Integrating information and knowledge for enterprise innovation

It has widely been accepted that enterprise integration, can be a source of socio-technical and cultural problems within organisations wishing to provide a focussed end-to-end business service. This can cause possible “straitjacketing” of business process architectures, thus suppressing responsive business re-engineering and competitive advantage for some companies. Accordingly, the current typology and emergent forms of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) technologies are set in the context of understanding information and knowledge integration philosophies. As such, key influences and trends in emerging IS integration choices, for end-to-end, cost-effective and flexible knowledge integration, are examined. As touch points across and outside organisations proliferate, via work-flow and relationship management-driven value innovation, aspects of knowledge refinement and knowledge integration pose challenges to maximising the potential of innovation and sustainable success, within enterprises. This is in terms of the increasing propensity for data fragmentation and the lack of effective information management, in the light of information overload. Furthermore, the nature of IS mediation which is inherent within decision making and workflow-based business processes, provides the basis for evaluation of the effects of information and knowledge integration. Hence, the authors propose a conceptual, holistic evaluation framework which encompasses these ideas. It is thus argued that such trends, and their implications regarding enterprise IS integration to engender sustainable competitive advantage, require fundamental re-thinking

Identification of Environmental Criteria for Selecting a Logistics Service Provider: A Step Forward towards Green Supply Chain Management

Green environmental performance increases the competitiveness of the supply chain. However, the greening of the supply chain depends on the manufacturer who drives the green initiative, as well as on all the members of the supply chain who take part in the process. The manufacturer’s attention has been largely focused on the environmental performance of the supplier and retailer, whereas logistics service providers have been somehow neglected. It is, in fact, the case is that logistics service providers have begun to play a critical role in supply chain management and could therefore significantly improve environmental sustainability. They have already undertaken a green initiative that unfortunately has rarely, if at all, been required by the manufacturer. The lack of requirements for logistics providers hinders the progress of a green initiative. To take a step forward towards green supply chain management, this chapter aims to introduce all the necessary criteria for the selection of a logistics service provider (LP), with an emphasis on environmental criteria. The environmental selection criteria, with all related subcriteria, were achieved on the basis of a systematic literature review. It has been found that buyers of logistics services still strive to minimize costs, expect quality logistics services, a well-positioned LP, all the while overlooking environmental issues. The most frequently applied environmental selection criteria are value-added reverse logistics services, followed by environmental expenditures, pollutants released, energy consumption, clean materials and energy use. The findings presented here are useful particularly for researchers, as issues regarding sustainable LP selection and its limitations are highlighted, related to selection criteria identification. These findings may be of less use to managers. However, future phases of this study, richer for the evaluation of logistics experts, will be much more applicable to buyers and providers of logistics services

Evaluating an ocean shipment strategy within Dell's direct model supply chain

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-51).In 2007, Dell made the decision to make another attempt at selling computers through the retail channel in an effort to stimulate growth. Dell has been extremely successful in the direct channel and they are now trying to adapt their capabilities and their supply chain so they can meet the challenges and requirements of the new distribution channel. Retailers require large orders on specific dates, they want multiple configurations available to them, they want the most competitive prices, and they want to delay purchase commitments as long as possible. Before 2007, Dell had been manufacturing their notebooks in Dell-owned facilities in Asia. They would then fly the notebooks to the Dell merge center in Nashville, TN before shipping them to the retailer distribution centers. Dell has now begun outsourcing much of the notebook manufacturing to manufacturing partners, or contract manufacturers, in Asia and is continuing to look for other ways to cut costs. One opportunity for significant savings is to switch the method of product transportation from air shipment to ocean shipment. There are a number of issues associated with this option so the change needs to be done correctly or all of the savings could be lost due to other costs such as expedites, excess and obsolescent inventory, and retailer penalties. The difference in lead-time between air and ocean shipment is significant. To evaluate the positive and negative effects of an ocean shipment strategy at Dell I explored two specific cases. The first case analyzed involved notebook orders to Dell's largest customer in the retail channel.(cont.) The main concern regarding ocean shipment in the retail channel is the risk of order cancellation while the finished product is on the water. Therefore, the approach I used was to determine a break-even point and what the cancellation risk would have to be for the costs and benefits to cancel each other out. The second case analyzed involved orders to one of Dell's largest commercial customers. This customer was selected because they typically order a standard configuration and because a finished goods inventory is already maintained by a third party to fulfill their orders. This case allowed me to determine how much additional inventory would have to be maintained due to the increase in lead time. These two scenarios cover a variety of products and channel issues, and have applicable lessons to other customers.by Adam Nelson.S.M.M.B.A

Evolution of Supply Chain Collaboration: Implications for the Role of Knowledge

Increasingly, research across many disciplines has recognized the shortcomings of the traditional “integration prescription” for inter-organizational knowledge management. This research conducts several simulation experiments to study the effects of different rates of product change, different demand environments, and different economies of scale on the level of integration between firms at different levels in the supply chain. The underlying paradigm shifts from a static, steady state view to a dynamic, complex adaptive systems and knowledge-based view of supply chain networks. Several research propositions are presented that use the role of knowledge in the supply chain to provide predictive power for how supply chain collaborations or integration should evolve. Suggestions and implications are suggested for managerial and research purposes

Investigation of the drivers of logistics outsourcing in the United Kingdom's pharmaceutical manufacturing industry

Logistics outsourcing is a practice commonly used by firms to allow them to access capabilities that they lack internally. Although the main drivers of outsourcing in general are fairly well known, the question of what explains logistics outsourcing decisions within the UK pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, in particular, remains under-researched. Therefore, this study aims to bridge the aforementioned gap in the literature. We surveyed 49 drug manufacturers located in the UK using a web-based questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using logistics regression, exploratory factor analysis, and t-tests. We found that UK drug manufacturers regard improving quality and reliability and reducing logistics costs as the most significant reasons for outsourcing logistics services. We also found a direct positive relationship between the service provider's techno-commercial offerings and delivery performance, and the likelihood of being selected to provide these services. We further explored materials transportation, product delivery, research and development, and clinical trials, which are among the most frequently outsourced logistics activities in the UK pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The study contributes to the wider literature on logistics outsourcing, and more specifically to that on the UK pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Findings from this research can also be used to guide outsourcing practitioners’ decisions about the selection of logistics service providers. In addition, the study can help to enhance the service providers' understanding of why firms buy logistics services and which services they are likely to buy

Prioritizing warehouse performance measures in contemporary supply chains

Purpose: Due to the importance of efficiency and responsiveness measures rather than just efficiency measures, this research recognizes both measures when considering overall performance of warehouse operations. Thus, the purpose of this study is to prioritize overall performance measures associated with warehouse operations in manufacturing, third-party logistics (3PL) service provider, and retail industry supply chains. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses an integrated approach that involves the Q-sort method to group measures into four categories. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) was then used to prioritize individual performance measures within each category and integer liner programming model was used to validate prioritized categories, using the judgement of multiple decision makers across three industries. Findings: The result shows that the financial category is a dominating performance category in managing warehouse operations across all three industries selected. Within the financial category, cost of insurance accounted for 25% of total weight of the category, and is considered to be a powerful measure. The financial category is verified by multiple decision makers across three industries, as the most important performance category. Research Limitations/implications: As part of adopting the proposed methodology in practice, it needs to be guided by overall methodology appropriate for industry-specific contexts. Originality/value: Key novel aspects of this study are to categorize warehouse operations measures and analyze their perspectives in different industries, understand dominant categories of warehouse operations measures in the contemporary supply chain and finally to explore to what extent current practices lead to achieving efficiency and responsiveness in the selected industries

Lithium-ion battery procurement strategies: Evidence from the automotive field

Electric and hybrid vehicle diffusion is nowadays promising but still limited, also due to the high costs of key components such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A significant contribution to these relevant economic values is given by not optimized supply chain structures. Therefore, car manufacturers approaching electrification are considering different strategies to either purchase complete LIBs or producing them in-house. However, literature lacks quantitative studies assessing the logistics implications of LIB procurement policies in the automotive sector. The present work proposes a decision-making approach leveraging the main logistics and environmental issues involved in both internally producing and buying complete LIB packs. Such a framework is intended to increase the awareness about the complexity of the supply chain of batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles in order to further stimulate its investigation. Future research will extend the approach to include additional aspects as well as procurement configurations

Information technology and performance management for build-to-order supply chains

En las siguientes líneas se plantea un artículo de reflexión que tiene en cuenta parte del marco teórico que sustenta la investigación titulada “Prácticas pedagógicas que promueven la competencia argumentativa escrita (CAE) en niños campesinos de los grados 4° y 5° del Centro Educativo Municipal La Caldera, Sede Principal de Pasto”, desarrollada en el año 2012. En él se contemplan los aportes de las ciencias del lenguaje y la comunicación, la teoría de la argumentación, la didáctica de la lengua escrita y los géneros discursivos, que dan cuenta de la necesidad de desarrollar la capacidad crítica en los estudiantes a través de la argumentación, lo cual implica transformar las prácticas pedagógicas para que se alejen de la transmisión de conocimientos y den paso a la comunicación, para que la palabra escrita sea apropiada de manera significativa

Examining the anatomy of last-mile distribution in e-commerce omnichannel retailing: A supply network configuration approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the interplay between configuration dimensions (network structure, network flow, relationship governance, and service architecture) of last-mile supply networks (LMSN) and the underlying mechanisms influencing omnichannel performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on mixed-method design incorporating a multiple embedded case study, mapping, survey, and archival records, this research involved undertaking in-depth within- and cross-case analyses to examine seven LMSNs, employing a configuration approach.FindingsThe existing literature in the operations management (OM) field was shown to provide limited understanding of LMSNs within the emerging omnichannel context. Case results suggest that particular configurations have intrinsic capabilities, and that these directly influence omnichannel performance. The study further proposes a taxonomy of LMSNs comprising six forms, with two hybrids, supporting the notion of equifinality in configuration theory. Propositions are developed to further explore interdependencies between configurational attributes, refining the relationship between LMSN types, and factors influencing omnichannel performance.Practical implicationsThe findings provide retailers with a set of design parameters for the (re)configuration of LMSNs and facilitate performance evaluation using the concept of fit between configurational attributes. The developed model sheds light on the consequential effects when certain configurational attributes are altered, preempting managerial attention. Given the global trend in urbanization, improved LMSN performance would have positive societal impacts in terms of service and resource efficiency.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies in the OM field to critically analyze LMSNs and their behaviors in omnichannel retailing. Additionally, the paper offers several important avenues for future research.</jats:sec