Quality Management and Accounting in Service Industries

The process of globalisation in world markets and the growing number of enterprises competing with one another in terms of the products and services they offer, naturally leads to the improved efficiency of management systems. Efficiency is required in order for these entities to maintain competitiveness. To assess the efficiency of their management systems, enterprises use quality cost calculation. This book fills the research gap concerned with the scientific study of the quality cost calculation, with regard to service companies. It offers the authors' concept of using the cost of quality calculation as a tool for assessing the efficiency of the management systems of service companies. The book consists of six chapters that present both a theoretical and an empirical part. In the theoretical part, the following issues are discussed: quality costs; the evolution of quality cost calculation; quality cost calculation models and their applications to date; and the specific way in which service companies operate. The practical part presents the authors' model of quality cost calculation along with the adopted assumptions and cost structure, as well as the research methodology and verification of the use of the developed model in a selected service company. The research gives credence to the role and importance of this tool in economic practice. The book will be desired reading by both theoreticians and practitioners of quality management and accounting. It is also a valuable resource for master’s and doctoral students wishing to broaden their knowledge of quality costs and their calculation in the fields of economics and management

The strategic alignment of integrated management systems and its impact on efficiencies and effectiveness at National Chemical Products (NCP) Alcohols.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Today’s competitive global business environment require organisations and individuals to be resilient and adapt to change quickly and effortlessly. It is crucial for organisations to have suitable systems to help them navigate through the challenges. Management systems help guide a business through its core organisational objectives while staying financially competitive and in business. This study set out to establish if international management systems could be strategically aligned to improve efficiency and effectiveness of NCP Alcohols processes. A narrative literature review was done to identify the key performance drivers of the various individual management systems. To obtain a holistic view on the performance drivers of the various management systems, it was deemed necessary to conduct a survey on the employees of NCP Alcohols, to understand their perceptions. A quantitative research approach was selected to achieve the objectives of the study. Data collected via the survey questionnaire (n=53) was analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the key performance drivers for quality are customer focus, continual improvement and training and awareness. Key performance drivers for environmental performance were identification of business and stakeholder needs by analyzing the context of the organization and identification of aspects and impacts of NCP Alcohols business activities. Key occupational health and safety performance drivers were identified to be risk management in regard to human capital and participation and consultation with NCP Alcohols workforce. By adopting the “line of sight” model and establishing suitable performance measures for each of the processes linked to the key performance drivers identified, NCP Alcohols can improve efficiency and effectiveness of its business processes. Further recommendations are proposed to enhance NCP Alcohols business processes to achieve business excellence, including the use of Lean Six Sigma methodology, technology, the BSC and adoption of a Value Innovation Model

The CHEMARTS cookbook

How can we make flexible and transparent wood-based materials? What kinds of materials can we derive from trees, while still respecting the preciousness of nature? Could the innovative use of renewable cellulosic materials change our material world? The CHEMARTS Cookbook gives both simple and more advanced ideas and recipes for hands-on experiments with wood-based materials. The book showcases the most interesting explorations focusing on raw materials that are processed either chemically or mechanically from trees or other plants: cellulose fibres, micro- or nano-structured fibrils, cellulose derivatives, lignin, bark and wood extractives. Get inspired, test our recipes either at workshops or chemistry labs, and develop your own experiments

Hydraulic Fracturing: A Report as to the Implications Regarding Natural Gas

Hydraulic fracturing is currently at the forefront of energy debates around the country. It has the potential to help enhance the acquisition of natural gas, but may also pose risks to the environment if not done correctly. In an effort to help understand the issue, we have conducted extensive research on the possible impacts, benefits, and risks in regards to hydraulic fracturing. In accordance with the resulting information presented in this report, an evaluation system was created, and concluded that with proper regulations and procedures the benefits of hydraulic fracturing outweigh the potential environmental impacts

Standardization Framework for Sustainability from Circular Economy 4.0

The circular economy (CE) is widely known as a way to implement and achieve sustainability, mainly due to its contribution towards the separation of biological and technical nutrients under cyclic industrial metabolism. The incorporation of the principles of the CE in the links of the value chain of the various sectors of the economy strives to ensure circularity, safety, and efficiency. The framework proposed is aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development regarding the orientation towards the mitigation and regeneration of the metabolic rift by considering a double perspective. Firstly, it strives to conceptualize the CE as a paradigm of sustainability. Its principles are established, and its techniques and tools are organized into two frameworks oriented towards causes (cradle to cradle) and effects (life cycle assessment), and these are structured under the three pillars of sustainability, for their projection within the proposed framework. Secondly, a framework is established to facilitate the implementation of the CE with the use of standards, which constitute the requirements, tools, and indicators to control each life cycle phase, and of key enabling technologies (KETs) that add circular value 4.0 to the socio-ecological transition

Spartan Daily, May 24, 1950

Volume 38, Issue 140https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/11404/thumbnail.jp