Fuzzy Supplier Selection Strategies in Supply Chain Management

Supplier selection is a major strategy for manufacture to run the production process smoothly in supply chain network. Supplier categorization, selection and performance evaluation are decisions of strategic importance to companies. Global competition, mass customization, high customer expectations and harsh economic conditions are forcing companies to rely on external suppliers to contribute a larger portion of parts, materials, and assemblies to finished products and to manage a growing number of processes and functions that were once controlled internally. Thus supplier performance evaluation is very important to choose the right supplier for the right product for supply chain management. In this paper a fuzzy supplier selection algorithm (FSSA) is implemented to rank the technically efficient vendors according to both predetermined performance criteria and additional product-related performance criteria. Investigation of the properties of the best supplier alternative by ranking the fuzzy indices allow to develop an algorithm which is based on calculating fuzzy suitability indices for the efficient supplier alternatives and validity is illustrated through an example problem

Impact of Variable Ordering Cost and Promotional Effort Cost in Deteriorated Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) Model

The instantaneous economic order quantity (EOQ) profit optimization model for deteriorating items is introduced for analyzing the impact of variable ordering cost and promotional effort cost for leveraging profit margins in finite planning horizons. The objective of this model is to maximize the net profit so as to determine the order quantity and promotional effort factor. For any given number of replenishment cycles the existence of a unique optimal replenishment schedule are proved and further the concavity of the net profit function of the inventory system in the number of replenishments is established. The numerical analysis shows that an appropriate policy can benefit the retailer, especially for deteriorating items. Finally, sensitivity analyses with respect to the major parameters are also studied to draw managerial decisions in production systems

Innovative Technologies for Extraction and Microencapsulation of Bioactives from Plant-Based Food Waste and Their Applications in Functional Food Development

The by-products generated from the processing of fruits and vegetables (F&V) largely are underutilized and discarded as organic waste. These organic wastes that include seeds, pulp, skin, rinds, etc., are potential sources of bioactive compounds that have health imparting benefits. The recovery of bioactive compounds from agro-waste by recycling them to generate functional food products is of increasing interest. However, the sensitivity of these compounds to external factors restricts their utility and bioavailability. In this regard, the current review analyses various emerging technologies for the extraction of bioactives from organic wastes. The review mainly aims to discuss the basic principle of extraction for extraction techniques viz. supercritical fluid extraction, subcritical water extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and pulsed electric field extraction. It provides insights into the strengths of microencapsulation techniques adopted for protecting sensitive compounds. Additionally, it outlines the possible functional food products that could be developed by utilizing components of agricultural by-products. The valorization of wastes can be an effective driver for accomplishing food security goals

A Prospective study of Dry Eye after manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery in rural population of Bagalkot

Aim: To find the occurrence of ‘Dry Eye’ and to assess the severity of the dry eye after manual small incision cataract surgery with corneoscleral tunnel incision. Material and Method: A total of 81 patients were selected who came for manual small incision cataract surgery. Each patient was questioned pre-operatively about ‘dry eye’ symptoms and examined with Schirmer’s test 1 and tear fi lm break up time. Following this, the patients underwent small incision cataract surgery with a superior incision of 6-7mm depending on the grade of cataract. Schirmer’s test 1 and tear film break up time test were repeated on post-operative day 1st, 7th & 30th day. Dryness of the eye was analysed and graded as per DEWS classifi cation 2007

Optimization in Fuzzy Economic Order Quantity (FEOQ) Model with Deteriorating Inventory and Units Lost

Background: This model presents the effect of deteriorating items in fuzzy optimal instantaneous replenishment for finite planning horizon. Accounting for holding cost per unit per unit time and ordering cost per order have traditionally been the case of modeling inventory systems in fuzzy environment. These imprecise parameters defined on a bounded interval on the axis of real numbers and the physical characteristics of stocked items dictate the nature of inventory policies implemented to manage and control in the production system.   Methods: The modified fuzzy EOQ (FEOQ) model is introduced, it assumes that a percentage of the on-hand inventory is wasted due to deterioration and considered as an enhancement to EOQ model to determine the optimal replenishment quantity so that the net profit is maximized. In theoretical analysis, the necessary and sufficient conditions of the existence and uniqueness of the optimal solutions are proved and further the concavity of the fuzzy net profit function is established. Computational algorithm using the software LINGO 13.0 version is developed to find the optimal solution.   Results and conclusions: The results of the numerical analysis enable decision-makers to quantify the effect of units lost due to deterioration on optimizing the fuzzy net profit for the retailer. Finally, sensitivity analyses of the optimal solution with respect the major parameters are also carried out. Furthermore fuzzy decision making is shown to be superior then crisp decision making in terms of profit maximization.&nbsp

Transportation problem by Monalisha\'s approximation method for optimal solution (mamos)

Background: This paper finds initial basic feasible solution and optimal solution to the transportation problem by using MAM's (Monalisha's Approximation Method). Methods: Using the concept of comparison of the transportation problem by other methods of solution, the paper introduces a very effective method in terms of cost and time for solving these problems. This paper extends transportation problem by using different method of obtaining both initial basic feasible solution and optimal solution simultaneously other than existing methods. Results and conclusions:  It is presented a cost saving and less time consuming and accurate method for obtaining the best optimal solution of the transportation problem . With the problem assumptions, the optimal solution can still be theoretically solved using the existing methods. Finally, numerical examples and sensitivity analysis are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results, and to gain additional managerial insights. &nbsp

Optimality test in fuzzy inventory model for restricted budget and space: Move forward to a non-linear programming approach

In this paper, the concept of fuzzy Non-Linear Programming Technique is applied to solve an economic order quantity (EOQ) model for restricted budget and space. Since various types of uncertainties and imprecision are inherent in real inventory problems, they are classically modeled using the approaches from the probability theory. However, there are uncertainties that cannot be appropriately treated by the usual probabilistic models. The questions are how to define inventory optimization tasks in such environment and how to interpret the optimal solutions. This paper allow the modification of the Single item EOQ model in presence of fuzzy decision making process where demand is related to the unit price, and the setup cost varies with the quantity produced/Purchased. The modification of objective function, budget, and storage area in the presence of imprecisely estimated parameters are considered. The model is developed by employing different approaches over an infinite planning horizon. It incorporates all the concepts of a fuzzy arithmetic approach and comparative analysis with other non linear models. Investigation of the properties of an optimal solution allows developing an algorithm whose validity is illustrated by an example problem, and two and three dimensional diagrams are represented to this application through MATL(R2009a) software. Sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution is studied with respect to the changes of different parameter values for obtaining managerial insights of the decision problem

APPLYING ROBUST RANKING METHOD IN TWO PHASE FUZZY OPTIMIZATION LINEAR PROGRAMMING PROBLEMS (FOLPP)

Background: This paper explores the solutions to the fuzzy optimization linear program problems (FOLPP) where some parameters are fuzzy numbers. In practice, there are many problems in which all decision parameters are fuzzy numbers, and such problems are usually solved by either probabilistic programming or multi-objective programming methods. Methods: In this paper, using the concept of comparison of fuzzy numbers, a very effective method is introduced for solving these problems. This paper extends linear programming based problem in fuzzy environment. With the problem assumptions, the optimal solution can still be theoretically solved using the two phase simplex based method in fuzzy environment. To handle the fuzzy decision variables can be initially generated and then solved and improved sequentially using the fuzzy decision approach by introducing robust ranking technique. Results and conclusions: The model is illustrated with an application and a post optimal analysis approach is obtained. The proposed procedure was programmed with MATLAB (R2009a) version software for plotting the four dimensional slice diagram to the application. Finally, numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results, and to gain additional managerial insights.&nbsp

Fuzzy Decision-Making Approach in Geometric Programming for a Single Item EOQ Model

Background and methods: Fuzzy decision-making approach is allowed in geometric programming for a single item EOQ model with dynamic ordering cost and demand-dependent unit cost. The setup cost varies with the quantity produced/purchased and the modification of objective function with storage area in the presence of imprecisely estimated parameters are investigated.  It incorporates all concepts of a fuzzy arithmetic approach, the quantity ordered, and demand per unit compares both fuzzy geometric programming technique and other models for linear membership functions.  Results and conclusions: Investigation of the properties of an optimal solution allows developing an algorithm whose validity is illustrated through an example problem and the results discu ssed. Sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution is also studied with respect to changes in different parameter values. &nbsp