An apprenticeship study on Juboken Enterprises, Inc.

Date

2004

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Tan, Reynaldo L.

Abstract

An apprenticeship study a Juboken Enterprise, Inc. focused on the four areas of management, which are personnel, production, finance and marketing. The company is manufacturing geotextile nets out of coco fiber and other products out of coco coir and coco peat. The apprenticeship study has provided the apprentice insights on the operations of an agribusiness firm. The study was conducted in order for the student to gain experience and deeper insights in running coco coir and coco peat production plant. Specifically, the study aims to: 1) gain hands-on experience on the management-related activities of Juboken Enterprise, Inc. and be able to write about this experience; 2) compare the actual activities the company undertook/undertakes with the standard practices in the same industry and be able to explain the deviations; 3) identify and assess the problems and opportunities the business is faced with and 4) to formulate feasible recommendations for more efficient management and/or operation of the business. The primary data were gathered through accounted daily notes, personal observations inquiries and interviews regarding the production practices, technology and equipments used in processing, marketing practices, sources of financing was asked by the student. Secondary data were obtained through various published materials gathered from different government agencies and company handouts and manuals. Coco coir, a durable fiber extracted from discarded coconut husks, is now widely used as a basic material in making mats, mats or carpets rolled out as protective covers for soils, slopes and other degraded earth surfaces. They are extensively used to rehabilitate deserts, enhance green golf courses and prevent soil erosion in riverbanks and highways. coco coir is preferred over concrete bricks and peat moss because it is cheaper, renewable and completely organic. The coconut coir is used from coconut fiber log with coconut netting that helps prevent the wave energy from eroding more of the bank. It is also a multi-purpose soil conditioner and growing medium wherein it is used for landscape plants and grasses since the fiber has natural rooting hormones and good-water holding capacity. This practicum was conducted from October 20 to November 11, 2003 over total of 160 hours were accumulated. An overview of the coco coir industry was presented and problems regarding the factors affecting the operations of the firm were identified through SWOT analysis and the constraints and opportunities that operations/departments were identified; and were given corresponding recommendations in order for the company to work more effectively. Financial ratios to evaluate the financial condition of the company and its past operation performance. Juboken Enterprise, Inc., is one of the pioneers in the design and manufacturing of coco-geotextile products, which are erosion nets that are made of coco fiber, twines woven into high strengths of mats for extreme slope stabilization and rehabilitation of degraded lands. they also manufacture fascines/gabions and coco peat that at as planting medium for the growth of both functional and ornamental vegetation. Major problems in the different of management were noted. The critical problem noted was how to overcome the uncompetitiveness to compete with Sri Lanka products due to high international shipping charges. It is recommended that the company choose a contract carrier or independent organization that is selling transportation services on a contract basis. Or another way of solving the problem in high international shipping charges is by making a one-time shipment and then rent or establish a warehouse in the importing country like China. Either of the two strategies that the company chooses and implements, it will surely help them in making their shipping rates lower than what they used to pay and they don't have to price their products high just to compensate with the high international shipping charges. Because of this, they can now compete with Sri Lanka products. After being exposed to the real working environment for almost a month, there are important finding and observations that provided the apprentice the insights about what it was like to be working in an agribusiness firm like Juboken Enterprise, Inc. It enabled the apprentice to immerse herself in a real working environment and made the apprentice understand the real situation, importance and needs of the agribusiness firm, its management practices and how it operates. It also taught apprentice to be responsible and have deeper perspective of a real working environment. The apprentice was also able to apply the knowledge she learned from the university and integrate this knowledge to be able to understand the flow of discussion of the management. Because of this, the apprentice even came up with suggestion and recommendations for the company regarding the marketing, production and personnel aspect that she took into consideration.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993 2004 M17 B35

Document Type

Thesis

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