The 17th International Conference Interdisciplinarity in Engineering

Currently, both production and consumption are in a constant expansion due to intense and rapid globalization. The competition among producers has become extremely fierce, and staying in the market depends directly on the quality of manufactured and sold products. This can only be achieved through a deep understanding of customer requirements and maintaining a high standard of quality throughout the manufacturing chain, which entails additional costs that burden production expenses. The paper presents the main costs related to quality and identifies the timing and location of their occurrence in the technological process, establishing that staying competitive in the market is directly linked to the magnitude of these costs. Various strategies for keeping these costs under control in accordance with customer requirements and producer resources are presented. In the paper, a case study is carried out that presents a game theory model, resulting in a probabilistic control strategy that minimizes costs associated with quality control of products. It illustrates that lowering quality-related expenses can be accomplished by utilizing a selective product control strategy for producers and consumers. Production profitability is derived from the cost values of verification and penalties as outlined in the game theory model presented in the paper. The study results serve to guide the decision-making departments of producers in choosing the best control strategy to minimize the quality costs required for meeting the highest standards.

The transition to the economy 4.0 involves a series of major changes in the economy and society in general. The digital economy refers to a new stage in the development of the economy, characterized by increasing productivity and efficiency through automation and digitization, reducing costs and increasing profitability. However, the economy 4.0 can also have a significant impact on the workers and jobs by changing the way work is organized, the content of work and by requiring workers to acquire a completely different set of competences (new knowledge, skills) for their adaptation to new changes.That is why it is very important to develop appropriate policies for training and retraining the workforce (continuous personal and professional development of workers throughout their life, to increase their level of skills), to be able to adapt to new conditions and changes that will occur in the workplace, so that they have the ability to adapt to this new stage of economic development.The purpose of this study is to identify the trends, emerging risks and the potential impact of digitization on the safety and health of workers - opportunities and challenges that digitization of work entails.

In the current competitive world, technology is key and innovative designs are the ones that acquire customer attention, determining market success. Due to its multiple usage options and safety advantages, the CO2 detection sensor industry is developing very fast and new production ideas emerge. Nevertheless, the voice of the customer is seldom taken into consideration when designing sensor characteristics or the actual sensor case. The present paper aims to develop a suitable design of such a sensor for the household consumer, based on quantitative research which uses the Kano model and stated importance questionnaire implemented on 134 respondents from the Western part of Romania and evaluates it by using two most recent Kano refinement models, namely the HWWP (Health Weapon Wealth Prospect) and the Health Weapon Wealth Prospect – Disease Defeat Disadvantage Inertia model (HWWP-DDDI) from the theory of attractive quality domain. Based on these approaches, the potential added value and value loss of each sensor feature are discussed, determining a more effective and efficient decision-making process.

The profit of the organizations can be increased by approaching the existing financing for private actors through the Regional Operational Program (POR) 2014–2020 for the various projects financed and implemented in Brașov County, regarding the field of health and medical industry. This analysis was carried out according to the effective systematization of the services and innovative products obtained; the way in which the funding is applied and used to achieve the general objectives of the funded project, the indicators and results provided for in the projects. Following the implementation, a number of 5 projects from Brașov County were chosen, examples of good practice, with a final report to be delivered. The analysis carried out includes the results obtained and efficiency solutions, using the PRO-EPF Tools, a specific reference framework created for the assessment of sustainability, formulating and placing in a matrix a series of indicators as well as certain mistakes that should not be repeated. The present paper performs, for the first time, a synthesis of the evaluation for financing micro-enterprises in Brașov in the field of health and then an analysis of the phenomena that occurred during the implementation of these projects. Considering the new financing for SMEs in the period 2021–2027, we need as many successful projects and beneficiaries as possible, to access and use existing public funds in Brasov and implicitly in the CENTER Region.

Currently, illegal logging has come to have serious implications for the phenomenon of forest deforestation, thus affecting national and regional economies as well as ecosystems. In order to combat illegal logging and to close markets for illegally sourced timber, some timber-producing countries have started to develop various national timber tracking systems. These complex information systems track the flow of timber from the producer to the final consumer, bringing transparency to timber supply chains, and thus being essential for the good management of forest resources and for the prevention of illegal logging and deforestation. For European countries, the starting point was the European Union Timber Regulation, an important document which made it compulsory to implement forest monitoring technologies. The electronic tools for monitoring the forest situation are in different stages of development and implementation, based not only on legislative and technical rules but also on institutional capacities. In this paper we try to present an original model of electronic monitoring of wood traceability, used by Romania in order to prevent illegal logging and deforestation. It is about the SUMAL electronic system, initiated, improved and used as a tool to combat illegal logging in Romania, in certifying and determining the provenance and application of the EUTR.

This study investigates the impact of noise pollution in various types of intersections in heavily trafficked areas in Cluj-Napoca. Noise pollution is a significant environmental concern that affects the well-being of residents and can lead to various health issues. The objective of this research is to analyze and compare traffic generated noise levels in different types of intersections, including signalized, roundabouts, and uncontrolled intersections. Measurements were taken at multiple locations during peak traffic hours using full spectrum sound level meters. The results indicate variations in noise levels among the different intersection types, highlighting the importance of considering noise mitigation strategies in urban planning and traffic management. The conclusions of this study offer valuable insights into the issue of the variation of noise pollution levels throughout the sound spectrum correlated with different types of road intersections, specifically in the context of a developing city like Cluj-Napoca. The study serves as a basis for implementing effective traffic noise reduction measures, which can contribute to creating a more livable and sustainable environment for the residents of Cluj-Napoca. The findings are essential for urban planners and policymakers in their efforts to improve the overall quality of life by addressing the issue of traffic generated noise pollution in intersections.

In the current era, where the defense sector is increasingly focusing on reducing budget expenses and increasing productivity, eco-innovation capability is a critical solution for dealing with technological processes, highly significant for eco-leaders. Its development improves performance and determines environmental security, along with technology expansion in this field. This addresses fundamental operational areas because military leaders must understand that awareness is integral to where the sector maneuvers. Future leaders must deal with ecological changes simultaneously as they require effective management of quotidian tasks.The methodological phases comprise attribute identification - the base data, we supplemented with our findings. Additionally, we prioritized the most important attributes and assigned numerical cross-evaluation to evaluate their influence on each other. This analysis has significant potential in the Army. However, eco-innovation induces some critical aspects, such as effective utilization of eco-leaders, direct mandate, restrictions in the supply of capabilities elements, or the investments made. Finally, we noted some key observations that need further study regarding our research interest.

Over the last years, the awareness of the importance of sustainability as a key issue for every company’s performance has grown considerably. Companies are increasingly being asked to perform their activities in the most environmental friendly way, not only with regard to internal processes but also in relation to their customers and suppliers, throughout their value chain.The purpose of the research is to identify at what stage the subject of sustainability is in the pharmaceutical industry and if it is one of interest and impact. We selected full papers and reviews published in peer-reviewed journals in the business/management/accounting area. Approaches of various companies have been identified in terms of maintaining sustainability in a company, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities of the pharmaceutical industry that define it as a topic of interest and topicality, having a factor of great global economic, social and environmental impact. In our research, it was observed that most of the researchers put the environmental problem in the foreground. The thematic analysis of the full papers shows four distinct areas of study of the green dimension as follows: cleaner production, green supply chains, green human resource management and green materials.

The rapid development of e-commerce has led to the intensification of the goods flow and the increase of the number of deliveries at the urban level, with negative consequences on the environment (congestion, the occupancy of the road infrastructure, and pollution). Considering the objectives of sustainable development, research is required to establish measures and regulations in the field of urban goods transport that lead to the decrease of fossil fuel consumption and the reduction of polluting emissions. In this framework, the paper presents a model developed to evaluate two methods of last-mile delivery in e-commerce: one from urban distribution centres to customers (homes or offices), and one from urban distribution centres to parcel lockers from which the customers can self-pick-up the parcel in a certain period after delivery. For a given set of registered delivery demands, the model optimises the allocation of vehicles on delivery tours and routes for each method. The model is exemplified for an area in Bucharest. The results allow comparing transport and traffic performances for the two delivery methods. Last-mile delivery options can be recommended to reduce costs and externalities. The model represents a valuable component in further, more comprehensive analysis necessary in planning sustainable urban logistics schemes.

This paper aims to investigate the ethical considerations surrounding the implementation and usage of large language models (LLMs). LLMs have shown tremendous advance in natural language processing and have the potential to revolutionize various fields, including education, healthcare, and many more. The wide adoption of LLMs and rapid increase in usage is also due to the ease of use (via chat interface) and the remarkable fast, coherent response, relative to the input prompt. However, their widespread use raises ethical questions that have not yet been fully considered. This study explores the ethical implications of LLMs and their impact on society, focusing on the need for transparency, fairness, and responsible usage. We analyze the current state of research in this area and provide recommendations for future research and development of LLMs that prioritize ethical considerations.

Healthcare is an extremely important sector in our society and lives. Thus, the best management methods and techniques must be applied on a large scale to ensure prosperous conditions for world population and young generations. Lean Management represents a system or methodology which helps to increase efficiency and efficacy by eliminating waste and focusing on the activities which add value for the customer, thus for the patient in healthcare field. By eliminating several types of waste on a sustained, continuous basis, operational excellence is achieved. The interest towards applying lean philosophy in the medical field is growing worldwide, as top hospitals apply Lean as a business strategy to influence and monitor various performance indicators, such us: improving employee satisfaction, increasing service quality level, improve safety at the workplace, reducing costs and so on. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a survey conducted in public and private units of Romanian healthcare with the aim to know the management opinion regarding the need to implement a management system based on the identification and elimination of waste. Out of the big database, which is subject of a wider analysis to be published this year, we selected and analyzed the answers of the top managers, as the top management is a key element of the successful Lean Management application.The paperwork will focus on managers’ perspective on the need to apply Lean Management in their units and in Romanian healthcare.

Social entrepreneurship has recently gained popularity among academics and governments. This increased interest is partly attributable to social entrepreneurship's creative approach to meeting a clear public need. The traditional distinctions between the private and public sectors are blurred due to this entrepreneurial activity, which also benefits hybrid company models. The theoretical and practical foundations of the social entrepreneurship field are outlined in this essay's first section. Then, we present a review of the European and American literature on social entrepreneurship. The literature on social entrepreneurship in Europe and America is then reviewed. To systematize our results, we use two classification criteria: one is geographical and the other is theoretical. Finally, we examine and discuss each school of thought's viewpoint in relation to the three major issues raised in the literature on entrepreneurship: the individual, the process, and the organization.

The paper addresses a topic related to quality management in a company in the automotive industry. The purpose of the paper is to investigate a complaint received from the customer within the analysis team in the production department, highlighting the defect analysis procedures, the way defects are treated within the company, the relationship established with the customer who complains about certain defects identified in the products, as well as defect management within the company.

Among the managerial processes that are components of quality management, the continuous improvement of quality (quality improvement) has a dominant role in reducing costs and in the economic growth of companies. The purpose of this work is to identify the necessary actions for the treatment of defects in a company in the automotive industry, whose production of car wiring is intended exclusively for the foreign market. Quality assurance and improvement in the company consists of checking the quality of the raw material and the finished product, analyzing the defects, drawing up the documentation for the implemented quality system, performing the internal system audit, as well as the continuous supervision of the company's processes and activities.

Decision support tools for supply chains that are unreliable due to uncertainty over the best tool to utilize, whether it be analytical or simulation, can result in inefficiencies, higher costs, subpar customer service, and lost business prospects. The performance of a supply chain can be increased by implementing an efficient system, which can also improve decision-making and streamline procedures. The objective of this study is to compare the use of analytical models and simulation models in the analysis and improvement of supply chain operations. A few cases of application of both decision support tools were evaluated. The comparison was implemented by considering factors such as level of details, cost, speed, time reference, metrics, and the kind of problem to be solved. The result of the analyses reveals that both types of models improved the supply chain understudied. However, to have a more robust and resilient supply chain optimization, it might be beneficial to apply both models simultaneously.

Costing models tend to follow a top-down or, alternatively, a bottom-up approach, following, respectively, a financial/accounting or an engineering/production perspective. Regardless of the approach used, cost models tend to be based on past information and be deterministic, contributing little to decision making at the organization’s operational and strategic levels. Moreover, the current business environment is characterised by conditions of high variability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. As such, predictive models for decision making which consider the stochastic nature of certain variables are beneficial. In this paper, we present a matrix activity-based costing model which allows a combined bottom-up and top-down approach to predict the resource requirements of a production system and to compute the cost of products and other relevant cost objects, considering the processes as deterministic or stochastic. The developed costing model includes the main elements which characterise a production system. Therefore, it can be easily generalized to different processes and industries. This proposed costing model was replicated using the SIMIO simulation software, including parameters to both make the test process efficient and allow to take full advantage of experimentation. Moreover, tallies were modelled to exhibit custom results, suited to this matrix costing model. We have concluded that discrete event simulation is a well suited tool to cost modelling, especially given its stochastic capabilities and the ease of scenario creation. In future work, different system aspects can be assessed, different resource combination, and the cost per resource call; can be estimated and the simulation model can be improved to facilitate scenario creation.

Internal logistics is a fundamental part of the supply chain and plays a crucial role in supporting the daily operations of an organization, ensuring that the right resources are in the right place, at the right time and in the right quantity. The project was developed in a Portugal organization and operated in internal logistics processes, and its main objective was to improve the efficiency of processes related to internal logistics, focusing on the supermarket supply process and the internal flow of components. To achieve this objective, the PDCA Cycle methodology was used in order to plan, implement, monitor and standardize each improvement. As a result of the project’s development, it was possible to improve the supply process, resulting in a reduction in the number of production stops, and to control the internal flow on the factory floor, by defining circulation directions, guaranteeing fluidity and safety for those involved. It was also possible to act on the occupation rates of the supermarket suppliers, which resulted in a readjustment of tasks and the reduction of one operator in each shift.

Throughout 239 years of industrial evolution, from Industry 1.0 to Industry 4.0, the human factor has proven to be a common core concept. In the era of Industry 4.0 that has come with technologies capable of supporting the operator cognitively and physically, there are still gaps in manufacturing companies in terms of harnessing human capital to achieve the optimal level of productivity. This paper aims to present important aspects regarding the design of work cells by implementing ergonomic principles in manufacturing companies. The actuality of the paper consists in the fact that the design of workstations resides in the need to reflect and characterize some prevailing trends in the evolution of science in general and of work design in particular, as well as in the fact that such an approach responds to some current requirements of practice in the field of workstation design work in work cells.

The demands of the business world increasingly challenge organizations to provide better Service Levels (SL). To monitor this performance, there are indicators such as the On-time-in-full (OTIF) and it is in this context that this project arises, which focuses on the analysis and improvement of the SL provided by the company under study.This Portuguese company is part of an international group of luxury leather goods, dedicated to the production of leather goods components. OTIF is measured by the group through a percentage called Service Rate (SR). The target set for the group’s companies is 85% and, in 2022, the company had a SR of 72%.In light of the action-research methodology, an analysis of the causes that lie at the origin of a service failure was started, and through the measurement and analysis of the potential for improvement, it was concluded that the cause in focus would be “KO Tool”. In this area, problems were identified, which triggered an action plan focused on the creation of a database and registry of occurrences, on acting on the causes of anomaly, on the creation of a dashboard to alert to ongoing blockages, and on the proposal for the regular purchase of tools.There were registered gains in information traceability, space optimization, and organization of occurrences and, in general terms, data capture on the causes of service failure was improved. Considering the implemented solutions and future suggestions, an increase of 3.5% in SR is expected.

The directions of the conducted research aimed at the testing with the help of atomic force microscopy of the residual micro-nano deposits in drinking water filtered with five usual filter cartridges. As a result of the identified deposits, it was possible to characterize them from a geometrical and mechanical-physical perspective, directly reflecting the degree of water filtration. The values obtained from the microscopic analyses were used in an application developed in MATLAB, through mathematical statistics techniques based on correlations and regressions, to generate a predictive model related to the filtering capacity of the existing tested cartridges. These interpretations were the basis of the development of a prototype filtration system composed of cartridges with improved filtration capacities in terms of efficiency, sustainability, and eco-innovation, in relation to the limitations imposed by the usual filtration systems tested.

Exoskeletons, which are wearable devices that generate forces in one or more joints to support a physical activity, have already proven their benefits in neuromusculoskeletal disabilities. The primary objective of this study is to develop guidelines to provide information to future users of the Phoenix exoskeleton on safe use, maintenance, and good clinical practices with the ultimate goal of improving the user's quality of life. The study methodology consisted of analyzing the user manual provided by the manufacturer, followed by the completion of a number of 20 patient use sessions, of which 16 were active training sessions in which biological parameters were monitored (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, degree of fatigue). The multimodal team was made up of: doctor, engineer/technician, physiotherapist, psychologist and patient. The test results allowed the development of the quality standard for the use of the PHOENIX MK1 exoskeleton, which are integrated into the family of standards developed by the manufacturer. We have concluded that it is possible to use the exoskeleton, under safe conditions, at the level of the C7 lesion, and the revision of the Phoenix MK1 exoskeleton is mandatory every 100 h, respectively 51 days.

Continuous patient monitoring during long-term rehabilitation therapy imposes an excessive burden on physiotherapists and medical personnel and incurs high costs for patients. In response to such obstacles, developing effective, low-cost, and user-friendly outpatient or home rehabilitation monitoring systems is essential. This review seeks to develop and investigate innovative mobile devices and new technology applications in medical rehabilitation. This article investigates how mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones are utilised in recovery. This article is novel due to the accelerated evolution of mobile devices in recent years, which has created new opportunities to address various health issues. Integrating devices has many advantages, such as the accelerometer and gyroscope integrated into smartphones and tablets for obtaining the most accurate shoulder measurements. The use of mobile devices in the rehabilitation of various pathologies gives several advantages to the rehabilitation process. These benefits include the personalisation of exercises, the monitoring of progress, and telemedicine. This technology has the potential to make a substantial contribution to enhancing the overall quality of life for patients, provided medical experts carefully monitor it.

It was carried out the analysis of trends in the development of the concept of the “knowledge economy” in the socio-economic sphere of Ukraine. It was determined of according to the results of the study of the main fundamental blocks, the industrial type of the economy of Ukraine. A conclusion is made regarding the trend of rapid development of information and telecommunication technologies in Ukraine. It was revealed a significant correlative influence of the development of information and communication technologies on the creation of added value in the structure of Ukraine’s GDP revealed.The conducted calculations showed the presence of an average correlation between GDP and investments in the spheres of activity that stimulate the development of the “knowledge economy” in Ukraine. This indicates that investments in Ukrainian education, professional, scientific and technical activities, in scientific research, have a minor impact on growth indicators and the structure of GDP.It was concluded that stimulating the development of these areas will contribute to the further growth of the country’s GDP and the share of those industries that form the “knowledge economy”. According to the other three blocks of the knowledge economy (economic regime, innovative ecosystem, education), the Ukrainian economy has an average result. It has been determined the transition of the Ukrainian economy from an industrial to an information type of economic and technological structure.

The research results presented focus on the possibility of assessing the utilization of additive machine workspace through fractal analysis. This assessment enables a comparative analysis of the algorithm's effectiveness in placing 3D models of products within the workspace, considering essential criteria such as the uniformity of product material distribution. Apart from the primary optimization criteria, achieving an even distribution of product material within the workspace is crucial when packing products. This requirement holds particular significance for additive methods such as SLS, SLM and SLA.Fractal analysis of the working space of an additive machine was conducted by initially dividing it into subspaces. A statistical analysis of fractal dimensions obtained for various subspace sizes was then utilized to quantitatively assess the characteristics of filling the workspace with product models. The resulting fractal dimension serves as a measure of complexity for the group of placed products.The proposed approach for assessing the fill ability of the workspace was validated through experimentation with a group of test models of industrial products, employing a genetic algorithm. The results confirmed the viability of evaluating the effectiveness of product placement in the workspace of an additive machine using fractal analysis. The practical implementation was carried out within the system of technological process planning for additive methods, developed at the Department of “Integrated Technologies of Mechanical Engineering” of NTU “KhPI”.

This article presents a comprehensive exploration of the conceptual basis for the formation of smart eco-industrial parks as benchmarks for sustainable manufacturing. The methodology employed includes a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, incorporating a literature review and the development of a conceptual framework. The theoretical analysis emphasizes the impact of the industrial sector on the environment and the emergence of sustainable manufacturing practices. Challenges such as financial constraints, stakeholder engagement, regulatory support, and technology integration are identified, and a collaborative approach through public-private partnerships is proposed as a means to overcome these barriers. The conclusion highlights the potential of smart eco-industrial parks to shape a more sustainable industrial future by integrating smart technologies, adopting sustainable practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Overall, this article presents a comprehensive understanding of the conceptual basis for the formation of smart eco-industrial parks as benchmarking platforms for sustainable manufacturing, demonstrating their potential to drive positive environmental and economic outcomes while inspiring innovation in the broader industrial sector.

This study aims to investigate the extent to which the enterprises in EU countries have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis through digital transformation as well as to explore the digital transformation of manufacturing businesses and its impact on socioeconomic development. The results of the paired samples t-test show statistically significant differences in behaviors of businesses between pre-pandemic and pandemic period in the case of eight out of ten variables analyzed related to e-business (customer relationship management, cloud computing services, 3D printing, robots), e-commerce, mobile internet connectivity, and digital skills. Also, the results of the correlation and regression analysis show a positive effect of the digitalization of businesses in the manufacturing sector on labour productivity and economic development in the EU countries.

The article aims to comprehensively explore educators’ perceptions of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Romania. By gathering insights from teachers, the study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and quality of training programs and approaches. Teachers’ perspectives are considered crucial for aligning education with student and labor market needs, thus enhancing the value of vocational education. The study focuses on the collaboration between educational institutions and the economic sector, particularly in the context of integrated professional consortia for dual education. The article outlines the objectives of the research, which include evaluating the factors influencing the education and professional training process, identifying challenges within the system, and understanding the role of teaching staff in facilitating collaboration between high schools and the business environment. The study also presents several hypotheses related to infrastructure development, funding challenges, curriculum alignment, the establishment of training centers, and the relationship between teaching staff experience and the perception of digitization challenges. The study employed an online questionnaire distributed to teaching and managerial staff in technological high schools in Romania. Data was collected and analyzed using various statistical methods. The findings contribute to enlarging the perspective on vocational education and training in Romania and underscore the necessity of ongoing advancements in this field.

This article explores the contemporary role of culture in social and community development, emphasizing its potential to enhance quality of life. Culture serves as an expression of identity and diversity, fostering inclusivity and countering marginalization within communities. Cultural organizations, like any other, face management challenges, and this study aims to assess their management systems and performance indicators in Romania. Despite the cultural significance of these institutions, Romania lacks comprehensive scientific research in this area. To address this gap, a survey-based study was conducted with two main objectives: evaluating the implementation of management systems in cultural institutions and assessing the level of management involvement in achieving performance indicators. The study involved general managers of cultural organizations, including theaters, museums, and libraries. Out of 223 distributed questionnaires, 76 were validated, enabling the development of operational strategies and policies. Data analysis utilized SPSS 17.0 and Microsoft Office Excel. The obtained results present a significant picture of these concerns in the Romanian cultural system. By analyzing some efficiency indicators specific to the management of cultural institutions, it was highlighted that most of them have a level of over 75% of the degree of occupancy of the performance hall at the headquarters, with a more favorable situation in the case of private companies compared to public ones.

Digital transformation involves organizations responding to internal and external environmental changes by integrating digital technologies to reshape their value creation processes. However, it is widely recognized that new technologies alone cannot single-handedly transform industries. For that reason, change management, a process of continually renewing an organization's direction, structure, and capabilities in response to evolving demands, has gained increasing relevance. The first change model, introduced in 1947, laid the foundation for subsequent models proposed by various authors, with John Kotter's model being the most recent widely recognized model in academia. However, existing models lack ample empirical evidence. This research analyzes and compares six change management models and two transition models, emphasizing the importance of considering the human element in creating sustainable changes. Based on identified strengths and weaknesses and the need for a more robust and up-to-date change management model to help organizations navigate transformations and respond rather than react to changing demands, a new model is proposed.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a disruptive technology in numerous industries, including human resource management (HRM). This article emphasizes the importance of balancing technological progress with ethical considerations and human contact. Organizations need to comprehend AI’s function to optimize human resource processes and improve decision-making. The incorporation of AI into HRM affords the possibility of streamlining recruitment, employee induction, performance evaluation, and talent management. Moreover, analytics enabled by AI facilitate data-driven insights for strategic workforce planning. Nonetheless, alongside these opportunities, obstacles need to be overcome. The ethical ramifications of AI-driven decisions, the possibility of bias in algorithmic processes, and the need to maintain a human-centered approach to employee interactions present formidable obstacles. Data privacy and security concerns also appear large as AI-driven analysis of sensitive employee information becomes widespread. Employers, HR professionals, and researchers need to work together to ensure that AI enhances HRM practices rather than supplanting the indispensable human element. By recognizing AI’s potential to transform HRM and proactively addressing its challenges, organizations can leverage its potential to create efficient, equitable, and productive workplaces.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Human Resource Management (HRM) has presented organizations with unprecedented opportunities to optimize their workforce and enhance employee experiences. This article aims to explore the potential benefits and challenges associated with the utilization of AI in HRM. It delves into the diverse applications of AI in HRM, including Natural Language Processing, HR analytics, virtual assistants, and software integration. This exploration offers valuable insights into how these AI technologies can revolutionize HR practices. Furthermore, the article discusses the inherent challenges and ethical considerations organizations face when implementing AI in HR. It also provides best practices for organizations seeking to harness the full potential of AI in HRM. In conclusion, this article underscores the pivotal role AI plays in shaping the future of HR management. It highlights its capacity to foster efficiency and improve organizational decision-making processes, underlining the transformative potential of AI in HRM.

In today’s fast-paced business environment, the effective management of human resources relies increasingly on the utilization of technology. The integration of technology has sparked a transformation in Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, leading organizations worldwide to adopt Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). These systems offer a wide range of functionalities, from basic data storage and communication to complex transactions, enabling HR departments to efficiently acquire, store, manipulate, analyze, retrieve, and distribute vital information regarding the workforce. The authors focus on the implementation of a HRIS with a Performance Management module in OTP Bank Romania, analyzing how the introduction of the HRIS platform with the Performance Management Module has completely transformed the relationship between employees and the company in terms of individual and group performance.

The paper addresses current challenges to language instruction, considering the impact that Artificial Intelligence has on contemporary language learning paradigms.The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence and its increased sophistication and efficiency have triggered the necessity to adapt to new, innovative educational methods and techniques that should incorporate the new technologies in the technical language class. The study is built on a theoretical framework introducing the concept of ChatGPT and the controversies associated with its application in educational fields in general and language learning in particular. The practical part of the study is a survey conducted among English language educators in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The study aims to gauge educators’ perspectives on utilizing Artificial Intelligence applications – ChatGPT in particular – in language learning.

The Romanian landscape of business and technology is evolving at unprecedented speeds it’s becoming ever easier for rapid growth thanks to technology and harder to keep up with the avalanche of regulations businesses now have to comply. Even though artificial intelligence has been in use for a while, only recently Open A.I.’s GPT models and chat GPT getting acclaimed by the wide public and acknowledged as the starter of a new “battle” for supremacy amongst technology and business solutions, one of Generative Artificial Intelligence. The starting hypothesis for this research has been that the biggest challenge for foreign entrepreneurs in Romania is the management and understanding of how to legally do business while meeting all requirements and keep up with the changes. The authors aim firstly to discover the challenges that foreign entrepreneurs are facing with creating or advancing business opportunities in Romania, and secondly help alleviate the hardship for one of these challenges by using the latest technology solutions such as: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Platform Engineering and Automation, both powered by cloud solutions. These modern technology is here to stay and already impacts organizations in a positive way if used correctly.

Digitalization is a continuous process that involves various components such as technological advancements, a company’s level of adoption of new technologies, and the readiness of the market to embrace digitalization. In this paper, the authors analyze several digital maturity models that are applicable to all industries. Drawing on the relevant literature, the paper proposes an easy-to-apply digital maturity model, Digital Maturity Scorecard (DMS), that is based on quantifiable digital KPIs. The aim of the model is to provide companies across industries with a holistic approach to their digital operations and readiness. The proposed model includes a novel dimension that examines the readiness of both the market and customers for the degree of digitization that the organization seeks to achieve in the future. This article presents a significant contribution to the literature on digital maturity, particularly with regards to its unique approach to the process of digitalization and the proposed digital maturity model. The model’s key feature is the inclusion of a dimension that assesses the market and customer readiness for digitalization.

Choosing the proper device for the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) measurement represents a major problem for most companies. Due to the multitude of variants and offers received the need to measure and analyze falls second to the detriment of the need to choose the best device. There are several factors, which has to be taken into consideration before purchasing an IAQ measuring device, such as: what does the company want to measure and analyze, how much money does the company want to invest in this field, the complexity of the devices, the assistance after buying the product, certification in IAQ measurements, calibration of the device, etc. This paper aims to present the steps in deciding which device fits the best for the IAQ measurement and analyze requirements of a company. In the end the best alternative identified in this paper is a key factor for any buyer that aims to purchase a measurement device.

This paper focuses on the mathematical modeling of electrical grid stability, taking into account the integration of renewable energy sources. Through the “Stability Margins" model, the study examines the effects of adding solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy to the stability of a theoretical electrical grid composed of ten nodes. Using the admittance matrix and Kirchhoff’s power law, a model is developed that analyzes the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix to assess the grid’s stability. Stability margins are calculated to estimate how far the grid is from becoming unstable. The results provide a deeper understanding of the impact of renewable energy on electrical grid stability and help identify solutions to maintain grid stability under increasing integration of renewable energy sources.

In the context of the energy transition, the number of photovoltaic prosumers has increased significantly in recent years. This paper analyzes the evolution of prosumers from 100 in 2021, producing 0.02 GWh, to 1000 in 2023, generating 2.2 GWh, within a consistent electrical network. Through a detailed case study, we assess the capacity and limitations of the network in relation to the increased energy injection. The results highlight the current challenges of the network and estimate its adaptation potential in the face of emerging prosumer demands, having significant implications for the planning and optimization of future networks.

The teaching activity, including the didactic design, is structured in various forms of feedback. The main form (professional-administrative) is the control, carried out through current monitoring, hierarchical inspections and annual evaluations, and followed by the granting of teaching degrees and gratifications. As part of the school activity, the mentoring activity is subject to the same institutional forms, but the feedback it involves has a more flexible and continuous character, decisively influenced by the specificity of adult training, marked by the proportionality between correcting errors and suggesting proactive solutions. In this sense, the present study aims to highlight the fact that if judging the results of the teacher (and) according to the results of the students (given the natural inequality of individuals and generations) rises a serious problem of reliability, and even a deontological one, the assessment of the mentors’ activity according to the results of mentoring (the same, with some exceptions, throughout the professional life) is perfectly legitimate, constituting the evaluative core itself – hence the special value of the mentoring feedback: it implies both responsibility for the professional evolution of mentors and accountability for their occupational career, with transposition into the evolution of students, but also into that of the school institution.

The paper is structured in three parts. The introduction presents the evaluation methodology for assessing the operational reliability, the estimation of operational reliability indicators, statistical processing methods for the identification of parameters and distribution laws that model the series of operational data range. The second part contains the research conducted regarding the operational reliability of the Bihor Power System (BPS), namely the volume of installations within the BPS and the database created for reliability-centred maintenance. The establishment of the database has the advantage of providing statistics on the volume of installations, to the events recorded in BPS, highlighting the conditions and influencing factors. This allows the calculation of the main operational reliability indicators of the 110 kV Bihor network, as well as the application of the maintenance strategy focused on reliability at the level of the analysed system. In the last part of the paper, the results obtained from the processing of the statistical data are presented with the recommendation to review the equipment stock assurance process within the BPS.

Electricity losses have been a focus of attention for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and regulatory entities. In this paper, a deterministic methodology for estimating technical losses in LV electricity distribution networks (EDN) is proposed. Technical losses are produced by the current flow through the conductors, and so it depends on the load demand, power injections and EDN topology (radial or weakly meshed), the feeders physical characteristics (conductors’ material, cross section). The main contribution are the determinist methods which can estimate technical losses with limited network details. Technical losses are the dependent variable, and any data that can be used to characterize an LV distribution network represents the independent variable. Regarding the proposed scenarios, different combinations of independent factors are assessed. The usefulness of statistical correlation, accessibility, and necessity of independent variables are examined.

The electric distribution system is a dynamic and complex system, structured and hierarchical by voltage levels (high - 110 kV, medium - 20, 10, 6 kV and low - 0.4 kV), such that any decision taken to improve the power quality at a certain level influences strategies from all other levels or same level. In this context, the power quality analysis must incorporate all partners (consumers, energy producers, and distribution network operators) so that improvement strategies consider all factors (technical, economic, or environmental) that have a mutual influence. The paper aims to perform a quality analysis of distribution service for all Romanian distribution network operators and determine the trend of some performance indicators (System Average Interruption Duration Index and System Average Interruption Frequency Index) using a regression models-based approach. The results showed that each indicator associated with each distribution network operator should have the best regression model with the lowest estimation errors. The identified regression models led to an average value of the two performance indicators of 5%.

The objective of this work is to obtain the optimal operating configuration for Bihor Power System (BPS)−110 kV by modelling and numerical simulation with Paladin Design Base program (PDB).The first part presents the methods for determining the circulation of powers in the BPS and the facilities of the PDB program in order to operationalise the methods. In the second part, starting from the real structure of the system, the equivalent single-wire scheme was built, highlighting the values of the characteristic parameters of the components, as well as the values of the active and reactive powers produced/entered into the system, those exited from the system and the consumption of active and reactive power on the medium voltage bars of the transformers in the power stations for a characteristic winter day. In the third part, several variants of operation of the analysed system were simulated, after which a comparison was made between them in terms of active and reactive power losses. Applying the criteria of “minimum power losses” identifies the optimal operating variants of BPS and evaluates the performance indicators of the system in the respective states. The last part presents the conclusions of the analysis carried out.

Morocco is carrying out an ambitious strategy in energy sector by getting involved in projects aimed to raise the share of clean energy by 2030. In this study, we aim to meet this national map, and increase the use of green energy by developing a model that can optimally assign the national energy resources to the potential energy consumers within a national smart grid framework. We will propose a formalism of the Moroccan resources allocation problem by using binary integer programming approach. And we will solve this latest by presenting an algorithm that optimizes the use of green energy based on Brunch and Bound optimization, to meet the 2023 national objective, and increase the use of green energy, despite of all the climatic and socio-economic challenges facing its implementation. Since the Smart Grids do not exist in Morocco yet, our study is a part of the national renewable energy project.

Energy integration of processes has become necessary to optimize industrial sites in terms of investment and operating costs, energy consumption, flexibility, and gas emissions. The large number of variables and data to be processed, analyzed, and simulated, the limitation in time, and the complexity and variety of the processes (continuous, batch, etc.) make manual manipulation and calculation very difficult. Hence, there is a need to use digital help and support tools for modeling and resolution. Several software programs have been developed for this purpose, each with specifications and limitations, mainly based on pinch analysis. Other software programs also use exergetic analysis or specific algorithms for solving optimization problems. One of the difficulties that may face researchers when choosing software is that no one addresses all the issues related to energy integration problems. Each software focuses on specific objectives and has some properties different from the others; hence, it appears necessary to choose the appropriate software for each given problem. In this article, we present a detailed review of various industrial process simulation software used for the optimization of energy recovery and the design of heat exchanger networks using energy integration as a solution, and the options these software provide, to help researchers choose software that is well-suited to the case study based on the options it offers.

Fault detection is very important in all types of systems. Systems’ operation monitoring allows maintenance planning and thereby reducing costs and losses. Because electrical motors are important parts of systems it is very useful to know and detect all types of failures. The paper presents the importance of electrical motor fault detection; and different technics used for its detection. These faults can appear during induction motor running and influence the whole system function and vibration. The normal functioning of the electrical motor can be influenced by several noises, which can be internal and/or external. In case of any fault the power consumption increases, the absorbed current spectrum is deformed, more heat is generated and vibrations are growing. There are several faults detection techniques, motor current signature analysis, vibration analysis, current and voltage harmonics analysis, etc. MCSA is a non-invasive method, which does not use sensors, but it monitors and analyses the stator current. Different faults lead to the appearance of different harmonics in the stator current spectrum. The paper presents how the faults distort the motor current spectrum and what faults can be detected. A measuring system is presented for monitoring the condition of the induction motor and to detect load torque asymmetry. The motor stator current spectrum is analysed in case of load torque asymmetry.

The modern agenda in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development forces changes to be made in the long-term development of the energy industry. In addition to ensuring uninterrupted access to energy and meeting the growing demand for it, energy companies must simultaneously reduce the negative environmental impact and increase resource efficiency. In order of achieving that goal, it is necessary to carry out large-scale eco-modernization, in particular, traditional energy facilities, invest in the development of environmental technologies and increase the pace of introduction of renewable energy facilities into the global energy infrastructure. All this requires new approaches to the management of energy enterprises, which will correspond to the current economic and environmental agenda and to the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable management is one of the most promising approaches to the management of energy enterprises in the upcoming decades. The purpose of this study is to identify the key components of sustainable management for energy enterprises that consider three aspects of sustainable development (social, economic and environmental) and the specifics of the industry. The authors analysed energy sectors’ specifics, identified the key principles of sustainable management and formed a list of the most significant components and tools of sustainable management for energy enterprises.

The manufacturing of automobiles is currently facing an increasing number of new challenges. This is a result of the recent significant increase in overall vehicle manufacturing, as well as an increase in energy costs and environmental obligations. This study attempts to evaluate how much renewable and environmentally friendly energy is used by automotive companies in the Western Region of Romania. The total or partial use of renewable energies is suggested through the implementation of geothermal heating-cooling systems, but also through the installation of photovoltaic panels, following research in the specialized literature and a comparative analysis to determine the level of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere at the present time. The improvement solutions were determined by building a questionnaire using the SPSS software and sustainability reports data. The questionnaire helped us see the waste recovery, the interest in developing sustainable products and services, and how can they reduce their carbon footprint.