A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1975

The purpose of this study is to study the characteristics of the metal-related industry in Singapore during the period 1963-72. The metal-related industry includes five industry groups-basic metal, metal product, machinery, electrical and transport equipment. The main features of these industry groups are characterized by the growth of number of establishment, employment, output, value added, share of GDP in the national economy, structure of the industry groups (i.e. organizational structure and size distribution) 1 productivity performances (i.e. labor productivity and capital productivity), and skill intensity. The Cobb-Douglas production function is then used to determine the contribution indices (i.e. production, capital, labor and efficiency indices) of each of the industry groups. Based on this attempt, the changes of technology influenced on each industry groups are studied. To obtain first hand information on the metal-related industry, a survey has been carried out by despatching a set of questionnaires to the establishments which are the member of the Singapore Manufacturer's Association. Their characteristics, organization structure, technical transfer, size distribution and their problems are then analyzed. A dynamic simulation is finally developed for the purpose of describing the present metal-related industry in Singapore. Sensitivity analysis is then performed on some policy changes.