A Fuzzy Bayesian Network Model for Quality Control in O2O e-Commerce

With the popularization of the online to offline (O2O) e-commerce on fresh food products, how to control the quality is becoming increasingly important. To adequately address this problem, this paper presents a fuzzy Bayesian network model for effectively controlling the quality in O2O ecommerce. Reasoning about uncertain events and incomplete data through an intelligent simulation with Bayesian networks provides a convenient and fast method of evaluation and analysis for e-commerce platforms to quickly select fresh food suppliers. Such a model is capable of appropriately modelling the uncertainty inherent in the fresh food product distribution process. It focuses on the identification of the critical factors that affect the food product quality along the supply chain. This leads to the development of a complete selection and evaluation system for the quality in O2O e-commerce. A simulation study is conducted that shows the proposed model is applicable for effectively controlling the quality in O2O e-commerce. Ultimately, the unloading level, warehouse inspection and warehouse monitoring are determined as the entry points for quality control, with corresponding degrees of influence of 44%, 37%, and 34%. The main points to protect the quality of food are introduced, which provides a theoretical basis for solving fresh food safety problems for business platforms

Green Jobs in a Sustainable Food System

The U.S. food sector is among the most productive in the world and is a significant driver of our economy. Yet, it's failing us in major ways -- putting public health, livelihoods and our environment at great risk. Obesity and diabetes rates are rising, communities are plagued by food deserts, and agriculture runoff is the biggest source of pollution in our rivers and lakes.The good news is that communities across the country are addressing this crisis in innovative ways. Through different community-based efforts, local activists and food advocates are finding ways to improve community health and environmental outcomes while creating a more economically equitable food system.It is within this context that this report identifies opportunities to transform jobs in the green economy and enhance environmental and economic equity outcomes in the future. The initial analysis promises opportunities for workers to build long-term skills, and emphasizes the importance of linking local efforts to broader regional and national policy platforms. This multi-level engagement and collaboration will help set in motion the systemic changes needed to create a more sustainable and equitable food system

Evaluation of supply chain using hierarchical analysis

Purpose: The paper is aimed at extending the ideas about the functioning of distribution networks. The main objective of the research is to determine the extent to which the development of wholesale trade within the central places of the region and the incomes of the population have an impact on the volume of shipped goods in municipal areas. Design/Methodology/Approach: Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) is used in this article. This method defines group and intergroup variation taking into account the multi-level nature of the processes. The variation in the volume of products shipped in municipalities is considered as a result of the influence of the factors at two levels: population incomes (municipal level) and wholesale trade turnover (regional level). The research is conducted on data obtained from 331 municipalities located in 7 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Findings: The relevance of the constructed model indicates the possibility of application of the hierarchical analysis methods in the sales chain research. For 7 subjects of the Russian Federation under consideration, it was found that the role of distribution networks is small. Practical Implications: It is determined that in order to promote products it is required to pay attention to the role of the wholesale link in the development of production of the territories in question. The use of hierarchical analysis in market research makes possible to apply a balanced approach to the creation of favorable conditions in the development of public and private programs for market infrastructure development. Originality/Value: The use of hierarchical analysis methods in the research of sales chains expands the understanding of their functioning, since, unlike others, it makes possible to take into account the impact of the factors at several levels of their formation.peer-reviewe

Examining the relationship between production, trade and consumption using hierarchical analysis methods

Воспроизводство предполагает непрерывный процесс производства, распределения, обмена и потребления продукции, который находит отражение на всех уровнях иерархической организации экономического пространства. При этом местное производство зависит как от внутреннего спроса, так и от способности (в рамках нодальных мест) оптовой торговли продвигать на внешние рынки создаваемую продукцию. Цель исследования состоит в определении влияния оптового звена, определяющего реализацию фаз распределения и обмена, на объем отгруженной продукции, характеризующий фазу производства. Для этого в работе сделана попытка соотнесения иерархии территорий (страна → регион → муниципальное образование) с последовательностью фаз воспроизводства (производство → распределение / обмен → потребление) с тем, чтобы методами иерархического линейного моделирования (Hierarchical linear modeling, HLM) разложить наблюдаемую по показателю объема отгруженной продукции вариацию на несколько уровней иерархически организованного экономического пространства. В результате различия муниципальных образований анализируются в разрезе двух уровней территориальной организации: муниципальный (доходы населения, определяющие потребление) и региональный (оборот оптовой торговли, характеризующий распределение и обмен). Исследование проводилось по данным 2017 г. в разрезе 331 муниципального образования 7 субъектов РФ. Результаты исследования показывают, что методы иерархического анализа могут применяться для анализа связи производства, обмена и потребления. Для рассматриваемой территории наибольшее влияние на объем отгруженной продукции оказывало влияние внутреннее потребление и в значительно меньшей степени - оптовая торговля. Применение методов иерархического анализа расширяет возможности анализа воспроизводства и позволяет взвешенно подходить к вопросам создания благоприятных условий при разработке государственных программ развития инфраструктуры и оценке перспектив сбытовых возможностей торговыми и производственными предприятиями.Reproduction is a continuous process of production, distribution and consumption of products in the hierarchy of economic space. Simultaneously, local production depends on both domestic demand and wholesale promotion of products to international markets. The study determines the influence of the wholesale, defining the distribution and trade stages, on the shipping volume, characterising the production stage. The research aims to correlate territorial hierarchy (country → region → municipality) with the reproduction sequence (production → distribution/trade → consumption). Additionally, it attempts to decompose the observed variation of the shipping volume in accordance with the hierarchy of economic space using the hierarchical linear modelling (HLM). The differences between municipalities are analysed in the context of two territorial levels: municipal (population income, determining consumption) and regional (wholesale trade, characterising the distribution) ones. The research examined the data for 2017 on 331 municipalities of 7 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The study results show that hierarchical analysis methods can be used to analyse the relationship between production, distribution and consumption. In the considered territory, the shipping volume was mostly influenced by domestic consumption and to a much lesser extent wholesale trade. The application of hierarchical analysis methods enhances the analysis of reproduction. Moreover, it allows the government to create favourable conditions for implementing the programmes of infrastructure development and assessing supply capabilities of trade and production enterprises.Статья подготовлена в соответствии с государственным заданием Министерства науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации (код научной темы FZWU-2020-0027).This research was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (scientific code FZWU2020-0027)

Internal drivers of external flexibility: A detailed analysis.

The second paper develops an assessment tool which managers can use to identify current levels of internal logistics flexibility and areas that need improvement. The internal logistics flexibility assessment tool (ILFAT) is grounded in the strategy-structure-performance framework.The third paper focuses on a food service provider, SYSCO, whose customer orientation strategy puts them in tune with the needs of their customers and has used that insight to build logistics operations focused on fulfilling those needs. A supplier's customer orientation is critically important in meeting customer demand.This research examines internal logistics flexibility (ILF), i.e., how a supplier is able to meet changing customer demand through its logistics activities.The dissertation follows a three paper format. The first two papers are conceptual pieces, while the third is a case study. The first paper extends previous research on logistics flexibility by identifying from a customer perspective, what a supplier has to do in order to be considered logistically flexible. Research showed that suppliers need physical, human, and organizational capital resources to set a foundation for internal logistics flexibility. Internal logistics flexibility has both a customer orientation and organizational structure component which allow a supplier to understand customer demand and dedicate resources to meet that demand

Advancing the Right to Health: The Vital Role of Law

Effective laws and an enabling legal environment are essential to a healthy society. Most public health challenges – from infectious and non-communicable diseases to injuries, from mental illness to universal health coverage – have a legal component. At global, national and local levels, law is a powerful tool for advancing the right to health. This tool is, however, often underutilized. This report aims to raise awareness about the role that public health laws can play in advancing the right to health and in creating the conditions for all people to live healthy lives. The report provides guidance about issues and requirements to be addressed during the process of developing or reforming public health laws, with case studies drawn from countries around the world to illustrate effective practices and critical features of effective public health legislation. Advancing the right to health: the vital role of law is the result of a collaboration between the World Health Organisation, the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Washington D.C., USA, and Sydney Law School, University of Sydney. The Project Directors were: Professor Lawrence O. Gostin, Linda D. and Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Global Health Law and University Professor, Georgetown University; Faculty Director, O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University; Mr David Patterson, Senior Legal Expert – Health; Department of Research & Learning, International Development Law Organization; Professor Roger Magnusson, Professor of Health Law & Governance, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney; Mr Oscar Cabrera, Executive Director, O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center; Ms Helena Nygren-Krug (2011–2013), Senior Advisor, Human Rights & Law, UNAIDS. The content and structure of the report reflect the consensus reached at the second of two international consultations in public health law that preceded the preparation of the report, hosted by WHO and IDLO in Cairo, Egypt, 26-28 April 2010. Part 1 introduces the human right to health and its role in guiding and evaluating law reform efforts, including efforts to achieve the goal of universal health coverage. Part 2 discusses the process of public health law reform. The law reform process refers to the practical steps involved in advancing the political goal of law reform, and the kinds of issues and obstacles that may be encountered along the way. Part 2 identifies some of the actors who may initiate or lead the public health law reform process, discusses principles of good governance during that process, and ways of building a consensus around the need for public health law reform. Part 3 turns from the process of reforming public health laws to the substance or content of those laws. It identifies a number of core areas of public health practice where regulation is essential in order to ensure that governments (at different levels) discharge their basic public health functions. Traditionally, these core areas of public health practice have included: the provision of clean water and sanitation, monitoring and surveillance of public health threats, the management of communicable diseases, and emergency powers. Building on these core public health functions, Part 3 goes on to consider a range of other public health priorities where law has a critical role to play. These priorities include tobacco control, access to essential medicines, the migration of health care workers, nutrition, maternal, reproductive and child health, and the role of law in advancing universal access to quality health services for all members of the population. The report includes many examples that illustrate the ways in which different countries have used law to protect the health of their populations in ways that are consistent with their human rights obligations. Countries vary widely in terms of their constitutional structure, size, history and political culture. For these reasons, the examples given are not intended to be prescriptive, but to provide useful comparisons for countries involved in the process of legislative review

Optimal Fulfillment Strategies in an Omnichannel Retail Supply Chain

With the development of digital technologies, more and more brick-and-mortar stores are starting to offer the online channel to sell their products. For example, Walmart and Whole Foods are selling fresh groceries from both their websites and store locations. As a result, such omnichannel retailers need to serve both online and in-store demand. To do that, the retailer may choose to fulfill online demand from a centralized distribution center (DC), or by utilizing inventory of stores. In this thesis, I explore the optimal fulfillment strategies of an omni-channel retailer. Firstly, consider customers’ behavior when they face online and in-store purchase options. Using utility theory, model customers’ behavior in preferring either channel. Secondly, I explore the impacts of retailers’ fulfillment choices on its inventory cost, shipping and delivery cost, as well as overall profitability. This thesis identifies conditions under which either fulfillment strategy (i.e., from DC or stores) is optimal. And find that the optimal fulfillment strategy is dependent on the total number of stores, unit inventory cost at the stores and DC, unit delivery cost, product prices and number of stores. Case studies based on Manhattan and Los Angeles are provided to further investigate the retailer's fulfillment decision as well as the impacts of its pricing decision, and geographic and cost characteristics. For Manhattan, for both exogenous and endogenous price cases, the regions where store fulfillment are optimal first decrease and then increases as the total number of stores increases. For Los Angeles, the region where store fulfillment is optimal always increases with the total number of stores.Master of Science in EngineeringIndustrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering & Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan-Dearbornhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154712/1/Wenqing Shi Final Thesis.pdfDescription of Wenqing Shi Final Thesis.pdf : Thesi

Data Science in Supply Chain Management: Data-Related Influences on Demand Planning

Data-driven decisions have become an important aspect of supply chain management. Demand planners are tasked with analyzing volumes of data that are being collected at a torrential pace from myriad sources in order to translate them into actionable business intelligence. In particular, demand volatilities and planning are vital for effective and efficient decisions. Yet, the accuracy of these metrics is dependent on the proper specification and parameterization of models and measurements. Thus, demand planners need to step away from a black box approach to supply chain data science. Utilizing paired weekly point-of-sale (POS) and order data collected at retail distribution centers, this dissertation attempts to resolve three conflicts in supply chain data science. First, a hierarchical linear model is used to empirically investigate the conflicting observation of the magnitude and prevalence of demand distortion in supply chains. Results corroborate with the theoretical literature and find that data aggregation obscure the true underlying magnitude of demand distortion while seasonality dampens it. Second, a quasi-experiment in forecasting is performed to analyze the effect of temporal aggregation on forecast accuracy using two different sources of demand signals. Results suggest that while temporal aggregation can be used to mitigate demand distortion\u27s harmful effect on forecast accuracy in lieu of shared downstream demand signal, its overall effect is governed by the autocorrelation factor of the forecast input. Lastly, a demand forecast competition is used to investigate the complex interaction among demand distortion, signal and characteristics on seasonal forecasting model selection as well as accuracy. The third essay finds that demand distortion and demand characteristics are important drivers for both signal and model selection. In particular, contrary to conventional wisdom, the multiplicative seasonal model is often outperformed by the additive model. Altogether, this dissertation advances both theory and practice in data science in supply chain management by peeking into the black box to identify several levers that managers may control to improve demand planning. Having greater awareness over model and parameter specifications offers greater control over their influence on statistical outcomes and data-driven decision