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Considers TQM from a cultural perspective using the influence of Confucian work dynamism and Chinese cultural beliefs on Hong Kong companies. Asks if these cultural beliefs conflict with modern quality management philosophy and presents the findings of research covering Chinese literature, experts in Chinese philosophy and Hong Kong TQM experts. Outlines research methods and concludes that there are relevant principles which can be used when implementing TQM.

A survey instrument based on the fundamental concepts of TQM in BS 7850 was developed to measure employees’ motivation and behaviour towards practising TQM in Hong Kong. Principle‐component factor analysis was employed to analyse the data. Three factors were found, namely the technology, the system and the philosophy, with emphasis on different aspects of TQM. Factor scores were then computed and empirical results showed that there exist three dimensions of quality and that Hong Kong employees are more motivated by the technical aspects of TQM, such as reducing quality losses and continuous improvement. On the other hand, the philosophy aspect of quality has not been emphasized.

Operations management literature prescribes various practices in supply quality management (SQM). However, few studies have described the SQM practices being conducted in Asian countries, especially in Hong Kong. The purpose of this study is to identify the critical SQM practices that conducted in Hong Kong.

We used in‐depth industrial interviews and extensive literature review to identify some critical items for evaluating SQM practices. Accordingly, an instrument was developed. We validated this instrument with 90 leading manufacturing related companies in Hong Kong by using SPSS 9.0.

Finally, we extracted ten critical factors for describing a SQM system. These factors could be clustered into three major groups namely supplier selection, supplier development and supplier integration.

This paper has not discussed the relationships among SQM practices, supplier quality and organisational quality. For future study, it will be worthwhile to consider these interrelations.

The newly developed instrument could be used to measure the practices of supply quality management in Hong Kong.

EVERY method employed by librar ns to bring books to the notice of readers may be justified It is thus desirable to devote an occasional issue of THE LIBRARY WORLD to this attractive subject. Our writers take differing views, but there is always a single aim in their work: to bring right book and reader into acquaintance. We might have to meet the challenge, which indeed one of our writers implies, that such book display may deflect the Library from its original, rightful purpose. Until these terms are defined such a challenge is a begging of the question. Often we have mentioned the question, For what public is the public library working? Was it intended to serve as an auxiliary, and then an extension, of the official education system? It has always indeed been more and less than that. Our founders were able to argue that libraries would withdraw men from beer and ill‐company, but from the first they probably failed to do that, and made their appeal to the intelligent elements in the community. As they developed and public education waxed, there grew up an enormous literature, available in early years in small quantity, the aim of which was entertainment only, and there survived—there survives still—a notion which was based on an earlier conception of books, that to read was somehow educative and virtuous, whatever was read. Librarians hold this notion in some measure to‐day, although the recent success of twopenny libraries which are mainly devoted to the entertainment type of literature must have made them revise the view somewhat.

Looks at consumer research in Greater China including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maps out the contributions within this area and guides future research. Examines the state of the art over the 1979‐97 period, with particular emphasis on the topics that have been researched, the extent of the theory development in the field and the methodologies used in conducting research. Uses content analysis to review 75 relevant articles. Suggests that, while a considerable breadth of topics have been researched, there remains much to be done, there is further room for theoretical development in Chinese consumer behaviour studies; and the methodologies used need improvement and further refinement.

WE are always averse to indulging in any controversy that involves the booksellers. At the Brighton Conference a well‐known representative of the Booksellers' Association delivered an address in which he asked for the co‐operation of booksellers and librarians. Our present President, Mr. Jast, assured him on behalf of the meeting that it will be forthcoming whenever possible. In America the Association of Booksellers works in the closest harmony with the libraries, using their publications, and booksellers and libraries mutually advertise and otherwise assist each other. It is rather painful to read in The Publishers' Circular, which may or may not represent British booksellers as a whole, that the Editor regards libraries as an expensive method of disseminating fiction which ought to be bought by readers; that libraries interfere with and compete with booksellers in a disastrous manner, and more to the same effect.

IN October a well‐known literary periodical appeared for a single number in a bright‐red cover to signalise a certain change. Two months earlier we had altered our size, type and cover‐colour; for the last exchanging the decorous consistent grey of our outer garment for the summer yellow in which our two Conference numbers appeared. Some readers found this too gaudy, although the three colours which have most “attention value,” as the advertisement experts say, are yellow, red and Cambridge blue. We compromise on orange, which has warmth, and we hope will have welcome.

The objective of this paper is to propose a methodology based on random demand inventory models and dependence structures for a set of raw materials, referred to as “components”, used by food services that produce food rations referred to as “menus”.

The contribution margins of food services that produce menus are optimised using random dependent demand inventory models. The statistical dependence between the demand for components and/or menus is incorporated into the model through the multivariate Gaussian (or normal) distribution. The contribution margins are optimised by using probabilistic inventory models for each component and stochastic programming with a differential evolution algorithm.

When compared to the non-optimised system previously used by the company, the (average) expected contribution margin increases by 18.32 per cent when using a continuous review inventory model for groceries and uniperiodic models for perishable components (optimised system).

The multivariate modeling can be improved by using (a) other non-Gaussian (marginal) univariate probability distributions, by means of the copula method that considers more complex statistical dependence structures; (b) time-dependence, through autoregressive time-series structures and moving average; (c) random modelling of lead-time; and (d) demands for components with values equal to zero using zero-inflated or adjusted probability distribution.

Professional management of the supply chain allows the users to register data concerning component identification, demand, and stock levels to subsequently be used with the proposed methodology, which must be implemented computationally.

The proposed multivariate methodology allows it to describe demand dependence structures through inventory models applicable to components used to produce menus in food services.

Este trabajo propone una metodología basada en modelos de inventarios con demanda aleatoria y estructura de dependencia para un conjunto de materias primas, denominadas “componentes”, usadas por servicios de alimentación que producen raciones alimenticias denominadas “menús”.

Los margen de contribución de servicios de alimentación que producen menús son optimizados empleando modelos de inventarios con demandas aleatorias dependientes. La dependencia estadística entre demandas de componentes y/o menús es incorporada en el modelado mediante la distribución gaussiana (o normal) multivariada. La optimización de los márgenes de contribución se logra usando modelos de inventarios probabilísticos para cada componente y programación estocástica mediante el algoritmo de evolución diferencial.

El margen de contribución esperado (promedio) aumenta en un 18,32% usando modelos de inventario de revisión continua para abarrotes y modelos uniperiódicos para componentes perecederos (sistema optimizado), en relación al sistema no optimizado usado anteriormente por la compañía.

La metodología multivariada propuesta permite describir estructuras de dependencia de la demanda mediante modelos de inventario aplicables a componentes usados para producir menús en servicios de alimentación.

Una administración profesional de la gestión de la cadena de suministros permite registrar datos de la identificación del componente, su demanda y sus niveles de stock para ser usados posteriormente con la metodología propuesta, la que debe estar implementada computacionalmente.

El modelado multivariado puede ser mejorado (a) utilizando distribuciones probabilísticas univariadas (marginales) distintas a la gaussiana, mediante métodos de cópulas que recojan estructuras de dependencia estadística más complejas; (b) considerando demandas de componentes con valores iguales a cero, mediante distribuciones probabilísticas infladas en cero; (c) usando dependencia temporal, mediante estructuras de series de tiempo autorregresivas y de media móvil, y (d) modelando el lead-time en forma aleatoria.

THERE is to be an international Library Conference in Rome at the end of June, under the Presidency of Dr. Collijn, the Librarian of the Royal Library of Stockholm. This is the outcome of the Edinburgh and Atlantic City conferences when an international committee was formed. Great Britain is represented on the Committee, and it is hoped that the unique occasion of the Conference will not be passed by British librarians. Our language difficulties are real, but there is sufficient linguistic ability in the profession to provide the right delegates; and the matters to be discussed range over many aspects of librarianship, including personnel, technique and international co‐operation. We are part of the library system of Europe and ought to take our place in it; and not allow Anglo‐Saxon libraries to be represented entirely and invariably by our nevertheless always welcome American colleagues.

Examines the tenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.