Small And Medium Scale Research Articles

Development and Testing of Operator Vision Assistance System for Foundry Applications

Slag control in small‐ and medium‐scale (SME) foundries is based on operator's experience, as foundry operators can hardly see a visual difference between liquid metal and liquid slag at metal‐making temperatures with the naked eye. With increasing requirements of high‐quality castings, it is imperative that foundry SMEs employ smart, innovative, affordable technologies to assist the operators in real‐time slag monitoring to stay competitive in the market. In this work, an Operator Vision Assistance System (OVIAS) is developed to enhance the operator's vision in differentiating liquid metal from liquid slag and to provide real‐time visualization and control of slag. A prototype of the OVIAS is set up and tested on imaging a metal bath surface in a 2.5 t induction furnace at Österby Gjuteri AB, Sweden. Tests confirm the potential of the OVIAS in real‐time slag visualization. OVIAS can assist the foundry operators in optimizing the amount of slag coagulant addition during melting stage and in de‐slagging operation. Industrial calibration of OVIAS is performed but must be further confirmed with lab‐scale tests. The OVIAS can serve as a cost‐efficient, flexible alternative to current expensive infrared‐based systems in providing real‐time improved visualization of slag in foundry SMEs as well as larger mills.

The Potential of Constructed Wetlands for Liquid Waste Management in Small and Medium-Scale Tannery: A Literature Review

The leather tanning industry or tannery, mainly in the small and medium scale (SMEs), is not environmentally friendly. Limited capitals drive the SMEs-scale tanneries to dispose of liquid waste directly into water bodies without proper treatment. It might cause serious environmental problems due to the high content of COD, BOD, chromium, and dyes. Treatment of liquid waste using constructed wetlands has been widely used because it is efficient, cheap, and powerful. This review discusses the latest studies in the wastewater treatment of tanneries using phytoremediation techniques and constructed wetlands and their potential applications in the SMEs tanneries.

Factors influencing the impact of knowledge sharing behavior in organizations across Sultanate of Oman

This article is aimed at exploring factors that impact knowledge sharing behavior of employees in a small and medium scale (SME) building materials company located in Sultanate of Oman; and to extrapolate the findings over large organizations. The said SME has a problem of employees hoarding their knowledge and knowledge management is not in practiced. Through literature review, we have identified six factors that are of mutual relevance to SMEs and Large organizations. A survey has been conducted to test the practical implications of the identified factors at the selected organization. Results reveal that the factors such as (i) social media app for knowledge sharing (ii) enjoyment/satisfaction in helping others and (iii) effective utilization of free time; are the dominating factors in both SME and Large organizations. It is found that the factors (iv) rewards and (v) self-efficacy are very much significant in large organizations and are of low significance in SMEs. To strengthen the current study, the survey has to be extended to include respondents from few more SMEs and Large organizations.

EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF SUPPLY DISRUPTION IN PLASTIC SMEs

Supply disruption is the major reason for closure of small and medium scale (SMEs) plastic industries. Plastic recycling process and raw material quality are the major factors affecting the competence of the manufacturer. In this paper, we develop an empirical framework to ascertain relationships between the various influencing factors of supply disruption leading to closure of SMEs. A theoretical model is proposed taking into account all the identified factors leading to supply disruption. To validate this theoretical model, structural equation modelling (SEM) is used by collecting data from 195 plastic SMEs. From the results obtained, it was found that financial status, irregular supply of scrap, unavailability of labour and quality of the raw material are the major issues affecting the supply chain. By taking evasive action, start-ups as well as existing companies can avoid the causes of supply disruption resulting in improved performance measures.

IMPROVING MARKETING FUNCTIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AMONG CONSTRUCTION SMEs

With over 3.5 billion people connected to the internet, small and medium-scale (SME) construction businesses have the opportunity to enhance their customer base. The study assessed ways by which marketing functions of SME construction businesses can be improved through social media presence of the firms. The study used a quota-purposive sampling of construction businesses in Nigeria's mega city, Lagos State. The small and medium scale construction businesses comprised of consulting and contracting firms. Using a questionnaire instrument, the social media arm of the marketing unit of SME construction businesses was measured. Presentation of the data was carried out using pie charts and principal component analysis. The study identified two main critical success factors (CSFs)-Firm/Social Media characteristics and Security/Investment factor enabling the Social Media infrastructure for SME construction businesses. A focus on these entities would ensure the successful integration of social media marketing strategies in the traditional marketing functions of construction SMEs. The survival of SME construction business is hinged on the availability of customers which social media exposure helps attract and interact with potential customers. SME Construction businesses of the 21st century must align with the 'global village' trend of incorporating social media applications in their traditional marketing functions.

Entrepreneurial marketing strategy on tempe sanan chips small and medium entreprises in Malang

The development of national industry in Indonesia still faces a number of obstacles such as inadequate infrastructure condition, as well as an increase on subsidised fuel price increase, basic electricity rate and minimum wage. Small and medium scale (SME) food industry is one sector of creative industries with a high contribution to the Indonesian economic development. This study aims to get an overview related to agribased agri-sector SME and to identify internal and external factors to formulate appropriate strategies. The data used were primary data from 30 craftsmen in tempe Sanan Malang Chips Center. Data analysis was done descriptively quantitative using Entrepreneurial Marketing concept consisting of 7 dimensions. The results showed that the SME had a strength in terms of its already known products, the weakness was that the product has not been able to meet the export market share. An appropriate strategy was to improve marketing and processing technology.

Control excess stock and calculating damaged products as the effort to increase revenue (case study of SME FBS)

Of small and medium scale (SME) is a business engaged in production. The growth product innovation of each year to year made competitiveness every SME very tight, and the sales must be high that avoid goods the product last year will be tough sold in the following year. Forecasting demand is needed so that no its production. In production process, besides products should also be considered about damaged products, resulting in a loss. In this study, researchers conducted a observations on SME FBS producing pants, shirts and shirts. SME FBS not having planning previous production, also in any period of production there always products be damaged. This study attempts to increase their SME FBS by controlling waste products, and those damaged products. According to the research conducted other products in some excess pants 1609 unit, and the shirts 187911 unit, and increase the income through control over the excess product obtained by 1% to the pants, and 52% to the shirts. For damaged product on period last year and future, increase 0.07% if the damaged on shirts can be sold, and 0.29% on pants if the broken sold.

Farm Family Characteristics and Succession Planning of Poultry Farmers in Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria

South-western Nigeria has a long history of small business entrepreneurship activities, apprenticeship and inheritance systems. Yet, there are few studies and records of poultry business inheritance over the last three or four generations of poultry business owners as a sign of succession planning. This study assessed the family characteristics of the poultry farmers and their relationship with the succession planning of the poultry farming business in Oyo and Osun states of Nigeria. Two hundred and forty-four (244) members of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) within these two states constituted the sample. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used for data analysis. Results of the study revealed that (i) poultry farmers in the two states are highly educated with modal educational level of majority (79.1%) being tertiary education (ii) greater than half (54.5%) of them are between the ages of 40 and 60 years and the populations mean age is 43.8 years. Significant positive connections were found between the educational status of the incumbent poultry farm owners and their children, with majority (61.5%) of the oldest child and few (37.4%) of their youngest farm child having tertiary education (such as Bachelors degree and HND certificates). With this educational background, it is anticipated that farm succession/farm transition should be easier among this generation of poultry farmers if explored. In fact 41.0% of these oldest poultry farm children were found to be between the active age of 21-30 years old, hence farmers in this study area should not hesitate or delay to plan for succession with their children and embark on early succession planning. It is thus recommended that Nigerian small and medium scale (SMEs) poultry entrepreneurs should take the challenges of farm succession practices and incorporate intra-family succession planning activities/practices early into their business so as to enhance future sustainability of their farms. Government should encourage poultry farmers to promote farming culture among their educated children with no gender discrimination and also give special annual bonus packages or tax; rebate to farmers who can present good evidence of succession planning on their farms.

Longevity's Factors in Small-Scale Business System: An Italian Case Study During the 20th Century

Firms’ survival and longevity have recently emerged as a new intriguing theme of business history, spreading from the initial studies on family business to all forms of business. In family business the transition to the next generation can represent a strong limit to survival, as it depends on three different longevity factors: the family members’ involvement and commitment, the preparation of an adequate succession planning and the presence of a competitive advantage. Temporal continuity has become an independent topic involving all types of business, with respect to size, ownership and sectorial diversity. The goal of the analysis was to identify the determinants of longevity. The present research moves along this second line of investigation, focusing on small‐scale businesses and taking into consideration a case study. The small and medium‐scale (SME) system examined is that of Sesto San Giovanni, one of the most important Italian Company‐town during the 20th century, considered the ‘industrial district’ of Milan. The study first verifies the evolution of the local SMEs system, highlighting its development during the century. Having defined the context, the attention shifts to the temporal survival of local businesses and its determinants. Finally, the research includes the history of several enterprise experiences to illustrate the analysis’ results.

Challenges Faced by Entrepreneurs and the Performance of Small and Medium Scale (SMEs) in Nigeria: An Intellectual Capital Issue

An entrepreneur is one who contributes significantly more than others to the economy by virtue of innovation and realizing new combinations. Which involve creation of a new product, a new method of production, the opening of a new market, the capture of a new source of supply, or a new organization of industry. Entrepreneurship of SMEs performance in knowledge-based economy. In addition, this study also explores the challenges which are facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The significance of the study will add to the knowledge about current issues relating to SMEs in Nigeria The main thrust of this study is challenging which face Entrepreneur of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) on business performance in Nigeria.

Challenges Faced by Entrepreneurs and the Performance of Small and Medium Scale (SMEs) in Nigeria: An Intellectual Capital Issue

An entrepreneur is one who contributes significantly more than others to the economy by virtue of innovation and realizing new combinations. Which involve creation of a new product, a new method of production, the opening of a new market, the capture of a new source of supply, or a new organization of industry. Entrepreneurship of SMEs performance in knowledge-based economy. In addition, this study also explores the challenges which are facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The significance of the study will add to the knowledge about current issues relating to SMEs in Nigeria The main thrust of this study is challenging which face Entrepreneur of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) on business performance in Nigeria.

Environmentally extended comparison table of large- versus small- and medium-scale fisheries: the case of the Peruvian anchoveta fleet

Literature on small-scale fisheries usually depicts them as preferable over large-scale–industrial fisheries regarding societal benefits (jobs, jobs per investment) and relative fuel efficiency (e.g., Thomson 1980 ). We propose an environmentally extended Thomson table for comparing the Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) fleets of purse seiners, backed up by methodological information and augmented with life cycle assessment (LCA)-based environmental performance information, as a more comprehensive device for comparing fleets competing for the same resource pool. Findings from LCA and a previous study on the anchoveta steel fleet together allowed characterizing the whole Peruvian anchoveta fishery. These results, along with socio-economic indicators, are used to build an environmentally extended Thomson table of the fleet’s main segments: the steel industrial, the wooden industrial, and the wooden small- and medium-scale (SMS) fleets. In contrast with the world figure, the Peruvian SMS fleets show a fuel performance nearly two times worse than the industrial fleets, due to economies of scale of the latter (although the small-scale segment itself (<10 m3) performs similarly to the industrial steel fleet). Furthermore, the absolute number of jobs provided by the industrial fisheries is much larger in Peru than those provided by the SMS fisheries. This is due to the relatively larger development of the industrial fishery, but as in previous studies, the SMS fleets generate more employment per tonne landed than the industrial fleet, as well as more food fish and less discards at sea.

Critical success factors affecting the development of clusters for small and medium scale information technology firms in Sri Lanka

The main purpose of this study is to identify critical success factors affecting the development of clusters for small and medium scale (SME) information technology (ICT) firms in Sri Lanka and recommend appropriate policies to their sustainable development and growth. This study was carried out through a situational analysis and an in–depth questionnaire survey. The survey was carried–out to identify critical factors with high ranked officers in ICT and SME cluster apex bodies, managers and owners in SMEs in ICT cluster. The situational analysis shows that SMEs in ICT cluster are currently facing a high cost of production mainly due to the cost of labour and energy and furthermore, the productivity and value addition are at very low level. In overall this study identified thirty seven factors critical for the development of SME ICT cluster. The policies recommended and the methodology used may be useful to similar cases in other developing countries.

Innovations at Workplace: An Evidence-Based Model for Safety Management

Safety culture is a sub-unit of organisational culture, which affects members’ attitudes and behaviour in relation to organisation’s ongoing health and safety performance. Many companies want to enhance their safety culture or some aspect of safety behaviour trying to find the effective way forward. Safety culture in small and medium-scale (SMEs) enterprises has received very little attention in Estonia. Estimates suggest that these enterprises have serious problems aggravated by limited access to human, economic, technological resources as well as lack of relevant occupational health and safety (OH&S) knowledge. The current paper commences with a discussion on the Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture and different perspectives on a framework espoused by Cooper (1999). The concept of safety culture and knowledge management is also discussed. Authors present supplemented Cooper’s Reciprocal Model of Safety Culture with Knowledge Management System Dimensions. The exploratory study based on workplace visits and interviews with owner-managers of SMEs manufacturing enterprises gives an overview of the most characteristic oH&S representations and practices. An overview of the current Estonian OH&S system is also presented based on occupational health (OH) physicians’ questionnaire surveys conducted in 2002 and 2009. The study suggests that there is need for discussion and improvement of collaboration between employers and OH professionals in order to strengthen knowledge management and infrastructure as well as safety culture at the Estonian enterprises. Competence and expertise in work and health topics is the foundation for the added value of OH professionals to the health of working population. Inovacijos darbo vietoje: konstruktyvus darbo saugos vadybos modelis Santrauka. Darbo saugos kultūra yra organizacinės kultūros subvienetas, darantis įtaką organizacijos narių požiūriui ir elgesiui, atsižvelgiant į organizacijoje vykdomą profesinės sveikatos ir darbo saugos politikos lygį. Daugelis kompanijų nori pagerinti saugos kultūrą ar tam tikrą aspektą ir bando rasti efektyvių būdų tam pasiekti. Saugos kultūrai mažose ir vidutinėse įmonėse Estijoje skiriama labai mažai dėmesio. Šios įmonės susiduria su rimtomis problemomis, kurias pagilina ribotas galimybės prieiti prie žmogiškųjų, ekonominių, technologinių išteklių, taip pat žinių trūkumas profesinės sveikatos ir darbo saugos klausimais. Straipsnyje aptariama saugos kultūros ir žinių valdymo koncepcija. Autoriai papildo Cooper (1999) saugos kultūros modelį, įtraukdami ir žinių valdymo sistemos elementus. Remiantis interviu su smulkių ir vidutinių gamybos įmonių vadovais, buvo atliktas tyrimas, kuris atskleidė situaciją, susidariusią profesinės sveikatos ir darbo saugos srityje. Pateikiama Estijos profesinės sveikatos ir darbo saugos sistemos apžvalga, pagrįsta profesinės sveikatos gydytojų anketine apklausa, atlikta 2002–2009 m. Tyrimas parodė, kad reikalingos diskusijos ir bendradarbiavimas tarp darbdavių ir profesinės sveikatos specialistų siekiant pagerinti žinių valdymą bei saugos kultūrą Estijos įmonėse.  Reikšminiai žodžiai: žinių vadyba, darbo saugos vadyba, darbo saugos kultūra, darbo aplinka. First published online: 29 May 2009

ANALISIS OMSET DAN POSISI BERSAING PADA KLASTER USAHA KECIL MENENGAH (UKM) SEPATU KOTA MOJOKERTO

This articles describes about turnover and competitiveness position of footwear smalland medium scale enterprises (sme’s) at Mojokerto, East Java Province. SME’s clus-ter approach is used to get the full maps of the ptroblem and policies that are needed.Development of small and medium scale enterprises is plays a crucial role for localeconomic development. This article is important because there are thousands of foot-wear small and medium scale enterprises in Mojokerto.Keywords: small and medium scale enterprises, local economic development, clus-ter

Effects Of Trade Liberalization Policy On The Performance Of Small And Medium-Sized Food Processing Industries In The Greater Accra Region Of Ghana

Trade liberalization policy was analyzed to examine the effects on performance of Small and Medium Scale (SMS) food processing enterprises located in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana from 1970 - 2003. Thirty-three SMS food processing companies were purposively sampled, and the results show a U-shaped trend in the number of registered firms, overall growth rate of 4.3 % in the number of food processors, a negative growth rate of 1.8 % between 1970 and 1982 and a positive growth rate of 15.3 % between 1983 and 2003. Processing of fruits and vegetables was the most common venture, with 49 % being limited liability companies producing mainly for the domestic market. The Majority of food processors (i.e. 94 %) were established after the introduction of trade liberalization policy in 1983, and about 67 % sourced raw materials locally and 55 % financed businesses from own savings and profits. The trade liberalization policy had a positive effect on the output growth of SMS food processing companies. Capital was identified as the major constraint affecting growth of food processors, but provision of tax relief, lower import tariff and financial support would enhance competitiveness of the processors. Journal of Business Research Vol. 1 (1&2) 2007: pp. 49-60

Technical Efficiency of Small-and Medium-Scale Enterprises: Evidence from a Survey of Enterprises in Tanzania

The significance of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) is acknowledged worldwide. SMEs form the vanguard of the modern enterprise sector and present the propelling force of economic modernization and growth in developing economies. But it is imperative to examine their efficiency levels in order to formulate appropriate policies for the development of SMEs. In this study, the level of technical efficiency of SMEs in Tanzania has been examined using a Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function. The findings indicate that high levels of technical inefficiency, which reduce their potential output levels significantly, characterize the Tanzanian SMEs. Assisting these firms to improve their technical efficiency through adequate supply of inputs, markets, and credit facilities, and undertaking extensive infrastructural development and training could be important measures.

Human Resource Management and Business Success in Japanese Small-and Medium-Scale Firms

This paper tries to establish a direct link between HRM, environmentalsupport, and business success among Japanese small- and medium-scale firmentrepreneurs. In substance, it focuses on the attitude successful and unsuccessfulentrepreneurs adopt toward their employees and the main tools they resort to inmotivating and training them. Analyses show that successful entrepreneurs arethose who delegate more decision power, assign more responsibility for controland goal achievement, and give more human consideration to their employees.Nevertheless, some variables in the entrepreneurs' background also affect theirattitude. Moreover, successful entrepreneurs gain more support from businessrelations and are less prompted to consult family relatives in regard to theirbusiness activities. The improvement of participative management amongJapanese entrepreneurs and the possibility of applying such attitudes in developing countries are discussed.