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Risk management has emerged as a critical issue in operating a supply chain effectively in the presence of uncertainties that result from unexpected variations. Assessing and managing supply chain risks are receiving significant attention from practitioners and academics. At present, the ceramic industry in Bangladesh is growing. Thus, managers in the industry need to properly assess supply chain risks for mitigation purposes. This study aims to identify and analyze various supply chain risks occurring in a ceramic factory in Bangladesh.

A model is proposed based on a fuzzy technique for order preference using similarity to an ideal solution (fuzzy-TOPSIS) for evaluating supply chain risks. For this, 20 supply chain risk factors were identified through an extensive literature review and while consulting with experts from the ceramic factories. Fuzzy-TOPSIS contributed to the analysis and assessment of those risks.

The results of this research indicate that among the identified 20 supply chain risks, lack of operational quality, lack of material quality and damage to inventory were the major risks for the ceramic sector in Bangladesh.

The impact of supply chain risks was not shown in this study and the risks were considered independent. Therefore, research can be continued to address these two factors.

The outcome of this research is expected to assist industrial managers and practitioners in the ceramic sector in taking proactive action to minimize supply chain risks. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the relative stability of the risks.

This study uses survey data to analyze and evaluate the major supply chain risks related to the ceramic sector. An original methodology is provided for identifying and evaluating the major supply chain risks in the ceramic sector of Bangladesh.

This paper, a case study, aims to illustrate the application of Six Sigma in a small-scale ceramic manufacturing industry. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the empirical application of DMAIC methodology to reduce failure rate at high voltage (HV) testing of one of the most critical products, insulator.

The case study is based on primary data collected from a real-life situation prevailing in the industry. The case study methodology adopted here is at one small-scale unit wherein the authors have applied DMAIC methodology and observed and recorded the improvement results, especially, reduction in failure rate at HV testing of insulator and, thus, increase in Sigma level.

The results found after implementation of the solutions are very significant. The rejection percentage has been reduced from 0.5 to 0.1 percent and consequently the Sigma level has been improved from 4.4 to 5.0.

This success story can be a guiding roadmap for other such industries to successfully implement Six Sigma to improve quality, productivity and profitability.

This case study will serve as one of the resource bases for the industries which have till not implemented Six Sigma and benefited from the same.

Improved quality and productivity leads to better economy. This case will help industries to serve the society with better economy with improved quality and productivity.

Though ceramic industries in India are having enormous potential for growth, majority of them, especially, small and medium industries are either not aware of or not implementing Six Sigma to reap its multidimensional benefits of improving quality, productivity and profitability. This study highlights the benefits reaped by small-scale ceramic manufacturing industry opening up the avenues for its application at other such organizations.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the demography of the producers of ceramic wares as it affects the production and profitability of the venture. To identify and rank other factors affecting the sustenance of ceramic enterprises through the data collected from ceramic manufacturers in the study area.

The paper is a survey research. Data are collected from ceramic ware producers through structured questionnaires and open‐ended oral interview. The analysis involves the use of descriptive statistics in the discussion of the research variables.

The spatial distribution of the industries as well as the performance are determined by different factors. Gender lopsidedness is observed among ceramic wares producers. Time commitment to production by manufacturers is not good enough for profitability of the venture. The production and the management systems of small‐scale ceramic industries in South‐Western Nigeria are hindered by many other factors.

The analysis of the demography of the practicing ceramists helps to determine how factors like gender, geographical location, and education attainment have influenced small‐scale ceramic production. The knowledge of the severity of factors militating against ceramic production helps in bringing about strategies that can alleviate the problems.

The factors that are responsible for the waning state of small‐scale ceramic industries in South‐Western Nigeria are identified and ranked in terms of their severity; the paper offers possible solutions that could change the situation.

To begin this paper provocatively I will put forward the opinion that information work in any field is always largely empirical; information work in a technology cannot be anything else but empirical. It is impossible to organize an information service for a technology until the broad outline of the technology itself has been understood and assimilated. This being so, it is only possible to speak to any purpose on information work in a technology if, at each stage, some specific technology is used as a framework of reference; the only such framework known to the present author is that provided by the ceramic industry. It has been objected that the ceramic industry cannot provide a broad enough framework to give interest to an audience drawn from other industries; I hope to be able to show that this objection is not valid. To do so, the term ‘ceramics’ must first be defined.

The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize the lean implementation (LI) barriers in the context of labor intensive Indian ceramic industries through a statistically reliable and validated model.

In this study, LI barriers are identified through a comprehensive review of relevant literature and discussions held with academicians/practitioners. Identified barriers, thereafter, are evaluated with Cronbach's alpha values using a statistical tool. The interpretive ranking process (IRP) methodology is applied for ranking of the barriers with reference to the measurable performance indicators.

The study identified highly relevant barriers of Indian ceramic industries. Further, these barriers were compared with performance measures through a cross-interaction matrix developed in the IRP model. The model highlights the analysis of dominance relationship of different barriers. Moreover, the result shows that top management commitment and leadership is at the top of the model, followed by lack of training opportunity and skills, and resistance to change and adopt innovations indicating their strongest driving power in LI.

This model may enable the firms to understand the LI barriers and come up with sensible implementation program. Further, the correlation results among the barriers will provide insights in mitigating the hurdles of lean manufacturing (LM) implementation in the industries.

This study empirically develops a model through the IRP for the barriers in LM implementation. From the reported literature, it appears that the application of IRP is very rare in ceramic industries in India. The analysis and prioritization of LI barriers may help practitioners to plan strategies to implement lean in a selected domain.

Marketing - value proposition and value delivery, switching cost, customer acquisition and retention, positioning, pricing, distribution and retailing, role of trust and transparency to build sustainable relationship in B2B context, and efficient service delivery.

Undergraduate and graduate students in marketing, business administration, strategy, retailing, B2B marketing, services marketing and general management courses. Also, it can be used for executive management/training programmes.

The case focuses on an existing scenario of a natural gas business in Gujarat, India, in order to provide understanding of marketing challenges, especially in the B2B context, faced by organisations in this evolving business environment. The case examines the strategies and policies implemented by the company and their impact on the customer. The case presents reactions and responses from the concerned customers. The case illustrates the criticalness of understanding customer expectations and designing and delivering customer centric strategies to sustain market leadership in an evolving and competitive market.

The case study enables the students to understand and analyse: the current business environment; the important factors impacting natural gas business; economic analysis of energy; opportunity and challenges for doing cleaner and greener business; role of cleaner fuel to reduce carbon footprint; and carbon credit impacting top line and bottom line of a customer. The case provides students the opportunity to understand and analyse the importance of switching costs to acquire a new customer; and devising and implementing marketing strategies to expand customer base and enter into new territories.

Teaching notes.

The ceramic tile chain can generate several environmental impacts, from raw material extraction to the production process, commercialization, consumption, maintenance and disposal. One of the open issues remaining in the literature on socially responsible supply chains, also known as responsible supply chains, is understanding how corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices are being implemented in ceramic tile companies in Brazil.

The method adopted is a multiple-case study. The authors conducted face-to-face interviews with six ceramic producers and a trade association. The authors also conducted eight interviews with specialists in the ceramic sector. They are two university professors, two class association representatives, one professional from a technological institute, two representatives of the inspection body and one supplier.

Companies perform on a compliance basis, manifesting a less proactive position when the subject is CSR. In addition, the CSR practices established by the companies are preferably aimed at reducing costs and risks and increasing reputation. Practices in terms of eco-design are linked to lowering costs and growing reputation, as seen from the reduction in the use of inputs and improvements in packaging to minimize costs. These practices improve the company’s reputation from the consumers' perspective. Environmental aspects are dominant due to the legislation.

This paper contributes theoretically since it identifies, from the companies' perspective, the CSR practices related to risk, cost reduction and reputation increase. There are also opportunities to be explored for facilitating their efforts towards a sustainable business model, especially considering the social dimension. From a managerial perspective, this paper provides some input for implementing CSR actions, mainly regarding their implications for society and local communities.

La cadena de revestimiento cerámico puede generar diversos impactos ambientales, desde la extracción de la materia prima hasta el proceso de producción, comercialización, consumo, mantenimiento y disposición. Una de las cuestiones abiertas que quedan en la literatura sobre cadenas de suministro socialmente responsables, también conocidas como cadenas de suministro responsables, es comprender cómo se están implementando prácticas de responsabilidad social empresarial en las empresas de revestimientos cerámicos en Brasil.

El método utilizado en el estudio es un estudio de casos múltiples. Realizamos entrevistas cara a cara con 6 productores de cerámica y una asociación comercial. También recibimos información de 8 especialistas representantes de organizaciones relacionadas con el sector cerámico; 2 profesores universitarios; 2 representantes de asociaciones de clase; 1 profesional de instituto tecnológico; 2 representantes del organismo de control; y 1 proveedor de esmaltes.

Las empresas actúan sobre la base del cumplimiento, manifestando una posición menos proactiva cuando el tema es la RSE. Además, las prácticas de RSC establecidas por las empresas están preferentemente encaminadas a la reducción de costes y riesgos y al aumento de la reputación. Las prácticas en materia de ecodiseño están esencialmente ligadas a la reducción de costos y al aumento de la reputación, a partir de la reducción en el uso de insumos y mejoras en los empaques para minimizar costos. Estas prácticas mejoran la reputación de la empresa desde la perspectiva de los consumidores. Los aspectos ambientales son dominantes debido a la legislación.

Este trabajo aporta teóricamente ya que identifica, desde la perspectiva de las empresas, las prácticas de RSE relacionadas con el riesgo, la reducción de costos y el aumento de la reputación. También hay oportunidades por explorar para facilitar sus esfuerzos hacia un modelo de negocio sostenible, especialmente teniendo en cuenta la dimensión social. Desde la perspectiva gerencial, este documento proporciona algunos insumos para la toma de decisiones sobre la implementación de acciones de RSE, principalmente en lo que respecta a las implicaciones para la sociedad y las comunidades locales.

The review glances upon the colorants used for printing on ceramic substrates by ink jet technology and techniques, chemistry involved during the selection of the colorants.

The ink jet technology is an easy and a convenient technique, specially designed colorants are used for such applications with tailor made properties and features.

New developments in technology and chemistry of colorants to achieve successes in application studies of ceramic substrates.

N/A.

This review glances upon the history, development and practical approach of the current techniques with available dyes and pigments and the techniques involved during the synthesis and application.

The review paper provides information about the development of the inkjet technique on ceramics and available colorants with methods.

The purpose of this study is to prepare a state-of-the-art review on advanced ceramic materials including their fabrication techniques, characteristics, applications and wettability.

This review paper presents the various types of advanced ceramic materials according to their compounding elements, fabrication techniques of advanced ceramic powders as well as their consolidation, their characteristics, applications and wetting properties. Hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of advanced ceramic materials are described in the paper with their state-of-the-art application areas. Optical properties of fine ceramics with their intrinsic characteristics are also presented within. Special focus is given to the brief description of application-based manipulation of wetting properties of advanced ceramics in the paper.

The study of wetting/hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of ceramic materials is important by which it can be further modified to achieve the required applications. It also makes some sense that the material should be tested for its wetting properties when it is going to be used in some important applications like biomedical and dental. Also, these advanced ceramics are now often used in the fabrication of filters and membranes to purify liquid/water so the study of wetting characteristics of these materials becomes essential. The optical properties of advanced ceramics are equally making them suitable for many state-of-the-art applications. Dental, medical, imaging and electronics are the few sectors that use advanced ceramics for their optical properties.

This review paper includes various advanced ceramic materials according to their compounding elements, different fabrication techniques of powders and their consolidation, their characteristics, various application area and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties.

In the current scenario, air pollution and soil pollution from the industries wastes are one of the major problems all over the world. Further, disposal of these wastes from industries are very costly. However, several attempts were carried out by various researchers in the past to use these wastes. One of the most common waste products is bagasse from sugar industries. These hazardous bagasse wastes lead to air and soil pollution. This study aims to recycle bagasse waste in the development of aluminium base composite as partial replacement of ceramic particles.

In the present investigation, recycled bagasse waste was used in the development of aluminium base composite as partial replacement of ceramic particles such as SiC, Al₂O₃ and B₄C. Production industries of these ceramic particles (SiC, B₄C and Al₂O₃) emit huge amount of greenhouse gases such as N₂O₃, CH₄, CO₂ and H₂O. These green house gases produce lots of environment problem. Furthermore, production of these ceramic particles is also costly. AA6061 aluminium alloy was taken as matrix material. Composite material was developed using the stir casting technique.

Microstructure results showed proper distribution of bagasse ash and MgO powder in the aluminium base metal matrix composite. It was notified from analysis that minimum corrosion loss and minimum porosity were found for Al/2.5% bagasse ash/12.5% MgO powder composite. For the same composition, hardness and thermal expansion were also observed better as compared to other selected compositions. However, density and cost of composites continuously decrease by increasing percentage of bagasse ash in development of composite.

Results showed about 11.30% improvement in tensile strength, 11.64% improvement in specific strength and 40% improvement in hardness by using bagasse ash as reinforcement with MgO powder in development of aluminium base composite.