The book presents several highly selected cases in emerging countries where the production-logistics systems have been optimized or improved with the support of mathematical models. The book contains a selection of papers from the 5th International Conference on Production Research (ICPR) Americas 2010 held on July 21-23 in Bogota, Colombia. The main topic of the conference was "Technologies in Logistics and Manufacturing for Small and Medium Enterprises" which is perfectly aligned with the realities of emerging countries. The book presents methodologies and case studies related to a wide variety of production/logistics systems such as diary production, auto parts, steel and iron production, and financial services. It is focused but not limited to Small/Medium Enterprises.

This text provides a superbly researched insight into Markovian demand inventory models. The result of ten years of research, this work covers all aspects of demand inventory where they are modeled by Markov processes. Inventory management is concerned with matching supply with demand and is a central problem in Operations Management. The central problem is to find the amount to be produced or purchased in order to maximize the total expected profit, or minimize the total expected cost.

This work encapsulates the essential developments in this field into a single resource, as well as to set an agenda for further development in the field.This brief focuses on the demand flexibility in supply chains with fragmented results distributed throughout the literature. These results have strong implications for managing real-world complex operations planning problems.

This book exploits dimensions of demand flexibility in supply chains and characterizes the best fit between demand properties and operations capabilities and constraints. The origins and seminal works are traced in integrated demand and operations planning and an in-depth documentation is provided for the current state of the art. Systems with inherent costs and constraints that must respond to some set of demands at a minimum cost are examined. Crucial unanswered questions are explored and the high-value research directions are highlighted for both practice and for the development of new and interesting optimization models and algorithms.

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The Turkish economy is very dynamic and growing at phenomenal speeds. For instance, Turkey's first quarter GDP growth rate was 11 percent in 2011. This growth brings its own risks and benefits. The lessons learned from surviving and thriving in such an environment can be applied to supply chains in any country. Packed with interesting and timely examples from industries such as automotive, airline, and manufacturing, Risk Intelligent Supply Chains: How Leading Turkish Companies Thrive in the Age of Fragility presents strategic insights from various leading Turkish companies regarding their management of supply chain risks. Cagri Haksoez brings the risk intelligent supply chain (RISC) concept to life for the first time. It answers the question of how to become a risk intelligent supply chain. He proposes the I-Quartet Model with four essential roles "Integrator, Inquirer, Improviser, and Ingenious," that any supply chain network must play to become risk intelligent. The book also presents never-before-published cases and practices of leading Turkish companies that thrive globally in the age of fragility with their supply chain risk intelligence. While providing real-life examples, the book also shares insights obtained in various scientific disciplines. It provides not only an industry focus but also details numerous industry approaches, analyzing their similarities and differences in a manner that allows each industry to learn from the other.

Originally taught mainly in business schools, supply chain management has become a common elective and graduate course in engineering colleges. The increasing demand for engineers with supply chain knowledge has fed this shift. However, supply chain management textbooks that have a reasonable coverage of quantitative analysis techniques are few and far between. Concise, straightforward, and easy-to-read, Supply Chain Management for Engineers uses practical problems to introduce key concepts and cultivate students' problem-solving skills. Helping students hone their analytical skills and develop the ability to solve real-world problems, the book: Includes a simulation game for practicing supply chain management skills Covers the use of practical software tools including Gurobi Optimizer and Microsoft EXCEL Facilitates the use of problem-based learning (PBL) pedagogy Provides a theoretical framework for supply chain design and supplier selection Focusing on quantitative aspects, this book uses example problems to introduce key concepts and case studies to strengthen students' analysis and synthesis skills. In addition to exercises, this book also provides several problems that are relatively complicated and can be used as mini projects that link theoretical concepts to practical problem solving. It also presents a simulation game where students can play the roles of suppliers, OEMs, and retailers within a supply chain environment to practice the skills they acquire. It also stresses the importance of integrating engineering optimization techniques with business strategic thinking. These features and more give students the supply chain knowledge and problem-solving skills increasingly required for engineers entering the work force.

Winner of IIE Book of the Month, December 2013 The introduction of reverse supply chains has created many challenges in network design, transportation, selection of used products, selection and evaluation of suppliers, performance measurement, marketing-related issues, end-of-life (EOL) alternative selection, remanufacturing, disassembly, and product acquisition management, to name a few. Under the guidance of an expert editor and with contributions from pioneers in the field, Reverse Supply Chains: Issues and Analysis addresses several important issues faced by strategic, tactical, and operation planners of reverse supply chains, using efficient models in a variety of decision-making situations providing easy-to-use mathematical and/or simulation modeling-based solution methodologies for a majority of the issues. The book introduces the basic concepts of reverse logistics and systematically analyzes the literature by classifying more than 400 published references into five major types of product returns. It then identifies the basic activities and scope of reverse logistics, examining its drivers and barriers as well as major issues and challenges. The chapters cover metrics for quantitatively comparing competing new-product designs for end-of-life disassembly on a reverse production line, how to use the theory of constraints thinking processes to determine the core problems in reverse logistics, and an integrated multi-criteria decision-making methodology using Taguchi loss functions AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and fuzzy programming. They explore issues associated with remanufacturing and green and resilient supply chain management and propose system modeling based on graph theory and network flows application to analyze material resource flows in the life cycle of a product. Reverse supply chains is a new and fast growing area of research and only a handful of books are on the market, however t

This study is about the macroeconomic effects of positive externalities or industrial spillovers around advanced production. The case explored is the "technology di- dend" around Swedish aircraft industry, and in particular around the aircraft ma- facturer Saab, and the major industrial project of the JAS 39 Gripen multirole combat aircraft. The project is partly an updating of my book (in Swedish) Technology 1 Generator or a National Presige Project from 1995, but extends the analysis in s- eral directions. The study includes a chapter on spillovers from advanced production in an industrially developing economy, South Africa, that has acquired the JAS 39 Gripen for its Air Force. There is also a chapter in which the results for Sweden are discussed in the wider context of advanced public procurement in Europe. The text has been organized such that the main chapters have been written for academic readers. Two supplements include the technical details of data collection, mathematical models, and calculation methods. The first chapter is brief and focused on the results. It has the character of an extended executive summary. The second chapter summarizes the entire story; problems, results, and methods. This project would not have been possible without the generous support of a number of people. First of all great thanks go to all those people with crowded calendars in Swedish industrial firms that have set aside time to respond to my questions. Most of them have been listed at the end of the book.

Recent decades have witnessed an explosion in supply chain complexity. Very few firms have succeeded in building excellent supply chains and employing supply chain management (SCM) as a competitive advantage. For the ones which have developed enhanced supply chain design and process capabilities, their performance has far exceeded their competitors'. While for the vast majority of firms, SCM still remains a means of reducing costs and improving efficiency, for the excellent ones, SCM has turned into a source for value creation. What factors drive firms towards supply chain excellence? How can real differentiation be created through supply chains? Excellence in Supply Chain Management examines the characteristics and features of firms that excel in SCM.

Obwohl der prozentuale Kostenanteil beschaffter Guter aufgrund des Outsourcing-Trends stetig zugenommen hat, wurde die Beschaffung lange Zeit in Theorie und Praxis vernachlassigt. Mit der vierten industriellen Revolution (Industrie 4.0) hat sie jedoch die einzigartige Moeglichkeit, ihr volles Potential zu nutzen und ihre strategische Relevanz auszubauen, wenn sie die richtigen Kompetenzen entwickelt. Ausgehend von den aktuellen Beschaffungsaufgaben stellt dieses Buch methodisch drei Kompetenzprofile vor, die eine Grundlage fur die Entwicklung zukunftiger Berufsbilder in der Beschaffung 4.0 bilden. Es zeigt anschaulich, auf welche Weise sich die heutigen Aufgaben, Anforderungen sowie Kompetenzen in der Beschaffung mit der digitalen Transformation verandern werden und leitet einen konkreten Handlungsbedarf zur Starkung der Beschaffung im digitalen Zeitalter ab.

Destination marketing is more challenging than other goods and services. The basis of competitive advantage shifts from tourism resources only (destination marketing) to a location-based or city-wide integrated management (place marketing). In this book, tourism scholars Metin Kozak and Seyhmus Baloglu discuss and synthesize theories, models, techniques, and principles for strategic marketing and management of tourist destinations, and demonstrate ways in which to further develop the concept of destination competitiveness for application within these destinations. The authors highlight the need for managing brand equity, tourist experience, and information systems, as well as involving internal and external stakeholders in strategic planning and implementation. This book offers practical information directly related to the tourism industry, using the examples of real-world cases to bridge marketing theory with practice. With its international focus and applications for developing a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace, this research will be indispensable to students and scholars of tourism, hospitality, and leisure and recreation programs, as well as practitioners within these industries.

Supply Chain Optimization captures the latest results in a segment of current research activity in supply chain management. This research area focuses on applying optimization techniques to supply chain management problems. The research papers that make up the volume provide a snapshot of state-of-the-art optimization methods within the field. This book presents rigorous modelling approaches for supply chain operations problems with a goal of improving supply chain performance (or the performance of some segment thereof). It contains high-quality works from leading researchers in the field whose expertise fits within this scope. The book provides a diverse blend of research topics and novel modelling and solution approaches for difficult classes of supply chain operations, planning, and design problems.

A compilation of the core aspects of procurement marketing in a way which allows an easier translation of relevant theoretical findings into every-day business. The book adopts a decision-orientated approach, starting with a situation analysis and leading through a heuristic structure to the right combination of procurement tools. A valuable tool for continual reference.

Intelligence is wasted on problems that themselves have been caused by an excess of intelligence. Lean Brain Management strives toward uncompromising Lean Brain Quality. Lean Brain stands for consistent economization of intelligence in all realms of life: Intelligent systems will only be operated by unskilled workers. Education, universities, and schools would become obsolete. A week of training would be enough for virtually any job. ("You are now the physician for the measles in the State of Ohio. In response to phone calls, send this prescription.")

Lean Brain is not aimed at dumbing down Lean Brain can survive on just a very small amount of central intelligence. Potential savings amount to trillions This is demonstrated using Germany as an example.

With this book, Dueck presents a radical suggestion for world improvement. The desire to laugh infinitely about it will eventually segue into a collective rude awakening. The book contains concrete advice for managers to economize on intelligence, and is thus-in keeping with the theme-written in an easy-to-read fashion. It contains no self-doubt whatsoever.

Awarded the Business Book Prize from Financial Times Deutschland and getAbstract AG

Direct Store Delivery (DSD) is a key method of selling and distributing products for a variety of industries. In the consumer products industry, DSD is one of the strategic key growth areas, as the process delivers a broad range of business benefits to all parties of the value chain. Today, 24 of the world's Top 30 Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies employ the DSD business process.

Although DSD is gaining major and steadily increasing attention in the market, it has hardly been covered by literature and empirical studies. For the first time and including the input of both practitioners and academics, this book throws light on the topic of DSD from different perspectives, providing fresh insights and benefits.

The book covers diverse topics. Among others, it delivers a deeper understanding of the DSD business process and why companies use it. Furthermore, the global status quo of DSD usage and details of its implementation will be illustrated and multi-level insights (strategic, operational) will be discussed.

Philip Wessely supports managerial decision-making in the forefront of a potential implementation by introducing a quantification approach for the value contribution of SCIs. The resulting approach combines different innovative modeling techniques and considers the individual integration of companies in inter-organizational networks. As a result, it has a broad field of application.

This book analyzes environmental supply chain management theory and practice, with contributions by a international experts. Coverage includes concepts and principles of green supply chain management; studies of practices and concerns in industries worldwide; tools for environmental supply chain design and development; and case studies of green supply chain practices. Professionals, policy makers, researchers and students will value this book for the insights it provides into a topic of growing concern.

In this thesis, a collaborative planning approach is elaborated which is able to reduce the inefficiencies in an intermodal transportation chain. Results of extensive numerical tests indicate that significant improvements of the transportation chain performance can be achieved.

Fierce global competition in the tourism industry is now focused on integral parts of supply chains rather than on individual firms. The highly competitive environment has forced tourism firms to look for ways to enhance their competitive advantage. Tourism products are often viewed by consumers as a value-added chain of different service components and identifying ways to effectively manage the inter-related tourism business operations will enable tourism firms to better meet customer needs and accomplish business goals thus maintaining competitive advantage over their equally efficient rivals.

This significant and timely volume is the first to apply supply chain management theories and practices in the context of tourism. By doing so the book offers insight into the relationships between tourism enterprises, how co-ordination across organizations can be effectively achieved and how business performance can be improved. It provides comprehensive and systematic coverage of modern supply chain management concepts and methodologies applied to the tourism and hospitality industries. The text covers key issues and principles including: marketing and product development, demand forecasting, supplier selection and management, distribution channels, capacity management, customer relationship management, tourism supply chain competition and coordination, and e-tourism.

The book combines essential theory and comparative international examples based on primary research to show challenges and opportunities of effective tourism supply chain management. This text is essential for final year undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Tourism Management, Tourism Planning and Tourism Economics.

Here is a book that aggregates five years of experience of three successive R and D projects (ELCH, GetTogether, GROPIS) covering technical and organizational issues of eProcurement. The projects, which were funded partly by the government and partly by industry and hospitals, looked at the characteristics of procurement processes and at standard technologies. Two of the projects included case studies (ELCH, GROPIS), the third project focused on the development of standard business objects for eProcurement in healthcare (GetTogether). Together they form a rich source of information worth communicating to a large audience of experts and newcomers alike.

Supply relations are often governed by so-called relational contracts. These are informal agreements sustained by the value of future cooperation. Although relational contracts persist in practice, research on these types of contract is only emerging in Operations and Supply Chain Management. This book studies a two-firm supply chain, where repeated transactions via well-established supply contracts and continued quality-improvement efforts are governed by a relational contract. We are able to characterize an optimal relational contract, i.e., to develop policies for supplier and buyer that structure investments in quality and flexibility in a way that no other self-enforcing contract generates higher expected joint surplus. A second goal is to compare the performance of different returns mechanisms in the context of relational contracting (quantity flexibility and buy-back contracts). Industry studies motivate the presented model.

Quick Response (QR) policy is a market-driven business strategy in which supply chain members work together to react quickly to volatile market demand. Nowadays, with advances in information technologies (such as RFID and ERP systems), new challenges and opportunities arise for the application of QR. This handbook explores QR extensively with a view to discovering innovative QR measures that can help tackle the observed and emerging challenges. The book is organized into four parts, which include chapters on analytical modeling and analyses, information technologies, cases, reviews, and applications. This handbook provides new analytical and empirical results with valuable insights, which will not only help supply chain agents to better understand the latest applications of QR in business, but also help practitioners and researchers to know how to improve the effectiveness of QR using innovative methods.

Winner of IIE Book of the Month, December 2013 The introduction of reverse supply chains has created many challenges in network design, transportation, selection of used products, selection and evaluation of suppliers, performance measurement, marketing-related issues, end-of-life (EOL) alternative selection, remanufacturing, disassembly, and product acquisition management, to name a few. Under the guidance of an expert editor and with contributions from pioneers in the field, Reverse Supply Chains: Issues and Analysis addresses several important issues faced by strategic, tactical, and operation planners of reverse supply chains, using efficient models in a variety of decision-making situations providing easy-to-use mathematical and/or simulation modeling-based solution methodologies for a majority of the issues. The book introduces the basic concepts of reverse logistics and systematically analyzes the literature by classifying more than 400 published references into five major types of product returns. It then identifies the basic activities and scope of reverse logistics, examining its drivers and barriers as well as major issues and challenges. The chapters cover metrics for quantitatively comparing competing new-product designs for end-of-life disassembly on a reverse production line, how to use the theory of constraints thinking processes to determine the core problems in reverse logistics, and an integrated multi-criteria decision-making methodology using Taguchi loss functions AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and fuzzy programming. They explore issues associated with remanufacturing and green and resilient supply chain management and propose system modeling based on graph theory and network flows application to analyze material resource flows in the life cycle of a product. Reverse supply chains is a new and fast growing area of research and only a handful of books are on the market, however t

Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) are a massive subset of the healthcare industry that negotiate lower costs for healthcare supplies by buying for several hospitals at once. Group Purchasing Organizations provides an analysis and critique of this industry.

As markets become more dynamic and competitive, companies must reconsider how they view inventory and make changes to their production and inventory systems. They must begin to think outside the classical box and develop a new paradigm of inventory management. Exploring the trend away from classical models based on economic order quantities to dependent demand systems, Inventory Management: Non-Classical Views comes as a just-in-time resource. Explore the new role of inventories in business enterprises This book discusses a new paradigm for inventory management that is responsive to dynamic changes in the economy. It explores: Inventory systems that provide flexibility Inventory performance measures other than using cost as a means to control inventory Inventory as a contributor to customer value creation, rather than a liability The book also examines why energy and the environment are to be considered in inventory decisions, the non-classical application of inventory management in fields such as healthcare and disaster relief, and non-classical approaches to measuring the performance of inventory such as information theory, fuzzy sets, and thermodynamics. While many factors may change, one certainty is that the global economy is becoming increasingly dynamic. Planting the seeds for new research in inventory control and management, this book outlines the evolving role of inventories in business enterprises. It explores how to create inventory management as a tool for continued success regardless of market fluctuations and economic variances.

This volume analyzes group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in order to better understand the significant roles that these entities play in the healthcare supply chain. It examines who they contract with, on what terms, and who they represent and answer to while charting their historical development. The analysis reveals that the current roles of both players have historical roots that explain why they behave the way they do. Finally, the book reviews the evidence base on the performance results of these two players. This work fills a void in our understanding about two important and controversial players in the healthcare value chain. Both organizations are cloaked in secrecy - partly by virtue of the private sector contracts they negotiate, partly by virtue of the lack of academic attention. Both play potentially important roles in controlling healthcare costs, albeit using contracting strategies and reimbursement mechanisms that arouse suspicion among stakeholders. This timely text explicates how these organizations arose and evolved to shed more light on how they really operate.