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Meeting the needs of today’s industry plays a prominent role in the progress and competitive strength of any country. Therefore, it is necessary to align the curriculum of engineering courses with them. In this research, the focus has been on the mechanical engineering curriculum, especially in the universities of Iran. For this purpose, first by surveying the industry owners and reviewing the literature, these expectations have been identified and prioritized. Accordingly, the most important of these needs are creativity, visualization ability, familiarity with manufacturing processes, and agility in learning new concepts. Then, using a twostage quality function deployment method (QFD), these expectations are translated into curriculum specifications. The results show that the most effective groups of courses in this field are elective courses, skill courses such as engineering graphics (including technical drawing and drawing courses), design of machine components, and practical workshops. In the existing programs, compared to courses in specialized theory and basic courses, some of them have received less considerable attention in quantity and quality

Against the background of population aging and the growing demand for human–pet co-living, this study proposes a dual-objective co-design framework for older adults and domestic cats and applies it to the development of an intelligent human–cat interactive chair. To address the animal-centered bias and lack of age-friendly functions in existing pet furniture, the study integrates the Kano model, AHP, QFD, and TOPSIS to establish a structured design decision-making pathway. Based on surveys of 98 older adults and behavioral analysis of 30 domestic cats, 11 core functional requirements were identified. AHP results showed that the replaceable scratching layer and composite natural wood structure accounted for 42.9% of the total weight, while QFD mapping yielded 14 design features, with modular scratching structure, quick-release scratching board slot, and natural wood segmented assembly receiving the highest scores. TOPSIS evaluation indicated that Option B achieved the optimal closeness coefficient (Ci = 0.741). The results demonstrate that integrating feline behavior stimulation with assistive functions for older adults enhances feline activity and user safety, and the proposed Kano–AHP–QFD–TOPSIS framework provides methodological support for cross-species co-design of shared furniture.

The use of aging aids can be used in conjunction with existing furniture to expand the aging function of the furniture, so that the furniture better meets the needs of the elderly. Pneumatic massage is a kind of massage technology that realises the massage function by inflating and deflating the airbag. Compared with mechanical massage, it has the advantages of simple structure, soft force, safety and reliability, and it is especially suitable for the application of old age recreation products. In order to accurately match the needs of the elderly for pneumatic massage products and develop suitable pneumatic massage cushion products, this paper constructs a research framework of user needs-user behaviour-design elements based on the joint AHP-AEIOU-QFD model, which clarifies the user needs and core design elements of the ageing pneumatic massage cushion and provides an important basis for product development. Firstly, the AHP method was used to construct the user requirements model, which clarified that safety and core functions are the core primary needs of the elderly, and structural rationality and pneumatic massage function are the core secondary needs of the elderly. Further, the QFD method converts the user requirements into technical parameters and analyses them and clarifies the modular airbag and support structure design as the core design elements of the age-friendly pneumatic massage cushion products. Finally, the JACK simulation platform is used to conduct comparative experiments on the design parts of the products, and the simulation data verifies the feasibility of the optimised products. The results of this paper have an important role in guiding the design and development of ageing massage cushion products.

PurposeResilience is a fundamental component of healthcare supply chains, as the quality and endurance of human life are dependent on them. However, there are numerous resilience-building measures, and there is a need for prioritization of those strategies. This research study aims to prioritize resilience strategies for healthcare supply chains while considering the risks that most severe, probable to occur and have the lengthiest periods of recovery.Design/methodology/approachThis research study has used multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques for analysis. Initially, the criteria for prioritization of risks, i.e. severity, probability of occurrence and recovery time were assigned with importance weights through the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Then, these weights were used in the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPIS) analysis for prioritization of risks. Subsequently, the identified risks were used for highlighting the appropriate resilience strategies through the fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) technique.FindingsResults indicate that Industry 4.0, multiple sourcing, risk awareness, agility and global diversification of suppliers, markets and operations are the most significant resilience strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study's limitation is that it is conducted in a general perspective, rather than reducing the context to a developing or developed country. Different areas have variable market factors, due to which potential risks occur in a different form. Moreover, resilience strategies work differently in different environments. Therefore, for future endeavors, the studies should be carried out in a limited context.Originality/valueThis research study proposes a novel MCDM-based approach for ranking resilience strategies, in light of the most probable, severe and long-lasting risks. In addition, this approach has been employed for the enhancement of resilience in healthcare supply chains.

There are rules that provide shared information with the aim of guiding the behaviour of individuals or the community regarding spaces, processes and products. Therefore, the goal is to start a normalisation and standardisation procedure, which allows to solve a specific problem. With regard to the culture and practice of accessibility of spaces and environments, the reference legislation (Law 13/89, Presidential Decree 24 July 1996, n. 503, ISO 21541:2021, Ministerial Decree 236/89, UNI 17210:2021) is not only rather obsolete, but also excludes a large part of potential users. This paper aims to open a debate on the current operational tools in order to evaluate and design an inclusive context, proposing a new, more performing and universal one. The culture of accessibility is not only the scrupulous and scientific observance of the rules. It also means combining both quantitative and qualitative needs; therefore, providing environmental well-being. Thanks to the critical description of reference or experimental evaluation or design tools (HCD participatory methodologies for the definition of needs analyses, Quality Function Deployment for the tracking of technical specifications, ICF with a focus on UNI activities, laws, decrees and regulations to observe the Rule), this paper describes some projects that attempted to go beyond the rule, providing an inclusive context and space to meet people’s actual needs. Therefore, putting some operational tools into functional synergy (Rules, Inclusive Methodologies, ICF, QFD) to define a new multi-criteria tool can be an excellent starting point to develop, for each specific environmental context, a list of expectations that are important for planning and evaluation.

The idea of sustainable development (SD) forces companies to combine the quality development of products with the simultaneous care of the natural environment. These actions should start with the product design process. The aim of the study was to create a modified method of Quality Function Development (QFD-CE), which will support the design of new products or improve the existing products on the market. In the proposed method (QFD-CE), the method integrates techniques such as: SMARTER method, brainstorming (BM), the method of selecting a team of experts, kinship diagram, fixed sum scale, and Likert scale. A novelty compared to the traditional QFD methodology is that design goals are set not only based on customer expectations, but also considering the impact on the natural environment. The originality of this proposition comes to the practical inclusion of including sustainability development criteria. The proposed method can be used in companies that design new products and are focused on caring for the natural environment. The QFD-CE method test method was performed for photovoltaic panels (PV). As part of the proposed QFD-CE method, the sequence of design activities was determined so that they meet customer expectations and can be simultaneously implemented according to the idea of SD. This method can be used for any product, mainly those that have a significant impact on the natural environment.

Today, the progress and development of countries in the group of industrial and manufacturing sectors, the leadership of these sectors owes to human resources is capablities. In production units, quality control managers are responsible. The main purpose of this study is to identify the skill expectations of quality control managers according to their role and duties in the excellence of industrial sectors and to analyze the curriculum of industrial engineering in the undergraduate level in order to meet these needs with a pathological approach. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and exploratory in terms of qualitative and quantitative in terms of data collection method. In order to identify the skill expectations of quality control managers, based on the job descriptions of quality control managers and the study of documents and libraries, skill needs are explained with the help of expert opinion polls and to combine skill needs with specialized courses in industrial engineering and determine their importance and coverage. The technique of quality function deployment (QFD) has been used. The results of the analysis show that the lessons; quality and productivity management, statistical quality control, management information systems, production methods and production planning maximum impact and design courses in industrial creation, engineering economics, transportation planning and operations research less role in strengthen the skills of quality control managers. There are also educational gaps in the areas of familiarity with government laws and regulations in the production sector, standardization issues, continuous monitoring of product quality in the industrial engineering training program in universities, which needs the attention of policy makers in this field.

The current study aimed to determine alternative configurations of supply chain resilience strategies for managing supply chain performance (SCP) during a severe disruption. To do this, a multi-method and multi-study approach was adopted. Phase 1 of the study employed a qualitative approach to explore supply chain risk factors and their mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Phase 2, the quality function deployment technique was used alongside quantitative case studies to determine the most critical risk factors and most crucial resilience strategies. The final phase, Phase 3, used fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to determine the alternative portfolio of strategies for SCP to create flexibility when employing resilience strategies. The results revealed that implementing resilience strategies alone is ineffective in improving SCP, while resilience strategies combined with the nullification of risk factors enhance SCP. The study also revealed two alternative configurations of resilience strategies to tackle the relevant risk factors. These findings can be used to guide managers toward identifying the most suitable configuration of resilience strategies to manage severe and unprecedented supply chain risk. The alternative configurations of resilience strategies can also provide flexibility to managers in deciding the best course of action for their firms.

As global environmental problems become increasingly severe and consumers’ environmental awareness grows, traditional gift packaging is facing heavy criticism due to its excessive luxury orientation, high material consumption, and recycling difficulties. To address these challenges, this study proposed an innovative sustainable gift-packaging design methodology driven by user requirements and integrating the KANO model, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Quality Function Deployment (QFD), aiming to enhance consumers’ willingness to adopt green practices and improve overall user experience. First, the KANO model was employed to identify and classify consumers’ packaging requirements, resulting in twenty user needs categorized by attribute. Second, AHP was used to construct a judgment matrix and calculate the composite weight of each requirement, thereby establishing the prioritization of design elements. Finally, QFD translated these user requirements into concrete design parameters, which were then ranked according to their importance. The resulting sustainable gift-packaging solution not only met users’ functional and aesthetic demands but also significantly elevated their environmental awareness. This research offers a scientifically grounded and practically applicable reference for the sustainable development of the packaging industry, while pointing to future research directions and potential applications in sustainable packaging design.

In recent years information and communication technologies (ICT) have played a significant role in all aspects of modern society and have impacted socioeconomic development in sectors such as education, administration, business, medical care and agriculture. The benefits of such technologies in agriculture can be appreciated only if farmers use them. In order to predict and evaluate the adoption of these new technological tools, the technology acceptance model (TAM) can be a valid aid. This paper identifies the most commonly used external variables in e-learning, agriculture and virtual reality applications for further validation in an e-learning tool designed for EU farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. Starting from a literature review of the technology acceptance model, the analysis based on Quality Function Deployment (QFD) shows that computer self-efficacy, individual innovativeness, computer anxiety, perceived enjoyment, social norm, content and system quality, experience and facilitating conditions are the most common determinants addressing technology acceptance. Furthermore, findings evidenced that the external variables have a different impact on the two main beliefs of the TAM Model, Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU). This study is expected to bring theoretical support for academics when determining the variables to be included in TAM extensions.