manufacturing strategy development based on fuzzy-QFD.doc

we propose a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP)goal programming (GP) approach to solve this integrated production-planning problem. The fuzzy AHP is utilized to determine relative weights of manufacturing partners, while the GP is used to formulate the integrated production-planning problem. The proposed approach is illustrated by an example adopted from a TFT-LCD manufacturing firm.Article Outline1. Introduction2. Proposed approach 2.1. Fuzzy AHP for determination of relative weights of manufacturing partners2.2. GP for IPPMP3. Illustrative example4. ConclusionsReferencesPurchase$ 39.95Research highlights We solve an integrated production-planning problem where manufacturing partners exist. To solve the problem, a fuzzy AHP-GP approach is proposed. The fuzzy AHP is utilized to determine relative weights of manufacturing partners. The GP is used to formulate the integrated production-planning problem. Our approach is illustrated by an example adopted from a TFT-LCD manufacturing firm.30Development of human visual functionReview ArticleVision Research, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 26 February 2011Oliver Braddick, Janette AtkinsonClose preview| Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractBy 1985 newly devised behavioural and electrophysiological techniques had been used to track development of infants acuity, contrast sensitivity and binocularity, and for clinical evaluation of developing visual function. This review focusses on advances in the development and assessment of infant vision in the following 25years. Infants visual cortical function has been studied through selectivity for orientation, directional motion and binocular disparity, and the control of subcortical oculomotor mechanisms in fixation shifts and optokinetic nystagmus, leading to a model of increasing cortical dominance over subcortical pathways. Neonatal face processing remains a challenge for this model. Recent research has focussed on development of integrative processing (hyperacuity, texture segmentation, and sensitivity to global form and motion coherence) in extra-striate visual areas, including signatures of dorsal and ventral stream processing. Asynchronies in development of these two streams may be related to their differential vulnerability in both acquired and genetic disorders. New methods and approaches to clinical disorders are reviewed, in particular the increasing focus on paediatric neurology as well as ophthalmology. Visual measures in early infancy in high-risk children are allowing measures not only of existing deficits in infancy but prediction of later visual and cognitive outcome. Work with early cataract and later recovery from blinding disorders has thrown new light on the plasticity of the visual system and its limitations. The review concludes with a forward look to future opportunities provided by studies of development post infancy, new imaging and eye tracking methods, and sampling infants visual ecology.Article Outline1. Introduction: scope of this review2. Infant vision: the early years 2.1. The emergence of cortical function 2.1.1. Orientation selectivity2.2. Spatial frequency tuning 2.2.1. Directional selectivity2.3. Cortical modulation of subcortical oculomotor systems2.4. Encoding spatial relationships2.5. Integrative, extra-striate processing 2.5.1. Segmentation2.5.2. Integrative motion processing2.5.3. Integrative pattern processing2.6. Dorsal and ventral stream development 2.6.1. Development in childhood and dorsal stream vulnerability2.6.2. Dorsal stream function2.7. Clinical applications 2.7.1. Refractive screening and visual development2.7.2. Vision and perinatal brain insults2.7.3. Sequelae of very preterm birth2.7.4. Williams Syndrome and other genetic developmental disorders3. Plasticity and deprivation 3.1. Prospects 3.1.1. The continuity of visual development3.1.2. Neuroimaging and high-density recording3.1.3. Infant eye tracking3.1.4. Sampling the visual ecology of the infantReferencesPurchase$ 37.95Highlights Advances in the development and assessment of infant vision since 1985 are reviewed. Visual cortex function emerges to dominate subcortical systems in the early months. Recent infant research has focussed on integrative functions of extra-striate areas. Clinical applications are increasingly in pediatric neurology. Future opportunities in new methods and problem areas are reviewed.31Competitive advantage through service differentiation by manufacturing companiesOriginal Research ArticleJournal of Business Research, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 26 February 2011Heiko Gebauer, Anders Gustafsson, Lars WitellClose preview| Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractThis paper examines the relationship among the complexity of customer needs, customer centricity, innovativeness, service differentiation, and business performance within the context of companies that have made a service transition from pure goods providers to service providers. A survey of 332 manufacturing companies provides the basis for the empirical investigation. One key finding is that a strong emphasis on service differentiation can lead to a manufacturing firms strategies for customer centricity being less sensitive to increasingly complex customer needs, which can increase a firms payoff for customer centricity. In contrast, the payoff from innovativeness appears to be higher if the firm focuses its resources on either product or service innovation; that is, a dual focus does not work well. This paper discusses the implications of these findings for researchers and managers.Article Outline1. Introduction2. Theoretical framework 2.1. Basic model 2.1.1. Complexity of customer needs, customer centricity and innovativeness2.1.2. Hypotheses development2.2. Extension of the basic model through service differentiation 2.2.1. Terminology and nature of service differentiation2.2.2. Service differentiation as a moderator effect2.2.3. Development of hypotheses for the role of service differentiation3. Research method 3.1. Sample3.2. Measures4. Results 4.1. Basic model4.2. Service differentiation as a moderator5. Discussion 5.1. Managerial implications5.2. Research limitations and future directionsAcknowledgementsReferencesPurchase$ 31.5032Elementary school teachers motivation toward web-based professional development, and the relationship with Internet self-efficacy and belief about web-based learningOriginal Research ArticleTeaching and Teacher Education, Volume 27, Issue 2, February 2011, Pages 406-415Chia-Pin Kao, Ying-Tien Wu, Chin-Chung TsaiClose preview| PDF (184 K) | Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractThis study was conducted to explore the relationships between teachers motivation toward web-based professional development, Internet self-efficacy, and beliefs about web-based learning. By gathering questionnaire data from 484 elementary school teachers, this study indicated that the teachers Internet self-efficacy and behavioral beliefs about web-based learning were significant predictors for their motivation toward web-based professional development. The teachers with higher Internet self-efficacy and stronger beliefs about the positive consequences of web-based learning tended to express higher motivation toward web-based professional development.Article Outline1. Introduction2. Method 2.1. Sample2.2. Instruments2.3. Data analysis3. Results 3.1. Factor analysis3.2. Background differences on the MWPD scales3.3. Correlation between motivation toward web-based professional development, Internet self-efficacy and beliefs about web-based learning3.4. Stepwise multiple regression estimates for predicting teachers motivations toward web-based professional development4. Discussion and conclusionAcknowledgementsAppendix 1. The questionnaire items on the motivation toward web-based professional development (MWPD) survey (final version)ReferencesResearch highlights A questionnaire of assessing motivation toward web-based professional development for elementary teachers is developed. Teachers Internet self-efficacy and behavioral beliefs about web-based learning are significant predictors of their motivation toward web-based professional development. The teachers with higher Internet self-efficacy and stronger beliefs about the positive consequences of web-based learning tend to express higher motivation toward web-based professional development.33Female talent development and African business schoolsOriginal Research ArticleJournal of World Business, Volume 46, Issue 1, January 2011, Pages 42-49Kevin Ibeh, Yaw A. DebrahClose preview| Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractThis study extends the talent development literature by investigating the level of institutionalization of female talent development (FTD) practices in African B-schools, comparing this with the international best practice. It emerged that African B-schools, like their international counterparts, have not widely adopted FTD practices, and that their femalemale ratio averaged less than a third of graduate management programs. They also seem to have adopted or adapted emerging international practices, with little observed evidence of unique African approaches. The paper further examines the role of indigenous and multinational enterprises in supporting FTD and discusses some implications for other key stakeholder groups.Article Outline1. Introduction2. Literature review and conceptual framework 2.1. Dedicated coaching and training2.2. Targeted incentives2.3. Networking and mentoring opportunities2.4. Female uptake of B-schools programs3. Methodology4. Analysis, findings and discussion 4.1. Sample profile5. Managerial relevanceReferencesPurchase$ 39.9534Energy oriented simulation of manufacturing systems Concept and applicationOriginal Research ArticleCIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 22 April 2011C. Herrmann, S. Thiede, S. Kara, J. HesselbachClose preview| Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractEnergy efficiency has become a key concern in industry due to the increased energy costs and the associated environmental impacts. Besides considering single processes/machines, the perspective on process chains and factories as a whole bears further potentials for improvement. In this context, dynamic interactions of different processes as well as auxiliary equipments (e.g. compressed air generation) need to be taken into account when planning and controlling manufacturing systems. This paper presents an innovative energy oriented simulation model for planning of manufacturing systems. A number of industry cases are used to demonstrate the potentials and applicability of the proposed methodology.Article Outline1. Introduction2. Technical background and requirements for solution approach3. State of research4. Concept development5. Concept application 5.1. Aluminium die casting5.2. Weaving mill6. Summary and outlookReferencesPurchase$ 31.5035Action research as a school-based strategy in intercultural professional development for teachersOriginal Research ArticleTeaching and Teacher Education, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 6 April 2011Auxiliadora Sales, Joan A. Traver, Rafaela GarcaClose preview| Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractTeacher professional development is a key factor for transforming professional and school culture. This article describes a case study undertaken in a Spanish school during the 20072008 academic year. Our aim is to explain how action research methodology was applied to encourage professional and school culture towards an intercultural and inclusive approach. Our results show that the training process challenged teachers pre-existing deficit theory perspectives and empowered them as leaders for school change. The conclusions identify the key factors that enabled teachers to engage in critical reflection, and to implement strategies for collaborative work and community participation in school.Article Outline1. Introduction2. The case study 2.1. The case2.2. The school-based in-service training (SIT) programme2.3. Data collection3. Reviewing the process, analysing the findings 3.1. Raising awareness for change3.2. Self-evaluation process3.3. Decision making and implementation3.4. Reflection and future proposals4. Discussion and conclusions 4.1. The teachers perspective4.2. Changes in the school culture4.3. Key factors of the case study as a contribution to professional learningAcknowledgementsReferencesPurchase$ 19.95Highlights Teachers become aware of their responsibility to create intercultural educational environments. The first consequence of the teachers participation was the empowering for change. The second consequence was the improvement in teachers expectations. Then, teachers moved towards a situation of shared leadership. The challenge facing the school is to ensure sustainability of the incipient changes.36Partner selection in a virtual enterprise under uncertain information about candidatesOriginal Research ArticleExpert Systems with Applications, Volume 38, Issue 9, September 2011, Pages 11305-11310Bin Huang, Chenghui Gao, Liang ChenClose preview| Related articles|Related reference work articles AbstractAbstract | Figures/TablesFigures/Tables | ReferencesReferences AbstractPartner selection is a major issue in the formation of a virtual enterprise. In practice, in the partner selection process, the information about the candidates and their performances are incomplete and uncertain. Vague sets theory is one of the methods used to deal with uncertain information. In this paper, a new method based on vague sets is proposed to deal with the partner selection problem in the formation of a virtual enterprise while the factors of satisfaction degree, due date, cost and the precedence of tasks are taken into account. On the basis of the agreement index of satisfaction degree, the formulated partner selection problems are interpreted so as to maximize the minimum agreement index. To solve the problem, an improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed. Finally, the simulation of a numerical example demonstrates that the method is effective.Article Outline1. Introduction2. Vague sets3. Model formulation4. PSO algorithm for partner selection problem 4.1. Standard PSO algorithm4.2. Encoding strategy4.3. Fitness function4.4. Improved PSO5. Numerical example6. ConclusionsAcknowledgementsReferencesPurchase$ 39.95Highlights We model partner selection problem based on vague sets. The model is interpreted so as to maximize the minimum satisfaction degree. Due date, cost and precedence of tasks are taken into account in the model. An improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed.37Development of the Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire for preschoolers and preliminary evidence of its psychometric properties in IsraelOriginal Research ArticleResearch i