The Effect of Partial Information Sharing in a Two-Level Supply Chain

In many supply chains, the variance of orders may be considerably larger than that of sales, and this distortion tends to increase as one moves up a supply chain, this is known as "Bullwhip Effect". The Bullwhip phenomenon has recognized in many diverse markets. Procter & Gamble found that the diaper orders issued by the distributors have a degree of variability that cannot be explained by consumer demand fluctuations (Lee, Padamanabhan and Wang 1997a). Lee, Padamanabhan and Wang (1997a, b) developed a framework for explaining this phenomenon. Lee, So, and Tang (2000) showed that, within the context of a two-level supply chain consisting of single manufacturer and single retailer with AR(1) end demand, the manufacturer would benefit when the retailer shared its demand information. This paper considers the eRect of partial information sharing, within the framework of Lee, So and Tang, in one manufacturer and n retailers model, focusing on the variance of the manufacturer's "demand" (the retailers' order quantity).Supply Chain Management, Information Sharing, Inventory

Eigenvector Procedure based on Weighted Preference Flows in Multicriteria Outranking Analysis

The outranking analysis has been frequently used to deal with the complex decisions involving qualitative criteria and imprecise data. So far, various versions of ELECTRE have been proposed for ranking alternatives in the outranking analysis. Among others, ELECTRE III has been widely used. A distillation procedure using a qualification index is proposed to rank alternatives from the valued outranking relation. A weakness of ELECTRE III, however, is to involve the arbitrariness in the selection of the discrimination threshold function for the distillation procedure. On the other hand, various variants of PROMETHEE are also proposed for the outranking analysis. PROMETHEE intends to be simple and easy to understand. A deficiency of PROMETHEE is that it does not take into account the preference intensity of alternatives in the in-preference flow and out-preference flow for each alternative. We propose a new preference ranking procedure based on eigenvector using the gweightedh in- and outpreference flows of each alternative in the outranking analysis. The basic idea of the procedure proposed here is that it should be better to outrank a gstrongh alternative than a gweakh one and, conversely, it is less serious to be outranked by a gstrongh alternative than by gweakh one in a PROMETHEE context. It has a completely different interpretation with the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) since the components of the valued outranking relation matrix are neither ratios nor reciprocal as in the AHP.Multiple criteria analysis; PROMETHEE; ELECTRE; Valued outranking relations

Human nutritional science on stress control

Severe and prolonged stress exposure impairs homeostatic mechanisms, particularly associated with the onset of depressive illness. The establishment of functional foods that correctly regulate stress response must be an important and new field for human nutrition. This exciting science has been vigorously achieving in the 21st century COE program of University of Tokushima Graduate School

エイヨウガク エイヨウ シドウ ト ケンコウ ショクヒン

The need for medical treatment is expected to increase in aged society, but in many cases itmay not improve the quality of life. Therefore, the goal of nutritional consultation is to improve ormaintain quality of life before medical treatment is required. It is proposed that foods have threefunctions. The primary function is a nutritional function, which is essential to human survival.The secondary function is a sensory function involving both flavor and texture to satisfy sensoryneeds. The tertiary function is physiological functions such as regulation of biorhythms, control ofaging, the immune system, and body defense. The project defined a functional food as a foodhaving some tertiary function. Functional food is aimed at maintaining quality of life, andpreventing as well as treating a growing number of life style related diseases

セイカツ シュウカンビョウ オ ヨボウ スル タメ ノ ショクジ リョウホウ : メタボリック シンドローム タイサク

Recently, the number of cases of lifestyle-related diseases including obesity, dyslipidemia, heart disease, hypertension and type２diabetes has been steadily increasing due to an excess energy intake because of the westernization of eating habits, unbalanced diet, irregular lifestyle and lack of exercise. Obesity with accumulation of visceral fat causes metabolic syndrome which can leads to glucose intolerance, disorder of lipid metabolism, high blood pressure and so on. Metabolic syndrome has become a serious cause of the onset of arteriosclerosis. The improvement of lifestyle through diet and exercise therapy is important and effective prevent arteriosclerosis