Technological substitution: the potential of plastic as primary packaging material in the US brewing industry

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6445993

Roeleveld, J J

This dissertation develops a general model of technological substitution that could be of help to planners and decision makers in industry who are faced with the problems created by continual technological change. The model as presented differs from existing models in the theoretical literature because of its emphasis on analyzing current and potential technologies in an attempt to understand the underlying factors contributing to technological substitution. The general model and the cost model that is part of it belong to that step in the interactive planning cycle called the formulation of the mess. The methodology underlying the cost model is a combination of life-cycle analysis (i.e., from raw materials in nature, through all intermediate products, to waste returned to the environment) and resoumetrics, which is an engineering approach to measuring all physical inputs required to produce a certain level of output. The models are illustrated with a specific field of interest: substitution of primary packaging technologies in the US brewing industry. The physical costs of packaging beer in different containers are compared. Strategic considerations for a brewery deciding to adopt plastic packaging technology are discussed. Attention is given to another potential fruitful application of the model in the field of technology transfer to developing countries.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania Univ., Philadelphia (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6445993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290500* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
BEVERAGE INDUSTRY
COST
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INDUSTRY
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NORTH AMERICA
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
USA