Critical Factors for Constructing an Effective Supply Chain Network

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a source of value creation for stakeholders. There are many influential factors for constructing a partnership in supply chain network. The factors demonstrate different contributions in each phase of supply chain. The purpose of this study is to establish a theoretical framework for constructing an effective supply chain network. A literature review of supply chain studies was employed to identify the influential factors in the process of supply chain development and establish the critical phases for creating effective supply chain network. The framework can be served as a guideline for both academic research and practical applications of SCM

Effectiveness of E-Learning Design in Thai Public Schools

Purpose –This study examined the effectiveness of e-learning content design by considering two different subjects (mathematics and reading) and areas (metropolitan and rural). This study also investigated several variables, i.e., students’ satisfaction, motivation and experience, that influenced learning abilities. Moreover, we suggested ways of improving the effectiveness of e-learning for different kinds of students, subjects, and areas.Methodology – The participants were recruited from 263 randomly selected students in secondary school grades 9-10 (15year-olds). One hundred and thirty-eight students were from a public metropolitan school in Bangkok province, and 125 were from a public rural school in Suphanburi province. Pilot testing was conducted to confirm the reliability, validity, and internal consistency of the program and the exam questions, followed by field testing methods, which was used to identify the effectiveness of content design. Data analysis involved a quantitative research approach using a paired t-test to find the difference in scores between the pre- and post-tests. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse and find the relationships between improvements in scores and variables. Findings – The results indicated that the selected patterns of content and design were effective in mathematics and reading subjects and in both rural and metropolitan areas. In addition, academic achievement, accumulated grade point average (GPAX), significantly influenced improvements in reading subjects, and the intelligence indicator (IQ) had a significant effect on mathematics subjects in both areas. Furthermore, students’ satisfaction had an effect on learning abilities in most student groups.Significance – This pattern of design content may be significant for both instructors and program designers. This study provided a way of designing effective e-learning content that integrated effective indicators to identify potential students and improve their abilities. The pattern can be integrated with active learning.This blended learning model might be a new solution to solving problems with low-performing students in rural areas

Factors Affecting Tourist Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in the Northern Part of Thailand

In 2015, the ASEAN Economics Community (AEC) will be fully implemented, and, to pave the way for Thailand to be the tourism hub of Southeast Asia, it is important to study factors affecting tourist satisfaction. The emphasis of this study is on a northern province in Thailand, Chiang Mai, where there are many natural and cultural attractions. The significant factors are identified using statistical techniques. The data is obtained from a satisfaction survey as it was developed and distributed randomly to foreign tourists who visit Chiang Mai. The quantitative data is then analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression analysis to identify significant factors. The result indicates that the most significant factor affecting the overall satisfaction is the cost of staying, and other significant factors are hospitality, attractions and accessibility, and infrastructure. In addition, policy recommendations are presented in the paper

Determination of black spots by using accident equivalent number and upper control limit on rural roads of Thailand

The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) is one of the highway authorities in Thailand responsible for over 48 000 kilometres of rural roads and highway networks. One of its responsibilities is to provide better road safety management. In road safety procedures, black spots are usually identified by observing the frequency of accidents at a particular road section. This research aims to develop a model that includes levels of accident severity in the black spot identification process. The classification of severity levels includes fatalities, serious injuries, minor injuries, and damaged property only. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is employed to derive the weight of each severity level. The identification model is developed using Equivalent Accident Number (EAN) and Upper Control Limit (UCL). The data applied in the model are obtained from the road accident investigation of DRR. Five roads — Nakhon Ratchasima 3052, Chonburi 1032, Nonthaburi 3021, Samutprakarn 2001 and Chiangmai 3029 — have been selected based on the top frequency accident recorded in the last three years. Based on the results of black spots identified in the study, most accidents occurred from frontal and rear-ended impacts due to exceeded speed limits. The article discusses recommendations

The Assessment of Biofuel Utilization Policy on the Total Output and CO2 Emissions in Thailand

The transport sector is the largest energy-consuming sector in Thailand. Its primary energy supply is heavily depended on imported oil. Since 2005, world crude oil price has been rising and had reached a record of 147 $/barrel. Therefore the policy on promotion of biofuel utilization was initiated in 2005 by the Ministry of Energy; however, the economy-wide impacts have been rarely assessed. This paper presents the energy Input-Output Analysis (IO) of the economy-wide impacts on the promotion policy, in particular, the change in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. In order to measure the total GHG emission from different economic sectors, the contribution of emissions has to be considered. In this paper, the focus is placed on CO2 emissions. To calculate the amount of CO2 emissions, the emission amount of various final consumptions in the economy evaluated by the IO must be applied. The direct CO2 emissions in final energy consumptions in Thailand are evaluated by using conversion factors from Guidelines to Defra's GHG conversion factors, Annexes updated in June 2007. The CO2 emissions in various economic sectors will be calculated and compared with the figures in 2015 when the policy is fully implemented

Road Infrastructure and Road User’s Satisfactions: A Case Study of Motorway Route 7, Thailand

The development of tourism in Thailand relies on the development of appropriate infrastructure. Road access is the key infrastructure issue for tourist destinations throughout Thailand. Each year Thailand has welcomed over 15 million travelers, accounted approximately 7% of GDP. To support tourist activities, variety types of transportation modes have designed. However, road transportation is one of the most effective modes that connect most places together. Beside high-standard vehicles, road is another mechanism that derive comfort and safety of travelling. For this reason, Motorway networks were initiated and constructed to support high speed traffic with high safety and standard. Motorway route 7 is one of major motorway networks that lies between major cities and tourist landmarks. To raise the road standard could be the key to support tourist industry and economic growth. The road developments may not be precise and accurate without knowing the needs from road users’. Therefore, a questionnaire is developed and distributed to 890 randomly selected road users along Motorway route 7. Factor analysis and t-test are employed to analyze the factors affecting road users’ satisfaction and to compare the satisfaction level between both inbound and outbound travelers

Road Infrastructure and Road User’s Satisfactions: A Case Study of Motorway Route 7, Thailand

The development of tourism in Thailand relies on the development of appropriate infrastructure. Road access is the key infrastructure issue for tourist destinations throughout Thailand. Each year Thailand has welcomed over 15 million travelers, accounted approximately 7% of GDP. To support tourist activities, variety types of transportation modes have designed. However, road transportation is one of the most effective modes that connect most places together. Beside high-standard vehicles, road is another mechanism that derive comfort and safety of travelling. For this reason, Motorway networks were initiated and constructed to support high speed traffic with high safety and standard. Motorway route 7 is one of major motorway networks that lies between major cities and tourist landmarks. To raise the road standard could be the key to support tourist industry and economic growth. The road developments may not be precise and accurate without knowing the needs from road users’. Therefore, a questionnaire is developed and distributed to 890 randomly selected road users along Motorway route 7. Factor analysis and t-test are employed to analyze the factors affecting road users’ satisfaction and to compare the satisfaction level between both inbound and outbound travelers