Information for industry in Nigeria.

Harande, Yahya Ibrahim

Introduction

Information is important for industrial development globally. Progress, development, and growth of manufacturing companies largely depend on effective use of information. Self (1984) observed that, information if properly used by industrialists for greater efficiency, it will boost the morale of these industries. King and Palmour (1981) assert that most achievements in medicine, science, technology, education, and industry may be attributed in part to the intensive use of information. Information is used effectively only when the information resources are pertinent to the needs of employees. Information is generated at various levels of the organization or industry. Duke (1981) states that, "companies with better information, better use of information tend to have better decision-making and are also ahead of their rivals and competitors." Musser and Albitz (2001) describe organizational use of standards, patents, technical reports, product catalogues, and audiovisual materials. Manufacturing companies in Nigeria and other developing countries should realize and recognize the importance of information as a raw material for development, progress, and existence. Information use is the bedrock for political, economic, social, and educational development.

Role of Libraries

Libraries and information centers are service points, especially in the industrial sector. Greenman and Little (2008) comment that, "A properly functioning industrial library should include the dispensing of information, both solicited and unsolicited. It should serve as a department where definite questions are answered and where definite lines of thought may be investigated." Similarly, Haygarth (1981) says, "The main objective of the library is to support the business by providing access to all relevant published information and to internally record and report information."

Relevant Literature

Information services in industry means rendering assistance to employees with knowledge that is beneficial to their activities. Information services must be geared to improving production and capacity development of manufacturing companies in the developing countries. Marketing strategies, innovation, and specialized information services are necessary for the survival of any growing industry globally. A report of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) (2001) emphasizes two forms of information services. The first is services concerned with improving production and innovation capabilities, such as

* counseling on production layouts, quality standards and maintenance

* providing relevant information(service) for technology development, and launching co-operative

* joint operation of large-scale and expensive equipment testing of raw materials

* training of entrepreneurs and workers.

The second is information services concerned with developing commercial/marketing activities in firms, such as

* marketing training

* information gathering

* business linkages

* co-operative sales initiatives.

The ECA (2001) report on infrastructural facilities of thirteen countries shows how infrastructure affects growth of manufacturing companies. Nigeria has problems with roads, water, electricity, and communication. The report details these and similar problems with other African countries.

Indigenous manufacturing companies need current information concerning their own company and others. Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) can be part of the solution. Information services in manufacturing differ from one company to another. Some have libraries and some do not. A large part of industrial library collections is reference material that should be accessible to all workers (Hoskin 1982).

Drake (1982) observes that, "as an economic resource, information must be effectively managed to enhance productivity, creativity and achievement of corporate goals and objectives." Getting information from other companies will help companies be competitive (Fowowe 1986), but employees also seek information from other units of the company. Hirsh and Dinkelacker (2004) say that "information seeking in this environment involves interaction with manual information systems and computer based systems, as well as information gathered through information exchanges with colleagues." Harande (2004) holds the view that "the era when librarians and information managers assumed that they knew the needs of their clienteles and could meet such needs adequately without the input of users seems to be over."

Timeliness in the provision and use of information is very important in this environment. Yitzhaki and Hammershlag (2004) observe that, "effective information use is an essential part of scientific and technological progress." McPherson (1994) states that, "strategies that stressed the use of information in a manufacturing industry are a backbone for attainment of success and meeting the objectives of the industry."

Methodology

This is an exploratory study, using the survey research method. The instrument used for data gathering was a questionnaire. Two hundred fifty copies were distributed to twenty randomly-selected indigenous manufacturing companies in both Kaduna and Plateau states of Nigeria. Two hundred ten responses were received. They were all found to be useful for analysis. The data received were analyzed using percentages.

Findings and Discussion

The findings show that 25 percent of the industrial libraries or information centers offer reference service. A large number (85 percent) offer current awareness service, but only 35 percent offer SDI.

Twenty percent offer referral services. Most of these industrial libraries/information centers take into consideration other forms of information services in communicating useful information to their employees. These include provision of information through displays and exhibits, offered by 100 percent. Nearly all offer information that is beneficial to their colleagues . Services such as reference service and interlibrary loan are not available in these companies.

Nasco Pack Nigeria Company scored 75 percent, which is the highest in use of information for work. The score was Cotton and Agricultural Production Company, which recorded 43 percent. Looking at the findings of the research critically, one can see that these companies, at their individual levels, depend totally on information generated in-house for their daily activities. This is dangerous for a company that wants to survive. It is very difficult for a company to survive without benchmarking with other companies.

This is only possible if a company investigates the activities of another company with the intent of improving its own products and services. Another thing that can solve issues of industrial information is the use of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). ICT simplifies difficult tasks performed in industry, and enhances productivity.

Conclusion

Industrial organizations in Nigeria offer library and information services to some extent. A great number of employees use information for their daily activities. Informal ways of seeking and using information are widespread; however, there is need improvement in the formal provision of relevant and current materials for use by employees in daily activities and decision-making. Grieves (1998) is of the view that, "industrial libraries ... should serve as major place of contact for any decision making activity." In the Nigerian industrial sector, information is generally not used effectively, and because of the nonchalant attitudes of industrialists towards information, indigenous manufacturing companies are degenerating instead of progressing. Both internally- and externally-generated information plays a role in making industry activities lively and profit-oriented.

References

Drake, M.A. (1982). Information and corporate culture. Special Libraries 75 (4):69.

Dukes, J. (1981). The issue of ownership and control as information. In Sheffield Library Association in the provision and use of information. London: Library Association.

Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in Africa: A strategic framework for institutional support (2001). Economic Commission for Africa.

Fowowe, S. O. (1986). The relevance of information service to industries: A case study of some Nigerian industries. Nigerbiblios 2 (5): 8.

Greenman, E.D., & Little, A.D. (2008).The function of the industrial library. The Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 11 (6):584.

Grieves, M. (1998). The impact of information use on decision-making studies in five sectors: Introduction, summary, and conclusions. Library Management 19 (2): 80.

Harande, Y.I. (2004). User studies as a technique for knowing information needs of company employees in Nigeria . Borno Library Archival and Information Science Journal, 2 (1): 22.

Haygarth, J.A.R. (1981). Industry and research association information provision to users. London: Clive Bingley: 19-22.

Hirsh, S., & Dinkelacker, J. (2004). Seeking information in order to produce information: An empirical study at Hewlett Packard Labs. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 55 (9): 807-817.

Hoskin, E. (1982). Industrial information. In Mason, D. (Ed.). Information for industry, twenty-one years of the Library Association .

McPherson, P.K. (1994). Accounting for the value of information. Aslib proceedings 46 (9) 203.

Musser, L.R., & Albitz, B. (2001).Video resources for the engineering curriculum. Science and Technology Libraries 20 (4) 29.

Palmour, V.E., & King, D.W. (1981). How needs are generated: What we have found about them in the nationwide provisions and use of information. London: Aslib LA Joint Conference, 15-19, September, 1980, Sheffield Proceedings, Library Association.

Yahya Ibrahim Harande

Department of Library and Information Science

Faculty of Education

Bayero University

Kano, Nigeria

Table 1. Information Services Offered

 Information
 Display from Reference Current
Company Exhibition Colleagues Services Awareness

Chellco Industry + + + +
Nigeria Ltd

Cotton and + + + +
Agric Comp.

Nasco Fibre + + - +
Products

United Nigeria + + - +
Textile Ltd

Zazzau Ginnery + + - +
Ltd

Kaduna Textile + + - +
Ltd

Supertex + + - +
Nigeria Ltd

Nocaco Ltd + + - -

Makeri Smelting + + - -
Comp

Jos Steel + + + +
Rolling Mill

KRPC + + + +

Ideal Flour Mills + + - +
Ltd

Nasco Food + + - +

Nigeria Ltd

Jos Cereals + + - +

Pioneer Milling + + - +
Comp

United Oils Mills + + - +

Technoplastic
Nigeria Ltd + + - +

Nasco
Household
Products + + - +

Nasco Pack
Nigeria Ltd. + - - +

Zaria
Pharmaceutical
Ltd. + + + +

Total 20 19 5 18

 Selective
 Dissemination Other
 of Information Referral Information
Company (SDI) Services Services

Chellco Industry + - -
Nigeria Ltd

Cotton and + - -
Agric Comp.

Nasco Fibre + - -
Products

United Nigeria - - -
Textile Ltd

Zazzau Ginnery - - -
Ltd

Kaduna Textile + + -
Ltd

Supertex - - -
Nigeria Ltd

Nocaco Ltd - - -

Makeri Smelting + + -
Comp

Jos Steel + - -
Rolling Mill

KRPC - + -

Ideal Flour Mills - - -
Ltd

Nasco Food - - -

Nigeria Ltd

Jos Cereals - - -

Pioneer Milling - - -
Comp

United Oils Mills - + -

Technoplastic
Nigeria Ltd + - -

Nasco
Household
Products - - -

Nasco Pack
Nigeria Ltd. - - -

Zaria
Pharmaceutical
Ltd. - - -

Total 7 4 -

Table 2. Use of Information Resources by Employees

 Company Current
 work Affairs

Company Frequency % Frequency %

Chellco Industry 10 50 6 30
Nigeria Ltd

Cotton and Agric 9 43 5 25
Comp.

Nasco Fibre 9 45 4 20
Products

United Nigeria 11 55 3 15
Textile Ltd

Zazzau 12 60 2 10
Ginnery Ltd

Kaduna 13 65 3 15
Textile Ltd

Supertex 12 60 4 20
Nigeria Ltd

Nocaco Ltd 10 50 2 10

Makeri Smelting
 10 15 2 5
Comp

Jos Steel 14 70 3 15
Rolling Mill

KRPC 12 60 5 25

Ideal Flour 10 50 0 0
Mills Ltd

Nasco Food 11 55 5 25
Nigeria Ltd

Jos Cereals 9 50 0 0

Pioneer 10 50 0 0
Milling Comp

United 13 65 1 5
Oils Mills

Technoplastic 8 40 5 25
Nigeria Ltd

Nasco 12 60 3 15
Household
Products

Nasco Pack 15 75 2 10
Nigeria Ltd.

Zaria 10 80 1 5
Pharmaceutical
Ltd.

 Personnel/
 career Other
 development purposes Total

Company Frequency % Frequency %

Chellco Industry 4 20 -- 20 100
Nigeria Ltd

Cotton and Agric 6 35 -- 20 100
Comp.

Nasco Fibre 2 35 -- 20 100
Products

United Nigeria 6 30 -- 15 75
Textile Ltd

Zazzau 2 30 -- 20 100
Ginnery Ltd

Kaduna 4 20 -- 16 80
Textile Ltd

Supertex 1 20 -- 20 100
Nigeria Ltd

Nocaco Ltd 8 40 -- 17 85

Makeri Smelting
 0 20 -- 20 100
Comp

Jos Steel 3 15 -- 12 60
Rolling Mill

KRPC 3 15 -- 20 100

Ideal Flour 0 25 -- 20 100
Mills Ltd

Nasco Food 4 20 -- 10 50
Nigeria Ltd

Jos Cereals 0 15 -- 20 100

Pioneer 0 35 -- 9 45
Milling Comp

United 6 30 -- 10 50
Oils Mills

Technoplastic 7 35 -- 20 100
Nigeria Ltd

Nasco 5 25 -- 20 100
Household
Products

Nasco Pack 3 15 -- 20 100
Nigeria Ltd.

Zaria 0 15 -- 11 55
Pharmaceutical
Ltd.