This book discusses the extraction, purification, modification, and processing of biobased materials and their various industrial applications, across biomedical, pharmaceutical, construction, and other industries. It includes contributions from experts on hybrid biopolymers and bio-composites, bioactive and biodegradable materials, bio-inert polymers, natural polymers and composites, and metallic natural materials. Therefore, this encyclopedia is a useful reference for scientists, academicians, research scholars, and technologists. Major challenges of biobased materials are their efficient development, cost-effective, and green & environment friendly production/applications. This encyclopedia answers these challenges to professionals and scientists for proper utilization of biobased materials. It presents the recent practices of biobased materials technology in different scientific and engineering domains. It helps the bounded industrial outcomes to reach the general readership of different domains. This encyclopedia bridges the technological gaps between the industrial and academic professionals and the novice young students/scholars. The interdisciplinarity of this encyclopedia makes it unique for a wide readership. The topic of biobased materials is currently popular in the scientific community, working in such following areas as Recycled materials, Renewable materials, Materials for efficiency, Materials for waste treatment, Materials for reduction of environmental load, Materials for easy disposal or recycle, Hazardous free materials, Materials for reducing human health impact, Materials for energy efficiency, Materials for green energy, etc. This is a relatively hot topic in materials science and has strong demands for energy, material and money savings, as well as heavy contamination problems, despite that the area of biobased materials belongs to most important fields of modern science & technology, no important encyclopedias have been published in the area of "biobased materials"

The Second Conference on Mechanisms, Transmissions and Applications - MeTrApp 2013 was organised by the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of the Basque Country (Spain) under the patronage of the IFToMM Technical Committees Linkages and Mechanical Controls and Micromachines and the Spanish Association of Mechanical Engineering. The aim of the workshop was to bring together researchers, scientists, industry experts and students to provide, in a friendly and stimulating environment, the opportunity to exchange know-how and promote collaboration in the field of Mechanism and Machine Science. The topics treated in this volume are mechanism and machine design, biomechanics, mechanical transmissions, mechatronics, computational and experimental methods, dynamics of mechanisms and micromechanisms and microactuators.

This book provides a comprehensive look at four driving philosophies of lean methodology that many companies struggle to understand. Companies often adopt lean methodologies and work hard to perfect the use of those methods while never understanding the true intent of the method. Ultimately, knowledge does not equal understanding. "Customer First" is about each manufacturing process sending the next manufacturing process a high-quality defect-free product every time. When people hear the word "customer," their mindset is thinking about the end user, but when a company understands that every process has a customer, a high-quality product is produced at each stage of the manufacturing process. As kids, most of us grew up hearing the phrase "respect your elders," and while this still applies, respect for people has additional and stronger connotations. In business, the work content must fit the capacity - in lay terms, a fair day's work for a fair wage. Setting up our colleagues for failure by giving them more work content than can be completed is not showing them respect, and in essence, it is simply disrespectful. In addition, respect is how we develop and engage our colleagues in their daily work. The idea "Go and See" is often overlooked because we know the process in which the problem exists, but if we evaluate what is actually happening, we generally find that what "should be" happening isn't. As people view what is happening, questions will come to mind: how does the operator know to do that? Does the standard work give that knowledge? These questions lead to giving clarity about the problem and will drive the thinking to a solution. Business in general is dynamic and ever changing. Companies must be able to adapt, overcome, and improvise to remain competitive. The challenge is identifying where to target or how to develop a continuous improvement culture in the workforce to drive improvement. Companies get stuck in the mindset of "this is how we have always done it" and this mindset can be a very limiting or even crippling situation. The Four Philosophies of Lean: Maintaining a Customer-Focused Culture Every Day at Work helps readers change mindsets and solve difficult situations.

This thesis presents the SiGe source and drain (S/D) technology in the context of advanced CMOS, and addresses both device processing and epitaxy modelling. As the CMOS technology roadmap calls for continuously downscaling traditional transistor structures, controlling the parasitic effects of transistors, e.g. short channel effect, parasitic resistances and capacitances is becoming increasingly difficult. The emergence of these problems sparked a technological revolution, where a transition from planar to three-dimensional (3D) transistor design occurred in the 22nm technology node. The selective epitaxial growth (SEG) method has been used to deposit SiGe as stressor material in S/D regions to induce uniaxial strain in the channel region. The thesis investigates issues of process integration in IC production and concentrates on the key parameters of high-quality SiGe selective epitaxial growth, with a special focus on its pattern dependency behavior and on key integration issues in both 2D and 3D transistor structures, the goal being to improve future applications of SiGe SEG in advanced CMOS.

Various Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques in one book: 13 MCDM techniques have been applied, namely, WSM, WPM, WASPAS, GRA, SMART, CRITIC, ENTROPY, EDAS, MOORA, AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR, and new tools: MDEMATEL, Fuzzy MDEMATEL, Modified Fuzzy TOPSIS and Modified Fuzzy VIKOR. To date, no other book possesses this many tools. Various quantitative techniques: Different quantitative techniques have been applied, namely, Cronbach alpha, Chi-square and ANOVA (for demographic analysis), Percent Point Score and Central Tendency (response analysis), Factor Analysis, Correlation and Regression. To date, no other book possesses this many tools. Interpretive Structural Modelling: ISM has been applied for verifying MCDM results through MICMAC analysis and ISM model thus paving the way for model through SEM. Structural Equation Modelling: SEM using AMOS in PASW has been applied for model development. New MCDM techniques developed: In the process during qualitative analysis, new tools have been developed and their results have been compared with other existing MCDM tools and the results are encouraging. The new techniques are MDEMATEL, Fuzzy MDEMATEL, Modified Fuzzy TOPSIS and Modified Fuzzy VIKOR. Qualitative Model Developed: As the title says, Sustainable Green Development and Manufacturing Performance through Modern Production Techniques. It is a need-of-the-hour topic, as industries must maintain their performance (sustainable development) and, while sustaining, they have to keep in mind green issues (that is, environment-related issues, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic) and adopt advanced manufacturing and maintenance techniques. A model for this has been developed which will be helpful to both academicians and industrialists. Real-time Case Studies: Case studies in two industries of differing origins, different manufacturing sectors, different products, and comparing their units in the country of their origin and India. Dr. Chandan Deep Singh is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab (India). He is a co-author of Adolescents, Family and Consumer Behaviour (Routledge, 2020) and of Manufacturing Competency and Strategic Success in the Automobile Industry (CRC Press, 2019). Dr. Harleen Kaur is a manager (HR) at DELBREC Industries, Pvt. Ltd., Chandigarh. She co-authored Adolescents, Family and Consumer Behaviour (Routledge, 2020).

This book focuses on the implementation of Hoshin Kanri. It is a response to most books on strategic planning that tend to downplay the implementation and only describe the fully implemented planning process. The power of this book originates from a project in which a team of five professionals over a period of three years implemented Hoshin Kanri in 14 companies; results were drawn from 130 workshops with leadership teams. The project team subsequently ran several accelerators inside large and small companies as well as public institutions. All these experiences together form the implementation focus of the book. Moreover, the organization of the book mirrors the message of its scientific thinking, which is also the basic principle of Hoshin Kanri: Chapter 1 focuses on the basic analysis-Is Hoshin Kanri something for your organization? Chapter 2 addresses the ambition-What is the vision for strategy work in your organization? Chapter 3 presents the conditions needed for effective strategic work. Chapter 4 discusses the choice of implementation strategy and your role as the change agent. Chapter 5 describes how Hoshin Kanri works when implemented. Chapter 6 addresses coaching/mentoring and the Kata philosophy. Chapter 7 presents important analytical tools. Appendix 1 describes the journey made by a medium-sized construction company. Essentially, this book describes in a concrete and structured way how you-the change agent-can use Hoshin Kanri in your organization to tackle large and complex challenges.

-- Assists with full comprehension of CRM -- Helps with the designing of datasets -- Shows how to deploy and implement a CRM system -- Provides techniques for smooth systems' integration -- Show how to maintain effective reporting and forecasting (e.g., store customer and prospect contact information, identify sales opportunities, record service issues, and manage marketing campaigns).

This book guides process-industry professionals from the implementation of the basic foundations of Continuous Improvement (CI) through to an organization where CI is a "way of life" and a defining feature of the culture of the organization. The readers of this book are seeking solutions to such pressing issues as: * Eliminating accidents and near misses. * Reducing customer complaints. * Improving customer delivery performance. * Elimination of accidents and near misses. * Reducing customer complaints. * Improving customer delivery performance. * Introducing new products. * Improving staff productivity. * Removing costs to meet the budget. * Dealing with absence and poor morale. * Improving staff retention. This book provides them with guidance on how to address issues in these areas in a way that enables improvements to be realized quickly but not at the expense of a long-term goal of a sustainable Continuous Improvement culture. In addition, this book presents the implementation of CI as a cyclical journey with no endpoint. The stages are ordered in a sequence that enables the reader to get started in their area of the company and build up the elements without the need for an overall organizational strategy at the beginning. Continuous Improvement is a vast subject with many takes on principles, approaches, and tools. This book is about how all the fundamentals of these areas fit together and, as such, covers only some of them. However, within the bibliography, I have signposted the books that have guided me during my career and which go into the principles, approaches, and tools further.

-- Assists with full comprehension of CRM -- Helps with the designing of datasets -- Shows how to deploy and implement a CRM system -- Provides techniques for smooth systems' integration -- Show how to maintain effective reporting and forecasting (e.g., store customer and prospect contact information, identify sales opportunities, record service issues, and manage marketing campaigns).

Meets the need for Engineers to have a single volume that considers Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety Offers examples along with their solutions at the end of each chapter to test reader comprehension Discusses the importance of how these 3 topics need to work hand in hand for today's world economy Written in such a manner that the reader will not need previous knowledge to understand it Provides many sources for further reading

This book offers the latest research advances in the field of Industry 4.0, focusing on enabling technologies for its deployment in a comprehensive way. This book offers successful implementation of technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, autonomous and collaborative robots, cloud computing, and up-to-date guidelines. It investigates how the technologies and principles surrounding Industry 4.0 (e.g., interoperability, decentralized decisions, information transparency, etc.) serve as support for organizational routines and workers (and vice versa). Included are applications of technologies for different sectors and environments as well as for the supply chain management. It also offers a domestic and international mix of case studies that spotlight successes and failures. Features Provides a historical review of Industry 4.0 and its roots Discusses the applications of technologies in different sectors and environments (e.g., public vs. private) Presents key enabling technologies for successful implementation in any industrial and service environment Offers case studies of successes and failures to illustrate how to put theory into practice Investigates how technologies serve as support for organizational routines and workers

Large corporations must become far more agile in implementing new products and new business models. The pace of technology change, the blurring of industry boundaries, and the agility and resources of startups in almost every industry segment demand it. Many companies have begun to adopt the principles of Lean Startup in order to increase the pace and agility of their innovation initiatives, but most have had limited success in doing so. Although the principles seem intuitive and straightforward, there are challenges to using them inside an existing company, especially in a manufacturing environment. The biggest requirements, beyond those espoused for startups, are: Developing a business model for the new venture that not only works in the marketplace but also works within the constraints of the corporation Managing the conflicts that inevitably arise with the current operating business; every business that has operated over decades has well-established ways of doing things that may not fit the required pace and flexibility required of a new venture Conducting business experiments with physical goods as well as with software offerings Managing the risk of investing in a new domain for executives that are used to investing where the risks are more clearly understood This book describes a systematic approach for implementing Lean Startup in large organizations. It builds on the principles of Lean Startup and adds additional practices required to manage the realities of the corporate context. The book describes how it is done, with examples from practice in companies that have successfully used the methods. It complements Lean Startup methods with elements of corporate innovation practices developed by leading academics and practitioners. It brings these practices together for the first time in a practical and integrated way.

There's an epidemic of leadership failure-whether something as small as a meeting, or as large as implementing enterprise wide change. Leaders know that sinking feeling when a gap emerges between themselves and the groups they most need to engage with. Leaders and business schools are looking in the wrong places for the cause. What holds most leaders back, as if their foot is always on the brake, is their failure to engage, and gain alignment. This book shows the reasons why. Leaders rarely recognise that: Shaping group behavior is describable as a process, which they can learn. Instead, they unconsciously fall into relationship patterns influenced by early family experiences. Informal relationship patterns have a dramatic effect on results, which is why birds in flight manage to alter course without bumping into each other. Leadership and collaboration are primarily a matter of principles and process, and not personality and content alone. If leaders master the process, they achieve consistent results. This book reveals the leadership levers to release the power of relationships for exceptional participation, alignment and results in organizations. It enables leaders to mine the brilliance that often lies dormant and untapped within their organizations. Readers will have the principles and tools to go beyond the agenda, truly engage with those around them, and release untapped capacities within their organizations. These qualities and skills will inspire associates and employees.

Focusing on the broader areas of Industry 4.0 as it applies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book offers a smooth adoption of techniques and technologies and presents advances, challenges, and opportunities for implementation. It will also enhance the role of academia by training new engineers on Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. Industry 4.0 in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions presents concepts of predictive maintenance, digital factory, digital twin, additive manufacturing, and machining for sustainable development. It discusses the challenges faced by adopting Industry 4.0 including new security and privacy measures in the whole smart manufacturing setup while also explaining the impact of Industry 4.0 on Lean production systems. Implementation recommendations in the form of case studies, research studies, and the role academia can play are also provided. Practitioners, research scholars, academicians, and those studying or working in the Industry 4.0 sector will find this book of interest.

Unique selling point: * Based on years of personal leadership and mentoring experience Core audience: * Emergency workers and business leaders are the primary market. Place in the market: * Will help people to navigate personal leadership issues in the post-COVID world

This book serves the need for developing an insight and understanding of the cutting-edge innovation in Cloud technology. It provides an understanding of cutting-edge innovations, paradigms, and security by using real-life applications, case studies, and examples. This book provides a holistic view of cloud technology theories, practices, and future applications with real-life examples. It comprehensively explains cloud technology, design principles, development trends, maintaining state-of-the-art cloud computing and software services. It describes how cloud technology can transform the operating contexts of business enterprises. It exemplifies the potential of cloud computing for next-generation computational excellence and the role it plays as a key driver for the 4th industrial revolution in Industrial Engineering and a key driver for manufacturing industries. Researchers, academicians, postgraduates, and industry specialists will find this book of interest.

This text provides an in-depth overview of sustainability in machining processes, challenges during machining of difficult-to-cut materials and different ways of green machining in achieving sustainability. It discusses important topics including green and sustainable machining, dry machining, textured cutting coated tools for machining, solid lubricants-based machining, gas-cooled machining, cryogenic cooling for intelligent machining, artificial neural network for machining, big data based machining, and hybrid intelligent machining. This book- Covers advances in sustainable machining such as gas-cooled machining, near dry machining, and minimum quantity lubrication. Explores use of big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence for machining processes. Provides case studies and experimental design as well as results with analysis focusing on achieving sustainability. Discusses artificial intelligence and machine learning based machining processes. Cover the latest applications of sustainable manufacturing for a better understanding of the concepts. The text is primarily written for senior undergraduate, graduate students, and researchers in the fields of mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, production engineering and materials science.

Our work life is changing. Every day new companies, technologies, and ideas emerge that impact how, where, and most importantly, why we work. Despite this exciting evolution, people remain the heart of change. People are tricky. People don't seem to evolve as fast as global trends. People get Stuck. Teams have people moving at different speeds with different levels of adoption in our evolving workplace. Some evolve and some don't. Teams get Stuck. Leaders, managers, and teammates struggle with this resistance and get frustrated. Frustrated people impact the performance of every organization. Organizations get Stuck. Why? The answer is deeply human and biological, rooted in the way our brain interacts with everything in the world, even work. When people feel they are losing something, they react by getting Stuck. Stuck connects over 20 years of research on our brain's reaction to the evolving workplace with real stories of people journeying through the challenge of being Stuck. The organizations, leaders, and managers who understand these concepts will evolve with the future. Those organizations will understand LOSS as a tool to achieve business WINs. This book addresses a critical concept that closes a gap in other popular business publications. Many books tell leaders and managers the process of how to change their organizations. However, many of these books lack a key mechanism for understanding human interactions. The mechanism is a biological function developed through evolution called attachment - the human need to connect to different tangible and intangible objects for support. Attachment is the reason that people connect with leaders and corporate culture, but also what creates a deep sense of loss during even the smallest changes. Stuck offers a complete understanding of attachment and how it impacts individuals, relationships, and organizations. The root of the challenge is the human need to connect to different tangible and intangible objects for support. The basis of the need for support is grounded in our need for attachment. Those who learn to understand loss through attachment behavior and the attachments of others will succeed. In addition, this book provides original data-based evidence from assessments conducted with nearly 20,000 respondents and original stories from the application of attachment concepts in more than 150 organizations across all sectors around the globe. It shines a light on attachment and use it as a lens to better understand our workplace. Stuck is not an academic study. It is a practical guide for leading the brain through change. For the first time, the authors tell stories that demonstrate their research and offer a roadmap for how to leverage attachment research to drive business success. Stuck provides not only the deep lessons from the authors' research, but clear steps for readers to use the lessons of attachment in their own work. In this way, the book serves as a guide to those leaders, managers, and employees who are ready to be unStuck.

"The longcase clock has been a part of the Englishman's home for some 300 years and has gained a place in his heart seldom if every achieved by any other domestic item. An example of its importance in family life is that it, with the bed and the house, was nearly always mentioned specifically in the will." In Derek Roberts's important new book, readers find a wealth of valuable information detailing the British origins, evolution, and wide range of longcase clocks that have been produced since the sixteenth century. In twenty chapters Mr. Roberts provides a detailed overview of many facets of these beautiful and useful art works, including early square dial, rare, astronomical and equation clocks, walnut breakarch longcase clocks (and those in other woods), and thirty-hour clocks. Other chapters detail various dial and decoration forms, precision timekeeping, important makers, and clocks of the Victorian and Edwardian eras right up to modern times. A glossary of terms and lengthy index of makers are included. In British Longcase Clocks, Mr. Roberts share his wealth of knowledge enthusiastically and presents over 300 black and white and full-color photographs of details and whole clocks. His book will interest clock owners and all who love fine furniture.

This up-to-date, clearly written and beautifully illustrated book is targeted at the amateur repairer and at the absolute beginner with no experience, as well as at hobbyists who often dabble with, but have little knowledge of, the techniques used in quality horological work. Written by a professional clock repairer with a common sense approach, this workshop companion for the beginner 'keeps things simple' whilst placing an emphasis on the quality of the work. It provides step-by-step illustrated instructions and simplifies a large variety of tasks that are often regarded as being complicated, such as re-pivoting, jewelling and bushing. Moreover, it presents a great deal of useful advice and contains over 400 high quality colour images that help to explain and clarify every procedure that is covered.

In this third book of the Shingo Model series, Continuous Improvement focuses on five of the Shingo Guiding Principles: seek perfection, embrace scientific thinking, focus on process, assure quality at the source, and improve flow and pull. Each chapter in Continuous Improvement is designed to enhance your comprehension of one or more aspects of the Continuous Improvement dimension of the Shingo Model and to increase your understanding of how the dimension interrelates with and complements the other principles in the Shingo Model. Ultimately, this explanation grounds the technical science of continuous improvement with a powerful social science that focuses on people development. It is this combination that creates the opportunity for improvement to be truly continuous. Because tacit learning is critical to deepening your continuous improvement knowledge, "Reader Challenges" are included throughout the text to encourage you to apply what you have read within the context of your own organization. This hands-on practice is necessary to understand the interrelatedness of principles, systems, and tools that are inherent in the Shingo Model. The Shingo Institute recognizes that "the transformation from traditional philosophy and practices to organizational excellence does not occur without the courage, creativity, and persistence of everyone in the organization-from executives to managers to team members on the frontline."

Explores the potential for disruptive technologies in different industries Addresses the challenges associated with the practical implementation or adoption of disruptive technologies Discusses topics related to IoT, Machine Learning, Sensors, Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing for Industry 4.0 and 5.0 Includes examples of the implementation of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 in various sectors, including engineering Contains many case studies for easy comprehension.

Davanti Nella Gara, an Italian bicycle company, makes the best racing bikes in the world. But after decades of market dominance, competitors have brought the industry leader back to the Peloton. The company's second-generation owner longs for retirement, but a tired product lineup is pushing down profits and the firm's market value will never support his ride into the sunset. The flawed but beloved owner seeks out the counsel of an old friend and successful businessman, who steers him toward a fast and remarkable transformation, one fueled by a relentless focus on innovation excellence. An engaging business novel, Winning Innovation dives into the art and science of innovation; the thrills of the European bike-racing circuit; the vibrant landscape and cuisine of Italy; and a cast of intriguing characters who work to put Davanti on the road to sustained prosperity. The company's leader isn't afraid to learn and apply new ideas to reenergize his company, and finds he cares more about his employees than he could ever imagine. A young innovator struggles to see a product idea to fruition as well as rise into management - and he falls in love along the way. A newly promoted R&D director brings teamwork and transparency to product development and aligns the entire company around innovation. With the help of a seasoned and persistent change agent, in just a year, Davanti deploys a well-defined and -sequenced transformation - a complete and seamless process that can be replicated and scaled by most companies. The leader engages associates in pursuit of the right vision and strategy, candidly supporting them all as they unleash their creative sparks, work through personality conflicts, and take on real-world challenges faced by companies every day. They learn and apply traditional R&D principles in new ways (e.g., cost of delay, sprints, fail fast, late start) and successfully leverage emerging innovation and change-management principles (e.g., idea-creation events, knowledge management, workplace humility, visual management, lean project management). And an aligned, three-phase innovation process - from idea creation to technology development and product design - provides the innovation infrastructure the company needs for revenue creation and success beyond racing bikes. From a top-heavy organization dominated by power struggles and finger-pointing emerges a new Davanti Nella Gara - a flattened, innovative company with: Clear vision and endorsed goals and strategy Speed, responsiveness, and agility Widespread, successful creativity Collaboration and teamwork Superior risk management Respect for people Unquestionable ethics Changed leadership and associate behaviors Project management excellence Rapid problem-solving and experimentation Not just the story of an R&D transformation, Winning Innovation illustrates a companywide transformation of a magnitude that only superior R&D can make possible. It may well be the first book to chronologically introduce the principles for a complete innovation excellence transformation along with the parallel people transformation that is necessary for real change to occur. The end result for Davanti Nella Gara is a dominant new culture based on respect and humility, highly efficient processes that will deliver a wealth of innovations, sales, and profits for many years to come, and an owner who leaves a bright future for the people and company he's known and loved his entire life.

Green Productivity and Cleaner Production: A Guidebook for Sustainability focuses on green production processes that could help better achieve global sustainability. It aids readers in realizing the issues with current conventional productivity initiatives and examines the newest methods. Also, it presents numerous real-world applications techniques, which allows users the ability to apply the most appropriate solutions for their situations. Further, it explains measures to achieve green productivity and cleaner production to help maintain high quality, sustainable production chains while simultaneously conserving natural resources and reducing waste. Features: Examines the core theories and techniques for green productivity, waste management, end-of-pipe treatment methods, sustainable production technologies, and cleaner production Written with a simple and easily understandable presentation, applicable for both undergraduate students and practicing professionals alike Provides guidance on how to use different tools and techniques in various problem-solving scenarios Focuses on greening production processes as an initiation to achieve global environmental sustainability Includes numerous illustrations, along with practical examples and tools helpful for readers to understand and apply the approaches presented throughout The subjects covered in Green Productivity and Cleaner Production: A Guidebook for Sustainability are of interest to students, researchers, academicians, and professionals in various industries.

This impactful volume demonstrates the application and power of psychology and behavioural economics in the pursuit of quality and continuous improvement. It focusses on how the works of stalwarts such as Daniel Kahneman, Richard Thaler, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and many others can be used to build an organization that is known for quality products and flawless service delivery. The application of psychology and behavioural economics is still new to quality improvement, and in this book, Debashis Sarkar shares 25 lessons, featuring specific examples based on real life, that show how their application can increase the effectiveness of outcomes. Behavioural Science for Quality and Continuous Improvement: 25 Lessons from Psychology and Behavioural Economics is ideal for business improvement professionals of all hierarchies and across different functional areas and industries seeking to understand the potential of psychology and behavioural economics and their applications, as well as in training and executive development programmes and for scholars of operations management, quality management, and engineering.