Efficient approach to health care industry material resource management: an empirical research

The feasibility of JIT implementation in the health care industry was examined through in-depth case studies and survey research. Specifically, this research examined two different groups in the health care industry: health care institutions that have introduced JIT philosophy into their operations and those that have not. Based on this classification, the research reveals the different impacts that the introduction of JIT philosophy has had on the health care industry's inventory management, service quality, and competitiveness. According to the research result, the introduction of the JIT philosophy in the health care industry's material management system improved that system and reduced implementation problems even though the differences between the JH and the NJH were not high. However, this research found that great potentials exist for the successful implementation of JIT philosophy for material management even though most of the JIT in the health care industry is still in its early stages. Moreover, with the maturing of the stockless material management system, differences between the JH and the NJH groups will be even more significant.     

Goal programming application to assignment problem in marketing

The purpose of this article is to draw a comparison between linear programming and goal programming with respect to the assignment model. The presentation of goal programming attempts to strike a balance between theory and practice by presenting a simplified example to explain the principles and computation process of this technique without confusing the readers with excessive calculations. Goal programming is a modification and extension of linear programming which allows a simultaneous solution of a shstem of complex conflicting objectives rather than a single objective as in the case of linear programming. Thus, goal programming is a way of handling previously unsolvable linear programming problems. In comparing linear programming versus goal programming, two cases of assignment are presented. The first case had one single objective where linear programming is used while the second has multiple objectives where goal programming is used.     

Tecnología,deslocalización y tareas definitorias de las ocupaciones en el Reino Unido

Los autores analizan los cambios de las tareas definitorias (margen intensivo) y de los niveles de empleo (margen extensivo) de las ocupaciones en el Reino Unido de 1997 a 2006 con datos de la Encuesta nacional sobre calificaciones (Skills Survey). Encuentran que las tareas definitorias de las ocupaciones cambiaron significativamente, y que la magnitud del cambio fue similar a la encontrada en el margen extensivo. Según sus resultados econométricos, este cambio de las tareas definitorias puede explicarse por los avances tecnológicos, pero no por la deslocalización.