Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-62). / Oil and transportation have been commingled since the first oil reserves were discovered. The importance of energy, namely oil, and the transportation of that energy from the producers to the consumers is persistently monitored and evaluated. Oil producers often seek novel transportation channels to increase oil production, thereby increasing revenues. Oil consumers seek unique transportation nodes to reduce their reliance on a single set of producers while potentially reducing prices. An example of the transportation interplay between global producers and consumers is highlighted by the Murmansk Oil Terminal and Pipeline proposal that seeks to provide Russian oil to the United States in a safe, efficient, and economic manner. The framework and corresponding feasibility analysis highlight the importance of oil transportation in a global landscape and peruse the macro and micro variables that intertwine and impact that landscape. A thorough evaluation of both Russian and US oil reliance must be understood, while extrapolating the influence of ancillary players such as OPEC, West Siberian Oil Reserves, the Murmansk locality, and the marine transportation industry. This thesis seeks to provide a overview of the oil industry generally, while specifically focusing on marine oil transportation. The thesis does so with a case evaluation of the Murmansk Oil Terminal and Pipeline project. / by Ankur Roy. / M.Eng.in Logistics

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-51). / This thesis studies current supply chain practices in the petroleum downstream industry, using ExxonMobil as a case study. Based on the analysis of the literature and the interaction with industry experts, this work describes the main supply chain issues and challenges in the downstream sector. Moreover, supply chain strategies used by different players in the industry are studied, analyzing in particular the progressive but slow shift of the industry towards a holistic supply chain view. Finally, ExxonMobil operations are used as an illustration of several of the aspects of the previous general analysis. / by Fidel Santos Manzano. / M.Eng.

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 162-168). / The US defense acquisition system is a massive enterprise charged with developing and acquiring state-of-the-art military technology and systems. For the past 65 years, many broad-reaching studies and commissions have endeavored to refine and overhaul the acquisition process to improve its value delivery in the form of increased capability, in less time, and for lower costs. But processes don't make things, people do; which reframes this research to focus on people over process. Acquisition people are knowledge workers, who must creatively execute defense programs within the system and processes they are given. The Government Program Manager (PM) is the primary focus of the thesis. The research explores how the PM is able to achieve improved program outcomes through a combination of leadership competencies and management of key stakeholder relationships. The examination of relevant acquisition literature provides opportunities for the application of systems, stakeholder, and negotiation theory to enable PMs to achieve value delivery on defense programs. Additional theories on organizational routines and activity systems provide insight on how effective PMs can build acquisition dynamic capabilities in the small and in the large to benefit US national security. The research gathers interview data from PM experts and leadership of several large acquisition case study programs. Unique to this research is the multi-dimensional perspective obtained from the Government PM, the lead User representative, and the prime contractor PM on the case programs. This approach enables an examination of the influence of dyadic and triadic relationships and program priorities alignment, with particular focus on the Government PM's role in establishing and managing those stakeholder relationships. The research concludes that strong dialectic leadership, with sufficient managerial and technical competence is paramount for an exceptional PM to succeed in delivering improved program outcomes. Recommendations are provided for the PM, those responsible for PM development, and the DoD to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the defense acquisition enterprise. / by B. Marc Baumann. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-73). / The purpose of this study is to understand and get insights on the characteristics of mobile device supply chain management for mobile networks operators. The relationship between corporate strategy and supply chain strategy is examined. The effectiveness of outsourcing is evaluated. And the areas for effective outsourcing are identified. The study has shown that MNOs with customer retention as product strategy are likely to be more concerned with reducing time in their supply chain. However it is unclear that MNOs with generation of additional revenue as product strategy are likely to be more concerned with reducing cost in their supply chain. Reducing cost appears to be just as important for MNOs that focus on customer retention. The study has shown that outsourcing does not guarantee better corporate performance. It is unclear what the effect is of outsourcing on Profitability, Return on Investment, or Growth in Market share. The study has shown that areas that are more suitable for outsourcing include both forward and reverse logistics. MNOs should evaluate where their strengths are before outsourcing activities to third party providers. / by Kenneth Lap Chi Liu. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42). / In recent years, cooperation in a supply chain has become a new trend in supply chain management. The benefit of cooperation in a supply chain has been indicated and realized in many studies and pilot projects. Various concepts and approaches have been developed. Through examining the most popular concepts and approaches in recent year, this thesis intends to study the long-term impact of cooperation on a supply chain and discuss several factors necessary to keep the cooperation healthy. / by Yi Cai. / M.Eng.in Logistics

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-46). / The study surveys the relationship of logistics cost and total factor productivity (TFP). The paper discusses the theoretical aspect of TFP growth estimation and the concept of logistics cost as percentage of GDP as the factor indicating efficiency in logistics operations. Calculation of TFP from 1960-2001 is obtained by using growth accounting method. Linear regression analysis between logistics cost and TFP shows significant correlations with negative coefficient between TFP and inventory level of the same year. It also shows correlation with negative coefficient of one-year lagged TFP and following independent variables, logistics cost, inventory level, inventory carrying rate, and inventory carrying cost. Correlation implies the link between logistics efficiency and economy's productivity. Line fit plot for each significant correlation show the common time period of 1973-1986 for the series, which suggests that periods of recession and trucking deregulation might cause abrupt qualitative changes in logistics operations. / by Thanattaporn Rasamit. / M.Eng.in Logistics

Thesis: M. Eng. in Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 84-86). / Retailers are exploring more efficient ways to deliver to small format stores that demand frequent and small volume deliveries from Distribution Centers. The need to deliver products at different temperatures, viz. Ambient, Refrigerated and Frozen, reduces volumes that need to be delivered for each product category. One way to make delivery more effective is to use Multi- Temperature Trailers (MTT) that can consolidate demand for products at different temperatures onto a single truck, thereby reducing the number of trips and stops while delivering to small format stores. This thesis explores delivery policy options and the usage of MTT to deliver to small format stores and seeks to define an optimal strategy for such deliveries. The research compares the cost and frequency of delivery for different delivery policy options to help identify the most suitable delivery policy. Demand and distance data for a group of small format stores of a large retailer were used as inputs into the analysis. Apart from the base scenario, the analysis considers several other scenarios, providing insights that can be extended beyond the current stores and geography. In general, the analysis reveals that usage of Multi- Temperature trailers can provide significant cost and operational advantages over Single Temperature trailers for deliveries to small format stores. / by Mayurpankhi Barooah and Seung Hwan Shin. / M. Eng. in Logistics

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 70). / Technical integration between companies can result in an increased risk of information security breaches. This thesis proposes a methodology for quantifying information security risk to a supply chain participant. Given a system responsible for supply chain interaction and the vulnerabilities attributed to the system, the variables that determine the probability and severity of security incidents were used to create a model to quantify the risk within three hypothetical information systems. The probability of an incident occurring was determined by rating the availability and ease of performing an exploit, the attractiveness of the target and an estimate of the frequency of the attack occurring Internet wide. In assigning a monetary value to the incident, the outcome from an attack was considered in terms of the direct impact on the business process and the potential impact on partnerships. A method for determining mitigation strategies was then proposed based on a given set of monetary constraints and the realization of corporate security policy. / by Cynthia Lynn Bellefeuille. / M.Eng.in Logistics

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2008. / MIT Barker Engineering Library copy: issued printed in pages. / Also issued printed in pages. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-116). / In many real world systems, two types of uncertainties exist: those that evolve in small, continuous increments and those that may create large, discrete changes in the system. The field of engineering real options posits that flexible system designs can improve system performance in the face of such uncertainties. However, up to now, most analyses of engineering real options deal with one type of uncertainty at a time. One common analysis method for the incremental uncertainty is done by using binomial lattices, while the discrete changes are typically analyzed using traditional decision analysis. This thesis develops a new hybrid method which combines the lattice and decision analyses for the evaluation of real options. This method makes it possible to account for and display both types of uncertainties at the same time while drawing on the strengths of the two traditional methods. The main advantage is that decision makers are able to compare distributions resulting from strategies rather than only comparing single value evaluations such as expected net present value. The description of the distributions is made via Value at Risk and Gain (VARG) graphs. Also, risk preferences of decision makers are considered directly, rather than by the use of artificial utility functions or by evading the issue entirely. The main disadvantage of the method is that its complexity grows exponentially if many time periods, decision, and chance events are introduced. Therefore, the procedure is outlined for two stages of analysis step by step, and it has been programmed in Excel. To illustrate the method, an application to a supply chain strategy is developed for a computer wholesale company. The situation facing the company is whether to set up a local distribution mode (LDM) in a region experiencing increasing demand. / (cont.) The competition may also decide to establish local distribution in the region. In this light, the incremental uncertainty is the growth of demand while the discrete uncertainty is the competition's decision to enter the market locally. / by Nestor Quispez-Asin. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2011. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-73). / The design and development of a gas turbine engine for aircraft applications is a highly integrated process, and requires the integration of efforts of large numbers of individuals from many design specialties. If the design process is well defined and the product architecture is stable, the outcome of the process will become highly predictable and repeatable. In the case that there are significant architecture changes due to technology insertion, customer requirements or overall changes in component configuration for performance, this large and integrated design process may become more challenging. Communication of design intent, requirements and predicted performance for all of the components, systems and subsystems must be made without error to all involved in the development of the product. Pratt & Whitney is a large gas turbine engine design company, and has been in the engine business since it's inception in 1925. In 2008, P&W designed, built and flew a large "Geared Turbofan" engine which was a demonstrator for a new product architecture being developed, the first of the new product family being the PWl 524G. This new engine architecture is different from the more traditional turbofan engine architecture in the use of a reduction gear set between the fan and the turbine shaft which drives it. Earlier work in examination of gas turbine engine product-design process interactions has been performed with a traditional high bypass ratio gas turbine engine architecture using the PW4098. Using two test cases, the PW4098 and PW1524G, this work seeks to map the architecture of a gas turbine aero engine in the Design Structure Matrix format, with all major connectivity shown, and then to apply organizational information in the form of Domain Matrix Maps to the physical architectural connectivity to determine which portions of the architecture result in additional or functional group interactions. The determination of the architecture driven changes in the number of functional group interactions is made first, and then isolation of "novel" functional group interactions is made with the original architecture serving as the baseline for organizational interaction. Analysis of these results is then performed to examine the potential organizational impact of moving from traditional turbofan architecture to a geared turbofan architecture. The potential impact to the organization in assessed and recommendations are made to minimize the potential impact of the change. The analysis presented shows that the change in engine architecture represents a move to a more distributed and less modular architecture. The DSM shows a 20% increase in density of connectivity between components. From an organizational impact perspective, there is a 30% change overall in the total number of functional group interactions in the integration of the engine. The impact of these changes on particular design functional groups is discussed, and the data suggests that the more distributed architecture of the PW1524G likely will require more system integration effort than the traditional turbofan architecture of the PW4098. / by Denman H. James. / S.M.in Engineering and Management