Reviewer Policies

  1. Reviewers Guidelines
  2. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to reviewers)

    1. Reviewer Guidelines

    Purpose and Responsibilities:

    • Reviewers are responsible for evaluating the quality, originality, and relevance of the manuscript within the scope of mechanical engineering research and technology.
    • Reviewers should provide constructive, objective, and unbiased feedback that helps authors improve their manuscripts.
    • They are expected to assess the technical accuracy, validity of conclusions, clarity of writing, and overall contribution to the field.

    Confidentiality:

    • Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not share or discuss the manuscript with anyone outside the editorial process.
    • They should not use information from the manuscript for personal advantage or gain.

    Timeliness:

    • Reviewers should complete their reviews within the time frame given by the journal to ensure a smooth and timely publication process.
    • If reviewers are unable to complete the review or feel that they cannot fairly assess the manuscript, they should inform the editor as soon as possible.

    Scope of Review:

    • Reviewers should assess whether the manuscript fits within the scope of the journal and adheres to the journal’s publication standards.
    • It is important that reviewers check the quality of the references, the appropriateness of the methodology, and the novelty of the research presented.

    Ethical Considerations:

    • Reviewers should be aware of ethical issues such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification in the manuscript.
    • They are expected to notify the editor if they suspect any unethical practices in the manuscript.

    Recommendation:

    • After reviewing the manuscript, reviewers should provide a clear recommendation to the editor regarding acceptance, minor revisions, major revisions, or rejection.
    • Reviewers should also provide detailed comments and suggestions to help authors improve their manuscripts.

    2. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (Specific to Reviewers)

    Conflict of Interest (COI):

    • Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their impartiality or objectivity in evaluating the manuscript.
    • A conflict of interest may arise from personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors, institutions, or sponsors of the research.
    • Common examples of conflicts include:
      • Professional collaboration with the authors within the last few years.
      • Financial interest or sponsorship related to the research.
      • Personal relationships with the authors that could impair objectivity.

    Disclosure of Conflicts:

    • Reviewers should explicitly declare any potential conflicts of interest upon accepting the invitation to review a manuscript.
    • If there is a conflict of interest, reviewers should recuse themselves from the review process and suggest an alternative reviewer without such a conflict.

    Financial Disclosures:

    • Reviewers may be required to disclose any financial relationships that could be seen as influencing their judgment, such as funding received for research in the same field, or commercial interests related to the manuscript’s content.
    • Financial interests that could constitute a conflict of interest include:
      • Employment or financial support from an entity involved in the research.
      • Equity or stock ownership in a company that may benefit from the research results.

    Impartiality and Integrity:

    • It is essential that reviewers maintain impartiality and transparency in their reviews. If there is any doubt regarding impartiality or potential bias, reviewers should inform the editor immediately.

    Confidentiality of Financial Disclosures:

    • Any financial disclosures provided by the reviewer are generally kept confidential and are not shared with authors or the public. The primary aim is to ensure that the review process remains unbiased.