Demand Forecast in Retail Assortment Optimization—Based on an Empirical Analysis of Beverage Sales

This paper focus on establishing the demand forecasting model to optimize product assortments from a set of SKUs in the same category. The aim of the model is to achieve revenue maximization. Based on the attribute level, the demand model considers the consumers’ preference and the possibility of substitution between different attributes. Then it divides the product’s specific attributes and multiplies these attributes effects. Furthermore, one beverage case was applied to the demand model to do empirical analysis. Top beverage categories were selected and e-commerce sales data were collected to represent the pre-sale of whole categories. Moreover, a store named S with some beverage SKUs is assumed and applied to the model, which predicted sales volume of each existing SKU and the total revenue

New decision support tools for forest tactical and operational planning

Doutoramento em Engenharia Florestal e dos Recursos Florestais - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThe economic importance of the forest resources and the Portuguese forest-based industries motivated several studies over the last 15 years, particularly on strategic forest planning. This thesis focuses on the forest planning processes at tactical and operational level (FTOP). These problems relate to harvesting, transportation, storing, and delivering the forest products to the mills. Innovative Operation Research methods and Decision Support Systems (DSS) were developed to address some of these problems that are prevalent in Portugal. Specifically, Study I integrates harvest scheduling, pulpwood assortment, and assignment decisions at tactical level. The solution method was based in problem decomposition, combining heuristics and mathematical programming algorithms. Study II presents a solution approach based on Revenue Management principles for the reception of Raw Materials. This operational problem avoids truck congestion during the operation of pulpwood delivery. Study III uses Enterprise Architecture to design a DSS for integrating the operations performed over the pulpwood supply chain. Study IV tests this approach on a toolbox that handled the complexity of the interactions among the agents engaged on forest planning at regional level. Study V proposes an innovative technological framework that combines forest planning with forest operations' control

Inter-firm collaboration in transportation

Dans la littérature académique et professionnelle relative au transport de marchandise, il y a longtemps que les méthodes de planification avancées ont été identifiées comme un moyen de dégager des économies grâce à une efficacité accrue des opérations de transport. Plus récemment, la collaboration interentreprises dans la planification du transport a été étudiée comme une source de gain supplémentaire en efficacité et, par conséquent, une opportunité pour dégager de nouvelles économies pour les collaborateurs. Cependant, la mise en œuvre d'une collaboration interentreprises en transports soulève un certain nombre d’enjeux. Cette thèse aborde trois thèmes centraux de la collaboration interentreprises et démontre les contributions via des études de cas dans l’industrie forestière et du meuble. Premièrement, les moyens technologiques pour soutenir une collaboration en planification du transport sont étudiés. Un système d’aide à la décision supportant la collaboration en transport forestier est présenté. Deuxièmement, le partage entre les collaborateurs du coût commun en transport est étudié. Une méthode de répartition du coût de transport tenant compte de l'impact - l’augmentation du coût de transport - des exigences inégales entre des collaborateurs est proposée. Troisièmement, la création de groupes collaboratifs - des coalitions - dans un ensemble de collaborateurs potentiel est étudiée. Un modèle réseau pour la formation d’une coalition selon les intérêts d’un sous-ensemble de collaborateurs adoptant ou pas un comportement opportuniste est détaillé. De plus, pour soutenir l'étude des thèmes précédents, la thèse comprend deux revues de la littérature. Premièrement, une revue sur les méthodes de planification et les systèmes d’aide à la décision en transport forestier est présenté. Deuxièmement, à travers la proposition d'un cadre pour créer et gérer une collaboration en transport et, plus généralement en logistique, une revue de travaux sur le transport et la logistique collaborative est offerte.In the academic and professional literature on freight transportation, computer-based planning methods have a long time ago been identified as a means to achieve cost reduction through enhanced transportation operations efficiency. More recently, inter-firm collaboration in transportation planning has been investigated as a means to provide further gains in efficiency and, in turn, to achieve additional cost reduction for the collaborators. However, implementation of inter-firm collaboration in transportation raises a number of issues. This thesis addresses three central themes in inter-firm collaboration and exemplifies the contributions in case studies involving collaboration in furniture and forest transportation. First, technological means to enable collaboration in transportation planning are studied. Embedding a computer-based planning method for truck routing, a decision support system enabling collaborative transportation is presented. Second, sharing the common transportation cost among collaborators is studied. A cost allocation method taking into account the impact – an increase of the transportation cost – of uneven requirements among collaborators is proposed. Third, building collaborating groups (i.e. coalitions) among a set of potential collaborators is studied. A network model for coalition formation by a subset of self-interested collaborators adopting or not an opportunistic behaviour is detailed. Moreover, to support the study of the aforementioned themes, the thesis includes two literature reviews. First, a survey on planning methods and decision support systems for vehicle routing problem in forest transportation is presented. Second, through the proposition of a framework for building and managing collaboration in transportation and, more generally in logistics, a survey of works on collaborative transportation and logistics is given

Analysis of Current Supplier Relationship Management Practices: A Solution Proposal

The work contributes with the existing literature by investigating current SRM practices. Based on the research, the author has designed an information system framework, which provides companies with an innovative SRM solution to manage their indirect material purchasing process through an environment that supports companies entire plan-to-order activities, including functionalities such as central data management, spend data management, e-sourcing and the usual e-procurement features

Revisiting the "hot potatoes" of agri-supply chains: exploring interactions and tradeoffs in Colorado potato markets and farm-to-school procurement

2020 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Agricultural and food systems generate externalities, some of which have been linked to achieving economic development goals in rural areas. Historically, agriculture has occupied an important role in rural development policy. But not all agricultural and food supply chains have the same economic linkages and impacts on their communities. We hypothesize that certain types of agricultural and food systems structures and processes are better suited to achieving the goal of local economic development, depending on the location and nature of the market activity. The literature suggests that there is a tradeoff between efficiency and positive externalities in agri-supply chains, which we call the "Efficiency-Externality Tradeoff." We analyze the Efficiency-Externality Tradeoff in two essays. First, we conduct a time-series econometric analysis of Colorado and national potato supply chains. Second, we develop an optimization model of school food procurement, with emphasis on supply chain route. We find that Colorado farmers face asymmetric price influence when participating in national commodity potato markets, implying they have low bargaining power and high downside risk with regards to prices. We also find that in the absence of policy mechanisms, school districts are unlikely to participate in local food procurement, which previous work has documented has a positive impact on local economies. We frame farmer bargaining power and local economic development as potential positive externalities of local and regional supply chains, and since the latter are sometimes less efficient, exploring the tradeoffs between the "costs and benefits" is of interest. Our results indicate that mainstream supply chains, which tend to be more efficient and cost effective, may offer fewer positive externalities, and the effectiveness of policy levers to incentivize positive choices varies. This finding has implications for economic development policies, particularly those targeted at strengthening economic activity in agriculturally dependent areas

Energy and Carbon Dioxide Impacts from Lean Logistics and Retailing Systems: A Discrete-event Simulation Approach for the Consumer Goods Industry

abstract: Consumer goods supply chains have gradually incorporated lean manufacturing principles to identify and reduce non-value-added activities. Companies implementing lean practices have experienced improvements in cost, quality, and demand responsiveness. However certain elements of these practices, especially those related to transportation and distribution may have detrimental impact on the environment. This study asks: What impact do current best practices in lean logistics and retailing have on environmental performance? The research hypothesis of this dissertation establishes that lean distribution of durable and consumable goods can result in an increased amount of carbon dioxide emissions, leading to climate change and natural resource depletion impacts, while lean retailing operations can reduce carbon emissions. Distribution and retailing phases of the life cycle are characterized in a two-echelon supply chain discrete-event simulation modeled after current operations from leading organizations based in the U.S. Southwest. By conducting an overview of critical sustainability issues and their relationship with consumer products, it is possible to address the environmental implications of lean logistics and retailing operations. Provided the waste reduction nature from lean manufacturing, four lean best practices are examined in detail in order to formulate specific research propositions. These propositions are integrated into an experimental design linking annual carbon dioxide equivalent emissions to: (1) shipment frequency between supply chain partners, (2) proximity between decoupling point of products and final customers, (3) inventory turns at the warehousing level, and (4) degree of supplier integration. All propositions are tested through the use of the simulation model. Results confirmed the four research propositions. Furthermore, they suggest synergy between product shipment frequency among supply chain partners and product management due to lean retailing practices. In addition, the study confirms prior research speculations about the potential carbon intensity from transportation operations subject to lean principles.Dissertation/ThesisPh.D. Sustainability 201

Proactive food waste prevention in grocery retail supply chains – an exploratory study

Purpose Regarding the retail internal supply chain (SC), both retailers and research are currently focused on reactive food waste reduction options in stores (e.g. discounting or donations). These options reduce waste after a surplus has emerged but do not prevent an emerging surplus in the first place. This paper aims to reveal how retailers can proactively prevent waste along the SC and why the options identified are impactful but, at the same time, often complex to implement. Design/methodology/approach The authors follow an exploratory approach for a nascent topic to obtain insights into measures taken in practice. Interviews with experts from retail build the main data source. Findings The authors identify and analyze 21 inbound, warehousing, distribution and store-related options applied in grocery retail. Despite the expected high overall impact on waste, prevention measures in inbound logistics and distribution and warehousing have not been intensively applied to date. Practical implications The authors provide a structured approach to mitigate waste within retailers' operations and categorize the types of barriers that need to be addressed. Originality/value This research provides a better understanding of prevention options in retail operations, which has not yet been empirically explored. Furthermore, this study conceptualizes prevention and reduction options and reveals implementation patterns

Zara and Benetton: Comparison of two business models

The project analizes and compares two very important and diferent business models in fast fashion industry: Zara y Benetton models. Their models are so diferent but have been a great success, due to their capacity to respond quickly to demand of the market, then due to their flexibility. In this regard, the project also demonstrates how information sharing have a big role to the success of a company. It improves the efficiency of a company and helps to achieve the customer satisfaction . To achieve a good sharing information, it' s important a good and strenght relationship between manufacturer and retailer