Paraphrase 31

2.1. The use of systems engineering to projects as described in “Bulk Packaging of Cement in India”:
In order for projects to be successful, the systems engineering aspect or process should be well-planned. A system is a composition of interrelated, interacting and interdependent constituents that make up an integrated whole. Thus, systems engineering is a process that involves a multitude of disciplines in the aim of ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the life cycle of a system. Systems engineering mainly centers on identifying the needs of the customer as well as identifying the functionality needed in the early development cycle. It also identifies the required documenting processes, the validation of systems and the synthesis of designs. Systems engineering researchers will have to find solutions to systems problems, which could include training, performance, costs, operations, schedule, disposal and manufacturing.
The manufacturing and packaging of cement involves many processes and equipment. The system of packaging cement involves the use of conveyors, pumps, packing machines and transportation systems among others. In order to ensure the success of these processes, monitoring and maintenance of systems is imperative. As stated earlier, systems engineering ensures that these quality control procedures are practiced. System engineering ensures that no process will fail so as to assure quality products, to maintain safety measures and to ensure efficient transport of products.
2.2. Issues in the manufacture and national distribution of cement and suggestions for dealing with these issues:
To ensure the success of bulk packaging of cement in India, certain considerations should be addressed. Bulk packaging of cement is a new method that is adopted by some cement plants in India. As such, the state of the technology used and the operations practiced by the plants should be studied. Furthermore, certain social, topographical, and economic issues should be tackled.
Some of the prime issues are the following:
A) Transportation to far locations.
Transportation is a prime issue in bulk packaging because certain forms of transportation could be more costly. For example, rail transport of goods was found to be more cost-effective compared to road transport. Moreover, the cost of road transport for consumption sites more that 340 kilometers away from the cement plant was found to be uneconomical.
Transport to long distance consumption sites may not be as cost-effective in comparison to short distance transports. However, the transport of goods to retail centers in short as well as long distances is imperative to ensure efficient marketing and consumption. Primarily, cement plants could focus on consumption sites in nearer locations for cheaper transport costs. The plants could also choose to establish consumption sites in semi-rural areas, which are near the plants as well as the consumers. This would also lead to a lower cost of transportation. On the other hand, manufacturers should consider using rail transport for long-distance locations since these were found to be more cost-effective. Through this, long-distanced retail centers and consumers will be able to avail and experience the quality of the product. This would help for better marketing of the product.
B) Equipment used and plant layout.
The layout of the plant, also known as the floor plan, is imperative in that it designates the arrangement or positions of the equipment or machinery of the plant. With an efficient floor plan, the flow of raw materials in processing to the shipment of products will be faster, easier and more efficient. As a result, operational costs will be lower and the amount of handling will be lesser.
In India, the possibility of sole bulk packaging of cement is inefficient because small-scale consumers will not be served. As such, cement manufacturers should employ equipment for bulk and bag packaging. Equipment and machineries could be of different sizes and will affect the plant layout. An efficient plant layout for this mixed packaging is therefore imperative because this will make the arrangement of the different sets of equipment more functional and organized.
C) Small-scale consumers
As stated earlier, small-scale consumers are an important aspect of the market. In India, perhaps the largest consumer of cement is the government. Thus, bulk packaging could be efficient for delivery to them. However, in the case of small-scale consumers, bag packaging of cement will allow them to avail of the product. Small-scale consumers form a large population in the cement market, and therefore, their needs and requirements should also be recognized.
Bulk packaging has been started by certain private sectors. However, newer systems for cement packaging and handling should allow for both bulk and bag processing. For example, facilities for loading and unloading plants as well as bulk carrier designs should be improved to be cost-efficient in handling both bag and bulk products.
2.3. Indian infrastructures compared to Australian infrastructure.
Australian machinery for cement production are expectedly modern, well-organized and extremely automated. As a result, the number of human laborers in Australian cement plants are lesser compared to the number of laborers in Indian cement plants. Australian construction industries widely use ready-mix cements and thus, the demand for bulk-packaged cement is high. If there should be a demand for bag-packaged cement, it is very minimal. Further...