Short life-cycle deteriorating product remanufacturing in a green supply chain inventory control system

Due to global warming, environmental consciousness and shortening product life-cycles, more attentions have been paid to ecological protection and resource utilization. Green products and production process designs significantly influence the environment and resource re-usage. The relevant EU regulations, such as WEEE and EuP, have reduced negative effects by controlling the disposals and the resource re-usage. In this study, green product designs and remanufacturing efforts are investigated when we develop an integrated production inventory model with short life-cycles. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the theory. We have shown that new technology evolution, remanufacturing ratios and system’s holding costs are critical factors affecting decision making in a green supply chain inventory control system.     

Government policy of technology selection for advanced traveler information systems

Technology selection is widely recognized for its increasing importance in the field of technology management. Different from previous work that only used a single evaluation method, this study uses the grey statistics method with survey techniques and scenario approach to develop a three-stage model for the technology selection issue. An empirical case of the Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) technology selection in Taiwan was chosen to illustrate the application of this model on the technology selection problem. The results indicate that GPS/GIS technology is the preferred ATIS technology developed in Taiwan. The application of the model provides an avenue for government policy makers and researchers to deal effectively with the technology selection issue.     

The development of an Experience Inventory: an aid to the effective use of technical manpower

Abstract. A Management Information System relating to technical manpower resources has been developed at the Unilever Research, Port Sunlight, Laboratory over the past two years. Data concerning areas of technical expertise were obtained from the scientists themselves and collated in the form of an Experience inventory. Application of the Inventory in the fields of personnel development, personnel placement, expert location and manpower planning in general are discussed. Although based upon subjective data, it was concluded that the system was sufficiently robust to justify its use in these areas. Staff reactions to the concept were, on the whole, favourable and initial experience of its use has been encouraging. The system would therefore seem to provide a valuable aid in the vital area of human resource utilization.     

Learning in DEPTH: developing a graphical tool for professional thinking for technology teachers

In this issue of the International Journal of Technology and Design, we report on a series of case studies from the second phase of an international project—Developing Professional Thinking for Technology Teachers (DEPTH2). The first phase of the project was a study conducted with both primary and secondary technology pre-service teacher education students in a number of different countries who were given the same teacher-knowledge graphical framework as a tool to support reflection on their professional knowledge. We discovered that, despite the different country contexts, student teachers of technology could articulate aspects of their developing teacher knowledge using the same framework for teacher professional development. As previously reported in this journal (Banks et al. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 14, 141–157, 2004), the common graphical tool enabled them to set out their subject knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and ‘school’ knowledge and was useful in helping them become more self-aware. In this second phase of the project we have developed this line of research in two ways. First, we extended the range of participants to include experienced teachers involved in in-service work connected to curriculum development. Second, we looked at the inter-relationship for pre-service teachers between their developing professional knowledge and their own ‘personal subject construct’. In this article, the theoretical framework for the subsequent papers is described and set in the context of recent debates surrounding the nature and importance of teacher knowledge; and the way such professional knowledge can be articulated by teachers.     

Using System Dynamics to assess the impact of RFID technology on retail operations

The application of item-level radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in retail supply chains creates cost savings and promises large potential benefits from revenue growth. However, the economic assessment of the impact on improved store operations, labor utilization, and increased sales is still not fully explored. We propose to use System Dynamics as a structural modeling and simulation approach to integrate conventional return on investment evaluations. Building on previous research about RFID technology in retail supply chains, we developed a model based on the case exploration of a leading Italian apparel retailer. Simulations show that RFID implementations are profitable whenever they contribute to increase sales, especially when a fashion retailer is focused on clerk-assisted sales strategies. Sales growth results from the dynamic and integrated impacts of RFID technology on better inventory control, faster inventory turnover, and longer time available for store personnel to assist consumers as an effect of more efficient backroom operations.     

Considering stochastic lead times in a manufacturing/remanufacturing system with deterministic demands and returns

In this paper we study a manufacturing/remanufacturing system with stochastic lead times and a constant demand. We base our approach on previous research in which we have developed models to describe an inventory system with stochastic lead times. In this paper, we first adopt this method to manufacturing/remanufacturing situations, where there are essentially two supply sources for replenishing serviceable inventory. We then provide a solution procedure when a cycle ordering policy is used. Secondly, we investigate the possibility to use a dual sourcing ordering policy in which each order is split between a manufacturing and a remanufacturing process. Finally, we compare the two ordering policies and illustrate how the lead-time patterns influence the economic consequences.     

Eliminating drift in inventory and order based production control systems

An Inventory and Order Based Production Control System lies at the heart of many commercial and bespoke ordering systems based on periodic review of stock and production targets. This simple and elegant control system works well, even when dealing with scenarios in which there are many competing value streams. However, such “interferences” inevitably cause some uncertainty in pipeline delivery times. We show via linear z-transform analysis that the consequences may include the possibility of inventory drift and instability. In this paper we establish the stability boundaries for such systems, and demonstrate an innovative method of eliminating inventory drift due to lead-time effect. This new principle is confirmed by simulation results.     

An inventory reservation problem with nesting and fill rate-based performance measures

In many inventory settings companies wish to provide customer-differentiated service levels. These may, for example, be motivated by differences in the perceived customer lifetime value or by specific contractual agreements. One approach to provide differentiated service levels is to reserve some portion of the available inventory exclusively for specific customer classes. Existing approaches to inventory reservation are typically based on the assumption that a company can assign a customer specific revenue or penalty cost to any order or unit of demand filled or unfulfilled. In practice, however, it is usually extremely difficult to accurately estimate (especially long term) monetary implications of meeting or not meeting customer demand and corresponding service level requirements. The research presented in this paper addresses the problem of setting appropriate inventory reservations for different customer classes based on fill rate-based performance measures. We model a single period inventory reservation problem with two customer classes and nesting. We develop exact expressions for two conflicting performance measures: (1) the expected fill rate of high priority customers and (2) the expected loss in the system fill rate induced by inventory reservation. With these expressions a decision maker can analyze the tradeoff between the loss in overall system performance and the higher expected fill rates for prioritized customers. We provide analytical insights into the effects of nesting and the impact of relevant problem parameters on these two performance measures. The analytical insights are illustrated and highlighted through a set of numerical examples. Although we limit our analysis to a single period inventory reservation problem, we expect that our results can be utilized in a wide range of problem settings in which a decision maker has to ration a perishable resource among different classes of customers.     

On the interaction between forecasting and stock control: The case of non-stationary demand

The effect of using estimated (forecast) demand parameters on the performance of an inventory control system is an intriguing and important subject. Recent research has been undertaken on this phenomenon assuming stationary demand data. In this paper we extend the research to non-stationary demands, by means of simulation. The case of a periodic order-up-to-level inventory system is considered and the experimental structure allows us to evaluate in a progressive manner the accumulated effect of using the optimal forecasting method, optimal forecast parameters and correct variance expression procedures. The results allow insights to be gained into operational issues and demonstrate the scope for improving stock control systems.     

The complex relationship between inventory control and organisational setting: Theory and practice

Within companies it is widely recognised nowadays that the performance of inventory systems is not only determined by the way the inventory system is planned and controlled but also by its organisational architecture. Notwithstanding its importance, the field of production and operations management still lacks however, a comprehensive body of knowledge integrating both control and organisational aspects of inventory systems. One of the reasons for this shortcoming seems to be a lack of understanding of how inventory planning interacts with its organisational embedding in practice. In this article, this interdependence is further explored. Firstly, a conceptual framework is presented. The framework has been the starting point for five case studies performed during the last years. In this article data gathered over a period of more than fifteen years concerning one company is further explored. One of the main conclusions derived from this longitudinal case study is that organisations often try to neutralise shortcomings in the inventory planning and control system by applying organisational measures. In addition to this positive congruence, negative forms of congruence were also found. Shortcomings in the inventory control system are then negatively re-enforced by its organisational setting. The findings of the case study also suggest that companies often do not apply a clear and well-defined policy regarding the organisational setting of advanced inventory planning and control systems. We end this article by arguing that objectified notions on (re)designing inventory planning and control and its organisational design often under-emphasise irrational behaviour of the parties involved. A further elaboration of the framework presented in this article integrating operations management concepts and organisational theory therefore seems to be worthwhile.     

The technological knowledge used by technology education students in capability tasks

Since technology education is, compared to subjects such as mathematics and science, still a fairly new subject both nationally and internationally, it does not have an established subject philosophy. In the absence of an established subject philosophy for technology education, one can draw on other disciplines in the field, such as engineering and design practice, for insights into technological knowledge. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of an epistemological conceptual framework chiefly derived from engineering, to be able to describe the nature of technological knowledge, in an attempt to contribute towards the understanding of this relatively new learning area. The conceptual framework was derived mainly from Vincenti’s (What engineers know and how they know it. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1990) categories of knowledge based on his research into historical aeronautic engineering cases. Quantitative research was used to provide insight into the categories of knowledge used by students at the University of Pretoria during capability tasks and included an analysis of a questionnaire administered to these students. Findings suggest that the conceptual framework used here is useful in technology education and that the categories of technological knowledge apply to all the content areas, i.e. structures, systems and control, and processing, in technology education. The study recommends that researchers and educators deepen their understanding of the nature of technological knowledge by considering the categories of technological knowledge presented in the conceptual framework.     

An organizational perspective on inventory control: Theory and a case study

Inventory control is a well-covered area in literature. Nowadays, many concepts and techniques are available for effectively controlling inventories. Eminent examples are stochastic models to determine order quantities, techniques for forecasting demand and different kinds of ABC analysis. Remarkably enough, the theoretical backgrounds of these concepts and techniques show a great deal of similarity: they all stem from the field of operations management and operations research. Despite the value of the available concepts, such a one-sided approach has its limitations in practice. In this article it is argued that it is important to take a broader view when dealing with practical inventory control problems. First of all, an organizational perspective on inventory control is developed. The main idea behind this perspective is the importance of the organizational context of inventories. This means that in addition to the traditional points for attention, such as order quantities and replenishment strategies, other aspects need attention as well. They are, for example, the allocation of responsibilities and authorities regarding inventory management, the quality of inventory information and the relevant decision-making processes. These contextual factors as well as the traditional factors are mapped out and integrated into a framework to be used in solving practical inventory control problems. One of the main features of the framework is that it is useful in both analyzing and redesigning an inventory situation. Secondly, this article describes the results of a case study regarding the application of the organizational perspective to a practical inventory control problem. The central issue of the case study is the spare parts inventory of a missionary aviation organization in Africa. The case study shows that the organizational perspective on inventory control is very helpful in dealing with inventory control problems. It is illustrated that taking into account the organizational context of inventories, especially the responsibilities and authorities of the persons concerned, is a necessity to accurately understand inventory control problems. In addition, it is illustrated that the organizational perspective leads to a more appropriate redesign.     

Exploration and exploitation alliances in biotechnology: a system of new product development

We link the exploration–exploitation framework of organizational learning to a technology venture's strategic alliances and argue that the causal relationship between the venture's alliances and its new product development depends on the type of the alliance. In particular, we propose a product development path beginning with exploration alliances predicting products in development, which in turn predict exploitation alliances, and that concludes with exploitation alliances leading to products on the market. Moreover, we argue that this integrated product development path is moderated negatively by firm size. As a technology venture grows, it tends to withdraw from this product development path to discover, develop, and commercialize promising projects through vertical integration. We test our model on a sample of 325 biotechnology firms that entered 2565 alliances over a 25‐year period. We find broad support for the hypothesized product development system and the moderating effect of firm size. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

校园地理信息系统(CGIS)与发展预测

以建立基于地理信息系统（GIS）的湖北工业大学校园信息管理系统为例,探讨建立校园信息系统的系统设计方法、系统的数据设计,以及满足系统功能的系统设计流程和校园GIS的楼层模型。对系统的各功能模块作了较详尽的分析,同时将GIS和人工神经网络技术相结合,建立校园用地转换模型,对校园发展进行预测。     

Profitability of Noisy Certification in the Presence of Loss Averse Buyers*

We study how the inaccuracy of a costly certification technology affects a monopolistic seller's profitability. We compare three scenarios: no certification, a 100% accurate certification, and a 50% accurate certification that produces accurate evaluations half the time. The noisy certification environment is never the most profitable and, depending on the buyers' loss aversion, can be the least profitable. However, a noisy certification can be more profitable than an accurate one, as it discourages the over-certification that occurs in an accurate certification environment. Experimentally, the noisy certification is shown to be the least profitable treatment, whereas the accurate certification is shown to be the most profitable.     

Inventory model for an inventory system with time-varying demand rate

The standard inventory problems of the multi-period have been modeled under different situations. Specifically we have considered the demand subjects of a continuous distribution and a discrete distribution, and whether the demand of each period is unchanged or not. A method to get an economic order quantity in inventory systems with discrete and unchanged demand was presented in a previous paper, and this method has been generalized to an inventory model with varying continuous demand. However, it was not achieved due to there being many classified cases in the general situations. In this article the above method is discussed in the case discrete demand to determine whether it increases or decreases from period to period. A theoretical method is presented by using previous results and some examples are given which suggest how the concept can handle on inventory system. In order to make the decision, an algorithm is also presented under some conditions, and examples are shown by using the computer software program, Mathematica, which helps to explain the findings. In general cases, we view the optimal policy in the inventory problems in only a few periods.     

Policy-Induced Technology Adoption: Evidence from the U.S. Lead Phasedown

Theory suggests that economic instruments, such as pollution taxes or tradable permits, can provide more efficient technology adoption incentives than conventional regulatory standards. We explore this issue for an important industry undergoing dramatic decreases in allowed pollution – the U.S. petroleum industry's phasedown of lead in gasoline. Using a duration model applied to a panel of refineries from 1971–1995, we find that the pattern of technology adoption is consistent with an economic response to market incentives, plant characteristics, and alternative policies. Importantly, evidence suggests that the tradable permit system used during the phasedown provided incentives for more efficient technology adoption decisions.     

A simple approach for assessing the cost of system nervousness

A well-known problem in coordinating supply chain inventories is that replenishment decisions are revised due to stochastic demands. This issue is often referred to as system nervousness. The literature distinguishes between two types of nervousness: setup-oriented and quantity-oriented. It is widely accepted that cost of nervousness is difficult to measure. We argue that this cost can be evaluated by means of three well-established inventory control strategies: static uncertainty, dynamic uncertainty, and static-dynamic uncertainty. These strategies reflect extreme cases with regard to the setup- and the quantity-oriented nervousness, and provide a simple yet an objective measure to assess the cost of system nervousness. Our results are of practical importance. We highlight that the setup-oriented nervousness, which is considered to be the most critical in practice, can be eliminated with a minor cost penalty. This is, however, not the case for the quantity-oriented nervousness.     

Management principles for evaluating and introducing disruptive technologies: the case of nanotechnology in Switzerland

In this paper we address the issue of evaluating and introducing disruptive technologies. The empirical data was compiled in an interview–based survey of 20 Swiss organizations of different sizes and from different industries. All of them have been facing the issue of evaluating nanotechnology, and most of them are currently dealing with the introduction of nanotechnology in their products and processes. The underlying framework was elaborated using approaches mainly found in the following streams of technology management literature: technology intelligence, technological decision–making, and technological capability building. The aim of our project was not to advance new management concepts, but to elaborate management principles allowing the organizations to master the challenges during evaluation and introduction of disruptive technologies. We defined these principles through identifying success factors as well as possible pitfalls, and by distilling best management practices in evaluating and introducing nanotechnology.     

Utilizing the balanced scorecard for R&D performance measurement

R&D programs are critical for many firms to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Yet, measuring R&D performance over time can be quite complex due to inherent uncertainty. The paper responds to calls in the R&D literature to explore integrated performance measurement systems that capture financial and nonfinancial performance. We integrate the Stage-Gate approach to R&D management with the Balanced Scorecard to present a framework to show how firms can link resource commitments to these activities and the firm's strategic objectives. In this paper, we provide specific examples of how firms can apply this integrated performance measurement system to the R&D function.