Mobilizing consent: paternalism and cellular manufacturing

In this paper we explore the dynamics of the introduction of New Systems and Structures of Work Organization (NSSWO) in the context of the forces impacting upon organizational change in the unionized sector of manufacturing industry throughout the Thatcher period. This we do by way of a detailed case study of a major UK auto-components manufacturer. We explore a number of changes in work organization, including the introduction of a cellular-based system of manufacturing, from its initial strategic conception through to its implementation; the delegation of responsibility for quality to shop-floor operators and the use of more flexible working practices. In doing so, we reconsider the context of change, the detailed processes of change and the pattern of accommodation between labour and management. Drawing upon our previous work on the nature of paternalism (Ackers,and Black, 1991), we explore its significance in terms of management’s constant drive for more economic work practices and patterns of organization. Specifically we explore the significance of paternalism as a relevant concept in interpreting the case, and hence, also, as a relevant concept in understanding HRM. The case challenges the prevailing ideology that the ‘successful’

economic organization requires (a) a de-regulated labour market and (b)

a trade union free environment, or, failing this, that management needs to

develop an individualistic approach towards the work-force, moving from the

more pluralist‘industrial relations’approach towards an essentially ‘unitarist framework, as found in certain interpretations of ‘uman resource management’(Guest, 1987)

The paper is thus a contribution to the continuing analysis of those ‘tensions and struggles through which the open ended potential of labour power have been managed, through shifting patterns of coercion, accommodation and compliance into profitable forms of production’(Elger and Smith, 1994: 12; Thompson, 1990). By means of this case we attempt to explore this issue with respect to three interconnected

themes:

The place of paternalism as a relevant concept in the age of HRM.

The extent to which organizations may be better advised to look towards ways

to build upon their existing organization culture, rather than seeking solutions

from overseas models.

Linking with previous work on the ‘Joint Process’in the US (Black and Ackers, 1994), the paper raises issues concerning the ‘strategic issue . . . which managers have to face . . . the balance between joint regulation and joint consultation’(Storey and Sissons, 1993: 221), and hence the role of trades unions in organizational change programmes.     

A multi-purpose heuristic for communications satellite synthesis

Three satellite system synthesis problems—the satellite location problem, the signal protection problem, and the arc allotment problem—are described and formulated. In each of these problems, satellite administrations are to be allotted some portion of the geostationary orbit for the purpose of deploying their satellites, subject to angle of elevation and electromagnetic interference constraints. A simple heuristic procedure is suggested as a means for solving these three problems. Sufficient conditions for the successful application of the heuristic and solution-value bounds for each problem are presented. The heuristic is applied to each problem for a six-satellite example. Additionally, computational results are presented for an example with 183 satellites worldwide.     

现代化物料搬运设备应用日益广泛——访日东电子发展(深圳)有限公司总经理助理兼物流系统经理王晨光

日东集团始建于1984年,于2000年10月在香港主板上市.日东电子发展(深圳)有限公司是日东集团的旗舰企业,以"创世界一流智能化装备企业"为目标,主要经营自动化物流系统、自动化生产线系统、汽车零部件装备等.     

加强物资采购管理 降低综合采购成本

当前,现代物流业飞速发展,在新的形势下如何加强物资采购全过程管理,最大限度地降低综合采购成本,已成为煤炭物资流通企业关心的工作重点。文章从采购计划管理、供应商管理、采购方式和采购渠道管理等方面阐述了降低煤炭企业物资采购综合成本的方式方法,并对降低采购成本的具体措施进行了分析。     

A heuristic algorithm for capacity sensitive requirements planning

Available lot sizing rules for use in MRP (Material Requirements Planning) systems ignore capacity limitations at various work centers when sizing future orders. Planned order releases are instead determined by the tradeoff only between the item's set up and inventory holding costs. This limitation can cause unanticipated overloads and underloads at the various work centers, along with higher inventories, poorer customer service, and excessive overtime.This research explores one way to make MRP systems more sensitive to capacity limitations at the time of each regeneration run. A relatively simple heuristic algorithm is designed for this purpose. The procedure is applied to those planned order releases that standard MRP logic identifies as mature for release. The lot sizes for a small percentage of these items are increased or decreased so as to have the greatest impact in smoothing capacity requirements at the various work centers in the system. This algorithm for better integrating material requirements plans and capacity requirements plans is tested with a large scale simulator in a variety of manufacturing environments. This simulator has subsequently undergone extensive tests, including its successful validation with actual data at a large plant of major corporations.Simulation results show that the algorithm's modest extension to MRP logic significantly helps overall performance, particularly with customer service. For a wide range of test environments, past due orders were reduced by more than 30% when the algorithm was used. Inventory levels and capacity problems also improved. Not surprisingly, the algorithm helps the most (compared to not using it at all as an MRP enhancement) in environments in which short-term bottlenecks are most severe. Large lot sizes and tight shop capacities are characteristic of these environments. The algorithm works the best when forecast errors are not excessive and the master schedule is not too “nervous.”This proposed procedure is but one step toward making MRP more capacity sensitive. The widely heralded concept of “closed-loop” MRP means that inventory analysts must change or “fix up” parts of the computer generated material requirements plan. What has been missing is a tool for identifying the unrealistic parts of the plan. Our algorithm helps formalize this identification process and singles out a few planned order releases each week. This information comes to the analyst's attention as part of the usual action notices. These pointers to capacity problems go well beyond capacity requirements planning (CRP) and would be impossible without computer assistance.Our study produced two other findings. First, short-term bottlenecks occur even when the master production schedule is leveled. The culprits are the lot sizing choices for items at lower levels in the bills of material. “Rough-cut” capacity planning, such as resource requirements planning, therefore is not a sufficient tool for leveling capacity requirements. It must be supplemented by a way to smooth bottlenecks otherwise caused by shop orders for intermediate items. Second, the disruptive effect of large lot sizes is apparent, both in terms of higher inventories and worse customer service. Large lot sizes not only inflate inventories, but paradoxically hurt customer service because they create more capacity bottlenecks. The only reason why management should prefer large lot sizes is if set-up times are substantial and cannot be efficiently reduced. This finding is very much in step with the current interest in just-in-time (JIT) systems.     

浅谈降低铁路物资采购成本的措施和方法

从物资的采购原则、强化内部管理、强化供应商管理、强化计划管理、强化储存管理等方面提出了降低铁路物资采购成本的措施和方法。     

A heuristic rule for routing customers to parallel servers

A practically important problem is the assignment of stochastically arriving service requests to one of several parallel service groups so as to minimize the long-run average sojourn time per service request. An exact solution of this multi-dimensional optimization problem is computationally infeasible. A simple heuristic solution method yielding a good suboptimal rule will be given for the case of server groups with different and generally distributed service times. This solution method is based on a decomposition approach and first principles from Markov decision theory. The main idea of the heuristic method is to apply one step of policy improvement to the best Bernoulli-splitting rule.     

A parallel insertion heuristic for vehicle routing with side constraints

In the early eighties, Fisher and Jaikumar developed a generalized assignment heuristic for vehicle routing problems. In this paper, we discuss some of the strong and weak points of this heuristic, and take its basic ideas to develop a new parallel insertion heuristic for the vehicle routing and scheduling problem that is better able to handle various side constraints.     

A heuristic method for aggregate planning: Production decision framework

This paper presents an understandable and straight-forward method for making work force level and inventory planning decisions, i.e., dynamic aggregate planning decisions.The development phase utilizes a ratio, named RPCC, which represents the relative value of the cost of changing the production level to the cost of carrying inventory. This ratio is used to determine the length of an effective planning horizon. Two indicators are calculated to reflect the demand to current production rate over different time periods. Based on the joint values of these indicators, the planning problem is subdivided into one of nine mutually exclusive and exhaustive states. A set of action statements, representing logical responses to each of the sub-problems, is formulated.After completion of the development phase, the performance of the Production Decision Framework model is tested in several real case environments. Suggestions are made for further improvement.     

时变环境下选址问题的一个启发式算法

配送中心选址作为物流管理中的一个重要研究问题受到广泛重视。然而,文献中所涉及的选址模型大都是静态的,即沿一条路径行进时所需的成本(或时间)是与出发时间无关的函数。但在实际生活中,它往往是会随时间的变化而变化的,这类问题被称为时变环境下的选址问题。文中讨论了时变环境下的单配送中心到多个零售点带容量约束的选址问题。由于该问题是NP-完备的,我们给出了一个启发式算法。     

城市化进程中的产业政策选择

当前我国已进入城市化加速阶段,促进城市化水平的提高应成为制定产业政策的重要出发点.从各产业的比较劳动生产率、国际竞争力和就业吸纳能力等方面入手进行分析,筛选出了若干发展潜力大、就业吸纳能力强的行业;并指出这些行业在我国未来的城市化进程中将起到至关重要的作用,应制定相应的政策加以重点扶持.     

Mining cost analysis and cost control based on the sensitivity factor analysis

This paper systematically generalizes relevant theories and methods regarding mining cost control and constitutes the model for the mining cost analysis. It also comes up with the sensitivity factor analysis to conduct mining cost control. The theories and methods have been experimented with Jiangsu Chuanshan Mining Joint-Stock Company Ltd. Case studies have been undertaken on mining cost of the company and the most sensitive factor which affects mining cost has been found accordingly. Finally the paper concludes that the focus concerning the cost control of the company should be directed at output and material costs.     

加工劣质原料油增产丙烯专用催化剂设计

为了扩大催化裂化进料来源,中山天乙石化公司在该公司产量为40万t/a的催化裂化装置上加工M-100类劣质原料油,该类原料油性质较差、金属含量高、裂化难度大,因此,对所使用的催化剂提出了苛刻的要求。中石化石油化工研究院(RIPP)和中石化催化剂长岭分公司设计并生产出该装置所专用的催化剂CMO,经实验评价,CMO具有很好的活性和活性稳定性、优异的抗金属污染性能、优秀的重油转化能力,能有效地增产丙烯。     

Dynamic decision-making for reliability and maintenance analysis of manufacturing systems based on failure effects

A framework for reliability and maintenance analysis of job shop manufacturing systems is proposed in this paper. An efficient preventive maintenance (PM) policy in terms of failure effects analysis (FEA) is proposed. Subsequently, reliability evaluation and component importance measure based on FEA are performed under the PM policy. A job shop manufacturing system is applied to validate the reliability evaluation and dynamic maintenance policy. Obtained results are compared with existed methods and the effectiveness is validated. Some vague understandings for issues such as network modelling, vulnerabilities identification, the evaluation criteria of repairable systems, as well as PM policy during manufacturing system reliability analysis are elaborated. This framework can help for reliability optimisation and rational maintenance resources allocation of job shop manufacturing systems.     

A multi-product cost function for physician private practices

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the production of physician services using a multi-product cost function. Prior studies examine the physician production process in a theoretical setting and do not provide empirical insight. We expand upon the theoretical work in the literature by specifying a four-product generalized Leontief cost function for physician services that recovers measures of marginal cost, scale, scope, and elasticity. Our study is based on physician survey data from the 1998 American Medical Association Physician Socioeconomic Monitoring Survey and motivates a scientific framework for advancing the existing reimbursement fee schedule. Our analysis indicates that physician office visits are generally priced above marginal cost, implying there may be evidence of market power in physician private practices. Furthermore, our analysis lends to the policy debate over whether the use of a Resource-Based Relative Value Scale system is the most appropriate mechanism for facilitating Medicare reimbursements.