Cluster development: a case of Singapore’s petrochemical industry

This paper rejuvenates the existing discussion on the importance of cluster approach to industry development strategies. There is growing evidence that the shape of economic policy and practice is changing significantly around the world. Governments continually search for new tools and policy formulas to improve economic performance and create economic prosperity for all citizens. In this context a more proactive and strategic role for government in support of the cluster-based economic development model has emerged. This paper uses Singapore’s petrochemical industry as an example to study the cluster approach to industry development. In doing so, there is much optimism to the importance of state and its institutions to play a significant role on industry development

Environment Responsiveness of Petrochemical Organisation in India

Many companies have announced ambitious sustainability plans to reduce their carbon foot print and save environment. Product manufacturers are redrawing their marketing plans with emphasis on the eco-friendly theme. Companies are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to reduce carbon footprint in their new processes and raw material which can help these companies achieve their sustainability goals in the face of this competitive world, organisations need to adopt different strategies. Green effort and environmental responsiveness towards society go a long way for business sustenance. Growing awareness about the environment has made the consumers conscious about importance of eco-friendly products and they are ready to pay the premium. As a result , product manufacturers are incorporating changes in the products and processes to suit the customer demand. Today the customer awareness on health consciousness and eco-friendly products have gone up. Manufacturing companies are looking at improving the process and products as well as reduce the environmental loads. Several literatures were published regarding different key drivers and motives for these green efforts made by companies. However, detailed studies were not found in petroleum and petrochemical Industries and approaches adopted by Indian Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and Private sector organisation. In this paper detailed study is being conducted for major PSUs and private sectors in India. The key initiatives are elaborated and compared to evaluate organisations’ ecological responsiveness and societal impacts are discussed. Global detergent players like HUL and P&G and two major petroleum and petrochemical industries of neighbouring country, China and SHELL Global have been referred in the context as these companies are supposed to be the leaders in Sustainability initiatives. Data have been collected through the content analysis of companies’ web-sites and documents. Keywords :  Environmental Management System(EMS),Recycling, Renewable energy, GHG emission, Carbon capture and storage, Green packaging, Sustainable development, Eco-produc

Technology Strategies in the Knowldge Economy. The Licensing Activity of Himont

The exchange of technologies and technological knowledge - through joint-ventures, partnerships, licensing, cross-licensing, R&D contracts - and the upsurge of markets for technology are main features of the "knowledge-based" economy. Competitive strengths are shifting from technological aspects to different levels of competitive behaviour, and companies are gradually changing their aptitude towards technology trading and exchange. The aim of this paper is to discuss the extent of technology licensing in chemicals, and specifically of one large firm - Himont - widely involved in licensing its process technologies. By analysing this case study, this paper explores the motivations for technology licensing, the managerial solutions that Himont adopted for licensing its technologies, and the implications of this strategy in terms of antitrust policy. One of the main result emerging from the analysis is the role of external technology suppliers. By increasing the potential competition in the product market, they create incentives for incumbent firms to license-out their technologies, and earn profits in the market for technology.Corporate Strategies, Technology Licensing, Chemical Industry, Division of Innovative Labour, Markets for Technology, Antitrust Policy.

Future Agribusiness Challenges: Strategic Uncertainty, Innovation and Structural Change

The IFAMR is published by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association.(IFAMA) www.ifama.orgStrategic uncertainty, innovation, structural change, Agribusiness, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, ISSN #: 1559-2448,

A Comparative Study of Procurement Management in China\u27s Petrochemical Companies

This project studies and compares the procurement and supplier management methods of two petrochemical companies in China, BASF-YPC and YPC. To help understand the practices of these companies, literature was searched to identify relevant best practices in the areas of purchasing strategies, supplier selection, and supplier performance evaluation. The practices of the companies were compared with each other, and with the identified best practices, from which some areas for improvement were identified, and possible suggestions were offered to the companies

Risk Assessment for Natural-Hazard Impact on Hazardous Chemical Installations: Workshop Outcome Report

The impact of natural hazards on hazardous installations can cause major chemical accidents. This so-called “Natech” risk is increasing due to industrialisation and climate change. Capacity building in EU Member States, Candidate Countries and EU Neighbourhood Countries on Natech risk required for Natech risk reduction. This report summarises the findings of a training workshop on risk assessment for natural-hazard impact on hazardous chemical installations which the JRC organised in the frame of the JRC's Enlargement & Integration Action Programme in March 2016. It gives an overview of the presented materials and summarises the Natech risk management situation in new EU Member States, Candidate Countries and Neighbourhood countries.JRC.E.2-Technology Innovation in Securit

Framework for operability assessment of production facilities: an application to a primary unit of a crude oil refinery

This work focuses on the development of a methodology for the optimization, control and operability of both existing and new production facilities through an integrated environment of different technologies like process simulation, optimization and control systems. Such an integrated environment not only creates opportunities for op¬erational decision making but also serves as training tool for the novice engineers. It enables them to apply engineering expertise to solve challenges unique to the process industries in a safe and virtual environment and also assist them to get familiarize with the existing control systems and to understand the fundamentals of the plant operation. The model-based methodology proposed in this work, starts with the implementation of first principle models for the process units on consideration. The process model is the core of the methodology. The state of art simulation technologies have been used to model the plant for both steady state and dynamic state conditions. The models are validated against the plant operating data to evaluate the reliability of the models. Then it is followed by rigorously posing a multi-optimization problem. In addition to the basic economic variables such as raw materials and operating costs, the so-called “triple-bottom-line” variables related with sustainable and environmental costs are incorporated into the objective function. The methodologies of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Damage Assessment (EDA) are applied within the optimization problem. Subsequently the controllability of the plant for the optimum state of conditions is evaluated using the dynamic state simulations. Advanced supervisory control strategies like the Model Predictive Control (MPC) are also implemented above the basic regulatory control. Finally, the methodology is extended further to develop training simulator by integrating the simulation case study to the existing Distributed Control System (DCS). To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, an industrial case study of the primary unit of the crude oil refinery and a laboratory scale packed distillation unit is thoroughly investigated. The presented methodology is a promising approach for the operability study and optimization of production facilities and can be extended further for an intelligent and fully-supportable decision making