Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-73). / Historically, the apparel industry has operated in an unsustainable way. Materials, energy, and other resources are used inefficiently throughout the apparel supply chain, leading to unsustainable levels of waste generation. Post-purchase use and disposal are rarely considered during the design and production of apparel products. Apparel companies are becoming more cognizant of their environmental impact and are implementing sustainability programs to counteract these issues. The field of sustainable supply chain management is a relatively new concept and companies face the challenges of choosing sustainability initiatives, measuring the success of those initiatives, and assessing their overall progress toward sustainability. This thesis addresses these three challenges. First, it compiles a comprehensive set of nearly 300 sustainability initiatives used by eight apparel companies. Second, it documents the initiatives' associated metrics, which were found to exist for only 30 percent of the initiatives. Third, it provides a system for measuring overall corporate sustainability through an initiative classification scheme. It was determined that three of the eight companies studied embody the highest level of corporate sustainability. The industry has made progress toward becoming more sustainable, but cannot be truly sustainable until systemic changes are made to the design, production, use, and disposal stages of the apparel product life cycle. / by Sophie Elise Agbonkhese. / M.Eng.in Logistics

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-177). / As economies develop and trade routes change, investment in port infrastructure is essential to maintain the necessary capacity for an efficiently functioning port system and to meet expected demand for all types of cargo. However, these largescale, expensive investments in long-term infrastructure assets must be made despite a variety of future uncertainties that may potentially influence a port's performance. By using a Southeast Asian multi-purpose port as a case study, this thesis paper enhances the investment decision-making process for port infrastructure through the successful application and modification of two existing methodologies and the development of both an investment tool and a framework for selecting an optimal investment strategy to address capacity constraints within a port system. Applied at the case study port, the research evaluates a modification of an existing methodology for the measurement of port capacity, developed by Lagoudis and Rice, to identify bottlenecks within the port system. The research then examines a modification of an existing methodology, developed by de Neufville and Scholtes, for the evaluation of potential investment strategies under uncertainty. A simulation screening model is developed to forecast expected profitability under uncertainty for potential investment strategies, including strategies with flexible options, and to determine the optimal strategy. The thesis concludes with the presentation of a decision-making process for port infrastructure investment and recommended refinements to the existing methodologies. / by Jason Bryan Salminen. / M.Eng.in Logistics

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