Industry Of Pakistan Research Articles

Identifying the critical success factors of total quality management implementation in manufacturing industry of Pakistan: an exploratory factor analysis

Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that focuses on continuous quality improvement across all parts of a company. Its key goals are to satisfy customers and stay in business. As a result, it's critical to identify the elements that lead to successful TQM implementation. This study also proposed a framework that helps organizations in their success. To achieve this goal, various critical success factors (CSFs) that contribute to organizational growth success were identified. The major purpose of this research is to identify critical success factors for TQM implementation in the manufacturing industry. For this aim, the study was deployed from an extensive literature review, and the questionnaire was used as a research instrument to specify the essential CSFs in different manufacturing industries. Around 300 questionnaires were issued to top management of manufacturing enterprises in Sindh Pakistan (both public and commercial sectors). The structured survey received 82 valid responses, which were then analyzed by using factor analysis. Finally, the study's findings highlighted the five CSFs (customer satisfaction, employee involvement, training and education, continuous improvement, employee encouragement, and service quality) as the most important aspects in building an effective framework for successful TQM adoption in manufacturing industries. The findings of this study will assist senior management in the implementation of a TQM program and resource allocation that will produce the greatest results in terms of increased returns and stakeholder value.

BEYOND SAFETY OUTCOMES: IMPACT OF SAFETY CULTURE ON WORKERS’ ENGAGEMENT WHILE USING SAFETY CLIMATE AS A MEDIATOR

ABSTRACT
 
 Purpose: The study evaluated the mediating role of safety climate for better worker engagement in the construction industry.

Study on Determinants of Capital Structure in the Pharmaceutical Industry of Pakistan

This research on the determinant of capital structure is limited to pharmaceutical companies listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Several researchers both in developed and developing countries have attempted to identify determinant of capital structure for different industries in their economies. The results for various explanatory variables used by researchers have been somewhat mixed. Some of the variable which were found significant in explaining the capital structure in one study remained insignificant in the other studies. This empirical study makes an attempt to explore the determinants of capital structure in the pharmaceutical firms quoted on PSX (Pakistan Stock Exchange). This study coversa ten years period from 2012 to 2021( both inclusive) for seven companies using eleven explanatory variables for leverage. There are twelve companies listed on PSX, seven of these twelve quoted companies on the basis of availability of data for all 10 years have been selected. The results of the study indicate, operating leverage, firm’s specialty, return on asset and tax rate were significant determinants of capital structure. It was also observed that the size of the firm, growth rate, basic earning power, fixed charges coverage ratio, non-debt tax shield, dividend payout ratio and liquidity have a minor (insignificant) influence on the capital structure of the pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan.

Self-Influencer Congruence: A Stimulus towards Purchase Intention

This research intends to investigate the impact of self-influencer (actual-self and ideal-self) congruence on the purchase intention of customers through the mediation of para-social interaction and perceived altruistic motive. It demonstrates the contextual examination of self-influencer congruence with reference to the Apparel Industry of Pakistan. An online questionnaire was developed to collect data from 270 respondents who were members of fashion related forums. The study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling through SmartPLS. The findings revealed that self-influencer congruence has a significant indirect relationship with purchase intention through the mediating effects of para-social interaction and perceived altruistic motive. Additionally, the findings provide valuable insights regarding the use of social media influencer marketing and contribute to the scarce body of knowledge concerning self-influencer congruence especially in the context of the emerging IT-based economy of Pakistan. This is among the initial studies to examine the effect of self-influencer congruence on perceived altruistic motive in the Apparel Industry of Pakistan. Lastly, it addresses the study's limitations and provides recommendations for future researchers along with implications for practitioners. 

Exploring the Associations between Social Support, Perceived Uncertainty, Job Stress, and Emotional Exhaustion during the COVID-19 Crisis

Building on the social support theory and the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the current research explores the role of coworker task support on the perceived uncertainty, job stress, and emotional exhaustion of hospitality employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, this research investigates the moderating impact of supervisor support and family support on the relationship between perceived uncertainty and emotional exhaustion. The data were collected from 353 hospitality employees currently working in the hospitality industry in Pakistan. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed using SmartPLS 3.3.3 software to examine the proposed hypotheses and to analyze the research model. The results point out that coworker task support has no significant relationship with emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, perceived uncertainty and job stress fully mediated the association between coworker task support and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, supervisor support and family support significantly moderated the association between perceived uncertainty and emotional exhaustion. This research contributes to the literature by expanding our knowledge of the role of social support in alleviating the perceived uncertainty, job stress, and emotional exhaustion of hospitality employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are further discussed.

Effect Of Cotton Dust Exposure On Respiratory Health Outcomes Among Textile Workers.

Cotton dust is generated during various textile manufacturing processes. Only a few studies from Pakistan assessed cotton dust exposure and explored the relationship of duration of work in the textile industry with respiratory health outcomes. We aimed to assess cotton dust exposure and its association with lung function and respiratory symptoms among textile workers in Pakistan. We report findings from the baseline survey of the larger study, MultiTex, among 498 adult male textile workers from six mills conducted between October 2015-March 2016 in Karachi, Pakistan. Data collection included the use of standardized questionnaires; spirometry, and area dust measurements through UCB-PATS. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were developed to assess the association of risk factors with respiratory symptoms and illnesses. We found the mean age of workers to be 32.5 (±10) years; around 25% were illiterate. The prevalence of COPD, asthma, and byssinosis was 10%, 17%, and 2%, respectively. The median cotton dust exposure was 0.33 mg/m3 (IQR: 0.12-0.76). Increased duration of work among non-smokers was associated with a decline in lung function, FVC (-245 ml; 95% CI: -385.71, -104.89) and FEV1 (-200 ml; 95% CI: -328.71, -841.1). Workers with certain job titles (machine operators, helpers, and jobbers), those with greater duration of work, and higher dust exposure, were more likely to report respiratory symptoms and illnesses. We report a high prevalence of asthma and COPD and a low prevalence of byssinosis. Cotton dust exposure and duration of employment were associated with respiratory health outcomes. Our findings highlight the need for preventive interventions in the textile industry in Pakistan.

Exploring the factors for open innovation in post-COVID-19 conditions by fuzzy Delphi-ISM-MICMAC approach

PurposeOpen innovation has attracted the attention of experts and business entities for the sustainable survivability of firms, especially in the post-COVID-19 era. The food and beverage industry has been facing sustainable survivability problems. It is important to identify and evaluate the factors of open innovation from the perspectives of the food and beverage industry. This study serves that purpose by identifying and evaluating the factors of open innovation in the post-COVID-19 era with a special reference to Pakistan's economy.Design/methodology/approachThe present study integrates the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and Matrice d’ Impacts Croises Multiplication Applique a Classement (MICMAC) methods to analyze the factors involved in the adoption of open innovation in the food and beverage industry in Pakistan. Firstly, based on an extensive literature review of the most relevant studies, the factors affecting open innovation have been identified and finalized using FDM and experts' opinions. Secondly, the hierarchical framework has also been prepared by implementing the ISM approach. Thirdly, the MICMAC approach was employed to evaluate the factors to examine the driving and dependence powers of the factors of open innovation adoption.FindingsThe study identified 17 factors of open innovation adoption in Pakistan's food and beverage industry and 16 factors were finalized using FDM. The ISM-MICMAC matrix unveiled that awareness seminars and training, along with a lack of executive commitments, were strong factors with high driving power, but these factors proved to be weakly dependent powers regarding the other factors. Moreover, a lack of innovation strategy, R&D and non-supportive organizational culture exhibited low driving power but strong dependent power.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study could help firms and business entities understand the driving and dependent factors involved in open innovation for the sustainable survivability of the food and beverage industry. The study provides strong reasons to believe that an open innovation strategy, along with stakeholder collaboration, the adoption of rules and regulations and managerial commitment, could stimulate open innovation. Moreover, governments should promote the business sector, especially the food and beverage industry, to facilitate the sector while also providing awareness seminars and training, creating environments conducive to reducing innovation costs.Originality/valueSome previous studies have analyzed the factors involved in green innovation from the perspective of the manufacturing industry and environmental protection. The present study is a pioneer study to examine the factors involved in the adoption of open innovation in the food and beverage industry in Pakistan from the perspective of the post-COVID-19 era. For this purpose, the present study uses an integrated Fuzzy Delphi-ISM-MICMAC approach for the analysis.

Risk assessment of circular economy practices in construction industry of Pakistan

The construction industry (CI) is responsible for consuming 3 billion tons of natural raw materials annually. Also, as per the survey by World Resources Institute, the CI accounts for 40 % of the total waste generated globally. The solution to this inefficient resource usage and adverse effects on the ecosystem is implementing Circular Economy (CE) practices in CI. However, the concept of circular construction is in developmental stages. Therefore, it is more prone to damaging risks than traditional construction. The primary aim of this study is to identify and assess the risk related to implementing CE practices in developing country construction sector. To achieve this aim, 25 risks were shortlisted from the literature review and evaluated upon the probability, detection, and severity risk criteria. This study proposed a novel hybrid fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach to analyze the shortlisted risks. Fuzzy Step Wise Assessment Ratio Analysis (FSWARA) is employed to gauge the risk criterion weightage. Moreover, Fuzzy VIKOR (FVIKOR) is used to determine the risks' ranking as per the weightage of the risk criterion. The analyses ranked “lack of political support and incentives for circular construction”, “difficulty in selection of circular construction experts”, “profit uncertainty”, and “circular material quality” as the most critical risks. Therefore, it is recommended for legislative authority to devise a framework that promotes and provides support to circular construction. Moreover, this study fills the literature gap by assessing the risks of CE practices in the CI of Pakistan.

Molecular characterization of divergent isolates of Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd) from citrus cultivars of Punjab, Pakistan.

Citrus viroid infection is emerging as a serious threat because of its efficient systemic movement within the host plant and its quick spread due to contaminated pruning tools. A survey was conducted to investigate the primary distribution and molecular characterization of Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd) and its variants in different citrus cultivars. A total of 154 symptomatic citrus samples were collected and detected by RT‒PCR with newly designed specific primers with the incidence of 36.33%. During biological indexing study on Etrog citron, expressions of reduced leaf size, yellowing with a light green pattern, and bending were observed. Amplified products were sequenced and analyzed using a nucleotide BLAST search, which showed 98% homology with other CBLVd isolates. The results of the phylogenetic tree analysis showed the presence of two main groups (A and B), with the predominant variants of CBLVd, i.e., CVd-I-LSS (Citrus viroid Low Sequence Similarity) sequences, clustering in subgroup A1 along with newly detected CVd-I-LSS from Palestinian sweet lime (Citrus limettioides), which has been identified as a new host of CVd-I-LSS in Pakistan. Further analysis of the sequences in subgroup A1 showed that the variant of CVd-I-LSS infecting citrus cultivars had a close relationship with isolates reported from China, Japan, and Iran, which may have resulted from the exchange of planting material. This study also unveiled the variability in nucleotide sequences of CBLVd, which made it unable to be detected by old primers. The results of this study indicate that the widespread presence of divergent variants of CBLVd is a major concern for the citrus industry in Pakistan and other countries where virulent isolates of CBLVd are prevalent. These findings suggest the need for future research on effective management and quarantine measures to stop the spread of CBLVd.

DISCOURSE ANALYSIS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE OF FISH INDUSTRY OF PAKISTAN

The research article outlines Pakistan's fisheries industry output from 1950 to therecent past and fishery product trading from 1980 to 2011. Based on economic research, the findingsshow that fish output and export continuously rose year after year. Despite this, the pace ofdevelopment in fish output over the previous two decades has been quite modest compared to otheremerging nations. The research also shows that inland aquaculture output in Pakistan is quicklyoutpacing marine aquaculture. On the contrary, no marine aquaculture methods exist or are supportedto improve fish output. The article discusses and measures for fisheries sector security and futuredevelopment potential for coastal and non-coastal regions. In Pakistan, aquaculture has emerged as themost promising option to address fish demand, food security, livelihood, employment, and nationalGDP. Furthermore, it is critical to focus on marine aquaculture to restore marine fishing resources,which may generate livelihoods in coastal communities. Finally, the main idea of this article is toprovide developmental techniques for authorities to grow and expand the aquaculture industry, whichmight provide numerous options for livelihood support in Pakistan. The research uses methodologicaltriangulation for evaluating the on ground reality on a broader perspective and also an online surveywill be presented in it to evaluate the output of fish industry of Pakistan.

SUPPLIER SELECTION IN AN INDUSTRY OF SHORT LIFECYCLE PRODUCTS USING BAYESIAN NETWORK ANALYSIS

This study presented an innovative Bayesian Network (BN) modelling andsimulation for supplier selection problem of an actual electronic parts manufacturing firm of Pakistan.The list of qualitative and quantitative factors which affect this supplier selection decision wasextracted from a variety of studies in literature. The problem was modelled and solved in respectiveBN software platform using the standard recommended procedure. Results showed that ―Quality‖ and ―Costs‖ were the most crucial factors for the Short Life Cycle(SLP) products industry underinvestigation. The supplier alternative which was strong in these factors, had emerged as the most suitable option. The results were found to be beneficial for other SLP industries of Pakistan too.

Trade Liberalisation and Industrial Productivity: Evidence from Manufacturing Industries in Pakistan

This study examines the impact of trade liberalisation on the industrial productivity for a panel of twenty seven 3-digit manufacturing industries in Pakistan over the period 1980-2006. Using a variant of the Cobb-Douglas production function for industrial sector, we estimated output elasticities. The results show positive output elasticities with respect to labour, capital and raw materials for the pre-trade liberalisation period (1981 –1995) as well as post-trade liberalisation period (1996-2006). For the pre-liberalisation period, we observe positive output elasticity with respect to energy, while it turns out to be negative in the post-liberalisation period probably due to energy crisis in Pakistan. In the second stage, we calculate total factor productivity (TFP) and examine the impact of trade liberalisation on TFP for pre-and post-trade liberalisation periods. The results reveal that trade liberalisation proxied by import duty has positive but negligible impact on the TFP in the pre-as well as post-liberalisation periods. On the other hand, effective rates of protection exert large negative impact on the TFP in the post-liberalisation than the pre-liberalisation period. JEL Classifications: F14, F13, O53, L60 Keywords: Trade Liberalisation, Total Factor Productivity, Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan

Wastewater Characterization of Chiniot Drain and Evaluation of Groundwater Contamination Using Water Quality Index (WQI) and GIS Techniques

Groundwater pollution is considered a major concern in today’s world. Most industries in Pakistan produce untreated wastewater, extracting from and contaminating a nearby water source and the soil. This study was conducted in the Nithar Ke area of Chiniot District to assess the impact of the flow of wastewater over the area on groundwater quality. It aimed to: (1) investigate the conditions of industrial wastewater; (2) study the spatial variability of different parameters in groundwater using a GIS map; and (3) check the appropriateness of groundwater for drinking purposes using the water quality index (WQI). Physical and chemical characteristics, including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, TSS, CO3, HCO3, chlorides, alkalinity, total hardness, Ca, Mg, arsenic, copper, chromium, nickel, iron, manganese, and sulfate, were tested using groundwater samples, and variance in groundwater was analyzed using a GIS (geographic information system). The water quality index (WQI) was developed for the Nithar Ke area to determine the appropriateness of the groundwater for drinking purposes. WQI values were determined within the range of 41 to 89.5, which showed a poor to good water quality. It was discovered that parameters such as BOD, COD, iron, and TDS had average concentrations of 192 mg/L, 264 mg/L, 2.62 mg/L, and 6039 mg/L, respectively, in the polluted water, which exceeded the permissible limit. Iron and manganese were the most common contaminants found in that area. The biplot and correlation circle showed that iron and turbidity had a positive relationship. Further study on soil stratification and soil characteristics is recommended in this area for a detailed analysis of the causes of metal contamination.

Comparative Analysis of Erp Being Used in Hotel Industry of Pakistan

IT systems in the hotel industry mainly focused on addressing routine operational issues during hotel operations. Pakistan’s hotel industry has historically been criticized for being reluctant to make full use of IT. This paper reports and analyzes the results of a recent survey of IT applications in Pakistan hotels. This research is intended to highlight factors that can be considered critical for the successful application, particularly to deter a wider use of ERP (Enterprise resource planning) systems in the hospitality sector in Pakistan. The work also helps us understand how ERP systems can provide value for companies in this field, in particular in the hotel industry. The reference model provides the basis for explaining how the current supplier’s product responds to the needs of the market. This research provides an initial systematic review of ERP, Information System, PMS, POS, Back-Office Software, HRIS, Inventory Software, Business Performance, Automation, System Integration, E-commerce in hospitality industry. In this research ERP systems are critically analyzed which are being used in hotel industry of Pakistan. Finally there is review of findings of effect if ERP and MIS implement on hospitality industry in Pakistan that due to less awareness, fear, cost, they don’t want to implement or not need to change. After completing the research it will be clear that how hotel Industry bring change by applying this software or upgrade them self.

Efficiency of exogenous zinc sulfate application reduced fruit drop and improved antioxidant activity of 'Kinnow' mandarin fruit.

Kinnow' mandarin (Citrus nobilis L.× Citrus deliciosa T.) is an important marketable fruit of the world. It is mainstay of citrus industry in Pakistan, having great export potential. But out of total production of the country only 10% of the produce meets the international quality standard for export. Pre-harvest fruit drop and poor fruit quality could be associated with various issues including the plant nutrition. Most of the farmers do not pay attention to the supply of micro nutrients which are already deficient in the soil. Furthermore, their mobility within plants is also a question. Zinc (Zn) is amongst those micronutrients which affect the quality and postharvest life of the fruit and its deficiency in Pakistani soils is already reported by many researchers. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the influence of pre-harvest applications of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4; 0, 0.4%, 0.6% or 0.8%) on pre-harvest fruit drop, yield and fruit quality of 'Kinnow' mandarin at harvest. The treatments were applied during the month of October i.e. 4 months prior to harvest. The applied Zn sprays had significant effect on yield and quality of the "Kinnow" fruit. Amongst different foliar applications of ZnSO4applied four months before harvest, 0.6% ZnSO4 significantly reduced pre-harvest fruit drop (10.08%) as compared to untreated control trees (46.45%). Similarly, the maximum number of fruits harvested per tree (627), fruit weight (192.9 g), juice percentage (42.2%), total soluble solids (9.5 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (35.5 mg 100 g-1) and sugar contents (17.4) were also found significantly higher with 0.6% ZnSO4 treatment as compared to rest of treatments and control. Foliar application of 0.6% ZnSO4 also significantly improved total antioxidants (TAO) and total phenolic contents (TPC) in fruit. In conclusion, foliar spray of ZnSO4 (0.6%) four months prior to harvest reduced pre-harvest fruit drop, increase yield with improved quality of 'Kinnow' mandarin fruit.

Employees' insecure attachment styles and time theft: a moderated mediated model

This paper investigates the influence of insecure attachment (avoidance and anxiety) style on employee time theft with mediating role of emotional exhaustion and moderating role of supervisor aggression. To empirically study the proposed relationships, we collected data from 440 employees of the service industry in Pakistan and analysed using AMOS 22 and SPSS 19. After data screening and confirming the reliability and validity of the study variables, mediation and moderation analysis were conducted. Results revealed that emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between insecure attachment style and employee theft. Study results further reveal that supervisor aggression moderates the relationship between insecure attachment style and emotional exhaustion. Hence all proposed hypotheses were proved.

Microfinance, A Lifeline for Micro Industries in Pakistan: A Comparison of Governmental and Non-Governmental Microfinance Programs

The association of microfinance and entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a tool for the socio-economic development of dawdling regions. By contrast, most of the studies on the micro level have primarily focused on poverty alleviation and spending of loans on living standards and reached conflicting findings. Evidence on the impact of microfinance on entrepreneurial development in different regions has conflicting results. There is growing academic interest in geographical variations and a consensus that geographical disparities exist. This paper investigates the impact of microfinance programs offered by government and non-government organizations on the profitability, employment and sales growth of microenterprises operating in Pakistan. Using a sample of borrowers (treatment group) and respondents on the waiting list (control group) operating microenterprises, we provide evidence that the impact on the profitability of microenterprises is positive, with a higher mark for NGO borrowers. Moreover, the study's novelty compares the microenterprise industry and the findings that using loans in service sector business makes individuals more likely to move from a low-wage labourer to a more profitable entrepreneurship status. Our findings will help policymakers and academics identify the most relevant intervention areas.

Farm productivity and social sustainability in formalized value chain governance: the case of the potato industry in Pakistan

Abstract Farm productivity and social sustainability are essential to realizing agro-based value chains’ full potential. This paper aims to empirically conduct an analysis of the impact of formal value chain governance practices on farm productivity and social sustainability in Pakistan's potato industry. A multi-stage sampling method was employed from 10 villages to examine growers’ motivations to adopt the contract and its effect on their income and farm employment. The main findings of this study stipulate that buyers’ technical assistance and provision of quality inputs are the growers’ primary motives for contracting, non-contracted farms earned 40% less than contracted farms from each unit invested, contracted farms employed more labor with better wages, and welfare arrangements than the non-contracting farms. The study concluded that formal value chain governance practices significantly affect farm productivity and social sustainability and can spur growth in the agricultural sector in developing countries. The results reveal that any governmental initiative aiming to support formal value chain governance should consider the role that intermediaries play in the value chain and accordingly minimize their risks and food losses and improve social outcomes.

A Legislative Cuff around the Pharmaceutical Industry in Pakistan

A Legislative Cuff around the Pharmaceutical Industry in Pakistan

Industrial optimization using three-factor Cobb-Douglas production function of non-linear programming with application

<abstract><p>This paper is about the effectiveness of the Cobb-Douglas (C-D) production function in industrial optimization, estimating the number of factors used in the production process of the water industry, for instance, capital and human labor. Moreover, we have modeled a nonlinear optimization problem for a local water industry using two and three factors of production. For this purpose, we have taken into account the Cobb-Douglas production function with different production factors using the Lagrange multiplier method with the ordinary least squares method. In the course of the solution, a linear function is used to calculate the cost function, and the C-D production function is used to calculate the production function. The Lagrange multiplier method with the ordinary least squares method is then used to solve the constrained optimization problem for the product of production. Furthermore, we compared the outcomes from both examples of two- and three-factor C-D production functions in order to validate the Lagrange multiplier method for the C-D production function. Moreover, the three-factor C-D production function is solved by the Lagrange multiplier method with the ordinary least squares method, which provides optimal results as compared to previous studies in literature. The validity of the proposed methodology is explained by using the products of a local production industry in Pakistan.</p></abstract>