2024
Authors
Santos, R; Piqueiro, H; Dias, R; Rocha, CD;
Publication
COMPUTERS & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Abstract
In the dynamic realm of nowadays manufacturing, integrating digital technologies has become paramount for enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making processes. This article presents a novel system architecture that integrates a Simulation-based Digital Twin (DT) with emerging trends in manufacturing to enhance decision-making, accompanied by a detailed technical approach encompassing protocols and technologies for each component. The DT leverages advanced simulation techniques to model, monitor, and optimize production processes in real time, facilitating both strategic and operational decision-making. Complementing the DT, trending technologies such as artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, collaborative robots, autonomous vehicles, and connectivity advancements are strategically integrated to enhance operational efficiency and facilitate the adoption of the Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) paradigm. A case study within a MaaS supplier context, deployed in an industrial laboratory with advanced robotic systems, demonstrates the practical application of optimizing dynamic job-shop configurations using Simulation-based DT, showcasing strategies to improve operational efficiency and resource utilization. The results of the industrial experiment were highly encouraging, underscoring the potential for extension to more intricate industrial systems, with particular emphasis on incorporating sustainability and remanufacturing principles.
2024
Authors
Pessot, E; Muerza, V; Senna, P; Barros, AC; Fornasiero, R;
Publication
SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM
Abstract
Customer value is influenced by several factors, which impose major challenges to global Supply Chains (SCs) and their management. This study aims to understand how companies tackle these challenges by focusing their global SC management on major strategies and supporting practices. Based on customer value theory, and recognising major trends affecting what end consumers value, we identify four global SC strategies: customer-driven, service-driven, resource-efficient, and closed-loop. A multiple case study carried out in eleven companies in the consumer goods industry explores the practices adopted per each SC strategy in managing global sourcing, production, and distribution networks. Results show the key requirement of selecting tailored practices for SC management that align with the context and the value expected by customers. Operational SC practices entail managing collaborative actions both up and downstream and competing with other SCs and can benefit from the implementation of appropriate digital technologies for customer value creation and delivery, as well as for continuous learning about customer needs.
2024
Authors
Santos, ASS; Moreira, MRA; Sousa, PSA;
Publication
SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT AND POLICY JOURNAL
Abstract
PurposeThis study seeks to develop an Environmental Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (ESBSC) articulated through a strategic map for collaborative implementation by municipalities by municipalities. In addition, it aims to elucidate the architecture of this tool.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses qualitative methodology, initiating with document analysis, followed by municipal-level surveys and an interview with the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N).FindingsThe study constructs an ESBSC that adopts an integrative approach to sustainability, focusing on municipal joint action. The tool fosters synergies and enhances cooperation. By incorporating a strategic mix, the tool contributes to improving the environmental management performance of the participating municipalities.Practical implicationsThis study introduces a tool designed for municipalities that aspire to incorporate environmental sustainability into their strategies. This tool facilitates the implementation and management of a long-term environmental strategy, with potential implications for organization and its culture. In addition, it highlights critical environmental factors that should serve as a starting point in future studies or applications of this tool.Social implicationsInvolving both an academic institution and multiple municipalities, this research identifies critical environmental factors that enhance environmental awareness within municipalities and designs a tool that, when consciously adopted, can influence the culture dynamics of the population involved. Furthermore, it proposes a structured and systematic research method for creating an ESBSC for joint municipal action.Originality/valueTo the best of authors' knowledge, this research constitutes the first exploratory attempt to devise an environmental strategy for joint municipal action. Although the tool emphasizes the environmental component, it promotes an integrated vision of sustainability. Despite the extensive application of balanced scorecards in various organizational contexts, their utilization in fostering environmental sustainability at a municipal level remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by developing a tailored strategic tool that operationalizes environmental priorities within municipal governance frameworks.
2024
Authors
Zimmermann R.; Ferreira L.M.D.F.; Moreira A.C.;
Publication
Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
This paper analyses how the harmonization between supply and demand uncertainty and supply chain responsiveness (SC fit) impacts business performance. The study analyses data obtained from a sample of 179 manufacturing companies from Portugal. The business performance of companies with different types of SC fit (high-high fit and low-low fit) and misfit (positive and negative) were analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that SC fit is positively related to business performance, economic and productivity, and commercial performance separately. This study advances the literature as the results indicate that SC fit positively affects both commercial and economic, and productivity performance. In contrast, previous empirical studies have mainly addressed the impact only on financial and operational performance.
2024
Authors
Zimmermann, R; Soares, A; Roca, JB;
Publication
INDUSTRIAL MARKETING MANAGEMENT
Abstract
Managing supply chain (SC) relationships to deal with challenges posed by contemporary social and business environments is a difficult task that can be facilitated with the use of digital technologies. The growing complexity of supply chains, characterized by over-dependencies on geographically dispersed partners across different regions, increases risks related to managing these relationships and highlights the importance of collaboration and balancing the power dynamics between SC partners. Previous studies have shown that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can be considered the weakest link in terms of digitization and balance of power. This article aims to analyse how buyer-seller power relations moderate the relationship between the adoption of digital technologies in supply chain management (SCM) processes and innovation performance in the context of SMEs. Data were collected from manufacturing SMEs operating in Portugal. The results support the assumption that the use of digital technologies in processes related to SCM has a positive effect on SMEs innovation performance. The results also suggest that non-mediated power and reward-mediated positively moderate the relationship between the adoption of digital technologies and innovation performance, while the impact of coercive-mediated power was not confirmed. The article contributes to theory and practice by advancing the literature and guiding managers in the challenging task of carrying out digital transformation initiatives, considering their relationship with the power dynamics in the complex context of SMEs.
2024
Authors
Ribeiro, J; Fontes, T; Soares, C; Borges, JL;
Publication
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
Abstract
Subgroup discovery (SD) aims at finding significant subgroups of a given population of individuals characterized by statistically unusual properties of interest. SD on event logs provides insight into particular behaviors of processes, which may be a valuable complement to the traditional process analysis techniques, especially for low -structured processes. This paper proposes a scalable and efficient method to search significant SD rules on frequent sequences of events, exploiting their multidimensional nature. With this method, it is intended to identify significant subsequences of events where the distribution of values of some target aspect is significantly different than the same distribution for the entire event log. A publicly available real -life event log of a Dutch hospital is used as a running example to demonstrate the applicability of our method. The proposed approach was applied on a real -life case study based on the public transport of a medium size European city (Porto, Portugal), for which the event data consists of 133 million smartcard travel validations from buses, trams and trains. The results include a characterization of mobility flows over multiple aspects, as well as the identification of unexpected behaviors in the flow of commuters (public transport). The generated knowledge provided a useful insight into the behavior of travelers, which can be applied at operational, tactical and strategic business levels, enhancing the current view of the transport services to transport authorities and operators.
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