The data was gathered using the questionnaire presented in the first section of the Global Manufacturing Practices book. The file structure, variable names and field lengths used for coding the data are also described there. An introduction to the files and some information on the data from each country is included here. In addition to the data files, this disk also contains a data base utility program that allows the user to access the files. A brief description of that program is presented here also.

INTRODUCTION

The GMRG data base contains descriptions of manufacturing practices in the small machine tool and non-fashion textile industries from twelve different regions of the world. The twelve regions incorporate data from more than twenty countries. The data were compiled from surveys administered between 1985 and 1990. The data are distributed here in non-indexed dBASE III files, with a file for each region-industry combination.

A substantial amount of effort has gone into the coding of the data to assure that the formats are consistent for every file. In addition, an effort was made to make sure that the treatment of missing variables is consistent throughout. Any time this much data is pulled together, especially from around the world, inconsistencies may arise. As always, therefore, it is a good idea to do a quick visual check of the data before performing any analysis. If there are questions on the data from any region that are not answered in these files, we have provided the names and locations of the principal researcher(s) for each region.

In addition to checking data accuracy and consistency, this disk has been checked for viruses. However, neither the publisher, the editors, the Global Manufacturing Research Group, nor the authors make any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the usefulness of the data contained in these files or assumes any liability with respect to the use of, or for damages arising from the use of, the data contained herein.

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The utility program also permits the user to do some modification of the data: changes can be made, and even new records can be added. (In that case please copy the files to another disk or to your hard disk first, in order to maintain integrity of the original data.) The HELP.DBF file can be printed out with (Shift-)Print Screen if hard copy detail is desired.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE DATA FILES

The names of the data files identify the country (or region) and industry in which the data was gathered. All the data file names and their description are listed below. With only a couple of exceptions there is a textile and machine tool industry file for each region. The exceptions include both missing and added industries for some regions. Since all the data files are in dBASE III, each data file has a DBF extension.

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File Name	Country or Region	Industry
AUSTRALT.DBF	Australia	Textile
BULGARIM.DBF	Bulgaria	Machine tool
BULGARIT.DBF	Bulgaria	Textile
CHILEM.DBF	Chile	Machine tool
CHILET.DBF	Chile	Textile
CHINAM.DBF	People's Republic of China	Machine tool
CHINAT.DBF	People's Republic of China	Textile
EUROPEM.DBF	Western Europe	Machine tool
EUROPET.DBF	Western Europe	Textile
FINLANDE.DBF	Finland	Electronics
FINLANDM.DBF	Finland	Machine tool
HUNGARYM.DBF	Hungary	Machine tool
HUNGARYO.DBF	Hungary	Other*
HUNGARYT.DBF	Hungary	Textile
JAPANM.DBF	Japan	Machine tool
JAPANT.DBF	Japan	Textile
MEXICOM.DBF	Mexico	Machine tool
MEXICOT.DBF	Mexico	Textile
NAMERM.DBF	North America	Machine tool
NAMERT.DBF	North America	Textile
SKOREAM.DBF	South Korea	Machine tool
SKOREAT.DBF	South Korea	Textile
USSRM.DBF	USSR (before the breakup)	Machine tool
USSRT.DBF	USSR (before the breakup)	Textile

                                  

DATA DESCRIPTION

The development of the data in dBASE III format provided some advantages, but also incurred some costs. The advantages are related to the compactness of the files and the discipline necessary to create them. By having to specify the name, format and character of each variable exactly, data consistency was enhanced. On the other hand, many researchers prefer to use other programs for their data analysis work.

The dBASE III format can be imported directly into many popular spreadsheet and statistical analysis programs. This is the first step to try in attempting to communicate with other programs for data analysis. If the analysis program does not read the dBASE III files directly, then the dBASE III program can be used to produce ASCII files.

The principal researcher(s) that were responsible for data gathering and coding in each region are identified below. Also, certain files contain additional information. For example, in some cases the code numbers used to identify the company also identifies the location of the firm more specifically. Other files have additional explanatory information. Where such information is present, it is described below. If nothing appears except the name of the researcher, then there is no special information in the file(s). In general, information on company products, if any, will be found under PRODUCTS in the file.

Australia

The data from Australia came only from the textile industry. The principal researchers were: Professor Danny Samson, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Professor Amrik Sohal, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

Bulgaria

The principal researcher from Bulgaria was: Professor Pavel Dimitrov, University of National and World Economy, Sophia, Bulgaria.

Chile

The PRODUCTS field in the Chilean data base contains the number of products the firm produces. The principal researchers were: Professors Antonio E. K˘vacevic and J. Claudio Lopez, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

China

The data from the People's Republic of China were mostly gathered in the Shanghai region, but companies north and south of the Shanghai area were also included. The first digit of the code number used for each firm indicates the town or area where the firm is located. The coding used is presented below:

Code                  Town, Province or Area
100                 Shanghai
200                 Jiang-Shu and Zhe-Jiang provinces
300                 South China
400                 North China
500                 Chang-Zhou
600                 Outside Shanghai

The principal researchers were: Professor Xiao Cheng-Zhong, Shanghai Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai, China. Professor D. Clay Whybark, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Western Europe

The term, western Europe, is used here to distinguish it from eastern or central Europe. In fact, the data were collected only in northern European countries. The first (or first two) digits of the code number of each company indicates the country from which the data come. The coding used is shown below:

Code                            Country (Country region)
100                         England
140                         Scotland
160                         Ireland
200                         Sweden
300                         France
400                         West Germany (before reunification)
500                         Switzerland
600                         Austria
700                         Belgium
800                         The Netherlands

The principal researcher was: Professor D. Clay Whybark, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Finland

The files from Finland contain data on the machine tool industry and electronics industry. There is no textile industry data. The principal researcher was: Professor Allan Lehtim„ki, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Hungary

In addition to the files on the textile and machine tool industries in Hungary, there is an additional file that contains the same data on a variety of other companies. The description of the products produced by those companies are contained in the file. Also, the textile file contains information on companies that produce 'clothes.' They are firms 3, 5, 11, 12, 14, 59, 75, and 76. They are identified also in the PRODUCTS variable. The principal researcher was: Professor Attila Chik n, Budapest University of Economic Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.

Japan

The principal researcher from Japan was: Professor Toshihiro Murakoshi, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. Mexico These files include the name of each company surveyed and substantial information on the products produced by them. This data is included at the end of each record in two additional variables. The principal researchers were: Professors Arturo Macias and Felipe Burgos, University of the Americas, Puebla, Mexico. Professor Benito E. Flores, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.

North America

The North American data comes from Canada and several regions of the United States. The location of the company is included in the code number assigned to the firm. The coding used is shown below:

The principal researcher was: Professor D. Clay Whybark, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

South Korea

There are several variables in the Korean data files for which there are no responses. The principal researcher for South Korea was: Professor Boo-Ho Rho, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea.

USSR

There are notes on the safety stock values contained in a variable at the end of each record. The principal researchers were: Professors Alexander Ardishvili and Arthur V. Hill, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

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