60,319 research outputs found

    Analysis Framework for Reduced Data Warehouse

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    International audienceOur aim is to define a framework supporting analysis in MDW with reductions. Firstly, we describe a modeling solution for reduced MDW. A schema of reduced MDW is composed of states. Each state is defined as a star schema composed of one fact and its related dimensions valid for a certain period of time. Secondly, we present a multi-state analysis framework. Extensions of classical drilldown and rollup operators are defined to support multi-states analyses. Finally we present a prototype of our framework aiming to prove the feasibility of concept. By implementing our extended operators, the prototype automatically generates appropriate SQL queries over metadata and reduced data

    Challenges in public healthcare research data warehouse integration and operationalisation.

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    Objectives Public health service organisations use multiple patient administration and electronic health record systems. We describe the implementation of a data warehouse automation tool within the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA) data platform to operationalise a research data warehouse to optimise data quality and data provision for health services research. Approach The traditional data warehouse life cycle comprises repetitive manual tasks and dependency on specialist developers. Automation tools overcome most of these inefficiencies. We conducted an internal risk benefit analysis which was validated by published literature containing data warehouse optimisation and automation. Industry-based data warehouse automation tools were reviewed to align the NCHA requirements with the tool’s functionality. Tools were then shortlisted and evaluated over a six-week period: (1) automation of standard tasks; (2) data pipeline alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Data Quality Review Framework; and (3) resource dependency risk mitigation through a Proof of Concept (PoC). Results The priority areas identified by the risk benefit analysis included: end-to-end data warehouse automation; auto scripting; connectivity/linkage with multiple sources, reverse/forward engineering, audit trail conformance, scalability, multiple data warehouse architectures support, automated documentation; data management including data quality; and post-subscription independence. Twenty scientific publications were included in the final literature review (10% within healthcare) and supported the majority of identified priority areas. The industry-based review identified 11 suitable data warehouse/Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) automation tools. Five tools demonstrated adequate performance for task automation, data quality management, reduced dependency on specialist developers and on-premise linkage compatibility. Two automation tools were tested each for 6 weeks through PoC development. One automation tool met 8 out of the 10 automation requirements and was selected for implementation. Conclusion Data warehouse development processes are complex and time consuming. Tools that offer automation of repetitive tasks and scripting increase the consistency while reducing the dependency on specialist staff.  Integrated data quality management minimises the time researchers spend in pre-processing patient level data sourced through a semi-automated data warehouse

    Empirical Evidence of RFID Impacts on Supply Chain Performance

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    Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the actual benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) on supply chain performance through the empirical evidence. Design/methodology/approach - The research reviews and classifies the existing quantitative empirical evidence of RFID on supply chain performance. The evidence is classified by process (operational or managerial) and for each process by effect (automational, informational, and transformational). Findings - The empirical evidence shows that the major effects from the implementation of RFID are automational effects on operational processes followed by informational effects on managerial processes. The RFID implementation has not reached transformational level on either operational or managerial processes. RFID has an automational effect on operational processes through inventory control and efficiency improvements. An informational effect for managerial processes is observed for improved decision quality, production control and the effectiveness of retail sales and promotions coordination. In addition, a three-stage model is proposed to explain the effects of RFID on the supply chain. Research limitations/implications - Limitations of this research include the use of secondary sources and the lack of consistency in performance measure definitions. Future research could focus on detailed case studies that investigate cross-functional applications across the organization and the supply chain. Practical implications - For managers, the empirical evidence presented can help them identify implementation areas where RFID can have the greatest impact. The data can be used to build the business case for RFID and therefore better estimate ROI and the payback period. Originality/value - This research fills a void in the literature by providing practitioners and researchers with a better understanding of the quantitative benefits of RFID in the supply chain

    Semantic integrity in data warehousing : a framework for understanding : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Business Studies in Information Systems at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

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    Data modelling has gathered an increasing amount of attention by data warehouse developers as they come to realise that important implementation decisions such as data integrity, performance and meta data management, depend on the quality of the underlying data model. Not all organisations model their data but where they do, Entity-Relationship (E-R) modelling, or more correctly relational modelling, has been widely used. An alternative, dimensional modelling, has been gaining acceptance in recent years and adopted by many practitioners. Consequently, there is much debate over which form of modelling is the most appropriate and effective. However, the dimensional model is in fact based on the relational model and the two models are not so different that a debate is necessary. Perhaps, the real focus should be on how to abstract meaning out of the data model. This research explores the importance of semantic integrity during data warehouse design and its impact on the successful use of the implemented warehouse. This has been achieved through a detailed case study. Consequently, a conceptual framework for describing semantic integrity has been developed. The purpose of the framework is to provide a theoretical basis for explaining how a data model is interpreted through the meaning levels of understanding, connotation and generation, and also how a data model is created from an existing meaning structure by intention, generation and action. The result of this exploration is the recognition that the implementation of a data warehouse may not assist with providing a detailed understanding of the semantic content of a data warehouse

    A decision-making approach for investigating the potential effects of near sourcing on supply chain

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    Purpose - Near sourcing is starting to be regarded as a valid alternative to global sourcing in order to leverage supply chain (SC) responsiveness and economic efficiency. The present work proposes a decision-making approach developed in collaboration with a leading Italian retailer that was willing to turn the global store furniture procurement process into near sourcing. Design/methodology/approach - Action research is employed. The limitations of the traditional SC organisation and purchasing process of the company are first identified. On such basis, an inventory management model is applied to run spreadsheet estimates where different purchasing and SC management strategies are adopted to determine the solution providing the lowest cost performance. Finally, a risk analysis of the selected best SC arrangement is conducted and results are discussed. Findings - Switching from East Asian suppliers to continental vendors enables a SC reengineering that increases flexibility and responsiveness to demand uncertainty which, together with decreased transportation costs, assures economic viability, thus proving the benefits of near sourcing. Research limitations/implications - The decision-making framework provides a methodological roadmap to address the comparison between near and global sourcing policies and to calculate the savings of the former against the latter. The approach could include additional organisational aspects and cost categories impacting on near sourcing and could be adapted to investigate different products, services, and business sectors. Originality/value - The work provides SC researchers and practitioners with a structured approach for understanding what drives companies to adopt near sourcing and for quantitatively assessing its advantage

    Feasibility of Warehouse Drone Adoption and Implementation

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    While aerial delivery drones capture headlines, the pace of adoption of drones in warehouses has shown the greatest acceleration. Warehousing constitutes 30% of the cost of logistics in the US. The rise of e-commerce, greater customer service demands of retail stores, and a shortage of skilled labor have intensified competition for efficient warehouse operations. This takes place during an era of shortening technology life cycles. This paper integrates several theoretical perspectives on technology diffusion and adoption to propose a framework to inform supply chain decision-makers on when to invest in new robotics technology

    Assessment of CO2 emissions reduction in a distribution warehouse

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    Building energy use accounts for almost 50% of the total CO2 emissions in the UK. Most of the research has focused on reducing the operational impact of buildings, however in recent years many studies have indicated the significance of embodied energy in different building types. This paper primarily focuses on illustrating the relative importance of operational and embodied energy in a flexible use light distribution warehouse. The building is chosen for the study as it is relatively easy to model and represents many distribution centres and industrial warehouses in Europe. A carbon footprinting study was carried out by conducting an inventory of the major installed materials with potentially significant carbon impact and material substitutions covering the building structure. Ecotect computer simulation program was used to determine the energy consumption for the 25 years design life of the building. This paper evaluates alternative design strategies for the envelope of the building and their effects on the whole life emissions by investigating both embodied and operational implications of changing the envelope characteristics. The results provide an insight to quantify the total amount of CO2 emissions saved through design optimisation by modelling embodied and operational energy
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