published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

In Chapter 4, we consider a supply chain which consists of a manufacturer, a logistics service provider (LSP) and a retailer. The LSP provides the emergency replenishment, financing and logistics services. The advent of the LSP changes the structure and incentive in the traditional one-supplier-one-retailer channel. We develop a framework of 3-player game to investigate the dynamics and competitive behaviors with multiple decision sequences. We provide the explicit equilibria for different decision sequences and demonstrate the possibility that the LSP and the manufacturer collude to create price increment, which squeezes out the retailer. Whereas, the triple marginalization effect is alleviated. / Supply chain coordination and associated contracts have been an active research area for supply chain management research. Yet, little has been done in addressing robustness matters of design, evaluation, and implementation for these coordination contracts. In chapter 2 and 3, we develop a consistency framework for supply chain contracts and classify a number of well-studied contracts into groups. We demonstrate with examples that coordination contracts can be evaluated by their consistency properties. Based on precise mathematical definitions and subsequently developed structural properties and management insights, we are not only able to measure the goodness of supply contracts but also to reveal the nature of their coordination. Our findings open an avenue for design, evaluation and implementation of supply chain coordination contracts. / Lu, Meng. / Adviser: Houmin Yan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-147). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

In light of all these, we study in this dissertation the application of the classical Mean-Variance Theory in finance for supply chain models. In mathematical finance, pioneered by the Nobel laureate Harry Markowitz in the 1950s, the Mean-Variance Theory has been an important theory for risk control in portfolio management. Under the Mean-Variance Theory, we can quantify the profit and risk in a portfolio investment by the expected return and variance of return, respectively. The Mean-Variance Theory has been demonstrated to be very applicable in practice. Based on the spirit of the Mean-Variance Theory, many optimal investment policies in finance are developed. / In the supply chain management literature under the stochastic environment, most of the proposed policies target at improving the supply chain's efficiency in terms of the expected cost reduction or the expected profit improvement. However, the performance measure with an expected value alone lacks precision when the corresponding variance is high. It also ignores the risk preferences of individual supply chain's decision makers. In order to provide a tailor-fit optimal decision-making policy for the decision maker, it is desirable to have a systematic and quantifiable measure for risk preference. / In this dissertation, using the idea of the Mean-Variance Theory, together with the Bayesian Decision Theory and the other optimization techniques, we study, analyze and build various supply chain management models, which include the inventory problems, the supply chain coordinating buyback contracts, and the optimal ordering policies with information updates. / This dissertation is divided into two parts and each part contains several chapters. Each chapter can be treated as a self-contained paper and the Mean-Variance Theory has been applied in each one of them. Throughout this dissertation, short example cases and numerical studies with computer simulations are included to illustrate the applicability of the models. From the studies in this dissertation, we can see that the classical Mean-Variance Theory can provide a systematic framework for the scientific studies of risk and uncertainty control in stochastic supply chain models in the information age. Moreover, the importance of risk control in supply chain management should not be neglected. / by Tsan-Ming Choi. / "September 2002." / Mentors: Duan Li; Houmin Yan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-10, Section: B, page: 4844. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 206-225). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (Mcomm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology has become one of the most important factors in the business world today. Information technology is playing an ever-increasing role in all areas of business. Logistics is no exception, and is one of the areas most affected by technological change. Many firms need to adapt technologically, or they might face extinction. This study aims to make firms aware of the power of information technology and the benefits it holds for those who use it. It tries to inform firms about the various uses and applications that exist and how they can improve business processes. It sets guidelines for the implementation of information technology and allows the firm to make an informed choice. It also discusses the growing role that the Internet is playing in logistics and the business world as a whole. Tips for the implementation of an electronic commerce system are also given, and the effects of electronic commerce on logistics are discussed. The firms can use the information to plan their strategies more effectively and hopefully find success in the global digital economy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologie is een van die belangrikste faktore in vandag se sakewêreld. Informasietegnologie speel 'n al groter rol in alle sakegebiede. Logistiek is daarby ingesluit, en is een van die areas wat die meeste deur tegnologiese verandering geaffekteer word. Sakeondernemings moet toenemend aanpas by die nuwe tegnologie om te kan voortbestaan. Die fokus van hierdie werkstuk is om firmas bewus te maak van die voordele wat informasietegnologie inhou en hoe ondernemeings daarby kan baat. Daar word gepoog om firmas bewus te maak van die wye verskeidenheid tegnologiese produkte wat bestaan, en hoe hulle aangewend kan word om besigheidsprosesse te verbeter. Daar word riglyne vasgestel wat firmas die geleentheid bied om tegnologie doeltreffend in te span en om 'n ingeligte keuse te kan maak. Die rol wat die Internet in logistiek en die sakewêreld speel word ook bespreek, asook die effek wat elektroniese handelop logistiek het. Riglyne word ook verskaf oor die implementering van 'n stelsel wat elektroniese handel moontlik sal maak. Die inligting wat verskaf word kan firmas help om hulle strategieë doeltreffend te beplan en om sodoende sukses te behaal in die globale digitale ekonomie.

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

As information revision is becoming a more and more common practice in industry, we put our emphasis on the context of information revision and decision making in a supply chain. This dissertation is concerned with the analysis of information updating, competitive study of a two-level supply chain, and volume flexible contract together with spot market purchase. / For the competitive study, we focus on the dynamics of competitive behaviors between the supplier and the buyer. For the demand and demand forecast with single-peak probability distribution functions, we prove the existence of a unique Stackelberg equilibrium from the Stackelberg game at each stage. / For the contract study, we develop a model which takes both volume flexible contract and spot market purchase into consideration. The optimal order quantity at each stage is determined. Furthermore, by making use of the stochastic comparison theory, we investigate the impact on profit and the optimal order quantity induced by the accuracy of the demand forecast. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / With the framework of information revision, the decision dynamics is the focus of supply chain management. We primarily concentrate on the competitive and cooperative study of a simple two-level supply chain. / With the phenomenon observed from local industry, our research, on the analysis of information updating within a node in a supply chain, involves three tasks: (a) analyzing the data collected from local industry; (b) modeling demand forecasting process based on the observation; and (c) determining the operational factors which drive the fluctuation of demand forecast variances. With regard to (a), we observe that, as the forecasting horizon decreases, the variances of forecasts increase and variances of forecasting errors decrease. With regard to (b), we make use of Bayesian analysis approach to model the demand forecasting process, and prove that, under multi-stage demand forecasting structure, both the variance and the precision of demand forecast increase. Concerning (c), four operational factors, i.e. price promotion, lotsizing, new product introduction, and pre-confirmed order, are considered to be the causes. / Hua Xiang. / "November 2001." / Adviser: Houmin Yan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-01, Section: B, page: 0506. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-111). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have a good reputation for automation and strength in the integration of business processes (BPs), therefore more and more organisations are adopting ERP systems. The City of Cape Town (CCT), a metropolitan municipality, is one of the organisations that have adopted an ERP system. CCT provides a wide range of services to residents and citizens in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The ERP system at CCT manages the Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes, among others, to ensure good service delivery. ERP systems are able to provide statistical reports on stock-outs; however, the information provided is insufficient to link a specific stock-out to its causes within the SCM process at CCT. This makes it difficult to select the most appropriate solution to minimise the causes and number of stock-outs. The study aims to explore the possible reduction of the causes of stock-outs at CCT stores, therefore the study has adopted a qualitative research methodology with a case study research strategy. It uses subjectivism to understand the truth, with an inductive approach applied to five different interviewee groups, namely the ERP Support Department consultants, the Procurement Department, the Inventory and Stores Management Department, the Master Data Maintenance Department, and the reservation creators. A purposive sampling method is used because the study targets knowledge and experience on the subject from the interviewees in the investigation of the problem. The case is the SCM division at CCT, the unit of analysis is the CCT stores, and the unit of observation is the employees who work for the SCM division of CCT. All ethical procedures and policies of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) are adhered to. For the data collection, in depth semi-structured questions have been developed, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. The leading causes of stock-outs were discovered by analysing the themes. The results revealed the themes, in descending order according to the causes of stock-outs, as follows: procedures, service delivery, suppliers, stock-outs, human resources, and systems. All the objectives were achieved, thereby answering the research questions.

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Supply chain management (SCM) is an area that offers organizations significant opportunities for both cost reductions and revenue enhancement. In their article, "Supply Chain Management: Implementation Issues and Research Opportunities," Lambert, Cooper and Pagh defined SCM as the "integration of key business processes from end user through original suppliers that provides products, services, and information that add value for customers and other stakeholders." Adopting and implementing appropriate technology has emerged as a source of competitive advantage for supply chain member firms through the integration of business processes with suppliers and customers. It is important to understand the factors influencing an organization's decision to acquire such technology. In the context of this study, connective technologies are defined as wireless communication devices and their accompanying infrastructure and software which may enhance coordination among supply chain partners. Building on previous literature in the areas of supply chain management, marketing strategy, and organizational innovation, a model was developed to test the relationships between organizational, interorganizational, and technology-related factors and the adoption of advanced connective technology, using radio frequency identification (RFID) as the test case, in the supply chain. A Web-based survey of supply chain professionals was conducted resulting in 224 usable responses. The overall model was statistically significant with four of the predictors significantly influencing the adoption of RFID in the supply chain. Size, centralization, new product advantage and time to achieve targeted ROI were significantly related to adoption of connective technology (RFID). Interorganizational related factors were not significant predictors of connective technology adoption. The study contributes to theory by testing scales from marketing and management in a supply chain context in order to better understand behavioral dimensions of supply chain management and logistics. The conceptualization and measurement of market orientation at the interfirm level advances the market orientation literature. Finally, the study contributes to the technology adoption literature by considering organizational-related, interorganizational-related, and technology-related factors that influence adoption of connective technology in the supply chain.

Often, in both the military and industrial sectors, the unavailability of essential components renders a complex system inoperable. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to develop a methodology for determination of feasible strategies for the repair/replace decision. In the general equipment replacement problem, a finite planning horizon may be partitioned into stages such that an end item deteriorates toward a final stage where it is no longer economically or operationally feasible to continue to repair the item, or the item experiences fatal failure. This multi-stage deterioration process is very amenable to a dynamic programming solution methodology where the output from one stage becomes the input to the next stage. In the multi-stream replacement problem, the population of end items is grouped into streams depending upon such parameters as item age, the number of operational hours, or the environment in which the item operates. The reliability function is used to describe the survivor probability in this population model. A dynamic repair/replace program is formulated where the state functions are characterized by two parameters - item age and current operational condition. A computerized model is then developed that facilitates evaluation of repair/replacement strategies with respect to total life cycle costs of a logistics system. The solution methodology accommodates both stochastic and/or deterministic demand; different hazard models; a budget constraint; repair capacity constraint; various levels of repair; technological improvement; and organizational implementation issues. The operations impact of a generalized methodology for supporting the repair/replace decision and mode of repair is to provide opportunities for a more efficient use of organizational resources such as capital and repair facilities. / Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata