This paper presents an analysis of the essential characteristics of the TQM philosophy by comparing the work of five notable authors in the field. A framework is produced which gather the identified TQM enablers under the well-known operations management dimensions of process, business and people. These enablers are linked with sustainable development via balance scorecard type economic and non-economic measures. In order to capture a picture of Libyan Company’s efforts to implement the TQM, a questionnaire survey is designed and implemented. Results of the survey are presented showing the main differentiating factors between the sample companies, and a way of assessing the difference between the theoretical underpinning and the practitioners’ undertakings. Survey results indicate that companies are experiencing much difficulty in translating TQM theory into practice. Only a few companies have successfully adopted a holistic approach to TQM philosophy, and most of these put relatively high emphasis on hard elements compared with soft issues of TQM. However, where companies can realise the economic outputs, non-economic benefits such as workflow management, skills development and team learning are not realised. In addition, overall, non-economic measures have secured low weightings compared with the economic measures. We believe that the framework presented in this paper can help a company to concentrate its TQM implementation efforts in terms of process, system and people management dimensions. 

The continuous call on the increase of the quality of teaching put more pressure on academics to

draw on students experiences and propose new approaches for delivering information and increasing the

standards of teaching excellence. There are several generalized approaches to the scholarship of teaching and

learning such as continuous professional development and learning by developing, however cooperative

learning combined with project-based learning can be used in a range of disciplines in graduate studies such

as Information Technology. From our experience in teaching: e-commerce subject and web application

security course we found that such a strategy encourages lecturer to continue improve the curriculum and

delivery process leading to better learning experience for the students. This paper reports on the practical

nature of cooperative learning and how to use it to bridge Teaching and Learning as well as Theory and

Application. Our purpose is to report on cooperative learning in graduate studies using Project-based learning

strategy. It demonstrates the value of student empowerment and leadership in autonomous project groups.

The strategy is designed primarily to increase student engagement and improve the learning process. We

evaluate the success of the strategy by evaluating student attendance and active participation in classroom

discussions, learning outcomes, and student results. The success of the strategy encourages us to incorporate

the project-based approach on more than one course

This paper presents an application of the hazard model reliability analysis on wind generators, based on a condition monitoring system. The hazard model techniques are most widely used in the statistical analysis of the electric machine’s lifetime data. The model can be utilized to perform appropriate maintenance decision-making based on the evaluation of the mean time to failures that occur on the wind generators due to high temperatures. The knowledge of the condition monitoring system is used to estimate the hazard failure, and survival rates, which allows the preventive maintenance approach to be performed accurately. A case study is presented to demonstrate the adequacy of the proposed method based on the condition monitoring data for two wind turbines. Such data are representative in the generator temperatures with respect to the expended operating hours of the selected wind turbines. In this context, the influence of the generator temperatures on the lifetime of the generators can be determined. The results of the study can be used to develop the predetermined maintenance program, which significantly reduces the maintenance and operation costs. 

The present paper involves a detailed comparison between the salt tolerance and physiological responseof three eucalypt species occurring within the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC (Myrtaceae) (common name ‘Tuart’) is restricted to the calcareous (limestone), brown or yellow sand of the coastal Spearwood dunes. Eucalyptus marginata Sm. (common name ‘Jarrah’) is a small tree on the porous, well-drained sandy soils of the Bassendean dunes Plain, and a much larger tree on the Darling Range. Corymbia calophylla (Lindl.) K.D. Hill & J. A. S. Johnson (common name ‘Marri’), and has a similar distribution to that of Jarrah, but is more common on wetter, well drained soils. This investigate implemented to find out the seedling tolerance of these three species to soil-induced stressor, namely salinity via addition of sodium chloride solution. Tolerance assessment measured changes in seedling growth, leaf allocation and leaf physiology after 70-80 days. Neither E. marginata and C. calophylla could tolerate the highest salinity (0.25 M NaCl solutions) with 9-13% survival, although E. marginata was clearly the least tolerant with 52% reduction in relative growth rate and a 88% in transpiration rates. E. gomphocephala was the most tolerant to salt stress in terms of survival and growth parameters. 

The title complex was isolated as a red solid from the reaction of 4-(salicylaldiminato)antipyrine, HL, and cobalt (II) acetate in ethanol. The complex has been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-Vis, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Two crystallographically different cationic units, A and B, of the title complex are found. Both units are essentially isostructural; nevertheless, small differences exist between them. Both units contain four cobalt atoms arranged at the corners of distorted cubane like core alternatively with phenoxy oxygen of the Schiff base. In both cases, one cobalt binds to three coordinated sites from the corresponding tridentate Schiff base ligand, and the fourth one was bonded by the acetate oxygen, and the fifth and the sixth donor sites come from the phenolate oxygen of another Schiff base ligand.

Due to the increase in the number of failures in the wind turbine generators, the condition monitoring system plays a significant role in overcoming the negative effects resulting from the difficult operation conditions. Mechanical and electrical properties can be combined to detect the faults coming from wind turbine generators by analyzing their behavior under different (normal and abnormal) operation conditions. Studying the trend and effect of the electrical torque pulsations on wind turbine generators under different conditions allows for a proper condition monitoring. In this paper, different methodology has been adopted to develop a proper condition monitoring system on the wind generators by evaluating the generator electrical torque based on mechanical torque and taking into account the acceleration torque, which has not been considered in previous work. Using the electric torque with respect to the rotor angular speed of the generator, when it is running under different operation conditions, indicates the generator health, which is the main methodology of the proposed work. A case study, which is based upon collected data from actual measurements, is presented in this work in order to demonstrate the adequacy of the proposed model.

Due to the increase in the failures of the wind generators, Condition Monitoring System (CMS) plays a significant role in overcoming these failures resulting from the harsh operation conditions. The mechanical, thermal, and electrical analyses can be utilized to detect the faults, which are coming from the wind generators by monitoring the changes in their characteristics under different (normal and abnormal) operation conditions. Observing the trend of the electrical torque pulsations of the wind generators under different conditions is beneficial to perform proper condition monitoring. In this paper, different methodology has been adopted to implement a proper condition monitoring system on the wind generators by evaluating the generator electrical torque based on the mechanical and the acceleration torque. Then, in order to specify the generator faults, the trend of the electrical torque with respect to the rotor angular speed of the wind generator under different operation conditions is analyzed. Further, the rate of change in the generator temperature is considered as well as an indicator to define the health of the wind generators with respect to the induced electrical torque, because of the negative effect of the elevated generator temperature on the induced electrical torque. Case study, which is based upon collected data from actual measurements, is presented in this work in order to demonstrate the adequacy of the proposed model.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate quality factors that are absolutely essential for successful implementation of total quality management (TQM) in Libyan oil and gas companies (LOGCs). Design/methodology/approach – In all, 11 quality factors with 42 elements were identified to develop a questionnaire to carry out the survey in order to identify the quality factors that are seen by LOGCs to be critical to the success of TQM implementation. In total, 45 questionnaires were provided by hand to quality-related managers from the Libyan oil and gas sector. A total of 42 were returned sufficiently completed, that gave us a response rate of approximately 93.33 per cent. Findings – The empirical analysis demonstrates several key findings: the analysis indicated that 24 quality factors are found to be critical and absolutely essential for successful TQM implementation. These factors classify into three levels of criticality. All of the factors were found to be supported by similar studies and cited literatures. Research limitations/implications – The research is subject to the normal limitations of survey research. The study is using perceptual data provided by quality managers and engineers which may not provide clear picture. It may be suitable to consider gathering information from various stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and even competitors. However, this can be overcome using multiple methods to collect data in future studies. Interestingly, the findings here may be generalisable outside Libya, i.e. South Mediterranean countries. Practical implications – LOGCs should consider TQM as an innovative tool for improving business performance in today’s competitive environment. The findings suggest that the TQM critical success factors should be implemented completely as a whole package rather than on a fragmented basis to get the full potential of the TQM. Originality/value – The study investigate the critical quality factors for successful TQM implementation which will direct an organisation towards business excellence and enhancing success of TQM practices in the oil and gas sector. Very few studies have been performed to investigate and understand this issue. Therefore, the research can make a useful contribution