How Businesses Utilize Contract Manufacturing

How Businesses Utilize Contract Manufacturing Contract Manufacturing is not one of the most popular terms. More likely than not, you are one of the people who don’t know exactly what it is or how it works. Don’t worry, because you’re not alone.There are a lot of people who don’t know the first thing about it. Others are not even aware of what it is for. They may reach a point where they understand that it is a very important business concept, but when asked how businesses use contract manufacturing in reality, they’d be stumped for an answer. Let us try to address that lack of knowledge with this discussion on contract manufacturing, and how it is utilized by businesses.CONTRACT MANUFACTURING DEFINEDYou may have heard of another more popular term closely associated with, and often used interchangeably with “contract manufacturing”, which is “outsourcing”. As you probably know, outsourcing is the business practice of transferring portions of work to outside sources and suppliers, instead of completing the whole work within the company, resulting in lower costs and expenses. Now, are you getting a vague idea about contract manufacturing?Contract manufacturing is a form of outsourcing where a manufacturer enters into an arrangement or formal agreement with another manufacturing firm for parts, products or components, which the former will then use in its own manufacturing process, to complete its own product. This is why the term “subcontracting” also applies in this case. Incidentally, the primary party involved in this business practice is known as the “contract manufacturer” or CM.Usually, the CM is the manufacturer that creates, builds or makes the products for other companies or firms. In some cases, CM may also be used to refer to specialized firms that provide contract manufacturing services to more than one business organization. Either they come up with a product design or concept, or they use the ones created by Company A, and have Company B manufacture the product (or some of its parts or components), under the brand or label of Company A. In other words, the CM acts as the bridge that connects the two firms together.A typical contract manufacturing setup goes like this: the company procures the products or services manufactured by a third-party CM, supplier or service provider, and subsequently incorporates the procured products or services into its own products and services. Then it uses its own marketing, sales and distribution, and customer service to bring the final prod uct to the end-users or consumers.We often hear about large labels and well-known brands having their goods or products produced or manufactured by another firm. The question that goes through their mind is something along the lines of “should we make it, or should we buy it instead?” If they decide to buy it, that’s a classic example of contract manufacturing.The next issue would center on how contract manufacturing is utilized by businesses. You’ll get to understand that better once you learn about the various forms of contract manufacturing, and its advantages and benefits.WHAT ARE THE FORMS OF CONTRACT MANUFACTURING?There are several forms of contract manufacturing, and this is mainly attributed to the fact that the nature of businesses and their operations also vary. The most common forms are described below.Production of complete goods entirely by one firm for another, under the brand or label of the latter. Also referred to as “private label manufacturing,” this w as the example mentioned earlier. For example, Taiwanese company Foxconn Technology Group is the world’s largest contract manufacturing company when it comes to electronics, having manufactured products such as the iPhone for Apple, the Kindle Fire for Amazon, and the XBox One for Microsoft.Production of parts or components by one firm, to be used by the CM in the completion of products. This is a practice common among tech and electronic companies. For example, large companies that manufacture computer hardware use contract manufacturing for the smaller computer parts and components that are, in turn, manufactured by other firms. One example we can cite is Deerfield Machine Parts, a CM based in Deerfield, New Jersey, specializing in the fabrication of plastic tubing, aluminum and rubber, to name a few. Manufacturers in the automotive and marine industries enter into contract manufacturing agreements with Deerfield, so the latter will make these components, which will be incorpora ted in the final products of its clients.Hiring of service or labor force. It is also possible to subcontract for labor. If you do not have enough manpower in your own company to carry out the production process smoothly and quickly, then you can outsource labor. If you are familiar with how large companies in the United States set up factories in Asia for the manufacture of their products, and subcontracting the labor forces of Asian human resource companies, then that is an example of this form of contract manufacturing. (Of course, this has been met with largely negative reactions, particularly when the issue on “sweat shops” came about.) The issue on these sweat shops aside, one example we can cite is Flex, which provides design, manufacturing, distribution and aftermarket services to its clients. One of its most notable clients is Apple. One reason why full-scale manufacturers opt to deal with CMs is the fact that CMs are experts in their specific fields. This aspect on spe cialization requires them to continuously hone those specific skill sets to the point that even the manufacturers will not be able to match the quality of their work.Usage of a manufacturing equipment or facility. The principle is basically the same. If you do not have the equipment or even facility to manufacture your product, you can transact with a CM for the use of his facility.WHY DO BUSINESSES ADAPT CONTRACT MANUFACTURING?Make or buy decisions can be quite tough to make. Often, feasibility studies are conducted to arrive at this decision, for management to see which option will benefit them more.From the standalone definitions of outsourcing and contract manufacturing, one glaring benefit can be noticed, and that is the reduction of costs and expenditure on the part of the company. But is that the only reason why businesses choose to utilize contract manufacturing?No, it’s not.For many companies, especially those that are only starting their operations or are currently facin g shortages in resources, contract manufacturing may be the answer to their problems. Essentially, contract manufacturing is used by manufacturing companies in supply chain management, marketing or brand-building, cost minimization, and product quality improvement.Let us go over the reasons that make contract manufacturing a tempting prospect for businesses.Reduction of costs.As much as possible, businesses would like to lower costs and expenses, since this would mean higher efficiencies and also higher net income appearing on their financial statements.This cost reduction is mostly attributed to two benefits arising from contract manufacturing.Fewer resources utilized. If you have another firm manufacture the product, or some of its parts, instead of manufacturing them internally, it means that you won’t have to spend on operational and maintenance costs of manufacturing machines and equipment. In the first place, you won’t even have to purchase any of those expensive machines and equipment, since you won’t be using them anyway. This is in the same manner that you are spared from having to purchase, and maintain inventory on raw materials and supplies to be used in the manufacture of the parts, since those will be shouldered by the firm that you contracted.Lower labor costs. Since you won’t be manufacturing the product or its components, you won’t be spending on the labor needed for it. Let us say, for example, that manufacturing a certain part will require a team composed of at least 3 people. If you outsource the production of that part, you don’t have to pay for the salaries and wages and other benefits for at least 3 people. The same principle applies when you think about the number of people that the company must keep in its employ. As the full-scale manufacturer that left most of the production functions to a CM, you can maintain a lean workforce.There is another factor at play that will aid in the reduction of costs, and that has something to do with economies of scale. Since CMs have more than one or two clients they make the same product for, it is possible for them to come up with ways and means to perform mass production.Mass production will enable them to sell the products at a lower selling price, which translates to lower costs for the full scale manufacturer or company using the CM.Improved allocation of resources and greater focus on core areas.Remember the resources and labor that you were able to save? You can then allocate those resources to other aspects of the operations of the business. You can afford to spend more on advertising, for example. Maybe you can upgrade your marketing plan for your product, since you were able to free some resources when you entered into a contract manufacturing agreement.If we look at the labor portion, the 3 workers that were freed from manufacturing the part may be assigned to another phase of the production process, or given another task altogether. Again, that means tha t you can keep your production team lean, and you can better assign the resources where they are most needed.Some companies may even consider marketing and selling as their core competencies. If your company uses this model, you’d take the opportunity to focus on these core competencies by entering into a contract manufacturing agreement. Instead of hiring manufacturing workers, you can instead strengthen your sales and marketing team.Streamlined business relationships.Depending on the nature of the business and the products being manufactured, the supply chain can be anywhere from simple to complicated. One of the factors that complicate this is the number of players or links in that chain.It is possible for a company to have to deal or transact with multiple suppliers for all the raw materials used in the production process. That is not to mention the distributors, dealers, shipping and warehousing companies, and all the other agents that act as middlemen in one capacity or anot her.You can keep things sparer and simpler if you use a CM. Instead of personally having to deal with all those suppliers and middlemen, you’re basically going to leave that in the hands of the CM.Reduction of manufacturing time.If you choose contract manufacturing for a certain part of your product, you will be considerably reducing the whole production period of the product. You already have another firm working on the manufacture of that part, so all you have to do is make sure that those parts are on hand when you need them to be placed in your own process of producing the final product.Reduced manufacturing time also results to faster delivery of the final products or service to your customers. Speed to market will be increased. This is especially beneficial for companies that manufacture and sell products with very high demand.Increased innovation and improved quality of the product.When a manufacturer looks for a third party to produce a component or a whole product under i ts label or brand, it will definitely make sure that the latter provides quality output. Therefore, usually, the third party that it will outsource the job to specializes in the manufacture of that specific component.In that regard, the CM is seen as a specialist or expert in the manufacture and delivery of the product or service. This ensures that the component to be used will be of top quality, and so will the final product. In view of this, companies that want to foster innovation are more likely to resort to outsourcing.It is also generally assumed that CMs leverage the most advanced technology in their manufacturing processes, and this will make it even more possible for quality of the final product to be improved.Improved name or brand recognition and reputation.If you are able to keep up the production of high quality products, thanks to the contract manufacturing setup that you utilized, this will ensure that the market will have a favorable impression of your product and yo ur brand.WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES OF CONTRACT MANUFACTURING?But contract manufacturing is not without its disadvantages, especially if it is abused, and they mostly affect not just the company but also its workers and the economy as a whole.Limited to no control.If you are the CM and you are contracted by another company to manufacture a specific part or product according to their design and specifications, they pretty much call all the shots. You may make some suggestions here and there but, at the end of the day, the decision won’t be yours.On the other hand, if you are contracting a job to a CM, you will not be able to fully control the process and methods used to achieve the desired results. You only give them the specifications of the parts or products that you need, then it is mostly up to them to decide how they will go about the production.High risk of hiring the right CM.On the part of the company contracting a job with a CM, there is that risk that they might choose the wr ong company to enter into a contract with, and the quality of the product may suffer. Of course, this adverse effect will also trickle to the reputation of the company.Competition among companies over prioritization by CM.It would be naive to expect to be the sole client of a CM. More often than not, one CM will have multiple clients, probably even making the same parts or products for them. One disadvantage if this is the case is the matter of prioritization. During peak seasons, when all the companies have huge orders, there is no assurance that you will be prioritized by the CM.Potential job displacements for existing workers of the company.If you can get cheaper labor overseas, then you’d probably think that there is no point in keeping the full labor force you have on the payroll. Chances are high that this will lead to massive lay-offs, leading to the displacement of the currently employed workers.For instance, a US-based company will trim down its domestic workforce in favo r of contract manufacturing overseas. The laid-off domestic workers will then find themselves out of work. That can easily end in problems when not handled properly.Possible labor and human rights abuses.This is often seen in cases where companies make use of foreign laborers in countries overseas. Often, labor is so cheap that it is even lower than the minimum wage. Or the foreign laborers may be made to work very long hours, and in less than friendly working conditions.It doesn’t help that many of these countries do not have airtight regulations and protections in place for their workers. As a result, some companies take advantage of the slack, resulting to the abuse of labor and even human rights of the workers.Unutilized resources.Let’s assume that your company is based in the US, and you outsourced the manufacture of your products in Asia. The final goal is to import the finished goods and selling them under your brand.This means that the resources that you used to procure from US suppliers and sources will no longer be needed. The company that has been supplying the raw materials before (when you were still manufacturing the product internally) will now find itself without a buyer.Without proper planning, it is also a possibility that since you are using the resources of the CM, the resources that are already in your possession or inventory will be unutilized. As such, you’ll end up spending unnecessarily on warehousing and storage costs.WHEN SHOULD YOU USE CONTRACT MANUFACTURING?You will notice that, no matter how the advantages of contract manufacturing are lauded and proclaimed, not all businesses use it. You will also notice how, even the large companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft that can afford to manufacture on their own are still resorting to contract manufacturing.This is because they have decided to utilize contract manufacturing after very careful deliberation. The million dollar question then becomes: when should you opt to use co ntract manufacturing?Contract manufacturing is the best decision if or when:Your business is just starting its operations and startup costs are high while your resources are low. If you have barely enough working capital and you find that you can decrease the production costs if you make use of a CM, then contract manufacturing is definitely the most sensible decision. Once the company has become more established, and cash flow is healthy, then you may start considering whether to end the contract manufacturing deal and manufacture the product on your own.Your business is facing financial or working capital difficulties. If this is the case, you’d want to save as much as you can, and going for a contract manufacturing deal will help you save not only money but also time. This can be a permanent arrangement, or it may be temporary, at least until the company is back on its feet.You want to improve your product quality as fast as possible. You do not want to waste time trying to per fect your “formula” or spending a lot of time and money on “practicing” with the manufacturing. Outsourcing it gives more and better guarantees that the product will be of better or even the best possible quality given the available production technology.You want to establish your brand early on. For many brands, it’s a matter of trial and error. They may take many attempts at a product before it becomes a hit with the market. If you cannot afford to spend so much time and resources on that trial and error, you can skip past that and proceed immediately to coming up with a great product, with the help of a CM. In some cases, your company may even benefit from being associated with a trusted and reputed CM. Consumers are more likely to look with favor on your product and brand once they find out that you are in a contract manufacturing relationship with a CM that they also approve of or feel positively about.Demand for the product is uneven. There are some products that are very high in demand during certain seasons. You may opt to use contract manufacturing during these busy seasons, and not have to worry about downtime on the other, slower seasons.Again, one thing that you should keep in mind is that not all manufacturing businesses can make a success of being in a contract manufacturing relationship. That is why it is important to conduct deep and detailed study on whether your business needs to contract with a CM, or if doing so will benefit the company significantly.

`` Save The Animals Stop Animal Testing `` By Lara Weber

The testing of animals is deemed to be cruel and inhumane because of the way the animals get treated. In the article, â€Å"Women Fought for humane treatment of Chicago’s dogs, cats, horses written by Lara Weber describes how the conditions of where these animals lived were. In a Chicago pound for animals, three hundred dogs cried and were extremely cold from the conditions outside (Weber 1). These animals were in terrible conditions and the city should not be proud of it. Within a couple of days these dogs disappeared from the pound unexpectedly and were loaded onto a Santa Fe railroad that was heading for Texas (Weber 2). These animals were probably stolen for a research facility so they could be used for testing. In the next article, â€Å"Save The Animals: Stop Animal Testing† written by Heather Dunnuck describes some of the awful tests these animals have to endure throughout their life. â€Å"The American Veterinary Medical Association defines pain as an unpleasa nt sensory and emotional experience perceived as arising from a specific region of the body and associated with actual or potential tissue damage† (Dunnuck 1). This means the animals are feeling it and are suffering from it. Animals can feel pain just as humans can feel pain. When these animals are used for toxicity or chemical tests it is a painful and deadly test for the animal (Dunnuck 1). Some of the tests the researchers use are the LD50 and the Draize test. In the Draize test the researchers put a substance in the

Why Parents Should Give Their Children Freedom - 1255 Words

Flowers are a beautiful piece of Earth. They start off as a little seed that is planted in some soil. In order for this seed to grow it needs warmth and nurture. Slowly it starts to blossom into a beautiful flower. One day it is going to bloom and turn into a vibrant flower. A child is similar to a flower, as they are more exposed to the world. There is no such thing as the perfect parent, but there are multiple important factors for raising a child. It is essential that a child is given freedom in order for them to find their true identity. Parents should balance between freedom and discipline. They need to understand that every child is different. Parents should give their children freedom. There are two types of parents when it comes to freedom. One of them is known as â€Å"helicopter parents,† who are overprotective about their children. There is also the â€Å"no rescue† parents, who give their children space. 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Outline + Evaluate Different Types of Attachment Free Essays

‘Outline and evaluate different types of attachment’ Ainsworths ‘strange situation’ was developed as a tool to measure types of attachment in infants. The experiment was carried out in a purpose build playroom and children were observed with cameras. It consisted of several situations, standardised for all those who took part. We will write a custom essay sample on Outline + Evaluate Different Types of Attachment or any similar topic only for you Order Now Each condition involved variation of the presence of the mother and/or a stranger, over 3 minute intervals. During these different conditions, the child’s behaviour was monitored, assessing their exploratory behaviour, stranger anxiety, separation protest and reunion behaviour. From her study, Ainsworth identified three types of attachment, these were: secure, insecure- avoidant and insecure-resistant, she believes all infants can fit into these categories. A child with a secure attachment to the mother has high exploratory behaviour; they would explore happily when the mother is present and use her as a safe base. Stranger anxiety would be seen, they would be wary and treat the stranger differently. There is a high level of separation protest, distress and crying was shown when the mother left, but they would easily be soothed when the mother was welcomed back on her return. On the other hand, a child with an insecure-avoidant attachment would be happy to explore, and there would be low stranger anxiety, the child would treat the stranger indifferently to the mother. Some separation protest can be shown, and the child may become distressed. However, when the mother returns they will carry on doing what they were before her return as they do not use the caregiver to provide comfort. Finally, those with an insecure-resistant attachment are less likely to show exploratory behaviour as they want attention from the caregiver. Intense stranger anxiety would be shown, as well as an intense separation protest, they would not be easily comforted by the mother on return, they would be angry and reject her. With this attachment, the child alternates between seeking closeness and wanting distance. Ainsworth suggested differences in attachment types are caused by the sensitivity of the mother, this is known as the ‘caregiver sensitivity hypothesis’. According to Ainsworth, a mother who is sensitive to the babies needs and correctly reads their social releasers, moods and feelings is likely to form a secure attachment with her child. An insecure- avoidant attachment would form if he mother is less sensitive and responsive, she may even ignore the baby, and be impatient with them. Finally, she believes that an insecure-resistant attachment would form if the mother is less sensitive and her response to her child is inconsistent, some days she may ignore the baby but the next day she may give the baby a lot of attention. However, Kagan argues that this theory puts too much emphasis on the role of the mother; he suggested attachments formed were due to the babies temperament, this is known as the ‘temperament hypothesis’. Infact, in 1991, Fox found there was a strong relationship between attachment types towards both parents, supporting the claim that attachments relate to inbuilt temperament. Furthermore, a study carried out using meta-analysis in 1997 found a weak correlation of 0. 24 between type of attachment formed and sensitivity of the mother, showing Ainsworths theory of the development of attachment is weaker compared to Kagans. According to Kagan, a secure attachment between mother and child may be due to the baby having an ‘easy’ temperament, meaning they will have high activity and sociability. Furthermore, a baby with a ‘slow to warm up’ temperament is likely to form an insecure-avoidant attachment, and those with a ‘difficult’ temperament will have high emotionality, meaning an insecure-resistant attachment is most likely to form. However, Belsky and Rovin argued that individual differences in attachment relate to both theories because different temperaments will present different challenges to the caregiver, a ‘slow to warm up’ baby would need more encouragement, which may influence the formation of a secure attachment. In addition, the method used in the ‘strange situation’ has been a useful tool, giving a great deal of information about a baby’s attachment in little time. It is also easy to replicate and has led to a rapid increase in the amount of research carried out, many finding similar results, suggesting the experiment is a reliable method to study attachment behaviours. However, the research lacks validity because of the unfamiliar surroundings, these may cause demand characteristics as the baby may be intimidated and act differently as a result. However, some say it may still be valid because children experience this on a regular basis when being left with a babysitter or at a nursery. Furthermore, there are ethical issues because the unfamiliar environment, separation from the mother and interaction with the stranger can cause mental distress for the baby. Finally, there is also the concern that not all babies can fit into the categories of attachment created, which is why a fourth one was added in 1986 called ‘disorganised attachment’ where babies behaviour was inconsistent. How to cite Outline + Evaluate Different Types of Attachment, Essay examples

Moral Reasoning Exercise

Ethical Issues Raised by GlaxoSmithKline’s Decisions The main ethical issues that the decision by GlaxoSmithKline to promote and market drugs unapproved for some uses include the following. First, the decision exposed the consumers of the drugs to unknown risks. The use of any drug by humans requires prior tests to verify the efficacy and safety of the drug. Secondly, the action took advantage of people who deserved empathy. The company made profits from patients without due regard to the long-term well being of the patients.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Moral Reasoning Exercise specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The question of whether such practices are morally permissible or unethical depends on the specific conditions surrounding the practice. For instance, if the drugs provided relief for patients who would otherwise suffer pain because of their ailments, then the practices would be morally defensibl e. This also depends on whether there were approved alternatives to the drugs. If there were proper alternatives within reach of the patient and the only factor that guided their buying decision was the marketing efforts of GlaxoSmithKline, then the practices are not morally defensible. Ethical Acceptability of GlaxoSmithKline’s Decision to Retain Data on Diabetes Drugs There are requirements in law that a drug manufacturing company should release research data to support the safety of the drugs it seeks to sell (BBC). Failure to provide the data and making unverified claims about the safety of the drugs is illegal. The first ethical question that arises is whether it is acceptable for a company dealing with drugs to flout laws. The reason why drug laws exist is to protect the lives of people who take drugs. This makes obeying the law a moral imperative. Therefore, the failure of the company to release the data for whatever reason brings to question the commitment of the comp any to the safety of the people who consume their drugs. In this sense, it is not morally acceptable to refuse to release data that regulators can use to verify the safety of drugs. It can lead to harm. Moral Difference between Hiding Information and Making Active False Claims The moral difference between failure to provide information and making false claims depends on the reasons for failing to provide the information (Rogers and Braunack-Mayer 14). If the failure is for a good reason such as the need to protect a business secret, or because of internal doubts regarding the accuracy of the available information, then there is a moral difference. This is only true if no subsequent action takes place. However, if the information hidden clearly shows potential for harm, then there is no moral difference between hiding the information, and making false claims. In both cases, the consumer faces harm.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your fi rst paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moral Obligation of Large Food and Beverage Companies Large food and beverage companies have a moral obligation to consider the consequences that their products have on people. The documentary clearly links obesity to the increasing availability of junk food and soft drinks (Altman and Leitch). The case of Mexico is the most telling, where Coca-cola drinks formed part of the school feeding programs (Altman and Leitch). There was evidence of collusion between school heads and the soft drink marketers to sell only one brand of soft drinks in the schools. India and China have an increasing number of obese people because of the influx of junk food and fizzy drinks in the last fifteen years (Altman and Leitch). The documentary points out correctly that the food companies are not social service organizations. Rather, they are in business. The more people eat, the better their business performs. Most food and soft drink manufacturers are reporting increasing profits from the developing world. There is a strong moral imperative for them to step back, and reexamine their businesses models. The harm that their products are causing to humanity is not morally acceptable (Wolf 48). Moral Issues Relating To Food and Beverage Marketing Techniques The marketing techniques are all morally problematic because the consistent consumption of these products leads to obesity. Obesity is the precursor of diabetes and heart disease. Morally speaking, the companies take advantage of unsuspecting people. For instance, the companies sell the same junk food as a healthy source of nutrition because they have fortified the junk food with micronutrients (Altman and Leitch). While this improves the overall nutritional value of the junk food, the consumers wrongly believe that the junk food can replace the natural sources of the same nutrients. The second moral problem with this issue is selling the junk food to poorly informed people or to defenseles s children. It is tantamount to making profits without regard to the damage the food inflicts on people in the long term. Comparison of Responses in the Two Cases The moral standards applied to the pharmaceutical companies were similar to the standards applied to the food and beverage companies with one important exception. In the case of GlaxoSmithKline, there was some leeway given because of the assumption that drugs are a vital component of healthcare. There are situations where even if GlaxoSmithKline broke the law, its actions could be morally defensible. The food and beverage companies cannot enjoy this exemption because their products are not fundamental to the well being of humanity. No universal harm will materialize if these companies close down.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Moral Reasoning Exercise specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Works Cited Altman, Vivien and Marianne Leitch. â€Å"Globesity â⠂¬â€œ Fat’s New Frontier.† 24 July 2012. ABC News: Foreign Correspondent. Web. https://www.abc.net.au/foreign/globesity-sizzler/4144562. BBC. â€Å"GlaxoSmithKline to Pay $3bn in US Drug Fraud Scandal.† 2 July 2012. BBC News: US and Canada. Web. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18673220. Rogers, Wendy A and Annette J Braunack-Mayer. Practical Ethics for General Practice. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print. Wolf, Martin. â€Å"The Morality of the Market.† Foreign Policy (2003): 47-50. Print This essay on Moral Reasoning Exercise was written and submitted by user Derrick Price to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Grayscale

Grayscale Jade NataliProfessor CiceroWriting 1012 October 2013Critique of Science IndicatorsScience Indicators 2000: Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience is an article that appears in Joseph Calabrese's book, but originally was published by the Science Board. Also, this article was primarily written by Mellisa Pollak, but the Science Board takes credit for this piece because many members of the Science board have likewise contributed to this article. The Science Board was originally "established by Congress in 1950" and "oversees the National Science Foundation and the presidential matters of science", this shows how valid the NSB's credentials prove and explains the authority this board has in the science field(NSB 55). In this article, it addresses just how common the belief in extraterrestrial life forms and the paranormal are and who (or what) is responsible for making such beliefs so widespread. In The NSB's first subheading, it begins to inform the negative effect these ideas can be to critical thinking, and scientific advances.Then, it is gone over in detail the commonality of such beliefs and the role gender, social standing, and intelligence plays in relation to what type of pseudoscience is popular in such groups. Lastly, the authors then begin to evaluate the role media has played in spreading such ideas to the general public, and describes how it glamorizes the belief in pseudoscience with the production of many T.V. shows, movies, and even comic books. This article is concluded by mention of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and then explains the impact media has had on the general public, in relation to the belief in pseudoscience and what CSICOP is doing to show the skeptic's side.When reading the credentials of the National Science Board, it is expected to...

10 Steps for Finding Your Family Tree Online

10 Steps for Finding Your Family Tree Online From cemetery transcriptions to census records, millions of genealogy resources have been posted online in recent years, making the Internet a popular first stop in researching family roots. And with good reason. No matter what you want to learn about your family tree, there is a pretty good chance you can dig up at least some of it on the Internet. Its not quite as simple as finding a database that contains all of the information on your ancestors and downloading it, however. Ancestor hunting is actually much more exciting than that! The trick is learning how to use the myriad of tools and databases that the Internet provides to find facts and dates on your ancestors, and then going beyond that to fill in the stories of the lives they lived. While each family search is different, I often find myself following the same basic steps when beginning to research a new family tree online. As I search, I also keep a research log noting the places Ive searched, the information I find (or didnt find), and a source citation for each piece of information that I find. The search is fun, but less so the second time if you  forget where youve  looked  and end up having to do  it all over again! Begin with Obituaries Since family tree searches generally work their way back in time from the present, searching out information on recently deceased relatives is a good place to start your family tree quest. Obituaries can be a gold mine for information on family units, including siblings, parents, spouses, and even cousins, as well as the date of birth and death and place of burial. Obituary notices may also help lead you to living relatives who can provide further information on your family tree. There are several large obituary search engines online which can make the search a bit easier, but if you know the town where your relatives lived you will often have better luck searching the obituary archive (when available online) of the local paper. If you arent sure of the name of the local paper for that community, a search for newspaper and the city, town or county name in your favorite search engine will often get you there. Be sure to search out obituaries for siblings and cousins as well as your di rect ancestors. Dig Into Death Indexes Since death records are usually the most recent record created for a deceased individual, they are often the easiest place to begin your search. Death records are also less restricted than most records by privacy laws. While monetary restrictions and privacy concerns mean that the majority of death records are not yet available online, many online death indexes are available through both official and volunteer sources. Try one of these major databases and indexes of   online death records, or do a Google search for death records plus the name of the county or state in which your ancestors lived. If youre researching American ancestors, the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) contains details of more than 77 million deaths reported to the SSA since about 1962. You can search the SSDI for free through  several online sources. Details listed in the SSDI generally include the name, date of birth and death, zip code of last residence, and social security number for each listed individu al. Further information can be obtained by requesting a copy of the individuals   Social Security Application. Check Out the Cemetery Continuing the search for death records, online cemetery transcriptions are another huge resource for information on your ancestors. Volunteers from around the world have traipsed through thousands of cemeteries, posting names, dates, and even photos. Some larger public cemeteries provide their own online index to burials. Here are a number of free   cemetery search databases  online which compile links to online cemetery transcriptions. RootsWebs country, state, and county sites are another great source for links to online cemetery transcriptions, or you can try a search for your familys surname plus cemetery plus location in your favorite Internet search engine. Locate Clues in the Census Once youve used your personal knowledge and online death records to trace your family tree back to people who lived around the beginning of the twentieth century, census records can provide a treasure trove of information on the family. Census records in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and many other countries are available online some for free and some through subscription access. In the United States, for example, you can often find living and recently deceased family members listed with their parents in the 1940 federal census, the most recent census year open to the public. From there, you can trace the family back through previous censuses, often adding a generation or more to the family tree. Census takers werent very good at spelling and families arent always listed where you expect them, so you may want to try some of these search tips for census success. Go On Location By this point, youve probably managed to narrow down the search to a particular town or county. Nows the time to head to the source for more detailed information. My first stop is usually the county specific Web sites at USGenWeb, or their counterparts at WorldGenWeb - depending upon your country of interest. There you may find newspaper abstracts, published county histories, biographies, family trees, and other transcribed records, as well as surname queries and other information posted by fellow researchers. You may have already come across some of these sites in your search for cemetery records, but now that youve learned more about your ancestors, you can dig even deeper. Visit the Library In the spirit of location, my next step in the family hunt is to visit the Web sites for local libraries and historical and genealogical societies in the area in which my ancestor lived. Often you can find links to these organizations through the locality-specific genealogical sites mentioned in step 5. Once there, look for a link labeled genealogy or   family history to learn about the available resources for genealogical research in the area. You may find online indexes, abstracts, or other published genealogical records. Most libraries will also offer  online searching  of their library catalog. While most local and  family history books  arent available for online reading, many may be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Search Message Boards Many great nuggets of family history information are exchanged and shared via message boards, groups, and mailing lists. Searching the archives of the lists and groups which pertain to your surnames and areas of interest may yield obituaries, family histories, and other pieces of the genealogy puzzle. Not all of these archived messages can be found via traditional search engines, however, necessitating manual searching of any lists of interest.  RootsWebs genealogy mailing lists  and message boards  include searchable archives, as do most genealogy-related organizations using  Yahoo Groups  or  Google Groups. Some may require you to join (free) before searching the archived messages Ferret Out Family Trees Hopefully, by this point, youve found enough names, dates, and other facts to help you distinguish your ancestors from others of the same name making it a good time to turn to the family research already done by others. Thousands of family tree have been published online, the majority of them included in one or more of these Top 10 Pedigree Databases. Be warned, however.  Many online family trees  are basically works in progress and may or may not be correct. Be sure to  verify the validity of a family tree  before incorporating it into your own family tree, and  cite the source of the information  in case you find conflicting data as your research progresses. Search for Specialized Resources Based on what youve learned about your ancestors, now you can search out more  specialized genealogical information. Databases, histories, and other genealogical records may be found online which focus on military service, occupations, fraternal organizations, or school or church membership. Stop by the Subscription Sites By this point youve exhausted many of the free online genealogy resources. If youre still having trouble finding information on your family, it may be time to tackle the pay-for-use genealogy databases. Through these sites you can access a wide variety of indexed databases and original images, ranging from the  digitized WWI Draft Registration records  at  Ancestry.com  to the birth, marriage, and death records available online from  Scotlands People. Some sites operate on a pay-per-download basis, charging only for the documents you actually view, while others require a subscription for unlimited access. Check for a free trial or free search feature before plunking down your money!