Abstract
The present paper presents the conceptual mechanical design of a Standing Frame for children with mental deficiency. Those children deal with great difficulties in maintaining a correct biped posture, hindering certain system organs to work in its fullness. Thus, the target goal of this project is to provide a correct biped posture to the child with mental deficiency. To achieve this goal there were defined the main goals that the standing frame should fulfil: safety, comfort, adaptability, attractiveness and accessibility. After the definition of certain functions and specifications the final solution comes up. For this solution it was selected metallic materials (structure of the Standing Frame) and polymeric materials (supports). It was also needed to select a lifting system, to lift the child from the seat to the biped position. The best solution found was an hydraulic, linear and single acting actuator. In order to ecologically guide the project it was chosen materials with fabrication and recycling processes that allow the final solution to be the most ecologic as possible. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
In the current competitive and globalized manufacturing scenario Distributed Manufacturing Environments are increasing, and it turns mandatory to explore improved operational approaches. For enhanced simultaneous balancing and scheduling jobs in a Distributed Manufacturing Environment (DME) a mathematical model of Ranked Sequence Positional Weight (RSPW) is proposed. The model capabilities are analysed through a test problem and the results have demonstrated that the proposed RSPW heuristics mathematical model do perform better than other competitive approaches. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
Supplier selection problem is a multi-criteria decision-making problem that involves both quantitative and qualitative criteria. Typically, supplier selection decisions require a preliminary stage where pool of suppliers are initially screened to select potential set of suppliers for further evaluation and select the optimal supplier. This preliminary stage is heavily dependent on non-scientific approaches and do not consider any criteria during the screening process. Furthermore, quantifying the qualitative criteria has always relied quite considerably on subjective judgments, which render the supplier selection process ineffective. Therefore, this paper addresses these problems by proposing an easy going two-phase supplier selection decision model, based on fuzzy set theory that uses a scientific approach and incorporates performance criteria in screening and selecting the potential suppliers for further optimal supplier selection. To illustrate the applicability and validate the proposed model, a case study of a beverage producing company located in Ghana, the Sub-Saharan Africa is proposed.

Abstract
We analyze the relationship between cultural values, societal values and the type of the economy with necessity-driven, opportunity-driven and improvement-driven entrepreneurship. We take into account GEM's data from 56 countries. These reports are also used to characterize the three types of entrepreneurship, the societal values and the type of economy. We approach national culture through the five dimensions of Hofstede's work on cultural values using the Values Survey Module 2013 (based on Hofstede's work). Cultural values marginally explain necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. In turn, societal values only explain improvement-driven entrepreneurship. Finally, the type of economy is important in explaining necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship, however it is of no added value in explaining improvement-driven opportunity. One needs to be cautious when drawing general conclusions as we believe that societal values are failing to capture differences among the types of entrepreneurship analyzed.

Abstract
The internationalization of firms is a growing important phenomenon in the Economy. Thus, to face the new competitive challenges of globalized markets, industrial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to implement new organizational approaches to take on new challenges in international markets. Based on a case study, this chapter reviews the literature on internationalization theories. Drawing on the network-based approach and on the resource-based view of the firm, we examine how collaborative new product development processes played a fundamental role in the internationalization process of a SME using a relationship-based perspective. The featured case concerns to a successful ex-small technical textile firm that leveraged its competitive strategy, climbed up the value chain, and extended its international activities following a technology-based path.

Abstract
The existing literature on internationalization and purchasing is vast; however, the inward internationalization perspective is an under-researched topic. In this chapter, the authors review the literature on internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to understand the main reasons behind international purchasing and the role of experience on internationalization. Using a survey and descriptive statistics, the results from 56 respondents show that SMEs source from a small number of countries and hold those relationships for several years. The main reasons underlying international purchases are lower prices and better product quality, regardless of goods availability on the domestic market. This chapter has some limitations concerning its exploratory nature, pertaining to its sample size. Some future research avenues are presented such as a deeper look on how internationalization processes differ when SMEs begin their activity by inward rather than by outward activities.