BACKWARD INTEGRATION BY COOPERATIVES IN IMPERFECTLY COMPETITIVE AGRICULTURAL RAW PRODUCT MARKETS

This paper models backward integration by processing cooperatives into raw product production. Our analysis demonstrates that a cooperative's incentive to acquire raw product production capacity depends on its ability to restrict member production to optimal levels and the relationship between members and nonmembers in the raw product market.Agribusiness, Marketing,

Why Photon Colliders are necessary in a future collider program

Subjects of discussion Different scenarios Higgs window to a New Physics Anomalies in the interactions of gauge and Higgs bosons Some problems with t-quarks and MSSM. Some problems in QCD and hadron physics. By-product: Production of axions, etc. from region of conversion e --> gamma.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 9 pages with 6 figure

Modularization in the Auto Industry: Interlinked Multiple Hierarchies of Product, Production, and Supplier Systems

This paper analyzes the modularization in the world auto industry. The modularization in the industry has involved architectural changes in product, production, and supplier systems with each region (Japan, Europe and the U.S.A.) emphasizing different purposes and aspects. As an attempt to understand such multi-faceted, complex processes coherently, this paper proposes a conceptual framework that sees development / production activities as interlinked, multiple hierarchies of products, processes, and inter-firm boundaries. With this framework, drawing on case studies and questionnaire survey data, the paper examines the on-going processes of modularization in the industry. It is argued that tensions exist among the three hierarchies, and such tensions may lead to further changes in product, production and supplier-system architectures in the auto industry, in a dynamic and path-dependent manner.Automotive industry, modularization, product architecture, production system, supplier system, hierarchies

Valuable product production from wood mill effluents

Fibreboard production is one of the most important industrial activities in Galicia (Spain). Great amounts of wastewater are generated, with properties depending on the type of wood, treatment process, final product and water reusing, among others. These effluents are characterized by a high chemical oxygen demand (COD), low pH and nutrients limitation. Aerobic and anaerobic processes have been used for their treatment. Presently, bioplastics production (mainly polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHA) from wastewaters with mixed cultures is being studied. Substrate requirements for these processes are a high organic matter content and low nutrient concentration. Therefore, wood mill effluents could be a suitable feedstock. PHA production from wastewaters is carried out in three steps. First, complex organic matter is converted into volatile fatty acids (VFA) through acidogenic fermentation. Then, VFA are used as substrate in an aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR), in which the enrichement of PHA producing bacteria from a mixed culture is favoured. Finally, the sludge from the SBR is fed with a pulse containing high VFA concentrations, resulting in PHA accumulation inside the cells. In this work, the possibility of applying this process to wood mill effluents is proposed. An acidification percentage of 37% and a storage yield (YSTO) of 0.23 Cmmol/Cmmol were obtained

Dynamic platform modeling for concurrent product-production reconfiguration

To meet a wide range of customer needs, a variety of product concepts can be modeled employing a platform approach. Whereas frequent market changes can be accommodated by dynamically modifying product concepts in iterations, capabilities in production are seldom well incorporated as part of design iterations. In this paper, a dynamic platform modeling approach that supports concurrent product-production reconfiguration is presented. The approach builds on Set-Based Concurrent Engineering (SBCE) processes and a function modeling technique is used to represent product-production variety streams inherent in a production operation model. To demonstrate the approach, a comprehensive case from the aerospace industry is presented. Conceptual representations of a set of aero engine sub-systems and a variety of welding configurations, including their inherent constraints, are mutually modeled and assessed. The results show that a set of product-production alternatives can be dynamically controlled by integrating product-production constraints using a production operation model. Following SBCE processes, inferior alternatives can be put aside until new information becomes available and a new set of alternatives can be reconfigured. The dynamics and concurrency of the approach can potentially reduce the risk of late and costly modifications that propagate from design to production

Additive manufacturing towards product production: A bibliometric analysis

Additively manufactured products offer extensive variety to consumers than many forms of production. Additive manufacturing (AM) production system allows consumer involvement, which has created a huge but largely untapped market. However, there is a gap between production and the market. Therefore, AM towards product production which focuses on the Commercialization of Additive Manufactured Products (CAMPs) is imperative. Despite the importance of CAMP, specific focus of research on the commercialization of additively manufactured products are scanty. There is also a lack of knowledge about the conceptual structure, intellectual structure, research trends, and the thematic structure of CAMP research. To contribute to this stream of research, this study takes an exploratory dimension by conducting a bibliometric analysis of publications on the CAMP. The R package and its associated biblioshiny were the software used. The study reveals that studies on CAMP started in 2007 with renewed interest starting from 2012. Importantly, it was found that the most cited articles focused on the economic potential of AM products in the home and specific industries. Also, there is an increasing focus on the business models that are necessary for the commercialisation of AM products. Generally, there is a shift in focus from the firm to the market. However, this is a niche area and requires more attention. Themes such as commercialization are just emerging, and researchers need to devote more time and effort to the consumer side of the commercialization of AM products

Modularization for Product Competitiveness - Analysis of Modularization in the Digital Camera Industry -

Focusing on the digital camera industry with high Japanese competitiveness in IT industry, entrants are analyzed in detail as to how growth was achieved after the period of market introduction and particularly from the view of modularization and platform strategies of leading companies. As a result, the involvement of indicators such as product production, development lead-time, and price with the strategies of modularization and platform was analyzed.Product Development, Modularity, Product Platform, Vertical Integration, Product Strategy