Small Scale Manufacturing Industries Research Articles

A multi-agent architecture for outsourcing SMEs manufacturing supply chain

In the present, global and competitive market customer's demands are very volatile. It is very difficult for small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to satisfy their customer with quality product in reasonable price. Large firms are spending huge amount of their budget in generating technology development. To cope with this competitive market, usually, SMEs concentrate on their core expertise and outsource some non-core items or activities. The outsourcing decision (when, what, whom) is very crucial for small-scale industries. Realizing this scenario, in this article, an automated self-adaptive multi-agent system has been proposed. The proposed system will help SMEs to take an appropriate decision to mitigate the uncertainty in supply chain. The developed system exploits the Outsourcing of operations feature by its agents to conclude the manufacturing processes faster and reduce the idle time of certain machines with less human intervention. The communication protocol for agents has been described to give an insight of their communication. It was explained how various agents like outsourcing, material planning and supplier selection will come into action at different stages and take appropriate outsourcing decisions. Therefore, this multi-agent architecture will facilitate small scale manufacturing industries to execute their manufacturing processes and complex logistics issues efficiently. The execution of proposed architecture has been described in the simulated case study. In this article an automated self-adaptive multi-agent system has been proposed.The system can help to mitigate the uncertainty in SMEs' supply chains.The system reduces the idle time of certain machines with less human intervention.It facilitates SMEs to execute their manufacturing process and complex logistics issues efficiently.

소규모 제조업 사업장 남성 근로자의 수면의 질 및 관련요인

본 연구는 50인 미만의 제조업 근로자들의 수면의 질을 평가하고, 이들의 인구사회학적 특성, 건강행태 및 직업관련 특성과 수면의 질과의 관련성을 규명하고자 대전광역시 D공단에 소재하고 있는 50인 미만의 소규모 제조업 사업장 남성 근로자 856명을 대상으로 2011년 4월 1일부터 6월 30일까지의 기간 동안에 자기기입식 설문조사를 실시하였다, 조사내용은 조사대상의 인구사회학적 특성, 건강관련행위 특성, 직업관련 특성 및 한국판 PSQI를 사용한 수면의 질 평가 등이었다. 연구 결과, PSQI에 의한 수면의 질 평가에서 전체 조사대상자의 32.0%는 수면의 질이 좋은 것으로, 68.0%는 수면의 질이 좋지 않은 것으로 평가되었다. 위계적 다중회귀분석 모델에 의한 조사대상자의 수면의 질(PSQI) 수준은 기혼군일수록, BMI가 낮을수록, 주관적인 건강상태가 좋지 않을수록, 비흡연군, 음주군, 규칙적인 운동을 하지 않는 군 및 커피를 음용하는 군, 생산직 근로자, 주당 근무시간이 길수록, 질병으로 인한 결근 경험이 있는 군일수록, 외래진료경험이 있는 군일수록 유의하게 낮았다. 위의 모델에서 보면 직업관련 특성이 추가됨으로 해서 13.1%의 설명력을 증가시켜 PSQI에 의한 수면의 질에 직업관련 특성이 높은 관련성이 있음을 시사하고 있다. 【This study was conducted to determine the quality of sleep, and its association with the sociodemographic characteristics, health-related characteristics, and job-related characteristics among male workers in small-scale manufacturing industries with fewer than 50 members. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 856 male workers from April $1^{st}$ to June $30^{th}$ , 2011. The survey items included the variables of sociodemographic, health-related, job-related, and quality of sleep. As a result, the quality of sleep according to the PSQI of the study subjects revealed 32.0% to be good and 68.0% to be poor. The quality of sleep assessed by hierarchical multiple regression analysis was significantly lower in the married group, those with lower BMI, and those with a lower level of subjective health status, non-smoking, alcohol drinking, without regular exercise, coffee drinking, blue color, had a longer of working hours, subjective health status, had a visiting out-patient department, and had a history of hospitalization. With the above model, the job characteristics had 13.1% explanatory power. This suggests that the quality of sleep (PSQI) has more power when combined with the job characteristics.】

Debt Finance in the Small Corporate Sector in India: A Strategical Need

Debt finance in the small corporate sector in India is a strategical need, as the small-scale manufacturing industries play the most crucial role in the development of the economies of the country. Similarly, debt finance is also important for the survival, growth and development of the small-scale industries. The small-scale industries play an even greater role in the development of rural economies of the country. In India, it is the second largest employer, after agriculture, and accounts for nearly 6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Debt fi nance plays a vital role in this sector as the owner's fund is limited and there are fewer takers for their equity. Debt fi nance is required by all the industries, whether they are in promotional, operational or expansion stages. Small corporate firms generally use debt funds extensively, as the owner's fund does not suffice to meet their needs. For growth, modernisation, expansion and diversification purposes, small companies borrow funds from external sources. Debt has played an important role in the Indian corporate sector, more specifically in the small manufacturing industries in the private sector. From both financial and non-financial point of view, debt is advantageous to business concerns. Debt is financially better, because it is cheaper and non-financially it does not disturb controlling power and provide flexibility. Corporations generally raise debt funds in the forms of debentures, public deposits, finance from commercial banks and financial institutions and as trade credit and accruals. Long-term sources of debt funds include debentures, public deposits and institutional finances and short-term sources include short-term loans from commercial banks, accrued expenses, accounts receivables and miscellaneous sources.

중소 제조업을 위한 HTM 기반의 부품 이미지 인식 시스템의 개발

소량으로 다품종을 생산하는 소규모 공장에서 적은 비용으로 쉽게 부품의 양 불량을 판별하는 시스템의 개발이 절실히 요구된다. 이러한 시스템의 개발을 위하여 다양한 환경에서도 물체를 인식할 수 있는 사람의 인식 능력과 같은 기능이 필요하다. 인간의 고등 지능은 대부분 두뇌의 신피질(neocortex)에서 비롯된다. 최근 이 신피질의 동작 원리를 컴퓨터에 접목시키는 연구 중의 하나가 Jeff Hopkins가 제안한 HTM 이론이다. 본 논문은 이 HTM 이론을 적용하여 소량 다품종 부품 생산 현장에서 부품의 이미지를 인식하여 양 불량을 판별하는 시스템인 PRESM(Parts image REcognition System for small scale Manufacturing industry)을 개발하였다. 개발 결과를 현장에 적용해 본 결과 실제 환경에서 부품의 양 불량 판별이 우수한 것으로 확인되었다. It is necessary to develop a system of judging whether or not the parts are defective easily at low cost, especially in a small scale factory which manufactures a large variety of products in small amounts. To develop such system, we require to recognize objects using human's cognitive ability under various circumstances. Human's high intelligence originates mostly from neocortex of human brain. The HTM theory, which is proposed by Jeff Hopkins, is one of the recent researches to model the operation principle of neocortex. In this paper we developed PRESM (Parts image REcognition System for small scale Manufacturing industry) system based on the HTM theory to judge badness of manufactured products. As a result of application to the real field of workplace environments we identified the superiority of our recognition system.

An assessment of the technology innovation initiatives in the Indian small-scale manufacturing industry

The fierce competition arising out of globalisation and liberalisation is forcing organisations across the world to realise that their survival is not feasible in the absence of Research and Development (R&D) and innovation practices. It is high time that manufacturing organisations wake up and gear up for R&D initiatives to develop cutting-edge technologies for sustained competitive advantage. Technology Development (TD) initiatives have become mandatory for the industrial growth, strategic self-reliance and sustained competitiveness of an enterprise and must be placed within the context of market opportunities, customer needs and strategic direction, thereby leading to improving the product and technology portfolio. The literature highlights that there are five key components to appraise the technology innovation initiatives in the manufacturing sector. The present research is aimed at developing an insight into the prevalent TD practices adopted in the contemporary Indian manufacturing industry for realising the sustainable growth and development of the industrial sector. The study highlights the performance of Indian manufacturing organisations in different components of Technology Development Implementation Programmes (TD Programmes) to make a significant organisational transformation from a technology-dependent regime to the proactive adaptation of technology innovation initiatives for affecting organisational performance improvements.

The Design and Manufacturing of Essential oil Distillation Plant for rural poverty Alleviation in Ethiopia.

The paper presents economic value of the design and manufacturing of essential oil production plant as a strategy for rural poverty alleviation in rural Ethiopia. The level of technology for small scale essential oil industry is characterized for rural community in Ethiopia. The adaptation of oil distillation technology for essential oil production is proposed for small scale industrial entrepreneur. Steam distillation method is selected considering the constraints to meet the socio-economic level of the rural community. The distillation plant has been modelled based on local resources and the first prototype has been manufactured and tested. The study showed that the small scale manufacturing industry in the country do not have the capacity to manufacture the complete distillation plant system with the required precision for standard quality of oil at affordable cost. Thus, the design and the experiment in the use of a prototype small size distillation unit showed that the technology is appropriate for essential oil distillation with low cost and minimal decrease in oil quality. Keywords: Small scale essential oil industry, technology characterization, rural poverty alleviation, low cost manufacturing distillation unit. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management Vol. 1 (1) 2008: pp. 84-91

Potensi dan Prospek Industri Kecil

The manufacturing sector has retained its importance in the Indonesian Economy. Since 1990 it has surpassed the agricultural sector as the main contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Article analyses strenght and weaknesses of the small-scale manufacturing industries (SSIs). By ussing the economic contribution approach and the framework proposed by Pyke, based on 2003 data provided by BPS statistics Indonesiathe study investigates the SSIs performance in relation to their economic contribution, the collective efficiency, constant innovation and economic ofscope strategy. It is conluded that Pyke’s framework was not apply since SSIs facing lack of social infrastructures and knowledge, and mostly less educated compared with the larger one. The empirical evidence also shows that in terms of value added and labor absorption, its share less than 1 % and 16 % respectively of the whole of industrialsectors.

The Economic Rate of Return in Small and Household Manufacturing Industries

Small-scale and Household Manufacturing Industry can contribute to economic development by providing employment; creating jobs with low capital costs: building up a reservoir of skilled and semi-skilled labour; reducing income disparities as small-scale manufacturing is widespread and not concentrated in any specific area or region; developing indigenous technology and raising saving and investment within the country rather than being dependent on external sources. Small-scale manufacturing is also a potential breeding ground for the development of entrepreneurial talent which is of great importance in accelerating the developmental process. In Pakistan, the importance of the small-scale manufacturing industry has not been given its due recognition. The various five-year plans mention small-scale industry but focus their main attention in other areas. For example, to quote from the First Five-Year Plan (1955 - 60):