Compete competition

As indicated in Stage 4 of the last section, different methods of outsourcing exist. Following the core competence/competitive advantage discussion (see previous section), the outsourcing organization depends to a large extent on the sensitivity of the outsourced activity, as weU as on the capability of the supplier (Mikkola 2003). 

As referred to above, most of the modules involve the intervention of a third party, the so-called notified bodies. These bodies are designated by Member States as being competent to carry out the certification tasks for which they are notified. As a precondition for their notification they must fulfil the minimum criteria which are set out in the relevant directives. These conditions vary from independence, impartiality and professional integrity, to technical competence, possession of or access to necessary facilities and to liability insurance. Once notified, the Commission publishes a list of all notified bodies in the Official Journal, It is worth noting that there is free competition between notified bodies and that manufacturers can make their own choice from all notified bodies notified within the European Union. 

The abrasive industry is highly competitive and many small companies worldwide successfully compete by specializing in a particular segment of the business, eg, disk wheels, mounted points, and mbber wheels. Costs in the fused abrasive industry are primarily in materials and electric power. Thus manufacturers seek out plant sites having the lowest power costs. Costs for coated abrasive manufacturers are capital and labor intensive and they seek out sources of low cost labor. 

Alcohol Production. Studies to assess the costs of alcohol fuels and to compare the costs to those of conventional fuels contain significant uncertainties. In general, the low cost estimates iadicate that methanol produced on a large scale from low cost natural gas could compete with gasoline when oil prices are around 140/L ( 27/bbl). This comparison does not give methanol any credits for environmental or energy diversification benefits. Ethanol does not become competitive until petroleum prices are much higher. 

Produced from Co l. Estimates of the cost of producing methanol from coal have been made by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (12,17) and they are more uncertain than those using natural gas. Experience in coal-to-methanol faciUties of the type and size that would offer the most competitive product is limited. The projected costs of coal-derived methanol are considerably higher than those of methanol produced from natural gas. The cost of the production faciUty accounts for most of the increase (11). Coal-derived methanol is not expected to compete with gasoline unless oil prices exceed 0.31/L ( 50/bbl). Successful development of lower cost entrained gasification technologies could reduce the cost so as to make coal-derived methanol competitive at oil prices as low as 0.25/L ( 40/bbl) (17) (see Coal conversion processes). 

From the standpoint of commercialization of fuel ceU technologies, there are two challenges initial cost and reHable life. The initial selling price of the 200-kW PAFC power plant from IFC was about 3500/kW. A competitive price is projected to be about 1500/kW orless for the utiHty and commercial on-site markets. For transportation appHcations, cost is also a critical issue. The fuel ceU must compete with conventional mass-produced propulsion systems. Furthermore, it is not clear if the manufacturing cost per kilowatt of small fuel ceU systems can be lower than the cost of much larger units. The life of a fuel ceU stack must be five years minimum for utiHty appHcations, and reHable, maintenance-free operation must be achieved over this time period. The projection for the PAFC stack is a five year life, but reHable operation has yet to be demonstrated for this period. 

In fact, most RIAs and many nonisotopic immunoassays use a competitive binding format (see Fig. 2). In this approach, the analyte in the sample to be measured competes with a known amount of added analyte that has been labeled with an indicator that binds to the immobilized antibody. After reaction, the free analyte—analyte-indicator solution is washed away from the soHd phase. The analyte-indicator on the soHd phase or remaining in the wash solution is then used to quantify the amount of analyte present in the sample as measured against a control assay using only an analyte-indicator. This is done by quantifying the analyte-indicator using the method appropriate for the assay, for example, enzyme activity, fluorescence, radioactivity, etc. 

Fig. 2. The basic approach for a competitive immunoassay. The analyte (A) and analyte-indicator ( 0) compete for sites on the antibody which...

Most modem RJAs utilize a competitive assay format (Fig. 2) in which radiolabled antigen, Ag, competes with unlabeled antigen, Ag, in a sample for binding to the antibody. Ah. The free antigens are then separated from the antigen—antibody complexes, and the amount of radioactivity in the... 

The cardiovascular health care marketplace is highly competitive. This works to the advantage of medical device companies. Hospitals are engaged in intense competition for those who might be candidates for cardiovascular therapies. Therefore, hospitals are anxious to offer the best treatment possible, having the newest devices. Medical specialties are also competing for their share of the same patient population. 

Competitive Extraetion of Anions. The successful extraction of the necessary anion into the organic phase is cmcial for PTC. Often three anions compete for the catalyst cation the one that is to react, the one formed in the reaction, and the one brought in originally with the catalyst. Table 1 hsts the widely differing values of tetra-rr-butylammonium salts. The big difference in the halide series is noteworthy and preparatively important. Hydroxide is 10 times mote difficult to extract than chloride (11) and the divalent and trivalent anions and PO " are stiU more hydrophilic. Thus... 

With cobalt historically being approximately twice the cost of nickel, cobalt-base alloys for both high temperature and corrosion service tend to be much more expensive than competitive alloys. In some cases of severe service their performance iacrease is, however, commensurate with the cost iacrease and they are a cost-effective choice. For hardfaciag or wear apphcations, cobalt alloys typically compete with iron-base alloys and are at a significant cost disadvantage. 

In 1988, a comprehensive report on the technology and competitiveness of the U.S. copper industry was issued (54). This report concludes that the revitalized U.S. copper industry could compete in all but the worst foreseeable markets and that the industry s turnaround came entirely from its own efforts, with Httie governmental assistance. The U.S. copper industry is a world leader in smelter and refinery production, applying modem technology and measures to improve productivity. 

The Ultem PEI resins compete with PAI, polyarylethersulfone, nylon, and polyester resins in certain markets. General Electric Co. is the sole U.S. manufacturer of PEI resins. High cost coupled with stiff competition from metals and ceramics have limited growth. 

Reversible inhibition is characterized by an equiUbrium between enzyme and inhibitor. Many reversible inhibitors are substrate analogues, and bear a close relationship to the normal substrate. When the inhibitor and the substrate compete for the same site on the enzyme, the inhibition is called competitive inhibition. In addition to the reaction described in equation 1, the competing reaction described in equation 3 proceeds when a competitive inhibitor I is added to the reaction solution. 

A competitive inhibitor biads to the same enzyme form as the substrate, competing for the same site, such that the inhibitor and substrate prevent one another from binding. This may be represented as follows -Compet twe inhibition... 

Unlike a competitive inhibitor, a noncompetitive inhibitor does not compete with the substrate for the binding site, siace the inhibitor and substrate can biad to the enzyme either iadepeadeatiy or smi A. 2in.eou y.]S1oncompetitive inhibition... 

The lift-truck industry is competitive, with innovations being introduced frequently. Competent sales and service are available at low cost from most manufacturers or their dealers. Application sales engineering (a very worthwhile service) is generally supplied at no cost. 

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