Abstract
Technological evolutions lead to changes in production processes; the Fourth Industrial Revolution has been called Industry 4.0, as it integrates Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things into supply chains. Large complex networks are the core structure of Industry 4.0: any node in a network can demand a task, which can be answered by one node or a set of them, collaboratively, when they are connected. In this paper, the aim is to verify how (i) network's connectivity (average degree) and (ii) the number of levels covered in nodes search impacts the total of production tasks completely performed in the network. To achieve the goal of this paper, two hypotheses were formulated and tested in a computer simulation environment developed based on a modeling and simulation study. Results showed that the higher the network's average degree is (their nodes are more connected), the greater are the number of tasks performed; in addition, generally, the greater are the levels defined in the search for nodes, the more tasks are completely executed. This paper's main limitations are related to the simulation process, which led to a simplification of production process. The results found can be applied in several Industry 4.0 networks, such as additive manufacturing and collaborative networks, and this paper is original due to the use of simulation to test this kind of hypotheses in an Industry 4.0 production network.

Abstract
Innovative processes become available due to the high processing capacity of emergent infrastructures, such as cloud and ubiquitous computing and organizational infrastructures and applications. However, these intense computation processes are difficult to follow, where co-decision is required, for which the existence of disruptive visualization and collaboration tools that offer a visual tracing capacity with integrated decision supporting tools, are critical for its sustainable success. This project proposes: a) a set of immersive and disruptive visualization tools, supported by virtual and augmented reality, that enables a global perspective of any production agents; b) a data analytics tool to complement and assist the decision making; c) a resource federated network that allows the brokering and interaction between all existing resources; and d) a dynamic context-aware dashboard, to improve the overall productive process and contribute to intelligent manufacturing systems. The application domain addressed is Zero-Defects Diagnostics in manufacturing as well as in Industry 4.0 in general. © 2017 The Authors.

Abstract
Devido ao ambiente hipercompetitivo que as empresas industriais enfrentam, a adequada implementação de Meta-Organizações, como plataformas organizacionais que promovam o desenvolvimento de modelos avançados de sistemas de produção em rede, virtuais e ubíquas, torna-se fundamental para a sustentabilidade da Meta-Organização e das empresas industriais que a constituem. A estratégia de implementação encontra-se relacionada com o entendimento que as empresas industriais, no caso específico deste estudo, as Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs) industriais de clusters regionais, têm acerca deste tipo de Meta-Organização. Este estudo tem como objetivo validar as principais hipóteses: 1) as empresas da região estão conscientes da necessidade da adoção de Meta-Organizações como plataformas organizacionais para o desenvolvimento de modelos de Empresas Virtuais e Ubíquas; e 2) as empresas da região estão aptas para a utilização de Meta-Organizações no apoio ao desenvolvimento de modelos de Empresas Virtuais e Ubíquas. Para validação destas teses foram desenvolvidos modelos teóricos originais utilizando o método estatístico de Análise de Equações Estruturais constituídos por oito constructos: “Prática”, “Gestão do Conhecimento”, “Característica da PME Industrial”, “Conhecimento”, “Necessidade de Estruturas de Meta-Organização para Empresas Virtuais e Ubíquas”, “Necessidade para a Gestão da Meta-Organização para Empresas Virtuais e Ubíquas”, “Consciência” e “Aptidão”. A recolha de dados foi realizada através da implementação de um inquérito original em que participaram 236 PMEs (industriais ou que trabalham com a indústria) da região da Península Ibérica. Os resultados obtidos validam as principais hipóteses sobre a consciência e a aptidão das empresas e fornecem outros resultados derivados de outras hipóteses inerentes aos modelos desenvolvidos. O presente estudo contribui para definir os mecanismos de escolha da implementação de Meta- Organizações que apoiam o desenvolvimento de modelos de Empresas Virtuais e Ubíquas.;Due to the hypercompetitive environment that industrial enterprises face, a proper implementation of the Meta-Organizations, as organizational platforms, that promote the development of advanced models of networked, virtual and ubiquitous production systems, becomes fundamental for the sustainability of the Meta-Organization and of the industrial enterprises that belong to it. The implementation strategy is related to the understanding that the industrial enterprises, in the specific case of this study, the Industrial Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) of regional clusters, have about this type of Meta-Organization. This study aims to validate the following main hypotheses: 1) enterprises in the region are aware of the need to adopt Meta-Organizations as an organizational platform for the development of Virtual and Ubiquitous Enterprises models; and 2) enterprises in the region are prepared to use Meta- Organizations to support the development of Virtual and Ubiquitous Enterprises models. To validate these theses, original theoretical models were developed using the statistical method of Structural Equation Modeling constituted by eight constructs: “Practice”, “Knowledge Management”, “Characteristics of Industrial SME”, “Knowledge”, “Need for Meta-Organization Structures for Virtual and Ubiquitous Enterprises”, “Need for Meta-Organization Management for Virtual and Ubiquitous Enterprises”, “Awareness”, and “Preparedness”. Data collection was carried out through the implementation of an original survey in which 236 SMEs (industrial or those working with the industry) in the Iberian Peninsula region participated. The results validate the main hypotheses concerning enterprises’ awareness and preparedness, and provide further results derived from other hypotheses inherent to the developed models. The present study contributes to define the mechanisms of choice for the implementation of Meta- Organizations that support the development of Virtual and Ubiquitous Enterprises models.

Abstract
The present paper presents the conceptual mechanical design of a Standing Frame for children with mental deficiency. Those children deal with great difficulties in maintaining a correct biped posture, hindering certain system organs to work in its fullness. Thus, the target goal of this project is to provide a correct biped posture to the child with mental deficiency. To achieve this goal there were defined the main goals that the standing frame should fulfil: safety, comfort, adaptability, attractiveness and accessibility. After the definition of certain functions and specifications the final solution comes up. For this solution it was selected metallic materials (structure of the Standing Frame) and polymeric materials (supports). It was also needed to select a lifting system, to lift the child from the seat to the biped position. The best solution found was an hydraulic, linear and single acting actuator. In order to ecologically guide the project it was chosen materials with fabrication and recycling processes that allow the final solution to be the most ecologic as possible. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
In the current competitive and globalized manufacturing scenario Distributed Manufacturing Environments are increasing, and it turns mandatory to explore improved operational approaches. For enhanced simultaneous balancing and scheduling jobs in a Distributed Manufacturing Environment (DME) a mathematical model of Ranked Sequence Positional Weight (RSPW) is proposed. The model capabilities are analysed through a test problem and the results have demonstrated that the proposed RSPW heuristics mathematical model do perform better than other competitive approaches. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
Supplier selection problem is a multi-criteria decision-making problem that involves both quantitative and qualitative criteria. Typically, supplier selection decisions require a preliminary stage where pool of suppliers are initially screened to select potential set of suppliers for further evaluation and select the optimal supplier. This preliminary stage is heavily dependent on non-scientific approaches and do not consider any criteria during the screening process. Furthermore, quantifying the qualitative criteria has always relied quite considerably on subjective judgments, which render the supplier selection process ineffective. Therefore, this paper addresses these problems by proposing an easy going two-phase supplier selection decision model, based on fuzzy set theory that uses a scientific approach and incorporates performance criteria in screening and selecting the potential suppliers for further optimal supplier selection. To illustrate the applicability and validate the proposed model, a case study of a beverage producing company located in Ghana, the Sub-Saharan Africa is proposed.