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Control charts for statistical quality control have been the subject of academic study for many years. Various analytical approaches to economic control chart design have been advanced, although none has found wide use in practice. Describes a simulation approach to the investigation of control chart economics. Simulation can provide guidance on chart design issues such as sample size, sampling interval and the use of alternative chart alarm rules. Applies the method to the economic comparison between variables control charting and other inspection strategies such as 100 per cent inspection. Presents some generalized results, allowing comparison to be made for various scenarios. Emphasizes the importance of process capability in the choice of quality control strategy and demonstrates the economic advantages of control charting where special or assignable causes exist.

This chapter is devoted to the study of the standard control of the material costs of production as a factor of technical growth of an enterprise of manufacturing industries: ways of integration in a single information space of information that allows you to manage the cost and quality of products at all stages of the value creation; theoretical and methodological approaches to the implementation of control functions of material costs (technological waste and production losses) according to preestablished consumption rates in the value creation of an industrial enterprise, especially in a number of machine-building factories of Nizhny Novgorod industrial cluster; theoretical methods of synthesis and comparison data, structured description of characteristics of the object of study, system analysis, as well as empirical methods of observations and descriptions of the subject area. The necessity of further improvement of effectiveness and methodology of a control function of a standard cost accounting system in the aspect of maintaining the technical growth of an enterprise is substantiated. Current condition is analyzed, and ways of modernization of organizational, managerial, methodological, metrological, and competence types are proposed. Also, sets of conditions for implementation of standard control and procedures incorporated into instrumental information space are substantiated. It is proved that the application of standard accounting of material costs for production within the framework of a system of standard accounting effectively contributes to noticeable technical growth and meets modern criteria and parameters of an effective management. It is substantiated that conditions for the implementation of a standard control of material costs for the production of an industrial enterprise that contributes to technical growth are availability and comprehensiveness of organizational, managerial, methodological, and metrological types of security control of material resources in the production; compliance with technical standards for processing, warehousing, storage, transportation of material resources; and matching competencies of management personnel with their functions. It is expected to introduce a standard control of material costs within the framework of a standard accounting system in practices of machine-building enterprises, as a significant factor of technical growth. Scientific understanding of an essence of the standard control of material costs within the framework of a standard cost accounting system, justified and outlined by the author, ensures incorporation into practice of effective production management, contributes a noticeable technical growth of industrial enterprises of the processing industries; provides a significant improvement in a quality of accounting results in general.

This paper reports the developments of a project cost control system (PCCS) for construction projects to (1) measure its current level of cost control maturity, (2) examine the relationships between elements within PCCS processes and (3) identify improvement areas.

This study adopts a mixed approach of descriptive analysis and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to measure the current maturity level of PCCS and evaluate the relationships between elements within PCSS to identify improvement areas. Further importance-performance matrix analysis (IPMA) of priority constructs was conducted to improve a target construct and identify the most important areas of specific actions at indicator levels. The results of IPMA revealed the contrast that has the greatest importance on the performance of others so that the recommendations can be made accordingly. Data collected in New Zealand were used to develop the research model.

This study develops structural and measurement models with the constructs including pre-control, in-control and post-control processes, enablers and their proposed interrelationships. Then, data from survey of 184 experienced project cost control team members reveal that post-control has the lowest maturity or weakest areas in the PCCS. Data analysis facilitated by PLS-SEM confirmed that all the constructs in the structural model have positive and significant relationships with each other and suggested that systematic cost analysis reports, communication, skills and experience, defining roles and responsibilities, and top management's support should be the highest priority for improving the PCCS in a more effective manner.

This study presents one of the earliest attempts to develop and test an integrated model that links sub-processes in PCCS and their enablers. Secondly, this research adds to the construction project management literature by empirically verifying the roles of enablers in enhancing maturity level of PCCS.

THE British Motor Corporation has taken an important step in setting up a new centre to give a thorough training in modern management and techniques to many of its own people. Of course, Haseley Manor, the Corporation's staff college for almost ten years, has done much to weld together the constituent companies which make up the parent body and it created a climate of good management during a period of rapid growth.

The most important function that facilitates construction organizations to accomplish profit maximization is cost control. However, the absence of a well‐established cost control system has caused failures to many Thai contractors especially during the current economic recession period. To comprehensively understand cost control systems in practice, this study theoretically assessed effectiveness as well as the deficiencies of the ‘traditional’ systems vis‐à‐vis the ‘effective’ systems. In addition, by contrasting what are found in ‘effective’ systems but not found in ‘traditional’ systems, critical attributes most contributing to the systems' successfulness were identified so that the improvement steps can be suitably prioritized. The validated findings indicated remarkable contrasts between ‘traditional’ and ‘effective’ systems. Two critical aspects, including advancement of cost control framework and systematic participation of site personnel in cost control, were found to be the major differences. Interestingly, similar conditions were encountered in various countries such as Greece, Pakistan and Australia; hence suggestions from this study could be internationally useful.

Prior research suggests that goal setting with an emphasis on accurate and tight budget targets may influence the extent of subordinates' performance. This study, however, argues that such goal setting alone is not sufficient. The implementation of other accounting controls is needed before improved performance is possible. Specifically, this study investigates: (i) if budgetary performance is increased only when an emphasis on accurate and tight budget targets is complemented with a high extent of cost control; and (ii) if these effects are found only for the production function, but not for the marketing function. The results, based on a sample of 104 senior Australian managers, support a significant two‐way interaction between an emphasis on tight budget targets and cost control affecting budgetary performance. Budgetary performance is high only when both emphasis on tight budget targets and cost control are high. These results are applicable to both the production and marketing functions.

METHOD STUDY, as the name implies, is that part of Work Study which makes a careful and critical examination of the methods currently employed either in factory or office. It is not concerned with standards of performance or schemes for payment by result. Instead, it aims at cutting out movements or efforts which are not necessary and, in general, improving the methods in use. It uses charts and diagrams; cameras to record still or moving pictures; models and measuring instruments. Uninterrupted attention is concentrated on the study in hand for whatever time it requires.

In the continuing endeavour to work towards ever better management, experience plays a crucial role. We learn from success, but we can learn much more from failure. Further, it is far better and cheaper when we learn from other people′s failures rather than our own. This monograph assesses the requirements of project management in relation to industrial projects, illustrating the factors that can result in failure by means of a series of case studies of completed and abandoned projects worldwide that have failed in one way or another. The key roles played by project planning and project cost control in meeting and overcoming the practical problems in the management of industrial projects are examined in detail. In conclusion the lessons that can be learned are evaluated and presented, so that we may listen and learn – if only we will.

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.