Value chains technologies

Market Access. Technology organizations must understand the value chain, ie, the sources of demand for the firm s products and services the technologies used by customers, learned through a vibrant appHcations development effort and the ways ia which technological solutions can affect demand. This overall effort requires close contact with the firm s marketing function and with customers ia their markets, so that technologies and markets can be matched. 

The principal objective of technical service in the chemical industry is to provide timely and professional information and support to downstream customers regarding chemical products and thek uses. It is neither cost-effective nor necessary for a consumer of chemical products to develop a staff of speciahsts having detailed expertise in all aspects of chemical raw materials and thek uses, particularly in a time of increa singly complex and rapidly technologically driven economies. Rather, this variety of expertise is provided in the chemical marketplace by technical service professionals whose knowledge and skills are made available by chemical products suppHers. As such, successful chemical companies provide technical service as a critical element of thek offerings to the marketplace making use of this aspect of the value chain to enhance thek competitiveness. 

The management concepts focus on the primary activities in the value chain. Management concepts for support functions such as human resources, information technology or corporate finance are out-of-scope in this work. The integration of support management concepts into value chain management is an area for further research. 

All research questions share the characteristic of investigating value chain processes and decisions holistically like in an integrated ecosystem. Operations Research methods and Information Technology provide the capabilities to be successful in this interdisciplinary research. 

Fig. 14.1 Drug discovery value chain and selected key technologies and activities [2].

Improved performance and reduced costs of hydrogen technologies, and extension of Canadian leadership through research and development of innovative new applications in strategic areas of the hydrogen value chain and... 

Depending on the business model(s) chosen, companies need to define their specific innovation headroom . This includes answering questions such as how important are innovations in the segment What do strategic customers need Should companies go for innovation in technology, service offerings, or in the value chain What does that imply for R D capacities and skills How can R D best collaborate with marketing and sales, (potential) customers, and external research institutes What level of external versus internal R D is required ... 

To set the industry benchmark, however, focusing on core production tasks is not enough. It is equally important to analyze the product-level value chain systematically and continuously and act on the results of the analyses. Substitution of raw materials by cheaper sources achieving the same quality standards is one example standardized products from which different products can be manufactured via specific unit operations and/or with dedicated technologies is another. A... 

Development of local and international markets and value chain development, linking demand and supply, quality management and processing technology. 

On risk reduction, the RC-GC commits signatories to utilise clean and safe technology, establish partnership across the value chain, minimise waste, and assess product stewardship practices, whilst GPS recommends measures to complete risk characterisations and risk management recommendations for chemicals in commerce, establish global product stewardship guidelines and develop a management system approach for implementation. 

On knowledge/information, RC-GC commits signatories to continuously improve health, safety and environment (HSE) knowledge and performance of technologies, processes and products provide help-assistance across the value chain share best practices through an information network increase dialogue and partnership and help extend Responsible Care across the value chain. GPS recommends measures to periodically re-assess chemicals risk - using new and additional information participate in scientific HSE-related research improve the flow of hazard and safety information across the value chain and ensure public access to product stewardship information. 

From today s point of view, there appear to be three areas in which multibusiness companies should seek the potential for synergies technology, market and value chain focus - but not necessarily aU three together (Fig. 6.6). 

In addition, they need to consider the area for innovation here whether they are strong in in-house R D, for example, or whether they have major strengths or gaps in other areas of opportunity such as effectiveness in services or other non-traditional parts of the value chain, or in the new technologies. Providing services, especially in the application of chemicals, is a strength that has become an increasingly important source of innovation for chemical companies (see Chapter 3). 

Sustaining value chains is about finding ways to make the value chains in which Shell chemicals companies participate more sustainable. Examples include the development of cool wash detergents, and the PETFix technology to recycle waste PET drinks bottles into building materials. 

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