ABSTRACT
Purpose>This study aims to explore how certain adoption barriers of additive manufacturing (AM) technology may lead to supply chain (SC) vulnerabilities, which in turn would deteriorate supply chain resilience (SCR).Design/methodology/approach>A case study of a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that uses AM technology to directly produce end-use metal parts for different industries was performed. Primary data were collected using the in-depth interview method, which was complemented by secondary data from internal and publicly available sources. The findings were compared with the existing literature to triangulate the results.Findings>The findings indicate that certain AM adoption barriers make the SC vulnerable to reliance on specialty sources, supplier capacity, production capacity, utilization of restricted materials, importance of product purity, raw material availability, unpredictability in customer demand, reliability of equipment, unforeseen technology failures, reliance on information flow, industrial espionage, and utilities availability.Research limitations/implications>The SCR outcomes of the identified SC vulnerabilities and their interrelated AM adoption barriers are proposed in this study.Practical implications>Drawing on the case study findings and the existing literature, several practices are put forward in a framework that supply chain management (SCM) may use to mitigate the identified SC vulnerabilities caused by the AM adoption barriers.Originality/value>This is the first study to empirically examine and identify the SC vulnerabilities that are caused by the adoption barriers of AM technology.
ABSTRACT
The importance of two related factors _ latitude and solar ultraviolet radiation _ has been insufficiently recognized as determining the spread of pandemic Sars-CoV-2 outbreaks across the globe. In this study we provide evidence of the impact of latitude and investigate how daily RT-PCR diagnosed infections and deaths are quantitively correlated with the UV component of solar light. Here, we present regression analyses using daily national numbers from Austria and from Portugal with daily ultraviolet indexes of two selected locations in these territories, obtained from a satellite source. These countries, have similar surfaces areas and population size but Austria's mean latitude is 9° up-north. The equations derived from regression analyses of those two variables are comparable for both countries, fit best the fall (2nd) pandemic wave and can be a useful non-R(t) (ratio of transmission at a particular time) dependent predictive tool. Similar equations were derived for deaths that follow infections within a few weeks delay. Strong correlations depend on the size of the region/country from which infections are collected, the robustness of screening practices, ideally kept through weekends and holidays. Besides the forecasting usefulness of such correlations, these findings also suggest that covid-19 transmission co-exists with a Sars-Cov-2 specific UV-induced immunosuppression response. While in 2020, intensity of pandemic spring and fall waves reflect a solar UV-light modulation, we relate exceptional low temperature and humidity with additional waves, as the winter 2020/2021 3rd wave, felt in the western European countries. This work may help understanding this Pandemic phenomenon and dealing with similar catastrophes in the future.
ABSTRACT
The conditions imposed by the Covid-19 outbreaks forced residential care (RC) facilities to experience new challenges and to adopt new practices. The aim of the current study is to analyze how RC facilities have experienced and managed confinement during the 1st wave of the pandemic. A thematic analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals responsible for managing crisis in RC facilities. The main implications of the confinement measures on RC dynamics and relations were organized in three major themes: Chaos, novelty and organization; reinventing normalization and deconfinement. The pandemic exposes the structural weaknesses of RC, namely mobility of human resources, scarcity of supportive networks, and fragilities in providing comprehensive and integrative care. These factors need to be considered when addressing risk/vulnerability and discussing best practices and policies on child/youth welfare domain. Future studies should explore representations of important key actors as youth, families and other professionals from youth care.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Children and youth residential care institutions were forced to introduce adaptations to their regular functioning in order to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the lockdown on the adolescents' psychological adjustment and whether adolescents' perceived cohesion mitigated the increase of adolescents' psychological adjustment problems. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 243 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, living in 21 different residential care institutions. RESULTS: The results suggested a moderating role of cohesion on the stability of adolescents' emotional distress across time. Lower levels of cohesion were related with higher emotional distress stability across time. On the contrary, as cohesion increased, the association between adolescents' emotional distress at T0 and T1 decreased. DISCUSSION: Results are discussed considering the mechanisms raised by the institutions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize the negative effects on the psychological adjustment of adolescents living in residential care.