Automatic guided vehicle system (AGVs) plays a vital role in material handling operations for a flexible manufacturing system (FMS).Optimum AGVs fleet size selection is one of the most sig-nificant decisions in effective design and control of automated material handling system. The fleet size estimation and optimization of AGVs requires an in-depth understanding of the various factors that AGVs in the FMS relies on. In this paper, an investigation for fleet size optimization of AGVs in different layouts of FMS by application of the analytical method and grey wolf optimization al-gorithm (GWO) is carried out. Layout design is one of the significant factors for optimization of AGV’s fleet size in any FMS. Results yield from analytical and grey wolf optimization algorithm are compared and validated for the different sizes of FMS layouts by computational experiments.

Nowadays, with the expansion of economic businesses and also the dependency of economic activ-ists on the insurance industry to provide the capitals security, there is now a growing need to identi-fy and evaluate risks of the insurance industry. Therefore, in this study, a comprehensive model was developed to evaluate and manage business risk by reviewing the research literature, extensive-ly. For this purpose, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was developed for every business risk after identifying the relevant dimensions and the criteria and collecting the necessary data from the central insurance databases. Finally, a general model was presented to evaluate and manage risks of the insurance industry. Four major problems were also considered: optimal and ef-ficient normalization, optimal training for testing ratio for every neural network, model validation, and the easiness of user communication with the system. The results show that the model can pro-vide an accurate estimation for risk evaluation and management. Thus, this system can be consid-ered as an appropriate tool for business risk evaluation and management of insurance companies. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this method in evaluating and managing the risk at insurance companies can be turned into a neural network and such a neural network can be used as an appro-priate decision-making support tool.

This paper uses the Nash bargaining model to examine the effects of the distribution system on firms purchasing multiple inputs. We show that network combination, that is, vertical integration between a manufacturer and a retail firm, does not always bring enterprise superiority to a non-integrated firm. Although classical economic theory articulates that vertically integrated firms typi-cally have an advantage over non-integrated firms in profits, as the former can eliminate double marginalization, this is not always the case if we consider a situation of multiple inputs trading.

Developed food production lines recently have built factories for novel products to find a position in the market faster, although innovation is still expensive and risky. This study focuses on con-tributors who persuade consumers to purchase new pasta products in Tehran, and tries to determine the correlation among the criteria. This is conducted from the market experts’ view points along with a blend of grounded theory and DEMATEL. The results indicate that quality, price, packag-ing, promotion, phantasm and place parameters enhance new pasta pictures on customers’ buying decision making. According to experts, quality and price are the most influential factors and promo-tion and phantasm are completely ineffective. In addition, cultural parameters, especially local reci-pes as well as customers’ palate are important in this process.

The mobility sector including all kinds of transportation systems are facing global challenges in re-spect of green environmental issues. There has been a paradigm shift in the concept of design and manufacturing of automotive vehicles keeping in mind the scarcity of fossil fuel and the impact of emission on environment due to burning of it. The addition of hybrid and electric vehicles in pas-senger car segment has got significant momentum to address the global challenges. This research investigates the performance of a group of hybrid vehicles from customers’ perspective. Among the different brands that are available in the hybrid vehicle market, smart customers have given pri-ority to vehicle cost, mileage, tail pipe emission, comfortness and high tank size volume for long drive. Considering these attributes, selection strategy for hybrid vehicles has been developed using entropy based multi-attributive border approximation area comparison (MABAC) method. This research highlights the best hybrid vehicle which reduces air pollution in cities with other significant environmental benefits, reduces dependence on foreign energy imports and minimizes the annual fuel cost.

Six Sigma is recognized as an essential tool for continuous improvement of quality. A large num-ber of publications by various authors reflect the interest in this technique. Reviews of literature on Six Sigma have been done in the past by a few authors. However, considering the contributions in the recent times, a more comprehensive review is attempted here. The authors have examined vari-ous papers and have proposed a different scheme of classification. In addition, certain gaps that would provide hints for further research in Six Sigma have been identified. As a results the rela-tionship between Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), and how these two concepts support the quality system for organizational learning and innovation performance have been discussed that would help researchers, academicians and practitioners to take a closer look at the growth, devel-opment and applicability of Six Sigma in Design.

To get ready for the hard international competition, firms have to convince themselves of the pressing necessity of optimizing its competitiveness factors. In this perspective, this article proposes a general model of management system of firms through the implementation of tools of Lean Manu-facturing. This method establishes an approach to introduce an action plan to improve the perfor-mance of a firm. Knowing that the Algerian firms do not escape the constraints of competitiveness, the adopted model is applied to two strategic firms of the Algerian industry and the final result gives a series of measures to improve their competitiveness and their performances, simultaneously.

The purpose of this research is to develop an integrated literature based TPM, TPS and TQM mod-el through PDCA cycle, and implementation guideline for the implementation of the model. At this time very few studies are available on this research area, even this research on integrated model of TPM, TPS and TQM practices, and implementation guideline are not corresponding. The method-ology to develop the model and the implementation guideline is based on identifying the uniqueness and common practices of TPM, TPS and TQM systems, existing practice of the integration and implementation guideline, identifying the existing gaps on the model and implementation guideline, developing new integrated TPM, TPS and TQM practice model, and implementation guideline. Previous very few studies of uniqueness, common practices and implementation guideline of the three systems are preserved. The findings of this research, an integrated cutting-edge model of TPM, TPS and TQM practices and implementation guidelines are developed. The originality / value of the developed model and implementation guideline enable manufacturing industries continuously to be competitive and profitable.

The purpose of this paper is to explore and integrate the role of human resources with the internal practices of the Indian manufacturing industries towards successful implementation of lean manu-facturing (LM). An extensive literature survey is carried out. An attempt is made to build an ex-haustive list of all the input manifests related to human resources and internal practices necessary for LM implementation, coupled with a similar exhaustive list of the benefits accrued from its suc-cessful implementation. A structural model is thus conceptualized, which is empirically validated based on the data from the Indian manufacturing sector. Hardly any survey based empirical study in India has been found to integrate human resources with the internal processes towards success-ful LM implementation. This empirical research is thus carried out in the Indian manufacturing in-dustries. The analysis reveals six key input constructs and three output constructs, indicating that these constructs should act in unison to maximize the benefits of implementing lean. The structural model presented in this paper may be treated as a guide to integrate human resources with internal practices to successfully implement lean, leading to an optimum utilization of resources. This work is one of the very first researches to have a survey-based empirical analysis of the role of human resources and internal practices of the Indian manufacturing sector towards an effective lean im-plementation.

Since today’s world is moving ahead rapidly, the condition for the survival and durability of insti-tutions and organizations depend on research, development, innovation, and communication, the realization of which requires the presence of a new and creative model. Therefore, this paper aims to formulate and explain an open successful innovation management model by seeking the factors affecting the diffusion of innovation model at sports federations. The study in term of goal is ap-plied and in term of data analysis method is descriptive correlational study. The statistical popula-tion consists of sports federations of Iran in 2017. The sample size was 70 individuals selected us-ing Morgan table and the simple random sampling method from 10 federations. The research col-lection data tool was a questionnaire. The correlation matrix was used to determine the relationships between independent and dependent variables. Furthermore, a novel hybrid technique of fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy ANP was used to rank the factors affecting open innovation. The results showed that structural factors, interorganizational joint venture, customer relationships, research and development department, and new technologies affected the open innovation. Moreover, struc-tural factors were ranked the most effective factors. Then, customer relationships and interorganiza-tional joint venture were known as the weakest factors affecting the creation of open innovation.