other

Move Production to Private Sector

[an economics and systems engineering challenge]

[Summary & Motivation] [Community] [Specifications] [Issues] [Contacts] [Pictures]

Summary & Motivation	Project Initiator: ATS Start Date: Early 2005 Projected Completion Date: Not applicable Current Status: Ideas stage ATS was originally planned as an engineering group that would develop ideas that could be marketed to entrepreneurs for further refinement and production. When the government absorbed the group in the 1980's, the group's philosophy was forced to change. The government wanted to see ATS turn a profit, meaning that the group had to start producing and selling products based on its designs. Since then, demand has kept well ahead of local production capabilities. In 2005, ATS was still filling orders that had been filed back in 2003. The workshop at ATS is also of limited size, and the machinery is lacking. Production was never meant to occur at the actual ATS facilities, and such work slows the research and development of new project ideas. The Chief Engineer, Ntate D.S. Phakisi, has been looking for different ways to develop a private sector production of ATS designs. Such a set up would benefit both the public and private sectors, as small businessmen could start their own production businesses while ATS attends to the design of new items. [top]
Community	This public-to-private production scheme would involve local entrepreneurs, the government, and ATS. [top]
Specifications	Must allow ATS to focus on engineering rather than production Must be approved by Lesotho government Must allow private entrepreneurs to make a profit [top]
Issues	ATS has tried to introduce legislation allowing more independence with little success. Currently, four outside contractors have been hired to produce household solar dryers. After their contract expires, they will be starting their own business selling solar dryers. This attempt is one of the first at privatization. Help is needed in the following areas: Developing a detailed summary of the best way to proceed with privatization. Looking at quality assurance and standardization issues. [top]
Contacts	Project Leader: D.S. Phakisi MIT Contact: Matt Zedler <mzedler@MIT.edu> ATS Contact: D.S. Phakisi <phakisids@ats.org.ls> Website (If applicable):   [top]
Pictures	PICTURES Description (Name) [Date] Download Workshop Photo Album Pictures taken in the workshop showing the limited space and tool availability, both of which limit the production capabilities of ATS (M. Zedler) [8.31.05] *.html (Link) [top]

*.pdf - Portable Document File / *.doc - Document (Microsoft Word) / *.jpg - Joint Photographic Experts Group (Browser) / *.zip - WinZip Compressed File (WinZip)

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