Local Distributors Research Articles

Perceptions of Local Hospitals and Food Producers on Opportunities for and Barriers to Implementing Farm-to-Hospital Programs

The farm-to-table movement has significantly increased in the United States during the last decade. More locally sourced foods are being used in meal programs on a larger, institutional scale. Farm-to-hospital initiatives have been emerging as an effort to reestablish local, healthy diets into the health care model. As a result, barriers, opportunities, and capacity-building strategies specific to farm-to-hospital initiatives are being more closely explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceptions and attitudes of local food producers and hospital staff towards using locally sourced foods in hospital food service programs. To identify these perceptions, in-depth interviews were conducted with staff involved with food procurement and management at two Montana hospitals and with local food producers and distributors. Barriers for hospitals to use locally sourced foods included price, product availability, and quantity, while opportunities included positive relationships, product quality, and champion leaders of the local food system movement within the hospital setting. Furthermore, capacity-building strategies suggested by the interviews included development of cooperative distribution of local foods and formalized working-relationship contracts. Most significantly, collaborative dialogue was identified as a method to further support the extent of locally sourced foods being used in hospital food service programs.

Regional level approach for increasing energy efficiency

Actions for increasing the renewable share in the energy supply and improving both production and end-use energy efficiency are often built into the regional level sustainability targets. Because of this, many local stakeholders such as local governments, energy producers and distributors, industry, and public and private sector operators require information on the current state and development aspects of the regional energy efficiency. The drawback is that an overall view on the focal energy system operators, their energy interests, and future energy service needs in the region is often not available for the stakeholders. To support the local energy planning and management of the regional energy services, an approach for increasing the regional energy efficiency is being introduced. The presented approach can be seen as a solid framework for gathering the required data for energy efficiency analysis and also evaluating the energy system development, planned improvement actions, and the required energy services at the region. This study defines the theoretical structure of the energy efficiency approach and the required steps for revealing such energy system improvement actions that support the regional energy plan. To demonstrate the use of the approach, a case study of a Finnish small-town of Lohja is presented. In the case example, possible actions linked to the regional energy targets were evaluated with energy efficiency analysis. The results of the case example are system specific, but the conducted study can be seen as a justified example of generating easily attainable and transparent information on the impacts of different improvement actions on the regional energy system.

The "Chef's Knife" in Oblique Split Technique for Rhinoplasty.

In cooking, a chef’sknife (cook’s knife) is a cutting tool used in food preparation. It is the primary general utility knife for mostWestern cooks.1 In saddle noses, revision cases, and some traumatic cases, I have been using costal cartilages (fifth through ninth) for 16 years, and Iwas constantly in searchof thesurgicalequivalentofachef’s knife to sculpture costal cartilage. Until 6 years ago, I used to takethemiddlepartof thecartilagetopreventwarpingandalsoused 2to 3-mm-thick grafts. Then, in 2009, I learned the oblique split technique from Eren Tastan, MD, at the Second Annual Meeting of the Turkish Society of Facial Plastic Surgery.2 Thereafter, it became the technique I most often use in obtaining grafts from costal cartilages for the following reasons: 1. The integrity of theouter and inner cortex is preserved.Myclinical observation is that there is less likelihood of warping and resorption. 2. The length of the grafts can be adjusted depending on the angle of cut and the size of the cartilage at hand. 3. The thickness of the cut implants can also be adjusted. 4. More implantscanbeobtainedfrom1ribcomparedwiththetechnique I used previously. Whilecutting theslices, the first instrumentsusedwere theNos. 11, 15, and 20 scalpels. Although cutting the slices was usually successful, I was not comfortable using these scalpels tomake precise and clean cuts, which necessitated spendingmore time on further refinements.Thiswasbecausethethicknessesof thecartilageswere usually 2 to 3mm. Five years ago, low-profile microtome blades and dermatome blades, which make cleaner and more precise cuts, came into use. Four years ago, a pathologist, Mine Hekimgil, MD, added a special handle (the Feather F-80 trimming handle) to use with low-profile microtomeblades. Thiswas composedof apolysulfonehandlewith metalguide tousewith80-mmdisposablemicrotomeblades. Itwas a very good tool formanipulating the thin, super-sharp, low-profile microtomeblades.Thesedisposablebladeswerealsovery inexpensive and came in cartridges of 50. The use of handle made themanipulation of low-profile microtome blades much easier. However, 2problemswereencountered: (1)When thebladewas inserted into the handle, the cutting height was reduced to 3 mm, which sometimesmade it impossible toobtain a cleancutting surfaceand toadjust the desired shape and thickness because the resulting height of the costal cartilage changed from5 to8mm. (2)When therewas anossified focuswithin thecartilage, itwasnoteasy toapplyenough pressure on the blade to complete the cut. I discussed this problem with a local distributor of pathology equipment. He suggested the use of a Feather F-130 trimming Video at jamafacialplasticsurgery.com

How Hydro Ontario Went Local: The Creation of Local Districts and the Ontario Central System

When Ontario Hydro was created, its task was to distribute electricity to local hydro commissions across Ontario. By the 1920s, however, it had become a local distributor itself, providing direct service to thousands of customers across the province. This essay examines the two major events that brought Ontario Hydro into local distribution during this period: the creation of the Central Ontario System in 1916 and the Rural Power District in 1920. This essay draws on previously unexplored archival sources to argue that the two processes were quite separate from one another, and that only one – the Rural Power District – left a lasting institutional legacy in Ontario’s electricity sector. Both developments, however, reveal the “flexibility” of local political autonomy in Ontario – the cultural and political limits of appeals to local autonomy in the face of economic risk and opportunity and technological change.

KAJIAN DISTRIBUSI PANGAN POKOK BERAS DI KABUPATEN KEPULAUAN TALAUD

This study aims to determine the various models of distribution channels / staple food marketing and analyze the performance of the market of each channel of distribution / marketing of staple food to the people in Talaud Islands District. Primary data were obtained through direct observation in the field and in-depth interviews (depth) by using a list of questions (questionnaire) which had been prepared in advance to the institutions of marketing / distribution of food. Determination of the respondents in this study was conducted with a purposive sampling method and method snowbow of respondents key (key Pearson) of any marketing agencies. The results showed that the distribution of milled rice in the District of Talaud Islands only one pattern involving several marketing agencies, namely the village traders, wholesalers and retailers of Manado city in town Lirung Talaud Islands, while for rice packaging of Surabaya, the distribution includes agencies marketing Mananado local distributor, wholesaler in the city of Manado and retailers in town Lirung Talaud Islands. Also the results of the study showed that the total marketing margin is formed on the pattern of distribution channels milled rice food staples in Talaud Islands amounted to Rp2.500,00 per kg, with a total marketing costs amounted to Rp413 per kg, while for rice packaging, total marketing margin formed on the pattern of distribution channels staple food rice krmasan in District Talaud Islands is Rp 3.500,00 per kg, with a total marketing costs Rp454 per kg. The amount of the farmer's share of the milled rice marketing in District of Talaud Islands amounted to 73.68%, where the farm-gate price of Rp7,000 per kg and prices at the consumer level of Rp9,500 per kg. The ratio of cost advantages in marketing agency traders village is very large compared to the traders in the city of Manado and retailers in the City Lirung. Cost benefit ratio was lowest in the large trader marketing agencies in the city of Manado.

Advances in Smart and Intelligent Multimedia Platforms for Pervasive Computing

Recent advances in various computing and telecommunication fields, along with the proliferation of multimedia-capable mobile devices, such as laptops, portable media players, personal digital assistants, and smart phones, have stimulated the development of pervasive multimedia services/applications. These upcoming services and applications essentially require a smart and intelligent platform that is able to provide noble development and operation tools for accommodating the pervasive system, applications, and services. This special issue presents original research papers addressing research challenges in all areas of smart and intelligent multimedia platform for pervasive systems, applications, and services. This issue consists of eleven papers, which are briefly discussed as follows. The openness of the Android system allows user to choose the various online markets. Since such openness also invokes critical threats, such as malware and illegal use, several markets have deployed strong authentication techniques. However, such methods are also an inconvenience to legal users. Therefore, in BAuthentication of Mobile Application through Various Local Distributors^(10.1007/s11042-013-1520-y), the author proposes the concept of an authentication model that makes purchased application available in most cases. The paper entitled BAn interactive pervasive whiteboard based on MVC architecture for ubiquitous collaboration^(10.1007/s11042-013-1458-0) presents the whiteboard application on 3G and Wi-Fi Android platform based mobile devices, based on MVC (Model View Controller) architecture for ubiquitous collaboration and also presents interaction and usability study with multiple users using small-sized devices, mid-sized devices, and large-sized device to show how disparate access devices and networking have an effect on software design of shared applications in an ubiquitous collaboration system. In BNetwork SecurityCamera System and itsApplication forConsumer Electronics inUbiquitous Environment^(10.1007/s11042-013-1442-8), the authors present a network security camera system and its application to provide visual information to consumer electronics devices in an ubiquitous Multimed Tools Appl (2015) 74:1537–1539 DOI 10.1007/s11042-015-2486-8

Network Latency in Systems Event Monitoring for Multiple Locations

Network latency is one of the key parameters to consider when designing and implementing remote monitoring for security and system events. This paper describes how network latency may impact monitoring over wide area networks, especially when the monitoring system is hundreds or thousands of miles away from the monitored servers. Furthermore, an idea of local distributor is proposed to reduce the time of events data collection from multiple geographic locations.

EXPLORING MODES OF ENTRY INTO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS: DIRECT INVESTMENT OR CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS

We consider the multinational company's decision on whether to enter a new foreign market using direct investment by establishing a subsidiary, direct exporting or contracting a local distributor, with the option to invest later. We develop two models, based on the real options theory, to support such decisions. The option on direct exporting or on a local distributor allows the firm to minimize risks by finding out if the market is large enough to support future direct investment. We find the direct investment to be the desirable mode of entry in large markets subject to low demand uncertainty. Overall, the investigation increases the knowledge related with exploring new markets subject to demand uncertainty, valuing the flexibility of present and future options.

Projected Cost Comparison of Trabectome, iStent, and Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation Versus Glaucoma Medication in the Ontario Health Insurance Plan

To compare the direct cost of treating glaucoma patients with Trabectome, iStent, and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) versus topical medications in Ontario, Canada. Costs are projected over a 6-year period, and presented on a per-patient level from the perspective of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The per-bottle cost of each medication was obtained from the 2011 Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) formulary. A wastage adjustment fee was added to the cost, as was a pharmacy markup, and an ODB dispensing fee. Previously published medication prescription rates were used to determine the frequency with which each medication is prescribed. We estimated the overall cost by taking a weighted average of the cost of each class of glaucoma medications.The cost of each glaucoma device was determined by contacting local distributors. We then added the cost of disposables used during surgery (viscoelastic and keratome) to the cost of each procedure. Start-up costs for each device and surgeons' fees were excluded from the overall cost. At 6 years, treatment with the Trabectome offered a cumulative cost savings of $279.23, $1572.55, and $2424.71 per patient versus monodrug, bidrug, and tridrug therapy, respectively. A cumulative cost difference of -$20.77, $1272.55, and $2124.71 per patient were found when comparing iStent versus monodrug, bidrug, and tridrug therapy, respectively. Treatment with ECP yielded a cost savings of $779.23, $2072.55, and $2924.71 per patient versus monodrug, bidrug, and tridrug therapy, respectively. Over a projected period of 6 years, the Trabectome, iStent, and ECP may all offer a modest cost savings to OHIP versus the cost of glaucoma medication. Further analysis of direct and indirect costs to patients as well as quality of life assessments will help further delineate the role of these treatments in the glaucoma treatment paradigm.

The Economics of Tobacco in Lebanon: An Estimation of the Social Costs of Tobacco Consumption

Objectives: Assess the socioeconomic costs of smoking in Lebanon and understand the tobacco market and identify the winners and losers from the Lebanese tobacco trade. Methods: We take a close look at the market for tobacco and related markets to identify the main stakeholders and estimate the direct costs and benefits of tobacco. We also estimate lower bounds for the costs of tobacco, in terms of lost productivity, the cost of medical treatment, lost production due to premature death, and environmental damage. The paucity of data means our cost estimates are conservative lower bounds and we explicitly list the effects that we are unable to include. Results: We identify the main actors in the tobacco trade: the Régie (the state-owned monopoly which regulates the tobacco trade), tobacco farmers, international tobacco companies, local distributors, retailers, consumers, and advertising firms. We identify as proximate actors the Ministries of Finance and Health, employers, and patients of smoking-related illnesses. In 2008, tobacco trade in Lebanon led to a total social cost of $326.7 million (1.1% of GDP). Conclusion: Low price tags on imported cigarettes not only increase smoking prevalence, but they also result in a net economic loss. Lebanese policymakers should consider the overall deficit from tobacco trade and implement the guidelines presented in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to at once increase government revenue and reduce government outlays, and save the labor market and the environment substantial costs.

A Multiobjective Distribution-Pricing Model for Multiperiod Price-Sensitive Demands

In this paper, a new multiobjective model is proposed in order to determine the pricing and distribution plans for a wholesaler and its local distributors. Each local distributor has its own price-sensitive demand over the planning horizon. The model illustrates the conflict between the objectives pursued by the wholesaler (total profit maximization) and the local distributors (maximization of service levels). The model considers selling price, realized demand, production quantity, inventory levels, shortages, and inventory deterioration. The exact relationship between the two objectives is extracted. The model is applied to a case study of a wholesaler that distributes supplementary nutrition items to a set of local distributors. A new solution method is proposed for practically obtaining a set of global Pareto-optimal solutions of the problem. Each Pareto-optimal solution can be considered as a negotiation scenario between the wholesaler and the local distributors. The proposed solution is capable of finding all global Pareto-optimal solutions of the problem in certain conditions. Also, the proposed heuristic determines the most favorable solution among the set of Pareto-optimal solutions obtained. Finally, the computational results of the real case study are highlighted along with conclusions and future research directions.

Determinantes do Comportamento de Compra dos Produtores de Grãos: Um Estudo Multicasos com Médios e Grandes Produtores do Estado do Mato Grosso

Nos últimos anos, o agronegócio brasileiro tornou-se importante demandante de insumos, bens de capital, serviços financeiros e tecnologia. Além disso, há alterações no tamanho das propriedades, gestão do risco e comercialização, educação e atitude dos responsáveis pela tomada de decisão dos empreendimentos agropecuários. Nesse ambiente de mudança, o entendimento de certas variáveis é relevante para a estratégia de marketing das empresas fornecedoras de insumos, pois elas influenciam no modelo de negócio e comportamento de compra dos produtores rurais. O propósito desse trabalho é desenvolver entendimento e familiaridade acerca do comportamento de compra dos produtores de grãos do Estado do Mato Grosso, no intuito de compreender a influência das características do produtor e da fazenda, gestão do negócio e do risco, tomada de decisão, fontes de informações, produtos e fornecedores. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo multicasos com três produtores de grãos do Estado do Mato Grosso, por meio de entrevistas presenciais. Verifica-se que os determinantes mais influentes no comportamento de compra dos produtores estudados são o nível de envolvimento na tomada de decisões, benefício esperado por tipo de produto, tamanho da atividade, culturas produzidas, rotação de culturas e sua relação com produtividade. Além destes fatores, a propriedade da terra, rentabilidade do negócio, restrições de crédito e gestão de risco influenciam no nível de capitalização e na escolha das ferramentas de aquisição de insumos e bens de capitais. Por fim, mas não menos importante, as fontes de informação e sua qualidade impactam na lealdade do produtor à marca, ao distribuidor local e ao vendedor.

Determination of Optimal Storage Condition for Pre-packed Hanwoo Loin

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal storage condition of pre-packed Hanwoo beef without freezing. Hanwoo loin was purchased from a local distributor at 48 h after slaughter, then sliced in 1.5±0.5 cm thickness, and packed in a polyethylene (PE) tray covered with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) film. The studied factors to set the optimal storage condition were chamber temperature (5, 2.5 and -1 o C for 14 d), cooling method (direct and indirect cooling system), and ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation for beef surface sterilization (0, 30, 60, and 120 min). The changes of pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and number of aerobic bacteria were measured during storage. Beef samples stored in -1 o C showed the minimal increasing rate in TBARS and microbial growth. After 15 d of storage, there was no significant difference in pH and TBARS values. However, the microbial population of beef stored in direct type cooling chamber (4.25±0.66 Log CFU/g) was significantly lower than that of beef stored in indirect type chamber (6.47±0.08 Log CFU/g) (p<0.05). After 4 d of storage, 60 or 120 min UV light irradiated beef samples showed significantly lower microbial population, and at 14 d of storage, 60 min UV irradiated beef sample showed significantly lower microbial population (3.14±0.43 Log CFU/g) than control (4.46±0.13 Log CFU/g) (p<0.05). However, TBARS values of 60 or 120 min UV light irradiated beef samples were significantly higher than non-irradiated beef sample after 4 d of storage (p<0.05).

Authentication of mobile applications through various local distributors

Trends in software distribution indicate a rapid change in an online application market. Current smartphones enable users to easily install various applications that are purchased from the online m...

Diffusion of Novel Healthcare Technologies to Resource Poor Settings

A new product has completed clinical trials in a distant, resource poor hospital using a few dozen prototypes. The data looks great. The novel medical device solves a widely felt problem. The next goal is to integrate the device into the country's healthcare system and spread the device to other countries. But how? In order to be widely used, the device must be manufactured and distributed. One option is to license the intellectual property (IP) to an interested third party, if one can be found. However, it is possible to manage the manufacturing and distribution without licensing. There are at least two common means for manufacturing a novel medical device targeted to resource poor settings: (a) formal (contract) manufacturing and (b) informal (local) manufacturing. There are three primary routes to diffusion of novel medical devices in the developing world: (1) local distributors (2) direct international sales and (3) international donations. Perhaps surprisingly, the least effective mechanism is direct importation through donation. The most successful mechanism, the method used by nearly all working medical devices in resource-poor settings, is the use of contract manufacturing and a local distributor. This article is written for the biomedical innovator and entrepreneur who wishes to make a novel healthcare technology or product available and accessible to healthcare providers and patients in the developing world. There are very few documented cases and little formal research in this area. To this end, this article describes and explores the manufacturing and distribution options in order to provide insights into when and how each can be applied to scale up a novel technology to make a difference in a resource poor setting.

Electricity market in the free contracting environment (ACL) by the sugar-energy sector in Brazil: Overview and analysis of threats and opportunities

In recent years, the Brazilian electricity market has gone through provision crises, due to: the greater increase in demand with regard to supplies, the lack of infrastructural investments and the concentration of the energy matrix in hydroelectricity, this scenario can be minimized by the bioelectricity coproduced based on sugar cane pulp. This research aimed to characterize bioelectricity commerce in a free contracting environment (ACL) and compare it with a regulated contracting environment (ACR), identifying the threats, opportunities, strong and weak points of each. Interviews were held with managers: of four sugar-electricity mills, the local energy distributor and a free consumer. Data were processed using SWOT and PEST analysis, as well as content and correspondence analysis techniques. The results indicated that the main advantage of ACR is security about energy prices, while the disadvantage is the contract’s lack of flexibility, in combination with high penalties. The relevant strong point of ACL is the flexibility to define term, price and quantity, and the weakness is price volatility. Due to these characteristics, agents tend to act in both markets. Key words: Bioelectricity, free contracting environment, regulated contracting environment, sugar-energy sector, free consumer, energy cogeneration.

Gender relations and cross-border small trading in the Ukrainian–Romanian borderlands

European Union (EU) enlargement and the later shaping of its relationships with its new Eastern neighbours through the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) have had a significant impact on communities outside the EU’s borders. As the EU has sought to control flows of people, money and goods through these new borders, it has also become a destination for irregular migrants and small-scale traders from its eastern neighbours. This article draws upon participant observation in one such community in western Ukraine, where continuing levels of high unemployment and low wages and pensions drive dependence on flows of remittances from migrants to southern Europe, but also revenues from small-scale trade with neighbouring EU members, such as Romania. New forms of transnational mobility have emerged, which are not gender-neutral. The article asserts that, while hegemonic masculinities exist in both Ukrainian and Romanian communities, gender relations in Romania are restricted by sexualised discourses. As male and female Ukrainian traders interact with Romanian border officials and local distributors and intermediaries, hegemonic masculinities in Ukraine are re-affirmed and female traders are unable to advance and develop their trade in the same way as their male counterparts. In doing so, the article expands research on gender and transnationalism in post-enlargement Europe beyond migration and demonstrates not only how encounters at the EU’s borders are shaping gender relations in communities outside the EU, but that involvement in cross-border economic activities is determined by the gendered discourses and performance that take place at the border.

Mergers by Choice, Not Edict: Reforming Ontario's Electricity Distribution Policy

Provincially appointed panels have recommended that the province of Ontario force local electricity distribution companies (LDCs) to amalgamate into a handful of large, regional operations. However, just as forced consolidations of municipalities have led to few clear savings, so too it is unclear that forced amalgamation of local electricity distributors would lower costs in the sector. Instead of forcing mergers, provincial policy should be neutral towards mergers and acquisitions, permit private sector participation, and allow individual LDCs and municipalities to make their own choices.Accordingly, the government should reform tax policies that currently impose barriers on private investment, and permit individual distribution companies to pursue commercially sensible mergers and to seek the private investment they need to renew their aging capital stock.The case for forced amalgamations depends on two premises: first, that there are too many distributors in Ontario; and, second, that the government should encourage or force consolidation. These premises are, however, logically independent from each other: even if there are too many distributors in light of potential scale economies, the case for a government-directed consolidation should be examined on its own merits.Although many LDCs are smaller than the optimal size, there is no evidence to suggest that a few very large, amalgamated LDCs would be the most economically efficient outcome.A more fundamental question than scale is that of ownership. Ontario tax policy is neutral toward mergers of publicly owned LDCs, but restricts private sector participation in the sector. As a consequence, tax policy prevents any consolidations led by commercially owned companies. In our view, the province should remove barriers to private sector investment in the distribution sector, which it can achieve by eliminating taxes on sales of LDCs to private companies.To preserve the provincial tax base if Ontario were to eliminate taxes on the transfer or sale of LDCs to private companies, the federal government should enact changes to the Income Tax Act. The federal government should either allow LDCs to remain tax exempt with as much as 49 percent private ownership or, even better, introduce a transfer tax system in which it remits to the province corporate taxes it collects from privatized utilities.

Between field and table: environmental implications of local food distribution

Local food has been championed as a sustainable alternative to the industrial food system for many reasons, including a perceived environmental benefit through an expected decrease in the energy needed for transport from farm to market. The environmental benefit of local food, however, has been clouded by questions surrounding the energy footprint of small-scale distribution methods that do not enjoy economies of scale. Several studies have found local food to be as energy intensive as imported food due to very inefficient distribution methods; a case study of a Calgary, Canada restaurant, explores this issue. A description of FoodRoots, a local food distributor in Victoria, Canada, with a mandate to promote a local sustainable food system by creating the infrastructure link between consumers and growers and processors, illustrates one method of addressing this problem. Their ‘Pocket Markets’ represent a less energy-intensive distribution method for local food.

An Enhanced QFD Approach for Improving Water Tanks Sustainability at a Local Water Distributor

Purpose: This paper utilizes a modified version of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and the House of Quality (HOQ) in enhancing the technical requirements of constructing water tanks at a local water distribution company in Abu Dhabi and in developing a viable/sustainable solution to water leakage problem. Reported tanks problems negatively affect the company in terms of increased costs of maintenance and water losses and reduced customer satisfaction which hinders water sustainability and consumes company resources. Design/methodology/approach: A customer-driven approach is followed to identify internal and external customer needs, construct the QFD-HoQ, and develop feasible technical solutions to existing water tanks problems. To this end, surveys were used to collect data from internal and external customers. The data is analyzed to identify the specific needs of customers and use them as an input to construct the HoQ along with their ranking of relative importance. However, the standard QFD approach is adapted to fit the nature of the problem and the needs of the study. A complete HoQ is developed to translate customer needs into specific set of technical requirements tank standards. The results obtained from the complete HoQ are then analyzed to set a technical solution and an action plan. Findings and originality/value: Applying the proposed method at the local water distribution company in Abu Dhabi has resulted in enhancing the standards of constructing the currently used tanks (RCC and Steel types) by setting targets/changes to 16 technical requirements. These technical requirements meet 6 identified categories of customer needs in terms of tanks durability, leakage, quality, assembly, maintenance, and cost. The results analysis has also led to proposing a solution alternative for replacing the old RCC and Steel tanks by GRP tanks wherever possible. Such results benefit both the customer (in terms of better service and higher satisfaction) and the company (in terms of reduced cost and more effective operations) and improve the sustainability of water resources on the long run. Research limitations/implications: The project was limited by the data collection and access to specific technical information of water tanks. This is mostly related to tanks location, exact amount of water leakage, and tanks design and technical specifications. A team of subject matter experts is, therefore, consulted when developing the technical solutions in response to certain customer needs. The Also, the study was limited by difficulties in gaining the access to the remote areas of external customers. Surveys were emailed to these locations instead of having face-to-face interviews. Practical implications: The proposed approach showed how to practically integrate the generic needs/expectations of external customers with the technical requirements of internal customers in departments such as operations, maintenance, and asset management and how to develop an action plan that meets the needs of both sides. This method can be utilized by other 46 water distribution companies to improve the sustainability of their water tanks, to minimize any unnecessary spending, and to solve problems reported by customers. Utilizing QFD as an important tool of Total Quality Management (TQM) can also pave the way in the future to exploit more TQM practices in water distribution companies towards achieving organizational excellence. Social implications: Reducing water waste and improving the sustainability of water tanks and networks is getting more attention in many societies. This is particularly important in the Gulf States where water resources are scares and the cost of water desalination is high and consumes significant energy. Originality/value: The approach emphasizes the importance of utilizing QFD in selecting technical solution alternatives based on customer voice. It addresses the costs of poor quality or hidden costs which are typically ignored in standard QFD applications. The approach also integrates several quality tools and graphical techniques into the standard QFD approach.