Towards Convergence of IoT and Blockchain for Secure Supply Chain Transaction

Supply chain management (SCM) is essential for a company’s faster, efficient, and effective product life cycle. However, the current SCM systems are insufficient to provide product legitimacy, transaction privacy, and security. Therefore, this research proposes a secure SCM system for the authenticity of the products based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology. The IoT-enabled Quick Response (QR) scanner and the blockchain-integrated distributed system will allow all the SCM stakeholders to begin secure and private transactions for their products or services. Resulting, the consumer will receive an authentic and genuine product from the original producer. A lightweight asymmetric key encryption technique, i.e., elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) and Hyperledger Fabric-based blockchain technology with on-chain smart contracts are applied for distributed IoT devices to make the authentication process faster and lighter. Each SCM stakeholder is registered by the service provider and receives corresponding public and private keys, which will be used for the authentication process of the participants and IoT devices. The authenticated QR scanner records all transactions on the blockchain. Consequently, there will be no human intervention for the SCM transactions. The security and scalability analysis demonstrates that the proposed system is more secure and robust than other state-of-the-art techniques.

DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT WORKSHEET WITH SAVI APPROACH TO IMPROVE MATHEMATICS REPRESENTATION ABILITIES IN CYLINDER MATERIALS

This research aimed to develop a valid, practical, and effective worksheets with SAVI approach and can improve students' mathematical representation skills on cylinder material. The method of this research was a Research and Development (R and D) through the development of 4-D (Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate). This research was conducted at SMP Negeri 1 Pace. The subjects of this research was 32 students of class IX. The results of the validation of the LKS with SAVI approach by the validator get an assessment of 3.8 after experiencing product revision. This shows that the LKS with SAVI approach that was developed is declared valid. The results of the analysis of the practicality of the LKS with SAVI approach were declared practical with the percentage of student response questionnaires of 85.03% and from the teacher's observation sheet of 87.5%. LKS with SAVI approach succeeded in increasing students' representation ability with a percentage increase of 90.625%. The result of the percentage of product completeness is 71.875% so it can be said that the LKS product with SAVI approach is an effective product. These results indicate that worksheets with SAVI approach are considered valid, practical, effective, and can improve mathematical representation skills.

Formation of the product portfolio of the enterprise

Management decisions on the formation of the product portfolio are traditionally in the field of research of scientists as the relevance questions of the choice of strategic goals of the enterprise involves the justification of marketing and production decisions in optimizing the structure of the product range. The formation of the product portfolio involves certain management actions to work with a particular product (its development, withdrawal or modification) or range of products, taking into account changes in the structure of the portfolio of the enterprise. Today’s market situation creates new requirements for existing approaches to product development; at the same time such efforts must directly take into account the aggregate market and business requirements for reduced lead time, reliable product performance and cost-effective product differentiation. In general, one way to meet the increased demand for product development speed and productivity is to identify multidisciplinary synergies that can be used to increase system efficiency. The main principles that were singled out allow to develop a practical system for decision support which will allow effectively form the product portfolio of the enterprise and develop optimal characteristics of the product and its product range group. The methodology of decision support is based on interdisciplinary integration, which is formed by using the main relationships between optimization and modelling of a product or group of products as well as aspects of product portfolio management. Scientific and methodological approaches in the formation of the company's portfolio were substantiated which allows to determine the optimal ratio between the range of products and product units that are part of them. The LLC “Khodoriv Meat Packing Factory” is one of the leading producers of meat products in Ukraine. Product range was analysed and the method of quantitative evaluation of goods indicators is proposed to factory. The system approach to formation of an optimum commodity portfolio of the enterprise is considered. The analysed of the assortment group of goods and the assessment of the product portfolio of the enterprise by the method of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Positioning of strategic business units was carried out. The desired assortment group of goods was selected, which will help the company to achieve its goals. The basic marketing strategies are offered.

PRECONDITIONS TO DEEPEN BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON ISSUES OF "NATURAL FOCAL INFECTIONS" IN MEDICAL STUDENTS NOWADAYS

At the stage of forming of fundamental knowledge on focal infectious diseases, three compulsory disciplines are vertically “encountered”: medical biology, microbiology, virology and immunology, and infectious diseases. Microbiology, virology and immunology occupy a central position in the formation of basic knowledge, and as a leading preclinical discipline, it lays the foundations for the application of acquired knowledge, skills and abilities by future healthcare professionals. The article discusses the preconditions to form the fundamental knowledge of natural focal infections in medical students, whose majors are specialty "Medicine», and "Paediatrics", as well as possible ways to boost students’ cognitive activity/ learning interest, taking into account interdisciplinary integration. Medical students gain knowledge on natural focal infectious diseases, the scientifically grounded characteristics of this group of infections and the ways to apply this knowledge during their II and III years being fostered in the educational and cognitive environment of the Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology. Students are guided on receiving knowledge on natural focal infections also during independent out-of-class training. Such model is implemented in four stages, each of which assumes its own psychological and didactic goals aimed at the implementation of educational activities, and as the end result, consisting in the formation of basic knowledge on each specific topic of the practical lesson, for each specific thematic block, and at the end of intensive cognitive activity at the department - an expected high-quality educational and effective product from the mastered discipline.

Managing positional innovation in small food enterprises. The bakery industry

Purpose The concept of positional innovation – as one of the four innovation types of the Francis and Bessant’s “4P’s” model – is an effective product innovation strategy for producers of mature and credence goods as food products are. Despite the acknowledgement as one of the major industries worldwide, positional innovations about the food products are underexplored in the managerial literature. To fill this gap, this paper first develops a theoretical analysis of the concepts. Then, by adopting a case-study research methodology, it discloses the way a bakery small enterprise manages positional innovation. Theoretical and practical implications are finally introduced and discussed. Design/methodology/approach After a literature review about the role and the characteristics of the positional innovation, the paper presents a case study of definition and implementation of managerial actions and initiatives driven by positional innovation. The aim is not to report on an inductive study, but to use this example as a picture to clarify theory and show how the various conceptual issues may be operatively applied and provide more contextual insights. Findings It emerges how a small food enterprise manages positional innovation to survive and compete in the national and international markets; the positional innovation sources are tapped into culture, social responsibility, tradition and other territorial assets of tangible and intangible nature, effectively combined to innovate the product perception and/or the utility in a use context. Originality/value “Non-technological”, simple products, like food, are underexplored and rarely seen as relevant context to investigate along the strategic and innovation management literature. Nonetheless, positional innovation is a perspective that values and credits the innovation efforts of small food products, revealing interesting managerial concepts and inspiring entrepreneurs and managers for activating and sustaining new strategies of innovation for their businesses.

Safer by design: Building a collaborative, integrated and evidence-based framework to inform the regulation and mitigation of gambling product risk

Evidence suggests that harms may result from gambling participation as a result of a complex interaction between individual differences among consumers, environmental factors, and the characteristics of the gambling product. The latter of these factors, broadly referred to in this paper as product risk, has received increased policy attention in recent years. Product-focussed approaches to harm reduction, however, are under-developed relative to other forms of player protection and likely reflects the limitations of existing evidence and relative complexity of the topic. In this position paper, we define and explain the concept of product risk and consider what is currently known regarding the link between gambling products and harm. The paper describes the present barriers to develop effective product risk regulation and harm mitigation strategies. These include the competing interests of stakeholders, limited collaboration and information sharing, clear roles, responsibilities and leadership and a lack of integrated evidence-informed approaches. In response to these challenges, we propose adopting a framework comprised of a series of principles to progress this contested area of policy. The framework encourages better collaboration and communication between stakeholders; the accelerated production of valid and reliable evidence; a strategic alignment of stakeholder activity; and, more effective and efficient approaches to assessing and mitigating product risk.

PLUMMETING CONSUMERS' BRAND SWITCHING BEHAVIOUR USING A HOLISTIC PRODUCT STRATEGY IN THE ZIMBABWEAN COLA INDUSTRY

The study was driven by the need to elevate consumers’ switching costs so as to minimise consumer churning behaviour. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the product strategy on consumers’ brand switching intention behaviour. A marketing orientation of managing a product from a holistic approach was adopted and that was informed by previous theoretical modelling. The study followed a quantitative approach in the cola industry in Zimbabwe. Data was collected using questionnaires from a sample size of 432 respondents. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) - Amos Graphics was used to analyse data. The study confirmed that a holistic approach to product strategy is statistically significant in minimising churning behaviour of customers. Product availability and product quality were inversely influencing behavioural intention to switch brands whilst product price recorded a significant positive impact. Product range had an insignificant association with consumer attrition. The study concluded that consumers’ switching behaviour can be managed through a well implemented product strategy. To plummet brand switching behaviour, the study recommends effective product pricing, effective product distribution and improvements in product quality.

Failure Analysis and Optimization of the Tie Rod Using FEA

A car’s steering wheel is used to connect the steering gear which is connect to the wheels via the tie rod ends. The main use of the tie rod end is to ensure the wheels are aligned. Hence the functioning of tie rod is crucial for steering as well as suspension performance of vehicle. Today’s world is competitive with respective to efficiency as well as economical in price, every organization striving for cost effective product at a lower price and within minimum period for ‘time to market. In this work, an attempt is made on optimization of the tier rod through changing materials and to reducing the weight. FEA analysis is performed on solid section and hollow sections with different thicknesses. The stress results at critical locations for different design iterations are discussed in this work. From the FEA results it is observed that the effected wright for hollow section is reduced by 18.15 % compare to solid section. Keywords: Tie rod, ANSYS, CATIA, Stress, optimization

Recent Advances in Preparation and Testing Methods of Engine-Based Nanolubricants: A State-of-the-Art Review

Reducing power losses in engines is considered a key parameter of their efficiency improvement. Nanotechnology, as an interface technology, is considered one of the most promising strategies for this purpose. As a consumable liquid, researchers have studied nanolubricants through the last decade as potential engine oil. Nanolubricants were shown to cause a considerable reduction in the engine frictional and thermal losses, and fuel consumption as well. Despite that, numerous drawbacks regarding the quality of the processed nanolubricants were discerned. This includes the dispersion stability of these fluids and the lack of actual engine experiments. It has been shown that the selection criteria of nanoparticles to be used as lubricant additives for internal combustion engines is considered a complex process. Many factors have to be considered to investigate and follow up with their characteristics. The selection methodology includes tribological and rheological behaviours, thermal stability, dispersion stability, as well as engine performance. Through the last decade, studies on nanolubricants related to internal combustion engines focused only on one to three of these factors, with little concern towards the other factors that would have a considerable effect on their final behaviour. In this review study, recent works concerning nanolubricants are discussed and summarized. A complete image of the designing parameters for this approach is presented, to afford an effective product as engine lubricant.

Antecedents and consequences of consumers' attitudes toward product placements: evidence from India

PurposeAdvertising clutter has fueled the rise of nontraditional advertising methods. The current study, conducted in India, adopted the consumer socialization framework to assess product placement attitudes and behaviors.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire-based survey was conducted to gauge consumers' responses to product placements. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze the relationship between different variables.FindingsThe results revealed that young Indian adults are positive about product placements as they believe that incorporating brands into the content adds realism. The authors found that socialization agents significantly impact viewers' attitudes toward product placements which in turn influence their purchase intentions. The authors also found that product acceptability impacts consumers' purchase intentions.Practical implicationsThis paper provides important insights into consumers' perceptions of product placements. Based on the findings, marketers can formulate effective product placement strategies.Originality/valueMost of the studies existing in this area have been conducted in the developed markets except a few which have been conducted in the emerging markets. Hence, the present study is an attempt to fill this research gap. This study is among the first to establish a relationship between product acceptability and consumers' purchase intentions.