The boomerang returns? Accounting for the impact of uncertainties on the dynamics of remanufacturing systems

Recent years have witnessed companies abandon traditional open-loop supply chain structures in favour of closed-loop variants, in a bid to mitigate environmental impacts and exploit economic opportunities. Central to the closed-loop paradigm is remanufacturing: the restoration of used products to useful life. While this operational model has huge potential to extend product life-cycles, the collection and recovery processes diminish the effectiveness of existing control mechanisms for open-loop systems. We systematically review the literature in the field of closed-loop supply chain dynamics, which explores the time-varying interactions of material and information flows in the different elements of remanufacturing supply chains. We supplement this with further reviews of what we call the three ‘pillars’ of such systems, i.e. forecasting, collection, and inventory and production control. This provides us with an interdisciplinary lens to investigate how a ‘boomerang’ effect (i.e. sale, consumption, and return processes) impacts on the behaviour of the closed-loop system and to understand how it can be controlled. To facilitate this, we contrast closed-loop supply chain dynamics research to the well-developed research in each pillar; explore how different disciplines have accommodated the supply, process, demand, and control uncertainties; and provide insights for future research on the dynamics of remanufacturing systems

Impact of market demand mis-specification on a two-level supply chain

This paper investigates the impact of mis-specifying the market demand process on a serially linked two-level supply chain. Box–Jenkins models are used to represent both the true and a mis-specified market demand processes. It is shown that the impact of mis-specification on cost is minor if the supply chain tries to minimise the market demand forecast errors. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that mis-specification does not always result in additional costs. A managerial insight is revealed; poor forecast accuracy is not always bad for the total supply chain costs. In other words, employing more accurate forecasting methods may actually result in higher total supply chain costs

Managing Information Security Investments Under Uncertainty: Optimal Policies for Technology Investment and Information Sharing

Information systems are an integral part of today\u27s business environment. Businesses, government organizations, and the society rely on these systems for various transactions, most of which have huge financial implications. Hence, attacks that breach information systems result in interruption of operations, loss of data and customer confidence, constituting a significant threat to firms. The losses due to attacks on information systems can be mitigated through investments in information security technologies and services. In this thesis we study three practical problems related to information system security investment management: (1) Optimal policies for technology investment in information system security; (2) Optimal policies for information sharing in information system security; and (3) Asymmetric information sharing in information system security. We believe that firms can benefit from this work either through direct implementation for specific guidance, or through indirect use of several policy results obtained. An important characteristic of this studies is that we build this models by using real-world data through survey to information system security practitioners. As one of the few studies on information system security investment management through operations management approaches, this work also set the first step for futures studies on related topics that can be explored by researchers in the field of management science

Enhancing the effectiveness of design and build tendering.

Design and Build is a range of procurement routes believed to effectively transmit client value through the supply chain owing to its integrative nature. However, the tender process is characterised as complex and there is a lack of practical guidance for practitioners. The aim of this research is to critically evaluate Design and Build Tendering in the UK construction industry using a modified grounded theory methodology and mixed-method approach. A number of important themes emerged during the analysis.Client-main contractor tender processes were mapped and several areas of best practice were articulated. Alternatives and menu pricing emerged as being important as they allow contractors to add value in developed forms of Design and Build. In addition, a Value Management-based tender evaluation process was developed which more closely relates the client's value system to the selection of the main contractor. The study of main contractor-subcontractor tender processes and contractor-centric SCM was carried out using a case study. It was found that effective tender processes overwhelmingly rely on healthy relationships. The properties found to be necessary to cultivate and maintain these relationships include trust, communication, collaboration, commitment, integrity and honesty, concern for each other's interests, recognition and incentives, and transferability. Similarly, a number of important findings relating to the actual tender processes emerged including, for example, 'secondary sendouts' and unsolicited tenders. This research represents a unique synthesis of Design and Build tendering, VM and SCM. It provides numerous and significant contributions to knowledge in the field by focusing on the different levels of the supply chain. The research highlights the importance of transitioning client value through the wider supply chain by focusing on main contractor-subcontractor tender processes, in addition to the client-main contractor tender process. It draws on a number of new findings to make the case for contractor-centric SCM. The number of recommendations which are made for Design and Build tendering strategy, at both the client-main contractor and main contractor-subcontractor level of the supply chain, will collectively help enhance the effectiveness of Design and Build tendering

Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXVII: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR2013)

ICMR2013 was organised by Cranfield University on the 19-20 September 2013. The conference focuses on any aspects of product development, manufacturing technology, manufacturing systems, information systems and digital technologies. It provides an excellent avenue for researchers to present state-of-the-art multidisciplinary manufacturing research and exchange ideas. In addition to the four keynote speeches from Airbus and Rolls-Royce and three invited presentations, there are 108 papers in these proceedings. These papers are split into 24 technical sessions. The International Conference on Manufacturing Research is a major event for academics and industrialists engaged in manufacturing research. Held annually in the UK since the late 1970s, the conference is renowned as a friendly and inclusive environment that brings together a broad community of researchers who share a common goal; developing and managing the technologies and operations that are key to sustaining the success of manufacturing businesses. For over two decades, ICMR has been the main manufacturing research conference organised in the UK, successfully bringing researchers, academics and industrialists together to share their knowledge and experiences. Initiated a National Conference by the Consortium of UK University Manufacturing Engineering Heads (COMEH), it became an International Conference in 2003. COMEH is an independent body established in 1978. Its main aim is to promote manufacturing engineering education, training and research. To achieve this, the Consortium maintains a close liaison with government bodies concerned with the training and continuing development of professional engineers, while responding to the appropriate consultative and discussion documents and other initiatives. COMEH is represented on the Engineering Professor’s council (EPC) and it organises and supports national manufacturing engineering education research conferences and symposia