In the present paper, the differential transformation method is employed to develop a semi-analytical solution for free transverse vibration of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with arbitrary boundary conditions. The small scale effect is taken into consideration via Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory while the transverse shear deformation effects and rotary inertia are taken into account in presented Timoshenko beam theory. Through variational formulation and the Hamilton & apos; s principle the governing differential equations and the boundary conditions are derived and then solved by a semi-analytical method called differential transformation method (DTM) for various frequency modes of beams and different edge conditions. Comparisons made between the present results and results reported by well-known references for special cases treated before, have confirmed accuracy and efficiency of the presented approach. The effects of several parameters such as transverse shear deformation effects, slenderness ratios, boundary conditions and small scale on vibration characteristics of SWCNT are examined. The present study illustrates that the vibration characteristics of an SWCNT are strongly dependent on the small scale parameters.

This study examines how preferences for honesty affect two-period audit policy. We categorize the audited as either fully honest (i.e. the ethical) or self-interested and rational (i.e. the economic) to deal with the issue of audit policy. As a result, we find the conditional audit policy will be an optimal audit policy only if the incentive for the economic to cheat is sufficiently large and the proportion of the ethical in all audited is relatively moderate,. Otherwise, the conditional audit policy will be dominated by other audit policy. These results suggest that firms are likely able to design a more efficient audit policy if they take into account the honesty preferences of the audited.

Now-a-days, the offer of credit period to the retailer for settling the account for the units purchased by the supplier is considered to be the most beneficial policy. In this article, an attempt is made to formulate an economic order quantity model under fuzzy environment where delay in payment for the retailer is permissible. The demand rate, ordering cost and selling price per item are taken as triangular fuzzy numbers. The ?-cut representation method is used to calculate the optimum cycle time and total optimum cost. The optimum cycle time and total optimum cost in fuzzy sense is de-fuzzified using the centre of gravity method.

This paper presents the application of the new method in the process of making the decisions on the scooters selection. The Fuzzy AHP method was used to obtain the weight coefficients of criteria, on the basis of which the alternatives were evaluated. The selection of criteria for evaluating scooters was based on an analysis of available manufacturer website. The evaluation and selection of scooters was carried out using a new multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method. The present study tries to identify the attributes like kerb weight, mileage, top speed, fuel tank capacity and price playing prominent role in the buying behavior of the working women while purchasing scooters. Fuzzy-AHP method has been used to obtain the relative weights of the criteria, on the basis of which the alternatives are evaluated using new MCDM. The TOPSIS and MABAC methods were tested under the same conditions. The stability of the result obtained by this method is established through a sensitivity analysis.

This paper presents the application of the new method in the process of making the decisions on the scooters selection. The Fuzzy AHP method was used to obtain the weight coefficients of criteria, on the basis of which the alternatives were evaluated. The selection of criteria for evaluating scooters was based on an analysis of available manufacturer website. The evaluation and selection of scooters was carried out using a new multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method. The present study tries to identify the attributes like kerb weight, mileage, top speed, fuel tank capacity and price playing prominent role in the buying behavior of the working women while purchasing scooters. Fuzzy-AHP method has been used to obtain the relative weights of the criteria, on the basis of which the alternatives are evaluated using new MCDM. The TOPSIS and MABAC methods were tested under the same conditions. The stability of the result obtained by this method is established through a sensitivity analysis.

This paper investigates the role of quality of supply chain components on brand promise. The dimensions of supply chain relationships include: communication, cooperation, commitment, independence, adaptability and reliability. The study uses the questionnaire developed by Fynes et al. (2005) [Fynes, B., Voss, C., & de B?rca, S. (2005). The impact of supply chain relationship quality on quality performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 96(3), 339-354.]. The population of the study includes all auto part makers and the study chooses a sample of 384 people for the study. Using structural equation modeling, the study has confirmed that all six components influence positively on brand promise.

In today’s climate of fierce competition, there is a necessity to pay especial attention on customer demands either in manufacturing or service sector. Managers in service sector are under pressure in terms of environmental factors, they focus on customers’ satisfaction and this has led to the continuous improvement in the performance of service organizations. Meanwhile, customers’ expectations should be properly understood and measured. There have been various efforts to measure the quality of services using the SERVQUAL model. In this study, we try to investigate the concepts and factors influencing the quality of services according to modified SERVQUAL model and then utilize the proposed model of Grey Analytic Hierarchy Process (G-AHP) and Multilevel Grey Evaluation in order to evaluate the quality of services in the framework of Grey Systems Theory (GST). In order to propose our method, we will conduct a case study of the performance of service quality in higher education institutions of Isfahan-Iran.

A central problem of tool management in Versatile Multi-tool machining centres is to decide how to batch the parts to be produced and what tools to allocate to the machine in order to maximize utilization of these expensive machines. Various authors have proposed heuristics and/or mathematical models to minimize the batches of parts to be manufactured in a production period. There is no comprehensive study reported to compare the number of actual batches (stoppages) formed with and without processing time considerations. In this paper, the sequential deterministic heuristics (SDHs) are appropriately adapted to include processing time of operations in the formation of groups. The modified heuristics are more realistic in reducing machine stoppages due to tools. Some stochastic search techniques have also been adapted to compute the number of groups. The results are compared with those obtained from SDHs and standard search techniques. The results indicate that the adapted search techniques are powerful approaches for forming optimum number of batches of parts and tools.

In this study, a volume flexible inventory system for deteriorating items with stock & time dependent demand has been developed over a finite planning horizon. Shortages are permitted with partial backorder. Uncertainties are inherent in real inventory problems due to complexities of market situation. This uncertainty can be handled by the concept of randomness. As a result, backorder rate is taken as random and follows a probability distribution. All the costs are influenced by the learning effect. The optimal number of production cycles that minimize the total cost is considered. Numerical illustrations together with sensitivity analysis are given to elucidate the model. Furthermore, the numerical results of the finite planning horizon model have been plotted graphically.

Flexible job shop scheduling problem is a key factor of using efficiently in production systems. This paper attempts to simultaneously optimize three objectives including minimization of the make span, total workload and maximum workload of jobs. Since the multi objective flexible job shop scheduling problem is strongly NP-Hard, an integrated heuristic approach has been used to solve it. The proposed approach was based on a floating search procedure that has used some heuristic algorithms. Within floating search procedure utilize local heuristic algorithms; it makes the considered problem into two sections including assigning and sequencing sub problem. First of all search is done upon assignment space achieving an acceptable solution and then search would continue on sequencing space based on a heuristic algorithm. This paper has used a multi-objective approach for producing Pareto solution. Thus proposed approach was adapted on NSGA II algorithm and evaluated Pareto-archives. The elements and parameters of the proposed algorithms were adjusted upon preliminary experiments. Finally, computational results were used to analyze efficiency of the proposed algorithm and this results showed that the proposed algorithm capable to produce efficient solutions.