Projecting consumptions of competing products

In this article a practical methodology is proposed to enable the planner to project the consumption levels of competing products. The author argues that the method is best suited for the determination of long-run consumption trends of such products. It is less effective for the forecasting of short-run consumption of products in dynamic markets. The discussion will be particularly pertinent to companies considering production investment with long lead times to commissioning the plant in question.     

Corporate planning using government information systems

Agencies of the U.S. Government collect large quantities of data some of which are useful for private firms (eg) in developing long-range plans. However a problem arises in that considerable time may elapse before the data is published. As a result it often becomes too old for companies to use if they are operating in dynamic markets.

The information system discussed in this paper (relating to the Fertilizer industry) bypasses this delay. It enables a private firm to have direct access to the files maintained by the National Fertilizer Development Centre of TVA.     

RATIONALIZATION OF MULTINATION,MULTIPLANT OPERATIONS

This study formulates a linear programming model of a multination, multiplant operation composed of three production stages and a distribution stage. The objective of the model is to maximize the weighted sum of net income produced by all operational units located in different countries. Major cost items include production, distribution, transportation, income tax, and import duty. The correct assessment of import duties on a lot of goods is made possible by identifying the entire sequence of countries in which the lot is processed. A solution to the linear program determines an optimum size of the lot and an optimum sequence of countries passed through by this lot.