Selection process of auto-ID technology in warehouse management: A Delphi study

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of philosophy and awarded by Brunel UniversityIn a supply chain, a warehouse is a crucial component for linking all chain parties. Automatic identification and data capture (auto-ID) technology, e.g. RFID and barcodes are among the essential technologies in the 21st century knowledge-based economy. Selecting an auto-ID technology is a long term investment and it contributes to improving operational efficiency, achieving cost savings and creating opportunities for higher revenues. The interest in auto-ID research for warehouse management is rather stagnant and relatively small in comparison to other research domains such as transport, logistics and supply chain. However, although there are some previous studies that explored factors for the auto-ID selection decision in a warehouse environment, those factors (e.g., operational factors) have been examined separately and researchers have paid no attention to all key factors that may potentially affect this decision. In fact, yet there is no comprehensive framework in the literature that comprehensively investigates the critical factors influencing the auto-ID selection decision and how the factors should be combined to produce a successful auto-ID selection process in warehouse management. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to investigate empirically the auto-ID technology-selection process and to determine the key factors that influence decision makers when selecting auto-ID technology in the warehouse environment. This research is preceded by a comprehensive and systematic review of the relevant literature to identify the set of factors that may affect the technology selection decision. The Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework has been used as lens to categorise the identified factors (Tornatzky & Fleischer, 1990). Data were collected by conducting first a modified (mixed-method) two-round Delphi study with a worldwide panel of experts (107) including academics, industry practitioners and consultants in auto-ID technologies. The results of the Delphi study were then verified via follow-up interviews, both face-to-face and telephone, carried out with 19 experts across the world. This research in nature is positivist, exploratory/descriptive, deductive/inductive and quantitative/qualitative. The quantitative data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences, SPSS V.18, while the qualitative data of the Delphi study and the interviews were analysed manually using quantitative content analysis approach and thematic content analysis approach respectively. The findings of this research are reported on the motivations/reasons of warehouses in seeking to use auto-ID technologies, the challenges in making an auto-ID decision, the recommendations to address the challenges, the key steps that should be followed in making auto-ID selection decision, the key factors and their relative importance that influence auto-ID selection decision in a warehouse. The results of the Delphi study show that the six major factors affecting the auto-ID selection decision in warehouse management are: organisational, operational, structural, resources, external environmental and technological factors (in decreasing order of importance). In addition, 54 key sub-factors have been identified from the list of each of the major factors and ranked in decreasing order of the importance mean scores. However, the importance of these factors depends on the objectives and strategic motivations of warehouse; size of warehouse; type of business; nature of business environment; sectors; market types; products and countries. Based on the Delphi study and the interviews findings, a comprehensive multi-stage framework for auto-ID technology selection process has been developed. This research indicates that the selection process is complex and needs support and closer collaboration from all participants involved in the process such as the IT team, top management, warehouse manager, functional managers, experts, stockholders and vendors. Moreover, warehouse managers should have this process for collaboration before adopting the technology in order to reduce the high risks involved and achieve successful implementation. This research makes several contributions for both academic and practitioners with auto-ID selection in a warehouse environment. Academically, it provides a holistic multi-stage framework that explains the critical issues within the decision making process of auto-ID technology in warehouse management. Moreover, it contributes to the body of auto-ID and warehouse management literature by synthesising the literature on key dimensions of auto-ID (RFID/barcode) selection decision in the warehouse field. This research also provides a theoretical basis upon which future research on auto-ID selection and implementation can be built. Practically, the findings provide valuable insights for warehouse managers and executives associated with auto-ID selection and advance their understanding of the issues involved in the technology selection process that need to be considered.Damascus University, Syria and The British Council, Mancheste

IntegraDos: facilitating the adoption of the Internet of Things through the integration of technologies

También, han sido analizados los componentes para una integración del IoT y cloud computing, concluyendo en la arquitectura Lambda-CoAP. Y por último, los desafíos para una integración del IoT y Blockchain han sido analizados junto con una evaluación de las posibilidades de los dispositivos del IoT para incorporar nodos de Blockchain. Las contribuciones de esta tesis doctoral contribuyen a acercar la adopción del IoT en la sociedad, y por tanto, a la expansión de esta prominente tecnología. Fecha de lectura de Tesis: 17 de diciembre 2018.El Internet de las Cosas (IoT) fue un nuevo concepto introducido por K. Asthon en 1999 para referirse a un conjunto identificable de objetos conectados a través de RFID. Actualmente, el IoT se caracteriza por ser una tecnología ubicua que está presente en un gran número de áreas, como puede ser la monitorización de infraestructuras críticas, sistemas de trazabilidad o sistemas asistidos para el cuidado de la salud. El IoT está cada vez más presente en nuestro día a día, cubriendo un gran abanico de posibilidades con el fin de optimizar los procesos y problemas a los que se enfrenta la sociedad. Es por ello por lo que el IoT es una tecnología prometedora que está continuamente evolucionando gracias a la continua investigación y el gran número de dispositivos, sistemas y componentes emergidos cada día. Sin embargo, los dispositivos involucrados en el IoT se corresponden normalmente con dispositivos embebidos con limitaciones de almacenamiento y procesamiento, así como restricciones de memoria y potencia. Además, el número de objetos o dispositivos conectados a Internet contiene grandes previsiones de crecimiento para los próximos años, con unas expectativas de 500 miles de millones de objetos conectados para 2030. Por lo tanto, para dar cabida a despliegues globales del IoT, además de suplir las limitaciones que existen, es necesario involucrar nuevos sistemas y paradigmas que faciliten la adopción de este campo. El principal objetivo de esta tesis doctoral, conocida como IntegraDos, es facilitar la adopción del IoT a través de la integración con una serie de tecnologías. Por un lado, ha sido abordado cómo puede ser facilitada la gestión de sensores y actuadores en dispositivos físicos sin tener que acceder y programar las placas de desarrollo. Por otro lado, un sistema para programar aplicaciones del IoT portables, adaptables, personalizadas y desacopladas de los dispositivos ha sido definido

A business process reengineering framework using the analytic hierarchy process to select a traceability technology for spare parts management in capital-intensive industries

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: demand forecasting for spare parts; and inventory warehousing management. Various aspects (including 29 best practices) of BPR are described in order to support the proposed framework. These include criteria for selecting processes to redesign, the role of Information Technology in BPR and typical barriers to eff ective implementation of BPR. The AHP (a multi-criteria decision-making method) is explained in detail, as it facilitates the selection of asset traceability technology. An overview of asset traceability technologies (speci fically barcode technology, Radio Frequency Identi cation (RFID) technology and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology) is also provided, including the description of certain characteristics of each technology. The proposed framework, based on the literature review, serves as a structured guide and consists of two primary parallel elements (referred to as streams), namely the BPR stream and the Change Management stream. The BPR stream encompasses six phases of BPR (Contextualise SPM, Business Process Redesign, Asset Traceability Technology, Decision-Making, Implement, and Monitor and Evaluate) while the Change Management stream consists of three stages (Unfreeze State, Change State and Refreeze State). The framework is validated through face validation via semi-structured interviews with participants forming a panel of experts involved in and familiar with SPM and asset traceability technology. According to the expert panel, the proposed framework satisfies achievement of the desired framework attributes, namely (i) Generic and adaptable, (ii) Holistic and comprehensive, (iii) Structured and objective- or outcome-oriented and (iv) Practical. In addition, the expert panel perceived the framework to be useful, easy to use and understandable. However, recommendations were proposed to further improve the framework, including the addition of a scoping and objectives section and the expansion of the Change Management element.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onderdele is noodsaaklik vir die e ektiewe bedryf van 'n kapitaal-intensiewe organisasie en maak, tesame met materiaalverbruik, ongeveer 50% uit van 'n tipiese instandhoudingsbegroting. Ten spyte van die relatief groot hoeveelheid literatuur beskikbaar oor onderdele, pas min maatskappye egter ordentlike strukturele, feitlike en kwantitatiewe Onderdelebestuur toe. Geïntegreerde benaderings om onderdele te bestuur, sowel as om teoretiese modelle te ondersteun met praktiese riglyne, word benodig ten einde die gaping tussen navorsing en praktyk te oorbrug. Die studie het voortgevloei uit 'n geleentheid geïdenti seer om prosesse binne Onderdelebestuur te verbeter, spesi ek deur die gebruik van bate opspoorbaarheidstegnologie. 'n Raamwerk word voorgestel wat (i) die Besigheidsproses Hersiening lei deur prosesse binne Onderdelebestuur, met die inagneming van elemente van Veranderingsbestuur, en (ii) die keuse van opspoorbaarheidstegnologie lei vir integrasie binne Onderdelebestuur by kapitaal-intensiewe organisasies (deur die gebruik van die Analitiese Hiërargie Proses). Die navorsing bestaan uit 'n bespreking van Batebestuur, insluitend PAS 55 en ISO 55000 (twee belangrike Batebestuur dokumentreekse) en Veranderings-bestuur, wat 'n noodsaaklike aspek vir implementering is. Vervolgens word Onderdelebestuur, 'n onderafdeling van Batebestuur wat verband hou met onderdele en die fokuspunt van die studie is, aangespreek. Die volgende Onderdelebestuur aspekte word onder andere aangespreek: eienskappe van onderdele en hoe onderdele van ander algemene voorraad verskil; klassi seringskriteria en klassi seringstegnieke; vooruitskatting van die vraag na onderdele; en die bestuur van voorraadvlakke. Verskeie aspekte (insluitend 29 beste praktyke) van Besigheidsproses Hersiening word beskryf ten einde die voorgestelde raamwerk te ondersteun. Dit sluit kriteria in vir die keuse van herontwerpsprosesse, die rol van Inligtingstegnologie in Besigheidsproses Hersiening en tipiese struikelblokke vir die e ektiewe implementering van Besigheidsproses Hersiening. Die Analitiese Hiërargie Proses ('n multi-kriteria besluitnemingsmetode) word in detail verduidelik, aangesien dit die keuse van 'n bate opspoorbaarheidstegnolgie moet fasiliteer. 'n Oorsig van bate pspoorbaarheidstegnolgieë (spesi ek strepieskode tegnologie, Radiofrekwensie Identi kasie (RFID) tegnologie en Globale Posisioneringstelsel (GPS) tegnologie) word ook verskaf, insluitend die beskrywing van sekere eienskappe van elke tegnolgie. Die voorgestelde raamwerk, gebasseer op die literatuurstudie, dien as 'n gestruktureerde gids en bestaan uit twee primêre parallele elemente (wat na verwys word as strome), naamlik die Besigheidsproses Hersiening stroom en die Veranderingsbestuur stroom. Die Besigheidsproses Hersiening stroom vervat ses fases van Besigheidsproses Hersiening (Kontekstualiseer Onderdelebestuur, Besigheidsproses Hersiening, Bate Opspoorbaarheidstegnolgie, Besluitneming, Implementeer, en Monitor en Evalueer) terwyl die Veranderingsbestuur stroom bestaan uit drie stadiums (Ontvries Stadium, Verander Stadium en Hervries Stadium). Die voorgestelde raamwerk word bekragtig deur sigwaarde bekragtiging via semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met deelnemers wat 'n paneel van deskundiges vorm wat betrokke en vertroud is met Onderdelebestuur en Bate Opspoorbaarheidstegnolgie. Volgens die paneel van deskundiges slaag die voorgestelde raamwerk daarin om die vereiste raamwerk kenmerke te bereik, naamlik (i) Generies en aanpasbaar, (ii) Holisties en omvattend, (iii) Gestruktureerd en doelof uitkomsgeöriënteerd en (iv) Prakties. Boonop het die paneel van deskundiges die raamwerk gesien as nuttig, maklik om te gebruik en verstaanbaar. Aanbevelings was egter voorgestel om die raamwerk verder te verbeter, insluitend die byvoeging van 'n bestek en doelwitte afdeling en die uitbreiding van die Veranderingsbestuur element

Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Production Systems and Logistics (CPSL 2021)

Proceedings of the CPSL 202

An Approach to Guide Users Towards Less Revealing Internet Browsers

When browsing the Internet, HTTP headers enable both clients and servers send extra data in their requests or responses such as the User-Agent string. This string contains information related to the sender’s device, browser, and operating system. Previous research has shown that there are numerous privacy and security risks result from exposing sensitive information in the User-Agent string. For example, it enables device and browser fingerprinting and user tracking and identification. Our large analysis of thousands of User-Agent strings shows that browsers differ tremendously in the amount of information they include in their User-Agent strings. As such, our work aims at guiding users towards using less exposing browsers. In doing so, we propose to assign an exposure score to browsers based on the information they expose and vulnerability records. Thus, our contribution in this work is as follows: first, provide a full implementation that is ready to be deployed and used by users. Second, conduct a user study to identify the effectiveness and limitations of our proposed approach. Our implementation is based on using more than 52 thousand unique browsers. Our performance and validation analysis show that our solution is accurate and efficient. The source code and data set are publicly available and the solution has been deployed

Anonymous Point Collection - Improved Models and Security Definitions

This work is a comprehensive, formal treatment of anonymous point collection. The proposed definition does not only provide a strong notion of security and privacy, but also covers features which are important for practical use. An efficient realization is presented and proven to fulfill the proposed definition. The resulting building block is the first one that allows for anonymous two-way transactions, has semi-offline capabilities, yields constant storage size, and is provably secure

Enabling the Development and Implementation of Digital Twins : Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality

Welcome to the 20th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality (CONVR 2020). This year we are meeting on-line due to the current Coronavirus pandemic. The overarching theme for CONVR2020 is "Enabling the development and implementation of Digital Twins". CONVR is one of the world-leading conferences in the areas of virtual reality, augmented reality and building information modelling. Each year, more than 100 participants from all around the globe meet to discuss and exchange the latest developments and applications of virtual technologies in the architectural, engineering, construction and operation industry (AECO). The conference is also known for having a unique blend of participants from both academia and industry. This year, with all the difficulties of replicating a real face to face meetings, we are carefully planning the conference to ensure that all participants have a perfect experience. We have a group of leading keynote speakers from industry and academia who are covering up to date hot topics and are enthusiastic and keen to share their knowledge with you. CONVR participants are very loyal to the conference and have attended most of the editions over the last eighteen editions. This year we are welcoming numerous first timers and we aim to help them make the most of the conference by introducing them to other participants