Business Commons^™

Process Analysis For Material Flow Systems, Thorsten Schmidt, David Wustmann, Robert Schmaler

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

This paper describes a generic approach for analysis of internal behavior of logistic systems based on event logs. The approach is demonstrated by an example of event data from the simulation model of an automated material handling system (MHS) in a manufacturing company. The purpose of the analysis is the identification of design and operation problems and their causes, prospectively. As a result, the simulation model developer obtains the condensed and ranked information on events. These events describe the internal system behavior with anomalies pointing at either possible problems or capacity reserves.

A Study On Storage Allocation In An Automated Semiconductor Manufacturing Facility, St´Ephane Dauz`Ere-P´Er`Es, Claude Yugma, Ahmed Ben Chaabane, Ahmed Ben Chaabane, Lionel Rulli`Ere, Gilles Lamiable

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

This paper deals with the allocation of storage capacity in the automated material handling environment of a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility. The impact of the allocation of stokers to machines in semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) is very little studied, although it significantly impacts the efficiency of the Automated Material Handling System (AMHS). After motivating and describing the problem of allocating unitary stokers to machines, a first local approach is discussed. We then propose a Mixed Integer linear Programming model to solve the global problem with two objectives: Minimizing the total maximum travel distance of vehicles and balancing the utilization of …

Design & Modeling Of A Single Machine Flow Rack As/Rs, Zaki Sari, Nadir Hakim Bessenouci

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

In this paper, we aim to introduce a new variation of the flow rack automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) using a single machine for storage and retrieval operations instead of two machines. Also, analytical expressions are derived for expected single and dual cycle times of the storage and retrieval machine. For that, randomized storage assignment, and Tchebychev travel are assumed. Two dwell point positions are investigated and compared to determine the best one. Finally an experimental validation using simulation is conducted to verify the quality of the developed.

An Mip Approach To The U-Line Balancing Problem With Proportional Worker Throughput, Reyhan Erin, Andres L. Carrano, Moises Sudit

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

One of the major challenges faced by manufacturing companies is to remain competitive in dynamic environments, where fluctuations in customer demand and production rates require systems capable of adapting in a practical and economical way. A U-shaped production cell is considered one of the most flexible designs for adapting the workforce level to varying conditions. However, re-balancing efforts are time consuming and often require a new work allocation and line design. In this paper, a two-stage MIP model to determine the best cell design under varying workforce levels is proposed. The model seeks to maintain proportionality between throughput and the …

A Yard Crane Scheduling Problem With Practical Constraints, Amin Hossein Gharehgozli, Yugang Yu, Rene De Koster, Gilbert Laporte

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

The problem considered in this paper is to locate storage containers while a set of container storage and retrieval requests are sequenced. Two automated cranes stack and retrieve containers in a single block of a yard. The cranes cannot pass each other and must be separated by a safety distance. Storage containers are initially located at the seaside and land side input/output (I/O) points of the block. Each must be stacked in a specific location of the block, selected from a set of open locations suitable for stacking the storage container. Retrieval containers are initially located in the block and …

Modeling The Inventory Requirement And Throughput Performance Of Picking Machine Order-Fulfillment Technology, Jennifer A. Pazour, Russell D. Meller

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

Picking machines, also known as remote-order-picking systems, are an example of a stock-to-picker piece-level order-fulfillment technology that consists of two or more pick stations and a common storage area. An integrated closed-loop conveyor decouples the pick stations from the storage area by transporting the needed totes to and from the storage area and the pick stations. We develop a probabilistic model capable of quantifying the inventory differences between order-fulfillment technologies that pool inventory with technologies that do not pool inventory. To determine the throughput of a picking machine, we develop a methodology that incorporates existing analytical models for the picking …

Ancillary Service Capacity Optimization For Both Electric Power Suppliers And Independent System Operator, Lijian Chen, Dengfeng Sun, Guang Li

MIS/OM/DS Faculty Publications

Ancillary Services (AS) in electric power industry are critical to support the transmission of energy from generators to load demands while maintaining reliable operation of transmission systems in accordance with good utility practice. The ancillary services are procured by the independent system operator (ISO) through a process called the market clearing process which can be modeled by the partial equilibrium from the ends of ISO. There are two capacity optimization problems for both Market participants (MP) and Independent System Operator (ISO). For a market participant, the firm needs to determine the capacity allocation plan for various AS to pursue operating …

Irish Cios’ Influence On Technology Innovation And It-Business Alignment, Harvey Enns, Joseph J. Mcdonagh

MIS/OM/DS Faculty Publications

Technology is the driving force behind many of today’s new products, services, and cost-cutting measures. However, there are gaps in our understanding about how technological innovation is fostered and nurtured in organizations.

Part of the answer is to examine how Chief Information Officers (CIOs) exercise influence regarding technological innovation in organizations. This is particularly important since the CIO is the head of technology in organizations, an important source of technological innovation. This article draws on an established executive influence framework to demonstrate how Irish CIOs are able to solidify Information Technology’s (IT’s) contribution to technological innovation via relational means. Most …

Isscm Graduating Cohort, 2012, Raj Soin College Of Business, Wright State University

ISSCM Master Cohort Posters

Poster congratulating the 2012 Graduating Cohort from the Master of Information Systems and the Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Programs.

Ever Expanding Responsibilities: Upstream And Downstream Corporate Social Responsibility, Judith Schrempf-Stirling, Guido Palazzo, Robert A. Phillips

Management Faculty Publications

The debate on corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been on the public and academic agenda for several decades. In general, CSR issues can be divided into production-related issues (along the supply chain - or how things are made) and consumption-related issues (towards the consumer and society at large - or how things are used). Following the terminology of Phillips and Caldweli, Z upstream CSR refers to the CSR debate along the supply chain, and downstream CSR refers to corporate responsibility towards consumers and society at large. The chapter examines current CSR issues, and proposes a social connection model to understand …

Tls Newsletter, Volume 6, Edition 4. January 2012, Unf Transportation And Logistics Society

Transportation & Logistics Society Newsletter

Inside the Newsletter: TLS General Meeting Spring 2012 on January 18th. Upcoming Events. TLS on Tour--UPS Distribution Center Jax. TLS President's Corner. In the Know--Scholarship Season. Get to Know Editor David Sherman. FYI--Spring 2012 Career Day. Professional Spotlight on Propeller Club Networking Social

Identification And Implementation Of Patterns Towards A Model Of Environmental Sustainability, S. Jimmy Gandhi, Santiago Perez, Danial Rushton, Robert Cloutier, Ipek Bozkurt, C. Ariel Pinto

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Much like the Quality Revolution did in the 1980's, corporate sustainability has the potential to drive significant changes in the processes and structure of various organizations in the coming decade. With a rapidly growing global population and an ever increasing global demand for resources (Population-Resource-Center, 2012). Sustainability has emerged as one of the primary challenges that organizations will have to deal with in the 21st century. An increasing realization among business executives that profitability by itself is not enough as a measure of success is also driving the increased adoption of sustainable practices in the corporate world (Lowitt and Grimsley, …

Order-Picking By Cellular Bucket Brigades: A Case Study, Yun Fong Lim

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Assigning products to and retrieving them from proper storage locations are crucial in minimizing the operating cost of a unit-load warehouse. The problem becomes intractable when the warehouse faces variable supply and uncertain demand in a multi-period setting. We assume a factor-based demand model in which demand for each product in each period is affinely dependent on some uncertain factors. The distributions of these factors are only partially characterized. We introduce a robust optimization model that minimizes the worst-case expected total travel in the warehouse with distributional ambiguity of demand. Under a linear decision rule, we obtain a storage and …

Simulating School Closure Policies For Cost Effective Pandemic Decision Making, Ozgur M. Araz, Paul Damien, David A. Paltiel, Sean Burke, Bryce Van De Geijn, Alison Galvani, Lauren Ancel Meyers

Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics: Faculty Publications

Background: Around the globe, school closures were used sporadically to mitigate the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. However, such closures can detrimentally impact economic and social life.

Methods: Here, we couple a decision analytic approach with a mathematical model of influenza transmission to estimate the impact of school closures in terms of epidemiological and cost effectiveness. Our method assumes that the transmissibility and the severity of the disease are uncertain, and evaluates several closure and reopening strategies that cover a range of thresholds in school-aged prevalence (SAP) and closure durations.

Results: Assuming a willingness to pay per quality adjusted life-year (QALY) …

Commercial Construction Supply Chain Management Issues Involving Traveling Contractors, Fred Akers

Masters Theses

Supply chain management (SCM) is an important aspect of running any business. To stay competitive in today's marketplace a supply chain management system must be in place to achieve success in this volatile global environment (Fewings, 2005).

This research differentiates the issues between executing a construction project close to home compared to away from home. Being away from home, there typically is no supplier relationship established. Furthermore, the research intends to document certain issues of the commercial construction industry that develop during the execution of a project. This will be based on the comparison of having or not having an …

Game-Theoretic Analysis Of The Quality Assurance Problem In A Two-Echelon Supply Chain With A Retailer As The Quality Gatekeeper, Zaichen Li

Lingnan Theses

We consider a two-level supply chain involving a manufacturer and a retailer who serves as the quality gatekeeper. The manufacturer determines a wholesale price and a defective rate and announces his decisions to the retailer, who then makes her decisions on the retail price and identification rate that means the percent- age of the defects identified by the retailer and reflects the retailer’s gatekeeping effort on her quality assurance. We accordingly develop a leader-follower game and solve it to find Stackelberg equilibrium for the manufacturer and the retailer. In order to examine whether or not the supply chain benefits from …

أهمية استخدام نظام محاسبة التكاليف على أساس الأنشطة ( Abc ) في الشركات الصناعية العراقية: دراسة تطبيقية في الشركة العامة للزيوت النباتية (مصنع المأمون), قاسم محمد عبدالله

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

هدفت الدراسة الى التعرف على مدى مقومات تطبيق نظام ABC في بيئة الشركات الصناعية العراقية / شركة الزيوت النباتية (مصنع المأمون) لغرض تطبيق نموذج جديد لحساب تكاليف الشركات كبديل عن الانظمة التقليدية المعمول بها حالياً وان هذه الطريقة تسمى حساب ” التكاليف المبنية على الانشطة ” ولقد اثبتت الطريقة الحديثة جدوى عالية وقدرة فائقة على وصف الواقع بطريقة ادق من الطرق التقليدية مما يسهل من الاجراءات المناسبة لتقليل التكلفة والتحكم بها . أظهرت نتائج الدراسة ان استخدام نظام ABC سيساعد في استبعاد الانشطة غير المجدية التي لا تضيف اي قيمة للمنتج النهائي وعدم ضمان دقة احتساب التكاليف . ان اهم …

مدى ملائمة النظام المحاسبي الفندقي لمتطلبات نظام التحاسب الضريبي (دراسة تطبيقي فندق الديار السياحي), ناظم حسن عبد السيد

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

يشهد قطاع السياحة بنشاطاته المختلفة تطورا وأهتمامآ ملحوظا، وتعد الصناعة الفندقية من أهم الفعاليات السياحية عالميا وهذا ناتج من مساهمتها في اقتصاديات الدول من حيث المساهمة في الدخل المحلي وتحصيل العملات الأجنبية.يهدف البحث إلى عرض نظام محاسبي فندقي يتلاءم مع نظام التحاسب الضريبي فضلا عن التعريف بمفهوم المحاسبة الفندقية والعلاقة بين المحاسبة والضريبة ، ويختتم الباحث عمله بمجموعة من الاستنتاجات والتوصيات .

دور التقارير المالية المنشورة للشركات المساهمة في تلبية احتياجات المستخدمين من المعلومات دراسة استطلاعية على عينة من الوسطاء والمستثمرين في سوق العراق للأوراق المالية, فالح عبد الحسن داود

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى بيان الدور الذي يمكن أن تلعبه معلومات التقارير المالية للشركات المدرجة في سوق العراق للأوراق المالية في قرارات المستخدمين المتعلقة ببيع وشراء أسهم هذه الشركات ، وباعتماد أسلوب الاستبيان الذي تم توزيعه على عينة مكونة من ( 42 ) فردا من الوسطاء الماليين والمستثمرين المتعاملين في هذه السوق ، فقد كانت من أهم نتائج الدراسة ما يلي :-إن هؤلاء المستخدمين لا يحصلون على التقارير المالية للشركات بسهولة ويسر وإنها لا تتوفر لهم في الوقت المناسب وحاجتهم إليها .-يعتمد هؤلاء المستخدمين على هذه التقارير في قراراتهم الاستثمارية حيث يفهمون المعلومات المحاسبية ويستخدمونها بالشكل الملائم والصحيح .-لا يكتفي …

التحديات التي تواجه مهنة المحاسبة والتدقيق في إطار عناصر البيئة التقنية الحديثة وآثرها على جودة وموثوقية المعلومات المحاسبية, ناظم شعلان جبار

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

أصبح العصر الحالي هو عصر المعلومات وأنظمتها والبحث عن أفضل استخداماتها بأقل تكلفة ووقت, ولقد ازدادت في السنوات الأخيرة قدرة نظام المعلومات المحاسبية على الوفاء بالاحتياجات المطلوبة من المعلومات وذلك نتيجة لتحسن وسائل القياس وتشغيل وتحليل المعلومات باستخدام أنظمة الكمبيوتر المتطورة، إذ اتجهت معظم الشركات إلى تصميم أنظمة معلومات محاسبية بمواصفات محددة، وخاصة في ظل تكنولوجيا المعلومات، وذلك بهدف السيطرة على الكم الهائل من المعلومات الضرورية في تلك الشركات وضمان موثوقية كبيرة لها. ويعتبر استخدام تكنولوجيا المعلومات في تدقيق الحسابات من القضايا المعاصرة التي انبثقت عن إدراك مدققي الحسابات لأهمية مثل هذا الاستخدام لما يوفره من مساعدة في اختيار عينة …

Dock Assignment And Truck Scheduling Problems At Cross-Docking Terminals, Ching-Jung Ting, Amanda G. Rodríguez López

12th IMHRC Proceedings (Gardanne, France – 2012)

In this paper, we consider the integration of dock assignment and truck scheduling problem at cross-docking terminals. The problem is first formulated as a 0-1 integer programming model. Since both dock assignment and truck scheduling problems are NP-hard, its integration is more difficult to solve. Thus we propose reduced variable neighborhood search (RVNS) algorithms to solve the problem. Computational experiments are carried out on four set of instances. The results show that RVNS is capable of finding good solutions in a much shorter computation time when it is compared with optimization solver Gurobi’s solutions.

Multi-Party Multi-Period Supply Chain Coordination, Thin Yin Leong, Michelle Lee Fong Cheong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We apply combinatorial auction as a coordination mechanism to smooth demands placed on suppliers' limited production capacities, allowing several manufacturers to share common suppliers effectively. Products are bidders bidding for parts from suppliers, consuming their capacities in different time periods. The fourth party logistic (4PL) provider acts as the auctioneer to coordinate bids and perform price iterations. We leverage on the strong links between the Lagrangian relaxation method and combinatorial auction, where the Lagrange multipliers serve as the supply capacity reserve prices, to balance the demand and supply of capacities. To prevent cyclic behaviour and to increase convergence speed, we …

Technical Note: Cellular Bucket Brigades, Yun Fong Lim

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Workers in a bucket brigade production system perform unproductive travel when they walk to get more work from their colleagues. We introduce a new design of bucket brigades to reduce unproductive travel. Under the new design, each worker works on one side of an aisle when he proceeds in one direction and works on the other side when he proceeds in the reverse direction. We propose simple rules for workers to share work under the new design and find a sufficient condition for the system to self-balance. Numerical examples suggest that the improvement in throughput by the new design can …

Stochastic Capacity Investment And Flexible Vs. Dedicated Technology Choice In Imperfect Capital Markets, Onur Boyabatli, L. Bertil Toktay

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This paper analyzes the impact of endogenous credit terms under capital market imperfections in a capacity investment setting. We model a monopolist firm that decides on its technology choice (flexible versus dedicated) and capacity level under demand uncertainty. Differing from the majority of the stochastic capacity investment literature, we assume that the firm is budget constrained and can relax its budget constraint by borrowing from a creditor. The creditor offers technology-specific loan contracts to the firm, after which the firm makes its technology choice and subsequent decisions. Capital market imperfections impose financing frictions on the firm. Our analysis contributes to …

Tls Newsletter. Volume 6, Edition 3. November, 2011, Unf Transportation And Logistics Society

Transportation & Logistics Society Newsletter

Inside the Newsletter: TLS Trivia Night, Wednesday November 9th. TLS President's Corner Tom Branning. TLS Community--Hubbard House and Propeller Club. TLS Tidbits: Business/Networking cards. Get to Know TLS Secretary Paula Nelson. TLS on Tour: Anheuser-Busch Brewmaster. Life after Graduation with Claudia Gorham.

Concentration In The Airline Industry: Evidence Of Economies Of Scale?, Ahren Johnston, John Ozment

Journal of Transportation Management

The early experience of the airline industry under deregulation was very much as expected, with increased competition and new entrants offering highly competitive rates. However, there are approximately 130 airlines operating today, and the industry remains more heavily concentrated than it was prior to deregulation. This study reports on concentration in the US airline industry between 1970 and 2009, as measured by the Hcrfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and Concentration Ratio, together with changes in industry costs. The results show a trend of industry-wide reduced costs per available seat mile that is negatively correlated with the increased level of industry output over …

Cross-Cultural Validation Of The Factorial Structure Of A Logistics Strategy Model: A Three-Country Study, Michael A. Mcginnis, Talha Harcar, Ali Kara, John E. Spillan

Journal of Transportation Management

In 2011, McGinnis, Kohn, and Kara reported the effects of overall logisties strategy (OLS) on logistics coordination effectiveness, customer service effectiveness, and organizational competitive responsiveness. This manuscript empirically compares the three dimensions of the Bowersox Daugherty typology to logisties strategies among U.S., Turkish, and Guatemalan companies. US, Turkish, and Guatemalan subjects (logistics managers) were chosen to test the underlying factor structure and measurement equivalences of the scales used. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), findings indicate that the three dimensions of the Overall Logistics Strategy (OLS) - Process Strategy, Market Strategy, and Information Strategy - hold in all three country environments …

A Commentary: The Perfect Storm: Schramm Decision, Fmcsa, And An Imposible Duty For Brokers And Third Party Logistics Companies, Paul Stewart

Journal of Transportation Management

Over the last thirty years, there never has been a more confused doctrine than the current “duty of reasonable care” faced by transportation brokers, third-party logistics companies and shippers as they select carriers for transport. The confusion in what was once reasonable and well understood law has been fueled by a perfect storm ofjudicial reasoning with misplaced reference to faulty empirical data, the complete failure of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to properly assess carrier safety worthiness, a feeding frenzy by the plaintiffs’ bar and apathy by many in the industry. The purpose of this commentary is to …

Competitive Advantage And Fuel Efficiency In Aviation, Adam D. Reiman, Alan W. Johnson, William A. Cunningham

Journal of Transportation Management

This paper builds upon a resource based view of competitive advantage under a dynamic capabilities construct. Fuel efficiency measurement in the aviation industry can be incorporated into dynamic capabilities such as strategic decision making and alliancing. These dynamic capabilities can drive operational cost reductions, which in-turn can enhance profitability and establish a competitive advantage. To further this advantage, fuel efficiency can be embedded inside an organizational culture. A fuel efficiency focused organizational culture can be a valuable, rare, inimitable and non- substitutable resource. This paper proposes a model to merge the dynamic capabilities of strategic decision making and alliancing with …

Ltl Pricing: Looking Back To The Future, C. Clifford Defee, Joe B. Hanna, Robert Overstreet

Journal of Transportation Management

Numerous LTL carriers struggled during the recent recession as customers demanded lower prices. This study is designed to qualitatively evaluate the data gathered from three industry segments regarding LTL pricing. Researchers used semi-structured interviews to conduct an in-depth investigation with over two dozen industry experts who represented shippers, carriers, and 3PLs. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory coding technique. Five major themes emerged from the interview transcripts. These themes are used to describe possible future adjustments to industry pricing structure.