The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of total quality management (TQM) dimensions on the product and process innovation perspectives of Jordanian manufacturing organizations. In this quantitative study; a questionnaire was sent to 249 randomly selected ISO 9001:2000 certified firms in different manufacturing industries in Jordan and we obtained 123 usable questionnaires. After confirming the validity and reliability of the latent variables with confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses, we examined the model and hypotheses. This search outcome confirmed the significant and positive relationship between TQM dimensions overall and product and process innovation perspectives. However, the supplier’s management failed to show a significant relationship with product and process innovation perspectives. Meaningful implications are made that building extensive and effective TQM dimensions and product and process innovation in manufacturing organizations is crucial to face with high competition and innovation in Jordan manufacturing organizations sector.

This paper aims a novel and a useful multi-objective optimization approach named Non-Dominated Sorting Ions Motion Algorithm (NSIMO) built on the search procedure of Ions Motion Algorithm (IMO). NSIMO uses selective crowding distance and non-dominated sorting method to obtain various non-domination levels and preserve diversity amongst the best set of solutions. The suggested technique is employed to various multi-objective benchmark functions having different characteristics like convex, concave, multimodal, and discontinuous Pareto fronts. The recommended method is analyzed on different engineering problems having distinct features. The results of the proposed approach are compared with other well-regarded and novel algorithms. Furthermore, we present that the projected method is easy to implement, capable of producing a nearly true Pareto front and algorithmically inexpensive.

The Orienteering Problem (OP) is an optimization problem that finds the locations and routes that will return the highest profit/benefit, starting from the initial location of the traveler/vehicle, visiting these locations, and ending with the starting location of the tour within a given time or distance limit. There is no obligation to visit all locations in the problem structure. OP has many real-life applications, such as staff routing and disaster relief routing. In this study, OP with Time Windows (OPTW), an extension of OP, is discussed with hotel selection and mandatory visits. Although the main objective of OPTW is profit maximization, it is also essential to minimize the total travel time to complete the tour efficiently. For this reason, we consider the OPTW as a multi-objective problem. In the problem considered here, it is assumed that the profit/benefit, travel time between locations, service period, and time interval that each location can be visited are determined to be known. Within the scope of the study, first, a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is prepared for the problem. Since the proposed mathematical model does not provide solutions in a reasonable time for large networks, the problem is solved by a Constraint Programming (CP) approach. Attractive tourist points of interest for Izmir, one of Turkey's major tourist cities, are determined, and the proposed method is applied to the real-life problem. The problem is modeled as Multi-Objective OPTW with MIP and CP and solved. Also, sensitivity analysis is performed by considering two different scenarios.

The main purpose of this study is to present a framework on the construct, knowledge hoarding by investigating and distinguishing it from related concepts such as knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen our understanding of knowledge hoarding by defining the construct in detail while seeking answers to why employees hoard their knowledge. The present study contains a discussion of related research on knowledge hoarding and its implications for organizations, managers and employees. By integrating research from the fields of knowledge man-agement, human resources management and organizational behavior, this paper attempts to clarify a number of issues about this concept and aims to offer a factual report on what research has to say about it. Knowledge is not an individual, but an organizational asset. In today’s business environ-ment, hoarding knowledge erodes one’s power rather than constituting a source of power. In order to remain competitive in the future, organizations will need to abandon their ideas of information hoarding and embrace knowledge management. Downsizing in organizations and the potential loss of employment due to the global economic crisis alerts the managers to be sensitive to the reasons why the individuals avoid sharing their knowledge. The managerial level should attempt to break the hoarding cycle and create new models for interaction and knowledge sharing. It is important to examine why some employees would sometimes prefer to keep knowledge to themselves. Thus, the present study seeks an answer to that area of under-investigated research.

The present work deals with some machinability studies on tool wear and surface roughness, in finish hard turning of AISI D2 steel using PCBN, Mixed ceramic and coated carbide inserts. The machining experiments are conducted based on the response surface methodology (RSM). Combined effects of three cutting parameters viz., cutting speed, cutting time and tool hardness on the two performance outputs (i.e. VB and Ra), are explored employing the analysis of variance (ANOVA).The relationship(s) between input variables and the response parameters are determined using a quadratic regression model. The results show that the tool wear was influenced principally by the cutting time and in the second level by the cutting tool hardness. On the other hand, cutting time was the dominant factor affecting workpiece surface roughness followed by cutting speed. Finally, the multiple response optimizations of tool wear and surface roughness were carried out using the desirability function approach (DFA).

This study aims to analyze the opportunities for implementing Non-Cash Transactions (Non-Cash Applied Transactions) at Village-Owned Enterprises as the application of Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) Theory in North Sumatra. This type of research is quantitative descriptive research. The test was carried out by using Structural Equation Modeling analysis with the Formative approach. The tool used is SmartPLS. The study population was village-owned enterprises in Simalungun, Batubara and Asahan districts, North Sumatera, Indonesia. The sampling technique was carried out by using purposive sampling method. In addition, an assessment of community perceptions of implementation was also carried out. The research variables used are supervision, provider support, banking support (support of banking facilities), human aspect, regulation, resistance, commitment and training. The training variable at Village Business Entities has a significant partial effect on the Successful Application of Non-Cash Transactions of Village Business Entities in North Sumatra. This shows that the more frequent training and assistance are held at village business entities, the easier it will be to implement non-cash transactions at village enterprises. Meanwhile, the variables of Supervision, Provider Support, Banking Support, Human Resources, Regulation, Resistance and Commitment did not have a significant effect on the success of village non-cash transactions in North Sumatra.

This paper focuses on the application of foamed bitumen technology in the production of asphalt mixtures. This technology replaces the common asphalt binder with foamed bitumen for production of asphalt mixtures. Given the foaming, it is possible to produce asphalt mixture at a lower working temperature. This “eco-friendly” technology has been increasingly used by the asphalt mixture producers in Europe because of reducing the energy demands of the asphalt mixture productions. In this paper, first the technology of the foamed bitumen production is explained and then the results of laboratory research are presented, in which selected empirical and functional parameters of two types of asphalt mixtures of the asphalt concrete type (AC) are compared. These mixtures were produced in two versions, one of them containing the common asphalt binder and the other one the foamed bitumen. While comparing the samples, attention was paid especially to the comparison of the stiffness modulus of the laboratory-produced asphalt mixtures according to EN 12697-26 and to their low-temperature characteristics according to EN 12697-46.

This study investigated the impact of triple project constraints including time, cost, and quality on construction projects. The main goal was to examine several construction-related barriers, most of which were caused by time delays, cost overruns, and poor project quality. In addition, improper cost estimation planning can occasionally result in overestimation or underestimation, which can cause construction projects to be delayed or tasks to go unfinished. To improve the construction industry's routine and produce successful projects that satisfy its stakeholders, the study aims to investigate the impact of project cost, project quality, and project time with a moderating function for organizational support. A questionnaire survey was held, and overall findings indicate that managing triple constraints significantly impacts on the success of construction projects. Organizational support also moderates the detrimental effects of project cost, project quality, and project duration on the success of construction projects.

Although the relationship between resilience and career success has been well documented, very few studies relate these variables in developing economies, and especially in entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Additionally, how commitment actually shapes this relationship is conspicuously neglected. This empirical investigation was aimed at examining the influence of entrepreneurial career resilience on the three facets of entrepreneurial career success, i.e. career satisfaction, perceived career achievement and perceived financial attainment through the mediating role of entrepreneurial career commitment. The study used cross sectional data approach to collect data from 390 active entrepre-neurs. The participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. PLS-SEM statistical software (Smart-PLS 3) was used to test the formulated hypotheses. The findings suggested that; entrepreneurial career resilience was a positive predictor of the career satisfaction and perceived ca-reer achievement but it did not predict perceived financial attainment; that, entrepreneurial career resilience predicted entrepreneurial career commitment; that, entrepreneurial career commitment predicted career satisfaction, perceived career achievement and perceived financial attainment. Moreover, entrepreneurial career commitment significantly influenced the relationships of entrepreneurial career resilience and the two facets of entrepreneurial career success.

Infectious waste disposal remains one of the most serious problems in the medical, social and environmental domains of almost every country. Selection of new suitable locations and finding the optimal set of transport routes for a fleet of vehicles to transport infectious waste material, location routing problem for infectious waste disposal, is one of the major problems in hazardous waste management. Determining locations for infectious waste disposal is a difficult and complex process, because it requires combining both intangible and tangible factors. Additionally, it depends on several criteria and various regulations. This facility location problem for infectious waste disposal is complicated, and it cannot be addressed using any stand-alone technique. Based on a case study, 107 hospitals and 6 candidate municipalities in Upper-Northeastern Thailand, we considered criteria such as infrastructure, geology and social & environmental criteria, evaluating global priority weights using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (Fuzzy AHP). After that, a new multi-objective facility location problem model which hybridizes fuzzy AHP and goal programming (GP), namely the HGP model, was tested. Finally, the vehicle routing problem (VRP) for a case study was formulated, and it was tested using a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) which hybridizes the push forward insertion heuristic (PFIH), genetic algorithm (GA) and three local searches including 2-opt, insertion-move and interexchange-move. The results show that both the HGP and HGA can lead to select new suitable locations and to find the optimal set of transport routes for vehicles delivering infectious waste material. The novelty of the proposed methodologies, HGP, is the simultaneous combination of relevant factors that are difficult to interpret and cost factors in order to determine new suitable locations, and HGA can be applied to determine the transport routes which provide a minimum number of vehicles and minimum transportation cost under the actual situation efficiently in this case.