Competitive position, improving

A viable electrocatalyst operating with minimal polarization for the direct electrochemical oxidation of methanol at low temperature would strongly enhance the competitive position of fuel ceU systems for transportation appHcations. Fuel ceUs that directiy oxidize CH OH would eliminate the need for an external reformer in fuel ceU systems resulting in a less complex, more lightweight system occupying less volume and having lower cost. Improvement in the performance of PFFCs for transportation appHcations, which operate close to ambient temperatures and utilize steam-reformed CH OH, would be a more CO-tolerant anode electrocatalyst. Such an electrocatalyst would reduce the need to pretreat the steam-reformed CH OH to lower the CO content in the anode fuel gas. Platinum—mthenium alloys show encouraging performance for the direct oxidation of methanol. 

The impact of a knowledge-based application may appear in many ways improved competitive position, quality improvement, improvement in efficiency, cost reduction, and reduction in downtime, to name a few. Some of these benefits may be hard to quantify others may not be quantifiable at all. For example, the actual benefit derived from a diagnostic advisory system may not be apparent if the process behaves normally. To quantify the benefits, a careful post-audit may have to be done, taking into account the number of faults averted, and comparing the frequency of faults before and after implementation. 

At this stage a prototype product is produced, and its performance in the market is assessed. If this is satisfactory, full-scale production is established. But the designer s role does not end at this point. Continuous analysis of the performance of a component usually reveals weaknesses or ways in which it could be improved or made more cheaply. And there is always scope for further innovation for a radically new design, or for a radical change in the material which the component is made from. Successful designs evolve continuously, and only in this way does the product retain a competitive position in the market place. 

To maintain and improve competitive position — To avoid costs of poor performance... 

Of equal importance is the fact that synthetic rubber has been improved to such an extent that it is more than capable of meeting the competition of the natural product, and there is no longer any doubt that synthetic rubber is here to stay. New types of synthetic rubber now in the development stage are expected to enhance the competitive position of synthetic rubber still further. 

Commercial opportunities occur in the course of running an extant enterprise they involve a change to an existing product or service or the organization itself in a way that may improve the enterprise s competitive position, profits, internal efficiency, or other measures of commercial success. 

One must remember that a catalyst optimized in this way represents only a transitory optimum, experience has shown that hardly is any catalyst industrialized before it is subject to improvements, either for correcting deficiencies revealed through the industrial experience or for improving a competitive position Sometimes it happens that a change occurs in the very nature of the catalytic agent, and at that point it is a veritable matter of catalyst renovation, involving a procedure identical to that which has just been described for the genesis of the initial formula... 

Horizontal integration is a further type, where the technological or information base of the company is applied to improve its competitive position in this and related areas. When a particular area of expertise has been discovered and developed, this can be more fully exploited if a number of different product or... 

In order to survive in this intensified competitive environment, chemical companies have to specialize and concentrate on their core competencies. The limited capital and personnel resources of a company and the considerable expenditure for future investments which are necessary for a stable and promising competitive position do not permit an equal promotion of all the traditional business operations. Only by concentrating on the most promising operations in the portfolio of a chemical company will it be possible to deploy the limited resources in a targeted fashion in order to improve the company s competitive position. 

In general terms, the sustainability concept presents a challenge to industry to produce higher amounts of output using lower levels of raw materials, while generating less waste. The businesses that succeed in the future will need to view these challenges as opportunities and act to achieve the objectives while simultaneously improving their competitive position. 

Quality is not merely a regulatory requirement it is also a crucial determinant for business success or failure in modem performance-oriented markets. The business strategic value of quality relates inter alia to improvement of the enterprise s competitive position, increased productivity, improved risk management and increased profitability. 

To improve the competitive position of all sectors of European industry (including SMEs) by promoting better measurements at the research and development levels, better definition and control of the quality of products, more efficient in-process measurements and technical assistance to the mutual recognition of certificates in accordance with the Global Approach to Conformity Assessment... 

With the proper planning and preparation, an excellent supplier quality system survey can be developed and suppliers will fill it out and return it in a timely manner. The same is trne for the preparation for a supplier visit. If the preparations are completed and the visit is conducted with an open mind, some very positive resnlts can be obtained for both organizations. Continnons improvement is a necessity for businesses today to be able to remain in a competitive position. Part of continuous improvement is doing root canse analysis of problem areas to prevent the problems from happening again. 

The aim of STeP certification is to achieve environmental-friendly production processes, optimum health and safety and socially acceptable working conditions. It also allows certified companies to have the best possible competitive position with the improvement of their environmental protection achievements, their social responsibilities as well as their efficiencies. 

---