This paper compares and evaluates the performance of five different conventional job selection dis-patching rules for scheduling of multi-load automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) serving for material handling operations in variable sized flexible manufacturing system (FMS) layout. Four sizes of FMS layout are considered for the performance evaluation of the five types of conventional job se-lection dispatching rules. The FMS layouts under consideration are served by the two multi-load AGVs. The multi-load AGVs cruises under machine initiated the nearest vehicle (NV) dispatching rule for the material handling activities at all work centers (WCs) for all four sizes of FMS layout. Four sizes of FMS layout produce five different types of parts and consist of three, six, nine and twelve work centers and loading-unloading centers, respectively. In the simulation test, it is found that the identical destination first (IDF) job selection rule having selection criterion based on the destination similarity of two picked up jobs outperforms all other job selection dispatching rules for an overall production rate of the FMS (parts/hr) in all four FMS layouts.

Variation exists in all processes. There is not even a single process that is completely true. Measuring the trueness of the process is itself a process which can also imitate the process variation. Therefore, measurement system should be strong enough to wager on the trueness of the process. This paper is an attempt to indicate the true method and substantiate the use of measurement system analysis (MSA) by using it in two different environments i.e. in manufacturing as well as process industry. Also, a comparison among various analyzing techniques has been drawn for authenticating the candid method followed by an evaluation using fuzzy TOPSIS for authenticating the results of comparison. The organization’s type, also, strongly influences the performance of MSA as revealed in the conclusion of the article. The results calculated by various methods and in both environments were discussed and as a result ANOVA comes out to be the best method. The application of correct MSA is highly required which ultimately results in increased organizations’ performance. The study is one of its type and will motivate the researchers and industrialists to use and explore the new and efficient ways of MSA.

The aim of this article is to study the impact of marketing innovation and the visual and verbal ele-ments of packaging on customers purchase intentions. After a brief literature review, an empirical study is conducted among 140 customers of Coca-Cola brand in Tlemcen city. To this end, a model of intention has been developed to be tested by structural equations modeling. The results of this study showed that marketing innovation and the visual and verbal elements of packaging directly affect the purchase intentions of the customers of this brand.

India has turned out to be one of the most favorite destinations for the patients who want to undertake cost effective medical care for various medical problems and who have infuriated from the long waiting lists for medical and diagnostic procedures in their home countries. This research aims to analyze different factors along with their intensity affecting medical tourism industry in a developing country like India so that managers and policymakers can take better decisions which will help in growth & promotion of Indian health tourism market. The study has been done by performing a cross-sectional survey within major hospitals in India and exploratory factor analysis and graph theory and matrix approach have been used to evaluate the intensity of variables affecting Indian medical tourism sector. Nineteen variables have been identified through review of literature, and four factors have been extracted including cost, quality of treatment and care, availability of experts, competitive advantage and political, legal and visa related factors. With the understanding of the intensity of different variables suitable precautions can be taken by the healthcare managers so that these variables can be handled very carefully.

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is widely used to perform cladding so as to enhance corrosion resistance and several other properties of substrate material. However, the success of cladding us-ing GMAW depends on the optimal selection of its critical parameters. Therefore, in this study, the cladding of stainless steel over mild steel substrate using GMAW process is investigated with an aim to optimize the GMAW process parameters. Three GMAW process parameters i.e. current, voltage, and torch angle were selected and their effect on the time required to complete the cladding and arc power was investigated and optimized. Multiple objective optimization based on ratio anal-ysis (MOORA) method was employed to evaluate and optimize the effect of the selected process parameters. It was found that the current and voltage have significant effect in reducing the time and power required for the cladding process.