Developing an understanding of lean thinking in process industries

The research described in this article has set out to determine the extent to which lean thinking is being adopted as a manufacturing philosophy by process industries. It concerns the application and examination of key lean manufacturing principles, namely, the alignment of production with demand, the elimination of waste, the integration of suppliers (IS) and the creative involvement of the workforce in improvement activities, to a range of process industry types based on Dennis and Meredith's taxonomy of process industry transformation systems [Dennis, D. and Meredith, J., 2000a. An empirical analysis of process industry transformation systems. Management Science, 46 (8), 1085–1099]. Seventy-nine process industry product streams across 62 sites were studied. In addition, a five-site investigative field study was also undertaken. The findings demonstrate that lean practices associated with the elimination of waste are consistently used for improving manufacturing performance throughout the taxonomy of process industries but practices associated with other lean principles are inconsistently applied. In addition, explanations are provided on the appropriateness of lean thinking as a manufacturing philosophy and a strategy for improving manufacturing performance in different process industry types, and on the extent to which lean principles and practices are dependent on the characteristics of process industry transformation systems.     

THE POTENTIAL OF INTEGRATED POPULATION MODELLING†

Recent work has shown how the Kalman filter can be used to provide a simple framework for the integrated analysis of wild animal census and mark‐recapture‐recovery data. The approach has been applied to data on a range of bird species, on Soay sheep and on grey seals. This paper reviews the basic ideas, and then indicates the potential of the method through a series of new applications to data on the northern lapwing, a species of conservation interest that has been in decline in Britain for the past 20 years. The paper analyses a national index, as well as data from individual sites; it looks for a change‐point in productivity, corresponding to the start of the decline in numbers, considers how to select appropriate covariates, and compares productivity between different habitats. The new procedures can be applied singly or in combination.     

A conceptual framework for the study of human ecosystems in urban areas

The need for integrated concepts, capable of satisfying natural and social scientists and supporting integrated research, motivates a conceptual framework for understanding the role of humans in ecosystems. The question is how to add humans to the ecological models used to understand urban ecosystems. The ecosystem concept can serve as the basis, but specific social attributes of humans and their institutions must be added. Learning and feedback between the human and natural components of urban ecosystems are key attributes of the integrated model. Parallels with familiar ecological approaches can help in understanding the ecology of urban ecosystems. These include the role of spatial heterogeneity and organizational hierarchies in both the social and natural components of urban ecosystems. Although urban watersheds are commonly highly altered, the watershed approach can serve as a spatial basis for organizing comparative studies of ecosystems exhibiting differing degrees of urbanization. The watershed concept can also spatially organize the hierarchically scaled linkages by which the integrated human ecosystem model can be applied. The study of urban ecosystems is a relatively new field, and the questions suggested by the integrated framework can be used to frame ecosystem research in and associated with urban and metropolitan areas.     

Globalization and Social Work: International and Local Implications

Globalization can seem a remote process, related only to theeconomic and commercial world. However, it impacts (differentially)on the work opportunities and living conditions of populationsaround the world and has also influenced thinking about welfarepolicies, including through state provision. It thus has implicationsfor the practice and education of social and community workersin both affluent and poverty stricken states. In addition tosocial professionals who seek opportunities to work internationally,globalization is also affecting the practices of those who wouldpreviously have seen their work as essentially rooted in localconditions and community needs. This paper therefore gives someexamples of the ways in which local practice may have cross-borderand international dimensions, drawing on experiences in thechild-care field, particularly in the UK and European context.The author indicates how international social work courses areaiming to equip specialist international social workers, whilealso arguing for the development of educational programmes whichprepare ‘local’ social workers for practice in aninterdependent world.     

Personnel policy and manpower planning in banking

Forces of rapid change and strong competition are now operating in the world. Banking with its rapidly changing technology must keep pace with these forces but it must at the same time provide secure and continuous employment for staff. Personnel policy now encompasses manpower planning which is defined as ‘A strategy to acquire, utilize, retain and develop people by formulating and implementing sound manpower policies agreed with employees and their unions’.