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Bullwhip Effect: A Solution Road Map
-- A Srikant and Arnab Banerjee
This paper analyzes a very common supply chain phenomenon called bullwhip effect as to why it happens. It then compares it with different stocking policies as where exactly it starts and what is its exact cause in operational level. It then provides a solution road map as integration of e-business suite and SCM packages. This paper also compares how the scenario is different in terms of bullwhip effect when an e-business suite is already in place and when it is not. The authors believe that apart from the planning part, it is the operational level transactions, which needs to be beefed up to reduce the fluctuations.
© 2004 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Aggregate Planning in Services
-- N V V S Swamy and S Subramanian
Theoretically, the aggregate models of manufacturing industry can be applied to services also. But practically there are lot of differences between manufacturing firms and the service firms because of the fact that there is no inventory in services along with other differences. The differences exist in the basic objectives, planning process, factors and costs involved in the planning and the options in aggregate planning. Even within services sector, there are lots of differences in aggregate planning tactics depending on whether it is a seasonal demand fluctuation or intra-day fluctuations. The service firms have come out with innovative techniques like "Yield Management" to overcome these problems. This paper classifies the existing aggregate planning practices in the service industry.
© 2004 The IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Modeling Supply Chain with Multi-agent System
-- A C Ojha
Supply chain is being much more diversified and geographically dispersed due to globalization. Outsourcing has become more prevalent than ever. Customers are very choosy and their expectations have grown in terms of cost and services. The complexity of today's supply chain is staggering. In an effort to reduce costs, increase customers' delight and gain competitive advantage, enterprises are forced to rethink for an efficient and effective coordination of activities across the supply chain. Of late, agent-based information system is identified as a new software development paradigm to manage complex systems. This paper explores the suitability of this new approach and describes a conceptual framework for supply chain modeling and coordination.
© 2004 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
A Comparative Study of Purchasing Effectiveness of Selected Automobile Companies
-- Vinod Kumar Jain, A K Ramani, S S Bhakar and Piyush Pabuwal
Purchasing effectiveness is related to achieve the objectives of the purchasing function. The overall objectives of the purchasing functions include procurement of the right material, of the right quality, from the right source, at the right time and right place. This is possible only if an organization installs and uses proper Information Technology (IT) to support purchasing function. Materials management system, warehouse management and transport management systems can help the management better in taking decisions quickly related to the stock of different material lying in the stores and warehouses. Bar coding and scanning techniques facilitate the managers in coding and streamlining the materials at the stores. EDI facilitates the managers in placing faster purchasing orders, receiving bills and reducing purchasing cost. IT also facilitates in making centralized coordination of information flow. The effectiveness of the purchasing function directly contributes to the organizational success. The present paper explores the factors for measuring the purchasing effectiveness of automobile manufacturing units. It also measures the buyer-supplier relationship. The automobile-manufacturing units are compared on the basis of the relationship they enjoy with their suppliers.
© 2004 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Evolving to the Enterprise Production System (EPS)
-- Michael McClellan
The Enterprise Production System (EPS) is made up of the Manufacturing Enterprise System (MES) or Execution Infrastructure Layer and the Control System Layer. The EPS excludes software and control system logic used to manage the plant floor function and process. This paper traces the evaluation of EPS with major assistance from Information Technology.
© Michael McClellan (www.cosyninc.com). Reprinted with permission.
Logistics Management from a Complexity Perspective
-- Fredrik Nilsson and Jonas Waidringer
The aim of this paper is to discuss the implications a complexity perspective may have on the management of logistics. The CLM definition of logistics management is used as a base to address the implications a complexity perspective has on the logistics discipline. A framework is developed to assess the logistics complexity based on significant properties (structure, dynamics and adaptation) on three levels of resolution (individual/parts, the firm and the network). The identified emphasis of planning and controlling in logistics management are questioned and it is suggested that a change concerning the elements related to the property of adaptation is needed. This means that the process of planning and controlling has to be balanced by considerations to emergent phenomena and the processes of self-organization taking place in the flow of products and information. One conclusion is that a modified version of the definition of logistics management is called for.
© Fredrik Nilsson and Jonas Waidringer. Reprinted with permission.
An Overview of Design and Operational Issues of Kanban Systems
-- M S Akturk and F Erhun
We present a literature review and classification of techniques to determine both the design parameters and kanban sequences for Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing systems. We summarize the model structures, decision variables, performance measures and assumptions in a tabular format. It is important to state that there is a significant relationship between the design parameters, such as the number of kanbans and kanban sizes, and the scheduling decisions in a multi-item, multi-stage, multi-horizon kanban system. An experimental design is developed to evaluate the impact of operational issues, such as sequencing rules and actual lead times on the design parameters.
© M S Akturk and F Erhun (www.bilkent.edu). Reprinted with Permission. |
