Asset-based strategies

The research is clear - asset-based strategies will not solve the chemical industry s financial challenge. Moreover, such strategies will only exacerbate the industry s societal challenges. Clearly new thinking is required. 

Exploit hidden assets. This strategy entails applying available knowledge, assets, and skills in new ways. Over time, the chemical industry has built a broad base of non-physical assets such as brands, patents, customer information and institutional skills. Only a handful of companies, however, are trying to use these to their maximum economic potential. 

The appropriateness of either model (cash-flow-based versus market value-based) will depend on the asset manager s trading style as well as the particulars of the asset class the asset s market liquidity, duration profile, and credit spread volatility. In terms of mechanics, cash flow arbitrage CDOs are no different than balance sheet CDOs, (again, the only difference being their intended pnrpose and asset sourcing strategy). Consequently, one should see the section on Balance Sheet CDOs for further details. Now, we shift the discussion to market value CDOs. 

The CUSPIS system aims to improve the protection of cultural assets (CA), such as sculptures and paintings, through the use of computer-based strategies (e.g. cr q)tography and satellite tracking). Our experimentation focuses on two services cultural asset authentication and cultural asset transportation s. 

Unified Command Structure Disciplines and response organizations work through designated managers to establish common objectives and strategies to reduce conflict or duplication. Span of Control The structure permits each supervisory level to oversee an appropriate number of assets based on size and complexity of the event. 

The project "Non-Invasive Inspection within an Asset Risk Management Strategy" is another joint industry project, funded by EC-THERMIE, representing the current trend towards onstream (non-invasive) inspection in combination with risk-based inspection philosophies to establish component condition. In this project, industry and authorities participate aiming at a beneficial use of today s NDT without sacrificing on safety. 

The aim must be to invest in the development of a component library as a capital asset (see Figure 10.1). Like any investment, this one requires money to be spent for a while before any payback is seen. A conventional software development organization requires a considerable shift of attitudes and strategy to adopt a component-based approach. Like all... 

Another chemical company already had a dear biotech strategy in place and had built the capabilities, assets, and networks required to implement it. Execution was already successfully underway in several business units and new bio-based products and processes had started to generate healthy profits. However, the company was now seeking ways to change the old chemical production processes for... 

Computer systems such as these can account for significant capital costs. Such assets deserve the closest attention and the most careful management. Efficient validation within an enterprise strategy is the key to achieving cost-effective and compliant implementations. How to do this and, indeed, the provision of practical advice and guidance on validating computer systems in general (based on extensive industry experience) are the main aims of this book. 

Next came acquisitions, funded in part by the divestitures, that reinforced the learning base in the paths that the firm had long followed. In films and fibers it purchased Exxon s carbon fiber business in 1984, Exxon s film composites activities in 1985, and Hercules s olefin fiber carpets in 1989. Later, in 1992, it traded its acrylic assets to ICI for the latter s nylon business, plus 41 million. In paints and finishes Du Pont obtained Ford s North American automotive paint division in 1986, followed by a joint venture with ICI to expand the same market in Europe, and one with Kami Paint to do so in Japan and East Asia. In agricultural chemicals it acquired Shell s agricultural chemicals division in 1986, and later in 1992 collaborated with Shell to develop specialized insecticides. For Du Pont, sustaining its technical and functional capabilities in long-established paths in which it was a competitive leader remained a basic strategy. ... 

The results are substantial. Companies reaching stage 2 of supply chain maturity in sales and operations planning are able to drive an average improvement of 2 percent increase in growth and a 3 to 7 percent improvement in asset utilization. Other benefits include reductions in inventory and improvements in new product launch success. S OP allows companies to make the right trade-offs in metrics based on the supply chain strategy. 

ABSTRACT One of the main challenges for electricity distribution companies is to manage the existing assets in the comprehensive and complex distribution system infrastructure. Maintenance and reinvestments are important parts of this. This paper presents a practical approach for estabUshing risk-based maintenance strategies for electricity distribution systems. The approach has been developed and used in a joint project of six electricity distribution companies in Norway. 

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