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The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of remittance inflows (remittances) on electricity consumption and electric power losses in Jamaica.

The authors use annual data from 1976 to 2014 and apply vector error correction modelling, Granger causality testing and impulse response analysis.

First, the authors find that there is co-integration between remittances and the energy variables, namely electricity consumption and electric power losses. Second, short-run Granger causality exists between the energy variables and remittances. This causality is bidirectional between the energy variables and positive changes in remittances, but it is unidirectional running from the energy variables to negative movements in remittances. Third, the authors find that in the long-run remittances have a negative relationship with electric power losses and a positive relationship with the consumption of electricity.

Findings from this paper will help to elucidate the relationship between electricity consumption, and electric power losses, and remittances.

The problem of electric power losses is acute in Jamaica and it is mostly due to theft. At the same time, Jamaica receives significant remittances. Social policy could have a role to encourage the use of remittances to help stem the theft of electricity.

This is the first study that examines the relationships between remittances, electricity consumption and electric power losses.

It has been suggested that homicides in Jamaica are partly driven by conflicts among criminals over funds coming from international lottery scams; most of these funds are channeled into the country via remittances. This study aims to determine the empirical relationship between remittances and homicides in Jamaica over the period 1985–2019.

The authors apply an error correction modelling framework while accounting for indicators of changes in socioeconomic conditions.

There are two. First, the authors find from impulse response analysis of the long-run dynamics that an increase in remittances is associated with an increase in homicides, and vice versa. Second, the authors find that there is bidirectional Granger causality between remittances and homicides in the short run.

Two important implications are that policies should be strengthened to channel remittances to productive and legal investment opportunities and that greater efforts may be needed to stem the flow of funds coming from international lottery scamming and other illegal activities.

This is the first study that examines the dynamic relationship between remittances and homicides in Jamaica from a robust statistical perspective.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether causal asymmetries exist between energy consumption and three dimensions of financial development in Jamaica.

The authors use the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag method to identify the long- and short-run associations between energy consumption and different measures of financial development in Jamaica for the period 1980 to 2018.

There are two central findings. First, cointegrating relationships run from the dimensions of financial development to energy consumption. Second, the authors find asymmetries in these relationships. In the long run, asymmetries are such that rising levels of financial development have a neutral impact on energy consumption. By contrast, falling levels of financial development in the long run are associated with increases in energy consumption. In the short run, the authors find evidence of asymmetries only in changes in the overall level of financial development on energy consumption.

One practical implication is that for Jamaica to avoid some of the potential negative environmental consequences resulting from the positive impact on energy consumption arising from falling levels of financial development, a strong financial development policy will be important.

There will be positive social impacts from financial development in the area of climate finance.

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on Jamaica that examines the financial development–energy nexus. Further, the authors use relatively new and comprehensive measures of financial development.

This research seeks to identify the specific leadership competencies required for implementing Total Quality Management (TQM); to examine the influence of leadership competencies for implementing individual TQM principles; and to examine the relationship of the TQM implementation principles with TQM outcomes among the Thai manufacturing companies with different levels of leadership competencies.

Data have been collected from 265 ISO 9000‐certified companies in the Thai manufacturing industry to examine the validity and reliability of the leadership competencies construct; nine TQM implementation constructs (top management commitment, supplier quality management, continuous improvement, product innovation, benchmarking, employee involvement, reward and recognition, education and training, and customer focus); and one outcome construct (product quality). The findings are cross‐validated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Step‐wise regression methods have been used to identify the influence of leadership competencies for implementing TQM principles.

This research confirms the necessity for top management to perform as leaders for implementing TQM. Companies with high leadership competencies execute each of the nine TQM principles more effectively and are able to produce higher quality products. This research also finds that the relationships of TQM implementation constructs and the outcome construct (product quality) are not same in the different contexts of leadership competencies. The predictors of product quality in the context of high leadership competencies are: customer focus; continuous improvement; employee involvement; and supplier quality management. The predictors of product quality in companies with low leadership competencies are top management commitment; customer focus; and product innovation.

The present study used only product quality as the outcome of TQM efforts, but the outcome of TQM is not limited only to product quality. TQM is also related to other organizational performance variables, namely – customer satisfaction, employee morale, delivery, productivity, cash flow, and sales growth. Future research should be extended by using other performance variables as the outcome of TQM.

It is believed that this research reveals new insights about the manufacturing sector of Thailand. This research also has managerial and research implications for designing and formulating operations strategy for implementing TQM.

The purpose of this paper is to build a monitoring scheme in order to detect and subsequently eliminate abnormal behavior of the concerned casting process so as to produce worm wheels with good quality characteristics.

In this a study, a process monitoring strategy has been devised for a centrifugal casting process using data-based multivariate statistical technique, namely, partial least squares regression (PLSR).

Based on a case study, the PLSR model constructed for this study seems to mimic the actual process quite well which is evident from the various performance criteria (predicted and analysis of variance results).

The practical implication of the study involves development of a software application with a back-end database which would be interfaced with a computer program based on PLSR algorithm for estimation of model parameters and the control limit for the monitoring chart. It would help in easy and real-time detection of faults.

This study concerns the application of a PLSR-based monitoring strategy to a centrifugal casting process engaged in the production of worm wheel.

This research aims to examine the applicability of the Retail Service Quality Scale (RSQS) in retail stores in Kazakhstan, a country of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that is in the transition stage from a controlled economy to a market economy. This research also attempts to identify the dimensions and sub‐dimensions that contribute to increasing the customer base.

A sample of 220 shoppers from department stores, discount stores, and supermarkets in Almaty city, Kazakhstan, was surveyed to examine the validity and reliability of the five dimensions (physical aspects, reliability, personal interaction, problem solving, and policy) and six sub‐dimensions (appearance, convenience, promises, doing‐it‐right, inspiring confidence and courteousness/helpfulness) of RSQS. The findings are cross‐validated hierarchically using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Step‐wise regression methods are used to identify the dimensions and sub‐dimensions contributing to increasing the customer base.

The research finds that the RSQS structure is a good fit in the Kazakhstan retail setting. The five dimensions and six sub‐dimensions together provide significant usefulness in measuring the quality of retail services. The research also finds that while all the dimensions and sub‐dimensions have a positive relationship, two dimensions (personal interaction, physical aspects) and one sub‐dimension (inspiring confidence) are strongly related to increasing the customer base through return customers and word of mouth from satisfied customers.

The present study does not distinguish applicability of the RSQS in the different formats of the retail store. Future research should examine the impact of the different retail formats in using the scale for measuring retail service quality.

Prospective and existing retail service providers who place a high priority on quality can use this instrument to track the high growth potential of the retail sector in CIS countries. It will help to measure their services and increase their customer base by targeting the appropriate dimensions and sub‐dimensions.

The authors believe that this research reveals new insights about the retail sector in the context of CIS countries. This research also has managerial and research implications for designing and formulating operations strategy in providing retail services for new markets.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among employment, real wage, and output growth in Canada.

Using quarterly data from 1994q2 to 2012q3, this paper employs a vector autoregressive framework while allowing for the derivation of output from its historical maximum over the sample period to affect future output, employment, and real wage growth dynamics.

There are three main findings: output growth is significant in predicting employment growth and vice versa; real wage growth neither Granger causes employment growth nor output growth, but employment growth Granger causes real wage growth; and non-linear dynamics, captured by the current depth regression (CDR) effect term, through the sign as well as the magnitude of output changes, are important in characterizing the evolution of the relationship among output, employment, and real wage growth.

The findings of this research have significant implications for policy makers. Output and employment growth are important in forecasting each other in Canada. In contrast to the mainstream theory, real growth is insignificant in explaining the future dynamics of employment in Canada. Policies need to be formulated to encourage the growth of employment to ensure sustain output growth.

This study examines empirically the real output, real wage, and employment link in Canada. This study uses the most recently revised GDP data arising from the 2012 Historical Revision of the Canadian System of National Accounts. The econometric methodology involves the standard vector autoregression (VAR) model to which the authors introduce non-linear dynamics through a term that controls for the deviation of output from its preceding historical maximum: the CDR effect.

To provide reliable and valid constructs of total quality management (TQM) and a measurement instrument in the context of manufacturing industries in newly industrialized countries for evaluating the TQM implementation process and to target improvement areas.

Based on a review of TQM literature and expert opinions, ten TQM constructs (nine implementation constructs and one outcome construct) were identified. A detailed questionnaire was developed with the items for ten TQM constructs along with the questions on quality performance and information about the respondents. The questionnaire was then sent to randomly selected ISO 9000 certified manufacturing companies in Thailand. Out of 1,000 questionnaires sent, 275 usable samples were returned giving a response rate of 27.5 percent. Based on the data from the survey, exploratory factor analysis was done to ensure that items in each scale reflected sufficiently the scope of each construct. Internal consistency analysis was done to ensure the reliability of the constructs. Criterion‐related validity and construct validity were evaluated statistically to ensure that the set of measures correctly represents the constructs, and the degree to which they are free from any systematic or non‐random error.

This paper identified ten reliable and valid TQM constructs. Nine are implementation constructs and an outcome construct. These constructs have a total of 52 items, fewer compared to other instruments available in the TQM literature, with higher reliability compared to them.

Owing to time and resource constraints, this study was conducted only in the manufacturing sector of Thailand and hence generalization is somewhat limited. This study could be extended to the service sector in Thailand and the same sector in other countries.

The instrument presented will provide Thailand's manufacturing companies with a practical understanding in the area of TQM implementation. Moreover, researchers and practitioners from other newly industrialized countries may be able to use these constructs in future TQM research. Compared to other instruments, this instrument will be easier to administer and the response rate may be better.

Quality/production managers will be able to use the instrument to evaluate their TQM implementation initiatives and identify problem areas requiring improvement. Researchers will be able to use this instrument to enhance understanding of the process and to develop applicable TQM theory.

Monitoring of a process leading to the detection of faults and determination of the root causes are essential for the production of consistent good quality end products with improved yield. The history of process monitoring fault detection (PMFD) strategies can be traced back to 1930s. Thereafter various tools, techniques and approaches were developed along with their application in diversified fields. The purpose of this paper is to make a review to categorize, describe and compare the various PMFD strategies.

Taxonomy was developed to categorize PMFD strategies. The basis for the categorization was the type of techniques being employed for devising the PMFD strategies. Further, PMFD strategies were discussed in detail along with emphasis on the areas of applications. Comparative evaluations of the PMFD strategies based on some commonly identified issues were also carried out. A general framework common to all the PMFD has been presented. And lastly a discussion into future scope of research was carried out.

The techniques employed for PMFD are primarily of three types, namely data driven techniques such as statistical model based and artificial intelligent based techniques, priori knowledge based techniques, and hybrid models, with a huge dominance of the first type. The factors that should be considered in developing a PMFD strategy are ease in development, diagnostic ability, fault detection speed, robustness to noise, generalization capability, and handling of nonlinearity. The review reveals that there is no single strategy that can address all aspects related to process monitoring and fault detection efficiently and there is a need to mesh the different techniques from various PMFD strategies to devise a more efficient PMFD strategy.

The review documents the existing strategies for PMFD with an emphasis on finding out the nature of the strategies, data requirements, model building steps, applicability and scope for amalgamation. The review helps future researchers and practitioners to choose appropriate techniques for PMFD studies for a given situation. Further, future researchers will get a comprehensive but precise report on PMFD strategies available in the literature to date.

The review starts with identifying key indicators of PMFD for review and taxonomy was proposed. An analysis was conducted to identify the pattern of published articles on PMFD followed by evolution of PMFD strategies. Finally, a general framework is given for PMFD strategies for future researchers and practitioners.

Telemedicine is delivered to patient anywhere during emergency treatment care, and medical information is transferred from one site of patient to another site of specialist doctors by using mobile internet communication. Some rural areas have slow internet speed because of weak internet signal propagation from mobile towers. A good design of antenna is needed to improve mobile internet speed for big medial data transmission in telemedicine application. Hence, this paper aims to propose economically low-cost design of antenna.

Telemedicine recommended to design the satellite frequency modulation dish (SAT FMD) antenna ( where in FM radio antenna, dish antenna are combined ) to improve the internet speed at Telemedicine system and Hospitals for purpose of Telemedicine communication and information for emergency treatment.

In the proposed system, designed SAT FMD satellite-based antenna improved internet speed is achieved at 90.6% accuracy in this research method. Finding latitude and longitude angles to identify the patient location, nearest hospitals location and finding distance, shortest path routing between patient and hospital. Finding elevation, Azimuth, latitude, longitude, skew for alignment dish to focus satellite and mobile cell tower to improve internet speed at telemedicine area and hospitals and reduced transmission delay and nodal delay of big medical data.

The social awareness among people can be shared information of accident patient to communicate Hospital and Ambulance driver by internet mobile app tools and help find nearest hospitals to emergency treatment for accident people.

This paper presents SAT FMD antenna model based on satellite dish antenna consisting of FM radio receiver antenna and dish antenna for telemedicine communication.