Knowledge sharing behaviour in the public sector: The business process management perspectives

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the preliminary analysis on the knowledge sharing behaviour of the public sectors in terms of individual attitudes, organisational environment, reward system and information and communication technology (ICT) within the system. The paper looks into the perspective of business process management which embedded in a knowledge sharing behaviour. This research-inprogress intends to use both quantitative and qualitative methods (triangulation) because we believe that it will be appropriate to answer the research questions better. In the Phase One, consists of the questionnaire that uses to measure perceptions, beliefs, reactions, and attitudes related to knowledge sharing. The unit of analysis using middle to senior management in the public sector as knowledge is said to be captured more systematically at this level. Phase Two will be carried out after analysis of data from the questionnaire survey is completed. The researcher intends to undertake an in-depth exploration of issues arising from Phase One. Hence a semi-structured interview will be carried out with small group of people. Top management officials will be selected from within the same sample for this exercise. The research design in this study hopefully will answer all the research questions significantly. The preliminary findings will provide a basis for proposing a structured framework for further data collection and analysis

The mediating effect of absorptive capacity on the relationship between social capital and technology transfer performance

Social capital and absorptive capacity were highlighted as crucial to ensure the realization of the success of technology transfer.The study presented in this article investigate the effect of social capital and absorptive capacity on technology transfers performance by focusing on the technology advantages as the output of the transfer activities.Hypotheses were developed and tested by using data gathered through a survey on high technology companies operating in Malaysia technology parks.Correlation and regression analysis were executed by using SPSS 19.Based on the results of the study, social capital appears to be a prerequisite for the realization of technology transfer as it is the unique inter connectivity of human capital which will provide some technology players with an advantage over those who are not so well connected.It was found that both social capital and absorptive capacity have significant effect on the performance of technology transfer. The findings also indicated that the elements of absorptive capacity mediate the effects of social capital on technology advantages in terms of relational and cognitive dimension.This study possibly will contribute in enhancing the performance of technology transfer especially in terms of the firm’s human resource capability and management capability

Dry-Ice Blasting of Auto Robotic Assemblies

Welding robots are extensively applied in the automotive assemblies and Spot Welding is the most common welding application practiced in the auto stamping assembly manufacturing. Though adaptive resistance welding control automatically compensates to keep production and quality up to the levels needed as welding gun tips undergo wear so that the welds remain reliable; the system cannot compensate for deterioration caused by the slag and spatter on the part holding fixtures, sensors, and gun tips. To cleanse welding robots of slag and spatter, dry-ice blasting has proven to be an effective antidote. This paper describes Spot welding process, analyses the slag and spatter formation during robotic welding of stamping assemblies, and concludes that the dry ice blasting processs utility in cleansing of welding robots in auto stamping plant operations is preeminent

Impelling Innovation at a Canadian Automotive Plant

In industrialized countries manufacturing firms are facing significant change resulting from mass customization, shortening product life cycles, increasing technological change, and the entry of international competitors into their markets as witnessed by the automotive and electronics industries. ‘Process Innovation’ is one of the key areas where innovation is exigent. It pertains to finding better or more efficient ways of producing existing products, or delivering existing services. Making innovation a ubiquitous capability in manufacturing is fundamentally a leadership challenge. It needs a tangible organizational infrastructure that makes managers accountable at all levels for driving, facilitating, and embedding the innovation process into every part of the culture. This paper construes the process of ‘impelling and managing innovation’ at an automotive metal stamping plant in Canada, during the 2007-2009 financial crises in North America. The paper discusses the processes, psychological and physical environment, organisational culture, economic climate, and program content; rationale, significance and denouement. The paper concludes that idea management systems don't replace traditional departments and processes involved in new services, products, or strategies. They serve as an adjunct to them and provide a framework that can help organizations turn innovation into an enterprise-wide discipline-and a sustainable process that drives growth in good times and bad. Auto industry is going to remain important, for local, regional and national economies, as well as for the future of the planet if ecologically sustainable transport systems are to be developed; it will, no doubt, remain an important topic in academia. Key Words: Process Innovation, Suggestion System, Manufacturing, Metal Stamping, Automotive Plan

Dry-ice blasting an optimal panacea for depurating welding robots of slag and spatter

Though MIG welding robots are extensively applied in the automotive assemblies ‘Spot Welding’ is the most common welding application found in the auto stamping assembly manufacturing.Every manufacturing process is subject to variations – with resistance welding, these include; part fit up, part thickness variations, misaligned electrodes, variations in coating materials or thickness, sealers, weld force variations, shunting, machine tooling degradation; and slag and spatter damage.All welding gun tips undergo wear; an elemental part of the process.Though adaptive resistance welding control automatically compensates to keep production and quality up to the levels needed as gun tips undergo wear so that the welds remain reliable; the system cannot compensate for deterioration caused by the slag and spatter on the part holding fixtures, sensors, and gun tips.To cleanse welding robots of slag and spatter, dry-ice blasting has proven to be an effective remedy. Presently, CO2 / dry ice blasting is being effectively used in a wide array of applications from heavy slag removal to delicate semiconductor and circuit board cleaning.This process can be used on-line without damaging equipment or requiring a machine "teardown".Unlike conventional toxic chemicals, high-pressure water blasting and abrasive grit blasting, CO2 / dry ice blasting uses dry ice particles in a high velocity air flow to remove contaminates from surfaces without the added costs and inconvenience of secondary waste treatment and disposal.This paper describes MIG and Spot welding process and analyses the slag and spatter formation during robotic welding of stamping assemblies; and concludes that the dry ice blasting process’s utility in cleansing of welding robots in auto stamping plant operations is paramount and exigen

Ascendancy of ultrasonic reactor for micro biodiesel production

Biodiesel is a form of biofuel; diesel fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases.Biodiesel is produced through a process called transesterification which involves taking naturally occurring carbon chain molecules, known as triglycerides, found in such feed stocks as seed oils and animal fats, and converting them into methyl esters, which is the chemical term for biodiesel. The conventional transesterification of the triglycerides to fatty methyl esters and glycerin is slow and not complete. During the conversion process not all fatty acid chains are turned into alkyl esters (biodiesel) reducing biodiesel quality and yield, significantly. In considering a new biodiesel facility or an upgrade of existing biodiesel plant, it is imperative that ultrasonic mixing technology be considered; it is efficient and ideal for micro scale biodiesel processing. This paper infers the efficiency of Ultrasonics for the ultrasonication of liquids and gleans that Ultrasonic cavitational mixing is the most advanced means to form fine-size emulsions at micro processing scale.The paper construes the innovative ascendancy of ‘Ultrasonic Reactor’ for micro scale production of biodiesel and demonstrates that there is a direct link between methanol droplet size, biodiesel yield, and conversion speed which makes ultrasonic reactors the most productive technology in the biodiesel industry.The paper concludes that biofuels are sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and biodiesel is a green energy source for agriculture, transport and power generation at micro level use in rural communities

Technology parks of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore: A critical discourse

The emergence of global scale competition is leading towards the development of new mechanisms to help countries to become more competitive and technology parks are the vehicle of choice to achieve that.Technology Parks offer modern infrastructure and integrated info-structure to promote research and technology development and commercialization for wealth creation and sustainable economic growth and Global Competitiveness.This paper discusses the position of technology parks in East Asia; elaborates on their role in today’s nation development, analytically examines three selected technology parks in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore using GCI Index 2015 and concludes that Technology parks have contributed to gross domestic product (GDP) growth, infrastructure development, knowledge community expansion, capacity building, and export production and distribution.However, optimum benefits of Technology Parks accrue when they are established and managed professionally in line with the best practices and all transactions are equitable, just, and transparent; the whole process must culminate trust nationally and internationally

Evaluating effective spare-parts inventory management for equipment reliability in manufacturing industries

The spare part management function is critical from an operational perspective especially in asset intensive industries such as refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, automotive manufacturing, and oil mills.Given the determinants like demand, unpredictability, part substitution, and tight control on spare parts inventory coupled with high service level expectations; the exigency of spare parts management in manufacturing operations cannot be underrated.In most organizations, a constant scrimmage persists over the stocking, ordering, and maintaining of products required by maintenance and operations. The Materials Management and Purchasing functions are often vied against Maintenance, Facilities, Engineering, and Operations with respect to; the number and types of stock keeping units, capital and critical spares, obsolete inventory, inventory investment, and turnover and program operation. This paper evaluates best practices in the Maintenance Repairs & Overhauls, discusses the ABC classification scheme, and elaborates on the role of maintenance storeroom as service provider

Clean production strategies adoption: A survey on food and beverage manufacturing sector

Clean production strategies are the continuous application of an integrated, preventive environmental strategies applied to process, products and services to increase overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment.This paper provides an analysis of factors influencing the adoption of clean production strategies among food and beverage firms in Peninsular Malaysia. The main purpose is to determine the relationships of three non regulatory factors with clean production strategies adoption. Three sets of interrelated factors leading to the widespread adoption of these technologies considered are: technology characteristics, technology performances and communication networks.This paper begins with an introduction and literature review, followed by the hypotheses statements. Pearson Correlation analysis was applied to examine these hypotheses. A sample of 76 Malaysian food and beverage firms was used for investigation, with one respondent for each firm. The results of the analysis indicated that technology characteristics, technology performances and communication networks are significantly influence the adoption of clean production strategies

The moderating effect of technology utilization on project management function and project performance

This study investigated the moderating effects of technology utilization on the relationship between project management function and project performance.The project management function element is operationalized by nine constructs and the technology utilization element examined in this study focuses on three factors. Data was collected using the questionnaire survey approach.This study employed the stratified random sampling procedure in selecting businesses and organizations, that included the construction industry in the sample.Four hundred and forty eight Aceh construction organizations participated in this study. Partial correlation analysis was utilized for hypotheses testing.In general, the result of the partial correlation analysis showed that technology utilization moderated the relationship between seven of the nine functions of project management and overall project performance.Individually, these three variables of technology utilization did not moderate the relationship between communication management and cost performance.The outcome of this study provided vital information on the relationship between project management function, technology utilization and project performance in the Aceh construction organizations.This study also provided an insight into further understanding of the issue of interface between project management function, technology utilization and project performance