”Bricks vs. Clicks”: The impact of manufacturer encroachment with a dealer leasing and selling of durable goods

In durable goods markets, many brand name manufacturers, including IBM, HP, Epson, and Lenovo, have adopted dual-channel supply chains to market their products. There is scant literature, however, addressing the product durability and its impact on players’ optimal strategies in a dual-channel supply chain. To fill this void, we consider a two-period dual-channel model in which a manufacturer sells a durable product directly through both a manufacturer-owned e-channel and an independent dealer who adopts a mix of selling and leasing to consumers. Our results show that the manufacturer begins encroaching into the market in Period 1, but the dealer starts withdrawing from the retail channel in Period 2. Moreover, as the direct selling cost decreases, the equilibrium quantities and wholesale prices become quite angular and often nonmonotonic. Among other results, we find that both the dealer and the supply chain may benefit from the manufacturer’s encroachment. Our results also indicate that both the market structure and the nature of competition have an important impact on the player’s (dealer’s) optimal choice of leasing and selling.

Bricks vs. clicks: Which is better for marketing remanufactured products?

The economical and environmental benefits are the central issues for remanufacturing. Whereas extant remanufacturing research focuses primarily on such issues in remanufacturing technologies, production planning, inventory control and competitive strategies, we provide an alternative yet somewhat complementary approach to consider both issues related to different channels structures for marketing remanufactured products. Specifically, based on observations from current practice, we consider a manufacturer sells new units through an independent retailer but with two options for marketing remanufactured products: (1) marketing through its own e-channel (Model M) or (2) subcontracting the marketing activity to a third party (Model 3P). A central result we obtain is that although Model M is always greener than Model 3P, firms have less incentive to adopt it because both the manufacturer and retailer may be worse off when the manufacturer sells remanufactured products through its own e-channel rather than subcontracting to a third party. Extending both models to cases in which the manufacturer interacts with multiple retailers further reveals that the more retailers in the market, the greener Model M relative to Model 3P.

Coal combustion residues valorisation:Research and development on compressed brick production

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on compressive strength of unfired compressed brick obtained with coal combustion residues (CCRs) produced by the Niger Coal Society. Preliminary physical and optical (XRD and SEM) characterisation of coal slag, including lixiviation tests, have been carried out. Cement powder, lateritic clayey soil and sand have been chosen as stabilizing agents for bricks. 12 dosages have been tested and about 300 bricks have been produced with a hand-operated press. Results show uniaxial compressive strengths (UCSs) ranging from 4 MPa to 27 MPa for the highest cement stabilisation ratio. UCS higher than 7.5 MPa have been observed for stabilisation with 20% of laterite +10% cement after 45 days of curing. Obtained bricks showed good mechanical resistance and low weight. No health threat has been detected for the obtained samples. Study developments are oriented towards the analysis of Pozzolanic properties of CCRs, properties of hydrated lime stabilisation, thermal properties and durability assessment.© 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coal Combustion Residuals valorisation through the production of compressed masonry brick

The Niger Coal Society (Societé Nigérienne de Charbon – SONICHAR) produces electricity for local consumption in Tefereyre, 75 km north-west from Agadez, Niger. The coal combustion residuals production is about 150,000 tons per year. In order to reduce this environmental burden and to valorize these by-products, a study focusing on their physical and chemical features as well as on the mechanical resistance of compressed brick has been undertaken. Physical characterization of coal slag, chemical and lixiviation tests have been carried out, assessing the material main parameters, verifying the presence of hazardous composites and elements and comparing the obtained results with the findings of an in-deep literary review. Cement powder has been chosen as stabilizing agent as a preliminary option. Four different dosages have been tested and bricks have been produced with a hand-operated press. Compressive strength has been tested at different days of curing. Results show remarkable uniaxial compressive strengths (UCS) for all the mixes after cure, ranging from 4MPa up to more than 20MPa for the highest stabilization ratio. UCS higher than 5MPa have been observed for 20% and 30% cement stabilization ratios after only 7 days of cure, reaching respectively about 11MPa and 13MPa after 45 days. In conclusion obtained bricks show good mechanical resistance and low weight. No health threat has been detected from the obtained sample. Study developments are oriented towards the feasibility of the utilization of low-cost, locally available stabilization means, notably clay and cohesive soils, and on thermal properties assessment.

Rehydroxylation Dating: Assessment for Archaeological Application

Investigations are carried out into the mass gain behaviour of fired clay ceramics following drying (130°C) and reheating (500°C), and the application of these mass gain properties to the dating of archaeological ceramics using a modified rehydroxylation dating (RHX) methodology, a component based approach. Gravimetric analysis is conducted using a temperature and humidity controlled glove box arrangement (featuring a top-loading balance) on eighteen samples of varied known ages and contexts; this occurs following transfer from environmentally controlled chambers where subsamples of these samples are aged at three temperatures (25°C, 35°C, 45°C) following drying and reheating. The sample set consists principally of post-medieval bricks, but also includes some post-medieval pottery as well as both Etruscan and Roman ceramics. A suite of techniques are applied to characterise these ceramics, including XRD, FTIR, p-XRF, thin-section petrography, BET analysis, TG-MS and permeametry.