The purpose of the report is to analyse how automatic identification technology affects traceability, and then analyse the effects of automatic identification technology on inventory management. This report is based on the research questions "How can barcodes and RFID affect inventory management?" and "What advantages and disadvantages can automatic identification technologies lead to in warehousing?". In order to answer the report's purpose and research questions, a case study was conducted. The company is a manufacturing company and is active in the chemical industry. The company is categorized as a large company located in western Sweden. Two challenges for the company are to reduce the number of incorrect deliveries and improve the inventory accuracy. These problems are due to the fact that activities in the company's warehouse are done manually. The consequence is reduced inventory efficiency and a risk for dissatisfied customers. During the 2017 fiscal year 45 non-conformances were registered, some of which derives from incorrect deliveries. Empirical data was collected through interviews, observations and internal documents. The case study consists of a process mapping in which the company's processes and activities have been mapped. To obtain a better basis for analysis, a literature study of earlier research was conducted in the field of traceability and automatic identification technologies. A summary of the literature study is found in the theoretical framework. The theoretical framework includes traceability, automatic identification and data capture (AIDC), barcodes and radio frequency identification (RFID).The results shows which activities in the process mapping that identification technologies can be applied to and what effects an application may lead to. It appears that the identification technologies have similar effects on inventory management as they both result in automated product identification and automated transfer of information. These effects in combination with an integration with the ERP-system can lead to increased inventory efficiency with fewer incorrect deliveries and improved inventory accuracy. The company is recommended to implement AIDC, however the study shows that further research needs to be carried out to investigate what kind of barcodes or RFID is most beneficial. / Rapportens syfte är att undersöka hur identifieringsteknik påverkar spårbarhet, för att därefter undersöka vilka effekter en tillämpning av identifieringsteknik kan leda till inom lagerhållning. Denna rapport utgår från frågeställningarna “Hur kan streckkoder och RFID påverka lagerhållning?” och “Vilka för- och nackdelar kan automatisk identifieringsteknik inom lagerhållning leda till?”.För att besvara rapportens syfte och frågeställning genomfördes en fallstudie. Fallföretaget är ett tillverkande företag och är verksamt inom kemiindustrin. Företaget kategoriseras som ett storföretag med säte i Västsverige. Två utmaningar för företaget är att minska antalet felaktiga leveranser och förbättra precisionen i lagersaldot. Dessa problem är en följd av att aktiviteter i företagets lagerhållning sker manuellt. Konsekvensen är en försämrad lagereffektivitet och risk för missnöjda kunder. Under verksamhetsåret 2017 registrerades 45 avvikelser, där en del av dessa kan härledas till felaktiga leveranser. Empiriskt material insamlades genom intervjuer, observationer och dokumentstudier. Fallstudien består av en processkartläggning där företagets processer och aktiviteter kartlagts. För att få ett bättre underlag för analys så genomfördes en litteraturstudie av tidigare forskning inom ämnesområdena spårbarhet och automatisk identifieringsteknik. En sammanställning av litteraturstudien återfinns i det teoretiska ramverket. Det teoretiska ramverket innefattar spårbarhet, automatisk identifierings- och datafångstteknik (AIDC), streckkoder och radiofrekvensidentifiering (RFID). Resultatet visar vilka aktiviteter i processkartläggningen där identifieringsteknik kan tillämpas samt vilka effekter en tillämpning kan medföra. Det framkommer att streckkoder och RFID har liknande effekter på lagerhållningen då de båda medför automatiserad produktidentifiering och automatiserad informationsöverföring. Om streckkoder eller RFID integreras med affärssystemet kan det medföra en högre lagereffektivitet med färre felaktiga leveranser och ett mer korrekt lagersaldo. Företaget rekommenderas att implementera en teknik för produktidentifiering. Däremot visar studien att fortsatt forskning behöver genomföras för att undersöka vilken typ av streckkoder eller RFID som är mest gynnsamt.

La gestion des stocks et la maîtrise de la distribution sont les deux activités importantes dans le management de la chaîne logistique. L’optimisation simultanée de ces deux activités est connue sous l’intitulé du problème de gestion de stock et de tournée de livraison (Inventory Routing Problem, IRP). L’IRP traditionnelle est confronté aux différents problèmes, causé principalement par le manque d'informations complètes et/ou temps réel, tels que les changements de la demande, l’embouteillage soudain causé par un accident, etc. Le partage et la mise à jour d'information logistique peut améliorer l'efficacité d’IRP. De plus, en raison de la spécificité de l'IRP dans la logistique urbaine, il est important de considérer d'autres critères comme les critères sociaux, environnementaux et le niveau de service qui pourraient être en conflictuel. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de développer des modèles et des méthodes des IRP avec la prise en compte des incertitudes, du niveau de service et de l’impact environnemental, social en finalement les informations du temps réel (IRP dynamique). Dans cette thèse, trois modèles mathématiques sont proposés. Le premier modèle multi-objectif est pour identifier un compromis entre le niveau de service, les critères environnementaux et économiques. Pour gérer des paramètres incertains, on applique une approche floue. Dans le deuxième modèle, nous avons étudié l'impact des critères sociaux sur les IRPs en proposant un modèle mathématique bi-objectif. Une approche stochastique basée sur des scénarios est développée pour faire face à l'incertitude dans le modèle. Enfin, le troisième model concerne l'impact de l'utilisation d'informations du temps réel dans les IRP. Il est à noter que, selon la durée de vie du produit tant sur le plan financier que sur le plan écologique, les produits périssables sont considérés dans les trois modèles proposés. Les résultats montrent une gestion dynamique est beaucoup plus efficace que la statique. / The inventory management and transportation are two main activities of supply chain management. The joint optimization of these two activities is known as Inventory Routing Problem (IRP). The main objective of IRP is to determine the set of retailers to be delivered to in each period, the delivery sequence for each vehicle, and the quantities of goods delivered to each retailer for each period of a planning horizon. The traditional IRPs are faced different problems, caused mainly by lack of complete and/or timely information such as shifts in demand, traffic caused by a sudden vehicles accident, etc. sharing of updated and reliable logistics information can meaningful improve the efficiency of IRP. Moreover, because of the specificity of IRP in urban logistic, it is important to tack into account other criteria as social, environmental criteria and service level that could be in conflict. The main objective of this thesis is to (i) choose appropriate social, environmental and service level criteria, (ii) integrate them in mathematical models, and (iii) study the impact of these criteria on dynamic optimization of IRPs for perishable products under uncertain parameters. For this purpose, three mathematical models are proposed. The first model is multi-objective mathematical model in order to make a trade-off between service level, environmental criteria and economic. To decrease quantity of expired products, a nonlinear step function as holding cost function is integrated in the model. Moreover, to solve the problem a fuzzy possibilistic approach is applied to handle uncertain parameters. In the second model, a bi-objective mathematical model is proposed to study impact of social issues on the IRPs. In the proposed model, first objective function concerns economic criteria while the second one social issues. A scenario-based stochastic approach is developed to cope with uncertainty in the model. Finally, the third model concerns impact of using real-time information in efficiency of IRPs. It is noteworthy that, according significant role of perishable products in the both financially and ecology sides of IRPs, perishable products are considered in all three proposed model while even proposed models are appropriate to nonperishable ones as well. The results show that a dynamic management is more efficient than the static one.

Esta dissertação de mestrado apresenta o desenvolvimento e a aplicação da Metodologia MOCSH - Metodologia para Otimização da Cadeia de Suprimentos Hospitalar. Esta metodologia é dividida em três etapas de implantação, e o seu objetivo principal é orientar o projeto da Arquitetura de Sistemas para Otimização da Cadeia de Suprimentos Hospitalar - ASOCSH, que permite a otimização dos processos de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos. Os resultados da aplicação da metodologia MOCSH e da implementação da arquitetura ASOCSH, são também mostrados e analisados nesta dissertação. Os estudos detalhados das cadeias de suprimentos e das cadeias de suprimentos hospitalar, também são expostos neste trabalho. / This Master\'s dissertation presents the development and application of the methodology MOHSC - Methodology to optimize the hospital supply chain. This methodology is divided in three stages of implementation and its main objective is to guide the design of the architecture system for the optimization of hospital supply chain - ASOHSC, which allows optimization of the management processes of the supply chain. The results of applying the MOHSC methodology and the implementation of the ASOHSC architecture are also shown and analyzed in this dissertation. Detailed studies of supply chains and hospital supply chains, are also presented in this dissertation.

Este trabalho é um estudo de caso múltiplo, realizado em concessionárias do setor automotivo, que visa ao levantamento do estado atual da gestão dos estoques de peças de reposição e sua correlação com os modelos existentes na literatura sobre o tema. O estudo englobou sete concessionárias de quatro marcas, apontadas por especialistas das respectivas associações como sendo exemplos de boa gestão neste segmento. Os resultados apontaram que, de fato, no nível gerencial pesquisado existem grandes lacunas entre as teorias acadêmicas e as práticas, em especial quanto ao uso de técnicas de previsão de demanda, à decisão de estocagem dos produtos e às políticas de estocagem adotadas. O principal motivo para explicar estas lacunas é o desconhecimento das técnicas pelos gestores. Este desconhecimento parece estar ligado às deficiências na formação escolar e nos cursos de aperfeiçoamento oferecidos, pelas montadoras e associações, aos gestores destes estoques. Novas pesquisas são sugeridas, ao nível dos proprietários/acionistas das concessionárias, para verificação de outras possíveis explicações sobre os motivos destas lacunas. A pesquisa é concluída com diversas recomendações, tanto aos praticantes como aos acadêmicos, buscando a redução destas lacunas. / This dissertation is a multiple case study, performed in automotive dealers. The objective is to evaluate current spare parts inventory management practices status and their correlations with existing models on academic references. The study included seven dealers (from four different brands) which were recognized as examples of good practices at spare parts management by the dealer association specialists. The results pointed out that, in fact, at the managerial level interviewed, there are large gaps between academic theories and management practice, especially on demand forecasting, stocking decision and stocking policies. The gaps are mainly explained by managers? lack of knowledge on inventory control. This lack of knowledge seems to be caused by school and specialization courses (provided by automakers and dealers associations) deficiencies. New researches are suggested, at the owners/stockholders level, to verify other possible gap reasons. Research is concluded with several recommendations to academics and managers in order to reduce the theory-practice gap.

Este trabalho analisa a viabilidade de aplicação de uma sistemática de gestão de estoques que permite escolher e parametrizar modelos de decisão de reposição de itens para apoiar os coordenadores de abastecimento de supermercados, através da utilização de dados reais. O principal objetivo desta sistemática é contribuir para o aumento da disponibilidade de produtos na loja do supermercado, através do seguinte equacionamento: minimizar os custos operacionais e de estoque do varejo, tendo como restrição um nível mínimo de serviço ao cliente. Esta pesquisa experimental aplicada possibilitou identificar que o modelo CALNEC apresentou o melhor desempenho em 80% da amostra. A melhor configuração (configuração dos melhores desempenhos de todos os modelos) ofereceu uma economia de até 42% frente ao custo atual. O modelo de gestão de estoque atualmente utilizado apresentou desempenho pior mesmo comparado aos modelos não vencedores. / This work analyses the viability of an application of the inventory management systematic, which allows to choose and to parameterize replenishment decision models to support supermarket replenishment coordinators in their tasks, using real data. The main objective of this systematic is to contribute to the product availability improvement in the supermarket store considering the following equation: minimize the operational and inventory costs from retail having as a restriction the minimum customer service level in items available at the retail store. This experimental applied research identified CALNEC as the inventory model that presented the best performance in 80% of the sample. The best configuration (configuration of the best performance from all models) showed a saving of 42% compared to the current costs. The current inventory management model presented the worst performance even compared to the non-winners models.

<div>As the manufacturing and healthcare systems becomes more complex, efficiently managing these systems requires cooperation and coordination between different parties. This dissertation examines the coordination issues in a supply chain problem and diagnostic decision making in the healthcare system. Below, we provide a brief description of the problem and results achieved. </div><div> </div><div>With supply chain becoming increasingly extended, the uncertainty in the upstream production process can greatly affect the material flow that aims toward meeting the uncertain demand at the downstream. In Chapter 2, we analyze a two-location system in which the upstream production facility experiences random capacities and the downstream store faces random demands. Instead of decomposing the profit function widely used to treat multi-echelon systems, our approach builds on the notions of stochastic functions, in particular, the stochastic linearity in midpoint and the directional concavity in midpoint, which establishes the concavity and submodularity of the profit functions. In general, it is optimal to follow a two-level state-dependent threshold policy such that an order is issued at a location if and only if the inventory position of that location is below the corresponding threshold. When the salvage values of the ending inventories are linear, the profit function becomes decomposable in the inventory positions at different locations and the optimal threshold policy reduces to the echelon base-stock policy. The effect of production and demand uncertainty on inventory levels depends critically on whether the production capacity is limited or ample in relation to the demand. Only when the capacity is about the demand, the upstream facility holds positive inventory; otherwise, all units produced are immediately shipped to the downstream. We further extend our analysis to situations with general stochastic production functions and with multiple locations.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In Chapter 3, we examine the two-stage supply chain problem (described in Chapter 2) under the decentralized control. We consider two scenarios. In the first scenario, the retail store does not have any supply information including the inventory level at the manufacturing facility. We show that the upstream and downstream can be dynamically coordinated with proper transfer payment defined on local inventories and their own value function in the dynamic recursion. In the second scenario, the demand distribution is unknown to the manufacturing facility as well as the retail store does not know the supply information. We characterize the optimal transfer contracts under which coordination can be achieved, and propose an iterative algorithm to compute the optimal transfer contracts in the decentralized setting. The total profit of the decentralized system under our algorithm is guaranteed to converge to the centralized optimal channel profit for any demand and supply distribution functions. </div><div> </div><div>In Chapter 4, we provide a case study for the framework developed in [1]. The authors study the evaluation and integration of new medical research considering the operational impacts. As a case study, we first describe their two-station queueing control model using the MDP framework. We then present the structural properties of the MDP model. Since multiple classes of patients are considered in the MDP model, it becomes challenging to solve when the the number of patient classes increases. We describe an efficient heuristic algorithm developed by [1] to overcome the curse of dimensionality. We also test the numerical performance of their heuristic algorithm, and find that the largest optimality gap is less than 1.50% among all the experiments. </div><div> </div>

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-22T22:10:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pedro paulo.pdf: 2376581 bytes, checksum: 24aaf95c22d20e652da207f291b39f8a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-09-16 / A proper inventory management is very important, given the value of the items stored and the association with the operating cycle of a company. Information technology has played a key role in a proper inventory management. Usability, well applied, increases the productivity of users, however, its absence increases the occurrence of errors and dissatisfaction. In order to minimize problems with the tool used in this study case and to fit an appropriate inventory management model, an analysis was performed on the tool used in inventory management, using concepts of usability, data and documentation provided. The problems found ranged from the visual inconsistency in the navigation menus without any standard, too much information polluting and confusing the user, inadequate treatment of errors and lack of feedback. The study focused on the problems found with special focus on treatment and prevention of errors and appropriate return of information to users, in order to propose a web system able to reduce errors and correction procedures, reduction of operating time interface, reducing training costs, maintenance and user support, and consequently, increased efficiency and data reliability. In pursuing this goal, a study was made in order to understand the theory of inventory management and its models, the influence of information technology and how usability can facilitate the use of the system and increase the quality of user experience. As for the methodological approach, this research is classified as qualitative and as to the procedures qualifies as a bibliographical, documentary and field research. The data used in the study were provided by the company relating to the stocks of 2008, 2009 and the first half of 2010. The study shows, in technical and usability terms, that the proposal could generate significant benefits for quality of the report of outcomes, improving performance and efficiency in the use of the system. From the inventory management perspective, the study shows that with a tool capable of providing reliable and accurate data it is possible to gain greater control of inventory through the correct application of Just in Time. / Uma gestão de estoques apropriada é muito importante, dado o valor dos itens armazenados e a associação com o ciclo operacional de uma empresa. A tecnologia da informação tem desempenhado um papel fundamental para uma adequada gestão de estoques. A usabilidade, bem aplicada, aumenta a produtividade dos usuários, contudo, sua ausência, aumenta a ocorrência de erros e a insatisfação. Com o intuito de minimizar os problemas com a ferramenta utilizada neste estudo de caso e para adequar-se a um modelo de gestão de estoques apropriado, foi realizada uma análise da ferramenta utilizada no gerenciamento de estoque, utilizando conceitos da usabilidade, dados e documentos fornecidos. Os problemas encontrados iam desde o visual, inconsistência na navegação com menus sem padrão, excesso de informações poluindo e confundindo o usuário, tratamento inadequado de erros e falta de retorno de informações (feedback). O estudo centrou-se nos pontos negativos encontrados com foco especial no tratamento e prevenção de erros e retorno de informações adequadas aos usuários, com o objetivo de propor um sistema web visando à redução de erros e de procedimentos de correção; redução do tempo de operação da interface; redução de custos de treinamento, de manutenção e de suporte ao usuário e, como consequência, o aumento da eficiência e da confiabilidade nos dados. Ao buscar este objetivo, foi preciso entender a teoria de gestão de estoques e seus modelos, a influência da tecnologia da informação e como a usabilidade pode facilitar o uso do sistema e aumentar a qualidade da experiência do usuário. Quanto à abordagem metodológica, esta pesquisa classifica-se como qualitativa e, quanto aos procedimentos se enquadra como uma pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e pesquisa de campo. Os dados utilizados no estudo foram disponibilizados pela empresa referentes aos estoques de 2008, 2009 e primeiro semestre de 2010. O estudo mostra, do ponto de vista técnico e da usabilidade, que a proposta pode gerar vantagens significativas quanto à qualidade dos resultados esperados dos relatórios e na melhoria no desempenho e eficácia na utilização do sistema. Do ponto de vista da gestão de estoques, mostra que com uma ferramenta confiável e capaz de fornecer dados precisos é possível obter maior controle dos estoques, através da aplicação correta do Just in Time.

Esta dissertação de mestrado apresenta o desenvolvimento e a aplicação da Metodologia MOCSH - Metodologia para Otimização da Cadeia de Suprimentos Hospitalar. Esta metodologia é dividida em três etapas de implantação, e o seu objetivo principal é orientar o projeto da Arquitetura de Sistemas para Otimização da Cadeia de Suprimentos Hospitalar - ASOCSH, que permite a otimização dos processos de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos. Os resultados da aplicação da metodologia MOCSH e da implementação da arquitetura ASOCSH, são também mostrados e analisados nesta dissertação. Os estudos detalhados das cadeias de suprimentos e das cadeias de suprimentos hospitalar, também são expostos neste trabalho. / This Master\'s dissertation presents the development and application of the methodology MOHSC - Methodology to optimize the hospital supply chain. This methodology is divided in three stages of implementation and its main objective is to guide the design of the architecture system for the optimization of hospital supply chain - ASOHSC, which allows optimization of the management processes of the supply chain. The results of applying the MOHSC methodology and the implementation of the ASOHSC architecture are also shown and analyzed in this dissertation. Detailed studies of supply chains and hospital supply chains, are also presented in this dissertation.

Risk based approaches are gaining currency as industry looks for rational, efficient and flexible approaches to managing their structures and equipment. When applied to inspection and maintenance of industrial assets, risk based approaches differ from other approaches mainly in their assessment of failure in its wider context and ramifications. These advanced techniques provide more insight into the causes and avoidance of structural failure and competing risks, as well as the resources needed to manage them. Measuring risk is a challenge that is being met with state of the art technology, skills, knowledge and experience. The thesis presents risk based approaches to solving two specific types of problem in the management of offshore structures and equipments. The first type is finding the optimum timing of an asset life management action such that financial benefit is maximised, considering the cost of the action and the risk (quantified in monetary terms) of not undertaking that action. The approach presented here is applied to managing remedial action in offshore wind farms and specifically to corroded wind turbine tower structures. The second type of problem is how to optimise resources using risk based criteria for managing competing demands. The approach presented here is applied to stocking spares in the shipping sector, where the cost of holding spares is balanced against the risk of failing to meet demands for spares. Risk is the leitmotiv running through this thesis. The approaches discussed here will find application in a variety of situations where competing risks are being managed within constraints.

This diploma thesis focuces on a analysis of business process, which controls storage and on solution suggestions which is written down in the analysis part. This thesis was made in a medium-sized business in which this draft will help for better control over storage prcess and inventory.