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This paper deals with the modelling of an information system for Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing enterprises, describes its structures and functions, and discusses its implementation issues.

A case experience is presented.

Enterprises within this industry have big differences in production and management process and practice. The implementing plan must consider these differences and have adaptable solutions to fit the firm's conditions. It has been found that the information system model proposed here is feasible and can be used not only in other Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing enterprises, but also in other flow‐process industries.

The issues discussed in this paper are common to many Chinese enterprises today, particularly the small and medium‐sized enterprises. The experience described here provides a useful reference for such enterprises’ venture into technological and management process innovation.

Quality is a fundamental assurance of enterprises’ survival and development. The design and development of a quality system in the environment of CIMS are a very important task in the process of CIM implementation. This paper addresses the development of a quality system and its implementation methodology in the environment of CIMS in China. The quality system is one of the subsystems in CIMS which generally includes a management information subsystem (MIS), an engineering information subsystem (EIS), a production information subsystem (PIS), a quality information subsystem (QIS), and database and network support subsystems (DNSS). This paper first introduces a model of the quality system and its detailed functions, then expounds the methodology and strategy of implementing it in a CIMS factory of China, and lastly examines the commonly encountered problems in its implementation and suggests ways to resolve these problems.

The study of intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) has attracted increasing interest in recent years. Examines “human intelligence” as the key factor in IMS in the context of our present research into manufacturing automation and computerisation in PRC/HK industrial enterprises. Provides the definition of human intelligence according to relevant literature and in the context of our study, then briefly introduces the outline of IMS study in the West. Presents an analysis of the circumstances of a number of PRC/HK enterprises which the authors have studied in a recent series of industrial survey visits in mainland China and Hong Kong. Reports progress made in the study of human intelligence in manufacturing automation and computerisation. Puts forward a framework on how a manufacturing enterprise can emphasise the use of human intelligence and human resources to the full in the process of adopting advanced manufacturing and computer technologies.

Computer‐integrated manufacturing (CIM) technology has been used in China for over ten years. Some striking achievements have been obtained, but there still exist a few difficulties or problems. This paper describes the benefits and problems experienced by a number of CIM enterprises in China based on the results of a series of industrial field surveys. The strong common commitment to CIM technology of the top management of these enterprises has been accompanied by great emphasis on education and training of employees, and received financial support from the government and technological support from universities. We noted that many of the problems are the result of management development lagging behind technology advancement, outdated organizational structure being unable to adapt to the needs of technology development and market economic environment, improper and inadequate use of human resources and lack of business‐led CIM strategy. Some strategies and measures are put forward to address Chinese enterprises’ CIM implementation problems.

With the development of global food markets, the structural properties of supply chain networks have become key factors affecting the ability to evaluate and control infectious diseases and food contamination. The purpose of this paper is to describe and characterize the nationwide pork supply chain networks (PSCNs) in China and to demonstrate the potential of using social network analysis (SNA) methods for accessing outbreaks of diseases and contaminations.

A large-scale PSCN with 17,582 nodes and 49,554 edges is constructed, using the pork trade data collected by the National Important Products Traceability System (NIPTS) in China. A network analysis is applied to investigate the static and dynamic characteristics of the annual network and monthly networks. Then, the metric maximum spreading capacity (MSC) is proposed to quantify the spreading capacity of farms and estimate the potential maximum epidemic size. The structure of the network with the spatio-temporal pattern of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in China in 2018 was also analysed.

The results indicate that the out-degree distribution of farms approximately followed a power law. The pork supply market in China was active during April to July and December to January. The MSC is capable of estimating the potential maximum epidemic size of an outbreak, and the spreading of ASF was positively correlated with the effective distance from the origin city infected by ASF, rather than the geographical distance.

Empirical research on PSCNs in China is scarce due to the lack of comprehensive supply chain data. This study fills this gap by systematically examining the nationwide PSCN of China with large-scale reliable empirical data. The usage of MSC and effective distance can inform the implementation of risk-based control programmes for diseases and contaminations on PSCNs.

The purpose of this paper is to exhibit the influencing factors on and the process of internationalization with regard to Chinese automobile companies.

The author adopts an explorative approach to investigate the 12 major Chinese automobile manufacturers in terms of sales for the year 2010. Concentrating on the automobile industry in China, the author provides context and comparability.

The findings show that the internationalization of Chinese automobile companies cannot be explained by one theoretical model only and challenge previous internationalization research. Nevertheless, in retrospect, some patterns can be seen. Until the year 2000, technology was absorbed through domestic joint ventures with Western manufacturers. Up to 2010, internationalization involving exports may be viewed as having been a “test” phase, becoming a strategic goal defined by the Chinese government. Different internationalization attributes are aggregated into a comprehensive ranking of the case‐study companies. The ranking is analyzed with regard to managerial and company influences, as well as to incentivizing factors that potentially generate internationalization. As an incentivizing factor, the governmental environment plays a crucial role, having designated the automobile industry as one of China's pillar industries.

The paper gives new insights into internationalization processes on an industry level. In particular the Chinese strategic approach to internationalization is exhibited and discussed for the automobile industry.