From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Part[1]:Promoting R&D in Materials Technology-based Industries
Date: 12 Oct 92 02:06:21 GMT
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

1. Introduction

	The importance of R&D has been well recognized and documented.  As the
world markets become increasingly more competitive and the technology
contents of products rapidly  increase, R&D would play increasingly more
significant roles in the sucess or failure of any industry.  R&D is the
source of adaptive and innovative capabilities, the two most essential
prerequistites for technological and industrial developments. 
Adaptation of imported technologies to suit local requirements as well
as modifications and improvements of products and processes to increase
efficiencies, degree of product identification and qualities are
difficult tasks and could only be done through very strong R&D
capabilities.  The inventions of new products and processes are even
more difficult and could only be achieved through very strong R&D teams.
 Research findings have repeatedly shown the strong correletions between
R&D strengths and profitabilities.  Industrialization of a country,
which inevitably involves technological capabilities acquisition and
development is not possible without strong national R&D capabilities.

	The core components for R&D are personel, budget and facilities.  The
quantity and quality of R&D personel must be sufficient to be able to
perform meaningful R&D work successfully.  As the products become more
complex, technologies more advanced, R&D work becomes more of a
multidisciplinary in nature thus requiring specialists from many
different fields working as a team.  The "critical mass" of R&D
personel, both in terms of types and number, is therefore necessary. 
The quality of R&D personel is as important as, if not more important
than, the quantity.  The quality of R&D products can only be, at best,
as good as that of the personel who create them.  The ability to notice
important findings and differentiate them from umimporatnt ones as well
as the ability to envisage their implication and significance are
essential if the R&D effort work is to yield fruitful and productive
results.  These abilities reside in high quality R&D personel.  The
availability of a large number of high quality personel does not,
however, mean very much if there is insufficient budget and without
adequate R&D facilities. All three components are essential.

	The presence of all the three core components mentioned above is by no
means a guarantee for success, however.  There are several secondary
factors which migth inhibit or facilitae R&D work.  These factors may be
structural/organizational problems, rewards/incentive systems,
information services as well as the policies and attitudes towards R&D
of the top management.  Each of these factors, though not critical for
actual R&D work, could be a deciding factor which leads to excellent or
mediocre performance of a well-equipped, sufficiently financed, high
quality R&D team.

	There are only limited R&D activities related to materials
technology-based industry in Thailand at present despite the fact that
industry covers a very board range and it has been designated as one of
the high priority areas by the government.  The effect of this
deficiency is being felt now.  As the industrialization of the country
proceeds and the competition in the world market becomes more intense,
the consequences of the lack of R&D activity in this field would become
even more severe.  It is very important for Thailand to encourage,
support and promote such activities.....now !
							(End of Part[1])


Posted by

Schitt  Laowattana

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I don't regard it as normal for human being to have an eight-hour day,
with two long coffee break, with a martini at lunch, with a sleepy
period in the afternoon and a rush home to the next martini.  I don't
think that can be dignified by calling it "working", and I don't think
people should be paid for it.

						Dr. Edwin  Land
						The Founder of Polaroid Co,Ltd
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