International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The research focus addresses to installation of PV modules in industry sector in Albania. Due to energy crises, the prices are going higher and with the new regulations that are defined by Albanian government, businesses that are connected to 20kV, 10kV, 6kV transmission lines must secure the energy supply by their selves in open market, since a part of price was covered by government, now companies are facing higher prices. The new price is expected to increase more than 70%, up to 0.16 €/kWh from 0.092 €/kWh. Also, companies that will be in the open market will face price volatilities, hence with the installation of PV modules, reduction of electricity price is possible, since the LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) for the PV in Albania, including 20% VAT tax, is calculated around 0.035 €/kWh. To calculate the effect in electricity price a simulation using RETScreen Expert is performed. The simulations are made for a company connected to a 20kV electricity transmission line where an on-grid PV system 217.28 kW power installed is integrated on the roof. The PV modules covers 52.4% of the company electricity demand, by generating 286055 kWh electricity yearly from which 68% of electricity generated from PV is consumed by the company and 32% is exported to grid because company works 8 h/day and there is not an electricity storage system installed. With the price increment from 0.092 €/kWh to 0.16 €/kWh, the total earnings from PV installed system will be increased by an average 65.3% and if the electricity price in the open market is doubled the total earnings will be increased by an average 85.3%.

In this study, the effect of using different ratios of rock wool on the mechanical and physical properties of OSB (Oriented strandboard) boards, according to the place of use and properties of OSB. For this purpose, 18 mm x1220 mm x2440 mm (control, A1, A2, A3) at a density of 600 kg/m³ using rock wool in three different (10-20-30%) ratios, in proportion to the weight of the middle layer of the chipboard obtained from 100% maritime pine (Pinus maritima) wood. OSB/2 test boards were produced. OSB/2 test boards obtained as a result of using different proportions of rock wool were tested according to the relevant standards. According to the test results, when the mechanical and physical properties (tensile strength in the vertical direction, bending resistance, modulus of elasticity, swelling properties and free formaldehyde values) are compared with the control board, it has been determined that 10-20% rock wool can be used in the production of OSB/2 boards to be used as insulation board. Accordingly, rock wool reinforced composite OSB boards can be preferred as insulation boards in the wood panel industry.

It is considered that artificial intelligence (AI) adoption will considerably amplify in the next decade and impact our lives in all three dimensions – environmental, social and governance. Therefore, deriving sustainable long-term value from AI mass implementation requires organisations to follow an ethical and responsible path. It is considered that accounting professionals will play a significant role in managing this process due to their commitment to ethics and ethical behaviour when performing the assigned tasks within the accounting and finance function. For instance, they might play an important part in complying with regulation and ethics policies, data management, including its quality and confidentiality, as data feeds AI, building understanding of how AI is used in the industry. Moreover, accountants could actively participate in cross-functional teams and efficiently communicate issues related to AI ethics and sustainability. In the light of the challenges from the mass adoption of AI, this paper aims at outlining the perspectives and opportunities towards the accountancy profession in the ethical and sustainable AI implementation in organisations

Fourth industrial revolution also known as Industry 4.0, is a concept that significantly influences the entire operation of businesses and management. It necessitates changes in individual managerial functions, not excluding decision-making. In management theory, managerial decision making is defined in terms of content through descriptive and normative theories. The aim of the presented article is to examine the normative and descriptive understanding of decision – making in the context of adaptation of individual approaches to changes in the business environment – especially adaptation to technological progress related to the fourth industrial revolution. An overrated aspect of decision-making in this era is its rational side due to the rapid development of computer technology and the availability of rich software support. On the other hand, there is a tendency to bring to the decision-making process the involvement of all involved, collective judgment, the ability to learn from the development of the situation or openness to feedback. The understanding of the decision-making process thus moves from its traditional concept to a new understanding, which includes the above-mentioned factors. Development leads to their integration in the form of a direction that does not yet have a name but means a synergy of rational decision-making and critical thinking and reasoning in the context of descriptive theories. The overall optimal result of the decision-making process is influenced by objective criteria through a rational-normative model, environmental characteristics and subjective influences, personality, and cognitive complexity of the manager.

Fintech is increasingly important and potentially the most rapid change in financial services sector, changing the way financial services firms operate and transforming debt and equity markets, payments, credit assessment, regulatory compliance, personal finance and many other facets of financial services. The aim of the article is to analyze the impact of Fintech on the financial services market in Poland in the 21st century, with particular emphasis on the banking and insurance sector. The author intends to answer the question whether modern solutions proposed by IT companies in the field of payment processing, data collection and processing in Big Data technology and financial consulting constitute competition, or are complementary to financial services offered by banks and insurance companies, and to identify opportunities and threats for the further development of Fintech in Poland.

In this report we consider one of the fastest growing aspects of the business namely E-Logistics and its characteristics. The main purpose is to make comparison between E-Logistics and the traditional type of logistics, point out the advantages and the disadvantages, as well as the main principals of integration of the E-Logistics, and the opportunity for choosing hybrids between the different combinations of the principals for both types of logistics.

Advances in behavioral science are growing and technologies and portable devices are evolving. Taking into account the characteristics of human behavior and existing biases and heuristics, better and more effective applications can be designed to influence the acquisition and development of positive habits such as goal setting and achievement. This includes goals such as sports, healthy eating, acquisition of daily routine self-care skills, timely medication and more in order to gain self-confidence, confidence and develop an identity. This article will review existing methods for evaluating and synthesis behavioral interventions. The results of the study will be used to build an application to achieve goals

Covid-19 pandemic has made it necessary to move work from employers’ workplaces to home offices. The employee works from home using digital technologies. However, the Home Office scheme is accompanied by significant employee costs, covered by private employees’ funds. Among them for example cost of electricity, water, sewers, the cost of suitable workplace equipment and its amortization, costs of quite free space, cost to cover speedy internet. On the other hand, the employers receive work from the employees, b ut the cost of the working environment and resources they save significantly. The Home Office regime will remain in place after the pandemic, so it is time to consider a financial solution to the cost of home office staff – for example, in the form of tax instruments.

The definition of the world technology market is given and its features are characterized. The structure of the world technology market formed by institutional elements is considered. The following segments of the world technology market have been studied: the market of patents and licenses, the market of scientific and technological products, the market of scientific and technological specialists, the market of high-tech capital. According to Ukraine’s ratings in the world technology market (2018-2019), the reasons for its lag in it are named. The tendencies of the world market of technologies are substantiated.

Protecting the environment is vital to keeping life on the planet as we know it. Climate change is a global challenge with a clear complex nature in various aspects – environmental, social, technological, economic and political. At the international and national level, climate change policy is implemented mainly in two directions: 1. climate change mitigation through measures and activities to reduce greenhouse gases and 2. adaptation to the inevitable climate change by assessing risks and mitigation activities of their imp act. Implementing these policies requires investment in new technologies and the integration of climate challenges into green sectoral policies at national and local levels.The purpose of this report is to study the state of environmental indicators for Bulgaria and their development dynamics over the last decade. The results reveal the sectors with the strongest influence on the ecological condition of the country an d the directions for its improvement.

Solar energy has a great potential in Albania. The use of hybrid photovoltaic – thermal (PV/T) systems has shown an impressive progress in recent years. PV/T system can produce electricity and thermal energy simultaneously. In this paper, a 200 W PV/T system is introduced using water as cooling fluid, in order to regulate the temperature increase of the photovoltaic panels. The heat is collected via working fluid in a water tank. This study analyses the energy generation of this experimental setup, and aims to provide some accurate information in future developments and implementation of this technology in Albania. Coupling of PV/T system with heat pumps in buildings to meet the energy requirements could be of great interest for Albania’s energy consumers

The current study is focused on the development of integrated system for safety production and storage of hydrogen with a potential impact to the “Circle Economy”. The possibility of methanol production from diverse waste sources determines its key role in the integrated scheme. The originality of the proposed system is the conversion of the waste sources (different agricultural residues, coal tar pitch from low-rank coals, waste motor oils and polyolefin wax) to activated carbons by suitable technologies. Further, these activated carbons are modified with finely dispersed zinc ferrite nanoparticles. The obtained composites are used as catalysts for hydrogen release from methanol by decomposition. The phase composition, surface functionality, texture and structure features of the catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Low-temperature nitrogen physisorption, Moessbauer spectroscopy and Boehm method. The possibility for the regulation of the catalyst efficiency by simple selection of the activated carbon waste precursor is demonstrated.