Differences between supplier development programme of foreign and local Malaysian automotive suppliers

Research into supplier development has raised issues on the buyer’s relationship with the supplier.A buyer with collaborative relationship would have more interest in supplier development.From the viewpoint of the suppliers, buyers who provided assistance could help the suppliers in developing their capability, a situation that might be particularly relevant in developing and emerging countries. The automotive manufacturers have implemented supplier development programmes for their suppliers, both in developed and developing countries.This raises a question on supplier development programmes in developing countries: How do supplier development programmes differ between a local (Malaysian) supplier and a foreign (non-Malaysian) supplier for Malaysian automakers (buyers)? In this research, interviews were conducted at three supplier organisations, of which one was Australian and two were Malaysian, where all three were suppliers for a Malaysian automaker.This study found that the Malaysian and Australian suppliers differed in supplier categories, customisation versus standardised products and buyer involvement.The study suggests that buyer differences with regard to supplier relationship, supplier commitment, type of product and size of supplier organisation play a role in supplier development

Evaluate the performance of K-Means and the fuzzy C-Means algorithms to formation balanced clusters in wireless sensor networks

The clustering approach is considered as a vital method for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) by organizing the sensor nodes into specific clusters. Consequently, saving the energy and prolonging network lifetime which is totally dependent on the sensors battery, that is considered as a major challenge in the WSNs. Classification algorithms such as K-means (KM) and Fuzzy C-means (FCM), which are two of the most used algorithms in literature for this purpose in WSNs. However, according to the nature of random nodes deployment manner, on certain occasions, this situation forces these algorithms to produce unbalanced clusters, which adversely affects the lifetime of the network. Based for our knowledge, there is no study has analyzed the performance of these algorithms in terms clusters construction in WSNs. In this study, we investigate in KM and FCM performance and which of them has better ability to construct balanced clusters, in order to enable the researchers to choose the appropriate algorithm for the purpose of improving network lifespan. In this study, we utilize new parameters to evaluate the performance of clusters formation in multi-scenarios. Simulation result shows that our FCM is more superior than KM by producing balanced clusters with the random distribution manner for sensor nodes

Improved fuzzy c-means algorithm based on a novel mechanism for the formation of balanced clusters in WSNs

The clustering approach is considered as a vital method for many fields suchas machine learning, pattern recognition, image processing, information retrieval, data compression, computer graphics, and others.Similarly, it hasgreat significance in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) by organizing thesensor nodes into specific clusters. Consequently, saving energy and prolonging network lifetime, which is totally dependent on the sensor’s battery, that is considered asa major challenge in the WSNs. Fuzzyc-means (FCM) is one of classification algorithm, which is widely used in literature for this purpose in WSNs. However, according to the nature of random nodes deployment manner, on certain occasions, this situation forces this algorithm to produce unbalanced clusters, which adversely affects the lifetime of the network.To overcome this problem, a new clustering method called FCM-CMhas been proposed by improving the FCM algorithm to form balanced clustersfor random nodes deployment. The improvement is conductedby integrating the FCM with a centralized mechanism(CM).The proposed method will be evaluated based on four new parameters. Simulation result shows that our proposed algorithm is more superior to FCM by producing balanced clustersin addition to increasing the balancing of the intra-distances of the clusters, which leads to energy conservation and prolonging network lifespan

Access to technical assistance: A case study of suppliers in the Malaysian automotive industry

Technology transfer has been an important area in supplier development as suppliers are expected to develop their capabilities with their technical partners.The literature has focused on supplier development programmers implemented by automakers for their suppliers.However, less focus has been on the suppliers who received them, particularly the dependent suppliers: suppliers whose major buyers account for 20% or more of their sales. Thus, the aim of this paper is to examine the experiences of the dependent suppliers with their technical partners, which was part of the supplier development program that was implemented by their major buyers.This study was based on interviews with seven supplier organisations in the Malaysian automotive industry.Findings suggest that both positive and less positive experiences were received by the dependent suppliers, and possible explanations were discussed

Social Fluidity and Its Impact on Contemporary Architectural Space

ظهرت في مطلع القرن العشرين العديد من القوى المؤثرة على الفضاء المعماري المعاصرعلى المستويين المادي والفكري، إذ برزت مفاهيم وطروحات حاولت التصدي لمشكلة التطور المتسارع في تلك القوى ومن تلك المفاهيم والطروحات هو مفهوم السيولة الذي يُعد صفة لابد أن يتصف بها الفضاء المعماري المعاصر لإستيعاب أي تغير مفاجئ لأي قوة من القوى المؤثرة عليه سواء كانت إجتماعية، إقتصادية، سياسية، بيئية، مادية، فلسفية، ...الخ ، من هنا ظهرت المشكلة البحثية «في عدم وضوح مفهوم  السيولة في العلوم الإجتماعية وتأثيرها على الفضاء المعماري المعاصر». إذ يهدف البحث الى بيان كيف أثرت السيولة الإجتماعية على المكون الفضائي المعاصر وجعلته يتجه بإتجاه السيولة شكلاً وأداءاً. وإتبع البحث المنهج التحليلي في تتبع مفهوم السيولة في الفيزياء والفكر الاجتماعي وصولا الى بلورة هذا المفهوم في الفكر المعماري المعاصر، ومن ثم تحليل لبعض النماذج المعمارية المعاصرة، وفق المؤشرات التي خرج بها البحث من إطاره النظري. إذ توصل البحث الى إن السيولة في العلوم الاجتماعية ساهمت في جعل الفضاء المعماري المعاصر يسلك سلوكين: الأول سلوكاً شكلياً من خلال االتدفق الشكلي والفضائي وسلوك تفاعلي من خلال العلاقات المتمثلة بعلاقة المستخدم مع المستخدم، علاقة المستخدم مع الفضاء، علاقة الفضاء مع المحيط.At the beginning of the twentieth century, many forces that influenced the architectural space on the material and intellectual levels, where concepts and ideas that tried to address the problem of rapid development in these forces emerged.These concepts and fluidity, which is characteristic of modern architectural space to accommodate any sudden change For any power that affects it, be it social, economic, political, environmental, material, philosophical, etc.hence the research problem emerged «in the lack of clarity of the concept of fluidity in social sciences and its impact on contemporary architectural space».The study aims to explain how social fluidity affected the contemporary space component and its tendency towards fluidity in form and performance.The research followed the analytical approach in tracking the concept of liquidity in physics and social thought to crystallize this concept in contemporary architectural thought, and then analysis of some contemporary architectural models, according to the indicators that emerged from the theoretical framework.The research concluded that the fluidity in social sciences contributed to making modern architectural space behave in two types: First, formal behavior through formal and spatial flow .Second, interactive behavior through relationships like user-with-user, user - with -space, space – with - the environment

Optimum Design for Controlling the Scouring on Bridge Piers

The scouring around bridge pier can be considered the most important reasons of bridge failure. Therefore, we investigated by using physical models of piers and we used single pier with square collar , circular collar and interaction of two piers   in laboratory channel, its width 1 m and applied three velocities (0.1, 0.08, and 0.07) m/sec. This experimental investigation was made to choose the optimum shape and location of collar of single pier and comparing it with the interaction of two piers, the results showed that both square and circular collar decrease the scour depth, but the square collar is more effective of reducing scouring and the best location at bed level for single pier, comparing the results of single pier with the interaction of two piers, the interaction of two piers without any countermeasure reduced scour depth about 58%.

Experimental study on repair of cracked pipe under internal pressure

Repair of cracked pipeline under internal pressure (IP) was investigated in the current work. To such aim, the test the experiment has been done on the cracked pipeline to find failure pressure (FP). A longitudinal crack that cut 65% thickness of pipe has been applied on the external surface. The reinforced polymer C fibre has been utilized for repairing the system. Additionally, a model of finite element has been established to estimate the unrepaired pipes FP. The results show that the FP in unrepaired pipes is identical to the FP predicted by the standards for corroded pipes; however, the FP of repaired system is lower than the predicted results of standard for corroded pipelines

Heat transfer to Liquid Nitrogen Droplets during Cyrogenic Freezing of Foods

This work investigates the heat transfer phenomena that occurs when liquid nitrogen droplets fall onto a food surface. A gelatin slab was used as the food material. Liquid nitrogen was dropped on it from a dropper/reservoir system. The temperature of the slab and the droplet evaporation time were measured over a period of time. The heat transfer coefficients were calculated from these values. These are compared with the theoretical predicted values. It is seen that the experimental values are three to four times higher than the predicted values. However, if the average value of heat transfer coeff£c£ent is taken over the whole size range as the droplet evaporates, a closer agreement is obtained - the experimental values being less than twice higher

The inluence of leader power on interpersonal conflict among employees of government linked companies, Malaysia / Rozilah Abdul Aziz … [et al.]

Organizational conflict is partly depended on the magnitude of power exercised by superiors in the workplace. The need to investigate how manager’s power affects subordinates’ interpersonal conflict is crucial so that managers can change or maintain their power to achieve optimum result in organization. Hence, the purpose of this study is to examine the influence of leader power towards interpersonal conflict at Government Linked Companies (GLCs), Malaysia. A total of 388 questionnaires were distributed to employees of GLCs, Malaysia. A Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis revealed that forty-one percent of the variation in interpersonal conflict can be explained by the power possessed by managers. It also revealed there is a strong positive, linear and significant relationship between leader power and interpersonal conflict. Therefore, management should be concerned with the authority given to managers as power could lead to a devastating interpersonal conflict