A Bayesian learning procedure for the.(s, Q) inventory policy

We present an asymptotically optimal Bayesian learning procedure for the ( s, Q ) inventory policy, for the case when the probability distribution of lead time demand is unknown. This distribution is not required to be a member of a certain family, and the maximal lead time demand is also allowed to be unknown. The algorithm developed for this purpose Is an extension of a standard iterative procedure, which in its original form -in spite of claims to the contrary-might produce solution values that are arbitrarily far away from the optimal one.     

Computerised production and inventory control systems: some skill and employment implications

New technology is being increasingly applied to the manufacturing area. This article, based on an extensive survey of twenty-four British engineering firms, examines the skill and employment implications of computerised production and inventory control systems (CPICS).     

Jobs requiring a capacity for engineering systems thinking (CEST): Selection using an interest inventory

Systems thinking is recognized as a critical ability for engineers who take a leading role in complex projects. Identifying those engineers with better systems‐thinking capabilities is critical in many projects and organizations and enables organizations and project managers to select and place the most suitable engineers for jobs requiring a Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST). However, up until now, no tool aimed at assessing individuals' capacity for engineering systems thinking has ever been developed. This paper presents principles for developing an interest questionnaire aimed at selecting engineers for jobs requiring systems thinking as well as preliminary results regarding the tool's reliability and validity.     

终止经营会计准则的比较与思考

本将我国《企业会计准则——终止经营(征求意见稿)》与国际会计准则、美国财务会计准则、英国会计准则、澳大利亚会计准则、中国香港会计准则在终止经营的界定、确认和计量以及列报和披露等方面进行对比，并对我国终止经营会计准则的修订提出几点思考。     

《制造业库存控制技术与策略》系列讲座之五库存控制与采购计划的关系

上期回放:如何保证库存数据的准确性。本期关注:寻找库存配套率低的原因,首先在采购过程加以控制。经过上一讲的分析我们知道,库存数据的准确性是实施库存控制的基础,之后就要下达采购计划(MRP)了。在制造业,经常发生的现象是,搞生产的人经常抱怨:该来的物料不来,不该来的都来了。实际上这涉及到库存的配套率(FKR-FullKitsRate)问题。那么什么是库存的配套率?应如何衡量库存的配套率?     

A robust approach to estimating production functions: Replication of the ACF procedure

We study Ackerberg, Caves, and Frazer's (Econometrica, 2015, 83, 2411–2451; hereafter ACF) production function estimation method using Monte Carlo simulations. First, we replicate their results by following their procedure to confirm the existence of a spurious minimum in the estimation, as noted by ACF. In the population, or when sample sizes are sufficiently large, this “global” identification problem may not be a concern because the spurious minimum occurs only at extreme values of capital and labor coefficients. However, in finite samples, their estimator can produce estimates that may not be clearly distinguishable from the spurious ones. In our second experiment, we modify the ACF procedure and show that robust estimates can be obtained using additional lagged instruments or sequential search. We also provide some arguments for why such modifications help in the ACF setting.     

Some results for the dynamic (s, S) inventory model *

Summary The periodic review, single item, stationary ( s, S ) inventory model is considered. There is a fixed lead time, a linear purchase cost, a fixed set-up cost, a holding and shortage cost function, a discount factor 0 < α≤ 1 and backlogging of unfilled demand. The solution for the total expected discounted cost for the finite period (s, S ) model is found. In addition the time dependent behaviour of the inventory process is found. Further a limit theorem is given, which relates the total expected cost for the finite period ( s, S ) model with no discounting to the average expected cost per period for the infinite period ( s, S ) model. As a by-product we obtain known results for the infinite period (s, S ) model.     

Identification-commitment inventory (ICI model): confirmatory factor analysis and construct validity

The aim of this study is to confirm the factorial structure of the Identification-Commitment Inventory (ICI) developed within the frame of the Human System Audit (HSA) (Quijano et al. in Revist Psicol Soc Apl 10(2):27–61, 2000; Pap Psicól Revist Col Of Psicó 29:92–106, 2008). Commitment and identification are understood by the HSA at an individual level as part of the quality of human processes and resources in an organization; and therefore as antecedents of important organizational outcomes, such as personnel turnover intentions, organizational citizenship behavior, etc. (Meyer et al. in J Org Behav 27:665–683, 2006). The theoretical integrative model which underlies ICI Quijano et al. (2000) was tested in a sample (N = 625) of workers in a Spanish public hospital. Confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling was performed. Elliptical least square solution was chosen as estimator procedure on account of non-normal distribution of the variables. The results confirm the goodness of fit of an integrative model, which underlies the relation between Commitment and Identification, although each one is operatively different.     

特许经营:房地产中介业发展的新途径

通过分析房地产中介市场引入特许经营的必要性，结合房地产中介特许经营的现状及运作要点，认为通过推行特许经营能规范房地产中介市场行为，提高服务质量，促进房地产中介市场健康的发展。并提出了发展特许经营，需要完善的相关政策和管理问题。     

Attuning two successive sampling systems (for instance supplier-customer)

A method is given to select a sampling system for an outgoing inspection when the sampling system for the following acceptance inspection is known.     

A hybrid multi-attribute decision-making procedure for ranking project proposals: A historical data perspective

This paper develops a hybrid multiattribute decision-making methodology for ranking project proposals (PPs) through a judicious usage of historical data of completed projects to determine attribute weights, enabling elimination of problems associated with projected data such as cost and schedule overruns of real-world projects. The weights generated from data envelopment analysis are explicitly utilized for ranking PPs while allowing subjectivity to be ingeniously incorporated into the decision process. The new approach is implemented for ranking 25 PPs, and the rankings it yields are found indifferent to the decision maker's attitude, which ascertains the robustness of the ranking methodology.     

Measuring environmental performance: use of the toxics release inventory (TRI) and other US environmental databases

This article examines the most comprehensive databases that measure US corporate environmental performance that have become available during the 1990s. These include the US Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and databases maintained by Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini, and Co., the Council on Economic Priorities and the Investor Responsibility Research Center. We describe these databases and identify the significant studies on environmental performance in the field of management that use these databases. We indicate three trends that should improve the quality and quantity of publicly available environmental performance data. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

A further procedure for ordering an input-output matrix: some empirical evidence

In a recent paper Ghosh and Sarkar [5] have developed a model of input-output systems as spatial configurations. Roy has proposed a more efficient solution method; but computation time still increases factorially which rules out its use for large matrices. [15] This note shows that the problem they have formulated belongs to a class of discrete programming problems known as placement or assignment problems. Several natural extensions are briefly discussed. More importantly, an efficient algorithm for the quadratic assignment problem is used to compute the optimal ordering of five comparable input-output matrices (US, Norway, Japan, Italy, India). These preliminary empirical results do show rather stable assignment patterns for the industries; and certain clusters of industries are shown to emerge as hypothesized by Ghosh and Sarkar.The author wishes to thank an anonymous referee for some important clarifying remarks on a preliminary version of this paper.     

A generalized maximum entropy (GME) approach for crisp-input/fuzzy-output regression model

In this paper we present a crisp-input/fuzzy-output regression model based on the rationale of generalized maximum entropy (GME) method. The approach can be used in several situations in which one have to handle with particular problems, such as small samples, ill-posed design matrix (e.g., due to the multicollinearity), estimation problems with inequality constraints, etc. After having described the GME-fuzzy regression model, we consider an economic case study in which the features provided from GME approach are evaluated. Moreover, we also perform a sensitivity analysis on the main results of the case study in order to better evaluate some features of the model. Finally, some critical points are discussed together with suggestions for further works.     

A Paradigm for Masking (Camouflaging) Information

This is an expository paper. Here we propose a decision-theoretic framework for addressing aspects of the confidentiality of information problems in publicly released data. Our basic premise is that the problem needs to be conceptualized by looking at the actions of three agents: a data collector, a legitimate data user, and an intruder. Here we aim to prescribe the actions of the first agent who desires to provide useful information to the second agent, but must protect against possible misuse by the third. The first agent is under the constraint that the released data has to be public to all; this in some societies may not be the case.
A novel aspect of our paper is that all utilities—fundamental to decision making—are in terms of Shannon's information entropy. Thus what gets released is a distribution whose entropy maximizes the expected utility of the first agent. This means that the distribution that gets released will be different from that which generates the collected data. The discrepancy between the two distributions can be assessed via the Kullback–Leibler cross-entropy function. Our proposed strategy therefore boils down to the notion that it is the information content of the data, not the actual data, that gets masked. Current practice of "statistical disclosure limitation" masks the observed data via transformations or cell suppression. These transformations are guided by balancing what are known as "disclosure risks" and "data utility". The entropy indexed utility functions we propose are isomorphic to the above two entities. Thus our approach provides a formal link to that which is currently practiced in statistical disclosure limitation.