The book publishing industry in Japan and the UK: corporate philosohpy/objectives, behaviour and market structure

A number of prominent publishers in the UK and US have become parts of globalized media groups. In Japan, by contrast, they have neither been absorbed into media groups nor become globalized businesses. Based on interviews of major players in the Japanese publishing industry as well as annual reports, other written materials, and in comparison with the UK, this paper examines co-relationships among corporate philosophy, behaviour, and market structure with a view to explaining comparative divergence between Japan and the UK.publishing industry, corporate philosophy, corporate behaviour, ownership

VMI-type Supply Chains: a Brief Review

The primary purpose of this paper is to highlight for the research community and practitioners the various aspects of using VMI-type supply chains in today’s business environment as well as a number of directions for future studies. In this regard, fifty articles published in major international journals, beginning in 1995, which contribute to the VMI-type supply chains are reviewed via a systematic review methodology. Our findings show there is an incremental growth in employing of VMI strategies in logistic and supply chains. This paper characterizes the design aspects required to configure and establish a VMI-type supply chain in the industry including demand pattern, number of products, contract type between two parties, and profit sharing scheme. Moreover, the current gaps on the current state of VMI-type supply chain in literature are highlighted in last section of this paper that may motivate future studies

Fundamental Aspects of a Metalsmithing Career

The intent of this paper is to ease the trauma encountered in the difficult transition from novice metalsmith to producing craftsperson. The major areas of discourse are as follows: 1) What is the most beneficial time for mental orientation toward one\u27s career? 2) What actual steps should be taken along with this orientation? 3) How can the artist go about preparing himself financially for the burdens to be encountered in a craft business? 4) What comprise the major forces in the organization of a metalsmithing studio? 5) What kinds of equipment will the artist need to efficiently ply his trade? 6) What might be the most advantageous location for the metalsmith\u27s studio? 7) What role can systems play in the operation of a craft business? 8) There are three major ways of selling: wholesale, retail, and consignment. What are the positive and negative aspects of each and which should the craftsperson employ? 9) What are the various production techniques that are practical for a craftsperson and why should they be used? 10) There are many markets available to the metalsmith. What does each have to offer and how do they all work? 11) How does an independent artist arrive at reasonable and yet profitable prices for his work? What forces will affect his price? 12) What records does a craftsperson need to keep in his operation? How can these records most effectively be kept and what benefits can the records be to the artist? 13) How does an independent go about making the public aware of the service he is offering? 14) How does insurance play a role in an artist\u27s crafts business? What types of insurance does an artist need? 15) There are three basic business structures offered to an artist: sole proprietorship, partnership, and incorporation. What are the characteristics of each form and how will they affect business operation? 16) An artist entering the world of self-employment will encounter many new responsibilities regarding his relationship with local, state, and federal governments. What are some of these new obligations and how can the craftsperson best deal with them? 17) Professional organizations are formed as service groups. What real services do they perform for the artist and how much will it cost? The author does not attempt to give the artist a step-by-step guide to success. Rather he is offering an overview of what can be considered as necessary background for a professional craftsperson. This paper should be used as an indicator of areas for further research

A Bi-objective Optimization for Vendor Managed Inventory Model

Vendor managed inventory is a continuous replenishment program that is designed to provide major cost saving benefits for both vendors and retailers. Previous research on this area mainly included single objective optimization models where the objective is to minimize the total supply chain costs or to maximize the total supply chain benefits. This paper presents a bi-objective mathematical model for single-manufacture multi-retailer with multi-product in order to maximize their benefits. It is assumed that demand is a decreasing and convex function of the retail price. In this paper, common replenishment cycle is considered for the manufacturer and its retailers. Then, the proposed model converts to the single-objective optimization problem using a weighted sum method. A genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to solve it and response surface methodology is employed to tune the GA parameters. Finally, several numerical examples are investigated to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model and solution approach

Supply chain contract design in supplier- versus buyer-driven channels

In the context of supply contract design, the more powerful party has the lib- erty of withholding private information which also improves its bargaining power. Traditionally, the supplier (e.g., manufacturer) has been more powerful, and, hence, the existing literature in the area emphasizes supplier-driven contracts. However, in some current markets, such as the grocery channel, the bargaining power has shifted to the buyer (e.g., retailer). For example, in the United States, large retailers, such as Wal-Mart, exert tremendous market power over their suppliers. Also, with the advent of the Internet, buyers have gained access to much more information about multiple potential suppliers. Hence, this dissertation takes into account the recent trends in power shifting between suppliers and buyers, and it attempts to provide a comparison of optimal supply contract designs in supplier- versus buyer-driven chan- nels. This research is unique in that we explore the impact of both power shifting and information asymmetry while designing optimal supply chain contracts under supply uncertainty and competition. Placing an emphasis on the cases of stochastic and/or price-sensitive demand, we work on several novel problems in stochastic mod- eling, nonlinear and dynamic optimization, and game theory. Hence, this research has roots in applied probability, optimization, inventory theory, game theory, and eco- nomics. The goal is to advance our practical knowledge of designing implementable contracts because such knowledge is crucial for optimizing supply chain performance in the real world. This dissertation provides insights about * the individual and joint impacts of the power structure and information asym- metry on supply chain performance, * the value of information for contract design in supplier- versus buyer-driven channels, * the impact of supply uncertainty and supplier competition on contract design in supplier- versus buyer-driven channels

Staying ahead of the global pack : [creating sustainable competitive advantage in the marketing of South African table grapes to the United Kingdom in the deregulated era]

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-237)

Building best practice automotive after sales network:The Volkswagen case

This thesis aims to analyze the service operations and networks in the automotive industry as research into the automotive After Sales service network lacks the necessary fine details and industrial feedback. Its purpose is to present the insights and lessons learned from studying the After Sales service network of Volkswagen, thereby defining a roadmap for further research, and to discuss the needs of the sector. The foremost idea in defining the research question was based on the observation that the automotive After Sales business could be improved by applying and adapting principles and methods used in other industries and in the field of Business Operations research. The initial step thereafter was an extensive external and internal literature research. The key characteristics of the automotive industry in Germany, at the VW Group, at OEMs and at the wholesale level were identified and are described in chapter two. In chapter three the primary After Sales processes are described and analyzed, from the interaction with the customer to the necessary activities at wholesale and OEM level. The proposed research methodology relied on extensive external and internal research and a qualitative and quantitative approach based on structured, in-depth interviews and direct observation. The objective of the interviews was to highlight the most important activities in the service delivery operations within the network and identify the major key factors for success or failure. The best practice dealer model is described in chapter five and was subsequently abstracted and generalized so that it can be applied to other industries too. A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), described in chapter six, was undertaken to determine the “efficient frontier” of service operations. Key performance indicators were identified from the important elements discussed and the best practices. In order to achieve an in-depth understanding of their general business models a benchmark analysis of six companies from industrial sectors complementary to the automotive business was then carried out and is described in chapter seven. The thesis highlights the development of a “best practice” network in chapter eight. This network grasps the dynamics of After Sales activities in the light of new technological developments and the experience gained from the benchmark with other industries. The thesis closes with an evaluation of the research work

Buyers, Sellers and Middlemen: Variations on Search-Theoretic Themes

We study bilateral exchange, both direct trade and indirect trade that happens through chains of intermediaries or middlemen. We develop a model of this activity and present applications. This illustrates how, and how many, intermediaries get involved, and how the terms of trade are determined. We show how bargaining with one intermediary depends on upcoming negotiations with downstream intermediaries, leading to holdup problems. We discuss the roles of buyers and sellers in bilateral exchanges, and how to interpret prices. We develop a particular bargaining solution and relate it to other solutions. In addition to contrasting our framework with other models of middlemen, we discuss the connection to different branches of search theory. We also illustrate how bubbles can emerge in intermediation.