Search results

Describes the specification and design of an application system to allow a large supplier of herbs and spices to supermarkets to manage more effectively its merchandiser supply chain. The system takes advantage of the latest generation of hand‐held devices and developments in the Internet as means of supporting a low cost communication platform. Details the various stages of the design taking into account the rapidly changing technology in the handheld and palm top market place, together with the dynamic requirements of the customer. The solution identified and developed provides significant cost savings and additional functionality. Considers the issues involved in being one of the first implementers of a new hardware and software suite.

The introduction of ever more complicated machinery and associated operating procedures is placing an increasing strain on the maintenance function. The options available to a company engaged in the manufacture of a range of sheet metal products, for which a flexible manufacturing facility has been installed, are examined. The introduction of this system has caused the company to examine its maintenance procedures, which are based on a traditional breakdown and repair approach, and has prompted an investigation into the possibility of implementing a condition based approach to maintenance. This investigation is presented here, together with a review of currently available options, and an outline of the planned move towards condition based maintenance.

Outlines some major features that should be incorporated into the design of cell‐based manufacturing systems. Presents these features as a series of observations which are based on experiences gained during a three‐year period covering the implementation of such a system. Presents a set of rules that are commonly applied to the design, implementation and management of cell‐based manufacturing systems. Each rule is then examined in the context of actual experience and comments are given as to the major contribution made by each rule to the successful implementation of the manufacturing system. It is hoped that the information contained in this work will be of general interest to organizations moving towards similar implementations in that it presents one view of the problems that must be met, and some suggested solutions.

Considers an integrated approach to maintenance management, based on the development of an advanced machine tool failure diagnosis and recovery system. Outlines how such systems can be utilized to effectively monitor the ever more complicated machining facilities used in modern manufacturing. Illustrates how a Petri‐net based system has been developed to meet the needs of a modern computer‐based maintenance facility and the potential that such systems provide in a move towards total productive maintenance. Deals with the steps taken to ensure that such a system can be successfully deployed, and considers how the resulting integrated maintenance management system can benefit existing users of advanced manufacturing technology.

From the arguably poor platforms described by the Egan, Latham, and Royal Academy of Engineering reports on the construction sector, there is now evidence that the supply chain revolution experienced over the last decade in the electronics products and automotive sectors is impacting on housebuilding in the UK. This case study describes how a first‐tier supplier has applied “best practice” to design and implement a BPR programme. In total span the resulting change covers a baseline of traditional operations to the present status of agile response. Essentially the BPR programme has been conceived around the need for streamlined material flow through internal processes and both supplier and customer interfaces. The paper highlights the BPR stages necessary for enabling change, which is audited in terms of assessment of improved material flow. Finally, the “bottom‐line” impact of the BPR programme is documented, and demonstrates that substantial benefits have accrued.

Presents the Mohonk Criteria for Humanitarian Assistance in Complex Emergencies, produced by the Task Force on Ethical and Legal Issues in Humanitarian Assistance, convened by the Program on Humanitarian Assistance at the World Conference on Religion and Peace, as guidelines for co‐operative relationships between political, humanitarian and military actors in complex humanitarian emergencies created by armed conflict.

The aim of the study was to measure employees' perception of human resource development (HRD) practices, to explore whether ISO certification leads to any improvements in HRD system, and to examine the role of HRD practices on employees' development climate and quality orientation in the organization.

A total of 239 employees belonging to eight organizations (four of them ISO certified) responded to a questionnaire which measured the following variables: career system, work planning system, development system, self renewal system, and HRD system.

Results indicated large inter‐organizational differences in HRD practices. In general, however, employees' ratings were moderate. ISO certified companies, compared to others, obtained higher means on some HRD variables. Organizations with better learning, training and development systems, reward and recognition, and information systems promoted human resource development climate. Quality orientation was predicted by career planning, performance guidance and development, role efficacy, and reward and recognition systems.

Comparison between ISO and non‐ISO certified companies did yield some significant differences, yet it was difficult to conclude that the differences were due to ISO certification alone as organizations in the sample were not matched.

The findings can be used by HR practitioners and scholars in building management concerns and advocacy for better HRD systems and practices.

Very little empirical knowledge is available on this subject from transitional economies like Malaysia. The study makes a modest attempt in that direction.

Introduces the special issue “Human resource development: sectoral and invention‐level evidence of human capital accumulation”. Reviews the concepts and definitions of intellectual and human capital. Considers human capital from individual (employability, performance and career development) and organization (investment, ownership, skills and knowledge management) perspectives. Looks at each of the papers in the special issue, relating them to its theme. Highlights the implications for human resource development, both at individual and organizational levels.

We are currently experiencing what is often called the sixth period of mass extinction on planet Earth, caused undoubtedly by the impact of human activities and businesses on nature. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential for accounting and corporate accountability to contribute to extinction prevention. The paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach, weaving scientific evidence and theory into organisational disclosure and reporting in order to demonstrate linkages between extinction, business behaviour, accounting and accountability as well as to provide a basis for developing a framework for narrative disclosure on extinction prevention.

The paper is theoretical and interdisciplinary in approach, seeking to bring together scientific theories of extinction with a need for corporate and organisational accountability whilst recognising philosophical concerns in the extant environmental accounting literature about accepting any business role and capitalist mechanisms in ecological matters. The overarching framework derives from the concept of emancipatory accounting.

The outcome of the writing is to: present an emancipatory “extinction accounting” framework which can be embedded within integrated reports, and a diagrammatic representation, in the form of an “ark”, of accounting and accountability mechanisms which, combined, can assist, the authors argue, in preventing extinction. The authors suggest that the emancipatory framework may also be applied to engagement meetings between the responsible investor community (and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)) and organisations on biodiversity and species protection.

The exploratory extinction accounting and accountability frameworks within this paper should provide a basis for further research into the emancipatory potential for organisational disclosures and mechanisms of governance and accountability to prevent species extinction.

The next steps for researchers and practitioners involve development and implementation of the extinction accounting and engagement frameworks presented in this paper within integrated reporting and responsible investor practice.

As outlined in this paper, extinction of any species of flora and fauna can affect significantly the functioning of local and global ecosystems, the destruction of which can have, and is having, severe and dangerous consequences for human life. Extinction prevention is critically important to the survival of the human race.

This paper represents a comprehensive attempt to explore the emancipatory role of accounting in extinction prevention and to bring together the linkages in accounting and accountability mechanisms which, working together, can prevent species extinction.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework and key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the sustainability of the manufacturing organizations along the integrated supply chain.

A systematic literature review of existing peer-reviewed articles has been carried out to understand the strengths and weaknesses of current frameworks. A sustainability assessment framework has been proposed for the manufacturing sector. KPIs to assess sustainability performance of manufacturing organizations are identified. An empirical study is carried out for the cement industry to test the proposed framework and KPIs.

The existing frameworks on sustainability assessment lacks an integrated assessment consisting product life cycle, resources, critical factors (product, process and policy), KPIs and their interrelationship with sustainability dimensions. In total, 121 KPIs are identified for sustainability assessment of manufacturing organizations. The empirical study of the Indian cement industry identifies 52 KPIs (17 social, 15 economic and 20 environmental), which are classified into 13 factors using exploratory factor analysis.

The proposed framework is tested for the cement sector. More studies are required to validate and refine the framework to make it generalized for the manufacturing sector.

This study has developed for the first time a close interrelation among life cycle engineering, resources, critical factors, KPIs and sustainability dimensions.