Risk pooling via unidirectional inventory transshipments in a decentralized supply chain

We study risk pooling via unidirectional lateral transshipments between two locations under local decision-making. Unidirectional transshipments can be applicable when cost structures and/or capabilities differ between locations, and it is also a common practice in dual channel supply chains with online and offline sales channels. We show that such a system cannot be coordinated only with varying transshipment prices. The transshipment receiver orders more and the transshipment giver orders less than the respective optimal centralised order quantities. In order to remove this discrepancy, we suggest horizontal coordinationmechanisms by introducing a leftover subsidy for the location providing the transshipments or a shortage subsidy for the location receiving transshipments as well as a combination of shortage and leftover subsidy. Further, we evaluate the impact of network structure by comparing the equilibrium order quantities and profits under the uni- and bidirectional systems as well as a system without transshipments. Since demand correlation is a critical aspect in risk pooling we provide a detailed numerical study to discuss its impact on our findings

A review of non-cooperative newsvendor games with horizontal inventory interactions

There are numerous applications of game theory in the analysis of supply chains where multiple actors interact with each other in order to reach their own objectives. In this paper we review the use of non-cooperative game theory in inventory management within the newsvendor framework describing a single period inventory control model with the focus on horizontal interactions among multiple independent newsvendors. We develop a framework for identifying these types of horizontal interactions including, for example, the models with the possibility of inventory sharing via transshipments, and situations with substitutable products sold by multiple newsvendors. Based on this framework, we discuss and relate the results of prior research and identify future research opportunities

Resource selection and route generation in discrete manufacturing environment

When put to various sources, the question of which sequence of operations and machines is best for producing a particular component will often receive a wide range of answers. When the factors of optimum cutting conditions, minimum time, minimum cost, and uniform equipment utilisation are added to the equation, the range of answers becomes even more extensive. Many of these answers will be 'correct', however only one can be the best or optimum solution. When a process planner chooses a route and the accompanying machining conditions for a job, he will often rely on his experience to make the choice. Clearly, a manual generation of routes does not take all the important considerations into account. The planner may not be aware of all the factors and routes available to him. A large workshop might have hundreds of possible routes, even if he did know it all', he will never be able to go through all the routes and calculate accurately which is the most suitable for each process - to do this, something faster is required. This thesis describes the design and implementation of an Intelligent Route Generator. The aim is to provide the planner with accurate calculations of all possible production routes m a factory. This will lead up to the selection of an optimum solution according to minimum cost and time. The ultimate goal will be the generation of fast decisions based on expert information. Background knowledge of machining processes and machine tools was initially required, followed by an identification of the role of the knowledge base and the database within the system. An expert system builder. Crystal, and a database software package, DBase III Plus, were chosen for the project. Recommendations for possible expansion of and improvements to the expert system have been suggested for future development

Adopting Circular Economy Current Practices and Future Perspectives

The development of a closed-loop cycle is a necessary condition so as to develop a circular economy model as an alternative to the linear model, in order to maintain the value of products and materials for as long as possible. For this motive, the definition of the value must be demonstrated for both the environment and the economy. The presence of these analyses should be associated with the social dimension and the human component. A strong cooperation between social and technical profiles is a new challenge for all researchers. End of life of products attract a lot of attention, and the final output could be the production of technologies suitable for managing this waste

Research reports: 1987 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

For the 23rd consecutive year, a NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program was conducted at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The program was conducted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville and MSFC during the period 1 June to 7 August 1987. Operated under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education, the MSFC program, as well as those at other NASA Centers, was sponsored by the Office of University Affairs, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The basic objectives of the program are: (1) to further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) to stimulate an exchange of ideas between participants and NASA; (3) to enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of the participant's institutions; and (4) to contribute to the research objectives of the NASA Centers. This document is a compilation of Fellow's reports on their research during the Summer of 1987

Best matching processes in distributed systems

The growing complexity and dynamic behavior of modern manufacturing and service industries along with competitive and globalized markets have gradually transformed traditional centralized systems into distributed networks of e- (electronic) Systems. Emerging examples include e-Factories, virtual enterprises, smart farms, automated warehouses, and intelligent transportation systems. These (and similar) distributed systems, regardless of context and application, have a property in common: They all involve certain types of interactions (collaborative, competitive, or both) among their distributed individuals—from clusters of passive sensors and machines to complex networks of computers, intelligent robots, humans, and enterprises. Having this common property, such systems may encounter common challenges in terms of suboptimal interactions and thus poor performance, caused by potential mismatch between individuals. For example, mismatched subassembly parts, vehicles—routes, suppliers—retailers, employees—departments, and products—automated guided vehicles—storage locations may lead to low-quality products, congested roads, unstable supply networks, conflicts, and low service level, respectively. This research refers to this problem as best matching, and investigates it as a major design principle of CCT, the Collaborative Control Theory. The original contribution of this research is to elaborate on the fundamentals of best matching in distributed and collaborative systems, by providing general frameworks for (1) Systematic analysis, inclusive taxonomy, analogical and structural comparison between different matching processes; (2) Specification and formulation of problems, and development of algorithms and protocols for best matching; (3) Validation of the models, algorithms, and protocols through extensive numerical experiments and case studies. The first goal is addressed by investigating matching problems in distributed production, manufacturing, supply, and service systems based on a recently developed reference model, the PRISM Taxonomy of Best Matching. Following the second goal, the identified problems are then formulated as mixed-integer programs. Due to the computational complexity of matching problems, various optimization algorithms are developed for solving different problem instances, including modified genetic algorithms, tabu search, and neighbourhood search heuristics. The dynamic and collaborative/competitive behaviors of matching processes in distributed settings are also formulated and examined through various collaboration, best matching, and task administration protocols. In line with the third goal, four case studies are conducted on various manufacturing, supply, and service systems to highlight the impact of best matching on their operational performance, including service level, utilization, stability, and cost-effectiveness, and validate the computational merits of the developed solution methodologies

Providing knowledge support to scenario development in eLearning simulations

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Another kind of team : an ethnographic look at contemporary Inuit dog race in Nunavik

Le projet vise à dresser un portrait ethnographique de la course Ivakkak, un évènement sportif communautaire, organisé annuellement à Nunavik depuis 2001. Cette course célèbre la tradition de traîneau à chien inuit (« Ivakkak - the return of the Inuit dog », tel est le titre officiel de l’événement), mais consiste également en une fête sociale très populaire chez les locaux. L’objectif principal est de connaître l’état actuel des relations humains-qimmiit (chiens inuits) au Nunavik à travers une observation compréhensive de l’édition 2020 de la course Ivakkak. Plus précisément, le projet porte sur trois volets principaux: premièrement, l’organisation et le déroulement d’Ivakkak, ses significations sociale, culturelle, voire politique, pour les participants et pour les spectateurs; deuxièmement, les techniques de traîneau et de dressage ainsi; finalement, les relations humain-chien dans un contexte de compétition sportive spécifique. Le projet tente de saisir l’importance d’Ivakkak et des qimutsiit, « dog team », dans la modernité inuite, du point de vue des Nunavimmiut. Les résultats de ce projet révèlent que, malgré le fait qu’il soit largement sous-représenté dans les médias du Sud, Ivakkak constitue un univers d’une grande richesse, créé et soutenu par les Inuits et leurs partenaires canins, dans une configuration qu’on ne peut difficilement assimiler aux autres compétitions de traîneau à chiens ailleurs dans le monde.This project in ethnology examines the contemporary Inuit dog sledding practices (Inuktitut: qimutsik) and their place in modern Inuit society in Nunavik, Québec, Canada. In particular, this project attempts to document and analyze the Ivakkak race, an annual Inuit dogsled race in Nunavik, from the Inuit cultural perspective. The project presents an ethnographic portrait of the event, as complete as it could be, given the circumstantial limitations imposed by the 2020 Covid pandemic. The findings presented in this document cover key features of Ivakkak, including its administrative and sportive dimensions, its pan-regional communal aspects, its performative and athletic traits, and most importantly, its multi-species cultural-social integration specific to the contemporary Inuit life in Nunavik. The findings show that, although largely underrepresented in the mainstream media (sport and cultural outlets), Ivakkak encapsulates a unique universe, built and sustained by dog-human partners in ways unrivaled by any modern dogsledding competition in the Northern hemisphere