Improved Production Technologies Research Articles

A Commitment-Based Explanation for Outsourcing Multiple Tasks

Over the last two decades, there has been a considerable increase in outsourcing of products and services in the manufacturing and information technology (IT) arenas with the objective of reducing costs and improving efficiency and quality (see Willcocks, Lacity, and Fitzgerald 1995; Earl 1996; Bryce and Useem 1998; Costa 2001; Kakabadse and Kakabadse 2005; Weeks and Feeny 2008). A few observations on the trend in outsourcing practices are noteworthy. In the early years buyers and clients outsourced production-related tasks and induced vendors to improve production technology or quality (see Minahan 1998b; Y. Hwang, Rangtusanatham, and Pei 2006; Shi 2007; Y. Hwang, Erkens, and Evans 2009). In recent years clients have increased the number of tasks outsourced by including design-related tasks as well (see Minahan 1998a; Carbone 2000; Natovich 2003; Kakabadse and Kakabadse 2005). However, the increase in the price has not been commensurate with the direct costs of the additional tasks (see Earl 1996; Minahan 1998b; Milligan 2000). While the trend in increased tasks being outsourced is rationalized by the improved ability of vendors (Minahan 1998b; Shi 2007), the trend in prices not increasing to cover the direct costs of additional tasks is rationalized by the higher bargaining power of clients (see Minahan 1998b; Dyer 1996; Crook and Combs 2007). Our objective is to provide an alternative rationale based on agency issues for the outsourcing trend of increased tasks without a corresponding increase in price. We consider an agency problem with one client and one vendor. There are two actions: the design action and the production action. The client can observe the vendor’s production action, but it is not contractible. If the client observes the vendor exerting an undesirable production action, then the client can help the vendor out with an intervention action. Knowing

Waste management of urban agglomeration on a life cycle basis

Recent material metabolism research has been conducted into urban and regional area, but relatively little research explores material metabolism relationships within urban agglomerations. Therefore, this study attempts to explore and analyze one category of material metabolism in an urban agglomeration. Furthermore, it provided a scientific basis for waste management within urban agglomerations. It did this by changing the recycling mode of material metabolism and investigated the resulting life cycle effects. The Chinese urban agglomeration of Su–Xi–Chang was taken as a case study. A mixed-unit input–output life cycle assessment model was used to analyze scrap tire management. The results show that China's energy savings and emission reduction requirements are best met by centralized recycling. However, in promoting centralized recycling, attention should be paid to improving production technologies so as to reduce negative resources and environmental impacts. This paper's analysis can be applied equally to resources management and the evaluation of other waste flows in urban agglomerations.

The Impact of RTEP Technology Adoption on Food Security Status of Cassava-Farming Households in Southwest, Nigeria

Adoption of yield increasing technologies among farming households is one way of improving food insecurity. This study assessed the impact of Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP) improved production technology on the food security status of cassava-based farming households in Southwest, Nigeria. The data for the study were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire through a multistage sampling technique. A total of 540 households were sampled comprising RTEP beneficiaries (RTEP), Non-RTEP beneficiaries within RTEP LGAs (NRTEPW) and Non-RTEP beneficiaries living outside RTEP LGAs (NRTEPO). The data were analyzed using Propensity Score Matching, descriptive statistics and Foster-Greer-Thorbecke model. There were 387 households with similar characteristics were used for analysis in the study. The mean per capita household food expenditure (MPCHHFE) was ₦172726.53 while the food insecurity line was ₦20132.22 per annum. The food insecurity incidence of RTEP was lower than that of the nonbeneficiaries, this reveals that RTEP improved production technology has the potential to improve food security. The FGT food insecurity indices of the beneficiaries declined due to participation in the programme. The food insecurity incidence reduced by 16.27%, 12.02% and 21.54% when compared with ANRTEP, NRTEPW and NRTEPO respectively. This suggests that the cassava production technology promoted under the programme is food insecurity reducing, therefore, there should be further sensitization on this technology to improve food security.

Estimating climate change, CO2 and technology development effects on wheat yield in northeast Iran

Wheat is the main food for the majority of Iran's population. Precise estimation of wheat yield change in future is essential for any possible revision of management strategies. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of climate change, CO2 concentration, technology development and their integrated effects on wheat production under future climate change. This study was performed under two scenarios of the IPCC Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES): regional economic (A2) and global environmental (B1). Crop production was projected for three future time periods (2020, 2050 and 2080) in comparison with a baseline year (2005) for Khorasan province located in the northeast of Iran. Four study locations in the study area included Mashhad, Birjand, Bojnourd and Sabzevar. The effect of technology development was calculated by fitting a regression equation between the observed wheat yields against historical years considering yield potential increase and yield gap reduction as technology development. Yield relative increase per unit change of CO2 concentration (1ppm(-1)) was considered 0.05% and was used to implement the effect of elevated CO2. The HadCM3 general circulation model along with the CSM-CERES-Wheat crop model were used to project climate change effects on wheat crop yield. Our results illustrate that, among all the factors considered, technology development provided the highest impact on wheat yield change. Highest wheat yield increase across all locations and time periods was obtained under the A2 scenario. Among study locations, Mashhad showed the highest change in wheat yield. Yield change compared to baseline ranged from -28% to 56% when the integration of all factors was considered across all locations. It seems that achieving higher yield of wheat in future may be expected in northeast Iran assuming stable improvements in production technology.

Marketing of Sheep in Sudan, Profile of the Market System and Production: A Case Study of North Kordofan and Khartoum States, Sudan

Sudan is one of the main exporters of sheep in African countries. Despite being on the marketing system of sheep is still undeveloped due to weakness of structural facilities such as low production technology, despised farms, market barrens, poor infrastructure and so on. This study aims to provide some insights on the marketing system of sheep in Sudan with special focus on the production sector in North Kordofan and Khartoum states in Sudan. The objectives of this study are to gain a better understanding of how the existing sheep marketing systems and to identify key constraints and potentials in the systems and to determine the marketing channels and margins. Primary data was used in this study to collect data from 103 sheep producers/traders in Elkhiwi and Elobied markets in North Kordofan and 25 producers/traders and middlemen in Elsalam in Omdurman central market in Khartoum. The results reveals that best time to selling sheep before Hajj season when the sheep begin to export to Saudi Market and other markets, the major sheep production cost items, were feed, drinking water and labor which contributing substantially to total costs 65.61% in Khartoum and 59.71% in North Kordofan. The marketing channels were so lengthy and middlemen’s margins were almost equivalent to producer’s profits. The study recommends intensive research for pasture improvement; provide sheep producers/traders with improvement in production technology, reduce marketing channel and price support for the supply of fodder, water and veterinary care and waive income taxes for the farmers.

An Assessment of farmers’ perception of priority areas in oil palm production and processing in Aniocha South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, Nigeria

The study examined farmers' perception of priority in oil palm production and processing. The study was carried out in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty oil palm farmers randomly selected from eight communities were sampled. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection, while percentage, frequency count and mean scores were used to summarize data. The findings of the study show that nine priority areas are crucial to increased oil palm production and processing. These are: credit facilities for oil palm farmers, favourable land tenure policy; establishment of agro-chemical and fertilizer companies; building of mechanized processing mills at strategic locations; construction of access roads to palm plantations; providing ready markets for oil palm products; and sponsoring research on high yielding varieties and low-cost processing techniques. The study also found low technology utilization among oil palm farmers. The study recommends that the priority areas identified in this study should guide future efforts of government in revitalizing the oil palm production sub-sector. Also, oil palm farmers should be sensitized by the agricultural extension agency on the need to use improved production technologies.

Economic viability of organic paddy production in central India

An attempt has been made in this study to examine the cost and return analysis of organic and inorganic farming practices for paddy cultivation in Jabalpur district of M.P. The finding of the study revealed that on an average the total cost of cultivation (Cost C3) of paddy under organic and in-organic were observed to be Rs. 8521 and Rs. 14324 respectively. The average yield per hectare of paddy crop was found maximum in inorganic farms (21.92q/ha) against 14.88 q/ha in organic farms. Medium farmers harvested maximum yields of paddy under both the situations and lower yields were in large farms. The price of organic paddy was found relatively higher than inorganic paddy in the study area. Net income and output-input ratio was higher in organic farm. Thus, incremental net income was only Rs. 2186 per ha is realizing that organic farming was economically viable and profitable over inorganic paddy farming in the study area. Net income on different farm size in organic situation ranged from Rs. 8203 to Rs. 10122 and Rs. 6067 to Rs. 8249 per ha in case of inorganic paddy. It is suggested that sincere efforts be made by the extension personnel to motivate the framers to adopt improved production technology to minimize the yield gap.

Partnership for improved access to agro-inputs and technology: Some experiences from the emergency rice initiative project in Ghana

A two-year emergency rice (Oryza sativa L.) initiative project was launched in 2009 in response to the global rice crisis in 2008. The objective of this initiative in Ghana was to increase rice productivity in order to improve food security. Project activities included seed fairs, dissemination of information on improved production technologies using videos and rural radios, training of agro-input dealers, extension officers and farmers as well as promotion of best-bet practices through field demonstrations. The project made progress instrengthening the ability of agro-input dealers to create business linkages with input suppliers and extend their retail networks to rice farmers. Overall, 34 agro-input dealers were trained, in collaboration with the Ghana Agro-dealer Development project, on agro-input business management, product knowledge and rice production. Thirteen agro-input dealers were assisted to access credit for business development. Better financed, trained agro-dealers were then able to provide over 12,600 rice farmers with improved seed, mineral fertilizers, technical advice on agro-input use and the promotion of improved agronomic practices through field demonstrations. Some agro-input dealers even provided free inputs for the conduct of demonstrations on new products and good agronomic practices. On average, fertilizer application in demonstration trials increased paddy yields by 68 to 80% over the farmer practice of no fertilizer application. For the participating farmers, there were significant increases in rice paddy yields, reductions in the cost of operations and improvements in the contribution of rice to household incomes. The results suggest that a holistic and multi-stakeholder partnership is an efficient way to improve the access by small-holder resource-poor farmers to agro-inputs and technology and also an effective way to grow the rural agro-input market. Key words: Subsidy, voucher, emergency, seed fair, improved-technology, fertilizer.

Economies of Scope and Patterns of Global Outsourcing

AbstractThis paper develops a model with two Salop circles representing the product space of the intermediate input suppliers and the final‐good producers. First, it is shown that economies of scope in production are the necessary condition for outsourcing. Second, the propensity to outsource exhibits a U‐shape relationship depending on an intricate combination of the degree of economies of scope and product differentiation of the intermediate input suppliers. Third, an improvement of production technology can have ambiguous effects on the propensity to outsource.

Is Globalization Driving Efficiency? A Threshold Stochastic Frontier Panel Data Modeling Approach

AbstractIn an earlier paper the authors proposed a two‐step approach to examine dynamic transmission mechanism under which globalization factors foster technology efficiency. In this paper the MSS model is extended by combining a panel threshold regression technique. This threshold stochastic frontier panel data model enables the analysis of regime‐specific stochastic frontiers and complex time‐varying patterns of technical efficiencies in a robust manner. Using a dataset of 44 countries over 1970–2007, income elasticities of labor and capital and time‐varying common efficiencies are found to be substantially different under superior and inferior frontiers. Capital and labor inputs are more productive under superior frontier. More importantly, common efficiencies have steadily increased under superior frontier, but technical efficiency has monotonically decreased for low income countries, supporting the so‐called club convergence hypothesis. Furthermore, the VAR‐based impulse response analyses suggest that openness factors through FDI and trade help the countries to improve production technology and efficiency position relative to the frontier only after the country has reached a certain level of development.

Impact of Frontline Demonstrations on Jute (Corchorus olitorius)

In order to increase production and productivity of jute (Corchorus olitorius) by adopting improved production technologies, several frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on jute with package technologies were conducted by Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrackpore during 1996 to 2005 i n eight different villages of North 24-Parganas and Hooghly districts of West Bengal. A study on impact of the demonstrations on the farmers' behaviour was conducted. Results of the study revealed that demonstrated technologies increased the fibre yield of jute by 4.45 q ha-1 over the farmer's practice (25.10 q ha -1), the post-demonstration yield was 29.55 q ha -1 as the farmers adopted many components of the technology package that were used in demonstrations. Economic surplus from increased production of jute fibre by about 4.45 q ha -1 provided additional Rs. 5570 ha-1 to the farmers. The results further indicated that additional income that accrued due to increased harvest of jute by adopting improved practices was utilized by the farmers by increasing expenditure by about 50%, on food, health care of the family members, education of children, and purcha se of farm implements or essential items and attending social and entertainment programmes. Impact of the demonstrated technologies to increase fibre yield of jute by contact farmers up to 3 q ha -1 in nearby villages within radius of three to seven km distance from the adopted villages was also found. A definite impact of the FLDs was thus observed.

Is Globalization Driving Efficiency? A Threshold Stochastic Frontier Panel Data Modelling Approach

Recently, Mastromarco, Serlenga and Shin (2010) propose a two-step approach to examine dynamic transmission mechanism under which globalization factors foster technology efficiency. In this paper, we extend the MSS model by combining panel threshold regression technique advanced by Hansen (1999). This threshold stochastic frontier panel data model enables us to analyze regime-specific stochastic frontiers and complex time-varying patterns of technical efficiencies in a robust manner. Using a dataset of 44 countries over 1970-2007, we find that income elasticities of labour and capital and time-varying common efficiencies are substantially different under superior and inferior frontiers. Capital and labour inputs are more productive under superior frontier. More importantly, common efficiencies have steadily increased under superior frontier, but technical efficiency has monotonically decreased for low income countries, supporting the so-called club convergence hypothesis. Furthermore, the VAR-based impulse response analyses suggest that openness factors through FDI and trade help the countries improve production technology and efficiency position relative to the frontier only after the country has reached a certain level of development.

Enhancing farmers access to technology for increased rice productivity in Ghana

A two-year emergency rice (Oryza sativa L.) initiative was launched in 2009 in response to the global rice crises in 2008. The objective of this initiative in Ghana was to increase rice productivity in order to improve food security. Project activities included planning sessions, demonstrations, training courses and community seed production. The project made remarkable progress in enhancing access to quality seed and fertilizer for over 12,600 farmers while expanding knowledge of best-bet production technologies. Farmers produced 28,663 Mt of paddy which was 16,841 Mt above what they normally produced without project intervention. Average yield increased by 92% and also 4,093 women farmers constituting about 32.4% of the total number of participating farmers benefited directly from the project. Seed fairs, rural radios and audio-visual broadcasts on improved rice production technologies were used to reach non-participating farmers. The combination of methods that stimulated adoption of improved rice production technology was effective in achieving both increased paddy yields and household income. We conclude that investment in rice technology transfer and production efforts during the two-year period was well justified. Key words: Technology-transfer, emergency, seed fair, improved-technology.

Innovations in agronomy for food legumes. A review

Although there is increasing awareness of the importance of food legumes in human, animal and soil health, adoption of improved production technologies for food legume crops is not proceeding at the same pace as for cereal crops. Over the previous decade, the only food legumes to have shown significant production increases have been chickpea, lentil and faba bean in North America, chickpea in Australia, and faba bean in Europe. In smallholder farming in developing countries, production trends have mostly been static or have declined over the past decade despite the existence of technology that should permit higher and more stable yields. Ability to reverse negative trends is jeopardized by climate change as food legumes are mostly grown rainfed and are being exposed to increasingly variable and extreme weather. This review examines recent innovations in cultivation technology for the major food legumes—chickpea, lentil, dry pea, faba bean, lupin, common bean, mung bean, black gram, cowpea, and pigeonpea—and explores constraints to their adoption, particularly by resource-poor smallholder farmers. Conservation agriculture, involving minimum soil disturbance, maximum soil cover, and diverse rotations, has contributed to sustainable cropping system production in large-scale commercial farming systems in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Turkey. Temperate food legumes have been incorporated into such systems. Adoption of conservation agriculture is only just beginning for smallholder farming in Asia and Africa, catalyzed by the development of low-cost implements suitable for minimum tillage. Water use efficiency improves with conservation agriculture as it allows for earlier planting, reduced soil evaporation, better weed management, and increased access to nutrients. Ecosystem-based approaches to plant nutrition are evolving which place more reliance on accessing organic and mineral reservoirs than in replenishing the immediately available pool with chemical fertilizers, leading to enhanced nutrient use efficiency of cropping systems. Ecosystem-based approaches are also being applied to management of weeds, diseases, and insect pests of food legumes, again with decreased reliance on synthetic chemicals. In achieving sustainable agricultural production systems, there is increasing realization of the need to move towards the tenets of organic agriculture, as exemplified in conservation agriculture and ecosystem-based approaches to plant nutrition and pest management. This does not necessarily imply a desire to qualify for organic product certification but more a realization of the need for sustainable agriculture. The movement towards conservation and organic agriculture encourages greater inclusion of food legumes, and legumes generally, in cropping systems. Unfortunately, however, technology transfer to resource-poor farming situations, where most food legumes are produced, remains a major bottleneck to meeting global demand. More participatory approaches to technology development, testing, and dissemination are required than hitherto practiced. It is suggested that this process could be enhanced by better focusing on major constraints within the value addition chain for food legumes.

Discussion on Burden Calculation of Ferromanganese Alloy Production

The burden calculation of ferromanganese alloy was calculated based on the slag composition and designed product. The calculation results showed the total error rate of this method was 1.53% and the error rate of ore, coke and silicon was 4.66%, 1.71%, and 5.66% respectively, which was much better than using the traditional elements recovery method with the total error rate was 8.00% and the silicon error rate reached to 18.55%. This new method is more accurate than the traditional method and much closer to the actual production data. And it can apply to different ferroalloy factories because it is based on phase diagram and the mass conservation law. At the same time, the calculation result can reflect the gap between enterprise production craft level and ideal production level. This method has certain reference value to improve production technology, product quality and economic profit of enterprise.

Update of environmental indicators and energy payback time of CdTe PV systems in Europe

AbstractThin film technologies undergo rapid developments for increasing the module efficiencies and improving production technologies or recycling processes which affect the environmental profile of PV power generation and Energy Payback Time (EPBT). Therefore, especially for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of product systems with short development cycles, the environmental profiles need to be frequently updated to ensure the representativeness and validity of the environmental assessment. The update of LCA results in this paper demonstrates that considerable improvements were reached in the environmental profile of CdTe PV power and EPBT over the last four years. Depending on the location of installation in Europe, the corresponding Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of PV power for ground mounted power plants are between 19 and 30 g CO2‐equiv./kWh and between 0.7 and 1.1 years in terms of EBPT. Furthermore, for the first time, the environmental impacts due to an already applied recycling procedure of CdTe modules and it's relative contribution to the CdTe PV life cycle has been investigated. This paper presents the main approach, results and outcomes of the study. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Biogenic amine levels in dry fermented sausages produced and sold in Greece

The levels of biogenic amines (BA) in 40 samples of fermented sausages manufactured and sold in Greece were determined by HPLC. Putrescine and tyramine concentrations (mg/kg) ranged from 0 to 492 (median: 176.6) and from 4 to 381 (median: 175.2), respectively. Histamine, cadaverine, tryptamine, β-phenyl-ethylamine, spermidine and spermine contents were usually lower. However, 37% of the examined samples exceeded the toxicity limit of 100mg/kg legally set for histamine in fish. Results suggest that an improvement of production technology and raw materials hygienic quality used for manufacturing various types of Greek fermented sausages is necessary, in order to ensure the quality and safety of these products with respect to their BA content.

Analysis of production technologies and methods of light concrete modification on inorganic astringents and fillers

In the article the detailed analysis of advanced production technologies and modification methods of light concretes on inorganic astringents and fillers is presented. The basic ways of optimization and improvement of production technologies of the light concretes are determined.

Introduction of wheel production on a new pressing and rolling line

A new pressing and rolling line with high levels of mechanization and automatic control has been introduced for wheel production at OAO Nizhnetagil’skii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat, because the new product range required improved production technology. This line incorporates new designs and permits the production of high-quality cast-iron wheels at high speed.

Private Sector Metrics Contributions to Social Change: Customer Satisfaction Meets Agriculture Development

The ambitious current wave of agriculture development projects – public, private and – expressly profess to break with 60 years of underperformance in support for smallholder agriculture in Africa and South Asia. These projects share with their discredited predecessors a supply side approach that seeks to introduce something exogenous to improve agriculture outcomes. The introduced factors vary, including improved seeds to fertilisers to pest control and resource management to other agronomic techniques to supply chain efficiencies, improved production technologies, to better market access. The list goes on, driven by the technological ingenuity and commitment of highly educated agriculture specialists from the Global North. This article argues that these bold supply side efforts run the risk of badly underperforming or even failing unless they build in real accountability to the intended beneficiaries – smallholder farmers – through systematic feedback loops. The argument draws from the business management canon of customer satisfaction.