To err is an intrinsic human trait, which means that human errors, at some point, are inevitable. Business improvement tools and practices neglect to deal with the root causes of human error; hence, they ignore certain design considerations that could possibly prevent or minimise such errors from occurring. Recognising this gap, this paper seeks to conceptualise a model that incorporates cognitive science literature based on a mistake-proofing concept, thereby offering a deeper, more profound level of human error analysis. An exploratory case study involving an aerospace assembly line was conducted to gain insights into the model developed. The findings of the case study revealed four different causes of human errors, as follows: (i) description similarity error, (ii) capture errors, (iii) memory lapse errors, and (iv) interruptions. Based on this analysis, error-proofing measures have been proposed accordingly. This paper lays the foundation for future work on the psychology behind human errors in the aerospace industry and highlights the importance of understanding human errors to avoid quality issues and rework in production settings, where labour input is of paramount importance.

The rapid advancement of 3D printing has transformed industries, including medicine and pharmaceuticals. Integrating antioxidants into 3D-printed structures offers promising therapeutic strategies for enhanced antioxidant delivery. This review explores the synergistic relationship between 3D printing and antioxidants, focusing on the design and fabrication of antioxidant-loaded constructs. Incorporating antioxidants into 3D-printed matrices enables controlled release and localized delivery, improving efficacy while minimizing side effects. Customization of physical and chemical properties allows tailoring of antioxidant release kinetics, distribution, and degradation profiles. Encapsulation techniques such as direct mixing, coating, and encapsulation are discussed. Material selection, printing parameters, and post-processing methods significantly influence antioxidant release kinetics and stability. Applications include wound healing, tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and personalized medicine. This comprehensive review aims to provide insights into 3D printing-assisted antioxidant delivery systems, facilitating advancements in medicine and improved patient outcomes for oxidative stress-related disorders.

As the global demand for water rises and climate pressures intensify, projections indicate that water scarcity will impact nearly 40% of the world’s population by 2030 and a quarter of all children by 2040. This study reviews the current literature on residential water efficiency, highlighting the most effective strategies for reducing water waste. A systematic literature review—guided by transparent criteria and quality assessments using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP)—was conducted to extract insights into water distribution management strategies. This study examines current smart water management initiatives aimed at reducing waste, with a particular focus on the policy and regulatory drivers behind global water conservation efforts. Furthermore, it shows innovative smart solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered forecasting, Internet of Things (IoT)-based metering, and predictive leak detection, which have demonstrated reductions in residential water loss by up to 30%, particularly through real-time monitoring and adaptive consumption strategies. The study concludes that innovative technologies must be actively supported and implemented by governments, utilities, and global organizations to proactively reduce water waste, safeguard future generations, and enable data-driven, AI-powered policy and decision-making for improved water use efficiency.

The aerospace industry faces challenges in managing inventory effectively due to long product life cycles and unpredictable demand. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a promising technology that enables the on-demand production of spare parts, potentially reducing inventory costs and improving supply chain efficiency. This paper proposes a novel conceptual framework for employing AM in the aerospace spare parts industry to isolate demand volatility. A conceptual approach is employed in this study, which involves a comprehensive literature review to identify the factors to consider when employing AM for spare parts and the methods for demand volatility isolation, followed by a structured framework development that outlines the decision-making steps for AM utilization based on the identified factors. The framework outlines a structured approach for using AM to produce spare parts and isolate demand volatility, which can help mitigate the impact of demand uncertainty on inventory management. The proposed approach provides a basis for future research and has the potential to transform how spare parts are produced and managed in the aerospace industry. Overall, this paper contributes to the emerging literature on AM in the aerospace industry by presenting a novel approach to improving inventory management and addressing demand uncertainty.

The persistent misalignment between higher education outcomes and labor market demands undermines graduate employability and economic growth. This study develops and applies a transformative framework based on lean principles and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to redesign academic curricula, using an Industrial Engineering program in Saudi Arabia as a case study. Analysis of the Current State VSM revealed significant inefficiencies, with a total graduation time of 242 weeks but only 23 weeks of value-added learning. The Future State VSM introduced a level-based structure of five competency-driven levels, each lasting eight weeks, reducing graduation time to 85 weeks and increasing value-added contact time to 10.1 weeks. Beyond operational efficiency, the findings demonstrate the strategic value of VSM as a tool for aligning academic programs with evolving labor market needs. For universities, the framework provides a mechanism to restructure curricula around modular learning, takt-time pacing, and continuous feedback loops with industry stakeholders, enhancing the adaptability of graduates. For policymakers, it offers a data-driven model for competency-based reform that addresses systemic skill gaps and supports sustainable career ecosystems. For industries, closer collaboration with higher education ensures a steady pipeline of workforce-ready professionals, reducing onboarding costs and accelerating innovation. This work contributes to lean higher education literature by extending VSM from institutional process improvement to systemic labor market alignment. The approach is scalable across disciplines, positioning higher education as a proactive enabler of economic resilience and long-term graduate career sustainability.