Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Real-Life Vehicle Routing With Non-Standard Constraints, Wee Leong Lee

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Real-life vehicle routing problems comprise of a number of complexities that are not considered by the classical models found in vehicle routing literature. I present, in this paper, a two-stage sweep-based heuristic to find good solutions to a real-life Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). The problem I shall consider, will deal with some non-standard constraints beyond those normally associated with the classical VRP. Other than considering the capacity constraints for vehicles and the time windows for deliveries, I shall introduce four additional non-standard constraints: merging of customer orders, controlling the maximum number of drop points, matching orders to vehicle types, and …

The People Dimension In Logistics And Supply Chain Management – Its Role And Importance, Edward Sweeney

Books/Book chapters

It is widely recognised that the effective application of logistics and supply chain management (SCM) has a vital role to play in European economic recovery. Experience suggests that success in achieving higher levels of supply chain integration (SCI) depends on both physical and technical components (the hard-wiring), as well as human and behavioural components (the soft-wiring). There is significant evidence that the latter has been largely neglected by the logistics and SCM community. Furthermore, it appears that the majority of supply chain improvement initiatives by practitioners have been primarily concerned with technological, structural and process issues. This chapter …

Load Mixing To Improve Container Utilization, Crystal Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The under utilization in trucking leads to nearly 5 billion gallons of wasted fuel annually. One way to recapture part of this waste is to use collaborative logistics. This research focuses on one specific aspect of collaborative logistics: load mixing. Load mixing is the idea of mixing two or more items of different weights in the same container to reduce the number of trucks needed.

Load mixing is similar to other packing problems such as the knapsack and container loading problems. However, traditional packing problems typically only assume a single type of capacity (e.g., weight), whereas load mixing must simultaneously …

Purchasing Green Transport And Logistics Services: Implications For Small Business, Pietro Evangelista, Maria Huge-Brodin, Karin Isaksson, Edward Sweeney

Articles

Considering its strong environmental impact, logistics plays a critical role in green supply chain management. It provides strategic links in the supply chain and is an essential function in the delivery of green products to the consumer. There is a general consensus on the fact that more environmentally sustainable companies may be achieved only if transport and logistics activities also become greener. To achieve this objective, buyer companies need to incorporate green considerations in the purchasing of transport and logistics services. This appears particularly challenging for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) because of their traditional lack of managerial, organisational …

Supply Chain And Logistics Technology Investment In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Edward Sweeney

Practitioner Journals

No abstract provided.

Optimization Of Costs And Service Level By Choosing The Best Customer Order Decoupling Point, Michael Schmidt, Detlef Spee

11th IMHRC Proceedings (Milwaukee, Wisconsin. USA – 2010)

The customer order decoupling point (CODP) as the link in the supply chain between processes based on uncertain information, such as sales forecasts, and certain information in the form of customer orders is crucial for production efficiency, storage costs, and the quality of logistics. This paper focuses on developing an approach for identifying a CODP that provides the highest potential for achieving business objectives. Within the context of the above-mentioned topics, this paper focuses on the interrelations and the tradeoffs that have to be made when positioning the COPD. The goal of the paper is to present an effective and …

Distributed Route Planning And Scheduling Via Hybrid Conflict Resolution, Ramesh Thangarajoo, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, we discuss the problem of route planning and scheduling by a group of agents. Each agent is responsible for designing a route plan and schedule over a geographical network, and the goal is to obtain a conflict-free plan/schedule that optimizes a global objective. We present a hybrid conflict resolution method that involves coalition formation and distributed constraint satisfaction depending on the level of coupling between agents. We show how this approach can be effectively applied to solve a distributed convoy movement planning problem.

Automatic Generation Of Supply Chain Simulation Models From Scor Based Ontologies, Dayana Cope

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In today's economy of global markets, supply chain networks, supplier/customer relationship management and intense competition; decision makers are faced with a need to perform decision making using tools that do not accommodate the nature of the changing market. This research focuses on developing a methodology that addresses this need. The developed methodology provides supply chain decision makers with a tool to perform efficient decision making in stochastic, dynamic and distributed supply chain environments. The integrated methodology allows for informed decision making in a fast, sharable and easy to use format. The methodology was implemented by developing a stand alone tool …

Analysis Of Army Transformation And The Effects On Customer Ordering Behavior, Joseph M. Colacicco

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Army began a major force transformation in 2003, which required a significant shift in logistics support constructs. This thesis provides an in-process review of the effects of the current transformation efforts on supply effectiveness and attempts to determine factors that influence customer ordering behavior. Specifically, the thesis sought to answer three subproblems addressing the effect of transformation on supply effectiveness, the correlation of supply effectiveness metrics to customer ordering behavior, and other potential sources of variance in ordering behavior. The subproblems were answered through an examination of the supply document histories of two Brigades, one legacy Brigade …

Finding A Length-Constrained Maximum-Sum Or Maximum-Density Subtree And Its Application To Logistics, Hoong Chuin Lau, Trung Hieu Ngo, Bao Nguyen Nguyen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We study the problem of finding a length-constrained maximum-density path in a tree with weight and length on each edge. This problem was proposed in [R.R. Lin, W.H. Kuo, K.M. Chao, Finding a length-constrained maximum-density path in a tree, Journal of Combinatorial Optimization 9 (2005) 147–156] and solved in O(nU) time when the edge lengths are positive integers, where n is the number of nodes in the tree and U is the length upper bound of the path. We present an algorithm that runs in O(nlog2n) time for the generalized case when the edge lengths are positive real numbers, which …

Partial Adjustable Autonomy In Multi-Agent Environment And Its Application To Military Logistics, Hoong Chuin Lau, Lucas Agussurja, Ramesh Thangarajoo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In a rapidly changing environment, the behavior and decision-making power of agents may have to be adaptive with respect to a fluctuating autonomy. In this paper, a centralized fuzzy approach is proposed to sense changes in environmental conditions and translate them to changes in agent autonomy. A distributed coalition formation scheme is then applied to allow agents in the new autonomy to renegotiate to establish schedule consistency. The proposed framework is applied to a real-time logistics control of a military hazardous material storage facility under peace-to-war transition.

Evaluation Of Time-Varying Availability In Multi-Echelon Inventory System With Combat Damage, Hoong Chuin Lau, Huawei Song

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The models for multi-echelon inventory systems in existing literatures predominantly address failures due to reliability in peacetime. In wartime or even peacetime operational scenarios, unexpected combat damage can cause a large number of systems to be heavily damaged, to the extent that they become irreparable. In this paper, we study a multi-echelon spare parts support system under combat damage, discuss the replenishment policy and propose an approximate method to evaluate the time-varying system performance operational availability considering the effect of passivation. Experiments show our model works well and efficiently against simulation.

Successfully Blending Distance Students Into The On-Campus Classroom, Susan L. Murray, David Lee Enke, Sreeram Ramakrishnan

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As universities are increasingly embracing distance education technology, it is useful to examine the challenges and opportunities of technology in the classroom. This is especially true when the course contains on-campus local students in addition to students learning at a distance. A significant challenge commonly faced is how to remain flexible in presenting course materials while still having notes and other handouts in electronic format available before the lecture. Other challenges include creating and using lecture material that can be viewed at low resolution and low bandwidth, and getting distance students to interact with the instructor, on-campus students, and fellow …

Multi-Period Multi-Dimensional Knapsack Problem And Its Application To Available-To-Promise, Hoong Chuin Lau, M. K. Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper is motivated by a recent trend in logistics scheduling, called Available-to-Promise. We model this problem as the multi-period multi-dimensional knapsack problem. We provide some properties for a special case of a single-dimensional problem. Based on insights obtained from these properties, we propose a two-phase heuristics for solving the multi-dimensional problem. We also propose a novel time-based ant colony optimization algorithm. The quality of the solutions generated is verified through experiments, where we demonstrate that the computational time is superior compared with integer programming to achieve solutions that are within a small percentage of the upper bounds.

Logistics Outsourcing And 3pl Challenges, Michelle L. F. Cheong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Logistics has been an important part of every economy and every business entity. The worldwide trend in globalization has led to many companies outsourcing their logistics function to Third-Party Logistics (3PL) companies, so as to focus on their core competencies. This paper attempts to broadly identify and categorize the challenges faced by 3PL companies and discover potential gaps for future research. Some of the challenges will be related with the experience and information collected from interviews with two 3PL companies.

Modeling The Pre-Positioning Of Air Force Precision Guided Munitions, Daniel P. Johnstone

Theses and Dissertations

There exist factors that play a major role in an enlisted Airman's decision to either stay on active duty in the Air Force or separate. The current force structure of the U.S. Air Force and increased loss of enlisted personnel is a major concern as we look at maintaining manpower to meet the needs of the Air Force. The Air Force is reacting to this low retention problem by increasing the bonuses for initial enlistments and reenlistments, home basing, increasing quality of life for Air Force personnel with enlisted dormitory plus-ups, and under AEF personnel have increased predictability of deployment. …

An Identification And Discussion Of Key Success Factors In The Acquisition Of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (Cots-) Based Systems, John F. Corbett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore COTS-based systems as they are acquired by the Air Force. Current guidance related to the acquisition of COTS-based systems is explored. Based upon the literature reviewed, the research targeted the specific area of acquisition plans. A multiple case study of acquisition plans from several COTS-based systems was performed. Current guidance related to the acquisition plan has not been specifically tailored to COTS-based systems. The results of the analysis of the COTS-based systems showed that the use total ownership cost (TOC) and cost as an independent variable (CAIV) enabled a system to he …

A Combined Inventory And Delivery Model For Repairable Items, Bahtiyar Eren

Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, logistics analysts have treated the delivery problem separate from the inventory and repair problems. In other words, each of these three problems-delivery, inventory, and repair-are treated individually. We combine the vehicle routing problems and inventory allocation problems in a single formulation. Furthermore, lateral re-supply is considered, in that supplies are not only available from the main depot, but also from other bases. After we get the lateral re-supply information, we set a delivery allocation plan out of the main depot. Such allocations are then delivered via vehicles stationed at the main depot. There is a repair capability for each …

Multi-Objective Evaluation Of Target Sets In A Logistics Network, Paul D. Emslie

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the selection of target sets to disrupt an adversary's logistics network in a wartime environment. In the presence of many objectives--such as reducing maximum flow, lengthening routes, avoiding collateral damage, all at minimal risk to our pilots--the problem of determining the best target set is complex. Previous efforts have not adequately considered the value of the remaining network functionality after target destruction. In addition, current network targeting procedures optimize target sets with respect to only a single metric. This thesis uses a multi-objective decision analysis framework capturing actual targeting decision-maker values and preferences to evaluate and analyze …

How To Develop An Interactive Electronic Technical Manual: An Industry Perspective, Ali N. Karabulut, Hilmi Oz

Theses and Dissertations

Improvements in technology, especially in computer science, in the last two decades have made it possible, and preferable to develop digital technical manuals. A digital manual, which is called an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM), is a package of information required for the diagnosis and maintenance of a weapon systems, optimally arranged and formatted for interactive screen presentation to the end-user. Being the largest organization in the U.S., the Department of Defense has pioneered in the development of IETM concept as well as in the establishment of its standards. There have been many researches done about different IETM applications and …