A model of simulation with mixed-integer programming was created to simulate ordering, production planning, and supplying activities with and without supply information sharing in a three-level capacitated supply chain consisting of multiple suppliers, one manufacturer and multiple retailers. The simulation results indicate that supply information sharing can significantly reduce total cost and enhance service level of the whole supply chain and its members. It can also lessen order variance of downstream members in the supply chain. In addition, the impacts of supply information sharing on the supply chain performance are heavily influenced by demand patterns, capacity tightness, forecast accuracy, product substitution, and the availability of raw materials. / Fierce business competition forces enterprises to pay more attention to the coordination with their suppliers and customers. Information sharing is a prerequisite for coordinated supply chain operations. A wide range of literature emphasizes the importance of information sharing to supply chain performance. According to the direction of information flow between supply chain members, information sharing can be classified into two categories: demand-side information sharing and supply-side information sharing. Previous literature already made a wide variety of insightful explorations into demand-side information sharing in supply chain, such as demand, forecasting, inventory, and order information sharing. However, research efforts have rarely been made into supply-side information sharing. Therefore, this dissertation explores the impacts of supply-side information sharing. / Keywords. Information Sharing; Supply Chain; Simulation. / This dissertation contributes to extending the content and scope of supply chain information sharing research. Managerially speaking, the findings of this dissertation provide important reference for supply chain managers to implement supply information sharing in order to improve decision-making process, reduce uncertainties, and increase visibility in supply chain operations. / Zhou Qiang. / "June 2006." / Adviser: Tien-sheng Lee. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-02, Section: A, page: 0648. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-176). / 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, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

This study introduces logistical media and considers one example of such--radar. Innis (1972; 1951), Mumford (1970; 1934), Carey (1988), Virilio (1997; 1989; 1986) and others are discussed as preparing an understanding of logistical media as subtle but powerful devices of cognitive, social, and political coordination that affect our experience of time and space. Radar is presented as significant because of its progressive-catastrophic potential. Radar was invented for national defense and to remotely survey the earth and its atmosphere, but it also allows new collisions with "others." American radar was primarily developed at the Radiation Laboratory at MIT during the 1940s. Historical objects, principally from the MIT Radiation Laboratory Historian's Office, are arranged and discussed according to Walter Benjamin's (1999) historical method. Benjamin theorized that historical debris can be arranged as a dialectical image or constellation that can momentarily disrupt our sense of chronological progress and denaturalize ideology. Benjamin described this disruption as the interruption of the present with the now. Radar is considered in terms of authoritarian modernity, and as contributing to a politics of distance, speed, angle, movement, and perception. Objects from radar history are marshaled to illuminate radar's pre-history, its use of feedback to identify and coordinate objects, and its susceptibility to error and disruption. Present understandings of the 9/11 attacks are challenged by the now of these objects, and an understanding of logistical media is furthered.

This study explores the concept and practical implementation of continuous innovation in logistics services, particularly Distribution Centres. Continuous innovation is a concept that requires a methodical, programmed, incremental and/or radical approach to business improvement involving employees at all levels in the organisational structure. Theories and models of innovation were analysed in the literature, at the outset of this research. As found by previous authors, specific characteristics of service forms did not allow direct application of traditional models of innovation. Most of these traditional models were constructed from the manufacturing perspective. As a result, a new innovation model was designed for this study. It can be used as a guide for understanding the components necessary in service forms to embark on continuous innovation. This model describes the process of service innovation and incorporates theories from literature, and some variables from the CIMA model. The study is exploratory in nature, using empirical data. The study identified, evaluated, compared and contrasted the factors in ten Distribution Centres in Australia and in Singapore that affected the use of continuous innovation in their operations and processes. The focus of the study investigated the drivers, capabilities, behaviours, contingencies, individual competencies and performance measures of innovation in Distribution Centres with logistics services. Overall, this study has made significant contributions in terms of the theoretical investigation adding to the body of literature. This study was exploratory, using case studies as a first hand approach in gaining an understanding of Distribution Centres. There are areas that would merit further investigation and future research. It suggested that additional work should be carried out to expand on this research and refine the model to meet the needs of a wider range of organisations in various service industries. In addition, there are recommendations flowing from this study concerning the practical management of logistics operations. They are addressed mainly to senior management who typically take lead in the implementation of innovative programmes within the organisation. Firms should address continuous innovation as a planned and integrated approach, taking into account many interacting factors that are essential for successful innovation. The challenge facing Distribution Centres is to develop efficient and flexible processes and systems, by continuously innovating to sustain a leading edge in the logistics industry / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 2007. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed December 3, 2007) Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-31).

<p><p>The business environment has changed tremendously in the last two decades. Corporations have been forced to realign their global strategies and in order to cut costs, they started to transfer activities which were previously performed in-house to the market (e.g. IT, manufacturing or logistics) focusing instead on their core competencies. Nowadays companies outsource several of their logistics activities to so-called third-party logistics (3PL) companies and thus from being centralized, vertically integrated and with single-sited manufacturing facilities, enterprises have their network of resources globally dispersed.</p><p>As a result corporate management has realized that the competitive vehicle is no longer the individual firm, with its own resources and competencies. Instead, in order to cope with shorter product life cycles and ever more demanding customers, both on industrial and consumer markets, individual firms need to strategically become part of ‘extended enterprises’; that is, networks of specialist providers of resources and competencies.</p><p>However, because the capabilities to manage the entire network do not exist in any one organization, a new business organization was needed to provide the strategic knowledge and competence that will enable the complete integration of the supply chain. This new sort of firm, with core competencies on logistics processes and supply chain IT integration, besides offering consulting services on implementation and development of logistics and supply chain solutions, manages through the use of logistics control towers “the best of breed” 3PL specialists, integrating the end-to-end supply chain so that superior customer value is delivered in the most cost effective way. But how does the use of a supply chain integrator help the supply chain as a whole to achieve competitive advantages that enhance end-customer service? This paper aims to answer the above question. I felt that in order to be able to do that the most appropriate research strategy would be a qualitative study. Hence, a multi-case study was performed on three Swedish companies which differentiate themselves from the more traditional third-party logistics providers. The study was conducted by performing a set of semi-structured interviews with these companies. In order to give the study some sort of structure, I used an interview guide which was divided into three different themes; a) Organizational Design, b) Enterprise Logistics Integration and c) Logistics and Competitive advantages.</p><p>Once the interviews were transcribed and summarized, the empirical findings were then analyzed in light of a theoretical framework chosen previously. These theories, which in general terms relate to organizational design, supply chain management and finance, were also divided in the same themes as above. Finally, conclusions were drawn by linking the results of the interviews with the theoretical framework. It became evident that the supply chain integrator can help the supply chain as a whole not only to reduce costs related to inventory holding but also to help its client to improve end-customer service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></p><p> </p>

<p>This research gives an insight into the difficulties found to handle logistics and presents solution to manage logistics saving costs without sacrificing customer satisfaction.</p>

Most logistics network design models assume exogenous customer demand that is independent of the service time or level. This paper examines the benefits of segmenting demand according to lead-time sensitivity of customers. To capture lead-time sensitivity in the network design model, we use a facility grouping method to ensure that the different demand classes are satisfied on time. In addition, we perform a series of computational experiments to develop a set of managerial insights for the network design decision making process. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2004. / Supervisors: Milena M. Head, Yufei Yuan. Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-144). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (master's)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 2003. / Adviser: Uday Venkatadri. Includes bibliographical references.