Evaluation on the application of life cycle matrix (LCM) in forecasting housing needs and housing demand in developed and developing countries

The accuracy of forecasting of housing needs and demand is crucial to the preparation of development plan because residential land constitutes a greater share of the developed area of cities. Presently, many common methods are based on aggregate method, headship rates, household size, backlog and other accounting methods. Many of these methods have their strengths and weaknesses contributed by the assumptions and ‘intelligent guesses’ used in the calculations. This paper aims to explore alternative method of forecasting housing needs and demand by using Life Cycle Matrix. As a household undergoes change of stages in family life cycle, one’s housing needs and demand are experiencing gradual change. Therefore, it is essential to consider the life cycle change of a household in the analysis and forecasting of housing needs and demands. Life Cycle Matrix was initiated in Japan in 1980s to estimate housing needs based on population cohort and household distribution pattern. Comparative analysis using LCM is also being carried out in developed countries (Japan and United Kingdom) and developing countries (Philippines and Malaysia)

Vibration transmission through rolling element bearings in geared rotor system, part 1

A mathematical model is proposed to examine the vibration transmission through rolling element bearings in geared rotor systems. Current bearing models, based on either ideal boundary conditions for the shaft or purely translational stiffness element description, cannot explain how the vibratory motion may be transmitted from the rotating shaft to the casing. This study clarifies this issue qualitatively and quantitatively by developing a comprehensive bearing stiffness matrix of dimension 6 model for the precision rolling element bearings from basic principles. The proposed bearing formulation is extended to analyze the overall geared rotor system dynamics including casing and mounts. The bearing stiffness matrix is included in discrete system models using lumped parameter and/or dynamic finite element techniques. Eigensolution and forced harmonic response due to rotating mass unbalance or kinematic transmission error excitation for a number of examples are computed

A review of gear housing dynamics and acoustics literature

A review of the available literature on gear housing vibration and noise reduction is presented. Analytical and experimental methodologies used for bearing dynamics, housing vibration and noise, mounts and suspensions, and the overall geared and housing system are discussed. Typical design guidelines as outlined by various investigators are given

Bankruptcy Policy Reform and Total Factor Productivity Dynamics in Korea

Using the firm level panel data, obtained from the period between during , this study shows that the failing firms, accepted in the court-administered rehabilitation procedures after the post-crisis bankruptcy reform in Korea, had experienced less persistent problems in the pre-bankruptcy Total-Factor-Productivity (TFP) performances than those before the reform. The most crucial element of the post-crisis reform in the post-crisis court-administered bankruptcy system is the implementation of an economic efficiency criterion, whereas the pre-reform system benefited failing firms deemed as having high social value and prospects for rehabilitation. The new system removes the possibilities for interested parties to oppose the exit of the firms without economic values. Then, to get an idea of how the bankruptcy policy reform would affect the performance of aggregate TFP, we assess the role of the creative destruction process of entry and exit in total factor productivity growth utilizing plant level panel data in the Korean manufacturing sector during the 1990-98 period. For this purpose, we document the plant entry and exit rates, examine the dynamic relationship between plant turnovers and plant productivity, and quantify the contribution from entry and exit to productivity growth. We conclude that, for sustained total factor productivity growth, it is important to establish policy or institutional environment where efficient businesses succeed and inefficient businesses fail.

Quality management practices of food manufacturers: a comparative study between small, medium and large companies in Malaysia

The objective of this study is to identify the extent of quality management (QM) practices implemented by the food manufacturing companies in Malaysia. Second, is to identify the level of QM practices implemented by the small, medium, and large food manufacturing companies in Malaysia. In addition, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between quality management practices with the operational performance and market performance of the food manufacturing companies in Malaysia. This study utilized quantitative approach by constructing a survey questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 22.0. Food manufacturing companies were discovered implementing all the quality management practices components measured. In terms of the types of QM practices, GMP, HACCP, ISO 9001 and TQM were implemented. The implementation level in terms of the components and types of QM practices was found highest in large companies, followed by medium companies and small companies. Statistical different was observed in the implementation level between small companies with medium and large companies. However, no significant difference discovered between medium companies and large companies. It was found that quality management practices were significantly related with the operational performance and market performance of the food manufacturing companies in Malaysia. This study carries an important message in terms of the managerial economics in which a specific company performance can be improved individually by implementing the identified QM practices. This is particularly important to the small sized and medium sized enterprises for effective resources control. This study served as the framework for food manufacturing industries to understand their current position in implementing the QM practices. At the same time, promote continuous improvement in the current practices via benchmarking process