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Operations and Supply Chain Management

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Theses/Dissertations

2017

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Full-Text Articles in Business

Call Center Experience Optimization: A Case For A Virtual Predictive Queue, William Pugh Dec 2017

Call Center Experience Optimization: A Case For A Virtual Predictive Queue, William Pugh

Theses & Dissertations

The evolution of the call center into contact centers and the growth of their use in providing customer-facing service by many companies has brought considerable capabilities in maintaining customer relationships but it also has brought challenges in providing quality service when call volumes are high. Limited in their ability to provide service at all times to all customers, companies are forced to balance the costs associated with hiring more customer service representatives and the quality of service provided by a fewer number. A primary challenge when there are not enough customer service representatives to engage the volume of callers in …

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Disaster Relief Logistics: An Academic Framework Evaluation Of The 2016 Great Smoky Mountain Wildfires, Clay Edward Daniel, Alexandre Medeiros Rodrigues Dec 2017

Disaster Relief Logistics: An Academic Framework Evaluation Of The 2016 Great Smoky Mountain Wildfires, Clay Edward Daniel, Alexandre Medeiros Rodrigues

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

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Theory And Practice Of Supply Chain Synchronization, Michael Prokle Nov 2017

Theory And Practice Of Supply Chain Synchronization, Michael Prokle

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, we develop strategies to synchronize component procurement in assemble-to-order (ATO) production and overhaul operations. We focus on the high-tech and mass customization industries which are not only considered to be very important to create or keep U.S. manufacturing jobs, but also suffer most from component inventory burden. In the second chapter, we address the deterministic joint replenishment inventory problem with batch size constraints (JRPB). We characterize system regeneration points, derive a closed-form expression of the average product inventory, and formulate the problem of finding the optimal joint reorder interval to minimize inventory and ordering costs per unit …

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Three Essays On Incentive Problems Of Parties With Potential Conflict Of Interest, Salar Ghamat Sep 2017

Three Essays On Incentive Problems Of Parties With Potential Conflict Of Interest, Salar Ghamat

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

I study the impact of different incentives on strategic decisions of parties that have the option of cooperating with each other. Incentive problems are well studied in various contexts, such as supply chain management and healthcare operations management. However, in the fast-changing business environment, there is a need to study and understand the new and emerging strategic behaviors of firms to adopt better incentive mechanisms and reach desired outcomes. This dissertation consists of three essays that examine the strategic behavior of parties under different incentive schemes. In the first essay, I study the supply chain partnership of two potential competitors …

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Demand Analysis Of The Search And Rescue Resources In Tianjin Haihe River Downstream, Yanfu Li Aug 2017

Demand Analysis Of The Search And Rescue Resources In Tianjin Haihe River Downstream, Yanfu Li

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

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Supply Chain-Driven Innovation: The Influence Of Supply Chain Resource Orchestration On Organizational Performance, Ulrich Schmelzle Aug 2017

Supply Chain-Driven Innovation: The Influence Of Supply Chain Resource Orchestration On Organizational Performance, Ulrich Schmelzle

Doctoral Dissertations

As continuous innovation became a strategic necessity in many markets, organizations are increasingly adding external resources to complement their in-house R&D activities. However, little is known about the concrete practices of employing and integrating those external resources. Hence, this research introduces a new conceptual framework of supply chain resource orchestration (SCRO) on the basis of a systematic literature review and a theory elaboration of resource management theories. Qualitative interviews with supply chain managers in a multi-case study are enriching and substantiating the SCRO conceptualization. Finally, a crosssectional survey (n= 247) is applied to empirically validate the new framework. The positive …

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Modeling The Consumer Acceptance Of Retail Service Robots, So Young Song Aug 2017

Modeling The Consumer Acceptance Of Retail Service Robots, So Young Song

Doctoral Dissertations

This study uses the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) and domestication theories as the underlying framework of an acceptance model of retail service robots (RSRs). The model illustrates the relationships among facilitators, attitudes toward Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), anxiety toward robots, anticipated service quality, and the acceptance of RSRs. Specifically, the researcher investigates the extent to which the facilitators of usefulness, social capability, the appearance of RSRs, and the attitudes toward HRI affect acceptance and increase the anticipation of service quality. The researcher also tests the inhibiting role of pre-existing anxiety toward robots on the relationship between these facilitators and attitudes …

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Decision Support System For Container Port Selection Using Multiple-Objective Decision Analysis, Rivelino De Icaza Aug 2017

Decision Support System For Container Port Selection Using Multiple-Objective Decision Analysis, Rivelino De Icaza

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ports are essential for maritime transportation and global supply chains since they are nodes that connect the sea- and land-based modes of transportation. With containerization and supply chains stimulating global trade, ports are challenged to adjust to changes in the market to create value to their customers. Therefore, this dissertation research focuses on the container port selection decision analysis to provide information to help shipping lines select the best port for their shipping networks. Since the problem is complex, dynamic, and involves multiple and conflicting criteria, the research proposes to use the multi-objective decision analysis with Value-Focused Thinking approach. The …

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Is It We Or They? The Effect Of Identity On Collaboration And Performance In Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Siqi Ma Aug 2017

Is It We Or They? The Effect Of Identity On Collaboration And Performance In Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Siqi Ma

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In today’s scale-driven and technology-intensive global economy, collaboration becomes the supply chain’s core capability (Liker and Choi, 2004). A well-developed ability to create and sustain fruitful collaborations gives companies a significant competitive advantage (Kanter, 1994). Retailers are increasingly relying on their suppliers to reduce costs, improve quality, and develop new processes and products faster than their rivals’ vendors can. On the other hand, suppliers benefit from retailers that they are able to monitor store-level demand in real time in order to ensure the top-selling items are in-stock or the accuracy and timeliness of retailer’s demand forecast. Previous literature has shown …

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Essays In Measuring, Controlling, And Coordinating Supply Chain Inventory And Transportation Operations, Payam Parsa Aug 2017

Essays In Measuring, Controlling, And Coordinating Supply Chain Inventory And Transportation Operations, Payam Parsa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Supply chain collaboration programs, such as continuous replenishment program (CRP), is among the most popular supply chain management practices. CRP is an arrangement between two partners in a supply chain to share information on a regular basis for lowering logistics costs while maintaining or increasing service levels. CRP shifts the replenishment responsibility to the upstream partner to avoid the bullwhip effect across the supply chain. This dissertation aims to quantify, measure, and expand the benefits of CRP for the purpose of reducing logistics cost and improving customer service. The developed models in this dissertation are all applied in different case …

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Creating Sustainable Supply Chains: Influencing Sustainable Practices In The Supply Chain, Saif Mir Aug 2017

Creating Sustainable Supply Chains: Influencing Sustainable Practices In The Supply Chain, Saif Mir

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Organizations worldwide are reporting their commitment to create sustainable supply chains. Ultimately, supply chain professionals are the drivers of change within their respective organizations, so this dissertation examines the role of communication as a tool to persuade supply chain professionals to create sustainable supply chains. The three studies within this dissertation employ different methodologies to examine the role of communication in the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives. The first study, a grounded theory investigation, highlights the network, communication, and structural factors that provide a strong business case for the development of sustainability initiatives. A strong business case influences the …

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Determining The Location Of A Milk Condensing Plant In Tennessee, David Frederick Mendez Aug 2017

Determining The Location Of A Milk Condensing Plant In Tennessee, David Frederick Mendez

Masters Theses

Given the increasing popularity of local foods and the desire to reduce shipping costs and carbon footprint, Tennessee-based dairy product producers are showing interest in sourcing fluid milk locally. Based on dairy farmer surveys, discussions with industry leaders, shipping distances, and transportation costs estimates, a mixed integer linear programming model is used to determine the optimal location of an in-state milk condensing plant. The objective is to minimize the total transportation costs of shipments of fluid milk from farms to the condensing plant plus the transportation cost of shipments of condensing plant products to further in-state processing. Twelve scenarios of …

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Sewing Garments, Sowing Lives: Two Generations Of Migrant Workers' Back And Forth To The Chinese Coast, Alice Tzou Jun 2017

Sewing Garments, Sowing Lives: Two Generations Of Migrant Workers' Back And Forth To The Chinese Coast, Alice Tzou

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Migrant workers in China have been at the center of popular news media and scholarly attention for three decades, since they started to migrate to work in factories on the coast in the post-1978 Economic Reform era. As western and central China has developed and work opportunities have arisen in these migrant-sending regions, internal migrants have started to return home. Push and pull factors of internal migration have been reversed. Poverty and lack of job opportunities used to be the push factors; they are now replaced by new push factors—long hours of work and long-distance travel to and from the …

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Incoterms® Use In Buyer-Seller Relationships: A Mixed Methods Study, Thomas J. Schaefer May 2017

Incoterms® Use In Buyer-Seller Relationships: A Mixed Methods Study, Thomas J. Schaefer

Dissertations

The negotiation and communication of logistics management decisions between buyers and sellers of goods is critical for effective supply chain management. Incoterms® rules, a set of three character acronyms, are often used by buyers and sellers to communicate each party’s logistics management responsibilities when transacting goods. Inappropriate application of Incoterms® rules can lead to miscommunication of logistics responsibilities and expose either party to unanticipated costs and risks. This three-part mixed methods research explores the circumstances that contribute to errors in logistics management decision communication within buyer-seller dyads, the consequences of these errors, and methods to improve logistics management decision communication. …

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The Role Of Supply Chain Resource Orchestration And Supply Chain Knowledge In Improving Product Launch Performance In Emerging Markets, Matthew Troy Jenkins May 2017

The Role Of Supply Chain Resource Orchestration And Supply Chain Knowledge In Improving Product Launch Performance In Emerging Markets, Matthew Troy Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations

As mature markets become more saturated, managers increasingly recognize the value of emerging markets as the next horizon for future growth opportunities. Launching products into these markets is extremely risky, as they are characterized by weak supply chain institutional environments -- i.e. lack of physical supply chain infrastructure and scarcity of supply chain market intermediaries. Literature points to the need to acquire country specific resources and knowledge in order to improve performance in these countries. However, improvement in product launch performance may lie with a firm’s ability to orchestrate its acquired supply chain resources (i.e. create and leverage supply chain …

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A Multi-Period Facility Location Model For Service Organizations Operating In A Competitive Environment., Sven W. Brose May 2017

A Multi-Period Facility Location Model For Service Organizations Operating In A Competitive Environment., Sven W. Brose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops a multi-period, mathematical programming location model for facilities operating in a competitive environment. The objective is to maximize the profit in a variable demand environment. The solution of the problem can either be done in a robust or in a dynamic manner. A robust solution methodology forecasts the demand for all the periods in the planning horizon and provides a robust solution that may be suboptimal for any given period, but optimal when all the periods are taken into consideration. A problem with this approach is that it requires accurate forecast of demand for multiple periods into …

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Implementation Of A Supply Chain Management "Intern For A Day" Program, Erin K. Mcconnell May 2017

Implementation Of A Supply Chain Management "Intern For A Day" Program, Erin K. Mcconnell

Honors Projects

This program was developed to send students to local corporations to attain a better understanding of a business professional environment and the Supply Chain Management departments at those companies. Students were sent to Therma Tru Doors, in Maumee, Ohio to be "interns for a day". They received the chance to shadow employees in all aspects of the Supply Chain field and learn about what their day to day job responsibilities entail. There are many benefits to this externship program for both the students and Therma Tru. Students gain valuable experience and knowledge while Therma Tru gains access to some of …

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Sustainable Tourism Study Through Solimar International, S Silongwengjia May 2017

Sustainable Tourism Study Through Solimar International, S Silongwengjia

Capstone Collection

This inquiry explores a pragmatic approach of sustainable tourism and its application as a transformative development instrument. It seeks a general understanding of the global tourism sector, looks specifically at an individual tourism enterprise, Solimar International, and examines rural tourism, and its proposed standards. It discusses the opportunities and threats to the culture, ecology, and livelihoods of the residents of destination tourism and the unique experience to geotravelers. It analyzes the theoretical development history of tourism and the integrated approach of Solimar International as a leading agency in the tourism industry sector. And it seeks to understand a new type …

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In The News: An Exploration Of Starbucks And The Media, Caitlin Boone May 2017

In The News: An Exploration Of Starbucks And The Media, Caitlin Boone

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

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A Cost-Differential Analysis Of Local Soybean Processing In East Tennessee: Roast Or Crush?, Rachel Lauren Eatherly May 2017

A Cost-Differential Analysis Of Local Soybean Processing In East Tennessee: Roast Or Crush?, Rachel Lauren Eatherly

Masters Theses

East Tennessee soybean producers currently have limited local markets and processing options. Most soybeans produced in the region are transported for processing or export to Guntersville or Decatur, Alabama. High transportation costs cut into profit margins and limit local economic impact. With the demand for processed soybeans from the local beef and dairy industries, local processing technology options ought to be investigated. This study will assist soybean farmers in decision-making between hauling to current processing plants or seeking out alternative local processing. Local processing points could allow local beef and dairy farmers additional options of including processed soybeans in least-cost …

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Asset Assessment For Women: A Case Study Of Imasayi Village In Ogun State, Nigeria & Ngo Development: A Strategic Plan, Olamide Adeyinka May 2017

Asset Assessment For Women: A Case Study Of Imasayi Village In Ogun State, Nigeria & Ngo Development: A Strategic Plan, Olamide Adeyinka

Sustainability and Social Justice

This paper presents the findings of an asset assessment performed with women in a village southwest of Nigeria, Imasayi Ogun state. This paper not only describes the process and results of a qualitative study, but also presents the implementation plan for an NGO that will work with the women of Imasayi to implement community-wide development projects. The research upon which this paper is based used the framework of seven capital domains, which are then used in turn to structure findings, recommendations and NGO planning and analysis. For the purpose of this paper, the marketplace is identified as significant for Imasayi’s …

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Plentifull Business Proposal, Tayler Amelia Tate May 2017

Plentifull Business Proposal, Tayler Amelia Tate

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

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Implication Of Additive Manufacturing On United States Air Force Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Supply Chain, Shane R. Veitenheimer Mar 2017

Implication Of Additive Manufacturing On United States Air Force Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Supply Chain, Shane R. Veitenheimer

Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing is mandated as a technology for the Department of Defense to consider to implement. Previous efforts have shown positive potential for additive manufacturing (AM) for United States Air Force Civil Engineering but do not explore the economic impact. This research examines implementation by investigating a specific Explosive Ordnance Disposal repair part supply chain in the current combat theater of operations. A framework to capture the basic financial savings AM could realize was developed to aid AM decision making. This research established a Scenario Planning and Monte Carlo simulation based framework to produce an estimated annual cost for a …

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An Analysis Of Forecasting Methods On Supply Discrepancy Reporting, Cody S. Freeborn Mar 2017

An Analysis Of Forecasting Methods On Supply Discrepancy Reporting, Cody S. Freeborn

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) tracks and records all cargo shipments as they move from one location to the next. Inevitably, there are mistakes that are made when dealing with these shipments. Currently the Air Force does not use any forecasting techniques to predict these shipping discrepancies, thus it has no way to prepare for them other than employing remedial measures after errors occur. The purpose of this research is to study the current Air Force shipping processes, specifically shipping discrepancies, and determine if any trends emerge. By examining historical shipment discrepancy data, a trend analysis was accomplished and from …

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Supply Base Reduction Efforts Regarding Laboratory Reagents Within Hospital Networks, Kelsie L. Hughes Mar 2017

Supply Base Reduction Efforts Regarding Laboratory Reagents Within Hospital Networks, Kelsie L. Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Medical Operations Agency currently has contracts for laboratory reagents at approximately 75 Air Force medical treatment facilities; however, each medical facility has a separate means used to procure these reagents. AFMO Awants to know how other hospital networks are purchasing their reagents and see if it could be applied to the Air Force. The goal of this research was to use the case study methodology to showcase how other hospital networks applied supply base reduction to laboratory reagent purchases. We examine what drove the organizations to begin supply base reduction, how they transitioned to a smaller supply …

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Benchmarking Dod Use Of Additive Manufacturing And Quantifying Costs, Ryan C. Crean Mar 2017

Benchmarking Dod Use Of Additive Manufacturing And Quantifying Costs, Ryan C. Crean

Theses and Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing (AM), or three-dimensional (3D) printing as it is commonly referred to, is a rapidly developing technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way that firms develop and produce parts, as well as how they manage their supply chains. AM allows organizations to "print" prototypes, parts, tools, fixtures, tooling and a variety of other items at their production location. This can remove long lead times and high inventory levels for one-time or rare items. This research examines current AM use within the military services. Additionally, this study details the costs associated with fielding different levels of AM capability, …

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Examining Regionalization Efforts To Develop Lessons Learned And Consideration For Department Of Defense Medical Facilities, Erik B. Schuh Mar 2017

Examining Regionalization Efforts To Develop Lessons Learned And Consideration For Department Of Defense Medical Facilities, Erik B. Schuh

Theses and Dissertations

The increase in competition locally and globally has forced companies to become more efficient. One way for companies to gain efficiency is by regionalizing their facilities by either consolidating or collocating to a particular location. A comprehensive literature review addressed the advantages and disadvantages organizations have used in the past when regionalizing. This insight was used on a case study looking at military hospitals in the National Capital Region. The case study was used to find potential cost savings for three surgical procedures by consolidating each procedure to the lowest cost hospital. Future years were then forecasted to find cost …

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A Condition Based Maintenance Approach To Forecasting B-1 Aircraft Parts, Joshua D. Defrank Mar 2017

A Condition Based Maintenance Approach To Forecasting B-1 Aircraft Parts, Joshua D. Defrank

Theses and Dissertations

United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft parts forecasting techniques have remained archaic despite new advancements in data analysis. This approach resulted in a 57% accuracy rate in fiscal year 2016 for USAF managed items. Those errors combine for $5.5 billion worth of inventory that could have been spent on other critical spare parts. This research effort explores advancements in condition based maintenance (CBM) and its application in the realm of forecasting. It then evaluates the applicability of CBM forecast methods within current USAF data structures. This study found large gaps in data availability that would be necessary in a robust …

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Determining Field Requirements Of The Air Force Supply System: A Delphi Study, Dominic G. Baker Mar 2017

Determining Field Requirements Of The Air Force Supply System: A Delphi Study, Dominic G. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Supply System can be a convoluted network of organizations with different classes of supply being managed by different organizations. Individuals deployed to austere environments must interact with multiple organizations to get logistics support. Recent supply organizational changes have improved the Air Forces ability to present combat support capability to the combatant commands and deployed logisticians. This research focused on simplifying the process by identifying the need for and determining the ideal capabilities provided by a Logistics Command and Control support cell that would provide a touch point for logistics support to those in a deployed or austere …

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Improving Minuteman Iii Maintenance Concepts, Daniel W. Crouch Mar 2017

Improving Minuteman Iii Maintenance Concepts, Daniel W. Crouch

Theses and Dissertations

Since the end of the Cold War, the Air Force has sought out efficiencies across multiple processes to transform into a cost-effective force. However, processes applicable to the Minuteman III (MM III) weapon system have only recently seen efforts to increase effectiveness. The purpose of this research is to investigate whether the use of third generation maintenance concepts could benefit the sustainment of the MM III through its planned retirement around 2030. Primary and secondary sources outlining the history of the strategic missile force and its current state were collected. Themes from each era were analyzed using Prospect Theory as …

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