. The practical significance of the paper is to analyse and highlight the factors that affect productivity and resource management in agriculture, which serves as a basis for further research and development of specific strategies and recommendations to improve the efficiency of the sector

Access to safe drinking water remains a global challenge, primarily due to the prevalence of water contamination in various regions. Numerous methods have been explored to address this issue and convert polluted water into potable sources. However, the cost associated with these methods often hinders their widespread adoption. Solar distillation, harnessed by abundant solar energy, emerges as a promising and sustainable solution. Although solar distillation technology has made significant advancements in recent years, the endeavor to boost its efficiency remains a substantial challenge. Typically, solar stills yield between 4 and 6 liters of fresh water per square meter of solar still per day under ideal circumstances. Notably, both single‐basin and double‐basin solar stills have been extensively researched to discover methods for enhancing their productivity. A notable innovation in this field, the tubular solar still (TSS), has gained recognition for its capacity to improve productivity. The present review article systematically examines the development of efficient and cost‐effective solar distillation systems on a global scale. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the literature pertaining to techniques employed to enhance TSS performance. The study categorizes these techniques, conducts in‐depth evaluations of both experimental and simulation studies, and offers a meticulous comparison of various strategies to optimize TSS functionality. Furthermore, the article identifies existing research gaps and puts forth prospective directions for advancing TSS efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global steel industry is rapidly transitioning towards energy decarbonization to address the climate crisis. Sintering is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions from steel mills. Traditional sintering processes use straight inclined chutes to feed raw materials into the sinter machine. However, this design suffers from insufficient horizontal momentum, resulting in poor segregation of the layered materials. This study proposes an improved charging chute design profile that uses a cycloid curve and rolls to enhance segregation, thus reducing coal consumption and increasing productivity. To achieve this, we first modeled a charging chute using the cycloid curve. Secondly, building upon the cycloid concept, we created a roll-type chute by strategically placing rollers along the cycloid trajectory. Finally, the cycloid roll-type charging chute, integrating the cycloid trajectory with the roll-shaped charging chute, was simulated. Pilot tests comparing the cycloid roll-type and straight chute models demonstrated a significant increase in dispersion for the cycloid roll-type design, with a 65% improvement in the Strand-ward segregation (Sw) index compared to the straight chute. Furthermore, actual filed implementation in a sintering process achieved a 2.9% increase in operational productivity and a 6% reduction in fuel consumption. This study is significant not only for proposing an optimal chute design, but also for successfully implementing it in a full-scale steel mill, contributing to a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon reduction in steel mills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic review of Business Information Modeling (BIM) plays a crucial role in understanding its significance and impact. This review allows for a comprehensive examination of the existing literature, highlighting the benefits, challenges, and success factors associated with BIM. There is a scarcity of studies dealing with this subject, and so a question about the most important advantages that will be obtained by the construction industry, especially the construction companies, as a result of the BIM application arises. Relevant previous studies were reviewed and their quality was evaluated using a systematic methodology. The current study was characterized by the use of the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis technique. As far as is known, the current study is the first of its kind in the field of Iraqi project management. The results suggest that the BIM benefits include firm's growth, organizational performance, enhanced market value, employee motivation, and service quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Today, the importance of the health and productivity of organizational employees is undeniable. In this regard, the present study aims to investigate the impact of exercise activities combined with gamification on increasing motivation for participation in sports classes among public library staff in Tehran Province.Methodology: The research hypotheses were assessed using a semi-experimental method and covariance analysis with a 95 percent confidence level. After eliminating the impact of the pre-test variable and considering the calculated F coefficient, a noteworthy distinction in the adjusted averages of preparedness dimension scores emerged in the post-test phase among members of the "proof and test" group (P>0.05). Consequently, based on the findings derived from the data analysis, it can be inferred that the integration of sports exercises with gamification significantly influences the motivation, success, preparedness, energy levels, and group orientation of public library employees. The impact on each of these aspects is in the order of 25, 12, 24, 29 and 35 percent, respectively, resulting in a modification of the total variance of these components.Findings: The research hypotheses were assessed using a semi-experimental method and covariance analysis with a 95 percent confidence level. After eliminating the impact of the pre-test variable and considering the calculated F coefficient, a noteworthy distinction in the adjusted averages of preparedness dimension scores emerged in the post-test phase among members of the "proof and test" group (P>0.05). Consequently, based on the findings derived from the data analysis, it can be inferred that the integration of sports exercises with gamification significantly influences the motivation, success, preparedness, energy levels, and group orientation of public library employees. The impact on each of these aspects is in the order of 25, 12, 24, 29 and 35 percent, respectively, resulting in a modification of the total variance of these components.Conclusion: According to the results obtained from the research, it can be concluded that the integration of sports exercises with gamification in the sports classes of public libraries in Tehran province has a significant positive effect on motivation, success, preparedness, energy discharge, and group orientation. This combination not only increases the motivation for sports participation and increases coordination and cooperation in teams, but also contributes to organizational success by improving the personal performance of individuals. Promoting sports activities through gamification encourages employees to participate more actively in sports classes. As a result, gamification along with sports exercises in public libraries in Tehran province can significantly improve various aspects of job productivity and thus this combination can be used as a comprehensive strategy to improve physical, mental, and organizational conditions.

Purpose – Sources highlight that insufficient skills of site supervisors considerably influence the progress of many construction projects in numerous countries. This study intends to identify the crucial supervisory competencies that influence the effectiveness of building project operations in the context of developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – The crucial construction site supervisory competencies were qualitatively identified through a comprehensive literature survey and a series of expert interviews with the use of thematic analysis approaches. A questionnaire survey was then carried out among 154 building project firms to quantify the impacts of the competencies on the effectiveness of project tasks with the use of the relative importance index approach. Additionally, industry-consultative meetings were held using problem-focused communication strategies to scrutinise the necessary actions. Findings – Overall, 22 cognitive elements and 24 skills/abilities of supervisors were determined as being critical according to their impact values, where the site supervisors cognitive domains in construction planning and construction materials were determined as the top-ranking competencies in the list, with their manual skills/abilities in labour management and labour performance evaluation. Accordingly, a group of key competency outcomes were produced for the considerations in developing new site supervisory training components. Relevant statistical analysis results and the industry consultative outcomes substantiated the validity and dependability of the overall results. Research limitations/implications – Although the study's focus was to site supervision procedures used in Sri Lankan building construction projects, the overall findings/outcomes might be put to the test in related situations in other emerging industries in other countries. Originality/value – The study has constructed a base that shows how the significant site supervisory competencies influence the effectiveness of building construction operations, contributing to making a big difference in the methods of reskilling/upskilling in the industry associated with construction labour, supervision, efficiency management and productivity enhancement.

[Objective] The temporal and spatial variation of cultivated land productivity in Anhui Province and variation trend was analyzed. [Method] Based on the data set of MOD17A3HGF net primary productivity from 2000 to 2020, the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics and evolution trend of cultivated land NPP in Anhui Province were explored by using the methods of Theil-Sen Median trend analysis, Mann-kedall test, Hurst index and geospatial analysis technology. [Result] In the past 21 years, the NPP of cultivated land in Anhui Province showed a fluctuating increasing trend [0.331 g/（m~2·10 a）]. In terms of space, NPP of cultivated land mainly showed an increasing trend（93%）, and only 7% of that of cultivated land showed a decreasing trend. Compared with 2000-2010, 43% of trend change types of the cultivated land NPP were degraded in 2010-2020, mainly occurred in Chuzhou, Huainan and Bozhou, and 10% of the trend change types of the cultivated land NPP were upgraded, mainly distributed in Hefei, Xuancheng and Wuhu. In the future, 75% of the cultivated land NPP in Anhui Province will continue to show an increasing trend, which will be distributed in Hefei, Chuzhou, Lu’an and Suzhou. 5% of the cultivated land NPP will show a decreasing trend, which will be still distributed near the urban areas of various cities. 20% of the cultivated land NPP trend is uncertain, mainly distributed in most areas of Northern Anhui. [Conclusion] From 2000 to 2020, the NPP of cultivated land in Anhui Province showed an increasing trend in time and space. The spatial and temporal changes of NPP of cultivated land in cities such as Chuzhou, Huainan and Bozhou were sensitive, while cities such as Hefei, Chuzhou, Lu’an and Suzhou had great potential for cultivated land productivity improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Today, the importance of the health and productivity of organizational employees is undeniable. In this regard, the present study aims to investigate the impact of exercise activities combined with gamification on increasing motivation for participation in sports classes among public library staff in Tehran Province. Methodology: The research hypotheses were assessed using a semi-experimental method and covariance analysis with a 95 percent confidence level. After eliminating the impact of the pretest variable and considering the calculated F coefficient, a noteworthy distinction in the adjusted averages of preparedness dimension scores emerged in the post-test phase among members of the "proof and test" group (P>0.05). Consequently, based on the findings derived from the data analysis, it can be inferred that the integration of sports exercises with gamification significantly influences the motivation, success, preparedness, energy levels, and group orientation of public library employees. The impact on each of these aspects is in the order of 25, 12, 24, 29 and 35 percent, respectively, resulting in a modification of the total variance of these components. Findings: The research hypotheses were assessed using a semi-experimental method and covariance analysis with a 95 percent confidence level. After eliminating the impact of the pretest variable and considering the calculated F coefficient, a noteworthy distinction in the adjusted averages of preparedness dimension scores emerged in the post-test phase among members of the "proof and test" group (P>0.05). Consequently, based on the findings derived from the data analysis, it can be inferred that the integration of sports exercises with gamification significantly influences the motivation, success, preparedness, energy levels, and group orientation of public library employees. The impact on each of these aspects is in the order of 25, 12, 24, 29 and 35 percent, respectively, resulting in a modification of the total variance of these components. Conclusion: According to the results obtained from the research, it can be concluded that the integration of sports exercises with gamification in the sports classes of public libraries in Tehran province has a significant positive effect on motivation, success, preparedness, energy discharge, and group orientation. This combination not only increases the motivation for sports participation and increases coordination and cooperation in teams, but also contributes to organizational success by improving the personal performance of individuals. Promoting sports activities through gamification encourages employees to participate more actively in sports classes. As a result, gamification along with sports exercises in public libraries in Tehran province can significantly improve various aspects of job productivity and thus this combination can be used as a comprehensive strategy to improve physical, mental, and organizational conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a data-driven procedure to improve productivity in make-to-stock manufacturing. By leveraging recent developments in information systems research, the paper addresses manufacturing systems with high process complexity and variety. Specifically, the proposed procedure draws upon process mining to dynamically map and analyse manufacturing processes in an automated manner. This way, manufacturers can leverage data to overcome the limitations of existing process mapping methods, which only provide static snapshots of process flows. By bridging data and process science, process mining can exploit hitherto untapped potential for productivity improvement. The proposed procedure is empirically validated at a leading manufacturer of sanitary products. The field test leads to three concrete improvement suggestions for the company. This research contributes to the literature on production research by demonstrating a novel use of process mining in manufacturing and by guiding practitioners in its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper aims to use lean six sigma tools to handle milk in small Brazilian dairy estates. The search for efficiency in this process preponderates in all productive sectors. However, it is still not exploited in the dairy chain, specifically by small-scale producers, although milking is the main income for many of them. In Brazil, small producers are the main suppliers of the chain, and maintaining their competitiveness requires specific actions. Therefore, through the action-research method, four small producers in the center-west of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were involved in identifying problems in their milking management process, investigating and implementing practical solutions. To this effect, lean tools such as flowcharts, Ishikawa diagrams, value stream mapping, and PDCA cycles were employed, and six feasible improvements were defined. The successful implementation of said improvements led to the acquisition of knowledge by small producers, who received financial returns, i.e., an increase in the amount paid per liter of milk. This research shows that, through interdisciplinarity, positive solutions to problems of different and complex natures, such as those in the dairy chain, can be obtained.

In today's era of digitalization and competitive market environment, organizations are more focused on manufacturing quality products at optimum cost to capture maximum business as a variety of options are available to customers for purchasing goods and services. In this scenario, the latest technologies-based productivity improvement can help organizations to achieve set targets of production and ensure the quality of products. In this study, the contactor manufacturing industry has been considered to demonstrate integrated Lean Six Sigma with the Internet of Things (IoT) approach for productivity improvement. A systematic literature survey was performed to understand the concept of Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Define Measure Analysis Improve Control approach and IoT technology. The implementation of the LSS approach reduced the rejection rate of contactors and saved the total production cost (Rs. 51,88,260/-) annually. The annual consumption of grinding wheels has been reduced by 8 quantities to produce the same quantity of contactors. The surface quality of magnets has been identified as a root cause for contactor rejections as it contributes 53.4% of total rejections. The improvement measures are recommended based on the expert's suggestions as grinding wheel dressing must be performed after the completion of a batch of 20,000 parts. The condition monitoring and IoT approach implementation are done by monitoring grinding speed (650–950 RPM), grinding wheel thickness reduction by 0.4–0.6 mm after dressing and dressing of grinding wheel after completion of 20,000 for reducing rejections. This study concluded that industries should implement the Lean Six Sigma approach with the latest technologies and appropriate tools at each stage to set processes to world-class standards and industries should identify opportunities for process and product improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Productivity is an important topic in knowledge management that plays an effective role in improving the optimal use of resources, services and employees. With knowledge management, economic, technical and cultural attitudes towards production and organizations in a competitive world, they are intelligently trying to get the best results with the least cost and time from their activities. In the meantime, university libraries, as "knowledge portals" and organizations active in the public sector are bound to improve the efficiency of financial resources, maintain information resources and knowledge forces and improve the efficiency of knowledge management is considered a necessity for libraries to maintain efficiency. Therefore, the present study was conducted to provide a model for improving productivity in academic libraries as a roadmap for their future. Methodology: The current research is based on the fundamental goal and qualitative nature and is a part of exploratory research that was carried out with the "grounded theory" approach. The statistical population of the research includes 16 experts and faculty members of universities in the fields of management, knowledge and information science, and information technology. The interviewees were selected based on having sufficient history and experience and being interested in the research subject and they were selected according to their expertise and skills using; the purposeful sampling method. Research data was collected using a semi-structured interview method with a systematic approach and using open questions. After each interview, to increase accuracy, the interviews were reviewed so that if there was any ambiguity in the understanding of the stated content, it couldbe corrected with the opinion of the interviewee. After performing the initial steps of analysis, to ensure the correctness of the interpretation, the content and their interpretation were again presented to the participants so that the content can be edited by the interviewees if needed. In the end, the data validity and reliability method with four criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability of Lincoln and Guba was used to measure the reliability of the results. To analyze the data, a three-stage design of open, central and selective coding was used. Findings: In examining the categories, during the coding process of 281 open codes from the data obtained from the research interviews, 71 subcategories were coded and extracted. Then, axial coding was done based on the paradigm model. At this stage, the codes that had similar concepts were gathered in the form of a family under one concept. Finally, by using the selective coding of the conceptual model in the form of a paradigmatic model of the categories were outlined as: a) causal conditions؛ communication channels, management factors, organizational factors, individual factors, technical factors, b) the main phenomenon; Improving the productivity of knowledge management, c) Intervening conditions; external factors and internal factors, d) background conditions; motivational factors and internal organizational factors, e) strategies; Designing a creative and efficient system, designing an information economy system, designing an integrated content management system and designing an efficient system for supporting academic staff, f) consequences; Rapid shring of knowledge, cost reduction, accessibility of resources, improvement of the work of knowledge workers and tangible income generation from knowledge Conclusion: The drawing model showed that the extracted pattern of the research can be used as a roadmap to achieve the goal of improving the efficiency of knowledge management in university libraries, especially in the economic recession when libraries are in the purgatory of services; on the one hand, libraries are obliged to distribute information fairly and on the other hand, the staggering costs and the lack of facilities have reduced the ability to provide appropriate services. Therefore, it seems that the creative economy strategy, which is based on art, culture and sciences can lead to the information economy. Libraries earn money through digital information and services, production, distribution, marketing, pricing, sales, storage, and processing; of information compensate for part of the costs. Of course, it should be noted that the creation of knowledge management infrastructure for the development of new technology equipment and digital communication requires cost and investment. As a result, it is expected that library services will be effective and efficient against the costs it creates. Therefore, it seems that paying attention to the creative system, information economy, integrated content management system and the use of creative forces can be effective in improving productivity. Of course, on the condition that the evaluation of the effective factors of productivity, the examination of strengths and weaknesses, the use of creative methods, and scientific thinking in removing obstacles to improving productivity should not be forgotten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global steel industry is rapidly transitioning towards energy decarbonization to address the climate crisis. Sintering is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions from steel mills. Traditional sintering processes use straight inclined chutes to feed raw materials into the sinter machine. However, this design suffers from insufficient horizontal momentum, resulting in poor segregation of the layered materials. This study proposes an improved charging chute design profile that uses a cycloid curve and rolls to enhance segregation, thus reducing coal consumption and increasing productivity. To achieve this, we first modeled a charging chute using the cycloid curve. Secondly, building upon the cycloid concept, we created a roll-type chute by strategically placing rollers along the cycloid trajectory. Finally, the cycloid roll-type charging chute, integrating the cycloid trajectory with the roll-shaped charging chute, was simulated. Pilot tests comparing the cycloid roll-type and straight chute models demonstrated a significant increase in dispersion for the cycloid roll-type design, with a 65% improvement in the Strand-ward segregation (Sw) index compared to the straight chute. Furthermore, actual filed implementation in a sintering process achieved a 2.9% increase in operational productivity and a 6% reduction in fuel consumption. This study is significant not only for proposing an optimal chute design, but also for successfully implementing it in a full-scale steel mill, contributing to a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon reduction in steel mills.

Purpose – Labour efficiency is the key component for the long-term sustainability of construction firms. Recent studies show that modernising organisational/managerial processes is necessary to raise labour efficiency in many emerging nations. Construction supervision is a crucial element in organisational/managerial practices, which provide blood circulation to the project operations by directing labour. Accordingly, this study aims to quantify the impacts of crucial organisational/managerial elements on the efficiency of labour in building construction projects based on the viewpoint of construction supervisors. Findings – A total of 28 factors were determined as critical, where lack of labour motivation, poor labour training facilities, poor performance evaluation practices, no labour rewarding mechanism and poor communication/cooperation between parties were judged to be the top five key issues in the list. The validity and reliability of the study findings were ensured through statistical tests and the experts' discussion outcomes. In view of the evolving challenges facing the industry, the results indicate that the organisational policies of construction enterprises in place addressing financial procedures, communication strategies, resource management and performance management practices must be enhanced. Research limitations/implications – The study findings will make a substantial contribution to reducing the disparity between organisation/management policies and labour practices towards changing how the sector operates to increase labour efficiency in construction projects. Originality/value – This study contributes to addressing the knowledge gap in the industry associated with the organisational protocols, especially to understand/predict how such elements are significant, how much they influence the efficiency of construction practices and what steps can be made to limit their effects on labour efficiency in construction. These could be crucial in modernising organisational policies and procedures for construction management.

Thailand’s government allocates part of its budget to supporting and promoting the international competitivenessof SMEs since SMEs in Thailand account for 42.2% of the GDP. However, the competence in Industry 4.0 technology seems to show only minor improvement. This study aims to extract the problems reported when conducting a project to promote digital technology for transforming SMEs’ manufacturing processes. The data were collected from 187 SMEs of all sizes across all sectors in the central region of Thailand during 2018–2019. In summary, Thailand’s SMEs are mostly categorized at level 2.0 in industrial technological advancement. The most frequently reported problem was the lacking systematic planning and control of the production process, leading to low-performance efficiency and waste in the process. This problem also caused barriers to the lean automation transformation scheme. Despite the support from the government in technology and investment consultancy, smart technology and techniques forperformance improvement and process standardization should be provided to facilitate SMEs’ leap towards Industry 4.0 sustainably.

Purpose – Past studies highlight a wide range of labour-related problems resulting in productivity loss in the construction industry of many developing countries. This study aims to quantify the impacts of labour-related factors on the productivity of construction operations in Sri Lankan building projects based on the viewpoint of engineers and construction managers for upgrading management/organisational policies and practices. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to identify the critical factors. Further, a series of industry consultative discussions were conducted through problem-based communication approaches to analyse the actions required. Findings – A total of 21 factors were determined as critical, where skills shortage, labourers’ thinking abilities, work experience, knowledge in construction works and discipline were leading in the list. The statistical tests and the experts’ discussion outcomes ensured the validity and reliability of the study findings. Research limitations/implications – The study outcomes will contribute to finding out better ways for directing labour in the industry practices and revising organisational policies towards achieving higher productivity levels in construction operations. Though the study findings are limited to the Sri Lankan context, some findings may be tested in other developing countries in similar scenarios. Originality/value – The study findings show why the identified factors are critical, how those influence construction practices and what actions need to be considered for addressing the industry’s productivity-related challenges. These can play a key role in upgrading the construction management practices and organisational policies to the near-future stages.

The operation of a high-voltage distribution system is risky to workers in many respects, as it involves long hours of work and the need for postures that affect employees’ health, causing performance degradation. The aim of this research is to improve these aspects by studying the tasks, time required, and postures. This is combined with an ergonomic risk assessment in which we use rapid entire body assessment (REBA) to analyze the risk arising from employees’ postures when working with high-voltage distribution lines with mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). We examine 10 processes with the aim of increasing productivity and reducing the ergonomic impact on employee health. The results indicate that problems are caused by the equipment used and the work methods, which cause delays. In addition, most of the postures also involved ergonomic risk at the high to medium level. We therefore introduced improvements by modifying and designing equipment to make it suitable for operation according to the ECRS principles, established postures that posed the least risk, and verified that this improvement did not cause further impact. Following this, the Digital Human Model (DHM) was used with the CATIA V5 program to improve the working methods. After the improvement, the overall working time was reduced by 16.00%, a maximum efficiency increase of 31.85% was found, and the ergonomic risk at the very high to high level was reduced by 87.24%.

Recently, the reverse osmosis (RO) process is widely used in the field of desalinating brackish water and seawater to produce freshwater, but the disadvantage of using this technology is the increase in the rates of electrical energy consumption necessary to manage these units. To reduce the rates of electrical energy consumption in RO desalination plants, geothermal energy and photovoltaic/thermal panels were used as preheating units to heat the feed water before entering RO desalination plants. The proposed system in this study consists of an RO desalination plant with an energy recovery device, photovoltaic/thermal panels, and a geothermal energy extraction unit. To evaluate the system performance, three incorporated models were studied and validated by previous experimental data. The results indicated that incorporating the geothermal energy and photovoltaic/thermal panels with the RO desalination plants has positive effects in terms of increasing productivity and reducing the rates of specific power consumption in RO desalination plants. The average saving in the specific power consumption for utilizing the thermal recovery system of PV panels and geothermal energy as preheating units reached 29.1% and 40.75% for the treatment of seawater and brackish water, respectively. Additionally, the economic feasibility showed the saving in the cost of freshwater produced from the RO desalination plants for incorporating both geothermal energy and photovoltaic panels with a thermal recovery system with reverse osmosis desalination plants of up to 39.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The most interesting themes worldwide are those relating to sustainable water and energy supplies. They have a significant impact on any society's economic wellbeing. Desalination of brackish water has proven to be a good solution to the freshwater issue that many regions of the world face. Solar stills (SSs) are a simple distillation technique for freshwater purification. From the conventional SSs to the modified SSs, several studies have been carried out to improve the effectiveness of this technique. Pyramid solar stills are effective and efficient, according to researches that have been done to develop several types of solar stills for increased distillate production. In this review, we aim to provide an extensive review of recent advancements in pyramid solar distillation techniques, including new technologies, methods, and best practices. Consequently, this paper helps researchers choose the optimal technique to get the best-optimized productivity from a pyramid solar still. This review highlights the efforts of researchers to improve the efficiency of solar distillation systems by exploring recent techniques and innovations in pyramid solar distillers up to 2023. Various results have demonstrated the significance of modifications or improvements to pyramid SSs, such as utilizing storage materials, which can significantly increase productivity by approximately 35%. Additionally, a v-corrugated absorber with PCM can enhance the yield by about 87.4%. Furthermore, the use of wick materials can increase freshwater production by up to 122%, with jute wick outperforming cotton wick. Integrating evacuated tubes and carbon black nanofluid into a pyramid solar still can also improve freshwater production by approximately 57.1%. Combining nano and wick materials can further boost pyramid distiller productivity by up to 176% and increase thermal efficiency to 60.44%. Moreover, using pyramid distillers with revolving cylinders and electrical heaters can result in a daily output increase of 214%, producing up to 9100 ml/m2/day.

Manual handling of hot and heavy workpiece in forging press industry increases the process time and causes safety risks to workers. To increase the productivity and optimise the use of manpower, manipulators are needed to be designed for supporting the workers handling the workpiece. Designing robots for such applications is challenging since the robot suffers from a heavy payload at the arm tip, and it operates at a high speed in a large workspace. This research addresses the design and implementation of a novel robot for handling workpiece for a given forging press cell. A novel robotic mechanism is designed with two key features: (i) the addition of parallel links in between serial links and (ii) the use of hydraulic actuators for driving robot's joints. The addition of parallel links and the use of hydraulic cylinders are to increase the structural rigidity. It is also to reduce the number of joint variables and restrict the end-effector moving parallel to the ground surface so that the robot grips and releases the workpiece in a more efficient and simplified manner. The effectiveness of the designed robot mechanism is demonstrated through functional tests, and experimental results are carried out on the implemented robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how different routing techniques for the battery management of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) can affect the performance of a system. Four heuristics available in the literature were the basis of this study. Simulation models were developed to investigate how the routing of an AGV towards a battery station can affect the productivity of a manufacturing facility. Results show that the best productivity can be achieved when a routing heuristic tries to jointly minimise the total travel distance and waiting time at a battery station. The gain in productivity, when compared with the highest possible gain theoretically achievable, is quite substantial. It was also found that higher frequency of decision-making (i.e. decisions with smaller time interval) about battery swapping helps to increase the productivity of a system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a case study to improve productivity of a multi-product transmission case machining line at a motorcycle manufacturing plant. First, the manufacturing process is introduced to characterise the production flow. Through structural modelling, such a process is simplified through aggregations and transformed into a two-stage Bernoulli line model with split dedicated machines and finite buffers. Using Markov chain analysis, the system throughput can be estimated. The results are validated by plant data. To improve system productivity, through numerical experiments, we investigate the impacts of increasing machine efficiency, varying demands and implementing different loading policies. Such a study provides a quantitative tool for plant engineers and managers to improve production operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thailand's government allocates part of its budget to supporting and promoting the international competitiveness of SMEs since SMEs in Thailand account for 42.2% of the GDP. However, the competence in Industry 4.0 technology seems to show only minor improvement. This study aims to extract the problems reported when conducting a project to promote digital technology for transforming SMEs' manufacturing processes. The data were collected from 187 SMEs of all sizes across all sectors in the central region of Thailand during 2018-2019. In summary, Thailand's SMEs are mostly categorized at level 2.0 in industrial technological advancement. The most frequently reported problem was the lacking systematic planning and control of the production process, leading to low-performance efficiency and waste in the process. This problem also caused barriers to the lean automation transformation scheme. Despite the support from the government in technology and investment consultancy, smart technology and techniques for performance improvement and process standardization should be provided to facilitate SMEs' leap towards Industry 4.0 sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]