Framework of lean manufacturing implementation for wood and furniture industry in Malaysia

Although research on the adoption of lean manufacturing (LM) in the furniture industry in emerging economies is slowly progressing, its urgent implementation has been emphasized by researchers and practitioners. Research on this aspect is therefore limited, particularly when compared to the vast amount of scholarly studies on the successful implementation of lean in developed countries. To support the narrow body of knowledge for this under-researched scope, this study presents the current shortfalls of implementing LM in terms of motives, barriers, challenges, and applications. More significantly, this research develops a framework to facilitate LM implementation in the Malaysian wood and furniture industry. In doing so, a methodological approach was implemented in four tiers. Firstly, a comprehensive review of contemporary literature was performed to assess the issues. Due to lack of information regarding lean tools adopted by the wood and furniture industry, the selection of LM practices was made based on research on the wood industry and validated by two responsible lean consultants appointed by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) for the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP-5S) and Lean Management Program (LMP). Secondly, a pilot study on 148 wood and furniture SME companies in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor was carried out to improve the survey instrument. Thirdly, an actual survey to test the questionnaire was also conducted after the initial reliability and validity of the measurement scales had been determined. Focusing on investigations into 599 wood and furniture companies in Malaysia, the status of LM implementation (i.e. awareness, level and duration of lean implementation) was examined and the two context factors (i.e. company size and ownership) that influence the implementation of lean practices were investigated. Then, the barriers for implementing lean and the challenges while implementing lean on knowledge (KNW), resources (RES) and culture and human attitudinal issues (CUL) were verified using the partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings found that there is a notable lack of research and publications on LM in the wood and furniture industry. Based on the current situation, the status of lean implementation is not promising and can be considered as earlier implementation (started phase) based on three main reasons. Firstly, the 5S is the only lean tool implemented massively by companies; secondly, over half of the lean companies had only practiced lean for less than 2 years; and thirdly, more than half of the companies with some implementation agreed with the lean expertise constraint hinders companies from implementing lean practices extensively. The findings found that there is no relationship between LM practices with plant size and company ownership. Both lean and non-lean companies have different viewpoints on the issue of culture reluctance and financial constraints. Furthermore, the findings indicate that CUL, KNW and RES are positively and significantly related to the barriers and challenges in implementing lean. Thus, the aims are to strengthen the KNW, CUL and RES factors by providing educational support in the form of training sessions, site visits, workshops, and counselling. Finally, valid empirical evidence for the under-studied context of the Malaysian wood and furniture industry was provided and a novel ‘LM implementation framework’ to guide SMEs to successfully adopt LM practices was presented

Factors determining Islamic financial literacy among undergraduates / Mohamad Azmi Abdullah, Siti Nur Aqilah Ab Wahab, Salehudin Sabar, Falah Abu

This article is written to provide a deliberation reviews on the current context of Islamic financial literacy among students. A research was conducted through case studies carried out among the students of University Malaysia Sabah Campus W.P. Labuan and Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG), Kampus Batu Lintang, Sarawak, a teacher training institute. The respondents are candidates to become teachers upon completing their studies. Being knowledgeable and having skill in financial literacy, especially with respect to Islamic financial products, would be a great asset to them. Based on current scenario, financial literacy in Islamic financial products should be enhanced, especially to the academicians. The findings from this research is expected to be able to determine the factors influencing Islamic financial literacy among the students. This study employs a quantitative method using questionnaires distribution for analysis puposes. Data are collected through a survey using a closed ended questionnaire. Overall, the objective of this study is to determine the determinant factors towards Islamic financial literacy among students. The implications and recommendations are provided

Explication of Mosque Construction Funds from Roadside Charity Donations in the Perspective of Islamic Law Sociology

This study aimed to determine the characteristics of religiosity, sociology, psychology in the controversy over mosque construction funds from roadside donations made by the people of Pakuniran District. Madura Indonesia The research method uses qualitative and ethnographic approaches, structural-functional theory, and Islamic law (IL). Ethnography is a concept of actualizing cultural aspects. Meanwhile, Talcott Parson's structural-functional theory from a socio-anthropological perspective aims to interpret society, religion and government in a linked structure. The perspective of Islamic law (IL) is a series of shari'ah of Allah Subhanahu Wa-ta'ala which is the fundamental reference for Muslims and mujtahidin in giving fatwas. So that ethnography, structural-functional, and Islamic law (IL) form a triangular methodology, which becomes a data collection and analysis technique. Results The researcher describes the perspective of roadside donation activities by formulating three fundamental data: (a) Ethnographic perspective related to roadside donation activities. (b) Structural-functional community according to the context of Talcott Parson. (c) The conformity of Islamic law (IL) to roadside charities. This study identifies the phenomenon of the Pakuniran community according to context, thereby triangulating the contradictory results between community activities and the perspective of Islamic Law (IL).Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui karakteristik religiusitas, sosiologis, psikologis  dalam polemik dana pembangunan masjid dari amal sumbangan pinggir jalan yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat Kecamatan Pakuniran Madura Indonesia. Metode penelitian menggunakan kualitatif  dan pendekatan etnografi, teori struktural-fungsional, dan hukum-islam. Etnografi merupakan konsep aktualisasi aspek kebudayaan. Sedangkan teori struktural-fungsional Talcott Parson pada perspektif sosiologi-antropologi bertujuan menginterpretasikan masyarakat, agama dan pemerintah dalam struktur yang bertautan. perspektif hukum islam merupakan serangkaian syari’at Allah Subhanahu Wa-ta'ala yang menjadi acuan fundamental umat Islam dan mujtahidin dalam berfatwa. Sehingga antara etnografi, struktural-fungsional, dan hukum islam membentuk tringualisasi metodologi, yang menjadi teknik pengumpulan dan analisis data.  Hasil Penelitian mendeskripsikan persepektif kegiatan donasi pinggir jalan dengan memformulasikan tiga fundamental data: (a) Perspektif etnografi terkait aktivitas sumbangan pingir jalan. (b) Struktural-fungsional komunitas sesuai konteks Talcott Parson. (c) Kesesuaian  hukum islam terhadap amal sumbangan pinggir jalan. Studi ini mengidentifikasi fenomena masyarakat Pakuniran sesuai konteks, sehinggga mentringualisasikan hasil yang kontradiktif antara aktivitas masyarakat dengan perspektif hukum islam

Field assessments of above ground biomass (AGB) of mangrove stand in Merbok, Malaysia

Mangroves are considered as unique and important ecosystems that occupy an intertidal zone of protected shorelines. The halophytic plants present in mangroves provide support not only for social economic needs but also for ecological roles which include carbon sinks. Above ground biomass (AGB) of mangroves was estimated in mangrove stands in Merbok, Kedah. Field data collection was conducted from January 2013 to May 2013. A total of 25 sites measuring 100 m x 100 m were surveyed in the study area. Within randomly selected plots, diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and crown width were measured. Mangrove trees were identified at the species level. Published allometric functions were used to compute the AGB of mangroves. Rhizophoraapiculata was found to be the most abundant species followed by Bruguieraparviflora, Bruguieragymnorrhiza and Avicennia marina. An overall mean for AGB in study area was estimated to be 176 Mg/ha. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), it was found that there is a significant different in the means of all mangrove variables measured between four mangrove species (p <0.0001). Positive relationships were found between DBH, height and crown width and AGB with r values of 0.88, 0.43 and 0.81 respectively. The subsequent analysis will involve a study of relationships between mangrove stand attributes with spectral radiance recorded from remote sensing

Nature is the best source of anti-inflammatory drugs: indexing natural products for their anti-inflammatory bioactivity

Objectives The aim was to index natural products for less expensive preventive or curative anti-inflammatory therapeutic drugs. Materials A set of 441 anti-inflammatory drugs representing the active domain and 2892 natural products representing the inactive domain was used to construct a predictive model for bioactivity-indexing purposes. Method The model for indexing the natural products for potential anti-inflammatory activity was constructed using the iterative stochastic elimination algorithm (ISE). ISE is capable of differentiating between active and inactive antiinflammatory molecules. Results By applying the prediction model to a mix set of (active/inactive) substances, we managed to capture 38% of the anti-inflammatory drugs in the top 1% of the screened set of chemicals, yielding enrichment factor of 38. Ten natural products that scored highly as potential antiinflammatory drug candidates are disclosed. Searching the PubMed revealed that only three molecules (Moupinamide, Capsaicin, and Hypaphorine) out of the ten were tested and reported as anti-inflammatory. The other seven phytochemicals await evaluation for their anti-inflammatory activity in wet lab. Conclusion The proposed anti-inflammatory model can be utilized for the virtual screening of large chemical databases and for indexing natural products for potential antiinflammatory activity.This work was partially supported by the Al- Qasemi Research Foundation (Grant no. 954000) and the Ministry of Science, Space and Technology, Israel. We declare that the funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND CORPORATE PERFORMANCE EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE PUBLIC JORDANIAN SHAREHOLDINGS FIRMS LISTED IN THE AMMAN STOCK MARKET

The study investigates the effect of capital structure on the performance of the public Jordanian firms listed in Amman stock market. The study used multiple regression model represented by ordinary least squares (OLS) as a technique to examine what is the effect of capital structure on the performance by applying on 76 firms (53 industrial firms and 23 service corporation) for the period(2001-2006).The results of the study concluded that capital structure associated negatively and statistically with firm performance on the study sample generally. In addition, the study found out that there was no significant difference to the impact of the financial leverage between high financial leverage firms and low financial leverage firms on their performance. Finally, the study also showed that the effect of financial leverage on the basis of the growth that there is no difference between the financial leverage of high growth firms and low growth firms on the performance, which it was negatively and statistically

Factors Determinant Islamic Financial Literacy among Students

This article iswritten to provide a deliberation reviews on the currentcontext of Islamic financial literacy among students. A research wasconducted through case studies carried out among the students ofUniversity Malaysia Sabah Campus W.P.Labuan and InstitutPendidikanGuru (IPG), KampusBatuLintang, Sarawak, a teacher training institute.The respondents are candidates to become teachers upon completingtheirstudies. Being knowledgeable and having skill in financial literacy,especially with respect to Islamic financial products, would be a greatasset to them. Based on current scenario, financial literacy in Islamicfinancial products should be enhanced, especially to the academicians.The findings from this research is expected to be able to determine thefactors influencing Islamic financial literacy among the students. Thisstudy employs a quantitative method using questionnaires distribution foranalysis puposes. Data are collected through a survey using a closedended questionnaire. Overall, the objective of this study is to determinethe determinant factors towards Islamic financial literacy among students.The implications and recommendations areprovided

VARIATION OF CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE AND CALORIFIC VALUES OF NATIVE MALAYSIAN BAMBOO SPECIES

The chemical properties of four common Malaysian bamboo species locally known as Beting (Gigantochloa levis), Semantan (Gigantochloa scortechinii), Lemang (Schizostachyum brachyladum) and Akar (Bambusa vulgaris) were studied. Chemical analysis shows that the alkaline extractive content for Malaysian bamboo species studied was within 24.4% to 25.6%, ethanol-toluene extractive content for Malaysian bamboo species was within 4.0% to 7.2% and water extractive content was within 10.4% to 12.8%. The average value of holocellulose content for Malaysian bamboo was between 64.5% to 70.67%, Klason lignin within 25.3% to 28.4%, cellulose content was between 28.5% to 33.8% and α-cellulose content for all bamboo species was within the range of 40.7% to 47.9%. The crystallinity of bamboo samples was between 42.0 to 44.4%, indicating their semi-crystalline structure.  Heating value of bamboo ranged between 17.0 MJ/kg to 18.1 MJ/kg with G. scortechinii having the highest heating value.. The Inductive Couple Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-ES) analysis showed that Potassium (K) and Calcium (C) were the major elements in the ash of all bamboo samples. This study demonstrates the potential of native bamboo species as an alternative sustainable raw material to wood for a wide range of applications

“MedChemVR”: A Virtual Reality Game to Enhance Medicinal Chemistry Education

Medicinal chemistry (MC) is an indispensable component of the pharmacy curriculum. The pharmacists’ unique knowledge of a medicine’s chemistry enhances their understanding of the pharmacological activity, manufacturing, storage, use, supply, and handling of drugs. However, chemistry is a challenging subject for both teaching and learning. These challenges are typically caused by the inability of students to construct a mental image of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a drug molecule from its two-dimensional presentations. This study explores a prototype virtual reality (VR) gamification option, as an educational tool developed to aid the learning process and to improve the delivery of the MC subject to students. The developed system is evaluated by a cohort of 41 students. The analysis of the results was encouraging and provided invaluable feedback for the future development of the proposed system

“MedChemVR”: A Virtual Reality Game to Enhance Medicinal Chemistry Education

Medicinal chemistry (MC) is an indispensable component of the pharmacy curriculum. The pharmacists’ unique knowledge of a medicine’s chemistry enhances their understanding of the pharmacological activity, manufacturing, storage, use, supply, and handling of drugs. However, chemistry is a challenging subject for both teaching and learning. These challenges are typically caused by the inability of students to construct a mental image of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a drug molecule from its two-dimensional presentations. This study explores a prototype virtual reality (VR) gamification option, as an educational tool developed to aid the learning process and to improve the delivery of the MC subject to students. The developed system is evaluated by a cohort of 41 students. The analysis of the results was encouraging and provided invaluable feedback for the future development of the proposed system