SUPPLY CHAIN INFORMATION SHARING IN A VENDOR MANAGED INVENTORY PARTNERSHIP

Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) involves the vendor making the replenishment decision for products supplied to a customer based on various inventory and supply chain policies. Information sharing between supply chain members is required in VMI. Sometimes VMI decisions are delayed and/or the information shared is inaccurate. This research examines the effects of information delay and accuracy, and the sharing of sales and forecast information in a VMI environment facing stationary and nonstationary demand. The simulation experiments show the impact of information delay, information inaccuracy, and information sharing on a variety of performance measures, including inventory levels and fill rates.     

Business process innovation in the supply chain – a case study of implementing vendor managed inventory

A growing number of international companies operate in a standard business systems environment. This suggests that standard business system solutions, e.g. from SAP R/3, might be adopted rather than introducing new problem specific systems solutions for new business requirements. This could be a cost efficient alternative in a situation when supply chain sophistication and integration demands from customers are increasing. In the Nordic countries vendor managed inventory (VMI) is an example of a new way of doing business that can give pioneers a competitive edge. The vendor in this case is the first supplier to go into a full-scale VMI relationship with the wholesaler – and has, through this, substantially reduced delivery costs to the retail trade. The case VMI implementation demonstrates that it is possible to arrive at a simple but efficient solution in a standard systems environment. The case shows how VMI can be implemented in a SAP R/3 environment based on the EDIFACT inventory report.     

Stock replenishment policies for a vendor-managed inventory in a retailing system

Using Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), the vendor determines the replenishment decisions at the location of buyers (retailers). This strategy is used primarily for handling demand fluctuations stemming from the Bullwhip effect, leading the system to prevent from holding excessive inventory that result in a reduction in the overall cost of the supply chain. The main advantages of VMI for vendors are higher levels of accessibility to inventory information and more direct contact with the customers. Similarly, VMI has some pros for the buyers, such as shared risk with upper levels of supply chain and reduction in their holding costs of inventory. In this paper, a vendor-managed inventory system is developed containing one vendor and two buyers in which the main assumption is that back-ordering and lost sales are permitted. In this system, (r, Q) and (R, T) replenishment policies are compared according to their performances to see which one performs more cost-efficiently when partial back-ordering is allowed. In accordance, mathematical models utilizing (r, Q) and (R, T) replenishment policies are developed, and algorithms for deriving the optimal replenishment decision variables are proposed. Moreover, significant differences between the two replenishment policies are discussed. The main finding obtained by this research is that when shortage is permitted, both (r, Q) and (R, T) replenishment policies under VMI have pros and cons in different contexts.     

VMI模式下信息共享对违约风险的防范和控制

供应商管理库存（Vender Managed Inventory,VMI）是21世纪前沿的供应链管理模式,VMI对供应链的新形式供应的形成和发展都产生了影响。但由于我国信息化起步晚,使得很多企业在实施VMI模式时仍存在不同程度的风险。为了实现对VMI违约风险防范和控制的有效性,供应链上的各个企业越来越注重供应链成员之间的协调关系,而这就需要以供应链上各个节点的成员企业进行高质量的信息传递和及时完整的信息共享为基础来建立和完善整个VMI系统。研究供应商实施VMI的过程中所面临的违约风险,重点分析VMI模式下信息共享对违约风险防范控制作用,可有效地实现信息共享以降低VMI模式下的违约风险。     

供应商管理库存对供应链收益的影响机理研究

供应商管理库存模式作为一种供应链环境下的库存运作模式,突破了传统的条块分割的库存管理模式,以系统化、集成化的思想实施库存管理,能够提升供应链的整体竞争力。供应商管理库存模式是一种以供应链各环节企业都能实现最低成本为目的,在一个共同协议下由供应商管理库存,不断监督协议执行情况并修正协议内容,使库存管理得以持续改进的合作性策略,具有合作性、互利性、协议性、连续改进性等特点。实施供应商管理库存模式,可以降低零售商和供应链整体的库存成本,增加二者的收益水平。尽管在实施初期,可能会导致供应商库存成本的增加以及收益的减少,但从长期来看,由于供应商对库存的专业化管理以及零售商将更多资源用于商品的市场营销活动之中,可以有效扩大商品的市场销售规模,降低库存管理成本,从而最终提高供应商收益水平。     

VMI&TPL供应链集成机理研究

20世纪80年代后期,VMI在企业中广泛应用,然而由于买方数量的不断增加,供应商的物流能力和信息能力已严重影响VMI的实施效果,为此中外许多供应商将目光转移到寻求与第三方物流(TPL)的合作。但是,对大多数企业来说,实施VMI&TPL供应链感到无所适从,缺乏相关理论指导,亟待从理论上说明VMI&TPL供应链集成机理,设计出VMI&TPL供应链的运作流程,以便为企业实施VMI&TPL供应链提供理论支撑和参考数据。     

基于转移支付的供应链VMI库存协调策略研究

以制造商和分销商组成的简单二阶段供应链系统为研究对象,分别建立了独立库存控制策略和VMI库存控制策略下的供应链产品库存控制模型,并对两种策略下的供应双方利润变化进行了分析;然后在此基础上,提出了基于转移支付补偿方式的VMI库存协调策略,并得出了转移支付产品库存协调策略实施的有效性条件;最后,通过仿真试验对相关结论进行了验证和分析。     

供应商管理库存(VMI)的实施研究

VMI对整个供应链的形成和发展都产生了影响,VMI以供应链各个环节的企业都获得最低成本为目的,在一个共同的协议下由供应商管理库存,克服了下游企业自身技术和信息系统的局限,使得下游企业可以放开手脚进行核心业务的开发,实现了供应链的整体优化。     

Integrating Behavioral Decision Theory and Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Prioritizing Economic,Environmental, and Social Dimensions in Carrier Selection

Carrier selection is a specialized sourcing decision with sustainability impacts in every supply chain. This research tests the effects of a transportation carrier's economic, environmental, and social sustainability performance on a shipper's carrier selection decision. Underrepresented experimental methods are used to test an a priori hypothesis derived from behavioral decision theory logic. Results contradict commonly held win–win, trade‐off, and ecological perspectives of sustainable supply chain management by finding that the economic dimension of sustainability has the greatest effect on carrier selection. Our research highlights this managerial preference and offers a theoretically grounded explanation for selection behaviors. This is one of the first empirical studies to simultaneously consider all three dimensions of sustainability. It also moves beyond an internal focal firm focus to evaluate sustainability effects through the eyes of external supply chain members. Our unique approach and findings offer managerial opportunities for differentiation and resource allocation as well as policy implications for the broader transportation system.     

供应商管理库存在我国制造企业的应用研究

本文认为,制造企业普遍实施供应商管理库存(VMI)来减少企业存货,提高存货周转率。相互信任的伙伴关系、信息技术基础和供应商拥有存货的所有权是实施VMI的关键点,但是并不一定是实施VMI的必要条件。文章认为,我国制造商实施VMI的主要目的在于降低存货成本和延长付款周期,从长期来看,VMI的机制有利于降低整个供应链的存货水平;VMI的实施需要理念的灌输、合适的产品和一个好的评估方法体系。     

SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESS INTEGRATION: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The current study was undertaken to further understanding of supply chain process integration. It is suggested that supply chain integration, the practice of realigning firms' operating structures, should be understood from an internal‐external perspective and a process view. Drawing upon four theories—Strategy‐Structure‐Performance framework, the resource based view of the firm, transaction cost economics, and social network analysis—and combining industry inputs, a theoretical framework of supply chain process integration is developed. It is argued that a firm's strategic priorities are key factors of supply chain process integration. Superior performance is likely to be achieved when necessary supply chain capabilities are developed through supply chain process integration.     

Knowledge Management in Supply Chains: The Role of Explicit and Tacit Knowledge

We theorize, building on the knowledge‐based view and the theoretical distinction between explicit and tacit knowledge, that knowledge management capability across the supply chain manifests itself in explicit and tacit knowledge, which in turn effectuates supply chain performance. The model is tested with survey data from 195 small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises reporting on their primary supply chain. The results indicate that the supply chain's knowledge management capability manifests itself in both explicit and tacit knowledge, with the latter being influenced more strongly. Moreover, it was found that while both explicit and tacit knowledge influence supply chain performance, the latter exerts a significantly greater impact than the former. Exploratory post hoc analyses add robustness to these findings and investigate mechanisms inherent to the transformation of tacit into explicit knowledge. Overall, this research contributes to academic theory development in logistics and supply chain management by the dichotomization of knowledge types and the demonstration of their differential magnitude of effects, and to managerial practice by providing important guidance for logistics managers structuring their knowledge management efforts across supply chains.     

The Emergence of Consolidated Service Centers in Health Care

Hospital supply chains can be conceptualized as complex systems with a large number of players and a high degree of interrelatedness among them, creating an environment that is difficult to optimize and manage. In recent years, a consolidated service center (CSC) strategy (sometimes also referred to as “self‐distribution” strategy), has emerged in some healthcare systems, showing a strong potential for reducing the complexity in a hospital's supply chain to achieve high levels of performance and innovation. We examine three CSCs using a qualitative case method to understand the unique characteristics of this supply chain strategy, and how CSCs move hospital supply chains toward a less complex state. We find that CSCs demonstrate characteristics that distinguish them from other supply chain strategies. These characteristics enable the CSC to orchestrate supply base rationalization and disintermediation initiatives in the hospital's supply chain to effectively reduce the number of components and interrelatedness in this complex system.     

Optimal Guaranteed Profit Margins for Both Vendors and Retailers in the Fashion Apparel Industry

Guaranteed profit margin (GPM) is one of the chargebacks that retailers frequently employ in the fashion industry. With this stipulation, the store demands a vendor's guarantee of its target mark-up rate, even in a markdown operation. This makes the retailer order too much and later liquidate a greater amount of leftovers. We propose a new GPM scheme for supply chain coordination. Specifically, if the retailer compensates the vendor for the same fraction of the joint costs as the guaranteed mark-up rate, the retailer's quantity choice results in profit maximization for the entire supply chain. Thus, the supply chain becomes fully coordinated and provides win-win outcomes for both retailer and vendor.     

VMI在中国的发展与应用——日本近铁国际物流公司实施VMI案例研究

目前,国外许多企业应用VMI已经获得很大的收益,相对而言,国内企业应用VMI还是一个相对较新的课题。文章透过一家第三方物流公司(3PL)——日本近铁国际物流公司实施的VMI为例,阐述VMI管理的思想,分析中国VMI发展现状及障碍。我国企业应根据当前的发展阶段,分析推行VMI的条件是否已完善,并非先进思想就一味引进,而应依靠企业自身特色和优势,采用适当库存管理方法。     

Exploring Supply Managers' Intrapreneurial Ability and Relationship Quality

This article examined the degree to which a supply manager's intrapreneurial ability influences the quality of individual-level relationships with internal customers and the supplier's account executive. The moderating influence of the buyer's firm-level commitment to the supplier and how these relationships subsequently impact supplier performance were explored. The study assessed the supply manager's intrapreneurial ability using survey data gathered from 110 supply managers across a variety of industries. In key supplier relationships, a supply manager's intrapreneurial ability positively influences the quality of internal and external relationships. The firm's commitment to the supplier weakens the relationship between intrapreneurial ability and relationship quality. The findings highlight the value of individual skills to enhance relationships The ability to behave intrapreneurially shapes the quality of internal and supplier relationships. However, only the supply manager's relationship with the supplier's account executive is related to supplier performance. By examining the impact of intrapreneurial ability on individual-level relationships with internal customers and supplier's account executive, a more comprehensive view of business-to-business relationship management in the supply chain is gained.     

STRATEGIC INVENTORY OPTIMIZATION

A company's inventory metrics are often viewed as critical indicators of its supply chain performance although inventory costs are only a fraction of total supply chain costs comprised of supplier, manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing costs, as well as inventory costs. Moreover, inventories across the supply chain are dependent on acquisition and distribution decisions. We discuss how simulation and optimization models can be combined to integrate analysis of inventory and supply chain network design decisions in performing a total cost analysis. An application of the models to plans for distributing retail products to an expanding network of stores is reviewed.     

Supplier Role Conflict: An Investigation of Its Relational Implications and Impact on Supplier Accommodation

Existing research on supply chain relationships suggests that one of the underlying tensions between supply chain partners is that of opposing perspectives and goals in the customer?supplier relationship. In today's business world with requirements in constant flux, suppliers are often asked to accommodate “special” requests made by their customers, not part of the contractual agreement. Suppliers frequently fill requests to protect the relationship with the customer, even if they fall outside of what they consider their role as a supplier. Issues of supplier role conflict emerge when customers and suppliers have different views of what the supplier's role should entail. There is little research examining the potential for supplier role conflict in supply chains. Specifically, this research draws on literature from multiple disciplines to consider supplier role conflict that may stem from accommodation and the impact of this role conflict and supplier accommodation on the supply chain relationship and future accommodation behavior. Hypotheses are tested using two scenario‐based experiments. Results suggest that supplier adaptation and flexibility both have positive relational effects. If suppliers perceive accommodation requests as outside of their contracted role, supplier role conflict can have detrimental effects on the supplier's relationship perceptions and their willingness for future accommodation.     

供应商管理库存收益研究综述

供应商管理库存模式成为企业界和学术界关注的焦点,许多研究者进行了并且还在继续进行相关的研究工作。从VMI模式下一般收益、VMI模式下运输和库存整合收益、VMI模式下信息共享收益三方面综述VMI收益,并指出今后的研究方向,对促进企业实施VMI有着重大的指导意义和现实意义。     

SUPPLY CHAIN CAPITAL: THE IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL AND RELATIONAL LINKAGES ON FIRM EXECUTION AND INNOVATION

Firms invest millions of dollars annually in developing their supply chains, with the broad goal of increasing their own performance. However, despite the significant resources deployed for supply chain development, the extent to which initiating, maintaining, and managing supply chain relationships contributes to firm success remains unclear. The current article provides conceptual development supporting the valuation of firm‐to‐firm supply chain connections from the perspective of the focal firm. Based on the social network and economics literatures, the article introduces the concept of supply chain capital, which comprises the value of both the structural configuration and relationship content of the firm's supply chain network. Following theoretical development, a non‐exhaustive set of propositions are constructed illustrating multiple ways that supply chain capital can be accrued and exploited for firm‐level benefit. Managerial recommendations for investment in supply chain capital are included, as are future directions for research in the area of supply chain networks.