Arif Iqbal Rana

Owner characteristics and health of SMEs in Pakistan

Purpose – A major frustration for most policy researchers in the small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) area is the virtual non‐existence of scientific data on this sector in the country. This paper aims to provide some data.Design/methodology/approach – A survey of 651 SMEs from the manufacturing sector of Pakistan was conducted in 2003 and statistical analysis was carried out to analyze the data. This paper focuses on the relationship between the health indicators namely, sales/employee, increase/decrease in sales, and investment plans and the different personal characteristics of the owner/entrepreneur.Findings – This analysis suggests that education, generation setting up the business, and number of partners have a significant relationship with the health of SMEs. Health of the firm is also dependent on owner habits like watching television, reading newspapers and using computers for office work. Other factors like caste of the owner and occupation of the owners relatives were also analyzed, but no s...

A hybrid simulated annealing approach for single machine scheduling problems with non-regular penalty functions

Abstract An algorithm is presented for single machine scheduling problems which have V-shaped optimal schedules. The algorithm is a hybrid of a greedy approach, followed by a simulated annealing search of the V-shaped sequence solution space. A number of non-regular objective functions, both with and without a common due date, are considered. In all test problems, the algorithm gives better solutions than the heuristics previously presented in the literature.

SCM practices and the health of the SMEs in Pakistan

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to provide a window into the supply chain practices of the small and medium enterprise sector in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approach – The Small and Medium Enterprise Center (SMEC) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences undertook a survey in 2003 to gauge the health of this sector. A survey of 650 firms in ten districts in the country was conducted. This paper presents the results and analyses of the supply chain practices of these SMEs.Research limitations/implications – There is dearth of independent data and research in the field of SMEs in Pakistan. This paper provides a window to the supply chain practices of SMEs in Pakistan and will enable future researchers to use this research as a building block in understanding these practices and the factors that pertain to successful firms.Practical implications – The implications of this study are far reaching enabling trainers, consultants, donor agencies, and entrepreneurs in the SME sector to learn the...

V- and GG-shaped properties for optimal single machine schedules for a class of non-separable penalty functions

Abstract We consider the problem of scheduling n jobs on a single machine to minimize a non-separable, linear combination of three functions of job completion times: (i) the sum of the squares, (ii) the square of the mean, and (iii) the mean. Many regular and non-regular penalty functions, e.g., the mean completion time, variance of the completion times, a linear combination of the variance and the mean, and certain other functions, are particular cases of this general objective function. Our paper unifies many results on the nature of optimal schedules and gives a complete characterization of optimal schedules. We establish SPT, LPT, V-shaped and GG-shaped characterizations of the optimal sequence for this objective function depending on the coefficients of the components of the linear combination.

Dynamics of Outsourcing in Industrial Clusters: a Study of the Gujrat Fan Industry in Pakistan

Firms in industrial clusters outsource extensively. Factors influencing outsourcing de cisions are reviewed in the context of industrial clusters, characterized by high levels of specialization, low transaction costs, and technology diffusion. A framework for mak ing outsourcing decisions is developed and illustrated using a case study of outsourcing practices in the Gujrat fan cluster. Core competencies, together with outsourcing prac tices, were found to vary according to the size of the manufacturing firm. Given the extremely low cost of conducting transactions and the presence of highly specialized and efficient vendors, the decision that core activities should be retained and devel oped in-house is the key to survival in clusters.Firms in industrial clusters outsource extensively. Factors influencing outsourcing de cisions are reviewed in the context of industrial clusters, characterized by high levels of specialization, low transaction costs, and technology diffusion. A framework for mak ing outsourcing decisions is developed and illustrated using a case study of outsourcing practices in the Gujrat fan cluster. Core competencies, together with outsourcing prac tices, were found to vary according to the size of the manufacturing firm. Given the extremely low cost of conducting transactions and the presence of highly specialized and efficient vendors, the decision that core activities should be retained and devel oped in-house is the key to survival in clusters.

Sales Force Incentives at Service Sales Corporation

The case is about restructuring of the sales force compensation system at Service Sales Corporation (SSC), a large shoe retailer in Pakistan. The organization went through many changes in its supply chain management starting in 2001, when a new COO, Omer Saeed, took over. There was a major increase in sales and the number of shops, and a decrease in the number of salesmen per shop with the net effect that some salesmen were drawing a compensation of ₹25,000–30,000 per month (standard salesmen salary in smaller shops was ₹8,000 per month). When the new COO Amer Mohsin joined in 2009, he was faced with the challenge of designing a salesmen compensation system that was in line with the growth of the organization. The case provides an opportunity to understand how different compensation systems are required as company dynamics change.

Packages Ltd. Capacity Addition in Carton Line: Riviera vs. Austin

The case is about choice of new technology. One option (Riviera) is more expensive, but has better after sales service, better reputation, better process capability, and lower capacity utilization. The choice of technology requires looking into the changes in the market, existing capabilities, company strategy and projections about the future. This case can be taught in ‘capacity analysis’ module in operations management, or in a course on Management of Technology.

Leisure Textiles: Salary Versus Piece Rate

This case study deals with Leisure Textiles, a knitwear manufacturer in Lahore, Pakistan. It describes the general practices followed in the sewing industry with reference to the compensation systems followed. It also deals with the roles of key characters in the sewing industry. Leisure Textiles had followed the predominant system of ‘piece rate’ for compensating its sewing workforce. However, in 2000 the companys CEO implemented the salary-based system in one of the sewing units on a test case basis. The case discusses the efforts made at implementing a salary-based system in place of the piece rate system and the problems associated with these efforts.

LRBT Hospital, Lahore

It was 11 January 2003. Justice Amir Raza,1 the President of the Hospital Executive Committee, Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Free Eye Care and Cancer Hospital at Township, Lahore, was on his way back from Karachi after attending the annual budget meeting with the administration of LRBT Base Hospital (also the head office). As usual the meeting had gone smoothly for the most part, except during the discussion on capital expenses. The head office administration felt that the Lahore Hospital should be able to make do with lower-cost equipment since the hospital was after all a charity-funded institution.

Ayesha Woollen 48–Count Yarn?

This case is about Nauman who has recently completed his MBA, and joined his fathers woollen yarn manufacturing company. The young MBA believes that it would be profitable for the company to venture into the production of 48–count yarn. However, his father is not convinced of his sons understanding of the shop–floor. Nauman is eager to prove that he is right, but this would require a detailed process analysis of the spinning operations. This is complicated by the fact that the capacities for different operations change with the product.