THE MANUSCRIPT JOURNEY
From submission to the scholarly record
Each stage is subject to the manuscript’s needs. Not every submission progresses to external review or publication.
Submission and validation
Authors submit manuscript files, metadata, declarations and required supporting information through the AHFE journal platform. The system validates completeness before the manuscript advances.
Editorial assessment and peer review
Editors assess scope, suitability, integrity and scientific presentation before arranging independent peer review. Reviewers provide evidence-based comments intended to help editors reach a fair decision and authors improve the work.
Decision, production and publication
Following revision and editorial decision, accepted manuscripts proceed through production and proof stages before publication. Workflow actions and communications are retained in the platform for accountability.
Before submission: prepare a complete scholarly record
Prepare a clear title, author names and affiliations, a structured explanation of the research question, appropriate methods and findings, keywords and supporting files. Ensure the metadata entered in the platform matches the manuscript itself. Obtain co-author agreement, document ethical approvals where applicable, and disclose financial or nonfinancial relationships relevant to the work.
Stage 1 · Manuscript submission and technical checks
The author signs in to the AHFE Discoveries submission workspace, selects the appropriate major area and research topic, completes manuscript details and supplies the required files and declarations. The journal platform checks required information and routes the completed submission for editorial handling. Technical completeness is not a scientific endorsement.
Stage 2 · Editorial screening and assignment
The editorial team evaluates scope, submission completeness, research ethics, originality and whether the scientific contribution can reasonably be assessed. A manuscript may be returned for clarification or declined without external review if it falls outside the journal’s scope or lacks essential scientific information. Suitable submissions move to an editor with appropriate expertise.
Stage 3 · Independent expert review
Invited reviewers evaluate the validity of methods, strength of evidence, novelty, limitations, reporting quality and practical significance. Editors assess both the manuscript and the reasoning behind reviewer recommendations. Reviews should be constructive and confidential; the existence of a review request does not imply acceptance.
Stage 4 · Revision and reasoned response
Where a revision is requested, authors submit a revised manuscript and explain how substantive comments have been addressed, identifying changes and providing justification where they respectfully disagree. Revised work can be assessed again by the editor or reviewers. Multiple rounds may be necessary; a revision invitation does not promise publication.
Stage 5 · Decision and production
An authorized editor makes the decision based on the available scientific record and journal requirements. Accepted manuscripts proceed to production checks, publication metadata verification, proofs and preparation of the final scholarly record. Authors should check the proofs carefully because late changes may be limited.
Stage 6 · Publication and post-publication responsibility
Once publication requirements are satisfied, the final article can be released with its applicable licence and bibliographic metadata. Questions identified after publication may require clarification, correction or a formal integrity assessment. Publication does not end the responsibility to maintain an accurate scholarly record.
Use your manuscript ID when contacting the journal office. The secure AHFE Discoveries submission platform remains the authoritative record for your manuscript's current status and required actions.
Open manuscript workspace → Contact the journal office →