JOURNAL POLICY
PUBLICATION ETHICS
In academic discourse and knowledge dissemination, publishing in a peer-reviewed journal is more than a mere transfer of information. It serves as a fundamental building block in the development of a coherent and respected network of knowledge. Through its rigorous publication practices, the DMMS journal significantly contributes to this academic foundation. Each article we publish stands as a testament to the quality and impact of the research, reflecting the dedication and scholarly rigor of its authors and the institutions that support them.
Our commitment extends beyond facilitating scientific dialogue. We champion the scientific method, reinforcing the evolution and integrity of the decision-making community—including academic and industry researchers and decision-makers working at the intersection of research and implementation in manufacturing and services.
Given the profound implications of our role, it is imperative for all involved in publishing—authors, journal editors, reviewers, and publishers—to uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior. This ethical commitment fosters an environment of respect, dignity, and fairness, free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, or retaliation.
To this end, our journal’s ethical guidelines are meticulously aligned with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). This ensures that all submitted manuscripts adhere to rigorous ethical standards, safeguarding the credibility and integrity of scientific discourse. While these guidelines primarily serve primary research journals, they are equally relevant to review articles and other professional publications. Furthermore, we actively engage with discipline-specific ethical standards and collaborate with standard-setting bodies relevant to our field, such as the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT).
Through this comprehensive ethical framework, the DMMS journal aspires not only to disseminate knowledge but also to elevate the standards of scholarly publishing—demonstrating our unwavering commitment to scientific advancement and societal betterment.
OPEN ACCESS POLICY
Decision Making in Manufacturing and Services is an open-access research journal following the BOAI definition of open access. This means that everyone has free and unlimited access to the full-text of all articles published in DMMS as well as everyone is free to re-use the published material if proper accreditation/citation of the original publication is given.
The full texts of articles are without embargo and freely available to be used, distributed, and reproduced in any medium according to the license: Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). No special permission is required to reuse all or part of article published, including figures and tables. Any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. Reuse of an article does not imply endorsement by the authors or AGH University Press.
ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGE (APC)
The Authors do not pay any costs related to the publication of articles in DMMS. Publication is completely free of charge.
ARCHIVING POLICY
A printed copy of each issue is submitted to the National Library, the Jagiellonian Library, and the AGH University Main Library.
The electronic editions are stored in the AGH Main Library’s Repository.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.
USE OF GENERATIVE AI & AI-ASSISTED TECHNOLOGIES
In Writing: AI tools may be used to improve readability but must be used responsibly. Authors must verify AI-generated content for accuracy and disclose its use in manuscripts.
AI-generated images are prohibited unless explicitly part of the research methodology. Image alterations must not misrepresent original data, and AI-assisted artwork, such as graphical abstracts, is not permitted.
In Peer Review: Reviewers must not use AI tools to analyze or summarize manuscripts, as confidentiality and critical human judgment are essential.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PUBLISHER
Guardianship of the Scholarly Record: As the publisher of the DMMS journal, we uphold the integrity and reliability of the scholarly record. Our role extends beyond publication; we are custodians of scientific accuracy and trustworthiness. We support our journal editors and recognize the critical, often voluntary, contributions of peer reviewers. While ethical codes primarily address potential infractions, we also emphasize celebrating the robustness of the scholarly system, which functions effectively with minimal issues.
Supporting the Editorial Process: Our responsibilities include supporting, investing in, and fostering the scholarly communication process while ensuring adherence to the highest ethical publishing standards. We assist editors, reviewers, and authors in meeting their ethical obligations, facilitate communication with other journals and publishers, and provide legal guidance when necessary.
Commitment to Ethical Best Practices: We collaborate with industry associations and publishers to establish and uphold best practices in ethics, error handling, and retractions, contributing to the continuous improvement of ethical standards in scholarly publishing.
Safeguarding Editorial Independence: We uphold the autonomy of our editors, ensuring that editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and are not influenced by commercial interests, such as advertising, reprint revenues, or other financial incentives.
Educational Initiatives in Publishing Ethics: We recognize the importance of raising awareness of publishing ethics, particularly among early-career researchers. We are committed to providing education and guidance to enhance ethical standards across the scientific community.
Managing Conflicts of Interest: Transparency in managing competing interests among our editorial staff is essential. We require disclosure of financial and non-financial interests to ensure editorial decisions remain unbiased and uphold the integrity of the publication process.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF EDITORS
Publication Decisions: Editors have sole responsibility for selecting articles for publication based on their validity and significance to the field. Decisions must align with journal policies, legal requirements, and recommendations from the editorial board, other editors, and reviewers.
Peer Review Oversight: Editors ensure that the peer review process is fair, unbiased, and timely. Each research article must be reviewed by at least two independent experts, with additional opinions sought when necessary. Reviewer selection must be based on expertise, with potential conflicts of interest carefully managed.
Commitment to Fair Play: Manuscripts must be evaluated solely based on intellectual merit, without regard to authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or political beliefs. Diversity and inclusivity should be promoted in editorial board and reviewer selections.
Confidentiality and Privacy: Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted materials and reviewer communications, sharing information only when necessary and with proper consent. Reviewer identities should be protected unless operating under an open peer-review model.
Editorial Independence and Integrity: Editorial decisions must remain free from commercial or political influence. Editors must ensure that advertising, reprints, or other financial interests do not compromise their objectivity.
Vigilance Over the Published Record: Editors must actively maintain the integrity of published work, investigating reports of misconduct or ethical breaches in collaboration with the publisher and taking appropriate corrective actions such as issuing retractions or corrections.
Conflict of Interest Management: Editors must disclose potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from decision-making on manuscripts where conflicts exist. This includes submissions from personal connections, colleagues, or works related to products or services in which the editor has an interest.
Educational Role: Editors should actively educate the research community on ethical publishing practices, particularly targeting early-career researchers.
Legal and Ethical Compliance: Editors must adhere to all relevant legal and ethical standards in editorial processes, ensuring compliance with national and international regulations.
Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers play a critical role in assisting editors with manuscript decisions and providing constructive feedback to authors to improve their work.
Confidentiality: Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential. Reviewers must not disclose details or contact authors directly without the editor’s permission.
Ethical Vigilance: Reviewers must report any ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest, to the editor. They should also identify substantial similarities between the manuscript and other published works.
Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, free from personal bias. Reviewers must provide clear, well-supported arguments and avoid personal criticism of authors.
Competing Interests: Reviewers should disclose any conflicts of interest related to competitive, collaborative, or financial relationships with the authors, institutions, or companies linked to the manuscript.
Citation Integrity: Reviewers must ensure citation suggestions are based on scholarly relevance, not personal gain, such as inflating citation counts.
Reporting Standards: Authors must provide an accurate and objective account of their research, ensuring that data is represented faithfully and with sufficient detail for replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.
Data Access and Retention: Authors should provide access to underlying research data when feasible and retain it for a reasonable period after publication in line with journal policies.
Originality and Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cite or quote the work of others. All influences on the reported research should be acknowledged.
Multiple or Redundant Publication: Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals or publishing overlapping research is unethical.
Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who significantly contributed to the study’s conception, design, execution, or interpretation. Others who contributed should be acknowledged.
Hazards and Ethical Compliance: Authors must identify any hazards related to chemicals, procedures, or equipment used in their research. Studies involving human or animal subjects must comply with ethical guidelines and legal requirements.
Declaration of Competing Interests: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work, including funding sources and the role of sponsors.
Error Notification: If authors discover significant errors in their published work, they must promptly inform the journal and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.
Inclusive Language: Authors should use inclusive, respectful language, avoiding assumptions about readers and ensuring terminology is non-discriminatory.
