Outsourcing practices in automotive supply networks: an exploratory study of full service vehicle suppliers

Most automotive companies outsource the design, manufacturing and assembly of some complete cars to independent suppliers or full service vehicle companies (FSVs). FSVs represent a relatively unexplored form of outsourcing which combines joint efforts in developing a modular product with the externalisation of specific niche manufacturing processes. On the basis of comparative cases and of qualitative information collected within three FSVs and three OEMs, this study aims to investigate the associated advantages and risks for FSVs, commonalities/differences from the practices of outsourcing to component/module specialists that can be found in other industries and why and for what kind of products FSVs can be appropriate in automotive supply networks. The study contributes to the debate on outsourcing in the automotive industry by providing an original interpretation on why FSVs have recently seen a shakeout with some growing whilst others have faltered.     

A PSO-based optimum consumer incentive policy for WEEE incorporating reliability of components

The world is going digital, human infatuation with gadgets is increasing and a very short product lifecycle of these products has resulted in a horrendous threat to the environment. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) reverse logistic management has been a key area for researchers to innovate and produce insights that could sustain businesses without compromising the environment. In this paper, we aim to understand the consumer return behaviour of end of life goods at different incentive levels and make an attempt to incorporate the latest research practices. A novel attempt is made in this paper, where we have for the first time applied product and component reliability in determining the incentives given to the consumer so that the efforts of WEEE recycling and disposal could be conducted in an economically sustainable manner to promote ecological sustainability, thereby envisaging upon the fact that there is a hidden synergy between the trade and environment, and only innovative managerial approaches that are thoroughly pragmatic, could exploit them. The optimisation model has been solved using particle swarm optimisation (PSO) and the insights produce highlight upon the feasibility of such a model.     

Steel Erection Fatalities in the Construction Industry

Construction fatalities continue to occur during steel erection. Using 166 case files resulting from Occupational Safety and Heath Administration (OSHA) investigations of steel erection fatalities during the years 2000–2005, the writers examined the data to determine the proximal causes and contributing physical factors. Of the 166 fatal events, results showed proximal cause “falls” represented 125 of the fatal events, “crushed/struck/hit by object” represented 40, and one was caused by electrocution. The rate of fatalities tended to reduce from 2000 to 2005. As a result, OSHA may be reaching one of its goals established following the introduction of the new steel standards in 2002, an annual reduction of 30 fatalities. The results of this study indicate that employer compliance with OSHA’s fall protection standards and instructing employees in recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions could save lives.     

Horizontal collaboration in semiconductor manufacturing industry supply chain: An evaluation of collaboration intensity index

This paper aims to provide a generic quantitative model to comprehensively assess the degree of collaboration with individual horizontal collaboration initiatives with a view to check feasibility for satisfying the customer requirements. The analytic hierarchy process–fuzzy logic model (AHP–FLM) approach is chosen for developing the model, a method that is often used to tackle complex strategic decision making that calls for subjective judgment based on well-established logical reasoning, rather than on simple feeling and intuition. In the process, the complex and unstructured problem for ‘compatibility test’ is broken down into elements, and then a customized hierarchy structure is set up to demonstrate the relationship between different hierarchy levels and among these elements. Each element may have a different level of importance for the horizontal collaboration. A fuzzy rule based collaboration intensity index (CII) is developed to build up the relationships among these evaluation attributes. Synthesizing the generic relative importance and the forecasted degree of collaboration, the proposed approach can determine the success of the collaboration initiative. An illustrative example of a semiconductor industry supply chain (SSC) member that intends to partner with a potential and competing candidate enterprise is developed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed fuzzy strategic alliance selection framework and to measure the effectiveness of a horizontal collaboration initiative.     

桂林市工业所有制及部门结构探析

工业经济的增长不仅表现为工业经济总量的扩张 ,还表现为工业经济结构的变迁。结构的优化与否 ,直接影响工业经济增长的质量。经过五十多年的发展 ,尤其是改革开放以来的合理调整 ,桂林市工业经济结构不断得到优化。但同时 ,桂林市工业经济结构也存在着明显的缺陷。了解和把握桂林市工业经济结构的优点和缺陷 ,并找到相应的对策 ,对于调整和优化工业经济结构 ,促进工业经济乃至整个城市经济的持续、快速、健康发展具有重要意义     

变频调速的应用

从设计及应用角度介绍变频器在化肥行业中的应用和控制方案     

麦当劳与快餐产业的内涵

以麦当劳为参照，从4个方面阐述了快餐作为一种产业所包含的深刻内涵，指出效率、资金、技术、人才是快餐产业成功的关键因素．     

浅谈沟槽式管接件行业涂装概况

简单介绍了沟槽式管接件行业的发展情况,重点介绍了当前该行业几种常用涂料的涂装体系。最后指出沟槽式管接件行业涂料应用可能的发展方向。     

PCB行业实施清洁生产取得的成效（2）——以汕头超声印制板（二厂）有限公司为例

汕头超声印制板（二厂）公司藉“节能减排”的契机，打破经验思维的束缚，把汕头超声印制板公司的成果和理念成功运用到本公司的清洁生产工作中，创造了良好的经济效益和环境效益。     

2009年世界化学工业

2009年,经济危机导致的需求锐减抑制了美国、加拿大、欧洲和日本的化工生产,同时也使大多数化工产品的贸易额出现显著萎缩。不过,制造业已经开始适应低需求时代,化工公司在2009年削减成本并降低预期。美国和日本化工公司的资本支出降幅超过了30%,欧洲化工公司的资本支出更是减少了一半。美国化工公司减少了研发投资,而欧洲公司的研发投资持平或略有增长。欧美的化工从业人员显著减少,但日本则相对稳定。