Efficiency and responsiveness of supply chains in the high-tech electronics industry : a system dynamics-based investigation

Organizations can design planning systems for supply chain management in different ways in order to achieve the multiple objectives of supply chain management. In this book, a System Dynamics simulation model is used to assess the performance of planning approaches for supply chains in the high-tech electronics industry on the dimensions of responsiveness and efficiency. Supply chains in this industry are subject to a number of challenges that complicate the achievement of these two objectives, including short product life cycles and long component lead times. In recent years, companies experienced both decreasing delivery performance and increasing cost. The simulation results show that while the current planning approach in typical supply chains in this industry is not capable of supporting high responsiveness at the same time as high efficiency, it is possible to modify the planning system to achieve simultaneous improvements on both of these dimensions. Building on this simulation model, the book provides practical guidelines on how organizations can align the supply chain planning approach with different product characteristics and transform their supply chains into systems that are both responsive to customer demand and efficient

Toward a Comprehensive Approach to the Collection and Analysis of Pica Substances, with Emphasis on Geophagic Materials

Pica, the craving and subsequent consumption of non-food substances such as earth, charcoal, and raw starch, has been an enigma for more than 2000 years. Currently, there are little available data for testing major hypotheses about pica because of methodological limitations and lack of attention to the problem.In this paper we critically review procedures and guidelines for interviews and sample collection that are appropriate for a wide variety of pica substances. In addition, we outline methodologies for the physical, mineralogical, and chemical characterization of these substances, with particular focus on geophagic soils and clays. Many of these methods are standard procedures in anthropological, soil, or nutritional sciences, but have rarely or never been applied to the study of pica.Physical properties of geophagic materials including color, particle size distribution, consistency and dispersion/flocculation (coagulation) should be assessed by appropriate methods. Quantitative mineralogical analyses by X-ray diffraction should be made on bulk material as well as on separated clay fractions, and the various clay minerals should be characterized by a variety of supplementary tests. Concentrations of minerals should be determined using X-ray fluorescence for non-food substances and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy for food-like substances. pH, salt content, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon content and labile forms of iron oxide should also be determined. Finally, analyses relating to biological interactions are recommended, including determination of the bioavailability of nutrients and other bioactive components from pica substances, as well as their detoxification capacities and parasitological profiles.This is the first review of appropriate methodologies for the study of human pica. The comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to the collection and analysis of pica substances detailed here is a necessary preliminary step to understanding the nutritional enigma of non-food consumption

Paradigm Shift in High-Tech Supply Chains and Resulting Current Challenges for Supply Chain Management

ISSN 1613-6705 (online version

Bismuth telluride

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) is the most mature thermoelectric material that has been well commercialized for electronic cooling and has gradually been used for power generation using low- and medium-temperature waste heat. In the last decade, extensive efforts have been devoted to its performance enhancement, which attracts interests from both academia and industry. High figure of merits has been frequently reported in nanostructured Bi2Te3-based bulk materials that are fabricated by advanced powder processing technologies, which will be comprehensively summarized in this chapter. After a brief introduction to the fundamental knowledge about Bi2Te3, a session will summarize the milestone works on Bi2Te3 since 2000, then more details about nanostructuring and/or nanocomposites will be described mainly on the basis of the works conducted in the authors’ group. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved