Journal Management

1. Introduction

Jurnal Optimasi Sistem Industri (JOSI) is committed to transparent, ethical, and efficient journal management practices. Our goal is to ensure the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed research that is openly accessible to the global academic community, while maintaining strict editorial independence. This policy outlines the governance, operational structures, financial model, and ethical commitments that underpin the management of JOSI. We adhere to the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

2. Description

Journal management encompasses all strategic, operational, editorial, and financial activities necessary for the sustainable and ethical functioning of JOSI. Key components include:

  • Governance and Ownership: The formal structure and ultimate responsibility for the journal.
  • Editorial Independence: The principle that editorial decisions are made free from undue external influences.
  • Financial Model: The sources of funding and revenue that support the journal's operations, and policies regarding fees.
  • Operational Processes: The workflows for manuscript submission, peer review, production, publication, and archiving.
  • Editorial Team and Board Management: The selection, roles, responsibilities, and support for individuals involved in the editorial process.
  • Ethical Conduct: Adherence to ethical standards in all aspects of journal operation, including marketing and business practices.

3. Policy

  • Governance and Ownership:

    • Jurnal Optimasi Sistem Industri (JOSI) is owned and published by the Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Andalas, Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
    • While benefiting from the support of Universitas Andalas, JOSI's editorial operations are governed by its Editorial Board and Editor-in-Chief to ensure academic integrity.

  • Editorial Independence:

    • JOSI upholds the principle of strict editorial independence. All decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts are based exclusively on their scholarly merit, including scientific validity, originality, clarity, relevance to the journal's scope, and compliance with ethical guidelines.
    • These decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief and designated editors, free from any influence by the journal owner (Universitas Andalas), funders, or any other commercial, political, or personal interests. The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over the entire editorial content of the journal.

  • Financial Model and Revenue Sources:

    • JOSI is an open-access journal and is committed to disseminating research widely without financial barriers to authors or readers.
    • There are no Article Processing Charges (APCs), submission fees, or any other publication-related fees charged to authors.
    • The primary financial support for JOSI is provided by Universitas Andalas. This support covers essential operational costs, including but not limited to the procurement and maintenance of plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin), grammar checking tools (e.g., Grammarly), Digital Object Identifier (DOI) registration services, and the journal's online hosting and infrastructure.
    • This funding model ensures that editorial decision-making is never influenced by an author's ability or willingness to pay.

  • Open Access Statement:

    • JOSI provides immediate and unrestricted open access to all its published content, allowing users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles free of charge, under the terms of its specified Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA).

  • Editorial Board and Team:

    • JOSI maintains an active and appropriately qualified Editorial Board, comprising recognized experts in industrial engineering, systems optimization, and related fields.
    • The roles, responsibilities, and terms of service for Editorial Board members are clearly defined.
    • Full names and affiliations of the Editor-in-Chief, editorial staff, and all Editorial Board members are publicly available on the JOSI website.
    • Remuneration and Support: Editorial team members who are staff of Universitas Andalas receive support as part of their institutional roles. Other national and international editorial board members and reviewers typically contribute on a voluntary basis, reflecting a common practice in scholarly publishing. This arrangement does not influence editorial decision-making.

  • Operational Processes and Software:

    • JOSI utilizes efficient, well-documented, and transparent processes for manuscript submission, peer review (as detailed in the "Peer Review Processes" policy), copyediting, production, and online publication.
    • These processes are supported by appropriate online journal management software and tools to ensure quality and timeliness.

  • Training and Ethical Development:

    • JOSI is committed to ensuring that its editorial staff, editors, and Editorial Board members receive adequate guidance and training on best practices in scholarly publishing, including publication ethics (referencing COPE guidelines), journal policies, and the use of editorial management systems.

  • Advertising and Marketing Policy:

    • Advertising: JOSI currently does not accept paid advertising on its website or in its articles. Should this policy change in the future, a clear and transparent advertising policy will be established, ensuring that advertisements are clearly distinguishable from editorial content and have no influence whatsoever on editorial decisions.
    • Direct Marketing: Any direct marketing activities conducted by JOSI, such as calls for papers or announcements, will be appropriate, well-targeted, unobtrusive, and factually accurate, avoiding any misleading information for potential authors or readers.

  • Archiving and Digital Preservation:

    • JOSI is committed to the long-term preservation of its digital content. Measures are in place to ensure that published articles remain accessible for future readers and researchers. This may involve partnerships with national libraries, digital archiving services (e.g., LOCKSS, Portico), or robust institutional archiving solutions provided by Universitas Andalas.

  • Journal Metrics and Performance:

    • JOSI may periodically report on relevant journal metrics (such as submission numbers, acceptance rates, or typical review times) to provide transparency regarding its operational performance. All such reporting will be accurate and contextually appropriate.

4. Technicalities to Achieve and Materialise the Policies

  • Website Transparency:

    • The JOSI website serves as the primary platform for communicating its policies and practices. It will clearly and accessibly provide:
      • Detailed information about the journal's ownership (Universitas Andalas, Industrial Engineering Department) and publisher details.
      • The journal's aims, scope, and target readership.
      • Full list of the Editor-in-Chief, editorial office staff, and Editorial Board members with their current affiliations.
      • Comprehensive "Instructions for Authors," including ethical guidelines, manuscript preparation, and submission procedures.
      • A clear statement of its open-access policy, the CC BY-NC-SA license terms, and confirmation of no author fees (APCs).
      • A detailed description of the peer review process.
      • Information on the journal's indexing and abstracting services.
      • The journal's digital archiving strategy.
      • Up-to-date contact information for the editorial office.

  • Editorial Office Management:

    • Implementation of efficient workflows for manuscript submission, tracking, peer review management, and production.
    • Maintenance of clear and timely communication channels with authors, reviewers, and editors throughout the publication process.
    • Established procedures for handling post-publication issues such as corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern, in line with COPE guidelines.

  • Selection and Governance of Editorial Personnel:

    • The appointment of the Editor-in-Chief and members of the Editorial Board is based on their recognized expertise in relevant fields, experience in scholarly publishing, and commitment to JOSI's aims, scope, and ethical standards. Efforts are made to ensure diversity and broad representation within the editorial structure.
    • Clear terms of reference and responsibilities are provided to all editorial personnel.

  • Management of Editorial Conflicts of Interest:

    • Robust procedures, as detailed in JOSI’s "Policy on Conflicts of Interest," are in place to identify and manage any potential conflicts of interest for editors, editorial board members, and journal staff, ensuring they recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

  • Use of Supporting Software and Tools:

    • Consistent use of a reliable online manuscript submission and peer review management system.
    • Systematic application of plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin) for all submissions.
    • Utilization of grammar and language enhancement tools (e.g., Grammarly) where appropriate.
    • Ensuring persistent identification of published articles through the assignment of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs).

  • Policy Review and Updates:

    • JOSI's journal management policies and operational practices are subject to regular review by the editorial leadership and publisher. Updates will be made as necessary to align with evolving best practices in scholarly publishing, COPE guidelines, and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

This Journal Management policy reflects JOSI's dedication to maintaining a reputable, ethical, and efficiently run scholarly publication.