A Study on the Efficient Estimation of the Payment Intention in the Mail Order Industry

AbstractThis paper presents investigating the customer payment intention prediction in the mail order industry. As the B2C market expands their market volume, the fraud transactions increase in number. The primary indicator for the detection are the shipping address, the recipient name, and the payment method. These information usually make use of the prediction in the Japanese mail order industry. Conventional detecting method for the fraud depends on the human working experiences so far. As the number of transaction becomes large, fraud detection becomes difficult. The mail order industry needs something new method for the detection. The result of the Google Flu Trends shows, accurate prediction needs the heuristics knowledge. For these backgrounds, we observe the transaction data with the customer attribute information gathered from a mail order company in Japan and characterized the customer with machine learning method. From the results of the intensive research, potential fraudulent transactions are identified. Intensive research revealed that the classification of the deliberate customer and the careless customer with machine learning. This result will make use of the customer screening at the time of order received

From centrality to intermediacy in the global transport network? Ukraine’s trials and tribulations as a potential transit country

Ukraine currently is in a very complex economic and political situation, which in itself represents a pivotal point for its further recovery and evolution. Nevertheless, the rise of economic centres in Eastern and Central Europe creates opportunities for Ukraine to develop short sea shipping services (via the Black Sea) and water and land-based hub-feeder networks to and from these areas. This paper provides an academic study of the potential of Ukraine in taking up a role in emerging distribution systems in East and Central Europe facilitating the cargo transportation from regions such as Central Asia, Caucasus and even more distant overseas areas. Based on the concepts of intermediacy and centrality as introduced by Fleming and Hayuth (1994) the role of Ukraine in the global and regional transport networks will be analysed in order to assess to what extent particular regions in Ukraine can serve as important gateways to Europe. An extensive review and synthesis of the published studies during the last 20 years on Ukraine’s transit flows and transit function will be presented. The obtained results will be contraposed to the results obtained from about 20 interviews conducted with transport business representatives in Ukraine and abroad. Based on the outcome of bottlenecks and deficiencies in Ukraine’s transport system, the optimal road map for Ukraine’s integration into the European transport network will be defined

Inventory drivers in a pharmaceutical supply chain

In recent years, inventory reduction has been a key objective of pharmaceutical companies, especially within cost optimization initiatives. Pharmaceutical supply chains are characterized by volatile and unpredictable demands –especially in emergent markets-, high service levels, and complex, perishable finished-good portfolios, which makes keeping reasonable amounts of stock a true challenge. However, a one-way strategy towards zero-inventory is in reality inapplicable, due to the strategic nature and importance of the products being commercialised. Therefore, pharmaceutical supply chains are in need of new inventory strategies in order to remain competitive. Finished-goods inventory management in the pharmaceutical industry is closely related to the manufacturing systems and supply chain configurations that companies adopt. The factors considered in inventory management policies, however, do not always cover the full supply chain spectrum in which companies operate. This paper works under the pre-assumption that, in fact, there is a complex relationship between the inventory configurations that companies adopt and the factors behind them. The intention of this paper is to understand the factors driving high finished-goods inventory levels in pharmaceutical supply chains and assist supply chain managers in determining which of them can be influenced in order to reduce inventories to an optimal degree. Reasons for reducing inventory levels are found in high inventory holding and scrap related costs; in addition to lost sales for not being able to serve the customers with the adequate shelf life requirements. The thesis conducts a single case study research in a multi-national pharmaceutical company, which is used to examine typical inventory configurations and the factors affecting these configurations. This paper presents a framework that can assist supply chain managers in determining the most important inventory drivers in pharmaceutical supply chains. The findings in this study suggest that while external and downstream supply chain factors are recognized as being critical to pursue inventory optimization initiatives, pharmaceutical companies are oriented towards optimizing production processes and meeting regulatory requirements while still complying with high service levels, being internal factors the ones prevailing when making inventory management decisions. Furthermore, this paper investigates, through predictive modelling techniques, how various intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the inventory configurations of the case study company. The study shows that inventory configurations are relatively unstable over time, especially in configurations that present high safety stock levels; and that production features and product characteristics are important explanatory factors behind high inventory levels. Regulatory requirements also play an important role in explaining the high strategic inventory levels that pharmaceutical companies hold

Strategies for Shipping Temperature-Sensitive Medical Devices Using Cognitive Mapping

Supply chain management (SCM) practitioners who ship temperature-sensitive diagnostic medical devices (DMDs) to clinicians must use effective cold chain management (CCM) strategies to avoid temperature excursions that contribute to medical device errors. Such errors have caused patient harm and death, which costs the U.S. health care system billions of dollars per year. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies for selecting and managing cold chain shipping solutions (CCSSs) requiring SCM executives to trade cost for regulatory compliance and predictability when mitigating temperature variations that occur during shipping. The conceptual framework for the study was the 6-change approaches, and its underpinnings that framed the exploration into the strategies some medical device executives use for shipping temperature-sensitive DMD tests and controls. Data were collected from in-depth interviews, field notes, and existing literature. The target population was 3 SCM executives working in California, New Jersey, and Ireland with at least 5 years of CCM experience in the medical device industry. A purposive sampling procedure guided the selection of participants for in-depth interviews. The data analysis included pattern matching techniques, central analysis, and collapse analysis. The results of this study indicated 3 successful strategies: validation of CCSSs, compliant shipping of DMDs, and CCM best practices. The study was socially significant because the findings may prevent medical device failures that have caused U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls and patient harm

Focus Group Conference Report And Pathways Ranking Guide: June- August 2005

This document represents the second version of a guide and process for pathway definition, analysis and prioritization. It is expected that this document will undergo another trial test and revision prior to full implementation, though we strongly believed this is a ‘workable’ product that only requires refinement. Throughout this systems development process, the Pathways Work Team struggled with several issues relevant to scientific data and public policy. While this report in no way attempts to resolve such intricate issues, it is essential that these considerations be brought to the forefront for future decision-making efforts and as such are enumerated below: • International competitiveness is impacted by invasive species • Pathway ranking combines community, government and corporate interests • Sound science, transparency and consistency are essential for formulating policy • Neutrality is essential in providing scientific advice to decision makers • Market and non-market forces must be analyzed for final decisions • Invasive species prevention is inherently an international activity • Methodology must include public, stakeholder and expert participation • Assessment is to provide common perspectives • Decisions must occur at individual agency levels • Outcome of the process is the characterization of relative risk of pathways • Policy makers must devise plans for pathway management, resource leveraging, policy development, budget decisions and technology transfer/development. In conclusion, the Pathways Work Team strongly supported the position that policy decides the direction to take (with human health, commerce, then ecosystems being the priorities for ranking), but science must maintain the focus

DETERMINING THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR MANAGING THE WAREHOUSE PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL LOGISTIC COMPANY

Measuring the performance of a warehouse is necessary to enhance the efficiency of the logistics system. To enhance warehouse efficiency, it is essential to define Key Efficiency Indicators (KPIs). This study attempts to discover the KPIs of warehouses to enable warehouse managers to take corrective measures quickly and effectively for their warehouses. This master's thesis is based on a case study that was conducted at DHL, which is a multinational corporation. A qualitative methodology was used in this study, and primary data was gathered via a total of ten interviews, both formal and semi-structured. KPIs and operation and process management were the subjects of secondary data analysis, which included perusing scholarly articles. In addition, internal papers were used as a supplementary source. This study has found 13 KPIs that are associated with warehouse operations. It has been determined that productivity and demand forecast accuracy are the two most important key performance metrics. This research will add to the knowledge about suitable KPIs used for measuring warehouse performance. KEYWORDS