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Since its introduction in the mid‐1970s, Saaty′s Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been applied to a variety of decision problems. A new area of application is introduced in this article. We present here the application of the AHP to a strategic planning problem as faced by one local Ann Arbor business man. Through an interviewing process and analysis of his operation the model was built and the data was collected. The analysis of the model yielded a clear cut alternative that was then implemented by the business owners.

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), as applied to the plant location problem, involves the structuring of this decision‐making process into different levels. Each level has certain attributes unique to the structure of the problem. Two levels of attributes are considered in the plant location problem. With respect to the first level, the user will focus upon all the tangible and intangible factors which affect the plant location problem, eventually leading to a stated objective or goal. Each attribute at this level will be assigned an appropriate weight through the AHP method. The second level of attributes consists of the possible locations under evaluation. The AHP method also assigns weights to each of the proposed locations as they relate to each of the attributes of the first level.

During the past several decades, the rapid expansion of service industry and the automation of manufacturing operations have gradually changed the ratio between direct and indirect labour in favour of the latter and created the need for indirect work measurement and standards. Though a few indirect work measurement and standard systems exist, much still needs to be done to refine and promote indirect work measurement and control techniques. This article develops and applies a flexible procedure for setting indirect work standards. The procedure includes six steps: establishing an accurate information system for indirect manpower planning; defining appropriate allowances; developing effective methods for measuring various types of key tasks; generating a formal engineering report after indirect work standards are established; reviewing and updating indirect labour standards and their supporting data based on analysis of historical data; and setting up a point system and/or a statistical control system whenever possible.

The librarian and researcher have to be able to uncover specific articles in their areas of interest. This Bibliography is designed to help. Volume IV, like Volume III, contains features to help the reader to retrieve relevant literature from MCB University Press' considerable output. Each entry within has been indexed according to author(s) and the Fifth Edition of the SCIMP/SCAMP Thesaurus. The latter thus provides a full subject index to facilitate rapid retrieval. Each article or book is assigned its own unique number and this is used in both the subject and author index. This Volume indexes 29 journals indicating the depth, coverage and expansion of MCB's portfolio.