This article aims to give an overall review of research status in hand rehabilitation robotic technology, evaluating a number of devices. The main scope is to explore the current state of art to help and support designers and clinicians make better choices among varied devices and components. The review also focuses on both mechanical design, usability and training paradigms since these parts are interconnected for an effective hand recovery. In order to study the rehabilitation robotic technology status, the devices have been divided in two categories: end-effector robots and exoskeleton devices. The end-effector robots are more flexible than exoskeleton devices in fitting the different size of hands, reducing the setup time and increasing the usability for new patients. They suffer from the control of distal joints and haptic aspects of object manipulation. In this way, exoskeleton devices may represent a new opportunity. Nevertheless their design is complex and a deep investigation of hand biomechanics and physical human-robot interaction is required. The main hand exoskeletons have been developed in the last decade and the results are promising demonstrated by the growth of the commercialized devices. Finally, a discussion on the complexity to define which design is better and more effective than the other one is summarized for future investigations.

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Purpose -To provide the reader with an appreciation of the present trends in the UK automotive supply industry as they affect the first and second tier supply chain and aims to give researchers an insight into the complex interaction between suppliers and their customers. Design/methodology/approach -Literature review which is divided into the sub-sections of strategy, structure, processes and co-ordination required within the manufacturing environment, to identify the influence of synchronous supply as it affects these main areas of operations management. Findings -Through the use of examples from previous papers written on automotive and related supply industry operating methods, and to date Grounded Theory forming a pilot study to empirical research for this research, it concludes that synchronous supply can provide the lead for an efficient automotive supply chain.Research limitations/implications -The concept of synchronous supply presents a challenging research framework for supplier operating strategy, structuring processes and co-ordination between the vehicle manufacturer (VM) and the whole supply chain. Practical implications -A useful source of information for VMs and their first tier suppliers to understand more about synchronous supply and its affect on the supply chain. Originality/value -This paper presents the concept of synchronous supply as a challenging framework for supplier operating strategy, structuring processes and co-ordination between the VM and the whole supply chain. IntroductionWith rapidly changing and under very competitive circumstances, the design, development and marketing of new products with creative and innovative features are essential for any company's survival. For new product development to be effective, a systematic approach to the understanding of customer requirements is necessary. These requirements should then be firmly attached to future supplier's product processes.Within the automotive industry the matching and synchronisation of future complex sub-assemblies and full systems needs to be managed carefully between suppliers and supplier-customer to ensure project success. The innovative product development and production process needs an understanding of continuously changing customer wants and needs.The literature review of this paper is divided into the sub-sections of strategy, structure, processes and co-ordination (SSPC) required within the manufacturing environment, to identify the influence of synchronous supply as it affects these main areas of operations management. The aim has been to identify from available literature

This paper introduces a research exploring the important strategic elements and their prioritisation for e-retailers' home delivery supply's efficacy improvement. The research was completed through literature review, focus group, survey and importanceperformance analysis (IPA). It identified, confirmed and prioritised a set of explicitly important strategic elements currently deemed important by e-retailers for ensuring the efficacy of their home delivery logistics processes in Chinese marketplace. The findings contribute to the enrichment of the theoretical knowledge pool of e-retailers' logistics performance improvement, and guide/inform the strategy development and implementation for e-retailers entering and/or operating in Chinese and other similar emerging marketplaces.

A case-based research approach is used to illustrate the power of modeling manufacturing performance measures and to help develop insights into the nature and problems evident when attempting to use simulation across different enterprise sectors. The research methodology used considered three speci®c companies, each with distinctive characteristics and attributes; a small to medium enterprise (SME), a medium to large enterprise (MLE) and a large enterprise (LE). From a cross-case analysis of the use of discrete-event simulation when applied in these instances, the research attempts to develop policy implications that will provide a better understanding of how simulation studies should be approached across different manufacturing enterprises and how simulation can help organizations achieve organizational excellence.