scholarly journals Application of Taguchi Approach to Forecast the Wages of Persian Silk Carpet Weavers

Author(s):  
Kazem Reza Kashyzadeh ◽  
Ali Habibi Darounkola ◽  
Ali Habibi Darounkola

One of the remarkable phenomena in recent years is the growing trend of globalization. Iran is also seeking to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) to expand non-oil exports and presence in global markets, and is currently a member of the organization's oversight body. Handmade industries such as hand woven carpet are one of the important trades that can be studied for this purpose. Exports of handmade carpets have fluctuated over different time periods. Despite maintaining its international position as the rank of the largest exporter of handmade carpets, the export position of handmade carpets is decreasing as compared to other Iranian exports. Handmade carpet craftsmanship is a complementary activity of agricultural and rural businesses, but due to the considerable number of workers and the small share of carpet value added in the national economy, it does not have a suitable condition. Other influential parameters such as rivals (e.g., China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey), etc. have caused the economic conditions of this industry to be unstable. In this regard, one of the best and most appropriate ways to compete with other countries is to reduce production costs and, consequently, reduce product prices. This factor includes various variables, including weavers' wages. Unfortunately, there is no definite and elaborate program for determining the wages of handmade silk carpet weavers in Iran according to the standard. In fact, in some cities, the weavers' wages determine based on the texture conditions, texture parameters, economic conditions of the country, and other parameters by carpet wage boards that consist of several carpet experts. In this way, there is the possibility of mistakes and the loss of the rights of weavers or producers due to the entry of personal opinion and the failure to classify the effect of different parameters on the final point. The main purpose of this study is to collect various parameters affecting the wages of handmade carpet we

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 241
Author(s):  
Rafael G. Ferreira ◽  
Adriano R. Azzoni ◽  
Maria Helena Andrade Santana ◽  
Demetri Petrides

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide of alternating d-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine residues present in the extracellular matrix of connective, epithelial, and nervous tissues. Due to its singular hydrating, rheological and adhesive properties, HA has found numerous cosmetic and medical applications. However, techno-economic analyses of high value-added bioproducts such as HA are scarce in the literature. Here, we present a techno-economic analysis of a process for producing HA using Streptococcus zooepidemicus, simulated in SuperPro Designer. In the baseline scenario, HA is produced by batch fermentation, reaching 2.5 g/L after 24 h. It is then centrifuged, diafiltered, treated with activated carbon and precipitated with isopropanol. The product is suitable for topical formulations and its production cost was estimated as 1115 $/kg. A similar scenario, based on fed-batch culture and assuming a titer of 5.0 g/L, led to a lower cost of 946 $/kg. Moreover, in two additional scenarios, 10% of the precipitated HA is diverted to the production of a highly pure and high-molecular weight HA, suitable for injectable applications. These scenarios resulted in higher capital and operating costs, but also in higher profits, because HA for injectable use has a higher selling price that more than compensates for its higher production costs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-106
Author(s):  
Indrawaty Sitepu ◽  
Nurmely Violeta Sitorus

Kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang merupakan kegiatan yang dapat meningkatkan nilai tambah, menghasilkan produk yang dapat dikonsumsi, serta menambah pendapatan dan keuntungan produsen.Tujuan penelitian untuk menguraikan apa saja tahapan pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangukung rendang, menganalisis biaya produksi, penerimaan, dan pendapatan, menganalisis nilai tambah pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang, menganalisis apakah usaha pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang layak diusahakan. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Jalan Bromo lorong Amal Medan Denai Kota Medan. Penentuan daerah penelitian dilakukan secara purposive, Metode pengambilan sampel secara sensus yaitu usaha Syifa Hidroponik dengan pengambilan data ulangan selama 2,5 bualan sebanyak 10 kali ulangan. Hasil penelitian: 1) Tahapan  pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang yaitu:  Penyediaan bahan baku kangkung hidroponik, kangkung dihaluskan, pengadonan kangkung, telur ayam, tepung beras dan garam, kangkung dikukus, kangkung didinginkan, dipotong-potong, digoreng, pemasakan bumbu rendang, pencampuran kangkung yang digoreng dengan bumbu rendang dan pemasaran. Total biaya pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang untuk sekali produksi sebesar Rp 545.291,83, penerimaan sebesar Rp 1.500.000,00, per sekali produksi dan pendapatan sebesar Rp 954.708,17 per sekali produksi. Nilai tambah yang dihasilkan dari pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang tergolong tinggi dengan rasio nilai tambah 75,31% > 50%.Usaha pengolahan kangkung hidroponik menjadi kangkung rendang layak untuk diusahakan dengan nilai R/C rasio 2,75 > 1.  Abstract  Hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach is an activity that can increase added value, produce edible products, as well as increase producer income and profits. The purpose of the research is to describe what are the stages of processing hydroponic water spinach into rendang kangukung, analyze production costs, revenue, and income, analyze added value of processing hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach, analyzing whether the business of processing hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach is worth the effort. This research was conducted in Jalan Bromo Amal Medan Denai alley Medan City. Determination of the study area was done purposively, census sampling method that is Syifa Hydroponic business with retrieval data retrieval for 2.5 boasting as many as 10 replications. The results of the study: 1) The stages of processing hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach, namely: Provision of raw materials for hydroponic water spinach, crushed water spinach, stirring water spinach, chicken eggs, rice flour and salt, steamed water spinach, water spinach water spinach, cut into pieces, fried, fried spicy water spinach, cooking water spinach kale, chicken egg, rice flour and salt, steamed water spinach, water spinach kangkung cooled, cut, fried, cooking spices, rendang, mixing fried kale with spicy rendang and marketing. The total cost of processing hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach for one production is Rp. 545,291.83, revenue is Rp. 1,500,000.00, per production and income is Rp. 954,708.17 per production. The added value generated from the processing of hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach is classified as high with a value added ratio of 75.31%> 50%. The business of processing hydroponic water spinach into rendang water spinach is feasible to be cultivated with an R / C ratio of 2.75> 1.  


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 1361-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. A. Toivonen

The fresh-cut apple industry has recently become established in North America. The future looks very bright for this value-added fruit product, however its growth requires improvements in quality and reduction of production costs. The existing industry has grown from concept to reality in response to research activities in anti-browning dips, package technology, sensory analysis, postharvest physiology, postharvest pathology and food microbiology. Several examples of how these critical research inputs have impacted and continue to impact on the industry practice are discussed. The next generation of questions and challenges posed by the industry will require some new inputs. Research in several disciplines will be need accessed to resolve the emerging issues. Traditional breeding effort and/or molecular technologies will be needed to provide non-browning fruit, fruit with better processing characteristics such as small cores to reduce waste and improved flavour and nutrition retention after cutting. With new cultivars, further work will be required to understand the commercial handling of each, including selection of harvest maturity and optimization of storage protocols. Also, pre-harvest factors such as phosphorus nutrition will need to be investigated further in terms of their effects on fruit tissue and membrane stability. Management of fungal pathogens is a key issue that needs to be studied from the field through storage and after cutting and packaging of the sliced fruit. The very nature of fresh-cut fruit has and continues to require a coordinated multi-disciplinary research strategy. Key words: Value-chain, value-added, apples, fresh-cut, integrated research


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-249
Author(s):  
Oscar Manuel de Jesús Vera Cabral ◽  
Eduardo da Silva Lopes ◽  
Carla Krulikowski Rodrigues ◽  
Afonso Figueiredo Filho

Demand for higher value-added wood products stimulates research for new, mainly mechanized, thinning operations in order to increase productivity and reduce production costs. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of distance between strip roads on forwarder productivity and costs of thinning operations in Pinus taeda stands. The study was carried out in 10-year-old Pinus taeda stands located in Parana State, Brazil. Two thinning methods were evaluated: (1) TH5: systematic harvest in every fifth tree row and selective harvest in adjacent rows; and (2) TH7: systematic harvest in every seventh tree row and selective harvest in adjacent rows. Working cycle times, productivity and costs were determined through a time-motion study of the forwarder. The additional variables evaluated were wood assortments (industrial wood and energy wood) and extraction distances (50, 100, 150 and 200 m), and mean values were compared between thinning methods using t tests for independent samples (α=0.05). Loading and unloading elements consumed the most time in the working cycle, with lower participation time in TH7 due to greater availability of logs along the strip roads (higher pile volumes), influencing total cycle time up to the mean distance of 150 m for both assortments. TH7 consequently showed 6% higher productivity, its energy yield was 5.3% lower and its production cost was 3.0% lower.


Membranes ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Roy Nitzsche ◽  
Hendrik Etzold ◽  
Marlen Verges ◽  
Arne Gröngröft ◽  
Matthias Kraume

Hemicellulose and its derivatives have a high potential to replace fossil-based materials in various high-value-added products. Within this study, two purification cascades for the separation and valorization of hemicellulose and its derived monomeric sugars from organosolv beechwood hydrolyzates (BWHs) were experimentally demonstrated and assessed. Purification cascade 1 included hydrothermal treatment for converting remaining hemicellulose oligomers to xylose and the purification of the xylose by nanofiltration. Purification cascade 2 included the removal of lignin by adsorption, followed by ultrafiltration for the separation and concentration of hemicellulose. Based on the findings of the experimental work, both cascades were simulated on an industrial scale using Aspen Plus®. In purification cascade 1, 63% of the oligomeric hemicellulose was hydrothermally converted to xylose and purified by nanofiltration to 7.8 t/h of a xylose solution with a concentration of 200 g/L. In purification cascade 2, 80% of the lignin was removed by adsorption, and 7.6 t/h of a purified hemicellulose solution with a concentration of 200 g/L was obtained using ultrafiltration. The energy efficiency of the cascades was 59% and 26%, respectively. Furthermore, the estimation of specific production costs showed that xylose can be recovered from BWH at the cost of 73.7 EUR/t and hemicellulose at 135.1 EUR/t.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Di (Andrew) Wu

Policy makers in many developing countries use maximum price or markup policies to control pharmaceutical costs, which represent 20%–60% of their overall healthcare expenditure. We study the price effect of price ceiling policies by exploiting a major policy shift in China: the elimination of longstanding ceilings on retail drug prices. We collect weekly price and characteristics data on more than 4,500 drug stock keeping units (SKUs) from a leading pharmacy chain. By comparing the rate of discontinuous price jumps across drugs with and without price ceilings during the years before and after the policy change, we find that while price ceilings are effective in containing the prices of some drugs, they can lead to higher prices for others, particularly if the ceilings are set at the national level irrespective of local economic conditions. About 5% of nationally controlled drugs (or more than 125 drugs) had inflated prices because of price ceilings, with an average price inflation of 10%. We attribute this perverse price effect to focal point pricing and asymmetric information about production costs. Further supporting this view, we find the perverse price effect most prominent in lower-income regions where the centrally set price ceilings are arbitrarily high considering their poorer economic conditions. Moreover, drugs with highly concentrated production and less elastic demand face heightened risks of inflated prices under price ceilings. Finally, based on a sample of drugs with available price ceiling data, we find that drugs with manufacturer-specific ceilings are 100% more likely to be priced at or near their ceilings and 70% more likely to experience price drops once the ceilings are removed compared with other drugs with regular ceilings. Overall, this paper documents the unintended perverse effect of price ceilings in pharmaceutical markets and sheds lights on the ongoing debate of drug price regulation. This paper was accepted by Stefan Scholtes, healthcare management.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 134-145
Author(s):  
Merli Reidolf ◽  
Merle Küttim ◽  
Aleksandr Michelson ◽  
Helena Rozeik ◽  
Marianne Kallaste

Abstract Similar to natural ecosystems, entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurial actors are locally interdependent and affect the performance of each other. Mostly economically larger and more successful regions have been studied by using the framework of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs). The current study aims at further developing the theoretical understanding of EEs and applying the proposed EE model in the context of Estonia. In the study, a conceptual model of an EE is proposed, the uniqueness of which lies in merging three aspects into a single framework: the nine components of an EE, its value-added, and its phase of development. The model was applied for analysing by means of a qualitative methodology four sector-based subEEs in Estonia. The study showed that even in a small country like Estonia the components of the EE were partly similar, but also partly unique for the subEEs. This was not due to the location, but because of sectoral differences. The difference of the development phase seemed to be related to the knowledge base of the sector. The policy relevance of the model is that it allows looking at the elements of an EE as well as its economic value-added and development prospects. The EE approach allows addressing jointly the difficulties and challenges in the development of EEs, including the issues of digitalisation, skilled labour, and production costs, which would allow the subEEs to develop into mature and resilient networks. Not all the components of an EE have to be equally strong, but their interconnectedness determines the strength of an EE. Policy solutions need to be tailored to the needs of specific subEEs based on the knowledge base and inner dynamics of the sectors.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
ZHENG ZHENG LI ◽  
CHI-WEI SU ◽  
MENG QIN ◽  
MUHAMMAD UMAR

This paper explores the interactions between the Bitcoin (BTC) prices in the US and Chinese markets, by employing the bootstrap rolling window causality test. The results reveal that BTC prices behave differently across markets, and also vary with time, which subjects to the theory of price discovery. In other words, the BTC price in one market could precede the other, and vice versa, based on the information advantage. Markets that are more flexible (US) respond sensitively to information, thus, in order to induce the price changes in Chinese markets. The improvements in the economic conditions of the emerging markets have exerted an influential role in global markets. Since the Chinese market possesses a considerable amount of trading volumes, the BTC price in the US can be assumed to chase the BTC price in China. The lead–lag relationship between these two markets also reflects the acknowledgement of the aversion towards the risks involved in accepting BTC as a currency. However, knowing which market reacts the most quickly to new information could prove to be beneficial to regulators who aim to implement a particular BTC price, and, as a result, prevent any arbitrary prices, and eventually stabilize the financial market.


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud A. Kaboudan

This paper presents a macroeconomic model for a small developing oil-exporting economy: Kuwait. The model is a simultaneous system of difference equations. Historic effects of changes in revenues from oil exports on the country's economic conditions are simulated. The model is then used to forecast these conditions through 1990, and to test two fiscal policy alternatives under the assumption that revenues from Kuwait's oil exports will remain constant from 1986 to 1990. The following are key words: developing economies; oil-exporting economies; Middle East economies; Kuwait; Kuwait's economy; policy models; macroeconomic models; econometric models; macroeconometric models; forecasting models; and policy models.


Author(s):  
Arianti Ina R. Hunga

Home-work (HW) in the putting-out system (POS)-based industry is the real proof of global capitalism existence in domestic space. It utilizes house resources and manipulates the domestic area to keep production costs low in order to compete in the global market. POS and HW become paradoxical as they are widely employed and categorized as strategic commodity production, market their products to the global market, and involve certain skills, creativity and technology. Nevertheless, the facts are obscured from public eyes. Efforts to uncover the obscured facts have been done through POS and HW transformation strategies, which are described in this paper. The paper aims at promoting POS and HW into public areas. The data used were gathered through participatory action research on batik industry based on "putting-out" system in cluster batik in Central Java from gender perspectives. The transformation model was used to promote POS and HW and to seek recognition of the facts that were based on system advantages and capacity enhancement of home-workers while enhancing product values through “fair trade” market. The implemented model has four components, namely: 1) development of innovation and technology that focused on product development, production, and marketing on the alternative market; 2) innovation and technological transfer in product development for better value chain and value added; 3) engineering and strengthening of production institutionalization, which is based on POS clusters; 4) engineering and strengthening of marketing institutionalization of alternative market; and 5) development and strengthening of vocal points that are related to and in support of the implementation. This model gave out positive impact on supporting the implementation of POS and POS roles and promoting this reality. As a model, however, this transformation model needed to be developed that it might be disseminated to a larger scale.


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