In recent years, free-floating bike-sharing systems (FFBSSs) have been considerably developed in China. As there is no requirement to construct bike stations, this system can substantially reduce the cost when compared to the traditional bike-sharing systems. However, FFBSSs have also become a critical cause of parking disorder, especially during the morning and evening rush hours. To address this issue, the local governments stipulated that FFBSSs are required to deploy virtual stations near public transit stations and major establishments. Therefore, the location assignment of virtual stations is sufficiently considered in the FFBSSs, which is required to solve the parking disorder and satisfy the user demand, simultaneously. The purpose of this study is to optimize the location assignment of virtual stations that can meet the growing demand of users by analyzing the usage data of their shared bikes. This optimization problem is generally formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to maximize the user demand. As an alternative solution, this article proposes a clustering algorithm, which can solve this problem in real time. The experimental results demonstrate that the MILP model and the proposed method are superior to the K-means method. Our method not only provides a solution for maximizing the user demand but also gives an optimized design scheme of the FFBSSs that represents the characteristics of virtual stations.

PurposeThis study explores the interplay between lean management and circular production systems and their implications on zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness and social reputation.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire-based survey methodology is used to obtain empirical data from Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs. A multivariate statistical technique, specifically partial least square structural equation modelling is chosen to test the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe empirical results confirm that lean management is a vital element in moving SMEs towards the implementation of circular production systems. The results also confirm that lean management and circular production systems combine effectively to bring about significant improvement in zero-waste performance, reinforce green value competitiveness and boost social reputation. The results further confirm the mediation role of circular production system between lean management, zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness and social reputation.Originality/valueAnchored on the tenets of the natural resource-based view theory, resource orchestration theory and stakeholder theory, this study proposes an integrated research model that builds new insights into the relationship between lean management, circular production system, zero-waste performance, green value competitiveness and social reputation. The proposed model directs the actions of SME managers in emerging countries to comprehensively evaluate their production processes to equalize the possible compatibility of lean management and circular production systems to meet their zero-waste performance targets, gain green value competitiveness and stimulate social reputation.

In this work, we explore the innovative growth of personal computer (PC) shipments in Taiwan. We estimate the marketing diffusion with the consideration of the competition of desktop (DT) and notebook (NB). Mathematically, using the Lotka-Volterra model, we analyze the dynamic competitive relationship between the shipments of DT and NB. All the parameters in the Lotka-Volterra model are calibrated with the realistic shipment data, and the predicted trends to 2010 are thus drawn. Our results clarify a pure competition between DT and NB in PC market. The competitive relationship of dynamic PC shipments in Taiwan is thus examined, including consideration of the interaction between two species to explain the actual diffusion phenomenon in the competitive market. Comparison between well-known growth model, Bass model, and competitive Lotka-Volterra Model is also drawn. In addition, it is shown that the competition between DT and NB would reach an equilibrium point which is stable over time and we further analyze how the deviation returns to the stable equilibrium.