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Copyright of Advancements of Microbiology is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a key indicator to measure the effectiveness of production systems. This paper aims to evaluate and improve a plastic production line based on OEE evaluation. An integrated framework is proposed to enhance the production system efficiency. This paper presents the data for a Plastic production line in Jordan under real working conditions. The data covers three months. A framework process to improve the OEE of the Plastic production system was proposed. Six major stoppage losses were inspected with the help of Pareto analysis. Furthermore, the actual availability, efficiency, and quality rate measures, together with the whole OEE for each working day, week, and month of the production line were shown. The methodology is based on determining the OEE of a Plastic production line after determining the causes of failures. The fishbone diagram tool is used to determine the root causes of failures. To improve the OEE measure, several losses are identified. The results reveal that the company should improve its policy to improve the production line’s performance and reduce losses. Top management should also pay attention to reducing the speed losses, which consist of 58.1%, and eliminate the planned and unscheduled disruptions covering 12.73% of all losses. This can be achieved by establishing a proper operation management procedure and strategy. This, in turn, optimized the equipment’s effectiveness. The quality procedure should include the changeover program that may be executed every day. Similarly, all preventive maintenance procedures for the six machines should be properly executed in predetermined intervals. There are several limitations in the research. Firstly, the research case study is only the plastic production system. Secondly, the research is related to the downtime or stoppage by analyzing it using fishbone diagram. Further, supported by other techniques such as the Pareto chart, six big losses analyses and CED. This research conducted on a Plastic industry. However, similar studies can be carried out in future in other manufacturing industries like electronic, pharmaceutical, textile industries, etc., and service industry. However, as future research work the contributions of this paper with other lean manufacturing concept like six sigma, quality function deployment, TQM, and just-in-time manu-facturing, can also be conducting to assess the overall production line efficiency. On the other hand, several statistical tests can be implemented based on data collected of TPM performance indicators. The proposed method supports policymakers in their decision-making process on the operations management line. Further-more, it improves the production systems’ productivity quality, and performance, reducing unplanned stop-pages and breakdowns, and reducing maintenance costs.

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The subject-matter of this paper is the economic situation in selected Eurasian countries affected by armed conflict at the turn of the 21st century. The aim of the paper is to assess the strength and impact of such conflict on the economic development of the affected countries from its outbreak until 2022.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), thus it is pursues to improve their performance to stay in the global competitive markets through adopting an efficient manufacturing systems, one of them is lean production (LP). LP is a continuous improvement philosophy that based on using various lean activities to improve enterprise performance by eliminating various type of waste. In this paper, a Lean Level Assessment Methodology is proposed which integrated Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) to identify level of importance of lean activities and assess the level of SMEs leanness concerning five dimensions of lean activities. SMEs lean activities have surveyed through a comprehensive literature review, where twenty six lean activities have identified as the most common SMEs activities that classifying into five lean dimensions. A questionnaire was developed to collect data related to the levels of adoption of these lean activities by SMEs using a triple Likert scale. EFA was used to extract the most influencing lean activities on SMEs leanness based on questionnaire data. FAHP was used to determine the weights and the level of importance of these lean activities, while FTOPSIS was employed to investigate and assess the level of SMEs’ leanness related to the five lean dimensions activities. The proposed methodology has applied in four Iraqi SMEs (A1, A2, A3, and A4) for producing healthy water and soft drink in Baghdad. The results have explained that only 19 lean activities are the most influencing on SMEs leanness. Efficient manager is an important lean activity that has 58.90% level of importance. Although the four Iraqi SMEs have approximately acceptable level of leanness related the five lean dimensions, there is variation in adoption these lean dimensions activities by SMEs. SMEs management should develop a continuous improvement strategy based on utilizing SMEs’ efforts and resources to improve activities of the weaker dimension for improving their competitiveness and ensuring sustainability in the rapidly changing business environment. One limitation of this paper is the difficulty in obtaining data related to lean activities and their performance through SMEs’ processes and activities.

Value stream mapping is one of the basic tools used in the processes improvement or design – in accordance with the Lean concept. This paper presents a model of designing production processes and introducing new products to the market based on the analysis of the value streams flow in the production process. Particular attention was paid to the importance of input data necessary to plan a properly functioning production process, which results in a high-value product (from the customer’s point of view). In the paper also the list of all the most important tools supporting all stages of designing new production processes or improving existing processes has been presented. Also the advantages of big pictures analysis using was highlighted. In this case value stream mapping and big picture analysis were oriented on quality in the product development process and contribute to: creating value (based on customer requirements) while maintaining timely deliveries and constant costs (Value Stream Mapping), sustainable use of tangible and intangible resources (removing waste at the design stage). However, from the company point of view, and particular in the cost level, the product can gain value because a lower input is required for its production. After improvement, the process lead time has been shortened in an area where value was not added, but the consequence of implementing the change is an increase in the production volume while maintaining the process transition time – therefore, unit costs of production will change.

This paper aims to examine the changes in global value chains (GVCs) in the years 2020–2022 (times of the COVID-19 pandemic) compared to 2019 (last year before the pandemic). GVCs are illustrated by diagrams based on the statistics on international trade measured by value-added exports and imports. In this paper, the final demand approach is applied to measure international trade by value-added exports and imports and they were computed based on inter-country input-output tables delivered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The catchphrase “Made in the World” makes an impression, but in reality, value chains are rarely global. They are rather regional with three centers. “Factory Europe”, “Factory Asia”, and “Factory America” can easily be identified in the years 2019–2022 as there were three large regional supply hubs in GVCs: Germany, China, and the United States. When the years 2020–2022 were compared to 2019, “Factory Asia” with center in China elevated their position in GVCs at the expense of “Factory Europe” with center in Germany and “Factory America with center in the USA.”

The Multi-skilled Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (MS-RCPSP) is a complex and multi-faceted problem that involves scheduling activities whilst considering various resource constraints. These constraints include limited availability of workers, equipment, and materials, with each activity requiring a minimal set of skills to be executed. Furthermore, for a better resemblance to reality, workers/machines are assumed to be multi-skilled/multi-purpose posing another dimension of complexity to the problem. The objective is to minimize project duration, cost, or other relevant criteria while accounting for the inherent resources flexibility. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature pertaining to MS-RCPSP, and an in-depth analysis of 171 papers published between 2000 and 2021 inclusive. The conducted bibliometric analysis identifies the top contributing authors, most influential papers, existing research tendencies, and thematic research topics within the field. In addition, this review highlights different aspects of the MS-RCPSP, spanning the significance of performance measures, solution approaches, application areas, and the incorporation of time constraints. While project completion time, cost, and tardiness are common performance indicators, other measures such as multi-skilled staff assignment and schedule robustness are also deemed important. Although various methods have been employed to solve the MS-RCPSP including exact and approximate approaches, the selection of the most-suited approach depends on the problem’s scale, complexity, and constraints, necessitating careful consideration of each method’s strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, several studies have jointly addressed resource and time constraints in the context of MS-RCPSP, often considering tardiness, and have proposed different algorithms, models, and metaheuristics to tackle these challenges. This paper clearly highlights research gaps and promising avenues for future research. This work provides valuable insights for project managers to effectively schedule tasks in the presence of multiple flexible resources.

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA). Graphical methods are used to gain insights in EDA and these insights can be useful for forming tentative hypotheses when performing a root cause analysis (RCA). The topic of EDA is well addressed in the literature; however, empirical studies of the efficacy of EDA are lacking. We therefore aim to evaluate EDA by comparing one group of students identifying salient features in a table against a second group of students attempting to identify salient features in the same data presented in the form of a run chart, and then extracting relevant conclusions from such a comparison. Two groups of students were randomly selected to receive data; either in the form of a table or a run chart. They were then tasked with visually identifying any data points that stood out as interesting. The number of correctly identified values and the time to find the values were both evaluated by a two-sample t-test to determine if there was a statistically significant difference. The participants with a graph found the correct values that stood out in the data much quicker than those that used a table. Those using the data in the form of a table too much longer and failed to identify values that stood out. However, those with a graph also had far more false positives. Much has been written on the topic of EDA in the literature; however, an empirical evaluation of this common methodology is lacking. This paper confirms with empirical evidence the effectiveness of EDA.

The dynamic evolution of the economy and the evolving demands necessitating adaptability are primary catalysts for the emergence of Industry 5.0 which, building on the foundations of Industry 4.0, is oriented towards meeting human needs and expectations while ensuring the responsible functioning of the workforce. This is particularly salient in sectors experiencing rapid advancements in manufacturing concepts, characterized by the integration of advanced IT, information and data utilization, automation, and the deployment of collaborative robots, often referred to as “cobots”. The study outlines the key prerequisites concerning the development and operation of Industry 5.0, as specified in European Union guidelines, and evident in research literature. Three critical facets pertinent to the effective implementation of Industry 5.0 are extensively addressed, encompassing the imperative to effectively cater to human-related requisites and highlighting the potential benefits therein. The paper offers an overview of openly accessible, previously published materials on the subject. The author’s examination encompasses studies regarded as milestones, which build on the foundations of Industry 4.0 to advance the conceptual framework of Industry 5.0. Rather than centering on statistical analysis, this research attempts to explore relationships that warrant further in-depth investigation to ascertain existing correlations. The paper seeks to outline factors to be considered in the course of implementing Industry 5.0. Its conclusions may be of use in supporting people responsible for organizational development and specifically in helping them to identify potential issues so as to give their organization an edge in the global competitive environment.

Copyright of Advancements of Microbiology is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Advances in Hygiene & Experimental Medicine / Postepy Higieny i Medycyny Doswiadczalnej is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper aims to understand various concepts and dimensions of financial literacy by using literature-based analysis. The reviews included various parameters, such as the financial literacy of young people, employees, women and college students, and the impact of financial literacy on well-being and investment decisions. Secondary information was gathered from many publications, websites, research papers, and articles. In the context of India, there is still much work to be done in the domain of financial literacy. Numerous studies have revealed low levels of financial literacy among India’s different demographic segments and some studies have revealed moderate levels. Financial literacy is a difficult topic to describe and quantify. The definition and measurement of this idea are the focus of numerous investigations. Policy changes must be made to improve financial literacy at both the fundamental and advanced levels so that people can save and invest money more sensibly in the various market opportunities.

The paper discusses issues connected with the use of selected indices (WIBOR, WIBID, WIRON, POLONIA) as benchmarks for bank loans. In the introduction, the author addresses the problem of manipulation of rates, which are characterized by the forecasting of interest rate values. The following part of the paper analyses the differences in benchmarks’ construction, describes their operation, methods of setting and use. It also outlines their behavior over time. Subsequently, issues relating to the application of WIBOR, WIBID, POLONIA, WIRON as benchmarks for consumer loans are presented. They have been compared to a sample bank offer based on a fixed interest rate. The final conclusions outline the possible effects of various benchmarks on borrowers, and compare the situation of the Polish banking offer for fixed-rate loans with other countries. The possible effects of new regulations in the context of the share of fixed-rate loans in the credit market are also described.

The paper is devoted to the construction and design solutions of the power supply and drive systems of a prototype, lightweight LHD (Load-Haul-Dump) loader with an innovative “in-wheel drive” transmission system. The loader is a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) with replaceable energy storage. It is intended for use in underground mines with no explosion hazard, especially in metal ore mines. The developed model contains four independent, electric drive systems installed in the road wheels. The paper presents the results of simulation tests, which enabled estimating the required driving power and electricity demand in various regimes and working conditions of the loader. The results of the calculations were used to determine the parameters of the drive system components and the battery capacity. Challenges and problems faced by constructors of BEV LHD loaders with an in-wheel drive have been pointed out.

The objective of this paper is to propose effective methods to implement sustainable development principles among young people, both in schools and universities. The authors of this article recognize the significant potential among young individuals whose actions and choices have a substantial impact on the environment. By analyzing the knowledge and behaviors of young people towards sustainable development and environmental protection, based on surveys conducted among pupils and students from the south-eastern region of Poland, this paper identifies gaps that require improvement and proposes actions aimed at raising pro-ecological awareness among the youth. The analysis revealed that only 25% of the respondents have heard about the “Agenda for Sustainable Development – 2030”, 20% were familiar with the goals of sustainable development, and few have participated in initiatives for sustainable development. However, 58% of respondents claimed to engage in activities for environmental protection in their daily lives. The article also presents the degree of compliance with the assumptions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on both global and local scales. Furthermore, the paper analyzes two aspects of students’ awareness of sustainable development: their knowledge of goals and documents, and their pro-ecological behavior in daily life. Based on the findings, this paper proposes ways to introduce sustainable development principles in selected areas of school and university functioning to enhance ecological awareness and shape pro-ecological attitudes among young people. Concrete actions to facilitate implementation are also suggested.

The smart city concept, influenced by societal changes, technology, and geopolitics, is transitioning towards a human-centered model—Smart City 3.0. Emphasizing community engagement, this model ensures that new technologies are tailored to each city’s unique needs. The creation of a participatory society is essential for this approach, fostering public involvement in decision-making. Core mechanisms include public consultations and participatory budgeting, as legislated, enhancing co-management between authorities and residents. To successfully implement Smart City 3.0, it is vital to build a partnership based on mutual trust between local authorities and communities. Opinions must not only be expressed, but factored into city planning and development. Advisory bodies like city youth councils illustrate this approach, engaging youth in meaningful roles and ensuring their interests are represented. This paper investigates the vital role of community members in the creating of smart city. Additionally, the paper conducts a comprehensive review of various models of participation, evaluating their respective strengths and weaknesses within the context of smart city development.

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et Studia is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ius Novum is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Advances in Hygiene & Experimental Medicine / Postepy Higieny i Medycyny Doswiadczalnej is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The development of crowdfunding widened the inventory of the available funding methods for scientific and extracurricular projects and boosted the interest of those entities that have not used this form of creative funding until now. American universities are both pioneers in this field and the most successful in this type of fundraising. At universities in Poland, crowdfunding is in the phase of initial development, therefore this paper is aimed at introducing and evaluating the first crowdfunding platform launched at Poznań University of Economics and Business — GOuep.pl. The experience gained and conclusions drawn from the first fundraisings organised for the implementation of selected projects provide interesting, practical implications for the parties potentially interested in this method of project funding. University fundraisings usually do not reach beyond a given university’s community, making them rather small, local projects with moderate financial goals. Crowdfunding is still so fresh and unexplored at universities in Poland, that significant resources, both financial and in the form of expert knowledge, need to be spent in order to take full advantage of it. It is also a lesson for the entire academic community on how to use the potential of engagement in university projects, understood as events that integrate particular groups and affect the development of the potential and attractiveness of a university. The paper contributes towards recognising predictors of successful crowdfunding at Polish universities and indicates the possibility to use crowdfunding platforms as tools in building the university image and strengthening the integration of academic communities.

The availability of digital infrastructures and the fast-paced development of accompanying revolutionary technologies have triggered an unprecedented reliance on Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques both in theory and practice. Within the AI domain, Machine Learning (ML) techniques stand out as essential facilitator largely enabling machines to possess human-like cognitive and decision making capabilities. This paper provides a focused review of the literature addressing applications of emerging ML tools to solve various Project Scheduling Problems (PSPs). In particular, it employs bibliometric and network analysis tools along with a systematic literature review to analyze a pool of 104 papers published between 1985 and August 2021. The conducted analysis unveiled the top contributing authors, the most influential papers as well as the existing research tendencies and thematic research topics within this field of study. A noticeable growth in the number of relevant studies is seen recently with a steady increase as of the year 2018. Most of the studies adopted Artificial Neural Networks, Bayesian Network and Reinforcement Learning techniques to tackle PSPs under a stochastic environment, where these techniques are frequently hybridized with classical metaheuristics. The majority of works (57%) addressed basic Resource Constrained PSPs and only 15% are devoted to the project portfolio management problem. Furthermore, this study clearly indicates that the application of AI techniques to efficiently handle PSPs is still in its infancy stage bringing out the need for further research in this area. This work also identifies current research gaps and highlights a multitude of promising avenues for future research.

Currently, the development of information technology in all fields is very rapid, including in the manufacturing sector, thus making the social environment of manufacturing change a lot. Traditional manufacturing research focuses on applying technology, such as production models, supplier arrangements, automation, advanced machines in the manufacturing industry, etc. Global competition and increasingly diverse customer demands are a phenomenon that occurs today. Social manufacturing is a new distributed, collaborative, and intelligent manufacturing, that every consumer can participate in the entire process of product design, manufacture, and even marketing. This study aims to examine the development of social manufacturing systems and the latest research in social manufacturing. The method used is to review the latest papers related to social manufacturing that provide a new paradigm for the manufacturing industry, then map based on the concepts, frameworks, and technologies used. The results of this review paper are in the form of mapping research papers taken from the database of a reputable international journal, Scopus. The mapping includes data on the author, co-author, terms on social manufacturing paper, year of publication, type of document and publisher. This systematic literature review can be one of the references for basic research on social manufacturing.

In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, manufacturing firms face more competitive environments, rapidly changing information and communication technologies (ICTs), and customers’ preferences than ever before. This paper analyzes relevant literature and proposes a systemic customer-centric knowledge-based production value chain (KPVC) to leverage distinctive core competencies (DCCs) and create sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) in manufacturing contexts. The paper introduces an integrative customer-centric KPVC model that enables companies to respond to environmental drivers, leverage DCCs, and create SCA. It adopts an exploratory approach to developing a unified and inherently interdisciplinary model based on a review of relevant scholarly literature. The KPVC integrated model comprises production value chain (PVC), knowledge management (KM) processes, and business process re-engineering (BPR) enabling activities. A successful move to KPVC requires a fully integrated and automated system allowing firms to define, track, and manage their work processes. Effective KPVC is a principal approach for leveraging DCCs in the quest for achieving SCA in today’s competitive business world and generating better values for customers and companies.

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)