The Future Security of Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Future Security of Britain - Essay Example This will benefit them in the European and global economy. However, their security will rest on the confidence they have in their relationship with the US. In return, the EU will continue to benefit from Britain's special, though politically expensive, relationship with the US. The politically risky situation in Iraq, NATO's continued commitment to Afghanistan, and the changing threat of global terrorism have made it imperative that Britain, the EU, and the US act in concert against acts of terrorist aggression and reduce the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This will require retooling the armed forces and developing new sophisticated technologies. The US must be willing to commit the resources and take the lead, whilst Britain must be prepared to share the burden and play a pivotal role. The EU needs to continue to expand its existing security forces and be prepared to meet the changing threats of the 21st century. The European Union (EU) is defined as the current 15 member nations. Trade organisations are recognised by their common acronyms as well as State organisations. A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is any weapon capable of inflicting massive human casualties with or without sustaining property damage. These can include, but not limited to, nuclear, biological, environmental, and electronic means. Terrorism is the threat of indiscriminate fear and destruction against a civilian population or unengaged forces. The Scenario The British Empire has seen a decline in domination in the recent decades. Once the ruler of the seas, the colonial empire has diminished. With the changing landscape of British holdings has come a new era of trade and economics. The recently formed European Union has a Gross Domestic Product that rivals the United States. Free trade agreements have offered the opportunity for a stabilised economic future. The threats to Britain's security have undergone dramatic change. Britain finds itself in a position of requiring military security with minimal political risk. Britain's challenge is to engage the US in productive security arrangements without damaging regional political relationships. Iraq and the war on terror have placed a strain on these commitments. Britain has reached a crossroads where they must decide where it will place the future of its economics, politics, and military security. Discussion Economics Britain has for several decades promoted international trade through GATT, the WTO, and support for the Doha round of the WTO. When those talks have stalled, Britain has tended to side with the US against resistance by some of Britain's largest trading partners, most notably China and India. When Doha talks were suspended in July 2006, The US and the EU blamed each other for the collapse.1 However, Blair commented on his talks with Bush and insisted, "We both agreed we needed to make one final effort to re-energise the negotiation and I hope we can do so within the next few weeks".2 Britain has made a substantial commitment to the future and expansion of the European Union. On the subject of Enlargement, Blair has been very clear and states, "It would be a Europe confident enough to see enlargement not as a threat [...], but an extraordinary, historic opportunity to build a greater and more powerful

Geographical Information System (GIS) in Qatar Essay

Geographical Information System (GIS) in Qatar - Essay Example Without a doubt, Qatar foresees hurdles and challenges it has to face during the course of implementing its plans, and designs the contingency plans as well. On the technological side however, the continually changing trend in modeling and concepts linked to GIS data heavily strains the resources. Moreover, software solutions that are comprehensive and are at per with other Information Technology fronts and address all the needs required by this unique model have not yet emerged. Such models are the country’s pressing GIS needs for cruising into the next millennium. Qatar, a country characterized by desert topography, experienced rapid growth over the past decades following the country’s discovery of oil. Consequently, a spurt in physical growth occurred, followed by infrastructure development at a large scale, a fete which had to be at per with the rapid growth. Inefficient resource management, inadequate coordination, and duplication of efforts among government agencies heavily strained the government in the face of shrinking budgets and the ever-growing demands. In utilizing resources optimally when the country faced such rapid growth, the availability of the correct information at the correct time, became apparent as the key and efficient system of management and decision-making. This perception, along with the realization that close to eight percent of this vast body of information was related to the country’s geography, prompted the government’s option for a nationwide fully implemented GIS program for Qatar. Towards this end, the Center for GIS (CGIS) and the National Steering Committee were formed in 1990. Currently, digitally common base maps are available online for access by all agencies using GIS in Qatar, via a fiber optic network of high speed. Data consistency and the control of duplication efforts

United States and Taiwan Unemployment Rates Essay Example for Free

United States and Taiwan Unemployment Rates Essay This paper aims to compare the unemployment trends of the United States (US) and Taiwan from 1980 to 2007, and briefly discuss the factors affecting the trends of each country. The 28-year time-series data presented are from the World Economic Outlook Database of the International Monetary Fund. Unemployment Trends of the US and Taiwan The figure below shows divergence in the US and Taiwan unemployment rates over the past 28 years. The US has a downward unemployment trend, while Taiwan unemployment rates moved in the opposite direction from low to high level unemployment Fig. 1. US and Taiwan Unemployment Rates, 1980 – 2007, World Economic Outlook Database October 2007. rate. In 1980, the US unemployment rate is about six times the unemployment rate of Taiwan, while in 2007, the gap narrowed to about 0. 8-percentage point. All through out the said period, the unemployment rates of Taiwan are lower than that of the US, except in 2001 where the rates almost equaled. Looking at the US trends during the 28-year period, the peak unemployment rates in 1982, 1992, and 2003 were associated with recessions. The US recession in the early 1980’s was the most severe during the said period. As the US economy started to recover after the first oil shock in 1973, the second oil crisis in 1979 resulted in another recession in early 1980s that moved further up the unemployment rate to 9. 7% in 1982, the highest rate during the 1980-2007 period. As the economy began to grow in 1983, the unemployment rate started to reverse its trend and reached a lower rate of 5. 3% in 1989. The downward unemployment trend could be seen as a product of the free labor markets and the smaller size of welfare packages (Vedder and Gallaway 1), the entry of the oldest members of the baby boom cohorts in mid-1960’s in the labor force at age 16 coupled with their increased labor force participation (Sincavage 36), and substantial contribution of self-employment (Manser and Picot 12-13). The recession in 1991 pinned the unemployment rate at 7. 5% in 1992. But the 1990’s expansion brought about a long-run downward unemployment trend. The unemployment rate dipped at 4% in 2000, the lowest rate over the 28-year period. Katz and Krueger attribute this downward trend to four labor market explanations. The first is the entry of the oldest baby boom cohorts in the labor force at age 16 in the 1990s. The second is the rising proportion of the population in prison during the 1990s. The third is the better matching between workers and jobs resulting from labor market improvements, such as the Worker Profile and Reemployment Services program required in each state and the temporary help service industry. And the fourth is the worker insecurity in demanding wage gains due to the steady decline in union membership. After the 2001 recession, the unemployment rate continued to increase since the economy slowly recovered. The unemployment rate peaked at 6% in 2003, the lowest peak during the 28-year period. Thereafter, the unemployment rates have slowly decreased to 4. 7% in 2007. Taiwan, on the other hand, had different unemployment pattern. It has two distinct peak unemployment rates in 1985, and 2002. Before 1980, Taiwan experienced a very low unemployment rate, owing to its strong labor-intensive manufacturing industries, such as clothing and textile (Wang 26). The two rounds of oil crises in 1970’s had not spared the country’s economic growth. In response, the government broadcasted its twelve major construction projects, which laid the basic infrastructure for the heavy chemical industries and partly averted the negative impact of the oil crises (â€Å"From Poverty†). However, the loss of the international competitiveness of the country’s labor-intensive industries due to rising labor costs in the 1980’s resulted in the exodus of most of these traditional industries to mainland China and Southeast Asia (Wang 27). This pushed up unemployment rate, reaching its first peak at 2. 9% in 1985. Compared with that of US, the impact on the unemployment rate is relatively lesser. After the 1980s and in the first half of the 1990s, Taiwan gradually developed its ICT industries and successfully transformed itself into a major manufacturer of international ICT products (27). This minimized the unemployment problem of the 1980s. However, after 1995, unemployment dramatically increased until it hit its peak at 5. 2% in 2002, the highest during the 28-year period. Wang ascribes this sharp upward trend to three reasons. First, the capital-intensive and high-technology industries pushed most labor-intensive industries to move production to mainland China and Southeast Asia where labor is cheaper. Second, the Southeast Asian overseas workers had continually contributed to the worsening unemployment problem. Third, the slump in worldwide demand for ICT products in early 2000s plunged Taiwan into its first recession in decades. It registered the first ever negative economic growth in 2001, driving unemployment rate at its highest level at 5. 2% in 2002. After 2003, the economy slowly returned to normal. The unemployment rate gradually declined until 3. 9% in 2007, although much higher than in the 1980s and 1990s. This can be partly attributed to the implementation of the government’s Infrastructure Expansion Programme and Programme to Expand Employment of Public Service in 2003 and 2004 (PricewaterhouseCoopers 215). Meanwhile, the East Asian financial crisis in 1997 had a relatively slight impact on Taiwan’s economy since its unemployment rate remained unchanged. The reasons for these included, among others, the excellent economic fundamentals with no foreign debt, and appropriate government countermeasures (â€Å"From Poverty†). Conclusion The US and Taiwan show contrasting unemployment trends. Although their unemployment rates are moving in opposite directions, Taiwan unemployment rates are still much lower than that of the US However, in the medium- to long-term, with the declining rate of the US unemployment, US might attain a lower unemployment rate similar to that of Taiwan, or even much lower. This could be a good subject for further research. The unemployment trends depend on the countries economic stability and ability to adopt appropriate measures in response to structural and exogenous changes. The downward trend of the US employment implies favorable response of the labor market to the measures being adopted. The efficient and effective measure with longer effects is the implementation of a better worker-job matching scheme at the state level. Taiwan, on the other hand, may need to design a scheme to minimize, if not to avoid, labor erosion as it continues to be one of the major global ICT leaders, thereby addressing the social and economic inequality problems. Works Cited â€Å"From Poverty to Prosperity. † Taiwan Government information Office. 1 March 2008 http://www.gio. gov. tw/info/taiwan-story/economy/edown/3-2. htm Katz, Lawrence F. , and Alan B. Krueger. â€Å"New Trend in Unemployment? The High-Pressure US Labor Market of the 1990s. † Brookings Review Fall (1999): 4-8. Manser, Marilyn E. , and Garnett Picot. â€Å"The Role of Self-Employment in US and Canadian Job Growth. † Monthly Labor Review April (1999): 10-25. PricewaterhouseCoopers. â€Å"Taiwan. † From Beijing to Budapest. 4th ed. 2005/2006. Sincavage, Jessica R. â€Å"The Labor Force and Unemployment: Three Generations of Change. † Monthly Labor Review June (2004): 34-41. Vedder, Richard K. , and Lowell E. Gallaway. â€Å"Unemployment and Jobs in International Perspective. † Joint Economic Committee Study April (1999). 1 March 2008 http://www. house. gov/jec/employ/intern. pdf Wang, Wei Ching. â€Å"Information Society and Inequality: Wage Polarization, Unemployment, and Occupation Transition in Taiwan since 1980†. UTIP Working Paper. Texas: Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, 2007. World Economic Outlook Database. October 2007. International Monetary Fund. 28 February 2008 http://www. imf. org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2007/02/weodata/index. aspx

Concept Of Facilities Planning And Plant Layout Computer Science Essay

Concept Of Facilities Planning And Plant Layout Computer Science Essay Background of the problem Today s manufacturing industry is facing problems that have been growing in size and complexity over the last several years. As a result, there is an immediate need for procedures or techniques in solving various problems encountered in today s manufacturing arena without extended shutdown s or expensive modifications ( Clark ,1996). Materials handling equipment and the facilities it operates can contribute to as much as 70 percent of the total cost of the manufactured product (Tompkins et al, 1996). Facilities layout design is part of facilities planning (Tompkins et al, 1996). It is the arrangement of work space which, in general terms smoothes the way to access facilities that have strong interactions. The main concern with the plant facility layout planning is to reduce the cost of materials handling as poor materials handling can generate business problems. To stay competitive in todays market a company must reduce costs by planning for the future Material handling cost is a indirect costs and every company wants to reduce this indirect cost and it constitutes a major part of indirect costs in a facility Therefore even small improvements in material handling costs makes a large reduction in total indirect costs. The cost of material flow is a function of the distance the material is moved between divisions called departments in a manufacturing facility. To reduce material handling costs, it is essential to have an optimal arrangement of departments to minimize the total distance traveled Tompkins (1982) estimated that between 20% and 50% of operating expenses in manufacturing can be attributed to facility planning and material handling. Thus any cost saving in this area can contribute to the overall efficiency of the production system. Due to its wide range of applicability, the facility layout problem will continue to be the subject of research for many years to come. Graph theory and computerized software of facility layout is a powerful tool that allows experimentation with various manufacturing techniques and layout without actual implementation. Based on the above facts, it is obvious that layout optimization and improvement are two tasks that are crucial to any facility planning and layout study. 1.2 Statement of problem JPM Automobiles ltd is an automobile component manufacturing company located in Gurgaon Haryana. The problem area in that company is the departments are not located to according to manufacturing process; processes which have high interdependency are not located close to each other. This cause distance travelled by the material is high from one department to another department which result high material handling cost. Which affect the overall efficiency of the company. In response to the above problems, the need for facilities layout optimization is needed. This dissertation proposes to use Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) as to improve the facility layout of the company by graph theory and BLOCKPLAN software to improve the company performance. The company performance improvements are in terms of productivity increase, reduction in travelling cost and reduction in travelling distance. 1.3 Objectives The problem area in that company is of higher material handling, in-process inventory, poor interdependency of department and inflexibility etc. due to its improper layout. Based on the above fact the objectives of the study are: To conduct a detailed literature review of the facility layout problems. To analyze the existing layout of the company and conduct cost analysis of the existing layout. To propose improvements in the existing layout by graph theory and BLOCKPLAN software. To conduct cost analysis of the existing and proposed layouts. Compare cost analysis of the existing and proposed layout by graph theory and BLOCKPLAN software 1.3 Concept of Facilities Planning and Plant Layout A facility planning is a complex and broad subject that covers several disciplines. It involves civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineers, as well as architects, consultants, managers and urban planners. Facilities planning can be divided into two components: facilities location and facilities design. Facilities location is about placement of the facility on a specific plot of land with respect to customers, suppliers and other facilities. Facilities design consists of the facility systems design, the layout design and the handling systems design. The facility systems consist of the structural systems, the environmental systems, the lighting/electrical systems and safety systems. The layout consists of all equipment, machinery and furnishings within the building structure. The handling system consists of the mechanisms needed to satisfy the required facility interactions for a manufacturing plant, the facilities layout, also called plant layout, consists of the productio n areas, production related or support areas and personnel areas within the building. Facilitiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ planning has become a critical component for companies to keep up with the current market trends in the last few years. In the past facilities planning was primarily considered to be a science. In todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s competitive global marketplace, facilitiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ planning has become a strategy, (Tompkins et al, 2003). 1.4 Facility Layout In any plant, there are large numbers of finite geometric areas i.e. production, machine foundation area, space for inventory, design, production control and supervision are arranged on the floor space of the building. The problem of arranging these areas in an effective manner is the facility layout problem Francis et al (2006) define, facility layout as a technique of locating machines, processes and plant services within the plant, so as to achieve the right quantity and quality of product at the lowest possible cost of manufacturing. The facility layout problem is concerned with an arrangement of physical facilities, such as departments or machines, in certain areas to reduce a companys indirect costs. It has been estimated (Savsar 1991) that between 20 and 50% of the total operating expenses within manufacturing are attributed to material handling, which is directly related to facility layout. A poorly conceived layout can result in congestion and prohibitive material handling costs; and, on the other hand, an effective layout can provide an environment for efficient production. Since indirect costs are the largest portion of a companys total operating cost, the objective of a facilities layout problem is to minimize both interdepartmental flows and the rearrangement costs of changing layouts between time periods. These costs are a function of the amount of material flow and the distance the material is to be moved. The main objective of the facility layout problem is to minimize overall cost, which is directly related to material flow between departments. Generally material flow is represented by the product of the amount of material and the distance the material is moved. The distance traveled is estimated using rectilinear distance between centroids of the departments .Constraints ensure departments do not overlap and departments are of proper size. Many computer algorithms have been developed for designing layouts, mainly for the layout of departments within factories. Types of facilities layout There are four types of plant layout from the point of view of manufacturing Product layout Product layout is based on the processing sequence of part being produced on the line. Parts follow a fixed path through the production resources. In product layout, materials flow from one workstation to next adjacent workstation directly. This type of plant layout is useful when the production process is organized in a continuous manner. Advantages of product layout Simple, smooth logical flow lines result due to fixes sequence of operation. Small work in process inventories due to work from one process is fed directly into the next. Low cost of material handling, due to straight and short route and absence of backtracking. Total production time per unit is short. Since the machines are located so as to minimize distances between consecutive operations, material handling is reduced. Little skill is usually required by operators at the production line; hence, training is simple, short, and inexpensive. Simple production planning control systems are possible. Less space is occupied by work in transit and for temporary storage Disadvantages of product layout Whenever breakdown of one machine stops the entire line in the presence of enough manpower. Lack of process flexibility, since the layout is determined by the product, a change in product design may require major alternations in the layout. Lack of flexibility in timing, as the product cannot flow through the line faster then the slowest task can be accomplished unless that task is performed at several stations. Supervision is general, rather than specialized. Comparatively high investment is required, as identical machines (a few not fully utilized) are sometimes distributed along the line. Worker fatigue as workers may become bored by the endless repetition of simple tasks. Process layout Process layout is also called job shop layout in which the layout for a process department is obtained by grouping of machines according to function of machine centers. Orders for individual products are routed through the various machine centers to obtain the required processing. This type of plant layout is useful when the production process is organized in batches. Machines are general purpose, within their general function area, so that a wide variety of products can be handled. Advantages of process layout A high degree of flexibility exists relative to equipment or manpower allocation for specific tasks. Smaller investment in equipment as duplication is not necessary unless volume is large. The diversity of tasks offers a more interesting and satisfying occupation for the operator. Supervisors for each department become highly, knowledgeable about their functions. Better utilization of machines can result in fewer machines used Disadvantages of process layout Lack of process efficiency as back tracking and long movements may occur in the handling of materials. Lack of efficiency in timing as workers must wait between tasks. Complications of production planning and control Workers must have broad skills and must be paid higher wages than assembly line workers. Comparatively large amounts of in process inventory as space and capital are tied up by work in process. Lowered productivity as each job requires different setups and operator training. Fixed position layout Fixed position layout is generally associated with large, bulky product such as assembly of ship building, aircraft etc. In Fixed position layout workstation are brought to the material. Fixed position layout is shown in fig.1.3 Advantages of fixed position layout Material movement is reduced, minimizes damage or cost of moving. Promotes job enlargement by allowing individuals or teams to perform the whole job. Continuity of operations and responsibility results from team. This reduces the problems of re-planning and instructing people each time a new type of activity is to begin. Highly flexible; can accommodate changes in product design, product mix, and product volume. Independence of production centers allowing scheduling to achieve minimum total production time. Disadvantages of fixed position layout Increased movement of personnel and equipment may be expensive. The necessary combination of skills may be difficult to find and high pay levels may be necessary. Equipment duplication may occur. Higher skill requirements for personnel as they are involved in more operations. General supervision required. Cumbersome and costly positioning of material and machinery. Low equipment utilization as equipment may be left at a location where it will be needed again in a few days rather than moved to another location where it would be productive. Product family layout / Cellular Layout The layout for a product family is based on the grouping of parts to form product family. Groupings are determined by the operations needed to perform work for a set of similar items or part families that require similar processing. A part family is a set of parts that require similar machinery, tooling, machine operations and jig or fixtures. The parts within the family normally go from raw material to finished parts within a single cell. Advantages of cellular Layout Reduced in process inventory Increase operator expertise Improved human relations, job enlargement tend to occur. Supports the use of general purpose equipment Increased machine utilization. Disadvantages of cellular layout General supervision required. Higher skills level required of employees than for product layout. Reduced shop flexibility Depends on balanced material flow between product layout and process layout, otherwise buffers and work in process storage are required. Lower machine utilization than for process layout 1.5 Layout Design Methods and Computer Packages It is highly desirable that the optimum plant layout be designed. Unfortunately, the magnitude of the problem is so great that true system optimization is beyond current capabilities. The approach normally taken in solving the plant layout problem is to try to find a satisfactory solution. Previously, facilities layout problems were solved primarily by using iconic models. Then analytical approaches were developed. In general, plant layout problems can be solved by any of the following approaches: Exact mathematical procedures. Heuristics. Optimal. Graph theory. A number of different procedures have been developed to aid the facilities planner in designing layouts. These procedures can be classified into two main categories: construction type and improvement type. Construction type layout methods basically involve developing a new layout from scratch. Improvement procedures generate layout alternatives based on an existing layout. Based on the above two procedures, many algorithmic approaches have been developed. Some of them are Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) procedure, graph-based construction method, programming, network, Tabu search, simulated annealing and genetic algorithm. Based on these approaches, many computer-aided layout routines have been developed. Some of them are CRAFT, COFAD, CORELAP, ALDEP, PLANET, MULTIPLE, BLOCPLAN . 1.6 Methodology of dissertation This dissertation is to be completed in 3rd and 4th semesters of my M.Tech duration of four semesters. The methodology for this dissertation is stated in Figure 1.1 Introduction Literature review Systematic layout planning Facility layout a case study Company Profile Analysis Conclusion The dissertation report is divided into seven chapters as shown in figure 1.3. The current chapter gives an introduction of Facilities Planning and Plant Layout, Layout Design Methods and Computer Packages. In this chapter is also introducing Background of the problem, Statement of problem, Objectives of the dissertation Chapter 2 provides detailed literature review which would be done throughout the 3rd semester. This chapter covers the different type of facility layout problems and layout design method and commercial software available for solution of facility layout problems. Chapter 3 introduces the details of Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) for generation of layout alternatives. Chapter 4 covers the company background. It covers the company profile, Organization structure of the company, products, esteemed customer and its manufacturing process and its policies. Chapter 5 presents the case study in which existing layout is analyzed and new layout is proposed by GRAPH theory and BLOCKPLAN software and also provides a detailed cost analysis of existing layout and proposed layout. Chapter 6 contains conclusion and future scope.

Free Essays - Dead Man Walking :: Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking People in society today have changed their feelings towards humanity and religious practises. This change is seen clearly in the movie "Dead Man Walking." The characters go through changes in their view of religion and their feelings about human morality and humanity towards each other. The characters of Sister Helen, Matthew, and the victims parents all went through these changes during the movie for different reasons. These emotional changes that the characters went through are very common. Everyone changes their ideals and morals depending on their situation. Matthew's ideals changed because he feared that he was going to die alone. Sister Helen's feelings changed because she saw a side of Matthew that no one else was able to see. The parents of the victim "Hope" were filled with revenge because of what Matthew did, not why he did it. The father of the victim " Walter" was very sympathetic, he understanding of what Matthew was going through. SISTER HELEN Sister Helen was very unsure about what she was doing in life. She became a nun to give back to the community which gave her good Christian morals and values. By becoming a nun she was able to teach others to respect life and become more like Jesus (A Son of God). As a child Sister Helen was taught to be very supportive and to give this support to those who needed her help. When confronted with Matthew, Sister Helen tries to see the good in him and show him the respect she believes he deserves. She believes that there is good in all man and that every person deserves respect. Sister Helen understands that what Matthew did was wrong, but she also knows that every person is worth more than their worst act, and that ,"No man deserves to die . . .". In Sister Helen's mind every man deserves a chance. From insight into her background and Christian upbringing Sister Helen is able to see and feel for Matthew as a person and not as an object of "...scum or as a monster...". The media's understanding and the victims parents understanding is that Sister Helen believes that Matthew was wronged by the system.

The Courage and Strength in All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Mar

The Courage and Strength in All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque As I enter my last week as a twenty-year-old, I find myself nostalgically looking back on the past two decades while wondering what life has in store for me over the next two. Where will I be in twenty years? What will I have accomplished? Where will I be living? Will I be married? Have chil†¦ wait a minute, no, that one will have to wait a few more years. These questions have all passed through my mind at one point or another over the last few weeks, but I realize that they are really quite a luxury. Paul, the narrator of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, never had the opportunity to lean back from his desk and daydream about what the next twenty years of his life had in store for him. He was busy dodging bullets and artillery shells, trying to stay alive on Germany’s Western Front during World War I. Paul and I are united on the grounds of age and nothing more, yet somehow, while following him through his service in the War, I feel connected to him. After finishing the novel, I ruminated on this idea for some time and eventually came to the conclusion that the connection I feel with Paul is a mixture of empathy and envy. I empathize with him because he put down the pen and took up the rifle in service of his country, just as I would do if called upon. I envy him because he exudes the qualities of a brilliant soldier, meticulous narrator, and man of faith even in times of mortal danger, especially in times of mortal danger. In the midst of the worst bombardment he has yet to face, Paul shines his brightest by illuminating in vivid detail not only the hellish onslaught unfolding around him, but also the intr... ...helling becomes a wonderfully connected verse of one soldier’s struggle to preserve himself against all odds. What more can be said about Paul? Soldier, narrator, believer, he is the embodiment of each, and would not be complete as one or two without being the third. I do not envy his situation, but rather his ability. I hope I never have to experience the modern-day equivalent of his service, but I admire the courage and strength he pours into duty. Seeing what he went through makes me wonder if my generation would be capable of standing up to fight if we were called upon as he was. Would we persevere as he did? Would I? I believe the answer is yes and that is why I empathize with him nearly a century later: as one young man to another. Works Cited Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A.W. Wheen. New York: Ballantine, 1982.

Zen Plastics Company

This report aims to examine partnership arrangements and clearly identify advantages and disadvantages in terms of entering the export market. Besides, it is necessary to have a competent understanding of how Zen Plastics would successfully go into the export market and what they do to achieve this. Critically look at Zen Plastics’ s structure to see if the exporting is a suitable strategy for the firm concerned. The partnerships that Zen Plastics could enter into In some countries Zen Plastics cannot sell directly to the end user but must use a local agent or representative.Thus, they should enter into some partnerships. It is possible for Zen Plastics to use manufacturer’s representative or sales agent in local area. In other circumstance, the foreign distributor may purchase the product from Zen Plastics and is always responsible for payment of the item being exported. Accordingly, joint ventures might be a common way for most of exporting companies when two business es in different counties get together to start a new venture. This method normally follows one route such as licensing, franchising, industrial co-operation and contract manufacture.As for Zen Plastics, licensing, franchising and contract manufacture would be the appropriate ways to be taken into account. The owner of the licence grants someone the rights to produce goods using that licence. The owner of the licence allows other manufacturers to use the character in return for payment of a fee. In a word, the licensor won the rights and the licensee buys the rights. A franchise operation comprises a franchiser and a franchisee. The franchiser owns the rights to the products and sells these to the franchisee. This is used by exporters to get into overseas markets that are protected by tariffs or other barriers.It involves the manufacturer placing an order for the production of agreed items in another country. The export facilitating companies that could assist Zen Plastics to enter f oreign markets With the assistance of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the people’ s Government, Zen Plastics can implement and carry out the state foreign principles, policies and relevant laws and regulations as well as the decisions made by Communist Party of China (CPC) and study and formulate working schemes and plans for key foreign affairs.To conduct investigation and study according to the needs in the process of economic and social development as well as the opening-up campaign and to provide proposals and suggestions for the decision-making. CHINA GROUP COMPANIES PROMOTION ASSOCIATION, it can help Zen Plastics correct evaluate the proposed market, research on size of target market, and then take further measures to plan. With the help of CGCPA, it can promote business cooperation and foreign matchmaking.They can investigate on the multinational business strategy formulation and implementation and the management of overseas companies to understand the s ituation and to exchange experiences as well. A new proper organization structure to assist Zen Plastics in its new venture Before Zen Plastics start exporting they must decide what their objective for exporting is. They must decide what type of work that needs to be done to accomplish the company profits or other objectives.There are many ways a company can create its structure. The most common are: Functional organization, Regional organization, and Product organization In the topical issue of environmental protection has become a global imperative to resolve the contradiction, Zen Plastics should seize the rare opportunities for the revolutionary era – the green plastics, it widely promotes the use of green plastics by making their own efforts depend on a new organization structure, which can assist Zen Plastics in its new venture.Summary With the help of the report, some relevant information about the various routes to the market place both direct and indirect can be prov ided. Besides, the advantages and disadvantages of each and organizational structure have been discussed, and apply it to the case study.