Transport rates structure,optimum location,and theory of production: Reexamination

The two-stage approach consistently to present a generalized location theory of the firm in linear space is employed. It is shown that the second-order sufficient condition for the profit-maximizing and/or cost-minimizing location problem requires that transport rates increase with distance. In the process, it is demonstrated that this approach provides a compact way to analyze the location and production decisions separately and to avoid the errors made by Mathur and others.     

Push and pull strategies in multi-stage assembly systems

In convergent multi-stage systems usually a pull strategy is assumed, where demand at the end stock-point triggers demands (or production) at the proceeding stock-point, whereas in the push strategy demand is triggered at the initial stock-point. We will extensively describe the calculation procedure for the push strategy. For analyzing the pull strategy we will use existing methods. The equivalence and differences between these two strategies will be illustrated for a two-stage assembly case.     

Government secondary school finances in New South Wales: accounting for students’ prior achievements in a two-stage DEA at the school level

This study measures the efficiency of government secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia, using a two-stage semi-parametric production frontier approach to schooling. In contrast to previous research comparing school performance with two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA), we control for prior academic achievement of students by using a rich data set from 2008 to 2010. We employ detailed financial data for deriving the envelope for the efficient production frontier of the schools. Using Simar and Wilson’s (J Econ 136:31-64, 2007, J Prod Anal 36:205-218, 2011a) double bootstrap procedure for two-stage DEA, the study finds that schools with lower total student numbers, a higher average of years of service of teachers, a higher ratio of special education students that attracts extra government funding, and girls only do better than other schools. On the other hand, a negative influence comes from a school’s location in provincial and outer metropolitan areas. An important result is that the socio-economic background of students attending a school has no significant effect on their academic performance, whereas higher prior academic achievements have a positive and statistically significant impact on student achievement. These results are relevant to decision makers for the school sector, in particular for funding criteria contained in the Gonski (Review of funding for schooling - Final report (December). Canberra: Commonwealth Government of Australia, 2011) review report.     

Why and how do firms reshore? A contingency-based conceptual framework

Much of the growing body of reshoring literature has focused on why firms reverse a prior location decision. While valuable, this work needs extending to how the decision to reshore is operationalised. Using a two-stage approach, this paper presents a conceptual framework that covers both why and how firms reshore. The framework also utilises contingency theory to identify the factors that influence these decisions. It is therefore claimed to be more comprehensive than others frameworks found in the literature. First, a systematic literature review deductively develops an initial framework. Second, a revised version of the framework is presented using evidence from a single, exemplar case of captive reshoring in the textiles industry. The case evidence identifies new factors and extends a typology of reshoring decisions proposed in the literature to more accurately reflect the dynamic, complex, and incremental nature of the onshore-offshore-reshore location and ownership decision.     

Production-location decision and free entry oligopoly: A correction

This paper shows that there is no interior solution in Mai–Hwang's 1992 oligopolistic location model with free entry when the production function exhibits constant or decreasing returns to scale. The comparative static results of the impact of a demand change on the location decision only apply to the case where the production function exhibits increasing returns to scale. It re-examines the impact of a demand change on the location decision of an oligopolistic firm and corrects the propositions derived by [C.C. Mai, H. Hwang, Production-location decision and free entry oligopoly, Journal of Urban Economics 33 (1992) 252–271. Reprinted in: M.L. Greenhut, G. Norman (Eds.), The Economics of Location, vol. I: Location Theory, Edward Elgar, Aldershot, 1995].     

Separating environmental efficiency into production and abatement efficiency: a nonparametric model with application to US power plants

In this paper we present a new approach to evaluate the environmental efficiency of decision making units. We propose a model that describes a two-stage process consisting of a production and an end-of-pipe abatement stage with the environmental efficiency being determined by the efficiency of both stages. Taking the dependencies between the two stages into account, we show how nonparametric methods can be used to measure environmental efficiency and to decompose it into production and abatement efficiency. For an empirical illustration we apply our model to an analysis of US power plants.     

Social enterprise factory location and allocation model: Small scale manufacturing for East Africa

The manufacturing location decision for social enterprises that work in the context of sustainable development is rarely based on a quantitative, analytical process. As a result, decisions may be far from profit-maximizing. Location and allocation optimization models have the potential to improve decisions and thus enable such enterprises to scale up their business as well as their impact. We develop and explain a single-period single-factory model, and also a two-echelon location and allocation model, to provide enterprises with information about optimal factory locations, and with future demand allocations and capacity-changing decision information. We apply the models to a company that manufactures and distributes solar cookers in East Africa. Our results illustrate that quantitative location and allocation models can significantly affect social enterprises by improving profitability. The case study shows strong cost-reduction potential of local manufacturing in developing countries due to high transportation costs for small production volumes. We discuss this model-recommended decision by weighing it against associated opportunities and risks. This paper aims to enable and encourage social and sustainability-oriented manufacturing enterprises to apply operations research methods in their strategic factory location decision-making.     

Monopsony and the production-location decision of the firm

This paper incorporates monopsony power in one of the input markets within the context of the Weber-Moses triangular framework and examines the effect of an increase in monopsony power on the production-location decision of the firm. In particular, this paper shows that the optimum location of the firm is independent of monopsony power if the production funstion is homogeneous of degree one. However, if the production function is not homogeneous of degree one, the firm possessing monopsony power will have an incentive to move its location away from the monopsonized input market towards other markets under certain reasonable assumptions. Finally, some important policy implications are generated from the analysis.     

基于两阶段选址法的单点区域型配送中心选址研究

以单点区域型配送中心选址为研究对象,以系统理论、组合理论等为基础,运用定量、定性方法对区域型配送中心选址进行研究,提出了新的选址方法——两阶段单点选址法。借助Matlab等软件的强大功能,进行计算求解,并通过实例验证了该方法的有效性。     

基于收益共享和风险规避的品牌专营供应链协调研究

以一个两阶段的品牌专营供应链系统为背景,针对供应链上决策激励不一致和风险规避效应导致供应链低效的问题,研究了在实践中广泛应用的收益共享契约对品牌专营供应链协调性的影响。证明了收益共享契约可克服双重边际效应和风险规避效应,使供应链得到协调,并给出了契约参数的设计方案,同时指出了销售商风险规避偏好对供应链决策的影响。     

基于BP神经网络的逆向物流中心选址模型研究

逆向物流中心选址是逆向物流中关键问题之一。文章根据逆向物流的物流环境、生产能力、经济效益三个方面的9个评价指标,用BP神经网络建立了逆向物流中心选址的评价模型。应用示例表明该模型具有较高的精度和效率,在逆向物流中心选址中具有较好地应用价值。     

一种改进的区域物流配送中心选址方法

物流配送中心的合理选址是物流系统中具有战略意义的投资决策问题，配送中心选址是否合理，对整个系统的物流合理化和商品流通的社会效益有着决定性的影响。本文提出了一种基于费用函数的改进的区域物流配送中心选址方法。其具有较强的可操作性及准确性，为选址模型的进一步开发提供了科学引证。     

多品种自制件共线机加工拉式生产模型及实现

在对某具有装配线和自制件机加工线的发动机厂进行分析的基础上,建立了自制件机加工拉式生产模型。该模型根据自制件成品消耗,触发机加工线的自制件生产。根据生产实际设定了生产批量等参数。建立模拟表,利用历史数据,模拟装配不中断情况下,共线生产的多品种自制件的投入、消耗及库存,根据其结果设定所需的自制件成品数量。在此基础上,设计了机加工拉式生产业务流程,开发完成了机加工拉式生产管理系统,并将其作为MES的一个模块。实际运行结果验证了模型及系统的可行性和有效性。     

Optimizing Location Among Three Countries Under Exchange Rate Uncertainty: Applying Real Options

This investigation extends the Batch Process Model [Lin et al. (2002). Journal of management and system 9: 173–196] from two productive locations between two countries to establish a decision valuation model for selecting the optimal location of three productive locations among three countries, respectively. A general form with the first order of degree homothetic production functions is also considered by the rule of decision-making in the proposed model. The firm is risk neutral and this study adopts the real options approach for valuing the behavior of the transferable location among three countries. Furthermore, using Dynamic programming and Lagrange Multiplies for a continuous-Time Model Optimization Problem to get a closed form solution of the threshold value, sensitivity analysis, and some characteristic strategies of the operating method for batch process model among three countries are sought, providing for another way of thinking.     

基于JIT的水电工程物流质量管理研究

文章基于JIT在水电物流质量管理的创新性应用,树立JIT思想观念,实施实时化物流管理,创建水电工程物流“拉动”式管理机制,从而达到追求零库存、零缺陷、零浪费和降低成本的目的。     

供应链延迟战略价值定量分析——蒙特卡罗下的奇异期权估价

对延迟战略建立两阶段决策模型,分半成品有无残值两种情况,从实物期权的视角运用金融学中期权定价理论对延迟战略的期权价值进行分析。将生产商传统生产方式下的收益类比为购买标的证券的收益,采用延迟战略的收益类比为标的于该证券的期权收益,并假设产品价格随机游走。通过分析发现延迟战略的收益相当于奇异期权的回报,并且半成品没有残值是存在残值的特殊情况。进一步运用蒙特卡罗模拟方法定量地对延迟战略的期权价值进行参数分析和成本一收益分析。文章将动态的风险管理和对灵活性价值的度量引入决策过程,研究结论能给延迟战略投资决策提供借鉴。     

The "Sect Effect" in Charitable Giving: Distinctive Realities of Exclusively Religious Charitable Givers

A bstract .   An examination of the charitable giving behavior of 16,442 households reveals intriguing patterns consistent with the club-theoretic approach to religious sect affiliation. The club-theoretic model suggests that individuals with lower socioeconomic standing will rationally be more likely to align themselves with exclusivistic sects. Because sect affiliation is also associated with more obligatory religious contributions, this approach generates novel predictions not anticipated by standard economic models of charitable behavior. Traditional analysis of charitable giving can mask the "sect effect" phenomenon, as low-income giving is dwarfed by the giving of the wealthy. However, the application of a two-stage econometric model—separating the participation decision from the subsequent decision regarding the level of gifting—provides unique insights. Basic socioeconomic factors have significant and opposite associations with different categories of giving, calling into question the treatment of charitable giving as a homogenous activity and supporting the understanding of sect affiliation, and potentially religious extremism, as rational choice phenomena.     

基于PFEP的发动机厂厂内物流规划

精益制造和拉动式生产系统越来越受到制造型企业,特别是装配企业的重视。作者以一个发动机厂的厂内物流规划为基础,阐述了如何将PFEP理论应用于厂内物流规划的过程中,以更好地将精益制造思想和拉动式原则成功应用于在发动机厂延伸到供应商和客户的整体物流流程。     

基于产业集群的甩挂运输运作评价研究——以淮安为例

甩挂运输是现代物流发展的主要模式之一,开展甩挂运输对提高产业的物流运作效率具有重要意义.文章以车辆利用为核心建立了甩挂运输运作评价指标体系,基于调查数据对甩挂运输模式与单车运输进行了比较分析,证实了甩挂运输的优越性.     

Location and the theory of production: A review,summary and critique of recent contributions

This paper has two main objectives. First, a generalized version of the Moses-type production- location model is developed where both the input variables and the location variables are allowed to adjust simultaneously. Secondly, the results of the recent articles relating to the Moses framework are discussed in the context of our generalized structure. We conclude that - unless one is willing to assume either the transport rate of output is zero or the location is constrained to be on the Moses arc - if transport rates do not depend on quantities shipped then location is independent of output when the production function is homogeneous of degree one. If transport rates depend on quantities shipped (e.g. quantity discounts), then a production function which is linearly homogeneous is not sufficient to insure that location is independent of output unless the transport rate functions have constant elasticities.