The paper examines the efficiency of bankruptcy forecast models in the Hungarian SME sector. We also try to construct own models using discriminant-analysis, logistical regression's, and neural network methods, based on a random sample, what we try to validate on a second sample.It has been proved that our own model can only be applied on the first sample with an outstanding result. It has also been proved that complicated statistical solutions themselves are not always applicable; there is a need for the expertise of an experienced economist.The research, of course, does not say that the bankruptcy-forecast methods used in literature have lost their trustworthiness completely. It just draws the attention to the fact that the economic circumstances of Hungarian SMEs can't be compared to that of big foreign companies. Therefore, the results of the indexes developed to the large enterprise sector cannot help accurate decision making in case of SMEs. Huge narrowing of the complexity of economic characteristics may lead to false results.

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The lean concept has been identified with large companies, serial production, and the automotive industry. The approach is growing in popularity and the SME sector is increasingly using it. It is also gaining ground in the service sector. An ever-accelerating world does not always provide opportunities for understanding the principles of lean prior its introduction; consequently, the expected results rarely materialize. During my research in the service industry SME, the in-depth interviews, questionnaire queries, and on-site crawls (gemba walks) I have completed confirmed the existence of an illusory lean that originates from a misinterpretation of the principles. Lean is used as a tool and not as a philosophy. For this reason, it does not bring the expected results. Through hotel industry examples in my research, I present the development possibilities of the process and the potential dangers of misinterpreting lean use.

Az Országos Tudományos Diákköri Konferenciákon (OTDK) több ezer hallgató vesz részt 16, tudományterületenként szer­vezett szekcióban, tartalmilag és módszertanilag igen sokszínű pályamunkák bemutatásával. A kétévente megrendezett esemény versenyjelleggel is bír, szakmai tagozatonként csak egyetlen dolgozat érhet el első helyezést, így jelentős fele­lősség hárul az értékelési folyamat résztvevőire. A TDK a felsőoktatási tehetséggondozás kiemelt, hét évtizedes hagyományokkal rendelkező terepe, ahol fiatal kutatók próbálják ki magukat: többségük számára ez az első alkalom, amikor külső szakmai visszajelzést kaphatnak munkájukra, ennek milyensége befolyással lehet pályájukra, a kutatáshoz való vi­szonyukra. A szerzők elemzésükben az értékelés szerepét és kihívásait vizsgálják az OTDK jelenleg legnagyobb, Közgazdaságtudományi Szekciójának tapasztalatai alapján, az írásbeli bírálatokra fókuszálva. Kiemelik a bírálati folyamat jellemzőit más felsőoktatási, illetve kutatási/publikációs értékelési helyzetekhez képest, megfogalmazzák az értékeléssel kapcsolatos elvárásokat, rámutatnak a főbb kihívásokra és a folyamat fejlesztésének irányaira. A tanulságok a tehetséggondozáson túlmutatóan a tudományos, oktatói-kutatói pályán előforduló más értékelési szituációk jobbítását is segíthetik.

Purpose: Generally in a factory it is not straight forward to discern the true, individual manufacturing costs. Thus, the necessity arouse for a calculation method that would collect and include relevant technical details along the way of each product. Design/Methodology/Approach: The data received could then get associated with the pertinent book-keeping records. An equation has been developed which combines the technical details of the production process with the relevant accounting data. The method is called Efficiency Based Costing (EBC). Findings: The EBC method, which incorporated essential processing details-such as product recovery, production rate, volume flow velocity through the production line, manhour input, the physical size of the products, and, of course, overheadsdelivered significantly differing manufacturing costs per unit volume for the individual products. Also, the exact value of wastes has been determined. Practical Implications: The efficiency based cost calculation (EBC) is a powerful tool in searching for the true individual processing costs. With the suggested equation it is possible to combine important technical details of the production process with the accounting data. Originality/Value: Using the EBC method, the minimum product selling price at any point of the production process can be computed. Product portfolio decisions and next year´s planning shall rely on more truthful data.

The usage of the terms the ’Fourth Industrial Revolution’ and its predominantly used synonym ‘Industry 4.0’ has curved upwards at a higher rate than the number of underlying interconnected production units. The concept of Industry 4.0 originates from a project on the high-tech strategy of the German government in 2011. This project promoted the computerization of manufacturing and it was a logical suggestion for the long-term competitiveness of the German economy. The fundamentals of an export-oriented economy need system-level development not to be disadvantaged in the global competition. Building all this on the most modern technologies can be defined as a traditional step. The umbrella term ’Industry 4.0’ has outgrown this step and in 2016 it became an independent agenda item of the World Economic Forum. In this study, with the help of a literature review, we examine which factors of this so-called fourth industrial revolution are similar and which factors are different compared to the previous industrial revolutions. Can the characteristics of industrial revolutions be identified? Is the impact complex and does it influence not only the technology but also the society, the politics, etc.? Whether the use of the term is substantiated or is it only an advanced, fashionable buzzer hanging all today’s forward-looking innovations on the same peg?

No abstract

A strong economy does not exist without an internationally competitive SME sector. But the resources of the SME sector and its management skills are often also limited. By developing this skills, the limited resources available can be utilized more efficiently, so the competitiveness of the companies could be improved.The lean approach as an attitude, common sense, does not require excessive resources, so they can be useful in the SME sector. This study analyses, how deeply the lean thinking are present in some division of the Hungarian SME sector, and make some comparisons between the divisions. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. SMEs' representatives, mostly CEOs and managers from some divisions of the Hungarian manufacturing industry participated in the survey. Out of the results it shows that the level of the lean usage is low among the Hungarian SMEs, so there are development reserves in the usage of lean practices. Strengthening thinking in processes beyond the factory, employee involvement and related leadership development can lead to efficiency gains, but it is important to note that without external experts a wider improvement is not expected. This requires a change of leadership, and state incentives are needed to accelerate this The background of the research method was created to fit the available literature so that to be able to be used in other countries. With that, the available information basis can be expanded with a regional dimension, in case further studies are made.