bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE USE OF THE SINGULAR VALUE DECOMPOSITION METHOD IN THE SYNTHESIS OF THE NEUMANN'S BOUNDARY PROBLEM
Authors: SIKORA JAN , SKOCZYLAS JERZY , SROKA JAN , WINCENCIAK STANISLAW
Published: February 2008

This paper discusses an electrostatic, homogeneous field in a uniform two‐dimensional domain with Neumann's boundary conditions. The boundary conditions are known only at some segments of the boundary. The synthesis is understood as the computation of the remaining boundary conditions which would ensure the required potential distribution in some subdomains within the boundary. The introduction of a single‐layer potential leads to Fredholm's equation of the second order. Stepwise approximation of the source distribution along the boundary rearranges Fredholm's equation and the requirements concerning the single layer potential distribution. It leads to a matrix equation with a rectangular coefficient matrix. In order to solve approximately this equation, in the sense of the least squares minimization, the singular value decomposition (SVD) method is used. The choice of subdomains with determined potential distribution influences significantly the conditioning of the equation. Easy selection of an acceptable solution among all possible solutions proves the suitability of the SVD method in the above problem. The numerical experiments reported in the paper are a good illustration of this.
STABILITY OF THE SOLUTIONS OF SINGULARLY PERTURBED SYSTEMS WITH IMPULSE EFFECT
Authors: SIMEONOV P.S. , BAINOV D.D.
Published: February 2008

The present paper is the first to find sufficient efficient conditions for stability of solutions of singularly perturbed systems with impulse effect.
EFFICIENT TREATMENT OF INFINITE BOUNDARIES IN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD PROBLEMS
Authors: IDA NATHAN
Published: February 2008

This work discusses the use of exponentially and reciprocally decaying infinite elements and assesses their respective value for magnetostatic and eddy current problems. In particular, the need for different decaying parameters for different materials is shown to be detrimental to their application in many practical situations. A simple method, whereby a 2‐D solution is used to find the approximate boundary conditions for a closely truncated 3‐D mesh is presented and shown to give good results without the complications of infinite elements. This method is applied to a large eddy current problem.
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS VS THE UNIT DISTRIBUTION METHOD: ITS APPLICATION TO INVERSE PROBLEMS
Authors: SIKORA Jan
Published: February 2008

In this paper, Sensitivity Method (SM) was used to the identification of boundary conditions. Particular attention in this paper was paid to the Levenberg‐Marquardt (L‐M) regularization method, because the inverse problems of the electromagnetic field are not well conditioned in typical cases. It was proved that using some information about the expected solution, the L‐M regularization method gives satisfactory results even in such cases where the singular value analysis (SVA) fails. The identified boundary conditions were compared with the results obtained by using the direct least squares (LS) method.
AN ADAPTED CHOLESKY DECOMPOSITION METHOD FOR THE SOLUTION OF COUPLED MAGNETIC‐ELECTRIC EQUATIONS
Authors: LONG W. , PIRIOU F. , RAZEK A.
Published: February 2008

A model coupling magnetic and electric equations is developed in this paper. The unknowns in this model are the magnetic vector potential and the mesh currents. The nature of the resulting matrix system does not permit the use of the classical Cholesky algorithm. A new decomposition, based on the Cholesky method, is introduced to solve it. To illustrate the efficiency of the method, an example of an iron core coil is modelled. Both calculation time and memory storage are compared with classical methods.
A SCALING METHOD IN THE NUMERICAL ANALYSIS SOLUTION OF THE CURRENT CONTINUITY EQUATIONS IN SEMICONDUCTOR ANALYSIS
Authors: NASSIF Nabil R.
Published: February 2008

This paper analyses a method of local scaling analysis for the discrete continuity equations of a semiconductor. The basic purpose is to give an algorithm that eliminates all occurrences of overflows and underflows by appropriately scaling each equation of the system obtained when we discretize the partial differential equations:
AN EFFICIENT DIFFUSION ALGORITHM FOR 2‐D VLSI PROCESS MODELING CODE
Authors: STEFANOV E.N. , ASENOV A.M.
Published: February 2008

The coupled set of non‐linear 2D diffusion equations for donor and acceptor type impurities with initial and appropriated boundary conditions is solved by an implicit locally‐one dimensional finite difference method. Numerical experiments have been made to achieve a reasonable trade‐off between the desired accuracy and the CPU time. The algorithm was implemented to the process module of the 2‐D integrated process and device modeling system IMPEDANCE 2.0.
A NEW METHOD FOR SOLVING SYSTEMS OF ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF THE FIRST ORDER
Authors: FENG Yu‐Kun
Published: February 2008

A new method is derived for solving systems of ordinary differential equations of the first order. It is fully explicit, requires no matrix inversion, and shows relatively large time steps. The one‐ and two‐dimensional diffusion equations and the one‐dimensional electron transport equations of semiconductor devices are solved to demonstrate both the accuracy and the efficiency of the proposed method. This method is accurate and efficient when results are compared with analytical solutions.
NUMERICAL COMPUTATION OF THE SCHWARZ‐CHRISTOFFEL TRANSFORMATION PARAMETERS FOR CONFORMAL MAPPING OF ARBITRARILY SHAPED POLYGONS WITH FINITE VERTICES
Authors: CHAUDHRY Maqsood A. , SCHINZINGER Roland
Published: February 2008

An iterative algorithm is described to compute Schwarz‐Christoffel transformations which map the upper half of a complex plane into the interior of a polygon in another complex plane. An efficient method of numerically integrating the S‐C integral over the singularities is presented. The algorithm is easily programmable in FORTRAN. Convergence rate is high and accuracy is excellent. Examples are provided and wherever possible, analytically obtained results are also presented for comparison. The importance of the algorithm is described and a brief comparison with some of the existing algorithms is made. Potential application of the S‐C transformation are in the solution of Laplace's and Poisson's equation in two‐dimensional domains with polygonal boundary.
AN EXTENDED SCHWARZ‐CHRISTOFFEL TRANSFORMATION FOR NUMERICAL MAPPING OF POLYGONS WITH CURVED SEGMENTS
Authors: CHAUDHRY Maqsood A.
Published: February 2008

An extension of the Schwarz‐Christoffel transformation is described to formally map polygons which contain curved boundaries. The curved boundaries are divided into small ‘curved elements’ and each element is approximated by a second degree polynomial (higher degree polynomials can also be used). The iterative algorithm of evaluating the unknown constants of the basic S‐C transformation described in a companion paper is applied to the extended S‐C transformation to compute its unknown constants, including the coefficients of the polynomials. Excellent results are achieved as far as accuracy and convergence are concerned. Examples including a practical application, are provided. The mapping of curved polygons is important because they provide a better model of a physical device.
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF OPEN BOUNDARY PROBLEMS USING FINITE ELEMENT SUBSTRUCTURING AND GALERKIN BOUNDARY ELEMENTS
Authors: BEATOVIC D. , LEVIN P.L. , GAN H. , KOKERNAK J.M. , HANSEN A.J.
Published: February 2008

A hybrid formulation is proposed that incorporates finite element substructuring and Galerkin boundary elements in the numerical solution of Poisson's or Laplace's equation with open boundaries. Substructuring the problem can dramatically decreases the size of matrix to be solved. It is shown that the boundary integration that results from application of Green's first theorem to the weighted residual statement can be used to advantage by imposing potential and flux continuity through the contour which separates the interior and exterior regions. In fact, the boundary integration is of exactly the same form as that found in Galerkin boundary elements.
A MODEL FOR TRANSIENT IMPACT IONISATION
Authors: Herbert DC
Published: February 2008

A model for impact ionisation allowing for the spatial transient is described. Ionisation rates and phonon scattering rates are adjusted to fit experimental data. To reduce some of the uncertainty, the calculated ionisation rates due to Kane are used.
A COMPARISON OF THE TRANSMISSION COEFFICIENT AND THE WIGNER FUNCTION APPROACHES TO FIELD EMISSION
Authors: Jensen K.L. , Ganguly A.K.
Published: February 2008

Standard treatments of the field emission problem typically rely on approximations to the evaluation of the Transmission Coefficient (TC). Recently, the Wigner Distribution Function (WDF) has been applied to this problem. In this paper, fast, accurate, and efficient numerical algorithms for each are presented and compared to each other and to traditional WKB and Fowler Nordheim approaches for silicon field emission. As each approach admits a trajectory interpretation, the methods for incorporating each into a larger Ensemble Particle Monte Carlo (EPMC) simulation of quantum transport are briefly discussed.
SIGNAL DELAY FOR GENERALLY INTERCONNECTED DISTRIBUTED STRUCTURES
Authors: MARINOV CORNELIU A. , SANTANEN JUKKA‐PEKKA
Published: February 2008

A network composed by RC distributed parameter lines with resistively grounded nodes is considered. Upper and lower bounds for the transient voltages are inferred. The results are of interest for the signal delay evaluation in VLSI interconnections. A numerical example is presented.
OPTIMIZING THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS DESIGN BY MULTIOBJECTIVE MODELS
Authors: RAMIREZ‐ROSADO I.J. , ALVAREZ BEL C.
Published: February 2008

Classic models for distribution systems design have usually considered only basic aspects such as power capacity limits, power demand requirements and the minimization of a single‐objective function that represents the total system expansion cost. However, multiobjective design models include aspects such as reliability evaluations, the optimal voltage profile in the network, social amenity values and geographical conditions of the study area, as well as the basic design aspects. In this paper, a multiobjective model is presented for optimal design of distribution systems by finding the best reliability of the network and the least expensive system expansion simultaneously. A multiobjective method used in applications of the model to practical distribution systems design problems is outlined. The computer results indicate that multiobjective models achieve satisfactory solutions, which consider multiple objectives simultaneously. These solutions, preferred by the planner, are advantageous compared with the classic design solutions.
THREE‐DIMENSIONAL GRADIENT RECOVERY BY LOCAL SMOOTHING OF FINITE‐ELEMENT SOLUTIONS
Authors: OMERAGIĆ D. , SILVESTER P.P.
Published: February 2008

The gradient recovery method proposed by Zhu and Zienkiewicz for one‐dimensional problems and extended to two dimensions by Silvester and Omeragi? is generalized to three‐dimensional solutions based on rectangular prism (brick) elements. The extension is not obvious so its details are presented, and the method compared with conventional local smoothing and direct differentiation. Illustrative examples are given, with an extensive experimental study of error. The method is computationally cheap and provides better accuracy than conventional local smoothing, but its accuracy is position dependent.
ADAPTIVE MESHING APPLIED TO A TWO‐DIMENSIONAL DEVICE SIMULATOR
Authors: EDWARDS S.P. , De MEYER K. , De WILDE Ph.
Published: February 2008

The purpose of using an adaptive meshing strategy is to define the problem well with as few nodes as possible. The extent to which the discrete system adequately represents the problem being solved depends on the positioning of the grid points. It is the intention to show here that adding badly placed nodes to the region of interest in a mesh can reduce the accuracy of the resulting solution. A practical refinement strategy is presented where such problems are avoided.
TIME PERTURBATION ANALYSIS FOR THE MOS SYSTEM
Authors: GAITAN Michael , MAYERGOYZ Isaak D.
Published: February 2008

The development of a numerical implementation of the small signal response of the MOS (Metal‐Oxide‐Silicon) capacitor using time perturbation analysis is discussed. The effects of nonconstant doping profiles and interface and bulk traps are included. The model uses Fermi‐Dirac statistics to describe the occupancy of the interface and bulk traps. The oxide region is considered to have no mobile carriers and any fixed oxide charge distribution is modeled as a charge sheet at the Si‐SiO2 interface. This technique can be used to find the small signal response of the device from the static solution.
TWO‐DIMENSIONAL MODELING AND PARAMETER EXTRACTION OF AGED MOSFETs
Authors: HADDARA H. , CRISTOLOVEANU S.
Published: February 2008

The effect of stress induced defects on the ohmic region characteristics of short channel MOSFETs is analyzed by means of a two dimensional device simulator. The device aging is summarized in the formation of a narrow defective interface region whose nature, length and position above the channel are the parameters of our investigation. The channel conductance and transconductance degradations were found to be greatly influenced by the position of the defective region and its length. Also, fundamental differences were observed between the effects of interface states and fixed oxide charges. The interaction between the defective and defect‐free channel regions was found to produce a transconductance overshoot which attenuates the aging effects. Finally, a parameter extraction method based on a two‐piece analytical model of locally damaged MOSFETs is elaborated and validated by means of a 2‐D simulation.
A VISCOELASTIC BEM FOR MODELING OXIDATION
Authors: TUNG Thye‐Lai , CONNOR Jerome , ANTONIADIS Dimitri A.
Published: February 2008

A viscoelastic boundary element method has been developed to model the motion of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride during thermal oxidation of silicon. This technique uses Kelvin's solution reformulated according to the correspondence principle on viscoelasticity. Constant‐velocity loading is chosen to ensure smooth variations in displacement and stress behavior for a wide range of relaxation times.
A STOCHASTIC ANALYSIS OF EDGE EFFECTS ON PLANAR RESISTORS
Authors: DE MEY G.
Published: February 2008

An analytical theory based on a perturbation approach is presented to model planar resistors with a stochastic edge. The theoretical analysis is confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.
AN EFFICIENT ALGORITHM TO CALCULATE THE TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION AND THERMAL COUPLING ELEMENTS IN INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
Authors: ROEDIG Gerhard
Published: February 2008

An efficient method is shown to calculate the temperature distribution and the thermal coupling elements in integrated circuits. With that it is possible to treat circuits under nonisothermal conditions. The algorithm combines several methods of the three‐dimensional solution of the FOURIER equation to analyse real heat problems of integrated circuits in a short computation time. Some examples illustrate the application of the algorithm.
PARALLEL COMPUTATION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS
Authors: LEE P. , PASCIAK J.E. , PISSANETZKY S.
Published: February 2008

In this paper, a parallel preconditioning technique based on the additive variant of overlapping domain decomposition is described and implemented to solve magnetostatic field problems. This technique involves covering the domain with a number of overlapping subdomains. The pre‐conditioner results from adding together approximate inversions on the subdomains, Theoretical estimates for the rate of convergence for the resulting algorithm are available and are based on the properties of underlying differential equations. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm.
HIGH‐ORDER POSITIVE, MONOTONE AND CONVEX MULTIGRID INTERPOLATIONS
Authors: JOPPICH W. , LORENTZ R.A.
Published: February 2008

We develop new high‐order positive, monotone and convex interpolations, which are to be used in the multigrid context. This means that the value of the interpolant is calculated only at the midpoints lying between the locations of the given values. As a consequence, these interpolants can be calculated very efficiently. They are then tested in a time‐dependent very large scale integration process simulation application.
THE AMERICAN RETAILING SCENE
Authors: Hollander Stanley H.
Published: February 2008

American retailing is sometimes depicted as a collection of gigantic air‐conditioned enclosed exurban shopping malls populated by large scale enterprises that feature unlimited hours, unlimited parking, and almost unlimited credit. Such a stereotype is quite inaccurate as a picture of the current situation. It probably is also inaccurate as a prediction of the near, or even the distant, future since most of the tendencies that are taking American trade in the direction of the stereotype are subject to some inherent market or cost limitations. But, the current trends in American distribution do include increases in scale, in suborganisation, in credit usage and in store hours.
FOOD SHOPPING
Authors: Sainsbury John D.
Published: February 2008

Retailing in this country has developed as a set of responses to changing social conditions and the changing needs of the community, and this can be seen most clearly in food retailing. John Sainsbury recently gave a lecture to the Royal Society of Arts in which he discussed the origins of food retailing in this country, putting it into a historical setting in order to give some pointer to the direction of the future. This is a summary of his talk.
Who needs a Wages Council?
Authors: Greenwood J.A.
Published: February 2008

What is the role of Wages Councils? Is their function as a means of protection for the lowest‐paid now outdated? On the basis of research into a number of food shops, the author argues that the operation of the Wages Council system can be both simplified and made more effective, primarily by fixing one minimum rate of pay which is recognised to be the very lowest considered desirable.
KAUFHOF: A GERMAN STORE GROUP
Authors: Nagel Gottfried
Published: February 2008

Kaufhof is the second largest retail group in the German Federal Republic. Like several German groups, it consists both of department stores and variety chain stores; in addition it is in business as a tour operator. It makes a significant impact on the German distributive scene. In delivering the Fourth Fraser Lecture on Retailing in London recently, Herr Nagel presented a fascinating portrait of the operating principles and merchandising policy of the group.
Design in action
Authors: Halford Lucy
Published: February 2008

The role of the design consultant within the retail management context was discussed in a recent issue of RDM. This article examines how four different companies have faced up to a re‐appraisal of their roles in changing market conditions, and adopted new design policies to meet new situations
A defence of promotions
Authors: Fulop Christina
Published: February 2008

Samples, free gifts, competitions and even trading stamps are severely curtailed or forbidden in EEC member countries, and British manufacturers and retailers will be hindered by this same legislation if steps taken to harmonise the laws of unfair competition are proceeded with. Christina Fulop strongly criticises these laws, which in her view go further than is necessary for the maintenance of fair competition. She also comments on the undesirability of combining this legislation with consumer protection measures, as has been done by the EEC legislators. Finally, she pleads for an examination ‘from first principles’ of practices considered suitable for harmonisation, in the light of consumer behaviour and current trading developments.
MAKRO ∼
Authors: Lowe J.M.
Published: February 2008

An extensive range of non‐food products; the buying power of a continental‐based organisation; a computerised approach to stock control — these are features which tend to distinguish the Makro self‐service wholesaling group from the normal run of C‐and‐C operators. Its latest depot, a 125,000 sq ft warehouse (with parking for 800 cars) built on the site of a greyhound track in south‐east London, is its fifth unit in the UK and the first to appear south of Birmingham. It registered 36,000 retail customers within two days of opening.
WORKING AND TRADING HOURS
Authors: Pontarollo Enzo
Published: February 2008

The pattern of flexible trading hours, with one or two late‐night openings, is now generally accepted in the UK, as it has been in most EEC countries. But now there is clear evidence from most of these countries of a growing separation between working and trading hours — trading hours are increasing but working hours are diminishing. We also need to look more closely at the effect of extended trading hours; evidence is emerging that Saturday afternoon is losing ground as a crucial sales period, and is being replaced by late‐nights. This article examines the trends in working and trading hours in EEC countries, and the effect on turnover. It has been written by an Italian research worker currently based in Oxford, who has spent the last nine months talking to retail managements and to trade unions on working conditions in large‐scale retailing in EEC countries. He has visited several countries in the course of his research and the project has been funded by the Italian retail group, La Rinascente. A future article will deal with bargaining structures, and wages and earnings.
USING ADVERTISING IN GROCERY RETAILING:
Authors: Hughes Malcolm
Published: February 2008

A great deal of money is spent by grocery retailers in various advertising media, but much of it, in Malcolm Hughes' view, is depressingly similar, especially the campaigns which appear in the national daily press. Radio has possibilities, but until boundaries are more clearly defined, it can present difficulties as far as prices are concerned. There will probably be more local press advertising in the future, but less in the national press. This is a summary of a talk given by Malcolm Hughes at a recent IGD seminar on advertising. Since the seminar he has resigned his position as marketing director of Fine Fare in order to take up a senior post with the Nationwide Building Society. The views expressed in this paper are Malcolm Hughes' own personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of his former company.
APPLYING THE MONTE CARLO SIMULATION
Authors: Walters David
Published: February 2008

In Dr Walters' last article (RDM, Nov/Dec), he discussed deficiencies in current approaches to site location. A Retailing Unit System was discussed in the context of a total systems approach whereby the retail unit system becomes part of a larger environmental system, which considers the needs and reactions of both suppliers and customers. Five basic elements were examined and the argument put forward that when investigating a new location, emphasis should not be on sales revenue or profit from the proposed site alone, but rather the total profit situation which results after the impact of the new site has been assessed on the total retail unit system. These five basic elements were: finance, personnel, merchandising management, property management, and logistics. For each, possible problems associated with the addition of a new location were discussed. It was argued that no matter how attractive a new location might at first appear, it is not until all effects have been considered that the “real” profitability can be established.
FORECASTING TRENDS IN RETAILING — OR HOW TO DO SUMS ON THE BACK OF AN ENVELOPE
Authors: Jefferys James B
Published: February 2008

Thirteen years ago James Jefferys and his colleague Derek Knee published their book Retailing in Europe, which forecast trends between 1955 and 1970 in retail employment, the number of establishments and retail sales in absolute terms and per person. The estimates, most of which were completed in 1960, related to eighteen European countries as well as Western Europe as an entity. Now, fifteen years later, James Jefferys compares their forecasts (some of them made with the help of the back of an old envelope) with the reality of the current situation.
TRANSPORT: The conflict between operating efficiency and environmental factors
Authors: West Alan J.
Published: February 2008

The popular view of the lorry is that it is frequently frustrating to car drivers, an agent of exhaust pollution, and an affront to the environment. Yet our system of communications is such that its continued use is unavoidable, if essential supplies are to be maintained. Legislation, however, by attempting to control the size of lorries is adding to already growing distribution costs. At the recent National Conference of the Centre for PDM, Alan West of RHM Foods Ltd described how his company is meeting the problem.
Business games
Authors: Elgood Chris
Published: February 2008

In industry generally business games have become an accepted training method for management trainees and business graduates, but relatively little has so far been done to extend the technique to retail management. A new business game for retailing has been devised, called Outlet, preferably for use in multiple stores.
BEC‐and call
Authors: Marshall OBE MA Robert L
Published: February 2008

Last year the Business Education Council issued a consultative document asking for advice from those concerned with education in distribution. Robert Marshall outlines some points he thinks worth raising—the relation between staff education and staff training; the need for adequate provision for distribution in any courses and awards set up by BEC; the desirability for simplicity in BEC courses and awards; and the need for accessibility to all employees of national awards under BEC auspices.
THE CONTAINER REVOLUTION
Authors: Slijper Martin T.
Published: February 2008

It is now ten years since the containerisation principle arrived in Britain, as yet another innovation from the United States. But the past decade has shown that containers are more than an imported novelty. Exporters have found that not only are freight charges reduced by containerisation but actual sales increase: a container‐load has often proved a convenient quantity for customers to order. Indeed, the National Ports Council have predicted that by 1980 over 80% of British shipping lines will be completely containerised. In this article Martin Slijper examines the advantages of containerisation and looks at prospects for the industry.
PDM—Techniques in action
Authors: Williams JM
Published: February 2008

PDM, the brainchild of the booming sixties has grown into a vital cost‐saving factor in the sober seventies. A recent national conference held by the Centre for Physical Distribution Management examined many aspects of the role RDM plays in the economy today. We publish here two of the papers read at that conference. The first by J.M. Williams of NMHC looks at the concept of materials management drawing considerably from the US experience and urges less theory and more practical implementation of modern distribution techniques. The second paper by B.W. Ancsell of Rank Radio International lucidly describes just what can go wrong when those techniques are implemented without sufficient forethought.
PENSIONS
Authors: Vann FCII John C.
Published: February 2008

The 1975 Social Security Pensions Act introduces fundamental changes in the scope and pattern of State pensions, and provides the main framework for the development of occupational schemes for some time to come. The arguments for and against contracting‐out are complex, but employers must give thought to this now.
The impact of marketing on the urban environment
Authors: Dawson John A.
Published: February 2008

The marketing system — as expressed through institutions such as wholesalers and retailers — has in recent years made a marked impact on city centres and suburbs. The author here examines the effect of hypermarkets, particularly in France, and city centre shopping centres in this country; he also looks at the advantages of pedestrianisation.
DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS FACING RETAILERS IN TOWN CENTRES
Authors: Harvey John
Published: February 2008

“With mounting costs of distribution and the need for distributors to reduce journeys and increase drop sizes … the position of the small shop within inner areas is becoming ever more precarious.” It was in reference to this text that John Harvey was invited to speak to this year's PTRC Summer Annual Meeting at Warwick University. His approach, necessarily, is that of a physical distributor, and in this paper he sketches the development of UK physical supply systems into the retail trade and identifies the major factors of change. He then examines the retail delivery profiles of the different sub‐sectors within the total retailing system, before looking at current problems and emerging trends in retail delivery practice, and specifically relating these to the smaller outlet.
Habitat moves to the new world
Authors: Foster Ann
Published: February 2008

Habitat recently opened up new terri‐tory by starting its first store in America in New York — although the first tiresome problem they had to overcome was a change of name to “Conran's”, since there is a lighting company in the States called Habitat. Terence Conran's intention is to build up a chain of 20 stores over the next five years.
SECURITY: How much is lost through the backdoor?
Authors: Baker Chris
Published: February 2008

We recently published (July/August) an article on the problems of shop‐lifting which dealt to a large degree with the culpability of the customer. This paper, given by Chris Baker to a recent meeting of the South Eastern branch of the Institute of Grocery Distribution, highlights the problems of back door security.
THE COST AUDIT
Authors: Williams Robert
Published: February 2008

The NMHC has developed costing techniques for distribution in the food and grocery trade which provide a pattern for any company to conduct a thorough cost audit in order to make an appraisal of its distribution performance in warehousing and transport. Robert Williams delivered an extended version of the following survey to a recent conference of the Institute of Practitioners in Work Study, Organisation and Methods, giving an outline of the Centre's approach to costing, the order of costs and typical performance levels which they found. A second part, to be published in the May/June issue of RDM, will identify the main factors affecting cost, and make some practical suggestions for their reduction.
PRODUCE OPERATIONS: A return to service
Authors: Frampton Geoffrey
Published: February 2008

As sales from supermarket produce departments reached a stasis, a thorough re‐examination of the public image of pre‐packed produce revealed it to be one of ‘Variable quality at non‐competitive prices’. In order to correct that image, International Stores took the successful decision to introduce self‐selection facilities for fruit and vegetables. The following was delivered as a paper to a recent CIES Symposium on Produce Operations in Brussels.
PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION AND THE CO˜OP
Authors: Sugden Arthur
Published: February 2008

In the past, manufacturers and retailers have tended to pursue their own objectives rather too narrowly, sometimes to their own mutual disadvantage, and certainly to the disadvantage of the consumer. What follows is a slightly shortened version of a speech recently delivered by Sir Arthur Sugden to the Marketing Society, in which he calls upon manufacturers and retailers to become partners in distribution so that with the benefits of increased understanding and more coherent planning, they can begin to rationalise their enterprise and cut their costs
Colgate uses voice response system
Authors: Tatham Laura
Published: February 2008

Each Colgate‐Palmolive salesman now has a lightweight portable terminal linked to a central mini‐computer that incorporates a voice response unit. Marketed by Menzies Communications Systems Ltd, the system provides faster service to customers and speeds cash flow.
Dublin's three shopping centres
Authors: Parker A.J.
Published: February 2008

In our March/April issue Dr Parker wrote about the emergence of discount grocery shopping in Dublin. Now he turns his attention to shopping centres, and in particular to the MEPC scheme in Dun Laoghaire and the two Irish Life developments in Dublin city centre. Dublin is well provided with shopping centres in its suburbs; the policy described in this feature shows that the clear intention on the part of the planners is to strengthen the town centres rather than allow retailing to dissipate in the suburbs.
The independent retail chemist
Authors: McGoldrick Peter , Chan Emily
Published: February 2008

It is no news that severe losses have been incurred by independent chemists over the last five to ten years, both in terms of numbers and share of turnover, and that to a great extent this has been due to increased competition from supermarkets and grocery multiples. In the past, research has been done into the distribution of retail pharmacies, but now a new study has been carried out by Peter McGoldrick and Emily Chan of UMIST. Their project has a rather different purpose. Instead of looking at shifts in share of trade, they choose to focus on the pharmacy customer, her shopping problems and attitudes, and this approach has pointed up ways in which the pharmacist as retailer can effectively develop his ‘over‐the‐counter’ trade — precisely that part of his business which up to now has been eroded by supermarkets and grocery multiples.
Low‐cost marketing analysis
Authors: Piercy Nigel
Published: February 2008

This article is aimed at managers of small to medium‐sized multiples who need marketing information to assess their performances and to plan for the future. This kind of information is concerned with: performance and trends in the market competed in by the unit; the effectiveness of the elements in the marketing mix; and competitors' activities. Providing information of this kind may be very costly, but Nigel Piercy makes some suggestions here on how to reduce outlay, and how to make marketing information available to the low budget operator by looking at the sources of cheap marketing information.
Sunday shopping
Authors: Foster Ann
Published: February 2008

In recent years the anomalies in the laws on Sunday trading have become ever more apparent. It is not even the restrictive nature of the 1950 Act which brings it into disrepute, so much as the inconsistencies it allows. You can buy a newspaper on a Sunday but not a card; you can purchase clothes from a market stall, but not from a high street store. And the laws are notoriously difficult to enforce and openly flouted. But maybe this will be changing soon. The National Consumer Council are staunch supporters of a bill which has gone through its second reading in the House of Lords and, at the time of writing, is at the committee stage. This bill aims to amend the laws governing Sunday trading, but with a new government it appears that it will be pushed into the background, only to run out of time. However, there are groups of retailers (who think that unlimited Sunday trading will put up costs) and the union, USDAW, who welcome this set‐back to the bill. Both these groups have well‐grounded reservations about changing the law. In this article, Ann Foster examines the case for Sunday trading.
Challenge and change in PDM today
Authors: Harvey John A
Published: February 2008

The title of John Harvey's paper is indicative of his approach: he sees the challenge, where the obstacles lie, and tackles them firmly. One of the points which emerge here is that PDM is an exercise in lateral thinking, a revolutionising process which should cut across old commercial boundaries and traditional conflicts of political and business thinking. The problems are assessed and the map of progress is drawn up for the practical application of PDM in the next decade. This is a summary of a paper read at the Centre for PDM National Conference.
The Planners meet the Retailers
Authors: McFadyen Edward
Published: February 2008

Planners and retailers are notoriously bad at understanding each other's needs. Central to the lack of communication between the two sides — certainly as far as the location and number of large‐scale units is concerned — has been the planners' insistence on land use, seen within the context of community needs; and the retailers' insistence on the benefits that superstores and hypermarkets can bring in terms of their impact on the cost of living — in itself by no means an insignificant “community need”. Some progress was made towards removing this somewhat sterile attitude of confrontation at the end of May, when Hampshire County Council and the EDC for the Distributive Trades had the happy notion of organising a conference at Winchester for planners and retailers, to discuss two specific points: are town centres the right place for new shops, and can the small shop survive? Crowds of people turned up and much useful dialogue followed. But no firm conclusions were arrived at — and indeed there seemed to be some major disagreements between retailers themselves. Very little that emerged from the conference would be helpful in planning a national strategy for location, but it was a useful beginning in terms of improving the level of understanding between the two sides. The general consensus seemed to be that further conferences would certainly be a good idea.
How William Morrison uses its computer
Authors: Balaam Chris
Published: February 2008

William Morrison Supermarkets, which has 22 retail units in the north of England has been using an IBM System/3 computer for the past six years. The range of applications which it tackles are: purchase order accounting, payroll and personnel data, order handling and stock locations, stock accounting and nominal ledger. Chris Balaam of William Morrison described these applications at an International Retail Industry seminar organised by IBM in Rome recently.
Grocery: the suppliers put their case
Authors: Hornby
Published: February 2008

This paper by D R Hornby, President of the Food Manufacturers Federation, is based on the various issues which arose from the FMF conference in March. Firstly, it might be as well to ask what is meant by the title of the conference, ‘Food in the Balance’? Quite simply, in D R Hornby's view, it is the need to weigh up the many elements which go into running such a business from day to day, in order to reach a balance which is acceptable to a wide range of interests: the suppliers; the distributors of products; the Government; the employees; and the consumer. Not to mention the shareholders, who provide the funds needed in order to maintain and develop the fabric of the businesses, on which the future of the industry depends. Apart from the remarks made at the conference session, Mr Hornby also has something to say about the supplies of raw materials and packaging; about the pressures of competition in the markets in which food manufacturers operate; about industrial relations; and about the effects of Government intervention in their affairs.
Point of Sale:
Authors: Jones Gil
Published: February 2008

The application of electronic data processing at point of sale has been one of the most impact‐full events on the retail scene in the western world. Many retailers are still anxiously assessing the likely benefits — both soft and hard — while at the same time calculating the costs. Meanwhile they are watching with interest the progress of retail companies in America who, after initial setbacks and long delays, now seem to be experiencing positive advantages in POS developments. How much help have retailers had from the suppliers of POS equipment in guiding them through this dilemma? Not very much, asserts Gil Jones in this exclusive RDM feature. In particular he suggests that suppliers have not been sufficiently aware of the differing needs of retailers, and that there has been too little willingness to co‐operate with retailers in the development of systems on a co‐operative basis. But this feature is not to be taken simply as criticism; it is intended as constructive comment and even as a guide for suppliers in their future strategy. As Gil Jones writes — “The challenge … is immense, but the rewards are great.”
STORE IMAGE
Authors: McGoldrick Peter
Published: February 2008

There have been a number of studies of store image (especially in the US), some of which have thrown up useful definitions. But so far relatively little has been done to establish what difference may exist in image as far as different departments of a variety store are concerned. In this special feature, Peter McGoldrick discusses a survey carried out in a Manchester Marks & Spencer store which examined customers' perceptions of image, and looks at the implications for management.
Big ticket systems at Darty
Authors: de la Roche John
Published: February 2008

Darty is one of the most interesting French retail companies to emerge in recent years. Selling “white” and “brown” household appliances, it has quadrupled its turnover in four years and multiplied its profit by 7.5. It has installed an integrated merchandise management system in its stores in the Paris area, and this system is here described by the company's EDP Manager, in a paper presented to the NRMA International Conference on retail EDP strategies, recently held at Monte Carlo.
THE PLACE OF THE WHOLESALER IN DISTRIBUTION
Authors: Margaret Hall Lady
Published: February 2008

When this address was first delivered to the National Conference of the Federation of Wholesale and Industrial Distributors in July, Lady Margaret Hall took it upon herself to act as a catalyst. The tone of the article therefore is fairly rousing. In fact, it is an attempt to rouse the wholesale sector of British industry — a sector about which comparatively little is heard. She acknowledges the enormous contribution wholesalers make to the economy, but states that they need a louder voice, a more powerful means of making their needs and their importance felt. Her paper also emphasises the role wholesalers could play in bringing about an integrated distribution system; and she asks them to pick up the challenge now, before it is foreced on them by the energy crisis or successive governments.
Improving goods reception for urban delivery
Authors: Rushton AS
Published: February 2008

The problems of urban distribution and the need to confront them particularly at a time of escalating petrol costs, is one of the most urgent issues facing retailers and food suppliers today. Hence the conference held recently, organised by the National Materials Handling Centre, and entitled ‘Urban distribution — strategy for the future’. One of the major preoccupations was the conflict of interests which impedes progress; environmental lobbies, central and local planning, EEC legislation. However, this paper by Alan Rushton buries these differences beneath his overriding concern with the practical rather than the ideological aspect of the subject. His point of reference is a study which looked into the problems of high street delivery, producing a scale of importance for the various difficulties encountered, and assessing the likely success of the solutions available.
Using design as a strategic function
Authors: Brown Bryan
Published: February 2008

For too long design in the retail context has tended to be a superficial adjunct, concerning itself with decoration and colour style. Now it is evolving as a strategic weapon which can help the retailer meet the pressures of competition and improve profitability. In this special feature Bryan Brown describes some of the work AID has carried out recently: the new Food Hall at Bentalls in Kingston, in which AID co‐operated with Bentalls' management to create a new, upmarket selling image; the organisation of Debenhams' selling message into four clear themes; and finding a distinctive identity for a Belgian hypermarket chain.
Cash or card in the Eighties?
Authors: Ognjenovic Danica
Published: February 2008

The wind of change is blowing through the stores of this country, not least in terms of how we may be paying for our purchases in the coming decades. Electronic funds transfer was the subject of a seminar held recently by Retail Conferences (“Retail Cash Handling in the Eighties”), and one of the speakers there gave a run‐down of the evolution of commodity, coin and paper. How long before we swap paper for the plastic card? His criteria for the acceptance of these payment systems was that they were, at one time or another, convenient, secure and universally acceptable. Does the plastic card meet these requirements? Particularly on the last score, where it would have to be acceptable to the banks, the retailers and the consumer? And who pays for the experiments necessary before full implementation of EFTS? And what about the numbers among our population who do not at the moment have bank accounts? Can they be drawn into the system?
Voluntary groups: why do retailers leave them?
Authors: Livesey Frank , Nagy E.A.
Published: February 2008

Affiliated grocers on the whole tend to be well satisfied with group retailing, according to a study carried out by the authors. Nevertheless the loss of only a few percent of members over the year can amount to a considerable drain and could even outweigh new recruitment. The authors have carried out a study into why retailers leave voluntary groups, and this article summarises their findings.
ENERGY SAVING in transportation and engineering
Authors: Batstone W.V.C.
Published: February 2008

In 1980 diesel oil will cost the National Freight Corporation about £42 million, and other energy requirements an additional £71 million, representing an important part of its total operating costs. Any worthwhile savings that can be made will have a marked effect on profitability. Since the relative cost of diesel oil is likely to increase it is necessary to look at other aspects of the operation in order to bring about these savings. In this paper the author looks at three principal areas: methods of improving fuel consumption; an examination of the use of alternative fuels to find out if any of these are technically feasible; and to examine methods of fuel saving and energy in the operating branches of NFC companies.
Is there a credit card in the house?
Authors: Ognjenovic Danica
Published: February 2008

If the retailer was previously looking to credit to stretch the pockets of the consumer in these hard times, then he chose the wrong government under which to practice these tactics. Enforcement of the stern tenet of getting people to ‘live within their means’ is going to bite hard into the free‐spending habits of all credit card holders. In the mean time, what hopes does the retailer have for in‐house credit and what are the real possibilities it offers in the coming decades?
POS more evolution than revolution
Authors: Hawley G.W.
Published: February 2008

“Revolution” is a word much bandied about in retailing, often with rather more seeking after effect than accuracy. (Of course we never use it ourselves!). Particularly has it been applied to the emergence of point of sale data capture; has it in fact been as radical as originally anticipated? Recently criticisms have been made of the role of the equipment suppliers in this “failed” revolution. Allegations have been made that suppliers have given retailers too little help, that they failed to take account of the very different systems needs of a wide range of retailers, and that suppliers were expected by their American parent companies to offer products to a very different UK retail market. This article is by way of a response to those criticisms and an attempt to put the POS “revolution” in its proper perspective.