A simulation approach for modelling and investigation of inventory inaccuracy in warehouse operation

This thesis is focused on a simulation modelling approach to address the inventory inaccuracy problems in a warehouse operation. The main motivation which led to this research was a desire to investigate the inventory inaccuracy issues that have been highlighted by a logistics company. Previous and current research into inventory inaccuracy issues is largely related to the development of RFID technology as a possible solution to inventory problems. Since the inventory inaccuracy related to RFID technology is focused on the overall measurement of inventory management and retail business, there are differences between this existing research and the research presented in this thesis which is focused on issues of inventory inaccuracy in a warehouse operation. In this thesis, warehouse operation is studied as a detailed sequence of processes that are involved in the flow of items physically in parallel with related information being stored in the computer system. In these processes there are many places where errors can occur in counting or recording details of inventory, or in physically moving, storing or picking items incorrectly. These details of a warehouse operation are used to develop a conceptual model of inventory inaccuracy in warehouse operations. The study also found that typically a product needs to be considered differently at different stages of its progress through a warehouse (and therefore within different sections of the conceptual model). This is because initially batches of a product are likely to be delivered from a supplier, therefore if errors occur soon after the product is delivered to the warehouse, the error might involve the whole batch (for example the batch may be misplaced and put in an incorrect storage location), or the error might involve just part of the batch (for example poor transportation by forklift truck may damage the packaging carton and some of the items within the carton). When the product is stored ready for meeting customer orders, it needs to be considered as individual items (and errors can occur in counting of individual items or individual items may be misplaced or stolen). Finally, when a customer order is received, the product will be picked and grouped to meet the requirements of the order (for example, one order may require 10 of the product whilst another order may require 20 of the product). Errors might again occur to the whole group or to just part of the group. (Continued ...

Development of instrument for evaluating website usability focusing on university website

It is crucial to develop the instrument for evaluate website usability.It’s important to test the questionnaire instrument before using it to collect data in actual study.Recently, there are only a few studies that include an evaluation by experts, then a pre-test with focus group and pilot test with respondents in testing the instrument.The initial instrument for this study is 60 item questionnaires.After going through 3 stages, the final instrument has 45 items of the questionnaire.The questionnaire instrument has been tested in 3 stages to ensure the construct validity and give confidence to the researcher about the instrument before distribute it for actual study.It also investigated whether the respondents understood and responded to the questionnaire instrument.Thereby, reducing incomplete data and non-response to ensure face validity and reliability

Measuring Website Usability Construct as Second Order Construct in Website Usability Model

Usability is one of the important factors that determine the successfulness of a web site. There are many elements for website usability such as learnability, interface, efficiency and many more. Therefore, it makes the model of website usability become complex. This study analyzes the website usability as second order construct in the model. Most of the previous works list the website usability and the model for website usability in hierarchical model. This study identifies the major elements in website usability from the previous studies and usability standards. The study identified effectiveness, efficiency, learnability, navigation, content, interface design and accessibility as elements in the website usability. About 654 data from respondents are analyze using PLS-SEM approach. The result shows that model which is include website usability model as second order are significant to satisfaction and intention to use elements

Uncovered user engagement pattern in LMS During COVID-19 pandemic using temporal visualization matrix

Movement Controlled Order (MCO) during COVID-19 pandemic causing global higher education to intensify the use of online learning to keep student engage with their study. While many institutions of higher learning plan for blended learning approach instead of full online, this sudden shift to full online causing bottleneck performance of Learning Management System (LMS). Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study the pattern of user engagement in LMS during pandemic. The case used in this study is LMS from Universiti Malaysia Pahang. Quantitative method has been chosen as a research method in this study where user interaction data from the LMS log is been used for engagement analysis. By combining the context of user engagement, we create temporal visualization matrix to gain the insight of user engagement pattern in LMS. Our findings show that both student and instructor are still highly engaged in LMS even after midnight. This insight is useful and significant for the institution (1) to deploy effective Quaity of Service (QoS) of LMS operation and (2) to design a policies related to quality assurance during pandemic by addressing the wellbeing aspect of student and instructor

Measuring the Role of Satisfaction in Website Usability Model

Usability is about making website as user-friendly as possible. There are many elements for website usability such as learnability, navigation, interface, efficiency and much more. Most of the previous researches list the elements of website usability and the model for website usability in hierarchical models. Therefore, it makes the model of website usability become complex because it consists many elements. This paper explores existing studies on website usability model to identify the elements for website usability model from previous studies. In the study, the website usability construct are analysed as second order construct. Many studies have proposed website usability models that include the satisfaction. Thus, this study also validates the website usability model and analysis the mediating roles of satisfaction in the relationship between website usability and intention to use. The study identified effectiveness, efficiency, learnability, navigation, content, interface design and accessibility as element

Predicting academic staffs behaviour intention and actual use of blended learning in higher education: Model development and validation

Blended Learning (BL) has been implemented by lecturers in higher educations for promoting effective pedagogical practices. However, intention to use and actual usage of BL by lecturers in higher education seems to be a major setback for successful BL implementation. Therefore, this study developed a model to examine the factors that influences lecturers’ behavioral intention and actual use of BL based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge model. Accordingly, survey questionnaire was employed to collect data from 544 academic staffs across universities, colleges, and polytechnics. Results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence significantly impact lecturers’ behavioral intention to use BL for teaching. Additionally, results confirm that facilitating condition positively influence actual BL usage. Likewise, technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge initiatives employed by lecturers in teaching positively influences actual BL usage. Results from multi-group analysis indicate that gender, age, experience, and voluntariness of use do not predict the behaviour of lecturers to use BL. Also, this study provides insights as to how higher education can enhance lecturers’ usage of BL to improve teaching effectiveness. This study provides a better understanding of lecturers’ views of knowledge in relation to course content, pedagogy, and technology use in improving teaching. The developed model can significantly be used by academic staffs to monitor and improve their current BL activities in measuring their knowledge about teaching regarding teaching improvement

A review of artificial intelligence strategies in covering array construction

Software systems are getting larger in size and functionality. Exhaustive software testing is becoming nearly impossible with larger systems. Objective: Researchers are focusing on methods and strategies to optimize software testing process by applying computational based strategies as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) based strategy. Results: This paper reviews the AI based strategies and its effectiveness in being solution for this optimization problem compared to computational based tools and strategies

Gender differences in computational thinking skills among Malaysian’s primary school students using visual programming

Computational Thinking (CT) is a thought process which utilize computer science concepts to solve problem in the real life. One of the methods to develop CT among the Children is by using visual programming to create computational artifacts such as animation and games. This study collected 50 animation and 47 games projects created by the primary school students in standard 6 (12-year-old) from the eight-week lesson using visual programming Scratch. The purpose of the study is to investigate if there is a significant difference between male and female students on CT skills of flow control, logic, data representation, parallelism, synchronization, user interactivity and abstraction. Source code projects were analyzed for CT skills score. Result from Mann-Whitney U test shows the different was not statistically significant between male and female students on CT skills mentioned previously

Potential Data Collections Methods for System Dynamics Modelling: A Brief Overview

System Dynamics (SD) modelling is a highly complex process. Although the SD methodology has been discussed extensively in most breakthroughs and present literature, discussions on data collection methods for SD modelling are not explained in details in most studies. To date, comprehensive descriptions of knowledge extraction for SD modelling is still scarce in the literature either. In an attempt to fill in the gap, three primary groups of data sources proposed by Forrester: (1) mental database, (2) written database and (3) numerical database, were reviewed, including the potential data collections methods for each database by taking into account the advancement of current computer and information technology. The contributions of this paper come in three folds. First, this paper highlights the potential data sources that deserved to be acknowledged and reflected in the SD domain. Second, this paper provides insights into the appropriate mix and match of data collection methods for SD development. Third, this paper provides a practical synthesis of potential data sources and their suitability according to the SD modelling stage, which can serve as modelling practice guidelines

Overviews of Uncertainty: Concepts, Categories and Coping Strategies in Decision Making

Uncertainty is not a new issue in decision making. A wrong decision made of a lack of certainty is every decision maker’s nightmare. Although uncertainty is broadly discussed in academic literature, uncertainty has been defined in many definitions, terms and conceptions. Some of the terms often overlap with similar terms from different perspectives. In the light of this, this paper takes the opportunity to explain uncertainty under 3 C’s perspectives; the Concept, the Categories and the Coping Strategies. An overview of uncertainty concepts pro- vides the basis for understanding how it is defined from a particular perspective related to decision support for decision making. The categories of uncertainty are explained based on their characterisation to provide a better understanding. Since there is no fixed way to treat uncertainty, this study takes the opportunity to compile the possible coping strategies in handling uncertainty. As an outcome, the contributions of this study come in two ways. First, this paper provides insights on uncertainty concepts and uncertainty categories that are worthy of being reflected in decision support for decision-making research domains. Second, this paper provides solutions and ideas for potential mix-and-match coping strategies that might be helpful in dealing with uncertainty in decision-making