Experiments are conducted to find out the tensile properties of short sun hemp, banana, and sisal fiber reinforced composites. Length of these natural fibers and fiber weight are varied and are impregnated in polyester resin to prepare tensile test specimen. Optimum values of fiber length and fiber weight ratios are found through experimental results. Analysis is done on these results.

Purpose -Prevailing information asymmetry in business processes alters the market dynamics. Quality uncertainty ensues from this phenomenon. Philosophy of information economics is implemented to correlate total quality management (TQM) practices in industry with quality perceived by customers. Quality perception, a newly coined term, is discussed at length, along with causal factors. This paper aims to provide a system dynamics framework for quality perception and to investigate the role of the changing level of market-side enablers on quality perception. Design/methodology/approach -System dynamics is used for modeling and analysis. To realize the impact of information asymmetry on quality perception, simulation runs are carried out for an Indian case. Findings -Enablers, such as advertising, word-of-mouth, rebate, warranty and guarantee, mitigate the effect of information asymmetry on quality perception, and commensurately translate TQM to market value.Research limitations/implications -The study of some aspects of information asymmetry and quality perception is attempted. Further study is required to understand repercussions of information asymmetry on the complete supply chain processes. Practical implications -The model has a practical relevance to implement quality perception enhancement by deciding upon the policy mix. Originality/value -With quality perception defined and modeled, the paper attempts market orientation to quality paradigm.

Short sun hemp and palmyra fiber reinforced polyester composites are developed using varied fiber lengths and weight ratio. The variation of tensile load at break with varied fiber length and varied weight ratios has been studied. The optimum length of fiber and optimum weight ratios of respective fibers are found in this experimental study.

In Indian manufacturing environment today total productive maintenance (TPM) is popular philosophy; already has been adopted by many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) particularly in automobile sector. For vendors of these OEMs either it is recommended or made mandatory to adopt the TPM concepts. With all these activities going in industries major portion of the entire manufacturing sector has become familiar with the TPM concepts. Many of the activities carried in these industries are observed parallel and repetitive type. This includes small modifications in equipment done on the shop floor as part of TPM implementation. Strangely even in some newly purchased equipment also modifications are observed on the shop floor. It clearly indicates that at design stage only customer requirement for adaptation of equipment in TPM culture; has to be considered by equipment manufacturer. On the other side these requirements has to be identified before procurement of equipment by the equipment buyers. With these background observed the need for development of new tool Design for TPM.

Purpose -Total quality management (TQM) at the industry end along with quality function deployment (QFD) molds product quality. It flows to the customer at the market end with a value called quality perception, embedding the concept of probability of acceptance and quality uncertainty. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and validate the existence of upcoming term "quality uncertainty" in the backdrop of information asymmetry. Design/methodology/approach -Theories of probability and reliability engineering are used for mathematical modeling and analysis. Fault tree and success tree method is specifically applied to analyze quality uncertainty and quality perception at the market end. Findings -Quality perception is an outcome of combined probability of information symmetry and TQM or product quality, whereas its inverse is quality uncertainty. Determining quality perception or uncertainty of any product type is possible in a market scenario, and its impact on product life cycle and company revenue can be accessed accordingly.Research limitations/implications -The model proposed here helps compute information symmetry and quality perception at the market end. More data exploration methods can be investigated to apply this model precisely in real life setting. Practical implications -It is of equal importance to measure quality uncertainty due to information asymmetry and commensurate revenue loss to the company. Based on this, a policy mix of maneuvering for quality perception enhancement can be developed at both ends of supply chain processes. Originality/value -With quality perception defined and modeled, the paper attempts market orientation to quality paradigm. It adds a new dimension to quality management.