The Faculty of Engineering

West Indian Journal of Engineering

Latest Issue

Volume 34: Numbers 1 & 2 - January 2012

Contents

Editorial

The Contribution of the Petroleum Studies Programmes at the UWI to the Local Oil and Gas
Industry. - Richard A. Dawe, Raffie Hosein and Jill Marcelle de Silva. Abstract | View PDF

Transition Probability Matrices and Revealed Comparative Advantage Persistence in a Small
Oil-based Economy. - Damie Sinanan and Roger Hosein. Abstract | View PDF

Modelling and Control of a Water-based System of Multiple Mobile Robots for Unmanned
Rescue. - Md. Mosharrof Hossain Sarker and M. Osman Tokhi. Abstract | View PDF

Effects of High Interest Rate on Technology Implementation in Jamaica. - Maurice G. Fletcher. Abstract | View PDF

Analysing the Strength Parameters of Concrete Manufactured Using Natural and Recycled Guanapo Aggregates. - Abrahams Mwasha and Jason R.F. Lalla. Abstract | View PDF

An Investigation of Methanol-Coconut Oil Fuel Blends in Diesel Engines for Caribbean Power Generation Using Biodiesel as a Co-solvent. - Renique J. Murray, Sharaaz Hosein and Solange Kelly. Abstract | View PDF

A Hybrid Soft Regulating (Wind-FC-Diesel-Battery) Renewable Energy for Island/Village Utilisation Scheme. - Adel M. Sharaf and Adel A.A. El-Gammal. Abstract | View PDF

Design of an RFID-based Inventory Control and Management System: A Case Study. - Jacky S.L. Ting and Albert H.C. Tsang. Abstract | View PDF

Production and Age-Hardening Behaviour of SiC Reinforced Aluminium Composites
Developed by Modified Stir-Casting Technique. - Kenneth K. Alaneme and Ayotunde O. Aluko. Abstract | View PDF

Hierarchical Evidential Reasoning-based Assessments of New Product Development Strategies. - Kwai Sang Chin and Kit Fai Pun. View PDF

Abstract
This paper is geared toward the development of a hierarchical evidential reasoning-based model for manufacturers to determine the relative importance of decision factors for NPD strategy assessments. Incorporated the findings of focus group discussions and interviews with experts in Hong Kong, an assessment model of NPD strategies is devised using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Evidential Reasoning (ER) approaches. The procedures are presented to illustrate how a list of fourteen decision factors be prioritised and the knowledge bases be established for modeling the strategy assessments. It was found that the risk and uncertainty, market competition, company growth, scale of market, distribution channel, manufacturing capability and technological R&D were important elements determining the NPD success. Using the proposed model, five distinctive evaluation grades of NPD strategies were introduced. The efficacy of the model depends on the establishment and customisation of a knowledge base which should be built and validated for individual companies. This paper contributes to identifying the decision factors and developing the assessment model of NPD strategies. The findings would drive the assessment initiatives of manufacturers towards the formulation and adoption of sustainable NPD strategies.

Electrical Treeing Diagnostics – An Approach Combining Optical Measurements and
Partial Discharge Statistics. - S. Bahadoorsingh, S. Sambeharry, R. Balliram and C. Sharma. Abstract | View PDF

A Proposed Methodology for Surface Water Quality Management for Sustainable Ecotourism in the Caribbean. - Ken D. Thomas, Erlande Omisca, Joniqua A. Howard and Maya A. Trotz. Abstract | View PDF