This paper addresses the minimization of makespan for the permutation flow shop scheduling problem with blocking and sequence and machine dependent setup times, a problem not yet studied in previous studies. The 14 best known heuristics for the permutation flow shop problem with blocking and no setup times are pre-sented and then adapted to the problem in two different ways; resulting in 28 different heuristics. The heuristics are then compared using the Taillard database. As there is no other work that addresses the problem with blocking and sequence and ma-chine dependent setup times, a database for the setup times was created. The setup time value was uniformly distributed between 1% and 10%, 50%, 100% and 125% of the processing time value. Computational tests are then presented for each of the 28 heuristics, comparing the mean relative deviation of the makespan, the computational time and the percentage of successes of each method. Results show that the heuristics were capable of providing interesting results.

Machine vision systems are among the novel tools proven to be useful in different applications, among which monitoring and controlling manufacturing processes is one of the most important ones. However, due to the complexity resulted from high-dimensional image data and their inherent correlations, the acquisition of traditional statistical process control tools seems inapplicable. To overcome the shortcomings of the traditional methods in this regard, a statistical model is proposed in this paper which utilizes the concepts of both the PCA-based T2 control chart and the classification methods to develop a tool capable of controlling an image-based process. By defining the warning zones, collected data taken from an image-based process are classified into more than the two classes related to in-control and out-of-control processes. This helps practitioners to define rules to make it easier to realize when the process is getting out of control. Through simulation, the accuracy performance and the speed of four different types of classifiers including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), kth nearest neighbors (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM) are assessed in different scenarios, based on which the functionality of the proposed approach is evaluated in in-control and out-of-control conditions.

The COVID-19 outbreak has illustrated the wide range of issues that supply networks confront when they are subjected to major interruptions. The supply networks for vaccines are no exception. To get out of this pandemic, it's critical to identify and address problems with the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain (VSC). This work identifies 13 challenges and prioritizes those. The findings provide stakeholders and government policymakers with realistic advice for developing a better VSC. This paper proposes a methodology based on fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) with the use of triangular fuzzy numbers for prioritizing VSC barriers. It has been found that the impact of poor health worker training facilities becomes maximum with the highest weightage. Moreover, the managerial implication of the results is also provided, which will be useful for VSC sectors to take suitable decisions to overcome these obstacles.

This paper analyzes the causal relationship between the banking system development and the real estate market in Vietnam from 2004:Q3 to 2018:Q4, with the use of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model as the analysis method. In Vietnam, there is no empirical study on this issue. Therefore, the paper is the first empirical evidence for the relationship between the banking system development and the real estate market in Vietnam. The research results show that the banking system development (measured through the domestic credit to the private sector) and the real estate market had a positive causal relationship in both short and long terms. In addition, the paper found a statistically significant impact of the global financial crisis on the banking system development and the real estate market in Vietnam, which is a new discovery compared with previous studies.

This study analyses the association between CEO characteristics and financial performance as well as the role that a firm’s governance system may play in enhancing financial performance in the Jordanian context. To achieve this purpose, 2251 firm-year observations were collected from firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange from 2009-2022. Overall, the results show that there is a positive and significant association between CEO tenure and firm performance. The results also show that the CEO compensation is positively linked with firm performance. However, CEO age and ownership are found to be insignificantly associated with firm performances. Regarding the moderating role of governance quality, the result shows a positive and highly significant impact on CEO tenure and CEO age. Otherwise, whether the quality of governance is high or low, it does not affect the CEO’s compensation and ownership. This study recommends firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange changing their policy regarding CEO compensation by, for example, including stock options to enhance firm performances.

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.

A synthesis of 2-amino-4-(R)-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives (4a-l) in single flasks containing aromatic aldehydes (1a-l), malononitrile (2), and dimedone (3) by using green catalyst, extract of orange without solvent under ultrasound irradiations and reflux condition. Synthesis of 2-amino-4-(R)-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives (4a-l) show potent in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity. All synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopic data & elemental analysis.

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.

The implementation of just-in-time (JIT) principles has been shown to be worthy of analysis due to its potential economic benefits. Yet, while several empirical studies have reported the success of adopting JIT management concepts, little work has been accomplished in offering analytical tools for assisting managers for implementing JIT strategy. This paper proposes a new inventory model to better embrace JIT purchasing. In pursuing this goal, we develop a deterministic single-setup multiple-delivery model for deteriorating items by considering the effect of the time value of money (TVM). We propose a solution procedure to determine the optimal decisions that maximize the discounted profit function of this analytical model, and compare it with some other alternatives. Here, we show the derivation of the mathematical model, the algorithm of the proposed solutions, and the application of the new approach through two numerical experiments. The study reveals that modeling the TVM effect complicates the determination of an optimal JIT inventory policy; nevertheless, we find that accounting for TVM can be decisive in terms of promoting and implementing JIT purchasing agreements.

This study aims at investigating the impact of marketing strategies, i.e., digital marketing, green marketing, and sensory marketing, on restaurant sales a s well as examining the mediating role of sensory marketing in the effect of digital marketing and green marketing on restaurant sales. Developing a literature-based questionnaire to harvest data from a sample consisting of owners or managers of small and medium-sized casual restaurants and analyzing such data using SmartPLS 3.0, it was acknowledged that restaurant sales as an endogenous variable is significantly influenced by these three marketing strategies. Moreover, it was revealed that sensory marketing is a significant mediator in the effects of digital marketing and green marketing on restaurant sales. The originality of this study is that it expands the literature emphasizing the importance of marketing strategies integration to achieve higher sales. Specifically, the study contributes to the literature indicating that restaurants must consider sensory marketing strategy as a key mechanism to enhance the efficiency of digital marketing and green marketing efforts.