Bordin Rassameethes

Determinants of EDI Adoption and Integration by U.S. and Japanese Automobile Suppliers

This article examines determinants of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) adoption and integration in 76 U.S. and 93 Japanese automobile suppliers. The article constructs several hypotheses based on the transaction-cost and resource-dependence approaches and tests these hypotheses by data from these suppliers. Our study showed: (1) U.S. firms were more EDI-integrated with their customers, while Japanese firms adopted more EDI with their suppliers; (2) the resource-dependence approach seemed more effective in explaining EDI adoption, while the transaction-cost approach seemed more effective in explaining EDI integration; (3) the transaction-cost approach seemed more suited to the U.S. context, while the resource-dependence approach seemed more suited to the Japanese context; (4) EDI adoption had a positive impact on EDI performance in the U.S., suggesting the higher validity of our framework in the U.S.

Developing new product through collaboration in high-tech enterprises

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges in collaborative product development (CPD) in high-tech enterprises. The research approach is a multiple case study realised in Finland and Thailand. There are 23 challenges in CPD. These include negotiation strategies, mutual trust, generating new ideas and rapid pace of new product introduction. In addition to the theoretical study, the practical definition of challenges and the challenges which are critical to CPD are made by the experts in the high-tech enterprises.

Innovation in the public sector: the roles of external influences

The study identifies the common factors that contribute to service innovation and improvement for the public sector. Two public agencies, Bantak Hospital and the Department of Corrections, are selected and examined owing to their successful transformations. The findings from these two cases show that, for public agencies, the external factors greatly influence the paradigm shift in an organisation. For Bantak Hospital, becoming more proactive in the community helps improve necessary services to citizens. For the Department of Corrections, a paradigm shift helps change the perception of its staff and administrators in terms of inmate handling and control. This study is sponsored by the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC). This agency is expected to continue playing a crucial role in transforming public agencies in Thailand.

Knowledge transfer pattern in collaborative product development

This paper offers theoretical elaboration on, and demonstrates some empirical support for the patterns of knowledge transfer between buyers and suppliers in collaborative product development. The findings present that some knowledge transfer methods are very important in some phases of product development but not in others, and the different transfer methods can be used for different phases of product development. We conclude that knowledge transfer through electronic channels has an obvious influence, however communication like face-to-face is also very important. Of particular interest is the finding that one effective way for an organisation manages to transfer knowledge is to select an appropriate transfer method given a type of knowledge to be transferred in the right place at the right time.

Productivity improvement: impacts from Quality of Work Life

The research examines the characteristics of the impacts from Quality of Work Life (QWL) on productivity. This study takes place at one manufacturer, the Bangkok Interfood Company Limited (BIF) in Thailand. Initially, several ratios representing both productivity and QWL are developed. Afterwards, quantitative data is collected over the period of 13 months. Primary techniques used for this study include the Multi-Criteria Performance/Productivity Measurement Technique (MCPMT), and statistical and mathematical models. The MCPMT helps combine information from all ratios into one dimensionless scale – the overall levels of both QWL and productivity. Then, the liner and quadratic models are applied to gain insights on how QWL influences productivity. The results illustrate positive impacts from QWL on productivity. Furthermore, based on the findings from a nonlinear model, the impacts from QWL appear to be diminishing at the beginning before a more accelerated pace later. These imply the need for a companys top management to be patient with QWL. Finally, the limitations and future research are discussed.

The heuristics of effective maintenance policy under the given availability

Maintenance actions are very important for all industries and manufacturers. The minimum maintenance cost with good maintenance actions is a target goal of all manufacturers on the basis that we cannot entirely avoid machine failures. Nevertheless, do more maintenance, will reduce chances of machine breakdowns but will produce more maintenance cost. Contrary, do less maintenance, will produce less maintenance cost but has more changes to face with machine breakdowns. Then, the optimal maintenance policy will be helpful for solving this problem. Thus, this study and its model formulations are mainly interested on the methodology of sharing maintenance downtime between preventive and corrective maintenance under the given availability. This will be helpful for reducing the maintenance cost under the given certain availability. Therefore, the approach has emphasised with repair rate, maintenance downtime and to be concerned with the maintenance actions under the given availability. Furthermore, the heuristics are solved by the Lagrange multiplier approach, and based on the arrangement of maintainability between preventive and corrective maintenances. Additionally, the complex realistic scenarios of the maintenance optimisation will be the solution which will be useful and to be the benefit for reducing the total maintenance cost, unplanned stoppage, and reduce the contingencies from machine failure.

Knowledge management practices: progress on e-government and preparation for quality management

The study assesses an integration of knowledge management (KM) into operations and practices in the Royal Thai Government. This study is sponsored by the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC). It aims to gather and provide feedback on KM practices, based on the opinions from 252 Chief Knowledge Officers (CKOs) in central and provincial administrations. The overall results show that KM has been widely accepted and practiced. It is also generally supported by information and communication technology (ICT). However, serious KM-related issues have emerged. They include: relationships with human resource development; utilisation of external knowledge for sustainability; use of more complex and mobile technologies; integration within a management process linking with performance measurement and analysis; extending KM practices for emergency or crisis management. Given this awareness, future strategies and plans for KM can be formulated, including benchmarking studies with other countries.

ICT risk for government financial management information system

The paper deals with the development of risk management plans for the Information Technology Center of Department of Comptroller General under Ministry of Finance in Thailand. There were a total of 14 risk factors that would potentially impact the operations of the Government Financial Management Information System. The dependency on contractors, and public protests and riots were perceived to be a high risk contributor. Afterwards, the plans to help minimise or transfer risk were developed such as benchmarking, backup site, remote control centre and contractor audits. Furthermore, the discussions with the members from other public agencies and private firms were made. The international comparisons were also conducted. Finally, the implications were discussed.

Sustaining quality management: case study at Sanyo Semiconductor (Thailand)

The study illustrates the application of the System Engineering-Capability Maturity Model (SE-CMM) for sustaining and improving quality-management practices. This study takes place at Sanyo Semiconductor Thailand (SSTH) during June–December 2007 with extensive support and cooperation from its top management. The checklist, adapted from the SE-CMM and uniquely designed for the SSTH, is developed to evaluate the strength of ISO 9001:2000 practices among the companys functional units. The results show that the production function exceeds the SE-CMM level 4. The overall findings are generally consistent with top managements viewpoint. The research benefits include knowledge sharing and transfer in regard to ISO 9001:2000 practices across the SSTH functions. Furthermore, the SE-CMM framework can potentially strengthen its supply-chain management. In conclusion, the SE-CMM helps sustain and strengthen the SSTHs quality management.

The determination of high cost and low cost spare parts by using the comparison between EOQ model and lot-for-lot inventory model: A case study of slow moving item

Basically, EOQ inventory model is well known approach using for arrangement of spare parts stocking policy. But EOQ model cannot be used for explanation about the separation between high and low cost material that is not available to be the reference boundary between high and low. Thus, the interesting of the separation between high and low cost spare part will be issued in order to fulfill this niche. Meaningfully, this is the study of finding the representative line which is used for classifying either high or low cost spare part. The aftermath of this result can be in accordingly applied to the inventory model until entirely reduced parts as zero inventories. Furthermore, the case study is emphasized and thought by based on slow moving item. And the extension of EOQ model will be applied in order to meet discrete demand.