Key success factor of lean six sigma implementation in oil and gas industry: Case study in MBU, strategic business unit of XYZ

Merdeka Business Unit (MBU) is subsidiary of XYZ, Inc in Indonesia.As a global oil and gas company, XYZ, Inc had been implementing Lean Six Sigma since 1990s and cascaded down to its business units gradually.Since its first deployment in 2000, MBU Lean Sigma experienced steady if not unsatisfactory performance looking at the acrrued financial benefit (AFB) only. But with new leadership and governance, it’s AFB rose to MM $46 (6 times) compared to average AFB in the past eleven years in 2011, MM$ 206 (30 times) in 2012, and MM $ 392 (57 times) in 2013.Within three years, MBU successfully occupying the top position among other business unit in XYZ,inc on its AFB achievement. This paper presents the strategy in reinventing MBU Lean Six Sigma, its governance, best practices. XYZ’s five component model, will be tested with existing Critical Success Factor developed by Jeyaraman,K. and Teo, L.K (2010) based on manufacturing company practices LSS in Malaysia with more than 80% corresponding factors. Five component model will then be used to analyze MBU LSS implementation and its performance during the period of 2000-2010 and find the root causes. In addition, this paper will outline best practices to revamp LSS implementation in MBU and its Lean Six Sigma Success implementation Mode

How Nuclear Power Plants in Spain are reacting to the Massive Introduction of Renewable Energy

This paper analyses the evolution of the bidding strategies of nuclear power plants on the Spanish day-ahead auction market, over the 11-year period from 2002 until December 2012. During that time the proportion of renewable energy especially wind and solar power increased dramatically. At the outset the nuclear plants offered almost all their production at zero cost; by the end, several were offering about 5% of their production at about 91 euro per MWh compared to the market ceiling price of 180.3 euro per MWh. This change in bidding strategy effectively increased the average wholesale price of electricity, leading to an overall increase in the revenues to power sellers of about $200 million euros per year in 2010 -2012, compared to what it would have been had they offered all their production at zero -cost. These results have important policy implications for regulatory authorities

Pengaruh Pengalaman, Komitmen dan Orientasi Etika pada Sensitivitas Etika Auditor

Ethical sensitivity is very important and capabilities needed by the auditors in performing their duties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of experience, professional commitment, organizational commitment, idealism, and relativism on ethical sensitivity auditor Public Accountant Office in Bali. Experience is measured by position, long work, improving skills and training ( Gusnardi, 2003). Commitment can be divided into professional and organizational commitment (Bline et al, 1991). Ethical orientation shaped by idealism and relativism (Forsyth, 1980). The study was conducted in 2013. The data was collected using a questionnaire. The number of samples in this study were 60 auditors and selected by purposive sampling method, which has a minimum of 1 year of audit experience. The analysis technique used is multiple linear regression. The research instrument has passed the test of validity and reliability. Regression models also have passed the test of classical assumptions. Statistical analysis showed that the variables of experience, professional commitment, organizational commitment, idealism, and relativism effect on ethical sensitivity. Adjusted R Square value of 0.820 indicates that the variation in changes in ethical sensitivity auditor Public Accountant Office in Bali is determined by experience, professional commitment, organizational commitment, idealism, and relativism by 82 percent, while the remaining 18 percent is determined by other factors. Keywords: Sensitivity ethics, experience, commitment, Orientation Ethics, and Public Accounting Firm in Bal

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of some herbal essential oils against Streptococcus mutans

Background and aims: One of the most common chronic diseases in the world is tooth decay. A variety of bacteria are involved in this disorder of which Streptococcus mutants is the most common. Essential oils are considered as new natural compounds for use in combating drug-resistant bacteria. This study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of some essential oils prepared from Eucalyptus caesia Benth, Cuminum cyminum L. and Satureja hortensis L. on S. mutants. Methods: In this study, essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method. E. caesia Benth, C. cyminum L. and S. hortensis L. were characterized by using gas chromatography‒mass spectrophotometry (GC‒MS). Antibacterial activity indices including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and zone of inhibition for the above essential oils against Streptococcus mutans were determined using broth macro-dilution and disk diffusion methods. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. Results:Results showed that all three extracts had antibacterial activity against S. mutants. S. hortensis L. essential oil with the lowest MIC and MBC value (13.2 and 18.4 µg/ml, respectively) and the biggest inhibition zone showed the strongest antibacterial effect against S. mutants in all exposure times and at all concentrations, compared with two other essential oils. Furthermore, C. cyminum L. essential oil had higher anti-bacterial activity against S. mutant than E. caesia Benth essential oil. Conclusions:The essential oils used in the present study with different components showed antibacterial activity (especially S. hortensis L essential oil), and therefore they can be used as a new antibacterial substance. Keywords: Dental caries, Streptococcus mutans, Essential oils, Antimicrobial

A sexual difference in the chromosomes of two species of agamid lizards

The diploid number of chromosomes in Calotes versicolor is 34 in the male and 33 in the female. The numerical difference in the two sexes is based on the condition of the sex chromosome; in the male it is present as a homologous pair, while in the female it remains unpaired. The sex chromosome was identified as one of the micro-chromosomes (the chromosome No. 7) in this species. Sitana ponticeriana possesses the diploid number of 46 in the male and 45 in the female. The sex chromosome identified in this form is also one of the micro-chromosomes (chromosome No. 13), which has no partner in the female, whereas in the male it is in the paired state having a homologous mate. It was established therefore that, in both species studied, the female is heterogametic as regards the sex chromosome. The chromosome complement of Calotes versicolor consists of 12 V-shaped macro-chromosomes and 22 dot-like micro-chromosomes, while in Sitana ponticeriana there are 24 rod-shaped macro-chromosomes and 22 dot-like micro-chromosomes. The difference in the karyotypes of these two species can be accounted for on the basis of the formation of V-shaped multiple chromosomes by means of the fusion of two rods at the point of fibre attachment. The karyological relationships in the Family Agamidae were discussed. The chromosome number previously reported for Uromastix hardwicki was found to be erroneous; the diploid number in this species is 34

Dynamics of Matrix-Fracture Coupling During Shale Gas Production

In this work, a dynamic permeability model for organic-rich shale matrix is constructed and implemented into a flow simulation to investigate the impact on production. Effective stress and molecular transport effects on the permeability are considered during the flow in the matrix. Using a sector model with a single hydraulically-induced fracture, we investigate the dynamic nature of fracture-matrix coupling during the first year of production. The proposed apparent permeability shows improved transport near the fracture due to adsorption capacity of the rock and molecular transport of the adsorbed phase. This fosters drainage and leads eventually to a larger cumulative production. Away from the fracture, however, within the region of depletion, sensitivity to the stress is more pronounced which may impair the local permeability and reduce the production. Overall the shale matrix typically yields more fluid than that with the constant-permeability case. When the fracture-matrix coupling is considered during the production, an infinite conductivity fracture has negligible effect on the production trends, and that production optimization efforts should focus to considerations to improve the flow rates in the matrix

Kebijakan Pertahanan Indonesia terhadap Pulau-Pulau Kecil Terluar sebagai Beranda Depan Kedaulatan Negara: Pada Masa Pemerintahan Joko Widodo

Dari 17.506 lebih pulau, 92 di antaranya adalah pulau-pulau kecil terluar yang berbatasan laut langsung dengan 10 negara lain yakni Malaysia, Singapura, Filipina, Vietnam, Thailand, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Republik Palau, Australia, dan India. Dari 92 pulau tersebut, menurut Badan Nasional Pengelola Perbatasan (BNPP), ada 12 pulau-pulau kecil terluar yang rawan secara pertahanan dan keamanan karena merupakan titik koordinat terluar. Kekalahan Indonesia dalam memperebutkan Pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan juga menjadi salah satu titik terhadap kesadaran negara tentang pentingnya pulau-pulau kecil terluar. Dengan kehadiran Joko Widodo bersama Doktrin Poros Maritim Dunia, menjadikan pulau-pulau kecil terluar sebagai kajian strategis bagi penyusunan kebijakan pertahanan Indonesia. Penelitian ini merupakan upaya untuk menggambarkan kebijakan pertahanan yang diterapkan Indonesia terhadap pulau-pulau kecil terluar sebagai beranda kedaulatan negara. Dengan menggunakan konstruktivisme, penulis melihat adanya kekuatan ide yang dituangkan Joko Widodo melalui Doktrin Poros Maritim Dunia, yang kemudian membentuk wajah baru Indonesia dalam memperlakukan pulau-pulau kecil terluar yang merupakan salah satu komponen penting pada sektor maritim. Konsep maritime security juga digunakan penulis dalam menganalisa kebijakan pertahanan karena mengingat militer tetap menjadi satu bagian penting dalam menjaga kedaulatan wilayah NKRI, khususnya di wilayah perbatasan. Dengan menggunakan metode wawancara dan telaah pustaka, penulis menyajikan penelitian ini dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Dari penelitian yang dilakukan, ditemui bahwa Joko Widodo berhasil menuangkan idenya ke dalam kebijakan pertahanan Indonesia, bahkan hingga melahirkan berbagai peraturan nasional yang berpatok pada UNCLOS 1982. Joko Widodo juga berhasil menggerakkan Kementerian/Lembaga terkait yakni Kementerian Pertahanan, Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan, dan Badan Nasional Pengelola Perbatasan untuk menjalankan perannya di pulau-pulau kecil terluar. Namun demikian, pemerintahan Joko Widodo masih jauh dari kata aktif dalam keterlibatannya di forum internasional untuk membawa isu pulau-pulau kecil terluar.From more than 17.506 islands, 92 among them are the outermost small islands which have sea border with ten neighbor states including Malaysia, Singapura, Phillippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Palau, Australia and India. According to The National Agency for Border Management (BNPP), from 92 of the outermost small islands above, 12 are having the vulnerability in security and defense because they were in the outermost coordinate point. After The International Court of Justice decided that sovereignty over Sipadan and Ligitan Island belongs to Malaysia, Indonesia puts the outermost small islands as one of the most important issues. Joko Widodo with his Global Maritime Axis Doctrine puts the outermost small islands as strategic studies in defense policy. This research aims to describe Indonesian defense policy of Joko Widodo's era toward the outermost small islands as state sovereign verandah. By using constructivism, the author saw that Joko Widodo’s ideas of Global Maritime Axis Doctrine have shaped Indonesian new forms toward how it treat the outermost small islands which one of the most important components in maritime. The author also using maritime security concept to analyze Indonesia defense policy because military existence still plays an important role in protecting Indonesian sovereignty, especially in the border region. By using research methods of interviews and literature review, this research presented in a qualitative approach. Through this research, the author found that Joko Widodo transfers his idea in Indonesian defense policy successfully, and moreover can make some national constitutions which are based on UNCLOS 1982. The Ministry and/or Institution under Joko Widodo's era, such as Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and The National Agency for Border Management also played their roles into the outermost small islands. Even though, Indonesian defense policy in Joko Widodo's era still far from involvement into the international forum to bring the outermost small islands issues