MODELING THE INFORMATION QUALITY OF OBJECT TRACKING SYSTEMS

Advances in information and communication technologies, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), mobile and wireless mesh networks, bring us closer to the vision of “Internet of Things”, a global network of people, products or objects that can be easily readable, recognizable, locatable, and manageable over the world wide web. Such a network can provide ubiquitous and real-time information on movements of objects; and object tracking systems monitor the moving objects and register their on-going location in the context of higher-level applications, such as supply chain management, food traceability and retail, where monitoring of objects is required. This paper investigates information quality of object tracking systems and proposes an analytical model that measures the degree of information completeness of object tracking systems based on the scope and depth of their data capturing capabilities. We demonstrate that the information completeness of object tracking systems is influenced by the configuration of object tracking systems. The model may be used for both ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of object tracking systems, under the auspices of their information quality requirements, considering that their use is expected to blossom in the “Internet-of- Things” era

TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL TRANSFOR-MATION SUCCESS IN MANUFACTURING

Digital Transformation (DT) affects whole enterprises and is expected to drive a disruptive change in the way people work. Digital technologies leverage changes from simple tasks to the enterprise-wide strategy. Enterprises expect major benefits from investments in DT. However, digital transformation is a complex process and hence difficult to understand. Many different use scenarios exist so that decisions about the adoption of technologies are challenging. Therefore, it is critical to understand which benefits might be achieved with DT. With our research, we contribute to the understanding of digital transformation success. We develop and evaluate a framework that covers the main dimensions of digital transformation success. Literature from IS success and DT research is used to identify these dimensions. To evaluate this framework, we use data gained in a qualitative approach. We combine findings from a literature research with qualitative results to offer deeper insights into peoples\u27 understanding of what shapes the success. The framework is useful to classify benefits achieved by DT and to point out new possibilities of gaining success with DT

Fabrication of a label-free DNA/graphene based electrochemical SNA hybridisation sensor for product authentication and tracing

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, August 2017Poor understanding of the interactions at graphene/DNA interfaces has brought tremendous limitations to the development of label-free DNA-graphene based electrochemical/electrical biosensors. The aim of this study was to develop a label-free DNA/graphene-based electrochemical DNA hybridisation sensor, evaluate and benchmark its output electronic signal as a function of the effect of DNA on graphene’s electronic properties. In addition, the study sought to understand the effect of graphene on the nature of DNA. Herein, results of the investigation of the effects of DNA self-immobilisation and subsequent DNA hybridisation on the electronic structure of CVD-grown graphene using a combination of Raman spectroscopy and conductance measurements are presented. A novel UV-Vis spectroscopy dependent measurement technique for the label-free study of the interaction between DNA-graphene interfaces during DNA hybridisation on graphene is reported. Also presented in this work, is a new method of representing electronic events and DNA conformational changes during DNA detection on graphene from current voltage measurements. Non-covalent assembly was used to immobilise single-stranded (ssDNA) probes on CVD-grown graphene. On CVD-grown graphene, Raman peak frequency shifts, intensities and widths of the G and 2D bands after adsorption of the ssDNA probe and its hybridisation with complementary and mismatched ssDNA strands were analysed. The effect of graphene on the structural and conformational changes of DNA upon hybridisation of the ssDNA on the graphene surface both before and after hybridisation with complementary and triple-base mismatch DNA targets were investigated by monitoring UV-Vis absorption peaks at the 200 nm to 300 nm range. The findings were further confirmed through XRD analysis. Using Riemann approximation method, the rate at which the energy is transformed (power) was computed from the area under current-voltage curves.XL201

An agent approach to improving radio frequency identification enabled Returnable Transport Equipment

Returnable transport equipment (RTE) such as pallets form an integral part of the supply chain and poor management leads to costly losses. Companies often address this matter by outsourcing the management of RTE to logistics service providers (LSPs). LSPs are faced with the task to provide logistical expertise to reduce RTE related waste, whilst differentiating their own services to remain competitive. In the current challenging economic climate, the role of the LSP to deliver innovative ways to achieve competitive advantage has never been so important. It is reported that radio frequency identification (RFID) application to RTE enables LSPs such as DHL to gain competitive advantage and offer clients improvements such as loss reduction, process efficiency improvement and effective security. However, the increased visibility and functionality of RFID enabled RTE requires further investigation in regards to decision‐making. The distributed nature of the RTE network favours a decentralised decision‐making format. Agents are an effective way to represent objects from the bottom‐up, capturing the behaviour and enabling localised decision‐making. Therefore, an agent based system is proposed to represent the RTE network and utilise the visibility and data gathered from RFID tags. Two types of agents are developed in order to represent the trucks and RTE, which have bespoke rules and algorithms in order to facilitate negotiations. The aim is to create schedules, which integrate RTE pick‐ups as the trucks go back to the depot. The findings assert that: - agent based modelling provides an autonomous tool, which is effective in modelling RFID enabled RTE in a decentralised utilising the real‐time data facility. ‐ the RFID enabled RTE model developed enables autonomous agent interaction, which leads to a feasible schedule integrating both forward and reverse flows for each RTE batch. ‐ the RTE agent scheduling algorithm developed promotes the utilisation of RTE by including an automatic return flow for each batch of RTE, whilst considering the fleet costs andutilisation rates. ‐ the research conducted contributes an agent based platform, which LSPs can use in order to assess the most appropriate strategies to implement for RTE network improvement for each of their clients

Aproximación al Estado de Investigación en Logística Humanitaria: Un enfoque Bibliométrico

El presente proyecto, pretende el desarrollo de un estudio bibliométrico que permita identificar las bases conceptuales y las contribuciones relevantes en una de las áreas emergentes de la logística: La logística humanitaria. El proyecto seleccionará las principales publicaciones disponibles en Academic Search Complete, Emerald, Science Direct, y en las herramientas bibliográficas Scopus e ISI Web of Science con el acceso que ofrece la licencia de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, para posteriormente, aplicar los principios de la bibliometría identificando las principales tendencias de investigación en el objeto de estudio seleccionado, utilizando indicadores y herramientas estadísticas descriptivas y mediciones de co-citación, detallando el contenido conceptual de cada artículo y estableciendo el estado de obsolescencia de la literatura disponible. Por último, la presente investigación realizará una discusión de los hallazgos de revisiones bibliográficas previas, frente a los resultados obtenidos en el desarrollo del presente estudio, de manera que se puedan identificar futuras líneas de investigación, orientadas hacia el desarrollo conceptual y solución de los retos que impone en la actualidad la logística humanitariaAbstract : The aim of this project is to develop a bibliometrics study that will be able to identify the conceptual bases and main contribution in one of the emerging areas of research in logistics known as Humanitarian logistics. This research paper will select the main publications in the databases available: Academic Search Complete, Emerald and Science Direct and other bibliographic tools as Scopus and ISI web of Science, by using the available access for the members of the National University of Colombia. Then applying the bibliometric principles, in order to bring out the main research trends of Humanitarian Logistics, using indicators and descriptive statistics tools and co-citation measurements, detailing the conceptual content of each publication and establishing the obsolescence level of the available literature. Finally, this research will propose a discussion regarding the findings of previous bibliographic reviews, compared to the results of the present study, in that manner that might help identify future research lines. These lines should be directed to the conceptual development and solution of the challenges that nowadays the humanitarian logistics facesMaestrí

The effective management of information overload within shipping companies in South Africa.

Doctoral degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.For time immemorial, humans have shared information – from cave wall paintings to modern computing devices. The medium and channels of communication have evolved and improved. The ever-growing number of information sources coupled with the development of the Internet and other electronic communication technologies has resulted in escalating amounts of data and information that users need to process. This has resulted in a situation commonly known as information overload. Information overload can be described as a situation where people are inundated with more information than they are able to usefully use. The overall aim of this study was to establish whether information overload exists in South African shipping companies and if it is being formally managed. Although a growing body of empirical research has assessed the impact of information overload in organisations, little is known about its effect on shipping companies. To fully understand the problem, the impact of information overload was assessed in 12 shipping organisations located in Durban. Quantitative data was gathered using an online questionnaire from a sample of 491 employees in the 12 organisations. Twelve decision makers, one in each organisation, were interviewed by means of semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data showed that employees are overloaded with information and the level of information overload varies across the different organisations. Qualitative data from the interviews showed that the decision makers are overloaded and admit that their staff are also overloaded. Furthermore, none of the companies had specific initiatives in place to help staff who were overloaded with information. Several countermeasures to reduce information overload have been suggested in the literature; however, none of them have been proven to eliminate the problem. By integrating the findings from the literature review, quantitative data and qualitative data, this study suggests some guidelines of good practice for managing information overload which includes information management training, information personal management system, good office ergonomics practices, technology, external service providers, correct communication technologies and monitoring of information