“Industry 4.0” term is devoted to the fourth industrial revolution. Over time and by developing different technologies, this term is coming with the new paradigm and technologies, which help to connect the machines,...“Industry 4.0” term is devoted to the fourth industrial revolution. Over time and by developing different technologies, this term is coming with the new paradigm and technologies, which help to connect the machines, products, and methods as an interconnected system. This paper aims to introduce an analysis and a reflection around the concepts industry 4.0 and their impacts in the actual industrial world. The effects of this digitalization will be investigated on supply chain systems, decision-making processes, and business models. The classic supply chain is evolving into a Network Supply System (NSS) that is an interconnected supply chain with more focus on product and customer expectations. The global value chain process tends to be product-oriented. Smart data make the decisions more dynamic, flexible, and precise. Therefore, every industrial sector has to be adapted to this digital transformation in all aspects. However, the environmental aspects, global warming, and human healthcare issues are the challenge facing industries and human life, which can be like a brake to make efforts to improve digital life and machine technicity. This paper tries to produce a critical analysis of the concept “industry 4.0 revolution” based on different guidelines to show that it is an evolution of the industry coming through the development of several technologies.展开更多
Non-timber forest products provide important socio-economic services to different village and urban communities in West Africa. However, little is known about the links between the different actors and their contribut...Non-timber forest products provide important socio-economic services to different village and urban communities in West Africa. However, little is known about the links between the different actors and their contribution to the local or national economy. This study was conducted in central southern Niger and aimed to 1) identify and map the main actors in the value chain of <em>Ziziphus mauritiana</em> and <em>Balanites aegyptiaca</em> fruits;and 2) analyse the silvicultural and socio-economic aspects of fruit exploitation of these two species. Socio-economic surveys were conducted in four big villages in two main agroecological zones. Fruit exploitation of these two species affected 3044 people, with estimated 39 tonnes of <em>Z. mauritiana and</em> 27 tonnes of <em>B. aegyptiaca</em> fruit collected in 2017. The surveys revealed that the main actors were women (62.05%), constituting the primary core of the actors of the value chain. Exploitation was mainly conducted in forests (68.6%) or on farms (15.4%) with no restrictions to access. Marketing of <em>Z. mauritiana</em> concerned fresh fruit (68.8%) and fruit processed into biscuits (82.14%), and that of <em>B. aegyptiaca</em> involved fruit (38.5%) and oil extracted from seeds (38.7%);the net margin was estimated at 71.71% ± 21.59% for the first species and 50.31% ± 47.99% for the second. The income was mainly used for the needs of farmers’ households. Links have been identified where consumers and processors supply seeds, after extracting the fruit pulp, to nurserymen for the production of plants for the villages or farms. This study reveals an important potential and opportunity for job creation and improved food and nutritional status of the vulnerable strata of rural communities in Niger. Improving the links between the various actors will establish a more sustainable promotion of the fruits of these two species.展开更多
A rice mill survey covering diverse rice processing companies in terms of their milling output, type of technology and year of establishment was conducted to understand the current situation of the rice milling indust...A rice mill survey covering diverse rice processing companies in terms of their milling output, type of technology and year of establishment was conducted to understand the current situation of the rice milling industry and to identify enablers and barriers to its growth in Nepal. Coarse rice varieties dominate Nepal’s rice processing industry, with a 42% share by total weight, followed by medium rice (34%) and fine varieties (less than 7%). Polished white rice (<em>Arwa</em>) was the dominant rice type in Nepal in the survey, followed by parboiled and steamed rice. The price and profit margins increased from coarse to fine rice varieties and from <em>Arwa</em> to parboiled and steamed rice. The cost of milling also followed a similar trend. The rice milling industry in Nepal largely influences the adoption or non-adoption of any specific type of rice variety by dictating specific brands in the market and this has important implications for rice research and development. The rice processing industry of Nepal was unable to compete with the Indian rice milling industry because of: 1) low profit margins due to the high cost of rice production and procurement, 2) a lack of economies of scale, 3) a lack of milling technologies for long and extra-long and steamed rice in the country and a lack of investment to modernize rice milling technology, and 4) unavailability of paddy throughout the year locally. Millers were willing to upgrade their rice milling technology to include high throughput parboiling, steamed rice as well as long and extra-long grain rice. This will be a strategic decision in counteracting the ever-increasing rice imports in Nepal. We believe that the findings of the study will be vital for formulating an appropriate rice research, development and rice processing strategy for Nepal to achieve food and nutritional security and the Sustainable Development Goals.展开更多
文摘“Industry 4.0” term is devoted to the fourth industrial revolution. Over time and by developing different technologies, this term is coming with the new paradigm and technologies, which help to connect the machines, products, and methods as an interconnected system. This paper aims to introduce an analysis and a reflection around the concepts industry 4.0 and their impacts in the actual industrial world. The effects of this digitalization will be investigated on supply chain systems, decision-making processes, and business models. The classic supply chain is evolving into a Network Supply System (NSS) that is an interconnected supply chain with more focus on product and customer expectations. The global value chain process tends to be product-oriented. Smart data make the decisions more dynamic, flexible, and precise. Therefore, every industrial sector has to be adapted to this digital transformation in all aspects. However, the environmental aspects, global warming, and human healthcare issues are the challenge facing industries and human life, which can be like a brake to make efforts to improve digital life and machine technicity. This paper tries to produce a critical analysis of the concept “industry 4.0 revolution” based on different guidelines to show that it is an evolution of the industry coming through the development of several technologies.
文摘Non-timber forest products provide important socio-economic services to different village and urban communities in West Africa. However, little is known about the links between the different actors and their contribution to the local or national economy. This study was conducted in central southern Niger and aimed to 1) identify and map the main actors in the value chain of <em>Ziziphus mauritiana</em> and <em>Balanites aegyptiaca</em> fruits;and 2) analyse the silvicultural and socio-economic aspects of fruit exploitation of these two species. Socio-economic surveys were conducted in four big villages in two main agroecological zones. Fruit exploitation of these two species affected 3044 people, with estimated 39 tonnes of <em>Z. mauritiana and</em> 27 tonnes of <em>B. aegyptiaca</em> fruit collected in 2017. The surveys revealed that the main actors were women (62.05%), constituting the primary core of the actors of the value chain. Exploitation was mainly conducted in forests (68.6%) or on farms (15.4%) with no restrictions to access. Marketing of <em>Z. mauritiana</em> concerned fresh fruit (68.8%) and fruit processed into biscuits (82.14%), and that of <em>B. aegyptiaca</em> involved fruit (38.5%) and oil extracted from seeds (38.7%);the net margin was estimated at 71.71% ± 21.59% for the first species and 50.31% ± 47.99% for the second. The income was mainly used for the needs of farmers’ households. Links have been identified where consumers and processors supply seeds, after extracting the fruit pulp, to nurserymen for the production of plants for the villages or farms. This study reveals an important potential and opportunity for job creation and improved food and nutritional status of the vulnerable strata of rural communities in Niger. Improving the links between the various actors will establish a more sustainable promotion of the fruits of these two species.
文摘A rice mill survey covering diverse rice processing companies in terms of their milling output, type of technology and year of establishment was conducted to understand the current situation of the rice milling industry and to identify enablers and barriers to its growth in Nepal. Coarse rice varieties dominate Nepal’s rice processing industry, with a 42% share by total weight, followed by medium rice (34%) and fine varieties (less than 7%). Polished white rice (<em>Arwa</em>) was the dominant rice type in Nepal in the survey, followed by parboiled and steamed rice. The price and profit margins increased from coarse to fine rice varieties and from <em>Arwa</em> to parboiled and steamed rice. The cost of milling also followed a similar trend. The rice milling industry in Nepal largely influences the adoption or non-adoption of any specific type of rice variety by dictating specific brands in the market and this has important implications for rice research and development. The rice processing industry of Nepal was unable to compete with the Indian rice milling industry because of: 1) low profit margins due to the high cost of rice production and procurement, 2) a lack of economies of scale, 3) a lack of milling technologies for long and extra-long and steamed rice in the country and a lack of investment to modernize rice milling technology, and 4) unavailability of paddy throughout the year locally. Millers were willing to upgrade their rice milling technology to include high throughput parboiling, steamed rice as well as long and extra-long grain rice. This will be a strategic decision in counteracting the ever-increasing rice imports in Nepal. We believe that the findings of the study will be vital for formulating an appropriate rice research, development and rice processing strategy for Nepal to achieve food and nutritional security and the Sustainable Development Goals.