Large-scale wind turbines mostly use Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) as the transmission system, which is highly efficient. However, it comes with high complexity and cost too. In contrast, the small-scale wind turbines that are available in the market offer a one-speed gearing system only where no gear ratios are varied, resulting in low efficiency of harvesting energy and leading to gears failure. In this research, an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm is proposed to address the energy efficiency of the automatic transmission system in vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), to increase its efficiency in harvesting energy. The aim is to find the best adjustment for VAWT while the automatic transmission system is taken into account. For this purpose, the system is simulated and tested under various gear ratios conditions while a centrifugal clutch is applied to automatic gear shifting. The outcomes indicated that the automatic transmission system could successfully adjust the spinning in line with the wind speed. As a result, the obtained level of harvested voltage and power by VAWT with the automatic transmission system are improved significantly. Consequently, it is concluded that automatic VAWTs, equipped with the machine-learning capability can readjust themselves with the wind speed more efficiently.

This study aims to examine the effects of the business environment and supply chain governance on business strategies and their impact on the performance of state-owned enterprises in Indonesia. Using Partial Least Square (PLS) and quantitative research, this study took state companies management and commissioners as the respondents. The study concludes that the business environment has a positive and significant effect on business strategy, and supply chain governance has a positive and significant effect on business strategy. Moreover, the results show that the business environment influences corporate performance, and supply chain governance has an effect on corporate performance. Business strategy influences corporate performance, and business strategy can mediate the influence of the business environment on corporate performance. Lastly, business strategy can mediate the influence of supply chain governance on corporate performance. The results theoretically confirm the supply chain governance in business practice and practically encouraged the company management to develop risk-management and effective internal controls to create competitive business climate and more agile supply chain management.

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between supply chain linkage and business performance in the lychee supply chain in Vietnam. The study collected 395 matched samples after sample screening. Partial least squares (PLS) algorithm is used to process the data. Research results show a link between supply chain linkage and business performance. Furthermore, research shows that risk supply chain, quality management, and business strategy also impact supply chain linkages and business performance.

The aim of this study is to design, build and validate a scale for the measurement of Saudi industrial Organizations' SC Management Practices (SCMP), and also to evaluate its efficiency at various SCM measurements. The analysis identified 20 constructs of (SCMPs) based on a comprehensive literature review; namely Strategic Partnership of Suppliers (SPS), Customer Relationship (CR), Information Sharing (IS), Information Quality (IQ), Postponement (PST), Agreed Vision and Goals (AVG), Sharing of Risks and Rewards (SRR), Lean Manufacturing (LM), Total Quality Management (TQM), Organizational Culture (OC), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Benchmarking and Performance Measurement (BPM), Agile Manufacturing (AM), Outsourcing (OUT), Just In Time Manufacturing (JIT), Green SC Management (GSCM), Reverse Logistics (RL), Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and SC Integration (SCI), and four SCM performance structures in particular namely; Flexibility Perspective (FLP), Efficiency Perspective (EFP), Customer’s Perspective (CSP), Product Innovation Perspective (PIP). A survey tool based on the existing literature was developed and relevant data were collected from 351 Industrial Saudi organizations on this tool. In the data analysis the validation of the instrument is mainly carried out with confirmatory factor analysis in terms of unidimensionality, durability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, nomological validity, and the associated validity criteria. A parsimonious instrument that makes an important contribution to the SCM literature is generated by the results of this research. The instrument will allow an enterprise to incorporate various SCMPs, to keep track of the implementation status, and then to evaluate SCM performance to the SCM dimensions.

Polynomial equations in non-dimensional form for various fracture parameters of double-K fracture model for compact tension specimen have been derived and presented in this paper. These equations can be used for computing different double-K fracture parameters of concrete for known material properties and specimen size having relative size of initial crack length of 0.3 without involving much complexity in numerical computations. Values of peak load and corresponding crack opening displacement as necessary to compute the double-K fracture parameters of concrete have been derived from the established fictitious crack model in the present study. A simplified equation in non-dimensional form between peak load and critical crack opening displacement as obtained from a fictitious crack model has also been presented.

The supply chain of MSME products in the context of export penetration is very important, but MSME actors have not been able to meet all export needs. This study aims to: 1) analyze the supply chain of MSMEs in the context of export penetration in the era of the covid-19 pandemic, and 2) examine the potential of MSMEs to develop in terms of corporate legality, industrial design, and brand registration, as well as the use of digital marketing. This research method was quantitative research with survey approach and normative empirical study. The population of this study was 134 MSMEs, samples from 63 MSMEs in Central Java (Brebes), West Java (Bogor), and the Special Region of Yogyakarta (Bantul). Quantitative data analysis used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach and analyzed with Smart PLS 3.3 software. The results of the study show: 1) the supply chain needs of MSMEs in penetrating the export market in the era of the covid-19 pandemic are very difficult; 2) MSMEs must be able to meet all export needs to create a balanced supply chain, 3) in order to prepare export-oriented MSMEs, they must first motivate and educate, establish policies that support their legality and export management.

Research on shallot planting feeding technology is an integral part of the shallot planter associations in which determines the suitable drop of shallot seeds to the planting mechanism. The shape of shallot seed will affect the process of selecting the feeding mechanism and feeding funnel shape. The dynamics study of shallot seeds in the feeding funnel and their movement (that is dependent on the profile and mass property of seeds) is important for manufacturing and running a good mechanism. The shallots will then be transferred by the feeding mechanism to the planting mechanism with a suitable falling trajectory. In this research, design and calculation of dynamics of the feeding mechanism of the shallot seeds is investigated using dynamics equations and also Autodesk Inventor Professional and Matlab Simulink codes. The suitable ranges of feeding mechanism parameters are obtained for the analyzed shallot seeds in terms of the specific shape, weight and mass center coordinates of the seeds.

This paper presents a Mori-Tanaka-based statistical methodology to predict the effective Young modulus of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced composites considering three variables: weight content, reinforcement dispersion and orientation. Last two variables are quantified by two parameters, namely, free-path distance between nano-reinforcements and orientation angle regarding the loading direction. To validate the present methodology, samples of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs)-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-matrix composite were manufactured by mixing solution. The MWCNT/PVA Young modulus was measured by nano-indentation, while the MWCNTs Young modulus was quantified by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Both stretched and unstretched composite specimens were fabricated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and in-plane image analysis were used to obtain fitting coefficients of log-normal frequency distribution functions for the free-path distance and orientation angle. It was evidenced that numerical results fit well to measured values of effective Young modulus of MWCNTs and MWCNT/PVA, with exception of some particular cases where significant differences were found. Microstructural heterogeneities, cluster formation, polymer chains alignment, errors associated with the dispersion, orientation and mechanical characterization procedures, as well as idealization and statistical errors, were identified as possible causes of these differences. Finally, using the proposed methodology and the dispersion and orientation distribution functions experimentally obtained, the effective Young modulus is estimated for three kinds of thermoplastic matrices (polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene ketone, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) with different kinds of nanotubes (single wall, double wall, and multi-walled), at different weight contents, finding the superior mechanical performance for double-walled CNTs-reinforced composites and the lower one for multi-walled CNTs-reinforced ones.

Operating in today’s turbulent and competitive world marketplaces, manufacturers must find the best production scheme and delivery policy to meet timely client’s multiproduct requirements and minimize the total manufacturing-shipment expenses. This study proposes a two-stage delayed differentiation model for a multiproduct manufacturer-retailer coordinated supply chain featuring the adjustable-rate for making common parts and a multi-shipment policy for transporting finished goods. The aim is to help present-day manufacturers achieve their operational goals mentioned above. The mathematical techniques help us build a specific model to explicitly represent the problem and derive its overall operating expense. Then, the convexity of the total expense is verified by Hessian matrix equations. The differential calculus helps derive the cost-minimized fabrication-shipment decision. This study offers an example to demonstrate the applicability and capabilities of our proposed model numerically. The following crucial information has been made available to the managers to facilitate their operating decision makings: (1) the problem’s best fabrication-shipment policy; (2) the collective influence of various common part’s completion rates and values on the problem’s total expenses and optimal fabrication-shipment policy; (3) the impact of various adjustable-rates in stage one on utilization and stage one’s uptime; (4) the details of cost contributors to the problem; and (5) the collective impacts of critical features on the problem’s performance.

Supply chain management is an activity that effectively integrates suppliers, companies, retailers where goods are produced and distributed at the right quality, location, and time with minimum cost levels to provide the highest quality services for consumers. Supply chain agility, supply chain adaptability, supply chain alignment, which is known as the Triple-A strategy, are elements to form supply chain performance. In this study, we tried to apply it to SMEs in developing countries, such as Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to show whether it is true that the supply chain cannot be applied to SMEs, while for a disruption as it is today, competition is getting tougher not only among SMEs but also against large companies, and SMEs need to develop several strategies that were previously unimaginable. This study uses quantitative techniques to determine the effect of supply chain agility, supply chain adaptability, supply chain alignment on supply chain performance either partially or simultaneously. The results showed that all hypotheses were accepted. This shows that supply chain management can be a strategy to create better SMEs performance and can even be used to achieve competitive advantage.