• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.23-30
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• 2013

Purpose - The study attempts to investigate the relationship between inventory management and firm performance using a multi-dimensional aspect of inventory management with respect to lean management practices across countries. Research design, data, and methodology - 1643 manufacturing firms from Japan and the US that SIC ranges from 2000 to 3999 were chosen to conduct the empirical test. This study employs hierarchical OLS regression analysis to examine the impact of control variables, ABI, EBI, and the interaction between ABI and EBI on firm performance. Results - The result indicates that in Japan high level of inventory negatively influences the accounting flows of business, while US manufactures exhibit strong positive impact of ELI on firm performance across accounting and market measures. The results show that the complementarity between the amount and the speed of inventory does exist. Except for Tobin's q, the sign of interaction term coefficient is negative, suggesting that when the amount of inventory increases and it stays longer in a firm, market values, ROS, and ROA suffers. Conclusions - The major finding of this study is that there exist some complementarities between the scope and implication of inventory management for lean strategy across countries, particularly in U.S. and Japanese firms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.86-92
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• 2014

This paper provides an integrated view on human and system interaction in advanced and automated systems, which adopting computerized multi-functional artifacts and complicated organizations, such as nuclear power plants, chemical plants, steel and semi-conduct manufacturing system. As current systems have advanced with various automated equipments but human operators from various organizations are involved in the systems, system safety still remains uncertain. Especially, a human operator plays an important role at the time of critical conditions that can lead to catastrophic accidents. The knowledge on human error helps a risk manager as well as a designer to create and control a more credible system. Several human error theories were reviewed and adopted for forming the integrated perspective: gulf of execution and evaluation; risk homeostasis; the ironies of automation; trust in automation; design affordance; distributed cognition; situation awareness; and plan delegation theory. The integrated perspective embraces human error theories within three levels of human-system interactions such as affordance level, psychological logic level and trust level. This paper argued that risk management process should dealt with human errors by providing (1) reasoning improvement; (2) support to situation awareness of operators; and (3) continuous monitoring on harmonization of human system interaction. This approach may help people to understand risk of human-system interaction failure characteristics and their countermeasures.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.593-604
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• 2018

Laser-assisted machining (LAM) is known to be an effective and economical technique for improving the machinability of difficult-to-machine materials. In the LAM method, material is preheated using a laser heat source and then the preheated area is removed by following cutting tool. For laser-assisted turning (LAT), the configuration of the system is not complicated because laser irradiates from a fixed position. In contrast, laser-assisted milling (LAMill) system is not only complicated but also difficult to control because laser heat source must always move ahead of the cutting tool along a three dimensional (3D) tool path. LAMill is still early stage and cannot yet be used to machine finished products with 3D shapes. In this study, a laser-assisted fillet milling process was developed for machining 3D shapes. There are no prior studies combining fillet milling and LAMill. Laser-assisted fillet milling strategy was proposed, and effective depth of cut (EDOC) was obtained using thermal analysis. Experiments were designed using response surface method and cutting force prediction equations were developed using statistical analysis and regression analysis. The optimum machining conditions were also proposed, and energy efficiency of the LAMill was analyzed by comparing the specific cutting energy of conventional machining (CM) and LAMill.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.140-149
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• 2019

We are currently living in an era where the use of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing has allowed individualized orthodontic treatments, but has also incorporated enhanced digitalized technology that does not permit improvisation. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze publications that assessed the accuracy and efficiency of the $Invisalign^{(R)}$ system. A systematic review was performed using a search strategy to identify articles that referenced $Invisalign^{(R)}$, which were published between August 2007 and August 2017, and listed in the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and LILACS. Additionally, a manual search of clinical trials was performed in scientific journals and other databases. To rate the methodological quality of the articles, a grading system described by the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care was used, in combination with the Cochrane tool for risk of bias assessment. We selected 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria and excluded 5 due to excess biases. The level of evidence was high. Although it is possible to treat malocclusions with plastic systems, the results are not as accurate as those achieved by treatment with fixed appliances.

• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.51-61
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• 2022

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to establish the government's logistics policy by calculating the logistics cost of the company and grasping the management status, to reduce the logistics cost of the related companies and to provide basic statistical data necessary for the management strategy. This work examines some associations between reasons for reducing corporate logistics costs (RCLC) and corporate classification such as industry and sales size. Research design, data, and methodology - The survey was conducted in 2018 for 2,000 companies based on the business of mining, manufacturing and wholesale and retail industries since 2010. The survey population is 94,976, of which 92,708 are small and medium enterprises and 2,268 are large corporations. The association among factors may be statistically and visually explored by using chi-squared test and correspondence analysis. Result - This study reveals the association between reasons for RCLC and corporate classification and properties and closeness that exist between the categories of each factor can be mined. Conclusion - As a task to reduce logistics costs of industrial products, expansion and operation of joint logistics business, establishment of cooperative logistics network, and establishment of ordinance on support for smart distribution logistics can be proposed.

• Fourth Industrial Review
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2022

Purpose - With the rapid development of information technology, the digital economy has become an important grip of the new development pattern, and the digital transformation of enterprises is a major trend. As SMEs are the mainstay of the economy and employment, it is important to study the digital transformation of SMEs to promote the development of the digital economy. Research design, data, and methodology - Based on a resource-based view, this report analyses the current situation and issues of digital transformation of SMEs from the perspective of digital orientation as well as the breadth and depth of technological capabilities of enterprises, using data from a survey of 200 manufacturing enterprises in China. Result - The results show that SMEs generally have a digital transformation mindset, but a weak digital foundation. In order to execute a digital strategy, companies need digital transformation capabilities. These behavioral capabilities are guided by the strategic direction of the business, and companies with strong capabilities are always trying to tap into the full digital potential. Conclusion - In order to effectively promote the digital transformation of SMEs, we suggest that SMEs pay attention to digital capability building, make good use of digital platforms and network resources, and lay a solid foundation for digital transformation; meanwhile, we suggest that government departments play a guiding and supporting role to build a cross-industry and cross-sector digital synergy system to help promote the development of SMEs' digital transformation. This paper presents some suggestions from both the internal and external environment of the enterprise, with the expectation of contributing to the digital transformation practices of SMEs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference in the degree of significance and satisfaction perceived by college students and ordinary consumers on the HMR product attributes. Comparison of the difference on HMR product attributes between ordinary consumers and college students who belong to the current and future consumption groups of HMR will provide information for clear marketing strategies and PR on target consumers from the aspects of companies. Also, overall difference on HMR was investigated through IPA(importance-performance analysis) on significance and satisfaction with each product attribute. This result will provide information to food companies that produce or supply HMR products to be supplemented and improved. Finally, IPA was conducted between groups on product attribute to find which difference exists between groups. This result is also expected to provide crucial information to companies as suggested in the first purpose. Research design, data, and methodology - The procedure of analysis is as follows. First, independent sample t-test was conducted on the significance and satisfaction on HMR product attributes. Second, with using IPA, the significance and satisfaction on HMR product attributes of the respondents were checked to investigate marketing strategy direction on overall HRM products. Third, the difference between generations was verified using IPA on the college student and consumer groups. According to this result, the direction of marketing strategy on HRM products was to be proposed to food companies. Results - It was known that consumers consider HMR product attributes statistically and significantly such as nutrient content(nutrition), country of origin, brand, main raw material, packaging, and awareness of manufacturer. They keep after purchase more importantly than college students who considered only volume and price than consumers. In comparison with the difference in satisfaction on HMR product attributes, the college student group was more satisfied than ordinary consumers only in flavor, condition of food additives, and volume. Also, HMR related food companies must maintain taste, cooking method, manufacturing date, expiration date, and safety on current products continuously. Finally, as a result of analysis from the groups, the attributes such as cooking method, manufacturing date, expiration date, and safety were considered significantly with high achievement by the two groups. It was known that college students considered food texture to be important, but consumers considered storage method to be important after purchasing it. Conclusions - There is necessity to differentiate effectiveness of products when releasing HMR products subject to consumers and college students. The result will give great assistance to the improvement of companies, produce or supply HMR products. It will also provide entry strategies on target groups of companies that are planning for entry. The factors that consumers commonly considered not to be significant were brand, package form(appearance), cooking time, and sale(purchase) location, which were found in the comparison with the groups that awareness about manufacturers and storage method after purchase corresponded to college students and that distribution route corresponded to ordinary consumers.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 2010

This study investigates the dominant degree of product design factors through the process of change of design factors. The previous research suggested a concrete measurement method of dominant designs, but it did not investigate empirically the degree of dominance due to the limited data for changes of designs. In this research, thus, after collecting design data of mobile phones and we measured the dominance and structure change of the designs by year. The analyses showed the following two things. First, in design factors of mobile phone the dominance on the body form and the edge grows more and both of them as dominant design factors tend to converge into the rectangular body form and the round edge, respectively. Second, the dominance on other design factors(e.g. the button type, the open type, whether or not to have digital multimedia broadcasting(DMB) and video telephony functions, the combination of colors and the body color) increases and decreases; and hence, design levels tend to diverge. In conclusion, the measurement of dominance on product design factors contributes to marketing managers and designers who are required to establish a strategy for products under the rapidly changing circumstances of market. This research aims to provide those managers and designers with a guide line for a successful development of new product to prepare for the dominant design from this empirical study.

• Archives of design research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.177-190
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to provide domestic small and medium manufacturing businesses with effective ways of introducing and promoting design management, earnestly, as a key strategy for raising corporate competitiveness. For the purpose, this researcher discussed the management property of small and medium businesses, the introducing process and method and the necessity of promoting design management in small and medium businesses. Then the researcher reviewed and analyzed existing empirical studies to know the current status of design introduction and design management promotion i domestic small and medium businesses. Results of the study can be described as below. Prerequisite to the successful introduction by domestic small and medium businesses of design management are three CEO determinations - the firm will to the necessity of design introduction, the firm conviction in design efficacy, and the clear recognition of the existential value of design - and the establishment of at least five infrastructures -design organization, CDO, designers, design policy, and design strategy. For the promoting and succeeding in the execution of design management, design management system should have established based on such determinations and infrastructures, and CEOs should have design management mind firmly established and driven and realized next activities in the process of product development. 1) Set the principle of design priority in a new product development and establish an appropriate production system and environment. 2) Decide a new design development as the top-priority task of management and then practice it in a strategic way. 3) Be positive in design investment while accepting design management as a concept related not to cost, but to investment. 4) Utilize design extensively under the understanding that design management has something to do with corporate design system as a whole. 5) Treat design as the most valuable resource of business under the recognition that design is the most important determinant of corporate competitiveness.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.25-38
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• 2011

After the financial crisis, what has been the rapidly growth of large supermarkets, stores, and restaurants linked to concerns that have already reached saturation point, but the new opening large supermarkets is expected to continue into the future. The major supermarkets are continue to grow outward but growth slowed. And that is expected to continue differentiation of the product, acceptance the customer needs, acquiring high margin of sales products. Then the ongoing development of PB brand is to be positioned effective marketing strategy for overcoming the period of slow growth. In addition, big three local supermarkets continue to launch a clothing PB brand, expansion and operation strategy for the situation and based on this study and the success of the domestic large-Mart's PB and PB identifying problem and the need for differentiation and profit for the successful strategy is to discuss in this study. This research looks at the concept of major market's private brand, the strategy, the success example and the prospects, and views the globally rapid-growing private brands, not only having the limited role of distributing the products as retailers, but also having a control of the distribution channel as a manufacturing company. World's major advanced distribution companies, to differentiate their companies' products and increase the profitability, are putting a lot of efforts into private brand products, and there are many good examples that are globalizing, externally expanding, and creating high financial results. In this research, we presented three major domestic discount stores as examples to show that there is a need for a differentiated private brand management strategy in the saturated discount store industry in Korea. Also, we aim to provide a new product strategy for the future that has been saturated with discount stores to the limit, by providing suggestions that private brand products can be used as weapons with the strongest competiveness in the retail industry through pursuing store differentiations from thorough market analysis and product researches, meeting the customers' needs, and obtaining high margins. PB products, particularly clothing design, a thorough market analysis and product development trends and customer needs to reflect the acquisition of High margin differentiated powerful products and sustainable growth through the stores, large supermarkets, congested, a new breakthrough that can give a good opportunity to provide implications discount stores, new product strategy based on ways to limit proposed. This study discount the major three companies studied, the less strain is a generalization. In the future, domestic and local discount store brand PB, SPA brand that the multinational comparative analysis of the value of the PB expansion strategy centered on clothing, additional studies will be needed.